Needless to say, I tried to sneak away several times, but after the first time, my mum kept a close eye on me. The most interesting thing that happened that day was that hours after everyone interested had gone up, that old man, who looked like the oldest person here, went up and touched the obelisk. A couple of minutes after he had touched it, a message popped up.
The village elder has named your village.
Your village is now called Eridith.
Seconds later the old man's laugh sounded out from the top of the pyramid. Not too long later I saw a bunch of men and women surrounding the old man. I couldn't hear much but from the scraps I could hear, as they drifted closer to where I was standing, it sounded like now the village was named they had some more defensive options and they were worried about what that might mean.
We were all still mostly milling around, but I started to notice some of the men and women who had gathered around the old man were going out towards the other pyramids that had appeared in the distance. As far as I could see there were another 5 of them. But they all looked fairly far away. I heard mum and dad say that our village had just over a thousand members. My dad had finally gone up to touch the obelisk after the town was named. And he told my mum that the obelisk said there were 1017 villagers.
Not too long after the people left for the other pyramids a powerful voice blasted out from the top of the pyramid.
"Hello, my name is Joe Henrickson. I know many of you have questions, but unfortunately, I don't have answers, hell, I don't even have any clothes. What I do have is 30 years in the Army. And I have a question for you. Where will you stay tonight? What will you eat or drink? What will you wear? We need to work together. In a moment our elder Samuel will issue some quests. Your involvement in the quests will impact the amount of experience you will receive. I know a lot has changed. But at this point in time we have two options. We can either shut down and wait to die or we can stand and fight. I know what I am going to do. When you have decided, come to the north side of the pyramid."
A couple of minutes after he finished talking a series of quests appeared.
Community Quest (Eridith Village):
Construction Materials
100 x large logs
Experience Available: 30,000
Community Quest (Eridith Village):
Someone has to do it...
20 x latrines
Experience Available: 4,000
Community Quest (Eridith Village):
Tonight we eat?
300 x small animals
or
60 x medium animals
or
20 x Large animals
Experience available: 30,000
Community Quest (Eridith Village):
Where shall we cook?
Collect the wood for and dig a fire pit.
100 x large fire pits
Experience available: 10,000
Community Quest (Eridith Village):
Operation cover up
Using plant fibers weave some clothes
1017 x woven garb
Experience available: 101,700
Soon after the quests appeared mum and dad had a quiet talk and the next thing I knew we were all walking over to the pyramid.
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After 20 minutes nearly everyone was over at the north side of the pyramid.
"Alright listen up. Anyone who wants to participate in gathering the production materials, follow Jared here. He had 20 years as a lumberjack. Before you ask no we don't have axes. But we will make do. One of our runners discovered a river and we were able to identify a cache of flint."
He stayed quiet for several minutes as the interested people gathered around Jared. Then they went off to the East.
"Anyone who wants to gather firewood and dig fire pits, follow Mary. She'll tell you where she wants the pits and how big."
He again waited and Mum and I moved towards Mary. She was a biggish lady. Her hair had started going grey and she had a no-nonsense look about her. I looked around and I noticed that the majority of people that had gathered around her were kids and their mothers.
Mary looked around and when she saw all the kids she started smiling.
"Okay everyone, we are going to build the fires to the south of the pyramid."
And with that, she started walking. About 20 metres from the pyramid she stopped and started marking out large circles, of about a metre in diameter, 3 metres apart from each other. As she was marking she started talking.
"I would like all of the kids and 20 parents to go and find firewood and bring it to each pit. If you find any decent sized stones bring them back too. The rest of you start digging out the pits about half a foot deep. Use anything you can find, sticks, rocks, even your hands if you have to."
She watched every one organise themselves and had to pry a couple of nervous mothers away with a couple of patient words.
But eventually, everyone was ready. Even my mum had to stay behind. I had already found my friends and was eager to go.
We walked off into the edge of the forest on the Southside of the pyramid, where we already were. Only about 20 metres from where they were digging fire pits.
As we started to spread out more, I excitedly asked my friends.
"Where did you put your points? I put all of mine in Luck."
"Really, why in Luck? That's stupid, what does luck even do?" Sally said, "I put mine into Intelligence and Wisdom."
"Luck is not stupid."
"Yeah, it is."
"No, it's not."
"Okay, then, what does it do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well when I put 10 into Intelligence and Wisdom, my mana went to 150 and my mana recovery went to 11.25/min. So what did Luck do?"
"Doesn't matter, I'm lucky now."
"That means it did nothing."
Sally then started laughing.
My eyes started to get hot and not wanting her to get the pleasure of seeing me cry, I runoff.
I didn't get too far when I come to the bank of a river, I barely see it in enough time to come to a stop without falling down the bank. As I am staring into the river pitying myself, wondering if maybe I was stupid to put everything into Luck. I look down and see the most beautiful stone I have ever seen.
It was a dark blue that almost seemed to shine in the sun. Picking my way carefully down the bank I pick up the stone that was just above the water.
I make my way back up the bank and sit down underneath a tree. I look at the stone and I realise it looks like it has been cut and polished like the diamonds you see on the television. The way it has been cut it looks like an oval. As I look at it, I wonder what kind of stone it is. I feel something within me react and the next thing I know I'm looking at screen hovering above the stone.
Water Foci - Rare
Increases ability to learn water magic.
20% greater control
20% less mana required for spells
Magic I can learn magic. How?
Gripping the small stone I walk back to the river. I look at the river and I don't have the slightest clue where to start. I look back at the stone and try to see the writing again. I feel the same pull somewhere in my middle and the writing appears again. It increases my ability, but how do I go about learning it?
Well, it says it takes mana like in a game. What do I know about mana? In games, it's a power inside you. Can I find it?
I close my eyes, hoping Sarah doesn't see me now and tease me about it. Now what? Well in fantasy books it's a ball in the middle of your body.
I focused inwards and then my eyes shot open. I had felt it it was like a sun, but with no light or heat. I know that makes no sense but at the same time that is the only way I can describe it. I felt a pressure that felt like light and heat.
I was excited now, it also reminded me a little of the feeling that happens when I make the information window appear.
I looked at the Water Foci and bring up the window again. That sensation came back and the window opened. Yes! That's mana. I found it.
I started dancing around beside the river.
Just then I heard my mum calling my name. I say I'm here and then run to her voice.
When I got to her she was all worried and told me to stay where she can see me. I didn't know what the big deal was. I've been able to leave her sight for ages now.
On the way back mum made me pick up lots of wood. It was just laying everywhere. Mum said I need to pick it all up and bring it back.
Mum also saw my stone and said it looked valuable, whatever that means. I tried to ask her to see the writing, but she didn't want to try. I don't think she likes the screens and stuff. I think it's pretty cool, like we are in a game.