tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34114876153562064192024-03-13T22:12:34.273+02:00obviously incredibleAlex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-88220258184908755502023-06-19T07:25:00.001+02:002023-06-19T07:25:31.755+02:00New Great LitRPG series by Yuri Vinokuroff<p> My highly reccomends <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7HNHDZN" target="_blank">War Eternal</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7HNHDZN" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="335" height="500" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JWMWjIpfL.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-35400040427096635962023-01-12T12:59:00.003+02:002023-01-12T13:00:29.612+02:00New RealRPG & Horror seroes from bestselling author<p> Hello all! Read free on Wattpad - <a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/331495309-nullform-1-by-dem-mikhailov">https://www.wattpad.com/story/331495309-nullform-1-by-dem-mikhailov</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/331495309-nullform-1-by-dem-mikhailov" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2981" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLkRxTDhlcpzuPedisgHVEmXgCrVpgc6vROKw_qD6Uo8L_Zdgkgbbkdnv3nCsJCsgPOjRG2Y8Ky0kx5wPl5Im8oFVCpTeIUP4gcnDvYotY0Xxype4dxn41Txug288GC8um9cOmsxjSaYAxKO8lnhjvJdSm-1P2iBDyOk8BlZkJ41Ai8DFqufN-ehwNg/s320/N1.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-22124581625065896832019-11-17T08:32:00.002+02:002019-11-17T08:32:43.530+02:00Testeur de Contenu (Chapitre 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B07WNB3CYR/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51unREY9nSL.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_Toc24035897"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_Toc468458514"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc24035897;"><span lang="FR">La galère orque</span></span></a><span lang="FR"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: FR;">LA
PEUR. LE FROID. LA DOULEUR. LA FAIM. </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mon corps lessivé me picotait et me lançait. Malgré la douleur et la
fatigue, je percevais un vacarme assourdissant. Alors que j’aurais préféré les
ignorer et m’échapper dans une douce rêverie, les bruits s’intensifiaient. Je
percevais le cliquetis des armes, des rugissements, des hurlements d’agonie. Je
respirais l’odeur du sang fraîchement versé. M’efforçant d’ouvrir les
paupières, je m’aperçus que j’étais allongé sur un sol jonché de paille dans
une cabine obscure. Je tentais de me déplacer, mais ma cheville gauche était
solidement attachée à une lourde manille en métal, elle-même fixée à une chaîne
liée à une fer fichée dans le mur. J’étais donc prisonnier ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">À la lisière de mon
champ de vision, je vis un grand orc en armure de cuir accourir en brandissant
un sabre recourbé. Et deux secondes plus tard, son corps ensanglanté s’écrouler
à terre. Le tueur d’orc, un humain en armure, s’avança vers le corps gisant au
sol et, prudemment, acheva l’orc, faisant glisser une courte lance à travers le
torse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Visiblement,
c’est le dernier ! » hurla-t-il à quelqu’un au loin qui lui répondit
d’une voix grinçante :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Parfait ! »
Libère les prisonniers et transporte-les sur notre vaisseau ! Cette galère
orque va bientôt se fracasser contre les falaises! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’allais être
libéré ! À peine eussé-je le temps de souffler que l’immense soldat tourna
les talons pour m’examiner, afficha une mine dégoûtée et me transperça avec sa
lance !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">L’obscurité revint. Je gisais là, totalement éberlué,
peinant à comprendre ce qui venait de se produire. Cet homme venait de me tuer,
disons plutôt de m’infliger de sérieuses blessures, alors qu’il était censé me
secourir ! Pourquoi ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Une voix intérieure
me souffla que tout ceci était prévisible. Déjà, les gobelins avaient un malus
de -20 à la réaction des humains, et en plus, j’étais dépourvu de tout
charisme. C’était donc la réaction à prévoir devant un humain, un elfe ou un
nain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La douleur se
raviva, et j’ouvris les yeux. Je voyais le monde en rouge et noir. Comme avant,
j’étais étendu sur de la vieille paille moisie, cette fois-ci trempée d’un sang
épais et foncé. Mon sang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">+1 PV de la
Régénération</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La blessure à
l’estomac infligée par la lance était presque guérie, mais ma jauge de vie, 3
sur 21, clignotait dangereusement. À vrai dire, j’ignorais que les Gobelins
pouvaient <i>régénérer</i> leurs points de vie. Pourquoi n’était-ce nulle part
dans les guides ? La régénération était peut-être un ajout récent pour
rendre ce peuple plus jouable. N’empêche que... je souffrais le martyre avec ma
blessure à l’estomac ! Et avouons-le, mourir était fort déplaisant, même
dans un jeu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ce que j’aurais pu
faire par la suite, je l’ignore, car un rat me fonça dessus sans crier gare en
se faufilant sous les barreaux de bois de la cellule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Rat niveau 1</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La petite créature
suivait la piste grâce à son flair, l’air inquisiteur, envoûtée par les exhalaisons
enivrantes du sang. Je bougeais à peine pour replier la jambe droite et le rat
fit volte-face sans pour autant détaler. Il prit plutôt le temps de m’observer.
En plus, il semblait éprouver un intérêt grandissant pour mes propriétés
gustatives. Si j’avais été en parfaite santé, tuer ce genre de créature aurait
été à ma portée. Dans le cas présent, il ne me restait plus que trois
malheureux points de vie... Il allait me dévorer tout cru !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Visiblement, la
créature tira la même conclusion que moi et fonça dans ma direction. La suite,
ni moi ni le rat n’aurions pu l’anticiper :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts
infligés : 10 (Morsure vampirique)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Points de vie
restaurés : +5 PV</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Gain
d’expérience : 8 XP</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Objet obtenu :
Viande de rat (aliment)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Réussite
débloquée : Goûteur (1/1000)</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Capacité de peuple débloquée : Le goût du sang
(octroie +1 % à tous les dégâts infligés par créature unique tuée avec
Morsure vampirique. Bonus actuel : 1 %)</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Paramètre
débloqué : Étancher la soif (10/15)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je m’assis quelques
secondes, me délectant de l’infâme sang de rat, digérant les événements dans
tous les sens du terme. Étais-je un vampire ? J’ouvris le menu de mon
personnage pour en avoir le cœur net, et la réponse ne laissait planer aucun
doute :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Peuple :
Gobelin vampire</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Heureusement, on
pouvait cacher le second terme du peuple en cochant la case d’une rubrique
spéciale intitulée « Masquer pour les autres joueurs. » Je lus la
description du peuple vampire, remerciant le ciel et les développeurs d’avoir
permis cette dissimulation :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">-50 de pénalité à
la réaction de tout peuple vivant si révélé</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Pénalité :
Cible légitime à abattre pour les joueurs et PNJ de peuples vivants si révélé</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Pénalité : Ne
peut pas cacher sa véritable nature dans l’état Soif de sang</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Pénalité :
Mort instantanée si frappé par la lumière du jour</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’étais dans de
beaux draps... Dorénavant, ma priorité serait de préserver ce secret. Tout ceci
n’était pas non plus dépourvu d’avantages. Au niveau un, par exemple, un
vampire pouvait obtenir +1 en Régénération de PV par minute et un type
d’attaque bonus (et pour une fois, ce n’était pas spécifique à la main droite
ou gauche) :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Morsure
vampirique</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Coût :
10 PE (points d’endurance)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts : (1-6)
* Force</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Points de vie de
l’attaquant restaurés égaux à 50 % des dégâts infligés</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">En attaquant des cibles endormies, inconscientes ou
paralysées, les chances de succès sont de 100 %, et l’attaquant peut
choisir un effet : (Mort instantanée/Sommeil profond durant
6 heures/Infection par vampirisme)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je relus la
description de l’attaque. Ça voulait dire que je pouvais tuer n’importe quelle
créature, tous niveaux confondus ? Il suffisait qu’elle dorme, et là, même
les personnages de niveau 100 étaient cuits. Quelle intarissable source de
level-up ! Et je pouvais tout aussi bien le faire sur des joueurs que sur
des PNJ... Un instant ! Je me ravisais. Si j’utilisais cette capacité ne
serait-ce qu’une seule fois à l’encontre d’un joueur, mon secret serait révélé.
Je serais traqué le restant de mes jours, tué sans relâche, juste parce que
c’était admis par le règlement. Et à chaque décès, je souffrirais physiquement
et mes points d’expérience chuteraient. Il me fallait donc garder le secret du
vampirisme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Qui est
là ? Je t’entends ! » retentit une voix de l’extérieur de ma
cellule, matérialisant mes pires craintes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je sursautais et
essuyais mes lèvres du revers de la main. J’avais besoin de tout sauf d’un
étranger qui verrait du sang sur mon visage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Le rat moi
taper. Lui attaquer. Paf-vlan moi taper, » répondis-je.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sérieux ?! Ce
n’était pas ce que je voulais dire, mais seules ces phrases bancales et hachées
sortaient de la bouche de mon personnage. Tout compte fait, trois points en
intelligence, c’était insuffisant. Je frémis en imaginant la manière dont mon personnage
se serait exprimé avec une stat inférieure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Un
rat ? Oui je l’ai vu. Il m’a observé un long moment puis a déguerpi. Tu as
compris comment dégager ton bras de la chaîne ? Je n’ai pas assez de
force. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mission
reçue : S’enfuir de la galère des marchands d’esclaves</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Classe de
mission : Requise, entraînement</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Récompense :
80 XP, accès au monde principal du jeu</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Chaîne moi
sais pas. Moi mal. Homme blesser avec lance. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">De l’autre côté du
mur, j’entendis le gloussement étrange de l’autre joueur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Je n’ose même
pas imaginer ton niveau de charisme s’ils ont décidé de te tuer plutôt que de
te libérer. Mais je suis surpris que tu ne sois pas mort. Tous les soldats sont
de niveau vingt-cinq, ils ont les moyens de t’envoyer respawner d’un seul coup.
Les soldats ne m’ont juste pas remarqué. Dès que le massacre a commencé dans la
réserve, j’ai utilisé ma compétence Furtivité et j’ai même réussi à l’augmenter
au niveau deux avant leur départ. Mais je n’ai pas vraiment réfléchi. Ils
m’auraient peut-être libéré avec les autres prisonniers. Ou ils auraient pu
m’envoyer spawner. Dans ces conditions, je n'aurais pas eu à me dépatouiller de
cette chaîne. J’aurais été transporté au point de spawn, sain et sauf. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le sang se glaça
dans mes veines. Le lieu de respawn dont il parlait n'était pas visible de mon
point de vue. Et si le seul moyen de libérer des personnages à l'aspect aussi
pathétique que le mien consistait à mourir pour revenir ? Non
impossible ! Il devait y avoir d'autres moyens raisonnables de s'en sortir.
J’examinais la courte chaîne rouillée d'un demi-mètre de long qui me retenait
le bras. Dans un premier temps, je tentais de la fracasser.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Votre personnage
n'a pas assez de Force pour effectuer cette action</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Force requise pour
briser la chaîne : 7</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Bon, visiblement,
je n’avais pas assez de force. Et si je brisais l’entrave au niveau du
poignet ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Votre personnage
n'a pas assez d’Agilité pour effectuer cette action</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Agilité requise
pour briser la chaîne : 7</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Encore un fail.
J'observais attentivement ma main gauche. J'avais le poignet fin. Ma main était
aussi fine, mais j'avais un pouce protubérant sur le côté qui m'empêchait de
m'extraire des menottes. Et si... L'idée de ronger mon propre pouce paraissait
tout à fait barbare, mais je ne la chassais pas d'emblée. J'avais la
Régénération, et le pouce finirait par repousser bien assez tôt. Un vrai
Gobelin est-il au-dessus de cela ? Non, décidais-je. Pas du tout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J'arrachais ma
propre chair de mes dents. La douleur était intense et mes points de vie
dégringolèrent vite. Je dus même me résoudre à manger de la viande de rat sur
le pouce pour restaurer un peu de ma santé. Mais mon idée avait
fonctionné ! J’extirpais ma main ensanglantée des fers rouillés. Libéré,
délivré ! Le sang cessa instantanément de couler, me laissant avec tout
juste deux points de vie sur un total de vingt et un. Mais quelle
importance ? La Régénération restaurerait mes points de vie à fond de
train, jusqu’au max. Mais à cet instant, un débuff apparut...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Votre main gauche est blessée</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Au cours des deux prochains jours, vous ne pourrez plus
manier d’arme avec la main gauche, nager ni grimper sur des falaises ou des
arbres.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Toute autre action effectuée avec la main gauche fera
l’objet d’un malus de 30 %</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je n'avais obtenu
aucun point d’expérience en ôtant ma chaîne. Soit les développeurs
désapprouvaient la méthode, soit la mission n'était pas encore achevée.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« C'était
quoi ? » s'enquit mon acolyte de derrière les murs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Moi retire
chaîne. À ton tour. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je me levais enfin
pour aller voir dans la cellule voisine. Et le type assis là était un véritable
monstre ! Mi-humain mi-poisson bleu, d’énormes yeux globuleux, étendu sur
le sol crasseux et inspirant des bouffées d’air avec avidité.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Trong le
plongeur</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Naïade</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Plongeur
niveau un</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« T’es plutôt
laid, Amra ! » s’exclama l’homme-poisson. Sa réaction était la même
que celle de l’autre homme à l’égard de mon apparence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Nous nous
esclaffâmes ensemble, puis il répondit à la question que j’étais sur le point
de lui poser :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« En créant
mon personnage, je n’avais pas d’idée de pseudo. Je me suis dit que le second
mot devait révéler ma profession. Je suis donc M. Plongeur, une Naïade
classée plongeur. Aucune importance. J’aimerais que tu m’expliques comment tu
as retiré cette chaîne. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je m’efforçais
d’expliquer en des termes simples ma méthode ainsi que le débuff de deux jours
que j’avais subi en retour. Le poisson secoua la tête.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Ouh là... Ce
n’est pas mon truc. Je dois pouvoir plonger et nager sous l’eau. Mais ce serait
impossible avec une main gauche cassée. Il est plus facile pour moi de mourir
et de ressusciter dans une heure, totalement libre et sans débuffs ou morceaux
de corps mutilés. Qu’en dis-tu : Je continue de chercher le moyen de me
libérer, mais si rien de sensé ne me vient à l’esprit, tu n’as qu’à me tuer
pour que je respawn. J’ai besoin d’une heure de pause, de toute façon. Pour
répondre à mes mails, et régler des petites affaires. Va où tu veux, mange,
fais un tour, ensuite on pourra faire équipe. On dirait que faire cavalier seul
est bien trop difficile. Ça te branche ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Au début, sa
proposition me mit mal à l’aise. Trong le plongeur évoquait sa propre mort avec
une sérénité déconcertante. Comme si la douleur qu’il allait ressentir n’avait
que peu d’importance pour lui. Puis je réalisais que c’était un joueur lambda,
sans capsule de réalité virtuelle. Il était installé chez lui, face à son écran
ou un casque rivé sur le crâne, cherchant un moyen de sortir d’une zone
d’entraînement ennuyeuse pour rejoindre, au plus vite et par tous les moyens,
le vaste monde du jeu. Cela en disait long, car un joueur qui comme moi
ressentirait les sensations de son personnage chercherait n’importe quel autre
moyen de se libérer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Bon.
D’accord. Je marche là, aller voir, » dis-je, répondant à la naïade
enchaînée, et avançant le long de la coursive noyée dans l’ombre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Il était temps
d’aller voir l’interface. En premier lieu, j’appelais la carte des lieux, lui
appliquais un effet de transparence, et la plaçais dans le coin supérieur
droit. La carte, d’ailleurs, me localisait dans la soute d’une galère
d’esclavagistes. Trong le plongeur, situé derrière moi, figurait sous la forme
d’un triangle jaune, tandis que devant moi, dans la pénombre, trois points
rouges étaient à l’affût. Je me référais à la légende des couleurs, et le rouge
(logique) indiquait un ennemi. Le jaune représentait les PNJ et les joueurs
dont les affinités à notre égard étaient neutres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je progressais
prudemment, à pas lents. Ça sentait le sang frais, mais les cadavres de soldats
répandus ici et là n’avaient pas disparu, comme cela se produisait au bout d’un
moment dans la plupart des jeux. Je sentis quelque chose avec mon pied, et un
contenant en verre roula au sol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Fiole vide</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sert à stocker des
élixirs alchimiques</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je ramassais le
récipient. Ça pourrait me servir. Mon regard s’arrêta dessus, cherchant le
moyen de zoomer dessus. Quelques secondes plus tard, un message apparut :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Voulez-vous prendre
Alchimie (I A) comme compétence primaire ?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’étais quelque peu
dérouté. Était-ce si facile de s’octroyer une compétence ? Ni formation,
ni mission, ni parchemin hors de prix ? L’alchimie... Ce pourrait être un
sérieux avantage. Je cueillerais plantes et racines à foison grâce à mon
métier, et je m’épargnerais la vente des matières premières à prix modique. Je
pourrais préparer des élixirs supérieurs ou exceptionnels à base de plantes. Ce
serait probablement plus rentable que de mélanger des plantes de base. Je
choisis l’option « Oui. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vous avez pris
Alchimie comme compétence primaire</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
compétence : 1</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Compétences
primaires choisies : 3 sur 4</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Avec beaucoup de
retard, je pris conscience des répercussions de ce choix. Je venais de remplir
l’un des deux slots de compétences restants sans avoir sérieusement examiné la
question. Pire encore, ça améliorait l’intelligence, une stat que le peuple
Gobelin augmentait 50 % plus lentement que la normale ! C’était
considérable. Totalement inconsidéré, pour ne pas dit débile !!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Plutôt que
l’alchimie, j’aurais dû choisir une compétence privilégiant l’agilité et la
perception, les points forts du Gobelin. Si je hissais le niveau de ce type de
compétences à, disons, cent, j’obtiendrais 130 points d’agilité (100*1,3)
plus 65 points de perception (50*1,3). Le cumul final aurait été de
195 points de stat en bonus ! Mais avec un niveau d’alchimie de
niveau cent, vu le malus de 50 % au gain d’intelligence, je n’obtiendrais
que 50 (100*0,5) points d’intelligence et 65 (50*1,3) points
d’Agilité, totalisant 115 au lieu des 195 points que mon perso aurait pu
avoir, si j’avais fait preuve de jugeote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Honteux, j’étais à
deux doigts de fracasser cette fiole de malheur contre le mur, mais je
m’efforçais de rester calme et je l’emportais avec moi. J’ignore où les objets
allaient dans la logique du jeu — j’avais pour seul équipement un pagne sale —
ce qui ne m’empêchait pas de stocker des objets dans mon inventaire. Quoi qu’il
en soit, je n’avais que huit slots. C’était limite. Il me faudrait un sac pour
stocker mes affaires.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">À quelques pas de
là, je trouvais un autre contenant du même type, puis quatre autres. Une
bataille avait dû faire rage il y a peu, comme en témoignait les taches de sang
séché et les profondes entailles dans la table en bois. Les combattants avaient
sans doute recours à des potions alchimiques de force ou de soin. Les six
récipients identiques, heureusement, n’occupaient qu’un seul slot sur les huit
disponibles dans mon inventaire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je m’approchais
dangereusement des points rouges sur la carte. Toujours pas d’ennemi en vue,
mais je redoublais de prudence à mesure de ma progression. Et, à ce moment
précis, un autre message apparut :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Voulez-vous prendre
Furtivité (A C) comme compétence primaire ?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Cette fois-ci je
prenais le temps de la réflexion. D’un côté, la Furtivité améliorerait mon
agilité, chose utile. En même temps, mes quatre slots de compétences primaires
seraient remplis avant même de commencer la partie... Ce choix n’était sans
doute pas le plus judicieux pour faire évoluer mon personnage sur le long
terme. D’ailleurs... il me fallait garder à l’esprit que j’étais un vampire.
Les mécaniques du jeu ne permettaient pas de dissimuler mes compétences
primaires. De façon logique, on se fie souvent à sa première intuition quand on
rencontre un personnage pour la première fois, n’est-ce pas ? Mais si ma
compétence de Furtivité était visible de tous, cela soulèverait des questions
non sollicitées. J’étais censé être un Herboriste gobelin pacifique, après
tout. Avec une once de regret, je refusais la Furtivité comme compétence
primaire, mais je l’affectais en tant que secondaire. Si les compétences
secondaires n’amélioraient pas les points de stats, la capacité de se déplacer
discrètement s’avérait utile pour un vampire nyctalope. Et surtout, les
compétences secondaires n’étaient pas visibles des autres joueurs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vous avez pris
Furtivité comme compétence secondaire</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
compétence : 1</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Basculer en mode
Furtivité était d’une simplicité enfantine. En revanche, mon personnage se
déplaçait beaucoup plus lentement. N’étant pas pressé, je continuais à avancer
de cette façon le plus longtemps possible. Comme je gardais un œil sur mes
stats, j’avais bien repéré le moment où, subitement, la jauge de Furtivité vide
avait commencé à se remplir doucement. Regardez-moi cette petite jauge !
Je risquais de me faire repérer si je ne redoublais pas de vigilance en
marchant. Précautionneusement, je cheminais dans la cale obscure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Rat niveau 1</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je l’avais vu tout
en étant invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Compétence
Furtivité améliorée au niveau 2 !</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Au comble du
bonheur, je lus le message puis trébuchai sur une petite marche que je n’avais
pas remarquée, m’étalant à plat ventre sur le sol. Et là, le rat me repéra.
L’animal agressif se rua sur moi à bonds de géant ou presque, alors que je
n’avais pas d’arme !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts subis :
4 (Morsure de rat)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
santé : 6/21</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Plus que deux
morsures avant que ne sonne le glas ! J’assénais deux coups au rat. Un de
la main gauche, un de la main droite. Pas un seul dégât ! Échec.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts subis :
4 (Morsure de rat)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
santé : 2/21</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ne comptant plus
sur la faiblesse de mes coups, j’étais bien décidé à le mordre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts
infligés : 8 (Morsure vampirique)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Points de vie
restaurés : +4 PV</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
santé : 6/21</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Haaa ! Extase
sublime ! Le minuscule rat ne faisait pas le poids face à une terrifiante
créature nocturrrrrrrrrne ! Il va les sentir, mes crocs… Saint Gygax,
aidez-moi ! La morsure suivante, me priva de nouveau de 4 PV, puis
vint mon tour...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Points d’endurance
insuffisants pour utiliser la compétence Morsure vampirique</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vraiment pas le
moment pour être à court d’endurance ! Il allait me dévorer tout
cru ! Dépité, je tentais de cogner encore ce rat, à mains nues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts
infligés : 2 (Coup)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Gain
d’expérience : 8 XP</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Objet obtenu :
Viande de rat (aliment)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je rejetais la
suggestion importune de choisir Combat au poing (F C) comme compétence
primaire. Je m’assis plutôt sur le sol humide recouvert de paille, exténué. Ma
jauge de points de vie clignotait de façon alarmante à 2/21 PV, alors que mon
endurance n’était qu’à 1/20. Grmf... Il me fallait être honnête, surtout avec moi-même :
si mon Gobelin aux grandes esgourdes avait tiré son épingle du jeu face au rat,
cela relevait du miracle. Je n’avais pas intérêt à chercher des noises à
quiconque, clairement. Alors, avant d’affronter d’autres rats, je devais me
mettre en condition. Déjà, restaurer ma santé et mon endurance, et idéalement,
dégoter une arme, quelle qu’elle soit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je restais assis
dix minutes, à respirer. Durant ce temps, mon endurance grimpa jusqu’à dix,
tandis que ma santé, grâce à la régénération et la viande, s’était totalement
restaurée. Me remettant en route, je ne tardais pas à découvrir un couteau
abandonné au sol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Couteau de cuisine
rouillé</span></i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts : (1-4)
* Force</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">C’était bien plus
efficace que de cogner à mains nues avec (1-2) * Force ! À peine eus-je
ramassé le couteau que le système me suggéra Dague (F A) comme compétence
primaire. Je bougonnais. Cessez de me faire miroiter des choses alors que je
n’y ai même pas réfléchi ! Si l’agilité était la stat primaire de cette
compétence, j’aurais pu l’envisager, mais la force avec un malus de
50 %... Non merci. L’alchimie, avec un malus d’intelligence, c’était déjà
le pompon ! Je ne voulais pas non plus choisir Dague en compétence
secondaire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">N’empêche qu’il
était plus facile d’éradiquer des rats au couteau de cuisine. Je subirais une
morsure de 4 PV, je riposterais à 6 PV de dégâts au coup de couteau
puis j’achèverais la créature avec Morsure vampirique. Mon endurance était
toujours en berne, il me fallait donc attendre. Et si un autre rat que j’avais
déjà repéré me faisait face, il était grand temps de retrouver Trong le
plongeur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">L’homme-poisson
était assis dans la même posture qu’auparavant, enchaîné au mur par les
entraves métalliques. J’appelais Trong par son nom à plusieurs reprises, mais
il mit quelques minutes à recouvrer ses esprits avant de répondre :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Désolé,
j’étais afk. Dès que tu auras fini tes affaires, tue-moi comme convenu. Je file
faire les courses et je mange. Attends-moi au respawn dans une heure,
d’accord ? On continuera ensemble ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’élevais la dague
au-dessus de la poitrine de la naïade et l’enfonçais profondément entre ses
côtes. Même si l’attaque n’était pas ratée, avec 8 PV de dégâts, la jauge
de santé de Trong n’avait chuté que d’un quart de points. L’enflure ! Ses
points de santé étaient une fois et demie plus élevés que ceux de mon Gobelin
aux grandes zoreilles ! Il me fallait le frapper, sans relâche. Au bout du
quatrième coup, la jauge de santé de Trong clignotait en zone critique... Je
m’interrompis, demandant à l’homme-poisson s’il fallait l’achever ou pas.
Aucune réponse. Le joueur avait quitté son écran. C’est donc moi qui
décidais !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’avais lu ça sur
les forums. J’étais tombé sur des articles qui conseillaient, pour les
professions assassin ou voleur, de prendre la compétence Voile qui permettait
de supprimer ou de modifier des journaux et ainsi dissimuler ses actes
criminels à la vue des victimes, de réduire la durée du flag Criminel et, avec
le temps, de l’effacer. Pile ce qu’il me fallait ! Je tentais de modifier
le dernier message au sujet du coup de couteau.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Voulez-vous prendre
Voile (I A) comme compétence primaire ?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Non, ça ne valait
pas le coup de prendre Voile comme compétence primaire. Je ne voyais pas de
raison à ce que mon innocent Gobelin herboriste révèle son côté sombre. Mais
comme compétence secondaire, la capacité était utile !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vous avez pris
Voile comme compétence secondaire</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
compétence : 1</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Durée de
l’effet : 1 minute, utilise 5 PE</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je cliquais sur
l’icône Voile. À partir de là, je disposais d’une minute au total pour agir en
secret :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts
infligés : 6 (Morsure vampirique)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Points de vie
restaurés : +3 PV</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Gain
d’expérience : 80 XP</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau
deux !</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Réussite
débloquée : Goûteur (2/1000)</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Réussite
débloquée : Assassin de joueur (1)</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Capacité de
peuple débloquée : Vision nocturne (dure 12 heures, coûte 15 PE)</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Capacité de peuple améliorée : Le goût du sang
(octroie +1 % à tous les dégâts infligés par créature unique tuée avec
Morsure vampirique. Bonus actuel : 2 %)</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Attention ! Votre personnage reçoit le flag
Criminel ! Au cours des huit prochaines heures, vous serez officiellement
une cible à abattre !</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le cadavre de Trong
le plongeur se mit à pâlir, jusqu’à devenir translucide. Non, je n’avais pas
agi sans réfléchir. Cette fois, j’avais élaboré une vraie stratégie. J’avais
trouvé une cible pour faire évoluer ma capacité fort avantageuse, Le goût du
sang, et j’en profitais. Les naïades étaient un peuple rarissime, après tout.
N’était-ce pas l’occasion ou jamais d’en ajouter une à ma liste d’espèces uniques
mordues ? Mais je n’étais pas le seul à avoir accès aux logs du jeu.
Comment Trong le plongeur réagirait-il en découvrant le récap de sa mort,
révélant qu’un vampire l’avait tué ? Je devais faire en sorte de préserver
le secret.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Qu’allais-je faire
avec le log ? Je parvins à ouvrir le message que Trong le plongeur verrait
dans cinquante secondes pour le modifier :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts subis :
6 (Morsure vampirique par le joueur Amra)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vous êtes mort</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je ne le supprimais
pas intégralement, même si cette possibilité m’était offerte. Je le modifiais
plutôt en substituant « Morsure vampirique » par « Coup de
couteau rouillé ». Beaucoup mieux !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Compétence
Voile améliorée au niveau 2 !</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Pas mal, pas mal du
tout ! Je reprenais ma vie en main ! Il ne me restait qu’à affecter
les points de stat obtenus grâce au level-up, et vivre de nouvelles
aventures ! D’ailleurs... étrangement, deux points sur cinq avaient été
automatiquement dépensés. Ma force avait atteint trois, et ma constitution
quatre. Étrange...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Épluchant les
guides, je réalisais que c’était une spécificité du peuple vampire : qu’on
le veuille ou non, la force et la constitution évoluaient à chaque niveau. Il
me fallait l’accepter sans broncher. On ne pouvait rien y faire. Il ne me
restait plus que trois points de stat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je décidais d’en
placer deux directement dans le charisme. Je n’avais pas envie d’être victime
d’un délit de sale gueule à chaque rencontre ! Et mon dernier point de
stat, après mûre réflexion, je l’ai affecté à l’intelligence. Il était grand
temps de surpasser le QI d’un tabouret !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le dernier rat ne me posa aucune difficulté, succombant
au bout de deux coups de poignard — une preuve concrète que mon personnage
avait gagné en force. Après avoir ramassé un morceau de viande de rat,
j’avançais jusqu’à ce qui semblait être le fond de cette cale, là où une cage
d’escalier menait au pont supérieur. La première marche franchie, la carte se
mit à jour pour afficher le pont principal, celui où prenait place les rameurs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ce niveau-là
empestait. Ça sentait le moisi, les cadavres en putréfaction et le sang caillé,
un bouquet de senteurs qui manqua de me faire chanceler. Mon Gobelin dut se
couvrir le nez avec sa main gauche infirme. Ok, je vois le genre. Si <i>Boundless
Realm</i> était salué pour son hyperréalisme, tous ces détails gores
étaient-ils nécessaires ? Et quand on y pense, comment les créateurs
avaient-ils procédé pour reproduire la puanteur de ce lieu maudit ? Même
la légère brise ne pouvait dissiper la pestilence qui s’infiltrait à travers le
pont.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Recouvrant un peu
mes esprits, j’observais les environs. Tout semblait indiquer que ce lieu avait
été le théâtre d’un récent massacre : sang séché par terre, bancs des
rameurs brisés et pourfendus, morceaux de chaîne, et guenilles sales. Il n’y
avait aucun cadavre. Ils avaient déjà disparu du monde. Puis, sur la carte,
derrière les marqueurs d’une poignée de rats éloignés, un triangle jaune. Un
joueur ?! Je m’avançais discrètement pour le lorgner, ou plus exactement,
la lorgner :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Valerianna
Prestepas</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Nymphe
sylvestre</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dompteuse
niveau 2</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ma sœur ! Je
l’avais reconnue d’entrée de jeu. Valeria employait toujours le même pseudo
pour son personnage principal, dans tous les jeux. Je restais toutefois à bonne
distance. Ma sœur et moi avions décidé d’un commun accord de garder notre lien
secret et de prétendre que nos personnages venaient de se rencontrer. Alors
j’avançais en rampant, contemplant ma jauge de Furtivité en train de se
remplir.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Pendant ce temps,
la gracieuse nymphe à la longue chevelure bleue-verte était affairée à
exterminer du rat. Ses méthodes étaient tout à fait singulières : se tenant à
distance de la vermine, elle en dominait un avec un sort de commandement pour
qu’il se retourne contre ses congénères. Je lus la description des compétences
primaires de Valerianna :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Domptage d’animaux
niveau 2</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Magie de l’eau
niveau 1</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Soudain, la nymphe
se figea et tourna brusquement les talons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Qui
es-tu ? » s’enquit-elle d’un air plus curieux, voire menaçant,
qu’étonné.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’avais trahi ma
présence d’une façon ou d’une autre, et j’étais découvert. Rester planqué
n’aurait eu aucun sens, alors je fis un pas en avant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« T’es un
criminel ! Dégage ! » La nymphe effrayée joignit ses paumes et
les plaça devant elle. En les séparant, une petite flamme vacillante apparut en
leurs creux.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Pas vouloir
de mal à toi. » Je m’empressais de la rassurer, maudissant en mon for
intérieur le parler médiocre de mon personnage. « Début partie pour moi.
Chaîne retirer de main. Puis autre joueur poisson demander aide. Moi lui tuer.
Et lui ressusciter sans chaîne. Seul moyen, dit-il. Lui pas savoir retirer
chaîne. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La nymphe, ou
plutôt la très svelte jeune femme en courte cape verte, ne put contenir un
sourire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« T’es rigolo,
gobelin. Mais tu n’es visiblement pas futé. Tu es en train de me dire qu’à vous
deux, vous n’aviez pas assez de force, d’agilité, d’intelligence ou de
perception pour atteindre sept ? Vous auriez pu coopérer ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’étais pétrifié de
surprise et de honte. L’idée de faire équipe pour tirer sur la chaîne de
Trong-le-plongeur fixée au mur ne nous avait pas traversé l’esprit. Le
crétinisme de mon Gobelin n’avait tout de même pas déteint sur moi, si ?
C’était pourtant si évident ! Valerianna réfléchit quelques secondes puis,
une pointe d’inquiétude dans la voix, dit :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Je crois
avoir compris ce qui s’est passé entre vous. Tu sembles décrire un escroc JcJ
typique. Tu as tué un joueur à sa demande, et te voilà Criminel durant une
heure. Il savait que ce serait facile de te tuer, mais il ne voulait pas être
tagué Criminel pour si peu. Tu ne perdrais pas grand-chose en mourant, et lui
n’obtiendrait qu’une centaine de points d’expérience. C’est pour cela qu’il t’a
laissé une chance d’améliorer ton niveau sur des rats et des quêtes
d’entraînement, de leveler un peu, pour après te tuer après. Je parie qu’il t’a
demandé de l’attendre, pour faire équipe par la suite. J’ai tort ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’approuvais la
théorie de ma sœur d’un hochement de tête.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Tu vois, ce
personnage doit être un spécialiste du JcJ. Il a sans doute une tendance pour la
stat de combat. La force par exemple, et il se prépare à utiliser une arme de
mêlée. Je parie aussi qu’il a une constitution de haut niveau, ce qui lui
octroie de nombreux points de vie. Vu que tu es niveau trois, il gagnera
trois-cents points d’expérience en te tuant, et non cent. Ce qui est loin
d’être négligeable en début de partie, et plus que suffisant pour qu’il accède
au niveau quatre. D’ailleurs, certains peuples et classes <i>pexent</i> en
tuant des joueurs ou grâce à des bonus et quêtes spéciales. Clairement, ton
acolyte va te tuer. Comme ça, une fois dans le monde principal, il aura un bon
niveau sans que sa réputation en ait souffert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Valeria venait sans
doute de retirer son casque de réalité virtuelle, d’ouvrir le forum de <i>Boundless
Realm</i> à l’écran pour le consulter de là. En gros, le plan de Trong le
plongeur consistant à le tuer n’était qu’un piège. Il laissait sa proie faire
ses premières armes pour la rendre plus savoureuse. Il comptait sûrement me
tuer dès son retour.<br />
Bon… voilà voilà, je me faisais faire la leçon par ma sœur de quatorze ans. Un
bon début s’il en est ! C’est officiel, je suis un noob. Mon égo venait de
se faire torpiller et c’est pas un Sparadrap qui allait suffire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Sans
indiscrétion, de quel peuple fait-il partie ? » demanda la nymphe,
envoyant un autre rat sur la horde de vermines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Naïade,
plongeur, » répondis-je, et ma sœur se pétrifia d’admiration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Alors qu’elle
restait figée, le rat sous ses ordres continuait d’en découdre avec ses anciens
congénères. Je fus surpris de voir le corps de la nymphe statufiée chatoyer
d’une multitude de couleurs. Ce devait être une amélioration de compétence. Je
consultais ses stats visibles. Exact ! La compétence <i>Domptage d’animaux</i>
de Valeria était dorénavant niveau 3. Entretemps, ma sœur était revenue
dans le jeu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Pour info,
les naïades plongeurs sont une variante des guerriers humains ou des nains
berserkers. Ils reçoivent dix points de vie bonus pour chaque point de
constitution, le double de points d’endurance en effectuant différentes attaques
combo, ainsi qu’un bonus supplémentaire en force. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Je
m’enfuir ? » demandais-je, mais la nymphe secoua la tête et me
demanda dans combien de temps la naïade allait respawner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je consultais le
temps qui s’affichait, et lui répondit qu’il lui restait quarante minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Ne t’enfuis
pas, gobelin. S’il t’attaque vraiment, je t’aiderai. Je n’aime pas les PK et
les escrocs. Mais je ne m’impliquerais que s’il t’attaque en premier. Pour
l’heure, je vais accroître ma compétence en magie de l’eau jusqu’au niveau
deux, puis mon intelligence augmentera grâce à mes bonus de compétence
primaire. Cela me donnera dix-sept points.»<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sa réponse ne
percuta pas immédiatement. Valerianna était déjà niveau deux, et avait déjà
dix-sept en intelligence. Mais comment ?! Pour ma part, aucune de mes
stats n’était supérieure à quatre, que ce soit mon agilité, de mon intelligence
ou ma constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La nymphe expliqua
sur un ton enthousiaste :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Mon peuple a
un bonus en charisme et en intelligence, et j’ai perfectionné l’intelligence de
mon personnage par-dessus tout. Mes deux compétences primaires prédéfinies
améliorent également l’intelligence. J’ai simplement ôté les menottes de mes
poignets, car j’avais directement compris le fonctionnement du système de
verrouillage. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Après ses mots, la
nymphe appela un autre rat à ses ordres, et je remarquais que l’animal avait
légèrement grossi, faisant monter son niveau en affrontant ses propres
congénères. Suite à cela, Valerianna, enjoignant à son familier de s’asseoir et
d’attendre les ordres, décocha une flèche de glace bleue sur un rat hostile
éloigné, à peine visible, le tuant sur le coup. Elle remporta le même succès
avec deux rats qui passaient par là. Encore une fois, la nymphe se mit à
scintiller de plein de couleurs. Sa compétence en magie de l’eau était
dorénavant niveau deux.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Cool !
Encore une cinquantaine de points d’expérience, et je serai niveau
trois ! » s’esclaffa la nymphe réjouie. « Amra, j’ai besoin de
faire une petite pause pour restaurer ma mana. Ensuite, je pourrai tirer
jusqu’à neuf flèches de glace, chacune infligeant environ quarante dégâts. Quel
que soit le niveau de constitution de ton ami Naïade, il n’y survivra pas. Mais
il est important de ne pas le laisser s’approcher. Je n’ai que onze PV, il
pourrait me tuer d’un simple crachat. Au fait, pourquoi n’en profites-tu pas
pour faire du levelling ? Il reste encore quelques rats. Charge-t
’en. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’acquiesçais
docilement, et m’avançais. À vrai dire, mes pensées étaient bien loin des rats
alors que je m’exécutais. J’étais obnubilé par l’attaque imminente de Trong le
plongeur. Valerianna avait promis d’intervenir si la naïade attaquait. Malgré
tout, l’homme-poisson m’infligera un ou deux coups auxquels il me faudra
survivre. Et si le personnage était vraiment un spécialiste JcJ ou même un
futur PK professionnel, bourré de modificateurs de dégâts, alors... Combien de
dégâts pourrait-il infliger en un coup ? Sûrement pas moins que la nymphe
et sa magie, surtout que ma sœur parlait de quarante points de vie par flèche
de glace. Si la référence était quarante PV, comment survivre à une telle
attaque avec vingt-sept malheureux PV ?! Pouvais-je envisager
l’esquive ? Ce pourrait être ma porte de sortie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Quand le rat
niveau 1 le plus proche se rua sur moi, je bondis en arrière et sur le
côté au lieu de le frapper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Voulez-vous prendre
Esquive (A P) comme compétence primaire ?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Cette compétence
améliorait l’agilité et la perception, mes points forts ! Pile-poil ce
qu’il me fallait ! J’acceptais sur-le-champ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vous avez pris
Esquive comme compétence primaire</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
compétence : 1</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Compétences
primaires choisies : 4 sur 4</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vous pourrez
choisir une cinquième compétence primaire au niveau 10.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ayant déjà tué le
rat (cette saloperie avait réussi à me mordre une fois, mais ça ne voulait rien
dire. La régénération guérirait toutes les blessures, après tout), je
remarquais que ma compétence Esquive avait monté mon agilité au niveau cinq et
légèrement accru ma perception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">De plus, des quatre
compétences primaires, seule l’Esquive avait été activée. Les autres étaient
grisées, inactives, et n’avaient visiblement aucun impact sur mes stats.
Était-ce parce que je ne les avais toujours pas utilisées ? Cela restait à
démontrer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je m’emparais d’une
fiole vide dans mon inventaire puis la remplis du sang du cadavre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sang de rat
(ingrédient alchimique)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La compétence
Alchimie se mit en surbrillance. Mon intelligence et mon agilité augmentèrent
aussitôt, jute un peu. Voilà comment ça fonctionnait ! Pour activer une
compétence primaire et faire en sorte qu’elle augmente les stats, il fallait
l’utiliser au moins une fois ! Qu’y avait-il d’autre au statut
« inactif ? » L’Herboristerie et le Marchandage. Il me faudrait
patienter pour utiliser l’Herboristerie. Nous étions à bord d’une galère.
Impossible de trouver des plantes sur un bateau. En revanche, pour le
Marchandage, c’était enfantin. Je retrouvais ma sœur pour marchander la fiole
remplie de sang de rat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Valerianna se
tortilla d’écœurement et, bien sûr, déclina la proposition. Mais nul besoin de
conclure cette vente. Après avoir constaté avec satisfaction que le Marchandage
avait déjà été activé, augmentant mon charisme d’un point entier et rehaussant
faiblement mon intelligence, je déversais le sang au sol comme je n’avais pas
de bouchon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je passais dix
minutes à esquiver la vermine subsistante afin de faire grimper au plus vite ma
compétence Esquive jusqu’au niveau trois. Criblé de morsures et fort satisfait
de mes performances, je rejoignais ma sœur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Hé
l’andouille, t’as encore du chemin avant d’être niveau trois ? »
questionna la nymphe d’un air las, assise sur le banc du rameur, tout en
admirant ses ongles manucurés.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Trois cent
quarante expérience. Veut cinq cents, » rapportais-je.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ma sœur se
renfrogna, l’air contrarié.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Augmente ton
intelligence à cinq, au moins. J’ai dû mal à te comprendre. On verra plus tard.
Pour l’instant, écoute bien, grandes esgourdes. Il nous faut rejoindre le pont
supérieur de la galère. J’ai trouvé un descriptif des lieux dans les guides. La
mer se déchaîne là-haut. Les vagues risquent de s’engouffrer dans les brèches
du bateau. Si ton agilité est trop faible, tu seras balayé par-dessus bord, tu
perdras de l’expérience, et il te faudra attendre une heure au lieu de respawn.
Sauf si tu sais nager, Amra ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Pas savoir.
Agilité suffit. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Vraiment ?
« Bon, très bien. J’ai un sort de respiration aquatique, donc je vais
plonger tout en bas. Ton ami Naïade est une créature marine, donc aucune chance
qu’il se noie. Mais toi, il te faut abaisser le canot avec un bossoir et
affronter le vent et les vagues pour atteindre le rivage en ramant. C’est une
quête secondaire avec cent points d’expérience à la clé. Alors, quand tu
atteindras le rivage, cette quête sera validée au même titre que la mission
d’entraînement principal, avec encore cent points d’expérience gagnés. Donc,
sitôt le pied posé sur la côte, tu seras niveau trois. Mais une fois sur place,
ne tire pas au flanc. Empresse-toi plutôt de courir le plus vite possible sur
la côte, ou t’exercer au combat. Ton ami va sûrement t’attaquer, donc reste sur
tes gardes. T’as compris ? Allez, on monte. Tu dois abaisser le canot sans
mon aide, pour <i>pexer</i> un maximum. Sinon tu n’atteindras pas le niveau
trois, et tu ne seras pas de taille à affronter la naïade. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ma sœur était rusée comme un renard. Une fois sur le pont
supérieur, j’ai pu éviter de me faire directement balayer par les vagues grâce
à sa mise en garde. Je m’emparais d’une corde tendue dès que je me déplaçais
pour m’aider à rester debout sur le bateau, lorsqu’une déferlante me projeta de
l’autre côté du pont. La galère orque heurta la falaise et se coinça entre les
rochers. D’immenses vagues roulaient par-dessus bord, fauchant au passage
toutes sortes de détritus, barils, morceaux de rames et matériaux divers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Quant au canot,
miraculeusement intact dans ce chaos, je le repérais sur la proue de l’épave.
Pour y accéder, il fallait courir sur le pont glissant et incliné, baigné par
l’écume des lames qui se brisaient sans relâche.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Rendez-vous
sur le rivage ! » Ma sœur était parvenue à crier avant qu’une vague
ne l’aspire jusqu’aux tréfonds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le rat de
niveau 2 qui avait été sous les ordres de ma sœur passa devant moi à la
nage. Le lien étant rompu avec sa maîtresse, il était maintenant hostile envers
moi. Mais le rat ne s’intéressait pas à moi. Il agitait ses pattes, désespéré,
s’efforçant de lutter contre les éléments déchaînés. Dès le reflux de la vague,
je m’élançais par-dessus le pont incliné en direction du canot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Contrôle d’agilité
réussi</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Gain d’expérience :
8 XP</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je me jetais droit
devant avant que le prochain rouleau ne déferle sur l’épave déchiquetée. Je
parvins juste à franchir le vide puis à m’agripper au flanc du canot encore
protégé par quelques toiles goudronnées.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mission
reçue : Utiliser le canot</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Classe de
mission : Facultative, entraînement</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Récompense :
80 XP, petit sac</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le canot était fixé
à un fouillis de cordes aboutissant à un bossoir installé sur le flanc du
bateau. Il fallait actionner la manivelle afin de lancer la fragile chaloupe.
Alors que je faisais tourner le mécanisme, j’oubliais totalement que j’étais
dans un jeu. Mes sensations étaient extrêmement réalistes. La tempête, le vent,
le crissement des cordes ultra-tendues, les vagues écumantes, le vent froid et
l’odeur des algues s’unissaient en un tout très fidèle à la réalité. Ma main
gauche blessée me brûlait jusqu’à l’os dans la mer salée. De toutes mes forces,
je tentais de faire tourner le cabestan avec ma main valide, et enfin, le
bateau fut mis à l’eau.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Tiens donc,
te voilà, Gobelin ! » La voix satisfaite de Trong le plongeur
retentit derrière moi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je me retournais.
La naïade, arborant un large sourire, s’assit sur la paroi latérale de la
galère.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Le temps est
juste idéal pour moi ! J’adore les mers houleuses. Allez, prends le canot,
moi je vais nager sous l’eau. Rendez-vous sur terre. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">À ces mots,
l’homme-poisson sauta agilement par-dessus bord. La naïade tenait un trident
entre ses mains, mais rien n’indiquait sa provenance. Tout à coup, voilà qu’il
détenait une arme. Mauvaise nouvelle !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je relâchais la
corde et m’accrochais à la rame. Zut ! Impossible de ramer de la main
gauche, je décrochais la rame de son anneau et la saisit à deux mains. C’était
plus facile ainsi. Je perdais progressivement des points d’endurance en
pagayant, mais je ne m’inquiétais pas trop. Il m’en restait plein en réserve.
Contournant les roches déchiquetées émergeant de l’eau, je naviguais jusqu’au
lagon. Au-delà des récifs tenant place de brise-lames naturels, la mer
retrouvait son calme. Quelques minutes plus tard, je rejoignais une étendue
sablonneuse qui se rétrécissait en une fine bande qui s’avançait dans l’océan.
Ma sœur, visible au loin, m’attendait déjà sur la côte. J’avais à peine posé le
pied sur le sable mouillé que mon corps s’illumina :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mission
accomplie : Utiliser le canot</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Gain
d’expérience : 80 XP</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mission
accomplie : S’enfuir de la galère des marchands d’esclaves</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Gain
d’expérience : 80 XP</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau
trois !</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Capacité de
peuple débloquée : Apathie des morts-vivants (dure 3 heures, coûte
20 PE)</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Alors, où était le
sac qu’on m’avait promis ? Regardant sous le banc de canotage, je trouvais
un sac de toile avec une bandoulière.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Petit sac :
slots d’inventaire +10</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le temps que Trong
atteigne le rivage, j’affectais les nouveaux points de stats. La force et la
constitution grimpaient par défaut. Des trois points restants, j’en plaçais un
autre dans la constitution, et deux dans l’agilité. Je me retrouvais avec
39 points de vie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sitôt les stats
distribuées, Trong émergea des eaux salées sur la bande sablonneuse et se fraya
un chemin jusqu’à la côte. Son corps émettait aussi un halo coloré. La naïade
était également passée niveau trois. L’homme-poisson décocha un sourire
malicieux, arborant plusieurs rangées de dents acérées comme des aiguilles,
puis déploya subitement ses nageoires dorsales rouges et brillantes et brailla,
estomaqué par la présence de l’autre joueur non loin de moi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Hé !
C’est mon trophée, » cria Trong, pointant son trident dans ma direction.
« Je le cornaque depuis le début de la partie ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La nymphe laissa la
perfide naïade sans réponse mais, entre ses mains, la flamme vive et bleue d’un
sort en cours apparut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Entendu, on
partage le gâteau, » suggéra Trong, et là, ma sœur attaqua.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La flèche de glace
qui jaillit de ses mains dépassa la distance qui les séparait, et retomba en
une grêle de fragments sur les écailles de la naïade, provoquant une baisse
rapide de ses points de vie. Malédiction ! Ce sort à quarante points de
dégâts n’avait réduit les points de vie que d’un tiers. Combien de points de
vie pouvait-il avoir ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Ça t’en
bouche un coin, nymphe ? » ria l’homme-poisson. « Je suis
résistant par essence à la magie de l’eau ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">À ces mots, Trong
le plongeur se saisit de son trident comme s’il s’apprêtait à embrocher un
saumon et se jeta sur ma sœur pour faire échouer le prochain sort. Et moi, sans
trop y réfléchir, je fondis dans sa direction. La naïade était à mi-chemin
lorsqu’un crabe de niveau 1 émergea des eaux en rampant sur le sable et se
mit en travers de son chemin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La naïade, freinée
dans son élan, détruisit l’obstacle inopiné d’un coup de trident. Mais cette
seconde de délai me suffit pour le rattraper et le poignarder dans le dos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts
infligés : 9 (11 avec coup Couteau de cuisine rouillé — armure 2)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La jauge de vie de
Trong le plongeur baissa, mais rien d’extraordinaire : à peine dix pour
cent. Pfff, j’aurais mieux fait de prendre la compétence dague. J’aurais pu
infliger un coup critique en le poignardant dans le dos. Là, sans doute plus
étonné par mon audace que par les dégâts que je lui avais fait subir, Trong se
tourna vers moi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Alors comme
ça, Amra, tu te mets à attaquer dans le dos ! Tu ne peux plus t’enfuir
nulle part ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Une autre flèche de
glace s’envola jusqu’au dos de l’homme-poisson, faisant dégringoler les points
de vie à quarante pour cent. Sa jauge de vie passa du vert au jaune, et Trong
le plongeur fit un rictus de douleur :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Ce n’est
rien, je survivrai à une autre attaque de glace, et puis je raflerai deux jolis
trophées, toi et la nymphe ! Soixante points d’expérience qui me suffiront
à passer le niveau cinq ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">À ces mots, la
naïade bondit brusquement en avant et me poignarda le thorax de son trident.
J’essayais d’esquiver l’attaque, mais en vain. L’enflure ! La douleur
était infernale !!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts subis :
34 (coup de Trident du joueur Trong le Plongeur)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau de
santé : 5/39</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La douleur était
telle que j’avais perdu l’occasion de riposter. La naïade bondit pour se mettre
hors d’atteinte, de sorte qu’il m’était impossible de le poignarder. Mais heureusement,
ma sœur n’hésita pas un instant à envoyer une autre stalactite enchantée dans
le dos de mon attaquant. La vie de Trong le plongeur clignotait en rouge, mais
l’homme-poisson esquissa un sourire inquiétant :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Ha !
J’ai survécu ! Ah, tu vas mourir et je vais récupérer tous mes points de
vie dès que j’aurai gagné un niveau ! » Sur ces mots, Trong sauta
dans ma direction et tenta de me transpercer de son trident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">D’un salto arrière,
j’esquivais avec brio les pointes acérées. Cela eut pour effet de faire
dégringoler mes points d’endurance mais il était déséquilibré par son
mouvement. Puisqu’il était très proche de moi et de taille égale, je portais un
coup brusque à sa gorge finement écaillée.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts
infligés : 16 (18 avec coup de Couteau de cuisine rouillé — armure 2)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Gain
d’expérience : 120 XP</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Compétence
Esquive améliorée au niveau 4 !</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Voulez-vous prendre
Acrobatie (A F) comme compétence secondaire ?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">C’était donc
ça ! En tentant d’esquiver la mort certaine qui planait au-dessus de ma
poitrine, j’avais non seulement utilisé l’Esquive, mais aussi
l’Acrobatie ! Que dire ? C’était une compétence utile à ma survie. Il
me la fallait. Plus loin, la nymphe s’éclaira comme un projecteur, car elle
passait niveau quatre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Après ces détails
techniques, j’observais les alentours. Le corps de Trong le plongeur gisait
dans les bas-fonds, émettant une pâle lueur. Je me penchais au-dessus de lui
pour ramasser le trident, mais mes doigts traversèrent directement l’objet.
Sans doute parce que les lois du jeu ne considéraient pas que l’arme avait été
« droppée », donc elle restait dans son inventaire. Dommage. Penché
au-dessus de mon ennemi vaincu, j’essayais de le regarder. Je n’avais pas eu à
fouiller son cadavre. La fenêtre des trophées s’ouvrit. Mon butin se constituait
de trois pièces d’argent, deux fioles vides et une avec un bouchon, remplie
d’un liquide bleu pâle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Niveau
d’intelligence insuffisant pour identifier l’objet</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Bien, je verrai
plus tard ou je montrerai cela à ma sœur. J’allais à la rencontre de Valerianna.
La Nymphe sylvestre était en rogne :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Tous mes
familiers meurent trop vite, les rats comme les crabes. La reine des
dompteuses. Je ne suis pas fichue de garder le contrôle de mes bêtes ! En
plus, j’ai le flag rouge du criminel au-dessus de la tête. Comme j’ai attaqué
la naïade par anticipation, j’ai commis un crime. Maintenant, mon personnage ne
pourra pas partir de l’univers durant huit heures, même si je quitte le jeu.
D’ailleurs, tu as vu la carte ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je secouais la
tête, puis regardais la carte suivant le conseil de ma sœur. Il y avait juste
un minuscule cercle éclairé, affichant la zone découverte : la côte, nous
deux, et une immense masse noire représentant le territoire inconnu.
J’augmentais l’échelle, mais aucun autre marqueur ne s’afficha sur la carte.
Notre petit cercle rapetissait de plus en plus, jusqu’à ne former plus qu’un
point. Les mots qui s’affichaient n’indiquaient rien d’autre que :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Coordonnées
??????????</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Région ????????</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Tu
vois, » la nymphe acquiesça devant la mine déconfite se dessinant sur mon
visage verdâtre. « On est au milieu de nulle part, et le seul lieu de
respawn se trouve sur l’épave de la galère, et je n’ai franchement pas envie
d’y remettre les pieds. Hélas, le temps sera nuageux aujourd’hui et l’obscurité
gagne du terrain. La nuit tombera avant qu’on ait le temps d’agir. Bientôt, le
simple fait d’être là sera dangereux. Mieux vaut ne pas traîner sur le rivage.
On doit partir d’ici. Avec un peu de chance, on pourrait trouver d’autres lieux
de respawn. Ce serait déjà moins craignos de mourir. On ne serait plus obligés
de s’évader une nouvelle fois de cette galère infecte. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’approuvais
Valerianna et je me remis en route, la Nymphe sylvestre sur mes talons. Nous
longeâmes la plage sablonneuse jusqu’à des buissons qui projetaient les
premières ombres de la forêt, lorsqu’un message apparut sous nos yeux :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Félicitations,
vous avez accompli la mission d’entraînement !</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Bienvenue dans
</span></i></b><b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Boundless
Realm <i>!</i></span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;"><i>Venez sur <a href="https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B07WNB3CYR/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> et prenez votre copie!</i></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc24035897;"><span lang="FR"></span></span></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-87499814788576255982019-11-17T08:27:00.003+02:002019-11-17T08:27:58.171+02:00Testeur de Contenu (Le Sombre Herboriste Volume 1): Série LitRPG<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chers lecteurs, cet ouvrage à succès est maintenant publié en français. Venez sur <a href="https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B07WNB3CYR/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> et prenez votre copie!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B07WNB3CYR/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51unREY9nSL.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Testeur de Contenu<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">un roman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">de Michael Atamanov</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Le Sombre Herboriste <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Volume 1</span></b><b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Série LitRPG<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« ALORS,
AVEZ-VOUS </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">déjà joué à
Boundless Realm ? » me demanda le recruteur, entamant l’entretien par
la question tant redoutée. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dans l'offre
d’emploi, l’une des conditions à remplir était sans équivoque : « Ne
doit jamais avoir joué à ce jeu. » Si j'avais répondu « oui »,
il y a fort à parier que cela aurait entrainé immédiatement la fin de la
rencontre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Et avez-vous
déjà joué à un autre jeu en ligne connu, hum… Timothy ? »
demanda-t-il, découvrant enfin mon nom sur l’écran qui lui faisait face. Sa
longue journée touchait probablement à sa fin. Il était très certainement
fatigué.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Oui bien
sûr. Je suis un gamer, pardon un joueur, depuis près de six ans, maintenant.
J’ai pas mal pratiqué <i>Kingdoms of Sword and Magic</i>. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Un Gamer… »
marmonna-t-il avec une moue de dédain. Cet argot ne semblait pas être trop à
son goût. Il fronça les sourcils, perplexe. « Et ça se passait comment
dans le jeu de notre concurrent ? Avez-vous accompli quoi que ce soit de
notable, Timothy ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Devais-je lui dire la
vérité ? Où était-ce une erreur de trop en dire à un parfait
étranger ? Malgré mes réticences, je décidais de me lancer :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Ces cinq
dernières années, ce fut ma seule source de revenus. Je n'ai certes pas gagné
assez pour m’offrir un yacht ou une villa sur une île tropicale, mais c’était largement
assez pour vivre simplement et financer mes études. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« “Certes pas
assez pour un yacht”, c’est à dire ? » s’enquit-il. Contre toute
attente, il se mit à glousser. « Les meilleurs joueurs de <i>Boundless
Realm </i>gagnent assez pour s’offrir un croiseur. Mais à ma connaissance, dans
KSM, retirer de l'argent virtuel était contraire au règlement… Pouvez-vous m'en
dire plus, Timothy ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Biiiiip. Mauvaise
réponse. Probablement. J’avais perdu une occasion de me taire. Était-ce la
fin ? Allais-je être congédié ? Finalement non, il n’insista pas. À
l’inverse, il posa même une question radicalement différente :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Alors
pourquoi avoir abandonné KSM ? Et sans me laisser le temps de répondre, il
continua. Bon, je crois qu’on peut zapper la question. C’est évident. Le nombre
de joueurs actifs a drastiquement chuté. De plus en plus de gens l’ont
abandonné au profit de <i>Boundless Realm.</i> Après tout, c'est plus ludique
et largement plus réaliste. L'argent a dû tout simplement s’évaporer. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je me contentais
d'acquiescer en silence, n’ayant rien de plus à ajouter. Auparavant, notre clan
pouvait réunir de cinq à sept-mille joueurs pour lancer des raids JcJ en
territoire ennemi ou terrasser des boss surpuissants. Mais cette époque était
révolue. Pas plus tard qu’hier, réunir quinze joueurs pour prendre d’assaut un
château adverse relevait de la performance. Et en plus on avait dans le groupe,
trois noobs inscrits depuis à peine une semaine. Mais on avait… quand même
conquis le château ! Le seul défenseur survivant du camp adverse semblait être
soulagé de se délester d’un tel fardeau. Il nous avait souhaité bonne chance et
avait même tenté de nous revendre son compte vu qu'il s’apprêtait à partir pour
rejoindre <i>Boundless Realm.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ce fut l’une des
raisons qui me poussèrent à quitter ce bateau à la dérive avant que la
compétition ne le coule définitivement. La grosse catastrophe : tout l’argent
investi dans le jeu disparaissait aussi…. À vrai dire, j'avais hérité de
l'appartement familial après la mort de mes parents, mais sa vente m’avait
servi à rembourser les frais médicaux de ma sœur. Il m’était resté tout de même
une somme plus que décente, que j’avais décidé d'investir dans une propriété
virtuelle non loin d’une capitale de <i>Kingdom</i>. À l’époque, <i>Kingdoms of
Sword and Magic</i> était en plein essor. C’était un excellent investissement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Qui aurait pu
prévoir que, deux semaines après mon investissement, une entreprise jusqu’alors
totalement méconnue, Boundless Realms, allait ouvrir ses propres serveurs ? Et qui
aurait misé sur le fait que l’entreprise prendrait une telle ampleur et gagnerait
autant d’argent en l’espace de trois ans, attirant des centaines de millions de
joueurs du monde entier dans leur univers d’un réalisme à couper le
souffle ? À ce moment-là, la valeur de ma propriété virtuelle dans <i>Kingdoms</i>
avait dégringolé, tant et si bien que le temps consacré à la bâtir ne se
justifiait plus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">L'employé des RH
examina mon CV quelques minutes, puis leva les yeux vers moi pour m'annoncer,
le sourire aux lèvres :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Paladin
humain niveau trois cent dix, archer elfe noir niveau deux cent soixante-dix,
mage demi-elfe niveau cent quatre-vingt-dix… Pas mal, pas mal du tout. Au fait,
Timothy, savez-vous que, dans <i>Boundless Realm</i>, un joueur est limité à un
seul personnage, et qu’on ne peut ni le modifier ni le supprimer ? C'est
le meilleur moyen de veiller à ce que nos joueurs s’approprient et se
familiarisent avec leurs personnages tel que nous le souhaitons. De cette
façon, l’univers du jeu devient leur réalité. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je me contentais
d'acquiescer en silence. Comment aurais-je pu l’ignorer… ? Cela avait été
ma plus grande source d’inquiétude lorsque j’avais vu pour la première fois une
offre d’emploi : testeur de trames dans le jeu en ligne <i>Boundless Realm</i>.
Le hic, c'est que <i>j'avais</i> déjà essayé de jouer à <i>Boundless Realm</i>.
Mais cela faisait déjà plus de trois ans. À l'époque, le jeu était encore en
bêta ouverte et avait l’air « mal fini » à mon goût. Il n'y avait ni tutoriel,
ni guide de jeu, ni conseil in-game. Dans la zone où j'avais commencé, tout
était un peu trop grossier, trop inabouti. Ni « horizons captivants et
radieux » ni « couchers de soleil envoûtants et réalistes, »
contrairement à ce qu’affirment leurs trailers actuels. À l'époque, <i>Boundless
Realm </i>n’avait rien de tout cela.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Et puis ma partie
n’avait duré que sept minutes. J’avais créé un barbare niveau un muni d'une
hache à deux mains, façon mister T et en quittant ma zone de départ, à
proximité du village, j’avais dû affronter une horde de chauves-souris vampires
d’un niveau avoisinant les soixante-dix. Une seconde plus tard, j'étais mort. Et
en plus on m’imposait de patienter une heure avant de pouvoir respawner.
J’avais alors agonis d’injures ce jeu déséquilibré et mal foutu avant de le désinstaller.
Mais là, j'espérais très très fort que cette brève expérience ne nuirait pas à
ma candidature de « testeur de trames dans un jeu vidéo, »
formulation officielle de l'offre d’emploi à laquelle je postulais.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Que dire,
Timothy ? Vous avez une solide expérience dans le domaine du jeu vidéo,
aucun déséquilibre physique ou psychique. Rien ne s’oppose à ce que nous vous
engagions au sein de notre entreprise, » déclara l’homme qui me sourit
encore et me tendit une tablette sur laquelle s’affichait un questionnaire. Il
m’invita à prendre place dans la petite salle attenante, remplir le
questionnaire, puis attendre le début de la réunion préparatoire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je pénétrais dans
la pièce, sortis mon portable et, mimant un selfie devant le poster d’un dragon
bleu des mers, j’envoyais un message :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« J’ai réussi
l’entretien. »</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Aussi sec, mon
téléphone vibra faiblement. Réponse :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Pas trop
vite, ils t’ont offert quoi ? Je vais me renseigner dans les
forums. »</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ensuite, je m’assis
et je me mis à cocher des cases sur la tablette. Le questionnaire abordait des
tas de sujets concernant ma santé, ma vie de famille, mon casier judiciaire et
mes mauvaises habitudes de vie. La seconde moitié du questionnaire changeait
radicalement de ton et servait visiblement à définir le personnage le plus en
adéquation avec ma personnalité.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Non loin de moi,
d’autres candidats martelaient leurs tablettes. La plupart d’entre eux, hommes
et femmes, avaient plus ou moins le même âge que moi, à l’exception d’une
poignée de personnes plus âgées, dont quelques séniors. Il me fallut peu de
temps pour me faire une idée générale de l’ambiance professionnelle qui m’attendait.
J’y voyais des étudiants expulsés de l’université pour absentéisme ou probablement
recalés aux examens, des employés de bureau licenciés, des courtiers sur la
mauvaise pente, des no-life aux abois et des retraités plus ou moins désespérés
qui tentaient leur chance ici, faute de mieux... Globalement, j’étais entouré
de paumés qui n’avaient pas su se faire une place dans le monde réel. La
classe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je ne me
considérais pas moi-même comme un paumé, mais il fallait admettre que j’étais
naturellement assorti au groupe. J’avais déjà vingt-deux ans, mais j’étais sans
emploi, sans petite amie, sans argent, et sans maison à moi. La totale. Du
coup, il n’était pas facile de différencier leurs profils du mien à première
vue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Bon, je n’étais pas
totalement stupide. J’étais diplômé en chimie fondamentale. Sauf que ça sert
assez peu… J’étais capable de tenir une conversation, je n’étais pas
particulièrement moche, et j’étais assez doué en sport. En outre, j’avais bien
eu plusieurs occasions de flirter avec la gent féminine, mais étrangement,
toutes mes copines avaient fini par me larguer pour un autre. Manque de temps
disaient-elles. Souvent elles s’évaporaient quand elles découvraient que je
m’occupais de ma sœur handicapée. Plus exactement paraplégique. C’est dommage,
mais jamais je n’aurais accepté de troquer ma sœur préférée – et unique -
contre une relation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Ma sœur Valéria
avait onze ans au moment de l’accident. Mon père conduisait une voiture volante
qui percuta de plein fouet celle d’un voleur en fuite. Le choc et la chute
consécutive sur trente mètres tuèrent ma mère et mon père sur le coup. Ma sœur,
elle, perdit l’usage de ses deux jambes, tout en étant couverte de lacérations
et fracturée de partout ! L’enquête des forces de l’ordre déclara mon père
non responsable du crash mais ce n’était pas vraiment un réconfort.</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Il m’avait
fallu vendre notre appartement en centre-ville pour rembourser les traitements
de Val et couvrir d’autres dépenses. J’avais tout dépensé ou presque pour lui
offrir les meilleurs traitements. Pour qu’elle ait une chance de remarcher
grâce à des implants. Mais c’était expérimental et non couvert par l’assurance…
et cela n’avait pas marché.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Pour le bien de ma
sœur, j’avais fait une croix sur mes parents, mais aussi mes amis, les
psychologues, et le reste du monde. Le plus dur à encaisser, ce fut juste après
l’accident. Valeria souffrait de douleurs chroniques, au point de perdre toute
raison de vivre. À plusieurs reprises, elle m’avait supplié de lui administrer
des somnifères pour qu’elle ne se réveille pas. Je fis mon possible pour lui
donner une raison de vivre et la dissuader. Jour après jour elle sœur retrouva
goût à la vie. Nous avions tenté différentes approches pour lui remonter le
moral, mais les balades étaient ce qu’il y avait de plus efficace. Nous
résidions à côté d’un grand parc où il faisait toujours bon se promener. Hélas,
peu après, nous fûmes contraints de quitter le centre de la métropole, faute de
moyens, pour nous installer en périphérie. Très vite, Val rechigna à poursuivre
nos promenades. Ma sœur ne supportait plus les moqueries et les railleries des
enfants du voisinage. Ils la traitaient d’infirme, allant même jusqu’à lui
lancer des pierres. La coupe était pleine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Puis elle trouva un
nouveau moyen de s’évader. Les MMORPG virtuels étaient un sas de décompression
où elle pouvait à nouveau contempler la beauté des paysages. Ce nouveau
passe-temps n’était en revanche pas très lucratif. À vrai dire, c’était plutôt
l’inverse. La situation s’empira les derniers mois, quand l’univers du jeu que
nous avions choisi des années auparavant, <i>Kingdoms of Sword and Magic</i>,
manifesta les premiers signes de déclin... Donc soit j’acceptais un des rare
emploi dans mon domaine et je laissais ma sœur seule toute la journée soit je
m’arrangeais pour rester avec elle. Elle n’avait déjà pas tellement de
relations sociales vu qu’elle suivait les cours à la maison et que les grandes
vacances arrivaient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je secouais la tête
pour chasser les idées noires, et me replongeais dans mon questionnaire.
Répondant aux questions sans difficulté, je m’arrêtais au tout dernier
point : « Moyen de paiement désiré ». Deux options s’offraient à
moi : le revenu mensuel fixe ou la possibilité de retirer l'argent virtuel
pour l’échanger contre de l'argent réel. Dans <i>Boundless Realm</i>, à
l’instar de tous les MMO, on était seulement autorisé à verser de l'argent à
l’entreprise. On pouvait placer de l'argent réel dans le jeu, mais il n'y avait
aucun moyen de le récupérer. Seuls les employés de la corporation échappaient à
la règle. Ils avaient le droit de retirer l'argent virtuel du jeu en lieu et
place d'un vrai salaire, s’ils avaient choisi l’option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Pour ma part, cette
option était ce qui m’avait incité à travailler pour <i>Boundless Realm.</i>
Soyons honnêtes, aucune entreprise en bonne santé n’était prête à offrir un
salaire régulier aux minables présents dans la même salle que moi ce jour-là. Et
là ils arrivaient avec un moyen légal de convertir l’argent virtuel en argent
réel... On ne sait jamais. Mon personnage pourrait s’enrichir dans le jeu, par
exemple. Ce qui remédierait une bonne fois pour toutes à mes ennuis financiers
dans la vie réelle. Cela dit, ma sœur et moi étions tout à fait conscients que
pour un gagnant, des milliers de personnes allaient droit dans le mur et
verseraient sang, sueur et larmes pour un travail qui, en définitive, serait
moins rentable que le SMIC. Mais nous avions fait ce choix en toute conscience
et d’un commun accord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La femme d'âge mûr
assise à mes côtés, joufflue, avec ses airs de comptable sur le retour, me
donna un coup de coude. Elle voulait qu’on lui explique « charisme »
et, chuchotant bruyamment, interrogeait tous ses voisins sur le sens de ce terme.
Je n’entendis pas la réponse du type assis en face d'elle, mais il semblait se
contenir pour garder son sérieux. Le visage de la femme devint clairement
cramoisi, et elle se mit à marteler sa tablette à la vitesse d'une imprimante
tout en dissimulant ce qu'elle écrivait de la main gauche. Je secouais la tête.
Eh bien, si le calibre de la compétition était de cet ordre-là… Je cochais
résolument l’option « Retirer l'argent virtuel ».<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Bon, choix validé.
Plus de retour en arrière possible. Je m’efforçais tout de même de dissiper le
sentiment rampant de terreur qui me venait quand je pensais à mon fort vide compte
en banque. Et pas seulement parce que j'étais fauché. J’avais aussi contracté
un emprunt dont les intérêts s’accumulaient au fil du temps. Si je ne
remboursais pas dans les semaines à venir, la banque bloquerait ma carte.
Par-dessus le marché, ma sœur et moi n'avions pas payé le loyer depuis trois
mois. Notre propriétaire nous menaçait déjà d’expulsion. Il serait extrêmement
dur de nous dépêtrer de cette situation sans un salaire fixe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mais je décidais de
relever le défi, comme le jour où j'avais acquis une propriété virtuelle dans <i>Kingdoms
of Sword and Magic</i>. Mais cette fois, l’enjeu n’était pas un appartement à
deux chambres dans un quartier chic, mais tout ce qu'il nous restait, à ma sœur
et moi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Allez. Bienvenue à tous ! » Un homme,
teint basané, cheveux foncés et bouclés, élégamment vêtu, se dirigea tout à
coup vers la petite estrade. « Je m’appelle Alexandro Lavrius. Je suis le
directeur des Opérations Spéciales pour la corporation <i>Boundless Realm</i>.
Et vous avez été sélectionnés pour travailler sous ma direction en tant que
testeurs de trames pour un jeu vidéo. Il a un souci, ce micro ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le microphone
émettait un couinement irritant qui résonnait dans mes oreilles. La jeune
assistante du directeur, l'air effrayé, accouru prestement sur la scène pour
ajuster le microphone attaché au col d’Alexandro. Le directeur toisa sa
subordonnée, les yeux pleins de futures remontrances, et poursuivit :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Bon, voilà
qui est réglé. Tout d’abord, une courte présentation. Le jeu virtuel <i>Boundless
Realm</i> que vous allez explorer est très vaste. Contrairement à ce que son
nom indique, il n’est pas infini, mais sa superficie est tout de même gigantesque.
Comme il l’est plus que notre Terre, autant dire que vous pourrez voyager et
partir en quête de nouveaux sites intéressants de façon quasi illimitée. Pour
l’heure, <i>Boundless Realm</i> accueille pas moins de deux cent quarante
millions de joueurs, et en gagne entre deux et trois millions par mois. Notre
corporation aurait pu se reposer sur ses lauriers et se contenter d’engranger
les profits. En fait non. Notre système de gestion met sans cesse au point des
projets novateurs, toujours plus grandioses, et le développement du jeu est
toujours en plein essor. Cependant, le service de planification a signalé un risque
sur le moyen terme, et le comité de direction confirme l’existence d’une telle
menace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Deux obstacles
majeurs en ressortent. Premièrement, malgré la myriade de peuples différents
dans <i>Boundless Realm</i> et la singularité de leurs caractéristiques,
soixante-dix-huit pour cent des joueurs préfèrent incarner des humains. C’est
clairement déséquilibré. Et vu que dix-sept pour cent d’entre eux jouent
différents types d’elfes et demi-elfes, contre trois pour cent de nains, on identifie
clairement le nœud du problème. Ceux qui choisissent les peuples restants, et
il en existe plus d’une centaine, représentent seulement deux pour cent des
joueurs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Les raisons d’une
telle disparité sont nombreuses. Déjà, les nouveaux joueurs potentiels n’ont
quasiment aucun exemple positif de joueurs qui ont choisi les peuples les plus
impopulaires. Et cela s’explique par le fait que les forums du jeu foisonnent
de guides sur les paladins humains, les archers elfes sylvains, les mages elfes
noirs et les assassins demi-elfes. Il n’est pas surprenant que les nouveaux
joueurs redoutent de s’engager dans une voie incertaine. Comme ils sont limités
à un seul personnage, ils refusent de s’y risquer. La conséquence regrettable
est que les nouveaux joueurs ont tendance à créer des paladins humains, des
archers elfes ou des nécromanciens elfes noirs, alors que notre univers en
regorge déjà. Les utilisateurs existants perdent, à juste titre, le sentiment
d’être singuliers et leur intérêt pour le jeu car, jour après jour, ils
croisent des copies parfaites d’eux-mêmes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le second problème
se situe au niveau du choix des résidences. Face à nos joueurs s’étend un
royaume à perte de vue, un <i>Boundless Realm</i>, qui peut même s’agrandir au
besoin. En outre, la carte actuelle est à peine exploitée :
quatre-vingt-dix pour cent des joueurs résident en périphérie immédiate de
l’une des quelques mégalopoles. Les raisons d'une telle surpopulation sont
nombreuses, mais celles qui président sont intrinsèquement économiques. En ville,
les ressources sont accessibles, l'argent circule, il y a des banques où les
joueurs peuvent stocker leurs biens en toute sécurité. C'est pourquoi, malgré
le coût plus élevé des biens immobiliers et des ressources sur place, les
joueurs continuent d’affluer en nombre vers ces villes pour y élire domicile.
Des millions de sites sublimes, créés par des artistes talentueux, avec une
profusion de missions uniques et d’habitants, restent inexploités. En outre,
nous constatons une insatisfaction croissante parmi les joueurs, car “il n'y a
plus rien à découvrir et c’est saoulant à la longue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Où je veux en
venir ? Vous l’aurez sans doute compris, aucun d'entre vous ne pourra
choisir des personnages humains ou elfes, et aucun n’incarnera un énième
chevalier ou un énième archer. Par ailleurs, vous débuterez la partie en des
contrées éloignées et hostiles, et accéder aux zones surpeuplées s’avèrera
très, très problématique. D’ailleurs, notre entreprise condamnera sévèrement de
tels comportements. Vous aurez tous un départ alternatif dans le jeu, de sorte
qu’affronter des périls et obstacles sera fort probable, et non fortuit. Nos
groupes témoins ont prouvé que les défis à surmonter créent un point d’ancrage
qui retient les joueurs plus longtemps dans l’univers du jeu. Nous espérons à
terme que tous les néophytes feront leurs premières armes dans ce type de zone,
ainsi l’une de nos missions sera de vérifier si votre personnage est capable de
survivre et d’évoluer en milieu hostile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Votre groupe fait
partie de ceux qui ont été sélectionnés ces dernières semaines pour tester de
nouvelles combinaisons de peuples et de classes atypiques, encaissant coups et
blessures au passage. Mais il va aussi falloir créer des guides accrocheurs qui
décrivent de façon convaincante les vertus de vos peuples, classes et
professions si singuliers. Que les choses soient claires : rares sont ceux
qui passeront la période d’essai et seront engagés comme permanents, car notre
corporation est en quête de personnalités et de trames qui susciteront
l’engouement parmi les joueurs actuels et en devenir. Cela dit, même si vous
ratez la période d'essai, vous engrangerez une expérience précieuse dans le
domaine du jeu vidéo, et c’est l’occasion de jouer en immersion dans <i>Boundless
Realm</i> en profitant des technologies dernier cri.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">À présent, vous
allez recevoir vos cartes d’affectation de personnages, automatiquement
sélectionnées par le système en fonction des résultats du test d'aujourd'hui.
Puis vous aurez le temps de poser vos questions à mon assistante. Suite à cela,
rendez-vous au service RH avant la fermeture des bureaux pour signer vos
contrats et vous atteler dès demain à la tâche. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« On peut
commencer à jouer dès aujourd’hui ? » interrogea un garçon au visage
pâle et joufflu, émaillé d’acné juvénile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Alexandro Lavrius
leva les yeux derrière nous pour regarder l’horloge murale, posa discrètement
une question à sa jeune assistante, et répondit :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Vous pourrez
commencer après la signature du contrat. Gardez aussi à l’esprit qu’en ce
moment, il est seize heures dans <i>Boundless Realm</i> et que la nuit tombe à
vingt et une heures. Après cette réunion, vous irez au service RH, on vous
montrera votre station de travail et on vous expliquera le fonctionnement de la
capsule de réalité virtuelle. Il vous faudra ensuite créer un personnage,
commencer les missions d'entraînement puis explorer le monde principal… Il vous
restera peu de temps pour vous trouver un abri où passer la nuit. La nuit dans<i>
Boundless Realm</i>, en-dehors des villes et lieux sécurisés, est rude et
hostile. Vous avez de fortes chances de finir dans l’estomac d’une créature.
Auquel cas vous perdrez une partie de vos points d’expérience et vous aurez une
heure pour respawner. Mais si vous voulez prendre ce risque et vous mettre
directement dans le bain, je n'y vois pas d'inconvénient. Si vous survivez à la
première nuit, l’expérience sera bénéfique pour vous et pour votre carrière de
testeur. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Herboriste gobelin ??? J’examinais la carte que je
venais de recevoir, perplexe. Je m’emparais alors de mon smartphone pour me
renseigner sur les Gobelins dans <i>Boundless Realm</i>. Le premier lien me
récompensait de la description qui suit, extraite d'un forum :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Les Gobelins
sont de viles créatures qui aiment jouer des tours, saccagent les potagers et
attaquent les aventuriers esseulés. Heureusement les Gobelins sont si frêles
qu’un noob saura en venir à bout. On trouve parfois des villages entiers de Gobelins.
Ils sont une source d'expérience non négligeable et un moyen facile pour les
néophytes de faire du level up. Étrangement, les développeurs ont rendu ce PNJ
jouable. J'ai du mal à imaginer un joueur assez idiot pour choisir un détritu
verdâtre, avec ses malus ultra restrictifs en intelligence et en force, au
point qu’il peut d’ores et déjà renoncer à devenir un mage ou un guerrier digne
de ce nom. D'un point de vue purement théorique, je peux imaginer un joueur
Gobelin se spécialisant pour être archer ou arbalétrier en raison de ses bonus
en agilité et en perception, mais je n'ai jamais rencontré de joueur assez fêlé
pour relever le défi, étant donné que tous les types d’elfes jouissent de bonus
plus puissant. Et puis, ces merdasses vertes souffrent d’un sérieux malus
d’affinités avec les humains. Du coup il peut renoncer à aller dans les zones
par défaut du jeu. »</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sachant que ce
texte était accessible à tout joueur aspirant à jouer Gobelin, pourquoi les
développeurs de <i>Boundless Realm </i>ne comprenaient-ils pas cette réticence
généralisée ?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">L’auteur de ce
texte avait pour pseudo : le Bûcheron infesté. D'après son compte sur le
forum, il jouait Druide humain niveau deux cent quatre. Je consultais par
curiosité les sept liens suivants dans le moteur de recherche, mais j’obtenais
partout des résultats tout aussi détestables. J’avisais ma sœur par message du
personnage que l’on m’imposait, puis je continuais à compulser les guides sur
les Gobelins et l'herboristerie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Mon attention fut
détournée par un bruit étrange non loin de moi. Je levais la tête. Alors que le
directeur était parti depuis belle lurette, la dame aux airs de vieille
comptable, celle qui se renseignait sur le charisme, se querellait avec
l’assistante.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Un souci
avec le personnage que l'on vous a affecté ? » interrogeait
l’employée d'un ton calme, presque monotone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Vous voulez
rire ?! Une danseuse dryade ! J'ai lu dans les forums que les dryades
sont nues ! Un peu de jugeote, voyons ! Moi qui pensais postuler
comme employée de bureau... Je peux admettre que votre planning a des failles,
mais de là à travailler comme strip-teaseuse... ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">L'assistante du
directeur était déjà à bout depuis l'incident du microphone, et une pointe
d'agacement transparaissait dans sa voix :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Le système a
établi que cette combinaison de peuple et de classe serait optimale pour vous.
Si cela vous déplaît, je suis dans le regret de vous annoncer que votre période
d’essai s’achève là et que vous serez la première à quitter le groupe... »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le visage du garçon
qui lui avait expliqué plus tôt le sens de charisme s’éclaira d’un sourire
goguenard. Si le système en était arrivé à cette drôle de conclusion, c’est
qu’il avait dû l’induire en erreur. Oh le petit vilain… L'assistante tendit la
main avec insistance, prête à reprendre la carte de personnage des mains de la
dame mais, à cet instant, une voix de femme jeune retentit dans les rangs du
fond :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Attendez !
Je peux échanger mon personnage avec le sien ? » Une jolie fille aux
longs cheveux châtains foncés tressés jusqu'à la ceinture se leva pour
s’acheminer vers l’estrade. « J'ai fait des recherches préliminaires sur
les dryades. Même si leurs slots d’équipements sont réservés aux bagues et
bracelets, le bonus de leur peuple compense le reste. En plus, la classe des
danseuses a l’air d’être faite pour les dryades. Après tout elle ont un bonus
en attractivité, en charme, et à la réaction de tout individu du sexe
opposé. »</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">L’assistante
confirma :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Tout à fait.
C’est un sérieux atout, et ce personnage peut cumuler pas mal de points
d’expérience. Et puis la voie de la dryade danseuse est on ne peut plus
atypique. Il n’existe aucun guide à ce sujet, et si vous êtes capable de faire
évoluer ce genre de personnage, vous passerez la période d’essai haut la
main. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La femme aux
allures de comptable grimaça et marmonna, dépitée :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Bon, on vous
a refilé quoi comme cochonnerie… On peut difficilement faire pire que la
danseuse exotique. » Elle arracha la carte épaisse des mains de la fille
et lut. « Oh oui, oui, oui ! Un Gnome banquier ! Le rêve de
toute ma vie ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La femme d'âge mûr
fut à deux doigts d’embrasser la jolie fille qui avait troqué sa carte contre
la sienne. Puis j’entendis les gens s’écrier autour de moi :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Quelqu'un
veut échanger un Troll cannibale ? »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« J’échange
mon Hobgoblin roublard contre n’importe quelle autre classe ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Quelqu'un
veut un Orque astrologue ? Je l'échange contre un personnage de
mêlée ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sans attendre la
fin de cette foire aux monstres, je me levais pour gagner le service RH. Mon
Gobelin herboriste n’était peut-être pas si mal, finalement. J'étais satisfait
du sort qui m’était réservé.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Si je tentais tant bien que mal de dissimuler mon
ressenti, j'étais bluffé par l'opulence et le luxe que dégageait l’entreprise <i>Boundless
Realm</i>. Elle possédait un
immense gratte-ciel qui semblait également s’étendre en une multitude d’étages
en sous-sol. Alors que l'ascenseur descendait, je remarquais que des étages ne
correspondaient à aucun bouton sur le panneau. Mais je les voyais à travers les
vitres transparentes des portes de l'ascenseur. Une légion de gardes armés
jusqu'aux dents, avec gilet pare-balles et masques à gaz, faisait le piquet.
Arthur, l'aimable technicien chargé de me déposer à ma station de travail,
m'expliqua que ces étages souterrains étaient impénétrables pour de simples
mortels tels que nous. Qu’ils hébergeaient le saint des saints de la
corporation : les serveurs du jeu. Et qu'il était plus dur d’y entrer que
de s’infiltrer dans une chambre forte remplie d'or. Ces étages techniques
étaient truffés d'une pléthore de systèmes de sécurité et saturés d’un gaz
toxique pour dissuader tout criminel de tenter une intrusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Sans faire halte
nous passâmes devant la rampe du parking souterrain. Il débordait de voitures
luxueuses et bolides volants. Les portes de l'ascenseur s'ouvrirent à l'étage
des testeurs et de l’IT, le département informatique. Une vaste salle qui
s’étendait à perte de vue, aux multiples passerelles le long desquelles étaient
alignées de petites cabines d'aspect identique. Arpentant l'une de ces longues
plates-formes, Arthur et moi nous stationnâmes devant une porte translucide. Je
regardais fixement l'inscription dessus : « 4-16A. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Quatrième
étage, côté A, cabine seize. C'est ici ton lieu de travail. Entre, prends tes
marques et retire ta veste, » expliqua-t-il, pointant du doigt une chaise
et un portemanteau mural sans pour autant entrer. « Chaque cabine est
équipée d'un bureau rétractable et d'un réfrigérateur intégré pour stocker tes
repas et grignoter avant le travail. Tu trouveras des w.c. toutes les cinquante
cabines, et tout au bout de chaque passerelle, des salles de douche. Mais
chaque rangée comporte trois cents cabines, donc ne compte pas trop sur la
disponibilité des douches, surtout en soirée vers la fin d’un quart. Allez,
bonne chance ! »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Alors qu'Arthur
prononçait la dernière phrase, son regard se détourna de moi et s’orienta vers une
jeune femme fort avenante … - Bon, autant le dire, absolument renversante avec
son abondante chevelure rousse - qui passait devant ma cabine, l’air sûre d’elle.
Elle portait une longue robe vert émeraude, des talons aiguilles et un chapeau
à large bord. Ses doigts aux bagues serties de gemmes étincelaient dans ma
direction et captivaient mon regard. Elle ne s'arrêta pas pour regarder Arthur.
Elle ne semblait pas non plus me remarquer. Elle parcourut encore une quinzaine
de mètres, puis fit halte devant une porte standard, semblable à la mienne. Sa
clé électronique émit un bip, puis la fille mystérieuse s’engouffra dans sa
cabine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Qui
est-ce ? » chuchotais-je au technicien, raide comme un piquet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Arthur revint
brusquement à la réalité, en frissonnant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Elle ?
Qu’est-ce que j’en sais ? Elle travaille ici. Elle arrive le soir et
repart dans la matinée. Elle doit jouer un personnage nocturne. Visiblement
c’est une joueuse talentueuse qui gagne bien. Une fois, j’ai vu sa place de
parking au sous-sol. Elle conduit une voiture de sport luxueuse. Je ne connais
même pas la marque. Je ne pourrais pas me payer avec toute une vie d’économies.
Mais le personnage qu’elle joue, j’en sais rien. On n’a pas accès à vos
avatars, on installe l’équipement, c’est tout. Pourtant, d’habitude, les
joueurs de haut niveau disposent de bureaux personnels dans les étages
supérieurs du bâtiment, mais elle trouve sans doute plus confortable de descendre
directement depuis sa place de parking. Bref. Déshabille-toi, que je prenne tes
mesures pour ta combinaison et ton casque à capteurs. »<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Juste après que la
porte se soit refermée derrière Arthur, je sortis mon téléphone pour dire à ma
sœur que j’étais prêt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Ouvre la
console et donne-moi le numéro de la capsule de réalité virtuelle et de la
session de jeu. Je vais tenter de me connecter. »</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Je saisis une
commande technique au clavier et fit un cliché avec la caméra de mon téléphone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">« Attends cinq
minutes pour qu’on commence en même temps. »</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">J’enfilais la
combinaison hérissée d’électrodes avant de prendre place dans la capsule de
réalité virtuelle. Consultant le minuteur sur le petit écran, je patientais
cinq minutes, puis refermais le couvercle de la capsule de réalité virtuelle,
me déconnectant de la réalité. L’écran s’éclaira sous mes yeux...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Dégâts subis : 2757 (Morsure de chauve-souris
maudite)</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Vous êtes mort</span></i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*
* *</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Bon sang, c’était quoi ça ?! Ce message avait surgi
dès le chargement de l’écran ! L’image se dissipa peu à peu, et tout
s’obscurcit autour de moi. Une minute s’écoula, puis une autre, et peut-être
une autre encore. Rien ne se passait. Comment ça ? Pas d’interface de jeu,
pas de fenêtre de menu, le noir complet, partout. De toute évidence, il y avait
un souci. Les chauves-souris ! Bien sûr ! C’était ma toute dernière
vision lors de ma brève partie en tant que barbare. En gros, on me sortirait de
ma capsule et j’allais être licencié pour avoir menti à l’entretien.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Le monde autour de
moi reparut subitement, et la fenêtre de création de personnage s’afficha à
l’écran. Ouah, c’était moins une. Donc, qu’avais-je là ? Un herboriste
Gobelin, niveau un. Je ne pouvais modifier ni le peuple ni la classe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Nom du
personnage : Amra.</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Encore une fois,
j’étais ruisselant de sueur froide. Lors de la création de mon barbare, le
premier nom qui me vint à l’esprit fut « Conan », en hommage au
célèbre barbare de la télé, mais c’était déjà pris. Puis, j’avais cherché un
autre nom qu’utilisait le célèbre héros, « Amra », et celui-là était
dispo. Autant que je sache, les règles du jeu avaient changé ces trois
dernières années et, dorénavant, tous les personnages devaient avoir des noms
composés en deux parties : « Tony Cœurnoir », « Félix
Faufile_Serpent », « Ellie Trop_Belle_LV. » Ce genre de choses.
Mais mon pseudo à moi était unique, et en plus, ne faisait que quatre
lettres...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Un noob au nom
unique ? Cela m’aiderait sans doute à camoufler mon affiliation à
l’entreprise. Je n’étais pas non plus opposé au principe. Il était tellement
agréable de se sentir unique ! Bon, c’était le moment de gérer mon
apparence et mes stats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Un visage vert
m’observait. Il était constitué d’une grande paire d’yeux et d’oreilles aux
dimensions démesurées. Le système me conseillait de faire mumuse avec les
paramètres, de transformer mon Gobelin standard pour le personnaliser et
l’adapter à mes goûts, mais je décidais de remettre cela à plus tard. L’aide de
jeu m’expliqua que l’apparence de mon personnage serait librement modifiable
dès la fin du niveau dix, donc je pouvais l’ignorer. Quelque chose d’autre
me turlupinait : Alexandro Lavrius nous avait avertis : il restait
peu de temps avant la tombée de la nuit, il n’y avait donc pas une seconde à
perdre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">En premier lieu, je
voulais voir les bonus et malus du peuple Gobelin. Hélas, Bûcheron infesté
n’avait pas exagéré au sujet des malus :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">50 % de malus
à l’acquisition d’Intelligence</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">50 % de malus
à l’acquisition de Force</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">20 de malus
d’affinité avec les peuples suivants : Humains, Elfes, Nains, Gnomes,
Dragons</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">20 % de malus
au gain d’expérience</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">La pilule des malus
était très dure à avaler. Ce qui me contrariait le plus, c’était le malus au
gain d’expérience. Les caractéristiques négatives du peuple Gobelin étaient à
peine compensées par les bonus, soit :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">30 % de bonus
à l’acquisition d’Agilité</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">30 % de bonus
à l’acquisition de Perception</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">+20 de bonus
d’affinité avec les peuples suivants : Gobelins, Orcs, Kobolds, Ogres,
Géants</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">+30 de bonus à la
réaction des créatures sylvaines et des marécages lors d’une rencontre</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">30 % de bonus
à la vitesse de déplacement dans les zones sylvaines et marécageuses</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Enfin, j’abordais
les stats principales de mon Gobelin aux grandes esgourdes. Chaque personnage
dans <i>Boundless Realm</i>, qu’il soit PNJ ou réel, n’avait que six
statistiques principales : Force, Agilité, Intelligence, Constitution,
Perception et Charisme. Globalement, c’était assez basique et limpide. La Force
régissait les dégâts que l’on pouvait infliger avec des armes de poing et le
poids maximum de charge. L’Agilité était importante pour les armes à distance
et l’esquive. L’Intelligence permettait de déceler les propriétés des objets et
définissait la quantité de mana disponible pour un enchantement, ainsi que
l’efficacité des sorts. La Constitution influait sur le nombre de points de vie
et d’endurance. Et la Perception correspondait aux sens de la vue, de l’odorat
et de l’ouïe d’un personnage, et augmentait les chances de dénicher des objets
cachés. Enfin, le Charisme : une stat affectant les affinités qu’éprouvent
les personnages alentour à votre égard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Il y avait
différents moyens d’augmenter les stats de base : affecter un certain
nombre de nouveaux points de stat à chaque niveau, accroître les stats en
faisant évoluer le niveau des compétences primaires, ou les augmenter avec des
objets magiques.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; width: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 19.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="top" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Nom</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 19.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="top" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Amra</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.3pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 17.3pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="top" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Peuple</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="top" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Gobelin</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 16.4pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: white; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 16.4pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="top" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Classe</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: RU; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 16.4pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="top" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Herboriste</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.35pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.35pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="top" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Expérience</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.35pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="top" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">0 sur 100</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 16.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.2pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Niveau du personnage</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.2pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">1</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.8pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.8pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Points de vie</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.8pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">15/15</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.35pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: white; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.35pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Points d’endurance</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.35pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">15/15</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.3pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.3pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="top" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Statistiques</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.3pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="top" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 16.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.2pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Force (F)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.2pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">2</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.65pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background: white; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 17.65pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Agilité (A)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.65pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">2</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background: white; border-right: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.2pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Intelligence (I)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">2</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.45pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 17.45pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Constitution (C)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.45pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">2</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 16.9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background: white; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 16.9pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Perception (P)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.9pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">2</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 26.1pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 26.1pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Charisme (Ch)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 26.1pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">2</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.45pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.45pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" valign="top" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Points à affecter</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.45pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="top" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">3</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.3pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td colspan="2" style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.3pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 298.65pt;" valign="top" width="398">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Compétences primaires
(2 sur 4)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 16.55pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="background: white; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Herboristerie (P A)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.55pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">1</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20.5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 20.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 163.45pt;" width="218">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Marchandage </span><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">(Ch </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 20.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 135.2pt;" valign="bottom" width="180">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 38.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">1</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 18; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td colspan="2" style="background: white; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0cm .5pt 0cm .5pt; width: 298.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="398">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 19.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Compétences secondaires
(0 sur 4)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Les développeurs
avaient attribué à mon personnage deux compétences primaires par défaut :
Herboristerie et Marchandage. Et si la première ne me laissait pas l’ombre d’un
doute (il était clairement difficile d’imaginer un herboriste mal instruit au sujet
des plantes), le Marchandage me laissait quelque peu perplexe. Il m’était
impossible de supprimer le Marchandage des compétences. Partant de là, les
développeurs me voyaient comme un frêle gobelin gambadant dans les bois,
cueillant des plantes pour les revendre aux marchands locaux. Donc il me
fallait la compétence Marchandage pour empêcher les marchands ambulants peu scrupuleux
de me rouler dans la farine. L’intelligence de mon personnage équivalant celle
d’un tabouret, je me serai fait escroquer tout mon argent sans compétence en
négociation. J’étais un peu dérouté par les lettres entre parenthèses après les
compétences, mais je compris vite qu’il s’agissait des statistiques octroyées
au personnage à mesure qu’il les utilisait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Trois points de
stat disponibles, ça paraissait léger ! Après avoir réglé les paramètres
et consulté les détails, je m’aperçus que les points de vie et d’endurance ne
dépendaient que de la constitution. Très bien, j’allais placer un des points
disponibles là-dedans. Mon total de points de vie grimpa à 21, l’endurance à
20.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Et puis je
m’arrêtais sur l’agilité. D’après le guide du Bûcheron infesté et de ce que je
déduisais des bonus de mon peuple, l’agilité serait le facteur de réussite clé
de mon personnage aux grandes esgourdes. J’y affectais deux points, ce qui la
rehaussa à quatre. C’était plié. Quoique... Au tout dernier moment, juste avant
de lancer la partie, je me dis qu’il était intolérable que l’intelligence de
mon Gobelin soit si faible. Dans la description, il était clairement dit qu’un
niveau d’intelligence inférieur à trois briderait ma capacité à m’exprimer
correctement ou à comprendre les autres. Ça voulait dire qu’en l’état, je ne
pourrai pas dialoguer avec d’autres joueurs et PNJ ou comprendre les missions
et les aides de jeu. J’abaissais mon charisme au minimum (déjà que ce n’était
pas un beau gosse, ça devenait carrément une monstruosité) et transférais ce
point vers l’intelligence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Là c’était vraiment
fini. J’étais prêt à me lancer !<br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Venez sur <a href="https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B07WNB3CYR/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> et prenez votre copie!</div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-56365834744295046802019-07-26T10:41:00.003+02:002019-07-26T10:46:48.195+02:00The Time Master (Interworld Network Book I) Chapter #3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Master-Interworld-Network-Book-ebook/dp/B07QWMRR8M/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sEg5gg%2B4L.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Chapter 3</h1>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">IF YOU WANT
</span><span lang="EN-US">to keep yourself from having destructive thoughts, you
should lose yourself in hard physical labor. Just read the history of any
totalitarian regime, and you can see that those governments recognized this
simple truth. People under those regimes toiled hard, from morning to night,
leaving them no time for any foolish ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I was lucky enough to be able to
deal with my mental issues that way. In my line of work, I had to focus on
whatever I was carrying, without descending into contemplation. I worked on
autopilot — my arms and legs knew exactly what they had to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">There was no real lunch break.
The damned van that was scheduled to come in the evening arrived at 2 p.m. To unload
it, we made a human chain, with Marat as the anchor. He adeptly punctured a few
1.5-liter bottles with a rusty nail, flipped them so the beer wouldn’t spill
out, and set them off to the side. There you go, faulty goods!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">By 6:30 p.m., we’d not only
managed to finish our work, but had polished off most of the expropriated beer.
I declined. My head was so muddled that drinking would be a terrible idea. In
any case, beer had little to do with this grotesque beverage in plastic
bottles. I preferred to hold off until the evening when I could drink a normal
beer — a draft or at least something from a glass bottle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Bones was a good guy who always kept
his word. At 6:45 p.m. I shook Marat’s hand and we went our separate ways. He
lived nearby, which was probably the main reason he wanted this job. I headed
to the bus stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">A snowy sleet fell on my face. It
was dark on the way from the warehouse to the street, but that was typical. I
walked slowly so I wouldn’t lose my footing. As I shuffled along, I tried to
grasp at the thoughts swirling through my head like they were Chinese
meditation balls I was trying to manipulate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The main development branch was
Time Master. Now I knew what that involved: rewinding time. That was what the
gold bar showed. Apparently, I could rewind three times in a row, going back
three or four seconds. I’d need to keep experimenting. The only question was
how to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I looked in front of me and gave
myself a mental command to move through time. Predictably, nothing happened.
The other time, it had been fear that had moved me. I’d had a scare and then I
was propelled through time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I shook my head. This was crazy.
The whole incident in the foundation pit, and now the time travel. I touched my
forehead. No fever. But this was definitely out of order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I emerged into a small,
illuminated open space under a streetlight. Now I was within spitting distance
of the bus stop. I stepped onto the path dusted with prickly snow and
immediately slipped. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t even have time to
pull my hands out of my pockets. My vertebrae cracked...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[ ∞ ]</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I emerged into a small,
illuminated open space under a streetlight. Now I was within spitting distance
of the bus stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Stop!</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I carefully skirted the
snow-dusted icy patch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The adrenaline was still racing
through my veins. I had just time-traveled — again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I mechanically took a few steps
and looked at my watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[ ∞ ]</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I looked at my watch again. This
time, the rewind ability went back exactly three seconds. The gold bar was only
one-third full. But the most important question was, how was I able to do it?
This time I had just willed it to happen. So why couldn’t I do it before?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I reached the bus shelter and sat
down on the bench. My heart was beating wildly; my skin was covered with
goosebumps. They weren’t from the cold, but from what I had just experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I could now achieve whatever I
wanted. What if, for example, I learned some boxing, landed a good hook, and
became world champion? Why not? Suppose I knew where to punch my opponent, and
I had three chances to duck and knock him out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">But what if he stood his ground?
Hm, a punch fest didn’t sound like a good option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">What if I were a soccer player?
Yeah, that would be cool. On the field, Sergei Demidov who can dodge any
world-class defender with a single movement because he knows where the other
guy is headed. But once again, I’d only be able to do that three times. And
then what? Substitution, the bench, class demotion. My fantasies of having
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career ended with me in the second amateur league.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I could become a firefighter and
save lives. But three seconds and three chances weren’t that much. If only
there were some way to extend the rewind or get more of this goodie!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Hold on… If I was indeed a
Player, that made it perfectly feasible. There had to be some levels and
experience you could collect. All I needed to do was find out how to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I hailed the approaching bus, got
on, and went to sit at the back. I caught myself thinking that the little text
boxes over my fellow passengers’ heads already seemed completely normal. That
made sense — you always get used to good things quickly. I perused the passengers’
descriptions. There was nothing interesting, except the guy by the front door
turned out to be a Lothario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I gazed out the window at the
somber landscape of the dark winter evening. I knew every angle of every
building, every bump on the road, and every turn by heart. I didn’t even need
to look through the mud-spattered glass. When you spend a few years traveling
the same route to work, it’s impossible not to memorize it. But today it was
like everything around me had been transformed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I didn’t recognize the buildings lining
the avenues. The stalls in one of the little markets looked old and shabby, and
in some places signs had been changed. At the same time, the city was still
recognizable by certain scattered fragments - like the stained-glass jigsaw
puzzle I had to put together. That said, it appeared completely new to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I felt like I’d stepped through
Alice’s looking glass. Or like this was in fact two worlds merged together: one
old and familiar, the other one new and open to discovery. For example, why
would someone hang a sign in an incomprehensible language in the middle of the
main street? I could swear it hadn’t been there yesterday. And why were planes
flying so low over the city? Or were they even planes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I took out my headphones and put
on some Rolling Stones, my all-time favs who’d wrongly been shoved aside by the
fab four from Liverpool. Ironically, the shuffle mode landed on <i>Paint It
Black</i>. It perfectly matched the reality unfolding outside the window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">On the other hand, things weren’t
quite so bleak. True, there was some sort of crap at work here. I didn’t
understand it and that frightened me. But as everyone knows, when one door
closes another one opens. All I needed to do was force myself to see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I was about four minutes away
from my street when I noticed him. He was an ordinary man, just one of many.
But the text box above his head was brighter. I could spot it from thirty yards
away. He looked around as though he sensed that he was being watched, and
ducked into the closest bar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hey! Please stop! I missed my
stop! Please!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The bus, which had just begun to
pull away, braked sharply. Under the disapproving stares of the other
passengers, I leaped out and pulled on my hood. I all but ran to the traffic
light and waited for it to turn. If only my eyes weren’t playing tricks on
me...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Excuse me, where’s the stop to
Friendship Street?” an ancient voice said behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I looked to see who it belonged
to. Just some old lady, wearing a threadbare fur jacket, felt boots and knitted
mittens, and wrapped up in two shawls. And of course she had a trolley bag.
These ladies can never find a handbag big enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“You need to go that way, ma’am.
Friendship Street is over there,” I pointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“But where’s the bus stop?” she
looked around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“On the other side. Right in
front of the traffic light. I’ll take you there, if you wish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Oh, good boy, yes, please do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">She grabbed her cart and
graciously offered me her arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Just then the light changed. As I
shuffled across the street with the little old lady in tow among a swarm of
passing pedestrians, I kept my eyes on the bar’s door through which the man had
entered. It looked like no one had come out. Excellent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">We reached the other side just in
time when the “don’t walk” signal had already started to blink warningly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Thank you, young man, thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">You’ve helped a commoner who
is neutral to you.</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">+10 karma points. Current
level: -90. You gravitate to the Dark Side.</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I looked at the semitransparent
notification that was scrolling fast in front of my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Eureka. So if I helped nine more
old ladies cross the street, would I make it to zero?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Ma’am, do you need to cross back
to the other side?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Why would I need to do that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Uh... so I can help you. To
increase my karma.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Look at him, he’s completely off
his face,” she snapped, promptly turning into an indignant fury. “They get high
on their drugs and then they hassle you. Get away from me right now!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">So much for her gratitude. I
shrugged off my ten karma points and headed toward the bar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">What is it they say? Good deeds
will never make you famous? Well, up yours! I just needed to think a little
about what to do. Anyway, why was I trying so hard to get above zero? First I
needed to find out what this “karma” thing was supposed to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I ended up in front of a locked
steel door sporting a sign that read:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Tavern</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">That was all. Nothing indicating
the business hours nor a colorful menu displaying Russian delicacies. They
could have at least painted some appetizing pictures of borscht, meat
dumplings, or aspic on the shop window. Otherwise, how would visitors know they
could get a good meal here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">What an odd place. Hesitantly I
pulled the door toward me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I stepped into a small lobby. A glazed
wooden partition separated it from the main room. Tavern was the last thing
you’d call this place. “Restaurant” would be more accurate. And if you wanted
to be even more accurate, it actually appeared to be an exclusive club.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The room was decked out in
English-style arched leather armchairs, couches, small tables, and a bar in the
middle with a television above it. But most important, all the patrons had the
same illuminated text boxes over their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Except the information that was
displayed kind of put me on my guard. <i>Vivisectionist, Sorcerer</i>, <i>Wrathful,
Mercenary, Guard, Swordsman, Artist_Chick, Runner, Armor-Clad Warrior, Coward,
Archalus, Turncoat.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">My eyes paused on the Archalus
because this creature looked exactly like the classic image of an angel: light,
flowing clothing, long hair, two wings folded over each other. The other beings
too would stand out in the crowd because not all of them were human, either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“So you’ve decided to drop in on
us, Korl?” a tall burly man asked, appearing out of nowhere on my left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I jumped. The notification above
his head said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Teleporter</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I nodded. “So I have.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“You know the rules.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">It wasn’t a question, but he was
obviously expecting an answer. I’d need to improvise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Don’t break the dishes and don’t
get into fights?” I offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Something like that,” he said
with a smile. “Come on in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The Teleporter dissipated as if
the wind had blown him away, only to reappear behind a table on the other side
of the partition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Now I had no choice. If I left
now, I’d look like an idiot. You never know, they might even catch up with me
and teach me a lesson in manners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I could rewind time, I suppose.
Except that here, three seconds clearly wouldn’t get me out of trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">To be honest, I’d never been
afraid of being onstage, even though I’d never had the chance to perform
before. But now, with some twenty-five pairs of eyes staring at me, I felt my
palms and neck break out in a sweat. Thankfully, most of the eyes looking at me
belonged to humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I noticed a stocky blond guy
sitting at a far table. He had the same fair complexion as myself — or rather,
as the stranger who had recently settled into my mirror. He nodded, obliging me
to respond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I stole over to an empty table by
the entrance and sat down. The others soon stopped eyeing me openly; a few of
them resumed their chatter. A Sorcerer bartender — if the information provided
by my Insight was to be believed — scurried over to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Greetings, Korl. Dust or cash?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">He handed me an open menu. I
looked at it. Opposite each dish there was either a number 1 or a 3, and an
unusual image of what looked like a small mound of sand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Cash,” I answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The bartender waved the menu in
the air. The indecipherable currency disappeared, replaced by familiar price
lists. Now I could find my way around it. The prices suggested that this was a
second-rate restaurant; I could actually bring a date here without going
bankrupt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Can I have a couple of minutes?
This is my first time here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Of course,” he said with a nod
and went back behind the bar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Everything here was weird.
Weren’t there any waiters? Actually, judging by the half-empty tables, people
didn’t really eat here. It looked to be more of a drinking establishment.
Anyway, it was irrelevant. I had more important things to contemplate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Now I had a chance to take a
closer look at the representatives of all the different races or species — whatever
they were supposed to be. The guy nearest to me appeared to be human with
pitch-black skin and yellow eyes. He had bizarre growths jutting out of his
head which looked like a few meager strands of hair that were gathered together
and covered with hairspray. They must have been some sort of outgrowth, like
small, flexible horns. According to my Insight, this guy was very <i>Wrathful</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The Archalus was sitting nearby.
He was sipping a beer, shooting the breeze with an ordinary person — as much as
the beings sitting here could be called ordinary. A bit farther away, a
peculiar creature sat perfectly motionless: it had a human head and torso, but
its limbs were clearly made of a dull metal I couldn’t identify. <i>Armor-Clad
Warrior.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">There was only one girl here:
tall and slim, with large, expressive eyes and short chestnut hair. She was
cute, if you ask me. She gave me a quick glance and then stuck her nose back in
the sketchbook, scribbling with a pencil. <i>Artist_Chick.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">All right, now I needed to act
like everything around me was business as usual. I leafed through the menu.
This place was anything but a humble tavern. If they had even half the dishes
on the menu, they could safely claim a Michelin star.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Still, I wasn’t about to
experiment. I lifted my hand, beckoning the bartender. “I’d like the mutton
dumplings and a pint of the Czech beer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“One moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The bartender took the menu and
went back behind the bar, and that’s when I saw real magic. He made a
mysterious flourish with his hands. A clump of light that looked like a
crumpled piece of paper flitted from his fingers. It rocketed up, circled for a
moment, then flew toward the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The Sorcerer caught my surprised
look and winked. All right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">This was obviously not a
demonstration of telekinesis with contactless combat. This was what you read
about in books. Yet the bartender had done all of this with such a bored and
indifferent expression as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Or maybe it
was, for him at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I scratched the back of my neck
and turned my eyes to the TV screen above the bar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The news was on. But there was something
different about it, too. National reports were interspersed with petty little
stories from small-town studios I’d never even heard about. From what I could
tell, no one had deliberately changed the channel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Zoologists are sounding the
alarm in Voronezh Province. The number of wolves has reached a critical level.
The frequency of wolf attacks on people has surged. For retiree Ludmila
Sokolova, an encounter with a wolf was nearly her last.</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“<i>It was so terrifying! I was
heading home, I was almost there, and someone was puttering around next to the
doghouse…”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">The search for a missing
eight-year-old girl has been going on for a day. Vicky Novoseltseva left for
school yesterday morning. But she didn’t make it....</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Oh, boy, that was our city. I recognized
the presenter. That was definitely our city. I craned my neck to try to see the
details, but my view was blocked by the stocky blond guy who had nodded at me
earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“<i>Haisa</i>, brother,” he said,
offering me his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“<i>Haisa</i>,” I said, guessing that
this was some kind of greeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Have you been here long?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“In town?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">He chuckled. “In this world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Yes... a long time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“I’ve only been here a month,” he
said. “And I don’t like it. It’s too hot here, even now. It’s snowing out, but
there’s no point.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Once again he looked at me
steadily, evidently considering something, and then he spoke,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“My name’s Traug. I’m here for at
least three months. I got into trouble in Elysium so I decided to sit it out
here. If you need any help, come find me. The second house to the right from
the city Gatekeeper. Korls always stick together, even the half-bloods,” he
added after a short but meaningful pause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">He shook my hand again and left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I set about trying to untangle
all this information. He said that he hadn’t been in this world long. And he
came from someplace called Elysium. That was the first thing. And he and I were
both Korls. That’s what the guard at the door and the bartender had called me,
too. Since he and I looked quite a bit alike, I figured it was some race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">But it was nonsense. Why Korls? I
was a human. My parents were human, and so were my grandparents. Having said
that... I couldn’t vouch for anything now. As recently as yesterday, I would
have never thought of investigating this sort of thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">OK, I’d figure this out later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Thirdly, he mentioned some
Gatekeeper. Did he mean the one for the local soccer club? In which case his
would be the second house from the stadium, right? Only there were no houses
next to it. No, by saying “city Gatekeeper” he must have meant something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">My thoughts faded so fast that I
promptly forgot what I’d been thinking about, distracted by a fragrant plate of
dumplings and a sweating glass of beer that had appeared out of nowhere in
front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">No, there was no magic involved.
I was just so lost in thought that I hadn’t noticed the waitress. She was
around fourteen, and she wore her hair in a bun. Most important, she was an
ordinary person. She had a dull label over her head which informed me that in
addition to whatever else she was supposed to be, she was also a <i>Musician</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Enjoy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Like any other Russian, I had a
lot of preconceived notions about mutton dumplings. Slaughtering and cooking
lamb is an art in itself, and I didn’t have the knack for it. Most of us only
ever taste this meat when it’s cooked poorly and has a sharp, repugnant odor — and
then they say that we’re unable to appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">But these dumplings... they were
so good that after the first one I was afraid that I’d just choke on gastric
acid. Juicy and sprinkled with chopped spring onions, they simply melted in my
mouth. I only paused my eating to swill it down with some beer — and then I
nearly lost my mind again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">You should never, ever drink
quality draft beer. Because after that it’s impossible to swallow that foamy,
rubbery beverage that passes for beer in this country. I had the impression
that on the other side of the door stood Pilsen, the good old Czech city where
authentic Czech brewers were making their fabled beer. There’s no way ordinary
brew could be as delectable as this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I sat back from my empty plate
feeling happy and sated. I finished the beer and took out my wallet. It turned
out not to be so cheap — $6 for a portion of dumplings and $3.50 for the pint
of their Czech ambrosia. What the hell, it was worth it. I didn’t know if it
was customary to leave a tip here, but I added one anyway and started for the
door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Still, the moment I’d polished
off my dinner, I realized that I felt uncomfortable here. A bit like a farmer
in ripped overalls who suddenly ends up at the White House. Every passing
minute increased the risk of me being found out. So I did the only thing I
could. I left money on the table and quietly exited. Fortunately, everyone,
including the bartender, was fixated on the next gruesome story on TV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I got outside and took a deep
breath. The air was warm and pleasant, and even the snow falling on my face
felt familiar. And it wasn’t hot outside at all — this Traug guy had been talking
a lot of BS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I strode over to the intersection
and searched for an old lady to help cross, but had no luck. I crossed the
street empty-handed and went to the bus stop. By some sort of miracle, my bus
showed up almost immediately. I plopped down in an empty seat, ignoring the
messages above people’s heads. I’d gotten sick and tired of it all in the last
two days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I must have dozed off because I very
nearly missed my stop. I jumped out at the traffic light as the migrant driver
swore at me in his own language. It was almost 9 p.m. already. All because of
that foolish trip to the bar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">And what had I learned?
Apparently, there were these creatures called Players. I wasn’t the only pretty
face around. If I were to believe Traug, there was also this other world called
Elysium. And maybe there were also others like it. The existence of all those
different races suggested that that there might also be lots of worlds. The
Players had their own currency which they called dust. I doubted that it was
the same dust that collected on my shelves. What else?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I was lost in thought when I got
to the door of my building. There was no one sitting on the benches. That
wasn’t surprising — a snowstorm was brewing, gusts of wind blowing handfuls of
prickly snow in my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I opened the security door and
nearly knocked heads with the upstairs neighbors, a married couple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hello,” I said mechanically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hello, Sergei,” the woman said. “Nicky,
why are you stopping? Let’s go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">But both I and the fifty-year-old
Uncle Nick had stopped dead in our tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Because I was staring at yet another
Player.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<div data-p-id="b7b30e4ee58f5414ef51dfb74c015fc7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Dear readers, </span></i></div>
<div data-p-id="f948092938a94314adcd3306afb4b964" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">if you like the Time Master, please share the link from Blogspot in your FB-page or in your blog.</i></div>
<div data-p-id="66b1c59ce5c1ff225d10395b028988fe" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Please, vote for the chapters!</i></div>
<div data-p-id="55faffd19dd96d9520e280569747311b" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thanks in advance for your support.</i></div>
<div data-p-id="23715e98736183d5a744d1aa6857ac2e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you can't wait to find out what happens next the full novel is available on Amazon at </em><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QWMRR8M/">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QWMRR8M/</a></i></div>
<div data-p-id="9e2c08a62cffa6ba164874ba55e7abc6" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">If you don't want to miss any free giveaways & announcements, and much more, you can:</span></div>
<div data-p-id="ddd435fc9714456c6b2335f8dfa8226d" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />- </span>Subscribe to our mailing list:<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/b7niIL">eepurl.com/b7niIL</a></i></span></i></div>
<div data-p-id="8def7fd3aac551f30494fcdd919112d9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">-</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </i></i>Like<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> </span>LitRPG Books News FB-group:<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books/">facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books/</a></span></i></div>
<div data-p-id="a5e4f8b8bc6c5113a2042da24dcbdc86" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">- </i>Follow Magic Dome Books on Twitter: <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://twitter.com/magicdomebooks">twitter.com/magicdomebooks</a></i></span></div>
<div data-p-id="9b6b69c78e1099c1f3aea246279580ab" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
- Publisher FB-page: <i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://facebook.com/magicdomebooks/">facebook.com/magicdomebooks/</a></span></i></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">
<br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222;" /></div>
</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "bookman old style" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-20121560779508369792019-07-26T10:38:00.003+02:002019-07-26T10:47:01.106+02:00The Time Master (Interworld Network Book I) Chapter #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #fcebb5; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Master-Interworld-Network-Book-ebook/dp/B07QWMRR8M/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sEg5gg%2B4L.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc13565674"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></a></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Chapter 2</h1>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I even looked out the window,
just to be sure. Occasional passersby, wrapped in thin jackets that were still
too light for winter (it was all the fault of the late cold spell) were
bustling home. No one was chasing or devouring anyone. Maybe I’d been hurled
into some sort of parallel universe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I gave my apartment a check. No,
it didn’t gel with my theory. The same crumbling Soviet-era furniture: the
folding couch, Grandma’s old table with my laptop on it, the Czech wall unit<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ftnref4"></a><a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/Content/%D0%9A%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%A2%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%A2%20%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%AF%20%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%90%2024.07.2019/KINDLE%20MASTER%20COPY%20Bilik%20Time%20Master-1.docx#_ftn4"><span style="color: windowtext;">[4]</span></a> — the last vestiges of a country that no
longer existed. The chipped wooden windows, the wallpaper that had been put up
when my grandfather was still alive, the curtains... They obviously didn’t
match the interior and who knows when they’d last been washed? Other than the
computer and TVs — one in the tiny kitchen and the other in the bedroom-living
room-only room — nothing had changed since my grandmother was around. I mean,
I’m a self-confessed slob and my bachelor’s lifestyle does nothing to counter
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I went back to the kitchen to
mull things over, especially because I’d already finished the first bottle of
beer and the sausages were cooked. I poured some mayonnaise and ketchup onto a
plate and created an absentminded meal to the accompaniment of a sports commentator
lamenting about how a soccer striker had missed an empty goal from 10 yards
away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">My head was heavy. I couldn’t get
myself to form even a few intelligent thoughts, all the more so because my
body’s efforts were focused on digesting the food. In fact, the beer was acting
like a sedative. My eyes were sticking together and my nose was trying to get
acquainted with the table. Sleep. I needed some sleep. There must be a reason
why people say you should sleep on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">THE ALARM
ON MY PHONE </span><span lang="EN-US">had been screaming for nearly a minute
before I turned it off. I pattered to the bathroom in the darkness. The things
you dream!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I turned on the light and nearly
yelped. That sturdy blond guy was still there. He gazed out of the mirror
looking a little frightened, but he obviously hadn’t gone anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">So I guess it wasn’t a dream. I
put toothpaste on my toothbrush, sat down on the edge of the tub and started to
think about how I’d continue to live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">When I’d nearly finished brushing
the right side, I froze in disbelief. How had I never noticed these progress
bars before? They hovered in my line of vision in pairs, two on top and two on
the bottom, scaring me in the way that I imagined a 16-year-old girl felt when
taking a pregnancy test. The two on the top were sort of gold and green, while
the ones on the bottom were red and blue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">OK, let’s think about this. It
all had started yesterday when I’d punched that stranger. Someone in my head
had called him a Player. As in, <i>Ready Player One</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Maybe I’d somehow taken his place?
In that case, everything would be simple. The red bar was health, the blue one
was mana, the green one was vigor, but what about the gold one? Who the hell
knew? The level of my sex appeal? Considering my new appearance, it was
entirely plausible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I finished brushing my teeth and
climbed into the shower. The water was barely warm; the water main in our
district had probably burst again, but I was used to it. Ever since I was a
kid, I’d never been afraid of the cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">After I’d dried off, I got dressed
and sat down in the kitchen to contemplate. By all accounts, I needed to go to
the hospital. To have a brain scan or whatever. Maybe it would simply turn out
that there was a tumor in my head, and that tumor was trying to put me at odds
with reality. On the other hand, if I skipped work right now, Bones definitely
wouldn’t be happy. My boss was thin and sinewy, and on top of that he was also
grim — obviously you didn’t need to look far to think of a nickname for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I thought for a bit, then dialed
his number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hello,” said a disgruntled
voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Eh, sir-”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Sergei, I don’t want to hear it.
Fyodor and Alexei are kicking back again. No matter what’s happened, I’m not
giving you the day off. The van of beer is coming today. And who’s gonna supply
the stores?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“But-”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“But what, do you have a fever?
Did you break your arm? No? Then you have no excuse. Do you expect me to run
around the warehouse myself?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">With that he hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">As the saying goes, it wasn’t in
the cards. I guess I’d need to go out. The news that Fyodor and Alexei had gone
on a bender was unwelcome, of course. Everyone would need to run around more.
On the other hand, the work was such that it attracted a certain crowd. People
with college degrees don’t typically become warehouse loaders. I mean, normal
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">In my case, it was a conscious
choice. I’d spent five years getting an economics degree just to go and work
with my hands. You should have seen my father’s face. In fact, that was the
first and biggest reason I’d done it. They’d already bought me a military card<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ftnref5"></a><a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/Content/%D0%9A%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%A2%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%A2%20%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%AF%20%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%90%2024.07.2019/KINDLE%20MASTER%20COPY%20Bilik%20Time%20Master-1.docx#_ftn5"><span style="color: windowtext;">[5]</span></a> and got a cushy job lined up for me in a
fancy company — the job which, according to them, had “a lot of potential”. And
I just left and got myself a menial job with a bunch of like-minded losers.
That was the second reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Of course, it was hard to brag to
my friends that I had gotten a job as a loader all on my own without
connections, but I really didn’t care. When you talk about a grown-up,
independent life, the emphasis is on the word “independent.” Thirdly, it turned
out that the job paid reasonably well for our rather large provincial city. I
could afford to eat, drink, buy some clothing, and take my latest crush to the
movies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">And to be honest, I didn’t have
any particular friends. I had a couple of acquaintances from university I could
meet once every couple of months to grab a beer and hear about their sexual
conquests or failures or commiserate about their workloads. They tactfully
avoided bringing up my work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s clear that loader isn’t a
career you dream about when you’re a kid. No one ever says, “If you do well in
school, you’ll be stacking pallets of beer for a living.” I understood very
well myself that with time I’d need to grow in some direction. But for the time
being the question didn’t concern me much. What did concern me right now was
the fact that I needed to run like hell to get to work on time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I looked in the fridge. Other
than yesterday’s sausages and a couple of eggs, it was blissfully empty.
Although an omelet with a grade-B meat product isn’t bad in itself, you
shouldn’t eat one every day. It had been drummed into me since childhood that
breakfast was supposed to be balanced and contain the right amounts of protein,
fat, and carbohydrates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">There was only one dish that fit
these criteria, and it was sold close to my house. According to the clock on my
wall, they’d already been open for a half hour. That meant that they’d had time
to put out the meat and fry enough for a few portions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">In front of the door I felt as
worried as Leonov<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ftnref6"></a><a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/Content/%D0%9A%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%A2%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%A2%20%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%AF%20%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%90%2024.07.2019/KINDLE%20MASTER%20COPY%20Bilik%20Time%20Master-1.docx#_ftn6"><span style="color: windowtext;">[6]</span></a>
when he was about to step into outer space. The colored shapes before my eyes
hadn’t disappeared, and my hands were shockingly pale. Apparently, I was
supposed to get used to the changing reality and my new body. More precisely, I
felt it like the old one, but my eyes didn’t lie. OK, I’d talk to Bones,
anyway. Not for today maybe, but I’d ask for tomorrow off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The stairway was silent; even
Lydia didn’t poke her head out at the sound of my slamming door. On the third
floor my nose started to itch as usual from the smell of cat piss coming from
the apartment that belonged to a self-sufficient and independent (read: lonely)
woman of an indeterminate age who seemed to hate people just as much as she loved
cats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">As I skipped the rest of the way,
the green bar trembled a little and began creeping downward. I pressed the
button on the entry system next to the front door and dashed out into the
fresh, frosty air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“You understand what it’s about,
my dear sir, don’t you? They’ve b... br... bred a feeling of inferiority in our
people. They’ve drilled it into us that if we want to be great we need to hate
someone. We need to have a common enemy that supposedly prevents us, the
powerful and awesome, from getting on with our lives... Ah, Sergei, greetings
and salutations,” Mr. Petrov waved to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I stopped for a moment and
nodded. His friend — or to be more precise, his listener — was sitting next to
him, struggling to stay awake. He had a neglected appearance: a battered
sheepskin coat like they wore in the late 1970s, a drooping sweatsuit, and old
shoes with scuffed and cracked leather toecaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The two were clearly conducting a
sophisticated discussion and they’d already had quite a bit to drink. But there
were two things that interested me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">First, what time did you have to
wake up so you’d be so wasted by 10 a.m.? It’s true what they say: desire is
the best motivation. But the second thing was the most curious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">There was a text box floating
over the Professor’s head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Alexander Petrov</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Academic</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Carpenter</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">This was amusing. It was just
like in an advanced online game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I looked at the man in the
sheepskin coat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">???</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Plumber</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">That was it. There was a little
more information about the Professor. Maybe it was because I knew him and I was
seeing the other man for the first time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Mr. Petrov, you never told me
you used to be a carpenter,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“A carpenter!” he waved my remark
aside. “My father, God rest his soul, now he was a cabinet maker from God. I’m
just a tinkerer. I can only fix things or just potter about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I nodded, put my hood on, and
skirted the building to go out to the street. The most dangerous thought of any
madman crept into my head: what if I was normal? Meaning that maybe that guy
from yesterday really gave me some sort of superpowers? Maybe it was even by
chance, like bad diseases are typically transmitted? No, I wasn't going to
start wearing my underpants on the outside. But what if I had also become some
sort of Player, and I was now looking at the world through the concave mirror
of convention?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The people who were hurrying to
work only confirmed these wild ideas for me. They all had question marks
floating above their heads. Some of them had only a few lines, while others had
nearly ten or so. But they all had a line I could read: pastry chef, coin
collector, leader, shoemaker, Tatar, teacher...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">So this mysterious system was
displaying not just professions, but also nationalities, certain personality
traits, and hobbies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">With these thoughts I literally
flew past the three buildings until the intersection where the bus stop was.
The traffic was a little livelier here. But most important, that’s where Uncle
Zaur made the most delicious shawarma<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ftnref7"></a><a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/Content/%D0%9A%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%A2%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%A2%20%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%AF%20%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%94%D0%9B%D0%90%2024.07.2019/KINDLE%20MASTER%20COPY%20Bilik%20Time%20Master-1.docx#_ftn7"><span style="color: windowtext;">[7]</span></a>in
his rather filthy-looking snack joint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hello,” I said, nodding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Good morning,” the old shop
owner returned my greeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">A notification appeared over his
head:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Zaur</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Azerbaijani</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Very funny. As if I didn’t know
it. “One please, to go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“You should come in. I’ll give
you some tea with it. You all eat on the go and then you have stomachache and
blame it on my shawarma.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Uncle Zaur muttered all of this
as he spread sauce on the lavash bread, then began throwing hot meat on it with
quick, agile movements. All I knew about the owner of this hole was that he’d
come to Russia a long time ago, married a Russian woman and ran his own small
but formidable business. He also had two guys working for him making shawarma
and shish kebab, but Uncle Zaur himself was always close by. Sometimes he’d
drink with the regulars or thoughtfully smoke a cigarette, arms crossed over
his small belly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Here you go, no change,” I said,
holding money out to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Enjoy,” he said, handing over a
bag with the shawarma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I wolfed down the hot meat in the
lavash before I even got to the bus stop, just in time to helplessly watch my
departing bus. Now I’d have to wait another ten minutes or so. I stepped to the
side, lit a cigarette and took a drag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">If you thought about it, things
weren’t so bad — provided my head was in order. So if I were of no interest to
shrinks, I needed to figure out how to take advantage of what had befallen me.
As far as I could understand, the message said something about the Insight
ability, the Light spell, and the Savior avatar. It wasn’t yet clear how to
activate the latter two. As I understood it, Insight was passive and worked all
the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">The bus, which arrived before too
long, thwarted all my plans to enslave the world. I had to get on. As I paid
the driver, I noticed that in addition to the occasional question mark, a
Speeder sign was burning bright above him. I immediately plopped down on a seat
and grabbed hold of the handle in front of the standing spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I was really starting to like
this new ability of mine because after three intersections, with a wild screech
of the brake pads, the bus stopped after nearly crashing into some ancient dude
driving a cheap sedan. All the passengers lurched forward. Except me. The
Speeder tried two more times to hasten my meeting with God, but he didn’t
succeed. When I got out by the building materials plant, I was a little shaken,
but intact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">And there were advantages to the
driver’s speed. I thought I’d be cutting it close, but I ended up arriving twenty
minutes early. So I took my time crossing the street and beelined for our base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">It was made up of five identical
warehouses on one side and an office that abutted them on the other. Nothing to
write home about — just a small private business owned by a Russified German
who rarely made an appearance, usually just when he had to pick up his earnings
or give us a major dressing-down. Incidentally, when it came to dressing-downs,
he could go toe to toe with Bones. As I’d already mentioned, the workers were a
diverse bunch: former convicts, a few drunks down on their luck, a couple of
migrants, and the occasional student. And me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Over the course of the day,
trucks came up to the guardrail, filled out requisitions, and then, under the
alert supervision of the shipping agents and Bones himself, we loaded their
vehicles with goods for small stores. At a different time, usually in the
evening, vans with water and beer arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Today, too, a van was scheduled
to come. Nothing major, just about 20 tons, but, as I understood it, two of our
regular crew had gone on a bender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“What’s up?” Marat said, holding
his hand out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">He’d already changed his clothes,
laid a few pieces of cardboard on the guardrail in order not to freeze his rear
end, and sat down on them. When he saw me, he smiled, flashing the two gold
caps on his upper teeth, and extended his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hi,” I answered him with
interest, shaking his hand and examining his stats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Marat Gubaydullin, age 32</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Thief</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Marat had been a young offender
when he’d first gone to jail, and he’d left it long after he’d been transferred
to the adult division. When he’d finally got out at the ripe age of 23, he got
married and even had a little kid. But my secret assistant still designated him
a Thief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I doubted it was referring to
Marat’s slippery past. He’d been in jail for robbery, not theft. That meant
that he was stealing from the warehouse on the sly. Now I understood who Bones had
in mind whenever he was swearing to bring everyone into the open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“The van from Samara is coming
today,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Yes, I heard. I’m sure we’ll get
a good drink out of it,” Marat nodded, flashing the gold-lined “Hollywood
smile” that he’d gotten in the slammer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I nodded. During any delivery
there were enough faulty goods, or, more accurately (air quotes) “faulty goods”.
Sometimes the drivers themselves left a couple of pallets at our mercy so they
could finish the trip faster. On days like that the loaders went home tipsy and
happy. Even Bones couldn’t do anything about that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Uncle Alexei and Fyodor are
already drunk. They won’t be going out today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Marat cringed. “Shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I understood him. We had no
equipment. Our workload was measured utterly simply: in human — or if you
approached the process with a sense of humor, donkey — power. Two extra pairs
of hands unloading the van meant a lot to us — especially because, counting the
two shirkers, there were only seven of us altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“So we work overtime,” he
immediately shared his unhealthy optimism. “A little extra cash won’t hurt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Right. I’m going to get
changed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">As I left the closet, I ran into
Bones. To me, despite the insulting nickname, our stock manager was the binding
force here. He kept a firm hand on the loaders. If you took him away and put
someone else in charge, it was unlikely that anyone here would actually work.
You’d need to put together an entire staff again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hi, Sergei,” Bones shook my hand
like a genius diagnostician trying to determine how sick I was by looking at
me. “How are you feeling?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“My ears are sort of ringing,” I
lied, scanning his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">In addition to his full name, the
Insight spat out new information: Model Maker. That was interesting. What kind
of models did Bones make in his spare time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“You’ll be sick tomorrow. But
today, no way. By the way, the vehicle from store number 9 has arrived. Let’s
go load it. There’s water, beer, energy drinks, and cookies. Marat, you hear?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Fifteen minutes until the shift
starts,” my hardnosed coworker called out lazily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“I’ll let you leave 15 minutes early.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Yeah, that’s if the van doesn’t
show up when we’re closing,” Marat retorted, but moved from his spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s probably not worth bragging
about, but I was very good at preparing shops’ orders. When I first started
out, I looked like a complete misfit. But it’s like that in any field. You’d
get the job, make people smile because you’re new, but then you gradually
become an expert. In the beginning, I was constantly scurrying around and
getting in the way, but now it was a real pleasure to look at me. I didn’t make
a single extra movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Carbonated water, six pallets,
check,” Bones counted aloud. “Beer, glass, two, check. Beer, plastic, three
crates.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Marat and I danced around each
other. He dove into the warehouse while I walked out with my load. Twenty
bottles aren’t very heavy when they’re inserted with heavy cardboard and sealed
thoroughly in new polyethylene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Unfortunately, today we didn’t
have such a luxury. All the beer was from an old delivery that had been sitting
in the warehouse for a long time. The cardboard had fallen apart, and then a
radiator had leaked and the packaging had gotten wet. As a result, I had to
carefully hold the beer from the bottom. No matter how experienced I thought I
was, better safe than sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I wasn’t aware exactly at what
point the case fell apart. Four bottles fell out through the hole in the bottom
at the exact moment when my foot was already lifted onto the body of the truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">I raised my head and saw Bones’
angry face. He opened his mouth and...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[ ∞ ]</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Marat and I danced around each
other. I couldn’t shake off the feeling of déjà vu. This had already happened,
just now. I had exited the warehouse and the case of beer had fallen apart in
my hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">More precisely, I was now exiting
the warehouse and...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">By reflex I shifted the case in
my hands, taking a better grip. The glass clinked mournfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Be more careful, Sergei.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“The case has no bottom, sir. We
should tape it up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">“Go ahead. Marat, one more case
of glass bottles. Then we’ll move on to the cookies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">Holding the tape, I crouched
down, staring with acute fascination at the intact case of beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">First of all, now I knew the
purpose of that gold bar, which had now lost a third of its length. It was
displaying the progress of that most important development branch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US">And secondly, I now had the
ability to rewind time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="display: inline !important;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #fcebb5; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; text-align: center;"><o:p><b>Come and order your copy on Amazon </b>- </o:p></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Master-Interworld-Network-Book-ebook/dp/B07QWMRR8M/" style="background-color: #fcebb5; color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><i>https://www.amazon.com/Time-Master-Interworld-Network-Book-ebook/dp/B07QWMRR8M/</i></a></div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-34451735412568189172019-06-14T07:28:00.000+02:002019-06-14T07:29:43.117+02:00The Time Master (Interworld Network Book I): LitRPG Series by Dmitry Bilik<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Master-Interworld-Network-Book-ebook/dp/B07QWMRR8M/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sEg5gg%2B4L.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>An ordinary Russian guy, Sergei picks a fight in his
neighborhood, defending a little boy. Problem is, the guy he's just defeated
vanishes into thin air, leaving Sergei to discover he now possesses the ability
to turn time around.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>On top of that, Sergei can now travel between worlds.
He acquires mysterious new skills and abilities. And he discovers there're many
others just like him in our world.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Sergei finds his own place in the secret community of
the Seekers - creatures with superpowers. He even teams up with a few of his
new buddies, planning to strike gold in one of the neighboring worlds.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Sergei has no idea that his every step is being
watched. He's being shadowed by the Darkest One - one of the oldest Seekers
around who'll know no peace until he gets hold of some of Sergei's unique
abilities.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 35pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Chapter 1</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My least favorite things in the world were chicken
liver, heartburn, and helping people. No, my parents hadn’t spawned a
scoundrel. It</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s just
that I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d
rather help someone because I want to, not because I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">m
pressured to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sergei, I think he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s probably
gone to the foundation pit,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” m</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">y
neighbor</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s words added boiling oil to the cup of my already-heated
patience.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Masha was only three years older than me,
but somehow I ended up addressing her like I was a kid and she was an adult,
while she graciously talked to me as though we were equals. On top of that, at
age 28 she had two kids, a docile husband, and her own apartment, no matter
that it was off the beaten path. In contrast, besides nine pairs of oddly
colored socks, I owned nothing in particular.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But that mischief maker known as fate had
brought us together on the same floor of an apartment building after my father’s
grandmother died. I inherited her apartment, breaking free of the parental nest
but falling into Masha</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s web.
Apparently, the universe was doing its best to maintain equilibrium.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d be hard pressed to call me a pushover. At no time would I have a
girl order me around. I always made that much perfectly clear. Yet I’d somehow missed
that opportunity with Masha. I once helped her carry her stroller downstairs</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">you know, as a neighborly thing to do. Then one time when I went
to the store, I picked up some yogurt while I was there. After that, there was
no stopping her.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I should probably mention that Masha was
smart. She never crossed the line with her errands, but she could occasionally
knock you off balance, like today. Except that her quests always came with the
label </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">legendary</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and
forced you to work up a major sweat.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">OK, I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll check if he’s there,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I said with a nod, reaching for my cigarettes.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her window immediately banged shut. It
wasn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t May, after all, and she had a suckling baby at home. I heaved a
heavy sigh and threw on my hood.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I see that the Young
Communist is helping out the needier families?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">an old man in a ski cap inscribed </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sport</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">observed
snidely from his perch on the bench by the entrance.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I smiled. I liked Mr. Sergeyev. The old
fellow was a local institution. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He was a professor who’d once taught the
history of the CPSU<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
and other subjects that were undoubtedly important, but he hadn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t been
able to change his ideas in time.<span style="color: black;"> When the country
went through perestroika, Mr. Sergeyev was left behind. So he developed a taste
for the demon drink, and eventually lost the battle for good. He was dragged
along by his wife, a hardy, permanently angry woman for whom her hubby had
become like a suitcase that had lost its handle. It was hard to pull, but it
would be a shame to discard it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Something like that. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her
husband is away overnight and her little Vasya went for a walk.<span style="color: black;"> He was supposed to be home a half hour ago. I</span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">m on my way to the store and volunteered to go see where he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s hiding.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The road to hell is
paved with good intentions,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr.
Sergeyev said sagely.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh, I know that. What
are you doing hanging around freezing here?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Waiting for a buddy. We</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ve decided to organize a symposium<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>.
Give me a cigarette, will you? It’s not for me</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">my friend is the one who smokes. I always tell him it’s bad for
him and he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s destroying his health, but he’ll hear nothing of it.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I smirked and gave him a cigarette. As I
walked away from the entrance and lit up, I heard the crackling of cigarette
paper and the dry tobacco. I took a couple of drags and fell to thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The foundation pit, huh?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was right across the street from the
local supermarket where I was going. At one point an ambitious development
company had decided to build a modern, attractive multistory building in our
backwater. It bought out private homes, surveyed the land, and started to
excavate a foundation pit. But something didn’t pan out on their end. More
precisely, something literally flamed out: one night, the office downtown
caught fire. Perhaps competitors were to blame, or a circuit, or maybe a
combination of the two. So the company vanished into oblivion, leaving behind
nothing but a foundation pit. You can guess who immediately took a liking to
this local monument.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone knows that every man is a former
kid. But the kids from our district tried with all their might to stay at that
tender age forever. A half-destroyed or half-built property in the vicinity
only helped the cause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">OK, I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d stop by the foundation pit on the way home. Vasya was a good
kid, if somewhat mischievous. God forbid something happen to him.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The supermarket was on the first floor of
a five-story building. No doubt about it, it was off the beaten path. Next to
it was the ring road, followed by lane after lane of dilapidated log huts echoing
with guard dogs’ indistinct, sad barking and filling the air with the woody scent
of heated bathhouses on the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I had time to smoke two cigarettes before
I reached the shop entrance. Inside, some kids around the age I was looking for
were jostling each other by the vending machine with the chewing gym.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hey, guys, have you
seen Vasya from number 8?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the kids raised his head in obvious
resentment. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya? Vasya Korshunov?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, Korshunov. His mom</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s looking for him.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No, haven’t seen him.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shit. Now I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d need to cross that street and get myself over to the foundation
pit. There was only one streetlight, and it only illuminated part of the pit.
At least I had a flashlight on my phone.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wandered through the aisles tossing
simple food into my basket: sausages, three bottles of beer, macaroni and
mayonnaise. As I approached the register, I stopped by the stand holding the
deodorant. I did need some; I was almost out. That took care of it.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It had gotten cold outside. I raised my
hood and shifted the flimsy plastic grocery bag so it was more comfortable to
hold, then set off for the edge of our world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before crossing the street, I looked both
ways a few times</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">. T</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">his
was a place where you needed to teach kids the rules of the road, under
conditions that were, shall we say, reminiscent of war. I managed to get across
without any mishaps and heaved a sigh. The streetlight flickered hostilely in
unison with me and blew out. Great.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I turned on the flashlight on my phone. Of
course, I couldn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t see more than five
yards in front of me. I tried to peer through the dark for a while, but nothing
useful came of that. I swore and put away my useless phone.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya! Vasya!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The last thing I wanted to do was climb
down into the pit on the frozen ground. I was tempted to blow the mission out
and head off home. I mean, really, was I ultimately responsible for other
people’s dumbbells? Just do a better job raising your kids and don’t baffle
your dutiful neighbors. It was warm and cozy at home right now. I could go
home, cook some macaroni and sausage, turn on a TV show, and enjoy it all with
a beer. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">m over here!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Damn it. I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d planned it all out so nicely in my head. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya, where are you?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As if! Now the kid was silent. I had a
feeling that today I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d need to personally
take care of Vasya</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s upbringing and give
him a good taste of paternal tough love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With a technique that would have put
Cirque du Soleil to shame, I started to lower myself into the pit, scattering
hard pieces of frozen clay with my feet. In one outstretched hand I held my
lighter, and in the other I held the bag with the clinking bottles. All I
needed was a tightrope and an audience.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Which I apparently had. Someone was
watching my clumsy descent</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">— </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">that
became clear when I was halfway down. That</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s when I made out two figures on the bottom of the foundation pit:
Vasya and a guy I didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t know
standing next to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh great. A Pedobear was the last thing I
needed. Considering that at no time was I a fighter, and my adversary had more
girth on his side, things could turn unpleasant.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What do you need, dude?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I shouted, trying not to betray my anxiety.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No answer. The kiddo was silent, too. They
just stood there looking at each other without moving a muscle. I kind of
wanted someone to jump out and yell, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Surprise!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
dreams are only dreams. So I took a few steps forward.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dude, don’t make me do
something I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll regret.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I stumbled but managed to stay on my feet.
The bottles jangled plaintively, but even that didn’t provoke a reaction. I
guess I was going to have to sort him out, after all. I squeezed the lighter,
placed the grocery bag on the ground, and strode toward the stranger.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Only then did I notice the odd clothing on
this guy who enjoyed chatting up kids at night. He was wearing a long cloak
devoid of any labels or designs. The hood was over his head. Well, terrific.
Good job, Sergei, now you</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re
going to meet a cult follower. And the night had started off so well...</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Man, get away from the
kid,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I uttered an idle threat, my arm already
drawn back to punch him.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My father had never taught me to fight</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">his thinking was that a smart man could always reach an agreement.
But his best friend, Uncle Dima, disagreed. He’d made sure I threw a decent
punch and his opinions on the matter were far more straightforward. As in: if there’s
a fight in the air, go for it, and then afterward you can sort out who was
right and wrong. That</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s not
to say that I often made use of this maxim, but it was much more in line with
my own philosophy.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Somehow, it looked like the man in the
cloak must have had his own Uncle Dima because he turned sharply and thrust out
his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He didn’t hit me but I could feel some
sort of force coursing through his fingers. My body flew several few yards like
a defenseless rag doll. I landed on my back on my ill-fated grocery bag.
Judging by the sound, the packet of macaroni had split. The bottles clanked but
at least they didn’t break. The stick of deodorant bumped up against my side.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
grunted. What was that? All I knew was that I was in pain. My back wasn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t the strongest part of my body. Because of my line of work, I
constantly needed to massage the small of my back so it wouldn’t ache. It took
my angst-ridden brain a couple of seconds to realize that I’d gone flying even
though no one had touched me.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was unlikely that the approaching
stranger was a Jedi. I didn’t see a light saber. Well, maybe not yet. In any
case, he was obviously a master of telekinesis. Of course, I would have liked
to know what the hell was going on, but I now acted on the most ancient
instinct, putting everything else on the back burner.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I tried to use my free right arm to lean
on the ground so I could get up. That didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t work. First I crawled over a bottle, and then the scattered
macaroni, and then bumped up against the stick of deodorant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then I had an idea</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wouldn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t say
it was a bright one, but it wasn’t bad. The stick of deodorant was in my right
hand</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">the cap had flown off</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">the lighter was in my left hand, and the approaching adversary was
around two yards away.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I held the deodorant in front of me,
catching a whiff of its rank scent (I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d missed the mark this time</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I made a mental note to buy something else next time), and struck
the lighter in front of it. I may not be a master of telekinesis, but we all
have our fireballs.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For a moment, the place was flooded with
light. I managed to discern the garbage-strewn foundation pit, Vasya</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s frightened face, and the stranger</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s cloak which was being licked by the flames. Biting my lip and
trying to ignore the pain, I hurled my improvised livesavers aside and leaned
my arms on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I stood up with the speed of a pregnant
Seychelles tortoise and threw myself at the assailant. He was still swatting
the smoking hood, so he couldn’t respond adequately. He swung his arms wildly
and punched, attempting what</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s
called a one-shot.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Never in my life did I stand out for my
heroic strength, and I never frequented a boxing gym, but I managed to land a
hook that was a work of art. I heard an unpleasant cracking sound as the
stranger fell to the ground. Or maybe the opposite: first he fell, and then I
heard a deafening crack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I stood for a few seconds with my fists
raised, ready to punch some more if needed, but the Satanist guy lay there
motionless showing no intention of standing up.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is he OK?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya spoke up.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I shrugged. “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Probably.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In any case, I took my time going over to
him and carefully checked his pulse. I felt pretty arrogant as I did this
because I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d breezed through all the health and safety training classes in
school. I touched his wrist and then his neck. I thought I felt something, but
it could have also been my own heartbeat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I touched his head, and my fingers came
away bloody. Fantastic. I’d just smashed his head.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is he alive?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya asked.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yeah, yeah,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I answered, starting to believe my own
words less and less.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I straightened up, trying to get hold of
myself. All right then, another one bites the dust. Now you</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ve become a murderer, Sergei. Damn, how did that happen? Now what?
Who was I supposed to call first? The police or an ambulance?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First of all, I still had to take Vasya
home. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let’s go. Your mom</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s beside herself.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a stupor I picked up the remains of the
food I’d bought</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">. T</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">o my
surprise, not a single bottle of beer had broken. I tied up the bag</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">its handle had been torn off</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and started to plod along. Vasya trudged behind me, wheezing and
scattering clumps of earth underneath him.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Uncle Sergei!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What now?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Um, he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s gone.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I turned around. Vasya was right</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">there was no sign of the body. Either this mysterious telekinetic
had passed himself off as a zombie and buried himself in the ground, or he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d turned on escape velocity and sped off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well, no body, no problem. Except that
what happened next really frightened me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You</span></i><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ve killed a Player who was
neutral to you.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">-100 karma points. You
gravitate to the Dark Side.</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The main development branch has been determined: Time Master</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You</span></i><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ve gained the Savior face.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You</span></i><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ve gained the Insight ability.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You’ve gained the Light spell.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I looked at the message scrolling in front
of my eyes. Sergei, everything</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s OK.
You</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re just in shock. You</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re not going crazy. Just go home and have a beer. If it doesn’t
pass, you can go to the hospital tomorrow.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya tugged at my arm. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Uncle Sergei, you all right?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m OK. I just got a
little dizzy. I hit my head when I fell down. Let</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s go... Hey, watch out! You shouldn’t be running across the road
like that! Look both ways</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">left,
then right.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I suddenly realized that I was acting
exactly like my father. When they’re young, all children probably think, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll be different when I grow up.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But then it turns out that either deliberately or not, we end up
just like our parents.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya, how on earth did
you end up in the foundation pit with that, er, stranger?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He said he was a
wizard. A real one. He said he knew everything about me: where I lived, Mom and
Dad</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s names, everything.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What do you mean,
everything?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t tell anyone.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mum</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s the word,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
promised.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the spring we would
go floating on rafts, you know, foam plastic ones. We made them ourselves. And
I crashed into the water. I got soaked. We lit a bonfire and stayed until all
my clothes dried. Mom didn’t even find out. That’s it.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What do you mean,
‘that’s it’?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No one besides the kids
knew about it. Get it?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ah, Vasya. Has it
occurred to you that maybe he just saw you guys? Or the other kids spread the
word? Think about it. Figuring out where you live and your parents</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">names doesn’t take a whole lot of
intelligence either. And that</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s why
you went to the foundation pit with a strange man at night? Isn’t that a stupid
thing to do?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was stupid,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya admitted. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I got scared after. It’s just that his ... face was familiar. And
he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s a wizard. He did all sorts of tricks. Like spells, you know?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Did he ... do anything
to you?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">No. He said we had to wait
for something. So we stood there and waited. Then you came.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What if I hadn’t come?
Don’t ever go anywhere near strangers, especially when you</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re alone. And if you see him again, run home and call the poli</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">— </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">no, on second thought, call me. Is that
clear?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I patted him on the shoulder. There was a
lot in this story that I didn’t understand. What did this satanist weirdo want
to achieve? From what I understood, he hadn’t laid a finger on Vasya. And yet ...
Vasya let slip that they were waiting for something. Maybe a full moon on
Saturn? You couldn’t be too sure with lunatics. Plenty of them around.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But what about </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">he did all sorts of tricks, like spells</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">? Did telekinesis count? On the other hand, what made me think
that that’s what it was? There are all sorts of schools of non-contact
fighting. Maybe this misfit had practiced one of them. He must have distracted
me somehow and I’d just flown a few steps without realizing what had hit me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course this sounded crazy. But my brain
was desperately trying to find a logical explanation for what had happened. It
wasn’t really succeeding. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya, let</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s not say anything to your mom right now about this guy. OK?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course we won’t say
anything,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasya agreed easily. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I might get into huge trouble. I’m already in trouble as it is.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He suddenly looked sad. We made the rest
of the trip across the courtyard in silence. The dimly lit streetlights
illuminated the ice-covered asphalt. Harried people loaded with shopping bags were
heading home from work. A prickly snow was dropping from the sky. Neither Mr.
Sergeyev nor his symposium partner were sitting on the bench. They had probably
already drunk their fill and drifted away to their separate lairs. All the
better</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">that meant there</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d be
fewer witnesses. Ugh, I was thinking like a criminal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I tapped my key fob on the entry system
and let Vasya walk in before me. The door on the third floor was already open
for us. Apparently someone had been waiting and heard steps in the entrance.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vasily</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">, where were you?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Masha was ready to give Zeus the Thunderbearer
God a run for his money. From personal experience I knew that when your parents
call you by your full name, it</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s
unlikely that it</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s out of respect for
you. Instead, you can expect fury to be unleashed. Seeing Vasya hunch his head
in his shoulders, I felt that my theory was confirmed..</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you so much,
Sergei. Where did you find him, in the foundation pit?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, he was messing around
with the kids,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I said with a nod, fixing Vasya with a
stare. He blinked slowly</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">he
understood.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">How many times have I
told you not to go there? Your father will set you straight!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The threat didn’t work on either of us.
Everyone knew that Masha</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s
husband was totally henpecked and that he adored his wife. Vasya obviously
resembled his mother in nature. His dad might admonish his son, but he wouldn’t
force him to kneel on dried peas as they’d done to kids in Victorian times or larrup
him with a steel-buckled Red Army belt.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What’s with your bag?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Masha looked suspiciously at the bundle in
my hands.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I slipped and fell. All
right then, goodnight.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Good night. Thanks
again.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I opened the door, crept into my own lair,
and turned on the light. Was this night really ending after all? It felt like
enough had happened to fill the next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I didn’t notice that I was sitting on the
rug in front of the door, fully clothed. No, I needed to get up, cook something
to appease my growling stomach, and gather my thoughts.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I tossed the beer into the fridge and
threw the dirty shopping bag into the sink with the sausages still in it. I
just needed to rinse them off , and then they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d be fine to cook. As for the macaroni, it was much worse for
wear. Most of it had remained strewn on the bottom of the foundation pit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I looked in the cupboards and found half a
pack of rice. That would do. I hastily put a pot of water on the burner. Now I
had to see what I looked like. Despite my fall, my pants were practically
clean. My hands, however ... </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That was the strangest thing. My right
palm was covered in dirt even though I remembered clearly the wetness of blood as
I’d touched the man’s open wound. You don’t forget crap like that in a hurry. Talking
about which, the bag also should still have had drops of blood on it. But I
didn’t see anything of the sort. The evidence of my fall was there - but there
was no blood from the dead man left anywhere on me.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What was it that those bizarre messages had
said? </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Apparently,
I’d killed some Player. Bullshit. Had I killed him, he wouldn’t have
disappeared anywhere. Rather, he would have lain there nice and quiet like
Lenin in his tomb, waiting for the police to arrive. No, if anything, I must
have hit my head a little as I fell, resulting in minor hallucinations. I
should actually take a closer look at my own stupid head to see if it was
injured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I went into the bathroom, turned on the
faucet, and started to wash my numb frozen hands. The water stabbed my fingers
unpleasantly. But it was no big deal; the most frightening events were behind
me now. I just needed to calm down a little and gather my wits.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I smoothed my hair with my wet hands and
straightened up, going over to the tiny mirror above the washing machine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I nearly cried out. A completely different
person was looking back at me.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 35pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Chapter 2</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As Bulgakov once wrote, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fear your wishes, for they have a habit of coming true.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’d add that when they do come true, it</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s in a twisted way that you could never have fathomed out.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like anyone with average looks, for my
whole life I wanted to appear a little cuter than I actually was. Nature and my
parents hadn’t done an excellent job fulfilling their duties. Unlike my
gorgeous sisters, I didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t have
wild success with the opposite sex. You might call me average: narrow chin,
long, straight nose, sharp cheekbones. A typical Hollywood-style villain nerd.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But the guy looking out at me from the
mirror was ... cute. The jaw was more prominent. Against the backdrop of the
jaw, the sculpted cheekbones looked completely natural. The ears were small,
unlike the radio detectors I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d
grown used to. The eyebrows were blond</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">actually, silvery</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and
the skin and hair were noticeably lighter. The only thing that hadn’t changed
was my brown eyes. That was the only way I knew that the reflection in the
mirror was mine.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But there could be no mistake. The
light-haired, sturdy guy in the mirror was me. I frowned, scratched my
forehead, and again adjusted my slightly wet hair. It looked like I was the one
who needed first aid, not the stranger in the foundation pit. Calm, I had to stay
calm.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I went back to the kitchen, as if I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d been hit by a dusty sack. The water had begun to boil long ago,
but instead of the rice I just threw in the sausages and opened a beer. What a
business. No, not quite. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What</i> a
business. And I couldn’t really tell anyone about what had happened. I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d be shipped off to the loony bin immediately. To be honest, at
this point even I wasn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t
completely sure that I hadn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t gone
crazy.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What if the things that happened in all
those fantasy books were coming true? Had the apocalypse come, were most people
turning into zombies and just a few into Players?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I turned on my small kitchen TV and
flipped through the channels. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vremya</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vesti</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Novosti</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Comedy Club</i>,<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> a soccer
match</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">nothing
out of the ordinary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I even had to look out the window.
Occasional passersby, wrapped in light jackets that were still too light for
winter (it was all the fault of the late cold spell) were bustling home. No one
was devouring or killing anyone. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maybe I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d been
hurled into some sort of parallel universe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I even walked around and across my apartment. No, it
didn’t gel with my theory. The same Soviet-era furniture: the folding couch,
Grandma</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s old
table with my laptop on it, the Czech wall unit<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> - the
last vestiges of a country that no longer existed. The chipped wooden windows,
the wallpaper that had been put up when my grandfather was still alive, the curtains...
They obviously didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t match the interior and who knows when
they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d last
been washed.<span style="color: black;"> Other than the computer and TVs</span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">one in the tiny kitchen and the other in the bedroom-living room-only
room</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">nothing had changed since my grandmother was around. I mean, I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">m a loafer and my bachelor</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s existence only contributed to that.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I went back to the kitchen to mull some
things over, especially because I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d
finished the first bottle of beer and the sausages were cooked. I poured some mayonnaise
and ketchup onto a plate and created an absentminded meal to the accompaniment
of a sports commentator lamenting about how a striker had missed an empty goal
from 10 yards away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My head was heavy. I couldn’t get myself
to form even a few intelligent thoughts, all the more so because my body’s
efforts were focused on digesting the food. In fact, the beer was acting like a
sedative. My eyes were sticking together and my nose was trying to get
acquainted with the table. Sleep. I needed some sleep. There</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s a reason why people say you should sleep on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The alarm on my phone had been screaming for nearly a minute before
I turned it off. I pattered to the bathroom in the darkness. The things you
dream!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">turned
on the light and nearly yelped. That sturdy blond guy was still there. He gazed
out of the mirror looking a little frightened, but he obviously hadn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t gone anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So I guess it wasn’t a dream.
I put toothpaste on my toothbrush, sat down on the edge of the tub and started
to think about how I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d continue to live.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I got stuck when I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d nearly finished brushing the right side. How had I never noticed
these bars before? They were arranged in pairs, two on top and two on the
bottom. They scared me in the way that I imagined a 16-year-old girl felt when
taking a pregnancy test.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The two on the top were sort of gold and
green, while the ones on the bottom were red and blue. OK, let</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s think about this. It all had started yesterday when I’d punched
that stranger. Someone in my head had called him a Player. As in, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ready Player One</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maybe I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d somehow taken his place? In that case, everything would be
simple. The read bar was health, the blue one was mana, the green one was
vigor, but what about the gold one? Who the hell knew. Maybe the level of my
sex appeal? Considering my new appearance, it was entirely plausible.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I finished brushing my teeth and climbed
into the shower. The water was barely warm; the water main in our district had
probably burst again, but I was used to it. I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d always been tempered, since I was a kid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After I’d dried off, I got dressed and sat
down in the kitchen to contemplate. By all accounts, I needed to go to the hospital.
To have a brain scan or whatever. Maybe it would simply turn out that there was
a tumor in my head, and that tumor was trying to put me at odds with reality.
On the other hand, if I skipped work right now</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bones definitely wouldn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t be happy. My boss was thin and sinewy, and on top of that he was
also grim - obviously you didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t need
to look far to think of a nickname for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I thought for a bit and then dialed his
number.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hello,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">said a disgruntled voice.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eh, sir</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sergei, I don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t want to hear it. Fyodor and Alexei are kicking back again. No
matter what</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s happened, I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">m not
giving you the day off. The van of beer is coming today. And who</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s gonna supply the stores?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But what, do you have a
fever? Did you break your arm? No? Then you have no excuse. Do you expect me to
run around the warehouse myself?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With that he hung up. As the saying goes,
it wasn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t in the cards. I guess I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d need to go out. The news that Fyodor and Alexei had gone on a
bender was unwelcome, of course. Everyone would need to run around more. On the
other hand, the work was such that it attracted a certain crowd. People with
college degrees don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t typically become warehouse
loaders. I mean, normal people.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In my case, it was a conscious choice. I’d
spent five years getting an economics degree to then go and work with my hands.
You should have seen my father’s face. In fact, that was the first and biggest
reason I’d done it. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d already bought me a military
card,<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> prepared
a warm spot in a fancy company doing<span style="color: black;"> a second-banana
job, which, as they say, is </span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">to grow into.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d go and get myself a menial job with God knows whom. That was the
second reason.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course, it was hard to brag to my
friends that I had gotten a job as a loader all on my own without connections,
but I really didn’t care. When you talk about a grown-up, independent life, the
emphasis is on the word </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">independent.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thirdly, it turned out that the job paid
reasonably well for our provincial, yet large, city. I had enough to eat, drink,
buy some clothing, and take my latest crush to the movies.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And to be honest, I didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t have any particular friends. I had a couple of acquaintances
from university I could meet once every couple of months to grab a beer and
hear about their sexual conquests or failures or commiserate about workloads.
They tactfully avoided bringing up my work.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s clear that loader isn’t a career you dream about when you</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re a kid. No one ever says, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you do well in school, you</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll be stacking pallets of beer for a living.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I understood very well myself
that with time I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d need to grow in some
direction. But for the time being the question didn’t concern me much. However,
right now, the fact that I needed to run like hell to get to work concerned me a
lot.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I looked in the fridge. Other than
yesterday</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s sausages and a couple of eggs, you could have rolled a bowling
ball through it. Although an omelet with a grade B meat product isn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t bad in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>itself, you
shouldn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t eat one every day. It had been drummed into me since childhood
that breakfast was supposed to be balanced and contain the right amounts of protein,
fat, and carbohydrates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There was only one dish that fit these
criteria, and it was sold close to my house.According to the clock on my wall,
they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d already been open for a half hour. That meant that they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d had time to put out the meat and fry enough for a few portions.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In front of the door I felt as worried as Leonov<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> when he
was about to step into outer space.<span style="color: black;"> The multicolored
lines hadn</span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t disappeared, and my
hands were shockingly pale. Apparently, I was supposed to get used to the
changing reality and my new body. More precisely, I felt it like the old one,
but my eyes didn’t lie. OK, I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d talk
to Bones, anyway. Not for today maybe, but I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d ask for tomorrow off.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The stairway was silent; even Masha didn’t
poke her head out at the sound of my slamming door. On the third floor my nose
started to itch as usual from the smell of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>cat piss. That’s where a self-sufficient and independent woman of an
indeterminate age lived by herself. She hated people as much as she loved cats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I skipped the rest of the way, the
green bar trembled a little and crept downward. I pressed the button on the
entry system and dashed out into the fresh, frosty air.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You understand what it</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s about, my dear sir, don’t you? In our people they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ve b... br ... bred a feeling of inferiority. They</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ve drilled it into us that if we want to be great we need to hate
someone. We need to have a common enemy that supposedly prevents us, the powerful
and awesome, from getting on with our lives. Ah, Sergei, greetings and
salutations.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Sergeyev waved his hand. I stopped for
a moment and nodded. His friend - or to be more precise, his listener - was
sitting next to him, struggling to stay awake. He had a neglected appearance: a
torn sheepskin coat, drooping sweatsuit, and old shoes with scuffed and cracked
leather toecaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The two were clearly conducting a
sophisticated conversation and they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d already had quite a bit to drink. But there were two things that
interested me.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First, what time did you have to wake up
so you</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d be so wasted by 10 o</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">clock?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s true what they
say: keep your eyes on the prize</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">see
your way clear. But the second thing was the most curious.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There was a text box floating over the professor</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pyotr Sergeyev</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">academic</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">carpenter</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This was amusing. It was just like in an
advanced online game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I looked at the man in the sheepskin coat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">???</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">plumber</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That was it. There was a little more
information about the professor. Maybe it was because I knew him and I was
seeing the other man for the first time?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Sergeyev, you never
told me you used to be a carpenter.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A carpenter!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">he waved my remark aside. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My father, God rest his soul, now he was a cabinet maker from God.
I’m just a tinkerer. I can only fix things or just potter about.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I nodded, put my hood on, and skirted the
building to go out to the street. The most dangerous thought of any madman
crept into my head: what if I was normal? Meaning that maybe that guy from
yesterday really gave me some sort of superpowers? Maybe it was even by chance,
like venereal diseases are typically transmitted? No, I was not going to start wearing
my underpants on the outside. But what if I had also become someone like the
Player, and I was now looking at the world through the concave mirror of
convention?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The people who were hurrying to work only
confirmed these wild ideas for me. They all had question marks floating above
their heads. Some of them had a few lines over them, while others had nearly ten
or so. But they all had a line I could read: pastry chef, coin collector,
leader, shoemaker, Tatar, teacher...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So this mysterious system was displaying
not just professions, but also nationalities, certain personality traits, and
hobbies.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With these thoughts I literally flew past the
three buildings until the intersection where the bus stop was. The traffic was
a little livelier here. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But most important, that</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s where
Uncle Zaur made the most delicious shawarma<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>in his
rather filthy-looking snack joint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hello,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I said, nodding.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Good morning,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">the old shop owner greeted me.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A notification appeared over his head:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Zaur<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Azerbaijani<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Very funny. As if I didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t know it.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">One please, to go.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You should come in. I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll give you some tea. You all eat on the go and then you have
stomachache and blame it on my shawarma.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Uncle Zaur muttered all of this as he
spread sauce on the lavash and with quick, agile movements threw hot meat on
it. All I knew about the owner of this hole in the wall was that he’d come to
Russia a long time ago, married a Russian woman, and ran his own small but
formidable business. He also had two guys working for him making shawarma and
shish kebab, but Uncle Zaur himself was always close by. Sometimes he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d drink with the regulars or thoughtfully smoke a cigarette, arms
crossed over his small belly.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here you go, no change,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I said, holding money out to him.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Enjoy,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">he said, handing over a bag with the
shawarma.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wolfed down the hot meat in the lavash
before I even got to the bus stop. With anguish I caught sight of my departing
bus. Now I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d have to wait another 10 minutes or so. I stepped to the side,
lit a cigarette and blithely took a drag.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you thought about it, things weren</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t so bad</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">— </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">provided
my head was in order. So if I were of no interest to psychiatrists, I needed to
figure out how to take advantage of what had fallen to me. As far as I could
understand, the message said something about the Insight ability, the Light
spell, and the Savior face. It wasn’t clear how to activate the second two
points. As I understood it, Insight was passive and worked all the time.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The bus, which arrived before too long,
thwarted all my plans to enslave the world. I had to get on. As I paid the
driver, I noticed that in addition to the occasional question mark, a Speeder sign
was burning over him. I immediately plopped down on a seat and grabbed hold of
the handle in front of the standing spot.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was really starting to like this new
ability of mine because after three intersections, with a wild screech of the
brake pads, the bus stopped after nearly crashing into some ancient dude driving
a cheap sedan. All the passengers lurched forward. Except me. The Speeder tried
two more times to hasten my meeting with God, but he didn’t succeed. When I got
out by the building materials plant I was a little shaken, but intact.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And there were advantages to the driver</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s speed. I thought I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d be
cutting it close, but I ended up arriving 20 minutes early. So I took my time
crossing the street and beelined for our base.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was made up of five identical produce
warehouses on one side and an office that abutted them on the other. It was
nothing to write home about</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">a
small private business owned by a Russified German who rarely made an
appearance, usually just when he had to pick up his earnings or give us a major
dressing-down. Incidentally, when it came to dressing-downs, he could go toe to
toe with Bones. As I already mentioned, the workers were a diverse bunch. There
were former convicts, a few drunks down on their luck, a couple of migrants,
and the occasional student. And me.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the course of the day, trucks came up
to the guardrail, filled out requisitions, and then, under the alert
supervision of the shipping agents and Bones himself, we loaded their vehicles
with goods for small stores. At a different time, usually in the evening, vans
with water and beer came. Today, too, a van was scheduled to come. Nothing
major, just about 20 tons, but, as I understood it, two of our regular crew had
gone on a bender.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s up?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat
said, holding his hand out.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He’d already changed his clothes, laid a
few pieces of cardboard on the guardrail in order not to freeze his rear end,
and sat down on them. When he saw me, he smiled, flashing the two gold caps on
his upper teeth, and extended his hand.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hi,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I answered him with interest, shaking his
hand and examining his stats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat Gubaydullin, age 32</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thief</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">???</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat had been a young offender when he’d
first gone to jail, and he’d left it long after he’d been transferred to the
adult division. When he’d finally got out at the ripe age of 23, he got married
and even had a little kid. But my secret assistant still designated him a
Thief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I doubted it was referring to Marat</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s slippery past. He</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d been
in jail for robbery, not theft. That meant that he was stealing from the
warehouse on the sly. Now I understood who Bones meant whenever he was swearing
to bring everyone into the open.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The van from Samara is
coming today,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I said.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, I heard. I’m sure
we’ll get a good drink out of it,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat
nodded, flashing the gold-lined </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hollywood
smile</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">that he’d gotten in the slammer.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I nodded. During any delivery there were
enough faulty goods, or more accurately, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">faulty goods.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes
the drivers themselves left a couple of pallets at our mercy so they could
finish the trip faster. On days like that the loaders went home tipsy and
happy. Even Bones couldn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t do
anything about that.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Uncle Alexei and Fyodor
are already drunk. They won</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t be
going out today.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat cringed. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shit.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I understood him. We had no equipment. Our
workload was measured utterly simply: in human</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">or if you approached the process with a sense of humor, donkey</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">—</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">power. Two extra pairs of hands unloading the van meant a lot to
us - especially because, counting the two shirkers, there were only seven of us
altogether.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So we work overtime,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">he immediately shared his unhealthy
optimism. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A little extra cash won</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t hurt.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Right. I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">m going to get changed.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I ran right into Bones as I left the
closet. To me, despite the insulting nickname, our stock manager was the
binding force here. He kept a firm hand on the loaders. If you took him away
and put someone else in charge, it was unlikely that anyone here would actually
work. You</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d need to put together an entire staff again.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hi, Sergei.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That was one of his quirks. He called
everyone by their first name, no matter what their age or how long they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">d been working here. Or more precisely, not working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bones shook my hand like a genius
diagnostician trying to determine how sick I was by looking at me. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">How are you feeling?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My ears are sort of
ringing,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I lied, scanning his face.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to his full name, the Insight
spat out new information: Model Maker. That was interesting. What kind of
models did Bones make in his spare time?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll be sick tomorrow. But today, no way. By the way, the vehicle
from store number 9 has arrived. Let’s go load it. There</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s water, beer, energy drinks, and cookies. Marat, you hear?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fifteen minutes until
the shift starts,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">my
hardnosed coworker called out lazily.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll let you leave 15 minutes early.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yeah, that</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">s if the van doesn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t show
up when we</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re closing,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat
retorted, but moved from his spot.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I don’t know if this is worth bragging
about, but I was very good at preparing shops’ orders. When I first started
out, I looked like a complete misfit. But it was like that in any field. You’d
get the job, make people smile because you</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">re new, but then you gradually become an expert. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the
beginning, I was constantly <span style="color: black;">scurrying around and
getting in the way, but now it was a real pleasure to look at me.</span> I didn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t make
a single extra movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carbonated water, six pallets, check,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bones
counted aloud. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beer, glass, two, check. Beer, plastic,
three crates.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat and I danced around each other. He <span style="color: black;">dove into the warehouse while I walked out with my load.
Twenty bottles aren</span></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t very
heavy when they’re inserted from top to bottom with heavy cardboard and sealed
thoroughly in new polyethylene. Unfortunately, we didn’t have such a luxury.
All the beer was from an old delivery that had been sitting in the warehouse
for a long time. The cardboard had fallen apart, and then a radiator had leaked
and the packaging had gotten wet. As a result, I had to carefully hold the beer
from the bottom. No matter how experienced I thought I was, better safe than
sorry.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wasn</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">t aware exactly at what point the case fell apart. Four bottles
fell out through the hole in the bottom at the exact moment when my foot was
already lifted onto the body of the truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I raised my head and saw Bones’ angry
face. He opened his mouth and ...</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">∞</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marat and I danced around each other. I
couldn’t shake off the feeling of déjà vu. This had already happened, just now.
I had exited the warehouse and the case of beer had fallen apart in my hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">More precisely, I was now exiting the
warehouse and...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By reflex I shifted the case in my hands,
taking a better grip. The glass clinked mournfully.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Be more careful,
Sergei.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The case has no bottom,
sir. We should tape it up.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Go ahead. Marat, one
more case of glass bottles. Then we</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ll move on to the cookies.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Holding the tape, I crouched down, staring
with acute fascination at the intact case of beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First of all, now I knew the purpose of
that gold bar, which had now lost a third of its length. It was displaying the
progress of that most important development branch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And secondly, I had the ability to rewind
time.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><b>Come and order your copy on Amazon </b>- </o:p></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Master-Interworld-Network-Book-ebook/dp/B07QWMRR8M/"><i>https://www.amazon.com/Time-Master-Interworld-Network-Book-ebook/dp/B07QWMRR8M/</i></a></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> The history of CPSU: History of the Communist Party of the Soviet
Union. The subject was taught in all Russian colleges and universities from
1938 to 1991.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "bookman old style" , serif;">“Symposium” is a play on words: the Latin word
“symposium”, which these days means “a scientific conference”, used to mean “a
drunken party” in Roman days.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> These are names of Russian TV shows. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vremya (Time)</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vesti
(Tidings)</i>, and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Novosti (News)</i> are
news programs; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Comedy Club</i> is an
entertainment show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> During shortages in the Soviet Union, furniture from Czechoslovakia
was valued. Anyone who had any was considered wealthy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> When people reach military age in Russia, sometimes they illegally
purchase a military card to avoid serving in the army.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Alexei Leonov, a Soviet cosmonaut who completed the first spacewalk
on March 18, 1965.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/work/%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B/%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA/English/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0-1/Bilik%201_chaps%201%20&amp;%202%20edited.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish that is popular in Russia. It
contains pieces of chopped meat and vegetables rolled in lavash bread.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-85122806079805540892019-03-27T09:10:00.001+02:002019-03-27T09:12:25.332+02:00New LitRPG chapters everyday!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dear friends, you can read new LitRPG series from Russian bestsellers author everyday on Wattpad</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/user/Magic_Dome_Books">https://www.wattpad.com/user/Magic_Dome_Books</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/143174433-countdown-reality-benders-book-1-litrpg-series" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="176" src="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/143174433-176-k126578.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/169339875-the-knockout-by-max-lagno-and-dan-sugralinov" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="176" src="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/169339875-176-k813199.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/175445116-adam-online-absolute-zero-by-max-lagno-litrpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="176" src="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/175445116-176-k728233.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/182394498-class-a-threat-disgardium-book-1-litrpg-series-by" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="176" src="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/182394498-176-k405392.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And more other books...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-40881755865340760682018-10-12T15:03:00.002+02:002018-10-12T15:03:21.720+02:00Der Videospieltester - LitRPG in German!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Обычная таблица";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07GCT4BBK" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07GCT4BBK" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51u2Z3v8f9L.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ein Roman von Michael Atamanov</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kräutersammler
der Finsternis</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Buch
1</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>DE</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Обычная таблица";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
table.MsoTableGrid
{mso-style-name:"Сетка таблицы";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-priority:39;
mso-style-unhide:no;
border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
table.TableGrid1
{mso-style-name:"Table Grid1";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-priority:39;
mso-style-unhide:no;
border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</span></b></div>
<h1>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc523304045"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc523303068"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc523304045;"><span lang="DE">Der Videospieltester</span></span></a><span lang="DE"></span></b></h1>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">„HABEN SIE </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">schon
einmal <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen </i>gespielt?“,
eröffnete der HR-Mitarbeiter mittleren Alters das Vorstellungsgespräch mit
ausgerechnet der Frage, die ich am meisten gefürchtet hatte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Laut Stellenanzeige
musste ich unbedingt eine Anforderung erfüllen: Ich durfte das Spiel noch nie
gespielt haben. Wenn ich die Frage mit „ja“ beantwortete, würde das Gespräch
vermutlich so schnell beendet sein wie es begonnen hatte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Spielen Sie
irgendwelche anderen bekannten Spiele, äh … Timothy?“, fragte er, nachdem er
meinen Namen auf dem Bildschirm vor sich gelesen hatte. Er schien einen langen
Tag hinter sich zu haben und war bestimmt müde.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ja, natürlich. Ich bin
seit ungefähr 6 Jahren ein Gamer. Ich habe ziemlich lange <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Königreiche der Schwerter und Magie</i> gespielt.“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Gamer“, murmelte er
geringschätzig und runzelte die Stirn. Der umgangssprachliche Ausdruck schien
ihm nicht zu gefallen. „Und wie haben Sie sich im Spiel unserer Konkurrenz
geschlagen? Haben Sie besondere Leistungen erbracht, Timothy?“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sollte ich ihm die
Wahrheit sagen oder war es unklug, einem Fremden solche Details zu verraten?
Trotz meiner Bedenken entschied ich, das Risiko einzugehen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„In den letzten 5<span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span>Jahren
war es meine einzige Einkommensquelle. Ich habe natürlich nicht genug für eine
Luxusjacht oder eine Villa auf einer tropischen Insel oder so etwas verdient,
aber es war mehr als genug, um davon leben und mein Studium bezahlen zu
können.“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Warum sagen Sie
‚natürlich nicht genug für eine Jacht’?“, hakte er nach, ehe er zu meiner
Überraschung lachte. „Die Spitzenspieler von <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen </i>verdienen ohne große Anstrengung genug für ein
seetüchtiges Boot. Doch soweit ich weiß, verstößt das Entnehmen von Spielgeld
bei <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">KSM</i> gegen die Regeln. Möchten Sie
mir ein bisschen mehr darüber erzählen, Timothy?“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich hatte wohl die
falsche Entscheidung getroffen. Ich hätte nichts davon erwähnen sollen. War
dies das Ende? Würde ich abgelehnt werden? Aber der Mann bestand nicht auf
einer Antwort. Stattdessen stellte er eine völlig andere Frage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Warum wollen Sie mit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">KSM</i> aufhören? Doch das können wir wohl überspringen,
die Antwort liegt auf der Hand. Die Anzahl der aktiven Spieler ist stark
gesunken. Mehr und mehr Leute wechseln zu <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich
ohne Grenzen</i>. Es ist schließlich unterhaltsamer und realistischer. Das Geld
muss einfach ausgegangen sein.“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich nickte nur, denn
ich hatte dem nichts hinzuzufügen. Früher hatte unser Clan zwischen 5.000 und 7.000
Spieler für PvP-Raids in feindlichen Gebieten oder zur Vernichtung eines
Superbosses zusammentrommeln können. Doch diese Zeiten waren lange vorbei.
Gestern hatten wir gerade mal 15 Spieler für einen Angriff auf eine feindliche
Burg zusammenbringen können und 3 davon waren Newbies gewesen, die erst eine
Woche im Spiel waren. Aber dennoch … wir hatten die Burg gestürmt! Der einzige
Verteidiger des feindlichen Clans, der übrig gewesen war, schien froh zu sein,
die Bürde loszuwerden. Er hatte uns viel Glück gewünscht und versucht, uns sein
Konto aufzuschwatzen, weil er das Spiel verlassen wollte, um bei <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> einzusteigen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Da hatte ich beschlossen,
dass es an der Zeit war, das sinkende Schiff zu verlassen, bevor es von der
Konkurrenz völlig versenkt wurde. Es war natürlich sehr ärgerlich, all das Geld
zu verlieren, das ich in das Spiel gesteckt hatte. Nach dem tragischen Tod
meiner Eltern hatte ich ihre Wohnung geerbt, doch ich musste sie verkaufen, um
die Arztrechnungen meiner Schwester bezahlen zu können. Danach war noch eine
ordentliche Summe übrig gewesen, weshalb ich beschlossen hatte, in eine
virtuelle Immobilie in der Nähe einer Hauptstadt in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">KSM</i> zu investieren. Zu der Zeit war <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Königreiche der Schwerter und Magie</i> rasant gewachsen und es schien
eine gute Anlage zu sein.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wer hätte ahnen können,
dass das bis dahin unbekannte Unternehmen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich
ohne Grenzen</i> nur 2 Wochen nach meiner riskanten Anschaffung seine eigenen
Spielserver starten würde? Hätte irgendjemand voraussehen können, dass es in
nur 3 Jahren zum weltweit größten und reichsten Unternehmen werden sollte, das
viele hundert Millionen Spieler weltweit in seine äußerst realistische Welt
ziehen würde? Der Wert meiner virtuellen Immobilie in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Königreiche</i> war so stark gefallen, dass er nicht einmal mehr die
Zeit rechtfertigte, die ich damit verbracht hatte, sie zu bauen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Der HR-Mitarbeiter
verbrachte einige Minuten damit, sich meinen Lebenslauf genauer anzusehen,
bevor er mich anblickte und lächelnd sagte: „Ein menschlicher Paladin auf Level
310, ein Dunkelelfen-Bogenschütze auf Level 270, ein Halbelfen-Magier auf Level
190 ... Nicht schlecht, gar nicht schlecht, Timothy. Hat man Sie darauf
aufmerksam gemacht, dass Spieler in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich
ohne Grenzen</i> nur einen Charakter haben können, der nicht geändert oder
gelöscht werden darf? Auf diese Weise gehen wir sicher, dass unsere Spieler
ihre Charaktere wirklich verstehen und eine enge Verbindung zu ihnen aufbauen.
Nur dann erleben sie die Spielwelt als echte Realität.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich nickte nur, ohne
etwas zu sagen. Natürlich wusste ich das. Es war der Punkt, über den ich mir am
meisten Sorgen machte, seitdem ich die Online-Stellenanzeige für <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i>-Spieltester gesehen hatte.
Mein Problem war, dass ich schon einmal versucht hatte, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> zu spielen. Doch das war vor über 3 Jahren
gewesen. Zu der Zeit war es noch eine offene Beta-Version gewesen, die mir
etwas „halbgar” erschien. Es gab weder Übungsszenarien, Anleitungen, noch
Ingame-Hinweise. Die Stelle, an der ich gestartet war, hatte grob und
unvollständig ausgesehen. Keine „prächtigen, lockenden Horizonte” oder
„hinreißend echten Sonnenuntergänge”, wie die Werbung es jetzt versprochen
hatte. Damals hatte es all das in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich
ohne Grenzen</i> nicht gegeben.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Außerdem hatte ich nur 7
Minuten gespielt. Mein Charakter war ein Level-1-Barbar gewesen, ich hatte eine
zweihändige Axt gewählt und den Startbereich verlassen. Gleich neben dem Dorf
war ich auf eine Gruppe von Level-70-Vampirfledermäusen getroffen - und eine
Sekunde später war ich tot gewesen. Als ich die Nachricht erhalten hatte, dass
ich eine ganze Stunde warten müsste, um zum Spawnpunkt zurückkehren zu dürfen,
hatte ich das unausgereifte, unausgewogene Spiel verflucht und es von meinem
Computer gelöscht. Jetzt hoffte ich, dass mich mein früherer, fehlgeschlagener
Versuch nicht daran hindern würde, einen Job als „Videospieltester” zu
bekommen, wie die Position in der offiziellen Stellenanzeige ausgeschrieben war,
um die ich mich in diesem Gespräch bewarb.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Was gibt es noch zu
sagen, Timothy? Sie haben wirklich viel Erfahrung mit Videospielen und keine
physischen oder psychischen Probleme. Ich sehe keinen Grund, warum Sie nicht
für unser Unternehmen arbeiten sollten”, erklärte der Mann mit einem Lächeln
und reichte mir ein Tablet mit einem Fragebogen. Er bat mich, in dem kleinen
Nebenzimmer Platz zu nehmen, den Bogen auszufüllen und dann auf den Beginn des
Einführungsgesprächs zu warten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich ging in das Zimmer,
holte mein Handy heraus und tat so, als ob ich ein Selfie vor dem coolen Poster
mit dem blauen Wasserdrachen machen würde, während ich eine Nachricht sendete: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Das Vorstellungsgespräch ist gut gelaufen.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gleich darauf vibrierte
mein Handy. Es war die Antwort: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Keine
Eile, aber was bieten sie dir an? Ich sehe mich mal in den Foren um.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dann setzte ich mich
auf einen Stuhl und begann, auf dem Tablet Kästchen anzukreuzen. Die Fragen
konzentrierten sich auf meine Gesundheit, mein Familienleben, Vorstrafen und
schlechte Gewohnheiten. Der zweite Teil war völlig anders und zielte darauf ab,
herauszufinden, welcher Spielcharakter am besten zu meiner Persönlichkeit
passte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Neben mir saßen andere
Jobsucher, die ebenfalls auf ihren Tablets herumtippten. Die meisten der Männer
und Frauen waren in meinem Alter, einige waren älter und es waren sogar einige
Senioren dabei. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis ich einen Eindruck von meinem
zukünftigen Arbeitsumfeld hatte. Da waren Schüler, die wegen Abwesenheit oder
schlechter Noten von der Schule verwiesen worden waren, Büroangestellte, deren
Stellen abgebaut worden waren, gescheiterte Börsenmakler, hoffnungslose
Spielsüchtige und verzweifelte Ruheständler, die es nicht geschafft hatten,
eine passendere Arbeit zu finden ... Mit anderen Worten: Die Leute, die um mich
herum saßen, waren Verlierer, die keinen Platz in der realen Welt gefunden
hatten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich sah mich zwar nicht
als Verlierer, doch ich passte trotzdem in diese Gruppe. Ich war schon 22 Jahre
alt, hatte aber keinen Job, keine Freundin, kein Geld und keine eigene Wohnung.
Ich unterschied mich also nicht viel von den anderen. Ich war nicht dumm, ich
besaß einen Abschluss in chemischer Forschung. Ich war in der Lage, eine
Unterhaltung zu führen, sah nicht schlecht aus und war einigermaßen sportlich.
Es fiel mir auch nicht schwer, mit Frauen zurechtzukommen, doch aus irgendeinem
Grund hatten alle meine Freundinnen mich wegen anderer Typen verlassen. Sobald
sie herausfanden, dass ich mich um meine gehbehinderte Schwester kümmern
musste, machten sie sich aus dem Staub. Das war zwar schade, doch ich würde
meine Schwester niemals wegen einer oberflächlichen Beziehung aufgegeben.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meine Schwester Valeria
war zur Zeit des Unfalls 11 Jahre alt gewesen. Mein Vater hatte am Steuer des
fliegenden Familienautos gesessen, als es mit dem eines Diebes zusammenstieß,
der auf der Flucht vor der Polizei war. Durch den Aufprall und dem daraus
resultierenden 30 Meter tiefen Fall waren meine Mutter und mein Vater sofort
getötet worden. Meine jüngere Schwester überlebte, doch sie verlor beide Beine
und erlitt schwere Verletzungen und Knochenbrüche. Die Polizei hatte ermittelt,
dass mein Vater schuldlos gewesen war, doch das machte die Sache auch nicht
leichter. Ich hatte unsere Wohnung in einer guten Gegend der Stadt verkaufen
müssen, um Vals Behandlung und andere Rechnungen bezahlen zu können.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich wurde Valerias
Erziehungsberechtigter, ihr Freund und Psychologe. Ich ersetzte ihr die ganze
Welt. Am schwersten war die Zeit gleich nach dem Unfall gewesen. Valeria litt
ständig unter starken Schmerzen und sah keinen Grund, weiterzuleben. Sie bat
mich oft, ihr eine Handvoll Schlaftabletten zu geben, damit sie nicht mehr
aufwachen müsste. Ich tat mein Bestes, um meine Schwester zu trösten und sie
davon zu überzeugen, keinen Selbstmord zu begehen. Tatsächlich wurde ihr
Lebenswille nach und nach stärker. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wir versuchten viele
Dinge, um ihre Stimmung zu heben, und es stellte sich heraus, dass Spaziergänge
das beste Mittel waren. Wir wohnten neben einem großen, schönen Park, in dem
wir uns oft aufhielten. Leider mussten wir bald aus dem Stadtzentrum an den
Stadtrand ziehen, weil uns das Geld fehlte. Kurz danach wollte Val keine
Spaziergänge mehr machen. Meine Schwester konnte die Witze und das Gelächter
der Nachbarskinder nicht aushalten. Sie nannten sie Krüppel und bewarfen sie
sogar mit Steinen. Es war einfach zu viel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doch dann fand sie eine
neue Möglichkeit, ihre Behinderung zu vergessen. In virtuellen
Computerspiel-Welten konnte sie sich austoben und wieder schöne Umgebungen
genießen. Dieser neue Zeitvertreib brachte uns aber kein Geld ein. Ganz im
Gegenteil. Die Situation hatte sich besonders in den letzten Monaten
verschlechtert, als deutlich wurde, dass die Spielwelt, die sie einige Jahre
zuvor gewählt hatte, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Königreiche der
Schwerter und Magie</i>, zu Ende zu gehen drohte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich schüttelte den
Kopf, um die traurigen Gedanken zu verscheuchen, und kehrte zu dem Fragebogen
zurück. Nachdem ich alle Fragen beantwortet hatte, kam ich zum letzten Punkt,
der gewünschten Zahlungsart. Es gab 2 Optionen: Ein monatliches Festgehalt oder
die Möglichkeit, virtuelle Währung zu entnehmen und sie gegen reales Geld
einzutauschen. Wie bei den meisten MMOs war es in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> normalerweise nur erlaubt, Geld einzuzahlen. Man
konnte zwar reales Geld ins Spiel investieren, doch es war nicht möglich, es
wieder zu entnehmen. Nur für die Angestellten des Unternehmens wurde eine
Ausnahme gemacht. Wenn sie wollten, konnten sie anstatt eines realen Gehalts
virtuelle Währung aus dem Spiel entnehmen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Was mich betraf, war
das der Grund, warum ich unbedingt für das Unternehmen von <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> arbeiten wollte. Keine Firma würde einem der
kläglichen Verlierer, die mit mir in diesem Zimmer saßen, ein festes Gehalt
zahlen. Doch wenn man Spielgeld auf legale Weise in reales Geld umtauschen
könnte ... Die Möglichkeiten waren nicht abzusehen. Mein Charakter könnte im
Spiel reich werden und damit meine finanziellen Probleme im realen Leben lösen.
Meiner Schwester und mir war natürlich klar, dass auf jeden Spieler, der Glück
hatte, Tausende kamen, die die falsche Wahl trafen, hart arbeiteten und
höchstwahrscheinlich doch nur den Mindestlohn verdienten. Aber wir hatten
unsere Entscheidung gemeinsam und bewusst getroffen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die rundliche Frau
mittleren Alters, die neben mir saß und den Eindruck einer Buchhalterin
vermittelte, stieß mich an. Sie war bei einer Frage über „Charisma” angelangt
und fragte ihre Nachbarn nun laut flüsternd, was das Wort bedeutete. Ich konnte
nicht verstehen, was der Mann antwortete, der zu ihrer anderen Seite saß, aber
er versuchte, eine ernste Miene beizubehalten. Die Frau errötete und trug ihre
Antwort mit der Schnelligkeit eines Druckers auf ihrem Tablet ein. Dabei
verdeckte sie mit der linken Hand, was sie schrieb. Ich schüttelte den Kopf.
Wenn das meine Konkurrenz war ... Ich kreuzte zuversichtlich die Option
„Virtuelle Währung entnehmen” an. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Entscheidung war
getroffen, jetzt gab es kein Zurück mehr. Ich versuchte, das unangenehme Gefühl
der Angst loszuwerden, das mich beschlich, wenn ich an mein leeres Bankkonto
dachte. Doch das war nicht alles. Da gab es noch den überfälligen Kredit,
dessen Zinsen sich langsam, aber sicher anhäuften. Wenn ich in den nächsten
Wochen nicht wenigstens einen Teil davon abbezahlen konnte, würde die Bank
meine Karte sperren. Außerdem hatten meine Schwester und ich seit 3 Monaten
keine Miete mehr bezahlt. Unsere Vermieterin hatte bereits damit gedroht, uns
rauszuwerfen. Es würde äußerst schwierig sein, ohne festes Gehalt auszukommen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trotzdem hatte ich
beschlossen, das Risiko einzugehen, genau wie damals, als ich die
Ingame-Immobilie in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Königreiche der
Schwerter und Magie</i> gekauft hatte. Doch dieses Mal setzte ich nicht nur
eine Zwei-Zimmer-Wohnung aufs Spiel, sondern alles, was meine Schwester und ich
noch besaßen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">„HALLO UND WILLKOMMEN!” </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ein
elegant gekleideter, dunkelhäutiger Mann mit dunklen Locken betrat die kleine
Bühne. „Mein Name ist Alexandro Lavrius. Ich bin Direktor der Abteilung
Sonderprojekte des Unternehmens von <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich
ohne Grenzen</i>. Sie wurden ausgewählt, um unter meiner Leitung als
Videospieltester zu arbeiten. Was ist mit dem Mikrofon los?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Das Mikrofon gab einen
lauten Pfeifton von sich, sodass meine Ohren schmerzten. Die junge Assistentin
des Direktors sprang schnell auf die Bühne und stellte das Mikrofon ein, das an
Alexandros Kragen befestigt war. Der Direktor warf ihr einen unzufriedenen
Blick zu, der nichts Gutes versprach, und fuhr fort: „In Ordnung, jetzt sollte
es funktionieren. Zuerst eine kurze Einführung. Das virtuelle <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i>, in dem Sie arbeiten
werden, ist sehr groß. Es ist nicht grenzenlos, wie der Name vielleicht
vermuten lässt, doch es hat eine beachtliche Größe. Es ist jetzt schon größer
als unsere Erde, Sie können also praktisch grenzenlos herumreisen und neue,
interessante Orte entdecken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zurzeit gibt es etwa
240 Millionen Spieler in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne
Grenzen</i> und diese Zahl steigt pro Monat um etwa 2 bis 3 Millionen. Man
könnte meinen, unser Unternehmen wäre stolz darauf, würde sich auf seinen
Lorbeeren ausruhen und das Geld einfahren. Das ist aber nicht der Fall. Unser
Management lässt sich ständig neue, noch grandiosere Pläne einfallen, die
Entwicklung des Spiels ist nach wie vor in vollem Gange. Die Planungsabteilung
sieht jedoch bestimmte Risiken für die mittelfristige Zukunft und die
Direktoren sind der Meinung, dass eine reale Gefahr besteht.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wir sehen 2
Hauptprobleme. Erstens: Trotz der vielen verschiedenen Völker und ihren
einzigartigen Charakteristiken in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich
ohne Grenzen</i> wollen 78 Prozent der Spieler als Menschen spielen. Das ist
eine deutliche Unausgewogenheit. Wenn wir außerdem in Betracht ziehen, dass 17
Prozent als verschiedene Arten von Elfen und Halbelfen spielen und 3 Prozent
als Zwerge, kommen wir direkt zur Wurzel des Problems. Nur 2 Prozent wählen ein
anderes Volk aus den über 100 verfügbaren Möglichkeiten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Es gibt vielfältige
Gründe für dieses Ungleichgewicht. Vor allem haben potenzielle neue Spieler
praktisch keine positiven Gamer-Vorbilder, die weniger beliebte Völker gewählt
haben. Die Spielforen sind voll von detaillierten Anleitungen über menschliche
Paladine, Waldelfen-Bogenschützen und Halbelfen-Assassinen. Daher ist es keine
Überraschung, dass neue Spieler Angst haben, einen unbekannten Pfad zu wählen.
Weil sie nur einen Charakter haben können, wollen sie kein Risiko eingehen. Das
Ergebnis ist, dass sie menschliche Paladine, Elfen-Bogenschützen und
Dunkelelfen-Nekromanten erstellen, die es in unserer Welt schon im Überfluss
gibt. Unsere bisherigen Nutzer verlieren zu Recht ihr Gefühl der
Einzigartigkeit und ihr Interesse am Spiel, weil sie jeden Tag mehrere exakte
Ebenbilder von sich selbst treffen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Das zweite Problem
betrifft die Wahl der Wohnorte. Vor unseren Spielern erstreckt sich ein wahres <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i>, das sich nach Bedarf
erweitern lässt. Trotzdem wird die momentan existierende Karte kaum genutzt. Fast
90 Prozent der Spieler leben in einer der wenigen Megastädte oder in deren
unmittelbarer Nähe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zu dieser
Überbevölkerung kommt es vor allem aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen. Städte
verfügen über Ressourcen, dort zirkuliert das Geld und es gibt Banken, bei
denen die Spieler ihren Besitz sicher verwahren können. Darum wollen Spieler
trotz der hohen Preise für Immobilien und Ressourcen immer noch in diesen
Städten leben. Millionen wunderschöner Orte, die von talentierten Designern
gestaltet wurden und in denen es einzigartige Missionen und Einheimische gibt,
bleiben ungenutzt. Außerdem bemerken wir wachsenden Unmut bei den Spielern, die
das Gefühl haben, es gäbe nichts mehr zu entdecken und es werde langsam
langweilig.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Warum erzähle ich Ihnen
das alles? Wie Sie wahrscheinlich schon erraten haben, darf niemand von Ihnen
menschliche oder elfische Charaktere wählen und niemand wird ein weiterer
Ritter oder Bogenschütze. Das würde unserem Unternehmen ganz und gar nicht
gefallen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sie beginnen das Spiel
in weit entfernten Wildnissen, von denen aus es äußerst schwierig sein wird,
dicht besiedelte Orte zu erreichen. Sie starten das Spiel alle an einer anderen
Stelle und werden mit größter Gewissheit Gefahren und Problemen begegnen. Das
ist kein Zufall. Die Testgruppen haben gezeigt, dass die Herausforderung,
schwierige Situationen erfolgreich zu bewältigen, der Faktor ist, der unsere
Spieler in der Spielwelt hält.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wir hoffen, dass mit
der Zeit alle Newbies an solchen Orten beginnen werden, weshalb eine Ihrer
Missionen darin besteht, zu testen, ob Ihr Charakter unter diesen schwierigen
Bedingungen überleben und leveln kann.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ihre Gruppe ist eine
von mehreren, die in den vergangenen Wochen ausgewählt wurden, um neue,
ungewöhnliche Volk- und Klassenkombinationen auszuprobieren, nicht ohne dabei
einige blaue Flecken davonzutragen. Sie werden interessante Wegbereiter sein,
die die Vorteile Ihrer ungewöhnlichen Völker, Klassen und Berufe eloquent
beschreiben sollen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ein Wort zur Warnung: Um
die Probezeit zu bestehen, müssen Sie unter anderem innerhalb einer Woche Ihres
Spiels Level 20 erreichen. Nur wenige von Ihnen werden erfolgreich sein und
fest angestellt werden, da unser Unternehmen nur Charaktere und Geschichten
braucht, die bei bereits vorhandenen und potenziellen Spielern großes Interesse
finden. Doch auch wenn Sie die Probezeit nicht bestehen, gewinnen Sie
unschätzbare Erfahrungen im Bereich der Videospiele und erhalten eine
ausgezeichnete Gelegenheit, durch modernste Technologie mit all Ihren Sinnen in
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> einzutauchen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jetzt erhalten Sie die
Charakterkarten, die Ihnen aufgrund Ihrer heutigen Testergebnisse automatisch
vom System zugewiesen wurden. Dann haben Sie die Möglichkeit, meiner
Assistentin Fragen zu stellen. Danach sollten Sie vor Ende des Geschäftstages
zur HR-Abteilung gehen, um Ihren Vertrag zu unterzeichnen, damit Sie morgen
Ihre Arbeit beginnen können.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Können wir heute schon
anfangen zu spielen?”, fragte ein rundlicher, junger Mann. Sein blasses Gesicht
war von Pickeln übersät.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alexandro Lavrius sah
über uns hinweg auf die Uhr an der Wand, fragte seine Assistentin leise etwas
und antwortete dann: „Sie können erst anfangen, wenn Sie den Vertrag
unterschrieben haben. Denken Sie daran, dass es in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> jetzt etwa 16 Uhr ist und dass es um 21 Uhr
dunkel wird. Nach dieser Einführung gehen Sie zur HR-Abteilung, dann zeigt man
Ihnen Ihren Arbeitsplatz und erklärt Ihnen, wie die virtuelle Realitätskapsel
benutzt wird. Anschließend müssen Sie einen Charakter erstellen, die
Übungsmission beginnen und einen sicheren Ort finden, an dem Sie die Nacht
verbringen können. Die Nächte außerhalb der Städte und anderer sicherer Orte
sind in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> äußerst
hart und gefährlich. Höchstwahrscheinlich werden Sie von Monstern gefressen.
Sollte das passieren, verlieren Sie einige Erfahrungspunkte und eine ganze
Stunde, bevor Sie respawnen können. Falls Sie es trotzdem riskieren wollen,
heute anzufangen, spricht nichts dagegen. Falls Sie die erste Nacht überleben,
wird es eine nützliche Erfahrung sein und sich positiv auf Ihre weitere
Karriere als Tester auswirken.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">EIN GOBLIN-KRÄUTERSAMMLER??? </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verständnislos
starrte ich auf meine Charakterkarte. Ich holte mein Handy heraus, um nach
Informationen über Goblins in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne
Grenzen</i> zu suchen. Der erste Link belohnte mich mit folgendem Text aus
einem Forum:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Goblins
sind hinterlistige Mistkerle, die gemeine Streiche spielen, Gemüse aus Gärten
stehlen und Reisende angreifen, die allein unterwegs sind. Zum Glück sind
Goblins schwach, daher kann sogar ein totaler Newbie mit ihnen fertig werden. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Manchmal
findet man ganze Goblindörfer. Mit ihnen lässt sich gut Erfahrung sammeln,
sodass Anfänger leicht leveln können. Ich weiß nicht warum, aber die Entwickler
haben dieses NPC-Volk für Spieler verfügbar gemacht. Ich persönlich kann mir
nicht vorstellen, dass jemand dumm genug wäre, dieses grüne Gräuel zu wählen,
besonders in Anbetracht der restriktiven Strafen auf Intelligenz und Stärke,
die es für einen Goblin fast unmöglich machen, ein guter Magier zu werden oder
eine Kampfklasse zu wählen. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rein
theoretisch könnte ich mir einen Goblin-Spieler wegen seiner Boni in
Beweglichkeit und Wahrnehmung als Bogen- oder Armbrustschützen vorstellen. Aber
ich habe noch niemanden getroffen, der gestört genug wäre, es zu versuchen,
denn alle Elfenarten haben bei diesen Attributen noch größere Boni. Ach ja,
diese grünen Freaks erhalten auch schwere Strafen auf Beziehungen zu Menschen
und können standardmäßig keine normalen Spielorte aufsuchen.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kein Wunder, dass
niemand als Goblin spielen wollte. Selbst jemand, der bei der Erstellung seines
Charakters einen Goblin in Betracht gezogen hatte, würde nach der Lektüre
dieser Beschreibung schnell seine Meinung ändern. Was hatten sich die
Entwickler von <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> nur
dabei gedacht?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Der Text stammte von
jemandem namens Verwilderter Waldbursche. Laut seines Forums spielte er als
menschlicher Druide auf Level 204. Aus Neugier las ich auch die nächsten 7
Links, die die Suchmaschine gefunden hatte, doch überall bekam ich die gleichen
unangenehmen Informationen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich schickte meiner
Schwester eine Nachricht über den Charakter, den ich spielen musste, und
studierte weiter die Anleitungen zu Goblins und Kräuterkunde.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Als mich laute Stimmen
vom Lesen ablenkten, hob ich den Kopf. Der Direktor war schon lange gegangen
und jetzt stritt sich die rundliche Frau, die nach der Bedeutung des Wortes „Charisma“
gefragt hatte, mit seiner Assistentin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Stimmt etwas nicht mit
Ihrem zugewiesenen Charakter?”, fragte die Assistentin in eisigem Ton.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Das kann man wohl
sagen! Ich soll eine Dryadentänzerin spielen! In den Foren habe ich gesehen,
dass Dryaden keine Kleidung tragen! Ich bitte Sie! Ich dachte, ich bewerbe mich
um einen Bürojob. Die Arbeitszeiten sind vielleicht etwas ungewöhnlich, aber
ich hatte nicht damit gerechnet, dass ich als Stripperin arbeiten soll!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Assistentin des
Direktors war wegen des Vorfalls mit dem Mikrofon schon gereizt, daher konnte
man leichten Ärger in ihrem Ton vernehmen. „Das System hat ermittelt, dass
diese Kombination von Volk und Klasse optimal für Sie ist. Wenn es Ihnen nicht
gefällt, muss ich Ihnen leider sagen, dass Sie die Probezeit nicht bestanden
haben und die erste Teilnehmerin sind, die die Gruppe verlassen muss ...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Auf dem Gesicht des
Mannes, der ihr vorher erklärt hatte, was Charisma bedeutete, bemerkte ich ein
höhnisches Grinsen. Die bizarre Kombination war vom System wahrscheinlich
aufgrund seiner irreführenden Erklärung gewählt worden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Assistentin
streckte ihre Hand aus, um die Charakterkarte der Frau zurückzunehmen, als eine
junge Frau aus der hinteren Reihe rief: „Warten Sie! Könnte ich den Charakter
mit ihr tauschen?” Eine hübsche, junge Frau mit guter Figur, die ihr
kastanienbraunes Haar in einem langen Zopf trug, der ihr bis zum Gürtel
reichte, stand auf und kam zur Bühne.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ich habe mir die
einleitenden Informationen über Dryaden angesehen. Es stimmt, ihre einzigen
Ausrüstungsplätze sind für Ringe und Armbänder vorgesehen, aber das wird durch
ihre Volksboni ausgeglichen. Außerdem ist die Tänzerklasse ausgezeichnet für
Dryaden geeignet. Sie haben schließlich Boni für Attraktivität, Charme und die
Reaktion aller Mitglieder des anderen Geschlechts.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Assistentin stimmte
ihr zu. „Richtig. Es ist eine gute Rolle. Mit diesem Charakter kann man leicht
Erfahrung sammeln. Außerdem ist der Pfad der Dryadentänzerin sehr ungewöhnlich.
Es gibt keine einzige Anleitung. Mit einem solchen Charakter zu leveln ist
praktisch eine Garantie dafür, die Probezeit zu bestehen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die biedere
Buchhalterin schauderte und murmelte unglücklich: „Mal sehen, welchen
Schweinkram sie Ihnen aufdrücken wollen ... Schlimmer als eine
Stripteasetänzerin kann es ja kaum sein.” Sie nahm der jungen Frau die Karte
aus der Hand und las sie. „Oh! Ja! Eine Gremlin-Bankerin! Davon habe ich mein
ganzes Leben lang geträumt!” Die Frau mittleren Alters hätte die junge Frau
fast geküsst, die die Karte mit ihr tauschte. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Danach hörte ich
überall um mich herum Leute rufen:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Wer möchte gegen einen
Troll-Kannibalen tauschen?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ich tausche einen Hobgoblin-Betrüger
gegen jede andere Klasse!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Will jemand einen
Ork-Astrologen? Ich tausche gegen jede Art von Nahkämpfer!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich hatte keine Lust,
auf das Ende dieser Freakshow zu warten und stand auf, um mich auf den Weg zur
HR-Abteilung zu machen. Der Goblin-Kräutersammler erschien mir nicht mehr so
schlimm, ich war mit meinem Los jetzt völlig zufrieden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">OBWOHL ICH VERSUCHTE, </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">mir
nichts anmerken zu lassen, beeindruckte mich der Reichtum und Luxus, den das
Unternehmen von <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i>
zur Schau stellte. Es besaß einen riesigen Wolkenkratzer, in dem es auch viele
unterirdische Etagen gab. Als ich mit dem Fahrstuhl nach unten fuhr, bemerkte
ich, dass es für einige Etagen, die ich durch die Glastüren sehen konnte, keine
Knöpfe gab. Die Wachleute auf diesen Etagen waren mit Waffen ausgerüstet und
trugen Schutzwesten und Gasmasken. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Der nette Techniker
Arthur führte mich zu meinem Arbeitsplatz und erklärte, dass es den normal
Sterblichen verboten war, diese unterirdischen Etagen zu betreten. Dort befand
sich „das Allerheiligste” des Unternehmens, die Spielserver. Es war einfacher,
in einen Banktresor voller Gold hineinzukommen, als sich Zutritt zu diesen
Etagen zu verschaffen. Die Stockwerke, auf denen sich die gesamte technische
Ausrüstung befand, waren mit zahllosen Sicherheitssystemen und Giftgas
ausgestattet, damit Kriminelle nicht einmal daran dachten, einzubrechen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ohne anzuhalten kamen
wir an der unterirdischen Parkrampe vorbei, auf der viele Luxusautos und
fliegende Autos standen. Dann öffnete sich die Fahrstuhltür auf der Etage der
Testabteilung und ich sah ES: Ein riesiger Raum, der sich bis ins Endlose
erstreckte. Er hatte sehr viele hohe Gänge, die von identischen kleinen Kabinen
gesäumt waren. Arthur und ich gingen eine der langen Plattformen hinunter und
hielten vor einer durchsichtigen Tür an. Ich blickte ausdruckslos auf ein
Schild: 4-16A.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Vierte Etage, Seite A,
Kabine 16. Hier werden Sie arbeiten. Gehen Sie hinein, ziehen Sie Ihre Jacke
aus und machen Sie sich mit Ihrer Kabine vertraut”, sagte er und zeigte auf den
Stuhl und den Bügel an der Wand. Er blieb jedoch draußen stehen. „Jede Kabine
hat einen ausziehbaren Schreibtisch und einen eingebauten Kühlschrank, in dem
Sie Lebensmittel aufbewahren oder vor der Arbeit einen Imbiss zu sich nehmen
können. Es gibt einen Toilettenraum für je 50 Kabinen und an jedem Ende der
Gänge befinden sich Duschen. Aber denken Sie daran, jeder Gang hat 300 Kabinen,
darum sind die Duschen abends, wenn die Schicht endet, oft besetzt. Also gut,
dann wünsche ich Ihnen viel Glück!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Während Arthur den Satz
äußerte, wandte sich sein Blick von mir ab. Seine Augen folgten einer
wunderschönen, fast glamourösen Frau mit prächtigen, roten Haaren und stolzem
Gesichtsausdruck, die an meiner Kabine vorbeiging. Sie trug ein langes,
smaragdgrünes Kleid, hochhackige Schuhe und einen Hut mit breitem Rand. An
ihren Fingern steckten mit Edelsteinen besetzte Ringe, die mir durch ihr
Schimmern ins Auge fielen. Die Frau ignorierte Arthur und schien mich überhaupt
nicht zu bemerken. Sie ging noch ein paar Meter weiter, bis sie vor einer Tür
anhielt, die genauso aussah wie meine. Es piepte, als die geheimnisvolle Frau
die Tür mit ihrem elektronischen Schlüssel öffnete und ihre Kabine betrat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Wer war das?”, fragte
ich den erstarrten Techniker mit halblauter Stimme. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Arthur zuckte zusammen
und war wieder zurück in der Realität. „Woher soll ich das wissen? Sie arbeitet
hier. Sie kommt abends und geht erst wieder am nächsten Morgen. Sie muss einen
Nachtcharakter spielen. Offensichtlich ist sie eine gute Spielerin und verdient
viel Geld. Ich habe sie einmal in der unterirdischen Parkgarage gesehen. Sie
fährt einen tollen Luxussportwagen, den ich mir nie leisten könnte, selbst wenn
ich bis zu meinem Lebensende sparen würde. Aber ich habe keine Ahnung, wer sie
im Spiel ist. Wir können Ihre Avatare nicht sehen, wir helfen Ihnen nur, Ihre
Ausrüstung einzurichten. Normalerweise erhalten Spitzenspieler ihre eigenen
Büros auf den oberen Etagen des Gebäudes, doch sie muss es aus praktischen
Gründen vorziehen, vom Parkplatz aus gleich hier herunter zu kommen. Aber ich
schweife ab. Legen Sie die Kleidung ab, ich werde Ihre Maße für einen
Sensoranzug und -helm nehmen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nachdem sich die Tür
hinter Arthur geschlossen hatte, holte ich mein Handy heraus und teilte meiner
Schwester mit, dass ich bereit war.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ruf
die Konsole auf und gib mir die Nummer deiner virtuellen Realitätskapsel und
Spielsitzung. Ich versuche, mich zu verbinden.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich tippte einen
technischen Befehl auf dem Keyboard und machte mit der Kamera meines Handys ein
Foto davon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Warte
5 Minuten, damit wir zur gleichen Zeit anfangen können.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich zog den Anzug an,
der mit Elektroden besetzt war, und legte mich in die virtuelle
Realitätskapsel. Ich beobachtete den Timer auf dem kleinen Monitor, wartete 5
Minuten und schloss dann den Deckel der Kapsel. Jetzt war ich von der realen
Welt abgeschottet. Vor mir leuchtete der Bildschirm auf ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erlittener Schaden: 2757
(Biss einer verfluchten Fledermaus)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du bist gestorben.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">WAS ZUM TEUFEL </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">war
das?! Die Meldung kam herein, sobald der Bildschirm geladen war. Das Bild
verblasste langsam und ich war von Dunkelheit umgeben. Eine Minute verging,
dann eine zweite und noch ein paar mehr. Nichts passierte. War es für mich
vorbei? Es gab kein Spiel-Interface oder irgendwelche andere Menüfester, nur
pechschwarze Dunkelheit. Irgendetwas musste falsch gelaufen sein. Fledermäuse!
Richtig! Sie waren das Letzte, das ich in meinem kurzen Spiel als Barbar
gesehen hatte. Jetzt würde ich bestimmt gleich aus meiner Kapsel geholt und
gefeuert, weil ich beim Vorstellungsgespräch gelogen hatte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Plötzlich wurde die
Welt um mich herum wieder hell und das Fenster für die Charaktererstellung
erschien auf dem Bildschirm. Puh, ich hatte es gerade so geschafft. Was sah ich
vor mir? Einen Goblin-Kräutersammler auf Level 1. Das Volk oder die Klasse
konnte ich nicht verändern.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Charaktername: Amra</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mir brach noch einmal
kalter Schweiß aus. Als ich meinen Barbaren erstellt hatte, war mein erster
Schritt gewesen, ihn zu Ehren des berühmten Barbaren aus dem Fernsehen „Conan”
zu nennen, doch der Name war vergeben. Dann hatte ich einen anderen Namen ausprobiert,
den der berühmte Held benutzte: Amra. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich hatte Glück, auch
jetzt war er frei. Soweit ich sehen konnte, hatten sich die Spielregeln in den
letzten 3 Jahren geändert. Die Namen der Charaktere mussten nun aus 2 Worten
bestehen, zum Beispiel Tony Schwarzherz, Ahmed Schleichende_Schlange oder Ellie
Sehr_Hübsch. Doch mein Name bestand nur aus einem Wort und hatte außerdem nur 4
Buchstaben ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ein Newbie mit einem
Einwort-Namen? Es konnte mir helfen, zu verbergen, dass ich für das Unternehmen
arbeitete. Ich hatte wirklich nichts dagegen, es war schön, etwas Besonderes zu
sein. Nun war es an der Zeit, mich mit meiner Erscheinung und den Attributen zu
beschäftigen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ein grünes Gesicht
starrte mir entgegen, aus dem zwei riesige Augen hervorstachen, und die Ohren
waren überdimensional groß. Das System schlug vor, ich sollte etwas mit den
Einstellungen herumspielen, um diesen gewöhnlichen Goblin individuell nach
meinem Geschmack zu gestalten, doch ich beschloss, noch damit zu warten. In
einem Hinweis las ich, dass ich die Erscheinung meines Charakters bis Level 10
kostenlos verändern konnte, darum beschloss ich, diesen Schritt fürs Erste zu
überspringen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Etwas anderes bereitete
mir mehr Sorgen: Alexandro Lavrius hatte gesagt, dass nicht mehr viel Zeit bis
zum Einbruch der Nacht war, darum durfte ich keine Sekunde verschwenden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vor allem wollte ich
mir die Boni und Strafen für Goblins ansehen. Leider hatte Verwilderter
Waldbursche in Bezug auf die Strafen nicht gelogen:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">50 % Strafe auf
Intelligenzsteigerungsrate</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">50 % Strafe auf
Stärkesteigerungsrate</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">– 20 Strafe auf
Beziehungen zu folgenden Völkern: Menschen, Elfen, Zwerge, Gnome, Drachen</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">20 % Strafe auf
verdiente Erfahrung</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Strafen waren eine
bittere Pille. Besonders unzufrieden war ich mit der Strafe auf die verdiente
Erfahrung. Die negativen Charakteristiken der Goblins wurden durch die Boni
kaum aufgewogen:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">30 % Bonus auf
Bewegungssteigerungsrate</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">30 % Bonus auf
Wahrnehmungssteigerungsrate</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">+ 20 Bonus auf
Beziehungen zu folgenden Völkern: Goblins, Orks, Kobolde, Oger, Riesen</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">+ 30 Bonus auf die
Reaktion von Wald- und Sumpfkreaturen</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">30 % Bonus auf
Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit in Wald- und Sumpfgebieten</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Schließlich kam ich zu
den Hauptattributen meines segelohrigen Goblins. Jeder Charakter in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i>, egal, ob NPC oder
eine reale Person, hatte nur 6 Hauptattribute: Stärke, Beweglichkeit,
Intelligenz, Konstitution, Wahrnehmung und Charisma. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Das war Standard und
leicht zu verstehen. Stärke bestimmte den Schaden, den man mit Handwaffen
verursachen konnte, und das Höchstgewicht, das man tragen konnte. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beweglichkeit war
wichtig für Fernwaffen und zum Ausweichen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Intelligenz ermöglichte
einem Charakter, die Eigenschaften von Gegenständen zu verstehen und bestimmte
die Mana-Menge, über die ein magischer Charakter verfügte, sowie die
Wirksamkeit seiner Zauber. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Konstitution
beeinflusste die Anzahl der Treffer- und Ausdauerpunkte. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wahrnehmung wirkte sich
auf die Sehkraft, den Geruchssinn und das Gehör aus und gab einem Charakter
außerdem eine größere Chance, verborgene Gegenstände zu entdecken. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Und schließlich
Charisma: Dieses Attribut definierte das Verhältnis anderer Charaktere zu einem
selbst.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Es gab verschiedene
Möglichkeiten, die Grundattribute zu verbessern. Man konnte ihnen auf jedem
Level eine gewisse Anzahl neuer Attributpunkte zuweisen, in Hauptfertigkeiten
leveln oder magische Gegenstände zum Verbessern einsetzen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="TableGrid1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Name</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amra</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Volk</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Goblin</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Klasse</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kräutersammler</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erfahrung</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">0 von 100</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Charakterlevel</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trefferpunkte</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">15/15</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ausdauerpunkte</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">15/15</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Attribute</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stärke (Str)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beweglichkeit (Bew)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Intelligenz (Int)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Konstitution (Kon)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wahrnehmung (Wah)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Charisma (Cha)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unbenutzte
Punkte</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hauptfertigkeiten
(2von 4 gewählt)</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kräuterkunde (Wah, Bew)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Handel (Cha, Int)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nebenfertigkeiten
(0 von 4 gewählt)</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Entwickler hatten
meinem Charakter standardgemäß 2 Hauptfertigkeiten zugewiesen: Kräuterkunde und
Handel. Die erste war leicht nachzuvollziehen, ein Kräutersammler, der sich
nicht mit Kräutern auskannte, ergab wenig Sinn. Doch Handel verwirrte mich
etwas. Ich konnte die Fertigkeit nicht löschen, die Entwickler sahen mich als
kleinen Goblin, der durch die Wälder trottete, eine Unmenge Pflanzen sammelte
und sie einheimischen Händlern verkaufte. Ich brauchte die Handelsfertigkeit
also, damit ich von skrupellosen Schwindlern nicht übers Ohr gehauen wurde. Mein
Charakter besaß die Intelligenz eines Stuhls. Ohne die besondere Fertigkeit des
Verhandelns würde ich ständig um mein Geld betrogen werden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Buchstaben in
Klammern hinter den Fertigkeiten verwirrten mich zuerst ebenfalls, doch ich
fand schnell heraus, dass es sich um die Attribute handelte, die der Charakter
nach und nach durch das Benutzen der Fertigkeiten verbessern konnte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Drei freie
Attributpunkte waren nicht gerade viel! Nachdem ich etwas mit den Parametern
herumgespielt und ihre Beschreibung gelesen hatte, stellte sich heraus, dass
Trefferpunkte und Ausdauerpunkte ausschließlich von der Konstitution abhingen,
darum wies ich diesem Attribut gleich einen Punkt zu. Daraufhin erhöhten sich
meine Trefferpunkte auf 21 und meine Ausdauer auf 20.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Als Nächstes war
Beweglichkeit an der Reihe. Wenn ich die Anleitung des Verwilderten
Waldburschen und meine Volksboni richtig verstanden hatte, hing der Erfolg
meines segelohrigen Charakters von seiner Beweglichkeit ab. Ich wies dem
Attribut 2 Punkte zu und erhöhte es damit auf 4. Das war alles, obwohl ... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Im letzten Moment,
bevor ich mit dem Spiel beginnen wollte, beschloss ich, dass die niedrige
Intelligenz meines Goblins nicht akzeptabel war. In der Beschreibung des
Attributs hieß es, dass ich mit einer Punktzahl unter 3 nicht richtig sprechen
oder andere verstehen konnte. Das bedeutete, ich würde mich weder mit anderen
Spielern oder NPCs unterhalten, noch Missionen und Hinweise verstehen können.
Ich reduzierte Charisma auf das Minimum und wies den Punkt Intelligenz zu. Mein
Goblin war sowieso keine Schönheit gewesen, doch nun wurde er regelrecht zu
einem Monstrum.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jetzt war ich bereit.
Es war Zeit, ins Spiel einzusteigen!</span></div>
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc523304046"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc523303069"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc523304046;"><span lang="DE">Die Ork-Galeere</span></span></a><span lang="DE"></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ANGST. KÄLTE. </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Schmerzen.
Hunger. Mein geschundener Körper schmerzte überall. Trotz des Schmerzes und der
Müdigkeit nahm ich laute Geräusche wahr. Ich wollte sie einfach ignorieren und
mich in einem tröstenden Traum verlieren, doch die Geräusche wurden lauter und
lauter. Ich konnte klirrende Waffen, wütendes Gebrüll und die Schreie von
Sterbenden hören. Mir stieg der Geruch von frisch vergossenem Blut in die Nase.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mit großer Anstrengung
gelang es mir, die Augen zu öffnen. Ich lag auf einem von verrottetem Stroh
bedeckten Boden in einem dunklen Raum. Als ich versuchte, mich zu bewegen,
bemerkte ich, dass mein Handgelenk in einer Handschelle aus schwerem Metall
steckte. Sie war an einer Kette befestigt, die in der Wand verankert war. War
ich ein Gefangener?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aus dem Augenwinkel sah
ich einen Ork in einer Lederrüstung vorbeilaufen, der einen Krummsäbel trug.
Nur einige Sekunden später fiel sein blutender Körper zu Boden. Ein riesiger
Mensch in einer Rüstung, der den Ork niedergestreckt hatte, näherte sich ihm
und erledigte ihn, indem er ihm einen Kurzspeer in die Brust stieß.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Scheint der Letzte von
ihnen zu sein!”, rief er jemandem zu, der sich weit hinter ihm befand und ihm
antwortete: „Großartig! Befrei die Gefangenen und bring sie auf unser Schiff!
Die Ork-Galeere kann jede Minute an den Felsen der Küste zerschellen!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich wurde befreit! Doch
bevor ich Zeit hatte, darüber erleichtert zu sein, drehte sich der riesige
Soldat mit einem angewiderten Gesichtsausdruck zu mir um und durchbohrte mich
mit seinem Speer!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">WIEDER BRACH DUNKELHEIT </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">über
mich herein. Ich lag vollkommen fassungslos da und konnte nicht glauben, was
gerade geschehen war. Der Mann hatte mich fast getötet, obwohl er mich retten
sollte! Warum?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eine innere Stimme
lachte und wies mich spöttisch darauf hin, dass ich diese Reaktion hätte
erwarten sollen. Goblins hatten bereits eine Strafe von – 20 auf die Reaktion
von Menschen und ich hatte mein Charisma auf ein Minimum reduziert. Jeder
Mensch, Elf oder Zwerg, dem ich begegnete, würde in gleicher Weise reagieren.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Der Schmerz kehrte
zurück und ich öffnete die Augen. Ich sah die Welt in Schwarz- und Rottönen.
Wie vorher lag ich auf altem, fauligem Stroh, das jetzt auch noch mit dickem,
dunklem Blut getränkt war ... mit meinem Blut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">+ 1 TP von
Gesundheitsregeneration</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meine Wunde war fast
völlig geheilt, doch mein Lebensbalken blinkte gefährlich bei 3 von 21. Ich
sollte erwähnen, dass ich vorher nicht einmal gewusst hatte, dass Goblins
Gesundheit regenerieren konnten. Warum wurde in keiner Anleitung darauf
hingewiesen? Vielleicht war die Fähigkeit erst kürzlich hinzugefügt worden, um
Goblins spielbarer zu machen. Wie auch immer, die Wunde schmerzte wahnsinnig!
Ich musste zugeben, dass das Sterben selbst in einem Computerspiel sehr
unangenehm war.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich hatte keine Ahnung,
was ich mir als Nächstes ausgedacht oder getan hätte, doch plötzlich huschte
eine Ratte unter den Holzpaneelen meiner Zelle entlang.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Level-1-Ratte</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die kleine Kreatur
folgte neugierig seiner Nase, betört von dem berauschenden Blutgeruch. Ich
bewegte mich etwas und zog mein rechtes Bein an. Die Ratte drehte sich sofort
zu mir um. Sie lief jedoch nicht weg, sondern starrte mich an. Nicht nur das,
sie interessierte sich immer mehr für meine kulinarischen Eigenschaften. Wenn
ich ganz gesund gewesen wäre, hätte ich eine solche Kreatur leicht töten
können, doch im Moment hatte ich nur 3 traurige Trefferpunkte. Die Ratte würde
mich fressen!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Offensichtlich kam die
Kreatur zum gleichen Schluss und näherte sich. Was dann passierte, hatte weder
ich noch die Ratte erwartet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zugefügter Schaden: 10
(Vampirbiss)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wiederhergestellte
Gesundheit: + 5 TP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erhaltene Erfahrung: 8
EP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erhaltener Gegenstand:
Rattenfleisch (Nahrung)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freigeschaltetes
Achievement: Geschmackstester (1/1000)</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freigeschaltete
Volksfähigkeit: Blutlust (Erhöht den zugefügten Gesamtschaden für jede einzelne
Kreatur, die durch Vampirbiss getötet wird, um + 1 %. Aktueller Bonus: 1 %)</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freigeschaltete
Anzeige: Durst löschen (10/15)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Einige Sekunden lang
saß ich nur da, den abscheulichen Geschmack von Rattenblut im Mund. Ich musste
im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes erst einmal verdauen, was gerade geschehen war.
War ich ein Vampir? Ich öffnete mein Charakterfenster, um nachzusehen. Was ich sah,
ließ keinen Zweifel aufkommen:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Volk:
Goblin-Vampir</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zum Glück konnte ich
verheimlichen, dass ich zum Teil Vampir war, indem ich einfach das spezielle
Kästchen „Vor anderen Spielern verbergen” ankreuzte. Als ich mir die
Beschreibung der Vampire durchlas, dankte ich dem Himmel und den Entwicklern
des Spiels dafür:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">– 50 Strafe auf die
Reaktion aller lebenden Völker, falls enttarnt</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Strafe: Legales Ziel
für Tötung durch Spieler und NPCs von lebenden Völkern, falls enttarnt</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Strafe: Kann im Zustand
von Blutdurst seine wahre Natur nicht verbergen</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Strafe: Sofortiger Tod,
wenn von Sonnenlicht getroffen</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jetzt steckte ich
ziemlich in der Klemme. Von diesem Moment an war meine wichtigste Priorität,
meinen Vampirismus geheim zu halten. Er hatte jedoch auch einige Vorteile. Auf
Level 1 konnte ein Vampir zum Beispiel + 1 TP Gesundheitsregeneration pro
Minute sowie eine zusätzliche Angriffsart erhalten (und im Gegensatz zu den
meisten anderen war sie weder rechts- noch linkshändig):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vampirbiss</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Schaden: (1 bis 6) x
Stärke</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Gesundheit des
Angreifers wird um 50 % des zugefügten Schadens wiederhergestellt.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beim Angriff auf
schlafende, bewusstlose oder gelähmte Ziele ist die Erfolgschance 100 % und der
Angreifer kann einen Effekt wählen: Sofortiger Tod / 6-stündiger Tiefschlaf /
Mit Vampirismus infizieren).</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich las die
Beschreibung des Angriffs noch einmal. Bedeutete es, dass ich jede Kreatur
töten konnte, egal auf welchem Level sie war? Ich musste also nur jemanden
finden, der schlief, und sogar Level-100-Charaktere waren erledigt. Es war eine
großartige Möglichkeit für mich, um Erfahrung zu sammeln und zu leveln! Und ich
konnte Spieler und NPCs gleichermaßen angreifen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doch Augenblick! Ich
bremste meine Euphorie. Wenn ich diese Fähigkeit auch nur ein einziges Mal gegen
einen Spieler einsetzte, wäre mein Geheimnis enthüllt. Ich würde für den Rest
meiner Tage im Spiel gejagt und immer wieder getötet werden, weil die Regeln es
erlaubten. Jeder Tod würde mir körperliche Schmerzen bereiten und ich würde
Erfahrung verlieren. Darum musste ich meinen Vampirismus unbedingt geheim
halten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Wer ist da? Ich kann
dich hören!”, rief eine Stimme von draußen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meine Angst wuchs. Ich
sprang auf und wischte mir schnell mit dem Handrücken über die Lippen. Das
Letzte, was ich brauchte, war ein Fremder, der Blut in meinem Gesicht sah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ratte erschlagen. Hat
angegriffen. Klatsch, klatsch, ich zugeschlagen”, antwortete ich.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Was zum Teufel?! Ich
hatte etwas anderes gesagt, doch das Einzige, das aus dem Mund meines
Charakters kam, waren diese unbeholfenen, abgehackten Sätze. Wie sich
herausstellte, reichten selbst 3 Intelligenzpunkte nicht aus. Ich mochte gar
nicht daran denken, wie mein Charakter bei noch weniger Punkten reden würde.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Eine Ratte? Ja, ich
habe sie gesehen. Sie hat mich lange angestarrt, aber dann rannte sie davon.
Hast du eine Ahnung, wie du dich von der Kette befreien kannst? Ich bin nicht
stark genug.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erhaltene
Mission: Flucht von der Sklavenhändler-Galeere</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Missionskategorie:
Erforderlich, Training</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Belohnung:
80 EP, Zugang zur Hauptspielwelt</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Kette weiß nicht. Ich
verletzt. Mann hat mit Speer gestoßen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hinter der Wand hörte
ich das glucksende Lachen des anderen Spielers. „Dein Charisma muss ziemlich
niedrig sein, wenn sie dich getötet haben, statt dich zu befreien. Ich bin überrascht,
dass du nicht gestorben bist. Soldaten spielen auf Level 25, sie müssten in der
Lage sein, dich mit einem Treffer zum Respawnen zu schicken. Mich haben sie
einfach nicht bemerkt. Als das Massaker im Laderaum begann, habe ich schnell
meine Tarnfertigkeit eingesetzt und konnte sie sogar auf Level 2 erhöhen, bevor
die Soldaten verschwanden. Aber ich habe nicht richtig nachgedacht. Vielleicht
hätten sie mich zusammen mit den anderen Gefangenen befreit oder mich einfach
zum Respawnen geschickt. Dann müsste ich mich jetzt nicht mit dieser Kette
herumschlagen, sondern würde einfach zum Spawnpunkt zurückkehren und wäre
frei.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich erstarrte vor
Angst. Von der Stelle aus, an der ich mich befand, konnte man den Spawnpunkt
nicht sehen. Was aber, wenn Charaktere mit meiner gewinnenden Erscheinung nur
einen einzigen Weg in die Freiheit hatten, und das war zu sterben und wieder
zurückzukehren? Nein, das ergab keinen Sinn! Es musste andere annehmbare
Möglichkeiten geben, hier herauszukommen. Ich betrachtete die kurze, rostige
Kette, mit der ich angekettet war. Als Erstes versuchte ich, sie zu zerbrechen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dein Charakter besitzt
nicht genug Stärke, um diese Aktion auszuführen.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erforderliche Stärke
zum Zerbrechen der Kette: 7.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Für die Kette reichte
meine Stärke offensichtlich nicht aus, doch was war mit der Handschelle an
meinem Handgelenk?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dein Charakter besitzt
nicht genug Beweglichkeit, um diese Aktion auszuführen.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erforderliche
Beweglichkeit zum Zerbrechen der Handschelle: 7.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ein weiterer
Fehlschlag. Ich sah mir meine linke Hand genau an. Das Handgelenk sowie die
Hand waren schmal, doch ich hatte einen großen Daumen, der mich daran hinderte,
aus der Handschelle zu schlüpfen. Was wenn ... Der Gedanke, meinen eigenen
Daumen abzubeißen, war barbarisch, doch ich verwarf ihn nicht sofort. Ich hatte
Gesundheitsregeneration, also würde der Daumen bald nachwachsen. Würde ein
echter Goblin zögern? Nein, entschied ich, das würde er nicht.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich versenkte die Zähne
in mein eigenes Fleisch. Schmerzen überwältigten mich und meine Trefferpunkte
fielen rapide. Ich musste sogar schnell das Rattenfleisch essen, um etwas
Gesundheit wiederherzustellen, doch meine Idee funktionierte! Vorsichtig zog
ich meine blutende Hand aus der rostigen Handschelle. Ich war frei! Das Bluten
hörte sofort auf, doch von meinen 21 Trefferpunkten waren nur noch 2 übrig.
Aber das war egal. Allmählich würde Regeneration meine Gesundheit vollständig
wiederherstellen. Dann erschien jedoch ein Debuff ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Deine linke Hand ist
verletzt.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In den nächsten 2 Tagen
kannst du keine Waffe in der linken Hand halten, nicht schwimmen oder Felswände
und Bäume hochklettern.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alle anderen mit der
linken Hand ausgeführten Aktionen erhalten eine Strafe von 30 %.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Auch hatte ich für das
Abnehmen der Kette keine Erfahrungspunkte verdient. Entweder hatte den
Entwicklern meine Lösung nicht gefallen oder die Mission war noch nicht
abgeschlossen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Was war das?”, fragte
mein Bekannter hinter der Wand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Meine Kette ab. Jetzt
du.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich stand langsam auf
und schaute in die Zelle neben mir. Der Kerl, der dort saß, war ein echter
Freak! Auf dem schmutzigen Boden lag eine erschöpfte, blaue Kreatur, halb
Mensch, halb Fisch. Sie hatte riesige, hervorstehende Augen und schnappte
schwer nach Luft. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trong
Taucher</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Najade</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Level-1-Taucher</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Du bist ziemlich
hässlich, Amra!”, rief der Fischmann aus. Seine Reaktion auf mein Aussehen war
die gleiche wie die des Soldaten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wir lachten beide, dann
beantwortete er die Frage, die ich gerade stellen wollte. „Bei der Erstellung
des Charakters hatte ich keine Ahnung, wie ich mich nennen sollte. Ich dachte
mir, das zweite Wort sollte meinen Beruf beschreiben. Also bin ich Herr
Taucher, der Taucher. Doch erzähl mir lieber, wie du die Kette losgeworden
bist.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich versuchte mein
Bestes, um ihm meine Methode und den Debuff, den ich erhalten hatte,
verständlich zu machen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Der Fisch schüttelte
den Kopf. „Verdammt ... Nein, das ist nichts für mich. Ich muss tauchen und
unter Wasser schwimmen können, doch mit einer verletzten linken Hand ist das
nicht möglich. Es ist einfacher für mich, zu sterben und in einer Stunde ohne
Debuffs oder fehlende Körperteile wiederaufzuerstehen. Pass auf, ich versuche,
einen Weg aus dieser Handschelle zu finden, doch wenn mir nichts Sinnvolles
einfällt, kannst du mich töten und ich respawne. Ich kann die Stunde außerhalb
des Spiels sowieso gebrauchen. Ich muss Mails beantworten und ein paar Sachen
erledigen. Du kannst in der Zwischenzeit etwas essen oder einen Spaziergang
machen. Danach können wir zusammen weiterspielen. Ich habe das Gefühl, dass es
viel zu schwer ist, hier alleine herauszukommen. Was meinst du?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Im ersten Moment
erschreckte mich sein Vorschlag. Trong sprach sehr gelassen über seinen Tod. Es
schien, als ob er sich wegen der zu erwartenden Schmerzen kein bisschen Sorgen
machen würde. Doch dann wurde mir bewusst, dass er einfach ein normaler Spieler
ohne virtuelle Realitätskapsel war. Er saß zu Hause vor seinem Bildschirm oder
trug einen VR-Helm und versuchte, diesen langweiligen Übungsort um jeden Preis
so schnell wie möglich zu verlassen, um in die riesige Spielwelt einzutauchen.
Das erklärte Trongs Sorglosigkeit. Jeder Spieler, der wie ich die Empfindungen
seines Charakters fühlen konnte, würde es vorziehen, sich auf andere Weise zu
befreien.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ja, gut. Ich gehe,
sehe mich um”, antwortete ich dem gefesselten Najadenmann und ging den dunklen
Gang hinunter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Es war Zeit, sich mit
dem Interface zu beschäftigen. Zuerst rief ich die Karte auf, machte sie
halbtransparent und platzierte sie am oberen rechten Rand. Sie zeigte mir an,
dass ich mich im Laderaum einer Sklavengaleere befand. Trong Taucher hinter mir
erschien auf der Karte als gelbes Dreieck, während im Dunkeln vor mir 3 rote Kreise
auf der Lauer lagen. Ein Blick auf die Farbkennzeichnung verriet mir, dass Rot
feindliche Gegner signalisierte, was ich selbst hätte erraten können. Gelb
bedeutete, dass die Einstellung des jeweiligen NPCs oder Spielers jemand
anderem gegenüber unbekannt war.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Langsam und vorsichtig
ging ich weiter. Es roch nach kürzlich vergossenem Blut, doch die Leichen der
niedergestreckten Soldaten waren nicht verschwunden, was in den meisten Spielen
nach einer bestimmten Zeit der Fall ist. Ich fühlte etwas an meinem Fuß, ein
Glasgefäß rollte auf dem Boden hin und her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leere Phiole.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wird benutzt, um
alchemistische Elixiere aufzubewahren.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich hob das Gefäß auf.
Vielleicht konnte es mir von Nutzen sein. Ich betrachtete es, um
herauszufinden, wie es geschlossen wurde. Einige Sekunden später erschien eine
Meldung:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Möchtest du Alchemie
(Int, Bew) als Hauptfertigkeit wählen?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich war erstaunt. War
es so einfach, eine Fertigkeit aufzunehmen? Keine Ausbilder oder Missionen,
keine wahnsinnig teuren Schriftrollen? Alchemie konnte sehr hilfreich für mich
sein. Ich würde in meinem Beruf viele Kräuter und Wurzeln finden, die ich sonst
im Rohzustand für wenig Geld verkaufen musste. Stattdessen würde ich mit
Alchemie wertvolle Elixiere aus den Pflanzen herstellen können, die
wahrscheinlich viel mehr wert waren. Ich wählte die Option „Ja”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du
hast Alchemie als Hauptfertigkeit gewählt.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fertigkeitslevel:
1</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gewählte
Hauptfertigkeiten: 3 von 4</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erst jetzt erkannte
ich, was ich gerade getan hatte: Ohne zu überlegen hatte ich einen der beiden
übrigen Fertigkeitsplätze belegt. Und was noch schlimmer war, die Fertigkeit
erhöhte Intelligenz, in der Goblins 50 % langsamer als andere levelten! Das
konnte erhebliche Konsequenzen haben. Was für eine idiotische Wahl! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Statt Alchemie hätte
ich eine Fertigkeit wählen sollen, die Beweglichkeit und Wahrnehmung
verbesserte, die Stärken meines Goblins. Wenn ich solch eine Fertigkeit auf,
sagen wir, Level 100 brachte, würde ich 130 Beweglichkeitspunkte (100 x 1,3)
plus 65 Wahrnehmungspunkte (50 x 1.3) erhalten. Das wären zusammen 195
zusätzliche Attributpunkte! Doch mit Alchemie auf Level 100 würde ich wegen der
50 %-Strafe auf Intelligenz nur 50 Intelligenzpunkte (100 x 0,5) und 65
Beweglichkeitspunkte (50 x 1,3) erhalten. Das waren nur 115 Punkte für meinen
Charakter statt der 195, die ich hätte verdienen können, wenn ich nachgedacht
hätte ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich war so wütend, dass
ich die verhängnisvolle Phiole am liebsten an die Wand geworfen hätte, doch ich
versuchte, ruhig zu bleiben, und nahm sie mit. Ich wusste nicht genau, wo
Gegenstände der Spiellogik nach gesammelt wurden. Ich trug nichts weiter als
einen Lendenschurz, doch ich konnte trotzdem Gegenstände in meinem Inventar
aufbewahren. Es hatte jedoch nur 8 Plätze. Das war sehr wenig, darum wollte ich
einen Beutel finden, in dem ich meine Gegenstände aufbewahren konnte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nach einigen Schritten lag
eine weitere Phiole auf dem Boden und danach fand ich noch 4 dieser Gefäße. Dem
Blut und den tiefen Kerben in einem Holztisch nach zu urteilen, musste hier vor
Kurzem ein schwerer Kampf getobt haben und die Kämpfer hatten vermutlich
alchemistische Elixiere benutzt, um ihre Stärke zu erhöhen oder sich zu heilen.
Glücklicherweise nahmen die 6 gleichen Gefäße nur einen der 8 verfügbaren
Plätze in meinem Inventar ein.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich kam den roten Kreisen
auf der Karte immer näher. Ich konnte die Feinde noch nicht sehen, doch ich
bewegte mich nun etwas vorsichtiger. Genau in dem Moment erschien eine weitere
Meldung:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Möchtest du Tarnung
(Bew, Kon) als Hauptfertigkeit wählen?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dieses Mal ließ ich mir
mehr Zeit für meine Entscheidung. Einerseits würde Tarnung meine Stärke
erhöhen, das war nützlich. Doch andererseits wären damit alle 4 verfügbaren Hauptfertigkeitsplätze
belegt, bevor ich überhaupt mit dem Spiel begonnen hatte. Das wäre langfristig
betrachtet vielleicht nicht die beste Entscheidung für den Fortschritt meines
Charakters. Außerdem durfte ich nicht vergessen, dass ich ein Vampir war. Die Spielmechanik
erlaubte nicht, meine Hauptfertigkeiten vor anderen zu verbergen. Es leuchtete
ein, dass man jemanden auf gewisse Art einschätzte, wenn man ihn traf, oder? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doch es würde nur zu
unnötigen Fragen führen, wenn jeder Charakter, der mir begegnete, sah, dass ich
die Fertigkeit Tarnung besaß. Ich sollte schließlich ein friedlicher
Goblin-Kräutersammler sein. Mit etwas Bedauern lehnte ich Tarnung als
Hauptfertigkeit ab, doch ich akzeptierte sie als Nebenfertigkeit.
Attributpunkte wurden durch Nebenfertigkeiten nicht erhöht, doch die Fähigkeit,
mich ungesehen zu bewegen, konnte für einen nachtaktiven Vampir von großem
Nutzen sein. Vor allem aber konnten andere Spieler Nebenfertigkeiten nicht
sehen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du
hast Tarnung als Nebenfertigkeit gewählt.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fertigkeitslevel:
1</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Es war einfach, in den
Tarnungsmodus zu wechseln, doch es verlangsamte das Gehen meines Charakters
erheblich. Ich war nicht in Eile, darum bewegte ich mich so lange wie möglich
in diesem Modus. Weil ich meine Attribute im Auge hatte, entging mir nicht der
Moment, als der leere Tarnungsbalken langsam anstieg. Es war die reinste
Freude!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich zwang mich jedoch
zur Zurückhaltung, denn jemand könnte mich sehen, wenn ich mich auffällig
bewegte. Darum ging ich mit doppelter Vorsicht weiter in den dunklen Laderaum
des Schiffs hinein.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Level-1-Ratte</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich bemerkte sie, bevor
ich sie sehen konnte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du
hast mit der Fertigkeit Tarnung Level 2 erreicht!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Als ich auf die Meldung
sah, freute ich mich, doch durch diese Unachtsamkeit stolperte ich über eine
kleine Stufe, die ich nicht bemerkt hatte, und fiel der Länge nach zu Boden. In
dem Moment entdeckte die Ratte mich. Das aggressive Tier sprang auf mich zu,
aber ich hatte keine Waffe, mit der ich mich verteidigen konnte!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erlittener Schaden: 4
(Rattenbiss)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gesundheit: 6/21</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Noch 2 Bisse und ich
war erledigt! Ich schlug die Ratte zweimal, einmal mit der linken Hand und
einmal mit der rechten. Kein Schaden, ich hatte sie verfehlt!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erlittener Schaden: 4
(Rattenbiss)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gesundheit: 2/21</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Offensichtlich
richteten meine schwachen Schläge nichts aus, darum versuchte ich, die Ratte zu
beißen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zugefügter Schaden: 8
(Vampirbiss)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wiederhergestellte
Gesundheit: + 4 TP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gesundheit: 6/21</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ha! Ich hatte es ihr
gegeben! Was war eine kleine Ratte gegen eine schreckenerregende Kreatur der
Nacht! Der nächste Biss der Ratte kostete mich weitere 4 TP meiner Gesundheit,
dann war ich wieder an der Reihe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du hast nicht genügend
Ausdauerpunkte, um Vampirbiss einzusetzen.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ausgerechnet jetzt
musste mir die Ausdauer ausgehen! Ich würde verschlungen werden! Verzweifelt
versuchte ich erneut, die Ratte mit den Fäusten zu schlagen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zugefügter Schaden: 2
(Schlag)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verdiente Erfahrung: 8
EP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erhaltener Gegenstand:
Rattenfleisch (Nahrung)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Als ich gefragt wurde,
ob ich Faustkampf (Str, Kon) als Hauptfertigkeit wählen wollte, lehnte ich ab.
Stattdessen setzte ich mich erschöpft auf den feuchten, strohbedeckten Boden.
Mein Lebensbalken flackerte bedrohlich bei 2/21 TP, meine Ausdauer war auf 1/20
gesunken. Ich musste mir eingestehen, dass mein segelohriger Goblin seine Begegnung
mit der Ratte nur wie durch ein Wunder überlebt hatte. Ich durfte mir keine
weiteren Probleme einhandeln, das stand fest. Bevor ich mich auf die Jagd nach
den anderen Ratten machte, musste ich mich vorbereiten. Zumindest musste ich
meine Gesundheit und Ausdauer wiederherstellen und möglichst irgendeine Waffe
finden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich ruhte mich 10
Minuten lang aus und atmete tief durch. In der Zeit erhöhte sich meine Ausdauer
auf 10, während meine Gesundheit dank der Regeneration und des Fleisches, das
ich aß, vollständig wiederhergestellt wurde. Unmittelbar nachdem ich wieder
losgegangen war, entdeckte ich ein Messer auf dem Boden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rostiges Küchenmesser</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Schaden: (1 bis 4) x
Stärke</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Das war deutlich
besser, als mit bloßen Fäusten mit (1 bis 2) x Stärke zu schlagen! Kaum hatte
ich das Messer aufgehoben, schlug das System mir vor, Dolch (Str, Bew) als
Hauptfertigkeit zu wählen. Ich schnaufte ungeduldig. Versucht nicht ständig,
mich zu verleiten, unüberlegt zu handeln! Wenn Beweglichkeit das Hauptattribut
bei dieser Fertigkeit gewesen wäre, hätte ich sie vielleicht in Betracht gezogen,
doch Stärke mit der 50 %-Strafe ... Nein, danke. Alchemie mit dem Attribut
Intelligenz, das mit einer Strafe belegt war, reichte mir völlig! Als
Nebenfertigkeit wollte ich Dolch auch nicht wählen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Es war aber viel
einfacher, Ratten mit dem Küchenmesser zu erledigen. Ich erlitt einen
4-TP-Biss, konterte mit einem Messerstich für 6 TP und gab der Kreatur mit
einem Vampirbiss den Rest. Meine Ausdauer sank wieder in den einstelligen
Bereich, sodass ich mich ausruhen musste. Obwohl ich bereits gesehen hatte,
dass sich eine weitere Ratte vor mir befand, war es Zeit, zu Trong Taucher
zurückzukehren.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Der Fischmensch saß am
gleichen Ort und war mit seiner metallenen Handschelle an die Wand gefesselt.
Ich rief Trong mehrere Male beim Namen, doch es dauerte ein paar Minuten, bis
er zu sich kam und antwortete.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Sorry, ich war nicht
am Computer. Wenn du so weit bist, töte mich, wie wir es besprochen haben. Dann
gehe ich schnell ins Geschäft und hole mir etwas zu essen. Bitte warte auf
mich, bis ich in einer Stunde respawne, okay? Zusammen schaffen wir es weiter!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich erhob das Messer
über der Brust des Najadenmannes und stach ihm tief zwischen die Rippen. Obwohl
die Wucht des Stichs nicht schlecht war - er fügte 8 TP Schaden zu -, sank
Trongs Lebensbalken nur um ein Viertel. Teufelskerl! Seine Lebenspunkte waren
eineinhalbmal höher als die meines segelohrigen Goblins! Ich musste wieder und
wieder zustechen. Nach dem vierten Stich blinkte Trongs Lebensanzeige in der
kritischen Zone. Ich wartete und fragte den Fischmenschen, ob ich ihn wirklich
töten sollte, doch ich bekam keine Antwort. Der Spieler war offenbar nicht mehr
am Computer, also traf ich meine Entscheidung.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich hatte die
Informationen in Foren gelesen. Sie besagten, dass es für die Berufe Assassine
und Dieb vorteilhaft war, die Fertigkeit Verschleiern zu haben. Sie ermöglichte
einem Spieler, Spielprotokolle zu entfernen oder zu modifizieren, sodass man
kriminelle Handlungen vor anderen Spielern verbergen konnte. Außerdem konnte
man die Dauer der Markierung als Krimineller reduzieren und sie mit der Zeit
ganz löschen. Das war genau das, was ich brauchte! Ich versuchte, die letzte
Spielmeldung über den Messerstich zu löschen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Möchtest du Verschleiern
(Int, Bew) als Hauptfertigkeit wählen?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nein, Verschleiern als
Hauptfertigkeit war nicht der richtige Schritt. Es wäre unklug, es an die große
Glocke zu hängen, dass mein harmloser Goblin Kräutersammler dunkle Neigungen zu
verbergen hatte. Doch als Nebenfertigkeit war Verschleiern mehr als hilfreich!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du
hast Verschleiern als Nebenfertigkeit gewählt.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fertigkeitslevel:
1</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Effektzeit:
1 Minute, verbraucht 5 EP</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich klickte auf das
Verschleiern-Symbol. Nun hatte ich eine ganze Minute im Verborgenen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zugefügter Schaden: 6
(Vampirbiss)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wiederhergestellte
Gesundheit: + 3 TP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verdiente Erfahrung: 80
EP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Level
2!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freigeschaltetes
Achievement: Geschmackstester (2/1000)</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freigeschaltetes
Achievement: Spielertöter (1)</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freigeschaltete
Volksfähigkeit: Nachtsicht (Hält 12 Stunden an, verbraucht 15 EP) </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verbesserte
Volksfähigkeit: Blutlust<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>(Erhöht den
zugefügten Gesamtschaden für jede einzelne Kreatur, die durch Vampirbiss
getötet wird, um + 1 %. Aktueller Bonus: 2 %)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Achtung!
Dein Charakter wurde als Krimineller markiert! Für die nächsten 8 Stunden bist
du ein legales Ziel für Angriffe!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trong Tauchers Körper
blinkte auf und wurde durchsichtig. Nein, ich hatte nicht gedankenlos
gehandelt. Dieses Mal hatte ich wirklich alles einkalkuliert. Ich hatte ein
Ziel gefunden, mit dem ich meine äußerst nützliche Fähigkeit Blutlust leveln
konnte, also ergriff ich meine Chance. Najaden waren schließlich ein seltenes
Volk. Wann würde ich wieder die Möglichkeit bekommen, sie meiner Liste besonderer
Arten, die ich gebissen hatte, hinzuzufügen? Doch ich war nicht der Einzige,
der die Spielprotokolle sehen konnte. Wie würde Trong Taucher reagieren, wenn
er die Meldungen über seinen Tod sah und las, dass ihn ein Vampir getötet
hatte? Ich musste etwas unternehmen, um mein Geheimnis zu hüten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wie konnte ich das
Protokoll manipulieren? Es gelang mir, die Meldung, die Trong Taucher in 50
Sekunden sehen würde, zu öffnen:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zugefügter Schaden: 6
(Vampirbiss von Spieler Amra)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du bist gestorben.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich löschte sie nicht,
obwohl ich es gekonnt hätte. Stattdessen änderte ich sie und ersetzte
„Vampirbiss” durch „Stich mit rostigem Küchenmesser”. Das sah schon besser aus!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du
hast mit der Fertigkeit Verschleiern Level 2 erreicht!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nicht schlecht, gar
nicht schlecht! Das Leben nahm eine Wende zum Besseren! Nun musste ich nur noch
die Attributpunkte zuweisen, die ich durchs Leveln erhalten hatte, und dann
konnte ich mich neuen Abenteuern stellen! Übrigens waren aus irgendeinem Grund
2 der 5 Punkte automatisch verteilt worden. Meine Stärke hatte sich auf 3 und
meine Konstitution auf 4 erhöht. Seltsam ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Als ich mir die
Anleitungen ansah, fand ich heraus, dass dies eine Besonderheit der Vampire
war. Ob es einem gefiel oder nicht, Stärke und Konstitution wurden auf jedem
Level erhöht. Damit musste ich mich abfinden, es war nicht zu ändern. Mir
blieben nur 3 Attributpunkte übrig.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich beschloss, Charisma
gleich 2 Punkte zuzuweisen. Es gefiel mir nicht, dass jede Person, der ich
begegnete, mich töten wollte, weil ich so hässlich war! Nach längerem Überlegen
verteilte ich meinen letzten Attributpunkt auf Intelligenz. Es wurde Zeit,
schlauer als ein Stuhl zu werden!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DIE DRITTE RATTE </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">war
kein Problem mehr, sie starb nach 2 Messerstichen – ein klarer Beweis dafür,
dass sich die Stärke meines Charakters verbesserte. Nachdem ich 1 Stück
Rattenfleisch eingesammelt hatte, ging ich weiter auf das Ende des dunklen
Laderaums zu, wo eine Treppe zum Oberdeck führte. Sobald ich die erste Stufe
betrat, wurde die Karte aktualisiert. Sie zeigte nicht mehr den unteren
Laderaum an, sondern das Ruderdeck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Auf dieser Etage stank
es fürchterlich nach Fäulnis, schmutzigen Körpern und Blut. Der üble Geruch war
so stark, dass ich fast umgekippt wäre. Mein Goblin musste sich mit seiner
verletzten linken Hand die Nase zuhalten. Okay, ich hatte verstanden. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich ohne Grenzen</i> wurde besonders für
seinen Hyperrealismus gelobt. Aber mussten sie wirklich so stark in die
widerwärtigen Details gehen? Wie hatten es die Entwickler überhaupt geschafft,
die schrecklichen Gerüche dieses jämmerlichen Ortes zu vermitteln? Selbst eine
leichte Brise konnte den Gestank, der über dem Deck hing, nicht davontragen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Als ich mich etwas
erholt hatte, sah ich mich um. Alles deutete darauf hin, dass hier kürzlich ein
Gemetzel stattgefunden hatte: getrocknetes Blut auf dem Boden, von Klingen
zerschlagene Ruderbänke, Teile von Ketten und schmutzige Kleiderfetzen. Leichen
waren nicht zu sehen, die Charaktere hatten es bereits geschafft, in die
Spielwelt zu entschwinden. Dann sah ich auf der Karte neben den Markierungen
einiger entfernter Ratten ein gelbes Dreieck. Ein Spieler? Ich näherte mich
vorsichtig und entdeckte ihn oder, besser gesagt, sie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valerianna
Schnellfuß</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Waldnymphe</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Level-2-Bestienmeisterin</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meine Schwester! Ich
erkannte sie sofort. Valeria benutzte immer den gleichen Namen für ihren
Hauptcharakter, egal, welches Spiel sie spielte. Ich ging jedoch nicht näher
auf sie zu. Meine Schwester und ich hatten abgesprochen, nicht zu verraten,
dass wir uns kannten. Darum kroch ich weiter und beobachtete erfreut, wie mein
Tarnungsbalken immer weiter anstieg.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In der Zwischenzeit war
die anmutige Nymphe mit blaugrünem Haar damit beschäftigt, auf ungewöhnliche
Weise Ratten zu vernichten. Aus der Entfernung brachte sie eine Ratte mit einem
Zauber unter ihre Kontrolle und setzte sie gegen die anderen ein. Ich las
Valeriannas Hauptfertigkeiten:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tiere beherrschen:
Level 2</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wassermagie: Level 1</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Plötzlich erstarrte
Valerianna und drehte sich schnell um.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Wer bist du?” Sie
klang eher neugierig als erschreckt. Ich hatte meine Anwesenheit irgendwie
verraten und war entdeckt worden. Es wäre dumm gewesen, mich versteckt zu
halten, darum trat ich hervor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Du bist ein
Krimineller! Bleib, wo du bist!”, rief die Nymphe jetzt ängstlich. Sie legte
ihre Handflächen aneinander und hielt sie vor sich. Als sie sie
auseinanderbewegte, entstand eine kleine, flackernde, blaue Flamme zwischen
ihnen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ich dir nichts tun!”,
versicherte ich ihr schnell, wobei ich leise die schlechte Sprachfähigkeit
meines Charakters verfluchte. „Ich beginne erst Spiel. Kette von Hand gelöst.
Dann anderer Fischspieler brauchte Hilfe. Ich töte ihn, er kommt ohne Kette
zurück. Er sagt, der einzige Weg. Kriegt Kette nicht ab.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Nymphe, ein gut
aussehendes, schlankes Mädchen in einem kurzen, grünen Umhang, konnte ein
Lächeln nicht unterdrücken. „Du bist lustig, Goblin, doch du besitzt nicht sehr
viel Verstand. Willst du mir sagen, dass ihr beide nicht genug Stärke-,
Beweglichkeits-, Intelligenz- oder Wahrnehmungspunkte hattet, um gemeinsam auf
7 zu kommen? Ihr hättet zusammenarbeiten können!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich stutzte überrascht
und verlegen. Die Idee, Trongs Kette gemeinsam aus der Wand zu reißen, war mir
nicht in den Sinn gekommen. Die Dummheit meines Goblins färbte hoffentlich
nicht auf mich ab! Es wäre so einfach gewesen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valerianna dachte
einige Sekunden nach und äußerte dann mit besorgter Stimme: „Ich glaube, ich
weiß, was passiert ist. Du beschreibst anscheinend einen gewöhnlichen
PvP-Betrug. Du hast einen Spieler auf seine Bitte hin getötet und bist jetzt
für mehrere Stunden als Krimineller markiert. Der Spieler hätte dich ganz
leicht töten können, doch die Belohnung war es nicht wert, den Status
Krimineller zu haben. Du würdest durch deinen Tod nichts verlieren und er würde
nur 100 Erfahrungspunkte verdienen. Er wollte dir genug Zeit geben, durch Ratten
und Übungsmissionen zu leveln, um dich danach zu töten. Sicher hat er dich
gebeten, auf ihn zu warten, damit ihr zusammen weiterspielen könnt. Habe ich
recht?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich bestätigte die
Theorie meiner Schwester mit einem Nicken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Sein Charakter muss
auf PvP spezialisiert sein, verstehst du? Er hat sich wahrscheinlich auf ein
Kampfattribut wie Stärke konzentriert und bereitet sich darauf vor, eine
Nahkampfwaffe einzusetzen. Sicher ist er mit Konstitution auf einem hohen Level
und hat auch eine hohe Anzahl von Trefferpunkten. Bist du auf Level 3, wenn er
dich tötet, verdient er 300 Erfahrungspunkte anstatt nur 100. Das macht am
Anfang des Spiels einen großen Unterschied. Die Punkte genügen, um Level 4 zu
erreichen. Außerdem erhalten einige Völker und Klassen für das Töten von
Spielern zusätzliche Erfahrung oder besondere Boni und Missionen, weshalb dein
neuer Freund dich auf alle Fälle töten will. Auf diese Weise ist er auf einem
ziemlich hohen Level, wenn er in die Hauptspielwelt kommt, und hat außerdem
noch eine reine Weste.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valeria hatte ihren
VR-Helm abgenommen, das Forum von <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reich
ohne Grenzen</i> geöffnet und die Informationen daraus vorgelesen. Das
bedeutete, dass Trong Tauchers Vorschlag, ihn zu töten, eine Falle gewesen war.
Er plante, mich nach seiner Rückkehr zu töten, doch vorher sollte seine Beute
etwas Übung bekommen, damit sie mehr wert war, wenn er sie zur Strecke brachte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ist es ein Geheimnis,
welchem Volk er angehört?”, fragte die Nymphe, während sie eine weitere Ratte
auf ihre Artgenossen hetzte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Najade, Taucher”,
antwortete ich. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meine Schwester versank
in Gedanken. Während sie bewegungslos dastand, kämpfte die Ratte unter ihrer
Kontrolle weiter gegen ihre ehemaligen Freunde. Ich war überrascht, als der
Körper der bewegungslosen Nymphe in verschiedenen Farben zu glitzern begann.
Eine ihrer Fertigkeiten musste leveln. Ich warf einen Blick auf ihre sichtbaren
Attribute. Richtig, Valerias Fertigkeit Tiere beherrschen hatte Level 3
erreicht. Noch während ich ihre Statistik prüfte, kehrte meine Schwester ins
Spiel zurück.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Nur zu deiner
Information: Najadentaucher sind das Gleiche wie menschliche Krieger oder
zwergische Berserker. Sie erhalten 10 Lebenspunkte zusätzlich für jeden
Konstitutionspunkt und bekommen die doppelte Anzahl von Ausdauerpunkten sowie
einen zusätzlichen Bonus auf Stärke für das Ausführen verschiedener
Kombinationsangriffe.“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ich laufe weg?”,
fragte ich, doch die Nymphe schüttelte den Kopf. Sie wollte wissen, wie lange
es noch dauern würde, bis der Najadenmann respawnte. Ich warf einen Blick auf
die Zeitanzeige und machte ihr verständlich, dass er in 40 Minuten
zurückkehrte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Lauf nicht weg,
Goblin. Wenn er wirklich angreift, helfe ich dir. Ich mag Schwindler und
Betrüger nicht. Doch ich greife nur ein, wenn er dich zuerst angreift. Fürs
Erste bringe ich meine Fertigkeit Wassermagie auf Level 2, dadurch erhöht sich
meine Intelligenz durch die Hauptfertigkeiten-Boni auf 17.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich verstand nicht
gleich, was sie sagte. Valerianna war bereits auf Level 2 und hatte Intelligenz
auf 17 heraufgelevelt. Wie hatte sie das geschafft? Es war mir gelungen, meine
Beweglichkeit, Intelligenz und Konstitution auf Level 4 zu bringen, doch ich
hatte kein anderes Attribut höher gesteigert als 4.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sie erklärte eifrig:
„Nymphen erhalten einen Bonus, wenn wir in Charisma und Intelligenz ein höheres
Level erreichen, und ich habe meinen Charakter vor allem auf Intelligenz
ausgerichtet. Außerdem verbessern meine 2 vorgegebenen Hauptfertigkeiten zuerst
Intelligenz. Ich konnte die Handschellen einfach von meinem Handgelenk
abnehmen, weil ich sofort herausgefunden habe, wie der Verschluss funktioniert.
Ich habe ihn einfach geöffnet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nach diesen Worten rief
die Nymphe die Ratte zu sich, die unter ihrer Kontrolle stand. Ich bemerkte,
dass das Tier etwas gewachsen war. Im Kampf gegen seine Artgenossen war es auf
Level 2 aufgestiegen. Valerianna befahl ihrem Tiergefährten, sich hinzusetzen,
schoss einen eisblauen Pfeil auf eine weit entfernte, kaum sichtbare feindliche
Ratte ab und tötete sie mit einem Schuss. Bei 2 Ratten in der Nähe hatte sie
den gleichen Erfolg. Wieder leuchtete die Nymphe in bunten Farben auf. Ihre
Fertigkeit Wassermagie hatte Level 2 erreicht.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Cool, noch ungefähr 50
Erfahrungspunkte und ich bin auf Level 3!” Die Nymphe lachte erfreut. „Amra,
ich muss mich etwas ausruhen, um mein Mana wiederherzustellen. Danach kann ich
bis zu 9 Eispfeile abschießen, die jeweils durchschnittlich 40 Punkte Schaden
verursachen. Egal, auf welchem Level die Konstitution deines Najadenfreundes
ist, das überlebt er nicht. Doch es ist sehr wichtig, dass du ihn nicht in
meine Nähe kommen lässt. Ich habe nur 11 TP, er braucht mich bloß anzuspucken
und ich bin tot. Übrigens, warum levelst du nicht auch? Es sind noch einige
Ratten übrig, hol sie dir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich nickte gehorsam und
ging los. Meine Gedanken waren jedoch weit von den Ratten entfernt. Ich konnte
nur an den Angriff von Trong Taucher denken. Valerianna hatte versprochen,
einzugreifen, falls der Najadenmann angreifen würde, doch ich musste trotzdem
ein oder zwei Treffer des Fischmenschen überleben. Und wenn sein Charakter
wirklich auf PvP spezialisiert war, einschließlich aller Modifikatoren für das
Zufügen von Schaden, dann ... Ich fragte mich, wie viel Schaden er mit einem
Treffer verursachen konnte. Wahrscheinlich war es nicht weniger als die Nymphe
mit ihrer Magie. Meine Schwester hatte etwas von 40 Trefferpunkten pro Eispfeil
gesagt. Wie konnte ich den Angriff überleben, wenn ich 40 TP als Richtwert
nahm? Ich selbst hatte nur 27 Punkte. Konnte ich es schaffen, auszuweichen? Das
erschien mir der einzige Ausweg zu sein.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Als sich die nächste
Level-1-Ratte auf mich stürzte, stach ich nicht gleich zu, sondern sprang
zurück und zur Seite.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Möchtest du Ausweichen
(Bew, Wah) als Hauptfertigkeit wählen?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Fertigkeit levelte
Beweglichkeit und Wahrnehmung, meine stärksten Attribute! Genau das, was ich
brauchte! Ich wählte sie sofort.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du
hast Ausweichen als Hauptfertigkeit gewählt.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fertigkeitslevel:
1</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gewählte
Hauptfertigkeiten: 4 von 4</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Auf Level 10 kannst du
eine fünfte Hauptfertigkeit wählen.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bevor ich die Ratte
tötete, schaffte sie es, mich einmal zu beißen, doch das war nicht schlimm.
Gesundheitsregeneration würde die Wunde heilen. Ich bemerkte, dass die
Fertigkeit Ausweichen meine Beweglichkeit auf 5 erhöht und meine Wahrnehmung
etwas verbessert hatte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Von meinen 4
Hauptfertigkeiten war bis jetzt nur Ausweichen aktiviert worden. Die anderen
waren grau hinterlegt und inaktiv, sie hatten noch keinen Einfluss auf meine
Attribute. Es lag vielleicht daran, dass ich sie noch nicht eingesetzt hatte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich nahm eine leere Phiole
aus meinem Inventar und füllte sie mit dem Blut der toten Ratte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rattenblut
(alchemistische Zutat)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Fertigkeit Alchemie
leuchtete auf. Meine Intelligenz und Beweglichkeit erhöhten sich sofort, doch
nicht sehr viel. So funktionierte es also! Um eine Hauptfertigkeit zu
aktivieren, damit sie die Attribute verbesserte, musste man sie einmal
benutzen! Welche anderen Attribute waren noch nicht aktiviert? Kräuterkunde und
Handel. Mit Kräuterkunde musste ich noch etwas warten. Wir befanden uns auf
einer Galeere, an Bord des Schiffs würde ich keine Pflanzen finden. Aber mit
Handel war es ganz einfach. Ich kehrte zu meiner Schwester zurück und
versuchte, ihr das Gefäß mit Rattenblut zu verkaufen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valerianna schüttelte
sich voller Abscheu und lehnte natürlich ab. Doch der Gegenstand musste nicht
tatsächlich verkauft werden. Zufrieden stellte ich fest, dass Handel ebenfalls
aktiviert war und sich mein Charisma bereits um 1 Punkt erhöht hatte. Damit
verbesserte sich meine Intelligenz auch etwas. Ich goss das Blut auf den Boden,
denn ich hatte noch keinen Verschluss für die Phiole gefunden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die nächsten 10 Minuten
verbrachte ich damit, der letzten Ratte zu entkommen, denn ich wollte meine
Fertigkeit Ausweichen schnell auf 3 steigern. Von Bissen übersät und unglaublich
zufrieden mit mir kehrte ich zu meiner Schwester zurück.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„He, Segelohr, brauchst
du noch viele Punkte bis Level 3?”, fragte die Nymphe mit gelangweiltem Blick.
Sie saß auf einer Ruderbank und starrte auf ihre gepflegten Fingernägel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Habe 340 Erfahrung. Will
500”, teilte ich ihr mit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meine Schwester warf
mir einen missbilligenden Blick zu und sah ärgerlich aus. „Erhöhe deine
Intelligenz mindestens auf 5. Es ist schwer, dich zu verstehen. Aber das kannst
du später tun. Jetzt hör mir gut zu, Segelohr. Wir müssen das Oberdeck der
Galeere erreichen. Ich habe in den Anleitungen eine Beschreibung dieses Ortes
gefunden. Dort oben tobt das Meer. Die Wellen krachen gegen das beschädigte
Schiff. Wenn du nicht genug Beweglichkeit hast, waschen sie dich über Bord. Dann
verlierst du Erfahrung und musst eine Stunde am Spawnpunkt warten. Oder kannst
du schwimmen, Amra?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Kein Schwimmen. Genug
Beweglichkeit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Bist du sicher? Also
gut. Ich habe einen Unterwasser-Atemzauber, ich sinke einfach auf den Boden.
Dein Najadenfreund ist ein Meereswesen, darum ertrinkt er nicht. Aber du musst
das Boot trotz der Wellen und des Wetters mit einem Kran hinunterlassen und
dann ans Ufer rudern. Das ist eine Nebenquest, du erhältst dafür 100
Erfahrungspunkte. Wenn du das Ufer erreichst, ist sowohl die Neben- als auch
die Hauptübungsmission abgeschlossen. Dafür bekommst du noch einmal 300
Erfahrungspunkte. Sobald du das Ufer betrittst, erreichst du Level 3. Aber ruh
dich nicht einfach aus, wenn du dort angelangt bist. Lauf so schnell wie möglich
vom Ufer weg oder bereite dich auf einen Kampf vor. Der Taucher greift dich
sicher an, darum pass gut auf, verstanden? Dann machen wir uns jetzt auf den
Weg nach oben. Lass das Boot ohne meine Hilfe hinunter, damit alle
Erfahrungspunkte an dich gehen, sonst erreichst du Level 3 nicht und bist zu
schwach, dich dem Najadenmann zu stellen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Asterisks">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">* * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MEINE SCHWESTER </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">kannte
sich wirklich aus. Ohne ihre Warnung wäre ich über Bord gespült worden, als wir
das Oberdeck erreichten. Mithilfe eines straffen Seils, an dem ich mich sofort
festhielt, schaffte ich es, mich auf dem Schiff zu halten, obwohl ich von einer
Woge umgeworfen wurde. Die Ork-Galeere krachte in eine Felswand und wurde
zwischen Gestein eingekeilt. Riesige Wellen rollten über das Deck und nahmen
allen möglichen Müll, Fässer, zerbrochene Ruder und Möbel mit sich.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Auf dem hinteren Teil
des zerschellten Schiffs entdeckte ich das Beiboot, das dieses Chaos auf
wundersame Weise unbeschädigt überstanden hatte. Um zu ihm zu gelangen, musste
ich über das rutschige, schräge Deck laufen, das ständig von schäumenden Wellen
überspült wurde.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ich warte am Ufer auf
dich!”, rief meine Schwester mir zu, bevor sie in die Tiefe gezogen wurde.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Level-2-Ratte, die
unter der Kontrolle meiner Schwester stand, schwamm an mir vorbei. Sie hatte
die Verbindung zu ihrer Herrin verloren und war wieder als aggressiv markiert.
Doch sie war nicht im Geringsten an mir interessiert. Sie ruderte verzweifelt
mit ihren Pfoten und versuchte, gegen die tobenden Elemente anzukämpfen.
Nachdem eine Welle verebbt war, rannte ich über das schräge Deck auf das
Beiboot zu.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Prüfung deiner
Beweglichkeit war positiv.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verdiente Erfahrung: 8
EP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bevor der nächste
Brecher in das beschädigte Schiff krachen konnte, gelang es mir, den offenen
Bereich zu überqueren und mich an der Seite des leinenbespannten Beibootes
festzuklammern.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erhaltene
Mission: Das Beiboot benutzen</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Missionskategorie:
Freigestellt, Training</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Belohnung:
80 EP, kleiner Beutel</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Das Beiboot war an ein
paar Seile gebunden, die zu einem Kran an der Seite des Schiffs führten. Am
Kran befand sich eine Kurbel, die ich drehen musste, um das zerbrechliche
Beiboot zu Wasser zu lassen. Während ich die Kurbel betätigte, waren meine
Empfindungen unglaublich realistisch. Ich vergaß vollkommen, dass ich mich in
einem Spiel befand. Der Sturm, das Knirschen der gedehnten Seile, die
schäumenden Wellen, die Kälte und der Geruch von Seetang schafften eine äußerst
realitätsnahe Umgebung. Meine verletzte linke Hand brannte im salzigen
Meerwasser wie Feuer. Es war anstrengend, die Kurbel nur mit meiner gesunden
Hand zu drehen, bis das Boot endlich das Wasser erreichte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Da bist du ja,
Goblin!” Trong Tauchers Stimme ertönte hinter mir.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich drehte mich um. Der
Najadenmann grinste breit und setzte sich auf die Seitenwand der Galeere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Dieses Wetter ist
genau das Richtige für mich. Ich liebe das stürmische Meer. Gut, du ruderst im
Boot und ich schwimme unter Wasser. Wir treffen uns am Ufer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mit diesen Worten
sprang der Fischmensch über Bord. Auf einmal sah ich, dass er einen Dreizack in
der Hand hielt. Ich wusste nicht, woher er ihn bekommen hatte, doch er besaß jetzt
eine Waffe. Es sah nicht gut für mich aus!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich ließ das Seil los
und ergriff das Ruder. Verflixt! Mit meiner linken Hand allein konnte ich nicht
rudern, darum zog ich es aus dem Ring und ergriff es mit beiden Händen. Auf
diese Weise war es viel einfacher. Beim Rudern verlor ich nach und nach
Ausdauerpunkte, doch darüber machte ich mir keine Sorgen, denn ich hatte noch
viele übrig. Ich navigierte um zerklüftete Felsen herum, die aus dem Wasser
ragten, und steuerte das Boot auf eine Lagune zu. Hinter den Riffen, die als
natürliche Wellenbrecher dienten, war das Meer viel ruhiger. Einige Minuten
später erreichte ich eine Sandbank, die sich wie ein dünnes Band ins Meer zog.
Meine Schwester wartete am Ufer auf mich und winkte schon von Weitem. Sobald
mein Fuß den nassen Sand berührt hatte, leuchtete mein Körper auf:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die
Mission „Das Beiboot benutzen” ist abgeschlossen.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verdiente
Erfahrung: 80 EP</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die
Mission „Flucht von der Sklavenhändler-Galeere” ist abgeschlossen.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verdiente
Erfahrung: 80 EP</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Level
3!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Freigeschaltete
Volksfähigkeit: Apathie der Unsterblichen (hält 3 Stunden an, verbraucht 20 EP)</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Na gut, aber wo war
mein Beutel? Ich sah unter der Ruderbank nach und fand einen Leinenbeutel zum
Umhängen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kleiner Beutel: + 10
Inventarplätze</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich wollte meine neuen
Attributpunkte verteilen, bevor Trong ans Ufer kam. Stärke und Konstitution
erhöhten sich standardgemäß, von den übrigen 3 Punkten wies ich Konstitution
noch 1 und Beweglichkeit 2 Punkte zu. Jetzt hatte ich 39 Trefferpunkte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gerade war ich mit dem Verteilen
fertig, da tauchte Trong Taucher aus dem Meer auf und kam auf die Sandbank.
Sein Körper leuchtete ebenfalls in bunten Farben, auch er hatte Level 3
erreicht. Als der Fischmensch mich böse angrinste, entdeckte ich mehrere Reihen
nadelspitzer Zähne. Plötzlich klappte er seine leuchtend roten Rückenflossen
auf und kreischte wütend. Er hatte die andere Spielerin entdeckt, die sich
nicht weit von mir befand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„He, das ist meine
Trophäe!”, rief Trong Taucher und zeigte mit seinem Dreizack auf mich. „Ich habe
ihn seit dem Beginn des Spiels gehütet!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Nymphe antwortete
dem hinterlistigen Najadenmann nicht. Stattdessen erschien zwischen ihren
Handflächen die helle, blaue Flamme eines Zaubers, den sie wirkte.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„In Ordnung, wir können
ihn uns teilen”, schlug Trong Taucher vor, doch dann griff meine Schwester an.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Der Eispfeil pfiff los,
überbrückte die Entfernung zwischen den beiden und zerbrach in vielen Teilen
auf den Schuppen des Najadenmannes. Seine Gesundheit fiel sofort um ein
Viertel. Der Zauber, der 40 Trefferpunkte wert war, hatte sie aber nur um ein
Drittel reduziert! Wie viele Trefferpunkte hatte Trong Taucher?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Das hast du wohl nicht
erwartet, Nymphe, was?”, lachte der Fischmensch hämisch. „Ich verfüge über eine
natürliche Resistenz gegen Wassermagie!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trong Taucher nahm
seinen Dreizack fest in die Hand und stürmte auf meine Schwester zu, um sie
daran zu hindern, einen weiteren Zauber zu wirken. Ohne zu überlegen rannte ich
ihm nach. Auf halbem Weg wurde der Najadenmann plötzlich von einer Level-1-Krabbe
blockiert, die aus dem Meer auf die Sandbank krabbelte. Er verlangsamte seine
Schritte und erledigte das unerwartete Hindernis mit einer schnellen Bewegung
seines Dreizacks. Doch diese kleine Verzögerung reichte aus, um ihn einzuholen
und ihm mein Messer in den Rücken zu stoßen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zugefügter Schaden: 9
(11 Stich mit rostigem Küchenmesser – 2 Rüstung)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trong Tauchers
Lebensbalken sank, jedoch nur um 10 Prozent. Wenn ich die Fertigkeit Dolch
gewählt hätte, wäre mein Stich in den Rücken vielleicht ein kritischer Treffer
gewesen. Doch so war Trong wahrscheinlich eher von meiner Frechheit überrascht
als durch meinen Angriff verletzt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Er drehte sich zu mir
um. „Jetzt habe ich dich, Amra! Du kannst dich nirgends mehr verstecken!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In dem Moment flog noch
ein Eispfeil in den Rücken des Fischmenschen und reduzierte seine Gesundheit
auf 40 Prozent. Die Farbe seines Lebensbalkens wechselte von grün auf gelb. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trong Taucher zuckte
vor Schmerz zusammen. „Das hat nichts zu bedeuten. Ich überlebe ohne Probleme
noch einen dieser Eiszapfen-Angriffe und dann habe ich 2 nette Trophäen: dich
und die Nymphe! Die 60 Erfahrungspunkte, die ich dabei verdiene, sind genug, um
mich direkt auf Level 5 zu bringen!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mit diesen Worten
machte der Najadenmann einen Satz nach vorne und stach mir mit seinem Dreizack
in die Brust. Ich versuchte, dem Angriff auszuweichen, doch es gelang mir
nicht. Mistkerl! Das tat verdammt weh!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Erlittener Schaden: 34
(Dreizack-Stoß von Spieler Trong Taucher)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gesundheit: 5/39</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Durch den stechenden
Schmerz verpasste ich die Chance, ihn erneut zu treffen. Der Fischmensch sprang
von mir weg, sodass ich ihm keinen weiteren Messerstich versetzen konnte.
Glücklicherweise zögerte meine Schwester nicht und schoss meinem Angreifer noch
einen magischen Eispfeil in den Rücken. Trong Tauchers Gesundheit blinkte rot,
doch er lächelte nur unheimlich.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Ha! Ich habe überlebt!
Jetzt bist du tot und ich bekomme alle Gesundheitspunkte zurück, nachdem ich
gelevelt habe!” Trong sprang wieder auf mich zu und stieß mit seinem Dreizack zu.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mit einem unglaublichen
Sprung und anschließendem Salto vorwärts entkam ich den scharfen Spitzen in
seiner erhobenen linken Hand. Durch diese Aktion sanken meine Ausdauerpunkte
erheblich. Weil er so dicht bei mir stand und wir gleich groß waren, stach ich
ihm unvermittelt in seine fein geschuppte Kehle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zugefügter Schaden: 16
(18 Stich mit rostigem Küchenmesser – 2 Rüstung)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verdiente Erfahrung:
120 EP</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Du
hast mit der Fertigkeit Ausweichen Level 4 erreicht</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Möchtest du Akrobatik
(Bew, Str) als Nebenfertigkeit wählen?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Das war es also! Bei
meinem Versuch, dem sicheren Tod auszuweichen, der auf meine Brust zusteuerte,
hatte ich nicht nur Ausweichen eingesetzt, sondern auch Akrobatik! Was sollte
ich tun? Die Fertigkeit war zum Überleben von Nutzen, daher wählte ich sie. In
der Ferne leuchtete die Nymphe wieder auf, sie hatte bereits Level 4 erreicht.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nachdem die
Formalitäten erledigt waren, sah ich mich um. Trong Tauchers Leiche lag im
flachen Wasser und leuchtete leicht. Ich beugte mich zu ihr hinunter und
versuchte, den Dreizack aufzuheben, der im Sand lag, doch meine Finger griffen
durch den Gegenstand hindurch. Offensichtlich war die Waffe nach den Regeln der
Spielwelt nicht gedroppt worden, sie befand sich noch in seinem Inventar. Das
war zu schade. Ich sah mir meinen besiegten Feind an. Es war nicht nötig, seine
Leiche zu durchsuchen. Stattdessen öffnete sich das Trophäenfenster. Meine
Beute bestand aus 3 Silbermünzen, 2 leeren Phiolen und einer mit einem Korken
verschlossenen Phiole, die eine blassblaue Flüssigkeit enthielt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Deine Intelligenz
reicht nicht aus, um den Gegenstand zu identifizieren.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Ordnung, ich würde
es später herausfinden oder sie meiner Schwester zeigen. Ich ging zu
Valerianna. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Die Waldnymphe war
verärgert. „Meine Tierbegleiter sterben zu schnell, die Ratten genauso wie die
Krabben. Was für eine Bestienmeisterin bin ich, wenn ich Tiere nicht mal unter
meiner Kontrolle behalten kann! Und jetzt habe ich die leuchtend rote
Markierung einer Kriminellen über mir. Ich musste den Najadenmann präventiv
angreifen, das bedeutet, dass ich ein Verbrechen begangen habe. Jetzt bleibt
mein Charakter 8 Stunden in der Spielwelt, auch wenn ich das Spiel verlasse.
Hast du dir die Karte mal angesehen?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich schüttelte den
Kopf. Als ich einen Blick darauf warf, bemerkte ich, dass nur ein winziger
Kreis als entdecktes Gebiet aufleuchtete: das Meeresufer und unsere beiden
Charaktere. Außerdem sah ich eine riesige, schwarze Masse, die unentdecktes
Territorium darstellte. Ich vergrößerte den Maßstab, doch es waren keine
anderen Markierungen auf der Karte zu erkennen. Unser kleiner Kreis wurde nur
immer kleiner, bis er ein winziger Punkt war. Die Worte auf der Karte gaben
auch keine Informationen:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Koordinaten: ???</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Region: ???</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">„Du verstehst es also”,
sagte die Nymphe, als sie den bestürzten, verwirrten Blick auf meinem grünen
Gesicht sah. „Wir befinden uns am Ende der Welt und der einzige bekannte
Spawnpunkt ist auf der zerschellten Galeere, zu der ich wirklich nicht wieder
zurückkehren will. Leider ist es heute bewölkt und es dauert nicht mehr lange,
bis es dunkel wird. Wir können nicht mehr viel machen, bevor die Nacht
anbricht. Dann ist unser Leben hier draußen in großer Gefahr. Es gibt keinen
Grund, am Ufer zu bleiben. Wir müssen uns einen sichereren Ort suchen.
Vielleicht haben wir Glück und finden andere Spawnpunkte. Dann wäre es nicht so
schlimm, wenn wir sterben, denn wir müssten nicht wieder von der stinkenden
Galeere entkommen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ich stimmte Valerianna
zu: hierzubleiben war dumm. Also marschierte ich los, gefolgt von der
Waldnymphe. Wir gingen den Sandstrand hinunter und als wir gerade die dunklen
Büsche erreicht hatten, blinkte eine Meldung vor unseren Augen auf:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Herzlichen
Glückwunsch, du hast die Übungsmission erfolgreich abgeschlossen!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: 36.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Willkommen
bei </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reich
ohne Grenzen<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">!</i></span></b></div>
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></b><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Wenn Sie das Buch mögen und ungeduldig wissen, was als nächstes passieren wird, können Sie das Buch bei <a href="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07GCT4BBK" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a> kaufen. </i></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-76967746318597889482018-07-15T10:25:00.002+02:002018-07-15T10:25:37.096+02:00Level Up - New LitRPG in the world!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKRMLJB" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t4snaUoCL.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKRMLJB" target="_blank">Level Up</a> - it is one of the best series in the genre! Don`t miss it! Read it.</div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-71238819669510976432018-04-23T18:58:00.004+02:002018-04-23T18:59:26.167+02:00New LitRPG release!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today! The best LitRPG series in this year!! Highly recommends!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B6QHC44" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="301" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1520109865l/38918471.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B6QHC44" target="_blank">COWNDOWN BEGIN</a></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-61449204181505775162018-03-29T14:42:00.000+02:002018-03-29T14:42:03.017+02:00Dark Herbalist in Google Play Store<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wow! Three books of the LitRPG series now in Google Play Store!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=nppTDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" src="https://books.google.com/books/content/images/frontcover/nppTDwAAQBAJ?fife=w200-h300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=nppTDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Video Game Plotline Tester, Book #1</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://books.google.com/books/content/images/frontcover/01tQDwAAQBAJ?fife=w200-h300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" src="https://books.google.com/books/content/images/frontcover/01tQDwAAQBAJ?fife=w200-h300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Atamanov_Stay_on_the_Wing?id=01tQDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Stay on the Wing, Book #2</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://books.google.com/books/content/images/frontcover/RGBQDwAAQBAJ?fife=w200-h300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" src="https://books.google.com/books/content/images/frontcover/RGBQDwAAQBAJ?fife=w200-h300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Atamanov_A_Trap_for_the_Potentate?id=RGBQDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank">A Trip for the Potentate, Book #3</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
</pre>
<pre style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; overflow: auto; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Atamanov_Stay_on_the_Wing?id=01tQDwAAQBAJ" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #f89b33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Atamanov_Stay_on_the_Wing?id=01tQDwAAQBAJ</a> </pre>
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Atamanov_A_Trap_for_the_Potentate?id=RGBQDwAAQBAJ" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #f89b33; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Atamanov_A_Trap_for_the_Potentate?id=RGBQDwAAQBAJ</a><br />
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=nppTDwAAQBAJ </div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-2164701405322784612018-03-29T08:54:00.001+02:002018-03-29T08:57:43.138+02:00Reality Benders - One of the BEST LitRPG series in the World!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B6QHC44" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51PLxTUX4FL.jpg" width="202" /></a><span id="goog_532686465"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_532686466"></span><b>Countdown (Reality Benders, Book #1) </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At long last, an
extraterrestrial civilization reached out and the First Contact was made. No
one on Earth took it for the genuine article, though. Even fewer appreciated
just how little time our new suzerains had promised to keep our planet safe. But
the end of their address showed humankind how to access a mysterious game. The purpose
of this game is unclear. No one can say where its servers are located, and its
inner workings are beyond comprehension. Nevertheless, the game slowly gained
momentum, pulling in more and more players. Soon enough, it became impossible
to ignore that events in the game had a direct impact on our reality. And not
only ours...</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But
as we learn to play this mysterious game, the countdown timer is ticking away.
And no one can say exactly what will happen when Earth’s safety is no longer
guaranteed.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Introduction.
First Contact</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How many ways have writers, astronomers, philosophers and military
theorists imagined humanity's first contact with a celestial intelligence?
Earth</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s observatories
receiving intelligible signals from deep space? What about the discovery of
interstellar artifacts or even living aliens when excavating ancient burial
mounds or pyramids? And the appearance of ominous extraterrestrial starships
over our major cities? Heavenly bodies falling to Earth, UFO's crashing? Meeting
brothers in intelligence on far-off planets? Invasion? War? The extinction of
everything alive...?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But when it really happened, it looked like a stupid joke, hoax or
intrusive advertisement, so humanity didn’t believe it was the real First
Contact. One day, a popup window appeared on many popular websites, blocking
off the whole screen. Despite every computer user’s habitual and instant
reaction, it was impossible to close. It played a video showing a furry
humanoid that was somehow distantly reminiscent of the abominable snowman, but
with thick dark-red fur. The tall bipedal alien had piercing black eyes, a flat
dark nose and a wide mouth. Its clothing was somewhere between a suit of armor
and a helmetless spacesuit. The first thing it did was raise a clawed hand and
give a friendly wave to its captive audience. With a very strong accent, the
humanoid gave a speech adapted to the language of the receiving country:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ansi-font-style: italic; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">People of Earth,
by right of first discovery, the civilization of Shiharsa declares its
authority and jurisdiction over your planet. We will provide one Tong of safety
to your world, but the fate of humanity depends exclusively on what you do with
that time. You have now made sufficient progress as a species, and may take
part in the great game, the game that bends reality. So, come play and earn the
right to take your place among the great spacefaring races</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That was followed by strange diagrams and blueprints, then the
fifty-second clip ended, and the popup window closed all on its own. You surely
understand that only stupid people would believe such a primitive and artless
sham. Even the most gullible viewers thought it was just an actor in a hairy
suit delivering a clumsy advertisement for some new computer game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But some naive individuals had questions. Television studios invited
experts to inspect the “blueprints” from the ad, and they all came to the
unanimous conclusion that even the most surface-level examination revealed them
to be pure gobbledygook. The technology depicted, they assured us, didn’t even
have a power hookup, so it could not work even in theory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Interest in the video of the furry alien didn’t last long. The ad kept
coming though. Eventually, when yet another movie, news site, or sports
broadcast was interrupted by the obnoxious popup, no one cared what it was for,
and just got mad. Unhappy internet users the world over installed pop-up
blockers and wrote all kinds of complaints to the tech support services of
affected sites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The authorities tried to combat the viral ad and threatened grave
consequences to the mysterious hackers who</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">d played this stupid practical joke.
Sys admins learned to quickly block the bothersome video. Data-security
specialists tried to determine its source, but it was skillfully masked. They
all assured us, though, that they would soon pick up the trail of these
impudent scofflaws. And although they were never tracked down, after just a few
weeks, the ads stopped coming and the whole earth breathed a collective sigh of
relief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thus, the greatest event in human history, settling an age-old dispute
about extraterrestrial intelligence, came and went as a chaotic flop. Sure, lots
of people noticed it, but practically none of them realized what it was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There were lone enthusiasts, though, who wanted to find out more about
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the game that
bends reality.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite the expert testimony calling the designs absurd, these
stubborn weirdos believed they had seen a miracle and some even built the
device depicted in the blueprints...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Chapter
One. Online Tournament</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, we knew it was risky and illegal. We understood perfectly that we</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">d be booted out of university and fly
home with a whistle, if it was discovered that we were hosting these for-profit
online gaming tournaments. And especially if they found our gambling software.
Nevertheless, we took the risk. Why? Hard to say. At first, it was easy to
understand. My roommates and I organized the very first tournaments from our
dorm and purely for money. After all, we were borderline-poor university
students. But, after we'd earned some cash, we simply couldn’t stop ourselves.
By then, money no longer played the biggest role. Adrenaline, the thrill of the
game, respect among our classmates and popularity with girls </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">were </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">motivation enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We understood perfectly that, as the scale of the tournaments grew,
more and more people would find out what we were up to. That would make it
harder and harder to hide it from our teachers, the police and university
security. All the tricks we used to maintain the anonymity of the players and
organizers were primitive. Eventually, serious information-security
professionals would investigate, and the jig would be up. We were keenly aware
of that. More and more often, my friends and I would say it was time to close
up shop or say that the next online tournament would be the last. But that was
always followed by another one, then another and another... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This time, our grand PvP tournament had attracted students from every
dorm in Moscow. It had begun midday on Saturday and was still underway now, at
five o</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">clock in the
morning on Monday. Out of eight hundred players initially, just thirty-two had filtered
through the qualifying matches. And I was among them. Yes, unlike my roommates,
who handled the servers, encryption software and bookkeeping, I often took part
in the online battles. And, a decent chunk of the time, I even won, earning the
sizable monetary prizes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And I never used any </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">immortality mods,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">cheat codes or other unfair methods. All I needed was my powerful
computer with a top-of-the-line graphics card and good processors, fast ping, knowledge
of game maps and weapons and, most importantly, nimble fingers. I always used
different pseudonyms and was sure none of the usual players had guessed that
the same person had won many of the recent tournaments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And now, I was playing. With the virtual reality helmet on my head,
and my fingers on the buttons of the ergonomic glove controller, I was totally
immersed. To me, the outside world just didn't exist... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was running up a steep spiral staircase to the third and highest
floor of a luxurious palace. I stopped to catch my breath. Endurance
practically at zero, my thick column legs were shaking, and my sides were
puffing out like a smith's bellows. I rasped heavily and opened my mouth like a
fish out of water. There was just not enough air. How hard it was to be a
giant!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I spontaneously chose an Ogre Fighter just a minute before the start
of the final match. The randomly selected map was a medieval castle with huge
gloomy rooms, narrow passageways and steep staircases. That would be very
disadvantageous for the Drow Archer I'd played in the earlier stages so, at the
very last moment, I changed it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had never played such a large character </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">before</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, and the inconvenience of this heavy body came as an unpleasant
surprise. My six-hundred-fifty-pound Ogre was unable to run or clamber up
drainpipes. Even a steep stairway was a serious obstacle, eating up all my
endurance. Also, there was nearly a second of delay between inputting a command
and the character reacting, which was particularly hard to get used to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That inertia nearly cost me my life in a recent scuffle with a crafty
Human Assassin, who had easily dodged the blows of my huge two-handed pole-ax.
I had to take an unusual tact </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">– </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I wound up to swing my weapon but, instead of striking, I splayed my
arms and jumped forward. That knocked the crouching man off his feet and I
luckily managed to pin my agile opponent to the floor. The main advantage of
the Assassin class was mobility, and I’d deprived him of that. So, I finished
him off easily, just twisting his neck with my bare hands. That assassin was my
fourth frag in the final, so I had just thirty-seven percent life remaining.
Too little to win. A critical situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While my endurance dawdled back up, I opened the leaderboard. After
nearly an hour of gameplay, just four of thirty-two players remained: my Ogre,
a Human Spearman, an Elf Archer and another unknown character. Since no players
had managed to spot them yet, their race and class were listed as a question
mark. And meanwhile, this unknown person had racked up three kills. Pretty
cool. Must have been some kind of invisible stealth character, attacking people
from behind while cloaked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An alarm rang out, informing me that the tournament would be over in
five minutes. I needed to hurry. I opened the map. There was a long straight
corridor behind the closed door in front of me. If I were playing an elf
archer, I would be keeping watch for my opponents there, shooting them down
from afar. A very convenient place. I needed to keep that in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Loudly throwing open the doors, I made a decisive step forward, then
took a sharp jump back. And right then, a long arrow with red fletching slammed
into the doorframe at the level of my head! I was not wrong. The Elf Archer had
hidden exactly where I supposed. Not wasting a second, I ran forward, giving a
terrifying savage roar. A loud shout could sometimes cause enemies to freeze in
confusion and fear, which was a real boon. The effect was only increased coming
from a huge man-eating giant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even the greenest amateur can understand that one arrow to the chest
will not stop a massive killing machine. Where was a feeble archer to aim?
Obviously, for the head, which would do increased damage. So, just as the elf
loosed her bowstring, I blocked my face with the broad blade of my pole-ax. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clink! I got lucky. The arrow ricocheted aside, and my weapon gave a
shudder. Dumb move! She should have shot at my legs and slowed me down. Then
she could get a couple more shots off. But the pointy-eared Elf was acting too
predictably. After that failure, she lost courage. Staying in place, she loosed
another arrow, then tried to run away. But it was too late! I hacked diagonally
down from the right, and the pretty long-eared girl's head rolled along the
stones, lopped off by my heavy pole-ax. A fifth frag! And without losing any
health!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I stopped and opened the map again. There wasn't much time left. Where
could I find two more enemies? Just then, as if answering my question, a
distinct yelp sounded out twenty steps in front of me, behind another door.
Another enemy down. I wonder who died this time? I opened the player table. The
name of the Human Spearman went dim, then the number opposite my last remaining
rival flipped to a four. And again, the victim didn't manage to see his killer.
Skillful bastard, no two ways about it...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the upper right corner of the screen, the timer was ticking away,
telling me there were just two minutes until the end of the match. If several
players survived to the end, a rematch would trigger, and the eight best
cyber-athletes of the final would meet again on the same map. Oh, please not
that. After the prolonged gaming marathon, I could barely think </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">as it was</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. What was more, I had an important test in third period today, which
I wanted to study for then, ideally, get a little sleep. Well, forward! Nothing
ventured, nothing gained!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Throwing the door open, I quickly leapt back, repeating the trick I
used on the Archer. But no one attacked me. Strange. Somewhat calmer, I looked
around. The gloomy little room was strewn with furniture. It had two exits, one
to the left and one to the right, but they both led to the same semi-circular
ivy-covered balcony. There was also a round hatch in the ceiling and a rope
ladder hanging down. Perhaps the mysterious stealth character was up there. But
most likely, my opponent was still somewhere in this small darkened room,
hiding in invisibility and waiting for me to slip up. Now, my mission was to
discover them without exposing my vulnerable back. Many game classes could land
a critical hit by stabbing a rival in the back, and that meant increased
damage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I cut the rope ladder down, then made a crisscross in the air with my
pole-ax and abruptly led the blade along the floor a few times. Nothing. Either
my enemy was skilled enough to dodge silently (which was hard to believe), or
just wasn't here. But then, where were they? Waiting up above? Hardly. After
all, they probably also wanted to end this here and now, not play a rematch.
Could they really be waiting for me on a sunny balcony? Come on, that was
nonsense. Why would a stealth character come out of the shadows? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I looked around again. There was simply nowhere to hide in this small
room. Shelves, a little table, an open cabinet with crooked doors. Cutting
through space with my weapon again, I convinced myself that my opponent was not
here. Another alarm screeched out. Just one minute left in the final. So, I
needed to make up my mind. Should I go out onto the balcony through the right
door, or the left? My rival must have been waiting for me behind one of these
doors. They were probably sitting in invisibility and me agonize right now.
Luck of the draw. Would I manage to come face-to-face with my opponent and kill
with my advantage in strength, or would I make the wrong choice, get stabbed in
the back and lose?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With a heavy sigh, I made my decision </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">and</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">... with all my might, spending all my endurance, I slashed the
cabinet with my pole-ax!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My heavy weapon cut into something soft. Bingo! Instead of boards and
splinters, blood spattered, and a cloven body fell to the floor. A
Shapeshifter. This class sat in waiting to attack an unsuspecting victim from
behind, usually killing them in one blow. They were used </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">very rarely </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in online tournaments because they moved slowly, had to be right next
to their victims, and would be absolutely helpless if the first blow didn’t
kill. Unexpected choice, but I had to admit that it had very nearly brought them
victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hell yeah! Did you see that?!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I shouted joyfully to my roommates,
removing my virtual-reality helmet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And froze... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My dorm room was full of people wearing the dappled gray uniforms of
the Moscow Police Department. My friends were pinned to the floor, their wrists
cuffed behind their backs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, we saw,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” chuckled </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a mustached man holding a snub-nose
machine gun. He looked to be in charge here. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">bout you make like your friends and
get on the floor, spread your legs and put your hands behind your back. Don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t make me repeat myself, champ.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Chapter
Two. Expelled</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Am I gonna be expelled?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I asked when the important
investigator finally found the time to interrogate me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What do you think?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the middle-aged mustached officer </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">answered with a question. Based
on his shoulder loops, he was a captain. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He skimmed a stack of papers on the table and signed a few of them. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It would have been just fine if you
and your little friends were only playing computer games instead of studying at
the best university in the country. Can</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t say I’d approve, but at least I
could understand. But you just had to let people make bets! So, there</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s nothing I can do here. Russian
Federation Criminal Code article 171.2 item 2. Up to four years in penal
custody. Kirill, you really did step in it.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I shuddered, then nodded stupidly. Of course, I already knew this,
because I had looked </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">last
year </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to see where our illegal enterprise might land
us. Four years in prison... I groaned and shuddered, trying to gather my
scattered thoughts. I was so exhausted and panicked that my head was working
very slowly. Before this, I had spent three unpleasant hours on a bench in
lockup at the local police department. My cellmates were a group unbearably
stinking bums, who had also shit themselves. I did everything in my power to
stay away from them and not sleep, but I did drift off </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">eventually. A little while later, I </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was shoved awake by a police sergeant, and he led me down the hallway
into this office. I was told he was an investigator, but he didn’t ask me any
questions, just confirmed my first and last name and the short biography in my
personal file.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And I answered his questions eagerly. Yes, I am Kirill Viktorovich
Ignatiev, twenty years of age. A native of the small town of Suzdal in the
Vladimir Oblast. No brothers or sisters. I don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t remember my mother. I wasn’t even
four when she died. But my father died relatively recently. It hadn’t even been
three years. He was a geologist, and his group happened upon some illegal gold
miners in Eastern Siberia, who didn’t want any witnesses to their criminal
enterprise. After that, I stayed in Suzdal with my aunt, finished high school
and was admitted to the Geology Department of Moscow State University.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The investigator listened attentively, marking something in his papers.
Then it was as if he forgot I existed. He turned on his computer and searched
for a long time, scanning through screens of text.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And where are my roommates?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I asked just to break the prolonged
silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The officer finally tore his gaze from the screen, set the ball-point
pen on the stack of papers and looked attentively at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those two losers? For now, they</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">re being held in a cell and not told
what will happen to them. It</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">'s</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> the usual procedure. We</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">re we’re trying to make them nervous and fill their heads with horror
stories. And tomorrow or the day after, when they're morally prepared, we’ll
offer them a simple choice: either go to court for the illegal gambling
software, or voluntarily join the army. Your sidekicks haven</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t finished their mandatory reserve-officer
training programs, so they’ll go serve as privates in the engineering corps.
That's usually where students expelled from the Geology Department are sent.
They’ll serve the Motherland, gain life experience and get a good lesson about
what happens to lawbreakers.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I considered it, but it was very hard to think in my sleep-deprived
state. On the one hand, it was good that there was some alternative to prison.
On the other, I had no idea why the officer was telling me that, and why I was
being held separately from my classmates. Former classmates, to be more
accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And why am I being held separate from
my friends?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I finally asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because you, Kirill, are not a mere
participant, but the ringleader of this whole illegal enterprise. It's been
quite the public fiasco, and someone has to answer before the law. Although as
for you, it isn’t decided yet. We need to first confirm some details. Maybe
we’ll stick you with your friends, then you can all go build pontoons and raise
bridges in the Far North or something. Although, it’s also possible that you’ll
have a richer choice than your roommates."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The officer fell silent and again delved into his documents. I
meanwhile tried to understand what exactly he had in mind, and what details he might
be interested in. I was left in silence long enough that I started nodding off.
But suddenly, the telephone on the investigator's table rang and I nearly
jumped in surprise. The officer took the telephone, silently listened to a
message, then lowered the receiver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They've just finished decrypting all
of your accounting, and the list of prizewinners and totals from all the past
tournaments,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he shared, not hiding his self-satisfaction. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, all the players can be punished.
Some will be expelled, if they’re already struggling. The rest will be given a quick
kick in the ass to put them back on the straight and narrow. But as for you...</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the man stopped </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">sharply</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, setting a few pieces of paper out before him. He gave a whistle of
surprise, underlined something with a pen, then raised his eyes. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Based on the finance reports, Kirill,
you played in fifty-three online tournaments. Twenty-seven of them you won, and
you ranked high enough to get some money in all the rest. Is that right?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, yes it is,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I said, not trying to worm my way out
of it. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I only fell
below prize level in two tournaments. In the rest, I got at least some reward.
Although what does that matter now...?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However, based on the noticeable change in his behavior, my results
were important for some reason. The investigator carefully placed all the papers
on the table in a plastic folder, covered it and leaned in my direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Strange as it may seem, it really
does matter. Just yesterday, we got a very unusual request from the tip-top:
compile a list of inveterate gaming addicts from Moscow's student population
and send that up the chain. Luckily, we happened to find all the information we
needed on your game server.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Who might want a list of student
gamers?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The mustached officer shrugged and sat back in his chair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I only know what I’m told. Some </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">institute in the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moscow Oblast working on virtual reality wants a few experienced
gamers to test their programs. I don't know how many vacancies they've got and
I don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t know the exact
conditions but, for you, this is a great alternative to prison clothes or army
boots. So think, Kirill. Such a chance doesn’t come along very often. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">You can avoid punishment and get
a good job instead. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just think fast. This loophole won’t
stay open forever.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I considered it feverishly. Work for a bit in an </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">institute in the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moscow Oblast while all this brouhaha settles down? It sounded
amazing! Even if the salary was modest, that didn’t matter now. What was more,
apparently, they weren’t going to confiscate the money I’d won, because all my
debit cards were still in my wallet. So that meant I had some savings to live
on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What's to think about? I'm in!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I loudly declared. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Where do I sign?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Chapter
Three. Comrades in Misfortune</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was awoken by a girl shouting angrily in surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So the freaking contract with the
institute is for two years?!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the girl moaned, nearly in hysterics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I peeked open an eye and... </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">finally </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">woke up. I was in an unfamiliar place,
a dark room, filled with bags of cement and old furniture. It took me a few
seconds to get my bearings and remember where I was. Some hangar or warehouse
I'd been brought to directly from the police department in a vehicle with blacked-out
windows. To be honest, I couldn’t say how long the drive was or which direction
it went, because I fell asleep as soon as I hit the seat. I only remembered being
pushed out, led into this room and told to </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wait for the rest of the group.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My body was aching and numb. I'd fallen asleep in an unmerciful pose
on the hard and uncomfortable bench, which was like those usually found in
bus-station waiting rooms. The kind with armrests between the seats so bums couldn’t
spend the night on them. But today, I was so tired I somehow contrived to splay
out my extremities and lie down. But when I tried to move, I felt a sharp pain
in my numb leg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well, well. The yogi awakens!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">someone quipped, which was met with
laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I somehow got out of the trap, straightened up and turned to see who
else was in the room. Three young men and two young women, the whole group
approximately my age. Were they also expelled gamers, taken to work at the
mysterious institute?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe, but one of the girls didn’t fit the image. She immediately
caught my attention. A flashy long-legged blonde with a pretty doll-like face,
she a mind-blowingly perfect figure and... a clever attentive gaze that
immediately undercut the rest and betrayed a high intellect. She had on a
stylish travelling dress and shoes, a designer bag and expensive emerald
earrings. This elegant beauty didn’t look like the kind of person who needed
virtual worlds to replace reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The other girl, in contrast, was totally unremarkable: short,
dark-haired and modestly dressed with a pair of thick glasses perched on her
nose, something of a classic plain jane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hey everybody!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I greeted them all with a smile. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Did I miss anything interesting? I
heard someone mention a two-year contract?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yeah, Artur,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the plain jane pointed at a
long-haired hippy-looking boy with an ring in his left ear. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“He said </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that, in his dean’s office, he was
presented with a two-year contract.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yep, totally!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the hippy confirmed. He was dressed
in tattered jeans and a black t-shirt with a Pink Floyd logo. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I got expelled today. I was already
in my third year! It’s a long story, but they had their reasons. I tried to
fight it, though, and even wrote a statement to the dean like, I’d learned my
lesson and wouldn't do it again bla bla bla... But that asshole said I have to
prove I meant it,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">work on a special assignment in a paramilitary
institute in the Moscow Oblast. He said they’d reinstate me after I’m done. And
he made me sign a contract that said </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">two years</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’ in black and white.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Artur finished his speech, lowered his head and fell silent. The
others were also silent and looking unabashedly at me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What about you? Expelled student,
like the rest of us?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” asked </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a squatting boy. His hair cut short, this was the most gopnik-looking
person imaginable. He was wearing a black leather jacket, track pants, running
shoes with no socks, and a newsboy cap. To complete the picture of the classic
low-class Russian, all he</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">d need was a black eye and a rumpled Belomorkanal cigarette in his
mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had nothing to hide, so I told them my real name and said I had been
expelled from the Geology Department of Moscow State University because,
instead of studying, I had been playing an online game for money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just like the rest of us,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the plain jane chuckled bitterly. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While you were asleep, we all
introduced ourselves and figured out that we were all in the same online
tournament. What was more, we all got to the final. Worst of all, I almost won
the last round with my archer. I was one of the final four surviving players. I
had a stroke of bad luck. I missed a few times and a fighter shredded me...</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You should have shot at the ogre</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s legs and walked backward so he
couldn’t get you,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I said, giving some belated advice. The girl exclaimed in
astonishment:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So that was you, Kirill?! It was your
ogre that killed me? You won the final! You probably got a ton of money, come
clean!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hmm, how the...</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I got embarrassed and lowered my gaze
to the floor. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sure, I won, but I didn’t get a single kopeck. As soon as I took the
helmet off my head, the cops had me in cuffs. I didn’t even get up from my
comp.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here, a previously silent muscular boy who looked to be from the
Caucasus region cut into our conversation. Until then, he had been trying
fruitlessly to get his cell phone to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As for the tournament, I'm telling
you </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">– </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it was the
organizers that called the cops! After all, only they knew all the players
IP-addresses. And they gave us all up to the fuzz so they wouldn’t have to pay out.
They just pocketed all the money, the sons of bitches!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone there held the same opinion. Curses and abuse flew at the
tournament organizers. And I complained loudest of all so no one would suspect
me of having a connection to the mysterious conmen. Finally, everyone had said
their fill and fell silent. I took advantage of the pause and asked everybody
to introduce themselves again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The blonde said she was Anya from First Medical. She didn’t regret
being expelled at all, because she couldn’t bear the sight of blood, and it was
all her parents</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">stupid idea to push her into medicine in the first place. The second
girl was called Masha and, skipping over the details, said she was a grad
student at a technical university in Moscow, and was also glad to be out of
school. For her, it was a prolonged torture with constant lack of money, and
humiliating begging for stipends and dorm rooms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The gopnik grudgingly squeezed out that his name was Denis, and that
we </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t need to know the rest, because that’s
all in the past.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The last guy was more open, though. He said his first name was Imran
and that he was a sambo expert. Imran had graduated last year from the
Athletics Institute at the top of his class but was in no rush to return to his
native Dagestan, continuing to live by hook or crook with his friends in the
dorm as he waited for his golden ticket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some friends promised good work in
Moscow, but something happened,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he said, getting into the details of his failed plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Imran spent another minute poking around with his phone, then stuck it
back in his pocket, saying:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t connect to the network, the stupid
thing! It</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s probably this damn iron roof.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That is part of it,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">came a derisive voice from the
darkness. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But this is a military site, so there are also signal jammers.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Along with the rest, I turned to the voice and saw a middle-aged
strong-looking man in a dark-blue uniform jumpsuit. On his sleeve, there was an
unusual colorful emblem with a gold Greek helmet inside a white circle. Under
that was a crest and cursive writing that read </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Second Legion.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He didn’t seem to be armed, but his
military bearing and army experience were immediately apparent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Without letting us think over what he said, the man motioned into the
dark depths of the hangar:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Walk that way, into the darkness. In
the very corner, you’ll see a stack of roofing tiles. Move them aside and go
down the stairs beneath them. Go down into the tunnel and walk until you’ve
reached the dome. The other newbie groups are already here. The intro session
will begin shortly. The meeting hall in the dome is not very big, so make sure
you hurry. The presentation lasts a few hours, and latecomers have to stand.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We quickly found the tiles. It was a stack of twenty, and they were
absolutely immovable. But a light push launched a hidden mechanism and the
whole stack slid aside. There was a round hatch underneath, and when we opened
there were metal rungs leading down into the darkness. Imran went down first
and soon shouted that he'd found a switch on the wall. A second later, a light
turned on below, and everyone could see that it was actually quite a short
ladder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the tunnel, lit sparsely by dull bulbs, seemed endless. We walked
for a long time past unadorned gray concrete walls, looking at the pipes </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">and bundles of wire </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">along the floor. A few times, our group's path was blocked by metal
doors, but they opened silently as soon as we walked up to them. Despite
myself, I was impressed at how sturdy the doors were. Each was ten inches thick
at least, if not twelve and made of strong hard metal. Finally, after yet
another door, we discovered a ladder up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I batted my eyelids, getting used to the bright light in the small
room. A beefy guardsman standing next to a metallic frame, again in a blue Second
Legion uniform told us to place our documents, phones, wallets, keys and other
objects on the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You won't be needing those for a long
time,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he assured us.
His partner, standing not far away, gave a chuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Anya from First Medical was standing at the front of the line. She
blushed an unexpectedly deep shade of red and spent a long time hesitating about
whether to demonstrate the contents of her bag with everyone around. I had no
idea what could be so compromising, and I didn't find out, because the guards
asked us to walk away and spare her the embarrassment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But then </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">came
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">my turn, and I also was forced to shake out my
pockets. My government ID card, my now invalid student ID, a handful of change,
an unopened pack of condoms and keys to my now former dorm room. After that was
my wallet with the debit cards that gave access to all my savings... I was made
to walk through a metal detector, then quickly and professionally searched.
After that, sure that I hadn’t hidden anything, the guard returned only the
pack of condoms. The rest he placed in a large transparent \ bag and sealed it
with a special device.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t even know if that's a good sign or
a bad one,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Denis commented spitefully on the selective return of my property.
After me, it was his turn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t hold up the line, keep moving into
the dome! Remember, your number is one thousand four hundred seventy!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the military man hurried me along, attaching
a numbered label to my bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before that, plain-jane Masha had received 1469, while hippie Artur
was 1468. So, the numbers went in order. That meant almost fifteen hundred
people worked in this mysterious </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">dome.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The scope was impressive. This must be a very, very serious project!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The guardsman stuck my bag through a little window in the wall and
someone immediately grabbed it. Then I walked down the corridor, repeating my
number to myself and trying to memorize it: </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One thousand four hundred seventy!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Chapter
Four. Subterranean Dome</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had heard the word </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">dome</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a few times, but I was not expecting it to be this large. Just as its
the name implied, it </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">was</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> a reinforced concrete hemisphere, but of truly unbelievable
dimensions. The diameter at floor level was no less than a quarter mile. The
far wall was blurry and lost in a blue-gray haze. The top was on the order of a
hundred, and maybe even a hundred and sixty feet high. A vast number of bright
spotlights high above our heads created the illusion of a midday summer sun. Under
this Dome, there was a little residential neighborhood with apartment
buildings, a soccer field, a few tennis courts, a green park and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">white sand </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">paths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Woah, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had no idea there was anything this
huge in the Moscow Oblast,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">said Artur, also impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And it isn’t even all that far from
Moscow. Our drive from downtown took only an hour,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Masha added. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">there are some big hangars </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">along Dmitrovskoye Highway, they are many times smaller than this...</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Guys, look!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Anya shouted, pointing at a silver
cigar-shaped object flying just under the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I turned my head and first took the aircraft for a helicopter.
However, its strange sleek shape, lack of rotors and total silence showed that
it was unlike any flying vehicle I’d ever seen before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is this some kind of joke?!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We exchanged glances in complete
incomprehension.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After hearing our surprised exclamations, a blonde in a silver track
suit, her skin red from an evening run, stopped next to our group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Newbies? It</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s obvious. They're testing an
antigrav built with Miyelonian designs. It’s actually the second prototype. A
bad pilot crashed the first one a month ago on one of the corncobs.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ah, that clears things up. Of course,
it's just a normal, everyday antigrav. We should have known!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Denis answered, clearly trying to get
a rise out of her. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We see this stuff every day. And no duh it slammed into a piece of
corn!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The girl didn’t answer, just sized-up the boor with her gaze, furrowed
her brow contemptuously and continued her jog. Her uniform had the number 343
on the back, alongside the skull of a bull with large horns. Below that, in
angular Gothic script, there was text reading: </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">First Legion.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Based on her number, she's been under
this dome for a long time,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I said thoughtfully, advising the gopnik not to start a fight with the
locals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In reply, he swore rudely and said not to try and teach him any
lessons. After that, Denis went off the handle and started discussing the body
of the athlete in totally vulgar and insulting terms. Then, he began to
generalize about all women. He didn’t manage to finish, though, doubling over
after taking a sharp jab to the stomach from Imran, who was standing next to
him:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t you dare insult women around me!
You have a mother, I have a mother. Everyone has a mother. You must be
respectful to those who blessed us with the gift of life.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The conflict did not continue, although the gopnik spent some time
whispering unintelligible threats. We walked down the sand path and stopped at
a fork next to a sign with directions. It had three arrows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shooting range. Corn. Labyrinth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There was no sign of a conference hall, meeting room or introductory
information session, so we stopped. Fortunately, I spotted two guys playing
tennis not far away and hurried to ask them the way. They answered me eagerly
and, in a few minutes, our whole group had taken their seats in a small
semi-circular room reminiscent of an enclosed summer movie theater. There were
already fifty people there and, although there were seats for everyone, we were
nearly late. A man tall enough to play basketball wearing an austere business
suit was testing the microphone, preparing for his speech.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ivan Lozovsky, deputy director of the
Dome and diplomat of our faction,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he introduced himself and asked for the light to be turned off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then the room went dark, and the screen behind him lit up. There was
an anthropomorphic creature looking back at us from the screen with thick brown
fur and wearing a bright crimson cloak over a suit of metal armor. It had
powerful brow arches, a broad forehead, black eyes with no pupils, a wide nose
and a massive chin. Its furry ears were pressed against its head and its
tightly pursed lips had the protruding fangs of a predator. Both of the
humanoid’s hands were gripping the handle of a wide glistening blade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So then, newbies, I’ll start from the
beginning. Before you is Krong Daveyesh-Pir. He is one of the rulers of the
powerful space-faring Geckho race, and the all-powerful sovereign of expansive
territories in our galaxy. Among those territories, by all interstellar laws,
is our home planet of Earth. I understand that may sound unbelievable and
shocking, but the fate of humanity is entirely in the hands of this creature.
Let me clarify one thing: the Geckho are not our enemies. They're more like our
protectors and mentors. In any conflict with another race, they will fight on
our side. However, you must always keep in mind that Krong Daveyesh-Pir has the
right and power to remove humanity from Earth and even entirely annihilate our
civilization, if we express the slightest disrespect of or disobedience to our
Geckho suzerains.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the room, not only did all conversations go quiet, everyone was so
shocked they started to skip breaths. The presenter then made a brief pause and
made sure that everyone understood the importance of what he'd said, then
continued:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now that we all understand our
political reality, let's discuss why you were all brought here: the Dome, the
game the bends reality, and your role in all this.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">probably
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the only person in the room seeing the
fifty-second clip of the furry alien for the first time. I remembered hearing
about it annoying internet users the world over last year, but it just so
happened to come at a difficult period in my studies. I had recently fallen in
love for the first time, lost interest in school and gotten three failing
grades. I was on the edge of expulsion so, I spent days on end in the library,
studying textbooks, writing summaries and preparing painstakingly for my tests
and exams. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, l</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">ike
millions of people the world over, if I had seen this clip last year, I most
likely </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">would not have believed it was the First Contact,
either. Now, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">however,
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">after Ivan Lozovsky</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s message about our shaky position, I
watched the video with rapt attention. One Tong of safety, how long was that? I
was not ashamed to stand and ask the presenter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Excellent, very good question!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the diplomat answered, inspired. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We studied the Geckho race</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s time reckoning system a while ago,
and a Tong is approximately three and a half years. But there are two unclear
aspects. First of all, we know that, on the Geckho homeworld Shiharsa, time
passes more quickly than on Earth, so a Tong there would be somewhat shorter
than it would be here. Six percent shorter, and that is no more and no less
than two months and seventeen days. Second, we still haven</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">t received an answer about when the
countdown began. The clips of the Geckho messengers were broadcast for
twenty-three days and, each time, they gave the very same one Tong. Some even
believe the countdown started, not when the information was first broadcast,
but when the first virtual reality pod was built on Earth and the first human
entered the game that bends reality.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Virtual reality pod?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> asked four-eyed kid, his interest
piqued by the odd term.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, that</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s right, a virtual reality pod. The
blueprints at the end of the clips show the general design of virtual reality
pods, and how to assemble them. Each diagram is a different element, but it</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s all fairly logical and fits
together. The first one was assembled in South Korea one year and seven months
ago. The first person to enter the virtual world was named Kim </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In-Hun</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, a young engineer from a South Korean electronics company. He was
also the first person to successfully pass the Labyrinth. Fortunately, he had
the good sense not to stray far from where he entered and left to tell the
authorities what he’d found. Soon, another few researchers entered the game,
then a whole group of thirty Korean soldiers. A month after that, our military
intelligence discovered a construction project near the city of Yeongju, a
subterranean complex called Nop-Eun Ogsusu, which in translation from Korean
means 'tall corn.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">' </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Very soon, we also built a couple virt pods and we started
construction on the subterranean Dome base in the Moscow Oblast, which is where
we are now located...</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You mentioned a labyrinth. What was
that about?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the nerd interrupted the presenter again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The diplomat gave a dissatisfied cringe, but still answered:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, after creating a character,
every newbie appears in the center of the Labyrinth. It’s supposed to help you
get used to the virtual body, train your skills, and test your aptitude. If a
new player gets out of the labyrinth within a certain time limit, they will
earn extra stat points. It's a very rare chance to strengthen your basic
attributes. Other than that, you can basically only level them by training. For
that very reason, we have an exact copy of the Labyrinth next to the
administration building, and you must learn it by heart before entering the
game. Approximately one half hour is given to exit the labyrinth. You must
learn to finish it in fifteen minutes. Only after that will you be allowed into
a virtual reality pod. Then, when you finish the labyrinth, you are not to spend
any stat points. You must take down all your parameters and exit the game. Our
experienced mentors will look that over and tell you what skills to take to
play effectively and what statistics to reinforce with your unused points.</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And what about this </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">corn?</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our four-eyed colleague just wouldn’t
shut up, even though some in the hall had begun to hiss at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The diplomat finally changed to the next slide and, instead of the
furry face of our alien master, we saw a tall cylindrical building that looked quite
a bit like a corncob.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The corn question is the last one
I’ll answer right now. If you want to know anything else, ask after my speech,
otherwise we’ll never finish,</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ivan Lozovsky said unhappily. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, the corn and its purpose... One
lone virtual reality pod can be placed anywhere, and it will work, drawing
energy from the gravitational and electromagnetic fields of our planet. But
with multiple pods, it's much more complex. We now have hundreds and must
arrange for them to work in concert. After all, a newbie merely entering the
game isn’t enough. They must appear precisely in the right place and be
correctly identified by the system as a member of our faction...</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The diplomat took a quick break and splashed some mineral water into a
cup. In fact, due to the number of people in the room, it was getting quite
hot, and I could stand to wet my whistle as well. He took a few swallows, then
continued:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By the way, our faction is called
Human-3, or H3 for short. That abbreviation will always be shown on your
equipment, and it cannot be removed or erased. The Koreans are H0, which means
we were the fourth human faction to enter the game that bends reality.
Returning to the corn... This arrangement of virtual reality pods was taught to
us by the Geckho. It is a tall structure with a central core and separate
kernels for each pod. In theory, the height of a </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">corncob</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is unlimited. But in the Dome, we
started with one hundred pods per cob, which results in a twenty-story
structure. So, your group will be working in corncob number fifteen. It is
ready now. We’re working on number sixteen already but getting another hundred
people to join our faction is going to take quite some doing!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I perked up my ears, preparing to listen to the important information
about our player limit the difficulties connected with it, but the diplomat</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s speech was interrupted by the
deafening wail of a siren. The sound, which was shrill and rattled my bones,
reminded me of an air-raid drill. My ears started twitching, then shivers ran
over my whole body. After that, a voice thundered out, filling the Dome:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ATTENTION, THIS IS THE DOME DIRECTOR.
BORDER POST FOUR IS UNDER ATTACK! THE DARK FACTION HAS INTRUDED THROUGH A FOGGY
PASS! MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED ATTACKERS! FIVE ENEMY TOP PLAYERS HAVE BEEN
SPOTTED! TO ARMS!!!</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Pre-order the book on Amazon</b> - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B6QHC44">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B6QHC44</a></i></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-74765052348739818792017-03-21T10:10:00.003+02:002017-03-21T10:10:25.106+02:00FREE story for Steampunk lovers!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/leopold-orso-case-bloody-tree-sublime-electricity-prequel/id1212571931" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61EtcBYrtNL.jpg" width="224" /></a><span id="goog_785192618"></span><span id="goog_785192619"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Story in <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/leopold-orso-case-bloody-tree-sublime-electricity-prequel/id1212571931" target="_blank">itunes</a></div>
<br /></div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-73139823732498151972017-02-08T10:46:00.004+02:002017-02-08T10:46:50.854+02:00New LitRPG series from V. Mahanenko has been released!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXIZK80/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/617xP7Q91RL.jpg" width="226" /></a><span id="goog_1030344592"></span><span id="goog_1030344593"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Come on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXIZK80/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and grab your copy!</div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-10339126042156992732017-01-23T08:24:00.002+02:002017-01-23T08:24:33.357+02:00LitRPG alert! You're in Game! (LitRPG Stories from Bestselling Authors) has just gone live on Amazon!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Read and rating first antology in LitRPG genre!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRKQKVN" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51-YaMNyJ0L.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRKQKVN" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRKQKVN</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-59641970090136061212017-01-11T19:58:00.000+02:002017-01-11T19:58:29.123+02:00LitRPG alert! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Attention The Way of the Shaman readers! The Karmadont Chess Set (The Way of the Shaman: Book #5) LitRPG series by V. Mahanenko is available for preorder on Amazon Kindle! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR50Z43">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR50Z43</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR50Z43" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR50Z43" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51e-vhI2AyL.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-38725871047960793742017-01-06T10:16:00.003+02:002017-01-06T10:16:25.420+02:00LitRPG and Steampunk news!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey all, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9F1AM7/" target="_blank">The Dark Herbalist Book #1</a> has been released on Amazon!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9F1AM7/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61t0LK7OpEL.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZ3B2KK/" target="_blank">The Sublime Electricity Book #2</a> available in pre-order on Amazon!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZ3B2KK/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61s%2BHCiu1ML.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01728IKC2/" target="_blank">Phantom Server Book #2</a> in Kindle-Unlimited now!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01728IKC2/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514aLlqqOpL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-16224337907784975952016-12-13T08:51:00.001+02:002016-12-13T08:51:21.751+02:00The Crystal Sphere by A. Livadny - Chapter #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4D4PGI" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51hGbJzmHgL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<h1>
<br /></h1>
<h1>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></h1>
<h1>
<span lang="EN-US">Chapter Two<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Crystal Sphere. Login <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">he dwarf's
pick struck hard, procuring a cascade of ice fragments that sparked in the
torch's light. His breath misted, his beard and mustache already covered with
frost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This was all I managed to take in as
I came round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His pick came down with another powerful
swing. Ice crumbling all around me, cascading to the cave's floor and releasing
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Finally," the miner
grumbled. "Let's have a look. What have we got here?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Neuroimplant:
activated<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mind
expander (Synaps, basic model): installed<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Activation
successful<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mnemonic
interface downloaded<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The message appeared right in front
of my eyes, startling me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alternative
start point: set up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You've
received a new ability: Two Worlds. From now on, you'll be able to experience
the same range of sensations in cyberspace as in the real world. Courtesy of
the neuroimplant, all your skills and reflexes will be identical regardless of
the time and place of their initial acquisition. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For
your information: all interface types are currently set to 'cyberspace' by
default. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The dwarf recoiled, replacing the
pick with a battle hammer that surged with pulses of lightning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Who is it, Togien?" a
voice came from the dark. Judging by the echo, the cave wasn't very big.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It's all right. It's only a
spirit. I'll sort him out."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Focusing on me, the dwarf began to
incant some kind of spell, his voice grim and low. I couldn't make out the
words apart from the final phrase,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Whoever you are, go back to
where you belong!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another system message appeared in my
mental view, overlapping the cave's interior,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Welcome
to the Crystal Sphere!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Please
choose your race.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The cave around me became a freeze
frame. I watched the tame bolt of lightning entwine the hilt of the dwarf's
sword. He was short and stocky, clad in a pair of leather pants and a jacket
with sown-on protective links of some dull metal. A pointed helmet perched on
his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The dwarf's eyes glared at me from
under his bushy eyebrows. His frosted salt-and-pepper beard was plaited and
could use a good dose of dye. The metal inlays of his gear too could have done
with a polish. His jacked was patched; his helmet dented. He was more than
likely a grave robber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well, well, well. Did that mean that
until I created my character, he could only see me as a ghost? How interesting.
Was my arrival in the Crystal Sphere part of some global event? I didn't think
so. Most likely, the dwarf couldn't overcome his craving for gold and had
decided to check out the cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His torch was wedged into a small
crevice in the wall. Its flame was static now, fancy swirls of smoke hung in
the air. The torch illuminated a small area covered in large globules of
transparent ice entrapping various objects. The picture was reminiscent of some
shipwreck flotsam brought into a cave by a turbulent ocean and instantly
frozen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was curious, of course, but this
wasn't the right moment to enjoy the views. I had more important things to take
care of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This neuroimplant of theirs was actually
quite good! It seemed to be able to recognize my thoughts and react
accordingly. The moment I'd thought about creating a character, several
translucent figures appeared in my view, apparently symbolizing the available
races.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Excellent. Mechanically I focused on
one of them. Immediately the picture zoomed in and took center stage, acquiring
detail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The mnemonic interface was a pleasure
to look at. It was simple and functional. Even though its icons overlapped the
general picture around me, they didn't hinder your perception. I quickly
discovered, by some basic trial and error, that you could activate icons by
swiping them with your eyes. The system was constantly following my gaze,
promptly determining if I was focusing on something or other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A long line of holograms appeared out
of the dark. It wasn't for nothing the Crystal Sphere claimed superiority over
all other game worlds. Having to choose from hundreds of races many of which
were only represented by small fringe groups imported from other game settings
wouldn't be at all easy. You could spend weeks just studying their respective
properties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Still, I'd already made my choice.
Considering this implant of theirs, I was going to stay human, simply for
safety reasons. I still couldn't forget my conversation with the Corporation
rep. None of the exotic races could suit me for the simple reason that I had no
idea how the neuroimplant would behave in an unhuman body, generating some
totally alien perceptions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I gulped. The dwarf may have been
frozen in time — but I wasn't. I was freezing, literally. This was a definite
drawback. How could a spirit experience physical discomfort?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had to hurry. I didn't like this
icy cave. I had to go out into the warm sunlight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was full of projects and hopes.
During our last meeting, Mr. Borisov dryly thanked me for recommending Christa
to them. She'd agreed to participate. I was going to find her. We had a lot to
discuss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Something had changed around me
almost imperceptibly. I noticed a chunk of ice below to my left. It looked as
if the dwarf had initially tried to hack it off with his pick but had failed. I
could see deep cracks piercing the ice lit up by a tiny flame glimmering
within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I took a better look. The flame was
emitted by a fiery aura enveloping a doubled-up figure inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The creature stirred. The light grew
slightly brighter, blurring the ice from the inside as it began to melt, the
quickly forming cavity within filling with swirling steam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Was the player who was about to
escape his icy prison also one of us? Did he have a neuroimplant too?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Never mind. Time would tell. Enough
stalling! Time for me to get out of here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, let's have a look at their choice
of human races. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial
bonus: Determination<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
receive two bonus points to add to any characteristic of your choice at your
convenience, plus another skill point every five levels.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Not bad at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I pressed <i>Confirm</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A new choice of character classes
followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Normally, every class supported two
skill development branches: the main one, available to everyone, and an
additional one which could only be opened at level 50.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Considering my choice of race, I
could pick from among a Warrior, a Wizard, a Hunter, a Light or Dark Knight, a
Monk, a Sorcerer, a Rogue — the list went on and on thanks to their account
transfer option. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wait a sec. What was that now? In the
midst of all the predictable and expected classes I suddenly noticed a name
that struck a familiar note, reminding me of recent events,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A
Neuro<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I swiped my eyes across the name,
activating it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Founders, creators of all living beings, used to possess a unique wealth of
knowledge, endowing our ancestors with a whole number of long-forgotten
abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In
bygone days, the Founders visited a great number of the worlds which have since
disappeared without a trace. Still, we are reminded of the consequences of
their genetic intervention as various nations give occasional birth to a Neuro:
a creature whose true potential is still dormant.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Could
you be one of them?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Class
bonus: a unique development branch not tied in with the character's
specialization, available already at level 5.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would
you be up to the challenge?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Accept:
Yes/No<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It looked like I could forget my
habitual choice, a Warrior. The temptation was too great. I also had a gut
feeling that this class had appeared on the list for a reason. I was pretty
sure that normal players didn't have this option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In a swipe of my eyes, I accepted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Please
wait. Character generation in progress.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Merging...
Scanning... <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Character
generation complete.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Name:
Alexatis<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Race:
Human<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gender:
Male<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Class:
Neuro<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Please
confirm or go back to edit your avatar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He looked the split image of myself:
skinny, pale and unshaven. Not the best version of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I edited his build here and there,
added a darker hue to his skin and got rid of the stubble. Much better now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I quite liked the nickname. It
sounded unpretentious and similar enough to my own name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I lingered. It felt like diving from
a great height. The moment I pressed the button, my new virtual life would
begin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the meantime, the melting block of
ice had thawed through in the middle, forming a hole that arrayed a net of
cracks in all directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Enveloped in steam, surrounded by a
weak but already clear fire aura, the creature inside turned out to be... a
demon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Its spidery fingers clutched at the
fragile ice, crumbling it, until they found a holdfast. The demon emitted a
weak groan as it began to pull itself out of its ice prison. Long rear-facing
spines ran the whole length of its forearms. They grew through the demon's
grayish olive skin which was covered in asymmetrical black swirls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Its muscles tensed. The creature
eased itself out, peeping its head and shoulders out of the hole in the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The recognition petrified me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Christa?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Her short ash-blond hair, her fiery
gaze, the thin line of her pursed lips — these were features I knew, familiar
and yet strangely different. Repulsive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Glinting with darkness, a supple suit
of armor clung to her body, protecting her chest, stomach and hips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Unlike me, Christa hadn't wasted her
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I hurried to confirm my character
choice. Once again time began to fly by. I jumped to my feet, shivering with
cold in my canvas shirt and pants, still in disbelief of her horrible choice,
hoping it was a mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Get out of my way!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Her fiery aura became more
pronounced, outlining a burning name tag,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Christa.
Level 1. Demon<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I knew why her name hadn't changed.
She'd told me she'd had it legally registered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Christa, it's me!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"As if I can't see," her glare
faded, acquiring an almost human expression, then burned again, oozing an
uncontrollable, impetuous fury. "Out my way!" she hissed, snake-like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Hey noobs! You've got a
cheek!" the dwarf's amazed voice broke the heavy silence. "How did
you get here?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He never received an answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alex, step aside."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"No, I won't," I could be
stubborn too. "What were you thinking about, creating this abomina-"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She responded with a lightning
attack. The spines on her arms ripped through my shoulder, grazing my throat.
My chest seized with agonizing pain. I dropped to my knees. She leaped at the
dwarf, her tail lashing him across the face. For a brief moment her body clung
to the low ice-covered ceiling, then she darted into the tunnel that oozed a
cold draft.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My Life bar faded. My neuroimplant
was pumping my brain with sensations of harrowing agony like nothing I'd ever
experienced before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Don't overact," the dwarf
cringed. A crimson scar ran across his cheek. "Gwyn, where the hell are
you!" he bellowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The sounds of scampering footsteps
came from the tunnel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Togien, did you see that?"
another dwarf arrived — a Monk, judging by his gear. "What kind of fire
monster was that?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"A demon," Togien replied,
than added, "Give the kid a heal, pronto!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A healing aura enveloped me. I
breathed again. My Life bar quivered and began to grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The pain subsided. Still, I'd already
learned my first lesson in the world of Crystal Sphere. Its authenticity levels
were really off the scale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Better now?" the dwarf hid
a good-natured smile within his mustache, apparently misunderstanding my stare.
"Don't worry. I don't hurt babies. I'm not a grave robber. I'm just a bit
down on my luck gear-wise," he stroked his beard mechanically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Thanks," I sat up, looking
around me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How did you get here, anyway...
Alexatis? This is miles away from the nearest nursery."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Must have been a glitch. I've
no idea how it happened."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Have you tried to log out and
log in again?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I maintained a moody silence. I
didn't want to lie to him — and I couldn't tell him the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Never mind. It's gonna be all
right," he said. "You can stay with us if you want. We won't be here
long. We just want to check this cave out. I want you to meet Gwyn. He's my
nephew. A real-life nephew, I mean."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This Togien turned out to be a nice
guy, after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Thanks for the heal,
Gwyn," I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He beamed. "That's not a
problem."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I got the impression that Togien was
quite strict with his nephew and didn't mete praise out gladly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"We level up Archeology, you
know," Gwyn added. "It may be a secondary profession and all that,
but still-" he cut himself short, meeting his uncle's disapproving glare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Too much information! Grab your
pick and go back to work! Alexatis, you'd better stand aside — better still,
wait in the tunnel before one of those ice fragments does you some serious
damage! Just meditate or read some guides, or whatever."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I complied. I did have a few things
to ponder over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien and Gwyn began hacking at the
ice, digging for artifacts. Admittedly, they were good at what they did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I focused on a transparent ice bauble
encasing one of the objects, its outlines showing vaguely through the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A
Large Block of Ice<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Durability:
70/70</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two dwarves must have specialized
in Mining. Their picks effortlessly crumbled the fragile ice. They were giving
it their all. I really should keep a safe distance: at level 1, I only had 50
pt. Life. The first large fragment of ice flying my way would be the end of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had no idea where their
resurrection point was. I'd been lucky enough to have come across two such
friendly individuals. Togien was level 18 and his nephew, 12. Which meant they
also hadn't been in the Crystal Sphere long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The tunnel was damp. Water streaked
down its walls. The depths of this underground maze exuded subterranean heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The tunnel was overgrown with soft
pale moss. I slumped down onto it, watching the fancy play of light from a
torch wedged in a crack by the cave entrance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My first impressions were sharp and
contradictory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before, I could never understand why
the choice of race was considered a "social act". I'd even gotten
into a heated argument with some smartass on the Middle Earth forum about it.
My point had been, the reason I'd chosen a Warrior was because I wanted that
particular set of abilities, and nothing else!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I might have been wrong, I agree.
Everything we hide deep inside our hearts under a fine veneer of social
conventions is released into the virtual world. You can't really play a
holier-than-thou Paladin if you have a tendency for much lowlier behavior. That's
how it happens that by changing chars and adding various alt characters — who
might suddenly become our main ones — we look for our <i>online identity</i>. Sooner or later, we all find it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Did that mean I'd known nothing about
Christa? Back in the Middle Earth, she'd still been trying to control herself —
while here she'd finally lost it, complying with the voice of pain devouring
her from inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I could change nothing, anyway. Our
choices had been made. It was unlikely we'd ever cross paths again. Unless it
was in battle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I opened my interface, about to
distribute the available points, when the earth shuddered, showering me with
crumbling rock from the tunnel's ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A chain of powerful shocks ran
through the tunnel, dying in the distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two dwarves ran out of the cave
and froze, listening to the far-off rumble of rockfalls. Judging by their
alarmed expressions, nothing like this had ever happened in the Crystal Sphere
before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It has to be the City Guild and
its wizards," Togien grumbled. "Let's go back in, Gwyn. It seems to
be all right now."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They returned to their work. I
proceeded with my character research.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alexatis.
Level 1. Neuro.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Life,
50/50<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Physical
Energy, 37/50<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mental
Energy, 50/50<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Physical
Defense, 2.5 (homespun clothes, 0)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Physical
Attack, 2,5 (weapons not equipped)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mental
Defense, 0.5% (abilities not activated)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mental
Attack, 0 (spells not studied)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mental
Energy Regeneration, 2,5 pt./sec (Spirit divided by 2)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strength,
5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Intellect,
5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Agility,
5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stamina,
5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spirit,
5 <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Main
Professions, Not opened <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Achievements,
None<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
have 7 main characteristic points available.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At first, everything seemed simple
enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strength was responsible for the
amount of damage dealt by Physical Attack, as well as for the weight the char
was capable of carrying and the numbers of absorbed incoming damage when
parrying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Intellect was responsible for the
amount of Mental Energy as well as the damage dealt by spells. It also affected
the char's Learning Skills and the amount of XP (experience) received.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Agility was responsible for the
char's reaction times which affected all of his actions in some way or another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stamina determined the amount of
Health points that decided the quantity of the char's Life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spirit decided the char's resistance
to magic attacks, increasing his or her chances of blocking a spell or
continuing to cast one while being attacked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Still, in practice it wasn't that
clear-cut and easy. A char's main characteristics were all interrelated. Their
interactions could be calculated using special formulas. To give you a rather
exaggerated example, every weapon had such characteristics as Weight and
Damage. A strong character would have no problem lifting a heavy mace and using
it to deal a hit that would strip his or her opponent of (say) 10 HP. But a
character who is strong <i>and</i> agile
would be able to strike twice in the same amount of time dealing double damage
— because the high Agility numbers would increase his Attack Speed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You see my point? My ability branch
was still closed. I hadn't been given any tips regarding which particular stats
could be vital for a Neuro's successful development. I had a funny feeling it
was Intellect — but this was only my conjecture. Which was why I came to the
decision to wait until I reached level 5 before distributing any available stat
and skill points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alexatis? Mind coming here for
a moment?" Togien's bellowing voice disrupted my train of thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I closed the interface and walked
into the cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oh wow. They'd done a good job there,
hadn't they? Possibly, with a little help from the earthquake. Tiny ice
fragments crunched underfoot, sparkling in the torch light. Not a single block
of ice was left — they'd ripped them all apart nice and neat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How much weight can you
carry?" Togien asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sixty pounds."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"That's nothing," he
sounded upset. "How big is your inventory?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I shrugged. "Twenty slots. A
standard one."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I have a proposition for you.
What if we give you an extra bag for a hundred slots? We've got too much stuff,
you see. We could go all together to Agrion — that's a city on the River
Warbler. It's not far from here. We'll give you 1% of the price of what's in
the bag. What do you think?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A newb would have to be a total idiot
to refuse this kind of offer. Besides, it didn't look as if the hike to the
nearest safe locations was going to be easy, either. The local mobs were
definitely more advanced in levels than humble me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'm in."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Let's load up, then. No,
wait," Togien gave my starting clothes a critical look. With a sigh he
reached into his stashes, producing a suit of well-worn leather armor.
"This is yours. Take a look around and get yourself a weapon," he
probably meant the trash items they'd found but which didn't merit the
inclusion on their Valuables list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Thanks," I hurried to change
into my new clothes: a set comprising a leather jacket, pants, gloves and boots
with 40% Durability still on them. It fit me well. Judging by their stats, the
items didn't have any bonuses but they did raise my Protection to 12 pt. — excellent
for starting out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Suits you," with another
good-humored smile, Togien made some mental calculations. "Thanks don't
fill a purse though. We'll subtract the kit's price from your share. Actually,
the clothes weigh 12 pounds extra. But it's all right. Gwyn will cast a few
buffs on you. He needs the practice. Good for both of you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As the two dwarves continued to sift
through their finds, arguing over their potential value and sorting them into
several piles, I decided to check out the trash. Lots of curious objects were
lying around in the slush — mainly weapons and armor made of some alloy unknown
to me. Despite being untouched by rust, their metal had grown dull and brittle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I reached out for what looked like a
decent helmet. It crumbled to dust at my touch. It must have suffered some
magic attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was trash indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finally, I had my eye on a sword.
Four empty stone slots gaped on its hilt. Its handguard was rather unusual for
a sword, formed by several thin masterfully forged strips of metal that
completely protected your fingers and the back of your hand. The grip was good.
It might take some getting used to but I could already see the design's
strongest point: striking it out of your hand wasn't going to be easy. The four
empty slots must have been there for a reason. The double-edged blade wasn't
too broad. If you took a good look at the fine layer of patina covering it, you
could see faint symbols of some mysterious language underneath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Item
received: a Mysterious Sword<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage:
5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Weight:
2,450<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Durability:
15/500<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Requires
level 1 and 5 pt. Strength.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Class
restrictions: none<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I can see you've made your
choice?" Gwyn glanced at the sword's stats. "Not enough damage. The
durability is a bit low too."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It doesn't weight much," I
argued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You're right there," he pointed
at a heap of small objects — mainly precious stones and all sorts of
weird-looking artifacts. I wouldn't know what to do with them. "Load up.
I'm gonna cast two buffs on you: one for Stamina, the other for Strength. Ten
minutes both."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How did you find this
cave?" I asked, distributing the items between the slots of the capacious
bag they'd given me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"A quest," Gwyn replied
brusquely. He raised his hands to cast the spell, apparently unwilling to go
into detail. Pale blobs of light escaped the tips of his fingers. For a brief
moment they enveloped me, filling me with strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How much mana does it
take?" I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"One-third of a full charge.
That's all right. I also have elixirs. By the time we get to the city I'll
raise you a couple of levels. You'll see."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Who was I to argue?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I decided against equipping my new
sword. I put it into my inventory and assigned a quick-access icon to it.
Easier that way. I could still whip it out in no time but this way it was safe
from prying eyes. Once we got to the city, I'd have to look it up. I'd love to
know what kind of trophy I'd gotten. I might even restore its durability which
in turn would improve damage. Besides, all those question marks admittedly
intrigued me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Ready?" Togien gave me a
critical look but seemed pleased with the result. "Off we go, then!"
he headed for the tunnel first, lighting his path with the torch.
"Alexatis, try to keep up. If we come across any mobs, don't stick your
head out. I'll do the tanking. Gwyn will heal us."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Keeping up with them proved not that
easy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ten minutes later I was already
stumbling and falling behind. My Physical Energy reading was dwindling fast.
The extra 25 lbs. of weight were taking their toll. The neuroimplant was adding
its two cents, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Let me tell you: it had changed the
entire gameplay radically. Before, my char could be exhausted and still I
hadn't felt a thing. Now my legs shook and started to give under me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Gwyn!" I called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I see," he grumbled.
"You're a mana gobbler, you. Wait, I need to sift through the
spells."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Being a mule was hard work. Still, I
had to grin and bear. It was well worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we walked, I pondered over my
situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My character's class was bound to
attract attention and raise unwanted questions. Still, at the moment that was the
least of my worries. I could always explain it away by having had to import my
account from a different game world. However, no one should suspect anything
about the mind-shattering authenticity levels I was experiencing. Otherwise I'd
be a very easy target. Christa had already taught me this lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So I might need to practice
self-control. If the tiniest of wounds made me linger in battle, others were
bound to notice it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finally Gwyn found the spell he'd
been looking for. This buff, on top of raising both Strength and Stamina, would
also halve my Physical Energy losses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It took you some time," I
walked faster, feeling the energy flow into me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"My spell book's too
thick," he replied, apparently proud of the fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What, at level 12?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"We're both from Middle Earth,
aren't we? We had our accounts transferred from there. We lost our levels but
kept all the rest. You have any idea how many scrolls I'd studied there? And
this," he grinned, "this girl... do you know her?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Yeah."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You gotta cool it, man. You never
know with them. Today she's a princess, tomorrow a demon. Just like in real
life," he joked in a clumsy attempt to cheer me up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien didn't join our conversation.
Still, he kept his ears pricked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What prompted you to level
Archeology? Aren't there any mines around here?" I asked simple-heartedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"There are but they're either
poor or you need to mop them up first," Gwyn replied. "Local mobs
have six hours' respawn time. If you do it with two people, there isn't enough
time left to mine anything."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'm sure they'll fix it
soon," Togien said confidently. "They'll be mopping mines up
regularly. Then we can talk about resource farming on an industrial scale.
First with small groups, but sooner or later big clans will muscle in. Familiar
scheme."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Don't you have clans
already?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Small ones. They still keep
close to cities and starting locations. The Crystal Sphere has incredible
territories but its players still need to level up first. Level 45 was the
biggest I've seen. And within a week's hike from Agrion you can already come
across level-50 mobs. It's a young world, what do you want?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His words took my breath away. I'd
always dreamed of discovering virgin locations. I was so fed up with following
in other guys' tracks, doing guidebook quests that had been completed a
thousand times before me. I wanted to be a pioneer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The long winding tunnel kept forking
and branching off. It was riddled with deep crevices: some of them oozing
water, others breathing subterranean heat, yet others sweeping you with chilly
drafts, freezing you to the bone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No idea how one could find his way
here without a detailed map. Still, Togien strode along without hesitation,
taking confident turns every time the tunnel forked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two dwarves definitely enjoyed
the underground trip. I, however, felt utterly out of my depth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As if reading my mind, Gwyn (he
walked behind me) cheered me up, "It's all right, man. Soon we'll come to
the city sewage-" he cut himself short as he stumbled into me, nearly
knocking me off my feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alexatis, what's wrong with
you?" he exclaimed. "Keep going!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I didn't reply. I had a very bad
feeling. A whiff of icy cold touched my heart. My breathing seized.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I couldn't keep it to myself.
"Togien, wait!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He turned round. "What is
it?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You can't go further!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why not?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I had a bad feeling about it.
Don't laugh! It's true!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What's that, an ability you
have or something?" Togien asked, hiding a smile. "Or are you taking
the mickey? You can't have any abilities, can you? Not at level 1! We still
have some walking to do before we can stop for a break," he added sternly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A shadow flashed behind his back. Two
swords slashed through his knee ligaments in a treacherous combo. With a yelp,
he dropped his battle hammer and slumped to the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Three rogues materialized out of the
shadows. Players, levels 16 to 20.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wheezing, Togien tried to get back to
his feet but couldn't. I could clearly see a debuff icon in his tag: both
swords were poisoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Finish him off, Mouk! Otherwise
we can't collect the loot."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"No, wait. I want to bleed him
first. I need some blood for my Alchemy," one of the rogues produced a
vial and bent down, filling it with Togien's blood. The other two moved toward
me. The tunnel was too narrow so for the moment, they couldn't get to Gwyn yet.
Why hadn't he run off while he'd still had the chance? Rogues were good at
ambushing you or assaulting you from the back, but there was no way they could
catch up with a dwarf in an underground maze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So?" one of the players
came closer, playing with his swords. His name tag was recognizably bright red.
"Whatcha you gonna do, newb? Will you give us your bag or would you rather
we send you to your respawn point?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The red name tag with a skull icon on
it meant he was a PK: a Player Killer. Any city guard's duty was to kill him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You aren't gonna kill me,"
I continued to block his way in the hope that Gwyn — judging by the bustling
sounds behind my back — would finally see his chance and flee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why not?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Can't you see my level? This is
noob hunting. Go ahead, then. Your PK counter won't like it. This time you
won't get off lightly. This isn't a community-work sentence, man." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Quit being smart," he
snapped. Still, he seemed to realize the consequences. At the moment, he was
denied access to the city for the ungrounded murders of other players. But if
he as much as touched me, the punishment would be much more severe, stripping
him of most of his stats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"In that case, get out of my
way! Hey dwarf, quit hiding behind the newb! We're gonna get you, anyway!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alexatis, step aside
please," Gwyn said behind my back, his voice quiet but intense. Was it my
imagination or had I heard an empty mana vial clatter to the ground? What was
he up to? He couldn't possibly take on three rogues way above his level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Suddenly Gwyn shoved me against the
wall. He'd stuck the torch into a crack in the wall. The hood of his gray cloak
covered his head. He'd put his weapons out of sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Give us your bag, monk,"
said the one called Heilig (I automatically added his name to my KOS list) as
he resumed playing with his swords. 'The newb is right. My PK counter doesn't
need exercise. This way I can stash away the loot, give myself up to the
guards, work a couple days in the stables and start it over with a clean
slate."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You're absolutely right,"
Gwyn mumbled, looking perfectly harmless in his baggy cassock. "Here you
are, Sir, take it," he pulled out a fat bag out of his inventory.
"Just please don't hurt my uncle. I'm gonna give you his bag, too."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On hearing that, the rogues
obediently let him go past the gang's leader. Once he found himself between the
three hoods, he bent his back in a deep bow, spreading his arms wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Peace be with you..." a
dazzling shimmer enveloped his hands. A blinding light came out of his eyes. A
warm healing wave washed over me (because I was neutral to Gwyn). Not so for
the PKs! The aura of a blanket debuff turned all three to stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The one busy collecting blood thumped
to the ground, collapsing to one side. The other two stayed on their feet,
petrified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn slumped down the wall. Blood
soaked his clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Shitheads!" Togien's roar
echoed through the tunnel. He was healed completely. Grabbing his hammer, he
took a swing — which was stopped by Gwyn's weak outcry. "You can't finish
them off! You know that, don't you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gasping, Togien tried to overcome his
fury. "You're right.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He turned to me, "Alexatis, help
me, quick!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What do you want me to
do?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Check his bag! Look for a vial
with some purple liquid!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"This one?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Yes! Give it here! I'll
unclench his teeth and you pour it down! Like this! Good!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn groaned, stirring weakly. His
Life bar began to grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Having made sure that Gwyn was okay,
I motioned Togien to step aside so that the paralyzed rogues couldn't overhear
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Was that a Humble Bow?" I
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The dwarf frowned, looking at me
unkindly from under his bushy eyebrows. I could understand him. It looked like
this account transfer had just played a bad joke with the Crystal Sphere
admins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How do you know about the
Bow?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I played in Middle Earth. From
what I heard, you couldn't get this ability for love nor money. You have to
complete a quest chain issued by the Higher Priests without killing a single
mob. That's how they teach Meekness to any potential candidate. Am I
right?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You should keep your mouth shut
about that," Togien said anxiously. "It took Gwyn a year to complete
it. That's why he lagged behind me level-wise. If anyone hears about his
imported ability..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You shouldn't worry about me.
You'd better worry about these PKs here. They will talk, trust me. You should
have given them the bags, really. It was stupid of Gwyn to expose himself like
that."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Wait a sec," Togien
crouched by the wall, laid his hammer on his lap and logged out. Nothing seemed
to have changed. His hands still clutched the weapon's handle. His gaze,
however, had become empty and lifeless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn had already come round. Still,
he didn't seem too eager to talk, apparently realizing he'd screwed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now is a good moment to say a few
things about that magic ability of his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When activated, the Humble Bow sucks
the life out of the monk who cast it, leaving only 1% — just like the Bleed
debuff does — and heals all neutral and friendly characters while paralyzing
all enemies within 150 feet for 10 hours with a Stone Curse. Cooldown: 10 days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nothing special, you might say? What
is so unusual about being able to heal your friends and simultaneously paralyze
your enemies once in ten days? Still, the Humble Bow has one truly unique factor.
It affects all players <i>regardless of
their levels</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now imagine two clans fighting for a
new territory, fortress or resource. The battle reaches a critical point; you
give it your all, throwing all available forces into the strife; your wizards
are out of mana, your warriors barely standing on their feet, and the enemy's
high level players are hacking their way through your ranks, about to storm
your casters' positions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At this moment, a humble monk stands
in the attackers' way and bends his back in a deep bow. "Peace be with
you..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A blinding light blankets the
battlefield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The monk drops dead. And all around
him, your exhausted clanmates arise to their feet and pick up their arms while
your enemies freeze like a sea of statues. And nothing can change that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In all honesty, I didn't envy Gwyn at
the moment. His unique ability had evaded the Crystal Sphere admins during his
account transfer, putting him in constant danger. In this young world troubled
by its first territorial wars, he wouldn't be able to preserve his neutrality
and enjoy undisturbed gameplay. The moment the word got out, everyone would
start applying pressure to him, desperate to get a fighter like him into their
ranks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But whoever he joined, others weren't
going to stop. They might try to bribe him or simply make his virtual life
unbearable. Gwyn would lose his freedom, turning into the closely guarded
property of a group of influential top-level clan members. If his goal was to
make money playing, he would sure do that. Still, I had a funny feeling he was
in it for the thrill, just like myself. Gwyn craved adventure, not a hedonistic
excuse for an existence in some classified citadel vault.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien stirred, coming round, and let
out a deep breath. "I found it. All three are paying players. They
couldn't have played in Middle Earth. They're about seventeen in real
life."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How did you find that
out?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I paid. There's this online
dealer, Arbido."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The recent memory smarted. "I
know him. I once ordered some relic gauntlets from him. I needed a full set of
armor to complete an instance and I had no time to get them myself."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Arbido's quite correct. His
intel is solid."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You think these guys don't know
about the Humble Bow? They won't be able to put two and two together?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I hope not. Middle Earth is
closing soon, anyway. They're about to archive all the guides and forums. Just
please not a word to anyone. Otherwise others won't leave Gwyn alone."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sure. I understand that."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I hope you do. We can be
grateful, you know."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien
has invited you to join his group!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Shit. That was the last thing I
needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Hey, Alexatis, what's up?
What's there to think about?" he sounded sincerely amazed. "I sent
you an invitation, man! We could rush you up to level 5 or even more, how about
it? Or are you too conscientious to accept? All right, let us take you to the
city, it's a safe zone with newb locations, social quests and whatnot. Do you
seriously fancy genociding frogs in the city pond? Or catching rats in the
barn? I don't think so."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He didn't understand anything, did
he? His sincere surprise was about to give way to quite understandable
suspicion. Problem was, genociding frogs in some slimy pond was the exact thing
I needed. It was all because of this neuroimplant I had. I'd no idea what kind
of surprises the "hundred percent authenticity" might have in store
for me. Small creatures would suit me perfectly well at the moment, allowing me
to gingerly feel out my pain threshold and other intricacies of a new combat
strategy I still had to work out. And if I joined the group, the dwarves might
easily smoke a dozen mobs, rushing me through the first five or six levels
(because I'll be receiving my share of XP as a group member). This was
gameplay. And once I finally made it to the hypothetical pond, I might be faced
not with a harmless frog but with some giant sharp-toothed predator toad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Still, if I ignored the invitation,
Togien might take offence. He might even become suspicious. Normally, no one
refuses this kind of offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I couldn't help it. It looked like
I'd have to play hard. I joined the group and added both dwarves to my friend
list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien visibly relaxed. He'd probably
already had all sorts of ideas about me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Thanks," I said calmly.
"What do we do with these guys?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Just leave them here. We can't
finish them off. If we do, Gwyn might lose the ability."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What, you want them to walk
away?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Oh no, they won't! They'll get
their just desserts, trust me! Come on, let's go now. The city isn't very
far."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The first hour of my new life had
elapsed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The tunnel continued downhill. Its
interior was getting more and more interesting. Its offshoots were now blocked
with massive chunks of stone covered in complex script. I didn't recognize the
language. These must have been dungeon entrances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After our encounter with the rogues,
Gwyn had clammed up. He hadn't said a word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"One thing I don't
understand," Togien said, leading the way, "is how the hell those
idiots got here?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He seemed to be angry with himself,
blaming himself for failing to notice the ambush in time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was getting considerably warmer. A
hot, dry air wafted into my face. The cracks in the tunnel's uneven floor
glowed crimson, apparently formed during the recent earthquake. From time to
time, we came across wide fissures which we had to leap across. I looked down
one of them and discovered another level below, streaked with slowly flowing
lava and studded with the ruins of underground cities. The sight of shadows
flitting amid them made your blood freeze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I shouldn't have worried about
Christa. This place was perfect for a demon. Me, I still had some walking to do
before I reached safe starting locations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mechanically I made screenshots of
the dungeons below. This kind of info might come in handy one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The exorbitant realism of the
experience was beginning to grate on my nerves. It was also causing me
considerable discomfort. I'd never had to worry about the size of my gear
before — but now that had all changed. The tunnel was so hot I was dripping
with sweat. The leather armor was chafing against my body. I should have kept
the shirt on. And the bag felt like it weighed a ton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Gwyn?" Togien said.
"What's up, man? Are you asleep or something?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why, is it time already?"
the monk said with a start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Ten seconds left."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sorry, guys. I was away with
the fairies," he cast another spell on me, restoring my energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I think the rogues had followed
us all the way from the city," Togien mumbled. "They'd been
stealthing along, listening in. They knew we'd be back with plenty of
loot!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I broke into a cold sweat. The
sensation of being watched returned, as if the walls themselves kept an eye on
my progress. The feeling washed over me, then disappeared, leaving an itch
between my shoulder blades. I must have left the danger behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I celebrated too early. Something touched
my face — something light as a feather, gentle and inviting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With every step I took, this feeling
like a tender caress grew stronger. Considering the setting, I had reasons to
believe it was fake. What would a friendly creature be doing in subterranean
dungeons?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The darkness oozed whispers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I couldn't make out the words yet.
The dwarves didn't seem to notice it. Togien's stocky figure was hovering next
to a cave mouth up ahead, illuminated by the flashes of lightning from his
charmed hammer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Should I trust my suddenly acute
intuition? And how was I supposed to react to this? Unlike the freezing cold
that had assaulted me just before we'd met the rogues, this gentle touch felt
good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Come here," the darkness
whispered. "Come to us..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Togien, don't move!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This time he obeyed instantly and
froze, peering into the darkness. "What is it?" he asked without
turning to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Can you hear whispers?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"No. All I can hear is the
crackling of the rock. And the earth rumbling below," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Stay where you are!" My
gaming experience kicked in. I might be level 1 but I couldn't make newb
mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A taut wave of energy emerged from
the cave, filling me with strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Call of the Depths is summoning you<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien hadn't sensed that, either.
Gwyn, however, exclaimed in surprise,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alex, someone's just cast a
buff on you! You've got +10 to Strength for 60 seconds!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I shouldn't be so sure. There's
something wrong here," I said, reading the system messages. "This is
called the Call of the Depths! Heard anything about it?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn startled. "Shit! It's
either a dark caster or an obelisk! Togien, stay away from that cave! We need
to check it first!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"If you say so," Togien
shifted his combat stance: now he was holding a shield as well as the hammer.
"I need more aggro!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn raised his hand and drew a
golden symbol in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Their plan was simple. The spell
increased the level of danger generated by Togien until one of the little
monsters sensed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was right. A mob popped out of the
cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">An
Imp. Level 3. Mine Digger<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The creature was short and ugly, with
a large head, pointy ears and a scrawny body covered with wrinkly red skin. He
clutched a pick in one hand and a deformed bucket in the other filled with
pieces of ore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On seeing us, the imp froze bug-eyed
and open-mouthed, about to scream an alarm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No chance. Togien reacted promptly,
his battle hammer squashing the little bastard into the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn drew another symbol in the air.
I watched the unfolding scene without proffering any unwanted advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A fine veil enveloped Togien's body.
Under its protection, he took a peek into the cave. Immediately he shrank back,
forwarding us the resulting screenshots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The cave's deep mouth was dimly lit
by an unsteady, uneven light. A dark obelisk towered atop a small pedestal
formed by runs of solidified lava. It was this that was emitting the gentle
whispers, soft touches and the Strength-enhancing buffs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All around it, emaciated figures
stooped in small mining shafts: the creatures of many races who had succumbed
to the obelisk's charms, forever bound to this place, doomed to mine ore for
the powers of Darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Imps scurried among them. I peered at
their tags. Those closer to the entrance were workers. Further on, lurking
behind the rocks and solidified lava, were imp warriors. But that wasn't the
worst of it. If you peered through the crimson gloom, you could make out the
larger outlines of some much more dangerous spawn of the dark.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Where did they all come
from?" Togien sounded puzzled. "We took this very road not two hours
ago! There was nobody here!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"The earthquake?" I
suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Could be. The imps must have
crawled out through the cracks in the ground. Even the Dark side needs
resources."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"But the obelisk? Surely they
don't lug it around with them?" I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"They don't. Ever heard about
form and substance? What you see now is the form. But it's the substance that
matters. Inside the obelisk lives a spirit which controls the prisoners,"
Gwyn began to explain. "As soon as this place is depleted, the imps will
use a special spell to set him free while the prisoners move to another cave.
There they'll trap the spirit in another slab of rock to create a new
obelisk."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn's eyes glistened with an almost
insane glow. What was it with him? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Can some of them be
players?" I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn shrugged. Apparently, he wasn't
that interested in the prisoners' fate. It was something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Some may be," he replied.
"Still, you can't keep a player prisoner for longer than twenty-four
hours. It's against the rules. Normally, no one likes wasting time obeying
orders. They try to mine as much ore as they can in order to exhaust themselves
and then go on to their resurrection point."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How about their gear?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It stays here."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Do you mind if I ask you why
Togien and you don't seem to be affected by the obelisk?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Our levels are higher than his.
The spirit can only control those weaker than himself. But over time, his
powers will grow."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien too looked strangely agitated.
He exchanged meaningful glances with his nephew, then turned to me. "Alexatis,
I'm gonna ask you to keep quiet about this cave. You shouldn't show your map to
anyone. Agreed? We might throw in a few more gold for you for the
trouble."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why, what's up?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I could see Togien didn't really want
to tell me. Still, he must have failed to come up with a believable excuse
because he said,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Thing is, you know... sooner or
later the imps will leave and take the spirit with them. But the rock he's
trapped in now, it will stay where it is."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Is it worth something?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It's Smoky Rock. Transformed
matter. Obelisk fragments can be sold for a hundred gold apiece, depending on
their size. Only a master miner can farm them. But you still need to know which
rock the spirit used to inhabit. Because once he's out, the rock will look like
any other, you understand?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Yeah. I won't tell anyone. I
promise."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This he seemed to be greatly relieved
to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You'd better tell me," I
went on, "this transformed matter, what's it good for?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alchemists need the dust and
the chippings," Gwyn replied eagerly. "Smaller fragments can be used
to decorate weapons and armor with. Large ones are used to make stat-enhancing
runes. There's also crystal armor, very rare. To make it, you need to be a
Grand Master — and not in Blacksmithing as you'd think but in Jewelry."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I made a mental note to look into it.
"Does that mean we can't go further?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He shook his head.
"Unfortunately. Gwyn and I might have battled through on our own. But not
with you, we can't. You need to understand. The weakest imp will smoke you
before you know it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His bad mood was in fact perfectly
understandable. The most valuable albeit lightweight part of their loot was in
my bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What other options are
there?" I asked. "Any Plan B? Any teleports stashed nearby?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To my disappointment, Togien shook
his head. "Teleports! We're less than an hour's walk from the city. Nobody
knows about this tunnel, believe it or not. Gwyn and I happened to discover a
piece of an old map. We couldn't read it so we took it to a local antique
dealer. Imagine when instead of buying it he produced the missing part of the
map from a box — and on it was the part where the tunnel was marked. Next thing
we knew, he issued us a quest to get to the old tomb and bring him any ten
items made of cargonite — which is a very rare alloy. The secret of its
manufacture is long lost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So that's what was in their
overstuffed inventories!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Who could have known we'd have
an earthquake? Imps are nasty little bastards. The moment there's a crevice in
the ground, they pour right out there and then!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"And how did the rogues get
here?" I said, unwittingly touching a sore spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"They must have stealthed up to
us," Togien gave his nephew the evil eye. "This is what happens when
you discuss your plans in a tavern and lay the map on the table for everyone to
see!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"If you hadn't skimped on the
room, I wouldn't have had to do so!" Gwyn snapped back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Enough! Stop aggroing each
other!" I shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Both turned to me. "Who do you
think you are?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Shit. I kept forgetting about my
level 1. Not a healthy idea arguing with higher-level guys. Still, it was a
question of survival. The dwarves had no idea I'd be literally risking my life
battling through hordes of imps. How would the neuroimplant react? Would I
survive the pain of my injuries? I'd been planning to find that out slowly and
gingerly — definitely not by combatting a host of mobs whose levels were five
times my own!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Still, I didn't lower my gaze under
their glares. "Now. We have two options. Option one is to go back. The ice
in the cave where we met had frozen in those runs for a reason. It means the
water was coming from somewhere. We need to have a good look. There might be
some crevice there that might take us up to the surface."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Waste of time," Togien
rejected my suggestion straight off. "By the time we go there and come
back, the rogues will recover."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"In that case, option number
two. We need to lure the mobs into the tunnel. I want you to rush me a couple
of levels, then we might be able to fight our way through."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Judging by Togien's silent sniffing,
he liked it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They had no idea that for me this
meant mortal combat — literally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Five are coming your way!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gasping, Togien ran out of the cave
and swung round, holding a shield in front of himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The imps scurried out along the
cave's wall and ceiling. Clever bastards! Three level 5 workers and a couple of
warriors. So many! That was one hell of a pull. I had a funny feeling there
might be more coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of them lobbed his tin bucket
into Gwyn's face. He ducked just in time. Others attacked Togien. The tunnel
was too narrow for all of them to get a good foothold. The warriors began
hacking Togien's shield with their heavy scimitars. They were slightly taller
than imp workers: about four foot or so. They fought with abandon — why
wouldn't they, considering they received a constant flow of buffs from the
obelisk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The three workers hung overhead like
bats, clutching onto the tunnel walls and low ceiling, and kept hacking at
Togien's helmet with their picks. Still, they did little damage to his armor's
durability considering the level gap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien stayed put, receiving
virtually no damage and waiting for his opponents to run out of steam. Still,
the obelisk kept recharging them time after time. We should have retreated
further down the tunnel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strange things were happening to me.
I could still hear the tempting whispers and feel the touch of energy,
continuing to receive the buffs to Strength. Still, the call didn't seem to
affect my mind. Actually, yes, it did. For a brief moment I experienced a
strong desire to pick up the deformed tin bucket and hurry into the cave as if
mining ore was my sole purpose in life. The urge disappeared as fast as it had
come, leaving a bad taste in my mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Realizing his mistake, Togien changed
tactics and slammed his attackers with his shield, knocking them out. They
recoiled, shaking their heads, finally allowing him to launch an offensive. His
axe whooshed through the air, stripping two of the workers of their lives. He
then finished off the two warriors with a few slashing blows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Go easy on mana," he said,
addressing Gwyn. "I'm okay for the moment."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You've
received a new level!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A golden shimmer enveloped me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Quit stallin'," Gwyn gave
me a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Let's retreat a little bit. That way
the obelisk can't buff the mobs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So far, so good. I'd gotten a new
level. A couple more, and I'd be able to smoke imp workers. That way I'd be
less of a liability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">'Any loot?" I cast a meaningful
stare at the fallen mobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sorry Alex, our inventories are
packed," Togien said, choosing a place for any new combat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'll just take a look," I
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I picked up a scimitar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage,
5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Weight,
5.5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Durability,
7/10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Requires
level 3, 10 Strength, 5 Agility<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This was classical trash: a low
damage weapon, heavy and cumbersome. What about this one?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A
Spikey Round Shield<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Defense,
4<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Weight,
4.5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Durability,
5/10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Requires
level 3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">+5%
to your chances to deal damage while parrying.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had to take it, no doubt about it.
You didn't need a shield to parry — it was a default stat every weapon had.
Still, in my situation it was useful. Considering the local authenticity
levels, it would be stupid to rely on my leather armor alone. Pain was pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alexatis! Where the heck are
you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Coming."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I need your help. Can you feel
the obelisk's call?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Yeah."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Think you can define its
range?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I obeyed. We had to walk back a good
fifty feet, all the way round the bend, before fatigue overcame me. My Strength
had dropped to its old reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It takes us too long!"
Gwyn kept casting anxious glances behind us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My sentiment entirely. As we'd walked
back, we'd come across quite a few crevices formed by the unexpected
earthquake. I had a sneaky suspicion that imps hadn't been the only creatures
of the Dark who'd escaped them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Coming!" Togien sprang out
of a bend in the tunnel and swung round, covering himself with his shield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This time he'd only brought two imp
workers. He made quick work of them, then assumed a combat stance, "Get
ready!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Demons! Two of them! Both level 18!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I'd heard before that imps were nasty
greedy creatures standing on the lowest rung of Infernal evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I should have known they were too
primitive to control the spirit imprisoned within the obelisk. They weren't the
bosses here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Behind you!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I swung round to Gwyn's voice. He was
right. The ethereal shadow of a lich draped in flowing tatters of clothing
peeled off the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Immediately it materialized, its
tattered rags a cloak thrown over a rusty suit of armor. The eyeslits of his
helmet oozed gloom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ancient
Lich. Level 3<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He didn't attack me. Instead, he
raised a bony arm, mouthing a spell. I could hear his blood-curdling whisper,
his fingers enveloped in a faint aura.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had to disrupt the spell!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mysterious
Sword: equipped.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This was my mnemonic interface's
knee-jerk reaction which gave me a chance to launch a sudden critical attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The sword weighed my hand down. In a
lightning motion, I chopped the lich's hand off and shrank back, trying in vain
to escape his response attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His scream assaulted my eardrums. An
invisible force punched my chest, throwing me hard against the rock wall. My
vision darkened. My throat seized up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn came to my rescue. I knew that
monks were expert hand-to-hand fighters but I was yet to see one in action.
Even now I wasn't able to see it clearly as the tunnel swam before my eyes. The
aura of his blessing removed the Lich's curses from me. The next thing I heard
was the clatter of bones and the clanking of rusty steel as the lich collapsed
in a heap under Gwyn's devastating assault.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You freakin' nuts?" Gwyn
snapped at me, hurrying to return to his position. "You can't do this on
your own! Always call us when you need us!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Very nice. Thanks a bunch, Mr. Borisov.
Your idea of an alternative start sucks, if you want to know. Talk about sink
or swim. Why did they need to do it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The demons were pressing upon Togien.
He assumed a defensive stance, struggling to fight back against two opponents
at once. Parrying with his sword, he was looking for the right moment to
counterattack. Gwyn kept healing him but still our little group definitely
missed a warrior who could deal the damage while Togien was pulling the aggro
to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I couldn't help them with that, not
yet. Not against level 18 mobs. My hits were little less than mosquito bites
for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Once I came round a little, I hurried
toward the slain lich. Something glinted weakly in the heap of bones and
crumbling armor, like a precious stone. It turned out to be the knob of a staff
hidden under the lich's tattered cloak!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I grabbed it and checked its stats,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lethal
Wound Staff<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Crushing
Damage, 5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dark
Magic Damage, 5. Effect: Bleeding, 5 sec<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Durability,
9/10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Charges
left, 12<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Requires:
level 2, Intellect 10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Restrictions:
Only the undead<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pretty useless for me, wasn't it? I
was about to throw it back when my fingers clenched in a spasm. What was that
now? I had nothing to do with Dark powers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My hands were shaking. I tried to
fling the staff away from me but I couldn't! My body began to prickle. It felt
as if I was the attracting center of some dark, viscous energies flowing toward
me from every direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of the demons pushed himself away
from Togien's shield, finalizing an attack. The creature clung to the ceiling,
growling and emitting an unbearable stench. Then he lunged at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instinctively I raised my hands,
trying to block him. I failed to stay on my feet. Still, the demon wasn't
interested in me. He grabbed the staff and pulled it out of my hand. His jaws
closed around it until it snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A silent crimson flash enveloped the
demon. I scampered into the opposite corner, unable to get to my feet or take
my eyes away from the scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Brown goo gushed from under the
demon's armor. He whimpered and collapsed to one side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The dwarves didn't waste time. A
cleansing aura flashed in the dark, consuming it, as Gwyn used yet another one
of his abilities. Togien performed a clever combo, stripping the other demon of
30% Life, then attacked him again before he could recover from it. Another
scream echoed from the rocky walls, then it was quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I struggled to my feet, disgustedly
rubbing my clothes clean from the droplets of nasty goo that had showered
everything around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience in our group was
distributed equally. The two mobs killed by Togien (who'd also finished off the
demon that'd snapped the staff with his jaws) had brought me up to level 4. I
ignored the system messages for the time being. I had more important things to
do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You fucking nuts?" Gwyn
yelled at me, bug-eyed. "You should know better! What possessed you to
pick up the staff?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why not?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What's your resistance to
magic?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Point five percent."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So? Use your head! It's charged
with Dark energy! If you held it for a bit longer, you'd be a fucking zombie by
now!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I didn't reply. I may be an
experienced player but I hadn't been allowed the time to look into this new
game world. Besides, Gwyn wasn't exactly right. This wasn't how it had
happened. Firstly, for some unknown reason I'd managed to aggro the demon.
Secondly, it didn't look as if it could transform me. The obelisk, too, had been
buffing me with Dark energy, but it had failed to control me. Which meant I
must have had some resistance to magic — but for some reason, I couldn't see it
in my settings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Stop it," Togien said
sharply. "We'd better think how we're going to get out of here. It looks
like we're stuck, doesn't it? If there're demons in the cave, it now makes it
an instance. And I don't think we're strong enough to tackle it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"An instance!" Gwyn fumed.
"Since when? Two hours ago there was nothing here! We walked through, then
the rogues stole after us!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"An upgrade, maybe?" I
offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Possible. It doesn't help us,
anyway," Togien grumbled. I told you we should have bought a teleport
scroll, didn't I?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two were about to argue the toss
again. I had to do something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You two are dwarves," I
said. "You're second to none when it comes to mining and metalwork. Don't
you have some cunning ability that might help us get out?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien stared at me. "You're
right!" he slapped his forehead. "Well done! That's smart! The Rescue
scroll! I should have thought of it!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"The Rescue scroll? Never heard
of it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"That's because you've never
worked in the mines," Gwyn replied. "Miners get buried alive in
rockfalls an awful lot. No one wants to hack through the rock for weeks just to
get out."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Will it work? I don't have
Mining open yet."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Doesn't matter. The scroll
works for the entire group. The only problem is, we're not buried alive
yet."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien chuckled. He laid his weapon
down and reached for his pick. Then he pointed at a small crevice that branched
several feet away from the main tunnel, ending in a dead end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Try to get in as far as you
can," he said, beaming, apparently pleased as Punch with the solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gwyn and I squeezed our way deep into
the narrow opening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien took aim and puffed with a
noisy breath, then began hacking at the tunnel wall. Small rocks showered down.
A large crack ran across the wall. Part of the tunnel ceiling collapsed,
breaking into large chunks of stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Togien!" Gwyn looked
seriously worried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'm all right. Light the torch,
will you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A shaky uneven light illuminated the
small space around us. The entrance to the crevice had been blocked solid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Togien broke the seal on the scroll,
opened it and recited a short spell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The ground rumbled and shook. An invisible
force lifted me and jerked me upward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The sky was aglow with a fiery
sunset.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Peaceful countryside lay all around
us. A patrol of three level-100 guards walked unhurriedly along the mud road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> After the stuffy darkness of the tunnel, I
felt dizzy. We were sitting by the roadside, gasping. Ignoring us, the patrol
sashayed past us toward where the far-off city walls and towers peeped above
the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My Strength buff was still working
but I was completely exhausted. It must have had something to do with the fact
that this was the neuroimplant's first activation. I might not last very long
now before I collapsed with fatigue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"That's it. Let's move it,"
the hardy Togien was ready to get going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sorry guys," I said.
"I'm afraid I need to log out. Now."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Oh do you? And who's gonna
carry your bag to town?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I scrambled to my feet in the hope I
might feel better. As if! If anything, I felt worse. "Sorry. I really need
to go. Can't you do anything at all about it?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"And what are you gonna do with
your char, leave him here by the roadside?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Is there an inn in this
village?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"As a matter of fact, there
is," Togien grumbled. "Ah, fuck it. We'll hire a horse and load it
up. We'll give you an advance of five gold. The rest we'll transfer to your
account after we close the quest and sell the loot."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Fine. Thanks. You should deduct
the horse hire from my cut."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"We will, don't you worry!"
Togien swung round and strode toward the village which was only a few hundred
feet away. Gwyn and I plodded along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You shouldn't have touched that
staff, man," Gwyn misunderstood the reason for my sorry state. "The
powers of the Dark never sleep."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I could barely hear him. I'd passed
my first trial. I'd earned myself four levels and had lots of new experiences.
I'd found new friends and made new enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The only thing I wanted now was get
to the inn, rent a room and collapse onto the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i><b>Pre-order the book on Amazon</b> - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4D4PGI">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4D4PGI</a></i></span></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-43349479441188423682016-12-12T13:56:00.001+02:002016-12-12T13:56:38.729+02:00The Crystal Sphere (The Neuro Book #1) - NEW LitRPG Series!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4D4PGI" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51hGbJzmHgL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<h1>
<span lang="EN-US">Chapter One<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> thunderstorm
raged over the metropolis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The thin strip of electrostatic car
wipers was struggling under the torrents of rain pelting the windshield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My ancient Rover held the road well.
The squat outlines of deserted neighborhoods whizzed past. The disabled
autopilot flashed an anxious red light on the dashboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I loved it. The road softly flew
past. It was already dark. Flashes of lightning illuminated the urbanscape.
Earlier that day, the city had been melting in its own heat, making the
expected evening weather change all the more welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gradually, the tension began to
release me. The stuffy office, the bullying boss, even the realization of the
fact that my own life was flashing uselessly past didn't feel as oppressive any
longer. Another couple of miles, and everything would be different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I touched the communicator to
activate it and sent a voice message,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Hi Christa, I'll be online in
about twenty minutes. Don't be late. We have an instance to do, remember?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A bolt of lightning raked at the
unfinished power substation building, digging into its latticework pylons and
exploding in cascades of sparks. It looked both beautiful and spooky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Network
connection temporarily unavailable<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Only a year ago, this used to be the
asshole of the world. Now the whole area was already consumed by the advancing
metropolis. The little town I'd grown up in was already in line for demolition,
deep foundation pits gaping along both sides of the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I'd been offered several relocation
choices. I hadn't decided on any of them yet. I was playing for time. Tonight I
might know. Once we completed the quest, I'd have a serious conversation with
Christa. We'd been together for almost six months. We'd been a party, I mean,
doing a complex non-linear plot line which was impossible to complete solo. We
had twenty-four hours to do one final dungeon. And then what? Would we just
disband? Was it the time to go our own ways?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As I pondered over all of this, I
hadn't even noticed the last mile flying past. A dilapidated nine-story
building filled my headlights, its façade darkened with time. They weren't
going to tear it down quite yet. Normally, big developers have little patience
for stubborn tenants like myself — and I'd been trying their patience for a
good ten days already. All because of Christa and the quest which had a strict
deadline. Moving house really didn't fit into my immediate plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well, look for yourself. I had a nine
till five job in the office. I couldn't very easily quit, either, considering
I'd just taken out a loan to upgrade some equipment I used. Plus my bank
refused to accept Middle Earth in-game currency! They'd told me, in as many
words, that this legendary virtual world was rapidly becoming defunct, losing
users by the minute. So they'd offered me an ultimatum: either I joined Crystal
Sphere — the Infosystem Corporation's latest baby — or I'd have to use my
real-world wage as security.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I parked up by my front door. They'd
already disconnected the elevator. Never mind! I could use some exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The steel door of my apartment
creaked, as old as everything else was here. My parents' furniture and choice
of design didn't look like much, that's for sure. Still, these modest quarters
housed some of the latest cutting-edge gaming equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A U-shaped console occupied the
room's center.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Activation," I said,
heading for the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The fridge was empty but I wasn't
that interested in food at the moment. I grabbed an energy drink and used it to
neck an upper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tomorrow I might have a proper meal.
Why not? I could invite Christina to a café. A restaurant I couldn't afford,
but still we needed to meet up, have a chat and celebrate. She lived somewhere
nearby: we'd mentioned our respective providers once, discovering we used the
same company which meant we were almost neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I didn't give a damn about unwritten
real-life meeting etiquette. Both Christina and I were responsible adults. It
was probably true what they said these days about the latest technologies
steering humanity toward extinction. Meaning, all relationships were to become
virtual. I disagree entirely. My own parents had met online, and that was a
fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A familiar beep awoke me from my
musings. The system had booted up. I finished off my drink, stripped down and
changed into an elastic suit studded with emulators — a real beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Welcome to my world where a
run-of-the-mill office rat was about to transform into a level-124 warrior!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Three interlinked curved monitor
screens with a built-in holographic 3D function glowed invitingly at the center
of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I slumped into the seat and connected
my suit's optic cables to the console.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Reality faded into the background of
my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Middle Earth. Login<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At first, the virtual world appeared
on the screens as a 2D picture. Then it expanded, acquiring depth, and
enveloped me, surrounding me with high-density holograms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For a few more seconds I still could
make out the outlines of my apartment; then they too disappeared. Tactile
emulators kicked in. My hand got caught on a bramble, a thorn piercing my skin.
The quiet rustle of the apartment's environment generator was drowned out by
the whisper of leaves. Earthly forest smells wafted in my face. A beetle buzzed
past, the sound quickly dying away in the thick shadows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The immersion levels were unbelievable.
This was as far as the latest gaming technologies could possibly take you.
Science just couldn't improve on this no matter how hard they tried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was alone. Christa was late. Highly
untypical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I looked around me, taking in the
small forest glade. The entrance to the dungeon was still sealed with
shimmering magic symbols. A scared rabbit scampered past. The ferns next to a
mossy cliff swayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A mob?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well, what do you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A
Werewolf, level 105</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, the system informed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My peripheral eyesight blurred,
framed with a smudged crimson line as combat mode kicked in. The Fury points
counter quivered, gaining momentum. Fury points could only be generated in
combat in order to perform various combos. They could also be used by certain
unique creative abilities that were only available in combat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The werewolf howled and leaped out of
the shadows into the moonlight. This was a strong and sinewy veteran. His gray
hair bristled, his eyes glowed, his jaws emitted a long low growl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He wasn't much for me level-wise. He
didn't offer much XP but could do a nasty job on my armor. He had this ability
called Fire Claw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But still... better that than nothing
at all. I took cover behind my battered full-length shield which received the
first hits. It worked! My Fury bar soared to half way up! The shield's
Durability plummeted, but the mob's Energy had its limits too. He leaped back,
his flanks heaving. Now was the time to counter attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I let go of the shield which thumped
onto the rocks as I whipped out my two single-handed swords, stripping the
werewolf of half his Life, and rolled back to the safety of the mossy cliff,
picking up the shield on my way — it could still take another couple of hits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I parried again, building up my Fury
count. I could use every point of it later tonight. We were looking at a long,
hard session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With a ripping sound, the mob broke
through my defenses. His fiery claws dug deep into the rock, stripping the moss
away and leaving deep scores in the stone. I recoiled just in time, diving aside,
then moved swiftly behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By then, his Life bar was barely
glowing. I'd had a Bleed debuff cast over both my swords. After another whack
from me, he convulsed on the ground, wheezing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now I had to act double quick! I had
a dozen seconds at the most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I always kept a special sharp-edged
crystal in a quick access slot. Ripping off the glove, I laid it in my hand,
then activated my unique ability, available only to players of my class and
then only from level 100.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My Fury bar plummeted as the energy I'd
accumulated during the fight was now being channeled into the transparent
crystal. Bright red lights flickered, casting their glow over my face. The tips
of my fingers prickled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You've
received an item: Crystal of Fury<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Phew! I'd done it! All that practice
had finally brought some results. The ability had a two-hour cooldown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The precious stone I'd just created
could be used in two different ways. I could either install it into my weapon
slot or use it in combat when the going got really tough to retrieve its
energy, maxing out my Fury count.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Weapons with dedicated slots were in
fact quite rare. You needed an experienced bladesmith to make one: if you tried
to build it yourself, the result could be what you least expected — useless or
even harmful — courtesy of Lady Luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With this one, I had five Crystals of
Fury — and still I had a gut feeling I might need each and every one of them
tonight. The quest chain that Christa and I had been completing over the last
six months was obliged to culminate in the mother of all battles. With whom, I
didn't yet know. Those who'd done this dungeon before us had been remarkably
secretive about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the meantime, the werewolf stopped
convulsing. The combat mode switched off automatically. I cast a look around,
searching for any more mobs, and decided to check the monster for any loot. One
never knew, he might drop something worth my while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A familiar popping sound filled the
air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Hi, Christa. You're late,"
I picked up the werewolf's heart — a rare ingredient used in alchemy — and
turned round only to see a new system message,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Christa,
a level 128 Sorceress, has left your group!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
no longer belong to any players association.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I froze in dumb surprise, watching as
interference distorted her face. Her name tag modified, then disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was facing a strange woman. This
new avatar had nothing to do with Christa even though lots of little details of
her clothing and gear were screaming her name. Like the runic bangle on her
wrist. This was a relic item you could neither lose, sell, nor give away. These
kinds of items never parted from the player. She'd gotten the bangle off the
last dungeon boss we'd smoked. I could still remember her eyes shining with
pleasure as she'd read its stats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I pulled myself together. "What's
going on?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Just finalizing a few
things," she replied coldly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Christa, this is the final
instance! If you've decided to go solo or join a clan, be my guest, I'm not
staying in your way! But we need to close this quest!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'm not Christa. I'm not interested
in her commitments," she quipped, apparently about to log out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Wait! Can't you explain?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The sorceress turned round and looked
me over. With a sigh, she acquiesced. "I've just bought this
account."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why?" I asked
mechanically. That wasn't what I was thinking about. Christa had been
successfully leveling up for the last two years, point by grueling point. Why
would she want to sell her account? I knew how precious she was about her
online identity. Oh no: I could smell a rat from where I stood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You're not a newsy person, are
you?" she asked indifferently. "There's an action about to be
launched in Crystal Sphere. The game developers have made it possible to
transfer other fantasy game accounts there. Unfortunately, they cut your levels
down but you do get to keep all your gear, skills and abilities. As you level
up, they become available to you again. Clear enough?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She must have misunderstood my
hesitation as she added, "Look it up. I'm off now. Too many things to
do."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With another popping sound, she disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For a while, I sat by the cliff
looking up into the starry sky as I tried to digest what had just happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So the final dungeon wasn't meant to
be. Six months of gaming down the drain. Apart from the levels gained, that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Christa! Why, or why would you do
such a thing? You should have told me! Why would you sell your own account, of
all things?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I just couldn't wrap my head around
it. Only last night we'd been busy making plans for the future. Whatever could
have happened in the last twelve hours?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had no idea what to do, anger and
desperation marring my judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Couldn't she have waited another
twenty-four hours? We'd invested so much time, effort and money into doing this
particular plot line! We'd had high hopes about this final dungeon — and what
for? No, no, no. I shouldn't be thinking like that. Something must have
happened to her. Christa couldn't have done this to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then again, why not? What did I
really know about her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Still, why would she sell out?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The most logical answer would be: she
needed money really badly. A lot of it, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I stood up and looked around me.
Pointlessly I touched the slab of rock barring the entrance to the dungeon and
ran my fingers over the familiar sequence of magic symbols that opened it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
can't enter a dungeon on your own,</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> the system reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Logout<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The residual pine scent from the
environment generator still lingered in my room. The holographic screens having
switched off. Instead, the single search result filled the monitors:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Crystal
Sphere opens doors to all fantasy game characters!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We've
created a unique boundless game world which has a place for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Are
you reluctant to part with your old online identity? We're prepared to
accommodate you! Our abilities allow us to support any race or class as well as
any relevant development branches. Hurry! The Crystal Sphere knows no clans or
clan wars. You just might become the first legend of this brave new world!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Warning:
account transfers will entail a 5:1 drop in levels. But not to worry: all your
skills will be safe, waiting to be unblocked as you level up your character.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now it was starting to make sense.
That's why my bank had refused me a loan secured by Middle Earth currency: they
must have gotten wind about the upcoming merge. It looked like this Crystal
Sphere might assimilate all pre-existing game projects. At the same time, in
this clanless new world of unclaimed resources and territories, nobody needed a
steady flow of high-level players: therefore the level nip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The offer was almost too hard to
resist. You couldn't argue with that. Lots of folks out there would love to
join a new world while preserving their old avatars. Others, however, wouldn't
have minded changing their char without having to level a new one up from scratch.
For that reason, the prices on leveled-up accounts must have soared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This explained a lot. Still, I had
this anxious itch. Over these last six months, I thought I'd known Christa
well. I'd had the idea that we had more in common than just team play. Now she
was gone. She could be in trouble and still I couldn't help! How was I supposed
to find her in a city where every neighborhood had a population of over a
million?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wait a sec... there was one other
option. And I just might try it while the scent was still fresh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In my time, I too had sold a few
chars that I'd leveled in other worlds. So I knew exactly the right person to
turn to. The middleman in every such deal was obliged to record the vendor's
IP-address. I could still find her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Afraid of losing heart, I quickly
scrolled through my nanocomp contact list until I found the right one and
texted him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After five minutes, I received a
reply,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
might help. 1000 credits, by bank transfer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For me, that was a lot of money. I
still had to move house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That's right! How could I have
forgotten! Once I moved, I'd lose all trace of Christa. Then I'd never find out
whatever had happened to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Agreed.
Give me the bank account number.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What made me do it, might you ask?
There's no clear-cut answer to that. It's just that I sensed this void in my
heart that was filled with anxiety for want of a better feeling. That's exactly
what happens when you don't know what to do — you just don't seem to be able to
think of any positive scenarios, brooding over all sorts of horror stories
instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was already two in the morning
when I stopped by the doors of a capsule apartment located on Floor 207 of a
supertower. That's exactly the kind of automated dwelling I'd be looking at
myself very soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No idea what I'd been thinking of.
I'd bought a pizza on my way and pulled my Dad's old baseball cap over my eyes,
deciding to pretend I was a delivery guy who'd got the wrong door. This was the
best thing I could come up with. You could call me a small-town guy, I suppose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Only when I touched the front door
sensor, did I remember that all supertower deliveries were done by pneumatic
capsules.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Who's there?" a quiet
voice asked, quivering. Was she crying?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Pizza delivery," I
managed. "Did you order?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"No, I didn't," the
intercom sobbed. "Go away."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I've got your address in the
book."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Okay, then," the door slid
soundlessly aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I stepped into a small room typical
of those new transformable dwellings of today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Christa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My heart clenched. She sat in a deep
soft chair at a console identical to mine. Her tear-streaked face was pale and
drawn. The bank of monitors still showed the familiar clearing next to the
dungeon entrance, complete with the dead werewolf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Just leave it there on the
table-" she halted. "Alex? Why are you here? I've done everything to
avoid exactly this! Aren't you mad at me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why did you sell your
account?" I demanded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I didn't want us to meet in
real life," she wiped her tears. "I could see it coming. I didn't
want to explain. So now, please, forgive me and just go! Can't you see you're
hurting me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What the hell's going on?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I've got ANM," tears
poured down her cheeks. "So please just leave me. Do you want me to call
the police?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I don't think so," I laid
the wretched pizza onto the table and stepped toward her. "We need to
talk. You really think I'm gonna leave you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I left the police station about half
past three in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I stopped on the sidewalk, my
breathing deep and uneven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The ANM. The virus which had infested
every city five years ago. None had been able to explain the nature of its
genetic mutation. There was no proven cure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How long a sufferer would live
depended on lots of things. Many had managed to get back to their feet and even
lead a normal life. Christa's body, however, had proven not as strong. She was
fading away — and she knew it, too. For her, virtual reality had become her
last refuge, the only way to escape the horror of her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I walked to the car I'd left nearby.
Why hadn't she told me anything? That way I wouldn't have insisted on meeting
her in real life. We could have switched to the Crystal Sphere together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Too late. Christa had second-guessed
my intentions and done everything to antagonize me, unwilling to hurt either of
us. She must have thought I'd be angry enough with her to simply forget her
once and for all after this dungeon incident. She probably thought I'd be so
mad I'd never want to see her again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I got in the car. I wasn't in the
best of moods. The storm had long ended. The traffic was non-existent at this
early hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had to go home and give it a good
think. I didn't give a shit about my having been cautioned by the police. I
wasn’t going to leave Christa alone — even though I had very little idea how I
could possibly help her. We might not even be able to play like we used to
before. She wouldn't be able to. She'd know that I knew. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I put my foot down, trying to release
the pressure, the gray ribbon of the tarmac passing beneath the wheels. The
disabled auto pilot kept flashing its little red light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finally, the intersection. I took the
first right turn into a spiraling slipway, then straight on again, this time
heading for my own home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tufts of mist drifted over the
highway. The terrain to its both sides was free from its usual concrete shell,
the earth of the freshly-dug foundation pits oozing moisture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I would think of something. I knew I
would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The piercing warning of the proximity
gauge made me jump. A giant construction robot was slowly emerging onto the
highway. Mechanically I wrenched on the steering wheel. The Rover's bumper
exploded in a cascade of plastic fragments as it rammed a flimsy construction
site barrier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The gray misty dawn span before my
eyes as earth and sky swapped places. My chest and stomach went cold. Finally,
the airbags kicked in. A crushing blow and the screeching of the car's
crumpling bodywork... then darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They were taking me somewhere on a
gurney.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Through the pain and haze of the
heavy medication I could hear voices; I even managed to understand what they
were saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"He's one lucky
motherfucker."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sure. Did you see the height of
that pit? It's a miracle he survived at all."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I saw his car. It was on the
news. A ball of steel. It took the rescue team an hour to cut him free."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I couldn't feel my body — neither my legs
nor my arms. I must be in a really bad way. The pain in my chest kept coming
back despite all the medication they kept pumping into me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A blinding light assaulted my eyes.
The air smelled of antiseptics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Right, let's move him. On the
count of three. One... two..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Darkness came back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This time it didn't hurt, as if
they'd separated my mind from my body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Voices resonated in the background. A
man and a woman. I couldn't help trying to work out what they were saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You think you could bring him
round for a short while?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why?" the woman's voice
rang with contempt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'd like to speak to him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You can't. It's too dangerous.
He's too weak after all the surgery. And he needs to survive a lot more of
them."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Who's paying for his
treatment?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What do you mean, who? The
insurance."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"They have a certain limit,
don't they?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"They do," she admitted
reluctantly. "They pay for the intensive care and minimal aftercare. His
bank has already contacted us. It's complicated."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You call this humane? You drag
this guy back from the dead, pump him full of drugs and patch him up — all this
just to throw him back out onto the street?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Well, I'm sorry! In case you
didn't notice, we're still fighting for his life. The rest, at the moment, is
academic."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It's not. We all know what's
gonna happen. He'll leave your charitable institution a cripple, only to spend
a few more years in his own personal hell!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What are you implying? Speak
up! I agreed to speak to you but I'm afraid both my time and my patience are
limited."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'd like you to bring him
round. I need him to be able to make conscious decisions."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Absolutely not. In any case,
what do you care? You're just some corporation making computer games!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"That's exactly what I need to
talk about. Not with you — with him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Life had lost its meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Darkness kept swallowing me, time
after time. I'd resurface only to taste pain and return, submerging deep into
my black stupor. So it lasted until the blinding light came on again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Good. There are reflexes. The
medication is working. He's coming round."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How much time do I have?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Ten minutes. Possibly, more. It
depends."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Thanks. Could you please leave
us alone for a bit?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"No, but-"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Please. I insist. Don't make me
pull any more strings."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I hope not. That's the only
thing you seem to know how to do!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The door slammed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I heard the sound of steel chair legs
being dragged across the tiled floor. Someone set it by my bed, then slumped
into it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Whoever he was, his aftershave left a
lot to be desired. Gradually, his outline loomed through the blur surrounding
me. I could only make out a lab coat draped over the man's casual clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Nice to meet you, Alex. I'm Sergei
Borisov. I'm here representing Infosystem Corporation. As your doctor has told
me, we don't have much time. I suggest we move directly to business. Do you
remember what happened to you? The accident?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why?" I croaked. "Is
it so bad?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Not at all!" he said
cheerfully. For some reason, his faked optimism made my pain subside. I
prepared to hear him out. I could use a ray of hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"We could pick up your medical
bills."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What's the catch? Spit it
out."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"If you wish. Would you like to
know the real state of your affairs?" he avoided the direct answer,
apparently wanting to pump up the gloom first. "You have multiple spinal
damage, not to mention all the other fractures and injuries you suffered."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I began drifting away again. A
machine at the head of the intensive care capsule beeped an anxious warning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I waited, but no medical staff came
running. Apparently, the man's string-pulling techniques were strong enough to
make sure no one disrupted our conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The machine beeped again. My head
began to clear, a new bumper dose of medication preventing me from fainting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alex, you shouldn't worry so.
It's in your own interests to stay lucid until this conversation is over."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What's the catch?" I
repeated, barely moving my lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"We possess a whole bunch of
unique new technologies. We might use them to help you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sorry... I don't see what games
have got to do with medicine... even cutting-edge ones..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ignoring my skepticism, he reached
into his breast pocket, producing a tiny microchip sealed in plastic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What... is it?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"This is the future of gaming.
The neuroimplant. It's comprised of artificial neuronets. Once you're plugged
into it, you won't need all those holographic screens, scent generators,
tactile sensors... This tiny little thing processes all game events, uploading
the result directly into the player's brain. Can't you see? This device
provides full immersion into cyberspace. It would allow us to live there just
as we do here, experiencing the whole range of sensations — even those unknown
to human beings!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Holy shit. And I used to consider my
home system the latest technological breakthrough!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"They're yet to be tested on
human beings," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sorry... this is
revolutionary.... the mind boggles... but I can't see what it's got to do
with-"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He must have come prepared. My
question didn't throw him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"When offered the opportunity of
full immersion into cyberspace, a lot of people might want to stay there,"
he explained matter-of-factly. "Which brings us to the question: what
about life support? No, I don't need you to reply to that one. Just listen to
me. The neuroimplant is only a fraction of the entire body of our new
technologies. You can't advance the gaming industry by only employing one
particular branch of human knowledge. Our work calls for all sorts of
cross-disciplinary projects. As an example, we also work with Space Forces who
supply us with life support systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I already knew what he was driving
at. Still, I couldn't help asking, "Why me? Millions of gamers will be
lining up by your offices as soon as they get wind of this device," my
gaze alighted on the microchip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"They're not right for us, I'm
afraid."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why not?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"The risks are too great. As
I've already told you, the neuroimplant processes every in-game experience
whether it's a whiff of a breeze or a mortal wound. The device is yet to be
standardized, and to do that, we need feedback from subjects. Apart from all
sorts of risky scenarios, games are full of intricate details which at the
moment are a complete mystery to us. Do you have any idea what a wizard feels
when controlling the elements?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"No."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Neither do we. Will he
experience a tickle in his belly or will he drop dead on the spot? You can see
I'm not holding anything back from you. We can't enroll regular game users in
our tests. Not even if they volunteer. A volunteer's death or his suffering
serious mental damage are bound to become public knowledge. You, however, are
perfect volunteer material. Sorry about being so blunt."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why perfect? Is it because I'm
about to die without next of kin?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Exactly."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So what would I have to
do?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Just play."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Playing is brainwork. What
about the rest of me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I can't go into details quite
yet but let me assure you we'll provide you with the best treatment available.
It's actually based on the technologies developed for deep space travel."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Another experiment?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He nodded. "Our researchers
estimate your body's full recovery period at two years. I'll have to warn you
though that some of your organs and even body parts might need to be replaced
with biocybernetic prosthetics."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So what's gonna happen if I
survive all that?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You'll be able to enjoy life
again."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What, as a cyborg?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You shouldn't worry about that.
Only a very limited number of people will know about your modifications.
There're lots of people around who have a heart implant or a hearing aid — but
no one calls them cyborgs! Also, all the surgery will be performed in the
so-called background mode. You won't feel a thing, simply because your
neuroimplant will be streaming totally different experiences into your brain.
Please, don't say no! In your situation this is a very suitable and generous
proposition."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I understand that. I have a
request though."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He raised an eyebrow and leaned
slightly forward, apparently surprised by my brazenness. "Speak up."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"How many vacancies do you
have?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He paused. "Twenty."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I know a person that might suit
your requirements," I said, then clued him in on Christa's situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You understand, don't
you," he said, "that these kinds of decisions are outside my remit.
The main selection criterion is the candidate's willingness to volunteer. He or
she should understand the risks involved and accept any potential
consequences."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I know. She has nothing to
lose."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"We're talking about <i>your</i> life now."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'd like you to talk to
her," I repeated doggedly. "You'll find her address in my
nanocomp."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Don't be so childish!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'm not. Try her. She's a
perfect candidate."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No good deed goes unpunished. I
didn't yet know how true — albeit cruel — this adage was. But I was about to
learn very quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Are you sure? Aren’t you afraid
of losing your opportunity?" he glanced at the door as if knowing there
was someone patiently hovering behind it, waiting for us to finish this
conversation. He leaned over me and mouthed under his breath, "The mere
mention of the neuroimplant might put the life of an innocent person in danger.
What if she refuses to cooperate? You understand, don't you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I weakly shrugged. The medication was
wearing off. My lips felt cold. The pain was flooding back. In my situation, it
was way too easy to start clutching at straws. Vulnerable is gullible. The
whole thing just had to be much more serious and dangerous than the rosy
picture he'd just presented me with. It had to be — otherwise the Corporation
wouldn't have sent its agents out to scour through every Casualty unit in the
city. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Did I even have a choice, anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Where's the dotted line?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He promptly shoved a tablet into my
hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: RU;">As I
plunged back into the quagmire of agony, I pressed my finger to the biometric
scanner window, confirming my decision.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: RU;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><i><b>Support the author, pre-order the book on Amazon - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4D4PGI">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4D4PGI</a></b></i></span></span></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-42812050024700586722016-11-28T20:28:00.001+02:002016-11-28T20:28:10.159+02:00LitRPG book is released today!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8JW7DQ" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XJCNYqRqL.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
A new book of the Way of the Shaman, a LitRPG series by V. Mahanenko, has just gone live on Kindle! Buy The Phantom Castle (The Way of the Shaman Book #4) here:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=ru&q=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8JW7DQ&source=gmail&ust=1480443823594000&usg=AFQjCNGDfOwzAL_99hxnTVa9ftjMxRyl_Q" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8JW7DQ" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/<wbr></wbr>B01M8JW7DQ</a></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-28237686537926510092016-11-16T15:58:00.000+02:002016-11-16T15:58:31.966+02:00You're in Game! LitRPG Stories from Bestselling Authors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRKQKVN" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51-YaMNyJ0L.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
A new LitRPG title is available for preorder on Amazon Kindle! You're In Game is a collection of novellas and short stories by bestselling LitRPG authors V. Mahanenko, A. Osadchuk, A. Livadny, M. Atamanov, P. Kornev and A. Novak. They've teamed up together to write this anthology for their readers, set in their signature game worlds.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
To view and preorder You're In Game, click here: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=ru&q=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRKQKVN&source=gmail&ust=1479388156536000&usg=AFQjCNEQ4ok4CFzRw6j4rtl4VVRGln1d-Q" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRKQKVN" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/<wbr></wbr>B01MRKQKVN</a></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-32250139685301481502016-11-10T18:43:00.005+02:002016-11-10T18:43:56.095+02:00New LitRPG series from Vasily Mahanenko!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXIZK80" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Jmv6HLF8L.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Dark Paladin, a new LitRPG series from the author of The Way of the Shaman Vasily Mahanenko, is available for preorder on Amazon! Check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXIZK80" target="_blank">The Beginning (Dark Paladin Book #1)</a> on Kindle.</span></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-76903635866948388172016-10-28T09:17:00.005+02:002016-10-28T09:17:58.894+02:00Chapter 3 Video Game Plotline Tester (The Dark Herbalist: Book 1 new LitRPG series)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It's
your call, big-ears. Should we stay together, or split up?"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9F1AM7" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61t0LK7OpEL.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My
sister continued playing up our original conceit, putting on a show for
potential observers that we "didn't know one another and met
coincidentally." Good girl. She was acting out the role admirably. For a
fourteen-year-old girl, it was just a perfect job. I agreed with her:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Together
good. We two be together night, no die," I answered the Forest Nymph and
the girl's face lit up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Great!
Because I, to be honest, am afraid of the dark. I know it's stupid, all the more
so in a computer game, but there's nothing I can do. Now is the exact time to
determine how we can best complement one another. I'll take Cartography as a
primary skill..." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Plant!
The way I felt at that moment was probably exactly how a casino patron feels
after winning a jackpot. I forgot about everything on earth and threw myself at
an inconspicuous bush with wide, lobed leaves and underripe greenish-red
berries. My Herbalism skill finally activated, leveling my Perception up to
five, and Agility to twelve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Unlike
the other bushes and trees nearby, this plant lit up green when I got near,
indicating that it was possible to interact with. I ripped down a handful of
the underripe berries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Swamp Currant (alchemy ingredient) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 4 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My
Herbalism bar filled up by ten percent. Cool! Another ten bunches of berries
and it’ll be level two! But right after I ripped down one bunch, the bush
stopped glowing. I couldn't take any of the other berries from it. I had to
look for other usable plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Big-ears,
you need to stay on task!" My sister chided me, unhappy with the fact that
I had gotten distracted by a berry bush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But
I didn't think myself guilty and tried to explain my actions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Plant,
me getting-getting. Sight jump on up. Good for look nighttime. Nine herb
finding. See all, good."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My
visual radius really did grow noticeably as my Perception increased to five,
which also raised our chances of surviving the night in this forest, which was
swarming with dangerous beasts. So raising my Herbalism skill to level two and
as a result increasing my Perception and visual radius had become a priority
mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite
the confusing nature of my explanation, Valerianna understood me perfectly: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alright,
Amra. Gather your herbs and level up Perception. It's helpful to us both. I
took Cartography as a primary skill. That's another one that levels
Intelligence. It also gives more light radius on the map, and could end up
allowing us to discover many useful locations. But we need to worry about more
than just seeing far; we also need to make sure no predators see us. That's why
I'm taking Stealth as a secondary skill. On top of my racial bonus as a Nymph
of 50% to discovery radius, that should be no problem. You also chose Stealth,
I realized that as soon as we met. And also, your Agility will be higher than
mine, so I'm not too worried about you. Just turn off the bright colors when
you level up in the game settings. After all what's the point of us being
invisible, if at the worst possible moment, you level up some skill and light
up like a firework?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was a very practical piece of advice. I called up the game settings menu and
chose the visual effect window, then turned all the colorful illumination off.
Of course, all these multi-colored little glowing lights looked pretty, but
they were really inappropriate for a forest at night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Beyond
that, I hadn't forgotten about another tool useful to my survival: the Night
Vision skill I had gotten when I became a level 2 Vampire. I didn't say it out
loud, but activated it when it got dark, which cost 15 Endurance points. The
world became more contrasting in color, and I could clearly make out a bright
silhouette far in the distance, which must have been some kind of forest
creature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Me
seeing enemy. There. Skull mark," I whispered to the Nymph, and she
commented just as quietly:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"If
there is a red skull marker over a beast, that means the difference in levels
is more than twenty, so we'd better stay away. And if the skull is black, the
difference is more than fifty levels, so we’d be goners for sure."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
skull was red. It could have been worse, but still we walked a wide arc around
the enemy. As we walked, I watched with unhidden surprise how quickly my
Stealth skill bar was filling up. I just needed a few more meager points for
the skill to hit level three. I even wanted to stay there intentionally and
wait a few minutes, but my sister dragged me forward:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I
assure you, Amra, that is not the only monster in this forest. And if we have
to walk a big circle around every one, we'll never get anywhere. In just one
minute, according to the rules of <i>Boundless
Realm</i>, night will fall, so there will be even more dangerous beasts
about."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
looked at the timer. There were a few seconds remaining before nine in the
evening. Not long after that, a few messages jumped up on my screen:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Night
is not a good time for walks outside the city.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
received: Survive the night outside of city walls <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
class: One-time, personal <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Reward:
160 Exp, +2 stat points<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Additional
mission received: Find safe shelter <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
class: Optional <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Reward:
80 Exp, one random piece of equipment<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Based
on the fact that my sister was also frozen, she had just gotten the same
messages. The Nymph turned to me and whispered:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"If
I can complete both missions I'll get exactly enough experience to reach level
five. But now, not a word. We'll walk the rest of the night in Stealth mode
without talking. Most nocturnal predators don't need to see you to find you.
They hunt with their ears." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*
* *<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THE CREATORS </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of
<i>Boundless Realm</i> had managed to
recreate the atmosphere of a spooky, deadly swamp forest perfectly. The howling
and roaring of predators could be heard from all directions. Sometimes we would
hear something hooting above us and laughing evilly, every time making my heart
freeze in fear. Several times, on the very edge of my vision, I noticed some
ghastly silhouettes scurrying by. Every one of them had a red skull over their
head. My sister and I were constantly forced to change the direction we were
walking or hide among the gnarled roots of ancient trees, waiting out some
nearby danger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
were monsters everywhere. Only by some kind of miracle were we able to remain
unnoticed. Freezing in fear, we were terrified of giving ourselves away with
our footsteps, breathing or just heartbeats. Once, when Valerianna stepped on a
dry branch and it snapped, I practically pissed myself in a very real sense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But
at that, I was clever enough to gather some plants on our journey: Swamp
Currant, Swamp Blackberry, and Swamp Horsetail. When I had gotten Herbalism to
level two, the variety of valuable herbs and berries I found immediately grew
as well. By level three, Bitter Lily-of-the-Valley, Wild Heather, Bitter
Wormwood and Wild Clover had all become old hat. I was elated to have found a
bag, otherwise I wouldn't have had enough slots in my inventory to store all
these different herbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
a certain point, the Forest Nymph carefully touched my shoulder and pointed in
the direction of a far-away looming black splotch. Danger? It turned out to be
the opposite. My sister was insisting that we turn in the direction of whatever
that was. Soon, I could also see why she was interested. On the local map,
there was a marker showing three interlocking gray rings. As the interactive
hint told us, that symbol stood for a respawn point. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then,
hiding behind a shaggy lichen-covered tree, we hid from an overgrown wolf the
size of a fatted calf that ran across our path. After that, we rushed to the
marker on the map. And also from afar, I felt the earth below our feet start to
tremble. In that place, I could feel some kind of natural force. The center of
the anomaly was a huge boulder dug into the earth on top of a small hill. The
boulder was covered with worn-down carved runes in a language I didn’t
recognize. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"We
can talk here no problem," my sister assured me. "NPC's don't come
near respawn points. The game mechanics don't allow it. That is why the only
people you need to worry about in these places are living players. Scoundrels
commonly use a method where they provoke their victim to aggression or tempt
them to steal, thus making that person get the Criminal marker. After that,
they can kill them unpunished and wait at the same respawn point, killing them
again and again, getting experience and dropped items as they do so. But you're
not like that, are you Amra? Can I leave the game here? It's safe here, so I'll
survive the night. Of course, I'd like to finish the side quest, but my eyes
are starting to sag."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Nymph
sleeping. Amra no is evil. No bad Goblin," I assured Valerianna, though I
did get slightly upset that my sister had temporarily left me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">From
her perspective, I could easily understand </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">– </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">it was already after midnight, and the
fourteen-year-old girl really should have been sleeping some time ago.
Normally, I put her to bed at nine or ten, so today she had surpassed her
average activity level by a good deal. The little Nymph took a seat on an
outcropping of warm stone and closed her eyes. I called out to her, but no reaction
followed. My sister had signed off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
should I do, then? Should I also just be happy to have finished the primary
mission and go to sleep? There was an internal voice telling me that option was
obviously mistaken, and would not make my employer happy. What kind of game
tester was I, if I was satisfied with the slightest bit of play, and would now
sit stupidly in one place for a few hours? Also, I only needed seventeen
experience points to reach level four, and I could easily get that by gathering
forest plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And,
if you thought about it, where would I go in the real world when I crawled out
of the virtual reality capsule? It was the middle of the night outside. The
metro and trolley-buses weren't running, and I wouldn't be able to convince a
cabbie to bring me to the crime-ridden outskirts of the megalopolis. Even the
police tried not to go there at night. That meant it was decided. I would
continue to play alone, even though it was twice as dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Do you really want to change your respawn point?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yes,
of course. I definitely didn't want to start the game over from that far-off
Orcish galley, if I did get eaten by some monster. I sighed and walked off
decisively into the dark night. And three minutes later, I had already found a
fairly well trodden path. On my map, it was shown as a thin red line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If
there was a road, that meant there must have also been someone walking on it,
cutting vegetation and keeping it in order. But where should I go, right or
left? For some reason, I couldn't make up my mind. Both ways led into the
dense, deadly forest. Should I flip a coin to let fate herself make the
decision? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
took a heptagonal silver coin from my inventory with a round hole in the
middle, which was to allow you to wear it as a necklace. So then, if the coin
fell with the carved forest tower up, I'd go right. If it fell with the... what
was that, anyway? The coin was old and worn and the drawing could barely be
made out. It was probably a dragon, or maybe it was an octopus. It didn't
matter. If that weird creature fell up, I'd go left. I threw the coin and
caught it gracefully in the air. I unclenched my fingers. The up-side was
showing the dragon or octopus creature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
that moment, I noticed that the interactive map was showing a red marker
suspiciously close to me. Too close. There was a monster next to me. I turned
in fear and, a step from me, saw an overgrown wolf looking like the one my
sister and I had hidden from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Seasoned Forest Wolf, level 27 <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
red skull over the forest predator's head confirmed that the difference between
us made up more than twenty levels. Epic fail. That's what I got for walking
around without my sister. At least the respawn point was very close. There was
absolutely no reason to run. Even less to fight... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Successful check for Seasoned Forest Wolf reaction <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 20 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
wolf's marker on the map unexpectedly changed from red to yellow. I suspect
that was my Goblin racial bonus of +30 to reaction of all forest and swamp
beasts. But I never imagined that would actually come in handy. For some
reason, the Seasoned Wolf didn't walk away, instead looking at me in curiosity
and sniffing. What did it want from me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
unbuttoned my side bag and took out some Rat meat. It's gnashing teeth
practically ripped my fingers off. I even winced for a few seconds. The wolf
swallowed the food, slightly waved its tail just like a dog, and began staring
at me again with its unblinking yellow eyes. I dismissed the suggestion to take
Animal Empathy (Ch I) as a secondary skill, then fed the wolf the remaining two
pieces of Rat meat I had on me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"That
all. Food no," I told the predator and showed my empty hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
wolf sniffed around me incredulously, and even stuck his impudent snout into my
bag to make sure he wasn't being tricked. And only after that did the toothy
predator turn away from me and retreat. The animal's marker on the map acquired
a green color. Friendship. Well, alright...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Wait!
Goblin house live where?" I asked aloud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
thought that an animal might understand my speech seemed nonsensical. On the
other hand, it was no worse than my idea to gnaw off my own thumb, which had
actually worked. The wolf turned to me, looked for a long time with an
unblinking gaze, then unexpectedly lay down on its belly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">SYSTEM
ERROR! You cannot change class from Herbalist to Wolf Rider<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like to choose Animal Riding (A Ch) as a
secondary skill?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
refused the tempting suggestion, then climbed up on the animal's back. The wolf
stood just then and got scared, hiding in the bushes. I had to jump up so the
branches wouldn't scratch my face. On the map, a whole group of red markers
showed up, indicating hostile creatures. And we were going, as it were, right
in their direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Successful check for Seasoned Forest Wolf reaction <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 20 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Successful check for Seasoned Forest Wolf (female)
reaction <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 16 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Successful check for Seasoned Forest Wolf reaction <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 20 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level
four!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial
ability unlocked: Search for life (lasts 3 hours, discovery radius: Perception
* 2m, uses 20 EP)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
didn't manage to come to from the cascade of messages before the Seasoned Wolf
took off at full speed, crossed a shallow stream and unexpectedly stopped
before some kind of long, dark barricade. I looked more carefully at the object
and recognized it as a stockade fence three times my height, thickly
crisscrossed with thorny ivy and made of weathered beams driven into the earth.
It was a well-made fence. Its creators must have spared nothing in its construction.
The wolf lowered down on its belly, showing with all its appearance that the
ride was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
had barely jumped onto the earth before the predator silently disappeared into
the forest, leaving me alone with the stockade. I walked the perimeter of the
fence, cursing out an oath from the thick bushes. Everything was overgrown with
the horrible ivy, its flexible vines covered with sharp thorns ten centimeters
in length. Soon, I hit on the wooden gates. One side was ripped from the hinges
and was lying on the ground, while another was coming off and just barely still
standing. But both of them had deep grooves from the claws of some kind of
gigantic predator in them. The fissures in the wood had grown dark with time.
No matter what had happened here, it had happened quite a long time ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
walked carefully inside the barricade and saw a high dark blockhouse. Long ago,
when the builders had made it, they had used beams of approximately a whole
meter in diameter. I do not know what race this construction was made for, but
it was more like a fortress than a simple residence. Its walls were incredibly
thick, and it had very narrow arrowslit windows, that even a cat wouldn't be
able to crawl through. And though the door of the building was sitting
cordially open, I didn't rush inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First,
I called up my Life Detection ability and walked a circle around the wooden
opening. It was all clean. I couldn't detect the presence of any creatures
inside. Only then did I get up on the porch and enter the building. Once inside,
I saw a heavy beam that locked the door. I placed it in its slot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
completed: Find safe shelter <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience
received: 80 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was a dark room. The only source of light was the narrow arrowslits. It had a
small entryway, a stairway to the second floor and a neighboring room, which
must have been a kitchen based on the massive table and fireplace made of
cement-bound stones. I got up to the second floor, scraping my way up the high
steps as I went. The sleeping room was clearly here. There was a huge bedroll
made of old, stinking animal pelts, a stool, a small table and an empty box.
And in the very middle of the room, there was a huge dark spot, dirty fragments
of clothing and a great many old, picked-clean bones. I squirmed in horror and
disgust. Based on what I could see, the previous owner of this building had
been eaten in this very location, and the high stockade and thick gates had
done nothing to save him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Near
the site of the bloody drama, next to the pelt bed, there was a pair of leather
boots that looked about size thirty standing totally untouched. If I wanted to,
I could have crawled into one with both legs, and it would have come up
approximately to my belt. Based on that, this was the "random piece of
equipment," I had been promised for finishing the quest. Yes, game
developers knew how to joke, they just had a very particular sense of humor...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
my eyes there appeared a yellow, semi-transparent image: a plate overlaid with
a crossed fork and spoon. Based on that, my big-eared Goblin was getting
hungry. I opened a page of more detailed information on my character. The
hunger bar had fallen below twenty-five percent. The hint told me that I had
just six hours left before I would suffer a penalty. But much worse was that,
together with the hunger, I was now threatened by Thirst for Blood. My Sating
the Thirst bar was only at 5/15, which threatened lots of problems five hours
down the line. And though I could overcome normal hunger by eating the berries
I'd gathered during the night, I had no desire whatsoever to turn into a
Vampire who'd lost his mind from Thirst for Blood, unable to control his
behavior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So
I made myself a mission. I had to eat before dawn, and it had to be meat and
raw at that. That meant I had to go on a night hunt. But who could I kill if
there were all these monsters of a much higher level than me walking around?
And also, if I approached the problem from a simply technical perspective, how
could I handle it? Certainly not with this pitiful kitchen knife, right? I
needed another weapon, and it had to do damage that depended on my main stat,
Agility. Bow, for example. But the Bow skill used both hands, and my left hand
was still injured and wouldn't be able to hold a weapon for another day and a
half. I needed a one-handed weapon with Agility. There just had to be something
like that! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finding
such information while inside the <i>Boundless
Realm</i> world was very difficult, so I called up the game menu and pressed
the button "Leave the Game." I opened the virtual reality capsule and
crawled out, taking off my helmet and suit immediately. Sitting in just my
skivvies on a chair, I took out my smartphone and, before anything else, called
my sister, wanting to tell her about finding shelter. Valeria answered, but it
took her some time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Timur, it's one in the morning. I've been asleep
for a while. What do you want?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
told her about the blockhouse I'd found where she could finish the optional
quest and told her what direction it was in, but I didn't hear any enthusiasm
in my sister's voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"One hundred exp is not worth sacrificing my
sleep and risking the experience I've already gotten. Without you, I'll be
totally blind in the dark. I'll be eaten by wolves or something else, so I not
only won't finish the side mission, I'll also fail the main one. But I’ll set
my alarm for five in the morning, when it starts to get light again. If the
nastier creatures are sleeping by that point, I'll come before sunup to your
house and finish the side mission. Just make sure to send me a personal message
about it in the game, otherwise there might be questions about how I was able
to get the information about the shelter. Also, when are you coming home?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
answered that I would be coming back no earlier than morning when municipal
public transportation started running again, then hung up. After that, I went
into the <i>Boundless Realm</i> forum and
set about carefully studying the advice of authoritative players on weapon
choice. There were in fact a good number of one-handed weapons with the main stat
Agility in the game: One-handed Crossbows, Throwing Knives, Darts, all kinds of
thrown pointed weapons, Bolases and a lot of other things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
was most interested in the Blowgun, which allowed you to shoot needles and
thorns. The guide informed me that I could also use various kinds of poisons on
the thorns, which would be able to cause various negative effects to my
victims: loss of orientation, stat reductions and even paralysis. Blowguns used
the Exotic Weapon (A P) skill, and training in it allowed you to also use
Lassos and Throwing Nets, though they were weapons that required using both
hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A
great option for me! That was that. I had more than enough thorns near my
shelter on the ivy that wrapped around my stockade. And Horsetail, which had a
hollow stem, as far as I'd seen, grew abundantly along the banks of the swamp.
Not wasting time, I crawled back into the virtual reality capsule and headed
off to get ready. I found a nearly meter-long tube and cut it right away. I
cleaned it with a thin branch and was very satisfied with the result:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hand-made blowgun (weapon)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was harder to gather thorns. They were too hard to take off the ivy branches. I
had to work for a long time with the knife before getting twenty spines to fill
one slot of my inventory. I returned to the building, cut a few small
fur-covered skin pieces from one of the old pelts and drove each one through
with a long needle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hand-made blowgun ammunition, damage done
(1-3)*Agility</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
then finally, in my first test, I blew sharply and a thorn embedded itself deep
into the wood wall of the building with a dull thump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like to choose Exotic Weapon (L P) as a
secondary skill?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would
I?! That was all. I'd taken the last of the possible skills, then only at level
ten could I add anything new to my character's abilities. I trained by shooting
at targets I scratched into the wall, and was left very satisfied with the
result. Finally, I had an appropriate weapon for my big-eared Goblin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of
the stat points I'd received at level four, other than those that went by
default into Strength and Constitution, I placed one into Intelligence, Agility
and Perception. The detailed character information showed that where I was, at
level one Exotic Weapons skill, considering the modifiers from Agility (now
14.15) and Taste for Blood (1.02), I was capable of dealing from 28 to 57 HP of
damage. I was simply a horror of the night! Beware of me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was already past three in the morning, so I didn't try to use the remaining
time before sunup to prepare a powerful poison or anything. I understood that
without a recipe, without the necessary equipment and without leveling up
Alchemy a good deal, that wasn't very likely. I had to press on with normal,
totally poison-free thorns for my weapon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*
* *<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">IT WAS JUST </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">a
Duck. A normal Duck, all gray with little splotches of color. It wasn't even
the size of a large turkey. The bird was sleeping on an island in the middle of
the swamp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level 11 Swamp Duck<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
words were red, meaning that the Duck was quite a fearsome enemy. Though on the
other hand, it was the first time I had ever seen anything in this area without
the skull symbol. Based on that, the level-eleven Duck was one of the weakest
inhabitants of the whole region. Not counting me, of course. I was lying in the
bushes near the water, seven meters from my potential victim and couldn't make
up my mind to attack. The tempting idea to come closer and kill the Duck with a
Vampire Bite had to be thrown out. Right next to the shore, there was a
squelching thick muck that I would never be able to walk through unnoticed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stealth
Skill increased to level 6!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
seeing the pleasant message, I decided to go on the attack. I raised my weapon
very slowly, aimed and gave a firm blow! The thorn went straight into the Duck's
neck, right where I was aiming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 31 (Missile damage 48 - armor 17)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Duck's health bar went down by a slightly noticeable amount, just seven or
eight percent. Jesus! It had more life than three Trong Divers! Now I'd stepped
in it! The bird woke up and turned unflinchingly in my direction, flapping its
wings loudly, quacking and basically expressing the strongest disapproval of
its rude awakening. I jumped to my feet and reloaded the tube with another
thorn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 12 (Missile damage 29 - armor 17)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No
luck. I got almost the minimum possible damage. In reply, the Duck went silent,
made a strange swallowing motion and, spit at me! I barely managed to jump
away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Acrobatics
skill increased to level 2!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In
the place I was standing, the pebbles by the shore gave off an eerie hiss and
were dissolved in acid. Hey, no fair! Was this really a Duck, or an alien from
a horror movie?! The next two shots missed. The bird sharply tore off upward
and set about spinning circles above me with an uncanny quacking, periodically
spitting its acid down from above. I couldn't hit the tiny far-off spot, so I
decided not to waste the ammo. On the plus side, it also took no effort on my
part to jump away from the Duck's spit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dodge
Skill increased to level 5!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Great!
Perfect timing! I was happy with the growth of the useful skill all on its own.
The parallel increase in Agility, which also brought with it increased damage
taking and aiming ability, was even better. After making an allowance for my
target being in motion, I tried to shoot again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Critical damage dealt: 126 (Missile damage 63*2 -
armor ignored)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exotic
Weapons skill increased to level 2!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
thorn hit the Duck right in the eye. My enemy's life bar sagged down by half,
and also the bird was blinded in the left eye. The Duck did a few awkward
somersaults in midair, then spit a few times at God-knows-what, apparently
having lost me from view. But after that, it discovered me again, changed
tactics and decided to come in for close combat. I flipped away, dodging the
pecks it was aiming straight at me. I shot it on its way back up, but missed.
And again, in a kite-like motion, the Swamp Duck turned around and dived
straight at me. But this time, I was expecting it:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 42 (Missile damage 59 - armor 17)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
that, I had to contort myself away again to get away from the hit. After taking
a shot to the chest, the bird was unable to change its flight trajectory and
crashed into the dry swamp-shore pebbles. While the Duck was on the ground, I
attacked it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <i>Damage
dealt: 30 (Missile damage 47 - armor 17)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
bird, flapping its wings and scrambling with its feet, threw itself at me, but
I dodged toward its blind left eye. The Duck stopped, having lost sight of me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 51 (Missile damage 68 - armor 17)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Duck's life bar was down deep in the red zone and was barely visible at all any
more. It had just a few life points left. I walked a semi-circle around the
bird to get back on its blind side and hit it with a bite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 23 (Vampire Bite)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 504 Exp <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Objects received: Duck meat * 3 (food), Hand-made
ammunition for blowgun * 6<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level
five!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Achievement
unlocked: Taste tester (3/1000)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial
ability unlocked: 10% resistance to poison<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial ability improved: Taste for Blood (+3% of
damage done for every unique being killed with Vampire Bite) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now
that's what I'm talking about! That battle with the Duck had brought me almost
the same amount of experience my character had received up until that point!
And my Thirst for Blood was totally sated (15/15). It should also be said, as
for thirst... I took the empty alchemy container and filled it with the bird's
spilled blood. I walked up to the nearest tree and cut a piece of its bark out
with my knife, whittled it down and made it into a cork for the vial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Duck Blood (alchemy ingredient) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was already starting to get light out. In just half an hour, the deadly sun was
going to rise. But I was in no rush to seek shelter just yet. I needed just
seven or eight more useful plants to level up my Herbalism skill. It wasn't
very far to the building, so I calmly set about gathering herbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Herbalism
skill increased to level 3!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alright,
that was enough. I hurried to the wooden blockhouse. With four minutes left
until morning, I ran up onto the porch... but the door was locked from the
inside! The map obligingly informed me that the player Valerianna Quickfoot was
inside the building. My sister! She got here after all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
started pounding on the door, but she wouldn't open up. Had Val gone back to
sleep or something?! If she didn't open the door for me in the three minutes I
had left, it would be the dumbest death a Vampire had died in the game's
history. Dying, not in a battle with a holy warrior, but right before the front
door of his own home, which his own beloved sister had locked! That's what you
call bad luck! And also, the respawn point was on an exposed stone square, and
appearing there after the sun rose would have meant a guaranteed death... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
wrote a personal message to Valerianna to make her open the door right away,
but I wasn't especially counting on salvation. Around the house, there was
nowhere I could hide myself from the sun's rays, only inside the building. As
the last minute was passing, I was in a true state of panic. Fifteen seconds.
Ten...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
heard the sound of the heavy beam being moved off the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nine.
Eight. Seven. Six. The door peeked open a few centimeters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What's
all the racket about, Amra?" The yawning Forest Nymph was standing in the
doorway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
flung open the door and pushed the girl from my path in one fluid motion, then
threw myself up the stairs. Here in the entryway, it was still too bright. The
sun's rays could come in through the windows. Five. Four. Three. In the two
seconds before the sun came up, I threw myself at the bedroll and buried myself
in the pile of animal pelts. I made it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
completed: Surviving the Night<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience
Received: 160 Exp <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Reward:
+2 stat points<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level
six! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number
of Thirst for Blood points increased: 15/20<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sorry,
it's just time for me to get out. It was an emergency. I've got business
waiting for me in the real world," I told the Nymph, who was in a state of
total confusion, then left the game without even assigning the stat points I'd
accumulated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*
* *<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AFTER TAKING OFF </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the
helmet and sensor suit, I sat powerless right on the floor. My hands were still
shaking and my heart was pounding in my ribcage. I really had worried in the
game as much as if I was living in the real world, and the rising sun really
could have lead not to just the loss of a few hundred experience points, but to
a painful death. After all, the thought didn't even cross my mind that "if
you think about it, dying in the game is nothing. I'll get the experience
back." I wanted to survive with all the cells in my body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
growing a bit calmer, I got dressed and walked out of my cubicle. I wanted
unbearably to go to the bathroom. I rushed down to the end of the long balcony
where the nearest bathroom was. There were just two doors on the whole floor
with a red light over them, mine and that of the red-headed lady. The other
three hundred doors, as well as all the doors on the opposite walkway were
showing green: free rooms. That meant just her and I were still here. So I
immediately noticed the sound of water coming out of the locked shower. At such
an early hour on an empty floor, someone was taking a shower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Putting
myself in order after freshening up, I walked up to the coffee machine. My eyes
were sagging. I needed a pick-me-up. Here at the end of the floor for employees
of the <i>Boundless Realm</i> Corporation,
there was a break room with tables, couches, a television on the wall which was
now off, and vending machines selling snacks and water. With a mug of hot
coffee in my hand, I walked down the row of vending machines and looked over
the assortment. It should be said that I was trying to buy a pack of gum drops
for my sister. She loved that stuff. I tried paying for the food with my card,
but a fully predictable message came up on the screen: "Transaction
denied. Insufficient funds." I had to go through my pockets to find coins.
Cash had practically gone out of circulation, but snack machines still took
coins. Just after fishing out all the money, I lowered the coins into the slit.
What had I done to deserve this?! The baggy of gum drops got stuck without
falling down into the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Woah!
I wasn't expecting to see anyone here so early!" A sonorous woman's voice
rang out behind my back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
turned around. Beyond all doubt, this was the very same mystery girl I had seen
earlier in a chic emerald-green dress with a hat over her fire-red hair. But
now, she was standing before me with containers of shampoo and lotion in her
hands, while the only thing covering her nakedness was a towel wrapped around
her body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Excuse
me, I didn't mean to startle you," I answered, but the woman laughed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You?!
Startle me?! Believe me, I'm a pretty hard person to startle. It's just that
the last half year I've been the only person on this floor to work at night. I
wasn't expecting to see anyone, which is why I came out looking like
this," she said, pointing at the towel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> "Don't worry about it. I won't bother
you. I just finished the quest 'Surviving the Night.' You know it, I'm sure.
It's for beginners."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Oh,
you could say I know it," the mystery girl smiled. "I'm the one who
designed it two years ago. It was the only way of getting people out of cities
at night. So then, did you make it?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Yeah,
I made it, but it wasn't easy," I answered, talking myself up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Good
job. Lots of people try, but not many manage to survive to morning. But now,
inhabitants of the night do have regular prey," the girl licked her lips
in a display of her predatory nature, as if to say she was personally eating
the careless unfortunates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Though
perhaps she really was. Who could say what kind of character she played at
night? Clearly having noticed my changed behavior, the beauty spoke:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Your
eyes just grew wide in horror as if you'd seen a monster. I assure you, there's
no reason to be afraid of me at all," the woman looked at the stuck bag of
gum drops and extended me a whole armful of cosmetics. "Here, hold
this!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Without
a remark, I took the mountain of bottles and tubes, while the woman walked over
to the vending machine and extended a hand. The machine went into action. On
the upper level, a spiral began spinning, moving forward the chocolate bar the
red-headed beauty had chosen. Would you look at that! She had an implanted
identification chip instead of any kind of document or bank card! I had heard of
such technology, but this was the first time I was actually seeing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
bar fell top-down on the trapped gum-drop bag and plunked down together with it
into the slot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So
you see, I don't bite," smiled the red-headed beauty with curly bunches of
fine wet hair. "And don't worry about being too formal with me. I'm not
much older than you are. By the way, my name is Kira."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Timur,"
I introduced myself and handed the cosmetics back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
beauty took the products in her arms and wanted to say something, but then...
the woman's towel fell to the floor. An awkward situation. Her arms were
occupied, and the woman couldn't pick up the fallen towel, or even cover her
body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Kira,
let me. I'll help!" with these words, I picked up the towel and wrapped
the young woman in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Touching
her skin, tender and hot after the shower, was insanely pleasant, but I didn't
take too long. Even when the red-headed beauty kissed me on the cheek as
thanks, I didn't hesitate. This was no place for impossible dreams. Kira and I
were too different and had met for too short a time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Thank
you, Timur. Maybe we'll see each other around. You can have the chocolate bar.
I don't eat chocolate, anyway."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kira
went back to get dressed in her cubicle. I spent some time standing and
watching her walk away. Before my eyes there was still the picture of the
seductive curves of the woman's naked body, frozen in time. Well then, now I
knew where and when Kira worked, and arranging another meeting with her
wouldn't be too hard at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">An
hour later, I was already jangling my key ring against the door of my rented
apartment. I didn't ring the bell as not to wake up Val, but my sister wasn't
sleeping at all and rolled out to meet me in her chair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Could
you explain to me, what the hell that was in the game? You blasted me off my
feet and tore into the building as if there was a whole horde of demons after
you!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
saw no reason to hide the truth from my sister, so I told her the details of my
character’s dark side. Valeria's reaction was unexpected:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Why
were you being so stupid back then, bro? You should have killed me with a bite
right there at the respawn point, then used Veil to change my logs so no trace
remained! At these low levels, a small experience loss for me would be
absolutely nothing, but then where would you find a second Forest Nymph for
your Taste Tester achievement?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
hearing out my answer, that I definitely wouldn't be killing my own sister, Val
shook her head in reproach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You
know best. Alright, Timur, go eat breakfast. Everything's warm. And, as this is
how it is now, go get some sleep before another night shift. For now, I'll read
about Vampires in <i>Boundless Realm</i> and
think up how your character should progress."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fcebb5; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">
<i>A new LitRPG series from Michael Atamanov, the bestselling author of Perimeter Defense! Video <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9F1AM7" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Game Plotline Tester (Book One of The Dark Herbalist series)</a> is available for preorder on Amazon.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fcebb5; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<i style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">Support the author and preorder the book.</i><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> </span></i></b></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411487615356206419.post-80258356859071480342016-10-26T11:33:00.003+02:002016-10-26T11:33:43.404+02:00Next Chapter new LitRPG book - Video Game Plotline Tester<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9F1AM7" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qjEW-Ndyo4Y/WBB4IBWj-II/AAAAAAAAAts/yh2Z6kSBGzUSlWqh6CJfjObutkeQ1bgsACLcB/s320/DH1.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Orcish Galley<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fear.
Cold. Pain. Hunger. My beaten body ached and tingled. Through the pain and
fatigue, I could also make out some loud noises. What I tried to do was just
ignore them and lose myself further in a calming dream, but the sounds kept
growing louder and louder. I could hear weapons clanging, cries of rage and the
screams of the dying. My nostrils caught the smell of freshly spilled blood. I
strained to peel back my eyelids and discovered myself in some kind of dark
room on a floor covered in a layer of rotten straw. I tried to move and
discovered that my left wrist was firmly secured in a heavy metal cuff, which
was attached to a chain that led to a brace hammered into the wall. So I was a
captive?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
the edge of my vision, I saw a tall Orc dressed in leather armor run by with a
crooked saber. Then, literally a couple seconds later, I saw his bloodied body
fall to the ground. The Orc's killer, who turned out to be a huge armored
Human, walked up to the body on the floor and prudently finished the Orc off,
driving a short spear into his chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Seems
to be the last of them!" He shouted out to someone far behind and was
answered in a creaky voice:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Great!
Free the prisoners and bring them out to our ship! That Orcish galley will soon
break on the riverside cliffs!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now
I was going to be freed! I wasn't even able to feel happy before the huge
soldier turned toward me, took a close look, then made a disgusted face and
drove his spear through my chest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*
* *<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DARKNESS CAME </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">over
again. I was lying there fully dumbfounded and could not believe what was
happening. That man had killed me, or at least, seriously wounded me, even
though he was clearly supposed to save me! Why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">An
internal voice laughed and hinted mockingly that it couldn't be any other way.
The Goblin race already had a -20 penalty to human reaction, and I had totally
removed my Charisma. So now, that was how every Human, Elf or Dwarf I met would
treat me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
pain returned and I opened my eyes. I saw the world in dark and red tones. As
before, I was lying on old putrid hay, but now that hay was also soaked in a
thick dark blood. My blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">+1 HP from Regeneration <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
spear wound to my stomach had almost totally healed, but my health level was
flashing alarmingly at 3 of 21. And it should be said that I didn't even know
Goblins <i>could</i> regenerate health. Why
did none of the guides say anything about that? Maybe regeneration was recently
put in to make the race more playable? In any case... the wound to my stomach
was causing severe pain! Whether I wanted to or not, I was forced to admit that
dying was extremely unpleasant, even in a computer game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m
not sure what I would have thought up next, or what I would have done, because
a Rat suddenly scurried under the wooden bars of my cell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rat, level 1.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
little creature was following its nose inquisitively, bewitched by the
intoxicating aroma of blood. I moved slightly, pulling my right leg a bit in.
The Rat instantly turned toward me, but didn't run away. Instead, it started
looking at me. And what was more, he clearly had an ever-growing interest in my
culinary properties. Probably, in a healthy condition, my Goblin would have an
easy time dealing with such a creature, but with just three pitiful
hitpoints... It was gonna bite me to death!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Clearly,
the creature also came to that conclusion and headed in my direction. What
happened next, neither I nor the Rat were expecting:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 10 (Vampire Bite) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Health restored: +5 HP<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 8 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Object received: Rat meat (food)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Achievement
unlocked: Taste Tester (1/1000)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial
ability unlocked: Taste for Blood (+1% of damage done for every unique being
killed with Vampire Bite) <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Parameter Unlocked: Sating the Thirst (current status
10/15)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
sat for a few long seconds, taking in the vile flavor of Rat blood and
digesting what happened in all senses of the word. So, I was a Vampire? I
opened my character window to check, and it left me with no doubt on the
matter:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Race:
Goblin Vampire<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
should be said that the second part of my race could be hidden simply by
placing a check in a special field reading "do not show other
players." I read the description of the Vampire race, and thanked the
heavens and the developers of the game for the ability to not reveal myself:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">-50 penalty to reaction of all living races upon
discovery<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Penalty: Legal target for murder by players and NPC's
of living races upon discovery<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Penalty: Cannot hide your true nature when in the
state Thirst for Blood <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Penalty: Instant death when hit by sunlight.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That
was quite the pickle... From this moment on, my biggest mission of all would be
keeping that secret. There were good plusses, though, too. At level one, for
example, a Vampire could get +1 HP regeneration per minute and an additional
attack (to the right or left hand): <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vampire
Bite,</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> cost: 10
EP (endurance points) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage done: (1-6)*Strength of Character, 50% of
damage dealt goes to Healing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When attacking a sleeping, unconscious, or paralyzed
target, special attack has 100% chance of success. Vampire's choice of:
(Instant death/6-hour deep sleep/Infect with Vampirism) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
read the description of the attack again. There was no limit on the level of
the creature killed? That meant I could now kill even a level-one-hundred
monster with one bite, if I could get lucky enough to find it sleeping? What a
great source of experience for leveling the character! And I could do the same
to players... Stop! I rebuffed myself. I only had to use that ability against a
player once and it was over. My secret would be revealed. I would become a
victim of the hunt, and time after time I would be killed just because the
rules allowed it. Every death would bring physical pain and loss of experience.
So then, I had to keep the secret of my vampirism safe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Who's
making noise over there?" As if bringing my fears to life, I heard a voice
beyond the bars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then
I jumped up in surprise and quickly wiped off my lips with the back of my hand.
The last thing I needed was for this stranger to see blood on my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Rat
to beat. To attack. Hard you beat," I answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
the hell?! That wasn’t what I’d actually said, but the only thing that would
come out of my character’s mouth were these awkward broken phrases. All the
same, even three Intelligence points was not enough, and it was scary to
imagine how my character would be talking if the number had been lower. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Rat?
Yes, I saw it. It looked at me for a long time, but it ran on. Have you figured
out how to get your arm out of the chain yet? I'm not strong enough."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
received: Escape from the slave-trader's galley <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
class: Required, training <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Reward:
80 Exp, access to main game world<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Chain
I no know. To pain. Spear stabbing. Man."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">From
behind the wall, I heard the strange, gurgling laughter of the other voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I
can only imagine what your Charisma must be like if they wanted to kill you
instead of save you. But it's strange that they didn't kill you. All the
soldiers are level twenty-five; they should be able to send you to respawn in
one hit. The soldiers simply didn't notice me. As soon as the massacre started
in the hold, I used my Stealth skill and even managed to get it to level two
before they left. Though I rushed to hide. Maybe they would have freed me along
with the other prisoners. Or sent me for respawn, and I would come back over at
the respawn point, but out of the chain."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
froze in fear. The respawn point this creature was talking about couldn't be
seen from where I was. But what if the only way to freedom for characters with
such disarming appearances as mine was through death and subsequent rebirth?
Come on, that was nonsense! There must have been other normal ways of getting
out. I looked at the short rusty, half-meter long chain holding my arm. At
first, I just tried to break the chain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Your character doesn't have enough Strength to
complete this action <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strength required to break chain: 7<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alright,
I clearly didn’t have enough Strength. But what about breaking the shackle at
my wrist?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Your character doesn't have enough Agility to complete
this action <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Agility required to break chain: 7<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another
fail. I looked closely at my left hand. I had a thin wrist. My palm was also
thin, but I had a big thumb jutting out to the side stopping me from slipping
out of the manacles. But what if... The idea of gnawing off my own thumb seemed
utterly barbaric, but I didn't chase it off right away. I did have
Regeneration, and the thumb would soon grow back. What way out of this
situation could possibly be more fitting of a true Goblin? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
tore my teeth into my own flesh. The pain was overwhelming and my hitpoints
started falling fast. I even had to quickly eat the Rat meat to restore some
health. But my idea worked! I pulled my bloodied hand from the rusty shackle.
Freedom! The blood immediately stopped, leaving me just two hitpoints of my
full twenty-one. But what did that matter? Regeneration would gradually restore
my life to max. Just then, though, a debuff popped up...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Your left hand is injured <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For the next two days, you will not be able to use any
weapon in your left hand, nor swim or climb cliffs and trees <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All other actions done with the left hand will be
subject to a penalty of 30%<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
didn't get any experience for taking off the chain. Either the developers
didn’t like my method, or the mission simply hadn't been fully completed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"What
was that sound?" My acquaintance asked from behind the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Me
chain off. Now go you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
finally got up and looked into the neighboring cell. What a freak was sitting
there, too! It was an exhausted, blue-colored half-human/half-fish with huge
puffy eyes lying on the dirty floor inhaling air greedily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Trong
Diver <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Naiad
<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level
One Diver<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You
look pretty freaky, Amra!" The fish's reaction to my appearance was the
same as the man's.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We
both laughed, then he answered the question I had yet to ask:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"When
making the character, I had no idea what to name myself. I figured the second
word should show my profession. So now, I'm Mr. Diver, the Diver. But it's
nothing. I'd rather you tell me how you got that chain off."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
did my best to explain in layman's terms my method and the two-day debuff I'd
gotten as a result. The fish shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Cripes...
No, that's not for me. I need to be able to dive and swim underwater. But with
my left hand broken, I won't be able to do that. It's easier for me to simply
die and be reborn in an hour, totally free and without any debuffs from a
crippled body. How about this: I'll try a bit longer to think up a way to get
free, but if nothing sensible comes to mind, you can send me to respawn. I need
the hour away anyway. I've got mail to answer and a bunch of little issues to
take care of. You can go off somewhere and eat or just take a walk, then we can
keep playing together. It seems to me that it's way too hard to get out of this
alone. Sound good?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
first, his suggestion made me squirm. Trong Diver was talking so calmly about
his own death. It was as if he wasn't at all worried about the pain it would
cause. But afterwards, I realized that he was just a regular player without a
virtual reality capsule. He was sitting at home in front of his monitor or
wearing a virtual-reality helmet on his head and trying to get out of the
boring training location and into the huge game world as quickly as possible,
no matter what it took. That explained a lot, as any player with full ability
to feel through his character would clearly have preferred other ways of
getting free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Good.
Agreement. I wander and looking there," I stopped the shackled Naiad and
walked further into the dark room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
time had come to figure out how to control the game. First of all, I called up
the location map, made it semitransparent and placed it in the upper right
corner. It should also be said that the map told me I was in the hold of a
slavers' galley. Trong Diver, behind me, was shown on the map as a yellow
triangle, while before me in the darkness, there were three red markers lying
in wait. I looked at the information on the marker colors, and found out that
red (as I would have guessed) indicated a hostile enemy. Yellow meant NPC's and
players whose opinion of you was unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
went carefully and slowly forward. It smelled of recently spilled blood, but
the bodies of the prostrated soldiers hadn't disappeared, as happened after a
certain amount of time in most games. I felt something with my leg, and a glass
container rolled down the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Empty vial. Used to store alchemical elixirs.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
picked up the vessel. Maybe I'd need it. I stopped my gaze on it, trying to
figure out how the container should be sealed. A few seconds later, a message
popped up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like to choose Alchemy (I A) as a primary skill?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
was slightly taken aback. It was that easy to pick up a skill? No teachers and
missions, no insanely expensive scrolls? Alchemy... It could, of course, be
very useful to me. I would be finding a lot of herbs and roots in my
profession, and this way I didn’t have to sell them raw for little money. I
would be able to prepare the plants into valuable elixirs, which would probably
be more expensive than normal herbs. I chose the option "Yes."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
have taken Alchemy as a primary skill <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Skill
level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Primary skills chosen (3 of 4)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Only
then, after a long delay, did I realize what I had just done. I had filled one
of the two remaining skill slots with a totally random skill, which also
leveled up Intelligence, a stat that the Goblin race had a 50% penalty to
training speed for! Nothing to sneeze at. What a muttonhead I was!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead
of Alchemy, I should have chosen a skill that leveled up Agility and
Perception, the Goblin's strong points. If I increased the level of such a
skill to, let's say level one hundred, I would get 130 Agility points (100*1.3)
plus 65 Perception points (50*1.3). In the end, it would have added up to an
improvement of stat points by a whole 195! But with Alchemy at level one
hundred, considering the 50% penalty to Intelligence leveling, I would get just
50 points (100*0.5) of Intelligence and 65 points (50*1.3) Agility points,
adding up to a total of 115 statistic points for my character instead of the
195 I could have counted on if I'd been thinking with my head...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Feeling
ashamed, I practically smashed the ill-fated vial on the wall, but still I
tried to keep calm and took it with me. I don't know for sure where the game
thought I could put objects </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">– I was wearing nothing but a
dirty loincloth – </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">but I was still able to store things in my inventory.
In any case, there were just eight slots in my inventory. It was very little. I
wanted to find a bag to store my things in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A
few steps later, I found another such container, then another four. In that
place, based on the abundance of drying blood and deep gouges in the wooden
table, there had been a raging battle, and enemies had applied alchemical
substances for strengthening and healing. The six identical containers,
fortunately, took up just one slot of the eight available in my inventory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was less and less distance between the red dots on the map and me. I couldn't
see the enemies yet, but I walked a bit more carefully. And literally
instantaneously, another message popped up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like to choose Stealth (A C) as a primary
skill?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
didn't rush the decision this time. On the one hand, using Stealth would level
up Agility, which was useful. But on the other, I’d be filling up all four
available primary skill slots before I’d even started to play... What if I
needed something else entirely to develop the character? And also... I
shouldn't forget that I was a Vampire. Being able to conceal my main character
skills from others was not something the game mechanics allowed for. When
meeting characters, you had to be able to figure out who it was in front of
you, right? That would only raise the logical question of why a peaceable
Goblin Herbalist had the Stealth skill. With some measure of pity, I refused to
make Stealth one of my primary skills, but I did make it a secondary. Though
secondary skills didn't increase stat points, the very ability to move in
hiding could be quite useful for a nocturnal Vampire, and also secondary skills
were not shown to other players.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
have taken Stealth as a secondary skill <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Skill
level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was no challenge to enter stealth mode. But it did make my character walk
significantly slower. I wasn’t in a hurry, though, so I kept walking in stealth
mode. As I was already looking at my stats, I didn't miss the moment when the
empty Stealth-skill bar suddenly began to gradually fill up. Look at that bar
go! Someone might see me if I started moving carelessly. With redoubled
caution, I went on into the darkness of the ship's hold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rat, level 1<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
noticed it while still invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stealth
Skill increased to level 2!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Feeling
happy, I looked at the message and carelessly tripped over a little step I
hadn't noticed, laying myself out on the floor. At that very moment, the Rat
noticed me. In huge leaps, the aggressive animal threw itself on the attack,
but I didn't even have any weapons!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage taken: 4 (Rat bite) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Health level: 6/21<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Two
more bites and I was done for! I then punched the Rat twice. Once with my left
fist and once with my right. No damage! I missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage taken: 4 (Rat bite) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Health level: 2/21<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No
longer hoping for my weak punches to do anything, I made a determined attempt
to bite the enemy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 8 (Vampire Bite) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Health restored: +4 HP <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Health level: 6/21<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ha!
Hot diggedy! What was some little Rat against a terrifying creature of the night!
The next bite came from the Rat, cutting another 4 HP from my bar, but then it
was my turn...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Not enough endurance points to use the Vampire Bite
skill. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
a bad time to run out of endurance! I'll be eaten right away! In despair, I
began striking at the Rat with my fists once again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 2 (Punch) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 8 Exp <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Object received: Rat meat (food)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
dismissed the importune suggestion that I choose Manual Combat (S C) as a
primary skill. Instead, I sat down on the damp straw-covered floor in
exhaustion. My hitpoint bar was flashing alarmingly at 2/21 HP, while my
endurance was at just 1/20. Hrmph... I had to honestly admit, at least to
myself, that my big-eared Goblin had escaped from the encounter with the Rat
only by a miracle. I shouldn't keep asking for trouble, that was for sure. So,
before coming across any more Rats, I had to get ready, at least by restoring
my health and endurance, ideally also finding some kind of weapon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
sat for ten minutes, just breathing. In that time, my endurance rose to ten
points, while my health, due to Regeneration and the meat I ate, came back all
the way. For that reason, I risked going onward, and almost immediately
discovered a knife lying forgotten on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rusty kitchen knife</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage done: (1-4)*Strength<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was clearly better than punching with my bare fists at (1-2)*Strength! I had
barely picked up the knife when the system suggested I choose Dagger (S A) as a
primary skill. I snorted unhappily. Stop trying to get me to do things without
thinking them through! If Agility were the primary stat in that skill, I may
have even considered it, but Strength with its 50% penalty... No thank you.
Alchemy, with its penalized Intelligence stat was quite enough for me! I also
didn't want to choose Dagger as a secondary skill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was much easier to take down Rats with the kitchen knife. I would take a 4 HP
bite, answer with a knife strike for 6 HP, then finish the beast off with a
Vampire Bite. My endurance was again sagging down in the single digits, so I
had to wait. And though there was another Rat in front of me, and I had even
already seen it, the time had come to return to Trong Diver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
fish-man was sitting in the same pose as before, fettered to the wall with
metal shackles. A few times I called Trong by name, but it took him several
minutes to come to and answer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Sorry,
I was afk. As soon as you finish your business, send me to respawn as we
agreed. I'll run out to the store and buy dinner. Just make sure to wait an
hour for me, alright? We can make it further together!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
raised the dagger above the Naiad and drove it into the fish-man's chest. And
though the strike roll was not bad, doing 8 HP of damage, Trong's life bar only
drooped down by a quarter. Son of a gun! His life points were one and a half
times higher than my big-eared Goblin's! I had to hit him again and again.
After my fourth stab, Trong's life indicator was flashing in the critical
zone... I stopped and asked the fish-man if I should finish him off or not. No
answer followed. The player had clearly already walked away from the monitor.
So I made up my mind!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
had read about this in the forums. I had come across some information saying
that, for the professions Assassin or Thief, it was desirable to have the Veil
skill to remove or modify the game logs in order to hide criminal actions from
your victims, reduce the amount of time the Criminal tag would last, and with
time erase the marker altogether. And that was just what I needed! I tried to
edit the last game message about the knife strike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like to choose Veil (I A) as a primary
skill?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No,
taking Veil as a primary skill was not the right move. There was no reason for
a peaceable Goblin Herbalist to advertise his dark inclinations. But as a
secondary skill, the ability was useful and then some!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
have taken Veil as a secondary skill <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Skill
level: 1 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Effect
time: 1 minute, uses 5 EP<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
clicked the Veil icon. Now I had a whole minute to do this all in secret: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 6 (Vampire Bite) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Health restored: +3 HP<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 80 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level
two!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Achievement
unlocked: Taste tester (2/1000)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Achievement
unlocked: Player killer (1)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial
ability unlocked: Night vision (lasts 12 hours, costs 15 EP)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial ability improved: Taste for Blood (+2% of
damage done for every unique being killed with Vampire Bite)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Attention!
Your character is marked as a Criminal! For the next eight hours, you will be a
legal target for attack!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Trong
Diver's silhouette started flashing and became semitransparent. No, I hadn't
acted thoughtlessly. This time, I really had done everything in a calculated
fashion. I had found a target to level up my very useful ability Taste for
Blood, and Naiads were a very rare race. When else would I get the chance to
add one to the list of unique species I'd bitten? But I wasn't the only one who
could see the game logs. What would Trong Diver's reaction be when he
discovered the messages about his death and read in the logs that a Vampire had
killed him? I had to do something to keep my secret.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So
what could I do with the log? I was able to open the message Trong Diver would
see in fifty seconds for editing:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage taken: 6 HP from the player Amra (Vampire Bite)
<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You have died<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
didn't delete it entirely, though I could have. Instead, I edited it, changing
out Vampire Bite for Rusty Knife Stab. Much better!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Veil
Skill increased to level 2!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Not
bad, not bad at all! Life was turning around! Now I just had to distribute the
stat points I got when leveling up, and get back to new adventures! By the
way... For some reason, two of the five points were automatically spent. My
Strength had grown to three, while Constitution had grown to four. Strange... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Digging
around in the race guides, I figured out that it was a peculiarity of Vampires:
like it or not, Strength and Constitution would grow every level. I'd have to
make peace with that. There was nothing to be done. I just had three stat
points left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
decided I should put two straight into Charisma. I didn't like dying from the
first person I saw just because of my ugly face! And my last stat point, after
long consideration I placed in Intelligence. It was time to become smarter than
a stool!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*
* *<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THE LAST RAT </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">didn't
cause me any troubles, dying after just two stabs; evidence of my character's
increased Strength. After picking up a piece of Rat meat, I headed further into
the visible end of the dark hold where there was a stairwell to an upper deck.
Just after getting on the first step, the map updated, now showing not the
hold, but the oarsman deck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On
this level, there was a stench. It smelled of filth, dirty bodies and rotting
blood, all mixed into such a cocktail that I was practically knocked off my
feet. My Goblin had to cover his nose with his crippled left hand. Alright,
message received. <i>Boundless Realm</i> was
praised for its hyperrealism, but what was the point of making such an
unpleasant location? And also, if I thought about it, how had the designers
even managed to convey the horrible smells of this wretched place? Even the
slight breeze wasn't carrying away the stench that wound its way through the
deck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Slightly
coming to, I took a look around. Everything around me bore witness to a recent
slaughter: drying blood on the floor, oarsmen's benches broken and splintered
by blade strikes, pieces of chain, and tatters of dirty clothes. There were no
corpses. They had already managed to disappear in the game world. Then, on the
map, beyond the markers for a few far-off Rats, I saw a yellow triangle. A
player?! I stole up closer, and was able to see him, or more accurately her:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Valerianna
Quickfoot <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Forest
Nymph<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level
2 Beast Master<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My
sister! I recognized her right away. The disabled Valeria had always used the
same name for her main character, no matter the game. I didn't come up any
closer. My sister and I had agreed that we wouldn't advertise our relationship,
or prior acquaintance. So I crawled forward, watching with satisfaction as the
Stealth skill level bar crawled upward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
meanwhile, the graceful Nymph with her long blue-green hair was busy
exterminating Rats. She was doing it in a fairly unique way, too: trying to
stay far from the vermin, she would use a spell to take one under her control
and set it against the others. I read the information on Valerianna's primary
skills:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level 2 Animal Control<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level 1 Water Magic<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Suddenly,
the girl froze and turned sharply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Who
are you?" There was no hint of having been startled in her voice, more
like curiosity or even warning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
really had given away my presence somehow, and was discovered. It would have
been dumb to keep hiding, so I stepped forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You're
a criminal! Stay away!" The frightened Nymph placed her palms together and
put them in front of herself, and when she split them apart, a blue little
flame shone up from a spell she must have cast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I
no bad-hurt for you!" I hurried to assure her, mentally cursing my
tongue-tiedness. "I just to start game. Chain to take off hand. Then other
fish-player say to help. To kill. He be reborn without chain. No other way. He
no can did take chain off."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Nymph, a well-built, very thin girl in a short green cape, couldn't hold back a
smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"You're
funny, Goblin. But you clearly don't have a great mind. Are you saying there
weren’t enough Strength, Agility, Intelligence, or Perception points between
the two of you to add up to seven? You could have helped one another!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
froze surprised and embarrassed, as the idea to have both of us try to pull
Trong Diver's chain from the wall had truly not come to mind. It couldn’t be
that the Goblin's chuckleheadedness had rubbed off on me, right? It was all so
elementary! And by the way, Valerianna thought for a couple seconds and said
with worry in her voice:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I
think I figured out what happened between you. It is a standard PvP con. You
killed a player on his request, and now have the status Criminal for the next
hour. That player knew that he could easily deal with you. But there would have
been no point to kill you at the very beginning of the game. You wouldn't lose
anything from dying, while the enemy would get just a hundred experience
points. That was why he gave you the chance to level up on Rats and training
missions, get a few levels, then he'd kill you. I'm sure he asked you to wait
for him, so you could go on together. Or am I wrong?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
nodded, confirming my sister's theory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So
you see. His character must have been specialized for PvP. He probably has a
tendency for some kind of combat stat, for example Strength, and is preparing
to use a close-combat weapon. And I'm sure he also has Constitution leveled up,
so he'll have a large number of hitpoints. With you at level three, he will get
three hundred experience points for killing you, not just one hundred. That
makes quite a big difference at the beginning of the game, and is more than
enough to get him up to level four in one go. Also, some races and classes get
extra experience for killing players or special bonuses and missions, so your
acquaintance is sure to kill you to get out into the main world already fairly
prepared and without the eight-hour Criminal marker."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
realized Valeria had taken off her virtual reality helmet, opened the <i>Boundless Realm</i> forum on the second
monitor, and was reading from there. That meant that Trong Diver's suggestion
that I kill him was in fact a trap. He was letting his prey get a little
exercise so it would taste better later. He must have been planning to kill me
after he came back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"If
it's not a secret, what race was he?" asked the Nymph, sending another Rat
into the far off herd of vermin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Naiad,
Diver," I answered, and my sister froze in contemplation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While
she stood motionless, the Rat under her control kept fighting against its
former buddies. Unexpectedly, the body of the frozen Nymph lit up in different
colors. That must have been a skill leveling up. I looked at her visible stats.
That was right! Valeria's Animal Control skill had gone up to level 3. By that
time, my sister had come back to actively playing the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Just
so you know, Naiad Divers are their version of Human Soldiers or Dwarven
Berserkers. They get an extra ten life points for every Constitution point, and
double endurance points when doing any combo attack as well as an additional
bonus to Strength."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I
running away?" I clarified, but the Nymph shook her head "no,"
and asked how long it would be for the Naiad to respawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
looked at the time shown and answered that it would be forty minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Don't
run, Goblin. If he really does attack, I'll help you. I don't like tricksters
and con-artists. But I'll only get involved if he attacks you first. For now,
I'll raise my water magic skill to level two, then my Intelligence will go up
from primary skill bonuses to seventeen."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
she said didn't get through to me right away. Valerianna was already at level
two, and had already leveled up her Intelligence to seventeen. But how?! I
myself didn't have any stats above four, where I had Agility, Intelligence and
Constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Nymph explained with gusto:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"My
race has a bonus to Charisma and Intelligence leveling. So I skewed it toward
Intelligence above all else. Both of my predefined primary skills leveled
Intelligence first as well. I just took the shackles from my own wrists, as I
immediately figured out how the latch lock worked and simply swung it
open." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
these words, the Nymph called a Rat under her control over, and I noticed that
the animal had become slightly larger, having leveled up on its own compatriots
to two. After that, Valerianna, ordering her pet to sit at attention, released
an icy blue arrow into a far-off, barely visible hostile Rat, killing it in one
strike. She had the same success with two neighboring Rats. Again the Nymph lit
up in various colors. Her Water Magic skill had raised to level two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> "Cool! Another fifty or so experience
points, and I'll be level three!" The Nymph laughed happily. "Amra, I
need to take a break for a bit and restore my mana. After that, I can cast up
to nine ice arrows, each one doing an average of forty HP damage. No matter how
much your Naiad friend leveled up Constitution, he won't be able to survive
that. But it is important that you not let him get near me. I have only eleven
HP, so he'd be able to kill me with just spit. By the way, why are you not
leveling up? There are a few more Rats left. Take them for yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
nodded obediently and walked out in front. And it should be said my thoughts
were fairly far from the Rats. I was only thinking about the attack I was now
expecting from Trong Diver. Valerianna promised to intervene if the Naiad
attacked. But in any case, I had to survive one or two blows from the fish-man.
And if his character really was specialized for PvP with all modifiers for
dealing damage, then... I wonder how much damage he could do with one strike?
It probably was no less than the Nymph with her magic, and my sister had said
something about forty hitpoints per ice arrow. If I took forty HP as a
reference point, how would I survive the attack, given that I had just
twenty-seven myself?! Could I hope to dodge? It seemed that was the very way
out I needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When
the nearest level 1 Rat threw itself at me, I didn't hit it right away, instead
jumping back and to the side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like to choose Dodge (A P) as a primary
skill?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
skill leveled up Agility and Perception, my strongest stats! That was the one
for me! I agreed right away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You
have taken Dodge as a primary skill <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Skill
level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Primary skills chosen (4 of 4)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You may choose a fifth primary skill at level 10<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Having
already taken care of the Rat (it managed to bite me once, the pest, but it
meant nothing. Regeneration heals all wounds, after all.), I noticed that my
Dodge skill had increased my Agility to five and slightly increased my
Perception. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
that, of the four primary skills, only Dodge had been activated. The others
were marked with an inactive gray and clearly had yet to influence my main
stats. Was that because I hadn't used them yet? Perhaps that was exactly the
reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
took an empty vial from my inventory and filled it with the blood of the dead
Rat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rat Blood (alchemy ingredient)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Alchemy skill lit up. My Intelligence and Agility immediately went up just
barely. So that was how it worked! To activate a primary skill and have it
start influencing your stats, you just needed to use it once! What else did I
have that wasn't "turned on" yet? Herbalism and Trading. I'd have to
wait a bit to use Herbalism. We were on a galley. No flowers would be growing
here. But Trading couldn't have been easier. I went back to my sister and tried
to sell her the container of Rat blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Valerianna
began squirming in disgust, and the Nymph, of course, refused. But I didn't
actually have to sell the object. After noticing with a satisfied look that
Trading had already been activated as well, raising my Charisma by a whole
point and slightly bringing up my Intelligence with it, I poured the blood out
on the floor, as I didn't actually have a cork for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
spent ten minutes evading the last vermin, as I wanted to raise my Dodge skill
to level three quickly. Covered in bites and impossibly happy with myself, I
returned to my sister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Hey
dumbo, have you got far to go until level three?" The Nymph inquired with
a bored look as she sat on the oarsman's bench looking at her well-kept nails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Three
hundred forty experience is. Five hundred want," I reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My
sister frowned in dismay and seemingly grew upset:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Raise
your Intelligence to at least five. It's hard to talk with you. But that's for
later. For now, listen carefully, big-ears. We've just got to get up to the
upper deck of the galley. I found a description of the location in the guides.
There is an angry sea up there. The waves might crash through the broken ship.
If you don't have enough Agility, you'll be washed overboard, then you'll lose
experience and have to wait an hour at the respawn point. Or can you swim,
Amra?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"No
can. Agility is enough."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Are
you sure? Alright then. I have an underwater breathing spell, so I'll just sink
to the bottom. Your Naiad friend is a sea creature, so he won't drown in any
case. But you will have to lower the boat with a crane, despite the waves and
weather, then you'll have to oar your way in to the shore. That is a side
quest, so you'll get a hundred extra experience points. That means, when you
reach the shore, that quest will be fulfilled as well as the main training
mission, which gives you another one hundred experience points. So, as soon as
you set foot on shore, you'll reach level three. But once you get there, don’t
just kick your feet up. Either run as fast as you can from the shore, or
prepare for combat. Your friend will definitely be attacking you, so stay on
your guard. Got it? Then let's go up. You should lower the boat without my help
so all the experience will go to you. Otherwise you won't reach level three,
and you'll be weak. The Naiad would be sure to kill you, then."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*
* *<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">MY SISTER REALLY </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">was
a clever girl. Once above board, the only thing that kept me from going over
the side was her warning. Because of it, I took hold of a taut rope as soon as
I got up there, which helped me stay on the boat when a jet of water blasted me
off my feet. The Orcish galley smashed into the cliff and got wedged between
the rocks. Huge waves rolled over the deck, taking with them all kinds of
trash, barrels, broken oars and furniture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
dingy, which had survived all this chaos only by a miracle, I spotted on the
aft of the broken ship. To get to it, I had to run across the slippery,
inclined deck, which had foamy breaks of water rolling over it constantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"I'll
be waiting for you on the shore!" My sister managed to shout before a wave
pulled her down to the depths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
level 2 Rat my sister had been controlling swam past me. It had lost its link
with its master, and was now aggressive to me again. But the Rat didn't care
about me at all. It was flailing its paws in desperation, trying to struggle
against the raging elements. I then, after waiting for the wave to ebb, threw
myself toward the boat up the inclined deck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Successful Agility check <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 8 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
the next breaker slammed into the broken ship, I managed to overcome the open
space and latched into the side of the canvas-covered boat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
received: Use the dingy <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
class: Optional, training <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Reward:
80 Exp, Small bag<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
dingy was tied to a set of ropes that led up to a crane on the side of the
boat. I had to turn a crank on the crane to lower the fragile vessel into the
water. At that moment, I totally forgot that I was in a game, so realistic were
the sensations I was feeling. The storm, the wind, the creak of the stretched
out ropes, the foamy waves, the cold wind and the smell of seaweed all combined
to form something very close to reality. My wounded left hand burned as if on
fire in the salty water. I laboriously twirled the spinning mechanism with my
one good hand. Finally, the boat made it into the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So
then, there you are, Goblin!" The satisfied voice of Trong Diver rang out
from behind my back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
turned. The Naiad, smiling a toothy grin, took a seat on the side wall of the
galley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"This
weather is just awesome for me! I love stormy seas. So then, you go on the
boat, and I'll swim in underwater. We'll meet up on shore." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
these words, the fish-man made an agile jump overboard. I then saw that the
Naiad was holding a trident in his hands, but it wasn’t clear where he’d gotten
it. He suddenly had a weapon. Bad news! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
let go of the rope and took hold of the oar. Damn! I wasn't able to row with my
left hand. So I pulled the oar from the ring and grabbed it with both hands.
This way was much easier. When rowing, I gradually lost Endurance Points, but I
wasn't too worried, as I had plenty of them left. Navigating around the sharp
stones jutting up from the water, I pointed the boat at the lagoon. Beyond the
reefs, which served as natural water breaks, the sea grew much calmer. A few
minutes later, I had reached a sandy point, wedging out into the sea in a thin
band. My sister was already waiting for me on the shore and waving from afar. I
had just touched foot on the wet sand when my body began to light up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
completed: Use the dingy <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience
received: 80 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mission
completed: Escape from the slave-trader's galley <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience
received: 80 Exp<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Level
three!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Racial
ability unlocked: The Apathy of the Undead (lasts 3 hours, costs 20 EP)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alright,
so where was the bag it promised me then? I looked under the rowing bench and
found a canvas bag that could be carried over the shoulder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Small bag +10 inventory slots.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
Trong had come ashore, I set about assigning the new stat points. Strength and
Constitution went up by default. From the three points that remained, I put
another in Constitution, and two in Agility. I now had 39 hitpoints.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
had barely finished with the stats when Trong Diver emerged from the salty sea
water onto the sandy peninsula, cutting off my path to the shore. His body was
also glowing in various colors. The Naiad had also hit level three. The
fish-man shot me a malignant grin, demonstrating several rows of needle-like
teeth, then suddenly rolled his bright red back flippers and screeched out in
dismay, having discovered another player not far from me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Hey!
That's my trophy," Trong Diver declared, pointing his trident at me.
"I've been shepherding him along since the beginning of the game!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Nymph didn't answer the insidious Naiad in any way, but between her hands there
appeared the bright blue flame of a spell being cast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Alright,
we can split it down the middle," suggested Trong Diver, and that was when
my sister attacked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
ice arrow that tore itself from her fingers instantly overtook the distance
between the two and broke into a hail of pieces on the Naiad's scales, at which
Trong Diver's health fell by about a quarter. The spell to take forty hitpoints
had only reduced the Naiad's health by a third?! How many hitpoints did he
have?! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Not
expecting that, were you Nymph?" The fish-man laughed. "I have a
natural resistance to Water Magic!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
these words, Trong Diver got a better grip on his trident and threw himself at
my sister in order to stop her from casting another spell. I, without thinking
it through, dashed off after him. The Naiad was almost half way to her when his
path was blocked by a level 1 Crab crawling out of the sea onto the sandy
shore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Naiad slowed his pace and destroyed the unexpected obstacle with a flick of his
trident. But even that second of delay was enough for me to catch up to him and
work my knife into his back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 9 (Rusty kitchen knife stab 11 </span></i><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-font-style: italic; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">– </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">armor 2)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Trong
Diver's life bar went down, but not very much at all, just ten percent. Hrmph,
I should have taken the Dagger skill. Perhaps then, I could have gotten a
critical hit from the stab in the back. Now then, probably feeling more
surprised at my impudence than really feeling injured by the attack, Trong
turned toward me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> "So that's where you’ve gone off to,
Amra! There's nowhere for you to run now!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another
ice arrow flew into the fish-man's back, lowering the Naiad's health to forty
percent. His health bar changed color from green to yellow. Trong Diver winced
in pain:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"It's
nothing, I'll survive another icicle attack, and then I'll have two nice
trophies, you and the Nymph! Sixty experience points from the two of you is
enough to get me straight to level five!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
these words, the Naiad made a sharp lunge forward and stabbed my chest with his
trident. I tried to dodge the attack, but I didn’t manage. Son of a bitch! That
hurt like hell!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage taken: 34 (Trident strike) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Health level: 5/39<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
shooting pain caused me to miss the chance for a return strike. The Naiad
jumped back and pulled away from me, making it impossible to hit him with the
knife again. But, fortunately, my sister didn't hesitate, and sent another
magic icicle into my attacker's back. Trong Diver's health was flashing in the
red, but the fish-man started smiling strangely:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Ha!
I survived! Now, you're dead and I'll get the experience for level four from
you, bringing my health all the way back up!" With these words, Trong
jumped toward me and jabbed with his trident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> In an incredible jump with simultaneous front
flip, I craftily evaded the sharp points under his raised left hand. But doing
so had made my Endurance Points fall severely. In that the enemy was very
close, I made an abrupt strike at his fine-scaled throat, helped by the fact
that the Naiad was no taller than me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Damage dealt: 16 (rusty kitchen knife stab 18 - armor
2)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Experience received: 120 Exp <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dodge
Skill increased to level 4!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like to choose Acrobatics (A S) as a
secondary skill?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So
that's what that was! In my attempt to elude the certain death flying toward my
chest, I had used not only Dodge, but also Acrobatics! What could I say? It was
a skill that was useful to my survival. I should take it. In the distance, the
Nymph lit up like a projector, having reached level four already. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
figuring out the game parameters, I took a look around. The body of Trong Diver
was lying in the shallows giving off a slight glow. I bent down over it and
tried to pick up the trident lying on the sand, but my fingers went straight
through the object. It must have been that the laws of the game world didn't
consider the weapon to have "dropped" and was thus still in his
inventory. Too bad. Bowing over my vanquished enemy, I tried to look at him. I
didn't have to rummage through the body. The trophy window opened. My take was
three silver coins, two empty vials and another with a cork, filled with a pale
blue liquid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Insufficient Intelligence to identify object<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alright,
I'll figure that out later or show it to my sister. I headed to Valerianna. The
Forest Nymph was peeved:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"All
my pets die too fast, both Rats and Crabs. What kind of a Beastmaster am I with
no beasts at my service?! And also, I now have a red Criminal marker over my
head. I had to attack the Naiad preemptively, which means I committed a crime.
Now, my character won't leave the game world for eight hours, even if I leave
the game. Also, have you looked at the map?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
shook my head "no," then looked at the game map on my sister's
advice. There was just a tiny lit-up circle of discovered area: the sea shore,
the two of us, and a huge black mass representing undiscovered territory. I
increased the scale, but no additional markers showed on the map. Our little
circle just got smaller and smaller until it became a dot. The words on it
didn't add any information, either:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Coordinates ?????????? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Region ????????<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"So
you see," the Nymph agreed after seeing the look of dismayed confusion on
my green face. "We're like in the middle of nowhere, and the only known
respawn point is on the broken galley, which I really don't want to go back to.
And, unfortunately, the weather today is cloudy and it's quickly growing dark.
Night will come before we can do anything. Soon, just being out here will be a
threat to our lives. But there's no reason to wait on the sea shore. We need to
go somewhere. Maybe we'll get lucky and find other respawn points. At least
then it wouldn't be so bad to die. We wouldn't have to get out of that stinking
galley again." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
agreed with Valerianna that staying where we were was stupid, and went onward.
The Forest Nymph followed after me. We started walking down the sandy beach
and, just after we got close to the dark bushes, before our eyes flashed a
message:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Congratulations,
you have passed the training mission!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Welcome
to Boundless Realm!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: #fcebb5; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">
<i>A new LitRPG series from Michael Atamanov, the bestselling author of Perimeter Defense! Video <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9F1AM7" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Game Plotline Tester (Book One of The Dark Herbalist series)</a> is available for preorder on Amazon.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">Support the author and preorder the book.</i><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</div>
Alex Boblhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10634710592198299812noreply@blogger.com0