Last Horizon: Beta

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Alvira said she would be waiting for us, let’s go visit before we leave.” Kittish whispered as they made their way along the deserted street. Dumadin grinned and agreed to the wonderful plan as they approached Tanned Hides. When they approached, they noticed the front door standing open and they rushed to the door. There was a trail of blood leading into the shop, which they followed hurriedly to find Alvira laying in a pool of blood.

  Alvira had at least a dozen stab wounds to her torso as she lay there shivering and bleeding out. They couple went to their knees by her side as Kittish tried to cast Healing Pulse on Alvira. The spell didn’t take and Kittish saw a debuff, Sanguine Poison. The debuff stopped all healing and caused bleeding damage, the bleed damage only stopping upon death. Dumadin cradled Alvira’s head which caused her eyes to open and she tried to smile at them. “I am sorry...” She coughed, causing flecks of blood to spray them.

  Dumadin’s eyes hardened and his face turned to stone, “Who Alvira, who did this?” He held her as he saw Kittish digging through her backpack.

  “Talia..,” she coughed again and shuddered, “please stay with me…”

  Kittish brought out a clear flask with flecks of gold and silver in it and stared at Dumadin, whose eyes widened and he nodded. He tilted back Alvira’s head, “Drink this for us, please Alvira.” Kittish poured the elixir into her mouth and she gulped it down. As the last of it was swallowed she began to convulse and seize. Dumadin clutched her to him as she coughed up a lot of blood before shuddering and going still.

  Kittish counted softly and on the tenth mark Alvira shuddered and gasped. Kittish cried in happiness and cast Healing Pulse again onto Alvira, watching her health bar climb slowly as the poison had fallen off on her death. Dumadin gently placed Alvira in Kittish’s arms and stood up, taking his gear from his bag. Putting his armor on and getting equipped, he watched them hugging and speaking in soft tones. Turning toward the door he spoke, “Watch her, I will be back.” He shut the door calmly as Dado came toward the shop and noticed him in his armor with blood on him and stopped.

  “Dumadin, what is going on?” Dado called out as Dumadin walked towards him.

  “Alvira was attacked and I am looking for Talia Nightsbreath, have you seen her?” Dumadin’s voice was icy cold and his eyes flat as he looked at Dado, who took a step back.

  “She went by me a minute ago toward the stables. Did she attack Alvira?” Dado asked as he fell into step with Dumadin.

  Dumadin turned his head and his eyes flashed, “Stay here and guard them in case the snake doubles back. Yes, she attacked Alvira. Now I will hunt her down.”

  Dado stopped and saluted him, “As you wish sir. I will also ban her from Stoutbank. Anyone finding her in town will be able to kill her without penalty.”

  Dumadin didn’t even listen as he stalked off towards the stables. He spent the next two hours searching for Talia and not finding her, frustrated he went back to Tanned Hides as his time was almost out. As he approached the shop he was met by Dado, who informed him nothing else had happened. Dumadin asked him to stand watch for the next few hours in case Talia doubled back and entered the shop.

  He walked through the shop into the back and up the stairs to the private residence on the second floor. He found Kittish and Alvira on the bed, clean and in slips, holding each other as he entered. They sat up and started to speak when he held up his hand cutting them off. “No, she got away. Dado has banned her from the town, but I didn’t get to repay her. What happened Alvira?” He knelt by the edge of the bed and placed his hand gently on her leg.

  Alvira recounted what had happened, having already told Kittish. “After your dance with Bjorn I came back here to get things ready for us to enjoy. As I entered the shop Talia came up behind me and said she had a question for me. Turning, I was able to see the hatred in her eyes as she plunged her dagger into me. I fought with my hands trying to hold her back and get to my weapons inside the shop. I was no match for her fury, she kept stabbing me and telling me that if she couldn’t have what she wanted then neither would you. As I fell to the floor and coughed up some blood she fled with a gleeful cackle.”

  Alvira paused as a tear ran down her cheek, “I don’t know how long I lay there before you two came to me. I thought I had died for a moment before you woke me. I only felt sadness that I wouldn’t be able to be here for you anymore. Then you asked me to drink the potion and I felt my chest burst into fire. When I woke next you were getting armed and Kittish was clutching me and crying. I was alive, but I still do not understand how. Sanguine Poison is one of the most deadly things known. Kittish hasn’t explained to me what happened, only that she would tell me when you returned.”

  Dumadin nodded and moved to sit on the bed, pulling Alvira onto his lap as Kittish hugged them both. “We have given you a gift. You will now be able to cheat death once a day. We had a spare elixir from Smee that will bring you back from death once every twenty four hours. Kittish remembered it as I watched you thinking you taken from us, and we had you drink it.”

  Alvira gasped and hugged them both, “You have given me a boon I can’t repay. You saved my life and I will be forever in your debt for it.” The duo tried to explain that this was not the case but Alvira was adamant in her insistence.

  Quest: Life bond.

  Save someone who cares for you deeply, causing them to pledge their life to you.

  Reward: A fiercely loyal companion who will stay loyal to you even in death.

  Quest Complete: Life bond.

  Receive: A fiercely loyal companion who will stay loyal to you even in death.

  Alvira is bound to you even in death.

  Surprised and out of time, they said their goodbyes before the clock ticked to twelve hours and kicked them from the game.

  The couple got out of the pods and talked as they made ready for bed. They fell into bed and each other’s arms and spoke of what they had done and what they felt for a virtual character. As they finally started to drift off they were content that they each felt the same way. David took slightly longer to drift off, as he felt pangs of grief that Alvira would soon not remember what they had found, when the game reset all progress going into live.

  PREP FOR THE CARNIVAL

  The next morning David got up and sent texts to his friends explaining what had happened the night before. He noted that with the twelve hour limit that they wouldn’t be able to log back in until two that afternoon. He spent some time reading about the events and the schedules for the Carnival and began to lay his plans. He noted each crafting competition and when they started and checked the arena fights, from the solo all the way up to large groups. He drafted a schedule of the events he wanted to take part in and the ones he thought his friends would be interested in. Next he looked into the abilities that would make the most sense to take for the events he’d chosen.

  After he finished his notes he emailed them to his friends and went to spend some time with Miriam for the next few hours before log in. Later that afternoon the duo logged in, finding Alvira in her room still sleeping peacefully. Smiling, they gazed down at her as her eyes fluttered open and she saw them. “I knew you would be returning soon and came to rest a little,” Alvira spoke softly. “I have heard earlier that all the adventurers will be leaving for an event soon. I take it you will be going as well?”

  Dumadin sat down and gently caressed her face, “Yes, we have some things to do today to prepare for it. We will be going to try and prove our worth in a series of events. Might I ask the lady for a favor to take into combat with me?”

  Alvira’s eyes twinkled as she reached under her pillow and pulled out a silk scarf that had been tied to a bed post not long ago. “I have just the thing, sir,” she murmured as she placed it in his hand and giggled.

  Kittish giggled as well and came over and stole a kiss from Alvira. “I’m glad you are feeling better this morning.”

  Alvira nodded, “I feel more alive than I have in some time. Bjorn was asking about you
this morning, so you might want to go by the inn before you leave.” She pulled Kittish down to her for a fierce hug. “I will see you when you return, with your many ribbons.”

  Dumadin stole a kiss himself before they left her lounging on the bed with a smile on her lips. As they reached the street Dumadin sighed and glanced back, “I feel sad now. It was wrong to ask for her favor.”

  Kittish glanced at him with a puzzled expression and then her face clouded up as she caught onto his thoughts. “Reset. I had forgotten all about it. She won’t remember any of this, will she?”

  Dumadin grimaced, “Everything is supposed to be reset when the game goes live. So she shouldn’t remember a thing, even if we do. It might be better that way…”

  Kittish glanced at him and squeezed his hand, understanding now why he had quietly sobbed after she had started to drift off, “Maybe you’re right.”

  They walked in silence to the Lonely Wood Inn, to find it nearly deserted. Dunstun was just leaving with a thoughtful expression and a book in his hand. He greeted them warmly but quickly as he hurried out. Tabitha greeted them with the biggest smile they had seen on her so far. Kittish giggled and went over to exchange girl talk as Dumadin waved at Bjorn, who came from the back room.

  Bjorn ambled over with a broad grin, “Afternoon, Dumadin. I heard from Dado what happened last night and that Talia is now banned from town over it. I am so happy that you were able to save Alvira, she explained to me this morning what had transpired. I can’t express how glad we are that you were able to save her life, even though it cost you a legendary item.”

  Dumadin raised a brow at the last few words, “Legendary? Wait, Smee is a legendary alchemist?”

  Bjorn laughed and slapped him on the shoulder, “Indeed, he is. I didn’t know he had made you the elixirs of life until this morning, though. He only makes them for people he thinks have potential. Then again, if he had been eating Deathhead mushrooms he might have known well in advance.”

  Dumadin shook his head, “He does seem to love them. Alvira mentioned you wanted to speak with us this morning.”

  Bjorn nodded and held out a sealed chest, “I need this taken to Smee today. I know you can make it there in a blink and back.”

  Quest: Secret chest

  Take the chest to Smee and return to Bjorn

  Reward: A gift fit for the gods, given in two months’ time.

  Dumadin smiled and nodded towards Kittish, “We’ll gladly do so, as I wanted her to chat with Smee.” Taking the chest he slipped it into his bag and they walked to the bar where the women chatted.

  They cut off as the men approached and Dumadin laughed, “So either me, or Bjorn, or both of us was the topic.”

  Kittish giggled, “We were discussing the finer points of a male with a proper beard.” At this, Bjorn blushed as did Tabitha, which caused Dumadin to laugh.

  “Come hun, let’s leave the love birds. Bjorn has given us a quest to drop a chest off to Smee. I also learned that Smee is one of the three legendary alchemists. So let’s go chat with him for a bit about poisons.” Dumadin’s eyes flared slightly as he thought he knew who had crafted the poison that had killed Alvira.

  Kittish noted his eyes and nodded, having come to the same conclusion, “Yes indeed, let’s go and speak with him.”

  As they fast traveled to Smee’s Cabin they noted none of the others were currently in game and frowned slightly. The duo entered the garden and walked towards the cabin, but just before Dumadin could knock Smee called out to them. “If you promise to listen until I am done, then I will come speak with you.”

  Dumadin growled, “Come out Smee and I will listen, but I will end up killing you at least once after you finish.”

  The door opened and Smee looked at them with sadness in his face, “Yes, I know. Please give me the chest first so that your task is done.” He waited as Dumadin handed the chest over, which he set inside his cabin then stepped out onto the porch. Smee motioned them toward the bench by the well. “Over there I will speak to you.”

  Quest complete: Secret chest

  Receive: A gift fit for the gods, talk with Bjorn in two months.

  Smee had them sit then sat on the ground with his back to the well. “I crafted a poison for a young elf a week ago. She came to me and begged for something to kill a rare beast. I knew she lied and wanted to use it in anger to lash out at others.” Dumadin growled and his hand went to his weapon as he sat forward. Smee went on as if nothing was happening, “I had foreseen that was going to happen and knew the outcome. You are going to kill me once when I finish this tale Dumadin, but only the once.”

  Dumadin knuckles popped as he clenched his hands into fists, “Finish speaking and let it be done.”

  Smee smiled sadly and sat back again, “Talia came to me months ago and wanted me to craft her a potion to gain a man’s affection. I refused, saying there is no such thing. There actually is, incidentally. She didn’t believe me but then began to do some errands for me, making me want to help her. After some time she proved that she was capable of doing much, but only if it furthered her goals. After she had achieved all I had set before her she asked again for a potion to make Terets love her. Again I told her such a thing was not possible and she left. A few weeks ago she came to me and asked for something else, a poison to get her revenge on those that had stood between her and her goal. I knew then what was bound to happen, and knowing so crafted her the most potent venom I could. However, even though it is a lethal poison, it is remarkably hard to make stick to a person. It also unlike all other poisons in that it leaves the blood after the heart stops beating. My visions had shown me that you would save her with the last elixir, so I was content to make the venom for her. When she left she was laughing about her revenge, which is now an empty shell of what she had hoped. She has been removed from the area upon threat of death and has made her motives plain.”

  Smee bowed his head to Dumadin and waited for the blow. Dumadin raged silently and wanted to kill Smee, for the pain and suffering he had inflicted upon both women and himself. He gripped his weapon and took deep breaths. He thought of Smee’s words and the certainty he had spoken with of knowing the future. Dumadin decided to cause Smee the same emotional turmoil of having something he cherished taken from him. Dumadin sat back and placed both hands on his knees. “I forgive you Smee, and will not kill you.”

  Kittish gasped and looked at him and started to reach for her staff to strike Smee down. Dumadin grabbed her arm and smiled grimly at her as he spoke to Smee. “No, you will live today. I want you to think about your certain futures, Smee, and how certain you are of them. Then remember I was supposed to kill you and have not. Which means that no future is set in stone and can’t be trusted to happen. Free will is a bitch of a thing after all, and that makes the future murky.”

  Kittish gazed at Smee with hatred in her eyes but as Dumadin spoke her eyes twisted with evil laughter, “Yes, live with that knowledge Smee. That is why I turned down your offer when we brought you back the mushrooms.” She stood with Dumadin, and they left the old man sitting there with a look of shock and uncertainty on his face as they fast traveled back to Stoutbank.

  As they appeared in the square, Felton, Em, Terets, and Amythyst all appeared as well. “Server seems a bit unstable today,” Terets muttered and then greeted the others. Em, Felton and Amythyst chimed in with their agreement.

  Dumadin frowned, “Why do you say that?”

  “We were all on over an hour ago and then we were kicked with a server down messages. I texted you, but you didn’t reply.” Terets explained as he hugged Amythyst to him.

  Kittish and Dumadin both frowned, “We’ve been on for the last thirty minutes. We even did a quest for Bjorn to drop off a chest to Smee. The server has been fine for us.”

  The group shrugged it off as a beta issue and chatted about the email the Dumadin had sent out earlier outlining his ideas. They entered the inn and took a table, Tabitha bringing mead to them as they spoke. Dumadin
tossed her a few gold and she laughed and brought over several pitchers. Dumadin told her to keep the extra, which caused her to shake her head on her way back to the bar.

  They hashed and rehashed the ideas Dumadin had come up with before agreeing and finalizing the events that they would compete in and the other odds and ends needed for the larger events. Dumadin sat back with a smile, “I’ll handle the registration for the group events. Just make sure to sign up for your individual stuff when we log off. Speaking of which, we should do so soon so we can make it to all the opening day stuff with breaks in between the stuff we’re doing to sync up to the twelve hour day we’ll be on for the next month.”

  As they all agreed and stood up saying their goodbyes Bjorn came hurrying from the back and asked them to pause a moment. “I have a request my friends, please come into the back so I can explain.” Shrugging, they all followed him. He waited until they were seated before explaining. “I know you will be leaving for a major event that is taking place and that you will not return until the next month. It has been the talk of the adventurers for the last week or so. I hope we can aid each other during the time you are away.”