System Message: Analyze Success! Dire Wolf Entry: Dire wolves are solitary creatures that give birth to a single pup. After the litter is born, the sire leaves his family searching for better hunting while the dam protects the den. Though not as fast as their typical counterparts, the dire wolf is much more difficult to kill. Like their cousins, the dire wolf suffers additional damage from fire abilities.
Jay felt himself freeze in place as two warring impulses battled for control. He was tired and alone and didn’t want to risk gaining more experience debt, which would come with dying here. On the other hand, he was itching to fight because a win could make up for some of the debt he already carried.
He remembered the tactics of the wolves. He was worried the dire wolf would fade into the shadows, able to attack from anywhere. Still, it surprisingly didn’t move when it noticed him.
The wolf shifted to place itself protectively in front of a hole leading into a particularly giant Burlen tree. There was obviously something in there it was protective of, and he wondered if it was a pup. The Bestiary entry alluded to the possibility.
He felt weird about the situation.
He had been playing the game the entire day. It was so immersive; he felt like he was really staring down a mother protecting her young. Even though she was a virtual wolf, the whole thing felt real. He decided to bow his head respectfully and turn the other way. She cocked her head to the side, showing some intelligence in her eyes. Jay walked away at peace with his decision not to mess with her, muscles bracing for an attack as he left his back open. The attack never came.
His retreat focused on staying on his feet with the low light and forest terrain.
Jay couldn’t be sure what the effects of staying up all night in the game would do to his avatar, let alone his own body sitting in the real-world pod. Something told him the dire wolf wouldn’t bother him outside her territory. He sleepily mused over his choices before deciding that, worst case scenario, Cuddles would alert him to the presence of anything worthy of concern.
“Alright, Cuddles,” Jay said, nestling himself against a tree a quarter mile from the dire wolf and her pup. The squirrel scurried from his shoulder, taking his place in Jay’s lap. He laid his head against the rough tree bark and fell into a light sleep.
***
Jay woke feeling like he had spent the night sleeping against the tree. He had. He was pushing the supposed ability of the dive gear to circulate nutrients. The sleep felt real, but so did the grogginess. The new technology was meant to handle week-long gaming sessions, but Jay wasn’t going to push it that far. Another day or two. At worst.
As he woke up, the rays of sunlight started to leak through the trees. Since the Burlen trees were varied in color, it made for a beautiful sight. He was glad to have caught the picturesque imagery. He decided to get moving on something productive, even though his meeting with Lester and the others was hours away. The game woke him up at first light. He would use the extra time.
Remembering the glowing leaves, he followed the path back toward the dire wolf. He hoped to catch it sleeping, grab the plant, and escape before the possible mother could attack him. At the den’s opening, he found the collection of weeds labeled Wolf Lair Weed. He harvested the weeds, dropping seven bundles into his inventory.
It didn’t seem like the dire wolf was home, but he noticed something else. In the corner of his eye, Jay saw a tiny little wolf head pop out of the ample open space. He stealthily activated his ability to gain more information without scaring it away.
System Message: Analyze Success! Dire Wolf Pup Entry: The pups have not yet developed a vulnerability to fire. Since they still possess sharp claws and teeth, they’re at least as dangerous as a typical wolf. The dire wolf pups, however, are more docile. If encountered at a young age, the pups can be tamed by a Tamer-type class of adequate skill.
Jay was excited to learn about other classes available in the game. Tamer classes sounded interesting, but there were plenty of levels before he could level a new class. “Not going to bother you, little pup,” he said in as soothing a voice as he could manage. “Your mom must be out hunting, huh?”
Jay extended his hand out, which the dire wolf pup sniffed. The small wolf licked his hand gently and nuzzled its snout against the hand. He was careful not to move too much, concerned he might disturb or spook the tiny creature.
Feeling movement on his shoulder, Jay turned his head to catch a look at Cuddles. The Strogian Death squirrel was eyeing the dire wolf pup with deep suspicion. He could imagine the squirrel trying to fight the little pup. The small dire wolf looked hardy, but Cuddles had laser eyes, so it wasn’t a fair fight. Better to get the squirrel away from there.
The squirrel, thankfully, did not dive for the pup as Jay turned away. He took up a jogging pace to make his way up the path and back to Ilra. The forest was alive again, so Jay thoroughly enjoyed the light run. He slowed as he neared the city, finding plenty of travelers on the road departing for the morning. Some of them looked like non-player characters, but there were plenty of players up and about already, as well. He figured they were looking to get some gaming time in before they went to work or school. And the other time zones. He needed to remember that.
Jay made his way to meet everyone at Nora’s Curiosities. Since he had woken up at first light, he still needed to kill some time. The owner wasn’t around yet, so he decided to focus on reading through his Survival skill book. Sitting outside her building, he read. The book discussed different ways to create a camp, even pointing out some specific gear Jay would never consider bringing.
As he read, he made a mental note to pick up some rope. Coils of rope were necessary to solve many predicaments found in the wilderness. There was a collection of other essential gear for specific environments suggested by the manual.
Jay skipped ahead to focus on the chapter explaining gear appropriate for dungeoneering. Aside from the rope, there were several mainstays. Pickaxes and other mining equipment were featured heavily. There could be rare minerals inside certain dungeons, but the main reason was to avoid cave-ins. Dungeons built of actual stone would sometimes collapse, leaving players stuck.
Jay didn’t have real support from the Red Player’s Society yet, so he would have no guild to call on. His party would be stuck until another group came along to traverse the dungeon. In attempts to maintain realism, there was no way for a player to force a respawn. Game staff could initiate a forced respawn, but he had learned it was better to avoid it. The game masters loved to increase level penalties.
On the other hand, dealing with a cave-in would be immensely frustrating since he didn’t have the time to reading a skillbook on Mining.
Finishing the chapter, he opted to head for the market rather than keep reading. He went through the stalls looking for the best gear he could find. He collected a basic set of adventuring gear: rope, pickaxes, pitons, a tool for measuring the integrity of stone, and even three lamps running off a reaction between a catalyst and magical moss.
He was a little annoyed there weren’t merchants selling packs of dungeoneering equipment. The process of running around to individual merchants was frustrating.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
By the time Jay made it back to Nora’s with an inventory full of dungeoneering gear, he was actually late. The rest of the group had already gathered together.
Lester was in the process of introducing himself to everyone else. He wore red-trimmed steel armor with both his breastplate and shield boasting the symbol of his guild: a red book with a stylized ‘RPS.’ Everyone seemed to be having a good time with each other as he walked up.
“Late as usual,” Taylor Lynn joked, posing with her hands on her hips. The twins chuckled, although they looked slightly more awkward than usual. They were both throwing looks at Lester, intimidated by the flashiness of his gear.
“I decided to go pick up some dungeon delving gear so we’d be prepared,” Jay said. “I guess I should explain why we’re all gathered here.”
Lester spoke up, responding with a smile on his face. “That’s actually saved us some time. I was going to suggest a trip to purchase some gear first thing this morning. With the same goal, I already messaged your friends to catch them up on our conversation yesterday. They know we’ll be headed into a dungeon.” Turning to single Jay out, he asked, “What gear did you get?”
Jay was a bit surprised at the efficiency, searching around for any indicator the others didn’t know what Lester was talking about. He saw recognition everywhere, stoking curiosity about Lester’s message. He could certainly live with the extra time. He could always ask Taylor Lynn about what Lester had said later.
Jay opened a trade window, using the display to showcase the gear he acquired. Through the opaque interfaces, Jay couldn’t see anything. But he could still hear. Jay barely overheard Taylor Lynn apologizing for going off on Ken during the previous adventure. She obviously didn’t want any ill will festering between the party before a dungeon dive, either.
Jay was pleased that a good night’s rest had allowed cooler heads to prevail. He would probably need to apologize to Taylor Lynn himself eventually. Still, he could let things hang on their five-year history a bit longer.
“Great choices, Jay,” Lester approved. “The testing hasn’t really started yet, as far as the Red Player’s Society is officially concerned, but you’d be doing great if it had.”
Lester closed the trade window, turning back to the rest of the party. They all seemed relieved to be out of the apology conversation. Jay couldn’t be sure if Lester was as oblivious to their discussion as he made it appear. “We don’t need any more gear than what Jay brought. We can head to the dungeon shortly.”
“We can’t go now?” Jenny asked, eyebrows raised. “I’m ready to kick some dungeon butt.”
Lester laughed, pleased at the excitement. “My two lieutenants from the guild are coming to help us clear the way. They’ll scout ahead of us to ensure we don’t encounter trouble. We’re evaluating you for the long term, so we’re much more interested in your ability to run real content. Anyone can grind mobs.”
“Convenient,” Taylor Lynn said. “I could get used to that kind of treatment.”
“Maybe not too used to it,” Lester teased back.
“Mind if I have a word?” Ken suddenly asked Jay, seizing the momentary pause. The silence stretched a bit longer, with Jenny and Taylor Lynn watching intensely. He quickly added, “Privately.”
He looked serious. There was no anger or distaste on his face. His whole demeanor was neutral, carefully crafted to hide his true thoughts and feelings. Jay didn’t know what to expect, but between his innate curiosity and nascent hope in their party, he knew he couldn’t, in good faith, refuse the request.
“Sure,” Jay said softly, pointing past a crowded corner of players to a quiet wall section about half a block away.
Jay noticed Jenny watching them intently as they walked into the crowd, using the faceless masses to provide them anonymity. He smiled over his shoulder—mustering positivity—to indicate that everything was going to be okay. She didn’t react. Ken stopped at the area Jay had demonstrated.
“I shouldn’t have lashed out at you like that,” Ken said, maintaining his neutral disposition. “I had my reasons, but I shouldn’t have done it.”
“Alright,” Jay said, unsure how to respond to the non-apology. Ken seemed sincere, but they were words of explanation. It was dressed like an apology but also missing one key component: the actual apology.
“Jenny forced me through a long talk in the real world last night,” Ken said. “She told me that I have to explain to you why I lashed out.”
“It sounds like you don’t really want to.”
“I don’t, to be honest. It’s embarrassing.”
Jay let out a sigh. “If you want me to listen, I’ll listen. If you want me to make myself sparse and never bother you again, I’m happy to do that. I just don’t think it’s good for anyone if we keep things as they are now. We’re standing beside each other but keeping an arm’s length.”
Ken nodded, but he eyed the ground instead of looking at Jay. “I know I can be kind of a jerk,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about it, but Jenny will be mad if I don’t tell you.”
“No problem, man,” Jay said. “We’ll stand over here for a while like we’re chatting. You keep looking upset; I’ll nod along. If Jenny asks me about it, I’ll tell her I’m super understanding, and there’s no need to discuss it further.”
“Why would you do that?” Ken asked, obviously skeptical. Jay wanted a cohesive party for primarily selfish reasons. It was nice to have people to hang out with, but Sarah was still his biggest concern. The more support he gathered, the faster it would be to finish the game and help her.
“You love your sister,” Jay said. “You don’t have to explain that to me. I’m not going to come between that, even in some small way. I love my sister too, and I’m not going to explain it to you. I’m definitely not going to let you get in the way of it. So fair is fair, right?”
“Jenny is very naive,” Ken said, deciding to open up. He noticed Jay readying his protests, so he interrupted before they started. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. She’s polite, sweet, and hasn’t experienced much of the world. We’re only nineteen, and our parents are sort of helicopter. We were home-schooled and everything. Naive.”
“I don’t think that makes you-” Jay started, but Ken pushed over him again.
“The thing we do have is plenty of money. Since we got the new full dive gear, our parents have left us to our devices as far as gaming goes. It gives us a chance to experience other worlds. It also gives a bunch of people a chance to bother Jenny. You know, creepy compliments and stuff. It messes with the game sometimes.”
A little bit of humble-bragging, but Jay could forgive that, given the other guy’s emotional charge. Jay could tell Ken wasn’t finished, so he waited through the pause with him. It looked like the younger guy was trying to diffuse his thoughts into something less explosive. For his own part, Jay was trying not to laugh at the absurdity.
“We leveled so slowly because she spent the first three days running around trying to discover a bunch of lore. So when I saw you staring at her, I lost it. Sorry. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”
Jay broke. He started to laugh, covering his mouth so the others wouldn’t notice it down the road. Some of his stifled chuckles escaped around his fingers. Ken shot him a glare again.
“Take this seriously,” Ken demanded. “I’m apologizing, for heaven’s sake. Jenny likes hanging out with you two, and I know you weren’t trying to be weird.”
Jay forced himself to regain his composure, even though the misunderstanding was hilarious. “I wasn’t thinking about Jenny when I was staring. I was thinking about loot distribution. I wasn’t certain how much time we’d spend together in-game, so I debated whether I should ask to institute looting rules.”
“Oh,” Ken said, perplexed at the conversation’s direction. “Jenny was right? No weird stuff?”
“Nah,” Jay said. “There’s someone from real life I’m interested in. I’m not going to bother your sister, I promise. Besides, I’m not convinced I can beat you in the next duel once you catch up in gear.”
“Loot rules? You’re kind of a dork,” Ken laughed at himself, extending his hand for a clasp. “We good?”
“We’re good,” Jay confirmed. They laughed together the whole way back to the rest of the group, the tension of the previous day melting away.
“What are you laughing about?” Jenny asked anxiously as soon as they came into earshot. Taylor Lynn had her arm around her friend, patting her shoulder.
“Just guy stuff,” Ken said.
“Yeah, we’ll behave. Pinky swear,” Jay said with a touch of playful sarcasm. Jenny still looked extremely worried, which made him feel a little wrong. “Seriously, it’s fine,” he added.
Jenny remained a little apprehensive, but she nodded. Lester’s face was twisted in concentration. Jay realized the guild leader was highly observant as his eyes took everyone in person by person. That level of observation was commendable. Jay hoped that Lester would end up on his side. He would be a powerful enemy to have, notwithstanding the guild he commanded.
Before leaving, they turned in the quest with Nora. Due to completing the Big Bad Boar objective, each party member was allowed to choose between extra experience or monetary compensation. The whole party decided on additional experience, gaining three thousand experience for their efforts. By that action, everyone matched Lester at level ten. The experience loss was recovered, and access to statistic points and abilities was restored. Access to their level ten abilities could make a difference in the dungeon, so the group was excited to try everything out.
“So you’re going to be leading the party?” Jay asked as the rest of the party followed Lester out of the city. They were leaving in a different direction than usual since the dungeon was found to the south of Ilra, not the north.
“Until we get to the dungeon,” Lester said. Lucille and Ichibad were already waiting ahead of them on the path. They disappeared out of sight to begin their scouting. “After that, I’m turning it over to you.”