Overworld (Dragon Mage Saga Book 1): A fantasy post-apocalyptic story
Page 39
Other than the clothes and armour on my back, I had little else of value to take. Just the two mysterious cores in the pockets of my cloak.
I sighed. I would manage. Somehow.
Ducking out of my tent, I stopped short at what awaited me. It was a sled. Loaded with four filled packs. My heart lifted at the sight.
Bless you, Melissa.
Inspecting the sled’s contents, I saw that it contained far more than I had asked for. There was a hunting bow, two filled quivers, and a dozen knives. The knives I was sure were from Anton. I chuckled, my dour mood evaporating altogether.
How many knives does Anton think I need?
I tugged at the sled. It was heavy but manageable. Perhaps I should invest a bit more in strength, I thought. It would make hauling the sled through the wilderness easier.
I chuckled. It was a nice thought, but not a luxury I could afford just yet. Wrapping the sled’s harness around my shoulders, I set off for the dragon temple.
✽✽✽
The temple was quiet.
The hordes of refugees that had occupied the area yesterday were gone. I wonder where the commander has housed them all. Leaving the sled at the bottom of the temple, I stepped inside, and a moment later emerged out of the gate in the centre of Wyrm Island.
Immediately, I saw that something had changed. To the left of the gate on a large stone table were two thick, leather-bound books. One black, the other white.
The messaging system? I wondered. Thoughtfully, I walked over to study the table and its contents.
“Welcome back, human,” said a voice at my back.
“Aurora,” I said, nodding in greeting.
“Are you here to use the messaging system?” she asked.
“I am,” I said. “But I’m also here to increase my Discipline knowledge and Attributes.”
“Well in that case, let us attend to your advancement first,” she demanded. “All you players always take forever with those things,” she said, gesturing irritably at the table.
In the act of turning back to the table, I paused. “Of course, Aurora. Please advance the same Attributes and Disciplines as I did on my previous visits. All to level twenty-four.”
“Done. You have one hundred and thirty-seven Tokens and two Marks remaining,” Aurora said. “Now, I will leave you—”
“One moment, Aurora.”
The purple woman scowled at me. “What?”
“I require just one other Discipline advancement. Please increase my light armour to twenty-four as well.” If I was going to be out in the wilderness alone, I needed to be as self-sufficient as possible, which meant improving the effectiveness of my armour.
Aurora looked put out, but with a wave of her hand, she acceded to my wishes. “Done. Now is that all?”
I bowed smoothly to her. “It is. Thank you, Aurora.”
“Good,” replied Aurora. “Now I will leave you to your messages. Goodbye, human.” Then she vanished.
I stared at the spot the purple woman had occupied not a second ago. She always seemed eager to escape from my visits. What does she have against players?
Shrugging away the mystery, I turned back to the stone table. The white book bore the title, ‘Incoming,’ while the black book was titled, ‘Outgoing.’
Simple enough, I thought, and opened the white book.
There were twelve entries. All from Eric. They started blandly enough.
Eric Anders message 1: Jamie, I’ve arrived. By God, this world is fascinating. There is so much strangeness, and so many things to do. But enough of all that later. I’m in the gnomish city of Splatterpunk. Don’t ask about the name! Anyway, where are you?
From there, the messages grew progressively more frantic.
Eric Anders message 2: Bud, where are you?
Eric Anders message 3: Why aren’t you answering, man?
Eric Anders message 4: By God, Jamie, don’t tell me you got yourself killed? But no, the system is still letting me send these messages. So, you must be out there somewhere.
Eric Anders message 5: C’mon, Jamie, answer goddamn!
I touched Eric’s message, penned in his own hand. My friend sounded deeply worried. I’m sorry, Eric, I wish there was some way I could have let you know I was alright. Sighing, I turned my attention to Eric’s last message, penned two days ago. It was the longest and most interesting.
Eric Anders message 12: Jamie, I think I am finally beginning to realise why you’ve been silent. You are in so much trouble, I don’t know how we’re ever going to get out of it.
An orcish delegation entered the city today, with the permission of its gnomish leaders. Apparently just for the orcs to stoop to entering a gnomish city was an event in itself. Our noble Sponsors were beside themselves, both intrigued and fearful.
The orcs entered the city for one thing only: to post a bounty notice for a human named Jamie Sinclair. Yes, bud, the orcs are hunting you. The notice included a full description of you, down to the last detail. The bounty itself is huge, a fortune large enough that even the gnomes, who hate the orcs more than most, seem tempted.
Questions are being asked. Of your whereabouts, and your associates. No one seems to know of our friendship, so for the time being Emma and I are safe. But we might be forced to leave the city on short notice. Don’t be too concerned if you don’t hear from me again soon. As long as the Trials’ system allows you to send messages, know that I am still alive.
Anyway, bud, wherever you are, I hope you’re safe. I will find you someday. I promise. Oh, and if you do get this message, whatever you do, please don’t tell me where you are.
Just in case.
Those last three words scared me the most. Eric had to be really afraid if he thought to say that. I could never imagine a situation where my loyal, lifelong friend would betray me. Yet, Eric must have been afraid of being forced to do just that.
I opened the black book and penned a short missive of my own.
Message 1 to Eric Anders: Damn, Eric, I’m sorry you’ve gotten caught up in all this. It’s the last thing I want for you or Emma. Thanks for the heads up about the orcs. I’ll be doubly careful. But I am not going to avoid them.
I’m going to hunt them down.
P.S. I’ll find you first bud, I promise.
I closed the book, and squeezed my eyes shut to hold in my bubbling rage. It was not enough that the orcs had killed Mum to get me, now my friends were in danger too.
I have wasted enough time.
The time had come to bend all my efforts into getting stronger.
And then… then it would be time to go hunting.
✽✽✽
Here ends Book 1 of the Dragon Mage Saga.
Jamie’s adventures continue in Dungeons.
Coming Soon!
I hope you enjoyed this book and would be grateful if you share your thoughts. Click here to leave a review and here to follow me on amazon.
Many thanks,
Rohan!
Jamie’s Player Profile
At the end of book 1
Player: Jameson (Jamie) Sinclair.
Race: Human. Age: 24. Level: 24. Rank: Trainee.
Tokens: 123. Marks: 2.
Home settlement: None.
Potentials
Might (meagre), Craft (gifted), Resilience (mediocre), Magic (extraordinary).
Attributes
Magic: channelling (24), spellpower (24).
Might: strength (10), agility (10), perception (10), vigour (24).
Resilience: constitution (24), elemental resistance (1), willpower (10).
Craft: industriousness (10), artistry (10).
Disciplines
Magic: air magic (24), dragon magic (24), death magic (1), earth magic (24), fire magic (2), life magic (24), water magic (1).
Might: anatomy (7), clubs (10), light armour (24), shields (10), sneaking (1), spears (10), staffs (20), unarmed (1).
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br /> Crafting: blacksmithing (10), lore (24), scribe (6).
Traits
Unique: Dragon’s Gift.
Rank 1: Pioneer, Spider’s Blood.
Rank 2: Crippled, Quick Learner.
Rank 4: Mimicked Core.
Rank 5: Twice as Skilled.
Rank 6: Spirit’s Invincibility.
Feats
Orcsbane (3), Lone Slayer (2), Lair Hunter (1).
Active Techniques
magesight, night vision, sinking mud, living torch, fire ray, restrained flare, flare, lay hands, analyse, mimic, invincible, repurpose.
Passive Techniques
orc hunter, burning brightly, revulsion, lair sense, slayer’s boon, tenacious.
Faction relationships
Orcish Federation: hated.
Forerunners: ally.
Equipped items
wizard’s staff, spider leather armour, silk clothes, aquaine knife.
Afterword
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Best Regards,
Rohan
rohan.vider@gmail.com
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General Definitions
Arkon Shield: force field around the Human Dominion.
citizen: a player pledged in service to a particular Dominion.
core: a Trials control or interface device used for controlling lairs, settlements, and champions.
dragonfire: flames imbued with the essence of a dragon, and that burn hotter and brighter than any normal fire.
Elders: dragons.
faction: any group within a Dominion sharing the same goals.
faction member: a player affiliated with a particular Dominion.
Focus: a living implement used to aid a mage with his spellcasting.
Initiation: the process whereby the Trials core embedded into new players is bonded to its host and configured to closely monitor, weigh, and assess their every action thereafter.
Inductee: rank 0 descriptor applied to a level 0 player, one who has not achieved full player status.
lifeblood: a portion of the caster’s blood containing some of his life and stamina.
natural learning rate: the speed at which players can advance their Attributes and Disciplines when unassisted by the Trials. This rate differs from player to player.
Neophyte: rank 1 descriptor applied to player levels, Disciplines and Attributes. It ranges from level 1 to 9.
Patron: a species that initiates another’s entrance in the Trials, and is awarded special rights with respect to the client species.
resident: a player who lives in a particular settlement.
Seasoned: rank 3 descriptor applied to player levels, Disciplines and Attributes. It ranges from level 100 to 199.
settlement: a secured region, home to a population of at least one thousand and a functioning dragon temple.
spell construct: the internal design of a spell.
spellcrafting: process of creating spells.
spellform: see spell construct.
spirit weave: core of an entity’s beings.
Sponsor: a species that earns the right to offer refugee to a new Overworld race. Sponsors enjoy fewer special rights with respect to the client species than Patrons.
sponsored city: a settlement in a new Dominion that can act as a refugee for a new Overworld race. A sponsored city can be owned any Sponsor or Patron.
sorcery: not a true form of magic, but the use of spirit to empower Techniques.
Trainee: rank 2 descriptor applied to player levels, Disciplines and Attributes. Ranges from level 10 to 99.
Trials Key: rare Trials artefacts that can be used to begin an entity’s activation as a player. Patrons and Sponsors use this to forcibly create sought-after players and bind them to their service.
Veteran: rank 4 descriptor applied to player levels, Disciplines and Attributes. It ranges from level 200 to 299.
Trial System Definitions
agility: is the quickness and speed of physical attacks and movements.
artistry: determines the quality of your creations.
Attributes: are a player’s physical and mental characteristics and define his fundamental capabilities. Attributes represent the realisation of Potential.
channelling: is a measure of the amount of mana you can draw upon.
constitution: is a measure of your overall health.
Craft: refers to the Craft Potential.
Discipline: is the knowledge necessary to employ Attributes and Potential in meaningful ways, called Techniques.
elemental resistance: determines your ability to resist elemental damage.
Feats: are similar to Traits but differ in that they be improved with further achievements.
health: is a quantitative measure of a player’s health or lifeforce, and is a function of the player’s level, constitution, and Resilience.
industriousness: is a measure of the amount of energy you consume when crafting.
Magic: refers to the Magic Potential.
mana: is a quantitative measure of a player’s magical energy, and is a function of the player’s level, channelling, and Magic.
manoeuvres: are physical Techniques.
Marks: used to enhance Attributes.
Might: refers to the Might Potential.
level: fine scale for measuring player growth.
perception: is your intuition and ability to anticipate.
Potentials: are a player’s core talents, his inborn gifts which he may or may not realise in his lifetime. They define the upper limit that a player’s Attributes may reach.
rank: macro scale of measuring player growth.
Resilience: refers to the Resilience Potential.
spellpower: determines the potency of your magical attacks.
spells: are magical Techniques.
stamina: it is a quantitative measure of a player’s physical energy, and is a function of the player’s level, vigour, and Resilience.
strength: determines the power of your physical attacks.
Techniques: are special abilities. They may be passive or active.
Tokens: used to acquire skill in a Discipline.
Traits: are specialised characteristics that may influence a player’s Attributes, Disciplines or Techniques independent of level restrictions.
vigour: is a measure of your stamina, physical energy.
willpower: determines your ability to resist pain, mental assaults, and mind-altering effects.
List of Locations
Brown Spider Warren: lair north of location 78.
crafting yard: crafters’ area in location 78.
Elven Protectorate: Dominion of the elves.
Human Dominion: human territory in Overworld.
Orcish Federation: Dominion of the orcs.
Overworld: world of the Trials.
Outpost: Location 78.
Splatterpunk: Gnomish city.
training grounds: fighters’ practice yard.
Wyrm Island: unknown region accessed by the dragon temples.
List of Notable Characters
Albert: head gatherer.
Anton: blacksmith.
Aurora: Jamie’s guide in the dragon temple.
Beth: head cook.
Captain Hicks: militia captain from Earth.
Cassandra: hunter, sister of Laura.
Claire: daughter of refugee.
Dale: builder.
Devlin: messenger.
Duskar Silverbane: orc warlord.
Emma: Eric’s girlfriend.
Eric Anders: Jamie’s friend.
Greg: parent.
Hansen: spearman.
Ionia Amyla: elven queen.
Jamie Sinclair: protagonist.
John: spearman, lieutenant.
Jolin Silbright: the commander.
Kagan Firespawn: orcish shaman.
Lance: mage.
Laura: hunter.
Lloyd: spearman, sergeant.
Marcus Smithson: captain in location 78.
Melissa: head crafter.
Michael: spearman.
Nicholas: medic.
Orgtul Silverbane: orc high shaman.
Petrov: captain in location 78.
Soren: head builder.
Sten: spearman.
Tara Madison: captain in location 78.
Yarl Sharptooth: orcish squad leader.