Wolf carried the goblin upstairs to his room. Rich didn't feel like talking so he sullenly went into his. He began taking off his armor when Wolf walked in. Rich looked up and began saying "Look I don't want to talk about it" but hardly made it through the first word before Wolf took over the conversation "I know your world was different and the life of an adventurer is a hard life. This is a time for celebration though. Everyone made it home. That won't always be the case. I can tell you're shaken so take your time but everything is going to be fixed. You can fix his legs. It's going to be fine". When he was done Wolf walked out the room and went downstairs. The slow paced steps eventually ended and Rich was alone.

Robert then took that moment to join in and say "I always thought a scythe was an impractical weapon but boy that lich did prove me wrong". Rich was trying to not be a cry baby and get adjusted to magic and this new world. It was not going well. Robert continued "Hey you think Wolf grabbed the goblins feet? I don't think he's going to have another pair of shoes. His guide told me he sold most of his starter gear for weapons. Maybe we can make him some wraps or something in the morning. I don't think Sally will be happy that he's walking around bare foot". The comments were not in good taste and Rich said as such "Fuck off Robert" and expecting just this Robert grabbed a soap box and reappeared on Rich's HUD. The small gene didn't have legs but did step up "Rich, you told me to fuck off in the dungeon. Both myself and Sue's guide told you both how terrible of an idea that was. If you don't start dealing with this and listening to people more experienced than you, you will die and if the Cleric dies it's almost always a full party wipe. Get over yourself and listen to your guide. This isn't a game". Rich was getting pissed off but ultimately he knew he needed to hear the words. He sat there and just let Robert go. "You got incredibly lucky today and that dungeon was about as safe as it could be. You had a lvl 12 dire wolf guarding the entrance. There was ONE trip wire. It wasn't even attached to anything or near the bosses. It was just a tripwire. There was one path, two chambers, no puzzles, and one boss was a trick boss. You even had Wolf there incase things went wrong and to guide you. You had two different guides both attempt to save you from yourself and neither you or Sue listened. You got lucky the lich was so low level it couldn't identify Wolf of the lich may have just killed you two instead of finishing you off. He was playing with you. He was nothing for Wolf but for a lvl 2 cleric and a lvl 3 fighter you stood no chance just running in the room. Stop, think, and listen when your guide says something. At least everything is fixable. The wounds Sue suffered were bad but you will fix them tomorrow and it's not a big deal. Just quit being an idiot and remember people depend on you".

Rich accepted the criticism and reassurance about being able to fix the other traveler. He swore to start listening and Robert let the conversation drop for a minute and said "You did level up though. Want to work on that?" and so they talked. Robert suggested taking another level in Cleric and going for 13 strength so Rich can work on that heavy armor proficiency. Rich agreed and looking at his character sheet he noticed he'll also get access to the beginner spell list too. That was a pretty big jump in power, but he only got 2 beginner spells a day. He wouldn't get that tonight but still a nice benefit. His max HP jumped up from 14 to 24. Seeing such a huge jump he asked Robert if that was normal. Robert said no, that he just got unlucky last level but that he got exceptionally lucky this level. They evened out in the end.

By this time Rich had taken off his armor, shoes, and pretty much everything but his flowery boxers. He cast mend on basically everything in site and the bed considering he had sat down without a second thought and got some of his blood on the sheets. The night was young but Rich was quite tired. He went to bed with twilight coming in through the window.

Sleeping all the way through the twilight and night left Rich in a good mood the next morning and Robert didn't feel the need to screw with him using loud noises. Rich got up before doing anything he went down stairs to see is Sue was up. Sue was up and Rich stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Sue was up and sitting at the bar with a few books under his butt and talking to Sally and Wolf. The goblin was missing his legs slightly below the knee but seemed in good humor. Rich decided to not make it awkward and sat down next to them. Sue was retelling the story of fighting the lich from his limited perspective.

Rich and I thought the lich would be a push over. The entire dungeon was linear and required next to no effort. There weren't even any traps or surprise monsters. The tunnel curved a bit but other than that it was just so easy. I got lucky and knew what the first boss monsters was. We walked through that room practically and shortly ran into a lich praying at a dark stone alter with a blood red covering and dark black scythe as a symbol. I thought the lich didn't notice we saw him but he probably knew we were there and didn't care. I changed out my sword for one of Rich's hammers and thought if we pulverized the lich we'd have enough time to find the phylactery. Seemed like a good idea.

I insisted to try on on our own. Wolf and our guides tried to tell us no, but why would we listen and by then Rich was also sold on my grand idea. Rich readied his sacred flame spell and I snuck up on the lich. As soon as I reared back to hit the lich he hurled his fireball and I struck forward. At the start of the fight I was so hopeful. I tried to strike the lich in the head but right at the last moment he raised his right bony shoulder to block. I heard a pop and his right arm fell lose in his robes. Not letting up I kicked the lich square in the pelvis while regaining control over the hammer. I was about ready to swing and hit the lich in the knee or pelvis while he was getting up and the mini fireball landed and lit his robes on fire. It burned away enough that his right arm fell to the ground but it wasn't limp. The hand grabbed onto my ankle and pulled me off balance. instead of trying to hit the lich I stomped on the hand. The lich grabbed his weapon, the scythe holy symbol, off the alter and jumped across the room in one leap, avoiding Rich's second sacred flame and getting well out of my reach.

The lich laughed at us in this haunting wheezing manner that made him sound like a grizzled war veteran in an ol' folks home. It was pretty haunting but I still wasn't worried. I reached down to my left side and pulled out my crossbow and let a bolt loose. It hit the lich straight in his dark empty eye socket and knocked him back a step. I said the coolest thing I could and shouted "Didn't see that one did ya Mr. Bones!". Then the fucking lich started cheating. He pulled me off my feet with his unattached right hand. After my head slammed into the ground and my ears started ringing I had this gut wrenching sensation of flying across the room and all of a sudden I was being held upside down in front of the lich's body as he used me to block another sacred flame from Rich. Let me tell you my ass is still burned and sitting down isn't that fun right now. If only standing didn't hurt worse.

After being used as a common shield the lich looked me in the eyes. I felt like he was trying to cast a spell on me and in those deep dark eye sockets. Thankfully Rich ran up and hit the lich square on the right arm interrupting the spell. Not because it did any damage but because Rich's lower strength level caused the solid blow to reverberate down Rich's arm and caused him to drop his fancy war hammer. I think the lick was more caught off guard and was about to start laughing.

Rich jumped in and said "Yeah it felt like I hit a solid steel wall and the reverberation made my entire right side numb for a second. Sue continued.

See. It was just completely not fair. The lich then realized how low level we were. The lich was lvl 3 but we were only lvl 3 and 2. A lvl 3 boss monster is apparently meant to be taken down by an entire party of 5 or more people of the same level. The lich started having fun and used me as a club to knock Rich around. He blocked a few shots and the lich was not really doing any damage to either of us until he kicked rich back and threw me with all his mite into rich. He was playing with us. We crashed about 5' back in a pile. I immediately jumped up and ran at the lich. The lich apparently started charging an attack as his black scythe with a sharp steel blade started glowing faintly red. He sliced out with both hands like he was hewing grass and cut both my legs out from under me in one hit. I collapsed to the ground screaming and probably calling for my mommy. Rich got up and before he could do anything the lich blurred across the room and punted Rich into the far wall. He hit Rich so hard that he collided about 15' up on the wall. At this point I blacked out and Wolf had to save us. Thanks again Wolf.

Wolf grunted "Nothing too it" and continued eating. Rich looked around and noticed most of the conversation in the Wolf's Den Inn had stopped and everyone was listening into Sue retell the fight. It embarrassed Rich but Sue seemed completely unperturbed. Sue turned to Rich and said "Hey speaking of that sleeping beauty is awake!". At that moment Rich decided he really liked Sue due to his casual laid back personality. The man was missing both legs and didn't seem to be worried at all. Rich replied "Yeah I expected you to be more worried about your legs". Sue said "Nah it hurt but when I woke up I saw a note form Sally and I took an ass chewing from both our guides. I didn't even know we could see each others guides while partied up but yeah Robert lit into me good. I knew it would all be ok then since I assumed they wouldn't be such an asshole if I was hobbled. Then I read the note. I called out for Bear and he came upstairs and let me ride him down. I only fell once".

Rich noticed his new friend was in good spirits so he sat back and enjoyed his breakfast. Apparently Sue didn't level up but his guide said he was pretty close. Sue's guide didn't talk to Rich directly even though he apparently could but Rich wasn't really worried about it. Robert chimed in and said "You could learn a lot from Sue" and then amended his words and said "Pick your lessons though" and left it at that.