by Terry Mayer
"Right lads, you get the basic idea how this works, now so let's get some sleep ready for tomorrow."
"Ok Jay and thanks," says Nathan.
"What for Nate?"
"For looking out for us, I mean me. I think I would already be dead if I were on my own."
"No probs Nate. Now get some sleep," he smiles; secretly chuffed that Nate appreciated him.
*****
5 - First Blood
Moving stealthily, Darknight creeps along the edge of the rocky outcrop. He has his sights on the large cabin just by the woods. Not one to be content building, Darknight prefers direct action and plans on eliminating his opponents in the old fashion way, chop them to bits and move on to the next. While the other competitors have been concentrating on building structures and making defensible positions he has spent his time mining and building. He has already crafted an iron sword and a bow and some leather armor and plans to take down his first opponent, steal their dwelling and make some better weapons.
With full health, Darknight is poised for action as he bends and scurries past the cave opening. Sensing something in the shadows, he turns, but is too late as an arrow slams into his shoulder, the impact rolling him past the opening. Rotten skeletons, he thinks, wondering whether to kill it or leave it for later. Stuff it, it's still daylight and I've enough to do, he decides as he pulls the arrow out with a grunt. These things hurt, he says, hurling it into the bushes.
Carrying on towards the structure he observers a fat avatar banging in fence posts outside his cabin, happily unaware that he has bad company lurking just out of his line of sight. Oh good, it's Jethro Skybuilder he mouths, looking at the floating name above his head. He may be one hell of a constructor but he sure has no clue about defense. Creeping along the tree line, he closes his position from the rear to prevent Jethro Skybuilder from escaping back into his cabin. Placing three arrows in the ground for quick access he notches his last arrow, loosens his sword in his scabbard and breaths deep, readying himself for the offensive. This should be quick and painless; at least for me he chuckles.
Breathing out he takes aim on Jethro Skybuilder's back and let's fly the first arrow, immediately notching the second and letting loose also. Reaching for the third arrow, excruciating pain explodes in his back. He falls to the grounds as another explosion of pain rips through him. Screaming in agony, he jumps to his feet, expecting to see another assailant bearing down on him but there is no one in sight. Quickly assessing the situation, no other assailant, the skeleton must have got a bead on me somehow, he rushes forward to finish off Jethro before he can escape.
Looking up from the ground in agony, Jethro sees, to his horror, an armored avatar rushing at him, sword lifted above his head readying a killing blow. Screaming, he tries to defend himself, diverting the killing blow, but knocking his health down to just two points.
As Darknight slashes at his prone victim, Jethro raises his arm in defense and diverts the blow. Grimacing as another white light of pain rips through him, this time in his arm, he stumbles but regains his balance ready to strike one final time.
"You are one hard avatar to kill Jethro Skybuilder, but your time in this game is over," he says standing above him, raising his sword in two hands, readying himself to strike straight down with a killing blow. "Prepare to meet your maker, fat boy," he chuckles as he thrusts downwards into Jethro Skybuilder's chest.
Screaming as the sword pierces his chest, Jethro Skybuilder looks into Darknight's eyes and sees doom, but strangely, not his own. His health is hanging precariously on one point but Darknight lets out an almighty scream and vanishes in a flash of brilliant light.
BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...
The first competitor has been eliminated. Darknight has not proven worthy. Eleven competitors remain. Continue the tournament.
Watching from the woods, Nathan cannot believe what he has just witnessed. Jethro Skybuilder should be dead. Darknight had him dead to rights, first with the arrows then the sword attack but Jethro survived and Darknight died. Not really thinking he jumps from his hiding place and dashes over to Jethro, reaching down to help him as he struggles to his feet.
Sensing another presence, Jethro turns in stunned horror as another avatar reaches out to him. "No, get back, leave me alone. Why can't you leave me alone?" he wails.
"Relax, it's ok, I'm here to help" sooths Nathan." I can't believe you're still alive. Here let me help you up," he says reaching out his hand.
Slapping the hand away, Jethro screams into his face. "Get away from me, don't touch me you just trolling."
"No really, I just want to help. Here, give me your hand and I'll help you back to your cabin."
Nearly passing out, Jethro stumbles into Nathan's outstretched arms. "You really aren't going to kill me?" he mumbles.
"Not today," he chuckles "but can't promise about tomorrow."
"What?" shrieks Jethro, trying to pull himself free?
"Calm down, I'm just joking. Now come on, let's get you inside before someone else takes a swing at you." Half dragging him, Nathan manages to get Jethro inside the cabin and drop him on his bed. "Cool cabin Jethro, real homely, you have been a busy boy."
"Yeah, yeah, just pass me some meat and bread quick, my health is almost gone." Grabbing the offered food, he wolfs it down in seconds and almost immediately, color returns to his face. "Ah yes, that's better, what the heck just happened?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. I was watching from the woods when Darknight crept up on you, but before I could shout a warning he fired two arrows into your back, but then the strangest thing happened. It was just as if he shot himself. He was thrown forward and screamed in pain at the precise same moment that you did. Then he rushed forward and slashed at you with his sword and as he struck you, he screamed the same as you. Then you know the rest, the blow killed him and he vanished."
"Interesting, it seems that competitors that attack another competitor inflict the same damage on themselves, but why did he die and I live. I was on full health and I assume he was too?"
"No, that's it," shouts Nathan jumping up from his squatting position. "Just before he attacked you he was shot in the shoulder when he crept past that cave behind your house. He was already hurt when he started the attack, so if you both lost equal health points then his ran out first."
"Well, well, you may be right, pure luck on my part but I sure am glad to be alive. I never thought a game could be so painful." Jumping to his feet, rejuvenated after his food he holds out his hand. "Jethro Skybuilder at your service. I see you are Nathan the Noob. Not a great name for a Masters of Minecraft competitor."
"No, it sucks, in fact I shouldn't even be here," he moans, going on to explain how he had never even heard of Minecraft before yesterday, then getting dragged here with Jay.
"Well you are in a pickle, aren't you? However, you are with Jay Lighningbuilder, a good player and a nice fellow to boot. Well, well, what to do now, hmm."
"No idea, but I better get back before they start wondering where I am."
"Yes, yes, you run along now and really, I'm in your debt. If you ever need any help you can rely on me, not like that trolling avatar Darknight."
"Thanks Jethro, you take care of yourself and maybe I'll see you around," he shouts over his shoulder as he dashes off into the woods in search of his friends.
"My, my, what an enchanting fellow," smiles Jethro as he grabs some more food. "I sure hope he survives, but alas, I suspect that will be the last I see of him."
*****
6 - Stockholm, Sweden
Knocking on the office door Steve pokes his head around the door jam and addresses the man at the desk. "Hey Notch, you got a minute?"
"Sure Steve, come on in. What's up?"
"Well, there's something strange going on with the Minecraft servers, it's almost..."
Interrupting him in mid sentence Notch interjects. "Come on Steve, you know I've st
epped away from Minecraft to concentrate on other projects, that's why I put you in charge."
"Yeah I know Notch, and normally I would not have bothered you but this is extreme in the most extremely weird way."
"Oh! I'm interested, so what's going on?"
"Right, a little earlier a game started on the server that we could not identify, but it's been sucking all the servers in and closing out other games as it grows."
"Really? That's a little weird, a hacker maybe?"
"If it is, he's good because we just can't locate him."
"Right, so how many servers are affected?"
"All of them!"
"What! How can they all be affected? There are so many fail safes built in that it's impossible."
"Yeah, well tell that to the servers, because right now they are all being used to play Masters of Minecraft."
"What did you say?"
"That all of the servers..."
"No, no, what game is it running?"
"Masters of Minecraft, why, you know something about this?"
"Sort of, I got an email this morning inviting me to play in this game but I figured it was a hacker. I was going to bring it up later this afternoon."
"Why, what made you think you were hacked?"
"Because it came from me, on my private email account."
"Ah Notch, you should have told me this morning."
"Yeah I know but I figured it was just a hacker messing with me, no harm done."
"Yeah, well there's a whole heap of harm coming down now, what do you want to do?"
"Reboot the servers and use our scan, wipe it clean and use the back-up if you need to."
"Tried that already, but we're locked out. All I get is, and I quote; 'Only invited players can participate at this time. Minecraft will resume at the completion of the tournament. Sorry for any inconvenience.'"
"You're kidding me?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"Show me," he replies grabbing his laptop and bolting from the office, dashing down the hall to the server farm housed in the basement.
*****
7 - Tidal Wave
Running back into camp, Nathan stumbles into Jay and Jack staring out to sea. "Hey guys, you'll never guess what just happened."
"Darknight bought it, yeah I heard," mumbles Jay. "So you really think it is rising?"
"Yeah Jay, I know you say it can't happen but I swear the sea level has risen at least six blocks in the last five minutes."
"Guys I saw Darknight trying to kill Jethro and then he..."
"Hold up Nathan, this is important," interrupts Jay. "I think you're right Jack, the sea is coming in really fast."
"What do you think it means?"
"Normally I'd say that someone had added a mod pack and were messing with us but in this game we can't take any chances."
"So what should we do?"
Looking around at the lay of the land, Jay is concerned that there are no obvious high points on the horizon. "Well I guess we build a boat, and quickly, that sea is already half way to us. You two, give me any wood you have and go gather some more, quick as possible. Don't go too far, just get whatever you can as quick as you can, now go," he shouts dashing into the house and grabbing the crafting table.
Immediately turning the wood chunks on the floor into planks, he starts laying out the hull of a ship. Too small, too small, I can build anything I want here, not just the standard equipment, he mumbles tearing the craft apart and starting again, using a plan he had designed years earlier. I just hope I have enough time to make this.
As Jack returns to the cabin with the wood chunks he has collected he tells him to turn them into planks and pass them to him, then he continues knocking the hull together. Glancing over his shoulder, he sees the sea rushing towards him at an alarming pace. Nathan returns and makes Jay some more planks and hands them over, then dashes into the cabin to retrieve the furnace and the food supplies.
"Come on guys, not much more than a couple of minutes. Jack, quickly harvest the wheat, and put it on the boat. Nathan, grab everything left in the house and get it on board."
Working quicker than he had ever worked before, Jay finishes a makeshift hull and starts on making long poles so he can row and steer. No time for a sail, we will just have to make do with what we have. Hearing a thunderous rushing noise Jay glances towards the coast to see a wall of water rushing over the plains towards him.
"Get in the boat, now! Leave everything, come on come on," he screams as the lads jump on board.
Just as Nathan climbs in, the wall of water hits the prow of the boat at lifts it into the air, propelling it forward at a great speed of knots.
"Hold on, this is going to bumpy," Jay shouts out above the thunderous torrent. "Jack, grab that pole and get to the left, Nathan go on the other side and try and keep us from ramming into anything." Grabbing his own pole, Jay dashes to the stern of the craft and thrusts it between two vertical planks, anchoring the pole in place, so giving him a make shift rudder with which to steer.
"Watch out for those trees Nate, push us to the left," he screams over the thunderous noise. "Jack, watch out for obstacles, at the speed we're moving, we'll break apart if we hit something solid."
Thrusting the pole from side to side, Jay desperately tries to control the craft as it surfs along on the crest of the giant wave. "Right guys, on my count row backwards with everything you've got; if we go over the front edge of this thing we're doomed. Right, get ready, ROW!" he shouts at the top of his lungs.
At first there is no noticeable difference as all three lads continue to row, thrashing the water to a white torrent but ever so gradually the craft pulls away from the leading edge of the wave and starts to drop back from the precipice.
"Keep rowing, come on its working," screams Jay, trying to make himself heard, "almost there, keep going lads."
Gradually the craft slows, and the wave powers ahead of the craft leaving them in a storm of white water, but at least their progress starts to slow as the wave disappears over the hill line.
"That was too close," exclaims Nate. "Good call Jay, another thirty seconds, we would have been toast!"
"Yeah Jay, way to go bro!"
"Thanks guys but keep your eyes open; something tells me we haven't seen the last of that thing yet."
"But its gone Jay, what else is it going to do?"
"Don't know Nate, but nothing works like it's supposed to so expect the unexpected."
*****
Digging into the cobblestone with his iron pickaxe, Captain Sparkles continues to enlarge the chamber running off the deep tunnel he has excavated since the tournament began. There has to be some Redstone around here somewhere, a little diamond would not hurt either, he chuckles. Hearing a noise from behind he turns quickly. The chamber is still empty, no zombies creeping up on him, but the noise is still there, a moaning noise getting louder and louder. Running towards the tunnel, he is assaulted by a thunderous rushing noise, building in intensity with every step he takes towards the tunnel entrance. Reaching the opening, he peers tentatively around the corner just in time to see a wall of water rushing towards him from the top of the staircase. Jumping back, he immediately places cobblestone blocks across the mouth of the cave. As the water reaches him, he has only reached two blocks high and with a thunderous roar the wave of water smacks into the wall and rushes over the top. Working furiously he continues placing blocks, trying desperately to block the opening, while battling the ever increasing flow of water. Filing the last block at the top of the wall, he smiles to himself as the water ceases to flow. Is that all you've got? Blocking a flooding chamber is child's play, Masters of Minecraft tournament, NOT! he shouts at the ceiling. Strutting back into the cavern he does not notice the water starting to seep around the edges of the cobblestone blocks in the tunnel mouth.
*****
Placing the last cobblestone block on the tower wall, Natasha surveys her surroundings. One heck of a castle you have built
yourself girl, she thinks. Staring out across the plains, something glistening on the horizon catches her eye. Ok, so what do we have here then? Looking closer she can see that it is moving, in fact not only is it moving, it's covering the whole of the horizon. Whatever it is, it is huge and getting closer. Mesmerized, she watches for a few seconds until suddenly her brain kicks into gear and she realizes what it is. Jumping from the tower and running to the front of the castle, she slams the doors just as the wall of water hits. Oh my God, that was close, I've never seen water like that in Minecraft. Just as she is thinking this, the doors start to bulge and water seeps around the edges. No way, this cannot happen. Placing a line of cobblestone in front of the door and sealing the entrance she runs back to the tower and climbs to the top. Looking out at the landscape, she gasps. Water covers the land as far as the eye can see.
*****
Looking up, Jethro Skybuilder wonders what the thunderous noise could be. Running from the newly constructed animal enclosure, he rounds the side of the house to see a rushing wall of water less than 20 blocks away. Turning he runs flat out towards his fortified home but the wave overtakes him in less than ten blocks. Picked up in the swirling mass of water, Jethro is tumbled and turned as he is swept along with the giant wave. Slamming into the side of the building he feels a health point flash and disappear. Oh dear, I could be in serious trouble here. If I can just get inside, I can survive this. Inch by inch he pulls himself along the front of the building as the power of the water tries to crush him flat. Making it to the door just as the water level reaches the top he ducks under, opens it, and the power of the water sweeps him into the building. Gasping for air as the water reaches the ceiling he heads for the stairs to the second level.
