Clinging to the rocks with ease, Phlixx gave me a mournful look. “You want me to leave you? Now, in your time of need?”
“Go!” I commanded. “Or I will never speak to you again!”
That did it. Phlixx blinked in recognition of what I said and bolted up the cliff wall. “I shall do as you bid me, but only out of love for you!”
I watched as the little ferret zipped up with a speed I could never attain, no matter how many skill points I put into my climbing ability.
Satisfied, I then twisted my torso around to look at the dragon. And it was as I thought. The dragon’s attention was now on the egg in Phlixx’s pack. Instead of flying at me, it had altered its course to intercept my love-lorn companion.
Pressing my stomach against the rocks to maintain my balance on the overhang, I extended a hand. A longbow appeared within my grip.
“Okay,” I said. “Only going to have one shot at this.”
The dragon had now flown up to the rock wall and slowed to a stop. Its huge wings flapping rapidly to keep level. The wind it generated buffeted me and Phlixx, who was now in full panic mode.
“Begone, vile lizard! Or I will turn your hide into boots!” Phlixx cried, all the while never altering his climb.
Careful of my precarious balance, I reached behind my shoulder to my quiver which was empty. I uttered a word, “Kezzan,” and a single arrow appeared within the quiver. I pulled it out. It was ebony in color, and shimmered with magical energy. Made from the bone of a greater demon, this arrow had cost me dearly to get. But now I had to use it.
Above me the dragon inhaled, a great and powerful noise as it filled its tremendous lungs. It would blast Phlixx off the wall with fire and probably take me and the entire cliff face with it.
Sensing the end, Phlixx stopped his climbing and was now rapid firing his crossbow at the beast. The bolts bounced harmlessly off its thick hide.
With a steady grip I aimed at the only exposed part of the dragon’s body I had a hope of piercing. One of its eyes.
A chat request suddenly flashed at my lower vision. It was from Mudhoof, a fellow player and friend. Annoyed, I dismissed it and focused on the dragon.
At the end of its inhalation, the dragon’s eyes widened. This was it. It was going to exhale death upon us all.
I fired.
And in the next moment the dragon shrieked in agony, and reared back, the demon arrow jutting out of its left eye. The beast, confused and in pain, blasted fire upwards toward the sky.
Then the dragon turned away with a roar.
Phlixx cheered and shook a fist at the retreating dragon. “That’ll teach you to mess with my love!”
Relieved, I resumed climbing. No sense sitting around in case the dragon came back. When I finally pulled myself over the lip of the cliff edge, I found Phlixx standing on a boulder, hands on his little hips, looking proud.
“Did I do good?” He asked eagerly.
I laughed. “You did superb, Phlixx. Thank you.” I reached down and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Now, the egg please.”
“Of course!” He said, beaming and pulled the egg out of his pack with both hands and handed it to me. “What will we do now? Defeat another dragon?”
I looked at the glittering egg which reflected my avatar’s face across its gold surface. “No more dragons. Not for a while. We need to get out of here and back to the safety of the travel gate area.”
We walked in the direction of the base camp, where I had entered this adventure zone to finish the golden egg quest.
I hefted the egg in one hand while keeping an eye on the murky sky above. “Then we’ll find out if this thing was worth almost having to re-roll a new character for.”
CHAPTER TWO
Heading back to base camp was another dangerous ordeal entirely.
I picked my way down the sloping side of the volcano, avoiding steaming crevices and vents which belched hot ash. All the while I kept an eye on the cloudy sky.
Only on one occasion did I feel the need to hide behind a huge rock as a loud screeching echoed from every direction. Phlixx shivered dramatically as he clutched at my shoulder. But when a vengeful dragon did not making a fiery appearance, I continued on.
At the furthest edge of the volcano the terrain opened to a series of hills covered with the remnants of a forest. Blackened trees smoldered and what little vegetation existed was buried under mounds of ash.
Now I grew more cautious. The relative open area of the volcano gave me a clear view of anyone approaching. But here in the burned out forest things got to be close quarters. I was in a player versus player area. A PvP zone. Another player could come along and attack me with impunity. If I died, they would have access to all the items in my inventory; weapons, gold, the contents of my backpack and the golden egg. I’d worked hard for the egg and had no intention of giving it up to anyone without a fight.
A path led the way through the blackened trees toward the base camp. As the main artery to the quest area of the volcano, it was from the camp’s direction I was likely to run into other players. So I walked to one side, through the trees while keeping the path in view, Phlixx skipping along by my side.
But by the time I reached the base camp I’d encountered no other players heading in either direction. As I passed over the edge of the camp’s perimeter a message ‘Safe Zone’ appeared at the top of my vision, then faded away. Here, no one could hurt or kill me. Even casting helpful spells on someone, like healing, could not be done unless specifically permitted by the receiving player. I relaxed.
The base camp wasn’t much to look at. It was in an open area cleared of trees with a large bonfire at its center. To one side hunched an old crone with various wares and goods splayed over a mat on the ground.
I wandered too close, and she keyed in on me. “Hello, weary traveler! Would you like to look at my wares?”
“No, thanks,” I said, mostly out of habit as something I would say to her in the real world. But here, the old crone was a simple construct of the game, one with a single task, to sell me goods.
“Are you certain?” She continued hopefully as I passed by. “Salve for your wounds? Ale for your aching mind?”
I ignored her and walked past, but she caught Phlixx’s interest. With the old crone’s attention on me the ferret crept behind her and lifted the back of her robe. He peered underneath then shrieked in dismay.
The crone whirled on him, waving her hands. “Begone, rat! Or I’ll throw you in a cooking pot!”
Phlixx had pinwheeled away, wide-eyed and aghast. He collapsed to the ground and made a show of retching up air. “I’ve seen your wares, lady, and they cannot be unseen!” he wailed.
I walked around the bonfire and stood before the clearing’s only other feature.
A travel gate.
The gate was a huge circle which stood on its edge, mounted on a base with a short series of stairs leading up to it. Its edge was marked with various ruins of an ancient language my avatar did not understand, and these emitted a soft yellow glow. The middle surface diameter of the circle was silver and shimmered like a pond. My avatar’s reflection played across its strange surface.
I’d arrived through this gate to search for the golden egg.
Not yet ready to change areas I turned away and sat on a fallen log next to the bonfire. Phlixx bounded over to sit at my side. “Can I see the pretty egg, again? Please?” He begged.
I glanced around. Other than the old crone who still stared at me expectantly, there was no one else. “Why not?” I said, wanting a better look at it, too.