I awake to my alarm and after silencing it I lay there thinking that I have one more day until the end of my first week of training my Advanced skill. I have been considering working on my Shaper ability, but I can’t pass up this opportunity to focus on my Advanced skill training with Captain Varus.

I yawn and I walk down the stairs to the bar to get some breakfast. I have been developing a rhythm the last several days as I try to just make my way through one day at a time. I slide onto a bar stool slapping down another twenty-five coppers for lodging and food and four silvers for the Iron Will potion. I wait for John to return with breakfast I give serious consideration about continuing training after tomorrow. It has been a grueling week and I am not sure if I can keep the pace up even with Iron Will potions. While I sit there I hear quiet footsteps on the stairs. The group enters the Tavern and I think to myself that they have never been up this early before. I watch them settle around a table. I can see them eyeing me in the reflection from the bottles John keeps up on the shelf behind the bar. John drops off my plate on his way to their table to get their orders. I dig in and brace myself for another grueling day. To take my mind off it I bring up my stats to take in my improvement over the last week.

George Peterson Age: 16 Level: 8 XP to next Level: 3595/3600 Class: None Race: Harrow Titles: Reborn Fame: 350 Str: 19 Melee Damage Modifier: +9 Agi: 15 Range Damage Modifier: +5 Dodge: 9% (+4%) Con: 15 Health / Stamina: 75 / 75 Health / Stamina Regen: 15% per min End: 54 Pain Threshold: 44% Int: 36 (5) Mana Pool: 250 (70) Wis: 29 (5) Mana Regen Rate: 8 per min Cha: 11 Trade Modifier: 1% Per: 32 Favor: 0 Abilities: Night Vision, Shaper (Basic 2, 25%), Ritual Magic (Basic 8, 40%) Skills: Bows (Basic 5, 0%), Cartographer (Basic 1, 0%), Channeling (Basic 5, 66%), Crafting (Basic 3, 0%), Daggers (Basic 4, 66%), Dimensional Shaping (Basic 1, 60%), Dodge (Basic 9, 80%), Enduring Flame, Herbalism (Basic 8, 44%), Inspect (Basic 8, 90%), Jeweler (Basic 1, 0%), Lore (Basic 3, 33%), Maces (Basic 5, 0%), Mana Chain (Basic 1, 0%), Mana Manipulation (Advanced 8, 23%), Numbness II, Parry (Advanced 10, 25%), Reading (Basic 2, 0%), Sense Stone (Basic 3, 0%), Shape Air (Basic 7, 34%), Shape Fire (Basic 1, 0%), Shape Stone (Basic 3, 75%), Shape Water (Basic 6, 23%), Shape Wood (Basic 1, 0%), Skinning (Basic 9, 72%), Spears (Basic 5, 25%), Stealth (Advanced 7, 50%), Swords (Advanced 7, 76%), Trading (Basic 7, 25%), Unarmed Combat (Basic 1, 0%), Veil Spells: Burning Hands (Basic 1, 0%), Concealing Mists (Basic 1, 0%), Fire Dart (Adept 5, 23%), Fireball (Basic 1, 0%), Ice Dart (Novice 1, 33%), Ice Storm (Basic 1, 0%), Ignite (Novice 1, 66%), Light (Novice 1, 66%), Lightning (Basic 1, 0%), Mana Dart (Novice 4, 20%), Mend (Basic 1, 0%), Minor Heal (Novice 4, 0%), Ritual Ward (Novice 6, 80%) Type: Raw Mana Protective Ward, Shield (Novice 1, 33%) Equipment: * Unallocated Status Points: 7

I finish my breakfast and the foul bubbling Iron Will potion. Great progress in Fire Dart, Parry, Stealth, and Swords. I have enough money for about 2 more weeks of training. No matter what, I want to take a break after I finish this week’s training tomorrow to check out that red dot on the map in the Gnoll area. My stealth should allow me to navigate the area without discovery. I causally look at the adventures which have named themselves the Night Blades and they are all at level five now. Hmmm, I didn’t know you could name your party.

I make my way out of the Tavern after wishing John a good day. I meet the Captain and stake out three swords in the sand for training today. I pick up one of the swords and stealth when the Captain turns away and whirls to send a fire dart at me, which I try to deflect with mana and then repeat with my sword. I must pay careful attention to time the Stealth to minimize the time needed between parries. After about 2 hours of training I suddenly get a notification that covers my field of view, which throws of my timing. The Captain pauses before releasing a Fire Dart while I look at the notification.

Save the Starting Adventures Quest

The Adventures group called the Night Blades has set an ambush to kill a new group of Adventures that are entering the Starter Area. Stop the Night Blades from succeeding. This is a timed quest starting in thirty minutes.

Rewards: Variable.

Do you accept? Yes or No?

I select Yes, which starts a timer in the upper right of my field of vision, and quickly tell the Captain about the quest. He says he cannot interfere unless it happens in the Village. I ask for the best buff spells he can cast and flip him a gold coin. He looks thoughtful for a moment after he catches the coin then nods and casts Greater Haste, Greater Stamina Restoration, and Traveler’s Veil. This gives me forty-five minutes of 100% increased movement speed, 100% boost to stamina regeneration for sixty minutes, and plus thirty to stealth for four hours.

I say thanks opening my map and see a blue marker at the North entrance to the starter area. I start to run, which would usually take about fifty minutes to get there, but with the haste I should be able to make it in twenty-five. This will leave me five minutes to try to kill eight level five characters. At about five minutes out I will cast Shield. I wish I had been casting Fireball now, so I could hit several at once with enough damage to take them down. I am not sure how they will have deployed, but the archers will be the deadliest, with the mages next, but it will be key to kill the healers if I can’t kill them with one spell or the healers will just heal them up. I wish I had inspected them in more detail this morning to get their hit points.

I have Fire Dart at Adept level now, which means I can cast 5 fire darts at 21-31 damage per dart. Figure the archers are 60-80 hit points with the mages at 50-65 hit points. So, I can hit one archer and one mage with three and two darts respectively, having a good chance of killing both. Then repeat for the other archer and mage. That will leave the two tanks and the two clerics. I could probably handle the two tanks with my sword if it wasn’t for the clerics. The tanks will probably be at 120-140 hit points with the clerics in the 70-90 range. I can’t imagine that their endurance is better than fifty, but they could have the Numbness skill to keep them up when they drop below 25% health. To be safe I will need four fire darts to kill a cleric, so two casts while the tanks will be rushing me. I can do a concealing mist and then cast from within the mists. I will be very low on mana at that point and will have to engage the two tanks with a sword with maybe a little spell damage.

I am nearing the marker on my map so I slow and engage stealth. With my current stealth and the boost from Traveler’s Veil I leave no trace while I quickly walk up the hard-packed dirt road without a sound. A few minutes later I see the two cleric and mages split on both sides of the road behind a boulder on the left and a thick fallen tree on the right. I will hit the ones behind the boulder first, since they are crouching and ready to stand versus the other pair laying behind the tree, but first where are the others? I see the archers perched in trees on the right side of the road. The tanks are both standing behind trees on the right of the road. All right this is it. I get ready to cast and I get a popup that I quickly dismiss indicating a timer update to zero. I see a shimmer on the road about eighty feet in front of the tree hiding the two tanks and ninety feet from the archers.

Crap, I quickly cast Fire Darts at the Mage on the left and the closest archer on the right. It is a little difficult to focus since I haven’t selected two targets so far apart before. My darts leave my hand striking both targets causing them to drop silently, though the archers body makes a heavy thump when it hits the ground. The party instantly turns toward me as I drop out of stealth in the middle of the road. I ready another Fire Dart and yell for the new adventures to take cover. The mage is staring at me wide eyed, but the archer reacts quickly drawing and firing an arrow at me, which I try to parry with my sword to no avail. The arrow strikes in my right shoulder for 34 hit points of damage, which is mostly absorb by me Shield. I finish my fire dart before he gets another arrow off killing both the mage and archer, leaving the two tanks and clerics.

A tank, who I am guessing is the leader say “Kill him quickly.” Then he starts running right at me. The two clerics and the other tank hesitate for a moment looking at the new adventures diving off the road into the underbrush before running at me. I cast concealing mists which envelope me before the tanks reach me causing him to skid to a halt just outside the mist. I pull the arrow from my shoulder and cast another fire dart sending four darts into the closer cleric killing them.

I inspect the remaining three while I switch to a bow and begin firing at the cleric who dives behind the two tanks after taking a hit to the arm. I see him pull the arrow out and heal himself while the two tanks block my arrows with their shields. I stop and pull a mana potion from my inventory and drink it. Then switch back to firing arrows. They surprise me when the tank and cleric turn and start running for the new adventure group. The remaining tank cries out using a skill to prevent me from firing on the running tank and cleric. They are forcing my hand, I don’t have a choice, I must stop them, so I switch to a Sword and stealth. I quickly run behind the tank who is just starting to nervously look around, since the arrows have stopped coming from the mist. I strike the tank in the lower back with my sword getting double damage for attacking from stealth dealing a whopping 97 hit points of damage. I then slam into the tank carrying him into the mists. Then I step back and stealth again. The tank cries out again causing a red aura to envelope him. The aura is not enough to save him when I strike again from stealth causing him to collapse when he falls below 25% health. I immediately run from the mists toward the remaining cleric and tank. As I do I focus on another Fire Dart sending four darts into the clerics back bringing her down. The tank is chasing one of the new adventurers while the others throw stones and branches at him. Two have longer branches and move to intercept him running as fast as I can. I see one of the branch wielders go down with a bad cut to the chest. Even when a projectile or branch strikes the tank they are doing little to no damage. I get there just in time to parry a cut successfully this time and then start to engage the tank in earnest. The tank’s armor and skills are good, but no match for my own. I rapidly whittle his health down below 25% percent, but he has Numbness and holds on until I reduce him to zero health. Despite the buff spells I am still breathing heavy and covered in sweat when I turn to the downed adventurer. I pull a health potion out of my inventory and hold their head to pour it in their mouth as they swallow and breath it in. That is the beauty of a health potion, you don’t have to worry about choking someone. I see an icon in my lower right flashing put ignore it to ask if everyone else is all right?

A young man addresses me. “We are fine, but what was all of this about?”

I haven’t tried this before, but I try to share the notification window text for the quest and ask if they can see it. They all nod while they read it and turn to look at each other in fear, but I notice not in confusion. They know why they’re targeted.

“Do you know why they were here to ambush you? They entered the area one week ago.”

The young man says. “I cannot say why they would have been waiting for us, but you have our thanks. Unfortunately, we have very little we can offer to you in the way of a reward.”

“That is ok. You saw there was no specific reward specified and I did this because it was the right thing to do.” They all looked at me strangely.

“Well loot the dead and then we can take the two left alive back to the village for questioning by the captain.”

The young man said “That will not be possible.” He gestures behind me and I see that the other has killed the two that were still alive. I turn and Inspect him seeing the following panel.

Name: Justin (Human) Health 70/70, Mana 50/50

“Very well, then loot them and arm yourselves.” I say.

“You saved us and by rights all of their equipment is yours.”

“That is fine and I will feel better if you can all attack using something more than stick and stones.”

Justin turns and he and the others silently gather the equipment and split is among themselves. After that is accomplished we start walking to the village. The Night Blades will be respawning in about five hours and I need to discuss what happened with the Captain. While we walk I check out the other members of the group and see they have already picked Silver Thorns for their group name.

Justin (Human) Health 70/70, Mana 50/50 is the obvious leader of the group.

Sara (Human) Health 50/50, Mana 75/75 is a short but well-built female who I remember seeing jump on the tanks back during the fight to distract him.

Nora (Human) Health 60/60, Mana 60/60 was one of the ones wielding a rock and the tank seemed to be trying to get to her when Sara jumped on his back.

Frank (Human) Health 70/70, Mana 50/50 was wielding a branch along Joe to try to fend the tank off.

Joe (Human) Health 50/50, Mana 80/80 was the downed adventurer that I used the healing potion on. He jumped in front of Nora to take a sword stroke intended for her.

Mary (Human) Health 65/65, Mana 60/60 was throwing rocks to distract the tank.

Jill (Human) Health 55/55, Mana 70/70 was finding rocks for Mary and Nora to throw.

Sam (Human) Health 60/60, Mana 50/50 found a curved branch and was trying to trip the tank with it while I killed him.

I try to probe them for more information, but they are not forth coming with anything more. So, I take the time to look at my Notification.

Congratulations

You have completed Save the Starting Adventures Quest. You rescued all 8 members of the group and killed all members of the Night Blades.

Reward: Deferred while training.

I am glad to see the Captain at the North Gate as we approach the village. I greet him and fill him in quickly on the battle. I finish and Justin steps forward and says. “Greetings Captain Varus. We were not aware you were serving in this Starter Area.”

“I just switched here after the last group left.” The Captain said, as I say softly Varus to myself.

“How will you deal with the Night Blades when they respawn?” Justin asks.

The Captain gravely replies. “That has already been handled by the system and they will respawn in a different location where they can be dealt with.”

The Captain turns to me and asks if I am ready to get back to my training.

I sigh and say. “Yes.” I say good bye to the Silver Thorns and follow the Captain at a jog.

✽✽✽

While I head to the rear of the barrack Justin gestures and Silver Thorns head to the General Store first where they combined their money to buy spells for Joe, Sara, Jill, and Nora. Then they started out to the Rabbit Area leaving by way of the North Gate. They are engaging in an interesting conversion in party chat while they walked at a brisk pace.

Justin: Which do you think will be better, to level as quickly as possible to level ten or to stretch is out until the next group enters?

Frank: I think it will depend on if we can get George to exit with us.

Justin: Why do you say that?

Frank: He is training with the Captain and he just took on the Night Blades by himself. I don’t want to kid myself into thinking we were of much help.

Jill: He did very well and he has to be an Adept in Fire Dart to generate five darts and his sword skill looked nearly as good. Also, he blocked the sword slash at Sam at the end.

Nora: That was a Parry.

Justin: What? How can that be, it is an Advanced skill?

Nora: The sword slash at Sam was deflected, not blocked. There is no skill George should know to allow him to do what he did in the Starter Area, but since he did it would have to be Block, Deflect, Reflect, or Parry. Block would stop the slash, Deflect always has a tale tell spark of metal on metal, Reflect would have had the slash rebound against the attacker. That just leaves Parry.

Justin: That makes sense, which would also mean his skill with it must be very high to succeed even against a level five attacker.

Frank: Maybe through his training with Captain Varus?

Jill: How is he getting training though. Training with someone like the Captain would cost a fortune and where would he get it in here?

Justin: Enough, we need to focus on the Rabbits. The gear George allowed us to loot will improve our progression a lot. Everyone will fight melee today and then tonight we will sell the meat and skins. Then get a meal at the Tavern. Hopefully we will run into George and we can find out more of his story.

✽✽✽

Meanwhile I was continuing to get the snout kicked out of me by Captain Varus. We continued the same pattern for the last few days until we break for dinner and the end of training for the day.

The Captain says. “That is enough for today. You are almost at Expert in Fire Dart and Adept at Parry. There is one day of training left out of the ten days of training you purchased. Will you wish to continue for another week and change focus?”

“I will want to purchase another week of training but want a day or two before we start again.”

“That is not a problem, but you will need to pay for the next week before we stop the current weeks training, so that I can continue to defer your XP awards.”

“Very well.” I say opening a trade window and deposit 150 gold within. The Captain accepts and with a nod he starts to leave before surprising me by turning back to face me.

“You should know that Burt is no longer working in the General Store. Trent took over for him. Burt was helping the Night Blades advance and the System is dealing with him now. Do not mention Burt’s replacement.” With that the Captain turns and walks off.

After thinking about what the System maybe doing to Burt I shiver and then I make my way over to the bathhouse. After getting clean and laundered I am about to walk into the Tavern when I see the Silver Thorns talking to Cal on his porch. I frown in disappointment to think they would try to get the quest from Cal and increase his years of service. I walk over even though I am sure Cal can handle himself.

Cal breaks off his conversation. “Here is the one I was talking about.”

“What’s going on Cal?”, I ask.

“The Silver Thorns were apologizing, they wanted to get my quest and actually finish it, but now with the attack on them when they entered and not knowing what will greet them on the outside they don’t feel they can take on the quest. Imagine their surprise when I said the quest was already fulfilled by you.”

I blush when the whole group stares at me. “Oh.” I say intelligently. “I just wanted to make sure everything is ok. I am heading to the Tavern to get something to eat.”

Cal says, “Thanks George, have a good meal.”

I beat a hasty retreat to the Tavern.

Nora asks, “How did he fulfill the quest by himself?”

Cal smiles and says. “You will have to get that story from him if he is willing to tell it. Now all of you go get washed up and get dinner.”

They all wave good bye and enter the bathhouse. They will stop by the Tavern after bathing.

Meanwhile John is laughing at me when I enter the Tavern and make a beeline to the bar. He asks, “What set your tail on fire?”

I blush even deeper mumbling something into the bar. “Ha, this has to be the new group. What did they do?”

“They were talking to Cal about his quest. I am guessing you know it?”

“Yes, that was a nasty piece of work. You did a great job completing the quest. I am sure they are interested in getting the story and you should be able to get some free drinks out of it.” John says with a grin.

“It feels to much like bragging to talk about what I did.”

“Well if that’s the case you ask them for stories about their lives. People from this world will not only know but will have experienced a lot of things you have only read about. It would be good to have allies when you leave here that can help you when you get started in the real world.”

I am considering his words when the Silver Thorns enter the Tavern. John greets them and they settle around a large table. Justin walks over and asks me to join them for the meal. I follow Justin over to the table. There is an empty spot both next to and opposite Nora. Justin settles into the one next to Nora and I take the one between Sam and Jill. Cal takes all our orders and I order another ale. Justin smiles and says thanks again for saving us.

“Your welcome. I never liked the Night Blades.” I say, taking a drink of my ale.

“Oh? Did they do something to you while they were here?”

“I could tell they were not happy that I was here, but they avoided me. I was sitting out with Cal one night having some tea when they came back into town and walked right up to Cal and asked for his quest. They even left their party to do it, so he would have to hand the quest out eight times. They even taunted him saying they were getting a gold each for the quest and not fulfill it. Imagine their surprise when Cal said no.”

“Similar to our own surprise.”

“I suppose.”

John brings out our dinner, which are wolf steaks with roasted potatoes and onions and crusty bread with butter. “I actually got lucky. While in the Starter Glade I was inspecting every stone to increase my Inspect skill. One stone felt off. It didn’t weight what similar stones weighted. I broke it open and found out it was a geode full of amethyst. Later when I got Cal’s quest I was able to satisfy it right away much to his surprise.”

I look around and see no one has touched their food yet and John is there leaning against another table listening in as well. All of them are smiling making appreciative sounds while they cut into their steaks.

“Who would of thought.” Justin says around a mouth full of steak. Everyone ate companionably in silence for the next several minutes.

When we finished Justin cleared his throat and asks. “We also had another reason for asking you to join us. We are not sure what will greet us when we leave, so we are going to push to level ten as quickly as possible and the leave. Even on death we will respawn in the Outpost Cemetery, which should be safe. We would like you to join us to increase our odds.”

“Do you expect someone wants to kill you enough to use soul eating weapons?” I ask. The group shifts uncomfortably and it is Nora who answers.

“It is possible, but such blades are very expensive. It is unlikely they have more than one or two.”

“That would imply that one of you is the actual target. Would you care to fill me in on who that is and why?”

Justin answered. “I am sorry, but we cannot.”

“Very well, what is it would want from me?”

“We would like you to join us when we leave.”

I was not expecting that. “I thought eight people is the max size for a party.”

“It is, but many dungeons need larger groups, so parties of eight may join into a raid group of any size depending only on the quest limitations.”

“Well I will have to think on that. Also, I will be continuing my training here for at least another twelve days before I can leave.”

Justin says. “That is reasonable. We did not discuss a reward for your help but know we can offer unique training opportunities, access to a well-stocked library, and several unique dungeons.”

I finish draining my ale before taking my leave for my room. They have given me a lot to think about including the very real danger of ending up in the same situation as the Captain’s son. I doubt anyone would be spending the effort to free me though. I lay back on my bed, but sleep comes slowly tonight.