Openings

by Thomas Davidsmeier

  Having talked it out with himself, he spent one point in Strength and one point into Dexterity.

  After looking more closely at his skills, he now had no question where he was spending his mundane 100%. He was not going to split it up. That seemed like something someone would do later, when they had organically increased a couple of skills close enough to level both by distributing the 100%.

  This 100% went all into his Weapons skill. As part of his Martial Prowess ability, this would increase his effectiveness with any Weapon he tried to use: war hammer, bow, or even a rock he picked up off the ground. It also gave him the ability to use the Trip and Disarm special attacks.

  A successful trip attack made an opponent PRONE. This capitalized word was a sign that it was describing a temporary condition. There was also FLANKED, STUNNED, and a number of other conditions. PRONE opponents suffered a -2 penalty to attacks and defense, and they had to spend a whole combat interval getting back up. This seemed well worth it to Chris for a -2 penalty to attack and damage on the initial tripping attack.

  At his next level, Chris would put his mundane 100% into his Shields skill to increase his blocking a little and gain a Shield Bash attack. Balancing all these different things was challenging but exciting.

  Relieved at having made his decisions, Chris stood up and stretched his stiff back. He called out, “Brother Aleksandr, can I go up to the steeple of the church to get a look at the lay of the land? I need to see where I’m going and what I’m doing next.”

  ***

  The church was on a rise in the land, and the extra height from their perch next to the bell gave Christopher McKnight a great view. A mile or so distant, there was a collection of what looked like thatched roof houses. Chris had never seen an actual thatched roof. He had only read descriptions in books and seen a couple in games. They were golden in the sunlight.

  Beyond the village by another mile lay a shaggy looking expanse of flat land. There were silver sparkles of open water here and there mixed in amongst the green and brown.

  “What’s that past the village?”

  Eagerly leaning over the railing, Nathaniel piped up. “It’s the Fenland. The village used to trade northward over a road that runs through it. Lots of reeds and grasses and stuff. Water, soggy ground, except for the road and bridges. The traders stopped coming because of goblins. That’s what my Local Lore skill tells me.”

  Chris gently but firmly grabbed the back of Nathaniel’s tunic and pulled the boy back from the railing. “It’s a long way down.”

  Nathaniel rolled his eyes.

  Hurt by the younger boy’s response, Chris sighed. “Now I know how my Dad feels. I need to be nicer to him when I get back.”

  It might have been because Nathaniel’s eyes were so like Jack’s. Chris did not know why, but his mind was flooded with the image of his father crying beside his little brother’s hospital bed. Then, his imagination took him to his little sister’s funeral that would happen if he failed to stop Jeremy. It was suddenly difficult to see the landscapes through the tears.

  Wiping his eyes like he had gotten some dust in them, Chris looked out again. The land kept falling gently beyond the Fenland to a large body of water in the far distance. Toward his right, far out in the water, there were blue mountains with white tops that stretched away to west until the disappeared at the horizon.

  The Divided Lands was clearly far bigger than any video game he had ever played. It was not just the absence of a screen in front of him limiting it. He was looking miles and miles into the distance, yet he was sure that he was seeing only a tiny fraction of the whole land.

  “I wish I had a world map.”

  Brother Aleksandr turned from where he was polishing the huge church bell. “There is a book in the library that describes the different lands, though it has no pictures.”

  “Ugh, maybe later. I get the feeling I’m not going to be getting to any new lands anytime soon. What’s the name of the village?”

  Sulking a little, Nathaniel crossed his arms. “Fenton. Though I don’t know how it got a town name. It should be a ‘ville’ by size.”

  Smiling confidently, Chris countered, “Not for long after I get in charge. Fen City here we come.”

  Nathaniel laughed at the name. His attitude flipped on a dime in the face of Chris’s ridiculous confidence.

  Looking south, Chris took in the forest that started just a few hundred yards from the edge of the church. The dirt road that lead past the front of the church went over a little hill to the west and down to where Chris knew his graveyard was located. “It’s down that road that your parents live, right?”

  Nathaniel turned to look where Chris was looking. “Yup. Not that I know them that well. Really, I’ve spent way more of my brief existence here with Brother Aleksandr.”

  “Still, I feel like I ought to go and let them know that I’m taking their son on as a squire. Plus, your hunter father might have a spare bow and some arrows that you could use. It would make a nice addition to that hatchet and leather vest thing you’ve got.”

  “Makes sense, though I think I get equipment that matches whatever class you pick for me when I become an adult.”

  “Yes,” interrupted Brother Aleksandr, “You will, but you’ve got to survive the rest of today and tomorrow before that happens.”

  ***

  Cool shadows and dappled light covered the road in the forest. Nathaniel took the slobbery stick back from Scout and tossed it again. The two companions and their huge dog made their way deeper into the trees and towards the hunter’s cottage. The sun was still high in the sky, but it was at least an hour after noon. Chris was sure they would have plenty of time to get there and then on to the village by mid afternoon.

  The trees they passed were taller and taller as they went. The underbrush grew so thick Nathaniel stopped tossing the stick for Scout to fetch. It was only a little while afterward that they came to a stone cottage beside the path. It had a small yard around it, and there were two deer hides stretched and drying on frames. A chimney in the middle of the slate roof had a thin gray line of smoke coming up from it.

  “Nice house. You’re parents must be doing well.”

  “Yeah, we’re totally rich.”

  Chris went to the door and knocked. “Hail and well met, hunter of the forest. Sir Christopher the Paladin wishes to purchase a bow from you.”

  “He’s not here, but I’ll help you if I can.” A feminine voice answered.

  Opening the door, a smiling, middle-aged woman came out of the cottage.

  “What kind of bow are you looking for, Master Paladin, sir?”

  “I need one that my page here can draw back without too much problem. And, arrows to go with it as well.”

  “Hi Mom!” Nathaniel smiled at the woman.

  Startled, the woman just shook her head. “The Divided Lands are a strange world. How are you, Nathaniel? Much grown since I last sent you off like Samuel to the priest’s house.”

  “I’m good. I’m joining up with Sir Christopher here to go save a bunch of innocent people back on Earth by winning the Game here in the Divided Lands.”

  “Oh, how exciting! My sons on Earth... I’m not supposed to talk about that though. You’ll make us proud, I’m sure.”

  Turning back to Christopher, the women’s expression fell a little. “I am sorry, but, I don’t think my husband can spare any arrows. He’s been gone too long each day to have much chance to make them. He only has a few extra. It’s just...”

  Fleeting indecision passed across her face. After a brief moment, the hunter’s wife continued. “There’s a wolf that’s taken up a den in a valley over yonder, and he’s scared all the game off. My husband’s been walking miles and miles further than he used to.”

  Chris wondered if a quest prompt or a chime or some sort of notification would pop up in front of his eyes, but nothing ever came. He thought to himself for a moment and decided to try a simple exchange.

  “Do you think
your husband would be able to sell us some arrows if we killed that wolf for you? They game would probably come back once it was gone.”

  “I don’t rightly know, but he’d probably give you arrows if you did that. Are you sure you want to?” The hunter’s wife looked Christopher up and down, appraising his gear and fitness. “It’s a big wolf.”

  Excited and almost tasting the adventure in the air, Nathaniel volunteered, “We’ve got our big hound!”

  Scout’s ears perked up at the word ‘hound.’ His mouth hung open in a happy-go-lucky smile. Chris could not resist scratching behind the big beast’s ears.

  The paladin reassured the hunter’s wife. “Yes, I’m sure we can handle it, and I’ll make certain to keep Nathaniel and Scout safe as well. It shouldn’t take us too long at all, I’d expect. Besides, I owe it to you and your husband for your letting your son join up with me. So, where exactly is this den?”

  ***

  Uneasily, Chris looked over the edge of the little valley to a rocky area on the opposite side. A large black hole filled the space under a couple of huge rocks that were leaning on each other. “I sure hope it isn’t a dire wolf, or a werewolf, or that I didn’t get a quest prompt because I was too low a level to actually do this.”

  Scout was already looking at the dark hole with suspicion. He whined a little, and Chris looked back at him. The hound went back to panting like a huge goof immediately. It almost got Chris to laugh despite the tension he was feeling.

  “Look on the bright side, if you get killed, I’ll be almost full grown by the time you wake up.” Nathaniel was cheerily testing the longbow that Chris was having him borrow for the encounter. He had taken a couple of practice shots. The boy was going to get some kind of strength penalty, but something was better than nothing.

  Chris hefted his shield on his left arm and squeezed his war hammer’s handle tight. His dad would have said he was squeezing the sawdust out of it. “Yeah, I’ll kept that in mind while I’m watching the nightmares go by. Just remember, in case of some wild critical hit or something that puts me down, you’re supposed to run for it. Lot’s of reasons I don’t want you dying.”

  Chris rolled his head around in a circle, his neck popping multiple times. Nathaniel winced at the sound.

  Relaxing his shoulders, Chis declared, “Let’s get this party started.”

  Excited, Nathaniel nocked an arrow and got up. He could not get anywhere near a full draw on the longbow, but he had been able to put an arrow in a tree from ten yards.

  When he stood up, Chris became Sir Christopher the Paladin. He confidently and coolly marched over the lip and down the slope toward the opening. His young squire moved around to the side, staying about ten yards back from his leader. Scout trailed at Chris’s heals where Nathaniel had told him to be.

  Just as Chris stepped onto the rocky low point of the valley, a growl came from the dark hole. Two glowing green eyes appeared. Scout answered the growl by starting one of his own, but he stayed in place behind Chris. Whatever was in the hole would have a hard time seeing the large dog since the paladin was actively trying to give him cover.

  Anger at himself rose in Chris’s throat. He gritted his teeth as he realized he had not set up the short cut words for his auras. “How did I forget to do this?”

  He opened up his character sheet. The text appeared between his eyes and the dark hole where the wolf was. If the beast came out now, he was going to be in big trouble. He stopped and held his ground. Scout dutifully stopped walking as well, but he kept growling. Tightness closed around Chris’s chest. He had to just relax, calm down, take it easy, and kill some mysterious, monstrous wolf.

  Excitement drifting into nervous worry, Nathaniel fought the urge to ask Chris what was going on. He tried to wait patiently, his arrow nocked and ready.

  After was seemed like far too long of a time, Chris stared at the words “Soldiers of the Light” under Auras on his character sheet, and thought as loud as he could think, “CAST!”

  His ability was activated. A feeling of strength and warmth flood him. An orange glowing ring of light sprang into existence on the ground around him. It had jagged points directed outward and spun back and forth around him. He felt like he was at the center of a DJ laser show. Where was the obnoxious hip hop music played so loud that his whole body cavity resonated?

  You have invoked a Novice Soldiers of the Light Aura. ATT/DMG +1, Crit. +5%

  You have 6/10 Mana.

  Bristling fur and bared teeth, a huge black wolf emerged from the den. The appearance of the glowing man on its doorstep apparently displeased the beast. Mere moments after Chris’s aura appeared, the lupine monster charged down the hillside. Chris looked at it and hoped his Monster Lore skill would tell him what they were in for.

  Dire Wolf, Level 3 Monster, Health 30/30, ATT +5, DMG 2-8+5, DEF +4 (TH:2)

  Chris did not have time to try to decipher every stat. What was TH:2? He swallowed hard and set himself up for the charging mass of dark fur, yellow fangs, and glowing green eyes. It looked the size of a horse as it bore down on him. His shield arm was cocked along his left side, his war hammer was low with the hook on the back side of the head facing up.

  The moment the wolf arrived, Nathaniel loosed his readied arrow. Chris threw forward his shield to block the wolf’s attack and slid to the side.

  Nathaniel attacks Dire Wolf with Longbow.

  He hits Dire Wolf for 3 damage (5-2). Dire Wolf’s Tough Hide absorbs 2 damage.

  You have used Shield skill successfully, Dire Wolf’s attack was blocked.

  The force of the collision, the arrow piercing its hide, and the way Chris gave way and moved to the side put the wolf well off balance.

  Chris yanked his war hammer up as the wolf careened past.

  You attack the Dire Wolf with TRIP. Chance to succeed 50% [((7-3) - 4) x 5% + 50%]

  He felt the hook catch hard on one of the wolf’s back legs.

  You have TRIPPED Dire Wolf for 9 (5+7-3) damage. The Dire Wolf’s Tough Hide absorbs 2 points of damage.

  The animal went tumbling down in a heap at the foot of the slope.

  Hope filled Chris like a sunrise. That much damage on a trip attempt! Now, he and Scout could flank the beast and hopefully finish off its remaining 22 Health as fast as possible. As long as the wolf was PRONE, they would get even more bonuses to their attacks and damage.

  Scout darted out from behind Chris and circled around the tripped foe.

  Scout FLANKS PRONE Dire Wolf with you.

  Scout attacks FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf with Bite.

  Scout misses!

  Rolling around and thrashing, the wolf managed to avoid a snapping bite by the big dog. But, Chris was not going to let it off the hook.

  You attack the FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf. Chance to hit 80% [((7+2+2)-4) x 5% + 50%]

  Sir Christopher’s war hammer kicked up a shower of leaves in dirt.

  You missed the FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf.

  The wriggling wolf had managed to make Chis miss as well.

  Shocked, Chris threw his head back and shouted at the tree tops. “What? Come on! I had an 80% chance! That’s like a slam dunk!”

  The wolf still had not managed to get back to its feet yet, so Chris remained confident. It had been just rolling around on the ground, dodging attacks.

  He raised his war hammer high.

  FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf attacks you with Bite.

  FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf hits you for 10 damage. Your armor absorbs 2 points of damage.

  You have 16/24 Health.

  “Aaaahh!” Chris screamed as the wolf’s huge jaws snapped closed on his lower leg. His armor definitely helped, but those 8 Health were a third of his total.

  He swung the hammer down at the beasts head that was locked around his ankle.

  You attack the FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf. Chance to hit 80% [((7+2+2)-4) x 5% + 50%]

  You hit the Dire Wolf for 18 damage (9+7+2). The Dire Wolf’s Tough Hide absorbs 2 points of damage.


  There was a resounding thump and a sharp crack, but the wolf held on.

  Scout attacks FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf with Bite.

  Scout hits Dire Wolf for 5 damage (2+1+2). The Dire Wolf’s Tough Hide absorbs 2 points of damage.

  If it were not for the adrenaline coursing through his veins, Chris would have been weeping at the pain in his leg. The monstrous beast shook its massive head around, ripping and tearing at Chris’s muscles and bone.

  FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf attacks you with TRIP.

  FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf has TRIPPED you for 8 damage. Your armor absorbs 2 points of damage.

  You are PRONE.

  You have 10/24 Health.

  PRONE Dire Wolf is no longer FLANKED.

  Christopher the Paladin screamed as he toppled over.

  A sudden blur darted past him.

  Nathaniel FLANKS PRONE Dire Wolf with Scout.

  Nathaniel attacks FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf. Chance to hit 60% [((2+2+2)-4) x 5% 50%]

  Nathaniel hits the FLANKED PRONE Dire Wolf for 7 damage (1+2+2+2). The Dire Wolf’s Tough Hide absorbs 2 points of damage. Ooowwuuuch! That one really hurts. It dies.

  You have defeated the Dire Wolf. Your party receives 600 XP. Your share is 220 XP.

  Despite the agonizing pain, the first thing Chris said was, “Wow, that guy was worth more than half of a level all by himself?”

  The paladin gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. He carefully extracted his injured leg from the mouth of the dead creature. He gasped and fell back onto the ground once it was free.