Returning to the base came with surprising additions to the log house being built. Grarl had expected it to take a long time, but with ten people, two horses and hard work, the walls were already going up, the internal layout was done, and doors being framed.

He was seriously impressed.

The builder who worked on the wounds reappeared to change the bandages, reapply the ointment and check it wasn’t infected.

Then Grarl and Masin decided to cook the evening meal for everyone in the camp. Masin walked the area asking if they were okay with them cooking.

They all refused the offer.

By the time they returned, Nunda was already half done cooking a meal for the Orckin. Feeling disheartened by the refusals, Jason was wondering if he wanted to pursue this path to getting home or not.

The others talked about the fight, Nunda proudly detailing the sweeping attack on the last zombies and how she led them into her trap.

Jason was half listening, half considering his way forward.

What were his options anyway?

He really had no idea where the save point was, other than a hunch it was somewhere with a boss monster in the way. He was only first level, nowhere near ready for the encounter. What hope did he have if he rushed?

The people he was helping hated them even though they had put themselves at risk.

Triuk asked Grarl, “What are you thinking about? Your face is has a very serious look on it.”

Masin added, “And to be honest, it isn’t an improvement on just plain ugly.”

They all gave a little chuckle.

Grarl answered, “I am thinking about home.”

Triuk gave a knowing nod. Then, without warning, he said, “Anna, you may as well penalize me now because Grarl here is about to be told that all the Orckin sitting here are in the game.”

Anna said to them all, “Your admission has been noted. As punishment, since you are attempting to fudge the rules by doing this and take the entire penalty, is everyone here is returned to zero experience points.”

Triuk, Masin and Nunda said in unison, “Oh shit.”

Grarl has had all experience points removed.

Total XP: 0

If you do that again, the next penalty will be to increase the strength of all monsters by 10%

Triuk looked around the camp fire, with a look of shame as he said, “I am so sorry, I didn’t expect her to do that. Still, better early on that later on. And now we can talk opening.”

Be aware, that is any NPCs hear you talking opening, the penalty will be applied. This game prides itself on being realistic.

Triuk said, “Okay, only in secluded places.”

Masin said, “So, not now?”

Triuk answered, “Not now. But, we can discuss what we do tomorrow to further our cause of peace in the region. While this is a cover, we do this as it is done at home. The true enemy will be shown to us, and when we know what it is, we move in on it.”

Masin added, “We have the makings of a full group. We only need a mage or cleric. Or both. But given we are Orckin, mage is highly unlikely. I have never seen an Orckin mage.”

Grarl said, “How long have each of you been on this mission?”

Triuk answered, “Eight days and counting. I have been penalized four times. It doesn’t seem bad, but it really is. Now you see how risky this whole fighting thing is, it is best to do as little as possible. And I sure as hell don’t want stronger monsters.”

Masin said, “Five days.”

Nunda answered, “Seven days. I hang around with Triuk too much and penalties follow him. No more penalties Triuk, I want to get home already.”

Grarl asked, “So, what is the plan? And why is doing this a good idea? Because, to me, it is a stupid idea.”

Triuk answered, “A few days ago we ran into an oracle. They have them here to help move things forward. Anyway, it said that we are Orckin, that we are destined to set up a peace camp between the humans and orcs. And that there is a great evil that we need to overcome.”

Nunda said, “The oracle was really awesome, Triuk really isn’t doing the experience any justice.”

Grarl asked, “Do you two know each other?”

Nunda said, “Triuk is my stupid older brother.”

Masin said, “The point is, we were told to do this, where to do it, so that is what we do. We finish this house, then do some peace work, then find the stupid evil that must be vanquished.”

Nunda screamed in delight as she said, “Yeah, that is how the oracle said it, vanquished.”

Masin added, “We also need gold, that means dungeon crawl. Who wants to do it?”

Triuk said, “We all do it. But before we go, we need a cleric. And we know there is an Orckin cleric to the North. First, we travel there, pick her up, come back, then go kill us some beasties.”

Masin added, “The odds are high that this cleric is a player. So, we must protect the cleric as one of us.”

Grarl asked, “Has anyone died in the game?”

Masin went cold in the face.

Nunda said, “Masin lost his mate a few days ago. We aren’t sure if the whole death thing is real or not. It seems stupid that it would be, but we really do not know. But we are treating it as real.”

Grarl said, “Okay.”

Grarl was surprised to notice the sun had gone down. His eyes had been slowly converting to Dark Vision the entire time, and now he was looking across the construction site, he was aware of the different vision type.

He asked, “Do we want to travel for the cleric at night, or day?”

Masin answered, “Day is best. For now.”

“When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

Grarl was looking around at the builders. They had packed up for the day, were eating their food, but as he watched closely, he became aware that they always had someone on duty watching the orckin. They knew that should the orckin decide to attack them, they would all die.

They were paid well, they were working well, and made the structure solidly. Even with the nice treatment, support, help and risks at helping with the zombies, they still didn’t trust the orckin.

Grarl asked, “Do you think humans will ever trust orckin?”

Nunda answered, “Maybe, one day. You need to remember that orcs and humans have been warring for thousands of years here. And the orckin are a bastard mixed race from their enemy. And we are as ugly as fuck, it is much easily to hate ugly. Look at the half elves, a bunch of pansy drama queens who get all the love because they look pretty.”

Masin laughed, Triuk smiled.

Grarl said, “How do you know the cleric will be a player?”

Triuk answered, “I don’t. But the way this game is played, it makes sense. Mostly because when you play a role-playing game, the characters take center stage. The cleric will be a player. I have no idea who since I only bought the one unit, Masin’s mate is out of the game, so he can return but hasn’t yet. Do you have a second unit?”

Grarl replied, “Yes, my flat mate is joining the game. She was due home in twenty minutes, but I started without her.”

Masin asked, “How long have you been here, in days?”

“This is leading up to my third night.”

Nunda, excited, said, “That means she will be the cleric. I would put money on it. And that is why we only heard of her recently, she must have just made her character and is going through the set-up phase. This is awesome news for us.”

Jason felt pleased about having Maree in the game. Knowing she was probably here made the situation better, and the game better.

Grarl said, “So, we pick her up tomorrow, find a dungeon to clear out, find the boss monster, kill it, find the save point and get the fuck out of this game.”

Triuk answered, “Yeah, that wraps it up nicely.”

Grarl said, “Okay then. I am going to sleep, the faster this gets done, the sooner I can get back home.”

Masin said, “That’s the spirit, lets rock this game.”

As Grarl stood and left, he was surprised the other three did the same thing. Under the cover of their tent, they each climb onto their mats, pulled their blankets up and went to sleep.

“This marks the end of day three in the game, and thirty minutes of playing. Remember that you have had your experience stripped from you.”

A friend has entered the game. Maree is a Half Orc Cleric, Level One. You can link up with her in the town of Thakis.