Tower of Gates Omnibus

by Paul Bellow

  “Go hide,” I said. “You’ll be okay.”

  I hoped he listened as I surveyed the battle-field.

  Benji and Sarah had taken out six goblins. Two remained.

  “Die!” I shouted as I ran toward them.

  Benji took off toward them too. The goblins threw down their spears and lifted their arms in sheer terror.

  “Don’t kill us,” one said in broken common.

  “We surrender,” the other added.

  I stopped in front of them, sword still raised.

  “Where’s Snargao?” I asked.

  “I’ll tell you if you don’t kill me,” the smaller one said.

  “Shut up, idiot,” his heftier companion shouted.

  “Cut it out,” Sarah yelled as she walked up. “We’re keeping them alive. I want to interrogate them.”

  Combat is over!

  You get 1,620 xp divided by two party members.

  You get +810 xp (-10%) = 729 xp

  You have 10,094 experience points.

  Welcome to level four, Rogue!

  +16 health for [58/58] total

  * * *

  Your Weapon Craft (Blades) skill has increased to Basic Level 6 of 10

  I wanted to look at my stats so bad.

  “Are you paying attention?” Sarah asked.

  “Yeah...” I said in a distracted voice.

  New stats were nice, but we had things to do.

  I turned to our two goblin captives.

  Who had sent them? And how had they found us?

  Could we get answers out of them?

  21

  A Resource Gathering Side Quest

  SARAH

  I held up both arms, palms out.

  “You better talk,” I said. “Or I’m turning you two into dog food.”

  “Don’t hurt us,” the skinner goblin begged.

  Eric turned to Benji.

  “Can you check on Jak?” he asked.

  “Sure thing, boss,” Benji said.

  I kept my eyes on the trembling goblins.

  “Tell us your names,” I said.

  “We ain’t tellin’ you nothin’,” the heftier one said. “Snargao will come to save us. We ain’t afraid of you. Magictology is where it’s at.”

  I recognized him as the alpha and went after him.

  “Do you want to live?” I asked. “Or do you want a long, slow death?”

  “Hey,” Eric interrupted. “I thought we said no torture.”

  “Maybe I changed my mind,” I muttered.

  “Kali, I’m saddened by your actions.”

  “It’s an act, Charlotte. Good cop and bad cop. Watch.”

  Charlotte quit speaking in my mind as I stared at the goblins. They both flinched when I reached forward to tug on one of their ears.

  “Tell me your names,” I said. “Or I’ll yank it off.”

  “Hey, cut it out, you can’t do that,” the goblin said.

  “My name is Krit,” the other said. “That’s Izz. We’re...”

  “Shut up,” Izz interrupted while slapping him.

  I pulled on his ear.

  “Cut it out,” I said. We need answers.”

  “Yeah,” Eric said. “Where’s Snargao? Tell us, and we’ll let you go.”

  I let go of the goblin’s ear and stalked off, doing my best to look upset.

  After half a minute or so, Eric stepped toward me.

  “Snargao is at the ruins of Esterhollow,” he whispered. “He’s meeting Magi Inyontoo there for some reason. Maybe another assault.”

  “Do you mean the pendant that was supposed to be easy to get and destroy?” I asked.

  Eric grinned.

  “Maybe,” he said. “We’ve still got this.”

  “The goblins are getting away!” I shouted.

  The two of them had took off running.

  Benji brandished his mace.

  “They won’t get away,” he said.

  “No wait,” I said. “We’ve got more important things to do.”

  “Yeah,” Eric added. “Like destroying this stupid pendant.”

  We walked back to the smithy. John came out to meet us.

  “Are you okay, Kali?” he asked.

  “No,” I said. “We need to destroy this pendant before someone steals it from us. It’s destructively powerful. Do you know how we can get rid of it?”

  John thoughtfully stroked his beard.

  “You need Dawn Acid,” he said.

  “Dawn Acid?” I asked.

  “It’s rare,” John said. “But Captain Riggard at Castle Casteel will have the list of ingredients. He used Dawn Acid in the Great Wars. It’s more powerful than any magic item. That’s why it was banned.”

  “Will you come with us?” I asked.

  Having a hunky warrior along would be helpful.

  “That’s not a good idea,” Eric said.

  Benji chimed in with his dissatisfaction.

  “You’re letting him join the party before me?” he asked.

  John chuckled.

  “Guess I’m not as well liked as I thought,” he said. “I’m too busy here to go adventuring. With another war looming, we need all the steel I can make. The time is coming when we’ll need it.”

  “Can you help with some horses?” Eric asked. “Maybe you know anyone with a good deal?”

  “I can lend you three horses,” John said. “Sales have been good. Gold isn’t a problem. Besides, we’ve been friends our whole lives.”

  He turned to me. I got lost in his ocean blue eyes.

  “Be right back,” the hunky blacksmith said.

  After he walked away, I went over to Eric.

  “You’re getting mighty close to him,” he said.

  “He’s just an NPC,” I said. “It’s not like I can fall in love with him for real or anything.”

  OOC Penalty:

  -10% xp on your next encounter

  Tip: At level five and above, you get xp for good role-playing in Tower of Gates.

  That’s new.

  “Why’d you go OOC?” Eric asked.

  “Come here.” I dragged him away from Benji. “We need to talk. This game is getting to me, and you’re getting too into your character.”

  Eric shook his head.

  “You took an xp hit for that?” he asked.

  “I also just got a note about xp bonuses for good role-playing at level five and above,” I said. “Did you see that too? I’d never seen it before.”

  “No,” he said. “I’ve never seen that message. Maybe the game showed it to you because you lost so many experience points going OOC?”

  “Possibly…” I shrugged. “This game is getting on my nerves, and I needed to talk with you. It helps me remember this is just a game.”

  He nodded, not saying anything.

  “We’re going to get out of here, right?”

  “You’ve got my word on it,” he said.

  “And Josh too…we need to find him soon. He was going to take me to pizza after we helped you into this stupid game. I miss pizza so bad.”

  We stared at each other in silence for a moment.

  “Anything else while we’re OOC?” he asked.

  “We still need to let Benji join the party,” I said. “And how did your leveling go? Did you make it? Looked like you did.”

  Eric’s face lit up.

  “Not getting skill or stat points isn’t the greatest,” he said. “But I’ve got more health. You know the drill.”

  “I’ve been thinking about something,” I said. “You told me the game is meant for parties of six. Maybe we’ll do better in the game if we have that big of a party? Letting Benji join us officially would help.”

  He took a deep breath and glanced over at our faithful priest.

  “Maybe,” he said. “But I want to hog the experience points a bit longer. Is that wrong?”

  “No, I guess not.”

  “Quiet,” Eric said. “Benji’s coming over.”

  “…and tha
t’s why I love horses,” I said then turned. “Oh, hi Benji.”

  “What are you two talking about?” he asked. “Am I getting fired?”

  Eric looked around and thankfully changed the subject.

  “Where’s Jak?” he asked.

  “The goblins took him,” Benji said. “I bet they’re half-way to Esterhollow by now.”

  I took a deep breath, overwhelmed by everything.

  “Even if we get the pendant,” I said. “How are we going to destroy it?”

  “We have to go get this Dawn Acid,” Eric said. “Simple.”

  As I nodded, a game notification popped up.

  New Side Quest!

  Create Dawn Acid to Destroy Cursed Pendant of Visions.

  Find the list of ingredients to make Dawn Acid then collect them.

  You will receive 3,000 xp on completion.

  “Did you get that?” I asked and Eric nodded.

  John came around the side of the building with a smile on his face Three horses all saddled up followed behind him.

  “You should stay for dinner,” John said. “I’d love to get to know your friends better.”

  He stared deep into my eyes, without losing the smile.

  “We need to leave right away,” Eric said.

  John stopped in front of us with the horses.

  “Captain Riggard is busy with a new war looming,” John said. “I doubt he’ll see you right away.”

  “How long will it take?” I asked.

  “Not more than a year or two,” John said.

  I couldn’t hide the surprise on my face.

  “Are you kidding?” I asked.

  “No,” John said. “He’s one of the two most powerful men in the realm. The other is Magi Inyontoo. You can’t just walk up to either of them.”

  “You know of Magi Inyontoo?” Eric asked.

  John furrowed his brow.

  “Everyone knows that scoundrel,” he said.

  I stepped toward one of the horses.

  “We should go,” I said then climbed on; Benji and Eric did the same.

  “Good luck,” John said.

  I looked down at him and smiled. “We appreciate your kindness.”

  His impossibly blue eyes continued sparkling.

  “Tell Mayor Griggsby I’ll be back,” Eric said. He turned his horse toward the road leading northwest then took off at a slow trot.

  I kept staring at John the Blacksmith.

  He waved and said, “Safe travels.”

  I smiled then spurred my horse to catch up with Eric.

  “Do you have a plan?” I asked as I rode between him and Benji.

  “No,” Eric said. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something on the way.”

  Great.

  We rode into the wilderness. The game dug its claws into me even deeper as our quest got more difficult. I stared out at the plains full of wild grass on either side of the dirt road.

  “How much processing power does this game use up?”

  “What’s processing power, Kali? Magic?”

  “Don’t worry about it, Charlotte. Maybe I’ll explain it later.”

  I closed my thoughts to my familiar as I continued calculating what it would take to create such an in-depth world with such complex NPCs.

  “There’s something ahead,” Eric said.

  I looked to where he’s pointing and saw a tall wooden wagon in the distance.

  “Probably a wandering vendor,” Benji said. “We should avoid them.”

  “A few more potions might be useful,” Eric reasoned.

  Benji shook his head as we continued riding. “All they sell is junk and stolen items,” he said. “Trust me.”

  “We should keep riding,” I said. “We’ve got other things to worry about right now. This easy quest is getting harder all the time.”

  “Alright,” Eric said. “We’ll ask for help at Castle Casteel.”

  “Good luck with that,” “I don’t have a good feeling about any of this. Maybe we should go find something else to do.”

  “You can leave if you want,” Eric offered.

  “No, no.” Benji said. “I want to stay. Who knows? Maybe someday, you might actually ask me to join your party officially.”

  “Maybe,” Eric said then glanced over at me.

  I shook my head, hating his stubbornness. We kept riding—none of us talk as we passed the wagon. A man in a tall, black hat yelled.

  We passed him without stopping. As the miles added up, I thought about the depth and breadth of the game. There’s so many choices.

  What would’ve happened if we stopped at the merchant?

  “Let’s camp here for the night.” Eric said.

  I turned to him, snapping out of my thoughts. He stopped his horse on the side of the road—grassy plains stretched out on both sides of it. I pulled on my reins to stop.

  “If we leave in the morning,” Benji said. “We’ll make it to the castle around noon. I don’t think we should travel at night.”

  A pack of wolves howled in the distance, spooking our horses.

  “This place is good enough as any,” I said. “Protecting this cursed pendant needs to be our highest priority.”

  “Agreed.” Eric said, then he hopped off his horse.

  We tied the horses to a stake in the ground before setting up camp. Benji left to find food while Eric and I started a nice fire.

  I wanted to talk OOC so bad, but I fought the urge. We needed to level up and finish our side quest—nothing else mattered.

  After we got the fire going, Eric sat cross-legged on the ground next to it. I joined him, staring into the flames and waiting.

  “Hope he brings anything but rabbits,” I said.

  Eric glanced over.

  “Huh?” he asked.

  “I hope Benji brings back anything except another rabbit,” I said. “They’re great and all, but I’m tired of the same thing.”

  He nodded in a distant manner.

  “What’s on your mind?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he said, still looking into the fire. “I need to sleep.”

  “You’re not waiting for Benji?” I asked.

  “No,” he said. “I’ll eat when I get up for my guard shift. Save me some of whatever he gets.”

  “Okay…” I said, watching as he laid on his side.

  “You should sleep too,” Charlotte said from my shoulder.

  “I’m hungry, and someone needs to keep watch.”

  “You never let me guard you, Kali. Why not?”

  Good question. Didn’t I trust her to protect me?

  “You’re welcome to stay up and watch me anytime, Charlotte.”

  “I already do, Kali, and I enjoy it. Keeping you safe makes me happy.”

  My familiar could be clingy, but I still liked having her around.

  “I’m getting smarter,” she said. “I feel so alive every day.”

  Was the AI script running her learning? I wondered.

  Benji returned with two rabbits. I hid my disgust. He cooked them up while I sat and watched. We ate like we’re the king and queen of travelers.

  After we finished, I took the first watch. Benji curled up on the ground by the fire. As I sat and stared at the flickering flames, I wondered if we’d ever get out of the game.

  22

  Benji Knows This Guy Too?

  ERIC

  When Benji woke me for my guard shift, the sun hadn’t risen for the day. As he went back to sleep, I checked my new stats.

  >> Stats

  * * *

  Name: Drexmao (“Drex”)

  Race: Human (Special)

  Class: Rogue

  Level: 4

  Experience Points: 10,094 (5,906 for next level)

  Alignment: +85 (Quite Good)

  Health: 58(58)

  Strength: 85 (+20%) (+10 magic amulet)

  Dexterity: 75 (+10%)

  Constitution: 70 (+5%)

  Intelligence: 75 (+10%)

 
; Wisdom: 55 (+0%)

  Charisma: 44 (+0%)

  My stats still suck, but I’m working my skills up.

  >> Stats skills

  * * *

  Your Current Skills

  >> Black Market Connections – Basic Level 2 of 10

  >> Monster Lore – Basic Level 3 of 10

  >> Weapon Craft – Blades - Basic Level 6 of 10

  >> Climbing – Advanced Level 1 of 5 (+5 basic levels w/Ring of Spider Climbing)

  >> Stealth - Basic Level 2 of 10

  >> Create Item - Basic Level 1 of 10

  >> Identify Item – Basic Level 6 of 10

  >> Language: Human, Common

  >> Sense Motive – Basic Level 6 of 10

  >> Bargaining – Basic Level 1 of 10

  I turned off the HUD and stood.

  Sarah woke up and stretched.

  “Good morning,” I said, looking away.

  “Morning,” she replied. “I hate sleeping on the ground.”

  I turned and smiled at her.

  “But it’s so realistic,” I pointed out.

  She stood and looked down at Benji who snored blissfully.

  “Best companion ever,” she said.

  “I heard that…” Benji opened his eyes. “Do you mean it?”

  “Of course,” Sarah said to him.

  “But you can’t officially join us yet,” I added and watched his reaction to my statement.

  “Fine with me,” he said.

  Benji got to his feet and stretched—yawning.

  “We should make it to the castle this afternoon,” he said.

  “Great,” I said. “We should’ve brought more rations.”

  “John gave us some,” Sarah said. “Look in your saddlebag.”

  I walked over to my horse.

  “Not much,” I said. “But we can eat on the ride.”

  “Fine with me.” Sarah walked over. “I just want to finish this and destroy the pendant before anything else happens.”

  “Eating on horseback isn’t a problem for me,” Benji said. “After surviving the Great Wars, I can eat anywhere.”

  He joined us, untying his horse before climbing on.

  We all ate dry granola bars—the taste wasn’t half-bad. Miles added up as we followed the road to the west.