The trio walked out of the hut, the pathway into the city area was quiet. Four guards stood by the gate. One on either side, and two by the tower that looked over the wall. As they got to the gates, the guards looked them over suspiciously. They must not have found anything alarming about the group, because no one stopped them as they passed.
Once inside, they came to a courtyard. Inside it, a few dozen people lined the walkways through the trees. Shops and services filled the bottom level of the buildings, each taking up space until they all seemed to blend together. Colors and signs marked the borders of the different shop styles.
They stood off to the side of the road, blocking an alleyway that led to a brick wall. The scarce trees next to a couple buildings made the city look bleaker and barer than it truly was.
Sarah had seen the enormous fields just outside, but inside, it almost looked like they had built the city on a beach. If the sea to the south and west rose even a few feet, Sarah thought for sure this place would be washed away.
“Blue store, on the left.” Jorn said, pointing out a bright blue entrance way.
“What’s in there?” Sarah asked.
“Food, a place to rest, and hopefully some info on the quest we got.”
Sarah blinked a few times, she had almost forgotten about the quest. The fighting had all finally come to an end, but there had never been a completion prompt. They had survived, and saved one of the two men out in that field. Shouldn’t they have gotten the quest update already?
“I guess I kinda forgot about it, but shouldn’t we have already finished our quest?”
“You have to get the credit applied through an official. Someone registered with the guilds. And since I know you don’t know, you would have signed up for the guild membership and learned all of this at the start of the tutorial.”
Sarah gave Jorn a sidelong glance, while she was able to walk on her own now, they had stayed relatively close as they walked. Duerlin was still keeping a hand on Jorn’s shoulder, even if he had to lift it slightly above his own head to do so. He had confusion on his face, looking back and forth between Jorn and SarthDarah.
“What do you mean?” Duerlin asked Jorn, looking even more intently at SarthDarah.
“Yea Sarth, what do I mean?” Jorn’s derision made Sarah want to punch him again.
She could feel the heat build in her face, and was aware of her eyes lighting on fire this time. The sudden change wasn’t painful to her, it almost felt like she was awakening to a whole new depth of senses in her vision.
“You mean to shut the hell up.” SarthDarah was gritting down on her words to keep from shouting. “Inside, you tell me what I should already know, I’ll tell you the story of how I jumped off a mountain.”
Jorn stared blankly at her for a moment. Duerlin’s mouth opened wide and it almost looked like his character lagged out for a few moments.
“That is, the most awesome!” He panted the words out in big breaths. “Holy crap, I don’t even know what to say.”
He kept laughing. Sarah punched him. Falling backwards, Jorn landed with a thud.
“Oh come on! You gotta admit, that is totally a noob way to start a game you know nothing about.” Jorn’s laughing fit started to turn to coughs before he stood back up.
After they all took a few moments to collect themselves, Duerlin bowed a goodbye, then turned and walked back towards the city gate. His determination to see his friends re-spawn was admirable, but Sarah was ready to get her info and move on.
She let Jorn lead her into the blue walled store. It had several tables inside, most had at least four or five people sitting around them. Were these all players, or inhabitants of this city?
“He’s gonna be really upset after he gets the in-game message that tells him his last remaining party member has been removed from the server.” Jorn said as they sat at a smaller table in the back of the restaurant side of the store.
“Wouldn’t he have gotten that message when Dureft died?” Sarah figured that would have happened right away if there was no re-spawn.
“Yea, well for me it didn’t happen until about an hour or so after I left the cave. I had barely gotten to the city the first time, expecting to see a bunch of parties collectively re-spawning and waiting for the survivors. There were only a handful of people setting up that Medical Tent just outside.” Jorn almost looked sad, his voice was flat and missing his rumbling joyfulness.
“So, it has a delay, Duerlin will be standing there for a few minutes and then realize he’s alone now?”
“Yup. He won’t have to wait long, you only get one life in the beta test. It’s why I was out there alone, It’s why those healers are struggling to do anything they can to save the people that can at least make it back to them. Most go out and never return.”
“This game is brutal.” Sarah wasn’t sure why she sounded excited, but even with the sobering notion of only getting one life, she relished the hardcore difficulty.
“Extremely so. Those vines I saved you from, those are connected to the area boss’s main bodies. They say there’s five of them out there, and you just happened to land near one of the most dangerous ones. The info on the Mandragola Fields label says that orange headed ones can spout a gelatin like substance that ignites with friction in the open air.”
Sarah had to stop and think for a moment, that sounded way more dangerous than something low level characters should be able to handle. She still hadn’t gotten any experience or levels, or skills or notifications of any kind beyond the starting ones and the single quest prompt. How was she supposed to gauge her character skill against a creature or other person?
“What level are you?” Sarah had to know if it was something that got turned on by the training master Jorn had mentioned.
“Well, my vessel has a level one upgrade rating. My ax has a level two.”
“What? How does that work? How can you be only level one? And how do you see that info?” Sarah was rapidly asking the questions as she searched her own vision and identifier gauges for any of the information she could find.
“Hahaha. You don’t see that information until you start upgrading your vessel and or weapon. You haven’t finished any quests since you skipped the tutorial and landed in those fields. You won’t have any upgrade slots used yet, so there's no level to your vessel.”
“I have one, it’s a mental focus crystal!” Sarah basically shoved her arm into Jorn’s face to show off where the tip of it gleamed in the light. It gave a blue shimmer to the seam on her left forearm.
“Wow, that…” Jorn paused, then undid a clasp under his right forearm. “Check this out.”
As the wrap around his arm dropped away, Sarah could see the gleam of six different colors. A blue one that matched the one she had shown brightly in a seam near Jorn’s wrist. An orange and silver one lay either side of it. A red gem lay in between a green gem and a purple gem.
“All that equals level one?”
Jorn nodded, then laid his hand out flat and tilted it side to side.
“It adds up to about level one and two thirds. But as games go, you don’t get to the next level until you have gotten all of it.”
“And the ax?”
“I found that one already special. In that cave, I found it laying up against a pillar. Middle of the room, no traps had been found anywhere, and we all were just looting what we could. I was the only one who could lift it.” Jorn looked over his shoulder at the massive blade that stuck above his head. “I almost wish I would have left it alone.”
“Why?”
“It was the only thing keeping the lid on the creature that killed my entire party.”
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Silence sat heavy between them for a while. Neither wanted to talk more about that, Jorn seemed to have said everything about that subject anyway.
A waitress came by, Jorn ordered a couple drinks and some food, Sarah did the same. Before she left Jorn asked her to send the on duty guild associate over to them.
“We have to wait to turn in quests?” Sarah was irked by this quirk.
“It doesn’t take long. It keeps the realism in the game, I enjoy it. Besides the food here is amazing, taste works just the same as every other sense in the game.”
“It does smell amazing in here.”
Jorn explained a little about how the place worked. Everything from food to associates, and even representatives of the government could be “ordered” and in the time required to fetch the “order”, it or they would arrive.
Upstairs had a spa area for healing, but it was expensive and couldn’t do anything more than ease bruising and small internal issues. Jorn then held his right arm over the center of the table, and a soft beep announced the flickering entrance of a computer screen.
It had a bunch of script on it, but Sarah was unable to read it. She tried to reach her own right arm over the screen, and it flickered to show a second screen with script she could read.
“Cool isn’t it. Safety features are set so only the person the vessel is linked with can read the stats and info on yourself. You can give allowances to others to read it, most don’t. I know a few that sold the rights to read their personal info, they made a boatload of money on it.”
“But?” Sarah knew how that would end up.
“But, within twenty minutes, their info was posted all over the city. Everyone knew what their skills and stats were.”
That didn’t sound too terrible, but Sarah knew what leaking such delicate info could do to pro gamers.
“It ended up being used to hunt them, didn’t it?” Sarah couldn’t hide the pity she felt for them. Jorn simply nodded. “I think it’s about time for you to give me the info I need.” Jorn nodded again.
“So basically, the way the game puts it anyway, we are Vessels. Sent to this world to save it from the impending apocalypse. The planet Tios was a huge resource hub at one point, but they got overzealous with the harvesting. Forcing burdens onto the people that they couldn’t handle. Some divine intervention the game made a speech about, led to this great Mistress giving her approval to send in a few hundred thousand souls picked from the stars and sent to aid Tios. When we were introduced to the training master, the game made a huge deal about the process of honing your soul into being one with the vessel. I assume it means to simply let yourself be one with the game and envision this as your real body. Others thought it meant more literally training to sense how your soul was connected in the game, maybe thinking it was a secret skill to unlock. Most just ignored it and wanted to try out virtual combat in a realistic manner. Between the eight players in my starting party, only three of us even bothered to take notes on the tutorial.”
“Wait, how do you take notes? I don’t have any paper.”
“It’s a mental log, just imagine that the words you’re hearing are appearing in front of you as visual text. Then slide that text to the top and just keep scrolling as it fills your vision. I made mine so it auto scrolls in a small box to my right. If you want the trainer's most important info, you need to know that only a certain few actually got to hear it. I was the only one in my group to survive, and when the trainer appeared in the mouth of the cave, just after the last of my party fell, I was alone with my ax buried deep inside the skull of some massive beast. Its claws had shredded three of what had become my friends in that short time. I cracked its head in two, and that old man just told me, ‘It takes resolve to live life as a vessel. Don’t die.’ Then he walked off and disappeared. I tried to follow, but he was just gone.”
Sarah was left with a lot to think about. Luckily she had figured out what Jorn was telling her to do with note taking. This game really was a whole new ball game, with a difficulty curve that stretched to the moon.
Sarah was so lost in thought, that she didn’t notice the return of Duerlin until he was sliding a chair out. He sat opposite Jorn and Sarah, head resting on his raised hands. His elbows propped him up from the table, just enough that they could see the sorrow in his eyes.
“Food and drinks are already ordered, help yourself when they arrive.” Jorn offered kindly.
Duerlin nodded slightly, then pulled out one of the leaves the healer had given him to chew on. He stared at it intently for a short moment, then he stuck it in his mouth and chewed slowly. Sarah had a feeling the swordsman would be in a pretty bad space mentally for some time. It seemed that Duerlin was closer to his friend than just a gaming partner.
When Jorn’s food came, a girl came up to their table as well. She had a black suit jacket, and a blue skirt. Her midnight black hair was tied in a bun at the base of her neck. Sarah was suddenly reminded of the delegation dinner her mom had forced her to go to.
“Excuse me, I am here to fulfill your quest awarding.” Her voice was soft, but she spoke in an exacting way. Sarah felt a little intimidated by the smile the girl wore. She didn’t even look old enough to drink at the bar, was this really a guild associate?
“Please, have a seat.” Jorn invited the girl to join them.
His fries were steaming and distracted everyone for a moment, but as the girl sat and introduced herself, the fries became forgotten. She reminded Sarah of a politician's daughter, all formal and extremely business focused.
“My name is Kuru, I represent the Guild of Artificers. Did you all have a quest to turn in?”
Moving straight into the business, Sarah felt she had guessed right about this woman. Kuru may look young, but that was just a pretty face hiding a brilliant mind. She had to be more of a diplomat to the adventure’s guilds, rather than an adventurer herself.
“That is correct. SarthDarah and I completed a similar request for aid from the swordsmen. Duerlin here was the last remaining warrior, the other perished.”
“Dureft.” Duerlin cut in.
Sarah jumped, she hadn’t expected him to even be paying attention at this point. Jorn nodded though, letting the swordsman remember his fallen comrade.
“Let me see, yes. I’m awfully sorry for your team's loss, Duerlin.” Kuru seemed genuinely sad at the loss of the party members.
She also seemed to be interacting with an interface that Sarah couldn’t see.
“We are always saddened by the loss of entire parties, but I hope you will consider joining these other adventures. Out here, only strength in numbers will let you move forward.”
Kuru’s sincerity had made Duerlin sit up right for a few moments. His tense body forcing the movements to bow, and acknowledge the associate's kind words. Kuru nodded back, a simple gesture, but meaningful all the same. Duerlin looked back down at the table, his face once again hidden by his hands.
Jorn started to eat his fries, the messy food spilling over the edge of the basket. Sarah looked back and forth between them all. With Kuru still sitting in a business-like manner, the entire group looked completely at odds with each other. It was almost comical, and Sarah couldn’t stop the smirk that came across her face.
“About your quest rewards, since you technically survived, and saved one of the two warriors. You are entitled to the base experience plus fifty percent of the bonus. You both, meaning Jorn and SarthDarah, receive six thousand points each. Duerlin will receive half of the remaining six thousand points, awarding him three thousand, for being the last standing of his party during the quest.” A moment of silence followed.
Kuru passed her hand in front of each of them, a plus six thousand scrolled over Sarah’s vision.
“Since you technically didn’t kill the Mandragora, the quest reward of five thousand points will be awarded to the slayer.” Kuru meant Anunt, whom stayed in her healer's cabin. “If you would be so kind as to inform them, otherwise, they should be awarded the experience the next time they come in themselves.”
Jorn and Sarah both nodded. They could easily tell Anunt that she had experience waiting. Of course the hot headed healer might just tell them she’s too busy and that she doesn’t have time for anything they have to say.
Jorn’s fries were about gone already, he was eating fast. Sarah reached to grab one, quick as lightning, and as she was savoring the flavor. A smooth, cheesy, spicy delicacy that she hadn’t experienced in years. Jorn glared at her, offended at the stolen food.
“Order your own.”
He sulked for a moment, and then upended the entire basket, draining it of its contents into his mouth. The two of them had locked gazes, a battle of wills starting without their conscious knowledge.
Kuru smiled and watched on, amused by the trio. They all had strong traits, but flaws as well. Duerlin seemed to be inwardly focused and against letting others in. SarthDarah was strong, but in more than just physical terms. She was hard headed, stone willed, and iron hearted.
Kuru could see Jorn would become the father figure of the group, keeping them in line. His aura wove the tapestry of his will openly. Kuru focused in on it, her heterochromic eyes taking in everything about these adventures, her smile grew.
Only the strongest among these new players would be able to save this world. It was too late for anyone else to do anything now. Mistress Nyx had commanded no outside interference beyond what could be summoned through means of a vessel.
Kuru would never dare defy an open order, she knew better than to interfere directly. This group had something about them though, much like a few others she had visited. They seemed to be strong enough to transition properly, the remote control they were experiencing now was remarkable. It spoke volumes about how well their individual souls were synchronizing with the vessels.
What if she gave them a power boost? Kuru almost broke her mask of business, her face muscles tensing and straining to hold back the emotions she was feeling. Playing with mortals had grown boring, her Father had become stifling, even her favorite rival was starting to become tedious to deal with. This was a new outlet, an enjoyable way to have fun.
“How about your bonus?” She enticed, broadening her smile and closing her eyes. “You both did admirably well, rescuing a stranded adventurer. Although, there were two of them.”
Kuru’s voice had a hint of accusation in it. She was still reading from a screen none of the rest of the group could see.
“I can offer up another ten thousand reward points. I think it’s fair to give four thousand each, for Jorn and SarthDarah. Duerlin, since your actions saved the party as well, you are entitled to the remaining two thousand extra points.” Kuru finished explaining, then set her arms down on her lap.
With the bonus, Sarah and Jorn each received ten thousand points. Duerlin still got a healthy five thousand points.
“Now then,” Kuru stood. “I must be on to my next appointment. Is there anything else you require of me?” The trio shook their heads. Sarah didn’t know what else she could ask of the guild representative. “Oh, one more thing before I forget. There is a city wide request for all adventures, it begins at sundown. Find a guard captain if your group is interested in joining in.”
The business-like woman turned and walked away. Leaving Sarah wondering what a city wide request would be like. There was another question she had before that though, she waited for Kuru to be out of earshot.
“Are all the NPCs that lifelike? She acted as if she was an actual player.”