Recruiting duty sucked. There was no way around it.

Pari Kintala knew that would have to spend the next couple of days wandering around Holgate, chatting up newbies, and trying to get the right ones interested in The Fellowship of Wood and Silence. She really didn’t want to hang out in a starter town, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to concentrate on her job—not while she was thinking about Iniya.

She rode her horse along the forest road on autopilot, not even registering the low-level wolves and boars and mountain lions stalking through the groves of trees that surrounded her.

Of course she knew why Lazarus decided to send her to Holgate. It was supposed to be a distraction. Something to take her mind off the fact that her sister was dead. Not in real life, but dead here in Greystrand.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Iniya. For the next year she wouldn’t be able to see her or talk to her. Which was horrible and unfair. So unfair.

Deep down Pari was well aware that she and Iniya had been exceptionally lucky to be accepted into the OmniWorld beta at the same time. As far as she could tell, they were the only siblings in the game. Most players started without knowing a soul, but for some reason Loneskum-Alexander had allowed the sisters in together. So at least they had two months to be with each other in Greystrand. And that had been really fun.

But now Iniya had gotten herself killed. And it sucked. It doubly sucked because it wasn’t even Iniya’s fault. Mariel said it was Wainwright who got everyone killed by not detecting the trap.

While Pari was recruiting, the remaining members of the fellowship would be back at the Temple of Xyurn looking for the next clue in their world quest. Lazarus hadn’t wanted Pari there; it would have been too painful.

A wolf crossed the forest path, pretty close to her, but it was so low-level that it didn’t even bother aggroing. Then she rode across a bridge with an NPC guard who waved at her.

“Nice morning, isn’t it?” he called.

“Not really. My sister got killed yesterday.”

His face fell. “Sorry to here that. Was it the Red Hand args? They’ve been marauding around Tashon’s Gate.”

“No, she was in a dungeon.”

The guard nodded knowingly.

Unlike some other players, Pari didn’t mind talking to NPCs. She was continually amazed at how good their AI was. They all had their own programmed personalities, of course, but many of them seemed like better people than the actual humans.

“Can you tell me anything to cheer me up?” she asked.

He thought for a moment. “Probably not. I mean, I could say something dumb like ‘she’s in a better place’ but I’m not entirely sure she is.”

“Well, I appreciate your honesty, sir.”

“Be careful out there.”

As she rode away, Pari thought about what the guard had said about Iniya. Was she in a better place? Pari knew that if you died after you hit level 5—like Iniya had—you’d resurrect back in the hotel. But your in-game memory would be wiped clean, and you’d have to start from scratch. That meant that Iniya wouldn’t remember anything about Greystrand or Wood and Silence or even Pari.

Sure, Iniya would remember that she had a sister, but she wouldn’t know that Pari was in OmniWorld. In fact, there was a good chance that Iniya might not even choose Greystrand; she had always talked about wanting to play SRE so she might be on Nemea right now.

But who knew for sure?

As she rode farther north, the forest grew darker, forming a tunnel of crowded beech and elms which arched over the road like clasping hands, and blocked out the morning sun. The air was cooler here, and it seemed like the all birds had abandoned the forest. But there was plenty of other types of wildlife here, including thick-legged spiders the size of a hot tub, murderous kobolds, and green haggoths who would drop from ivy-bound trees and snap the spine of your horse if you didn’t dispatch them in time.

But she wasn’t really worried. Pari had ridden back and forth between Rathenhall and Holgate dozens of times. Even as a healer, she could handle the mobs here—as long as she kept her wits about her and didn’t get swarmed. And, honestly, would it be so bad to die today? Maybe she would end up at the hotel with Iniya. Maybe they’d let the two of them start again together. She’d even play Star Rim Empire if it meant that she could be with her sister.

She sighed to herself. She couldn’t do that; she’d be letting everyone down. She’d be a failure. And it was stupid to think that she’d be able to reroll with Iniya. Even putting aside the responsibility she had to Lazarus and the gang, the timing wouldn’t work at all. No, Iniya was already on her way to whatever game she chose next. And maybe it was Greystrand. There was a chance that they’d see each other again. But it was a long shot.

After another hour, the Dark Tree started to thin, and the countryside opened up to gentle rolling hills and fields dotted with spring wildflowers. The road wound out of the forest and northeast along the banks of the Erslo River. Pari passed an old mill and waved to some men who were loading sacks of grain on to their cart beneath a gigantic willow which shaded the mill’s yard.

She road past more cultivated fields bordered by hedgerows with cottages and farmhouses in the distance and before long, caught a glimpse of the sight that greeted all travelers coming in from the south: the gilded dome of Holgate’s Library of Globes.

The town huddled next to the river; it wasn’t more than four narrow streets and a couple of dozen buildings, most of which were much less grand than the Library of Globes. But Holgate was buzzing with activity—especially today which was the first Monday of the month and the day when the newbies arrived.

They didn’t all arrive in Holgate. Out of the 250 or so new players that entered the game every month, some would show up here, others in Cotter’s Mill, and still others in Skelheim.

Stolen novel; please report.

Ideally, Lazarus would have sent team members to the other starter towns to recruit, but there just wasn’t anyone left. The fellowship was down to the six of them: Pari and Mariel who were healers, Benet, a warrior, Sato, a guardian knight, Celia, a scout, Donagher, a battle mage, and Lazarus who was an enchanter as well as the leader of their fellowship. And today, everyone but her was at the Temple of Xyurn trying to find Tolman’s journal and next clue.

Normally, Celia and Benet did the recruiting for Wood and Silence. Celia was tall and beautiful with white-blonde hair and newbie guys would fall over themselves to talk to her. Likewise, Benet with his quarterback bod and French accent never failed to reel in the girls. He would strut around town in his high-end armor, looking like a real-life Lancelot, chatting happily to everyone he saw. He was definitely a natural.

Talking to strangers came a lot harder to Pari. Except NPCs, of course. But she was working on it. Maybe Lazarus was right; maybe this would be good for her.

Pari rode through Holgate, looking around. It seems like the newbies were starting to arrive already, which was a bit surprising because they normally started to appear at around noon.

She saw a bunch wandering around the town square, looking like lost children. Some were doing the typical stuff you do when you first enter a game world: jump off a building to see what it’s like to die, try to kill NPCs or steal from them, try to burn down a building. Basically, act like an asshole.

Lazarus called it “the first phase of immersion.” He said that even though the hotel was supposed to acclimate players to the paracosm, they didn’t really start to immerse until they arrived in Greystrand. And then they would test the boundaries. Just like a small child.

According to Lazarus, after a few hours of goofing around, most newbies would then enter the second phase of immersion. They’d embrace the fact that they were actually in a fantasy world, so they’d start acting like a part of this new world. But they’d also realize that they’re free of the restrictions of their old world. Kind of like when you leave home to go college and spend the whole first week partying and getting into trouble.

In fact, Lazarus had told her that the game designers anticipated this and actually removed a lot of the normal interpersonal restrictions on players—but just for the first night. So basically all the newbies would spend their first night in Holgate getting drunk and having experimental sex with each other. Kind of like a frat party.

Pari didn’t want to have anything to do with that, so she avoided the inn altogether and rode through town to its northern outskirts. She made her way down a narrow country lane to a cute little two-story farmhouse with a brightly painted fence and a pristine front garden.

She dismounted and called out, “Lena?”

The door opened and a plump villager twice Pari’s age peeked her head out. Lena broke into a big grin at the sight of Pari.

“Pari, for heaven’s sake, I haven’t seen you for weeks.”

The two women hugged on the doorstep. Even though Lena was an NPC, she was also kind of a friend and Pari would try to stop by for a visit whenever she was in the area. Plus, Lena was a weaver and would often help Pari raise her textile crafting skill up a few points by showing her new techniques.

“Come in, come in,” Lena said. “I was just making some dandelion tea. May I offer you some?”

“That would be nice, thank you. But I can’t stay long. I’m here recruiting.”

“Oh yes, I’ve seen the newcomers already,” Lena said disapprovingly. “A bunch of troublemakers if you ask me. I had to lock all the sheep in the barn.”

Pari nodded. “Yes, it seems like each new group gets rowdier and rowdier. So I definitely don’t want to stay at the inn tonight and I was wondering if I could rent one of your upstairs rooms.”

“Of course, dear. Happy to have you. Go ahead and bring your horse down to the stables and by the time you get back, I’ll have our tea ready.”

As she tended to her horse, Pari decided not to tell Lena about Iniya’s death. She just didn’t feel like talking about it any more—even to a well-meaning NPC.

She lugged her heavy saddlebags up to the room and stowed them behind the bed. They should be safe enough here. Lazarus had given her all sorts of gear she could use to bribe any suitable recruits to join the fellowship. She did make sure to fill her belt pouches with gems—just in case she needed some this afternoon. Most of the ordinary monetary transactions in the game were conducted with a magical ‘money bag,’ but everyone was impressed with gems—especially newbies.

Pari fixed her hair in the big oak-framed mirror in the upstairs hallway. She didn’t have to do much. Everyone’s appearance in the game was tweaked a little so you looked like the best version of yourself pretty much all the time. She wished she had that in the real world. It would save her a lot of time in the morning.

When Pari returned downstairs to Lena’s sitting room, she saw that the older woman was standing in front of hearth and sipping a mug of herbal tea.

“How’s the arthritis?” Pari asked.

Lena unconsciously rubbed the elbow of the arm holding her mug. “Oh, it’s fine I guess. Acts up in the mornings a bit when it’s damp out.”

“Let me take a look.”

“Oh, you don’t have to bother, dear. I know you’re busy with your recruiting and such.”

“No bother at all.” Pari moved closer to Lena and laid her hands upon her. She closed her eyes and focused on casting the treat disease spell. When she opened her eyes again Pari saw the little magical shimmer effect and heard the chime that indicated the spell was successful.

Lena smiled and flexed her arm. “You are a miracle worker, dear! It feels as good as new.”

“Keep eating that kale you grow. It’s good for inflammation,” Pari said. It was interesting how healing worked in Greystrand. Her treat disease spell would completely cure another player for good, but NPCs could only be cured for a few days, then their affliction would recur. Maybe it was because their ailments were programmed as part of their personalities.

She smiled to herself. It was ironic that after years of butting heads with her parents about becoming an engineer instead of a doctor, here she was in a fantasy world as a healer. Maybe they’d be proud, after all.

After a half hour of visiting with Lena, drinking tea, and chatting about everything under the sun (except what had happened to Iniya), Pari said goodbye and set off for town.

She got within a hundred yards or so of the town square before encountering her first newbie.

:::::. Dieter has invited you to spar (to the death). Accept? .:::::

He was a baby battle mage, and he was pulling a typical dumb newbie move: just throwing out a sparring invitation without bothering to talk to the person he wanted to spar with.

“No thanks,” Pari said.

“C’mon, why not?” he whined.

“I said, ‘no thanks.’” She glared at him.

“Well, about a screw then? Make love not war, right?”

“Beat it, you little perv!”

The newbie laughed and ran away.

Ugh. It was starting already.

She made her way into the square proper and started looking around. New characters would spawn in buildings all over town, but most would appear in the Keep if they were warriors—or the Henge if they were mages. That’s probably where she should start. As she walked across the square she randomly inspected the newbies she saw: warrior, guardian knight, guardian knight, healer, scout, healer, battle mage, enchanter, and...

:::::. Justin Boone. (Sage). Player, Level 1 .:::::

A sage!

He was a guy about her own age and not much taller than her. Tousled sandy colored hair and an intense expression on his face. Serious.

That was good. Serious was good. And a serious sage was even better. They had lost Tolman and his clue and now they didn’t have any sage—which was a big problem. Until another sage joined the fellowship, it would be almost impossible to make progress in finding the next clue to the Lance.

Lazarus had told her that finding a sage was her highest priority, but she didn’t actually think she’d see one here in Holgate. Only one out of a hundred players were assigned to be a sage, so every month only two or three max entered the game. And they were usually snapped up like candy by the fellowships. She needed to get on this.