Part 74: Reconnection

Chapter 6: Reconnection


Hey look, it’s a new enemy!


Vorpal Bunny Battle

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I’m supposed to be scared of this?
That’s no ordinary rabbit! That’s the most foul, cruel, bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on! Look, that rabbit’s got a vicious streak a mile wide! It’s a killer! He’ll do you up a treat, mate. I’m warning you, he’s got huge, sharp…er…he can leap about…look at the bones!
Nobody asked you!


Vorpal bunnies aren’t quite as dangerous as the rabbit they’re based on. Really the most dangerous thing about them is that they’re too short to throw spells at them.


I see you still haven’t left yet.
I went to see Al’s grave earlier, and right now I’ve got some business with my parents. Honestly, Dmitri, what do you have against me? I’ve done a ton of good for people! Did I tell you what happened in Shapeir? I started by killing a fire elemental by spraying water on it, then trapping an air elemental by throwing dirt at it, then I beat an earth elemental in single combat with a flaming sword, and then I hoovered a water elemental off the magic fountain and trapped it in a waterskin. After that I went to Raseir, where I got mind-wiped by an evil wizard into getting the most powerful djinni in the world, but then I got better, stormed his palace, and shoved him off the roof! After that, the Sultan of Shapeir adopted me as his son (not that I’d forget Ma and Pa here, of course).
So, you are the son of a sultan? Ha! Your stories are better than “1001 Nights.”
Well, maybe those stories are real, too. I’ve seen crazier things since I started traveling.
Hmph! I have yet to believe either one. By the way, I saw you sneaking into the old barber’s place yesterday. Dr. Cranium is an idiot and a madman, and if you are wise, you will stay away from him.
You say that about everything cool, Dmitri. You told us to stay away from the graveyard, too.
And look where ignoring my advice got Alexei. Ilya, if you have any sense left in your skull, you will stay within the town and stop worrying your mother. It used to be that the only monsters around here were the occasional wyverns, but now there are many dangerous things in the valley. It is only safe within the town gates.
I can handle myself, Dmitri. Heck, I killed a necrotaur earlier! When will you figure out that I can handle myself?
Fine then, handle yourself. And keep yourself out of trouble. I do not really want anything to happen to you.
Thanks for that, at least. By the way, I was looking through the adventurer’s guild and saw an entry about that cave I got plopped into. How come you guys never told me anything about Erana? I didn’t even hear about her until I visited Spielburg!
There are some things about the past that your elders do not want to talk about, Ilya, and it is considered bad luck to talk about her death. I can at least tell you what I know of her life, though. Erana was a powerful magic user who was rumored to have come from somewhere near Mordavia. Her garden to the southeast is supposed to be magical and keep anyone who stays there safe from harm. If you do get stuck outside the gate when night falls, try to make it to Erana’s Garden. It’s the only place where you will be safe.
I was there just a little bit ago. That and her staff are really the only things in this valley that haven’t changed very much.
I feel I must agree with that. Now remember to stay out of trouble, alright? I have been hearing all sorts of stories about you lately. No one is certain what you are up to…yet.
Right now I’m up to talking with my matushka. Goodbye, Dmitri.


Ah, there you are! So what has my little Ilya been up to?
Papa’s not dead, Ma, he’s guarding the gate to Castle Borgov! How come you didn’t tell me?


That mudak! He disappeared two years ago without a single word! Oh, if I could only get over there I would give him a piece of my mind, let me tell you!
Oh wow, Ma. I’ll go tell him what you said.


Insert “Yakety Sax” here.


Ma told me to tell you that you’re “a rotten no-goodnik.” Did you seriously leave her without even saying where you were going?
Your mother was always opinionated. I grew tired of listening to her complain about me all the time. And since you apparently will anyway, tell her I said that.



Pa said that he was tired of hearing you complain about him.
Well, if he’d ever been here to get his work done instead of spending all his time carousing at the inn, I wouldn’t have to complain, and you can tell him I said so.



She said she wouldn’t have to complain if you did your job at the store instead of hanging out with your friends.
Did my job? What was there to do in a shop with no customers? Once the swamp cut off trade here, we had nothing to sell. There was nothing to do there. So just because I would sit at the inn and talk with the other men, she thought I was lazy.
Nothing at all? Has the store really gotten that bad since I left?
I suppose you would remember the shop as being busy since you left before the business dried up. After a few years, all she ever did was sit around and give me orders when I was in the shop. What was the point of dusting if no one came in the shop to notice the dust? I came here to get away from her constant nagging. According to her, I could do nothing right. Here, there is peace and quiet.
And necrotaurs.
My quarters are far away from where those things are kept, I can assure you. No, I would not give up this job if I could.
*Sigh* Fine.



Pa said that you would keep telling him what to do around the shop, and that he was tired of being ordered around.
I wouldn’t have had to order him around if he would only have done his work! I cooked for him. I cleaned for him. I kept this shop neat. I did everything for him, even made sure he got his work done, and he had the nerve to leave me! I just wanted the shop to be neat and clean in case anyone came in. How does he expect me to do all the work around here by myself? This was HIS family’s business, after all, and it’s not like a certain child of ours was around to lend a hand!
You were doing fine when I left, Mama. Sorry, but I had to go.
I know, little Ilya, I’m not angry at you. But it’s not easy getting all the work done here by myself. You may not know to look at me, but I’m not as young as I used to be.
I’ll go talk to Papa again.



Ma said that she does plenty of stuff herself, and that she only wanted you to help out and do your part of the work.
I suppose there is much to do to keep the shop straightened up. Our family always worked together to keep it going before. If only Olga wouldn’t nag me all the time! She and I used to enjoy running the shop when we actually had things to sell. What is the point of even running the shop when there is no business?
How did you end up out here, then?
“Work, work, work!” That was all your mother ever said to me. And it didn’t matter what I did, I always did it wrong, or so she would nag. All I wanted was a chance to get away from her voice. You were always wandering off, I’m sure you understand what I mean.
Well, it was partly to explore around the valley, but…yeah, Ma’s gotten on my nerves a few times.
Exactly. I got so tired of being nagged one day that I walked out of town. I walked so long that it was getting dark. Then I met the Master and was asked if I wanted the job as gatekeeper. I accepted and have been here ever since.
So what’s he like?
The Master desires privacy, and I respect that wish. As I always say, “The Will of the Master is the Shall of the Servant.”
Can you at least tell me who all is living in the castle these days?
I suppose so, though I am not quite sure myself. I so seldom see anyone from there. There’s the Master, of course. Then there’s the strange foreigner. There’s also the Master’s daughter, I believe. And some rather strange guards. Beyond that, I really can’t say.
The Master has a daughter?
I haven’t actually seen the daughter, but I know the Master is quite proud of her.
And the foreigner?
He is an unpleasant sort, with a short beard and mustache and a funny hat. He is rude when giving orders, and he has the habit of staring at a person and licking his lips. Most unsavory.
Huh. I’ll go tell Ma what you said now.



Pa said he doesn’t care about the shop because nobody’s buying anything anymore.
Not buying anything? You just tell that man about my avocado and garlic sandwiches. People come in and buy them all the time!
Dmitri doesn’t make his own lunches?
Igor will come in from time to time too, the poor thing.
Hmm.



Since you weren’t around to eat them, Mama’s been selling her garlic and avocado sandwiches to the others in town. She said that it’s been plenty of business for the shop.
How I used to love her avocado and garlic sandwiches! We had them on our wedding night, you know. You should have seen the garlic and avocado flowers decorating our wedding cake! Beautiful! And she baked the cake herself! She always was a good cook.
I just wish she had cooked some of the foreign fruits and vegetables we got through the store sometimes.
She was so beautiful in her gown. She had even embroidered little garlic cloves and avocados around the edges. We danced the night away. You’ve reminded me of how much I miss your mother. I think I shall go back and visit her.
Thanks, Pa. Maybe I’ll see you in town some time.
Goodbye, Ilya. Do come back and see me here when you can.

Any class can do this “quest” to get Boris and Olga back together, but only the paladin gets anything out of it, since your reward is a 15 point boost to Honor and nothing else.



I think I’ll add more weight today. Gotta keep those leg muscles fit.


Dark again? Maybe I can get another dream tonight.


There is one for whom I weep. She lies in her watery grave, her heart broken by a lover untrue. Speak with the gypsies on how to free her spirit. Free the rusalka, and heal her sorrow.


Wait! Where is the rusalka? Where are the gypsies? Damn it, how come no one can just come out and tell me exactly what I need to do?


*Yawn* Stupid ghosts…


You have returned to this wonderful place between worlds. You are again filled with the joy of being truly alive. You find yourself dancing at the heart of the cosmos. You spin, and the universe swirls with you and around you. Suddenly, something calls out to you.


You feel a coldness rapidly devouring you. You falter in fear as you remember what happened the last time you were here. The voice calls again, and you feel trapped, helpless. The closer you get to that voice, the greater the fear. It is a voice of pain, a voice of death. You flee in terror.


So are these good dreams or bad dreams? I’m confused.