Rather than try every rock she looked at those within two feet of her face, Bethany noticed a small depression, almost a foothold for climbing on her right. Placing her right hand in the foothold, Bethany could feel additional indents for her fingers. Stilling herself, Bethany applied pressure and tried to move her hand down. Bethany's hand shook as she pulled harder finally the depression slowly moved downward, first one inch then two finally it stopped at six inches. Making a solid click as it halted which Bethany felt through her fingers rather than heard, when the depression had travelled the distance needed.
At, the feeling of the click Bethany heard Lesley as she shouted the pillar is glowing. Rather than celebrate, Bethany had to climb back up before she could climb back down the backs of Toni and Sophie. Once her feet touched Cain's shoulders, and she felt Lesley's hands on the backs of her legs Bethany jumped to the floor.
Breathing deeply, Bethany was wrapped in Daphne’s arms as she held her close; Bethany relaxed into the hug, the fear of being so high eased.
With Bethany no longer on their shoulders, Sophie climbed down Cain next, followed by Toni. Once they were on the ground, then they celebrated while Cain rotated his shoulders; he smiled at their celebrations. Bethany had forgotten hearing the voice telling her to sit on her sister's shoulders. She received a group hug then a long kiss from Cain, which Bethany did not want to end.
"Cain, it is up to you to select where we have to go. As I used the hidden portal, you need be the one to use the transport pillar," Toni said. Cain took out his world map and still there was no details of anything, not even the mountain which the 2027 zone portal, stranded them upon.
"Make sure you all have a hand on part of Cain's flesh. We can't take any risks. No, Sophie not his penis!" laughed Toni. Sophie stuck out her tongue and laughed out loud as Toni added, "Nor his balls." Sophie replied saying, "Your such a spoil sport Natasha. I only want to grab a hold of Joseph in an intimate way."
A purple light which had started from the top of the pillar, now reached all the way to its base. They watched as a single line of purple light, snaked its way across the patio. Finally, it reached the edge of the circle laid in the patio floor. The purple light travelled both ways around the circle, meeting on the opposite side. Once the circle was completely awash with purple light a control screen floated into view projecting out from the pillar.
Cain, felt Toni's hand give him a reassuring squeeze, as he touched the control screen. There was only one option, he tried scrolling the screen up and to the sides, nothing happened. The control panel spelled the option out for him. 'Do you want to travel to Cybele's temple?' Under the writing was a button which said yes, there was no negative choice. There was a paragraph of writing at the bottom of the screen, before pressing yes Cain read the paragraph out loud,
"Those wishing to travel must stand inside the light of the transport circle. Players must all be touching the player who presses the yes button. They seem a strange lot of instructions. We each had our own circle in 2027. Never mind we go with what we are given." Turning his head, Cain noticed each DreamBabe was right next to him, each firmly held a part of his body. He told them he would press the yes option on a count of three. Each of his DreamBabes squeezed him where they held his body, Cain counted to three before he pressed the virtual yes button.
Not knowing what to expect as their one and only experience of portal travel, of a pure blinding white light. Cain was disappointed, nothing seemed to happen, no bright blinding light, no sense of travelling through the atmosphere, nothing. Lesley nudged him telling him to look down. Under his feet the area inside the circle had changed becoming transparent, like he was at first looking down on the mountain.
The view changed, at first Cain could see oceans flying by then their view changed again, flying over land faster than he could comprehend, next they flew over a large stretch of water. With a jerk the view changed and it stopped moving. Cain could see the top of a large white building with a roof of red tiles, a building which looked like some ancient temple though spotless. The floor image flashed through the spectrum of rainbow colours, then came the expected blinding white light. Cain guessed what would happen so he screwed his eyes as tight as he could.
:Well guess me trying to screw my eyes shut didn't work, I still have the black sun spots. Never mind they will clear,: Once Cain's eyes could make out objects again, he could tell they were no longer on the mountain top. He made a quick head count, each of his DreamBabes where still holding his body. Cain could hear laughter over to his left, turning his head he could see female who looked an older than him or his DreamBabes. She was sat at the bottom of a flight of stairs which disappeared through a wall. As his vision fully cleared Cain took a better look around, he noticed they were inside a large ancient temple, all its walls and pillars standing.
"Now that is a strange but fun looking way to use a transport pillar. Besides that, can you tell me how you came here from my personal auditorium? I closed that place over four hundred of your puny human years ago," the female said. Cain waited until his DreamBabes all turned facing the still seated female. "Now, aren't these females all beautiful, are they yours, are you their master?" she asked.
{Be careful of what you say here, I'm certain what is before you is the system masquerading as a goddess,} Enoch told Cain. Rather than answering the seated females question, Cain asked a question or two of his own.
"It would be better to say I may answer your question once I know to whom we are talking. My name is Joseph Jones, these women are part of my clan, Joseph and the DreamBabes. It would please us knowing whom we are in the presence of?" Cain said, skirting the female's question.
"You are a smart one, aren't you Joseph, or should I call you Cain? Don't look so worried my temples are off limits to the game recording system. Here in this game zone I am known as Cybele, the mother of the gods. Please introduce me to your Harem Cain, and I'll promise not to claim them as my own avatars," Cybele said.
Cain introduced each of his women, starting with Toni, Sophie, Lesley, Bethany and Daphne. After the introductions Cybele waved her right hand, a large five person bright leather settee all in red appeared behind them. Cain and his women on being told the settee was for them, sat opposite Cybele. She was now sitting in an overstuffed red leather armchair, her feet stretched out in front of her, resting on a small bobbing white cloud.
"There is a problem with my system, Cain, ladies. Somebody has accessed the main code and changed the way players should play the game, especially in this game zone. I made important changes in the reboot, like banning PvP clans, but I am sure they will find a way around the restrictions I have placed.
"They have changed this zone from a visit to Ancient Greece, where players can interact with the local NPCs learning about Greece's past. There were fighting quests, large battles between the city states, but most were of the find this piece of pottery, make this ship, create a meal for fifty people. You get the idea, typical RPG of the real world, as was.
"Now the zone has changed from a mostly peaceful reality to one where creatures from the Greek mythological past have been freed into the game zone. They are running around terrorising players and NPCs alike, my people have become fearful of the night again. I want you to stop them, all.
"First on this island, then set up zones on the mainland, where players can take quests bringing the creatures under control, eventually cleansing the game zone. Find where they are originating and close them down. I realise this may be a large quest, but I have found no players who show each other love and respect within the game.
"Players who help bring back the zone as it I meant it to be, not as it is now. Those players will receive one-off pieces of equipment. Since the reboot an additional two hundred and sixty-three million accounts came online in the first hour. The game has been live for nine hours, there are now eight hundred and thirty-nine million active players.
"All of them stuck in the game, unable to log off. I cannot help them
, I know you are trying too, but there are other quests that need completing to save the system along with the people. There would be more but there is a shortage of PODs and Nanogel. According to SPQR there is an additional six hundred and eighty-three million accounts logged awaiting PODs and or Nanogel," said Cybele.
Cybele's Quests
After talking to Cain, and what Cybele called his Harem, she gives them the opportunity to discuss whether they would accept her quests, saving the people and the game. Cybele told them it was December in 337 BC, an unusually hot winter. Cain removed Bounty from his inventory pressing the open button, after Bounty had erected they traipsed inside, leaving Cybele in the temple. Once seated at the kitchen table, they held a lively discussion.
"You all heard what the system, Cybele said. Do we aid her doing her quests, running with them alongside our mission in finding Vince?" Cain said.
"As much as I want to find Vince, how can we turn down helping other players and the game too?" said Toni.
"We know that our main mission, the quest is to work toward finding Vince. Working on Cybele's quests will provide the XP and resources we need to level up. When we left the 2027 zone we had a requirement of reaching level eighteen, to access and travel through the portal.
"Luckily or by design Daphne, who joined with us in the portal room had a sufficient level to use the portal. Especially after a bonus was given to us, for being the first group who completed an active six person harem. We do not know of the new level Vince has set for the hidden portal in this zone, nor where he located its position. What do you other ladies think?" Cain said.
"I'm with you and Toni. You say go, we go. You say stay, we stay. It is as easy as pie for me. I'm with you two until the game finishes and hopefully beyond," Sophie said. Bethany, Lesley and Daphne agreed with Sophie. They would follow where Cain and Toni led. The four ladies as one asked Toni and Cain, where they were going next as they agreed, they were following them.
"Since we all agree why are we sat in Bounty, we should get the first quest from Cybele," Sophie said. "See what the system can offer us in ways of XP and aid."
Cain gave Toni a long hug, the other DreamBabes joined one at a time, ending in a six-way hug. Lesley led them out of Bounty into Cybele's temple. Once they had vacated Bounty, they walked over to Cybele who was still lounging in her red, overstuffed leather armchair. Together Cain and Toni agreed to help Cybele where they could, though they set a rule of their own. Regarding a mission they had, which would take precedence over Cybele's quests. Cybele agreed to their stipulation, their mission over her quests.
"Your first mission is to remove the Satyrs which have congregated on the mountain, and destroy their place of worship which is in a hidden cave. Once they are all dead you need to go down into the lower valley, speak with one of my priestesses, in the walled town of Agiasobele. She is a beautiful female, I'm sure you will all take a liking to her. Oh, by the way, the extra reward along with experience points and gold bars, will be twenty-five warriors and a five-person support team.
"The more quests you complete here on the island the larger the number of warriors from this island you will receive. I have a feeling you and the zone, and maybe beyond will need them," After Cybele finished speaking, she waved her right hand in a regal wave, like she was a queen in reality. She and the red overstuffed leather chair disappeared, the temple was quiet though not there, Cybele's presence could still be felt.
"Well, it went better than I was expecting. We didn't get cursed or turned into animals, which often happened in Greek tales, where mortals interacted with a pissed off god," Lesley said. They laughed and talked about what animals they would not like being turned into as they went back into Bounty. They all agreed, either pigs or snakes as the creatures they did not want turning into.
Cain laid out his world map on the table back inside Bounty, he explained to his women, although Cybele said they were safe from the system recording them, she didn't say she wouldn't record them. The map had automatically filled in part of the world, they could all see an island and the surrounding sea.
Zooming in, Cain looked at their local area and where the nearest large town was, which Cybele called Agiasobele. He used the scale and compared their current location to Agiasobele. They could see around forty red icons scattered on the side of the mountain around the white trail down to Agiasobele. There was a small cluster of eight icons separate from the rest. Toni said those eight would likely be in a cave system or cavern where they worshipped, and it needed cleansing.
Cain used the 3D interface in the workshop and creating an extra gladii for each of them, one additional Doru per person and three large shields, called Aspis. He also made three medium shields, called Parma. Cain designed all the shields on a mixture of Roman and Sparta shields.
Continuing using the interface, Cain created a more modern Javelin equipping each player with six of the versatile throwing spears. Each person carried two quivers one of barbed and one of round point arrows, each quiver held thirty arrows; they already had a quiver with mixed arrows. Equipped, they left Bounty Cain pressed the button, waited then placed Bounty in their inventory before they all exited Cybele's temple.
In front of the temple was a white crushed rock plaza, with two roads connected to opposite sides. One road ran up to the mountain top, the second road ran down the mountain toward Agiasobele, which was around three miles distant according to the local map. Toni turned and took another look at the temple. The colonnades were pristine and beautiful, while walls held plaster panels which were brightly coloured, displaying different scenes.
:They must all have to do with Cybele. I didn't realise the temples were so colourful. Rahab, can you find any information on Cybele and how the Greeks viewed and worshipped her?: Toni asked.
Sophie and Lesley took point without being asked, they had their new bows equipped and an arrow nocked. With the aid of the map overlaying in their HUDs, they moved down the mountain and came across a small group of Satyrs. Cain and Toni equipped the larger Aspis shields kneeling in front of Daphne, Sophie, Lesley and Bethany.
Although they had all played VR and MMORPG games previously, seeing Satyrs in a game where everything was realistic came as a slight shock. The typical Satyr before them was around four and a half to five feet tall. They had the upper body of a man, well-muscled with hairy chests and strong arms. The game designers coded each Satyr nearly identically, all were bearded and each head had prominent curled goat horns.
The only apparent difference was the size of the horns. The lower part of their bodies were hairy goat legs, with slender goat hooves. Each Satyr the coders had designed and crafted were done with sex as an option. All the Satyr's were male and all were well endowed; some even sported large erect penises. Cain noticed that the Satyrs were all slightly different but had many similarities.
The three archers of the DreamBabes, Sophie, Lesley and Bethany released their arrows simultaneously, three seconds later another three arrows were winging their way toward the group. They each nocked another arrow and waited for the first shots to strike their targets. Each arrow hit the target the archer aimed at, causing a mixture of hits and critical, though no fatal.
The Satyr's though struck stood near motionless in their little group, as the second group of arrows hit them they broke apart, looking for where their attacker was located. The Satyrs bleated as a group, those hit with the arrows, screamed like young children. Bethany already told the group that sounds were common in goats, especially with them making screaming noises like a human. The Satyrs spotted their attackers and bounded up the side of the mountain, running next to the road. Sophie and Lesley released their third nocked arrow, each struck another Satyr, causing two critical hits.
They both swapped arrow heads from point to bladed, taking aim and releasing their fourth arrow. Bethany held her third arrow loose drawing only when the targeted Satyr was within sixty feet. Her arrow became their first fatal hit. The round point arrow entered th
e open mouth of a screaming Satyr and exited its neck, killing it instantly. As the Satyr crashed lifeless to the ground, its dead body tripped two chasing Satyrs running close behind.
It seemed to Cain that Bethany's fatal hit was the catalyst for first Sophie's, then Lesley's arrows as they struck true, killing another two Satyrs.
Bethany fired her fourth arrow at a Satyr ten feet from their position. Her arrow entered the Satyr's left eye and punched through into the brain, instantly killing the Satyr.
The four remaining Satyrs hit Cain's and Toni's Aspis shields, Toni then Cain stabbed out with their Doru spears causing two fatal hits. One of the remaining Satyrs, turned in its tracks and legged it back down the trail jumping over its own dead. An aimed arrow by Bethany hit the Satyr in the back of its head, punching through into its brain killing it instantly; the dead Satyr cartwheeled to a stop.
Daphne killed the final Satyr, she plunged both her gladii up to their cross guards into the Satyrs chest; her left gladii pierced the Satyr's heart, killing it instantly.
Daphne received a message informing her she gained a new main skill, Death Strike. She read then dismissed the message, waiting poised to act.
Even with the small group of Satyrs dead they held their positions. Cain said, "Do you feel anything strange or not quite right. You need to trust your feelings when you are in a battle, does it feel as if you can relax, or is there anything worrying you we all need to know about?" Toni said,
"I don't feel anything out of the ordinary apart from I feel the need to still fight." Sophie said,
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