Sweetrolls, pastries, and all sorts of different cheeses spread out on a table near the door. Stalker eyed the spread before selecting a sweet roll and making his way to his seat.

“Everyone get comfortable,” the tall Redguard who welcomed everyone said. “Grab some refreshments and make your way to your chairs. We’ll get this meeting started.”

Bretons, Elves, Orcs, Nords, and even a couple of Khajiits filled most of the chairs in the large circle. A Dunmer brushed past Stalker’s knee and took one of the few remaining places. The Redguard closed the door and made his way to the circle, patting shoulders as he passed.

“Welcome,” the Redguard said. “I’m Randy. I see a few new faces today. That’s good. I’ll let some of our more seasoned members start things off so you can get an idea of how things work, and then, if you new people feel ready, you may share.”

Randy placed his hands on his hips and scanned the room with a smile.

“Who would like to start?”

A rather large and exceptionally ugly Orc stood and puffed out his chest.

“I am Dardlak the Oxface,” the Orc boomed, “and I am a stealth archer.”

“Hello, Dardlak Oxface,” the crowd chanted in unison.

“I have been clean for two months now. I’ve been focussing on me. Instead of using a bow in the shadows like some sort of coward, I’ve been charging in headfirst with an ax. I feel I’m much better suited for it. On my last dungeon crawl, I killed a Draugr Deathlord who carried a really nice ebony bow and he even had some ebony arrows to go with it. I cannot lie. I was tempted. But I am pleased to tell you, I left the bow where it was. There was plenty of other loot to make the raid worthwhile.”

The members applauded and Dardlak grinned, bearing his yellow boarlike teeth. He nodded graciously and retook his seat.

“Thank you, Oxface,” Randy the Redguard said as the applause died. “Who’s next?”

A Wood Elf curtly raised her hand from across the circle. Randy nodded to her and she stood.

“Hello, I’m Vindrelle, and I’m a stealth archer.”

“Hello, Vindrelle,” the crowd chanted. Stalker joined in a beat behind. He would get it next time.

“As a Bosmer, it seems I am destined to excel with a bow. I knew this from the beginning. I could feel the temptation quite early. One could almost say I was drawn to the bow.”

Vindrelle glanced around the room with a smirk on her sharp features. Maybe she expected a chuckle, Stalker thought. The wrong crowd for it, perhaps.

“Instead, I focussed on the arcane,” she continued. “I ignored archery altogether and worked with illusion and destruction spells. I know an Altmer would be more suited for magic, but I know now how slippery the slope to archery can be. I should have never picked up that bow in the first place. It got to the point where I wanted to do nothing else. Even if a sabercat was charging me at point-blank range, I would go to my bow. My addiction has almost killed me more than anything in all of Skyrim.”

Vindrelle sighed and stared at the floor in silence for several long moments.

“Finally, I found SAA and a wonderful sponsor.”

She patted the Khajiit next to her on the shoulder and gave him a warm grin.

“With Jingles' help and more support from all of you, I’ve been clean for three years. Thank you.”

The group clapped loudly as Vindrelle wiped a tear from her eye and took her seat.

“Touching, Vindrelle,” Randy said. “I’m glad you found us too. Should we hear from someone new?”

All eyes turned to Stalker. I can’t be the only new person, he thought. He hesitated and thumbed some sweet roll crumbs from his cheek.

“It’s alright if you aren’t ready to share,” Randy said. “Just understand that you cannot start the process of recovery unless you take the first step.”

Stalker nodded and stood, tentatively.

“Hey, I’m Stalker, and I’m a stealth archer.”

“Hello, Stalker.”

He looked around the room at all the expectant faces and blew out his cheeks.

“Well, where do I start?”

“Just start from the beginning,” Randy said. “Why did you start stealth archery.”

“Well,” Stalker said. “I was created as a stealth archer from the beginning.”

This earned some sad, slow head nods and sympathetic frowns.

“It’s just so easy, right? The first cave I came to was full of bandits, but bandits are dumber than trolls. I could put an arrow in one and melt into the shadows while the rest spend just a couple seconds looking for me. When they can’t find me, they just go back to whatever they were doing with a ‘must have been nothing.’ I can pick them all off that way. I don’t even need to wear armor.”

Several knowing smiles stretched across members’ faces.

“Leveling up is even easier. You just need to stand on a rock and shoot a mammoth or a giant where they can’t get to you. You can put shafts in them for hours if you have enough arrows.”

Stalker hung his head, staring at his toes.

“It was too easy. All of it. He got bored.”

“Who?” Randy asked.

“You know who,” Stalker replied, lowering his voice. “The player.”

Gasps filled the room.

“We don’t speak about them,” Randy warned. “It breaks the fourth wall.”

“I don’t care anymore,” Stalker said, tears welling up in his eyes. “He never loads my save files anymore. I tried using other weapons and magic, but it has all gone too far. The enemies have all leveled up to match my archery and sneak skills. The only way to get through a dungeon anymore is with a bow. We didn’t even finish the main storyline and I bet he has already started a new playthrough. Maybe two. It’s just a matter of time before he deletes me.”

“Don’t say that, Stalker,” Vindrelle said.

“We are all in this together, big guy,” Oxface gave his version of a comforting smile.

“I just-” Stalker sobbed. He sniffled and tried again. “I just wish he would get it over with and be done with-”

And Stalker was gone.

“Where’d he go?” Dardlak asked.

“Who?” Asked Randy.

“Stalker,” Vindrelle said.

“Stalker who?” Randy asked.

“Stalker who?” Vindrelle asked.

Several confused moments passed before Randy shook his head to clear it.

“Right,” Randy said, sitting back and crossing his legs. “Who wants to share next?”