by Paul Bellow
We crossed the shelf of rock in front of the cave entrance.
“That makes sense,” I said. “This smell is almost overpowering.”
She scrunched up her face and nodded.
“I don’t care about the smell,” Leroy said as he drew his sword. “We need to be ready for anything up here on the mountain.”
I took out my sword then stepped toward the entrance of the cave. The others followed close behind. We stopped just inside.
“Leroy and Thrukad, you two are in front,” I said. “Benji and Sarah will stay in the middle with offensive or healing spells as needed. I’ll take up the rear. Any problems?”
Nobody said anything. Leroy lit a torch.
“Careful with that fire,” I said then glanced over my shoulder.
The fire in the distance had died down, but was still smoldering.
Benji and I lit torches of our own. Light flickered on the slime-covered walls of the cave as we each prepared in our own way.
I saw a fifteen foot wide tunnel leading off into the darkness.
“Let’s go,” I said. “Take it slow and be ready for anything.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Leroy said then strode forward.
Thrukad stepped to keep up with him. Benji and Sarah followed.
I walked behind them all, glancing over my shoulder every few feet.
“Curve coming up,” Leroy called out over his shoulder.
“Follow it,” I said. “We need to keep moving.”
The others picked up the pace. I did the same, anxiously waiting for something to jump out at us at any moment.
“I see a cavern ahead,” Thrukad said. “Seems all clear from here.”
We entered a round room cleanly carved from the rock.
“There are runes,” I said, pointing above the entrance we came in.
Sarah looked up and studied the hieroglyphics.
“Hmm,” she said. “Atari? Is this a joke?”
Rock slid down, closing off both exits from the room.
I spun around.
“We’re trapped,” I said.
“No kidding, genius,” Leroy muttered.
He was getting on my nerves.
Not all NPCs are the same.
“I hear something,” Sarah said. “It’s getting closer.”
“Form a circle,” I said.
We lined up next to each other, facing outward.
Six giant centipedes of various colors rushed out of a hole in the rock and scurried toward us—a swarm of legs and bodies.
“Kill ‘em all,” I shouted then ran forward, sword above my head.
They better not be poisonous, I thought as I swung at one.
Your stab HITS the giant orange centipede for 8 damage!
Immediately after striking it, my armor glowed with golden energy.
Spell Effect: Glorified Cloaks of Bronze
+12 Armor Class.
Your AC is now +42.
You are reasonably well protected.
Six of them shouldn’t be a problem for our group. Unless they had strange abilities like poison or level drain.
I thrust my sword into the body of the one I’d already damaged.
Your stab INJURES the giant orange centipede for 12 damage!
The giant orange centipede is dead.
I immediately stabbed another.
We quickly killed the whole half-dozen.
Combat is Over!
You get 1,200 xp divided by two party members.
You get +600 xp – 10% = 540xp
You have 8,105 xp.
You need 895 xp for level four Rogue.
* * *
Weapon Craft has increased to Basic Skill Level 5 of 10
Sarah smiled, wiping her brow.
“We didn’t waste as much magic as on the first encounter,” she said.
Leroy stormed over and got in my face.
“Why didn’t you detect that trap, thief?” he asked.
I bumped my chest against his, not backing down.
“Careful who you call a thief,” I said.
“I know a thief when I see one,” he said.
He stepped forward, but I didn’t budge.
“Knock it off,” Sarah said. “We need to get out of here before something nastier comes along.”
I kept staring into his eyes until Leroy looked away.
“How do you propose we do that?” he asked.
“Stand back,” Sarah said.
I grinned and moved away as she did a dance and song she’d performed earlier. The earth below the massive stone shifted, forming a natural staircase leading down.
“Great job,” Benji said, patting her on the back.
“We still have to find out where we went wrong,” I said. “Let me look for whatever I missed.”
“Be careful,” Sarah said as I climbed down the magic stairs.
The floral scents increased in the stone room below. After searching a few minutes, I found a hidden door.
“Found something,” I yelled as I opened it.
The others made their way down—crowding around me.
“We’re almost to Snargao’s lair,” I said.
Leroy snorted.
“Why should we trust you now?” he asked. “It’s not like you’re letting us join your party officially.”
“Do you do anything besides complain?” I asked.
Leroy mumbled something as he walked through the hidden doorway and into another dark, dank tunnel leading deeper into the earth.
Thrukad went next with me close behind her. I wanted to keep an eye on Leroy. Sarah followed me with Benji bringing up the rear.
“It’s getting narrower,” Leroy said. “We should go back.”
“No,” I said. “We need to keep going.”
Thrukad pushed him and took a step forward.
“I hate enclosed spaces, so you better get going,” she said.
We continued through the maze of twisty little passages, all alike. After an hour of walking in single-file, I stopped.
“Hold up,” I said. “Something’s wrong.”
“Tell me about it,” Leroy said.
“We’re going in circles,” I said. “This is some sort of maze, and I can’t figure it out.”
Sarah dug some chalk and twine out of her bag.
“Use this to mark the walls,” she said.
“You’re the most intelligent elf I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on,” Benji said. “If I were a bard and not a priest, I’d write ballads about your virtues, my dear.”
I grinned, wondering if there was anyone Benji wouldn’t flirt with.
“We need to get ready for whatever’s at the end of the maze,” I said.
“Probably a minotaur,” Leroy said. “Typical underpaid quest.”
“I hear something,” Sarah said. “Everyone be quiet.”
She turned her body a few inches to the left.
“There,” she said, pointing. “There must be another hidden doorway.”
“Move ahead,” I said. “Let me check the wall.”
Leroy and Thrukad moved forward, giving me enough space to check for secret doorways to escape the maze.
“Nothing here,” I said after a few minutes. “Keep moving down and chalk the wall as we go. We’ve got this.”
“I’m on it,” Sarah said.
We moved forward a foot at a time as I searched for a way out of the maze. At a certain point, the chanting grew louder.
“It has to be around here somewhere,” I said.
“Right there,” Benji said. “That rock’s odd.”
A priest detecting hidden doors?
“You’re right,” I said. “How did you notice that?”
“Just lucky, I guess.” He grinned. “We should keep going.”
“He’s right,” Sarah said. “Can you open it?”
“Opening it now,” I said, pressing the bulge in the rock.
You have gained a new skill!
Find Hidden Doors – Basic Skill Level 1 of 10
“Screw this caution,” Leroy yelled. “I’m out of here.”
He pushed past Thrukad and me before rushing into a smoothly carved hallway that opened into a larger room.
“Great, his last name must be Jenkins,” I muttered. “Everyone, after him. Don’t let him screw this up.”
I stepped into the hallway. The chanting increased in volume.
As the others followed, I stopped next to Leroy at the end of the hall.
“Uh oh,” Leroy muttered. “It’s him.”
A hobgoblin dressed in dark crimson robes stood in middle of the room in front of a stone altar. He turned, noticing us.
“How dare you interrupt me?” he shouted.
“We’re here for the pendant,” I said. “Give it to us now.”
“No,” Snargao said.
“Die, goblin scum,” Leroy shouted then rushed forward.
Snargao moved his arms and chanted another spell. Before Leroy reached him, an earth elemental broke away from the wall.
“Have fun,” Snargao shouted gleefully then grabbed the pendant off the altar.
“Get him!” I yelled.
Leroy kept running, but the giant earthen creature hit him hard with a dirt fist. I quickly checked my knowledge of earth elementals.
> Consider Earth Elemental
* * *
All you know at your skill level is that it’s resistant to fire and can move through earth easily. It’s very resistant to damage.
That’s not good.
Leroy and Thrukad attacked from the front. I worked my way around, but the elemental turned and attacked.
The Medium Earth Elemental’s slam INJURES you for 12 damage.
You have [26/42] health remaining.
I stayed on my feet and thrust my sword into the magic dirt.
Your stab GRAZES the medium earth elemental for 5 damage.
“You need to do better,” Leroy screamed then attacked again.
His blow landed solidly, getting the elemental’s attention.
Can I backstab an elemental?
Time to find out.
I crept forward and slid my sword into the elemental.
Your stab HITS the medium earth elemental for 9 damage!
I guess not. Gotta keep grinding this thing down.
Sarah cast another spell. The floor of the cave rose, enlarging the elemental. It raged, swinging its bigger body.
“Watch it!” I screamed then slashed again.
Your stab HITS the medium earth elemental for 8 damage!
Leroy and Thrukad continued attacking. As I struck again, I wondered why Benji didn’t have any offensive priest spells.
Your stab GRAZES the medium earth elemental for 5 damage!
I wanted to run after Snargao and the pendant, but the others needed my help. The elemental threw a mighty fist in my direction.
The medium earth elemental’s punch HITS you for 8 damage.
You have [18/42] health remaining.
“Watch out!” I shouted as the elemental raised a fist above Leroy.
He fell to the floor of the stone room—screaming in pain. As Benji rushed to heal our warrior, I yelled and attacked one more time.
Your stab GRAZES the medium earth elemental for 5 damage!
Your sword has become dull. Minus 2 damage.
Ugh. I needed a new sword anyway. Time to take this thing out.
Summoning all my strength, I ran forward and aimed at what passed for a head on the elemental.
Your stab INJURES the medium earth elemental for 11 damage!
The elemental fought on.
After Benji healed Leroy, both men joined the fight against the mound of earth. Together, we attacked from all sides.
Benji scored the final blow, causing the animated earth to fall into a harmless pile. I glanced to where Snargao had run as a notification screen popped up in my field of vision.
Combat is Over!
You receive 800xp divided by two party members.
You get +400 xp
You have 8,565 xp
You need 1,435 xp for level four rogue
“Blast that hobgoblin wizard,” Leroy shouted. “I saw my life flash before my eyes. He deserves to die.”
“Knowing you, it probably wasn’t a very pretty image,” Thrukad said with a chuckle.
“Shut up, shorty…”
“Knock it off,” I said as I sheathed my sword. “This isn’t over yet. Snargao got away with the amulet.”
“He escaped through that tunnel,” Leroy said, pointing. “Let’s follow him. Best to rush headlong into this and finish it.”
“Wait.” I held up my hand. “We need to think this through.”
“And heal,” Thrukad said. “I’m hurting bad.”
“Benji, take care of her, will you?”
“Sure,” he said. “But I’m almost out of spells.
I turned to Sarah.
“What about you?”
“Could be better,” she said. “I didn’t want to grow the elemental more than once.”
I grinned.
“Yeah, that wasn’t very helpful,” I said. “The earth elemental was easy enough, but something tells me Snargao is going to put up more of a fight.”
“I think you’re right for once,” Leroy said.
Sarah stepped to a full bookcase on one of the walls.
“We should search for magic items to help us,” she said.
After a few minutes, we had three identified and labeled magic items along with gems and coins.
Not a bad haul.
I stared at the altar.
1.
>> Ring of the Spider + 5 to climbing skill
>> Potion of the Mages – restores full mana
>> Scroll of Become Unknowable Humanoids
>> 2 yellow gems (10gp each)
>> 12 red gems (30gp each)
>> 72 gp
>> 142 sp
>> 5142 cp
* * *
“That’s a nice ring,” I said.
Sarah picked up the potion and scroll.
“Go ahead and take it,” she said. “We’ll give the gems and coins to the hirelings.”
“About time,” Leroy said, snatching a handful of gems.
I picked up the ring.
“You can divide the coins and gems later,” I said. “We need to go after Snargao right away.”
“I don’t think we’re strong enough to travel deeper into the mountain,” Leroy said. “But I’ll go along with you for now.”
I knew well the feeling of wanting more treasure, but we had other priorities at the moment.
“Good to hear,” I said.
“Anyone else need healing?” Benji asked.
I raised my hand.
“Over here,” I said.
I wanted to be at full health in case we ran into Snargao. He wouldn’t be as easy to take down.
Benji waved his arm over my chest.
You feel better!
You have [42/42] health remaining.
“Thanks, man,” I said.
He nodded, hands still hidden from view.
I turned to the tunnel where Snargao had run.
“Tight fit,” I said, not liking the looks of it one bit. “Single-file again with warrior up front and Benji guarding the rear.”
“I’ll go first,” Thrukad said. “My gnomish can see better without a torch. We can’t let them know we’re coming.”
“Good idea,” I said. “Everyone keep your ears open too.”
We entered the tunnel in a single-file line. My heart began to beat faster as darkness enveloped us completely. All I heard was our own footsteps.
I hoped we weren’t walking to our doom. With a bit of luck, we’d clear the first level quest and find a way to get out of the game.
Maybe before my father returned?
The sound of faint chanting in the distance filled the tunnel.
�
�Everyone stop,” I said. “Am I hearing things?”
“No,” Sarah said. “I think someone’s summoning another elemental.”
“We can’t get trapped in this narrow tunnel,” Leroy said. “Not with another of the dirt beings. Turn around.”
“Hold on,” I said. “We might be better off if we keep going.”
“Someone make a decision,” Thrukad said.
In the distance, the sounds got louder.
What to do now?
My mind blanked out.
17
That’s No Ordinary Wax Golem
SARAH
As we stood in the tunnel waiting for Eric to come up with a plan, Charlotte spoke in my mind.
“I can scout the way,” she said.
“Genius. Why didn’t I think of that myself?”
“You’re busy and nervous, Kali. It’s fine.”
“I have an idea,” I said.
Eric glanced back.
“What is it?” he asked. “I need to make a decision.”
“Let’s send my familiar to scout ahead,” I said.
Eric cocked his head to the side.
“Your familiar?” he asked.
“Yeah, she’s a…”
“Watch out,” Benji yelled, swatting my shoulder. “There’s a spider.”
“Careful,” I said, stepping away from him as much as I could in the cramped space. “That’s Charlotte, my familiar.”
Benji grinned and lowered his eyes.
“Sorry,” he said.
“Hold on.” I dropped to one knee and let Charlotte climb to ground. “How far can you go before our mind-link breaks?”
“A few hundred feet now, but the distance will grow as we gain more power,” she answered in my mind.
“Good to know. Be careful.”
“I’m going now, Kali, as fast as I can.”
“She’s going,” I said. “And will report back if she sees anything.”
