by Paul Bellow
“Most of the time,” Thom said. “It’s still a bit buggy, but we worked out most of the problems.”
I nodded, gripping the staff tightly.
“Another feature is it allows your party to talk OOC whenever you want without a penalty,” Ferris said. “We call it the Staff of the Party.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Bernard said. “Screw this game!”
I smiled as he took out his frustration by talking out of character.
“When others hear you speaking OOC,” Sherlock said. “It’ll sound like gibberish to them. There’s no limit on how many times you can use that power. It’s effective in a fifty foot radius.”
“Others as in NPCs, or are you talking about players too?” Eric asked. “Will it be gibberish to them too?”
“It’ll mask the talk from anyone not in your group,” he said. “Any other questions?”
“What about Bernard?” Eric asked.
Thom smiled and stepped forward with a pair of sparkling slippers in his left hand.
“Glitter slippers?” Bernard asked.
“They’re for stealth,” Ferris said. “We thought you might find them useful.”
Bernard took the slippers, turning them over and examining them closely.
“How do slippers covered in glitter help with sneaking?” he asked.
“Magic,” Thom said then smiled.
“If you won’t wear them, I will,” Eric said.
“No, no,” Bernard said. “They’re fine. If they work, I’ll wear them.”
“They work well,” Sherlock said. “We would give you more, but the game loves balance even with hacks.”
“Hacks?” I asked.
Ferris nodded.
“It’s how we got the sword to steal NPC lives when it kills,” he said. “Took a long time to figure that one out, but we got it.”
“Can you tell us anything else?” Eric asked.
“No,” Sherlock said. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“Thanks for the gifts,” I said. “They mean a lot. I hope we meet you four again.”
“Very likely,” Sherlock said, stroking his long, soft beard. “If you step over here into this chalk circle, we can teleport you to the southern tower.”
“That’ll be helpful,” Eric said. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” Thom said. “It’s nothing for us.”
I followed Bernard and Eric into the chalk circle on the stone floor of Ferris’ tower. The Four Wizards surrounded us while chanting.
After a loud bang, I blinked and found myself in another room with wooden floors; Bernard and Eric materialized at the same time.
“Wild,” I said. “Those four are so cool.”
“I wish they would’ve come with us,” Eric said. “But let’s get going.”
“There’s a door,” Bernard pointed, and it opened without any problems.
Outside, we found three fresh horses tied to a nearby post. We walked over and found them stocked.
“Those wizards rock,” Bernard climbed onto a tan colored horse. “We’re going to catch up to Rizzo and Sylvar in no time.”
“If they even came down this far south,” Eric said.
“They probably did.” I climbed on the white horse. “We need to get the monkey ghoul brains before them.”
Eric got on the brown horse.
“Then we ride to Top Henge as fast as we can,” he said. “No stopping unless it’s necessary. Maybe we can make it first.”
“We can try,” I said. “Let’s go.”
Bernard and I followed Eric as he rode south toward the ancient runes known as Top Henge. I didn’t know too much about the location.
Sam the Cartographer had marked it as the best place to find monkey ghoul brains, so it was our last stop for Dawn Acid items. A few minutes into our journey, I remembered my new staff and turned to Bernard on my left.
“What was it like being an NPC?” I asked.
“You don’t have a class, and you can’t level,” he said. “You can pick a career if you want, but most people try to get into another party as soon as possible.”
“I can’t imagine what it would be like,” Eric said.
“Me either,” I added.
“That’s all in the past,” Bernard said. “I’m lucky you two snuck into the game.”
“Us three,” I said, correcting him.
“Oh, yeah,” Bernard said. “Your friend. We still haven’t found him.”
“He has to be around somewhere,” Eric said. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Maybe he found a way out of the game,” Bernard said.
“And leave me in here?” I shook my head. “He wouldn’t do that to me.”
We rode down the dirt road a few more minutes in silence. I thought about everything we’d accomplished up to that point. For some, it wouldn’t seem like a lot, but we had leveled up and were on our way to re-steal a cursed magic item from the most powerful player in the game.
We’d achieve our goals by taking one step at a time.
The game couldn’t trap us forever, could it?
A cold chill ran down my spine at the thought.
“What if we get trapped in here forever?” I asked.
Our horses continued forward at a steady rate.
“What do you mean?” Eric asked. “You don’t think there’s a way out?”
“Maybe,” I said. “We’ve met people who have been in here a long time.”
“Like me,” Bernard said.
“Yeah...” I said then took a deep breath.
“We’ll find a way out,” Eric said. “If we don’t, my father or someone will find us eventually and get us out of here. Nothing lasts forever.”
Bernard snorted in disbelief.
“I’ve heard that before,” he said.
“There’s always a way out,” Eric said. “Why would they build a game you can never escape? It doesn’t make any sense.”
I believed in Eric, but the fears lurking deep in my mind wouldn’t go away.
“Those four wizards sure are something else,” I said to change the subject.
Eric chuckled. I turned to look at him.
“What?” I asked.
“Just thinking about Wiley—that red dragon of theirs,” he said.
“You could’ve gotten killed,” I said. “Which wouldn’t be good.”
“Aw,” he teased. “You care about me?”
“You know I do,” I said in a serious tone.
Everyone fell silent again. The miles added up as we traveled down the plain road with fields of tall grass on either side of us.
“I’m going to scout ahead,” Bernard said. “Do you two mind?”
“No,” Eric said. “That would be great.”
Bernard spurred his horse and rode ahead of us.
“He’s a good guy,” I said after he left.
“I think so too,” Eric said. “But...”
His voice trailed off.
“But what?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “There’s something about him.”
“You say that about everyone, Eric.”
I couldn’t get over using his real name without a penalty. Doing so helped me remember the outside world and our real lives.
“Don’t forget I was right about Sylvar,” he said.
“A stopped clock is right two times a day,” I retorted.
“Yeah...”
“Do you think he’ll attack us again?” I asked.
“I hope so,” Eric said. “I really do.”
We rode on, passing several mysterious piles of bones. Bernard and Eric brushed them off as meaningless details, but I wasn’t so sure.
I kept my mouth closed and my eyes open as we kept riding. With luck, we’d run into some monkey ghouls on the way and get their brains.
The game owed us as far as I was concerned. We’d been through so much since spawning as our characters. I’d love an easy end to our quest.
>
* * * * *
Later that evening, I checked our map of the area by the light of the moon above. We had no way of knowing where we were located.
“How much longer?” I asked as I put the map away.
“You just looked at the map,” Eric said then chuckled.
“I couldn’t figure out where we are now,” I said.
“We’re closer,” Charlotte said in her quiet voice. “I can sense it.”
Eric smiled.
“GPS spider,” he said.
“Someone’s coming,” Bernard said.
He pointed down the road. I saw a disheveled man pulling a hand-cart down the middle of the road.
Was it full of bodies?
“Bring out your dead,” the man yelled as he got closer.
“Hold up,” Eric said, stopping his horse.
Bernard and I did the same, watching as the cart-man got closer. He stopped a few hundred feet away; his body and clothes covered in grime.
“Do you have any dead bodies?” he asked in a flat tone.
“No, we don’t,” I said. “Where are the bodies from?”
“The graveyards are emptying,” the man said, keeping his head lowered. “It’s a hell of a time to be alive.”
“What’s emptying the graveyards?” I asked.
“You’ll find out,” he said then stumbled forward. “Bring out your dead…”
He kept shouting the phrase as he passed between us.
I glanced from Eric to Bernard then back again.
“Do you think we’ll run into undead?” I asked. “Skeletons creep me out.”
“We’re looking for monkey ghouls,” Eric said. “There’s a chance other undead might be around. We should be ready for anything.”
“I wish I was a real cleric right about now,” Bernard said.
“You and me both,” I said.
“Hey,” Eric said. “Do you still have that healing wand from when we first met you?”
Bernard nodded.
“Yeah,” he said. “I guess I should let Sarah charge it up.”
“Give it to me,” I said, anxious to see how the staff worked. “We can charge the summon monster wand too. I almost forgot.”
Bernard handed me his birch wand. I placed it into a matching hole on the staff, making it look like a broken hat-rack.
“Nice,” Eric said.
“I don’t care how it looks if it works,” I said.
We continued down the road toward Top Henge.
A few miles later, I saw a tall, wrought iron fence in the distance.
“Graveyard ahead,” Bernard said. “Maybe that’s where the guy in the cart came from earlier?”
“Maybe,” Eric said.
We slowed down as we drew closer.
“The sun would have to go down right about now,” I said.
“I see someone standing in between the tombstones,” Eric stopped his horse and pointed; I followed his finger.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“Only one way to find out.” Eric got off his horse. “Hold my horse. I’ll be right back.”
“No way,” I said. “We’re sticking together.”
“I can stay back and hold the horses,” Bernard offered.
“We might need you,” I said as I climbed off my ride.
Bernard got down too.
Eric led his horse toward the iron fence around the graveyard. I followed, wondering about all the tombstones on the other side.
“Take it slow and easy,” Eric said.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Bernard following us.
We reached the black fence and stopped. Eric tied up his horse then crept toward the gate not too far away. I did the same, my heart racing.
“There better not be skeletons,” I said as we walked.
“Or something worse,” Bernard said from behind me.
At the open gate, we stopped again. The figure turned, revealing red, glowing eyes. Its long, black robes hung in tatters from its gaunt frame.
“That’s not a skeleton,” Eric said.
“And not a monkey ghoul,” Bernard added.
“Maybe a lich?” I asked. “We should go back and ride away.”
“Not yet,” Eric said.
I hated his stubbornness.
“We’re too low-level to take on a lich,” I said.
“She’s right,” Bernard said.
“It’s too late to turn back now,” Eric said. “It’s walking this way.”
The creature in black robes with mystical eyes stretched out its arms and lumbered forward with an unearthly hiss.
“Battle positions,” Eric yelled.
I stopped with my staff planted firmly in the ground.
Why hadn’t the Four Wizards given me an offensive staff or something useful?
“Halt in the name of all that’s holy,” Eric said with his new sword drawn.
The broadsword glowed in the quickly darkening post-dusk light. I realized this stupid graveyard encounter was the giant bees all over again.
Eric had barreled into a situation that might get us all killed. If we survived the encounter with the lich, I planned to give him a piece of my mind.
“Me too,” Charlotte thought.
“You dare disturb my resting ground?” the creature hissed. “Prepare to die.”
Bernard stood next to Eric, both with their weapons drawn. I went through my list of spells, coming up with the best plan of action.
11
Inconceivably Botched Ambush
Eric
* * *
As the lich walked forward, I wondered if we had a bit off more than we could chew.
How could we defeat a high-level undead creature on our own?
“I’m coming for you,” the lich hissed as it lumbered forward.
A few steps later, it tripped on a tree root sticking up from the ground and fell on its face.
“Clumsy lich,” I muttered, feeling better about the fight. “We’ve got this, Bernard. Come on.”
I stepped forward, shiny new sword at the ready. Bernard followed at my side. The lich stood and stretched out its arms again.
“Stop in the name of all that’s unholy,” it said.
“Hold on,” I said then stopped walking.
Bernard did the same, looking over at me.
“What is it?” he asked.
“There’s something familiar about that voice,” I said.
“Maybe the game is reusing a voice actor from another NPC?”
He shrugged. “Now’s really not the time to talk about it.”
“What are you two gabbing about?” the lich asked. “Are you talking about me?”
I cocked my head to the side as I stared at the creature with the glowing red eyes.
“Prepare to die,” the lich yelled then moved its hands.
“Don’t let it cast a spell,” I shouted as I rushed forward.
Four familiar golden energy bolts shot from the lich’s hands.
Four Golden Bolts HITS you for 8 damage.
You have [65/73] health remaining.
Golden Bolts? From a powerful lich? Something’s not right...
I stopped again. The possible lich stepped behind a tombstone.
“Drop your items here as a tribute,” it said. “And I’ll spare you.”
“We’re not afraid of you,” I said as I took another step forward.
“Now,” the lich yelled.
Sylvar popped up from behind a tombstone and shot an arrow. It whizzed toward me but missed. Hoping Sarah hadn’t been hit, I ran forward.
The faux lich threw back its hood, revealing Rizzo the Red’s weasel-like face. Another arrow flew past, and Sarah screamed behind me.
I kept running toward Rizzo, wanting to stop him from casting. He ran down a row of tombstones to escape, but I caught up with the dirty rat and swung.
Your slash INJURES Rizzo the Red for 11 damage.
He kept running, giving me another opportunity to
strike.
Your stab HITS Rizzo the Red for 8 damage.
He’s still not going down?
An arrow slammed into my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I grabbed it and yanked it out. Bernard barreled toward Sylvar.
The ranger blew on his horn. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two adolescent brown bears and a great big grizzly running toward us.
“I’ve got the bears,” Sarah yelled. “Go after Rizzo.”
Rizzo had stopped and moved behind a tombstone. He raised his hands to cast a spell. I ran toward him at full speed with my sword up.
Two chunks of flaming lava flew toward me.
The Lava Discs INJURES you for 14 damage.
You have [51/73] health remaining
I reached him and plunged my sword toward his chest.
Your slash HITS Rizzo the Red for 8 damage.
Why’s he not going down? Regeneration or something?
He turned and cast a spell. Ringing noises echoed around my head. I dropped my sword and put my hands to my ears.
The piercing sound continued—making it impossible to concentrate on anything. I fought the pain and stooped to pick up my sword.
As I stood, four Golden Bolts hit me in the chest.
The Golden Bolts GRAZE you for 6 damage.
You have [45/73] health remaining.
The ringing sound continued in my ears. I screamed and charged forward.
Rizzo the Red ducked, but he wasn’t quick enough.
My sword connected.
Your pierce INJURES Rizzo the Red for 12 damage.
Rizzo the Red is dead!
As the mage fell to the ground with a whimper, the ringing in my ears stopped. I smiled and turned to study the battlefield. One of the bears mauled me.
The Grizzly Bear’s claw GRAZES you for 6 damage.
You have [39/73] health remaining.
I turned and thrust the magic FAST sword into the bear.
Your thrust INJURES the grizzly bear for 14 damage.
The Grizzly Bear is Dead!
