by W Borne
Jaxx rushed the archer, lodging his spear into the man’s upper shoulder blade, throwing him to the ground. The impact caused the arrow the man had knocked to fly wild, and Jaxx heard a snapping sound that he hoped was the man’s bow snapping. He leaned his weight on the spear, pinning the archer to the ground.
The archer fought for a few seconds, then stopped moving when Jaxx levered the spear back and forth. Holding up his hands from the prone position, the archer gasped in pain and said “I yield! Spare me!”
“If I do, you need to tell me something worth your life,” Jaxx replied. He wasn’t bluffing – torture wasn’t his thing, but he would kill the archer if he had to – after all, the man had already shot him twice from cover.
“Agreed.” Jaxx pulled the spear out of the archer’s shoulder, eliciting another gasp of pain, then held it ready as the archer rolled over and sat up, hands still outstretched at his sides. He was a tall man, lean, with veins and tendons visible in his exposed arms. His garb was of better quality than the other two bandits, being a mixture of cloth and leather, hand sewed, with the colors distributed to break up his outline in the forest. He had a sturdy leather belt with a brass buckle, and a leather and hide quiver of arrows hanging from his belt. His bow was indeed broken, about 1/3 of the way down the shaft.
“My name is Toxotis. Thank you for sparing my life.”
Jaxx grunted, still holding his spear at the ready. “Why did you attack me?”
Toxotis grunted. “Because I was hired to. But I think the circumstances are different than I was told. You wouldn’t happen to be an unrepentant goat thief and murderer, would you?”
“Last time I checked, no. My name is Jaxx, and I am what you would call an Avatar. I am traveling from Triada to Delios on a request from the Triada Town Council.”
Toxotis started at the word “Avatar.” “I have heard of your kind, most have, but you are the first I have met. Is it true you cannot be killed? Is that why my arrows failed to stop you?”
“It is true that we cannot be permanently killed, but we can still die. We just come back from death after a time. And I did not die from your arrows because I have a large pool of health, and you did not do enough damage to kill me. Now, why did you attack me? Who told you I was a goat stealing murderer?”
“I don’t believe I know his real name, but it was a man that I have dealt with before and gotten work from. This job was supposed to capture you if we could, kill if not. The other two men with me were simply gutter thugs I hired to distract you while me and my bow did the real work. But it seems that I was hired under false pretenses, and that you did not deserve what I attempted to do to you. For that, I apologize. You have spared my life when you had every reason to kill me – for that, I owe you a debt.”
Jaxx looked at Toxotis, gauging. The man met his eyes, and for all the actions that had taken place over the past hour, he believed him to be an honest man. Honest NPC. Jesus, it was getting hard for him to tell the difference anymore….and he wasn’t sure there was one, if he was honest. The AI driven characters he had talked to in Olympus seemed to him just as real as another person would be. The ramifications of that, the true ramifications, he didn’t want to think about right now.
“I believe you, Toxotis. You do not seem the type to murder without reason, and if you were told that I was……what was it? A goat murderer? Well, I can see why you would be upset.”
Toxotis rolled his eyes at the sarcasm. “You were described to be much worse than that, I’m afraid. Mere goat-murder wouldn’t even get me out of bed in the morning.”
The two men grinned at each other, both a bit surprised at the easy friendship that seemed to be developing. Jaxx felt comfortable with the woodsman, and the fact the man seemed to have a strong moral code also appealed to him. He looked at the man, considering their next move.
Toxotis spoke first, “If you could find it in yourself to trust me, I would be happy to accompany you until my debt is paid.”
Jaxx considered. He had just met the man, yet he felt he could trust him. “I would like that if you were to accompany me. I warn you, however, that I am at the mercy of the Gods’ whim, and go where they seem to want me.”
“Aren’t we all,” Toxotis asked? “Lady Artemis guides my path, and I believe you said that Lord Apollo guided yours?”
Artemis! The very Goddess that Jaxx was heading to see! “This can’t be a coincidence!” Jaxx thought. “Artemis must be sending me a message through this man.”
“Yes,” answered Jaxx. “So far Apollo has been my guide, however I am not sworn to only him. As an Avatar, I feel that all of the gods will likely have an interest in my journey. Whether that interest is always positive remains a mystery.”
“Ha!” said Toxotis. “The Gods are fickle as spring horses, that is for sure. So where are we heading?”
“Delios,” answered Jaxx.
“Delios! How fortunate! My Lady is the patroness there, and we will be welcomed by the Priestess and her Huntresses!”
“Sounds good,” Jaxx said. He was a bit hesitant to run right into another God’s area and mix with the faithful, but so far, he had been rewarded by following the desires of the Gods. “Let’s be on our way.”
Name
Jaxx
Jaxx
Race
Human
Human
Level
6
3
Total XP
2010
XP to Next Level
1590
100
Strength
11
1
Intellect
0
0
Agility
6
1
Stamina
6
1
Constitution
11
1
Charisma
5
1
Rage Capacity
16
10
Skills
Dodge – 11
2H Spear – 12
Improvisation – 4
1H Sword – 3
Shield – 1
Fire Starting – 1
Fortification – 1
Stealth – 7
Weapon Repair – 1
Unarmed Combat – 1
1H Axes - 1
None
Skills
Dodge – Level 10
Dodge is the ability to avoid blows in combat. Each successful combat session where you successfully dodge at least one attack will raise this by +1. Only one level will be achieved per combat session. Current affect – 11% more likely to dodge an attack by an attacker of the same or lower level. Each enemy level above yours reduces the chance to dodge by 5%. Agility level increases Dodge.
2H Spear – Level 12
Your chance to land a blow with a 2H spear is increased by 12% against an attacker of the same or lower level. Each enemy level above yours reduces the chance to hit by 5%. Agility increases chance to hit with a weapon.
Improvisation – Level 4
Improvisation is the ability to make something from nothing. 4% increased chance to put together a viable item from raw materials.
1H Sword – Level 3
Your chance to land a blow with a 1H sword is increased by 3% against an attacker of the same or lower level. Each enemy level above yours reduces the chance to hit by 5%. Agility increases chance to hit with a weapon.
Fire Starting – Level 1
The ability to start fires is a gift straight from Prometheus himself. Higher levels allow you to start fires in adverse conditions. 1% increased chance to start fires.
1H Sword – Level 3
You chance to land a blow with a 1H sword is increased by 3% against an attacker of the same or lower level. Each enemy level above yours reduces the chance to hit by 5%. Agility increases the chance to hit with a weapon.
Shield – Level 3
Your chance to block a blow with
an equipped shield increased by 3% from an enemy at or below your level. Your chance to land a blow with a shield increased by 3% against an attacker at or below your level. Each enemy level above yours reduces the chance to block and hit by 5%. Agility increases chance to hit and block with shields.
Stealth – Level 4
You move silently, grasshoppah! 4% chance to move unnoticed while sneaking around. You are slightly ashamed as a Barbarian shouldn’t be sneaking, but here we are.
Fortification – Level 1
You begin to appreciate the value of a well-fortified position. You do 1% more damage and receive 1% less damage when fighting from a fortified position.
Unarmed Combat – Level 1
You are a barbarian! 1% more base damage dealt when using your fists in combat.
1H Axes – Level 1
You chance to land a blow with a 1H axe is increased by 1% against an attacker of the same or lower level. Each enemy level above yours reduces the chance to hit by 5%. Agility increases the chance to hit with a weapon.
Blessings
Apollo’s Light (Cloak)
+2 to Agility
+2 to HP regeneration (5 per minute)
+2 to Stamina regeneration (5 per minute)
Chapter 12
Jaxx strode into the Village of Delios. It had been 5 days since the ambush on the road, and Toxotis had proved to be a reliable and amiable companion along the way. The man still said little of his background, other than some minor details, and preferred instead to speak about the Gods, in particular his chosen mistress, Artemiss.
Jaxx thought back to what Toxotis had shared about the Huntress.
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“You must respect the Lady of the Hunt,” Toxotis had begun. They were laying near a fire along the edge of the road on the second day, after a successful hunt’s reward was dressed and cooking on the fire.
“Artemis is the daughter of Zeus, and the twin sister of Apollo. She is known as the goddess of the moon and of the hunt. She is a virgin, and the only pure Goddess of the pantheon. Many have tried to take her maidenhead, but all who try meet a violent end.
Her symbol is the bear, and she often takes its form or has one as a companion. She spends most of her time in the forest, and is the goddess of huntsmen and woodsmen.”
Jaxx asked, “What is her purpose?”
Toxotis laughed, “Who can truly say what a Goddesses’ purpose is? She protects the young, and the animals, and suffers no indignity nor cruelty towards animals.”
“So, what does she look like?”
Toxotis laughed again, “Why, whatever she wants to! If she is human formed, she will be beautiful, with pale moon-colored hair and eyes. She is mostly nocturnal, ceding the day to her brother. She will always have her bow and arrows with her, which are god-forged weapons. They say that Hephaestus and the Cyclops together made her weapons, and she never misses.”
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None of this information would be helpful, Jaxx admitted. The description was fairly cookie-cutter – Toxotis had never met or seen his Goddess in person, and had no personal experience with her to allow Jaxx to figure out what She might want with him. Obviously, something to do with the overall game experience, but he was at a loss as to what. He just wanted to find a place to rest after 10 straight days on the road.
Entering Delios, Jaxx noticed that it was about twice the size of Triata. The main road entered through a short wall manned by two sentries, who gave the duo a once over but didn’t stop or attempt to talk to them. The road was about 20ft wide, Jaxx judged, wide enough for two wagons to enter the gate side by side.
Entering the town, the wall curved away on both sides, with small buildings hugging the wall the entire way. The main road was lined on both sides by a short, waist high wall made of stone bricks. On the right, a tower fronted by a small building dominated. The tower was made of wood beams and planks, roofed with thatch. A guard was visible at the top level.
The main building was made of stone, again with a thatched roof, and Jaxx noticed that most of the windows were small and barred. It looked like a jail, Jaxx thought. This was confirmed a second later.
“That is the headquarters of the Village Guard,” explained Toxotis. “The Captain’s name is Adrastus, and you will likely meet him once he discovers that an Avatar is in the village.
Jaxx nodded. Although he had only been in Olympus Online a couple of in-game weeks, he was getting used to the extra attention that his status as an Avatar brought him. Toxotis’ own response to finding out was a good example.
“Let us go to the Temple of Artemis,” he said, and Toxotis nodded eagerly, a smile breaking out on his face. Toxotis had talked repeatedly of the need to see his Goddess’ priestesses immediately upon arriving at Delios. Jaxx was suspicious that this was perhaps a message from the goddess, acting subconsciously in her worshipper.
They strode into the town, where about 100 yards into the village they ran into another circular road that intersected the main road. This ran in a circle around the center of the town, inside which it seemed was a mixture of important public buildings and wealthy citizens homes.
Jaxx followed Toxotis as he turned right and walked onwards. Nodding to a few acquaintances, he finally stopped at a white marble building. The building was surrounded by fluted marble columns, with a peaked roof that Jaxx recognized from pictures of ancient Greek buildings. But while those pictures had been of ruins, and artist’s renditions, this temple was alive.
Modest in size, about 20 meters on a side, the steps were broad and of white marble. The columns were evenly spaced around the edge, and two extensions of marble on either side of the steps held statues of the goddess. Pale marble showed the perfection of her form, with a gold bow and arrows shown. One statue showed a bear companion behind her, while the other showed the Goddess in full form, drawing her bow and aiming an arrow into the distance.
Inside the columns, a second wall concealed the interior of the temple, with a door cut into the stone flanked by lit torches. Toxotis marched up the steps, briefly stopping and bowing to each statue as he ascended the stairs. After reaching the top, he continued into the interior of the temple through the stone-cut door. Jaxx followed, briefly bowing to the statues as well. Acting with utmost politeness towards the Gods had served him well so far, he figured.
Once inside the temple, the light brightened even though there were no obvious sources of light. Jaxx recognized what he had started to think of as ‘Godslight’ from the Temple of Apollo. Inside the main room were more columns holding up a marble roof, and a slight raised dais was centered inside the columns. Upon the dais was another statue of Artemis. It was a simple figure of slightly off-color marble. Her face was perfection, with eyes of gold and her hair was a pale, pure-white marble that contrasted with her skin color. A golden bow and quiver of arrows was slung on her back, and her facial expression was serene.
Jaxx studied the Goddess’ face: tracing her features, he suddenly was very aware of her eyes: he felt like she was studying him back. As he looked into her golden eyes, they flashed red and her face was instantly transformed into a snarling visage of hate. Jaxx shouted and stepped back.
Toxotis turned from his position ahead of Jaxx. “What is wrong, friend?” His face was concerned, but Jaxx thought he saw a bit of a smirk as well as he turned away at Jaxx’s headshake.
Jaxx’s heart pounded. “What the hell was that,” he wondered silently. The level of malice he had felt during that split second unnerved him.
Just then a small and leathery woman stepped into the area where Jaxx and Toxotis were standing. She was wearing what looked like hunting leathers, with a white cloak that swirled around her and covered her from shoulders to shins. A golden embroidered bear snarled from her breast, and she carried a staff as tall as she was. Her skin was pale, and pale hair showed from under her cloak’s hood.
She halted in front of Jaxx, studying him. A quick glance at Toxotis showed him relaxed,
folding his arms and smirking.
She turned back to Jaxx and smiled, showing teeth. “My name is Adrasteia. I am the Priestess of Artemis here in Delios. Welcome to the Temple of Artemis.”
“Glad to meet you, Priestess. Thank you for your welcome to the Temple.”
“We have been expecting you,” she said. “The Goddess is most interested in you. I understand you are an Avatar.”
“I am,” confirmed Jaxx. “I was told that you had a problem that required my assistance. The Priest of Apollo in Triada sent me here to help.”
“You were told correctly, Avatar.”
“Call me Jaxx, please.”