Say what you will about them, but that Stratos did know how to work a crowd.
“Now that the Tutorial is over,” they said, “we are into the real game. More quests will be given, but if I may offer one small bit of advice, use your time well even when you are not working toward a specific quest. You will need to become stronger, and you will need to do it quickly. I cannot reveal too much now, but I can tell you this much: there is a very special quest coming, a big one, a quest that will determine once and for all who’s got what it takes to be a winner...” dramatic pause, “...and who does not.”
This was the culmination of a stirring oration that promised more opportunities to join teams, more occasions to prove ourselves through quests, and more growth and power. They stood there, resplendent in their toga under the spotlight, basking in the reaction they’d produced in the crowd. The difference between the ones who’d made it onto a team and the one who hadn’t had blurred in the heat of the moment, and now everyone was animated and exhilarated, high on the drug of adventure. Even I couldn’t help feeling a bit fired up. The thrill of the game, it affects us all.
“To celebrate the end of the Tutorial and the start of the real game, I have a few special treats for you. The first is an addition to your Status to help you navigate the game and prepare you for the important things to come.”
Nearly three hundred people all murmured the word Status at the same time and saw the promised addition: two meters, like fuel gauges in a car, labeled Health and Mana. There were little ticks dividing the meter into eighths; the section below one-eighth was red, the part between one-eighth and three-eights yellow, and the rest above that green. Both mine were full in the green area. Sigrid was sitting in front of me so I used my ability to see her Status, and I could see both her meters as well, full green.
“Speaking of being prepared, you must be curious about why you were instructed to come prepared this morning.” Murmurs of agreement. “I am pleased to see so many of you have done so, because you will need to be very well prepared if you wish to participate in the second treat: your next quest.”
Quest (optional): Participate in the Players Tournament
Reward: Champion’s Blade
Will you participate? [YES] [NO]
[02:00]
“As you can see, the next quest will be a tournament, held right here, right now. One-on-one battles, mano-a-mano, to determine the Players Tournament champion, who in addition to earning the title of Champion will be awarded this.”
Stratos drew his sword and held it aloft. Befitting their Roman attire, it looked like a Roman gladius, the short, two-edged sword legionnaires had used for close combat. Its polished blade glimmered even brighter than Stratos’s teeth in the bright spotlight.
“I will not tell you what is special about this sword, but I will say this much: you will not find anything like it for sale in any of the shops in town, that is for sure.”
This met with amused chuckles. It had become a running joke how hard it was to find good gear in town. I was more sure than ever now that it was not an accident, but rather something meant to encourage us to seek such treasures elsewhere through adventure.
“Daniel,” said Wayne, leaning over to speak to me quietly, “does your power evaluate objects too?”
“Yes it does,” I whispered back.
“Is it any good?”
Champion’s Sword
An exceptionally sharp weapon awarded to the champion of the Players Tournament. Powers: Choose Your Weapon - Blade can change length and shape at wielders command
Cut The Mustard - Exceptional sharpness and increased damage
“It’s pretty good,” I replied.
“Hmmmmm.”
“Participation is optional,” Stratos said. “You have two minutes to decide. Enjoy the game.”
And with that Stratos vanished, disappearing completely in an instant, leaving the sword hanging point up in mid-air in the middle of the arena, slowly spinning, reflected light from the bright spotlight glinting off its polished blade.
I’m sure everyone else was considering whether or not they’d join the tournament — I’d decided the moment I saw the word optional that I’d be passing on it — but I couldn’t stop looking at the sword. Every so often, when its rotation brought it to just the right angle, there was a moment when the light reflected in a blinding flash. I’m sure it was intended as part of the dramatic flair, but it gave me an idea.
The place was quiet for a moment, then all at once a cacophony of voices erupted as people started talking to their neighbors, trying to decide if they’d compete. I saw a number of people from where I was sitting tap their answer in the air in front of them right away, whether it was yes or no I couldn’t tell.
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“I’m gonna do it,” said Chika without hesitation.
“Are you sure?” asked Sam. “Won’t that mean revealing your powers?”
Chika shrugged. “No biggie.” She tapped the air in front of her, presumably hitting the YES button.
“I’m not entering,” said Byron.
“Neither am I,” said Nina. “Our abilities don’t really translate well into an arena.”
“I’m not sure,” said Sigrid. “What do you think, Daniel?”
“Yeah, is the sword any good?” asked Jane. I quietly told her its powers.
“Damn, that is good.”
“I’m doing it,” said Chika.
“What do you think, Daniel?” Sigrid asked me a second time.
“I think it’s up to you,” I replied. “The prize is great, but you need to decide if you think you’re strong enough and if you want to reveal what you can do to everyone.”
“That could be a good thing for Players without a team,” said Byron. “Show off what you can do so teams might want you to work with them.”
“I bet that’s part of the point,” Bruce said.
“Is that what you’ll do, Daniel?” asked Nina.
“Me? Nope.”
“Well, you know what we can all do. Who do you think should enter?” said Sigrid.
“Well, I’d say Andy stands a good chance.”
Andy Wong
Affinity:
Ice - Novice
Gifts:
Thick Skin - Improved toughness
Powers:
I Have the Power - Competent: Channel qi energy to improve physical performance
I Think Not - Novice: Nullify a target’s Power
Skills:
Football - Novice
Kung Fu - Competent
Rugby - Novice
“Really?” Andy said.
“I’d say so,” I said.
` “I didn’t think you wanted to use weapons, Andy,” Sigrid said. “What will you do with the sword if you win?”
“I’ll just give it to someone in the group,” Andy said. “It’s what you do. Treasure goes to the party member who can use it best or needs it most.”
“Yeah,” I said. “When one of us gets stronger, the whole team gets stronger.”
Then I remembered I wasn’t on the team; us did not include me. I hoped the sting I felt didn’t show on my face.
“Makes sense,” Sigrid said. “In that case, I say go for it.”
“Okay,” he said, smiling at her and tapping the air. “Done. I’m entered.”
I’m pretty obtuse when it comes to things like this, but even I could see the way Andy looked at Sigrid. I wasn’t so sure he was on the same page as her with the whole just friends with benefits thing.
“I’d prefer to keep my abilities secret,” Wayne said. “They are very flashy.”
“And terrifying,” Nina said.
Wayne chuckled. “You’ve only seen the skeletons.”
Nina cringed. “You mean you can summon other things?”
“You’ll see,” he said.
“Oh goodie,” Nina said.
“I’m in,” Chika said.
“We know!” her brother Kenji said. To be honest, I hadn’t noticed he was there until he spoke up.
In the end, only Andy and Chika from our group chose to enter the tournament. When the two minutes elapsed, the quest window closed; for Andy and Chika, it was replaced with an arrow and a message telling them to follow it.
“Any advice?” Andy asked. For some reason everybody looked at me.
“Well, your kung fu is strong but your powers will make the difference. Their effects aren’t flashy like Wayne’s, so it’s likely nobody will know if you’re using them. Just make sure you use them effectively and watch your Mana.”
He grinned. “Thanks, Coach.”
“Your kung fu is strong, grasshopper,” Jane said in a deep voice.
“What about you, Chika? Want any advice?” Jane said.
Chika snorted. “Like I need it.”
Jane grinned. “That’s my girl.”
We wished them luck as they sidled along the bench and descended the stairs.
“I do admire her spunk,” Jane said, watching Chika skip off.
“I wish we had popcorn,” Sam said.
“And beer,” Byron said, earning him a scowl from Nina.
Wayne laughed. “You two act like you’re married,” he said.
Nina looked at him blankly. “That’s probably because we are,” she said. Both she and Byron held up their hands, showing off their matching wedding bands.