A Cybunny's Guide to RPG

     Or so it had seemed before that coming year.

     As a lesser known mom-and-pop shop, Good Games typically only saw a pawful of Pets per day, more if it was a good week – until last year, when the Neopian Times caught wind of their fourth annual RPG convention to commemorate another successful trip around the sun. Tony and the local community couldn’t help but notice an increased interest in their small town after that; and they soon learned that Neopia Central’s beloved game shop had been featured in the Neopian Times business spotlight with raving reviews that highlighted all they have to offer the gaming community.

     It was because of such positive publicity that Tony the Elderly Boy Tonu received a call the following week from none other than the hit makers of the gaming community’s hottest tabletop RPG, Curse of Neovia. Good Games had been chosen as one of the few select shops around Neopia to play Storyteller for Curse of Neovia’s twenty-fifth anniversary campaign — which happened to coincide with Good Games’ fifth annual celebration.

     Tony had agreed without hesitation or a second thought as to how Neopia Central would prepare to accept such a big responsibility. After all, it was a great honor to host such an event — especially for something so highly anticipated as Curse of Neovia’s upcoming national campaign. But what no one — not even Tony the Elderly Boy Tonu — could anticipate was the large crowd that descended upon their little Neopian town on Curse of Neovia’s big day.

     Or the Terror Mountain-sized thunderstorm that had tagged along, giving their usually bright and sunny Neopian town a foggy Neovian makeover.

     Boom! Crash! Boom!

     “—and now to reveal this year’s elusive prize,” the warm-hearted elderly manager presently said between claps of thunder that shook Good Games with their force. Gamers gathered around him could see that such violent weather was rough on the gentle-natured Tonu, whose older knees often wobbled. He had shifted his weight to the sword at his side, appearing startled at the first clap clap boom.

     At the thunder claps following Tony’s most awaited words that gloomy afternoon, Trix the Candy Cybunny looked away from the storm raging outside of Good Games window front to where the Elderly Pet stood behind a microphone setup. Tap tap tap went his nervous rabbit’s foot in sync with his racing heart as they impatiently waited. Thumpbathump. The gentle-natured manager’s quiet, raspy voice was a soothing balm on the Cybunny’s otherwise anxious nerves, so when he had said nothing more, Trix frowned. Tap tap tap tap went his foot again. Thumpbathump. What could it be? he nervously wondered as the guesses flew around him like the wings of a thousand Carmarillers in flight when Tony’s hoof went to a box behind the podium.

     “Unsolved Mysteries of the Haunted Woods?”

     “A beginner’s guide to RPG?”

     “A limited edition copy of the Altador Cupvideo game?”

     “This place is more packed than a Sticks N Stones concert!” drawled a Tyrannian Kacheek from the back as the Elderly Boy Tonu slowly – and finally – raised a sparkling, weathered hoof at last. “I can’t see a thing!” But Trix’ perfect twenty-twenty vision did.

     In Tony’s weathered hoof sparkled the most magnificent, elusive prize to date — one of five-hundred sets of golden D20 dice exclusive to the Curse of Neovia brand!

     But there was a catch.

     Participation had been limited to four of Neopia Central’s most seasoned veteran players this year for a single competitive game of Curse of Neovia; and the last Pet whose character survives the curse over Neovia — and heals the town — would be known as the victor.

     Trix had been playing Curse of Neovia since he was a Baby.

     Those golden D20 dice were his.

     All he needed to do now, was win.

     Trix, having been named last of the four chosen players, had soon found himself sitting at the campaign table with his party, his feet anxiously bouncing as he looked around at them in turn. They all made the Candy Cybunny feel as if there was little to no hope of winning against them. Their backgrounds were much greater than his, more qualified, even.

     There was Chansey, a sweet-natured yellow Cybunny and Neopia Central native, whose family relocated to Neovia when she was just a little bunny.

     Beside Chansey sat her nervous best friend, Luce, whose Tyrannian Kacheek family had also relocated to Neovia when Luce was still learning to walk.

     Lastly, among them sat the respected former Pirate Eyrie captain of Neopia’s famous ship, The Wandering Eyrie, and retired wanderer of the seas, Captain Kricket.

     And then there was Trix, the young Candy Cybunny and Roo Island native, who lacked the firsthand knowledge that came with living in Neovia like Chansey and Luce; and who worried he was not well-versed in Neovian lore as Pets in Neopia Central tended to be, having attended public school. Trix himself had been homeschooled by his mom while dad, an old school gamer, taught him his favorite childhood games during holidays and Spring Breaks, the most notable one being Curse of Neovia.

     But the greatest of the party was Captain Kricket, a Pet more than well-equipped with tales of old and who had seen impossible things out on sea.

     How could any Pet hope to outsmart a retired captain of the Neopian seas?

     It was easy — they didn’t hope.

     But for that elusive golden D20 dice, they dared.

     “And then there were two,” sing-songed Chansey, as she shook the dice in her paw to see if her attack on the mutated mayor would be a hit.

     It was incredible to Trix at how quickly their party of four had become a party of two.

     The first eliminated player had been Chansey’s best friend, Luce, early on in the game, when a roll determined that her character could not “just hide away until everything blew over,” as the anxious Kacheek quietly wished. Her character then quickly fell behind, thus falling victim to the curse and ending her role in the traveling party. The Tyrannian Kacheek had appeared content at this, which seemed typical of her naturally nervous personality.

     Second player to leave the campaign, much to the great shock of the gathered crowd, had been the Pirate Eyrie, Kricket. His plan –unsurprisingly – had been to find a ship and sail for help. “The best ship a dubloon can buy,” the former captain informed them when his roll allowed him said ship. But the next did not allow him to set sail; rather than set sail, Kricket’s character had fallen victim to the curse when he set foot on deck. The ship, as it turned out, had been exposed to the curse, therefore exposing Kricket’s character and ending his role with the remaining members.

     Which left only Trix and Chansey.

     “And then there were two,” Trix agreed when the Yellow Cybunny finally let go of the dice; if Chansey’s roll was a success, the mayor would be defeated, she would add the potion to the town’s well, and Neovia would be saved, thus crowning her the victor.

     Thump ba thump.

     The room fell quiet as the dice settled, before Tony’s soft, raspy voice suddenly filled the void.

     “Chansey, your character’s attack on the mutated mayor was a miss.” Tony the Tonu smiled apologetically at the young Pet from his place at the head of the table as the campaign’s Storyteller. “His counter attack was a success and has defeated you. Trix,” he said, turning toward him, “if you decide to defeat the mayor and succeed, then Neovia will be saved and you will be this year’s victor.”

     Thump ba thump. “I will attack the mutated mayor,” Trix said as his heart beat overtime in his chest. He picked up the dice with an unsteady paw, gave them a good luck shake, then reluctantly let go, watching with held breath as they rolled.

     And rolled.

     And rolled.

     Until finally, they settled.

     Please be a success. Please be a success. Please be a success.

     “Your attack was… a success. The mutated mayor has been defeated and your character adds the potion to the town well, effectively lifting the curse over Neovia.” Great applause and cheers rose over Tony, even as he went on. “Neovia has been restored!”

     Trix couldn’t believe it.

     He won.

     Or was he still dreaming back home in his cozy bed?

     “And the winner of Curse of Neovia’s twenty-fifth anniversary campaign, is Trix, the Candy Cybunny from Roo Island!” Tony’s words were met with microphone feedback and another round of cheers, though it didn’t seem to bother any of the attendees — except for Trix. Trix was in too great of a shock to notice, even as the kindly shopkeeper turned to him again. “On behalf of Neopia Central, I would like to congratulate you and say, thank you for representing our little town during this momentous time.”

     It had taken the young Cybunny a moment to realize that Tony was talking about him.

     It wasn’t a dream. It was real life.

     “Well earned, young skipper,” enthused the Pirate Eyrie, Captain Kricket, with a genuine smile that warmed Trix through and through.

     “Many thanks, Captain, it has been a great honor to party with you,” said Trix with a big smile of his own in turn as he stood from the campaign table, but his attention had slid past the former captain to where Chansey now stood, hugging her parents. “I hope to venture with you again soon.” Trix shared another friendly smile with Captain Kricket before making his way toward the other Cybunny, when the benevolent shopkeeper reappeared in front of him.

     “My personal congratulations to you, youngin,” said the Elderly Boy Tonu as he held out something toward the Candy Cybunny. “I believe this now belongs to you.” As he accepted the mysterious object from the shopkeeper, Trix realized it was the same midnight blue box that had sat behind Good Games podium. It was shaped like a D20 die and fit just so between his paws. But he felt most awestruck by the golden engravings on its many faces.

     The Mysterious Flower from the legendary Tale of Woe.

     Warmth and pride washed over the Candy Cybunny as he turned over the box in admiration of its beautiful craftsmanship, but all the while, there was a feeling that something was not quite right. It wasn’t the box, the crowded game shop, or even that he was far from home. It was something more. Something bigger than any Pet.

     It was the victory.

     It felt… wrong.

     “Thank you, Mr. Tony; I look forward to joining Good Games on many more adventures in the near future,” Trix managed after collecting his thoughts, the shopkeeper beaming with pride as he politely excused himself to help a customer. It was a Blue Wocky, who wore an excited expression at the checkout counter with a shopping basket of board games. When the Tonu disappeared through the crowd and reached the Pet, the Cybunny knew that he was now out of Tony’s sight.

     And finally alone.

     Trix quickly ducked into the little comic books section for extra measure, preferring the quiet of solitude. He wanted to be by himself as he carefully opened the box to see that, nestled on a plush bed of velvet, rested the elusive golden D20 dice. On each die the face numbers had been hand painted midnight blue to represent Neovia. They were what he had always dreamed of — his very own set of RPG dice. And they were perfect.

     “Has anyone seen Trix?” a voice asked nearby, pulling him out of his head. It sounded like…

     “Chansey!” he called out from the comic books aisle.

     A Tyrannian Kacheek peeked around the corner shyly as a Yellow Cybunny barreled around the corner toward him. “C’mon, Champ, we’re gonna grab some cake!” enthused the Yellow Cybunny known as Chansey. Before he could react, she had taken him by the paw, pulling him from the aisle into the crowd as her Tyrannian friend, Luce, just looked apologetic.

     “May I confess something?” Trix asked as they moved quickly toward the front of the shop.

     “Confess away, Champ,” said Chansey while the trio ducked around crowded aisles.

     “I don’t feel like I really won back there,” he said, stopping them once they neared the doors, gently pulling her aside to let other Pets by. “I mean… it was great and all, but what I’m trying to say is, here.” Chansey gave a look of surprise when he held out the midnight blue box. She had started to shake her head in protest, but he offered the prize again. “Without you and the party Neovia would still be under a curse, Chansey, that’s the truth. You were the real winners today. And I can’t take credit for the hard work of our team. It was all of our efforts. Not just mine. It would be selfish of me to believe anything else.”

     Chansey shook her head again and looked ready to protest, yet it was Luce who spoke up at her side with a heavy Tyrannian accent. “Din’t git ya self all worked up, Trix, it’s okay. We forgive ya.” The Tyrannian Kacheek nudged her friend’s shoulder playfully. “Din’t we?”

     The Yellow Cybunny’s lips curled up into a smile at her friend’s light-hearted jest. “We do.”

     “See? E’rything always works out in the end.” Luce nudged her friend again with a gesture at Trix as if to say, Well, then what are ya waitin’ for? A genuine smile found its way to her face.

     “Congratulations to Chansey, the Yellow Cybunny from Neovia!” Trix said in imitation of ol’ Tony the Tonu as he held out the box again to the other Cybunny, watching the bashful look that came across her face. Chansey accepted the box much to her friend’s approval. If Trix hadn’t known any better, then he would have thought that maybe she hadn’t forgiven him. But he knew they were just kidding.

     “We forgive you, Trix.” Chansey smiled wider as she turned the box around between her paws, carefully. “And really, thank you… It means a lot to me, and I’ll take special care of this.”

     “I thought maybe you had changed your minds,” Trix joked lightly, wiping his brows as if reassured. He’d felt a sense of calm at her words, anyways, and knew that he had made the right choice. And yet, all kidding aside, he really did feel glad, he realized.

     And it felt good.

     “I see you youngins are havin’ fun,” observed Tony when he came over as a family of Grarrls passed by with the newest in gaming consoles. They had been laughing together when the kindly shopkeeper appeared alongside Captain Kricket, so no one noticed that he cradled something in his arms.

     Except for maybe Luce.

     Luce had already pointed out the stacked boxes in the shopkeeper’s arms. “Do ya need some help carryin’ those, Mr. Tony?”

     “Much appreciated if you three would please take one each,” said the Tonu conspiratorially, who then turned to the former Captain of The Wandering Eyrie and added: “Please take one as well.”

     A curious look passed between the party members as they all relieved Tony of a box — except Chansey. There were only three boxes and four of them. Before anyone could inquire why she didn’t receive one, they opened their boxes at his insistence — and saw why. Just like the D20 box Trix had given Chansey, these, too, were midnight blue with golden engravings of the Mysterious Flower; and inside on a plush bed of velvet also like the one he’d gifted her, rested a set of golden D20 dice. And when tilted under any light source, the dice shone even brighter.

     “A gift for those who played in this year’s Neovian campaign,” explained Tony proudly at their surprised faces. “The makers behind the RPG feel that Curse of Neovia wouldn’t have been possible without their player base, and strongly believe that adventures are best experienced with friends.”

     Luce and Captain Kricket gave their excited thanks to Tony, but Trix was awestruck. “Do you mean to say, these are… mine?”

     “You all played wonderfully today, it’s much deserved.” Tony smiled and leaned on his sword, watching them admire their gaming dice.

     “I don’t know what to say,” said Trix just as Tony interrupted.

     The shopkeeper nodded to the D20 box he was holding, still smiling. “You had fun today, that’s what matters. Please take it.”

     “Thank you,” said Trix with a happy jump before remembering they were still in the game shop.

     “Well, there’s a customer waiting,” said Tony as he moved back towards the checkout counter, using his sword as a cane, nodding again to them. “I’ll see you youngins next year.”

     After promising the good-natured shopkeeper to be back for next year’s campaign, the party made their way outside to find a clear blue sky awaiting them. And beyond its fluffy white clouds, there was a cool spring breeze, which the new friends seemed to rejoice as it lifted their spirits. It occurred to them that the storm had passed over Neopia Central during their adventure, leaving a trail of bright sunshine in its wake.

     “Why, would you look at that?” Captain Kricket said as soon as they were outside, whistling appreciatively. “It’s a double rainbow.”

     A look of wonder showed on Luce’s face as she stood beside the Pirate Eyrie, eyes sparkling at the sight. “Ya din’t see that e’ryday in Tyrannia,” she murmured.

     “Or Neovia,” agreed Chansey as she closed the door behind them to stand beside the Candy Cybunny.

     Trix felt like the luckiest Cybunny as he admired the brilliant double rainbow by their side, thinking of all the wonderful memories he had made with his newfound friends that fateful morning. And in his heart he hoped for many more, as they rolled the D20 dice of fate into their next big adventure.

     The End.