Crimson King’s POV

Why do I always get the short end of the stick? Not only do I have to lead a group, but I get the paladins. Dave wasn’t too bad, but the other two didn’t take direction well. So I get to babysit the idiots on the path with the least likelihood of combat, on top of their constant clanking with each movement. I headed out first, moving down a tunnel. It took a hard left and opened into a smaller room, with two pitchers and a large pool of water. There were three pedestals arranged in a triangle. The one with handprints was nearest the entrance, and two had flat bases with empty containers on them. While I waited on the others, I read the plaque.

Welcome to the Puzzling Path!

You will be tested with a series of puzzles. Should you pass them all on the first try, a reward shall be bestowed upon your group by Logia, goddess of puzzles. There are a few rules. Wrong answers will result in death. There are no resurrections allowed until the puzzle has been cleared.

First puzzle:

Here’s your first puzzle! Before you sit two containers. The lines on each represent three gallons and five gallons. Your task is to add exactly 4 gallons to the platform on the left (as viewed from the handprints) and add exactly seven gallons to the container on the right. When you have your answers, place unarmored hands on the prints.

“So, what do we have here?” Smiter practically shouted as he sauntered into the room.

“Get four and seven gallons in each container, we only have a three and five gallon containers though.” I answered, plotting out how to do it. The seven gallons would be easy, but I was getting hung up on the four gallons. Shrugging, I went and did that one first. “I’ll get the seven gallons quickly.” Filling up the five gallon container, I dumped it in to the right hand container. Filling up the five gallon one again, I used it to fill the three gallon container and added the remaining two gallons to the seven gallon container.

“That’s one done. Seven gallons. I need a bit to work out the four gallon one though.”

“I got this.” Smiter said, grabbing the container out of my hand. He poured the three gallons back in, and made some quick measurements using the widths of his fingers. He made a quick mark with his dagger, and filled up the three gallon container. Adding a little at a time, he kept going until he got to the mark.

“I don’t think that’s going to work.” I said, feeling uncomfortable.

“Relax, I got this. All we have to do is get exactly the difference between three and five gallons inside this container. Piece of cake.” Completely ignoring my trepidations, he dumped the water into the container on the left, spilling a bit in the process.

“You spilled –“ I started to point out.

“Relax, it’s on the pedestal so it still counts.” He interrupted. “Now, how do we test this?”

“Put your hands in the prints.” I said, fed up and hoping a death would take away some of his arrogance. “Make sure you don’t have armor on them, it has to be bare hands.”

He placed his hands on the pedestal, and clamps arose and held them in place. As a blue light lit up the containers, he spoke, “See? I knew AAAAAH! BASTARDS THAT HURTS!!!” He screamed as the light turned red, and his health started dropping rapidly while the clamps held his hands in place.

“[Greater healing][Cleanse][Detoxify][Healing light]!” Dr. HealYaButts tried desperately to save him, but the poisons kept stacking far faster than he could cast spells and it was incredibly fast acting. Seconds later he was dead, and the clamps released.

“You couldn’t have saved him, and don’t try and rez him just yet.” I said, placing a hand on Heal’s shoulder. “His arrogance killed him, and the room won’t let you rez him until we solve the puzzle.” That said, I walked over and started the process for getting seven gallons again. The water in and on the pedestals had conveniently dried up.

“I’ve got the four gallons if you don’t mind?” Dave asked, and I made a go ahead gesture, wondering how he would do it. He started out by taking three gallons from the five, and dumping the three back into the pool. The remaining two gallons went into the pedestal. He did it again and placed his hands on the altar. “Here goes nothing.” He said, and this time the pillars glowed blue then green instead of red. A door in the back of the room opened up, and he turned to Heal, “Go ahead and revive the idiot.”

Seconds later and Smiter was back on his feet. “Shut it and listen.” Dave snarled when he looked around and was about to complain. “This is a challenge, and we could have gotten a bonus from a goddess if we did it with zero errors. You cost us that bonus, so you don’t get to add in answers. You first have to talk it over with the group. In fact, I’m adding this rule to everyone. No answers are entered unless we talk it over. Got it?” Everyone nodded, and he continued, “Good. Now let’s go on to the next challenge.” Clanking over to the door, he led us into the next room.

This one had a mural on the wall, with several figures on it. I read the rules instead of further studying the design.

Trial 2: Crossing the River

There exists an uneasy truce between the peaceful Halflings and the brutal Split-tooth tribe. The group consists of three Split-tooth and five Halflings, and they desperately need to cross the river. The rules are as follows:

1) Everyone must end on the other side of the river

2) Each crossing in the boat must have at least one passenger

3) The Split-tooth must never equal or outnumber the Halflings, or the Halflings will be slaughtered

4) No fighting can occur in the boat

5) For counting purposes, once the boat reaches the shore assume that all disembark before returning.

6) The maximum occupants of the boat: 3 Halflings, One Split-tooth and two halflings, or two Split-tooth.

“Oh, I’ve seen this before.” Heal spoke up. “Give me a minute, it’s been a few years.” After that he started murmuring to himself, pointing back and forth. There were occasional grunts of annoyance, and a few “no, no that won’t work” but after about ten minutes he stood up and shouted, “Got it!”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Let’s hear it then.” Dave said.

“Ok, first trip is two Split-tooth. Send one back. Repeat so that there’s now one on the left and two on the right. Send three Halflings across, and one Halfling and one Split-tooth back. That leaves two Split-tooth and three Halflings on the left, and one and two on the right. Send three Halflings across, and the Split tooth back. Since we now have all five Halflings on the opposite side, we just need to keep going back and forth to get all three Split-tooth across and we’re done.”

“Looks good to me, how about you King?” Dave asked.

“Probably not the most efficient, but there’s no requirements for efficiency. Do it.” I replied, and Heal started forward until Smiter put his hand out.

“Hold on a second. Let me go through this, and let Heals talk me through it. I don’t think we should risk our healer on this.”

I looked at Dave and shrugged my shoulders, leaving the decision up to him. I was slightly impressed that Smiter wanted to make up for his previous mistake, though I wasn’t about to tell him that.

“Go ahead.” Dave nodded, and Smiter walked up to the wall. Following Heal’s directions, he moved the figures across the river, until all were on the other side. Once that was done, the entire wall glowed green and split down the middle of the river, opening our path to the next room.

“Well done, both of you.” Dave said, patting Heal on the shoulder. I moved past everyone, more comfortable in the point position even without the threat of enemies. As I walked down a short hallway, I slowed down. There was some clattering noises from the next room, and I didn’t want to aggro a massive group of enemies.

As I peered in through the doorway, keeping to the shadows, I was confused as to what was going on. There were two elevated platforms on opposite sides of the room. Each had a set of stairs leading up to them, but one set of stairs was facing us while the other was facing the room’s exit. Between the platforms the floor was slightly elevated, and it looked like a massive chessboard. There was a group of goblins on the other side of the room was a group of goblins with one ornately armored hobgoblin.

“Enter. We no attack. Follow rules.” The hobgoblin shouted, motioning me in and pointing to another sign. With nothing to lose as he had somehow seen through my stealth, I walked up to the sign and read it.

Trial 3: Check, check, checkers!

Pick a leader and duel against the Hobgoblin General in a normal game of checkers! Wait, that’s not fun. Magic checkers is though! Everyone gets a spear, and that is your only weapon. Your only skill is a diagonal lunge. Instead of leaping over enemy checkers to “kill” them, you perform a lunging thrust, piercing through them and carrying yourself to the next square.

Rules:

1) Your thrust must stop on an unoccupied square

2) Multiple kills are allowed as long as there are empty squares

3) One of your team must act as general, directing his forces below

4) Fill your back line with the remaining players of your group. Deaths will need to be resurrected.

5) Normal checkers rules apply, though you are not required to take a kill if you don’t wish to.

6) The players move first

7) If the players team loses, the general dies

“Dave, you any good at checkers?” I asked, turning to look at our group. “It looks like we get one shot at this, so if anyone is any good they need to speak up now.” When nobody spoke up, I sighed in annoyance. “Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll be up top, telling you when to move. Don’t mess this up, we only have one shot at it.”

Everyone agreed, and I placed them all as my back row. The most important set of checkers in the game, but for the adventurers it would be the most annoying part because I wouldn’t be moving them unless absolutely necessary. As we took our places, the goblins moved in to their own formation as their general ascended to the platform.

“Good luck human. You’ll need it.”

“Good luck to you as well general.” I said with a smile. Cracking my neck, I took the first move and implemented my strategy. It was simple, but that was the best part of it. Keep to the edges where possible. When possible, make sure that exchanges are either equivalent or weighed in my favor. And the most important rule, never move your back row. Since you must move them eventually, start with the piece in the corner and don’t move any other pieces. This will delay the opponent getting a kinged piece for as long as possible. Angus’ rules really helped me out here, as I wasn’t forced to take a jump.

The game was progressing to plan, and I smiled as the general was forced to move his back line first. I was getting ready to move to get a piece kinged, when what I had been dreading happened.

“God I’m bored. Let me kill this guy who’s been staring at me for so many turns.” It was Smiter, and he had already lowered his spear to make a move.

“SMITER DON’T YOU DARE MOVE!” I bellowed, causing him to flinch.

“This disgusting bastard has been flicking boogers at me for five turns! You gotta let me kill him!”

“I don’t care if you end up covered in boogers by the end, so long as we win. If you kill him, then you open up your spot to get a kinged piece. Which can then exit and cause havoc on the board. If you move without my say so, I’ll make sure that you get kicked from the raid.”

“I’ll back him on this Smiter. Just stand there and take it.” Dave said, getting agreements from Goldguard and Dr. HealYaButts.

“Damnit, well hurry up and win then.” He grumped, trying to cross his arms without dropping his spear. Minor rebellion successfully quelled, I moved and got a piece kinged as the general across the way frowned. From there on, it was a slaughter. With one piece kinged, the only thing that could stop me would be if they made it to a place where they couldn’t move. As my king played merry havoc among his remaining pieces, I got him down to where he had six pieces left, four of which were right in front of my back row.

“Alright Smiter, here’s your chance. Pierce through the bastard to your left.”

“Hells yeah!” He cried, lowering his spear. With a massive lunge, he shot through the goblin and ended it. The general smiled as he finally got his piece kinged.

“Here’s the plan guys. For now, Smiter moves across the board until he gets kinged. The only change to this is if that enemy king moves, then Dave or GoldGuard gets to kill it immediately. Smiter, I’ll call your name if you are good to move.” I saw the general grin, which was fine. I wanted him to think I would let him get into a tie game. We continued, and he waltzed right into my trap. In order to get his king safe, he had to walk into a double jump situation.

“GoldGuard, kill the piece to your left, then turn and kill the piece that will be to your right for a double kill.” I ordered, smiling as the general growled his displeasure. I was more than willing to take out two of his pieces in exchange for a king. “Heal, kill the guy to your right.” I ordered, leaving the hobgoblin with two kings and no other pieces. “New orders, Gold will dash across the board in a zig-zag pattern to get kinged. After that, Smiter gets kinged.” I smiled as the hobgoblin growled. He knew what I was up to.

Growing up, I had played countless hours of checkers with my brothers. We were too young for the intricacies of chess, but you can become nigh invincible in checkers if you have three kings. If you outnumber the enemy, it really is only a matter of time before you end them. And so began a half hour game of cat and mouse, as I slowly backed the hobgoblin into a corner. Once I had managed that, it was simple to keep him pinned in until I could move in and overtake his position.

“Well done human. Well done indeed.” He conceded, as he was forced to move his kings into vulnerable positions. As he lost his last king, the general also fell over dead.

“Nicely played King.” Dave called from below, as I headed down the stairs.

“Thanks. I was a bit rusty at first, but getting to three kings is key. Smiter, you nearly cost us again. You’re on thin ice already, I wouldn’t push it.” I said, before heading into the next hallway. To my surprise, after a short trip the hallway turned to the left. As I made the turn, I heard voices ahead. Familiar voices. Walking in to the open room, I found the mage portion of the raid chatting.

“Yo! Looks like King’s group made it!” Someone shouted as we entered the room. “How was it?”

“My head hurts from thinking.” I answered with a chuckle, and got a popup.

Congratulations!

You have successfully completed the puzzle portion of the raid. Though you didn’t succeed at Logia’s challenge, you still have earned a reward.

While I read the popup, a silver chest materialized next to our group.

“Open the chest! We ended up with several scrolls as well as a plethora of mana potions, more than enough to boost us through the rest of this dive.” Lucy said.

“I think the honor is yours, General.” Dave said with a chuckle, nudging me toward the chest.

“I’m never getting out of that nickname, am I?” I muttered, opening the chest. “Oh? Someone was very generous. Enough minor and major luck potions for the entire raid to have one. Minor grants 5% luck, major grants 25%.” I called out to cheers from everyone, which were swiftly silenced by the popup everyone got.

Warning!

Several members of your raid have fallen, and their initial resurrection timer has elapsed. If you return to the beginning of the dungeon or the last cleared boss room, you will find their bodies awaiting resurrection. Should you not resurrect them within 20 minutes, an additional penalty will be assessed.

“Damnit, healers and rogues, best speed to the front of the dungeon. Burn scrolls if you have to, I’m not looking forward to more penalties.”