by L. R. Wolf
You have received a party invitation from Elohwa, would you like to accept?
“Yes,” she thought. Elohwa’s name appeared to the left of Aya’s vision allowing her to see Elohwa's health and magic. “One second,” She focused her thoughts on her husband so he would hear her. “Ok where did you say you were again? I’m going to try and just come to you. Oh and you will never guess who I found!”
“I’m in the Wood elf starting area of Vespa, and who is it? Who did you find?” He sounded curious. He hadn’t been contacted yet by any of their normal gaming friends or guildmates.
“You’ll see! OK, let me see if she knows how to get there, because I sure as hell don’t!” She turned her attention back to Elohwa. “Do you happen to know how to get to Vespa by chance?”
“Vespa? Why would you need to go to Vespa?” Elohwa raised a white eyebrow in question.
“My husband started there.” Aya pulled the longbow back out of her bag so she’d have it out just in case they ran into something mean.
“What is his name? I can invite him and then we can find the Porters and purchase a teleport.” As she spoke, Elohwa glanced around. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths inhaling the fresh clean air. She had been a prisoner in that dungeon for so long with nothing but cold, dull grey walls and stale air to comfort her. Now that she was finally free she planned on enjoying everything that she had missed out on.
“His name is Voksil.” Aya turned her attention inward as she told her husband they were going to find the porters. A few seconds later she saw his name appear under Elohwa's name in her interface.
Elohwa glanced at Aya and spoke in the Party chat-so that Voksil would also know what was going on.
Party chat-Elohwa “We can leave now if you would like, but might I suggest going through your notifications. You will not actually gain any skill ups until you open them.”
Party chat-Voksil “Ah I wondered about that. Guess that explains why my skills weren’t doing anything until I took a moment to look. Most other games just skill you up without having to open anything.”
Party chat-Aya “Well crap, OK. Voks give us a few more minutes. It shouldn’t take too long.”
Aya made her way out of the graveyard. It just seemed a bit sacrilegious to keep standing there when she wasn’t there to visit anyone. She found a nice patch of grass underneath what appeared to be an oak tree and sat down. The smell of earth and leaves drifted around her. Elohwa took a seat beside her as she waited for Aya to finish up with her character screen. With a thought, Aya opened her notifications, her jaw dropping in surprise as she started to read.
You have Completed the Quest The End of the beginning. You have managed to escape the tutorial area by dying, and with your death you released a prisoner who has been held for years within those walls. You have been awarded a 100 sxp token! Through your selfless sacrifice in the tutorial dungeon you have gained a Companion! The Shadow Elf, Elohwa, is now your Loyal Companion!
Elohwa is a Blade Dancer. Though she is a master of the Twin Blades, her long imprisonment has caused her combat skills and stats to have degraded to that of a level one. Her stats and combat skills will increase exponentially faster once she begins to use them once again. Due to her imprisonment, she is currently a Master in most tradeskills.
Congratulations Dreamer! You are the first in Infinity to discover Companions! Companions will remain with you through death. Unlike Bodyguards and Mercenaries, Companions are completely loyal to the Dreamer due to the heroic actions of the Dreamer. Companions can be sent off on missions to dungeons or other areas to gather intelligence, loot, or materials when the Dreamer is not in the world. If the Dreamer does not choose something for their Companion to do, the Companion will take the initiative and will do their own thing in order to advance themselves. Unlike Bodyguards and Mercenaries, Companions will not take a share of the loot, giving everything they gather to the Dreamer, although it is advised to keep your Companion outfitted as the better they are the the better the Dreamer will be. Dreamer Beware, though Companions are incredibly loyal, should you treat them poorly or perform actions that conflict with the morality of the Companion, they will become disenfranchised with the Dreamer. Continued mistreatment or actions can result in the Companion leaving the Dreamer permanently. There is no way to get a Companion back if they leave due to mistreatment or going against their morality.
Congratulations Dreamer! You have earned the Selfless Accolade! Through your selfless actions you have proven your worth. Accolades will give permanent passive buffs or stat increases. +5 Willpower +20 HP
Congratulations Dreamer! You have earned the Friend and Companion Accolade! You have gained a passive aura that will inspire your Companion in battle raising their stats based on a percentage of the Dreamer’s Stats as long as the Companion remains within range of the Dreamer. Certain items can increase this range as well as strengthening the bond with your companion. Base range 10 feet.
Congratulations Dreamer! You have earned the Unique Quest accolade! By finishing your first unique quest you have proven yourself. +5 points to allocate to stats. Choose wisely! This cannot be undone!
Aya sat stunned as she read through all of the notifications. She hadn’t been expecting anything to come from letting Elohwa kill her in the dungeon other than being able to get out of there. She blinked her eyes a few times and cleared the notifications from her vision. She glanced over at Elohwa who had stretched herself out on the grass in order to look up at the leaves swaying gently in the breeze. She noticed a new icon in her interface which she opened with a thought.
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Name: ElohwaRace: Shadow ElfCurrent Skill Level-Blade Dancer (Decayed Skills)
HP 60
Mana 120
Stamina 100
Stats:Intelligence- 5
Strength-3
Agility-8
Dexterity-10
Endurance-5
Constitution-3
Willpower-3
Charisma-5
Luck-3
[Armor Class] (AC)-0
[Spellpower]- 50
[Melee Attack Power] -100
[Ranged Attack Power]- 100
[Mana Regeneration]-30/min
[Dodge]-80
[Resists]-None
[Tradeskills]- Alchemist (Master), Tailoring (Master), Leatherworking (Master)
[Adventuring] Skills-Detect Traps (Journeyman), Disarm Traps (Journeyman), Perception (Journeyman), Survivalist (Master), Fishing (Journeyman), Riding (Master)
[Combat Skills]-Twin Blades (Master), Longbow (Master), Shortbow (Apprentice)
[Harvesting Skills]-Herbalism (Master)
[Accolades]-Former Prisoner, Master of Tradeskills, Prisoner, Twin Blade Master
[Titles]-Prisoner, Blade Dancer, Archer, Master Herbalist, Master Alchemist, Master Tailor, Master Leatherworker, Companion
[Mounts]-None
[Pets]-None
[Creatures]-None
[Bonuses]-All stats and skills have degraded to that of a level one (Temporary), Gains bonuses to Mastered Tradeskills making it easier and faster as well as giving higher quality on crafted items, Gains bonus damage and crit damage when using Twin Blades.
____________________________________________________________________________
She closed out of her new Companion’s status page and turned towards the woman laying in the grass. “How is it your combat was degraded but not your tradeskills?”
Elohwa didn’t turn her head, rather she continued to stare up at the leaves and to the white clouds billowing overhead. “While I was trapped, there was nothing for me to combat, or rather, nothing that would maintain my combat skills. Had you explored further you would likely have discovered a chest containing crafting materials and a random beginner’s recipe.” She pushed herself up slightly to rest on her elbows before turning her face towards Aya. “Overtime I learned the chest respawned with dif
ferent materials and recipes, and so I tracked the chest down whenever it reappeared. As my skills progressed, so too, did the materials and recipes progress. Had it not been for that chest, I doubt I would have kept sane.” She lowered herself off her elbows so that she was once again lying on her back looking towards the heavens.
Aya bit her lip as a thought occurred to her. “Why were you imprisoned there?”
Elohwa sighed, a frown pulled down the corners of her deep violet tinged lips. “Perhaps imprisoned is too harsh a word I suppose. More like I was trapped there. As to the how and why? That is a question I have often asked myself through the years. All I remember is waking within those cold walls and never able to escape. I followed many Dreamers in the hopes they could lead me out, but everytime they discovered the exit, it would close behind them. The door leading out was always someplace new. After a while….” She paused for a moment as she looked away from Aya so that the Dreamer could not see her pain or shame before she continued. “After a while I just gave up. No matter what door I went through, no matter how hard I tried, I just could not escape. That is, not until you.” She turned her face back towards the sky she hadn’t seen in so very long.
“What about the shadow speak writing? How did you know it was there?” Aya laid herself down in the grass beside Elohwa and looked up through the green leaves into the sky above.
Elohwa quickly glanced over to the Dreamer before turning her own eyes back to the swaying branches and leaves above. “The writing has appeared to me off and on through the years. I do not know who put it there or why, but it always gave me hope.”
The two women stayed like that for a few minutes before Aya sat up with a sigh. “Ok, so what do I do now?” The question was more to herself, but Elohwa heard the barely audible whisper and turned her head to look at Aya.
”As your Companion I can do whatever you need done. You only need let me know what it is you require of me.” Elohwa sat up and brushed some errant dirt off of her cloak and leather leggings.
“So you’ll do whatever I want then?” Aya raised an eyebrow giddy with excitement. If she had read the notifications correctly then she could send Elohwa out to farm items and materials while she was logged out of the game. The implications of having a Companion were incredible!
Elohwa’s mouth pulled up into a mischievous grin. “And what is it you would like me to do?” She brought her hand up and ran a finger along Aya’s jawline. Aya’s jaw dropped open, her eyes going wide as her face turned bright red.
Elohwa let her hand fall away laughing at the expression on Aya’s face. “Let me know when you would like to seek out the porters. The village here is not all that big, it is mainly just general shops and trainers, an inn and blacksmith and then the porters.” Elohwa rose gracefully to her feet and held out a hand for Aya.
“Thanks,” Aya managed to sputter as she grasped Elohwa's hand and pulled herself up onto her feet. She quickly changed the subject, “You said they have trainers? I should probably pick up some kind of gathering skills or something before we go out adventuring.” Crafters of all sorts always needed materials, so gathering skills could prove to be fairly lucrative, especially if you found some of the rarer materials.
“Actually, I can teach you some of the basic skills, so there is very little need for you to waste money on trainers just yet.” Elohwa's eyes seemed to unfocus for a moment as she sent something to Aya.
Elohwa would like to teach you the basics of how to survive. Would you like to accept?
As soon as Aya accepted the prompt, a new notification flashed.
You have received the Quest: How to survive Infinity! Your companion is willing to teach you how to survive in these harsh lands! All you need to do is watch and listen and then put those skills to use, to the satisfaction of your Companion! You will receive a 300 sxp token for completing each task. As a bonus, upon completing all of these tasks you will receive a 1000 sxp token and x1 Survival kit-Soul Bound. A survival kit includes everything one would need to survive in the wilderness. Some of the amenities included are a Bedroll, tent, water skin, flint and steel, hook, line and sinker fishing kit, survival knife, mug, pots and pans among other things! You must successfully:
Start 0/5 firesCatch 0/5 fishClean 0/5 fishHunt 0/5 small animals
Hunt 0/3 med animalsHunt 0/1 large animalClean 0/5 animalsSkin 0/5 animals
Cook 0/5 mealsMine 0/5 stonesSet 0/5 trapsSet up a tent 0/5 times
Pick 0/5 herbs
Aya shuddered at the fact that she’d have to kill, skin and clean various animals. In other games, tasks such as that were incredibly easy. All you had to do was loot it and you’d gain the requisite items, but she already had the distinct feeling that here would be vastly different. “Ok that’s something to work towards. Let’s go find the porters!” As much as she looked forward to acquiring new skills, she really wasn’t looking forward to some of what she knew was coming. Another shudder passed through her.
“Are you alright?” Elohwa raised another white eyebrow as she examined Aya closely.
“Yeah, just umm” Aya decided it was best to tell her new Companion the truth. Besides, Elohwa was an NPC so it’s not like she would go telling anyone about her insecurities. “I’m not exactly looking forward to killing, skinning and cleaning animals.” A look of disgust passed over her face at the thought. “Also, I am really really bad at cooking.” With that, Aya smiled and shook her head.
“That is quite alright. With me around, you will not have to do anything you do not wish to. They are just good things to know just in case we become separated or I am otherwise unavailable.” Elohwa waved a hand dismissively and then a thought seemed to occur to her. “As you work on increasing these skills though, you will obtain bonuses.”
Voksil, who was still connected to the both of them now via the Party chat-and had been quietly listening to the two of them. He interjected, “She had you at bonuses didn’t she?” Elohwa’s eyes sparkled a bit as she chuckled quietly to herself at their interaction.
“Maybe….” Aya was a completionist and liked to do and experience everything. She knew she would suffer through what was coming, if only for the bonuses. “Damn this game!” She heard Voksil laughing into her ear and Elohwa was no longer trying to soften her laugh and was now freely laughing. The laugh, like her voice, was pleasant to listen to.
Elohwa continued chuckling to herself as she motioned for Aya to follow her. The two women made their way past the graveyard and found a path about ten feet from the entrance of the cemetery leading back to the starting village. As they approached the village they could hear the sound of metal on metal as blacksmiths worked their forges. Here and there, people were conversing with one another. The smell of smoke drifted down on a gentle breeze, carrying with it the smells of cooking meat. Aya suddenly found her mouth watering at the smell. Guards stood at attention at their posts watching Dreamers curiously, as the Dreamers ran around the outskirts of the town looking for any critters to kill or trying to barter with the various merchants in the village.
Elohwa led Aya through the center of the village. Aya looked around at the small buildings; only one had multiple stories and that was the Inn in the center of the village. Most of the vendors were outside hawking their wares. As this was a starting area, they only sold the most basic of items. Aya watched as an aspiring thief-based Dreamer tried to steal a set of daggers from a weapon vendor. It didn’t go very well for the would be thief as the guards immediately reacted. One guard cast a spell that caused vines to shoot out of the ground, entangling the feet of the thief. Another guard appeared and raised his bow letting loose an arrow that struck the Dreamer in the heart. Within seconds, the thief was being sent to the graveyard. The time between death and respawn was about ten seconds. Once the thief respawned, his body faded into the earth and a gravestone appeared. Usually one would have to touch their stone in order to get their unbound items back, but it appeared that the guards were none too pleased by the behavior of this
particular Dreamer. A fully armored guard stopped at the stone and actually touched the stone. As he did so, the tombstone crumbled to dust.
“I’ve never seen that happen before.” Aya had stopped to watch the brief altercation.
“He was an idiot. Thieves are not looked upon too kindly, especially in these beginning areas. The townsfolk and vendors do not have much in the way of possessions at this point, so every little bit of coin and every item is treasured. Their wares are all they have, if they lose some to theft then their families can go hungry.” It was odd, thinking that NPC’s would actually have families and such that would need fed. They were, after all, only code. Elohwa continued, “That man just earned a two hour ban from this village. The guards will not allow him to re enter until the ban is up.”
“What happens when the ban is up though? He can just come back into town like nothing happened? Also, what happened to his tombstone? The guard turned it to dust!” Aya didn’t know all that much about this game yet, but in all of the games she had played, she had never seen someone get kicked and banned, albeit for only a short time, for trying to steal from the vendors.
“He can come back into town to train, receive quests and trade goods, but no vendor is going to give him a fair price on anything. The guards will also be keeping a close eye on him. If he is stupid enough to try again, the guards will be all over him and this time the ban will be permanent for this village. His tombstone will have been relocated to somewhere outside of town so he will have to go searching for it.” Elohwa once again motioned for Aya to follow her.
Voksil, still listening in through the Party chat-responded, “So it would be a fairly bad idea for someone to say, oh I don’t know, rob everyone blind and take everything that isn’t nailed down?” There was humor in his voice as he said it.
Elohwa stopped in her tracks, a look of shock and horror on her face, “Who would do such a thing?? How can someone be so cruel as to take everything from someone?!” Elohwa had her back to Aya so she didn’t see Aya turn her head away, red spreading across her face in embarrassment. Aya had been known, in certain games, to do just that. It’s not like the NPC’s needed it, they weren’t real, but Aya was starting to feel shame and guilt creep into her thoughts.