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{
"title": "A Second Life by Creepaz",
"id": 23,
"author": "Creepaz",
"rating": 0
} | {
"title": "A Second Life - Chapter 1",
"id": 110,
"next": null,
"prev": 109,
"prev_info": "",
"next_info": null
} | <div class="chapter-inner chapter-content">
Chapter 1: Another life<br><br>As soon as I woke up, I hurried to check my auction, to see if it had reached its required amount. When I saw it a smile had crept up my face, while not as high as Weed’s, the price was still more than enough for the equipment for Royal Road.<br>“this must be the best day of my life” I yelled in delight, hurriedly I withdrew the money from the bank, and ordered Royal Road, it would take approximately 3 weeks for the equipment to arrive, so I decided to do get some real life experience with some martial arts, as I thought combat would be easier if I already knew some techniques, so for 1 week I did some taekwondo, 1 week of fencing, and the final week I used on learning to smith.<br>Finally the day came, when some guys came with Royal Road, I couldn’t hide my excitement as I literally jumped with joy, the delivery guys must’ve thought I was crazy, but I didn’t care, I’ve waited for this for a long time now, and no one is allowed to ruin my excitement or joy for that matter.<br>As soon as it was set up, I gave the delivery men a bonus, and jumped into the pod. It took a while for the magical words to appear.<br><br><br><br>Would you like to connect to Royal Road?<br>Yes/No<br><br>As if there ever were any doubts, I shouted “YES” at the top of my lungs and everything went dark.<br>“Hello” said a mechanical female voice, “I see this is the first time you’ve logged in. Let’s proceed with the character creation”<br>“First, what is your name?”<br>“Dante”<br>“Which race do you want to play as?”<br>My innermost desire would be to play as an elf, but then I would be secluded from the majority of the players that chose human, so I went with that “Human”<br>“Any changes to your appearance?”<br>“None”<br>“Which kingdom would you like to start in?”<br>“Doesn’t matter”<br>“Your character is now complete, have fun in Royal Road”<br>Right when she finished saying that, I woke up in the middle of the town square. Since this was the first time I had ever played a VRMMORPG, I felt a little uncomfortable, so I started running and jumping on the spot to test out this new body. After a while I got a little more comfortable, so I started exploring the town, but since I didn’t exactly know where I was, I asked a NPC guard<br>“Excuse me, but do you know where I am”<br>“Of course I do, you are in Rosenheim city”<br>“Thanks a lot”<br>All of a sudden I had this urge to hit something, but I couldn’t go out the city before 4 weeks have passed, so I asked the guard where I could hit something.<br>“The training center, would be a good place to start”<br>Alright, let’s go to the training center<br>“Sorry to bother you again, but where is the training center”<br>“Right down this road to the right, after that at the second intersection turn left, when you reach a tavern turn right down an alley behind it, and it should be in sight”<br>“Ok, thanks again”<br>“Hmm, that was some directions, don’t think I remember them all, it was right, left, and right down an alley behind the tavern and it should be there, but I don’t see it anywhere, all I see is some slums, did I take a wrong turn somewhere”*bump*<br>“Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought”<br>“No, no, it was my mistake” he said before walking away<br>“Well, that was weird”<br>“Hey mister, you should really chase that guy from before” said a little kid<br>“Why?”<br>“Well obviously because he stole your wallet” answered some middle-aged guy<br>“He WHAT, oh, he is so dead, quick kid tell me which way he went, I’m gonna kill that bastard”<br>“He went that way, he was walking slowly so you might be able to catch him if you run” answered the kid and pointed east.<br>“Alright, he won’t get away from me, thanks kid” I said as I rushed after the bastard<br>“Come back here, you son of a *****” I yelled after the guy was in sight<br>As if my yell was a signal the perpetrator ran at top speed while yelling “Hehe, Catch me if you can, but I warn you, I run 100m in 10 seconds flat”<br>“That’s obviously a lie you bastard, if you are still in my sight, and the distance haven’t lengthened, but shortened instead, you run slower than me, which only makes this a matter of time before I catch you”<br>“Ugh, this bastard” said the culprit under his breath,<br>After a couple of minutes of running, I caught the bastard.<br>“Now, you can hand over my stuff, or you’ll be beaten to death”<br>“Fine, here’s your stuff back, you only have 10 loaves of bread, and a canteen anyway”<br>“Thank you kindly, now get out of my sight, before I mess your face up”<br>Obviously frightened the man ran like the devil was after him.<br>“Yeah, you better run, and don’t let me catch you again”<br>Suddenly I heard a loud sound, and all went black.<br>“Ugh, where am I, it’s all dark and damp, like some kind of dungeon” I was in a dark and empty room, with only a single ray of moonlight coming out of a window blocked with metal bars, a sudden pain from the back of my head, showed that someone had hit me, and then brought me somewhere I don’t know.<br>“So you’re finally awake, eh”<br>“Who’s there?” I yelled out in surprise. An old man’s voice came from the corner of the room, and he approached the moonlight, so I could see his face, contrary to his voice, he was a young man, with a face so handsome that you would like to kill him, so you have one less love rival in the world.<br>“Allow me to introduce myself; I’m just a lowly player who got locked up in here due to a misunderstanding, my name is Virgil, and as you thought this is a dungeon, the royal dungeons to be exact, you probably committed a crime and were caught by the patrols”<br>“But I didn’t commit any crimes, I chased a guy who stole my stuff, and I took it back from him”<br>“Wait, this guy, was he around 176cm tall, had short brown hair, and a dirty face”<br>“Yes, how did you know?”<br>“Because he also stole my stuff”<br>“Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight we are both locked up for taking back our items from this guy that stole it from us”<br>“Seems like it”<br>“That’s ridiculous”<br>“Yes it is”<br>“Ugh, this is not how I imagined my new life in RR at all.”
</div> | Chapter 1: Another life
As soon as I woke up, I hurried to check my auction, to see if it had reached its required amount. When I saw it a smile had crept up my face, while not as high as Weed’s, the price was still more than enough for the equipment for Royal Road.
“this must be the best day of my life” I yelled in delight, hurriedly I withdrew the money from the bank, and ordered Royal Road, it would take approximately 3 weeks for the equipment to arrive, so I decided to do get some real life experience with some martial arts, as I thought combat would be easier if I already knew some techniques, so for 1 week I did some taekwondo, 1 week of fencing, and the final week I used on learning to smith.
Finally the day came, when some guys came with Royal Road, I couldn’t hide my excitement as I literally jumped with joy, the delivery guys must’ve thought I was crazy, but I didn’t care, I’ve waited for this for a long time now, and no one is allowed to ruin my excitement or joy for that matter.
As soon as it was set up, I gave the delivery men a bonus, and jumped into the pod. It took a while for the magical words to appear.
Would you like to connect to Royal Road?
Yes/No
As if there ever were any doubts, I shouted “YES” at the top of my lungs and everything went dark.
“Hello” said a mechanical female voice, “I see this is the first time you’ve logged in. Let’s proceed with the character creation”
“First, what is your name?”
“Dante”
“Which race do you want to play as?”
My innermost desire would be to play as an elf, but then I would be secluded from the majority of the players that chose human, so I went with that “Human”
“Any changes to your appearance?”
“None”
“Which kingdom would you like to start in?”
“Doesn’t matter”
“Your character is now complete, have fun in Royal Road”
Right when she finished saying that, I woke up in the middle of the town square. Since this was the first time I had ever played a VRMMORPG, I felt a little uncomfortable, so I started running and jumping on the spot to test out this new body. After a while I got a little more comfortable, so I started exploring the town, but since I didn’t exactly know where I was, I asked a NPC guard
“Excuse me, but do you know where I am”
“Of course I do, you are in Rosenheim city”
“Thanks a lot”
All of a sudden I had this urge to hit something, but I couldn’t go out the city before 4 weeks have passed, so I asked the guard where I could hit something.
“The training center, would be a good place to start”
Alright, let’s go to the training center
“Sorry to bother you again, but where is the training center”
“Right down this road to the right, after that at the second intersection turn left, when you reach a tavern turn right down an alley behind it, and it should be in sight”
“Ok, thanks again”
“Hmm, that was some directions, don’t think I remember them all, it was right, left, and right down an alley behind the tavern and it should be there, but I don’t see it anywhere, all I see is some slums, did I take a wrong turn somewhere”*bump*
“Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought”
“No, no, it was my mistake” he said before walking away
“Well, that was weird”
“Hey mister, you should really chase that guy from before” said a little kid
“Why?”
“Well obviously because he stole your wallet” answered some middle-aged guy
“He WHAT, oh, he is so dead, quick kid tell me which way he went, I’m gonna kill that bastard”
“He went that way, he was walking slowly so you might be able to catch him if you run” answered the kid and pointed east.
“Alright, he won’t get away from me, thanks kid” I said as I rushed after the bastard
“Come back here, you son of a *****” I yelled after the guy was in sight
As if my yell was a signal the perpetrator ran at top speed while yelling “Hehe, Catch me if you can, but I warn you, I run 100m in 10 seconds flat”
“That’s obviously a lie you bastard, if you are still in my sight, and the distance haven’t lengthened, but shortened instead, you run slower than me, which only makes this a matter of time before I catch you”
“Ugh, this bastard” said the culprit under his breath,
After a couple of minutes of running, I caught the bastard.
“Now, you can hand over my stuff, or you’ll be beaten to death”
“Fine, here’s your stuff back, you only have 10 loaves of bread, and a canteen anyway”
“Thank you kindly, now get out of my sight, before I mess your face up”
Obviously frightened the man ran like the devil was after him.
“Yeah, you better run, and don’t let me catch you again”
Suddenly I heard a loud sound, and all went black.
“Ugh, where am I, it’s all dark and damp, like some kind of dungeon” I was in a dark and empty room, with only a single ray of moonlight coming out of a window blocked with metal bars, a sudden pain from the back of my head, showed that someone had hit me, and then brought me somewhere I don’t know.
“So you’re finally awake, eh”
“Who’s there?” I yelled out in surprise. An old man’s voice came from the corner of the room, and he approached the moonlight, so I could see his face, contrary to his voice, he was a young man, with a face so handsome that you would like to kill him, so you have one less love rival in the world.
“Allow me to introduce myself; I’m just a lowly player who got locked up in here due to a misunderstanding, my name is Virgil, and as you thought this is a dungeon, the royal dungeons to be exact, you probably committed a crime and were caught by the patrols”
“But I didn’t commit any crimes, I chased a guy who stole my stuff, and I took it back from him”
“Wait, this guy, was he around 176cm tall, had short brown hair, and a dirty face”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Because he also stole my stuff”
“Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight we are both locked up for taking back our items from this guy that stole it from us”
“Seems like it”
“That’s ridiculous”
“Yes it is”
“Ugh, this is not how I imagined my new life in RR at all.” |
{
"title": "Spearheading the Path to Glory",
"id": 65,
"author": "VIM1INC",
"rating": 4.2
} | {
"title": "Table of Contents, Progress Journals, Criticisms.",
"id": 209,
"next": 216,
"prev": 205,
"prev_info": "",
"next_info": ""
} | <div class="chapter-inner chapter-content">
Update Schedule and Table of Contents:<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=215" target="_blank">A0 Prologue</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=229" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 1</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=227" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 2</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=232" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 3</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=244" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 4</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=261" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 5</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=297" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 6</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=298" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 7</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=299" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 8</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=321" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 9</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=332" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 10</a>: Done!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=340" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 11</a>: Done!!!<br>A0 Chapter 12: <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=356" target="_blank">Part 1</a> Done!!! <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=375" target="_blank">Part 2</a>: Done!!! <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=378" target="_blank">Part 3</a>: Done!!!<br>A0 Chapter 13: <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=391" target="_blank">Part 1</a> Done!!! <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=413" target="_blank">Part 2</a> Done!!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=451" target="_blank">A0 Chapter 14</a>: Done!!!<br>A0 Chapter 15: <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=508" target="_blank">Part 1</a> Done!!! <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=553" target="_blank">Part 2</a> Done!!!<br><a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=664" target="_blank">Inter-Arc Chapter 1</a>: Done!!!<br>A1 Chapter 01: Done!!! <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=717" target="_blank">Part 1</a>/<a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=718" target="_blank">Part 2</a>/<a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=719" target="_blank">Part 3</a><br>A1 Chapter 02: <a href="http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=782" target="_blank">Part 1</a>: Done!! Part 2: 40%.<br><br>*!!: Done, but not proofread yet.<br>!!!: Done and proofread.<br><br>Planned Updates:<br>A1 Chapter 3: 1st Draft Planned<br>A1 Chapter 4: 1st Draft PlannedA1 Chapter 5: 1st Draft Planned<br>A1 Chapter 6: To be done<br>A1 Chapter 7: To be done<br>A1 Chapter 8: To be done<br>Planned deadline for Arc to be completed: 31/12/2013 (About 1 month after I finish exams. Currently on Hiatus). Possibly a bad idea.<br><br>Drafted Update Plans (hopefully):<br>A2: To follow Nanowrimo format. 50k words in 5 chapters in 1 month. Aims to write approximately 1,667 words a day.<br>A3: To follow Nanowrimo format. 50k words in 5 chapters in 1 month. Aims to write approximately 1,667 words a day.<br>To be done over January-February, latest March 2014.<br>A4-6: The Main Arc begins? To be spanned over 3 Arcs. Hopefully finished by then. No set deadline as of yet.<br><br>Other updates:<br><span style="font-weight: bold;">11/05/13</span>: Really, feel free to leave any constructive comments or opinions regarding what I have written. I need criticism to improve the quality of my work. I can do all the editing in the world and I will still miss out something important. There are several aspects that self-reflection will miss that an opinion by an external party can cover. I will do my best to take it in if it makes sense and if it is not blatant flaming.<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">28/05/13</span>: I wondered if I had overextended when I started writing the fan fiction in at least 4.5k words per chapter. While it still easily takes me 3 days to write and edit a chapter, I find myself writing larger word counts (Chapter 10 was nearly 7k!!) each time. Perhaps it's something to consider when I'm slowly writing out the revamp; to divide portions into more easily read content. <br><br>Also, it would be perhaps a bit easier on me if I'm not writing a thesis each time I write out a chapter, so I can easily release more content within a short period of time, and I'll have time to actually do something else (Studying for important end-year exams; perform my current job properly; brainstorm ideas; and my good friend RandomLeech would have a easier time editing my work.). I'll give it a shot.<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">02/06/13</span>: About 3 more chapters before I can call it a volume!! I think I can afford to cut down the number of chapters per volume, but I digress. What do you think? Should my chapters have smaller word counts from here? Or should I keep doing what I have been doing?<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">23/07/13:</span> Hiatus occurring in earnest. I'm still working on chapters, but I'm feeling really exhausted lately. Also, I'll include a page of contents here for easier reading. (Next/Previous Chapter links per chapter might be included, but I'm pretty lazy). And it's not easy to that kind of formatting with just my blasted mobile =3=<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">31/07/13:</span> Exam preparations have finally reached the last 3 months. This is where I shall disappear, for a period of time. See you after 27/11/2013!!
</div> | Update Schedule and Table of Contents:
[A0 Prologue](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=215): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 1](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=229): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 2](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=227): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 3](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=232): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 4](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=244): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 5](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=261): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 6](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=297): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 7](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=298): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 8](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=299): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 9](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=321): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 10](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=332): Done!!
[A0 Chapter 11](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=340): Done!!!
A0 Chapter 12: [Part 1](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=356) Done!!! [Part 2](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=375): Done!!! [Part 3](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=378): Done!!!
A0 Chapter 13: [Part 1](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=391) Done!!! [Part 2](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=413) Done!!!
[A0 Chapter 14](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=451): Done!!!
A0 Chapter 15: [Part 1](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=508) Done!!! [Part 2](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=553) Done!!!
[Inter-Arc Chapter 1](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=664): Done!!!
A1 Chapter 01: Done!!! [Part 1](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=717)/[Part 2](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=718)/[Part 3](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=719)
A1 Chapter 02: [Part 1](http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=782): Done!! Part 2: 40%.
*!!: Done, but not proofread yet.
!!!: Done and proofread.
Planned Updates:
A1 Chapter 3: 1st Draft Planned
A1 Chapter 4: 1st Draft PlannedA1 Chapter 5: 1st Draft Planned
A1 Chapter 6: To be done
A1 Chapter 7: To be done
A1 Chapter 8: To be done
Planned deadline for Arc to be completed: 31/12/2013 (About 1 month after I finish exams. Currently on Hiatus). Possibly a bad idea.
Drafted Update Plans (hopefully):
A2: To follow Nanowrimo format. 50k words in 5 chapters in 1 month. Aims to write approximately 1,667 words a day.
A3: To follow Nanowrimo format. 50k words in 5 chapters in 1 month. Aims to write approximately 1,667 words a day.
To be done over January-February, latest March 2014.
A4-6: The Main Arc begins? To be spanned over 3 Arcs. Hopefully finished by then. No set deadline as of yet.
Other updates:
11/05/13: Really, feel free to leave any constructive comments or opinions regarding what I have written. I need criticism to improve the quality of my work. I can do all the editing in the world and I will still miss out something important. There are several aspects that self-reflection will miss that an opinion by an external party can cover. I will do my best to take it in if it makes sense and if it is not blatant flaming.
28/05/13: I wondered if I had overextended when I started writing the fan fiction in at least 4.5k words per chapter. While it still easily takes me 3 days to write and edit a chapter, I find myself writing larger word counts (Chapter 10 was nearly 7k!!) each time. Perhaps it's something to consider when I'm slowly writing out the revamp; to divide portions into more easily read content.
Also, it would be perhaps a bit easier on me if I'm not writing a thesis each time I write out a chapter, so I can easily release more content within a short period of time, and I'll have time to actually do something else (Studying for important end-year exams; perform my current job properly; brainstorm ideas; and my good friend RandomLeech would have a easier time editing my work.). I'll give it a shot.
02/06/13: About 3 more chapters before I can call it a volume!! I think I can afford to cut down the number of chapters per volume, but I digress. What do you think? Should my chapters have smaller word counts from here? Or should I keep doing what I have been doing?
23/07/13: Hiatus occurring in earnest. I'm still working on chapters, but I'm feeling really exhausted lately. Also, I'll include a page of contents here for easier reading. (Next/Previous Chapter links per chapter might be included, but I'm pretty lazy). And it's not easy to that kind of formatting with just my blasted mobile =3=
31/07/13: Exam preparations have finally reached the last 3 months. This is where I shall disappear, for a period of time. See you after 27/11/2013!! |
{
"title": "Just Another Story",
"id": 63,
"author": "napatapon",
"rating": 0
} | {
"title": "Chapter 1 - All You Need to do is Take a Step",
"id": 217,
"next": 219,
"prev": 197,
"prev_info": "",
"next_info": ""
} | <div class="chapter-inner chapter-content">
--<br>“Should we enter?”<br>“Yah, we came all the way from school to see him and to know why his going to quit. “<br>“Uhmnn guys”<br>“What?” answered Terrence and Apple not looking in front they bumped to a man which seems to be standing in a line of people going to a room.<br>“Look at where your going kids”.<br>“Sorry mister.”<br>“What’s with this line, this is not a convenient store you know it’s a hospital.”<br>“It’s a place where sick people go to get cured” added Terrence as he was about to take a step but was stopped by a hand.<br>“Young man, correct me if im wrong but you and your friends are going to room 319 right?” asked a lady.<br>“Yes ma’am, hmnn how come you know?” <br>“Look around kids there is only one room left going to this direction.”<br>“So no butting in the line” a smiling nurse said.<br>“Theres a lot of you guys again today, Dawn’s one famous kid isn’t he, well I would date him if his 9 years older” chuckled the nurse as she laughed going to the door.<br>*knock**knock*<br>“Come in.” <br>“Hello Dawn you have a lot of guests again, just going to check if your okey. How are you feeling?” <br>“Im fine nurse” smiling Dawn looked at the line outside as his eyes gazed in front then at the back he saw 3 familiar faces that made his face brighter.<br><br>After 30 minutes of waiting<I hate waiting it’s the hardest thing to do in this world haha> they finally had their turn to see him.<br><br>“What the! ” <br><br>What they saw in the room surprised the 3 this is like being in an anime they thought. Whats with the flowers and the balloons its like a garden here with chocolates all over. Its like a dream Terrence thought as his gaze fixed on porn magazines left by some dude wrapped in a ribbon and placed beneath the bed. He sensed a sharp eye from behind he felt like he was facing death well not actually facing cause its from behind but he felt like he was being pricked by pins from behind, trembling he spoke gently “Reflex Tamarrr! ” too late he though he only saw a fist getting near his face causing him to fall down.<br><br>“Hahaha you guys never change I missed you guys.” in his mind he knew that somewhat the reason they came was not only to say hi.<br><br>After a few minutes of question and answer Apple couldn’t wait any longer she wanted to ask why he will quit school but in her mind a thought keeps popping up –Should I ask or not- she thought it will not be the appropriate time cause its just been a few weeks an all but all the questions that pops up in her head she always finds an answer to it.<br><br>She paused and then she decided to say it. “Dawn..”<br><br>“My eyes are failing me guys” Dawn said that it made the three silent. He continued and asked them to listen.<br><br>“Im experiencing temporary blindness the doctor said its because of the damage my eyes had, you see my retina’s been damage cause of the accident and that as time passes by I will be permanently blind.”<br><br>“I don’t know how many days or weeks or months or it maybe be even after a year but my eye sight will keep getting worse until all I can see is black.” It made sense Apple thought, Dawn is always like that never wanting to be a burden to others, its just like him the three thought. With mixed emotions they knew and understood that something’s going to change.<br><br>“That’s why im quitting, im gonna transfer to a school where I’ll be trained for a life with no eyesight.”<br><br>His heart pounded, he didn’t know how his friends will react but he made his mind his gonna do this and he will do it right so he decided to transfer and to be ready when the time comes. The silence even worsen his anxiety in his mind he wants them to say something.<br><br>“Don’t be stupid were always here for you dude” says Terrence trying to be cool.<br><br>“I thought of hitting you Dawn because you didn’t tell us and we had to know of it at school that your going to transfer, but still we thought it would be something much worse. with operation you can see again right?” asked the petite Tamara.<br><br>“Yah don’t fool yourself if you think you can get rid of us STUPID! We’re siblings from different parents!” added Terrence. As he reached his hands clinched to Dawn just like old times.<br><br>“I see that’s good” *sigh* Apple’s smile was a sign of relief they knew she’s back to normal.<br><br>“I will be in your hands guys.” Dawn knew his friends will be there he always knew for their bonds were as tight as real brothers and sisters.<br><br>--------------------------------<br>As the days continue to pass by the minutes Dawn experiencing blindness seems to become longer and longer this made him realize that He must be not weak of heart, this is a world where you need to work hard to live and feeling helpless wont do you any good. As he was lying in the couch he held his right hand up making a fist he thought that he must be ready for whatever comes in the future.<br><br>“Dawn I know what you’re thinking but you need to rest it’s only been a few weeks since your accident” a woman wearing an apron said to Dawn as she was fixing the table. A sweet aroma enveloped the room that It made Dawn hungry. That’s what He liked about her mother even though she usually shouts and all but deep down she is gentle and he knows she loves her family.<br><br>“By the way son, you have your usual love letter and with cookies too and written here TO MY HEROO spelled with two “O’s” haha It’s from the lovely Katyln” it made her laugh as she went to give it to her son.<br>“Mom, Come on…”blushed the young man as he held out the piece of paper and read it a loud. “My Hero” he repeated the words in his mind, it gave him peace and he felt a little braver. <br><br>He stood up took his jacket and some bread and went to put on his shoes.<br><br>”Ma, I’m going to the elderly home for a bit I’m taking some of your flowers okay?” he shouted as he reached for the scissors in the shelf.<br><br>“Remember to sit for a moment when you are tired and call at once if your blindness sets in. Do you want me to call your friends so that they can accompany you?” the worried mother said to her son.<br><br>“Come on Ma, ill just be gone for a couple of minutes an hour or two.”<br><br>“Say Hi to Granny for me okay” yelled her mother as her son closed the door.<br><br>As he was walking people greeted him young and old, male or female saying good job, some pats him on the back, some women even saying they will let him marry their daughter and this made Dawn even more shy. People around the area know of him not because of him saving a child but because of how hard working he is, he is known as the “Odd Jobs Specialist” from helping someone or looking for someone, getting a cat stuck on a tree you name it he will do it and what the people liked about him is that whoever asks for help he does it without complain whoever the client is a kid or an adult he does it whole heartedly.<br><br>Dawn reminiscing the past on how he got to working this odd jobs of his.<br><br>One summer when he was young he got lost looking for Apples slippers that got swept in the river as they were playing near it, Apple cried and cried that it irritated Terrence causing him to yell at her causing Tamara to punch him in the stomach the first time<that’s how Terrence became a punching bag so to speak haha> thus Dawn followed the river as it goes down the forest. <br><br>It was already noon when Dawn noticed that his already lost but being the brainy one of the four he thought to just follow the river cause it may lead him to a bridge or by the highway but instead he saw a viewing shed with an old woman playing flute. He was very silent he acted like a ninja from the anime’s he watch in the t.v.<br><br>The music stopped causing him to start feeling nervous thinking his in trouble.<br><br>“Young man, are you lost?” a motherly voice called out to him. He was shocked because he thought he was silent enough as he listened to the soothing tune the flute made. <br>“Now come nearer and sit by my side, don’t be afraid I wont hurt you” smiled the motherly woman. <br>“Want some tea?” she offered “I also have some snacks but don’t tell my daughter you ate them cause its hers” she said with a warm smile.<br><br>Something bothered Dawn, he knew the old lady isn’t looking at his direction but how could she tell that he is there. <br>“Are you going to let a beautiful woman as myself to do the first move?” she broke into a laugh “Come now you must be hungry with the panting of your voice and the sounds your sweat make as they hit the ground, I can tell that youre tired. Come have a snack with this old granny” she added.<br><br>“Are you blind?” answered the young boy as he came nearer to the old woman he was cautious thinking the old lady might be a monster like from the stories he heard from his friends. He thought how un respectful he was as he never meant those words to come out of his mouth. Judging by what he saw he thought there is a possibility but he didn’t intend to say it out loud.<br><br>“You’re the first one who met me first time say that.” The woman said”Your correct what you say is true” she smiled facing Dawn.<br><br>“Wow!” He shouted “Its like in the movies, Are you a ninja or a psychic perhaps?” running hastily and sitting near the old lady. <br><br>“What a curious young lad you are” she said with a smile.<br><br>“Oh I forgot where my manners.” He said in a low tone, standing up he dusted his clothes and bowed lower “I am Dawn Roxas my lady?” remembering how the old people use to do it as he recalled in some movies he saw he did it also.<br><br>“My what a gentleman” <br><br>“My name is Natasha Laicell” reaching out her hand to shake Dawns “You can also call me Granny.”<br><br>They talked like long time friends that didn’t see each other for a couple of years until Granny’s daughter came to pick them up. The day ended with him not saving the day because Terrence found the slippers but instead he gained a friend ^^<br><br>There meeting wasn’t just a coincidence but it was faith. <br>This was the start of a friendship that changed how Dawn looks at things in life.<br><br>````````<br>Sorry for the late update but still many things I needed to do been busy with work and all so I couldn’t find the time to write and It took me three rewrites to finish this chapter sup and lets do this haha<br>Its kinda hard for some aspects and im getting ready for the game arc now gonna finish up with things first laters..<br>As I said in the previous chapter please be nice sorry for the grammars and all but I hope you can still understand it though haha
</div> | --
“Should we enter?”
“Yah, we came all the way from school to see him and to know why his going to quit. “
“Uhmnn guys”
“What?” answered Terrence and Apple not looking in front they bumped to a man which seems to be standing in a line of people going to a room.
“Look at where your going kids”.
“Sorry mister.”
“What’s with this line, this is not a convenient store you know it’s a hospital.”
“It’s a place where sick people go to get cured” added Terrence as he was about to take a step but was stopped by a hand.
“Young man, correct me if im wrong but you and your friends are going to room 319 right?” asked a lady.
“Yes ma’am, hmnn how come you know?”
“Look around kids there is only one room left going to this direction.”
“So no butting in the line” a smiling nurse said.
“Theres a lot of you guys again today, Dawn’s one famous kid isn’t he, well I would date him if his 9 years older” chuckled the nurse as she laughed going to the door.
*knock**knock*
“Come in.”
“Hello Dawn you have a lot of guests again, just going to check if your okey. How are you feeling?”
“Im fine nurse” smiling Dawn looked at the line outside as his eyes gazed in front then at the back he saw 3 familiar faces that made his face brighter.
After 30 minutes of waiting<I hate waiting it’s the hardest thing to do in this world haha> they finally had their turn to see him.
“What the! ”
What they saw in the room surprised the 3 this is like being in an anime they thought. Whats with the flowers and the balloons its like a garden here with chocolates all over. Its like a dream Terrence thought as his gaze fixed on porn magazines left by some dude wrapped in a ribbon and placed beneath the bed. He sensed a sharp eye from behind he felt like he was facing death well not actually facing cause its from behind but he felt like he was being pricked by pins from behind, trembling he spoke gently “Reflex Tamarrr! ” too late he though he only saw a fist getting near his face causing him to fall down.
“Hahaha you guys never change I missed you guys.” in his mind he knew that somewhat the reason they came was not only to say hi.
After a few minutes of question and answer Apple couldn’t wait any longer she wanted to ask why he will quit school but in her mind a thought keeps popping up –Should I ask or not- she thought it will not be the appropriate time cause its just been a few weeks an all but all the questions that pops up in her head she always finds an answer to it.
She paused and then she decided to say it. “Dawn..”
“My eyes are failing me guys” Dawn said that it made the three silent. He continued and asked them to listen.
“Im experiencing temporary blindness the doctor said its because of the damage my eyes had, you see my retina’s been damage cause of the accident and that as time passes by I will be permanently blind.”
“I don’t know how many days or weeks or months or it maybe be even after a year but my eye sight will keep getting worse until all I can see is black.” It made sense Apple thought, Dawn is always like that never wanting to be a burden to others, its just like him the three thought. With mixed emotions they knew and understood that something’s going to change.
“That’s why im quitting, im gonna transfer to a school where I’ll be trained for a life with no eyesight.”
His heart pounded, he didn’t know how his friends will react but he made his mind his gonna do this and he will do it right so he decided to transfer and to be ready when the time comes. The silence even worsen his anxiety in his mind he wants them to say something.
“Don’t be stupid were always here for you dude” says Terrence trying to be cool.
“I thought of hitting you Dawn because you didn’t tell us and we had to know of it at school that your going to transfer, but still we thought it would be something much worse. with operation you can see again right?” asked the petite Tamara.
“Yah don’t fool yourself if you think you can get rid of us STUPID! We’re siblings from different parents!” added Terrence. As he reached his hands clinched to Dawn just like old times.
“I see that’s good” *sigh* Apple’s smile was a sign of relief they knew she’s back to normal.
“I will be in your hands guys.” Dawn knew his friends will be there he always knew for their bonds were as tight as real brothers and sisters.
--------------------------------
As the days continue to pass by the minutes Dawn experiencing blindness seems to become longer and longer this made him realize that He must be not weak of heart, this is a world where you need to work hard to live and feeling helpless wont do you any good. As he was lying in the couch he held his right hand up making a fist he thought that he must be ready for whatever comes in the future.
“Dawn I know what you’re thinking but you need to rest it’s only been a few weeks since your accident” a woman wearing an apron said to Dawn as she was fixing the table. A sweet aroma enveloped the room that It made Dawn hungry. That’s what He liked about her mother even though she usually shouts and all but deep down she is gentle and he knows she loves her family.
“By the way son, you have your usual love letter and with cookies too and written here TO MY HEROO spelled with two “O’s” haha It’s from the lovely Katyln” it made her laugh as she went to give it to her son.
“Mom, Come on…”blushed the young man as he held out the piece of paper and read it a loud. “My Hero” he repeated the words in his mind, it gave him peace and he felt a little braver.
He stood up took his jacket and some bread and went to put on his shoes.
”Ma, I’m going to the elderly home for a bit I’m taking some of your flowers okay?” he shouted as he reached for the scissors in the shelf.
“Remember to sit for a moment when you are tired and call at once if your blindness sets in. Do you want me to call your friends so that they can accompany you?” the worried mother said to her son.
“Come on Ma, ill just be gone for a couple of minutes an hour or two.”
“Say Hi to Granny for me okay” yelled her mother as her son closed the door.
As he was walking people greeted him young and old, male or female saying good job, some pats him on the back, some women even saying they will let him marry their daughter and this made Dawn even more shy. People around the area know of him not because of him saving a child but because of how hard working he is, he is known as the “Odd Jobs Specialist” from helping someone or looking for someone, getting a cat stuck on a tree you name it he will do it and what the people liked about him is that whoever asks for help he does it without complain whoever the client is a kid or an adult he does it whole heartedly.
Dawn reminiscing the past on how he got to working this odd jobs of his.
One summer when he was young he got lost looking for Apples slippers that got swept in the river as they were playing near it, Apple cried and cried that it irritated Terrence causing him to yell at her causing Tamara to punch him in the stomach the first time<that’s how Terrence became a punching bag so to speak haha> thus Dawn followed the river as it goes down the forest.
It was already noon when Dawn noticed that his already lost but being the brainy one of the four he thought to just follow the river cause it may lead him to a bridge or by the highway but instead he saw a viewing shed with an old woman playing flute. He was very silent he acted like a ninja from the anime’s he watch in the t.v.
The music stopped causing him to start feeling nervous thinking his in trouble.
“Young man, are you lost?” a motherly voice called out to him. He was shocked because he thought he was silent enough as he listened to the soothing tune the flute made.
“Now come nearer and sit by my side, don’t be afraid I wont hurt you” smiled the motherly woman.
“Want some tea?” she offered “I also have some snacks but don’t tell my daughter you ate them cause its hers” she said with a warm smile.
Something bothered Dawn, he knew the old lady isn’t looking at his direction but how could she tell that he is there.
“Are you going to let a beautiful woman as myself to do the first move?” she broke into a laugh “Come now you must be hungry with the panting of your voice and the sounds your sweat make as they hit the ground, I can tell that youre tired. Come have a snack with this old granny” she added.
“Are you blind?” answered the young boy as he came nearer to the old woman he was cautious thinking the old lady might be a monster like from the stories he heard from his friends. He thought how un respectful he was as he never meant those words to come out of his mouth. Judging by what he saw he thought there is a possibility but he didn’t intend to say it out loud.
“You’re the first one who met me first time say that.” The woman said”Your correct what you say is true” she smiled facing Dawn.
“Wow!” He shouted “Its like in the movies, Are you a ninja or a psychic perhaps?” running hastily and sitting near the old lady.
“What a curious young lad you are” she said with a smile.
“Oh I forgot where my manners.” He said in a low tone, standing up he dusted his clothes and bowed lower “I am Dawn Roxas my lady?” remembering how the old people use to do it as he recalled in some movies he saw he did it also.
“My what a gentleman”
“My name is Natasha Laicell” reaching out her hand to shake Dawns “You can also call me Granny.”
They talked like long time friends that didn’t see each other for a couple of years until Granny’s daughter came to pick them up. The day ended with him not saving the day because Terrence found the slippers but instead he gained a friend ^^
There meeting wasn’t just a coincidence but it was faith.
This was the start of a friendship that changed how Dawn looks at things in life.
````````
Sorry for the late update but still many things I needed to do been busy with work and all so I couldn’t find the time to write and It took me three rewrites to finish this chapter sup and lets do this haha
Its kinda hard for some aspects and im getting ready for the game arc now gonna finish up with things first laters..
As I said in the previous chapter please be nice sorry for the grammars and all but I hope you can still understand it though haha |
{
"title": "Oscar Corvus by Raga",
"id": 32,
"author": "raga",
"rating": 3.6
} | {
"title": "Oscar Corvus - Chapter 3",
"id": 26,
"next": 27,
"prev": 25,
"prev_info": "",
"next_info": ""
} | <div class="chapter-inner chapter-content">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bloodbirds</span><br><br>Time: 1 year (real world) prior to the “Defense of Attica”<br>Corbeau (Corvus) in Royal Road, Ivaldi City.<br><br>“Come on Merlin!” I called as I left the workshops for the first time in a week, squinting at the sunlight and stretching. It was originally my plan to try and learn some more rune magic today, but I decided I’d rather spend the day wondering the city, since I’d only seen a fountain, a street, an alley, and the hellish slave-driving Sindri’s workshop; in addition, it looked like even Sindri took a break every now and then. Still, I’d gained a bunch of stats, was well on my way to learning the rune-smithing skills I’d need in the game to design advanced weapons, and as bad as Sindri was, some of my earlier trainers, especially the self defense ones, made him look like a girl scout, so as I left I was feeling pretty jaunty. <br>I wandered around for a while, Merlin floating over my shoulder, just looking at the dwarves, the houses and shops, the food, the marketplace stalls, everything really. Eventually I was feeling hungry so I walked into a pub near the docks called the Dancing Mermaid, for some food and drink. They had a pretty excellent fish pie, and a really nice light ale which I was enjoying until a handful of thugs tromped in and started causing a scene. I hadn’t noticed previously, but these thugs all had a red feather on their shoulders, same as the ones I’d fought in the alley.<br><br>“Oy, Inkeeper!” their apparent leader shouted, “ ‘Ave you rethought your position vice-a-vis our proposed insurance plan? I’d ‘ate for something to happen to this place. Fire, burglars, even vandals might come in, and where’d you be without us an’ our fine company? Eh?” he said with his thick docklands accent while laughing, as the four other thugs with him loafed about looking menacing.<br>“I won’t allow this in my shop! We’re a decent establishment, and don’t want none of you lot in here. Get out!” the publican said. “Get out or I’ll call the guard.”<br>“See ‘ere innkeeper, you call the guard, there might be a ruckus, and who knows who’d be caught up in it, eh? Wouldn’t want your lovely daughter hurt now would we?” While the other customers looked on, thing were escalating quickly, from insinuated violence against the pub to violence against the owner’s daughter.<br>The pub owner, a middle aged dwarf with a beer belly, turned totally purple in rage at this, and reached below the bar, pulling out and quickly loading a crossbow.<br>“I spent four years in the army, out on the east end of Ivaldi fighting undead, you little shits. I was ranked “expert crossbowman”. You think I’ll miss your heads at this range? I see you again, I’ll be shitting in the hole I leave in your skull. Now fuck off, and tell your boss the next Bloodbird I see’ll be dead!”<br>“Alright, alright, no need to get angry, we were just passing a friendly message, eh?” the leader of the thugs said, looking nervous. “We’ll leave, alright? No problems.” With that, the thugs left, backing out with hands raised. As soon as they were out the door, the customer burst into cheers.<br><br>I went to see the owner and said: “You know they’ll be back, right?”<br>“What? I told them next time I’d…”<br>“You’d kill them, ya. But you see, a couple things. One, they’re gonna realize that as a crossbowman, you can get one, maybe two of them before they take you down. Two, the whole way a protection racket works is, everyone has to pay. If they let you get away with not paying, it’ll be a mass rebellion. No, they’ll be back. The only question is when, which depends on the people running the operation. You have any idea who that is?” The publican is looking rather worried now.<br>“No,” he says, “I don’t have a clue.”<br>“Shit. Well, they don’t seem to be too clever at any rate. I came across a trio of muggers last week, they weren’t much smarter than these guys. Which, considering they were morons, isn’t saying much. See, the thing is, if they’re dumb and angry, they’ll come tonight. They’ll see the challenge as something to crush immediately. If they’re a little smart and vicious, they’ll come tomorrow night, assuming either you’ll spend tonight waiting for them, then give up when they don’t come or be really tired the second night, or, if you don’t wait for them at all, then you won’t be ready; either way, they win. If they’re totally cold blooded, they’ll wait till the forth night; even if you’re prepared the first, second, third nights, by then you’ll assume they aren’t coming, so they can surprise you. Now, if they are scarily evil, they’ll wait a week, maybe 10 days, until the first of the others inspired by your example rebel too. Then, one night, before you can organize, they’ll move against all of you, taking out anyone who might rebel in the future.” By now he’s blanching and beginning to sweat, so I decide to try and calm him down a little by distracting him with some social niceties.<br><br>“My name’s Corbeau, by the way, apprentice Rune-Smith to Master Sindri. Nice to meet you,” I introduced myself.<br>“Ah, a Rune-Smith apprenticed to Sindri! Very impressive. I’m glad you’re kind enough to be interested in my troubles. My name’s Kabin. What do you think I should do?”<br>“Well. I don’t think they’re too smart; in fact, I’m willing to bet they’ll attack tonight. So, you have two options: One: Ambush them tonight, then try and hit their base before they can try again, or, Two: Grab one of them now, interrogate him, and go after the base immediately, trying to stay inside the decision cycle. I’m willing to help either way, and would advise option two.”<br>“Thank you so much! Let’s try that then.”<br><br>Quest Notice:<br>Your actions have begun a quest: Exterminating Birds, Difficulty D/E.<br>Quest: Exterminating Birds:<br>The Bloodbirds, a gang located in Ivaldi City, are making a nuisance of themselves. Protect Kabin by destroying the gang. It may be difficult to find their location.<br>Relationship with Kabin Improved.<br><br>“Alright,” I said, “let’s start planning how we can do this. First off, do you have any friends from your army days we can ask for help?”<br>“Sure, there are half a dozen guys from my squad are living in the neighborhood: three swordsmen, another crossbowman, a priest and an earth mage.”<br>“Okay, send your daughter to get three, and run and grab the other three yourself. I’ll wait here, if that’s alright. Meanwhile, Merlin, would you mind finding a couple likely looking sources of information?”<br>“Sure, now you need me. It’s never “Merlin, would you like some beer? Or how about a vacation?” Instead, it’s “Merlin, fly all over town looking for some smelly thugs.” Sure. Fine, be happy to” he grouched while flying off. I hid my grin until he left, then got back to eating the pie and drinking some juice. I’d need my strength for later.<br><br>About half an hour later everyone returned, and introduced themselves. The swordsmen turned out to be brothers with particularly unimaginative parents; they were named, oldest to youngest: Bazil, Chazil and Dazil. The only thing to tell them apart was that the oldest was slightly larger than the middle who was in turn larger than the youngest. The priest was Ajak, apparently a priest of a dwarven beer-god, while the mage was called Tsende or the Trencher, apparently for his ability to build trenches. I’m told it sounds more impressive in dwarvish, which is of course automatically translated to English for me. The second crossbowman, specializing in guerilla strikes and assassination, was called Teach, apparently since he’d been an elementary teacher and said that he wished he could teach his prior students the same way he did the undead. They varied in level between 47 (Dazzle) and 84 (Tsende), were all veterans of the unceasing undead wars in the East of the Island, and had their service issue chainmail and weapons, apparently in case they ever needed to be called up from the reserves. Tsende, by virtue of level and experience, was their squad corporal; apparently the sergeant lives in some small village away from the city. Still, if I could kill a pair of thugs when I was level one, we should, between us, be able to take care of business. I asked for a bottle of concentrated ink, and promised an explanation later. After explaining the mission to them: find a thug, capture and interrogate, locate base and kill the leadership, we all waited a couple minutes for Merlin to streak through the window and tell us where to go.<br><br>“Merlin, would you form an information overlay, please?” I asked.<br>“Sure. Follow the arrow to the enemy,” he replied while forming a visor to project a heads up display for me. We followed the directions for a dozen minutes before arriving at the destination: a dead-end alley with a trio of young Bloodbirds smoking, drinking and playing cards.<br>“Remember, we need one alive,” I said quietly. “Tsende, I want you to immobilize them; bury their legs in stone. Teach and Kabin, take the ones on the left and right respectively. Headshots, please. I’ll take the one in the middle. Ready? Take positions. On three. One. Two. Three.” <br><br>At the count, we rushed the Bloodbirds. With a roar of stone, the thugs were buried, unable to stand up. I ran down the center of the alley, ducking into a roll as Teach shouted “Down!” Crossbow bolts thudded into the heads of the left and right most thugs, while the one in the middle gaped.<br>“GET DOWN!” I screamed as one long, drawn-out word, activating the Kiai and slowing the survivor until I could tackle him. The other swordsmen piled on, and once we had him restrained I told the others “You’ve done a good job. Unfortunately, it isn’t over yet. We need to find out where to hit these guys, and that may get a little messy. And noisy. I wouldn’t want to expose you fine dwarves to such things; would you mind guarding the road leading to the alley?” Really, it’s that I didn’t want them to see what I was about to do. I still have nightmares about what happened in Nigeria when I was on a peace keeping mission with my Knights Corvi after the latest round of religious civil war. One of our men went missing while out fraternizing, and we didn’t have the luxury of waiting for intelligence. At least this time it would be adults, and computer characters rather than real teenagers looking to score some points with their local warlord.<br><br>The seven veterans, looking a little doubtful, left the alley and took up positions.<br>“Merlin, can you stop the air and especially any sound from leaving his mouth if necessary? I wouldn’t want to disturb our allies.”<br>“Of course, Corbeau.” As Merlin disengaged his display mode, the thug looked terrified. He understood that the only reason we’d need to gag him would be if he would be screaming.<br>Now, I spoke pretty nicely to the thug: “Alright lad, what’s your name?”<br>“Brick, sir, please don’t hurt me, I’ll tell you whatever you want to hear, honest!”“I’m sure you will Brick, I’m sure you will. And as long as you answer honestly, we won’t have any trouble. Just a nice conversation, then we’ll let you go on your way. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? So you can be nice and calm. Now, what city are we in, Brick?”<br>“No, not too bad guv. Ivaldi.”<br>“And what season is it.”<br>“Summer”<br>“You’re getting this, right Merlin? And running a baseline?”<br>“Sure, but I don’t know if it works with NPCs,” Merlin replied<br>“I think it does. I remember someone brought the topic up; whether players would see real tells when NPC’s lie. They’re meant to be based off of real human faces from court trials,” I said. “Alright then Brick, now, here’s a big one. Who’s your boss? The head honcho of the Bloodbirds?”<br>“I’m not sure what his name is, we just call him the Eagle. That’s all I know, honest.”<br>“He’s lying. Not about the Eagle, but about only knowing that,” Merlin told me.<br>“Oh Brick. Why’d you lie, mate? Do you not want to be alright? Fuck, I’m sorry for this I really am. Merlin, block is mouth.” I grabbed his hair to immobilize the head, then pinched his nose and started counting in my head. When I reached 50, he was looking pretty desperate and wide around the eyes, so I decided that’d be a good starting point and let go before slapping him a few times to get his attention on what I was saying.<br>“Alright Brick, that was 50 seconds without air. Every time you lie, that goes up ten seconds. Alright? It’s okay if you’re catching your breath. Nod if you understand. Good. You know that strangulation, lack of air, is one of the worst ways to go, right? You start convulsing as you get really low on air, and you’ll void yourself just before you die. You don’t want your body found like that, do you? No, didn’t think so. Now, what do you know about this Eagle?”<br>“Look, don’t fucking kill me, I’ll talk! Eagle, he’s some kind of low rank blood wizard, works for some necromancer called Serpentshead out east. He’s a fucking terror: tortured a Bloodbird who wanted to quit, go straight to be with a girl, to death. He killed the girl, too. Preserved their bodies and put them up next to each other in our headquarters. Please, guv, he can’t know I talked, alright?”<br>“Sure Brick sure. All you’ve got to do now is tell us where he is.”<br>“You’ll kill him, right? Promise you’ll kill him and I’ll tell you where he is.”<br>“Nah Brick, we’re killing his men and having this chat so we can sell him some cookies. Course we’re going to kill him. Now, before I lose my patience, where is he?”<br>“You got a map? I’ll mark it. It this abandoned warehouse right here. There’s a pair of guards outside the door, but no other traps or anything. We had them for a while, but Bloodbirds kept setting them off by accident.” <That’s some REAL amateur hour shit right there. Guards outside, but no second line of defense? Should be easy, so long as we take the wizard down hard and fast before he can get nasty.><br>“Alright Brick, you’ve done a great job. Now, like I said, you can go on your way. Let me just cut this cord around your hands.” Moving behind him, I took my knife and cut his throat. <br><br>Level Up<br><br>He’d made his decision, broken the law and justice, and I couldn’t have him warning this Eagle, after all, could I? Plus, never go into battle with an untested weapon. I needed to know what this knife did. Judging from the smell of ozone and the lines of ice, I was guessing that Sindri’s Knife had extra freeze and shock effects, helping slow and stun the enemies while increasing damage. Nice. Taking a few golds from the corpses as well as a blackjack and their cards, I put the points into dexterity as I left the alley.<br><br>“Alright, guys, I’ve got the location,” I said. “Let’s head over and have a look.”<br>“The prisoner?” Ajak asked. <It’s always the priests who are all holier than thou>.<br>“Taken care of,” I replied.<br>“Good,” Ajak grinned. “Can’t stand these Bloodbird shits.” <Or not. This shit always gets my dander up>, I thought as we all trooped off to the abandoned warehouse a dozen city blocks away. When we arrived in the vicinity, we snuck up to the back of the warehouse across the street before sending Merlin up to make sure that there weren’t any unexpected surprises. He went in through a window and checked the interior too before coming back and projecting an image of the layout.<br>“OK,” he said, “pay attention. There are two guards outside, and it looks like they’ve been drinking. There are half a dozen thugs and gangsters inside, as well as four of their girls who may be enemies but may turn into hostages. Eagle is located in this room, and appears to be asleep.”<br>“Is there outside entry into Eagle’s room?” I asked.<br>“None,” said Merlin. “And while the rest of the base seems trap free, his room has three mundane and two magical traps that I could see. There may be more.”<br>“Tsende, could you take the whole building down? I’m just asking, in case it’s necessary.”<br>“Maybe, but it would probably take a while. I’d have to bring down at a bunch of supports, and don’t have great control when I can’t see what I’m spelling. I’d also prefer not to kill any innocents,” he replied.<br>“Alright. Hmm… Back entrance, maybe? We can have Kabin take out one of the guards from a distance. The other runs in and says they’re under attack. The mage checks, sees it’s just Kabin, Tsende, Ajak, Bazil and Chazil, so he’ll sortie with his troops thinking he has the advantage. Anyone left inside is a noncombatant. Meanwhile as they leave the building, Teach and I go in through the back and hit Eagle from behind, since he should be towards the rear of his men. How does that sound?” Once everyone agreed, Teach led me on a sneak around to the back of the warehouse.<br><br>Leadership +4<br><br>Small Unit Commander Added<br>Helps a player lead small units. +5 Leadership and +5% Leadership for the first 4 soldiers you are leading. Troops are 50% more likely to go along with your plans.<br><br>Sneak Skill Added<br>Helps a player hide his presence and blend into the surroundings.<br>The grandmaster sneak is even able to hide himself in plain sight.<br>Level 1 effect: You are 5% harder to detect.<br><br>Once we were in position, we had Merlin fly over and start a 30 count before they hit the exterior guards. We could faintly hear a thrum as the crossbow fired, followed almost immediately by a crunch as it buried itself into the thug’s skull. The other guard began screaming for help and ran inside. Moments later Merlin flew out and turned into visor-projection mode in front of my eyes.<br>“Eagle woke up and is rushing to the front door. Take position by the back and enter in estimated 15 seconds,” he said. Teach and I moved up to the rear entrance, and Merlin gave a three count: “1, 2, 3.” On three, Teach and I kicked the door as hard as we could. As it crashed open, we ran past screeching gang-girls, and out the front door where we could see the squad fighting the thugs. Bazil, Chazil and Dazil had their square, legionnaire style shields up and were stopping the advance of four thugs armed with short swords. Two thugs were keeping Ajak and Kabin’s heads down by threatening them with crossbow rounds, while Tsende was furiously engaging Eagle in a magical standoff.<br><br>Teach brought the crossbow up to his shoulder and loosed a bolt at Eagle, but it was deflected by a magical shield and barely scratched him. Still, it split Eagle’s attention and distracted him long enough for one of Tsende’s magically propelled stones to get through, further weakening the shield. I sprinted forward, covering the dozen paces to Eagle in a couple seconds, while focusing on Eihwaz and slashing with my knife, trying to break through Eagle’s shield. The level difference was just too much though, and again the attack was deflected, though the shield was weakened. Snarling, Eagle flung up his arm at me, shouting an arcane blood-word. I leapt and rolled, dodging, but Teach, standing just behind me, flew backwards, slamming headfirst into the wall before falling, unconscious or dead. Reaching into my inventory bag, I took out the ink and poured it onto my hand. I pressed up against the shield, and focusing as strong as I could, finger-painted Eihwaz reversed on it. While Eihwaz works to strengthen, Eihwaz reversed weakens. Another of Tsende’s projectiles slammed into the shield, and finally broke through the shield, smashing into the back of Eagle’s head. <br><br>As he instinctively turned towards Tsende, I screamed “Ei-HWAZ!” activating Kiai at the same time and slamming the knife into Eagle’s kidney for a critical hit as he screamed. Ripping it out, I buried the knife into Eagle’s other kidney, again screaming “Ei-HWAZ!” I pulled the knife free one last time and, grabbing Eagle’s hair, yanked his head back, exposing his neck. I stabbed the knife in sideways, glancing of the spine, the slashed out, cutting Eagle’s windpipe and half the blood vessels in his neck. As his blood sprayed forwards, I saw the announcement:<br><br>You have killed Eagle.<br>Quest Notice: Exterminating Birds Quest Completed:<br>Speak to Kabin for your reward<br>Level Up<br>Level Up<br>Level Up<br>Level Up<br><br>Without Eagle to contend with, Tsende and I helped mop up the rest of the Bloodbirds in moments. Laughing and shaking with excess adrenaline as soon as the fight was over, we searched the bodies, not finding much. Going inside, one of the treasure chests was empty, taken by the girls most likely. In Eagle’s room we hit the jackpot, finding a book on blood-magic and blood-runes, which I took, as well as a decent chain mail hauberk which was only long enough to be a chain mail tunic for me, though I was sure I’d be able to make better after another week or two working with Sindri. I got a sword with a malevolent aura too, but couldn’t identify it. We also found a series of letters between Eagle and Serpentshead, describing some plan to raise an undead legion strengthened with blood-runes and launch an assault against the eastern border forts. According to the letters, the legion was meant to be raised in two months; the assault would begin during the start of winter in three months; snow is perfect weather for the undead. As soon as I read it, I received a new quest:<br><br>Quest Notice:<br>Your Actions have begun a quest, difficulty E.<br>Quest: Inform the Authorities about Serpentshead<br>Serpentshead is planning a devastating attack on the Eastern region of Ivaldi. Inform a city Elder so appropriate measures can be taken. Failure to inform an Elder may result in the destruction of Ivaldi.<br><br><Well, looks like I’ll have to get Sindri out of the cathouse a little early. Honestly, that scares me more than going against Eagle…
</div> | The Bloodbirds
Time: 1 year (real world) prior to the “Defense of Attica”
Corbeau (Corvus) in Royal Road, Ivaldi City.
“Come on Merlin!” I called as I left the workshops for the first time in a week, squinting at the sunlight and stretching. It was originally my plan to try and learn some more rune magic today, but I decided I’d rather spend the day wondering the city, since I’d only seen a fountain, a street, an alley, and the hellish slave-driving Sindri’s workshop; in addition, it looked like even Sindri took a break every now and then. Still, I’d gained a bunch of stats, was well on my way to learning the rune-smithing skills I’d need in the game to design advanced weapons, and as bad as Sindri was, some of my earlier trainers, especially the self defense ones, made him look like a girl scout, so as I left I was feeling pretty jaunty.
I wandered around for a while, Merlin floating over my shoulder, just looking at the dwarves, the houses and shops, the food, the marketplace stalls, everything really. Eventually I was feeling hungry so I walked into a pub near the docks called the Dancing Mermaid, for some food and drink. They had a pretty excellent fish pie, and a really nice light ale which I was enjoying until a handful of thugs tromped in and started causing a scene. I hadn’t noticed previously, but these thugs all had a red feather on their shoulders, same as the ones I’d fought in the alley.
“Oy, Inkeeper!” their apparent leader shouted, “ ‘Ave you rethought your position vice-a-vis our proposed insurance plan? I’d ‘ate for something to happen to this place. Fire, burglars, even vandals might come in, and where’d you be without us an’ our fine company? Eh?” he said with his thick docklands accent while laughing, as the four other thugs with him loafed about looking menacing.
“I won’t allow this in my shop! We’re a decent establishment, and don’t want none of you lot in here. Get out!” the publican said. “Get out or I’ll call the guard.”
“See ‘ere innkeeper, you call the guard, there might be a ruckus, and who knows who’d be caught up in it, eh? Wouldn’t want your lovely daughter hurt now would we?” While the other customers looked on, thing were escalating quickly, from insinuated violence against the pub to violence against the owner’s daughter.
The pub owner, a middle aged dwarf with a beer belly, turned totally purple in rage at this, and reached below the bar, pulling out and quickly loading a crossbow.
“I spent four years in the army, out on the east end of Ivaldi fighting undead, you little shits. I was ranked “expert crossbowman”. You think I’ll miss your heads at this range? I see you again, I’ll be shitting in the hole I leave in your skull. Now fuck off, and tell your boss the next Bloodbird I see’ll be dead!”
“Alright, alright, no need to get angry, we were just passing a friendly message, eh?” the leader of the thugs said, looking nervous. “We’ll leave, alright? No problems.” With that, the thugs left, backing out with hands raised. As soon as they were out the door, the customer burst into cheers.
I went to see the owner and said: “You know they’ll be back, right?”
“What? I told them next time I’d…”
“You’d kill them, ya. But you see, a couple things. One, they’re gonna realize that as a crossbowman, you can get one, maybe two of them before they take you down. Two, the whole way a protection racket works is, everyone has to pay. If they let you get away with not paying, it’ll be a mass rebellion. No, they’ll be back. The only question is when, which depends on the people running the operation. You have any idea who that is?” The publican is looking rather worried now.
“No,” he says, “I don’t have a clue.”
“Shit. Well, they don’t seem to be too clever at any rate. I came across a trio of muggers last week, they weren’t much smarter than these guys. Which, considering they were morons, isn’t saying much. See, the thing is, if they’re dumb and angry, they’ll come tonight. They’ll see the challenge as something to crush immediately. If they’re a little smart and vicious, they’ll come tomorrow night, assuming either you’ll spend tonight waiting for them, then give up when they don’t come or be really tired the second night, or, if you don’t wait for them at all, then you won’t be ready; either way, they win. If they’re totally cold blooded, they’ll wait till the forth night; even if you’re prepared the first, second, third nights, by then you’ll assume they aren’t coming, so they can surprise you. Now, if they are scarily evil, they’ll wait a week, maybe 10 days, until the first of the others inspired by your example rebel too. Then, one night, before you can organize, they’ll move against all of you, taking out anyone who might rebel in the future.” By now he’s blanching and beginning to sweat, so I decide to try and calm him down a little by distracting him with some social niceties.
“My name’s Corbeau, by the way, apprentice Rune-Smith to Master Sindri. Nice to meet you,” I introduced myself.
“Ah, a Rune-Smith apprenticed to Sindri! Very impressive. I’m glad you’re kind enough to be interested in my troubles. My name’s Kabin. What do you think I should do?”
“Well. I don’t think they’re too smart; in fact, I’m willing to bet they’ll attack tonight. So, you have two options: One: Ambush them tonight, then try and hit their base before they can try again, or, Two: Grab one of them now, interrogate him, and go after the base immediately, trying to stay inside the decision cycle. I’m willing to help either way, and would advise option two.”
“Thank you so much! Let’s try that then.”
Quest Notice:
Your actions have begun a quest: Exterminating Birds, Difficulty D/E.
Quest: Exterminating Birds:
The Bloodbirds, a gang located in Ivaldi City, are making a nuisance of themselves. Protect Kabin by destroying the gang. It may be difficult to find their location.
Relationship with Kabin Improved.
“Alright,” I said, “let’s start planning how we can do this. First off, do you have any friends from your army days we can ask for help?”
“Sure, there are half a dozen guys from my squad are living in the neighborhood: three swordsmen, another crossbowman, a priest and an earth mage.”
“Okay, send your daughter to get three, and run and grab the other three yourself. I’ll wait here, if that’s alright. Meanwhile, Merlin, would you mind finding a couple likely looking sources of information?”
“Sure, now you need me. It’s never “Merlin, would you like some beer? Or how about a vacation?” Instead, it’s “Merlin, fly all over town looking for some smelly thugs.” Sure. Fine, be happy to” he grouched while flying off. I hid my grin until he left, then got back to eating the pie and drinking some juice. I’d need my strength for later.
About half an hour later everyone returned, and introduced themselves. The swordsmen turned out to be brothers with particularly unimaginative parents; they were named, oldest to youngest: Bazil, Chazil and Dazil. The only thing to tell them apart was that the oldest was slightly larger than the middle who was in turn larger than the youngest. The priest was Ajak, apparently a priest of a dwarven beer-god, while the mage was called Tsende or the Trencher, apparently for his ability to build trenches. I’m told it sounds more impressive in dwarvish, which is of course automatically translated to English for me. The second crossbowman, specializing in guerilla strikes and assassination, was called Teach, apparently since he’d been an elementary teacher and said that he wished he could teach his prior students the same way he did the undead. They varied in level between 47 (Dazzle) and 84 (Tsende), were all veterans of the unceasing undead wars in the East of the Island, and had their service issue chainmail and weapons, apparently in case they ever needed to be called up from the reserves. Tsende, by virtue of level and experience, was their squad corporal; apparently the sergeant lives in some small village away from the city. Still, if I could kill a pair of thugs when I was level one, we should, between us, be able to take care of business. I asked for a bottle of concentrated ink, and promised an explanation later. After explaining the mission to them: find a thug, capture and interrogate, locate base and kill the leadership, we all waited a couple minutes for Merlin to streak through the window and tell us where to go.
“Merlin, would you form an information overlay, please?” I asked.
“Sure. Follow the arrow to the enemy,” he replied while forming a visor to project a heads up display for me. We followed the directions for a dozen minutes before arriving at the destination: a dead-end alley with a trio of young Bloodbirds smoking, drinking and playing cards.
“Remember, we need one alive,” I said quietly. “Tsende, I want you to immobilize them; bury their legs in stone. Teach and Kabin, take the ones on the left and right respectively. Headshots, please. I’ll take the one in the middle. Ready? Take positions. On three. One. Two. Three.”
At the count, we rushed the Bloodbirds. With a roar of stone, the thugs were buried, unable to stand up. I ran down the center of the alley, ducking into a roll as Teach shouted “Down!” Crossbow bolts thudded into the heads of the left and right most thugs, while the one in the middle gaped.
“GET DOWN!” I screamed as one long, drawn-out word, activating the Kiai and slowing the survivor until I could tackle him. The other swordsmen piled on, and once we had him restrained I told the others “You’ve done a good job. Unfortunately, it isn’t over yet. We need to find out where to hit these guys, and that may get a little messy. And noisy. I wouldn’t want to expose you fine dwarves to such things; would you mind guarding the road leading to the alley?” Really, it’s that I didn’t want them to see what I was about to do. I still have nightmares about what happened in Nigeria when I was on a peace keeping mission with my Knights Corvi after the latest round of religious civil war. One of our men went missing while out fraternizing, and we didn’t have the luxury of waiting for intelligence. At least this time it would be adults, and computer characters rather than real teenagers looking to score some points with their local warlord.
The seven veterans, looking a little doubtful, left the alley and took up positions.
“Merlin, can you stop the air and especially any sound from leaving his mouth if necessary? I wouldn’t want to disturb our allies.”
“Of course, Corbeau.” As Merlin disengaged his display mode, the thug looked terrified. He understood that the only reason we’d need to gag him would be if he would be screaming.
Now, I spoke pretty nicely to the thug: “Alright lad, what’s your name?”
“Brick, sir, please don’t hurt me, I’ll tell you whatever you want to hear, honest!”“I’m sure you will Brick, I’m sure you will. And as long as you answer honestly, we won’t have any trouble. Just a nice conversation, then we’ll let you go on your way. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? So you can be nice and calm. Now, what city are we in, Brick?”
“No, not too bad guv. Ivaldi.”
“And what season is it.”
“Summer”
“You’re getting this, right Merlin? And running a baseline?”
“Sure, but I don’t know if it works with NPCs,” Merlin replied
“I think it does. I remember someone brought the topic up; whether players would see real tells when NPC’s lie. They’re meant to be based off of real human faces from court trials,” I said. “Alright then Brick, now, here’s a big one. Who’s your boss? The head honcho of the Bloodbirds?”
“I’m not sure what his name is, we just call him the Eagle. That’s all I know, honest.”
“He’s lying. Not about the Eagle, but about only knowing that,” Merlin told me.
“Oh Brick. Why’d you lie, mate? Do you not want to be alright? Fuck, I’m sorry for this I really am. Merlin, block is mouth.” I grabbed his hair to immobilize the head, then pinched his nose and started counting in my head. When I reached 50, he was looking pretty desperate and wide around the eyes, so I decided that’d be a good starting point and let go before slapping him a few times to get his attention on what I was saying.
“Alright Brick, that was 50 seconds without air. Every time you lie, that goes up ten seconds. Alright? It’s okay if you’re catching your breath. Nod if you understand. Good. You know that strangulation, lack of air, is one of the worst ways to go, right? You start convulsing as you get really low on air, and you’ll void yourself just before you die. You don’t want your body found like that, do you? No, didn’t think so. Now, what do you know about this Eagle?”
“Look, don’t fucking kill me, I’ll talk! Eagle, he’s some kind of low rank blood wizard, works for some necromancer called Serpentshead out east. He’s a fucking terror: tortured a Bloodbird who wanted to quit, go straight to be with a girl, to death. He killed the girl, too. Preserved their bodies and put them up next to each other in our headquarters. Please, guv, he can’t know I talked, alright?”
“Sure Brick sure. All you’ve got to do now is tell us where he is.”
“You’ll kill him, right? Promise you’ll kill him and I’ll tell you where he is.”
“Nah Brick, we’re killing his men and having this chat so we can sell him some cookies. Course we’re going to kill him. Now, before I lose my patience, where is he?”
“You got a map? I’ll mark it. It this abandoned warehouse right here. There’s a pair of guards outside the door, but no other traps or anything. We had them for a while, but Bloodbirds kept setting them off by accident.” <That’s some REAL amateur hour shit right there. Guards outside, but no second line of defense? Should be easy, so long as we take the wizard down hard and fast before he can get nasty.>
“Alright Brick, you’ve done a great job. Now, like I said, you can go on your way. Let me just cut this cord around your hands.” Moving behind him, I took my knife and cut his throat.
Level Up
He’d made his decision, broken the law and justice, and I couldn’t have him warning this Eagle, after all, could I? Plus, never go into battle with an untested weapon. I needed to know what this knife did. Judging from the smell of ozone and the lines of ice, I was guessing that Sindri’s Knife had extra freeze and shock effects, helping slow and stun the enemies while increasing damage. Nice. Taking a few golds from the corpses as well as a blackjack and their cards, I put the points into dexterity as I left the alley.
“Alright, guys, I’ve got the location,” I said. “Let’s head over and have a look.”
“The prisoner?” Ajak asked. <It’s always the priests who are all holier than thou>.
“Taken care of,” I replied.
“Good,” Ajak grinned. “Can’t stand these Bloodbird shits.” <Or not. This shit always gets my dander up>, I thought as we all trooped off to the abandoned warehouse a dozen city blocks away. When we arrived in the vicinity, we snuck up to the back of the warehouse across the street before sending Merlin up to make sure that there weren’t any unexpected surprises. He went in through a window and checked the interior too before coming back and projecting an image of the layout.
“OK,” he said, “pay attention. There are two guards outside, and it looks like they’ve been drinking. There are half a dozen thugs and gangsters inside, as well as four of their girls who may be enemies but may turn into hostages. Eagle is located in this room, and appears to be asleep.”
“Is there outside entry into Eagle’s room?” I asked.
“None,” said Merlin. “And while the rest of the base seems trap free, his room has three mundane and two magical traps that I could see. There may be more.”
“Tsende, could you take the whole building down? I’m just asking, in case it’s necessary.”
“Maybe, but it would probably take a while. I’d have to bring down at a bunch of supports, and don’t have great control when I can’t see what I’m spelling. I’d also prefer not to kill any innocents,” he replied.
“Alright. Hmm… Back entrance, maybe? We can have Kabin take out one of the guards from a distance. The other runs in and says they’re under attack. The mage checks, sees it’s just Kabin, Tsende, Ajak, Bazil and Chazil, so he’ll sortie with his troops thinking he has the advantage. Anyone left inside is a noncombatant. Meanwhile as they leave the building, Teach and I go in through the back and hit Eagle from behind, since he should be towards the rear of his men. How does that sound?” Once everyone agreed, Teach led me on a sneak around to the back of the warehouse.
Leadership +4
Small Unit Commander Added
Helps a player lead small units. +5 Leadership and +5% Leadership for the first 4 soldiers you are leading. Troops are 50% more likely to go along with your plans.
Sneak Skill Added
Helps a player hide his presence and blend into the surroundings.
The grandmaster sneak is even able to hide himself in plain sight.
Level 1 effect: You are 5% harder to detect.
Once we were in position, we had Merlin fly over and start a 30 count before they hit the exterior guards. We could faintly hear a thrum as the crossbow fired, followed almost immediately by a crunch as it buried itself into the thug’s skull. The other guard began screaming for help and ran inside. Moments later Merlin flew out and turned into visor-projection mode in front of my eyes.
“Eagle woke up and is rushing to the front door. Take position by the back and enter in estimated 15 seconds,” he said. Teach and I moved up to the rear entrance, and Merlin gave a three count: “1, 2, 3.” On three, Teach and I kicked the door as hard as we could. As it crashed open, we ran past screeching gang-girls, and out the front door where we could see the squad fighting the thugs. Bazil, Chazil and Dazil had their square, legionnaire style shields up and were stopping the advance of four thugs armed with short swords. Two thugs were keeping Ajak and Kabin’s heads down by threatening them with crossbow rounds, while Tsende was furiously engaging Eagle in a magical standoff.
Teach brought the crossbow up to his shoulder and loosed a bolt at Eagle, but it was deflected by a magical shield and barely scratched him. Still, it split Eagle’s attention and distracted him long enough for one of Tsende’s magically propelled stones to get through, further weakening the shield. I sprinted forward, covering the dozen paces to Eagle in a couple seconds, while focusing on Eihwaz and slashing with my knife, trying to break through Eagle’s shield. The level difference was just too much though, and again the attack was deflected, though the shield was weakened. Snarling, Eagle flung up his arm at me, shouting an arcane blood-word. I leapt and rolled, dodging, but Teach, standing just behind me, flew backwards, slamming headfirst into the wall before falling, unconscious or dead. Reaching into my inventory bag, I took out the ink and poured it onto my hand. I pressed up against the shield, and focusing as strong as I could, finger-painted Eihwaz reversed on it. While Eihwaz works to strengthen, Eihwaz reversed weakens. Another of Tsende’s projectiles slammed into the shield, and finally broke through the shield, smashing into the back of Eagle’s head.
As he instinctively turned towards Tsende, I screamed “Ei-HWAZ!” activating Kiai at the same time and slamming the knife into Eagle’s kidney for a critical hit as he screamed. Ripping it out, I buried the knife into Eagle’s other kidney, again screaming “Ei-HWAZ!” I pulled the knife free one last time and, grabbing Eagle’s hair, yanked his head back, exposing his neck. I stabbed the knife in sideways, glancing of the spine, the slashed out, cutting Eagle’s windpipe and half the blood vessels in his neck. As his blood sprayed forwards, I saw the announcement:
You have killed Eagle.
Quest Notice: Exterminating Birds Quest Completed:
Speak to Kabin for your reward
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Without Eagle to contend with, Tsende and I helped mop up the rest of the Bloodbirds in moments. Laughing and shaking with excess adrenaline as soon as the fight was over, we searched the bodies, not finding much. Going inside, one of the treasure chests was empty, taken by the girls most likely. In Eagle’s room we hit the jackpot, finding a book on blood-magic and blood-runes, which I took, as well as a decent chain mail hauberk which was only long enough to be a chain mail tunic for me, though I was sure I’d be able to make better after another week or two working with Sindri. I got a sword with a malevolent aura too, but couldn’t identify it. We also found a series of letters between Eagle and Serpentshead, describing some plan to raise an undead legion strengthened with blood-runes and launch an assault against the eastern border forts. According to the letters, the legion was meant to be raised in two months; the assault would begin during the start of winter in three months; snow is perfect weather for the undead. As soon as I read it, I received a new quest:
Quest Notice:
Your Actions have begun a quest, difficulty E.
Quest: Inform the Authorities about Serpentshead
Serpentshead is planning a devastating attack on the Eastern region of Ivaldi. Inform a city Elder so appropriate measures can be taken. Failure to inform an Elder may result in the destruction of Ivaldi.
<Well, looks like I’ll have to get Sindri out of the cathouse a little early. Honestly, that scares me more than going against Eagle… |
{
"title": "Blut und Eisen: Blood and Iron",
"id": 55,
"author": "ShrimpSamurai",
"rating": 4.4
} | {
"title": "S1 E12: Void Warrior",
"id": 224,
"next": 244,
"prev": 203,
"prev_info": "",
"next_info": ""
} | <div class="chapter-inner chapter-content">
*Dokkun* <Heart Thumping>
<br>
<br>"No…", Gerhard touched the settling wall of rocks before him, the grey dirt trickling between his fingers, dust settling around his shoulders.
<br>
<br>*DOKKUN*
<br>
<br>"Max…", the whispered words left Gerhard's lips. Once more he was too late to save someone in front of him… one of his own family. A flood of memories pierced his mind as the images of what was done to his father, his mother, his sister, racing, winging, lacerating his psyche, shaking him to his core.
<br>
<br>*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*
<br>
<br>"Not again…", he crushed the dirt into his fist, spinning slowly to face the creature, the monster that had taken his grandson from him. All sensible thoughts that this was a game disappeared from his mind as his trauma was reawakened, and stoked, roaring into the very fibre of his being.
<br>
<br><span style="font-weight: bold;">*DOKKUN*</span>…
<br>
<br>Something inside Gerhard rose, uglier than any creature he had ever faced in this virtual world, as it consumed him inside out, drowning him, suddenly forced to feel his decades…and losing the will to resist.
<br>
<br>*CREEEEEAK…..<span style="font-weight: bold;">CRACK</span>!*
<br>
<br>The sound of chains breaking reverberated inside his soul, casting the man that was Gerhard into pitch black darkness… and in his place stood a monster. A <span style="font-weight: bold;">REAL</span> monster.
<br>
<br>"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!", the Death Panda howled, perhaps in acknowledgment to a kindred spirit or perhaps to drown out its own fear. One thing it did know for a fact though… this man must be killed.
<br>
<br>Gerhard just stood there, watching its approaching charge with disinterest, the ground rumbling with each successive step it took towards him, his sword resting lifeless in his hand. Eric, noticing something was wrong, ran as hard as he could to intercept the creature, knowing he will never make it in time. He needn't bother though as a pair of Samurai leapt to the fore, katanas gliding through the air to slash at the forearms of the massive beast, their long hair shimmering gracefully around them. The Death Panda stumbled as its ligaments were severed, crashing face first until it slid just steps away from Gerhard.
<br>
<br>"What is that IDIOT doing?!", Lydia yelled in bafflement as Gerhard still hadn't moved an inch from his location.
<br>
<br>"Haaaa", one of the Samurai said knowingly to what looked like obviously her twin, "seems like the newbie is frozen in fear <span style="font-style: italic;">ne</span>, Masumi?"
<br>
<br>"Mayumi <span style="font-style: italic;">Nee-san</span><Sister>, should we help him?", the other Samurai said, as the creature rose slowly to its feet in front of Gerhard who was gazing impassively at it.
<br>
<br>"Maaa", resting the back of her katana on her shoulder, "he should experience death sometime in this game. We already tried helping", she shrugged nonchalantly.
<br>
<br>Eric however had other thoughts as he roared, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Herr Kommandant!</span> <Commander!>", swinging his battle axe into the back of the creature's leg, causing the Death Panda to miss slightly with the thrusting paw strike towards Gerhard's face.
<br>
<br>A thin wound blossomed on Gerhard's right cheek, causing him for the first time to move, reaching up slowly with his hand to touch the red liquid dripping down his face. Bringing his bloodied fingertips to the front, he gazed at it curiously before licking it once, the taste of iron settling on his tongue. Seeming to have decided something for himself, Gerhard nodded once prior to lifting his head up, speaking to the creature as though it might understand him.
<br>
<br>"Blood for blood. A fair trade don't you think?", Gerhard said tonelessly. And exploded into violent motion.
<br>
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;">*********************************************************************************************</div>
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picosong.com/Fqhb/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 1.7em;">INTRO SONG: Kono Sekai e Moeru</span></a></div>
<br>
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk285/black_ferrus/Blut%20und%20Eisen/Intro12_zps34cb1304.jpg" border="0" alt="http%3a%2f%2fi283.photobucket.com%2falbums%2fkk285...cb1304.jpg"></div>
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;">*********************************************************************************************</div>
<br>
<br>
<br>The sound of voices echoed across the vast expanse, a starless night sky hanging in the ceiling of this world as Gerhard woke up in confusion, the cawing of crows growing louder in the surrounding canopies of the trees. The blood red of dawn was rising in the distant horizon, an ill omen for the start of a day, Gerhard rising shakily to his feet and shivering despite himself, for some reason the surroundings looking achingly familiar. With a start Gerhard realised he was on the outskirts of Berlin, facing East… where he knew with increasing dread that the Russian Army had already engaged the beleaguered German <span style="font-style: italic;">Heer</span><Army> in multiple armoured penetrations all along the disintegrating frontlines and relentless fighting that was probably occurring in the streets behind him.
<br>
<br>Yet he knew without doubt why this section of the battlefront was quiet, as he turned a full circle, the burning wrecks of Russian battle tanks littering the wooded area coming into view, bodies of the dead Russian infantry lying bloodily splayed out and broken behind the ruined vehicles. The smell of blood, gunpowder and human guts ripped open finally assaulted Gerhard's senses as he gagged and fell to his knees, trying to vomit but all he could do was dry heave empty air.
<br>
<br>Struggling, Gerhard lifted his head as he heard the distinct crunching of boots on gravel, his gaze falling on the uniformed figure striding towards a group of Russian prisoners, all bound with hands behind their backs and kneeling dejectedly. They were guarded by grizzled German combat veterans, their uniforms in various states of disrepair in comparison to the pristine condition of the man's own, fast approaching with the self assurance of an infantry officer…a leader of men.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Herr Major</span> <Major>", one of the German men, perhaps in his mid twenties, saluted smartly, "We sure showed <span style="font-style: italic;">Ivan</span> <the Russians> a thing or two about what NOT to do against an entrenched position", he chuckled.
<br>
<br>"That we did, Karl", the officer replied serenely, glancing at the prisoners like they were no more significant than insects, "that we did".
<br>
<br>"Shall I send them to the rear to be interrogated", to which Karl then whispered conspiratorially, "or release them like we usually do? It's not like we can feed them back in HQ… they will probably just get shot anyway".
<br>
<br>The officer returned his gaze to the soldier in front of him and shook his head slowly.
<br>
<br>"No, don't…", Gerhard whispered, trying to grab the shoulder of the officer, only to have his hand pass through harmlessly like an apparition, the talking figures unaware of Gerhard's existence.
<br>
<br>"Follow Hitler's orders", the officer in front of him said, shocking the soldier, one of the few old hands' left who survived <span style="font-style: italic;">Großdeutschland</span> destruction in Prussia. The soldier looked at him askance, as though not quite believing what he was hearing from a man he had served for half a decade.
<br>
<br>"Please..!", Gerhard called out desperately, "STOP!"
<br>
<br>"Kill them all"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-weight: bold;">DON'T GIVE THAT ORDER</span>!", Gerhard screamed… at the mirror image of himself, the crows taking flight into the air, their cries sounding like laughter.
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk285/black_ferrus/Blut%20und%20Eisen/1DarkGerhard1_zps05abcfa0.jpg" border="0" alt="http%3a%2f%2fi283.photobucket.com%2falbums%2fkk285...abcfa0.jpg"></div>
<br>
<br>The Gerhard of 1945 did an about turn and walked away, cries of "Nyeht! Nyeht! <No! No!>", coming from the prisoners as the German soldiers reluctantly raise their weapons at them.
<br>
<br>Gerhard sobbed as he knew what he was thinking at that time, over half a century ago… what to have for breakfast.
<br>
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;">*********************************************************************************************</div>
<br>
<br>Max lifted his hands from his head, wondering why he wasn't logged out for being crushed to death, only becoming aware that he was surrounded by a gentle glow reminiscent of that time he first met…
<br>
<br>"Lorelei!", Max called out suddenly.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Hmmm?</span>", was the sleepy response.
<br>
<br>"Are you doing this?"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">...doing what?</span>", Lorelei sounding baffled.
<br>
<br>"…never mind"
<br>
<br>Max began examining the walls around him in fascination, noting the odd peculiarity of the structure. He was basically enclosed in a perfect dome. Even the floor was a perfect circle, where the wall meets the dirt ground was joined seamlessly in an unnatural manner. At first Max thought the walls were glowing in an unbroken stream of light; however he noticed that the light itself was etched into the walls, seeming to pulse along veins of blue silver that stretched out and branched into one another, having no beginning and no end.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">… Max…ummm…s… since we are alone now…can I ask you something?</span>"
<br>
<br>"Hmmm?", he replied absentmindedly.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">… who is Jessica?...</span>"
<br>
<br>"Eh?"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…WHO is JESSICA? Hmmm...?</span>"
<br>
<br>Sighing, "Jessica is not real", Max explained, "I made her up so that the twins wouldn’t be suspicious about you".
<br>
<br>"…ooooh…"
<br>
<br>"Yup yup", Max nodded his head happily, finally glad the misunderstanding was solved.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">….liar…</span>"
<br>
<br>"Eh?", and coincidentally a rock the size of a golf ball fell on his head…
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar!</span>", which was eventually followed by a, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Humph!</span>"
<br>
<br>"Ehhhhhh", Max groaned exasperatedly, "W..Why do you think that?", as he rubbed the sore spot on his head that was for once, wasn't caused by Lorelei… well physically. Hell, you know what he means.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…you sure chased after her REALLY hard…</span>"
<br>
<br>"T..that's because-..", Unexpectedly, Max felt a shudder in his mind as Lorelei cried out.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Uuuuuuuuuuuu, it huuurts</span>", she whimpered.
<br>
<br>"W..what is it?", clutching his head with his hand, trying to withstand the throbbing pain.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…somebody is crying….crying so much…</span>"
<br>
<br>"Who is?", Max gritted his teeth.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Kyaaaaaaa! </span>", she screamed inside his mind, as though in agony.
<br>
<br>"Guhaa!", Max grunted at the force that was unleashed and rampaging in his own head, "L...Lorelei!! What is happening?!!!"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">THERE IS NOTHING! </span>", she wailed pitifully, "<span style="font-style: italic;">NOTHING THERE AT ALL!!!!</span>"
<br>
<br>Max fell to his knees as he clutched his head in pain, shouting, "CALM DOWN! LORELEI!", as he fell to his side, "Y..you're hurting me", he mumbled.
<br>
<br>And just as suddenly the pain stopped, Max wearily checking his HP… and was shocked to discover that he was right… he had lost some health points…
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">He is crying so much</span>", Lorelei continued to whimper quietly, "<span style="font-style: italic;">but there is nothing there at all</span>".
<br>
<br>Woozily, Max shook his head slowly as he asked, "Who is?"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…an old man…</span>"
<br>
<br>He felt a shiver at those words, slow understanding dawning upon him.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">..he is breaking into pieces…Max.. </span>"
<br>
<br>As though revitalised, Max stood back up and flung his backpack into the ground in front of him, searching through it hurriedly, flinging unnecessary things aside until he found what he was looking for. Grabbing the wooden handle, Max pulled out his pickaxe, spinning around in a circle and trying to figure out his bearings.
<br>
<br>"Lorelei…"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…… </span>"
<br>
<br>"Lorelei!", Max called out urgently, "I need you!"
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Un</span>", she replied weakly, "<span style="font-style: italic;">what do you want me to do?</span>"
<br>
<br>Breathing slowly, Max requested, "Can you feel where this… man is?"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">I..I can.. </span>"
<br>
<br>"Please try", he begged.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">B…but I am scared…</span>", she cried.
<br>
<br>"Shhh, it's ok", Max reassured her, "I am here with you right?"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…Un…</span>", Max somehow feeling an imaginary nod from her.
<br>
<br>"Actually, it's more like you're living inside my head", he joked.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…uuuuu…you don't want me here?...It's Jessica isn't it?</span>"
<br>
<br>"Ehhhh?!! O…of course I do! I always wanted a beautiful girl beside me all the time!", feeling a drop of sweat slide down his forehead… although he would prefer that she wasn't inside a doll like a cursed item you find from a haunted dilapidated house… on a hill surrounded by a cemetery…that is constantly surrounded by fog….crap, he scared himself.
<br>
<br>"A-anyway!", he yelled out over loudly to squash the fears Max raised in himself, "Please do it..", he pleaded, "..for me"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">O…ok…</span>"
<br>
<br>"And", as though struck by divine intervention, "I will give you a gift later".
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…a gift?…</span>"
<br>
<br>"Something between close friends", he smiled, "a nickname".
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…is it something special...?</span>"
<br>
<br>"I have never given the twins or Jessica one", omitting the fact that he calls Mayumi 'demon' behind her back and since Jessica is fictional… whilst Masumi is Masumi.
<br>
<br>There was a moment of silence, as though Lorelei was thinking on it before she replied, "<span style="font-style: italic;">I..I will do IT!</span>", with an imperceptible note of happiness.
<br>
<br>"…uuu you're such a good girl", Max felt intense fulfilment…like a brother of course…, "if only Mayumi was like you".
<br>
<br>There was no reply, as though hushed and when the stillness grew into minutes, Max began to get worried… until he heard a weak answer from Lorelei.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">…turn to the right…</span>", she stated almost dreamily, "<span style="font-style: italic;">more…more…back a little</span>", Max doing as he is told as he adjusted his facing until she said, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Stop… this is the way to the mister</span>"
<br>
<br>"ALRIGHT!", lifting his pickaxe he brought it down with a resounding clang, chipping away with gusto as he sincerely thanked Lorelei, "GOOD WORK! Now leave the rest TO ME!"
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Max…</span>", tiredly, Lorelei begged, "<span style="font-style: italic;">please, save him</span>"
<br>
<br>He redoubled his efforts, hammering away at the rock wall with his pickaxe, the force of the impact causing his arms to tremble in pain. 'You don’t have to tell me that', Max thought silently to himself, 'he is my grandfather after all'.
<br>
<br>Unnoticed by Max, the tip of his pickaxe glowed briefly on each reverse swing, as though urging him on…
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;">*********************************************************************************************</div>
<br>
<br>It's… it's so strange how one's perception of somebody can be altered in a heartbeat, how just a single gesture or action can redefine a person, like the reforging of a ruined sword or weapon… the man known as Gerhard had perceptibly changed. And to Lydia eyes, when he finally regained the ability to move again… it was as though a dark blade was unsheathed. Seeping with malevolent cruelty.
<br>
<br>Without uttering a sound, Gerhard sprung forward and drew a swift overhead cut in the air, using the creature's own force to accelerate himself when it tried to swat him into the ground. Having blocked and deflected down the blow with his sword, he was spun upwards, landing on its forearm sideways after having carved his sword deep into its bone. Arterial blood was spraying upwards unto Gerhard's pants, the red liquid fountaining out in all directions as he stated in a monotone voice, "Hmm… still not enough".
<br>
<br>The monster roared in pain, and in reply, it swung its left arm towards him to which Gerhard just aimed the point of his sword from his side and casually absorbed the blow, his body becoming unnaturally limp before his hands tightened around the grip of his sword as he was being flung off his living platform. Gerhard flipped himself unto the swinging Death Panda's arm, using his sword as an anchor as the monster raged in futile protest at this human who seemed to be casually defying it.
<br>
<br>Even the twins let out gasps of astonishment at this total reckless way of fighting, where even a moment of misjudgement would spell catastrophic loss of HP or even death and yet… Gerhard walked along that line in perfect balance…as though embracing it. The walls continued to vibrate at this wild struggle, the roars slowly becoming cries of pain as Gerhard twisted his weapon deep into the creature's arm before pulling it out, crouching to race along the limb to finally kneel beside the monster's ear.
<br>
<br>"…It is unseemly to make a sound over that, don't you think?", he whispered, as though caressing the words into its ear.
<br>
<br>The sight of him talking calmly to the boss mob filled Lydia with a creeping sense of apprehension, that something was not quite right. The Gerhard she knew… the only man that she had spent a long time travelling with, was unbearably kind, sometimes naïve, but always filled with good intentions and understanding. Even towards his enemies. She…she did not know the man who is now, offhandedly stabbing his weapon into the Death Panda's ear after having spoken to it, his face unchanging, unreadable. There was no joy or elation there, no battle madness or a smirk of a tyrant…there was just nothing.
<br>
<br>"You really are a lost cause", as the beast yelped helplessly before Gerhard kicked it in the face, the blow shattering its nose as it reeled backwards in a lumbering manner.
<br>
<br>The boy William had just finally arrive and Lydia quickly covered his eyes with the hem of her robes, not knowing why she is doing it for a child, let alone an NPC one… but some things should never be seen by anyone. Eric though, felt he had stood on the sidelines long enough and hefted his weapon to rejoin the battle, bringing his axe in an arc to slam into the monster's knee. With vital bones shattering, ligaments torn beyond use, the Death Panda splayed forward, falling ungainly unto it forearms as it gave off a pitiful mewling sound, struggling to rise up defiantly and lashing out in all directions in futility. Using the least amount of movement, Gerhard shifted and swayed his body from side to side to avoid the blows, the strikes brushing by so close that only a master of the blade or someone insane would have ignored it as if it was insignificant. Striding towards the creature's head, he eventually presented himself before it, gazing with empty eyes at the now truly frightened fiend.
<br>
<br>"…it is time to collect…", he declared as though he was remarking on the weather… and proceeded to stab the monster in the eye with a machine like efficiency.
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br>
<br>There was only a light groan as the giant beast finally accepted its fate… but its suffering didn't end yet. Letting go of his weapon, Gerhard strode backwards a few steps before clenching his hand into a fist…and punched the bottom of the sword hilt, hammering the blade deeper into the boss mob's eye and drenching himself in the backsplash of blood.
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br>
<br>And he did it again.
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br>
<br>And again.
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br>
<br>
<br>And again.
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br>
<br>And again.
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Critical Hit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<br>
<br>Until it finally shuddered, for all intents and purposes, dead.
<br>
<br>There was a stunned silence from all the onlookers at the surreal sight, Lydia having long closed her eyes as she hugged the boy close to her chest, covering all his senses as they both huddled on the floor. She was shivering uncontrollably… this was only a game and yet the acts Lydia had witnessed today was more terrifying than any boss fight or castle siege in other MMORPGs she had played.
<br>
<br>But the moment was broken when the Samurai known as Mayumi swung her katana towards the back of Eric's head…. only to have it deflected into the ground, the crash of the impact causing a minor wound in the earth that raced in a straight path for several meters. The dirt was still settling when it revealed Gerhard, sword drawn and gazing at Mayumi steadily, unblinkingly.
<br>
<br>"What do you think you are doing to one of my subordinates?", he asked quizzically, pointing his blade towards her face.
<br>
<br>"Eeee? Didn't you know?", she smiled sweetly, "there is a bounty on his head", and turning to face Eric who was gazing back with a stony expression, "and we took a hefty commission to retrieve him".
<br>
<br>"Ahhh", Gerhard replied, understanding her words but… not really caring, "I do apologise, but I cannot allow anyone under my command to be lost needlessly".
<br>
<br>"And thus", Gerhard creaked his neck, "I shall accept his responsibility", assuming a relaxed stance in front of Mayumi.
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Herr Kommandant</span><Commander>, I… brought this upon myself for my past actions…"
<br>
<br>"Silence, <span style="font-style: italic;">Unterfeldwebel</span> <Sergeant>, do not disrupt our bout"
<br>
<br>"Sir, I can fight my own battles-…"
<br>
<br>"Eric", Gerhard said softly, interrupting him, "You just said I am your commander, right?
<br>
<br>"I did, but-…"
<br>
<br>"Then <span style="font-weight: bold;">OBEY</span> me", Gerhard commanded in a cold tone ringed with an undercurrent of power.
<br>
<br>"… <span style="font-style: italic;">Jawohl, Herr Kommandant!</span>" <As you willed, Commander!>, Eric stood to attention, words seeming to threaten to spill from his lips, but years of discipline made sure they were left unsaid.
<br>
<br>Mayumi just shrugged, "Well don't regret this, newbie", as she entered into a fighting stance, "Masumi….I don't need your help for this".
<br>
<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Hai, nee-san</span><Yes, sister>", came the dutiful response.
<br>
<br>"Are you sure about that?"
<br>
<br>"Maaa maaa, its fine. This will be over soon anyway", she smiled, assured of victory.
<br>
<br>"….Then", he fixed his indifferent eyes upon her, as though seeing deep within and beyond, "don't ever regret the decisions you made"
<br>
<br>
<br><div style="text-align: center;">*********************************************************************************************</div>
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<br><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><span style="color: #BF0040;">NEXT PREVIEW</span>
<br>
<br>Title: Familie <Family>
<br>
<br><span style="font-style: italic;">I reached out my hands to them… but they are no longer here</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
</div> | *Dokkun* <Heart Thumping>
"No…", Gerhard touched the settling wall of rocks before him, the grey dirt trickling between his fingers, dust settling around his shoulders.
*DOKKUN*
"Max…", the whispered words left Gerhard's lips. Once more he was too late to save someone in front of him… one of his own family. A flood of memories pierced his mind as the images of what was done to his father, his mother, his sister, racing, winging, lacerating his psyche, shaking him to his core.
*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*DOKKUN*
"Not again…", he crushed the dirt into his fist, spinning slowly to face the creature, the monster that had taken his grandson from him. All sensible thoughts that this was a game disappeared from his mind as his trauma was reawakened, and stoked, roaring into the very fibre of his being.
*DOKKUN*…
Something inside Gerhard rose, uglier than any creature he had ever faced in this virtual world, as it consumed him inside out, drowning him, suddenly forced to feel his decades…and losing the will to resist.
*CREEEEEAK…..CRACK!*
The sound of chains breaking reverberated inside his soul, casting the man that was Gerhard into pitch black darkness… and in his place stood a monster. A REAL monster.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!", the Death Panda howled, perhaps in acknowledgment to a kindred spirit or perhaps to drown out its own fear. One thing it did know for a fact though… this man must be killed.
Gerhard just stood there, watching its approaching charge with disinterest, the ground rumbling with each successive step it took towards him, his sword resting lifeless in his hand. Eric, noticing something was wrong, ran as hard as he could to intercept the creature, knowing he will never make it in time. He needn't bother though as a pair of Samurai leapt to the fore, katanas gliding through the air to slash at the forearms of the massive beast, their long hair shimmering gracefully around them. The Death Panda stumbled as its ligaments were severed, crashing face first until it slid just steps away from Gerhard.
"What is that IDIOT doing?!", Lydia yelled in bafflement as Gerhard still hadn't moved an inch from his location.
"Haaaa", one of the Samurai said knowingly to what looked like obviously her twin, "seems like the newbie is frozen in fear ne, Masumi?"
"Mayumi Nee-san<Sister>, should we help him?", the other Samurai said, as the creature rose slowly to its feet in front of Gerhard who was gazing impassively at it.
"Maaa", resting the back of her katana on her shoulder, "he should experience death sometime in this game. We already tried helping", she shrugged nonchalantly.
Eric however had other thoughts as he roared, "Herr Kommandant! <Commander!>", swinging his battle axe into the back of the creature's leg, causing the Death Panda to miss slightly with the thrusting paw strike towards Gerhard's face.
A thin wound blossomed on Gerhard's right cheek, causing him for the first time to move, reaching up slowly with his hand to touch the red liquid dripping down his face. Bringing his bloodied fingertips to the front, he gazed at it curiously before licking it once, the taste of iron settling on his tongue. Seeming to have decided something for himself, Gerhard nodded once prior to lifting his head up, speaking to the creature as though it might understand him.
"Blood for blood. A fair trade don't you think?", Gerhard said tonelessly. And exploded into violent motion.
*********************************************************************************************
[INTRO SONG: Kono Sekai e Moeru](http://picosong.com/Fqhb/)
*********************************************************************************************
The sound of voices echoed across the vast expanse, a starless night sky hanging in the ceiling of this world as Gerhard woke up in confusion, the cawing of crows growing louder in the surrounding canopies of the trees. The blood red of dawn was rising in the distant horizon, an ill omen for the start of a day, Gerhard rising shakily to his feet and shivering despite himself, for some reason the surroundings looking achingly familiar. With a start Gerhard realised he was on the outskirts of Berlin, facing East… where he knew with increasing dread that the Russian Army had already engaged the beleaguered German Heer<Army> in multiple armoured penetrations all along the disintegrating frontlines and relentless fighting that was probably occurring in the streets behind him.
Yet he knew without doubt why this section of the battlefront was quiet, as he turned a full circle, the burning wrecks of Russian battle tanks littering the wooded area coming into view, bodies of the dead Russian infantry lying bloodily splayed out and broken behind the ruined vehicles. The smell of blood, gunpowder and human guts ripped open finally assaulted Gerhard's senses as he gagged and fell to his knees, trying to vomit but all he could do was dry heave empty air.
Struggling, Gerhard lifted his head as he heard the distinct crunching of boots on gravel, his gaze falling on the uniformed figure striding towards a group of Russian prisoners, all bound with hands behind their backs and kneeling dejectedly. They were guarded by grizzled German combat veterans, their uniforms in various states of disrepair in comparison to the pristine condition of the man's own, fast approaching with the self assurance of an infantry officer…a leader of men.
"Herr Major <Major>", one of the German men, perhaps in his mid twenties, saluted smartly, "We sure showed Ivan <the Russians> a thing or two about what NOT to do against an entrenched position", he chuckled.
"That we did, Karl", the officer replied serenely, glancing at the prisoners like they were no more significant than insects, "that we did".
"Shall I send them to the rear to be interrogated", to which Karl then whispered conspiratorially, "or release them like we usually do? It's not like we can feed them back in HQ… they will probably just get shot anyway".
The officer returned his gaze to the soldier in front of him and shook his head slowly.
"No, don't…", Gerhard whispered, trying to grab the shoulder of the officer, only to have his hand pass through harmlessly like an apparition, the talking figures unaware of Gerhard's existence.
"Follow Hitler's orders", the officer in front of him said, shocking the soldier, one of the few old hands' left who survived Großdeutschland destruction in Prussia. The soldier looked at him askance, as though not quite believing what he was hearing from a man he had served for half a decade.
"Please..!", Gerhard called out desperately, "STOP!"
"Kill them all"
"DON'T GIVE THAT ORDER!", Gerhard screamed… at the mirror image of himself, the crows taking flight into the air, their cries sounding like laughter.
The Gerhard of 1945 did an about turn and walked away, cries of "Nyeht! Nyeht! <No! No!>", coming from the prisoners as the German soldiers reluctantly raise their weapons at them.
Gerhard sobbed as he knew what he was thinking at that time, over half a century ago… what to have for breakfast.
*********************************************************************************************
Max lifted his hands from his head, wondering why he wasn't logged out for being crushed to death, only becoming aware that he was surrounded by a gentle glow reminiscent of that time he first met…
"Lorelei!", Max called out suddenly.
"Hmmm?", was the sleepy response.
"Are you doing this?"
"...doing what?", Lorelei sounding baffled.
"…never mind"
Max began examining the walls around him in fascination, noting the odd peculiarity of the structure. He was basically enclosed in a perfect dome. Even the floor was a perfect circle, where the wall meets the dirt ground was joined seamlessly in an unnatural manner. At first Max thought the walls were glowing in an unbroken stream of light; however he noticed that the light itself was etched into the walls, seeming to pulse along veins of blue silver that stretched out and branched into one another, having no beginning and no end.
"… Max…ummm…s… since we are alone now…can I ask you something?"
"Hmmm?", he replied absentmindedly.
"… who is Jessica?..."
"Eh?"
"…WHO is JESSICA? Hmmm...?"
Sighing, "Jessica is not real", Max explained, "I made her up so that the twins wouldn’t be suspicious about you".
"…ooooh…"
"Yup yup", Max nodded his head happily, finally glad the misunderstanding was solved.
"….liar…"
"Eh?", and coincidentally a rock the size of a golf ball fell on his head…
"Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar!", which was eventually followed by a, "Humph!"
"Ehhhhhh", Max groaned exasperatedly, "W..Why do you think that?", as he rubbed the sore spot on his head that was for once, wasn't caused by Lorelei… well physically. Hell, you know what he means.
"…you sure chased after her REALLY hard…"
"T..that's because-..", Unexpectedly, Max felt a shudder in his mind as Lorelei cried out.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuu, it huuurts", she whimpered.
"W..what is it?", clutching his head with his hand, trying to withstand the throbbing pain.
"…somebody is crying….crying so much…"
"Who is?", Max gritted his teeth.
"Kyaaaaaaa! ", she screamed inside his mind, as though in agony.
"Guhaa!", Max grunted at the force that was unleashed and rampaging in his own head, "L...Lorelei!! What is happening?!!!"
"THERE IS NOTHING! ", she wailed pitifully, "NOTHING THERE AT ALL!!!!"
Max fell to his knees as he clutched his head in pain, shouting, "CALM DOWN! LORELEI!", as he fell to his side, "Y..you're hurting me", he mumbled.
And just as suddenly the pain stopped, Max wearily checking his HP… and was shocked to discover that he was right… he had lost some health points…
"He is crying so much", Lorelei continued to whimper quietly, "but there is nothing there at all".
Woozily, Max shook his head slowly as he asked, "Who is?"
"…an old man…"
He felt a shiver at those words, slow understanding dawning upon him.
"..he is breaking into pieces…Max.. "
As though revitalised, Max stood back up and flung his backpack into the ground in front of him, searching through it hurriedly, flinging unnecessary things aside until he found what he was looking for. Grabbing the wooden handle, Max pulled out his pickaxe, spinning around in a circle and trying to figure out his bearings.
"Lorelei…"
"…… "
"Lorelei!", Max called out urgently, "I need you!"
"Un", she replied weakly, "what do you want me to do?"
Breathing slowly, Max requested, "Can you feel where this… man is?"
"I..I can.. "
"Please try", he begged.
"B…but I am scared…", she cried.
"Shhh, it's ok", Max reassured her, "I am here with you right?"
"…Un…", Max somehow feeling an imaginary nod from her.
"Actually, it's more like you're living inside my head", he joked.
"…uuuuu…you don't want me here?...It's Jessica isn't it?"
"Ehhhh?!! O…of course I do! I always wanted a beautiful girl beside me all the time!", feeling a drop of sweat slide down his forehead… although he would prefer that she wasn't inside a doll like a cursed item you find from a haunted dilapidated house… on a hill surrounded by a cemetery…that is constantly surrounded by fog….crap, he scared himself.
"A-anyway!", he yelled out over loudly to squash the fears Max raised in himself, "Please do it..", he pleaded, "..for me"
"O…ok…"
"And", as though struck by divine intervention, "I will give you a gift later".
"…a gift?…"
"Something between close friends", he smiled, "a nickname".
"…is it something special...?"
"I have never given the twins or Jessica one", omitting the fact that he calls Mayumi 'demon' behind her back and since Jessica is fictional… whilst Masumi is Masumi.
There was a moment of silence, as though Lorelei was thinking on it before she replied, "I..I will do IT!", with an imperceptible note of happiness.
"…uuu you're such a good girl", Max felt intense fulfilment…like a brother of course…, "if only Mayumi was like you".
There was no reply, as though hushed and when the stillness grew into minutes, Max began to get worried… until he heard a weak answer from Lorelei.
"…turn to the right…", she stated almost dreamily, "more…more…back a little", Max doing as he is told as he adjusted his facing until she said, "Stop… this is the way to the mister"
"ALRIGHT!", lifting his pickaxe he brought it down with a resounding clang, chipping away with gusto as he sincerely thanked Lorelei, "GOOD WORK! Now leave the rest TO ME!"
"Max…", tiredly, Lorelei begged, "please, save him"
He redoubled his efforts, hammering away at the rock wall with his pickaxe, the force of the impact causing his arms to tremble in pain. 'You don’t have to tell me that', Max thought silently to himself, 'he is my grandfather after all'.
Unnoticed by Max, the tip of his pickaxe glowed briefly on each reverse swing, as though urging him on…
*********************************************************************************************
It's… it's so strange how one's perception of somebody can be altered in a heartbeat, how just a single gesture or action can redefine a person, like the reforging of a ruined sword or weapon… the man known as Gerhard had perceptibly changed. And to Lydia eyes, when he finally regained the ability to move again… it was as though a dark blade was unsheathed. Seeping with malevolent cruelty.
Without uttering a sound, Gerhard sprung forward and drew a swift overhead cut in the air, using the creature's own force to accelerate himself when it tried to swat him into the ground. Having blocked and deflected down the blow with his sword, he was spun upwards, landing on its forearm sideways after having carved his sword deep into its bone. Arterial blood was spraying upwards unto Gerhard's pants, the red liquid fountaining out in all directions as he stated in a monotone voice, "Hmm… still not enough".
The monster roared in pain, and in reply, it swung its left arm towards him to which Gerhard just aimed the point of his sword from his side and casually absorbed the blow, his body becoming unnaturally limp before his hands tightened around the grip of his sword as he was being flung off his living platform. Gerhard flipped himself unto the swinging Death Panda's arm, using his sword as an anchor as the monster raged in futile protest at this human who seemed to be casually defying it.
Even the twins let out gasps of astonishment at this total reckless way of fighting, where even a moment of misjudgement would spell catastrophic loss of HP or even death and yet… Gerhard walked along that line in perfect balance…as though embracing it. The walls continued to vibrate at this wild struggle, the roars slowly becoming cries of pain as Gerhard twisted his weapon deep into the creature's arm before pulling it out, crouching to race along the limb to finally kneel beside the monster's ear.
"…It is unseemly to make a sound over that, don't you think?", he whispered, as though caressing the words into its ear.
The sight of him talking calmly to the boss mob filled Lydia with a creeping sense of apprehension, that something was not quite right. The Gerhard she knew… the only man that she had spent a long time travelling with, was unbearably kind, sometimes naïve, but always filled with good intentions and understanding. Even towards his enemies. She…she did not know the man who is now, offhandedly stabbing his weapon into the Death Panda's ear after having spoken to it, his face unchanging, unreadable. There was no joy or elation there, no battle madness or a smirk of a tyrant…there was just nothing.
"You really are a lost cause", as the beast yelped helplessly before Gerhard kicked it in the face, the blow shattering its nose as it reeled backwards in a lumbering manner.
The boy William had just finally arrive and Lydia quickly covered his eyes with the hem of her robes, not knowing why she is doing it for a child, let alone an NPC one… but some things should never be seen by anyone. Eric though, felt he had stood on the sidelines long enough and hefted his weapon to rejoin the battle, bringing his axe in an arc to slam into the monster's knee. With vital bones shattering, ligaments torn beyond use, the Death Panda splayed forward, falling ungainly unto it forearms as it gave off a pitiful mewling sound, struggling to rise up defiantly and lashing out in all directions in futility. Using the least amount of movement, Gerhard shifted and swayed his body from side to side to avoid the blows, the strikes brushing by so close that only a master of the blade or someone insane would have ignored it as if it was insignificant. Striding towards the creature's head, he eventually presented himself before it, gazing with empty eyes at the now truly frightened fiend.
"…it is time to collect…", he declared as though he was remarking on the weather… and proceeded to stab the monster in the eye with a machine like efficiency.
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
There was only a light groan as the giant beast finally accepted its fate… but its suffering didn't end yet. Letting go of his weapon, Gerhard strode backwards a few steps before clenching his hand into a fist…and punched the bottom of the sword hilt, hammering the blade deeper into the boss mob's eye and drenching himself in the backsplash of blood.
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
And he did it again.
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
And again.
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
And again.
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
And again.
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Critical Hit! | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
Until it finally shuddered, for all intents and purposes, dead.
There was a stunned silence from all the onlookers at the surreal sight, Lydia having long closed her eyes as she hugged the boy close to her chest, covering all his senses as they both huddled on the floor. She was shivering uncontrollably… this was only a game and yet the acts Lydia had witnessed today was more terrifying than any boss fight or castle siege in other MMORPGs she had played.
But the moment was broken when the Samurai known as Mayumi swung her katana towards the back of Eric's head…. only to have it deflected into the ground, the crash of the impact causing a minor wound in the earth that raced in a straight path for several meters. The dirt was still settling when it revealed Gerhard, sword drawn and gazing at Mayumi steadily, unblinkingly.
"What do you think you are doing to one of my subordinates?", he asked quizzically, pointing his blade towards her face.
"Eeee? Didn't you know?", she smiled sweetly, "there is a bounty on his head", and turning to face Eric who was gazing back with a stony expression, "and we took a hefty commission to retrieve him".
"Ahhh", Gerhard replied, understanding her words but… not really caring, "I do apologise, but I cannot allow anyone under my command to be lost needlessly".
"And thus", Gerhard creaked his neck, "I shall accept his responsibility", assuming a relaxed stance in front of Mayumi.
"Herr Kommandant<Commander>, I… brought this upon myself for my past actions…"
"Silence, Unterfeldwebel <Sergeant>, do not disrupt our bout"
"Sir, I can fight my own battles-…"
"Eric", Gerhard said softly, interrupting him, "You just said I am your commander, right?
"I did, but-…"
"Then OBEY me", Gerhard commanded in a cold tone ringed with an undercurrent of power.
"… Jawohl, Herr Kommandant!" <As you willed, Commander!>, Eric stood to attention, words seeming to threaten to spill from his lips, but years of discipline made sure they were left unsaid.
Mayumi just shrugged, "Well don't regret this, newbie", as she entered into a fighting stance, "Masumi….I don't need your help for this".
"Hai, nee-san<Yes, sister>", came the dutiful response.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Maaa maaa, its fine. This will be over soon anyway", she smiled, assured of victory.
"….Then", he fixed his indifferent eyes upon her, as though seeing deep within and beyond, "don't ever regret the decisions you made"
*********************************************************************************************
| NEXT PREVIEW Title: Familie <Family> I reached out my hands to them… but they are no longer here | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | |
{
"title": "The Dark Side",
"id": 34,
"author": "Vielfras",
"rating": 3.7
} | {
"title": "The Dark Side - Character Stat after Chapter 12",
"id": 52,
"next": null,
"prev": 51,
"prev_info": "",
"next_info": null
} | <div class="chapter-inner chapter-content">
Stat Window<br><br>Avatar: Jon Type: Dark<br>Level: 15 Class: Blood Mage<br>Title: Leader of the Pack<br>+10 Charisma<br>Taming animals is 20% easier and faster.<br>Life: 1066 (+500) Fame: -522 Mana: 530(+250)<br>Strength: 98(+5) Dexterity: 97 Vitality: 61<br>Wisdom: 48 Intelligence: 74 Focus: 13<br>Leadership: 0 Perception: 3 Luck: 0<br>Offence: 9 Defense: 10<br>Resistance to Magic:<br>Air: 1%<br>Cold: 6%<br>Earth: 1%<br>Fire: 3%<br>Holy: 1%<br>Lightning: 1%<br>Affinity to Elements:<br>Air: 1%<br>Ice: 6%<br>Earth: 1%<br>Fire: 3%<br>Holy: 1%<br>Lightning: 1% <br><br>Skill Window<br><br>Masteries:<br>Alchemy Mastery Level 3<br>Archery Mastery Level 3<br> Cooking Mastery Level 5<br>Knife Mastery Level 3<br>Magic Mastery Level 5<br>Sneak Mastery Level 3<br>Sword Mastery Level 1<br><br>Passive Skills:<br>Control Magic Level 3<br>Magic Capacity Level 3<br>Meditation Level 3<br>Owl's Instinct Level 2<br><br>Active Skills:Power Shot Level 2<br>Repair Level 1<br>Sharpening Level 3<br>Silent Strike Level 4<br>Speed Stab Level 3<br><br>Spell Window: <br>Burning Touch Level 1<br>Chilling Grasp Level 1<br>Cone of Frost Level 1<br>Heal Level 2<br>Healing Rain Level 1<br>Ice Dart Level 1<br>Sprout Level 1<br>Static Hand Level 1<br><br><br><br>Mastery<br><br>Archery Mastery<br>Archery mastery affect the ability to use short bows, long bows and crossbow with efficiency.<br>The higher the mastery the better the accuracy of the shoots are.<br>The archery mastery also affects shooting speed and attack power.<br>Level 1 Bonus:<br>Accuracy increased by 5%<br>Attack speed increased by 5%<br>Level 2 Bonus:<br>Accuracy increased by 10%<br>Attack speed increased by 5%<br>Level 3 Bonus:<br>Accuracy increased by 10%<br>Attack speed increased by 10%<br><br>Blood Magic Mastery<br>This skill governs your control over magic cast with vitality instead of magic.<br>Blood magic is stronger than simple magic but using it comes with many risks.<br>Higher mastery will reduce the pain that comes with the use of ones health. It will also increase the power of your blood magic and help you with controlling your spells.<br>Level 1: Blood magic is 20% more powerful.<br><br>Knife/Dagger Mastery<br>Increases efficiency of handling knives and daggers.<br>When using a knife or a dagger, depending on your level of mastery, the following bonuses will be applied:<br>Attack Speed: +5%<br>Attack Power: +5%<br>Level 2: Attack Speed +8%<br>Attack Power +5%<br>Level 3: Attack Speed 10%<br>Attack Power +5%<br><br>Magic Mastery<br>The basis of all magic, Magic Mastery gives a player control over his Magic Power.<br>The higher your mastery of control is, the stronger the magic that you perform is.<br>The higher the skill level is the faster you can cast spells.<br>Warning: Casting high level magic with a low level of Magic Mastery is dangerous and may result in death.<br>Level 5 effects: Can cast beginner level spells.<br>Casting speed increased by 10%<br><br>Sneak Mastery<br>Helps the player hide his presence and blend into the surroundings.<br>The grandmaster sneak is even able to hide himself in plain sight.<br>Level 3 effect: You are 10% harder to see.<br>You make 5% less noise when moving.<br><br>Sword Mastery<br>Sword master affect your ability to use swords efficiently.<br>The higher the skill level, the easier it will become to perform powerful and elaborate techniques.<br>Level 1: Attack Power +5%<br>Attack Speed +5%<br><br><br><br><br><br>Skills<br><br>Control Magic Passive Skill<br>A passive skill that heightens your control over the spells you cast. Good magic control can prevent area of effect spells (AoE) from hitting your allies while buff and de-buff spells can be applied on many targets at once.<br>Even the most basic of magic can be used in a verity of ways when you have enough control over it.<br>Lvl: 3<br><br>Drain Life Skill<br>Just like a mage can increase his mana flow and learn how to gather mana from his surroundings, the blood mage can collect life force from living beings.<br>As long as the blood mage has living things around him he can toy with the aspect of immortality. Taking the life force of others into himself, the blood mage will be healed from even the most grave of injuries and illnesses.<br>Level 1: Heal 1 Hp for every 50Hp drained<br>Drain 25 Hp a second. <br>Magic Capacity Passive Skill<br>This skill lowers the backlash of misfiring spells and reduces the damage taken when casting spells that require higher magic mastery than you have.<br>Magic capacity also guards from the damage taken when casting spells that need more Mp than you currently have.<br>Lvl: 3<br><br>Meditation Skill<br>By maintaining correct breathing and mental focus for long periods the mage can force his body to become more compatible with the arcane powers.<br>During this state of awareness the mage's mana points return at an accelerated rate.<br>One of the many side effects of this passive state is increased mana.<br>Level 1: +5 Mp every level up.<br>Affect while active: 1Mp every second.<br>Level 2: +10 Mp every level up.<br>Affect while active: 2Mp every second.<br>Level 3: +15 Mp every level up.<br>Affect while active: 3Mp every second.<br><br>Owl's Instincts Skill<br>The owl, the shadow of the night. It hunt's under the moonlight managing to catch and kill pray with easy even in the darkest of nights.<br>With instincts so honed he manages to REPLACE his talons into his targets vital spots at amazing speed and with incredible precision even under the most difficult conditions.<br>Users of bows have strived to achieve their astounding feats throughout the ages.<br>Level 1: Critical Hit Chance +5%<br><br>Power Shot Skill<br>By temporarily surrounding the bow with mana, the longbow man can draw the arrow farther than the bows maximum breaking point.<br>This allows the longbow man to fire an arrow that deals more damage and has a higher chance of penetrating the target.<br>Level 1: Maximum firing distance 30m<br>Attack power increased by 10%<br>Cost: 20 MP<br><br>Repair Skill Applying this skill on a piece of equipment will return it to its maximum durability.<br>Low level skill will need more than one time to restore all durability while a high level of this skill can increase the durability over the maximum amount, thus strengthening the equipment.<br>Notice: Can only be applied on metal.<br><br>Sharpening Skill<br>By the use of a grinding stone, wet stone, sharpening belt and a variety of other tools, you can return the edge of a weapon back to its original sharpness.<br>With good knowledge of sharpening, a weapon can even exceed its original attack power.<br>WARNING: Sharpening may result in durability loss.<br><br>Silent Strike Skill<br>This skill can only be used if the target is unaware of you presence.<br>It will deliver a fast and silent blow to your target.<br>The skill works with weapons, magic and hand to hand combat.<br>Level 1: Deal 10% more damage.<br>Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.<br>Cost: 50 Mp<br>Level 2: Deal 13% more damage.<br>Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.<br>Cost: 45 Mp<br>Level 3: Deal 15% more damage.<br>Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.<br>Cost: 45 Mp<br>Level 4: Deal 15% more damage.<br>Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.<br>Critical damage increased by 5%.Cost: 45 Mp<br><br>Soul Trap Skill<br>A dangerous consequence of using the "Drain Life" skill without care is this evil result.<br>When the player uses this skill with full Hp the drained life force doesn't have anywhere to go so it just lingers around the player.<br>If such a user continues to drain the target's life until the target dies, the lingering life force that doesn't know where to go will keep the soul of the dead target behind so that it has a place to stay. The soul of the dead player can then be used by the player for powering up his own skills and spells.<br>The soul can be placed in an appropriate container for future use. There are many such containers but precious gemstones are the most common, with a higher grade of gem stone being able to hold more than one soul.<br>When the soul is used for such an action it will be consumed and will no longer be part of the circle of life, never able to reincarnate.<br>Warning: Excessive soul trapping can anger the gods for messing with the circle of life.<br>Level 1: Can trap souls of level five and lower.<br><br>Speed Stab Skill<br>The skill allows you to perform a stabbing motion with your weapon of choice, with a speed that far accedes your normal abilities.<br>The motion is so fast; it allows you to perform multiple stabs in the time it would have taken you to make one.<br>Level 1: Number of stabs: 2<br>Mp cost: 20<br>Level 2: Number of stabs: 2<br>Attack power +5%<br>Mp Cost: 20<br><br><br><br><br>Affinity<br><br>Air Affinity<br>Knowing that air is not an empty vacuum but is made out of countless atoms, particles and even living beings, the mage can use his mana to manipulate the air around him to his needs.<br>Magic of this affinity is the hardest to control as air depending on where you are standing however spells of this affinity are consume the least amount of Mp put of all spells.<br>Affinity: 1%<br><br>Earth Affinity<br>Specializing in large scale spells, the practitioners of earth magic can summon the force of nature itself and transform the face of the planets surface.<br>By sending mana down into the ground and using the earth itself as a conductor, earth spells do not suffer a distance penalty like other spells.<br>Affinity: 1%<br><br>Fire Affinity<br>Manipulating your magic power you can now forcefully create friction between atoms to create a small spark.<br>Feeding the spark your mana, you are able to start a flame anywhere and everywhere.<br>Better affinity with the fire elements allows you to create bigger and hotter flames with less mana consumption.<br>Affinity: 1%<br><br>Holy Affinity<br>You have learned to channel holy power through your body and to your spells.<br>Increasing your affinity with the element will raise the efficiency and power of holy spells.<br>Affinity: 1%<br><br>Ice Affinity<br>You have learned to channel the ice element through your body and to your spells.<br>Increasing your affinity with the element will raise the efficiency and power of ice spells.<br>Affinity: 1%<br><br>Lighting Affinity<br>Tapping into the natural reserves of electricity in the atmosphere you can use your magic to channel it through your body.<br>Lightening spells deal the most damage and cost almost nothing to cast.<br>However, the lighting element is amongst the hardest elements to control, and is highly unstable.<br>Affinity: 1%<br><br><br>Spells<br><br>"Burning Touch" Spell<br>With the use of mana you can create a small flame and spread it around your palm. While the spell is active the mana channels the fire affinity and protects your skin from harm while at the same time raising the temperature of the fire until the palm of your hand glows in an almost white light from the intense heat.<br>Cost: 5 Mp every second.<br><br>"Cone of Frost" Spell<br>By channeling the ice element through your body, you are able to quickly collect the surrounding moisture surrounding you, and expel in a chosen direction as frozen mist.<br>Projected in the shape of a cone, the mist slows down your opponents and pushes them away from you.<br>The small, sharp ice particles damage your opponent's health and have a small chance of completely freezing the target.<br>Level 1: Freeze Chance - 2%<br>Cone Angle: 15 degrees<br>Cost: 5 MP every second<br>Lecel 2: Freeze Chance - 4%<br>Cone Angle: 20 degrees<br>Cost: 5 MP every second<br><br>"Chilling Grasp" Spell<br>While the spell is active the temperature around your hand lowers drastically, creating liquid dioxide which is then spread around your hand like a glove.<br>Your skin is protected from the freezing cold but anything touched by the liquid will freeze.<br>Cost: 5 Mp every second.<br><br>"Healing Rain" Spell<br>An area of effect spell that conjures rain clouds out of thin air.<br>The clouds than condense holy power into liquid form that drops to the ground as rain.<br>Anyone touched by the drops will have its Hp restored.<br>While each drop by itself has very little healing power, sustaining the clouds for even a small period of time can completely heal hundreds of targets completely.<br>Level 1: AoE size – 15m radius.<br>Restore rate: 1Hp per drop.<br><br>"Heal" Spell<br>By channeling the holy element through your magic you can apply your mana to heal yourself and others.<br>For the spell to take affect you must touch the target directly.<br>Level 2: Amount of health points healed becomes higher.<br>.<br><br>"Ice Dart" Spell<br>Controlling the ice element with your mana, you are able to freeze the water in the air.<br>By shaping the ice into the form of a large dart you are then able to propel the projectile forward using you magic power.<br>The dart flies in a straight line and upon impact causes freeze damage and turns the area of impact to ice.<br><br>"Sprout" Spell<br>With the use of mana, an earth mage who has knowledge of ice or water magic can force a plant or seed to grow at an accelerated rate.<br>Unless the mage knows everything there is about the plant, the adult plant will not be able to complete with an original both in size and offered effect.<br>Cost: 500 Mp<br><br>"Static Hand" Spell<br>The spell amplifies the electric signals in your body and directs their energy to your hand.<br>The mana stores the extra electricity around your hand and releases it upon touch.<br>Affects: 3% chance to stun your opponent.<br>Cost: 5 Mp every second.<br><br><br>Buffs<br><br>"Back Wind"<br>By manipulating the air around you force it to turn into a gust of wind that continuously hits you in the back and pushes you forward.<br>Affects: Movement Speed Rises By 5%<br>Duration: 10 Minutes<br>Cost: 150 Mp<br><br>"Swift"<br>While the buff is active unnecessary movement are reduced and every action you perform becomes cleaner and more optimal.<br>Cost: 50 Mp<br>Effect: Speed Increases by 5%<br>Duration: 2 Minutes<br><br><br><br>Achievments<br><br>Going Up<br>You've earned this achievement for climbing a 100 meter tree.<br>Bonus: +5 Strength<br><br>Five Out Of Five<br>You've earned this achievement for acquiring all five element affinities available to beginner mages.<br>This had to be completed before magic mastery skill rose to level six for the achievement to count.<br>Bonus: +100 Mana<br><br>Achievements Earned: 2/76847<br><br>Quest Window<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">In Progress:</span><br>Helping the Bookkeeper<br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Completed:</span><br>Family Matters<br>Frozen Vegetables
</div> | Stat Window
Avatar: Jon Type: Dark
Level: 15 Class: Blood Mage
Title: Leader of the Pack
+10 Charisma
Taming animals is 20% easier and faster.
Life: 1066 (+500) Fame: -522 Mana: 530(+250)
Strength: 98(+5) Dexterity: 97 Vitality: 61
Wisdom: 48 Intelligence: 74 Focus: 13
Leadership: 0 Perception: 3 Luck: 0
Offence: 9 Defense: 10
Resistance to Magic:
Air: 1%
Cold: 6%
Earth: 1%
Fire: 3%
Holy: 1%
Lightning: 1%
Affinity to Elements:
Air: 1%
Ice: 6%
Earth: 1%
Fire: 3%
Holy: 1%
Lightning: 1%
Skill Window
Masteries:
Alchemy Mastery Level 3
Archery Mastery Level 3
Cooking Mastery Level 5
Knife Mastery Level 3
Magic Mastery Level 5
Sneak Mastery Level 3
Sword Mastery Level 1
Passive Skills:
Control Magic Level 3
Magic Capacity Level 3
Meditation Level 3
Owl's Instinct Level 2
Active Skills:Power Shot Level 2
Repair Level 1
Sharpening Level 3
Silent Strike Level 4
Speed Stab Level 3
Spell Window:
Burning Touch Level 1
Chilling Grasp Level 1
Cone of Frost Level 1
Heal Level 2
Healing Rain Level 1
Ice Dart Level 1
Sprout Level 1
Static Hand Level 1
Mastery
Archery Mastery
Archery mastery affect the ability to use short bows, long bows and crossbow with efficiency.
The higher the mastery the better the accuracy of the shoots are.
The archery mastery also affects shooting speed and attack power.
Level 1 Bonus:
Accuracy increased by 5%
Attack speed increased by 5%
Level 2 Bonus:
Accuracy increased by 10%
Attack speed increased by 5%
Level 3 Bonus:
Accuracy increased by 10%
Attack speed increased by 10%
Blood Magic Mastery
This skill governs your control over magic cast with vitality instead of magic.
Blood magic is stronger than simple magic but using it comes with many risks.
Higher mastery will reduce the pain that comes with the use of ones health. It will also increase the power of your blood magic and help you with controlling your spells.
Level 1: Blood magic is 20% more powerful.
Knife/Dagger Mastery
Increases efficiency of handling knives and daggers.
When using a knife or a dagger, depending on your level of mastery, the following bonuses will be applied:
Attack Speed: +5%
Attack Power: +5%
Level 2: Attack Speed +8%
Attack Power +5%
Level 3: Attack Speed 10%
Attack Power +5%
Magic Mastery
The basis of all magic, Magic Mastery gives a player control over his Magic Power.
The higher your mastery of control is, the stronger the magic that you perform is.
The higher the skill level is the faster you can cast spells.
Warning: Casting high level magic with a low level of Magic Mastery is dangerous and may result in death.
Level 5 effects: Can cast beginner level spells.
Casting speed increased by 10%
Sneak Mastery
Helps the player hide his presence and blend into the surroundings.
The grandmaster sneak is even able to hide himself in plain sight.
Level 3 effect: You are 10% harder to see.
You make 5% less noise when moving.
Sword Mastery
Sword master affect your ability to use swords efficiently.
The higher the skill level, the easier it will become to perform powerful and elaborate techniques.
Level 1: Attack Power +5%
Attack Speed +5%
Skills
Control Magic Passive Skill
A passive skill that heightens your control over the spells you cast. Good magic control can prevent area of effect spells (AoE) from hitting your allies while buff and de-buff spells can be applied on many targets at once.
Even the most basic of magic can be used in a verity of ways when you have enough control over it.
Lvl: 3
Drain Life Skill
Just like a mage can increase his mana flow and learn how to gather mana from his surroundings, the blood mage can collect life force from living beings.
As long as the blood mage has living things around him he can toy with the aspect of immortality. Taking the life force of others into himself, the blood mage will be healed from even the most grave of injuries and illnesses.
Level 1: Heal 1 Hp for every 50Hp drained
Drain 25 Hp a second.
Magic Capacity Passive Skill
This skill lowers the backlash of misfiring spells and reduces the damage taken when casting spells that require higher magic mastery than you have.
Magic capacity also guards from the damage taken when casting spells that need more Mp than you currently have.
Lvl: 3
Meditation Skill
By maintaining correct breathing and mental focus for long periods the mage can force his body to become more compatible with the arcane powers.
During this state of awareness the mage's mana points return at an accelerated rate.
One of the many side effects of this passive state is increased mana.
Level 1: +5 Mp every level up.
Affect while active: 1Mp every second.
Level 2: +10 Mp every level up.
Affect while active: 2Mp every second.
Level 3: +15 Mp every level up.
Affect while active: 3Mp every second.
Owl's Instincts Skill
The owl, the shadow of the night. It hunt's under the moonlight managing to catch and kill pray with easy even in the darkest of nights.
With instincts so honed he manages to REPLACE his talons into his targets vital spots at amazing speed and with incredible precision even under the most difficult conditions.
Users of bows have strived to achieve their astounding feats throughout the ages.
Level 1: Critical Hit Chance +5%
Power Shot Skill
By temporarily surrounding the bow with mana, the longbow man can draw the arrow farther than the bows maximum breaking point.
This allows the longbow man to fire an arrow that deals more damage and has a higher chance of penetrating the target.
Level 1: Maximum firing distance 30m
Attack power increased by 10%
Cost: 20 MP
Repair Skill Applying this skill on a piece of equipment will return it to its maximum durability.
Low level skill will need more than one time to restore all durability while a high level of this skill can increase the durability over the maximum amount, thus strengthening the equipment.
Notice: Can only be applied on metal.
Sharpening Skill
By the use of a grinding stone, wet stone, sharpening belt and a variety of other tools, you can return the edge of a weapon back to its original sharpness.
With good knowledge of sharpening, a weapon can even exceed its original attack power.
WARNING: Sharpening may result in durability loss.
Silent Strike Skill
This skill can only be used if the target is unaware of you presence.
It will deliver a fast and silent blow to your target.
The skill works with weapons, magic and hand to hand combat.
Level 1: Deal 10% more damage.
Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.
Cost: 50 Mp
Level 2: Deal 13% more damage.
Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.
Cost: 45 Mp
Level 3: Deal 15% more damage.
Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.
Cost: 45 Mp
Level 4: Deal 15% more damage.
Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.
Critical damage increased by 5%.Cost: 45 Mp
Soul Trap Skill
A dangerous consequence of using the "Drain Life" skill without care is this evil result.
When the player uses this skill with full Hp the drained life force doesn't have anywhere to go so it just lingers around the player.
If such a user continues to drain the target's life until the target dies, the lingering life force that doesn't know where to go will keep the soul of the dead target behind so that it has a place to stay. The soul of the dead player can then be used by the player for powering up his own skills and spells.
The soul can be placed in an appropriate container for future use. There are many such containers but precious gemstones are the most common, with a higher grade of gem stone being able to hold more than one soul.
When the soul is used for such an action it will be consumed and will no longer be part of the circle of life, never able to reincarnate.
Warning: Excessive soul trapping can anger the gods for messing with the circle of life.
Level 1: Can trap souls of level five and lower.
Speed Stab Skill
The skill allows you to perform a stabbing motion with your weapon of choice, with a speed that far accedes your normal abilities.
The motion is so fast; it allows you to perform multiple stabs in the time it would have taken you to make one.
Level 1: Number of stabs: 2
Mp cost: 20
Level 2: Number of stabs: 2
Attack power +5%
Mp Cost: 20
Affinity
Air Affinity
Knowing that air is not an empty vacuum but is made out of countless atoms, particles and even living beings, the mage can use his mana to manipulate the air around him to his needs.
Magic of this affinity is the hardest to control as air depending on where you are standing however spells of this affinity are consume the least amount of Mp put of all spells.
Affinity: 1%
Earth Affinity
Specializing in large scale spells, the practitioners of earth magic can summon the force of nature itself and transform the face of the planets surface.
By sending mana down into the ground and using the earth itself as a conductor, earth spells do not suffer a distance penalty like other spells.
Affinity: 1%
Fire Affinity
Manipulating your magic power you can now forcefully create friction between atoms to create a small spark.
Feeding the spark your mana, you are able to start a flame anywhere and everywhere.
Better affinity with the fire elements allows you to create bigger and hotter flames with less mana consumption.
Affinity: 1%
Holy Affinity
You have learned to channel holy power through your body and to your spells.
Increasing your affinity with the element will raise the efficiency and power of holy spells.
Affinity: 1%
Ice Affinity
You have learned to channel the ice element through your body and to your spells.
Increasing your affinity with the element will raise the efficiency and power of ice spells.
Affinity: 1%
Lighting Affinity
Tapping into the natural reserves of electricity in the atmosphere you can use your magic to channel it through your body.
Lightening spells deal the most damage and cost almost nothing to cast.
However, the lighting element is amongst the hardest elements to control, and is highly unstable.
Affinity: 1%
Spells
"Burning Touch" Spell
With the use of mana you can create a small flame and spread it around your palm. While the spell is active the mana channels the fire affinity and protects your skin from harm while at the same time raising the temperature of the fire until the palm of your hand glows in an almost white light from the intense heat.
Cost: 5 Mp every second.
"Cone of Frost" Spell
By channeling the ice element through your body, you are able to quickly collect the surrounding moisture surrounding you, and expel in a chosen direction as frozen mist.
Projected in the shape of a cone, the mist slows down your opponents and pushes them away from you.
The small, sharp ice particles damage your opponent's health and have a small chance of completely freezing the target.
Level 1: Freeze Chance - 2%
Cone Angle: 15 degrees
Cost: 5 MP every second
Lecel 2: Freeze Chance - 4%
Cone Angle: 20 degrees
Cost: 5 MP every second
"Chilling Grasp" Spell
While the spell is active the temperature around your hand lowers drastically, creating liquid dioxide which is then spread around your hand like a glove.
Your skin is protected from the freezing cold but anything touched by the liquid will freeze.
Cost: 5 Mp every second.
"Healing Rain" Spell
An area of effect spell that conjures rain clouds out of thin air.
The clouds than condense holy power into liquid form that drops to the ground as rain.
Anyone touched by the drops will have its Hp restored.
While each drop by itself has very little healing power, sustaining the clouds for even a small period of time can completely heal hundreds of targets completely.
Level 1: AoE size – 15m radius.
Restore rate: 1Hp per drop.
"Heal" Spell
By channeling the holy element through your magic you can apply your mana to heal yourself and others.
For the spell to take affect you must touch the target directly.
Level 2: Amount of health points healed becomes higher.
.
"Ice Dart" Spell
Controlling the ice element with your mana, you are able to freeze the water in the air.
By shaping the ice into the form of a large dart you are then able to propel the projectile forward using you magic power.
The dart flies in a straight line and upon impact causes freeze damage and turns the area of impact to ice.
"Sprout" Spell
With the use of mana, an earth mage who has knowledge of ice or water magic can force a plant or seed to grow at an accelerated rate.
Unless the mage knows everything there is about the plant, the adult plant will not be able to complete with an original both in size and offered effect.
Cost: 500 Mp
"Static Hand" Spell
The spell amplifies the electric signals in your body and directs their energy to your hand.
The mana stores the extra electricity around your hand and releases it upon touch.
Affects: 3% chance to stun your opponent.
Cost: 5 Mp every second.
Buffs
"Back Wind"
By manipulating the air around you force it to turn into a gust of wind that continuously hits you in the back and pushes you forward.
Affects: Movement Speed Rises By 5%
Duration: 10 Minutes
Cost: 150 Mp
"Swift"
While the buff is active unnecessary movement are reduced and every action you perform becomes cleaner and more optimal.
Cost: 50 Mp
Effect: Speed Increases by 5%
Duration: 2 Minutes
Achievments
Going Up
You've earned this achievement for climbing a 100 meter tree.
Bonus: +5 Strength
Five Out Of Five
You've earned this achievement for acquiring all five element affinities available to beginner mages.
This had to be completed before magic mastery skill rose to level six for the achievement to count.
Bonus: +100 Mana
Achievements Earned: 2/76847
Quest Window
In Progress:
Helping the Bookkeeper
Completed:
Family Matters
Frozen Vegetables |
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"id": 66,
"author": "saxenas1",
"rating": 4.5
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"title": "Vol 1: Chapter 5 - Weed?",
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} | "<div class=\"chapter-inner chapter-content\">\n Lee Hyun stared at a bunch of graphs(...TRUNCATED) | "Lee Hyun stared at a bunch of graphs shining on a screen in front of him. The first one showed the (...TRUNCATED) |
{
"title": "Elementarem Vim by Saxenas1",
"id": 66,
"author": "saxenas1",
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End of preview. Expand
in Dataset Viewer.
KaraKaraWitch/the-royal-carpet
A processed version of KaraKaraWitch/Imperial-Avenue.
Dedicated to a very special Auri. Keep rockin' on!
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Rough Notes
- Removed Anti-Scrape hidden text (aka anti-air defense)
- Extracted novel / fiction id, title, novel overall rating (0.0 - 5.0)
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- I had to process everything in some pretty cursed css selectors that will probably break if they change around the stuff.
textshould be usable but it's adviced to clean it up a bit more.- No need to join the split jsonl.
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