by Tony Corden
Leah and Elsa cast the spells, and then they descended the steps to the basement where Leah placed the key in the lock. A voice from inside said, “Traveller, the Father is awake, and he wishes to talk with you. You may all enter but do not touch your weapons.”
Leah unequipped her Haladie, and after nodding to the others, she stepped into the darkened room beyond the stairs. With the spell, she could see five Vampires standing in the room. One became solid and much clearer to her sight. She identified it as a
HIGH ELF VAMPIRE - CHAMPION (Level 250) 62500HP (12500EP)
He said, “Follow me.”
They walked through a series of rooms, and each held five vampires. Finally, they approached a pair of Golden Doors which opened as they approached. Inside was a large space with an alcove to one side in which a coffin rested. Towards one end was a dais on which sat a Vampire who Leah identified as
HIGH ELF VAMPIRE - PATRIARCH (Level 300) 90000HP (15000EP)
Behind the Patriarch was another doorway. The guide stopped several metres from the Patriarch, and so did Leah. She gave a bow and waited for the Patriarch to speak first. She could see Eli and Matt getting nervous and twitching, and she hoped they would stay silent. It took several minutes, and the Patriarch spoke into the silence, “Welcome Travellers. It has been millennia since this land has seen the unchanged walk the Deep Forest. I had thought we might sleep away the ages without feeding or adding to our family, but you have awakened us. You have decreased the clan, and we will need to feed to replenish our numbers. I heard your conversation, however, and I am amazed for you are the first unchanged not to seek our demise. Truly, would you leave us alone?”
“Sir, my name is Atherleah. How should I address you?”
“I am the Patriarch Namus. You may call me Namus as long as it is said with respect. My children call me Father. Do you have titles?”
“I do indeed, Namus but to be honest, that is what others have called me. I am happy with simply Atherleah.”
“What are your titles?”
“I am named Markiz Atherleah, Noble of the Road of the Kings, named K’lbimizin, Lady of the Forest, Lady of Heykel, Lady of the Deep Forest, Dragon Slayer, God Slayer, Enemy of Despair, Friend of Truth, Counsellor of the Gods, The Champion of Hope, and Ant Friend.”
“Indeed a mouthful, I agree with you and will call you Atherleah. Now Atherleah, would you leave us alone.”
“Namus, I am commanded to take control of this house. I am to be its Lady. If that is possible without harming another of your clan, then that will be my choice. I think the King would have you evicted, but it is not commanded. I am given all the lands from the River Tehlikeli to the Peaks of the Duvar Mountains. I will grant you leave to settle within my lands and will leave you alone and autonomous. I believe that others will seek to hunt you, but I will neither reveal your whereabouts nor aid them in any way. If you desire to stay in this House, then you are welcome as long as I have control and am its lady. We will need an understanding of who is acceptable prey for you to feed upon.”
“What of others who come to manage your house, will they agree with this?”
“It is my house. They will agree or leave. But surely you have managed the house well for millennia, why would I bring another here? I will be travelling most of the time and will be returning only occasionally. Slowly travellers and locals will develop towns and hamlets but if we can agree that any such villages built on my lands and the main pathway between them are places of safety for both your people and visitors then what happens in the forest stays in the forest. They may kill you, but you may feed on them.”
“Your companions are looking at you as if you have two heads.” He turned to Eli, Elsa and Matt and said, “Speak your thoughts.”
Eli swallowed and said, “Patriarch Namus, Sir! I am just amazed that Atherleah would make such an agreement. Everyone else I have ever travelled with has dealt with Vampires as beasts and as threats. She not only talks of coexisting but of an alliance and allowing your clan to feed on people. I am just shocked, amazed, perplexed and unsure what will happen.”
The other two just nodded and the Patriarch turned and spoke to Leah, “I wish to live in this house with my clan. I will not bow my head to you, but I will acknowledge it is your house and your lands. Also, I acknowledge the Ebony House is yours, and I am a guest here. I will agree that any villages of more than five dwellings and any cleared trail between such villages with a width greater than two paces are places of safety where none in my clan will feed on or harm. Outside these areas, my people may dwell and feast at their own risk. You agree to let me and my clan dwell in and manage your house. You will not divulge where my people live, neither will you give aid to them, I add that you may not hunt them nor shall they hunt you. How do we finalise this agreement?”
Leah said, “Patriarch Namus, I have heard your decision, and I agree to abide by these terms.” Her voice then took on a different quality as she filled it with meaning and power, she said, “You have my Word and Oath.”
Atherleah, you have made a magically Binding Oath to abide by your agreement with Patriarch Namus of the Namus Clan.
Reward 1: Your reputation with Patriarch Namus is increased from Neutral to Respect!
Consequences of failure: Should you break this Oath you will lose reputation with all individuals, factions and races and your reputation with Vampires will become Eternal Enmity.
“Markiz Atherleah, Noble of the Road of the Kings, named K’lbimizin, Lady of the Forest, Lady of Heykel, Lady of the Deep Forest, Dragon Slayer, God Slayer, Enemy of Despair, Friend of Truth, Counsellor of the Gods, The Champion of Hope, and Ant Friend. I have heard your agreement and choose to abide by the terms as stated. You have my Word and Oath.”
Patriarch Namus has made a magically Binding Oath to abide by his agreement with you concerning the Ebony House and your lands in Göskel-Orman.
Consequences of failure: Should Patriarch break his Oath he will lose reputation with all individuals, factions and races and will lose his position as Patriarch.
The Patriarch stood and said, “Lady Atherleah, please come with me. Your companions should remain here.”
He then walked towards the door behind his dais, and it opened as he approached it. Inside was a table with a dark ebony top. He said, “This is the control room to your house Lady Atherleah. I will leave you here to take control. I will entertain your companions.” He then left and closed the door.
Leah walked to the table and noticed it had a groove in the centre the size and shape of the ebony sceptre. Leah took the sceptre and laid it in the groove. The table top shimmered and became smooth and a screen appeared.
Before she could even read it, there was a shimmer of light and Emil the elven administrator appeared.
“Atherleah, you have a knack for breaking rules that aren’t supposed to be breakable.”
“Hello, Mr Developer. I thought I was allowed to bargain.”
“You are. You are. But here you have changed the whole dynamic of the area. The developer of this area is almost foaming at the mouth. He had a nice dungeon for the Vampires to go to and this was going to be a big lure for tens of thousands of people, a big money spinner.”
“It still will be, in fact, I imagine even more people will come. Look, its clear that vampires will spread out around the area. They may form communities or small enclaves. People will flock to the diversity of wildlife and then the added danger of Vampires. Tell him to chill, in fact, why don’t you let me direct the Patriarch to the dungeon, and I imagine you’ll eventually get a dungeon and random vampires.”
“You may have a point. But another small issue is that you as a land holder are constantly under threat from travellers, or supposed to be. Its the downside of being able to tax people. Players try and overthrow the House. But instead of you and some guards there are several hundred Vampires as well.”
“I don’t see the problem.”
“No, but you can see how people thin
k you're getting an unfair advantage.”
“No, I don’t see that. Anyone could have made the deal. They don’t think. They fight and kill and always use force. Surely this game is better than that.”
“Another good point! Either way, and with no extra gifts, as you have enough; Please keep this quiet and make sure the other three do. It would be good if they don’t know we had this talk but if they won’t agree otherwise then tell them a developer said they had to be quiet.”
“I will.”
“And can you try and not make any more waves for a week or two.”
“No promises.”
Emil disappeared, and Leah checked out the screen. It was a list of settings for the area and allowed her a wide range of decisions regarding MOB level, MOB frequency on top of taxation rate. It allowed her to change things like population density for NPCs, village size and frequency. She couldn’t change the available resources, the dungeons, nor was she given access to their locations. In the end, she accepted most of the various default settings except for MOB level and frequency. These she kept at their maximum settings even though the defaults suggested halving them both. She changed the default NPC taxation rate from twenty percent to ten percent. She was surprised that there was an option to increase the tax level on players and allow her clan to escape taxation altogether but in the end, she left the tax at the default value and increased her clan’s tax to be the same as other players.
As she finished, the sceptre rose from the table along with a key. She looked at the key and identified it as the key to the Treasure Vault. She took both and left the room. As she did so a message appeared
Level 4 Dungeon Achievement: First 1 (6, Diamond)
Atherleah (Level 218), you have discovered a Level 4 Area:
The Patriarch of Ebony House
You are the first player to complete this area. This is your sixth, 'First 1 (Diamond)’ achievement.
You have succeeded in completing this dungeon and have control of the Ebony House. The alternate dungeon is empty and is north north-west of the Ebony House a distance of nine leagues. Please inform the Patriarch.
Reward 1: 5000 x 218 = 2561500 (+135%) Experience Points (830000/830000)…(684801/860000)
Reward 2: + 3% to all future Experience
Reward 3: 6 x 10 Platinum = 60 Platinum
Fame: 1000 Fame Points (116700)
A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.
Note: This achievement will be published on the Dunyanin achievement forum. Do you wish to retain your privacy?
[Y] [N]
The Patriarch was talking with Leah’s three friends. Leah said, “All finished. I just need to visit the treasure vault, and all is done.”
Namus stood and said, “Please, let me show you the way, Lady Atherleah. Phelan, please entertain our three guests until I return.”
A Champion stepped forward and said, “Yes Father.”
Namus led Leah through the basement and then down a flight of stairs to a lower level where finally they came to a large steel vault. Leah put the key inside and opened the vault. The inside was mostly empty. The walls were lined with chests of all different sizes, but when Leah opened them, they were all empty. Finally, she found a row of small chests toward the back of the room and four of these had a single gem in them. Each chest had a different variety. She closed the chests and was turned to leave when she heard a small noise in one of the chests. She opened the chest and saw that it now had two gems. She thought about it and closed the chest before walking out of the room and locked it. She hadn’t expected much but realised that the room was collecting her taxes. Somewhere on her land someone was mining gems.
She smiled at Namus and then said, “Father Namus, do you need anything from me before I leave tomorrow?”
He led the way up the stairs and talked as they walked, “Where are you heading?”
“I made a promise to deliver a letter to a dwarf in the Demir Dovuyor Mountains and though I head there my path is constantly changing. But after that, or before, if my path so leads I must visit a friend in Ticareti, then Harika in the Kingdom of Ovalar. I also have tasks to complete in Sihirbazlari and to the Dragonbone Islands. I have several mines that require me some organisation, and so I will probably visit Platin and Ejder. I know that is a long answer, but I did not wish you to think I would be back soon, nor that I had forgotten you. Now that I think about it, as you are managing this House for me, should I leave you the key to the Treasure Vault in case you need it.”
Namus stopped walking and turned to stare at Leah. Finally, he said, “Lady Atherleah, truly you are a wonder. Not only do you seek negotiation and friendship but you honour me with your trust. I have sufficient funds, thank you. I believe you should keep them with you. I have arranged for the master bedroom to be prepared Lady Atherleah, will you at least stay this evening?”
“Thank you for that, yes I shall. I shall need to retire soon, even though it is early, but I will be up in the morning to take my leave if that is agreeable.”
By this stage, they had reached the others and Leah and the three were shown to their rooms. Eli seems as though he wanted to have a serious talk, but Leah asked him to hold off and talk tomorrow after they left. He looked concerned but agreed to wait until the following day at eight. Leah lay down and logged off.
Leah slumped down into the sofa and said, “Can you remind me to bring three of the collectable coins, Diamond, Platinum and Gold, for Eli, Elsa and Matt tomorrow. My negotiations were great for me, but they lost coin and experience.”
“I shall. What is next?”
I’m going to message Thad and see if he still wants to visit Carnival with me? If he does, then I’ll do a test at MIT and then go with him for a few hours before heading back to Dunyanin. But first, lunch.”
Forty-five minutes later, Leah had eaten and received confirmation from Thad that he would pick her up from the Tower at four in the afternoon, Brisbane time. She entered MIT where she was tested on her language skills in English, Mandarin, Spanish and Hindi. She had studied Spanish and Hindi because she wanted to be able to converse with as many people as she could. She was fluent in Spanish but still had trouble reading scientific papers in Hindi and occasionally used the auto-translate for those.
By the time she finished at MIT, she only had twenty minutes to get ready. She quickly grabbed a snack, and a drink, then rushed back to the Pod to get dressed. In the end, she relied on her faithful jeans and t-shirt combo. She was tossing trying to decide on a hat when Gèng walked in and said, “Leah, I was researching Carnival and appropriate wear, you should add a jacket, scarf, the newsboy hat and wear good walking shoes. I took the liberty of purchasing these for you.”
Suddenly a deep green jacket with grey scarf appeared and some dark running shoes. Leah grabbed them and quickly changed, then looking in the mirror she smiled and grabbing Gèng gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before dashing to the Podium. In her hurry, she didn’t see the effect the hug and kiss had on Gèng. For just a moment she froze and flickered. It was momentary but neither negligible nor immeasurable. Gèng continued to consider the event and slowly contributed greater amounts of available processing power to evaluate what had happened.
Oblivious to Gèng’s introspection Leah rushed to the Podium arriving just as Thad appeared. She gave him a chaste welcoming hug, and said, “This had better be good you know, its the first date I’ve ever had.”
“Well, now you’ve done it. Probably jinxed the whole night. So, how long do you have before you have to get back?”
“I’ve two real hours, then back to Dunyanin. But let’s not talk about that, tell me about Carnival.”
“I can’t describe it. It is best to just experience it. Gèng, can you match the coordinates my AI sends to you, please?”
Gèng appeared and said, “Certainly Thad, but only because Leah wishes to go with you.”
Leah and Thad disappeared and arrived on a roped off square in the middle o
f a noisy, bustling, colourful jamboree of laughter, music and revelry. Carnival was a world completely dedicated to the fair, the circus, sideshows, roller coasters, fiestas, fetes, street entertainers, amusement and fun. Thad put out his arm and Leah linked arms. They joined the happy mayhem. It was perpetually night time in Carnival, and a multitude of lights lit the walkways. Occasionally fireworks would explode overhead in dazzling displays of light, movement and sound.
Thad said, “You can’t get hurt here, nor can anything be stolen. I’ve purchased the Total Couple's Pass for the night. If we get separated, then all you need to do is say my name and a green route will appear in your vision to show where I am. We don’t need to pay for anything as I’ve taken care of it.”
Leah looked at Thad quizzically, and her eyes narrowed, and she said, “I looked up the costs for here Thad, and that is too expensive, I can share some of it.”
“Nope. Look, it isn’t about being fair or some form of chauvinism, I like you. I want to enjoy this with you. That’s why I mention it up front. I want you to forget about your cares, about money, about everything else. Just enjoy these hours with me, that’s all I ask.”
Leah pondered his words and then slowly a smile appeared, and she said, “Well okay then. Lead on Thad, what is fun to do here?”
“Have you ever been on a Rollercoaster?”
“No.”
“Well let’s go try the Takabisha, it’s a replica from the early part of the century. It is a good entry level coaster. If you like it, we can move on to the Inversion 2051 Fury.”
An amber line appeared, and Thad led the way to the Roller Coaster. After that, they tried bumper cars, a house of horror, and various sideshow games. They ate carnival food, watched street entertainers who danced or juggled, saw escape artists and magic shows. They watched a circus performance and raced in go-carts, they tried the carousel, took a log ride down a river and finally ended up on an incredibly tall Ferris wheel with Leah leaning into Thad, and he had his arm around her. All the numerous stuffed animals that they had won had been sent back to the Tower, and they were alone. Thad looked down at Leah but before he could kiss her the sky exploded in fireworks and Leah sat up, eyes sparkling and together they enjoyed the show. It had been six hours, and it was time to go. Together they faded from the Wheel and arrived back on the podium.