by Paul Bellow
Your Bargaining Skill has increased!
Bargaining – Basic Level 2 of 10
“Do you know why Magi Inyontoo would want his body?” I asked as we reached the back of the wagon.
Bernard shook his head.
“Exactly,” I said. “That means we give up the body to stay alive.”
Bernard helped me pull out the heavy wooden box with the body.
“We’ve got to be more prepared for ambushes,” I said in a low voice. “They should’ve never surprised us like this.”
“Agreed,” Bernard said as we carried the impromptu coffin.
“Tell your men to clear a path,” I said. “And if a single arrow or spell comes at us, our mage will unleash fire and fury like you’ve never seen before.”
After the man stopped laughing, he said, “You’re a riot, newbie, but our master has better plans for you three. Let them through.”
The other warriors cleared a path. Bernard and I carried the coffin a few feet then lowered it to the ground.
“We’ve held up our end of the bargain,” I said.
Bernard and I backed up to the wagon.
“Get the body,” the man in charge barked.
We climbed back in.
“Be ready for anything,” I said then pulled the reins.
Our wagon lurched forward. The men on horses moved, allowing us through. I checked out the disappearing war wagons more closely as we passed.
We made it past them and kept going. Bernard looked over his shoulder.
“Are they following us?” I asked.
“No,” he said. “They’re headed north toward the Forbidden Kingdom.”
“Something tells me we’re going to end up going there before this is all over,” I said. “Do you know anything about it?”
“I’ve stayed away from those lands,” Bernard said.
“Why does Magi Inyontoo want a dead PC body?” Sarah asked, going OOC. “I have a feeling we’re going to regret giving it up.”
“Not sure,” Bernard said. “I hope he can’t use it.”
“What happens when an NPC dies?” I asked.
Bernard looked out at the castle in the distance a moment before speaking.
“As far as I know, you get three chances as a humanoid NPC. If you mess up and die as an NPC more than three time, you became a monster race. What happens after that, I’m not sure, but I imagine you become an animal or insect or something. This game is messed up.”
“That would make it impossible to join a PC party, and...”
Sarah’s voice faded.
“Exactly,” Bernard said. “You’d be stuck as a non-intelligent beast in this game. I had to be careful because I’d died twice as an NPC.”
“The stakes on this quest keep getting higher,” Sarah said.
I took a deep breath.
“We’ll be okay,” I said.
The sun set on our right as we continued south to Castle Casteel. I hoped handing over the body wouldn’t have in-game repercussions.
We rode in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
The poison continued coursing through my body.
We arrived at Castle Casteel a few hours after sundown. Thick clouds blocked the stars, making it appear even darker.
A thick, wooden gate opened as we approached. Inside the courtyard, Rathgar turned then left a group of men to walk toward us.
I pulled on the reins and stopped the horses.
“Where’s Captain Riggard?” he asked.
I frowned and slowly shook my head.
“Please tell me you brought his body,” Rathgar said.
“No,” I said. “The Black Guard stopped us on the way here. We had to give it to them to survive.”
“Blast the Black Guard,” Rathgar shouted. “Anything connected to Magictology is garbage.”
He spat on the ground, adding to a muddy puddle.
“Come inside,” he said. “We need to talk.”
Is he upset with us? Should we make our escape?
“Hurry,” Sarah said. “I’m cold.”
“Your wish is my command,” I said then pulled the reins.
The horses trotted forward, pulling us through the castle courtyard. We stopped near the stables then got out of the wagon.
Bernard, Sarah, and I joined Rathgar inside the castle. Despite a massive fireplace roaring, I still felt cold and miserable.
I looked around the room. A long, well-used wooden table sat in the center.
Rathgar motioned us over as he stood.
“We’re sorry about losing the body,” I said as I stopped a few feet away. “We had no way out of that encounter and no one to back us up. I’m surprised they let us live, to be honest.”
“Don’t worry.” Rathgar waved a hand though the air. “It’s fine. A lot of people think you’re cursed. That’s why they won’t kill you unless absolutely necessary.”
“Cursed?” I asked, liking the idea of a reputation.
“It’s a silly superstition,” Rathgar said. “Just know I’m next in line for Captain of the Castle and head of the Human Guard. Do any of you three want to challenge me for the spot?”
He glanced from one of us to another.
“You’re the best man for that job,” I said. “We’re adventurers on a quest to create Dawn Acid. Everything else is yours.”
Sarah held up the list of Dawn Acid ingredients.
“Can you help us find these items?” she asked.
Rathgar stepped forward.
“You actually found the ingredients?” he asked.
I nodded and said, “We’re going to destroy the cursed pendant.”
Rathgar smiled and rubbed his hands together.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” he said.
“Can you help us on our quest?” I asked.
“I certainly can.” He turned to a man sitting at the table. “Go fetch Sam for me. Hurry up.”
The soldier grumbled but got up, taking his plate of food with him.
“Sam the Cartographer can help you,” he said. “If you give him the list, he’ll make a map of where you can find each ingredient.”
“He can make a copy of the list,” Sarah said. “We’ll be keeping the original. If you don’t mind, of course, Captain.”
Everyone turned as a tall, thin man dressed in an ill-fitting white robe wandered into the room. He had several scrolls tucked under his arms.
“This is Sam,” Rathgar said. “He’s the best map maker in the land.”
“Oh, I don’t know about all that,” Sam said meekly.
He set the maps down on the table.
I walked over and stuck out my hand.
“They call me Drex,” I said. “Nice to meet you.”
Though he shook my hand with a semi-firm grip, I didn’t squeeze too hard.
“Can you write out these ingredients?” Sarah asked, handing him the list. “And use that to make a map?”
“Do you have blank parchment?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” I said, removing my backpack. “Oh, wait, I do.”
Sam’s demeanor changed as I pulled out one of the free maps we’d gotten back in Fishguard. He snatched it from my hands.
“Where did you get this map?” he asked.
“Back in Fishguard,” I said. “Why?”
He snorted then said, “I hope you didn’t pay too much for it.”
“We got it for free,” Sarah said. “Why?”
“This is a cheap, mass-produced forgery by Claudio, my old apprentice.”
Sam’s thick eyebrows pointed inward. “He stole some of my maps and went off to work on his own. I’ll kill him if I ever find him.”
“You can still write on the back of them, right?” I asked.
“I can, but...”
His voice trailed off.
“But what?” Sarah asked.
He took a deep breath, shaking his head back and forth.
“Would you three hunt him down
and steal back my original prints?” he asked. “If you did, I’d be forever thankful and in your debt.”
“And you’d be doing something good for humankind,” Rathgar added.
I glanced over at Sarah who took a deep breath, then to Bernard who only shrugged.
“We’ll keep our eyes open,” I said. “But our current quest is more important. We need Dawn Acid to destroy the cursed pendant.”
“I understand,” he said. “Thank you.”
You have a new Side Quest: Case of the Counterfeit Cartographer
If you find Sam’s original map prints and return them to Castle Casteel, you will receive a reward and 1,500 xp.
I wonder what the rewards will be.
Sam copied down the ingredients for Dawn Acid.
“I’ll have your map ready in the morning,” he said as he peered over the list. “This will take some time, but I can do it.”
“Thanks,” I said. “You’re the best cartographer we’ve met yet.”
He smiled then turned and left the great hall, carrying everything.
Rathgar stepped forward and crossed his arms over his chest.
“You’re welcome to stay here before you continue your journey,” he said. “It’s not safe to travel at night.”
“Are you going to send troops to Esterhollow to help them rebuild?” I asked. “They could use your help.”
Rathgar tilted his head back and narrowed his eyes.
“You let me worry about politics,” he said. “And you finish your quest.”
“He’s right,” Bernard said. “We’ve got enough to worry about.”
“If you need anything,” Rathgar said, “don’t bother me.”
He laughed then walked out of the room and into a hallway.
“OOC,” Bernard said. “I hate to lose the xp, but you guys need to know Rathgar used to be a PC named Ivan. He’s power mad and determined to become the most powerful NPC ever in the game.”
“How did so many messed up people get in the game?” Sarah asked.
Maybe that’s why my father told me to stay away?
Why did I disobey him and hack into the game? Is it really a prison?
“You can level as an NPC?” I asked.
“Not really,” Bernard said. “You can become experienced, but it’s not the same as leveling like a character. Believe me, I tried everything.”
“I hate to break up the party,” Sarah said. “But I want to study these new spells I found in the ruins.”
“Good idea,” I said. “We might need them.”
She smiled then walked toward the far end of the room to find a place to study. I watched Bernard as he watched her leave.
“She’s something else, huh?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “Why? Do you like her?”
Bernard laughed.
“You’re kidding, right? I’m all about getting out of this game.”
“Good,” I said. “Me too. We’ve got too much at stake to be messing around with romances in here.”
“Do you like her?” Bernard asked, taking me off guard.
“That’s not the point,” I said.
He grinned and nodded in a knowing way.
“You two would make a cute couple,” he said.
“Do you miss the real world?” I asked to change the subject. “After twenty years in here, I imagine you would.”
“Yeah,” he said with a sadness in his eyes. “A lot. Not knowing how much time in the real world has passed or why they’ve literally locked us in here drives me crazy. I’ve got so many questions.”
“Me too,” I said. “Me too.”
“I should get some sleep,” he said.
“You took the words out of my mouth.” I glanced around. “Not much else going on anyway.”
Together, we walked toward the interior of the building. After going down a short hallway, we found a room with over a dozen cots.
I saw Sarah laying on one against the far wall. Her spell book was open on the bed next to her. She had fallen asleep reading.
Bernard sat down on a bed right inside the door.
“Goodnight,” he said then yawned as I kept walking.
“Yeah, goodnight…”
I climbed into the bed next to Sarah’s.
After watching her a few minutes, I fell asleep.
Game-dreams flooded my mind.
2
On the Road to Fort Bliss
Sarah
* * *
After waking the next morning before the other two, I added the new level one and two spells from the scrolls to my memory. The new magic only served to draw me even deeper in the game.
I walked back to the dining hall. A yawn overtook me as I walked.
“You’re not getting enough sleep,” Charlotte said.
“I’ll be fine. The party needs me to be ready,” I replied.
“Okay, Kali. I trust you. And I love you.”
I smiled. Funny how a virtual spider loving me could lift my spirits.
I sat down at the long, wooden table to wait for the others. Eric walked in a few minutes later, arms stretched above his head.
“Good morning,” he mumbled on his way over.
His pale face had puffed up during the night.
“Morning,” I said. “Are you still poisoned?”
“Nope,” he said. “It’s all better. They have a healer here.”
“Great,” I said, not sure if I believed him. “We should eat.”
“I’m starving,” Bernard said as he came into the room.
Behind him, a dozen soldiers talking loudly stomped in. A man wearing a white apron followed with a huge metal pot.
“Breakfast is served,” he said gruffly.
He set the cast iron pot down on the table while another man brought in two stacks of dark green ceramic bowls. By the time I got one and made my way to the pot, only some of the watery porridge remained. I scooped it up.
While Bernard and Eric got theirs, I sat down. They joined me at one end of the long table. I stared down at slop.
Should I skip a meal? I wondered.
“How does it taste?” I asked.
“Something you’d expect from the military,” Bernard said then devoured another large spoonful of the muck.
“It’s not that bad,” Rathgar said, walking into the room. “At least we’re not eating horses or mules like during the Great Wars.”
The new Captain stopped at our end of the able.
“I need you three to do a favor for me,” he said.
“What is it?” Eric asked then swallowed more of the mushy porridge.
“Deliver a message to Fort Bliss,” Rathgar said. “We’ll be sending a third of our men to secure Esterhollow. If the people are ready to rebuild, they’ll need our help. But this message is important and must arrive safely. You’re headed that way anyway.”
“We can deliver a message,” I said. “Anything else?”
“To help you, I’m assigning you a war wagon. It’ll help keep you safe on your travels throughout the land. Now that you’re on this side of the realm, you should have less problems, but these days you can’t be too careful.”
I smiled. While a war wagon wouldn’t solve all our problems, it would help make our lives easier. Would we get one with invisibility?
“Thank you,” I said. “That’s kind.”
Rathgar stared at me—smiling and stroking his thick, brown beard.
“Thank you for your help and not attempting to wrest control away from me,” he said. “The realms need a strong leader.”
“What can you tell us about tree trolls?” I asked to change the subject.
“As you probably know,” he said. “Tree trolls regenerate quickly, so you need to burn them fast. And they’re good at camouflage in the forest, so be careful. I’ve heard they’ve gotten even tougher these days.”
“How do we get their blood?” Eric asked.
Rathgar turned to him and grinned.
&nb
sp; “How do you get maple syrup out of a tree?”
I continued with my questions.
“What should we store it in?”
“Glass containers,” he replied. “I’ve taken the liberty of putting them and some other supplies in the war wagon to help out.”
“Thanks for all your help,” Bernard said.
“Don’t mention it,” Rathgar replied. “Do any of you have other questions before you leave?”
“No, thank you,” I replied.
Rathgar clapped his hands together.
“Great,” he said. “With that, I bid you goodbye. The letter to Sergeant Harris is in the war wagon. Safe travels, and good luck on your quest.”
Rathgar turned then left the room. A few of the soldiers followed him while others kept eating.
I turned to Eric and Bernard.
“Neither of you better say this favor sounds easy,” I said.
Both smiled but wisely kept their mouths shut.
“We should get going,” Eric said.
“Just a little more to eat,” Bernard said. “We’ve got a long ride ahead of us, and this stuff isn’t half-bad after the third or fourth spoonful.”
I pushed my bowl across the table and scooted my chair back.
“You two can finish if you want,” I said. “But I’m going outside.”
I stood and walked toward the iron enforced wooden door. Outside, I saw two armored warhorses in front of an imposing wagon.
We’d come a long way from our mule and cart. Progression always made me feel better; even when trapped in a prison-game.
Eric walked over then ran his fingers over the wagon.
“It’s like the ones the Black Guard had earlier,” he said. “Not too shabby.”
“They’re not common,” Bernard said as he walked up.
He wiped the rest of the porridge from his mouth with his shirt sleeve. I hoped he or Eric didn’t go OOC to discuss the specifics.
“Does it have invisibility like the other one?” I asked.
The door to the carriage opened. A man with white streaks in his long, greasy hair stepped out and smiled.
“Usually, it can disappear,” he said. “But this one’s not charged up all the way. We can’t spare the magic for the likes of you. It’s only a short ride to Fort Bliss. You three should be okay. Captain Rathgar told me to get you guys on the road right away.”
