by Paul Bellow
“What about this new sword Benji got me?” I asked.
Sarah took it from me and studied the blade.
“Not magic,” she said. “At least, not that I can tell.”
“Oh well.” I took it back. “Maybe the next one.”
“I hear someone coming,” Benji said.
“Where?” I whispered.
He nodded his head to the east.
“Wait here,” I said then crept toward the noise.
A wagon and horses?
I crept from one tree to another.
When I reached the edge of a road, I saw a farmer riding toward me.
“Safe,” I yelled, hoping the others would come.
The man in the wagon stopped his horses and watched me.
“It’s okay,” I said, waving my hands in the air. “We won’t hurt you.”
“Stay away from me,” the farmer yelled.
Benji and Sarah walked out onto the dirty road with me.
“That a man of the cloth?” the farmer asked.
“Yes,” Benji yelled. “We’re friendly.”
The farmer moved his wagon closer, still watching us.
“We need a ride to Harrisburg,” I said as he stopped again. “We can pay gold if you help us get there quickly.”
“I like gold,” the farmer said. “How much?”
“Two pieces,” Sarah said then dug in her pouch. “Here.”
She walked toward the farmer with her hand out.
“No tricks,” the slovenly dressed, bearded man said.
“You can trust us,” Benji added. “The regional Under-Bishop of Harrisburg has requested my presence.”
“Harrisburg ain’t got no Under-Bishop or Over-Bishop neither,” the man said while stroking his unkempt facial hair. “You guys on the run?”
I used my Sense Motive skill on him before talking.
“We’re simple travelers looking to return to my hometown,” I said. “Mayor Griggsby will want to speak with me.”
The older man sat up and leaned forward.
“You know the Mayor of Harrisburg?” He grinned. “What’s he like in person? Are the stories about his drinking habits true?”
“He’s okay enough,” I said, not knowing if the man was a fan or not.
“I can’t stand the man,” the farmer said. “He’s a crook like the rest of them. What do you think of him?”
“He’s garbage,” I said, smiling as I approached the cart.
“You and the elf get in the back,” the farmer said. “The priest can sit up front with me. I’ve got a bit of confessing to do.”
Sarah and I walked around to the back as Benji climbed in front next to the farmer.
The sharp stench of fish greeted us.
“It’s better than walking,” I said.
She groaned then climbed onto the wagon.
“At least we have the pendant,” I whispered as I followed her.
The cart lurched forward, settling into an irritatingly bumpy ride.
Sarah leaned over and whispered into my ear, “Eric.”
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“All the xp in the world isn’t worth losing my mind,” she said. “Only talking to this spider is creeping me out.”
“You and your familiar aren’t getting along?” I asked.
“She’s great,” Sarah said. “But we’re still stuck in this game. When I can’t talk about the world outside the game, it’s like I get sucked in deeper. Do you know what I mean?”
I nodded. After the first few days, I’d noticed it became harder to recall the real world. Would it keep getting more difficult?
Benji swiveled around, trying to hear our conversation.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
The farmer grabbed him, rattling on about blessing his business.
“Are you listening?” Sarah asked.
“Benji keeps giving me these strange looks,” I said.
“Like he’s doing a deadpan into an invisible camera?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. Exactly.”
The wagon hit something, sending her flying into me.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said then sat back.
“It’s okay,” I said, smiling.
She adjusted herself on the bench.
“I bet you love having your legs,” she said.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” I said. “But I hate being trapped.”
“We’ll get out of here,” she said. “The dynamic duo has returned.”
I smiled at the memories bubbling up from deep in my mind.
“And Benji,” she said. “Best NPC ever.”
“I’m beginning to think he might be a trapped player,” I said.
She nodded. “All the more reason to invite him into our party.”
“It’s a moot point now,” I said. “We’re close to destroying the pendant and finishing the main quest.”
“Yeah, but we said that about getting it in the first place.”
“Not much OOC time left,” I said. “Sarah.”
“Just hearing my name helps,” she said. “Thank you.”
We spent the rest of the journey in silence.
* * * * *
When we reached the edge of Harrisburg, a genuine sense of homecoming came over me as the farmer stopped his cart.
I got out of the wagon. Sarah joined me, stretching her arms.
“Benji?” I asked. “You coming?”
“Hold on,” he said. “Just thanking this nice man.”
After a few seconds, Benji walked around to us.
“I’m not upset you paid him more than you’ve paid me so far,” he said.
“We’ll get you straightened out, Benji.” I put my hand on his arm and squeezed it a few times. “Right after we destroy this pendant.”
“Completing this quest is important,” Sarah said.
Benji smiled and nodded.
“I trust you two to come through on your word,” he said. “And I hope you allow me to join your party soon.”
“Let’s go find my friend, John the Blacksmith,” I said.
The farmer’s cart rolled away, leaving us in middle of the empty street.
“Come on,” I said. “This way.”
I walked through the center of town, enjoying the simplicity of the idyllic country life. The other two followed close behind.
Jak ran up to greet us. The boy I’d met when I first entered the game threw his arms around me and squeezed tight.
“Uncle Drex,” he said as he clung tight. “You made it back. I knew you would. You’re the best warrior ever.”
I pulled back then reached out and tousled his hair.
“Didn’t I say I would return?”
“Yeah,” he said. “But I thought you’d end up dead.”
Benji and Sarah laughed.
What a chipper kid.
Jak stepped back, looking at the other two.
“Who are these people?” he asked.
“Friends,” I said. “We’ve got business to attend to, but we’ll catch up with you later, okay?”
“Are you coming home?” Jak asked.
“I’ll be staying at the inn with my friends,” I said.
Jak frowned and said, “Aw, man. Why aren’t you coming home?”
“We’ll talk about it later,” I said.
Jak turned and walked away, kicking at the dirt as he went.
“Your nephew, boss?” Benji asked.
“No,” I said. “He’s just a friend of the family.”
“How dare you?” a familiar female voice said behind me.
I turned around and somehow recognized the woman who played my mother in game.
She put her hands on her hips.
“Who are you?” Benji asked, a greasy smile on his face.
“Calm down,” I said. “This is my mother.”
The hefty woman wearing an apron waddled forward then threw her arms around me. I saw Sarah cover her mouth with her h
and.
“You ran off without saying goodbye right before your father’s funeral,” the woman said. “Are you okay? I worried about you.”
“I’m fine,” I said, struggling to break out of her grasp.
She let go but didn’t step back. Her head turned toward Sarah.
“You didn’t say you had a girlfriend…”
Sarah laughed nervously.
“We’re just friends,” I said. “We should go.”
“Business more important than your family?”
My NPC mother crossed her arms over her chest.
A short man with a black vest over a white shirt ran up.
“The Mayor is requesting your presence right away, Drex,” he said.
“Does everyone know I made it back to town?” I asked.
My fake mother smiled and pinched my cheek.
“You’re a hero, dear,” she said.
I stepped back, out of her reach.
“Tell the Mayor he has to wait,” I said.
My mother’s eyes opened wider.
“You know how the Mayor gets,” the messenger said.
“Fine.” I turned to the others. “Anyone want to come?”
“We should destroy the pendant first,” Sarah said.
“This’ll only take a minute,” I said.
A part of me liked all the attention.
“You’re right,” she said. “What’s another few minutes.”
Sarcasm?
We left my mother behind and followed the messenger a block to the west. The Town Hall stood proudly in a center square.
“How do you know the Mayor, boss?” Benji asked.
“It’s a small town,” I said as we approached the three-story building. “Don’t tell me you know him too.”
Benji grinned but shook his head.
“He’s one of the few I don’t know,” he said.
The messenger opened the grand front door and held it open. Benji walked in first, then Sarah and I followed him into the building.
As I glanced around at all the luxurious get up, I wondered if another side quest was brewing. Was the current mayor corrupt?
The messenger led us to a crude, mechanical elevator. We rode it up a floor. I saw the mayor sitting behind his desk as the door opened.
I grinned as I stepped out then wiped my feet on his fancy rug.
The Mayor stood up then walked over with his arms open.
“Welcome home, Drex the Hero,” he said. “That has a ring to it, doesn’t it? I’m so glad I helped you achieve your current status.”
“Make this quick,” Sarah whispered.
“And who do you have with you?” Mayor Griggsby asked.
He stopped in front of us, still smiling like a slippery politician.
“They are my traveling companions,” I said.
“Did you have a good journey?” the mayor asked.
“Not bad,” I said. “Why did you call us here?”
“The goblins, of course,” Mayor Griggsby said. “They didn’t follow you, did they? Rumors are they’re getting ready to attack again.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “The rumors probably aren’t true.”
“But they might be,” Benji said. “I’ve heard some myself.”
The mayor nodded his head solemnly as I gave our priest a nasty look.
What was he thinking? Had he forgotten our main mission?
“We need to go,” I said as I turned.
“Hold on.” Mayor Griggsby stepped forward and grabbed my arm. “I need your help with something, Drex. And your friends too.”
“We’re busy,” I said. “Maybe we’ll come back after we’re done.”
I took a step. His porky hand fell away from my arm.
“Please, Drex…” he wheezed.
“Let’s go, guys,” I said as I headed for the door.
“I want to talk to you about Magictology,” Mayor Griggsby called from behind us. “I think it’s good for our town. Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“Watch yourself,” I said, still walking toward the elevator.
I smiled, pleased with my character in the game. On the ride down to the first floor with Benji and Sarah, I thought about our quest.
“That was a complete waste of time,” Sarah said.
“I agree,” Benji said.
The elevator reached the first floor.
Benji opened the door then stepped out, followed by Sarah.
“Where’s your friend?” she asked. “What’s his name?
“John,” I said. “He’ll be at his smithy working.”
We walked out of the town hall without talking. They followed as I took off across the city square. With luck—we’d destroy the pendant.
According to the game, John Johansen had been my friend since childhood—but I wasn’t sure what to expect when we met him.
“How do you know this guy?” Sarah asked.
“A childhood friend,” I said, not wanting to go OOC.
We stopped outside the only smithy in town. Grey smoke rose from a chimney in a thick column. A tall, well-built man banged a hammer.
“That’s got to be him,” I said then stepped toward him.
Benji, Sarah, and I walked into his open air workspace. The blacksmith noticed us and turned. Sweat poured down his face.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face here,” he said.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
John, gripping his hammer, walked forward.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” he said.
What’s going on? I thought we were friends…
“Are you going to apologize, good for nothing half-goblin?” He stopped. “Or do I need to pound an apology out of you?”
John smiled as I reached for my sword.
“Don’t get carried away,” he said.
I relaxed as he lowered his hammer.
“Ain’t no woman worth a friendship,” he said.
“We don’t want trouble,” I said.
“It’s all good,” John said. “I was just messing around.”
“Very funny,” I said. “Your jokes still suck.”
“Who are these fine people?” John asked.
He stared up and down Sarah’s elvish frame.
Benji stepped forward and held out a hand.
“I’m Benji Bigelow,” he said. “While not officially in their adventuring party, I tag along. Nice to meet you.”
John nodded, ignoring his hand, as he continued appraising Sarah.
“And who might you be, beauty of the woods?” he asked.
Sarah smiled.
“I’m Kali,” she said.
John stepped forward, took her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Alright,” I said. “That’s enough. We need your help.”
The sweaty, muscled blacksmith stepped back a few paces.
“What do you need help with this time?” he asked.
Sarah pulled out the Cursed Pendant of Visions.
“We need to destroy this,” she said as she held it up.
John stepped forward, staring at it intently.
“Why would you want to destroy such a beautiful piece of jewelry?” he asked. “That’s gotta be worth more than this whole town.”
“It’s cursed,” I said. “Bad magic. We tried destroying it with a metal mace, but we couldn’t even scratch the surface.”
John grabbed it from Sarah’s hand.
“We’ll throw it in the furnace,” he said. “Then go celebrate your return. It’ll only take a few minutes to melt it down.”
He turned then walked back into the smith. We crowded around him as he dropped the cursed pendant into a stone bowl. He picked it up with a pair of metal tongs then winked at Sarah.
“You came to the right man,” he said.
She smiled as he walked over to a stone furnace.
“This will melt down the gold and other precious metals,” he said. “It should des
troy the gem too. Stand back.”
Using the tongs, he placed the stone bowl into the furnace.
He closed the metal door then said, “Give it a few seconds...”
“Thanks for helping us,” Sarah said.
“Anything for a cute elf like you,” he said.
She smiled at John as he stood with his hands on his hips.
I heard a popping noise in the furnace.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
John opened the door to the furnace with the tongs then grabbed the stone bowl. I walked up as he pulled it out.
“Nothing melted,” he said. “What kind of magic is this?”
“Great job,” I said sarcastically.
“We’ve got a bigger problem,” Benji said.
I turned and saw several goblins standing in the doorway. All of them were armed to the teeth and ready to fight.
“How’d they find us?” Benji asked.
I shrugged.
“No telling with that mage,” I said. “But we’re not handing over the cursed pendant.”
One of the goblins stepped forward with his sword drawn.
“Hand it over, thief,” he yelled in a weaselly voice.
John stepped forward, holding his massive hammer.
“You best get out of here,” he said.
The goblin raised his sword.
“On my command,” he shouted. “We’re taking it by force.”
“Time to party,” I said as I drew my sword.
Critical Hit!
Your sword goes through the neck of one goblin then continues through the neck of the other.
The goblin is dead!
The goblin is dead!
“The others are running,” Sarah yelled.
I stepped over the dead goblins and rushed through the doorway. Two goblin fighters had Jak cornered on a porch across the street.
Hoping Benji and Sarah could handle the others, I sprinted across the street. Though just an NPC, Jak didn’t deserve to be killed.
“Why don’t you two hassle someone your own size?” I yelled as I reached the steps leading up to the porch.
Both green goblinoids peered over their shoulder as I swung.
Critical Hit!
Your sword goes through the neck of one goblin then continues through the neck of the other.
The goblin is dead!
The goblin is dead!
Finally, some luck, I thought, smiling at the quick victory.
Jak burst into tears. I turned and saw him covered in blood.
