Matthew Nesheim
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Chapter 33: Calista - An Unwilling Participant
🕑 Added 2023-10-20 05:03:26 +0000 UTCThey returned to Captain Padral and accepted the quest. Grumner managed to negotiate some additional gear. Grappling hooks, ropes, tents, ponchos, and climbing tools were all in order. Then Lefty squeezed Captain Padral for a heavy crossbow, an pair of extra swords, and a proper map.
Next, they gathered at the gazebo to discuss their plans. There, Grumner distributed the gear and then unfolded the map on the table. Everyone gathered around, including Feathers, who jumped up on the table as Grumner finished straightening the map.
“It just so happens that I think I encountered this dungeon in my past life. At least, I think I did. Sommerdale was the beginner area and a lot of the names here look the same to me. However, I don’t remember the fortress being called Rummadrane.”
“I guess that’s a good sign,” Calista said. “So how do we get there?”
Grumner pointed to their position on the river, “As I see it, this walkway up the cliff leaves us off right about here, at the base of this foothill. From there, we’ll have to make our way uphill until we reach the …”
Then the door to the great hall flew open as Smith and Smithey emerged carrying a man in dirty gold robes. Calista immediately recognized Kevin, who was crying and bleating for them to put him down.
“No, please … you don’t understand …” the game master blubbered. “I don’t have any weapons! I don’t have any skills or magic or abilities or … or … or anything!”
The game master continued to protest as the two soldiers carried him out into the yard where they tossed him into a mud puddle where he landed with a splash.
Smithey laughed as he pointed to the adventurers gathered inside the gazebo, “Maybe they can use you as a distraction then.”
“You can’t do this to me!” Kevin cried. “I’m not a player. I just work here.”
Smith laughed, “And so do we, little man, but the captain ordered for you to go and so you go.” Smithey slapped his hands together a few times as Smith looked up into the rain and laughed. The hulking guardsman then gave a little shrug and spat in the direction of the game master. “You have my pity, little fool. But if the four of them have to brave the dangers of Wraath, then so do you.”
Kevin gaped as the two soldiers sauntered away. Then, when Smith and Smithey reached the keep, the game master’s lip began to tremble. As the door slammed in his face, man screamed, “BUT I’M NOT AN ADVENTURER!”
There was a quiet moment where everyone in the gazebo silently decided to let the man cry it out. Minutes passed as the man in the gold robes wept and blubbered. Finally, Grumner cleared his throat and continued, “As I was saying, this walkway leads up to the top of the cliff where a path apparently follows the river out into the hills. It’s my plan that we leave the path as soon as possible as any goblins worth their salt are going to be watching the road for anyone coming out of the fort.”
“Agreed,” said Calista as she pointed down at the map. “What’s this here?”
“Krakoam Pass.” Grumner answered. “We’ll have quite a climb until we reach it, but once we do, that should lead us right up to Rumadrane. I’m sure that if they have the fortress properly manned, that the pass will be watched, but that’s a risk we’ll have to take.”
“That looks different from the way I went. That’s the northwest side,” Calista said as she pointed on the map, “If I remember, I fled down this ravine on the southwest side. However, if we’re supposed to meet the nymph on the pass, then we’ll have to take the pass. If we can make it there.”
“That is the plan,” Grumner agreed.
The duck quacked as he adjusted his feathers.
“Feathers would like to know if the tunnels are a dungeon,” Lefty said.
Grumner scratched his beard, “I’m pretty sure they are, but to be honest, I’m not one hundred percent sure as it’s been a long time since I’ve been here. If it is, it’s a pretty easy one if I remember right.”
The duck let out a satisfied warble.
They spent a few more minutes discussing the route, but in the end they agreed that Grumner’s plan was their best course. On their way back from talking to Captain Padral, they had all agreed to sneak into the fortress and have a good look around and that if they didn’t think they could kill the dragon that they would simply sneak their way back out and continue their way east into the Empire. So when they had finalized their plans, Grumner folded up the map as the rest of them went about packing their gear. When she had finished, Calista was fastening the top of her pack when she looked out at Kevin who was still sitting on his knees in the middle of the mud puddle. Tears running down his cheeks, he looked utterly despondent. A feeling of pity hit her then, so she leaned over to Grumner and whispered, “Do we have any extra gear for this guy?”
He nodded, “No, but I can go talk to the captain again.”
A few minutes later, Grumner returned with a pack and a sword with scabbard and belt. He handed the gear to Calista who, with a frown, carried it over and set next to the mud puddle. The game master looked up at her with a forlorn expression. “I … I’m not even an adventurer. I’m literally just a glorified customer service rep. I can’t do anything.”
Calista leaned down and put a hand on his shoulder. “Look, we don’t want to do this either, but at least we got you some gear.”
“I have literally never swung a sword,” he said. “Not in the game or real life. I don’t even really like fantasy.”
“I’m sorry Kevin. We’ll do our best to keep you safe,” she said.
“But … but I don’t even know what to do! I’ve never even played Sable Unlimited, let alone fought a monster or anything.”
“Well now you’re one of us,” she said. “So just stick with our little party and we’ll all see if we can’t make it through this thing together, okay?”
Kevin watched as Feathers waddled past him. “I’ll bet the duck is even more useful than I am.”
Feathers quacked dismissively.
“He says that’s a pretty high bar, actually. So don’t hold yourself to that one,” Lefty said with a smile.
Kevin, confused, whined again, “I don’t know what you mean. I don’t know what any of this means.”
Just then, a crack of thunder came from above as a web of lightning arced across the sky. In response, the rain started coming down even harder.
Grumner looked up at the clouds as he growled, “Neither do we, but if we don’t get out there and figure this mission out, we’re never going to know what any of this means.”
