(World of Valdira 01) The Way of the Clan

by Dem Mikhaylov

  I swallowed the meat and at that very moment Grim the Inconsolable went up the stage in front of us. He was holding a small linen sack in one of his hands, the second was squeezing a huge mug of wine. Grim looked around the tavern guests who were holding their breath, inhaled much air, then raised his mug to the ceiling and roared:

  - You presented me a performance fit for the gods! Looking at you, I felt that I was young and full of energy again! The bang of clashing shields, clinking of blades and warriors’ furious roars! What can be better than that?! Nothing! And today you have proved that! Everyone without an exception! Everybody fought like the devil! Cheers to that! Bottoms up!

  Fifty mugs mounted up. The tavern shook down to rock bottom because of the yell cried out in reply:

  - Bottoms up!

  Emptying the mug by a few swallows, Grim threw it carelessly into the hands of the saloonkeeper standing nearby, wiped off his lips by his shirt sleeve and went on:

  - Today not everyone has won, not everyone has talked over capricious luck, but no one will be forgotten! Everybody who took part in the tournament will get a decent reward! So let’s get down to business! There is a heavy purse of money in my hand and I’m very tired of carrying such a burden! It’s time to get rid of it! Clerny the Finest and Greg the Brother of the Sword! Come up to me! A couple of gamers sitting at the farthest table stood up to hurry to Grim. I remembered them – they had been defeated in the very first battle and had been excluded from the tournament. I followed them with my eyes, then brought my beer mug to my lips and looked around fast. Extremely gloomy Grume the Hammer and Myrna the Hurting were sitting some tables away from us. Grume was taking it easier, but the jaded girl was staring the table top blindly. She was obviously experiencing great emotional stress. I turned around to continue watching the rewarding ceremony. Everyone who had taken part in the tournament came to Grim standing on the stage and took their rewards. The warriors excluded at the very beginning got five silver coins each. Those who had reached the second round got twice as much, besides the saloonkeeper as Grim’s assistant handed them blue cloaks. They must be with plus characteristics. Those who reached the third round of battles got a gold coin each from Grim plus bright turquoise cloaks. That’s a very decent award for beginners.

  - Grume the Hammer and Myrna the Hurting! – Grim said in a deep voice and I seemed to hear a slight grin in his voice.

  The couple that had lost the final stood up slowly and came up to the giant. I leaned forward to watch and listen carefully. Two gold coins and a dark-purple cloak each… wow…

  - Ros, when we are called out, I’ll speak for us – Keira warned me quickly – Don’t interfere, just stand next to me.

  - Ok… - replied I.

  Thanking Grim, Grume and Myrna came back to their table and the grey-eyed girl sitting near me clutched up. It’s our turn.

  - Rosgard and Keireya the Protectress! Welcome the winners!

  Accompanied by the spectators’ roar and clashing mugs, we stood up and simultaneously stepped forward. We didn’t come tightly close to Grim as he stopped us by raising his hand softly, so he raised his hand and said in an unexpectedly low voice that was hard to hear:

  - This battle… I’ll remember it forever… Who s the first to take the prize?

  - It’s me! – Keira croaked – I’ll take it.

  - Come closer to me, Keireya the Protectress! – the giant stretched his hand to the girl – Come closer.

  Keira made a few steps and stopped at the stage. I was standing alone feeling puzzled glances of the gamers gathered in the tavern on me. Grim bended one of his knees to Keira becoming the same height as she was. Then I could see the girl’s back only who was listening carefully to Grim’s murmuring that I couldn’t hear at all. Damn it…

  Grim was talking for about two minutes, I saw his hand jerking like he was pulling something out of his bosom. Keira lowered her head fast, the giant made a short movement and I could notice a thin golden chain that slipped around Keira’s neck. It flared white to blind me. I felt a stream of fresh cool air on my face and a slight crystal jingle in my ears. The girl’s body got wrapped in a mild nacreous light from feet to head. A twinkling cloud started and a clot tissued from glaring mist broke away to flee in the air right to me. The clot almost reached me when Keira who was standing with her back on me, waved her hand a bi and the misty cloud vanished away.

  ‘Some positive effect, magic or strengthening aura, that spreads over the whole party’ – occurred to me. But anyway Keira didn’t want to share it with me. Some clan’s secrets again?

  Grim stood straight, some coins clanked again and a purple cloak decorated with the golden edge piping appeared in the girl’s hands. That’s a typical award. The giant waved his hand and the girl stepped aside obediently to give me the way. Thanks for that at least…

  I stepped forward looking at the giant Grim bottom-up. Well… gold and a cloak. Let it be typical but pleasant. A good start.

  But actually Grim the Inconsolable surprised me. He looked at Keira standing next to me and ordered her softly:

  - Keireya the Protectress… please, leave us alone.

  Amazed Keira stared at him and made a tiny step backwards, but Grim waved his hand demandingly and added:

  - Come back to your table, warrioress! Heady wine has been waiting for you too long. Celebrate the victory and have fun. There is no use listening to the old Grim’s, growling who wants has a small talk with your loyal companion.

  - Yes… but isn’t it… - Keira babbled looking at me dumbfounded with her grey eyes opened wide; sure she didn’t want to go away.

  - Leave us alone – Grim said again and then we could hear some threatening impatience in his voice.

  Keira obeyed him. She turned around reluctantly and went to the table. Following her with my eyes I realized that the nacreous mist wrapping her didn’t disperse but no one in the tavern looked amazed and was staring at the girl. So only a gamer who joined Keira’s party could see the effect of a strange thing hanging loose round her neck.

  I turned around and looked at Grim who was soaring over me like a granite cliff. The giant was keeping silent while looking into my eyes attentively and standing absolutely still. His heavy glance was pressing me and I wanted to revert my eyes but I didn’t even blink instead while looking into his eyes. We were standing like this for about a minute when Grim the Inconsolable bended one of his knees to me, shook his head towards the saloonkeeper who hurried to hide behind the counter. We were left absolutely alone.

  - The thing that you did in that battle… the fact that without thinking about it you covered your dying partner by your own body… it broke my heart apart into small pieces – Grim fell silent for a moment as if he was collecting his efforts and then continued – You did something that I couldn’t… god is my witness I would like to have done it… but I couldn’t… I didn’t manage… yours is a man’s deed! A hero’s deed! To reward you for such a deed by gold means to diminish your heroism, to contaminate it, to make equal to the value of miserable coins… That’s why, please, take this as my gift. Stretch your right hand, Rosgard!

  I stretched my hand in front of me quickly. Grim’s giant hand grabbed my palm, he moved his other hand shortly and a broad silver bracelet with a sophisticated engraving snapped close on my forearm.

  Achievement!

  You’ve got a first rank achievement – ‘Living Legend’!

  You can see your achievements in your character’s settings.

  Your award for the achievement:

  +1 to the friendly terms with NPCs

  .Current bonus:

  +1 to the friendly terms with NPCs.

  Oh my god…

  You have got an item!

  Type: gear

  Name: Soul of Silver Wolf

  Description: right bracer, a part of Grim the Silver Hammer’s legendary armor

  Item class: Legendary!

  Durability: impossible to destroy!

  Add
itional: impossible to be stolen!

  Attention! A piece of the legendary set!

  Number of items in the set: 14.

  Minimum level requirements: none.

  Additional: effects providing by the item increase progress at the character’s level up.

  Current effects:

  +2 to the strength

  +2 to the stamina

  +2 to the protection

  Skill/Ability: to awake the soul of Silver Wolf.

  Number of gear set items of Silver Hammer’s armor: 1/14

  Additional bonus due to the gear set items: none.

  - Wha-a-a-t… - I could blurt out only staring the bracelet squeezing my right hand with shock.

  - Accept this gift and wear it with honor! It’s called the Soul of Silver Wolf – Grim told me in a low voice while his fingers were pulling the sleeve of my shirt over the bracelet – It’s one part of my armor. I’d like it the whole of it to you but I lost time long time ago. The day when my Myrtle was killed I went mad, I tore my armor off me and threw it away furiously from cliff Doom into the river Elyrna. I hated my armor and my weapon as they couldn’t help me save Myrtle’s life! This bracelet is the only thing that I kept and now I’m happy to pass it to you. You’re just at the beginning of your way but still you’ve managed to do something I couldn’t do…

  - Thank you, Grim, from the bottom of my heart – I croaked suddenly having lost my voice – I’ll wear it with honor!

  - I know it, gallant Rosgard. But be careful – avarice rules this world. Don’t show my gift to anyone until you’re sure in your strength.

  - Thank you for warning. I’ll remember your wise words forever… tell me, great Grim… do you ever know what has happened to the rest of your armor?

  - No, I don’t – the giant shook his head – Since I had thrown it away into the whitewater of the river, many years passed. They might still be lying on the oozy bottom of the Elyrna under cliff Doom. Or the stream could have scattered it along the river or have thrown it onto the bank. Now only gods can know it – Grim looked into my eyes searchingly – But you’re courageous and lucky… would you like to try to reunite my armor?

  - Yes, I would! I’d love to!

  A message about a quest offered flared in front of my eyes, I had never seen such color of messages before. It was flaring gold:

  Attention! A unique quest!

  You’ve got a quest ‘In the footsteps of the silver legend’!

  To find fourteen items of the legendary armor lost in the world of Valdira and to reunite them.

  Minimum requirements to complete the quest: to collect all fourteen items of the set.

  Award: Grim the Silver Hammer’s Legendary Armor.

  Achievement!

  You’ve got a first rank achievement – ‘Unique!

  You can see your achievements in your character’s settings.

  Your award for the achievement:

  +5% to the chance to obtain unique/implicit quests

  Current chance: 6%

  - Well… you can try – Grim smiled at me sadly and rose heavily from his knees. – That armor didn’t bring me good luck. Maybe you’ll be happier. Don’t hurry to go to cliff Doom. Too much time passed and too much water flew away since that time. Start with careful talks. You know there is a nugget of truth in gossips and legends… Good-bye, Rosgard. I believe that one day we’ll meet again.

  Grim the Inconsolable turned around sharply and loped away. The door shut closed and he disappeared. The saloonkeeper emerged from nowhere to pat me on my shoulder and hand me a folded cloak and five circles of gold shining on it.

  - Have fun! Drink heady wine and foaming beer!

  - Sure – I nodded slowly and turned around to return to my table with my legs like unbending sticks. Keira was waiting for me at the table.

  Despite the total state of amazement I didn’t forget to make sure that the sleeve of my loose shirt was completely hiding the silver bracelet.

  So it’s important not to raise my hands high over my head and not to demonstrate the prize obtained. Legendary items… some gamers were killed for less important in the game. I wasn’t aware of all the details but I knew one thing for sure – I wasn’t going to give that bracelet away.

  - Well, what did he tell you? – Keira blurted out impatiently as soon as I sat down on the bench.

  - Congratulated me with the victory and gave me the prize – I shrugged my shoulders and nodded at the cloak and golden coins.

  Oh, the coins by the way…

  I collected the heavy circles into my hand and poured them into the sack’s neck.

  - Ros! Grim the Inconsolable bended his knee to you! And I saw it – he stretched his hand to you! _ Keira narrowed her eyes looking at me with sudden coldness and suspicion – And not he but the saloonkeeper gave you the cloak! What did Grim tell you or give you? – the girl’s glance dashed to the collar of my shirt, then slid over my fingers – Well? Ros, answer to me right now!

  - Hey! Slow down, honey! – I grinned angrily and leaned forward – Why are you interrogating me like this?! We’ve got an agreement – I had to help you win the tournament! Have I done it?

  Keira was keeping a breathless silence so I continued:

  - I’ve done it! Did you get your prize? The prize that’s the reason of all that mess? Did you get it?

  - Yes, I did! – Keira uttered – But I’m talking about another thing now! Grim did give you something! But he wasn’t supposed to give you anything! There is no reference about it! And our source told us nothing abo… - the girl stopped short in the middle of the word but it was too late.

  It’s late, poor silly girl! You’re caught!

  - In one word, I completed my part of the agreement. If we were at school, I would get A+ for it! – I said through my teeth – I even did more than we agreed. And actually I saved your own hide at the tournament! And instead of being thankful you’re interrogating me now? Why do you think that I’ve obtained something from Grim? Perhaps he just shook my hand to show his respect?

  - Ros, you don’t understand! Yes, you’re right you’ve done everything you promised! But not for free, you can’t deny it!

  - Has Grim given you the promised prize? – I asked again significantly lowering my voice – The prize you were striving for so mucj?

  - I’ve told you – yes, I did!

  - And additional bonuses as well? – Keira nodded in silence.

  - So well, that’s nice – I breathed out with relief and took my mug – Then I can be proud of you. And it’s vital that there can’t be any complaints concerning my job. I’m happy, honestly, I’m happy. So congratulations to us! Cheers! We didn’t waste that day! So shall we continue drinking or go ‘off’? I’d prefer to take a shower and to eat something more substantial than virtual lamb.

  At that moment mild string music filled the tavern. The bard’s performance started.

  Keira stretched out her hand to squeeze my fingers in her hand and peered into my eyes pathetically:

  - Ros… please, excuse me, I was so rude. You’re really the best. But if you obtained something from Grim… no matter what… please, show me. I’m begging you. If it’s valuable, I’ll do my best to make our clan pay you double price! I can swear!

  I’ll do my best… it sounds great. But in most cases it stands for nothing. It’s not a warranty, just wish-wash. Although personally I always stick to my words. But you know it takes one to know one.

  - What makes you think so? – I asked with a real fatigue and put the empty mug on the table – I’ve told you – he just shook my hand. He’s a pally man no matter he’s a hero

  - Ros, do you trust me? I saw Grim giving you something!

  - My trust in you is as deep as your trust in me – I responded switching attention to the cloak presented – Keira, honestly speaking, I can tell you that I don’t want to argue with you. I did my job. Yes, you’re right I was paid for it, but I worked out this man – at least half of it. You personally
don’t have anything to blame me on. If my employer has any complaints or any doubts – we’ll talk with him. With him, but not with you. By the way… what interesting mackintoshes he gifted…

  The tournament winner’s silk cloak!

  Type: gear.

  Minimum level: 5.

  Description: To wear such a cloak on your shoulders is really a great honor as you can’t buy such clothes in a usual shop. That’s a proof of your endurance and wild striving for victory!

  Item class: Rare!

  Effects:

  +2 to the appearance

  +5 to the strength

  +5 to the agility

  +3 to the protection

  -10 to the disguise

  Great…

  I took off my dirty cloak and pushed it into the sack, then put the purple posh one over my shoulders. That will be enough for the beginning. Whatsoever this item is very good indeed; plus characteristics for level five are cool, but as for the color… you can put on a cloak in colors of aloha shirt in the City only or in some other safe zones. Well, you can also run in it in the simplest locations around the city, where the most dangerous creatures are mobs. But to wear a bright cloak with a golden edge piping in dangerous places… is similar to wave a red flag in front of a bull’s eyes. Aggrs never sleep…

  - Well… - Keira drawled looking at me thoughtfully and absolutely ignoring the cloak – At least you said it straight and honestly. Friends again?

  - Friends again – I smiled feeling relieved that she didn’t stretched her hand to shake mine. I must buy another shirt as soon as possible even without plus characteristics but with longer and looser sleeves covering the arm up to the middle of the palm. Not to demonstrate the bracelet-bracer once again. Although… what am I bothering about? I must put it in the private room and the sooner the better!

  - Can you stay here for a while? I need to PM to some people to report about mission completed successfully. Don’t go anywhere, ok?

  - No problem – I nodded and taking advantage of that pause thought recollecting everything I knew about items of the legendary class. At that moment that sort of information was vital. Moreover I was thinking not about the power that such a gear could provide you with but about more practical things instead. In the world of Valdira a complete noob dreams about obtaining a legendary item only and about using it to kill mobs or to complete dangerous quests. Since he isn’t going to stay alive for a long time. Sooner or later he is gonna run into aggrs who will be happy to kill the patsy and rob his body of all his coppers and stuff. Let alone his item of the legendary class. That’s why a smarter game if he was lucky to obtain a legendary item, immediately takes to his heels and rushes to the nearest safe location clattering on his way merrily. Then there are two simple alternatives to choose and to solve the emerged problem.