Outpost: A LitRPG Adventure (Monsters, Maces and Magic Book 1)

by Terry W. Ervin II

  Glenn climbed the steps, a little challenging with his short legs, and knocked on the door. From within two dogs barked. He recognized them as Rocky and Chilli, the culprits who’d done the number on Stephi’s undergarment.

  “Those dogs don’t sound big enough to stop any thieves,” Kirby said, standing next to Stephi at the foot of the stairs.

  Glenn couldn’t argue with him on that point, unless they took ahold of an intruder’s pant leg and tripped him.

  The door creaked as it opened, which seemed extraordinarily loud. Everything else appeared in good order. Glenn wondered why the hinges, which he couldn’t see from his position on the porch, would be left in such need of oil.

  A girl of maybe twelve, pale skin with wide eyes and nearly black hair tied back, answered the door. She wore a sackcloth skirt, linen blouse, and a tan scarf over her head.

  “Yes?” she asked, a little surprised to see Glenn, possibly because he was a gnome. She spotted Kirby and Stephi at the foot of the stairs. “Are you looking for a room?”

  “We are,” Glenn said. “I, well, met the owner last night.”

  The girl opened the door wide and ushered them in. “I’ll go and fetch Miss Keri.”

  The three stood in what seemed to be a foyer. It opened into a dining area with two long tables, painted red, as were the high-backed chairs around them. Four men and a trio of women were seated and talking. They looked up briefly, several smiled politely but one of the men frowned when his eyes fell upon Kirby. Without a word they went back to their discussions. Two appeared armed with daggers and one of the women was wearing leather armor similar to Kirby’s. The tables still had wooden bowls with spoons in them and tin mugs scattered about, with rumpled up cloth napkins. Glenn smelled oatmeal and apple juice, or maybe cider.

  To their left was a stairway with an ornately carved railing. It had the head of a dragon at the bottom and scales going all the way up. The dining area had an entry way, probably to the kitchen, and what might be an opening to another room on the right. Several leather-bound books and various carvings, wooden and ivory, sat on shelves mounted on the walls.

  “Look at those two little dogs,” Stephi said. “They’re so cute.”

  Glenn hadn’t noticed Rocky and Chilli sitting under the nearest table, staring out at them. They watched her with curiosity, or maybe suspicion, as she hadn’t removed her hood.

  A moment later, wearing a blouse, skirt and apron, Keri appeared from the kitchen. A smile crossed her face when she saw Jax.

  “Elise, see to the leftovers for me,” she called over her shoulder.

  “I will, ma’am,” the young girl’s voice called from the kitchen.

  Keri gestured to the three. “Follow me into the parlor.”

  There was indeed a room to the right, with a long window and more shelves with books and knickknacks. It held three plush chairs and a couch. Along the wall were two tables with wooden chairs. On one table was a wooden chess set and on the other, a checkerboard with gray and black checkers.

  Keri pointed to the couch while she reached into a cabinet and pulled out a low stool. “Use this for your feet, Jax.”

  The stool was an unexpected comfort, Glenn thought. The boarding house owner’s hair had curls in it. Last night he remembered it straightening when she’d gotten fed up with the half-ogre and half-goblin neighbors.

  “And you are, Miss…” Keri asked, extending her hand.

  “Oh,” Glenn said. “I’m sorry. These are two of my friends, Marigold and Gurk.”

  They shook hands as she introduced herself. “You may call me Keri. I trust Jax mentioned the little incident where we met last night?”

  Just before Marigold took her seat on the couch to Glenn’s right, Keri said, “Marigold, please, you’re welcome to remove your cloak—unless you’re feeling chilly.” At that, the black and white dog, who’d followed them in, began wagging her stump of a tail.

  Stephi sounded hesitant when she said, “Some people find it distracting when I do.”

  Keri smiled politely. “It’s up to you, honey, but I’ve seen a lot over the years and few things surprise or distract me.”

  “Okay,” Stephi said and took off her cloak, folded it and set it on the end of the couch before sitting.

  Keri pulled her large chair around a little to more easily face the three. “Oh,” she said. “I can see how some might be distracted.” Her face became serious. “Let me tell you, Marigold. Better to be blessed with radiance than ruin.”

  Then the attention of the Glade House’s owner focused on Glenn. “It’s too early for me to have taken care of the task we discussed last night.”

  Jax glanced back at her innocently. “Uhhmmm.”

  Keri raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “Dude,” Kirby said, elbowing Glenn. “She’s talking about Marigold’s bra you lost.”

  Embarrassed, Glenn turned red. “I didn’t lose it.”

  “Yeah, dude,” Stephi said, imitating Kirby’s voice. “Well, heaven and everyman that’s seen me knows I’m not wearing it.”

  The Glade’s owner laughed again. “Honey, I suspected it was yours, but one never knows. Since Rocky and Chilli were the ones to damage it, I sent it out for mending at Enrique’s. He’s a local tailor.”

  “The dogs?” both Kirby and Stephi asked.

  Glenn sank further into the couch.

  “Oh, and honey,” Keri said, looking at Stephi’s hand, “you’ve lost something else.”

  Stephi pulled the silver ring from her finger. “No, it’s not lost.”

  “We needed to barter the gemstone,” Kirby explained.

  When none of the three explained further, Keri leaned forward and rested her hands on her knees. “You are here about a room?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Kirby said. “And maybe you could answer some questions for us.”

  The entire party was huddled around the map in their tiny rented room. It didn’t have a window, except for slits that could be opened in the top and bottom of the only door, one of the reasons for its low cost. Two fold-down bunks that were little more than a thin mattress resting on a rope net, one mounted above the others, hung on either side of the room. When the beds were folded down, they left only two feet between them, just enough to stand and turn. Four beds meant that Glenn would sleep on the floor, on an extra mattress underneath one of the beds. For some reason, that didn’t bother him. Kirby said it was probably because gnomes often lived in cramped burrows or tree hollows, sort of like hobbits from Lord of the Rings.

  The room also had four trunks that sat on the floor, one at the head and foot of each bottom bunk. Kirby and Glenn agreed to share one. It wasn’t ideal, but for two silvers a week, which included breakfast, served promptly at 6:30 am, and a tub for a bath—with soap—once a week, that wasn’t bad. The offer of a bath sold Stephi, plus there were good roosting spots on the roof for Petie.

  The potential rental of a secured closet in the cellar for gear when they weren’t in town sold Kirby. Glenn didn’t know what a reasonable deal was but agreed because he trusted Keri. She seemed friendly, and left people to their business.

  The room had a magical light, similar to those used in the city’s street lamps. It was located on a brass fixture attached to the door. The hinge connected the cup to the base, which allowed it to be covered, leaving the room in darkness. Glenn could reach the fixture that offered the equivalent of a twenty-five watt bulb, if he stood on his toes. At least he didn’t feel cramped like Stephi, who only had three inches of ceiling clearance when she wore her boots.

  Crowded and cramped, it was a base of operations that everyone deemed acceptable and safe, even Derek.

  Ron pointed to the map they’d spread open across one of the trunks they’d placed in the center of the room. “Here’s Three Hills City.”

  It sat less than a quarter mile from the Snake Claw River. None of them had known about the river since they’d entered the city on the opposite side. It reminded them of how fo
reign the world was, and how little they actually knew.

  The nearby river made sense to Glenn. He recalled from studying history and geography that most large cities, and even smaller prosperous settlements, had access to travel by water, by river, lake or ocean. Normally, however, the cities, or part of them, were situated right next to the river. Could be the Snake Claw River flooded, or was filled with some nasty monsters.

  Ron ran his finger northwest to an area labeled “Dark Heart Swamp.” “Here is where we need to go. From what the priest said, it’ll take about three days on foot to reach the swamp, and he estimated no more than two to locate the Hades cultists’ subterranean outpost.”

  “If it’s a swamp, how can the outpost be below ground?” Glenn asked. “Wouldn’t it flood? Like a basement?”

  “They might have the equivalent of magical sump pumps,” Derek said.

  “This is a game world,” Kirby said. “Regular rules like dungeons found in swamps won’t make a difference.”

  Both Stephi and Glenn looked skeptical.

  “Look,” Ron said. “Notice how Kalgore can wear his sword across his back?”

  Both skeptics shrugged.

  “He is able to draw it and sheath it without difficulty. In the real world—our world—it couldn’t happen.” Ron gestured to Glenn. “You have a strap that allows you to sling your round shield across your back without a problem, and it offers little difficulty or discomfort?”

  Glenn nodded.

  “Imagine attempting that in our world.”

  “Dudes,” Kirby said, spreading his hands wide, or the best he could manage in such a cramped circle. “This world has magic and ogres. You’re a gnome and an elf. Just go with it.”

  Ron pulled four objects from a pouch. One clear crystal the size of Glenn’s thumb and three malachite beads. The priest had explained that the crystal would turn darker as they approached the cultists’ outpost, until it was jet black. That meant they were within one hundred yards.

  The deep green beads with paler stripes were supposed to be Sanctuary Stones. Magical, one-time use items. By swallowing one, allowing it to pass near the beating heart, the stored spell would be triggered. Anyone threatening or attacking the swallowing individual would no longer feel an imperative to do so, for at least ten minutes—if the protected individual took no offensive action toward those threatening individuals. Anyone who might be hostile that approached during the spell’s duration would also be less inclined toward violence against the protected individual, but the spell’s effect wouldn’t be as potent.

  Glenn smiled to himself, recalling their meeting with the priest, his greasy hair slicked back and perfectly manicured fingernails. Kirby had asked, “So, if we need to use the sanctuary stones, do you want us to collect them after they go through our digestive tract and give them back to you?”

  The priest blanched and replied. “No, that will not be necessary.”

  Glenn’s thoughts snapped back to the present, when Ron asked, “How shall we distribute these magical items?”

  Kirby said, “Me, Marigold and Jax should each get one of the sanctuary stones, and you should carry the location crystal.”

  “Why do you say that?” Derek asked. He didn’t exactly have a sneer on his face, but his displeasure for the suggestion was evident.

  “Because, dude, Lysine knows about the outdoors, he’s part druid, and will be leading us. You and him will most likely be fighting, since you’re warriors.” He glanced up at Stephi kneeling across from him. “Once she uses her spell, she won’t be much help in a battle. We need Jax to stay healthy so he can heal us, and a stone might allow me to maneuver around and steal the necklace we’re after, or get a good stealth attack. When we get the necklace, you’ll probably get that because if there are undead, having our best warrior invisible, you could mow them down. That’d be pretty awesome.”

  “Undead?” Stephi asked. “That priest said the necklace we’re after renders the wearer invisible to them. What are they?”

  That question took all four men by surprise.

  “Apologies,” Ron said. “It had not occurred to me that you may not know.”

  “Zombies,” Kirby said, “sort of like in The Walking Dead. Skeletons and ghouls. Wraiths and vampires, but if those are around, we’re in trouble.”

  “Why?”

  “Because,” Derek said, “wraiths and vampires are a lot tougher than us.”

  “They’re tougher than an ogre,” Kirby explained. “Not as big or strong, but tougher to kill. Silver and magical weapons help, which we ain’t got, except for the little bit of silver on Jax’s club.”

  Stephi swallowed hard, taking in what was said.

  “Those types probably won’t be there,” Kirby said.

  “How do you know?”

  “It is unlikely representatives of Apollo’s temple would provide adventurers magical items.” Ron gestured at the stones and crystal resting on the map. “And subsequently risk alerting the Hades cultists that the Temple of Apollo held knowledge of their outpost’s location, by dispatching a party of adventurers, if the venture lacked a reasonable expectation of success.”

  “So,” Stephi said, “we’re counting on that sleazy priest’s assessment of us?”

  “Pretty much,” Kirby said.

  “Actually, the priestess is probably the one who made the original assessment.” While Ron said that, he distributed a green stone to Glenn, Kirby and Stephi. He returned the crystal to his pouch.

  Glenn took out his handkerchief and wrapped the sanctuary stone in it, and stuffed it in the bottom of his pocket so it wouldn’t get lost. When he looked up, Ron had another paper lying atop the map. It was smaller with a picture upon it.

  “Based upon the priest’s description,” Ron said, “this is what I believe we should be looking for.”

  The ink drawing showed a skull with two black eyes, black dots on the side of the skull, and two black dots where the eye teeth should be.

  Ron reminded them. “It is supposed to be ivory, and those dots represent black stones, probably onyx. However, the necklace may be carved from bone and the gemstones could be hematite.”

  “That’s real specific,” Glenn said.

  Ron frowned. “I could select a Detect Enchantment Spell, replacing one of the two Minor Cure Spells I normally prepare. However, the spell’s range and duration is limited due to my status as a first-rank caster.”

  “The toughest guy around will probably be wearing it,” Kirby said, “or it’ll be stored someplace majorly protected.”

  “What if they have a fake one they use to fool low-rank adventurers like us?” Derek asked. “We grab the fake one and run.” He paused and stared at Ron. “That happened to us, remember? That game session where we tried to steal the Medallion of Mermaid Summoning?”

  “This isn’t a game,” Glenn said.

  Kirby said, “Actually, it sort of is.” Then he scratched his head. “You know, Jax has a skill in precious gems. It takes quality gems and materials to harness and hold an enchantment. He might be able to detect a fake.”

  “Agreed,” Ron said. “When we near the outpost, I shall prepare one Minor Cure and one Detect Enchantment, and we will count on Jax for backup.”

  Stephi’s eyes were wide. “Unless we figure out along the way you need to keep healing us, along with Jax.”

  “Agreed, Marigold,” Ron said. “That would be prudent.” He picked up the map. “In the meantime, we need to gather equipment and supplies so that we might depart in the morning.”

  Ron placed the map and drawing in his storage chest. “Tonight I will draw another map, so that we have a backup. Beyond this adventure’s use, it identifies the location of Shorn Spearhead and Anchorville. We can always insert additional locations and expand content based upon our travel.”

  After closing his chest, everyone stood. “As we have retained coins in excess of what was required to secure the Tether Spell, Jax and Kalgore, you shall secure food for travel.
Also, a short bow and quiver of arrows for Kalgore, since he was unable to obtain one when he rolled up his character. Marigold, Gurk and I shall secure useful outdoor gear, a mule, and possibly the services of a zero-rank animal handler. If our party has one, we might be free to act without worrying that the mule bearing our supplies might bolt.”

  “Or he can be cannon fodder,” Derek said.

  Either ignoring Derek, or not understanding what he meant, Stephi said, “I want to get my brassiere, and maybe a different blouse. Both of mine are ruined.”

  “The undergarment, I agree,” Ron said, “But the new outfit should wait for our return.”

  When Glenn saw her frown, he said, “Give me the ring. If we get time maybe I can find a stone for it—nothing like a ruby, but something nice. If I have any coin left over.”

  “Why does she get that ring?” Derek asked, a hint of anger in his voice. “It’s party treasure.”

  Glenn stared up at him. “Gurk is the one that stole it, and that happened only because Marigold distracted everyone.”

  “That doesn’t matter, we all played a part. Me and Lysine fought with idiots rushing the stage.”

  “Do you plan on wearing it, Kalgore?”

  Ron spoke up. “You both make valid points.” His eyes shifted between Glenn and Derek. “If there is time, and if there is more than sufficient funds, obtain a reasonable stone and have it set.”

  When Derek began to object, Ron raised his hand to halt the objection. “Having a silver ring, complete with a stone, will make it more valuable than the two components separate. Marigold, you may wear it, with the understanding that should it become necessary, it shall be bartered to meet the party’s need.”

  She glared at Derek. “Understood, Lysine.” She removed the ring and handed it to Glenn. “Thank you, Jax. That’ll make up for me having to walk around like slutty white trash.”

  She winked to let Glenn know she was joking.

  Her smile and wink made the gnome swoon just a bit.

  Chapter 19