Openings

by Thomas Davidsmeier

  Strong Skeleton takes 5 damage from your aura of Healing Light.

  Strong Skeleton takes 5 damage from your aura of Healing Light.

  The river seemed to be picking up speed. Annoyingly, Chris had to go back and forth between jogging and running. Even with the best case, he was still only catching two of the skeletons with his aura. The main channel was just too far toward the other bank.

  One more bright pulse of Chris aura finally caused the two skeletons he had been hitting to crumble away into the river.

  The paladin and war hound ran on for a few moments through a stretch of low grass on the river bank. They rounded a bend in the river, and it began to get wider and slower.

  Chris looked back out at the skeletons clinging to the log in the water. "It's clearly too deep for them to stand or they'd be walking over toward us, right?" Then, he realized he was talking to a dog. After a moment, he decided he did not care if he was talking to a dog. He needed to think this out out loud. It was like Ducky Debugging from CS class.

  "We've got to take more of them out before they get to the ford and can just walk up on land. They could attack the village or the farmers." Chris looked down river and saw the collection of golden thatch roofs gleaming an uncomfortably small distance away on their side of the river.

  “Right now, they’re trapped on their logs and can’t spread out, get away, or kill any villagers. They aren’t going to stay that way much longer."

  “Scout, I’ve got no choice. I’m gonna swim out to them to catch the other three in my aura.”

  The war hound tipped his head to the side and looked at the paladin with a goofy grin. Chris took it as a look of approval. Really, it was just a comfortable way for Scout to hang his tongue out of his mouth and cool off a little after running.

  Wasting no time, Chris turned, ran a few steps into the river, and dove head long into the water.

  Chris's head struggled back up above the water and he took a giant gasp of air.

  He disappeared almost instantly back under.

  Scout tried to decide if his master’s pack leader was just playing or needed help. Could Scout fetch him? Where would Scout even hold onto him? Would he be punished if he had to bite the pack leader to drag him back to shore?

  Chris’s head burst up through the surface again. He wheeled his arms around through the water and pounded his feet behind. Water sprayed everywhere. Chris went nowhere. The paladin was swimming like a fish, a fish that had been hit in the head.

  It was as if Chris had a small chest of coins, a large book, a shield, and his weapons tied around his waist. Walking on land, he had become accustom to the burden. In the water, the weight of his inventory made it impossible for him to swim.

  Chris thrashed and beat against the water with all his strength.

  It was not enough. His vision was tunneling, a black halo ringed his sight. He could not see his Stamina score, but he was sure it was cratering. His lungs were aching. His mouth was full of water, and still he wanted to take a breath.

  The sharp pain in his calf flooded his mind with adrenaline. He tried to fight and get away from whatever was locked like a vise on his leg. Water was closing over his head.

  Then his free knee hit a rock, hard.

  The injured calf was up, out of the water, he could feel it in the air. Against his will, he tumbled over clumsily.

  He was face up in shallow water. He could breath. Chris was not dead. His aura flashed. His Stamina was back, his leg did not hurt. His vision took a little longer to come back.

  Sitting up, Chris looked over at the dripping war hound.

  Embarrassed but thankful, Chris told the dog, “Thanks, boy. Good boy. If I can find a ham or maybe a whole pig, I’ll pay you back.” Somehow, it was easier to accept help from a dog that it was from a person. Chris did not analyze that realization nearly long enough.

  Scout showed his approval by going into the spin cycle and shaking his soaking wet coat out all over Chris.

  The paladin struggled to his feet this time, and set off to catch up to the log again. Before long, his seventy seconds of Healing Light was up again. He thought about turning his aura back on to help with the Stamina. He decided that would waste mana. Then, he realized he had not gotten anymore back yet. The Game was weird about rates. When it said five mana per ten minutes, it was going to make you wait all the way to the end of those ten minutes to get it. You did not get one mana back every two minutes. He would have to wait.

  “I wish there had been more programmers that had helped make this place.” Then he realized what he was saying. “No, wait, maybe not...”

  The log and skeletons were not moving as quickly. Chris and Scout were closing in on the gold thatch roofs of the village. The villager's huts were about a hundred feet from the bank and still a hundred feet or more ahead. The river had widened quite a bit, and the ford was just a little way ahead.

  As he looked out in the water, the paladin muttered to himself, “Wait a second...”

  Were the skeletons standing up?

  Scout started to bark and slowed down to a trot. Chris ran ahead, passing up the war hound and the floundering skeletons and their log. The paladin ran out into the rocky ford. Small, smooth, annoyingly slippery stones covered the wide, knee-deep part of the river. Water splashed up as he ran, soaking his permanent white cotton underclothes.

  A puzzled voice called out from a spot near the thatched huts, “Hello there!”

  Chris did not have time for pleasantries. The skeletons were definitely standing up in the shallow water. Fur on the back of Scout's neck was standing straight up, and he was barking like mad now. Chris gasped and panted as he tried to explain to the stranger, “Hi. Chris the Paladin." Chris jerked his thumb at his chest, then pointed to his vicious war hound. "He's Scout." Waving toward the water, he managed to finish by saying, "Undead in the river. All get back. Stay safe.”

  The bald man nodded sagely. Chris was happy that whoever it was did not panic. He heard the man shouting back into the village. Chris did not have time to check up on the bald man. He would just have to trust him.

  Sticking his hand in his inventory pouch, Sir Christopher McKnight thought of his shield and then his war hammer. He had no time or inclination to wonder at the magic of the pouch disgorging these huge objects from its small space. After the swimming incident, he knew all too well that the pouch still held the weight of the objects just the same.

  Chris noticed the Divided Lands icon flashing seductively in the corner of his vision. Did he have time to check it now? Scout was right here with him. Maybe a quick peek would be ok...

  The warrior had managed to stand. It cast its spell and used its Bone sword to attack the log. Finding the tethering ropes for itself and its companions with its blade, the warrior made quick work of it. A few slashes later, and all three undead were loosed.

  Free of its boney anchors, the log floated on faster. It drifted through the shallow water past a bristling Scout and a distracted Chris.

  Ignoring the log, a confused Chris wondered aloud, “If that’s true, shouldn’t I have more Mana? But...

  It was strange how he could miss stuff like this when things got stressful. He had heard about people getting tunnel vision, but this might really cost him sometime. He had to get better about awareness.

  As if on cue, the skeletons splashed up within ten feet of Chris. Scout dove in on the skeleton on the right and bit at its leg. The warrior and the other skeleton kept coming forward.

  Startled the paladin stumbled back a step, his eyes going to the razor sharp claws and the femur sword of the Skeleton Warrior.

  A wave of nausea swept over Chris. He felt his cotton shirt against his skin and remembered the ghoul’s claws piercing his linen wrappings the morning before. He flipped up his character sheet.

  You have invoked an Apprentice Soldiers of the Light Aura. Your party gets +2 Att/Dmg, and you will do (Skill+WIS) Light damage every 5 seconds for 70 seconds.

  You
have 10/14 Mana.

  Giddy with nerves, Chris could not help himself. He asked the skeletons, “Hi, how’s it going? Care to switch sides? We’ve got a great benefits package! Health care, life insurance... Oh, I see how that might not really appeal to you.”

  Scout occupied the skeleton on the right, but the other two advanced.

  “Before you two make your final decisions, you should know, our side has a Level 3 Paladin for a leader. He just leveled.”

  Chris grinned as he swung his hammer overhand, but kept his shield and guard up.

  You attack Skeleton Warrior. Chance to hit 85% [(7+3-3) x 5% + 50%]

  Chris analyzed the numbers in a flash. Twenty percent better attack with his new level, the point he had just added to his strength, and the Soldiers of the Light aura. Noiyce!

  You hit Skeleton Warrior for 17 damage. (10+7)

  Skeleton Warrior absorbs 17 damage with Bone Shield.

  The weird shield of bones disintegrated with a sharp crack. Chris could not decide if he was pumped or peeved. “Peeved” had going for it the fact that a 10 on his damage roll just got absorbed. But on the “Pumped” side, that shield was not going to be doing any more blocking.

  Skeleton Warrior attacks you!

  Chris tried to keep his shield up and in the way, but the skeleton swept its sword low, bouncing of the edge of the shield and catching Chris in the thigh above his knee.

  It hits you for 7 damage. You armor absorbs 2 damage.

  You have 30/35 Health.

  Chris spat through gritted teeth, "I’ll tell you why I’m not worried in a second."

  The second skeleton took a swing at Chris. This time, Chris got his shield up and blocked the attack. Scout dove out of the way of a swipe from the third skeleton, and the interval was almost over.

  A sudden flash shot out from around Chris. It was like a razor sharp disk of solid light expanding out horizontally from him. The aura was much brighter than the Healing Light. It slammed into the undead like a physical blow, yet sliced through them like an ax through vapor.

  Strong Skeleton takes 18 damage (6 x 3) from your Soldiers of the Light aura. It dies... again.

  Strong Skeleton takes 18 damage (6 x 3) from your Soldiers of the Light aura. It dies... again.

  Skeleton Warrior takes 18 damage (6 x 3) from your Soldiers of the Light aura.

  Skeleton Warrior absorbs 18 damage with Bone Armor.

  That was more than enough to evaporate the Bone Armor. The Skeleton Warrior looked a slightly taller version any other skeleton now.

  Chris guessed that the monster would cast again since its tools were gone. He tried setting up his action depending on who got to act first in the next round. He willed that if he went first, he would attack, but if the undead went first, he would hold his attack until after his aura had fired. He had no idea if the complex logic would work or not. The ordering and actions were still confusing and had never been explained any place that he could find. If he got to fill out a feedback form after this...

  The combat interval kicked off with Chris feeling himself urged to action. He must be getting to go before the Skeleton Warrior.

  Gritting his teeth, Chris feinted a Shield Bash attack that he could not actually do yet. The skeleton did not know that. It responded as he had hoped and slid toward Chris’s hammer hand. Sweeping a wide stroke, Chris aimed for the fragile, exposed ribs of the monster.

  You attack Skeleton Warrior. Chance to hit 85% [(7+3-3) x 5% + 50%]

  You hit Skeleton Warrior for 11 damage. (4+7)

  “Nothing absorbed that but your face!” shouted Chris, even though the blow had actually landed much lower on the being’s body. Only a four on his damage roll and still eleven points of damage. His Weapons skill, STR, and Soldiers aura made a real nice stack of bonuses.

  Seeming to understand the taunt and be effected by it or to be out of Mana, the skeleton warrior attempted an overhand thrust at Chris’s own face. The paladin ducked and raised his shield, blocking the attack. If he understood the Game’s mechanics correctly, that meant that the skeleton warrior had hit him, but his block roll had succeeded. What was this thing’s attack roll like? Good thing it was not long for this world.

  Scout attempted a trip that failed, and then the end of the interval came around. The flash of light shot out from Chris again. It was parallel to the ground, about two or three feet up. It sliced through the last undead like a withering wind.

  Skeleton Warrior takes 18 damage (6 x 3) from your Soldiers of the Light aura. It dies... again.

  You have defeated 2 Strong Skeletons and 1 Skeleton Warrior.

  Your party receives 600 XP. Your share is 400 XP.

  “Hey Paladin! Do you want this armor?”

  Nathaniel was covered in dust and sweat. He stood on the river bank looking completely exhausted.

  Chris looked over at his exhausted squire and smiled. "Naw, I just whooped the last of them without getting a scratch."

  Nathaniel began a slow golf clap, but then stopped. "Then why's your leg bleeding?"

  In a horrible British accent, Chris replied, "It's just a flesh wound."

  Name

  Sir Christopher McKnight (untitled)

  Health

  35/35

  Stamina

  35/35

  ATT (M/R)

  +7/+4

  Class Paladin

  Level 3, 6%

  Mana

  14/14

  Influence

  5/5

  DEF (B%, w/Shield, SB)

  +1 (5%, 55x2, +1)

  Attributes

  Skills

  Abilities

  STR

  +4

  Armor, N 0%

  Heraldry, N 0%

  Leadership, N 0%

  Monster Lore, N 0%

  Riding, N 0%

  Shields, A 0%

  Weapons, A 0%

  Auras (Mana Cost)

  Mighty Fortress, (4), N 0%

  Healing Light, (4), A 0%

  Soldier's, (4), A 0%

  Martial Prowess

  Gift of Tongues

  Born Leader

  Auras of Light

  DEX

  +1

  CON

  +1

  INT

  +2

  WIS

  +4

  CHA

  +2

  Preferences

  Help

  Chapter 9

  “York, are you sure?”

  The purple portal that had sent the first ghoul to Chris had just closed a few minutes ago. Jeremy was trying to hash out what to do with his first level.

  “Yes, Sir Jeremy. You want to take Control Undead before Create Undead.”

  “What undead am I going to control if I can’t make any?”

  “We’re in the cursed ruins of an ancient city. They’re all over the place.”

  “I don’t see any.”

  “You have not even left this little room that you spawned in. You haven’t even set foot outside yet! How do you know anything about your surroundings?”

  “My minimap isn’t showing any enemies around at all. It should be popping up and flashing if there were any enemies nearby. Though actually, I can't figure out how to get my minimap to display.”

  Jeremy was horrified as Yorick explained that there was no minimap or group chat. “What do you mean this isn’t a MMO? What else is it?”

  “It is a worldgame. The very existence of this place is the game. It is like your home, but instead of just the laws of physics and such, there are the rules of the Game.”

  “Fine. So maybe there really is a whole ruined city full of undead all around me. OK.” Jeremy was very slowly relenting. He had really liked making the ghoul. Except for the smell, that part was terrible. He had wanted to take the Create Undead skill and advance it as fast as he could. He could eventual make ghosts and vampires with it. That was going to be awesome. Unless the vampires sparkled like in Twilight. Ugh, he hated those books. Why had he r
ead all three of them? Yuck. Edward was such a… Never mind.

  “Alright. I’ll take the Control Undead skill. Can I start rounding up some to send to Chris again?”

  “Well, he will be asleep until this time tomorrow. You’d be better off sending some surprises to his other friends. But, you’ll want to be killing things and leveling at the same time.”

  “Yeah, and you’re staying out of my party too. But, you can help with the ‘Rigor Mortis’ thing, right?”

  “Not against undead, I can’t. We’re immune to most stun and paralysis. We’re dead after all. Kind of a nice thing really.”

  “Can you control undead too?”

  “No, I’m an undead being that has Witch Class Levels. We’ve got a bunch of status effecting spells, a few weird damage ones, some buffs, and debuffs. We’re a little different because it costs us mana and health to cast. But as an undead Witch, I’ve got a huge advantage. My dark magic damage can heal me. Warlock’s Skulls count as two challenge levels above our actual Witch Levels.”

  “Challenge level is like how hard you are to kill? Like in D’n’D?”

  “Yes, and it factors into experience awards. Your first opponents are going to be weak skeletons with a CL of 1/2 and some regulars and strongs with CLs of 1 and 1.5, respectively.”

  “Will I be able to level fast on stuff that is below my level?”

  “Yes, because you’re soloing.”

  “Oh, right. Well, let’s get going then.”

  “I’m stuck on the end of your staff. I’m going whenever and wherever you want me to at this point.”

  Attempting to appear nonchalant, Jeremy nodded, “True, true.” Then, he went over to the doorway where the treasure hunter had entered. He paused and looked up at the skull on the end of his staff.