by Paul Bellow
“I don’t know why I’ve been keeping it from you,” she said. “But something happened back in Fishguard.”
“Did you find Josh or something?” I asked.
She shook her head.
“No, but I ran into another player character,” she said.
I sat down on the bed next to her, staring down at the floor.
“You don’t seem too surprised,” she said. “Did you know the game had other players? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know,” I said. “But I just met one too. He gave me a hack for leveling. Apparently, originally you could only increase levels by finding an NPC trainer.”
I paused, then added. “Thanks for taking the OOC penalty, by the way.”
“No problem,” she said. “This game is getting on my nerves.”
I frowned, knowing what she meant.
“What kind of character did you run into?” I asked.
“A wizard,” she said. “Rizzo the Red.”
“What a messed up name,” I said.
“Right?” She shook her head. “I have a bad feeling about the other players in this game. They’re all so...odd.”
“The guy I met wasn’t too bad,” I said. “He gave me a sweet hack and something else...”
Sarah raised an eyebrow and asked, “Oh? Is it about player versus player mode?”
I tilted my head to the left.
“Huh?”
“The other player attacked me,” she said. “This game is getting real.”
I took a deep breath.
“Gord-En told me that Benji might be a player trapped as an NPC.”
She scrunched up her face in confusion.
“When you die,” I continued. “You respawn as an NPC, and you stay that way until players let you into a group.”
“That’s why he’s been so anxious to get with us,” she said. “We should invite him to join our party.”
I frowned.
“Gord-En didn’t think that was smart,” I said.
“You’re going to trust a stranger over the person that’s been adventuring with us?” she asked then shook her head.
“I don’t know,” I said. “This game is getting complicated. Let’s wait a bit longer before we let him in our group.”
Sarah sighed and turned away.
“We’ll get out of here,” I said, putting a hand on her arm. “Promise.”
Even as I spoke the words, I wasn’t sure how we’d get out of the game. My father would return eventually, but how long would it take?
“The game is cool,” she said. “But you know I hate PvP. Something about this game creeps me out. I felt a strange urge to not tell you about my encounter with another PC, and now we know that even death isn’t a way out out of this hot mess of a game.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “We’ll clear this level by finishing this quest and get back to the tower. There should be a way to get out of the game. If not, we stay there in the tower until my father gets home. I doubt we’ll need food or water or anything. We’re probably missing something stupid, and that’s why we can’t quit.”
“Will your father be angry with us?” she asked.
I nodded and said, “Probably, but we can worry about that later. I want to make sure we’re both safe first.”
“All three of us,” she said. “And anyone else caught in here.”
I kept nodding to assure her and myself.
“This game needs a bit of work before it’s released to the public,” she said. “It’s way too restrictive on the players.”
“If it’s even a normal game,” I said. “We should stop with the OOC. The timer is running out.”
She stood and stretched.
“I could go for some more bacon,” she said.
“That sounds good…”
We went downstairs and found a table in the main dining room. I still had more energy than I knew what to do with—thanks to the potion.
Benji walked up and sat down, grinning knowingly at me from across the table. I nervously rearranged my glass and plate.
Had he taken the potion as an NPC before? Or was he a player?
“We need to come up with a game plan,” Sarah said.
“He shouldn’t be too hard to find, with a name like Snargao the Impatient,” Benji said. “Then again, I’ve never met him.”
“Did you say Snargao?” a female voice behind us asked.
I leaned over to look between Benji and Sarah.
A female gnome with braided, copper-colored hair and wearing hide armor sat nearby. The battle-ax on the floor beside her look well used.
“Yeah,” I said. “Do you know him?”
“I know I want to kill him,” she said.
“Oh?” I motioned her over to our table. “Come sit. We should talk.”
The gnome stood then stepped over to our table. She sat down next to me. I noticed a heavy shield strapped to her back.
“We’re looking for Snargao too,” I said. “Do you want to help us find him? We’d love to have you join us.”
“I know where that rat-loving weasel is right now,” she said. “I’d love help avenging my family. He killed them with no remorse or regret.”
An NPC going after another NPC could be useful to us.
“Where is he now?” Sarah asked.
I turned, anxious to hear the gnome’s answer.
“The Cave of Fish Smells,” she said. “It’s north of the city.”
“Not too far from here,” Benji said. “I’ve heard about it.”
“Great.” I grinned, loving it when a plan came together. “We can go take him out together and split any treasure we find.”
“Hold on,” Sarah said. “Not so fast.”
“I should join the party before her,” Benji said.
The gnome removed her arms from the table.
“All I want is to kill Snargao and find out where I can kill Magi Inyontoo,” she said. “No need to join your party.”
“Who?” Sarah asked.
“Magi Inyontoo,” the gnome said. “You know him?”
Sarah shook her head and said, “No.”
“I’m Thrukad,” the gnome said. “And I don’t believe in his Magictology crap. You’re not his followers, are you?”
“No,” I said as a waitress walked up.
She stared down at a piece of paper.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
“Food,” I said then smiled.
The waitress put her hands on her hips.
“What kind of food? I don’t have all day to wait around. Do you know what you want or not? Quit messing around.”
“Bacon,” Sarah said. “Bread and lots of bacon. We don’t care how much it costs.”
I shot her a look but said nothing. The waitress walked away.
“When do you want to leave?” Thrukad asked. “Sooner the better for me. I’ve been wanting to kill that hobgoblin menace a long time now.”
“Maybe in the morning,” I said. “We need a larger group. I doubt Snargao will be a pushover. Our party needs more fighters.”
“I know just the man,” Thrukad said. “He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s the person you want beside you in battle.”
“Will he want to come with us?” I asked.
“Probably,” Thrukad said. “He always needs gold. A share of the treasure will be more than enough to get him interested.”
“What exactly do you mean by rough around the edges?” Sarah asked.
Thrukad laughed in a deep voice; her small, solid body shaking.
“I’ll let you judge for yourselves,” she said. “He’ll be down on Tavern Row spending the last of his coins on wine and women.”
“Can you take us to see him now?” I asked.
Sarah turned to me.
“You haven’t slept yet,” she said. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, the potion still flowing through my body.
Thrukad stood.
“Let’s go,” she said. “I don’t like to fool around.”
After leaving the Golden Eagle Inn, we followed the gnome as she marched toward Tavern Row on the north side of the city.
“You three new to Mednia?” she asked bluntly as we walked.
“Yes,” I said. “We’re on a larger quest. Maybe you can join us if this little adventure works out.”
“Maybe,” she said.
I thought about our sudden luck in finding NPC warriors willing to help us on our mission. Was the game finally giving us a needed break?
Thrukad steamrolled ahead like a true tank. If her friend worked out, we might have a chance of stealing the Cursed Pendant of Visions. Even better, Sarah and I would still get the bulk of the experience points.
I smiled as we reached the end of Tavern Row and stopped.
“He’ll be in the Twisted Rooster,” Thrukad said. “Or the Dizzy Dwarf.”
She took off down the street where I’d met Gord-En earlier in the day. Benji, Sarah, and I followed close behind.
We stopped in front of a rundown building with a sign declaring it the Twisted Rooster. Sunlight streamed through cracks in the walls.
Thrukad walked up to the front door and pushed it open, nearly taking it off its rusty hinges. I waited for Benji and Sarah to go in before following.
My eyes took a minute to adjust inside the deep dive. Thrukad walked toward a long, wooden bar on the far wall of the room. A man in patchwork leather armor sat hunched on a stool at the bar.
He glanced up as we approached, his brow furrowing in anger.
“Goblin armor?” he screamed. “I’ll show you to disrespect me.”
He hopped off the stool and rushed forward. I reached for my sword. He crashed into me before I could pull it out.
I fell backward, hitting the back of my head on a nearby table.
The pain registered right away.
Everything went dark.
15
Finally Finding a Friendly Familiar
SARAH
Eric’s so unlucky, I thought as I saw him fall and hit his head on a wooden table.
Was he okay? I glanced up, ready to cast.
Before the man who charged at Eric could do any further damage, I cast my new second level spell—Snares of Dust.
You cast Snares of Dust.
You have [45/48] mana remaining.
The silver-haired warrior who’d hit Eric launched into a coughing fit as clouds of magical dust assaulted his head.
Benji rushed over, weapon drawn, as Thrukad pulled the warrior away.
“Settle down, Leroy,” she said. “These are friends who want to help on our quest to rid the realms of you-know-what.”
I cancelled the spell then knelt to check Eric.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He moaned, eyes still closed.
“The you-know-what?” Leroy asked. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” Thrukad said. “But now that you’ve hurt one of them, I’m not sure they’ll even want to help us.”
Leroy raised his hands and weakly said, “He fell on his own. It’s not my fault. This is all a mistake.”
I turned back to Eric as he opened his eyes.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “What happened?”
“Don’t you remember?” I waved my arm. “Give him some room.”
The other three backed away.
Eric sat up and said, “That guy came rushing at me, and then...I don’t know. I blacked out.”
“You hit your head,” I said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” he said as he struggled to stand.
Leroy extended his hand.
“Sorry, stranger,” the muscled man said.
“You’re fine,” Eric said as he accepted the help. “This is trophy armor from my father. He wore it during the Great Wars while fighting behind enemy lines for the good guys. As a warrior, you’ve got to respect that, right?”
Leroy nodded then grinned sheepishly.
“We’re going to kill Snargao the Impatient,” he said. “You don’t’ have a problem with that, do you?”
“No problem with me,” Eric said. “Any evil hobgoblin is a good one to kill. That’s my motto.”
Leroy’s grin widened.
“Have a seat,” he said, slurring the words.
Was he too drunk to help us? Did it matter for an NPC?
“Over here,” Thrukad said, walking to a back corner of the room.
Everyone followed, each of us taking a seat at a round, wooden table.
“I hate that hobgoblin,” Leroy said. “He’s hurt too many people around here. If you’re going after him, I’d love to help. Apologies for my earlier outburst. I’ve been in this city...this realm...way too long.”
“You’ll get a share of any treasure we find,” Eric said, continuing to lead the encounter. “And we need to leave quickly.”
“We’re looking for our friend too,” I added. “A half-orc.”
Leroy narrowed his eyes.
“Have you seen him?” I asked.
“No, but I hate orcs and half-orcs,” Leroy said. “I’ll need an hour or two to sober up. Life in the realms is hard these days with the curse of Magictology all about. Time is all stretched out.”
“We’ll come back and pick you up in a few hours,” Eric said.
“Meet us at the city gates,” I added. “We need to move quickly.”
“Agreed,” Thrukad said. “Now, where’s that damn waitress?”
“Let’s go,” Eric said. “We’ve got shopping to do.”
“Can you go without me?” I asked.
“Sure,” Eric said. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to study magic,” I said.
He didn’t need to know everything I had planned.
“Okay,” he said. “We’ll meet you back at the inn. Benji, Thrukad, you two can come with me. I’ll need help carrying things.”
“Don’t forget the rope,” I said as they walked away.
Eric raised a hand in farewell or to wave away my concerns. I left the rough and tumble tavern and walked back to the Golden Eagle Inn.
The magic I wanted to study was my Find Familiar scroll.
Would I find a suitable animal companion in the city?
I couldn’t wait to find out.
Maybe I’ll get a black panther, remembering old, worn copies of the best Drizzt books Eric had loaned me years earlier.
Or maybe an eagle or owl? Anything to help me get out of this game.
When I reached the inn, I went straight up to our room. Inside, I locked the door before retrieving the scroll from my sack.
Should I go outside to cast it?
I unrolled it.
The radius was big enough for me to cast it in the room. I read the words.
Nothing happened.
“Did it work?” I asked.
“Hello,” a voice, distinctly feminine, said in my mind.
“Who is that?” I asked, jumping back and looking around the room.
Had the Magi character cast some weird spell on me?
“Careful,” the voice said. “I’m down here.”
I glanced to the floor, still not seeing anything.
“Make yourself known,” I said, mustering some courage.
“I can’t speak out loud yet, Kali,” the voice said. “But we can talk with just our thoughts like we are right now.”
“Oh. You’re my familiar?” I asked. “Where are you?”
I glanced back and forth, not seeing anything.
“Down here,” came the reply. “I’m a spider. Do you have a name for me? I would love to have a name.”
I grinned, unable to resist.
“Your name is Charlotte,” I declared.
When game-life gave you spiders, you named them Charlotte.
Congratulations! You Have a Familiar!
You have found your familiar, Charlotte
– a Scarlet Sac Spider with a body roughly two inches. As you raise in levels, her intelligence and power will also increase.
“Very well, Kali,” Charlotte said. “I’m rather fond of the name. Thank you for bonding with me.”
“Are you going to be talking in my head all the time?”
“Only when you need me, but please keep me safe,” she said.
“Agreed,” I said out loud, still getting accustomed to the telepathy.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Quiet now,” I said. “Crawl on my arm.”
I stooped down. The spider crawled onto my body.
“Open up,” Eric shouted from outside.
I walked over to the door and opened it.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “You got back in a hurry.”
He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.
“The others are still shopping,” he said. “I wanted to check on you.”
“Check on me, huh?” I asked in a teasing tone.
“Watch out,” he said, raising his arm. “There’s a spider on you.”
“Don’t…” I stepped back. “That’s my familiar…Charlotte.”
“You chose a spider as familiar?” he asked.
“I didn’t get to choose,” I said. “But she’s great. I love her.”
“Nasty thing is probably poisonous,” Eric said.
I laughed, covering my mouth with my right hand.
“She’s harmless,” I said. “Trust me.”
We stared at each other in silence for a moment.
“Anyway,” he said. “I wanted to ask for your help finding a good ring to buff my stats a little.”
“Why’d you go OOC?” I asked.
He shrugged and said, “I’m still leveling faster than you.”
“Talking about the real world does make it easier somehow,” I said.
He nodded.
“Right? I’ve been thinking the same thing.”
“What kind of ring do you want?” I asked.
“Something to increase my constitution,” he said. “We have a couple fighters with us now, but I still want as much health as possible.”
“The bulky rogue,” I said then smiled.
“You’ll come with me, then?” he asked.
I nodded then glanced over at Charlotte on my shoulder.
“All I wanted to do was find my familiar,” I said. “And I got a great one. Not sure what she can do yet, but she’ll advance in power as I level.”