North American Broadcast Corporation (NABC) newsroom

Oct 25, 2046 :07:23 AM EST

“You should leave this to the pros. You’ve done your part now hand the Torch off!” An angry looking blonde news anchor said glaring at the reporter. The reporter sniffed, “I broke this story. It is mine.” The blonde was stopped from replying by a cough, the male News Anchor on the other side of the reporter pointed to the producer who had two fingers up. On-Air went green. Three pairs of brilliant white smiles faced the cameras. Female news anchor, “Thank you Gilbert, those people at Danny’s sure know how to fry a breakfast burrito.” The male news anchor smiled wider, “I sure do hope your saving some of that, for us over here!”

They all laughed. The reporter picked up, “It has been A little after seven hours, since Esper On line’s expansion released. Millions of players have signed in and joined the Massively Multi player Online Role-Playing Game.” The Blonde news anchor cut in, “We here at NABC have now confirmed that out of those millions of players, none have logged out. This issue has become worldwide with over 27 countries reporting players who have stayed in game.” With a barely concealed glare, the reporter cut back in, “Authorities are now urging people to stay off the game. Do not log in! numerous attempts to removed players by physically removing the ER Equipment, against manufacturers suggestions, has resulted in numerous comas. At this time if you have a loved one playing and they have not logged off, please call your local police station.”

The blonde news anchor’s fury was plainly visible. “Siarra Inc has continued a media blackout. Authorities have attempted to enter the companies Headquarters but are being blocked by automated security androids.”

The On-Air light had not yet went off before the blonde snapped, “And Tod close your damn mouth you look like a stupid fish.”

I appeared at the entrance to the mine, to a scream of rage. “This has to be your fault!” Turning around confused I was struck in the shoulder with a blade. Stunned and confused I didn’t respond as another swing came at me. Jazmine was there, her once decent store-bought armor was now a shamble of poor-quality pieces that looked a mess. Her blade descending at my head though was a contrast. It must have been a High-quality drop. A real rare find on these guys. BAM! And it hurt too.

As she pulled back for another swing my confused, pain filled body went into action. Fully spinning I drew my blade and side stepped the next thrust. “What the hell is your problem Jazmine!” She snarled, “You! You did something deep down there in the mine. It should have been my feat! You robbed me of my rewards!” There was maybe a half dozen other players standing around in shock, just watching the conflict unfold. “You left the group. I did not make you do anything!” I retorted parrying another strike. Even with my life at half, I still had not attempted to strike back, instead I continued to talk to the crazy warrior. “You didn’t follow orders and died. Before…” She snarled and lashed out screaming, “Who are you to give me orders! I organized that group and led them!” Barely dodging a thrust at my head, I glared, “You joined my group after we saved you!” She snarled again and landed her next swing. Her blade’s tip pierced deep into my thigh eliciting a gasp of pain. Falling to my knee, I glared up at Jazmine. Her dark smile showed white teeth as she pulled her blade back for the final stroke. I refused to close my eyes as the point descended. A loud clang echoed in the Mine entrance. Lien’s hammer was there between the blade and my head.

Jazmine spun to the Acolyte, “Bitch you stay out of this!” Alexander and Luxus had surrounded Jazmine on all sides. The Magician had his Staff at the ready, I’m sure as a show of consoledarity more than actual use. Jazmine looked at each one in tun. Then glared at me. With rage tinted eyes she stabbed towards me. My parry was sloppy. My blade didn’t deflect the entire blow, instead it sent it sliding over my shoulder in a hot river of pain. The others all struck Jazmine. Hammer, Staff, and dagger all found home. Jazmine screamed as my group… my friends struck again. The combined effort was enough to Have Jazmine’s tombstone drop to the ground with the echoing whomp of granite on uneven stone.

Other players looked like they may want to join the fray, but when I stood, bloody, wounded and furious they decided kobolds were better prey. A warmth enfolded me as Lien’s spell bound damaged tissues. The feeling always pleasant sent shivers up my spine. A notice sent a cold shiver down my spine in the other direction.

Jazmine Oxford has added you to her enemy list. She will now receive 5 fame every time she kills you.

Luxus bent and grabbed the meager coins Jazmine’s tombstone offered, “Waste not want not” he said with dry sarcasm. Turning we made our way out of the valley. There really were fewer kobolds out now. Perhaps that was because the sun had come up. Or perhaps that was because of us. Either way we only had to kill two miners to reach the treeline.

“Well folks, I’m off. Thank you for a wonderful time! I’ve added you all to my friends List.” Alexander said. He left the group and moved into the trees. Luxus nodded, “Yea me too.” He looked at the sun rising over the horizon. “Its been an interesting night. Az, Lien see you guys around?” Lien nodded, and I replied, “For sure. You’re an awesome Thief I’ll look you up.” He smiled and left the group too. That left me and Lien. After finding the sleeping Ace in the trees, we made our way to the top of the hill and apparent safety. Lien yawned adrenaline wearing off exhaustion was kicking in. “Well I better get off. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to log in again. My husband is sure to lock the network down and beat me. I will have to hack back in before I can log in again.”

I had no idea what to say, luckily, I didn’t need to say anything. Lien continued, “I expect it will take me a week or so. Regardless you drug me to these damn Hume lands. When I do get back on you better be ready to help me catch up to you!” I smiled, ‘I can do that.” Lien smiled, then surprised me by giving me a quick hug. Then she moved over to a tree and logged out.

I looked at Ace who had tears in his eyes. “What is up?”

He shook his head, “ Nothing sir, I just feel bad I like her.”

I placed my hand on the boy’s shoulder, “Me too. We will see her again.” The boy shook his head, “Its not that. She is just standing here. While I waited for you, I saw a bunch of travelers go stiff like that. Kobolds or other travelers would kill them. Sometimes they would steal their things first. Other times the travelers would do … bad things to them.”

Stunned, I considered. This new in game feature meant that you had to find a safe place to log out. It was no longer okay to just log out anywhere. Then if you could take a player’s items while they are logged out, you needed somewhere secure too. That meant a house, Guild Hall, or … an Inn. Looking at Lien I sighed. No sleep yet it seemed.

It took me almost an hour and half to get the ridged form of Lien to Hub. I had seen a few Inn’s around the city, and I was sure I wasn’t the only one to figure out the new game dynamic. Before Inns were mostly unused. If you logged out, you were just not in game. Why pay for a room that would be empty. Now though they would be a high demand commodity.

I found a nice Inn named The Roost, it had an eagle or some other form of bird sleeping with its head under a wing on its bark sign. Ace tapped the hanging sign as we passed under it. Inside was a smallish common room. Perhaps a dozen round tables were evenly spread around. The scent of eggs and bacon sent my stomached growling the moment I came in the door. The room was unusually empty. Only a heavy-set man with a brown apron, red bushy beard, and equally unruly hair awaited us. The man smiled as I entered. “Welcome to The Roost. Best beds this side of Old Town.” I smiled, pulled Lien through the door with a grunt and then looked around. “Kind of slow today?” The man shook his head, “Na, the opposite really. We are almost fully booked. Only two rooms left.” I gritted my teeth. I had been right. “How much for a room?” “1 Silver per night. That gets you room and a meal.” I thought about it then nodded, “Okay she needs a room for 7 days. I’ll take one for…. A month.” I figured prices would be going up around the city soon once the economy started to adjust to this new feature. So, if I got my room now it would save me money. Then if I didn’t use it all, there was little lost.

The Innkeep perked up. “very good! Well I’ll tell you what I may overlook a second meal for a long-term guest.” I thanked him and payed him the 37 silver. I could have gotten the coin from Lien to pay for her room, but I did not want to explain to her why I had been going through her things, even for this. The Innkeep led us up to the third floor, our two rooms sat across the hall from each other. He handed me two keys and returned to the ground floor. Placing Lien in one room I sort of pushed her onto the bed. She was ridiculous looking. I spent some time to move her stiffened body to a more comfortable laying position. When I got to her hand, I unclenched them. Placing her mace in her backpack. The other clenched fist held the kobold skull. I was about to trash it then paused. With a smile, I grabbed a piece of linen cloth from my pack, torn some strings from it and went to Ace. They boy was still holding the staff I had given him. I placed the skull atop the staff and used the strings to tie it in place. Standing back I examined the staff. Although it was still a foot and half talker than the boy it now had an intimidating air to it.

I turned to the small desk in the corner of the room. Picking a sheet of paper up , I started to write Lien a note explaining the situation. Two sentences in I stopped. I scowled at the note. I couldn’t read a word I was writing. I was sure I knew what it said but I couldn’t make sense of it. Thinking quickly, I drew another paper out and started writing again. This time I focused on writing in Common. The letters and words were clear and easy to understand. I was happy to see that I even had better had writing in Esper than I did in the real world. I put the last period on my note with a flourish and admired my work. I had a very precise and practiced hand. It almost looked like Calligraphy. Curious, I set the note to the side to let the ink dry. Grabbed another paper and started to write in kobold, then lizardfolk, then draconic. To my utter amazement I was fluent in each. With interest I noted that the letters of the three souron dialects were different from the Common tongue. The Sauron languages all used the same lettering just in different ways. They were kind of like many of the European languages. My writing experiment over I gathered up my mess and knocked it into the rubbish bin.

Ace had been watching me interested the whole time. “Can you read?” I asked. He shook his head, “No, no one ever shows orphans how to do anything useful.” I shook my head in dismay. “I think we need to change that.” The boy beamed, almost jumping in place. “Thank you master! The gods blessed me the day I was placed in that cage to be found by you!” I cringed, that was a bit much. Anyone being happy about being shoved in a cage definitely had it rough.

Locking the door, I went to my room. I began to take off my armor then paused. Looking out the window at the sun I sighed. I was tired but I’m sure class had already started, and I could always get the notes online. Picking my packs up again I left the Inn.

I went across the street to find Captain Stuart at the training grounds. To my dismay, he wasn’t there but a different guard with the filled star showing he had a quest turn in was.

Quest Completed!

Kobold Menace!!!

Rewards:

400 Exp Guard’s Blade (Green) Guard’s Shield (Green) 50 Silver

New Ability Learned! Rush: You can now charge 15 yards toward an enemy. When struck this attack will stun your foe for 3 seconds.

I smiled, that ability was standard for Warriors as was the sword and shield . Sadly, both items were not great. The sword gave a +1 to STR and the Shield a +1 to CON. Both would be out matched by items quickly. Still they were better than what I was using, so I equipped them. Looking around again I still did not see Captain Stuart. Sighing I began my trip to the Magician Tower.

The streets were packed. Not with people going from place to place. There was some of that, but mostly with frozen players. The guards that were moving them to the sides of the streets ran out of places to put them. Now the roads were cluttered and confusing. It reminded me of the college hallways when you would get that group that decides to stop in the middle of the hall to talk Making everyone else slow and go around them. Eventually I reached the Magician Tower and found Magician Pleasa.

Quest Completed!

Kobold Thieves!!!

Rewards:

400 Exp Magicians Ring (Green) Potion of Lesser Mana x5 50 Silver

New Ability Learned! Channel: Allows you to focus on your mana. You may either increase your mana regeneration by 100% or focus your mana into another person or object. Any distraction can interrupt this ability.

Warning! Your bags are full. Potion of Lesser Mana x5 has been lost.

“Shit!” I cursed. Pleasa tilted her head confused, “What is wrong young Magician?” I glowered at the woman. Turned and stomped downstairs. Ace apologized to Pleasa quietly and followed after me. Moving to the Shopkeeper I began to pull items out of my packs. Most of the gear was vendor trash. Items of the poor quality that only served to sell to Vendors. The Shopkeep’s sour glances turned into utter annoyance when I started plopping things down on the counter. “I hate when you Travelers do this. This is a magician’s shop, for god’s sake! You sell your junk here and then I have to take it to the correct shops to get my coin back.”

I glared at the man, “Will you not buy them?”

The Shopkeep glared, “I have too. Its my job.” I nodded and slammed more crap down. A few minutes later I had cleared my bags. The Shopkeep counted up the full price of the items. “4 gold, 73 Silver, and 22 Copper. But I have no use for those Scraps of paper.” I looked at a stack of perhaps a dozen torn bits of paper. “What am I supposed to do with them?” I snarled. The long day and the loss of the Mana potions had worn down my patience. The Shopkeep shrugged, “I don’t care but I will not buy them.” Snarling I grabbed the papers and tried to give them to Ace.

Warning! This item may not be transferred.

Snarling again I destroyed the papers, then turned to the Shopkeep, “There no more papers. Where can I find a money changer or bank?” The Shopkeep quickly counted out the coins, tossed the pile of things into a sack behind the counter and gave me directions. His unfriendly glare followed me as I left the tower. I stopped outside the door; Ace hadn’t followed me out. A minute passed and I was about to go back in to find the boy, when he ran out the door and straight into me. The few silver coins he was trying to put into a pocket scattered across the ground. With a yelp he dove after them. Frowning I bent down and helped him recover the coins. ”What are these Ace?”

The boy looked down, “I’m sorry sir. I … I ugh…”

“You did what?”

“I ugh... I kept some of the things you left behind. The items you and Lien said were trash. I kept a couple of the more valuable looking ones. I laughed; Ace was full of surprises. He was just a vanity pet and here he was saving things to sell. I paused thinking, the boy was terrified, so I shook my head. “That is fine Ace. I left those things thee. You did nothing wrong. In fact, your welcome to all the cast offs you can carry.” The boy smiled widely showing some truly crooked teeth, thank you master!” I shuddered tearing my eyes from the poor lad’s mouth and started down the street. The Bank was near the Lords Keep in the central square. As I walked the crowded streets, I looked over my character info for Ace. He was not listed in my pets. He wasn’t in my inventory, something I could summon and unsummon. He wasn’t anywhere, then I looked in my Social sheet. This was different. The old Pre-Expansion Social had three tabs; Friends, Enemies, and Clan. Those three were still here. Now three more tabs were there too; Family, Guilds, and Nation. My Clan, Guilds, and Nation tabbes were greyed out. I selected friends.

Friends

Lien Xi High Elf Level 4 Acolyte Last Known Location : Hub

Luxus Swiftblade Hume Level 4 Thief Last Known Location: Central Province

Alexander Steiner Hume Level 4 Magician Last Known Location: Central Province

Jazmine was under People who declared you Enemy in the Enemy Tab. Then I found him. Ace Starblade(adopted). He was listed as family. I looked at the kid and wondered what that meant.

I was still wondering about this when we happened upon a sight. There were three teenage boys going from frozen player to frozen player. First, they would take their coins, then anything good in their packs. Finally, they would kill the defenseless player. To my horror I watched as one of the boys, walked over to a nice-looking Hume woman and crudely groped her snickering. “Hey Stoner, get a load of the tits on tis chick.” The offending boy made some sucking sounds as the other two laughed. “You punks let go of her!” I shouted. The three boys turned to me. Stoner whose full name was XXXStonerXXX yomama glared at me, “Get lost. This isn’t your concern.” I shook my head, “No you guys are robbing these people then killing them.” Stoner sneered; geez the kid could sneer. “It’s a game. We are not doing anything wrong, but if you want to donate to our cause. Then who am I to say no?” With this he pulled out a sword. The other two did the same. Looking them over they were all level 3 and better geared than I was. Looks like robbing people payed well. Ace moved up next to me, his staff held ready. One of the boys called, “hey isn’t that one of those Orphan pets? I didn’t know they were combat pets.” The other boy replied, “Na, they aren’t. This guy just figured out a way to dress his up. They are useless, that’s why I killed mine.” The three thugs moved toward me. There was no way I could take on all three of them, so I did the only thing I could. I called for the Guards. “GUARDS!” my shout echoed down the street drawing attention from all directions. They froze stunned. I guess they hadn’t considered I’d do that. Maybe to them in a game you either fought or ran. I smiled and called for the guards again. Stoner frowned, “Hell lets get out of here. This fool will get us locked up and where is the fun in that? I heard the sounds of the guards pushing through the clogged streets, the thugs turned and took of in the opposite direction. I considered doing something to stop them, but I didn’t want to attack a player in the middle of a city. Especially when I had just called the guards.

Stoner was nearly out of sight when a small foot appeared from behind a frozen player. Stonier went down with a thud and grunt of pain. A small dark-skinned girl with curly black locks sat on his back as he tried to rise. Running over to her she smiled a bright white toothy smile toward me. “I got him,’ she said. Stoner cursed more than a drunken sailor as he tried to get the girl off him. His friends has seen him fall, then saw the guards and kept running.

As the Guards approached one called out, “You lot there what is the meaning of this?” stoner stopped struggling and just lay on the ground. The girl frowned, “he logged out.”

A new voice called from the line of Guards.