Alpha World Book One: Gamer for Life

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Alburet walked for a bit, lost in thought wondering if he had just opened up a can of worms with Wilbur before shaking his head. He looked around to find a guard to get directions to the place he get could buy a portal to the stronghold near the goblin fort. He thanked the guard before walking that way with a slight spring to his step, thinking of a day of grinding mobs and making cash.

  Halfway across the city is what it felt like when he finally came to an imposing tower that took up as much room as four normal buildings and rising high into the sky. Alburet chuckled at the classic wizard’s tower look before going in the front door, which stood wide open. Inside was a spacious waiting area with chairs and tables and a single desk near the back of the room in front of a double staircase. Behind the desk sat a stunning redhead who was smiling as he approached.

  “Greetings, and welcome to the transport guild, sir. What can we do for you today?” she asked in a voice that rang with actual happiness and not just polite professionalism.

  Chuckling, Alburet replied, “Glad to see someone enjoying their job. I wanted to inquire about getting out to the stronghold to the east so I can help thin down the goblin population.”

  “That is a popular destination right now,” She said glancing down at a tome open before her. “It is a single gold per person but we do offer a discount if you are going as a group with others.”

  Alburet looked back at the waiting area, which was empty, “Looks like it will be just me…”

  He cut off when another person came running over to the desk. “Hi, how much to take the portal to the eastern garrison?”

  The redhead looked from Alburet to the new comer momentarily, “As I was just telling this gentleman, who was here before you, it is a single gold per person though we do offer a group discount depending on how many are going at once in a party.”

  The newcomer looked over at Alburet and nodded, “You off to farm the gobs, too?”

  “That was my idea, yes. Did you want to form a party to take advantage of the group rate?” Alburet asked curiously.

  “Yeah, that would be awesome,” the bone thin man said, brushing the shock of long black hair back from his face. “Name is DrFrank, what’s yours?”

  Alburet raised a brow at the name before replying, “Alburet.” He stressed the syllables for the new player to make sure it was clearly heard, Al-Burr-Et. “What class?”

  “Oh, Necro. You?”

  “Funny. I’m a Summoner. So do you guys get golems at higher levels?”

  “Oh yeah, man. That’s our big minion after the skeletons and zombies,” Frank said, enthused.

  The redhead coughed gently, “So, a group rate then?”

  Alburet smiled, “Sounds like.” He stopped when a notification appeared before him, he read it and accepted noting the second portrait along with health and mana bars that appeared under his.

  DrFrank wants to form a party.

  “Let’s do this, man,” Frank said as he dug out a gold. “Here’s my half, babe,” he said, dropping it on the desk before the redhead.

  Alburet sighed inwardly before he also dug out a gold and set it before the receptionist. “Here’s my portion as well, miss,” he said with an apologetic smile to her.

  The redhead nodded, taking the coins and handing back 10 silver to each of them. “Have a seat and one of our men will be with you shortly.”

  The duo walked over to the chairs and sat down and Frank was talking again. “You know your class is the weakest in the game, right?”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Alburet said. “My imp did okay for me earlier, just really need a tank pet.”

  “We can keep the party together when we get there then, if you want. My skeletons can tank for us while we blast away at stuff.” Frank said, looking around like he was bored of waiting already.

  “We can try it out and see if it works,” Alburet replied as a robed gentleman came over to them.

  “Greetings. The portal is ready for you two, if you will follow me.” The robed man turned and began to walk off. Frank jumped to his feet and hurried after the NPC, stopping every few steps so as not to pass the man. Alburet just walked along behind, content with the pace.

  “So annoying how they all walk,” Frank said as he stopped again. “I mean, who does that in a game, am I right?” He turned to see Alburet walking along at the same speed as the NPC.

  “You’re absolutely right, no one walks in a game.” Alburet said with a bland smile, watching Frank’s brow furrow.

  “No need to be a smart ass, man,” Frank said as he paused again, “it’s just asinine. I mean we can run for hours, so having to walk for the NPC’s is fucking stupid.”

  Alburet couldn’t have disagreed more, but held his tongue as he didn’t want to start an argument. They were led up the stairs and to a room with a blue circle with runes inscribed around it that was glowing and pulsing as if in time to invisible music. “Here we are, gentlemen. Just step into the circle and it will whisk you to your destination,” the NPC said as he stepped out of the way.

  Frank darted into the circle and vanished causing Alburet to sigh as he turned to the man. “Thanks for the service. I am more than happy with everything, unlike the young one who already left.” He held out a silver, “Please split that with the receptionist. She was most helpful.”

  The portal mage chuckled, pocketing the coin, “We normally split any tips we receive sir, but I will let her know you specified. Safe journey and happy hunting to you.” He watched with a thoughtful expression as Alburet stepped into the portal before going back down to speak with the receptionist.

  Alburet stepped into the glowing circle and felt himself lurch as if he had been shoved from behind while being yanked forward while the world went bright blue around him. When his vision cleared he was standing in the courtyard of a garrison. Frank was standing just to the side tapping his foot, “What took so long?”

  Alburet grimaced as he focused on Frank’s portrait and wished the group disbanded. “Nothing,” Alburet said as the group dissolved, “I just am not in a hurry, so feel free to run along.”

  “What the fuck ever, dude,” DrFrank said before running into the main building.

  Alburet rubbed his temples for a second, thinking of all the twentish year old males he used to deal with on a regular basis. Shaking his head he looked around, spotting a merchant next to a cart along one wall as well as smith on the other wall. All around he could see soldiers walking around from point to point, some doing sword practice while others practiced with bows and crossbows. Figuring the quests were inside the keep, he went that way at the same walking pace he had before. As he walked he held out his hand palm down, “Come to me Bob the Mighty.”

  In a puff of smoke Bob appeared and began to skip along behind him, “Are we going to be killing things again?”

  “Once I get some quests we’ll be heading to a place full of goblins to kill,” Alburet informed the inquisitive imp.

  “Oh, good,” Bob said chuckling darkly. “I do so love toasted goblin in the morning.”

  Laughing Alburet looked back to see Bob wringing his hands, “That might be a little over the top.”

  Bob paused, “Most of my previous masters liked that kind of thing.”

  “Meh, just be yourself. I’m not a demanding sort.” Alburet replied as he nodded to the two guards flanking the door eyeing him and the imp warily. He stopped before one of them, “So I heard there are quests to kill goblins here, where do I go?”

  “See the quartermaster and the senior Sergeant, each of them will give you quests,” the guard replied, eyeing him coolly.

  “Thanks,” Alburet said, thinking the booklet for the class should have mentioned the negative view the guards all seemed to have towards Summoners.

  Entering the keep, he followed the main hall until he came to the main room. There were people just hanging about chatting as well as two men at desks on opposite sides of the room from each other. Going over to the desk with no
clustered around it, Alburet greeted the man with three stripes on his tunic. “Sergeant, I was told you would have a quest for me involving the goblins sir.” Alburet said, coming to parade rest before the desk.

  The Sergeant looked up with an amused glance, “Fancy yourself a man of discipline, do you?”

  “I once kept the company of such men sir, it is a hard habit to break,” Alburet replied with a smile as he dropped the parade rest stance. “They were good men and I was honored to serve with them.”

  The Sergeant paused, looking from Alburet to Bob and back, “Must have been before you manifested Summoner powers then.”

  “I’m an adventurer sir,” Alburet replied.

  “Ah, one of the two-souled. That makes more sense. You are a bit unusual for a two-souled, you didn’t come running up and demanding a quest like the rest have.” As the words left the Sergeant’s mouth a person came running up to them.

  “Hey dude, give me the quest for the goblins,” DrFrank said bluntly as he smirked at Alburet.

  Alburet’s lips quirked as he bit back his laughter. The Sergeant nodded to Frank. “Right, I need five goblin heads to prove your valor,” the Sergeant said, only to see Frank run off a second later. “So sad, they just accept any quest at all.”

  Alburet snorted, shaking his head, “Like recruits who think they own the world.”

  With a deep belly laugh the Sergeant nodded, “Pretty close, yes. As for you, kill me any twenty goblins. For that I will give you coin, no need to bring back proof. For each extra goblin killed I will increase the reward. Also, they sometimes carry arm bands. The king has special bounties for those armbands so make sure to bring them back to the quartermaster across the room.”

  Quest: Kill at least twenty goblins

  Reward: 50 silver per twenty goblins killed, increased rep with all Stormguard reputations

  Alburet snapped a salute, “Sir, yes sir.”

  Chuckling, the Sergeant shook his head before returning the salute, “Dismissed, private.”

  Alburet spun on his heel and walked across the room to another man in uniform. “Sir, I am here to ask about any quests you might have for me to undertake.”

  The quartermaster looked up from his clipboard, “Huh, that was the most polite request I’ve heard all day. I want the goblin’s supplies captured. Bring back at least five caches and I will make sure you are rewarded. The more you capture the more I can give you in return. Also, the king has a standing bounty on the arm bands the goblins occasionally have. Bring me any you find and I will make sure the king’s orders are fulfilled.”

  Quest: Capture at least five goblin supply caches

  Rewards: Variable

  Quest: Goblin armbands

  Rewards: Depends on type and number of arm bands by King’s order

  Alburet snapped a salute with a smile, “Glad to be of service sir. I shall return upon completing my objective.”

  The quartermaster raised a brow before returning the salute, “Dismissed.”

  Alburet turned sharply to his right and walked out of the room. Once clear Bob coughed, “You used to be with the guard?”

  “Not them, but a type of guard yes,” Alburet said with a strained smile. “Let’s not talk about that, okay?”

  Bob nodded, eyeing his Summoner with thoughtful eyes. “We are going off to kill things now, right?”

  A dark chuckle escaped Alburet, “That is the plan, yes.”

  They walked out the main gates to see grassy plains stretching out before them. Alburet could see the goblin fort in the distance. It looked like a standard fort to Alburet’s eyes from this distance as he took in the view. Between the two forts Alburet noticed a number of people and goblins engaged in combat. As he focused on different groups, he saw that all of the mobs were Goblin Scavengers. “Looks like we shall have competition, Bob,” Alburet said as he started walking.

  “That’s okay we can range pull them. As long as you don’t pull too fast we should be able to keep a steady pace,” Bob said.

  “As long as none of them are in chain and wielding two-handed swords,” Alburet said.

  Bob chuckled, “I can save you again if that happens.”

  “I recall me saving you a few times in there, too. In fact, I made sure you never got so much as wind burn from that sword.” Alburet replied with a grin.

  “True, true and I am grateful for that. I’m thinking I might have exploded if I’d been hit.”

  Alburet watched the action around him as they walked across the plains, casting Demon Skin on himself. “Looks like they come out of the fort and jog down to various spots in the field. We can’t keep up with the rate they leave the fort but we could probably snag a spot they go to.”

  Bob pointed to one corner of the keep, “Right corner, looks like no one is bothering the goblin over there.”

  Alburet looked over, nodding, “Sure enough. As much as I hate running, let’s kick it up.”

  He began to run, with Bob doing his running skip to keep up. As they closed on their target Alburet realized he covered ground fast at a run as he went right by a few people soloing goblins. As they approached the one near the corner it turned to face them, showing a fang filled mouth. His target was a Goblin Scavenger, level 6 with 600/600 health. It wore ragged leather armor and carried a rusty sword. Alburet cast Demonic Retribution on himself as he closed the distance. “You’re on Bob. Keep a reserve for emergencies through, please.”

  “Okay, master,” Bob said as the first Fire Blast hit the goblin in the chest even as it tried to dodge the flame.

  Alburet pursed his lips as he slowed and advanced in a measured gait as the next Fire Blast hit the goblin, causing it to scream and go for Bob. Alburet noted it going a little wide to avoid him so he stepped in and swung with both hands at the extreme range of the staff. He missed as the goblin dove under the swing and scrambled to its feet only to take another Fire Blast, this time to the face. As it screamed at the third hit Alburet got between it and Bob, smashing his staff into the goblin’s head as it blinked its burnt eyes. Alburet smiled, his hit to the goblin’s head confirming critical spots doubled damage received.

  He had to dance away from the wildly swinging goblin while it was disorientated from both attacks to its head. With a nod as he swung again, this time only hitting its shoulder as it tried to avoid the attack as it was still blinking its eyes. Alburet dodged as the goblin swung the rusty short sword at him, but wasn’t quick enough, feeling the attack slice into his side. He hissed at the pain. Alburet was really starting to hate having the sensors turned up to max, though he did like watching the spark of fire burst on its chest from his Demonic Retribution.

  The next Fire Blast ramped Bob’s aggro to the top again, making the goblin turn to run at Bob. Alburet swung and missed, making him cuss as he turned to chase after the goblin. Bob ran in an arc trying to lead the goblin back towards Alburet. His next attack into the goblins legs wasn’t enough to overcome the aggro, so he chased after the duo. Bob cried out as the goblin chased him down and got a hit in before Alburet could catch up and land his own attack on the goblin’s back.

  That was enough to pull the goblin around onto him, saving Bob from taking more damage. “Just fucking die already,” Alburet grunted as he parried the goblin’s attack before slamming his staff down onto the mob’s skull, firmly fixing the goblin’s attention on him. The rest of the fight went more easily as Bob held back for a bit, allowing Alburet to build aggro. A minute or so later the goblin keeled over dead, allowing Alburet to take a breath in relief.

  “About time,” he panted before looking over at Bob, who had a nasty gash down his side. “You okay?”

  Bob winced then smiled as the wound disappeared, “I am now, yes. Thanks for killing it.”

  “Next time I need to remember I have a ranged attack spell now, too,” Alburet said while shaking his head. He touched the corpse which vanished, leaving a small bag laying on the ground. Touching the bag prompted a notification of 24 copper goi
ng into his money pouch. He quickly disabled the pop-up about coin looted, but left notifications of items on.

  Bob laughed, “You forgot Fire Blast?”

  “I just got it, so yeah. Still not used to the idea of having it. Next pull will be better. If I get two of those off first it shouldn’t chase you right away.” Alburet replied as he glanced over the field, watching others fighting. “Some of them seem to be having issues,” Alburet said, watching a golden haired elf in white robes run from a goblin. “Think we should step in?”

  “To help a cleric of light?” Bob said with open skepticism.

  Laughing, Alburet nodded, “You don’t have to if you would rather not in this one. Time to watch that thing, ‘Die in a Fire’.” He clenched his hand and opened it slowly as he stepped forward while speaking the words. The sphere of fire he summoned turned into a streak of fire as he cast it at the goblin chasing the elf. The goblin had its back turned so it didn’t know to dodge, allowing the Fire Blast to hit it in the head. Alburet chuckled as the 44 Damage registered on the goblin, “Over here, ugly.”