by Michael Ryan
The server placed traditional dishes of pickled vegetables on the table and took their drink orders.
“What’s good?” Dale asked as he studied the menu.
“Oh, nearly everything,” Amy answered. “But we’ll start with galbi and go from there.”
The conversation turned to nerdy discussions about game mechanics, the war, and other Rhith system conundrums, like how respawning might affect a person’s soul, and if, in fact, a person actually had a soul to begin with.
“I get the initial HUD cross,” Dale said. “The four points, but once you open up these trees, it starts getting confusing…”
“I like the simplicity of the four choices,” Amy said. “The skill tree is a little confusing, but I think once you start using the interface, you’ll get used to it. I’ve been studying the enchantments, and it goes deep, really deep.”
“You like playing support the most?” Dale asked.
“Yeah. I guess that’s a stereotype, isn’t it? The Asian girl that can be counted on to heal all the tanks and enchant everyone’s shields. But I’m also a bad-ass wolf, and I can tank, destroy, and deal damage. I think my race and class will allow me to be very versatile.”
“What’s your class?”
“Hmm. Can I pass on that question? No offense.”
“Sure,” Dale said. “I’m in the Edificios class, and the Nojus is my personal guild. In my real life, I like to design skeletons.”
“That’s cool. So you picked Zuharah…” Amy smiled.
Whenever she did that, Dale’s face tightened into a smile, too.
“I always wanted to be a wizard since I was ten, and now’s my chance. A warrior wizard with a sword.”
He spent another fifteen minutes gushing about the Dresden Files, the old series his dad had introduced him to: wizards, vamps, gangsters, monsters, love, betrayal, lust, hate, death, secrets, and mystery. He realized after a few minutes that he was doing most of the talking.
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to monopolize the conversation.”
“It’s okay,” Amy said. “I like your enthusiasm. I’ll check out the series. It’s probably in the public domain–”
“Oh, no,” Dale interrupted. “A rabid fan of Jim Butcher kidnapped him in 2025 and forced him to impregnate her three or four times. Their resulting offspring sued and won a huge court case. They own all the worldwide rights now.”
“Crap,” Amy said. “I should have become a novelist.”
“You’re too smart for that,” Dale said. “Anyway, I have copies in my cloud library, and I can loan them to you.”
“Awesome,” Amy said. “Getting back to game mechanics, I’m going to concentrate on the longbow. There are a ton of enchantments I can add to arrows. I’m sure it’s going to be complicated.”
“No point in worrying about what we can’t control,” Dale said. He smiled first this time.
She returned the smile.
His mouth went dry, and he asked for a glass of water.
“Have you had time to look at the five bars?” she asked.
“Sort of,” Dale answered. “HP is pretty much the same as every RPG or MMO I’ve played. Stamina, I’m sort of used to, because it moves when I exercise, but I suppose that’s not really an accurate gauge.”
“No,” Amy said. “Not really. We won’t know until we fight. Even the mana regeneration rates won’t be available until we get out there.”
“And the charisma bar?” Dale said.
“Are you used to a charisma bar?” Amy asked. “I know some situations require interacting with NPCs that might trade or start fights. Good charisma helps. I’m not sure yet about the combination of my race and charisma. I think certain races get buffed if they have a really low charisma score, especially if they’re in the thieves or assassins guilds. I’m still learning. I might have to find Gandhi and see if I can provoke him into a thermonuclear war.”
“I’m obviously going for high charisma,” Dale said.
“What about other attributes?” Amy asked.
“I’m pretty comfortable with where I’m at,” Dale said. “I get five stat points every round for pansophy, so maybe I’ll be supersmart at some point.”
“You seem intelligent now,” she said.
Dale blushed. “I’ve got four stat points automatically going to adroitness, and two stat points to vigor.”
“I guess you’ll be stacking points into vigor when you level, right?” she asked.
“Oh, sure,” Dale answered. “I don’t want to die, so I’m stacking my constitution as much as I can. You don’t think that’s weak, or, you know…”
“No,” Amy said. “Of course not. Dying sucks. I get it. Don’t you get a race bonus towards dark mana?”
“Yes,” Dale answered. “I get a seven percent increase in the regeneration of dark mana and also a five percent increase in the regeneration of stamina. All around, I think the Zuharah is pretty balanced.”
Over the rest of dinner, they discussed old movies and games, as well as the most current series they both loved. Dale hadn’t felt time fly by so fast in a long time.
He also learned a lot.
Amy was more knowledgeable of the war and game mechanics. She’d discussed parts of the skill trees that Dale hadn’t even looked at yet. She also explained about the cities and villages being filled with noncombatants. There were lots of activities besides buying and selling items, too, like gambling halls, restaurants, bars, and inns. There were racetracks that featured not only the local horses, but elephants, camels, and lots of other beasts. Apparently, Almaach was a planet whose people loved to gamble.
“I wonder if they’ll have Texas Hold ’Em,” Dale said.
“Maybe. If not, we’ll teach them the game and take their gold.”
“You play?” he asked.
“Of course. You think that because I’m a girl I wouldn’t kick your ass on the felt?”
Dale laughed. “Okay. I’m sorry.”
“We’ll play sometime,” she said.
“Sure. But no mercy, I mean, just because you’re…” Dale blushed.
“What?” she asked.
“Pretty.”
“You think that?”
“Yes,” he said.
Then she blushed.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I no naka no kaeru taikai-o shirazu. A frog in a well does not know the great ocean
~ Emi Himura
Bravo Company was first to set foot on Almaach after the engineers set up temporary housing and a defense perimeter. Dale was marveling at the technology behind the space elevator they’d just come down when he stepped into animal scat. “Shit.”
“That’s what it is, slick,” Tom said.
“Quit shitting around,” Sergeant Dyfrig added.
“It’s from a carnivore,” Kim said. “I can smell the rotten meat.”
Kim played a desert elf avatar, a race called Phainopepla. The lieutenant and Galina were both Nefyn, the woodland elf race. Kim was uneasy around them because long-running feuds between the two elven races were programmed into the avatars.
Dale wondered if he’d be conscious of any changes to his beliefs while in his avatar. Apparently, racial attributes affected a person’s outlook.
Ërin: People are strange beings.
Dale: Why do you say that?
You dispute my conclusion?
No, just…
Don’t overthink it. In your body, hormones drive you. In an avatar, well, programming does.
Does what? Drives me to be somebody else?
No, you’re always you. But I think you give too much credence to free will.
“It’s still so strange,” Smith said. “Leaving a spacecraft with restaurants, movie theaters, swimming pools, and beginning to live in a medieval world. What are we eating tonight? Squirrels?”
“I’ve got a banana for you, ape,” Tom said. He made a gorilla sound. “On second thought, I’m saving it for Galina. Someday she might
break down and find out what she’s been missing.”
Tom grabbed his crotch.
Smith ignored him.
Galina muttered something under her breath.
“Kapralov, instead of being an ass, why don’t you fly ahead and see if you can do something useful,” Lieutenant Brinkmann ordered. “But don’t go too far. We have no idea what kind of wildlife’s on this planet.”
“Yes, sir,” Tom answered. His avatar was the bat-like Draenen race, which made him the only person in the platoon with the capacity of flight. While flying was a useful skill, the race couldn’t fly with heavy armor and were forced to rely on tinted goggles during sunlight hours.
A few minutes later he reported nothing but meadows, fields, and a few patches of trees for kilometers in all directions except the one they were heading toward, which had a thick forest directly ahead.
The platoon was made up of twelve members.
Brinkmann and Dyfrig were the platoon leader and sergeant.
Dale, the only corporal, was the next ranking member.
His friends, Smith and Amy, were followed next by Tom, Galina, Kim, and Sanjay. Even though he didn’t know those four intimately, at least he’d worked with them before.
The remainder of the party was made up of soldiers he didn’t know yet.
One was Emi Himura, a Japanese woman who played the demon race, Asakku. Her professional guild wasn’t displayed. When Dale had asked Dyfrig about it, the sergeant told him that certain guilds had reciprocal agreements. “Don’t get too curious when a player chooses to keep things hidden,” he’d said.
Amy’s professional guild was also hidden. Maybe, he thought, if they became closer, she’d let him in on the secret.
The last two members of the platoon were Rikuto Setsu, a Japanese player who played the Naphil race, and the shy Chinese woman named Yingtai Tong, who mainly kept to herself. Her avatar was a Mugron, the undead race.
The platoon reached the edge of the forest. Lieutenant Brinkmann ordered everyone to take a breather while he talked with command over the commlink.
Dale heard a noise. He turned towards the sound but saw nothing. “Smith,” he said, “I have a bad feeling.”
“Sergeant Dyfrig,” Smith said, “I think we have incoming mobs.” He armed himself with his club and shield.
“Everyone, armed and ready!” Sergeant Dyfrig ordered.
The platoon spread out into a defense position; the tanks moved forward, and the ranging damage dealers and healers stayed back.
Dale wore basic chainmail and a sword and shield similar to what he’d used in the princess and ogre quest.
Dale had reached level four.
Only three in the platoon were level five: Brinkmann, Dyfrig, and Yingtai.
Dale had banked all his Perk Points so far; he wanted more information on what perks were available before he spent his points. His current strategy was to obtain magic and stay alive, so he’d stacked his spendable stat points on thaumaturgy and vigor.
The first sign of an enemy was a wild doglike creature, smaller than the hyena-wolf dogs he’d fought in his first tutorial.
Dale: Ërin, can you auto-display anything that would be helpful to me when we have contact?
Ërin: Done.
Thanks.
De nada, handsome. Look out!
The mobs were called Gourides, and they seemed easy enough to defeat, but he knew not to get overly confident in a new environment, especially when the actual number of enemies coming was unknown.
The first of the attackers raced directly toward the platoon.
It was apparent they were intelligent pack animals and not mindless hunters. Several had swung around the flanks.
Smith took the brunt of the initial assault.
Dale moved to his left and swung his short sword at an isolated Gouride. The mutt leapt away from the sword. They were a lot faster than they seemed.
As he engaged the next creature to attack, he felt a vicious pain in his left calf. Turning, he realized that the first animal had been a decoy. He swung his sword and hit the creature in the ribs.
It let go of his calf, but two different beasts attacked his right side, biting him multiple times in the legs. Then, as he turned, another mob latched onto his sword arm.
Dale kicked and used his shield as a battering weapon, but he was being overwhelmed by superior numbers.
The fight went back and forth.
He’d hit one mob, but then he’d be bitten by another one.
He felt the electric buzz of healing magic increasing his health; at least one of the healers had time for him.
At least ten attackers were circling Smith, so the healing players had to concentrate on the main tank in the platoon.
Dale wanted to assist his friend, but he had problems of his own. As he swung his sword, he was bitten again in the leg.
The mobs were low-level creatures, but they were well coordinated in their assault.
Dale lunged and swung his sword in an uppercut that opened one of the creatures’ throat.
It crumbled.
+200XP
Killed: Gouride
Dropped: Pelt, poor quality
Dale: Ërin, can you send out a platoon message: The throat is a weak spot.
Ërin: Done. You do realize you have voice-chat capability?
No…
Dale turned it on.
Smith: Thanks.
Amy: Thanks.
Sanjay: Thank you.
Dale drove his shield down onto the head of another beast. At the same time, he blindly swept his sword behind his back. Knowing their attack pattern, he hoped to score a blind hit.
He did, and the creature died.
+200XP
Killed: Gouride
Dropped: Pelt, poor quality
Sword Fighting Skill Increased: Newbie Level Achieved.
As you grow in this skill, your ability to wield a broader range of swords at a high skill level will increase. Each opponent you face will have a different level of defensive ability depending on the weapon you choose.
Hint: Go for some variety in your weapon selection.
Battle Cunning Skill Increased: Lacking Level Achieved.
As you grow in this skill, your ability to use combination moves will grow.
Hint: For experience and learning, save sequences and scenes to view later.
Dale noticed something new moving in the distant trees.
Tom: There’s a new beast.
Kim: It’s called a Mujina.
Emi: Try a spell if you can.
Amy: Dale, behind you!
Dale spun, but it was too late, and he took two nasty bites.
He brought his shield down and swung his sword behind his back, but it only struck air.
Another bite on his sword arm sent him to his knees.
“Ahhh! Holy Christ almighty!” he shouted.
Healing magic struck him. The sensation was similar to a gentle massage, and the pain he was feeling subsided. But as quickly as his health increased, the mobs were biting him again. His health bar was going up and down, then up and down again.
He did manage to kill another mob and then another. Maybe, he hoped, the pack was finally shrinking. As he was destroying the third enemy in a row, he looked up to see the Mujina rushing him.
Shit. Where’s Smith?
Dale spun and dropped to his knees. He held up his shield to take the brunt of the Mujina’s charge. The beast was strong and drove him back a full meter. He stood and brought his sword down on the badger-like monster’s head.
The animal screamed with a shriek that echoed through the trees.
Dale lifted his arm to strike it again, but the mob stood on its hind legs and pushed Dale onto his back.
One of the Gouride mutts jumped on him and went for his face. Fangs snapped at him, and the Mujina was clawing his shield. Out of nowhere, an arrow ripped through the Gouride’s head.
Blood splashed over Dale.
He didn’t see who fired the arrow, but he was grateful for the support.
The Mujina didn’t stop its assault on Dale’s shield, but at least it was getting hit with arrows and spells from others in the platoon. He managed to get back on his feet, and as he did, another Gouride attacked him.
Dale dropped back to a knee, as if hurt or weak.
When the mutt moved towards him, he stood and swung his sword upwards, scoring a direct hit on the beast’s throat. He quickly spun and brought his sword back around to the Mujina, which was still being pelted with arrows and magic attacks.
With one strong blow, the beast died.
+400XP
Killed: Mujina
Dropped: Pelt, average quality
Dropped: 1/4-Carat Ruby, fine quality
Dale looked for Smith.
His friend was finishing off two of the wolves, and Dale moved towards him and got a few swings in before the last attacker was finally killed.
Brinkmann: Anyone see anything new?
Thirty seconds went by. Nobody answered, and Brinkmann ordered them to regroup. “Well, boys and girls, welcome to Almaach.”
As the officer spoke, across the meadow at the base camp a huge dragon flew in circles.
“What the hell!” Dale exclaimed. “A level one hundred dragon?”
The platoon watched as the tremendous beast flew into base camp. It laid down a long orange-red flame, then circled back to do it again.
The reptilian torching caught all the headquarter tents on fire.
Thick black smoke rose into the sky as the base camp burned.
“I don’t understand,” Lieutenant Brinkmann said.
“That’s horrific,” Kim said. “I can barely watch.”
They’d all switched back to their humant-avatars, and Tom took advantage of the opportunity to comfort Kim.
The dragon flew in circles for another minute, but it eventually landed and ate people, ponies, livestock, and whatever other creatures were unfortunate enough to draw its attention.
What it didn’t eat, it stomped or burned.
Soon, everything at base camp was destroyed.
It took flight again and circled the tether that created the space elevator. The massive cable attached the base on the ground to the counterweight, held in place by centrifugal force at the other end, in space.
