Amy and Betsy came up behind them, none of the male and female NPC so much as looking at either of them. But that was all right, they weren’t looking at Zack either. Humph. I reckon it makes a guy feel unwanted. I am the queen’s consort, not some dirty peasant!
They neared the bar, and the rotund innkeeper with the greasy apron raced out from behind the counter. “Queen Missy.” He embraced her in his thick arms, pressing her lithe body to his and clearly enjoying it a little too much.
Zack gently tried to pull Missy away, but the innkeeper would have none of it. “Here now, young man. The queen and I go way back. Way back, I tell ya.”
Missy managed to find her own way out of his arms. “Good to see you again, Stout Jon. It gladdens me that you have missed my music so.”
Stout Jon grinned, revealing crooked front teeth. “More than your music has been missed, my sweet. Your mere presence here warms the air, and makes men thirsty.”
He inclined his head toward the three busty tavern wenches serving ale to the patrons. “Already, I can see business has picked up. My profits always skyrocket when you are here.”
“Hey, barkeep.” Amy came to stand beside Zack. “You got any firewater?”
The innkeeper looked her up and down, then at Betsy. He grinned his crooked grin and nudged Zack. “You’re a busy man, aren’t you? Ya gonna introduce me to your harem?”
Zack lifted his chin. “Sure. Pour us all some firewater, whatever the hell that is, and then we can talk.”
“Sure thing, drinks are a meal each.”
A minute later, they sat at the bar, sipping their drinks. Zack introduced himself, then Amy and Betsy.
Stout Jon refilled their drinks. “Before we get to talking, there is something ya must know.” Zack leaned forward as the innkeeper turned to Missy. “There is someone here who says they must speak with you.”
Missy blinked. “Who are they?”
“A man who refused to tell me his name. He said he has something for you, something important.”
“Important?” Missy glanced at Zack, uncertainty in her eyes.
Zack took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “What can you tell us about this man?” He asked the innkeeper.
“Not much, other than he keeps to himself. He wears black, oh and one time he came out here without his cloth head coverings and I saw a scar running down his left cheek.”
“I don’t recall meeting anyone like that,” Missy said.
Stout Jon shrugged. “Well, it’s nothing to do with me. You either go see this man, or you don’t.” He bowed his head. “Your highness.”
QUEST
Objective: Take Missy to see this stranger and learn what he has that is so important.
Rewards
+1000xp
Missy eyed Zack, waiting for him to decide if they should see the man or not. He accepted the quest.
It wasn’t worth much, but the man might be part of the Middle Underworld quest chain, or give them a valuable side quest to pursue. “We will go see him, but only after we learn all we can about what’s happening out there.” He just hoped whatever the quest was it could wait. They really needed to get some rest.
She leaned against him. “Thank you.”
Zack returned his attention to Stout Jon. “So, tell us what you know of Middle Underworld. On the way here, we were attacked by a group of goblins.”
“Aye, aye. Dire times these are.” The innkeeper started to wipe down the bar. “Goblins warring with one another, then driven from their homes by the Deep Ones. Female cultists spreading through the eastern regions, slaughtering all in their path. Monsters foul and deadly sighted moving around in groups, feeding on the dead left from all the carnage.”
He leaned in close. “I’ve even heard rumors of the Deep Ones wreaking havoc on the far flung tribes of ratpeople.”
“Ratpeople?” Zack had never heard of them before.
Missy was the one who answered. “Two legged creatures called Qui’irl that are about as tall as you are. They mainly keep to themselves, but have been known to trade with outsiders. I don’t know what threat they face, but things must be dire indeed if they are coming out of their hidden camps. They avoid contact with races not of their kind and would never dream of contact with outsiders unless their very survival was under threat.”
She grimaced. “If the Karzel has sent its Deep Ones among the goblin tribes, that means another entrance to the Deep has opened up somewhere. Unless it’s closed, they are a threat to us all. There are many thousands of goblins… If they are all turned into minions like that thing we saw in the mine, then…”
She had no need to say what might happen. The threat was clear.
“Sounds bad out there.” Betsy had barely touched her drink, instead, she watched the children playing near the fire with a motherly expression.
“Bad is an understatement,” Zack said, his mind trying to grasp all the news. It sounded like he was going to be in Middle Underworld for quite a while.
Amy snorted. “Replace bad with exciting. There’s everything a girl needs right here. Lots of fighting, killing and powerful loot.”
Betsy glowered at her. “You have a one track mind.”
“Two track. Killing and sex with Zack.” Amy kissed Betsy on the cheek. “Make that four track mind. You, Missy, Zack and killing.”
“Anything else we should know?” Zack asked the barman.
The plump man shrugged. “Keep your wits about you at all times, bring plenty of food with you and…” He chuckled, glancing at the three women. “Make sure you keep your girlfriends happy, especially queen Missy. If you know what I mean?”
Zack put his arm around Amy and Missy and pulled them to him and kissed them both. Betsy came over for her kiss, and he quickly obliged her.
“Damn, son. Keep that up and I will make you take it out the back to one of my rooms.”
“Don’t mind us,” Amy said, as Zack let go of Betsy. “We’re always kissing him, and fucking him senseless.”
Stout Jon slammed his fist on the bar and roared with laughter. “I bet you are.” He wiped his eyes. “Makes me want to make my own harem out of those scabby old wenches I have out there serving drinks.”
“One more thing,” Zack said, returning to serious business. “What do you know of the journey to Malghana? We must see her, but need to avoid the Sulfurion’s cultist.”
“Oh, you will want to go through the Shifting Labyrinth then.” Stout Jon shook his head sadly. “Lots of folk have met their end in that place. Changes all the time you see, and not only the caves themselves, but the monsters inside. Each time you go in there, you have no idea what you will be up against.”
“Lovely,” Betsy muttered.
“How long does it take to get through?” Zack asked. “What’s the chance we will get lost in there?”
“Oh, you’ll get lost. That’s for sure. But the place isn’t huge. It should take you half a day to pass through the area, provided you have any sense of direction.”
“Where is it?” Missy frowned. “I know I have been there, but its location eludes me.”
The barkeeper gave a quick rundown on where the Shifting Labyrinth was located. “Thank you,” I should be able to get us there now.” Missy took Zack’s hand. “Odd that I couldn’t recall where to go. I normally can direct us anywhere, even if I struggle to remember why I have been to all these places.”
Zack didn’t know what to say to her. Perhaps the developers had made her forget so it forced Zack to come to the tavern to start the Middle Underworld central quest chain. Either way, it didn’t matter. They knew where to go now.
CORE QUEST
Objective: Travel through the Shifting Labyrinth to reach the Black Witch, Malghana. Not only does she have the second half of your cure for Cave Blight, she will also be able to tell you how to reach Upper Underworld.
Rewards
+5000xp
“Is there anyone around here in need of anything?” Zack glanced
around the room to see if any of the NPC patrons stood out to him as someone who might offer a quest. Most looked generic, merely there as set-dressing.
“Nah, this lot are my regulars. Always here, always drinking and talking nonsense.” He pointed to the door leading outside. “On the left side of the tavern, near the pig pens, is a notice board. If anyone wants anything done, they pin up a note there.”
That sounded like a quest board, a little like the one back in Vanamoor.
“In an attempt to clean up this humble part of the Underworld, I am offering meals in exchange for goblin ears. Interested?”
Zack nodded. “Tell me the details.”
REPEATABLE QUEST
Objective: Bring goblin ears back to Stout Jon and he will give you ten meals per two ears. Goblin ears can be carried in any type of bag and the monsters can be found scattered throughout Middle Underworld.
Zack accepted the quest. If he was desperate for food like he used to be, he might have traveled back several miles to those goblins they had already killed, and sliced off their ears. Since killing the Guardian, and completing the quest to leave Lower Underworld, they had a nice stash of meals in their inventory. So many, they were starting to run out of Inventory space.
More reason to return to the Vanamoor.
Turning to the woman, Zack said, “After we go see the man who wants to speak to Missy, we will travel back to the palace to rest.”
“My Jade stone can now bring us back here once a day,” Missy said, holding the green stone in her hands.
“Great, that helps.” Zack quickly made plans in his head. “When we return here, we’ll grab some quests from the notice board and then head out in search of this Shifting Labyrinth. Missy, is there anything you think we need before we venture out into the wilds?”
Missy’s forehead creased into a slight frown. “Maybe restoration potions. I know Margery can make them.”
That sounded like a good idea. Zack would need to spend 300 food to unlock the ability for the old woman to craft them, but that was fine. Already, the storage chest back in Vanamoor was near overflowing with the meals they’d gotten for handing in the giant bones.
Hell, if they had any meals left over after upgrading Margery’s crafting abilities, he might go buy some magical items from the local vendors in Vanamoor to replace the last of their non magical items. His leg armor and cloak were both basic items, and Amy and Betsy still had basic boots and cloaks.
The innkeeper pointed at the door at the rear of the inn. “Head through there. The man who wants to speak to Queen Missy is in the last room on the right.”
A minute later, Zack and the three women stood outside the door. He rested his hand on his sword, feeling a little uneasy. Missy held her guitar close to her chest, but didn’t seem overly concerned.
Amy yawned. “We heading in? I’m starting to get bored looking at this door.”
Betsy studied Zack. “You think we’re in danger?”
Zack forced a reassuring smile. “No, but keep your eyes open.” He found this whole thing odd. Who would want to see Missy? And how had they known she would come to the tavern? It had to be part of the central quest chain, or at least, a side quest of importance.
Before he could knock, the door swung open. “Come in, come in. Make yourself comfortable,” a soft voice said from inside.
Zack squinted, trying to see into the gloom. “Who are you?”
Giant arms reached around from the edge of the door and dragged Zack into the room. The arms wrapped around his body from behind, preventing him from grabbing his sword.
Missy screamed, as did Betsy. Then their voices were abruptly cut off.
Zack strained his neck around to see what was happening to them. His heart skipped a beat. What the?
All three of the women were staring forward with vacant expressions on their faces. A giant plate armored man shoved them into the room beside the man holding Zack. The three women walked forward robotically, still staring forward.
“What have you done to them?” Zack felt paralyzed. He couldn’t take his eyes off the women.
The arms tightened around his chest, crushing the air from his lungs. Dressed like a black-clad ninja, a man stepped between Zack and the three women. He stared at Zack through the slits in his head covering. “Your harem has been neutralized. Only their basic AI remains.”
The man placed a knife to Betsy’s neck. “Zack John Smith. You and I have business to discuss.”
QUEST COMPLETE
Objective: Take Missy to see this stranger and learn what he has that is so important.
Rewards
+1000xp
Chapter Five
The Janitor
“Let me go!” Zack struggled against the man holding him. The damn guy was strong. Real strong.
The ninja nodded once, and the man holding Zack eased up, but didn’t let go.
“What did you do to them?” Zack’s chest tightened as a second knife appeared in the black-clad man’s hand. “Don’t hurt them, or I’ll—”
“You will do nothing, for I am the one in control here.” The man chuckled. “We giveth, and we can taketh away. Now, watch what I can do to your women.”
Suddenly, Amy’s head turned and she glared at Zack. “We belong to him now. Do what he says, or he will make us kill you.” Her face lowered and she fell silent again.
No…
“You see, I am the one with all the power here. These women are my playthings, just like the giant brute that holds you in his arms.”
“What do you want?” Zack could barely speak through the terror. Not for himself, but for his harem. Betsy…
To Zack’s relief, the man lowered his weapons and moved away from Betsy. He went around and sat at a metal desk and leaned back in the chair. It was then Zack realized the man was neither a player nor an NPC, but something else. His character profile simply said, ‘Administrative Personnel.’
“You’re a developer.” Zack’s heart wouldn’t stop racing. What if the devs knew he had spoken to the G Man? What if they took Amy, Betsy and Missy away? What would happen to them?
He struggled to get control of himself. The possibilities of what could happen were too painful to imagine.
“Developer? I’m no one and nothing.” The black-clad man put his feet on the desk, then motioned for the other plate armored thug to stand at his side.
The massive NPC strongman was more ogre than man. He stared at Zack through the giant eye slits of his plate helmet, his eyes just as vacant as the three women’s. Nothing better to remind a player he is in a game world than dead-eyed NPCs.
“Call me… The Janitor. Yes, I like that name, for that is what I do.” The ninja looking man drove his knife into the desk, the blade penetrating the metal. “I take out the trash.”
“Are you here to kill me then?” If this guy was working for the developers or directly for the Oligarchy, it was doubtful he would kill Zack. Assuming what the G Man said had any truth to it…
“When you arrived here in the Underworld, you didn’t happen to see anything unusual did you?” The Janitor took out his other knife, and flicked the blade between his fingers.
Zack shuffled, the man holding him breathing heavily against the back of his neck. “Can you tell this clown to let me go so I can speak?”
The Janitor waved dismissively. “Fine, but if you try to attack me, I will have my three women behind you tear you apart.”
Glancing back at his harem, Zack sighed. “Fine, I won’t try anything.”
After the giant man had let him go, Zack took a seat across from the Janitor, struggling not to reach for his sword. “Define unusual. I’ve seen a lot since I was exiled down here. Giant snake women, farting dragons, a cavern full of colorful mushrooms. Oh, and a centaur with a gambling addiction.”
“Don’t play coy with me or I will have my brutes hold you down, and make your harem eat you alive.” To emphasize his threat, one of the women snapped their teeth shut.
>
Zack shuddered. This guy was clearly a psycho. He would totally go through with his threat.
“What do you want me to say?” Zack wasn’t going to make this easy for him.
“The Glimmer Man. You’ve seen him, haven’t you?”
“Is that a boss? I don’t think I’ve been given a quest for him yet.”
Feet raced up behind Zack, then nails scratched at his face. “I hate you!.” It was Betsy. “I hate you, I hate you. Just answer him.” Her nails scratched along Zack’s cheek, drawing blood.
-18hp
Zack grabbed her arms, surprised at her power as she fought against him. “Betsy, it’s me.”
“Tell him! I hate you.” The rage in her eyes made Zack look away.
It wasn’t Betsy. Not anymore.
“Yes, I saw him. But only once. I didn’t know who he was.”
The Janitor lowered his feet to the floor, and leaned in. “What did he say?”
Zack swallowed, listening to Betsy pant, while whispering, “I hate you,” under her breath. At least she had stopped struggling with him.
“I don’t remember much,” Zack replied, choosing his words carefully. “At the time, my harem and I were hungry, tired and lost. About all I remember was that he said something about…” he thought quickly, and blurted out, “meeting him somewhere once I reached level 14.”
“Meet him where?” The Janitor gripped the pommel of his knife. “Tell me.”
“In the cavern with colored mushrooms in Lower Underworld. Whatever it is called.” Zack smiled inwardly at the thought of the Janitor being torn apart by the fairies living in that cavern.
Leaning back, the black-clad man studied him. “You wouldn’t be lying to me, would you?”
“No, sir. What do I gain by lying? I have no idea who the Glimmer Man is, nor do I care.” He glanced at Betsy who had returned back to her dead-eyed stare. “I just want her and the other two back, then I want to find my way out of here.”
Raid Slayer 2 Page 3