Chapter 7: Game Night Rules Part Two

It was there, Rules of the Black Arts for Advanced Users.

I ran my fingers softly across the top of the book, thrilled it had not been taken. Then, clenching my backpack, I held it close to my chest. The embrace smoldered with such unexpected affection, it startled me.

As I let go, relief displaced my anxiety. The void it fostered was filled with vivid visions of sharing the book with everyone. I pulled it out, flipped through its pages, and imagined the great adventures to come.

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

I nudged the book into its snug spot, zipped the backpack, and slung 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 GM, she steeped the game in ritual. It took some getting used to, but eventually, it grew on us.

She walked to our ceremonial game night candles and lit them—one for each of us. Standing there, she draped a black shroud over her face, 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 came Gene, a human cleric known as Vaughn Cipher. He lifted the tail of his simplified hussar overcoat so he wouldn’t sit on it. For some ungodly reason, he wore that bizarre coat everywhere. Supposedly, 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 and skewed a tuft of his brown hair over his left eye, leaving the rest of his face in shadows.

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

All ten of his fingers gleamed with pewter and silver rings. He cinched his dark hair into a battle-ready ponytail and drew his headband into place as if it were a crown.

We sat in silence until the chant ended.

In the past, this moment was a giggle-fest. But over the years, we grew serious. Entering the world had become a solemn part of channeling our characters.

The operatic chant faded into ambient music, atmospheric yet unearthly. Then the speaker pulsed with the mellow tones of the GM’s voice.

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

With a tap, the compartment opened with a soft pop, unlatched, and slowly rolled out the AR glasses. After we removed the eyewear, the tray silently slid shut. One by one, we equipped ourselves. The built-in mini speakers in the arms of the glasses hummed with the subtleties of the soundtrack.

Finally, the GM took us online. Both the glasses and table lit up with a beautiful LED glow. It gave me chills every time.

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.”

A swoosh, like a free-fall, rushed through the sound system, firing a burst of phosphorescent lights and swirling colors that flooded our vision—a perfect fusion that lulled our senses into believing we had leapt into another realm.

Three buttons pulsated in the center of our vision: VR mode, Third Person Mode, and Free Mode.

We all pressed free mode. It rendered our full-sized 3D avatars seated at the table, while our miniature counterparts animated on the tabletop screen.

One by one, our avatars stirred from their slumber until the last of us stood.

Their awakening powered our cDecks, shifting our character sheets into view. Swiping left to right, I opened mine: core stats, features, inventory, and more.

Two of the sweetest things about the cDecks—one, it updated all stats in real-time, and two, as we progressed, even the GM’s bonuses or disadvantages updated.

GM
“Welcome back to Eurydice, Nightshade.”

The terrain of the landscape unfolded on the holographic table.

Our characters huddled on black sand as hexagonal rocks jutted from the mountainside. Off to the right, in the distance, purple ocean waves crashed against the beach’s scattered rocks.

We all sounded off with excitement for our return.

I shouted in character, “Hell yeah, we’re out of the dreariness of 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 tally of my stats. I suspected from our previous session that this outing was going to be hellish. Habit made me a very cautious player, ready to solve problems before they even unfolded.

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 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 by 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. I fly up and hover above the group in search of 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 in the 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. Kind of like he always does. Classic Nate. But 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 barely visible, 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?

No way was I letting Weird Nikki steal my thunder. Still, I was a little salty. My party had little faith in me. I sort of wanted to teach them a lesson, but…

Malvic the Chaos-Ryder
“Nightshade to me.”

…I took care of my team like I always had.

The thick mist faded, 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 saw the eastern horizon succumbing to a rot, turning ash gray. Peace was just a play on words. All the wildlife had been slaughtered. And their death dealer was barreling right toward us. Even though I had cast a revelation spell, I already knew what we were about to face.

Sin Alerion
“What is it? What does your spell say?”

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 draw closer to Malvic, Cull—maybe fifty yards away—watches the fog twist. From its mist, grotesque features of a horde of gigantic beasts begin to break from the shadows. There’s very little time to react, but Cull finds a sliver.”

Cull the Bloodsoaked
“Damn!”

GM
Cull, give me a dexterity roll.

Cull complied, and his roll bounced in the tray. Spinning. Spinning…into the number one. The outcome was tragic. After the GM’s roll, all of our cDecks were updated with Cull’s deductions.

GM
Sadly, Cull didn’t evade the onslaught of Brimstone Wraiths. His grunts and hard-hitting thuds echo from deep within the woods. After a unified, massive roar from the beasts and the harsh snapping of branches comes a sharp, fast-rising whizz. There is a brief silence. Then Cull the Bloodsoaked’s massive body bursts through the tree line and crashes, limp and broken, at the group’s feet.

Cull the Bloodsoaked
“Ain’t this some sh…”

Now this was role-playing. Game night ruled! Insurmountable odds followed by choices we pull out of nowhere to win.

I looked around the table; everyone adjusted in their seats, eager to get their turns. We had an epic battle in front of us. But before that could happen, my AR glasses involuntarily switched to VR mode. Normally, we opted out of this mode because it changed the dynamic of the game, but damn, it looked good. So real.

I should’ve immediately switched back to free mode, but the environment was alive. All the details—fog, black sand, and even my glitter dust—were burning bright in 10K.

The reality of the moment drew me in. I bent down to examine Cull. He was bloody, dirt-laden, and lifeless. I glanced at Sin and Vaughn—but they were frozen, locked in place like Greek statues.

Something was wrong.

“Hey, guys. Sorry to break character, but are you all glitched too?”

No response. I immediately tried to activate my AR screen, but nothing appeared.

What is that smell?

It was potent and growing overwhelming, like a gazillion scorched matches or fields of rotting eggs.

“Guys? Is something happening?”

Again. No response.

My avatar’s hands, in sync with my real hands, feverishly fumbled to remove my glasses. I couldn’t. A slow, foreboding sensation crept in—I had lost connection with my real body. Then, all at once, vibrations from a massive, booming crash of falling trees rocked me off balance.

As soon as I caught my footing, I noticed the ground, devoid of color, decaying into ash. I knew exactly what that meant.

Innumerable hordes of Brimstone Wraiths had broken free from the forest. But one striking detail paralyzed me: their heads were wrapped in the same white, open-mouthed symbol masks I’d seen earlier.

Everything in me tightened. Panic fluttered through my heart, and my muscles cinched tight like coiled wires. I flailed—trying to access my powerset, rip off the glasses, anything to defend myself.

Before the impulse—run—entered my thoughts, they slammed into me.