Neverfall: The Dark Path (Book 2): A Gamelit Lit RPG Series

by C. Wintertide

  She gave him a small smile. “No, because he dared to suggest what I told you earlier: the high elves were better forgers than the dwarves.”

  “Oh, that’s… that’s far less enlightened than I hoped.” Christopher frowned.

  “Let’s go inside, shall we?” she suggested and strode ahead.

  But just as Christopher reached the curved doorway to the forge, he stopped, and drew his arms close around his body. Luke stopped beside him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “There is… there is something inside.” Christopher shivered.

  Winter, too, let out a low snarl and backed away.

  “He doesn’t like it either,” Cassie said. “Do you sense anything, Luke?”

  Luke looked at the structure where Gloria, Alicia, and Mack had all disappeared into. Something about it set his teeth on edge, but the whole village was doing that to him. He felt eyes on him from all the darkened windows. He never caught sight of anyone, but they were being watched.

  “I don’t like any part of Shadewell. Glad we’re getting the axe first. Maybe we could just move on afterwards,” Luke suggested.

  “I wouldn’t mind that either. Winter is clearly in agreement.” Cassie petted its ruff.

  Another shudder went through Christopher. “We should leave the axe, too. Something is wrong here. I think I hear a voice.”

  “Hearing voices is never good,” Cassie said.

  “Let’s just get this over with,” Luke said. “You know that Mack will not leave without his axe. So the faster we get it, the better.”

  Luke drew out Dragon’s Claw and ignited Firestream. The golden glow of Shield surrounded him as he stepped first through the forge’s arched opening. The forge was one large room. And, in the center of the room there was a large oval fire pit. He imagined it filled with fire and coal. It was surrounded by a waist-high stone wall. The pit’s wall had melted and become glass-like too, just like parts of the roof. Alicia was standing beside the pit, looking over the edge while Mack and Gloria sifted through the mostly burnt furniture.

  “It’s not here. I don’t get it.” Mack dusted his blackened hands on the front of his armor.

  “There’s nothing here. No body. No axe. No tools.” Gloria dropped a burnt book down on the ground. It landed on its spine and fell over with a puff of ashes.

  Luke’s shoulders, though, were still tense. Christopher acted like he wanted to flee as he crept around the edges of the room. Cassie couldn’t convince Winter to come inside the forge with her. But like Mack and Gloria had said: the place was empty.

  “Taig said that the people of the village left Denarius here with the axe.” Mack kicked a vase that shattered. “So where is all of it?”

  “We must be missing something,” Gloria agreed.

  “I think there is something down below,” Alicia said, as she continued to stare into the pit.

  Luke joined her and looked in. Sure enough, the bottom of the pit was cracked open, and arctic cold air streamed upwards. Luke looked from that opening to the ceiling. Whatever force had cracked the dome like an egg had come from below. The others clustered round, except Christopher and Winter, who stayed by the doorway.

  “How do we get down there? There’s no door or stairs,” Mack pointed out.

  “Perhaps there’s an opening on the outside? Like one of those storm cellars in old farmhouses?” Cassie suggested. “I could go look with Winter… and my brother.”

  Christopher’s head was cocked to the side. He looked like he was trying to hear something.

  “Yeah, you better take them both outside, Cass,” Luke said. “We’ll check in here. Maybe there’s a secret passage.”

  She nodded and headed off after collecting Christopher and Winter. The others spread out through the interior of the forge with Luke going over to the farthest wall from the door. He slowly drew his fingertips down along a section that looked slightly different than the rest. He found one of the stones was loose. He pressed on it. There was a soft click and then a grinding sound. He jumped back. But the grinding sound was just the stone moving to the side to expose an engraving.

  “Guys, I found something!” Luke called out, though it was unnecessary as the others had seen him jump.

  “What have you got there?” Mack murmured.

  Luke bent down and studied the engraving. It was of a stylized flame. He frowned and touched it. Nothing happened.

  “I bet that if we found a stone shaped just like that and pressed it in… that we would have a way down to the lower level of this forge,” Gloria guessed.

  Luke nodded “I’m betting you’re right.” He looked around at the piles of detritus on the floor. “But where would that stone be?”

  “It’s not here.” Mack put his hands on his hips and reviewed the room in disgust.

  “The villagers found his body. That must have been downstairs. It would be likely that they would have removed this stone and locked the area below,” Alicia said. “They hoped that they would lock the evil in.”

  “Unfortunately, Bonecall came here,” Gloria remarked.

  Cassie, Christopher, and Winter appeared at the door.

  “We didn’t find anything,” Cassie said dispiritedly.

  “We did,” Luke said, and pointed to the engraving.

  While Cassie studied it and heard their thoughts, she nodded. “Well, we need to go search the villagers’ homes then.”

  “What? Why?” Christopher looked almost haggard. He was twitching.

  “Because if the villagers locked up the forge, one of them must have the key,” she answered.

  “Maybe, but maybe not!” Christopher put a finger, that shook, up into the air. “They could have thrown it away.”

  “Then we’ll look all around the village.” Mack gave his best imitation of one of Alicia’s glares at Christopher.

  “But they could have thrown it away anywhere!” Christopher protested.

  “I don’t think so.” Luke had opened up his Map and selected the current quest. “There’s a red circle that encompasses the entire village. I’m betting we have to search the place to find the key”

  Mack let out a sigh. “It’ll be in the absolute last place we set foot in. You do know that, right? Damned grindy games.”

  Luke slapped his friend’s shoulder. “We have to level up anyways.” He grew serious. “I think it would be a good thing if we clear out this village. Like those Scarecrows, it’s not clean here.”

  “Ach, I guess you’re right.” Mack drew out Cutter, and kissed the side of the blade. “You’re my good girl, Cutter. Let’s kill some zombies and skeletons and whatever other horrors are in this village.”

  25

  TWIST

  “Let’s start with this house here.” Luke pointed to the nearest house to the forge.

  For a village that had been attacked, the homes were left mostly intact. The doors were shut tight. If not for Sorayan’s statement that the town was empty of life, he would have thought that live people were inside, simply hiding from monsters. That sense of being watched, too, was almost oppressive.

  We are not alone.

  “They monsters are avoiding the sunlight,” Gloria reminded him as she took in his glance at the closed door. “It’s likely locked as well from the inside. Cassie, you could improve your lockpicking skill here.”

  Once they had established the door was indeed locked, Cassie sank down onto her haunches. Winter sat beside her, watching her hands use two thin pieces of metal in the lock. Christopher was frowning at this illegal activity. Or maybe he was just jealous about Winter’s attention.

  “I do not know how comfortable I am breaking into people’s homes and killing them,” Christopher admitted.

  “First, they’re dead. Remember, Sorayan told us that. Second, they’re not people. They’re pixels. Third, these aren’t really homes for anyone. They are just convenient places for the developers to hide a damned key!” Mack’s voice progressive rose until he was near shoutin
g at the end.

  “You think of nothing but that axe. But tell me you don’t feel odd about doing this,” Christopher pointed out.

  “Think of it as helping these people find peace, remember?” Gloria said helpfully. “Their bodies, and some of their souls, are in torment based on what Bonecall did to them. You’re releasing them from this life.”

  “Oh, well, yes, I suppose that is a different way of looking at it. You mentioned it before, and I was quite moved… I think I will look at things your way, Gloria.” Christopher stroked his chin thoughtfully.

  “And with Manon’s staff you should be able to cast the spell Turn Undead,” Gloria continued on. “With that, you should be able to destroy Skeletons, not to mention affect Ghosts, Ghasts, and even Ghouls.”

  “Wait a minute!” Mack’s eyes narrowed at Christopher. “Did you know this? That you have those spells?”

  Christopher shifted uneasily under Mack’s penetrating stare. “Yes, of course, I did. They are part of the staff’s description, but I--”

  “You’re going to use them, right?” Mack interrupted.

  Christopher went pink and fiddled with the staff. “I wasn’t--”

  “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Mack’s arms flew up into the air.

  Christopher, though, ignored his outburst and continued on, “But now, after hearing Gloria’s words, I am debating whether such spells would be considered truly attacking these beings or actually helping them.”

  “You’re helping them!” Mack assured him. He grabbed Christopher’s hands. “You could be so useful here. With all these undead everywhere, you could do a lot of good. Put the poor people of Shadewell out of their misery! Put me out of my misery by actually doing something other than Heal and Shield!”

  “I thought you were happy with me doing that.” Christopher’s eyes narrowed. “You did say--”

  “Yeah, yeah. Fine!” Mack shrugged. “All right, those spells are useful in the big fights. But just think of how much more useful you could be if you used those Turn Undead spells of yours?”

  “Mack is right. They will actually be especially useful here,” Gloria pointed out. “Only magical weapons can harm the undead such as Ghosts and such. Also, more powerful Skeletons, Ghouls, and Ghasts take no damage at all from normal weapons.”

  “I’m guessing that Cassie and I have the only magic weapons?” Luke asked.

  “Right you are.” Gloria touched the bow slung across her chest. “No magic here. My daggers though, do cause additional ice damage.”

  She took out two wicked, curved daggers whose blades held a cold blue-white glow.

  Mack let his head fall back again, and he let out a sigh. “If only we had Denarius’ axe! I’m betting that is way magical! Or maybe it’s the ancient weapon that he was trying to deconstruct. That would be even better. But, either way, we don’t have it!”

  “It is probably best that we clean out the village first, and you, uhm, level up your skills before we find out what’s in the forge. I have a feeling whatever is in there might test all of our skills sorely,” Gloria reminded him.

  “For a person who knows nothing about leveling up, you sure have gotten used to the idea!” Mack grinned up at her.

  “This leveling system sounds like it makes things much easier than having to actually gauge you on your technique,” she said.

  “You have it too. Perhaps if you try to access the Menu.” Luke showed her how he accessed his, but when she did the same movement nothing happened. “Huh. Well, we’ll keep trying.”

  “You know, this ability to pick whatever skills you wish to be proficient in will give you quite an advantage on everyone else.” Gloria looked thoughtful.

  Luke wondered if the Beta players had ceased to gain in skill as they were no longer able to level up. It was an intriguing idea. He guessed they would find out as they met more of them.

  “Would you guys like to fight the monsters inside here, or would you like to talk some more?” Cassie raised an eyebrow at them. She was still on her haunches in front of the door.

  “You finished?” Luke asked.

  “Ages ago.” Cassie got to her feet.

  “Not all that long ago,” Gloria said, but not unkindly. “You took over 30 seconds to pick a peasant’s lock. You should not be pleased.”

  Cassie gaped at her. “I--I--”

  “Don’t worry, young Cassandra, perhaps by the time we’ve cleaned out this village you will be better.”

  “Young Cassandra? You make me seem like some kind of apprentice!” Cassie bristled.

  “You are.” Gloria smiled.

  “Now you understand why it bothers me when you call me little brother. It is patronizing.” Christopher sniffed.

  Cassie grumbled something inaudible about it not being the same thing at all, but she stepped aside.

  Gloria gestured towards Luke. “All right, hero, you should go first. Magic sword. Magic hands. All of that. Christopher, you should go next, especially if the creatures inside are undead.”

  “You--you called them creatures, not monsters, but you still want me to--to kill them?” Christopher put a hand on his chest.

  “Release them from their mortal agony is how we should think of it, yes?” She gave Mack a wink, who was practically dancing with glee behind Christopher.

  “Perhaps. I shall still have to think on it.” Christopher lowered his head.

  Luke stepped up to the door. He ignited Chain Lightning in one hand, and drew Dragon’s Claw with the other. Even though he had rejected Christopher’s chastisement about using Amplify, he decided himself not to use it unless he absolutely needed it.

  He kicked open the door. It flew inwards. A sweet spoiled smell rolled out, and Luke covered his mouth and nose with his right forearm. It was the scent of putrescence. A pair of moans that followed afterwards gave a clue as to what was inside. Mack peeked around him.

  “Oh, Zombies! Two of them! Oh, no, three. One is wee. Parents and a tot?” Mack glanced around at the others.

  “Oh, no,” Christopher moaned.

  “Releasing their souls from agony, Christopher, remember?” Mack wheedled.

  “Mack, cut it out,” Luke chastised gently. “I’ve got this. I want to try out my new spell anyway.”

  He rolled the sparking fingers of his left hand. The home was a single room. The three Zombies were clustered by a rustic table that had plates of rotten food on it. The Zombies were very fresh. Their skin was still wet with rot, not dessicated. Their eyes had sunken into their sockets, leaving trails of green-black ooze on hollowed cheeks. The lips were bloated and blackened. Luke’s stomach did another backflip.

  He aimed his left hand at the nearest Zombie--the father, he guessed, from the size of him--and he saw a ghostly line of electric yellow on his HUD that led from the father to the wife and then to the son.

  Three for the price of one.

  Luke allowed the lightning to leave his fingers. The magic streaked through the air, and impacted the father’s stomach before another yellow line veered off of him and struck the mother’s chest, before, finally, snapping towards the child’s head. The effect was not what Luke had anticipated.

  There was an explosion.

  Three explosions to be exact.

  The lightning caused the Zombies to erupt. Wet, rotten flesh flew everywhere, smacking the wall, the floor, the ceiling, and Luke. His HUD, helpfully, told him: Congratulations, you’ve earned 225 experience points!

  “Oh, man, lightning and Zombies do not mix!” Mack laughed and clapped Luke’s back.

  “This is not a laughing matter, Mack! That was a family turned to--to mush!” Christopher wailed.

  “The family that becomes mush together, stays together. Literally!” Mack answered, completely unrepentant.

  Cassie just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Alicia cracked a smile. Luke just grimaced as he waited for the Zombie guts to disappear from his person and the room. Winter padded into the room to sniff the Zombies’ re
mains. Luke sincerely hoped that the wolf did not start eating them. But the innards soon vanished, and the room was empty of anyone but himself and Winter.

  “Do you see how the bodies disappear, Gloria?” Luke asked.

  “Yes.” She blinked at him.

  “Uhm, bodies don’t do that in the real world,” he explained. “They stay. They don’t wink out of existence.”

  “So the gods don’t take the dead there?” She looked horrified.

  Luke had hoped this would be a great game mechanic to point out, but this just disturbed her. It didn’t make her believe that anything in Neverfall was not as it should be. He’d have to keep trying.

  “Gods are… well, if there are any… take souls. Not--not bodies,” he explained.

  She swallowed, and gave him a tight smile. “I--I see. How interesting.” She then turned to the others. “Let’s loot this place!” Gloria swept her arms towards the interior of the home.

  Bodies being left behind is horrifying. Looting a dead family’s home is a-okay.

  Luke shook his head, but did take part in the looting. As would be expected of a peasant home, there were only a scattering of coppers and one silver piece. Christopher did find, however, four potted herbs in a windowsill, which were the salvia pescia that Maxina was willing to pay money for. Other than that, there were common ragged clothes, but nothing that was worth even picking up. Though the Zombies were gone, the smell of death still hung heavy in the room. Luke was glad to escape it.

  “No key.” Mack stroked his beard. “I’m telling you, it will be in the last place we look.”

  “Then we best keep looking,” Gloria told him.

  The next three cottages were the same, except not Zombies. The first had Skeletons, which Luke let Mack and Alicia go in and bash for another 300 experience points, 5 silver, and two health potions. There was also another of the rare herbs that Christopher was looking for. This time a raddin, which had strange purple-red flowers that moved towards body heat. Luke found that a little unnerving. Christopher quickly put it in his bag.