I felt Tyler sliding back up over the edge as the creature shrieked in frustration. Its shadowy form clung to Tyler's leg, fueled by a hunger. It would not be denied its prize. Cliff and Sam stood behind me now pelting the beast with small stones. They provided the perfect distraction, the beast released Tyler from it grip and focused on my friends. Inch by inch I hauled Tyler up, my arms burning with the effort. With a one last tremendous heave I wrenched Tyler over the lip of stone onto the narrow ledge, clutching him close as I spun to face the creature. Its coal-red eyes burned with wrath as it swiveled it head between me and the others. I grabbed my sword from where it had fallen, Same held the silver key and taunted the beast.
" I hope this has a little magic left." I gave Sam a thumbs up and plunged my sword into the heart of the beast. Sam focused a weak but steady light onto the shadowy monster. With an angry beast the creature fell back into the lava, dissolving into fire again.
Sam knelt beside Tyler's bleeding leg and placed healing poultice from his pack. The herb-infused mud gave off an earthy, medicinal aroma as he scooped out a handful and began applying it liberally to the puncture wounds. He pushed it deep into the torn flesh. Tyler groaned through clenched teeth, his hands balling into fists as Sam worked.
"Easy, I'm going as gently as I can," Sam murmured, smoothing the cool mud over ragged claw marks. The bleeding had slowed but not stopped entirely, seeping into the poultice as Sam layered it on. Once the entire injury was covered in a thick coat of mud, He unrolled a long strip of clean bandage and wrapped it tightly around Tyler's thigh, securing the poultice in place. Tyler's breath hissed between his teeth at every pass. Tying off the ends securely, Sam sat back to survey his handiwork.
"The bleeding's slowed. I know it hurts, but the herbs will help prevent infection while also numbing some of the pain." Tyler's face was still pale and drawn, but his eyes met with Sam. "Thank you, I think you have saved me and my leg."
" Just don't go around getting caught by monsters again," Sam winked and smiled.
At the end of the bridge we arrived at a small rectangular platform hardly big enough for us to comfortably stand. In front of us stood an ominous doorway more than twenty feet tall. It was hewn from the same glossy black stone as the cavern walls. The door itself reminded me of the pictures I had seen of the ancient stone architecture of Machu Picchu. The seams of the door and the wall surrounding it were barely perceptible. The only distinguishing features between the wall and the door were two circular door knockers formed of rusting iron, each the size of a man's head. Centered beneath the knockers was a single keyhole. From that keyhole emanated an unearthly rust glow that pulsed. A tension settled over us as we stood before that towering, forbidding doorway. The seamless melding of the door into the wall suggested it had never been opened for as long as this subterranean chamber had existed.
As we approach the door, glowing blue letters begin to emerge in the air as if being scribed by an invisible hand.
New Achievement Unlocked: Not Bad for a Group of Newbs You entered the Cavern of Sorrows and solved the riddles on your first try. Fantastic! Reward: Hematite Explorer Pack - Contains supplies for navigating the Nine Realms, including bedroll, rope, rations and a basic first aid kit.
New Achievement Unlocked: Key Keepers You have acquired all three Arcane Keys. But will you know what to do with them when the time comes? Reward: Garnet Adventure Pack - Additional equipment for facing dangers ahead, including a lamp, tinderbox, additional rations and an empty journal for recording discoveries.
New Achievement Unlocked: Where Did You Get Those Ridiculous T-Shirts and Shorts? Do you really think you can traverse the Nine Realms dressed like that? You really should have come better prepared. Reward: Hematite Armor Box - Contains four sets of sturdy leather armor, boots, gloves, cloaks, daggers and basic shields. At least now you'll have a fighting chance!
New Achievement Unlocked: Crude Weapons Won't Do Here Who gave you those toothpicks? If you're going to fight monsters and win, you need a hero's kit! Reward: Garnet Weapon Kit - Twin magical blades that never dull, a bow and arrows, and a staff to aid in channeling spells. These will serve you far better than whatever you brought along you.
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As you progress through the game the usefulness and value of your rewards perks and achievements will increase. But to get better rewards you must complete the level you are playing. You are allowed a maximum of 168 hours to complete the lower levels of the game. As the levels increase in difficulty you will be awarded additional time. The amount of time you receive will be determined by your combined skill levels.
If any of you die along the way you will be reincarnated a maximum of 3 times within the realm you are playing. However if one of you dies all of you will have your levels ranks and skills revert to level one. So don't die.
In this ward of the game there are nine realms. Your opponent is hiding on one of them. He is unaware of your presence but that won't last forever. Once he detects you he will either try to eliminate you or shift to a different ward where he will continue his plans for the apocalypse. You must navigate the perils of each realm defeating guardians and bypassing traps. You must unlock access to the next level while staying alive.
The realms will test your teamwork and skills to the limit. They will require strategy and quick thinking to overcome increasingly deadly challenges. If you survive and advance far enough to face your opponent, it will be found at the heart of his stronghold. Your success will take all your combined prowess to defeat him before his plans come to fruition. Success is not guaranteed but glory awaits if you complete the quest and thwart the apocalypse. You have been granted a chance to save not just the Nine Realms but all existence. If you fail and perish in the attempt to stop the apocalypse your fate will become the stuff of legends. The trials ahead may grind your souls to dust but yielding is not and never was an option.
The future remains unwritten, waiting only on you to craft a destiny for all humanity.
Good Luck!
As the last glowing word materializes in the air, the text begins to fade. The luminescent blue letters slowly dissolving into particles of light that wink out one by one. Before the last traces of the message disappear the chamber descends again into shadows. The game system had given its guidance for this level and a hint of what we could expect for future the future. We stood in silence for a long moment, the reality of our situation was starting to sink in. For the first time I realized the enormity of our predicament then Tyler said something that tore me away from my thoughts.
"Nine realms to navigate, each more dangerous than the last. Do we even have a chance?" Tyler asked
"We barely survived the first chamber. How will we defeat the opponent with whatever apocalyptic plans he's hatching?" Sam added. " Leather armor has its limits:"
"We have to approach it one challenge at a time. Just like we do in the gaming room. This is no different. We'll gain experience and equipment as we go, and we have each other. As long as we work as a team, nothing stands a chance against us!" I said.
"I hope you're right. We're not really heroes...we've just stumbled into something way bigger than us." Tyler said.
"We may not be heroes yet. But we could be, if we rise to the occasion. We are here for a reason. Magnus chose us. let's do this." Sam roused.
" Well then it is either glory eternal or death. I say we fight for the glory!" Cliff brandished his sword. "The quest calls us, let's answer it together!"
"The opponent won't know what hit him," I added.
Sam approached the looming doorway and pulled from his pack the three keys, one rust, one silver and one gold. He held each key up to the lock, examining the key and lock for similarities. The rust key seemed to be made of the same ancient, pitted metal as the lock, darkened with age but still retaining a hint of reddish hue. As Sam slid the rust key into the lock, the edges of the door started to glow a red ochre. Every line of runic script carved into its surface suddenly ignited. We noticed something sliding out from between the crack of the door frame.
A writhing, fire centipede with spiny legs clicked and scraped against the stone as it emerged as if by some dark magic. It's venomous mandibles gnashed together and it's antennae twitched as if tasting the air. The centipede uncoiled to its full length, more than twelve feet in length and as round as a fifty gallon drum . Its armored body covered in plates of dark scales and emblazoned with stars like patterns that smoldered from the inside. It was as if someone had placed branding irons fresh from the forge across each one of its armored plates. Poisonous smoke rose from its rippling shell, cloaking the beast in a haze of menacing heat that floated off its body. Its bulbous eyes glowed like beads of hot glass. The bug scanned our ranks, hissing at us. Cliff approached the it, His sword at the ready. The monster reared up clicking its jaws and gnashing venom slicked fangs. It raised its hooked forelegs in warning and then moved to attack.