Keymaster

by Sergey Zaytsev

  “How did you get into the lair? Did you choose the wrong direction while fleeing? Or did you act consciously?”

  “Fleeing?” I asked, taking offence. Was he calling me a coward? “I fell in, upside down, straight from the stone when the Lowlings used their slings. I wasn’t running away.”

  “The stone. Did you choose it yourself, or was it the Lowlings’ suggestion?”

  “They suggested it... Is there a difference?”

  “Your Uniq is still in the lair, human? You haven’t spent all of your saves, have you?”

  “It’s there. And I haven’t...” I began to feel guilty, although I didn’t understand why.

  “If so, I won’t advise you to rush to resurrect. As long as there are saves, you can choose when you die. But level up first. It will be easier to return during the period reserved for the outcasts.”

  He made it sound like committing suicide to return a soulbound item was the kind of banal advice one shares over a cup of tea. It was a horrid thought, really.

  “Thanks for the clarification, but I’m not going to...”

  Apparently, the Dalrokt also thought that it was time to get to the point.

  “Why did you interrupt the Duel of Valor, human?”

  “I haven’t been here for long, Chzher,” I said, accentuating his name, hinting that he wasn’t the only one present who had one. “I don’t know much yet, but I managed to figure out something. How many raids to the Citadel have ended in nothing? The number isn’t really important. The point is, if you do what you always do, the result will remain the same.”

  “Get to the point.”

  “There must be other ways to solve the problem. There’s no reason to follow the beaten path just because it’s the obvious one. The thing is... Before I got here, I had a job related to finding solutions for such complex and impossible tasks and problems. All I need is freedom. I can’t do anything if I have to hang around with the Lowlings. Nothing will change. I also need a group of volunteers….”

  “And where does such confidence come from? Why do you think that you’ll find a solution?”

  “If I try, the Fortress will lose nothing. But if I do manage to discover something… It’s a win for everyone.”

  “And you need the Raksh to negotiate with the natives?” Chzher’s grin disturbed my very soul. I was an open book to him. Yeah, he was definitely not stupid.

  “What? Am I not the first genius with that idea?” I cautiously smiled in response.

  “I’ll have to explain something to you, human, since no one has done this yet. The local dwellers don’t communicate with the outcasts. Don’t count the Kobi, they’ve been created to serve the rest, completing epic quests isn’t their thing. Negotiations through them are impossible; they’re only interested in trade and craft. The Raksh and Dions don’t tolerate us and will attack if they see an opportunity to win.”

  “Actually, Mashta told me about it. And what else could you expect when you kill them the first opportunity you get? But I have an idea.” I took a deep breath, as if I was getting ready to jump into deep water. I didn’t want to reveal information about my quest. “When a player gets to a new location, their reputation, as a newbie, with the natives is neutral...”

  “We tried that,” Chzher interrupted, instantly realizing where I was going with this. Damn it. Why did I think that my proposal would be fresh and original? I’m an idiot. “We sent those who have never killed a local to negotiate. Long story short, it was a waste of time and fighters. Several times we caught their youngsters, both the Raksh and the Dions, as talking with their elders is pointless; hatred doesn’t contribute to understanding. We tried everything, human. Trial and error stopped us on the raids. Yes, we lose. But with each sortie we move further, collecting and analyzing information. Is that all?”

  “So, my idea wouldn’t work?” I asked sullenly, losing spirit. “I still think that my experience is the very thread that unties your Gordian knot.”

  “There will always be other geniuses,” Chzher shrugged his broad shoulders, forcing the leather of his armor to creak. “Their place is in the Mausoleum. Every problem happens because of people like you, and costs the Fortress dearly.”

  “Problem?” I asked, confused. “What do you mean?”

  “False hopes and redistribution of influence. In last such misunderstanding, the Fortress lost its human inhabitants, which didn’t improve the situation.”

  “Mashta told me that the humans were annihilated during a raid on the Fortress...”

  “This was only one of the consequences,” he interrupted in a noticeably cold tone. “And the reason was discord. The Lowlings explained it poorly. They’ve set you up. Lied about your death. It’s bad. I’ll think of a punishment.”

  Things just keep getting stranger and darker. Seems that Mashta has been withholding some information from me.

  “What do you mean ‘set me up?’ ”

  “You’ll understand when you wake up. Listen, human...”

  “Wisecracker,” I frowned. “Wise, or Alex, that’s my real name.”

  “I don’t advise you interrupt me again.” The fire in Chzher’s eyes flashed brighter, absorbing his pupils. It looked creepy enough to make me immediately shut up, letting him finish. “If you want to leave the Fortress on a solo search, then no one will stop you. But you will be on your own. And remember — the only Mausoleum available for you is in the Fortress. And in order to earn the right to resurrect, you need to do a lot for the Fortress.”

  Checkmate. To put it simply — if I get lost due to my own stupidity and spend all of my saves, then that would be my own fault, not theirs. However, not all was lost. There were still few straws to grasp onto.

  “There’s something else. As I understand it, there’s no clans here. It so happens that I have a clan. It could benefit all of us. Additional XP, clan ability bonuses...”

  Chzher interrupted me once more.

  “There are about a dozen representatives of different clans. Sandbox vomit. We all have an agreement — no one will advance at the expense of others until we reach the exit. Everyone knows about this. No one will accept your offer. They won’t dare. Unfortunate events lead to these rules.”

  Chzher rose from the table, making it clear that this conversation was over. I, too, had to get up. What a shame... Nothing but dead ends… The longer I stayed near him, the less I wanted to stay here. His manner of speaking and the mental pressure his presence alone put on me caused dire discomfort and depressed me more than fatigue did. Damned Charisma...

  I have to tell him about the quest then, huh? Shiiiit. Personal quests in general were intimate things. Having in mind the relationship between the Raksh and the outcasts, the quest was almost certain to drop in case of disclosure. Perhaps I was making a mountain out of a molehill and this task was nothing special after all. However, given that no one had ever come close to completing an epic in Lunar Rainbow, this might turn out to be the key to solving a lot of problems. Should I risk it? Or should I leave empty-handed?

  In extreme irritation, I pulled on the right wristband so hard that it fell into pieces. So much about its durability. I began to fiercely scratch the intolerably itching place, whilst trying again to reason with the Dalrokt.

  “Give me the Raksh for one day. I want to try this out while I still have a neutral reputation with him. You’ll have plenty of time to finish him off! I beg you!”

  Chzher suddenly bent over the table and grabbed my wrist. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I instinctively twitched, imagining how he could just tear off my arm. Holding out his other hand, he tore my sleeve up to my shoulder. Seeing what attracted his attention, I froze. The familiar silvery web managed to crawl all the way up from my palm to my elbow.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that you bear a divine mark?!” he barked, his fangs glimmering ominously.

  Honestly, I didn’t know how to react to it. Fury, who had risen when the grunt grabbed my hand, lay back down quietly,
obeying my mental command. Tinnie soared into the air, her frightened look frozen on us. Against him, we were like kids in front of an angry adult — powerless.

  “Does it change anything?” I asked cautiously. I didn’t resist. Freeing myself of his grip was impossible and it would only anger him more.

  “The only thing that can change the balance of power in Lunar Rainbow is the appearance of a divine patron,” said Chzher slowly, not taking his burning gaze off the cobweb. “Do you know the legend of the Citadel?”

  “Yes, Mashta told me...”

  “There are no Gods here. That is, there haven’t been until now. I don’t know how you managed...”

  “I didn’t manage a damn thing.” I had refused Alan, after all. Who knew that he was in such a desperate need of a follower? It was a good thing that Chzher didn’t know about the lost artifact as there was no doubt in my mind that he would immediately send me to resurrect in order to return the trinket, no matter how hard I’d try to prove to him that it was empty. Wait a minute... Was it really? Alan’s Sign didn’t disappear. It relocated and itched so bad that I wanted to tear my skin off... Was Alan still with me?!

  “Give me your patron’s name!” demanded Chzher.

  I sighed.

  “Alan the Dark. God of pain and deceit. That’s all I know about him. And I still haven’t felt his presence. Even in the lair, when any sort of an advantage would’ve been useful to me. He never showed up. Are you sure this sign is not a fraud?”

  “And are you sure that you really tried to call for him?” Chzher returned the question. I had no idea that Dalrokts could get this excited. “Deities don’t have an access to Lunar Rainbow. But this Sign clearly indicates that you are his only connection with this reality. To strengthen his presence here, you must invoke him. You must develop the abilities that he has given you. And recruit followers. We need his power to siege the Citadel and get out of here!”

  “Listen, Chzher. I have no idea how this works. And I still think that this is a joke...”

  “Keep quiet, human. Ignorance speaks for you. The first ability that you received from him is what you must develop first. Everything else will follow by itself.”

  “But he gave me no abilities!” I argued. “That’s why I’m telling you that this is a dud!”

  Puzzled, the Dalrokt finally released my hand and straightened his back. He spoke thoughtfully, moving his bushy eyebrows.

  “But the Sign... It should have disappeared, like all the others... Everyone lost their patrons...”

  And then I realized — the artifact. I literally carried him here in Silent Girlfriend, thus fooling the system. What a bizarre set of circumstances. So Alan the Dark was still here?! Did that mean that I couldn’t avoid dying? After all, now I needed to return two items... And fast.

  “Fine,” Chzher slammed the table with his palm, making the tabletop shake. “I’ll organize a group. From this day forward, I relieve you of watch duty. You’ll be engaged in leveling. You’ll receive equipment at the expense of the Fortress, as it’s now in our best interest to equip you. Your task is to establish a connection with the deity and give it power.”

  “How the hell do I do that?!”

  “We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Go and get some rest. We, Dalrokts, need to think.”

  “I still need the Raksh. Have you forgotten about that?”

  “You’re a daredevil, you know that?” Chzher grinned, flashing his fangs. “He’s all yours. Get out!”

  Chapter 32

  I awoke to the sound of a timer ringing in my mind.

  I sighed. I didn’t open my eyes. I didn’t want to get up and sort out the pile of ever accumulating problems; especially not after the nightmares dreams that had been tormenting me. They were still there, in my agitated mind, like threads of a sticky cobweb — Head-Eyes spitting corrosive acid, Imps hurling balls of fire and giggling vilely, Demons rushing through tunnels like horned torpedoes... The Succubus was also there; she tried to seduce me, hiding a sharp dagger in a clawed hand behind her back...

  The night had been more of a punishment than a rest. I was almost as good as new regardless; almost, because my stamina bar was stuck at 89%. Even stranger than that was that my hunger felt subdued, as if I had taken care of it, even though I had been too exhausted to eat before blacking out.

  Tinnie wasn’t satisfied with my sluggish stirring. The mischievous little girl landed on my forehead and stomped. Although she was as light as a dragonfly, I still felt it.

  “Yes, yes, I’m up, I am...”

  I waved the Fairy away, as if I was getting rid of a fly, reluctantly sat up and looked around...

  Hmm, a miracle hadn’t occurred. I was still in Lunar Rainbow, although I would’ve preferred to be on a beach on Earth, in a lounge chair, with a parasol and a cocktail in my hand. The sight of the small, dull room drowned in eternal twilight spoiled my already bad mood. Shimmering candlelight from the main hall flowed into the room through the door-less opening. Catching my gaze, Fury, who was lying on the threshold, opened her eyes for a second, squinted inquisitively and, making sure that everything was fine, began to doze off again. She was no longer in her combat form and she looked better than ever — her smoky gray fur was smooth and clean, but a long time would have to pass till my beast gained in weight; her ribs could still be seen under the skin. Hold on, was it just my imagination, or did Fury grow in size again?!

  My gaze fell on a pile of large, gnawed bones, gathered in the corner of the room. While I was sleeping, some kind soul dragged a carcass for Fury’s breakfast, probably from the reserves that the Lowlings and I had gathered for the Fortress during the day. And Fury, my good girl, ate enough for the both of us, channeling energy to me through Spiritual Link. Of course, one cannot do without a normal meal, but this would do for now...

  Opening the window with Tinnie’s stats, I was surprised to see that Synergy, which had been turned off due to exhaustion, was on again. Tinnie, pleased with life, rested and refreshed, curled up beside me, smiling and shimmering. How did she manage to remain so sterilely clean in these awful living conditions? I looked like hell; my hair and beard were, thanks to yesterday’s acid, in shambles. This, of course, was fixable. In a day or two, everything would grow back anew.

  Ignoring Tinnie, who flew into the air, joyful to see me awake — I envied her ability to be pleased with the little things — I stood up, and assessed my physical condition. I shrugged, cracked my neck, squeezed, and opened my fingers. Sweet. Everything seemed all right. My wounds were no longer troubling me, and the scars on my face and hands would soon disappear. It was cold, but I didn’t feel discomfort as I had finally gotten used to low temperatures.

  I examined the pile of things next to the cloak, and grinned. Chzher kept his word — he had dressed me and shoed me, and even fed my pets. Fury got meat and Tinnie an esc. It’s really when you’re someone special. But I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if I failed to meet their expectations. The Dalrokts were harsh guys. And although I hadn’t seen them do anything bad yet, judging by what I already knew, it wasn’t worth angering them.

  Anxiety that had settled deep in my bones made me hurry. Time waits for no man. And since I had awoken before everyone else, I might as well make use of that and be productive. I began changing. I cut the belts of the breastplate with Blood Brother’s blunt blade and then ripped the stiffened bracers and leggings. It was a pity and also uncomfortable, but some discomfort had to be suffered for the sake of a future goal. After about twenty minutes of hard work and mental swearing, I finally got rid of the armor and hastily put on my new clothes. And although I had gotten used to the coldness of the Fortress, I still felt chilly while naked. The leather jacket, pants and boots immediately made me feel like a decent member of the society, and less like a dirty beggar. The clothes were brought to me by the Kobi, resulting in +10 reputation with them.

  Thick Studded Jacket

  Common item

  Material:
Snuffer Leather

  Durability: 95/100

  Defense: 285/300

  Cold Resistance: +10%

  Thick Leather Pants

  Common item

  Material: Snuffer Leather

  Durability: 60/70

  Defense: 180/210

  Cold resistance: +8%

  Thick Leather Boots

  Common item

  Material: Snuffer Leather

  Durability: 50/60

  Defense: 150/180

  Cold resistance: +5%

  I fastened the belt with the empty dagger scabbard and equally empty flask, and examined myself.

  It was a pity that I hadn’t managed to change into “casual” clothes immediately upon my arrival. If I had known that any clothing article came with a bonus against cold, I wouldn’t have had to suffer so much... It was strange that Mashta didn’t say a word about this, and had only advised me to change my boots.

  But I was still without pockets and I had to do something about it. Losing my backpack, as well as all my items and loot, made it clear that putting all of my eggs in one basket was a bad idea. I thought it could be worth a try to negotiate with the Kobi. The Lowlings, for example, had a lot of small pockets for ammo and other small things sewn to their jackets. On the other hand, I could become a couturier, I was sure that I could handle it, all I needed were suitable materials and tools. Maybe I could create something like a bandolier for starters, and then something like a vest. It was a pity that I didn’t have time for it now, but I decided to return to solving this urgent problem.

  The fur cloak that I had been sitting on was also new.

  Fur Cloak

  Common item

  Material: Pork Skin

  Durability: 75/80

  Defense: 225/240

  Cold Resistance: +20%

  I summoned the interface. I wanted to be battle-ready before sorting things out, which meant that it was time to allocate the accumulated 90 stat points. After some reflection, I decided to allocate them equally, as all of the stats were more or less important for further development, so one shouldn’t focus too much on only one. I distributed the points so that I would get even numbers. I just loved zeros. The effect was temporary, but it was a pleasing sight regardless. I put the rest into intelligence, as it was tied to Cunning, which I still had to figure out.