Health 130
Mana 220
TP 200
Strength 8
Dexterity 12
Constitution 9
Intelligence 18
Wisdom 16
Charisma 9
While the loss of XP is horrible, it’s a wakeup call that the challenge level of the dungeon has gotten too much for me and outpaced my level growth.
Between the recent death, the pile of unsellable loot, and the stack of credits I haven’t figured out how to convert to dollars, I decide it’s time to call up Lillian and see if she can help me out.
Chapter 18
Returning home via the portal, I change into some jeans and a t-shirt, then sell off my latest haul of stackable junk in the System Store.
Blue Balls (8) x 1 = 8 credits
Goombie Shoes (6) x 2 = 12 credits
Goblin Horns (2) x 3 = 6 credits
The 26 credits are added to my inventory, and I now have a total of 324 credits. Walking over to my closet door, I add another steel sword to the growing pile of loot that I’m storing there.
Steel Long Sword (3)
Long Bow (5)
Halberd (3)
Steel Short Sword (4)
Leather Armor Set (3)
I stare at the pile of weapons and armor and wish I could sell it all off. My mom came in to clean my room the other day and discovered it all. I had to make up a story about joining a LARPing group at school. Then I had to explain to her what LARPing was. Yes, I know they usually use foam weapons for their live-action role-playing games, but my mom doesn’t know that. My mom was just glad that I was making new friends and that I wasn’t becoming an arms dealer. I’m just glad I kept the laser pistol in my inventory. She’d have freaked out seeing a gun in my room.
After storing the item and closing the closet, I sit on my bed and check out my Character Sheet. A week ago, I figured out how to see exactly how much more experience I need to get to my next level. The Idiot’s Guide to the System, Vol. 1 has experience requirements.
Player XP requirements to Level
11
2100
3200
4400
5800
61600
73200
86400
912800
1025600
Additionally, if I focus on my level in the Character Sheet section, a small blue window pops up telling me how many experience points I need till my next level.
Experience Points needed to level 6: 225
I sigh at the loss of experience points from my last death, get up, and head into the kitchen to call Lillian. I’ve kept her card in my wallet since we first met, knowing that I might need to call her for assistance at some point. I dial her on the phone in the kitchen. While the phone rings, I recall that I have to deposit my check from work at the bank and I still need to purchase a new cellphone. Maybe I’ll get the new iPhone 32.
My mind is still contemplating whether I should get an Apple device or an Android phone when Lillian answers the phone. I can’t help but say the first thing that pops into my head, “What do you think is better, Android or Apple?”
“Anthony?”
“Yeah, it’s me. I wanted to get a new phone with my dungeon clearing earnings but can’t decide whether to get a new iPhone or some Android device.”
“Is that why you called me?”
“Well, no. But since I have you on the line, I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.”
“Hmmm, well I have a policy never to discuss religion, politics, or enter into the Apple versus Android debate until at least the third date. So, I’m afraid I can’t help you decide. Was there another reason you called?”
Is it me, or did I detect a slight note of hope in her voice?
“Well, you told me to call you if I had any questions about the dungeons or the System. I’m stuck. I have a bunch of loot I can’t sell at the System Store, and I also have a bunch of credits I’d like to change into dollars, but I don’t know how. It’s not exactly something I can Google.”
There’s a moment of silence, “So you found a dungeon and have been going inside?”
“Uh, yeah. I happened to come across one in the area and thought I’d check it out and happen to pick up some stuff I can’t sell at the System Store in my bedroom.”
I hear a snort and small giggle, “You made your home base your bedroom?”
“Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?”
There’s a definite note of amusement in her voice as she answers. “No, it’s just not something most people do. Your home base is where you plan for dungeon diving, setup crafting stations, trade stations, research stations. It’s usually more of a place of business.” She stifles another laugh, “I mean, it’s hard to plan a twelve-man dungeon dive if everyone has to sit on your bed and try not to touch the crusty socks you have laying around.”
“Oh, I didn’t know all that. See, this is why I’m calling you. I need your feminine wisdom.”
“Ok, you don’t have to butter me up. Use the port system to link up to my home base, and we’ll talk about all this in person.”
“The what?”
“The port system. Haven’t you been reading the guidebook I gave you?”
“Well, I read the parts I needed and sort of skimmed through the rest.”
“Oh god. You’re such a newb. Just read the part of the port system and use the business card I gave you to establish a link with my home base. Then you can come over, and we can talk in person.”
We say our goodbyes, and I hang up the phone. Back in my room, I pull out The Idiot’s Guide to the System, Vol. 1 and look up the port system.
Port System
Do you want to travel to faraway lands but hate waiting in those long lines at the airport? Well, now you can travel instantaneously using the Port System. For a measly 100 credits per link, you can establish a connection to another place on earth and teleport there. The best part? Once the connection is established, you can travel there as often as you like.
To set the connection with a typical real-world location, you just have the spatial and temporal coordinates of that place. This information can be found using the Mapping skill. Establishing a connection, a home base or other System location requires special data. Users often share this data through handheld devices or unique business cards embedded with the needed data.
Additionally, linking with a User’s home base or System business requires permission from the owner of that System property that will be requested when trying to establish the connection. Even if permission is granted, it can be revoked at any time. So, you don’t have to worry about your ‘ex’ porting into your home base while you’re not there.
Unfortunately, because of their temporary nature and the danger associated with them, you will not be able to establish a direct connection to a dungeon.