I Am Gamer III

by Gabriel Rathweg

  The whole crowd cheered, and fist pumped in the gesture as old as time. When they quieted down again, I continued.

  “All right, let’s get to work!” I called.

  And that is what we did. I broke everyone off into teams. The Brothers O’ Conghaile took charge of training. They were going to put everyone into SEAL training immediately, old, young, man, woman, and child. Silent Mouse took charge of the scouts, joined by Freak as his second, the two had worked out some type of communication signals I didn’t quite understand but hey, whatever works.

  They were immediately tasked with recon and mapping the area around Thrudheim for enemies, resources, and anything else of note. We didn’t want any more surprises if we could help it. Dusk and Dawn were given the task of resource gathering with the other Norse Ojibwe youngsters, as they had done such a great job in The Springs. The rest of my crew were with me, joined by Arun and Sage.

  Part of my plan was redesigning Thrudheim and making it an impregnable fortress, trading hub, and base for this region of the country. It would serve the same function as The Springs and the Fortress of the Earth. I pulled up information on the fortress Mont. St. Michelle again to refamiliarize myself with it.

  LE MONT-SAINT MICHEL

  Beginning as an Abbey in the 11th century, the fortress has taken many iterations over the centuries. From fort, to prison, to refuge, to island village. At its core however it is a fortress that has never fallen in its history, surrounded by water in high tide, no army can besiege it. Becoming land in low tide, no navy can blockade it.

  When I was done, I switched tracks and then pulled up the information on Fort Sumter and other American Civil War forts.

  AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SEA FORTS

  Forts that combined high walls and heavy masonry. This Third System style fort was specifically designed to stop the navy and army artillery of the time from sea-based attacks. Fort Knox is considered impenetrable to this day.

  We were going to build our version of a combination of those fortresses. I had the idea when I saw how the rivers surrounded the fort town. We were going to redirect the flow of the waterways and raise the land in the center in different masses, creating a completely defensible home base with three different connecting forts. There would be one on each river entrance. All three forts would have overlapping covering arcs and would be able to support one another. They would also be connected by water ways and land bridges.

  At first, everyone was skeptical than I explained how Cunning Wolf, Shadow Bear, and me could all use Earth Magic and how stone was as easily formed and shaped as clay. A few demonstrations and my idea caught on. Add on the Water Magic Sage knew and that I would quickly master he assured me with his help, that would make things even more doable. We were basically a four-man magical construction crew.

  After that we all bent to our tasks, everyone splitting up and heading out. The four of us Magic users stayed, and I knelt then began sketching out my plan on the ground, the others gathering in a circle around me watching and listening as I laid out the groundwork for our defenses.

  “First, Thrudheim is already a natural choke point and a perfect hub for trading and waging war. What we are going to do is reinforce it making it an impenetrable bastion of strength and power.” I said, with a wolfish grin. Mirrors of my own smile abounded around me, good they were all on board, I continued. “Cunning Wolf and Shadow bear you are going to begin raising fortified berms. We’re doing a permanent base so start with fifty feet, and it’ll be pentagon formation for each area along with a wall running to each separate fort.” I ordered.

  They both nodded understanding my plans as we’d been building fortifications for a bit now and we had gone over base building before our journey. We had also practiced variations this would just be the first time doing it outside our homes.

  “Sage, you are to divert the water, so it flows along the preplanned channels and areas that Cunning Wolf and Shadow Bear prepare.” I said.

  He nodded, rubbing his long beard thoughtfully.

  “Thunder Foot and Lightning Fist you two are gonna be my work horses, I’ll meet you at the Blacksmiths.” I finished.

  They nodded and after the group had disbanded, I focused on my messages.

  WAR SHAMAN

  TRIBES – THE PEOPLE, THE JICARILLA, TUATHA DE DANAAN, NORSE OJIBWE

  ELITE WARRIORS – Moon Flower, William O’ Conghaile, Patrick O’ Conghaile, Arun Thorson, Chieftess Screaming Eagle, Thunder Foot, Ice Blossom, Lightning Fist, Night Star, Silent Mouse, Shadow Bear, Dancing Lion, Stone Fox, Dusk, Dawn

  SHAMAN – Cunning Wolf (Element-Earth/God-Wolf), Sage Lokison (Element-Water/God-Norse/Baldur)

  NORMAL MEMBERS – (N/A) THE PEOPLE WORKER/WARRIORS, (N/A) JICARILLA BUILDER/WARRIORS, (N/A) CROW WORKER WARRIORS, (156/156) NORSE WORKER/WARRIORS

  BASES – The Springs, Fortress of Earth, Thrudheim

  RESOURCES COLLECTED – Wood-Abundant, Metals-Iron/Gold/Silver/Tin-Abundant, Food-Abundant, Animals-Horses x N/A,

  VEHICLES – N/A

  SPECIAL FORCES – SEAL TEAM 1

  I closed the window, said goodbye to the magic users and headed out to meet with the brothers, Thunder Foot and Lightning Fist. We had a ton of shit to make.

  The blacksmith spot I had seen earlier wasn’t very far and I was there in a couple minutes. The entire fort town was only about a half a square kilometer for now and I saw the brothers watching a big Norse Ojibwe smith work on his forge. I studied both him and his work area. It was a great spot but the forge and area itself was extremely primitive. The type of forge I imagined that would have been there at the beginning of the iron age. That was what the material their weapons looked to be made of, sans Arun’s hammer which was magical in nature.

  “War Shaman.” The blacksmith said, setting his tongs and the piece of metal he was working on down.

  “Hello…” I started, then paused realizing I didn’t know the man’s name.

  “Smoking Bluejay.” The man said.

  “Thank you, Smoking Bluejay, I need to commandeer your forge.” I said, my tone brooking no argument.

  “As you wish War Shaman. What can I do to help?” He answered.

  “Oh, that was easy.” I said, a bit surprised.

  “Like you said, we have no time and much work to do if we are to get our vengeance.” Smoking Bluejay replied.

  “I like these guys.” Thunder Foot said.

  “Me too.” I replied. “Alright, let’s get going.”

  We began our work and I started calling orders out. I had all of them breaking down the forge and saving any useful materials. Smoking Bluejay balked as we destroyed his life’s working area, but I assured him that it would be back and better than ever. He grudgingly let us continue, but I could tell it was hard for him but to his credit he kept on keeping on.

  After the area was cleared, I began terrain modifications. The spot was great, it had access to water and was secluded enough that it was sheltered from the wind being in the center of the town and surrounded by higher land all around it. I started by channeling Earth Magic and brownish yellow light appeared around my hands. I raised and lowered the ground, shaping it so the water would flow around it in a consistent circular manner. Then, I made a level and flat hilltop that was perfectly round and equidistant, an exact circle. It ran one hundred feet in diameter.

  Next, I created channels around and through the circle, each terminating at a stream’s entranceway, the exact angle to make the speed of water entering the entrance fast enough for a waterwheel. When the earth was prepared, I switched to Water Magic and began channeling, light blue light appearing on my hands, and started directing the water flow to the appropriate places, slowly at first, but I got the hang of it after a few dozen tries.

  I had the three of them gathering rocks, making clay, and basically being my worker peons. By the time I was done with rerouting the water they were already starting the foundation for the new forge in the direct center of the circle. I switched m
y focus and started helping them. In almost no time at all I had heated the clay with my Fire Magic, and we had a completed a large stone forge. It was even larger and more advanced than the either of the previous ones I had built. It even had access to the main river area, where I planned to add the shipyard later on.

  “I didn’t believe you before, but this is amazing.” Smoking Bluejay said softly.

  “This is just the beginning.” I said with a grin.

  My periphery dinged and I quickly checked the messages.

  WORK OF ART CREATED… FORGE CONSTRUCTED… BONUS GIVEN DUE TO SKILLS…

  THREE ELEMENTS FORGE OF YIN AND YANG

  The forge uses the properties of Feng Shui and is formed in the shape of a Yin Yang, the water running through and around it purifying the natural magical properties from the forge in the center with Earth, Water, and Fire Magics combining to infuse and enrich all creations. Three natural conjoining ley lines of magic are fused with the forge being the control and focus for the magical energy.

  ART COMPLETION BONUS …

  FORGE RETAINS ALL PATTERNS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND GUIDES USED IN CREATING ANY AND ALL ITEMS, WEAPONS, ARMOR, VEHICLES, OR ANYTHING ELSE CRAFTED IN THE FORGE.

  ALL ITEMS, WEAPONS, AND ARMOR CONSTRUCTED IN THIS FORGE WILL GIVE AN AUTOMATIC BONUS TO WATER, EARTH, AND FIRE MAGIC. ALL MAGE BUILDERS WILL GET A BONUS TO CREATING AN ITEM WITH EXTRA MAGICAL ABILITY FROM ONE OF THE THREE FORMS OF MAGIC. ALL THOSE ASSISTING WITH FORGE CREATION HAVE BEEN GIVEN SKILL MAGE BUILDER OF THE PEOPLE, THEIR LEVEL OF SKILL WILL MATCH THE HIGHEST LEVELED MAGE BUILDER MINUS ONE FOREVER. ACCESS TO FORGE MAY BE GIVEN BY WAR SHAMAN OR HEAD MAGE BUILDER.

  CURRENT FORGE ACCESS

  Lawrence Wrath – Level 5 – Journeyman Mage Builder

  Smoking Bluejay – Level 2 – Apprentice Mage Builder

  Thunder Foot – Level 2 – Apprentice Mage Builder

  Lightning Fist – Level 2 – Apprentice Mage Builder

  ABILITY UPGRADED… SKILLS UPGRADED…

  BUILDER (LEVEL – 3)

  You have increased your knowledge of building things. You have gained access to more advanced marine vessels, structures, and items. The more things you create, the faster your skill will increase, and the more complex things will become available for you to create. Your crafting ability will change and increase with level and usage.

  MAGE BUILDER (LEVEL – 3) – JOURNEYMAN

  Your ability to build things and use magic simultaneously is increased to triple, as you now know three schools of magic. You may infuse the things you build with both earth, water, and fire which will enhance them in ways sometimes that are unexpected but always beneficial. This skill will continue to increase with usage and level. You are now an Expert Mage Builder. You may now take apprentices and impart your skill to them.

  INVENTOR (LEVEL – 3)

  By using your ability of Total Recall, your building skills, magical ability, and artistic skill you are able to create new and amazing things. There is no limit to your creations only those set by your imagination and creativity. But beware, with great power comes great responsibility, and like Icarus, one can fly to close to the sun. You have innate knowledge due to using your Total Recall skill so much that information access is almost instantaneous for use in creating new inventions.

  “What is this blinking light?” Smoking Bluejay asked.

  I quickly explained the concept of a character sheet and information screens then let the brothers help him get accustomed to the process, while I continued my work.

  Well, that was pretty amazing if a little unexpected, I knew I was in the zone and the side effect was I created a work of art. That was surprising, but hey, I’d take what I could get, every little bit helped in the long run.

  TRACK 10 – PURPLE RAIN - PRINCE

  That night my dreams were crazy vivid and almost feverish to say the least. It consisted of visions of a large fortified town, much like Thrudheim but larger and at the mouth of a river that terminated into a large lake. The town was so big it spilled out on both sides of the river and lakeshore. I approached from the sky, a bird’s eye view that became a third person one as I approached the large wooden walled town. Smoke appeared all around the fort town and turned to large patches of fire that was spreading rapidly.

  Specks and movement all around the town became larger and I saw humans and monsters of many types fighting and dying everywhere. The screams and shouts of the dying humans and the roars of the monsters attacked my senses. The splashes of battle were riots of color that flashed at me like an acid trip, or a Ridley Scott film, Here’s Johnny! These continued until I watched a mom and her child cowering on the side of a burning building and a huge Wendigo standing over her. The monsters bloodred claws were like a magnet for my vision and I watched in slow motion as they arced down and struck the pair.

  I woke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily and looking around my room in the darkness. Then I heard cries and shouts sounding out around the town. I checked my Danger Sense, and nothing was triggering it. Freak had woken and was looking around curiously, but not alarmed. That meant no monsters or other attackers. If others were having dreams like mine that would explain the noise. I almost screamed myself.

  I waved my familiar back to sleep and decided that I was not going to be able to go back to bed and got up. It was still a few hours before dawn, and I ran through the last of yesterday’s events as I woke up fully.

  After finishing the forge up, I had headed out and met up with Cunning Wolf, Sage, and Shadow Bear. They had already finished the beginning stages of raising the new berms and earthworks. I joined them adding my magical ability to theirs and we finished the first section of the wall by nightfall.

  The small lodge that had been given to me as a quarter’s was relatively close to the main lodge and eating area and that’s where I made my way to. A cook fire was already blazing in the night there and there were shadowy figures that surround it. That showed others were not sleeping either. Frigg was down there, along with Arun, Sage, and others I didn’t recognize. Most of my crew were there as well, all of them looking a bit haggard.

  “I take it everyone had crazy dreams tonight?” I asked, to the gathered group of people.

  “Aye, a burning town?” Billy asked.

  “It was Asgard. That was no dream our home is going to fall. That was a vision.” Frigg said, her voice carrying sadness, anger, grief, and iron belief all at the same time.

  “The gods have confirmed this is true. Time is even more pressing now. You all saw the size of the army of monsters, it filled the horizon. The vision shows that either they are attacking or going to attack Asgard. Either way the town will fall. We must be ready they will be on their way soon if not already.” Sage said, his voice full of emotion for the first time since I met him.

  “My thoughts exactly. How long till they arrive, any idea?” I asked.

  “It is two weeks travel by land and one week or less by water barring no interruptions. You saw their army. They have land and water forces. I imagine the bulk of them will be here in three weeks, but we could see the first of them within a week.” Sage answered, using the question to gather his emotions together.

  “I am leaving within the hour. I will take our warriors and go to the aid of Asgard.” Arun stated heatedly, cutting in on the conversation. “I will not leave my people, my family to die!”

  Frigg went to her grandson and patted him on the arm.

  “Of course, you will, bring the warriors and all the long canoes. If you can’t arrive in time to help fight, you can at least help those who live to escape. Is that all right with you War Shaman?” She asked, but it was more a command than question.

  “Yes of course.” I said, immediately.

  She nodded and gave me a sad smile.

  “I’m off.” Arun said, and turned striding off into the predawn morning.

  “Ok, obviously this changes our manpower pool, plans never go according to plan and all that. So, we deal with it an
d suck up the manpower loss and time constraint. We are going to have to update our timetables. This is going to be rough. Here’s what we are going to do.” I said, gathering everyone’s full attention and laying my updated plans out.

  Everyone listened intently, some of them interjecting questions now and then, but mostly just nodding quietly. By the time dawns first light came and the rest of the tribe came for breakfast, my elites, old and new, were already handing out assignments. After a tribesman, or woman, were given their task they grabbed some food and took off, not bothering to eat it there. It was what I imagined the Japanese were like trying to build after World War II, industrious to a fault. I nodded in satisfaction, that’s what we needed right now, and headed off to my own tasks while scarfing down my breakfast stew.

  Today was going to be a bit different then yesterday. I was going to finish the new berm walls and the earth shaping inside the town with my friends help. Cunning Wolf and Sage were already at the spot where we’d stopped yesterday, having left before I did. Shadow Bear had waited with me and we walked to the spot together. Once there, I surveyed the area while the two old men talked. They had a kind of professional interest in each other that I believe stemmed from one being an Earth Magic practitioner and the other using Water magic. They were also both Shamans, so I was sure that had something to do with it as well.

  I went over the plans again. The idea was to create a pentagon fort at the intersection of each river as it hit the Mississippi, with the intersecting river going around it in a clockwise circular motion. Each wall would be fifty feet high, with a moat full of fast-moving water flowing around it. Due to the creation of the Forge of Yin and Yang, I had unwittingly changed the flow of magical power from the three rivers and made the forge the center of them. This created a vortex of power the Thrudheim was now the epicenter of and it changed how the whole town’s defenses needed to be laid out. I had explained this to the two Shamans, and they had immediately begun tossing ideas off each other on how to harness and exploit this unexpected boon.