by Paul Bellow
Sarah and I both looked at him.
"You okay, Bernard?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Tired," he said. "And hungry."
"You can have the rest of my rat," Evan said as he picked it up.
"No thanks." Bernard sighed. "I'll go sell my mace and armor."
"That won't work," I said. "Let's go find this guy and get our money back. How much was in there?"
"A little over a hundred gold and a few silver pieces," Sarah said.
"Enough to make it worth the effort," Bernard said.
"I'll find him," Evan said. "Nobody steals Sarah's pouch and gets away with it."
He bustled past Bernard and me.
Ewen pushed out his chest proudly.
"We can find him," he said.
"How?" Sarah asked.
"We are good trackers, even in the city. Look."
He pointed down the street. Evan stood near where the old man had taken us.
"Got the trail," Evan shouted.
The four of us walked over to him.
He pointed to several footprints in the dusty dirt of the main road leading through the city.
"You can make sense of all that?" Bernard asked.
"Not a problem," Evan said. "Follow me."
He stepped forward, head bowed to the ground.
I followed, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
"Everyone keep your eyes open," I said. "We need that gold."
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 2 ::::>
Magic the Mirror Gathering
ERIC
After tracking Tinner through the city, Evan eventually led us to a stone building three-stories high with Magictology engraved over the arched entrance. The construction looked new.
We stopped a block away to case the place, but I saw no movement in or out of the building. Evan continued smiling senselessly, offering no hope.
Had he really found the man? Or led us on a wild goose chase?
"Are you sure he's here?" I asked.
"Yes," Evan said. "I'm a great tracker and back-stabber."
"And bozo," Ewen added as grumpily as ever.
Bernard glanced over at me.
"Looks like Magi Inyontoo is setting up shop here on level one-two," he said.
I nodded then said, "We should wait and watch before doing anything."
Sarah smiled.
"You're getting cautious," she said. "I like it."
As we ventured deeper in the game, we needed to be smarter.
"Hanging out here in public isn't the best idea," I said. "But if your illusion spell holds, we should be okay."
"Don't worry about it," she said, still smiling. "My magic is strong."
Bernard pointed to the temple.
"Look," he said. "The old man's coming out."
I turned and saw Tinner walk away from the building with a smile on his face and a spring in his step.
As he headed down the street, a plan formed in my mind.
"Evan and Bernard, you two go around the other side," I said. "I'm going to confront him."
"Should I cast something to stop him?" Sarah asked.
"No," I said. "We don't know the laws for magic inside the city yet. This is another time-period too."
She nodded. "Good idea."
"We'll be back," Bernard said, looking down at Evan. "Let's go, little-guy."
As he and Evan crept off down a parallel alley, I stepped into the street and sprinted over to the old man. He stopped immediately, his face losing the last of its color.
"I had to do it," he said, throwing up his hands. "You don't understand. Forgive me."
"So," I said, stopping in front of him. "You did take our gold?"
Ewen and Sarah walked up behind me.
"I did take it," Tinner continued as he glanced around. "But I needed the money. And the map I gave you is real."
"We had a deal for two gold," I repeated.
The old man turned to dart away.
"Nah uh," Bernard said.
He and Ewen stood behind the old man, blocking his path of escape.
I reached out as Tinner turned to face me.
"Give us the money back, and we'll go away," I said.
Tinner frowned, looking to the left then right for escape.
"I gave the money to the temple of Magictology," he said. "They needed my help."
A look of fear crept over his face like fog rolling across the badlands in a cinematic, open-world RPG.
"I don't care about Magictology," I said. "They're a scam."
"No, they're not." Tinner's face became animated. "There's another world where magic doesn't exist. I'm sure of it."
I glanced at Sarah then Bernard before shaking my head.
"Magi Inyontoo is a bad man," I said. "And any temple of his is not worth donations. You need to go back inside and demand our gold back."
"I can't do it," Tinner said. "They have my daughter. Another five hundred gold, and I'll be able to see her again."
"They have your daughter?" I asked.
"Once I donate more, it'll all be fine."
"That's not right," I said. "We're going inside and talking to them."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sarah asked.
"No," I said. "But it'll help with our alignment score, I hope."
Tinner cocked his head as he stared at me, unable to comprehend my OOC chat.
Your alignment has gone up +5.
Your alignment is now -5 (Breaking Bad)
"See?" I smiled. "Let's go."
I stepped toward the impressive stone building with the others following.
As we approached, I admired the details in the game. We'd seen quite a few buildings, but none of them had been the same. Quite a bit of work had gone into the Tower of Gates.
We stopped at the top of a small set of stone stairs. Two tall, oaken doors blocked the way.
"Should we go in unannounced?" Sarah asked as we stopped in front of the grand entrance.
"You can just walk in," Tinner said from behind us. "They'll accept anyone, but they won't like what you're saying about Magictology not being real."
I continued staring at the sturdy wooden doors.
"Do you think I care what others think of my opinion?" I asked then grabbed a door handle.
The newly carved door opened, revealing a long, rectangular room inside.
I stopped a few feet past the door and glanced around as the others came in behind me. A man in black robes sat behind an unvarnished wood desk at the far end of the room.
"Three other doors," Bernard noted quietly to my left.
I nodded, seeing a closed door on each of the other three walls.
"Everyone be careful," I said as I stepped forward.
The man at the desk looked up as we approached.
I stopped a few feet in front of him.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
He looks like Bernard, I thought then glanced over at our other rogue briefly.
The man sitting behind the desk cleared his throat as I stared at the similarities.
"Welcome to the new Temple of Magictology," he said. "My name is Bernardo Bigelow. What can I help you with today?"
He smiled and stared deep into my eyes in a familiar way.
I carefully considered him, hoping for more information.
[NPC] Bernardo Bigelow the Cleric
This ancient ancestor of Bernard is smiling too much.
You don't trust him.
"We're here for our money," I said. "Our friend Tinner donated It under false pretenses."
"Oh?" Bernardo nodded his head thoughtfully. "Is that so?"
"Yeah," Bernard said. "And we want it back."
Even their voices were eerily similar.
"Who might you be?" he asked. "Do I know you?"
"You don't know us," I said.
Bernardo turned his attention to me.
"And who are you? Would you like to join the Temple of Magictology?"
<
br /> "No, we wouldn't," Sarah said. "Magi Inyontoo is a loon."
The smile faded from Bernardo's face.
"He's the greatest man in all the realms. The stuff he's taught me about where we come from is the truth. A world without magic does exist, and I'm going there someday."
Is he an NPC controlled by AI, or a human PC trapped as one?
"All we want is our gold," I said. "We don't want any trouble."
"Trouble is exactly what you'll get if you don't leave."
He clapped his hands. The other three doors in the room opened. Seven cultists dressed in drab black robes entered the room. All of them carried shiny new swords.
Bernardo stood, a cocky smile on his lips.
"I changed my mind," he said. "You must make an offering before you leave."
"Now," I yelled, hoping the others took my lead.
As I drew my sword, Bernard took out his mace as if he could read my mind. I turned to protect our group from the cultists as Sarah cast a spell.
When she finished singing and dancing, Bernardo clutched his ears and cried out in agony.
I rushed toward the largest group of cultists, ready to rack up some quick xp.
I still didn't have a magic weapon, but the long sword Drekmao had given me would work well enough to kill some crazy cultists. My charge and slash caught the first one unaware.
Your slash INJURES the cultist for 12 damage
The cultist is dead!
Your Weapon Craft skill increases.
Weapon Craft (Blades) Basic Level 9 of 10
Bernard and Ewen covered the two cultists at each of the two other doors. That left two more for me. I stabbed the nearest one as he reacted to his friend's sudden death.
Your slash INJURES the cultist for 11 damage
The cultist is dead!
The third retreated through the door he'd come through. I turned to Bernardo. He had dispelled Sarah's magic and chanted a spell of his own.
As I watched in horror, flames shot out of his hands and hit Sarah. Her clothes burst into flames, and the illusion spell broke.
I ran forward, intent on attacking Bernardo from his right flank. Before I reached him, Evan appeared out of nowhere and plunged his dagger into the cleric's back.
Bernardo screamed in pain then turned to face his attacker. I used the opportunity to strike. While not a proper back stab, I still connected and did damage.
Your slash HITS Bernardo for 8 damage.
"Enough," he yelled then chanted another spell.
Billowing clouds of smoke filled the entire room.
"Careful," I yelled. "Everyone okay?"
"I'm fine," Sarah said.
"Hurt, but I'm okay," Evan said.
"Bernard, heal Evan. Sarah, can you find me or dispel this?"
"No," she said then screamed.
"Are you okay?" I asked. "What happened?"
"Bernardo shocked me," Sarah said. "I can barely stand."
"Get her healed, Bernard," I said.
"I'm being attacked," he screamed.
"Hold on." I moved through the smoke toward his voice. "Bernard?"
"Over here," he said then grunted.
I took another step forward and almost got hit by his mace.
A quick stab took out the cultist in front of him.
Your slash INJURES the cultist for 12 damage
The cultist is dead!
"Go help Sarah," I said. "She needs healed now. I'll find the cleric."
Bernard called out, "Sarah? Where are you?"
"Ewen? Evan? Can you hear me?" I asked.
"We're over here," Evan said. "He hit me bad."
"Make your way toward Bernard," I said.
Which of the four doors did the cleric go through?
I stepped forward until I reached the wall. After feeling about for a bit, I found a door and opened it.
Smoke rushed through and into a ten by ten-foot room. A door on the other side slammed shut.
That's gotta be him, I thought as I rushed forward.
When I reached the other door, I grabbed the metal knob to open it.
Electricity shot through my body, throwing me back.
The Energy Trap MAULS you for 24 damage.
You have 65/89 health remaining.
I fell to the floor, my body shaking and flopping around like a fish out of water.
Ewen rushed in and crouched next to my body, his hand on my shoulder.
"You okay?" he asked, his smile freaking me out.
After the last spasms swept through my body, I sat up.
"Yeah, but we have to get that cleric before he tells Magi Inyontoo we're here."
"I'll get him," Ewen said then ran toward the door.
"No, wait," I yelled, grasping the air in front of me.
He opened the door then turned around.
"What?"
"Never mind," I said as I got to my feet. "Watch out for that cleric, he's sneaky."
"I heard that," Bernardo yelled from the room.
Ewen walked in with me right behind him.
Bernardo stood next to a wooden desk strewn with books and parchments.
"Stop," he commanded as he pointed his palms at us.
I froze, unable to move my body.
Another spell? How high-level is he?
Bernardo grinned and rubbed his hands together.
"Something tells me my master will be pleased I've captured you."
I stared at him, struggling to break-free from his magic.
He strolled over and put his hand on my shoulder.
"You're not as tough as they say, are you?"
"Bonzai," Evan screamed as he ran into the room.
"What the..."
His concentration broke, the effects of the spell faded, allowing me to turn. I saw Sarah dance in place before familiar discs of lava shot out of her palms and peppered the cleric.
"Aargh," he screamed as his robes caught fire.
Evan dashed forward and plunged his dagger into Bernardo's stomach.
Able to move again, I stepped over to finish the job.
Your slash INJURES Bernardo for 12 damage.
Bernardo the Evil Cleric of Magictology is dead!
"Combat's not over," I said as I turned to the door.
Bernard walked in to join us.
"We need to clear the rest of the temple before anyone gets away," I said. "Ewen, come with me. The rest of you go through the other door and take out anything that moves."
I reached the doorway and stopped.
"Are you okay?" I asked Sarah.
She nodded.
"Better now, thanks to Bernard."
She smiled at him.
"No time for this, let's go," I said.
As I ran through the next room and back into the main chamber, I heard a bell ringing on one of the two floors above us.
"They're calling for help," I said. "We've got to stop that bell."
"I've got it," Evan yelled then dashed off toward one of the two doors we hadn't tried.
Most of the smoke had dissipated, but it still stung my eyes as I looked around.
"Come on, Ewen, let's try this other one."
"Be safe," Sarah said then ran after Evan.
"You too," I called out as I opened the door.
A tall, wooden table stood in the middle of a kitchen. Two more doors led from the room.
"You try that one," I said as I walked toward one of them.
Ewen went over to the other, clasping his sword with the silly smile still plastered on his face.
I opened my door and saw a stocked pantry full of food, mostly rice and beans.
"Nothing," I called out.
"This is cold room for meat," Ewen said. "Must be magic."
"Nice," I said. "Stocked?"
He turned and nodded his head.
"Let's go find the others."
I ran around the table and back out into the main chamber. The bell stopped ringing as I headed through the th
ird door Sarah and the others had taken.
A staircase went up. I took it two steps at a time, sword still drawn, ready for anything. When I reached the third floor, I saw Sarah, Bernard and Evan standing over a cultist's lifeless body.
"I got 'em," Evan said, beaming more than usual.
Combat is over!
You get 6,700 xp divided by five party members.
You get 1,340 xp.
You have 33,584 xp.
You need 1,416 xp for level 7 Rogue -> Bounty Hunter
"We did it," I said.
"I did it," Evan corrected.
"Good job back-stabbing the cleric, little guy. You took his health down enough for us to take him out."
"No problem," Evan said. "I did it for Sarah, the leader of our party."
I smiled and nodded.
"We should get out of here," Ewen said. "It's not safe for brownies during the day, especially if we're taking out new temples and what-not."
"You have a point," I said. "We should scout the rest of the place first, make sure no one else is around. Maybe we'll find our money too."
"I'm on it," Evan said then dashed off.
"Be careful," I shouted after him.
"The bozo needs me for backup," Ewen said as he trotted after him.
I looked over at Sarah. Her clothes were singed from the fire earlier.
"Can you disguise yourself and the brownies again?" I asked.
"That won't be necessary," a commanding voice said from behind us.
All three of us turned to the door of the bell room and saw a man in matte black plate armor.
"What's going on in here?"
"They attacked us," I said, taking the lead. "We had to defend ourselves."
"Yeah," Bernard said to back me up.
I saw three other armored men standing in the hallway.
"You have two brownies and an elf in your party, so what. It's goblin-hunting season, so anyone who will help with that is welcome here in Esterhollow."
"We're here to hunt," I said. "We've come from distant lands."
"That much is obvious," he said, nodding toward me. "Interesting armor you have on."
"It's a war-trophy," I said, the lie becoming easier each time I told it.
Why no alignment shift? Too small of a detail?
"Are we in trouble?" Sarah asked.
The armored man laughed, stopping a moment to take off his helmet.
