by Aaron Jay
I had never heard of anyone trying something like this. Why would they? Everyone else inside the Crib had better options for grinding than me. They would have just gone to a new territory. Only a desperate fool would try to lure more nano to come through the barrier and into the Crib.
An hour passed with me rebaiting the hook and casting out beyond the Crib. A wise man once said there is a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot. Only time would tell.
Over and over, I recast without any success. I did my best to keep calm. All I could do was toss my line and focus on the feel of the line. Stillness and the vibrations through the string became all I was aware of.
A notice arrived.
Fishing (Novice)
“Sell a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.” - Player Marx
You have begun to learn the art of angling. Line, trap and spear fishing skills have all increased.
2/100 to reach Beginner
Something had been accomplished through my efforts. Would it matter beyond the Crib? If there was any skill that used the Luck stat, fishing had to be it. Plus, I was using it half in and half out of the Crib. There was no way to figure out what the Game was doing with me and my efforts.
The line tugged against my grip and I did my best to set the hook with a quick yank that I then released. I allowed a bit of slack in the line before gently drawing it in.
There were a few quick tugs. I had hooked something! I started a slow, steady pull on the line. Whatever was on the other end didn’t like it and the line swung back and forth violently.
Without any hesitation, I gave the line some more slack because I didn’t want to snap it. After a moment, I put tension back on the line and started reeling it in hand over hand.
One, two, three hauls on the line and the line suddenly went slack. I hadn’t felt the line snap. Had I lost my catch?
A giant tortoise charged across the barrier, the fishing line still hanging from its beaked mouth. The line hadn’t snapped. The mob had decided to rush to see what was pulling on it.
My Magic Missile spell struck the creature but its shell absorbed a lot of the impact. I dropped the fishing line and pulled a weapon out of my inventory. My time in the training sims was coming in handy.
I grabbed a hammer. I was tempted to try for a spear to flip the thing, but it looked like it weighed a ton. I waited on the bank of the creek. It would be most vulnerable when it was trying to climb out after me.
For a turtle, the thing was damned fast. Its head snapped at me and I dodged. It slipped back a bit into the water and I rushed in with an overhead blow.
The shell cracked, not much, but I had managed a definite crack. The break scared it into a frenzy, which did it no favors for climbing up out of the water.
Twice more it tried to climb out and twice more I beat it back into the creek, doing a bit of damage along the way. Wising up, it decided that coming straight at me wasn’t working. It trundled its way farther upstream to find a better spot to climb up the bank.
Crap. If it headed farther into the fallow it would start decaying. I backed up and gave it plenty of room, staying as close to the barrier as I could.
Its legs found purchase and it heaved itself out of the water. It turned to make sure I wasn’t rushing it while it was finding its balance.
It made its way back to me and away from the fallow. Even this brief brush had stolen some of its vitality. Maybe that was a good thing, as the size of it scared me.
We ended up with an odd, running fight all along the barrier. The shimmering barrier would wash over it without any effect that I could see. I wasn’t even sure it could perceive it. I, on the other hand, had to not only back up but keep rushing back and forth as the edge of the Crib shifted. I knew that if I timed it wrong, the barrier would stop me and the tortoise would snap me in two.
Given its strength and size, I couldn’t close with it. Maybe if I had armor as heavy as it had--but geared as I was, there was no way. It was just too damned big. My only successful hits came as it was off-balance climbing out of the creek. Which gave me the obvious solution.
I continued kiting it along the barrier until we came to the cliff. I had been climbing up and down this particular slice of the cliff-face for days as I gathered lichen and whatever else I could find. I knew where all the handholds and paths were, so I swung up onto the cliff as easily as a grey wall jumper.
The tortoise didn’t like this one bit. It pawed and clawed at the cliff face. Its shell was so massive that once it climbed up into an angled position, you could see it struggle with the possibility of tipping. It kept having to back off.
There was a small ledge in the cliff that gave me just enough room to do the awkward poses I needed to unleash a spell. I unleashed Magic Missile after Magic Missile on the thing. Each cast sent three bolts at the tortoise. The seventh bolt shattered the shell. After that it was all over.
The shell fragments were worth a decent amount of gathering points. I kept enough meat to make Remus and me a nice soup and to bait my hook. The best drop was Giant Tortoise Lungs x 2 which I could use for a water breathing potion. The rest got donated.
That is how I became a sort of fisherman. As my fishing skill climbed, the number of mobs I could pull climbed as well. Every once in a while I even caught an actual fish, which Remus appreciated.
My daily quota kept climbing. When I noticed that my fishing speed increased when I dumped the remains of my kills into the water, I realized that I could chum the creek.
I was getting close to my old daily numbers.
Then I had another idea. Why could I only chum and bait the creek? I knew that the water would spread the smell and taste of the offal downstream to lots of creatures, but why not try it on land as well?
I took five pieces of meat I had butchered off of a sidewinder snake. I cut them down into smaller chunks and then threw them one by one, each a little farther past the barrier than the last. Hopefully I was leaving a trail of bread crumbs, or snake crumbs, leading across the barrier. Sure enough, a thing that looked like a cross between an ostrich and a cactus crossed the barrier right in line with my bait.
Its head bobbed up and down, pointing toward the sky, as it worked the latest chunk of meat it had swallowed whole down its long, skinny neck. My spell landed before it noticed a thing. A short fight later and I was on my way.
Miles Boone
Level 7
Exp: 22,172 (28,000 to next level)
Hit Points: 63 (8 +1 Con bonus per level)
Str 13 (+1)
Dex 12 (+1)
Con 13 (+1)
Int 13 (+1)
Wis 13 (+1)
Cha 12 (+1)
Luc 0* (-%$)
Titles: Wheeler Dealer, 1st Student of the Old Ways
Skills:
Beginner Alchemy 432/500 to Journeyman Level
Novice Blacksmithing 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Crafting 0/250 to Beginner Level
Beginner Herbalism 482/500 to Beginner Level
Novice Leatherworking 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Mining 123/250 to Beginner Level
Beginner Spelunking 327/500 to Journeyman Level
Journeyman Trader 111/1000 to Master Level
Beginner Trap Detection 310/500 to Journeyman Level
Novice Trap Disarm 16/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Skinning 100/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Anatomy(xenomorph) 212/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Escape Artist 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Bluff 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Fishing 33/250 to Beginner Level
Weapon Proficiency
Small Blades (melee), Axe (melee)
Feats:
Perception
*n/a
From looking at my character sheet, I gathered that my land fishing wasn’t increasing the fishing skill. Which meant tha
t something other than my fishing skill was at work when I lured things on land. It didn’t seem to be tied to traps either. Who cared as long as it worked?
I found my way into a virtuous cycle. The more I hunted, the more I was able to bait new creatures across the barrier. The more crossed the barrier the more bait I had to draw even more. Remus was enjoying the increased diet and it was easier for me to ignore the blandishments of the reptilian voice in my mind.
Two days later, I surpassed my old daily quota. If I could keep this up, I’d finish this quest off in less than a month.
I checked my quest after every donation and the bar went up noticeably. The potions had much more significant value than the raw materials alone.
How was my alchemy skill doing? Maybe it was time to try for the final step of coagulation and thereby transmutation.
Miles Boone
Level 7
Exp: 25,213 (28,000 to next level)
Hit Points: 63 (8 +1 Con bonus per level)
Str 13 (+1)
Dex 12 (+1)
Con 13 (+1)
Int 13 (+1)
Wis 13 (+1)
Cha 12 (+1)
Luc 0* (-%$)
Titles: Wheeler Dealer, 1st Student of the Old Ways
Skills:
Beginner Alchemy 432/500 to Journeyman Level
Novice Blacksmithing 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Crafting 0/250 to Beginner Level
Beginner Herbalism 482/500 to Beginner Level
Novice Leatherworking 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Mining 123/250 to Beginner Level
Beginner Spelunking 327/500 to Journeyman Level
Journeyman Trader 111/1000 to Master Level
Beginner Trap Detection 310/500 to Journeyman Level
Novice Trap Disarm 16/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Skinning 100/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Anatomy(xenomorph) 212/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Escape Artist 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Bluff 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Fishing 34/250 to Beginner Level
Weapon Proficiency
Small Blades (melee), Axe (melee)
Feats:
Perception
*n/a
My alchemy skill was moving along but I’d wait a bit more before I’d risk vomit napalm. Then I noticed something that scared the crap out of me. You probably saw it before I did.
What was with my experience bar? I was going to level any moment now. 25,213 out of 28,000?
How was I getting all this experience? Just then, one of my old friends, a grey wall jumper, scrabbled across the barrier along the cliffside. Bracing myself, I took it out. My experience bar filled in by a huge chunk.
Miles Boone
Level 7
Exp: 25,463 (28,000 to next level)
Hit Points: 63 (8 +1 Con bonus per level)
Str 13 (+1)
Dex 12 (+1)
Con 13 (+1)
Int 13 (+1)
Wis 13 (+1)
Cha 12 (+1)
Luc 0* (-%$)
Titles: Wheeler Dealer, 1st Student of the Old Ways
Skills:
Beginner Alchemy 432/500 to Journeyman Level
Novice Blacksmithing 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Crafting 0/250 to Beginner Level
Beginner Herbalism 482/500 to Beginner Level
Novice Leatherworking 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Mining 123/250 to Beginner Level
Beginner Spelunking 327/500 to Journeyman Level
Journeyman Trader 111/1000 to Master Level
Beginner Trap Detection 310/500 to Journeyman Level
Novice Trap Disarm 16/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Skinning 100/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Anatomy(xenomorph) 212/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Escape Artist 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Bluff 0/250 to Beginner Level
Novice Fishing 34/250 to Beginner Level
Weapon Proficiency
Small Blades (melee), Axe (melee)
Feats:
Perception
*n/a
The implant wasn’t working like it was supposed to. Or wait, was it?
My suspicion grew into a theory. Have you ever had a moment where what should have been obvious suddenly becomes clear? There was one way to test my theory.
The dust and death of the fallow made it difficult to find my way back to the the Mines of Madness! It is hard to stay oriented and know what direction you are going in when every direction looks the same. Death and emptiness is hard to navigate through.
Taking a deep breath and bracing my shoulders, I exited the Mines. If Tasha and the Eastmans were convinced I was slowly being digested, there shouldn’t be anyone at the entrance to the instance.
The land just past the instance looked as empty as ever, which I knew meant nothing given the quality of rogues or rangers that Tasha could deploy.
There was another dose of poison left. I held the bottle in my hand as I stepped past the barrier. I could always use the suicide express if they came for me.
With a step, I was out.
My eyes tried to scan everywhere at once. Holding the poison to my lips I counted to ten. No attacks. No spell effects. Nothing.
Still alert, I walked a few dozen steps out and counted silently to myself once more. Nothing.
No one was trying to kidnap me, therefore Pulling and my plan must have worked. Tasha must be convinced that I was in the Sarlacc’s stomach about to drop into her clutches. So then why hadn’t Brady stopped the fallow? The obvious answer: because he wasn’t working for Tasha Eastman.
Who else had a beef with my father? Who knew for sure where I was all the time? Who wanted me depressed and using her super special pick-me-ups?
I recalled Brady’s words: “You understand that you are not in control of your own life or Game anymore?” I had thought he meant Tasha was in control, but he meant someone else. Someone who had stuck an implant in me, who controlled the pod I was in this very moment. Lilith.
I was screwed.
My mind flashed back to my conversation with Tasha and I had to laugh.
“I should fear being libeled as a cheat. To avoid this, you are attempting to blackmail me into making Brady stop whatever he has chosen to do with his lands.”
“Truth is a defense against libel.”
“Yes it is. I admire your audacity. Truly.”
She hadn’t hired Brady at all. As far as she knew, I had tried to frame her for something she didn’t do and then tried to make her fix my problems. To cap it off, I had rubbed her nose in the fact that her own daughter would believe me more than her about it. That was going to bite me on the ass at some point.
A throat cleared behind me and I jumped, scared that I was about be killed--which was stupid since, if the Eastmans were here, death was my escape plan.
Turning around I saw it was Jude: death would have been better than this.
“Hi Miles,” he said, then waited for me to say something.
Once again, my brain failed to come up with anything better than empty courtesy.
“Hi Jude.”
“I had a feeling you weren’t swallowed by the Sarlacc.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, that whole insanity with the NPCs is too much the kind of thing that would make your father chuckle and I remember how much you liked making him laugh.”
I nodded.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about things.”
“Don’t strain anything,” I said. Really, that was the best my brain could come up with?
“I’m sorry about how things played out.”
“Great. All is forgiven,” I said, looking around and wondering where the other Eastmans were lurking. He saw me looking for his backup and nodded his head.
“Good. You are, of course, assuming I am here to capture you.”
I didn’t bother
to respond to the obvious.
“Yeah, here is the thing. The only way I could think of to get you to maybe trust me again was to be in a position to betray you--and then not do it.”
“What?”
“There isn’t anyone else around. At least no one from the Eastmans. I don’t know if you are expecting that GM girl or someone else,” he said, pointing at himself and then all around us. “This is me not betraying you. Ta-dah!”
He gave me a tentative grin. I didn’t lower my guard. I didn’t see anyone, but Jude was a clever bastard.
“Maybe. Or maybe you weren’t sure enough about your guess and your stock is low enough with Tasha after The Mines of Madness! that you are here by yourself.”
His grin filled out. There was the arrogant bastard I knew.
“See, I know you. That is why I could predict you weren’t in the Sarlacc’s belly. It is how I knew you’d pop out if I waited around here long enough. And it is how I knew I needed to get you completely at my mercy if you were ever going to believe me.”
My hand whipped toward my mouth as I tried to swallow the poison. I should have sucked it down as soon as I saw him or anyone.
I was too late. A magical formation erupted below me and I was paralyzed. Crap, I was at his mercy.
“Ok, Miles. This is you completely at my mercy,” Jude said. I knew that already. Now what?
“You are wondering, ‘Now what?’”
I just looked at him, not that I had any other choice. Only my eyes could move. Insufferable bastard.
“Well, now… now that I could tie you up in a bow and hand you over to Tasha… now I won’t do anything. I am walking away. The spell will fade in a while. I’m not going to tell anyone where you are. You are probably still screwed as the Party is still after you, but it won’t be me doing it this time. I am sorry, Miles. I really wish things had been different. I didn’t choose almost any of this. Enjoy your freedom as my gift.”
