I rose to my knees and turned back as the sky elves began to depart. “Fare you well,” the cruel guard said with a mocking smile. “You will need it.” He turned away, his wings fluttering behind him, and joined his fellow jailers.
I bristled at being dismissed so easily, but a more immediate concern came to mind. Both Farelle and Sheika were staring at the far corner, and remembering the figure I’d seen there, I quickly looked as well. Now that my eyes were adjusting, I realized how massive the man slouched there was. It was hard to tell, but I guessed he’d be over 7 feet tall if he stood up straight, and he easily weighed over 300 pounds. For a moment, I flirted with the idea of provoking the man to attack me, so that by death at least I could escape this place. I pushed it from my thoughts, though I kept it in mind as a last resort.
Farelle, shivering with her arms wrapped around her, looked as if sharing a cell with this giant of a man was the last straw. Sheika, however, smiled as she stared at the man. “Here almost by fate,” she said, making no sense that I could tell.
But she went on. “It’s a been a while since you called for help.”
I saw the shape in the corner shift. “They won’t let me out,” a low mutter came.
“No, they won’t.” Sheika stepped closer, then crouched before him. “But together, we’ll get out all the same.”
The man shook his head. “Impossible. You think I haven’t tried?”
“Of course you have,” Sheika said, her voice soft and soothing. “But you didn’t have me.” She glanced at me, an unreadable look in her eyes. “You didn’t have us.”
A rumbling came from the corner. It took me a moment to understand the low, bitter sounds were a broken man’s laughter. “Misery loves company,” he mocked.
Sheika stood. “You don’t believe me yet. But soon you will, Gorget.”
The man stirred further at that. “Gorget,” he mumbled. “How long has it been since someone called me by name?”
“Too long,” Sheika confirmed. She looked at me. “Marrow, meet the man who alerted us to this whole plot of the gods. The very man who is going to help us get to the bottom of it.” Her gleaming eyes were hard and determined. “Who will help us find Absalom.”
25
The Sky Citadel
As soon as Sheika spoke those last words, an overlay popped up. To my surprise, it was a quest notification:
New Quest: Absalom’s Fate (Level ???). A god-child is upsetting the balance among the divinities in the Everlands, leading to several players becoming trapped. Find Absalom and set things right. “What can go wrong when you play the game of the gods?”
Reward: ??? (But probably some cool stuff)
I stared at it. Who sent these? And why were there question marks for the level needed and the reward given? Though with the game moderated and innovated by AI gods, perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised to see the game could spin up quests on the fly. It gave the game a whole different feel. Here in the Everlands, in opposition to old-fashioned MMORPGs, there were no predetermined fates. Anything could happen.
Including, unfortunately, all of us being trapped here forever. In this dungeon. In a fortress floating the sky. The guard had been right. This was our hell.
To make matters worse, our noble leader, who had strung me along through all of this, had a haphazard plan for our escape and for finding Absalom. Which was to say, she didn’t have a plan at all.
As the other three of us started protesting to Sheika, she held up her hands. “Guys, guys! And lady,” she said with a respectful nod to Farelle. “I promise, we can get out of this. But first, we’ve got to party up.”
I nodded, and a few moments later, a message popped up:
Player Sheika wishes to join parties with you! Do you accept?
“Yes,” I said aloud, even though I was pretty sure just thinking it would get the job done. A moment later, another message followed:
You’ve joined parties with Player Sheika and Player Gorget! Unlike NPC companions, player parties do not have conditions, and may be broken or formed at any time. You may now view the full stats of all members of your party.
I decided that might not be such a bad idea, considering we would have our fair share of trials to overcome together. But as I brought up each of their stats, my eyes nearly bobbed out of my head. There was too much damn information to take in! The spells, the skills, the combat skills, the channels… The lists were so long I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Shaking my head, I focused on the top of the list for each of them:
“Okay, we’re partied up,” I said. “Now what?”
“Look,” Sheika said, drawing up straight, “I’m the first level 34 to get trapped up here. You really think they’re going to be able to keep me locked up?”
I pointed at Gorget, who still hadn’t risen from his soiled corner. “He’s level 31. You really think three levels are going to make a difference?”
Sheika shrugged. “We also have you.”
“Great,” I said sarcastically. “A level 9 with a companion level…” I paused and glanced at Farelle, realizing I hadn’t been keeping track of her level. Concentrating, I pulled up her stats:
“Nice job,” I said to her. “Level 11. You’re progressing nicely.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Have you all gone mad already? Level this, level that. What the hell are you talking about?”
I’d almost forgotten that Farelle was a NPC, even when I’d just seen her stats. And if her stats advanced without her being aware of it, it must have meant NPCs got automatic progression. That was good to know. “Ah. Right. We’ll explain later.”
Her eyes flashed with anger, and she turned her head aside. I noticed her hands were shaking, even though she’d closed them under her armpits. I didn’t think it was just for warmth. How long had it been since she’d had a drink? I was surprised how much more determined I felt to get out of the Citadel, and quickly.
Sheika cleared her throat. “Anyway. It is significant that we have you, Marrow. For whatever reason, you’re the crux of this whole thing. Gorget might be the map to Absalom, but you’re the key.”
I didn’t know about that. It was true; my journey had been extraordinary and awesome. But being the key to this quest, when it involved defying gods? It was a bit much.
“Well, you can have all the faith you want, but we need an actual plan,” I said. “Gorget, you’ve been here a while, yeah?”
The big man looked up with hallowed eyes. “A very long while, yes.”
I swallowed. I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d all end up like him. I shook the dismal thoughts from my mind and pressed on. “Do you know anything of the Citadel’s schematics? Like where the guardrooms are, or where they keep those flying machines?”
“Sun-fliers.”
“What?”
“The ships. They’re called sun-fliers,” Gorget clarified.
“Oh. Okay.” I paused. “And do you know where they’re docked?”
He shook his head.
I pressed my lips together. This wasn’t going to be easy. Obviously Gorget would be a huge asset once we broke out of our cell, but before that, I didn’t know how useful he would be. Moving onto my next thought, I turned to Sheika. “You’ve basically made your avatar a rogue, right? Who casts some Mesmer spells?”
She nodded. “If you’re going to ask me to pick the lock, though, you’re going to be disappointed. There aren’t locks, not like usual. The doors lock magically.”
I sighed. “And I don’t suppose you know how to lockpick a spell?”
She shook her head. “Only way to reverse a spell-lock is to know the original incantation for it. Then, using the Counterfeit skill in the enchanting branch of spells, you can produce a new spell with tweaks to unlock it. I’ve only heard of one person having that skill, and they’re not here.”
There were whole branches of spells I hadn’t even seen yet. I’d experienced so little of this game still, yet I was expected to deal with what had to b
e some of the trickiest quests and characters. Still, no choice but to keep going. “And we can’t break the bars? Or force the spell to break?”
Again, Sheika shook her head. “Gorget would have broken out of here already if that were possible.”
Frustration was building up inside me, and I started to pace. I had such a limited number of spells and channels and skills, and none of them could help me. And my items had nothing to do with this, and were low level compared to the level 30-somethings in with me. Still, I pulled up my stats, hoping some idea would pop in my head for something one of them could try. I figured starting there would be better for orienting myself before I moved to scanning through theirs more thoroughly.
But something popped out to me as one of the few equipped items I had left, something I’d almost forgotten I had. “Fickle gods,” I muttered, holding up my right hand and staring at my middle finger. Though I couldn’t see it there, I knew the Ghost Ring was hidden in plain sight there.
“I have it!” I said, holding up my middle finger to my party members around me.
Sheika raised an eyebrow. “Not exactly the right time for jokes, buddy.”
Realizing what I was doing, I grinned, but I didn't put my hand down as I shook my head. “No, no, you can’t see it. But I have something that I think will be able to get us out of here. Check my stats — you'll see it equipped.”
Sheika nodded and her eyes unfocused, and Gorget did as well. Farelle just watched me, warning in her eyes. She must think I was on a dark path, or perhaps already lost on it, with such a powerful artifact at my disposal. Surely someone had told her about the Ghost Ring back in Maluwae. I wished we had a moment to talk, so I could explain it, but there was no time now.
Sheika purred. Literally purred. “Now that's what I'm talking about.”
Gorget rumbled as well. Then, to all of our surprise, he planted his plate-sized hands on the grubby floor, put his legs beneath him, and rose to his towering height. I had to crane my head back to see his face. “Now,” he rumbled, “we will escape.”
Though I agreed, I was a bit confused at their quick excitement. I knew some of the powers of the ring, and I knew what it had done to save Farelle, but neither of those seemed to imply it could help us leave. “You two seem like you've heard about this ring before.”
“Hell yes we’ve heard about it,” Sheika said. “You're wearing a Dominion Ring.”
Farelle gasped from her corner. “A Dominion Ring? I did not know it was that…”
I blinked. “I'm a bit lost here. A what?”
“The Dominion Rings have command over the elements of the Everlands,” Sheika explained. “Yours controls phantasmal elements, or namely Specters, who are typically bound to certain region. Others control fire, water, air, earth, or other things, at least to a certain extent.”
I pondered that. “I'm guessing these are pretty rare then, huh?”
Gorget nodded slowly, bare arms crossed in front of a chest the size of a whisky keg. “Rare, and few have them. They say only the gods can give a Dominion Ring.”
A shiver ran up my spine. Just as I’d suspected, that boy who had given me the Ghost Ring was a god. But which one were they? And why had they done it?
Sheika nodded. “And if that's true, it's a good sign for who's on our side.”
Farelle, though, turned her head away. It didn't take much to figure out why. No doubt her Satyr goddess of nature was supposed to be opposed to Mordreth, the god of death, who she would assume had bestowed this ring upon me. Perhaps the Night Sisters had an affiliation with Mordreth, who knew. None of it boded well for our relationship, unless I could explain it to her.
I focused back on the task at hand when Sheika asked me, “So, what all can the Ghost Ring do?”
I shrugged. “Banish curses from barrow princes. Summon one Specter at least.” I thought of Ava, and silently thanked her for all her aid in my times of need.
“I have an idea,” Gorget said. He nodded at the door. “Become a Specter, steal the sealstone from a guard, then come back and release us.”
“Uh, I'm not sure about any of that. Can I become a Specter?”
Gorget glanced at Sheika, and she shrugged. “He's level 9, and he took the fast route there. He's still got a lot to learn.”
“What?” I demanded. “Is it obvious or something that I can change races?” As soon as I spoke, I remembered Ava telling me something of the sort at the very beginning. Not to mention Sheika stood before me as a Ja’qual, as apparently the cat-like race was called.
“I mean, look at me.” Sheika further emphasized the point by sweeping her hands over her distinctly feline body. “I'd say that should have been a given.”
I shrugged and smiled ruefully. “Okay. Assuming I figure out how to do that. What's a sealstone?”
“The right way to open a glyph-seal,” Gorget said. “The guards here carry them, allowing them and them alone to open the cell doors.”
“I noticed those,” Sheika said. “Seems protocol for them to carry them on their right hips, laced onto their belts. You'll have to use a knife or something sharp to snip it off.”
I'd been expecting something of the sort. “Alright. Easy enough.”
Gorget snorted, and Sheika smiled like I was simple. “Easy. Right.”
Ignoring them, I held up the hand with the ring and stared at where it curled around my middle finger, though it was invisible to my naked eye. I thought back to what I'd done last time. There were spoken commands used to harness the ring’s power it seemed. Saq’suul, a quick check of my journey log reminded me, had put the dead to rest. But that wouldn't help me for what I was trying to do.
I had to get help again.
Holding up my hand, I said, “Ava.”
I waited. We all waited. Nothing happened.
Hand still raised, I said, “Ava, if you're listening, I could really use your help about now.”
Still, nothing happened. I sighed and lowered my hand.
“Your Specter companion I'm guessing?” Sheika asked.
I nodded. I wondered what was keeping her away, and hoped I hadn't caused anything to happen to her. Between wrestling an undead prince and helping me banish a powerful curse, it might be enough to do anyone in, whether or not they were already dead.
“Don’t worry,” Sheika said. “Every player has one. Maybe mine can help.” She cleared her throat, and said very clearly, “Salo!”
A fine silver mist began to form almost immediately, giving shape to a meticulously kept man in fine clothes and an upturned nose. I guessed he must have been a butler in his past life. “Yes?” Salo sniffed. “You interrupted my nap.”
Sheika rolled her eyes. “You’d think you were the cat with all the naps you take. No time for sleep now, Salo. I need you to instruct me on that.” She jabbed a finger at my hand.
“On wh—?” the Specter started to ask, when his eyes fell on my invisible ring and widened. “Impossible! On that whelp of a child?”
I raised an eyebrow. “A whelp who can command a legion of you.”
“Cut that out,” Sheika snapped at me. “Best not to be rude to those who can help you.”
I shrugged. “Sorry,” I said, knowing I didn’t sound convincing. He’d been rude first!
Salo sniffed again, and turned back to his mistress. “Well, Sheika. Did you bring me here just to impress me with your lucky friends?”
“Actually, I need you to help that lucky friend,” she said. “And me. In case you couldn’t tell, we’re a bit stuck.”
“I could,” the Specter observed dryly. “And how may I assist you?”
Sheika pointed again to the Ghost Ring. “Teach Marrow here how to use that Dominion Ring.”
Salo studied the ring for a second, then my face. “I do not know that I believe him worthy.”
“You don’t have to teach him everything,” Sheika hedged. “Just enough that we can escape here.”
“We were thinking of turning me into a Specter,�
� I said. “Temporarily, that is.”
Salo hummed to himself for a moment. “I am glad your first thought was not to attempt to compel one of my kind to your will,” he said finally. “That is, after you boasted you could, what was it, ‘command a legion of me?’”
“Fine, fine. I’m sorry,” I muttered.
Salo sniffed genteelly. “Very well. I will teach you the command to shift into the Spectral plane, and back to this one. Are you ready?”
I stood straighter. “Ready when you are.”
“Very well.” The Specter straightened his phantasmal collar. “To change your form into a Specter, you must say a particular word of our language there and concentrate all of your thoughts on your task. That word is: Vad’vandul.”
I nodded. “Got it. And to shift back to normal?”
The butler hesitated, then said, “Nen’faldo.”
I nodded again. “Alright then. Thank you, Salo.”
The butler nodded perfunctorily, then turned to his mistress. “If that will suffice…”
“Yes, thank you, Salo,” Sheika said. “I've made progress for you by the way. I'll let you know when I'm out of this mess.”
Salo donned the first smile I'd seen, though it was gone almost as soon as it had appeared. “I look forward to it.” Then he dissolved into silver mist again and evaporated into the cold cell air.
I touched where I though the invisible ring was on my finger, and looked at each of my companions in turn. Gorget, still placidly standing with his arms crossed, looked as straight and upright as I'd yet seen him, and he met my gaze with a nod. Sheika smiled as we locked eyes, her cat ears twitched atop her head. Farelle barely looked at me, but when she finally did, I thought I saw the beginnings of acceptance there, though of what I still didn't know. Her relationship with me hadn’t changed in her stats, though. I’d just have to trust that she would stick with me, at least for now.
Absalom’s Fate Page 20
