Joe
Level 66 through Level 68-
You’ve received 1 point of power.
You’ve received 3 points of stat, allocated based on achievement:
Plus 3 to Muscle/Gear
1 point of power available, please allocate.
Joe needed fire power and one point was not going to help, but he used it anyway. The solitary point went to Fire Magic. He immediately received a message in his HUD.
Currently, you cannot reach journeyman in Fire Magic. Do you wish to spend your point on Fire Magic for future credit? Yes/No
Joe clicked yes.
You are still an apprentice in Fire Magic (4/3 credited).
“I got three points of power and one point in wisdom. Unless you can convince me otherwise, I’m going to increase my Hard Drive Partition skill,” Zoya said.
“Is that the one that gives you more ivory scarecrows?” Joe asked from flat on his back.
“Yes,” Zoya said, ignoring the nickname for her pristine angels.
“Other than their creepiness factor, I’ve got no argument for ya,” Joe said and Zoya assigned her points.
Hard Drive Partition (3 points allotted)
She felt the skill increase and received a message.
You have upgraded your skill, Hard Drive Partition. This upgrade provides multiple benefits. You now have the capability of controlling up to 175 six-inch ivory automaton angels who can now travel 100 meters outside the castle walls. These angels will now be 25% more efficient at castle maintenance and have extremely limited combat ability.
You may now control up to 20 six-foot ivory automaton angels at once. They may now wear up to 13 lbs of armor and one of their hands may be converted to steel. Within two kilometers of the castle, the angels will operate with increased intelligence. In the case of your death, your place of power will provide them with reasonable instructions.
You may now have two Obsidian Automatons.
“Joe, look at this!” Zoya said, excited about her new capabilities. Joe looked at the messages Zoya shared with him.
“That’s a nice increase for spending three points! Even if it was just giving the angels a steel fist, that would have been great, but now the tiny angels can fight too. Part of me is uncomfortable with that, but I can see the possibilities. I should get up…” Joe said.
“Yes, yes you should,” Zoya said from above Joe.
Feeling like an old man again, Joe rolled onto his belly and used his hands to help himself get to his knees and then awkwardly to his feet. In a practiced motion, he put both of his hands on the small of his back and stretched.
“I'm at full health, but I still feel like I've been put through the wringer. I guess a wrestling match with a troll has consequences on your body no matter how much Life Energy you pump through it. Or is this all psychosomatic because I now know that this is real so my body is reverting to old Joe in my mind?” Joe worried as he stretched his neck hearing a loud crack. “Ouch! All in my head or not, we're going to need to find out if any of our people have the profession of a chiropractor. My bones and ligaments might have been strengthened but I have a bad feeling they're going to need an adjustment every time I leave this dungeon,” Joe said as he bent down and attempted to loot the body.
“Joe! It looks like there's no loot, …or am I missing something?” Zoya asked.
“No, you're correct, but it makes sense if you think about it, this was a duel. I guess that supersedes the boss fight. In that vein, I'm not quite sure what to do in this situation. Normally after a match I would shake my opponent's hand, but I think that would be rather disrespectful since I just cut off its head. This is the first official duel I've won, so it's time for me to set a precedent, I guess,” Joe said as he brought himself to military attention despite his soreness. His back was straight, his chest was out, and his arms were slightly cocked at his hip pockets. Each hand opened only enough to grip a roll of nickels. With his best crier voice, he spoke.
“You fought with ferocity. You held nothing back. You fell with your honor intact. Fallen warrior, I salute you,” Joe said as he crisply brought his right fist to cover his heart, bowing forward at the waist.
“That sounded a bit sing-songy, Joe,” Zoya said.
“I never said that I was a poet. Nevertheless, it was I who offended the dungeon and though I won the duel, I still feel I have been thoroughly chastised. For that reason, I believe that the dungeon accomplished what it set out to do with this duel. It was not my place to disparage the dungeon’s choice in music. She may have a vastly different taste than I, but it is no less valid. Once again, my weakness in my inability to keep my mouth shut has made itself known. You would think I would learn, but as I’ve gotten older, it has only proven more difficult not to speak my mind.”
Precedent set
This was the first UI-sanctioned duel on Gravin Moon. The duel was set forth to settle a matter of offense. Though the offended party did not win the duel, its outrage was thoroughly expressed. After the completion of the duel, the victorious party chose to give public comment on the execution of said duel. The victorious party commended the fallen warrior and chose to restore its honor. As a result, the offended party was satisfied and the option of a rematch was removed. In the future, if the victorious party does not choose to restore the honor of the fallen warrior then a rematch is guaranteed. If the fallen warrior is unable to respawn then its cause may be taken up by any worthy interested party.
Congratulations!
In assisting the UI in setting a new precedent, you are helping to make this process more enjoyable for players and NPCs alike!
Joe looked down at his right hand as he felt it tingle. A small red pill materialized in it.
Unique Item: Red Pill
Congratulations! You have found a unique item: Red Pill. This pill must be taken orally and on a full stomach. Those who choose to take the red pill will experience extreme discomfort, but upon full digestion, they will receive 5,000 XP and continue in the land of rabbits and clocks.
Using his left index finger and thumb, Joe carefully pinched the small red pill and placed it in his Holdall.
“Wise decision, Joe, powerful items like that should always be saved until you reach a point where it's nearly impossible to get more experience,” Zoya said with approval.
“That's only part of the reason I am saving it for later. Remember when I got those extreme body modifications… Yeah, when the UI uses the word extreme, I take note now. If this were just a game, I would never use that pill- that kind of pain wouldn’t be worth it. It's time for us to go down to the fourth level,” Joe said as he pointed to the center of the island where the circular stairs descended.
“You want to leave all this wood on the ground? The troll went to a lot of work breaking them down for your loot,” Zoya questioned.
“That would have been such a noob mistake! This is going to take a while, but great idea. Let’s gather all of this in my bag,” Joe said as he began to lift a log and slide his Holdall along its length.
“That looks like a magic trick. I’ll gather the shards and make a pile,” Zoya said.
Chapter 16 - Who’s Thirsty?
After their logging adventure, Joe was forced to provide himself with an extra dose of healing due to the numerous cuts on his hands and arms. The two then walked to the stairs, ready for whatever came next. Gripping the ornately carved wire handrail, Joe traveled down with Zoya flying directly beside him above his left shoulder.
After they descended at least fifty feet, they noticed a door where they could exit the stairwell, but the stairs themselves continued further down into the deep.
“This is weird. Do we have access to two different floors? And if so, do we beat this one and then come back here and go to the next one or vice versa?” Joe asked.
“I don't think that's the case. In fact, I don't think this door leads to an official floor. My guess is floor four is further down the stairs,” Zoya suggested.
/> “Why do you say that?” Joe asked.
“If you look closely at the stone door, you'll see in tiny lettering it is labeled Mezzanine,” Zoya indicated.
“What is a mezzanine?” Joe asked.
“It is a low ceiling floor between two floors. Because it's not a main floor, it's usually not given a number hence being called a mezzanine. I'm not saying this is the case here, but often times it is an add-on that is not incredibly well thought out,” Zoya explained.
“Tread carefully, you don't want to have to fight a duel of your own,” Joe said without a hint of sarcasm.
“I am not mocking this dungeon in any way. I am speaking of architecture I have observed on Earth, specifically a few buildings in the suburbs of Chicago,” Zoya indicated.
“That's pretty specific,” Joe replied.
“Yes, yes, it is… After all, I want to make it clear I am not insulting Os,” Zoya emphasized.
“Well, I don't know about you, but I'm interested to see this non-floor,” Joe remarked stepping forward, gripping the large stone handle of the door with both hands. It was heavy, even for someone as large as Joe, but he leaned back allowing his weight to slowly pull the door open. Once the door was fully ajar both he and Zoya paused before crossing the threshold. Both were flabbergasted by what they saw and could not bring themselves to step in.
“This doesn't make sense. What is a fancy log-cabin-style restaurant doing in a dungeon? There’s a crackling stone fireplace. It's too picturesque. Look at the long round timber used as cross beams. You said mezzanines had low ceilings, this is not low… This is a vaulted ceiling completely made out of high-quality dark-stained wood,” Joe wondered in confusion.
“I don't understand this. It's not a mezzanine, but it's not a restaurant either. You're missing the most confusing part. Look on the far right, about sixty feet in, right before the hallway that leads to who knows where,” Zoya said, pointing.
“That statue… it's a miniature version of ‘The Motherland Calls.’ She has her sword raised high and I can almost feel the call. Why would the dungeon make something like this? This dungeon’s not Russian. Is this some horrible honey trap where we step in and then we die?” Joe asked.
“I don't think so. The main difference between that statue and the original is that the one here is made of the same material that I made Obsidian One out of. Other than that, the dimensions are identical if scaled-down. I think that this is what she used the building points for, this is part of the gap in my memories,” Zoya said and then immediately stepped in. Joe reached to stop her and in doing so, stepped over the threshold himself as well.
Welcome to the Mezzanine!
The UI wishes to inform you that you have entered an official dungeon sanctuary. The Mezzanine is made possible because of a limited cooperative agreement between the Keeper of Secrets and the Dungeon of Os. Unlike other floors, the Mezzanine has no cap on the number of players or NPCs that can occupy it at any one time.
The Dungeon of Os has made a solid commitment, confirmed by the UI, that no traps or monsters will ever be present in the Mezzanine. In return for this gracious commitment, the Keeper of Secrets has confirmed that when dungeon diving teams are formed, the Mezzanine will become the primary residence for at least half of the teams. Once a dungeon diving team has conquered the first three floors of Os they may enter the Mezzanine from any of the multiple entrances to the Dungeon of Os.
Note: Gold and silver are not viable forms of currency in the Mezzanine. Only dungeon tokens and select trade items may be used to upgrade the Mezzanine or purchase Mezzanine products. Not all items are tradeable for dungeon tokens.
“Multiple entrances… Looks like we are going to need to permanently guard the entrance in the basement. We don’t want someone using the dungeon to bypass our defenses and gain entry to the castle,” Zoya said.
Joe nodded and then reached in his Holdall and pulled out one of the tokens he had acquired earlier. The token he chose had a picture of a fluted wine glass on it.
“I'm guessing that these are dungeon tokens,” Joe asserted. He walked up to a dark wooden oak bar and laid the token down on it.
“Barkeep, is this how we use our tokens?” Joe asked the empty air. In response, a black obsidian angel slowly rose from behind the bar and picked up the token and efficiently dropped it in a slot behind the bar. Joe froze, clearly uncomfortable, but unwilling to back away from his nemesis. As the token made wooden clicking sounds, falling down the tube, the angel retrieved a small green bottle and placed it before Joe. Then, like any server waiting for a tip, it held it's palm out flat.
“What? You’re wanting a tip? Here's a tip, never pet a burning dog,” Joe retorted with no hint of a smile.
“There's no need to be rude, Joe, but I don't think it's looking for a tip. After all, the message from the UI did say that neither gold nor silver were currency in the Mezzanine,” Zoya said.
“I think you're right, but just to be safe, I'll hand it a silver,” Joe said as he pulled out a small silver coin and carefully placed it in the open palm of the statue. Instead of taking the coin the statue slowly turned its palm sideways letting the coin fall flat on the bar. Then the statue turned its palm horizontal again. Realizing how it worked, Joe pulled out another token, this one with a fork and a knife on it and placed it in the open palm of the statue.
This time, the angel closed its fist around the token then placed the token in the tube behind the bar, letting it cascade down. Turning its back on Joe, the angel reached in a compartment in the back of the bar and pulled out a plate of perfectly cooked steak and mashed potatoes. With a smooth motion, the statue placed the meal in front of Joe. Then the statue turned and walked down the bar so it was no longer directly in front of Joe. Facing the bar once more, it opened its palm flat as if ready to receive a token from another customer.
“Well, I appreciate it gave me a little space to eat my meal and drink my green mystery drink. The message said this sanctuary wouldn't contain monsters or traps, but could this be poison?” Joe asked.
“That would be a trap, so no. It smells good, I wouldn't mind trying a tiny bite. I've never actually eaten and I don't know if whatever species I am actually needs to, but for some reason I really want to try,” Zoya said.
“Cop a squat,” Joe said as he patted the bar next to his plate. As Zoya sat near the plate, the black angel turned and walked back toward Joe and the dark fairy. Reaching underneath the bar, the statue pulled out a tiny set of silverware, a plate and napkin, and a beautifully carved fairy-sized wooden table and chair and set it before Zoya.
Pleasantly surprised, Zoya took her seat, placed her napkin on her lap, and Joe carefully cut the appropriate sized steak for her and even placed a tiny dollop of mashed potatoes nearby, which he almost didn't spill. Zoya didn't comment, but instead took a bite of the tender steak and unconsciously closed her eyes in bliss. Joe, observing her reaction, quickly took a bite himself and to his surprise, tasted a perfect medium-rare T-bone steak.
Neither of them spoke as they ate. Midway through their meal, both received a new message from the UI.
Yum!
You have eaten fine food and are well-fed.
Plus 10% to passive health regeneration for the next 30 minutes.
“That's a handy little buff, on top of the wonderful taste. By the way, is our server your work?” Joe asked.
“I don't remember making it and I don't have any control over it, but I believe it may be. Try the drink,” Zoya said and Joe pulled the stopper out of the small green bottle and drank it down. With a gentle taste of cinnamon, Joe felt his mana begin to restore. In under a minute, he had regained 200 mana points.
“Excellent! These little potions are definitely something we're going to have to stock up on. The dungeon is doing a good job of making us want to earn tokens,” Joe noted.
“This Mezzanine is more than just a sanctuary. I think that it was EMC's attempt at a symbiotic relationship with this dungeon. Ho
wever, we shouldn't allow this useful place to change the way we view it. I've died in this place. One thing I am confident of, is that this dungeon believed I would not return. It is not benevolent, we are its food. The only reason I can see that it would allow players to live in it is that it can passively feed on them,” Zoya warned.
“You mean that by being here, it will slowly kill them?” Joe asked, wanting clarification.
“No, that's not what I'm saying. Let me explain. Our bodies are constantly generating mana and other forms of energy. Once our mana is topped off, our bodies don't stop filling the tank. At that point, we're just leaking all of the energy that we’re producing. And this dungeon is like one giant stomach and it loves every bit of waste that we give off,” Zoya explained looking a little green.
“That sounds super gross, but what I hear you saying is, it won't damage us while we're in the Mezzanine, just feed off the waste. If that's the case, why wouldn't a dungeon just become a place for lots of people to live?” Joe wondered.
“That's a good question. My guess is that it’s because dungeons don’t survive by mana alone. In order to truly grow and progress, dungeons need knowledge. Sadly, I found out the hard way that they don't gain knowledge by study, but rather by acting like a zombie,” Zoya shuddered, lowering her register.
“What do you mean? Zombies are dead, they can't gain any knowledge,” Joe disputed.
“It really depends on which theory of zombieism you prescribe to, but some stories say zombies learn by eating brains,” Zoya testified as she tapped the side of her head.
“Brains, brains!” Joe stammered in his best imitation of a zombie.
“Joe! I was trying to make a point, using the best metaphors possible, but this stuff isn't funny. We are in a dungeon who, if the rules allowed, would grow forever and eat every sentient being in existence,” Zoya said with finality.
The Sleeper Must Awaken Page 16