crazy.”
Mudhoof snorted. “We've been overwhelmed from the get-go. I like a challenge and all, and yeah, obtaining a Legendary Item should be tough, but that out there -,” he pointed a thumb in the direction of the former entrance. “That is just plain FILTERED.”
I offered a rueful grin. “You will get no argument from me.”
Feign said, “Any idea what happened to Thorm? Is he now a part of the Demon King's army? How would that work? He's a player.”
“I dunno,” I said. “Let's see if I kind send him a chat request.”
To my surprise, Thorm answered. As the chat window opened, I angled it for the others to view.
I looked at the window in surprise. It was Thorm, but he wasn't wearing his shiny armor, or his huge helmet. Instead, he had on a simple white jerkin. In his hand he held a wooden training sword.
The first words Thorm said was, “Did you get my stuff?”
Despite myself, I laughed. “No, Thorm, sorry. We were kind of busy as you noticed.”
Mudhoof said, “Dude. What happened? Last we saw you were being turned into a pretzel by the Demon twit.”
Thorm shrugged. “I'm not entirely sure. As soon as he zapped me I lost control of my avatar. I could see what was happening but was helpless. None of my icons would work. Then I found myself here.” He turned to look behind him.
Other very blond men and women were running around a grassy field chasing pigs and trying to hit them with wooden swords. The Holy Knight newbie zone.
“You died,” I said, aghast. “Oh, Thorm, I am so sorry about that. We tried to help.”
Thorm shrugged and smiled. “Not my first re-roll and won't be my last either. Just have to start the grind again. Unfortunately, this means you guys are a man down.”
“You were our main healer, too,” Mudhoof said. “Things got a whole lot more difficult. And it's bad enough already.”
“Maybe my death was fortuitous,” Thorm said.
“Why is that?” I asked.
Thorm smiled. “Because now I can go log in some hours at work. Help pay for my rent.”
Mudhoof looked confused. “Work? Rent? What are those?” He laughed.
“Sorry, guys,” said Thorm. “Good luck with the quest and don't forget me if you finish it.” He grinned.
“You're still an equal partner,” I said. Mentioning the split deposit didn't feel like it would lift anyone's mood at the moment. I'd save that for later because we'd probably need some good news after we all re-rolled.
“I'm not worried,” Thorm said.
Mudhoof said, “I'll send you a care package of good gear to help you level and gold, too. Once I get to a town with a mailbox. And based on how things are going, you might not have to wait too long.”
Thorm held up his tiny wooden sword. “Well, if you'll excuse me. I have a butcher who has asked for ten dead pigs. Then he'll want ten more after that. And ten after that. Etcetera, etcetera.”
As he turned to join his fellow pig chasing newbie-knights the chat screen closed.
“Bummer,” said Mudhoof, shaking his head.
Feign peered down the pitch black mine tunnel. “I always hated dungeons. Enclosed spaces and I do not get along.”
“Well, you're in luck,” said Mudhoof.
“Why?”
“Because this not a dungeon. It's a mine.” The minotaur grinned.
Feign frowned.
I tried to push the guilt I felt for Thorm's demise out of my mind and called up the quest log.
' After surviving the encounter with the Demon King, your only choice now is to delve deeper into the mine and maybe find out how he gained entrance into this realm .'
“Delve deeper,” I said. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Our only one, apparently,” Feign said.
“Hey, Snowball,” said Mudhoof. “Think you can make us a couple of those glow orbs.”
“Of course,” said Feign. Two more orbs paired off from his and floated over to hover above Mudhoof and I.
Mudhoof snorted. “We've been overwhelmed from the get-go. I like a challenge and all, and yeah, obtaining a Legendary Item should be tough, but that out there -,” he pointed a thumb in the direction of the former entrance. “That is just plain FILTERED.”
I offered a rueful grin. “You will get no argument from me.”
Feign said, “Any idea what happened to Thorm? Is he now a part of the Demon King's army? How would that work? He's a player.”
“I dunno,” I said. “Let's see if I kind send him a chat request.”
To my surprise, Thorm answered. As the chat window opened, I angled it for the others to view.
I looked at the window in surprise. It was Thorm, but he wasn't wearing his shiny armor, or his huge helmet. Instead, he had on a simple white jerkin. In his hand he held a wooden training sword.
The first words Thorm said was, “Did you get my stuff?”
Despite myself, I laughed. “No, Thorm, sorry. We were kind of busy as you noticed.”
Mudhoof said, “Dude. What happened? Last we saw you were being turned into a pretzel by the Demon twit.”
Thorm shrugged. “I'm not entirely sure. As soon as he zapped me I lost control of my avatar. I could see what was happening but was helpless. None of my icons would work. Then I found myself here.” He turned to look behind him.
Other very blond men and women were running around a grassy field chasing pigs and trying to hit them with wooden swords. The Holy Knight newbie zone.
“You died,” I said, aghast. “Oh, Thorm, I am so sorry about that. We tried to help.”
Thorm shrugged and smiled. “Not my first re-roll and won't be my last either. Just have to start the grind again. Unfortunately, this means you guys are a man down.”
“You were our main healer, too,” Mudhoof said. “Things got a whole lot more difficult. And it's bad enough already.”
“Maybe my death was fortuitous,” Thorm said.
“Why is that?” I asked.
Thorm smiled. “Because now I can go log in some hours at work. Help pay for my rent.”
Mudhoof looked confused. “Work? Rent? What are those?” He laughed.
“Sorry, guys,” said Thorm. “Good luck with the quest and don't forget me if you finish it.” He grinned.
“You're still an equal partner,” I said. Mentioning the split deposit didn't feel like it would lift anyone's mood at the moment. I'd save that for later because we'd probably need some good news after we all re-rolled.
“I'm not worried,” Thorm said.
Mudhoof said, “I'll send you a care package of good gear to help you level and gold, too. Once I get to a town with a mailbox. And based on how things are going, you might not have to wait too long.”
Thorm held up his tiny wooden sword. “Well, if you'll excuse me. I have a butcher who has asked for ten dead pigs. Then he'll want ten more after that. And ten after that. Etcetera, etcetera.”
As he turned to join his fellow pig chasing newbie-knights the chat screen closed.
“Bummer,” said Mudhoof, shaking his head.
Feign peered down the pitch black mine tunnel. “I always hated dungeons. Enclosed spaces and I do not get along.”
“Well, you're in luck,” said Mudhoof.
“Why?”
“Because this not a dungeon. It's a mine.” The minotaur grinned.
Feign frowned.
I tried to push the guilt I felt for Thorm's demise out of my mind and called up the quest log.
' After surviving the encounter with the Demon King, your only choice now is to delve deeper into the mine and maybe find out how he gained entrance into this realm .'
“Delve deeper,” I said. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Our only one, apparently,” Feign said.
“Hey, Snowball,” said Mudhoof. “Think you can make us a couple of those glow orbs.”
“Of course,” said Feign. Two more orbs paired off from his and floated over to hover above Mudhoof and I.
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