by Michael Ryan
“I’m not a gossip,” Dale replied.
Smith gave him a serious stare. “Still. This is man talk. Don’t be selfish with the details.”
“Maybe later. Not here,” Dale said. “Tell me about our quest.”
“Okay, but I’m going to hold you to that,” Smith said. “Our quest is collecting rare animals in the Valley of the Dragon Scale. We’ll have to buy a couple of basic horse mounts in the market because it’s kind of far away.”
“Sounds good,” Dale said. “Just hit me if I fall asleep. I think I managed thirty minutes last night.”
“You dog!”
After Dale showered and put on some clean clothes, they dropped down the space elevator and went to the marketplace to buy a couple of mounts. They purchased the largest horses they could find. Dale figured they’d probably overpaid, but soon enough they’d have a better idea of the local economy and have the ability to negotiate.
Plus, in time, they’d have more gold.
Smith had emailed Dale a map from the Nojus guild.
Dale: Ërin, can you keep a small map icon in my upper left vision?
Ërin: Oh, you’re speaking to me again?
Um. You’re jealous?
Of course not. I don’t have feelings.
Doesn’t sound that way.
Just my programming, handsome. Lucky.
It sounds like you’re pouting.
I don’t have a mouth.
Just give me the map.
Done.
And warn me if anything looks dangerous.
You got it, tiger.
God…
They reached the valley after several hours of riding.
They dismounted and hiked following a map that earlier travelers had uploaded to the guild. Much of the valley was unknown territory. The Nojus guild had also uploaded a summary of the beasts that had been captured on Almaach already. It included forty-three reptiles, fourteen birds, six mammals, twenty-seven insects, six fish, and thousands of bacteria and viruses.
They used the best stealth and camouflage they could manage while staying in their personal avatars, which was the way to obtain the highest bonuses and skill upgrades.
Their professional avatars with super hearing, eyesight, or other skills could capture a creature a lot easier, but the fun was to catch them using their humant-avatars using patience and perhaps a bit of cunning.
Their expectation of getting anything super rare was low, as this was their first time out. But, like in all journeys, they knew that they had to start somewhere.
Dale spotted a small lizard with a blue stripe.
Ërin: They’ve got that one.
Dale: Thanks, Ërin. How about if I see something that’s been collected already, you highlight it in red. If it’s not on the list, highlight it in blue.
Done.
Smith whispered to Dale, “I see a little squirrel-like creature. Careful.”
“I see it.” It was highlighted in blue.
They sneaked around the trees, careful not to step on any branches or make any other noise. Dale held up a net attached to a pole, and Smith did the same.
They’d agreed to do the best to each catch the same number of animals. If one of them caught something, the next creature would go to the other guy. The little brown squirrel was their first attempt, so it was up for grabs.
Forest Squirrel
Level 1
A small mammal. Tasty in a stew.
Dale tiptoed toward the little animal, feeling kind of stupid trying to scoop up a harmless level one creature. But it was part of a larger quest to collect all the animals available. The Nojus guild had plans to build a zoo, and even a tiny forest squirrel was as crucial as any other animal for it to have a complete collection.
Smith lifted his index finger to his mouth. “Shhhh,” he said, pointing to the right. He mimed himself sneaking around, chasing the animal, and guiding it towards Dale.
Dale gave him the thumbs-up.
The squirrel saw Smith and jumped so fast that Dale almost missed catching it.
But it still ended up in the net.
+100XP
Congratulations!
You have caught your first animal in the Nojus Guild Collect Rare Animals Quest.
Sneak Skill Increased: Level Beginner Achieved.
Hint: Little animals are eaten by medium animals, which are eaten by big animals.
Bonus: Chasing tail twice in twenty-four hours, +1 Stat Point to Charisma!
Dale put the squirrel in a little cage and placed that into his space-folding backpack. “I struck first, so you’re up.”
“Okay,” Smith said. “But I don’t even have a woman picked out yet.”
“Jesus…”
They continued walking, and the forest became darker and more ominous. While they’d been staying purposefully on a trail, Dale suggested they pick a spot to leave the path. “I think we’ll have a better chance of capturing something more interesting if we hunt in undisturbed places.”
“Probably,” Smith agreed.
They came across a small game track. Dale saw birds, lizards, butterflies, and a few small mammals, but Erin highlighted them in red each time.
Smith tapped him on the shoulder. “Back me up,” he whispered, and approached a small snake coiled on a rock. The reptile had found the one spot where a little ray of sunlight had broken through the canopy of the forest, and was sunning itself. Dale examined the serpent.
Emerald Adder
Level 3
A small reptile.
Attack style: Biting. Venom.
Smith almost missed the snake, but on his second try, he snagged a noose around its head and pulled a cord that tightened it. The snake coiled, squirmed, and twisted, but it was caught. He put the reptile in a cage, asked Dale if he was ready to take a little break, and put the cage into his backpack.
“I could use a drink,” Dale said.
They sat, their backs against trees, talking about animals and their dreams of helping build the biggest zoo in history.
“Does Amy love animals too?” Smith asked.
“I think so,” Dale said. “We haven’t really talked about it.”
“What kind of guild quest did she go on today?”
“I don’t know. It was a secret. Or she didn’t want to tell me,” Dale answered. “She’s really talented.”
“You got it bad…”
“What?”
“You know what I mean.” Smith laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I understand. Far from home on a lonely planet, love blossoms.”
“Stop.”
“So did you?”
“I’m not a gossip.”
“Nobody is going to know but you, me, and the trees. Spill your secrets.” Smith looked at him with friendly eyes.
“Okay.”
Smith wasn’t going to let up. “Okay, what?”
“We did.”
“Nice!”
“Don’t say anything,” Dale said. “I never should have told you.”
“Guy’s honor, dude,” Smith said. “Cool for you. She’s super cute.”
“Yeah, well, find your own girlfriend.”
“She’s your girlfriend now?” Smith asked in an incredulous voice. “You’ve known her, what, about a day?”
“Well…” Dale was embarrassed again. “I guess she’s not my official girlfriend. I mean – I don’t know – could we drop the subject? Jesus!”
“Let’s go find some pets or mounts,” Smith said. “Maybe a quest will show up somewhere in the valley.”
Red-faced and flushed, Dale couldn’t start hiking soon enough.
After another two hours of catching small reptiles and mammals, they approached a village. An elf met them at the gate. He was dressed in light clothing and carried no weapons. He seemed friendly.
“Hello, travelers,” the elf said.
“Hello,” Dale said. “We’re looking for a quest to find a mount or a pet. Can you help us?”
&n
bsp; “I cannot, but I’ll take you to our chief,” the elf said. “Follow me.”
He led them through the village. Elf women worked, elf children played, and a few old elf men sat in rocking chairs and smoked long elf pipes.
The elf leader of the elf village was also an old elf.
He had a wrinkly elf face, which meant he’d lived an extremely long time.
“Greetings, travelers,” the elf leader said.
“Thank you for welcoming us to your elf village,” Smith said.
“We’re seeking a quest to obtain a mount or a pet, or both, if that’s possible,” Dale said. He figured it never hurt to ask for what you want; it had worked pretty well the night before.
“Yes, my friends,” he answered. “I can offer you a quest.”
You have been offered a quest: Capture the Lucky Cat.
Capture and bring the Ji Ba Mao to the village and present the Lucky Journey Cat to our chief.
He will present you with a Wildebai mount upon completion of this quest.
Hint: This quest also has loot drops if you kill the Lamya Snake, the Striped Wolf, or the Leshy, a shape-shifting creature who may appear as a fox, lion, or a bear.
Accept this quest? [Y/N]
They accepted.
The elf gave them a map, and they set off. The trail required them to leave the forest for a short time, enter a box canyon, and dismount to walk the remainder of the way. They hiked into the canyon, past several waterfalls, and entered a small clearing. A boulder had a group of various snakes sunning themselves on it. Dale looked at one of the larger serpents.
Lamya Snake
Level 4
A medium-sized reptile.
Attack style: Biting.
Weapons: None
Magic: Minor in venom.
They each drew their swords.
Smith motioned for Dale to take the right while he took the left.
Dale moved slowly. He held his blade in his right hand with serious intention.
Once Smith navigated to the other side of the rock, Dale moved forward and brought his sword into play.
The sword cleaved the snake in half, and the other snakes went wild. Before Dale knew what was happening, dozens of different serpents slithered out from under the rock.
They chopped and hacked snakes.
Dale took a nasty bite to his ankle from a sneaky one, but he crushed its head under his boot. “Holy crap! That hurt,” he said. “He bit my ankle.”
He didn’t have time to try a healing spell, and besides, he was weak in the healing arts.
Smith had only a small bit of healing skill because he concentrated on tanking, and was too busy killing snakes to stop and take on a support role.
As the dead snakes piled up, he heard a low growl at the edge of the forest. A new creature entered the clearing.
Striped Wolf
Level 5
A canine scavenger. A wolf-jackal-mutt hybrid.
Attack style: Biting. Pack hunter, but mostly a scavenger. Dangerous when defending a kill.
Four wolves approached cautiously, growling, their eyes scanning. They ate the dead snakes lying at the edge of the carnage.
“These snake skins have trading value,” Smith declared. “We need to stop the scavengers!”
“We also have to finish killing the ones attacking us,” Dale said.
Smith chopped faster and faster and faster. “I’ve never beat a snake this long without–”
“Look out!” Dale shouted. “There’s one on your six!”
“Got it,” Smith said as he spun and took the head off a sneaky anaconda.
Dale attempted to keep up, but the twisting, slithering beasts kept pouring out of the ground. The pile of dead ones reached to the top of their boots, and he had to admit that Smith was better at beating snakes.
“I can’t compete with your snake skills,” Dale said.
“Stop trying for accuracy,” Smith said. “No need to get so fancy, just get a rhythm going, and don’t stop until the job’s done.”
Finally, the onslaught ended, and they chopped the last Lamya Snake into pieces.
Smith said, “Holy crap! That’s a lot of dead snakes.”
“Man, I’m wiped out,” Dale gasped.
“No time to rest,” Smith said. “We need to save those skins.”
The striped wolves were still consuming the dead snakes, staying at the edge of the pile, being cautious not to get close enough to be hit by a sword.
When the four beasts saw that Smith and Dale had turned their attention to them, the hair on their dark manes raised. They growled a warning and displayed canine fangs.
Smith brought out a bow, and Dale followed his lead.
They each fired arrows.
+500XP
Killed: Striped Wolf
Dropped: Pelt, finest quality
Both wolves they’d shot died, but the other two lunged.
They stowed their bows and retrieved swords and shields.
A wolf circled Dale.
It growled and drooled.
He followed its eyes. The wolf lunged to his right but went to his left, and Dale barely pushed it away with his shield.
His shove forced the wolf into Smith, and it bit his sword arm.
It wouldn’t let go, and Smith screamed.
Dale lunged, swung his sword as hard as he could, and struck the wolf. Its guts split open, blood splattered everywhere, and masticated serpents spilled onto the ground.
The second wolf lunged.
Dale hit it with his shield while Smith struck it with his sword, and it died.
“Sorry about that,” Dale said.
“Don’t worry,” Smith said. “It was all in the heat of the battle.”
As they retrieved the pelts and snake skins, a new, low growl grabbed their attention.
The Leshy.
“Should we change forms?” Smith asked.
“No, we’ll lose too much of the Nojus bonuses if we do,” Dale said. “Plus, you’re one ugly fucker as an ape.”
“Okay. But that thing is level eight. I can tank better–”
“If we start taking serious damage, go ahead,” Dale said. “I can only do a little more magic as a Zuharah anyway. Let’s try it this way first.”
“You’re the boss.”
“Look out!”
The Leshy rushed out of the forest with incredible speed in the form of a fox, but as it leapt at them it morphed into a black-maned roaring lion.
Dale and Smith moved out of its way as fast as they could manage and lashed out with their swords.
The monstrous cat swatted at them with its long, deadly claws.
They battled back and forth.
Dale tired. “Smith, move back and get your longbow,” he said. “Try ranging while I hold him here!”
“Roger,” Smith said, and backed away from the edge of the fight.
Dale lunged forward to get the lion’s attention. The beast jumped at him, and Dale lifted his shield. The lion landed on top of him and knocked him to the ground. He screamed as it gored him, drawing blood on his abdomen and thighs.
Damn! I really need better armor.
Smith fired a volley of arrows at the lion, which leapt from Dale and lunged toward Smith.
Dale leaped to his feet and chased after it.
It reached Smith before Dale could catch up.
Smith took a brutal swipe. The lion pinned him to the ground and was ripping open his chest before Dale baited it to attack him instead.
He moved backward, away from Smith, hoping to give him time to recover.
The lion outclassed Dale. A level eight beast was really too much to fight by himself. He tired, fell to his knees, and struggled to hold his shield up.
He was bleeding profusely, causing him to wonder if the lion would eat him when he died.
A dark blur flashed in front of Dale.
A great ape grabbed the lion.
Smith had healed himself, changed into his
Sagittalian avatar, and attacked the cat before Dale became the lion’s lunch. Sure, they’d lose the Nojus bonuses, but that was better than dying.
The ape wrestled the lion.
They struggled against each other using claws and teeth that sent fur and blood flying.
Dale switched his weapon from a sword to a bow.
It made sense to change into his Zuharah avatar so that he could heal himself and use the little bit of imbuing magic he had available. Dale fired an arrow and hit the lion, which disengaged from Smith and leapt at him. He didn’t have time to retrieve his sword, and as he nocked another arrow, the lion changed into a giant bear.
Dale fired an arrow, which slowed the bear for only a moment, but long enough to switch to his shield and longsword.
The angry bear ran straight at him and splintered the shield into pieces.
Dale swung his sword at its head, but the beast had a tough skull, and the blow barely accomplished anything other than to piss it off even more.
The giant monster roared in fury.
Dale hit the bear again and again.
Smith approached from the rear with a spear. He rammed the shaft deep into the creature’s flesh. It fell back onto the spear, which caused more damage, and it howled in pain.
Dale took advantage of the opening with a two-handed sword attack and hacked at the bear’s head.
Smith followed Dale’s example, and the massive animal succumbed to its injuries.
+800XP
Killed: Leshy
Dropped: Great Bear pelt, most excellent quality
Dropped: Great Bear canine tooth, magically enchanted
Dropped: Black-mane Lion pelt, finest quality
Dropped: Red-Silver Fox pelt, masterful quality
Beast Hunting Skill Increased: Beginner Level Achieved.
As you grow in this skill, you’ll be able to track and hunt rare creatures for fun and profit.
Hint: The best rewards come when you can capture the most dangerous beasts alive for inclusion in the Nojus Quest.
System Message: As a penalty for using your professional avatar, a 25% loss on all Nojus Quest Bonuses applies to this quest.
“Well, that sucked,” Dale said.
“We’re alive and we got a great loot drop. Be happy.”
“True.”
They rested, healed, and ate a refreshing meal.
“Let’s try that stream over there,” Dale said.
“Okay.”
They walked to a brook that spilled into a waterfall and a little pond.
