Immersion Online: The Herald: Book 4 (Immersion Online: Lit RPG) Read online

  Immersion Online

  The Herald

  Book 4

  Evan Klein

  Immersion Online: The Herald

  Book 4

  By Evan Klein

  Copyright © 2022 Evan Klein

  All rights reserved.

  Print Edition ISBN:

  Cover design by Karen Dimmick / ArcaneCovers.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by an means, electronic, mechanical, recorded, photocopied, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

  Please refer all copyright questions to the author, Evan Klein, at [email protected]

  Contents

  Chapter 1: Press Conference

  Chapter 2: Too Many Women

  Chapter 3: Getting the Hell out of Dodge

  Chapter 4: Return to Freehold Village

  Chapter 5: Mother

  Chapter 6: Solo Quest

  Chapter 7: Daughter

  Chapter 8: The Silver Lady

  Chapter 9: Gwen The Fire Mage

  Chapter 10: Speaking with Haggerty

  Chapter 11: Warband

  Chapter 12: Hide and Seek with Dragons

  Chapter 13: Goddess of Ice and Snow

  Chapter 14: Three Goddesses

  Chapter 15: Back Home

  Chapter 16: Heralds

  Chapter 17: Upgrade

  Chapter 18: The Final Herald

  Chapter 19: A Grind of Gremlins

  Chapter 20: The Spitrotz

  Chapter 21: Hunted by Black Dragons

  Chapter 22: Every Rose Has a Thorn

  Chapter 23: Explanations

  Chapter 24: The Lay of Shatana – The Under Land

  Chapter 25: The Lay of Shatana – The Over Land

  Chapter 26: The Lay of Shatana – Lady of the Deep

  Chapter 27: Recruitment

  Chapter 28: Dark Descent

  Chapter 29: The Dukes of Hell

  Chapter 30: Juggernaut

  Chapter 31: Timetables

  Chapter 32: The Blood Field

  Chapter 33: War

  Chapter 34: Altirax

  Chapter 35: The Grey Man

  Chapter 36: Epilogue

  Notes from the Author

  Chapter 1: Press Conference

  The moment I logged into Grandview, my chest exploded with pain. A little over five months prior, the skelter boss, General Morgan, had placed a powerful compulsion upon me. The geas was sending me a stark reminder that I had an army to assemble – and not just any army, but one powerful enough to fight hundreds of thousands of overpowered demons and creatures from The Abyss. I planned to start gathering that fighting force this morning; of course, the geas didn’t know my intentions, and one more pulse of pain flared in my chest before it subsided.

  The cold and miserable weather that had assaulted Grandview for the last few weeks was finally gone. In its place was the pleasant climate controlled weather that normally existed in Grandview. Havervill had worked some magic with the semi-sentient and temperamental city. She had wanted Mutter Morder delivered to The Fount to receive justice by her metaphorical hand. Unfortunately, that was impossible. Bill Nelson was gone as was his avatar – Mutter Morder.

  My guardsman, Dunkan, in an act of supreme vengeance, had incinerated the body so there was nothing to bring back to the unforgiving city. I was certain that Havervill was going to have a great deal to say about how he single-handedly was responsible for the pleasant and calm weather outside. If he wanted to claim credit, that was okay by me. If my virtual assistant, along with the other cyber security geeks, hadn’t been able to track down Bill Nelson, Amber and I might both be six feet under.

  I pushed those dark thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.

  I could have spawned right into my office instead of next to The Fount. Nevertheless, I knew what awaited me outside of HQ and needed a few minutes to gather my thoughts and compose myself. I would be going solo this morning. Tinsie had something to attend to in the real world. And while my new assistant, Gwen the Fire Mage, AKA my daughter Amber, was gung-ho and ready to reign down fiery hell on some goblins or undead with her new hundredth level Fire Storm spell, we had made an agreement that working part-time as an employee of Immersion Online couldn’t interfere with her college classes. My overeager and overachieving daughter did make it infinitely clear that she planned to log in just as soon as Professor Kleinman finished droning on and on in her waste of time Existentialism in Literature course.

  I glanced back at The Fount and at the enormous statue of Rashinog. The barbarian, clad in dark leather armor, held his two-handed axe off to the side about to strike at an unseen assailant. I turned away and began my walk towards HQ.

  Countless eyes fell upon me, mostly from Starborn who had traveled to Grandview to catch a glimpse of Constable Mace, AKA Charlie Mason. I knew it would take some time for the hubbub around Amber and me to diminish. For the moment, the notoriety surrounding us was staggering. She was receiving offers to appear on telescreen shows, huge advances of crypto-coin to pen her memoirs, along with producers reaching out to her to star in their films. A billionaire sultan even proposed to her. Luckily, Shannon had been true to her word, and we had twenty-four seven security surrounding our house as well as one of the most prestigious and high-powered law firms in New York City dealing with the rest of the nonsense.

  To make matters worse, The Abduction of Sierra Skye would be released the following day on the Immersion Online channel with yours truly as one of the main characters. The movie had originally been planned for a summertime release. However, now that I was super famous the corporation decided to strike while the iron was hot and release the movie ASAP. They had worked around the clock and had finished the film in record time. I didn’t know any of the plot details of the film, other than Constable Mace was featured heavily in it. Of course, the parts about me were total bullshit. I had absolutely no plans to watch it. What I wanted to do was order a bucket of greasy crispy chicken, consume a six-pack of beer, and watch an action movie or a football game. Unfortunately, my days of delicious fried chicken and tasty beer were gone – at least until Amber returned to college. After my last heart attack, she had moved back home to nurse me back to health and to make sure I was looking after myself (which meant eating roughage, abstaining from alcohol, and walking the treadmill). She had worked it out with the Dean of Students to take all her classes remotely for the remainder of the semester with the expectation that she would resume in-person instruction at Binghamton University in upstate New York again in the fall.

  She needed to get the hell back to college. My freedom depended on it.

  My hope was that my plan for the morning would be enough to call off the news hounds.

  Once I entered The Boulevard, which was the main thoroughfare through the Commerce District, fingers pointed at me; eyes stared at me, or leered at me, or shot cold daggers at me; Starborn and Realmborn whispered when I walked by; the harlots at the brothels called to me as I passed by, with promises of great and wonderful sexploits.

  This crap needs to die down, I murmured.

  “So,” Havervill emoted, “you’re back!”

  “It appears so Captain Obvious,” I quipped back to him, maybe more sharply than I intended to.

  “Captain Obvious. I’m going to use that one,” my AI responded. “So, you know you’re walking into a gremlin’s nest over at headquarters. Fans, curiosity seekers, news reporters, and th
e paparazzi from here and your realm are waiting for you.” He paused for a second and then added, “There is some good news though. Groupies. You have groupies now. Young, hot female super-fans – both Starborn and Realmborn. I hope you don’t mind, but I scouted a few promising ones out for you.” All of a sudden, twenty emails appeared in my inbox. I glanced at the subjects: Hot Elven Maiden, Buxom Brunette Barmaid, Luscious Lipped Lycanthrope, and so on. I shook my head as my horny AI continued. “Think of the fun we can have fighting a war in The Wilderbrook with a host of groupies around to warm our beds at night…”

  “I get ya,” I answered, cutting him off a bit dejectedly.

  “Are you moping again? Like you did after Rhia broke up with you?”

  “Just a great deal going on Havervill, here and especially in the real world. I’m hoping my little press conference is going to calm things down a bit, especially if I can give them something else to talk about.”

  “Like the old bait and switch,” my AI said.

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  Just a few blocks away from HQ, Lieutenant Gail greeted me along with twenty of my guards, Big Guy, and the diamond golem (who really needed a name). They took up positions all around me. I had sent Lieutenant Gail a pixie the day before asking for the escort. It was good that they were tagging along. When I rounded the final corner towards headquarters, a thousand sets of eyes turned towards me. Floating spheres soared towards me – Mike’s Magic Mouths – I was told – that would allow someone hundreds of feet away to ask me a question and hear a response. Pixies sailed towards me as well, peppering me with questions. A human woman, with ratty hair and spectacles, suddenly materialized in front of me, with a quill and parchment floating in front of her.

  “Is it true Sierra is going to meet you here today to show her support?” The human woman reporter asked.

  The onslaught of questions continued from reporters who lobbed questions at me like sticks of TNT.

  Is it true your daughter continued to shoot Bill Nelson even after he had surrendered?

  Is Amber dating anyone?

  Will you be attending the preview of the Sierra Skye movie?

  Are you back with Rhia again?

  Does Shannon Donally have a love child?

  Where is Dunkan hiding? Rumor has it he never left The Sundaland?

  After almost dying, do you feel that the SJD is correct in their assessment about the dangers of the game and that Immersion Online should be shut down?

  I answered none of the questions, and the two golems pushed their way through the throng of people and creatures that lined the street in front of headquarters. There were a few complaints and curses when Big Guy and the diamond golem jostled aside spectators who didn’t move aside fast enough.

  I walked the final dozen steps to HQ and then strode onto the landing in front.

  Lieutenant Gail handed me a magical necklace – Alfie’s Amplifier – that would allow my voice to carry over the crowd. It had a range of a quarter of a mile, so no one would have any issues hearing what I had to say.

  “Good morning,” I announced. The crowd grew still and silent much quicker than I expected. “I see both Realmborn and Starborn reporters out there. I know many of you have questions, and I hope I can provide you with some answers. Citizens of Grandview, as you can see, the ice and cold are gone, and the sun and light have returned to brighten our days. The killer who was terrorizing citizens of The Great Realm has paid the ultimate price and now suffers eternal torture in the Halls of The Grey Man.”

  A murmur ran through the crowd at the mention of the Realmborn deity.

  “To those of you from the world of the Starborn, I will say the same thing. Due to the yeoman’s effort of the New York State Police and particularly the work of Detective Donna Driver, the serial killer Bill Nelson, also known as The Nexus Killer, is no longer a threat.”

  I knew I was throwing Driver to the wolves with my last statement. It was just that I needed to get some of the focus away from Amber and me. Besides, I rationalized, fame could only help Driver’s career. Of course, I hoped she would see it that way.

  “On a personal note,” I continued, “and this is the only statement that I will make on this particular matter. It is public knowledge that The Nexus Killer came after my family in person. He tried to kill my daughter and myself. Unfortunately, just as he was about to kill me, my daughter Amber was forced to do the unthinkable, and take the life of another. We ask for time to cope with this tragedy. We request that you leave us alone for the time being. We promise that down the road, when the time is right, we will provide the details of that dark day.” I was silent for a second and that is when the inevitable questions were hurled at me again.

  I ignored them all.

  “They are giving me a headache,” Havervill complained. “We should gather up the groupies and head inside where it’s quiet.”

  “Can’t do that,” I reminded him. “Still have an army to raise.”

  “I can take care of that in two seconds – literally – if you want.”

  “I got this. Thanks,” I answered before turning my attention to the crowd once more.

  “Mutter Morder, the man who was responsible for the murders of the Realmborn, and Bill Nelson, who paid the ultimate price for the murder of the Starborn, might be gone. Nevertheless, another great evil is stirring, far worse perhaps than even The Nexus Killer.”

  The last line brought a hush to the massive audience.

  “War is coming to The Great Realm my friends!” I said, infusing my words with a bit of my Intimidation perk. “Altirax, one of the most feared and diabolical of the elder gods, will be freed from his prison in several weeks. He will bring with him a multitude of demons, devils, and other fiends from his dark and wicked plane. They are villains even deadlier than those found in The Sundaland and The Undercity are. They will ravage The Wilderbrook and all who dwell there. They will leave in their path a dead and poisoned forest. If Altirax is victorious, his army of darkness will spread out like a forest fire, destroying everything in its path.”

  I paused again for dramatic effect.

  “There was one in the past who resisted him, the beautiful Shatana.”

  Whispers of Shatana murmured through the crowd. Some had heard of her while others were asking questions. Some Starborn had a far-off look, most likely scouring the forums for information on Shatana.

  I invoked my Intimidation perk again, spreading it out over the host. “Shatana exiled her malicious ex-lover, the Demon Lord Altirax, to The Abyss. However, it was just a temporary prison. Now she calls upon you, asks all Starborn and Realmborn, if they will take up the fight. If they will heed her summons and battle against the dark and wicked fiends who wish to destroy The Great Realm, who wish to lay waste to this world we love.” I paused again for dramatic effect. Then I pulled out a piece of parchment from my pocket, cleared my throat, and in my most dramatic voice intoned the following to the crowd:

  Shatana sang about days disappeared

  When fire, plague, and famine consumed the Realm –

  The silent wilderness foretold

  The darkness about to prey on us all –

  Altirax will rip asunder the earth – his mother and prison

  War will ravage the forest

  Ancient oaks will burn

  Grass redden with blood

  Shatana calls to us:

  My blue beacon brightens the sky for one night

  A call to arms:

  ‘Come gnomes with yee picks and tricks

  And dwarves with yee sharp axes and bright gold

  And elves with yee keen eyes and deadly arrows

  And orcs with yee studded clubs and stalwart hearts

  And ogres with yee thick heads and thicker arms

  And mortal men and women with yee swords and spears

  And finally come,

  All Starborn, Everborn and yee dozen other names

  Come and face the greatest foe

/>   And if yee overcome

  The rewards will be boundless

  The most ancient weapons, magics, and talismans

  But know this ere yee come

  Even the Starborn may die

  With no hope of rebirth at the hands of Altirax’

  I remained silent for several long moments to let the last two lines sink in and then said, “That verse was shared with me by a special young lady on my first day in the game. Now, the verse comes to fruition. And I say I accept Shatana’s call to arms!”

  I knew I was laying it on a little thick. Nevertheless, I had their rapt attention, and that was all I needed.

  I went on. “I will be there when Altirax returns! I will stand on the frontline to battle against this deadly horde! I will fight for the heart and soul of The Great Realm, for all the Realmborn who dwell here, and for all the Starborn who see this world as a second home!”

  I paused for a second.

  “In a moment, every Starborn and Realmborn, in Estra and Westra, will receive a quest to join in the battle. I hope you will accept it. I hope this land means as much to you as it does to me.”

  Then Havervill sent out the specifics of the quest. He seemed almost gleeful as he shared the details of the war against Altirax to every Realmborn and to all Starborn who were currently online. Starborn who were not currently active in the game would receive the request as soon as they logged in.

  Then things, as they often do, went sideways.

  Chapter 2: Too Many Women

  The silence was broken when a hundred voices boomed: “Go home Starborn! Leave our land! Leave our home! Leave our women alone!”

  “Weepers!” Havervill grumbled.

  There was some shoving and pushing. The Weepers were a group of fanatical Realmborn who wanted to drive the Starborn from the game. They considered all players as a plague on The Great Realm. The Weepers were getting more aggressive as of late, harassing Starborn and Realmborn who did not agree with their philosophy. In parts of the city, the ranks of The Weepers had swelled into the tens of thousands.