Copyright J.B. Norman
The first ever bounty the Lyte Brigade has taken from the Guild Authority is for the capture of the infamous villain Lars the Lightning Lord, a renegade wizard specialising in lightning magic. Also, robbery and extortion.
The six bold young adventurers have chased Lars the Lightning back to his lair and prepare for their showdown with the wizard.
“I have a good feeling about this,” Nolan says.
“Ugh,” Amara groans. “Nolan. Have your good feelings ever ended well? You say good feeling, and then we end up all running and screaming.”
“Well, what about that time we all went fishing?” Nolan offers. “That was fun, wasn’t it?”
“You dropped me into the harbour!” Amara protests.
“Ahem,” Lars the Lightning Lord says, impatiently tapping his foot.
“Oh, yeah,” Nolan says. “Him.”
“Him?” the Lightning repeats indignantly. “I am Lars the Lighting Lord, the Lord of Lightning!”
“Uh huh,” Matilda says sceptically.
“According to the files about you from the Guild Authority, your real name is Truman Nathaniel Halvorsen,” Amara says.
“The Third,” Pela adds.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the wizard mutters bashfully. “For, you see, my name is Lars the Lightning Lord!”
“Look, it doesn’t matter what your name is,” Matilda says. “I’m embarrassed to be using magic just by being here, so let’s get this over with.”
“He really does talk too much,” Falcata says.
“Stop me? You fools!” Lars the Lightning Lord exclaims as the Lyte Brigade approaches. “You foolish fools! You’ll never fool me!”
“Wait. What?” Matilda says, blinking at the wizard.
“Don’t just stand there!” Amara cries. “He’s channelling a spell. Stop him!”
The Lyte Brigade advances.
“Now, metal armour probably isn’t the best thing to be wearing fighting a lightning wizard, is it?” Tancred mutters.
Pela shrugs.
“Worry about yourselves,” she says. “I’m short. Lightning hits tall things. I’ll be fine.”
“You fools!” Lars the Lightning Lord cries.
“You already said that,” Matilda notes.
“Feel the power of my Lightning Maaaaaaaaaaaagic!” the wizard cries, flinging a magic bolt of lightning at the six members of the Lyte Brigade.
The wizard’s lightning bolt sails through the air, passes over Pela’s head and strikes Nolan.
There’s a flash, a sound of surging electricity as the lighting blasts Nolan through the air. The rest of the Lyte Brigade rushes to the aid of their Captain.
“Ow,” Nolan groans as he staggers to his feet.
“Lyte Brigade. Move out.”
“Are you alright, Nolan?” Falcata asks.
“Well, I taste Smooth, I can smell Plaid, and I think I’m hearing Salty,” Nolan says. “But we need to stop this guy.”
“You fools can’t possibly stop me,” Lars the Lightning Lord cries. “For, you see, I am Lars the Lightning Lord.”
“You’re, uh, you’re smouldering, Captain,” Tancred says. “Should we do something about that? I’m sure we can get a bucket of sand, or something”
For once, Pela is actually glad she’s short.
“See?” she says. “I told you guys I’m statistically the least likely to get struck by lightning…”
I’ve said this before, but if there’s ever a Realmgard video game, Pela’s unique character ability will be that when she’s targeted with a Lightning-element attack while standing near somebody taller, it will hit them instead.
You can read about the adventures of the Lyte Brigade in Charge of the Lyte Brigade and Charge of the Lyte Brigade.
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