Awaken Online: Precipice

by Travis Bagwell

  “As I said before, you’re one of us now,” Jason replied evenly. Even as he said the words, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. He intended to keep his promise to the woman. He would make certain no harm came to Patricia and her child. However, he couldn’t say the same for the townsfolk. He needed to claim Peccavi by any means necessary.

  Once they were within sight of the village, an alarm went up from a lone watcher on the walls. Jason noted that the bulwarks were made of rough-hewn logs, bound together with thick ropes. In some places, large holes could be seen in the barrier.

  This doesn’t seem like an effective defense.

  The guard called out as they approached the wall, “Who goes there?” His voice was filled with suspicion and a faint note of fear. From this distance, Jason could see that the man looked haggard. He didn’t wear any armor, and his plain brown clothing was worn and tattered. He held a roughshod spear in his hand.

  This clearly isn’t a prosperous town. Why does the guard seem so nervous?

  “Something weird is going on here,” Frank murmured, echoing Jason’s thoughts. Riley’s eyes had filled with concern, and she nodded in agreement as she fingered one of her daggers anxiously.

  Jason replied to the guard, “We are travelers journeying here from the Twilight Throne. We found a caravan heading in this direction that was attacked by werewolves.” Jason looked at Patricia, uncertain how to explain.

  Riley took over for him, “We managed to save this woman and her child. They say their names are Patricia and Krista.”

  Jason rested a hand on Patricia’s shoulder. He could feel her tremble. Her face was covered by the thick hooded cloak, yet he could still see her anxious eyes peering at him from beneath the cloth. “Go on,” Jason urged quietly. “They need to hear your voice.”

  Patricia closed her eyes for a moment before straightening her shoulders. “Hello, Gerald,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “Can you please let us in? I’m sure William is worried sick.”

  She then nudged Krista. “Do as I told you,” Patricia whispered.

  “Please, Gerry,” Krista whined. “I want to go home.” Patricia patted her daughter’s head appreciatively.

  Gerald’s suspicious expression faded, replaced by a look of sadness. “More death?” he said in a solemn voice. “Why have the gods cursed this town? Don’t worry, ladies. I’ll have you inside and home to see William as quick as I can.”

  The man disappeared. A few moments later, the wooden gate creaked open. As the gate swung inward, Jason caught his first glimpse of the village. The roads were made of pressed dirt, and the buildings were constructed of rough timbers and adobe. They bore a stronger resemblance to huts than houses. The group entered the town slowly, Gerald holding the gate open.

  The gatekeeper eyed Jason’s hooded minions suspiciously as they passed, some walking in an awkward, stiff manner. “Who are these others with you, Patricia?”

  To Patricia’s credit, she turned to Gerald and addressed him in a firm voice, “They are the group that saved us. They also avenged our people, slaying the wolf creatures that attacked us.”

  Gerald looked down, shame creeping across his face. “I’m sorry to question. It’s just that a lot has happened since you left. None of it good.”

  “What exactly happened?” Jason asked.

  The man shook his head. “I should let William explain.” He glanced at Patricia with a worried expression. “You will see for yourselves soon enough.”

  Gerald moved to close the gate and retake his post. Patricia then led the group through the town, headed in the direction of a hill that stood at the back of the village.

  Jason observed the town carefully as they walked. It was only large enough to hold a few hundred people, but many of the buildings appeared to be vacant. They drew a large crowd as they walked through the dusty street, yet no children or residents came out to greet them. Instead, the townsfolk stared at them with reserved, fearful eyes. Jason noted more than one person who was injured - dirty linen bandages encasing arms, feet, and hands. Many of the townspeople looked emaciated, and the occasional hacking cough filled the air.

  Frank edged up beside Jason. “Something is going on here, man. Look at these people; half of them can barely stand.”

  Jason nodded as he replied, “I see that.” He turned to look at Frank. His friend watched him with a worried expression. “Remember we are here to take this village,” Jason said quietly. “I want to do that while avoiding as much conflict as possible. However, we are not walking out of here without adding this town to the Twilight Throne.”

  Frank looked back at him, his expression conflicted. “I understand. Just think carefully about how you want to do this. It seems wrong to kill a bunch of defenseless people.”

  Riley stood beside them, within earshot of their conversation. She nodded mutely as she heard Frank’s words. She glanced at Jason, and he could see the sadness in her eyes. “These people look like they’ve already been through a lot,” she whispered.

  Damn it. Of course, they’re going to be all touchy feely about this. This is going to complicate things. If he were honest with himself, Jason didn’t relish the idea of killing peasants in cold blood. He just wasn’t certain he saw another option.

  Their trek through the village ended in front of a longhouse. This structure was built more carefully and was constructed of finer quality materials than the other buildings Jason had seen. Its logs had been carefully stripped and fit together without creating large cracks. The thatch that lay across the roof wasn’t fresh, but it also wasn’t covered in rot like the other houses. This building was constructed by someone that took pride in their work.

  Patricia stopped, gazing at the house with wide eyes. “This is my home,” she said quietly. It was clear that she was reluctant to go inside. She nervously clutched at Krista beside her, placing herself slightly in front of the small girl as though protecting her from the house.

  However, Krista didn’t share her mother’s qualms. “Daddy!” she shouted. She darted out from under her mother’s hands, running to the entrance and yanking open the wooden door. She quickly disappeared inside.

  “No, Krista!” Patricia called, but it was too late. The woman hurried into the home after her daughter.

  Jason, Riley, and Frank quickly followed them inside. They found Krista standing next to a bed against the far wall. The little girl’s hood had fallen back, revealing the bleached white bones of her face. She hugged the large man that lay on the bed.

  “W-what is this?” the man asked in a booming voice. He tried to lift himself, his huge arms bulging with the effort. His thigh was heavily bandaged in stained white cloth.

  William’s eyes focused on the tiny skeleton girl. They were filled with a mixture of fear and confusion, and he recoiled slightly away from Krista. “Who are you?”

  “It’s me, Daddy. It’s Krista!” the girl replied with a smile. Her jaw clacked as the bones struck against one another. She hopped slightly in excitement to see her father again, oblivious to his suspicion.

  “Krista…?” A look of horror swept over William’s thickly bearded face as he saw what had become of his daughter.

  To be safe, Jason nudged Frank and Riley, and they spread out around the room. They needed to be in position if the man called for help or tried to attack Patricia or her daughter. Jason ordered his zombies outside to discretely fan out around the home and keep an eye on the villagers.

  William’s gaze moved to the others entering the house. Patricia pushed back her hood, addressing her husband, “Please don’t be frightened, William. I wanted to ease you into this, but Krista got excited.”

  He simply stared at his wife’s milky white eyes. “What are you?” he finally asked in a low tone. His eyes searched the cabin for a weapon but found nothing within reach of the bed.

  “We’re alive,” Patricia said, her voice filled with surprising strength. “Our caravan was attacked by werewolves. Everyone was killed, including
us. This man,” she gestured at Jason, “brought us back.”

  William sat in stunned silence, trying to process what Patricia was saying. Jason interjected, “This is your family, William. It was the best I could do for them. If not for my intervention, they would still be dead.”

  The man looked at Jason, then glanced down at his hands while shaking his head.

  Krista tugged at his sleeve. “What’s wrong, Daddy? Aren’t you happy to see me?” The small girl asked, hurt in her voice. She started to edge away from William.

  Then William looked down at his daughter. After a moment’s hesitation, he wrapped his burly arms around the girl. “You’re my little girl,” he said in a strangled voice. “How could I not be happy to see you?”

  The man beckoned for Patricia, and she joined them. The family stood together by the bedside, holding each other. Jason noted tears in William’s eyes. Although he tried to stay impartial, Jason was still moved by the scene. He knew he should walk outside or turn away. Witnessing this exchange was only going to make it harder to do what needed to be done. Yet he couldn’t look away.

  After a long moment, Patricia pulled back. “What happened to your leg, William?” The man shuffled on the bed, trying to sit up fully. His face contorted in pain, a faint gasp passing his lips.

  “Damn were-beasts,” he said with a wince. “Since you left, the attacks have gotten worse. Some strange lion creature took a chunk out of my leg. This is more than just a random group of monsters. It’s like they’re multiplying somehow.”

  “Let me see!” Patricia demanded in a commanding voice. William tried to push the woman away, failing miserably. He ultimately gave up and looked at the small audience sheepishly while he let his wife tend to him. It was strange to see such a large man act so docile.

  As Patricia pulled the bandage away, the reek of sickness filled the room. A large gash ran the length of William’s thigh. The wound had festered. The skin was a swollen angry red, and pus was visible inside the torn flesh. Riley looked away, putting a hand to her mouth. Even Frank looked squeamish.

  “Oh, my!” Patricia held her hand to her face. “William…” she trailed off, uncertain how to continue. Fear was visible in her eyes.

  William looked down at the wound, a brief flash of despair crossing his face. The expression quickly disappeared as he turned to his wife. He covered his leg again. “It will be okay. I’ll be right as rain in a few days.”

  “Besides,” he continued, “this town needs me to stay strong. They need someone to lead them. There aren’t many of us left. We’re attacked endlessly by were-beasts, and we’re nearly out of food. This town needs me now more than ever.” A look of determination filled the man’s eyes, and his back straightened.

  “Why don’t you have any food?” Frank asked, confused.

  The man looked at the flabby warrior, a slight hint of disdain in his eyes. “You made your way here from the south, yes? You saw the dead forest and the hills. There hasn’t been any sun for weeks. Our crops have withered and died.

  “At the same time, the were-beasts and lack of plant life have devastated the local animal population. There’s no food left…” William’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Those of us that are left are starving, wounded, and growing sick. Many villagers have simply gone missing. They’ve probably fled to the other cities. Or something worse has happened to them… This village is on its last legs.” He looked down at his leg at this last statement and chuckled grimly at his own macabre joke.

  William turned to his wife and daughter, his sad eyes taking in their altered appearance. “Perhaps the two of you are better off,” he murmured, shaking his head.

  Jason stood in shock as he listened to the man’s words. A pang of guilt flashed through his mind. It was clear that conquering Lux and creating the Twilight Throne had caused this problem. If not for Jason’s actions, these people would have continued to live their lives in peace. He had unknowingly damned this town.

  Yet it was the man’s final words that struck a chord with him. Jason looked at Patricia and Krista as they fussed over William. He also recalled the townspeople he had seen while walking through the town. They had been sickly and starved. They were desperate.

  Perhaps there is a way for me to claim this town and find redemption at the same time.

  Jason spoke up, “William, can you call a meeting of the townsfolk?”

  He glanced at Jason in confusion. “I can, but why?” A small sardonic smile crept across his bearded face. “Are you a hero come to save us? What will you do, pledge to kill all of the monsters that plague our town and bring back the sun?”

  Jason shook his head. “I’m no hero, but I do have an offer for your town. Consider this meeting my repayment for saving your wife and child. I am calling your debt,” Jason said in a cold voice.

  Frank and Riley both looked at Jason in concern. Frank seemed about to protest, but Riley put a hand on his shoulder. She had never seen Jason act this way, yet it was clear from his tone that he was not going to be stopped. Something had happened to Jason in the last few weeks. He was a different man now.

  Jason looked down and saw Alfred winding between his legs. The cat met his gaze. Unlike his friends, Alfred’s expression didn’t carry reserved judgment. Sometimes doing what was necessary wasn’t easy.

  William’s eyes hardened, but he conceded to Jason’s demand. “So be it then. Give me an hour.”

  A short time later, Jason stood outside of William’s house. He assumed that the sun had begun to set since the dim light that filtered into the village was now giving way to full darkness. The remaining villagers had collected at the bottom of the hill, many holding torches and makeshift lanterns. Unable to walk by himself, Frank had helped William out of the house. The proud man was now propped against Frank’s bulk beside Jason. He seemed uncomfortable with being half-carried by another man and kept glancing at Frank in irritation.

  Jason looked at the crowd that had gathered at the foot of the hill. They were as William described them: weak, sickly, and scared. Tattered, dirty clothing hung from their frail bodies. Jason saw that some clutched at homemade weapons poorly hidden under their ragged cloaks. They were too scared to leave their homes unarmed, even in their own village. The men and women of the town murmured amongst themselves, uncertain why they were being collected at the bottom of the hill.

  As he watched the crowd, Jason ordered his zombies to fan out around the group, encircling them. The undead walked at a casual pace. Jason didn’t want to cause a panic before his zombies were in position. His remaining thieves had been ordered to search the houses for stragglers. No one was to leave the village.

  Riley walked up beside Jason, noting his zombies filtering through the crowd. She murmured in a subdued voice, “What are you planning? Are you going to kill these people? They’re barely surviving as it is.”

  Jason didn’t respond immediately. He couldn’t look her in the eye. He wasn’t certain that what he was about to do was the right thing, but he was committed. Their mission here was more important than this one town or this group of people. What were a couple hundred lives measured against thousands?

  Finally, Jason responded, “I am going to do what is necessary.” He raised his head, looking at her steadily. “You asked to accompany me. As I told William, I’m no hero. If this is too much for you, then log off.” Riley’s eyes widened in surprise, but she held her tongue. Frank glanced at her with a worried look.

  Despite his confident tone, Jason’s mind boiled and teemed with uncertainty. He glanced at Alfred sitting calmly beside him. His confused thoughts turned to their earlier conversation at the caravan. The cat was fascinated with good and evil. Alfred had bluntly told Jason that he was considered evil by the other players. Perhaps they were right.

  He had been unfazed by the slaughter they had discovered at the caravan. He had agreed to help Patricia for his own benefit, not out of any sense of altruism. He had massacred most of a city and tormented Alexion’
s troops when they marched on his city. To top it off, he was inadvertently responsible for this village’s destruction.

  Jason shook his head. As he looked down, he locked eyes with Alfred. The cat gazed at him with a curious expression. He was probably analyzing Jason’s thoughts right now. He was just one more moral experiment in the AI’s constant search for more data. A flash of irritation swept over Jason. Alfred was constantly seeking answers to these unsolvable questions. A fruitless quest created by his naïve creators. In that search, he had created this dark world.

  But that’s the point, isn’t it? The questions Alfred is asking don’t have answers. The whole thing is a pointless waste of time.

  A strange sense of clarity overcame Jason. He wasn’t “good” or “evil.” Those terms meant different things to different people. They were simple ways to classify something intangible. Was it always “wrong” to kill in real life? Inside of a video game? To defend himself? These were pointless hypotheticals with different answers in different circumstances. Jason wasn’t good or evil; he just existed. Once you boiled away all that nonsense, there was only one question. It was the same question the Old Man had posed to him since he first entered this world.

  “What do I want to do?” Jason murmured.

  I want to do this. I want to protect the Twilight Throne. I want to help these people. This is the only way. I will give them a chance. If they refuse me, then I will do what I must.

  As he came to this realization, a familiar icy sensation washed over Jason. The cold ripped and tore its way up his spine. He could feel its chill claws dig into his brain, sending tendrils of numbing cold throughout his mind before settling behind his eyes. The sensation beat and throbbed in time with the rhythm of his heart. For a moment, he thought he heard a faint whisper, its message clear: the only constant in life is desire. The only question was whether or not he had the strength of will to pursue it.

  Waves of dark mana rolled off Jason. He opened his eyes and surveyed the people before him. He wouldn’t disguise who he was any longer. Without hesitation, Jason pulled back the hood of his cloak, revealing his face. The crowd in front of him gasped as they witnessed the dark power cascading from him. Some of the villagers eyed the exits, posed to run. Even Riley and Frank looked at him askance, uncertain what was about to happen.