Ascension

by B F Rockriver

  “Use them or lose them,” she said, before going silent.

  After a few minutes, Eli had a better understanding of the inner workings of his new body. He had also created twelve planks of rough lumber and leveled up his carpentry skill by another point, which rewarded him with thirty exp. Eli felt a little stronger, and his health and stamina increased by ten points, but the visible effects of the changes were minimal. After he finished, he started pulling the logs into one big pile, getting them ready for collection.

  “Okay, now how do we get them all back?” Eli asked while looking around the forest, expecting something to jump out at him.

  Eli stood in confusion as Don walked up to the stack of wood and placed his hand onto a stack of planks. It looked like what he had done to the corpse of the wolf. He was looting.

  “What are you-” Eli began, to say just before the stack half of the stack vanished.

  “Well, this is what I can carry,” The Turta smirked, and winked at Eli, before walking off with his chest puffed out, as if he had just won a strong man competition.

  To Eli’s amazement, he could touch the lumber to bring up a window similar to when he was looting. A miniature stack of timbers sat in one box, with the number seven next to it. After accepting the prompt to loot the items, his pockets swelled, and his body grew heavy. Somehow the lumber had shrunk and appeared in his inventory, which was in his pockets.

  Well, this sure is handy, Eli thought to himself. But it doesn’t have much space, and now I can barely move.

  A moment later, Aida responded, “You’re overburdened, and your inventory is full, but yeah, the inventory function is helpful, if limited. You should really think about buying a bigger bag or a bag of holding, especially if you plan on carrying around a bunch of items. Different bags can expand your inventory and minimize the weight of objects. Others can negate the size and weight restrictions entirely.”

  Yeah, maybe I’ll just make one when I’m an all-powerful sorcerer, or find one in a dragon's horde. Eli replied, letting out a laugh. Even I know that magic bags are rare and extremely expensive.

  “You’re an idiot.” Aida replied, “Each player starts with a minimum inventory level. That’s you. However, a player’s inventory grows with the amount of space available on their person. So, even a simple coin-purse may add one or two inventory slots. A simple backpack will add more. It will also increase your maximum carrying capacity, allowing you to carry heavier stuff.”

  After checking his inventory, he saw that all of his boxes were full. There was also a set of small red numbers in the top right corner, 155/150lbs. Focusing on the text brought up a debuff window. His movement speed had slowed by twenty-five percent, his stamina was slowly draining, and stamina costs for his abilities had increased by twenty-five percent. Not wanting to rid himself of anything, he pressed forward. They needed the items for the quest, or to sell. Accepting the extra burden with a sigh, he gave his gear one last check and set off towards the slums.

  Along the way, Don confirmed that he should save his attribute points until he was sure of his build. Physical and mental attributes grew quickly until they reached twenty, after which it slowed down significantly, and each extra point became vital. Eli also learned that a person gained the same amount of points as their level until level five, then they received five per level until level twenty when it jumped to ten per level. After that, it was anyone’s guess. There was no information about anything after level twenty available anywhere. It seemed as if higher level players gained significantly better rewards than lower levels, which acted as an incentive to get stronger. The idea seemed unfair to Eli, rewarding stronger players for getting even stronger. At least, until Don explained that it also took exponentially more effort and time to gain attributes and levels, the higher up the ladder one was. While it took a few days or weeks to get to level ten, it might take months to get from level twenty to thirty.

  After Don’s explanation, Eli held off on using any of his attribute points. Not only did he not want to waste them, but he also did not know what he wanted to do. His limited information and lack of access to the Internet made this decision impossible until he could learn more about the different classes.

  As a last attempt to find out more about the classes, he contacted Aida, Hey, uh, can I get any help with making a class choice?

  “Unfortunately, there’s only so much I can help with here.” She responded, “I can give you information about known classes, base classes, and the classes available upon character creation. But, there are hundreds of class options and more being created constantly.”

  How is that possible, isn’t there a set list of classes, like the ones I saw when making my character?

  “No, not at all. Classes are being created all the time, and the system reacts to the players’ input with pretty much everything. This is your story, set within an ever-changing world. If a player performs a unique action, with a new effect, the system can create an ability or skill around that action. When a player creates a set of abilities focused around a similar theme or job, they can create a unique class.” Aida said while Eli lept over a downed tree, “Take an underwater basket weaver as an example. Yes, the class exists and was one of the first created by a player. If someone weaves enough baskets underwater, they may get a skill for underwater weaving. The system assigns a numerical value to the players’ mastery of an action or process. You are getting better at the skill; the system just quantifies your progress on how to create classes. If the player unlocks another skill, one for holding their breath while performing a detailed action, it’s a skill. Then they stay underwater for a long time by taking an abnormally deep breath, unlocking an ability that increases their lung capacity temporarily. After a player creates enough skills and abilities that relate to a specific job, craft, or action, the system compiles it into a new class. Boom, you have the created trade class of Underwater Basket Weaver.”

  Uh, so let me get this straight. These skills, abilities, and numbers are just representations of what we know and learn? Eli asked, nearly tripping over an exposed root. And, if we focus our attention on one specific skill-set, we can create our own class, with its own abilities?

  “You got it. There are other factors, such as physical attributes and special quests, but you’ve got the basics. The classes shown during character creation were a list of the most basic and popular classes that fit your race’s options and chosen ability scores. If underwater basket weaving becomes popular, it may show up on that list.”

  Well, this doesn’t help at all. What am I supposed to focus on if I can just stumble upon a class at any point by doing basically anything? Eli raised his hands, rubbing his temples as he walked. There are too many options. How is anyone supposed to decide anything?

  “Think about it this way. What did you do before you had a system providing information? What would you do if the system disappeared? Would you focus on your strengths and what you wanted to learn, or would you force yourself to learn something because you thought it might be useful? Don’t let the skills and classes dictate your actions. Don’t react to the game mechanics; use them to your benefit. Find a class that suits you or make your own. The choice is yours to make. This is supposed to be fun, not work.”

  Shutting out his surroundings, Eli focused on what Aida said, traveling in silence. While the infinite possibilities of the game encouraged players to explore who they truly wanted to be, Eli felt overwhelmed. He could not start over or make a new character and did not understand who he was. He had one character, one life, even if immortal. How could he possibly decide who he would become? The task seemed impossible, like climbing the peak of the tallest mountain. Repercussions of every decision he made, to that point, weighed on him as if they were stones dragging him to the depths of the ocean. Not wanting to spiral into indecision he forced the idea of choosing a class from his mind.

  The two traveled in relative silence until the tops of weatherbeaten tents came into view. Pine
s and redwoods gave way to rough stone and dirt as the sun disappeared over the ridges of the western mountains. While making his way through the clearing before the slums, Eli noticed a group of wolffen, gladekin, and dwarven children kicking a leather ball in the distance. The sight brought a smile to his face, until one of the dwarf kids stopped, coughing into her hands. Her small protruding ribs shifted, visible through ripped patchwork clothing. The signs of starvation were obvious, as her abnormally thin waist showed the edges of her pelvic bone. Whatever he did, whoever he would become, it would involve helping these people. What class he was, and abilities he earned, did not matter, as long as he could help the people he cared about.

  Lifting his head with a look of determination in his eyes, Eli spoke for the first time in half an hour, “Let’s get this stuff to Alyssa and get these people some food,” he said, his voice stern, as he picked up his pace towards the healers' tent.

  As the two weaved their way through the traffic of the slums, black lines spread from their wounds, creeping towards their hearts and minds, the disease debuff flashing in the corner of their vision.

  Chapter 11

  A strong wind swept through the Dawnport slums, kicking up odors of feces and spoiled meats. It was nearly time for dinner. As Don and Eli approached the healer's tent, the starving masses shambled about like the walking dead. Weaving past the ever-present line of injured and sick, the two made their way into the large grey hut to find Alyssa. The wolffen woman was kneeling over an elderly Mist Elf man, hand feeding him soup. Hearing someone enter her tent, she sighed.

  Without looking, she spoke, “I’ll be with you in a second. If it’s not an emergency, please wait to be called.”

  “Um, sorry, it’s us.” Don’s said, his voice mournful and soft. “We have some of that stuff you asked for.”

  “And we have a few questions for you,” Eli added, his tone more serious.

  “Ah, Eli, Don. Just give me a moment.” The healer said with excitement, before serving the man the rest of his meal. With the bowl empty, she stood and motioned for them to follow her out the back of the tent. “We found him washed up onshore. Poor guy was in the ocean, with nothing to drink. When we got to him, he was starving and dehydrated.” She looked around, making sure no one was watching, as she led them to a small dilapidated hut, with a rusted chain locking the door. “Something’s been attacking the Mist Elf trading vessels. Things aren’t looking too good. There are stories of sea monsters, undead, and demons floating around.”

  Pulling a key from her cleavage, she rushed to undo a simple rusted lock before ushering them into the dark storage room. Its walls were nearly bare, with only a few portions of dried meat, some grains, and a few casks of water lining the walls. Enough to last her hospital a week, at most. To Eli’s surprise, he saw no medical supplies or medicine.

  “So, what do you have for me?” She asked, waving her arms around the empty room. “As you can see, we need all we can get, and the sooner, the better.”

  As the two adventurers retrieved their haul from their inventory, placing it on the floor of the storeroom, chimes echoed in their minds, and check marks appeared next to the corresponding items on their quest log.

  For the first time since Eli had entered the game, he felt a sense of joy. Watching the wolffen leaders face beamed with hope stirred emotions, ones he thought lost. Her canine teeth poked through a thin smile and her ears twitched with excitement at the sight of Don pulling handfuls of healing herbs and berries from his pouch. The sight made Eli feel warm, yet still empty. These people were struggling to survive, and there was so much more they needed. Alyssa's quest would only buy them a few extra days, maybe a week or two.

  “Thank you so very much. Even if you don’t find the rest of the items, I can use these to create healing salves and potions.” She picked up a small branch of Forest Rosemary, bringing it to her nose. “We can use the lumber to patch our homes or create tools and bows. Thank you.”

  As she accepted each item, a notification flashed in Eli’s vision, notifying him of small exp gains. If they could finish this quest, Eli would jump to level three, maybe four. The thought distracted him as he imagined all of his future possibilities. While planning out his future, he missed Alyssa’s hand reaching for his wrist. The sudden contact startled him, causing him to shift and nearly fall over a plank lying on the floor.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Alyssa’s voice was soft, with a hint of concern. “But are you okay? You don’t look so good, and these,” while talking, she looked down at Eli’s wounds before looking closely at strange markings growing throughout Eli’s skin.

  It was as if his veins were decaying, turning black and leaching throughout the rest of his body. The blight was slowly spreading, creating an intricate web of inky blackness that threatened to cover him entirely. With each tick of his timer, the spots on his wrist and legs grew. A visible sign of how little time the adventurers had left. While the Wolffen woman turned his hand and inspected the growth, she traced her fingers up his arm. Pausing at his elbow, she pressed down on a small hole that looked like a pinprick. As she did, black blood oozed from the wound.

  Throwing his hand away, Alyssa backed up, bumping into a shelf on the back wall of the shack, “Oh gods, no.” She stammered, her eyes growing wide, “It can’t be. How did it reach here already? You’re infected.”

  “Please, Alyssa, be calm. This is something we came here to speak to you about. We would have said something earlier, but we didn’t want to cause a panic.” Eli said, moving to block the slightly tilted door of the small ramshackle hut.

  Don shifted uneasily, “We need your-”

  “Get out! Get out of here! Get out of the city! You’ll kill everyone. You’re diseased.” Alyssa interrupted Don with a command.

  “We need your help,” Don finished, “We don’t have anywhere else to go.”

  “He’s right. We can’t just wander off into the woods to die. What happens then? We change and come after the people here, but stronger and unable to control ourselves. That’s what happens.” Eli spoke, leaving no room for anyone else to get a word in, “Wolves carrying the blight attacked us. They were only a few miles from here. How many people do you have out there right now? How many will come back infected?" Eli screamed before slamming his hand on the bare wall of the shack. “Something is out there. Something’s causing this to spread. We need to find it and stop it before it’s too late. To do that, we need to find a cure.”

  Alyssa’s face grew serious as she stared at the two adventurers, who stood blocking her exit. “Let me out of here.” She commanded, “If your words are true, then I have to prepare my people to evacuate. This isn’t something that two adventurers can just fix. That’s not how this works.”

  Eli looked to Don, nodding for him to guard the door, “And if the entire slums or even just the Wolffen just start packing up to leave, what do you think will happen?”

  “I don’t care,” Alyssa replied.

  “I highly doubt we are the first people to notice what’s going on here. The mayor has access to wizards, priests, and sorcerers. If you all up and leave, they will suspect something. They may just start burning this place to the ground with you in it.”

  Alyssa's face turned, acknowledging his point with a frown, “Then what can we do? I can’t heal you two. I’m not a priest or a druid.” Letting her guard drop, she sighed. “Even if I was, you need divine level magic to cure a magical disease like this.”

  “All we need to do is find a direction, somewhere to look. Do you know anyone who might help us? Anyone who knows about magical diseases or ailments. Anything would help; we just need a path to follow.”

  “Well, you could try the priests in Dawnport. Their god has given them the blessing of magical healing. But, good luck getting them to help you without the favor of currency.” Alyssa's face went blank for a moment, as if deep in thought, before a spark of hope-filled her eyes. “Actually, I might know someone.” After r
ummaging through her pockets, she pulled a few folded up slips of worn parchment from her dress and started scanning their contents. “There was a man, a trader of sorts, who should have arrived today. He was scheduled to meet up with that Mist Elf we found on the beach. They were to take him to the mainland.” She paused, flipping through the pages, before continuing, “He’s supposed to be a treasure hunter, or magical items vendor, or something. Here it is, he’s a magical scholar and collector of magic items. His entry in the ship's manifest had all sorts of medical supplies, magical trinkets, weapons, and potions. His name’s William.” She looked at the papers, a hint of shame showing in her downturned lips. “The ship’s manifest and logs were in the guy's vest. When I was looking him over, I removed his belongings,” her eyes shifted, “to keep them safe.”

  As she finished her last words, a new quest box appeared in Eli’s vision alongside more check marks on the quest log. While the chimes played, informing him of exp gains and the partial completion of his quest, he read through the new notification.

  *New Quest: Down with the sickness.

  Can you feel that? You are diseased, and time is running out. After finding your way back to the slums of Dawnport, you have contacted Alyssa and asked for help. Unfortunately, she has no means to cure the Blight. However, she has told you that the priests in Dawnport possess powerful magical healing, given to them by their god. While it will work, this healing comes at a significant cost, and they rarely treat outsiders. She has also spoken of a magical scholar who may be able to help. The man, William, was scheduled to arrive at Dawnport earlier in the day but has missed his appointment. Find a way into Dawnport to receive healing, find William, the traveling scholar, or search for another cure. Time is running out. Move quickly, or the Blight will take you.