“Congratulations! Clemiticuses’ party has cleared Merfolk Catacombs: Level One.”

Bing!

“Clemiticus has reached level 15.”

“Melly has reached level 14.”

“Your party has been awarded with treasure chest rank: Uncommon.” Fairy beamed at her master like a parent fawning over their child.

Clemiticus did a little dance and Melly rolled her eyes.

“Wait, how many levels is this place?” Melly asked the fairy.

The azure announcer scratched its head and spoke, “I’m fairly sure it’s three. Three players for three levels.”

“Makes sense,” Thea pipped in.

“Stop talking boring details and hand over the loot!” Clemiticus eagerly ordered.

The trio’s eyes sparkled as they anticipated the magical prize. Fairy smiled and clicked its fingers. Suddenly a giant treasure chest materialised in mid-air with a pop then bounced on the floor. Melly could just make out an inner yellow glow through the crack in the opening.

“May I?” asked Clemiticus to the girls. He could barely contain his excitement. Melly knew all too well Clemiticus obsession with loot.

Thea nodded enthusiastically, while Melly only shrugged.

Clemiticus approached the chest, then an odd ringing noise froze him in place.

“What was that?” asked Melly.

Thea and Clemiticus shared looks. “Music?” they chorused.

Clemiticus steeled himself and moved closer to the chest as the sound became notes, and the notes became a song. The music crescendo with bells as Clemiticus moved closer. The song shared the swashbuckler’s excitement for this moment. All the while, the yellow glow of the chest became brighter and brighter.

With a hearty yank, Clemiticus tore open the chest.

Dun dun dun DAAAH!

Floating in the air was their new treasure.

“Nice!” Clemiticus cheered, then looked at Melly, “it’s all yours.”

Understanding hit her as she realised what the floating object was. She felt her jaw slacken.

“Melly, take it,” whispered Thea.

Clemiticus stood out of the way and gestured that it was ok.

Melly slowly walked forwards and clasped her fingers around the wooden handle.

Bing!

Fairy sang, “Melly has obtained the item: Mermaids Short Bow of Agility. Rarity: Rare.”

“Melly has obtained the item: Mermaid arrows, times twenty-five. Rarity: Uncommon.”

“Nice work!” Thea cheered.

“Grats Mel!” Clemiticus added.

Melly stared down at the fancy new weapon and felt herself smile. She always wanted a bow, ever since she was small.

She pulled on the bowstring and felt its weight. The wood strained but felt sturdy and perfectly balanced. With a whoosh she let loose the string, which flicked back into place with a snap.

“Oh yeah,” commented Clemiticus. “Level two time. Want to test your new baby out?”

Melly nodded with a cheerful grin.

The trio moved into a stairwell and made their way further down below ground. The stairs were curved and slippery. When the trio made it to the next level, they were met with yet another long hallway. This time, there was no moss instead in its place stood rows of multiple mermaid statues holding magical, glowing torches.

“Ooh spooky,” commented Thea.

A blue and green light flashed.

“Clemiticus has entered the Merfolk Catacombs: Level Two.”

“Melly has entered the Merfolk Catacombs: Level Two.”

“Thea has entered a danger zone. Thea has entered the Merfolk Catacombs: Level Two. Warning: PVE and PVP have been toggled on. If you wish to enter game mode: Combat. Restart the game and play in combat mode.”

The two fairies vanished, and the trio moved down the long corridor. The stone floor had disappeared under a thin blanket of sand, and the mermaid statues seemed to watch the parties every move.

“Pause a sec,” instructed Clemiticus. The three stopped as he searched the corridor. “Can you two make out what that thing is over there?” He was pointing down the hallway towards a dark shape.

Melly squinted her eyes and shook her head.

“Can’t sorry,” replied Thea.

Clemiticus studied the figure. “Let’s see how close we can get before it notices us.”

Understanding the Clemiticus play book they followed him and carefully moved forwards a dozen feet. Their new foe finally came into view.

“Ooh!” Clemiticus said cheerfully. “It’s the undead.”

Melly’s eyebrows shot up. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Indeed, the new threat standing before her was a skeleton. This one, however, did not look fully human. Its lower half was undoubtedly a fish's tail.

“Mermaid skeleton?” Thea asked.

“Must be,” replied Clemiticus.

“How is it still standing?”

Melly was about to ask the same question when the mermaid shifted its weight and bounced on its tail. Its lower half could easily support its bony frame.

“So weird,” commented Melly.

Clemiticus nodded, then grinned. “Do you know what this means?”

The girls looked at him quizzically.

“It’s practise time,” he spoke cheerfully. “We are far out of its aggro range and skellys have really poor eyesight.”

“What does that mean?” Melly questioned.

“You can level your archery as much as you want.” Clemiticus instructed. “Take as many shots as you wish. And when you’re out of shots, we will kill it and fetch your ammo.”

“You can’t be serious?” Melly asked surprised.

Thea beamed, clearly excited.

Melly shrugged, held her bow at the ready, and knocked her first arow. The string let loose, and the arrow soared down the corridor, clearly missing the skeleton by more than a few feet.

Bing!

Fairy’s voice rang out, “Melly has learned the ability: Archery Beginner Level One.”

“Grats!” Thea cheered.

They looked down the corridor and carefully watched the skeleton. It hadn’t noticed a thing.

“I don’t think it will attack until you actually hit it.” Clemiticus mused. “Nice, keep shooting.”

Melly let out a sigh and loosed another arrow. It missed again.

Fairy’s voice rang out once more, “Melly has gained skill experience: Archery.”

“Getting closer.” Thea encouraged. “Keep going!

Derrick swallowed the rest of his lunch and strode past a sign that read:

Top secret project!

Keep out!

The dwarf was more than a little bit eager to get back to work. The day before he had been invited by Nuecus to what the Thaumaturge called mega top secret plan B. It was a failsafe just in case Clemiticus’ little excursion didn’t yield the optimal results.

Derrick looked up and spotted the old man who was still working perched on the top of the scaffolding. He was waving a hammer in his hand. Working throughout the night Nuecus was extremely determined to reach the next land. Even when he sustained a few minor injuries and a bruised thumb he refused to stop and soldiered on with the task. Derrick kept catching the disgruntled worker muttering under his breath.

“Damn bloody Curse. I’ll give you a lovely spell you old hag!” Nuecus had grumbled.

Derrick looked over the project and grinned with pride. His Tinkering input had pushed the project much further than they thought possible.

“Wrench!” Nuecus yelled.

“Here!” responded Rupert who ran waving the tool over his head. He climbed the scaffold as Nuecus tossed his hammer over his shoulder, into the unsuspecting workers below.

Clang. The wrench missed Rupert by half a second.

“The curse is getting to him,” Derrick murmured to himself. Their top-secret plan had progressed a lot that day. It would not be long now, and they would be able to deploy their magnificent construction.

Derrick couldn’t wait.

“Damn pretty boy! Not this shoddy wrench!” Nuecus yelled. “The happy magic wrench, That one that glows like crap!”

Rupert looked around in a panic.

“Where’s that blasted bird when you need help?”

Derrick wondered that too. Dog was currently sleeping by the door on a waterproof cushion, however the parrots bird tree had been empty for almost the whole day.

Rupert ran towards the tool bench and quickly rummaged through the objects that had been unceremoniously discarded there.

“Magic wrench, magic wrench.”

Derrick let out a sigh. Poor lad, he thought to himself. The dwarf then looked back up at the Thaumaturge and noticed an object protruding from his back pocket. Nuecus pulled out the magic wrench. Turned a metallic clasp, then replaced it back into the folds of his clothes.

“I can’t find it sir!” Rupert gasped.

Nuecus shouted down, “Keep looking lad!”