Bridge Quest

by Pdmac

  Once the watch was set, conversations dwindled and they drifted off to sleep. Karl peeked into the bedroom and smiled to see the mattress on the floor with three dwarves sleeping sideways across it. He tiptoed amongst the stretched out bodies, ensuring all were getting some sleep before he found a spot and stretched out on the floor.

  He was tired, but his mind wouldn’t let him sleep. The chocolate aroma had dissipated, replaced with subtle bouquet of flowers, the smell intensifying to a cloying level. His body began to feel the heaviness of a body before it settles into deep sleep. It was the tug on his boot that startled him and caused him to sit up.

  There, in the dim rippling light of the torch stuck in the wall, his groggy brain tried to focus on the small black bodies scurrying around the room. Another yank on his foot caused him to look down as a spider, the size of a small poodle, lifted his leg to wrap a sticky silk around his ankles.

  Without thinking, though still drowsy, he lifted his sword and thrust at the black body, piercing it and causing it to shriek out in a high-pitched squeal, black gooey blood pouring out onto the floor, the odor foul and retching.

  The screech jolted him awake and he yelled as he sliced through the webbing. Rapidly assessing the scene, he saw dozens of spiders working their webbing on the others. One body was already being hauled up the chimney.

  Leaping up, sword in hand, he grabbed the torch and attacked, stabbing and slicing and waving the torch around. Suddenly he felt another by his side, and he twisted his head to see Sakura, stiletto blades in hand, stabbing and cutting.

  The cacophony of spider shrieks pierced the drug induced slumber and shook the others awake. A few of them struggled to free their hands and arms which had been wrapped in spider silk. Others, not yet bound, sliced through their bonds and freed those wrapped up then attacked, forcing the spiders to back up towards the chimney where only the web-wrapped head of their victim now showed.

  Unable to escape up the chimney and cornered by the players, the spiders swarmed forward in an attempt to get to the front door. Recognizing their assault objective, Conrad and Wendell spread themselves across the door and swung their hammers, smashing and crushing the spiders.

  Unfortunately, by the time the last spider was dispatched, the body was up the chimney. Karl raced to the door and yanked it open only to discover that mist enveloped the land. Any effort in rescuing the poor player in the chimney would endanger the rest of the group. With a growl of frustration, he closed and barred the door.

  “Who did we lose?” he asked, taking a head count.

  “Jill the dwarf,” Dieter grimly answered.

  “No!” Conrad and Wendell cried in unison. Jill and Kendra were female dwarves and the objects of their growing attention. Jill’s departure meant the two friends were now vying for the lone lady dwarf.

  “There’s nothing we can do about it,” Karl responded. “She’ll respawn in Marbeck, which reminds me. We need to change our bind spots, but I do not recommend changing it to here.” He then turned to Dieter and Sakura. “Who had watch?”

  “Carole and Jill,” Sakura replied.

  Karl turned a questioning eye upon Carole who awkwardly shrugged. “I don’t know what happened. Jill and I were near the front door, quietly talking, and the next thing I remember there were spiders everywhere. But I do remember there was this smell, like some sort of flower and I said something to Jill about it. Then all of a sudden we were fighting spiders.”

  “Some kind of sleep inducing drug?” Sakura offered.

  Karl remembered the sweet bouquet and nodded. “Most likely. That means we need to be doubly aware. Break up the table and chairs to use as firewood. I want a fire in that fireplace.”

  Dieter smashed the table with the flat of his ax then ripped apart the chairs. Piling the debris into the fireplace, he turned to Annabeth. “Got anything to start a fire?”

  Annabeth blinked for a moment then accessed her skills chart. “I do. I have a spark skill.” Pointing her finger at the pile of broken furniture, she uttered, “Spark.” A crack of energy flicked from her finger onto the wood, which burst into flames. With a loopy grin, she looked down at her finger then back to Dieter who replied with a chuckle and a nod.

  The stench of the dead spiders was overpowering and Karl snatched one up by the legs, unbarred the door and tossed it out. Needing no urging, the others did the same thing, occasionally stabbing a not-quite-dead-yet spider before tossing them out the door. After the last spider was disposed of, Karl again barred the door.

  Though the spiders were gone, the stink remained.

  “I can’t breathe,” Wendell complained.

  Karl assessed the likelihood of anyone getting sleep with the fetid miasma. “Open a window and the door. Whoever has a pipe, now would be a good time to light up.”

  Congratulations: You have defeated the Spiders of Ravnar.

  You’ve received: Experience.

  You’ve received: Leadership +4 points.

  You’ve received: Sleeping potion resistance +2 points.

  “Damn it,” Karl muttered, punching the screen off.

  Despite the open door and windows, it took over an hour for the chocolate aroma to overwhelm the spider odor. By then, they realized there was little floor space that was not sticky with spider blood.

  “How am I supposed to sleep?” Conrad moaned as the door and widows were closed. “This stuff is all over the place.”

  “Do your best,” Karl said. “And that goes for everyone else. Find a spot and get some sleep. Same schedule for the watch.”

  Karl slept little that night, reminding him of the days when he was in the military and an hour or two of sleep was enough to carry out a mission. That worked fine for a couple of days, but by the end of a week, his body crashed and he slept hard. But his mind was too active and the adrenaline was still pumping through his veins. He envied those folks who could go fall asleep anywhere under any conditions.

  His was sitting in the corner, head on his forearms, resting on his knees when he woke. Daylight rimmed the window facing the sea. Looking around, others were still asleep except for the two on watch. Standing, he stretched then worked his way towards the door, stepping over bodies. Quietly unbarring and opening the door, he gazed out and could see the hazy forms of trees in the morning mist, knowing it would burn off quickly now.

  Turning, he looked at the two on watch. “Go ahead and get everyone up. It’s time to move out.”

  It wasn’t long before they were all outside, munching on jerky or coming back from a visit to the woods to relieve themselves. By the time the mist burned off in the morning, they were itching to be on their way.

  Karl consulted his personal screen map and compared it to the maps found in the house. He kneeled and spread one map on the ground. The two team leaders along with Raquel, Annabeth, and Sakura kneeled around the map.

  “As far as I can tell,” he said, “we should reach Abeloft today.” Using his finger, he traced the road between the house and the town. “We’ll rest up for a day or two, restock supplies then move on. Gnoll positions are here, here and here.” He placed a finger at each spot ensuring they saw the places were close to the road. “Gnolls are nocturnal, so we shouldn’t have any problems. However, let’s not assume. Same order of march, unless you two need a break,” he said, addressing Raquel and Annabeth.

  “We’re fine,” they replied.

  Collecting up the maps, Karl circled his finger in the air then pointed down the road. Raquel and Annabeth took point again and the group moved out.

  It was late afternoon when the two women on point called a halt. Karl came forward and looked to where Annabeth pointed. The forest was clearing to an edge and he could see a large walled town in the distance. It looked much like Marbeck. Pulling up his screen, he read the blurb about Abeloft.

  Abeloft: also Abetolft, a town on the coastal region midway between Marbeck and Hulgard. Once a significant trading center due do proximity to a deep water port, the town
fell into decline as a result of the Ocean Wars and the destruction of the port. Abeloft (original name Abetolft) was built by the Nevlings, a mixed race of elves and men during the middle kingdom as a trading center and outpost. During the Ocean Wars, the town suffered numerous attacks, changing hands at least a dozen times before finding itself forgotten as the Wars moved on to other islands…

  Karl scanned the rest of it for it sounded the same as Marbeck. Looking around at the rest of the group, he nodded and motioned for them to proceed, but be cautious.

  The lay of the land looked familiar as did the city walls and main gate, and Karl swore the developers had simply transplanted Marbeck to here. As they drew close to the gate, traffic increased. Most noticeable were farmers’ carts, drawn by slow oxen. Having sold their produce and purchased needed supplies, they were headed home.

  Yet there was a difference as the group approached the gate. The farmers and other pedestrians regarded the newcomers with surprise and curiosity. One farmer’s curiosity got the better of him and he drew back on the reins to halt his wagon.

  “Where’d ya all come from?”

  “From Marbeck,” Raquel replied.

  “Marbeck?” he repeated, his jaw dropping. “Honest?”

  “Yes, honest,” she smiled.

  He stared at her, as though waiting for the punchline.

  “Is that a problem?” she asked.

  “Other than ain’t’ no one come from there since long afore I was born.” He then peered intently at her and at the others who came up to listen, his head titling back when Dieter stood next to his wagon. “Hot damn. We ain’t ever had yer kind here. Wait’ll I tell the missus. C’mon,” he exclaimed, wheeling his wagon around. “We gotta let them know yer here.”

  They waited for him to turn the wagon around then followed behind. Once within hailing distance of the gate guards, the farmer called out, “They’re here. They’re here. Go tell the burgomaster. They’re here.”

  The two gate guards had already sized up the visitors and had sent a runner to alert the town’s leadership. As the group entered the gate, the burgomaster, a plump little man wearing the medallion of office suspended from a chain around his neck, bustled up, three aldermen following on his heels.

  “Welcome, welcome,” he expansively greeted them. “Welcome to our little slice of heaven. Will you be staying long?” he asked with a hopeful smile.

  “Long enough to rest and get some supplies,” Karl answered.

  “Yes, yes, of course,” he said, his smile a permanent fixture. “We have numerous outstanding establishments to meet your every need. You’ll be wanting a place to stay, no doubt.”

  “Yes,” Karl replied with a smile, wondering why this man was being so obsequious.

  “Excellent, excellent,” he grinned, bobbing his head. “We have all sorts to choose from, from the simple lodging for those preferring the simple taste, to those with exquisite furnishings and the finest food. Which do you prefer?”

  “Good food and a soft bed,” Conrad loudly observed.

  “Quite right, quite right,” the burgomaster readily agreed, causing Karl to wonder if the man always spoke in pairs. Snapping his head around to gaze at the aldermen, the burgomaster lowered his voice and asked, “Where should we send these fine folks?”

  The three aldermen were actually two men and a woman who did their best to hide looks of guilt as they pretended to ponder and offer suggestions until one said, “Humphrey’s Haven,” upon which the other two agreed with unbridled enthusiasm.

  “Of course, of course,” the burgomaster said flipping a hand. “Why didn’t I think of that?” Turning to Karl, he grinned most ingratiatingly. “Humphrey’s Haven has heavenly…” he paused and giggled. “Listen to me. I’m just too full of alliteration. But, to the point, Humphrey’s Haven has everything you need, and at good prices too.”

  “Sounds good,” Karl said, amused with this strange little man. Before he could ask how to find it, the burgomaster pointed down the main street.

  “Straight on through the city. Go around the square and keep going straight. Humphrey’s Haven is on your left just past the square. Once again, welcome to Abeloft.” Spinning around he flapped his hands at the aldermen, shooshing them away. “Come, come. Let’s let these good people get settled.”

  Karl watched the aldermen skitter away, the burgomaster herding them like a mother hen. Chuckling, he looked over his shoulder and said, “Let’s go find Humphrey.”

  Finding Humphrey’s Haven was easy. It was the walk there that caused them to feel self-conscious for as they made their way past the numerous busy shops and vendor stalls, crowds parted while merchants and customers paused their transactions and emerged out into the street to silently stare at the visitors. Dieter seemed to receive a disproportionate share of looks, all of them impressed and pleased with his size.

  The murmuring started as soon as they passed, and followed them like a ripple. By the time they arrived at the tavern, a sizeable crowd had grown and tailed along behind them, stopping when Karl and company stopped at the tavern’s door.

  Karl turned and saw the wonder and excitement in their eyes, and the unmasked adoration for Dieter. “Thank you for escorting us here,” Karl spoke. “You all have a great rest of the day.”

  Walking into the tavern, Raquel leaned in to Karl and whispered, “What the hell was that all about?”

  “Haven’t a clue.”

  Humphrey’s Haven was laid out like the Widow’s Pantry in Marbeck. Even the serving girls looked the same. Humphrey, the proprietor, was a bald rotund man whose apparent passion was food and wine. His wide grin as they entered told Karl that they were expected.

  “Welcome, my friends. Please come in,” Humphrey enthused. “Pick a place, find a seat. Sit, sit. I’ll bring you the finest food and ale in Abeloft.”

  There were few patrons in the tavern, yet their faces reflected the same fervor as those outside. With practiced ease, Annabeth and Raquel headed for the corner table, Conrad and Wendell tagging along. Karl stood back to allow everyone to get settled before ambling over to the seat Raquel had saved for him.

  In short order, Humphrey and his serving girls were hauling out plates filled with fresh bread, cheeses, steaming meats, and mugs brimming with cold ale. And just as quickly, the noise in the room rose as more patrons filled the tavern, prompting retelling tales of spiders and gnolls.

  A serving girl in a low-scooped peasant blouse deposited another ale in front of Karl.

  “How much?” he asked, turning to gaze up at her. Like the girl in Marbeck, she was probably in her early twenties, with long blond hair and Nordic skin and features, and the usual quite attractive and buxom.

  “This is all part of the room price,” she relied, her voice warm and pleasant. “You are staying aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then this is included.”

  “All the ale I can drink?” he teased.

  “Uh, no,” she smiled. “The first one is included. After that, it’s added to your bill.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” she sweetly replied, laying a tender hand on his shoulder, a move more than subtly sensual.

  As she sashayed away, Karl looked around the room and wondered if all the taverns in the game looked the same, and all the tavern girls looked the same. If so, he’d have to figure out a way to notify the developers to expand the characters.

  Humphrey came over to the table, wiping his hands on his apron. “I count fourteen of you,” he smiled a toothy grin. “How long will you be staying?”

  Karl shifted a glance between Raquel and Annabeth who both held up two fingers.

  “Two nights.”

  “It’s one silver and ten coppers per night, food included, one ale per meal. Anything more is extra, including the girls, so please treat them well. I’ll have your room assignments in a few minutes. How’s the food?”

  “Excellent,” Karl acknowledged.

  “T
hank you.”

  As Humphrey waddled away, the serving girl approached, her hips swaying seductively. Placing the ale on the table, she winked at him.

  “Here you are, sir.” She locked her gaze on him and demurely smiled.

  “But I haven’t finished this one yet,” he said with a smile, holding up his mug.

  “This one’s on me.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” he said, smiling back at her and placing five copper coins on the table. “In appreciation for your thoughtfulness.”

  She bent over at the hips to slowly and deliberately scoop up the coins, allowing the low cut peasant blouse to dip away from her chest, fully exposing her firm breasts. She smirked when she saw Conrad nearly fall out of his chair, vainly leaning over to catch a glimpse. Giving him a wink, she paused long enough to allow him a lingering view before sauntering away.

  “Just damn,” Conrad moaned. “Why doesn’t anything like that happen to me?”

  “Because you’re a goofy dwarf,” Raquel smirked, though staring at Karl.

  Humphrey came back before Conrad had time to think of a snappy reply. “Here are the rooms for you and your friends,” he said handing Karl a list with names, room numbers, and a handful of keys with number tags on them. “Please remind them that when they go out to leave the key at the desk there.”

  “Will do,” he replied, suddenly feeling tired.

  Annabeth plucked the list out of his hands and read through the names and locations then handed it to Raquel. “I’m room 315.” She stood and stretched then held out her hand for the key. “I need a nice hot bath.”

  “Need someone to scrub your back?” Conrad chirped.

  Annabeth flashed him a patronizing smile. “Remember what I said about wet dreams?” Turning to Karl, she asked, “What’re we doing tomorrow?”

  “Take the day off. Relax,” he answered.