Cyber

Ultra Rare

We set out as soon as the storm ended, about an hour after I returned to the apartment. It was early afternoon and I figured that going on foot we could arrive at the farm where the cyclops destroyed the cabbage by 9 a.m. the next day. We would stop in a small village called Silvervein, a mining village just a little way from the farm.

The trip there was uneventful, and frankly boring. With as many gamers roaming around as there were, it wasn't that surprising. Any bandits, raiders, or wild animals were likely preoccupied with killing careless noobs, and unwilling to face a somewhat organized group.

We arrived in the little village of 23 people just after sunset. The local tavern was near full, but with almost entirely locals. There were a few traveling NPCs and one player who looked a little worse for wear.

We sat down at the bar and ordered three drinks, my Frost Phoenix, a pint of honey mead for Scalina, and a pint of milk for Galex. After I finished my drink I secured us a room for three, and a free drink for the poor player in the corner.

Scalina looked almost sickened when she found out we were all sharing a room. "What!?" She swung at me and I let her connect. "Isn't the girl always supposed to have a separate room!?"

I rubbed my jaw where her fist had connected, and spoke quietly, "This is a small inn, with only a few rooms. Almost all of which are taken. If I ordered you a room to yourself we would be cheating someone else out of a room, and only because 'you always get the girl her own room.'" She gaped at me, unsure how to respond. "Sometimes the most fare thing to do is something that seems unfair." I paused while the shame settled in. "But if it makes you feel better, I was going to take the floor." I winked and got up, heading to the room, with a shamed Scalina and confused Galex trailing behind.

*************

The next day when we arrived at the farm and saw the extent of the destruction, I decided to take point on the cyclops.

The cabbage patch looked more like a mortar testing ground with little craters marking the soil. The remains of cabbage were strewn about like garbage next to a highway. There was a trail of destruction leading off into the woods.

I saw the farmer and his family on the porch of the homestead, lamenting over the loss of the field. I approached them slowly, noticing the cheap sword the young son carried, and bow on the wife's lap. I also spotted a wood cutting ax, and a few sharp and heavy gardening tools.

When I was at the steps leading to the porch the wife seemed to finally notice me, standing and drawing the bow in one fluid motion. We all froze.

"What do you want? We have no money, no crops, nothing for you. Best be moving on." She had a deathly serious tone, one that had even me a bit scared.

"We only want to help."

She laughed coldly, "what, you want to take on a cyclops? Good luck. It went off into the woods, just follow its trail." She paused and thought. "If you can take down that cyclops, I will give you this bow, and a little gold we dug up last month. It isn't much, but considering what you would get of the cyclops if you kill it, consider it adequate payment." She kept the bow trained on me as I bowed slightly and backed off. When we were a "safe" distance away she relaxed and sat back down. Only then did I turn around.

We followed the trail into the woods, picking our way over fallen tree limbs and random craters. I could feel Scalina and Galex getting more and more apprehensive of the upcoming fight. It wasn't long before we entered a clearing around a large cave. Around the clearing was a small herd of giant sheep. This was clearly the place.

I stopped us and spoke quietly, "OK, for this we need a game plan." I looked at Scalina, "you stay back, wait for me to say when. When I do, I want you to shoot it right in the eye." She nodded stiffly. I looked at Galex, "you are in the middle, look for any opening I make and attack, but do not get cocky, the last thing we need is you dying." Galex paled and mumbled his consent. I nodded at both of them, "get ready."