They wildly waved their long, gangly, terribly hairy limbs as they danced around him, and they were laughing in a most hideous fashion. More of the creatures leaped from stone blocks to broken ledges and onto the flagstones to join the group. When they saw the human step into the temple, they began to circle him.
Alek saw they were powerfully built and equipped with fangs as long as his middle fingers. He saw he was surrounded by a troop of baboons, and that they were drawing their circle tighter.
Across the courtyard he glimpsed an old open doorway and in the shadow within he thought he made out a staircase. The stairs surely descended into the inner sanctum below the temple. His way into the crypt, but he was going to have to get through the wall of snarling baboons first.
Alek unsheathed his short sword. “I want you all to know, this is just another day in the office for me!” he yelled.
The lead baboon was close enough for Alek to smell its fetid breath. He slashed at the ape, but the nimble creature easily dodged the strike. Alek raised his left arm in the air and gestured, as if inviting the baboons to come closer. The parry move was a damn silly display of smug ego and total disdain for his NPCs. If he had been asked to explain his thinking, Alek would have said he was trying to focus the creature’s attention on the tip of his blade tip. It was a ruse. Alek intended to complete a double lunge.
The NPC was not designed to be a fencer. It ignored the clumsily executed fencing move, leaping out of the way of the sword thrust and chomping down on Alek’s free arm raised in the air.
Alek gasped as he heard rather than felt the crunch of his bone, but then survival instinct took over and he reacted the way most gamers would in the midst of a fast and furious fight. With hundreds of hours of gaming under his belt, Alek’s action was automatic, and with one swipe at the baboon’s extended neck he severed its hairy head from its shoulders.
The sight of their comrade dropping to the ground in two pieces had the immediate effect of halting the troupe, momentarily at least.
He seized the chance to assess their number and positions. More baboons were appearing on the ledges above, significantly bolstering the numbers of the mob encircling him. He knew the odds were stacked against him. Alek could feel his strength was ebbing fast. It wouldn't be long before he was forced to unleash more potent spells. Doing that would deplete his reserves. He had to make an exit and fast. Alek replaced the sword in the scabbard at his side and cast a Decoy spell.
The baboons were entranced when they saw the human split into two, staring at the two Aleks with dropped jaws and eyes opened wide.
The diversion had worked. It gave him the split-second window he needed. He drew a flaming circle spanning from his knees to above his head, and invoked a Swift Stride spell. This provided him a short-term speed boost, but it was enough to enable him to sprint through the moving ranks of baboons and into the stone entranceway. Barely catching his breath, he cast a Seal, to form a barrier across the entrance.
Seeing the human staring back at them on the other side of an invisible barrier was too much for the baboons. They pressed against Alek's safe haven clawing at the transparent wall. They threw themselves against it over and over again, but it was to no avail. The magic seal held firm.
He turned from their gnashing teeth and frenzied eyes mere inches from his face and examined his wound. His left arm, bloodied and heavy, hung limp at his side. He knew it would take time to repair itself, and maybe it wouldn’t even do that without a little help.
He checked his stats then browsed through his accumulated array of virtual items in his inventory. Among his potions, there was a small, ornate vial filled with a luminescent blue liquid - a Minor Healing Elixir. While the elixir would mend his wound and restore his health, it would also take a large bite out of his mana.
He swiftly unstoppered the vial, grimacing as the potent scent of the elixir filled the air. He never liked the sight of his own blood, much less any open wounds—so far in his short life he had very few and only the most minor—so he squinted his eyes, so that when he pulled back his gown, he saw nothing but the blur of red in the gloom. He took a deep breath and carefully poured the liquid onto the badly torn arm. Instantly, he felt an intense, searing pain that quickly transitioned into a cool, numbing sensation. Overcoming his aversion, Alek opened his eyes to see the elixir's healing magic knit his digital flesh together. When the healing was done he saw his arm looked as pale and smooth as always. He watched his health bar begin to refill, turning from an ominous red to a reassuring green, but his mana bar dipped noticeably.
The elixir had done its job at a steep cost, severely depleting his once deep blue mana reserves to a pale green.
His HUD displayed the stark contrast in his stats:
PLAYER: ALEK
LEVEL: 3
HEALTH: 450/450
MANA: 250/320
The cost of healing was high, but necessary. His mana was drained from the battle with the baboons, but his arm was functioning again. And, that’s what really mattered, if he was to tackle the challenges lurking in the dark with any chance of success. He flexed his fingers and his arm. Yes! He was feeling strong again.
His HUD advised him to use his magic to light a torch fixed in a bracket on the wall above his head. He reached up for the torch and conjured a flame. A bright lick of fire burst from the top of the conical handpiece and with the torch in hand he set out down the steps. Guided by a path marked by glowing nodes visible on his HUD, he navigated the subterranean labyrinth and the dark, convoluted passage winding deeper into the crypt.
The air began to weigh heavier and heavier on Alek the further he went. A cold scent of stone and damp earth hung in the air. A nice touch, Alek thought. The torch light revealed ancient etchings in the stone along the way the way, symbols speaking to him through time, warnings of the dangers lying in wait for anyone foolhardy enough to come unprepared to face them. Alek didn’t bother reading them. He already knew what they said.
The echo of his footsteps, the whispering crackle of the torch, and the occasional drip of distant water were the only sounds breaking the silence of the ancient tomb. Then, he heard something else, a metallic clink. The sound of chains. Despite his confidence, Alek felt a chill run up his spine. He tightened his grip on the torch. The market vendors' warnings seemed much more real now. Uncertain of the source of the sound, he squinted into the dark shadows ahead. One thing was certain: there was no turning back now.
The rasp of old metal grew louder. It seemed like it was coming from all directions, but Alek knew he was hearing echoes. To one side made out vague looming shapes. Heavy looking things with peaks and points. He held the torch up high and turned to look to his side. There, not more than a few feet from him stood a tall figure dressed in armor coated in dust and grime, a gauntleted hand resting on the hilt of a longsword that hung at his side. Beside him stood another knight, and beside him another.
The Ghoulish Knights of ID were lining the wall like spectral sentinels guarding an ancient fortress entrance. Silent. Unmoving. Their rusted armor contrasted with their gleaming weaponry, points and blades glinting ominously in the torchlight, long shadows looming above him to stretch across the high arched vaulted ceiling of the hall. Then, one by one, the Ghoulish Knights of ID took one step forward as he passed. It was as if to introduce themselves, and yet they uttered not a word. Once brave thanes, they were now little more than spectral echoes of their former selves. Alek saw that though their armor was blotched with corrosion, the edges of the pike points and axe blades glittered in the torchlight. Alek knew the faces hidden behind the visors would be as ancient as the metal shells they wore.
"Knights of ID, I come in peace. I seek only the amulet," Alek announced, breaking the silence.
"Those who disturb our slumber face our wrath!" a voice boomed. The sound of it reverberated through the still hall.
“Who said that?” he asked. Although the question was quite unnecessary, given the situation he was in.
A tall imposing figure stepped forward. Time had not faded the colors of the tunic he wore over his armor were still nor had it corroded the crest on his helmet. The knight carefully set the spear he held in a gauntleted hand against the wall and stepped forward. “I am William of Norwich and I am the leader of this band of valiant knights,” he growled in reply, eyes blazing through the slits in his visor.
My name is Alek. I am on a quest to return an amulet to a wounded knight, Sir William. It’s part of the treasure you protect, although I'm only here for the amulet."
"Your intentions matter not, mortal. To retrieve the amulet, you must best me in combat or turn back."
“You are young, and your power is pitifully low. Shouldn't you have known better than to accept such a request from a knight? Is he your lover, a brother, your father?”
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"Alek shook his head. “No, he's not. Truth be told, I've yet to meet him in person.”
“Is it not a little odd for a mage to perform a quest for a knight?”
“Not at all,” Alek retorted, raising his chin in indignation.
Alek consults his HUD and discovers he can use his wits to successfully solve a temple puzzle he will receive the means to carry the amulet out of the temple, and all without a fight.
“I don’t need to fight you,” Alek told Sir William.
Sir William laughed, and it was a terrible and terrifying sound.
“I can choose to solve the temple puzzle instead,” Alek continued.
Sir William stopped laughing. “You must fight me!”
“Why?”
“It is the honorable thing to do,” Sir William said with a plaintive note to his voice.
““You can’t force me to fight you, can you?” Alek suggested, feeling braver than he should.
Sir William stared malevolently at Alek in silence, but he turned his head when there came the gruff voice of a knight behind him. Rough voices spoke gruff words, although the tone of the short exchange sounded civil enough Sir William turned back to Alek and cleared his throat. “You wouldn’t, perchance, carry with you a bit of cheese, would you?” he asked politely.
“What?” Alek asked in confusion. Where did that line come from?
“Cheese. A wedge or a round would be better for me to share with my men...”
“I didn’t bring any cheese,” Alek said, and suddenly he felt a tad regretful. “I could conjure some up for you, but there is no guarantee what it will taste like.” He didn’t say as much, but wasting his remaining power on a triviality seemed like a bad idea. He was going to need all of his reserves just to get the amulet to the wounded knight—wherever he was.
“Never mind," Sir William said, "We shall duel. You must either accept my challenge or die at the hands of knights'. Choose!"
“I accept your challenge,” Alek said unhappily. It wasn’t much of a choice.
Sir William popped off his helmet and it hit the floor with a loud clang. He laughed when he saw Alek’s expression. “I haven’t aged well, have I? Come on then. Make me feel young again.”
The face was more nightmare than man, gaunt and grim, his deep-set eyes burning with a fire that belied his ancient form. It was in this moment Sir William attacked, bringing his wooden club skyward with a force that would make a troll jealous.
Alek had already read the code of the ghoulish knight and saw the attack coming, but he failed to recognize the nature of the weapon in the flickering light from the torch he had dropped on the floor.
His HUD flashed up a bright line of contour line that revealed the shape and trajectory of a projectile about to hit him. Alek, versed in the code of the ghoulish knight, anticipated the move, stepping deftly to the side as the flail whistled by his nose, the faint odor of old battle clinging to the spiked ball. The knight grunted, working to regain control of his weapon's momentum. As the ball swung wide, he circled Alek, preparing for the second onslaught. This time, he aimed to slice Alek’s body with a swift, diagonal cut.
Instantly reading the oncoming attack, Alek conjured his shining shield into existence, sliding one foot back for added support and braced for the flail to strike. The shock of the impact vibrated through him, rattling his virtual bones. His shield collapsed under the assault, and Alek staggered, crashing against the crypt’s cold stone wall.
The knight’s laughter echoed around the crypt. It was a ghastly sound honed out of ages-long triumphs. “You're tenacious, young mage. Your death will be an honorable one. I promise to be swift. You won’t feel a thing.”
“You talk too much,” Alek retorted, oblivious to the irony. He felt a cold stone pillar pressed against his back as he faced off the ghastly death dealing Sir William. He could not gain advantage by moving forward and to step to the side would mean placing himself in the path of a roundhouse swing of the flail. He had just one chance, and the next move had to be his. The HUD flashed him an alert. This next gambit would strip him of all magic and weaponry. It’s all or nothing, he thought. Time for the Flame Surge.
Summoning the incantations and etching symbols in the air, it seemed for just a moment as if the eternal clock stopped ticking. Then, the spell ignited. Power bubbled up within him, a cataclysm in slow motion. The energy surge felt like shifting from a tricycle to a sports car. It was like nothing he’d ever felt before. It was incredible! Palms thrusting forward, he released a searing plasma stream into the knight.
Sir William exploded into a brilliant inferno. The blue flames engulfed the knight, knocking him back several steps, but he recovered himself and scooped up the spear he had left against the wall. When he came at Alek again, he held the long broad point at the end of the shaft low.
Alek had no definite plan. He aimed to wear the knight down by causing significant injury, but his adversary showed little weakness and no sign of relenting. He activated his Mirror Image and doubled and quadrupled the images so it looked like they were in a room full of mirrors, but the knight ignored them all. When Alek activated the Decoy, Sir Wallace powered through it with his eyes fixed firmly on the real target. “Your tricks can't touch me,” he bellowed. “My skills are honed by centuries of fighting better mages than you!”
Undeterred, Alek cast a Shadow Bind. But the knight merely shrugged it off. “Your tricks can't touch me,” he bellowed. “Centuries of guardianship have honed my skills, fighting better mages than you!”
Desperate to deliver a devastating blow to end the fight, Alek drew on his remaining resources, and triggered his trio of abilities; Flame Surge, to amplify his Fire Magic, Iron Will to bolster defenses, and Quick Recovery to speed his recharge.
"I am the Game Master," he told himself, determination filling him. "I created Sir William! I’m not going to allow my own creation to defeat me." He thrust out his palms and summoned his abilities into one magnificent force. The stream of fiery plasma exploded forth lighting up Sir William and sending him flying across the floor and sprawling at the feet of his knights.
Alek approached the downed knight, who lay unmoving on the cold stone. As he was about to summon the HUD to gauge Sir William’s status, the knight rolled over with surprising speed, reaching for his dagger. Sir William froze mid move, however, when he saw Alek was already standing over him with outstretched palms aimed at his chest plate.
"I have to hand it to you," Alek said, grinning despite himself, "You sure know how to light up a room."
“You jest, ahh...” Sir William removed a gauntlet and threw it at Alek’s feet with a sigh. “I submit,” he said gruffly, and he lowered his bald head. “You have beaten me fairly.” With that he fell back on the flagstones and stared up at Alek. “When you reach for the amulet wear my gauntlet. Don’t touch it with your bare hands.”
“And then what?” Alek asked.
“Then you go back the way you came. Don’t let it the amulet slip from the gauntlet.”
“That’s it?” Alek asked. He scanned Sir William’s code but could detect not a trace of deception. What he found was the knights sense of honor. The metal glove felt ice cold and oversized on his hand. He tried opening and closing the metal fingers and found he could only do with the help of his other hand.
Sir William groaned as he got to his feet. “The amulet sits on the golden pedestal in the sacred chamber.”
He gave the knight a gracious dip of his head, surprised to find himself doing as much. Such an act was quite inconsistent with his usual gaming demeanor. "Thank you,” he said to the ghoulish knight.
"Remember this, young mage," Sir William rasped, "Sacrifice and power, power and sacrifice. They are one and the same."
Alek plucked the smoldering torch from the cold stone floor, navigating his way to the terminal point of the labyrinthine corridor where a vaulted chamber blossomed open, filled with an ethereal golden luminescence. As he crossed the threshold, the glow bathing his form, it dawned on him that the source of light was none other than the bountiful treasure heaped haphazardly around the room; glittering gemstones, gold and silver in the form of coins, bars, statues, and the remnants of once regal jewelry.
At the center was a marble table heaped with precious stones and in the center a tall transparent crystal cover housing a golden stand. On the stand there was a velvet cushion on top, and on it sat the coveted golden amulet, shimmering with an otherworldly light. The amulet was thick with swirled rounded ends, and apart from being entirely made of gold was otherwise quite unremarkable in appearance. The podium was surrounded by mounds of cut precious stones of many bright colors glistening with a supernatural glow from within that reflected off Alek’s digital skin.
Alek lifted the crystal cover aside and, using his gauntlet-covered hand, picked up the amulet. Without a second glance at the remaining treasure, he strode out of the chamber and down the hall. Sir William and his knights were nowhere to be seen. He climbed the steps listening for the baboons outside, but there was not a sound. He could see the seal, still firmly in place and glowing, as were the stone walls. That’s when everything shuddered and a brightness enveloped him. When he took the next step, he found it was no longer there and almost fell face first in the dust. Blinking against the glare of the morning sun, he found himself standing at the fork in the road.
Bathed in the morning light, a lone knight sat awkwardly atop a glossy-coated black steed. The knight sat awkwardly on the horse. A large puncture in the iron of his chest plate just below his left shoulder looked nasty. Through the mangled metal, Alek saw the bloodied wrapping.
“It looks worse than it is,” the knight reassured him. “I’m already on the mend.” Leaning over the side of his saddle, he stared at Alek with a look of surprise. "You are a mage apprentice, are you not?"
“I’m more than that,” Alek told him.
"More than an apprentice?" the knight asked in mock surprise, sitting upright in his saddle. "I dare say your powers are depleted, if not exhausted." The horse shook its mane and stamped a hoof, raising a cloud of the dust.
Alek took a step back from the horse and its rider. Clearly, the animal felt a tension in the air. While the knight was injured with his left arm strapped across his chest, Alek was taking no chances. Afterall, the knight was sitting atop his steed, allowing him not only a clear height but a maneuverability advantage as well.
The knight pushed up his visor with his good arm and stared down at Alek. He was a chubby man with ruddy cheeks, a ginger moustache, and cold pale blue eyes.
“Hand the amulet up to me,” he said evenly.
“First, you must tell me how I get out of this game,” Alek replied.
The knight shook his head. “First, hand over the amulet, then I'll give you what you want.”
"Look, I've dealt with goblins, a baboon army, and knights more daunting than you to retrieve this amulet," Alek said firmly, waving the amulet for added emphasis. "It seems valuable. If you can't honor our deal, I'll find someone else who will."
The knight hesitated, his gaze flickered up and down the road as though expecting reinforcements and unsure from which direction they would come. “Young mage, your power is severely depleted. You are exhausted after the fight.” He drew his longsword in a slow, deliberate manner and lowered the point. “Here, place the amulet on the end of my sword and I give you what you want.”
Alek frowned at the tip of the sword drawing a circle in the air before him. He was feeling very exposed. He pulled back his gauntlet covered hand clenching the amulet and took yet another step back. “That’s not how we are going to do this,” he told the knight. “I am the Game Master, and you are an NPC. I can read your code like it's a... Suddenly, Alek realized with a shock, he couldn’t see the code of the knight or for that matter his horse. Could the amulet be affecting him?
Raising his sword, the knight kissed the hilt and stared into his own reflection in the shining blade. “I could just be done with our deal and dispatch you,” he said quietly. Then he clicked his tongue and his horse responded by side stepping closer to Alek. “I reclaim what's mine, and you get your wish - to exit the game. A perfectly happy resolution for us both.”
The knight raised his elbow and dropped the point of his longsword again. This time it was aimed squarely at the center of Alek’s chest. “Farewell, Mage,” he intoned, as if he were reciting a passage from a hefty tome before a solemn audience. “Know you have served me well, and that I bear no malice toward you.”