by Terry Mayer
"Uh, Jay, you really think there will be monsters here?"
"You can count on it, but we call them mobs, anything that can kill you is a mob."
"Ok, but what can we do?"
"First of all, just like I said, let's get a shelter built then at least we'll be safe tonight. You go get some wood, just hit the trees with your fists and it should come apart. I'm going to scout around quickly for a good place to build. Meet back here in five minutes, alright?"
"Ok, how much wood do we need?"
"As much as you can, quick as you can too. We don't know how much time we have."
"Right, see you in five."
Walking towards the hill line, Jay is amazed at the feel of the place. He has wandered through terrain such as this so many times before, but actually, being here and experiencing it first hand is just awesome. Hearing a thud to his right he heads over towards a small outcrop and peers around the side. Lying in a heap is another block man, just like himself.
"Hey, Steve, what's up man?" shouts Jay. Steve is the name of the avatar everyone inhabits in Minecraft.
"Oh sir, is that you? What's happening, where are we?"
"Dweeb 2, is that you. How come you're here?"
"I've no idea where here is, and the name is Nathan."
"Right, like I said, Dweeb 2. Looks like we are in this together now, so come on. I'll explain on the way."
Running over to Jay, Nathan asks. "On the way to where sir?"
Stopping and looking at him, Jay replies. "Right, first, quit calling me sir. It was cool at first but now it's real old. Second, it seems we have been pulled inside my Xbox and are now playing Minecraft for real."
"Really, but how?"
"No idea, but that's not important right now, but what is, is getting a shelter built. Right, let's get back to Jack and get started."
"Jack's here too?"
"Yep, all three of us got dragged in somehow. Let's go."
Walking back the way he came, Jay freezes as more enormous letters light up the sky.
You have been respawned - start again.
Oh no, Jack, he thinks running back to where he left his brother.
"Jack. Jack. Where are you Jack?" he shouts as he heads back into the clearing.
"Over here, what's up?"
"You're ok? I thought you were dead."
"I'm fine. Why'd you think I was dead?"
"Because it said you had been respawned."
"Nope, not me. You think someone else is here?"
As he asks this, Nathan comes jogging into the clearing.
"Nathan, is that you?"
"Yep, every little block of me," he replies laughing.
"Cool, great to see you man. There you go, it was Nathan who respawned."
"Yeah, yeah. Kisses all round. I had already found Nathan before the sky lit up, and if you're ok, then who was respawned?"
"Don't know, but if all three of us made it here, then maybe someone else is here too. Do you think we should try to find them?"
"No, we don't have time. We need to get a shelter built, right now. I hope that whoever came through knows how to play and will know what to do. Right, Jack, how much wood have you got?"
"Loads Jay, here's 16 chunks. Do you want me to get more?"
"Yeah, and take Nathan with you, show him what to do. I'm going to start on the shelter."
Picking up the wooden blocks that Jack dropped, Jay quickly breaks them down into planks. Then taking four planks, he makes a crafting table. Cool, this is just like playing, he thinks. Right, let's get some basic tools sorted. Picking up a plank, he breaks it down into poles then arranges two poles end to end on his crafting table, adds three wooden planks and hey presto, an axe. Way cool!
"Hey Jack, come here. I've got an axe to help you." Quickly building a pickaxe, he hands one each to Jack and Nathan as they jog back into camp and drop a load more wooden chunks on the floor.
"Cool Jay, how'd you make that, can you show me?"
"No time now, I'll show you tonight. Right, more wood Jack, and Nathan try to get some stone, quick as you can, and don't wander off too far."
Right, time for a shelter, 7 x 7 should work for tonight. Might be a tight squeeze but should be ok. Digging out a foundation with his new pickaxe, he starts laying cobblestone blocks to build a wall. Raising two blocks high he encloses himself and looks up. I better make a door so the others can get in he laughs. Laying out six boards on the crafting table a door magically appears, it's the only word that seems appropriate to Jay, even though he has been building on Minecraft for years, seeing it with his own eyes is something else.
Putting it in place, Jay starts on the roof just as Jack and Nathan return with more supplies.
"Jay, it's getting dark and there's something moving around out there," stammers Jack.
"What was it, could you see?"
"No, I just heard it moving around. You think it's the monsters already?"
"Probably, come on, get inside, and let's not take any chances."
"Monsters, what do you mean monsters?" chokes Nathan.
"Jay reckons that there are skeletons, zombies, and some creep out there trying to kill us."
"Not some creep, a creeper. It's a tall, green thing that chases you and when it gets close enough explodes and kills everything around it."
"For real? Monsters?"
"Yep, sorry Nathan. That's why we had to get this shelter built real quickly."
"Will we be safe here?"
"Yeah, we just have to stay inside until sun-up and we'll be ok. Right, let's get this roof finished before it rains then I'll make a furnace so we can have a bit of heat, and then I can make some charcoal so we can make torches."
Working furiously, Jay completes his tasks then settles down for the evening.
"So Jay, what's happening, why are we here?" asks Jack.
"I'm not 100 percent sure, but I have been thinking about it this afternoon. It must have been that invitation I received from The Notch, but how we have actually ended up here, I've no idea."
"So you think we are in a tournament?"
"Maybe, I can't think of anything else."
"Ok, if that's right, then what do we have to do? What are the rules and how do we win?"
"Good questions little brother and I don't have the answers. I usually play in creative mode where there are no mobs, so I don't know what we are supposed to accomplish here."
"How can we play if we don't know the rules? This is mad, even being here is mad."
"I know Nathan, but I'm sure we will work it out tomorrow."
"Tomorrow! Jay, mum is coming home tonight. If we are not home when she gets there she's going to freak and call the police. We need to get home tonight," shouts Jack jumping up from the floor.
"Chill Jack, Minecraft time is different from human time. Here a day is only two hours in human time so we can spend a few days here before anyone will even miss us back home."
"A few days Jay, I don't know whether to be happy or upset at that thought."
"Yeah I know what you mean, but let's just get some rest because something tells me we are going to need all our energy tomorrow."
*****
4 - Welcome To The Tournament
Waking with a start, Jay looks around groggily. Where am I, what's going on. Bleary eyed he surveys his surroundings. Four walls, a roof, a small furnace in the corner, a couple of Steve's asleep on the floor. What! Jumping up he notices his hands and recognition floods his overloaded brain. Oh no. I'm really here and it's not a dream.
BOOM.
There it is again, that must have been what woke me.
BOOM.
What is it? Opening the door just a crack, not sure if it was still night, Jay peers outside. Relieved that darkness has given way to daylight, he pulls open the door and steps outside.
BOOM.
There it is again.
"What's that noise Jay?"
Turning he sees Jack has come out of the house, and i
s standing behind him.
"Don't know Jack, I've never heard it before."
BOOM... BOOM.
"It's getting faster Jay, you think that means something?"
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
"I don't know. I can hardly hear myself think," he shouts over the crashing, vibrating, and thunderous explosions of noise. It's like ..."
Silence, the explosions stop while Jay is in mid sentence.
"What now?" he asks looking around. Just then a huge thunderous voice cracks the silence.
Welcome to the 'Masters of Minecraft' Tournament.
Each one of you has been personally invited to participate in this hardcore event. It is a great honor, reserved for the greatest twelve players the earth has to offer, to battle it out to find the ultimate, Master of Minecraft.
The rules are few.
You need to build and stay alive.
A canon will precede any important announcements, such as a player death, or a new challenge.
Good luck and let the tournament begin.
BOOM.
"That's it, build, and stay alive. What are we supposed to do?" shrieks Nathan.
"Just like the guy said, build, and stay alive. That's Minecraft. No real rules, no objectives, just get on with it."
"Yeah, but he said that the twelve best players were here. I've never even played before and Jack's not exactly world class, so what are we doing here?"
"Don't know, but it must have been when you both grabbed hold of me, you must have been sucked through by mistake."
"Great, so who do we complain to then Jay," asks Jack, joining in the conversation.
"Don't know, Jack the dweeb," sniggers Jay.
"Cut it out Jay, now is not the time to be taking the ..."
"No Jack, look up. That's your name."
Looking up, Jack sees his name hovering over his head. Jack the Dweeb. "Oh that's just great. Even the game's mocking me."
"Yeah, look at Nathan the Noob. Guess you guys are playing too."
"Great, so we get stuck with dweeb and noob and you get Jay Lightningbuilder. Not fair."
"No, I think that sounds about right. As I told you before. The reason that I was invited is because I am the quickest builder in minecraft. I reckon we have about an hour until dark, let us get building. Jack, go fetch wood, Jay, get more cobblestone. Move quickly, keep your wits about you, and for Notch's sake don't let anyone see you."
"Why not, we're all here together, why can't we talk to the others, see if they know what's going on?"
"Because Noob, this is a tournament and they might just kill you, ok?"
"For real?"
"Yeah, for real, and this is hardcore which means permadeath, no respawning."
"So what happens if we die?" asks Jack, jumping into the conversation.
"Don't know, hopefully we just go home, but ..."
"So why don't we just get ourselves killed and get out of here?" he butts in once again.
"Because, if you had let me finish, I said I don't know what happens. This is all unheard-of, who's to say what happens, and maybe we really die!"
"Oh no, you think?"
"Don't know, but let's not take any chances. Now go, daylight's burning here. Keep your eyes open for any lava fields; we need to start mining as soon as possible."
Both Jack and Nathan run in different directions to start collecting materials, while Jay takes in his surroundings. What the heck have we gotten ourselves into now? Right, the first job is to fortify this building. Working at a flat out pace, Jay builds another structure alongside the first and connects the two together, and then he builds a balcony on the roof to allow him to view outside at night without having to open the door. Right, weapons. Moving to his crafting table Jay makes three short swords, using two cobblestones and a pole. I guess these will have to do for now. Stone swords are not the best of weapons, but we have nothing else. Just as he finishes, Jack returns with a haul of wood.
"Wow Jay, that's amazing! I've only been gone a few minutes and you've built another house. Cool."
"Cheers Jack, how's it going out there?"
"Good, but I broke my axe," he says a little downbeat.
"No probs bro, I'll make another, they don't last long anyway." Handing Jack his new axe he also gives him a sword. "Here, it's for defense only, remember what I said about staying hidden?"
"Yeah, I saw no one anyway."
"Good, off you go now and look out for any animals; we are going to have to eat soon."
"What do I do if I see one Jay?"
"If it's a pig or a cow then kill it."
"Yuk, gross Jay."
"Nah, it's really simple. Once you kill it, it will turn to pork or beef; just bring it back here, ok?"
"Right, I'm off again."
Running from the house Jack heads back to the woods in search of more wood, and hopefully something for dinner."
Jay continues to build while waiting for Nathan to return. Constructing a hoe, he moves outside and clears some ground ready for planting, then moving into a grassy area he collects some grass, snaps it in half, and harvests the seeds. Planting them in the cleared area he stops and smiles. Cool, now we should have some food. Just then, Nathan runs back into camp.
"Jay, Jay, look what I found."
"Hey Nate, what's up man?"
Throwing his stash on the floor, he grabs Jay's arm and shows him his haul. "Look, loads of stone and I think that's coal, is it Jay?"
"Yes Nate, that's coal. Well done, is there any more where you found that?"
"Yeah there are loads, and look, I got loads of string."
"Where did you find that?" asks Jay a little worried.
"Down where I found the coal, in this little cave. It looked like cobwebs but when I pulled it, it came away like this, cool huh?"
"Yeah Nate, but where there's cobwebs, there's spiders, and in Minecraft, spiders can kill you."
"I never thought of that."
"No probs. Spiders make this clicking sound when they are near, so if you hear anything just grab your stuff and get back here ok?"
"Right Jay."
"Good. Here's a sword to defend yourself with, just try not to use it unless you have to. Now when you're out, if you see any animals get back here and show me real quick. Now off you go as we only have about half an hour of daylight left."
"Ok Jay," shouts Nathan over his shoulder, as he runs off again.
"I think he's actually enjoying himself," he smirks to himself.
Over the course of the next half hour, Jay continues to construct a fence around his garden and a fenced area ready for animals if they are lucky enough to catch some. Jack returns with more wood and a pile of pork from his first kill. Then Nathan returns with more stone, some more string, and a chicken.
"Cool Nate, where did you find the chicken?"
"It was just wandering around so I walked over and picked it up, real easy," he beamed. "Is it any use?"
"Sure is. We can get eggs from it, meat when we need it and feathers. Way to go guys looks like we might just survive another night, and speaking of night the sun is going down, so let's get inside."
Piling into the house, the lads all admire Jay's handiwork. Man, you really are Jay Lightningbuilder, aren't you?"
"Sure am bro, right, let's get some food. How are your health point's guys?"
"What do you mean?" they both ask looking at one another.
"Your health points. Take a look and see what you're on."
"How?" they both chime.
"You sort of look inside yourself. It's a bit weird at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it."
Concentrating hard, the two lads look like they are in pain, when suddenly Jack shouts.
"Hey, I can see, I'm almost full, just one missing."
"Well done Jack, me too, so all is good there. How about you Nathan?"
With a pained expression Nathan replies, "I can't see
anything, what am I doing wrong?"
"You look like your in pain with your face all scrunched up like that," laughs Jay.
"Yeah Nate," laughs Jack.
"Quit it guys, I'm trying here," he moans.
"Just relax Nate, it's easy, just look inside yourself and you will see loads of information about yourself," sooths Jack, suddenly feeling sorry for his friend.
"Right, I got it, cool," squeaks Nate. "I've got two life points left, why so few?"
"Only two, what happened to you?"
"Nothing Jay, I was just collecting cobblestone and the like, jumping around in the cave, nothing happened."
"When you say jumping, did you fall or anything?"
"Yeah, but I never got hurt, just sort of made me shake, then I carried on."
"Nate, that shaking is your health points disappearing. Two more falls and you would be dead."
"What? But I never hurt myself."
"You did Nate, it's just here you don't feel bad or go to the doctor, you just die! Right, let's get some food cooked quickly and rebuild your points." Saying this, Jay gets up and starts a fire in the furnace using some of Nathan's coal, and cooks the pork. "Get this down your throat mate," he says handing Nathan a steaming pile of pork. After Nathan consumes every piece, he asks. "How are your life points now?"
Looking into himself, Nathan smiles, and shouts. "Cool Jay, all the way back up. That's awesome."
"Sure is, right Jack, you eat this one and put the other two in your packs guys," he says handing the lads some more pork. "We need to keep food on us at all times, just in case we get hurt, ok?"
"Yes Jay," they both answer.
"Good, now come over here and I'll teach you both how to use a crafting table," he says eating his own pork as he crosses the room.
For the next half hour, the lads huddle over the crafting table as Jay demonstrates how to combine different resources to make some basic tools. He demonstrates that by combining three poles and a string he can make a bow, eight blocks of wood to make a chest and seven poles to make a ladder.
