“How is your progress toward the next relic?” she asked after I finished my first bowl of soup.
“Great. Have you been watching? I really love this contest idea. Do you have any advice about who I should align with?” I winked at her. I already knew what Zarra’s answer would be, but I figured I would ask, anyway.
“I believe you always align with the beautiful women.” She smiled at me and then took a sip from her cup of soup.
“Speaking of beautiful women. I wanted to talk to you about something that Allurie said to me. It’s been bothering me.”
“Yes?”
“She was talking about having kids, or whatever. I think I remember you saying something about players being able to have sex in the game. Did you mention anything about making children? I don’t remember for sure, but I know you are aiming to make this Ohlavar Quest ultra-real.”
“Yes, if you have sex with someone in the game, they might be able to get pregnant and bear children. Same with women players.” Zarra smiled at me, set down her cup of soup, and then used tongs to pick up ribs from the plate of cooked meat.
“Wait, so women players can have sex with NPCs, or other players, and then have children in the game? How does that work? Do they feel the pain of childbirth?”
“Yes, yes, yes, and they will feel the pain, yes. It won’t be as painful as real life, but I’m going for realism.”
“That is… I don’t know,” I said as I sat back in my chair. “It just seems problematic.”
“Why?” she raised a perfect eyebrow.
“How will the AI create the child?” I asked.
“In a similar way that offspring are made in real life. Ohlavar will look at the physical makeup, personality traits, neurofeedback, and then mix and match between the parents. The child will be a new being taking traits from both parents. It will be great!”
“It’s dangerous.” A shiver of ice descended my spine.
“Why? I thought you would love the idea. It is a true gamer’s paradise. People want this kind of--”
“No. Here is the thing: You are treading on making the game better than life.”
“Leo, that is the idea. I want people to get addicted to the game.”
“Oh, I get it. I want that too, but there is a difference between addicted, and having a child hostage in another world will--”
“What do you mean hostage? No one will be a hostage,” she said as she narrowed her eyes.
“Okay. Let me explain. Let’s say a player has a child with an NPC. The child looks like the player, acts like the player, and grows up with the player. Ohlavar Quest is ultra-real. The NPCs in the game are exactly like real people. These children are going to be like real kids, the players will bond with them in the way parents do in real life, but the difference is that players won’t be able to see them unless they log in. They are going to have to pay us the subscription fee every month to see them. That is why I think this is like a hostage situation.” I rubbed my fingers over my eyes. I was suddenly exhausted. “What if the player is already married? What if they have kids already in real life? They're going to be torn between two families. The lines are getting really blurry, Zarra. Would they be cheating on their spouses? What if the players decide that they want to focus on their families in the game instead of their real-life ones? What if they quit their jobs to play more? What if they then can’t afford the monthly fee? We could be ruining thousands of people’s lives.”
“But this is already happening, Leo!” Zarra set down her food and wiped her hands off with her napkin. “There are already millions of people fully immersed in Astafar Unlimited. Video games have been ruining marriages and families for the last hundred years.”
“Yeah, but we don’t have to encourage that to happen. This game is already addictive enough. What will happen if everyone would rather play it than live in real life?”
“Then we’ll be rich? I don’t see what the problem is, Leo. Why is this such a big deal to you? Players can already interact with each other and even get married in Astafar Unlimited. They can even have child--”
“They are just NPCs, though! You just set their looks and they spit out canned lines when you walk by them.” I realized I was shouting, but so was Zarra.
“They are just NPCs in Ohlavar Quest!”
“But Ohlavar Quest is too real. The NPCs are too real. The children will seem too real. People will love them as if they were their own. They might even love them more because they are part of such a fantastic fantasy world.”
“Leo, it is just a game. They aren’t real. I am glad you love my-- no our game, but every character there was created by the AI. They aren’t real. I could turn the server off tomorrow, and they would not exist anymore. It is just a game, and people want these mechanics to escape the harsh reality of real life.” Zarra’s purple eyes flashed dangerously at me.
Why did I still see them that color? Maybe I needed to talk to an eye doctor. There might be something wrong with me.
“No, Zarra. I don’t like the idea. I know you want to justify it, but we are supposed to be providing entertainment to people, not trying to ensnare their souls. I just--”
“Every other game developer is trying to do this. Do you think Arnesto will care about people becoming addicted? Sure, he has an apologetic press release when someone dies from playing Astafar Unlimited too long, but the game mechanics don’t really change. Most of the world is already addicted. These games aren’t escape for people anymore. They are their entire lives, and they work the bare minimum so they can play them. That was why you are a hero to them--”
“I feel like your argument has boiled down to: ‘because everyone else is doing it, we must as well. We’ll just do it better.’ Sorry, Zarra. I don’t like this. It feels wrong to me. We need to talk about what this powerful technology will do to mankind. Ohlavar Quest doesn’t just feel like a game. It feels like I’m going to another world,” I said as I closed my eyes.
“That’s the point. People can, and will, choose which world they want to live in. Some people will like this reality.” The beautiful woman gestured to our room with open hands. “Some will rather be in the one we build in Ohlavar Quest. Some will be fine with both. You love this game, everyone else will. They want the realism. They want to be able to find love, have sex, and make offspring in these games. They want their children to grow up into--”
“Who are we to play God? We could be creating emotional slaves,” I interrupted Zarra.
“Who are we? Who are you?” Zarra stood from her chair and leveled a finger at me. “People want this, and you are going to deny them because you don’t think it is good for them? Leo, when was the last time you walked amongst the people of our world without the mantle of your fame? The world isn’t beautiful, or loving, or caring. People are already slaves to their cultures, to the mega corporations, or the governments. They feel like they are taking control of their lives every time they step into a virtual reality game. We are offering them real life.”
“What about the Alzheimer's cure? I thought that was your goal in all of this. Didn’t you want to fund the cure with the game? I don’t unders--” I started to say, but Zarra slashed her fingers through the air with an angry motion and cut me off.
“Yes! That’s the goal. Of course! Leo, I’m giving people the freedom of choice. They can do whatever they want in Ohlavar Quest. Yes, some people will play it as you fear, and it might destroy families, but most won’t. Most will just use it as they are using current video games: as a pleasurable escape from reality for a few hours a day. You can’t be the one that decides for them. People are responsible for choosing for themselves.”
“I get that, but people can also get addicted to drugs, and what you are saying is ‘let them. It is their problem. They are adults.’ What if a kid plays this game, has sex, and has a kid?”
“I’ve already told you I would put some controls on it for underage players.”
“What about controls for makin
g virtual babies?”
Our eyes met from across the table, and I crossed my arms. Neither of us said anything for a few moments.
“You are tired. I’m going to go.” Zarra wiped the edges of perfect mouth off with her napkin.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Okay, then I’m not fine,” she growled at me. “I need to think. You need to think. I don’t want to distract you from your goal with long-term plans.”
“If not now, then when?” I asked. “I’m part of this now.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “We are going to have arguments like this. It’s okay. I just want some time to think about what you have said, and you need to think about what I have said. I wish you would try it out in the game.”
“Try what out?” I asked.
“Sex. You will probably like it.” Zarra smirked.
“Ahhh, no. I kind of feel like it would be cheating,” I said as I shook my head.
“Cheating?” she asked, but then her mouth opened a bit. The beautiful woman smiled and then let out a laugh. “Leo, you are so sweet, and now I feel like a bitch. I’m sorry.”
“No, that’s okay, Zarra. I ahhh, maybe I need to think more about what you have said.” I tried to force a smile to my own lips, but my emotions were conflicted.
“Leo, you are a great guy. I have feelings for you. Strong feelings. I don’t want them to get in the way of our work though. Ohlavar Quest is just a game, but it is my life’s work. If you want to have fun with any of the women in the game, it is fine. I won’t be jealous or think you are a terrible person. I want you to experience all aspects of it and give me feedback.”
“Ha. This sounds like you are telling me you want an open relationship.” I chuckled at her.
“No! Not at all,” she said as she laughed with me. “I know if feels real, but it isn’t. It’s just a game. Also, you and I haven’t really committed to each other. Well,” she glanced at corner of the suite where the door to my bedroom was. “It’s been a while since I have dated anyone, and I can’t say my last relationships ever even got off the ground. I always got too wrapped up in my work, and the men were uninteresting.”
“Yeah. I’ve been there. It’s hard when we're working so much.”
“But we work together, so that might make it easier for us to develop a healthy relationship.” Zarra looked at the dinner on the table, and I saw her eyes slide over to my bedroom once more. “I’d like to think more about what you have said.”
“Okay,” I said. I knew she was about to leave and debated saying something to convince her to stay. Then I realized I wanted to think more about our conversation.
“I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Oh, the designer we met with a few days ago accepted the position. You really sealed the deal for me. She mentioned you a good twenty times when we spoke last.”
“Great,” I said. I had almost forgotten about the woman Zarra wanted me to help recruit. I’d spent some time with her when she took a tour of Arnacript’s facility. I hadn’t talked to her all that much, but it was obvious she was a fan of mine.
“Good night, Leo. Get some rest.”
“Good night, Zarra,” I said as she gave me a last smile
Then she was out the door, and I was alone with my meal, and my thoughts about Ohlavar Quest.
Chapter 13
“Dearest friends, I have spoken to the captain of the First Sunset. He has said he is underway with the sale of the pirate ship, and should have the payment for us in a few weeks. I have also sold Lady Chrysa’s jewelry.” Cornalic bowed to me and then set down a backpack that I guessed was filled with the remainder of the gold coins from his trading. “I have also purchased the two books you asked me to buy from the Mind Healer, Taran. As you said, he was very nice and inquired about the health of our tiny new friend.” The muscular half-orc pulled the two ability books out of his shirt and then handed them to me. The tomes were large, and I didn’t really understand how the man carried both on his person without me noticing them when he first walked into our suite.
“Thanks, Cornalic. I’ll read them now,” I said. It was the next morning, and Chrysa had decided she wanted to sell her jewelry so that I could have the new abilities. Cornalic ran the errands while I got ready to have breakfast with Lady Cesnie and kept an eye on Chrysa. I looked back from the books to the backpack packed full of coins and thought that I should have asked the half-orc to buy me a few other books.
“Dear Queen, here is the address of the jeweler who bought the pieces. Once I told him who you were, he was more than happy to agree to hold your items for a few weeks.” The half-orc handed a slip of paper to Chrysa.
“Thank you Cornalic. You are a great friend. I am surprised the buyer told you he would be willing to wait,” the lovely woman said.
“You should not be surprised, dear Queen. People of this city love you.”
“I am flattered. I had thought that most forgot about me. My father did have so many children,” Chrysa sighed and glanced down at the note in her hand.
I turned away from the woman and looked down at my new books. I realized this would be a good time to also update my attributes, so I excused myself from my friends and walked into one of the many empty rooms in our private wing. Then I sat down in a comfortable chair and examined the ability books again.
Minor Heal - Light 30, Body 10. Spell. Target is healed for 15% of their total health.
Spirit of Stone - Light 65, Mind 30. Enchantment Spell. Intended target is enchanted with Spirit of Stone. While enchantment is active, non-magical attacks against target will do 0 damage. Enchantment lasts caster’s Light attribute divided by 10 in seconds. (5.6 seconds). Once Spirit of Stone has ended, target cannot be enchanted by another Spirit of Stone spell for 180 seconds - caster’s Light attribute. (124 seconds).
I motioned over my UI to open up my stats screen:
Leo Lennox
Body (Overall) - 33
Body (Magic) - 0
Body (Stats) - 33
Brawn - 17
Quickness - 16
Mind (Overall) - 31
Mind (Magic ) - 0
Mind (Stats) - 31
Intelligence - 15
Willpower - 16
Light (Overall) - 56
Light (Magic) - 10
Light (Stats) - 26
Perception - 13
Charisma - 13
Shadow (Overall) - 32 (33)
Shadow (Magic) - 0
Shadow (Stats) - 32
Comeliness - 16
Luck - 16 (17)
With 68 unspent attribute points.
I was 9 Light (Overall) points too low to use Spirit of Stone. If I raised both my perception and light two points each so that they were at 15, I’d only end up with a Light (Overall) of 60 and 10 attribute points left over.
I was going to have to pour some points into Light (Magic) again, so I started playing around with the point distribution on my stats UI. If I raised my Light (Magic) up to 14, it would give me the 42 points toward Light (Overall) plus the 26 from Light (Stats) to get 68. Then I would have 18 Attribute points left over. Should I spend them to shore up one of my lower stats like Perception or Charisma? My Mind (Overall) was my lowest stat right now, and I guessed I was going to have trouble with my new abilities if I didn’t raise it. Then again, my Body (Overall) was only a few points higher. I understood why “Healers” and “Protectors” could be so rare. You really had to have high stats in three different attributes. Since the protection abilities seemed a lot harder to use, it made sense that the NPC’s would probably side towards just doing heals. The players would probably do that as well.
Except protection magic meant you never got hit in the first place. A player would never have to feel pain. I started to understand Zarra’s game development choices a bit more now. If she got rid of the pain players received when they got damaged, it would mean that no one would care about protection abilities. Which would be a shame because they were really cool and
they would be a way for players to showcase their talents while also supporting their party.
How important was Charisma? Zarra once told me that 13’s were still high attributes. Would raising it help me work out an alliance better? Would it help with NPC interactions? Ohlavar Quest had a bunch of great role playing situations. Having a high Charisma would probably be a sound investment in the future. I had raised my Perception when I was in Arnicoal, maybe I should raise my Charisma now?
I considered for a few more moments before I made my selection. Then I took a moment to look at my character sheet before I hit the confirm button.
Leo Lennox
Body (Overall) - 33
Body (Magic) - 0
Body (Stats) - 33
Brawn - 17
Quickness - 16
Mind (Overall) - 31
Mind (Magic) - 0
Mind (Stats) - 31
Intelligence - 15
Willpower - 16
Light (Overall) - 69
Light (Magic) - 14
Light (Stats) - 27
Perception - 13
Charisma - 14
Shadow (Overall) - 32 (33)
Shadow (Magic) - 0
Shadow (Stats) - 32
Comeliness - 16
Luck - 16 (17)
With 4 unspent attribute points.
Jax would have totally said something about having a “69” in Light (Overall) and I chuckled a bit before I pressed the button to confirm the changes. There was the usual flash on my UI screen, and my vision seemed to sharpen for a second. I didn’t feel anymore charming, but I’d put that to the test in a few minutes when I meet Cesnie for breakfast.
First, I had to learn these abilities.
I picked up the Minor Heal book and ran my thumb across the closed pages opposite the spine. Then I opened it to the first page and started to flip through. It made the same flip-book style image appear on the pages as the other skills I had learned, and I saw the sketched design of a beating heart with a small cross in the middle. Then my UI glowed a yellowish-orange color. The pages of the book were now empty, and I set it down on the table.
Lion's Quest: Trinity: A LitRPG Saga Page 17