Shadow Gambit (4 page)

“And don't die,” Thorm said.

I didn't have a retort for that as it may be the likely outcome.

I opened the scroll and touched the red 'X'.

In the rock face before us, a circular gate appeared. The runes around its edges glowed a bright purple. Through the gate could be seen a staging platform surrounded by darkness.

“This is very exciting,” said Feign. “But I vote for a bathroom break before we continue. It might be a while before we get a chance.”

“Agreed,” I said.

Mudhoof said, “You guys are wimps. I keep a bucket near me. Saves time.” He grinned.

“Too much information, Muddie,” I said.

We took turns watching the other's idle avatars while each player stepped out of their simulation-suits to do their business. No one wanted to log off; would be too much of a hassle.

Once that was all taken care of I said, “Okay, let's get that Legendary.” But before any of us moved we were interrupted.

From behind us someone screamed, “Don't go through that gate!”

CHAPTER FIVE

We turned to see who yelled.

From the far tree line a centaur broke through and charged at us. His human torso was clad in the armored outfit of a samurai, and in his hands was a samurai sword. A stylized helmet of Japanese design hid his face except for his eyes.

“Don't go through, you FILTERED idiots!” The centaur-samurai screamed.

“Well, glad to see my language filter is working fine,” I said. All curse words spoken or typed in game were masked with the word FILTERED.

“What's this guy's deal?” Mudhoof said as he unhooked his huge ax from his back and hefted it, ready for a fight.

“Don't!” I said to him and pointed at the gate. “Get inside. He's just trying to delay us and make us miss the quest.” Quest gates had a time limit which varied from quest to quest. I didn't know the limit on a Legendary Quest, so we had to hurry.

Thorm and Feign stepped through the gate and onto the staging platform. But Mudhoof was fixing for a tussle with the centaur-samurai.

“Let him come,” Mudhoof said, getting riled up. “I'll cut his horse bits off and feed them to his human half.”

I grabbed the minotaur by a huge arm which and futilely tugged at it. “Come on! The gate may close at any moment. We've got to move. Forget that idiot.”

The centaur-samurai was closing in fast, screaming filtered obscenities all the while. It just made Mudhoof more angry but eventually he seemed to come to his senses.

“Okay,” Mudhoof said. “I'm going.”

I let Mudhoof enter through the gate first just to be sure, then stepped through myself.

We all looked out at the screaming, charging centaur, his eyes wild. Then, a second before he would have reached us, the gate closed. Blissful silence followed.

After a moment Thorm and I burst into laughter. Mudhoof still fumed and Feign looked concerned.

“What was that all about?” Thorm said once he settled down.

“I dunno, but that guy was begging for a re-roll,” Mudhoof said. “Why suicide into us? He must have known we could have taken him out.”

“Delaying tactic,” said Feign. “Miss Valesh was correct. He wanted to stop us, or at the very least, slow us.”

“Yeah, but to what end?” I said, but suspected the truth. Had the red ninja's friends finally found me? And how?

Before anyone could suggest an answer, the black void which surrounded the staging platform flickered, then slowly brightened to reveal a new setting.

We stood at the top end of a valley, looking down. Beautiful forest stretched out in all directions. Closest to us was a small lake with a series of waterfalls. Near the middle of the valley was a large town with many multi-storied buildings. But at the far end was something strange.

All eyes were drawn to it.

“What is that?” Thorm said.

The object resembled a tower, but it wasn't. Craggy, black and huge, it was like an evil finger pointing accusingly at the blue sky above.

“Demon Spine,” said Feign. He looked more concerned now than when the centaur was attacking.

“That's ancient lore, right? Like, even before the great cleansing,” I said. Yes, I paid attention to my quest lore through the years. Most of the time it actually paid off.

“Even older than that,” Feign said. “This was used by the vast demon horde to pierce the veil between their void realm and our own. And from what I understand there is only one being powerful enough to create them.”

“The Demon King,” said Mudhoof. He shrugged at our surprised reactions. “What? I just looked it up on a wiki. It's all there.”

“Okay,” I said. “So, this can't be good for us, right? Demon magic is the most powerful in existence.” I looked at Feign. “Even more than ice or fire or stone.”

Feign nodded. He did not look happy at all. “If we are facing demon magic, even of a lesser order, this quest will be quite difficult.”

A loud silky voice interrupted us, emanating from every direction. “Is your player group ready for this quest zone?” It was the game checking to see if it could start.

“I don't think we'll ever be ready for this,” Thorm said, shaking his head. “Not sure even with all our gear this can be done now.” He shrugged. “But what the heck. At least we got to be first on a Legendary Quest. We'll get top billing on all the message boards and news-feeds.”

“Well, we're here and we're doing this, one way or another,” I said, knowing full well I'd still get to keep my deposit money. Although I hadn't mentioned it to the others yet, I'd surprise them by splitting it with them if we got wiped out.

I looked up at the sky and said, “We're ready!”

The silky voice responded. “Prepare to start quest zone.”

Each of us brought out our main weapons. Anything could happen now.

Then the silky voice said, “Quest zone start delayed.”

“What?!” I said and looked to the others in confusion.

“What's the deal?” Mudhoof said.

Feign frowned. “I suspect things are about to get considerably more complicated.”

Before I could ask him why, the silky voice said, “Challenge group has entered the quest zone.”

More shock from us. I looked to Feign who seemed to have an idea of what was up.

Feign said, “Another group can enter the same Legendary Quest zone as long as it hasn't officially started.”

“Who the hell is challenging us?” Mudhoof said.

“That nut-job of a centaur,” Thorm said. “He was delaying us so he could get his group in position.”

“Yeah,” said Mudhoof. “But you need four people to form a group and play. Must've had them nearby. Lucky bastard.”

What are the odds that a four-man group of high enough level players would be right at the very spot a Legendary Quest was activated? Again, I did not believe in coincidences. It was that red ninja. His friends had somehow tracked me here.

But how?

“Okay, this changes nothing,” I said.

“How's that?” said Mudhoof. “We now gotta complete a Legendary Quest with another group trying to do the exact same thing. That changes a lot.”

I shook my head. “Only makes things more challenging. But the goal is still the same. Follow the quest to its end and get the item. If those knuckleheads get in our way, we'll deal with them.”

The others nodded but didn't look pumped up by my lame speech.

“Quest Zone started,” said the voice.

The staging platform beneath our feet faded away and left us standing in tall grass.

Thorm looked about. “Where do you think they are? The other group?”

“Far from here,” said Feign. “Designed that way to prevent a party wipe at the start. But their quest line will most certainly overlap ours. We will meet them soon.”

“I'm looking forward to it,” said Mudhoof, and patted his huge ax against his palm.

A little trail led down throw the trees and into the valley. I was the first to walk to it and said, “Let's go get that Legendary Item!”

CHAPTER SIX

The trail snaked its way through the thick forest, gradually leading downward to the valley floor. There was no sign of the other group, nor of any ambush. Feign suggested that the starting area of the quest zone was relatively safe, but to be ready for anything.

We reached the bottom, and the forest gave way to the edge of the lake we saw from above. Vast and calm with barely a ripple to be seen. A waterfall on the other side rumbled over a high cliff.

“No demons here,” said Mudhoof. He actually sounded disappointed. He looked to me. “Which reminds me. Where is your rat?”

I'd forgotten about Phlixx. “I'll get him out.”

“Not that annoying rodent, again,” Thorm said with a grimace.

“He has his uses,” I said with a chuckle and selected the companion icon.

Phlixx burst into existence and leapt through the air, shouting, “I'm back my love! Did you miss me?”

“Yes, Phlixx,” I said. “I always miss you when you're away.” I meant it, too.

The ferret looked to the other members who were all regarding him with uncertainty. “A quest? We're on a quest?” He spun in a circle and sighed heavily. “What fun we shall have!”

Feign scoffed and avoided eye contact with the little being.

“Phlixx, I'm going to put you on snoop mode, again. Like last time. Watch to see if there is anything we've missed and let me know, okay?”

“Missed?” Phlixx said. “You mean like this?” He reached over and plucked something from my trouser's pant leg.

Alarmed, I looked closer at the object he held.

It was a dart. A tracking dart.

I barely contained my anger. “That's how he did it!”

“How who did what?” Asked Mudhoof.

“The other group. They were trying to follow me back at Fenway and must have fired that thing at me.” When I thought more about it I realized it probably was when I jumped for the sky-barge. The ninja shot me with the tracker which led centaur-samurai and his cronies here.

I smacked my forehead. “I'm a dolt. I should have known it was there.”

Thorm shrugged. “Don't kill yourself over it. That makes one mystery solved. But we got an even bigger one on our hands now. So let's just concentrate on that.”

We continued along the trail which followed along the edge of the lake. I was feeling pretty stupid at this point but resolved not to let it get me down.

I watched Phlixx as he skipped along by my side. To say I was grateful for having him was an understatement. He was a quest reward item and one which had been tough to finish. But worth it, in the end. Even if he could get annoying at times.

Thorm, who was in the lead, held up a hand. We stopped. “There's someone up ahead,” he said.

Just off the trail sat a well dressed man on a fallen log. His face was in his hands and he was crying.

Ready for trouble, we approached.

“Hello,” I said. “Is everything all right?”

The man continued crying but didn't respond.

This was obviously part of the quest so I engaged him further. “Sir, is something wrong?” I took a step closer but Feign waved at me to stop.

“Don't get too close,” Feign said. “Look at his skin.”

The man's hands were marbled with thick, black veins. His neck was covered in them as well. Was it a disease?

“What do we do?” Mudhoof said. “Kill him?”

I shook my head and looked to Thorm. “Think a cure spell of some kind would do the trick?”

Thorm peered at the man's flesh, but shook his head. “No. That's not a disease.”

Before I could ask what he meant, the man looked up at us. His face was worse than the rest of him, almost blackened with the strange veins.

“He's here,” the man said, tears streaming down his face. “He's here and there will be no sending him back now!”

“Who is here?” I asked. Mudhoof and the others had tensed for a fight, watching our surroundings.

“The one who is all!” The little man said, working himself up into a frenzy. “The one who will rule!” He began to shake.

“This guy's a nut,” said Mudhoof. “Let's just kill him and loot his corpse.”

I ignored my bloodthirsty friend and tried to calm the little man down by trying a different approach. “I'm Vivian, these are my friends. What's your name?”

The little man's eyes locked onto me, as if noticing my existence for the first time. “Why, I'm the mayor of Ashbrook. The place
he
has chosen to begin his empire!”

The mayor of Ashbrook then stood and shook his fists in front of him. “Death to the despoilers! Death to the craven worms who do not worship the One!”

Thorm stepped forward gripping his great broadsword with both hands. He mumbled a quick chant and the mayor abruptly stopped shaking, but his eyes were still wide with whatever mania afflicted him.

“I don't believe this soothing enchantment will hold for very long,” Thorm said, eying the mayor warily. “But you may get a more coherent answer from him, now.”

“He's not diseased?”

Thorm shook his head. “No, he's cursed, and in a bad way.”

I said to the mayor, “We would like to help. Where can we find this 'One' you are talking about? Did he hurt you?”

At the mention of the 'One' the mayor's fists resumed shaking, and he took a step closer to me. “Do not think you can defile him with your blather!” He screamed. “He shall grant you the gift of death for your insolence!”

“What a charming conversationalist,” said Feign, and a large snowball appeared in his hand. “Best get ready, I think this one is going to blow up at any moment.”

The mage was right. The little mayor suddenly grunted and his body twisted about. We all eased back, weapons at the ready.

The black veins in his flesh now ballooned outward, expanding against his skin. The mayor let out a blood-curdling cry as his torso and arms tore open his shirt and jacket. His shoes popped and his feet extended out.

In moments, his entire body had mutated into a blacked, bulbous contortion.

His eyes, one now freakishly larger than the other, looked to us. When he spoke, it was not with his own voice.

“Fools,” the mayor rumbled down at us. He was getting taller now. “To think I allowed you to infect this realm in my absence. Such a mistake will not happen again.” The trees near him shook with the power of his voice and leaves cascaded down like rain. “I will smite you and all others into the Demon Void were your carcasses will fuel the fiery pits of agony.”

Mudhoof laughed. “Laying it on a little thick, aren't you, buddy?” He hefted his uber ax over his shoulder. “I'm not into role-playing, just killing.”

The mutant mayor roared at Mudhoof, “You bovine scum! I shall make steaks from your seared flesh and...”

“That's it!” Mudhoof said and swung his ax straight down into the ground before him. The ground cracked open at the impact and the crack grew out toward the mayor.

In an instant, the crack reached the mayor but not before he punched downward with a huge misshaped fist. A loud boom rumbled, and the world shook. The crevice had stopped expanding and the mutant mayor sneered at Mudhoof.

Mudhoof blinked in surprise. “Oh, wow. That should have knocked him over.”

Feign threw his snowball which struck the mayor and ice quickly formed around his feet. It grew up his legs, crackling loudly, and in a few moments the mutant was encased in ice up to his waist.

The mayor twisted his torso and opened his mouth wide. A thick geyser of blackened vomit shot out like water from a fire hose, straight at Feign.

The ice mage gasped and raised his arms in surprise.

Then, Thorm was standing before the mage a magical barrier forming around them both. The black fluid splashed off the barrier and hissed and bubbled as it slid off.

I stood wide eyed in shock. Things had escalated quickly, and I needed to join the fray. To Mudhoof, I shouted, “Get his attention! Distract him!”

Mudhoof gave me a fearful look. “What? And have him barf all over me with that stuff?” But he was already moving away from me and shouting. “Hey, over here, you puss-bag!”

The mayor reared around, the ice on his legs shattering. He roared at Mudhoof.

Certain it was not looking at me, I stepped back under the shade of the trees and activated my Shadow ability. I shimmered into invisibility.

Quickly, I skirted the edge of the clearing to get behind the mutant mayor.

“I shall pick my teeth with your bones, cow-man,” the mayor shouted, then he inhaled his breath.

Mudhoof stopped moving, finding the air around him being pulled toward the mutant. “What the FILTERED?” He said in alarm. He dug his hooves into the ground, but he continued to be pulled back, forming little trenches beneath him.

The mayor inhaled faster and Mudhoof struggled to not lose his ground.

A glance at Feign and Thorm showed the barrier shielding them was still covered in the black acid. Thorm couldn't deactivate it without getting seriously injured or killed.

As I moved into position, I saw Phlixx race around firing tiny bolts with his little crossbow at the mayor. The mutant didn't even notice as the projectiles bounced harmlessly off him.

Mudhoof was now in full panic mode. The inhaling winds nearly tipping him backward. In desperation, he swung his great ax into the ground again, but this time without invoking its knock-back ability. Instead, it stuck deep into the earth.

Suddenly, Mudhoof lost his footing and his legs shot out from under him. He grasped at the ax's handle in desperation. The minotaur flailed about, the only thing keeping him from being sucked back was his grip on the ax.

“Vee!” Mudhoof cried.

I now stood directly behind the mayor and reached back to my empty quiver. With a single word an arrow appeared within it and I snatched the arrow out. Its feathers were bright red, and the tip glowed with a molten heat.

Mudhoof lost the grip of one hand, and he slid backward down the ax's handle. He was shouting incoherently.

I fired.

The magma arrow struck home, burying itself deep into the back of the mayor's misshaped head.

The mutant stopped inhaling and screamed with agony. Hot lava spewed from his mouth and out from his eyes and ears. Like a volcano, the lava gushed over him, melting him down in waves.

In moments, all that remained was a bubbling pool of molten rock.

I looked to Thorm and Feign. The black acid had vanished and the Holy Knight had dropped the barrier. Both looked at the mayor's lava pool in amazement.

Mudhoof lay on the ground looking bewildered, one hand still gripping his ax handle for dear life.

I ran over to him. “Are you okay, Muddie?”

The minotaur looked up at me, wide eyed, and said, “This quest sucks.”