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> CAVALRY

  This was perfect. Since the bulk of my archers were either of the horde or Oakengard, they were already at the flanks. The goblins in the left field fired forward to the horses charging them, and the crusader archers did the same on the right.

  I kept the heavy artillery on the main grouping because I liked how it disrupted the slower charge. Plus, the boulders rolled and bounced and caused massive collateral damage—throwing them to the flanks would limit the secondary impacts. Besides, horses were large targets and arrows were plenty against them. Mounts collapsed and threw their riders. The first to fall were trampled and tripped up following knights. It was beautiful chaos.

  Hadrian's cavalry got smart and widened their ranks. The arrows were less effective against individuals than clusters, and there were way too many horsemen to track them all. The well-trained cavalry bore down on the disorganized band of goblins and imps. Normally, the rush of hooves would easily cut them down, but in this case...

  The first horse to reach the horde stumbled in the watery moss. The sudden twist of momentum flipped horse and rider completely. Monkey-like imps bounded on the poor knight and tore him apart.

  The rest of the cavalry had similar initial results but, again, their attack adapted to changing conditions. The horses slowed their charge and opted for steadier footing. While that diminished the cavalry's shock effect, the knights sat atop warhorses with superior weapons and armor. A few fell to close-range archery, but once enough knights breached the line the goblins switched to melee weapons.

  The right field had fewer defenders in total and lacked the terrain advantage, so I assisted them first.

  > UNIT

  > HEAVIES

  > MOVE

  Kobold handlers directed ogres and trolls to assist friendly crusader footmen. Few things can disrupt a charging cavalry, but six-ton ogres with fists the size of barrels were among those things. Horses were punted and body slammed.

  The tactic was so effective I sent an opposite unit to support the horde on the left. Unfortunately, the heavies were slower on the wetland terrain. It sort of evened out since the cavalry could longer charge and the horses were spooked by the new monstrous enemies.

  So far, after first contact, I gave the Black Army the slight advantage. We'd prevented the cavalry from surrounding us and depleting morale by forcing them to incur heavy losses. However, there were so many of them and they were very capable fighters. If it weren't for the heavies they'd be decimating us, and 65 ogres and trolls could only take us so far.

  But there was one key factor that hadn't been brought into play yet. A soldier type that we not only already had in position, but one which Hadrian's cavalry had outrun: priests.

  > UNIT

  > CATECHISTS

  > HEAL

  The left and right flanked catechists went to work on the first wave of casualties. You wanna talk about demoralizing? Charge through arrows, boulders, and bogs, avoid ogres and trolls, and gravely wound a few goblins only to have them completely restored by the best healers in Haven. Black Army troops returned to full capacity while the Violet Order knights, stranded and cut off from their main force, continued to fall.

  Violet Order

  Cavalry 119/225

  That was half of them, the price paid for shock and awe. The other half wouldn't be eliminated so quickly. The attacks at range were over, and the rest of the Violet Order was finally catching up.

  Purple knights on foot clashed with Stronghold legionnaires. While I'd give the all-around edge to crusaders when it came to general combat ability, the pikemen were experts at one single thing: holding the line. Knights impaled themselves trying to get around the extra-long weapons. Black Hats and wildkins filled the gaps with shortswords and hatchets. The literal wall of death eagerly welcomed the charge and took it head on. The central unit of catechists kept their focus on the front line, keeping them hearty and healthy, and the army of the Violet Order slammed to a halt.

  The clash could be heard miles away. Soldier pressed against soldier, the masses shoved and swayed. From a distance it seemed a gentle breeze tickling blades of grass, but up close it was bloody and dirty and brutal. Even with the priests working full-time and skilled fighters filling any gaps, soldiers on both sides were cut down.

  It seemed amazing after a full minute that the line held up, but the centurions and legionnaires were there, resisting every inch. They looked to be in complete control when Hadrian sent units of sages to back up his main force. Standing behind their physical brethren, learned men launched stoppered bottles filled with fluids of various colors. I was familiar enough with Kyle's arsenal to know how this would go down. The hand-thrown projectiles flew over the opposing pikes and cracked open on legionnaires, Black Hats, and wildkins. Explosions rang out. Fire and lightning blew holes in the defense.

  > CLASS

  > MYSTICS

  > DEFEND

  It was late, but magical barriers and fields sprouted above the line. Potions exploded midair to dazzling effect, sending fumes into both armies. The loss of soldiers was partially mitigated, but in another thirty seconds the front line fell apart completely. The legionnaires were alive, but the chaos and close-quarters had forced them into sword combat. Units intermingled, friend fighting beside foe. Instead of a neatly organized football pre-snap, the battle devolved into mosh central.

  "That's my queue," said Izzy.

  I nodded. Her frost giant lifted her up and lumbered to support the backbone of our defense. Skoal stood high above the tallest ogres and trolls. His presence on the battlefield was immediately felt. What's more, he showed great intelligence and grace, at least compared to the nomadic errant folk. He plowed through enemies and rebuffed their pitiful attacks. But he was only one soldier, and the damage was already done.

  I worked my jaw. Besides the erupting disorder, the goblins and imps in the bog were starting to be overrun. Shamans fought against another wave of sages and footmen.

  > UNIT

  > BLACK HATS

  > MOVE

  I repositioned some of my central force to the left field. I didn't want to do it, but I fully committed the left catechists to their cause too. Although the wetlands were a natural barrier, I couldn't have the Violet Order pushing through and surrounding us.

  "I won't stand back any longer!" growled General Azzyrk, riding to me on his giant predatory lizard. I'd held back a couple goblin units with the boggarts. They were completely inactive way behind us, and the bloodthirsty chieftain didn't like it.

  "General, we need to keep our eyes on the bigger picture."

  "That's your job, conqueror. I fight for my horde."

  Azzyrk co-opted one of my goblin units and charged into the left field.

  "Damn him," I muttered to Trafford.

  The chieftain's surefooted lizard scurried on webbed feet. From the way its razor-like teeth snapped at horse and knight alike, it looked as if Azzyrk hadn't fed it in weeks. The addition of 25 goblins was a noticeable assist. The shaman-heavy unit launched fireballs and erected swamp golems, providing immediate relief.

  "I know you want your pagan reserve support," said Trafford, "but Azzyrk's doing some real damage out there."

  I conceded the point with a grunt. The seasoned chieftain had probably made the right call.

  "It's about time for me to do my thing," volunteered Caduceus. I nodded and she removed a full helm from her inventory and placed it on her head. Bishop Tannen's helmet was a gaudy affair, horizontal and vertical face slits forming a cross with an added bronze cross jutting out on top. She charged into the fray.

  [Caduceus] cast Salvation

  Although she couldn't replicate Tannen and Vagram's ability to bring people back from the dead, the healing power of the artifact was immense. Golden light showered swaths of troops and restored them to full.

  I took stock of the battlefield. The reinforced goblins were holding their own. The frost giant pushed back an enemy wave, allowing legionnaires to reconstitute the fr
ont line. The mixed crusader-heavy push on the right was so strong that they actually advanced, cutting into the Violet Order's backfield. All was going according to plan, even if Hadrian was holding back his biggest weapons.

  Glowing quartz automatons formed a wedge in the central battlefield and advanced into the empty area created by the frost giant's wrath.

  Talon: Pull him back, Izzy.

  Izzy: I'm trying.

  The ornery giant huffed and backhanded an incoming keeper. The bundle of rocks catapulted off the ground and tumbled into a contingent of sages. But two more keepers charged with energy batons. As the giant moved to smash them, they struck his exposed fingers.

  Stun!

  [Keeper] dealt 27 damage to [Skoal]

  The line of keepers parted for a brute who stepped forward, purple energy flaring bright.

  Damn it. Reality didn't always play out as kindly as drawn-up plans, but I wasn't unprepared for this.

  > UNIT

  > LEGIONNAIRES

  > MOVE

  > PHALANX

  The block of legionnaires advanced as one into the open field, overtaking the giant behind their lines. The keepers charged forward and struck at the pikes. Violet electricity sizzled out on the wooden long weapons.

  > UNIT

  > HEARTWOOD

  > ATTACK

  Select members of the Black Hat units rushed forward. Outfitted with heartwood armor from the Dragonperch armory, they were immune to the stuns of Oakengard defenders. The other half of the strategy left them with inferior wooden weapons: clubs, staves, and spears. It reduced their damage potential but protected their point of contact. Battling keepers and staying alive was a delicate game of cat and mouse.

  > CLASS

  > MYSTICS

  > ATTACK

  > CLASS

  > ARTISANS

  > ATTACK

  My ranged support classes shifted to their new targets while the wood-equipped fighters held them off. This organized strategy exposed the vaunted keepers of Oakengard as one-trick ponies. Without their ability to stun, the Black Army was rebuffing their assimilation abilities as well.

  That's when Hadrian's priests flooded the melee. Sticky energy surged from corrupted holy symbols. The power snaked between combatants and expanded into a fog, coughing and sputtering at haphazard targets. There was no perceived effect on the Violet Order priests and keepers, but the Black Army was another story.

  Pestilence!

  [Priest] dealt 40 damage to [Crusader]

  Pestilence!

  [Priest] dealt 40 damage to [Wildkin]

  Instead of buffing their own troops, Violet Order priests were using their magic destructively. The pestilence debuff applied constant damage and caused havoc to my line. Since the attack was ranged, the priests were safely behind the keepers, who, while ineffective, had strong armor properties that would keep them in the fight for some time. It was my first moment of true surprise in the battle.

  Then again, I'd been holding back a trick of my own.

  > CLASS

  > CAVALRY

  > ATTACK

  Grimwart and the mounted knights on the rock outcropping charged. With the crusaders holding the right field, the horsemen easily pushed forward and swept into the enemy's flank. Since all the keepers were located in the center of play, I no longer needed to worry about losing my valuable knights. The cavalry skirted them and trampled through Violet Order priests. Disarray and panic washed over their reinforcements as swords and axes cut them down.

  To say I was pleased with the results was an understatement. Assessing the battlefield, we were experiencing victories on every front of the fight. Most shocking were the numbers.

  Black Army

  752 / 965

  Violet Order

  686 /1040

  We'd gained a clear advantage in what had been, by tally, an even fight. I wanted to chalk it up to the power of players, to the willing sacrifice for freedom, and the loyalty and devotion to the side of right, but from my vantage behind the mixed units of the Black Army I spotted the true culprit.

  Healers.

  I'd been dead on about needing the catechists. Though our fielded force lacked the power of true resurrection, the White King was coming through for us in a big way. What struck me as odd was that no healers among the enemy ranks were using similar abilities.

  Hadrian's factory had pumped out OP soldier after OP soldier. By all accounts he should've had another Vagram on his side. Was their lack of healing because they had gone against their promised King? When you relied on clerics for power, going against gods brought consequences.

  Or was it something simpler, something technical: the limitations of a glitch manifested as violet energy? Hadrian's army was a disposable resource, efficiently spawned and obedient in function, yet bereft of the humanity and self-preservation needed to persist indefinitely. And with the keepers effectively handcuffed and his soldier factory discovered, Hadrian's plan to grow his army with mine had failed.

  Tremors shivered through the murky ground like Jell-O. On the battlefield, keeper brutes stretched to attention and pulled their forces back in anticipation of their next phase of attack.

  Of course.

  The Whisperer-turned-god had called on a titan, and after more than a day of travel that titan had arrived.

  Tad waited as the mercenary fumbled with the red security door. The soldier didn't show a lot of urgency, probably because the door to the server room kind of looked like a closet. Still, the red color didn't exactly blend in, and his job was to search the studio. This was an obstacle InLink needed to overcome.

  The operative kicked the door a few times. It was solid wood in a reinforced frame. He grumbled and fingered his rifle a moment before slinging it back over his shoulder. Gunfire would only spur the police into action. The soldier muttered to himself and hurried away. Tad had no doubt he'd be back.

  Tad limped forward to the closed door, greeted by the bright-red LED on the card scanner. He reached in his back pocket and produced Abbie's administrative key card, taken from her body. It was covered in blood.

  "Red door, red key," he muttered sardonically.

  He waved the card before the scanner and winced at the loud beep that accompanied the LED turning green. Tad hurried inside and closed the door a bit too loudly. He relaxed his back against the door as the soothing sound of whirring machines filled the room.

  "Okay, what next?"

  Tad limped to the central hub. The computer appeared untouched. The programmer checked the usage log to confirm it: InLink hadn't corrupted the system. Good.

  He scanned the room, looking for the switch box. It was on a nearby column, just like in the Superdome. He flipped the switches, one by one. These didn't cut the power. Although the thrumming of the servers continued, Tad knew their update loop into the sim had been interrupted. Even if InLink flipped these switches back on, they wouldn't have central hub access without a handshake with Christian's machine, and that authorization wouldn't be coming. They were effectively locked out.

  Tad smiled at his success just before the central hub station emitted a loud alarm.

  Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

  Oh no. He hadn't spun down the hub and it must have been set up to emergency alert under fail conditions. Tad hopped over and hammered at the keyboard. He managed to shut the alarm off. Unfortunately, instead of returning to the silent hum of the servers, soldiers outside were barking orders.

  They'd heard him.

  "What's in there?" they called out. They pounded on the door. "Anyone inside? This is the fire department. We're here to save you." More pounding.

  Tad knew they weren't with the fire department. Now he wondered if his first brush with the authorities was phony as well.

  The banging on the door grew more urgent. "Step aside," said a soldier. He hit the door handle directly. Tad's side of the door shook at the impact. The sound of a tool hammering the handle continued. Tad ducked behind a table.

>   Suddenly, the lights went off. A few of the consoles beside him went black.

  "What was that?" called a guard.

  "The police shut off power to the building."

  Yellow emergency lights lit the room with a soft glow. The servers were still humming, running on backup power. In fact, most essential systems in the studio would be unaffected. Given the nature of Haven, Kablammy had several stages of power backups.

  "Check the windows!" ordered an operative. "Then get Case over here with his club. We need what's in this room."

  Tad braced behind his cover and checked Abbie's pistol. He only had two bullets.

  2110 Pitfall

  Orik lumbered through the Godsbog, forcing me to back away from the warfare. At this point the soldiers were pretty much on cruise control. I hurried a few minor adjustments. I advanced the right field to cut into the Violet Order while pulling my cavalry back to hold the flank. I redistributed the catechists and heavies for a balanced defense as the frost giant lifted Izzy from the ground and backtracked toward me. I opened up brigade chat, which communicated to every single member of the Black Hats.

  Talon: Hold strong, advance against the biggest threats, and at all costs do not allow the Violet Order to breach the Godsbog.

  I turned from the fight and stepped toward the wetlands where my reserve units waited. A crew of boggarts, including the witches; goblin shamans, now deprived of their general; and wildkins, notably the warden of the Blackwood and his prisoners.