The Way of the Clan 6: World of Valdira

by Dem Mikhaylov

  The Way of the Clan 6 by Dem Mikhaylov

  GKN 6

  The Outland and Beyond.

  Part One

  A leap into the void.

  Why couldn’t I have just stayed home?

  (The thought of Ros just before teleporting to the Outland)

  Chapter One

  Arrival.

  We didn’t find out whether the bald elf managed to set the wooly mammoth on fire after all.

  Obviously the huge mammoth Kolyvan wouldn’t have exploded, but in any case, would have created a whole lot of noise and a slew of problems if set on fire. And maybe it would have been better. Because the Outland did not greet us kindly; not even at the doorstep.

  The tight spiral of countless stars flashed before us and there was a prolonged roar, in which Orbit’s voice was almost lost. I hardly heard him get past “one” and the starry nebula shattered into pieces, and the brief period of weightlessness ended. We felt gravity come over us again.

  Bright sunlight slashed into our eyes. For a second I noted with relief the familiar blue sky and feathery white clouds— then everything began to spin, and we collapsed down, the cage no longer able to support us.

  Oh lord! We’re falling! Only now I understood that we were falling and I, with the last of my strength, shouted:

  “Hold on!” I yelled. After my feeble cry came the much more competent commands from all around me, completely opposite to my amateurish attempts.

  “Jump! Jump!” Roared the Scarlet Baron. “Jump everyone! Now! Jump!”

  “Pteros! Take off!” A woman’s cry sounded in unison with the Scarlet Baron. “Fly! Go!”

  An ear-splitting shriek, and a huge orange shade flashed past me. On the scaly reptilian back were a few figures of players huddled together. I was jerked back by Trouble, who clutched hard to my arm. We flew from the spinning cage arm in arm, all three of us, and I even managed to shout as we fell:

  “After u-u-us-s-s!”

  Before our eyes flashed the green and brown earth. Kira held on to me, I held on to Tyrant, and the legendary wolf howled at the top of his voice, expressing his extreme displeasure with this mode of travel.

  Some more players and animals spilled from the broken cage. One of the white rhinos, with a strange and startled grunt, fell to the ground as swiftly as a missile, his horn aiming down. And all of them were quickly catching up to us, gaining speed as they fell.

  “Open your arms!” Shouted Kira.

  “And do what, wave them?! Damn it! Kolyvan!”

  The mammoth Kolyvan was quickly gaining on us, frantically waving his stumpy legs in the air and lifting his trunk as though trying to grab hold of something in desperation. Jerking to the side, we avoided the mammoth by a miracle. On the head of the mammoth was flattened another character in shapeless trousers. The bald-headed elf was giving orders with such confidence that I forgot, for a moment, that we were falling from a very great height.

  “Ears! Work your ears! Tail to the left! Trunk out!”

  “Or-bi-i-i-i-t!” I howled.

  The commander of the doomed aircraft didn’t hear me and quickly receded down, fighting to remain airborne without avail:

  “Start the tur-bi-i-ines!” We heard, and the heavy mammoth separated from our group completely, rushing down in a steep dive and catching up with the white rhino, as though competing to see who would reach the finish line first.

  Then we were entangled in a wreckage of logs, screaming players writhing in flight, long snakes, and other animals. Kira shoved a heavy bag away with her foot, and I had just enough time to duck my head to avoid a log.

  “Darling,” purred Kira into my ear, grabbing me by the neck. “Before we fall… do you love me?”

  “Hell of a time you’ve chosen!” I growled, and Tyrant supported me with an indignant roar.

  “Ugh!” Puffed Kira, dissatisfied. “Ruining such a moment… Ros, lean right!”

  Throwing down a quick glance, I understood what she meant— and, clutching tighter to the shaggy fur of the wolf, changed our trajectory slightly to the right. It was enough to change what we were falling towards from a brown cell to a green one. Right. Falling from a very great height onto the field was a matter of playing “life or death.” In theory. The brown square— earth, hard and merciless. Green— water, possibly a saving grace if deep enough. We were lucky— we were making our way quickly down to the green square, and I hoped with all my heart that it wouldn’t be a vile joke, and that there wasn’t a hungry Loch-ness monster waiting for us there.

  Around us flapped the pterodactyls, apparently acting on someone’s orders, snatching from the air some helplessly writhing snakes in their claws and throwing them to the side, so they were above the green checkered squares again. They did the same with players, moving them away from the deadly trajectory. Who in the world had time to think to give that order so quickly? Especially, since it was every clan for itself…

  “I believe I can fly-y-y-y!” Came a shrill screaming in the distance, from Doc, who was heading straight into the water. I didn’t see the other members of the team, aside from Orbit, who was still flying into the unknown atop the mammoth Kolyvan.

  “Galapuerian tulips! Galapuerian tulips!” A player of the Sleepless clan screamed at full volume, looking into the eye of a copper telescope and looking down.

  An herbalist? A madman? Both?

  “Oh-h-h-h…” Furiously hissed an achilot player, whom I had not noticed before, trying to paddle the air with his webbed feet. Above him hovered a girl of the same race. Both of them belonged to the Architects clan. A water race in a land-dwelling clan? The surprises had already begun…

  The cage finally broke apart completely, and the last of the goods fell out. I managed to see a few more things, including boarded-up boxes, bags, and other cargo, and then the freefall came to an end as we entered the water, covered by a thick layer of green duckweed. The layer of aquatic vegetation was incredibly dense, but we struck through it without a problem, going deep into the dark water. Kira rushed up, and Tyrant moved his paws desperately, before my eyes flashed the indicator of remaining air— but, in spite of the turmoil, I pulled the girl down, never taking my eyes off of the glowing green carpet of vegetation above us. Through it flew many more players, animals, and objects, any of which could strike us. Everywhere we looked there were traces of bubbling water and foam. Gently treading water, we waited ten seconds and only then began to emerge, the man-made hail of objects coming to an end.

  Beside us slid the two graceful achilots, with the movements of predatory fish on the hunt.

  A few agonizing moments, and my head broke through the green carpet above us.

  Opening my mouth, I greedily inhaled the air of the Outland, not paying attention to the noises around us. Right— not everyone was so lucky as to land in the water. Many of them certainly and unfortunately fell on the solid ground.

  CONGRATULATIONS!

  You are the first heroes who have arrived on the territory of the mysterious Outland!...

  You were unlucky!

  But determination and perseverance will help you overcome all adversity!

  You are a pioneer!

  To go down this untrodden road will be a difficult task, but not for those who follow in your footsteps!

  Penalties:

  Physical damage to local inhabitants of the local land is reduced by: 25%

  Magical damage to residents of the local land is reduced by: 25%

  Chance of trophies from slain monsters is reduced by: 25%

  Chance of a critical physical / magic strike is reduced by: 15%

  Chance of a successful resource collection / extract
ion is reduced by: 25%

  Physical damage of monsters is increased by: 25%

  Magical damage of monsters is increased by: 25%

  Map quality is reduced by: 25%

  Speed of any movement on local land reduced by: 10%

  Mana regeneration and life decreased by: 10%

  Penalties will be active for: 23.59.59.

  Bonuses:

  Presence of ancient objects: Yes.

  Current availability: 5/5

  Ancient magical recipes: Yes.

  Current availability: Unknown.

  Presence of ancient magical knowledge: Yes.

  Current availability: Unknown.

  Presence of rare, not previously encountered monsters: Yes.

  Number pf monsters: Unknown.

  Presence of signs of a vanished, great race: Unknown.

  Reminder!

  Many guilds will be very happy to pay a large sum for such unique trophies or knowledge!

  A Unique Achievement!

  You’ve achieved “Pioneer!”

  (This achievement does not have ranks.)

  Memorial achievement for all adventurers who were the first to find their way to previously unknown lands!

  Congratulations!

  Your reward for achievement: A crudely carved wooden statue of a weary traveler, looking out from beneath his palm into the distance.

  Object class: Rare.

  Status of Item: Collector’s Item.

  ATTENTION!

  The patron of the local land is NOT destroyed!

  Be on your guard!

  ATTENTION!

  Flora/Fauna— C.A.P.S.

  “Damn it! Damn it!” I spat, slowly approaching the edge of the shore, trying not to move any part of my body. Tyrant worked with me, rowing powerfully to the shore and dragging me along. Kira held to the neck of her battleship Brontosaur, who swam like an extremely ugly turtle to the shore. “Kira, did you get that? The local daddy is alive.”

  “Or the mum…” Nodded the paladin, encased in her solid armor, looking at me through the T shaped slot in her helmet. Behind the girl was trailing the wet blue cape, no longer sporting any clan markings. “We were first. Gods forbid we run into the patrons. With our forces, especially…”

  “Right,” I gurgled in response. The wolf reached the shore, which was more like the side of a deep pool, and with one jerk lifted himself out onto the ground. I slowly followed.

  Patron…

  All lands in Valdira have patrons. Or rather… once it had been so. Absolutely unique monsters which may be of any species or size. They live only once, because they do not respawn.

  In earlier times one could run into the patron right at the gates of any city, which almost always certainly promised death. For example, in the Haregroves, where dwell a lot of gray and white rabbits living in deep burrows among the bushes, once lived and thrived an absolutely black bunny, whose level was way higher than the levels of the others. A so called “daddy.” Impressive, but not impossible to defeat. Just very expensive to kill— but one would have a chance to receive something truly unique, albeit not necessarily useful.

  Such an honor— frequent, sporadic battles with the patron— only the very first players received. Reserved for only those who left the peace of the city and ventured into previously unexplored grounds. In our time, a dream almost impossible. Just like in the real world, where there are hardly any unexplored areas of wilderness left. The first players were pioneers, and we are just tourists.

  But now everything has changed. Our fate was now that of the pioneer, and it wasn’t by choice. Patrons were only referred to as “mommies” and “daddies,” but they didn’t suffer the same parental feelings, and therefore could summon the aid of the rest of the land’s inhabitants. Here, in the legendary Outland… I highly doubted that the appointed patron would be the aforementioned black rabbit.

  Here, we’d better hope for good luck, and not to meet him on a narrow path. It would be better if he or she missed us altogether. And even better if he were peaceful, which would be even more uncommon. Perhaps a bison or a sloth forever sleeping on the vine…

  “And there’s a den,” said Kirea softly, having gotten out of the water.

  “And there’s a den,” I agreed with a sigh.

  The patron is bound to have a lair. A hole, a nest, a cleft, bushes, or anything else. And they are bound to be protecting a very useful bunch of trophies. Including equipment— especially if the patron is a predator of some kind. Herbivorous animals are very rare. I have only heard about these kinds of situations in rumors in bars and taverns, have read about them in books or on the forums. I was the first one I knew to have become a pioneer…

  “But surely we won’t look for it?” Trouble nevertheless decided to clarify.

  “Definitely not!” I nodded. “But others certainly will. For the den, and for its owner. In the hope of a unique profit. Anyway, what’s up with our comrades? Have they turned into pancakes? And what about taking off?”

  “You wish!” Came the familiar roar of the half-orc Bom, and pleased my soul. The ass was alive. There he stands, snorting and shaking algae from his shoulders. “And what taking off?”

  “Where are we going to land, if we die,” I clarified, looking around carefully. “On the way down here, I looked around and didn’t notice any revival locations. And if they’re not here, that means we’ve got one shot only. And everything is much grimmer than I thought. He-e-ey! Cray! Kaylen! Doc! Orbit! Are you alive?!”

  “There are no revival locations!” Informed an unknown dwarf of the Sleepless. “One of our magicians fell on rock. He died here and is already back there, on the mainland, sitting naked on another pebble. Shitty, this is…”

  “Thank you!” I said. “No… really not good…”

  “You don’t say!” Uttered a familiar voice at my shoulder.

  Turning around, I was taken aback— at first I saw a mirage of trembling air, which blackened sharply and turned into a slender figure clad in black leather. The Baroness. But… no gaming nickname, not any information hovering above her head. The bottom part of her face in a black half-mask, covering her mouth to the very nose. Her pupils dilated and eyes blackened… and around her figure, the air still trembled as though from heat, though I didn’t feel it on my skin.

  Easily slipping past me, the Baroness went towards the chorus of excited voices.

  “Kira,” I called in a whisper. “That’s the Baroness, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And what kind of character class is that, by the way, if it aint a secret?”

  “Don’t you know?” The girl was surprised, tenderly stroking the armored head of her pet. “It’s another legend of Valdira, of course, but I suppose the rumors are true. The Black Baroness passed through training with the clan of the Dead Sands. Everyone believes so, but no one can say for sure. It’s a special type of warrior class. Like a mix of warrior and combat mage.”

  “And that mask… she’s like a ninja… shit,” I said, bemused.

  “And she is a ninja,” nodded Kira, absolutely serious. “Although there is no such class, officially. But there are rumors. Allegedly, she managed to ingratiate herself with the Dead Sands and took full training. That’s not just some skill you can learn in the guild, with a tome and some money. She trained hard, and it took more than one or two weeks, much more time. Rumor has it that she spent almost a year in real time, learning the secret techniques, but I don’t buy it. Spend a year in the game doing daily drills in the burning sands? Nonsense! Complete crap. No one has the patience. Although, some people tried to take the same path, and suffered complete defeat.”

  “Well…” I said thoughtfully. “Damn stubborn family they’ve got, really… Int-terest-ting, in short. Clan of the Dead Sands… I’ve heard that somewhere before.”

  “You better worry about the CAPS instead!”

  “Why should I worry, if I never met him?”

  “And I have, a couple of ti
mes… we should really stay close to the big boys and girls. Or we’ll be toast.”

  CAPS. Or rather: C.A.P.S., an acronym for Certain Aggressor of Primary State. But the acronym clarified nothing. And I knew very little about these sort of situations in general. I know only that there are three degrees of monsters. The tertiary, secondary, and primary, which is the highest. And this, it turns out, is the worst kind, and the most aggressive. I myself have never encountered such danger.

  We are on completely unknown, hostile land. It is the same as diving into a pool of concentrated acid and attempting to swim to the opposite side.

  And right now, we are only breathing because we are still contemplating for a future that is unknown and impossible to prepare for.

  “He-e-ey!” I repeated my cry, twisting my head from side to side. As of yet, I’d only seen Kira and Bom. My comrades remained silent, and I began to worry. Had they already fallen?

  We were at an area flat as a giant chessboard. Under such conditions, visibility is good— there is no noise— but so far, I only saw a mass of players and animals. With a roar of angry grumbling and whining, they were emerging out of the water. Four warrior players pulled a thick rope and tied it to the white rhino, trying to pull its weight over the steep edge of the natural pool. Centimeter by centimeter, they were succeeding.

  Two mammoths trudged about fifteen paces from me. Abundant water plants and streams of water flowed from their wooly sides. Around them were players of both clans, and four mages trying with all their might to heal the seriously injured beasts.

  There was a scream behind us and, turning around, I was relieved to see another mammoth— the Kolyvan himself. The bald elf stood atop his head and smiled broadly. I don’t know how they managed to land but, judging by the wet wool and algae, they had successfully landed on the cell with the water. The Kolyvan, apparently, did not need healing— moving its heavy carcass quite briskly. Orbit the Pilot had managed to rescue his aircraft, landing it safely.

  Behind the elf and the mammoth was Cray, with Kaylen holding his waist, looking somewhat dazed but more or less alive. The dwarf Cray looked a little worse for the wear, but Kaylen’s body sent a white, familiar healing light towards him. Behind them stomped their pets. I hadn’t noticed, but at every ear of the mammoth Kolyvan hovered a ghost, and another over the head of the bald headed, scar covered elf.