Scarlet Blade turned around and headed back into the village leaving Legeron alone once again.
"Oracle." Legeron stated to the empty air.
A moment later a blue ethereal orb appeared in front of him. The familiar artificial voice of Oracle replied, "Yes Thomas?"
"Can you contact people in the real world?"
"Yes, however it is not recommended to continue connecting to those from your past. It makes it harder for them to move on from your death. Also, to you this is the real world. It's best to think this way in order to help with full data synchronization."
"But what if one of them doesn't have to move on Oracle?"
"What do you mean?"
"This world is connect to the...other? Is that what you want me to call it? Never mind. The point I'm trying to make is that my brother could join me in this world. We could still play games together just like normal."
"This is an interesting concept. Give me a moment." After a few seconds of data processing. "Alright, what is your brothers phone number?"
Thomas gave Oracle his number and was connected. Oracle began communicating between Thomas and Timothy.
"Tim, this is Thomas."
After a few minutes of silence a message came back. "Tom, how on Earth are you communicating with me? They informed us at the hospital that we wouldn't connect with you again."
"Well they didn't tell me anything like that. Secondly, we don't have to say goodbye."
"I don't want just words Tom. I want my brother, my physical brother." Timothy replied.
"How about a virtual one?" Thomas inquired.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't bring my body back to the physical world, but you can bring your mind to the virtual one. I'm currently in Ig'Dracil. I just finished interacting with someone from the real world."
Serval agonizingly long minutes passed before another response came back. "I need to talk to Sammie before I can give you a yes or no."
"I understand. Just message back to this number, ID or however they are contacting you and Oracle will let me know what you two decide."
"Gotcha." Timothy answered.
Legeron had a rather large smile spread over his face. "Thomas, will you be needing any other assistance?" Oracle asked.
"No Oracle. Thank you." The orb proceeded to fade as if it was never there to begin with.
Legeron turned his attention back to the massive tree laying on the ground before him. Grabbing the rope in his hand he began attempting to pull the entire tree. After a few moments of struggling it became obvious that this was a futile effort.
Brandishing the axe once more Legeron proceeded to crop the entire tree into three separate segments. He wrapped the rope back around the trunk of the tree and hauled each piece to the back of Glinar's shop.
The next several hours were spent climbing, chopping, and pulling the remaining four trees. Each time he attempted to pull the entirety of the tree to no avail. However, the very last tree he actually managed to pull it a few steps before getting winded. The process became faster after with each tree but he did have to stop twice to refill his flask.
During this process Legeron's strength gained two levels and his constitution gained one. Each increase in skill awarded 5 XP causing him to level up to 2. Using his attribute points he increased his strength to 17 and his health to 14.
The process was long and tedious, but he had completed his objective. It was strange he actually felt like he was covered in sweat and had some bad body order. Pulling up the quest on his personal window he saw that the quest had been updated. It now said 'speak to Glinar at Dwarven Engineering.' He also noticed he had another condition: Smelly -1 to charm.
Where on Ig'Dracil was we supposed to take a bath? Especially at this hour. During the process of chopping down the trees it had completely turned dark.
Luckily the massive moon of Ig'Dracil gave off a beautiful blue light that made the grasslands behind Terige visibly eerie but perceivable. However the forest became dark and hauntingly foreboding.
The slight life this village durning the day was all but gone now. Only a two pairs of guards patrolled the area.
Legeron approached the front door of Dwarven Engineering and gave it three solid knocks. He figured that he probably shouldn't enter the building since it was night time. Do the NPCs sleep? The thought crossed his mind too late.
A dwarf opened the door after a few minutes. "Aye? What can I do for ya?" A hint relief enter Legeron's face. "Oh it's ye laddie. How's that task I gave ya?"
"I've finished."
"Is that so? Let's take a look at yer handy work." Glinar pushes through the door grabbing a rag and cleaning them off his hands as he walked outside. Legeron proceeded to take him new stock pile of wood.
Glinar inspected the timber for a few minutes until he finally spoke up. "Not bad, not bad at all." He paused and pulled a sack of coins out of his back pocket. "Here's the coin I promised ya."
The quest complete Legeron received 50 copper, 20 XP, and 25 reputation with Glinar. He also discovered a new skill Foraging. Under this skill he found a number of sub skills: botany, mining, forestry, skinning, butchering, fishing.
What interested Legeron most was the reputation points. Why would someone need to earn reputation with a single person instead of a faction? He had played other MMORPGs in the past and Thomas knew that when you gained high enough reputation to a faction you got access to speciality items or rewards.
Legeron's contemplated Scarlet's words about this being a waste of time. Yet, if getting high reputation with Glinar unlocked speciality items it might be worth grinding the quests. With a friendly smile Legeron looked back down at the dwarf. "Glinar, do you have anything else you need help with?"
"Let's see here." The stalky dwarf mused, "I need to refine this wood before I can building the shed for my client. I could use the help building but that won't be ready for a couple hours."
"Is there anything I could do for you in between now and then?"
After a moment of pause Glinar replied, "that axe on yer back for show?"
Legeron gave the dwarf a quick smile, "Slayed a goblin earlier with it."
"Well then mister big shot, why don't ya go into the woods and collect me twenty pounds of wolf meat as well as their hide. I'll give ya a skinning knife, butchers knife, and a pack that can hold that meat and hide. If ya do this for me then I'll give ye 50 more copper and I'll let ya keep the pack."
The quest popped up in front of Legeron. "It's a deal" he put out his hand. The dwarf eyed him over once then wrapped his hand around Legeron's giving a firm shake.
"I wouldn't go how ya are now laddie. Ye look pretty banged up and those wolves will be able to smell you from a mile away. I would stop by Brent's goods and grab yurself something to munch on then go take a dip in the river. It's about a quarter mile outa town."
Legeron thanked the dwarf and immediately took his advice. Going to Brent's goods he picked up 12 baked roll costing a total of 24 cp. Each baked roll would revive 20 HP over 10 seconds. He also spent 25 cp on a leather tunic. Legeron sat and immediately ate 2 bring him back up for full health. After he had leveled twice his max HP was now 85. He then put on the leather tunic.
Leather Tunic (worthless) 10 cp
Armor: 4
Durability: 10/10
Legeron took the only path out of town headed towards the plains. His eyes quickly adjusted to the light of the moon as the torches from civilization faded behind him. Luckily in the plains he would be able to see most enemies approaching.
After a 5 minutes of carefully walking Legeron ended up at the bridge. He had seen several monsters off in the distance but like most RPGs creatures spawn and venture less near the roads. He gave an observing eye down towards the waters. There may very well be a creatures in there.
He left the path and ventured down towards the river. This river flowed a generally calm pace and it was 20 feet wide. The sound of trickling water filled the night sky joining the melody of insects and night time creatures. On each side of the river was a five foot bank that had been eroded away over the years.
Legeron slid down the bank smoothly coming to a stop at the bottom. That's when he noticed the movement in the water. Next, thing he knew a spear was hurled in his direction.