by Jason Cheek
“I think we’ve managed to mostly clean the majority of the low level bastards out,” Phoenix replied tiredly, as she worked on cleaning off the worst of the gore from her armor. “Towards the end, we started running into some serious resistance. The last group we fought had four level 36s with a level 38 Shaman.”
“That shit was no joke,” Sarka agreed unhappily. “I swear that Emergency Hot Fix has made demi-Humans tough as nails.” Behind her, I saw Unalia’s silent nod of agreement.
“Yeah, we’ll probably need to team up with another group before we take on any more of those assholes,” Zhou said, unhappily sticking her fingers through a particularly bad slice in her leathers. “Damn it, I just repaired this after Darom.”
“If not for our zombie pets and your companions, we’d have wiped for sure.” Terry said grimly, as she checked over the newest dents in her shield, before strapping it back onto her back. “We’ll need bigger groups, if we decide to head out again.”
“That’s not good,” I said, thinking over the issue. “I asked Krishna to head back so we can get everyone trained up. Maybe some of the other groups will start returning if they’re running into the same kind of issues. If so, we can decide how to proceed with the scouting missions then.”
“I don’t know,” Krystal said, with a faraway look in her eyes as if she were visualizing their last fight. “They’re not acting like any NPCs I’ve ever seen before.”
“That’s because they’re not NPCs,” I said, frowning at the amused look from Jill and Krystal who both looked at me like I was some naiveté child. At least, I didn’t see the same dismissive looks reflected in my newer friends’ eyes. Making the hand signal that meant I wanted this portion of the video blocked from the stream, I continued in a heated voice. “Thinking like that will only have you making the same mistake that Julie did.”
“And what mistake is that, Jay?” Jill snapped at me in annoyance. “Not deciding to have a sexual relationship with one of these digital personalities?” She said the last part while making air quotes around the “digital personalities” comment. Although, I could see that while Jill was sure of her belief in what she was saying, Krystal had some doubts.
“The software AI that was developed for The World basically makes each of the people and monsters in the game their own thinking individual.” I said, trying to make Jill and Krystal understand what I meant. If my friends couldn’t grasp the concept, it was going to cause all kinds of problems. “They’re not scripted personalities. They’re actually born into the world. They grow up from children, learn from their parents … from their communities … they grow old, and die. They don’t have a set of reactions to a given situation. They can feel, laugh, hurt, lie, be dishonorable, and change their minds. Underestimating them as thinking individuals will only cause all of us problems down the road.”
“So what does that have to do with Julie?” Jill growled, growing impatient at what she thought was a ridiculous discussion.
“She underestimated them.” I said in all seriousness. “Julie thought she could make a deal with the Northern Orc tribes. She believed that any deal she made with the demi-Humans would be enforced by the game because they were scripted NPCs like any other MMORPG. So, she sold out portions of the Kingdom of Kader under the assumption that the simple monsters would keep to their bargain and not go beyond the deal she’d made with them.”
“So, what?” Jill said, flinging her arms up like I was talking crazy. “They’re going to throw away the deal and take over everything?” She laughed hard at her own words, before turning to Krystal. “Do you hear that crazy shit? I swear, Jay has truly flipped his lid this time.” Seeing her friend’s face, Jill paused suddenly unsure of herself. “Krystal?”
“I think he’s right … or partially right.” Krystal blurted out uncomfortably. “Look at how those Orcs reacted to our attacks.” Her eyes got wide as she thought back to the last battle. “They learned our tactics and came up with a plan to take us out. What would have happened if we hadn’t been trying to level up our Nature magic? What would have happened if we were playing at the top of our game? They would have taken us out like a cheap trick.”
For the first time, I saw Jill looking at me unsure of herself. “Listen, you don’t have to take what I’m saying like it’s the gospel. Just keep an open mind, realize that the people in The World are more than simple scripts, and that they can do or act in any number of ways. All that I’m asking is that you play smart and don’t underestimate the enemy. Well that, and don’t piss off my vassals.”
That last comment brought a smile to her lips as she flipped me off. Still, she gave me a silent nod of agreement as Unalia spoke up to change the topic. Before I knew it the mood had lightened up and I’d done the hand signal for starting up the stream again.
I listened in on everyone’s battle stories as the ladies went into storytelling mode. Jill and Kenzie were the loudest as they replayed their more memorable moments. It was entertaining to hear, to say the least. Although, I was a little disappointed to discover that they’d stopped trying to level up Nature magic past level 10. Not that it was a surprise after I heard what they’d been fighting against.
Still, I couldn’t help wanting a full raid capable of casting Healing Breeze for when the shit hit the fan. In my mind’s eye, I could see the entire raid’s health being topped off while fighting against an overwhelming enemy. While I’d tried to share that vision with my friends, no one but Thompson had been particularly interested.
My mind continued stitching together the strategic situation as I listened to everyone talk. There was no doubt we were quickly running out of time. I didn’t know what Julie had set into motion, but I had a feeling the game was getting ready to kick everyone’s asses. All that I could do was hope we were back in Darom before the storm hit.
While that was running through my thoughts, Neristhana and Ulia led the second group back in. They looked even worse for wear than the newfar as they approached. Probably because they had less zombie pets to back them up in their battles. Even Fylreh looked like she’d been rode hard and put away wet. Neysa and Helgath appeared in my mind as soon as they’d gotten close enough for our link to work. Not that I saw them, since they were staying out to patrol.
I’d immediately learned then that the girls had helped prevent the rest of my companions from being wiped out in a particularly nasty fight. They’d lost both Kitano and Shadow Fang doing it, but both manifest pets had chosen to sacrifice themselves to save everyone’ lives. Since then, the two groups had been working together, but the levels they were starting to face had forced them to fall back to the main group. My soulmates’ connection disappeared again as they both headed back out to check on something that had caught Neysa’s eyes. As the rest of my companions matched pace with me, the Gnomeling made her report.
“We had some difficulties, my lord.” Neristhana unhappily said, giving me a fist salute. Not hearing a “Lord Stinky” attached to her greeting let me know she was really upset.
“I heard,” I replied with a nod. “How did you guys lose control over the situation?”
“A high level Shaman-lead group used their lower level brethren to bait us into a trap.” Ulia explained as the Gnomeling scowled in embarrassment.
“We were ambushed before the fight even started.” Neristhana added, hanging her head in embarrassment. “If Neysa and Helgath hadn’t been hunting the same group, we’d have all died.”
“Eh, don’t beat yourself up about it,” I said, to both of their surprised looks. “It’s happens to the best-laid plans of mice and men.”
“Are you trying to say something about my height being the cause of this?” Neristhana grunted as if I’d physically hit her, misunderstanding what I’d meant.
“This isn’t about you being height challenged.” I snapped in annoyance. “I was trying to say that no battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy.” Seeing their annoyed looks, I realized that neither one of the
m had gotten the allusion. Unconsciously, my voice turned hard as I tried again. “It means, you do the best you can do and, even when you do, unexpected shit happens. You can’t beat yourself up about it.” Seeing my companions’ disgruntled looks at my words, I tried another tactic.
“Did that Shaman plan on having Neysa and her group show up in the middle of the fight and jump them from behind?” I didn’t wait for a response but plowed on. “No, shit happens. You made it out alive with everyone under your command. Learn from your mistakes and move on.”
Tengsly returned with a message from Thomas that they were already on their way back. A second later, a bright red flying squirrel came racing up to Kenzie. For a second, she backed away from the fluttering creature in surprise as it hovered before her face, before the creature’s message flittered through her mind.
“Mother-fucker!” The Rogue cursed as she focused on transferring a message back to the little creature. In a flash, it raced away as Kenzie muttered under her breath. “He’s so dead!”
Turning away from that drama, I was surprised to feel Neysa and Helgath once again touching my thoughts as the Silver Dire Wolf and Half-Orc came to within the outer limits of our telepathic range. Both of my soulmates explained that the Orc Scouts in the area were once again growing to ridiculous proportions. For now, both of my ladies were worried as to what the increased activity meant for our rescue mission, but immediately realized, after reading my thoughts, that we were heading in either way.
Chapter One.Nine
(Wednesday, May 7th / Day 17 of The World.)
While they couldn’t continue to hunt down Shamans, my soulmates could still scout ahead for ambushes or warn us if the main force suddenly arrived in the area. Helgath’s thoughts showed me how that would look from her memories. A horde of dark gray bodies destroying everything in its path like a swarm of locus tearing through a corn field. The similarity of the comparison that Helgath had plucked from my mind wasn’t lost on me, but I wasn’t going to give up on rescuing my friends.
Feeling my resolve, both of my soulmates assured me that they would do everything that they could to give us a fighting chance. Their mental salute echoed in my thoughts as they headed back out to scout. With a sigh, I focused back to the ongoing conversation about Krishna’s whereabouts. We talked a little bit more about the issue, but my explanation seemed to have helped settle everyone down. Still, I was glad Lyeneru had made it through the scrap alive. Otherwise, I’m sure Krishna would’ve had a few words to say to me about that.
The guys made it back just as I was finishing up the discussion with my companions. Assault Leader Dell and his officers were with them. By then, a few more flying squirrels had come to deliver their individual messages to a mixture of annoyance and happy laughter, depending upon who it was that was receiving the message. Like any other group of players, the guys wanted to show off their new toys.
As they approached, I saw that everyone was sporting some serious damage to their gear, besides looking beat up and tired. Tengsly took off as soon as he heard the excited chittering of the other flying squirrels. Within moments, he’d joined the excited cloud of manifest pets circling Thomas’ group as he chittered away happily.
I let the little guy have his fun as I had a quick discussion with Thomas and Dell. It immediately became apparent that they’d returned for the same reasons as the women. The Orcs levels in the area were getting too high and they’d been caught in a major ambush which had forced them to call off any further hunting.
Similar to my companions, they’d been lured into a trap by a higher level group of Orcs led by a Shaman. With Assault Leader Dell’s help, they’d managed to survive the attack, but only after losing several of his officers. Thompson was able to raise them easily enough, but it had set everyone on edge. I made sure Dell understood that those soldiers needed to be kept in the rear for safety reasons. I didn’t want to lose them simply because they had died during their resurrection lockout time.
Krishna was immediately inundated with requests for training. There was a lot of excitement as the ladies and my companions sat down to manifest their own flying squirrels. I did my best to walk everyone through the creation process that I’d used, explaining the telepathic link and how I’d visualized the complete creature before casting the spell. Within minutes, glowing green balls of energy began taking shape all around us as an excited squeal announced a new flying squirrel being created.
I was just standing to the side to happily watch my well-thought-out plan come together, when I nearly jumped out of my skin. Looking at me from over Hefe’s shoulder was a monstrous looking creature with shaggy fur and oversized, spider-like fangs resting against my friend’s neck. As my eyes locked onto the monster’s beady, green-glowing eyes, I screamed out a warning and launched a Flurry blast at the nightmarish horror.
“Bonnie, get it quick!” I urgently shouted as the blast missed its target by a hair. Ripping the Dark Blade of Lord Kayden from its sheath, I charged into action as Tengsly gave out a warning shrill from above and dove. “It’s on Hefe’s back!”
My skin crawled as the enormous spider-like creature skittered over Hefe’s shoulders as my friend completely spazzed out. I didn’t hear what he was shouting as he waved his arms wildly in the air while the critter went completely berserk. Alarmed shouts rang out around me as Kenzie screamed bloody murder and dove behind Assault Leader Dell’s back. It would have been a comical sight in any other situation.
I watched in disgust as the eight-legged horror suddenly sprang on Hefe’s head like an Alien-facehugger as the little Gnome windmilled backwards and fell on his ass, while I dodged the white spittle shooting from the tip of the monster’s bulbous tail. As I drew back my blade to take the thing’s misshapen head off, Bonne Smash stepped in front of Hefe to block my path with her shield braced. My slash was thrown off as my eyes widened in shock at the serious look on the Half-Orc’s face.
There was a loud clank as I slammed into Bonnie’s shield a split-second later. I did my best to pull the blow, but there was nothing I could do to stop the edge of my blade from painfully bouncing off the Half-Orc’s defenses. Even prepared as she was for the hit, the force of our impact knocked Bonnie back. She tried to snag me with her free hand to stop my follow-up attack, but it was useless as she staggered backwards a few steps, before falling down on her ass. Seeing the naked blade swinging for his face, Hefe did the only thing he could think of to do.
“Don’t kill Webby!” Hefe anxiously shrieked as he snatched the monster up in his arms and covered it with his entire body. Catching my mental thought that something was off, Tengsly broke off from his dive bomber run and rose back up into the air barking excitedly. “He’s my freaking manifest pet, Jay!”
Sliding to a stop with the Dark Blade of Lord Kayden pulled back ready to strike, I looked around in surprise at seeing the laughing faces of my friends. Well, the guys at least. Everyone else looked just as confused and freaked out as I felt. I could see Matt and Darkhorse already arguing with Thompson about their bet as the Devil Dog guild leader did his best to look innocent of any wrong doing. I frowned at Krishna who had a justified look plastered on his face as he kept an eye on the situation while updating everyone’s training. Obviously, my friends had thrown down some serious money on what they thought was going to happen when everyone saw Hefe’s new pet.
Pointing to Kenzie hiding behind Assault Leader Dell, AJ held out his hand to collect his payout as several of the other guys swore at him good-naturedly. Seeing that I wasn’t going to kill his baby, Hefe jumped up to help Bonnie to her feet. They Pookey Beared and Shnukumed each other for a moment, before Hefe went to Thomas to collect his winnings. I was just giving an apology to Bonnie, when Hefe returned whistling happily clinking a handful of silver. Oblivious to the stink eye I was giving him, he ordered his pet to jump into his arms as he came to a stop in front of me.
“Dude, Nature magic rocks.” Hefe said, hugging the furry, eight-legged Spider Squi
rrel to his chest. Yeah, I figured that out after everything settled down. “Webby is the freaking bomb.”
I now knew what the mini-nightmare was supposed to be, but I didn’t understand why Hefe had it. The thing was freaking ugly. Imagine combining a hairy-looking tarantula spider and a squirrel with a stingray, but, instead of a cute squirrel mouth, it had fearsome fangs that were bigger than its head. Oh, and don’t forget the eight beady-eyes spaced around its head in groups of two, or that it was the size of a large house cat that covered most of Hefe’s back.
Honestly, I had to look away as I puked-up in the back of my throat just a little bit at the revolting sight. It took me a moment to clear my mouth of bile as I looked back at Hefe’s smiling face. Taking a deep breath, I gave Hefe and his new pet a critical look. “What happened to manifesting a flying squirrel to send and receive messages with?”
“Oh that?” Hefe said, unconcerned. “I don’t need one of them. I mean, seriously. I’m always in a group with Bonnie anyway, and she has Rocky.” He said, nodding to his girlfriend’s new flying squirrel. “Why have two messenger squirrels when we only need one?”
Bonnie and Hefe traded an uncomfortable look as my eyes narrowed at the smell of bullshit. Seeing my look, Bonnie looked away to choke back a laugh as the little Gnome shifted uncomfortably under my stare. That’s when it hit me what had happened. Shaking my head, I looked Hefe in the eye.
“So, you fucked up when you went to visualize your flying squirrel?” I accused Hefe directly.
“I wouldn’t say I fucked up,” Hefe said, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. “It more like we came under attack by spiders and …” Seeing that I wasn’t taking the bait, he deflated before my eyes. “Yeah, I fucked up.”
“Cool,” I said, giving him a shrug.
“Cool? What do you mean cool?” Hefe asked, looking somewhat miffed. “You’re not acting very surprised.”
