by Paul Bellow
"I'm not backing out, but..."
"You're afraid. I knew it. Secretly, you love the humans and wish you were one."
"Hold on a minute."
I made my horse side-step a few feet away.
"Come help me kill these travelers, and I'll make sure you get to Fishguard safely."
"Fine."
While I didn't need his help, I also didn't look forward to being alone.
"Let's go," he snarled, saliva dripping from his mouth.
"You lead the way."
He spurred his horse and took off up the hill.
Tip - Alignment
Killing this commoner would be considered an evil act.
Doing so will lower your alignment by thirty (30) points.
Who cares about alignment. This is a stupid game.
"Ya," I yelled, following Jokan up the hill.
I pulled out my club as I rode.
As I reached the top, I saw a caravan of wagons on the side of the road.
"Orcs!" someone yelled.
Jokan screamed a war-cry and sped toward them.
This is gonna get ugly, I thought as my horse galloped after him.
"Whoa," I said, pulling on the reins as we got closer.
Two arrows whizzed by my head. A third plunked into my shoulder.
"Ow," I screamed, reaching up to yank it out.
Furious, I spurred the horse to go faster. When I reached the first wagon. I swung my club and hit some poor guy in the back of his head. He went down quickly, laying lifeless.
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.
All the anger and aggression built up in me came out as I rode around and killed innocent people in the game. I hadn't even wanted to play the stupid thing in the first place.
If it wasn't for Sarah, I wouldn't be in a situation to do something like this with no consequences. Adrenaline rushed through my veins.
The human travelers had no chance.
Twelve Villagers dead!
You get 60 experience points.
-20% Penalty = +48xp
Whatever that means.
Alignment
Your alignment has been lowered by 30 points.
Your new alignment is -100.
You can be no more evil.
I laughed out loud. This game knows me.
"What is funny?" Jokan asked as he munched on some poor guy's arm.
"Forget about it. Let's go to Fishguard."
He stared at me, chewing man-flesh slowly.
"Come on. A deal is a deal."
After throwing the arm to the side, he pulled his blade.
"You don't think I know you killed father? I brought you here to kill you with your precious humans."
I launched into action, spurring the horse forward and raising my club. I swung.
Your blow HITS Jokan the orc for 8 damage.
Is that even a lot? I wondered, turning the horse around.
Jokan rushed forward with his sword high in the air.
Guess it didn't hurt him too bad.
Jokan's blow GRAZES you for 6 damage.
That hurt. I can't let this beast kill me before I find Sarah
My shoulder still aching, I climbed off the horse to kill my brother.
He yelled and ran toward me, wildly swinging his steel blade.
Jokan's blow GRAZES you for 7 damage
Tired of messing around, I went into a barbarian rage.
You go into a barbarian rage!
At level one, you get one extra attack per round
with a +50% damage modifier.
TIP: Be careful so you don't attack friendly party members!
My blurred vision didn't stop me from pummeling the young orc with two swings in quick succession.
Your blow INJURES Jokan the orc for 12 damage.
Jokan stumbled back as the second blow landed on the side of his head. He fell to the ground, not moving.
Your blow INJURES Jokan the orc for 14 damage.
Jokan the orc is dead! +500 xp
I glanced around, adrenaline still pumping through my system. As it subsided, pain returned full force.
How bad am I hurt?
No sooner than the thought passed through my mind, yet another notification window popped up.
> Stats
Name: Jonan
Race: Half-Orc
Class: Warrior
Level: 1
XP: 1048
XP for Next Level: 252
Alignment: -100 (Very Evil)
Health: 4(18)
Strength: 99 (+35% To Hit Melee and +7 damage)
Dexterity: 46 (+0%)
Constitution: 92 (+30% CON saves and +6 health per level.)
Intelligence: 43 (+0%)
Wisdom: 43 (+0%)
Charisma: 34 (-5% when dealing with people.)
Wait, that experience points number doesn't add up. Oh, yeah, I killed my father with notifications off. This game would be fun if it wasn't so complicated.
The ludicrousness of the situation hit me.
What kind of game is this, anyway?
No one around was alive to give me an answer.
I need to get to Fishguard and find Sarah. She won't want to leave, but I don't think she should be in this type of game. It's too violent for her.
Before leaving, I reached down and grabbed Jokan's sword.
New Item – Orcish Short Sword
This crude blade isn't pretty or even very well made, but it does its job without complaint. Deals 1d8 damage plus strength damage modifier.
I tossed the bloody club aside and put the sword into the strap on my back. Should I look for other stuff? Might as well. I might run into other people on the way to this Fishguard place.
Smirking at the damage I could cause, I walked over to one of the three wagons. Inside, I saw two barrels and a couple chests. What do we have here? I climbed inside the wagon, eyeing the crude wooden containers.
After opening the two chests and finding nothing, I sighed. What am I doing? I need to go find Sarah. Why does this game keep sucking me in?
I climbed out of the wagon. The sun had begun its descent in the western sky. Tall trees in the distance beckoned. Somehow, I instinctively knew the way to Fishguard.
This game is too much, I thought as I walked over to my horse which surprisingly hadn't bolted during the short but lethal battle with Jokan. I'm a friggin' hero.
I smiled as I climbed atop my horse. My girlfriend might be a nerd deep down, but there's no way she would get back with Eric when she could be with me.
As I rode away, the setting sun painted the horizon an array of colors, reds and oranges that reminded of all the blood that had been shed. No consequences.
"Whoa," I said, pulling back on the reins.
A large dust cloud in the distance concerned me.
"What now?" I muttered out loud.
In the distance, a caravan approached.
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 4 ::::>
Human Rogue Spawns in Harrisburg
ERIC
I didn't see Sarah or Josh as I appeared in a tiny bedroom on the other side of the portal.
Might as well make the best of it, I thought, amazed at the detail of everything. The window on one of the wood-panelled walls looked out on a well-maintained backyard.
A few seconds after spawning, I got a notification for a "Join Your Party in Fishguard" quest. Who came up with that name? I wondered as I accepted the quest.
Maybe I'll be able to level up before I reach the city and find Sarah and Josh. The challenge would be fun. I spent a lot of time in game-worlds, but nothing like Tower of Gates.
Time to check stats.
> Stats
Name: Drexmao ("Drex")
Race: Human (Special)
Class: Rogue
Level: 1
Experience Points: 0
XP to Next Level: 2300
Alignment: +85 (Quite Good)
Health: 12(12)
Strength:
75 (+10% To Hit in Melee and +2 to damage)
Dexterity: 75 (+2 to Armor Class)
Constitution: 75 (+10% CON saves.)
Intelligence: 75 (+10% INT saves)
Wisdom: 55 (+0%)
Charisma: 44 (+0%)
Tip: Stats range from 1 to 100. Higher values are possible with magic equipment.
Special human?
The more I used the heads-up display, the easier it became to control it with my mind.
I might as well check my inventory. Stats look a bit odd.
> Inventory
180 gp (You've been saving for ten years as you worked at your adopted father's pawnshop in Harrisburg.)
Lamellar (Hobgoblin) Armor – You have hobgoblin in your bloodline. This ancient armor still works and will protect you as you venture forth from the life you've always known.) Armor Class: +20
Broadsword – 1d8 damage + strength modifier (+2)
Magic hobgoblin armor? What the...
> Examine Armor
Magic Item – Ancestral Lamellar armor (+5)
This specially crafted armor is light enough for a ROGUE yet strong enough to defend you against the fiercest attacks. It's of hobgoblin design, so you've never worn it before deciding to leave town. You plan to wear it proudly on your way to Fishguard.
Armor Class: +20
Magic Ability: -5% modifier on attack rolls from enemy.
Your current Armor Class is +30 with armor and bonuses.
You are decently armored.
What an odd character. This game is amazing. Skills are next.
> Stats skills
Your Current Skills:
Black Market Connections – Basic Level 1 of 10
Monster Lore – Basic Level 1 of 10
Weapon Craft – Blades - Basic Level 3 of 10
Stealth - Basic Level 1 of 10
Create Item - Basic Level 1 of 10
Identify Item – Basic Level 5 of 10
Language: Human, Common
Sense Motive – Basic Level 5 of 10
I wonder if I'll get skill points to improve them. No telling. Best to check the rules.
> Help Skills
Skills
Your skills improve as you use them. Some new skills may be learned automatically while others will require a trainer.
Okay, that's cool. Not all rogues are thieves. Finally, someone gets it.
I grinned.
While I couldn't unlock the character class trees and multi-classing wasn't available, I could work with a strong rogue build. It wasn't like I would be playing a long time, anyway.
The wooden bedroom door opened, and a young man my age in the real-world rushed in. Terror and dread filled his eyes as he rushed over. Who is this?
[NPC] – Jak
While you're not related to Jak, you've always treated the younger man as a true brother. He looks up to you and will miss you when you're gone. You hate to leave him, but adventure awaits and you want to clear your family name in the world. His father has just died, and he doesn't want you to leave.
I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
How much older than him am I? No mirrors to tell, really.
"You'll be fine, Jak. You're the man of the house now."
"But our father..."
"He would understand," I interrupted.
I didn't have the heart to tell him the man we had called father wasn't my real father. He had raised me as his own after my real father died when a veteran of the Great War found out he had helped a goblin refugee family.
"But Drex..."
"You be brave, Jak. I'll return someday."
Why am I getting into this game so much with roleplaying? I need to go find Sarah and Josh.
They were probably both freaking out. Well, at least her idiotic boyfriend would be. Ever since she met him, she spent less time with me. Because of my condition in the real world, I'd never told her my feelings about her.
In the game world, they didn't matter. We only had another few hours of playing at the most. Tower of Gates used time dilation, but I'd never found out the exact equation. My father would likely come home and yank the cord at any moment.
The time in-game with Sarah would be worth it. I wished briefly that Josh would have problems as Jak hugged me tightly, still sobbing.
"Go take care of your sisters and mother," I said firmly, pushing him away.
He stared up and into my eyes, tears streaming from his. Did the non-player characters in the game have feelings? The processing power to run Tower of Gates was probably massive. Was that why my father hadn't wanted me to play? I pushed the questions aside.
"Come back, Drex. I'll miss you."
"Don't worry about me."
I patted him on the top of the head then walked out of the room. My mother and younger sisters were gone, allowing me to slip out. As I walked out of town, I stared at all the buildings, the trees, and even the sky so blue and full of puffy white clouds.
Whoever designed this game needs a medal.
People stared at my hobgoblin armor, but none dared approach me. I reached the edge of town and kept walking with a bounce in my step.
It had been so long since I'd walked without a clunky exoskeleton. Was that the reason my father didn't want me to play? I pushed the thought out of my mind.
Time to have some fun.
Leaving the town behind, I wondered how far it was to Fishguard. The information popped up in a notification window. Three-hundred miles?
I stopped. Should I go back to town and find a ride? Would someone give me a ride in this armor? As usual, I had more questions than answers.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement in the field to my left. Rabbits were hopping back and forth, stopping occasionally to munch at grass.
I used my monster lore skill to check their level. The two I studied were basic rabbit. No vorpal rabbits here, I guess.
You've increased your Monster Lore Skill.
Monster Lore - Basic Level 2 of 10
The game is giving me a lot of tips. Does it think I need them?
I want some experience points. Over the years, desire for xp in-game overtook most of my other goals and responsibilities in life, but I didn't want to think about that.
Once in the field, I pulled my broadsword out of its sheath. As I thought about how ridiculous I must look in the ancient armor while in a field about to kill rabbit, I chuckled.
A rabbit wandered near me. I swung, missing completely. Maybe killing rabbits in armor with a sword isn't going to be as easy as I thought.
I glanced around and saw a man in a cart heading into town. While he wasn't heading in the direction I wanted to go, I walked toward him.
The bearded man lifted his head and eyed my carefully as he slowly approached. The horse pulling his cart looked to be about ten-years post-retirement.
Should I kill him to see how battles work?
A notification popped up.
Tip - Alignment
Killing this commoner would be considered an evil act and would lower your alignment by ten (10) points.
I don't think I'm going to go dark elf. Let me check something.
> Stats Alignment
Your Current Alignment is +85 (Quite Good)
That's right. I forgot.
> Help Alignment
Alignment ranges from -100 (super-evil) to +100 (super-nice). Acts in the game will be reflected on your alignment score. When this number changes, you will receive a game notification on your heads-up display. Your alignment score is very important in the Tower of Gates game.
Interesting.
The cart slowed as I approached.
"Well met, traveler. I mean you no harm," I said.
"Please don't kill me. I love the goblins and humans," he said.
"No, no, you misunderstand, kind sir. I need a lift into town."
His eyes narrowed.
"You're not going to kill me?"
"No. Why would I kill you?
"
I sensed someone behind me and turned. A young boy in tattered clothes approached through the field.
"That your boy?" the man in the cart asked.
"No," I said, not taking my eyes off the boy.
"Well, here's something for not killing me."
A black shirt flew in front of me, landing on the ground a few feet away. The cart pulled away down the dirt road as the boy stopped a few feet away.
"Can you help me, mister knight?"
I grinned.
"What's your problem? I'm not a knight, but maybe I can help."
"My father saw you in the field and told me to come ask for your help."
I glanced up and across the field and saw a farmer staring in my direction.
"What's the problem?" I asked again.
"Our barn, sir. We've got a problem with rats. There's one big one. It ate my cat."
"That's terrible," I said as the small boy cried.
He lowered his gaze to the ground.
"I'm sorry for crying, mister, but it was my favorite cat."
"You're in luck, boy. I'm an expert at killing rats."
He stared up at me, some of the sadness gone from his eyes.
"Do you kill them with that sword? It looks so great. My father wants me to be a farmer, but I want to go fight goblins."
"Not all goblins are bad."
"Whatever." He turned. "Come on, I'll show you the barn."
"I'm going to negotiate a cart and horse to get to Fishguard out of this."
As I followed the boy, a notification popped up to let me know it was officially a quest with a reward of 500xp. That must be one huge rat!
I remembered the black shirt a few steps away, and I returned to get it.
Item – Black Shirt (+1 Laundry Skill)
This black shirt will help you hide stains if you don't have a chance to do laundry. Gain new general skill: Laundry at level 1.