by Paul Bellow
His blow landed solidly, getting the elemental’s attention.
Can I backstab an elemental?
Time to find out.
I crept forward and slid my sword into the elemental.
Your stab HITS the medium earth elemental for 9 damage!
I guess not. Gotta keep grinding this thing down.
Sarah cast another spell. The floor of the cave rose, enlarging the elemental. It raged, swinging its bigger body.
“Watch it!” I screamed then slashed again.
Your stab HITS the medium earth elemental for 8 damage!
Leroy and Thrukad continued attacking. As I struck again, I wondered why Benji didn’t have any offensive priest spells.
Your stab GRAZES the medium earth elemental for 5 damage!
I wanted to run after Snargao and the pendant, but the others needed my help. The elemental threw a mighty fist in my direction.
The medium earth elemental’s punch HITS you for 8 damage.
You have [18/42] health remaining.
“Watch out!” I shouted as the elemental raised a fist above Leroy.
He fell to the floor of the stone room—screaming in pain. As Benji rushed to heal our warrior, I yelled and attacked one more time.
Your stab GRAZES the medium earth elemental for 5 damage!
Your sword has become dull. Minus 2 damage.
Ugh. I needed a new sword anyway. Time to take this thing out.
Summoning all my strength, I ran forward and aimed at what passed for a head on the elemental.
Your stab INJURES the medium earth elemental for 11 damage!
The elemental fought on.
After Benji healed Leroy, both men joined the fight against the mound of earth. Together, we attacked from all sides.
Benji scored the final blow, causing the animated earth to fall into a harmless pile. I glanced to where Snargao had run as a notification screen popped up in my field of vision.
Combat is Over!
You receive 800xp divided by two party members.
You get +400 xp
You have 8,565 xp
You need 1,435 xp for level four rogue
“Blast that hobgoblin wizard,” Leroy shouted. “I saw my life flash before my eyes. He deserves to die.”
“Knowing you, it probably wasn’t a very pretty image,” Thrukad said with a chuckle.
“Shut up, shorty…”
“Knock it off,” I said as I sheathed my sword. “This isn’t over yet. Snargao got away with the amulet.”
“He escaped through that tunnel,” Leroy said, pointing. “Let’s follow him. Best to rush headlong into this and finish it.”
“Wait.” I held up my hand. “We need to think this through.”
“And heal,” Thrukad said. “I’m hurting bad.”
“Benji, take care of her, will you?”
“Sure,” he said. “But I’m almost out of spells.
I turned to Sarah.
“What about you?”
“Could be better,” she said. “I didn’t want to grow the elemental more than once.”
I grinned.
“Yeah, that wasn’t very helpful,” I said. “The earth elemental was easy enough, but something tells me Snargao is going to put up more of a fight.”
“I think you’re right for once,” Leroy said.
Sarah stepped to a full bookcase on one of the walls.
“We should search for magic items to help us,” she said.
After a few minutes, we had three identified and labeled magic items along with gems and coins.
Not a bad haul.
I stared at the altar.
1.
>> Ring of the Spider + 5 to climbing skill
>> Potion of the Mages – restores full mana
>> Scroll of Become Unknowable Humanoids
>> 2 yellow gems (10gp each)
>> 12 red gems (30gp each)
>> 72 gp
>> 142 sp
>> 5142 cp
* * *
“That’s a nice ring,” I said.
Sarah picked up the potion and scroll.
“Go ahead and take it,” she said. “We’ll give the gems and coins to the hirelings.”
“About time,” Leroy said, snatching a handful of gems.
I picked up the ring.
“You can divide the coins and gems later,” I said. “We need to go after Snargao right away.”
“I don’t think we’re strong enough to travel deeper into the mountain,” Leroy said. “But I’ll go along with you for now.”
I knew well the feeling of wanting more treasure, but we had other priorities at the moment.
“Good to hear,” I said.
“Anyone else need healing?” Benji asked.
I raised my hand.
“Over here,” I said.
I wanted to be at full health in case we ran into Snargao. He wouldn’t be as easy to take down.
Benji waved his arm over my chest.
You feel better!
You have [42/42] health remaining.
“Thanks, man,” I said.
He nodded, hands still hidden from view.
I turned to the tunnel where Snargao had run.
“Tight fit,” I said, not liking the looks of it one bit. “Single-file again with warrior up front and Benji guarding the rear.”
“I’ll go first,” Thrukad said. “My gnomish can see better without a torch. We can’t let them know we’re coming.”
“Good idea,” I said. “Everyone keep your ears open too.”
We entered the tunnel in a single-file line. My heart began to beat faster as darkness enveloped us completely. All I heard was our own footsteps.
I hoped we weren’t walking to our doom. With a bit of luck, we’d clear the first level quest and find a way to get out of the game.
Maybe before my father returned?
The sound of faint chanting in the distance filled the tunnel.
“Everyone stop,” I said. “Am I hearing things?”
“No,” Sarah said. “I think someone’s summoning another elemental.”
“We can’t get trapped in this narrow tunnel,” Leroy said. “Not with another of the dirt beings. Turn around.”
“Hold on,” I said. “We might be better off if we keep going.”
“Someone make a decision,” Thrukad said.
In the distance, the sounds got louder.
What to do now?
My mind blanked out.
17
That’s No Ordinary Wax Golem
SARAH
As we stood in the tunnel waiting for Eric to come up with a plan, Charlotte spoke in my mind.
“I can scout the way,” she said.
“Genius. Why didn’t I think of that myself?”
“You’re busy and nervous, Kali. It’s fine.”
“I have an idea,” I said.
Eric glanced back.
“What is it?” he asked. “I need to make a decision.”
“Let’s send my familiar to scout ahead,” I said.
Eric cocked his head to the side.
“Your familiar?” he asked.
“Yeah, she’s a…”
“Watch out,” Benji yelled, swatting my shoulder. “There’s a spider.”
“Careful,” I said, stepping away from him as much as I could in the cramped space. “That’s Charlotte, my familiar.”
Benji grinned and lowered his eyes.
“Sorry,” he said.
“Hold on.” I dropped to one knee and let Charlotte climb to ground. “How far can you go before our mind-link breaks?”
“A few hundred feet now, but the distance will grow as we gain more power,” she answered in my mind.
“Good to know. Be careful.”
“I’m going now, Kali, as fast as I can.”
“She’s going,” I said. “And will report back if she sees anything.”
“Great idea,” Benji said.
“There’s a gross room up here, Kali.”
“What do you mean? Describe it.”
“I see lots of wax,”Charlotte said.
“Maybe they make candles in that room?”
“Come on,” I said. “We’re safe to move.”
We carefully inched through the tunnel. I felt relieved when the space opened. As I looked around the cavern, I saw mounds of wax piled high.
Leroy dipped his finger into the wax then lifted it to his mouth.
“Tastes like Goblin,” he said, licking his lips.
I cringed, wondering if we should dump him.
“Someone’s coming,” Eric said. “Everyone hide.”
“There’s nowhere to hide,” Leroy said. “We have to fight.”
“Hold on,” I said. “We can disguise ourselves.”
“You memorized that spell already?” Eric asked.
I shook my head and said, “No, but I can cast it once from the scroll. We can disguise ourselves as goblins and try to sneak out of here.”
I unrolled the parchment and studied the text and images.
“How do I...”
“Read the very bottom,” Charlotte said.
“Oh, for single use…”
I read the arcane words. The printing on the page lit up then faded.
“Concentrate on what you want to impersonate,” Charlotte said.
A moment later, I stifled a laugh as I saw Eric and Benji turn into two of the ugliest and tallest goblins I’d ever seen.
“Not perfect, but it needs to do for now.”
“You’ll get better, Kali. I have faith in you.”
“Wait, I don’t speak great goblin,” Eric said. “I know a few words, but I’ve got a heavy accent.”
Benji picked his new, bulbous nose.
“I can’t speak it either,” he said.
“Let me do the talking,” I said, getting ready.
“Any advice, Charlotte?”
“You should act like a goblin,” she said.
I nodded then passed on her advice.
“We need to act like goblins,” I said.
Benji belched. Eric farted.
“Very funny. Remember, let me do the talking.”
Two skinny, barely dressed goblins turned the corner and saw us.
“What’s going on here?” one yelled in a nasty voice.
“Yeah, what’s going on in here?” his companion asked.
“We’re the new workers,” I said, wishing I’d come up with a better plan. “Who are you?”
“I’m in charge around here,” the mean one said.
“Yeah, he’s in charge around here,” the other added.
The first goblin turned to him.
“Cut it out,” he said. “You know I hate when you do that.”
“What’s with all the chanting?” I asked. “And where are we supposed to be working? We got lost looking for the crapper.”
The second goblin giggled, snot running out of its nose.
“We’re on high alert,” he said. “Heroes are coming or something.”
“Shut your trap,” the leader of the two said.
“We saw them,” I said. “Back through this cave.”
I pointed behind me to the tunnel we’d crawled out of earlier.
“Now!” Eric shouted.
I stepped back as he ran his sword into the back of the lead goblin. Leroy and Thrukad both attacked the one with a runny nose.
Combat is over!
You gain 200xp divided by two party members.
You get 100 xp.
You have 8,935 xp.
You need 5,065 xp for Level Four Mage
“You could’ve given me some warning,” I said.
Eric grinned in that cock-sure way he had.
“Charlotte, explore ahead, will you?”
“On it, Kali…”
Leroy stood after rummaging through the bodies.
“No treasure,” he said. “I want to get out of here. This isn’t worth it.”
“You can’t back out now,” Eric said.
He wiped the thick, green blood off his sword—muttering under his breath. I looked down the tunnel.
“Anything, Charlotte?”
“I’m reaching the end, Kali. There’s a lit cavern. It’s so big. Should I keep going?”
“Do you see anyone?”
“Only two statues, Kali.”
“Great. Wait for us.”
“Let’s go,” I said. “There’s two statues in a cavern, but that’s it.”
“The spider does better than our thief,” Leroy said then chuckled. “This is the strangest party I’ve ever not joined.”
“Let’s go,” Eric said in a somber tone.
Our procession inched forward. The end of the narrow tunnel opened into a huge, natural cavern easily a few hundred yards wide.
I glanced around and saw several tunnels that all converged in the cavern. Two statues taller than us stood near one of them.
Eric with his sword in hand, glanced around.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he said.
The two statues stirred to life on the other side of the cavern.
“Wax golems,” I hissed. “Everyone get ready.”
As the two creatures lumbered toward us, I noticed something, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Those aren’t normal wax golems,” Eric said.
“What are they?” I asked.
“Ear wax golems,” he shouted. “Be careful. It’s probably poisonous.”
Yuck. This game is getting too weird.
“I bet they’re vulnerable to fire,” Eric said.
He screamed as he rushed forward with his sword.
Leroy and Thrukad ran to catch up with him.
Benji and I held back, watching the situation.
I should’ve taken Lava Hands at my last level.
“Do you have fire magic?” Benji asked.
I laughed nervously.
“No,” I said. “But I was just thinking about it.”
Both of us watched as Eric and the others battled the ear wax golems.
“Maybe we can start another fire,” Benji said.
I bobbed my head back and forth as I thought it through.
“Not sure that’s the greatest of ideas,” I said. “You go around that way, and I’ll go to the other. Maybe we can surprise them from behind.”
“I’m a priest, not a bloody rogue,” Benji snapped.
“We just need to be in a strategic location and see what’s on the other side of the cavern,” I said. “Don’t freak out.”
“Right, right,” he said. “Don’t freak out. Got it.”
“Meet you in the middle…”
I turned and ran next to the outer wall of the cavern. At each tunnel I passed, I glanced down to see if I could spot anything useful.
Leroy screamed as he attacked.
That idiot is gonna get us killed, I thought as I kept running.
Benji could heal them once he got closer.
Eric looked heroic as he thrust, sparred, and pressed forward—battling the unholy golems. While not sentient, they fought hard.
I stopped and tried a single Golden Bolt. The energy spell bounced harmlessly off the creature. Instead, it turned and bolted toward me.
Uh oh. They must be magic resistant.
Eric noticed the one rushing at me. He ran forward and slashed again, sinking his blade into the wax. The golem stopped to swing a fist.
The other two were handling the second golem well, so I continued running around the edge of the massive cavern.
I saw a big tunnel ahead. Stairs leading up had been carved out of the rock. I couldn’t see the top as I stopped and got my bearings.
Where’s Benji?
I glanced around, assessing the situation. The stairs likely led to the Tower of Sherlock. And that meant we were in the basement underneath.
Watching the stairs, I crept forward as the others kept fighting
.
Benji met me in front of them. He stopped and glanced up.
“Leroy needed healing again,” he said. “But I took care of him.”
“Great,” I said. “Looks like they’re down to just one golem.”
“Charlotte, can you come to me?”
“I’m here, Kali, climbing to your shoulder now.”
We’ve got this, Benji said, pumping his fist.
Eric screamed and sliced the last ear wax golem in half.
Combat is over!
You gain 1,400xp divided by two party members.
You get 700 xp.
You have 9,635 xp.
You need 4,365 xp for Level Four Mage
“Not too shabby,” I said as he walked over.
“We should’ve taken them out sooner,” Leroy said. “Our healer’s too slow, and our stupid thief is acting like a front-line fighter.”
“You needed the help,” Eric said.
I stepped in between them.
“No arguing,” I said.
“Kali—someone’s coming,”Charlotte said.
I turned to see an even larger stone golem lumbering down the stairs. Snargao and a group of goblins fell in behind the animated statue.
“That’s it,” Leroy shouted. “I’m out of here, and I’m taking the loot.”
“No,” Eric said.
“I’m going too,” Thrukad said. “Riches alone just aren’t worth it for me. Better to rest up and come back another day.”
I sighed as the two of them ran across the cavern and back into the tunnel we’d entered earlier.
Benji glanced up the stairs.
“Are you leaving too?” Eric asked.
Our priest shook his head, holding his mace.
“I’m here with you two through thick or thin,” he said.
The honor displayed by our NPC companion gave me hope.
“What happened in here?” Snargao shouted from the stairs.
“Everyone be ready,” Eric said.
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Benji said.
“At least my illusion spell is holding even with combat,” I said.
Eric grinned.
“Maybe we can talk our way out of this,” he said. “Or you can. No pressure. You’ve got this.”
