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Evan stood nearby, knives raised.
“Magi Inyontoo gave us these potions, and they rock!” he shouted.
I yelled and charged forward.
He dodged out of the way then leaped into the air, laughing as Ewen flew by and attacked me.
Ewen’s slash WOUNDS you for 18 damage.
**) Everlast: You resist the poison! (**
Ewen’s slash INJURES you for 17 damage.
**) Everlast: You resist the poison! (**
Ewen’s slash WOUNDS you for 19 damage.
**) Everlast: You resist the poison! (**
Ewen’s slash WOUNDS you for 21 damage.
**) Everlast: You resist the poison! (**
You have 151/292 health remaining.
**) Everlast: 4 minutes remaining (**
At least I wasn’t poisoned, I thought as I stood bleeding from a half-dozen wounds. The Everlast potion I’d ingested kept me going. I took my anger out on Ewen.
Your slash INJURES Ewen for 15 damage.
Your slash WOUNDS Ewen for 19 damage.
Critical Hit!
Your pierce DECIMATES Ewen for 32 damage.
Your slash DEVASTATES Ewen for 41 damage.
Your pierce MAULS Ewen for 27 damage.
Your slash MAULS Ewen for 29 damage.
Ewen has noticed you.
**) Everlast: 4 minutes remaining (**
Evan threw a potion at my head, hitting me. The glass cracked, burning my hair. I screamed and instinctively dropped my main weapon to brush the acid away. Big mistake. My hand stung as it touched the strange, gooey acid.
Evan’s Potion of Tingling HITS you for 9 damage.
You have [142/292] health remaining.
You cannot use your right hand.
**) Everlast: 3 minutes remaining (**
Is time moving faster or something?
Derringer and Josh had run forward, taking on Ewen. While they fought, I glanced up at Evan as he levitated in the air. Without my main weapon in my hand, I pulled a thin dagger and threw it with all my force.
Your pierce INJURES Evan for 12 damage.
Evan is not concerned.
“Come down and fight like a man,” I taunted.
“I’m a brownie,” he said. “Not a man.”
A brown lightning bolt – the oddest thing I’d seen yet in the game – slammed into Evan. He fell to the ground and rolled, obviously still affected by the Everlast potion.
“I’ll kill you too!” he shouted then ran toward me.
The damage from his two knives added up.
Evan’s slash WOUNDS you for 19 damage.
Evan’s slash INJURES you for 17 damage.
Evan’s slash WOUNDS you for 19 damage.
Evan’s slash WOUNDS you for 21 damage.
You have [150/292] health remaining.
**) Everlast: 1 minute remaining (**
“That all you got?” I asked then launched an attack of my own.
Ewen cried out behind me, but I didn’t stop to see him die.
I attacked Evan with all my power and frustrations.
His face scrunched up in confusion as he died.
Combat is Over!
You get 33,700 xp
You have 5 party members.
You get +6,740 xp
**) Everlast: Double xp! (**
You get +6,740 xp.
You have 156,288 xp.
Level Up!
Welcome to Level 11 Rogue -> Bounty Hunter.
+24 Health (170)
You gain: 5 stat points
You gain: 2 skill points
You need 63,712 xp for Level 12 Rogue -> Bounty Hunter.
**) Everlast: Potion has worn off (**
A wave of nausea hit me. Even leveling up again so soon couldn’t remove the urge to take another Everlast potion. I took a deep breath, struggling to hide my pain from the others.
“Not fun, is it?” Leena asked.
“You’re not helping,” I snapped.
“I seem to remember telling you not to take the potion,” she said.
“Yeah, me too.” Derringer stepped over. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “There’s a comedown period.”
Leena shook her head but said nothing.
“Did you level, Bernard?” I asked.
He grinned and nodded.
I surveyed the scene. We’d done tremendous damage as a team.
“No Sarah, but we should check for anything we can use,” I said.
“And clues,” Bernard added. “Look for clues. I doubt those necromancers were the only source of undead on this level.”
I moaned as my body adjusted to normalcy.
The others all stared at me with pity in their eyes.
“We won, didn’t we?” I asked. “The ends justify the means in this game. I’ve only got one more potion left then I’ll not have anything to take. This’ll all work out.”
“The withdrawals get worse, but it’s your character,” Leena said. “You can make your own choices. That’s what the Tower of Gates was supposed to be all about.”
She sighed then looked away, taking in all the destruction.
“Let’s split up,” I said. “Hopefully there aren’t any stragglers in the woods.”
“Can I burn the temple down?” Josh asked, too excited for my taste.
“After we search everything,” I said. “The brownies got potions out of that chest.”
I pointed near the spot where a few wooden beams had been erected. The others split up across the camp, checking bodies and other spots for any kind of loot.
“Can you come identify the potions?” I asked.
Leena nodded then motioned with her arm for me to lead the way.
I stepped toward the unfinished temple, wondering what goodies we might find. My new skill and stat points needed to be distributed too. So much to do.
“Are you okay?” Leena asked once we were out of earshot of the others.
I nodded, still not wanting to talk about my hunger for more Everlast.
“Let’s see what we have here,” I said, peering into the chest.
I saw several dozen potions of various sizes, shapes, and colors.
“This will take me awhile,” she said.
As she got to work identifying the items, I surveyed the battlefield one more time. The Everlast potion had helped me level twice in a very short period, but I couldn’t take it again.
I pushed aside thoughts about the dangers of the addictive magic and concentrated on my new skill and stat points. Where should I spend them? I pulled up my stats.
A ninety-five in strength would raise my to-hit bonus to thirty-five percent and plus ten damage per attack. Not too shabby. I dumped all five stat points into STR. Next, I reviewed my current skills.
Should I save the points to try to raise an advanced level of a skill? I decided against that plan, putting the two skill points into identify item to get to advanced which would allow me to identify magical items better.
Your identify item skill is…
Advanced Level 1 of 5
I glanced over at the rest of the potions in the chest, eager to try my new advanced skill. Leena took another bottle out and cast her spell, writing down the results.
When I spotted the familiar vial of more Everlast potions, I snatched both out of the chest. Leena looked over and frowned disapprovingly.
“I need these,” I said.
She shook her head to shame me, but I didn’t care. With three Everlast potions, I’d be able to clear the level and defeat Magi Inyontoo on my own if I needed.
“Keep them,” she said then returned to work.
Derringer walked up.
“What’d we find?” he asked.
“Potions,” I said.
“No kidding,” he said. “What do they do?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Leena said.
She stared at both of us, her brow furrowed. “I’ve got a lis
t of everything,” she said. “There’s repeats.”
“Let me see,” I said, holding out my hand.
“You got your two potions,” she said then handed the list to Derringer.
He read them off, along with what they did for the person who took them.
12 Potions of Minor Healing (Restore 1d20 health)
8 Potions of Major Healing (Restore 5d20 health)
1 Potion of Restore Mana (Restore 5d20 mana)
“Nothing but Magictology junk on the rest of them,” Josh said as he walked up. “Not a decent weapon or piece of armor anywhere.”
I tuned the barbarian and the others out as I thought about my find. Two more Everlast potions. How soon should I take one?
The cravings continued.
We made camp in the Temple of Magictology clearing, agreeing to stay overnight before heading into Fishguard as heroes for helping make the forest safe.
At least that’s how I envisioned it.
Chapter 14
Main Quest Complete
Eric
I awoke the next morning with a splitting headache, something I’d never experienced in the game before. The pain faded after I sat up and drank some water.
Where are the others? I glanced around the clearing, not seeing anyone. As I stood, I saw Bernard, Derringer, Josh and Leena emerge from the woods nearby.
“Where’d you go?” I asked as they walked up.
“To dump your Everlast potions,” Josh said.
I grabbed the pouch on my belt, heart racing, and felt for them.
“Very funny,” I said.
The barbarian laughed.
“You’re not addicted to them, huh?”
“How do you feel this morning?” Leena asked.
“Not good,” I said, rubbing my head. “Everything’s sore.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “It’ll get worse.”
“Why didn’t anyone wake me for my guard shift last night?” I asked.
Bernard stopped a few feet away.
“We tried to wake you up,” he said. “Several times.”
“You needed the rest,” Derringer said. “Because of that potion.”
“Can we stop talking about what potions I take or don’t take?” I snapped, adding a semi-sarcastic, “Please?”
Josh laughed as he walked around me and sat down on top of a chest.
“What are we doing? Sleepy-boy’s awake finally.” His grin faded as he stared behind me. “We’ve got company.”
I followed his finger and saw a shriveled man in tattered clothes walked in front of another man in black robes.
“Help,” the commoner yelled. “I need help.”
Great. Another random encounter.
I picked up both my swords. My head pounded as my heart-rate increased.
“Where’s Evan and Ewen?” the man in robes yelled. “What’s going on here?”
He didn’t wait for an answer as we all walked across the clearing toward him. With a wave of his hands, a dozen dead gnolls rose, trapped between life and death.
Yet another necromancer? What’s with this level?
“Derringer, Josh, get the zombies. I’m going for the necro. Leena, watch our back.”
I ran forward, a scowl on my face. Nothing like a battle first thing in the morning.
Zombie gnolls stood between me and the necromancer, but Derringer and Josh rushing ahead helped clear a path through them.
I ran, dodged, then sprinted toward the spellcaster. The ragged man in disheveled clothes sat down on the grass.
What’s his deal? Does the necromancer have him under his control?
I pumped my legs faster, closing the distance.
“You killed Magi’s father!” the man in black yelled. “Prepare to die!”
I almost stopped when I heard the odd battle-cry, but I kept moving until he cast another spell. A wall of flame shot up around the necromancer, protecting him.
I walked to the left, looking for a way around the flames. Without the effects of an Everlast potion coursing through my body, I didn’t want to take any unnecessary chances.
The necromancer began chanting another spell. After he stopped, the ground beneath my feet shook violently. My eyes widened as an enormous, bony hand broke out of the earth and reached for me. The flames continued roaring, protecting the necromancer, as the skeletal hand balled up into a fist and punched me before I attacked.
The skeletal hand WOUNDS you for 18 damage.
You have [152/170] health remaining.
Your slash MAULS the skeletal hand for 29 damage.
Your slash INJURES the skeletal hand for 12 damage.
Your slash INJURES the skeletal hand for 14 damage.
The skeletal hand is dead!
My last slash broke through the arm’s joint, sending the forearm and hand toppling to the ground. The rest of it stopped moving as I ran forward, trying to find the end of the wall of fire.
“Need help with that fire?” Leena yelled from behind me.
A cold blast of air extinguished a five-foot section of the blaze. I stopped, pivoted, then ran through the opening.
The necromancer raised his hands, but I attacked first.
Your slash INJURES the necromancer for 15 damage.
Your pierce WOUNDS the necromancer for 18 damage.
Your pierce MAULS the necromancer for 28 damage.
The necromancer is dead!
As I pulled both weapons out of the necromancer’s body, I turned to the man sitting on the ground. He held his hands together in prayer, visibly shaking.
The rest of the flame wall sputtered out as the sounds of the battle raging behind me continued. I walked closer to the man.
His entire body shook.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He glanced up, eyes glazed over.
Josh, somewhere behind me, screamed, “Die!”
Combat is Over!
You get 3,700 xp.
You have 5 party members.
You get 740 xp.
You have 157,028.
You need 62,972 xp for Level 12 Rogue -> Bounty Hunter.
I put my swords in their sheaths then reached out my hand. The weak man accepted it, tentatively getting to his feet. He looked around as if more necromancer cultists might appear.
“Are more coming?” I asked.
“No,” he said, his voice broken. “Water?”
“Come with me,” I said, keeping an eye on him.
He followed me as Derringer and the others came toward us.
“Who’s this?” Josh asked. “Another hungry mouth to steal our rations and water?”
“Shut-up,” I said, turning to wait for the man. “Do you have a name?”
“Jeremiah,” he said, voice still scratchy. “Water…please...”
“Get him some water,” I said.
“You get it,” Josh said. “I’m packing so we can get back to civilization in a city.”
I sighed then jogged over to our supplies stacked up on the floating platform. After I grabbed a canteen full of fresh water, I walked back to the man.
He took the container and gulped the water down as if his life depended on it.
“Take it easy,” I said. “What did they do to you?”
He stopped drinking a moment, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then took another quick drink.
“Caravan,” he said after he finished. “I’m not from the Grabisco Isles.”
“Oh?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
“I’m from Gracoria,” he said. “I’m visiting on a trading mission. You’ve saved my life. I owe you.”
“We’re just working to clear the realms of all the undead,” I said casually.
Jeremiah stood, wobbling on his feet.
“You okay?” I asked, putting a hand on his back.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “I need to get to Fishguard.”
“You can come with us,” I said.
Leena walked over.
“Thanks for talking to the rest of the party first,” she said.
“It’s the right thing to do,” I shot back.
Derringer, Bernard and Josh stepped over.
“Now you’re wanting to do the right thing,” she said, nodding her head. “I get it.”
“More importantly,” Bernard said. “Can you help us find safe passage to Gracoria?”
“Yes, I can,” Jeremiah said. “It’s not cheap, but I know of one captain who will take anyone to the next realm.”
“What do you mean by take anyone?” I asked.
“Not everyone is allowed access to Gracoria these days,” Jeremiah said.
I studied his posture and facial expressions, trying to gauge if he was a player or NPC. Only one true way to figure it out. I considered him and saw he was a PC.
“What about you?” I asked. “Why did you come here?”
“I told you,” he said. “I came on a ship of my own to trade.”
“He’s a smuggler,” Leena said. “I don’t want him joining our party.”
“Like I’d want to join a motley crew like yours,” Jeremiah said haughtily.
Was he higher level than Leena?
“You’re welcome to come with me when I sail away from these accursed isles,” Jeremiah said. “I’ll bring you for free since you saved my life.”
“No,” Leena said simply then turned and walked toward our belongings.
“We’ll think about it,” I said. “Right now, let’s concentrate on getting you to Fishguard without being killed.”
Jeremiah nodded then scratched at his thick, overgrown beard.
“I can’t get back to civilization soon enough,” he said.
Bernard walked back to the floating platform with me while Derringer and Josh continued talking with Jeremiah.
“What do you think?” I asked as we walked, trusting his opinion.
“If he can get us off the level, I’m all for letting him help,” Bernard said.
We stopped in front of Leena.
“Aren’t you excited?” I asked.
She shrugged.
“It’s one step closer to getting out of here,” I said.
“Meh. Some of us accept we’re never getting out of here.”
I glanced back at Jeremiah.
“You don’t trust him?” I asked.