"We need to figure out how we can level up, gain some skills, and get better weapons," Fergus said. "This realm seems to be a little more difficult in those areas."
"I like harder," Rand said. "It makes the game more interesting, but they did go a little overboard on the realistic aspects of this world."
"Right now I'm only interested in something to eat," Tiana replied. "My stomach is growling. Seriously, it sounds like an angry cat."
Fergus slanted a look at her. He was hungry, but not that hungry. But the longer they played, the more realistic that realm seemed. It made him wonder how painful Killum's death was when the troll thrust a huge spear through his heart.
"Maybe not every aspect of enhanced reality is good," he muttered. He checked his map. "The town seems to be just a few miles away. We'll find a pub or tavern, and wait for Killum and Asha. Tiana's buying, since she has money. Once we're all together, then we can set up a time to meet up and start exploring this place."
He was getting tired. Fergus would rather eat in real life than in the Game. Besides, he needed some time to contemplate the new realm. There had to be something on the Internet about it, and maybe he could find some hacks to improve his lot in the Game.
"It'll be epic," Rand said. "The mob bards will be singing my name within a month!"
Fergus picked up the pace. Rand groaned, but said nothing. Even Tiana sounded like she was struggling to keep up. He didn't care. Reaching town was imperative. Hopefully, Asha would already be there. Then they'd only have to wait for Killum to join them.
Less than half an hour later, they walked out of the woods and into farmland. The town could be seen in the distance, atop a bluff over the river. A dark, smoky haze hovered over Oxenbluff.
"Lots of peasant farmer mobs," Tiana said. "Maybe I can steal a few purses."
The ranger didn't answer. None of the farmers were on the road. And what a road. If it wasn't for the ox cart ruts, he'd never call it a road. Also, fields were separated by low stone walls, which also lined the road all the way to town. And it was the crookedest road he’d ever seen.
It was late afternoon when they reached Oxenbluff. Well, technically they reached the suburbs. Really, it was a dirty looking shantytown. All of the structures looked haphazardly thrown together. Nothing was over two stories high, and few even bothered with a second floor. He could see wide stretches of blackened ruin where buildings recently burned down. Even the muddy streets were black with ash.
"I swear, every fantasy race is represented here," Tiana said. "I see elves, drows, an ogre, and even a pair of orks."
"Yeah, don't look, but some goblins are following us," Fergus whispered. "I don't think they want to welcome us to town, either."
"I saw them. They were all sitting in a beer garden we passed," Tiana said. "They definitely plan to rob us. I'm missing my enchanted mantle big time."
Fergus studied the streets and the people crowded within those twisting, narrow corridors. It would be hard to run through that packed humanity. He glanced at their pursuit.
Goblin warrior (Lvl 2). -1 Dark.
Goblin hunter (Lvl 7). -9 Dark. PK: 5.
Goblin farmer (Lvl 4). -2 Dark. PK: 1.
And those were just the ones in front. Very Dark, with way too many PKs for such low levels. Not a good sign.
"They're closing on us," he said. Pointing at the town gate. "We have to reach the gate before they catch us."
The path to the gate was not obvious. Time was running out. And with only him having a real weapon, it didn't look good.
Chapter 10
The elfmaid stopped, panting lightly. A smile spread across her face as she looked across cultivated fields. The town of Oxenbluff at last.
"I've never felt so alive," Asha whispered, glancing back into the woods.
To help avoid the goblins that killed her, the elven sorceress tested her elven roots and ran through the forest. Asha might be a Desert Elf, but she loved running through the forest. And her elven body could do it for hours on end. Now she wanted to run everywhere.
The sun was low on the western horizon. She smiled, feeling relief at making it to Oxenbluff before dark. Hopefully, her friends would be waiting for her inside the town.
"I just have to find the pub in which they are getting drunk."
That gave her pause. Could they actually get drunk from drinking in this realm? In the previous realm she'd gotten "drunk" a few times, but she never felt anything. Her character's movements would slow, it would be hard to walk a straight line, and such. In this new improved VR realm, Asha was pretty sure she'd feel the effects of alcohol more profoundly.
"I'll find out soon enough," she said, and took off at a fast trot. "Since I'm stuck here, getting wasted tonight sounds pretty good."
After being killed, Asha spend a good bit of time scouring through her HUD and checking all of her options. There was NO EXIT. Being killed didn't kick her out of the Game, and she didn't have an option to leave it and return to the real world. But she couldn't believe there was absolutely no way to leave the game.
Asha just had to find it.
Just as bad, the HELP option had vanished. She could not ask for help, or talk to that annoying Admin. Asha had a moment of panic when it sank in that she was trapped inside the Game. The long run to Oxenbluff had helped to calm her down.
"I might be in the Game for a while," she muttered. "Customer service is really going to get an earful now."
She approached the town from the east. The river ran north and south, with Oxenbluff on a bluff on the eastern side of the river. Farmland encircled the town, with a village on the other side of the river and more farmland. The elfmaid didn't study agriculture in the real world, but it looked like enough farmland to feed the small town.
The narrow, muddy roads between the farms were anything but straight. And they could easily get crowded, forcing her to a walk more than once. Asha wondered if she was the only one in a hurry in that world.
"My lord, oxen are slow," she muttered as she squeezed past an ox cart.
"Hiya, sweetie. You want a ride?" the peasant up on the cart asked and wagged his brows suggestively. "I'll give you a long, hard ride into town."
Her jaw dropped. Mobs rarely spoke to her in the other realm, except to challenge her to a fight or make some rude comment. Though, his comment was sexual, and rude, it was the first time a mob propositioned her. But he seemed different, so she concentrated on him.
Jarl. Human freeman farmer (Lvl 28). +2 Light. PK: 2.
"You're a player!"
"You know I am, baby, and if you'll – " Jarl stopped, and his eyes narrowed for a second. "Oh, you're an Immortal. Sorry. I thought you were a mob. Elf mobs are generally pretty frisky and always looking for a good time." He grinned at her. "Don't be surprised if you get hit on a lot in town."