by R. A. Mejia
You’ve completed the quest Locate the Source.
You receive 2,000 XP.
Identify Evil
You have been tasked by Evanora Everwoods to identify the individual using dark magic to create infernal crystals.
Reward: 2,000 XP.
Stop the Source
You have been tasked by Evanora Everwoods to stop the mage Harrison Freud from creating more Infernal Crystals.
Reward: 2,000 XP.
“I don’t understand. How can I complete these quests if they’re already done?”
“Well, first you’ll have to accept them, but the rules by which quests are created are dependent on the will of the creator. My order has long since learned of ways to skirt some of these restrictions. You’ll notice that there is nothing in the quest that indicates when the conditions must be met, whether in the past or future. Also, the world tends to want to reward those that have committed great deeds. I couldn’t just give away six-thousand experience points to someone who killed a giant rat, but for what you’ve done today, it seems I will be allowed to create the quests since I would have created them if you’d completed the first quest and returned to me.”
“What would have happened if the system didn’t let you create the quests?”
“I would certainly have been punished for trying to cheat. I might have lost several levels or some of my stats could have been permanently lowered.” She shrugged and continued, “But again, that thankfully did not happen. It also helps that there were no other rewards given besides the XP. I’m sorry that you’ll have to forgo the gold and the tier two spells I originally offered.”
“No, no. This is more than I expected. Thank you,” I said, and accepted the two new quests. As soon as I did, I got a series of new notifications.
You’ve completed the quest Identify Evil.
You receive 2,000 XP.
You’ve completed the quest Stop the Source.
You receive 2,000 XP.
Congratulations Repair. You've reached level 8. You have 1 attribute point and 1 class skill point to spend.
You’ve completed the quest Prove Your Worth.
You receive: Represent the Gnomish Research Institute at The Ultimate Research Warrior Competition.
I read the last notification three times before I could believe it was true. All these weeks, I’d been so focused on the goal, yet it seemed so far out of reach to get nearly 70,000 XP in such a short amount of time. I felt a mental weight lift off my mind as I realized just how much pressure I’d felt.
“Thank you,” I said again quietly. I put my head in my hands and just enjoyed the moment of victory. Then a wave of guilt crashed down on me for feeling any happiness as I thought of the cost of it all - Manny.
“That’s all you have to say, Bolts?” Greebo asked. I lifted my head from my hands and saw the three goblins staring at me with somber faces. “You’re gonna come back to the bar with us and properly celebrate. This is it. All the work you did, all the help you gave us, it’s all paid off.”
“Yeah, we should celebrate Manny’s life too.”
The reminder of their fallen friend sobered the goblins for a moment, but Greebo gave another smile, though it appeared forced as tears rolled down the goblin’s cheeks. “Yeah, it’s the goblin way not to mourn but celebrate when a loved one passes.” He turned towards the spot where Manny had been killed. “There’s not much left of him to take back with us but we can gather his friends to remember him.”
“I’m afraid his remains cannot be taken by you; they are contaminated with dark magic and must be carefully collected by my order when they arrive. I’m sorry.” She hesitated a moment before continuing, “You also cannot tell others about what happened here today. Not the details. It’s vital that whoever was behind this setup not realize you four were involved or they may retaliate against you.”
Parker, the goblins, and I left Evanora Everwoods alone in the cave with Manny's remains and the monstrous man that had killed him. We couldn’t take our friend with us, but the goblins planned on making his wake one to remember. However, I had to return to the Gnomish Research Institute to report to the Gnome Council.
I was met outside the gates once again by Niala, dressed in full gear. She gave me a quick smile when the other guards weren’t looking but she kept a straight face as she escorted me to the council chambers that were hidden below a nondescript building on the Institute grounds.
Tognomey and Gnomerad joined me shortly after I arrived in the grand red-carpeted chambers. Gnomerad scowled as he entered, and Tognomey came and stood next to me. We waited for another ten minutes until five old gnomes entered from a door behind the judges' high seats in front of us and sat down. Included among the gnomes were Professor Gnominsky and Doctor Gnomerson Gnogniton the Third.
“Thank you for returning today, Repair. We received the notification that you’d completed the quest that we’d given to you.”
“Congratulations on that, by the way. It’s an extraordinary feat to have grown so much in such a short amount of time,” Professor Gnominsky added.
Doctor Gnomerson nodded in agreement. “Yes. Congratulations are in order. It was a difficult test, but you passed with flying colors. As per our agreement, I am submitting to the competition committee that you are our champion. From here on, you will receive the full support and resources of the Institute to develop your skills before The Ultimate Research Warrior Competition.”
“Wait!” Gnomerad yelled.
Doctor Gnomerson’s eyes widened, and his bristly white mustache bobbed up and down in shock at the interruption. “What is the meaning of this interruption, Researcher Gnomerad?”
“My apologies, Doctor Gnomerson, but I did not want the council to make a grievous mistake in choosing the Metalman as its champion.” He gestured to a stack of papers in his hands. “I have proof here that the Metalman has cheated and used the Institute’s resources and other unreliable methods to get to level eight so quickly.”
“Ridiculous," I protested.
“Untrue accusations!” Tognomey added.
A wooden gavel struck the high wooden desk, and Doctor Gnomerson yelled, “That’s enough!” and the room quieted. “Researcher Gnomerad, I assume you understand the depth of these accusations? That the system somehow missed the Metalman using resources from the Institute?”
Gnomerad looked uncomfortable under the council’s scrutiny but nodded. “Yes. I personally saw the Metalman take multiple items from one of the research labs, and I have seen him use the grounds as his own base to get deliveries from unsavory goblins who likely work as spies for the Goblin Research Center, one of our main competitors.”
Doctor Gnomerson frowned, looked at the gnome next to me, and asked, “Is this true, Researcher Tognomey?”
“No. Well, it is true that Repair demonstrated a fascinating new ability to hold large and heavy lab equipment in a special internal space, but he returned every single piece of equipment, and I have the notes to prove it. As for the deliveries, it is true that Repair had materials delivered from the marketplace and that a goblin friend of his would drop off raw ore for him sometimes. But this goblin is not associated with the Goblin Research Center, and he was escorted by one of our guards at all times while he was on the grounds.”
“Well, then how about the odd way he leveled?” Gnomerad said, pounding his fist on the table in front of him. His face turning red as he shouted, “Perverting the dungeon by forcing it to throw monsters at him? Using that unproven dwarven technology, the boomstick?”
“I used every tool at my disposal to do what would have taken a normal person over a year to do," I said heartedly. “Yes, I use a firearm. But I’ve improved its design so that it’s not only reliable but also twice as powerful as anything of its quality in the city. Not only that, but I earned my XP by taking advantage of what was perceived by others to be a danger, a detriment. It was a risk, but it was one that I managed with careful preparation and use of allies that resu
lted in not only a huge XP boon but also to the accumulation of enough wealth to fund my own upgrades and fabrications without using a single copper of Institute funds.”
“Aren’t these the qualities we want in our champion? Obviously, everything Repair did was in line with the quest or he would have failed it,” Tognomey argued.
“No! He is not worthy, I say. He is just a collection of metal. I have worked my whole life for the Institute. I am the one that should represent us. Not him.” Gnomerad turned to me and pointed, “I will prove he isn’t worthy. I challenge Repair to a duel, with the winner to represent the Institute in the Ultimate Research Warrior Competition.”
The gnome council leapt to their feet, shouting about the impropriety of the request. Tognomey argued that it wouldn’t be a fair contest between the level 17 Golem master and myself. But I ignored all of their words as a notification appeared in my vision.
You have been challenged to a personal duel by Gnomerad Elliot Sinclair Burrowton. Do you accept?
I thought of the many times I and Greebo had been insulted by Gnomerad. The disdain that the gnome had shown for me since I’d known him. His belief that I was rightly the property of the Institute and how he’d done everything he could to keep me ‘in my place’. Even though I’d felt the urge to punch the gnome on more than one occasion for how he spoke to me and the blatant disrespect he had for my friends, I’d restrained myself. But no more. No More.
“Yes!” I shouted and then said the command word to call my Flintlock Rifle from my inventory. The long rifle appeared in my hands and I raised the loaded and primed weapon to my shoulder in one smooth motion, sighted the wide eyed Gnomerad and pulled the trigger. There was an explosion of sound and smoke as the rifle fired and because of the short distance between us, I expected the gnome to be missing a chunk of his head. But I would not take any chances and sent the spent rifle to my inventory and called out the second one while saying in a whisper, “Parker, hide and seek.”
In the smoke, the mechanical spider disengaged backpack mode and climbed down my back and onto the council chamber’s floor. I lost sight of him as he crawled under the desks and started to move to my right, the new loaded rifle in my hands. As I circled around to my right, I saw Gnomerad getting up from the ground a growing red stain on his white vest. He stared at me with open malice for only a moment before reaching into a pouch at his belt and throwing some powder while muttering something. I pulled the trigger of my rifle, hoping to interrupt whatever spell he was casting, but just as the powder in the rifle ignited a five-foot wall of stone appeared between me and Gnomerad and the minié ball ricocheted off it.
I dove to my right, knocking over a desk, as Gnomerad popped up from behind the wall and a green globe of energy shot from his extended hand. The globe disintegrated the carpet where I’d been standing a moment before and I knew that I could not let the gnome use his magic. In a fraction of a second, I fabricated an infused ammunition packet and reloaded my rifle as I circled to the right and fired. Another stone wall appeared between Gnomerad intercepting the shot.
“Did you think I’d let you shoot me from where you are? I know how to fight a ranged opponent. Secure my defenses and then summon my golems to fight for me. I will use them to rip you apart, you ungrateful scrapheap.”
I heard him chanting and knew he would make good on his promise if I let him. I yelled, “Minor Acid Globe.” which activated the infused minié ball embedded in the stone wall. I didn’t wonder if the splash damage from the area of effect spell would hit Gnomerad as I heard him stop chanting and scream as the acid burned him.
But I knew that it was only a temporary reprieve and yelled, “Web his mouth!” and watched as Parker leapt from his hiding place beneath a nearby desk and landed on the gnomes back. Unlike the massive Yettaur or even the monster version of Harrison, the gnome wasn’t nearly strong enough to take the mechanical spider’s weight and he was knocked onto his back with a yell. Parker did as I’d asked him and spewed out a stream of webbing onto the gnome’s exposed face. I’d learned from the Everwoods Witch that when you took a mage’s ability to cast spells, he had to rely on his physical prowess and unlike Harrison, Gnomerad couldn’t just absorb someone else’s strength. The gnome scrambled from under the spider and tried to pull the sticky webbing from his face as he got to his feet. But he did not have the strength to break the white bindings.
I did not know if the Golem Master had some ability silently spellcast, and did not intend to find out in this fight. I charged the gnome, the butt of my rifle sweeping him off his feet again. He dropped onto his back with a thud and I dropped the rifle and activated my integrated Blacksmith Hammer. My right arm split apart and transformed into the heavy tool. Gnomerad tried to crawl away on his back, but I stepped on his chest, activated my ability Bone Breaker and brought my now glowing hammer down on his left hand. The delicate bones snapped and Gnomerad tried to scream but the webbing that prevented him from talking muffled his cries of pain. With no mercy, I brought my hammer hand down on his right hand, breaking it as well. Then I reached down and pulled the pouches at his belt away and threw them across the room.
I deactivated my hammer hand and the special ability, picked up my rifle and as I called a paper ammunition pack from my inventory, I said, “I once saw a close up shot of this rifle blow the back of a monster’s head clear off.” I tamped the minié ball and gunpowder down the long barrel of the rifle with the ramrod and continued, “I don’t know how the duel system works, but I imagine that, unless you’ve set some rule, this duel won’t be over until one of us is dead or surrenders.” I primed the pan and cocked back the flint striker, readying it to spark and ignite the powder in the barrel. “I know you have a higher level than me, and I expect you have a good bit of health, but I don’t mind reloading and firing until it's all gone. So, I suggest that you surrender and admit defeat.” As I aimed the barrel of the rifle at the gnome I held down under my iron feet, I felt him stop squirming.
Gnomerad Elliot Sinclair Burrowton has surrendered. You have won the duel.
Even though he’d surrendered, Gnomerad’s eyes stared hatefully at me and promised retribution. I was tempted to pull the trigger of the rifle and put an end to the gnome.
“You have proved quite clearly, Researcher Gnomerad, who is worthy to be the Institutes champion,” the voice of Professor Gnominsky said.
The words reminded me that the gnome and I were not alone and I looked around to see the gnome council calmly watching with a shimmering magical shield surrounding the area of the council. Tognomey was off to the side of the room with the guards who had their weapons and shields out. Niala stood with them and nodded to me once when I caught her eye.
I stepped off the body of Gnomerad, who struggled to get to his feet with two broken hands and a face covered in web. A guard helped him up and pulled the webbing from his face. Gnomerad took a deep shaky breath and turned to the council. “That shouldn’t count. I wasn’t ready to fight. The Metalman cheated.”
The council murmured and shook their heads in disapproval. “No, Researcher Gnomerad. We all witnessed the challenge and the acceptance of it. It is not the Metalman’s fault that you did not set a time or place for the duel. Even with a clear advantage in levels - you lost.”
Tognomey stepped around the guards and said, “Yes, that’s right, your honor. Repair once again exhibited quick judgment and a flexibility that my fellow researcher will never have. I can’t think of anyone better suited to be our champion.”
“Quite right. Quite right,” the members of the council murmured.
“The Metalman has met every challenge and come out on top. We can only help him prepare to do so for us during the contest.” Doctor Gnomerson said, and with one loud bang of his gavel, dismissed the council and the elderly gnomes left the room through the council entrance.
I stood there, shocked that it was over. That what I’d worked so hard for was mine. I was the Institute’s champion. I felt a hand on my a
rm and spun, part of my mind still not out of the ended fight. Niala stood there, her eyes sparkling with mirth and a small smile on her face though I could tell that she was trying to maintain her professionalism as she said, “I have to escort you out of the council chambers now.”
As the two of us walked out of the council chambers and up the stairs that led above ground, she said, “I want you to know that I’m very proud of you. I knew you could do it.” She looked around to make sure no one was within ear shot as we approached the top of the stairs and said, “And I’m glad you knocked Gnomerad down a peg. The entitled prat had it coming.”
“Thank you for your support,” I said and then laughed. “After all the trouble he’s caused me, it did feel good to knock that complaining, racist, gnome about.”
I heard her giggle softly but she quieted as we reached the top of the stairs, Niala nodded to the guards on duty in the building that hid the council chamber. We left and walked out onto the grounds of the Institute.
I felt something touch my hand and looked down to see her hand tentatively touching mine. I wanted to smile at the thrill her touch brought me, and I reached out and grabbed her hand and held it in mine.