Well into the night, the party discussed their plans for defending the city and getting rid of the blight problem. James would work closely with Myr to create a detailed project outline and map of where buildings, roads, and defenses were to be placed. The Mist Elf mentioned removing a portion of the bridge at night as a means of defense. With no bridge, any attack would be more difficult. Eli agreed with the plan and James added it to his notes. As his friend jotted down notes, he switched his role to Guild Steward.

Michelle was to continue taking parties of people hunting. She would then decide who would be placed where. They made four groups, hunters, scouts, guards, and general labor. Anyone with a talent for long-ranged weapons, or stealth, would go train with Kata and Eillius on the peninsula. They would also provide food and secure the borders. The scouts would explore and map the surrounding territory while keeping it free of monsters. Guards would practice with Michelle in a training ground next to the bridge. Myr and James would then use anyone unfit for combat into a general labor pool for help on their projects.

The troll's immediate goal was to find a more permanent solution for the scout prisoners they locked in a room on the third floor, next to the kitchen. She requested that an actual dungeon be made, with multiple cells and security measures. Unfortunately, Eli only had enough build points and faith points to create a single large room with two cells. The group of six would have to share the cramped spaces, with magical open-air toilets and sinks. With her portion of the plan, she got up to leave. As she did, Eli asked her to interrogate the scouts and see what she could learn, without injuring or killing them.

As the plan came together, everything went into a small notebook that James crafted, using twine to bind its pages. Don was to work with players and try to get a read on what type of people they were. After making sure no one was too crazy, he would submit a report on who should join the guild. There were three players who were already citizens, and nine who initially refused, but lingered on the other side of the rivers. If they could recruit them and convince them to become citizens, their output would increase immediately.

Players gained experience and had near inexhaustible sources of energy. A single untrained player could catch up to an apprentice level NPC in a single day if they focused on skill training. By the end of a few weeks, they could reach the journeyman level. The guild needed every type of skill, but any with combat or crafting proficiencies were an immediate need. Don had already spoken with Kyle about learning a craft and sent the kid to learn the fishing skill from a Mist Elf named Fostall. It lasted thirty minutes. Then the kid was shadow boxing or following the turta around the island as he worked.

Roscoe had already accepted a role in the guild, if only temporarily. He was helping James gather information on the NPCs, Myr, and already had one NPC assistant. The surly dwarf had promised a gladekin named Nautal Featherkeeper, protection and one shiny thing per day if he would help him. According to Don, Roscoe had sent the gladekin back to Dawnport to gather information, and search for anything that might be important.

With his friends having taken much of the immediate concerns under their control, Eli made it his goal to help scout the area, learn everything he could about the system, and finance the construction of the settlement. James informed him that there should be dungeons and caverns nearby, but he was not exactly sure of their locations. If they could find them, and clear them, they would earn a decent amount of coin and have items to sell. It would be dangerous, but profitable.

This brought their attention to an entirely separate matter, Dawnport. With Eli and Don not in good standing, their settlement as a whole had a negative reputation with the closest major city. If they wanted to trade or sell anything, they would have to travel to a wolffen controlled monastery named Abbotsbane, or a Mist Elf trading outpost called Oceanmist. Both of the small cities were roughly a week's travel with a cart full of items. Before giving up on trade, Eli asked Aida for help.

“Aida, any ideas?” He asked, his tone hopeful.

“It’s about time,” The AI responded, taking the form a wisp as it shot out of his chest.

“That’s new,” James said, staring at the floating ball of light.

“Yeah, I’m special. To keep this short, I’m Eli’s AI, and I can take the wisp form of the AI gods. Since I’m made from his code, my code is also broken. Now I can learn and do stuff like this.” Aida said, before moving along with her plan. “You and citizens of Blight’s End are effectively banned from Dawnport.”

“Yes, we know that.” Eli interrupted.

“What did I say about interrupting.” Aida continued, floating around Eli’s head, her glow getting brighter in agitation, “People who aren’t citizens are not effected by the ban. You have a bunch of squatters on the other side of that river. I’m sure a few of them would like some quests, and others would be happy with coin. Get them to do it. Maybe you can make a trading post, one purposefully unaffiliated with your guild. Hire someone off-the-books to run it and smuggle stuff for you. I think, you already know someone who would be perfect for that type of work.”

At the guide's words, all three of the remaining players turned to each other, and shouted, “Roscoe!”

With a plan for their financial woes coming together, the party of adventurers called it a night. Eli said he would talk to Roscoe in the morning. By the time their meeting was finished, it was past midnight, and all of them needed a good night's rest. By the time Eli got to his room, he could barely stand, and his eyes were heavy. He was out before his head hit the pillow.

When Eli awoke, he felt refreshed and ready for the day. For the first time as a player, he felt good. He had a plan, he slept, and there was hope. Realizing that he had fallen asleep in his gear, he removed his sharkskin leathers and switch into his old hunter's armor. Before he did, he checked the stats of his old gear for the first time. What he saw stole his breath.

*Wildwood Hunters Tunic.

Armor: 25 | Slot: Chest | Size: Medium | Durability: 45/45 | Quality: Above Average | Rarity: rare | Weight: 6 lbs | Effects: Reinforced. Wildwoods Camouflage. Set-Item.

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced. +10 Durability.

Camouflage: This item is designed for concealment in the Wildwood. -10% chance to be seen when hiding or in stealth within the Wildwood. -5% chance to be seen when hiding, or in stealth, in all other forested areas.

After staring at the tunic in his inventory, he immediately canceled the spell holding his shark tunic to reality. His old leather armor had better protection, was lighter, and offered better concealment while traveling in the Wildwood. It was also a set item. Quickly, he scanned the rest of the set before putting it on.

*Wildwood Hunters Greaves.

Armor: 20 | Slot: legs | Size: Medium | Durability: 40/40 | Quality: Above Average | Rarity: rare | Weight: 8 lbs | Effects: Reinforced. Wildwoods Camouflage. Set Item.

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced. +10 Durability.

Camouflage: This item is designed for concealment in the Wildwood. -10% chance to be seen when hiding or in stealth within the Wildwood. -5% chance to be seen when hiding, or in stealth, in all other forested areas.

The properties of the dark green leather greaves were nearly identical to the tunic. They were abnormally light and offered similar concealment properties. After putting them on, he looked at the boots, and was surprised to see that they would muffle his sound, and increase his movement speed while hunting in the Wildwood.

*Wildwood Hunters Boots.

Armor: 10 | Slot: feet | Size: Medium | Durability: 30/30 | Quality: Above Average | Rarity: rare | Weight: 6 lbs | Effects: Reinforced. Wilderstep. Set Item.

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced. +10 Durability.

Wilderstep: This item is designed for traversing the dangers of the Wildwood. +10% movement speed while in the Wildwood. +5% movement speed while in all other forested areas. While traveling in any forested area, your footsteps are muffled. +10% to noise reduction while walking, running, or sneaking in all forested areas.

Tapping his feet on the cold stone floor, he felt a sense of familiarity. If pork belly and eggs had been cooking, he would have thought he was still in his cabin. At the thought, a hint of nostalgia for his past life swept over him. After forcing it down, not wanting his mood to be ruined, he rushed to put on the rest of his armor. His braces and gloves.

*Wildwood Hunters Bracers.

Armor: 15 | Slot: arms | Size: Medium | Durability: 40/40 | Quality: Above Average | Rarity: rare | Weight: 8 lbs | Effects: Reinforced. Hunters Rest. Set Item.

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced. +10 Durability.

Hunters Rest: This item is designed to provide wrist support when using bows. +10% accuracy with any bow.

*Wildwood Hunters Gloves.

Armor: 15 | Slot: arms | Size: Medium | Durability: 40/40 | Quality: Above Average | Rarity: rare | Weight: 8 lbs | Effects: Reinforced. Hunters Grasp. Set-Item.

Reinforced: This item has been reinforced. +10 Durability.

Hunters Grasp: This item is designed to muffle sound and provide quick release when using bows. +10% Noise reduction while firing bows. +5% Damage while using bows.

As Eli slipped his hands into his gloves, he felt a surge of magical energy pulse through him. The thick leather bindings of his tunic and greaves cinched into place, hugging the contours of his body. While he looked on in wonder, the coloration of the leather shifted. Vibrant leafy greens became dull and shadowy, shifting in the flickering lite. He knew that if he were to hide in the woods, he would seem more like a wraith or apparition than a man. The Padding on the soles of his boots thickened, allowing his feet to sink in deeper, becoming more comfortable and causing even less noise. Thick leather supports formed around his wrists where gloves met bracer. After the slight changes and surge of energy ended, a notification appeared.

*Congratulations! You have completed the armor set Wrath of the Wildwoods.

For wearing all five pieces of the armor set, you receive the following bonuses: +5% Stealth, +5% Movement Speed, +5% Noise reduction from all non-verbal sources, +5% Damage with bows, and +5% Accuracy with bows.

Well, this is new, Eli thought to himself while reading over the notification. I don’t remember it doing this when I was an NPC.

“That’s because it most likely didn’t,” Aida responded mind to mind. “NPCs don’t get set bonuses, and stuff like that. Most of their stats and abilities are static or adjust to the players. Also, if you were killed by a normal payer, there would most likely be a small chance one of these pieces of armor would drop. They would have to kill you repeatedly to get all of it. Since you came back with the full set and the bow, that was unnecessary. James just stole it back as a set. It’s also probably why the guard took it. To get the armor you would have to kill that avatar a bunch which would lower your standing with Dawnport and probably piss off that avatars NPC guard buddy.”

“So, I Derek attacked be because of what I was wearing?” Eli asked, somewhat confused.

While shooting out of her spot in Eli’s chest, Aida sighed, “Not exactly. You rushed through a city and trigger a bunch of negative interactions with NPCs. You also started with a low reputation in Dawnport. Most half-wolffen would have done quests to kill sewer rats, fetch items, and other easy tasks to earn money and build up a reputation. Or, they would head directly to the slums. But, you did a dumb and pissed everyone off. Also, the game is breaking or changing at least. Things are becoming more real, as you know. The negative reputation changes, you breaking the law, and the armor most likely triggered a set of interactions. If reputation is below 250 and wolffen, go to the pit. If below 500 and human, go to jail and pay a fine. Something like that. Him stealing your stuff is the weird part. That shouldn’t have happened. That was off-script, and most likely caused by whatever the system is doing to create those blighted players from AI.”

“She’s right,” James called out, pushing Eli’s door open. “NPCs are becoming more like players.” Eli had left the door unlocked.

Surprised at his friend's sudden arrival, Eli quickly equipped his bow, axes and belt knife. “What do you mean? How many? Is there a problem?”

“All of them” James responded, with a hint of approval in his voice. “And it might be a good thing.” The Mist Elf said, sitting on the edge of Eli’s bed. Motioning for him to sit down.

For the next hour James, Aida, and Eli went over what was happening. James had used his permissions to contact Aeryntorr. As a developer, he could ask more direct questions and access more of the game's core files and permissions. He explained that each of the twelve altars was an access terminal for the AI that ran different aspects of the game. Aeryntorr managed spawn rates and locations for beasts, plants, trees, and most of the nature-themed aspects of the game. The development team had done this to partition different resource-intensive functions into their own mini servers, with the main system acting as a bridge between them all. Each was all given their own themes, alignments, personalities, and responsibilities, then left to do their jobs.

As a response to the creation of NPCs in player avatars, ten of the twelve AI administrators, referred to as gods, invented a way to balance the system. They altered the level restrictions, skill restrictions, and abilities of named NPCs. Aeryntorr explained that the transition would be slow, and not nearly as advanced as players. It would allow named NPCs within player the influence of a player-owned altar to learn and grow. Unfortunately, their capacity was tied to the level of the Altar and stronghold. As the settlement itself leveled up, so would the NPC's capacity for growth.

“So, what's stopping the gods from creating an army of max level super soldiers and stopping this on their own,” Eli asked, somewhat agitated.

“Well, that’s the issue. Gods only have as much power as their followers give them, and their altar can hold. This is represented in two ways. Stronghold level and Faith Points. For a stronghold to increase in level, it must have certain buildings and enough BP and FP. Since Blight’s End has an altar, it also needs to be leveled up. To get from level one to two I think you need a shrine, some sort of housing facility, a trading center or market, and a level one altar.”

“So, that’s why Myr wants to build those things. He’s trying to level up the stronghold.” Eli whispered, more to himself than to anyone in the room.

“Yes, except for the mansion, I think that’s for security and financial reasons. I also think he just doesn’t want to sleep with everyone else. He’s the only Kaitzen in the city at the moment. They are usually pretty solitary.”

“Back to the NPCs,” Aida said, inquisitively, “How exactly, are NPCs using the altars to grow? Guides don’t have access to system files, I’m in the dark about this.”

“Aeryntorr explained it as the gods' sphere of influence. It grows in power, and size as the altar levels up. Your territory would eventually butt up against Dawnport’s if both strongholds were level ten. Then everything under the AI’s sphere of influence would belong to whoever owned the stronghold.” James said, before laughing, “In reality, what’s happening far more technical. The more followers and interactions a god has, the more resources it requires. We attached all AI to the universal network, a blockchain style server that links nearly every computer on earth. To limit how much information they pull at once, we throttle them. Limited their processing speeds, so they only use the power they need. More requests, or followers, means more required resources. The restrictions lessen the altar levels up. Then it has access to more power, and as a result, the altar can give out bigger and better bonuses to more people. Then the cycle repeats. Hit threshold, trigger level up, increase capacity and so on until level ten. That’s the hard limit.”

While Eli understood little of what James was talking about and stayed silent, his AI followed closely, “So, what happens if we overload one of the twelve god AI’s? Force it past level ten?”

“Nothing. It’s impossible. After the altar reaches level ten, there are no more FP gains. It converts them into BP, which is just a metric for how much labor you have access to. Before you ask, there is no way to transfer FP. Each stronghold has its own FP and BP count.” James responded as if he had thought of the same possibility.

“Then what is the point of leveling up the altar, other than bonuses and boons? How does this help us restart the system?” Eli asked, trying to get a better understanding of the situation.

“It doesn’t, at least not directly. But, it will help us fight off the blight.” He said with a smile, “The higher level altar we have, the stronger any NPC who joins can get. Imagine if William became a master scholar and mage. He could start pumping out teams of magic users, with spells and skill books. Or, if Myr became a master tactician. He could plan and organize battles with the precision of a specialized AI. Heck, if he stayed on as the mayor and maxed out his stronghold management skills, he could turn this place into the strongest nation on all of Entarra. That Kaitzen could single-handedly do the job of an entire team of flesh and blood people. We are talking about removing the restrictions of self-teaching AI. Who freaking knows what will happen.”

“Okay, then.” Eli laughed, “add leveling up the stronghold to the list of very important things.”

As the two left Eli’s room they discussed the state of affairs on Entarra, at least what they were until the game developers lost access from the outside. According to him, the Dawnport city council was being controlled by the temple of Erenox, the goddess of the night, with the temple of Dawn as a front. The real altar was on the bottom floor of a dungeon deep below the city. Aeryntorr had informed James that the AI who controlled Erenox had gone silent, staying neutral in the growing feud between the AI gods and the system itself. James explained that the actions of the AI made sense. She was a Chaotic Neutral god that stayed out of the affairs of the players and NPCs. We programmed her to help keep track of the light and dark cycles, alongside the goddess of light. Together they manage everything with dark and light qualities, including the sky.

More concerning was the plague altar to the north. It represented disease, sickness, viruses, and poisons. Which meant, the AI managed much of the games debuffs and the spread of illnesses to players and NPCs, such as the blight. Aeryntorr had informed James that the AI god of plagues, Nyxuss, had willingly given himself up. As soon as Chris appeared, with the Priest of Blight in tow, its defenses fell. The developers had designed that AI to be neutral, the disease doesn’t care who or what you are it just spreads. So, it saw Aeryntorr’s actions to help Eli, and save himself, as a violation of the balance. Even more worrisome was the god of death, Orcus, and his reaction. His altar was under attack in the abandoned stonekin fortress on the northeastern coast of Scorn, and he was threatening to lower the defenses if Eli could not stop the invasion and increase the strength of his altar. The AI was afraid that if he refused to help the system willingly, it would use the blight to take control by force. No one, even the AI, understood what would happen if the system gained control over the powers of death itself. Luckily, for everyone except for the blight, the Stonekin Empire was sending forces, including players, to take the temple. For the time being, neither side could hold capture the fortress.

Getting overwhelmed by new information, Eli waved his hand to cut his friend off, “There’s not much we can do about that. We will be lucky to keep ourselves safe and rebuild this place. There’s not a chance in hell that we can compete with a force the size of the one we ran into here. If it wasn’t for Aeryntorr using his remaining power to keep this place safe and let us in, the blight would have already taken it.” Eli said as they walked through the makeshift hospital on the first floor of the temple. “What we need to do is stick to the plan and train. Get this place into shape, level up, and start recruiting as many players as we can. With the messaging system, or whatever it is down, it’s going to be difficult to reach anyone, not on Scorn.”

“We may not need to,” James said, breaking Eli’s train of thought.

As the two entered the late morning sun, the sounds of alarms and shouting filled their ears. In a panic, Eli readied a hand axe and willed mana into his hand. While searching for attackers, Eli saw Don running towards the makeshift bridge. He had forgotten to detach it from the island. Following the turta’s path, Eli saw a sight that made his heart drop. A group of nearly one hundred people was standing at his bridge attempting to force their way into his settlement.