The Curse of Hurlig Ridge_World Tree Online_1st Dive

by M. A. Carlson

  “You guys both got a couple points the other night with me, right?” I asked.

  “We did, it’s actually the first time we’ve gotten any charisma points. We tried to go to the miners’ bar the next night, and they wouldn’t even let us in the front door,” explained Olaf.

  I honestly felt indignant on their behalf. That was ridiculous. “From now, we have dinner here, every night until you both have 20-Charisma,” I stated.

  “You sure?” asked Micaela, it was the first time I’d ever seen her even remotely timid.

  “You bet I’m sure,” I replied.

  “Great, one problem solved,” said Olaf, sagging slightly in relief.

  “Int?” I asked, confused. “How is that a problem?”

  “We’re not sure how to gain it? All the ogre forums say it’s impossible,” replied Micaela.

  “But you gained Intellect from using your sign language, right?” I asked.

  “Yeah, but it stopped at four,” she replied, now looking defeated in addition to timid.

  “Can you read with four Intellect?” I asked.

  “Need 5 to read,” she replied.

  I just scratched my chin in thought. Then I reached into my bag and took out my large notebook. I tore out 9 pages then tore those into quarters. I then printed the letters of the alphabet on them A-Z then 0-9.

  “Okay, this may seem stupid, but just go with me,” I said because it did seem stupid. It might be oversimplified on my part, but they knew how to read outside the game, their avatars just lacked the knowledge of the alphabet and maybe numbers, Olaf was able to pay earlier after all. Still, it was worth a shot. So, if their toons in the game could just learn the alphabet then maybe it would boost their intellect that last point that would let them read.

  “A,” I stated simply, showing them the letter.

  “This is stupid,” said Micaela and Olaf in a single voice.

  “Just try it. What have you got to lose?”

  “Fine,” they said again in unison.

  “A,” I stated, prompting them to repeat.

  “A,” they replied.

  “B,” I started showing the next card, prompting them to repeat.

  “B,” they lifelessly repeated.

  I went through the alphabet and numbers with them and halfway through the third time when shocked and delighted smiles split both their faces.

  “Five?” I asked.

  “Yeah, notification just popped up at the bottom of the UI. We gained an intellect point. We can read now,” answered Olaf.

  “Blimey, we can read,” Micaela shouted in joy.

  “Now we just need to buy some books,” said Olaf, grinning.

  “Why buy them, you can read the ones in the Townhall for free? And their skill books too.”

  Both of them suddenly looked at me as if I’d grown a second head.

  “Skill books you say?” they asked together, which was starting to get creepy how often and easily they did.

  “Yeah, not true skill books but if you read them and pay attention they will teach you skills,” I answered.

  “Hon, I think your decision to befriend this poor sop that day may be the greatest thing you’ve ever done,” stated Olaf, wiping away a fake tear.

  “Dearest, I might have to agree with you. Say, Bye-bye, are you married?” she asked.

  “No,” I answered, not sure where she was going with this, but feeling decidedly uncomfortable with the look on her face.

  “I’d leave him for you if you want me to, just say the word. I’m sure he’d understand, wouldn’t you?” she teased.

  “I’m afraid I would, it would sadden me greatly, but I would indeed understand. Hell, I might just leave you for him if he swings that way,” replied Olaf, adding to his wife’s uncomfortable joke.

  I shuddered. Now they were both creeping me out. “First, I won’t break up a marriage, so you’re both out of luck. Second, I definitely prefer the company of women.”

  “Oh, well, we can still use you though, right?” asked Micaela, leaning in closer to me, her hand gripping both of my shoulders preventing me from fleeing.

  “How do you mean?” I asked, suspicious of the odd woman, wriggling unsuccessfully, attempting to get loose from her monster grip.

  “Knowledge you dummy, though the offer of a threesome stands, just say the word,” said Micaela, a waggle of her one eyebrow and an even more mischievous smirk in place.

  “Okay, you guys are making me uncomfortable. I’ll show you to the books in the townhall, then I have a meeting to attend,” I offered trying to escape the pair of them as soon as possible. And here I was just agreeing to have dinner with them every night until the pair got their charisma up where they needed it.

  Chapter 10

  After dropping the pair off in front of the bookshelves in Townhall, I booked it to the village temple. “Heh, booked.”

  Sergeant Butters was waiting for me inside.

  “Hello again,” I greeted him.

  “Hello again Bye-bye, wish it were under better circumstances,” he replied solemnly. “Well, come on then, Trini is probably waiting for us.”

  I follow the man inside the temple and was surprised to see so many altars made of several different materials from stone to metal to various kinds of wood. The walls were also covered in different iconographies suggesting this really was a temple for all faiths.

  Butters was steady in continuing through the temple, past the various places of worship, and led me down a flight of stairs to a large room, feeling more like a morgue than part of a temple. If not for all the different iconography on the walls, I might have thought it was one. There were also a few altars made of different kinds of dark colored stone, suggesting this part of the temple was devoted to other gods, less than reputable gods.

  “Hello gentlemen,” greeted Trinico.

  “Hello Trini,” greeted the sergeant, his tone of voice somewhat softer than usual.

  “Bye-bye, nice to see you again. I know we did not get much of an introduction last time we met. I’m Priestess Trinico, servant of the faithful house of all gods and goddesses.”

  I wanted so badly to ask her questions about all the altars and icons, but there were more important objectives at the moment. Namely, the corpse placed on the large stone table in the center of the room.

  “Bye-bye Jacko, pleased to meet you,” I replied, forgoing my class and titles and any stress that might induce.

  It appeared, she too had questions but also recognized the need to get to work. Sergeant Butters and I each took a place standing around the table with the body. Admittedly, part of me was focused on not breathing, the stench was unpleasant.

  “I checked the body for poison as requested, but nothing showed. I also checked for magic or curses, which also came up negative. I cannot find any reason he would have just invited death the way he did. Unless he believed he would not die after being attacked the way he was. My greater concern, what would make him believe that without leaving behind some kind of magical residue or toxin in his system? I have no idea,” she reported, very businesslike.

  Sergeant Butters cursed loudly and slammed an angry fist down on the stone table. The man looked truly sorrowful when he spoke again. “You know I hate to ask you to do this, but I have to. How long?”

  Trinico sighed deeply, also seeming to sadden significantly. “Two weeks I think. The eve of Lunestra should be sufficient to call him back and question him,” answered Trinico.

  “What do you mean to call him back?” I asked, unable to keep the question back. Part of me wanted to keep quiet because both looked so sad before. I could help but wonder though, could an NPC be resurrected?

  “I forget you are new. While you adventuring types are blessed with unlimited reincarnation, us citizens are not so lucky. No, I cannot resurrect young guard Davies. What I can do is a small necromantic spell to recall his spirit, momentarily, that we might garner some information on his death, maybe he will tell us who killed him,” e
xplained Trinico.

  “I thought you were a priest? How can you cast necromantic spells?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me yet again. I instantly realized I sounded accusatory and apologized. “Sorry, didn’t mean to sound like I was accusing you of anything. You just caught me by surprise. And I suppose I’m just naturally curious.”

  “No worries, young priest, you have much still to learn. I am a priest not pledged to any one god or goddess. I serve in one of the open temples or ‘Free Temples’, which represents all pantheons. As a protector and servant of such a place, I am granted a small boon by the gods and goddesses. It allows me to learn a few magic spells of their realms. Here, in this place devoted to the various gods of death and the afterlife, I am able to cast such a spell, but only at specific times of power. The eve of the full moon is one such time, as is the actual full moon and the day after. There are more days such as the solstices, equinoxes or any annual death celebration, and a dozen more days throughout the year.”

  “I see, thank you for the information,” I replied, the more I learn the more this world impresses me. Still, I wasn’t happy she called me a priest, especially with the look I was now getting from Sergeant Butters. I guess he and I hadn’t talked about much during our training sessions to even broach the subject of my class. I also thought he might already know, I assumed after saving Mary Johnson it was bound to get around. And now, I had to worry Sergeant Butters would stop training me since he found out I was a priest and not a warrior or even a paladin. The man had seen me casting healing magic, so he had to know something. I suppose I would discuss it with him soon enough.

  Quest Alert: Missing in Action 2 - Completed

  Guard Davies has been murdered. Details at the scene suggest the murderer is somehow related to the nearby ruins. There are also several questions that must be answered to progress the investigation. Meet Sergeant Butters at the Hurligville Temple at Noon.

  Reward: +500 Experience, Guard’s Light Leather Belt

  I accepted the completed quest, I hoped the belt wasn’t the same belt Davies had been wearing. Unfortunately, I would also need another level and ten more points of strength before I could equip it.

  Quest Alert: Missing in Action 3 (Recommended Level 4-6)

  Guard Davies has been murdered. Details at the scene suggest the murderer is somehow related to the nearby ruins. Unfortunately, the Priestess Trinico found no signs of magic or poison on or in the dead guard leaving her no choice but to call back the man’s spirit from the nether. Return in 14 days.

  Reward: Experience, Variable Piece of Gear

  Do you accept this Quest?

  Yes

  No

  I accepted the follow-up, promising myself I would check the belt later, along with all the pending system messages I still hadn’t checked.

  “Come, let us leave this place of death, we can speak more in my office. Plus, it smells so much better than the unfortunate Mr. Davies,” said Trinico darkly.

  “Right you are,” said Butters, leading the way, followed closely by Trini while I followed up last.

  Once in her office, Trinico served us a pleasant tea and cookies. I’d forgotten the taste of cookies, even if it had been less than a week since my internal cookie monster reared his ugly head. I enjoyed them very much, one might say, they were a weakness of mine.

  “Thank you, Trini,” said Butters kindly. Then he turned on me, all kindness gone. “Now what the devil was she talking about, you being some stupid squishy priest?”

  I was afraid of that. So, I had to make a choice. Tell them both the truth or lie through my teeth, hoping neither decided they wanted nothing to do with me.

  “Sweetie, how did you not know?” asked Trini, fixing a look on Butters.

  “Why would I know? We train every day, building up his combat skills. It is not some silly knitting circle,” answered Butter.

  “David, calm down,” ordered Trinico with an edge coming through in her voice.

  “Yes dear,” replied Butters, his face taking on the visage of a scolded child.

  “Wait, dear?” I asked, confused.

  “Yes, David and I are married, does this surprise you?” asked Trinico, amusement in her voice and in her smile.

  “I’d be lying if I said no,” I replied. Sergeant Butters and Priestess Trinico were so different from one another. Not only that, she was a priestess, were they even allowed to marry? And what about Sergeant Butters? Not to seem cruel, but how did he convince the woman to even give him a second look with all the scars and his grizzled attitude.

  “We are different, but as they say, opposites attract,” she replied. I actually saw a hint of a blush on the sergeant’s cheeks.

  “Can I ask how?” This had to be a good story. At least, I hoped it would be a good story.

  “You can ask anything, I will not guarantee an answer though. However, given how much of a shine my David has taken to you I suppose I can tell you the story,” she replied with a kindly smile.

  “You always make it sound so overly romantic, and I am no romantic, woman,” the sergeant, no, David insisted.

  “So, I tell it better anyway,” she retorted, her blush and smile not fading in the slightest.

  “Fine, tell the story your way, but do not expect me to keep my trap shut, not when you tell it wrong,” he insisted once more.

  “So, years ago David was a knight in the service of King Leopold the 8th. He is royalty you know, son of an archduke no less,” started Trinico.

  David made a sound of disgust, “My father was not a good man and worse as a parent. He pressed me into service as a squire at 7 years old, then forcing a knighthood on me at 14, and then forced me to court, just a day after my knighting, to serve the king. I may not have known better back then, but I still hated what was forced on me.”

  “David, you would not be the man you are now if not for your past. You must let it go,” said Trinico. It seemed they had this argument frequently enough.

  “Just tell the story already,” the man insisted, changing the subject away from his youth.

  “I met David five years after he began service to the king. I was 18 and I was aspiring to become a high priestess of Hermes, the god of medicine and healing. So of course, I knew, for what I wanted to achieve, I would have to serve on the battlefield. Looking back, I had no idea what I was getting into at the time,” she paused here, and her face looked sad, lost in history. “I was such a foolish little girl back then.”

  “It was the demon incursion of the Western Whitelight Mountains, one of the kingdoms primary sources of mithril ore and marble stone. As you can imagine, it was of key importance. We must have thrown half a million soldiers at them in the first month alone, most of those men died, but I guarantee you, those boys took at least two demons apiece before they passed. Those were the days before the Adventurers. Boy, do I wish we had some of your ilk back then,” David mused.

  Trinico continued, “I had never seen such death and devastation. I remember pouring out all the healing mana I could, drinking a potion or two and doing it again and again, for days on end. Anyway, one day, the legion I was serving as support for had been flanked-“

  “That rotten Montague should have held his line,” groused David, I’d never heard such venom from the man, not even when he was dressing down his men this morning.

  “The group responsible for holding the eastern flank of our battle-line panicked and ordered a retreat. The demons, seeing the line break, took advantage. They split their number, sending half east and half west, right at my legion. It became a massacre. We were so overwhelmed, I had said my prayers to all of the gods and goddesses promising to become a servant of all if they would spare the people I was charged to protect. And my prayers were answered,” Trinico sighed loudly, a dreamy expression came over her face.

  “I tell you, I was just following orders to try and reinforce your group, after that moron’s cowardly retreat,” David interrupted, a deep frown marring his face.
>
  “And I say it was the divine hearing my prayer, my version sounds better anyway, now may I continue husband?” she asked impatiently and clearly annoyed by his ruining her fanciful daydream.

  “Yeah, sure, you just keep telling it wrong, but whatever,” he said noncommittally.

  “Anyway, here comes this young, brash knight in shining silver armor on a beautiful white steed, the likes of which I had never seen.”

  “The horse was gray, the armor was gray with a black and gold tabard, and I was certainly covered from head to toe in demon blood and guts,” he whispered to me a little too loudly.

  Trinico glared at her husband but he clearly ignored it. “His unit saved my people and me but during the fight, he was gravely injured. I made it my personal mission to ensure he was healed to full health.”

  “It was barely a scratch,” protested David.

  “Your arm was half cut off and you lost an eye,” stated Trinico.

  “Just a scratch,” stated David, again, though his protest was not as forced.

  “I never left his side again. For the remainder of the campaign, I was always there to heal his wounds and look after his men.”

  “I forgot how clingy you were back then. I swear you were like a little, lost lamb,” David disputed her recollection.

  Ignoring him again, she continued, “After the demon invasion was pushed back, and the portal to the inverse was sealed shut, I chose to continue my service to David’s legion. I went with him when his father took ill.”

  “I told her to stay with the legion,” said David, accepting the inevitable retelling of their story. He sighed, defeated at this point.

  “I healed his father, removing the disease. When it was done, I had hoped his father would be proud of all David had accomplished. All the battles won, the loyal friends he had earned. Instead, the man scorned me. He said if I was even a decent priestess, his son would not be so disfigured . . . would not be such a monstrosity,” she paused here to wipe away a tear.