World of Eternia: The Complete Collection

by Antony W. F. Chow

  Kassender turns her head back toward the diviner in her own party. "Please check to confirm that communication link is intact," she orders.

  "Yes ma'am," Willa of the Faith replies. Holding the symbol of the Gods of Eternia hanging around her neck, she starts to cast the Communicate spell: "Oh wise Gods of Eternia, May Your Servant be allowed to Talk to Other Servants and Spread Thy Names. Amen." On the player screen, Willa chooses Talnia and Lucreia from her contact list; these two diviners are accompanying the caravans. “Can you hear me?” she asks into the thin air.

  “Yes,” Talnia replies. The sound appears as a whisper next to her ear. The Communicate spell allows for communication between two players located within different instances.

  “Present,” Lucreia answers Willa. Although the two diviners can talk to Willa, they cannot contact each other without one of them casting the Communicate spell. And neither is willing to waste her mana to do so right now.

  Willa nods at Kassender.

  "Please let me know when you need an infusion of mana. The remaining Church members will periodically cast Succor to replenish your mana bar," the leader says. The Communicate spell draws a set amount of mana per contact per hour. The reason Kassender decided to keep nine non-diviners, including Kassender herself, behind at the forward base is to have them serve as mana batteries for Willa. Hopefully, the prospectors will find a suitable vein of Zisslean ore quickly, she thinks as she looks at the two caravans already a distance away.

  Chapter 23 – Samples

  "Hold!" Xavier calls out suddenly.

  Titus hears the order and pulls the rein on his horse to make her stop. The horse obeys the fighter’s command and comes to a complete a few seconds later. He turns around and sees that the caravan trailing him has to come to complete stop.

  The miners start to pile out of the large wagon, and pull out supplies. Each prospector is carrying a bulky looking backpack with a pick axe attached on top. A wheelbarrow is also pulled out of the wagon. The wheelbarrow has a big wheel at the bottom attached to a big rectangular carriage that is open ended on top, and two long rods that serve as handles for the operator to push from the rear. The miners start hacking on the ground with their pick axes.

  "Scan the perimeter," Titus orders his guild mates.

  The four other fighters take up a compass position with the miners at the center. Their bows are pulled off their backs as the fighters actively scan their environment for any sign of the demons, which will surely come to investigate the noise being made by the miners. Unfortunately, the air is thick with hazy smoke and dust kicked up from the ground by slow moving wind, greatly reducing visibility for the guardsmen on the perimeter.

  Bik-bik-bik. Chiek-chiek-chiek. The axes start pounding the ground with a monotonous rhythm as the miners work in unison on the chosen spot in the ground. Three miners use pick axes to break apart the stone. The loosened stone and dirt are then shoved over to the wheelbarrow. Once the cart is full, the wheelbarrow is pushed over to the other side of the work site, where the rubbish is emptied out on a pile. After an hour of work, the crew has dug a hole which is deep enough to bury a player while standing up.

  Xavier loosens some rock deep in the bowel of the earth and puts it on a small pan. “Pull me up,” he orders. He has a rope tied around his waist, to allow his crew to help pull him back up. When he is back on normal ground, Xavier turns to the diviner in their company, Talnia. “Please check the potency of this rock,” he requests.

  The diviner examines the rock. It is opaque but black, and resembles an uncut gemstone. A small pulse emanates from the rock, bathing her avatar in soft glowing light. Talnia touches her symbol of the Gods of Eternia and makes her request: “Oh Wise Gods of Eternia, May you Reveal the mystery of this item, So that your Servants may progress in Thy Name. Amen.” The Identify spell takes hold, and a dark bluish light envelopes the rock. Slowly the light turns to black, and fades a few moments later. The priestess shakes her head. “This rock has very little divine potency, I’m afraid,” she says regretfully.

  “I was hoping the game developers would make this easy for us,” Xavier remarks, as the sample’s potency is as poor as he expected. He turns to the miners. “Let’s pack up and look at another site,” he orders.

  The guild mates reload the equipment back onto the wagon in a proficient manner, and then take their seats inside the cramped wagon.

  Titus waits until the miners are set, and with a tiny stir of his rein, the fighter urges his horse deeper into the dreary landscape.

  * * *

  “Let’s stop here,” Clarke yells out suddenly. He has a good feeling about this location. Clarke had previously discussed with Xavier on which direction to take their perspective caravans. The two agreed that Xavier will head closer to the mountain, while Clarke will move further away from it. It is logical to assume that the potency of the rocks would increase as the distance to Mount Zissley decreases. However, the risk of encountering demons also increases as well. Clarke was secretly relieved when Xavier volunteered to take the direction toward the mountain, leaving Clarke to head in the opposite direction.

  Wilson, the fighter taking the point position in front of the caravan, hears the order and pulls up the rein on his horse. He sees the miners start pulling equipment out of their wagon. The warrior raises his right hand and chops down in front of his body.

  The fighters with him see the prearranged signal and start to expand their perimeter. Demonologists previously assigned to partner with each fighter also head towards the perimeter of the work site.

  Bik-bik-bik. Chiek-chiek-chiek. The miners start digging at the ground with their picks and shovels.

  A while later a guardsman calls out. "Captain!"

  Wilson turns his head to face north. He sees flickers of flames in the distance. "We have incoming!" he announces.

  Lucious sees the demons in the distance, a half dozen in all, and turns to Clarke. "Can you guys stop digging for a bit? I want to create a mirage, and hopefully get these demons to ignore us," he requests. "However, I won't be able to muffle the sound from your digging," he continues.

  Another mage interjects. "I'm an air mage. I could create a sound barrier to keep the noise out for a bit. This would allow the miners to keep working."

  "I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name," Lucious requests politely.

  "Alain Windmill," the young looking player with deathly white looking skin answers.

  "Let's go with your plan, Alain," Lucious says. The mage picks up some rocks from the ground. He closes his eyes to start the incantation for the Mirage spell: "isla-volk-potu-ertu-qlod-bure-jiha-klop-lind." The rock dissolves upon the end of the incantation. The player switches to his screen view and clicks on the flashing mirage icon. He points at the rocks from the surroundings, and expands the size of those rocks to create the illusion of a small boulder. He clicks on the "Confirm" icon to finalize the spell, and switches back to the normal in-game player screen. Lucious looks at Alain for confirmation of the silence spell.

  “The spell is working,” Alain mouths silently.

  Lucious offers a thumbs-up gesture. While Alain’s Silence spell takes hold, any sound inside the area of the barrier will be extinguished. Thus, only gestures may be utilized to communicate with one another during this time. The mage looks at the flickering flames in the distance, and sees that the demons are not drawing any closer to the work site. However, they are not leaving either. I wonder if they can sense our presence on their territory somehow, Lucious ponders as he sits down on a rock. His Mirage spell will last for one hour. It should be enough time for the miners to get some samples below ground. If not he could renew the spell again before expiration. He looks at Alain again and holds up one finger to indicate his spell’s duration.

  Alain nods and reciprocates the gesture immediately.

  Lucious nods back. The silence barrier will also last for one hour, he realizes. What am I going to do for the next hour? I can't remove my virtual reality
equipment as that would disconnect me from the game. That's the problem with playing a virtual reality game. You can't leave in the middle of the game to attend to other business, like you could normally for a game. He leaves his magical staff on the ground, and starts doing some tai chi movements to pass the hour.

  The other mages alternate between watching Lucious, and glancing at the demons in the distance.

  Chapter 24 – Discord

  "Which way?" the warrior asks. Titus warily eyes the Zisslean Mountain, which is starting to loom over an increasingly greater portion of the horizon.

  Xavier frowns. He knows the fighter is concerned about the party's proximity to the mountain and the hordes of demons within. The prospecting group has already dug up three sites, and each one has been a failure. The only way to get the good stuff is at the mountain, he realizes. "We need to get closer," he says quietly.

  Titus nods. He suspects as much. With a small flicker of his reins, the fighter urges his mount onward, towards the mountain.

  * * *

  "Hold!" Clarke calls out, ordering the caravan to a stop. "Let's try this spot," he says.

  The group immediate disembarks and get to work. This is their fourth attempt, and the journey has taken them safely away from the mountain. However, the group has also moved a distance from the other two groups. They are very much on their own if any demons are encountered.

  Pik-pik-pik. The miners are already digging at the site.

  Lucreia takes the opportunity to update the home base with their status. “We are in the process of digging at our fourth site. Do you have our location on the map?” she tells Willa.

  “Yes,” Willa responds immediately. “Your group has moved in a southeastern direction. I am concerned that you are heading too far away from us.”

  “I understand your concern,” Lucreia replies. “However, it seems we are heading in the right direction. The divine potency of the rocks has been steadily rising as we move further away from the mountain,” she explains.

  “The other prospecting group is drawing an opposite conclusion, and moving closer to the mountains,” Willa notes.

  “Do you think that's a wise course?” Lucreia asks, alarmed at the other group’s surprising decision to move closer to the mountains. “Perhaps it would be better for Xavier's group to merge with ours,” she suggests.

  “You may be right about that,” Willa admits. “It is rather strange that Xavier has not encountered any demons yet, considering that your group has had three encounters already. It is almost like the demons are deliberately avoiding Xavier's group, to lure them closer to the mountain. I need to confer with our leader on this possibility. I'll re-link with you afterwards to give you an update.”

  “Okay,” Lucreia replies and releases the communication link.

  * * *

  Willa turns to Kassender. "Clarke's group has started digging at their fourth site," she announces. The diviner holds up a map of the region. "They are currently at this location," she adds while pointing at a spot to the southeast of the base. The Communication spell also allows the linked parties to know each other’s current location.

  The head priestess frowns at the away party’s location on the map. "Why are they so far away from us?" she asks. It would be difficult to send reinforcements if the prospecting group is discovered.

  "Apparently, the potency of the ore seems to be increasing in that direction," Willa replies.

  "Where is Xavier's group now?" Kassender asks.

  Willa points a finger to the north, uncomfortably close to Mount Zissley.

  "They are moving too close to the mountain," the head priestess observes. "Please contact Talnia and order Xavier to withdraw. If they are discovered now, the demons will pour out of the mountain and overrun the prospecting group," she orders. “If he refuses to leave, Talnia has permission to withdraw the support of the Church.”

  "I will make contact now," Willa replies. “Talnia, can you hear me?”

  A moment later, Talnia replies. “Yes.”

  “The expedition leader is uncomfortable with your group's proximity to the mountain. She is ordering your group to move away from the mountain,” Willa relays Kassender’s order.

  “I will relay the order to Xavier,” Talnia answers back. The diviner walks over to the pit, where the miners are busy digging. "Xavier, the expedition leader has ordered you to pull the group away from the mountain," she says.

  The miners immediately stop their work, and look up at the diviner. In unison they slowly turn their attention to Xavier, and await his response. While the miners are aware of the chain of command with the Church official at the very top, the four men are unwilling to lay down their loyalty toward Xavier.

  The leader looks at Talnia with annoyance. "We'll leave as soon as we finish with this site," he announces loudly for his group to hear.

  "Are you disobeying a direct order from the expedition leader?" she asks haughtily while folding her arms across her chest.

  "Your leader ain't the one shoveling in a dirt pit," the man remarks.

  The diviner stifles her anger at his remark, and tries another tactic. "Kassender is concerned that reinforcements won't be able to arrive in time, if you draw attention from demons at such close proximity to the mountain," she reasons calmly.

  "We'll just have to take that risk then," the miner dismisses her concern and resumes digging.

  The other miners follow his lead and resume operations at the pit.

  Talnia relays the message to Willa. “Xavier is refusing to leave until he finishes prospecting the site.”

  “What an idiot!” Willa exclaims. “In that case, you are free to decide whether to stay with the miners or withdraw back to base. Kassender has given you permission to do either.”

  Talnia sighs. As the highest ranking member of the Church within the prospecting group, she has authority to make decisions for all Church members working with the miners. If she orders her clergy members to withdraw, they will obey her command. But that would tarnish the reputation of the Church of Eternia in the eyes of the other guilds. There are certain things worst than dying and losing experience points during a campaign, and losing Church credibility is one of them.

  “We will stay and honor our agreement with the other guilds,” Talnia finally answers. “Besides, even if we withdraw now, there is a chance of encountering random demons too. We will be no better or worse off than staying. However, if we leave then relations between the Church and the other guilds will be damaged significantly.”

  “I will relay your decision to Kassender,” Willa responds and releases the communication link. The diviner turns to the expedition leader. "Talnia has decided to stay with the prospecting group and lend the support of the Church," she reports.

  Kassender nods in acknowledgment. She didn't expect Talnia to leave anyway, because Talnia realizes that to withdraw would invite criticism of the Church and disdain from the other guilds. If nothing else, Talnia is loyal to the Church. "Let us pray to the Gods of Eternia that they won't encounter any demons," she says.

  Chapter 25 – Sacrifice

  Clarke pulls a big chunk of Zisslean ore from the vein. The rock is easily the size of three footballs. He tucks it under his armpit. The miner looks up and yells, “Pull me up!” He feels a tug on the rope tied around his waist, and starts scaling back up with assistance from his guild mates. When he’s back on normal ground, the leader presents the possibly precious find to the diviner.

  Lucreia nods and starts casting the Identify spell to determine the ore’s divine potency. Soon a yellow pulsating light envelops the opaque rock. The air starts to crackle with energy. Tiny motes of lights dance around the rock, and they twinkle in and out of existence. The beauty of the divine ore, which reaffirms the existence of the Gods of Eternia, steals the believer’s breath. At a loss for words, she can only nod to Clarke.

  The miners watching behind Clarke start giving each other high-fives. It had taken the prospecting group some
four hours to locate a proper vein to mine the lodestone. Once they return home, the miners will celebrate with a round at their favorite tavern near the Town Square.

  Clarke turns back to his comrades and frowns at them. “We have no time to rest," he admonishes the miners. "Let’s dig up more ores and fill up our wheelbarrow. I want two barrels full of them. Once we accomplish that, we can leave,” he announces.

  Two miners tie ropes around their waists, and slowly hop down the pit a few meters at a time. When they reach the bottom of the pit, they start digging out more stones.

  Lucreia reports back to base. “Success,” she announces. “We found a vein with enough divine potency. We’re in the process of digging up more material.”

  “Great!” Willa exclaims with excitement. “I will relay your status to the Expedition Leader.” She turns over to Kassender. “Lucreia just reported that they found a vein with enough divine potency,” she says.

  The leader nods in acknowledgment of the message. “Please contact Talnia, and ask their group to join Clarke’s group at once,” she orders.

  Willa executes the order. “Talnia, can you hear me?” she asks.

  “I’m here,” Talnia replies.

  “Clarke’s prospecting group has located a suitable vein. The expedition leader has ordered your group to merge with Clarke’s group. I will give you their location on the map,” Willa replies.

  “I will relay the order,” Talnia says. She disconnects the communication link and trots over to the pit. "Xavier, the other group has found a suitable vein. The expedition leader has ordered you to merge your operation with theirs," she reports.

  “Damn that son of a gun,” Xavier swears silently. He's going to lose credibility in the guild because Clarke managed to find a suitable vein first. He sighs and belatedly accepts the order. "Men, we're pulling out and merging with Clarke's group. Let's retrieve our equipment and head over ASAP!" he barks at his men.