by Paul Bellow
Combat is over!
You get 21,000 xp divided by eight party members.
You get 2,625 xp.
You have 44,772 xp
You need 6,228 xp for level 7 Wizard -> Warlock
"Great job," Axelrod said, raising his battle-axe into the air triumphantly.
"We should keep going," Eric said. "What was that you said earlier? Traps? Something about a game within the game?"
I walked over to them. The others did the same.
"We've got no time for it," Axelrod said. "I've lost two friends to that infernal roguelike."
"Roguelike?" Eric asked, his left eyebrow raising.
"Yeah," Axelrod said. "You a retro gamer too?"
Eric grinned then said, "O.G., original gamer."
He and Axelrod bumped their fists together.
"What's the point of having a game inside the game?" I asked. "That makes little sense."
"Nothing in this game makes sense," Bernard said.
"I'm serious," I continued. "Why did your friends enter it if it's so awful and dangerous?"
Axelrod took a deep breath and rested his axe-head on the ground, his hands resting on the bottom of the handle. He glanced over his shoulder and into the cave.
"It's a long story," he said. "We'll take everything back to Westwood and come up with a plan for sneaking through the mountains and finding the dragon. Pack it up and ship it out."
"Wait," I said. "We should talk about this before it festers."
"There's no time," Axelrod insisted.
What's his deal?
"I'll talk about it when we come back and enter the mountain. Before we go in, I want to leave another message in case my friends ever escape from the game-trap."
"This whole place is a game-trap," Josh said.
He made sense. It was one reason I enjoyed spending time with him. His practicality mixed nicely with my more creative soul.
"Let's get this treasure packed up and move out," Axelrod said.
I took a deep breath and bit my tongue as he lifted a finger in the air and twirled it around.
Maybe we should've thought more before voting him the leader of our group. He had a mission to help the rest of the dwarves get back into the game. Did they all have dark skin like him?
The idea of neo-nazi scum in the Tower of Gates game sickened me. We had to stop Magi Inyontoo once and for all. We needed to learn more information about the player behind the character.
"Good plan," Charlotte said as I walked to help the others load the wagon with our loot.
Instead of concentrating on the task at hand, my mind wandered to how I could slip away and purchase land south of Westwood for Ferris the mage. Why did it have to be a secret?
The Tower of Gates had way too many secrets. No matter how hard I tried, though, the game kept sucking me in deeper. Maybe helping Axelrod would lead to something else.
I planned my secret mission while packing two chests for the others to carry to the wagon. They'd already taken two medium ones filled to the brim with gold and platinum coins. Bye, bye, bronze.
On the journey to Westwood, I sat in the back of the wagon between two of the ancient wooden chests and brainstormed ideas to get away from the group and go off on my own.
Who did I need to talk with to buy land in the game? The questions piled up in my mind, stacked neatly in piles, waiting to be answered. Maybe they would be someday.
The road, as Tolkien wrote, went ever, ever on.
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Back at our room in Westwood, I itemized all the treasure and identified the magic items. We'd made off like bandits. Our large party would help us defeat larger monsters, including the dragon.
I stared at the long list of loot and smiled.
Divine Scroll of Lances of Lightning - 30mp per lance, each lightning lance does 1d20 electrical damage. Up to one lance for each level of caster.
Divine Scroll of The Blessed Calling of the Sacred Gnomes – 50mp – Fix any mechanical item.
Divine Scroll of Villainous Cold Auras - (15mp) – Make someone seem like an enemy
Ring of Protection (+15) (18000 gp) – Plus fifteen to armor class.
Ring of Climbing (2500 gp)
Wand of Suggestion (50 of 50 charges) (11250 gp)
Belt of Become Dwarflike – Wearer gains ability to speak dwarven, grows a full-length beard, gets +15 CON, has darkvision to 60'
142 pp
1,559 gp
10,098 sp
I didn't write down five sizable diamonds. Ferris had asked me to complete a secret favor, and I needed the gems to pay for the land. The others would understand. Eventually.
Ferris had sworn me to secrecy but had promised to reveal everything when the time was right. The other players in the Tower of Gates intrigued me on many levels.
My plan in the real-world had been to get a degree in psychology and open my practice to help people with mental problems – people like Eric and others.
I sighed as I stared at the magic items spread on one of the two beds in the room. We'd be able to buy our own building in Westwood and more.
Would we keep it when traveling to level one-three? The game kept sucking me in deeper, causing me to almost forget the real world existed.
After locking the room, I went downstairs. We were heroes after defeating the stone giant and bears. The gnomes were eager to repopulate the Mines of Oriam. Or loot them.
Eric looked over with a smile on his face as I approached the long table in the center of the room where they were sitting. They all had drinks and food in front of them.
"Well?" Axelrod asked. "Anything good?"
I tossed the parchment with the list down in front of him. He picked it up as I sat down.
"Not bad," he said. "We'll divide it up tomorrow morning before we leave."
"Let me see," Eric said, reaching across the table.
"We're not starting any arguments about it tonight," Axelrod said. "Everyone did a great job today, but the black dragon will be a hundred times more difficult to kill, especially without a proper healer in our party."
"I'm a rogue, not a cleric," Bernard said.
As we laughed, the man I'd noticed in the tavern the other day walked over.
"Excuse me," he said. "I couldn't help overhearing you're in need of a healer."
"Let me guess," Axelrod said. "You're a healer."
"I am," the man in grey robes said.
"We found our mole," Axelrod announced.
"Mole?" the man asked, looking from face to face.
"He's kidding," I said. "Dumb joke."
"I'm joking," Axelrod said then raised his mug into the air. "Have a drink and tell us about your qualifications."
"I don't drink alcohol," the man said.
"You're hired," I quipped without skipping a beat.
He turned his piercing eyes toward me again. I looked away.
"Sit down," Axelrod said. "We've got a great party, but we need a healer. Have you adventured before?"
"I have," the man said as he pulled up a chair and sat down between Eric and Josh. "All over the realms."
Was he another player trapped as an NPC? Could non-players who were NPCs join parties? The questions piled up in my mind as I stared at the supposed healer in grey.
"Do you have your own equipment?" Axelrod asked then burped.
"I do," the man said.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"I'm Ardeth Verd."
The fact a healer had walked up while we were talking about hiring one made me suspicious.
"You're welcome to join," Axelrod said then looked around the table. "What says the group?"
One after another, we agreed to allow the stranger to join our party. Having a healer for the battle against the black dragon would help.
[PC] Ardeth Verd (Human Cleric) has joined your party.
"Thank you," he said. "I've been on my own so long."
"What's your rea
l name?" Eric asked. "Have you been in the game long?"
"I'm Ryu Akagi," the newcomer said.
"A female?" Bernard asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No." Ryu smiled. "It's Japanese. They hired me to work on the combat mechanics in the game."
"How long have you been in here?" I asked.
"Does your group always talk OOC so openly?" he asked, looking from one face to another.
"We've got magic," I said. "Don't worry. You're not losing xp."
He nodded, not saying a word. Is he trying to change the subject? Or does he know something he's not telling?
"I'm a dragon-slayer," Evan said, lightening the mood and soliciting a laugh.
As everyone came down from the mirthful moment, I scooted my chair back and stood.
"I'll be back," I said, determined to fulfill Ferris' request to buy property south of Westwood.
"Where you going?" Eric asked. "I'll come with you."
"No," I said. "This is something I need to do alone. It's a mage-thing."
"Oh," he said, nodding his head.
"See everyone later."
After waving, I left the tavern and went outside.
"Why are we lying to them?" Charlotte asked.
I didn't lie.
"But you didn't tell them where we're going."
Exactly, Charlotte. You've got a lot to learn.
I walked toward the center of the city, wondering if trusting Ferris was a good idea or not. We needed to trust someone outside our core group.
Did I find Ferris attractive and charming? Sure, but I also trusted his judgement in the Tower of Gates game. Time would tell if I was making the right choice.
While the others welcomed our newest member, I used some of the loot I'd kept from them to purchase a huge tract of land south of Westwood.
Right or wrong, I had bought something for the Four Wizards who would soon be by the coast. Why didn't he want the others to know?
The game continued. I needed more content – another level, more monsters and more loot. A way out? Eventually. First, some adventure.
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 13 ::::>
Revenge of the Hill Giants
ERIC
I woke the next morning and glanced around the room, sensing something wrong.
"Bernard?" I called out as I rolled out of bed.
Standing, I listened for any out of the ordinary noises.
Maybe it's nothing. As soon as the thought popped in my mind, the door to our room burst open. Two men in familiar black armor rushed in, followed by a mage in black robes.
I reached for my sword. The two men in armor lifted their weapons.
"Don't do it," the mage said, closing the door to our room.
Bernard sat up in bed, his eyes half-closed.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"I wish they'd tell me," I said, putting my hand on the hilt of my sword.
They had us outnumbered, but I hoped the others in rooms down the hall would hear and come to our rescue. If not, we still might win if I woke Josh who was still sleeping.
"Get up," I shouted.
Bernard sat up on the edge of his bed, hands in the air. Josh grumbled then rolled over, his huge body almost too big for the bed.
"What?" he asked.
"Get up," I said. "We've got company."
"Who is it?" Josh asked as he rolled over. "What the..."
"Don't be stupid," the man in black robes said.
"Who are you?" I asked, searching for a moment of opportunity. "Are you with the Black Guard? Is this about our sham trial in Esterhollow?"
The man in robes laughed, an evil grin spread across his face.
"We're with the Temple of Magictology. You're here to pay for killing the last known liger in existence and not even using its blood constructively."
"Seriously?"
I shook my head.
"Magi Inyontoo is not happy with you, and we're here to make sure you pay."
"Come at us," I said, motioning them forward with one hand while my other still rested on the comfortable hilt of the Sword of Sands.
Josh stood, stretching his huge arms and preparing for a fight.
"Now," he yelled then rushed forward.
The mage pulled a wand from inside his baggy robes and zapped it at the barbarian.
Josh froze, falling to the floor like a stiff log because of the momentum. The two guards with the mage snickered. I leaped forward, drawing my sword.
Before I reached any of the three, the mage pointed the wand at me. I dodged to the side, missing the cobalt blue beam that shot out of it.
"Get them," I yelled, hoping Bernard jumped into action.
The mage's eyes widened as I reached him, sword raised.
He pointed the wand at me, but I slashed at his arm, diverting it.
Your slash INJURES the Black Guard mage for 14 damage.
The blue beam struck Josh again as the mage cried out in pain.
Bernard brought out his new magic mace and ran toward the two guards. They were ready, but he still connected with a solid hit to the head of one man.
I swung my sword again, missing as the mage pointed the wand in my direction.
"Nooo," I screamed, drawing it out as the wand's beam paralyzed me.
As I fell to the floor, I remembered all the times I'd struggled with walking in the real world. Was the game messing with my head by paralyzing me more than once?
The monkey ghouls had done it before, but this was different. I heard everything around me, but I couldn't force myself to move–not even an inch. Bernard screamed in pain.
What's happening? I struggled to move my head. While my eyes were open, they were pointed at the floor, not giving me a view of anything important. I heard the door smash open.
Axelrod's battle-cry comforted me slightly as I sat crumpled up on the floor, unable to move. That stupid liger, I thought, wishing we'd never killed it. Would we be cursed the whole game?
Combat is Over!
You get 4,000 xp divided by 9 party members.
You get 444 xp
You have 45,303 xp
You need 5,697 xp for Level 8 Rogue -> Bounty Hunter
My heart beat faster as I waited to find out what happened. Ewen and Evan struggled to lift me into a sitting position. I still couldn't move. When would it wear off?
"Can you help them?" Axelrod asked from somewhere out of my view.
"My magic is not powerful enough. The effect will wear off in a day or two," Ryu said.
What? A couple days completely paralyzed? No way...
Terror raised its beastly head in my mind.
"We've got to get into the mines before the fire giants find out what happened," Axelrod said. "There's no other way?"
"Fire giants?" Sarah asked.
"I'm sorry," Ryu said. "I know where to buy a potion to overcome the strong paralysis wand, but it's expensive."
"How much will it cost to get all three back to normal?" Axelrod asked.
"At least five thousand gold each," Ryu said.
"What?" Axelrod bent down and stared into my face. "This is coming out of your share."
I don't care, I thought in a panic. Just get me back to normal. Now!
What would've happened if the others hadn't come to save us?
Axelrod cleared his throat.
"You're all amateurs, but we work well together, and we've got to take on this black dragon and free my people. Sarah, go with Ryu to buy the potions."
Hurry. This is so not cool.
Even after so many years of not being able to use my feet in the real-world, the game had almost made me forget what it was like.
I didn't see them leave, but I no longer heard Sarah or Ryu, our new cleric. Axelrod barked orders at the two brownies while we waited.
With every moment that passed, I became more terrified that I'd be paralyzed my entire time in the game. Could I handle it?
As I waited for Sarah and Ryu to return with the magic to
get me moving, time slowed. Every second ticked by excruciatingly slow.
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Two hours after being paralyzed, I stood up and stretched.
"Are you okay?" Sarah asked, her hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Josh said, also stretching. "That was nuts. I gained a bit of respect for you, Eric. Must've been terrible not having use of your legs."
"Yeah, it's bad," I said, turning to Axelrod. "We need to set up guards."
"They snuck in on you three, not me," he said.
"Enough bickering," Sarah said. "It's too late to leave tonight, but we should rest for tomorrow. The Mines of Oriam are waiting."
"We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning," Axelrod said.
"Eric, let's go get a drink," Josh said, surprising me.
"A drink?" I asked.
"Yeah, we deserve it for getting sucker punched with that magic wand."
"Okay," I said, still cautious.
He smiled, which looked ferocious on his half-orc face, as he walked over.
"We've got to learn how to work better," he said, patting my back.
"I'm going to study," Sarah said. "Ryu, I have some questions if you have time."
The others left the room, including Bernard. Josh turned.
"Let's go, bro."
He's calling me bro now? Is this some sort of trick?
I followed him downstairs to the tavern. He ordered two pitchers of beer before joining me at a table near the door.
"Drink up," he said, pushing one of the glass containers toward me. "At least we can't get carded in the game."
"And the alcohol does the same thing it does in the real world," I said, pouring some of the beer into a mug.
He lifted his entire pitcher and drank from it.
"Ah, that's good," he said as he wiped the foam from his mouth with the back of his hand.
"It's okay," I said. "But we shouldn't be getting drunk. There's a chance we'll be attacked again."
"There's a huge chance we'll be attacked again," he said then laughed as if it didn't bother him. "You're too careful, Eric. That's your problem."
"I don't remember asking you about my problem, but thanks."