by Tony Corden
She tried to log off but was informed that she was still in the Kolelick Mine. She looked around and found herself in a room just like she had left; in fact, it was a mirror image of the other side. This one, however, wasn't empty. Five goblins miners were working around the room. None had yet seen her, and if her previous experience were any guide, they would attack as soon as they saw her. She began to edge out of the room when a new goblin walked into the room, spotted her and began yelling for the others. She rushed him and had just killed him when the other five attacked. The clash was fast and furious, but Leah was three levels ahead of them, and she finished them while losing only half her health.
She had expected a message about entering a new dungeon, but there was nothing. It was as if this was a part of the Kolelick Mine. She checked the rest of the level and found three other groups of five miners. All of whom she killed. There was no ramp up, but there was a ramp down. She hesitated and then moved down the ramp. Goblins were toiling away, and all were Level 6. With surprise attacks, she was able to clear the floor. She checked for hidden doorways and finally found one which when opened gave her a view into the mine she had already cleared. She also found a small hidden storehouse where the goblins had kept a small bag of golden Topaz gems.
She moved on toward the floor below where the Goblins were Level 8. She was nearing her three-hour limit, but if she cleared this floor, she might be able to get into the twelfth level of the mine and free some miners. She had developed a system of attacking goblin miners where she wounded two severely before the other three attacked. She fought the undamaged three before returning and killing the first two. It took her forty minutes to clear the floor, and she was out of time. She discussed this with Gèng and Security Controller 11-5, and both agreed that a quick fifteen-minute break would be sufficient. She could only continue such a timetable for eighteen real hours before she would need some NREM3 sleep.
She was back in the mine forty-five Dunyanin minutes after she left. She quickly checked for hidden storerooms and doors and found both a small chest of Star Sapphires and what she thought was the hidden door into the twelfth Level. She carefully peeked in and saw the room with the roof caved in from her previous attack. She could see two guards standing in front of her watching the other direction. She stuck her head in a little further and couldn’t see anyone else. She crept out of the small passage and using all the skills she learned as a child she came up behind a guard and with what was now a practised motion she buried a knife in one ear and then leapt at the other guard and quickly overcame him. Neither of them had given off more than a small grunt. From the points she received and the messages she could tell that both guards had been Level 14.
She then worked her way around the floor and found all the prisoners in a single room being watched by five guards. The other guards were patrolling in groups of two, so she hunted those down and finally only the five guards remained. If she could distract or disable several guards then maybe she could finish three off at once. She was just about to attack when two of the guards headed to the tunnel she was in, they said it was time to change stations. She moved back along the tunnel to a junction and waited. It wasn’t long before they arrived and she surprised them and killed them. She then went back and stepped into the main room. She threw her smallest pick she had at the closest guard who wasn’t expecting it, and it hit him in the face. Wincing, she threw another pick at the next closest guard who dodged. As he looked back toward Leah, a third pick buried itself in his shoulder. She left those two and killed the uninjured guard then came back and finished them off. She then helped identify the miners. She checked the bucket and pocketed over ten star-sapphires and some silver ore from the cart.
She headed back into the goblin mine and moved down a level. All the goblins at the Level 13 were Level 10. She used the level to practice throwing a pick, and she was much happier with being able to kill one Goblin at a distance; once she managed to finish two. She entered the Kolelick side of the mine and cleared Level 13, releasing the miners. There were fewer miners on this level but an equivalent number of guards. She reasoned that fewer Miners had progressed this far and the guards were needed for the higher level goblins who snuck into the mine. It was then, rinse and repeat, for the next four levels. She faced Level 12, 14, 16 and 18 Goblins and collected White Opals, Rubies, Black opals and Pink Sapphires. She had been fighting for nine hours and was due another fifteen-minute log-out.
This time when she returned she and the Goblins were near the same level. They were Level 20, and she was Level 19. She found that her practice with the sword and mining picks gave her a distinct advantage; she also knew the way that Goblins moved as their programming gave them a limited attack pattern; they were miners, not soldiers. She cleared the level and headed into the human mine. There was the same number of guards but only twenty miners. She spent twenty minutes hunting them down and found no ramp leading deeper into the mine; this was the last level. As she killed the last guard she received a message:
Attention all players in the Kolelick Mine! Please note that the localised event has been completed.
Find the Traitor
The traitor has killed all mine guards. All players are now allowed to log out at will. We trust you enjoyed this event.
She received a personal message.
For completing the Localised Quest: Find the Traitor
Reward 1. Winning the Quest 100,500 (+0.5%) EP
Reward 2. Title - The Traitor of Kolelick
Reward 3. 1000 Fame Points (1025)
Note: Your reputation with the Kolelick Corporation is now Eternal Enmity
This was followed by a second personal message.
The Dunyanin World Administration is aware of your situation, and although we admit to no wrongdoing, we are embarrassed that this has happened in our world. We would like to reward your courage with one of two gifts. Either
a. 500EP for each miner you rescued. This may be applied to either of your characters. Or,
b. We will combine both your characters now into a single character of your choice, either Atherleah or Qiáng Tiē Chuí. The surviving character will keep all the loot, skills and quests but will lose half of the Experience Points collected by the closed character. The surviving character will exist at this locale.
1. Gift of Appreciation 500 x 580 Miners = 290,000 EP to Atherleah
2. Gift of Appreciation 500 x 580 Miners = 290,000 EP to Qiáng Tiē Chuí
3. Retain Atherleah and receive all loot, skills and quests collected by Qiáng Tiē Chuí (120,589 EP)
4. Retain Qiáng Tiē Chuí and receive all loot, skills and quests collected by Atherleah (423,743 EP)
Please note: No achievement was given for finding the Mirror Goblin Mine of Maden Town as the creator of the event prohibited additional quests.
[1] or [2] or [3] or [4]
She sat for some time, thinking and calculating before she finally pressed ‘3’. She felt her body grow slimmer and taller as she became Atherleah the half-elf. She checked her current statistics and saw:
ATHERLEAH (Level 44) (22075/44000) (+15%)
Characteristics - Points Total, (Assigned, Racial, Jewellery, Armour (Belt), Potions, Gifts) 20 Undistributed
Strength (S) - 76 (25, 0, 10, 11, 10, 20)
Constitution (C) - 65 (31, 0, 10, 9, 10)
Agility (A) - 96 (70, 2, 10, 4, 10)
Wisdom (W) - 93 (37, 2, 10, 44)
Intelligence (I) - 91 (37, 0, 10, 44)
Luck (L) - 15 (15)
Statistics (Available, Capacity)
Health - 100+(S+C)xPL - (6304, 6304)HP
Stamina - 100+(C+A)xPL - (7184, 7184) SP
Mana - 100+(W+I)xPL - (8196, 8196) MP
Ki -100+(W+[S+A]/2)xPL - (7976, 7976) KP
She was wondering what to do about getting to Pazar when Gèng said, “Leah, you need to hide. Dunyanin Administration has revealed to Security Oversight AI 4 that over twenty members of Clan Y’Haul have entered the first lev
el of the mine. The leader of Clan Y’Haul is High Mage Merideath and is one of the top three players in Dunyanin. It is widely known that her real name is Meredith Kodoman, Jackson’s mother.”
Leah knew if she logged out they would just wait for her. She was happy to do that rather than be caught, but she didn’t want to be seen here. It was best for the dwarf known as Qiáng Tiē Chuí to disappear and never be associated with the half-elf Atherleah. She quickly headed for the hidden door into the Goblin side. There was no way out through the upper part of the mine, but she wondered if the Goblin mine went deeper still. With some apprehension, she headed further into the mine.
The End of Book One
Spell Book
The Spell of Ant Direction
Novice Level 1 (max. Level 20)
An air spell of enunciation. The spell gives and overlay to the caster’s vision which indicates the easiest path to take through a forest or woodland area.
Cost: [(40/Spell Level) x Player Level] MP
Preset Activation: With your map open, silently say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the air guide my path!” as you point to your final location. (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)
Effect: A green arrow will become visible and direct you on the easiest path to reach your final destination. The spell will work for any destination less than ([spell Level/20]) leagues and for a period of (12 x spell Level) minutes.
Cool Down Period: Two hours
Do you wish to practice the intonation?
[Yes] [No]
Changing Attraction
Novice Level 1 (max Level 20)
This is a earth spell of enunciation. The spell changes the density of a portion of the earth (this includes rocks, soil, sand, etc. …). It changes the way things hold together.
The spell can be directed to Cost: [(20 /Spell Level) x Player Level] MP
Preset Activation 1: Say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the earth loose its bonds!” while placing your hands over the earth that you wish to make less dense. (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)
Preset Activation 2: Say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the earth tighten its bonds!” while placing your hands over the earth that you wish to make less dense. (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)
Effect 1: The earth will become (Spell Level/20)% less dense. Volume affected is (Spell Level x 1 cubic meter)
Effect 1: The earth will become (Spell Level/20)% more dense. Volume affected is (Spell Level x 1 cubic meter)
Cool Down Period: (40/Spell Level) minutes
Please note: Precious minerals, useable ore, artefacts and most living tissue are not affected by this spell.
Do you wish to practice the intonation?
[Yes] [No]
Circle of Sloth
Level 1 (max Level 20)
This is an air spell of enunciation. The spell surrounds the caster within a dome within which everything except the caster is slowed down.
Cost: [(20 /Spell Level) x Player Level] MP
Preset Activation: Silently say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the air slow my enemies!” while making the appropriate gesture. Alternatively, equip the skill to a specific hand gesture (see possible gestures in the menu). (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)
Effect: Everything except the caster will be slowed to (50 x (spell level/20)% of normal for a distance of (2 + 4 x [Spell Level/20]) meters of stealth for 2 minutes. Please note than some creatures are immune to magic and may resist this spell. Some higher level enemies may also be immune. Also, note that any spellcaster who knows this spell at an equal or higher level will be immune.
Cool Down Period: (20/Spell Level) minutes
Do you wish to practice the intonation?
[Yes] [No]
Disc of Death
Level 1 (max Level 20)
This is an earth spell of enunciation. The spell surrounds the caster within a circle of sharp spikes which are highly resistant to damage and impassible except for directly in from of the caster or by leaping or flying over them. If timed correctly these spikes can impale or even kill enemies.
Cost: [(40/Spell Level) x Player Level] MP
Preset Activation: Silently say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the earth keep me safe!” while making the appropriate gesture. Alternatively, equip the skill to a specific hand gesture (see possible gestures in the menu). (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)
Effect: A circle of sharp metallic spikes will spring from the ground a distance of (2 + 2 x [spell Level/20]) meters around the caster. The spikes will be (1 + 2 x [spell Level/20]) meters high and last for a period of (2 + 2 x [spell Level/20]) minutes. Please note than some creatures will be able to leap or fly over this barrier. Some higher level enemies may be able to damage or break the spikes.
Cool Down Period: (20/Spell Level) minutes
Do you wish to practice the intonation?
[Yes] [No]
The Spell of Simple Freezing
Novice Level 1 (max Level 20)
This is a fire spell of annihilation. The spell can be directed to remove the heat from any object, player, character or beast.
Cost: At Novice Level 500/Spell Level MP or KP
Preset Activation: Say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the fire of destruction cease!” while making the appropriate gesture and then aiming at the target using your hand and or magic amplifier (crystal, wand or staff). (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)
Alternatively, equip the skill to a specific hand gesture (see possible gestures in the menu) and then make this gesture while aiming at the target using your hand and or magic amplifier (crystal, wand or staff).
Effect: The target will freeze for a cubic volume of (10 x Spell Level) cubic centimetres. Please note that some higher level objects, player, characters or beasts may have partial or complete immunity or defences against the spell.
Cool Down Period: (Spell Level x 2 seconds)
Please note: If the intonation method of activation is used then at higher levels, the spell may be activated silently.
At higher levels gestures are no longer required, simply pointing. The range of the spell increases as levels increase.
Do you wish to practice the intonation?
[Yes] [No]
The Spell of Grounding
Novice Level 1 (max. Level 20)
An electricity spell of enunciation. The spell provides a defensive cover for the caster or object on which the spell was cast. It redirects the damage caused by an electrical attack into the ground.
Cost: [(20 /Spell Level) x Player Level] MP per minute
Preset Activation: Say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the current flow past me!” as you point to your final location. (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)
For self-defence say the phrase while laying your hand either over your heart.
If you are aiming to defend another then lay your hands on their heart.
Effect: A shield will be formed over the object to be defeated and will deflect an equivalent amount of damage (HP) from the person or object as mana has been invested in the spell (MP). The longer the spell is in place the stronger the protection.
Do you wish to practice the intonation?
[Yes] [No]
The Spell of Simple Healing
Novice Level 1 (max. Level 20)
A water spell of enunciation: The spell can be directed to provide healing for the caster or another player, character or beast.
Cost: [50 /Spell Level] x [Total HP/Current HP] MP
Preset Activation: Say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the waters of healing flow!” while making the appropriate gesture. (Touch the spell in th
e spell book to hear the correct intonation)
For self-healing say the phrase while laying your hand either over your heart or on a specific wound.
If you are aiming to heal another then lay your hands on their heart or the specific wound.
Alternatively, equip the skill to a specific hand gesture (see possible gestures in the menu) and then make this gesture while touching the one to be healed with your other hand.
Effect: The subject will receive up to (5 x Wisdom) x [Spell Level] HP.
Cool Down Period: (10/Spell Level) minutes
Please note: If the intonation method of activation is used then at higher levels, the spell may be activated silently.
At higher levels, touching the subject is no longer required to activate the spell, simply point. The range of the spell increases as levels increase.
Do you wish to practice the intonation?
[Yes] [No]
Mount of Mist
Novice Level 1 (max Level 20)
This is a combination air, light and water spell of enunciation. The spell hides the caster and their mount in an cloud of mist which reflects light in such a way as to make both invisible.
Cost: [(20 /Spell Level) x Player Level] MP per minute
Preset Activation: Silently say the following phrase with the correct intonation “Let the mists hide my passing!” while making the appropriate gesture. Alternatively, equip the skill to a specific hand gesture (see possible gestures in the menu). (Touch the spell in the spell book to hear the correct intonation)