by Adam Drake
“Right now? Are you crazy?” Rob said. He nearly slipped in bug guts and fell over.
“Anytime is a good time for a snort of whiskey!” Stenn bellowed, then jumped back into the fight.
“We need to move, again,” Rob said.
They stepped carefully over the corpses.
“No, not closer to the cave,” Rob said.
“Why not?” Stenn said.
“We're barely managing. We don't want to draw too many out. Here, let's move to the side.”
As a group, they carefully picked their way through the carnage to stand on fresh ground. They'd avoided getting any closer to the cave as Rob wanted. Any bravado could get them all killed.
“Don't matter where we stand, new guy,” Stenn said. “I'll still kill'em all!”
The fighting continued for several more minutes until it was Rob's turn to drink an Energy potion. He relished its taste and the effect it had on his body. It was like knocking back a dozen high-caffeine drinks all at the same time.
More than once, they each had to quaff a healing potion, with the idea to use those up before casting Healing spells. Then, they'd drink Mana potions. All of which were generously donated by Stenn who considered it an investment toward success.
Looking around at the clearing, Rob said, “Okay, we've thinned them out. Let's go.” Before moving he and Stenn cast their Damage Shields, the last time they could for a long time.
Slowly, they inched their way to the cave entrance. The massive swarm within wasn't nearly as large as before, with many being drawn out into the fighting, but it was still deadly.
Every step they took cost them. Whether in hit points or energy or pain. Bug bodies formed a gnarled carpet in their wake. Occasionally, Rob would have them pause if a large group suddenly attacked. But their caution paid off, and they reached the entrance of the cave.
Stenn refreshed his Light spell, and the cavern brightened.
Rob looked in the direction of the Death Flower and was surprised to see it gone. “Oh, crap. Where'd it go?” This entire escapade hinged on getting to the flower.
“Can't see it!” Stenn shouted as a flurry of bugs buffeted them from the air. Pincers slashed at bare skin and pierced clothing or armor. It was the worst attack so far as dozens of the things swarmed over the three of them.
To rid himself of a bug lodged on his back, Rob reached around and cast Sun Bolt, knocking it off.
Fenton was handling it better than the other two. Spacing out his two crowd control skills kept the attacks on him to a minimum, but he still struggled.
The frenzy died down, as they pulled together and fought the bugs off with a concerted effort.
“That was bad,” Rob said. They'd been mauled, and each were bleeding from various wounds and their Energy was near bottom.
“Okay, potions, guys,” Rob said.
They took turns again, this time drinking two potions, Healing and Energy. Rob felt a small sense of dread. No more Energy after this. They needed to locate the Death Flower, and quick.
Scanning around, Rob couldn't see it, and cursed. “We have to move inside.”
“Can't we wait a bit?” Fenton said, sweat flying off his body as he struck at a bug. “Kill more of them?”
“No more Energy after this, kid,” Stenn said. “We have to make this count.”
They moved into the cave. The floor was uneven and full of dark crevices and crags. And the bugs were still everywhere.
Fighting each step of the way, Rob told them to stop when they reached the very center. He surveyed the cavern, but still couldn't see it. Where could it be hiding?
Rob allowed himself a moment to watch the bugs and track their movements. Most were erratic, while others appeared to move with more purpose. Some of the flying ones were emerging from a point above his head. He looked up.
The Death Flower clung to the cavern's ceiling.
Between swings, the others noticed what he was doing and followed his gaze.
“By the gods!” Stenn said. “It's right there!”
The flower was roughly three stories above them. A faint trail of black slime showed its path from the far wall and across the ceiling.
As they gaped at it in surprise, the flower split open and Shale Mites flew out. But instead of a horde like before, it was only five or six.
“Nobody touch it!” Stenn said, eyes wide. If they triggered its defenses again, they'd be buried under hundreds of bugs.
“Are you ready?” Rob asked Stenn.
“I'm ready, but there's a problem.”
“What problem?”
“The damn thing is out of range! I need to get closer!”
They had to shift their focus again, to the bugs as another large cluster slammed into them. Once it was clear enough, Rob asked, “How much closer do you have to be?”
“Dunno, I've never had to do it straight up before,” Stenn said, jamming the handle of his warhammer into the body of a bug crawling up his leg. He peered up, again. “Yeah, definitely too far. Maybe twenty or thirty spans.”
“Spans?” Rob said, yanking a bug of Fenton's back. “How long is a span?!”
“Too long!” Stenn said, frustrated. “This isn't going to work.”
Oh, it was going to work, Rob thought. There was an Alchemy kit on the line and he was going to get it.
Thinking fast, he said, “Here, step into my hands and I'll boost you up.” Dropping his mace, he cupped his hands together and held them low to his body, bending his knees.
Stenn stared at him like he was insane, then grinned. “I like how you think, new king!” The big man put a foot in Rob's hands and after a quick count of three Rob pulled up with all his strength. The man was incredibly heavy, and in that moment Rob wished he'd invested more points in his Strength attribute. But it was enough.
Stenn pushed upwards with his foot and stretched out his hand above his head as high as he could reach. He muttered a word and a column of ice shot from his palm, striking the Death Flower. It became completely encased in ice.
Rob suddenly collapsed under the weight of the other man, and they both fell to the cave floor. Bugs swarmed over them. Fenton jumped in and helped swat the things away as the two struggled to a standing position.
“It worked!” Stenn said, genuinely amazed, gazing upwards.
As if sensing something was wrong, the bugs began to crawl about in confusion, ignoring them.
Rob was only slightly relieved. “This thing will unthaw and we'll be back to square one.” It had to be killed, once and for all.
“I won't be around to see it,” Stenn said with a rueful smile. “I'll be onto my next quest, far from here. I've gotten more than a little tired of this forest.”
Rob couldn't fault him, but the Death Flower was a problem he'd have to deal with at some point. He just wished it was right then and there.
Suddenly, there was a cracking sound from above. Rock and dust fell from around the edges of the encased flower.
“I think it's going to fall!” Stenn shouted.
The cracking got louder.
“Get out of the way!” Rob shouted and shoved Fenton to the side.
The section of rock the iceberg was attached to came free, and broke from the ceiling. It fell straight down carrying the trapped Death Flower beneath it. The massive chunk slammed onto the ground with a tremendous crash, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
As the dust cleared, Rob stared at the rubble. Had the flower been freed?
Then a message appeared.
You have killed a Death Flower. You have gained 1,000 experience points toward your next level.
All three of them cheered.
CHAPTER TEN
“Thank the gods!” Stenn shouted.
A loud buzzing noise brought them back to reality. The bugs in the cavern became highly agitated, moving around in a greater state of confusion. The three men braced themselves for another assault. Rob judged that there was still at least a hundred of them l
eft.
But after a few moments, the bugs started to leave the cavern. Rob watched as the vile bugs crawled or flew into the trees and vanished into the forest.
“Ha! Now that the flower is dead, there will be no more of those things,” Stenn said.
“Yeah, that's true,” Rob said. “But there's still a lot of them out there in my kingdom.”
“Well, a king has to stay busy,” Stenn said. “Now, where's that statuette?” The big man walked to the back of the cavern.
Rob looked to Fenton. “How are you making out? Are you okay?”
The young man nodded while casting Heal on a bloody pincer bite on his thigh. “I'm great. I killed so many, and we defeated the Death Flower. Wait until I tell Benton, he'll never believe it!”
And what about your dad? Rob wanted to ask, but refrained. He didn't look forward to his next conversation with the big builder. Selfishly, he hoped the castle was finished before that happened.
“Aha!” Stenn said. “Here's it is.”
Sticking out of the wall of the cave was a small carved figure of a leaping horse, about a foot in length. It appeared to be fused with the rock.
“It looks stuck,” Rob said. The figure looked to be carved from walnut like a scroll case.
Stenn ran his hands over the rock around the statuette. “Hmm. I think I can smash this just enough to get it free. It better not break or by my mother's beard, there'll be hell to pay!”
Rob didn't know what he meant by that, but stood back as the big man prepared to swing.
“Stop!”
Both Stenn and Rob froze. They looked to Fenton who held up his hands.
“Don't do that,” Fenton said. “You'll damage the statuette that way. I should know. I'm not only a Bug Basher, but I'm a builder, too.” The young man brought out a small hammer and chisel from his hip pouch.
“Ha!” Stenn said with a grin. “That you are, kid.”
Fenton carefully chiseled away the rock around the statuette until it was free. He removed it and handed it to Stenn with a smile.
Stenn looked at the statuette, obviously impressed. “Kid, you are just full of surprises, aren't you? Builder, adventurer. Whichever path you choose, I don't doubt you'll be good at it.”
Oh, hey, I should have thought of saying that, Rob realized.
A small pile of items were scattered in the rocks near where the statuette had been. Stenn waved a dismissive hand at them. “You two can split those between yourselves. I got what I wanted. Besides, you boys earned it.”
Rob looked the items over.
You have taken an item. Sturdy Helmet
Durability: 35/35
Armor: 8
Value: 2 Gold Pieces
You have taken an item. Mail Shirt
Durability: 45/45
Armor: 15
Value: 10 Gold Pieces
You have taken an item. Simple Dagger
Durability: 20/20
Damage: 2-6
Value: 1 Gold Piece
You have taken an item. Medium Shard of Life Magic
Value: 5 Gold Pieces
You have taken an item. Ring of Summon Shale Mite
Can summon one Shale Mite (Hit Points 65 / Armor 5) once every 24 hours.
Value: 225 Gold Pieces
Rob looked at the ring in amazement. It could summon one of those bugs? Like a pet? That would definitely come in good use.
“Are you sure you don't want any of this?” Rob asked Stenn.
“Nope. It's all low level gear to me. Besides, once I get my pony, I'll be rich enough.”
The helmet looked to be forged from steel, and was lighter than it looked. The links of the mail shirt were made of iron, and quite heavy. He put both on and was amazed at how high his armor rating increased.
Armor: 27
Feeling like he was hogging all the rewards, he offered the dagger to Fenton.
“No, thanks,” Fenton said, hefting his quarterstaff. “This is all the weaponry I need. Besides, all this is yours. I'm only here for the experience.”
Rob wasn't entirely sure how to argue with that, so he slipped the dagger under his belt.
He examined the ring. The image of a Shale Mite was engrave on it. When he tried to put it on, he found it to be too big, only fitting on the thumb of his buckler hand.
“Well, let's see the bug,” Stenn said.
Rob hesitated. He could only summon one once every twenty-four hours. Would it disappear after? The instructions weren't clear on that. Best to save it for when it was needed. He didn't think it would be long.
“No, I'll wait,” Rob said.
“That's fine with me,” Fenton said. “I'm sick and tired of those things.”
Rob looked to Stenn. “So,” he said.
“So,” Stenn said back.
The two men looked at each other for a few moments.
Okay, fine, I'll be the one to bring it up, Rob thought. “As per our agreement...” He let the words hang in the air between them.
Stenn looked surprised. “Oh, yes! I forgot all about that!” He rummaged deeply in one of his pouches and pulled out the white colored sack which clinked.
The big man handed it to Rob. “There you go, new guy. I'm a man of my word. Happy potion making, or whatever the saying might be.”
You have taken an item: Basic Alchemy Kit
The use of this kit allows the creation of basic potions.
Value: 10 Gold Pieces
Within the sack was the mortar and pestle, along with two large flasks. Rob grinned widely, but did a double take at the value.
“Ten gold pieces?” Rob said. “That's it? You wanted to charge me two hundred!”
Stenn chuckled and offered a meek shrug. “Hey, a man has to look after his margins. Selling that for so much would have given me quite the profit. Can't fault me for trying.”
Rob grumbled under his breath, but refrained from yelling at the man. He got his Alchemy Kit. Now he could finally start to make potions. The concept made him feel a little giddy.
“Well, I believe this concludes our business,” Stenn said, stashing the statuette in a pouch and hefting the huge warhammer on his shoulder. “Time for me to move on down the quest-chain. I've got a pony to get!”
“Wait,” Rob said. “I've got quests of my own that I could use some help with. Would you be interested in sticking around for a while and helping out?”
Stenn frowned. “And why might I do that?”
This caught Rob off guard. “Uh, well, I'll split whatever loot we find, fifty-fifty.”
“I'm already rich, new guy. Whatever loot or treasure that can be found in this valley is too low a level for me. Same with your quests. The experience points they'd give wouldn't be worth my while. Not to sound rude, or anything, but that's the truth of it.”
Rob knew he was right. But having an adventurer like Stenn helping him out would be a tremendous boon.
Seeing his frustration, Stenn said, “Look, once I get my pony, I'll come back. Maybe by then you'll be a higher level and the quests you get will be closer to what I can consider fun. Fair enough?”
“Fair enough,” Rob said doing his best to hide his disappointment. “I look forward to it.” He shook the big man's hand.
Stenn shook Fenton's, too. “You did great kid. You're a fine adventurer. Or fine builder. Or both.”
“Thanks,” Fenton said, smiling and standing straighter.
“Which direction are you headed?” Rob asked. east, or souteast might lead to the goblin hideout.
“Due north to the coast, then a hard west. Would normally try to hop on a ship to cut the travel time, but those damn Shadow Pirates have taken over the seas.”
“Yeah, I ran into them earlier today,” Rob said. “Tough looking characters.”
“You encountered them and survived?” Stenn said, surprised. “That usually doesn't happen. Guess you're not as new as you appear.” He grinned, then bowed slightly. “I will take my leave of you gentleman. May the Bug
Bashers join forces further down the road of adventure.”
The big man sauntered out of the cave, stomping on bug carcasses and pools of guts. Then he turned north and walked out of view.
Quest complete! “Bug Bash”
Rob looked at Fenton. “Okay, now that we're finished here, time to get you home.”
“But I don't want to!” Fenton said. “We did so well together. You need me!” His voice cracked with the last sentence.