Kingdom Level Four: LitRPG

by Adam Drake

  The goblin threw its skinny arms in the air dramatically, then slowly slid down the length of the blade to fall on its face in the bloody ground.

  A message appeared, startling Rob.

  Quest Compete! “Destroy The Goblin Hideout”

  You have successfully destroyed the goblin hideout and the Feral Clan has been purged from the valley.

  You have gained 3,000 experience points toward your next level.

  This was immediately followed by another message.

  Ding! Gratz! You have successfully progressed to the next level. You have been granted 2 main attribute points and 5 skill points to distribute as you see fit.

  Rob smiled. He'd done it. He'd done what he thought had been impossible.

  He turned away from the macabre tableau of the encampment and moved off into the darkness.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  He pushed through the forest, the moonlight filtering down from the canopy barely lighting his way. His heart no longer pounded hard in his chest though he still breathed heavily.

  The adrenaline high he got from completing the quest petered out, and he soon found himself wondering where he was. He stopped to listen for several minutes. It didn't sound like anyone was following him, but he needed to be certain. Despite their brief alliance Rob's gut instinct told him that Mowhawk and his men were bad news. From the dead look in the man's eyes to the strange grin he gave him behind the tent, it all felt a little off. Rob couldn't be certain, once the goblins had been eliminated, that he wouldn't be next.

  After a while he grew tired of standing in the dark and cast Light, illuminating the surrounding area. Even at a distance, he could be spotted now, but was too tired to care.

  He noticed the Shale Mite's health bar in the corner of his vision. He'd completely forgotten about it and was mildly surprised it was still alive. Looking back the direction he'd come, he raised his hand and said, “Heel!” If it worked, the bug should be there in a few minutes.

  Finding a large tree root to sit on, he settled down for a rest. There was some cool business to take care of. He took the walnut case out and opened it. Inside was a scroll. Carefully, he removed and unfurled it.

  You have taken an item: Spell Scroll of Good Health

  Requirement: 15 Intellect

  +15% Hit Points

  Mana Cost: 25

  The caster of this spell will have their maximum Hit Points increased by 15%. Bonus Hit Points cannot be healed.

  Cooldown: 6 hours

  Bonus Hit Points cannot be healed. What did that mean? Rereading it again, he surmised the extra hit points were a one time thing, and couldn't be recovered with healing. Rob shrugged. Better than nothing. Although he was one attribute point shy on the intellect requirement, it wouldn't be a problem.

  He pulled up his stats.

  Robert Barron, Level 6 – 4% to next level

  Kingdom Level 4

  Hit Points: 140/140, Mana Points: 33

  Energy: 100/100, Speed: 10

  Armor: 27

  Strength: 14(Base 12)

  Constitution: 12

  Intellect: 14

  Perception: 10

  Dexterity: 11

  Luck: 10

  Hit Bonus: 1%

  Critical Hit: 1%

  Critical Damage: 1%

  Undistributed Attribute Points: 2

  He put a single point into Intellect, bringing it to 15. Then he reread the scroll.

  You have learned a new spell: Good Health.

  Good Health has been added to your spellbook.

  He cast it, and his Hit Points increased to 152. Cool. The more hit points, the better.

  Mulling over where to put the other attribute point, he decided on Dexterity, as he wanted to attack faster and dodge better. That brought it to 12, which didn't seem like much. But it was all he had to work with.

  He moved on to his skills.

  Known Skills:

  Axes: 7%

  Basic Alchemy: 1%

  Basic Combat Attunement: 11%

  Basic Defense: 14%

  Basic Sharding: 1%

  Basic Shield: 16%

  Basic Swordsmanship: 18%

  Basic Tracking: 6%

  Block: 17%

  Climbing: 6%

  Dodge: 7%

  Herbatology 3%

  Maces: 8%

  Magical Affinity: 11%

  Shield Bash: 19% (8% base)

  Stealth: 7%

  Swimming: 3%

  Unspent skill points: 5

  Having just added another high mana costing spell to his spellbook, the decision was easy. He dumped all five into Magical Affinity only to have it increase by 1% to 12%. His maximum mana increased to 35, which was better than a kick to the head.

  Looking over the his numbers, he grumbled at their slow progression. He needed more. If he could find away to level faster, he'd be all over it. But, for now, he was still doing it the old fashion way. Grinding quests and getting kills.

  Finished, he blinked the stats away, then brought out the money bag which was fit to bursting. He opened it up and jammed his fingers down into the coins, feeling their texture and listening to the satisfying clinking noise they made. He was rich! This was more than enough to pay off Trenton and get him started on whatever buildings needed work, once the Town Foundation Stone was set.

  He also assumed there would be enough for a supply convoy or two although he was clueless to their cost. And he could afford to build Breddin a new house and a new barn, somewhere safe.

  Looking at all that money made him feel a little giddy. Just a few hours ago he was broke and facing down an near impossible quest. How things can change.

  A noise from the trees yanked him out of his thoughts. He stuffed the money bag back into the pouch and stood, buckler and mace at the ready.

  The Shale Mite zipped out of the trees, and buzzed around his head.

  “So, you made it,” Rob said. “I was about to give up on you and find me another bug. Preferably a lot prettier.”

  If the Shale Mite had an opinion on the matter, it didn't share. Instead, it landed on a nearby tree and jammed its proboscis into some fuzzy white moss.

  Rob blinked. He hadn't seen that kind before. Shooing the bug away he grabbed a pinch.

  You have taken an item: Life Moss

  This moss can be used as an ingredient for alchemy potions.

  Value: 25 Silver Pieces

  Well, here it was. The other ingredient of the Healing potion recipe. He pinched some more off, with a lot of it crumbling in his hands. But he managed to get fourteen pinches which he placed in his pouch. His Herbatology also increased to 4% as a result.

  He considered testing out his new Alchemy kit, but decided to wait until he got home, so he could show off to Saif.

  Home. The word felt like a warm blanket on a cool night. When he thought of the village, his cottage, and his people, the word seemed to fit. It felt right.

  Damn, he thought shaking his head. He was going loco. He'd been in this place for so long, and been through so much, he was starting to forget his real home. The one in the real world, not this make believe one.

  He frowned. He missed Anika dearly. That was a pain which only got worse with each passing day. But did he miss his work? A large part of him yearned for the simplicity the janitor's job had. Being a king was its polar opposite. He didn't miss his crummy little apartment, though. Sure, his cottage was crummy too, but in a quaint way. And now he had a castle. That beat both out by a long shot.

  He missed hamburgers, and surfing the net, and going skiing, and the list went on and on.

  But he relished the feeling he got after a successful Shield-Bash. The kind when bones crunched. And he loved casting spells, regardless of what they were. And he was outdoors nearly all the time, something he didn't get to do much chance in the real world. Sure, these outdoors were virtual, but it felt real enough.

  He sighed, and ran a hand over his beard. What the hell was wrong with him? Was
he really starting to like this place more than the real one? Could he be truly insane? Was that the grand scheme in all this, to throw enough crap at him until he went off the deep end?

  Questions without answers. There were a lot of those and thinking about them just made him angry.

  But he did have something else. Quests with rewards. And he was about to go get one hell of a big reward.

  Making an effort to push all the conflicting thoughts in his head aside, he took out his map. He'd traveled far south, almost as far as the river he and Jace had crossed en route to Perrin's Crypt. The Lower Caves were located at the northern edge of the swamp just east of the road. He didn't feel like tromping through all that dangerous terrain at night, so he decided to go due west to the road, then follow it north. That would bring him close.

  He whistled at his bug. “Let's go,” he said and resumed his march.

  The route to the road was surprisingly uneventful. No goblins, or bandits or Quartek, which was a relief. He'd killed a lot today and was frankly getting a little tired of it. Even if the majority of it had been bugs. After several hours, he came upon the road.

  To the south he could hear the river although he was too far to see it. He looked up at the sky and took in the stunning beauty of the starfield. Each time he gazed at it it took his breath away. It was so much different than the one he was familiar with.

  He traveled north, passing the swamp to the east and the vast forest to the west. There was so much he hadn't begun to explore within the valley. He'd spent so much time traveling directly to certain points he never paused to really look around. No telling what else was out there.

  Ahead, from around a bend in the road, a group of people appeared. Their Light spells announcing their presence long before he saw them. He stopped, peering ahead. There was no hiding here, as they could see him plainly, too.

  Bandits? As they got closer he could tell they were armed. He double checked that his Shield Damage aura was active and his Hit Points and Mana were maxed. If these were bandits he was going to make them pay for being in his valley.

  As they got closer, their manner changed from one of caution to elation, and they waved.

  He moved to meet them halfway.

  “My Lord!” said one of the men.

  “Breddin,” Rob said, surprised. “What the hell are you doing out here? Did something happen?” He looked over the other men, four in all. Their faces were familiar from the village, but not their names. Each one gave the Shale Mite a worried glance.

  “We're on patrol, my Lord,” Breddin said. “Looking for goblins or bandits.”

  “I took care of the goblins, for now. They shouldn't be a problem.” At least until another clan decides to show up.

  They looked amazed. “You killed all the goblins?” Breddin said, eyes wide.

  “Yeah, I guess I did,” he said. With a little help. “Where did you get those weapons?”

  Breddin grinned. “That Fenton fellow took them from some goblins here on the road. I figured since we were armed now, there wasn't any need to hide. Take the fight to the enemy.”

  Rob was happy to hear Fenton made it back okay. “You should all head home and get some sleep. The sun is coming up, soon.”

  Breddin shook his head. “Our patrol finishes in three hours. Then another group with take over. We won't let anyone hassle the good folk on the kingdom's roads anymore.”

  Rob was genuinely impressed. His kingdom had a militia. It kind of felt good to have others take up the fight instead of him doing it all. “How far do you patrol?”

  “Down south just before the trading post, then he go come back up north through the village, to the coast. Then we turn around, and do it all again. Great exercise.”

  “I don't doubt it,” Rob said. For a moment he considered ordering them back to their families. Even with the minimal gear they had, a well armed group of bandits would give them a hell of a fight. But as he looked over their expressions he realized this was of tremendous importance to them. They were doing something which made a difference in their kingdom.

  “Great job, guys,” Rob said smiling. They smiled back, even wider. “I'll leave you to it, then. I still have a quest to finish.”

  “Very good, my Lord,” Breddin said. He looked like he wanted to ask a question, but was to king-struck to ask. He turned to the others. “Okay, lads, on our way, now. We'll let his Highness return to his work. He's the savior of us all.”

  “The savior of us all!” the others suddenly shouted in unison.

  Rob watched them move own, a little shocked. Now he had his own chant? Not certain what to make of it, he continued on. Reaching Breddin's farmstead, he turned into the forest and continued. The route to the Rat Queen's cave was now familiar to him and he was soon standing before the its opening. He refreshed his Light spell, then entered, Shale Mite scurrying behind him.

  He walked down to the right branching tunnel, and when he turned inside he paused.

  The barrier was gone.

  “About fricken time,” he said. His voice echoed off the walls. Past the point where the barrier had stood was more tunnel.

  On a whim he took out the sliver and let it dangle from its thread. It pointed straight ahead.

  The tunnel continued for several dozen paces before a short set of steps led downward. Past those was more tunnel, then another short set of steps, continued by more tunnel. This repeated nearly a dozen times, slowly descending further and further into the ground.

  Eventually, he noticed a large hole in the left side of the tunnel ahead. Cautiously, he approached and slowly peered inside, expecting something to jump out.

  The hole was about three feet in diameter and bore into the tunnel wall about six feet, its sides perfectly smooth. It ended at complete darkness. Even leaning in, his Light spell couldn't illuminate the darkness beyond. He had a sense he was staring into a vast abyss, impenetrable to all who gazed into it.

  Or, maybe it was just a big cave. Either way, he didn't want anything to do with it. Ignoring the hole, he continued down the tunnel. Soon, it curved to his right for several minutes until a side tunnel appeared on the right wall. He peered down this new tunnel, but saw more of the same.

  Which way to go?

  He took out the sliver and let it point the correct way. But when he dangled it from the thread, the sliver spun away from the two tunnels and back the way he'd come.

  “What?” Rob said, his voice echoing. “I just came from that way. There's nothing there.” The Shale Mite buzzed around his feet, exploring his boots. “Knock it off,” he said, nudging it away.

  Confused, he balled up the thread and sliver together, then dangled it again. The sliver pointed back down the tunnel as if determined to convince him it was correct.

  “Ah, hell,” he said. “Fine, then.”

  Shaking his head, he walked back down the tunnel, keeping the sliver hanging in front of him. When the hole appeared ahead, the sliver angled toward it.

  Rob felt a cold chill run through his body. “Oh, no. Don't tell me.”

  As he got closer, the sliver turned more until he stood before the hole, again. The sliver was pointing straight inside at the blackness beyond.

  “In there? Really?” He looked around as if expecting someone to appear and tell him it all was a mistake. It was just a faulty sliver of Kingdom Cornerstone.

  Rob groaned. “Okay, this sucks.” He pouched the sliver and regarded the hole. It was large enough for him to crawl into, but what then? Stick his head over the edge in that black nothingness? There was no telling what was in there.

  The Shale Mite buzzed around his feet, its proboscis slurping up the dried blood on his boots.

  He looked at the bug. He did have a pet, though. And a disposable pet, at that.

  Pointing at the hole, he said, “You. Get in there.”

  The bug looked up at him, segmented antennae swirling about in bug-like defiance.

  “Go! Attack! Guard! Fly!”

  T
he bug suddenly flew up into the hole and paused. It tried to flap its wings, but the space was too narrow and it just kicked up dust.

  Annoyed, Rob put his gloved hand on its back and pushed. “Get in there!”

  The bug tried to resist, digging its many legs into the rock, but Rob was too strong and shoved it in a couple of feet. Resigned to its task, the bug slowly walked to the end of the hole, its antennae probing the edges.

  Rob watched with wide-eyed anticipation. He didn't know what to expect. Maybe a tentacle would lash out and lasso the bug, or worse. But nothing happened.

  Confident with its new surroundings, the bug climbed over the edge and vanished.

  Rob stared, expecting to hear the sounds of a fight. After several moments, the bug reappeared and stood in the hole looking at him.