Adam Drake - Blackout

Another quick glance at the map overview of the base showed nothing else of note. Workers chipped away in the quarry, and the other half unit of footmen stood guard at the banner’s altar.

So if the gold mine is taken care of, did I still want to follow this path? Scouting north toward Amara’s base seemed the more prudent use of my time.

But as I turned to go, something further down the path caught my eye.

Cautiously, I approached.

The path ended at a small open space between the trees. In the middle of this little clearing was a massive ogre.

He was kneeling, head bowed down. His wrists were shackled and bound by chains to giant iron loops in the ground.

His armor was patchwork, exposing acres of green skin crisscrossed with scars.

Now what do we have here? I thought. The being was easily taller than me while kneeling and as wide as a supply wagon.

I called up its information.

Name: Grax

Unit: Champion

Race: Ogre

Hit Points: 500

Speed: 40

A former champion of Y’Godda’s army.

Cost to free: 1,200 Battle Points.

Whoa. Nice, but I couldn’t afford him at the moment. I’d need to kill more trolls to get there first. Or Amara, again.

I chuckled at the last thought.

Hearing me, the ogre tilted his head up and looked around.

“Who is there?” Grax grumbled. His voice was deep and resonant.

Figuring I was safe while he was chained I slipped out of my Shadow Form. “Hello,” I said.

The humanoid regarded me, then nodded. “You are the red commander,” he said. “Might you be here to free me from these chains?”

I shook my head. “Sorry, that will have to wait a little while. Can’t afford you.”

Grax suddenly pulled violently at his chains, causing me to take a couple of steps back. Man, was he big.

“I will fight for you, Commander. Of that there is no doubt. Enemies with be crushed and victory will be yours with me at your side.”

I held up a hand. “I don’t need any convincing, my friend. My army is in desperate need of a champion such as yourself. But the time is not right. I do promise to return and free you from your bounds.”

The green giant nodded. “I hope that you return soon. It has been ages since I’ve fought in battle and I crave the smell of blood and the sounds of agony!”

Laying it on a little thick, I thought. I’m already sold on him. Getting this guy on my side would be a priority. If for nothing more than to ensure Amara didn’t get him first.

I said, “Worry not, Champion. Your time for killing is close at hand. I will return soon.”

Before he could engage me with more of his sales pitch I waved and turned to leave.

“Blood and agony!” he bellowed. “The symphony of battle!”

Okay then, I thought and hurried back down the path.

A quick glance from the safety of the trees showed that the grassy plains were clear. I summoned Smoke and mounted up.

How many other Champions were hidden away on the map? With so much forest there could be several of them. And expensive to hire, too.

My attention went to my resource status line.

As I watched, the gold amount increased, making me smile. From my command menu I selected the Keep and bought my third unit of workers. Their icon instantly appeared by the Keep.

I then selected build Archery Range.

Build Archery Range. Cost 700 gold, 200 wood – Yes/No?

On a hunch I selected yes, and when I pointed at my map a tiny red square appeared. Perfect! I didn’t have to be actually present at the base to build things. This undoubtedly was meant to free players to take to the field as opposed to staying holed up in their base mico-managing everything.

I placed the range next to the barracks and assigned the new worker unit to it.

Then, from the barracks menu, I selected to train another unit of footmen. Now all my money was gone, and I had to wait.

I called up the Keep info screen again and grimaced at its upgrade requirements. The stone needed was steep, yet, without the upgrade, I couldn’t get more workers. I ordered the new worker unit to head to the quarry once the archery range was complete.

“By Y’Godda, it shall be done!” hollered the unit leader via chat with enthusiasm.

With my base management duties done for the moment, I turned Smoke north. We followed the curve of the plain’s direction to the northeast until the trees on the northern side stopped.

Here, a wide river cut across the plains from west to east until it vanished into the forest on the opposite side.

Directly in its middle was a wide stone platform, which formed a kind of bridge across the water. An altar sat at its center.

This was where I had to bring Amara’s banner.

Wary, I slowly approached. The flat ground I followed continued to the east then curved southward. On my map it looked like the southern section would make one big circle, with forest in the middle.

The scout suddenly reported in. “All done,” he said, expression serious.

From the map I could tell there had been nothing of note in the remainder of the forest which partially encircled the base.

“Okay, go here, please.” I tapped the forest line directly ahead of me, on the east side. “Stay hidden and watch for approaching enemies from the north.”

This river appeared to be the middle choke point between the two halves of the map. Past the river, the forest resumed. Identical looking grassy plains curved northeast and northwest. The entire map must form a figure eight, with the river and platform at its middle.

When Amara or any of her units moved south, they’d have to cross here. Having the scout placed nearby would give me fair warning of the next attack.

The scout nodded once and closed the chat window. I shook my head. Having NPCs activate, and even terminate visual chats was new for me, and I can’t say I was getting use to it.

As I got closer to the altar, its details became more clear. It was nearly identical to the one at my base, entangled skeletons with the top one extending an arm, waiting to grasp a banner.

The wide platform had no defenses. Bringing the banner here, let alone keeping it safe for five minutes, seemed a near impossible task. How could you defend it?

Footmen Unit training complete.

I smiled. That would do the trick.

With just enough gold, I started another unit to training. Then, selecting the new unit, I ordered them to move north to my position and guard the altar. I’d wait here until they arrived, then…

Movement to the northwest caught my eye.

A group of trolls were approaching on foot. But these were not grunts. Workers.

As they got closer I could see they were wearing blue shirts under overalls. But their leggings only went down a little past their knees, giving them a comical look. Each held a hammer or axe.

A quick look beyond them, and to the northeast approach showed they were alone.

I laughed, and summoned my bow, waiting until they got within range.

“Easy pickings,” I said with a smirk.

“I’ll say!” came a shout from behind me.

I whirled to see Amara in mid-leap from atop the altar, descending upon me.

With no time to react I could only bring up my bow in a feeble attempt to block her sword.

But she crashed into me, driving her weapon straight through my chest. The force of the sudden attack knocked me off of Smoke, and I fell to the ground.

Flat on my back, my avatar had become paralyzed. I knew what this meant.

Amara bent over me, leering. “Payback’s a FILTERED, ain’t it, honey?” She wrenched the sword from my chest then turned her attention to poor Smoke.

As my screen darkened, I cursed myself for being so stupid. Then a message appeared before my vision.