by Paul Bellow
I wondered what he had in mind as the golem reached the bottom of the stairs. Snargao stepped out from behind it, snarling.
“Get ready,” the hobgoblin said. “You’re about to meet your new master, the founder of Magictology, and the coolest and kingliest king.”
I waited—unsure of what to expect.
18
Rogue’s Ring of Spider Climbing
ERIC
“Get in line, you miserable goblins,” Snargao shouted.
Benji, Sarah, and I walked over to the group of goblins and joined them in a line of shame. One of them farted—maybe more.
A mage in black robes stomped down the stairs, his eyes filled with fury.
Was this the mid level boss? And could we take him?
“Why isn’t anything working out?” the mage asked. “You ran away from the fools who attacked you, and now they’re missing.”
“I’m sorry, master,” Snargao said, eyes pointed downward. “We’ll find them soon. I promise.”
The mage stepped over to us.
“Have any of you seen anything?” he asked.
Two goblins fainted. I avoided eye contact, hoping the others did too. We had to lay low and stay alive to finish the quest.
“I need volunteers to clean up down here,” the mage said.
Sarah raised her hand and said something in goblin-tongue.
“The rest of you back upstairs,” the mage shouted.
Snargao crept toward the staircase.
“Not you,” the mage said. “Go back to your lair and find the intruders. They have to be somewhere. I need them dead. And soon.”
“Yes, master,” Snargao said.
“I can’t believe your stupidity,” the angry mage yelled.
He shook his head as he turned back toward the stairs. The goblins ran up before him, tripping over each other. I kept my eyes on them all.
The stone golem followed the mage up the stairs. I turned to Sarah once they were out of sight. She took a deep breath.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“That was a close one,” Benji said. “Your magic is strong.”
“Let’s get out of here,” I said. “We got lucky, but I don’t want to push it. Maybe the hirelings were right. We need more firepower or something.”
“I want to check on Leroy and Thrukad too,” Benji said. “Cleaning up all this goblin ear wax is not in my contract.”
“First, you don’t have a contract yet.” I kept my voice low as I continued. “Second, this is an opportunity to get the cursed pendant.”
“We don’t even know where it is,” Sarah said.
“Can’t your familiar find it?” I asked.
“No,” she said. “Charlotte is too low level to detect magic that far.”
I nodded and said, “Not a problem. Here’s the plan. You two clean up the ear wax, and I’ll sneak through the tower to find the pendant. Once I have it, I’ll come back down here, and we’ll make our escape. There’s no way that stone golem can follow us through the tunnel back to Snargao’s lair. It’s too big.”
“Yeah,” Sarah said. “But he’s probably got fireballs and all other sorts of magic. Maybe we should find another way out of here.”
I grinned.
“Do you doubt my mighty rogue skills?” I asked.
“No,” she said, not smiling. “But it’s dangerous.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said.
Sarah sighed then said, “Be careful…”
“I’ve got this new Ring of Spider Climbing, so I should be fine.”
She shook her head as I slipped it on my right wedding ring finger.
“Just your friendly neighborhood spider-rogue,” I said.
I glanced over at Benji.
Did he just crack a smile? How would he know about old comic book heroes?
“Go now, if you’re going,” Sarah said. “We’ll be down here waiting.”
I turned and crept up the stairs. Even with bad lighting, it would be difficult to hide. I listened carefully as I cautiously made my way up.
When I neared the top, I saw it’s empty; there’s nothing to see here. Hours of gaming had taught me a thing or two about subverting quests.
The game wanted us to face the mage, but I had other plans.
With a bit of luck, I’d steal the cursed pendant and get away quietly.
At the top of the stairs, I saw another spiral staircase leading up another floor. Two wooden doors were set in the stone walls.
Where would I be if I were a cursed pendant?
I walked over to one of the doors. As I looked around, I heard voices approaching.
I opened the nearest door. After slipping through the doorway, I closed it behind me.
Outside the tower, I glanced up.
It was so damn high. Twenty yards separated me and another cliff.
Not knowing who was inside, I walked around the circular tower.
It’s time to check out this ring.
I grabbed hold of a crevice and effortlessly lifted myself.
Not bad, I thought as I climbed. The wind picked up the higher I went.
Starting my search at the top of the tower made the most sense. If I were the mage, I’d hide all my treasures up there for safekeeping.
Ten feet. Twenty. Forty.
I approached the top—the game gripping my mind even tighter as I got wrapped up in the thrill of being a badass.
A window caught my eye as I climbed.
Not bad for a low level rogue.
I gripped the window-ledge then easily pulled myself up and over.
The glass window swung inward without me having to pick a lock. I grinned and hopped to the floor inside.
What do we have here?
I saw a well-used leather couch against one of the four walls. Several bookshelves packed with tomes and other knick-knacks took up the rest of the wall space.
I noticed a hatch in the floor at the center of the room.
Must be his eagle nest.
I scanned the shelves for anything resembling a pendant. I unrolled a nude portrait of a very blessed female gnome.
She wasn’t my taste, but to each their own.
How long had he been in the game? And why did he want to kill us so bad?
I pushed the meta-thoughts out of my mind and got back to the task at hand.
After searching a few minutes, I found a secret door.
The painting hiding it sort of got ruined, but I didn’t care.
He would have to deal with it. I picked the lock then opened the door.
In the other room, I saw a lavish wooden desk in front of a massive, stained-glass window overlooking the countryside. Colors lit up the space almost magically. More bookshelves and questionable art covered the walls.
Then I saw it.
Several chests sat stacked against the outer wall of the semi-circular room. I walked over, wondering if it was his stash.
After searching and finding no traps, I opened the first chest. I stared inside and saw a pile of pendants casually tossed inside.
What am I even looking for? This game sucks so bad.
I wasn’t sure if the magic items stored away were cursed, but they might come in useful.
Should I try on a few and see what they do?
Curious, I grabbed a gold one. Before slipping it on, I checked my stats. With them still glowing in the air, I put on the gold necklace.
My strength stat went up by ten. Not too shabby.
Was it an amulet or a pendant? How can I find the Cursed Pendant of Visions?
Trying it on wouldn’t tell me. I needed to take them all and let Sarah cast Identify on them. I took off my backpack and opened it.
All the amulets and pendants fit inside with a bit more room to spare. I stood and glanced around the secret room—looking for more.
Why would he keep such a powerful magic item like the cursed pendant thrown in with all the others? Or did he have another secre
t hiding place for that because it’s special somehow?
I walked over to the giant-sized wooden desk and felt underneath for anything out of the ordinary. As I searched, I noticed a painting.
A barely-clothed female wizard wore a glowing amulet.
He’s not that dumb.
I walked over and found a hidden switch.
I pressed it. A portion of the stone wall popped out and slid upward. I saw a gold chain with a deep black stone embedded on it—the same one in the painting.
Maybe this is it.
I grabbed it and slipped it on.
A jolt of energy shot through my body as every muscle clenched simultaneously.
I saw a vision.
The mage in black stood over Sarah’s body. She wasn’t moving. I yanked it away from my neck.
My head suddenly throbbed.
What was that?
I stared at the strange necklace pendant.
This must be the Cursed Pendant of Visions. Now I know how it got its name.
I stuffed it into a smaller pouch tied to my belt.
Does he have anything else worth stealing?
I shut the compartment door then turned around.
What’s that on the desk?
I stepped over and saw a metal quill and a pot of ink.
Maybe I should leave this punk a message to leave us alone.
I grabbed the quill, dipped it into the ink, then walked to the nearest painting. Snickering, I added a mustache to the half-clothed woman. When I finished defacing the five paintings in his secret room, I grabbed my backpack then walked through the hidden doorway.
Anything else I can do to get him upset and not think right?
I glanced around the room. The gnome painting already had a mustache, so I dropped the quill on the floor. Its sharp tip stuck into the wood.
An idea popped in my head.
I smiled and pulled out a piece of flint. A fire will destroy some of his magic books and cause a distraction for us to escape—I reasoned.
I settled on a bookshelf with loose scrolls stacked high on the shelves. As I walked toward it, I heard voices below me.
I bolted toward the window, putting away the dagger and flint. The hatch on the floor opened just as I slipped outside to the window ledge.
“Why is this window open?” the mage yelled.
I scurried down the side of the tower, hoping I’d make it to the bottom before he saw me.
Every few feet of my descent, I glanced up.
The third time checking, I saw him leaning out the window.
“You’re a dirty thief,” he screamed.
Rogue, I corrected in my mind as I kept scurrying down; pushing my skills and the Ring of Spider Climbing to their limits.
“Lightning bolt, lightning bolt, lightning bolt...” the mage yelled.
Uh oh...
Three electricity bolts whizzed toward me.
I lost my grip and slipped.
Your Climbing skill has increased!
You are now Advanced Level 1 of 5.
By making a mistake, you’ve increased your climbing skill.
Ugh. I sighed as I fell.
What a way to go.
Here lies Drex—crushed to death on level one.
19
Let’s Destroy the Pendant Now
SARAH
After Eric crept up the stairs, getting way into his character, I turned to look at the piles of ear wax covering the floor of the cavern.
“We should start working on this.”
Benji bent down and poked the tip of his index finger into one of the piles.
“I wonder why they said not to eat it. Do you think it could give us magical powers?”
“Don’t you dare try it,” I said. “Follow me. We’re not cleaning this up.”
Benji straightened, a goofy goblin smile on his face.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“To save Drex,” I said. “He’ll probably need it.”
“Be careful, Kali. I’m here for you.”
“Thanks, Charlotte.”
I walked toward the stone stairs leading up.
“Let’s go, Benji…” I said over my shoulder.
He paused then asked, “Should I...you know...maybe stay back here and guard our rear? I can. Not a problem for me.”
I stopped and turned.
“No,” I said. “We need to stick together.”
“Okay,” he replied in an unconvincing tone.
“We’ll be fine,” I said. “Charlotte will scout ahead for us.”
I stopped and crouched down at the stairs.
“Let me know what you see, Charlotte.”
“Yes, Kali. I’ll be more careful this time. Can you put me down?”
I stretched out my arm. She crawled off then headed up the stairs.
As she climbed, I checked my mana.
Ugh. Still low.
I turned to Benji.
“Give me the Potion of the Magi from Snargao’s lair,” I said.
He reached into his bag. After pulling it out, he handed it to me.
I uncorked it and put the thick, glass bottle to my parched lips.
The mixture tasted like licorice with a hint of red pepper.
Yuck.
You feel energized.
You have [64/64] mana remaining.
“Feel better?” Benji asked.
I nodded and held up my index finger.
“Anything, Charlotte?”
“I’m nearly at the top, Kali. There’s a room with wooden doors and a spiral staircase leading up. They’re massive. I see the mage who attacked you. They’re going back up the stairs.”
“Okay, we’re coming up. Wait for me.”
I turned to Benji and motioned with a nod of my head.
“Let’s go.”
He followed me over to the stone stairs. As I climbed, I got a little more lost in my character. The tiny details made all the difference.
I stopped at the top of the stairs and let Charlotte crawl back up my arm to my shoulder. Benji spun around, taking in the round room.
Everything looked as my familiar-scout had described.
Where would Eric go? Upstairs was to too risky.
Maybe there’s a door outside?
I walked over to the first of the two wooden doors.
“Hold on,” Benji said. “Let me check for traps.”
“You have a priest spell to check for traps?” I asked.
“No, no…” He smiled. “Just a skill I picked up in my ministry work.”
I narrowed my eyes as I studied his face.
“Okay,” I said, not noticing any deception. “Good idea.”
Still smiling, he walked past me and ran his fingers around the door frame. I turned to watch the spiral staircase leading up.
“No traps,” Benji said. “Should I open it?”
“Go for it,” I said. “But be careful.”
He opened the door. We both saw the inside of a closet.
“Ooh, a sword,” he said, ducking in and grabbing it. “I can’t use it, but maybe Drex will want it.”
“Take it,” I said. “You’re acting more like a rogue every day.”
His smile faded for a moment but quickly returned.
“Let me check the next door,” he said. “Maybe we’ll find something for us to keep. Nothing like a little extra treasure.”
He checked the second door as thoroughly as he had the first. I nodded my head after he finished.
He opened another. I saw a ledge and sky on the other side.
“Nothing,” he said, closing the door.
“Wait,” I said, stepping toward him. “We should see if there’s another route of escape.”
“I don’t think we’re getting down the side of the mountain,” Benji said.
“No, but we can check,” I said. “You never know. Maybe there’s an elevator or something. Who knows?”
I opened the door then stepped through. He foll
owed, closing it behind him. We both walked toward the edge of the cliff.
The City of Mednia appeared in the distance.
“We’re high up,” Benji said. “I don’t see a way down.”
“Kali,” Charlotte said. “I see something.”
“What is it?”
“Turn around,”she said.
I slowly turned, but saw nothing.
“What is it? I don’t have time for games.”
“Look up,” Charlotte said.
I tilted my head and saw someone climbing down the tower.
“That’s Eric,” I said, nudging Benji. “He’s nuts.”
“Where?” Benji turned and looked up. “Oh…wow. That’s high.”
“It’s not low,” I said. “He’s climbing fast, but he should be okay.”
“Not with Magi Inyontoo about to cast a spell,” Benji said.
“What are you talking about?”
“That mage in black. His name is Magi Inyontoo, and he’s a bad dude. We should’ve never messed with him.”
I looked up higher. “Oh, no…”
“Yeah,” Benji said.
I watched in horror as Magi Inyontoo shot three lightning bolts at Eric. They missed my favorite rogue, but he slipped and fell down.
Time to save him again.
I took two steps forward then cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth with enough mana to build a decent sized ramp.
Can I help manage his fall with my magic?
You cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth for 36 mana points!
You have [28/64] mana remaining.
With a bit of luck, he’d hit the ramp and slide down instead of going splat on the stone ledge.
This better work.
I kept staring.
Eric hit the ramp perfectly, rolling and tumbling as he slowed his descent. I rushed over to the end of the ramp.
Was he going to slide over the edge of the cliff?
Benji followed me. We both stopped as Eric laid on his back—not moving.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Eric sat up and burst into laughter.
“That was intense,” he said. “Can I ride again?”
I smiled, glad he was okay.
“Did you find the pendant?” I asked.
“I need you to check it,” he said. “But I think so. Got a few others too.”
