- About politics, Ros. It’s only you who still consider Valdira just a super game with the effect of total immersion. You’re running around, completing quests, getting into adventures, performing your part and looking for some troubles. You’re having fun so to say. But for me and for many others it’s an argy-bargy against wolves to survive. Everyday war for the clan’s survival! – Gosha uttered angrily pouring alcohol again – Please, don’t think that I have secrets from you only. Just a few people from our clan see the picture clearly, the rest carry out orders and not in the very least. And if I’m concealing something, believe me, that’s because life is not a bed of roses. There are sleeper agents everywhere, they spill information to other clans. I can’t trust anyone one hundred per cent. In your case ignorance is power or even protection.
- Protection? Against what?
- Protection against spoiling relationship with me and the whole clan. But first of all – with me – Gosha replied firmly – Actually you know nothing, you’re just a mercenary agreed for this work blindfold. And if tomorrow I get to know some very important information has been passed to enemies, I’ll have no claims to you. Do you understand?
- Yes, - I nodded slowly suddenly sobered up – But, Gosha… it’s a game. Just a game. Online computer game with incredible reality.
- Wake up, Ros! What hell game is it?! Valdira substituted real life for many people once and forever! As for you, how many hours have you spent there today? How many?
- Well… from morning and till…
- Till this very moment! – finished Gosha – And you left the cocoon just to fill your stomach, to wash down sweat and to sleep a bit! You can’t deny it! Otherwise I wouldn’t have assigned you for that work. I need exactly such a freak as you are ready to hang out in Valdira day and night. And you’re doing well so far, say, you deserve the highest mark. The tournament prize actually was beyond all my expectations. And it’s completely your merit – I’m not speaking about the battle as it is but rather about meeting additional requirements. When you covered Keira by your own body to rescue her from the fatal hit… the system took it into account and raised the award bonus characteristics significantly. Keira told me Grim had been crying…
- Yes, he had – I confirmed and shrugged reluctantly – I wish you could have seen his eyes…
- Ros, I don’t care much about his eyes so far – sniffed Gosha opening the cap of frosty martini – I’d like something sweet to drink. Would you?
- Sure – I agreed.
After pouring martini, Gosha continued:
- As we’ve started talking about business, let’s finish it until charming fairies come.
- Ok – I answered shortly that’s quite habitual for me to utter curt phrases when I’m drunk.
- First the second chapter of your and Keira’s heroic saga – Gosha grinned – To complete it you must level up significantly, reach at least level sixty. Don’t worry about stuff and weapon – when it’s needed I’ll give you everything from the clan’s store. I’ll dress you up from head to feet in at least rare things maybe I’ll manage to find a couple of epic ones for you. But don’t dream about legendary class, don’t get angry. We haven’t got legendary for such a low level. But if I run into it, I’ll take it for you. I hope you understand I can’t give you all the details of the forthcoming assignment. So-called corporate confidentiality.
- What’s the deadline?
- Maximum a week – Gosha chopped – But don’t worry about it. Tomorrow, to be more exact today, when we are in the game again, I’ll send you an invitation to the clan’s private location for our recruits. You’ll be able to advance there without any problems. No aggr-gamers, no robbers and you’ll be able to revive there in case a mob hits you hard. There is the clan’s symbol in the center of the location to cast strengthening spells without any restrictions. In one word it’s a dream for beginners. A safe haven. One of our clan-mates will port you there, you even won’t need to move your legs. Keira will be there as well. You’ll run around there. Moreover, you need to ake a really good team to solve the next problem. Be the way have you decided what way to develop your character? I’d recommend…
- Yes, I have – I answered at once – A combat mage, definitely. No other alternatives.
Shazam… the clan’s location is similar to the Cradle but at a different angle. A small private location belonging to a clan. There are no outsiders and a great variety of mobs of different levels guarantees a fast growth and you can’t escape it… as there is only one exit via teleport that no one but for clan-mates can activate. But I’ve got so many urgent things to do…
- A combat mage? – Gosha repeated thoughtfully – But you haven’t got gaming background of being a mage. It isn’t easy, Ros. You’d better develop an archer again. Keira ia a paladin-tank, you’re under her cover. Take an appropriate gear and it will be fantastic. Almost an ideal cluster for small parties focusing on mobs. To complete the second assignment, you’ll have to fight against them.
- No way, Gosha – I shook my head stubbornly – Only a combat mage. Crashshot was an archer and I deleted it… I’ll never play other rangers. You lose nothing in this situation. A cluster of a combat mage and a paladin usually works out perfect, you’ll have to have straight hands though. Besides Keira’s PC will have a supportive mage – blessing, healing aura and so on. It must be alright. And one more thing – I’ll advance by myself without your help. Let Keira run in your zoo while I am on my own.
- Ros, I’d like to stress out again – we are not playing a game! Well, I can agree with a combat mage. You can play. But as for advancing alone… Why do you think I want to put you in the clan’s location? Just because you can’t join other gamers’ parties as before! Otherwise we would ask you to join our party and advance you fast in any high-level location! You can expect to join Keira’s party only.
- And I mustn’t die again, must I?
- You can die – Gosha sneered grabbing another piece of sausage from the plate – But you’d better advance via mobs not fly away from them.
- Gosha, you’ve told me that I have never let you down. Right? I won’t screw up the second assignment. I can swear – I promised – But I can’t advance in a cage. I need to be free. Like Kesha, the parrot from a Soviet cartoon. Do you remember?
- Tahiti, Tahiti… damn your Tahiti… We are treated quite well here… Right? Ok, suppose you’ll reach level twenty-five or even thirty! And what’s then? Then you won’t do without a party!
- I’ll do it – I answered firmly – Even in Crashshot’s time I played alone more. I have got plenty of such experience. And plenty of free time. I’ll hang out in Valdira day and night but I’ll do it for sure.
Gosha was chewing the sausage thoughtfully and then said:
- Is it the thing that Grim gave you that makes you jump off the deep end? But, please, don’t lose your temper! We obtained what we wanted. You completed the assignment, got the money. I’m not going to hold a gun to your head. I’m not like Keira who got overexcited, there is such a trait in her character. She’s too responsible, damn it! Just tell me – yes or no.
- Yes.
- Can this item help you character develop?
- Yes.
- Well… then it’s a valuable thing otherwise you won’t be so nervous – Gosha summed up – Let’s do the following – I’m not going to find out what exactly you managed to obtain right now. But if something goes wrong and you decide to get rid of this item, I’m the first in line. You’ll talk to me first. Since if I hadn’t sent you to the Cradle tournament, you would have obtained zero. And by the way I’m your neighbor. Anyway it’s useful to be friends with people living next to you. Do you understand what I am talking about?
- Even more. I agree.
- So as for your thirst for freedom, Ros. If you wanna run like a lone wolf, run. Solve all you problems. But no parties with other gamers and no joining any clans. That’s the first condition. Then the second. Every day I will mon
itor your progress. And if I see that you’re stalled and you stop advancing, I’ll pronounce one short word and you go to the clan’s location without any objections where you’ll be developed to the required level fast and dressed properly. So and anyway two days before the zero moment, you’ll have to join Keira and practice combined operational tactics. Do you understand this moment?
- Sure.
- Alright – Gosha exhaled with satisfaction.
- The negotiations were successful. Cheers! The girls will come soon. Let’s relax our souls and bodies.
- Isn’t your wife coming by chance?
- Nope, she’s on holiday. Trying to relax without seeing me – Gosha became gloomy for a moment – Rather without seeing my cold body in the cocoon lying there most of my free time. She said: ‘I wanna live with a normal man, not with a mummy sarcophagus. Well…
- My regrets… - I didn’t know what to say.
- Never mind – Gosha sneered – She’ll be back. We are sort of in love. Let’s toast the Albatrosses’ clan! Let us be lucky in all our deals and damn our enemies!
We drank, then one more… and another… and another…
By the time charming fairies came Gosha and I had got pig-drunk…
I woke up at home. Just not in the bed but I don’t know why in the cocoon with the helm on my head buzzing after the party…
Well, it was a nice party.
I found a half-empty bottle of water on the floor at the cocoon. I thanked myself for such a generous gift, gulped all the water and put on the helm again. It’s high time to check what’s going on there.
A flash.
The rainbow seemed to suffer from hangover too.
Entrance
The first thing I did as soon as I got into my private room was to flop down on the stone floor and shook out everything that was in the sack in front of me. I got a pile of more or less valuable items. I swept all the coins to one side and then started examining my stuff that wasn’t numerous at all. As for weapon, two ash staffs with different degree of wear, almost ‘killed’ axe and a brand-new dagger. A little food and one healing potion. The rest isn’t worth mentioning – some pieces of rat meat with ‘off’ status, one rat tail, a grey cloak and some withered stemlets of herbs. In two hours they can be thrown away.
I glanced over my miserable treasure sadly and moved on to counting cash. It was more optimistic. It amounted for eight gold, fourteen silver coins and five copper. If I were a simple beginner without a certain mission, I would go mad with delight. I’ve just left the Cradle and have gold in my pockets. But it wasn’t enough for me so far. If I want to play alone and progress , I’ll need constant cash-in. To buy spells, healing and strengthening potions, new weapon and gear, information. It’s not free. I’ll have to do everything on my own, to run around with my dried tongue over my shoulder trying to do everything on time.
Ironically, no one forces me to do it. I took that burden myself and nobody helped me in that good cause. On the contrary, everybody is vying with each other to offer their help. My mates and absolute strangers as well. They are eager to help me advance my character in the private clan’s location, provide with the exclusive gear, offer me money for the legendary item obtained from Grim and are wild to help me sell the unique spell. But instead of accepting their help, I do my best to push off all the offers raining on me. I am charging myself with almost impossible missions. Such a butt-naked superman as cool as a true British and as stubborn as a true Russian. You got an item from the legendary set ‘Grim’s Silver Armor’, would you like to sell it or at least talk about it? No-no, thank you, I’ll cope with it! I definitely will! It’s not a big deal to run around the whole world of Valdira, to find the rest of the armor and that’s it! It’s easy-peasy! So don’t even fancy discussing anything with me or offering. All by myself!
Need to advance to level sixty for a week? You must be kidding! I’ll reach level one hundred in a day! Sure… Any help? A place in the clan’s location? No, thank you. Do you really think that such a tough guy like me needs your miserable location? I’ll run around, devastate a couple of underground caves to make all mobs sob when I approach and beg the administration to stop the mad gamer’s tyranny… All in all, don’t worry Gosha, my lord, I’ll cope with it… without losing my breath! All by myself!
Need to gain ten thousand mana points? No problem. I’m kick ass cool! I can do it! I’m not going to sell my spell or accept a clan’s aid! No way! What are you talking about, divine Amreeta? I’ll be able to gain all twenty thousand in less than a month! And I don’t need a ship – I can swim to Zar’graad! What’s the distance you say? So I hope you got it right – don’t offer me anything, it’s just a waste of time, I’m not interested. All by myself!
All by myself, by myself, by myself… damn it!
I forced myself to stop this self-torture, took off the bright tournament cloak and put on my worn-out grey one instead. I don’t need such bright spots in my gaming biography. I’ll survive without excited glances and exclamations: ‘wow, have a look! This baby won the tournament!’ And the last thing – the silver bracelet snapped open, I admired its sophisticated engraving for the last time and put it carefully on the floor in my private room. I’m going to leave it here. At least so far.
Dressed in ordinary clothes with faint ornament, in a grey cloak over my shoulders and an ash staff in my hand, I looked absolutely anonymous. For ‘locals’ as well as for gamers. My dark hair and brown eyes became a good base for creating a casual look. As well as a rough straw hat of a villager. A bleak appearance.
The door of my private room shut with a slight bang and I dashed running along the corridor. Absolutely another girl was standing at the counter but she was smiling as friendly as the previous one.
- Good morning, sir!
- Good morning, sweetie – I answered merely making the girl get embarrassed and drop her eyes – Can you answer a few questions? I arrived in your decent city last night and don’t know much.
- Certainly, sir, with pleasure – the girl replied at once – What would you like to know?
No doubt it’s a pleasure for her. Hotel staff must help gamers especially those who have just started their life journey in the world of Valdira.
- If you wonder where you can buy weapon or armor, you should visit such craftsmen as…
- Oh, slow down, sweetie – I stopped the steam of typical information hastily – I wanna know about another thing. You see I decided to become a strolling minstrel. What can be better than walking around cities and villages, making people happy with my music, telling fairy-tales, romantic ballads and heroic legends? I’d like to talk to grey-haired old men absorbing their wisdom grain by grain… Isn’t it the best choice?
What a chatter-box I am… I seemed to have overdone a bit. However the ‘local’ standing behind the counter didn’t think so. She was listening to my words with admiration and her wonderful green eyes opened wide. She gave me the immediate answer:
- Sir, then you should go to the Seven Fountains Square. You can always find storytellers, musicians, clowns and circus folk there! Life never slows down there! One step left – and you can listen to a legend about great heroes, one step right – and you’ll drop a tear due to the sad pipe sounds…
- Is there a fat cat in chains walking with a mermaid on his shoulder? – I wondered subconsciously as Pushkin’s tales came to my mind but in a sec I thanked the girl puzzled by my question politely and left the hotel.
Sure! The Seven Fountains Square! I’ll never remember about this place myself just because I don’t belong to such a category of gamers who love visiting Plosefont and spend all their gaming time there. I’ve heard much about it but I have never been there. It’s hard to call those guys gamers, they look like freaks. Enigmatic individuals of both sexes, different races and skin colors. They do whatever but for fighting against monsters and other gamers. Moreover – they never cross the city perimeter! Sing, perform strange dances almost naked, write
verses and recite them, plink different musical instruments, preach strange religions, cook meals from mutually exclusive ingredients. Make sculptures, read books written by them, perform focuses and acrobatic stunts, show off in freakish costumes calling it a designer performance of another brilliant couturier. Yup… once I saw such a costume – three oak leaves with a golden edge piping and a couple of laces. Does anybody know how to put it on? I remember once I was handed a multicolored piece of paper inviting me to ‘haute couture week’ held on the Seven Fountains Square. I didn’t understand how fashion could be high or low but decided not to go there just in case. Although they promised all guests free snacks and drinks.
In fact Valdira’s administration encourages disorders happening there and even organizes regular contests with nice prizes. They also promised to enlarge the territory of the square almost twice and to build a spacious museum to underline the fact that they respect the informal subculture of creative people and their contribution in the art development of the world of Valdira. Although this very phrase really creeps me out…
Other gamers have different attitude towards dwellers of Plosefon, most of all patronizingly. Like towards local half-wits. And call them also different names. Pacifists or hippies as they don’t kill mobs. Hipsters as they hang out dressed in multicolored stuff and wear crazy hair-dos. But actually only one term got stuck to them forever suggested by Valdira’s administration – social characters. Socials for short. But representatives of the ‘subculture of creative people’ preferred to be called ‘creators’. But no one except them accepted such a great title. They will never outdo Amreetas and the project administration in this sphere.
So that’s the place I was going to trying to stroll along the center of busy city streets without getting involved in a crowd. I was afraid of gamers-robbers who adored crowded places that allowed them to clean out citizens’ pockets without being punished. But I didn’t want to lose my cash. Why was I going to the Seven Fountains Square? To gain some information. I couldn’t get into the Cradle where according to Keira the book about Grim and Myrtle’s life was kept. I doubted there was one copy of the book. I hoped that somebody had read it or at least had heard about the great heroes from another source. Sooner or later such sort of information had to flow to Plosefont. If I don’t manage to know anything useful, I’ll visit the city library that is one block away from the square only and will talk to its staff.
(World of Valdira 01) The Way of the Clan Page 22