“Erin …I …” I literally don’t know what to say. How can she believe this? “Erin, you were dying. All of us were dying. Tex can’t keep all of us alive for as long as it would have taken.”
“No, you saw it. At the end there, I threw a substantial hit. I could have done it!”
“That was me!” I scream at her. “I shot that arrow and the only reason I hit it was because I was hiding as you call it. Because the thing didn’t know I was there.”
“Stop it, Asher. Just stop. I’m sick of you making decisions for the rest of us. If I thought I could have defeated it you should have let me!”
“Have you lost your mind?”
Around us the others try to calm us down, to quiet us, to bring an equilibrium back to the group. But I know Erinocalypse has been wanting to have it out with me since the end of the Challenge. There will be no derailing her.
“You know exactly what I mean,” she hisses at me. “You let me think we were friends. You let me think we were on the same team. That we had the same goal. And then you deserted me.”
“It was a competition, Erin. A contest. It’s not my fault you thought we were working together.”
“That’s such like … you asshole. You knew—you knew—when we scouted the wall, when I discussed plans with you. You knew I assumed we’d be attempting it together. And then at the last second you weaseled out of it.”
“I—”
“Not only did you weasel out of it,” she continues, ignoring my protest, “but you weren't even sorry. You went on to complete the quest. All by yourself. Big bad clever Asher who doesn’t need anyone else. Tell me, where were your concerns for my life that day, huh? Leaving me to fight my way through a mob of soldiers on my own.”
“I tried to tell you when I was headed back to town but you blocked me.”
With the look she gives me, I’m pretty sure she would kill me if the game let her.
“Oh, yeah. My fault. Of course. Never yours.” Her fiery rage has dissipated and cold, sarcastic disdain remains. “Go to hell, Asher. I don’t want your help. I don’t want your opinions. I don’t even want to see your face.”
“Erin—”
“Shut. Up. Asher.” She turns away from me. I think I see angry tears in her eyes, but she keeps her back to me.
Chapter Eleven
Balderdash13 looks at me coldly, then goes to comfort Erinocalypse. I stand with my back to the dungeon gate, watching them, feeling the eyes of the others on me. Should I apologize? Why should I apologize when all I did was help her and keep her alive? She knew it was a competition. I never agreed to work with her. It’s not my fault she thought I’d help her win. What part of the word competition does she not understand?
This is why I hate dungeons and playing in groups. I never have to apologize for doing what I think is best when I play by myself.
Fine. If Erinocalypse doesn’t want my help I don’t have to give it to her. I don’t have to do any more. I’m just the one that found the dungeon. I’m just the one that solved the puzzle to gain entrance to White Rock Ravine. No big deal. But, fine, I don’t have to try anymore.
That thought reminds me. I had dismissed a game message when Erinocalypse started yelling at me, so I pull it up again.
Quest Completed: Break-in
Description: You have solved the puzzle and gained entrance to White Rock Ravine, even without the help of a key.
Reward: +190 XP
For a split second, I’m a little bitter that the others probably get credit for that quest, since we’re all in a group. Even though I’m the one that solved it. But … Whatever. I suppose it will all even out eventually. I wonder how many of these obstacles were built into the game by the devs and how many are the result of the corrupted code. If this dungeon is on a relatively isolated server, that could keep the code from spreading. But it could also give it unprecedented leverage.
For the first time since opening the door, I look around. True to its name, we are at one end of a tall, narrow ravine. It’s about ten feet across where we are, and so high there’s only a sliver of blue sky above us. A few shafts of wan light pierce the chasm’s gloom. Moss and ferns populate the rock walls, creating a strangely prehistoric feel to the whole place.
From where we stand at the gate, the ravine goes straight back for maybe one hundred yards before veering to the right. Whatever is waiting for us in here is around that turn, I’m sure of it. I still have no idea how we can capture or destroy the corrupted code, and who knows what mobs and puzzles and bosses stand between us and it.
“We’re cool,” TexBadass says to me in a low tone. “I’ll talk to her, but y’all’ve got to give her some space.”
I nod, roll my eyes, and keep my mouth shut.
“How y’all doing?” he says to the party at large. “We ready? Anyone need a drink of water or a health bump? Need more rest?”
Murmurs of ‘no’ fill the space. I catch Erinocalypse glaring at me, but I occupy myself looking at the map. I’m not sure what I expected, but when I zoom in to where this ravine should be, the map is blank. It’s just not marked at all. I suppose that could be because we are technically below ground level, but it’s probably safer to assume it’s the code again. Messing with us. Making our task harder than it needs to be.
“Now we all seem to work pretty well together,” TexBadass continues, taking advantage of Erinocalypse’s silent anger to take control. “I think we all know our roles and I know y’all know the stakes.”
He puts his hands on his hips and purses his lips as he looks at each of us.
“Callidus, you take the lead. Go into Stealth mode as much as you need to. I want to know what we’re walking into as early as possible.”
“SteelFeather, you stick close to him—”
“Didn’t you just admit we all know our roles?” Erinocalypse interrupts.
“—defend him when you need to and keep that trash on you,” he continues. He glances at Erinocalypse and then rolls his eyes. “Fine. You all do your thing. Call for help when you need it. Let’s go.”
With the ravine as narrow as it is, Callidus taking the lead gives him a decent view of both sides of the dungeon walls. He looks from side to side, being cautious about where he plants his feet. I doubt we’ll reach any trap or obstacle before the path turns but you can’t be too careful.
Everyone in the party is silent, watching, listening.
One the other side of the locked gate, the crab still thunders, pounding against it. We have nowhere to go but forward.
As we walk the ravine, I edge closer to the white walls. The surface reflects, rather than absorbs the little sunlight that reaches this far down.
I touch what appears to be a harmless stretch of rock and my fingertips come away white. Chalky. That’s good if we … need chalk? I don’t know why we would but I file the information away nonetheless. But the soft rock walls mean it would be easier to install traps, easier for burrowing animals to hide, and that they’re more likely to crumble down on top of us.
I move back toward the center of the ravine.
I’m in the back of the group with TexBadass. Callidus slows even more as he approaches the turn in the path. He vanishes from sight and we wait for some signal, some indication from him that we can proceed.
He suddenly reappears and whispers, “The ravine widens around the corner to a room, kind of. I didn’t see anything to indicate what we’re up against, but I’m sure this will be the first attack.”
I adjust the grip on my bow and arrow and follow the group into the cavern. As the room widens, we spread out a bit, looking for hint of movement or whatever mob is about to descend on us.
As I scan the room, I notice small holes higher up in the white rock face. At this distance it’s difficult to tell how big the holes are, but my immediate guess is that they’re an animal burrow of some kind.
I glance at Erinocalypse—our other ranged damage dealer—and realize she noticed the holes about the same time
I did. I watch her preparing a spell, and soon feel a slight chill go over my body.
Enhancement received: Bubble of Protection
Description: You will sustain -5% damage for the next sixty seconds
Nice, Erinocalypse. I have a short moment wondering if she would have left me out of the protection if she could have gotten away with it, but I’m not about to complain. The protection is cast not a moment too soon. While I’m busy watching Erinocalypse, the mob has sensed us. I feel a very familiar sharp pain on the back of the neck and whirl around to see a yellow and light gray bird flying away from me.
[- 95 HP]
Goddamnit. Always with the flying attacks in this game.
Chapter Twelve
As I take aim, I examine the animal’s stats.
Name: White Rock Hawk
Level: 24
Description: Hiding in the White Rock Ravine, these hawks fiercely protect their territory from the sky, using everything they have to their advantage.
Everything they have. Damn, I wonder what that means. I let off my shot and have a split second to celebrate …
[+ 80 XP]
… Before noticing the swirling tornado of White Rock Hawks that have descended on top of the group. SteelFeather and Balderdash13 position themselves back-to-back in the center of the cavern, trying to draw as much aggro as they can. Erinocalypse and TexBadass are already way ahead of me, backing up to opposite sides of the space to cast their spells from a distance with as much cover as possible.
I don’t see Callidus at first—he must be in Stealth mode. He soon pops back into visibility, directly between the two tanks, alternating between each, swiping at the hawks that dive bomb them.
I quickly mimic the casters and back up to the perimeter, back up to the chalky rock and begin to shoot down as many of the birds as I can. Shot after shot after shot, and I’m not sure we’re making a dent in the mob at all. Damn it. Why don’t we have any area of effect damage?
[+ 74 XP]
[+ 81 XP]
[+ 78 XP]
We spend so long trying to whittle down the flock of attackers that I actually level up. The physical sensations of the wave of power coursing through me distract me for just a second. I shake my head to clear it, waving away the game notifications and continuing to shoot.
[+ 76 XP]
[+ 77 XP]
It feels like we are making progress. The horde of White Rock Hawks seemed nearly impenetrable at the beginning of the attack, but now I can start to see through the mass. Across the cavern, Erinocalypse falters with her spell. The fire bolt goes wide and misses the birds entirely. Has she been hit? I realize we’ve been fighting so long the protective buff has ended.
I wonder if Erinocalypse notices too.
I take aim for what feels like the hundredth time, but before I get my shot off I am knocked in the head.
“Ow!” I put my hand to my temple. I can already feel a lump forming. TexBadass glances at me and shoots a small healing spell, bumping me up to about eighty percent and saving most of his power and attention for our tanks.
“SteelFeather,” the healer yells. “Y’all need to draw aggro! We’re gettin’ hit back here!”
What was that? I look up, checking to see if a cliff above is crumbling or maybe more hawks leaving their nests are knocking pebbles down. Instead, I see flashes of white intermixed with the yellow and grey birds. I can’t believe what I’m seeing, but then Balderdash13 gets hit and realize it must be true. Damn. It’s a second wave of the birds.
This mob of White Rock Hawks are using ammunition instead of just claws and beaks. They pick up white stones—from near near their nests, from the ground—and drop them on us from an overwhelming height. The bulk of the attack is still focused on SteelFeather and Balderdash13, but the rest of us are not immune.
“Erin! Protection spell!” I call over the din of the battle.
“Shut. Up. Asher!”
I feel the chilly sensation come over me not a half-second later. Okay, so maybe she was in the middle of casting it already when I said something. Fine.
Enhancement received: Bubble of Protection
Description: You will sustain -5% damage for the next sixty seconds
I keep fighting, firing shot after shot after shot. Occasionally aiding TexBadass in healing our tanks. It’s just a hard grind. A battle of attrition. It takes forever, but eventually Erinocalypse shoots a fire bolt at the last White Rock Hawk circling above SteelFeather with a stone in its talons.
“Great job, everyone,” TexBadass says nodding at each of us encouragingly. “Teamwork.”
I feel several sets of eyes on me, but I busy myself examining my bow for damage.
“We ready to go?” I say brightly, breaking the silence. “Gotta keep moving.”
I admit I’ve rarely played dungeons because they require working with other people. But now Erinocalypse expressly doesn’t want my help. And I’m getting the feeling that others don’t either. Fine. I don’t need them. I’ll just hang out in the back, saving their butts with my ranged damage. We’ll see how they feel after a few more battles when I’m the only one paying attention.
Looting the hawks doesn’t yield much. There’s some gold we split six ways, as well as two different amulets that give an Intelligence boost. Erinocalypse and TexBadass claim those.
I’m only slightly disappointed in this haul, but am mollified when I remember that I leveled up during the battle. I pull up my stat pane.
Congratulations! You have reached level 20!
Name: SirAsh3r
Level: 20
Strength: 22
Intelligence: 23
Dexterity: 21
Stamina: 21
Magic: 22
Skills: Woodcraft 3, Slash 2, Club 3, Paddle 1, Climbing 1, Stealth 3, Archery 6, Power Perception 1, Backstab 1
Abilities: Initiative 2, Focus 2
Professions: Cooking 2
Affinities: 2% Earth; 16% Water
Fame: 350
Achievements: First Explorer of Lake Galavant, First Explorer of Foyle Forest, First Visitor to Allynton, Friend of Water
I think I'm going to wait a bit before distributing that attribute point. I’m not sure yet what I need most, especially if I’m going to be stuck with this group for awhile. In the meantime, I’m just a couple of levels away from being able to equip the Bow of Elements that I bought. It’s making me crazy that I can’t use it, but if all the mobs in this place are like those hawks, it won’t be long.
Just past the open area where the hawks attack, the path continues again and the walls are even closer to each other than before. We’re forced to advance single file, Callidus in the lead again. After a few feet, the ravine narrows so much that TexBadass, the largest of us, has to turn sideways and suck in his gut to squeeze past the jut of rock.
The path turns toward the left and the rest of us hang back to let Callidus scout the next section.
Damn, I wish the map was working.
He disappears from sight and we wait silently, nervously, for his return. The wait stretches out more than I expect and I wonder if he’s okay. Ahead of me, Balderdash13 and Erinocalypse whisper to each other. I stay in the back of the group, determined to not help them since they seem so against it.
SteelFeather inches forward and moves to peek his head around the turn in the rock. Just as he is about to go around the curve, he cries out and puts a hand to his side. Even from as far back as I am I see the bright blood on his palm.
I start forward, readying my little healing spell as I push past TexBadass.
“Hey!” he protests.
I’m not a big guy. I can easily maneuver around Erinocalypse and Balderdash13. By the time I reach SteelFeather, everyone is talking at him. Everyone is trying to help him. Everyone is wondering about Callidus, who still has not returned.
“What happened? Did you see what it was?”
He’s breathing heavy. Even with the pain simulators turned way down,
it must be shocking and painful to be bleeding from your side.
“I didn’t see anyone. There was no one. You can see for yourself—there’s nowhere in this ravine to hide. I just got a knife to the ribs from a ghost or something.”
A ghost … or someone invisible …
Chapter Thirteen
I don’t have quite the Stealth leveling that Callidus has, but I have some. I activate Stealth and inch my way to where the ravine turns, peering cautiously around the rock.
Around the corner, the narrow ravine continues. We’ll still need to walk single file, but it’s a more or less straight shot. Otherwise, the space is almost the same as the one our group is currently in, with one exception. The light is different. It’s slightly darker and the sides of the white rock seem to hold a violet hue. The floor of the ravine has the same violet hue, but—I take a closer look—a yellow dusting covers the ground. It’s very faint and if we were just walking down the path I probably wouldn’t even notice it, but it’s there.
My Stealth is about to expire. I take a final look around, before I return to visibility and realize the violet light is caused by the sunlight filtering through gigantic purple blooms above. They’re high overhead, almost to the surface level, but they run the entire length of this passage. It’s hard to tell from this distance, but I guess the petals to be two or three feet across. With rows of flowers on each side of the ravine, the petals block almost all the sunlight.
I shift back into visibility and am about to turn around to return to the group when I feel a sharp pain in my side.
“Goddamnit!” I put my hand to the wound and feel my cloak getting soaked with blood. “What the hell?”
I stumble backwards, back to the group, back into SteelFeather. It only takes a moment for TexBadass to focus his spell to heal my side but that moment reaffirms my choice to not be a tank.
“It got you too, huh?” SteelFeather says with a grin. To his credit, he waits till I am healed before teasing me, but I still have to glare at him.
Depths of Camlan Page 5
