Isaiah’s player didn’t want to find out what it was like to experience a rid-bolt so he left Lathander’s temple and walked east along the quiet forest road. He passed a couple familiar turn offs, the canyon to echo mountains, the goblin stronghold and the single room temple of Mystra. He walked past the gate guards of shadow and headed northeast along the road until he came to the armorer's shop. There were a number of player characters sitting there. Tanis, a male half-elf, Lliira a female half-elf, Vethor a male voadkyn, Harmony a male human, Rowena a female half-elf, Lusell a female human, Spungold a female Wemic. Isaiah’s player wasn’t really sure what a wemic was. Voadkyn were giant hairless elves. The help file stated that a wemic was like a beast person. He imagined a giant gnoll. It was quite the motley crew packed into this simple armor shop. Some of these characters would likely be at each other’s throats if this wasn’t an out of character event. It seemed like he might have come in mid event though.
Fulgar says: “And as you can see, NPCs can be controlled like this.”
Fulgar winks seductively.
Fulgar says: “And they can be aggressive.”
Fulgar attacks Vethor!
Fulgar misses Vethor.
Vethor hits Fulgar.
Vethor hits Fulgar.
Vethor hits Fulgar.
The dagger in Vethor’s hand SCREAMS horribly as he slashes it across Fulgar’s throat!
Vethor hits Fulgar.
Vethor hits Fulgar.
Fulgar drops dead before you.
Someone chuckles.
Someone says: “Let me just reset the room.”
Isaiah did a quick look around the room. It had the gathering of adventurers and one ‘Corpse of Fulgar.”
A moment later. . .
Fulgar says: “Well what did you expect?”
Fulgar kicks Vethor.
Vethor grins evilly.
Vethor says: “Nice one Tristan.”
Isaiah did another look around the room. The corpse of Fulgar was gone and a new living Fulgar, the armor shop clerk, was there. Isaiah’s player boggled at this. The NPC just came right back after he died. What was this madness?
Someone says: “You can also damage everyone in the room and tie it with an echo like so.”
The weight of your sins burns your soul!
HP: 46/47
Someone says: “Anyway that is the avatar project. Go back to killing each other you savages!”
Isaiah’s player felt like he might have missed something important but he got the heck out of there. Some wizard was flexing his muscles and he wanted none of that. Also, what weapon did Vethor have? It seemed absolutely horrible. A screaming dagger? That was the stuff of nightmares. Note to self: Don’t mess with Vethor.
Isaiah used ‘heal’ to top himself off to 47 hit points after walking a few rooms away from the chaos. He was planning to just head back to Lathander’s temple and then log off but figured sense he was in shadow he should go to the alchemist’s shop and see if he could acquire some components for spells he hadn’t been able to cast yet. After walking to the mage’s tower he checked the shop’s inventory. He walked past a strange ivory caver that had been there every time not really sure what that was for.
Amber rod 72 gold 81 stored
Bit of bone 29 gold 80 stored
Blessed Leather 48 gold 18 stored
Dart 1 gold 81 stored
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Eyelash 3 gold 66 stored
Gum arabic 20 gold 98 stored
Sunstone 48 gold 19 stored
Tiny bag 5 gold 29 stored
‘What can I use for the spells I have?’ Isaiah’s player thought to himself.
He checked his spell book. He had a good selection of spells. He had picked up most of the lower leveled ones it seemed from farming the goblin casters.
Armor conjuration level 1
Burning hands alteration level 1
Chill Touch Necromancy level 1
Detect magic divination level 1
Identify divination level 1
Light alteration level 1
Magic missile invocation level 1
Monster summoning1 conjuration level 1
Sleep enchantment level 1
Acid arrow conjuration level 1
Darkness invocation level 1
Detect invisibility divination level 1
Hideous laughter ilusion level 1
Monster summoning 2 conjuration level 2
Ray of enfeeblement necromancy level 2
Rope trip altercation level 2
Web conjuration level 2
Blink alteration level 3
Dispel magic adjudication level 3
Hold person enchantment level 3
Fireball invocation level 3
Lightning bolt invocation level 3
Monster summoning 3 conjuration level 3
Isaiah bought up all the tiny bags. That was a component for the monster summoning spells. Monster summoning 1,2,3 all used tiny bag and small candle. He also bought up all the darts. It was a component for acid arrow. Sadly that one needed 3 components dart, powdered rhubarb leaf, and adder’s stomach. He also found they were selling both components for invisibility. He bought up all of those too Gum Arabic and Eyelash. 3 gold for an eyelash wasn’t much. But couldn’t you harvest your own eyelashes for free? What robbery… anyway not like Isaiah’s player had to guts to complain to the wizards that they should let him get free eyelashes. He didn’t have that kind of gaul. Lastly, it looked like the blessed leather was a component for an armor spell. At 48 gold a pop that was a slightly expensive components so he just got 10 of them spending 480 gold on that. All and all it wasn’t a huge bite for coins but his money had definitely taken a hit.
It was becoming apparent though that rather than a components bag. The thing was more like a spreadsheet.
Avatar project? He didn’t get that at all. He decided that it had nothing to do with him. Isaiah made his way back to the temple of Lathander and logged out for the night.
Isaiah’s player was slightly freaked out about this whole avatar project stuff. It sounded like they wanted to add some kind of dungeon master position maybe? Well, it didn’t have anything to do with him. The immortals just came across like they hated everyone. Everytime “someone” had answered on the lines they always seemed snappy. His impression of them was a group that was potentially pissed off all the time. How else could someone who writes “I hate you all.” to the entire game be perceived?
Isaiah’s player thought about these things as he finished up doing some real life stuff and headed to bed. Next morning he made some simple breakfast of cereal and coffee. His community college classes didn’t start until the afternoon so he could spend a couple hours playing before he had to go be responsible.
Isaiah logged in to see two people who he knew in the temple of Lathander. Light and Kaarell were sitting there chatting. Isaiah quickly typed ‘wearall’ a command to wear everything you could on his body. The game would unequip and unwield everything you had on when you logged off so it was generally the first thing someone did when they logged back in. Other players would treat players who didn’t have anything worn like they were nakked. Kaarell had already seen him nakked once. He had to bare himself to another man–er–elf and ask for help with no clothes on. It was not his proudest moment.
Karrell says: “Well, hello cousin Isaiah.”
Karrell bows to you.
Isaiah says: “Hello there cousin and Light.”
Isaiah smiles.
Light says: “Hello Isaiah.”
Light smiles.
Light gives you mint tea.
Light says: “We were just having tea and talking. You are welcome to join us.”
Isaiah says: “Thank you. I haven’t had this tea before so I'll enjoy it.”
You drink mint tea.
It tastes minty and refreshing.
Isaiah says: “Ah good tea.”
One of the things about this game was that it had status for thirst and hunger. When one’s hunger gauge was full it showed ‘quenched’ on the status. When it was zero then it showed parched and every few minutes the character would take 1hp of damage. It was the same with hunger. 100% was ‘stuffed’ while 0% was ‘starving.’ If a character was starving they too could die the slow 1hp every few minutes death. It wouldn’t be a problem unless someone got stuck or lost somewhere.
Isaiah says: “What were you two talking about? I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Kaarell says: “We were talking about how Lathander charges us with seeking harmony of the races.”
Light nods.
Light says: “Yes we seek peace and an end to the cycles of murder that plagues this realm.”
Isaiah says: “What do you mean?”
Kaarell says: “Well, the old guilds used to war constantly and target players repeatedly for petty reasons such as pride.”
Isaiah sighs.
Isaiah says: “Yes I know what they said about pride.”
Light says: “What do you think about pride?”
Isaiah says: “I think it says pride comes before a fall. And a haughty spirit before destruction.”
Kaarell says: “Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of my elven heritage. But it is not something that we should look down on other people for. Some of our cousins talk about half-elves as half-humans or think of non-elves as lesser races. Yes we may be the longest lived races elves can live for 400 years. Lathander teaches us to strive to live together peacefully.”
Isaiah says: “I’ve heard that phrase before, half-human.”
Kaarell sighs.
Kaarell says: “From whom?”
Isaiah says: “Gabrielle told me. She was healing newbies. I thought maybe she was healing anyone just trying to help out but it was just elves. She didn’t think non-elves were worth her time.”
Light frowns in intense concentration.
Light says: “Isaiah, please be weary of Gabrielle. I’m worried for you.”
Kaarell says: “She is the shame of the elven race. An elf should not be a priestess of Loviatar.”
Isaiah says: “I think that maybe she just needs to be shown some charity. Her family followed Eldath, the god of peace. “
Kaarell says: “You are playing with fire if you want to befriend her..”
Isaiah says: “I know, I just wish she too could find redemption.”
Kaarell says: “She would use even your pure intentions to sink her claws into you Isaiah. Please tread carefully.”
Isaiah says: “I will be careful. Perhaps this is my calling to be a shepherd for our wayward cousins.”
Isaiah smiles brightly.
Kaarell pats you on the back.
Kaarell says: “May Lathander light your steps.”
Isaiah’s player decided that he’d put off following a deity for long enough. He typed ‘choose lathander’. It was one of the commands that could only be used in the temple.
In bold white letters a line of text appeared.
Light
Light smiles.
Light says: “Welcome to the church Isaiah.”
Kaarell says: “Welcome, Isaiah.”
Kaarell smiles.
Isaiah says: “Yes I should have done this a while ago. Looking at that wall of unfaithful souls keeps bothering me and I can’t see myself anywhere else.”
Kaarell says: “We are happy to receive you.”