The best/the worst ? I could see this quest being adapted into a rpg maker game, quite easily too.
Garrar would be happier, more fights to have in such a format.
Sounds like fun. If only I had the time, patience, and technical skills needed to put together an RPG Maker game.
*
Frida, You Magnificent Bastard, I Read Your Book!
'If you're going to cheat, please have the decency to do it when I'm not standing right in front of you,' says the Master of the Maze, sounding faintly amused.
'Hey, one of Evie's friends recently told me that "Walls have eyes and ears." I don't think there's anywhere in this place I could say anything that you wouldn't hear,' you say with a shrug.
'Good. You've learnt well,' he replies, disappearing as swiftly as he arrived. Now, there's no one else on the platform and the teleportation gate is free for you to use.
You stare at the buzzing golden fly, considering what to do with it, and then an idea occurs to you. Taking out the box of salad which Al-Khidr prepared for your lunch – and isn't it peculiar that he can always find fresh vegetables even in the middle of a radioactive wasteland? – you fish out a few leaves and bits of cucumber, holding them in your outstretched hand as if you were offering a treat to a dog. Then, when the fly hovers closer to you, seemingly interested, you back away slowly, up the steps and onto the platform.
'Vault Six,' you say, activating the teleportation gate. Glancing behind you, you catch a glimpse of a place that reminds you of where you first met Dr. Szechhh: it's dark, littered with rubble and broken machinery, and almost everything is covered in a thick layer of dust.
When the mysterious fly follows you, zooming so close to your hand that – for a moment – you have to swallow your fear that it will sink its "sharp fangs dripping with venom" into you, you whirl around and throw the entire box of salad through the open gate. As well as the loose pieces you're holding. All gone.
A moment later, the fly goes after it. Once it's through the gate, you can't see it anymore. You sent it away, into the fortress of one of your enemies.
'What was that in aid of?' asks Al-Khidr. 'If you'd told me that you didn't want salad, I could have made you something else. Or… I suppose you could have gone halfsies on Garrar's rat fricassee, if that's what you would have preferred.'
'Erm, yeah. I don't mind sharing,' says Garrar, without much enthusiasm.
'It's all part of my cunning plan. Lothangrim's probably the only living human being left in his fortress. If the fly wants to take a bite out of anyone, it'll have to take a bite out of him, right? So, if we stay here, we can ambush him when he's alone and surprised and hasn't had time to prepare any kind of defence,' you explain. 'Clever, huh?'
Everyone else is stunned. Or possibly distracted and thinking about something else. Either way, they're rendered speechless.
Al-Khidr holds his head in his hands as though nursing a migraine. In a tone of strained patience, he asks, 'How long do you expect us to wait here?'
You hesitate. 'Well… how long do you expect it'll take?'
'I have no idea. For a number of reasons. Firstly, that fly was hovering near us, but it wasn't acting aggressively. Vikentiy told me that it seemed exclusively attracted to him: while he was alive, it went to great lengths to pursue him and bite him, but it ignored everybody else. Now he's dead, I'm not sure how its behaviour will change. Will it choose another target? If so, who and why? There are too many things about this situation that I don't know.' He sighs heavily. 'Secondly, the vaults are large structures, big enough to contain hundreds of rooms. Unless the portal goes directly to where Lothangrim is hiding, the fly might never even get near him. Can it get through locked doors, or force fields, or any of the traps Lothangrim is bound to have put in the way? I have no way of knowing, but I'd be interested to find out. Thirdly–'
'What if he's no longer human!' Garrar excitedly interrupts. 'Back where I'm from, necromancers were always trying to turn themselves into liches. Sorta like undead skeletal mages you can't permanently kill unless you destroy their fill-ack-tree. Maybe he's turned himself into one of them! He's evil enough!'
'WHAT'S A "FILL-ACK-TREE"?' asks Glitch.
'A magic jar containing a piece of their soul,' Garrar replies.
'Lothangrim is not to be underestimated. He is clever and resourceful,' says Evie. 'It is entirely possible that he might capture the fly, learn how to synthesize the chemical which gives its venom such unique properties, and then use it to improve his undead minions.' She cocks her head to one side, considering. 'It's what I'd do, if I were him.'
'What are you suggesting?' you ask.
'Teleporting zombie shock troops.'
You laugh, but she looks blankly at you and it doesn't seem like she's joking. 'What, you're serious? You've fought them before? Or something similar?'
She gives a shrug. 'Probably.'
Al-Khidr gazes bemusedly at her until it becomes clear that she's going to say anything else. Then, awkwardly, he turns to you and says, 'So, there you have it. Plenty of reasons why Lothangrim will probably never come here. We can't afford to wait forever, Frida.'
'ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE THAT THE EVIL NECROMANCER MIGHT BE TELEPORTED HERE, WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO WAIT. I DOUBT YOU'D WANT TO LEAVE IT UNGUARDED IF HE COULD USE IT TO TRANSPORT HIS UNDEAD HORDES PAST THE CITY'S DEFENCES.'
'The longer we wait, the greater the chance that the fabric of reality will be torn asunder and this entire world will suddenly cease to exist,' says Al-Khidr, frowning. 'I wish you'd discussed your plan with the rest of us before putting it into action, Frida.'
'DADDY IS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU.' Your robot companion waggles a long, articulated metal finger at you.
'NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY.'
'There's no need for that, Glitch,' says Al-Khidr in a long-suffering tone. 'Especially not if you're going to make it sound weirdly sexual.'
'UH... RIGHT,' says Glitch. He looks astonished to have been told off by the normally mild-mannered and non-confrontational bookseller.
'I SUPPOSE WE'RE ALL UNDER A LOT OF STRESS HERE.'
Garrar crosses his arms and puts on a determined expression. 'Right. So… looks like there's only one thing we can do. Attack Lothangrim and kill him before he can find out about this place. Use that gate to teleport into Vault Six, past the outer layer of defences. Right now, while he's sent most of his horde out to fight the ticktockmen. We could strike into the heart of his fortress, chop him to pieces, destroy his fill-ack-tree if he's got one, and then… uh, sneak out while his undead minions are still wondering what's going on. Good plan, huh? What say you?'
What do you decide to do? (Choose one)
[] Wait here in the hope that Lothangrim will be bitten by the time fly and teleported to 'the End of Time'.
[] Head back to Vault Three. Rest for the night.
-[] Assume that Lothangrim won't be bitten by the time fly.
[] Post a guard here while the remainder of your group heads back to Vault Three to rest for the night.
-[] Who do you want to be the guard? (Write in: who?)
[] Agree to Garrar's plan: assault Vault Six. Attempt to kill Lothangrim as soon as possible.
[] Do something else (write in).
