by Paul Bellow
"That's a sign he wants to talk, but that white flag is tied to a wand," I said.
"Good point." Sarah removed her hand. "I've got a wand too."
Axelrod stepped forward, battle-ax held with both hands.
"Don't chance it with that wand," he said. "Everyone be ready for anything."
He stared down the armored man as he approached.
"I come to talk," he said from about a hundred feet away. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah," I yelled. "But no funny business."
Both arms in the air, the man continued forward.
"I don't trust him already," Josh said.
"Let me do the talking."
I put on my poker-face – a blank stare, lips pursed together in a slight frown.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Direct," the man said. "I like that. Name's Derringer..." He paused and lifted the visor of his helmet. "They think I'm here to negotiate your surrender, but I'm looking for asylum. I've been with these other guys since I've come to these lands, but they're into that Magictology crap now, and I want to get out."
"You can talk freely," Sarah said. "We have magic for no OOC penalties."
The imposing man laughed, his well-constructed armor barely making a sound.
"Praise all that's Holy," he said. "These goons wrapped up in Magictology stay in character all the time, and it's been driving me nuts."
"You're not joining our party so easily," Bernard said.
"Give him a chance," Sarah said. "We need to avoid this fight."
"You look pretty beat up," Derringer said. "When Magi Inyontoo heard you killed Ryu, he lost it."
Derringer smiled as he remembered the moment.
"We're hurt bad," Bernard said. "Can you help us? What class are you, anyway? Fighter or healer?"
"Both," Derringer said. "More specifically, I'm a Dark Knight. It's a special class, but I can tell you later. Do you have any yellow or green gems on you?"
He pulled a metal box that had been camouflaged well on his waist.
"Whoa," I said, raising my sword. "What's that?"
"It does a lot of things. To be honest, I haven't named it yet. We've been so busy trying to fix everything your motley crew has done over two levels."
"We try," Josh said proudly.
"Are your friends going to stop us from rescuing the Dwarves?" Axelrod asked.
"Likely," he said, holding the metal box. "There's an even bigger bounty on your head now. Let me help. Give me a gem."
"Why do you need a gem?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Here," Bernard said, handing him three small ones.
"Thanks," Derringer said, accepting them. "It's basic, really. The technology works by transforming the game-matter of the gemstones into other powers like healing."
"You lost me, bro," Josh said.
"Are you saying it's not magic?" I asked. "There's been no technology in the game so far."
"I don't have the answers to whether it's magic or science, man, but I can help if you let me."
Derringer held out his hand with the metal box. He had the gems in his other hand.
Sarah turned. We made eye contact, neither of us looking away.
"Tragedy of the Taverns," she said.
I cracked a smile, nodding my head.
"Perfect," I said.
"What are you two going on about?" Axelrod asked.
I turned toward Derringer the Dark Knight.
"You help us win this battle," I said. "And we'll let you join the party."
"Wait a minute..." Axelrod said.
"Deal," said Derringer, holding out his hand with the metal device. "Watch this."
He stuffed all the gems into a compartment then closed it. After flipping a simple black switch, the metal glowed an unearthly green.
You've been healed.
You feel refreshed.
You have 128/128 health remaining.
The green glow healed the rest of the party.
"Sarah, your mana?" I asked.
"Fully charged." She turned to Derringer. "There's no side-effects to using this, are there?"
"A little late to ask that question," he said then laughed. "I've been using it for five years now, and I've not had any problems. Well, except for the ear growing on my back."
Sarah's eyes widened.
I smiled then said, "Funny. There's no way you can talk your friends out of attacking?"
Derringer frowned.
"Not with that bounty on your heads. Magi Inyontoo is promising a way out of this nightmare game, but I don't believe him."
"Me either," I said. "We'll knock him down a peg or two."
"He deserves it," Derringer said. "My buddies won't be as friendly as me."
"What about you?" I asked, gauging his reaction.
"If you didn't notice when I healed you, I'm ready to quit their party."
"You want to join ours?" Sarah asked.
"Oh, great," Bernard said. "He gets asked in right away, but you made me wait forever."
"You didn't have a magic gadget that runs off gemstones," I quipped.
Bernard tossed his head back and forth a moment.
"It's all good," he said. "You know I'm just messing with you."
"What's going on down there?" someone yelled.
Derringer stepped to look behind him then turned to us.
"Let me help you with this battle. After it's over, you can decide if you want me in your party or not. There's information I need to tell you first."
"Battle positions," Axelrod shouted, walking past Derringer.
I saw the other six warriors spill out of Ryu's secret lair.
"Attack of the nerds," the one in front yelled.
"Clobbering time," Josh said then pushed his way past me.
I didn't complain. Axelrod followed with Derringer close behind.
"Let's see how it goes before you spend mana," I said, watching as the larger group of six approached out tank-group of three.
"I'm not an idiot, Eric. You know I play games."
"There's no way to sneak around," Bernard said. "Let's back up the front line."
"Agreed," I said.
My dual-blade skills needed practicing.
I stepped forward with Bernard at my side. Josh and the others were fifty-feet ahead of us as they reached the other group. Swords clashed with armor, shields, and other weapons.
Axelrod cleaved one of the poor men on the leg, knocking him to the ground. Josh pounded another on the head with his Club of Confusion. The battle would go quickly.
"Now," their apparent leader in a red helmet shouted.
The other five men backed up and moved out of the way, clearing a path.
Red-helmet pulled out a crossbow with a glowing bolt.
"Get them," Axelrod shouted, rushing forward.
Josh shrugged and followed him while Derringer stayed in place.
The blue-glowing arrow shot from the crossbow at high speed, hitting Axelrod in the shoulder.
"Curse it," he yelled, not dropping his battle-ax or stopping because of the pain.
With the arrow sticking out of him, he ran to their leader and swiped his axe at the crossbow. It sailed through the air, crashing into the stone wall.
"Bring it," Axelrod growled in a low, guttural voice.
The other five flanked Axelrod from both sides, not paying attention to Josh or Derringer.
Why did we pick Axelrod to lead our group? I wondered as they attacked him from all sides.
Josh and Derringer reached the others and got their attention with several blows of a club and Derringer's black, glowing sword. It cleaved through the armor of one of the other men.
While they'd been his friends, I could tell he was sick of them. Magictology either attracted people or it didn't. There wasn't any middle-ground.
Only four of their six remained on their feet. The one who had lost use of his leg threw a square metal box at Bernard and me. I ducked and ran, not knowing what
it would be.
"Watch out," Derringer called. "It's a bomb."
The words had no sooner left his mouth than the metal box hit the stone floor of the tunnel, exploding in a flash of flame and sound. Bernard and I were both thrown back ten-feet at least.
The Minor Magictology Box MAULS you for 23 damage.
You have 105/128 health remaining.
I'd tumbled and rolled, lessening the damage. As I crouched, I looked at Bernard.
"We need to get some of those," he said, smiling despite the circumstances.
A true gamer, I thought. Our party was attracting the best kind of people.
"Incoming," Sarah yelled.
Three Lances of Lightning shot through the air, hitting red-helmet directly. Each bolt fizzled as soon as it hit his black armor. His laughter threw Josh into a barbarian rage.
"Don't laugh at her lightning bolts," he said then rushed forward with a scream.
Two of the four remaining men each threw a Minor Magictology Box of their own.
Both explosions hit near Josh, pushing him over the edge through pain and anger.
"Feel the wrath of the half-orc," he yelled, running forward with his hair on fire.
Two more of their men went down in a hurry as the barbarian flurry passed near them.
Only the man in the red helmet and one of the other players remained.
Both ran into Ryu's room, slamming the door behind them.
"Come on," Axelrod yelled. "Cowards."
I glanced over and saw the blue energy enveloping the other players.
We needed to stop anyone who had anything to do with the cult of Magictology.
"Get that door open," I yelled, hoping Josh had enough of his wits to take it as a challenge.
Instead, he turned and popped Axelrod on the head with his Club of Confusion.
Axelrod tilted his head to the side in surprise then dropped to the ground.
Josh looked up and made eye contact with me. With a maniacal scream, he rushed toward me with his club high in the air. Derringer stepped out of nowhere, bravely blocking his path.
The barbarian swung his club to get him out of the way, but Derringer took the hit like a champ, barely budging. Did he have magical or scientific armor too? We needed him in our party.
"Come on, big guy," Derringer said calmly. "I'm not the enemy you want to hit."
He waved his black gauntlet covered hand in front of his face, palm out.
"You're not the enemy I want to hit," Josh screamed at the top of his lungs.
He blinked and glanced around.
"The door is your enemy," Derringer continued, pointing at it.
Josh tilted his head. The flames had gone out, but he looked like he had the same drunk barber as Axelrod.
"The door is my enemy," Josh yelled then rushed around Derringer and attacked his sworn foe.
Made of wood and not sturdy, the door never stood a chance. It broke off its hinges and crashed into the room. Josh twisted around, looking back at Derringer like a puppy wanting to know what to do next.
"That's some powerful magic," I muttered to Bernard. "We need to watch this guy."
"He's helping so far," he said.
Neither of us took our eyes off Josh.
"Go get 'em, boy," Derringer yelled.
Josh jumped through the doorway.
An explosion boomed as a flash of fire lit the tunnel.
"Josh," Sarah screamed as she rushed past.
"Don't do it," I said, running after her.
The smoke coming out of the small room cleared as I got closer. Inside, I heard Josh battling the last two warriors. Or were they Dark Knights too? And what, exactly, were Dark Knights?
I pushed the questions aside as I rushed into the room behind Sarah.
"Move," I said, shoving her to the left.
"We need to save Josh," she said. "That wasn't right sending him in here as cannon fodder."
"No time to talk about it now," I said. "Stay safe."
Standing in front of her, swords drawn, I saw a red-helmet through the smoky haze.
Josh and the other man were struggling near the mirror in the back of the room.
I jumped over debris and landed in front of their leader. He turned as both my blades struck him.
Your pierce GRAZES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 7 damage.
Your slash SCRATCHES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 2 damage.
That's quite the armor, I thought as I readied myself for his counter attack.
On the other side of the back wall, Josh wrestled with the man in armor. They both fell to the floor, rolling around. The barbarian, calming down, quickly subdued the armored man.
Rogan attacked me with a red, glowing blade, striking me in the arm.
[PC] Rogan the Dark Knight's stab DECIMATES you for 32 damage.
Man, he's fast. And thirty-two damage from a dagger? What's going on?
I wasted no time striking back with both blades.
Your pierce SCRATCHES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 3 damage.
Your slash SCRATCHES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 2 damage.
"Ugh," I groaned.
Rogan laughed then flipped his dagger into the air cockily.
I attacked, but he raised his arm, palm out, and muttered some words.
My body froze in place, swords still up in the air.
Oh, no, not this again, I thought with dread.
Is he going to kill me while I'm immobile?
"And you were worried about me?" Sarah asked from behind me.
She better not cast a lightning bolt in here.
I stood still, unable to do anything and hating every moment of it.
Clouds of Dust appeared around red-helmet's head. The dagger had long since dropped to the ground. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on it after the others finished him off.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Josh stand. He walked into my view and approached red-helmet without a club or anything else. No longer in a rage, he methodically hit the warrior.
The armor must've hurt his hands, but he didn't wince as he continued to pummel the red-helmeted warrior who'd attacked us. I wiggled my toes. Gradually, the rest of my body unfroze.
I rose my weapons to help Josh, but he didn't need help. Rogan the Dark Knight fell to the ground, no longer struggling to get his helmet off. It wouldn't have helped him.
Combat is Over!
You get 30,000 xp divided by five party members
You get 6,000 xp
You have 89,391
You need 15,609 for Level 10 Rogue -> Bounty Hunter
Sarah's magic and quick thinking had saved me once again. I owed her my life in so many ways. Josh turned, breathing heavy, sweat pouring from his pores.
"Axelrod okay?" he asked. "I'm tired of being a barbarian."
"Learn to control your anger," Sarah said, walking over to us.
"We should check on Axelrod."
I walked out of the room, leaving them alone. They both followed me out into the tunnel.
"Hey, Axe-baby. I hope you know I didn't mean to hit you."
"That didn't hurt me at all," Axelrod said, rubbing the top of his head.
Deringer the Dark Knight walked forward.
"I couldn't bring myself to kill Rogan," he said. "Thanks for finishing it."
"No problem," I said, sheathing my weapons. "Thanks for helping us. Together, we can stop this Magictology menace."
"We've got to save the Dwarves first," Axelrod said.
He looked over at the blue magic energy field.
"I've got to tell you guys something before you let me join your party," Derringer said. "Unless you weren't going to let me join?"
"We want you," Sarah said. "You're a healer-tank, the best kind."
Derringer smiled, holding his black helmet in his hands over his stomach.
His expression changed quickly, joy replaced by nervousness.
"Back in the real world..."
He stopped
talking.
"We won't judge you," Bernard said. "We've all got secrets too."
Derringer turned to me briefly then looked away.
"Back in the real world," he said. "I worked as a prison guard."
He studied our reactions before continuing.
"A bunch of corporate nerds came to the prison and installed all these high-tech pods. They said they would help reduce recidivism in the justice system. I didn't believe them, but as a guard I had no say."
Everyone formed a semi-circle in front of Derringer as we listened to his story.
"One night the warden said we needed to test the pods for the geeks. I've never gamed before in my life, but my buddies on the same shift were avid gamers. They talked me into agreeing to the test."
Derringer took a deep breath, looking past us and into the darkness of the tunnel. I glanced over at the bright blue magic field, wondering how we'd get the Dwarves out of it.
"Anyway, they hooked the seven us up in a special room. The other guys loved the game. I did too, at first." He glanced around. "I mean, it's so real. But I've been here way too long. Years have passed inside this stupid game. I can't imagine what the outside world is like now. Am I still alive?"
"You don't know about the time dilation?" I asked.
His eyes narrowed as he stared at me.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Time outside of the game is passing a lot slower than inside the game. Even if you've been here for years, only minutes may have passed in the real world."
His head shot back at the news.
"Get out of here," he said.
"He's telling the truth," Bernard said. "I think so, anyway. We don't know the exact numbers yet, but I'm sure it's happening."
Derringer nodded.
"Shouldn't we calculate how long we've been in the game versus when you guys came into the game?"
"We can't remember the exact time we entered the game," I said. "We'll figure it out somehow."
"Good," Derringer said. "I've been wanting to get out of this game for years now. Sticking with the other prison guards was the dumbest idea I ever made."
He shook his head.
"Don't beat yourself up about it," Axelrod said. "This game has a way of making you do things you wouldn't normally do."
"You got that right," he said, not embellishing.
