by Adam Drake
Held close, the humanoid's face leered down at me.
“Hello, little Shadow,” he said. His voice rumbled from deep within his chest like the sound of a volcano ready to erupt.
“He-hello, Kragg,” I managed. The meaty arms were tightening and my avatar's body made alarming popping noises.
Kragg, an Ogre-Beserker, was one of the most feared bounty hunters in the game's universe. He had a reputation for being ruthless which lent to his success rating as a hunter. He always got his mark.
And I knew why he was here.
The ogre pulled me up closer to his face, mouth gaping wide in a grin. Hot breath gave my face a retched smelling steam-bath. I turned off my simulation-suit's olfactory settings completely.
“Vivian Valesh,” Kragg said. “I never thought I'd catch you off-guard. At least not so easily as this.” He squeezed a little and something in my back cracked. “What's a famous Shadow like you doing out here of all places? Hmm?” Another squeeze for emphasis.
“G-gold,” I sputtered. Which was true enough. I'd blown through all my reward money from my last big quest. Searching for high valued mats for the auction house offset my poverty.
Kragg looked over at the oak tree. The yellow unicorn had pulled itself out of the tree, but the goblin raider's corpse was now stuck to its horn. The animal shook its head about, the goblin corpse flailing with it.
“Yeah,” Kragg said, “Good money now, in leather mats.” He spoke slow, almost ponderously. But I knew better than to thing it was because he was stupid. He was far from it. Instead, he was taking his time tormenting me. Enjoying these moments before my death.
He looked down at me, again. “But there is better money in collecting bounties. Far more thrilling, too. And you, little Shadow, have a sizable bounty on your pretty head.” Another squeeze, another crack.
“Maybe we can make a deal,” I said through clenched teeth. My health bar was dropping steadily. If I didn't get out of this living vice I'd find myself in the newbie zone.
Kragg threw his head back and laughed, giving me a rather terrifying view of his mouth with its rows of sharpened teeth. “Funny, Shadow. No, no deals. Not for you. Perhaps if I was feeling generous, but you have something more than just a bounty I want.” He leaned closer. “That Cloak of Shadows you are wearing. A Legendary Item. Don't get many bounties with those. Usually, after I kill a mark and loot their corpse, I find some interesting bits to sell on the auction house. But a Legendary Item? That there will fetch a high price on the black market. Even more than your bounty.”
He squeezed, and I kicked futilely at his prominent belly. I must have looked like a tiny temperamental child caught in an adult's bear hug.
Fighting was not an option. But I had one trick up my sleeve.
I turned my head and set my eyes on a nearby hill, about fifty paces away. My screen wavered as my avatar began to lose consciousness.
Hold on a few more seconds.
The top of that hill was all I cared about in that moment.
Set Recall Point.
“Gonna put this death video up on the forums. For posterity,” Kragg said with grin. He was enjoying my final moments of high-level living.
Then the message I was practically dying for appeared.
Recall Point Set.
Finally!
Use Teleport Ability.
I then appeared on the top of the hill.
Suddenly free of Kragg's grip, I collapsed to my knees on the ground. Air sucked back into my lungs, and I used a Health Boost to shoot my health bar back up to 100%. But I was still in immediate danger.
Stunned, Kragg looked down at his empty arms, then locked onto me. His face boiled with rage. “You FILTERED!” he shouted.
My language filters were set to maximum. It helps me pretend that my fellow players are as civil as I am.
Although I had escaped, it was only momentary. I needed to get some distance from this freak and fast.
The yellow unicorn was hopping about begging for an order to attack me again. Kragg had different plans.
Like a sumo wrestler preparing to fight, the ogre lifted one thick leg up in the air. The unicorn, ducking his head, scooted underneath. Kragg dropped into the saddle. He looked ridiculous. A giant, green, oversized ogre riding a mustard-yellow unicorn mount far to small by comparison.
But neither he, nor the unicorn, cared about aesthetics. They both locked angry eyes onto me. Kragg kicked the unicorn forward and the small creature who easily carried his weight, shot forward.
My instincts kicked in and pulled me out of the incredulous spectacle of the ogre and unicorn. Fight or flight?
Flight!
“Two can play at that game,” I said, and selected an icon from the bottom of my view-screen.
Summon Shadow Steed.
A beautiful black horse, with full rider's tack, blinked into existence beside me. It was partially transparent, which was why I had given it the name Smoke.
Smoke noticed the incoming ogre/unicorn threat and nickered, tossing his head about in alarm.
I leapt up into the saddle, and without delay, kicked at his sides and lashed the reigns.
Smoke charged ahead and in moments we were at full speed. We raced away from the forest's edge and into a dry grass plain.
After a few moments of exhilarating speed, I risked a glance behind us.
Kragg and his mount were closing fast. The ogre had brought out a large iron mallet from his inventory and gripped it in one hand. Its comically huge size was nearly as big as him.
I was dismayed. The unicorn was faster than Smoke!
As the distance between us evaporated, I felt a growing sense of dread. This would not work. I needed to buy more time, slow the green maniac down. Scanning the horizon I looked for anything that might help save my life.
Then I spotted something. Up ahead to the left was a trio of what looked to be raptors. They were loitering in the shade of a small copse of trees.
I angled Smoke in their direction, and he didn't protest. With another look back to ensure my pursuers were still with me, I then focused on the raptors and called up the stats of one them.
Species: Raptor
Subspecies: Emerald Claw
Level: Unknown
Hit Points: 320
Mana: Nil
Armor Class: 15
Attack Rating: 30
Damage Rating: Unknown
Weapon Type(s): Hind-Claws, Fore-Claws, Tail, Teeth
Abilities: Jurassic Bite, Run Like The Wind, Claw To Arms.
Special: Pack animal, can summon others to its aid.
Yup, that'll do, I thought.
As I drew closer the raptors perked up and turned their heads to point an eye at me. They were fearsome to look at, let alone intentionally approach.
Smoke and I flew passed them at top speed. The killer dinosaur pack became agitated and appeared to be trying to decide if I was worth attacking. Maybe they had just finished hunting and weren't interested?
Regardless, I didn't draw their aggro, and they watched me ride by. I was now moving away from the idle pack.
Frustrated, I selected my bow from my inventory and it appeared in my hand. Barely aiming, I fired into them.
I scored a hit.
The raptors issued screeches and animal barks and ran after me. They fanned out from the shade and onto the grassy plain.
It was at this moment Kragg and his unicorn barrelled straight into their midst. Either he didn't notice them or, most likely, didn't care they'd been pulled in my wake.
With me moving out of range, the raptors turned their attention to the new arrival. The deadly trio ran up alongside Kragg looking for an opportunity to attack.
One bright green raptor leapt onto Kragg's back and tried to bite his neck. The ogre looked annoyed and shrugged the beast away. A slight motion for him, but was strong enough to send the animal tumbling off. The two dark green raptors snapped at the unicorn's legs. To deal with them properly, Kragg
slowed down. He swung his huge mallet in wide arcs, keeping the raptors at bay.
This gave me a chance at getting some more distance. But I knew it wouldn't be for long. I got my bearings and turned back toward my original direction.
I came upon a wide river that cut across my path. On the other side towered a high rocky cliff which stretched out of sight in both directions. Turning east, I followed along the riverbank. My eyes scanned for a clear path on the other side. I was running out of time.
Then I saw it. A break in the cliff face which presented a narrow chasm north.
This was the place.
At that moment, a bellowing roar came from behind. Kragg was coming.
I slowed Smoke and made a wide turn so we were facing the river. If we didn't make it, this would be embarrassing.
Noise of clomping hooves approaching through the high grass spurred me forward. I kicked at Smoke and we charged at the river.
To my left, Kragg broke through the tall grass. His eyes locked onto me. His mallet was spattered with blood, and crimson patterns sullied the unicorn's yellow hide. Only a short distance away, and seeing what I was about to do, he picked up speed.
The second Smoke hit the edge of the riverbank we jumped. I then gave Smoke a much needed boost.
Use Leap Ability.
My leap transferred to my mount and added to Smoke's already substantial leap ability. We sailed across the raging waters as if carried on wings.
I'd learned the hard way not to neglect Leap. Over the last two hard earned levels, I put all four subsequent skill points into the ability. Before, making any jump was wrought with doubt. Now, I felt tremendous satisfaction when we easily landed on the other side.
But the satisfaction did not last long. The chasm entrance I had jumped to was only a small bite in the cliff face. High walls confronted me.
Nestled in the side of the cliff face was a tunnel entrance. Its door frame etched in strange runes, much like a travel gate.
With nowhere else to go I spun Smoke around.
Kragg was already flying over the river. Even before they landed, both ogre and blood splattered unicorn glared at me in triumph. They knew they had me trapped.
As Kragg landed, I jumped off Smoke. I made a show of looking about for an escape. A trapped, frightened animal. This only got Kragg's blood-lust up more.
The ogre dismounted and grinned. “That was fun,” he said. He patted the huge mallet against a meaty palm. “But this little game is over,” he said.
In answer, I snapped my fingers and Smoke winked out of existence. Then I drew my sword, turned and promptly fled into the tunnel entrance.
Kragg shouted something which was filtered, but I ignored him as I ran through the darkness.
The tunnel was short, and I emerged in a vaulted chamber. Huge, ancient tapestries lined the walls, punctuated by the occasional fire sconce. The floor was made of flat stone, covered in a thin layer of sand.
I looked about. There was nowhere else to go. From the tunnel I heard more filtered words, getting louder. He was coming.
I dashed to the wall on the other side of the chamber and turned, sword at the ready.
Kragg burst in, blood covered mallet in his hands. He stopped when he saw me and took a moment to examine the new surroundings. Then he smiled.
“You want to die here? Not outside?” he shrugged. “Doesn't matter to me.” He sauntered forward.
I waited. Not yet, I thought. Not quite yet.
“I'm a little disappointed with you, little Shadow,” Kragg said. He took another step closer. “I expected greater things. A bigger fight. You have a reputation as someone not to tangle with.” He laughed.
I said nothing and concentrated on his position. This would be close.
“All those tough quests you've completed. A legendary one, too. Now it all comes down to this.” He motioned at the chamber dramatically. “You die in little room in the dirt. So sad.”
Another step. This one kicked some of the sand aside, revealing the section of a symbol painted on the stone floor beneath.
“What do you have to say now, little Shadow? Do you-,” Kragg's gaze snagged on the partial symbol. “What is-,” he said, but didn't finish. At the last moment, his eyes widened at his mistake.
“Now!” I shouted.
One of the tapestries fell to the ground. Behind it, stood a tall breast-plate wearing minotaur. The man-bull was not carrying a weapon. Instead, he clutched a crystal orb in each of his huge hands.
“No!” shouted Kragg as he turned to confront this new threat.
The minotaur, with a wide maniacal grin, smashed the orbs together, and they shattered.
Instantly, from the drawn symbol on the floor, a massive glass orb bubbled up and fully encased Kragg.
The ogre blinked in shock, hands outstretched pressing against the inside of the orb. The orb floated up a short distance from the ground with Kragg inside, like the universe's ugliest snow globe. He looked from the minotaur to me, in stunned amazement.
“What do I have to say about this?” I said, looking smug. I raised eyebrows and offered a huge smile. “Gotcha!”
CHAPTER TWO
Kragg punched a massive fist against the clear material of the orb which only produced a low thud. “What the FILTERED is this?” he roared. The orb allowed sound to pass through it, but nothing else.
The minotaur stood next to me, wiping shards of crystal from his large hands. “That is your new home, Snot-rag.” He looked to me and grinned. “I did good, didn't I, Vee?”
I nodded and patted his huge arm. “You always do good, Muddie. Even if I say you don't.” Muddie – or Mudhoof – was a warrior-minotaur and long-time fellow adventurer. We'd completed a lot of quests together and failed our fair share of them as well. But I could always count on the guy to fight to the bitter end. No logging out of the game because things got too tough.
Kragg, now furious, punched the interior of the orb several more times and yelled profanities. After a few moments he stopped to glare at us. “Let me out of here! NOW! If you know what's good for you.”
I watched the ugly green ogre, trapped and helpless within his prison, up to the count of ten. Then I said, “We need to have a conversation before I even consider letting you out of there.”
Kragg turned to look at the tunnel entrance. He seemed to expect something.
I shook my head. “Nope, no mount, sorry. The moment the orb encases a subject all summonings, companions, mounts and whatnot are disbanded. Your crazy yellow friend won't be able to help you now.”
Mudhoof looked confused. “Yo, Snot-rag. What's the deal with riding around on a yellow unicorn? It makes little sense. Don't you have any dignity?”
“Shut up!” Kragg roared. He was panting heavily, working himself up into a real lather.
Mudhoof asked quizzically, “Or maybe there's a more deep-seated reason for prancing around on a horse with a long thing on its forehead. Trying to make up for something, or we? A little short where it counts? Betcha don't even know that's why you ride around on it, huh?”
Kragg was now shaking, eyes bulging out of his head, knuckles of his fists pressing hard against the orb.
“I think he's gonna blow,” Mudhoof said.
Kragg did. The ogre exploded into a fury of filtered expletives and roars as he punched, kicked, and even head-butted his enclosure. This went on for several minutes while Mudhoof and I watched, unimpressed.
Then, spent of energy, Kragg stopped and went silent, panting heavily. He sagged down within the orb, his legs crossed beneath him.
“Berzerker-Rage ability timed out, huh?” I said. “Good, because now we can have a civil conversation.”
Kragg focused on me and leaned forward. “I don't care what you have to say, little Shadow. It won't matter. I'm still going to kill you and collect that bounty.” He sneered at Mudhoof. “I'll take out this walking cheese burger, too, as a bonus.”
Mudhoof snorted and kicked a hoof through the
sand on the floor. “You won't be killing anyone today, Snot-rag. And try not to look so smug. Who's the one who got his dumb-ass led straight into a simple trap?”
I raised a hand. “Mudhoof, please.”
The minotaur snorted again, but went quiet. Mudhoof knew when I used his full name it meant to chill out. Long-time friends can get away with that.
To Kragg, I said, “Yes, we trapped you. And it wasn't hard. We've been tracking you for a few days now, waiting for a chance for you to 'find' me.”
