by Paul Bellow
I nodded.
“We killed him,” I said.
“Good for you,” Captain Kashim said. “Who are you?”
“I’m the guy who killed Snargao the Impatient,” I said.
Captain Kashim laughed, lowering his defenses.
“Do you think I care what happens to non-gnomes outside our ever-expanding realms?” he asked.
“You should,” Sarah said.
The battle-hardened gnome stepped out onto the expansive porch.
“Should I?” he asked.
“Yes.” Sarah nodded. “You should.”
“Do you want the lava golem pieces or not?” I asked. “We’ve got other buyers.”
A wave of almost imperceptible apprehension washed over Captain Kashim’s face. I knew we had him right where we wanted.
“How much gold do you want?” he asked.
“That’s the best part,” I said. “All we want in exchange for some of it is for you to share some of your ORGO.”
I winked a bit too forcefully.
“What are you talking about?” Captain Kashim stared into my eyes, studying my reaction to his words. “That stuff’s illegal.”
“But you want some, right?” I asked.
He nodded.
“I do,” he said. “But there’s a problem. You’re too late.”
“Did you give it to a mage in red robes?” Sarah asked.
“No,” Captain Kashim said. “The Four Wizards requested it, so I sent our supply south to the Four Towers. It’s too dangerous to keep around. They’ll take care of it properly.”
I turned to Sarah.
“We need to go ask them for some of it,” I said.
Sarah kept her eyes on Captain Kashim.
“Can you tell us anything about the Four Wizards?” she asked.
The upper-class gnome laughed like we were beneath him.
“Nothing. Most people don’t already know about them,” he said. “Anything else? Or can I get back to my dinner? I have company over.”
“Thanks for your time,” Bernard said.
Captain Kashim went back inside, slamming the thick, wooden door behind him. Sylvar shook his head while staring at me.
“What?” I asked, daring him to say something.
“Let’s go,” Sarah said then turned and walked off the porch.
“What now?” Bernard asked. “I’m starving.”
“I know a great inn down the street,” Sylvar said. “We can rest tonight and leave in the morning.”
“That’s your damn answer for everything,” I said.
“Do you have a better idea?” he asked.
I walked past him without answering and caught up to Sarah.
“We’ll get some rest tonight,” I said in a soft, calm voice. “This is just a little setback, nothing to worry about.”
She nodded silently. We walked out of the low-end of the wealthy district, each of us distracted in our own thoughts.
After retrieving our horses, Sylvar led us to the Whispering Willow Inn and Stables. I didn’t mind their high rates. We all needed to rest and recuperate before the next challenge on the side quest linked to our main quest.
I slept soundly.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of Bernard and Sarah laughing at one of Sylvar’s endless stories. He had to be a PC trapped as an NPC.
Why wouldn’t he join our party and talk OOC with us?
I leaned up on an elbow and stared at the others as they sat at a rough, round table.
“Good morning,” I said. “We should get going.”
Sarah stood and walked over.
“You needed the sleep,” she said. “We all did.”
I swung my feet over the side of the bed and sat up.
“Can we find out more about these Four Wizards?” I asked. “Are they evil, good, neutral? Do we know anything?”
“All I know is that they’re powerful,” Bernard said. “I’ve never met them.”
“We’ll meet them soon enough,” Sarah said.
I stood and stretched, ready for another day in the game.
We ate a hot breakfast in the dining room of the inn, recharging even more.
Our party of four then went outside and retrieved our horses for the ride. A squad of gnome soldiers marched by while chanting, “Gnomes rule!”
“Let’s get out of here,” Sarah said. “This place gives me the creeps.”
“Me too.” Bernard climbed on his horse. “I miss the dwarves.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as I got on my old, tired stallion.
He didn’t answer, silently riding toward the southern gates.
“It’s a sensitive subject,” Sylvar said then followed him.
Sarah shook her head then climbed on her horse.
“What?” I asked, honestly not understanding.
On the way out of Westwood, I thought about finishing our Dawn Acid side quest—we’d come so far already.
Could we pull it off successfully?
I kept my eyes open for the mage in red or anyone else that might try to stop us from reaching the Four Towers and meeting the Four Wizards.
A dry dirt road stretched south toward the towers—even the gnomes avoided it whenever possible—but Sylvar led us west toward the coast first.
“It’ll be safer,” he said.
Stupid lying elves.
8
Never Trust a Ranger Weasel
Sarah
* * *
I loved riding with the ocean on our right. As we headed south to find the Four Wizards, I found myself wistfully looking out at the water.
The sound of the waves lapping against the shore mesmerized me. Riding slowly, I’d fallen behind the others as the game drew me in deeper.
Huge piles of bones piled here and there along the route got my attention. I spurred my horse and caught up to Eric and the others.
“What’s with all these bones?” I asked.
Eric shrugged.
“Hunters maybe?”
“There’s so many of them,” I said.
“Might be cyclopes,” Bernard said. “A tribe of them is known to be in the area. The gnomes pretty much leave them alone.”
“We’re not running into a group of cyclopes,” Sylvar said in a snide voice. “I wonder about you three sometimes.”
“All the signs are pointing to something being out here in the wilderness,” I said.
Sylvar, riding directly ahead of Eric and me, shrugged.
“That’s why we’re taking the road by the coast,” he said. “We’ll be fine as long as we don’t venture too far inland.”
“You should’ve told us before,” Eric said.
“My bad,” Sylvar said.
That sounds so out of character for an NPC—I thought but said nothing. Sylvar spurred his horse and rode ahead.
“He’s getting on my nerves,” I said.
Eric snickered.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“I’ve not liked him since we met him,” he said.
“Stop and listen,” Bernard said.
I heard a tremendous crashing noise to my left inside the group of trees we’d been following. Another tree snapped and fell.
“What is it?” I asked, stopping my horse.
Bernard and Eric stopped near me. Sylvar kept riding.
I looked toward the source of the sound.
My heart beat faster as I saw a mage in red robes ride a horse out of the forest. Two humungous humanoids with a single eye each followed him. Halfway to us, the mage threw up a shimmering red wall.
Both cyclopes slammed into the translucent barrier as the red mage continued riding toward Sylvar.
Again? Really?
“We need to kill them,” Eric said.
He spurred his horse and took off down the trail. The mage reached Sylvar first, raising his staff into the air in front of them.
Another reddish wall of light went up. Bernard and I caught up to Eric as he st
opped a few feet in front of the magic barrier.
“You’re going to pay for betraying us,” Eric said.
Sylvar laughed. I cast Glorified Cloaks of Bronze on Eric with twenty mana.
You cast Glorified Cloaks of Bronze -> Drex
You have [66/86] mana remaining.
He turned to me and said, “Thanks, but you should save your mana.”
“Her weak magic isn’t going to help you,” the mage in red said.
“This is my friend,” Sylvar said. “Rizzo the Red.”
“Are we supposed to be impressed?” Eric asked.
I glanced over and saw the cyclops still struggling to get past the red, magical barrier. The same magic protected Rizzo and Sylvar.
“We have an offer for you,” Sylvar shouted. “Give us the other items, and we’ll let you live to fight another day.”
Eric laughed at the offer.
“Never,” Bernard shouted.
“If you don’t agree,” Sylvar said. “We’ll kill you.”
“No,” Eric said. “You won’t.”
Sylvar smirked and shook his head.
“We’ll see,” he said. “I’ve been adventuring with you three, and I’m not impressed with how your group operates.”
“You’re a bunch of idiots that deserve to die,” Rizzo the Red added. “You didn’t even realize Sylvar was spying on you the whole time.”
“We know now,” Eric said. “And that’s all that matters. Take down that wall protecting you, and we’ll see how you hold up.”
“Magi Inyontoo gave us strict orders to not kill you yet,” Sylvar said. “Or you’d be dead already. I could’ve killed you many times.”
“You should’ve done it,” Eric said.
Bernard pointed toward the cyclops.
“Guys, we’ve got a problem,” he said.
I turned and saw the red, glowing wall disappear. The cyclops roared and raised its gigantic wooden club before running toward us.
“Have fun with that,” Sylvar said. “We’ll be back to collect the items.”
He and Rizzo the Red turned on their horse and fled north. The cyclops lumbered forward. Its footsteps shook the ground beneath my feet.
“Time for battle,” Eric said as he got off his horse.
Bernard and I also dismounted as the cyclops drew closer. I backed up for a more strategic position for casting spells. Eric strode forward.
The cyclops reached us, swinging the massive club down. It hit the ground with a dull thud, throwing up big chunks of dirt. Eric dodged.
As he circled the giant, Bernard ran forward with his mace. The cyclops ignored him completed and headed straight for me.
“Watch out,” Charlotte said.
I cast another spell.
You cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth for 10 mana
You have [56/86] mana remaining.
A mound of magical dirt formed in the cyclops’ path. His sandaled foot hit it just right, causing him to fall to the ground in a heap.
Eric and Bernard both used the opportunity to rush forward and attack the brutal beast. Their carefully targeted blows bounced off.
“A little help,” Eric shouted as the cyclops stood.
It screamed in a deep, booming voice then raised its club.
Time for some offensive magic, I thought as I cast another spell.
Your Flaming Discs of Lava WOUNDS the cyclops for 16 damage.
You have [36/86] mana remaining.
Infuriated by my fire magic, the cyclops went into a rage. The wide, sturdy club slammed into Eric, sending him to the ground.
“No!” I yelled as I watched him go down.
Bernard ran forward to distract the cyclops as Eric crawled backward. His battered body moved slowly, so I cast a Divine Arrow of Energy at him.
You cast Divine Arrow of Energy -> Drex
You have [31/86] mana remaining.
Eric leaped to his feet with renewed energy. As he attacked the cyclops along with Bernard, I pulled out the Wand of Summon Monster.
Could I control what was summoned again?
I zapped and used the last six charges—hoping for an elemental or two to help us.
You zap the Wand of Summon Monster [0/50] charges remaining.
Your Use Magic Item skill increases
Use Magic Item - Basic Level 6 of 10
When I first zapped, a giant frog materialized and hopped away. A sheep appeared the second time I zapped. Concentrating harder, I hit the jackpot.
Four earth elementals rose out of the ground and surrounded the cyclops. It went nuts at the sight of the magical creatures, striking with his tree-sized club.
I stuffed the wand back into my belt as I watched the battle closely.
Bernard and Eric danced around the earth elementals, occasionally attacking. The mighty cyclops swung its club and took out two of the elementals with a single blow.
I blinked rapidly, not sure if I’d seen things right.
Bernard and Eric pulled back as the remaining two earth elementals attacked the cyclops. Almost out of mana, I didn’t know what to do next.
“Retreat!” Eric yelled, answering for me as he ran toward me. “To the beach...”
He ran past me and down the sand toward the water. Bernard followed as the cyclops destroyed another earth elemental with its big club.
I joined the other two, running into the water with them. Eric stopped once it reached past our knees. He looked back at the fighting cyclops.
“There’s no way we can take it,” he said.
“What are we going to do?” Bernard asked. “It can reach us in the water.”
Eric turned to me.
“Build a sand wall,” he said.
I tilted my head to the side and said, “What?”
“Your dwarven earth spell,” he said urgently. “Use it to build a patch of land for us to hide behind.”
“I don’t think that’ll work,” I said.
“Do you have a better idea?” he asked.
I shook my head then cast the spell.
You cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth for 24 mana.
You have [7/86] mana remaining.
A giant mound of earth rose from the ocean floor in front of us. We ducked behind it, bending down to avoid being seen.
“Where’d you go?” the cyclops yelled in common. “I can’t eat dirt for dinner.”
“Quiet,” Eric whispered.
My back ached as I crouched down. The sound of the cyclops talking to itself faded away as the relentless water kept rushing to the shore.
“It worked,” Bernard said in a surprised tone. “What do you know?”
“We make a good team,” I said.
“Let me double-check,” Eric said. “To be safe.”
He stood and peeked over the earthen mound.
“It’s gone,” he said. “We should be okay if we stick to the coast while traveling south to the Four Towers. Just keep your eyes open.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “My mana is lower than low.”
“You saved us with what little you had,” Eric said. “We’ll be fine.”
“I’m so mad at Sylvar,” Bernard said. “And myself. I should’ve known better than to trust a man with a weasel as a pet.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it,” Eric said then turned to me. “We all made mistakes when it comes to Sylvar.”
I bit my bottom lip, not wanting to get into an argument. The game continued whether we wanted it or not. I had to stay positive.
Bernard straightened his body.
“When he didn’t join our party,” he said. “I thought for sure he was an NPC.”
“Me too,” Eric said. “We’ve got to be careful.”
“Thanks for taking an OOC penalty for us,” I said.
Bernard waved his hand through the salty sea air in front of him.
“Don’t mention it,” he said. “We’ve been lucky so far. The game enjoys lying and bending the rules to get what it wants.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The AI behind the game is nuts,” he said. “More nuts than any of the players maybe. There was this one time I died because a basilisk bit me after I killed it. Stupidest death I’ve ever had in here.”
“What level were you when you fought a basilisk?” Eric asked.
“Level twelve rogue,” Bernard said. “I was a pretty big deal here on level one-one for a good number of years before Magi Inyontoo came to power.”
“This game is so great and terrible at the same time,” I said.
Bernard nodded.
“I feel the same,” he said. “It’s beautiful on the one hand, but on the other, it’s like we’re locked in a cool golden cage.”
Eric kept scanning the coast.
“Are you ready to go?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Hold on,” Bernard said. “Can I bring something up while we’re OOC?”
“Sure,” I said. “We’re all friends here.”
“Yeah,” Eric added. “Spit it out, buddy.”
“It’s about letting other people in our party,” Bernard said. “We need to do it, but I think we should have a system or rules for who we ask to join us.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said, nodding my head.
“One more thing,” Bernard said. “What was the date when you two came into the game?”
“Good question,” I said. “December twelfth in 2042. What about you?”
Bernard frowned and looked out at the sea behind us.
“I don’t remember,” he said. “It’s been so long…the memory should be in my head…but it’s not…”
The tone of his voice terrified me.
“It’ll be okay.” Eric patted him on the shoulder. “We’ll get out of here soon.”
Bernard nodded.
“Let’s finish this quest,” he said. “Time to get it done.”
We walked around the mound of earth and back to the shore.
“I want to stay on the beach for now,” Eric said.
He turned and started walking south without waiting for an answer.