Chapter 4 – Barbarians

Daos followed as Meister Reichart scrambled out of his office, mumbling about whether he’d remembered to grab everything. The Academy’s main hall was a hive of activity as Meisters organized students into various groups, calling out orders left and right.

“Well, shite on a pike,” the Meister said under his breath. “you’re the only Outsider here right now. Don’t bother falling in line with them. Stick close to me. Ah, Meister Oric, you’re just in time! The three of us will join the others at the South Gate.”

The old man looked Daos up and down, glanced at Meister Reichart, and nodded. “This attack wasn’t expected so soon, but we knew it would happen eventually. Let us be off, posthaste.”

Daos followed them, checking his stats while they made their way out of the Academy and down the steps to the main square. He’d gained another 330 Experience Points somewhere along the way.

Swiping his [Character Sheet] away, Daos saw that the town square noticeably emptier than he’d ever seen it. Shutters were being slammed closed from the inside and vendors were hastily packing up their stalls. Others were heading down one of the four main roads leading away, likely to help defend a main gate.

They turned down the same road Daos was now familiar with and kept a brisk pace toward the South Gate.

The smithery was empty and the tailor’s windows were shuttered as well.

Obviously, an attack like this happens periodically if everyone is so quick to act on those warning bells. Maybe it’s part of low-level play, like an introduction to raids or just to teach the basics of combat?

As they approached the gate, the three of them had to weave their way through the town guards and others alike. Based on the movements of some folks that appeared more erratic than others, he figured a large handful of them must be other players.

“Up to the battlements above the gate, we will be of more use up there!” Meister Oric ordered, and they began to climb the steep stone steps next to the viewport where Daos had delivered the missive on his first day.

Daos paused to marvel as he reached the thin walkway at the top of the wall. Look at them all, he thought, staring at the barbarian horde just outside of town.

How do the servers render this many characters without lag? There’s gotta be a couple hundred, and I can see more around the bend toward the East and West Gates, not to mention all the townspeople behind me!

He looked over his shoulder, saw Nadia in the crowd below, and waved. She smiled grimly up at him in recognition and gave him a nod, then turned to help another warrior with his armor.

Man, she looks badass with that sword and shield, almost like one of those Valkyrie statues where I resurrected.

“Archers! Ready! Fire!” he heard as he turned back toward the threat, and what had to be fifty or more arrows filled the sky above of him, each on its own path toward an enemy combatant on the field below.

Looking both directions along the ramparts, Daos saw pockets of other mages mixed in with the archers. As the bowmen let loose another round of arrows, the mages began firing spells to accompany them. Beams of various colors, electricity, and fireballs all shot through the air below the arc of arrows.

“Ready yourself, Acolyte Daos! Your spells may not yet be powerful, but if you choose your targets wisely you can still help this day.” Meister Reichart shouted as he fired off an almost translucent bolt from his wand.

Daos raised his own wand, searching the horde below for a wounded enemy. The barbarians were already charging the walls, slamming into the gate below him while others attempted to hoist ladders or throw ropes with hooks to the top of the battlements.

Finally, he saw an opening and took his chance, aiming his wand at a combatant with two arrows sticking out of his shoulders.

Arcane Bolt! He thought, trying to keep his focus on that particular individual.

A purple blast of raw energy burst forth from the tip of his wand, providing a little bit of kickback. It flew straight and true, much faster than the arrows around it, and splashed across the barbarian’s face.

[Critical Hit! 4 Damage Dealt]

The message popped up only long enough for him to see it in his peripheral vision before fading on its own.

He threw another bolt, and then another at the same NPC. At least I assume it’s not a player?

[Hit! 3 Damage Dealt]

[Hit! 3 Damage Dealt – you have slain a Barbarian Berserker!]

[Level Up! Points to spend: 2 – Congratulations! You have just earned another level. You are now Level 4!]

That last message front and center and didn’t fade on its own. He swiped it away, annoyed that it would block his view right in the middle of a battle.

There must be a setting to disable that, or make it fade away automatically like the combat notifications, right?

“Daos, make haste! I just received word from one of the other Meisters that the East Gate has fallen! This one is holding. Meister Oric and I are going to head there and help.”

Daos looked down behind him and found Nadia in the crowd once more. She was staring intently at the gate, crouched slightly in a combat ready stance.

“Actually, Meister Reichart, you two go on ahead. I’m going to help hold here.”

“Young Aco-“ he was cut off by Meister Oric grabbing him by the shoulder as he hurried toward the stairs.

“Daos is an Outsider, he’ll be fine! We must hurry if we’re going to be of any help!”

Meister Reichart nodded and turned to follow lest he be pulled off his feet, as Meister Oric was pulling stubbornly at his robe.

Daos watched them descend the stairs, stealing another glance at Nadia.

He recognized the warrior next to her. He was wearing mismatched plate mail, and was the customer Daos had bumped into when he’d embarrassed himself at the smithery yesterday.

What a goofy looking guy. Definitely a player.

Daos turned back to the battle outside and threw a few more Arcane Bolts. There were so many enemies below he stopped bothering trying to determine who was wounded, instead hoping the small he dealt would contribute to the overall damage output of the archers and other mages.

A loud crack from below made him jump, and he looked down to see that the barbarians had a stripped tree trunk and were hammering it into the gate. He could hear the wood splinter.

How did I not see them carry that all the way up here?

At the next crashing sound, the guards and soldiers in the courtyard below shouted out. Daos turned and saw them all tensing up. It wouldn’t be long before the South Gate fell, like the East.

I’ve gotta do something. This is an intro battle, right? That means it’s beatable.

The vibration rattled through him as a loud thud resounded behind him, and Daos turned back toward the outside as a ladder hit the battlements. It jerked slightly, a sign that someone was climbing it.

Quickly he leaned forward and tried to push the ladder away, but was barely able to make it budge.

Great.

A horned helmet came into view, followed by a bearded face upon which eyes glowed red with rage. Before he could wonder if that meant the barbarian had some kind of buff spell on him, the beast of a man brought a club up and over the ramparts toward Daos.

Shit, shield! Arcane Shield!

His vision shimmered just in time, and the force of the blow dropped his shield just as fast as he’d raised it. Daos was sent skidding backward and right off the stairs. He tumbled, shield gone, and crashed onto the cobblestones below.

[2 Damage Taken! HP: 8/10]

He looked up to see the barbarian flung from the wall by a spell fired by another mage.

I hope he breaks every bone on his way down, that hurt! Wait, that legitimately hurt! Just how deep does this immersion go? I know Dark Times Online never felt real enough with only pressure sensors, but if 2 points of damage hurts this much, I don’t want to imagine what that club would have done. Shit, I need to raise my Hit Points fast.

Another boom shook the South Gate as it burst inward, shards of wood flying toward the guardsman just inside.

Well, crap. Daos opened his Character Sheet as fast as he could, dumping both points from his level up into [ENDURANCE] in the hopes he would survive longer.

He watched as his Hit Point maximum increased from 10 to 14, though his current 8 remained the same. He frantically reached down for his tome and opened it, hoping to find an empty square despite not dropping any more points into [POWER].

Sweet, and not a moment too soon!

While Meister Reichart wasn’t there to offer him the spell, Daos closed his eyes and focused on what the pop-up menu had looked like when he was initially offered his choice the last time. [Mental Missive], [Chromatic Orb], and [Arcane Trigger]. He concentrated on [Mental Missive], willing it to let him pick the spell despite not having it presented to him.

The empty square in his tome filled with an image of a rectangle that had lines across it, like text on a parchment.

Yes! Okay, Mental Missive!

[Error – Mental Missive requires a target]

Hmm… Mental Missive, Meister Reichart!

The edges of his vision pulsed gently, indicating a successful cast.

Meister, the South Gate has been uh, what’s the word? Breached! The South Gate has been breached!

[Mental Missive sent]

Barbarians began to push their way through the opening, though so far it was acting like a corridor and the front line of the town guardsman were doing alright. A few had fallen, but more were ready to step forward.

Daos risked one more glance at his spells and smiled.

[Arcane Bolt: 4 Points of Arcane Damage]

[Arcane Shield Absorption: 14 Points of Damage. Duration: 10 Seconds]

Well the damage didn’t really increase, but at least the minimum of 3 is gone, just a steady 4 now. Shield is a bit nicer, so I’ll take it.

“Wooooo!” a shout of glee pulled Daos’s attention back to the battle ahead of him.

He watched the goofy warrior in the mismatched armor cheer again as he grabbed an already half-severed arm from a barbarian and ripped it off. He then proceeded to beat the enemy to death with it before throwing it at another enemy.

The dude doesn’t even have a weapon, he’s just grabbing random stuff! And his armor looks random too. What a weirdo.

He watched as the warrior gave another shout, and pushed further toward the front gate, obviously eager to fight.

Daos looked around for Nadia but couldn’t see her in the chaos that erupted as the barbarians edged their way further into town. He started slinging Arcane Bolts as fast as he could, but only occasionally managed to take an enemy down, and only then if they were already wounded.

[4 Damage Dealt – you have slain a Barbarian Scout!]

**** **** ****

Daos lost track of time as the fight carried on.

[4 Damage Dealt – you have slain a Barbarian Grunt!]

[4 Damage Dealt – you have slain a Barbarian Berserker!]

He crouched to catch his breath after taking down two more enemies that likely would have bled out from their wounds regardless of his interference.

All I’m doing is kill-stealing, really. Why am I so tired? Right, no willpower yet. I guess I don’t have the energy to keep casting spells like this, damn. I can see my Hit Points, but nothing about Mana.

His thoughts were interrupted as a boot hit the ground in front of him and skidded to the side.

“Ugh, sod off ya gommy bawheeded plamf!”

I know that burr voice! Daos looked up and saw Nadia blocking another blow with her shield.

Arcane Shield!

Daos leapt up from his crouch as the shimmer surrounded him, barreling into the barbarian swinging at the blacksmith.

Arcane Bolt!

He sent bolt after bolt toward the enemy as the barbarian fell backward, before Nadia finished him off with a coup de grace as he hit the ground.

“Thank ye, mage.” She smiled as she caught her breath, and again Daos noticed her dimples.

Man, what is it with me and dimples?

“Woo, yeah!” the goofy warrior, now splattered half-red with blood, ran between them. Once again weaponless, he grabbed Nadia’s shield and used it to bash a barbarian behind Daos in the face, killing him in one blow. Daos could swear he heard the man’s skull crack and crunch.

The warrior tossed the shield back to Nadia, gave another whoop of glee and dashed back off into the fray.

“Well, that guy’s excited,” Daos said to nobody. If he’s a player, why doesn’t he have a weapon?

“Aye, lives for battle, that one. An’ speakin’ of,” Nadia replied, turning herself back once more and seeking out another barbarian.

“Point taken,” Daos muttered though he knew she couldn’t hear. Arcane Bolt!

In the time it took him to feel exhausted once more, he hadn’t managed to kill another enemy. Nadia had downed at least four. Makes sense though. If she’s the master blacksmith, she’s gotta be a pretty high level.

[Income Mental Missive: Acolyte Daos! This is Meister Oric. We are a bit preoccupied here but Meister Reichart relayed your message. I am sending someone you may know to help you. The Western Gate has also fallen. End Missive]

Daos swiped it away. Who else do I know?

Arcane Shield! He thought, just in time as a sword came at him from the right. It sparked off the shield, and this time the shimmer remained.

It held! He must not be that high a level. Arcane Bolt!

[4 Damage Dealt]

It hit the barbarian full in the chest, and the man grunted, his left arm dropping limp at his side. Daos’s second Arcane Bolt missed as the barbarian lunged forward, slightly lopsided now that he was holding his two-handed sword with only his right hand.

The Arcane Shield dropped.

Arcane Bolt!

[4 Damage – you have slain a Barbarian Scout!]

Another enemy was there to take the scout’s place as he fell to the ground.

Does this never end? Arcane Shield!

[You must wait 27 more seconds before you can cast Arcane Shield]

Oh sh-

[6 Damage Taken! HP: 2/14]

Red pulsed at the edges of Daos’s vision, a throbbing reminder that he was likely to die soon if he wasn’t careful. His head throbbed in time with the red pulsing, a painful reminder that he could feel here.

I’m too tired to cast another bolt, so I guess this is it. Time to say hello to the graveyard statues again. How could I not survive a tutorial battle?

The barbarian in front of Daos raised his weapon but went still while it hovered above his head. A moment later, he fell to the ground, limp.

Standing where his foe had been a moment before was a gallant looking fellow brandishing a rapier. If you accounted for his not wearing a cape, he reminded Daos of a more colorful Zorro, an old folk hero from the shows his father used to watch.

“Thanks,” Daos said as he stood, then narrowed his eyes. “Wait, Sir Donnan?”

“The very same!” the roguish gentleman said with a grin, flourishing his rapier before thrusting it out to his right without looking.

Daos followed the motion and watched as the blade pierced the throat of an approaching barbarian, dropping him in one hit.

Woah, he’s gotta be a really high level, too.

“Please, catch your breath, friend! I’ll cover you a moment,” Sir Donnan offered.

“What level are you?”

“Hmm?” the man replied, keeping an eye out for trouble as the battle raged on around them.

“How would you gauge your power? Surely you’ve heard Outsiders talk about how powerful we are with numbers, called levels?” I wonder if the A.I. will follow this?

“For example, I would say that I have a power level of four,” Daos continued.

“Ah, well then. If you are a four, I am likely well over one hundred.”

“Oh.” Well then. I mean, if that’s accurate. Isn’t the highest level player from the beta test only around level fifty at this point?

“Noooo!” a man screamed, interrupting his thoughts.

Daos and Sir Donnan both looked left as the goofy warrior, caked in blood drying over his face and arms, slammed into a barbarian who was in the process of pulling a sword out of woman’s slack body.

Nadia!

Daos bolted forward before Sir Donnan could stop him and ran to her. Kneeling over her body it was immediately apparent that she was already gone. Her blood spread out onto the pavement beneath her.

Red filled his vision. A moment later, red was all he could see.

Why am I so angry? This is a game. I mean, yeah okay, it’s sort of my world now, but only until they get me out. Fuck.

Maybe it’ll be years though.

Nadia.

Arrrrrgh!

[Possible Ability Unlocked. Do you wish to cast RAGE on a target? Y/N]

Daos didn’t bother to think it through.

Yes! Rage everybody! Rage that goofy warrior! Rage Sir Donnan!

His chest tightened with each name as his vision dimmed.

Rage me!

Daos felt the breath leave him, and his vision went dark.

[You have exhausted your Mana]

Rage all of the town guard!

[You are out of Mana. Utilizing Hit Points to continue casting]

[You have died]

**** **** ****

Daos opened his eyes. It was evening once again.

Does the respawn timer increase with each death? I had to have been out longer this time. Wasn’t it still midday a moment ago?

A minute passed as he let his senses settle. The rage he’d felt was gone, but the memory of it remained.

Did we win?

He looked to the Archangel Valkyrie statue behind him.

Nadia. Do NPCs respawn?

Daos pushed the thought away and started his short trek back to the Academy.

[Congratulations! You have discovered and unlocked the [CHROMATYST] Unique Subclass! Through sheer effort, willpower, and your own life force, you have cast a spell that does not fall within the confines of your current Path. You used the color [RED] to cast [RAGE]. A Chromatyst uses colors they can see to access spells. The spells available in a Chromatyst tome at any given time are based on the colors the mage can see when they want to cast a spell]

[You must be Level 5 to choose your Subclass. [CHROMATYST] will remain locked and available only to you until that time. If you choose to pass on the Chromatyst Unique Subclass, it will enter the dataset for potential discovery by other players once more. Do you wish to pass? Y/N]

No! God, no! No way I’m passing up on a Unique Subclass, woah.

[Thank you. The [CHROMATYST] Unique Subclass will remain locked to your account until you choose a Subclass at Level 5. Edict Corporation thanks you for playing and wishes you a wonderful immersion.]

Wow, Chromatyst. Weird word, but I see what they’re going for.

Daos swiped away the final message and walked up the Academy steps. Pausing to glance back, he found a handful people milling about the square and noticed a few trails of smoke from the directions of the East and West Gates. Turning, he entered and made his way to Meister Reichart’s office.

“Acolyte Daos, you are back! Well, of course you are. Outsiders always come back.” Meister Reichart said in welcome as Daos knocked on the open door.

“Did we win?” he asked, entering and taking a seat in the leather chair opposite the Meister’s desk.

“We did, in the end. The North Gate managed to hold. The East and West fell. Fires broke out and we lost quite a few good townsfolk. Meister Oric, among them,” he added with a sigh. “The South Gate fared better, and I hear from a certain tailoring friend of ours that it was in large part thanks to you?”

The old professor. Damn, I guess I kind of liked him.

“I don’t remember a lot after I d – er, blacked out.”

“Died, you mean? We know you Outsiders cheat death in our world. Leaves some of us rather envious, at times.” The Meister’s face fell for a moment as he recalled those lost in battle but a gleam returned to his eyes as he focused on Daos with interest. “So, what happened before that? Sir Donnan had a jolly good time being vague as the Dim with the details.”

I guess that confirms that NPCs don’t respawn. Nadia is gone… I’ve gotten attached to characters in games before, but I shouldn’t be this sad – I’ve only been in this game two days.

“I cast Rage,” he said, pushing his thoughts away.

“Rage is a spell for a Mesmer,” Meister Reichart responded, once again tilting his head in that posh manner. “Spells that affect the mind, the mood of the people, these are my bread and butter. Perhaps you have chosen the Path of the Mesmer, then?” he asked.

“Well, not quite.”

“If you are not to become a Mesmer, how could you have accessed the spell? It wasn’t really a question, it’s obviously your Path.”

Daos cleared his throat. “When Nadia, the blacksmith, fell, I went to her. She was already dead and her blood was coating the pavement. I flew into a rage, and well – I’m not sure how to explain it in a language you’ll understand.”

He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. “The world, I suppose, prompted me and asked me if I wanted to cast Rage as I stared at her blood. I did. I wanted to cast it so bad, that I cast it over and over. I cast it on a nearby warrior. I cast it on Sir Donnan. On myself. Then on all of the town guard. That’s when I died.

“When I woke up,” he continued before the Meister could interject, “I found out that I had discovered the Path of the Chromatyst.”

A long moment that stretched into entire minutes passed, as they stared at one another.

“Acolyte Daos,” Meister Reichart rose from his chair. “I have never before witnessed events unfolding for an Outsider such as they have for you this day. I hereby pronounce your Trial complete. You are no longer an Acolyte. In lieu of the discovery of a long-forgotten Path, I name you Keeper Daos.”

[Quest Complete! You’ve helped defend the town]

[Level Up! Points to spend: 4 – Congratulations! You have just reached Level 5! You will now be able to choose a Subclass and invest your points in the other individual Attributes!]

[Now that you are Level 5, your inventory can be looted off your corpse for a short time after you die. Equipped gear will remain inaccessible to others]

[Would you like to choose a Subclass now? Y/N]

Daos felt a wave of pleasure as he received the messages, though it was noticeably less than before. In fact, he hadn’t noticed it at all when he’d gained the level in battle. Food for thought.

Yes, I’ll choose a Subclass now!

[You may now choose a Subclass. You have discovered a Uni- ]

Chromatyst! I choose Chromatyst! He shouted in his head, hoping to get through the endless menus and explore his new options.

[You have unlocked the Unique Subclass [CHROMATYST]! You are Velli Machia’s first Chromatyst in recorded history. There are no existing guides to teach you to play as this Subclass. It will be up to you to discover the gameplay offered by the class on your own]

[Why not take this time to log out and give your body a rest? We look forward to watching your progress in Velli Machia Online – the Edict Corporation Team]

Wow, Edict. Keep throwing in my face that I can’t leave, why don’t you? Give your body a rest. I would if I could, assholes. Maybe the admin can disable that message for me or something. Really kills the mood.

“We’ve only named one Keeper at this Academy before,” Meister Reichart continued, as if he hadn’t noticed Daos pausing to deal with the menus.

“What was the last Keeper’s Path?” Daos asked.

“Sangomancer,” the professor responded, lifting the corner of his lip in mild disgust. “Skale, I believe his name was. That was some three years ago, or so. He didn’t stay long after that, and I’ve not heard word of him since.”

Sangomancer. Sango, like for blood? So, probably like a blood mage in other games, or maybe a vampire or something.

“Chromatyst, though,” Reichart continued, changing the subject. “That is interesting and explains how you accessed the spell Rage. Red is often associated with anger, and passion. If all you saw in the moment was blood, well... I can see how perhaps the Path chose you, in that moment.”

“What else can you tell me? I don’t really have a lot to go on in learning how to progress,” Daos asked.

“Well-“ they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Ah, well. I’m afraid we’ll have to continue our conversation another time, Keeper Daos. With Meister Oric fading to the Dim it falls on me to handle the new Acolyte introductions,” he said sadly. “I can sense two of them waiting in the hall outside.”

The Dim? Didn’t he mention that earlier? Must be some kind of underworld or some such.

“Meister Oric told me, as we ran to the East Gate earlier, that you do not leave us like other Outsiders. I had a dormitory room assigned to you while you were in the Dim. Take the hall opposite this one from the main hall, and find Meister Haffel. He will show you to your quarters.”

Daos rose and stepped out into the hallway. Two other Acolytes in plain umber robes stood outside waiting as he passed by.

“Dude, take forever, will ya? Jeez.”

Daos ignored him, obviously a player, and went to find Meister Haffel. As he passed through the main hall following Reichart’s directions, he looked once more to the giant stained glass window towering over the hall and casting different colors on each pillar throughout the room.

Six traditional Paths, six towers. I’m guessing the devs meant for the towers to represent only traditional Paths because they have mechanics in place for players to follow and learn how to play the subclasses. Mine is unique, so I have no tower. I have to build it myself, I guess. It’s a cool mechanic though, lots of room for the mystery of discovery.

Daos found Meister Haffel, a short, squat, bearded bald man who gave him a key that attached to his belt much the same way his Tome did, and showed him to his private quarters.

He swiped away another pop-up after seeing it told him what almost every massively multiplayer roleplaying game provided the player: a private room where only he, or those he invited, could exist. Anything he stored here could only be accessed by him or people he provided permission to.

The room was sparse. A bed, table, chair, wardrobe, and what looked like a wash basin in the corner. Daos sat down on the bed to consider his next move.

I really want to find this DeathLag guy. Maybe some fresh perspective with whatever he’s doing to get out of here, or just exist, would be helpful. Four years, man… Maybe he can help me get it all through my head and make it until they find us a way out.

Daos brought up his Character Screen once more to invest his points and check on his current standing.

I have 4 points to spend, then? Alright, let’s go light and spread this evenly until I figure out what I want to focus hard on, since any one area will be at the expense of another. Intelligence, Wit, Willpower, and… Dexterity since I never put a point into the Prowess Governing Attribute.

NAME: Daos, Keeper

CLASS: Chromatyst > Mage

LEVEL: 5

EXPERIENCE: 2,200/3,200

GOVERNING ATTRIBUTES

POWER: [5]

PROWESS: [1]

ENDURANCE: [3]

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

STRENGTH: --

DEXTERITY: 1

CONSTITUTION: --

MENTAL ATTRIBUTES

INTELLIGENCE: 1

WIT: 1

WILLPOWER: 1

SKILLS

Analyze: 2

Arcane Perception: 1

Banter: 1

Barter: 1

Bashful: 1

Perception: 2

INVENTORY

EQUIPPED ARMOR: BESPOKE ACOLYTE ROBE, 18/18

EQUIPPED WEAPON: ACOLYTE WAND

ACOLYTE SPELL TOME, EQUIPPED

EMPTY POCKET

EMPTY POCKET

Oh, nice, Analyze and Perception increased as well! My HP didn’t increase, so I bet Constitution is going to govern that from now on for the most part. I still don’t see a way to figure out how much Mana I have, though. I’ll have to ask about that in the morning.

Daos laid down and closed his eyes. The day had finally caught up with him, and he was exhausted. As he relaxed and waited for sleep, he thought not about the fact that he was still stuck in a game of virtual ones and zeros but rather about how he would outfit himself to journey in search of DeathLag – and occasionally of red hair, and dimples.