Ascension

by B F Rockriver

  As Eli focused on the man, his information sprang to life over his head. Ellius Miller - Level 10 Woodsman. The system had changed his name and appearance slightly, which aided Eli in his attempts to calm himself, but his mind still raced.

  “What you’re saying is true. We have seen the taint of Blight reach as far as our cabin.” Ellius replied, lowering his axe slightly.

  “We?” Eli questioned, his heart beating faster.

  The man tilted his head slightly as his grip firmed on his weapon, “Me and my family.”

  Staring back at himself, Eli broke, unable to control himself any longer. His mind raced as he thought out loud, his volume increasing with every word, “What is happening? Who are you? Where is Kata? Where are the twins? Where is my family?”

  Eli’s memory flickered back to his conversation with Aida, “Each named NPC has permanent re-spawn locations, restrictions to their machine learning capabilities, and a somewhat dedicated script. When they die, they simply come back, to the moment their loop last made a checkpoint. Then their script restarts, fitting into the current narrative.” Her voice was as clear as day, and its meaning was now more apparent than ever.

  Eli knew exactly what happened. He and his family had been remade, just without him. His memories, his personality, and his life had all been recreated, yet he was alone. This man before him was real, not a replacement. It was him. A copy. It was who he should have been. This was his life, from before adventurers murdered his family. Now it was his doppelganger’s.

  Eli spoke, his voice cracking and broken, “Ellius, I’m here to help. There are monsters and adventurers on their way here to kill you and your whole family. If you don’t listen.”

  The words shattered him to say. Your whole family. As if they were never his. Tears streamed down his face as his arms and legs shook. Whoever had attacked him, who changed him, had stolen his second chance at a life with his family. Here they were alive, and they had no idea who he was. Yet, he still had his memories. Everything he had lived through, it was still a part of him. Every moment with his children, every kiss from his wife, and his fear of leaving his childhood home. His memories during the great war, they were all his. They may have been written, coded into his NPC avatar, but they were no less real to him, or his copy.

  Eli collected himself, knowing what needed to be done. This person was not him; this family was not his. His family died a long time ago. He could not save them, but he could save these NPCs. There had to be a way to get these people to agree to join him at the temple. If not, they would inevitably fall to the blight. If that happened, his family would cease to exist entirely. They would be remade as hive-minded monstrosities, used as tools to serve the system. He could not let that happen.

  “If you don’t listen, you and your family will die. They will find you and turn you. There will be no way for you to fight back or protect yourself.” Eli finally finished, his words frigid.

  “Why should I believe you? You just show up out of nowhere and expect me to gather my family and my things, and what follows you to safety?” His replica spoke harshly and redoubled his grip on his axe in expectation of a fight. “What proof do you have?”

  Eli thought his mind grasping for any solution that would end peacefully, then his eyes drifted at his old axe, and he searched through his inventory, “Look at the head of this axe, I broke it fighting an infected bear half a day from here.” Eli spoke, tossing the ruined head of his axe at the man's feet, while raising his hands in surrender, “Really look at it. You’ll see the same maker's mark. The same one you have on your own axe.”

  “Where did you?” The hesitant man started.

  “Wayland is a friend of mine. He made it for me before sending me here to find you. Dawnport is on lockdown, and they are forcing people into labor camps, or demanding payment for safety.” Eli responded, nodding at the head of the axe, “He told me you would recognize it. He sends word that several men are heading your way, one of whom is a Necromancer, and another who is a powerful Mage.” He was lying, but he hadn’t seen Wayland for a week before he died.

  “Why would Wayland trust a beast like you? The Wolffen aren’t to be trusted.”

  Eli frowned at the man’s words. He knew that he had been programmed to be wary of everyone he didn’t know, but the words still stung. He also didn’t realize exactly how far his NPC avatar had gone off track. Maybe this was some underlying issue with his personality that he never let out. It was impossible to tell. He knew xenophobia had sprouted in the game. Aida had explained that, with minimal backstory to follow and human history as an example, the system created what it saw as realistic. So, some NPCs and entire races learned to be racist. While it was unpleasant, it made the story more real and immersive. Realizing that the oddities of a racist AI didn’t matter at the moment, Eli thought of a way to get through to the man impatiently, clutching his axe.

  “I have helped Wayland with many things; we have grown to be friends.” He knew exactly why he would be hesitant. Why wouldn’t he accept the story about Wayland sending him? Wayland’s wife had been attacked, robbed, and nearly killed by a small pack of young Wolffen a few years back. His children almost died of starvation that winter because of it. Bowing his head, Eli raised his palms to show that he had no weapons, “I know his difficulties with my kind. I know about his wife, and I know how my people attacked her. That was not me, and I make no excuse for them. Your kind and mine are both under attack. Right now, we are all under siege by the blight.” He paused for a breath, to let his words sink in, and for a little dramatic effect, “That does not excuse their actions, and does not take away his pain. But that does not matter, because I am here now, trying to help, on his orders. Soon these adventurers will be at your doorstep, bringing death and disease with them. A disease does not care about where we come from, or our history.” He had no idea where those asshole players were, but it was the only thing he could think of.

  “All right, I’ll hear you out,” His copy said, “But we speak on my terms, and without your weapons,” while nodding at the grim-looking axes at Eli’s side. “If you try anything, I’ll call my wife over, and she takes your head.”

  Eli nodded in compliance, “Of course.”

  The two walked towards the small clearing only one hundred feet ahead, with Eli in front, being prodded by his copy. The serene glade held a very much untouched cabin that sat pressed up against a small cliff. Pleasant smells filled the dimly lit sky, its chimney emitting a sweet smell of roasted pork and root vegetables. Eli’s small hen house sat a short walk from the cabin, rustling with the sounds of hens and children poking around where they shouldn’t be. To the cabin’s right was a small garden, with an enclosure for goats, sheep, and a single cow. Farther off, a larger field filled with barley hops and wheat filled out the edge of the clearing. The rustic beauty and peaceful nature of the scene immediately calmed him. He was home.

  A woman appeared from the cabin dressed in working leathers. Kata’s fiery red hair poured out onto her shoulders from beneath a short-brimmed cap. White daisies stuck out of its purple ribbon, and a set of pointed ears peeked out of the sides of its rim. She looked wild, strong, and beautiful as her pale Elven skin glowed in the light of the setting sun. Her eyes narrowed as she saw her husband walking next to who she saw as a stranger. With a quick, nearly unnoticeable action, she drew a dangerous-looking bow and knocked an arrow.

  Not a moment later, she shouted their code word for danger, and two children ran from the hen-house. Eli smiled at the sight, their long auburn hair waving as they ran. Eric held a chick only a few days old, while Savannah drew a long kitchen knife from beneath her dress. They were prepared, way more well prepared than he had been at their age.

  “Ellius, what is the meaning of this,” His former wife shouted, “Who is this man, and why have you brought him to our house.”

  “Kata, it’s okay, love.” Eli started before realizing who she was speaking to.

  “Kata, it’s okay,
love. He means us no harm,” The woman’s eyes softened slightly as her husband responded. “You can lower your bow, but keep on alert. This man is only staying until he tells us exactly what’s going on.” He turned to the kids, “Eric, Savannah, go inside. Lock the door. Grab any weapon you can find and stay put. Only open up when you hear from both your mother and me. Do you understand?” Both children nodded, and their mother whispered something in her daughter’s ear before they both walked towards the cabin.

  Once the children were inside, and Eli heard the door latch shut, Kata walked closer to him and his replacement, “You two sit over there on that log by the hen-house.” She said, gesturing with her bow. “Then, we’ll hear what you have to say, and you’ll be off.”

  Eli sat on the log, as instructed before he repeated what he said in the woods. This time he conveyed just how deadly the adventurers were, adding details about their races, abilities, and tactics. As he continued, explaining how he heard about them murdering another family in the area, his body shook uncontrollably, and tears welled up in his eyes. He spoke about how they raised one of their bodies from the dead and burned another in unholy flame. Once Eli began speaking of making preparations to leave, his doppelganger silenced him.

  “Enough.” He waved his still clenched fist, “We know of the adventurers you speak of.”

  Eli’s face grew grim, and his hands squeezed his knees tight enough to leave a bruise. Had they come back? They must have waited for my avatar to re-spawn. How else could they have learned about the lost temple? Eli’s thoughts raced at the words before Kata put her hand up, about to speak.

  “They were several days ago, before dawn, demanding directions to the Temple of Aeryntorr.” She shook her head in what looked like disgust, “At first they threatened us. But, before it came to violence, the tall one in robes tossed a pile of gold, tools, and food at our feet. He told us they were trying to save the world.”

  “We just wanted them to leave,” Her husband continued, “So, I told them.” He slammed his balled fists together, “I told them about a path that leads through a narrow passage in the hills. About the river. It’s a full day's travel from here due north-west. It will lead them directly to the temple.”

  Eli, still shaking, rose to his feet, “Thank the gods,” he whispered to himself, a look of sincere gratefulness on his face, “Those men would have killed you for that information. You did the right thing. As for the temple, there’s no need to worry. Me and my guild defended it. There were nearly three hundred blighted monsters and undead warriors, but we activated its defenses and held them off.” Eli said, hoping to scare them enough that they would leave, “We are rebuilding it, making it into a proper stronghold. Our goal is to put an end to the blight before it takes hold on this island. But, for now, you’re not safe, none of you are.”

  Eli glanced at his cabin with sadness, knowing full well that it was no longer his, knowing that none of this was his. The twins, Kata, his little plot of land in the woods, his entire life now belonged to this NPC impostor. He wanted to scream, to kill the man standing before him and take back what was his. He wanted to kiss his wife and hug his children. He knew deep down that it wouldn’t change anything, nothing would. They wouldn’t accept him; they wouldn’t even understand what was going on, they couldn’t. He was just some Wolffen Adventurer on a quest from Wayland. All he could do was help keep these people, that he loved so dearly, safe, even if they were no longer his.

  Looking back to the now concerned looking couple, he continued, “Go to your cabin and start making preparations to leave. We have the temple, and you have a place there if you want it. It’s much safer than being alone in the woods.” Eli waved towards the cabin, “If you stay here, you will die. The next time they come through here, it will be with an army.”

  Chapter 41

  As Eli waited outside, his former family discussed their options. He knew that Ellius, the NPC version of himself, would want to either head to Dawnport or stay in the glade. That is what his personality, history, and programming would want him to do. His instincts would tell him to either find a safe place to hide or burrow and defend himself, like a rabid animal. It’s what Eli would do, and the AI guiding the NPC was a jumbled copy of his consciousness. If that happened, there was nothing he could do to stop them.

  His hope rested with Kata that she would want to avoid Dawnport. She would be more willing to take her chances in a fledgling stronghold village with magical protection. She wasn’t suited for crowded cities. She hated politics, couldn’t stand to see people suffer, and loathed the evils that surface in that environment. Nature flowed through her blood, clear skies were her oxygen. She was a flower who needed room to grow. Ellius was a survivalist who would do whatever it took to keep his family safe and happy. He wouldn’t want to put his fate in someone else’s hands. As time went by, Eli recalled his familiar. He needed something to take his mind off of the situation, and the acid breathed dog was the closest thing he had left to family.

  An hour went by, as muffled discussions seeped through the walls of his former cabin, “We are not going back to that city, and we can’t stay here. The children will be in danger.” A short silence followed the shuffling of feet and sounds of items being quickly packed.

  To Eli, it sounded as if they would leave, but Eli had no idea where they would be heading. Finally, the Elven woman appeared in the doorway, her hair a mess and a serious look on her face.

  After looking Eli over, she spoke, “Is your name, Eli Miller?”

  Confused, Eli stuttered, “Yes, yes, it is. Why?”

  She stared at him, taking him in as a building inspector would check a foundation. Eli could feel her gaze, as if she had scanned him, “We’re going with you.” Without another word, she slammed the door behind her and began packing.

  Only stopping to sleep for three hours, the family packed through the night. Eli did what he could to secure the animals and harvest whatever he could from the fields. The work was rewarding, earning him several levels in animal handling, taming, and herbalism. By morning, a small cart sat loaded with tools, clothing, weapons, and every necessary supply they could carry. It wasn’t much for a family of four, but it was all they had. The twins settled in on the top of the small cart, tucked away between large sacks of blankets. The goats and other animals followed the cart, tied to the back. Pulling the small vehicle was a pregnant cow, which seemed out of place and unfit for the task.

  By noon Eli had led the family into the Wildwood, staying far enough ahead of them so they could be at ease. His clone and Kata flanked their cart, watching over their children like wolves. The party only stopped to water and feed the animals, and by nightfall, they had made it to the river. While the adults traveled in silence, Harley kept the twins busy. The small familiar flew into the sky before dive-bombing Savannah, attacking her with stinky kisses. Eric did his best to look unamused, but his smile glowed each time the winged dog landed on his lap. Not wanting to push the children, they made camp as the sun went down. After spending two hours making the family a small igloo, Eli set up a small shelter under the cart with the animals.

  On the second day of travel, a thin, rabid looking mountain lion attacked their small group. If not for Eli’s Familiar, the situation would have been a disaster. The beast had leapt from stealth, attempting to snatch a chicken. Eli was too far ahead to get to the cart in time, but Harley was on overwatch. The small dog swooped in, spraying the beast with acid and alerting the party to its presence. A moment later, Kata and Ellius ended the threat, filling it with arrows. At first, Eli worried that the creature carried the blight, but a quick use of Analyze showed that it was starving. Game and prey animals were almost nowhere to be seen. The Wildwood was dying.

  Having lost the chicken, and not wanting to waste fresh meat, the group stopped to clean and prepare it for a meal. While the family ate, Eli skinned, then butchered the large cat. After a quick meal, the group waited out the rest of the day. With the cart slowing th
em down, and the attack, the two-day journey to Blight’s End turned into three. Eli had worried that he would miss the rest of the new villagers. By afternoon of the third day, the clearing came into view. As they crested the small hill above his quiet valley, he saw that the place was empty. Completely empty.

  A large portion of rubble had been cleared, and Michelle had made three small plots available for use. Yet, the woman was nowhere to be found. Then he realized that Don and the people of Dawnport had not arrived. There’s no way I could have beaten them back, he thought, staring at his temple. He was away for nearly five days. As worry set in, he caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. A small goblinoid creature was sifting through the ruins of a building.

  Drawing an axe in one hand and preparing to cast an arcane missile with the other, Eli led his former family towards the bridge. As they crossed the clearing, the small goblin came into view, and the tension left Eli’s body. The small creature he spotted from the hill was a golem of wood and vines. It was sifting through rubble, sorting into piles. Sensing his master's presence, the small builder looked at Eli with what seemed to be a smile. As Eli stared at the worker, it gave him a nod before getting back to work.

  He had never seen the workers before and didn’t know what to expect. The creatures fighting off the invading skeletons weren’t golems. They were the worker constructs used to assist with crafting. Getting a better look at the creature, Eli saw that one of its arms had a stone at the end, making it into a crude hammer. The other was shaped into a shovel as it dug into the earth.

  “Hey, who’re they?” A loud voice called from the entrance to the temple.

  Hearing Michelle’s voice, Eli smiled, turning to look in her direction, “You fucking troll. I thought something happened to you.” Seeing Michelle standing in the doorway, her sword on her shoulder. “This is Ellius, Kata, and their twins Savannah and Eric. They’re staying here for a while.” Eli said, before noticing cautious looks in the family’s eyes. “Kata, Ellius, this is Michelle Clubsman; she’s a friend of mine. She helped save this place from the blight. She’s harmless.”