by Adam Myhr
Two
I waited for a bit. Time was hard to measure in here. It may have been a few minutes; it may have been a few hours. At first, I had a feeling of unease. Then I got downright unsettled. I started to feel pulling, but not in what I felt should be down. Not at first.
My body felt hot, then cold. Strangely, I didn’t shiver. I couldn’t shiver. I was cold, but I couldn’t feel myself. I tried wiggling, and the pull started to feel more like down.
A warmth came over me, starting in my head and spreading, waking up my body as it went. I felt ground beneath my feet. I felt rough clothing on my body. The world started to brighten, shapes coming out of the dark, colors taking their place upon the shapes.
I took a breath, feeling cool, crisp air that tasted like autumn in the woods of the upper Mid-West. In the upper left corner of my vision I saw the number 10 appear, a zero immediately after it but separated by a slash, in the upper right a 0 was followed by a 100%.
Looking down I saw the same body I was used to in the real world. In fact, I saw more of it than usual because my clothes were a barely there mess of dirty rags. On the bright side, I wasn’t feeling cold, even though the air tasted a little chilled.
I looked around, taking in my new environment. I was standing in a grassy field. I could see a graveyard to my right, a mountain range far off behind me, the field extending to the horizon on my left, and what appeared to be a farmstead in front of me.
I focused in on the farmstead, and things got strange. As a whole, the place looked frozen in time. None of the animals near the barn were wandering around. I saw a rabbit munching on a head of lettuce in the garden, and a cat a few yards off, tail twitching, eyes locked on, but not advancing.
I remembered what the doctor had said, about a game menu. I concentrated on bringing one up. At first, I just felt silly. After a minute I stopped trying. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, counting down from ten. I decided the game interface would open on 1, and it did. A transparent overlay on the world now filled my view. I could look at or through it with no problems, and when I tried to see something on it, I received more detail.
Frank: Average Human
Str:5
Dex:5
Con:5
Int:5
Wis:5
Luck:5
HP:10 (10)
SP:0 (0)
Food:100% (5)
Turn:0
Exp:0
Lvl:0
Weapon:
Fists
Fast, 1-3
Armor:
Rags, 0
Equipment:
Silver: 0
Skills:
Magic:
I hadn’t spent much time playing games before college, but to me, this felt like not much going on. I noticed a couple of other options available from the screen.
Inventory
Help
Restart
Exit
Selecting Inventory got me a screen with rags listed, and a lot of blank space. I selected help, looking for some guidance. The inventory faded out, replaced by what looked like a table of contents. Useful sounding topics such as Movement, Sustenance, Items, Weapons, Armor, Magic, and others filled the interface. Unfortunately, no matter what I selected nothing came up, like dead network links.
I willed the screens closed and looked around again, not seeing anything else to do I took a step towards the farmstead.
As I took a step forward, everything else in the world woke up. The cat crept a little closer to the rabbit. A cow stepped out of the barn on top of a hill beyond the garden. A duck flew up from what must be a pond behind the hill. The flurry of movement startled me, and I stopped. All the animals seemed to pause with me. They didn’t quite freeze; the rabbit still munched lettuce in the garden to my front. The cat still twitched its tail. The duck even circled, though it was odd to see a duck circle in much the way a hawk may hunt. I noticed a house to the left, cementing the fact this was a farmstead in my mind.
I took another step forward. This time the rabbit stopped munching and perked its ears up. The cow ambled a bit further from the barn, and the cat wiggled its whole back, preparing to pounce if I had to guess. The smells of the farm started to assault my nose, still faint but promising to become stronger as I came closer.
I looked around again, noticing the numbers in my HUD. The left had remained the same, but on the far right, I now saw the number 2. Feeling experimental, this was a test of their simulation after all; I took a step. The number changed to a 3. The rabbit had risen to a full-height, almost like it was standing on two feet. The cat looked wound tight enough for simple breath to send it springing half-way across the world. The cow was starting down the hill the duck flew out of, and the duck was in full flight, circling above, but obviously heading off.
This is the strangest thing I’ve ever experienced. I took another step, finally reaching what felt like the border of the farmstead. The cat leaped, landing where the rabbit had been only a moment before. The rabbit was now a few yards off, having bolted to my right. It was paused near a bush, nervously looking around while seeming to prepare for another sprint. The cat was bathing as if it had never intended to catch the rabbit. Another step and I would be in line with the farmhouse. From there I could keep going forward and arrive at the garden in a few more steps, or turn towards the farmhouse.
I took two steps forward without pausing. The rabbit ran off twice as far, the duck flew out of sight, and the cat stopped licking and started to watch my approach. The 100% changed to a 99% when the number to the right changed to a 5. I took two more steps to the garden, the cat running back towards the farmhouse when I got close. There were rows of different vegetables. I stood in front of a row of carrots; I could see cucumbers and beans to the right and lettuce followed by corn to the left. I reached down and grabbed a carrot, the number to the right incrementing while I did.
When I stood, the carrot vanished. I concentrated on the interface again, trying to figure out where the carrot went. Not much had changed. Food showed 99%, and Turn showed 8. I could find both of those on the HUD though. I selected inventory and was rewarded with the carrot now next to the rags. Looking at it more closely, I saw it was indeed a carrot.
Carrot: Effects: ?
I also had the option to use it, eat it, or drop it. I decided to eat it. It vanished from my inventory screen, and I felt full, like finishing the third course at a buffet.
+2% Food
You have learned the effect of a raw carrot. +1 Exp
The messages scrolled up from the bottom of my vision and faded after a moment. It was never hard to see the messages or the world around me. I closed the inventory screen, looked around the garden, and started picking vegetables.
After a few minutes, I started to feel weighed down. Picking more vegetables was difficult, and I noticed that sometimes the vegetable I just picked, or another I’d previously picked, would drop to the ground. Confused I went back to the interface screen, noticing how quickly I’d gained the ability to open and navigate it.
To the right of the Str indicator was a message in red: Overburdened! I went over to the inventory screen and was greeted with a screen showing rags, a carrot with a 9, a cucumber with a 4, a head of lettuce with a 10, and an ear of corn with a 7. On the ground around me were a couple of heads of lettuce, four carrots, and seven cucumbers. Looking up, I saw the turns had advanced to 74. Likewise, the food percentage had dropped to 97%. I quickly ate one each of the new vegetables from my inventory.
+2% Food
You have learned the effect of a raw cucumber. +1 Exp
+2% Food
You have learned the effect of a raw head of lettuce. +1 Exp
+2% Food
You have learned the effect of a raw ear of corn. +1 Exp
I didn’t feel weighed down anymore, and the feeling of being very full came back.
I looked around, wondering at how everything around me was frozen without being
frozen. Even the bugs crawling in the field were doing so in a limited pattern, never straying too far from their current location. If I quieted myself and waited, willing the world around me to move without me, they would meander along their way, and immediately enter a similar holding pattern. When I waited with this nearly meditative method, it caused the counter on the right to go up another number too. I suspected I would learn to do it as easily as I learned to open the game interface. It gave a huge sense of power, feeling as if the world revolved around me.
All that power felt empty as I looked around though. I was on a farmstead but had no idea what I should do. I was obviously in a game simulation, but there was no goal visible. Maybe it was my lack of gaming experience, but I didn’t get it.
I made my way over to the farmhouse, hoping there would be someone who could help me figure out what I was doing.
It took a few steps to get to the farmhouse. I occasionally stopped to see the world paused around me. I started to see some patterns. The cat never approached me too closely, alternating between watching me intently and washing itself. The cow came back up from where I assumed a pond was, and shortly afterward went back down. I noticed the full feeling fade, and five turns after it was gone the food number dropped to 99%. Another 5 and it was at 98%.
Deciding to experiment, I ate a single carrot, putting it at exactly 100%. I felt satisfied, but not overly full. Five turns later it dropped to 99% again. Eat until full, not just until not hungry. My doctor would have something to say about this. The experiment over I had a cucumber and finished walking to the door of the farmhouse.
I knocked on the door, then waited. Nothing was happening. I waited a bit longer before I remembered that waiting and watching wasn't enough to make time pass here, I needed to make a turn go by, not just think and look around. I knocked again, the number incrementing, and then willed a turn to go by, causing it to increment again. Nothing happened. Nobody came to the door. After a few turns passed, I tried the doorknob. It wouldn’t turn. I took a closer look at the door, examining every section of it. I even kneeled, examining the doorknob and lock.
Locked Door. Key or lockpick required. +1 Exp
That seemed final in my current predicament, so I stood and turned back towards the barn.
The walk to the barn was uneventful. Everything on this farmstead seemed uneventful. I stopped to get more veggies, eating every time I hit 99% to maintain that full feeling. The cow ignored my approach, continuing its journey up and down the hill. I went to the side of the large front doors, choosing instead to try opening a smaller door to the right. It swung open with a small creak.
You discovered a new location! +2 Exp
Looking inside, I saw light spilling in from windows along the top and the open side door, making it easy to see the whole barn. With no reason not to, I stepped inside.
Inside, the smell of hay almost overpowered the smell of manure. From the doorway, I could see the cow had a stall she kept going back to. It was open to the outside but closed to the rest of the barn. She was down the hill right now. The only thing interesting to me was a bench and cabinets along one wall. I went to see what useful stuff I may find.
Getting closer I was immediately drawn to a pair of overalls hanging by the workbench. Unsure what clothes were doing in the barn I grabbed them and took a closer look.
Dirty Farmer’s Overalls.
These overalls bring dirty to a new level. Presumably, they were left in the barn because no sane person would bring them in a house. The best use for them would be kindling. The second best would be to give a naked person something to wear. +1 Exp
I looked down at my barely rag-covered body once more and decided the overalls couldn’t be worse. I swapped the rags out, letting them drop to the floor. Even though the overalls were filthy and smelled horrible, I felt a little better. They came with a flannel shirt and filthy, worn out boots. The smell faded as I resumed searching through the workbench for more interesting stuff.
The most advanced tool I found was an old ax. I also found a flint and steel combo which I figured could be useful, not that I knew how to use it. I had to eat an ear of corn to keep my inventory from getting too full, but it seemed worth it. Digging around more, I didn’t find anything that seemed useful, just bits of old leather, cracked wood, and rusty metal. I couldn’t even figure out what most of the pieces were from. Giving up, I took a closer look at what I did find.
Flint and Steel
Fire. Well, sparks anyhow. You’ll need to figure out how to make it fire on your own. +1 Exp
Dull Old Rusty Ax.
This ax used to chop down trees. Now it collects rust. During a fight it would be better than nothing in untrained hands, but not by much. Slow, Damage 5-8. +1 Exp
I headed back out of the barn, seeking my next destination. There was nothing more for me to do here at the farmstead. Being at the top of the hill gave me a new perspective. From here I could tell the graveyard was small. It may be interesting, but it wouldn’t hold my attention for long. I looked the other direction, down the hill away from the farmstead. As I suspected, there was a pond at the bottom of the hill. A path led away from the pond and towards a forest that had previously been hidden by the hill. Now we’re getting somewhere. I propped the ax on my shoulder and started down the hill, a goal finally in mind.
I tried to head straight down the hill, ignoring the path and saving time. Whenever I put my weight on the grass next to the path my foot slipped out from under me, causing me to fall back onto the path. This game world seemed determined to keep me going one direction.
When I got to the pond, I paused and looked back. The cow was halfway up the hill, having ignored me when we passed. Could I have even gone to the graveyard? Looking forward, over the still water of the pond a sense of peace came over me. I felt more relaxed than I had ever felt in the real world. Maybe I should play more video games. I turned my back on the hill and continued towards the forest.
Frank: Average Human
Str:5
Dex:5
Con:5
Int:5
Wis:5
Luck:5
HP:10 (10)
SP:0 (0)
Food:100% (28/50)
Turn:460
Exp:9
Lvl:0
Weapon:
Dull Old Rusty Ax
Slow, 5-8
Armor:
Dirty Farmer’s Overalls
0
Equipment:
5 carrots, 6 cucumbers, 6 heads of lettuce, 8 ears of corn, flint & steel
Silver: 0
Skills:
Magic:
Three
I paused at the edge of the forest. I had the same feeling of a border I had experienced with the farmstead. Intellectually I knew this was a simulation, a game of some kind. I also knew I could walk right back up the path I’d just come down. Even with all that knowledge, entering the forest seemed like an action that couldn’t be undone. The feeling reminded me of the first time I went to the park without my parents. There was a feeling of freedom, trepidation, and exhilaration all at the same time. I stepped into the forest, allowing the trees to engulf me.
You discovered a new location! +2 Exp
The forest canopy filtered out the light of day, subduing it as I entered. The leaves showed a little color, hinting at the coming change of season in this land. Do they purposely match it to local seasons? I wished I had a notebook. This was supposed to be a test after all, and they would most certainly want my feedback.
Something started to feel off as I walked down the path. I paused and looked around, not seeing anything odd. I cautiously took another step, then another. I peered into the forest, trying to discern what was changing from one step to another. I was approaching a bend in the path. In movies, this is where something horrible would be waiting on the other side. I cautiously took another step towards the bend. I almost jumped out of my skin when a huge flock of birds jumped into th
e sky at the bend. The swarm milled about just above the trees, with a few stragglers flying in small circles, landing and taking off again, just below the trees. I stood there for a few minutes, trying to catch my breath. I felt a little foolish, caught by the simplest of funhouse scares. I munched down a head of lettuce and continued along the path, rounding the bend feeling much better.
Looking up as I rounded the bend I froze. In the middle of the path was a rat. Normally this would be no big deal, I’d make a bit of noise, and the rat would run off. I wasn’t sure that would work though. This rat was unusual. It was munching on the carcass of a goat, a goat it was a little larger than. I took a cautious step forward. As soon as I stopped, the rat looked my way and started to pace. It kept taking a step towards me, back to the goat, and back to me. It seemed unable to decide if it was going to finish its meal or prevent me from interrupting. I moved the ax to what felt like a ready position and took another step forward.
At this the rat abandoned the goat, giving me its full attention and scurrying closer. Only a few steps away now, it looked even bigger than I knew it was. The smell of filth wafted towards me too, making me wish I could still smell the overalls. One more step and I should be able to hit it with the ax, but it would also be within biting and scratching range. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, the rat mirroring my movement.
I was fully committed now. I swung the ax down on the rats back as hard as I could. It hit with a wet thud.
You chopped a giant rat! 6 Damage
With me holding an ax in its back the rat scratched my leg, its nails penetrating my flesh.
A giant rat scratched you! -2 HP
The pain reminded me of tearing my hand on a nail as a child. I yanked back on the ax, fighting to maintain my balance, avoid the rat, and position myself to hit it again all at the same time. The rat took another swipe at me, missing as I stumbled back. As soon as I felt stable in my footing, I took another swing at the rat. I connected with its skull, hearing bone crack as the ax buried itself deep in the rat’s head. The rat collapsed, no longer able to respond to my attack as the light faded from its eyes.