He ordered a nice dinner for the both of them. They had to celebrate Gran joining the game. The two went into the living room and started talking about what they wanted to do in the game. Gran wanted to build a beautiful house and garden. Elmer asked if he could bring her things from his adventures. She loved the idea. She seemed so excited as she broke out a pen and paper and started scathing. He smiled as he had not seen Gran this happy in years. Not since Graps passed. She seemed to have a new life and light in her eyes. The doorbell rang and Elmer got up thinking the food had arrived. Mr. Walker stood there with a group of men. He was smiling and asked to come in. He sat in the living room and started explaining what was going on.
“You see with the two of you playing at the same time, security is an issue. We are going to hook up a security system that will be routed into your helmets. The system we are setting up will send you a video of any motion on the front and back doors or alerts on any breaking noises. You will get this in the game and can choose to log out and deal with it, press a panic button or just stay in. This is all on our shoulders as we have to keep our testers happy and safe.” He showed them how everything worked and left with the workers once things were set up. It only took fifteen minutes and Elmer was just a little shocked. He hadn’t even thought of what could happen if there was an issue while both were gaming. Somehow it made him feel better about everything. It was a weird feeling working for someone who cared about their safety and happiness. Shortly after they had dinner and had a relaxing night. Mr. Walker had left a second helmet for Gran. She tried to give the new one to him, but he wanted her to have the extra three hours. She kissed his head and he went back to studying for the rest of the day. It felt nice just crack the books. He was so far behind the others and knew he would have to work hard to catch up.
Several hours later he armed the alarm and checked on Gran. She had put her helmet on and was snoring softly in her bed. He smiled and went to his own bed. Gato was already there demanding affection. He got changed and lay down, the cat tucking under his arm. Once Gato was happy, he put his one helmet on and drifted off to sleep.
He woke outside the inn and pulled up his menu. He sent a party request to Gran and watched the screen turn into a dove and fly away. This place was cool. A short while later he saw a blip on his map. It lead him to Gran’s new house. It was a nice small cottage that sat next to a stream. He saw a middle aged woman with deer antlers wave at him. “Gran is that you?” she looked a bit shocked when he got closer.
“(Error) what? (Error) I can’t say your name. What is going on?”
“If other players know your real name they may be able to find you. I have to call you...” he looked over her head and raised an eyebrow. “Betty?” she looked over his own head and giggled.
“Edwardo?” she laughed hard holding her side. “Really? Edwardo” she added a Spanish flare to his name. “That is from that old show we use to watch when you were little.” He tried to frown, but ended up smiling and laughing.
“I thought it was cool. Why did you pick a deer woman?” she spun letting her dress flare out.
“I think I look beautiful.” He smiled at her.
“Well I read through the notes today and I can get a teleportation stone from you.” she opened her inventory and handed him a small green stone. “Thanks. Do you want to meet up for supper here?” she smiled at him.
“That sounds nice. I need to meet this Maggie person again.” He tried not to blush, but failed. He started following the arrow again.
After an hour he heard crying on the path ahead. He knew those voices. Rounding the corner he saw his little goblin pals. All were huddled in a circle crying and holding each other. “What is going on?” He was getting attached to the little guys. Their leader saw him and cried out.
“Hero. You have to save us.” All five goblins got up and gathered around Edwardo.
“I can help. What is going on? More slimes?” Gobta started crying again.
“No the Kabolds stole our treasures. They said we were evil degenerates for having them. You have to help us before they burn them.”
GOBLIN LEADER HOBTA IS OFFERING THE QUEST “PUT THE BODY PILLOW DOWN” YOU HAVE TO RETURN THE GOBLINS BODY PILLOWS BACK TO THEM, ACCEPT (YES) NO.
He accepted the quest and smiled at the grinning goblins. “Thank you kindly hero. If you go down that path you will find their cave. He patted a few on the back and walked down the path. He soon found a brightly lit cave. Torches holding strange glowing red and yellow rocks hung on the walls. He called out.
“Hello in there. Can I talk to you for a moment.” The sound of chirping and clacking came from deep inside the cave. One small dragon person came to the entrance and looked out at him. It turned back and started clicking and growling at someone around the corner. He looked closely at the small scaled figure. It stood about two feet tall, not much taller than the goblins. It was covered in lime green scales with a long crest coming off the back of it’s head. It had large green gem like eyes that blinked back at him. It was dressed in a simple tunic that came down to it’s knees. Long black claws ended each finger and toe. It had three of each on each limb. It turned back and croaked at him. It sounded like a male.
“What you want?” Oddly enough it sounded worried. He smiled and sat at the opening. That seemed to calm the little guy down.
“My friends said you took something from them.” he backed off a little and looked a bit worried.
“We no steal.” Edwardo held up his hands.
“Not saying you did. Do you have my friend’s pillows?” He smiled at the little dragon man who frowned and spat on the ground.
“What if we no give back?” Edwardo smiled.
“I’ll ask nicely again.” The dragon man turned and called back. Two more came out. One was pink and smaller and the other one was a bright red and wore a cape and loincloth. All three were clicking, growling and gesturing at Edwardo.
“Why you help them?” The green one asked.
“They are nice and having a hard time. If you were having trouble, would you like it if someone took something you loved?” the green one clicked and gestured at the others.
“Mastua, what does the human want?” He flicked his grass cape and rubbed the red scales on his arm as he asked the only one who spoke common.
“Fera and Gragoton the human wants us to give the nasty things back their nasty things.” Fera looked up at her brother in shock.
“Why would he want that?” she asked.
“He says they have been digging through bedrock. (having a hard time in Kabold)” Fera looked out at the human a slight look of pity in her eyes. Gragonton picked his frills as he looked at Mastua.
“What will he do if we say no?” Mastua shrugged
“He say he ask again. I think he won’t leave until we give them back.”
“We should give them back. It wasn’t nice for us to take them in the first place.”Fera said a sad look in her eyes.
“How can you say that? Some of those look like Gragonton. That is just wrong.” Mastua said outraged.
“I don’t see an issue with that.” Gragonton said with a slight smile. Mastua just looked at him shocked. “What? It’s nice to feel attractive to someone. If the little green humans are digging bedrock, let them have something nice to look at.” He chuckled and smiled.
“I agree with Gragonton. Mastua how would you feel if you were digging bedrock and someone took you blackroot?” Mastua just looked shocked and outraged at the other two. Finally he hung his head and frowned.
“You two are right. We are in the wrong. Egg eaters.” He turned to the human who was sitting by the entrance.
“Human you are right.” the green one walked forward and held out his clawed hand. Edwardo shook and was given sixteen body pillows. He was very happy he didn’t have to actually hold them.
“Thank you very much. Can I ask what language you were speaking in?” The little green one cocked his head to the side.
“Dragonic.” Edwardo started to get excited. That means he could talk to dragons if he learned it.
“Can I learn it?” The green one looked back and the other two and clicked and growled. The red one shrugged and the pink one nodded.
“Help us. We teach you.” Edwardo jumped up and smiled
“Let me go drop these off and I’ll be right back.” he turned and ran.
The human ran off. “Why you think he wants to learn Dragonic?” Fera asked. Mastua just shook his head.
“This human just seems weird.”
Edwardo sped down the path and jumped doing a flip over the goblins. They just looked up at him a mixture of fear and shock on their face. He landed on the other side and held out his hand to Hobta. Hobta looked a bit worried as he took Edwardo’s hand. Suddenly his eyes went wide and he started crying.
“You are a true hero. Twice now you have saved our treasures. We owe you more than you can ever know. Is there any way we can repay you?”
YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE QUEST “PUT THE BODY PILLOW DOWN” YOU HAVE EARNED 20XP AND 4 SILVER. YOU HAVE GAINED A GOBLIN FOLLOWER. THE GOBLIN GOBTA WILL COME WITH YOU OR CAN BE SUMMONED BY USE OF A SUMMON STONE.
Hobta smiled. “Gobta you follow him. He will make you strong.” Gobta nodded and handed Edwardo a green crystal.
“Gobta stay with your people for now. I will call you if I need you.” Edwardo said smiling at the goblin. He hugged his body pillow and ran off to join his fellows. Edwardo smiled and went back to the cave. The green one was standing outside and leaning against the opening. Edwardo waved as he ran back. “What can I do to help you?” The little green dragon man huffed and waved him inside.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“We need killing bad monsters. They keep us from our drive.” He led Edwardo deep into the cave and to a dark section. “Bad monsters there.” he pointed.
MASTUA GREENHORN IS OFFERING YOU THE QUEST “CLEAR THE PATH.” KILL OR SCARE OFF THE RATS BLOCKING THE PATH. EACH TORCH AREA WILL GAIN REPUTATION, 3XP AND 3 COPPER. CLEARING ALL 20 SECTIONS WILL COMPLETE THE QUEST FULLY. MASTUA IS OFFERING 20 GLOW TORCHES TO PLACE ONCE THE AREA IS CLEARED. ACCEPT (YES) NO
Edwardo smiled and turned to the dark. Mastua shrugged and turned back. Edwardo saw small orbs in the dark. They slowly moved to him and out of the dark came a large rat. It was the same size of a mid size dog. It was covered in dark gray fur. Leaking yellow patches were on it’s back. It reared up hissing showing yellow blood stained teeth. Edwardo drew his wooden sword and charged swinging for it’s open mouth. The rat jumped trying to bite his arm. His sword came up slashing, knocking the rat back. It rolled and bounced along the floor before slamming hard against the wall. It stood back up and wobbled to him. He ran and brought his sword down on the rat’s head. One good crack to the head and it fell a shiny point glowing inside it’s body. He poked it with his sword and smiled.
YOU HAVE KILLED A SMALL PLAGUE RAT. YOU HAVE EARNED 5xp AND FOUND 2 COPPER, 4 PLAGUE RAT MEAT AND A PLAGUE RAT TAIL. LEVEL UP. YOU ARE NOW A LEVEL 3 FIGHTER
He smiled and turned to the dark pulling out the summoning stone. A puff of white smoke drifted from the stone. It spun and waved to the space in front of him. Out of it stepped Gobta. He looked around and frowned.
“Where are we. Master?”
“Uh. The master thing is a bit much. Just call me Ed. We are in the Kabold mine and I thought I would help you gain some experience on some of these rats.” He looked around and into the darkness. He shook a little and frowned, a worried look in his eyes.
“I’m not sure I can handle a rat, Master Ed.” He put a hand on Gobta’s shoulder
“I will be helping you. You won’t be doing it alone.” he nodded and put his hands up. They turned to the darkness. A slightly larger rat made it’s way into the light. Edwardo charged and slammed it in the head knocking it back into the wall. “Gobta now.” Once it hit the wall the small goblin latched on and started clawing at it’s neck. The goblin stood looking at Edwardo, both smiled at each other.
YOU HAVE KILLED A PLAGUE RAT. YOU HAVE EARNED 3xp AND FOUND 1 COPPER, YOUR FOLLOWER HAS GAINED 3xp AND 2 COPPER. YOU FOUND 6 PLAGUE RAT MEAT AND A RAT TAIL.
Gobta smiled. “Can I have the tail? I’m slightly hungry.” Edwardo tried not to watch as he handed over the tail. He turned into the darkness and gagged as he heard the sloppy chewing noise. Once the noises died down, both moved to the edge and saw a normal and small rat make their way out. Edwardo smiled.
“I knock them back, you end them. Got it?”
“Got it.” Gobta growled and raised his claws. Edwardo ran and swung at the larger rat. Once he knocked it back, he turned to the smaller one and tried the same trick, but the smaller rat tried to bite his sword. It both worked and didn’t work. The wooden sword slid down the throat of the rat and stabbed something and made the rat back off spitting up a lot of blood. He felt bad for it and quickly slashed at it’s head.
YOU HAVE KILLED A SMALL PLAGUE RAT AND A PLAGUE RAT. YOU HAVE EARNED 5xp AND FOUND 3 COPPER, YOUR FOLLOWER HAS GAINED 6xp AND 2 COPPER. YOU FOUND 8 PLAGUE RAT MEAT AND 2x RAT TAIL. YOUR FOLLOWER HAS LEVELED UP.
Gobta smiled as he looked up at Edwardo. “I feel stronger.”
“You want to take on a few more?” The goblin gave an evil grin and flexed his claws.
Three sections later the two rested. The small plague rats lead to normal and then large rats. Gobta had reached level four and Edwardo hit level five. The goblin looked a bit more defined and like he had been hitting a gym. Little guy had buffed up a little and gained some confidence. Once they were rested, both got up and faced the next foe. Edwardo raised his now chipped sword. He needed a new one soon. The eyes in the dark looked a bit taller. “Same plan.” Edwardo said and Gobta grunted. A bipedal rat holding a sharp looking knife walked out. It hissed at them. Edwardo charged forward and swung. The rat man tried to duck and step back, but Edwardo stepped into it and caught it under the chin. It fell to the ground and lay still. Gobta slashed at it’s arm and the knife went sliding away. Both slashed at it’s neck and the monster lay still.
YOU HAVE KILLED A WERERAT. YOU HAVE EARNED 10xp AND FOUND 7 COPPER, YOUR FOLLOWER HAS GAINED 10xp AND 7 COPPER. YOU FOUND A SIMPLE KNIFE AND A RAT TAIL.
Edwardo handed the knife to Gobta. “You sure I can have this?”
“Yea. I have a sword. This way you have a weapon too.” He took it and gave it a few practice swings. Both turned to the dark and watched as another wererat and a small plague rat walk to them.
“Let’s try one on one.” Gobta smiled and jumped at the rat. Edwardo took the wererat.
Five rooms later and the two were resting again. Gobta had a new vest and a second knife. He looked even stronger. They had been facing stronger and stronger groups. The last group was three wererats and two small plague rats. The wererats had started dropping water and bits of cloth. The fresh water was a nice treat. Once they were rested again both stood and started the next match. Only one eye could be seen moving to them. A warerat that looked a bit tougher and had an eye patch snared out at them.
“Hey boss, can I have this one?” He had started calling Edwardo boss after the last room. It felt better than just being called master. Edwardo nodded and smiled at Gobta
“If it’s too rough, fall back.” The goblin nodded and crouched as he ran forward. The wererat slashed a dagger at Gobta, but the goblin had ducked under it and slashed up at the rats chin letting his blade dig deep into the rat’s chest. It drew a blade from it’s back and swung at Gobta who jumped back.
“Tag in. I don’t think I can finish it.” Edwardo charged in and ran past the rat and spun slapping guard of it’s blade. Suddenly Gobta was stabbing into it’s chest. All it’s attention was on Edwardo and missed Gabta.
YOU HAVE KILLED A ROUGH WERERAT. YOU HAVE EARNED 15xp AND FOUND 1 SILVER, YOUR FOLLOWER HAS GAINED 15xp AND 8 COPPER. YOU FOUND A ROUGH METAL SWORD, EYE PATCH AND A RAT’S TAIL.
“Can I have the eye patch?” Gobta asked. Edwardo smiled and handed him the patch. Edwardo remembered his own eye patch and put his own on and then almost threw up. He had forgotten about the smell. He quickly bought two cleaning scrolls and cracked one over himself and Gobta. Both smiled.
“Thanks boss. This feels strange. I don’t feel itchy.” Edwardo smiled and then looked around. The eye patch didn’t hinder his view and made him feel a bit more like an action hero.
YOU HAVE EARNED THE SKILL (KILLING INTENT) THIS SKILL WILL MAKE WEAKER TARGETS FLEE AND STRONGER OR EQUAL TARGETS FOCUS ON YOU. TO USE THIS SKILL, EQUIP IT TO YOUR HOT BAR.
He would have to give this skill a shot. Both rested and when they were ready, turned to the darkness. It looked like they were half way done. Out of the darkness stepped two rough wererats. “Let’s focus on the one on the right. Be careful about the one we aren’t focusing on.” Gobta nodded and pulled his knife. Edwardo looked into the eyes of the warerat on the right and used (Killing Intent) It blinked, growled and charged leaving it’s partner behind. The rat man didn’t even notice Gobta as he charged into it’s belly and rammed his knife into it’s neck. The little guy was vicious. The other rat man closed in and Edwardo swung meeting his blade, but failing to match his strength sending the back of the blade into it’s head and splitting it open. A stream of blood leaked down it’s face and it fell back. The next swing ended it. “We are getting good at this.” Edwardo said smiling.
“Easy as mushrooms.” Gobta said with a smile.
YOU HAVE KILLED ROUGH WERERAT x2. YOU HAVE EARNED 30xp AND FOUND 1 SILVER 5 COPPER, YOUR FOLLOWER HAS GAINED 30xp AND 1 SILVER. YOU FOUND A ROUGH METAL SWORD, EYE PATCH x2 AND A RAT’S TAIL x2. YOU HAVE LEVELED UP YOU ARE NOW A LEVEL 4 FIGHTER. YOUR FOLLOWER HAS LEVELED UP YOUR FOLLOWER IS A LEVEL 3 GOBLIN.
Edwardo dropped his new points into speed and smiled. He was switching between speed and strength with every level and was starting to become a real power house. Gobta looked like he was going for strength only and was looking more beefy as he went on. He wondered what the goblin would look like in fifteen levels. Maybe like a mini hulk.
Two sections later and the two had to rest again. The rats were getting rougher. They were stronger, but these rooms were kicking the crap out of them. One rat had even gotten a good slash on Edwardo and he had to wait for his health to recover. The slash on his arm only felt like a light burn luckily. Once fully healed both got up to see what the next challenge would be. Turning to the darkness they saw a shape that was a match for Edwardo in height. It walked slowly into view to show a hulking rat man. It looked lean and muscular and dragged a huge hammer behind it. It gave an evil smile at the two. It wore a leather coat that dragged the grond and it’s hand and feet were wrapped in dirty cloth. “Behind. Gobta.” The goblin nodded and held back. Edwardo charged in and then had to step back just as fast as the rat swung that hammer nearly taking his head off. That swing would have done some major damage. He kept the rats focus while Gobta tried to attack from behind. He would charge in only to fall back. Suddenly Gobta shouted as he was knocked back. It’s tail had lashed out the moment the goblin had tried to attack. It looked back and smiled at the goblin. Edwardo jumped forward and slashed at the rat’s face. His sword landed and dug deep taking a chunk out. It roared and lashed out with it’s tail and hammer blindly. It was in pain, but still fighting. “Gobta you okay?” Edwardo asked.
“Be fine, Boss.” he grunted holding his chest” Sorry that didn’t work.”
“It’s okay. Just stay safe.” He heard a grunt of pain as Gobta got up. He was holding his chest. The rat had recovered and was growling at Edwardo. He raised his hammer and swung it putting his whole weight behind the swing. Edwardo charged in and jumped over the sing sending out a flurry of strikes at the rats chest. At the same time Gobta stabbed at the rat’s back. The tail lashed out and knocked Gobta away. Edwardo landed, crouched and swung up aiming at the rat’s chest. He jumped into the swing and felt his blade bite deep and break into the monster’s chest. It choked, coughing up a waterfall of blood and fell back grabbing at it’s chest. It thrashed for a short while and died. Edwardo looked around for his friend and saw Gobta laying on the floor breathing hard. “You okay?” The goblin coughed and rolled over grunting.
“I hurt boss, but we won.” He ran over to his friend and knelt over him.
“What can I do to help?”
“Just give me a little to recover.”
“What if I send you back where your clan can help you?” Gobta’s eyes went wide.
“No boss.” He coughed and Edwardo had to winced he saw a bit of blood on the goblin’s mouth. “I need to be here to help you.” Edwardo reached out and touched his friend’s shoulder.
“We are done for today. Are you sure you are okay?”
“We still have nine sections left.”
“We can come back. I’d like to get some better gear for us so this wont happen again.” Gobta smiled and just nodded.
“If you really feel that way, I could use a break.” He held the summon stone and watched the goblin fade into smoke. He turned to the body and touched the shiny point in the monster’s body.
YOU HAVE KILLED A BOSS WERERAT. YOU HAVE EARNED 35xp AND FOUND 5 SILVER, YOUR FOLLOWER HAS GAINED 30xp AND 2 SILVER. YOU FOUND A PIG IRON MUAL, HAND WRAPS AND A WHIP RAT’S TAIL.
He was worried about his friend. He placed the torch and ported back to town. He ran to the center and found Mayor Herris. “Does this town have a healer?” she raised an eyebrow at him as she looked him over.
“You seem okay.” He sighed.
“I have a goblin friend who got hurt.” she looked shocked
“Goblins. Goddess what is this town coming to?” she sighed and frowned. “Lusinda is the closest thing we have to a healer. Look for the shop with a bottle on the sign.”
“Thanks. I owe you.” He turned and ran to the shop. He walked in and saw Heinz crouched in the corner drinking out of an over sized cup. He looked startled as he watched Edwardo come in. “Is someone called Lusinda in?” Heinz nodded and pointed at the counter. Edwardo saw a small woman grinding some paste in a bowl. She smiled up at Edwardo. “Hello, I have a friend who got hurt. Can you take a look at him?” She nodded and looked around. Edwardo pulled his summoning stone and a stream of smoke pulled Gobta to them. The goblin looked even worse. He lay on his side and his mouth was covered in blood. She gasped and jumped down running to him. She pulled a bottle out and forced his mouth open. A glowing red liquid made it’s way down Gobta’s throat.
“Hold him down. His broken ribs are going to hurt a lot. He may do more damage if you don’t hold him still.” Edwardo and Heinz held the small goblin still as he suddenly opened his eyes and screamed. He started writhing and a snapping sound could be heard deep inside his chest. “There are the ribs. Now for the lungs. She grabbed out a powder and blew it into Gobta’s face. She timed it right as he took a deep breath and the dust was pulled in. He started coughing and writhed on the floor. After a while he just lay still breathing hard and covered in sweat. “Your friend will need to rest for a few days. He is still in bad shape, but should mend now.” Edwardo hugged the small woman and then felt four huge arms wrap around the two. Heinz was humming happily.
“Thanks. How much do I owe you?” She giggled and pushed the two off.
“Five silver should do it.” Edwardo happily held out a hand and gave her a gold.
“My friend’s life is worth that and far more.” she smiled and took it. “If I send him back will he be okay so long as he rests?”
“He should stay here for a little. Make sure he is okay.” Heinz said looking down at the small goblin a sad look in his eye. Gobta had started snoring and looked peaceful.
“My friend seems to have taken a shine to your friend. He should be okay moving forward so long as he gets a few days rest. What happened to him?”
“We were fighting something called a Boss Wererat and he took two hits from it’s tail to his chest.” She nodded and smiled.
“That explains everything. Your friend will be safe here. He can go home in the morning.” Edwardo thanked them and left. He headed to meet up with Gran and was happy his friend was safe.