Chapter 6: Starting Items

“I have one for each of you,” said the Guide. “Take one and give it a look.”

Within the box, resting on what looked like soft velvet, were three identical black books. Beside the books were also small sacks of leather, each with a draw string loosely tied.

Amelie was the first the stand up and receive her gifts. Alexander followed suit and Chase right behind him. For a moment all could be heard was Amelie flipping through pages while Alexander examined the bag. Chase idly opened the book and tried to act surprised.

“The book is empty,” Said Amelie at last.

“That’s because its not a book,” said the guide. He had set the box down and was now gently stuffing a pipe with tobacco. “Those are journals.”

“What are their purpose, Mr Guide?”

“They have a few uses.” The Guide lit the pipe and puffed on the stem for a few moments before continuing. A cloud of smoke issued from his mouth and he seemed more relaxed now. “You can record your thoughts in them, for one. These journals are special and will never run out of pages. They are useful if you want to remember things about the world, perhaps draw a map of a town or the like.”

Alexander looked up from his inspection of the small bag. “I don’t think I’ll really need to use one. I don’t usually write things down,” he said, and then sighed. “At least I don’t think I do. Can’t remember anything.”

“You might get in the habit, Alexander.” Said the Guide. “But beyond that is where your personal information will be stored. In particular your job, and any stats you may have.”

“Stats?” Alexander looked at him sharply. “What are those, exactly?”

“A subject for another time, I’m afraid. But basically your strengths and weaknesses. What you have accomplished. This will all be answered thoroughly in the training area, so don’t worry. Now, noticed anything odd about that little bag, Alexander?”

“Looks like a normal bag to me. More like a purse, actually. Is this for carrying money?”

“Yes it is, and just about anything else you would want as well. Here,” the Guide handed Alexander a large rock from the ground. “Try putting this inside.”

The young man took the rock in one big hand and raised an eyebrow. “This rock is at least twice as big as the bag. It won’t fit.”

“Won’t it now?” The Guide grinned through the pipe clenched in his teeth and smoke poured through his mouth. “Just try. Put the rock close to the opening of the bag.”

“Well, alright.” Alexander took the rock and moved it near the opening of the bag. For a moment nothing happened. “Is this a joke or something? How can—WHOA!”

The bag grew in his hand until it was the same size as the rock. The mouth of the bag opened like a creature waiting to be fed. Alex placed the rock into the bag and suddenly, almost as though it was satisfied with a meal, grew smaller again until it was the same size it was previously.

“That’s amazing.” Said Amelie. “Alexander, is the bag heavier now?”

Eyes wide with shock, Alexander weighed the bag in his palm.

“A little bit maybe, but not close to what the rock weighed.”

Chase saw his opportunity. “That doesn’t seem like a normal bag at all, does it?”

“Good observation, Chase.” The Guide’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Though it looks like a bag, it is called your inventory. It can grow to fit most objects, though they cannot be alive, and will cut out the weight to a degree.”

“How much can a bag carry?” Asked Chase. His spawnmates nodded at his question and looked at the Guide.

“That depends on your own strength. They are not infinite. Some Players can hold more, and some less. Also, you cannot place on inventory within another, but you can carry multiple bags if you wish, but the carry limit will still be the same.”

“Remarkable,” said Amelie. “Thank you for these.”

“Every player gets one, but you are welcome.” The Guide looked each one of them in the eye. “Now, if you are all ready, there is a task each of you must complete today.”

“What kind of task?” Asked Alexander.

“I’ll show you,” said the Guide. He stood up and motioned for them to follow him. Without looking back he began to walk to he edge of the glade.

Chase looked at his spawn mates. They seemed unsure whether to get up or not. Deciding this was what the Emissary was talking about, Chase rose to his feet.

“Let’s go,” he said. “I am sure whoever sent us here isn’t planning our demise after feeding us breakfast.”

Amelie smiled and Alexander shrugged, but both followed him into the forest. The girl was no taller than his shoulder while the boy towered over him. They made an odd group as they entered the woods and trudged after the Guide.

———

“For your first task,” said the Guide, “you all need to get your hands dirty.”

Chase and the others stood before the guide. They were in a small clearing in the forest. The forest seemed to banish any outside sounds and the only thing which penetrated the area was the light streaming through the branches above.

“I almost forgot,” the guide said. He placed his foot on a chest before him and sighed. “Your journals, you can’t carry them like they are school books.”

Chase tried to feign curiosity as the other two looked at him. Amelie was clutching her journal to her chest like a new born, and Alexander had his clenched tightly in his hand, nearly bending the journal itself.

“How should be carry them?” Alexander asked.

“Unlike your purse which can be lost and stolen, your journal is a part of you. It’s the most important document you will ever own, and over the years players have added legal significance to its contents—or so I’ve heard. Now,” he spread his hands, palms up, and lowered his eyelids. He took a deep breath as though he was about to meditative. “I want you to slow your breathing, and focus your mind on storing your journal.”

Amelie looked at Chase quizzically and he had to return a shrug in reply. He decided to take the hit.

“Mr. Guide, what do you mean by ‘store’?”

“Simple, Chase. Think about your journal being stored away as though in a file cabinet.” One of the Guide’s eyebrows twitched.

“Like this?” Chase took his journal and laid it flat on his hands. Alexander and Amelie stared at his journal as he pretend to concentrate hard upon it. “Am I doing it right—Wow!”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The small black book disappeared as though it had never been there. Chase flexed his fingers and grabbed at the air as though trying to find it invisible and floating.

“Amazing,” said Amelie. “Where did it go?”

“Into the ether, dear. I don’t know much more than that. Sending your journal away is called Storing, and calling it back is called Retrieving…at least in this part of the world. Both of you try now.”

It took Alexander and Amelie longer than Chase and he realized he should have tried to make it look more difficult. Amelie got it after a minute but Alexander had sweat beading his forehead.

“It’s…not…going…” muttered Alexander. His journal lay in his hands almost impertinently. Chase saw Alexander getting more frustrated and rage boiling.

“Why don’t you try telling your journal to go away, out loud?” Chase suggested with a light pat on Alexanders back.

The big man look at him with impatience. “I doubt that would work.”

“Why not? I spoke to my journal in my head. Maybe some journals need a more direct command.”

Chase could feel the Guide glowering at the back of his head.

“Fine, I’ll try it that way.” Alexander straightened up and looked back at his journal. “Store yourself, journal.”

The journal disappeared and Alexander sighed with relief.

“Well done,” said the Guide. He wasn’t smiling. “But it’s best to get used to using your mind to store your journal. After today’s task you can practice it again. Don’t want to make bad habits.”

“Fine,” repeated Alexander in the same manner he had spoken to Chase. Criticism was not something he seemed to take well. “What is this task then?”

The Guide opened the wooden chest and grabbed a sword. It had no sheath and the Guide handed it to Chase.

“Hold on to this for a moment.” He muttered, the next item from the chest was a large club, which he handed to Alexander. Lastly he grabbed a bow and tossed to to Amelie which she caught. She looked apprehensive as she examined the bow from every angle. “Some arrows,” said the Guide passing her a quiver holding barely a dozen feathered shafts.

“What’s this for?” Alexander was testing the weight of his club. It was seemingly made for him such was its size. He gave it a couple practice swings.

“For the enemy,” said the Guide. “I gave each of you the weapon I thought you might find best, but if you want go ahead and trade with each other. Once the task begins there won’t be much time for switching weapons.”

The sword Chase carried was not a very well maintained blade, and it was a hand shorter than blades he was used to carrying. Chase saw Amelie eying it and offered it to her.

“Want to have a better look? This sword is rather small perhaps it would fit you better.”

Amelie handed her bow and quiver over and took the sword reverently.

“I’ve never used one before,” she told them both. “I am not sure how much use I will be. Are we going into battle?”

“Yes,” said the Guide, flatly. He pointed to the far end of the cleaning. “Your task will be coming out of that side of the clearing soon. If you three are ready then stand on this side of the chest.”

Chase tried to look worried but one glance at the fear and anticipation on the faces of his spawnmates ended his attempts. When he had first spawned this task had also caused him to grow fearful, and, truth to tell he told himself, it was a rather unsettling chore they were about to perform. He decided to take a different tack.

“I’m sure this won’t be too bad, guys.” He knocked an arrow to his bow string but kept it pointed to the ground. “Let’s just work together and use our weapons to—”.

A ringing bell interrupted Chase and the Guide shouted, “Over here you giant sack of cobwebs and dirt! Let’s see if you’ve any guts left! Come on, we don’t got all day!”

The Guides words hung in the air. For a moment all was still and nothing moved in the clearing. Chase heard the breathing of Alexander become ragged in anticipation.

“Is something supposed to…What’s that?” Alexander pointed at the far side of the clearing. He raised his club.

In the dark of the shadows eight giant eye balls glinted.

Time to test whether Ghelion took away all by abilities or merely just the contract abilities, Chase thought. In his old life he had been highly skilled with all manner of ranged projectiles. During his stint in the Assassin class he had mastered firing accurately at long range, a skill which came in handy for numerous contract kills in that class. Just by fingering the bow and tugging on its string Chase felt that his body still remembered how to shoot well.

Good thing I have the bow, thought Chase. I can let these two figure this out for themselves and support as needed.

“It’s,” Amelie gasped. “It’s a spider!”

Suddenly a pair of long, hairy, legs came from the shadows. The legs tore into the earth and dragged the rest of its body with it into the light of the clearing. The spider was the size of a small boulder and clicked its pinchers menacingly. It’s body was covered in bristly hair which covered its head and legs and its abdomen was tucked safely behind its body.

The Guide called from behind them again.

“There you are you giant ugly thing you! I got three heroes who are here to put and end to your miserable ways. I hope you’re ready for the beat down of your life!”

The spider’s eyes narrowed and it clicked it’s mandibles again. It seemed to understand what the Guide was saying.

“Um, maybe you shouldn’t antagonize it so much,” said Alexander. He was shaking but making a good show of being brave. “Do we really have to do this? Fight it, I mean?”

“Don’t worry, lad. He needs some some put downs before he’s ready to fight. Been this way for a long time now. And yes, everyone has to fight and beat this,” he cupped his hands around his mouth, “UGLY ARACHNID, before progressing.”

Now the spider seemed to go into a rage. It stamped its legs threateningly into the ground and tuffs of dirts rose into the air. Birds flew squawking from the trees and in the corner of his vision Chase saw Amelie and Alexander ready their weapons.

“If we work together, this won’t be too hard,” said Chase. He turned around and looked them both in the eyes, one after another, as he spoke. He tried to impart a bit of courage yet not sound like he knew much about fighting giant spiders. “Alex that club might be useful in blocking that spiders’ mandibles. I want you to guard Amelie, okay?”

“What should I do, Mr Chase?” Asked Amelie.

“And who put you in charge?” Demanded Alexander.

“No one, but I think I have a plan.” Chase rose his bow. “I’ve never used one of these before but if you can give me a shot maybe I can hit one of its eyes. Amelie, that sword of yours looks old but its sharp enough that a good swing or two should be able to sever a leg off this thing. If you can hack off a couple legs, and you Alexander can defend her from the mandibles, I should be able to get a shot, got it?”

“So your brilliant plan is to stay back here and let us risk our lives?” Alexander scoffed. “Aren’t you older than us? Shouldn’t you be offering to fight this instead of sending the girl out?”

“I can do it,” said Amelie. And for the first time her polite demeanor slipped away. “I think that Mr Chase’s plan is good. And unless you have a better one we should try it out.”

The young man sighed. “Fine, but this is ridiculous.”

Chase clapped him on the shoulder. “Everything about this is ridiculous, you’re not wrong there. Alright,” he said turning to face the spider. “Do as I’ve said, and I’ll try to cover you two from back here.”

“Cover us?” Said Alexander. “You’ve never shot a bow in your life, right? Don’t shoot that unless we are far away otherwise you’ll end up hitting one of us.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Chase. “Amelie, try to cut its two front legs. That should be enough. When that happens get away, got it?”

“Yes, Mr. Chase,” she said. Alexander grunted.

“Just ‘Chase’, Amelie.”

Alexander moved forward, his club raised. Amelie got behind him. The two of them shuffled forward.

“Good job you two,” called the Guide. “Go and kill that grimy and disgusting excuse for a spider!”

At the Guide’s words the spider seemed to finally have had enough. It stamped the ground some more and clicked it’s mandibles several times quickly in a row. Chase had never been able to talk to spiders but he imagined it was saying something like, “Now you’ve gone too far, old man, and I’m gonna tear your little friends in half.”

Chase kept this thought to himself.

“Alright, you two.” Chase readied his bow. “The spider is going to try to grab you with his mandibles. Alex, show this spider that’s not going to happen.”

“Alexander,” he hissed over his shoulder. “Come on, Amelie. I think I can do this. Be ready to chop its legs off as soon as you have an opening.”

Club raised before him, Chase watched as man and spider slowly circled one another. Alexander took a couple steps to the right and the spider followed suit. Amelie stayed behind him, trying to stick to his large shadow. She had her sword held with both hands as though about to swat a fly.

I hope this was a good idea, thought Chase. He knew what was needed to be done. This spider was a longstanding tradition for newly spawned players. Sometimes, however, there were complications. The last thing Chase wanted was to have to defeat the thing himself and rescue his spawnmates. Chase took a glance behind him to check on the Guide. When he did the Guide simply nodded at him. Chase took that to mean he had made the right decision to play support.

“Didn’t have to egg on the spider so much,” Chase muttered under his breath. “Alexander! Watch out!”

The spider lunged at Alexander. The boy took a step back and held up his club like a shield, the spiders mandibles biting deep into the wood. The weight of the spider and the surprise attack seemed to off balance him and his back foot slip. Fortunately he caught himself and pushed back, muscles straining to fight the enemy.

Incredible, thought Chase. He’s strong enough to push the spider back.

Alexander, still pushing against the spider, took one step forward, and then another. And another. The spiders many eyes seemed to widen in shock. It’s eight legs scrambled to find purchase in order to push back against its opponent.

“Good job, Alexander!” Said Amelie, raising her sword. “Just let me try and…ALEX!”

The spider suddenly shrieked and tore the club out of Alexanders hands, tossing it to the far side of the clearing. It reared up on its hind legs revealing its gigantic glory, poised to crush the boy. Alexander shielded himself with his arms.

With a twang and a whoosh an arrow flew through the glade.