Depths of Camlan

by A. T. Gilbert

  “Asher,” I reply. “SirAsh3r in the game, but you can just call me Asher.”

  “Oh, I’m TexBadass in the game. You probably noticed me on the leaderboard during the Challenge. I was in the top third the whole time.”

  If I remember correctly, top half would be generous, but I decide not to point that out to him.

  The teenager has started introducing himself as David, player handle Callidus, when TexBadass interrupts.

  “So, the way I think we should approach this is we need to make sure we all have complementing skills.” Bryce stands in front of where the rest of us sit on the couch and hitches up his jeans. He’s just about in the same place Cho stood during her presentation and he seems to be settling in for a long speech.

  I already want to punch him.

  “See, I’ve been leveling up my magic. Healing primarily, but I also have some low-level damage and effect skills. The way I see it, we’ll need a couple of y’all to tank, maybe some more ranged damage and spells. And probably one of us should train in lock picking or other rogue-type skills.”

  Even sitting two seats over from me I can tell Erin is seething. She takes a really deep breath and lets it out slowly but doesn’t interrupt him. Yet.

  “Now a’course we can talk about this more once we spawn into town and figure out what training is available, but do y’all have a preference? You want to level up in something?”

  David, Callidus, raises his hand, asking for permission to speak as though Bryce is actually in charge. “I’ve been leveling in Stealth and Backstab. I’ll take on Lock Picking and whatever else.”

  “Excellent.” Bryce points a finger gun at him as punctuation. “Who else?”

  “I’ll tank,” SteelFeather volunteers.

  “Me too,” Balderdash13 adds. “I’ve also got a couple mid-level healing spells in case we need that.”

  “What about you?” TexBadass asks me.

  “I can handle ranged damage. Bow and Arrow. I’ve also got really low level Stealth and one healing spell, but count on me for archery.”

  “Ranged damage. Great. I guess that just leaves you, Princess,” he says to Erinocalypse. “What do ya got for me?”

  She locks eyes on him, stands and walks toward the door.

  “Magic,” she tosses over her shoulder as she leaves.

  I can’t help but be a little grateful Erin now has someone else to be irritated with. Not just me. Maybe Tex will absorb some of her ire that I would otherwise deserve.

  “Oh, well, I’ll just touch base with her again once we’re in town. We’ll need to coordinate and make sure we’re learning different spells.”

  I suppress my grin, trying to imagine that conversation.

  “Well now, have y’all played a dungeon before?”

  We nod, but he continues as though we haven’t. “It’s all about rhythm, you see. The tanks will want to pull the aggro, but not too much at once. We don’t want to be overwhelmed with trash. I’ll hang back to keep y’all healed and at full health. You ranged damage dealers will need to be strategic about where you attack from and we’ll need to watch out for traps and obstacles along the way. Now, usually I like to read or watch a dungeon walkthrough before I attempt it, just so I know what we’re in for. But we don’t have that luxury this time.”

  “Um, dude,” I interrupt. “We all know how to play. We all just told you we’ve played dungeons before.”

  He blinks in surprise. “Oh. Right. Right. I was just making sure we’re on the same page.”

  I stand up. If I’m going to spend the next eighteen hours with this guy, I don’t have patience for his blustering now.

  “I’ll see you guys in a bit.”

  I need to spend my last hour of real life not talking to the same people I’ll see in the virtual world.

  Chapter Four

  Standing alongside my pod in the VR immersion room I realize it didn’t take long for me to feel comfortable getting naked in front of strangers. Or maybe it’s because they’re not really strangers. Or maybe it’s because they’re all naked too. Either way, I am standing, totally stripped down, swaying impatiently as I wait for Theresa to press whatever buttons she has to press to open the pod and ready it for me.

  I glance at her, but she’s not paying attention. She’s reading an email or something on her phone.

  I steal a look at the control panel. I could probably figure this out. How hard can it be? Besides, I’m naked. She should be paying closer attention.

  Just as I reach out to hit the open button, she notices and slaps my hand away.

  “Stop,” she says; no hint of humor in her voice. Whatever she has just been reading worries her. She frowns, flubs her initial key code and has to cancel and start over.

  “You okay?”

  She smiles at me with false brightness. “Sure. Yeah, of course. Just do me a favor, will you? Be careful? Don’t underestimate the game?”

  “Don’t underestimate the game?”

  “Yeah. I know you think you’re this great gamer and you did so well in the Challenge, and I’m sure you can do this. Just don’t get cocky.”

  “Cocky? Is that an I’m-naked joke?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Asher. Seriously.”

  “Theresa, what are you saying?”

  “Nothing. Nothing.”

  “What did your email say?” I ask in a hushed tone.

  She considers what she wants to say next before shaking her head. “Nothing. Don’t worry. Just … don’t forget you can ask Sung Cho for help if you need it.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  There’s no chance any of the six of us will ask for help if we don’t have to. I notice the other players all stepping into their pods as Theresa finishes my setup. My pod opens and I climb in. The strange gel fills the space around me as Theresa closes the lid.

  “Good luck,” she whispers.

  The darkness is absolute but I close my eyes as the total immersion takes hold.

  I open my eyes to one of the same bedrooms in Charlie’s inn where I “slept” during the Camlan Challenge. I take a minute to double check my inventory, my gold, my map, and my weapons before heading downstairs.

  Name: SirAsh3r

  Level: 19

  Strength: 20

  Intelligence: 22

  Dexterity: 20

  Stamina: 20

  Magic: 21

  Skills: Woodcraft 3, Slash 2, Club 3, Paddle 1, Climbing 1, Stealth 3, Archery 6, Power Perception 1, Backstab 1

  Abilities: Initiative 2, Focus 2

  Professions: Cooking 2

  Affinities: 2% Earth; 16% Water

  Fame: 350

  Achievements: First Explorer of Lake Galavant, First Explorer of Foyle Forest, First Visitor to Allynton, Friend of Water

  Attention: You have one attribute point to distribute

  I quickly assign my attribute point to Strength. I like to stay pretty balanced as I play, keep my options open. I’m kind of embarrassed I had forgotten to assign that point after I leveled up at the very end of the Challenge, but I guess I was distracted.

  It’s time to look ahead anyway. This is my chance to right my mistakes during the Camlan Challenge. I need to find the mayor and sell some items. I should also see if I can buy some healing potions, just in case. It’s about midday in game, and the lunch crowd is settled in downstairs. Charlie and her staff are bartending, serving the tables and chatting away with the other NPCs. Most of the other players are already downstairs and Balderdash13 is not far behind me. TexBadass is trying to talk over the din and give us more instructions.

  “Who wants to come with me to see Mayor Barnaby?”

  “Tex, we are all going to see him. We all need the quest. It makes sense for us to do that together,” SteelFeather says calmly.

  “Sure, yeah. No problem. Let’s go.”

  I roll my eyes and follow the small group out into the town square, turning down the street to the bookstore.

  “Welcome, my friends.” M
ayor Barnaby beams as we file into his shop, all six of us crowding by the counter near the door. “I never got a chance to thank you for the service you rendered Allynton.”

  I look at the others, nonplussed. I’m the only one out of all of us that actually infiltrated Lord Crimson’s home and stole the Goblet of Vigor back from him. But …whatever. The quest is going to start over for new players anyway. I guess I can’t be too precious about it.

  “You’re welcome,” I respond. “We heard you would know how we can get to the White Rock Ravine. That’s nearby isn’t it?”

  “It is! Yes. Pull out your maps and I will point it out for you.”

  “Um, sorry. Can I buy a map, please?” Callidus asks timidly.

  He’s the only one of us that hadn’t gotten one during the Challenge, so it doesn’t take the mayor long to set him up, and to look over our maps with the rest of us.

  When I open mine, I notice a small button in the bottom right corner that says Share Map. When I hit it, I hear the mayor exclaim, “Yes, good. Thank you, SirAsh3r. The Ravine is here.”

  I see him point with just one finger, but the spot on my map that becomes highlighted must be miles of coastline. He’s about to move on to Erinocalypse’s map, but I have to stop him.

  “I’m sorry, Mayor, but could you point again? I’m not sure it worked right.”

  “Oh, of course. I’m sorry.” He returns to my map, points in the location of the dungeon, holds it for a second to ensure it saves and moves to the next map. I watch him do this. I’m sure he was specific. I try to memorize where he has pointed just in case. Fortunately, when he pulls his finger away, the blue geo tag stays where it is on the map, indicating the dungeon entrance in one of the little curves of the west coast of Camlan.

  As Mayor Barnaby moves on to Erinocalypse’s map, I save my own, stow it in my bag, then immediately retrieve it to double check.

  I can’t believe it. The quest spot is gone again.

  “That’s so weird. It didn’t save again.” I turn to Erinocalypse. “Did yours work?”

  I can tell she wants to roll her eyes at me or ignore me but she puts her map away and pulls it out again to check. I can’t see what she sees, but her jaw drops.

  “I’m sure I saw him mark it,” she says under her breath.

  Callidus is next and he has the same experience. Why won’t the quest spot save for us?

  “Why isn’t it saving?” Erinocalypse asks. “How are we going to find it?”

  I shake my head; I’m not sure. Maybe there’s a quest chain we can do that will take us to it. Maybe we can just head to the coast and wander.

  “Well, now, Mayor,” I hear TexBadass saying from the end of the row. “All due respect, sir, but are you sure you’re doing it right?”

  The mayor blinks and smiles at him politely. “I suppose that’s possible,” he concedes. “Let me try again with a brand new map.”

  I think about pointing out that Callidus has a brand new map but I decide against it. Maybe the saving mechanism attaching it to a specific player makes a difference.

  It only takes him a few moments, but we soon hear a confused “Huh” coming from the back of the shop.

  “Well, my friends,” he says, returning to us. “I’m sorry, but I see to be unable to effectively identify the ravine’s location for you. It’s likely a failing of my maps or perhaps of my own powers. If you can wait to leave town I can investigate further.”

  The six of us exchange looks.

  “I’m not sure we can afford to wait, can we?” Erinocalypse begins. “We don’t even know what the dungeon entails and we’re on a time limit.”

  I’m beginning to have my own suspicions. “I’m not sure waiting will help any. Cho did warn us the code may try to hide or defend itself.”

  “That’s true!” TexBadass seizes on my comment, excited, pointing at me with his finger guns. “This could be the first battle we wage against it.”

  “Whoa, okay.” SteelFeather holds up both his hands. “This is just a map not saving correctly. It’s a glitch, not a battle.”

  “You’ve got to be on your guard, buddy,” Tex says. “When you’re dealing with rogue AI you never can be too careful.”

  Erinocalypse laughs derisively. “Okay. Whatever. Anyway, the point is we don’t have time to wait even if we were sure it would work, which we’re not. The map at least confirms the general location of the ravine. I say we just go for it.”

  “Well, hang on a minute, princess. I mean, bless your heart but you’re not in charge here.”

  “Neither are you,” she responds coldly.

  TexBadass frowns. He really should get used to that pushback. I don’t know how he keeps being surprised by it.

  “You stay here if you want,” Erinocalypse continues. “I’m going.”

  Chapter Five

  “Mayor Barnaby,” I begin. “I believe you might have the necessary key for us to get in to the White Rock Ravine?”

  “I do. I do. Let me find it. I have six copies. One for each of you.”

  He darts behind his counter to dig through the drawers there. As he places the heavy iron key in my hand, I get the message.

  Quest offered: Locate White Rock Ravine

  Description: Somewhere on the western coast of Camlan is the entrance to White Rock Ravine. Since no one can pinpoint the exact location, you must conduct the search yourself.

  Reward: Unknown

  Hm. I wonder if this quest would not have been offered if the mayor had been able to mark the map. Or if he was unable to mark it because of this quest. Little by little it seems aspects of Camlan and the game are outside of the developers’ control.

  “Thank you. We really appreciate your help. I have one last question for you. Can you tell us where we might purchase supplies for our journey or obtain further training?”

  “I can, yes. You can purchase potions and herbs from me here, and weapons and food from Clarence at the general market right next to the inn. Reginald will offer weapons training—he’s one of the guards just to the south of town. And we have a recent addition to Allynton. The sorcerer Anerin recently took a room in Charlie’s inn. He likely won’t stay long, but you can find him in there.”

  “Right. I’m goin’ there.” TexBadass is already halfway out the door before any of the rest of us realize he has moved. So much for his attempt at leadership. We each make our own goodbyes and empty out into the street. I need to weigh my options. I definitely need supplies, but if I have time, some additional training would be nice.

  Everyone scatters, with their own plan and their own priorities. It feels like we’re still in competition, and I’m not about to let any of them get an edge on me.

  Heading across the square to the general market, I double-check my inventory. I’ve been half-heartedly keeping a mental list, but now that I actually have a chance to get exactly what I need, I have to think it through. I don’t want to get too much and have it take up all the room in my bag. I don’t want to get too little and find myself without arrows or a potion when I need it. I don’t want to spend all my money, but I also don’t want to hoard it.

  Clarence’s Fine Goods is painted in fading white letters on the wooden sign in hanging over the door. I push the door open and find myself in a stuffy, cramped store. It probably doesn’t help my claustrophobia that there are already four other patrons waiting to be helped. The barrels and crates of products stacked everywhere just complete the sensation.

  I step over a pile of yellow onions that has spilled all over the floor and make my way to what appears to be the back of the line. Just as I’m realizing it’s a little strange that I have to wait for an NPC to help another NPC, a short old man with a full head of wavy, all-white hair appears at my elbow. Possibly out of nowhere. I’ve been looking around the room, but I didn’t see him walk up.

  “Greetings, traveler. What can I help you find?”

  Name: Clarence Waddel

  Level: 35

  Description: All
ynton local, owner of Clarence’s Fine Goods. General merchant and shopkeep. Amiable and fair.

  “Yeah, I’m going on a trip. I don’t know when I’ll be anywhere near a merchant again, so I want to stock up on all the supplies I’ll need.”

  “Of course, sir. Of course. Let’s get you set up.”

  “I also have some goods I’d like to sell to you if possible.”

  “Of course, sir. Of course. Let’s get you set up.”

  I smile to myself. In a full-immersion game that up till now has seemed elaborate and detailed, it makes me laugh a little to picture the developers just giving up here. Apparently not much effort was put into a coding a lot of dialogue for basic transactions.

  But that doesn’t matter much to me. I spend a few minutes looking over what he has available, and off-loading the Small Dagger, the Battered Common Greatsword and extra Clubs I have been carrying around the last few days. I keep one Club and Goblin Dagger for myself but also add some more gold to my coffer. With the fifty gold that Cho added for each of us, that gives me enough resources to purchase several health-restoring potions and food items, and a second small bag to hold more. I’m not sure how much loot we can expect in White Rock Ravine, but I need to be prepared.

  “All good choices, sir. All good choices. Can I interest you in upgrading your weapon or attire?”

  That’s not a bad idea. If I can afford it. “What do you have?”

  He pulls out a long bow. It’s taller than he is, with a soft leather grip and delicate symbols carved into the wood.

  Name: Bow of Elements

  Level: 22

  Requirement: + 10% elemental affinities, Magic level 25

  Changes when equipped: Ability to imbue arrows with elemental enhancements, +15% damage

  Wow is that tempting. It falls within my price range and as soon as I can equip it, will make me so much more effective as a ranged damage dealer.

  But that’s the problem—I don’t yet have the necessary level and stats to use it. Is it worth buying now and carrying around until I can use it? Or should I hope that one of the monsters in the dungeon will drop a weapon this epic?