The goblin charged, shaking its mangy hair and shreiking an unintelligible battle cry. Its obsidian-pointed spear glinted in the overhead flourescents as the mad little creature bore down on me.

Startled, I whirled out of my chair and leapt up onto my desk. In adjacent cubicles, my co-workers looked at me in amazement and confusion. The goblin, close enough to feel sure of its aim, loosed the spear in my direction.

I heard a scream from the pretty young executive assistant to my right just as the spear shattered on the glowing armor that instantly appeared around me. I was in position now and so was the goblin.

Uttering a gutteral word in an arcane language, I shot a sphere of flame from my right hand to envelop the tiny beast. I watched as its sickly green skin blackened.

Fists crackling with energy, I lifted my eyes to the rest of the invaders huddled around the glowing gate portal. The troll returned my gaze as if accepting my challenge.