The Mountain Valley War

by M. A. Carlson

  I chuckled a little as her nameplate changed from to .

  “Nice to meet you, Libre, I’m Bye-bye,” I said greeting her.

  “Rose, nice to meet you,” said Rose.

  “Baby, same,” said Baby politely.

  “I’m Olaf and this is my wife, Micaela. It’s very nice to make your acquaintance.”

  “Bushy, nice meeting you, shorty,” said Bushy.

  “I think I am going to like all of you,” said Libre, smiling kindly. “Except her,” she added, glaring at Bushy.

  “Is it because I called you short?” Bushy asked.

  “I am not short,” Libre stated, sounding less than pleased. “I am a Dwarf!” she stated proudly.

  “Bushy, enough,” I said, cutting her off before she could do or say something else to agitate the friendly curator.

  Bushy pouted, a reaction I expected.

  “Is there anything you need help finding?” Libre asked.

  “Magic efficiency,” said Baby, floating up first.

  “Section 3, row 4, shelves 13 through 19,” Libre said, turning and pointing toward the back-left corner.

  “Thank you,” said Baby, fluttering above the shelves.

  “Accuracy,” said Olaf, I could totally understand his desire to improve that as his damage was mostly based on being able to hit his target.

  “Section 8, row 2, shelves 2 through 4, it’s up on the second floor, take the stairs just over there and take a right at the top,” Libre said, pointing toward the stairs that sat against the wall to the right of the entrance.

  “Thank you, see you later, babe,” said Olaf, giving Micaela a quick kiss on the cheek as he went.

  “Improved blocking or stamina conservation,” said Rose, stepping up next.

  “Shield techniques are just there, section 1, row 1, shelf 1. Stamina management is in section 10, row 5, shelves 2-8, also on the second floor,” Libre answered.

  It was very clear to me the short Dwarf knew her archive extremely well.

  “Cooking,” said Micaela.

  I coughed before Libre could answer. I gave Micaela a sidelong glance.

  “Fine, anything on making totems stronger?” Micaela asked.

  “Umm,” Libre stopped and think about her answer for a change. She suddenly snapped her fingers. “Second floor, section 13, row 20, shelf 20, the book is the ‘Spirit Caller’s Guide Book’, probably the only book on it. As for ‘Cooking’, section 2, row 15, shelf 8 through 18, we have a large selection of cookbooks.”

  “Spirit book first,” I ordered, without Olaf here to keep her in line I had no choice but to step in.

  “Fine,” said Micaela, pouting and not quite stomping petulantly toward the stairs.

  “Okay, so I know I’m new and all. But, why are we in an archive?” Bushy asked, now that it was just her and I.

  “Skills,” I answered.

  “What do you mean ‘Skills’?” Bushy asked.

  I hadn’t encountered this in a while. I had forgotten just how ignorant most players were in the game. The fact that Bushy didn’t know she could learn a skill from a book just proved it. “Okay, so there are skill books which you can activate to instantly learn a skill, these are rare and hard to come by. Then there are books that have the knowledge and if you have patience and are willing to study said books, they will teach you a skill.”

  Bushy suddenly grabbed me by the lapels of my jerkin. “You mean there are unlimited skill books, and no one ever told me?”

  “Basically, yes,” I said, once again, trying and failing to pry the bunny girl’s grip from me.

  “I want everything,” Bushy said, dropping me and picking up Libre.

  “While I wish we had a book for that, we do not, sorry. However, if you tell me what kind of knowledge you require, I will do my best to direct you. Also, please put me down or I will get physical with you,” said Libre. For all she looked like a kind librarian, I could sense there was a little steel in the woman.

  Bushy sighed and set Libre down. “Fine, but I need epic skills, something that fits a Monk.”

  “We have a large hand to hand combat section or a mystical arts section,” Libre replied.

  “Hmm, let’s go with the mystic side of things. Maybe I can find a skill to improve my chi,” Bushy said thoughtfully.

  “Second floor, section 13, row 20, shelf 19 through 20,” Libre said, sending Bushy to the same area she sent Micaela.

  “I really do not like that bunny girl. She is rude and mean and just not nice. If I did not know you were friends with the Duchess, I would have kicked you all out. Do warn her that such behavior will not be tolerated in my archive again,” said Libre.

  “I’ll pass the message along,” I said.

  “Good, now, how can I help you?” Libre asked.

  I needed just about everything my friends were looking for. But, seeing as they would get the books first and I was sure I could borrow whatever book they got when they finished, I knew I needed to go another way.

  “I don’t suppose you have any Babylonian books, either history, mythology or language?” I requested.

  “Hmm, I am sorry to say we do not. Would you like me to special order them for you? I am sure we have it in the budget,” said Libre.

  “No, that’s alright. If I’m going to order them, I would be better served ordering the actual skill books from Root City. I suppose I need to visit a general store to do that though,” I said with a sigh.

  “Not at all, I do not mind ordering those for you, though you will need to pay for them,” Libre said.

  “Really?” I asked in surprise. I hadn’t expected that.

  “Of course,” said Libre. “I just need 100-Gold down.”

  I wish I could forget just how expensive true skill books were. I paid her the hundred gold, dropping the funds I was carrying on me by a healthy chunk. I had less than 600-Gold on me now and considering I had started in the province with all of a thousand, that was quite the spend. Thankfully, I deposited most of my money into my World Tree Bank account when I was in Root City just before coming to Hammerton at Rose’s insistence. Apparently, she didn’t feel comfortable with me walking around with such a huge amount of coin.

  “Okay, what else?” I said to myself. I had a lot of skills that needed to improve. Remembering just how hard it was to spot Heath now made me wonder if there was something to boost my ability to find ‘Stealth’ users. “I need to improve my ‘Perception’ skill. I really need to be able to better see anyone using ‘Stealth’.”

  “First, what level is your ‘Perception’ skill?” Libre asked.

  I checked really quickly to see if I gained any levels since I last checked a day ago. I had three more levels. “Level 55,” I answered.

  “In that case, you want the skill ‘Hunt the Wicked’, we have two books that teach it. ‘Hunter’s Prey’ and ‘Bodyguard: Client Protection Tactics’. Personally, I recommend the latter as there are more skills. Although, the second skill you can pick up from ‘Hunter’s Prey’ is popular with the more damage aligned individual,” Libre answered.

  “Okay, the second skill in ‘Hunter’s Prey’, is there another book that teaches it?” I asked. ‘Bodyguard: Client Protection Tactics’ was just too apt not to pick up, it was the very definition of our quest.

  “Yes, there is,” said Libre. “The ‘Assassination Handbook’ has that and more.”

  How very appropriate. One teaching protection skills while the other teaches killing skills. It was exactly what I asked for.

  “Okay, I’ll take both ‘Bodyguard: Client Protection Tactics’ and ‘Assassination Handbook’. Where can I find them?” I asked, ready to get searching.

  “I can lend you ‘Bodyguard: Client Protection Tactics’ but the other is kept under lock and key. I would need special permission from the City Council to lend it to you,” said Libre reluctantly.

  “Okay, I suppose that makes sense. I’ll just ask Mardi later. I suppo
se, for now, just the ‘Bodyguard: Client Protection Tactics’ will suffice,” I said. “Oh, and a history of the province if you have one.”

  “Excellent, section 5, row 18, shelf 3 for ‘Bodyguard: Client Protection Tactics’. The most comprehensive history would be ‘Hammer vs Anvil: A History of Hostility’, section 15, row 4 shelf 7,” Libre relayed, clearly knowing her archive well, it was very database-like.

  After pointing me in the right direction, I found the shelf right where she said it would be. I still needed to search through the numerous books for the suggested book. Another twenty minutes to find the second book and I was ready to go.

  I found Libre waiting at the entrance where I left her.

  “Find what you were looking for?” Libre asked. “You are permitted to borrow up to three books at a time.”

  I would talk to Mardi right away about the third book I wanted to borrow. If she couldn’t outright give me permission, then I would find something else. For now, this was good enough. “I’m great, thank you. Do I need an archive card or something?” I asked, not sure what she needed from me.

  “Nope, just 1-Gold per book. You will get the coin back when I get the book back,” Libre replied, holding out an expectant hand.

  I dropped the two coins in her hand, knowing that in a few days, maybe a week, I would probably be dropping more coins to pay for the skill books I ordered.

  Waiting for my friends to get their books, I started thumbing through the ‘Bodyguard: Client Protection Tactics’ as I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book. I was surprised by how straight forward it was in what the chapters were intended to cover. Things like forming a perimeter around your client. Spotting threats and performing threat assessments. Tricks and tips for uncovering ‘Stealth’ users, the chapter I was most interested in was, of course, the last chapter in the book.

  “Time to go,” said Olaf, breaking me out of my skimming.

  “Wait, what about Heath?” I asked, not seeing our resident Thief.

  “I’m here,” said Heath appearing and vanishing just as quickly.

  “As I said, time to go,” said Olaf, smirking superiorly.

  It seemed everyone had acquired at least one book, some had two and then Micaela looked forlornly at a stack of books on Libre’s desk. A closer look would have revealed them all to be cookbooks, but I learned that listening to Micaela complain all the way to ‘Winslow’s Wizarding Wonders’

  “Back again I see, perhaps you want to complete your collection of drain spells?” Wilson greeted Rose and me as soon as we were through the door.

  “Not today Wilson. We brought friends this time,” said Rose.

  “Ah, welcome, any friends of Rose and Bye-bye are more than welcome. How might this humble purveyor of all things magical assist you today?” Wilson asked, bowing respectfully to his customers. It wasn’t necessary but somehow endearing of the Dwarf Mage.

  “Buff spells,” Baby answered first.

  “Ah, a Fairy, then you will be wanting something either Water or Nature-based, yes? Well, follow me, I know just the spells,” said Wilson, his short legs already carrying him through the shop.

  “You weren’t kidding about him being an interesting character,” said Micaela, chasing after the Dwarf to put in her own request.

  “What am I supposed to do?” Bushy asked. “I don’t have MP to cast spells.”

  “So, look around anyway, maybe he’ll have some mystic chi spell for you or something,” I suggested.

  “I suppose I’ll just follow Micaela around, she’s always fun,” said Bushy, moping along to join Micaela.

  Meanwhile, I had no plans of purchasing another buff spell. I was quite pleased with the few I already had. I would need to find something really special to spend any more money today. Which reminded me, I started recasting my buffs on my friends, the spell had faded at some point and I forgot yet again. Still, they were coming along nicely.

  The first buff I ever learned was as powerful as they came, and I couldn’t wait until it got the next rank which would hopefully come up sooner rather than later.

  Lesser Combat Blessing

  Level: 79

  Experience: 15.41%

  Spell Duration: 10 minutes

  Spell Cast Speed: Instant

  Spell Mana Cost: 50

  Spell Effect (Active): Increase Stamina +20, Increase Strength +20, Increase Dexterity +19, increase Endurance +19.

  The next buff was just as powerful as the former but focused on mental faculties as opposed to the physical stats of the first.

  Lesser Mental Fortification

  Level: 78

  Experience: 88.41%

  Spell Duration: 10 minutes

  Spell Cast Speed: Instant

  Spell Mana Cost: 50

  Spell Effect (Active): Increase Intellect +20, Increase Wisdom +20, Increase Resistance to Fear 19%, Increases Resistance to Mind Control 19%.

  My last buff didn’t provide the raw stats of the other two but the ability to absorb damage, reducing the amount suffered from all incoming damage was very beneficial. Sure, reducing damage by 78 out of 1,000 damage wasn’t much, but it could mean the difference between life and death in battle.

  Lesser Holy Barrier

  Level: 78

  Experience: 97.21%

  Spell Duration: 10 minutes

  Spell Cast Speed: Instant

  Spell Mana Cost: 206

  Spell Effect (Active): Create a thin barrier of Holy energy around a target that absorbs 78-points of incoming damage.

  It was only casting them roughly every ten minutes that allowed them to become my most powerful spells. Then there was my weapon buff which seemed to gain experience a lot faster than the other spells which allowed it to keep pace.

  Lesser Holy Imbuement

  Level: 77

  Experience: 13.41%

  Spell Duration: 10 minutes

  Spell Cast Speed: Instant

  Spell Mana Cost: 50

  Spell Effect (Active): Imbued Weapon now deals holy damage causing an additional 39-40 damage per hit.

  Spell Effect (Active): Imbued Shield now deals holy damage causing 40-41 damage per block.

  I just wish my other spells gained as quickly. In fact, the only other spell I had that gained at such a rate was ‘Lesser Holy Shock’ which had a 30-second cooldown to it.

  Lesser Holy Shock

  Level: 49

  Experience: 97.22%

  Spell Damage: 59-64

  Spell Cash Speed: Instant Cooldown: 30 seconds

  Spell Mana Cost: 198

  Spell Effect (Active): A shock of holy energy attacks the nervous system of your target stunning it and increasing physical damage received by 45 for 5 seconds.

  It actually got me a little curious. Perusing the shelves, I sought out the holy magic, assuming he had any spells that fit the category.

  “Hey Wilson, have you got any holy spells?” I asked.

  “Yeah, back wall, just outside my private stock,” Wilson replied, focusing back in on helping Micaela with her search.

  The back wall had a surprisingly large selection of holy spells. I found books for ‘Holy Smite’, ‘Lesser Holy Fire’, ‘Lesser Heal’, ‘Holy Cleanse’, ‘Lesser Holy Barrier’, ‘Lesser Mental Fortification’, and ‘Lesser Combat Blessing’ and a dozen more spells. What I didn’t find was ‘Lesser Holy Shock’, ‘Lesser Holy Imbuement’ or ‘Holy Shackles’.

  “Find what you are looking for?” Wilson asked.

  “Nope,” I replied. “I was wondering, have you heard of ‘Lesser Holy Shock’, ‘Lesser Holy Imbuement’ or ‘Holy Shackles’?”

  “Hmm, cannot say that I have,” Wilson answered. “Perhaps they are rare,” he suggested.

  I was working on another theory. Those were the only spells not available in Wilson’s shop. They were also spells granted to me directly by Goddess Issara. I was starting to think that perhaps they were unique to me, which might explain why my spells weren’t gaining levels faster with m
y ‘Holy Order Ring of Justice’ equipped.

  Holy Order Ring of Justice

  +5-Strength, +5-Dexterity, +5-Endurance, +5-Stamina, +5 Intellect, +5 Wisdom, +5-Spell Holy Damage and Healing, Increased experience gains for all Goddess granted skills by 50%

  Even though some of those spells were granted by my Goddess, they weren’t her spells and thus did not benefit from my ring’s bonus. It also meant I was going to need to work a lot harder to level my magic spells.

  “How much?” Bushy shouted, she was standing at the counter with Micaela.

  Letting my curiosity guide me, I went to investigate.

  “That’s highway robbery,” complained Bushy. “25-Gold for a buff that only gives +1-Spirit.”

  “Spirit spells are rare,” Wilson defended.

  “Bushy, it’s fine,” said Micaela, dropping the coins on the counter. Picking up the tome a moment later only to set it back down again, the spell apparently learned. “And totally worth it. ‘Lesser Spirit’ is awesome. Worthless to my party, but awesome for me. Sadly, that’s my budget for the month.”

  I could have easily afforded the cost of buying her another spell. But I couldn’t keep doing things like that for my friends, no matter how much I wanted to make them stronger. Sometimes, you need to earn things for yourself, through your own sweat and tears or the prize loses value.

  Olaf picked up a spell that gave +1-Dexterity for 10-Gold, the key component of accuracy and his major damage determinant due to damage increasing based on how accurate your shots were.

  Baby grabbed a +1-Intellect spell and a +1-Endurance spell, paying 20-Gold for both.

  Heath appeared, paid for a spell and vanished again. It seemed he was really determined to finish leveling his Thief skills, though I was very curious what spell the Thief decided to purchase.