《Tris The Tinker》 Chapter 1 It wasn''t easy living in the Veil, but tonight was the night my luck would change. Ever since being transported into the game-like dimension the locals called the Veil years ago, I''d been working non-stop to collect ingredients for the most powerful item out there: The Infinity Potion. Most said it didn''t exist. Most said it couldn''t be done. I was ready to prove them all wrong. I''d scoured the world looking for clues and secrets, collecting bits and pieces here and there to assemble like a huge puzzle. Finally, everything was falling into place. I only needed one more item: an Adamantium Crystal. And I knew just where to find one. I tied my hair back in the tightest bow I could muster, and wrestled the dress over my too-big hips. I was more of a grease monkey kind of girl on the best days, but tonight called for special attire. The annual Flower Festival was happening tonight, and everyone would be too busy partying to notice me. Just slip into the party, make my rounds, slip out, and grab the Crystal before anyone had a chance to notice. It was the perfect plan. The perfect heist.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. I eyed my Inventory for what seemed like the hundredth time and pulled up the checklist of ingredients for the Infinity Potion:
3/3 Clover
1/1 Sprike Venom
5/5 Anothylis Flower
1/1 Daeldran Dust
0/1 Adamantium Crystal
So close. After years of searching, I''d finally have everything I needed. I''d be the first player to create an Infinity Potion. And after that? Anything was possible. Some said it made you invincible. Some said it gave you heightened affinities in all skills, making leveling up much easier. Some said you could teleport anywhere at will. No one had ever made one, but we all knew it was extremely powerful. Anyone that owned one would be a force to be reckoned with. I checked my hair one last time and left my house, knowing that this time, I wouldn''t return without my prize. Chapter 2 The walk over to the Festival Pavilion was a pleasant one. The trees were in full bloom and birds flitted across the sky, trilling their song on the breeze. The grass rustled underfoot and I took the rare opportunity to enjoy the sun on my skin. I pulled up the invitation all players got in their inventory.
You are invited to the annual Flower Festival in Lothial Heights. Enjoy the sights, the sounds, the scenery! Experience our lavish Pavilion, taste delicious treats from across the land, meet new friends and old! This is a world event you won''t want to miss. The blooms are waiting. All that''s left is you.
Good, I was in the right spot. I saw a pavilion going up in the distance and headed toward it, hoping I wouldn''t have to stay long. The Flower Festival was the most popular World Event in the Veil, drawing impressive crowds and even more impressive feats of acrobatics, crafting, and cookery. I''d always steered well clear. Hordes of people in fancy dresses rubbing elbows with the elite? No thank you. But this time, I had a goal in mind. I had a prize. The last of the Adamantium Crystals were held by the Society for Scientific Inquiry in Lothial Heights. They were kept under strict watch...all but one day during the year. During this time, the Society contributed to a huge interactive installation for the Festival, requiring almost all their hands to pull it off. Their guard force would be severely lessened. And that meant the time was ripe. If I wanted to get my hands on a Crystal, I had to do it tonight. When I arrived at the Pavilion, the Festival was already in full swing. Huge bustles and men in dapper suits flanked the grounds, and the smell of simulated flowers hung heavy in the air. I felt suffocated already. Since when were top hats back in fashion? Or bustles for that matter? I wiped the scowl off my face as I approached the entry booth. An elven lady with long blond locks stood there, handing out a digital blueprint of the festival along with a guided schedule. Instead of having to keep up with a piece of paper, it downloaded directly into our HUDs. Much more convenient that way.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Welcome," the woman said as I approached. I stuck out my hand. She stamped it with a glowing blue symbol that tingled as it soaked through my skin. Within seconds, a new menu appeared on my HUD.
Flower Festival Event Guide Welcome, Traveler Tris! Make a selection below. > Map > Attractions > Schedule > Vendors
I closed it away as I nodded to the greeter and proceeded into the fray. I wasn''t here for fun and games today. No, I had work to do. I ducked past a group of revelers and nearly tripped over their flowing skirts. God, why anyone wanted to wear this stuff was beyond me. I couldn''t wait to be out of it, and into something more practical. Smells of sweetcakes and honey drifted through the air, mingling with the floral scents that assaulted me from all directions. I picked a bun off a passing platter and chewed it thoughtfully as I pulled up my map. The Society wasn''t far off from the Pavilion. After all, they had all hands on deck for the massive art installation of the year. A giant floral swan, resplendent in hues of gold and ivory, flapped its wings and rained fragrant petals on passerby. It was an impressive invention, I''d give them that. The Society clearly had some very talented Artificers. In a different life, perhaps I could have worked for them. It''s too bad they''d chosen a different path. Instead of promoting scientific knowledge, the Society had been involved in censorship of late, redacting various magical texts and bringing rare resources under their wing "for protection". Many spoke in hushed circles about their downfall, but none dared oppose them. None...except me. I swiveled around a corner and picked up my steps, the looming towers of the Society coming closer in my view. They had museum areas and the doors were generally open to the public during the day. I just had to hope they still were. My hand was on the handle when I heard breaking glass, a scream, and an otherworldly howl I''d never forget. The Reavers. They were back. Chapter 3 Foul, winged beasts like oversized bats crossed with monkeys swarmed the Pavilion. Their sharpened claws sliced through the fabric of the tents and rent large gashes in the scenery. People screamed and scattered in all directions as the Festival devolved into mass hysteria. The elven greeter I''d seen only a few moments earlier no longer stood at her post. She lifted her arms high, chanting an invocation, as she tried to protect the Pavilion. She dug in her feet, spread her arms wider, but the glowing orb didn''t grow. Her face fell into a slack mixture of exhaustion, fear, and shame. She couldn''t do it. In the midst of the madness, another caster joined her, linking their arms and shouting their wishes to the sky. Slowly, but surely, the orb of protection grew. It expanded over the main Pavilion and a few of the adjoining tents. In addition, it covered the large installation from the Society. The Reavers railed against the shield, but bounced back as if burned. The Force Shield would keep them out for now, but from what little I knew of magic, it wouldn''t last for long at this rate. I froze, unable to move. In the moment, my mind flooded with only emotion. Only memory. A time long ago, that I hoped I''d long forgotten. A scared girl in the corner. Leathery wings like bats. Claws and screaming and blood. So much blood. I should have been excited. In all the chaos, no one would notice one human slipping into the Society and making off with one of the last Crystals. They had much more pressing things to worry about. Like being eaten alive. I stood at a juncture point, torn between two halves of my life I thought I''d never integrate again. In front of me lay the road to riches, fame, immortality... But behind me lay a much more grisly scene. The protective enchantment wouldn''t last long, and if they didn''t evacuate the revelers in time, people would die. Lots of them.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. It didn''t make sense at all. World Events were supposed to be peaceful. It wasn''t just an expectation, it was a rule. It went down in all the lore books and everything. People didn''t bother to bring their armor and weapons; it was a formal gala, not a gladiator duel. Whatever had happened here, something was very wrong. And the Reavers had uncovered the one place where they could find many of the most powerful players at their most vulnerable. It would be a bloodbath. Just then, a fleeing festival-goer plowed into the caster holding the Force Shield aloft. He wheezed as the air rushed out of him and lost his concentration, breaking the spell. He tumbled to the ground with a thud and the sphere of protection weakened. It creaked and cracked like grass as the Reavers battered against it, and then shattered with a resounding crash. The remaining caster ducked as the rebound of the spell hit her. The other man rubbed his head and got up wearily, eyes wide with fear as he saw it was too late. Reavers poured through the breach in the shield like water through a sieve, screeching and clawing their way toward the commoners. People shrieked and tripped over one another, all heading for the teleportation points set up by the Society for easy Festival access. There was the problem, though. Those points weren''t set up to take massive crowds of panicked travelers all at once. Teleportation was still a tricky magic to get right, and overloading the system could cause it to fail altogether. And then what? I didn''t want to be around to find out. My vision of the terrifying scene was blurred out by the alarm that flickered in my vision.
WARNING: Reavers have infiltrated the Pavilion! All festival-goers evacuate IMMEDIATELY! This is not a drill. This is not a drill!
I glanced at the door again and peered through the window. I could see the Crystal, right there. It was so close. Everything I wanted, everything I worked for, was so close. All I had to do was take it. All I had to do was keep my focus. All I had to do...was let those people die. Let the children be orphaned. Let mothers lose their babies. And I couldn''t let that happen again. I grit my teeth, let go of the door handle, and took off at a sprint toward the action. No one else should have to die to those bastards. Not while I had something to say about it. Chapter 4 It wasn''t a far sprint, but I cast [Haste] on myself as I ran. Time was of the essence. In the meantime, I dug into the pouches at my side and tried to formulate a plan. Sure, no one brought weapons to the World Events, but I didn''t need weapons. I was a Tinker. A sub-class of Artificer, Tinkers excelled in mechanical traps, bombs, and gadgets. They had a knack for taking things about and putting them back together in new and fantastical ways. Some even imbued a little magic into their creations. Tinkers built the deadliest traps, most charming automatons, and most innovative gadgetry around. I liked to call them the MacGyver class. Luckily, that was just my specialty. Search Guidebook for Reavers, I thought in command. The page came up within a second, settling to the side of my vision so I could still see where I was going.
Reavers Dark, deadly, and unpredictable, Reavers look for one thing: weakness. Usually found in desert areas, they can expand their reach when food is scarce. With wide, bat-like wings and deadly talons, Reavers strike fast and strike hard. Legend has it they feast on the flesh of their enemies, be they dwarf, elf, or man. Strengths: Speed, bloodlust, flying. Weaknesses: Water, poison, cold. One of the reasons Reavers tend to stick to desert areas is that their body regulates temperature different than most. In many climes they can get too cold and "freeze up". Water, also, disrupts their internal cooling system and can damage their muscles. Because of their aversion to water, they stink. Quite badly. An injured Reaver excretes poisonous gas as a defense mechanism. Look out! Prepare yourself if you''re ever up against a Reaver. They''re vicious opponents, and not for the faint of heart.
Water, I mentally noted. That was it. I knew they were averse to some element, but in the chaos I couldn''t remember what. I closed the Guidebook and gathered ingredients from my bag. Perfect. I bumped up against a small group of organizers who huddled and pointed at the sky. "Get as many as you can to safety, then return back here." They looked at me in surprise, but nodded and ran off, ushering the children toward the teleporter. I pulled [Amica Skin], [Rope], [Water] and [Sap] out of my bag and set to work. The sap mixed with the water made a clear, sticky substance that would cling to their skin and sink in, just like I wanted. The Amica skin was translucent and stretchy, pulled from the body of a reptile found in the underground caves of Daeldra. Tie off the Amica skin like a water balloon, fill it with the sap mixture, and throw. The resulting explosion would deter them for at least a little bit. As I tied one off, I inspected their properties to double check:
Resin Bomb. Quality: Very Good. Deals 10 Water Damage on impact, -1 damage over time for 20-30 seconds.
> Your Bombcraft skill is now level: 6! Congratulations! Bombs have a 5% longer "sticky" timer, meaning bombs with DOTs will last longer.
A dwarven man returned to me, looking for instructions. "How can I help?" He asked. "Take these," I said, handing him a few of the orbs. "Be gentle, now. Gentle until you hit those bastards with it, that is." "Duck!" The dwarf yelled, swerving out of the way. I turned and a Reaver headed right toward us! A split-second of adrenaline later, I readied a Resin Bomb in my hand. As an example, I chucked one toward the Reaver. It shrieked as the skin on the bomb burst, exploding the sap-water mixture all over its exposed torso. The stickiness made it hard to slough off, and it flailed about wildly before dodging us and flitting back toward the trees.
Direct hit! 10 Damage + 1 damage over 23 seconds. +33 XP
As the Reaver flew away, I smelled a sickly burning sensation and nearly gagged. "Use this!" The dwarf said, tossing me a head scarf before I could breathe much of it in. It was a thick red weave I''d seen used by the desert folk.
Head Scarf. Durability: 8/10. Provides 15% resistance to Poison damage.
New Status: Poisoned. Lose 1 HP every 5 seconds for 300 seconds.
Remedy: Lesser Antidote or above.
I nodded in gratitude and wrapped it around my face. It didn''t help much, but it brought the Poison status down to -1 HP every 5.75 seconds. In a fight, every little bit helped. I tried not to pay too much attention to my dropping HP bar and focused on creating more Resin Bombs. I split them between myself and the dwarf, setting some aside for latecomers. If we could get an army of folks chucking these bombs, perhaps we''d stand a chance. He tossed his first into the air and it smacked a Reaver with a satisfying splatter. Ethereal screeches filled the air as it retreated. We were making good progress, but the fumes left behind would stack up quickly unless we could get out of here. I covered my mouth and nose, gesturing toward the dwarf. "This way," I said, nodding toward the Society building.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The elven caster followed along with us and we made a beeline for the safety of the building. The number of people still around had thinned out considerably, but many were still scrambling for the teleporter. I saw out of the corner of my eye a golden glow--crap, that meant it was getting overloaded! There were still two families left standing in line. If the teleporter went out now, they wouldn''t make it! "You," I said, pointing to the Elven caster. "With me! We''re gonna get those families to safety. Charge up your [Force Shield] ability as much as you can...you''re gonna need it. And you," I said, nodding at the Dwarf. "Take these and don''t look back. Take someone with you and fire as many as you can. Keep ''em off us until they get through, okay?" "Deal," he said with a wicked grin, taking a handful of bombs. I only had a few left, and I hoped I wouldn''t need them. I''d already exhausted my stores. "Come on." I waved to the caster, and we broke away, running toward the teleporter. My legs sped faster as she cast [Haste] on me. As a professed Caster, her spells were much stronger and I found myself moving faster than I ever had before. "Let''s do this," She said, a determined gleam in her eye. The families drew back in alarm as they saw us running. A young boy clamored for his mother and she drew him closer, eyeing me warily. "We mean you no harm," I said, my hands outstretched. "We''re here to help. Everyone form a line at the teleporter, and stay calm. We''re going to get you out of here." They shuffled and whispered, but formed a semblance of a line just as another wave of Reavers crested the horizon. "Get ready," I told the caster as they drew closer. "Now!" I shouted, ducking. She stretched her hands in a wide arc and chanted the invocation. A shimmering blue field appeared above her head and expanded, covering us in its light. It grew larger and flickered, this time only wavering around the remaining families and the teleporter. I crouched near the gate as it glowed a dangerous orange. I had to get this fixed, and fast. Drawing my goggles over my eyes, I activated [Mechanical Knowledge], and a schematic appeared before me. I left reality behind as I poured myself into the inner workings of the teleporter. I''d seen them before, but never built one myself. It was still above my level. Dissecting one, though? That, I could do. It was an incredible piece of artistry, and I wanted to congratulate whoever had made it. Unfortunately, the Mass Transfer circuit was fried, severing the connection to the destination portal. I sucked in a breath through my teeth. Not good! I dug through my inventory and tried to think what could fix it. It needed to be something malleable, something conductive... The Daeldran Dust. I let out a long, slow breath. It had taken me nearly my entire time here in the Veil to collect that stuff. Painstaking caving explorations were not easy, scraping off the rare Dust such that it didn''t disintegrate in my hands even more so. But it was conductive. It could fit into small spaces. And it was just what we needed right now. I grit my teeth and took out the vial of Dust. Unstoppering it, I pinched a bit out and looked at it one last time. Goodbye, old friend. Then, with my magnified vision, I used a pair of tweezers to place it at the juncture of the fried circuit. It sparked and crackled as the circuit completed, and I fell backward in surprise. I whipped my goggles off, deactivated my ability, and hoped I wasn''t too late. I came to in a world where the Force Shield was only barely hanging on.
Danger: Force Shield damaged! 45% efficiency and falling.
Shit! I cursed silently. The caster looked drained, but was holding her own, for now. The Reavers flew against the shield but hadn''t pierced it yet. We just had to get these last families through. "Come on!" I yelled, taking their hand. A gentle whirring grew louder as the teleporter came back online. Instead of an angry yellow glow, it once again shone a pale blue with a beacon of light reaching up toward the sky. I led the mother in toward the beam of light and she looked at me with tears glistening in her eyes. She held a babe to her breast and a little boy by the hand. He looked up at me with childlike wonder. I was that child once. Only this time, they''d have a happier ending than I did. "Thank you," She said, and they stepped into the light. Only one family remained. I looked over at our caster for a status update. She grit her teeth and looked strained, but didn''t dare say it. I scanned the landscape for anyone else who could help. Everyone was either running, fighting, or both. The dwarf in my party recruited two others and they formed a line, chucking exploding Resin Bombs at the remaining Reavers. While they hit many of them, several still remained. I cursed myself for not bringing more supplies...how was I supposed to know we were going to get attacked? Way too many corpses for my liking lay motionless on the ground, staining the grass red over the fallen pavilion. My stomach churned. Just one more family. Just one more... "Hurry," I said and took their hands. A man came forward this time with two little girls. One had bright red pigtails and a face full of freckles. I couldn''t help but smile wistfully. God, she looked so much like me at that age. "We''re gonna help you," I said, ushering them into the light. "It''s gonna be okay." "I''m losing it!" The caster yelled as the Force Shield flickered above her. Oh no. Bad timing.
Danger: Force Shield critical. 10% efficiency and falling!
"Go go go!" I yelled, giving them a push. The man went through first, his daughter in tow. But then, the light from the teleporter faltered. Oh no. A scared little girl stared up at me with big eyes. "Where did they go?" She asked, and my heart sank.
Danger: Force Shield failing. 5% efficiency...4%...3%....
I grabbed the girl and shoved her behind me, crouching down toward the teleporter again. I tried to activate [Mechanical Vision], but got an error message instead:
You don''t have enough mana to cast Mechanical Vision.
I growled, swiping the goggles away. I really needed to grind some more levels, and soon. This mana cap was getting to me. I''d just have to do this by feel. "All right," I said, taking the girl''s hand, "Now when you see this machine glow blue, you jump right through it, okay? Then you''ll be back home with your daddy and sister, safe and sound." She nodded wordlessly, and I''ve never been a praying woman but I prayed to all the gods above I wouldn''t fuck this up. "Get ready," I told her. "You''re gonna see your family again soon, I promise."
Danger: Force Shield failing. 1%...
"No!" The caster yelled, falling to the ground. The Shield above us shattered and I did the only thing I could do: think. In a flash of intuition, I yanked out a bobby pin from my hair and jammed it into the circuit. It sputtered and sparked, sending a shock down my arm as it whirred back into action. "Now!" I screamed through the pain. The girl leapt through, and I collapsed, the sound of exploding Resin Bombs and shrieking Reavers echoing around me. Chapter 5 "Who is she?...Where did she come from?...There''s no record..." I opened my eyes to a crowd of people standing around me, gawking. I lay on my back in the grass, fighting a throbbing headache and a powerful burn in my right hand. The damaged teleporter lay beside me, powered down. I noticed the dwarf that had stayed by my side, lobbing those bombs while we evacuated the rest of the families. I noticed the elven caster that had put up such a fight, using all her mana and energy to provide a Force Shield when we needed it most. But I wasn''t supposed to be here. This mission had been about laying low, sneaking into the Society, and getting out. And now look at me. I blew my one chance at the Crystal to save a few lives.
Level up! You are now Level 11. You have 3 skill points to distribute. Become stronger! Faster! Better!
Achievement Unlocked: Defender of the Fallen. You defended the helpless when they needed it most, even when it came at great personal cost. Increased reputation with commoners.
Your selfless deeds have changed your alignment score. Previous: -1. Updated: -0.5.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Maybe it''s not so bad to help others every now and then.
I tried to scramble to my feet but my legs betrayed me. Assholes. I swayed and staggered as people rushed forward to help me out. "Easy, miss," The dwarf said. "You had a rough spill, there." "Get off me," I grumbled, swatting their hands away. "Let me go." I stumbled away, my whole body still aching with pain. I shoved a few herbs into my mouth, grimacing at the taste. I could never quite get used to it, but the buff in HP was worth it. My mana and stamina were still drained, so I couldn''t move very fast. As blood began to flow back into my limbs, I became aware of the people following me. "Won''t you stay?" The elven lady asked. "You saved us. It''s the least we can do to offer you a bed for the night." I frowned. I wished I could, but knowing my luck, they''d try to get me to join the Society. And that wasn''t happening. Besides the fact I didn''t agree with their tenets at all, I was a solo Traveler. Always had been. It was better that way. I''d vanish just like I always did, and these people could get on with their lives. I ignored their requests and turned a sharp corner, ducking behind the ruined Pavilion. I heard footsteps, but they wouldn''t be fast enough.
Return to Home Waypoint? [Yes/No]
I sighed, took one last look around me, and selected Yes as the light swirled around me. Chapter 6 I lay awake in bed that night, tossing and turning. Why had I done that? When I left this house before, I had no doubt in my mind that I would return with the Crystal, and create the Infinity Potion at last. Now, that dream was lost. I''d used most of the ingredients either for the Resin Bombs or repairing the teleporter. When I saw the Reavers, I just couldn''t help myself. I took a moment to review my character sheet and decide where I wanted to put my newfound skill points.
Name: Tris Race: Human Racial Bonuses: +25% base Endurance, +10% base Charisma Class: Artificer Sub-Class: Tinker Level: 11 Health: 54/259 Mana: 22/283 Stamina: 15/264 Strength: 12The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Agility: 17 Dexterity: 16 Constitution: 12 Endurance: 15 Intelligence: 17 Wisdom: 14 Charisma: 12 Luck: 11 Alignment: -0.5
You have 3 unspent skill points. Allocate now? [Yes/No]
I decided that after the ordeal at the Festival, I was going to need more endurance. I put one point each into Intelligence and Endurance, then one in Luck. I''d been neglecting that stat because I was never quite sure what it did, but maybe if things had been different... I shook my head. I did the right thing back there. Didn''t I? I scowled at my alignment rating. What was right, anyway? Sure, I''d taken an unconventional path of progression. I didn''t quite agree with the term "evil" on alignment qualifiers. I simply looked out for myself. And after everything that had happened early in life, that''s what kept me alive. I had to look out for myself because no one else would. Did that make me "evil", though? I would have liked to think it didn''t. But why did I save them? I thought wearily, slumping back into bed. I thought again about my parents. For what little time I knew them, they always took care of me. They wanted what was best, always. Perhaps being a parent was the most selfless act of all, I considered. And seeing that lost-looking girl separated from her parents...I just couldn''t. I was her, once. And if I could make things just a little better for her, well, maybe that was the first step to redeeming myself. I pulled the worn blanket over me and drifted into an uneasy slumber. Tomorrow would be another day, and I could start again. Maybe do things different this time. Just another day in the Veil.