Virtual reality for most people was better than real life, and Zen had to agree as he appeared near his fief. The exact location was sitting in a carriage on a worn road on the way to his fief, and currently he traveled a worn-out dirt path that’s less than an hour away. The carriage probably wouldn’t be the most ideal way to travel, but as a platinum VIP member he was granted the carriage and four private body guards.

The path was rather narrow and his carriage, which was being pulled by four horses, was struggling. Him as his guards just appeared on the road when he entered the game. It truly was a grand appearance that only rabbits, and mocking birds saw. Though Zen really couldn’t complain, because he was the one that chose his location.

The introduction after his character generation was quite elaborate for Platinum VIPs, and the first thing he saw after his character generation was the imperial court and the emperor himself. He was in the presence of royalty and knights of the empire, and even a few players. Luckily for him the ceremony wasn’t long probably because the emperor was waiting for other rich bastards to grace his presence.

The ceremony was quite interesting, because that was where he first was granted his personal AI. His AI was a female character by the name of Bena, and after he picked the location he wanted. He met both her and his four new personal guards at the gates of the palace. Then there’s a quick parade down a golden road and poof he appeared on a broken-down path in the middle of nowhere.

The name of the village that they were going too is called Coral Heights, and it’s the smallest village that he could get. Zen had chosen this village from a few other spots, because for him it was an ideal location to start out. The size didn’t matter, but like you hear real estate people preach, it was the location that made him choose it.

The empire of Epsilon ranked 55th out of 130 continents on GCO, but it wasn’t because it didn’t have powerful guilds. The cause of the ranking derived from the lack of lord players on the continent. This reason gave Zen a opportunity to grow and not get stifled by other player nobles. Also, by taking the lowest level of village in the character options, he received much more than others know. Platinum VIP’s gain several extra perks.

In character generation, when choosing the type and size of the city, a simple movement bar is used. The higher the city the less perks a lord gets. Zen did the opposite, and he moved the bar all the way to the lowest city. The result was he didn’t get the already built city and population. He received it all in building and resource tokens. These are typically purchased from the market at high values, because they can only be earned in game.

The system compensated his lack of population and framework of the city with a high number of these tokens. This meant he had more control over the placement of his village and the resources near him. He used a strategic move that most people that have platinum VIP memberships would do, typically be cause of there pride and egos. Those that don’t have humungous egos can’t afford to start out as a platinum VIP. This were proven by the contemptuous looked Zen received in the imperial court as he chose his location.

Zen’s thoughts were interrupted by a bump, and he looked out the carriage to see that they were leaving the forest. The trees were growing sparse and the scenery was changing to gradual slopping hills. The village of Coral Heights was located on a plateau that stretched across the land connecting the mountains and a large lake. The horses seemed to approve of the new landscape as the carriage moved a little quicker than through the forest path.

Zen relished in the breeze that came in through the window and looked over to Bena that was sitting quietly on the other side of the carriage. Bena age looked to be in the late 20’s and she had short brown hair and eyes. Her looks seemed to be as average as her body, but the gleam in her eyes gave her a predatory look that made Zen happy he had her.

Zen didn’t mind that his AI wasn’t a stunner, because the conditions they were going to face were harsh. Bena would have to overcome the same hardships as him, and beauty often burdens a character rather than helps. He couldn’t help but smile at the fresh grass aroma that was in the air before finally speaking.

“Bena, do you have any suggestions on what to do when we get there?” Zen asked plainly.

“Well the village doesn’t officially become your fiefdom till you place the imperial token on the altar.” Bena explained. “I believe that should be your first action, because once the townspeople know you are there lord you will get a bump in loyalty.”

Zed nodded and agreed with what she said, and he knew the first action should be that. It also brought up the problem if they don’t allow him inside the village he can’t activate the altar. He didn’t see that being a problem, but he shouldn’t discard that possibility. It’s another reason he didn’t add any of his extra character stat points and left all 25 points to add after he arrived at the village. He took a moment to look over his character sheet and sighed.

Information

Name: Rozen Martell

Sex: Male

Age: 18

Status: Lord

Territory: None

Race: Human

HP: 14

Mana: 14

Stamina: 14

Spirit: 14

Experience

Combat:

Trade Skill:

Diplomacy:

Attributes:

Physical:

Strength: 5

Endurance: 5

Dexterity: 5

Agility: 5

Mind:

Intellect: 5

Wisdom: 5

Comprehension: 5

Awareness: 5

Charisma:

Charm: 5

Intuition: 5

Luck: 5

Aura: 5

Spirit:

Fighting: 0

Blood: 5

Willpower: 5

Elemental: 2

APA: 25

Skills:

Rally: Level 0

Swordplay: Level 0

Archery: Level 0

Intimidate: Level 0

Linguistics: Level 0

Literacy: Level 0

Lord’s Aura: Level 0

ASA: 5

Spells

He had 25 bonus stat points and 5 skill points to place yet, which made him useless if he was involved in a battle before he took control of the city. He didn’t know how many games he played where the first thing they did was fight. He did have the four guards though and Bena with him. So, he hoped that it wouldn’t come to that otherwise he would have to use his stat points when he didn’t want too.

The other thing that were different was the way the stats were broken down. There were four areas with four attributes each. That meant that the 25 stat points wouldn’t go as far as he hoped because there were so many different places to put them too. The physical and mental categories were common and even the charisma he had seen before, but the spirit category was something that he didn’t have a good grasp of yet.

Zen was about to ask Bena about the purpose of spirit category when he heard yelling from one of the guards, and the chief guard road up beside his window. The guard’s name was Banick, and he was a giant of a man. He was wearing studded leather armor and a helmet with a large axe strapped to his back. He bent down from his horse to get close to the door and spoke.

“My lord there are wild wolves ahead and it looks like they are attacking a small homestead.”

“How many?” Zen retorted.

“It looks to be a dozen.”

“It wouldn’t be safe to have the carriage and horses’ approach, but we also can’t afford to let the townspeople be killed.” Zen thought and then commanded. “Banick choose one guard to stay with the carriage to protect Bena and the coachman, and we will go help.”

“Yes, My lord.”

“Bena stay here with the coach and wait for our signal to approach.”

“Yes, my lord please be careful.” Bena said.

Zen knew that Bena probably would do a better job of hunting than him because all his skills were at level 0 now. He also had real world experience using the bow from a young age, and he hoped it would translate here as well. He made equipped his sword and took out his bow and quiver and stepped out of the coach onto the grass. The guardsman named Ross dismounted and brought his horse over and took a position on top of the coach to defend it, while Zen mounted the horse and waited for Banick to lead him to the site.

Zen wasn’t that worried about riding the horse, because in GCO real life experience could be transferred to the game. Even though he didn’t have the skill the fact that he has rode and controlled horses before allowed him to ride comfortably in game. The difference was that the horse fought his control, which meant that he had to focus more on riding. The higher the skill level the more docile the animal would be toward him. So, he had to focus more on controlling it as they rode together toward the homestead.

It’s the same thing with combat skills like archery. He knew how to hold and fire a bow, but because he has no levels in it. There would be no aids to help tell him where his arrow would strike, and everything would have to be done naturally. A high-level archer could see exactly where his arrows would strike. The higher level they were the more defined the locaters would be. The difficulty would be based on his skill toward the statistics of the target.

They covered the ground quickly and as they reached the top of a ridge Zen could see the homestead and wolves. The homestead looked to be more of a hovel, and it appeared to be made up of some type of clay. It had been dug out of the earth leaving only half of it visible to them. There were two windows that they could see, and the wolves seemed to be trying to get through them. Outside there was one wolf dragging away what looked to be the body of a man. The wolf was pulling it backward away from the homestead.

“Banick focus on the wolf pulling away the body.” Zen ordered.

Zen dismounted with the other guards following suit leaving the horses behind tied to a load ring. They slowly moved forward to a section where they were with in medium bow range and Grimsley, Vern and Zen brought out there bows and notched an arrow. Banick stood close making sure to protect them from anybody sneaking up on them. They all waited for Zen to shoot first and he felt a nervousness well up inside.

Zen calmed his mind and slowly pulled back the bow string making sure to line up his arrow. The height of the hill gave him a more downward angle and he could feel the tension in his arms as he lined up the wolf. He let out a breath and let go of the string and the arrow ripped out of his bow and headed toward the wolf and fell five feet short of it.

He pulled out another arrow and repeated the process and this time the arrow fell to the right. Vern’s arrow struck the wolf in its mid-section causing it roar in pain as it turned around. Grimsley’s arrow also sunk in to the muscle near its fore leg and this time it whimpered in agony. Zen’s third shot finally struck the wolf near its hind quarter and the wolf started to stagger and dropped to the ground.

The group turned to the next wolf and slowly started to pick of the wolves that were separated from the main pack, and before the main pack realized what had happened. Five of the wolves were down and two of them had already died. Zen only hit 6 shots out of 14 but he felt more confident toward the end. The remaining pack only numbered 6 now, and two were constantly trying to break in through the window of the homestead.

The other four raced toward the group but again the group focused together causing two of the wolves to stumble and fall to the ground. The four then split up into two teams with Banick and Zen took the first wolf while Grimsley and Vern took the second. Zen quickly put away his bow and quiver and took out his sword. Banick took the wolf head on with his axe, while Zen moved around and struck with his sword at the back legs.

The wolf they were attacking went down quickly and soon the other two had there’s down. Zen walked up to each of the wolves getting the final blows on each, before moving with the group to make sure the other two were dead as well. The moved toward the homestead and it didn’t take long from them to take care of the other two wolves. Zen looked around at the damage that the wolves caused and then toward the dead body that had been pulled away by the first wolf they attacked.

“Banick check the homestead for any survivors.” Zen ordered.

Banick nodded and motioned Grimsley forward and the solider approached the homestead with Vern behind him. The two entered the house and a few minutes later the exited a battered dirty young woman leaning against him. Vern came out a moment later and shook his head, both Banick and him approached Grimsley and the woman.

The woman at first looked older because of the scraggly dark hair and rough completion, but Zen realized that it was the mud that gave off this impression. She seemed to be in shock and he didn’t know what else to do to help her. He had Grimsley lay her down on the grass, and she curled up in a fetal position tears streaming down her eyes.

“Have somebody go retrieve the horses and bring the carriage up.” Zen ordered.

Vern and Grimsley rushed toward the horses while Banick stayed at a safe distance from Zen and the survivor. Zen was afraid that if he left at this moment she would panic so he sat next to her as the soldiers carried out their orders. Ten minutes later Grimsley came back with the horses and about fifteen minutes after that the carriage pulled up to the homestead.

Bena didn’t hesitate to leave the carriage and approach the girl, and Zen left her to take care of her. He got and quickly went to the remains of the wolves to loot them. In GCO there were two types of looting and Zen was truly only capable of one of them. He could place his hands on the creature and loot the corpse and he could choose auto loot or use skills to get individual pieces. He used auto loot on the first wolf and got a cheap pelt and two wolf claws. He was disappointed at the loot but had just started playing.

“Banick does anybody know how to properly skin the creatures?”

“Sir Vern is decent in it do you want me to have him do so?” Banick asked.

“Yes, and when he is done take half and split it among the four of you.” Zen stated.

“Yes Sir”

He knew Bena would need some time with the survivor, so he focused on what he could do. They still had to make it to the village for him to take control but having a little experience in combat wasn’t a bad thing. If he didn’t have the guards through he would have only been a tasty treat for these wolves. He sighed and then headed back to the homestead to see if there was anything of use.