Nascent (The Stork Tower Book 1)

by Tony Corden

  Leah had read that often quests began by doing something for someone in need. So she said, “Thank you for your advice. Is there anything we could do to repay you for this warning?”

  “Nay lass! You just keep watch and stay safe. Just be wary and stay on the trail.”

  Disappointed, Leah motioned to Wisp, and they continued down the trail wondering if they might meet bandits or the strange creature. It was only a few minutes later that they heard loud shouts and a scream from the direction of the logger’s camp. They turned, mounted their horses quickly and galloped back to the camp. The loggers were in an uproar and standing around yelling at each other. One of them was on the ground, and it looked like he’d been in a fight. Leah rushed toward the leader and called out, “What is it? What’s happened?”

  “What’s happened? What’s happened? Here’s what’s happened, this nincompoop unhooked the oxen just before you arrived and didn’t keep an eye on them. Now one of them has strayed, and all that we can find is a patch of blood and skin. He should have known better. Now we’re one ox down with at least three weeks before another group will be through. We’re not going to be able to load all the carts. That’s what’s wrong!”

  “Can you show me where this happened?”

  The dwarf led them to a point just outside the edge of the clearing. They could see a small dinner plate sized splotch of blood and what appeared to be a flap of ox hide. Wisp began to wander around looking for a sign of what happened while Leah tried to imagine what might have taken the ox.

  “Atherleah, over here!” Wisp called out and showed Leah a drop of blood maybe five paces away and headed deeper into the woods. They moved together in the same direction and saw another drop.

  “Hey! Ladies, don’t go out there, it's dangerous. Come back; it isn’t worth your lives.”

  Leah and Wisp headed back, and the Leah said, “You’re probably right but we are travellers and adventurers and if we didn’t see where the trail led we would always regret it. If we come back, we’ll be able to explain what happens, if not then know you were right.”

  Wisp nodded and said, “Yep! Let’s do this.”

  Together they turned and headed into the woods carefully checking each step and looking around. They silently followed the trail until the logging camp was out of sight and sound. The drops continued to appear at regular intervals and followed a windy path headed deeper into the forest. Leah was leading when she heard a loud thump from behind; she turned to see Wisp slumped on the ground and then felt a sharp pain in her neck. She reached up to see what had happened when everything seemed to spin around and everything went black.

  The next thing Leah knew she was lying on a rough stone floor, her hands tied behind her back, and her ankles tied together. Wisp was beside her in a similar condition. Wisp was beginning to stir. Leah said, “Gèng, where am I?”

  “You are currently being held captive. You have been unconscious for just over one hour in game. Please do not be alarmed, I have been informed that this is simply a part of the game experience and I am assured that you may log out at any time. I was contacted with regards your expected logout time, and I gave them a time one hour from now. As soon as Wisp is completely awake, a game administrator is going to arrive and discuss your options.”

  Leah struggled to sit up and finally into a standing position. Suddenly, with a flash of light, Emil Riverton, the same distinguished looking elf from Orumeck's Cavern, was standing several meters in front of them.

  “Good evening Atherleah! And good evening Annairë the Wize! Annairë, I am one of the developers for Dunyanin, and I have already met Atherleah. I was the one initially responsible for the coding of this Instance. Unfortunately, no other travellers have been inquisitive enough to follow the blood into the forest. We have used a similar situation elsewhere, and people have found it both profitable and enjoyable. Once again Atherleah you have discovered something new. At the beginning of situations like this, an AI usually meets with players and explains the rules. However, as I designed it, and as I am dealing with certain issues arising from Atherleah’s playing style I have decided to explain the rules personally.”

  “My playing style?”

  “Yes, but you and I will discuss that later. But for now, the rules! You are about to enter what we call an ‘Extended Story Pathway’. There are various possible pathways and endings. The aim is not always to kill everything, and it tests many of your qualities. Two people who take opposite pathways have just as much chance of obtaining experience and rewards: just different ones. I understand you are both due to log-out soon. As you entered as a group so must you continue. I suggest you exchange information if you haven’t already so that you can enter together. It is expected, that except for the recommended twenty-minute break every three hours, and meals, that you are present almost continuously until this instance is finished. Do either of you have anything preventing you from a three hour, on, twenty to forty minute, off, schedule until this Instance is complete?”

  Leah spoke up, “I am due for my two NREM3 after one more hour of gameplay.”

  The elf turned to Wisp and said, “Are you in a similar situation?”

  “Not really, I have a planned ‘deep sleep’ in eight hours. But I could have it now and match up.”

  “Thank you! That is appreciated. Next, you will notice that you are missing the weapons you had equipped. They are in the hands of the guards, and you must find them if you wish to keep them. You are unable to equip any other weapons until you have secured freedom for both your hands and feet. Both of you have knives hidden on your person; these were not discovered by your captors. That’s all, so why don’t you log out now and I’ll see you both logged in back here in three hours. Say midnight for you Atherleah, and 11.30 pm for you Annairë the Wize. Atherleah could you stay here for a minute?”

  Wisp stared at Leah, raised her eyebrows questioningly and then faded away.

  “Atherleah, I apologise for mentioning the issues regarding your game play. It is just that now and then we get someone like you who fully utilises the free-form option. They tend to progress rapidly until they find their natural level. We carefully watch such players, as sometimes those around them can react poorly. I note you have caused the demise of several such players on repeated occasions. We try to pour oil on such troubled waters but so far have had no such luck. It is not your problem, but ours, though I have particularly enjoyed watching the way you have dispatched those players. Please note, if it continues we will take steps, I only ask that you don’t inflame the situation unnecessarily. Now I must go, and so must you.”

  At that he disappeared, Leah also logged out to have some food, a shower and some ‘deep sleep’. While she was eating, she asked Gèng if there was anything in the guides or forums about the situation in front of them.

  “Yes, there is a common scenario where you have been captured and must either find a way to escape or a way to win your freedom. The circumstances are varied. Sometimes you have been kidnapped for ransom, at times you have been captured to be a slave, or you are going to be a sacrifice. One such situation would see you captured to be a wife of a goblin chieftain.”

  “How long do they take to solve?”

  “Most take several Dunyanin days, and the record is ten Dunyanin days.”

  Leah felt refreshed when three hours later she was back in the same situation; hands and feet bound, standing next to Wisp who had appeared at almost the same instant. Looking around, she noticed it was darker than usual, if she hadn’t had night vision she wouldn’t be able to see. She heard Wisp cast a quick spell that the spell gave her night vision. They were in a small hollowed out cave with a locked gate barring the way out. Moments later they heard the sound of feet walking on the stone toward them, as each foot landed there was a clicking and scraping sound. The gate covering the small cell swung open, and they got the first glimpse of their captors. There were four of them; each was covered with scales of various colours. Their scales shone wit
h faint luminescence. Each of their lizard-like captors stood upright. They had broad faces like a toad but instead of a flat face it came forward; each jaw was triangular, though a slightly squashed triangle or even a regular trapezium. The eyes were on the sides of the head, nostrils were slits above the upper lip, and each had several horns. The horns were located along the centre line and varied in number and length. The largest of the captors had four such horns. Both hands and feet had claws, while the arms and legs were covered in small quills on the parts away from the body. Dense clusters of these quills were found at the elbows and knees. Each mouth showed sharp teeth and what looked like a rolled up tongue. All were carrying spears and had several tube-like devices attached to harnesses they wore which looped over each shoulder and hung in front of them and pulled to their chest with a belt around their waist.

  Bukalemun Warrior (Level 27) 2700HP 2500EP

  “Bukalemun? Gèng, what are Bukalemun?”

  “Bukalemun are one of the reptilian races. They stand upright like you but can blend into the shadows by changing their skin colour to match their background. They are carnivorous hunter chameleons. They have a tongue which can shoot out and attack prey at a distance equal to the length of their body. I am taking this from the Dunyanin Bestiary Guide. Until now, there are no reported sightings of Bukalemun. They are considered a defunct race. Something that was planned but never implemented.”

  The leader gestured with the spear and said in a voice, sibilant and deadly, “Comes! Moves! Hurries! Follows!”

  One of the Bukalemun removed the rope from their ankles, then moved ahead while Leah and Wisp were forced to follow behind with the occasional poke from a spear. The first part of the journey was through a small cave system which exited into a large clearing holding hundreds of the faintly glowing Bukalemun. It was night, and there was a bright moon overhead. There were no fires and very little noise. The Bukalemun were waiting for something, and when Leah and Wisp were brought forward, there was a deep in-drawing of breath as if their presence was the herald of something anticipated. The guards prodded the girls forward to follow their guide; he walked across the clearing and onto a faint pathway on the other side. The mass of Chameleoids followed along, silently, until they resembled something long and sinuous, gliding quietly through the forest.

  Wisp began to say something but received a heavier than usual prod with the spear; so they continued in silence. After ten minutes of silent walking the procession began to wind its way up the side of a small hill, with occasional switchbacks, until it reached the top. There was a low, stone, circular wall on the top of the hill that looked like the top of a deep well. The guards led the girls till they were only a few paces from the wall and then the leader said softly, “Stops! Quiets! Be Stills!”

  The hundreds of Bukalemun who had come behind, arranged themselves behind Leah, Wisp, and the guards until they packed into a half circle with the well like a bullseye at the centre. About five minutes later another procession appeared from the other side of the hill. This second group also formed a half circle, and from their ranks, two bound figures were pushed forward. The first appeared to be human, though he had been severely beaten and it was almost impossible to make out his features except for long blond hair tied in a ponytail. The other was a large humanoid, but it was impossible to tell of what race; it had a bag over its head, and from the sound of things it had been gagged.

  Movement occurred at the rear of both groups and Leah made out a larger Bukalemun coming through the second group. This Bukalemun's luminescence was brighter than the others; Leah identified it as Level 90. A similarly built Bukalemun came and stood beside her. The two leaders began discussing things in a fast, sibilant speech. Finally, they stopped and looked over the two groups of prisoners. Content, they indicated to the guards that the prisoners should be thrown into the well.

  Leah shook off the hands that had reached for her and said, “I know you understand me. Don’t you even have enough honour to tell us why you are doing this?”

  One of her captors flashed the butt of his spear forward driving it into her midriff. She fell to her knees and after a few wheezing breaths said, “No honour, and you’re cowards.”

  He was about to drive the spear forward again when the Leader of Leah and Wisp’s half-raised his hand and said in a less sibilant accent as if he had practice with the standard tongue, “Honour, coward! Whats do you know of honour and courage? You come to our land to fight and steal; you have no honour!”

  “I came to find an ox that your people stole. I haven’t fought you or taken from you. Know this, if I had fought you, you would be dead. If I had taken from you, you would have nothing. You are the ones who fight from the shadows, hiding in fear. You tie me up and take my weapons and then try and throw me down a hole. Know this, throw me down, and I will return. Then you will see how I fight and steal; for you will be dead and you will have nothing.”

  “Little mouse, you know nothing about this. This hole goes to the place of our dark cousins. They follow a dark God. Each moon we send them a sacrifice. If we fail to bring it, they come and take it. Four souls every moon. You are not us. I feel for you like you feel for the ox. Nothing! I do not give you weapons because you might try and hurt my people. It is not a lack of honour and courage. It is indifference. I am chief to my people. I care for my people. I am indifferent to you.”

  He then barked an order, and the guards moved forward again to grab them.

  “Give me my staff! At least, give me my staff.”

  “It will be of no use to you.”

  “Not for me! Do it for your people!”

  “How will you having the staff, help my people?”

  “Because when I climb back out of that hole, I will come for it. If I have it already, I’ll leave. If I come for it, then some of your people will die.”

  “I will place a guard on the well. If you climb out or show up at my door, I will return your weapon and give you anything you desire from my treasure house.”

  “Deal, one treasure for each of us four who returns.”

  “Ha, you truly are a thief. One treasure for each of you who returns we will restore your weapons to you. I, Reis, do so swear.”

  He barked a command, and the guard reached for Leah, she was prepared however and stepped forward and jumped feet first into the well. One second later Wisp copied the move. The chieftain laughed aloud while the other chief threw his two captives into the well.

  Diary - 21 November 2063

  Justin was easy to kill. Maybe I’m getting used to the death, or maybe I just felt nothing for him. Truthfully, I had more trouble killing the beautiful fox than killing Justin. Can we just write someone off like that? Does he feel like I feel when the Government treats me like a number rather than a person, as some replaceable cog in their machinery? Or does he deserve to be dismissed out of hand because of his actions?

  Do I treat people like the Reis treated me? I love my family, and they are precious to me. Would I be prepared to hurt a stranger to protect my family? I hope I would find another way out of the situation but at least I can understand the Bukalemun’ s reasoning. Who thinks up these scenarios anyway? I guess though, it is true to life. Not everything can be solved by love and compassion. Or can it? Mum says I have to learn to turn the other cheek, to only do good even if I suffer for it. Why can’t stopping the bad guy be good? At least then they won’t be hurting anyone else. Shouldn’t people stop murder, rape, and theft? Surely some people don’t deserve to be a part of society because of their actions. But who can make those decisions?

  And so we come back to Jason. I have made the decision. His actions do determine how he is treated. If he weren’t such a jerk, then he would be allowed to live. If he continues to hurt people, then I will continue to stop him.

  The Bukalemun is wrong, hurting someone else instead of dealing with a problem is not just lazy but immoral. We should go out of our way to help people, even strangers; otherwise, we are just as ba
d as the people who hurt them in the first place. Injustice is everybody’s problem.

  Indifference is something to be careful of. How many people do I not see, or not help because I am indifferent to their plight? I know I can’t help everyone, nor save everybody, but surely I mustn’t be indifferent. Even if I kill something, even to eat it, plant or animal, I must not be indifferent otherwise I will waste its life and in the worst case become needlessly cruel.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  November 22, 2073

  Leah fell through the portal and landed clumsily after falling almost four metres, as she landed she still managed to bend her legs and roll off to the side. She saw Wisp land awkwardly and heard a cry as if Wisp had hurt or broken something. The next two prisoners had no such luck, and both landed heavily on their sides.

  She called out quietly, “Wisp, you ok?”

  “I think I sprained my ankle, but it should be ok soon. I can’t reach a knife, can you?”

  “Just a minute.”

  Leah sat down slowly with her hands behind her knees. She then stretched forward and brought them to the front. She was able to reach a belt knife and moving to Wisp cut her bonds. Wisp reciprocated. Wisp cast a small light to see better, and Leah cut the ropes off the blond and began to heal him. Wisp removed the bag from what turned out to be a huge Barbarian. Leah used several potions on each before the two were able to sit up and look around. They were in a circular room chiselled from solid rock, the only exit, a steel gate sealed with a chain and crude lock.

  Before either could speak, Leah said, “Hello, my name is Atherleah, and that is Annairë the Wize.”

  The barbarian spoke first, “You talk tough for such a little thing. I almost crapped myself laughing.” He then said a high voice, “If I had fought you, you would be dead. If I had taken from you, you would have nothing.”

  Returning to his normal voice, he said, “My name is Yabin, I am the friend, and bodyguard, of this midget, Sarisin of Ovalar.”