by M. Coulray
The guard shrugged. “Then I would have explained myself. Better a dead Scaleless than the desecration of the home of the Goddess.”
All this talk of desecration and Goddesses was making my head hurt. I looked at the dead humanoid, but all my AR HUD told me was that it had been a player named Secondstory, who had been a gnome. None of his gear had been enchanted. However, he did have a leather bandolier containing six glass vials, two of which were empty. I looked at them long enough to trigger the AR HUD.
[Potion of Invisibility x4]
Effect: Invisibility for between 120 - 240 seconds. Broken on aggressive action or contact with another being.
So the little shit had snuck around in here invisible, learning God knows what. I threw the bandolier over my shoulder. There were no objections from anyone present. The empty vials might come in handy later.
I felt like an idiot about assuming the last member would be a frontline melee fighter. “So they did have two rogues. Votess, I’m sorry I didn’t think of this before.”
“You are not a warrior, nor are you a guard. You are not to blame.”
I kicked the body. “Still, what the hell were they doing here? Do you get players, uh, Scaleless here often?”
The four lizard folk looked at each other and shook their heads. “No,”said Tole. “They do not come into the swamp. There is a long way between here and the nearest Scaleless lands.”
“It is a good thing we killed this one,” said the first temple guard. “If it had escaped after it learned of the temple, they would descend on us like carrion eaters.”
My guts twisted up. “Then we have a problem.”
Ten minutes later, I was standing once again in the pentagonal room that housed the three thrones. The same two lizard folk, Krees and Telix, occupied the left and right thrones, with the central one empty.
The guards who had remained at the wall reported that the archer and the armoured warrior had retreated. Tole had dispatched a scout to follow them. I hoped they would report that they disappeared; that would mean they gave up and used a fast travel item.
After Tole and her guards had reported, it was the temple guard’s turn. He told about how he had killed the rogue, and that all was safe. I drew in a sharp breath, and Telix looked at me.
“What do you know, Scaleless?”
I had to choose my words carefully. “The ones who are like me, they do not die the way you expect. Their bodies die, and their… souls leave them, but they are reformed later, at a point of their choosing.” I drew a deep breath. “Their knowledge remains intact.”
Lizard folk voices drowned me out. Everyone, including Votess, was shouting. Some seemed to think that I spoke nonsense, and others, including Telix, demanded that I continue. It was only Krees shouting a curse in the name of their Goddess that silenced them.
“Enough! Scaleless! What you say sounds impossible. Why should we believe you? You are sowing discord among the people with these words!”
I had temporarily forgotten that Votess’ mother didn’t like me very much. I thought quickly and came to a painful realization.
“Krees, I’ll prove it. All I ask is that you show me the entrance to the temple. Then,” I drew a deep breath, “you may kill me.”
Once again, pandemonium filled the room. This time, Krees was silent, while Votess shouted down the temple guards who demanded my immediate execution. I listened while sweat ran down my back. This was a hell of a gamble.
I had never set a homepoint. I didn’t even know how it was done. However, if my understanding of game mechanics was right, I would either respawn at the place I entered the game world, or at the last place I slept. I hoped like hell it was the latter, because falling from a thousand feet without temporary invulnerability was not going to do me any favours. Then I’d die, and do it over and over again. No thank you!
Once the room settled down, it was Krees who spoke. “Your proposal is acceptable, Scaleless. But what do you hope to prove with your death?”
“I will prove that players such as myself survive death intact, and that the problem of the Scaleless of today is not going away simply because the intruders were killed.”
I tried not to think about how much it was going to hurt to die. From what I’d seen of the lizard folk, they could kill me quickly… if they wanted to.
Votess spoke. “This Scaleless is my ward. I will only allow this on two conditions.”
“Speak your mind, Votess,” said Telix.
“First, if the Scaleless dies, I believe that should earn him his Name. All of the people who die in defence of Goddess Watch are Named, without exception. If we learn something about these… players… from his death, then he has done more than enough to defend us, even as a Scaleless.”
Telix turned to Krees, who nodded. “It is agreed. The Scaleless shall be named after his death. What is your second request?”
Votess looked at me and fixed her eyes on mine. “I will be the one to kill him.”
Tightness gripped my chest and I forgot to breathe. Did she hate me? Had I misread her? On the other hand, from what I had seen she was honourable. Hopefully that meant she wouldn’t kill me slowly, so it could be worse. The reality of what I’d gotten myself into was starting to sink in, and my hands began to shake. I stuffed them in my pockets to hide my nervousness. “Thank you, Telix and Krees,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Krees laughed. “We need no thanks from you, Scaleless. You will die and be named and be forgotten.”
I smiled despite my fear. “Oh, I don’t think you’re going to forget me.”
Back at the temple building, the guards engaged in a fierce debate with Votess. It seemed that although the wise ones had granted her the responsibility of killing me, the temple guards felt that it would be shirking their duties to let that happen. I stood by silently with Tole while they argued.
“Is it true?” asked Tole. “Will you return?”
“Pretty sure,” I said. “I mean, it’s what I’ve been told since… forever.”
She looked at me like I was insane. “Your people believe in life after death, then. So do we, but that life is with our Goddess, in the lands before the swamp.”
“Well, the kind of life after death I’m thinking of is a bit more literal.” I crossed my fingers and hoped for the bedroll, not the sky, when I came back.
Votess won the argument. The guards looked disgruntled and insisted on following us around to the back side of the building. When we arrived there, my heart sank. The entrance was indeed almost entirely sideways, which told me the building had indeed been tilted on its side and buried somehow. But what really worried me was what the AR HUD reported.
[Dungeon: Temple of the Fallen Goddess]
This dungeon is Undiscovered. The first party to clear this dungeon will receive increased rewards.
Special: This temple is sacred to the swamp folk. Entering it without their blessing will require the deaths of all swamp folk in the village of Goddess Watch. Claiming it in their name will provide benefits to the village.
Optional conditions: Hidden.
“Shit,” I said. “Votess, this is a big problem.”
“He has seen the entrance,” said the temple guard. “Kill him as you said you would.”
“Just a second!” I had to tell her what I knew. “The Scaleless will return, because to them your temple is an unplundered bounty! They will find their way here and kill you all to get to it!”
“Let them come. We will kill them like we killed that one.” He pointed to the bloodstained ground where the gnome had lain. “Like we will kill you.”
“They will come in droves, and they will not stop. They’ll wear you down with their numbers. Your children and your loved ones will all die, if that’s what it takes.” I hoped like hell they were listening to me.
I faced Votess and nodded. My guts were twisted into an incredibly painful knot. “Just remember what I said, no matter what. They will come. You need to get ready,
or claim the temple for yourselves.”
She nodded at me, her expression somber. “Scaleless, whether you return or not, you have my thanks. You have acted in surprising ways, and you have not betrayed us.”
“Thank you, Scaleless,” said Tole.
“Turn around,” said Votess. “I will make this painless and fast.”
I did as she asked, and stood stock still. My heart was racing, faster than it had ever beat before. I was feeling all the terror I had earned when my parents were killed, but this time, I saw it all coming. I closed my eyes and waited for it. My hands clenched.
“Goodbye, my friend.”
A sharp pain hit the back of my neck, and I fell like a puppet with its strings cut. Then everything went black.
15
So that’s what it feels like to die, I thought. Not too bad, overall. Definitely better than, say, getting hit by a drunk driver.
The game mechanics said that dying would incur a six hour penalty before respawn, but I wasn’t sure how that would work for me. Normal players would be kicked out of the simulation, but I was basically a lump of meat in a life support casket. Six hours of that sounded distinctly unpleasant.
I waited for five seconds, then ten. Nothing but blackness surrounded me. I started to panic. What if this was it for me? What if I wasn’t like other players and I didn’t get a respawn? An eternity of complete darkness and silence was as close to hell as I could imagine.
Then I drew a breath.
When I first hit the swamp, I had hated its stink. Now I gave thanks for it. The heavy, moist air filled my lungs, and I rolled over. I was in Votess’ cabin, and I was fully dressed. My alchemy and cooking gear were still in my inventory. Beside my bedroll, the bandolier, the enchanted dagger Excruciator, and the remains of my rusted dagger were laid out in a neat fashion. I had everything I’d had before I died.
I got up and felt behind my head. I had no wounds, but there was something there. I probed around and realized it was a scar at the base of my skull, about two inches wide. I shuddered. That had to be where Votess struck me. I nodded to myself. She really had made it fast and as painless as possible.
I stepped outside and found myself in twilight. The ghost lights were illuminating the path and the village was mostly silent. Time had definitely passed since I died, but how much? At least an hour or two, I figured. I wasn’t familiar enough with the swamp to say how fast it got dark, or at what time. I sat down beside the hide door and pulled up my prompts.
[You have died.]
As your death was not PVP related, you have lost all progress towards your next level. You have lost all skill-specific experience. Your equipped items other than non-armour clothing are located at your body, unless they have been looted by others.
Your respawn point is: Votess’ home, Goddess Watch.
CAUTION! Dying again within 24 hours will result in the loss of one random skill level! This may have other effects, such as loss of spell ranks or skill talents!
Hell yes, I was alive! And I was damned hungry, too. I didn’t even care that I’d lost my accumulated experience; this had been in the service of a greater goal. Besides, there was no shortage of levelling opportunities here, I was sure.
I headed in the direction of one of the only places I knew: the eating hall. When I got there, I saw a ruckus about to start.
Reath, the woodworker who had offered to Name me, was facing off against Votess, who stood as if he was no threat at all. He probably wasn’t much of a threat to the big warrior. All eyes were on them, and I was able to approach closely. I listened and had to grin.
“You killed him?! But he made the most amazing food!” Reath sounded pissed right off. It felt good to be loved, even if it was for my cooking.
“He will return. I believe it.” Votess sounded absolutely confident. I remembered her last words to me, when she had called me her friend.
“You’re damned right I returned,” I shouted across the building.
All eyes turned to me, and silence fell over the hall. Then Votess and Reath both bounded to me, leaping over tables and knocking aside other lizard folk in their rush.
“You have returned,” said Votess, her voice steady and even. “I am glad.”
“I am more glad! Cook me more of that food!” Reath didn’t hide his enthusiasm.
I wasn’t sure what sort of physical contact was acceptable between lizard folk, but I took a chance and wrapped my arms around Votess’ chest. She stiffened and then relaxed, holding me in a careful hug. “Votess, thank you for believing in me. And for… doing it the way you did.”
She held me at arms length. “It is the duty of a warrior to grant a merciful death to a friend in need.”
I tapped the back of my neck. “Plus, I got a cool scar.”
The lizard folk all gathered round and spun me in place, eager to see the mark on my neck. Votess proudly explained how she had severed my brainstem, killing me more or less instantly. The others congratulated her on the skillful blow. It was a little odd, being around to hear my executioner praised for the good work she did, especially being as I was still around to hear it.
Reath spoke up. “That is fine, you killed him dead indeed. But when will he cook?”
Lizard laughter surrounded me. When it subsided, Votess spoke. “He will surely teach his arts! But now he must prove his words to the wise ones.”
The people parted. Votess picked up her spear and walked ahead of me, then gestured for me to follow. We walked for some time. Votess was twitching her tail oddly, and I finally asked if something was wrong.
“You were gone for six hours. I want to ask, but it may be blasphemy.” She didn’t turn to face me.
“You want to know where I went?” She nodded. “I don’t know. It was dark, and felt like moments, not hours.”
That answer seemed to satisfy her. “You are one of us now. Walk proud, my friend.”
[Adjusted relationship with Votess]
Positive factors:
Proved her trust was not misplaced and trusted her in turn
Charisma modifier
Negative factors:
None
Final result: Your relationship with Votess has improved from Accepted to Close Friendship.
We reached the pentagonal building that housed the audience chamber. At my approach, the guards fell back and made strange gestures at me. I looked to Votess, who spoke in a whisper. “They think you are a spirit.”
We entered the chamber unannounced by the guards. Inside, the five inner guards stared at me, one of them dropping his spear and fumbling to pick it up. Telix and Krees sat on their thrones, and both of them stood.
“I am Votess. I bring you Scaleless, who had returned from death as he swore.”
I knelt down. It seemed like the right thing to do. “Will you listen to me now, wise ones?”
“Stand,” said Krees. All the latent hostility was gone from her voice. “You are Scaleless no more. We welcome you, who have died for our village, and Name you one of us.”
“Who will Name him?” asked Telix.
“I will,” said Votess. “I name him Denel.” She looked at me and her eyes met mine. “He is my friend, and I will stand beside him.”
“So he shall be named. What is his calling?”
Votess looked at me, and I spoke up. “I will aid the village in any way I can. You have been friends to me and I will pay you back in kind. Reath already knows my cooking is good, and I know some alchemy, too. Plus there’s my magic.”
“You will teach us, Denel of Goddess Watch. We welcome you.”
Both Telix and Krees touched my face with their clawed fingers. There was none of the suspicion that Krees had for me in her gaze now. For her part, Telix looked almost smug, like she’d won a bet. My own urge to smile didn’t last long.
“There’s something you need to know. Your temple… it’s what we players refer to as a dungeon. Those players who we repelled are going to want to return and claim it for th
eir own, or they might sell the location to others.”
“Votess told us this,” said Krees. “What would you have us do?”
“Claim it ourselves.” My statement had everyone in the room staring at me. “When I saw the entrance, I saw that there would be great gains for the people of the swamp if we claim it and conquer it.”
Telix tilted her head. “We have sent many warriors into the temple. Those who returned spoke of poisonous mists that dulled their senses and stole their healing. Dead things stalk the halls and without the blessing of the Goddess, we have no means of stopping them permanently.”
Undead and some kind of poison mist? There had to be some way we could deal with that. “Let me think on it and see if I can help. I might be able to work with your alchemists to overcome some of the challenges. But make no mistake: if we don’t claim that temple, others will, and they will kill us all with their numbers.” I remembered something else. “What happened with the other two enemies? Did the scouts return?”
Votess answered me. “They died in the swamps. The armoured one fell in the water and drowned. His body is sunk into the silt and unrecoverable. The other one was killed by a straylix.”
“A what?”
“A straylix. It lurks underwater and envelops its prey. The one you called archer was caught when it tried to cross an open area.”
“I…see. I have no other information to add, but those players will definitely tell others.” I hoped that we were far enough that the trip here would take a long time. Maybe they wouldn’t bother coming.
I knew it was a false hope the moment I thought it. Nothing fired a gamer up like the chance to be world first at something.
Kress and Telix nodded and dismissed us. Votess and I stood outside together, and she turned to face me.
“I knew somehow you would return. I would not have let you die if I thought otherwise.”
“Let me die? You killed me!” I winked, hoping the joke came across.
My friend chattered out a chuckle. “Mmm. Must we argue over meaningless details? Come, Denel. Let us return to the hall. I must eat, and Reath demands that you cook for him.”