Lewd Kingdoms: Shadow's Edge: A High Fantasy Digital Adventure Read online

  Lewd Kingdoms

  Shadow’s Edge

  Book 1

  A Lewd Saga Adventure

  Eden Redd

  Lewd Kingdoms: Shadow’s Edge: A Lewd Saga Adventure © copyright 2018 Eden Redd

  All Rights Reserved

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  “Obsessed by a fairy tale, we spend our lives searching for a magic door and a lost kingdom of peace.” ~ Eugene O’Neil

  *Lewd Kingdoms: Shadow’s Edge is book one in a three-book trilogy taking place in the sensual high fantasy VRMMORPG Lewd Saga. You do not have to read the previous books in the series but there are references from the mythology, events and some of the characters and their adventures.

  Please enjoy the epic adventure.

  ~Eden

  Follow the links below to the Lewd Saga Series. They’re arranged in the correct order to read.

  Lewd Saga Adventures

  Lewd Knights

  Lewd Knight 2.0: Middle Kingdoms

  Lewd Paladin: Shadow of Fate

  Lewd Necromancer: Raiding Hearts

  Lewd Rogue: Golden Desires

  Lewd Dragon: Bright Storm

  Lewd Knight 3.0: Serpent Horizon

  Lewd Paladin: Dread of Night

  Lewd Shadowmancer: The Concubine Contract

  Lewd Rogue: Master’s Coin

  Or buy the 7-book collection in one omnibus

  Lewd Saga Omnibus: 7 Book Collection

  One

  Edric breathed a sigh of relief as he passed through the main gate of Lythor city. The guards stood at attention, eyeing him for a brief instant before turning their gaze to several more bodies just passing through. The sky turned dark amber as the setting sun painted the tops of towers and keeps in a dying light. The very air seemed to sigh as the sun continued to slip lower along the western horizon, a chilly comfort taking hold.

  Edric walked along, basking in the evening mood. Lanterns were hung from open windows and the gentle touch of a flame on wicks glowed with a welcoming radiance. The player’s back relaxed and a small smile filled the edges of his mouth as citizens emerged for evening’s supper and drinks.

  The player was thankful to be safely behind city walls before night truly fell. Even in the dragon kingdoms, night was not a time for young adventurers. The world beyond civilization was cruel and unyielding, especially after dark. Edric didn’t want to take a chance for he was happy he had not died yet. Being new to the game of Lewd Saga, he played it carefully and by the numbers. Barely a month into the game and he managed to join a guild in record time before going on low level adventures.

  The summoner let out a long sigh as he thought back to the guild interview. They looked at him like he was crazy, joining a guild when he barely had anything to bring to the table. The player knew that his class was a support class and wouldn’t last long on his own. After he created his character, it was obvious he was at a clear disadvantage. Instead of running off to find sensual encounters, he looked at the numbers and knew he needed to work fast, set a solid foundation and create friendships, or he would be cut down the moment he left the newbie areas.

  Caspian, leader of the Hyperion Guild, eyed Edric like he was the most foolish gamer he ever met. Edric knew he had to make an impression as quickly as possible or they would laugh and kick him back out onto the streets like the rest of the low level trash. Before Caspian could finish his sentence, Edric was quick to outline a plan of how he could contribute gold to the guild if they escorted him to one of the dragon cities. Caspian’s brow went up as Edric talked like his back was on fire and the guild leader held the only bucket of water for miles. The player explained that even the low level monsters around the dragon cities dropped higher quantities of gold and loot then the starting human kingdoms. He promised he would grind, perfect the system and hand over twenty five percent of his earnings if they allowed him in the guild and provided protection.

  Caspian let out a deep laugh before asking Edric to wait outside while he conferred with his captains. It took less than five minutes for them to call him back in and agree to a limited trial to see if his plan would work. Edric smiled knowing that was all he needed. The guild leader assigned three of his best fighters to accompany Edric to the city of Lythor and off they went.

  The summoner enjoyed the trip northward, knowing full well his prior research paid off. The player had spent his time putting together a plan before he even logged onto Lewd Saga, knowing time was of the essence. In the first few days, he was lucky enough to snare his monster companion, Leeta. With her by his side, he knew he had the best chance of farming gold and cementing his ties to the guild.

  Reaching Lythor, the plan slowly fell into place. The first few days had Edric scouting out the areas close to the city and recording the few monsters he encountered. His armed escort went along to keep an eye on him but after a few hours, they grew bored following the summoner. After a day, they abandoned him in the outskirts of the city so they could pursue their primal desires at the local brothels. Since they were connected as a party, they would receive an alert if he was in trouble. Edric was fine with his fellow guild mates leaving as it gave him a quiet freedom to explore his plans.

  The summoner knew his plan was going to work when he encountered his first dire wolf. The monster didn’t hesitate as it rushed the lone player in the nearby woods. Calling Leeta, she quickly dispatched the monster with two swings of her large spiked mace. When the dire wolf shattered into a greenish light, coins and a gem littered the grassy floor. Edric grinned when he saw the loot drop was better than expected. Knowing full well that even low-level monsters would drop higher loot just for being by a dragon city, he and Leeta went to work.

  Edric became laser focused as he and Leeta chased down dire wolves, one after the other. The work was mindless as they smashed wolf after wolf. The enemy monsters dropped coins, gems and wolf pelts. Edric gathered while Leeta chased after others. The player knew if he kept to a single vision, he would prove how valuable he was to the guild. Thinking of them as he followed Leeta, he knew they would be a hungry guild eager for some extra coin. They sent players constantly to fight against the trolls in the Middle Kingdoms. They tried to make a name for themselves and fighting the enemy was one of the best ways to do it. But like any war machine, they required gold, a lot of it.

  When Edric sent the twenty five percent of his first haul, he didn’t think much of it as he continued to patrol the outskirts of the city and kill wolves. It didn’t take long before he received a note from Caspian about the great job. Edric quickly wrote down his patterns on a scroll and sent it with his next haul. Caspian wrote back that he was going to send newbie guild mates to him to train. It had become a new requirement for weaker guild mates to earn their keep by farming gold to support the guild.

  Edric walked along the Lythor Street with a certain kind of pride. It was only a week ago when he received his first three recruits and put them to work. The spawn points changed but the number of dire wolves in the area seemed to stay the same. With a team of players working, the gold began to flow. The player reasoned that most players fell to their baser desires when they entered the game. If he could stay on task with no distractions, he could earn his fortune and move onto his next plan.

  The summoner turned a corner and walked down a thin street. Shops lined the left and right of him, lanterns casting their light on hanging signs. Calling up his gold count, he had already amassed six figures in just over a month. If he kept at it, along with a small percentage from the new recruits, he would be close to a million in anoth
er few weeks. The thought shined in his mind as he turned and entered a small alley.

  The light dimmed around him except for a small lantern lit over a rather nondescript door. The player walked along the alley until he reached the door. Hand taking hold of the doorknob, he turned it and stepped right in. Comforting warmth washed over the player as he closed the door behind him. The shop was small but filled with fine suits, dresses, hats and pretty baubles. A small counter was toward the back of the shop and a curtain parted as a figure stepped out.

  Edric walked slowly as the shop keeper let the curtain fall behind her, a warm smile forming and eyes taking on a bright shine. The player’s heart pulsed a little faster as he crossed the small shop and stood before the counter.

  “Edric, so good to see you again, what do you have for me today?” The shop keeper beamed.

  “Wolf pelts as usual,” Edric smiled, looking to the shop keeper as his hand dug into his satchel.

  Edric found it surreal how entrancing Elora’s beauty glowed. The shop keeper had long brown hair and the deepest purple eyes he had ever seen. Her skin was flawless and her smile infectious. High cheekbones and slender neck gave her a classic beauty mixed with a girl next door aura. Edric knew the game played to a player’s desires and he couldn’t resist the allure of the beautiful shop keeper. He questioned if it was scripted specifically that he would meet her or just dumb luck. As the player pulled out wolf pelts, he quickly realized he didn’t care. He just wanted to enjoy the company.

  Edric placed the pelts on the counter and Elora picked them up, giving them a quick inspection.

  “These are wonderful. I’m sure I’ll move them quickly,” Elora said as fingers moved through the thick fur.

  “There seems to be a high demand for dire wolf pelts,” Edric said out loud as he drank in Elora’s radiance.

  Elora nodded, “Yes, it’s odd. Some of my customers are asking to look like Jon Snow, whoever that is. They want their cloaks and capes to have the finest wolf fur stitched into them. Dire wolf pelts are often the best for that look.”

  Edric nodded as he leaned forward, eyes on the shop keeper, “Business must be good then.”

  Elora gave him a kind glance, “It has. As long as you keep bringing me pelts and the demand is high, we should be in business for a long time.”

  The player smiled. He knew she was a Non-Player Character but the interaction flowed so well, he found himself entranced.

  Elora put the pelts down, her hand brushing Edric’s forearm as he leaned against the counter. “How long will you be staying in Lythor?”

  “I’m not sure. Maybe another month,” Edric said.

  Elora nodded, “A month? Most barely stay for such extended periods. Not that I’m complaining but I can’t believe you’re here to simply hunt wolves and bring me their pelts.”

  Edric smiled. “Maybe I just like visiting you,” the player flirted.

  The player did like bringing her pelts. It spoke to him on a deeper level, a need to be useful, and perhaps a touch of personal interest that he didn’t think he had time for.

  Elora reached down below the counter, her eyes still on Edric. Straightening her back, she placed several stacks of gold on the counter before the summoner. Pushing it forward, her hand lingered as Edric reached forward to take the gold. Fingers brushed against each other and Edric noticed his face glowing hot. Taking the coins, he dumped them in his satchel but kept his hand inside.

  “It’s beautiful outside of the city walls. On one of my hunts, I saw this and had to bring it to you,” Edric said, pulling something from his satchel.

  Elora’s eyes widened as the summoner pulled out a flower with pointed petals. Its colors blended pinks and purples and seemed to shift in the light. Handing it over, Elora took the flower and held it before her, eyes drinking in its beauty.

  Edric continued, “I remembered you telling me the story when you first arrived here to set up your shop. I couldn’t help but remember you describing this flower. Since I found it, I thought I’d pluck one and bring it to you, just a little appreciation for our business arrangement.”

  The shop keeper’s eyes seemed to glow as she gazed down on the flower before clutching it to her chest. Cheeks glowing a pale pink, she looked to Edric with a sliver of timid determination.

  “Thank you Edric. This is a wonderful gift.”

  Edric smiled. He had been visiting her for weeks but he never saw such a human display of emotion. She acted like a living person would and it caused the player to grin like an idiot. He had heard the stories of people in the real world falling in love with people or monsters in the game but this was the first time he fully understood it. It touched him in a way he couldn’t fully describe. He wanted to say it was magical but his mind wouldn’t let him believe it. His heart on the other hand was beating a little faster.

  Elora placed the flower on the counter and stared into Edric’s eyes, “I’m closing up shop in an hour. I could use some company for dinner.”

  Edric’s grin broadened. “That….that sounds really good,” the summoner stammered.

  The shop keeper let out a small giggle, melting the player’s heart.

  Edric stood up from the counter and tried to pull himself together, “I need to hit a few more shops before they close. I can come back in an hour and we can see where the evening takes us.”

  Elora nodded, “That sounds perfect.”

  Edric nodded, feeling a little odd. Turning and stepping away, all he could think about was selling the rest of his loot and rushing back. When he reached the door, the player glanced back to see Elora’s smiling face. With a quick wave, the player stepped out into the alley and walked toward the street. Heat climbed his neck as he tried to fight off the small confusion taking hold. Silently he laughed at himself for just being invited on a date with a NPC.

  Stepping out onto the small street, the player looked up at the clear evening sky. The sun had set and stars twinkled into view. The warmth filling his body and the cool night air on his skin blended together, filling the moment with possibilities. Eyes closing, he basked in it until the sound of wings filled the air. Edric opened his eyes and they widened as a large dragon flew overhead.

  Leathery wings flapped against the air as the giant creature disappeared past the edge of a roof. Not a moment later, another dragon flew past, followed by another. Edric took a few more steps into the middle of the thin street when roars echoed. Another dragon flew past, fire dripping from its maw before it took a breath and blasted out a stream of fire. Edric stood transfixed as several more dragons glided past, all of them spitting fire. The player never heard of such a display before. The dragon kingdoms were peaceful if the fighting stayed to the south.

  Words scrolled across Edric’s vision:

  The Long Night has begun! All of Lukken is a PvP zone. Death will be a 3-day lock out of Lewd Saga.

  “May the land, seas and stars fill with the blood of my enemies!”

  The first hint of screams rose up like a dark cloud. Edric’s demeanor shifted as his mind immediately went to Elora. Hand reaching into his satchel, fingers curled around a single stone. Pulling his hand out, he checked his stats as he began a summoning spell.

  Edric Temple

  Summoner

  Hit Points- 60/60

  Mana- 100/100

  Armor- 5

  Strength-12(+1)

  Intelligence- 16(+2)

  Wisdom- 10(+1)

  Dexterity- 13(+1)

  Stamina- 15(+2)

  Charisma- 15(+2)

  Spell Abilities

  Charm- 22

  Snare- 22

  Channel- (+STR/HP/DEX)

  Lock Stones (1)

  Leeta (Ogre)- HP-220/220

  Spells

  Summoning Spell- 10 Mana

  Light Spell- 5 Mana

  Primary Skills

  Spell Casting- 20

  Spell Craft- 12

  Gem Craft- 12

  Rune Craft- 12

 
Enchantment- 12

  Melee- 11

  Wilderness Lore- 11

  Equipment

  Whip- 5 to 9 damage

  Dark Green Robe- 5 Armor

  An incantation filled the area as the stone in Edric’s hand began to glow. The faint carved image on the stone pulsated with power. A moment later, it flashed, an arcane circle appearing on the cobblestone street. A figure rose up, raven black hair flowing in the breeze and a white horn gleaming in the lantern light.

  Edric looked to Leeta as her form rose up and she stepped onto the street. The ogre turned to her master and bowed before standing straight up. From a leather belt, she pulled her spiked mace and held it at the ready as another dragon flew overhead, spitting fire.

  Leeta stood at seven feet tall. A black dress covered some of her form from her neck, down to her ankles. It adhered to her Amazonian body, tanned skin showing along bare arms and legs. A slit ran down from the hip to the bottom of the dress, giving her free movement. The ogre’s large chest bounced against tight fabric as she shifted on her feet, golden yellow eyes searching for a threat.

  “Leeta, stay here and guard the area. I’ll be back,” Edric instructed as he turned back to the alley.

  The ogre nodded just as patrons and shop keepers spilled into the street, looking to see what was causing all the noise. No one noticed or cared about the ogre in the street. The screams and roars sent a sliver of panic through the gathering crowd. Another dragon flew by but something flashed from the opposite direction and slammed into the dragon’s chest. The crowd along the street gasped as the dragon spiraled through the air, its chest open and light spilling out before it fell past the rooftops and out of sight. A mighty “BOOOM!” filled the night.

  Edric raced down the thin alley to Elora’s shop. Slamming the door open, he watched as the shop keeper rose up from behind the counter, eyes wide.