The Apprentice of Arabella

by Matthew Kent

  Please select Your Advanced Class

  There was no real choice for me. I thought spy might have its uses to some respects, but I chose the true bard; I felt it was more a reflection of who I was. So, I returned to the Inn and set about reviewing my character sheet and assigning my points from the tenth level.

  Name: Lorcan Race: Wood Sprite Class:True Bard  Level: 10

  Height 5’ 6” Weight 152 lbs  Eyes: Blue Hair: Brown

  Statistics:

  39-Strength - carry 330 pounds and 3.9% Damage to weapons damage and energy regeneration.

  21-Agility - 2.1% increase weapon skill and avoid damage.

  40-Endurance - 400hp to base hp and 4% to base energy pool.

  20-Intelligence - 200 to base Mana pool and 2% spell damage.

  16-Wisdom - 1.6% recovery base Mana regeneration rate.

  21-Charisma - 2.2% increase in favor-ability from NPC’s.

  18-Luck - 3.6% increase to all positive rolls or negative rolls.

  Mana Pool: 440

  Hit Points: 420

  Energy Points: 240

  Spells:

  Magic Missile

  Levitate

  Enchant Weapon

  Dispel Evil

  Heat/Cool Metal

  Protection from Normal Missiles

  Silence

  Sleep

  Songs:

  Song of Healing - Energy cost 20 and Heal 20 HP +5hp per second for 30 seconds.

  Song of Courage - Energy Cost 80 Increases a players HP by 10% and damage by 5%

  Song of Derision - Energy cost 40 Debuffs enemy with -5% to hit and -5% damage, may act as a Taunt.

  Known Skills:

  Alchemy: Apprentice

  Blacksmith: Journeyman

  Cooking: Journeyman

  Engineer: Apprentice

  Farmer: Apprentice

  Gem Cutter: Apprentice

  Herbalist: Apprentice

  Jeweler: Apprentice

  Leather working: Journeyman

  Lore Master: Journeyman

  Medic: Apprentice

  Weapon smith: Journeyman

  Wood Worker: Apprentice

  Martial Skills:

  Thrown weapons: Neophyte

  Bows: Apprentice

  Swords: Neophyte

  Exotic weapons: Neophyte

  Poll Arms: Journeyman

  Unarmed combat: Apprentice

  Dodge: Neophyte

  My Intelligence was lower than would like, and I decided to add my extra five points there. Once I did that my stats were:

  Statistics:

  39-Strength - carry 330 pounds and 3.9% Damage to weapons damage and energy regeneration.

  21-Agility - 2.1% increase weapon skill and avoid damage.

  40-Endurance - 400hp to base hp and 4% to base energy pool.

  20-Intelligence - 200 to base Mana pool and 2% spell damage.

  16-Wisdom - 1.6% recovery base Mana regeneration rate.

  21-Charisma - 2.2% increase in favor-ability from NPC’s.

  18-Luck - 3.6% increase to all positive rolls or negative rolls.

  Mana Pool: 440

  Hit Points: 420

  Energy Points: 240

   I bought food for the journey, a few days rations, then I sent a message to Morngrim.

  Lorcan: I’m headed out. I’m wanted at the guild house I joined. Want company to Arabella via the north pass?

   Morngrim: Sure, let me finish this quest. Fifteen-twenty minutes at the Inn?

   Lorcan: See you there.

  Send group invite to Morngrim?

  Yes/No

  Morngrim has joined your party.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Chapter 15

  Traveling was a lot easier said than done. First I wound up waiting for Morngrim longer than the twenty minutes or so: he showed up at closer to an hour later. I spent the time perusing the auction house and the forums. Gwalchmai was the talk of the forums. It seems that the post only contained its name, not a description of what it was. I fielded a few comments on the guild chat asking about the new member.

  It turned out I was the first guild member the Exotic Corps had accepted in over six months. The last player was a hellaciously effective tank who went by the title Fluffbunny. Honestly, I thought someone was making a joke. There were a lot of derisive comments at first, apparently bards, well regular bards are weak and under powered.

  I know I only had three songs and only one was a buff but it turned out it was a very good buff.

  Morngrim showed up, and we set off. The only method for us to travel was by walking or running. There were no stables in the town we could buy a horse or other mount. “Are we ready to get this show on the road?” Morngrim said as we started to walk.

  “I am. I’m fairly sure that Ahohako and Bruce will try to hit us once we are outside of town.”

  He nodded in agreement. “Seems about right.” I don’t know if there is a rule about it, but it does seem like most players who choose dwarfs are taciturn and quiet people. We had gone about fifteen minutes out of town when we saw our first mob. It was a brown bear. I circled around it, then Morngrim taunted the beast toward him. He used two great swipes with his axe to grab the monsters attention. It reared back. That's when I struck it in an overhand slash with my blade along the base of the creatures neck.

  We heard a shout to my right and saw more people running towards us. Five looked to be lower level players, a couple human fighters, I think an orc and at least one with fur. Following up the rear were Ahohako and Bruce.

  “You bastards,” the human fighter in front yelled.

  “Coward” screamed another.

  “Pvper Scum,” yelled the beast-man. Or was it a beast-woman?

  I looked at Morngrim. He looked at me, and we both began to laugh. “What have they been telling you?” I yelled out even as the first one struck out at me. I deflected his blade with the haft of my Ashendarai, and used the momentum to whip the haft into the chest of one of the other humans, a small squirrelly man with blond hair wielding daggers. He folded under my assault, the wind knocked out of him.

  “I seed what ye be doing” Morngrim snarled as the beast-man attacked him with his claws. Morngrim dodged his attacks, then savagely riposted with the ball of his axe handle to the beasts foot, eliciting a howl of pain. Then, he brought the flat of the axe down on the creatures head as he bent over in pain. He collapsed like a sack of grain.

  The last of the attackers were spurred on by shouts from Bruce and Ahohako. That was also the point that Ahohako stepped out and cast his first spell. Fire flew from his finger tips, striking my first attacker in the back. He yelled out in pain. I brought the flat of my blade down on his shoulder and heard a palpable crunch. He collapsed with a squeal of pain.

  With three of the seven attackers down, I looked to the other two.” This isn’t what he’s told you it is,” I said pointing at Ahohako. “He and his brother there have been Pking others, and just ran into the wrong people, who were better than them.” I nod down to their burned friend. “If he cared about you, would he have done that?” They looked at each other and ran. Who said Orcs weren’t smart?

  Then it was just the four of us and the three unconscious bodies on the ground. Smiling I played Song of Derision and soon the Ahohako was drawn in like a moth to a flame.

  “Noooo,” he yelled as he was forced to attack me. All the time he kept casting flame spells at me, doing a small amount of damage. Then it was my turn.

  “Morngrim look out for the other one,” I yelled as I smiled evilly and jabbed with my Ashendarai. I noted his level was down to eight. At this rate, he might never get out of the new players section.

  You strike Ahohako with a critical hit: Ahohako takes 220 damage. Ahohako is killed.

  I saw Bruce with his hands up. “He wants revenge.”

  I nodded, and said, “I understand, but it seems counter productive at this point."

  “Oi” replied Morngrim. “Seem
s more than a mite of karma to me, the way you two have been acting to other lowbies."

  “Maybe, but I won’t try to fight you.” I saw him smirk as he turned and fled with the other two. I knelt down and collected Ahohako goods once more, than I skinned the bear. I was left with a conundrum. There were the three players we had wounded. They should live, but would they bear a grudge? I sighed and got to work. Morngrims was injured with a fractured skull. I woke him and Played the Song of Healing. The rogue was just winded, and revived fairly quickly. My other opponent the warrior, had a fractured collar bone and severe burns along his back. I made a poultice of some herbs I had and put that on the burns, then I played a Song of Healing and watched as the shoulder wound debuff went away.

  “Thanks,” said the fighter as I helped him up.

  “Oi hope you realize Ahohako and his shadow aren’t what they seem," replied Morngrim.

  “They told us you had killed their characters and were taking your loot to town,” said the beast-man.

  I sighed. ”No, those two have been extorting lowbie players like us. They tried that with Morngrim a few days ago and I killed Ahohako and Morngrim killed Bruce.

  “We were lied to,” said the rogue. “I’m going to kill them.”

  “If you are, you need better weapons,” I said as I took out a dagger and handed it to him. One of my failed experiments. “What's your name?” It was a curious thing in-game, until someone told you their name, the system didn’t show you a name tag.

  Iron Kunai: 30 Durability. 35-40 damage, +2 Agility. +2 Endurance.

  “I’m Teodor Tichy,” The blond rogue said tentatively taking the offered blade.

  I looked at the other two. “Are you going after Bruce and Ahohako?” They nod a little jerkily.

  “I’m Sylvester,” replied the warrior. He wasn’t big, but he had the wiry, muscular build of a working man. For him, I pulled out a hammer.

  Iron Hammer: 30 Durability. 40-45 damage. +5 Strength.

  The third looked at me puzzled, the beast-man was hesitant “Who are you who casually defeat us then help us hunt those who trick us?”

  “I’m just a player tired of jerks taking advantage of others,” I said simply. ” If you want, I have something for you, too.”

  He looked curious. “I am called Boulderwolf” I nod and reach into my bag and pull out the only one of these I had tried

  Iron Bagh Nakh: 30 Durability. 30-35 Damage. +3 Strength. +2 Agility. +2 Endurance.

  “Good hunting” I said to them as we parted ways. I hoped Ahohako and Bruce would be running for days.

  X - X - X

  The dark sedan pulled into the vehicle choked the drive of the farm. The driver got out and opened the rear door for the passenger, an older man in his fifties with graying hair and an intense look on his face. His eyes were a hard, flat brown that seemed to weigh and assess everyone and everything around him with an icy dispassion. People rarely looked in those eyes. If they did, it wasn’t for long. He was a man used to people doing his bidding. The men and women on scene scurried like ants in an overturned hill.

  “Sir, the forensics are certain,” said a dower man in his mid-sixties.

  “Well, they couldn’t have escaped, they couldn’t have burned up, so where are the bodies?” The predator said to the overworked tech. He eyed the structure that had been the office of the studio. The wood was not completly burnt up, the roof was missing, but the builder had fire suppression built in. He eyed the tech once more, after surveying the scene.

  “I think it's some trick EPARD is playing. They got too clever by half once again,” the dower man said.

  “Maybe, but if they are dead, I want their bodies. If they aren’t dead I want their bodies so I can figure out what was going through their heads.” He gave the man a hard look. “Use the CCT systems to find them.”

  “Can we do that?”

  “I don’t care, do it. Find them then bring them to me.”

  “Yes, Sir,” replied the technician as the man turned and reentered the car to depart.

  X - X - X

  We traveled through the day with no more significant incidents. We killed low level mobs along the route, and eventually we got off the road so I could gather wood, herbs and pelts of animals. It gave me time to think and plan what to do when I got to the Dros. One thing I knew, I needed a lot more information on the politics in the game.

  I also composed a doggerel verse about Ahohako and the Bruce:

  Bless you! My Enemy

  I know not how to thank you, My Enemy

  When I am walking over to you

  I just want to hammer you

  But you give me your heels

  I know not how to thank you, My Enemy

  When I walk over to you

  I just want to beat you apart

  But you showed me your arse

  I know not how to thank you, My Enemy

  When I walk over to you

  You fled, you flew, an arrow in the night

  But you left me your Ahohako to kill.

  God, it was one-hundred percent utter, unadulterated crap. I would definitely have to work on my rhyming. We were halfway to our destination, but it was getting late. I knew Morngrim would have to log soon, and I should as well.

  “How about we make camp tonight?”

  “Aye, sounds good. Tis late enough, and I can be back with you in the morn near seven,” He said.

  I nodded and pointed to a tree. “I’m going to climb here and move a few trees over before I log for the night, just in case we are followed. I’ll see you in the morning.” He grunts then I see him sit, his back to a tree, and his body fades out.

  I sorted through my bag, trying to compact it down. I knew that I had a few more hours of farming as we traveled tomorrow. I cleaned groups of herbs and I wound up with a few tight bundles. I still had around one-hundred and twenty pounds of room left. I was about to log off when I get a tell.

  Boulderwolf: Ahohako and Bruce are well and truly pissed now. Both died twice by our hands, and are now hiding out in the Inn.

  Lorcan: Good, I hope you had fun doing it.

  Boulderwolf: We did, but I heard from another player that Ahohako was hiring an assassin for you.

  Lorcan: I can’t stop him, but it's a waste of good money.

  Boulderwolf: ok…?! Well, I just thought you should know.

  Lorcan: Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the info. I’ll watch my back. But Last I saw, I was four levels higher than Ahohako and three over Bruce. I expect they each lost at least one more. If I go after them now, I become the vindictive prick they are. Instead I will wait for karma. It always comes around.

  Boulderwolf: So, we should leave them alone?

  Lorcan: Not if you don’t want to. Just remember, what you put out in the world always comes back to you. I was about to log off. Good luck.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Chapter 16

  When I come out of the pod, it was midnight. I know I needed some food before I went to bed. After a shower, I headed to the cafeteria, but I noticed a lot of people in ones and twos standing around in the hallways. When I got to the cafeteria, I saw a lot of people sitting nervously talking amongst themselves, and giving quick nervous glances around the room at other groups.

  All except one person, who was waving at me frantically. He looked familiar; I thought he was the guy I’d talked with several days before. I hurried over to see what he wanted. “Hey man, something's happened.”

  My right eyebrow went up as I looked at him.

  “What? I just logged out.” I looked around the room and continued. ”I’ve never seen this many people in here at one time.”

  “Neither have I. I don’t know what happened, but it's big.” He motioned for me to sit. “Guys, this is the new guy I was telling you about.”

  One of the other people at the table nods at me. “What's up?”

  “I wish to God I knew.” I look at everyone there before I speak again. “Does anyone know
anything?” They all shook their collective heads. “Well, I’m getting some food, and then who knows? Maybe we will hear something.” I got up and went over to the counter. I got a near burger and fries, near burgers are made with a meat substitute.

  I sit back, and ate and, more importantly, I listen to the rumors swirl. Some were saying the government has announced they will shut down the facility, others were how the systems were glitching, a third was talking about aliens. All we need now is an Elvis sighting, and my night would be complete.

  I finished and took the plates over to the wash area. I waved goodnight to the people I sort of knew, and think how I needed to get to know more people. I feel a hand on my shoulder as I stepped out of the room. Turning I saw that it was Malik his head covered in sweat.

  “We need to talk” he hisses at me and I motion him to a side area.

  “What about?” I asked.