Before you start reading the chapter, I have to apoligise for tables. I couldn't make them work no matter what I did (altrought there are only 2 of them that broke, still it's a pain to read that sometimes :P).
Also, starting from now there's going to be used cursing and possibly in the future more mature content. Hence the [Mature] tag.
So that I said what I want to, enjoy new chapter! ^_^
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Chapter 3: Escape and the first quest
Before being able to do anything, a window popped before Neriehem:
Welcome Begginer!
As of now, you are forbade from sharing anything you know about City of Begginers to the outside media. If you still break this rule, you shall be banned from playing the game for 5 years and any information you shared deleted.
With that in mind, please enjoy the game!
After reading twice trought the message and understanding it was not a joke, Neriehem sighed. Now it was clear why there were no guides about the beggining of the game at all. People didn't want to be banned for such a long time from the game.
After closing the window, Neriehem looked around himself with curiosity. After all, he did want to feel the 100% real-like virtual world for himself – that is what developers promised after all.
He was in the middle of a very big building – temple as he called it – build out of stone bricks and with windows made of stained glass, presenting him godly scenes. He started walking towards the wall, but stopped to take a look at himself. He was wearing baggy rags, but didn't pay a lot of attention to them as he knew he will earn himself new ones soon enough. He started to walk towards wall again and finally touched it out of curiosity, only to feel sudden chill on his body. He just realised that it was cold here. Nevertheless he continued to walk around the temple, admiring the level of realism he felt every second.
- I must say I really underestimated them for saying that it's the new world – said Neriehem to himself as he was slowly walking towards the temple's exit, getting used to the new body. - Even my body feels diffrent with all those scales and stuff. But I knew that the hair is going to feel awesome with all that swinging around... - he chucked as he engrossed in the feeling of his hair being that long. - Ah right, I should check my stats... hmm... how did it go again... Show Status! - after he said the command before him showed such a window:
Status WindowName:NeriehemAlignment:NeutralLevel:---Class:NoneRace:AsyrianGender:MaleTitlesNoneFame:0Infamy:0-Health:100% / 100%Health Regen:1% / SecMana:100% / 100%Mana Regen:1% / SecStamina:100% / 100%Stamina Regen:2% / Sec-Strenght:15Agility:15Vitality:15Intelligence:10Wisdom:10Leadership:10-Attack:100%Defense:100%Physical ResistancesSlashing:5%Piercing:5%Crushing:0%Elemental ResistancesFire:50%Water:-50%Wind:0%Earth:0%Light:0%Darkness:0%As Asyrian you have:
- increased starting strenght, agility and stamina at the cost of losing Luck stat;
- increased rate of gaining increase to existing statistics;
- increased slashing and piercind resistance trought the natural scales on your body;
- increased fire resistance at the cost of having lower water resistance.
By training you can nullify the effect of negative water resistance. Once water resistance reaches at least neutral level this message will dissapear.
He was suprised by the amount of information that was given to him. Also, once he looked again he noticed this strange anormality with his health, mana and stamina. There were no numbers, but percentage. That meant he actually had no way of knowing his actual resources, but he didn't pay that much attention to it. After all he wasn't as used to it as other players, so in a sense he had a certain advantage over them.
- Oh, so that's what these bars on my vision corners are. Good to know – he said to himself and went out of the temple.
After going out, he couldn't help but gasp. By the look of the temple, he figured that the world would be placed in a medieval settings. However what was before him was perfectly reproduced steampunk city. Everywhere he looked he saw moving gears. After he found the highest building his jaw almost dropped. There was a big clock, which was seemingly pushed forward by the force of every gear in the city.
Now that he looked at everything more carefully, he noticed that all of them move in the same, precise pattern, matching the movements of the clock. He was engrossed in details and failed to notice someone approaching him until that person caught his hands.
- W-w-will y-you be m-my b-b-boyfriend? - some female player asked him out of nowhere, stuttering with every word. After Neriehem looked at her shocked he could hear some angry voices:
- No way he's gonig out with you! I saw him first!
- No you bitch, it was me!
- Shut up you sluts, let the true maiden take his heart!
- You're a slut yourself! How can you even be so shameful as to say that kind of things!
- Yeah right! I'm going to beat you to a pulp!
Neriehem was literally stunned with all the attention he received from female players. That's when he heard some male voices:
- That sonnovabitch, taking them for himself.
- Who does he think he is?!
- Let's beat the crap out of him to show who's better!
- HELL YEAH GUYS! LET'S GET HIM!
The last shout was the trigger which made Neriehem push away the girl holding his hands waiting for the answer while apologising and made a run for his life. While being at that he made a mental note to buy himself some cloack to hide his appearance
- Huff, huff, huff, huff... - Neriehem was breathing heavely while hiding inside some random trash contener waiting for the group chasing him to go away and look for him somewhere else. Actually he was exhauted to the point he wouldn't be able to move in the following hour.
After a while he remembered that he received a few messages while running for his life, however he didn't bother to check them in order to focus on losing people chasing after him. And not only men that wanted to kill him, but also women who feel for him after they saw him speeding trought the crowds. And so he was forced to hide in a trash container, hoping noone would bother to check them.
- How was... Ah right. Show new notifications – he whispered as quietly as possible, fearing someone might hear him.
Immediately his eyes were bombarded with messages saying that his vitality or agility increased. After he dissmissed most of them, he saw two which suprised him the most:
[tr][td100]It's a skill which makes you skip trought the space with an astonishing speed. You can only use this skill when above 30% of stamina.
Cost: 10% max stamina / second
Note: Costs will lower with training.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:BlitzBegginer10%
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:StealthBegginer10%You can easly blend with the shadows and crowds, making yourself seemingly invisible. When mastered, this skill will let you hide in a plain sight.
Cost: 10% max MP / second
Note: Costs will lower with increased proficiency.
- Guess I should check my stats now that I'm at it – he thought. - Status Window.
Status WindowName:NeriehemAlignment:NeutralLevel:---Class:NoneRace:AsyrianGender:MaleTitlesNoneFame:0Infamy:0-Health:100% / 100%Health Regen:1% / SecMana:100% / 100%Mana Regen:1% / SecStamina:100% / 100%Stamina Regen:2% / Sec-Strenght:18Agility:25Vitality:20Intelligence:10Wisdom:10Leadership:10-Attack:100%Defense:100%Physical ResistancesSlashing:5%Piercing:5%Crushing:0%Elemental ResistancesFire:50%Water:-50%Wind:0%Earth:0%Light:0%Darkness:0%As Asyrian you have:
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
- increased starting strenght, agility and stamina at the cost of losing Luck stat;
- increased rate of gaining increase to existing statistics;
- increased slashing and piercind resistance trought the natural scales on your body;
- increased fire resistance at the cost of having lower water resistance.
By training you can nullify the effect of negative water resistance. Once water resistance reaches at least neutral level this message will dissapear.
- Wow, that looks pretty good. I never thought you could increase your stats this way. Hmm, now that I think of it, at some point running away actually got easier. So I guess it's thanks to this... - Neriehem smiled to these thoughts. However when he actually remembered whole escape he felt so bad he wanted to puke.
Suddenly he heard two voices talking something. He couldn't make out any words from what he heard, so he put his hand to the ear to better focus on what they were talking. But when he touched it, he realised it was pointy shaped – altrought not as much an elf's – and covered in little scales. Not that it mattered, but he realised he forgot to check them while making his character and let out a breath of relief that it wasn't something gross.
Suddenly he could hear voices better and focused on the unknown voices again:
- Do you think he's hiding somewhere here?
- I'm certain of it, I saw him dissapear somewhere here. He must be hiding somewhere here.
- All right let's wreck this place then!
Neriehem could fear sudden chill on his spine this very moment. They sounded like they moved somewhere nearby and sound of trashing only added to it. Then he heard an unknown sound:
- Ding!
- What the, that scared me. Better check what it is... - he thought to himself. - Show new notification.
[tr][td100]Increases sensitivity of your hearing by 20% every level. Can be toggled off. While on, increases effects of music and sounds on you. Note that too loud sounds can stun you for a period of time. Possible to adjust the sensitivity level.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Awakened hearingToggle10%
- Wow, so that's why I could suddenly hear better. Guess this skill will come pretty handy later on. Especially considering that it would warn me of most ambushes way beforehand... hmm? - Neriehem suddenly felt that something was not right. He found out immidiately after he heard one of the voices right above him:
- Okay, so this is the last one. Let's see if he's inside! HAAAA!
- SHIIIIIIIIIIIT!!! - Neriehem screamed in his head. Then he remembered something. - Stealth – he whispered nervously.
Suddenly he was enveloped in darkness and his body dissapeared, as he feared to move even for an inch. Then the next moment he could feel being thrown away along with his hiding place. He stopped himself from letting out a scream of pain as he felt all the trash falling on him painfully. That seems to have saved him, as he could hear the dissapointed voice:
- Huh, he wasn't here in the end. To think that I just wasted 2 hours chasing after that pretty boy... damn, I feel like killing him for it! ARRRRGH!
To that Neriehem couldn't help but shake in fear. It seems that he had somehow angered someone dangerous. At least he was glad that his stealth skill enabled him to escape unscathed this time.
- Damn, just walking around is dangerous here. What the hell's up with those crazy people? - he asked himself wondering. He didn't know that he was the kind of a guy girls would just fall for. As for men, they thought that he was some creep in real life who changed his avatar to look like this so he could get attention of the girls and eventually seduce them to use them and break their hearts. They couldn't know that couldn't be futher from truth...
- Damn, I need to get something to cover my face really fast. I hope I'll find some cape of sorts... - Neriehem was mumbling to himself as he was looking around after canceling Stealth skill. Then he saw some dirty scarf lying among trash. - That looks promising... still, it's pretty dirty. I wonder what color it had originally. No choice though, I have to bear with it for a while – he thought to himself and so picked up dirty scarf and wrapped it around his neck and face. Dressed like that he finally left the alley he was in and moved in unknown direction.
* * *
After four hours of wandering and sightseeing the City of Begginers, Neriehem finally stumbled upon a park. It was the late in the evening, so there was a lot of couples walking together. They all seemed to look at Neriehem with a look of disguist.
- Not that they are to blame, I do look horrible... - he thought as he passed more and more couples. Suddenly he saw a river flowing trought the corner of the park. Strangely there was noone there. He immidiately headed there with only one thought in mind:
- Wash... wash... wash...
Once he reached destination he took off his clothes and jumped into the water.
- Cold! - was his first thought, but he endured it and washed himself as fast as he could. After that he proceeded to wash his dirty clothes, after what he put them on while still wet. - They will dry eventually, and I can't walk around nude when there might be someone coming any minute now...
- Hey! The park is being closed down! Get out of it immediately! - someone shouted at him. When Neriehem looked in the direction of the voice, he saw a guard shouting at him. Not wanting to go agains the law, Neriehem quickly ran to where he was.
- You, otherworlder, come with me. I'll escort you to the outside. Noone knows what might happen once the night falls here.
- What do you mean?
- I mean that there are monsters appearing at night. And not just in the park. They appear everywhere. My job is to take everyone to the safety, and that's what I'm doing. Altrought by saying 'to safety' I really mean to the inn you're sleeping in. Right, tell me where you registered – said the guard looking at Neriehem. He could only make a stupid face and say:
- I didn't sign up at any inn. I have no money on me.
- WHAT?! Then what did you do for the whole day? Didn't you go and take some job to earn money? And here I thought that every otherworlder is smart... - sighed guard dissapointed with Neriehem. - Okay, just this time I'm taking you in to the barracks. And hurry up, if we get suprised by the night on the way, you better pray that we would be able to get inside safely – warned the guard and looked at the sky. Then he quicked up the pace so much that he almost ran. Neriehem had no choice but to follow him.
After 15 minutes they reached a big building where laugh could be heard.
- All right, this is the place. You're lucky you found me – said the guard and walked inside. Neriehem could only follow him inside.
It was pretty bright, and everywhere Neriehem looked he saw soldiers. Some were drinking, some were gambling while others were talking.
- Hey! I guess that's another lost sheep today! Hahaha – a hearty laugh could be heard and Neriehem felt heavy hand striking him on the shoulder. - Hey there little one. I hope you didn't freak out right now! Anyway, my name is John and the guy who took you in is called Marty. And what about you?
- Neriehem.
- Ohh, that's some fancy name you have there. I like it...
- John, stop scaring that otherworlder, or he will actually go out to the night! - someone in the back screamed. John immediately forgot about Neriehem and went over where the voice came from saying: 'Kalif! Come on, take me on for the drinking match! The loser has to pay! Hahaha'.
- If that's what you wish for! - said man named Kalif, giving quick glance to Neriehem. - Come on lad, join us! - he shouted to him, and focused on the load of beer John brought before him. Neriehem came closer to watch the thing.
After two hours and thirty beers later both of them were lying on the table sleeping heavily, along with almost everyone present.
Then suddenly screams of panic could be heard and someone started to hit the doors pleading to be let in. Neriehem wanted to go and open, but one of the guards caught him and said:
- Don't. Ever. Try. To. Open. Doors. At. Night. To anyone. No matter what.
- But why? - asked Neriehem.
- They are not people. Those are monsters, born of darkness and haunting streets of the city. It first happened about a year ago. Someone heard screams of despair coming from the outside, and when he opened doors to come and help the one 'in need' monsters invaded his home, killing his whole family. After that there were some similar incidents, and people were banned from going around streets at night, as well as trying to help fools who dind't follow the orders. At first it was hard to close your eyes, knowing that someone is killed in the open. But eventually we managed to get used to it.... somehow. Ah right, every night there are some bodies of humans massacred in the streets.
- Can't you do anything about it?
- Well, hiding inside out houses is the best option so far. But I suggest you ignore that and rest. You woulnd't want to come over here tomorrow, would you?
- You're right, I woulnd't. Thanks for sharing the story with me.
- Oh it's not much. I felt that you should know. Don't ask, I don't know how myslef, but I felt that telling you this was somehow important. And I wouldn't want to get killed because of some otherworlder like you as well!
- Still, thanks for telling me this. I owe you now – said Neriehem seriously.
- In that case maybe get rid of whatever's out there for me, will ya? Hahaha, just kidding young one. Don't even try, that thing is too much for you...
To Neriehem's suprise a window showed up before him.
Quest: The source of despairRank:8Time limit:40 daysDescription:
The City of Begginers is plagued by some strange power. Find out what it is and destroy it before time limit runs out and everybody give in to despair and leave the city to ghost.
Success: Experience, Fame, Ultra-rare class depending on the performance.
Failure: Destruction of Begginer's City, future new players will lose the chance to experience City of Begginers.Do you want to accept?
- I accept.
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