《Out Foxed》 01. Character Creation? Chapter One I looked around my room, making sure everything was all set up. My tablet opened to a five-way conference call. Four holographic heads were hovering above it, sharing an assortment of expressions from excitement to Daniel¡¯s sleepy yawn. ¡°Okay, three minutes until the early access servers come up. Everyone all set? You remember the plan?¡± I called out. A chorus of ¡°Yeah, sure¡­¡±, ¡°Got it¡± and groans emerged. ¡°Hey! A little more enthusiasm! I spent a ton getting you guys all setup with rigs and fake ID. The Premium Starter packages alone cost an arm and a leg.¡± A flurry of apologetic responses made me feel a little better. ¡°Just remember, head to Dumeril asap we¡¯ll meet at the bind stone just outside the castle.¡± Daniel, always the jokester. ¡°Sure, take a Demerol and sleep for a week, right?¡± ¡°Asshole.¡± I popped back with a smile. ¡°Alright, one minute, hang-up and log in!¡± My parents were always gone on one thing or another, and I only saw them a handful of days each year. Mother was cruising in her shipboard apartment as the city liner traveled the ocean. Father currently was en route to the Mars colony to set up their new environmental AI. Since I had turned sixteen, I hadn¡¯t seen them at all and had recently discharged all but a weekly cleaning staff. The only ones I saw regularly were my school friends, outcasts and nerds all. The five of us had been friends and had been playing together since middle school. Just having graduated from our Junior year in high school, we had almost three full months to dedicate to the newest VRMMORPG from a new company, Second Heaven Studios. I looked at the wall poster for the game, other than some pirated in game video from the beta testers little was known about the game, ¡®Rage of the Gods¡¯. In theory, players could at some unknown level, if they had sufficient followers they could challenge a God and replace them or even ascend to be a new one. The game is rated as Mature, 21+, for language, drug use, sex, and violence, but the third-party site they were using for age checking had been shown online to have faulty verification software. I had more than enough money to afford five fake ID¡¯s and had provided them to the gang. Daniel, Jimmy, and Patrick were 17 already, while Hector and I were still 16 for another month.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. A head start in a new game, touted to be generations ahead of earlier efforts, couldn¡¯t be passed up. I loved the stealthy kills of my assassins, confounding the law as I left a trail of bodies. Daniel was the perfect foil, his tank the nominal leader, but always subject to my guidance. I lay back on my bed, neuro stim patches in place to prevent muscle atrophy. =-=-=-=- Slipping the neural induction helmet on, I spoke, ¡°Session Start!¡± Immediately I was in the white room of the VR Lobby. Public Access Net was down that path, Education and School were down this other path. But I turned to yet another and moved down Entertainment and came to the door that now bore the Rage of the Gods splash screen. Putting my hand on the door, I willed myself inside. I felt dizzy for a second and almost fell over, then as my eyes cleared I looked out at a mountain valley from a lofty plateau. A silver ribbon of a river wound through the valley. The true height of where I was standing was shown as a cloud passed by below me. A cough caught my attention, and I spun to face it. A pair of figures in robes faced me. An older Man and Woman smiled at me as they spread their arms in a welcoming fashion. ¡°Greetings Jason Fontana.¡± A chill went through me, that wasn¡¯t the name on my fake ID. ¡°Please Wait, as we finish the Multiphasic Inventory. Please direct your attention to the viewing crystal here while we begin testing.¡± A crystal rose from the ground like a giant pillar of quartz, glowing softly as pictures appeared in its depths. I had no idea what they were testing as they rarely asked questions, and when they did, they never waited for my answer. The crystal flashed images, some from newscasts, some art, some just abstract paintings. The images flashed faster and faster, I couldn¡¯t even make out what most of them were, but at the same time they pulled at me, and I couldn¡¯t look away. The images were becoming more and more interesting, tugging on me as I chased the feelings they evoked. With a snap that left me reeling the images vanished. ¡°Thank you, Jason. Your character is being generated, and you can enter him shortly.¡± ¡°But! Wait! Don¡¯t I get to choose?¡± The two figures looked at each other and laughed. ¡°If we asked all 3450 questions and waited for an answer, well, you would be here all day. We scanned the answers directly from your brain.¡± The male said. ¡°Well, not so much the answers, but rather your reactions to the questions and images themselves. Your ideal character will soon be ready¡± The female nodded sagely as she added. ¡°The one thing we must tell you, you can be a single class, losing adaptability in favor of focus.¡± The male continued, ¡°You may dual or even triple class. Mixing say Melee and Magic! But, whatever path or paths you choose, be wary, it is difficult and often impossible to change an established path!¡± The woman turned to me with a sad look, ¡°It was naughty of you to spoof the game restrictions. You have earned a Warning and a Punishment. Desired Race and Class Branches have been barred from you. Your account has received a Ban, Human, and Rogue, as well as the name Balthor, may never be chosen on this account. Enjoy your stay in ¡®Rage of the Gods!¡¯, have a lovely day.¡± ¡°Wait! What?¡± I tried to jump up and grab the pair, but my hands passed through them. The woman smiled, ¡°Your appearance and name can be changed once in the game. You will have a one-use ticket for both options, simply visit one of the salons.¡± ¡°Bye!¡± The two said together, and I was sucked into and then shot down a column of light. 02 What? Dead again? Chapter Two Ugh, I found myself cold and wet and more than a little dazed. Laying face down in a pool of water, I levered myself to all fours. Spitting out a mouthful of fetid water. Then with a wracking cough, water and mud exited my lungs. Damn, did I start out drowned? *ding* You receive the quest ¨C Who killed me? You cannot remember how you got here, but you know this isn¡¯t where you were supposed to be. Find your attackers. Type ¨C Tutorial Difficulty ¨C Moderate Rewards ¨C Variable based on solution path Time Limit ¨C One Game Day Twisting my hand in the somatic lookup gesture, :: Titles ¨C none :: Name ¨C Growlf :: Race ¨C Fox-kin :: Primary Class ¨C Commoner L1 (0%) :: Secondary Class ¨C Undefined :: Tertiary Class ¨C Undefined :: HP ¨C 45 :: Stamina ¨C 66 :: Mana ¨C 58 :: Piety ¨C 0 :: Reputation ¨C unknown :: Alignment ¨C +50 (Neutral) :::: Order ¨C 0 :::: Chaos ¨C 0 :::: Balance ¨C 0 :: AC ¨C 2 (Damage Reduction 0) :: Evasion ¨C 6% (6 base + 0) Stats :: STR ¨C 10 :: CON ¨C 9 :: AGI ¨C 13 :: INT ¨C 10 :: WIS ¨C 6 :: CHA ¨C 7 :: PER* ¨C 12 :: LUCK* ¨C 2 :: Points to Spend ¨C 0 Traits :: Heightened Senses ¨C You are much more in tune with your surroundings :: Keen nose ¨C You can track by scent alone :: Dark Vision 1 ¨C If there is any light at all, you can see, poorly :: Agile Reflexes ¨C Even without you being aware, your body will move out of the path of danger (Evasion% = 0) :: Predatory ¨C Your diet is meat and fish, not rabbit food. Non-predator animal kin can detect this on you and have a -25 reaction modifier, -70 if they witness you kill or eat Skills :: Tracking (P, I) ¨C 0 :: Dagger (A, P) ¨C 1 :: Sling (A, P) ¨C 1 :: Hand-to-Hand ¨C 0 :: Medium Armor ¨C 0 :: Lore ¨C 1 :::: Beast-Kin History (I, W) ¨C 5 :::: Fox-kin History (I, W) ¨C 10 Professions (0/4) -None Recipes Know -None Equipment -Tattered Linen Tunic ¨C AC1 10/10 -Tattered Linen Pants ¨C AC1 10/10 -Tattered Linen Cap ¨C AC0 10/10 -Frayed Rope Belt ¨C AC0 10/10 -Shoddy Sling (Range 3-20m) -Shoddy Shot Pouch (size 2, max stack 20) -20x water polished stones (in pouch) ¡®*¡¯ Cannot be raised with Ability or Skill points. I immediately tried to send a Tell to the others, but all I got was an error; Alert! Access to advanced Chat and Email functions disabled until CLvl 10. Local chat and Email without attachments to Friends is allowed before CLvl 10. I tried to add the others character names to my Friends list, only to be told it had to be done ¡®in person¡¯. Time to get on with things. I examined my arms and hands, the game had two grades of Beast-kin. The first and most popular were the ones with wholly human bodies with beast ears and tails, maybe a few other traces. The second was the animorphic ones that were bipedal animals, beast heads, claws and fur with few human traits. It seemed I was the second as I looked along my canine muzzle and saw the fur covering my hands and arms. I looked around myself as I stood. It looked like late afternoon from the angle of the sun in an incredible blue sky with small fluffy white clouds. Surrounding me was a peat bog with rounded humps and murky rivulets. Quite clear were the footsteps in the soggy soil. Three pairs dragging something came out of the east, then no longer dragging anything they headed north. To the west was the silver sheen of open water that I somehow knew was a river. Checking myself I found my poor-quality linen soaked but serviceable, my belt was missing with the attached dagger and coin pouch. My sling was discarded nearby as was the shot pouch with the rounded stones strewn about it.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. I gathered up my few belongings. I headed north following their tracks, pausing a few times to cough up another mouthful of stale water and phlegm. Damn, they took realism to extremes in this game. Just a few minutes¡¯ walk brought me to the edge of the bog and up a small rise. The signs of passage were getting slimmer, but were still there. I nearly jumped out of my skin as a window opened right in my face. Congratulations! Your Tracking Skill has reached L1 With a grumble, I flicked away that window that was blocking my view, only to have a second one open. Congratulations! Your Perception has gone up, +1 Pausing a minute, I dropped into Game Settings and made several quick changes. Notifications were dragged to the edge of the field of vision, and I toggled them from Verbose to Simple Icons. When I had time, I would have to fine tune things. There was a road on top of the slope that seemed to be following the course of the river. The tracks of the three had continued north, and I set out to follow them. My eyes were catching scuffs in the dirt and the rare footprint to let me know I was heading the correct way. As I walked along the road the scent of blood on the breeze became overwhelming. Around a bend in the road I saw horror awaiting. Four bodies and a tipped over buggy. It was two halfling parents and two children with throats slashed, the mother stripped and with arms tied behind her had been brutalized. Nothing remained intact or of any value beyond the buggy that was tipped over, the mount missing. I looked over the sad little bodies and had to breathe deeply as I bit my cheek in an effort to control the nausea, suddenly detecting the scents of my three attackers. It was like my nose cleared and a whole universe opened up. Learned ¨C Scent Tracking L1 The tang of the rose oil the mother had used, the flowers woven in the girl¡¯s hair, clean sweat of the little boy, and the smoky tobacco smell from the father. These warred with the unwashed stale stench of their attacker¡¯s alcohol laden sweat. ¡°Those bastards will pay!¡± I growled, as a fierce anger filled me with the odors of rot, spilled blood and terror surrounding me. *ding* You receive the quest ¨C Who killed me 2? You cannot believe that those that attacked you would go on to commit such atrocities. Maybe if you had acted faster the family might still be alive. Find and stop their attackers. Type ¨C Tutorial Difficulty ¨C Moderate Rewards ¨C Variable based on solution path Time Limit ¨C One Game Day The anger was actually scaring me. I had never felt anything like it. Well, at least not in games. I knelt on one knee to smell the trail that was now as clear as day. I started jogging, my eyes and nose following what was now a clear trail. It was about an hour after sunset, almost full dark that I smelled burning wood from near the shore of the river. The colors were fading away, but I had little trouble navigating in this grey and black forest. The scent trail leading to a belt of trees that ran along the river, while on the other side of the road it seemed to be all tall grass and rolling hills. Following my nose, I crept up on the camp. Three humans sat in a small depression just a short way from the river about a blazing fire. Moving closer carefully, a set of tiny notices in the right of my vision reported, Improved ¨C Tracking L3 Improved ¨C Scent Tracking L2 Improved ¨C Stealth L2 Improved ¨C Perception to 13 Just at the edge of the campsite, I belly crawled and hid under a bush as I scanned the camp. A familiar rabbit fur coin pouch now hung from one humans belt, my belt and dagger around the waist of another. My tattered satchel discarded in a pile of other things. There was a shaggy pony tied to a tree on the far side of the camp. They were laughing and passing around a large clay jug. ¡°Stupid dog. You should never drink so much you pass out. Especially when you aren¡¯t around people you know.¡± Said a slightly older man. ¡°Yeah. Serves him right.¡± said a portly man, barely out of his teens. The third man, no, now that Jason looked closer he caught the slightly pointed ears. No, the half-elf pulled Jason¡¯s dagger, ¡°Well, he had a little help with a few drops of Lethe. Damn dog was broke and didn¡¯t even have any loot to make him worth killing. Putting him out of his misery was a mercy. At least those stunties had good loot, even if they stupidly fell for the Lost Traveler story.¡± They all laughed at that. ¡°Tomorrow when the gates open to Yangsan we¡¯ll give the letter to the Upright Man and our fortunes will be set!¡± looking disappointed that the jug was empty, the half-elf drained the last few drops. Hefting the jug to shatter against a tree, ¡°Well, to bed then. You¡¯ll have first watch Tubs.¡± The camp went still as Jason watched the two sleepers begin snoring drunkenly. The ¡®watch¡¯ barely staying conscious. One of the notification Icons had started flashing so Jason opened it. Alert! Who Killed me? Quest path divergence! Three paths stand before you. Do you choose Mercy and head to report them to the city guard and alert the law to their crimes? Do you choose the path of the Valiant and seek to capture all three on your own? Do you seek the path of Vengeance and take what they owe you out of their hides? Warning! This choice may have long lasting effects both for good and ill. Choose wisely! Well, the Guard was out, I had no idea where Yangsan was or how to convince the Guard to help in the next day, especially if the brigands moved camp. Then there was bursting into camp and capturing all the bandits. If I had all my gear and some more training that seemed the way to go. That left the ¡®fun¡¯ option, sniping all the bastards down, one-by-one. Focusing on Tubs a window opened over the Bandit¡¯s head. Tubs L1 Human Bandit 25/25 Learned ¨C Observation L1 When Tubs stood and went to the river to relieve himself, I was ready. Hidden behind a bush, carefully moving in stealth. I loaded a hefty stone and gave it a gentle whirl, faster and faster the whirring noise seemed muted. Then my body twisting as I stepped forward and snapped the sling open aiming for Tubs¡¯ temple. The stone struck Tubs in the temple just as planned, and Tubs collapsed without a sound. Several icons appeared, Improved ¨C Stealth L3 Improved ¨C Agility 14 Learned ¨C Sneak Attack L1 Learned ¨C Aimed Strike L1 Critical Strike from surprise x2 at an Aimed Location x3 Bandit Died The body shimmered for a second then evaporated into a column of red steam. Leaving behind my Belt and Dagger, a tattered coin purse, the Bandit¡¯s Head, and an odd item; about four feet of light chain with a heavy ring on one end I could get my hand through, and a pear shaped ridged weight of brass on the other. I remembered seeing a weapon like this used in an old martial arts flic. Then also I had to admit that until this moment I hadn¡¯t realized just how short and slightly built I now was. The chain was almost awkwardly long in my hands. Whirling the chain, it felt much like the sling. A blow from the weight on the side of the other two¡¯s heads should stun or knock them out. I crept up on the fire and the two sleepers. Glancing at the pile of collected loot what I saw there changed my entire plans to take them alive. A rag doll with a porcelain head looked up at me with its bright smile and innocent eyes, hair and dress soaked in blood. Without a thought beyond the rage that filled me, I quickly took the three steps and swung the heavy metal faster with each step. Finally, bringing the ridged weight down as hard as I could into the face of the sleeping bandit. Three icons popped up, but I didn¡¯t have time to pay attention. ¡°What? Damn Dog, you should have stayed dead.¡± My attention snapped to the half-elf leader of the bandits. Victor L3 Half Elf Bandit Sub-Leader 50/50 Damn, I should have checked earlier and made him my priority. ¡°So, Dog. Let¡¯s dance¡­¡± Victor drew his short sword and a dagger and lunged. I had to tug hard to free the weight on the chain, and took a thin slash along my ribs. Almost a fifth of my HP gone to what was just a scratch. I swung the weight in great sweeping circles, time and again the damned half-elf dodged or parried the arcs. Meanwhile I was kept rolling and twisting as one blade or the others was always coming at me. Once I fell for a feint and the dagger was waiting, plunging deep into my side. I was tiring as the blood ran in a flood down my side. I was thinking as hard as I could about the chain and weight, the circles weren¡¯t working. Then I remembered how the sling worked, how the stone spun in a circle until you converted it to a straight shot. After the next exchange, I planted my feet and launched the weight like a striking snake. It wasn¡¯t entirely successful as the short sword partially deflected the strike, rather than the weight smashing into Victor¡¯s face it slammed into his shoulder with the dagger flying into the dark as his shoulder crumpled and the arm went limp. The look of pain and shock on Victor¡¯s face was wonderful. I mimicked the same attack, again the short sword came up, but this time the weight was angled down and struck his sternum with the sound of breaking ribs. Three more similar strikes resulted in two hits, one crushing Victor¡¯s cheekbone, the second and final hit crushed his throat. ¡°I am NOT a damn Dog! I am a Fox!¡± I shouted into the panicked look on his face as he strangled around a crushed larynx while I watched. The rage coursing through me. Several flashing icons pulled my attention from the still corpse. Lethal Critical Strike ¨C Your attack on a defenseless foe crushed the life from them. This act earned you the title Merciless. 120xp Completed ¨C Who Killed Me? You have chosen the path of Vengeance. All they possessed is yours. While your Vengeance may have been justified, it shows a willful disregard for the laws of the land. Your Infamy earns you 150 Chaos and 100 Balance points. 200xp Warning! ¨C You are bleeding and will soon die unless you find a way to stop it. Quest Advanced ¨C Who Killed Me 2? Find a way to convince the Law of what happened for your reward. Learned ¨C Chain Weapons L1 Improved ¨C Sneak Attack L2 Improved ¨C Chain Weapons L2 Many other minor messages flooded my screen, but I was in little shape to pay attention to any of them as I searched for something to slow or stop my bleeding. At last in Victor¡¯s backpack I found a few rolls of bandages. Packing one in the gushing hole, then winding a bandage around me to hold it in place. Then another around the slash in my chest. The rest of the wounds were minor and had already stopped bleeding. One final message pinged and I had to groan out a heartfelt, ¡°Bastards!¡± Learned ¨C First Aid L1 =-=-=-=- I rested until the sun broke the horizon the light showing the camp in all it¡¯s bloody state. The bodies may have evaporated, but the blood and their heads remained. I walked the pony out to the buggy and with a few choice words we righted it. As I thought, the attached harness fit the pony perfectly. Then I began the gruesome task of loading the four halfling bodies into the buggy. I walked the buggy back to the bandit camp and started sorting through the loot. I made sure all three Bandit Heads were in the buggy. Then sorting through the Bandits goods, a backpack that had twenty spaces, a coin pouch that could hold two-hundred coins, the leader turned out to have a nice set of Rough Leather armor. Cap, jacket, bracers, pants, boots and gloves. I pulled on all but the boots which I couldn¡¯t get to fit my canine feet. In the remains of the half-elf there was a black jagged crystal. Cracked Lesser Dark Soul Shard My timer started flashing, it was time to meet up with the others, but I still had a few things to do. It was as I was picking up the blood-soaked doll and placing it in the little girl''s arms that I noticed a blue shimmer around a few items. A baker¡¯s dozen wooden boxes the size of a shoebox. An envelope, a necklace and a pair of rings. The boxes held tightly packed leaves that smelled like tobacco but made me sneeze if I got my nose close. Examining the necklace, I could only tell it was good quality, but not why it called my attention. The rings, however; Mary Merrow¡¯s Wedding ring ¡°Always in life, eternally in death¡± I had to fight back tears. Damn, this is supposed to be a game, fun and heroic, not tragic. Harris Merrow¡¯s Wedding ring ¡°Father, Lover, My Heart¡± I had a sudden vision of the two exchanging vows and these rings. I looked up blinking away tears to see the four standing before me, looking at me, whole and together once more, Mary looking on with approval, Harris with sorrow. A boy that was like a half-sized version of Harris was tugging the pigtails of a tiny girl holding her doll. Then the family faded away. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and blindly slapped ¡®Logout¡¯ 03 Yangsan Chapter Three ¡°Jason! There you are. The rest of us have been waiting.¡± Daniel sounded upset. ¡°Sorry, I was caught up in a fight,¡± I said. ¡°Listen, we¡¯ve got a problem. Hector is a Dwarven Guardian, and I am a Seraph Healer and we appeared in Dumeril just like we planned. Jim and Pat both got hit with some BS ban and now our Halfling Ranger is an Elven Blade Dancer, and Pat is some kind of Tiger-man Berserker.¡± Daniel sounded very upset. ¡°I know all about the ban. I am a Fox-kin of some kind. But, how did you guys get your classes already?¡± Hector laughed, ¡°Well, we really aren¡¯t those classes yet. We¡¯ve all just started the Path pre-quests. You can¡¯t Class until ten, until then you aren¡¯t considered a full player.¡± ¡°Yeah. I tried to send you guys a Tell and a Friend and found out that it¡¯s blocked until ten. I haven¡¯t even made it to a town yet, I got started in the middle of nowhere. Any of you heard of Yangsan? That¡¯s the closest town to me.¡± ¡°I overheard a couple npcs talking about something they got from Yangsan, it was a couple weeks travel on the east side of the Great Forest.¡± Pat added, ¡°Man, you aren¡¯t even in the Empire. Checking¡­ If this website is right you are in the Qin Empire, too far away for the Western Empire to bother with. The Elven Nation is between us.¡± ¡°How the Hell did you end up there? That area isn¡¯t open to players yet?¡± Patrick added. Jim spoke up, ¡°Pat and I are like a week¡¯s travel out of Dumeril. We started in the same town.¡± ¡°Well, damn, I will try heading that way, but it sounds like it will be a long time until I get there.¡± I sighed, ¡°I have to say though, this game is incredible, even the cutscene was well done.¡± ¡°Damn, dude! Not even to a town and you already got a cutscene? Bogus¡­¡± Dan moaned. After we all disconnected, I ordered a pizza. The game enforced a two-hour cool down before re-entering the game, and a maximum fourteen hours a day in the game. Hitting the spoiler sites really showed me how little was known about the game. Pizza in hand I was reading the posts over on God¡¯s Eye, three other players had found themselves outside the known lands. Two had deleted and rerolled, the third remarked how none of the game rules applied in normal ways when you were off the map. The third had yet to post again. I called up a video of a manriki chain in action and then browsed the forums. No one else had commented about weapons like them yet, that made me smile. Videos about new things got lots of hits, and lots of hits was lots of money. Not that I needed the money, but more was always better. Other related weapons I saw would be problematic in tight spaces. The Kusarigama or Meteor Hammer needed a lot of open space, far more than the typical three-meter corridor. =-=-=-=-=- Logging in I checked my status :: Titles ¨C Merciless :: Name ¨C Growlf :: Race ¨C Fox-kin :: Primary Class ¨C Commoner L2 (42%) :: Secondary ¨C Undefined :: Tertiary Class ¨C Undefined :: HP ¨C 62 :: Stamina ¨C 72 :: Mana ¨C 59 :: Piety ¨C 0 :: Alignment ¨C Neutral :::: Order ¨C 0 :::: Chaos ¨C 150 :::: Balance ¨C 100 :: AC ¨C 13 (Damage Reduction 3) :: Evasion ¨C 8% (7% + 1% Trait) :: Dodge ¨C 10% (when activated) Stats ¨C Points Available 3 :: STR ¨C 10 :: CON ¨C 10 :: AGI ¨C 14 :: INT ¨C 10 :: WIS ¨C 6 :: CHA ¨C 7 :: PER* ¨C 14 :: LUCK* ¨C 2 Skills ¨C Points Available 1 :: Tracking (P, I) ¨C 3 :::: Scent Tracking (P, I) ¨C 2 :: Chain Weapons (A, S) ¨C 2 :: Dagger (A, P) ¨C 1 :: Sling (A, P) ¨C 2 :: Hand-to-Hand ¨C 1 :: Aimed Shot ¨C 1 :: Medium Armor ¨C 0 :: First Aid (W, I) ¨C 1 :: Dodge ¨C 1 :: Evasion - 1 :: Stealth (P, W) ¨C 3 :::: Sneak Attack ¨C 2 ::Observation ¨C 2 ::Lore ¨C 1 ::::Beast-Kin History (I, W) ¨C 5 ::::Fox-kin History (I, W) ¨C 10 Professions (0/4) -None ¡®*¡¯ Cannot be raised with Ability or Skill points. Recipes Know -None Equipment -Rough Leather Tunic ¨C AC3 9/10 worn -Rough Leather Pants ¨C AC3 10/10 worn -Rough Leather Cap ¨C AC2 10/10 worn -Rough Leather Bracers ¨C AC3 10/10 worn -Rough Leather Belt ¨C AC0 10/10 worn -Rough Leather Boots ¨C AC3 10/10 -Copper Dagger (light slash/pierce) 10/10 worn -Shoddy Sling (Range 3-20m) 100% worn -Shoddy Shot Pouch (size 2, max stack 20) worn -19x water polished stones (light crush) (in pouch) -Bronze Manriki (light crush+), 2m -Basic Bandage (7) Heals 2-8, stops bleeding -Beginner¡¯s Bag (8 slot) -Beginners Backpack (20 slot) -Small Coin Purse ¨C (166/200) 27sp, 130cp, 9 small gemsIf you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. -Mary Merrow¡¯s ring (quest) -Harris Merrow¡¯s ring (quest) -Private Letter (quest) -Bandit Heads (2x L1, 1x L3) (bounty) -Fancy Necklace (unidentified) -Field Rations (6) (plain) -Water Flasks (4) -Cracked Lesser Dark Soul Shard =-=-=-=- The first thing I noticed when I logged into the camp was the trash and blood were still there. At the four-to-one compression rate, my two-hour break had taken me from dawn to near noon. The fully loaded buggy with the shaggy pony was there waiting. With a sigh, I gathered the traces and led the buggy north to the town the bandits had been heading towards. Barely a few minutes later the tall grass ended in tilled fields. Across the river, the forest was cut back what seemed nearly to the horizon. Just a field of stumps remaining. Shortly the wall of the stockade became apparent, hundreds, no thousands of trimmed trees cut and replanted upright. Coming up on a gate, two guards sat in the shade of a sun I was finding all too warm. Squinting a bit, I observed them, Oscar Greene L5 Half-Orc City Guard 120/120 Barry Ascot L6 Wolfen City Guard 240/240 ¡°Hey, the Gate!¡± I called out when I was still a good 15-20 paces away. ¡°Hey! Isn¡¯t that the Merrow¡¯s buggy?¡± The Wolfen called out. The two of them both having their hands on their swords as they lifted shields. ¡°I would guess it is. Listen, call the Sheriff or Guard Captain, I would prefer only explaining this once.¡± I walked the buggy over towards the horse trough. The two guards watched me until I sat down in the shade of the wall. ¡°Oscar, the Captain is likely at Millie¡¯s about now, run quick. I watched the guard, he had similar fur and legs to what I had, except his was brown and grey. The boiled leather Cuirass and front plates on his legs. The odd boots intrigued me, soft leather uppers reached to his knees, the ¡®foot¡¯ was what looked like hard leather and strips of banding. Barry walked over, giving a quick look into the buggy, he shuddered and stepped away. ¡°Damn. The Merrow were nice folk.¡± He didn¡¯t seem to expect an answer, so I didn¡¯t offer one. Taking the time to open the sealed letter. From one Upright Man to another, These three I send to you in hopes you can make them into what I could not. Victor is their leader and my younger half-brother. They have the skills, just not the discipline. Trusting the force of muscle, failing to understand other means. Do with them what you must, if that means ending them, at least it won¡¯t be my hand holding the blade. *ding* Quest Offered ¨C Path of the Rogue 1 Even though this letter was not about you, maybe you can barter it into a class invite? Type ¨C Class, Chain Difficulty ¨C Moderate Rewards ¨C Thieves¡¯ Guild Faction, XP Time Limit ¨C none Accept the Path? Y/N *ALERT* Your Account is banned from accepting the Path of the Rogue and related questlines. Damn. Wouldn¡¯t you know, the only path offered so far and I couldn¡¯t take it. Well, in a town this size there had to be other trainers. I put the letter away and closed my eyes¡­ ¡°Yo! Stranger!¡± I was startled awake by the call. The Guard Oscar was back, he had three others with him, looking at them, Thimon L8 Ogre City Guard Lieutenant 440/440 Titus L8 Ogre City Guard Lieutenant 440/440 Anders Narrows L15 Human City Guard Captain 1100/1100 Okay¡­ these guys weren¡¯t joking around. ¡°Sorry, Captain. Didn¡¯t want to seem rude, but I was up all night.¡± I tried to be polite, giving a grim smile. ¡°These your work?¡± The Captain scowling. ¡°The Bandits, yes. The Halflings, not a chance.¡± ¡°Tell me what happened, don¡¯t skip anything.¡± Ordered the Captain. Opting for the raw truth, ¡°I woke up face down in a swamp¡­¡± The Captain looked at me with a piercing gaze. I tried to relax but felt more like squirming. ¡°Well, Hell. Damned shame, the Merrow family were the only growers of pipe weed in a week¡¯s travel. So, you really have no idea or memory of any involvement with the brigands?¡± I reach into my bag and withdrew the two Wedding rings. ¡°Here, you¡¯ll know who is supposed to get those. As to any involvement with the Bandits, from what I heard we shared a drink that they drugged with something called Lethe.¡± ¡°Lethe, eh? Well, I believe you, but stay around town until the Magistrate can make a final judgment.¡± The Captain rolled the rings in his fingers. ¡°Get on with you, but consider yourself on parole until the Magistrate rules.¡± Completed ¨C Who Killed Me 2? Your dispassionate recounting of the crimes and your vengeance has confirmed many beings¡¯ opinions of you. +150 Chaos, +100 Balance, +150 Good, +100 Citizens of Yangsan, +500xp. Reward ¨C Coin and items dependent on the Magistrate. Forces of Order now look on you with distrust Forces of Balance are now comfortable with you Forces of Good are now comfortable with you Citizens of Yangsan are now comfortable with you ¡°Hey, Captain Narrows? Anyone in town that could give me lessons in how to use this properly?¡± As I was holding up the Chain weapon. ¡°Ask the Monks on the hill.¡± He pointed towards the side of town well away from the river. Then walked off with his Lieutenants. I grabbed the Bandit¡¯s two backpacks and headed off towards the hill. The town was both familiar and so different from what I was used to. Much more colorful than other game cities. The doorways were beads or even weighted streamers of silk. But the calls from the merchants were much the same. I was feeling hungry and stopped at a booth, getting a bowl of rice topped with strips of meat in a heavy sauce that tasted of citrus before it seared my taste buds off. My antics were amusing to the booth owner at least. ¡°I have to remember to kill you if I survive.¡± I croaked out. For some reason that was the funniest thing they had ever heard. When I saw the buffs appear and realized just how good the meal really was. For the next twelve hours, +20 to max Stamina, +15 max HP, +2 to Str/Con/DR. Spicy or not, I finished the meal. Climbing the hill, there was a keep like structure there built out of stone columns and fired brick walls. Everything I had seen in town had been wood construction, this edifice was entirely of intricately laid bricks. I came to the open gates. No guards were on duty so I entered. Imagine a large square tucked just inside the stockade. The far quarter was taken up by a tower that was at least five stories tall. The other far quarter resembled more of a jungle, plants, and flowers growing everywhere. The front half had several pairs facing off and sparring on various terrain. A pile of boulders, circles of sand, a field of short poles planted upright, all surrounded by baked brick cobblestones. I was fascinated by the complex interplay of weapons and styles. ¡°Excuse me, Traveler. How may the Temple assist you?¡± Gah! Where had this kid come from? Calming my heart, a bit. A young boy no more than maybe six or seven years old dressed in simple black linen pants and tunic, his feet bare. ¡°Uh, I had been hoping to speak to someone about training?¡± ¡°Ah yes. Master Lin will be done with his noon meal and should be ready to meet with you. Please follow.¡± I followed along after the boy. Looking closer. Bohai L0 Human Orphan 5/5 The boy led me into the tower and up to a second-floor room. The east and south walls open arches that allowed light and a breeze to flow through. The scent of a thousand plants coming from the south where the tops of trees in the garden could be seen. A figure sat facing out over the garden, black robes and a bald head. The figure sat on the floor, bent over a scroll that was spread on a knee-high lectern. Without turning to face us, ¡°Ah, Bohai. Who is this you have brought to me?¡± ¡°A Traveler desiring training, Master.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Turning to me I saw a man who looked almost ageless. A smiling face that could have been anywhere from thirty to sixty or more. I focused on him, *Master Lin Bao* L??? Human Master of the Silver Dragon ?????/????? Seeing his name, it suddenly came to me, the in-game translators had been at work. Thinking back on them, thinking hard, I could see the Chinese characters behind the westernized names. Even the Thieves¡¯ Guild letter now showed a ghosting of the actual characters. Calling up every memory of manners from the Manhua I had read I took one step forward and dropped to my knees bowing until my forehead touched the floor. Still bowed I spoke, ¡°Master. I must apologize for my appearing before you in such a state. I had expected to meet some lowly trainer assigned to deal with Commoners like myself. I¡­¡± ¡°Silence! What do you think I am, some spoiled Imperial Prince you must flatter and abase yourself to?¡± Hearing the anger in his voice, I knew I had screwed up, ¡°Still, you do bow quite prettily. However, if you don¡¯t sit up right this instant I might keep you as a sitting bench or footstool.¡± Hearing now the light teasing in his voice. I immediately sat back on my feet. At first avoiding his face and eyes from simple terror. Taking a deep breath, I met his eyes and saw the teasing grin and knew I was being toyed with. It was the smile on that face that finally let me relax a bit. ¡°There now,¡± Lin Bao said with a small laugh, ¡°Come join me. Sit, sit.¡± He gestured to a cushion by his side. As I sat he looked at the boy, ¡°Bohai? Please brings us tea, something fragrant and relaxing I think today. Also, a few light snacks.¡± ¡°Of course, Master.¡± And the boy ran off. We sat and exchanged simple pleasantries. I let him guide the conversation. Then the jasmine scented black tea, and a small platter of steamed buns stuffed with a sweet bean paste arrived. The conversation then shifting to the food and surroundings. Then he turned and looked serious, ¡°Now, Traveler Growlf, how ever did you get such a name? Tell me all about how you came to sit here with me on this lovely day.¡± ¡°The name was I believe a punishment that I have yet to fix. As to the rest¡­¡± He seemed less interested in the events than in my reasoning behind them. Asking several painful why this and not that questions. Finally, looking at me, he spoke plainly, ¡°There is a rage inside you, vast and deep. Should you continue down the road you are now on you may do acts of incredible Good, but you will lose yourself along the way. You could remain here at the School and learn to avoid the rage, saving your soul, but the world would never know the Good you might do. Think of these options.¡± Then he refreshed both our bowls of tea. ¡°In some ways, the Mistress of this school was once much like you. The forest that once covered this city and hill was home to many spirits and normal animals. She was a simple one-tail when Master Bai saw her at play. Her antics first amusing and then intriguing him. Over the course of long decades, he tamed her wild spirit, and she introduced the wild into his tamed spirit. This allowed him to create his school of Leaping Fox Wushu. Students started coming and we built the School on this hill. Even as the Master of this School, and all the secrets of Chi he knew, he barely lived to see the Mistress get her fourth tail when he fell to an assassin. She had the option to return to the wild ways and corrupt his legend and his teachings, as so many of her sisters would have. Instead, she remained true and has continued to teach his style in his honor.¡± Sipping at his tea he looked into the distance out an open window. ¡°So then, what brings you to me today?¡± I noticed it had started growing dark, we had talked the day away. ¡°Well, I hate to bother you with something so minor but I was wanting to learn more about how to use this.¡± I brought out the chain. He looked pensive and then spoke, ¡°Is that what you truly wish? To learn to use this simple chain, or would you perhaps seek to master it?¡± ¡°Umm, what is the difference?¡± ¡°Ah, the questions of innocents and children. When you arrived today, I could smell on your breath that you had visited Merchant Gwon¡¯s Eatery. Now, anyone, even a talentless chef such as you and I, can boil a bowl of rice and drop grilled meat on top. With practice, we might even learn to add a sauce. It would fill the belly and might even taste good. This would be the Use of cooking. Merchant Gwon has learned the subtle use of the essence of his spices, and to let his chi enter into the food he makes and transform good into great with lingering benefits. This is the Mastery of cooking. Now again, I ask you. Do you wish to learn to use this chain, for that there are many below this hill that can show you how to flail clumsily? Or, perhaps, if you wish to learn of mastery, I might deign to give you a lesson or two?¡± My heart was pounding, when an Elite offers to teach you something I couldn¡¯t imagine saying no. Maybe it would delay my journey west to join my friends for a bit, but the things I might learn¡­ ¡°Yes, Master. Teach me to be a Master.¡± *ding* You are offered the quest ¨C The Way of the Leaping Fox 1 You accept the Leaping Fox Master Lin as your trainer while he chooses to teach you. Type ¨C Class, Chain, Story, Unique Difficulty ¨C Moderate Rewards ¨C The basics of Wing Chun and improved relations with the Leaping Fox school. Worsened relations with competing schools. Failure ¨C Abandon the Quest. Dismissal from the Leaping Fox school. Barred from the Leaping Fox path. Time Limit ¨C none ¡°Master no more. From now on you must call me Sifu. Your first lesson, drop that chain over there. If things go well, you might pick it up in a year or two.¡± A year or two? Umm, what had I done? ¡°Now, student. Bohai will show you to your room. You will find clothing like Bohai¡¯s there, dress in that come morning. I soon settled in a small chamber with a bed that was little more than a cot. A folded set of black silk pants and a loose tunic hung from hooks. I dropped my bags in the corner and lay on the cot. *Logout* 04 Working for a Living Chapter Four ¡°Dude! You can¡¯t be there. The core servers were region locked to only accept EU, North American and Oceania IP¡¯s. There is a Russian Beta running for this fall¡¯s release. Then next winter they add the South American expansion with their Incan, Mayan and Aztec stuff. But, here, this is the point, ¡®Apply now to the Chinese Beta starting soon! Only verified Chinese IP¡¯s may apply.¡¯ Like I said, you can¡¯t be there. The Alpha was closed down, the Beta hasn¡¯t started, and you have a non-Chinese account!¡± Dan was fairly screaming by the end. Whether he was angry, or jealous, or both, I couldn¡¯t quite tell. I was just glad none of the others were up. ¡°Well, I guess I could just start walking, I¡¯d be there in a couple weeks I guess?¡± ¡°Not even that! The expansion lands are locked behind a barrier. The best you can do is get a peek into the new areas, but nothing gets in or out. There is a portal gate here in Dumeril that leads to Yangsan, except it is closed down for maintenance.¡± Daniel laughed, ¡°Now this Sifu guy? Is he any good as a trainer?¡± ¡°Good? No, not really. He¡¯s only got a three digit level and five digit HP.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Daniel made an exaggerated whistling noise and we both laughed. ¡°Later dude! Just avoid the GM¡¯s and become king of the Beta, remember though they wipe prior to release.¡± I was still thinking of the wipe when sleep took me. =-=-=-=- *GONG* ¡°Arise, arise!¡± from a chorus of voices. ¡°The sun comes soon. Arise, arise!¡± came a single voice I hadn¡¯t even fully logged in as I heard the cantor and chorus shuffle down the corridor a bit and then repeat their call of the time. I wiped myself down with the provided bowl and washcloth. I quickly dressed in the tunic and pants provided, dropping all my old clothes into a basket there. Bohai entered without a knock, ¡°Ah, good! You are ready. Master says we are to work on your conditioning before breakfast.¡± ¡°What does the Master¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Bohai interrupted me, ¡°He Is Master to me. To you he is Sifu!¡± Then he dashed off, leaving me to chase in his dust. The conditioning turned out to be chores. Winch pails of water from the well. Carry the pails to dump into various barrels and pots. Then get more water. Then stirring pots with a wooden ladle that after the fifth pot felt more like a tree-trunk than a meter-long spoon. Washing plates that went out to feed not just the Monks, but a seemingly endless stream of the destitute and homeless. Last came the dozen orphans resident at the school. Finally, I was handed a tray and sagged into a seat to eat. The day had barely started and I was already exhausted, every muscle ached, my fur half-cooked out of my skin by the steam and splatters. A tray landed across from me, looking up I saw the Mast¡­ no, Sifu. I started to stand. ¡°No, no¡­¡± Gesturing me back down. ¡°Sit and eat. I was worried that I may have made a mistake accepting you as a personal student. Your effort this morning has shown me otherwise.¡± I cleaned the last trace of porridge from the bowl, and he gestured me to stand. I went to pick up the trays. ¡°No, let others handle those for now.¡± He led me into a scriptorium where four Monks were hard at work. One copying a map, another a page of a huge book, the other two working on scrolls. Two hours I struggled to copy the marks on the scrolls, my penmanship horrible. In Real-Life I didn¡¯t even own a pen or pencil, everything was done on keyboard and screen, even my signature was just a biometric imprint. At the end, I felt I was getting better, but the frown on his face was more devastating than if he had made a comment. Two hours before lunch was spent with Sifu showing me and explaining charts of the energy flows in a body. The centers and confluences, and what use each point had. ¡°Come, it is lunch.¡± Was all he said after I muffed almost all the answers as he quizzed me. Then three hours of his teaching me to walk, turn and fall. What wasn¡¯t bruised by the end felt broken. Then came three hours of following the motions as we stepped through the phases of combat in slow motion. The real torture started after supper. Three hours of meditation and attempting to focus on images he suggested. Every time my mind drifted, or I started to fall asleep, he would tap me with a finger that seemed charged with a lightning bolt. By the end of this relaxing meditation, I was more tired than ever.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. *ding* You have completed ¨C The Way of the Leaping Fox 1 You have had the merest taste of what it is to be a student of the Leaping Fox Wushu. Skills have updated! Hand-to-Hand, has become Martial Punch, Martial Kick, Martial Grapple. No more random flailing about with your fists like a common street brawler, now you can at least attempt to look good while flailing about. You have learned the skill, Balance. Once you learn how to walk again, you will find yourself stable on your feet and likely to land safely even from great heights. You have learned the skill, Toughness. Your muscles, your bones, and your very skin are becoming resistant to damage. *ding* You are offered the quest ¨C The Way of the Leaping Fox 2 You may leave the school and be just another failed apprentice, or stay and continue learning the Way of the Leaping Fox. Type ¨C Class, Chain, Story, Unique Difficulty ¨C Moderate Rewards ¨C You will learn more of the basics of the Leaping Fox and improved relations with the Leaping Fox school. Worsened relations with competing schools. Failure ¨C Abandon the Quest. Dismissal from the Leaping Fox school. Barred from the Leaping Fox path. Time Limit ¨C none Accept Y/N Not quite sure why I wouldn¡¯t flee to something easier, I selected Yes. Barely having the energy to review the days notices. Learned ¨C Chi Manipulation L1 Learned ¨C Meditation L1 Learned ¨C Literacy: Chinese L1 Learned ¨C Penmanship: Chinese L1 Learned ¨C Balance L1 Learned ¨C Toughness L1 Improved ¨C Strength +2 to 12 Improved ¨C Constitution +1 to 10 =-=-=-=- Once it was deemed I could walk, stand, and fall without embarrassing myself I joined the combat practices. Some days the afternoon practices were turned into entering the town and finding tasks to aid the town. This was the first time I had seen a purpose behind the Step-n-fetch and the Bring-me-a quests beyond Faction and Experience grinding. I was seeing how the town related and functioned as a whole. =-=-=-=- I stopped by Merchant Gwon¡¯s first. ¡°Good day Merchant. How is the day treating you?¡± ¡°Ah! Terribly! It is time to prepare for evening meals and my order has yet to arrive from the warehouse!¡± Smiling as I saw the lead-in to a step-n-fetch quest. ¡°Maybe I can go and check on your order for you?¡± ¡°Oh, would you? Please check with Guard Xiao at Warehouse #7.¡± *ding* Quest Received ¨C Missing Supplies Without the proper ingredients Mechant Gwon cannot prepare this evenings meal. Having eaten his food, you know what a crime that would be. Check with Guard Xiao and find out why the supplies haven¡¯t been delivered. Type ¨C Escort Difficulty ¨C Easy Rewards ¨C EXP, Merchant Favor Time Limit ¨C Until Dinner Bell It was a quick walk to the docks and the warehouses. Seeing a frazzled looking guard in a leather helm and armor, holding a short halberd like weapon. ¡°Guard Xiao?¡± ¡°Whoa, whoa! Stay away now, it¡¯s not safe around here!¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t it safe? Is that why Merchant Gwon hasn¡¯t received his supplies?¡± I asked. ¡°He¡¯ll just have to wait, we had to call the City Guard, but they¡¯re busy with a drunk Ogre Magi.¡± ¡°Anything I can do to help?¡± Looking me over, ¡°You look strong enough to kill a few rats? And if you see the package for Merchant Gwon you can grab it as you go by?¡± ¡°A few rats? Sure!¡± This should be easy. *ding* Quest Received ¨C Rats in the hole! Clear the rats from the warehouse and find the supplies for Merchant Gwon. Type ¨C Kill Difficulty ¨C Moderate Rewards ¨C EXP, Town Favor Time Limit ¨C none Just a few rats he said¡­ The bastard didn¡¯t tell me they were the size of terriers and came three at a time. Turning on semi-verbose notifications, I wanted to see how this Leaping Fox worked. Sewer Rat L2 Sewer Rat 15/15 Your Martial Kick hits for 6 Sewer Rat Misses you Sewer Rat Bites for 4, but you Dodge Sewer Rat Bites for 7! Critical! Ugh, that hurt! Damn pain filters hardly seemed to do anything. Time to try a one-two punch thing. Your Martial Punch hits for 4-1 Your Martial Punch hits for 2-1 You have Learned Martial Dual Wield (fists) Sewer Rat Misses you Sewer Rat Bites for 3 Sewer Rat Bites for 4 Ah, Dual wielding seems to have a damage penalty. Your Martial Punch hits for 7-1, Critical! (1 overkill) The Sewer Rat dies! Your Martial Punch hits for 3-1, (2 overkill) Your skill Martial Punch has increased, +1 Sewer Rat Misses you Sewer Rat Bites for 3 Argh! This fighting without a weapon sucked! Your Martial Punch hits for 3-1 Your Martial Punch hits for 3-1 Sewer Rat Bites for 3, but you Dodge Sewer Rat Bites for 4 This huge warehouse to search for Gwon¡¯s supplies, all these rats, joy¡­ And this was only the first three, I could see at least nine more rats in three groups about the room. Your Martial Punch hits for 8-1, Critical! Rat is stunned! Attacking a stunned opponent, automatic Critical! Your Martial Punch hits for 7-1, Critical! (2 overkill) Sewer Rat dies! Sewer Rat Bites for 4 One left. I was covered in cuts and bites. I was panting in near exhaustion as my Stamina bar was nearing the bottom. This was hard! The last rat fell, leaving me near the end of my health and stamina. Using a couple bandages, I sat like Master, err, Sifu had shown me and began meditating. About a half hour later all the simple wounds had closed and I headed to the next three rats. Creeping up slowly and doing my best to get close, I jumped out of a shadow and aimed to knock out one rat with the first punch. Critical Strike from surprise x2 at an Aimed Location x3 Your Martial Punch hits for 24, Critical! (9 overkill) Sewer Rat Dies Sewer Rat Bites, but you Dodge Sewer Rat is taken by surprise and fails to act Okay, maybe this doesn¡¯t totally suck after all. =-=-=-=- What felt like a week later, covered in a hundred scabbed over wounds and with my clothes in tatters, I staggered into Merchant Gwon¡¯s and placed the heavy package on his counter. ¡°About time! I nearly had the Closed sign placed out front. Please, as much as I appreciate the errand, you''ll drive away my customers. Why do you smell like a sewer anyway? Go take a bath.¡± ¡°Funny thing about the sewers¡­¡± I muttered under my breath, and that is the true depth of an Easy quest. I arrived back at the school just in time to receive a bowl of rice with a bland boiled fish on top. Ugh, why didn¡¯t I beg Merchant Gwon¡¯s mercy? 05 Of Traps and Justice Chapter Five I have found over the last couple weeks that the chef Merchant Gwon needed a shipment delivered from the river docks every second day. Once a week the warehouses at the docks needed to be cleared of rats. Plains cats needed to be driven from the farms twice a week. And the biggie I couldn¡¯t do without a bunch of other players, on a real-world Friday evening a three-meter tall Boar with burning eyes came out of the woods across the river. Marching up and down the banks as it bellowed challenges. Two hours of exercise before breakfast, two hour each of scribing and chi practice each morning. Three hours in town three afternoons a week, the other four days spent learning how to get bruised in new and interesting ways. Meditating each evening. This pattern repeated for the next few weeks until one morning after breakfast. I set down my empty bowl. Sifu looked at me with a serious expression. ¡°Today we shall not train together. You must dress in your old clothes and prepare.¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t we training Sifu? What am I to prepare for?¡± ¡°Today you go before the Magistrate and will bear his judgment.¡± ¡°The Magistrate! I had forgotten.¡± Pausing for a second, ¡°Sifu, I have a letter to the Thieves¡¯ Guild I had been ignoring, what should I do with it?¡± Pulling the letter from my storage he read it. ¡°Deliver the letter. The Upright Man is not always evil. Keep your heart, mind, and eyes open and this will be a lesson. Go in blinded and it will be a trap.¡± =-=-=-=- The Imperial Magistrate sat on a chair on a dais. A lower dais held the town mayor, the guard captain and the three resident nobles in town. The rest of us knelt on the wooden floor below them. We had all given our testimony. I had a Truth Telling cast on me that was most awkward, as my motivations and desires were investigated. When questions about my residence at the School came up, they were quickly ruled irrelevant. Now the Magistrate spoke, ¡°I see that this Traveler is indeed innocent of crimes, yet this Growlf did go against the common law of the land and the will of the Emperor. It is my judgment as Magistrate that it is the will of the Emperor that Growlf help restore the good will of the citizenry and bring back the happiness that was lost. Even the Imperial Family has a standing order for the Merrow¡¯s pipe weed. It is our ruling that Growlf travel south to the land of the Halflings and find a relative of the Merrow¡¯s to assume ownership of the Merrow farm within the month. It is further in our judgment that three bandits perished at Growlf¡¯s hand and that the bounty of fifty silver be paid to him. As well, all the bandit belongings are clearly his without contest or question. The Emperor has spoken!¡± *ding* You have received the quest ¨C The Emperor¡¯s Will ¨C Smoke Signals You must travel to the halfling lands and find a relative to take over the Merrow farm. The citizens are unhappy that they have lost the source of their pipe weed. Type ¨C Story, Chain, Mandatory Difficulty ¨C Moderate Rewards ¨C Status increases with Imperial Family, Citizens of Yangsan, Merchants of Yangsan, Halfling Nation. Failure ¨C Abandon the Quest: Enmity with the Imperial Family. OR Fail to find an heir to take over the farm within the time limit and lose status with all Imperial Factions. Time Limit ¨C One month Okay, so no arm-twisting there. Nope, do what I say and succeed at it or run for the hills. And Sifu warned me about the Upright Man and not the Magistrate. I nearly burned the letter on the spot. The Guard Captain came up to congratulate me, ¡°Well, boy, I had my doubts, but you came out smelling like roses. Taking up with the Monks too, they don¡¯t deal with riff-raff.¡± His smile was broad. You have gained favor with the guards of Yangsan +100, you are now trusted. I was relishing this next moment in the same way my old rogue characters would taunt their victims and the town officials.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°By the way, Captain?¡± I asked ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Where might I find the Upright Man at this time of day?¡± And ba-da-dum-DUM, there it was. The look of shock on the Captains face was priceless. You have lost favor with the guards of Yangsan -250, you are now distrusted. Okay, so maybe that didn¡¯t work out quite as well as I had planned. ¡°No, no. It isn¡¯t for me, I just have a letter to deliver to him.¡± The searing glare the Captain turned on me actually hurt me in some non-HP fashion. ¡°It¡¯s afternoon so he will be down at the docks, having breakfast at The Scuppered Maiden.¡± Then as the Captain stomped away, my sensitive ears picked up him muttering under his breath, ¡°Should have known better than to trust some tricky fox.¡± Okay, so that had been a really bad idea¡­ =-=-=-=- I wandered down to the docks and soon had a beggar happy to point the way to me. Arriving outside the inn, the true meaning of the name became apparent as they painted sign showed a girl cowering naked in a puddle of torn skirts. So, the ¡®ruined¡¯ Maiden. Not an auspicious sign of what awaited inside. Dark and smoky, the odor of unwashed bodies troubling me now as it wouldn¡¯t have a few weeks ago. The Ogre bouncer just inside the door seemed disappointed to find no weapons to confiscate, my eating dagger allowed to remain. I stepped over to the bar and watched as some breed of Troll was serving up tankards of a thick ale. This gave me a chance to peruse the room, blue, green and red outlines appeared everywhere. ¡°Best you don¡¯t do that.¡± Came a voice startling me out of my focus. ¡°Wha¡­ what?¡± was my ever so clever reply. Plunking down a tankard of ale that I hadn¡¯t asked for, ¡°Nosy people, get them cut off.¡± The troll laughed sinisterly. ¡°Oh, right.¡± I dropped the observation, or at least the active portion of it. ¡°Umm, need to speak to the Upright Man, can you point me to him, or let him know I am here?¡± ¡°Never heard of such a thing. Now drink up, that¡¯ll be five coppers. Then you can go back to your fancy bars.¡± The rich brown ale smelled crisp with a hint of apple. While the Troll never gave anything away, the drunk slumped over his table nearby, distinctly looked into one of the corners. Letting my gaze pass quickly over the corner I saw just how obvious it was. Three tables in that corner, the ones on either end held a half-ogre and two humans each, they had weapons, lots of weapons. The table in the middle, a single human there, alternately kissing the barely dressed cat girl and bunny girl. Taking my ale I walked over to the middle table, the bodyguards following my every move closely. An icon started flashing as I got near and I saw a dim red outline of some humanoid, I couldn¡¯t see it in detail, but there was definitely someone hidden behind the Upright Man as I went to speak to him, ¡°Excuse me, I don¡¯t mean to interrupt¡­¡± I started. ¡°Then don¡¯t!¡± He interrupted me. Then he went back to kissing the Cat girl. The aroma of arousal thick in the air. ¡°I have a letter for you.¡± ¡°For me? Girls, get lost.¡± Both stood up, making it clear they had nothing on below their waists. Picking up their skirts from the floor they flounced off. Tearing my gaze from their cute butts I saw the Upright Man watching me. ¡°The letter is indeed for you, if you are the Upright Man of this town.¡± ¡°Me? I am just a respectable businessman having lunch.¡± I looked around the room, pointedly noticing the exchange of coins for a necklace and goblet. Two men dueling with daggers. A cloaked and hooded figure with a skull mask accepting a sack of coins and a piece of parchment with a face drawn on it. Looking back at the man. I raised one eyebrow and twitched my nose. ¡°Oh, alright. Maybe not so respectable, but it was a very good lunch until you got here. Sit and show me this letter.¡± I handed the letter to him, then leaned back to sip at the amazingly good ale. ¡°I had heard of these three. I take it you were the cause of their demise?¡± ¡°They tried to kill and rob me, I took it poorly.¡± I smiled He gestured and a shot glass of something green and chunky was set on the table next to my tankard. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°I would really suggest you drink that sooner, rather than later.¡± He said. ¡°Why? What is it?¡± I lifted the glass and sniffed at it. ¡°The antidote to the poison in your ale.¡± He snickered. I swallowed the shot, chunks and all. ¡°Dear Gods!¡± I snarled, ¡°You poisoned the best Ale I have ever had! What kind of Monster are you!?¡± I slammed down the shotglass. ¡°One that is buying you a whole new, poison free one.¡± ¡°Well, then, all is forgiven. Do you regularly poison the patrons here? Must be bad for business to carry out all the bodies.¡± ¡°Oh, you wouldn¡¯t have died of it. Just woken naked in some alley with no clue who or where you were.¡± ¡°Ah, the same thing those three did to me. Lethe. Except the alive part.¡± ¡°Really? My apologies then. I am glad you handled them before I met them. I may be a thief and murderer, but I have standards. You saved having to appease the one who sent them.¡± You have lost favor with the guards of Yangsan -50, you are still distrusted. You have gained favor with the thieves of Yangsan +150, you are now trusted. ¡°With the lack of decent pipe weed around here now, can I ask you to find me someone I can trust to run the farm?¡± *ding* You have been offered the quest ¨C The Emperor¡¯s Will ¨C Thieves Aplenty You must find a trusted surrogate to take over the Merrow farm. All the residents are unhappy that they have lost the source of their pipe weed. Type ¨C Story, Chain, Optional Difficulty ¨C Hard Rewards ¨C Status increases with all branches of the Thieves¡¯ Guild, Citizens of Yangsan, Merchants of Yangsan, Halfling Nation. Failure ¨C Abandon the Quest: Loss of status with the above factions. OR Fail to find a trusted replacement to take over the farm within the time limit and lose status with all Thief factions. Time Limit ¨C One month As I went to leave, ¡°By the way, you might want to get someone better at stealth to hide behind you, I had him spotted before I was close to the table.¡± The thieves all spun to where I pointed, only to have the figure drop a smoke bomb and run. I decided to leave myself in the confusion. Walking back to the School I was proud and happy. Joy! I loved it when parallel quests asked for the same thing. I was halfway back to the School when it hit me, now to satisfy the quests I didn¡¯t need to just find any relative, now I needed one that the thieves could trust. Oh, bugger¡­ =-=-=-=- ¡°So, with the hangdog expression which trap did you fall for? The Magistrate? The Thieves¡¯? Both?¡± Sifu chuckled a bit as my expression darkened. ¡°Both and worse. I may have pissed off the Guard Captain beyond repair.¡± Who would have guessed that such a refined and stately man could guffaw like that? ¡°Go ahead, laugh. You¡¯ve proven that I cannot be let out without adult supervision.¡± Laughing too hard to speak, Master Lin rang a small table bell, then collapsed while holding his sides. Then suddenly turning dour Master Lin spoke, ¡°Time to rest. Your bag is already packed and your travel clothes laid out. Be ready to leave at first light.¡± *Logout* 06 Of Trips, Trails, and Trials Chapter Six I guess this is what happens when you ignore your friends for almost a week. All my messaging queues were packed with messages, was I still alive, was I still in the game, that type of thing. I somehow didn¡¯t even really feel sad about ignoring them. I had always been popular and could make new friends. I had friends in the game, so what if they were AI¡¯s. I had all the friends that money could buy¡­ damn, I was becoming my parents. New nanny¡¯s every four months to prevent unhealthy attachments. New friends that fit whatever social style was trending. It was only after I hit eleven and my parents moved away, and later that the last nanny was discharged and I started to have friends of my own. Even those, I had bought. Sure, with some it wasn¡¯t needed, but friends were work. It was easier to gift them with some new shiny than it was to actually get to know them. I felt comfortable in the game in ways I now realized I never had in reality. I almost sat down to post a few status messages, but I realized that I would barely get ninety minutes of sleep before dawn came in the game. No time to lose I gobbled down two trail bars, set the alarm and crawled into bed. =-=-=-=- :: Titles ¨C Merciless :: Name ¨C Growlf :: Race ¨C Fox-kin :: Primary Class ¨C Commoner L9 (32%) :: Secondary ¨C Undefined :: Tertiary Class ¨C Undefined :: HP ¨C 133 :: Stamina ¨C 148 :: Mana ¨C 83 :: Piety ¨C 0 :: Alignment ¨C Neutral :::: Order ¨C 100 :::: Chaos ¨C 200 :::: Balance ¨C 150 :: AC ¨C 11 (Damage Reduction 2) :: Evasion ¨C 12% (11% + 1% Trait) :: Dodge ¨C 17% (when activated) Stats ¨C Points Available 22 :: STR ¨C 23 :: CON ¨C 19 :: AGI ¨C 24 :: INT ¨C 14 :: WIS ¨C 11 :: CHA ¨C 7 :: PER* ¨C 22 :: LUCK* ¨C 2 Skills ¨C Points Available 8 :: Tracking (P, I) ¨C 3 :::: Scent Tracking (P, I) ¨C 2 :: Chain Weapons (A, S) ¨C 3 :: Martial Punch (A, P) ¨C 9 (90%) :: Martial Kick (A, S) ¨C 9 (64%) :: Martial Grapple (S, A) ¨C 6 (17%) :: Dual Wield (fists) (A, P) ¨C 7 (21%) :: Aimed Strike ¨C 6 :: Dagger (A, P) ¨C 1 :: Sling (A, P) ¨C 2 :: Medium Armor ¨C 0 :: Toughness ¨C 3 :: First Aid (W, I) ¨C 1 :: Dodge ¨C 7 :: Awareness - 2 :: Stealth (P, W) ¨C 3 :::: Sneak Attack ¨C 2 :: Observation ¨C 8 :::: Spot Hidden - 1 :: Chi Manipulation ¨C 9 :: Meditation ¨C 8 :: Literacy: Chinese ¨C 4 :: Penmanship: Chinese ¨C 4 :: Lore ¨C 3 :::: Beast-Kin History (I, W) ¨C 5 :::: Fox-kin History (I, W) ¨C 10 :::: Legends of Wing Chun ¨C 3 :::: School of the Leaping Fox ¨C 4 Professions (0/4) -None ¡®*¡¯ Cannot be raised with Ability or Skill points. Recipes KnownThis story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. -None Equipment -Simple Monk Tunic ¨C AC2 10/10 worn -Simple Monk Pants ¨C AC2 10/10 worn -Simple Monk Cap ¨C AC2 10/10 worn -Simple Monk Bracers ¨C AC2 10/10 worn -Simple Monk Belt ¨C AC1 10/10 worn -Simple Monk Boots ¨C AC2 10/10 worn -Copper Dagger (1-3) 100% worn -Shoddy Sling (Range 3-20m) 100% worn -Shoddy Shot Pouch (size 2, max stack 20) worn -40x lead sling shot (in pouch) (moderate crush) -Basic Bandage (20) Heals 2-8, stops bleeding -Beginner¡¯s Bag (8 slot) -Beginners Backpack (20 slot) -Small Coin Purse ¨C (115/200) 76sp, 30cp, 9 small gems -Fancy Necklace (unidentified) -Field Rations (10) (plain) -Water Flasks (10) *GONG* ¡°Arise, arise!¡± from a chorus of voices. ¡°The sun comes soon. Arise, arise!¡± I had been sitting here waiting for the morning call for a few minutes. Almost bursting out of my room. Only to find Master Lin waiting in the courtyard. ¡°Such energy for a slug-a-bed. Let us put it to use.¡± With that, he started a quick jog. We arrived at the southern gate just as it was opening, but never paused to greet anyone. I¡¯m guessing it was about a half hour later that I was barely able to walk as my stamina flirted with going negative. ¡°Need to rest a minute or ten, Master Lin.¡± I noticed the bastard hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat yet. Jogging in place Master Lin shook his head, ¡°Pathetic¡­¡± Thus, began our pattern for the day, run a half hour, walk a half hour. We stopped for lunch at a berry patch. Filling my cap with berries and taking bites from the huge leek he had found. I was feeling almost normal as we got ready to head out. Master Lin surprised me by reaching into my backpack and pulling out a set of wrist and ankle weights I swear I hadn¡¯t seen in there earlier. He fastened them on the appropriate limbs. ¡°Why, Master Lin?¡± ¡°Because they were doing little good on your back. Now stand, we run. Good, now swing those arms in time to your steps. In Time! Not spastic monkey twitching! Let your body find the rhythm.¡± I would have cursed him if I had had the breath or the spare concentration. Come dusk we came to a stop. I swear my arms had stretched down to the ground. I almost sat down when that demonic torturer spoke, ¡°No time to relax. Gather firewood, enough to last all night.¡± I returned to the camp with three armloads of wood before he was satisfied. Meanwhile, Master Lin had broken up two of the dried field rations into a pot of water he set at the edge of the fire. The bandolier he had on was revealed to hold pouches with many seeds, leaves, and stems. Crumbling pinches of them into the pot as he sang over it. A few minutes later a steaming bowl was held under my nose, pulling me out of some vague dream. I took a fingerful of the thick stew, the flavor seemed to fill my exhausted body. Scooping fingers in time and again got most of it, then I curled my face into the bowl to lick the last traces clean. Rinsing the bowl and the pot clean, Master Lin yawned and stretched exaggeratedly. ¡°It has been a long and tiring day; my old bones are tired. Young one, you take the first watch, wake me when the Little Bear sits on that tree.¡± I gave him a Death Glare, and I swear the bastard rolled his eyes at me! But, just like that, Master Lin rolled over and was asleep. I sat there looking around. Other than the bats and an owl that were attracted to the cloud of insects around the fire, I saw nothing resembling a little bear. Watching the flames leap, I jerked suddenly. The fire was noticeably less intense. Damn, sleeping on watch was not a good thing. I got up and walked around a bit. There was something watching us, but breathing in I could smell just a deer and fawn quivering in their nest, so I wasn¡¯t worried. Where was this damned bear¡­? Suddenly I sat up and leaned back. Dammit, who watches the sky in a game? The tree, that was kind of the way we had come from, that would be north. Remembering a thing from back in grade school, the Big and Little Dipper, was also known as the Big and Little Bear! I had no clue if it was sitting on the tree, but there was the little dipper just touching the tree top. I crouched down next to Master Lin, ¡°The bear is crapping on the tree.¡± Hearing a chuckle, ¡°I was wondering if you would figure it out. Now get to sleep, you have a long day tomorrow.¡± Closing my eyes, I swear it wasn¡¯t a second later the Sun was searing my eyes. The bowl of the same stew was mere fingers from my nose. Sitting up I devoured the food. Master Lin quizzing me on the channels of Chi. We got a late start. As we ran, Master Lin lectured me, and I gasped out answers. ¡°Now, student. The road is simple and straight, as we run, enter a basic trance and feel your Chi. That fuzzy ball in your stomach.¡± After a few false starts and stumbles as I lost track of my feet, it actually proved to be fairly easy to enter the trance and feel my Chi. I looked a bit deeper and saw how it flowed with each step, each impact with the ground had the Chi rippling up my legs and into the core. ¡°Good, good, just like that. Now spin your Chi just a tiny bit, let a tiny stream of it run back down your legs. Just a little, that is way too much. Think of a narrow stem, not an entire branch. Good, good¡­ now pulse that branch just the tiniest bit as your foot lands.¡± Now instead of each step being a mere long pace, I seemed to be gliding a full body length with each step. I pushed a little bit harder and laughed as that step went an easy three body lengths. I laughed at the utter joy of it. The landing, however, was not quite so joyous. I tumbled head over rear and landed in a heap on the road. My bag spread over the entire length of that last jump. I lay there groaning. Master Lin bent over me and shook his head, ¡°Children! They always want to run, before they have learned to crawl. Up, up, time is wasting. Your bruises will keep you focused.¡± This time as I was doing the gliding run, things went much smoother, until that little blue bar in the corner of my screen went gray, and the yellow bar dropped fast! When it went gray I fell face first and didn¡¯t have the strength to move. ¡°Once your Chi is depleted you take from the bodies energy. When that is gone, you are nothing more than ashes. Perfecting your Mind will increase your Chi. Perfecting your Body will increase your Stamina. Knowing how to use both perfectly will Perfect your Soul. Your Stamina should allow you to run again, your Chi will take longer to recover.¡± ¡°How much longer?¡± ¡°Without help? Forever. That is for after we stop tonight. Now swing those arms.¡± As we entered a dense forest, Master Lin signaled we were to stop and make camp, I was barely more conscious than previous days. But today as Master Lin went for water, I was already gathering the wood. As we ate, ¡°Today, Student, you took the first tiny step on the Path.¡± He gave me a tiny smile. ¡°What you did today with your legs can be done with any muscle. You can send the Chi out to assist or initiate actions, but your pools are not infinite. Now, student, look at the grass next to you in the same way as you look within yourself. See, even simple grass has Chi flowing through it.¡± He was right, tiny threads that were still the same as the ones in me. ¡°Put your hand on the grass there. Feel the Chi reach out to you? Chi is Chi like to like. As you pushed the Chi out your leg, now pull the Chi to you.¡± I felt the Chi flow into me, less than a drop in a bucket, but I felt the wonder of it. ¡°Now look at the grass you pulled from.¡± There was a blackened handprint, the grass under it little more than powder. ¡°This is important. Chi is everywhere and may be pulled in to your reserves. BUT! To do so to this extent is an evil unsurpassed. With such, you might pull the Soul out of someone and consume it. This is the path to Dark Chi. Soon a Master of Dark Chi finds their hunger for more growth. They will feed and feed it, but the hunger grows. Soon they feed their enemies, then their friends, next families, into the ravening hunger. A wise man knows to take but notto damage. Take a little sip here, a little nibble there. Do no damage and allow the Chi to return before taking more, this is the path of the righteous.¡± ¡°I understand Master.¡± Looking with revulsion at the black dust on my hand that didn¡¯t want to rub off. *ding* You have been offered a Class change. From Commoner to Martial Artist (Wing Chun). Some current skills may be altered or removed. Your standings with other Faction and Forces may change as will their initial reactions to you¡­ Accept Y/N? I barely even considered the warnings and notifications, as I skipped to the bottom and confirmed accept. Your choice has surprised few -Your reputation with the Citizens of Yangsan improves -Your reputation with the Merchants of Yangsan improves -Your reputation with the Guard of Yangsan improves -Your reputation with the Schools of Wushu improves -Your reputation with the Imperial Family of Qin improves -Your reputation with the Citizens of Qin improves -Your reputation with the Merchants of Qin improves -Your reputation with the Guard of Qin improves -The Thieves of Yangsan are watching you closely -You are now Hated by the Masters of Dark Chi -The Thieves of Baozen are outraged at the murder of their leader¡¯s brother. -1500 Favor. You have earned an Enemy -Your Legend Grows, as the first Traveler accepted into a school of Wing Chun your Notoriety grows +100, distant Lands are taking notice as rumors of you spread. -The Emperor¡¯s Eye has turned towards you briefly, then looked away. Wow, all that from merely earning my class? I sat watching the skies and surrounding forest. Taking my dagger and a branch, I started carving out a spoon, the stew Master Lin made was filling and wonderful, but my licking the bowl clean wasn¡¯t exactly the height of manners. The first effort was ugly and crude, but serviceable. I had to smile at the notice, Learned ¨C Whittling Not a proper profession, it may lead the user to Wood Carving one day. There wasn¡¯t much I could see through the trees, but eventually, I figured Little Bear was in the proper position and awoke Master Lin. Seconds after that, my head hit the ground¡­ *Logout* 07 My! What big teeth you have! Chapter Seven I was eating a freezer meal that paled to the simple fare of Master Lin, much less the foods of Merchant Gwon. I noticed the depleted state of my kitchen and the dusty surfaces. I triggered the restock and let the building AI interface with my housekeeping drones. Flipping through my two-week backlog of messages, most were deleted unread. Then I saw the Auto-pay Failure notices from my Bank. Jimmy and Patrick¡¯s accounts had been canceled. Checking Social Media I saw that their parents had yanked them from the game and sent them to some addiction camps. Daniel and Hector were now listed as L36 Defender and an L35 Cleric, compared to my only just now official L1 Martial Artist. Both were in a guild, ¡®Sons of Light¡¯. I was a little bit envious of them, but even more satisfied with my position. It was odd, but I no longer felt any driving need to join-up with Dan or Hector. It was as I was eating the last bite of a microwaved pizza I saw the email from Second Heaven. Dear Account Holder, In response to popular request, we are pleased to offer an advanced account service. If you meet requirements and pay the additional monthly fee you can waive all the game rules regarding login limitations. The monthly fee will rise from $250 to $350 to cover the increased hardware load. You, as an advanced user will be required to submit proof of maintenance of your physical body. This maintenance is to include, but is not limited to, neurostim muscle stimulation, monitored IV feeding and waste disposal, proof of fiscal responsibility. For additional fees, Second Heaven has a small number of Full Immersion pods and will assume full maintenance care. We hope to see you soon in your new home. Tempting, so very tempting =-=-=-=- I logged back in¡­ ¡­to find Sifu building a castle of braided grass on my chest. I had wondered if I left my avatar behind or if it faded out. I guess that was clear now. ¡°Ah! The Traveler returns. Now eat your cold breakfast and get ready, today we start the real training.¡± We started running, now I was to use my Chi to run, but also keep a bubble up that slowly replenished what I was using. By the noon meal, I had started to get the idea on how to split my attention to keep both processes running. Then the bastard, err, my glorious Sifu pulled out a ball and had me toss it from one hand to the next. ¡°Sifu?¡± I gasped out, ¡°What is the purpose of the ball, besides distracting me from the Chi work?¡± ¡°It will increase your value when I sell you to the first circus we come across. A juggling Fox is quite the rarity.¡± His laughs made me want to throw the ball at his head. If I had a chance of actually hitting him I might have. ¡°Now, my idiot student. I have two questions for you: Why have you let the ball distract you from proper breathing? What is the purpose of the ball, besides distracting you from your Chi work?¡± I almost stumbled as I realized that was exactly the point of the ball. I needed to learn how to keep it all going, regardless of distractions. The bubble slowly drawing in Chi, the pulsing in my muscles, the rhythm of my body¡¯s motion, the breath in my lungs, and the blood in my veins were all one thing in a perfect body. I looked closer at everything and for a few steps it was all in balance. Then I tripped over my own feet. ¡°The student begins to see. It is a long road to a worthy destination. Provided the student learns how to walk, yet again.¡± Master Lin was bending over my sprawled body. His arms clasped behind his back.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. That evening I was more mentally tired than physically. I sat back as Master Lin was cooking dinner. ¡°Student?¡± He didn¡¯t even look my way. ¡°Who said you could give up proper breathing and Chi circulation when relaxing?¡± ¡°Even when tired from a long day?¡± I sassed back. ¡°Even when sleeping.¡± That night I watched, while keeping my Chi spinning, a trickle of Chi flowing into me. My breath steady and strong as I tossed the ball from hand to hand. That night I slept in the game, and woke with the sun still below the horizon. I noticed my breathing was ragged and my Chi stagnant. I had no sooner brought them into line than two more balls smacked into my chest. Holding the three balls I looked at Master Lin. ¡°Sifu?¡± ¡°The circus will pay more if you can juggle three balls.¡± He then turned back to the stew pot. ¡°Sifu? Can you teach me to cook like that?¡± ¡°Maybe. Once you learn to juggle, maybe.¡± I had just started to get the hang of keeping the balls moving, but it took a huge amount of focus. Then we started running, and I started dropping the balls. I doubt we made more than a few hundred paces by noon. As we made a cold lunch of bread and jerky I couldn¡¯t get comfortable. Something kept making me look over my shoulder, but I spotted nothing. ¡°Try reaching out as you do to sense Chi, not with your eyes.¡± Master Lin¡¯s voice almost startled me. Reaching out, there, just into the trees along the road. I saw now three clusters of something like Chi. But where Chi was light and warmth, these three clusters looked like swirling clouds of black and red. I gasped at the foul feel. ¡°When Dark Chi attacks and destroys a soul, sometimes something else moves in. This ¡®other¡¯ will attack and spread the infection. From the feel of these, they are old and have consumed and perverted much Chi.¡± ¡°Will they attack?¡± ¡°Oh yes. The hunt out those who seek to master Chi.¡± ¡°Oh. How will we fight them?¡± ¡°We? We don¡¯t. This is your trial. Just remember your lessons and keep your mind open. I will watch from here and study which lessons you are deficient in.¡± ¡°Sifu? My Chi is depleted from this morning¡¯s run.¡± I felt his hand striking me right below my navel. There was a sudden flush as heat poured into me. My Chi and Stamina now full. ¡°Now, go take care of them.¡± His hands gesturing vaguely behind me. He then leaned back against a tree and appeared to be napping, except for a parting comment, ¡°Don¡¯t let them bite you, that would be bad.¡± I turned and caught sight of them as they emerged. They would likely stand no more than hip high to me, but moving on four legs they were much larger. They were like gray wolves except there were red slashes and craters in the fur. Bones were visible in some of the wounds. Opening my senses, I saw an almost black cloud of smoke trailing behind them. I focused and saw them. L6 Rotting Wolf 76/76 L4 Rotting Wolf 46/46 L6 Rotting Wolf 68/68 Almost on its own my sling was out and whirring, the first lead shot in flight as I shifted to the side to put the hard trail underfoot. The skull of the lead Rotting Wolf collapsed, showing the hollow void inside. Damn, no headshot kills on these zombie things. I looked harder and saw the knots of dark energy. My second shot hit the same wolf at the base of its throat and tore into the creature¡¯s insides. Aimed Shot Hits! The smoke poured from the wound as it gave a tortured howl. The other two echoed the chilling call, as my third shot tore into the open wound on the lead thing. Aimed Shot Hits! Critical! It dropped face forward and then began to smoke furiously. The other two charged. I dropped the sling and tucked and rolled out of the path of the charge. One turned immediately leaping at me, the other seemed confused. As the leaping Wolf went to land on me, I kicked up into its breastbone while my hands struck to deflect the wolf¡¯s head. Its hind claws scored my leg as it was flung away. Martial Kick hits! It is a Great hit. Martial Punch hits! Martial Punch hits! The Rotting Wolf Kick hits! You take 3 damage and lose 5% Chi Ahhh! I saw how thin threads of my Chi had been torn from the wounds and led across to the claws. It felt like I was on fire. The Wolf I had kicked away was laying stunned as I went to climb to my feet. Something warned me and I tucked and rolled away from the other wolf. Again, it stood confused as if it couldn¡¯t quite remember I was there. I advanced on the wolf I had kicked away and my foot came up in a crushing kick like I was free kicking a ball. The brittle ribs collapsed and I caught a brief glimpse of a tiny worm-like figure before my foot obliterated it. Now I knew the location of the thing controlling the Wolf¡¯s body, as it jumped at me, I pulsed my Chi and my first slammed through another of the tiny worm-like figures. ¡°The Soul Leeches enter into a soulless body from one of the other planes of existence. Once they take up residence their bite spreads the taint. If they had bitten you, you would have had just hours to purge the taint from yourself. It is harsh, but a lesson every student must learn if they wish one day to be a Master.¡± ¡°So, you knew these things were here?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. The Schools watch and follow all such creatures.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that, I don¡¯t know, dangerous? What if they bit some farmer or an entire herd of livestock.¡± ¡°That is why we watch them. Kept in control and safely away from civilization.¡± ¡°So, if I hadn¡¯t come by¡­?¡± ¡°Some other school would have sent a student eventually.¡± ¡°Harsh, and cruel.¡± ¡°Harsh, but necessary. The souls of these creatures aren¡¯t suffering, they were already destroyed. Kept to small groups they are the perfect trial of your skills, as well as a lesson in why no matter how necessary it may seem to cheat one day and take just a little too much. Now let us gather these bodies and burn them. Oh, and idiot student? Why is your breathing ragged?¡± I grumbled a bit, but more because it was expected, than any real rancor. Interlude Part 1 It was a pleasant sunny morning. A few light clouds carried by a mildly gusty wind. The capital city of Dumeril, crown of the Western Empire, with its one hundred and fifteen thousand residents, was going about its business. Straddling a network of small rivers passing between and around steep hills where those rivers joined a much larger one as it emptied into the ocean. Several granite hills had been leveled to make the foundation for the districts of the city. Atop the highest sat the Royal Keep of the Ropar family Wagons ran along all the roads, in a constant stream of merchandise entering and leaving. Barges met the wagons and offloaded wood and ore from far up the river and returned with finished goods. At the center of Lower Town district was an open-air market. A dais of white stone sat near the center of the market. A rainbow swirl of light appeared on the dais, resolving into a Snow Elf female. Wearing a simple dark green shift, brown leather ankle high boots and leather bracer on her left arm. Low on her left hip sat a basket hilted straight sword, scabbard hanging from a wide leather belt. Looking at her arms and legs, she spun, danced and capered around the dais. Running her hands through her white hair. Her large eyes the blue of a cloudless sky, as was typical of Elves she had neither pupils nor whites. =-=-=-=- Ah, what simple things I hadn¡¯t even realized I missed until they were back. I took a full breath for the first time in almost two years, I could smell and taste a thousand odors on the air. I ran my fingers over myself almost continuously in wonder at the simple sensations. My first day without pain since the accident. I couldn¡¯t hold back and began crying. *Ginny? Is everything alright? The monitors are freaking out.* *Jack? Sorry, it is almost too much to handle. I can breathe! It doesn¡¯t hurt. I am so happy I am crying, I can feel the tears again!* *So, everything is good? We¡¯ll lose this channel when they pull the plug.* *Good? No, it¡¯s Great! I feel alive again, I know it is silly, but I haven¡¯t felt alive since the accident.* *Just wanted to be sure. Goodbye Ginny, they say that the world is always growing and changing, so you have a lot to look forward to.* *More than out there. That¡¯s for sure.* The line went quiet. I wondered if I would feel anything when they turned off my life-support. Smiling, all that was no longer my concern. Time to get started. I gestured the UI call up, I could do it mentally but I was enjoying having arms again. :: Titles ¨C na :: Name ¨C Khita Ravensbane :: Race ¨C Elf (Snow) :: Primary Class ¨C Commoner L1 :: Secondary Class ¨C na :: Tertiary Class ¨C na :: HP ¨C 45 :: Stamina - 72 :: Mana ¨C 55 :: Piety ¨C 0 :: Alignment ¨C Neutral Good (, Chaos 0, Balance 0) :::: Order ¨C 0 :::: Chaos ¨C 0 :::: Balance ¨C 0 :: AC ¨C 0 :: Evasion ¨C 5% :: Dodge ¨C na Stats ¨C Points Available 3 :: STR ¨C 9 :: CON ¨C 9 :: AGI ¨C 12 :: INT ¨C 11 :: WIS ¨C 9 :: CHA ¨C 12 :: PER* ¨C 9 :: Luck* ¨C 2 Skills: (Unassigned ¨C 1) ::Sword (1H) ¨C 1 ::Ranged (Bow) ¨C 1 ::Hand-to-Hand ¨C 1 ::Magic Arts ¨C 1 :ivine Arts ¨C 1 ::Lore ¨C 1 :::Elven History ¨C 10 :::General History ¨C 5 Professions: (0/4) Recipes Known none Spells: (1:1:0:0) ::Call Ice ¨C 1 ::Alleviate ¨C 1 Inventory: :: Tattered Linen Shift (Dark Green) ¨C AC0 10/10 :: Shoddy Leather Boots (Brown) ¨C AC0 10/10 :: Shoddy Leather Belt ¨C AC0 10/10 :: Crude Elm Short Bow (20m) ¨C 10/10 :: Shoddy Leather Quiver (12/20) ¨C 10/10 :: 12x Crude Elm Hunting Arrows (weak pierce) :: Light Copper Sword (weak slash/pierce) ¨C 100% :: Copper Dagger (weak pierce) ¨C 100% Just enough gear and skills to give us a sampling of the world. The rest was left to us to become who and what we desired to. ¡°Die Noobs!¡± All too familiar pain of my flesh burning away seared through me. My vision went into a slow-motion spiral as I fell backward. I tried to scream but the flames scorched my lungs. It would have to be fire damn them! Around me, a dozen other simply dressed people fell as well.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. The Fireball hits you! You take 940 damage! You have died! ¡°Heh, heh, good one Slay3r! How many more until you get your title?¡± came a voice from an unseen speaker. ¡°Another 362 until I get Slayer of the Innocent and¡­¡± The rest faded out as I respawned. The Fireball hits you! You take 940 damage! You have died! About the twelfth death, the message changed a little. The Fireball hits you! You take 893 damage! You have unlocked Elemental Resistance (Fire)! You have died! I was getting royally pissed by the twentieth! My mind no longer entirely sane as I roared out my challenge to the Gods, no one else was listening. The Fireball hits you! You take 836 damage! Your Elemental Resistance (Fire) has increased! L2 You have died! I was able to stagger off the platform the next time before the Fireball landed. Making it into the crowds. I looked at myself, all my gear was broken, my dress charred tatters that showed more skin than a bikini. The dagger, sword, bow, all that was just broken scraps. I watched to see how they were doing it, in most games, towns were supposed to be safe zones from PvP. I watched the four town guard walk into the square and take up positions around the spawn platform. The shimmer started of an incoming spawn, the five-minute delay just right for the respawn timer. A player with a purple shackle of a criminal over his head ran through the crowd and the guards gave chase. As soon as the guards were out of sight, the figures appeared on the platform. I watched the Mage¡¯s gestures, a pillar of flame appeared. Then at a gesture, it rose off the ground and a second gesture shaped it into a ball. A second pillar appeared and what looked like water flowed into the center of the ball of flame. The next gesture made the flame go from yellow-orange to a blue white. The last gesture and the flame shot forward to land in the center of the platform and an expanding ring of flame incinerated everything in about a five-pace radius, leaving behind a scalding cloud of superheated steam. Most importantly, none of them got the PK tag. The guards came sauntering back from their chase, too slow to catch the criminal, too stupid to hurry back. Slinking away I was in awe, I knew this world was PvP flagged, I just hadn¡¯t realized that the penalties only applied if you were caught at it. The merchants were too far away to notice, the guards were too stupid and slow to catch the lure, so they were killing level zeros in the middle of town for some stupid title and the game allowed it. I was both impressed and horrified. Wandering around the town, I sat on a bench in the park and tried to plan my next steps, keeping an eye out to be sure I wasn¡¯t caught alone. A female NPC wandered by and looked disgusted at my charred clothing, tossed me two copper coins and wandered off. ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am!¡± The NPC paused and looked at me, ¡°Polite for a beggar.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not usually this poor off. Is there somewhere I could get a job?¡± She looked, staring at me for a minute. ¡°Madame Giralt is always looking for fresh flesh, and you look like you might clean up. Assuming you don¡¯t want to work on your back, we are in need of a Gofer?¡± You have been offered a Quest ¨C Working for a Living You must impress your potential boss to be hired for your new position. This House has access to many potential branches. Difficulty ¨C Moderate Reward ¨C Faction with House Giralt and associated Factions. Contacts. Living quarters. Steady wage. Alt Reward ¨C Join House Giralt as a working girl. High Faction with House Giralt and associated Factions. Numerous Contacts. Living quarters. Steady wage plus tips. Failure ¨C Loss of Faction with House Giralt and associated Factions. Time Limit ¨C Immediate Damn, there was prostitution in the game? Well, it did have a 21+ age rating. ¡°Umm, yes! I would love to do that! The, uh, gofer part that is. Not the, umm, you know¡­¡± She laughed at my discomfort. ¡°Well, little girl, we¡¯ll see if you last a week.¡± Then she turned and walked away a few steps then turned back, ¡°Well? Are you coming? Stay close now.¡± I ran to catch up and then followed her. Most people were friendly and well mannered, but she was unfailingly pleasant to even the rude ones. I was on information overload following her. Listening to her chat with a dozen people, barter with merchants, glare at a cutpurse that got too close, all at the same time I was trying to take in the city and its thousand new sights. As the sun was setting behind some buildings we arrived at a massive mansion. Stone wall and iron gate gave access to a wide walkway leading up to a veranda. Double doors with two hulking bruisers of guards that gave me a suspicious glare as I followed¡­ ¡°Excuse me, Miss? I never got your name? I am Khita known as Ravensbane.¡± ¡°Assuming the Madame doesn¡¯t toss you out with the trash, I am Miss Annabelle, Anna to my friends. We¡¯ll see if you are a friend or not.¡± Entering a larger sitting room I saw the house was clearly split in two, on the left as we entered all the paintings and statuary was of women posed erotically. While the right side, it was of men. We went straight back into a dining area hidden behind a false wall. It could seat thirty or more easily. The kitchen was next and there we saw the first others, a heavy woman in a chef¡¯s hat, four young women looking a lot like what must be their mother were chopping and stirring. Turning into a corridor we came to an open doorway. Annabelle knocked on the doorframe. ¡°Gert? I have someone here to meet you. A possible new gofer.¡± The older woman looked up and I could feel her presence like a crushing weight. I couldn¡¯t bring my eyes up to meet hers. Steeling my will, I raised my eyes to her for all of a second and then had to look away. ¡°You look like something that should be taken out as trash, not taking out the trash.¡± I hadn¡¯t even noticed her move and now she held my chin. Turning my face up to hers, my eyes finally locked with hers. Her gaze bored into me like she was judging my soul. ¡°What do you want,girl?¡± ¡°A job so I can outfit myself and train to be an adventurer?¡± ¡°Was that a question, or are you certain that you wish that?¡± ¡°Umm, certain. I am certain.¡± ¡°Good, good. Okay, here are the rules, there are no second chances. Nothing illegal. When you are on the premises or on House business you will dress as a Lady, and act as a Lady at all times. You will bathe each morning and again each evening, and as often as needed in between. The House¡¯s business is no one else¡¯s, never gossip or tell tales outside these walls. You will have no or as little as possible contact with clients. Now, Anna, be a dear and lead little Khita over to the storeroom where the girls cast offs are kept. Pick out three outfits that won¡¯t bring shame to the house, dress her as a House daughter. Now Khita, adventuring is thrilling and dangerous, but you now have obligations here. Should you choose to leave, simply let us know in advance to start looking for a replacement. The errands you run have priority, but the earlier in the day you finish your errands, the earlier you can head into the fields. Mondays are our slow day, so you will have Mondays entirely to yourself. Be back before midnight. Now go, I have things to do and so do you.¡± We left her office and I was shuddering, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she affects everyone that way at first. Monsters and Adventurers of high enough level have simple Presence.¡± ¡°She was an adventurer?¡± ¡°No one really knows her story, but consider this. The Royal House claims the title of the first house, they command the respect of the Houses of the land. Yet, when the Royal family first arrived, they found this building and Madame waiting for them. When the Lich King attacked two centuries ago, resources were strained as the war dragged on. Madame was the one that loaned them the gold to hire mercenaries. When a third Prince sought to inherit what wasn¡¯t his, it was Madame who exposed the plot to the then King. We have no armies, we don¡¯t make laws, but this House holds power and secrets that command respect.¡± Your Lore has increased! You have gained, Lore of House Giralt! I soon had three outfits I normally wouldn¡¯t have been caught dead wearing. Basically, the same styles, just in different colors. A blue to match my eyes, a black to contrast my white skin and hair, and an affair of silvery lace. All three had frilly skirts trimmed in lace that reached mid-thigh, and corset tops that would leave me bulging over the top. The blue and black outfits had open toed boots and heels about three fingers high and lace stockings that tied with ribbons above my knees. The silver had open strappy sandals with heels half again higher they had straps that wound around my calf to just below my knee. ¡°Okay, this is your room,¡± it was a small simple chamber, decorated nicely but just a few steps away from the busy kitchen. ¡°Take the Silver and follow me.¡± Heading away from the kitchen. At the end of the hall there were two doors, pointing to the one on the inside of the house, ¡°The jacks, this one is House only. The others you may run into clients, be polite but firm. This other way is the bath. Strip here and throw out the charred things.¡± It only took a second to remove the scraps. Turning I found Annabelle naked as well, ¡°Ah! Why did you strip as well?¡± I asked a bit sharply. ¡°Silly, the bathing here is communal. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± We entered a gorgeous room. Four open showers just inside the door. Shelves holding a dozen pots of soft soap. Just beyond them was a huge steaming pool with several people already in it. ¡°Pull the handle to wet yourself, then choose a soap you like and scrub thoroughly, including your hair. Pull the handle again to rinse. Then we¡¯ll move to the pool.¡± The downpour of hot water felt great and I let it run almost a minute. Then looking at the pots, some had icons I recognized, some I had no idea. Choosing one at almost random that had an orange scent. It felt amazing to simply be washing myself again. As I pulled the handle to rinse a weakness overtook me and I dropped to my knees, my sight blurring. =-=-=-=- A brother cried too full of emotions to put a word to any of them. A Doctor stood by, her Hippocratic Oath seeming like a lie as keeping this poor girl alive was doing harm, but pulling the plug was harm as well. Four Lawyers stood around a hospital bed, looking with pity at the limbless torso. One eye white with cataracts, the other buried in scar tissue. Nothing remained to show them this was the young rising star athlete, Woman¡¯s Softball Pitcher, the sole survivor as a tanker truck of industrial waste had rammed their bus igniting an inferno that devoured all but one. Her parents riding with her to a local match. The tanker driver had been shown to be cited four times for being drunk on the job, a judge and jury had held no mercy. Two years of legal fights and sworn testimony had allowed them to place the neural tap so Virginia Harris could state her opinion. Then the challenges, and the challenges of the challenges, only a sympathetic judge hurrying the process after he listened to her scream through the neural tap. One of the lawyers pulled out a simple short letter, the documents supporting the letter filled a room, Pursuant to the legal order of Judge Javier Morello issued on July 11th, 2085. It is ordered that all artificial means of life support be terminated and no attempts made to revive the patient, one Virginia Marie Harris aged 20. On this day, February 18th, 2086, this order is to be enforced immediately. The Doctor moved slowly and carefully, the kidney filters stopped hissing, the external pacemaker stopped sending signals to a damaged heart, the artificial lung stopped forcing oxygen into lungs that could almost not absorb it. The monitors squealing as alarm after alarm sounded, each silenced by a stab of a control. Only the brain activity persisted, even by her own choice, she couldn¡¯t stop fighting. Then even that faded away. ¡°Time of physical death¡­¡± It was now in the hands of the courts as to whether or not the poor girl was truly dead. =-=-=-=- 08 Of Gates, Guards, and Gabble Chapter Eight The next day passed uneventfully. I had gotten the hang of a three-ball cascade while running by our noon break. A quick meal of apples from an abandoned orchard and a dip in a nearby stream. Then we were off again. I had been hoarding my points until I had a better clue where they belong. There were so many things I saw a need for. Strength, more damage, more stamina, more everything. Constitution, for more hit points and to gain more stamina, plus resistances to things like poison. Intelligence for a larger Chi pool and better efficiency in using it. Wisdom affected the rate of recovery and helped the activation speed of Chi abilities. Agility, the core of my defenses and the accuracy of my strikes. Even Charisma, which while it helped in relations and negotiations, was even more important in the perfection of the body, who had ever heard of an ugly Hero? Whoa, five days of jogging and juggling had shown a real effect on my stats. With a flick of my eyes I brought my Charisma up to average, added the bulk of the points to Strength, Agility, and Wisdom, while Intelligence and Constitution got the rest. A huge pool of Chi served little purpose if it never filled. I confirmed expenditure and felt briefly dizzy, but soon I was moving faster, my footing more certain. I then turned my attention to my skills, my punch and kick I took into the apprentice level, Dual Wield and Dodge got a point each. You have earned a new Title! Apprentice of the Leaping Fox I had been ignoring my title, and when I looked at it I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to know. Merciless ¨C Your foes have heard of your actions and knowing what fate may lay before them are 10% less likely to surrender. Additionally, Favor penalties in PvP actions are reduced by 5%. They weren¡¯t expecting Mercy from you anyways. Apprentice of the Leaping Fox ¨C Your continued growth in your skills has been made known to all Allies of the School, +50 Favor. Rival Schools and Enemies have heard of you as well, -100 Favor. So, meh¡­ I wasn¡¯t expecting great, but getting so-so kind of hurt. :: Titles ¨C Merciless, Apprentice of the Leaping Fox :: Name ¨C Growlf :: Race ¨C Fox-kin :: Primary Class ¨C Martial Artist L2 (32%) :: Secondary ¨C Undefined :: Tertiary Class ¨C Undefined :: HP ¨C 280 :: Stamina ¨C 217 :: Mana ¨C 286 :: Piety ¨C 0 :: Alignment ¨C Neutral :::: Order ¨C 100 :::: Chaos ¨C 200 :::: Balance ¨C 150 :: AC ¨C 11 (Damage Reduction 2) :: Evasion ¨C 15% (14% + 1% Trait) :: Dodge ¨C 21% (when activated) Stats ¨C Points Available 0 :: STR ¨C 35Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. :: CON ¨C 28 :: AGI ¨C 35 :: INT ¨C 22 :: WIS ¨C 18 :: CHA ¨C 10 :: PER* ¨C 22 :: LUCK* ¨C 2 Skills ¨C Points Available 0 :: Tracking (P, I) ¨C 3 :::: Scent Tracking (P, I) ¨C 2 :: Chain Weapons (A, S) ¨C 3 :: Martial Punch (A, P) ¨C 12 (83%) :: Martial Kick (A, S) ¨C 12 (44%) :: Martial Grapple (S, A) ¨C 6 (17%) :: Dual Wield (fists) (A, P) ¨C 8 (81%) :: Aimed Strike ¨C 6 :: Dagger (A, P) ¨C 1 :: Sling (A, P) ¨C 2 :: Medium Armor ¨C 0 :: Light Armor ¨C 1 :: Toughness (C, S) ¨C 3 :: First Aid (W, I) ¨C 1 :: Dodge (A, W) ¨C 8 :: Stealth (P, W) ¨C 3 :::: Sneak Attack ¨C 2 :: Awareness - 2 :: Observation ¨C 8 :::: Spot Hidden - 1 :: Chi Manipulation ¨C 9 :: Meditation ¨C 8 :: Balance ¨C 5 :: Literacy: Chinese ¨C 4 :: Penmanship: Chinese ¨C 4 :: Lore ¨C 3 :::: Beast-Kin History (I, W) ¨C 5 :::: Fox-kin History (I, W) ¨C 10 :::: Legends of Wing Chun ¨C 3 :::: School of the Leaping Fox ¨C 4 =-=-=-=- ¡°Wise and grateful Student, we will stop and sleep here tonight.¡± The area around us was plain forest like so much else we had passed by. There would still be a good two hours until dusk I estimated. The previous days we had moved until dusk, that plus the backhanded compliment made me cautious of some trick. ¡°Here? Okay, Sifu. But why here and not two hours down the road?¡± ¡°Because we are here. Because a young Student needs their rest. Because I said so. After we eat, rest and sleep the full night, you will need it.¡± Okay, now I knew something was up. After we ate, I lay down to rest and¡­ *Logout* =-=-=-=- Ugh, I swear, the place seemed dingier every time I logged out. The drones kept it all clean and dust free, but was the color on the wall screen always that washed out and pale? I stood to empty a ridiculously full bladder, and fell flat on my face. Doh! Right, feet, not paws. I walk on my heels here, not my toes. Nothing new in the email from Dan or Hector, but their guild ¡®Sons of Light¡¯ was featured as a prime player in the currently running World Event ¨C Dark Hordes Rising. Damn, it seemed world events were blocked by the beta barrier. Reading the text, Gallu, the child of the God of Death, Mallu, was rebelling against his Father. Using talents, he learned from his Mother, the Goddess of Life, Gaea, Gallu has caused the Dead to rise once again. Oh, now I am jealous. If his plans were defeated the dead would go back to rest. If Gallu survived and matured, players who were infected would be allowed race changes to the newly risen Undead. Ghouls, Skeletons, Zombies, Vampires, Liches, oh nummy. So that is how they introduced new game content. God, did this pizza always taste like cardboard? I stretched and awoke in my bed, glancing at the clock. Nine hours? I hadn¡¯t slept anywhere near that long in, umm, how long had it been? A month and a half in game time, so like eleven days here in the same-old, same-old? I climbed into the shower and it occurred to me, this was the first shower since the game opened. The stubble on my chin had become almost as familiar feeling as my fur did. At least my Fox-kin didn¡¯t have these embarrassing bald patches on my cheeks¡­ =-=-=-=- I opened my eyes to the sun already well above the horizon. Damn, I screwed up the hour conversion. The first thing greeting my eyes was a paper crane on my chest. The wings and body bearing traces of writing. I carefully unfolded the dew saturated paper, Idiot Apprentice, The quest ahead is all yours, it would be wrong for my sage and enlightened advice to influence your choices. So, I take my leave of you. Come visit when you are done, there is plenty of space left in your empty head for new lessons. As always, be safe and, blah, blah, blah¡­ Master Lin Bao Damn, he actually wrote blah, blah, blah. The bastard. My breakfast that morning was terrible, a handful of broken rice in a pot of boiling water, without even salt. At least the charred portion on one side had some flavor, just not a good one. I policed the camp and made sure the fire was extinguished. I started jogging as the balls flew in arcs before my eyes. OH! DAMN HIM TO HELL! Now I was pissed. Not five minutes down the road and I arrived at civilization. Well, the start of it at least. There was an Inn with a stable, a coach in the yard had four ponies in traces. We could have slept in beds, I could have had real food for breakfast. The vague image of some dried rings, floating in milk that had gone questionable in another world really didn¡¯t count. Between me and the Inn was the most ridiculous sight. Straddling the road was a large stone archway, two wooden gates stood open in the archway. The wall only ran maybe three or four paces to either side. In front of the open gate were two, I guess they had to be Halflings, in full plate, armed with halberds. I guessed I was maybe a meter and thirty, these guys didn¡¯t reach that even with the spikes on their helms. I smiled and decided to play along. Focusing a second, Daniel Hilltop L4 Halfling Soldier 80/80 Samuel River L3 Halfling Soldier 55/55 Wow, even with their plate armor these two couldn¡¯t defend their gate from much more than a breeze. ¡°Hail, the gate!¡± I called out with a smile. The Halberds came up in defensive postures. ¡°gabble garble gabble gobble¡± Oh, you have to be kidding me. ¡°Not even a single word in common? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Habla Espanol?¡± Not that I spoke more than those three words of German, and not much more than that in Spanish, and my accent pure New York. ¡°GABBLE! Garble garble arrest!¡± Wait, a word I understood? The flashing icon in the corner of my eye was most illuminating. You have learned spoken Halfling, L1 Come, freaking, on! I was willing to bet Master Lin spoke Halfling flawlessly. Once they got done prodding me to raise my hands at the point of their halberds I would have to be sure to learn some of the choicer words, just to bring home as a gift to Sifu. It had taken most of a week getting here, would take about the same going back. So I had at most two weeks to learn a new language, find the Merrow¡¯s relatives, and convince them to take over a farm that would be in another goddamn world from this place. Yeah, sounded Easy to me too¡­ ¡°Hey! Watch it! Those things are sharp!¡± ¡°GABBLE!¡± Damn, no language skill up. 09 Of Bureaucrats, Bafflements, and Backwards Women Chapter Nine ¡°I tell you, I made no threats as I approached the gate. I should have just walked around it.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you? Why did you have to attack them?¡± This was supposed to be my defense consul? ¡°What? I did not attack them!¡± ¡°Well, what did you do then that terrified them so?¡± ¡°How should I know? I smiled at them as I hailed the gate. I even waved hello.¡± I did it again, and watched as my consul blanched. ¡°That? That is what you did?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Well, no wonder they were terrified!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Here, come over to the mirror. I would guess you have never seen yourself?¡± He lined me up before a mirror hanging on the wall. ¡°Now smile and wave at yourself?¡± I looked at myself and it was like I had expected. Red-brown fur, a fox¡¯s head, yellow-green eyes. I smiled as I had before and waved. Oh, my¡­ The pointed black nails on my fingers, the glistening white teeth, as I opened wider to speak, ¡°Hail!¡± My jaw popped open like I was about to bite. I even kind of scared myself. ¡°I was just being friendly, I thought.¡± ¡°Hmm, we can clear this up soon. But, from now on, smiling and waving? Just don¡¯t!¡± I could just imagine the old bastard sitting before his scrolls, laughing his ass off at me. After a minute, I had to laugh back, vengeance would be so sweet. ¡°Now, the real issue. Why are you in possession of a pair of Halfling wedding rings? The owners would never give them up willingly.¡± =-=-=-=- I was pleased with myself. I kept my Chi circulating, my breathing deep and regular, on my own I had added another ball to the cascade. All this while I practiced conversational Halfling with the guards outside my cell. They were there more just because the rules said the needed to have four guards, but I was the only prisoner. Three days of swapping tall tales and bigger lies had let me become rather competent. Your skill Spoken Halfling, has improved +1, L15 I was in the middle of regaling them with the story of ¡®Jack the Giant Killer.¡¯ When who should walk in but the consul I hadn¡¯t seen in the days I had been here. ¡°Well! Look what the Cat dragged in, that the Dog wouldn¡¯t eat!¡± ¡°Mind your tongue, or I won¡¯t turn over these documents. But I must say, that is a good use of the proper language.¡± ¡°What documents might those be?¡± smiling at the language compliment. ¡°Why your release orders, to be sure.¡± He looked at me, ¡°You do want to get out, right? Or would you prefer to continue your language studies?¡± =-=-=-=- I looked back over my shoulders, that was the fifth Merrow family farm. When I made the offer to have them move a week¡¯s travel away to an unknown land, and a farm in unknown condition, they couldn¡¯t kick me out fast enough. There was that one Merrow on the first farm who was interested, but he bothered me. Just talking to him had left me feeling slimy. This was the last Merrow farm. ¡°I heard what you are offering and we¡¯re not interested!¡± This was a thin Halfling, honestly, he didn¡¯t look like he had done a hard day¡¯s labor in his life. But even I could tell this crop was thriving. ¡°If you did go you could easily earn the favor of the Qin Emperor. High-quality pipe leaf like this would be sure to guarantee consistent sales. You would earn friends everywhere.¡± ¡°Truly? Benson Merrow at your service.¡± Oh, bait taken. He offered his hand to shake. ¡°The Emperor has a standing order for the leaf from the farm in question. This leaf seems to be even better quality.¡± ¡°What do I need to do?¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Will you need to sell this farm first?¡± ¡°Oh, no. There are relatives I can turn it over to. My Uncle has always had his eye on these lands.¡± ¡°Good then. Tonight, come into town and I can meet you and Neil Merrow together and make my choice come morning. We must hurry back North.¡± Something wasn¡¯t right about him either. Then I stopped in mid-step as I realized what it was. A farmer with smooth callus-free hands? The Halfling Nation was looking to improve relations with the Empire, so the town council made a huge event of the party. Endless streams of people praising the two. It had only taken a few basic questions to find that neither of the two choices had a clue about raising the pipe leaf, they were managers who let others do the actual farming. Neil was looking to do anything to increase his profit margin and would appeal to the Upright Man, I was sure. While Benson was interested in the glory of the Emperor¡¯s favor which would please the Magistrate. Neither, pleased me, or I was sure the townsfolk. I escaped the party for a few minutes of clear air. The oil and smarminess of Neil, and the obsequiousness of Benson, made me want to smile at the two. A cluster of women sat on the wall, many smoking pipes. These women weren¡¯t dressed in the gowns of the town ladies, or the uniforms of the maids. These were all dressed in the tunic and pants of farm laborers. Nodding to them I went to stand a short distance away and looked up at the stars. ¡°Which did you choose?¡± ¡°Sorry? Who are you? Growlf of Yangsan,¡± I offered my hand. ¡°Melony Merrow. Benson is my younger brother, Neil is my uncle.¡± Her grip was firm and rough? I turned the hand over and saw the expected calluses. ¡°So, let me guess, Benson, he manages, while you do all the work?¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± ¡°Younger brother, though? Why does he own the farm and not you?¡± ¡°The Rules say so. Women cannot own land. Women cannot choose their own spouses,¡± it obvious how several of the women looked at each other. ¡°Ah, then I would also guess your relationships are against the rules?¡± They looked worried for a second, then Melony spoke up, ¡°Yes. We could be exiled for such a thing.¡± Looking at them thoughtfully, ¡°Would that be such a bad thing? I have an offer if you are all willing?¡± I leaned in and started speaking¡­ =-=-=-=- The next morning dawned sunny and nearly cloudless. The town officials looking under the weather, Halflings could drink and eat incredible amounts but were not immune to the after effects like dwarves were. The Merrow candidates were there, both with their travel luggage already packed. ¡°Good folk! I have indeed considered all the factors, the Emperor¡¯s Will has made it clear what he desires of the farm near Yangsan. My choice will be in line with his desires. As well, the people of Yangsan, and certain powers among them desire the farm to be producing as soon as possible, so strong and hardy workers will be needed. In accordance with this I have chosen the heir to the Merrow lands in Yangsan and selected workers to move to the land immediately. Melony Merrow will assume ownership at once, accompanied by Alice Rivers, Erin Rivers, Heidi Grass, Justine¡­¡± ¡°But! You cannot do that! A woman cannot inherit!¡± Gods, Neil was such scum. ¡°Under Imperial Law, a woman may indeed inherit, and as much as it is called the Merrow Farm, it is on Imperial land and well inside the borders of Qin. Do you dispute this?¡± I was feeling pleased with myself over that. ¡°That makes it my land!¡± Benson spoke up, ¡°It is a Father or Brother¡¯s responsibility to hold and care for any lands owned by an unwed or widowed sister.¡± ¡°Then it is a good thing I witnessed the pledge of promise between Melony Merrow and Amber Hilltop and will stand with them before the Imperial Magistrate.¡± ¡°You cannot do this!¡± ¡°It is done. Unless you decide to go against Imperial Will and imprison an Imperial Diplomat?¡± That was stretching it, but I had spent hours offline as I read up on diplomatic contracts and law. I was deep into the Baffle them with your Bullshit portion of my argument. With perfect timing, two wagons pulled up. Each pulled by two ponies, loaded high with the personal belongings of the nine women who would be accompanying me today. =-=-=-=- Nine days traveling. I never knew how slow loaded wagons were. This was getting ridiculous. I could step out my door, have a limo pick me up and catch a sub-orbital hyper sonic shuttle to the opposite side of the planet, and be home in time for dinner. These wagons couldn¡¯t possibly go slower without standing still. Nine days and we still hadn¡¯t reached the lands near Yangsan. To avoid boredom, I was running ahead to setup the evening camp, staying behind to break camp as the dawdled down the road. I know their legs were short. I know they had to stop for five meals a day. But, come on, how did they ever achieve anything? I heard the laughter and splashing from behind the hedge. Oh! We can¡¯t travel today, it is the end of the fortnight! Really? REALLY? Oh, yes. They had said, Travel is so exhausting they said. So, now we were taking a day, well they were taking a day, to play in the river. At least the river meant we were close to Yangsan. Well, close for me. If my count was right I had four days to get them to the farm and report to the Magistrate and the Upright Man. At least I had something new to serve as a distraction as I circulated my Chi and kept the balls flying. Squeeeee! There it was, who would have thought such tiny lungs could produce such a piercing and painful noise¡­ =-=-=-=- It was late morning on the last day as the two wagons creaked their way into the farmyard on the Merrow Farm. It had been abandoned for some three months now. And it looked it. The chicken coop was littered with bones and feathers. The barn had the bones of three cow-like things in the pasture out back. The main house, something had come through and bashed in the main door and ransacked the place. I crept up behind them and caught Melony and Amber staring out at the plants in the fields. Shaking their heads, ¡°Hasn¡¯t been weeded in forever, and this crop has gone to seed.¡± ¡°Useless low-grade pipe weed anyway.¡± ¡°Good thing my worthless brother will never notice that we took all the cuttings.¡± ¡°That and all the pots, pans and household goods.¡± I took that moment to stop sneaking and talk to them, ¡°Excuse me. We really need to hurry into town. The Magistrate and others need to know you are here.¡± ¡°What? No, no, the ponies need to rest. We need to rest. Not to mention, there is so much to do here. Maybe tomorrow or the day after we can go.¡± ¡°It has to be today. There is a time limit or I will be declared a criminal.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just explain to them and all will be good. Besides, if the town is as far as you say, it is too late to get there in time today. So just rest and we will leave in the morning.¡± Melony stood adamant, hipshot with her hands waving in refusal before me. ¡°I apologize in advance for this, but there is no time.¡± I grabbed Melony into my arms, ¡°It is indeed too late the way you move.¡± I lengthened my stride and channeled my Chi faster and my feet barely touched the ground. Calling over my shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ll have her back tomorrow! Ouch! That hurt¡­¡± A struggling Halfling proved and easier to manage load than four balls as I hit my full speed.