…
Chapter 5
I watched the status effect timer tick down. First to expire was the Exhausted effect, but once it disappeared it was immediately reapplied. Since my regeneration rate was nil, and my stamina was zero, each time the status effect ran out it saw I was still at zero and reapplied the entire five minute debuff.
Since I still had a few minutes left before I would awaken, I searched through the interface and found the bug reporting options, submitting a ticket related to the never-ending exhaustion. It might have been as per design, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to let them know about it.
The Mana Burn debuff faded and my gauges began regenerating again, and when the exhausted condition ended my stamina was no longer zero so it wasn’t reapplied.
As the Incapacitated debuff ticked down the final minutes, my awareness began to gradually fade back in.
The first sense to return was hearing. I could hear muffled voices nearby. Nothing was clear enough to make out, but it was something.
Next, I started to feel my limbs, a slow tingling sensation on my skin, until incapacitated condition disappeared and full feeling returned.
I tried to sit up but found that my hands had been bound behind my back.
Sighing at finding myself a captive once again, I shifted into a more comfortable position and tried to get a better look at my current accommodations. There was a simple bed tucked against one wall with a small locker at its foot, and that was about it.
Pretty minimal accommodations, but about what I expected for an inn. At least I wasn’t in a dungeon, stone walls aside. A simple wooden door separated the room from the rest of the building and was currently hanging open.
I saw a slight movement in the darkness of the doorway.
*** Perception check successful! ***
The faint outline of a small humanoid form appeared, tucked into the shadows of the hallway. Deciding to take a chance, I called out “Hey kid, would you mind untying me please?”
I heard a quick intake of breath and then the sound of footsteps getting further away. I sighed again, flexing my arms to see if I could loosen my bonds.
I felt a slight give, but nowhere near enough to free myself. Resigned to once again being a prisoner, I sat back and waited as my hit points, mana, and stamina bubbles filled back up.
A short time later, the man from behind the bar arrived, accompanied by the child from earlier and a djinden woman who bore a striking resemblance to the child.
I put on my most dashing smile and said, “When I said I wanted to rent a room, this wasn’t quite what I had in mind.”
The little girl stifled a laugh, hiding her mouth behind her hand. Her father glanced at her and then to me saying, “Why do your people always bring us such trouble, Saa? Can’t you just leave us in peace?”
I sighed and realizing that making light of the situation was definitely not the way to go, responded, “I did not come to bring you trouble, I was simply looking for a room when trouble arrived. I am sorry if I damaged anything in your establishment, other than the thugs trying to hurt the little one. They got what they deserved.”
The woman looked at me curiously. “Why would you side with a ‘dix’ over your own kin” she said, the racial slur dripping with a deep-seated anger.
I looked her directly in the eyes and said, “That trash was no kin of mine. Anyone who would seek to harm a child of any race can count me as an enemy. But I understand your skepticism; my people have been treating yours like trash for generations. All I can say is that I do not share their opinion, and only sought to bring justice to those who deserve it.”
She nodded slowly, but I could still see some uncertainty in her eyes. “Tepik and his two lackeys have caused us a lot of trouble recently. Once they were subdued, I had the constable come and collect them. Likely they will be released as they have some friends in the watch, but they should steer clear of here for a while. Thank you for trying to help my daughter, but in the long run, you may have brought more danger to us by your interference.”
*** You have gained reputation with the Stone Serpent Djinden! Hostile → Suspicious. ***
“My name is Mareej,” she continued, “and you are welcome to stay here at the Stone Serpent.”
The man I thought was the innkeeper opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by a sharp glare from Mareej.
“Unbind him Saleem” she said.
Looking none too happy about it, Saleem did as he was bid, freeing my hands. I shook out my arms and stood, shuffling as the pins and needles sensations faded from my limbs.
“My husband,” she said, gesturing to the man, “will bring you your things. The room is five silver pieces a day. Breakfast and dinner are included. I hope that your stay is full of much less excitement.”
After that, Mareej walked out, beckoning the little girl to follow her. As the child turned, I could see that the bruises from earlier were still marring her cheek, and she was limping along behind her mother.
“Wait,” I said, and the two of them turned back. “Your daughter is injured. Please allow me to repay your kindness and make up at least a small bit for the harm my countrymen have done?”
Mareej looked at me again, likely unsure of what I could do to help, but agreeing anyway. I walked over and knelt next to the little girl, who cringed away from me, clutching her mother’s robes.
“Hello, little one”, I said to the girl, “my name is Kheph and I would like to heal you if that is okay with you and your mother?”
Forming the glyphs for Soothing Touch in my mind, I fed a slow steady trickle of mana into the spell form, relieved that the effects of my earlier mana burning were no longer a problem.
My hand began to glow with a soft golden light. I looked to Mareej, seeking her permission to proceed but found her staring at me with a completely shocked expression.
“May I heal your daughter Mareej?” I asked, and she slowly nodded her permission.
I reached out and allowed the golden light to flow from my hands into the djinden child, watching the bruises slowly fade. She looked back at me with wide eyes, mouth hanging open in surprise.
*** You cast Soothing Touch, healing the child’s wounds. ***
*** You channel Soothing Touch, healing the child’s wounds. ***
*** The child is completely healed. ***
*** You have gained reputation with the Stone Serpent Djinden! Suspicious → Neutral. ***
The little girl looked up to her mother and whispered, “Mommy, it doesn’t hurt anymore!”
I smiled at the little girl and her mother and stood, saying, “I’m glad you’re feeling better, little one.”
Mareej just continued to look at me with that strange shocked express as she led her daughter from the room, whispering, “Thank you” before heading out the door.
I turned to Saleem, seeing him regarding me with a strange look as well.
“Why is everyone looking at me like I have sprouted a second head?” I asked.
Saleem blinked, and began to speak slowly, as if carefully considering each word. “Kheph. Thank you for healing my daughter. There are few with such abilities within Tael’va who would use them without requiring much in return.”
I concentrated on the memory database and focused on how priests worked in the Saa Empire and sighed as things started to make a little more sense.
The Priesthood in Saa was an aristocracy into and of itself. Like its ancient Egyptian analog, the priesthood was an elite caste, but in the Saa Empire they seldom did anything that wasn’t of direct benefit to them or their noble patrons.
Great, I thought, another little bit of lore that probably would have influenced my character creation choices. Guess I’m going to be a renegade priest.
I nodded to Saleem and said, “I get it. I am not at all what you expected. Believe me, there’s going to be a lot of that going around if I have my way… So… My things?”
Emerald eyes still a little wider than usual,
Saleem shook himself and said, “Ahh yes, one minute.” and then headed down the hall, returning shortly with my pack, shield, and spear.
I examined the area and asked, “I take it this is my room?” and at his nod I tossed my pack into the corner. I hung my shield on my back, tucked a dagger into my belt and grabbed my spear.
We left the room, and I locked the door behind us with the key sitting in the lock. I handed five silver coins to Saleem as we left and pocketed the key, heading towards the sound of the common room.
Unlike when I first arrived, The Stone Serpent’s common room was half full of all kinds of people, most dressed in the drab colored clothing suited to labor in the dessert climate.
The one missing element were Saa. I was the only one of my race in the crowd, which made me stand out like a sore thumb.
I was in the room for maybe thirty seconds and already I was getting suspicious looks from the other patrons. There were no other djinden in the crowd, but it seemed the clientele here didn’t have a fond outlook of my people either. Thanks for that developers.
Behind the bar I saw a giant of a man glaring at me with his hand beneath the bar, likely caressing the club Saleem had used earlier to subdue the troublemaker.
Saleem whispered something into his ear and his expression changed to curiosity as he returned to serving those at the bar. I headed in that direction, hoping to avoid any potential misunderstandings with the regulars by demonstrating Saleem’s acceptance of my presence… or at least tolerance of it.
The human barkeep grinned at me and said, “What would you like? We have several different beers, and I may even have a bottle of wine or mead somewhere back here if you’re really looking to lighten your purse.”
“A beer sounds wonderful,” I replied. “Something dark and rich?”
The man tapped the bar and said, “I have just the thing,” and then headed towards a stack of kegs along the back wall.
I turned to Saleem and said, “Your regulars don’t seem to appreciate my company, which I can completely understand. I’ll make sure to keep to myself to avoid causing you any more trouble.”
The human barkeep brought me back a tankard full of a deep dark beer. I took the tankard in one hand, my spear in the other and headed towards an unoccupied table in the back of the common room.
I walked carefully so as not to accidentally bump into anyone and give them an excuse to start shit when something collided with my hip, causing me to stumble a step to the side and bump into one of the patrons. I cursed as my beer sloshed over my mug, luckily not spilling onto anyone.
*** Dexterity check unsuccessful! ***
I glanced down at my leg and saw the innkeeper’s daughter looking up at me, her emerald eyes wide open and her prior fearful demeanor completely replaced by the exuberance of youth.
I started to chuckle when the man I had bumped into jumped to his feet and turned to face me, the grin on his face telling me he was quite happy I had given him an excuse to vent his frustrations with my presence.
I dropped my spear and raised my hands as I stepped away, the innkeeper’s daughter detaching from my leg.
“Damned Saa,” the regular spat, “Thinkin’ ye can come in here and do whatever ye please eh! Well I’ll show you what we do to your kind at the Serpent!”
Raising his fists before him in a brawlers stance, he started to walk towards me and then abruptly let out a yelp and hopped onto one foot, looking down at the small djinden child who had just kicked him as hard as she could in the shin.
“Jeila?” the man stuttered,“What are you doing?”
The little girl was looking at him as if he had taken a crap in her iced cream. Hands on her hips she glared at the man and yelled at him, “Don’t you dare, Mooney! Don’t you dare hit Kheph! Kheph is my friend and if you try and hurt him, I’ll kick you until your leg falls off!”
The little girl was standing between me and his Mooney fellow, ready to throw down.
I looked back and forth between the man’s face and the little girl and I couldn’t help myself, I started cracking up. This little spitfire had probably just saved me so much trouble.
With the seriousness that only a small child can muster, she looked at me and said, “Are you okay, Kheph?”
I got my laughter under control and smiled at the little girl, “Yes Jeila, I am fine. Thank you for coming to my rescue. I am sure that Mr. Mooney here has learned his lesson, yes?”
I picked up my spear and left Mooney rubbing his bruised shin, heading to the table I had spotted earlier. Jeila walked with me, telling me all about how she was going to be a mighty warrior when she grew up and drive the Njord raiders back into the sea. I smiled and nodded as I scanned the common room, catching glances from the normal patrons and spotting Mooney speaking with Saleem at the bar.
Shortly thereafter Mareej called for Jeila from the kitchen and the child ran off to her mother. A few minutes later Saleem arrived at my table with lunch. I had no clue what it was, but it smelled delicious.
Cubed meat of some sort served over rice with flatbread. I scooped up some of the rice and a cube of beef and took a bite. Oh gods, that was something else. The food in this game was amazing.
I paid Saleem for the meal and asked him to share my praise with the cook as I devoured it with a gusto.
*** You are well fed! Constitution +1, Duration: 12 hours. ***
I had no idea how long I had been in the game so far, so I brought up the system clock and saw that it was just under sixteen hours. Between character creation, the tutorial, and my short adventure in the inn I had burned through most of my time, but I had eight more hours guaranteed by my contract for launch day and I was determined to make the most of it.
…
Chapter 6
I finished my meal and headed out into the city. The hottest part of the day was behind me at this point and the town was beginning to come alive again.
Pulling up my map, I made a note of the location of the Stone Serpent so I could find my way back later and then headed in the direction of the caravansary.
The streets gradually began to fill up with people going about their business. Eventually the roads became wider and more well-maintained, and the buildings started to look more permanent. Open air tables and carts were replaced by wooden stalls and even constructed storefronts.
All sorts of merchants hawked their wares, sometime shouting insults across the road to their competition. I searched the visible storefronts for a general goods merchant but didn’t see anything that fit the bill, most of the shops being very specialized.
Up ahead I spotted a sign with a picture of a red vial and headed that way, hoping it was an alchemist or potion maker or whatever the equivalent was in this game.
I ducked into the shop and saw I was in luck. The shelves were full of vials of all types and behind a small counter sat a Karillian woman, grinding away with a mortar and pestle.
She looked up as I entered the shop and placed her tools to the side, careful not to spill any of the ground herbs. She gave me a welcoming smile and said, “How may I help you traveler? Alchemical supplies? Potions? Divination?”
I glanced around, a bit overwhelmed by the selection. “What types of potions do you have?”
She reached under the counter and brought out a small chest, bending close to the latch and whispering something that I couldn’t make out before opening the lid.
She produced a small tray with dozens of small compartments from the box, each holding a small vial about the size of one of those liquor bottles the airlines sold during flights.
The shopkeeper gestured to the different rows of potions in turn and said, “We of course carry the standard potions of healing, rejuvenation, and adrenaline, as well as curatives for poisons of various potency. I also have access to recipes to make enhancement potions as well. Grow strong enough to lift large objects, be quick enough to evade arrows, and even one designed to help in with a man’s …. Stamina.”
A
s she named each type of potion a slight glow appeared around the vials within the felt case. Red potions for healing, blue “rejuvenation” potions for mana, and green “adrenaline” potions for stamina.
The curative potions were various shades of brown and yellow, depending on how strong an antidote they were. I didn’t see any of the enhancement potions in the main tray, but spotted some small blue vials still sitting in the chest that likely provided the “stamina” she spoke of. Some developer at Kabishiyama had a sense of humor.
“How much for healing, rejuvenation, and antidotes?” I asked, doing my best to make a good first impression.
*** Presence check successful! ***
*** Game Mechanics Note: Interaction with shopkeepers is influenced by both your reputation with the shopkeeper’s faction and your presence attribute. The better impression you make, the better prices you might be able to get. ***
With a return smile, she took out several potions and responded “I carry two varieties of each. Minor healing and rejuvenation potions are eight silver pieces. The moderate versions are fourteen silver. Antidotes come in three tiers: lesser, minor, and moderate, and are priced three silver, seven silver, and thirteen silver. Enhancement potions are specific to the effect, and dependent on my current stock”
I analyzed the potions in the case, trying to get a better idea of what they each did:
***
Minor Healing Potion (Common) – Heals the imbiber for a small amount of health and improves in-combat and out-of-combat health regeneration by 1% for 5 minutes.
Moderate Healing Potion (Common) – Heals the imbiber for a moderate amount of health and improves in-combat and out-of-combat health regeneration by 2% for 5 minutes.
Crimson Sands Page 10