Openings

by Thomas Davidsmeier

  I’m a paladin and I’m focusing on a Healing effect first, and then probably an attack bonus one that will give Light damage. What are you playing? I would help me to pick skills that will help if we party up. I don’t know what my human civilization will be like yet. I haven’t got a village or anything yet. Let me know how things are going with you.

  Chris

  Chris’s second letter:

  Oh yeah, if you haven’t figured it out, go into your Leader Menu and then Trade and then pick Gift and open a portal. Make sure to attach your letter securely to whatever you’re sending back.

  Olivia’s Reply:

  Hi Chris!

  Boy, my first day was a doozy, too! My tutor Cato was a huge help. He’s a ranger and I’m a wizard. I’ve got a lot of different spells that each gain different abilities as I level them. The skill system is a little different. I might have a village by the end of today if I can deal with a bunch of giant spiders straight out of Mirkwood. Did you know that JRR Tolkien was the good guys’ lead designer? I can see it with my elves here. I’m making a lot of friends, and I’m hoping to have a strong side. Jeremy sent some skeletons with some wood last night. They actually kind of helped me out of a jam. Oh well, gotta go get over my arachnophobia!

  In Christ,

  Olivia

  Chris’s letter to Leo was a combined version of his two to Olivia.

  Leo’s Reply:

  Chris,

  I already found the menu. I’m playing a rogue, but that’s not the right word for what I’m doing with the class. My dwarves have machines and devices powered by mana stored in special crystals. I’m focusing on being an engineer to these machines. I’ve got a mini-mecha sort of thing. It does my fighting for me. Pretty awesome really. It wiped the floor with the three skellies Jeremy sent my way in the middle of the night. This is way cooler than playing a thief, let me tell you.

  Leo

  Jeremy’s Letter to Emma and Kaiyden, sent at the end of the second day:

  Yo, what classes are you guys? What skills are you focusing on? We need to team up and smash these idiots.

  Kaiyden’s response within the hour:

  Fighter dude. I’m focusing on killing stuff.

  Emma’s response six hours later:

  Why would a shadow elf witch of my power need to team up with two boys? My tutor Katrina agrees with me that men are just weak-minded, easily manipulated anchors that drag we womyn down. The Shadow Elf Empire won’t need any anchors where we’re going!

  Chapter 7

  Kaiyden felt the points poking him all over. Every groggy movement was met with a clattering around him. Leaning forward, the pile of bones on top of him sloughed off to all sides. Kaiyden was in a dark, dusty place. A single torch was flickering near a stone doorway. There was a heavy looking door with a little barred window in it.

  Trying to put his thoughts together, Kaiyden dragged himself up off of the bone pile. It sure looked like he was in a cell. Another more important thing immediately became obvious. He was huge.

  “Dude, I’m swoll! I look like Hulk!”

  Unfamiliar sensations in his cheeks accompanied his smile. So, he reached up and felt his face. Two large tusks protruded from his lower jaw at the corners of his mouth. “I picked orcs didn’t I? Man, I didn’t know I was going to have to be one. I thought I was just going to play one. Whatever.”

  Breaking into his monologue, a voice came from beyond a large pile of bones. It called out to him, “Come quickly, warrior. Your time in the ring has come.”

  A short, hunched goblin came into the light. His pointed ears were long and his hair sparse. Wrinkled green skin was pulled into a smile across his face. Large, expressive eyes met Kaiyden’s gaze.

  Ecstatic, the teenager blurted, “Dude! You’re Yoda!”

  A grimace slowly spread across the wizened creature’s face. “I would not have chosen that moniker for myself. I rather liked my original name, but since you are my future king, I accept your new name for me with honor.”

  “Yeah. Whatever. Did you say I get a magic ring or something?”

  One bushy eyebrow dipped as a scowl began to form on Yoda’s face.

  “No. Your time in the ring, the gladiator ring, has come. You are up next to fight in front of the King of the Red Fist Orcs and the assembled tribes.”

  “Oh, got it. Fighting I can do. Do I get weapons?”

  “Look about this room, it is your spawn point. You have various things here to help you get started. Be quick, the guards are coming to fetch you.”

  Kaiyden looked back at the pile of bones that he had just gotten off of. The was a skeletal hand with a speckled green stoned ring glittering on it. He snatched at the ring and the bones of the hand fell away. A femur that belonged to something bigger than a man caught his eye. He grabbed it and hefted it. “This oughta do me. Just like Little League.”

  Before Yoda could say anything, two large orcs dressed in mismatched armor stopped in the doorway behind the little goblin. “It time. Come.”

  As Kaiyden walked past Yoda, the goblin reached out and patted him on the arm. “Do well!”

  Warmth flowed from the spot where Yoda had touched him, and Kaiyden noticed some writing on the bottom half of his vision. Two lines had been there for awhile, but two others were new.

  You have acquired a Ring of Troll’s Blood, (+1 Health per minute)

  You have acquired an Ogre’s Long Bone, (1-8).

  Yoda has cast Giant’s Strength on you. +3 STR for 6 minutes.

  Yoda has cast Toad’s Toughness on you. +3 CON for 6 minutes

  You have 21/21 Health.

  “Thanks, little man. See you soon!”

  Kaiyden’s walk was short, but he still had time to slip on the ring. It sent a wave of warmth washing over him for a moment, but the sensation quickly faded. He had no idea how long a minute would be in game time. Was combat a minute a round? Was it a second a round? He did not know, so he stopped thinking about it. The magic ring was forgotten by the time he was pushed into the sandy circle surrounded by a high wooden wall.

  Upon his entrance, the crowd murmured in surprise. The arena that surrounded the gladiator ring was made up of stone benches on slopes that were filled with hundreds and hundreds of green, brown, tan, and yellow faces. Most of them had expressions of confusion on them. Kaiyden did not know it, but it was his wardrobe that was causing these reactions.

  He was wearing nothing but a tattered cloth shirt and tattered cloth shorts. The goblin warrior who was sent in through the door on the opposite side of the arena had on leather armor and a circular wooden shield. He had a nasty looking spear as well. The blade curved up like a weapon Kaiyden had watched a Kung Fu guy use during a demonstration once in a park.

  Looking at his ogre bone club, Kaiyden just shrugged and charged at his much smaller opponent. The goblin tried to duck out of the way.

  You attack Goblin Warrior with Ogre Long Bone. Chance to Hit: 75% [(1+6-2)x5% + 50%]

  Kaiyden swept his weapon low, across the space where the goblin was at, sure that his opponent would try to dodge or duck out of the way.

  You hit Goblin Warrior for 7 damage (1+6).

  Goblin Warrior’s armor absorbs 2 damage.

  Kaiyden’s club made a solid connection with the goblin’s shield, but the creature balled up, and rolled with the blow. There was a definite cracking sound on impact. Kaiyden did not know if it was the goblin’s shield or its arm. He hoped it was both.

  Even though the force of the impact had sent the goblin tumbling, he was back up almost instantly. Darting in low, he slashed at Kaiyden’s naked legs.

  Goblin Warrior attacks you with Slashy Slash. +2 ATT/DMG

  You have been hit by Goblin Warrior for 8 damage (5+3).

  You have 13/21 Health.

  Pain clouded his mind. Kaiyden got angry. “Come here, you little green booger. I’m not messin’ around.”

  He reached out and snatched the goblin’s spear behind its head and yanked the
little opponent forward. As the goblin was pulled close enough, Kaiyden swung his club down hard.

  You attack Goblin Warrior with Ogre Long Bone. Chance to Hit: 75% [(1+6-2)x5% + 50%]

  There was a very satisfying crunching sound.

  You hit Goblin Warrior for 12 damage (6+6). Not much war left in this warrior. It dies.

  Kaiyden did not hear the cheers. He did not notice when they slowly came to an awkward stop. He was too busy pounding his opponent into a bloody pulp.

  Howling in anger and pain that went well beyond the Divided Lands, Kaiyden kept swinging his club down onto what had been a goblin warrior.

  “Don’t ever cut me or hit me or even TOUCH ME!!! You don’t get to hurt me. You don’t get to fight me! I’m the only one that matters. I’m in charge. You’re nothing! NOTHING!”

  The same two guards came in and grabbed him by the arms. Kaiyden shook them off. He turned away from the mess he had made and stalked back out of the arena.

  ***

  Emma was sitting on a soft cushion when she awoke. Her face was covered with what she recognized as a kabuki mask when she took it off. Her hair was not blue anymore. Instead, it was coal black.

  That was somewhat frustrating. She wished she could have had more say in picking her avatar.

  Looking down at her silk covered body, she was happy to see that she had not been transformed into some skinny Barbie clone. Well, mostly happy. Maybe a little disappointed. But, she would not be admitting that to anyone, including herself.

  Emma looked around at her surroundings. She seemed to be in a little cave. There was a screen or paper wall in front of her on the only side of the room that was not stone. On a manikin along one wall, there was a pointy hat and black robe. On the other wall, a dagger and small hand mirror were carefully mounted. Sitting on the floor below her elevated platform was what looked like a large heap of gray, silky fabric.

  A voice came from the heap. “Greetings Mistress, I am Ieyasu, your...”

  “Mistress? That’s a bit presumptuous of you, isn’t it?”

  “I... ah, it is the feminine form of the word for one who is in authority: master. I was simply...”

  Snorting, Emma corrected the bowing man. “Well then, call me ‘Master,’ not ‘Mistress,’ E. A. Jessup, or whoever you are.”

  The man took a moment longer to answer than he really should have, but Emma did not notice. She was too busy rolling up onto her knees and struggling to her feet to go over and check out the hat and robe on the wall.

  “As I had been saying, I am Ieyasu, your tutor for the Game. I am...”

  “Why don’t I have a woman for a tutor? What kind of sexist...”

  Confused and frustrated, the bowing man fought to control his voice. “I do not see how my sex can have any bearing upon my ability to serve as your tutor. Most especially in a world where underclothes are permanently attached to us. As a Man-at-Arms, I am well suited to match your class of Witch...”

  “Oh, I see how it is. You’re the MAN-at-Arms, and I’m just a witch. We all know what ‘witch’ really means.”

  Exasperated, Ieyasu actually sat back and threw his hands up in the air. He had dark gray hair and eyes, but very light skin. He had large eyes and large ears like all the other elves. His hair was pulled back into a carefully arranged sort of ponytail.

  “I do not know, Lady Emma. I have no idea of this secret meaning! Please explain it to me, but do so at another time. A Witch Hunter is coming this way. If he finds you, he will slay you and you will be delayed in starting the Game. I could slay him for you...”

  “Ugh! Just like a man. I want to slay this misogynist hunter myself. I don’t need any man’s help.” This was just like gaming with a bunch of guys when they found out you were a girl.

  “Very well, this is good to hear, I was worried for a moment. You will need to cast your curses quickly in battle. So, open the menu in the bottom of...”

  “I see it. You don’t need to mansplain it to me. Where is this misogynist at?” Emma took the hat and robe off the wall and put them on. She had to wriggle a little to fit into the robe. They gave her bonuses to Health and Mana.

  “He is most likely approaching the door to this cave now. It will take him a few minutes to find his way to this place.” Ieyasu did not add any more information that what he had been asked for. On the Earth, he had dealt with difficult masters before, but he had not expected to find one in this worldgame of the Divided Lands. He dearly hoped that he could guide her to victory. The winning side had been promised rewards by the Prince of Darkness himself.

  Emma picked up the dagger and the mirror. The mirror gave her no bonuses, but it did let her get a good look at herself. She had darker gray skin, a fact she approved of. Light gray eyes which looked very striking against her skin, and black hair. She was still her body-positive-sized-self.

  The dagger gave her a bonus to damage with Witch Blade spells. Pulling it from its sheath, She opened up her character sheet and found the spells section. She had three to pick from. Dark Strike, Confusion, and Fear. Dark Strike was the Novice level of Witch Blade. It added Dark magic damage and an attack bonus until her next successful hit. She looked at the spell name and thought, “I want to cast that.”

  She felt a prick of pain in her forearm and a tiny rivulet of blood flowed down to her dagger in her hand. Unnatural darkness swirled around her blade as the blood seemed to evaporate into a black mist.

  You cast Dark Strike. +2 ATT, +2 Dark Damage until your next successful attack.

  You have 15/16 Health and 9/12 Mana.

  “E.A., this Game is really cool, even if it is totally sexist and misogynist and totally not woke. I guess the good guys are wearing all black, that’s kind of woke, right?”

  Ieyasu had no idea what his mistress was talking about. He knew he should not ask her. She had cast her first spell successfully. That was good sign, was it not? Ah, here came the witch hunter.

  “Your first enemy has arrived.”

  Emma laughed, “Silly me, and I thought I was already talking to him.”

  Ieyasu waved for Emma to come and stand in a corner to ambush the enemy when he entered. She shook him off and stood in the middle of the small room. Her character sheet was open in her vision, and she was looking right at the Confusion spell.

  The paper of the screen was split by a blade slicing through. The sound of it tearing filled the little space as an fair skinned elf with golden hair in simple leather armor stepped through the hole. He pointed a longsword at Emma. “You, there...”

  Emma thought, “I cast Confusion on that guy.” She pointed her finger at him and felt a prick near her wrist. The blood flowed out to the end of her finger and formed a dark mist that sped across the gap at the man.

  You cast Confusion on Elf. He is confused for 10 seconds.

  You have 14/16 Health and 6/12 Mana.

  “What, where? Wait a second? Are you Maribeth? I could have sworn she was here just a second ago.”

  “Yes, dear, it’s me, Maribeth.” Emma walked slowly up to the elf as he looked about trying to recognize his surroundings. A timer above his head was ticking down. It was at 8 seconds.

  Recognition lit up his eyes for a moment. “You’re a witch! Wait, no... Maybe not...”

  He turned around to look at the direction he had come, and Emma stabbed him from behind.

  You attack CONFUSED Elf with Dagger from behind. Chance to hit 75% [(1+6-2)x5% + 50%].

  Critical Hit!

  You hit CONFUSED Elf for 16 damage [(4+1+2)x2]. What a ninny muggins. Elf dies.

  Emma laughed as the elf slumped down dead at her feet. “And the same thing to ever other misogynistic piece of trash that gets in this woman’s way!”

  Chapter 8

  Chris took down the book Brother Aleksandr had recommended about Paladins. He was rather disappointed to learn in it that all of his stats were important to different aspects of his class.

  “No dumping everything into one place, I guess.�
��

  Strength effected melee combat and how much weight he could carry. Dexterity effected ranged combat, defense, blocking, and dodging. Constitution gave him Health, increased Stamina, and helped his resistances. Intelligence effected Mana, using certain skills, and the damage of instantaneous spells. He did not have any instant damage spells yet, but at Level 4 he might pick one with his new class ability he would get then. Wisdom effected Mana recharge rate and duration magic like his auras. That one seemed like a no brainer to increase.

  Then there was Charisma. It effected Leadership, kingdom management, and Influence. Influence was some kind of spendable resource that did not recharge. Instead, it had to be earned back after it was used.

  “Everything is important if I’m going to try to cover all the bases! Ugh!” Chris let his head fall down onto the book on the table. It gave a soft thud. Smacking his face into the pages made him remember that he wanted to look at himself. He stood up and went over to the mirror between the two tall bookshelves.

  Chris saw what looked like a mid-twenties version of himself. He had his normal sandy blonde hair, a wider jaw, and a more pronounced chin. His hazel eyes were still the same, a little lighter than brown, a little darker than green. He rubbed his stubbly chin and wondered if increasing his Charisma would change his appearance and if that would make him more appealing to Olivia.

  “I don’t have time for this! I’ve got a sister and a cafeteria full of innocent people to save, decisions to make, and a kingdom to build or something like that.”

  Chris turned back to the table and sat down with the book. He looked and compared, checked the different skills, checked back in the Bestiary, and finally felt like he had hit upon a solid plan.

  With 10 Mana, he could use two auras per battle. He did not need more Intelligence yet. If he increased his Wisdom with one point, he would gain back 4 Mana every 10 minutes. This meant a rather minimal wait until he could cast another aura. Also, the Wisdom bonus would effect two of his auras once they were of sufficient level. He spent one of his three attribute points on Wisdom.

  So, now he had two points to spend between four spots that all needed it. “Constitution will keep me alive and let me fight longer, but Strength will let me do more damage and end fights quicker. Charisma is going to be so important when I become a leader, but Dexterity is used for so much, especially blocking. That blocking mechanic is so much better than just a defense bonus for a shield. Then, there’s ranged combat. I’ve got that big longbow that looks pretty sweet. But, if I try to fight using that too much, I won’t be able to control the flow of battle and keep enemies off Olivia and Leo, and I guess, Nathaniel, too. Hmmm. Even without the ranged attack, I think Dexterity is too useful to pass up. Then, I’m gonna need to kill things. I’ve got to go with Strength. Hopefully the DEX will save me more than 2 Health per combat and make it a better place to put my point than CON.”