Dream Quest:

I knew I was playing a video game, piloting the main character, a mighty warrior, and her non-player companions. We were floating down a river on a raft directed by my newest companion, a soft-leather-clad fellow with knives hidden all over his person. He acted as our guide on our recent quest, pleasantly providing historical and world information as I played the rafting mini-game, keeping the raft away from the edges of the river and rocks.

Our goal was to get halfway across the map to a cave. I had yet to learn what waited inside the cave, but that was where the quest marker said to go. Making it across, we clambered onto the shore with our gear. Then, our guide led us on a short walk to a vast chasm. Across the chasm lay a rickety scaffold bridge we were meant to cross. Our guide made it across first and said he would help any of us cross that needed it.

I made it halfway across the bridge, and part of it collapsed beneath my boot, unsteadying me. Trusting our guide, I reached out for him as he offered, but instead of helping, he knocked me further off balance. Finally, my character toppled over the edge of the bridge into the precipice.

<DEATH SCREEN>

<Reload>

Luckily, the last save had been exiting the raft, and I did not have to replay the mini-game. Instead, we returned to the chasm, and I observed my betrayer treading on the bridge where he did. Making it to the other side, the betrayer slipped, I had a “chaos” option to throw him into the chasm, but it would cost me standing with my companions. I saved him, taking satisfaction in the ping of blue light, which meant I had gained loyalty points with him. Without enough loyalty points, he would become a permanent companion option after this quest.

We made it to the quest mark; it was a small-mouthed cavern closed by a puzzle lock. (Because this was a dream, my brain glossed over this.) But the stone rolled from the front of the cavern, and we were able to enter the entrance. A whirlpool of water glowed faintly blue; selecting it, I slid in. The bottom of the cavern was dry, the previous water disappearing before it reached the bottom. It was a small opening to a more enormous cavern lit by orange torchlight. My companions loaded in behind me as I loaded into the next area, and I made sure to save my game.

I did not doubt our ability to face any enemies in the adjacent cavern; we were varied and painstakingly managed. However, venturing into the next part of what must be a dungeon, I found myself surrounded by harsh red outlines. I could hardly count them all, and their mechanic was strange. Every time my companions or I stepped forward, the enemies stepped forward. Eventually, we were out of moves, and they overwhelmed us.

<DEATH SCREEN>

<Reload>

A hint flashed on the screen, “Sometimes the dialogue option is more effective than any attack.” Spawning back at the beginning of the cave, I knew what I needed to do. Aggravated for not thinking of it sooner, I stepped forward into the chamber for a second time. Then, selecting the nearest of the cave enemies, I pressed ‘x’ to begin the dialogue. I learned that these people were assassins and friends of the person who initially gave us the quest. However, my alarm went off before the discussion was finished.

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