"Digitized?" He shook his head. "Explain."
"I'm not sure I understand the full extent of it myself, but apparently we were so connected to the game that our entire...existence became trapped in this digital world. For all intents and purposes, we ARE the game."
"This is all very confusing. You mean to tell me that I have no body and this...game is my entire life?" He asked, scratching his head.
I nodded.
"Yes. Well, that's quite the revelation."
"But wait, there's more." I grinned.
"Oh geez. Do tell."
"Now this is going to sound a bit screwy, but you know the nukes I was telling you about?"
He nodded.
"Well, they were intentionally set off by a very powerful rogue AI."
"A rogue AI. You sure you're not bullshitting me, pard?" He asked, a slight grin on his face.
"No, this is all true. Scouts honor. At least as far as I understand it. So, she fired every single nuke in the world's arsenal, destroying the entire planet. But now, to feed her growing power needs, she's consuming the trapped souls one by one. Soon, there will be no more humans - digital or otherwise - left in existence."
He stared at me for several moments, no doubt trying to determine whether I was bullshitting him or not.
Finally, he spoke. "So, what can we do?"
"I'm glad you asked." I smiled. "To put it bluntly, we need you to level. Orge - the survivor I was telling you about - believes that once we get several people down into the game that she'll send a mini-boss to investigate. We have to be ready to defeat it."
"Wow, that's heavy. A mini-boss you say? Any idea of the level?" He brought up his HUD and saw he was level 0.
"Orge says this section of the map goes up to about 10th level. He needs us to level as quickly as we possibly can. But, again, this is our new life. So, stop and smell the roses on the way. Learn all you can. He'll let us know when the time is right." He nodded and looked out into the ocean.
That's when I saw the second lightning bolt flash high above us.
"That's my cue." I stood and pointed upward.
"Cue?"
"Yes, I was the first one he brought into the game and I help him bring in the others. That bolt of lightning is his signal to me that he's ready." I explained.
Clint nodded and stood.
"Here, let me mark Thronn Town on your map." He brought up his map and I gave him a map marker straight to it. "There's also a Dwarf fisherman over here." I pointed out. "When you finally stumble into town, go to the Dragon’s Tale Inn. Tell Patch that Ivanhoe sent you. He'll get you all set up."
I stuck out my hand and he shook it heartily.
"Thank you, pard. Seems I've got a lot to digest."
"That, you do."
We parted ways and I hurried back to the spawn point, fishing out the black stone on my way. I just loved the way it vibrated and thrummed under my fingertips.
I thought about Clint. He seemed like a good fellow. Definitely someone you wanted on your side in a fight. Sure, he was level 0 now, but - like me - he was sure to level quick and soon he could probably kick my ass.
But that was good. We needed someone who could soak up some hits. I just wish we didn't have to go through this. That we could live our new, digital lives in peace. But it was what it was and I couldn't change it.
Minutes later, I had made my way to the spawn location. I hoped I wasn't too late. I grasped the stone in my hand tightly and closed my eyes, concentrating as hard as I could.
The wind swirled, bits of sand was kicked up and then the familiar thud.
When I opened my eyes, I had to blink twice. "You're a Dwarf!" I exclaimed.
"Do ye have a problem with that?" He peered up at me, his beady, coal-black eyes boring into mine.
"No." I said, holding out my hand to help him up. "I just wasn't expecting to see a Dwarf."
He nodded and took my proffered hand. "Dwarf. Paladin. Edgar." He answered the computer's questions without hesitation.
"A paladin, eh?"
He nodded. "Best class ever."
I shrugged. I was partial to hunters, but whatever floated his boat.
Once he'd selected his character, he turned to me and asked bluntly: "So, why are you here again?"
Chapter 8
I slept rather soundly as I'd had a very long day. I loved waking up and feeling completely refreshed and reinvigorated. Any minor aches and pains were washed away with a good night's sleep. Dreams were light. Couldn't remember any of them, which was probably for the best.
When I dressed and padded downstairs, I found Esmerelda, Clint and Edgar having an animated discussion around the table with Patch. He had a broad smile on his face and I couldn't recall him being any happier than he was.
Seeing Patch happy made me happy.
"Ah, there he is!" The Dwarf stood and held out a seat for me. "The hero of Thronn town. Mr. Bunny Slayer himself!"
I smiled and took the seat. "I see my reputation proceeds me."
We talked more about the goings-on of the town and their leveling adventures. Esmerelda had nearly caught up to me already. But she was a glass cannon. As long as she didn't get hit, she could farm several mobs at once. Again, she'd be a big help against the final boss.
Patch was practically skipping and whistling as he served us our drinks and meals. I wanted to talk to Orge about it, but I had an idea. Maybe it wasn't feasible, but could an NPC become...untethered? If so, maybe I could convince patch to become an adventurer.
Maybe Patch wouldn't go for it. Maybe he was happy running Thronn Town's only inn. But it was something I was interested in exploring.
I ate my breakfast and slipped out. I had a lot I wanted to get done today and I needed as much of a head start as I could get. First thing I did was throw Patch a couple silver for his handcart plus another 5 for the room and took off for Jakarth City. I wanted to find the carpenter and see if I could pay him to teach me how to make my own house. I threw my ax and pickaxe in there and set off.
It would also be a useful skill I could leverage in the future for additional income if I desired. Again, I stopped by my little patch of land on the way there. I don't know what it was, but there was just something serene about coming home. Even though it was literally a barren patch of land, it was my land. There was no one I had to pay taxes to. No nosy neighbors keeping me awake at all hours of the night - not unless you count the occasional owl.
It was just perfect.
I drank a bit of my ale and took a bit of a rest before heading out. I figured I'd leave the cart and tools here. I'd probably be chopping down a fair share of trees, but I didn't want to do it near my home. Maybe just enough for the actual house.
I wanted to be surrounded by woods, not tree stumps.
I smiled as I watched a squirrel come up to my boots and sniff them, backing away at the unfamiliar scent. Yes, I know I made the right decision in making this place my home.
Standing up, I stretched and started back toward the road, unburdened by the weight of the cart. But something peculiar happened about half-way there. I heard a strange growl and when I turned around I saw a snarling wolf.
Level 3 Rabid Wolf his nameplate read.
Rabid?
Without a further thought, I brought out my bow, activated my freezing and double arrow spells and began peppering him with arrows. He went down fairly easy, but it left me shaken. I really didn't want to get bit by a rabid animal. I was going to have to be more careful.
As he was green to me, I only received 200 xp (x2). But that was fine. That did remind me that I needed to be doing some major leveling. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to take on a 15th level boss at my level.
I was pretty sure that cutting down trees and lumbering about making my house wasn't going to get me any closer to hitting 10. I'd have to take a couple side-quests. Maybe even do some dungeon-diving. Surely there was a fair maiden in need of rescue?
Of course, the fai
r maiden might need rescuing from me.
The day was a lovely day. The birds were out in full force singing their hearts out. I was amazed at how much depth and detail the devs put into this game. It was almost like they knew this would eventually become more than just a game.
The amount of detail and realism in this game was absolutely incredible. I wondered what I would see if I took a microscope to the game world. Would I actually see microscopic details? I likely would. It was mind-boggling.
Of all the places to get "stuck" this seemed to me like one of the better ones. I still didn't understand the details of how my real body could become vaporized, but my soul or essence could be captured in a game. That seemed mind-bogglingly weird.
But, whatever. I wasn't complaining. Right now I had a mission and the sooner I finished that mission the better.
I arrived at Jakarth City just before noon. There were a few people milling about, NPC's probably. I wondered how the place was suppose to look with all the player-characters running around. It saddened me that I would never know.
After asking around, I finally found the carpenter. He was a middle-aged fellow with a beard and mustache. Tall, a bit scrawny with graying hair and blue eyes.
"Ah, a customer! Those have been in short supply lately. Name's Adam, how may I help you?" He extended his hand in a warm greeting. His smile touched his eyes and I instantly liked him. The type of guy you could have a beer with.
"Well..." I closed the door behind me. "I want to build a home. Preferably, I'd like someone to teach me. I'm willing to pay."
He put his hand under his chin and "hmm'd" before answering. "Well, seeing as how no one seems to be in need of my services, I think I can handle that. You any good at chopping wood?"
"Sure. Haven't chopped too many, but I think I can handle it." I explained. "Listen, I'm willing to do all the hard work. I just need someone to direct me. Will 100 silver be enough?" I fished around in my pack and counted out the exact amount.
I knew I had him when his eyes practically bulged. I felt sorry for him when he began to stutter. Maybe I had offered too much? Never mind, it was worth it to me.
"Uh...sure. How soon do you want to get started?"
Even after handing him a large pouch full of silver, I still had 37 gold. I knew it wouldn't last, but man I felt rich. Adam, the carpenter, followed me back to my homestead. He brought along a really nice saw and some design papers so that I could choose my home layout.
It took the rest of the day just to chop down enough trees for a basic setup. I never realized how much of the tree was actually wasted when it came to getting good wood. But I could use the remainder for arrows or burning for heat.
This was likely going to be a several day venture, I realized. I was amazed, however, at how proficient Adam was at taking raw logs and cutting them into usable lumber. There was so much to learn about making my own house that I wondered if I'd be able to learn it all.
He was very patient with me. Even when I'd fuck up and destroy a whole log. Something we talked about that I had yet to even consider was furniture - more specifically sleeping accommodations. Did I want a bed? A sleeping bag? Maybe a tent?
Knowing that I could upgrade easily at anytime - especially as I brought in more gold - was very appealing. So, I made a mental checklist of things I needed to acquire when we went back to town.
Before we called it quits for the day, he helped me put together a make-shift storage area where I could store tools and blankets and such. It was a real eye-opener as to just how much went into building something from scratch.
It took us a good hour just putting that up.
I brought the cart with me into town to carry it all back in. I picked up a tent, a couple blankets, some cooking pots and utensils - which was something else I was going to have to learn - and a few other odds and ends. The whole thing cost me 3 gp, but it was worth it.
I also sprung for a really nice down-lined sleeping bag. I tried it out in the store and nearly roasted. That by itself set me back 2 gp, leaving me with 32 gp. Tools were also something else I was going to need. Nails, hammer, saw, etc. Those weren't cheap. But other than the nails they were reusable.
Since I wasn't going to be staying at Patch's Inn much anymore, I really needed to get my own cart. Maybe I could get a donkey or something to pull it. Then I'd have to learn how to care for the animal.
But it would still be better than pulling the damn thing around everywhere. Plus it would be something I could ride. Maybe a horse would be better. Then again, I had yet to see any service animals - not even a dog or a cat.
As I'd had a long day, I didn't fancy trudging back to town just to sleep. I laid out the tent in the spot where my new home would be, set up a roaring fire and stared into the crackling abyss until my lids were too heavy to keep open.
I'd forgotten to bring along some grub and I really didn't want to go hunting, so I fell asleep hungry. There was a lot to think about with living on my own. I couldn't rely on Patch's cooking - or company. I'd have to make my own. Not to say I couldn't nip down to the inn every now and again for some grub.
The dark, solitary wilderness was a complete 180 from my usual experience. It was so peaceful. Crickets chirped, the fire crackled and my belly rumbled. But other than that everything was still.
I was no mountain man, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect - would I be visited in the middle of the night by curious animals? Some of which may have never seen an actual human before.
It was also starting to get a bit chilly. With the fire dying out and no protection other than my bedroll and tent I wondered if I'd be able to stay warm enough throughout the night.
Only time would tell.
I woke up in the morning a bit sore, but refreshed. Apparently, my sleeping bag - even though it was made of down - wasn't quite as good as the inn's bed as far as healing my entire body. It was adequate, though, and that was good enough for me. I'd be getting a real bed soon anyway.
I stretched and massaged the stiffness away. Who knew chopping trees was so harsh on the muscles? I had slept soundly except for one time in the dead of night when I snapped awake. There had been a rustling at the edge of my property. I wasn't in any mood to get up and check it out and it soon disappeared.
Strolling over to where I thought I'd heard it, I found some elk tracks. Mmm...elk. My belly rumbled, reminding me that I'd been without food for at least 12 hours.
I thought the tracks were fresh enough that I could follow them and maybe have me a nice, elk breakfast. Gathering my pack and bow, I carefully set off, following the elk tracks. Thirty minutes later, I found two large female elk grazing contentedly in a clearing.
"Sorry, girls..." I whispered and aimed my bow at the closest one. It fell immediately with one well-placed hit and the other scampered off into the forest.
Leaving the body, I quickly ran back home, grabbed Patch’s hand cart and loaded it up with the skinned meat. A few hours later and I had it all chopped up into ready-made steaks. I wasn't exactly sure where to store them so they wouldn't spoil. Perhaps my backpack - I noticed things didn't degrade in there.
Cooking them all up took another couple hours and soon enough the sun was at its zenith, although there were a smattering of clouds in the sky.
The meat was absolutely, 100% delicious. Seared to perfection, the fat literally melted in my mouth. A couple steaks and I was stuffed. It was good enough that I wanted to lay back down and take a nap. But I wanted to get this house built.
As I relaxed, drinking crystal-clear stream water, I poured through the house designs Adam left me and finally settled on one. It was a simple, square house - nothing fancy. At this point I just wanted four walls and a roof over my head.
With that settled, I started back to the city. No doubt my new friend, Adam, was a bit worried about me. Maybe he thought I had worn myself out chopping down trees. So. Many. Trees. We did have a large pile of lumber with which to work with, though. So that was good.
"Nope, just had to go hunting for breakfast. You ready?" I asked.
He nodded and for the next 6 or so hours until sunset he helped my saw the logs into lumber and showed me the finer points of crafting my very own house.
By the time the sun had set, pretty much half the house was finished. It was turning out to be a nice, log-cabin style building. And even though it wasn't the best shelter in existence - it was my shelter. I built it with my own two hands - with Adam guiding me each step of the way, of course.
He suggested that if we got an early start we could be finished by nightfall the next day. I agreed and turned in early, starting a campfire, I cooked a piece of meat, washed it down with spring water and snuggled up in my warm bedroll.
I fell asleep wondering if Orge was ready to bring down another survivor. I awoke in the middle of the night dazed and groggy to the sound of wood crashing all around me.
Jumping up, I lit my lantern and peered outside. The house wasn't completely built, but it did offer a bit of shelter. What I saw froze my heart.
A bear.
I glanced at its level and saw that it was my own. Not the easiest of fights - especially since he had the surprise advantage, but manageable. Now I just had to grab my bow and rub the sleep out of my eye.
The bear spotted me and reared up. He let out a frightening bellow that slowed my movements. I needed to get to my bow...
With the bear's slowing roar everything seemed to move in slow motion. Everything but the bear. God damn bears are fast! He was upon me before I could even touch my bow.
How the hell was I supposed to fight off a thousand pound animal with my bare hands? I guess now was the time to learn. He took a swipe at me, but I was able to move aside in time. He still ripped a nasty hole in my shirt and a left a gash in my side.
Fighting an angry bear in cramped quarters was not my idea of a fun time. But I had no other choice. Reaching for my bow that was leaning up against the wall, I grabbed it, slung my arrows over my back and dodged the bear as best I could.
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