Chapter 14: Blood and Destruction

Seconds later, flashing multi-colored lights began to appear in front of Ricky’s eyes, distorting his view of the room.

He staggered backwards and then sat down heavily on the bench. Whatever had been in the urn, it had had a potent effect – faster and stronger than the neat vodka his old ship’s crew used to drink on voyages.

“What’s... happening to me?”

The question was partially answered via a couple of notifications:

*Achievement: Intoxication! You consumed a substance that affects your core attributes. +10XP

*Health update: Your level of permanent hit points has risen to 45 (45 remain).

Followed almost immediately by several more:

*Damage report: You have lost 3 hit points (42 remain).

*Debuff: You have consumed a substance that affects your core attributes. Your temporary attributes are as follows for the next one hour:

Endurance: 4

Nimbleness: 2

Speed: 1

Strength: 7

*Debuff: Your chosen specialist skills or advantages will be disabled for the next 24 hours.

“Feeling strange? Come on, now,” said Xarok, putting an arm across Ricky’s shoulder. “Time to move. All you need to do now is rest, and you should do so for the remainder of the day, in-game.”

Ricky rose slowly, and began to walk unsteadily away from the bench, leaning on his companion as he went.

“And tomorrow,” Xarok continued, “comes training. We can begin to explore your new powers. I think you’re going to love it. All except the constant hunger, perhaps. But anyway. Pretty soon we will have you ready to go out on the orb quest, just as we discussed with Gab.”

They were now halfway across the chamber towards the double door where they had entered. Ricky looked around at Xarok as he went. “Hey, man. So, why didn’t you tell me you were a guard?”

Xarok nodded, looking at the ground. “It’s best not to discuss in-game things at the camp. But I gave you a hint, didn’t I?”

“Is anyone else here a guard? I assumed they’d all be... umm...” Ricky tailed off, struggling to think of the word. His senses felt dulled... was he just imagining it, or were his thought processes being slowed by what he had just consumed?

“Refugees?” replied Ricky. “Most are, yes. There are only two other guards that I know of who play the Framework, and none of us are locals. The rest of the guards are citizens – they go home to their families when they are off duty. They have nothing to win by playing this.”

They were now making their way back into the corridor, and Ricky pointed ahead of him. He thought he could hear something – but there was a buzzing in his ears that clouded out all but the occasional yell from the distance. Whether or not the substance had affected his mind, it had certainly done weird and distracting things to his in-game body.

“Everyone at the bar did what I just did?” he said. “Drank the blood and stuff?”

At this, Xarok shook his head sharply. “Oh, no. Only human players are inducted in that way. Most of the characters you will meet inside this complex are NPCs who work for us. Guards, messengers, that kind of thing.”

Xarok paused, and releasing his arm from around Ricky’s shoulder, and smiled. “Like I say, it’s time for you to rest now. Your body is going through a rapid cellular transformation – virtual of course, but the effect is dramatic all the same. And I don’t recommend trying your new powers just yet. When the time comes, though, then you'll just call to the Guide and say that you want to transform.”

“I see.” Ricky wondered if he was slurring his words. It felt like it. He licked his mouth, and wondered if he was already detecting the physiological change that Xarok had mentioned. “Uh... okay then. I will.”

“Oh, there’s one more thing,” said Xarok. “An item – sacred to our guild. Every inducted member gets one. Do you still have the token that Gabriella gave you?"

Ricky nodded, reaching for the wolf token on a leather cord that he had been given near the waterfall, and holding it out.

“Good. You're not a new recruit anymore, so the token you need to carry is different. And this one is much more powerful.” The spellcaster reached into his robes and pulled out a small silver chain.

“Hold out your hand,” he instructed, and when Ricky complied, opening both of his palms in front of him, Xarok placed the chain in his right hand. Once again the lower area of Ricky’s vision was filled with translucent writing about the item properties – more than usual, this time:

***

New item

Item: platinum neckchain of the Tooth and Claw Guild

Class: Symbolic (guild symbol)

Type: Jewelry

Properties (1): Enchanted enchantment. All enchantments cast by the wearer gain 10% power.

Properties (2): Stealth of the wolf. Even in human form, the wearer's stealth is equal to the typical stat for a typical grey timber wolf.

Properties (3): Howl of the pack. The wearer can locate fellow guild members even on unmapped terrain; guild members' icons are marked with grey outlines.

Properties (4): Toughness of the sacred fang. While wearing the neckchain, there is a temporary increase of +20 to hit points.

Resilience: 30 of 30

Prerequisites: Lycanthropy

Description: Rumor has it that these tokens were not crafted by the Tooth and Claw Guild themselves, but rather found as part of an ancient treasure horde through a doorway – a doorway to another dimension. But such stories can surely be dismissed as the ravings of the unhinged.

***

“I see you’ve already picked up another chain,” said Xarok, pointing to Ricky's neck. “I have my own one too. But this one is special. Which reminds me – put it around your neck right away. Keep it very safe.”

Ricky realized that he was still staring at his outstretched hands. Wasn’t there something he had been about to say? His mind was whirling, but he nodded at his companion, and slipped on the chain.

*Achievement: A little help! You obtained an item that boosts your temporary hit points. +10XP

*Health update: You have gained 20 temporary hit points.

*Health update: Your level of hit points has risen to 65 (62 remain).

The doors to his left all looked exactly the same, and with a chuckle, Xarok guided Ricky’s shoulders so that he was facing the right bedroom. But just then, the Demonkind spellcaster froze, listening. And Ricky heard it too. The occasional shouts that he had heard in the distance had given way to screams.

“Shit,” hissed Xarok, pulling his dagger. “We're under attack again. I’d better hurry. Hide – stay safe. We will take care of this.”

With this, Ricky’s companion turned and ran in the direction of the bar.

Ricky closed the bedroom door behind him, and then leaned up against the back of it.

Under attack? Was it possible that the guild was at serious risk? This was his team now. No – not team... colleagues? Clan?

Anyway, he should help. People were being attacked. He reached to his belt for the morning star. Nope – that was in his backpack now.

“Urgh!”

Ricky whacked at his own face in frustration. Why couldn't he think clearly?

“I must arm myself and help them,” he said out loud. “I must.”

Map!

An image of the complex appeared in his mind, but just like his vision after drinking from the urn, everything was distorted with multi-colored shapes obscuring his view.

Guide, why can't I see?

“Ricky, you are under the influence of lycanthrope blood.”

“But I... but... okay then, God damn it!"

He tried to focus, and sure enough, he could make out both blue and green dots, some with a grey outline and others without.

But a wave of fatigue came over him, and the longer he looked, the less sense he could make of any of it.

His attention was shrinking until he could only focus on a single dot, and then, sleep taking hold, on nothing at all.

He slumped back against the door.

“No, no, no,” Ricky cried out, immediately alarmed upon waking. “What time is it?”

He had spoken the words aloud, but the guide answered the question:

“It is five twenty-six in the evening, Ricky.”

Notifications followed:

*Daily event: You have slept for seven hours. The time in the Dark Framework is now 17:26.

*Healing report: You have gained 3 hit points (65 remain). You are now fully healed.

*World event: The effects of your intoxication have ended.

Ricky cursed and stood up cautiously, checking his possessions. His sword was still there. His room looked much the same as before. But despite the notification, he didn’t feel normal at all. He was nauseous, and there was a stabbing pain in his stomach that caused him to bend over double.

Guide – why am I in pain? Am I poisoned?

“You have contracted lycanthropy, Ricky. This is part of the process.”

Xarok had told him to rest, it was true, and he still felt very tired as well as sore. But he was pretty sure that a direct attack on the guild compound had not been part of his new companions’ plan.

Turning, Ricky put his hand to the doorknob, and cautiously opened it. Then, thinking twice, he called up the map again.

He could again see both normal icons and grey-outlined ones – the latter, he recalled, now represented guild members. Nearly all of these were the red dots that indicated NPCs. Following the corridor with his gaze, he saw a circular room at one side and a rectangular at the other. Right. That would be the area from where the ceremony took place along to the bar. Currently there were only two people in the latter, both NPCs, and neither guild members. Two further NPCs were at the top of the stairs together with two players. Again, not guild members. The attackers had secured the entrance.

Scanning other nearby areas, Ricky was able to see clusters of guild members, but they must be in areas that he hadn’t been – which included most of the compound, obviously.

Well, they still lived. But without a knowledge of the setting, he had no way of helping them. It would be hard enough to escape alive himself, if – as it appeared – enemies had controlled the only way in or out. But if he did, he could perhaps get help from Gabriella or any other guild member who remained at large. And warn them, too.

Ricky pulled open the door and hurried along the corridor. Scanning the map had reassured him that there were no enemies immediately outside, though it occurred to him that he wouldn’t know if attackers were lurking behind any of the adjacent doors that he was passing. Slowing, he tried to move as stealthily as he could, and fortunately, none of the doors swung open.

He put his hand to his katana as he approached the bar area. Clearly a fight had taken place – he could see that from here. And nobody had bothered to clear up afterwards. Tables were overturned, there was blood splashed dramatically up one of the walls, and pools of it on the floor; the smell struck him as powerfully as did the sight. He could even see the body of a short and bearded man; with a chill of recognition, Ricky realized it was the dwarven barman who had served them drinks some hours before.

Moving closer, Ricky could see the two guards that he had identified on the map. Both were humanoid, but only just. One had an enormous misshapen bald head, and was carrying a club with nails sticking out of it. He was at least seven feet tall. The other was shorter, thin, with a pointed beard, purplish skin, and a bandana of knives across his chest. A demonkind assassin, Ricky supposed.

He licked his lips, pulling his sword quietly. If only he had Channia with him right now, a couple of well-placed arrows would sort out this particular obstacle. But as it was...

He momentarily considered figuring out how to transform into wolf form, if the change had completed. But it seemed reckless – Xarok hadn’t yet shown him what to do. Besides, wolves surely weren’t naturals at stairs, and he didn’t think they were likely to be good at opening doors, either.

And that was before he faced the issue of making it safely through the streets of Imperialis.

No – a distraction was what he needed.

He reached into his coin pouch, and pulled out a copper coin. Reaching back, he lobbed it as far as he could, aiming for the doorway at the far end of the taproom.

The effect was much better than he could have hoped for. The coin bounced off a chair, clattered into the doorway, and then rebounded, hitting a glass tankard, which smashed.

***

Wealth update

Gold: 5

Silver: 12

Copper: 22

***

“Someone is shooting!” called out the bearded guard, pulling out two of his knives and taking cover behind one of the overturned tables.

The big bald guard blundered forward towards the door at the far side, pushing through it, and his companion followed more cautiously, moving from table to table and keeping low.

As they departed, Ricky hurried around the near edge of the room and made for the stairway.

*Achievement: The silence of the wolf! You have evaded detection by enemy guards. +10XP

*Combat event: You have bypassed potential foes without taking damage. +20XP

Ricky tried to stay quiet as he hurried up the stairs, but again he was fortunate. As he approached the top, staying in the shadows to one side, he saw that two of the four people that had been there were in the process of leaving. They saluted the two who remained, pushed open the main door open, and left.

*Achievement: Blending in! You have stayed still and evaded detection by foes. +10 XP

The remaining pair spoke for a moment.

“There are still some shifter scum barricaded upstairs,” said one, a demonkind woman. “And there must be a hidden area below, I am sure, but so far we have had no luck finding it.”

“We can’t wait them out,” said the other, a being with ferocious lizard-like features and thick red scales. “We’ve no idea how long they can stay in there, Tomaçka.”

“You’re right.”

“No more than another hour,” he added. “When it starts to get dark out, we have to leave, orbs or no orbs.”

“Very well.” With this, the demonkind woman hurried up the stairs.

This left just the lizard warrior in front of Ricky, with his back turned as he faced the outer door. And Ricky was still clutching his sword in his hand.

He stepped forward and stabbed out.

*Achievement: Ultra-sneaky attack! You have struck a mortal blow without first being seen by your opponent. +20XP

Ricky’s blow had clearly badly wounded his foe. His blade slid deep into the warrior’s lower back, and as he pulled it out again, the creature sank to his knees, looked around, and then – lying in a pool of blood – began to scrabble for a weapon at his own belt.

But Ricky didn’t hesitate, following up with a blow to the throat. With the enemy prostrate, it was almost too easy.

*Combat event: You have slain a half-dragon. +55XP.

Ricky then put one hand on the outer door, and hesitated, listening. He couldn’t hear any further enemies on the move. There was no sound from the two guards below, and the demonkind warrior didn’t seem to have been alerted, either. A quick check of the map confirmed his thoughts.

Before leaving, he looked down again at the pool of blood around the dead half-dragon warrior. It smelled so good. And the hunger in his stomach was painfully intense.

He paused for a second, and then sank to his knees and began to feed...

Outside, Ricky turned left and ran up the lane. Yes – his vision was clear now, and he felt that he was thinking straight again at last. Although... it was hard to tell. What happens, he wondered, when your thinking is too messed up to know that it's messed up?

The alley was mercifully clear, and he now raced out into the huge marketplace area, still clutching the katana. Ahead he could see a pair of purple-cloaked city guards, both male.

“Hey, you two,” he called out, approaching them. “My home is under attack by assassins!”

*Achievement: A higher authority! You have called for help from city officials. +10XP

The guards exchanged a glance, then each of then drew his own sword.

“Oh, thank you,” said Ricky, taking another step towards them, and turning to point. "That way, down the alley. It’s the black door.”

Just then he felt a firm hand on his wrist, and a painful shudder went through his whole arm all the way up to the shoulder, jarring his whole right side.

*Combat event: You have been disarmed.

*Damage report: You have lost 1 hit point (64 remain).

“You are under arrest,” growled one of the guards, “for approaching a city soldier with a weapon drawn and intent to kill.”

“No!” cried Ricky, now struggling as both guards clutched at his arms. “But there was no intent to kill – none at all. I am the victim here! My guild and I were attacked.”

The guards exchanged another glance. “More guild trouble,” said one quietly.

“Best off this one quick,” said the other, “or the whole thing might blow up like the last time.”

They were now pulling the struggling Ricky towards a different alleyway, not far along from the one where the guildhall was located.

*Combat event: You have been grappled.

*Debuff: You are now manually restrained. Until you break free, you cannot move in the direction that you choose.

“Wait, what do you mean by ’off me’,” he called out. One of the guards had by now pulled out a pair of crude iron manacles, and he cuffed Ricky's right hand with one end.

“Dangerous criminal,” called out the other guard cheerfully, speaking to the people at the nearest merchant stall as they past, and pointing at Ricky. “A madman and a scourge on the city.”

“Thank you for your service, sir,” called back one merchant, and then turned to look the other way.

Soon the pair had pulled Ricky into a recessed doorway that had a metal railing on both sides. Here the guards stopped, and one of them attached the other end of the manacles to the railing, so that Ricky found himself restrained.

*Debuff: You are now tied up. Until you break free, you cannot move in the direction that you want.

The guards then moved out in front of him, shooing away some interested passers-by. It looked very much like they wanted to ensure that there were no witnesses before they did their murderous deed.

“I really don’t want to respawn in Barrowdale,” Ricky muttered. “And I don’t want to lose any XP.”

*Quest 022 (Level 2): Escape from the Imperialis guards.

Looking down at the cuff-like manacle that was over his wrist, it occurred to him that this might be the moment to try out the new abilities that Xarok had told him about. He hadn’t received the promised training, it was true. But how hard could it be?

And things were looking desperate. He had to try something. And surely a wolf’s paw would just slip through the cuff of the manacles...?

Guide, he said urgently. I want to transform into a wolf.

“You wish to use the gift of lycanthropy and take on a wolf’s form – please confirm,” she said.

Yes. I confirm.

Accumulated XP: 770 (unspent: 270)