Keeper

by Tom Larcombe

  Well crap, something else I forgot, Eddie thought.

  He quickly went into his settings for his land. When he'd been looking the last time he'd noticed an option he could toggle on. Now he turned it on. What he'd just done would allow anyone to set their spawn point to the inn, without pushing a notification on him to approve them.

  He approached the two adventurers and cleared his throat.

  “Sorry, I couldn't help overhear. Would you like to set a spawn point closer?” he asked.

  “Love to, but where?” one asked.

  “Uh, I meant to do this before, but forgot. If you go outside you can set your spawn point on my land here. Just don't do it inside or things could get interesting if we're busy when you respawn.”

  The man's eyes opened wide. He immediately stood up and raced out the door. The other adventurer followed him more slowly. A moment later Eddie heard a gleeful cackle from outside.

  He walked over to the door and called out to the two who had just reset their spawn point.

  “Spread the word on that, would you? Anyone can set it here now if they want. If anyone owns their own land here, they should be able to set it there as well.”

  “You got it Eddie,” the one who'd cackled replied. “Thanks, too. This is going to make the game so much easier. No more holding back because it's a multi-day trip from spawn.”

  Everyone knows me and I hardly know any of their names, Eddie thought, but I refuse to feel bad about it. They've all just got to remember one person's name, mine. I'd have to remember like a hundred or more.

  “No problem,” Eddie said. “You want to thank me? Then spread the word.”

  “Will do,” the other man said. He hadn't cackled, but a smile had spread across his face the moment he'd reset his spawn point.

  Maybe now people will be more willing to defend the area, knowing they'll respawn in it, Eddie thought.

  A few minutes later Dominic showed up. The two of them ate breakfast, then headed out to the field.

  Dominic wandered around the field for a bit, then grabbed a stick off the ground, breaking it into segments. He stuck them in the ground at four spots, then walked back over to Eddie.

  “Start the wall at the far points I marked, then bring them up to these closer ones,” he said.

  “At an angle?” Eddie asked.

  “Yeah, hopefully it will funnel them into this point. AoE spells will do a lot more that way. Plus anyone with a bow will probably be able to hit something just by firing into a mass of them.”

  “I thought Charles said small to medium groups?” Eddie said.

  “A medium group of goblins could be as many as twenty or twenty-five,” Dominic said. “That's probably enough to make a clump that's worth firing into or using an AoE spell on, wouldn't you say? Plus, who knows if the game will keep it as the smaller sized groups. If it's a new thing, they're liable to increase the size of the groups as time goes by. I'd rather plan for more now and have it not be necessary than the other way around, know what I mean?”

  Eddie nodded.

  “Yeah, I was just thinking of the threat he'd mentioned, not what it might mean.”

  He sighed heavily, then continued.

  “And that means that I'll probably end up walling the whole field off, eventually at least.”

  “That's not a bad idea,” Dominic said. “The other thing that will help is those towers you were talking about.”

  He walked out and marked two more spots with the last two portions of broken stick, then came back.

  “Now, in addition to defenders on the wall being able to fire at attackers, if they do funnel with the wall, the point they'll end up at is in range of both towers. So are the outer edges, eventually corners, of the wall on either side, so we'll be covered.”

  Eddie looked around. He might've lucked into setting things up that way, but he doubted it. He made a mental note to ask Dominic's opinion on the other walls when he got to them. He pulled out the blueprint of the wall again, then read it.

  The outline of a ten foot section of wall flashed into being and he grabbed his shovel and started digging where the outline was flashing. He had to finish this section, then he could redraw the blueprint and do the next one. He figured after three or four repetitions he could probably do it from memory, but he'd continue making the blueprints just to ensure he didn't make a mistake. The game would let him know if he did make a mistake while he was using a blueprint and this particular project seemed important enough to him that he wanted to avoid making any mistakes.

  When he'd finished digging the first hole, he was surprised to find a stack of planks right behind him. Dominic was currently hauling another one while talking to Charles. Charles spun around, grabbed a stack of five planks and carried them over as well.

  Before long there were five people assisting him and the first section of wall went up quickly. He directed his helpers to space the planks out on a line right behind where the wall would be as marked by Dominic's sticks.

  He wasn't even half done with the wall when the stack of wood had been distributed evenly across the area right behind where the wall was going. He smiled when he saw that, the smile only growing broader when he opened the notification that was flashing at him.

  You have upgraded the skill Carpentry to (7). Wooden walls are quick to raise, but quick to burn as well. Sure you don't want to learn masonry instead?

  ~ ~ ~

  Chapter Sixteen

  Karl blinked as blackness surrounded him. The last thing he remembered, he'd been checking out the top of a staircase in the dungeon. Now he was flat on his back in darkness, his head pounding worse than the morning after he and a buddy had killed a bottle of Jagermeister between the two of them and he'd woken up sprawled out in his parents' backyard.

  The darkness lifted and he recognized the lid of the pod raising. He sat up and looked around, nearly gagging from the pain in his head.

  “What the...” he started to yell, but his head couldn't take it and his voice dropped to nearly a whisper.

  “hell happened?” he finished.

  He recognized the head researcher that had been working on the pods and had been there when he and Eddie were taken out the last time. The man was bent over at the side of his pod, furiously doing something. Karl had only recognized him because he'd looked up when Karl yelled.

  I think his name was Tom? Karl thought.

  “Pod problems,” Tom said. “I hit your emergency logout button. I understand you're upset, but once you can stand you should dry yourself off and get into a robe. Then I'll show you the issue and I think you'll agree that I made the right choice. For now, I need to work on this though.”

  Karl stood, then wobbled and grabbed the edge of the pod. Sitting on the edge, he waited a few moments then tried again. This time he managed to stand up. A minute later he was dry and moving towards Tom to see what the problem was.

  When he saw the inside of the pod his jaw dropped.

  “What the hell happened?” he asked.

  “Best guess is someone nicked the nutrient line when we installed all the new parts, back when you were out before? Didn't notice it because the cut was so clean and small. Then the cut expanded while the pod was in use, see how the edges are still clean and tiny but this center section...”

  He stopped talking and put pressure on the nutrient line. Sure enough there was a slice in it running around one section of the hose, the far ends were small and had clean edges, but the center of the cut portion was gaping under the pressure Tom was putting on it, gaping wide enough that Karl could fit the tip of his pinkie finger into the hole.

  “Anyhow, the nutrient system pressurizes every time we refill it and I think that spread the hole and let nutrient solution spray onto the electronics,” Tom said. “So be glad we got you out and there weren't any really serious repercussions. Although the doc wants to check you out again, at least twice this time, because there was one other problem. You got injected with a half-dose of a stro
ng stimulant that's in the built-in med kit on the pods. The nutrient solution managed to short circuit it, and a bunch of other things.”

  Karl sagged onto the rim of the pod he'd been living in, the rim near the base was to help keep it stable but was large enough to support part of his weight.

  “Damn, good thing you caught it before it became a serious problem,” he said.

  “It's still serious. We won't be able to get you back in until we get another of the pods rigged up. I don't trust these components any more. It may be as much as two days before we can get you back in,” he said.

  Then he glanced at Karl.

  “I'm assuming you want back in?”

  Karl nodded.

  “Yeah, but hopefully I shake this headache before then. Feels worse than a hangover.”

  “Probably a residual effect from the stimulant. I found the problem with the pod after Aaron asked me to check it out when he heard about your problem in game. So the stimulant was a recent occurrence and may not be flushed out of your system yet, especially on the nutrient solution diet.”

  “Huh?”

  “Well, when your body gets used to processing just one thing it takes a while to readjust to processing other things as well.”

  “Oh, that makes sense, I guess. So what am I supposed to do in the meanwhile?”

  “Doc wants some tests, two batteries of them, Other than that you can claim one of those cots against the far wall. If you want to eat, I recommend liquids only. Broths, protein shakes, and other liquids won't cause a problem when we have to flush you out before going back in. Plus, solids might be a bit of an issue for your stomach in the brief time you'll be out. I recommend a lot of water first, you might get rid of that headache quicker that way.”

  “Where's the water fountain?”

  “There's a refrigerator near the door stocked with bottled water and soft drinks, help yourself. I have to get back to work. First thing is to sheathe up Eddie's nutrient line in case it wasn't a slip up on installation and something else caused the issue. Don't worry, the pod you'll be going into will have a sheathed nutrient line as well. Now, if you'll excuse me?”

  ~ ~ ~

  Eddie was working on the third section of wall when he heard someone call out.

  “Eddie, what the hell are you doing?”

  The voice was jovial and he turned to see Paul walking towards him.

  “Just the man I wanted to see,” Eddie said. “I'm putting up a defensive wall on this end of the field where the adventurers camp. Charles pointed out that we'd seen three goblin attacks on this location in the last few days and said he expected more, then he asked if I could help. He was talking about a smaller wall, but I found this blueprint and it was cheap.”

  “Well yeah, because a defensive wall made out of wood isn't the best option,” Paul said, smiling.

  “Sure beats no wall at all though.”

  “There is that,” Paul replied. “Why'd you want to see me?”

  “I was hoping that you'd either donate, or let me buy, a bunch of rough hewn planks. That's all the wall needs and I saw the massive pile you had at the sawmill the other day. Oh, and we borrowed some of your logs, but we'll bring them back after we're done with them.”

  “You want what? Wait, what?”

  “We borrowed some of your logs to make a raft. We wanted to explore the island that showed up in the lake, but there are some hostiles in the water.”

  “Okay, got that, and you'll bring them back later. But you want what?”

  “Well, I got to thinking, or Dominic got me thinking, why stop with just the wall on one side. They can always sneak around if we only wall the one side, plus this spot is nice and central to the area, so if there's a larger attack, or attacks elsewhere, it would make a good central, defensive location for people to run to if necessary.”

  “So you want planks to finish the fort?”

  “And to build some small towers in the middle that can fire out over the walls,” Eddie said

  While they were talking he'd continued placing planks. Now he finished up this section and straightened with a sigh of relief, stretching and popping his back.

  “Well, that's three, maybe I'll get most of this wall done today,” he said. “I've got the lumber for that at least.”

  Paul glanced around at the planks the others had laid out earlier.

  “Isn't that just about all the rough hewn you had left?” he asked.

  Eddie nodded.

  “That is all of it, unless Brandr or Osmond chopped some more for me this morning. I wanted to be able to get this done so I brought it all over. I was around for the first of those goblin attacks and it was a complete surprise, so if there's more coming I want to be prepared.”

  “Well, I do have more rough hewn than I need. But I also have to process those for my finished planks as well. So, I can spare some at least.”

  “Whatever you can spare,” Eddie said. “I'll see if I can get some of the locals to make more for me if I don't have enough.”

  “I need to borrow your cart again then.”

  “It's over near the inn. You might ask for volunteers to help load, Charles' whole group helped carry these planks over earlier so you might find some.”

  Eddie needed a break, so he stretched again, then started walking. A few minutes walk took him to Tiana's temple site and he looked around. The tree was towering over the rose bush walls, and the rest of the fruiting bushes and trees on the surrounding lot were doing well, looking nearly full grown in many cases. When he went over near the tree he saw Tiana with her hands on it, chanting.

  He waited a couple of minutes until she finished then stepped in for a kiss.

  “Done already?” she asked.

  “Not even close. I just needed a break from doing that so I thought I'd come help here some more.”

  “I'm sorry you're the only one that can do the walls, I know you'd probably rather be doing something else.”

  “Nope, perfectly happy doing this for you, especially if I'm the only one who can. That means you'll value me more, right?”

  She slugged him in the arm.

  “Back to being a wise ass?”

  “Sorry, I'm nervous. That's how I deal with nerves, by wisecracking.”

  “Well I know you're nervous, so am I. I hate it when patterns change like this. In game, at least, that's normally a warning that they're building up to something.”

  “Well, if I'm going to help, I'd better get to it. I need to get back and keep working on the wall in a bit, but I'll burn all my mana here first. It can regen while I work on the defensive walls.”

  Eddie stepped over to where he'd left off on the last wall and started his conjoined plant growth and weaving, watching as the rose branches weaved themselves together.

  He repeated that twice more and his mana was nearly spent.

  At least I can get three of those off now instead of just two, or one like the first time, he thought. That makes things a lot quicker.

  “Alright, sorry to weave and run, but I've got a wall to build,” he said.

  Tiana came over and gave him another hug and a kiss before he left.

  “Don't overwork yourself,” she replied. “It's still just a game.”

  “Yeah, I know, but it just doesn't feel like it any more, not to me.”

  “Me either, but intellectually I know better,” Tiana said. “Be careful.”

  “I will. See you for lunch?” Eddie asked.

  She nodded and gave him a smile as he turned and headed back for the field.

  ~ ~ ~

  When Eddie made it back to the field there were a lot more people moving around. Paul wasn't back yet, but he saw a couple of adventurers climbing up on the platform behind the wall, he knew it would be called a banquette in something fancier, but he just couldn't bring himself to apply it to what he was building, it was far too simple for that extravagant a name.

  They were testing to see if they could lean over with their weapons, o
r fire over with their missile weapons and he watched for a moment. The taller ones among them had no problems with it, but a few of the shorter ones just couldn't manage it.

  Alright, maybe raise that platform on some of the sections so everyone who wants to can defend? I wonder if I can adjust the blueprints on the fly. I know I managed something like that with the stall add-ons for the showers, but... Well, I can only try. Maybe I'll ask Paul when he gets back, he might know how to manage that better than I do.

  Eddie settled back in to work, fielding numerous questions from the adventurers that continued to emerge from their tents. By the time he'd finished the fourth ten foot section of fence, Paul was back with the first load of rough hewn planks. He came over to Eddie.

  “I don't suppose you've got a spare blueprint for that? I talked to Charles and understand a bit better now. I'll start on the other end and we can meet in the middle, that work for you? I have a couple of guys that are going to go get a few more loads of wood.”

  I wonder what Charles told him? Eddie thought. Although just the idea that the goblins might continue into the zone if they defeated everyone here at the field would probably do it.

  “Give me a couple of minutes. I've been redrawing the blueprint after each section, makes it less likely I'll screw up. This time I'll just draw two instead.”

  “Here, use this,” Paul said.

  He reached into his inventory and pulled out a drawing board, complete with built-in stool. Eddie chuckled, seeing the furniture piece drawn from thin air. As much as he knew it was a game, the inventory space's trick of storing large items got him every time.

  He settled in on the chair and started sketching. Five minutes later he was done with both blueprints. Paul had taken the first and was already at work on the section of the fence for the far end. Eddie took the time to walk down and ask about raising the platform, explaining the problem. The solution was easy, Eddie just had to place the blueprint back on the drawing board, scratch out the height measurement for the platform, ink in the new height measurement, then initial it. When he read that blueprint the resulting glowing outline that appeared had the platform set nine inches higher, just as he'd specified.