"What?!" Casey scoffed, "I didn't say anything like that. What I meant was... like simulated instinct's."

"Oh, Yeah I guess that was a little dramatic." I recanted.

"I don't know," Offered Ned, "That 'new energy source' they're tapping into, with the Implants. Using actual DNA markers to make our avatars... sounds alot like cloning to me. Even if it is digital."

The Dwarf was unusually silent. So I asked him, "What do you think, Randy?"

"Huh? Oh I think 'da fat is seeping into that brain of yours... Fathead." Randy sneered.

We all spent a silent moment reflecting on the conversation, In the light of the campfire. The sun was about to set and the fires illumination was beginning to win over the light of day. The smell of Bullhare stew filled my senses and I forgot everything else in the digital world. I had worked through the day, forgetting to rest or eat. My tired body was barely able to keep the crouching position I held by the fire, stirring our dinner.

"You know I was hesitant at first, but I think I like camping out here. While I was in town I bought some supplies, the store owner was really helpful." Ned proclaimed. "Camping sure gets expensive!"

Just then my Personal Access Console, notified me I had a message. I displayed it on my Amended Vision Accessory, so I could continue cooking.

Message from Casey Jones:

Don't tell Ned, but that shop keeper seriously went all 'used car salesmen' on him. He sold him a solar powered marshmallow toaster! Can you believe that? Anyway I had a 'word' with the shop keeper afterwards, but I just couldn't tell Ned.

I smiled at the thought of the described event, and bonds our party was forming.

"Damn, you know what I'm in the mood for... Some toasted marshmallows!" I exclaimed.

Ned's undead face filled with excitement, only to wash out in a wave of despair upon looking at the setting sun. Casey saw this reaction and erupted in uncontrollable laughter. Randy just had a puzzled look, as he plucked up a branch and placed a marshmallow on the end and planted it adjacent to my side of the fire. I removed the vegetables I was steaming above the stew pot, and carefully handed them to Ned. For the rest of us, I began to pass out the spiced stew along with small pieces of buttered bread from my inventory. We ate and laughed and discussed our skill's and fighting styles. Casey turned in early, and Ned was recalling his fight with the goblin's.

"So when did you learn 'dat skeleton spell?" Randy asked Ned, as he pulled the top shelf whiskey from his inventory.

"I learned it while you guys were on that 3 day 'vacation.' It's really low progress.. so I need to level it up. But Combat and Magic skill's only gain a fraction of EXP outside of combat." Ned answered while refusing Randy's offer of whiskey.

"Hey.. I learned a skill during that Duel, and it said I only had 1 more Combat skill before I had to start deleting skills to make room. Is that normal?" I asked, while accepting Randy's offer.

"Yeah, we get 4 Combat, 4 Magic, 2 racial, and 2 General skills total." Ned enlightened.

I thought about our skills and how they rank up, and decided that was a fair number.

"We should farm EXP in the forest tomorrow. A small excursion to see what we're dealing with. Also I can gather some more monster bones and ore, I'd like to make some Fine steel ingots before I dismantle that furnace." I suggested.

"So you're lookin' to cross the forest soon? 'Dat Orc Chief from the guild, suggested we be like.. level 6 or higher." Randy warned. "Hey is he one 'a' those simulated player's or whatever?"

"You said he was a Chief, so probably not. The adventurer guild's staff and politicians are just regular NPC's." Ned informed.

I pulled up their stats, and gave some thought to our previous forest encounter:

Name: Randy Jenkins Level:4

Race: Dwarf Class: White Mage. HP:160/160 ST:170/170 MP:150/150

Age:25 Height 3ft 11in Weight 158lbs.

Stealth:8, Strength:7, Agility:10, Speed:6, Charisma:5, Mercantile:5

Vitality:7, Endurance:8, Intelligence:8. Wisdom:6

Skills: Hearty constitution (racial/passive) Appraise (General/active) (Novice12%) Minor heal (magic/active) (novice19%) Bribe(General/active)(Novice10%) Quick shot(combat/active)(novice26%) Marksman(Combat/active) (Novice04%)

Active effects: +5% crafting quality (racial) +5% magic resist (racial) +1 int (accessory)

Armor base: 14 Damage base: 15

Name: Ned Bailey level:5

Race:Undead Class: Black mage HP:150/150. ST:150/150. MP:194/194.

Age:18, Height:5'09 Weight:170lb

Stealth:5, Strength:5, Agility:7, Speed:6, Charisma:5, Mercantile:6, Vitality:8, Endurance:6, Intelligence:12, Wisdom:9.

Skills: Health drain(Racial/active)(novice14%) Basic windshot (Magic/active) (novice 19%) Appraise (General/active) (novice 21%)

Raise skeleton (Magic/active)(Novice05%)

Active effects: +5% magic regen (racial), +2% max magic (armor)

+1 Int (accessory)

Armor base:13 Damage base:16

"I have to make a trip to town first thing tomorrow. I'll grab us some quests that take us into the forest. After some grinding and preparation, I think we can cross the day after tomorrow." I speculated.

We all gave it some thought. Randy kept watch that night, so he put his whiskey away after just 1 glass. I had barely had lay down, before I was already asleep.

-----

I awoke to Randy's whistle, warning me something was wrong. I raised up to find 6 cloaked figures in the distance, walking our direction. I alerted Ned and to my surprise an already awake Casey. The Nightkin stayed in a mock sleeping position with a nod, as she placed her hand on her new dagger. Randy nocked an arrow, but stayed seated next to the fire with his focus on the approaching group. I spawned my barely polished armor and sharpened shield. There was no reason to equip my sword, as it was still unsharpened. I still had the sharpened bear femur that I used on the Bear Slime, if needed. Once I had my armor equipped and buckled, they were about 40 yards away. Ned and Randy sat by the fire and Casey remained prone, while I stood and went to meet them. On my way I scanned the leader with my AVA:

Name: Highwaymen Level 5 HP:100/100 ST:70/70 MP50/50

Nomadic raiders known for robbing caravan's and other travelers. When they organize and form a larger group, they become classified as Bandits

I approached the leader directly. They must have been unaware I could scan them, because the leader began to speak, but was interrupted by my sudden forward kick to his chest.

"Oi, me 'n my mates was wonderi-" Was all the traveling thief could get out as my boot reached his chest, and toppled him backwards then rolling over himself.

I then saw one raider take an arrow in the chest, from my periphery. Then a stealthy Nightkin appeared in the shadow of one very startled bandit and pierced him in the back. On my left side I noticed a skeleton form and then be bashed to pieces by the raider closest to it. Oh well, You'll get there buddy, I thought to myself as I shield bashed the same highwayman. I then hesitated to bash a women raider, out of my old-world instincts. The act of sexism did not go unnoticed by the highway'woman' as she broke her rusty dagger against my new Fine steel armor. She herself was then stabbed to death, by an agitated Nightkin.

"What was that?!" Casey yelled.

"I know, ..sorry. Old programming and all that." I chuckled.

"Heads up!" She warned, as I ducked a Raider's sword. "Get it together!" She added.

After a few Quickshot and Windshot ranged attacks from Randy and Ned, Casey and I Managed to finish off the marauders swiftly. We then looted and buried the remains, and it was no surprise that the highway'persons' had little of use or value.

"Well that'll wake 'ya up in the mornin'!" I exclaimed. "Guess I should head to the market, now."

"Grab some coffee, and bacon. Definitely bacon!" Casey called.

"I think here, they call it-" Ned started.

"I don't care what they call it, ..It's bacon. We all know it's bacon. So it's bacon." She interrupted.

"Sure, I'll be back in 2 hours with coffee, bacon and eggs." I called while starting down the road.

-----

Once in town, I started at the adventurer guild. I went to the quest hall and got several Novice quests involving the forest. Afterwards I picked up the supplies, including as much salt as they had on hand. I even got a bit of a discount, possibly due to my flirtatious greeting to the General goods saleslady. Probably due to the Guild membership, realistically. I then went to the Blacksmith and sold the highwaymen's old equipment and anything else I no longer needed. After that, I purchased the Iron helmet I had my eye on, and a few sharpening stones. He allowed me to use his grinding stone again, but this time he was in awe of the Fine steel equipment I began polishing.

"Where'n dja git thaht steeyl boi?" He asked in his thick, 'almost-scottish-but-not' accent.

"I made it in a furnace I built, I'll be selling ingots soon. Would you be interested?" I solicited.

"Yur dahm'd 'right ay am. Iff'n ye com 'rouwnd laittur.. Ay'll buy tha' lot ov 'em!" He offered.

I thanked him for his kindness and he shook my reptilian hand, with his large callused palm. I then started down the road until I saw a farmer's carriage leaving town in the direction I was heading. With a smile and a wave I approached the wagon and told the farmer of the highwaymen we encountered this morning.

"Oh, they don't usually roam this side of the forest." The farmer sighed, with a worried expression.

'Well maybe it was a rare circumstance. I'm a capable fighter, if I can ride along a short distance I'll see that your safe while I'm with you." I offered.

He looked at my now shiny and polished armor and agreed. I rode with him until the road and the river met. I waved to him as we parted directions and I arrived in camp shortly after. I greeted my party and started cooking eggs and bacon. Casey brewed some coffee with fresh water from the river, and we had a fine breakfast before I shared the quests I had gathered.