Guud was quiet. I targeted him and saw that the Golden Alliance tag was displayed. I watched his eyes move around a bit as he did something with his user interface. Then, suddenly, the Golden Alliance tag disappeared.
“Wow,” I said. “That’s a big move.”
Guud shook his head. “They weren’t nice to me. I was more of a slave there than an actual player. Now that I think about it, a lot of what you guys said makes sense. Maybe, I am Enlightened. Who is this Muzuhlan you’re talking about?”
“He’s a great wizard that is rumored to have all the knowledge of what Enlightenment actually is,” Bataar explained. He sat himself down and both Guud and I heard his stomach rumble. Then, mine mimicked his.
“We need to eat,” I said. “There’s no way we can go into that cave with all of our health stats slowly dwindling away.”
“I, ugh, I can cook.”
“What? You can?” I asked. My stomach growled again as if asking the same thing. “What can you cook?”
Guud put a finger to his chin, “Well, not a whole lot, but I think I’m pretty good. I definitely have a better cooking skill than most players my level. Like I said, I was more of a slave to the Golden Alliance than an actual member.” He pulled his bag out and started to, what I assumed was looking for cooking supplies. “I guess I’m lucky they invested some time in me skill-wise. That’s all they were good for, anyways.”
Bataar scooted up closer to him. “What else can you do? You’re an Artisan, right? Meaning you get special bonuses when it comes to skill trades, right?” He asked the boy these questions with rapid fire speed making Guud scoot himself back a bit.
“Ugh, yeah, something like that. Artisans get a x5 multiplier when it comes to anything that has to do with crafting. I guess that’s how we get away with our sucky combat abilities.”
I sat down next to them and joined Bataar in peering into the boy’s bag. My mouth was beginning to water as I daydreamed of what Guud was going to cook up. “So, what can you make us?”
“Well, first we make the fire, but I’m all out of wood. Could one of you go grab some while I get the rest of the ingredients ready?”
Bataar jumped to his feet and clapped his hands. “Aye aye! I’m on it.”
It was about thirty minutes later that we all laid on our backs in front of the skull-shaped cave, our bellies completely full. It was a very peaceful few minutes until Bataar let out a massive fart that hit both my nose and Guud’s nose at the same time.”
“Holy!” I exclaimed, pinching my nose and rolling away from ground zero.
“Sorry about that. Archeans have some wicked gas, I’ll tell you.”
I stood up and brushed the dirt off of my legs. Then, I heard the buzzing.
“Damn!” I said. “We lost our Bog Buff! Sounds like a zerg of them are coming our way.”
Bataar perked up his head as he listened. His eyes grew wide and he looked at me. “Not more of those damned insects! I hate insects.”
“Why do you hate insects?” asked Guud, standing up and turning towards the buzzing noise.
“Long story,” I answered. “But we definitely have to seek shelter. Those things will just keep coming!”
“I’m with you!” Bataar agreed, hoisting himself up and making a run for the cave.
“Wait!” I called after him. “What about a plan!”
“No time for a plan!” he yelled back at me. “I’d rather face whatever’s in that cave than have to fight off a swarm of damned insects again!”
Guud gave me a confused look and I shrugged it off. We both ran after Bataar and entered the cave.
27
Bataar didn’t make it too far on account of there being no light. We walked just far enough in that we felt that the Moss-Quitos couldn’t reach us. It was cold in here, a big difference compared to the humidity of the swamp we had just left. There was a constant dripping sound of water and small creatures hung from the ceiling upside down. I targeted one of them.
Cave Bat Level 1
I ignored the bats, putting my attention elsewhere. In front of us was only one way to go, a single tunnel. I figured that was good. No need to split up as if we would have done that anyway. “Got any more of those torches?” I asked Guud.
I could see him shake his head but Bataar couldn’t.
“Answer him, boy! You have another torch for this old, blind Archean?”
“Suh-sorry,” he stammered. “No, the last of it is back on the swamp beach out there. Want me to go get it?”
“What? You don’t need to do that,” I said. “It’s not safe.”
“Really,” Guud said, “I don’t mind. I want to help.”
“You aren’t a slave when you’re partied up with us,” I said.
The boy just stared at me and that’s when I realized I had forgotten to actually send him the invite and so I did.
His face lit up and a big smile crossed his face. He seemed so young at that moment which made me think of how Bataar acted like an old man. Then, questions started to pop up in my head. What makes us act the way we do? Where do we get our personalities? Do we mirror certain aspects of how our creator made us? I would, for sure, be asking Muzuhlan all of these.
“Well, looks like I’m going to be blind for a bit. Lead the way, Tharis.”
I grabbed his hand but he shook it away.
“No, I’m not doing that. Just… touch my shoulder or something.”
I shrugged but forgot he couldn’t see me. “All right, fine,” I said.
I led them down the beginning of the cave. All of us kept quiet and listened for any kind of movement. The cave seemed to go on straight forever with nothing spectacular to look at but empty, grey walls. We walked for what felt like another ten or fifteen minutes before we heard our first batch of talking. And… was that laughter?
All three of us hunkered down. None of us spoke, thankfully, that meant Bataar was quiet as well. Slowly, I crept forward. Bataar tried to follow but I put a hand on his head to stop him. He swatted it away but did not come after me. Guud, of course, stayed back as well. I saw him try to hold Bataar’s hand but it too was quickly swatted away.
My chat glowed.
Bataar: I swear to God, everyone please stop touching me!
I held back a laugh and kept walking slowly towards the sounds. Ahead of me I could see a small boulder blocking half of the tunnel ahead. I crept up and placed my back to it. The voices were now understandable.
“So thens I told her, get the hell out of my hut! I’m done with ya, you wench!”
Whatever was speaking behind the boulder sounded very deep and scratchy. I pictured something huge and holding a club. Hoping that wasn’t the case, I peeked my head to the side of my hiding place. What I saw made me spit out a tiny laugh. I quickly cupped my mouth and hid myself.
“What the hell was that?” one of the tiny, green creatures said.
“You idiot it was probably the wind or one of those damned bats. What, you scared? We live in a leaky cave!”
“Oh ya, right… now, draw, it’s your turn.”
There were three of them. Three green goblins sitting around a tattered wooden table in the middle of the tunnel playing some kind of card game. What had forced the idiotic giggle out of me was their size. They couldn’t have been more than two feet tall! How were their voices so deep? I could have sworn that I was about to come face to face with a giant!
Bataar: What did you see?
Guud: Did I just hear you laugh?
I thought a moment before replying.
Tharis: I didn’t laugh, no. There are three goblins ahead. I didn’t get to target them. Come on up, just be quiet.
“Aye, it’s getting a wee bit cold in here. Whaddya say we start a wee fire?” said one of the goblins.
“Now you’re thinking with ogre shit!” said another. I couldn’t tell if that was an agreement or not.
The outburst of yellow light answered my question.
“Ahh! Much better! That
damned Hondren likes his lairs cold, but does he ever ask us? Noooo.”
“Shhh! Shut your mouth! Whatcha think that idiot’s gonna do if he hears us talk like that!”
“Don’t tell me to shut my mouth!”
I ignored the rest of their squabbling as Guud and Bataar tiptoed up to my side. Both of them tried to peek around the rock and I had to forcefully stop them.
Tharis: Just let me look real quick. We all three can’t be looking! We’ll get caught!
Guud: K
Bataar said nothing. He hadn’t been able to see for the past few minutes and he must have been wanting to see some action.
I looked over the rock one last time and saw that there was a platform hanging by a string above their heads. On top of the platform looked to be heavy supplies. Would it be heavy enough to crush all three of them?
Tharis: Anyone have a bow and arrow?
Guud shook his head.
Bataar: I don’t, no. What are you trying to do?
Tharis: There’s a platform hanging above the goblins. If I could just somehow break the rope holding it up then maybe we wouldn’t have to fight.
Bataar: Screw that! We can take them!
Guud: What level are they?
I hadn’t thought to check. I looked over one last time and targeted the closest green-skinned goblin. His back was turned to me but even from here I could see little moles and lesions on his bare shoulders.
Goblin Minion Level 17
Tharis: They’re Level 17 so I could probably take them if the platform idea doesn’t work.
Bataar: Oh, so that’s how it is. You don’t think an old dragon could handle himself?
Guud: I don’t think that’s what he’s saying, it’s just—
Bataar gave him a look that said it would be better if he just stopped talking, and Guud took the cue. Then he looked at me and sighed.
Bataar: Might as well try it. Throw a rock or something at it. Or wait! Guud, do you have any more of those bombs?”
Guud shook his head
Guud: That was the last one. I’d have to craft more but I don’t have the supplies.
Bataar: Shit, then I guess a rock will have to do!
I picked up the nearest rock but put it down for one that looked to have a few sharper edges. I held it with my thumb and index finger and slowly edged my way from behind the stone. The goblins noticed me instantly. It was now or never.
I targeted the rope, pulled back my hand and… and… yah! I threw it with all of my strength this time. The rock went flying past and I could hear it skidding across the ground in the distance.
The three goblins stood there quiet for a second before all three of them burst into a fit of laughter. My face grew red.
“Come on!” I yelled, puffing up my chest. “I’ll take all three of you!”
Bataar jumped out from behind the boulder. “Now, that’s the spirit! Come on, Guud, time to fight!”
The goblins were serious now. Each of them pulled out a long stick that was sharpened at the edges. They smiled showing yellow teeth as sharp as their sticks. They took a step towards us before stopping. They dropped their wooden spears and put their hands up.
“Ha! Cowards!” cried Bataar. “We don’t take any prisoners! Not this party!”
The goblins turned and ran. Only one had been wearing shoes but he had left them were he had stood only moments ago. Then, they were gone.
“Well, now everyone knows we’re here,” I said.
“True that,” said Bataar, putting his greataxe behind his back.
“What made them so scared?” asked Guud, coming out from behind the stone. He was still crouching, making sure the coast was clear.
“What do you mean, boy? Look at me! This face could scare anyone!”
“They didn’t look too scared when they first saw us,” I said, agreeing with Guud. “They looked ready to fight. Very ready.”
Bataar scratched his head and turned around. Then, he himself took a step back. His mouth dropped and he lowered his stance. He grabbed me and turned me.
“What the-”
A white and slimy-looking creature with purple pulsating veins hung upside down on the ceiling of the cave. It had two red eyes and was just slipping a captured bat into its mouth using one of its many tentacles. The bat screeched as the thousands of tiny teeth sucked it in and shredded it alive. How we hadn’t seen it coming in I had no clue.
It spotted us, bat bones dropping from its circular mouth. There was no pause with this beast as it leapt at us with incredible speed. We didn’t have any time to equip our weapons or to even back away. A white tentacle whipped past me and wrapped itself around Guud’s ankle.
“Ahh! It’s got me!”
It swooped the boy up and held it close to its wet body. With another tentacle, it slapped the boy hard across the face, knocking him unconscious. Then, it took off in the same direction the goblins had gone.
“Guud!” I cried, but doubted he could hear me with the sound of the beasts suctioning limbs. Just before it left my vision I was able to target it.
Grottopus Level 25
28
Bataar and I ran after it. Both of us not even having to tell the other what we were thinking. I tried contacting Guud through the chat but there was no answer. His face in my user interface had also become transparent which meant I couldn’t tell whether or not he was alive or dead. If the boy truly was Enlightened then his death would be even more real. There was something like shame seeing another person who could think for himself actually dying.
I didn’t know what we were going to do. This was very risky. We were in their home, their dwelling. All I could think about was how I wished Ushmoe was here. He would know what to do. He knew the mechanics of this world better than anyone I knew.
We stopped when we came to what I had feared most. The tunnel split off into two different directions. Bataar had swept up a burning stick from the fire and was using it as a torch. They already knew we were here so it didn’t matter if they saw the moving fire or not.
We tried our best to be quiet, only the sound of our heavy breathing getting in the way of our hearing, but there was nothing to hear. The Grottopus must have been too far ahead.
“Let’s take left,” I said.
“Good idea,” Bataar agreed.
We started running again. The cave walls zooming past. Bats would open their beady, red eyes to see what all the commotion was. Upon seeing that we didn’t look like a Grottopus, they shut their eyes and went back to their sleep.
The walls picked up light from a flickering fire some ways ahead of us. Bataar stopped his running and put out his torch underneath his leather boots. Then, we slowed to a walk, then we went prone, crawling on our bellies.
Up ahead were the three goblins that had fled. They were resting in what looked to be their sleeping quarters. Lucky for us, it was a dead end meaning we could retrace our steps and take the other tunnel.
We were perfectly hidden on the edge of darkness and could easily have backed away but Bataar was going to have none of that. He was pissed. For what, I didn’t know. It wasn’t the goblins’ fault that Guud had been taken. Either way, I did understand the frustration he was feeling.
He jumped to his feet, targeted the closest goblin and sliced downward with his greataxe. It was a critical hit! Being that the goblins had no idea we were coming.
I ran up behind Bataar and pierced the goblin which brought its health down just low enough for Bataar to finish it off.
The goblins were unarmed and confused, making it super easy for Bataar and me. The second goblin was easier to kill than the first. However, the last one dropped to his knees and pleaded for his life.
“I’ll take you oafs to Hondren! I swear to it! I won’t be any trouble! See, watch this!” The goblin took a deep breath and held it. I guessed that meant he would be quiet or something.
“We can find our way, thank you!” Bataar lifted his greataxe and was just about to strike the
goblin dead when I interjected.
“Wait, Bataar! Maybe he can be of use to us!”
Bataar gave me an evil expression. He wanted blood. “Oh yeah, how’s that?”
“Goblin!”
“It’s Grimy,” said the goblin. “Call me Grimy.”
Bataar let his greataxe fall a bit. “Your name is Grimy? As in, grime?”
“Yes, pretty isn’t it?” Grimy gave us both a very toothy smile and a tiny bug escaped his mouth and crawled onto his green scalp.
“Ok, ugh, Grimy, what can you tell us about that Grottopus? How can we kill it?”
Grimy gripped his chin in thought. “Hmmm. First of all, you two are psycho if you think you can take on one of those.”
“We don’t have a choice, goblin!” I said, gripping him by his leather jerkin. I pulled him close to my face. “How do we kill it? You said you wanted your life spared but, as of now, I’m not seeing you as a very valuable asset!”
“Oh God, you’re breath stinks!” said Grimy, holding his nose. “Are you sure you aren’t a goblin, too?”
I dropped Grimy and waved Bataar to go ahead with the execution.
Bataar grinned and lifted the axe one more time.
“With fire! With fire! There! I’m sorry. I’ve never been good with words. Fire, just use fire.”
“Thank you, Grimy. Now, please, lead the way.”
29
Bataar and I waited for the little green man to get all of his stuff. I watched him closely as he picked up a weathered bow, a small dagger, and a medium-sized pack.
Bataar: Ugh, why are we letting him bring along weapons? He’s our prisoner…
I thought about this a moment, then I walked up to Grimy and plucked the dagger from his cold, dry hands.
“Hey!” he hissed. “What gives?”
“We can’t just let you walk around with a dagger. You could literally stab us in the back.”
A smile crossed the goblin’s face. “I would never!”
Bataar tried to grab his bow but the goblin hugged it tightly to his chest.
The Lionheart Page 14
