Chapter 7: Game Night Rules Part Two

It was there, Rules of the Black Arts for Advanced Users. I softly ran my fingertips down the spine of the book. I was so thrilled it had not been taken, I hugged my backpack.

As I released the hug, I was relieved that the anxiety had lifted. Its void filled with vivid and enjoyable thoughts about showing the book to everyone. I pulled the book out and flipped through its pages. I was eager to explore how we would apply it to our adventures.

The booming, guttural voice of an orthodox chant interrupted my stupor. Weird Nikki’s musical time check/countdown to the game start was underway. I needed to get back to the table.

I pushed the book back into its snug spot. Then I zipped the backpack and flung it over my shoulder.

When I re-entered the room, Weird Nikki slightly lowered the sound. I guessed the increased volume was a beacon for me.

I stood by my seat and secured my bag under the table beside me. Everyone else was already standing by their chairs.

We all waited to be seated.

Since Weird Nikki took on the role of the GM, she had introduced a ritual aspect to the game. It took some time to get used to, but it grew on us.

She walked over to our ceremonial game night candle and lit it. Standing there, she draped a black shroud over her face. She then turned and sat at the head of the table. From that point on until the piss break, no one saw her face. She was now fully immersed in her role as the GM.

One by one, everyone else took their seats.

I, a Nephilim sorcerer called Malvic the Chaos-Ryder, had the second seat at the table.

Next, Gene, a human cleric known as Vaughn Cipher, lifted the tail of his simplified hussar overcoat to not sit on it. He wore that bizarre coat everywhere. He claimed it was crucial to his station as the Cleric of Stories.

Then, Myles, a dark elf rogue named Sin Alerion, took his place among the seated.

He was still tugging at his rogue bracelets. Once settled, he swept his hood over his head. Then he adjusted a tuft of his brown hair to cover his left eye, and the rest of his face fell into the shadows.

Finally, Nate, a Cimmerian warrior bearing the title Cull the Bloodsoaked, nestled into position.

All ten of his fingers shone with pewter and silver rings. He had pulled his long, dark hair back into a ponytail and donned his ornate warrior headband.

We all sat still, silent for a few more minutes, as the chant ended.

In the past, we all used to smile and giggle as we waited. But over the years, we grew pretty serious about channeling our characters. Entering the world was now the most solemn part of the evening.

The chant transitioned into the beginning of the soundtrack for the night. Then the voice of the GM flowed from the speakers.

GM
“It’s time to enter your avatars. At this time, go ahead and put on your AR glasses.”

We pushed on a compartment embedded in the table. It made a slight popping sound as it unlatched and slowly rolled out with the AR glasses. Once we removed the eyewear the compartment closed. One by one, we equipped the AR glasses. The built-in mini speakers in the arms of the glasses hummed with the subtleties of the soundtrack.

Finally, the GM hit the power button. Both the glasses and table lit up with a beautiful LED glow. It gave me chills every time it happened.

Our wildly imaginative avatars twisted into sight as they formed over us. Then, proudly hovering in front of us, our party’s coat of arms, showcasing a heraldic dog, rotated in place.

GM
“Prepare, party of Nightshade. It is now time to return to your world of Eurydice.”

First, a swooshing sound emulating free-falling rang through the entire sound system, immediately followed by an array of lights and colors that filled our vision. It simulated traveling to another world through a portal.

Three buttons pulsated in the center of the rushing lights, directing us to select a player mode.

Button one—first-person mode enabled a perspective from the avatar similar to VR. Button two—third-person blocked mode only allowed the holographic screen to be viewable, masking the surrounding table. Finally, button three—third-person avatar mode. This setting allowed us to see our 3D avatars surrounding the table and our miniature avatars on the tabletop screen.

We all pressed free mode. The lights whipped away. Then our avatars rose one by one from their slumber until the last stood visible on the tabletop.

Their awakening powered our cDecks, revealing our character sheets. Swiping left to right, I opened my character’s core stats, features, inventory, etc. Two of the sweetest things about the cDecks—one, it updated all stats in real-time, and two, as we progressed through the game, even the GM’s bonuses or disadvantages showed.

GM
“Welcome back to Eurydice, Nightshade.”

The terrain of the landscape unfolded on the holographic table.

Our characters stood on black sand. Distinguishable hexagonal rocks protruded from the mountainside behind us. On our right side, off in the distance, purple ocean waves crashed against the rocks on the beach.

We all sounded off with excitement for our return. I shouted in character, “Shit yeah, finally released from the dreariness of the base world.” Swiping my finger in the air across the AR control screens, I made my character emote a deep stretch.

I took a quick stock of my character. I suspected from our previous session that the beginning of this one was going to be hellish. It was habit for me to start thinking of a way to solve a problem before there was one.

GM
“As your party takes an assessment of itself and acclimates to the crossover, the last of the day’s sunlight washes away as a faint smell of burning sulfur rides the cold mist that creeps in. There are no auditory or visual cues of danger, but you all begin to feel an uneasiness in your bones.” From right to left, tell me how your character reacts.

Cull the Bloodsoaked
The smell sucks, but the uneasiness arouses thoughts of bloodletting. I pound the helm of my bludgeon across my hand and rush into the thick fog, hungry for something to hit. “Cull, kill.”

GM
Cull disappears into a thick fog in the distance, which seems to envelop him happily. Sin, please proceed.

Cull the Bloodsoaked
What do you mean happily? I think I made the wrong move.

Sin Alerion
Sin still cannot adjust his gauntlets appropriately, but he breaks free from the nuisance to disapprove of Cull. “We need a leash for him!”

Vaughn Cipher
“Who’s going to hold it, you?”

We all laugh at Gene’s joke.

Sin Alerion
Sin turns to the group. “Do you guys feel it? There is something wrong here. This mist is unnatural. I say we move out. We must deliver the Orb of the Pelahuari.” I briefly uncover the orb in my pouch to remind the group of our transport mission. Then, I pick up my gear and prepare for a quick exit.

Vaughn Cipher
“Can’t do that. Cull’s off swinging at the wind. Besides, uneasiness is such a low threat. I’m always uneasy.” Vaughn’s more interested in drinking and reading an excerpt from one of his books ’til Cull returns. He breaks off an Iron Brew’s seal and passes it to Malvic. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

GM
Reading and drinking are abilities you excel at, Vaughn.

On his deck, Gene added a beer and book icon to his character, and the action of sitting on the ground reading and drinking Iron Brew played out on the table.

GM
Malvic.

Malvic the Chaos-Ryder
For Malvic, his traveling companions stink more than the sulfur, but he is more concerned about Cull than Vaughn Cipher and Sin Alerion. I fly up and hover above the group. I search the area for Cull. “Cull, return!”

GM
Malvic, give me an investigation roll.

I picked up a die, squeezed it against my palm, and let it fly. The die popped around in the dice tray until it finally stopped. The outcome was scanned, matched against my stats, and shown across all decks.

GM
“About 50 feet in the air, Malvic tries to gather clues from the area of Cull’s whereabouts. He notices the ocean has quelled its thunderous throes to the west. And to the east, it appears that the natural wildlife of the environment has become eerily peaceful… or is it fearful? The mist covers most of the terrain and is thickest in the direction of Cull’s blind run. Despite the limited visibility, Malvic finds it odd that Cull’s massive, bulked-out, eight-foot stature is undetectable.” Malvic, any additional action you’d like to take on your turn?

Malvic the Chaos-Ryder
Yes.

I took keen notes of the GM’s clues. Focusing on the east, I looked closely at the holo table, and I saw it! The color in the region slowly siphoned.

Malvic the Chaos-Ryder
“I cast Glitter Dust.”

GM
Oh, you do, you dirty dog. So go ahead and roll, but remember, if successful, it takes one full turn to complete the detection spell.

I rolled my obsidian die. It rang in the tray briefly, then landed on the perfect combination. Weird Nikki sat quietly. I could tell her story gears were turning.

GM
Okay, group decision time. You have two choices you can make. Listen carefully: you can sit out a round and wait for Malvic’s spell to finish, or you can go with your individual turns. Cull, Sin, and Vaughn must be unanimous to forego your turns. Malvic, you can’t influence the group. You are too busy manifesting your spell. You have ninety seconds. Go

The countdown appeared across our decks. Surprisingly, my party members immediately began bickering. They even moved from the table to talk out of earshot.

I was confident they would wait for my spell to be completed. So what the hell was the disconnect?

The seconds flew by fast, but the trio returned to their seats before the countdown ended. I had no clue about their final decision.

GM
Vaughn, speak for the group, and provide the answer.

Vaughn Cipher
We couldn’t agree on the choices.

GM
Indecision. That’s bad. Why do you guys like to make things hard on me?

Cull the Bloodsoaked
I told you we should have all agreed to take our turns.

What the ever-loving crap? Nate, held out on me. Was he the only one? I made the perfect move, and the team didn’t back me. It was a no-brainer.

GM
“Cull’s whereabouts are still unknown. But the fog that aided in his disappearance penetrates the quarry. Soon, Sin cannot continue his travel preparations, and Vaughn can no longer see the words in his book. They are blanketed and lose their orientation to their surroundings. Suddenly, a fallout of tiny, illuminated gold flecks shines in the dense atmosphere. It is the visible magic of Malvic’s glitter spell. The flecks around Malvic make him a perfect beacon for the team.”  You have very little time left. What do each of you do?

Cull the Bloodsoaked
Do I see it from wherever the hell I’m at?

GM
Yes, but it’s a barely illuminated silhouette for you, way off in the distance. But you may want to give attention to the graying and the soft flakes of ash in the forest around you.

Cull the Bloodsoaked
What the hell is it?

GM
Stick around to find out.

Cull the Bloodsoaked
Screw that. I move toward Malvic.

Vaughn Cipher
Me too.

Sin Alerion
I’m with them.

GM
“The team advances toward your position, Malvic.” Do you want me to explain your spell to them, or do you want the honors?

Finally, my move, and no way would I let Weird Nikki steal my thunder—or lightning, since commanding that was one of my powers. I was still a little salty and bummed my party wasn’t united in following my actions, but it all had worked to my advantage.

Malvic the Chaos-Ryder
“Nightshade to me.”

All their avatars had reappeared on the holo table, and I could see that Sin and Vaughn were almost next to me. Cull was still many yards away.

Malvic the Chaos-Ryder
When I took to the air, I noticed that the environment to the east was turning ash gray, and the only reason the wildlife was peaceful was because it had all been silently slaughtered. Whatever killed nature is heading right toward us. My spell will reveal what’s coming, but I already know what it is.

Sin Alerion
“What is it? What does the shimmering show you?”

Malvic the Chaos-Ryder
“Think about it. What are the only invisible creatures that can walk the plains but whose very demonic nature drains the life force of the environment around them?”

Sin Alerion and Vaughn Cipher
“Brimstone Wraiths.”

The group was both mortified and excited by the reveal. But after my spell removed the creatures’ invisibility on the holo table, we were especially spooked by the sheer volume headed directly toward us. Brimstone Wraiths were no joke. Their blackened, charred human faces, riddled with suffering, protruded from their enormous, spiky, brimstone husks. And as they dredged forward, their hands dragged alongside them. Seeing them disoriented the senses. Their enormous presences demanded auditory cues. But there were none. These creatures lived in the splinter between the physical and spiritual.

Cull the Bloodsoaked
Seriously, we are not prepared to fight them!

GM
Well, let’s find out. “As Sin and Vaughn gather closer to Malvic, and Cull maybe 20 yards away, the outlines of a horde of gigantic beasts emerge from the fog. They are instantly on top of Cull.”

Cull the Bloodsoaked
Damn!

GM
Cull give me a dexterity roll.

Cull complied, and his roll bounced in the tray. Spinning. Spinning. Then its twirled stopped, revealing the number one. The outcome was tragic. After the GM’s roll, all of our cDecks were immediately updated with Cull’s deductions.

GM
Cull is unable to evade the onslaught of several Brimstone Wraiths. Although the group cannot see what is happening, they can hear grunts and sounds of Cull’s body taking a thrashing, followed by the howls of the beasts. Then, breaking branches accompanied with a whizzing rush toward them. Right before the moment of impact, everyone realizes the massive body of Cull the Bloodsoaked is hurling at them.”

Cull the Bloodsoaked
“Hell!”

Now this was role-playing. Game night ruled! Insurmountable odds followed by choices we pull out of our asses to win. I looked around the table; everyone adjusted in their seats, eager to get their turns. But before that could happen—CLICK!

Unexpectedly, the overhead lights flooded the game room.

In unison and thoroughly pissed, we all removed our AR glasses. Jammer stood by the light switch, but someone else behind her had their hand on the dimmer.

“Um, guys, sorry. Billy, you have a visitor. I swear, I told her you were busy, but she completely rejected my request to come back later. Completely. She just came right on in.”

The person moved from around Jammer.

“Hi, y’all. I’m Jana. Damn, it looks spooky up in here. May I borrow Billy for a minute?”