It took about two hours of constant attention to get their patient back to full health. Several times, they almost lost him. Misty had the distinct feeling that, with the current state of weirdness, losing him would have more drastic consequences than just being a ghost in game. Finally, his blue name appeared above him... Talon.
Talon sat up and ran a hand over his bald scalp.
"Well," he said, "looks like I owe you my life... and I'm not just speaking in game".
"Huh?" said Jess.
He and Yim exchanged glances, he could tell, she knew.
"Nothing," he said, "I am merely grateful for your assistance".
"What did you mean when you said, 'I can't log out'"?
He looked again to Yim and then back at Jess.
"I was delirious. The fire caught me by surprise and I couldn't access any command functions".
He cut short further discussion by abruptly standing up and walking over to the ruins of his house. He started picking through the ashes, seeing what he could salvage. He finally came across an iron chest and smiled.
"Still locked down and secure".
He began to take out clothing and armor and put them on. It was a simple Shadow dex suit... chain legs, chain tunic, ring gauntlets, plate arms and gorget, and a close helm. He then pulled out a gleaming katana that almost glowed with power.
"Indestructible," he said, "Supremely Accurate, Silver, of Vanquishing. If I had been able to get to this when that..."
"When what?" said Yim, "what happened here"?
"Something that shouldn't have".
Near what was once the front of the house, he found the sign that had hung by the front door. He put his hand on it and it glowed faintly. The wreckage of the house vanished and parchment scroll appeared in his hand.
"Well... that's something at least".
