by Paul Bellow
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 17 ::::>
Rogue and a Ring of Spider Climbing
ERIC
I almost forgot our goblin disguise when we entered the cavern. Snargao stood in front of a mage in black robes. The stone golem stood at his side with its massive arms crossed over its chest.
"How did you lose them again?" the mage screamed. "I hate you and this game."
Did he talk OOC? What the...
> Consider black mage
[PC] Magi Inyontoo
This high-level mage is the most powerful player character in the first level of the first floor of the Tower of Gates. He is known for PvP victories. This is all you know.
My goblin jaw dropped. He turned in our direction, lashing out with more fury.
"Who are these goobers?"
"They were hiding, master. I think they're with the new recruits."
"I've never seen them before," Snargao said. "We don't have time for this, Magi."
"Tell them to clean up all that ear wax. And no eating it," he yelled.
Sarah and I made eye contact for the briefest of seconds. Even as a goblin, she looked amazing.
Magi turned and walked back to the immense stairs with the stone golem following close behind. Its feet pounded the floor of the cave as it walked.
Snargao went in the other direction, heading toward his lair.
That went better than I thought it would.
"Alright," the goblin underling said as he pointed at the two piles of ear wax. "You heard 'em. Get all that in wheelbarrows and take it up to the workshop. Took a lot of goblins to get that much ear wax, and we're not wasting any of it, you hear me?"
I nodded. Sarah belched. Even without a skill level, I farted on command.
The goblin grinned and nodded his approval before following Snargao.
"Let's get out of here," Sarah said in common as soon as he disappeared into a tunnel. "We got lucky, but I don't want to push it."
"I want to check on Athard and Thrukad too," Benji said. "Cleaning up goblin ear wax is not in my contract."
"First, you don't have a contract yet. Second, this is an opportunity to get the amulet back."
"We don't even know where it is now," Sarah said.
"Can't your familiar find it?"
"No, Charlotte is too low level to detect magic that far."
"Figures." I took a deep breath. "Here's what’ll happen. You two clean up the ear wax, and I'll sneak through the tower to find the pendant. Once I have it, I'll come back down here, and we'll make our escape. There's no way that stone golem can follow us through the tunnel back to Snargao's lair."
"No, but he's probably got fireballs and all other sorts of magic."
"That's why we need to rely on my skill set for this part of the quest. I am a rogue."
She sighed.
"Fine, but be careful."
"You know me." I grinned. "Plus, I've got this new Ring of Spider Climbing."
I slipped it on my right wedding-ring finger.
"Don't say it..."
She knew me well. I couldn't resist.
"I'm your friendly neighborhood spider-rogue."
Did Benji just crack a smile? How would he know about old comic book heroes?
"Go now if you're going," Sarah said.
After dropping my backpack to the floor of the cave, I turned and sprinted across the cavern to the tall opening with the staircase leading up. Even with bad lighting, sneaking up a set of stairs would be tough.
My skills will increase, I bet.
Step by cautious step, I made my way up the grand spiral staircase. No noises ahead. As I neared the top, I slowed down even more.
Now or never. I peered into the room at the top of the stairs and saw nothing. Adrenaline continued to rush through my body, heightening my senses.
Another massive spiral staircase led upward. I saw several wooden doors not big enough for the golem to get through. Sneaking carefully, I moved toward the nearest one.
If I were a cursed pendant where would I be?
Voices from above got louder. I opened the wooden door which led outside of the tower. Not knowing where else to go, I rushed outside and closed it behind me.
I found myself on a plateau at the base of the massive stone tower. It stretched up nearly two-hundred feet in the air. A sheer cliff offered no access to the tower.
Well, there's no way to escape from here, but I can go up.
Eager to test out the new ring, I grabbed hold of one of the giant boulders that made up the tower's walls. The ring worked its magic as I nimbly climbed higher.
I'll start from the top and work my way back down. Either he has his personal space up there or he's holding a princess hostage. I would be happy no matter what I found.
Ten feet. Twenty. Forty. I climbed higher. The wind whipped around me, threatening to send me to my death below. It's easier this way, I told myself as I grabbed another hand-hold.
Reality hit me like a snowball in the back of the head half-way up. I froze. Can't go back down. I've got this. Do it. Pushing my fears aside, I climbed even higher.
Near the top of the tower, I spotted a window. It better be open, or I'm smashing it. Completing the quest and getting back to the Tower of Gates to quit the game fell on my shoulders.
Luckily, my game shoulders were broad and could handle the weight of all the pressure. I reached the window ledge. My foot slipped, but I had a good grip on the stone above me.
Almost there...
I pushed the colorful stained glass window. As it swung open, I heard a creak in the metal hinges. Nobody better be in here, or I'm toast.
While I considered myself a fine rogue, there was no way I could defeat a high-level mage on my own. I shimmied through the narrow window opening, looking around the room.
Nobody...
Inside, I saw a comfortable couch, and a bookshelf filled with old tomes. Nude portraits of women from the realm hung from the walls like pin-up posters back in the real world.
How can this guy be a PC? Does he know my father? Or did he break in the game?
I searched a few titles on the bookshelf then noticed a secret button. After pressing it, I stepped back. The bookshelf swung open like a door. Whoever he is, I've found his secret room.
A grin on my unshaven face, I peered in and saw parchments stacked on a desk on the far corner. More nude portraits filled the walls. I smiled when I noticed a medium-sized chest.
Leaving the bookshelf door open slightly, I walked over to the open chest and looked inside. Several pendants had been casually tossed inside. What does the Cursed Pendant of Visions look like?
I thought about throwing them all on, but I had no way to know if they were cursed or not. Since I'd left my backpack with the others, I didn't have an easy way to carry all of them.
Maybe I should just throw them all out the window? What if someone is down there? I need to keep the important one with me. No other ideas popped into my head.
I took a deep breath then reached down and grabbed a pendant with a gold chain and huge ruby. Here goes nothing. After slipping it around my neck, I waited. Nothing. With no way to identify magic items on my own, I used a time-tested method. First, I checked my stats with it on.
When I took it off, I checked the stats again. My strength went up by ten. Not bad. This is a keeper, but I need to find the cursed pendant. Are amulets and pendants the same?
I took the other one off, not knowing if I could wear two chains or not. Maybe Sarah can teach me to identify magic items like my skill for identifying normal treasures.
Later, later. Keep on task.
A pendant attached to a silver chain caught my eye because of the design, a fish constructed out of diamonds. Benji would love that, I thought as I grabbed it.
I tried it on, but I couldn't notice any changes. Either it wasn't for me, or it was affecting something like my chance to hit a creature or something. No way to know...
Didn't feel cursed, though,
so on to the next one. I studied the half-dozen amulets and pendants for anything that struck my eyes as unique or extraordinary.
They were all powerful magic items for all I knew. Sarah would be helpful right about now. I picked up one with a round, black stone with an eerie sheen to its surface.
Maybe this is it.
When I slipped it on, a jolt of energy shot through my body as I saw a vision clear as day.
The sight of Sarah exploding after a fireball hit her terrified me. I tore the amulet off. Well, that was nuts, but at least I got it. My head hurt, but I couldn't stop.
I slipped the ruby amulet of strength around my neck and wrapped the other chain around my wrist. While I didn't want to climb back down the tower with it, I had no other choice.
Going down the stairs would be too risky, so I slipped out of the secret room and back into the mage's man-cave. I thought about grabbing a portrait too, or adding a moustache to one, but I heard noises approaching.
Time to go.
I grabbed the top of the window and went out feet-first. Without the Ring of Spider Climbing, I would've never been able to get out easily let alone climb down.
"Why is this window open?" I heard the mage yell from above.
Go, go, go. I pushed my skills to the limit as I descended the rocks of the tower.
Lower and lower I went. About half-way down, the mage yelled again.
"There he is. He's got the amulet," he screamed.
The whipping wind made it hard to hear him, but I knew they'd be coming after me.
"Lightning bolt, lightning bolt, lightning bolt..." the mage screamed.
As electricity whizzed by, I lost my grip and slipped. Uh oh...
Your Climbing skill has increased!
You are now Advanced Level 1 of 5.
When using your climb skill, you will gain experience points.
Wow. I'm such a high skill level, I must only improve when I make mistakes now. Too bad I'm about to die.
Here lies Drex, crushed to death.
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 18 ::::>
Hold On While I Destroy the Pendant
SARAH
I stared at the immense piles of non-animated ear wax and almost lost my breakfast.
"Let's get to work," Benji said, walking over. "I wonder why they said don't eat it."
"Don't you dare. Come on, we're not staying down here,” I said.
"But our new boss..."
"No one is the boss of me."
"Understood, boss. Where we going?"
"To save Drex. He’ll probably need it."
"Be careful, Kali. I'm here for you."
Thanks, Charlotte.
"Let's go, Benji."
I walked toward the stone stairs leading up. The bond between my familiar and I kept growing. She could only read the thoughts I directed toward her.
"Should I...you know...maybe stay back here and guard our rear?"
"No, I need you to tank while we look for Drex."
Benji sighed but kept following.
"Quiet now. I'm sending Charlotte ahead."
Go, my friend. Tell me what you see.
"Yes, Kali. I'll be more careful with the magic statues."
I watched as she climbed from my shoulder to the stair we were on. She headed for the wall, using its flat surface to make a good pace.
"Nothing so far, Kali."
I checked my mana. Low.
"Give me Drex's backpack," I said.
"Are you sure?"
I tilted my head and gave him the elven look for "Do it. Now."
"Here," he said as he handed it to me.
After opening it, I pulled out the potion of the Magi we'd found in Snargao's lair. Magic energy coursed through my body after I quaffed it.
"Better?" Benji asked.
I shushed him.
Anything, Charlotte?
"I'm nearly at the top, Kali. There's a room with wooden doors and another set of stairs leading up. They're massive."
Okay, we're coming up. Wait for me.
"Yes, Kali."
"Let's go," I said.
Benji walked up the last few stairs. Charlotte hopped on board as I surveyed the room.
"Where to now?"
"Try a door," I said. "The one on the far right."
With three doors, I hoped one had something good behind it.
Benji walked across the spacious room and opened the door.
"It's a closet," he said too loudly. "Ooh, a sword..."
"Quiet," I hissed as I walked over.
"Oh, sorry. Look, it's a sword."
"Grab it for Drex. He needs a new one."
"Is it magic?"
"No time to check."
I opened the next door. A stone terrace stretched out around the base of the tower we were in.
"We can escape."
"No, wait..."
Benji ran past me. I followed, closing the door behind me.
"We should go, Kali."
Not now, Charlotte.
I walked over to Benji as he stood at the edge of the terrace formed out of the rock of the mountain.
"That's a long way down," he said. "Even if we had a rope..."
His voice trailed off.
"We're not leaving until we find Drex."
"I know, but still, it's good to know we can't get away."
"Kali. I see your friend."
What?
I turned and looked up the tower. A man in armor miraculously climbed out of the window and descended the wall stone by stone.
What does he think he's doing?
"I don't know, Kali, but he's a foolhardy one. Watch yourself around him."
Thanks, Charlotte. He's a friend.
As I watched, the mage PC leaned out the window. Come on, Eric. You can do it. My muscles tensed up as he climbed further down. Then came the lightning bolts.
No...
Eric dodged the blast, but he fell. With only a second to react, I did the dance and sounds for Ladder of Dwarven Earth.
You cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth for 36 mana points!
Instead of a mound of dirt, I fashioned an earthen ramp like skateboarders used.
This better work.
He landed like a professional acrobat and rolled down one side of my magical earthen ramp and up the other. I rushed over, hoping he didn't have too much momentum and fly over the side.
"Drex," I called out as he rolled to a stop.
I waved the magic away and kneeled beside him.
"Benji, get over here." I stared into Eric's eyes. "Are you okay?"
He grinned.
"Can I ride again?"
"Be serious," I snapped. "Did you get it at least?"
He held up his arms. Both had amulets wrapped around them. Another one hung around his neck.
"I only had time to grab three, and I was trying to climb down."
"Yeah, I saw. That took a lot of mana."
"Thanks for the save. We should get going."
"Shouldn't we destroy the amulet and end the quest before they get down here?"
"I don't want to chance it. We'll go back to Snargao's lair then out of the cave. On the way out, can you use your magic to block the cave entrance?"
"Not permanently, and I don't have enough mana."
"That's fine. Let's go. I'll think about it on the way," he said, taking control.
"Wait. Let's use Charlotte. She's helpful."
"There's no time, Kali. He knows we're here."
"He saw us as goblins. As soon as we get out of the cave of dreams, we can end the illusion spell."
"Fine. He still might attack us."
Eric opened the door to the tower. We raced across the open room and down the stairs to the basement dug from the mountain itself.
"It’ll take them some time to get all the way down, but we need to move it," Eric said.
With more effort, I rushed past the other two as we ran across the cavern.
"That's not the right tunnel," Er
ic said.
I slowed down and turned.
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure."
"What about you, Benji?"
"I don't remember."
Ugh. Charlotte?
"This is the wrong one, Kali. I remember. Two tunnels to the left."
"Follow me," I said, taking charge and not caring if Eric got upset.
We were in a game but not in a game at the same time. He'd have to deal with it.
I ran through the correct tunnel, hating its narrow width.
"We'll block the entrance to this tunnel from the other side again," Eric said behind me.
At the end of the tunnel, I emerged into Snargao's lair and took a deep breath.
"Come on, Benji," Eric yelled. "Let's move this table."
"That won’t stop them," I said. "Let's go."
"It'll slow them down."
The two of them turned the table over and propped it against the door.
"Anything else heavy?" Eric asked.
"Time to go," I said, walking out of the room.
Benji and Eric followed as I made my way through the maze of twisty passages all alike. The sense of doom following us hit me hard. Just a little longer.
"You got this, Kali."
I smiled, spurred on by my familiar.
When I emerged from the maze, the smell of flowers hit my nose.
"This is it," I said, turning to see Eric and Benji walking out of the maze.
"Hold on, a minute," Eric said. "I'm tired."
Benji bent over, hands on his knees.
"Me too."
"Give me the pendant," I said, walking over. "And your mace, Benji. Time to end this here and now."
"But..."
"Come on, Eric. We did it. Time to go."
He sighed then handed over the Cursed Pendant of Visions.
"Do not put that on, Kali."
Why not, Charlotte?
"It will destroy your mind."
"You didn't put this on, did you, Drex?"
Eric nodded.
"Yeah, why?"
"It doesn't matter because I'm destroying it and clearing the level now."
OOC Penalty: -10% xp on your next encounter.