by Paul Bellow
“Jonan,” he said. “What are you still doing in here? I told you to get to work. You need to respect your elders.”
“Where’s Sarah?” I asked.
You received an OOC Penalty!
-10% experience points next encounter.
You have five minutes to talk OOC.
“Stop it with the notifications,” I shouted.
The orc’s brow furrowed.
“Who’s Sarah?” he asked. “Are you messing with human women again? Have you been drinking already today? Or smoking that wizard weed again?”
“Sarah’s my girlfriend,” I said. “And I want to see her. Now.”
I stepped forward, realizing I had a huge body with bulging muscles. A fur cloak and loincloth barely covered other man parts.
“Are you Eric or something?” I asked.
The orc slammed his fist against the wall.
“Stop messing around,” he shouted.
“This game sucks,” I muttered.
“What language are you speaking?” the orc asked.
He continued staring at me, face scrunched up in anger.
“I’m out of here,” I said, walking toward the opening he’d come in.
“Stop,” the orc yelled. “Don’t disrespect me. I’m your father.”
Despite his pleas, I kept walking.
Something hit me on the back of the head.
“Hey,” I said, spinning around. “What’s your problem?”
“Pay attention when I’m talking to you,” the orc said.
I instinctively reached back and grabbed my club.
The elder orc laughed as my anger boiled over.
“You don’t have it in you,” he snorted.
I lifted the club then brought it down with my powerful arms. The wood struck the surprised orc on the side of the head. Blood spattered against the bare mud walls.
Your Father is Dead!
Combat is Over!
You get 333 xp
You have a -10% xp penalty
You get 300 xp
You have 300 xp
You need 1,000 xp for level two warrior
“Whoa!” I said, freaking out at the realistic violence. “This game is messed up. Did I kill him with one hit?”
Heart still racing, I turned and rushed outside. Dozens of other orcs—male and female—walked up and down the street in front of the adobe building. Some of them stopped to stare and point.
“What are you looking at?” I yelled as I walked to the left.
Eric would pay once I found him. He probably started me away from him and Sarah to bust a move on her. Typical nerd playbook. I’ll teach him a lesson as soon as I find him.
“Jonan,” someone yelled behind me.
I stopped and turned. An orc wearing leather armor with metal spikes rushed over. He stopped in front of me.
“What’s going on, brother?” he asked.
“I need to find Sarah,” I said.
“There’s no time for whoring around.”
“Don’t talk that way about her,” I said then pushed his chest.
He backed away a few steps as a snarl came over his face.
“What’s gotten into you?” he asked. “I thought we were going raiding today. Are you chickening out again?”
“No time,” I said. “Sarah needs my help.”
“You’re going to choose a woman over your own flesh and blood?”
He shook his head. “You’re a disgrace to the family name. I’m going to talk with father before we leave.”
“No, wait,” I said, grabbing his arm. “Let’s just go.”
I wanted to avoid any problems and find Eric and Sarah.
Could I trust my brother in the game? I asked the game for more information about the new NPC named Jokan.
[NPC] – Jokan
Jokan is your half-brother and a full orc. He will inherit the family’s wealth after your father passes. He dislikes you because of your half-human heritage, and he constantly teases you about it.
“Your human side is showing again,” Jokan said.
He shoved my chest, almost sending me to the ground.
“We should leave now,” I said. “Let’s go.”
Jokan smiled, showing sharp yellow teeth. “You’re finally talking sense.”
I turned and kept walking.
“The horses are over here,” he said. “Are you drinking already today?”
“No,” I said. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“I bet.”
He grinned. “Chasing human women takes it out of you.”
He laughed then walked toward a nearby stable. I followed him inside, admiring all the attention to detail.
We saddled two horses, climbed on, then rode toward the edge of the haphazard and rundown settlement.
A notification appeared in front of me.
New Quest – Join Your Party
* * *
Jonan, you have a new quest. Travel to Fishguard on the Southern Coast to join a band of adventurers determined to find fame and glory. You have four (4) days to complete this quest. On completion, you will receive 1,000 xp.
Quest or not, I need to find the others. That’s my priority.
“Where’s Fishguard?” I asked.
Jokan glanced over, squinting.
“What are you talking about?” he asked. “Are you sure you haven’t been drinking?”
“Never mind,” I said. “Forget about it.”
“You’re losing your mind, brother…”
His voice trailed off, and we rode in silence, soon reaching the edge of the rough settlement in the middle of nowhere. I’d participated in VR chats before, but none of them compared to what I’m experiencing.
Where’s Sarah?
Thoughts of her consumed my mind as Jokan picked up the pace. I clenched my legs together, speeding up. We followed a faint trail into the wastelands.
The hot sun burned my bare back. In some ways, the game was too real.
My thoughts turned to Eric as I rode.
Is he laughing at me while he plays alone with Sarah? Maybe I should quit.
Careful not to talk about the game out loud, I pulled up the menu screen. No matter where I looked, I didn’t see a quit option.
That’s weird.
Jokan slowed to a stop. I did the same, watching as he tilted his head back and sniffed the air a few times.
What’s he doing?
He smiled in satisfaction.
“There’s the smell,” he said.
I sniffed through my huge nostrils but smelled nothing.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
He chuckled then shook his head.
“I forgot,” he said. “Your human senses aren’t as good as mine.”
“Just tell me what you smell,” I said.
“Man flesh,” Jokan replied, drool dripping down his chin.
“That sounds fun and all, but I want to find my friends,” I said.
Jokan stopped smiling and bared his teeth.
“Are you backing out on me?” he asked then shook his head again. “I knew you’d never kill humans like a true orc.”
Didn’t he understand I only wanted to find Eric and Sarah?
And what kind of stupid game doesn’t let you quit?
“I bet you wish you were full human,” Jokan said, his words filled with contempt.
“That’s not it…” I stopped talking, unsure of what to say.
He wasn’t like any characters I’d seen in video games before.
“Then help me kill these humans,” he said. “We’ll feast on their flesh under the open stars tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll convince father to give me control of the tribe.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said, not caring in the slightest.
The only thing I wanted to do was find Sarah and get out of the game. The reservations I’d made for dinner hadn’t been easy to get.
“Yah!” he yelled then spurred his horse.
The black beast sprinted forward. I followed close behind.
A caravan of wagons came into view as we rode hard and fast.
“Show them no mercy,” Jokan yelled as he pulled out a sword.
Why does he get a sword and I have a stupid club?
I reached back and pulled out my weapon. It felt good in my hand.
The wagons stopped as we got closer. Men and women scurried about.
“Orcs!” someone yelled, pointing in our direction.
I smiled as adrenaline shot through my body. The rush felt real—like when I ran thirty or more yards to make a touchdown but even better. Jokan reached them first, and he brought his sword down. One of the men screamed and fell to the ground.
I slowed down my horse, watching them run.
Who should I attack first? Just the men?
“Come on,” Jokan shouted. “Kill them.”
Two arrows whizzed by my head.
“Hey,” I shouted then rode forward.
As I reached the archers, I brought my club down.
Your bash HITS the villager for 7 damage.
The villager is dead!
-10 alignment penalty
What’s that? I wondered then put it out of my mind.
The other man dropped his bow and ran. I climbed off my horse, as an arrow shot into my bicep, sending pain through my entire body.
The arrow SCRATCHES you for 2 damage.
You have [16/18] health remaining.
“Ow,” I screamed then yanked it out. “Come here, you.”
I ran forward and swung my club like a baseball bat.
Your bash HITS the villager for 8 damage.
The villager is dead!
-10 alignment penalty
The man—his head bloodied to a pulp—collapsed to the ground. All my anger and aggression bubbled up to the surface of my mind.
I hadn’t felt so alive in a long time. Another man yelled and ran to me. He stopped when my club solidly slammed into his right arm.
Your bash HITS the villager for 7 damage.
The villager is dead!
-10 alignment penalty
Maybe this game isn’t so bad after all, I thought as I spun around.
Jokan pulled his sword out of a defenseless woman. She fell to the ground, not moving. Was it Sarah?
As I ran over to him, a notification window appeared.
Combat is Over!
You get 444 xp
You have a -10% OOC penalty
You get +400 xp
You have 700 xp
You need 600 xp for level two Warrior.
Too many numbers, I thought as I glanced at all the death and destruction we’d caused.
Jokan reached down and picked up a severed arm. With a gleam in his eyes, he took a big, bloody bite.
“Why aren’t you eating?” he asked, still chewing.
Bits of man-flesh ran down his cheek.
“Put the arm down,” I said. “That’s not right.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Jokan said.
He continued chewing.
“Put it down,” I said, stepping toward him.
“Or what?” he asked. “You’re a weak half-human, not even a half-orc.”
“Take that back,” I said.
He dropped the arm and drew his sword.
“What are you going to do about it?” He shook his head. “You’re as dumb as everyone says. Don’t you think I know what you did to father? I brought you out here to kill you.”
I stopped, still gripping my bloody club.
“What about it?” I asked. “He was bothering me.”
Jokan threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“You’re something else,” he said. “I’m going to relish killing you and avenging Father.”
He screamed and ran forward with his sword raised. I stood in place, winding up.
When he made it within range, I swung the club, hitting him solidly on the arm.
Your blow HITS Jokan the orc for 8 damage.
Jokan caught himself before falling.
“Not bad,” he said. “But you know I’m stronger.”
He yelled and thrust his sword at me.
Jokan’s pierce HITS you for 6 damage
You have [10/18] health remaining.
That hurt. I can’t let this beast kill me before I find Sarah.
I stepped back, holding my club up in a defensive position.
Jokan screamed then wildly swung his steel blade again.
Jokan’s slash SCRATCHES you for 2 damage.
You have [8/18] health remaining.
How can I win this? I wondered.
A notification popped up.
Tip: Barbarian rage will help you clean up your enemies quickly. At level one, you get one extra attack per round with a +50% damage modifier. Be careful so you don’t attack friendly party members!
* * *
Gamemaster: You seem to be having trouble. Would you like to engage barbarian rage (level one)?
“Yes,” I shouted, seriously getting more upset at the game.
Pure, unadulterated rage raced through me, blurring my vision.
I dropped my club and rushed forward. Jokan swung his sharp sword.
Jokan’s slash GRAZES you for 4 damage.
You have [4/18] health remaining.
I crashed into my orc brother, not even caring about my wounds. He screamed as I pulled back my fist and pummeled him.
Your punch INJURES Jokan the orc for 12 damage.
I screamed as Jokan stumbled backward, almost losing his balance. My other fist whipped upward, hitting him square in the jaw.
Critical Hit!
Your uppercut WOUNDS Jokan the orc for 14 damage.
Jokan the orc is dead!
Combat is Over!
You get 300 xp!
You have 1,000 xp
You need 300 xp for level two warrior.
Jokan fell to the ground and didn’t get up. I glanced around, still pumped up from the battle and the barbarian rage. As it wore off over the next few minutes, I hurt more.
Am I about to die? How do I heal up in this stupid game?
Questions multiplied in my mind.
I need to find Sarah. That’s my first and only priority right now.
What kind of sick, twisted game had Eric gotten us into?
And why was I enjoying it so much?
I saw a chest sitting in a wagon. Before walking over, I picked up Jokan’s sword.
New Item – Orcish Short Sword
This crude blade isn’t pretty or even well made, but it does its job without complaint. Deals 1 to 8 (1d8) damage plus strength damage modifier.
I’ll keep the club as a backup, I thought.
Games had never interested me, but this was on another level. The realism factor had been turned up by a hundred at least.
Holding the sword, I walked over for a closer look at the chest in the wagon. While I didn’t cared at first, I didn’t want to die in the game and seem like a loser to Sarah.
I climbed into the back of the wagon and kneeled next to the chest. After opening it, I saw several glass bottles sitting in the bottom. I picked up a green glowing one.
A desire to drink the contents overwhelmed me as my mouth went dry.
I uncorked the bottle and raised it to my lips.
Here goes nothing, I thought as I tilted it and drank the contents.
You Feel better!
You have [12/18] health remaining.
Now we’re talking.
After opening the other two chests and finding nothing, I sighed.
What am I doing? I need to go find Sarah. This game is so weird.
I climbed out of the wagon. The sun had begun its descent in the western sky. Tall trees in the distance beckoned. Somehow, I instinctively knew the way to Fishguard.
When I find Eric, I plan on giving him a piece of my mind. I walked over to my horse which surprisingly hadn’t bolted during the short but
lethal battle with Jokan.
I smiled as I climbed atop my horse. My girlfriend might be a nerd deep down, but there’s no way she would get back with Eric when she could be with me instead.
As I rode, the sun began its slow descent on the horizon. A few miles down the road, I saw a large cloud of dust in the distance.
“What now?” I muttered to myself.
Another caravan approached.
Eric and Sarah? I wondered.
I waited, ready for anything.
4
Human Rogue Spawns in Harrisburg
ERIC
I materialized in a cozy bedroom for one.
When Sarah and Josh didn’t show up, I resigned myself to making the best of the situation. The careful attention to detail stunned me as I looked around.
Had the game scanned my brain to customize the game for me?
When a notification for a “Join Your Party in Fishguard” quest popped up, I accepted it without hesitation. Time to find the others.
Maybe I’ll be able to level up before I reach the city and find Sarah and Josh.
The challenge would be fun. Hopefully they weren’t mad.
I’d spent a lot of time in game-worlds over the years, but I’d never experienced anything like Tower of Gates.
Time to check stats
>> Stats
Name: Drexmao (“Drex”)
Race: Human (Special)
Class: Rogue
Level: 1
Experience Points: 0 (2300 for next level)
Alignment: +85 (Quite Good)
Health: 12(12)
Strength: 75 (+10% To Hit in Melee and +2 to damage)
Dexterity: 75 (+10 to Armor Class)
Constitution: 75 (+10% CON saves.)
Intelligence: 75 (+10% INT saves)
Wisdom: 55 (+0%)
Charisma: 44 (+0%)
