"Wakey Wakey my beautiful assassin. Cuz' it's killing time!"
Kack yells in the badge to telepathically wake us all up starting with me first then yelling at the end. Thanks Kack you ass...We already had Elric awake for the last watch so Kack waking us up was unnecessary.
"Fuckin aye Kack! Shut your loud ass mouth! Elric was already awake he was on watch you cunt!" Jade starts ripping Kack a new one. No surprises there.
I yawn stretching as I walk over to Elric whos laughing under his breath sitting on the edge of the building looking over the center of town.
"How was watch?" I ask him
"Nothing too bad a few little guys running in and out making sure the decorations are right but they were too dumb to notice the bombs under the tables where Kack planted all the bombs. They brought in a giant horn not sure what for but it doesn't appear to be an issue it's out of the way to we can all still see clearly."
We both stare at the horn that was placed on the right side of the stage. Jade better have some good excuses to get us out of there. I'm not dying because of her I've come too far. Elric and I start down the stairs to hopefully get a better view of the front gate. As soon as our feet touch the bottom step the horn sounds. A loud booming deep noise echoes all throughout town. Jade teleports down to us immediately.
"What did you fools do?" Jade whispers.
"Its time." Elric walks to the door opening it enough for us too see.
"They sound the horn to alert everyone that the party is starting?" I ask looking around at through the window.
Elric nods and we begin to notice people appearing. They are coming from all around town, behind buildings, from inside buildings, and even from the cracks of darkness that conceals ally ways. They all start to slowly trickle in showing their badges to the orc at the gate whos allowing them in. however there's about 20 or so people standing back looking out of place eager to get in.
"This must be a recruit initiation. I can work with that." Jade scoffs walking out the door.
"Wait! shouldn't we go in with the recruits?" Elric grabs her arm.
"The legion likes strong women right? Now why would a strong women wait?" She pulls her arm free walking out and I go to follow pushing past Elric.
"She's got a point." I shrug.
Elric sighs and walks beside me following Jade in with me. Jade manages to get in line behind the next person in line. A tall elf with a dual bladed long sword strapped to his back. He shows his badge to the orc.
"Welcome back sir Beast you can sit where ever you want." The orc greets the elf letting him pass. Jade steps forward making eye contact with the orc who then moves his gaze to Elric and I.
"Badge." He grunts.
"You should be speaking to me you insolent fool." Jade growls.
"If you have no badge then you wait with the others!" The orc starts to get angry pointing at the people waiting on the outside.
I place my hand on my sword that rests on my hip ready to draw if need be. Jade raises her hand to stop me so I drop my hand back down to my side.
"No need Lauralee he's not worth your talents." Did she just compliment me?
"I am the empress of Ifyoev Iri. Do I look like I want wait with a bunch of peasants? Do I look like I want to have the worst seat in this poorly made gathering? If you don't let me in right this moment you'll be watching your insides burn from the inside out for all of eternity!" Jade starts to yell her dress glowing from red to a fiery orange.
"Fine you may go in." The orc grunts stepping aside after watching the 2 orcs behind us step back.
Jade nods walking past him with Elric and I right behind her. She takes a seat in the far right corner with a clear view of the whole area including the building our fighter and cleric are up in. Elric sits on Jade's left allowing me to sit on her right.
"Lauralee?" I whisper and Jade kicks me.
"That's all I could think of in short time." Jade mumbles.
"Alright Dradik tells me you fellas made it in. Nice job nice job now we gotta wait for the big guy to get on stage. Like the big big guy not the scrawny servants you got it? Also be careful that C-4 is pretty wonky wouldn't want a chain reaction going off now do we?" Kack telepathically chimes in our heads through the badges.
We all look at one another concerned.
"Kack exactly how many are there?" Elric whispers.
"104 theres two on each table and four on the stage. So big boom if you fuck up you hear me?" Kack chuckles
"Bit over kill." I mumble.
A large orc approaches our table with a big smile forcing us all to sit up straight.
"That was quite the show little one." He chuckles sitting across from us at the table slamming his sword on the table causing us all to flinch.
"What are you on about?" Jade scowls annoyed
"No worries I'm not here to hustle you. I'm just impressed you got past Ol' Bruce back there at the gate. I figured you guys might have some entertaining stories to share while we wait for this dammed thing to start." He chuckles and Jade smacks my arm.
"Lauralee entertain the man." She rolls her eyes. Thanks for throwing me under the table...
"Do you mind if I remove my armor?" I ask the orc and he nods confused.
I begin to take my chest piece off and I lift my shirt showing the giant burn on my ribs that I got as a kid when training with father on avoiding fireballs that would get cast at me in battle.
"You see this burn? I got it while fighting a dragon." I bluff then pull my shirt back down.
"Impossible." The orc laughs
"Tis true ever heard of the village of peace?" I'm serious now. And the orc nods.
"Well you see after it was burnt to a crisp no survivors to be found I was traveling. On my way back to Ifyoev Iri to pick up the empress's job. I ran into a cave deep in the mountain behind the village. And there it was the dragon was sleeping on top all this gold and armor from the village I assume. So I snuck in slashed its wings so it couldn't fly. It was pissed but after I managed to climb a top its head, because that's the trick to killin' em I found its soft spot and stabbed it till it was no more. of course it threw me around so it took me a while a whole day in fact but I came out on top. This burn is just a reminder of my victory I got it on the...oh I believe it was the third try, yes it was I was climbing up its neck and it shook me off threw me to the ground. I thought I was dead for sure but luckily my armor the rest of my armor held up and I only needed to replace the chest piece." I begin putting my chest piece back on hoping he doesn't ask for another story because I don't think I can make up another.
The orc claps a bit amused. "Well maybe I'll have to stop by that cave one day and see the corpse for myself. Wouldn't hurt to see if I can find the bones of that damned rogue that lived there. Trina was his name if I remember correctly. That bastard killed my son with a damn rope. It was an non-honorable kill and death...Shit pisses me off."
I clench my fist getting angry. Right as I'm about to say something a squeaky voice yells over everyone.
"Welcome! I'm happy to announce another successful destruction of another small capitol in the northlands! Our next hit will be announced by one of our amazing leaders. Sir Beast!" The scrawny goblin steps off the stage and the elf with the dual bladed long sword steps on stage with a human pushing a cart of explosives behind him.
"Thank you all for coming to our meeting today in one of my favorite towns Malsvir Iri! Our next plan will be to use these explosives to tear down every national capitol in the north and south! This is only a small portion of what we have the rest will be distributed to you all in the capitol! James if you'll demonstrate for me please." Beast looks at the human who lights a stick of dynamite and used a sling shot to throw it high in the air making Elric, Jade and I stand. It explodes mid air shaking the ground.
"Kack now!" Jade turns around pulling Elric close.
The orc at our table stands about to yell at us when suddenly a massive cloud of smoke covers the entire area. Jade and Elric are gone and I can't see so I stand on the table and smack the orc in the face with the hilt of my sword hoping I know him out. I then yell.
"Traitors! Kill everyone!" I can hear it starts a stir and everyone begins fighting on another.
I start to run in the direction of the exit and hear Kack in my ear.
"My switches aren't working I must have used the wrong wires my bad fells you'll have to set it off manually." Kack chuckles
"God damn it Kack can you do anything right?" Dradik yells.
I really hate that these badges allow us to telepathically communicate but whatever. I smack a human in the nose with the hilt of my sword breaking his nose and I run past a female elf about to slam down on me with her sword thankfully I just barely manage to curve around her blade in a twirl slashing her stomach open wide.I slide under a table grabbing one of the C-4 attached and I can now make out the gate running through it shutting and boarding it shut with my sword I place the C-4 between my sword and the gate.
"I got a plan Jade I assume you an Elric are safe?" I pull out my bow and one arrow and I begin running straight to the nearest building.
"Yes I only could teleport one of you with me we are with Mute and Dradik." Jade responds.
"When I say too lift the smoke and brace yourself." I get my flint and steel out.
"I hope this works or I'm dead..." I mumble to myself.
I rip the plate armor off of me and tear my sleeve off wrapping it around my arrow. Its not gonna light well but I just need it hot. I light the arrow on fire and the sleeve catches burning quickly.
"Now Jade." I yell
Suddenly the smoke disappears and I can see the gate. Everyone stops fighting looking around confused I release my arrow hitting the C-4 smack in the middle. It explodes. The chain reaction starts the ground shaking I can barely run stumbling over my own feet as all 104 bombs and counting thanks to the dynamite the legion brought explode. 100 feet away is no longer safe we all need to run. I can't see the others anymore. I'm now running past the armory and remember theres a sewer pipe line near by.
"Elric do you remember that sewer pipe we past by near the armory." I yell and a large bolder lands right behind me sending me in the air.
"No!" Everyone yells.
"Just go there you'll find it!" I cough getting up finally finding the enterance to the pipe climbing in.
"I know where that is Mason buddy lets go!" Kack chimes in.
The ground still shakes down here but at least I wont die from flying debris I start walking away toward what I would hope to be Kack. I hear rustling and scraping. Its the elf, Beast. Hes busted up but he too managed to escape. I hide behind the corner hoping he won't discover me. A loud bang echoes from behind me and I can hear movement. I hope that's everyone else. I obviously wasn't the only one that heard that because Beast is now walking toward me and I can hear other foot steps with him.
"Mason my guy you should check this out I forgot about this short cut. I gotta use the bathroom I suggest you stay in my secret room there might be some assholes near by there was a loud bang down that way." Kack chuckles and I now can hear him scuffling around.
My dragons eat you in your sleep Kack you dumb goblin. Thankfully Beast and his pals turn around and start walking toward Kack. Now I can focus on what's behind me. Four shadows approach coughing. It's my team thank god.
"Did you have to blow the pipe up Jade?" I hear Dradik complain.
"Did you want to be followed? I didn't think so." Jade scoffs.
"Good it's you guys. We gotta go save Mason and Kack. Kacks about to get ambushed while hes on the shitter." I point my thumb behind me not really wanting to go but Mason is with Kack so we gotta.
"That fool." Dradik spouts.
We all rush around the corner but its too late Mason is face to face with a massive orc. Beast and two other Orcs are opening the door I assume Kack is behind. Beast swings at Kack and a bright white light blinds us all...