Chapter 5 – No Escape

I take a careful stroll through the neighbourhood, making sure I peek around corners and stay away from the most populated streets. I try not to look suspicious, but it’s not easy when I know a single failed encounter can spell the death of me. I try to walk near the city wall, trying to find an elevated position to get my bearings. I cross path with a few low-level players, but none of them really stop to have a chat with me. Since I probably spawned in some starter zone in the city, I assume most people are trying to grind some experience points and gold to purchase a weapon to go adventuring or something. At least I know that’s what I would do if I just started playing this game for the first time. Hell, that’s exactly what I did the first week after I started my Necromancer.

The good thing about enthusiastic new players is that they don’t really have a reason to look for Villains like myself. Some of these players might actually have a high Perception skill, but none of them are bothering to check if there is anyone suspicious among them. Because, why would they? They shouldn’t care about this stuff until they either get involved with the larger guilds or they realise how much killing us is worth. In other words, the current situation suits me just fine.

After a few minutes, I find myself at the edge of the residential area which borders a large open plot of land filled with players wielding wooden weapons, hammering away at straw targets while a drill sergeant yells profanities and instructions at them. I have most likely found the starting combat tutorial area.

A small part of me wants to go join them, but I suppose there is no need to. They are most likely performing some basic quest that I won’t be able to receive thanks to my status as a Villain. It doesn’t matter much though, as I have other ways to level.

There’s a small church next to the sparring area where a lot of players that seem to be Priests and Paladins congregates. That’s likely where their local class quests start out. Well, since none of those classes specialize in Perception, I make my way over to them, eager to try and get some information. 

Walking up behind what seems to be a couple of paladins arguing, I gently lean against the church wall and pretend to check my status.

“Jesus Christ, cous. What’s up with these quests? ‘Pray for four wounded citizens in the church infirmary.’? I know I wanted to play a paladin, but holy crap. At least let me smite a few skeletons or something.” A tall and lanky human man wielding a large wooden club says.

“It’s just the tutorial man. It will get better when we get out of the city. Every game starts out with a few easy social quests. Let’s just rush through them and get to the good shit.” A gray-haired dwarf wielding a wooden buckler and a club shrugs. “If we hurry, we can probably get out of town in a few hours.”

The human shakes his head. “Yeah, I suppose. It just sucks that the game forces me to do these things. We’re already far enough behind the general gaming population as it is, and if we don’t hurry up, we probably won’t get a chance to join the Dark Pegasus guild.”

“The Dark Pegasus guild? Do you mean the guys who took control of this city? Huh, I didn’t know you wanted to join them.” The dwarf says.

“Of course I want to join them!” The human raises his hands. “Why wouldn’t I? Don’t you know that they actually pay their officers to play the game? If I manage to strike it big, I would be set for life! Really, Greg, you should try and join them too.”

Greg chuckles. “You think you have a shot at becoming an officer in a thousand man strong guild? Come on Kevin, get real. You won’t have a chance to make the cut as a level three Paladin. The only shot you have is to reroll as a blacksmith and hope for the best.” He shakes his head while grinning wide.

Kevin snorts. “As if. There isn’t enough money in the world to make me want to play as a freaking crafter…” He turns away and starts walking off. “Let’s just hurry up. The sooner I get out of this noob area and out into the wild, the better.” He waves for Greg to follow, which he does, all the while chuckling at his friend’s antics.

“You’re too serious Kevin.”

Huh, interesting. So it seems this entire city is controlled by one large guild. I didn’t know that. This might explain why there were a bunch of high-level players near Culmin Village when I decided to raid it. I wonder if they were part of the Dark Pegasus guild too?

I make my way into the church and find the ladder to climb up into the church’s spire. It doesn’t take long, and I’m soon sitting up top, looking out over the city.

The sight that greets me is not what I expected. The noob area I find myself in is located on a tiny peninsula located high up on some steep cliffs to the south of the city. There’s only a single path connecting the peninsula to the main city, and it seems like I have to depart through a gated checkpoint of some sort. I wonder if I need some sort of special permission to leave? 

Looking around, I believe the noob area is where the local garrison and their families live. There’s a small keep at the edge of the peninsula, with a small residential area, a market and the sparring area completing this small part of the city. I can spot several dozen low-level players milling about, most of them sparring below, while some seem to be transporting crates or delivering letters between the different market stalls and houses.

If I had to guess, I would say this is one of the wealthier parts of the city, since the houses are quite large and spacious. The streets are clean and the NPCs look well-fed and happy. It’s a good way to introduce the city to new players, but the area is less than ideal for me. This place is way too cramped, as there are too many players walking around, and there is only a bare minimum of alleyways for me to hide my underlings in. If I want to start grinding out some levels, I need to get access to the main city as fast as possible.

Descending the church spire, I enter the streets and make my way towards the gatehouse I spotted at the northeastern part of the peninsula. As I near, I notice a few yells erupting from the area around the gate. Slowing my approach, I decide to trail a couple of other players who seem to be drawn towards the commotion.

A small crowd quickly gathers around the gatehouse. I don’t dare to step too close, so I sneak around the corner of a nearby house and find a box to stand on. Peeking around the corner, I lay my eyes on an orc player wearing a full set of mail armor standing over a dead player on the ground. The orc seems to be really angry for some reason while brandishing his deadly-looking two-handed axe threateningly at the gathered crowd. 

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Further behind, I spot an Elf in fine leather armor, with an expensive-looking bow tightly held in his hands. The elf gives me the creeps as I watch his eyes scan the gathered crowd of gawkers, no doubt using his high Perception stat to look for any hidden Villains. Woah, I’m really glad I decided to hang back here.

“Listen up newbies!” The orc shouts. “This dead trash right here decided to try his luck playing as a Villain character. And let me tell you: that shit won’t fly in this city! The Dark Pegasus guild has declared the city a Villain-free city, which means that we won’t allow these vermin to walk around freely.” He stops to glare at the dead player for a moment. “This gate, as well as every city gate will be manned by high-level players from our guild at all times. Any Villain discovered will be put down like the dogs they are.” He shouts, staring holes into any and all of the players gathered before him.

“If there are any more of you filth out there, know that your only option is to delete your character and try your luck in a different city, far away from here. If you are stupid enough to try your luck, feel free to step forward right now to save me some time. Alternatively, you could always check if your character can fly by throwing yourself off the cliffs. That’s your choice. But know this, there is no escape from this noob district. We cover the only exit.” He ends his speech by crossing his arms, taking up an intimidating pose while glaring at the gathered crowd.

Ah shit. I jump off my box and start heading in the opposite direction as quickly as I can.

“Damnit!” I curse as my short legs carry me towards the market segment of the noob district. Why didn’t I do some proper research on this city? I can’t believe such a silly thing like a weird starting position can ruin my chances to make it as a Thief Lord. What are the odds of me starting on a freaking peninsula with a fifty-meter drop into certain death in all directions, with only one way out that is constantly covered by high-level players!? This has to be some sort of sick joke. I can’t even just reroll my character into a new city, as there isn’t any city in the vicinity that is large enough for me to play as a Thief Lord in without me abandoning the stash of resources I hid in the forest. There’s just no way I’m this unlucky. I gently rub the bridge of my nose. There has to be a way; there always is. I just need to find it. 

I look around, suddenly realising I had just kept walking while being deep in my own thoughts. The familiar sound of metal striking metal draws my attention towards a nearby smithy. A few players run back and forth from the building, hauling boxes filled with raw iron ore and coal into the smithy from a nearby wagon.

Hmm, perhaps I can somehow sneak onto one of these wagons when they depart through the gate? Now there’s a thought. Inspecting the wagon closer, I quickly dismiss the idea. While the principle of trying to stow away on a departing wagon is a sound idea, I just can’t consider it feasible when the wagon is basically just a flat piece of wood connected to four wheels. There is no way to hide a grown man on the wagon, at least not in a way that wouldn’t draw attention. Not ideal for sneaking past a bunch of players with a vendetta against Villains.

I sigh. Maybe there’s a bigger wagon somewhere?

Walking on, I soon come upon a three-storey wooden building with a large sign, depicting a mug of ale in the mouth of a gaping pig. The building looks withered by time, and a few of the glass windows show signs of cracking after years of weathering the salty ocean air. “So this is the local Tavern, huh?” I mutter to myself, sparing a thought to consider that I’ve developed a nasty habit of talking to myself during these past three months. I guess that was inevitable when I only play solo. Perhaps I should find some friends to talk to? I didn’t have many chances of finding decent conversation partners when my only company for the last three months has been walking skeletons.

Pushing open the door, I squint my eyes trying to adjust to the dark interior. The Tavern is almost void of people, with only a scruffy looking barkeep standing behind the counter, halfheartedly trying to wipe an empty mug clean. A couple of young merchants sit by themselves in a corner, quietly whispering among themselves. The barkeep throws me a sideways glance for a moment until he deems me unworthy of his attention and keeps trying to wipe the mug that I’m not certain is getting any cleaner. 

“If you don’t have any coin, then go somewhere else to spend your time. This ain’t no charity.” The barkeep grunts, his eyes still locked onto the dirty mug.

“Uhm…” I start, unsure of what to say. 

The barkeep raises his eyes, staring daggers at my hesitant form. “Get lost.” A chill runs down my back as his eyes radiate an unsettling feeling of imminent danger. 

“Wait! I’m waiting for someone. They’ll be here any second now. They have money.” I blurt out the first thing that comes to my mind. I’m obviously lying, but he doesn’t need to know that. I only need a few minutes of peace to recruit a few underlings.

Grunting, the barkeep diverts his eyes again. “If they ain’t here in ten minutes, I’m throwing you out. And believe me kid; you don’t want me to throw you out. Understand?”

“Yes, sir!” I say while quickly scampering towards a corner table at the back of the tavern. I throw a sideways glance at the barkeep, noticing a nasty scowl has formed on his face.

I’m fairly certain that barkeep is far more dangerous than I gave him credit for. That unsettling feeling from earlier could only have come from a skill, and a powerful one at that. I think it’s a high-level warrior skill of some sort, but I’m not sure which. The guy gives me the creeps, but if there is a high-level NPC here then… My eyes go wide. Oh shit! If he is high-level, then he should at the very least have a Perception score higher than fourteen!

Halfway out of my seat, the tavern door slams open. A couple of high-level players enter, a human man and an elven woman; both level forty-four. The woman is drop-dead gorgeous, with long blonde hair stretching halfway down her back. She wears a dark gray robe and a copper tiara, signaling that she is a mage or priest of some sort. Her bright green eyes light up the room as she throws a wide smile at the scruffy barkeep. 

“Morning, Joe! How are you today?” The woman asks as she quickly makes her way towards the counter, only receiving a low grunt in reply. “Aww, don’t be like that Joe. Is that the proper way to greet paying customers? She beams at the old man.

“Hrmpf. If you don’t like it, go somewhere else.” He grunts, returning to his futile mug cleaning. The woman starts pouting.

“Leave him alone, Anna. I don’t think the old man has any secret quests for you, no matter how long you pester him.” The tall human man wearing a full set of leather and chainmail armor says. “Why don’t you give up already? We’ve been coming here every day for two weeks.” He shakes his head.

“Tssk.” She pouts. “I know he has something good stored in there. There is no way such a high-level NPC doesn’t have any secret quest of some sort. I’m not giving up.” She grins, clearly not ready to give in. The human male only shakes his head solemnly.

“Well, while we are already here, why don’t we grab a drink?” Anna smiles. I can’t help but wonder where she gets all that positive energy from.

The man sighs. “Fine, but you’re paying.”

“That is exactly why you are still single, Brian.” She laughs, pointing her tongue at the man. Brian turns away from the chipper girl, trying to hide his reddening cheeks. Anna may not have noticed, but I sure do.

“Hey, Joe! Can I have three of your finest mugs of Ale, pretty please?” She turns back to the barkeep, exaggeratedly battering her eyelids. The old man only grunts in reply as he starts filling the mugs.

“Uhm, three mugs?” Brian asks, looking confused.

“Yeah, I figured that poor guy over there wanted some company. He looks lonely.” She turns in my direction, showing me a brilliant smile. 

My lungs deflate.

Oh shit.