by Sam Strigo
The singed beast stares down its fire flinging foe. And with a short cry it jumps into a charge and storms towards him. The ground trembles at every step.
Felix flings a fireball. Boom. It hits head on. The beast wails but presses on through smoke and fire. He hurls another. Boom. It explodes on impact. The beast trips. It tumbles and with a resounding thud, it lands just shy of its vanquisher.
For a moment, only the soft murmur of wind skipping through the flowers, fills the glade.
“Ugh!” a sound comes from something concealed in the grass.
Felix frowns at Buddy lying face down. The hands he had over his head now pushes him up.
“That was… damn close!” Buddy gasps, getting to his feet. “Three fireballs does it. Too bad they’re skill shots.”
“You were supposed to face it.”
“I panicked, okay. You didn’t say duck!”, pants Buddy.
“Fine, next ti— oh!”
Above the still body of their conquest, a rock floats. Felix picks up the item and brings it close to his face. Irregular, rough, and gray. The rock would be plain if it were not for the red cubic crystals. They gleam in the sunlight. The largest of them glows within.
[Identify]
?? | Uncommon
??
“Look at this.” Felix hands the rock to his companion. Buddy holds it up against the sky and squints.
“Holy crap! What! They drop uncommon items? Wait… That’s normal, isn’t it?”
“What’s normal?”
“For monsters to have a chance of dropping items rarer than them.”
“As far as I know, yes. Is uncommon considered rare in this game? I can’t even identify the uncommon stuff. I wonder what’s after that.”
“Well, if you read the rarity help text you’d know! First is widespread then common, followed by uncommon, rare, legendary, epic, myth, and finally, divine.”
“Anything on how to get their info?” asks Felix.
“Hold on.” Buddy stares off into the distance. For a minute, he stands still, then he turns to Felix. “I just read the identify help text. Higher levels will get you information on rarer items but it only gets up to the rare tier. No idea about the other tiers.”
“Oh… So, do you want it? The crystal thing?”
“Can I keep it? I mean we are a team, so if it turns out to be something more useful to you than me...”
“Well, okay,” Felix replies. “Alright. You ready to go again?”
“Give me a minute.” Buddy reaches into the empty air in front of him and with a poof a translucent green ball appears in his hand. He takes a bite. His eyes widen. He takes another bite. And another. And another, until nothing is left of the delicacy but the goo on his hands which he licks clean. “Oh my god! That was so good. Like thick custard!”
“That’s great, but germs? Also, ew.”
“Ha! No germs in games!” Buddy laughs. “I am pumped! And ready to rumble!”
[Fireball]
“Mine!” Buddy grabs Felix’s wrist and tips the fireball onto his own awaiting hand. Felix scowls at him to no one’s notice. Buddy dashes towards the tree line. “Let’s do this!”, he yells.
Felix cups his mouth. “Don’t forget to turn around this time!”
[Fireball]
[Fireball]
Not long after Buddy’s charge into the forest, an explosion echoes from the left. Felix turns to face the source. He takes a stance. One fireball held outstretched and the other raised above; poised to deliver its full fiery fury, flying down the verdant carpet and meet unfortunate prey.
A monster’s cry announces Buddy’s entrance into the arena. He runs straight towards Felix. Bursting out of the bushes with a snarl, the largest hare so far makes its appearance.
“Duck!”
A fireball whistles past, above him, as Buddy dives at an angle. He rolls into a crouch and spins to face the beast, daggers drawn. A direct hit from the missile staggers it. The second fireball roars forward but the hare leaps. The ground behind explodes, sending dirt and grass flying. Buddy sweeps in and stabs the monster from the side. It leaps back but Buddy keeps up. Attacking while denying any distance between them.
[Fireball]
Boom, Felix misses again.
Buddy keeps up his relentless pace. Slashing, stabbing, leaping, and sprinting with the beast. Its white fur dyes redder and redder. The feral foe begins to slow and become sluggish, but so does Buddy. He jumps back with a shout.
“Do it!”
As if answering the call, the hare pounces.
[Fireball]
A swing of his arm turns the meadow crimson. This time, Felix does not miss. The beast mid-leap is blown back, a dozen feet through the air. It lands on its side and skids to halt. The beast whines its last breath.
*beep*
—Objective Complete: Hunt and Kill Corynd Hares—
Corynd Hares, depicted above, are white, and fluffy monsters found natively in the Emerald region. They can be highly territorial and aggressive. Players are highly encouraged to complete this quest in a group.
* * *
Progress : 3/3
Rewards
100XP
30 Gold
[Accept] [Deny]
[Accept]
*ding*
*Level Up!*
*beep*
—New Objective: Go to Beginners Plaza—
Escape the Ruby Forest and return to Beginners Plaza.
* * *
Rewards
5 Gold
Time Limit : None
A sudden thud jerks Felix out of his focus. Buddy slumps to the ground. He lies there on his stomach. His back heaving. His breath short, and quick. Felix jogs over and kneels down beside his partner.
“You alright?”
“The sap… wore off”
Felix flips Buddy onto his back and lies down next to him. The faint whiff of earth, the soft smell of flowers and the sharp scent of grass mingle. Time presses on as they spend it sprawling in the late afternoon sun. When they awake, early evening light greets them. By it the shadows grew longer but darkness did not yet fall.
The two young adventurers pack their belongings and leave the glade. They tiptoe through hole-infested grounds. They walk in awe by great blue waterfalls and skip over their rivers. They poke tall wiggling stalks with sticks. They tread the forest floor side by side. Occasionally, stopping passing adventurers to ask for directions. Until finally, they see a break in the trees.
“We’re out! At last. Let’s go!” Buddy jumps for joy. “And stop flashing me that smile, you ass!”
The two walk down a dirt road, past some hills, and into farmlands. It takes them between wheat fields and pastures. They stroll by farmsteads of all sorts. Curious, Felix peeks at one of the buildings. Eyes stare back through the gap of a window ajar. It clacks shut. Felix furrows his brow and turns his gaze around. The fields are empty. No farmers, no farmhands, and no children running about. The players quiet as they observe their surroundings. Gone is the ringing of anvils. Missing is the laughter of the morning, the exuberant chatter, the huff of farmers working the land. Only the whistling of wind and the rustle of crops accompany them. In the silence, their footsteps grow loud.
A door slams shut as Felix nears it. He hears it creak behind him. Eyes peep at him through the crack. Eyes grope his back down the street. Eyes wait for him up the road. Shy gazes spy through gaps between boards. Through slits of doors that open when they walk past. Through windows above that muffle worried whispers. Felix and Buddy take long strides to the city entrance. The gaping maw that is the gatehouse swallows the returning adventurers whole.
Chapter Five
Guards stand watch in their polished armour, holding green-tipped spears and round carved jade shields. Ornate hilts, poke out of scabbards dangling at the waists. A stream of players pour in from the city gates meeting stern looks from the guards. When the returning adventurers reach the fountain, murmurs rumble throughout the square. C
itizens throw hurried glances. They gossip in hushed tones, far from ear shot. Most keep close to the buildings. Some hide in alleyways. All give the players a wide berth.
What’s going on… ?
They enter an almost deserted marketplace. The tables lay bare. The tents taken down and the peddlers absent. Here and there, the few, still working merchants busy themselves packing up for the day. Felix walks along the nearly empty boulevard. Players dot the way in front of him to a large gathering in the distance. A muffled clamor carries over.
Far from the plaza, a woman unsheathes a dagger and it glitters in Felix’s eye. An assortment of oddly shaped blades, sticks, and who-knows-whats are scattered on the merchants table. Felix stops and approaches the dagger-wielding dealer.
“Where are you going?” asks Buddy over his shoulder.
“Might need a dagger and supplies. I am sure there are shops around to visit too. You coming?”
Buddy turns to Felix. “Let’s part here. I need some shut eye. Are you going to go on for a bit?”
“Yeah, I’ll have a look around. Maybe find out what’s good gear for mages.”
“Okay… Well, I had fun! I have you on my friends list. So, don’t think you can escape playing with me next time!”
Felix chuckles. “Oh no.”
They wave each other goodbye before Buddy takes off in a jog.
*beep*
Buddy has left the party.
The merchant looks up when Felix comes up to her booth.
“May I help you?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Can I take a look at that?”
“It’s not for sale… It’s a family heirloom,” refuses the dealer. She glares at Felix, and takes a step back. The dagger close at her side.
“It’s absolutely stunning… Sorry for the trouble.”
“Wait,” says the peddler. She eyes him, and pauses before continuing, “I guess you could take a quick look. It is quite magnificent, isn’t it? But, please, keep it above the table. No sudden movements.”
Felix thanks the merchant as she places the dagger in his outstretched hands. From the pommel to the tip, the knife in two gentle curves, exudes elegance. Fine gold scrollwork, on an ebony handle, cascades into a squarish silver guard, holding a two finger wide blade. A blade more like a window into an infinite abyss than solid matter. A benign crack in reality. Only the gleam off its body reassures Felix of a surface. Rolling the weapon in his hands, a spacescape appears in the cold metal. Minuscule golden crystals, embedded within, sparkle like stars in the darkness.
[Identify]
?? | Rare
??
“Oh. Wait a minute,” he whispers under his breath.
[Level Up]
*beep*
Level Up 2 -> 3
Please assign your Stat Points.
Stat Points : 5
Strength : 1 [+]
Celerity : 1 [+]
Resilience : 1 [+]
Endurance : 2 [+]
Auric Potency : 7[+]
Auric Depth : 7 [+]
[Next]
Felix puts two points into [Identify], bringing it up to the third and final level. Here, he assures himself, the ability will reveal to him the secrets of even rare objects.
[Identify]
Grein’s Nightwish | Rare
Durability : 300
Base Damage : 100 Physical, 25 Dark
Effects : +15 Speed
Made by Modus Grein
“Grein’s Nightwish.”
“Yes!” the woman chirps. “Forged by the grandmaster himself, Modus Grein. Incredibly, incredibly powerful. Of course, I’ve never used it. Of course not. It would be sacrilege. Very few other families have such an treasure. Makes other rare objects pale in comparison!” she gushes. “Err… I’ll take that back now… Thank you.”
“What’s it made of?”
“We aren’t sure. Quite possibly some material lost to time,” the merchant answers while sheathing Grein’s Nightwish at her waist. It disappears behind a thick velvet cloak.
“What’re those little crystal bits?”
“Starstones! Makes it cut better. I think.” She looks Felix straight in the eyes, and leans in, smiling. “I have some affordable limited works that are absolutely exceptional. They would be at home in any savvy collectors gallery. Come take a peek. You won’t regret it… Max.”
“Uh… Alright. Show me.” [Identify] *beep* “Meryl.”
Felix informs Meryl about his desire for a dagger and his partiality to magic. From an ornate chest she heaves up onto the table, Meryl pulls out an assortment of items. The sizes and number of which should be impossible to be kept in a container no bigger than she is. One by one, a stream of strange objects fill the booth surface until no more can fit. Translucent things, glowing things, things that have moss, things that don’t look like weapons at all. A bun-shaped slime bobs up and down in the corner.
“That’s a weapon?”
“No, that’s my pet. Makes cleaning so much easier.”
Meryl and Felix talk at length about various magic boosting tools. A staff, though extremely powerful, is difficult to wield and takes up both hands; one to hold the weapon and the other to cast spells. One step down on the power tier list, are wands. A wand is held in one hand and only spells channeled through it are enhanced by it. Totems work even when kept in the inventory but are the weakest of the categories.
“Since you’re unsure, I’d recommend totems. Totems won’t work with each other, but can be used together with other magical artifacts like wands. I’ve got the perfect one for you right here.” Meryl picks up a knife and hands it to Felix. “Remember when I told you that anything can double as a magic tool?”
Felix wraps his fingers around polished walnut. The grip bulges in the middle. A silver pommel and guard completes the I-shaped hilt. A hilt which holds a thick, translucent white, double-edged blade, as long as Felix’s forearm. It had been flintknapped masterfully. Light reflects off its many faces as Felix rocks the dagger from side to side.
[Identify]
Aras Magebalm | Uncommon | Totemic
Durability : 100
Base Damage : 25 Physical
Totem Effects : +3 Depth, +2 Potency
Totem Multiplier : x1.25 Raw Magic Damage
Made by Ara Grein
“That’ll be forty gold.”
“What!? Are knives so expensive?”
“No, a regular dagger costs fifteen silver. This, is no regular dagger,” clarifies Meryl. “It’s one of a kind. A limited work of art. She, the maker, didn’t make a lot of these. Honestly, I could charge a lot more… but, I like you Max.”
[Inventory]
Inventory
50G
“I’d only have ten gold left,” worries Felix. He fidgets in place, admiring the blade and stealing glances at Meryl every so often.
“It’s an investment. Besides, ten gold is more than enough to survive for a couple months in this city. Look, I’ll throw in a maintenance kit for free. You won’t find this kind of deal anywhere else!” assures Meryl, flashing a wide grin.
Felix walks away from the exchange much poorer than he was before. He poofs his new dagger away and stuffs the maintenance kit into his backpack. Along the boulevard, and down the marketplace, he makes for home plate. The distance to the plaza shrinks until muffled noises become shrill cries and loud tones. A crowd ahead is in the throws of turmoil. It is the source of the disturbance. Felix could barely make out the words.
“Where…”
“…been…hours!”
“I can’t…damn…!”
These are not the happy sounds of the early afternoon. These are angry shouts and screams of frustration. Felix comes up to the wall of players. He plunges in without a second thought. The mass writhes to the awful din of confused shouting matches and addled hysteria.
“Tell me the logout command!” sobs one fellow somewhere deeper inside.
“How the fuck should I kno
w! Keep looking, asshole!” a hoarse voice replies.
Commands echo from all directions, “Log out! Exit! Quit! Shut down!”
“Uuuu…” snivels a red-headed elf.
“Calm down! You’re making a fuss,” scolds a hazel-eyed halfling. Tears roll down her friends sullen face.
In all ranges of color and volume, people lament their inability to leave the game and return to the real world. There are players who threaten. They screech and wail at the innocent. There are those who drop to their knees. They beg and plead the equally bewildered. A few weep by their lonesome. They do nothing but cry. A man snorts at the commotion and leaves. Optimistic at the folly of others, just not looking hard enough.
There’s a log out issue? Not like I had any plans but I need some rest.
Felix pushes and pries his way into the plaza. Finally, cobblestones give way to marble.
*beep*
—Objective Complete: Go to Beginners Plaza—
Escape the Ruby Forest and return to Beginners Plaza.
* * *
Rewards
5 Gold
[Accept] [Deny]
[Accept]
*beep*
Congratulations! You have completed the tutorial. By now, you should have enough gold and experience to survive your first steps into this vast and perilous world. Use what you have gained wisely and it will go far. Good luck on your adventures, but remember, the most important thing is to have fun! The mysteries of ArcaneHazards await you, MaxValentine.
“Haa,” sighs Felix.
Now then.
Log out.
… …
Exit.
… …
Exit! Log out! Leave! Quit! Shut down! Close!
… …
Power down? Off? Power off? Turn Off?
… …
Shit.
He turns to the calmest looking person there. “Excuse me.”
