All of us are crouching behind a crumbling building. The foundations are made out of brick but the higher it goes until it reaches its almost nonexistent ceiling is all made out of wood. I peek inside the rudimentary windows I can spot an NPC character simply sitting on a lame wooden chair. It’s not unusual in this game to be able to see what an NPC is up to in their private time, usually while inside their residence, but in this case it’s sadder than the rest. Whether it actually matters or not, humanoid Non-Playable Characters each are operated by their own complex AI. Well, they are indeed AI, artificial intelligence, themselves of course. Part of what makes their ‘character’ so complex is due to the fact that each one is different from one another, slightly or vastly different depending on their templates. And this difference culminates in their daily lives. The chores and activities they perform whether a Player is nearby or not always occurs, and it is usually dynamic. An NPC in a place like Susana or Malus-Seversi could be reading a book, slowly eating their food, cleaning their room, etc. But, while I am currently hiding from the enemy forces who are concentrated and moving towards to their fortress wall where most of the battle is taking place, I’ve been staring at this NPC half mindedly. Just like how, they appear to me, half mindedly even for an NPC in this video game.

WiseMaster667: “We can move now. There are less guards up ahead.”

The sneaking system in Divine Mortality is quite simple. Unless it’s a Player, and depending on what type of AI (complex humanoid or simple beast-like) it is, generally speaking there is a certain range a NPC can spot a Player or another NPC. However, certain objects and conditions in the environment can either enhance or obstruct their vision further. We’ve been island hopping from one building to another while trying to quietly yet quickly reach the other side of this settlement also called Coldpass. We believe that if we locate a certain type of building then we can rob this enemy faction’s most valuable treasure. Krafty particularly is eager to rob, but he prefers using the word “loot” like most Players because it’s more convenient to view our actions in a game-sense rather making it more personal. Either way, we should be able to find at least several items or objects that will be profitable to sell either in a normal faction market (the NPCs of Orchard Hills) or to the Player auction market that is half official and still in development according to the game developers. Or we could sell it directly to the quest givers such as Duke Alan that promised to reward certain objects, I assume if they are ‘very rare’, in exchange for something like 1,000 gold coins. Which is a LOT of money for most Players. WiseMaster667 is also eager to find things to rob or conveniently “find”, especially after defeating a boss character like the Ogre Captain, because he is hoping to find a unique useable item that is able to do something that’s otherwise difficult to perform without it. I don’t know what those are because I haven’t had enough game experience as WiseMaster667, but one example he gave me was something like a “Orb of Farseeing”. Which allows the user to briefly view an area from a third person point of view. In previous games I’ve played, those items are usually not worth the hassle to use, but Wise assures me that in higher levels this ability will be very useful like in dungeon environments where you might not know what type of creature may lurk ahead.

I think the only reason we’re able to sneakily trespass this far into this settlement is because it’s currently under siege. I don’t think any of our character’s sneaking abilities would be good enough in a normal situation. Maybe Krafty and May could because they should have the right attribute points enough for them to be swift in their movements. Yet, in most cases the Players that sneak around in this game the most are Players which shape their character into some sort of rogue or stealth related ‘class build’. I don’t know how you do that, but I do know for certain that it’s possible to briefly become half invisible for a short period of time. I saw a video online where a Player on another server literally snuck past under a guard below their vision in broad daylight and managed to enter a city without having to pay a fee of entry.

So, we are definitely not at that level of stealth like some other Players. Anyways it would be difficult for me to do it because I would still need to think about how Eseli could continue to follow me around.

Sprite: “Excuse me, we’ve already journeyed so far into here, but may we completely traverse the settlement and reach those stones on that mound?”

May: “Alright lads, let’s go-“

Krafty: “Hold on! I can already smell objects that are worth 100 gold coins literally next to use, probably inside that house right now…”

WiseMaster667: “However, compared to the rest of these buildings, that structure over there appears a lot more promising. Do you want to go there because you might find something important?”

Sprite: “Indeed! I have a good feeling that there might be powerful magical texts that I could learn and use, and perhaps Amulet Pond may as well since he and I use similar abilities.”

May: “You hear that Amulet? There is no reason for you to deny our little angel’s request now is there?”

MC: “No no no, what are you talking about, there are definitely plenty of reasons to not go there”

Krafty: “Yeah like how we’d waste time going there and not find anything rich from some stones!”

MC: “Well, yes but no Krafty. More importantly, I meant like how we’d all get spotted so easily by the enemy and the inhabitants of this place if we go there. Because as we can all clearly see…there is literally a plain open flat ground separating the town from that mound with stones on them.”

WiseMaster667: “Good point”

May: “But, as YOU can also clearly see, there is barely anyone in these streets or whatever you’d call them. We’ve only seen a couple fat dudes walking around and some small dudes with level 15 axes walking around.”

Sprite: “But-but it would be a great and stupid shame if we have come this far and my foolishness would be the cause of our party’s chance to get ahead!”

MC: “BUT! I didn’t say we should go there, only Krafty did”

Krafty: “And here I thought you were on my side...oh so close to treasure yet so faaar!”

WiseMaster667: “So you’re tempted by finding things that can benefit you as a Mystimender. I would also be, and maybe I could find items for conjurers.”

May: “That thing does look like some sort of magical structure so yeah we might as well find something benefiting the three of you”

MC: “Well Sprite, the treasure is tempting too. However, notice how we haven’t seen the Ogre Captain yet?”

Sprite: “Yes?”

MC: “Normally a boss enemy like him would be easy to spot this far behind enemy lines?”

May: “Yeah you’d think something even fatter and larger than Krafty would be seen from a mile away”

Krafty: “or maybe you’re eyesight is catching up to your age…”

May: “HMM?!”

MC: “Anywaaays… my point being is that I bet that the Ogre Captain, pretty much the objective of this whole quest is going to be hiding on that mound or behind it!”

Sprite: “That is a mighty good point ser!”

WiseMaster667: “You’re right. It’s only been about ten minutes after we found the cave and went through it. And I’m pretty sure nobody has seen the Ogre Captain on the outside of the fort’s wall or here inside of it. Amulet, I’m willing to also bet that we’ll find the boss enemy there.”

MC: “Nice spot Sprite! I wouldn’t have even realized that was a structure if you hadn’t pointed it out”

May: “Yup it was just in the corner of my eyesight”

Sprite: “My spirits have been elevated all thanks to your compliments! It is my pleasure.”

Krafty: “Yeah yeah, come on let’s get this Invasion Quest thing over with it’s taking toooo long already”

WiseMasterr667: “Weren’t you the one flaunting to May how you were very exci-“

Krafty: “Thaaank Yooouuu Sprite! Sweeet ANGEL!”

May: “Hehe that’s more like it.”

Sprite: “No problem! I certainly feel comforted and right at home like I am with my guildmates1”

MC: “Great, so…what’s the plan. Should we just all run as fast as possible tot hat hill and hope we won’t get spotted?”

Everyone: “Yeah!”

And so, we are now all racing across a half grassy field to reach a hill with large oddly shaped stones errected on top of the mound staring back at the town we just left. The closer we reach the mound the less we can hear the sounds of battle on the other side of the settlement. I think we are now near the center of this Coldpass region…hold on, are we at the heart of it now?

Krafty: “Does anyone else hear someone muttering loudly?”

May: “You’re talking about yourself right?”

Krafty: “No, I’m being serious”

May: “Oh sorry about that. To answer you’re question, I don’t hear any- okay now I do”

WiseMaster667: “Hey everyone slow down and crouch! If you can see, there is something in the middle between the stones that’s moving.”

MC: “An NPC?”

WiseMasterr667: “Yup”

Sprite: “I thought it was another rock. Sadly I cannot spot as far the rest of you can…”

Eseli: “Tread carefully Amulet, I have strong suspicions that a dangerous enemy is up ahead…”

MC: “Did you guys also hear Eseli?”

May: “Yup! Good call Wise”

WiseMaster667: “Thanks, but it now looks like we’ll need to fight something before we’ll be able to freely explore this structure”

Sprite: “The reason why I am interested in it is because it reminds me of large religious shrines that can be found around these High Peak mountains. And it is alike the ruins of a temple my guild and I discovered nearby our guild base.”

Krafty: “You guys have a guild base?!”

May: “Krafty save it for another time”

Krafty: “You’re right”

WiseMaster667: “So, is there anything you can tell us about it? Do you know what the enemy is up ahead over this hill?”

Sprite: “I cannot say for certain because all the enemies we faced were a mixture of creatures. Stupid beasts to evil faith worshippers”

MC: “Evil faith?”

Sprite: “Have you not heard of it before?”

WiseMaster667: “I have not either, is this info found in the game world or somewhere else?”

Sprite: “I don’t know, but I assume if you are referring to the Overworld, then yes. To quickly explain it, an evil faith is a faith that is widely recognized by many “civilized” and “uncivilized” communities in this Overworld as something that does not worship the High Gods or the Lesser Gods.”

May: “I don’t see why it’s gotta be called an evil faith?”

Sprite: “It’s considered evil because even local religions in this Overworld respect or at least recognize the Lesser Gods and their powers…however, evil faiths and their worshippers are generally hostile to “our” religions.”

MC: “I see…so whoever is right above us is not only a tough enemy but also a worshipper of an evil faith?”

Sprite: “Indeed it seems so.”

WiseMaster667: “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I as Wise as I am, am inclined to believe that we have successfully managed to find the Ogre Captain!”

Krafty: “WiseMasterr667, excuse me, but I happened to also figure that out so doesn’t that mean I’m also pretty wise?”

WiseMaster667: “Sigh, I tried to make a joke but it seems like I have failed at it…”

May: “Don’t worry Wise, unlike our “wise guy” over here (Krafty), I immediately understood you were trying to be sarcastic or whatever and you’re joke sucked.

WiseMaster667: “Thanks, but you didn’t need to mention that it sucked…”

MC and Sprite: “Uh, shouldn’t we be preparing for the boss fight?”