by Paul Bellow
"That's crazy," I said. "We should get out of here."
"You're welcome to not believe us," he continued. "But you try spending forty years in this game without changing."
I stared into his eyes – the virtual representations of the windows to his soul. Was he lying? Another trick of the game to stop us from completing the first so-called easy quest?
"We know who you are, Eric." Ferris turned and looked me in the eyes. "Creator's Son."
"Yeah," Bernard said. "I was going to mention that, but..."
His voice trailed off as Ferris and I stared at each other.
"I know no more than you," I said. "Trust me. I've been ready to get out of this game for over a week."
"We should do it now. Can we do it now?" Thom asked.
"Fine," Sherlock said. "Cast the spell."
Aaron, who had been silent the entire time, chanted and moved his body. The four wizards joined hands as electric energy coursed around them in circles.
The magic died down a moment later.
"We've got work to do on the higher levels of the game, but we trust you three to finish this quest and rid the realms of Magi Inyontoo forever."
"He'll just be turned into an NPC if we kill him," Bernard said.
"Perhaps, but if you kill him with this sword, that won't happen."
Sherlock pulled a glowing broadsword from his robes.
"This is something we've imbued with extra magic to make sure he's stuck as an NPC. When used to kill a player, it takes three of their NPC lives as well."
"Wait, I thought you said none of your unique magic worked outside your area of influence," Sarah said.
"Yeah," I added. "What she said."
"It's experimental," Thom said. "But now that we're player characters, we think it'll work."
"You think?" Bernard asked. "On a scale of one to ten, how hard do you think it will work?"
Thom laughed, his bushy red-hair bouncing.
"We need to stay here at the Four Towers a while longer, but once you three have vanquished Magi Inyontoo, we'll be able to figure out how to get out of this game."
"Hold on," I said. "Who are you guys?"
"We don't remember our names, but we were hired to work on the code of the game," Sherlock said.
"Yeah," Ferris added. "But we can't access the code without sufficient privileges. Now that we're players again, we'll be able to zoom through the other levels and get to the top of the tower."
"The top of the tower?" I asked.
"Yeah, from what we've learned, there's twelve levels that need to be cleared before the second level of the tower opens."
"What's up there?" Bernard asked. "Maybe I should stay here."
Sherlock frowned.
"To be honest, no one knows. Anyone who has gone up there hasn't been able to come back to the first twelve levels."
"I hate this game," Sarah said.
"You're doing great, Kali. I love you," Charlotte said out of the blue.
"Whoa, a talking spider," Thom said. "I thought I'd seen it all."
Sarah smiled. I wanted to console her, drive away her fears.
"We've got this," I said. "With an experimental blade on our side, what could go wrong?"
"Actually," Aaron said. "Quite a lot can go wrong. If you don't mind, I've not talked in a few years, so I'd like to explain exactly how the sword might be misused and cause problems."
Great, I thought. A walking-talking instruction manual. I'd never had time for those before.
"Not now, Aaron," Sherlock said. "They need to rest while we plan our journey to the other realms."
"Can you tell us anything about the upcoming levels?" I asked.
"Yeah," Sarah said. "And will we see you again in the future?"
"That all depends on the decisions you make and the mood of the game," Sherlock said.
"What do you mean the mood of the game?"
"The AI," Thom said. "Robot brain."
He laughed. I wondered about his sanity. Did the game drive him mad after forty years?
"Seriously," Ferris said. "We can't tell them anymore. You guys know the rules."
"What rules?" Bernard asked.
"He's correct," Sherlock said. "We've said too much already. You should prepare for your journey."
"Thank you," Sarah said.
For what? They've left me with more questions than answers.
"One more question?" I asked as they walked away.
All four turned.
"Where are the Dwarves?"
Thom smiled, but none of them said anything.
We spent the night in the tower, resting and going over our equipment. They provided us with horses and everything we would need for the final leg of our journey.
The ingredients for Dawn Acid would be ours. With Sylvar and Rizzo the Red still on the loose and looking for us, I wanted to get moving before they caught up.
With a ranger on their side, they would be able to easily track us. I pushed thoughts of tomorrow out of my mind and examined my new sword one more time before bed.
Magic Item:
FAST Sword +5
This broadsword deals 1d10 damage + 5/x3 Critical. It has +25% to hit modifier. The bearer of this sword created by Ferris, Aaron, Sherlock and Thom will always go first in an encounter. When used against another player character, they have a 25% chance of losing 1d3 NPC lives.
I grinned. A human with hobgoblin armor wielding an experimental magical sword forged by four wizards who had been trapped in the game for forty years.
What could go wrong?
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 34 ::::>
Bringing Out the Evil Dead
SARAH
In the morning, we stood outside the tower with Sherlock, Ferris, Thom and Aaron. The four mages unexpectedly had two more gifts for the ride.
Sherlock held up a thick, intricately carved wooden staff.
"This is the first Staff of the Ram," he said, admiring it.
I accepted it, loving the weight in my hand. Various sized holes covered the staff from top to bottom.
"Thanks," I said as I checked it out. "What's it do?"
"Not much," Thom said. "But it's cool."
"It will charge other wands," Ferris said. "Pop a wand in one of the numerous holes in the staff, and it will get back one charge per day."
"That is cool," I said.
"It'll also allow you to talk OOC whenever," Aaron said, his voice scratchy.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," Bernard said.
"When others hear you speaking OOC, it will sound like gibberish to them."
"Including other player characters?" Eric asked.
"Yes, them too," Sherlock said then lifted a pair of sparkly slippers.
"For me?" I asked.
"They won't fit me, Kali."
I laughed at Charlotte then asked, "What do the glitter slippers do?"
"They're for stealth," Ferris said. "With two rogues in your party, we thought you might find them useful."
Bernard took the slippers and looked them over closely.
"How do slippers covered in glitter help with sneaking?" he asked.
"Magic," Thom said then smiled.
"If you won’t wear them, I will," Eric said.
"No, no, they're fine if they work. I'll wear them."
"They work well," Sherlock said. "We would give you more, but the game loves balance."
"You can't tell us anything else?" Eric asked.
Sherlock frowned. Ferris shook his head. The other two mages looked on, saying nothing.
"We should go," I said. "Thanks for the gifts."
"Yeah," Bernard said. "Bye, bye, stupid OOC penalties."
I smiled at his enthusiasm. The magic items weren't all-powerful, but the thought counted more than the actual gifts.
"Thanks for the sword too," Eric said.
"Put it to good use." Ferris placed the tips of his fingers together in front of him. "There's only one like it."
"Do you have any advice for us getting this last item for Dawn Acid?" Eric asked.
"We've not been out of the area between the towers in years," Sherlock said.
"Thanks again." I turned to Eric and Bernard. "Let's get going. We can make it to the edge of their area of influence and sleep safely tonight."
"Great idea, Sarah." Bernard smiled.
After packing everything on our horses, we rode south. The first few miles went by in silence. Questions about the game rose in my mind.
"Were you able to choose your profession after you were an NPC?" I asked Bernard.
He sighed.
"No, it defaults to the one you choose when logging in. I've heard rumors other levels will let you multi-class or switch classes. Who knows for sure."
"We need a party of six," Eric said. "All these encounters and other parties are overpowering us."
"Tell me about it," I said. "Sylvar must go down."
Eric snorted then said, "Add him to the list."
"So says the Slayer of Snargao," I joked.
"We got lucky Captain Riggard was with us," Bernard said.
"And Monde," Eric added in a solemn tone.
The more I saw him as a man in his late twenties, the less I thought of him as a child, the boy I'd grown up with.
"We're looking good," Eric said. "The quest is almost over. We only need one more item."
"We've still got to make this stuff too," I said.
Eric glanced over and smiled.
"As I recall, you've always been good at crafting."
I returned the gesture.
"Thanks, but we also need to find the pendant and destroy it."
"And take out Magi Inyontoo," Bernard said.
"How do you eat an elephant?" Eric asked.
I glanced over at him as we rode side by side.
"One bite at a time."
He grinned. I rolled my eyes, but he was right.
One step at a time, we'd reach our goals.
The game couldn't trap us forever. Could it?
"What if we get trapped in here forever?" I asked.
Our horses continued forward at a steady rate.
"What do you mean?" Eric asked. "You don't think there's a way out?"
"I don't know. We've met people who have been in here a long time."
"Like me," Bernard said.
"Yeah..."
I took a deep breath.
"We'll find a way out," Eric said. "A developer or other players have probably figured out a way to quit. If not, my father or someone will find us eventually."
"But what if they still can't get us out?" Bernard asked.
I'd been pushing that thought aside for days, but it reared its ugly head.
"There's always a way out," Eric said. "Why would they build a game you can never escape?"
His words made sense, but the fears lurking deep in my mind wouldn't go away.
"Those four mages are something else," I said to change the subject.
Eric chuckled. I turned to look at him.
"What?"
"I'm just thinking about that red dragon in the basement of one of their towers."
"You almost got killed," I said. "Which wouldn't be good."
"I hear you," Bernard said.
"Yeah, but it was funny in a way."
I shook my head and pursed my lips.
"Anyway, we're back on the road, and we have magic items that might help us in our quest."
"These slippers don't look too feminine, do they?" Bernard asked.
I stifled a laugh. Eric wasn't so polite.
"Well, if they work, what do I care?"
"You're one of a kind, Bernard," Eric said.
I watched as our faux cleric rode ahead.
"He's a good guy," I said.
"I think so too, but..."
"But what?" I asked.
"I don't know. There's something about him."
"You say that about everyone."
"Well, I was right as far as Sylvar is concerned."
"A stopped clock is right two times a day," I said.
"Yeah..."
"Do you think he’ll attack us again?"
"I hope so," Eric said. "I really do."
Both of us fell silent as we rode through the land between the Four Towers. Later that night, we camped at the edge of their lands. I slipped the wand of monster summoning in my staff to charge it.
I slept better than I had in a while even though we were roughing it under the stars.
The cool night air comforted me as the game continued, unrelenting and cold.
▧▨▧▧▨▧▧▨▨▧▨▧▨▧▧▨▧▧▨▨▧▨
The next morning, after a quick breakfast, we passed over the boundary of the land protected by the magic of the Four Towers. Charlotte sat on my shoulder as I rode next to Eric.
Bernard led our party of three as we headed further south to Top Henge monuments. We only made it ten miles before we ran into a lone man on the road ahead pulling a cart.
"Bring out your dead," he called.
"Whoa," Eric said, stopping his horse.
Bernard and I did the same. The man continued yelling as he got closer.
I noticed a pile of bodies on the back of the cart.
"Bring out your dead."
He stopped in front of us and looked up. Covered in mud, dirt and grime, he looked little better than the bodies in the cart he was hauling.
"Can we help you?" Eric asked.
"Bring out your dead?"
Eric frowned.
"We left her back in the hills east of Westwood."
"He didn't mean her," I said.
"I know, but..."
"Careful ahead," the man said. "Graveyard is hopping these days. More undead than living these days."
"Safe travels," I said. "Wherever you're going."
The strange man picked up the handles of the wooden cart and continued down the road.
"Bring out your dead."
"What an odd man," Charlotte said. "He confuses me."
"You and me both." Bernard turned. "Kinda wish I was a real cleric right about now."
"Do you think we'll run into undead?" I asked. "Skeletons creep me out."
"Well, we're looking for monkey ghouls, so I bet there a good chance other undead might be around," Eric said. "We should be ready for anything."
I nodded, going over calculations for spells in my mind. Finding the perfect mana spend each day might be what saved us in the game.
How much would the magic system change as I gained levels?
"I'd love to know too," Charlotte said.
"Know what?" Bernard asked.
"Nothing," Charlotte said.
"Spider secrets aren't good for a party," Bernard said.
"Leave her alone," I said. "She's still learning. We were talking about magic in this game."
"Hey," Eric said. "Do you still have that healing wand you were using when we first met you?"
"I do." Bernard reached into his robes and pulled it out. "Will it fit in the staff of the Ram?"
"Probably," I said. "Let me try."
Bernard handed me the wand. After a few tries, I found a slot for it.
"It looks like I'm carrying around a broken hat-rack," I said.
The two others laughed. Bernard lifted a foot as we rode.
"Function over form," he said.
"Indeed."
We continued down the road.
"Graveyard ahead," Bernard said.
He pointed to the left.
"Do the dead come out at night?" I asked.
"No," Eric said. "I don't think so."
"We're about to find out," Bernard said.
He slowed his horse, so we were riding three abreast.
"It's an odd place for a graveyard," I said.
As we rode closer, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
"Guys, I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Me too," Eric said then unsheathe
d his sword. "Be ready."
The horses slowed as we approached the tall, iron gates surrounding the plot of land.
"Why is this here in the middle of nowhere?" I asked.
"Years ago, a few villages were located here," Bernard said.
"What happened?" Eric asked.
"No one knows, but the graveyard remained."
"I see nothing," I said. "Let's ride by."
"No," Eric said. "We should stop and check it out."
Ugh. I sighed internally but kept calm on the outside.
"Fine, but we shouldn't spend much time here."
"You worry too much," Eric said then galloped off toward the gated entrance of the graveyard.
"We should follow him," I said.
Bernard nodded. We both took off toward Eric. As I got closer, I saw a shadowy figure standing in middle of the tombstones. The sky filled with clouds, making it darker.
"Eric..."
"I see him," he said.
"Why's it looking at us?" Bernard asked.
Eric hopped off his horse.
"Only one way to find out."
"We need to tie up the horses this time," I said.
Bernard and I got down and led our rides to the iron fence surrounding the graveyard.
"He's still not moving," Eric said. "Can you get my horse too?"
"Sure," I said.
After securing our mounts, I walked over to Eric as he stood in front of the gate.
"It's not locked," he said then swung it open.
The dark figure in tattered robes stepped forward. Piercing lights appeared where his eyes should be.
"Is that a lich?" Bernard asked.
"Only one way to find out for sure," Eric said.
"Wait, Eric. Do you think we'll be able to defeat him?"
"If we do, the loot will help us in the rest of the game," he said, sword drawn and ready.
"Why aren't we running in fear?" Bernard asked.
"Good question. Charlotte, you got anything?"
"I'm afraid, Kali. This doesn't look good," she said.
"Why do you disturb me?" the creature hissed.
I followed Eric as he stepped into the graveyard. The gate swung shut behind us, squeaking then crashing as it closed and locked.
"All of you killed my father. Prepare to die..."
The lich inched forward, arms raised.
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 35 ::::>