“See?” I patted his shoulder. “You’re already taking charge of the situation. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities.”
He bowed his head, though I still saw his satisfied smile. “As you command, Dread Totem. We will start working on the marketplace immediately. We already have the required 100 lumber in stock, as well as 20 stone and 20 leather. The structure also requires 20 units of metal, fashioned into assorted gears, springs and other widgets. I’m afraid our smith is going to be extremely busy for the next several days.”
“Don’t worry about Barzel, he has a lot of help at the moment; two specialist smiths and their four gofer helpers.”
Zuban’s smile grew. “I almost forgot. I am sure they will be able to produce the required tools easily. Now, if you’ll excuse me …”
He gave a few short orders to the goblin builders. They stopped working on the barracks and headed in the direction of the gremlin’s trading post, Bargush carrying a hammer in each of his four hands.
“Damn, he would have made an awesome soldier,” I muttered.
“Yes, Vic. I get it,” I said. “Not bad.”
I headed over to the Breeder’s Den and ran into Guba.
“Hmph!” she snorted when she saw me. “Gotta hand it to ya youngling, you put that big brute in his place.”
“Guba, it’s been a while. I’ll be leaving the valley for a few days, I don’t suppose you have more grenades ready?”
Her face clouded. “Now I been telling you, over and over again! I can’t be using me skill without a proper chemist’s se– ohhh!”
I grinned at the flummoxed goblinette, frozen mid-rant at seeing the chemist’s set I pulled out of my inventory. “Courtesy of our gremlin allies.”
Wordlessly, she took the boxed set from me and cradled it to her chest. “Finally!” she whispered, caressing the box, “I’ll be to doing some proper chemistry ‘round here!”
“You’re welcome,” I said dryly.
“Aye, don’t ye be tripping over yer skirt, I got yer reward right here. I processed them gallbladders you gave me so long ago; ‘tis just a matter of adding tha proper reactive agent …”
“It’s a kilt, not a skirt,” I said as Guba rummaged through her newly acquired chemistry set.
She retrieved two vials from her pocket, added a drop of something to each and swirled them a few times. Then she handed me the two vials of now green liquid. “Here ye go, young Totem.”
Quest Completed: Gallbladders for Guba
You have given Guba a Chemist’s Set. She used it to complete the gallbladder potions.
Reward: 2 X Guba’s ‘special dish,’ +50 reputation with Guba, 500 XP
Bonus Reward: Guba can now utilize to her full ability as a Chemist.
Optional goal unreached: Build a Chemist Lab.
Guba’s ‘Special Dish’ [perm-health tonic]
Description: Small vial of green viscous liquid.
Type: Potion
Effect: Permanently increase a goblin’s health pool by +5
Finally! I’d been carrying this quest around from day one in the goblin caves.
My improved Analyze skill was showing me several details about the potions I couldn’t see before. For one, they only worked on goblins, which was disappointing, but good to know. It meant I couldn’t sell the potions to other players or use them to strengthen my Ogre champion. The potion also seemed to grant a higher health bonus than I remembered, but I wasn’t going to complain about that.
“Thanks.” I nodded at our new, fully-fledged, clan chemist. “So about those grenades …”
“Yeah yeah.” She waved dismissively. “Come see me when yer back.”
She’d already forgotten me and turned away, inspecting the contents of the box in her hands. “… Nitride … viscoelastic, them be good adhesive …” she mumbled to herself as she walked off.
Three new goblins awaited near the Breeder’s Den when I reached it. A constructor and two builders, just as ordered. Kaedric stood next to them, impassive, and ignoring the nervous glances he was getting from Wolrig, the new constructor.
Without a word, I spent 150 energy to raise all three new clan members to level 2. I gave them the standard welcoming speech.
“Welcome to the GreenPiece Clan. Together we will build a great nation. You three will join Zuban in construction.” I winced expectantly, not looking forward to being addressed as the pastry-Totem again.
“Yes, Dread Totem.”
“Yes, Dread Totem.”
“Yes, Dread Totem.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. What? Not a single ‘Bread Totem?’
Kaedric cleared his throat. “My lord. I took the liberty of … educating our new arrivals about the proper way to address the clan Totem.”
I was ecstatic; I’d moved past ‘Steamed’ and now I would no longer be the ‘Bread Totem’ either. I decided to overlook whether or not Kaedric had just read my mind.
“Good job, Kaedric.”
He bowed his head. “Thank you, my lord.”
All the recent changes to our construction plans were too much to keep straight in my head. So as a visual aid I accessed and reviewed the Construction Interface.
Buildings and Construction
Max Constructor Skill: 15
Builders Count: 8 (skills 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 1, 1)
Daily BP: 128.2
Under Construction: Cabin X 2 (151/250 BP)[rush?], Barracks (200/600 BP) [paused][rush?], Gremlin Marketplace: (0/650) [rush?]
Research:
Available Resources: timber 110, stone 70, metal 24, bones 129
At 128, our daily BP was impressive. I remembered how it took Zuban and three workers two whole days to build the lousy Chief’s Hut when we first got here. And that project was only 20 BP.
Looking at the Interface, I was once again reminded that I had the option to instantly complete a structure using the rush option. But as appealing as it sounded, it wouldn’t be the smart thing to do. The energy required would be better spent elsewhere, and rushing construction would only exhaust our resources faster, leaving my builders idle. No, as before, the rush option was better saved for emergencies.
“Yup.”
It looked like the marketplace would take six days to complete. There was nothing else I could do to speed things up in the clan. I’d optimized everything to the best of my ability. Now I just had to wait for time to do its thing.
Which meant I could leave the valley to pursue some of my other goals. First among them was completing Nihilator’s quest. But, I would need help with that one.
Resigned, I went looking for the twins.
***
“I don’t get it, run it by me again.” Malkyr scratched his head. “You want us to go on a dungeon crawl with you, only not really, since the end goal is to make the Ogres there friendly by … killing them all?”
I rubbed my eyes. It was hard to explain my motivations to players without revealing I was considered part NPC.
Before I’d come to speak with the twins, I had a chat with Bob. He’d pointed on my map to where the Ogre clan, former allies of the deceased Barska, resided. It just so happened to coincide with the location of an altar from Nihilator’s quest.
I had to make my way there and defeat the Ogre clan. Once I’d taken control of their village I’d be able to summon my own new Ogres via the Breeder’s Den. Even if Rhynorn was a boss, the fight with the players had demonstrated how the Ogres’ overwhelming strength made them superior to normal hobgoblin troops. I wanted more of them.
Going against a whole clan of Ogres was not going to be easy, even at my current power level. I needed help. My regular soldiers were just too weak for the job. Most wouldn’t last more than a few seconds against them. I had delibera
ted taking Rhynorn with me; once respawned, the Ogre boss would be a great asset on the mission. But I needed him to stay behind and guard the clan.
I also decided against taking the other clan Ogre with us. He was guarding the coal shipments from the conquered Raider’s Camp. With only a hob scout to show him the way, the two were enough to handle anything dangerous in the forest, sparing me the need to commit more forces to ‘caravan watch.’ I needed my hob soldiers to guard the clan and patrol the valley’s forest.
That was how I found myself explaining what I wanted to Malkyr and Hoshisu without revealing all the reasons.
“It’s simple.” I tried again. “There’s an Ogre settlement we need to take over and there’s a boss I’ll need help taking down. You know, a standard monster lair raid; loot, XP, maybe some unique magic items.”
I certainly hoped there would be good loot. For all of us.
“And you don’t want to use your clan members because you’re afraid they’ll die.” Hoshisu caught on. “So you need us,” she finished with a sly smile.
I groaned inwardly. I knew where this was leading.
“Listen, I don’t expect you to do it for free. Come with me, help me defeat the Ogres, and in return, you’ll get a fair share of the loot and some additional rewards.
Grant the quest [Ogre Lair Raid] to Malkyr Edahs and Hoshisu? Yes/No
I tweaked the rewards for the quest I’d just offered them. My Quest Giver skill was at level 17, and I could adjust it to make a pretty enticing offer.
I set it for a 200-point reputation increase with my clan, 5,000 XP, 170 gold, and I even threw in some bonus items. Being able to add items as a reward became available when I reached the Apprentice rank in the skill. I set Malkyr’s bonus reward as a masterwork belt with five potion slots accessible for instant use during combat. For Hoshisu, I selected an assassin’s ring with a spring-loaded mechanism that shot a poisoned needle. The ring could be activated even while attacking with other weapons. I assumed she’d like that sort of thing.
Vic snickered.
Malkyr gave a soft whistle. “Man, you gotta tell me one day how you get all the gold and items to throw around like that. I’m sold, I’m in. Whatever you need. Now that we finally have some shops around here, I need all the gold I can get.”
I looked at Hoshisu. She grinned expectantly at me. I knew what that meant.
I rolled my eyes. “Alright, we’ll do your stupid duel.”
Her smile turned predatory and she started pulling out her daggers.
I raised my hand. “After we finish the raid.”
She pouted but put the daggers back. “You got yourself a deal, Mister Totem.”
Malkyr said, “Okay, so I’ll be the tank, Hoshisu the DPS, and you obviously the magic guy. We need a healer, though.”
“That’s why I brought him.” I stepped to one side, revealing Bek. The tiny goblin shuffled forward, head down and eyes shying away from the twins.
Hoshisu wrinkled her nose. “Him? He’ll drop dead of fear at the first sight of a monster.”
I smiled. Despite his wretched appearance, Bek was one of the few survivors of the fight with the player scouting party. He was now level 10 and had an impressive array of healing, damaging, and debuff spells.
“Give him a chance. Bek’s more seasoned than you might think.”
Malkyr shrugged. “It’s your party, man; we’re just along for the ride.”
“So it’s settled,” I decided. “We’ll head out tomorrow at nightfall. Agreed?”
The twins nodded.
“See you then.” I turned and went looking for Kaedric. He’d have to hold the clan together while I was away.
I saw him coming toward me less than a minute later, probably sensing I wanted to speak with him.
“I’m leaving the valley for a few days,” I informed him. “Technically, Rhynorn is the leader while I’m away. Well, once he respawns anyway. Do your best to steer him away from trouble.”
“Of course, my lord.”
I thought for a moment. “Let the workers do their thing and make sure Bob patrols the forest and maintains a guard at the valley’s entrance.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Zuban is aware of the building priority, but if Wolrig, the new constructor, gives him any trouble, explain to him that Zuban calls the shots.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I think that’s about it, Kaedric. Keep everything going in my absence, I’ll see you in a few days.”
It was nearly morning already. I went back to my house but didn’t go to sleep right away. I sat at my desk and removed some items from my inventory, placing them in front of me.
My Barter skill had recently reached Apprentice rank, so I could now see the base price of items in my inventory. It wasn’t a precise figure though. Due to NEO’s complex economy system, prices varied depending on location. Still, the skill would give me a decent approximation of an item’s value. I had some knick-knacks I’d carried around with me for a while. It was time to learn if they were worth anything.
Two large diamonds were priced at 1,000 gold each. Not bad. A gold necklace with a unicorn pendant had a 300-gold price tag. In comparison, my Totem set – the staff, the kilt, and the headdress – was altogether priced at a measly 120 gold. Most of the other stuff I accumulated wasn’t worth much in terms of gold; acid flasks, tainted ore, and other component-like items were priced at a few gold coins for each.
The void crystals didn’t have a price displayed. I guessed they were too rare to have a ‘base price.’ The same was true for the Outrider Bracelet, the Dimensional Trade Orb, and my Sacrificial Bone Dagger.
Amusingly, the Book of the Damned I’d looted from Barska was priced at exactly 666 gold.
I yawned widely. It was good to know the value of my trinkets, but now I was tired.
Morning sunlight seeped under the door. It was time to get some sleep.
The coming days were going to be trying ones.
09 – Bullshit
I awoke at first-dark with Tika snuggled cozily against me.
Being with her was so comfortable, I didn’t want to move. I was content to just lay next to her in the furs, taking in her scent, enjoying her warmth.
Why am I trying so hard to leave this place? the thought popped into my head. Here, in NEO, I am the chief. I have a loyal clan, friends, and my beautiful … No! I shook my head. I can’t allow myself to go down that path again. If Tal hadn’t brought me back to my senses, I might have lived out my life as a goblin in body and mind, oblivious that my existence was just a digital dream.
Still … I couldn’t deny what I felt for Tika, and it was not just physical attraction. My feelings toward her were deep. Real. They couldn’t be washed away with a cold logic that argued against their validity.
I leaned into her, feeling her hair on my cheek, enjoying the moment a little longer.
That’s enough existential philosophizing for one morning. I have an Ogre clan to raid!
The thought invigorated me. I rose from the bed slowly, carefully, not waking Tika.
The Lyrical bird Tika had gifted me started singing its sweet song, instilling a sense of optimism and determination.
I stepped out of my house only to find Rhynorn, of all people, waiting. He was sitting, his back against a boulder, his club lying on the ground next to him.
I eyed the Ogre warily. “You’re back.”
“Hrrr,” he grunted. “I be back in clan.”
“And …?”
He stood up, towering over me. At over three times my height, it was impossible not to feel some trepidation at his physical presence. But I’d already decisively shown that I was the more powerful monster. I held his gaze steadily. “Well?”
I tensed as he hoisted his club up and onto his shoulder.
Scowling at me he declared, “I BE THE CHAMPION!” Then his eyes dropped and in a more subdued voice, he added, “
You be THE CHIEF. I, Rhynorn Bloodore do … what Chief say.”
“Good.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m leaving the hamlet for a few days. Maybe even longer. You will stay here with the rest of the soldiers. Your job is to guard against intruders and defend the clan. You are in charge of the soldiers, but you are not allowed to kill them. Understand?”
He grunted in acknowledgement.
“Kaedric is in charge of the workers. Do not interfere or give him any problems.”
“Hrrr, I be with the real males, the fighters! Weaklings not concern of mine!”
“And don’t you forget it.” I poked his chest. At least I tried, but I only reached his stomach.
After my little talk with Rhynorn, I stopped by the mess hall for a quick bite. Gandork was back, busily working in the kitchen as if nothing had happened. I didn’t bring up the subject of him dying and Rhyno’s subsequent chastisement, but when he brought my meal out, it had an extra-large helping of roasted nuts on top.
Bek was waiting for me when I stepped out of the mess hall. The little goblin was fidgeting nervously as usual.
“Have you seen the twins?” I asked him.
“Yes, Dread Totem,” he piped. “Them say them wait in forest.”
“Very well, let’s go.”
I led the smaller goblin toward the tree line where Malkyr and Hoshisu were waiting for us.
“All set?” I read their information streams. Both were level 25. Looks like they’ve been busy.
“Yeah, man,” Malkyr answered. “So like, where are we going ?”
“I talked with my lieutenant, Bob. He was one of the hobs from the clan allied with the Ogres.”
“Yeah,” Malkyr said sourly. “I remember them.”
“He told me their base is in the ruins of a fort a few days to the southwest. He marked the place on my map. So that’s where we’re headed.”
“Should be interesting,” Hoshisu remarked, her eyes measuring me.
I felt like she was checking for vulnerabilities, evaluating me as a future opponent.
I formed up a war party and sent an invitation to the twins. “Let’s go.”
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