Offices and Dragons

I worked in accounting, which really isn’t a bad job. Most people I know give it a bad rep by saying the work is dull and the hours aren’t good either, but in truth it is solid work. I find comfort in the day-to-day rut because after months end I am relatively free. Not to mention the pay, which when you have been working for such a large company for so many years is quite substantial.

with the few friends I had made in the company after work. We would stay back to get some more work done for a peaceful hour and then use the overtime hours to play Offices and Dungeons. It was a role-playing adventure that we playing the company building, a tall skyscraper which we worked in.
The day eventually came for us to begin our next journey and we tried recruiting a fourth member to our party. I was a warrior and we had a rogue and archer, but we needed a mage. We pinned a message to the notice board, but nobody responded all week. Our next adventure would be a tough one, so we needed somebody who could break enchantments and heal us when necessary.
However, upon the night of the adventure we walked to our starting point on fifteenth floor we noticed a security guard checking the notice board and holding the flyer in his hand. We asked him if he was interested and indeed he was, but didn’t know how to play. We told him he didn’t need to worry; it was easy to get a hang of. With that said he activated the alarms on the lower floors and locked most of the doors.
Officially, the company was closed and the four of us ascended further to the seventeenth floor. Our party was essentially complete; me, a warrior from accounting; Lionel, an archer from marketing; Lillian, a secretary in the main lobby and now Freddy, a mage from security. It was a mixed bag of adventurers, but I had no doubt we would be strong together. Upon reaching the seventeenth floor we walked to the middle of the offices where a large chest lay to Freddy’s surprise.
We opened it and collected our things. I armed myself with a short-sword and small arm-shield. Freddy eyed me curiously when he saw the sword was real. However, he was even more surprised when Lionel slung a quiver over his shoulders and tested the string of the bow, not to mention the set of knives that Lillian equipped.
The three of us smiled at his reactions, reached into the chest and pulled out a book, handing it to Freddy. We explained how it worked and asked him to read the three lines on the selected page. The book had thousands of the thinnest pages, but despite the size it was light. Freddy handled it well, it was truly meant for him. Reading the lines casually a light erupted from the book and formed a glowing orb that circled our party.
We smiled at the look of wonder in his eyes and shook his free hand welcoming him to the adventure. I led the way towards the next set if stairs. Upon opening the facility door we entered a cobbled room wearing different clothes than we began with. We climbed the steps with our leather and metal booths thumping softly as we climbed further up. Soon we reached a set of double doors that we left off on during our last adventure.
Freddy, now clothed in dark green robes, flipped pages with his mind until it reached the right one. Now with an air of professionalism he read a large paragraph. Each word had a profound effect on the door and soon it crumbled inwards as if it was made from pebbles and not wood. It was such a relief to see the spell work so well and we proceeded inwards. As we did Lionel with his keen eyes sensed dangers in the darkness. We raised our weapons and pushed forward to meet the monsters. Soon we did encounter lesser demons, small impish creatures with inky skin and long, white teeth.
My sword cleaved through two of the demons, their squeals echoing in the chamber. Lionel’s accuracy was well known within the group and he shot into the shadows beyond Freddy’s light, hitting his marks. Lillian preferred the darkness, diving into it and seeing better than the demons. She was a whirlwind of steel and no demon within reach escaped without a fatal wound.
Once the chamber was cleared we searched for our next door. It was Freddy who discovered the small corner with shelves of old tomes and seating for studying. The chamber no doubt belonged to royalty, but from the cobwebs and dust the castle definitely fell into a decrepit state once the demons moved in. Amongst the tomes Freddy found a book on the hidden mechanisms of the age. Upon pulling at its spine there was a click behind the shelves and the bookshelves shifted in place, opening wide to reveal a hallway lit by torches.
Freddy waved his and his orb of light vanished. There was no danger within this hallway so we proceeded confidently. I swiped a rag across my sword, wiping the demon blood away and handed the rag to Lillian for her daggers. I felt power ahead and we needed our weapons ready for the coming fight. Another large set of doors awaited us. Before we opened them Freddy read from his book enchanting our clothing to better their protective properties.
A low rumbling cut through the door as the beast awaited us. I looked at everyone in my party and nodded confidently. We knew it would come to this one day, but unlike most we were ready to face it and win. Two of us to each door began pushing forward. The door swung open and we entered the cathedral like room. It was massive; I had never been in a room so open; the intricate walls and decorations, not to mention the stained glass. Truly a spectacular room, but what drew our attention was the drake at the far end of it. It stood on its hind legs, stretching its massive wings wide and it roared with a powerful, harsh voice.
It is this reason that I love Fridays.