by Paul Bellow
Sylvar and Monde rode in front of Bernard, Sarah, and me.
“Fighting them in the gnomish kingdom isn’t smart,” Sylvar said without turning around.
“We might not have a choice,” I said. “Self-defense is our right.”
Sylvar chuckled then said, “We’ll see…”
I wanted to tell him off, but I kept my mouth shut.
We rode in silence down the darkened trail.
The light of a sculpted moon led our way.
6
Time to Use Summon Monster
Sarah
* * *
Full health and mana made the ride into the unknown a bit easier. I’d given up on thinking too much about being stuck in the game. As we approached the foothills of the nameless mountains, I became concerned about our lack of a game plan to defeat the lava golem.
The fact we might run into another group of hostile player characters made it worse.
I glanced over at Eric as we rode down the trail.
“I’m not sure we should try to battle this yet,” I said.
He kept staring straight ahead, his head so far into the game.
“We have to if we want to destroy the pendant and get you-know-what,” he said. “It’s the only way forward that I see.”
I wanted to get out of the game too but dying in the game scared me. Being trapped as an NPC wasn’t the life for me.
“We should go back to Woodshore, chase easy-to-kill creatures, and become stronger before we take on this lava golem,” I said.
“That would be nice.” Eric turned. “But that other party of adventurers is after the lava golem too. We don’t have time to fool around.”
He sighed then stopped his horse.
“Sylvar, Monde, can you give us a minute?”
The elf and gnome rode ahead while Bernard hung back.
“Look,” Eric said. “These items might not respawn. We can’t take a chance of not getting them or letting them fall in the enemy’s hands.”
Bernard nodded.
“Quests are never quite the same,” he said. “I’ve not seen special items respawn or completed quests given to other players.”
I shook my head, not believing their conversation.
“Was it worth going OOC for this?” I asked.
Eric nodded enthusiastically.
“Why do you keep fighting me on everything?” he asked.
“I’m just trying to stop us from making stupid decisions,” I replied.
“We’re not doing too bad.” Bernard smiled. “I’m so happy to be a player character again. You two made it happen. Have faith. We’ll beat this game.”
“Fine,” I said. “We’ll do it your way. Do you at least have a plan?”
“Yes.” Eric grinned. “And it involves that wand of monster summoning we got from Snargao.”
“I don’t think it will summon creatures big enough to defeat the lava golem,” I said. “We haven’t even used it yet.”
“No,” Eric said. “But it can help distract the golem.”
“Are you three coming?” Sylvar asked.
I turned and saw him and Monde waiting on the path.
“We’re coming,” I shouted.
“Keep it down,” Eric said. “We need stealth.”
“Maybe not,” Bernard pointed to the sky.
I followed his finger and saw a glow in the distance.
“That’s too big to be a campfire,” Eric said.
Sylvar and Monde rode back to us.
“Are we going?” the ranger asked impatiently.
“Look at the sky,” I pointed upward.
“Something’s going on,” he said.
“I’ll go scout ahead,” Eric said. “If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, come looking for me with your weapons drawn.”
Eric got off his horse then handed the reins to Bernard.
“I’m going with you,” I said, also dismounting.
“You’ll be too loud,” he said.
“My magic will help if you run into trouble,” I said.
Eric pursed his lips together in that way when he thought about something. I handed my reins to Sylvar.
“Be quiet,” Eric said then took off on foot.
I followed a few feet behind, once again getting drawn deeper into the game. Big battles always got my blood flowing. I loved the thrill.
While I wanted to go OOC with Eric without Bernard around, I kept quiet as we crept toward the bottom of a large hill. Eric climbed it while crouching low to the ground. I did my best to keep up.
Near the hilltop, the glowing light got brighter. I heard the clang of swords and the sounds of battle. Eric moved to his belly and scooted toward the crest of the hill while I followed close behind.
At the top, I saw the group who had attacked us earlier battling a large, enraged lava golem. Rizzo the Red stood out. Several fires burned around the battlefield.
One of their warriors laid lifeless, his body burned to a crisp. They weren’t doing so well. We probably had a shot at winning.
Be careful, Charlotte said.
Always, I told her.
“Use the wand,” Eric said.
Was he nuts?
“I think we should wait,” I said.
“The others will be coming soon,” he argued. “We need to help that golem kill the other party then kill the monster ourselves.”
“Okay,” I reached down and pulled the wand out of my belt.
“Do you know how to work it?” he asked.
“Watch this,” I said.
You zap the Wand of Summon Monster [14/50] charges remaining.
You learn a new skill.
Use Magic Item - Basic Level 1 of 10
Three eagles appeared where I’d pointed the wand. All of them dove toward the red mage and attacked. He looked up, surprised.
I stifled a laugh.
“Nice one,” Eric said. “Do it again.”
I pointed the wand over the head of their monk and zapped again.
You zap the Wand of Summon Monster [13/50] charges remaining.
A giant frog appeared over the monk and dropped on him. He screamed in holy terror as it toppled him to the ground.
“Can you control what animal appears?” he asked.
“No,” I said. “Not yet anyway.”
“They’re freaking out,” Eric said. “This is great.”
I smiled, enjoying throwing some chaos into their lives.
“Do it again,” he said.
I couldn’t resist.
You zap the Wand of Summon Monster [12/50] charges remaining.
Your Use Magic Item skill increases!
Use Magic Item - Basic Level 2 of 10
A giant spider materialized next to the lava golem. It stomped the poor creature with a fiery foot. Charlotte flashed in my mind as I saw it happen. She’d been growing physically with each level I gained.
Would she eventually be as large as the spider that had just died?
I couldn’t even imagine.
“Poor spider,” Eric snickered.
“Don’t laugh,” I said. “Let me try again.”
I zapped the wand.
You zap the Wand of Summon Monster [11/50] charges remaining.
Your Use Magic Item skill increases!
Use Magic Item - Basic Level 3 of 10
An adorable, short-haired dog appeared on the battle field for the briefest of moments. It yelped as the lava golem snatched it up.
Poor puppy. But at least I’m gaining Use Magic Item skill levels.
“Keep going,” Eric said. “We need to wear them down before we attack.”
I zapped twice more. Giant frogs appeared both times. They croaked in fright before suffering the rage of the lava golem.
Your Use Magic Item skill increases!
Use Magic Item - Basic Level 4 of 10
“You’re helping the other party,” Eric said. “That’s enough for now.”
We both watched the battle below.
“Hold on,” I said. “Watch this.”
I zapped the wand three more times in quick succession, concentrating on the monster I wanted summoned. Three small earth elementals rose.
You zap the Wand of Summon Monster [6/50] charges remaining.
Your Use Magic Item skill increases!
Use Magic Item - Basic Level 5 of 10
“Nice,” Eric said in an approving tone. “We should go down now.”
“Not yet. We should wait.”
He got to his knees.
“I want to teach them a lesson and send a message to Magi Inyontoo,” he said.
“Eric, stop. You’re letting your emotions get to you.”
He stood and drew his curved sword.
“Time to take them out,” he said, still looking ahead.
He screamed violently then charged down the hill. The lava golem turned, allowing Rizzo the Red to run to safety.
Why is Eric so rash?
“Need help?” Bernard asked from behind me.
I turned and saw him and the others approaching.
“The battle started early,” I said, pointing to the bottom of the hill. “Eric needs help.”
“Should I call some forest animals?” Sylvar asked.
“More squirrels?” Bernard asked, shaking his head. “Don’t bother.”
I grinned then turned to the battle below. Rizzo the Red stood defiantly out of the reach of the Lava Golem.
Bernard and Monde headed down the hill while Sylvar stayed at the top with me. He pulled out his bow and notched an arrow.
“Time to stop their spellcaster,” I said then cast.
Your Golden Bolts MAUL Rizzo the Red for 24 damage.
You have [47/62] mana remaining.
Bernard and Monde bypassed the lava golem at the bottom of the hill and met up with the monk and two warriors. I watched as Rizzo cast fog.
Sylvar shot two more arrows at him, missing both times. I noticed Eric struggling against the lava golem on his own, so I pointed the wand at them.
As he launched an attack on the fiery creature, an octopus appeared above what passed for its head. It landed with a hiss, blinding the golem.
Eric slashed and stabbed as the smell of burnt octopus flesh filled the battlefield. I searched for their red mage but didn’t see him.
Not good.
The lava golem pulled what was left of the sea creature off its head and flung it to the ground in a sloppy puddle of goo. And then, it went after Eric.
Monde ran up to the golem from behind and sunk her short sword into its body. The weapon melted immediately, leaving only a hilt in her hand.
Eric dodged and rolled on the ground as the golem turned and hit Monde with a fiery fist of doom. The poor gnome went flying backward.
I cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth with twenty mana. The small earth elementals grew then resumed their attack on the lava golem. I followed up with another volley of Golden Bolts.
Your Golden Bolts MAUL the Rizzo the Red for 24 damage.
You have [27/62] mana remaining.
“Help Monde,” I shouted.
Sylvar dropped his bow, drew a longsword, and ran down the hill toward them.
Outraged, the lava golem grabbed Monde with both its super-heated hands. The lava melted the skin away from the gnome’s body.
My head flinched backward in utter horror and shock. The game had taken another dark turn. Eric and Sylvar continued attacking.
The golem dropped Monde to the ground—a smoldering pile of flesh. She wasn’t moving. I cast Dwarven Earth again for ten mana.
As the dirt rose before the golem, it dropped to its knees, steam coming off its fiery flesh. Eric, Sylvar, and the earth elements continued pummeling it. When it crumbled into a pile of ashes, I jumped up and cheered, loving the thrill.
No combat-is-over message?
I scanned the battlefield for the other player characters and saw the barely clothed monk stealthily running toward Eric and the others.
Not so fast, grasshopper.
I cast Flaming Discs of Lava. The monk screamed as he went up in flames.
* * *
Your Flaming Discs of Lava WOUND the monk for 20 damage.
The Monk is dead!
You have [2/62] mana remaining.
Combat is Over!
You get 3,000 xp divided by three party members.
You get +1,000 xp
Quest "Destroy the Lava Golem" Completed!
You get + 1,500 xp divided by three party members.
You get +500 xp
You get + 1,500 xp total
You have 18,774 xp
You need 4,226 xp for level five Wizard
Your Alignment has Changed!
Alignment: Minus 40
Killing other player characters is not encouraged on level one-one.
Your alignment is now +40 (Sometimes Good)
Bernard stopped walking toward the monk.
“Maybe not,” he said then grinned.
I rushed over to Monde.
“She needs healing,” I said. “Someone help her.”
The fact we’d lost alignment points for acting in self-defense didn’t concern me as I knelt beside Monde’s mangled body.
Eric walked over and put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently.
“She saved me,” he said. “I owe her so much.”
“You really do,” Sylvar said behind us.
I turned, not liking the tone of his voice.
“We should leave her body here,” he said. “They’ll go crazy if we bring a dead gnome back to Westwood.”
“I don’t feel right about leaving her behind,” I said. “We can wrap her in a blanket and carry her on a horse or something.”
“There’s no time.” Eric turned to Bernard. “Can you get some pieces of the lava golem? Enough for us and this Captain Kashim guy back in Westwood.”
“You got it, boss,” Bernard said.
He walked over to the smoldering heap of hard, black rock. Using his mace, he chipped away, breaking off small chunks.
“We need to talk about Monde,” I said. “She was in our party.”
“I agree with our rogue,” Sylvar said, surprising me.
“About time we agreed on something,” Eric said.
Sylvar smiled, but I sensed him holding something in.
Eric continued barking orders.
“Check the other bodies for loot,” he said. “I can’t believe the red mage got away again. We need to kill him the next time we see him.”
“He’s powerful,” Sylvar said then walked away.
I turned to Eric, wanting to talk OOC so bad.
“Come on,” he said. “I want to find a place to camp tonight. We can go back to Westwood in the morning. Maybe we’ll get lucky, and the red mage will return.”
I followed Eric around the battlefield. We didn’t find much; a few gems but no magic items.
Had the red mage carried everything away during the battle?
“I doubt the mage will come back,” Eric said. “But if he does, we need to be ready. Who wants the first shift?”
“Me,” I said, lifting a hand.
All the adrenaline still rushing through my virtual body would have me awake for hours. Battles always did that to me.
“I’ll take the last one,” Eric said. “But wake me if anything happens.”
“You can count on it,” Bernard said.
Eric turned to Sylvar.
“Can you find us a good spot to camp?” he asked.
Our elven ranger almost looked as surprised as me.
“Sure,” he said. “Follow me.”
We walked back up the hill overlooking the scene of the battle. Sylvar stopped at the top and found a spot near an out of control shrubbery.
“This is good,” he said.
Eric dropped to the ground. As the others found a spot, I walked off with Charlotte still perched on my shoulder.
“You did good today,” Charlott
e said out loud for the first time.
I barely heard her tinny voice.
“You can talk now?” I asked.
“My powers will grow,” she said. “Like yours.”
“We should talk in our mind for now,” I told her.
“Okay, Kali.”
I stopped near the peak of the hill. Sitting on a patch of long grass, I stared at the mountains in the distance. They reminded me of my home in Colorado.
“What happened to the dwarves, Charlotte? Do you know?”
“No, Kali. I’m not sure about the dwarves.”
Both of us fell silent again.
I soaked in the surroundings as I came down from the rush of combat. We’d handled it well…except for Monde.
Thoughts of the real world flittered to the dark recesses of my long-term memory as I wondered about the game world.
Would we survive?
Finishing the first quest and clearing the level would tell us so much. As usual, I wanted to hurry ahead and rush to the end of the game.
The sky turned a dark purple before lightening up as the sun rose on the other side of the mountains. I watched in complete awe.
After a few hours, I woke Bernard for his shift and went to sleep. The light bothered me at first, but I was so tired that I drifted off.
7
There’s No Place Like Gnome
Eric
* * *
I felt someone poking my arm and opened my eyes.
Bernard looked down at me, his burgeoning beard flying in all directions.
“Time for your shift,” he said in a cheerful tone.
I sat up, dreading another day locked in the game. While cool as hell, I feared being trapped for decades—if not longer.
“Does it get easier?” I asked, hoping Bernard knew what I meant.
He shook his head and said, “No, but there’s always a chance to meet new friends. Like you and Sarah. You’re the best.”
