I Am Gamer II

by Gabriel Rathweg

  Anyway, I pulled up a video of people building Viking Longboats, and then Korean Turtle Ships and the idea just fit in my mind. I suddenly had the blueprints for what I wanted to build in my mind’s eye. a new screen had appeared.

  SKILL LEARNED

  SHIP WRIGHT (LEVEL – 1)

  By accessing your Total Recall Skill, you have learned the basics of ship building. You have used your mental abilities and memory to create a ship in your mind. You have the same level of skill as a Journeyman Shipwright. Your skill will increase with usage and level.

  “Law?... Earth to War Shaman Law.” Shadow Bear called.

  His voice jogged me from my musing and I refocused on him.

  “We’ll decide who comes tonight.” I said, clapping him on the back and heading off to my next chore. It was time to head to The Springs and make my mental blueprints a reality.

  TRACK 22 – DAMN IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A GANGSTA – GETO BOYS

  MOON FLOWER

  I kissed my love goodbye and slapped him on the ass as I walked by, he loved it, on my way out of our yurt. We had made love the night before, all night and until the early dawn, and on, and on, and on. I laughed, some of these new memories I received upon our bonding were great, if a little disconcerting. Imagine one day you wake up and you have double the memories in your mind, not only that, you know you think differently and act differently. Not in a bad way, better… but still, it takes some getting used to.

  “You ready for this my friend.” I called to Winston, my beloved and I’s War Horse, now thanks to the goddesses, my Familiar and partner in the newly formed Riders. I looked over my new cadre of warrior women. They were fierce, and armed and armored in Lawrence’s Mongolian Horde combined with Roman Legion style. All had a Composite Bow of Fire, with Fire-Steel Arrows, Fiery Hatchets, and Fiery Kukris. We had decided to alter the down sized the Conquistadors armor, it had allowed us to make more suits, and each of the Riders wore the same garb, remade and altered by my love. He had also had time to create two new weapons for each of the Riders. I looked to my left and checked over Dancing Lions new armor, sword, and spear.

  REINFORCED ARMOR OF EARTH AND FIRE

  ARMOR TYPE – Scale and Hide Mail

  DURABILITY – 100/100

  CLASS – Unique

  UPGRADES – Fire Resistance, Strength of the Earth

  WEIGHT – 25lbs

  This is a full suit of armor, chest, greaves, gloves, vambraces, skull cap, made of mail armor sewn with hide. The armor is imbued with Fire and Earth Magic causing it to stay dry in the wet and has added strength from the Earth. Armor has mild resistance to fire. Armor is sized to fit wearer perfectly, causing no excess noise or chaffing of movement. All wears may alter color and cut of armor to fit their style of use.

  I accessed the next message.

  FIERY CAVALRY SABER

  WEAPON TYPE – Saber

  DURABILITY – 90/90

  CLASS – Unique

  UPGRADES – Burning Blade, Fire Resistance

  WEIGHT – 6lbs

  DIMENSIONS – 1” by 36” handle 6” by 1”

  The Fiery Cavalry Saber is infused with Fire Magic, and imbued with an internal Magical Power, this weapon has enough charge for the blade to burn for ten minutes. The ability will charge every thirty minutes unless wielder has MP. If wielder has MP the weapon will use their MP to charge for attacks. This Damage Stacks with other abilities and weapons. The weapons blade is curves for the better ability to strike from horseback.

  I looked at the next weapon.

  FIERY CAVALRY SPEAR

  WEAPON TYPE – POLEARM

  DURABILITY – 60/60

  CLASS – Unique

  UPGRADES – Burning Blade, Fire Resistance

  WEIGHT – 10lbs

  DIMENSIONS – 1” by 12” Shaft 60” by 1”

  The Fiery Cavalry Spear is infused with Fire Magic, and imbued with an internal Magical Power, this weapon has enough charge for the blade to burn for ten minutes. The ability will charge every thirty minutes unless wielder has MP. If wielder has MP the weapon will use their MP to charge for attacks. This Damage Stacks with other abilities and weapons. The design is based off of a combination of classic Roman spears and Japanese and Korean styles. The pole is able to flex and absorb impact without breaking, while the blade is based on modern designs with a tri-tip to penetrate Conquistador armor.

  The armor fit the tiny Jicarilla women like a second skin. No wonder the men, my fiancé among them, looked at her so often, I’d have to address the issue when we returned from our task. For now, I could concentrate on the coming days. I nodded to Dancing Lion and Stone Fox, both came over riding their horses and nodded.

  “The Riders are ready?” I asked.

  “They are First Rider.” Dancing Lion replied.

  “I told you to call me Moon Flower. None of this First Rider nonsense.” I told the woman again, for what was at least the hundredth time. We were all still awed by the new status and the goddess’s gifts, plus I kicked her ass in a fight a week ago. “Good, let’s move out, we will head to The Springs and resupply there.”

  They both nodded to me and Dancing Lion made a gesture to Stone Fox, who turned her mount with the ease of someone doing for a lifetime, facing the rest of the assembled Riders.

  “We ride!” Stone Fox called, motioning for the women to follow her, and with a squeeze of her armored thighs, began trotting towards The Springs.

  I watched as they moved out, Dancing Lion and I following along in the rear. We kept a sedate pace as we left the Jicarilla home, waved goodbye to Shadow Bear and his workers on the way, and various other tribesmen and women. Spirits were high as we began our first ride. The women had all bonded well with their steeds, which I could tell by having access to an information screen, which I pulled up.

  THE RIDERS OF EARTH AND SKY

  FIRST RIDER – Moon Flower

  SECOND RIDER – Dancing Lion

  ELITE RIDERS – Ice Blossom, Night Star, Stone Fox

  RIDERS – JICARILLA 15/15

  SKILLS – HORSEMANSHIP (LEVEL – 1), ARCHERY (LEVEL – 1), SPEAR WEILDING (LEVEL – 1), FAMILIAR (LEVEL – 1)

  Gifted with knowledge by the goddesses Ateantsic and Shakaru, The Riders are innately bonded with their companion horses and have the skill to ride and care for them as if having done it from birth. The Riders are the first of the ancient horse warriors reborn from legend. The Rider and horse are now able to sense each other’s thoughts at a base level, the ability will grow with level and usage.

  I closed the window and shook my head. We had legends of having horses from many millennia ago, but with the new knowledge gained from my bond with my fiancé I now knew that they had died out. It made sense that the goddesses would want us to use them again. Ateantsic had told me, when she gave us these gifts, that it would be our job to spread the knowledge of the horse to The People once again. Whether it be peacefully or by fire and spear. It was time to unite all of us, the Conquistadors were coming, even faster then Lawrence had thought.

  Well, we’d just move faster, the only alternative was the death of our people. I knew what our future held, the bonding showed me, and I’d be damned if I’d let it happen. The People would resist, we’d survive, and the future would be different, I’d make sure of it. My father’s death wouldn’t be in vain. I shook my head and cleared of its dark thoughts and made my way to the head of the group. We had just left the rocky canyons and were almost onto the scrub land and hilly plains.

  “Let’s let the horses stretch their legs a bit. What do you say ladies? Last one to The Springs has to cook dinner for a week!” I called, sending my thoughts to Winston as I did.

  He whinnied in response and I barely had time to grip him with my legs before he burst into action. It was like going from standing still to flying in seconds. He flew along the ground like the wind, I glanced behind me and saw all the Riders in pursuit, smiles and shrieks of joy abounding.

  The horses had all
been enhanced with magic, as had the women, all growing a bit larger and stronger, each of the horses was a monster, yet Winston was still the biggest of the bunch. He knew it and raced in front of the pack, the ground passing by below in a blur. His stamina and that of all the horses was amazing, we ran all day, none tiring or slowing their pace. The journey from the Fortress of Earth to The Springs, that usually took a full day and night of running, or two walking, we did in hours. It was just becoming noon as I sighted my home, then gasped, reigning Winton in as did, the rest of my Riders doing the same as they caught up.

  “What it is Moon Flower?” Ice Blossom asked, being the closest and first to catch up. “Oh… wow…”

  I nodded at her response and studied my home, now completely changed. From my new memories I knew what it was called, a bastion fort, and my fiancé had told me he’d left instructions for the workers, but I’d not thought they’d get so much done in such a short time.

  First, the woods had been cleared around the entire village for a hundred yards in all directions, and now, the whole of The Springs was surrounded in a wooden palisade, that was twenty feet tall, with the ends of the wood beams sharpened to points. Beyond that there were more structures built in the center of the hill, it was time to get a closer look. I moved Winston into action and made my way up to my home. Guards were on the wall, and waved as we approached, all excited to see me, greetings called out welcoming us. There were also many faces I didn’t recognize. The place was practically bursting at the seams with people. I waved and called back good naturedly, while still marveling at all the changes.

  We passed under a gate that was ten feet wide and twenty-five feet tall, once inside, wes trotted along pathways cleared and winding to all the new wooden structures. The yurts were gone, in their place one story tall log cabins, replete with small windows, which looked like firing slits, and rooftop defensive platforms. You could run from the wall to the other side of The Springs without touching the ground it seemed. The main the main path led up to the top of the hill where another building was constructed.

  There was another palisade that surrounded the hilltop and another gate, this one smaller only five feet by ten feet. The wall had a walkway that ran around but in the center was another familiar thing, my fathers raised platform. I stopped at the base and dismounted Winston, the rest of the Riders doing the same, then began climbing the steps, my sisters at my back.

  “Take care of your horses then get some food and rest.” Stone Fox called to the Riders.

  “Lady Moon Flower, Lady Ice Blossom, Lady Night Star!” Walking Coyote called, waving enthusiastically and practically running our way, Dusk and Dawn following in his wake, from across the way.

  My sisters and I paused on the steps and turned, smiling as we saw the old man and my cousins. We headed back down and all of us embraced, Cunning Wolf stopping and bowing his head slightly, not joining in the hug. I finished hugging my cousins and then embraced the old coot, he was practically family, he and my grandfather had been close friends. The hug ended, and he cleared his throat.

  “This is amazing Walking Coyote. I can’t believe you have done so much work.” I said, gesturing around. “And all the new people? Where did they come from?”

  “Yes, well, the War Shaman gave me good instructions, and everyone has been so eager to work, young and old. We sent out messengers to all the surrounding tribes. All the ancient members who split off from The People from before the Great Suffering. This is the result. Everyone is trying to show their worth for when the War Shaman and Chief return. I’m glad you like it, that means Law and The Chief will as well, when are they coming?” Cunning Wolf asked.

  My face darkened, and tears sprung involuntarily to my eyes. He must have seen the answer in my expression mirrored on my sisters.

  “Oh no… they have died?” He whispered.

  “No… they have not, Law will be here soon… it is only my father… he is dead.” I replied, wiping the tears from my face, damn! I thought I had cried enough.

  “Uncle…” Dawn said, beginning to sob.

  I cleared my throat and swallowed my sadness then looked at Cunning Wolf. He wiped the tears in his eyes and met my gaze.

  “Gather everyone, we will hold a ceremony for The Chief, he died a hero, then we will talk of plans to come.” I said, turning and mounting the stairs yet again.

  TRACK 23 – TRAMPOLINE – JIDENNA

  We had a small ceremony and then a feast to celebrate the passing of my father. All the people loved him and there was much crying and storytelling, but we knew of death, we had become accustomed to it. We grieved and then we moved on because we had to, it was that or die and fade away.

  After the ceremony and feast were over, Cunning Wolf, my sisters, cousins, Dancing Lion, and Stone Fox, and I sat in a circle around my father’s fire. We discussed the battle and plans for the future. I told them that the War Shaman would be here soon and that we were going on a different mission. After that we talked of memories of my father and different times. Hours went by and then we said our goodnights.

  “We are going to go bathe, are you coming sister?” Ice Blossom asked, motioning at the already leaving women.

  “No, you know how Lawrence feels about this ‘cheating’ thing.” I replied, watching Dancing Lion and Stone Fox leave arms around each other’s waists.

  “He really is a prude, and you are a better woman then I am. You are saying you are going to go this whole trip without any companionship?” Ice Blossom asked, laughing and shaking her head at my stubbornness.

  “Go, have your fun.” I said, blowing my tongue at my sister and play swatting as she left.

  It was quite weird though my fiancé’s people had such a taboo on sex and companionship. I understood that he had walked in on his woman with another man and that is quite a big deal. While my people didn’t feel that way, I respected his wishes, eventually we’d work on it, I mean I couldn’t be the only wife. There was too much work to do and I would need help.

  Not only that, he needed to sire strong children to help build the future of The People, he would need strong women to help him. Plus, what if I died in battle or something, the man was such a fool. I shook my head just thinking about him, then smiled. It was nice though, knowing that he loved me and only me so much.

  I turned and went to my new quarters and went to sleep as soon as my head hit the furs, I should have known something was wrong the minute my eyes opened. It felt like I was awake, but somehow, I knew I wasn’t. The first thing that tipped me off was the vivid colors, everything was just more vibrant and alive. The next clue was the completely foreign environment. I was standing in a hazy room, it was full of steam and the air was wet, every breathe I took felt like I was swallowing. It was hot too, my body immediately started sweating and as I looked down, I saw that I was completely naked.

  Although, I was hot, my skin prickled as if I was cold and goosebumps covered my body, from head to toe, even my nipples were hard as ice. I shivered in the heat, it felt like I had a fever from the changes in hot and cold. Looking around, I noticed that the ground below my feet was wooden planks, well worn and shined as if polished, glancing around I could see the outlines of trees. I saw the familiar shapes of pine and spruce. The steamy haze cleared a bit and I could tell that they were covered with pure white snow.

  A quick glance skyward and the most amazing night sky I had ever seen was spread out above me. The moon was brighter and larger than possible, it filled a third of the sky and shined such a pure color it looked like liquid silver. Beyond that were the stars, giant burning masses, so much bigger and brighter, and forming constellations that were so close it felt as if I could reach out and touch them. As a matter of fact, I did just that, and stood on my tiptoes, reaching up to the constellation of the Huntress. I extended, my body stretching to my fullest, and my fingertips brushed the closest star.

  “Quit showing off girl, yes you are quite beautiful, now come join us.” A familiar voice said.
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  I turned at the sound and gasped in surprise. A huge, I mean huge dark lacquered wooden tub, in the Japanese style as my fiancé would say, sat a dozen yards away. It was surrounded by small, snow covered bonsai trees and ornamental rocks and stones. Each artfully placed, creating a Feng Shui, never thought I’d say that, immediately setting the mind and body at ease. But that wasn’t what I was looking at, inside the wooden tub were three goddesses, lounging in their birthday suits, two of which I recognized and one who I didn’t know, but her bearing and presence just screamed goddess.

  “Are you deaf child? Hasteoltoi said to join us.” Shakaru said, arching a perfectly sculpted golden eyebrow in my direction. “Close your mouth, you look like a codfish.”

  I snapped my mouth shut, the resounding clack, audible in the silence, the goddesses tittered in laughter, their voices sounding like the tinkling of chimes in the wind. I did as the goddess instructed and made my way to the hot spring tub and walked up the wooden steps, then eased myself into the scalding hot water.

  “Oh, shit that’s hot.” I hissed, as I slowly inched downward.

  Eventually, I was submerged up to my neck, as the goddesses were, and started to enjoy the heat. The water felt more amazing then any I had ever been in. A few moments passed as I just sat with my eyes closed in the wonderful heated water.

  “Feels good against all your bits doesn’t it?” The third goddess said

  “Moon Flower this is Brigit, she is the head of the Tuatha De Danann.” Shakaru said.

  I studied the goddess, she had fiery red hair done in a plait that hung over her shoulder. Her body was just as amazing as the other goddesses, making me feel like a child, and her face was what one described as classically beautiful. She wasn’t better looking then Hasteoltoi or Shakaru, just different, exotic even. Her skin was white like the clouds in the sky, peppered with freckles all over her body, I sat mesmerized for a minute, drinking in the sight.