Hetman decided to get out of the mound as fast as he can. From actions of Silent Owl guild it was obvious their “catacombs cleaning quest” was taking place quiet often. It was good idea to be far away from here before they come back. Of course before getting out he checked every coffin for hidden switches but none except the one with djinn sculpture seemed to have one. He was also little bit scared if he will be able to get outside mound, but fortunately the copper doors weren’t designed to keep people inside. Locking mechanism was hard to open from outside but from inside there wasn’t even need of special tools to do so.
“Ok I’m outside, but how I will get to the Windport” he wondered
The road to catacombs was easy. Animals were afraid to attack group of 80 players also then he was guided there. Now Hetman had to find way back to the city himself.
The worst thing was that he was alone. Only one player in forest full of wolfs packs, bears, boars and who knows what else. The weakest creature here were foxes level 5-8 which was two times bigger than his 3 levels.
Wondering what to do Hetman remembered he still hadn’t checked the book he found inside catacombs.
Incomprehensible book
Small book written in language you don’t know ( description can change depending on knowledge)
It looked like he didn’t know right language to read the book.
“I will have to visit library to get more information, but for now I should concentrate on how to get outside of this forest. If I remember correct this way should lead to the Windport” Talking to himself Hetman entered the bushes.
Forest looked like maze and after while he in his mind appeared doubts “Haven’t I pass this tree 15 minutes ago”. To Hetman, kid who was brought up inside city where the nearest thing to forest were parks trees didn’t different from each other too much. Of course he knew that there are many kinds of them like oak or pine but to distinguish between two similar in size and structure was impossible for him.
Also it didn’t help that treetops blocked most of the light and visibility. Without proper constant points in sight Hetman couldn’t keep walking straight and started making circles.
This kind of aimless wandering lasted for two hours. It was stopped by window informing Hetman about his satiety bar was dangerously low. Wanting to check how long he could last without the food he decided to look at this more closely. From information he deduced that his food supply will probably last for 6 days more. However this information almost instantly lost its importance after he seen that his status window went from blue to red and next to his name appeared words Player Killer.
“Ah, I got this after killing this guy inside the dome” he recalled
This complicated case. In most case people with PK marks were treated like players worst enemies. They were killed on spot and what worse killing them not only didn’t gave negative effects but even gave special bonuses.
“Information about PK mark”
Player Killer mark
Player Killer mark is given to players who killed another gamer. It will last from two weeks up depending on number of killed players and infamy. This time can be reduced or increased depending on player actions. Good deeds can shorten it while bad will make it longer. There are few exceptions in which player after killing other gamer will not receive PK mark. At war, in arena and defending quests.
Players with PK marks will receive less EXP from fights with creatures, will be attacked in cities and get two times bigger death penalty. They will also get More EXP from PK and get higher chances to get good loot from players.
The repercussions for PK were serve but didn’t differed too much from other games. For high level players it could be even more effective to PK then do quests and clear dugongs.
To Hetman the most important information was about how long the mark will last. Two weeks wasn’t too long but for greenhorn to survive outside the city for two full weeks wasn’t easy.
He didn’t have decent equipment, not enough food and didn’t know how to fight with monsters inside forest. The worst thing was he didn’t have any safe point to rest. Simply speaking Hetman chances to survive were slim.
I cannot panic now. I need to stay calm. There must be a way. Thoughts like that were flying through Hetman had but they didn’t have much effect. Even the opposite he was so concerned about staying calm that he didn’t notice wolf that appeared before him.
Hetman saw the wolf when it was almost too late. Wolfs as animals hunting in groups didn’t attack alone. They attack in packs from 3 to even 20. This was small pack made from only 3 wolfs. Their attack formation was simple and effective. While one was distracting pray from the front two other were attacking from blind points on sides.
Hetman wasn’t surprised by the enemy in the front as he didn’t even notice him. What surprised him was growl from behind. Hearing it he dashed to the front like mad man and tackled the one at front. Wolfs didn’t except such possibility for them prey just a second ago was so scared that it couldn’t even move and now without any kind of warning it attacked one of them.
Even if it wasn’t planned Hetman tackled down front wolf. Before enemy could get up Hetman glimpsed his surrounding and at least understood situation he was into.
Sudden felling of terror for millisecond took control of his body but this made his adrenal brands to relies huge dose of adrenaline. Time suddenly slowed down and his body felt light and unrealistic. Hetman took knife and priced lying wolf, then he started to run away from two who were behind him.
Wolfs are animal designed to long distant runs. So it isn’t strange that game which prided itself in making game 99% realistic programed animals in consultation with specialist. This ensured that they will resemble original ones not only from look but also in actions.
Wolfs started chasing their pray. Their run wasn’t too long as Hetman almost in place turned around and once again attacked wolfs from surprise. This time his attack was intentional and much quicker. Tackled wolf was in second pierced at neck and two times and chest.
Hetman once again didn’t gave chance for the last wolf to counterattack and started running away planning to repeat whole tactic. However this time not everything went as he planned. When he turned around to tackle down the last wolf, it jumped at him ready to bite.
Hetman didn’t know that monsters and NPCs in “Age of Champions could learn. This wolf two times seen how his packs members were killed and didn’t want to repeat their mistakes.
Hetman seeing wolf charging at him ready to bite him managed in last moment stop his own tackle. This didn’t protect him from collision but saved his life as fangs missed him. Unfortunately this time situation was reversed. It was hetman who was lying on earth and wolf was ready to deliver finishing blow.
This what was going in Hetman head couldn’t be described with words. Thousand memories were going through his head. Some could say that all life flew before his eyes but it was only his brain who didn’t different between VR and RL danger looking for the way to survive. Their it was the memory that could save him.
It was from some old nature film where they were talking about wolfs. Lector with monotonous voice was talking about pack chasing lone dear. How wolfs could run after it for days without rest, how they circled prey and attack from blind spots and finally how they in 90% of situation wolfs ended their prey life crushing tracheas with their fangs.
Knowing where wolf will probably attack Hetman thrust place were wolf head will probably be during attack. It was critical hit and wolf motionless body fell to the ground.
Level up
Level up
Tackle down skill learned
Passive-Skill that increase success chance of tackling down enemy. The rate of success depends on the weight of enemy and yours (heavier you are easier it is to make enemy fell)
Beginner level 1 7%
Dangerously low level of satiety. Stamina regeneration stopped, health regeneration stopped. If satiety bar will reach 0 you will start lose health
Hetman quickly took some hardtacks from his back pack and started eating. Next he checked if wolfs left some loot. Their bodies didn’t disappear right away like bodies of players, so hetman decided to try skinning and dressing killed animals. This didn’t went well as most of leather was full of the holes but at least he had more food to eat.
After doing this hetman started thinking about some kind of shelter. It was almost 7 pm and soon it will get dark. During night monsters are stronger and more aggressive.
The first idea which came to Hetman mind was typical hut, but this project wouldn’t secure him from attack of wildlife. He decided to make kind of burrow and mask it. Using his hands and knife hetman dug a hole in the small hill. It was big enough for grown up man. Next using sticks and wolf leather he made lid which he masked to look like the rest of the forest. When he ended building his shelter it was already dark so Hetman quickly hide himself inside burrow and log out.
Bart got out of capsule and headed straight to the kitchen. After few hours of playing he was terribly hungry. On the freezer he found small note from his mom that diner is inside and that she with his father will come back around 8 pm. It was already past 4 pm so he decided to wait for his parents to return home.
After he ate diner Bart started writing with friend. John was his best friend since kindergarten. They decided to play the game together.
John67 “How’s the game”
Bart15 “fine but I need little bit rest and how is yours”
John67 “I have level30 shadowmonk”
Bart15 “secret class”
Bart15 “ ? “
John67 “ yes found it by accident. Low defence but attacks bypass defence and have a lot of debuffs”
John67 “how’s your character”
Bart15 “ I’m level 5 and still classless”
John67 “You s*ck in this game”
Bart15 “ I spend a lot of time on the plains that’s why”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
John67 “Don’t try to make excuses for your second-rate game skills”
Bart15 “I defeated you in every MMO we played and you still say this nonsense”
John67 “But this game is different you use body and your level shows you simply suck”
Bart15 “ I will kick your ass again as soon we will met in game. Do you have same nick as always”
John67 “Yes I do and you won’t stand a chance”
John67 “Ok I have to go, later”
Around 9 pm Bart once again logged to “Age of Champions”. In mean time he looked for useful information. Most of the things he found on forums about game didn’t gave him any chance of survival. But this wasn’t only source of information source he looked in. After encounter with wolfs he understood that in game animals actions are based on this in real life so if he will know how to take care of them RL it will be easier in VR. He looked in few survival sites and found some useful tips how to run away from animals, how to avoid encountering them, or how humans hunted them.
Hetman was still inside burrow he made earlier. It looked like he could at least make himself small safe point where animals wouldn’t attack his motionless body when he was offline.
When he got out from his hideout the sun had already past the highest point but to nightfall were still 5 -6 hours.
After Hetman ate to refill satiety bar, he decided to use this remaining time to explore the nearest surrounding. To not get lost again he marked trees. It was simple arrow symbol with each arrow pointing the way he came from but it served its purpose of not getting lost.
This time Hetman tried to make as little noise as he could. From survival books he knew that wolfs rarely attack humans. They do so only when they are extremely hungry or feel endangered. This could mean that he had simply bad luck encountering pack fulfilling such conditions or in game animals were much more ferocious and aggressive then real life one.
After 5 hours of such exploration Hetman got back to his starting point earth mound. It was already getting dark so he once again dug small burrow and hide in it.
The next day Hetman waited hidden near the tomb and wait to check if Silent Owl guild would appear there. After wandering inside forest for so long, he knew that getting outside without help will be impossible. Around 3 pm the same day Silent Owl guild appeared once again. Like previously they brought with them some greenhorns. After small speech from leader whole group entered inside and after fifteen minutes only half returned.
“Ok check if everybody is present I don’t want to be informed that somebody is missing before town gate like previously.” From afar Hetman heard Remir voice.
“Yep everybody is present” someone answered
“Ok let’s go”
Hetman waited till whole group will disappeared in forest and started to follow them keeping at least 30 meters gap between them.
After two hours of following them He got new skill
Stealth
Active - Ability that allows to be unnoticed and hide in shadows
5 stamina points per second
Beginner level 1 23%
Before nightfall he was already at the edge of the forest. City gates where only 2 kilometres before him but because of PK mark he couldn’t get inside yet.
***12 days later***
Hetman didn’t waste last few days he got few new abilities and learned how to fight with different kind of animals. The most effective tactic was to simply get on the tree and from there attack enemies with ranged weapons. Other was to lure animals into earlier prepared pits. One time he even killed bear. He simply gathered a lot of wood before bear liar and lit it. Fire blocked way outside and smoke suffocated the bear inside cave.
Now after two weeks of this survival camp where he fought against much stronger then himself enemies, where he couldn’t get help from others. Hetman abilities rose once again.
“Show status window, skill window, knowledge window and traits window”
[quart=Name,Alignment]Hetman,Neutral[/quart]
[quart=Fame,Infamy]0,100[/quart]
[quart=Level,Class]23,N/A[/quart]
[quart=Race,Gender]Human,Male[/quart]
[quart=Title, Stats Points]Scholar,110[/half0]
[quart=Health, Health Regeneration]100,1/min[/quart]
[quart=Mana Pool, Mana Absorption]100,1/min[/quart]
[quart=Stamina, Stamina Regeneration]100,1/minute[/quart]
[quart=Strenght,Agility]10,10[/quart]
[quart=Vitality,Physical Fitness]10,10[/quart]
[quart=Inteligence,Wisdom]10,10[/quart]
[quart=Leadership,Luck]0,10[/quart]
[quart=Atack,Defense]10,0[/quart]
Status Window
Magical Resistance
Fire: 0%
Water: 0%
Wind: 0%
Earth: 1%
Holly: 0%
Darkness: 0%
[quart=Skill Name,Skill Level]Skill Rank,Skill Expirience[/quart][quart=Trip-Pasive,1]Beginer,2%[/quart][quart=Tackle Down-Pasive,3]Beginer,43%[/quart][quart=Stealth-Active,6]Beginer,12%[/quart][quart=Stab-Active,3]Beginer,27%[/quart][quart=Sear Throw-Active,5]Beginer,71%[/quart][quart=Polearm Weapons Mastery-Pasive,4]Beginer,2%[/quart][quart= knife Mastery -Pasive,1]Beginer,54%[/quart][quart= Thrown Weapons Mastery -Pasive,4]Beginer,83%[/quart][quart= Dig-Pasive,6]Beginer,37%[/quart][quart=Trapping -Pasive,3]Beginer,95%[/quart][quart= Skinning and Dressing -Pasive,2]Beginer,98%[/quart]
Skill Window
Trip
Increase chance for trips to leave enemy without balance(+0,5% for every beginner level)
Tackle Down
Skill that increase success chance of tackling down enemy(+0,5% for every beginner level). The rate of success depends on the weight of enemy and yours (heavier you are easier it is to make enemy fell)
Stealth
Ability that allows to be unnoticed and hide in shadows(+1% for being unnoticed in shadow)
1 stamina points per second
Stab
Increase pierce type damage +35%
Stamina cost 70
Spear Throw
Increase pierce type damage of thrown spear weapons +42,5%
Stamina cost 60
Polearm Weapons Mastery
Increase damage and speed of polearms weapons
+8% damage, +4% speed
Knife Mastery
Increase damage and speed of knifes
+1% damage, +2% speed
Thrown Weapons Mastery
Increase damage and speed of thrown weapons
+8% damage, +4% speed
Dig
Increase speed and reduce stamina cost of digging
+12% speed, -6% stamina cost
Trapping
Increase damage of made traps and decrees chances of spotting them
+6% damage, -3% spotting chance
Skinning and Dressing
Increase quality of skinning leather and quantity of dressing meat from killed monsters
+4% to skinning good leather, +4% to quantity of meat
[quart=Knowledge Name,Knowledge Level]Knowledge Rank,Knowledge Progress[/quart]
[quart=Animal Anatomy,2]beginner,98%[/quart][quart=Human Language,1]C1,12%[/quart][quart=Polearm fighting tactics,4]Beginner, 83%[/quart][quart=knife fighting tactics,4]Beginner, 83%[/quart]
Knowledge Window
Knowledge how animal body is build. The more you know about animal anatomy the easier it is to spot their week points and better are you in skinning and dressing animal.
You know anatomy of: wolfs, boars, bears, snake, dear, rabbit, fox
Ability to speak and read in human language.
You are able to understand 99% words in human language
The more tactics you know the easier it is to adapt to situation
Known tactics: ”Advantage of reach”
The more tactics you know the easier it is to adapt to situation
Known tactics: ”Dash and stab”
Trait Window
Trait Name
Trait Description
Humans Versatility
You are able to learn any skill
and don’t have pros and cons in any
Right Handed
Your right side of body is stronger and faster than left
Offhand weapon -30% in attack, -15% in speed
Digger
Due to constant digging you have more magical resistance toward earth
+1% earth magic resistance