The Secret of the Dark Forest ( (The Way of the Shaman: Book #3) (9 page)

Just a few minutes later a young Danrei lady came out, holding Gloves, Pants, a Belt and, by the looks of it, Bracers. Well, well, let's see what we’ve got?

Shaman Pants of Danreic Inspiration. Durability: unbreakable. Description: +10 to the maximum level of Energy, +(Character level*6) Intellect, +(Character level*3) Stamina, +(Character level*2) Agility, +(Character level*4) to defense from all damage types. Item class: Scaling set. Level restrictions: No.

Set of two items: +30 to the maximum level of Energy.

Set of four items: +(Character level*10) to Intellect, +(Character level*10) Stamina.

A similar set of stats came with the Gloves, the Belt and the Bracers. I put the set aside and asked to be shown a few more items, but no combination of four ordinary items could ever approach this set. It looked like my choice was made.

"I'm taking these." I pointed to the Danreic Inspiration set and then asked my guide, "can you tell me why you hold Anastaria in such high regard?"

"The great warrior" replied the Danrei solemnly, "aided my people in gaining knowledge of our world. I cannot tell you more; you should ask her yourself. Thank you for making the choice so quickly. Some free citizens spend up to a few days inside our walls, trying to evaluate every item."

I put on the set and looked at my stats. Fear me, mere mortals! 1958 Stamina and 1958 Intellect. That's aside from my still unspent 265 stat. points. I was afraid to even think how much such a set might cost.

"Have you come up with something else to interest me?" asked Anastaria playfully as soon as we left the Thricinians, "or have you got nothing else?"

“Nothing?" I said with overplayed surprise. "Of course I have something to tempt you with. Like this thing, for example." I took out the Eye of the Dark Widow, which I'd shown off to Evolett, uncovered its properties and showed it to Stacey. "But that's just something I have among all the other bits and pieces."

After she saw the Eye's properties the girl's face once again turned into an unreadable mask.

"So, will you come over?" I asked. "I have a lot of stuff like this, I just don’t have anyone who's able to utilize it."

"Two million gold clean – free of your tax – and the boosting of your entire clan to level 120, including all those that you invite. Half of the loot that we'll get in the raid will be yours …" Stacey immediately found her bearings and started to bombard me with offers for buying the Eye. Strange, is it really that valuable? In that case I'm a damned fool for showing it off now and not after I reached level 100.

"It's not for sale. I've already declined Evolett and I will refuse you too. The Eye is only for the Seathistles clan, so you decide." I smiled once again. "The place of the deputy is free and awaits you."

"Send me an invite." Anastaria's calm voice stopped me dead in my tracks. What on earth is 'send me an invite' supposed to mean? Is she for real? Or is she calling my bluff?

I opened the interface of the invitation to the clan, selected Anastaria and sent her a clan invite, specifying the position of the 'Deputy Head'. The probability that she was bluffing was just too high, so I wasn't too worried. Leaving Phoenix for Seathistles ... Her own clan would shoot her on the spot ...

Player Anastaria has joined the Seathistles clan.

Rank: Deputy Head of the clan.

Clan achievement gained: A hundred's no limit.

Clan achievement gained: Two hundred in my sights.

Clan achievement gained: Three hundred's no myth.

Due to the presence of players that earned the First Kill of the Bloody Scythe Dungeon, the Seathistles clan gains:

The speed of Energy regeneration for all clan members, increased by 10%.

The speed of Hit Point regeneration for all clan members, increased by 10%.

These properties combine with other properties of other Dungeon First Kills.

Due to the presence of players that earned the First Kill of the Dungeon of Fear, the Seathistles clan gains: ...

And then followed the list of 25 First Kills, giving bonuses to all clan members.

"And now, Mahan, we will sign an agreement," purred Anastaria, looking pleased. "You can't have any secrets from your deputy. Otherwise it would be the wrong sort of clan ... "

E
veryone knows the expression: 'Turn to stone'. Although it was something I thought impossible, it looked like this was a time for all preconceptions to come crashing down. Anastaria had joined Seathistles as deputy head of the clan. Aside from the fact that both Phoenix and the admirers of this sweet scoundrel will have my head for this, even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to remove her from the clan for the next three months: the leaders are closely linked to their clan, so they have to be chosen very carefully. From the moment they're appointed it isn't possible to disband the clan, not as long as it contains someone else holding the deputy head position. ... Something was telling me that my little joke had landed me in a whole world of trouble.

"Stacey, what are you up to?" I attempted to recover from the shock, regain my composure and try to wriggle out of the situation. Transferring from one clan to another was nothing out of the ordinary and players often switched their membership, which is why the leading clans introduced salaries and offered bonuses, such as places in exclusive raids, in order to keep their core team together. People are the most important resource in Barliona and can become the object of stiff competition. The structure of any clan is very simple: head, deputy, treasurer, castle owner and normal members. This standard set-up can be changed at any time after a chat with the registrar. I decided not to complicate things and left the standard structure in place. I could review it once other people started to join. Now then: because any player may leave the clan at any time, the clan founder, in this case me, would sign a temporary agreement with the hired players covering the exchange of information, joint exploits, leveling up, access to resources and other game-related things. Moreover, as far as I know, such agreements are not signed with everyone, but only with players of some importance to the clan. I was frantically trying to remember everything that I knew about clans, when Anastaria said, looking pleased:

"Deputy head ... you know, it's the first time this has happened to me – to be so dramatically demoted in the gaming social ladder: from the head of the best clan in Malabar to a deputy of a new and completely unknown clan. You owe me a cookie."

"Stacey, you didn't answer me. Despite the apparent recklessness of your decision, I don't believe you've made it on the spur of the moment. That's not the kind of person you are, so do please spill the beans on what's going on and why you accepted my invitation. And what's with the dirty hints about the absence of secrets between clan members and the disappointment of the Heralds? Are you trying to you call my bluff?"

"Let's go to the Golden Horseshoe for dinner and for a chat, ‘bossling’. We will spend at least three months together, so it's time you put all your cards on the table. I bet you've never been inside the Horseshoe. I'll pay."

As soon as we stepped inside the Tavern we were dressed in the compulsory evening attire. I looked at Anastaria and was stunned: a glamorous, dark, figure-hugging dress showing considerable cleavage, an ideally matching necklace, the hairstyle ... I was looking at the embodiment of every man's dream. If she's anything like her gaming avatar in reality, all the top suitors in the world would be fighting over her.

"Can I be of assistance?" A waiter had materialized next to us but couldn't help staring at Anastaria wide-eyed.

"I need a table for my lady friend and myself," I said, beating her to it, and eliciting another astonished stare from the girl. What, something else you didn't know about? Surprise!

"Please follow me," the waiter directed us towards the depths of the hall. I don't know why, but I offered Anastaria my arm, which she accepted without hesitation, and we followed the waiter, like a model couple. The hall was almost deserted – only a couple of tables were occupied. There sat the tavern's patrons, surrounded by domes of 'Silence' and 'Distortion': the Golden Horseshoe looked after the virtual secrets of its guests.

I pulled out a chair, helping Anastaria to sit down and, having once again sent my silent gratitude to Clouter for his lessons, started to look through the menu. As I pretended to concentrate on choosing the dishes, I tried to think through the impending conversation. Arguing with Anastaria in the street would've been very bad form – it's not like we're little children or anything, screaming and stamping our feet all over the place. Brrr ... I realize that there are pros and cons for the clan as a result of the presence such a member, so first I would like to understand what it is that Phoenix wants and then decide which of these things I'm prepared to give up.

"You have access to the Golden Horseshoe": that was more of a statement than a question from Anastaria. When ordering I hadn't even looked at the names of the dishes in the menu and just picked the first thing at random, so I was now staring at some long, blue sticks that were wriggling for some reason. Had I not spent time in the mines, just the sight of them would have been nauseating, let alone imagining eating something like that. But after the monumental mass of green goo that we were fed at Pryke, any food would look appetizing.

"Of course. Why on earth shouldn't I," I emphasized the last word, "have access to this place? Since we're talking now, please do explain the performance that you put on earlier and what I can now expect from Phoenix."

"Performance? Expect from Phoenix?" Anastaria pointedly raised an eyebrow, as if she had no clue what I was talking about. "You offered me to switch clans and I agreed."

She gets zero points for that. It really has been a difficult day today and it doesn't look like it's going to get better any time soon. And tomorrow I'll have to meet up with the guys and explain to them why I invited someone into the clan without giving them any say on it and why I immediately offered her the position of deputy head. "Stacey, let's talk plainly now! I do, of course, understand that you may leave at any time, but as head of the clan I have a whole day to flesh out an agreement with you, which will include a point about your compulsory presence in the clan for the next three months during which I cannot remove you. Care to refresh my memory on what's scheduled to happen in the next three months? If I remember correctly, this will be the period of preparation for the inter-clan competition, time which you will not spend within Phoenix. Are you prepared for this?"

"Blackmail really doesn't become you."

"And your words about the 'wrong sort of clan' weren't blackmail?"

"How I hate all these negotiations." The girl leant back into her chair. "It's a lot more interesting to solve the developers' puzzles, come up with plans for successful Dungeon runs or explore Barliona's history. Right now I'm sitting here doing my best to look all aloof and mysterious. No-one approved my leaving – Ehkiller has already contacted me and said he'll have my head if I don't return to the clan before the other players find out, so I'll be in your clan right up until the moment we leave the Horseshoe. Then I'll ditch you most unceremoniously. Why on earth did I do it ... ?" Anastaria fell silent and stared at her plate of food.

"Information," I completed her thought, "you need information. But why do you need information about a mere 67 level player? Compared to you I'm a total nobody and a noob."

"You want me to tick off the points on my fingers for you? I'll do it, I’m not too proud: The Karmadont Chess Set, the Cursed Chess Pieces, taking part in the Kartoss launch scenario, possession of information on Dragons, possession of a key to another world, inexplicable immunity to my poison ... Speaking of which – HOW? And access to the Golden Horseshoe, to top it all off! So there you are – the fingers of one hand were insufficient to count the ways in which you differ from a noob. I thought that in the moment of euphoria from getting such a player to join your clan you'd spill the beans on at least some of these things ... I'm sorry, I formed a mistaken opinion where your brains are concerned. I'm honest, as you can see. I really do want to get information on all these things, which is why I risked taking such a step. I simply improvised ..."

Player Anastaria has left the Seathistles clan.

The Seathistles clan loses the following bonuses from the First Kill: ...

Just a few seconds later the emblem of Phoenix appeared next to the girl's name. Anastaria returned to her clan.

"Key to another world – what are you on about?" I decided to clarify a point that had been bothering me.

"The Eye that you showed me: this quest takes place both in Barliona and in the world to which the Tarantulas departed. I could be wrong, but judging by similar quests, we would first have to kill a Priest who intends to bring back the Old Ones, then activate the Eye and jump to the other world, where we would meet up with the spiderlings of doom and show them the error of their ways. At the end of the quest each member gets an amulet that usually grants an extra 5–10 levels to a character and a certain amount of Reputation with the Emperor. And the First Kill, of course. The usual stuff."

"I see; thanks. Well, since we're off to such a good start, can you explain to me why you need the Karmadont Chess Set?"

"Aside from the fact that it's an exceptionally unique item in the game, it unlocks access to the founder of this world. According to the information we've obtained, the cave that contains the creator or whoever he left behind him also contains the very best bonuses in the game. This is somewhere I'd very much like to see, so I'm prepared to pay a lot for an 'entry ticket'. Until all the elements of the Chess Set are put together, it's of little use. Access is only possible when this takes place. The path to the place where the Chess Set can be activated is veiled in riddles contained in each type of chess piece. The first is contained in the Orcs. Have you solved it?"

"Why are you telling me all this?" I shrewdly deflected her question with one of my own.

"I'm trying to establish good relations between our clans. Would you have some pity on a girl already and give me a chance to solve the riddles? I'm not asking for the Chess Pieces, the riddles will be enough for me."

"Hold on. I still don't get why this performance, – all this drama with leaving Phoenix – was required. We could've just sat down and had a chat. But no, you felt you had to put on a show ..."

"Not everything that I do happens on your account," smiled the girl. "What I did ... it was something I needed to do ... it was personal and has nothing to do with you."

"It looks like it already does. At the very least the waiter has already seen that you're no longer in Phoenix, and because for everyone you are ... an ideal, an icon ... all in all, this could affect me as well, especially when your admirers find out about it."

"Some 'ideal'," smiled Anastaria. "Thanks for the compliments, of course it's always nice to receive them, especially from someone who is doing all he can to resist my womanly charms," the girl smiled once again "but it's a pity you see me in this way. In truth, appearance is only a mask, what's inside a person is much more important. This is why I decided not to take part in the beauty contest this year. I've had enough of it. All these envious stares from other girls, the persistence of the men who try to find me in reality. ... They offer to shower me in riches if I agree to be theirs. ... It's all a bit too much, really. Although I'm already twenty-eight, I still haven't managed to find a worthy companion. ... But enough about sad things. I have a request: please don't divulge what I've just told you. There are many rumors circulating about it – starting from me supposedly being a cold-hearted bitch and ending with polyandry being my true preference – so it’s not as if another rumor would make much of a difference, but ... if you don't mind, please forget what I’ve just told you."

"It's already forgotten. As far as your love for riddles is concerned, I have something for you. Here's the description. Perhaps you'll like it." I wrote down the formulas from the Orcs and passed them to Anastaria. Let her have some fun and I'll have a chance to find out how long it takes her to find the answer.

"The Pythagoras Theorem, the Fibonacci sequence and the formula for volume?" Anastaria became immersed in thought as she examined the formula descriptions: "Two multipliers, one equals sign and seven numbers after the dot? What is this?"

"An equation. You have to solve it."

"There isn't a solution here. These formulas have no meaning."

"You disappoint me. A solution exists and it’s the only one possible. Find it."

* * *

The next morning I headed for the Jolly Gnoom tavern. It was unclear why it was called 'Gnoom' instead of 'Gnome'. The tavern was run by an NPC, so the name was the prerogative of the developers. Which of them came up with the idea (or perhaps made a typo) remains shrouded in mystery.

As I occupied a table and ordered some food providing +10% Intellect for 24 hours, I was still unable to quite recover from Anastaria's maneuver yesterday. What did she want to say by leaving Phoenix? Why did she join me? I had a gut feeling that this wouldn't end with the explanation that I was given and I had no idea which direction to dig in to get at the truth. I just didn't have enough information to hand.

"Hey there, 67th." A familiar voice sounded next to me, bringing a smile to my face. "Where’d you manage to level up like this?"

25-level Eric, 20-level Clutzer and 19-level Leite were standing in front of me. Judging by their levels, these guys had kept themselves busy in the past three months: if not for the Beatwick battle, they would've been well ahead of me in leveling up. Well done to them, all in all.