“Ah, but in this world you are a creator,” Dennis assured him. “How about that tea?”
The older man bustled into his kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances, counter tops, and open faced cabinets. He put a kettle on the stove and turned the burner on while he drew out a tray of various teas from a pantry. Harrison joined him, leaning on the counter and watching the steam slowly issue from the kettle’s spout. Dennis Crawford was an interesting man indeed. Harrison squinted as he watched him tap his fingers on the countertop, curious as to what ran through the man’s mind. If only they had more than one conversation where he could pick the man’s brain and learn all he could about this game.
The kettle whistled sharply. Dennis removed it from the burner, poured two steaming cups, and he set one on the counter in front of Harrison. “Please, help yourself.”
“Thanks,” Harrison murmured, and he picked through the teas until he found a vanilla chamomile and honey. He tore open the package and dunked it into the hot water. Dennis drew out a peach and they sat in companionable silence as their tea bags steeped.
“I know you are burning with questions,” Dennis said, blowing the steam from his tea before taking a quick sip. “Let us start with one for tonight and perhaps we can make this a bi-weekly meeting. Preferably not so late in the evening.”
His first conversation with Dennis had been short as well and he mostly wanted Harrison’s first impressions on the game, never really giving him a chance to ask too many meaty questions. He debated what to ask first when he decided the unbalanced questing and its possible issues was the most important.
“You said you created a quest generator based on the uniqueness of each character.”
“I did.”
“Aren’t you worried it will be unbalanced for the characters? That some will receive more or less quests then others?”
Dennis’ hands wrapped around his mug as if trying to suck the warmth out of the porcelain, but his face still wore the same friendly grin. “That was a worry before, but the point of this game is not like other MMOs. This game was created, and is still being created, to be different.”
“Not sure I understand what you mean.”
“All games want players to take the time and really explore the terrain, otherwise why waste time creating such a vast countryside? Or dark and mysterious forests? But in those games, the quests are standard and the loot for everyone the same.” He stared past Harrison towards the sketches on the wall. “I wanted a game where players would want to explore because you didn’t know what you would find out there. Every player has the same chance as any other to enjoy the same number of quests, but it is up to the player not the game creator to find and complete such experiences.”
Harrison bobbed his head slowly. “So, the wolf quest I had?”
“The other players may go there and find nothing. However, if they were to travel to another destination as you had, they would discover a quest waiting for them that perhaps you would not.”
Harrison closed his eyes thinking back to the map the other players showed him. There was a place marked on their explored portion Harrison didn’t have on his. “So instead of a wolf quest, another player would find…”
Dennis shrugged. “Who’s to say? The generator takes into account the way a player plays, if he’s continually with others or a loner such as yourself. Perhaps they want to rescue a damsel in distress? Or save a farm from a pack of ravenous wolves? Or wipe out a band of infected orcs terrorizing the countryside?”
“But all the quests in the towns, those are the same?”
“Yes, we had to have a baseline so even if players did not go out and explore as much as I hoped, they would have enough XP to move them along to the next town, though one who explores does gain an upper hand.”
Harrison opened his mouth to ask what, then smiled. “Loot,” he said, and Dennis smiled with him. “The loot and rep are the bonuses of exploring.”
“And the chance to gain companions such as your wolf, Willy. Named after your son, is it?”
Harrison flinched. “How did you know?”
“I’m afraid I’m a bit of a fanboy when it comes to you,” Dennis said laughing, and he patted his arm until Harrison relaxed. “Know all there is to know about every player here, for the most part.”
“About my wolf,” Harrison started, but Dennis held up his hand.
“One question for tonight. As much as I enjoy discussing the ins and outs for you, I am at the end of the day an aging man.”
“Sure, sorry.”
“Not at all. I quite enjoy our conversations and, as I said, I would like to continue them.”
Harrison drank down the rest of his tea and made for the door.
“One more thing, Harrison,” Dennis said, as he followed him. “This game is a very important part of my life and yours I think as well. You have quite a few people relying on you I hear. First to create a guild and, rumor has it, first to prepare for a dungeon.”
Harrison nodded. “Yeah, it’s been a while, but I think I’ll manage.”
“I hope that you do, just know that when you lead and you fail, those that follow you will see you as one of two ways: the man who gave his all to help himself and his team succeed; or the man who turned coward and ran.”
Harrison’s pulse shot up and his hand twitched towards his pocket where the drive still was. Did Dennis know why he was really here? But no, he was supposed to get that letter and Paris intercepted it. “I understand.”
“Good. Oh and one more thing since I noticed you didn’t reach that part of the screen yet, your current earnings from the game, would you like to know them?”
“I honestly forgot all about that part.”
“Well for the moment you are up to nearly five thousand dollars. Congratulations.” Dennis smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes this time. “If you and your guild succeed in the dungeon as the first ones to enter it and complete it, the reward will be substantial for you all.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, all of it. Thanks, Dennis.” Harrison ducked out of there before he opened his big mouth and confessed everything to the man quickly becoming his friend.
He was barely out the door, leaning on the railing and overlooking the lobby when he swore he spotted a face against the glass, peering in from the outside. Tavin’s face.
Harrison shook his head, scrunching his eyes shut tightly and when he opened them again, there was only darkness. This game was really getting to him. Maybe it was guilt, or maybe he was really losing his mind. A game as real as this one, he could see it happening especially to someone whose mind was already in so much turmoil.
Harrison didn’t see anyone as he meandered back to his room. The man sitting at the front desk shot him a dirty look and Harrison shrugged in apology before turning down the hall. Barely here a week and he had earned five thousand dollars. If he managed that every week, plus rewards from dungeons, he could walk out of this place with enough money to start over, really start over.
Unless Paris and his buddies mess it all up for you.
He couldn’t let that happen. It might only be a week since he was here, but Harrison was more at home within these walls than he had been anywhere in a long time. His guild was quickly becoming more than friends. They were in the game, really in the game, and these players were his family. He couldn’t let them down, and he certainly wasn’t about to let Dennis Crawford down. Paris’ threats loomed over him but, in here, Harrison was safe. Rodney couldn’t physically harm him and get away with it, so all he had to do was make sure to win every PVP fight he fell into.
Holding onto his winnings and getting out of this game with change in his pocket, those were his new goals now. Harrison was finished playing by someone else’s rules. The time finally came for him to make his own.
Chapter 8
Bishop blinked against the bright sunlight streaming down into the street and shook out his hair. They had one day before the weekend to see where everyo
ne in the guild stood and decide their best course of action. Alana and he thought of each taking a group since both were level ten, but he wanted to see how they could all play together. Any guild leader knew it was important to know a player’s strengths and weaknesses before entering the dungeon.
Once they walked through those doors, it’d be too late to turn back or say “I should have.”
Most of them were level seven or eight, so getting them to ten wouldn’t be too much trouble. With that being said, they were all in desperate need of gear to push their stats as high as they could go. The guild funds were at a decent level, but Bishop worried they wouldn’t have enough to supply everyone with what they were missing. He needed to up his crafting so he could make new staffs for the healers who used them and a new bow for Giles. Arthur said he picked up several crafts when he hit Weston, though he hadn’t had a chance yet to farm materials. The three foragers, Benji, Giles, and Jimmy, had been busy trying to level too, and getting out of Weston would give them a chance to gather some materials. That, and Bishop still wanted to look into a house like Alana said.
As the others logged in, Bishop was still hanging around at the Fireside Tavern, searching for the housing brokers. They were located on level six and seven, so he sent a quick message to Maverick telling her he would be along as soon as he took care of an errand for the guild. She asked what he was up to. He ignored her message, cackling with delight. He had just enough of his own coin to purchase a house. It wouldn’t be very large, only the first level house a guild could have, but for now it would suffice.
He walked through the bustling crowd of NPCs, nobles, guards, and shop keepers selling their wares, before he reached a tall skinny wooden structure with a sign hanging from a post announcing it as the House Broker. Bishop climbed the few steps and opened the door. A bell tinkled overhead and a cheery voice called out to him from behind a tall counter. The man’s round face and his jowls jiggled as he turned and greeted Bishop with a wide grin.
“Welcome, good sir. Can I assist you in the purchase of a fine home today?”
“I believe you can. I’m looking for a modest home for my guild.”
“Ah, well then you have certainly come to the right place. Let me show you what we have available.” The man pulled up a book from beneath the counter which landed with a loud thud on the wooden surface. “This first one is right here on level six. Two story, three main rooms and four on the second story. Perfect for any small guild.”
Bishop tapped his fingers on the counter as he stared at the boring front of the building. “Do you have anything modestly priced that has some character to it?”
The man turned a few pages, whispering under his breath. “How about this one for you?”
The gaudy architecture drew a laugh from Bishop, and the man behind the counter joined him.
“Perhaps too much character,” he said through his boisterous laughter. “Try this one then.”
Bishop glanced down at the page and rested his hand on the image. For a home in a city, it had a lodge feel to it with dark woods and two large cedar trees planted in front of it. There was a winding path leading from the street to the main door and a tall stone wall giving the house a sense of privacy. “What does the inside look like?”
The man turned to the very back of the book and pointed out the pictures. “There are four large trunks for storage along with plenty of room to decorate as you and your guild see fit.”
Bishop thought of the head hanging in his bag still and smirked; he wondered what the guild would think when they saw it hanging over the mantle. “Yes, plenty of room. How much?”
“Four thousand gold if you please.”
It was nearly all his money, but having a house would give the members of the guild a place of their own. Bishop nodded and a prompt appeared before him asking if he wished to purchase the house. He tapped his reply and heard the money clink into a coffer near the man.
“Congratulations on purchasing your first home,” the man said, and he handed over a rustic heavy bronze key. “Remember, you can always upgrade later on.”
“Where are the upgraded guild houses?” Bishop asked, holding the key tightly in his hands.
“Near the palace, levels nine and ten of the city. There are also some outside the city walls, but those are quite out of your price range for the time being.”
“Understood. Thank you,” he said, and he left the Broker’s house.
He glanced at the key in his hands, giddy at the prospect of walking through that front door. He never had a chance to own a house with Juliet in the real world. Close, but they just didn’t make it that far. He pulled up his map and sent a message to Alana asking where they all were. She told him north of the main city, farming for ore and lumber while they took care of a few minor killing quests—bounties for orcs and the like. Bishop said he was on his way and whistled for Reaper.
With his black stallion, he reached the rest of the guild in a few minutes, drawing up short of their admiring glances. “How did you get that steed?” Jimmy asked.
“I’m just that good,” he joked, as he jumped down and whistled again. Reaper shimmered out of sight. Bishop wondered where Wily was when a howl reached his ears. “And there’s my other companion.”
The white wolf lunged out of the trees tackling him to the ground as he licked his face and wrestled with Bishop. The rest of the guild laughed as Bishop finally made it to his feet and Willy plopped down by his side.
“So, care to share what this errand of yours was?” Maverick asked.
Bishop smirked. “Not sure, might ruin the surprise.”
“Oh come on, you can’t keep secrets in the guild,” Jimmy argued. “I hereby declare it a rule. All in favor?” His hand shot into the air, followed by everyone else’s. Bishop’s smile faltered. If only they knew what secrets he was really keeping from them all. “Rule passed, so tell: what were you up to?”
Bishop drew out the key from his pocket and held it up for them all to see, not willing to let his real world problems affect him here. “My friends, we now are the proud owners of a Guild House.”
They all rushed him, asking questions about where it was, how he afforded it, and when they could go to it. Bishop passed the key around as he told them he would lead them to the house when they took their break for lunch, and they could log out from there. For the moment, something else required their full attention.
“Remember, Tuesday is the goal day for the dungeon,” he reminded them. “That’s almost three levels for some of you, so let’s get going.”
Maverick tossed the key up and down before dropping it back into her open palm. “Hope you have good taste.”
“You’ll like it, trust me. Has a very shifter feel to it,” he said with a wink.
They settled in to focusing on leveling and tracking materials where they could. Turned out most of them carried the same quests they picked up from the city, so they followed their maps and hunted down rogue bandits and horse thieves, traipsing all over the countryside surrounding the great city of Weston.
Maverick and Bishop were careful to only assist when really needed, so they wouldn’t get ahead in levels. Jimmy hit nine after three hours of hunting, but it was the exploring that really helped boost them closer. Bishop convinced them taking trails not marked on the map was how they would come out on top in this game.
It only took a few minutes of wandering deep into the woods before Jimmy and Benji, the healers of the group, let out excited shouts. They had discovered three quests in what looked to be an abandoned hut to Bishop and the others.
“So you really can’t see these quests?” Jimmy asked.
“Nope, it’s like the wolf quest I picked up. It’s how the generator works. You two think you can handle them on your own while we keep going?”
“Think we can manage,” Benji said.
Bishop considered trying to pronounce his player name again but gave up, sticking with what he could say. “Right, send us a mes
sage when you’re finished. The rest of you, let’s keep going.” Bishop worried about leaving two squishy healers behind, but both had proven themselves so far. They were very strong in their classes, so he let them be and led the rest of the group onwards. Their two newest recruits were busy in the city and they had said they would be fine leveling on their own. Both were nearly level nine anyway and they only had to catch up with the main storyline. The rest of the group they formed that day at the table in the cafeteria was a bit farther behind.
The group was wandering aimlessly through the trees, following their tracking guides for materials to harvest, when Sorgon pulled up short.
“What’s wrong?” Bishop asked.
“Nothing, just a quest popped up in front of me.”
Maverick shook her head as Bishop turned towards her. “Nothing for me.”
“I can handle it on my own,” Sorgon assured them. “Looks like I’m just speaking with a spirit of the forest looking for a lost flower. Could be interesting. Message you when I’m finished.”
Bishop glanced at the map and decided they could head north a bit further and see what was up there. Maverick hadn’t gone that far and the elfish lands Jimmy and Shamus came from were just to the north of Harborage, so they knew what was back in that direction.
Taking the lead—well Willy really running off ahead of them all—, Bishop turned northwards and led their group along. Arthur was able to mine some ore and Maverick picked flowers and other herbs she could use in potions for them all. Bishop hadn’t realized until that morning one of her crafts was health and mana potions along with salves and food. They would need to stock up on all of those items before the dungeon. They had enough wood, and he thought he had enough coin leftover to craft two new staffs for the healers while the others forged new swords and war-hammers. Though he loved his bow, Bishop couldn’t help but be jealous of the large weapon Arthur lugged around. The war hammerhead was massive with intricate designs along the steel that trailed down around the metal staff. The craftsmanship was beautiful. It was also a blue level weapon. Arthur was still level eight, and Bishop bet a better weapon would drop for him before the dungeon. Keeping his fingers crossed.
The Wraith of Valenastrious: A LitRPG Epic (World of Samar Book 1) Page 11
