At the table there was the typical paperwork: Name and emergency contacts. Known food or medicine allergies. Waiver of liability. As they filled out the forms, the man behind the registration desk asked, “Character names?”
“Galphalon,” replied TJ. “And a newbie.”
“Galphalon?” Allison repeated. “Where did you come up with that?”
TJ shrugged. “Dunno. Just sorta came to me. Like ten years ago. And I’ve stuck with it. Don’t be a hater.”
The administrator pulled up TJ’s file and was filling out a card of abilities and spells that TJ had access to for the weekend.
“I need to have proof that Galphalon can do all the things I say he can when we get out there and start playing,” TJ said in response to Allison’s unasked question. “If one of the judges has any doubt, I can just show them the card and we’re good to go. Saves a lot of time and confusion.”
She nodded her understanding.
The administrator finished the last card with a flourish. “Here you go. What is your friend playing? And does she know the rules?” He looked her costume up and down and seemed to come to the conclusion that no, she probably didn’t.
“She’s going to be healing for us this weekend, and yeah, I’ve explained the most important parts to her.”
“Healing. Good call. I’ve heard that the kobolds are down from the hills in force. Fighting will be fierce indeed.” He pulled out a fresh character sheet. “OK, a level one healer gets access to light heal, cure poison, stun, and holy smite. You get five casts a day, to be spread among those four spells. Which do you want to load up on?”
“She’ll take four heals and a cure poison. And give her a point in diplomacy, a point in maces, and a heavy armor proficiency.”
The man nodded and began filling out the character card.
“Wait,” Allison interrupted. “What’s that holy smite thing? That sounds really . . . smiteful.”
TJ shook his head. “It only does two points of damage with a successful hit. Trust me. We’ve got no shortage of damage- dealing ability between Jimmy, Stu, and yours truly. Those two points aren’t going to be a whole lot of good for anything. What we need is healing, ’cause each of those spells gives us back five health points. She’ll take the four heals and the cure poison.”
She raised her voice. “Wait a minute. You asked me to come and play because it would be fun. And part of the fun is killing things and waggling my fingers and stuff. I want to be able to smite things. Just once. So I can say I did.”
The registration guy gave him a sympathetic look.
TJ let out a sigh. “OK. Give her a smite. Who knows, maybe it will come in handy after all. But if I drop dead because you ran out of heals, I’m not going to be very happy with you. You hear?”
Allison gave him her best innocent look and batted her eyelashes. “Okeydokes, you’re the boss!”
They got the rest of the paperwork taken care of and Allison was handed a small metal carabiner with the tokens representing her skills and spells attached to it. The pair then headed back to the corner table. A new person had arrived. The boy’s face was green and covered in warts, and his hair was pure white. Completing the makeup was a pair of little horn nubs sticking out of his forehead.
“Oh hey,” TJ said. “Simon’s here!”
“Hi, Allison,” the whatever-it-was said, grinning as he stood.
Allison’s jaw dropped.
CHAPTER 3
Allison stood there, mouth agape, for what was certainly a socially awkward time. Finally, she was able to stammer, “W-whoaaaah.”
“Yeah, pretty cool, isn’t it?” TJ’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “I didn’t want to spoil the surprise for you, and I wasn’t sure if he’d come all made up anyway.” Allison glared, and his smile faltered. “Erm, be right back, guys. Gotta go pee.”
The rest of the group seemed just as amused by the revelation. “Sorta changes the weekend of hot guys, huh?” Chuck seemed amused beyond measure, and Allison’s look did nothing to suppress his mirth.
Simon looked back and forth between the two for a few moments before shrugging and returning to his seat. He patted the folding chair next to him. “Take a load off, Allie. We’ve got a little time to kill.” Reluctantly, Allison took the offered seat, with disbelief still registered on her face. “So you’re wondering why I’m here, dressed like an idiot, aren’t you?”
Color spread across her cheeks, and she mumbled, “You’re the one who used the i-word, not me.”
He smiled back. “Before we all ended up on that rec soccer team my dad coached, I was totally part of the D and D crew with Jimmy. But then my dad decided I’d be better at peewee football. That ended up taking a lot of my time, so I had to give up the gaming. Every so often I got in a free weekend to get dressed up and fight, but my gaming days are pretty much behind me now. This is my first chance to actually play in just about forever. I’m worried it may be my last.”
“Well, if this is to be your end, at least make it an end worthy of remembrance! At least, that’s what Théoden said in The Two Towers.” Jimmy grinned and raised a mock toast.
“Hear! Hear!” the others shouted, raising their own invisible glasses.
Simon smiled back at the group. “Thanks, guys. Anyway, I was a lot better at doing the makeup years ago. But if you don’t use your skills, you lose your skills, right? That’s what Dad always says.” He paused, lost in thought, before continuing. “What are you doing here? I never expected you to do this in a million years!”
“Well, you know, TJ finally roped me into it. I wasn’t doing anything else this weekend, so I figured I’d give it a shot.”
“You got a backstory?” Chuck interjected. “Or even a name?”
Allison looked back and forth between the boys. “Backstory?”
“Well, for example, my name is Phineas! I’m the best pickpocket and cat burglar in Westmarch. Or at least I was, until I crossed the wrong folks in the guild and had to hop a boat outta town. Met up with these fine gentlemen and offered them my services.” He jerked a thumb at Jimmy. “Always pays to have your own muscle, you know what I mean?”
Jimmy nodded. “I am Jameson MacCordish, from the northern tribes.” He grinned sheepishly. “I know, it’s kinda cliché, but it seemed cool when I was ten. Anyway, my village was destroyed by outlanders, and I left, seeking vengeance. Found it too. But that didn’t bring my family back to life, so I’ve been wandering ever since.”
Allison shook her head. “Well, I didn’t think of any of that. No name, and definitely no backstory. Is that going to be a problem?”
“Nah,” replied Jimmy. “Allison is as good a name as any, and with that hair of yours, maybe you’re from the North as well.” He screwed up his eyes. “In fact, let’s say you’re my best friend’s kid sister. The two of you were away from the village when it was sacked—I bet he was taking you to the temple to start as a novice. And the last time I saw him he asked me to look after you, so here you are. Fresh from the temple and out on your first adventure!”
Allison looked doubtful, but she gave in at the happy look on Jimmy’s face. “Kid sister. First adventure. Got it.”
“Oye! Oye!” A herald’s voice drifted in through a cracked window. “The king commands your attendance on the parade ground!” All conversation inside the lodge stopped, and bodies began moving toward the door.