Survival Quest (The Way of the Shaman: Book #1) (8 page)

Your reputation with the Pryke Mine Guards increased by 1 point. Current level: Neutral. You are 999 points away from the status of Friendly.

Skill increase:

+10% to Trade. Total: 10%

Of course I agree! So, levelling up in the Trade profession depends on how often I bargain. That's good to know. I'm no expert in bargaining, but I can learn if need be. I was also glad to find out that the sale of gathered resources increased reputation, even if just a little.

I agreed and handed over the meat and was about to hand over the pelts when I was stopped by a shout:

"Mahan, hold on!"

I turned around in surprise. The approaching man had a striking resemblance to Salvador Dalí, with his prominent moustache, mad gaze and upturned chin...

"Mahan, I heard that you intend to sell Rat skins to this honorable dwarf," he said, bowing in Rine's direction. But everyone in the mine knows that Batiranikaus (or simply Bat), would be exceedingly pleased to buy them off you for 15 copper coins a piece. Do we have a deal?"

"15 coins? But this honorable dwarf," I said, mimicking his tone, "was offering to buy all my pelts for 20 copper a piece. So, since we've already come to an agreement, I am not prepared to risk damaging my relations with him for less than 25 coins," I winked at the dwarf, who was listening to our bargaining with a pleased smile.

"25 coins! Oh gods! Weeell... all right, I'll give you 25 coins per skin: here you go," Bat agreed surprisingly quickly and handed me a silver coin. "Now hand over my skins."

Skill increase:

+10% to Trade. Total: 20%

"Take them," I pointed to the Rat skins that lay on the table and turned around to Rine to move on to Rat tails, only to be interrupted by a terrible scream:

"Guards!" Bat screamed at the top of his voice. "Guards, Mahan swindled money out of me! He's a cheat! I demand protection!"

Immediately a crowd of prisoners formed around us, through which the overseers were trying to make their way.

"What happened here?" one of them asked in a low bass.

"Dear law enforcement officer! This unworthy man," Bat pointed at me, "took advantage of my foolish naivety and swindled me out of 2 silver coins."

"Is this true?" the guard turned to me.

"Of course not, I..."

"He threatened Bat, I saw it myself!" a shout from the crowd interrupted me. "He said that he would kill Bat if he would not give him the money!" "Don't give him any food!" "Let him croak!" came shouts from the crowd, which put me in a state of shock, as I looked around, not getting what was going on. All the people had amiable expressions, even Bat, who stood next to me and with a totally genial and friendly gaze, shouted that I was a piece of scum that cheated him. I started to think I was going mad. What was going on here???

"Quiet," a stern growl from the overseer silenced the crowd. "Now we'll get to the truth!"

The guard mumbled something and a hologram appeared next to him, where you could see how Bat handed over the money to me. He gave me the money and then I waved my hand in the direction of the table where the pelts were lying, but this gesture could be read as 'Get out of here", I then turned away from Bat as if saying that the conversation was over. Blast it! It really didn't look too great from outside; as if I was some dodgy racketeer. The projection disappeared and I stared at the guard in silence.

"Here's my decision," the overseer growled once again. "Mahan immediately gives Batiranikaus back one, I repeat, ONE silver, and, because it's his first time and he's new here, the incident will be overlooked. If he is caught doing anything like this once again he will be punished by being stripped of all his skill points. I'm done here! Now everyone back to their barracks!"

I silently gave the money back to Bat, and reached out to pick up the Rat skins, but it was no use. My hands simply passed through the skins as if they were no longer mine. That's right! I had already handed them over to Bat!

"Thank you!" Bat said with a smile, shoving the skins into his sack. "Come to me if you get any more."

Bat smiled once again and left, leaving me to stand next to Rine in a state of total incomprehension: how could people with such open and nice expressions, always smiling and greeting you, be so cruel and backstabbing? After all, aren't they creative people? Why do they have so much hatred for everyone? Those shouts: "Let him rot... I saw how he threatened...". Why?

"Why are you holding up the queue?" Rine's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Let's deal with your Rat tails, can't abide these grey critters."

"Yes, of course," I mumbled, feeling lost as I turned back to Rine. I need to get a grip. So what if I lost the skins: I'll be wiser next time and will hand them over personally.

"Right, for each Rat tail I usually pay 10 copper coins. Here's your money and be on your way, the queue behind you isn't getting any shorter!

Your reputation with the Pryke Mine Guards has increased by 4 points. Current level: Neutral. You are 995 points away from the status of Friendly.

After getting my food, I headed for the barracks. I had no desire to talk with other prisoners today and for a long time I could not fall asleep. I turned this way and that, but the oppressive feeling of injustice I experienced just would not let go.

"Quit spinning around or you'll drill a hole through your bed. You're keeping the rest of us up! Did something happen?" I heard Kart's voice next to me.

I described what happened today, even getting up in the process, but Kart suddenly laughed. What now? I'm telling him of the terrible injustice of this world, but he's laughing at me! Seeing that I was about to get all indignant, Kart waved me down and, clearing his throat began to explain:

"Well, my friend, you sure gave me a good laugh! Best I've had in a while. What can I say... ? Congratulations: you've encountered the second peculiarity of our mine, usually newcomers don't get it from the start. If I understand correctly, you still haven't grasped what's really going on here, right?" Seeing that I shook my head, Kart continued: "I will give you a couple of clues. First: today you probably levelled up in the Mining profession and got to feel what happens when you do that. Right? Right. Think about that. Second: there are myriads of stats that a character can have. Of these a fair number are non-standard, but you can pick only 4. As you know, I have the little-known stat of Chattiness — I get experience from telling everyone about everything. Get it now?"

I felt that either I was stupid or Kart and I were speaking a different language: I simply failed to see where he was going with it. What did Chattiness, free stats, and pleasure from levelling up in a profession have to do with anything?

"All right, I'll put you out of your misery, and it'll give me more chance to level up in any case. First of all, think about what you noticed in the morning. Though no — I'll start with the main thing. You already felt the pleasure involved from levelling up in a profession and I am sure that it was a sensation very much to your liking. This is nothing compared to levelling up in one of your stats. The pleasure from levelling up in a stat is so intense that you want more and more. And the higher the stat level, the harder it is to level up again — that's the axiom. This is why players who reach level twelve, which is the maximum level for the main stats in Pryke, disappear. I have no idea where they are sent, so no point asking me. This pleasure is the main difference between a mine for prisoners from the rest of the gameworld. The main world doesn't have this feature; after all, they play using filters, which are virtually impossible to remove. Now, about what you saw in the morning. Almost everyone in the mine walks around smiling at each other and everyone seems so nice for one simple reason - the Amiability stat. At the starter levels it gets levelled by you simply walking around and smiling at everyone, but from level 6 you actually have to believe that you like the person in front of you, that you like talking to him and smiling and so on; you shouldn't feel any falseness. That's the only way to continue gaining experience. I remember one guy who got his Amiability as far as level 32. After all, this is not one of the main stats and you can get it up as high as one hundred."

Kart was silent for a moment, catching his breath, and then went on:

"As far as what happened this evening is concerned... A person finds it easiest to level up in what he practiced in real world. So what comes out on top here is... It's the skill of Meanness. In our mine most are levelling up in Amiability and Meanness at the same time. So that's why everyone tries to play some low and dirty trick on someone else: you can't strike directly, but arranging something that could lead to injury is quite doable. This is why people get very inventive in thinking up newer and more effective methods for doing this. You're new here, so people will be using the simplest stuff against you, like the trick that was played on you in the evening. Gradually these will get more complex, for which fact you have my condolences. Everyone has gone through this. As one good man, who, by the way, left for the main gameworld on parole, said, you can give our mine the following motto: 'The Hypocritical Mine' or 'The Mine of Hypocrites'. So that's the way things are around here."

Only swear words came to my mind for commenting on what Kart just said. God, what a place to end up in!

Chapter 4

The Pryke Mine. The First Week

"T
OO-OO-OO! BAM!

So here we are. The second day has begun. I was having quite a dream before that interruption... There was me and there was the ore; I was mining it, but it was having none of that. It was running from me on little legs all around my section and throwing Rats at me. The Rats were dropping tails which were crawling after me. What nonsense!

As nice as it was to lie in bed, it was time to get up — the work was calling me. I glanced at Kart, who was dressing next to me, and in the end couldn't help asking:

"Kart, can you tell me something? You've already spent ten years here and I'm sure had all kinds of dirty tricks played on you by other prisoners. What else can I expect? I really don't want to be a 'training dummy' for those after experience gain. At the least I could snap back at them."

"The favorite occupation of everyone levelling up in Meanness is to force someone to inflict an injury intentionally. The dirty bastard gets injured, falls down and suffers, but the person who inflicted the damage drops to the ground drained of Energy and dies in a couple of minutes. The higher the level of the person you downed like that, the more experience you get in Meanness. So many people here form groups in order to have at least some security. Bat, who you met yesterday, is the leader of the largest of these groups: his gang is made up of almost eighty people. He has the highest level in Meanness in the whole of the mine. You're new, so there's little sense in killing you straight away, but playing dirty tricks on you is easy enough."

"Are you part of any group?"

"Me? No, I'm not. Not interested. My goal is to serve my time and leave the Game forever; and those who level up in Meanness are the ones that plan to keep playing."

"But what does this stat give you? For example, Intellect gives you mana and increases its regeneration speed. But Meanness? I don't understand why people would want to level up in it."

"I don't know for certain, but from what others told me, in the mine Meanness is used only because it's the easiest thing to level up in: mix some sand into someone's food and you get a level. Just to give you a rough idea. But this stat mainly comes into full play outside the mine. After all, not everyone wants to become some great, dragon-slaying hero. Many choose to play the dark side of the game and become thieves and assassins. That's where this stat comes in handy. But, as I said, I don't know exactly what it gives you."

"Right, I see. How’d you end up here? After all, you don’t get fifteen years for stealing lollipops," I asked and, seeing how Kart tensed up, I quickly explained why I needed to know this. "You see, I like to know the people that I deal with and of all the prisoners only you've been speaking normally to me so far. So that's why I decided to get to know you a bit better. Or is this subject over the line?”

"No, it's just that I thought.... that... Well, whatever — no harm in telling you the story: in real life I was one of the inner circle of a very influential person and knew very many of his secrets. When he went bankrupt, I was given a choice: either to tell all I knew or to get sealed in a capsule for the max term of fifteen years. They could not break me outside so they shut me in here; even rewarded me with a 'suitable' profession to boot: 'Informer'...  You see, if I start to level up in it then probably in six months or so I will start talking about my boss in order to increase my level...  And I don't want to do that, because even though he was a bit of a rogue, he always stood up for his own people and tried to help as much as he could. So it's better if I...."

Suddenly Kart started to tremble, fell on his bed and became surrounded by a faint glow. This didn't last long and soon Kart sat up and turned to me, looking rather pleased.

"Ah, I know why I like you," he smiled. "We've not had anyone new at the mine for over half a year. With you I started to increase my skill again, since no-one at the mine would listen to me for free."

"For free?"

"What did you think? People in here catch on pretty fast when making extra cash is involved. It’s me rather than them who has the need to tell them something. And they have to be actually listening too. So that's how many try to make money out of me."

"If it's no secret, what are your other stats? You've probably already picked all four by now."

"Me? By now my Chattiness is up to level 19. Amiability is at level 8 – another must-have. Everyone's levelling in it, so I've joined the club. I increased Smithing to level 4, but then stopped. To be a Smith you need a large amount of ore and I spend virtually all of mine on the daily quota. I've reached level 10 in Mining, and it's not getting any higher, thankfully, since my Informing is at zero. This way I have to hand in 100 pieces of ore a day. Ah yes, Smithing is not a stat, but a profession. As for my other stats I have three levels in Marksmanship and nine in Endurance. Now I rather regret picking them. There are no real opponents at the mine, only Rats, and chasing them around is a nightmare. Even though you do get additional reputation for each tail, the amount of time you spend trying to hit one of them is ridiculous. And it's your pick that you have to throw at the Rat, because nothing else generates aggro with it. I tried throwing a bowl, a copper ingot, even a boot - all of it goes through the Rat as if it wasn't there. Throwing the pick is another world of trouble, since it often flies out of your section. And what if it hits someone walking by? Then I would be done for in the blink of an eye. So I just mind my own business and don't touch the Rats. Although my hands are just itching to go after them, to put it mildly. So much free reputation running around right under your nose, but you can't touch it. And I have just a little to go until Respect status too."

"But why would you be 'done for' right away? You'll be thrown back to level one, all your stats will turn to zero and you'll start levelling up again. What's the problem?"

"The problem is that the Game remembers the parameters of each person playing it. When a prisoner levels up his skills, he receives pleasure and he wants more and more. But when he dies, he loses all the points gained in skills and professions and won’t get a new dose of pleasure until he reaches their level at the time of his death. For example, if I die, that's it. I'll never again feel the sensation I just felt from levelling up in Chattiness. Of course, I'll keep trying for a few more months and then just fade away. I'll be gripped by apathy. We already had people like that, so I had plenty of chances to observe this. When someone falls into apathy, he stops working and gets transferred somewhere else. That's the way the cookie crumbles. 

"I read that the habit of gaining pleasure gives rise to Addiction among the prisoners, which on release is treated in rehabilitation centers. Everyone gets sent there once they finish their terms — it's compulsory. This is also the reason why those who regain their freedom do everything they can to avoid going back to Barliona: they will be given the same class, same profession and all the same stats, but the system would remember the last time they levelled up at the mines. You can create and delete three hundred characters, the system would still remember that you were in a prison. They would start at the first level, but in order to receive pleasure, they would have to bring all their stats and professions to their old level again. And this is very difficult. Many totally lose it, scream and attack other players or succumb to apathy. And again, they disappear from the mine. This is why ex-cons spend nearly all their time in Barliona continuing to develop the characters they had as prisoners, to avoid going back as prisoners and starting from scratch. And Meanness allows them to find their place in Barliona.”

"How do you manage to avoid being set up by Bat and the others? After all, you are one of the highest level players at the mine. Level 11, right? Someone can gain several levels in one go if you die."

"It's simple. I managed to increase my reputation with the mine guards to Friendly and when someone tried to play me again, the governor gathered everyone and said that he would be very upset if anything happened to me. So it's been three months now since anyone touched me. Anyway, I've lost track of time chatting with you. We should go or we'll miss the food."

"Wait, one last thing. I discovered that I can cast healing spells, but that I can only heal someone else, not myself. Would you mind it if I healed you in the morning and in the evening? Only do me a favor: don't laugh, because the whole healing bit looks ridiculous."

"No problem, it might even be interesting: in all my time here no-one tried to heal me, most tend to want to do the opposite. Also, I've never seen a Shaman's kamlanie, so it should be interesting to watch."

I summoned the Spirits of Healing twice for Kart and, depleting my mana reserves, saw the now familiar message.

+20% to Intellect. Total: 50%

Your Hit Points have been reduced by 2. Total: 38 of 40.

What's this?

Attention, you have healed another player. You have unlocked a new stat: Healing. The higher your level in Healing, the less mana you need for healing spells and the spells themselves become more powerful. There is a chance for the spell to be cast again without mana.

Do you accept? Attention, you will not be able to discard an accepted stat once you activate it.

No, I had no desire whatsoever to become a healer, either in the mine or outside it. No thanks.

"Oooh..." said Kart, when a light wind from my spell ruffled his hair. “You know, it's ticklish and invigorating... Well, let's do it: as soon as your mana recharges, heal me. You dance pretty well too," Kart could not help smiling.

The morning meal acquainted me with a new type of dirty trick — putting sand in the food. Kart's prophesies came true. How did I miss the moment when Bat came up to me and, pretending to stumble, poured a handful of sand into my bowl?

"Oh, how clumsy of me... You're not going to eat that, right? Give me your plate, I'll bring you a new portion," Bat was a picture of concern.

"No, thank you. I'll go myself. Thanks for the offer," Bat's showy friendliness seemed suspicious to me.

"No, no, that would be no trouble. Let me make it up to you. It wasn't nice what I did yesterday. It's just you were asking such a high price for the skins, so I acted on impulse. So, truce?”

"Truce, Bat."

"Truce."

"But I'll go and get the food myself, all the same."

When I came to where they handed out food, I showed the guard my food with sand and wanted to ask him for a new portion when I heard:

"Beat it! Each prisoner gets two portions a day:  in the morning and in the evening, if he meets his quota. You've already had your first. The fact that you got sand into it is your problem. Eat it as-is."

So if I handed my plate to Bat...  What a jackass...

Turning around I saw Bat smiling and shrugging, as if to say 'Ah well... didn't get you this time. But there will be others.' I'm gonna kill that scumbag.

The sand gave the food an unforgettable taste. I could eat it, but it was disgusting...

Attention: you have eaten a spoiled product: Buff gained: Energy loss reduced by 25%. Duration - 12 hours. You received a negative effect: The speed of skill gain reduced by 50%. Duration - 12 hours.

No, I’ll torment him first, give him a good kicking and then kill him...

My section looked the same: ore veins, dust and Rats sneaking around. Rats were a good thing. I could do with extra Intellect and reputation.

Striking the vein without the added strength was noticeably harder. Even though I had level 3 in Mining, when the message telling me that my Energy had fallen to 30 appeared, as much as 40% of the vein's durability remained. This was bad, very bad. Never mind, tomorrow I’ll be more careful. Before going to fetch the water I hunted down two Rats (+2 Rat pelts, meat and tails), first 'healing' each of them (+10% Intellect, +8 Experience, +10% Strength, +10% Stamina). Truth be told, the second Rat nearly had me when I missed it with my pick. I only had 3 Hit Points left after the fight. But that's fine: after getting some water, I finished the first vein (6 pieces of ore, +1 Experience, +5% Strength, +19% Mining, +2% Stamina). I still had 50 Energy remaining, so before starting on the second vein, I decided to show the Rats who was boss around here. The next Rat (+5 Intellect) gave me what I'd been waiting for so long.

Experience gained: +4 Experience, points remaining until next level: 75

Skill increase:

+5% to Strength. Total: 100%. Strength increased by 1. Total: 2.

+5% to Stamina. Total: 57%

And that's when it hit me. My whole body was filled with warmth, and it struck my head as if I just drunk a bottle of vodka, I started to shiver - it felt like being immersed in ecstasy. Overwhelmed by these sensations, I fell to my knees and groaned uncontrollably. So that's what the Holy Grail feels like....

Nothing else interesting happened until the end of the day. I downed 6 more Rats, bringing the day's total to 9 (+30% Intellect, +30% Stamina, +30% Strength) and crushed 6 veins (36 pieces of ore, +30% Strength, +113% Mining, +12% Stamina). Right, tomorrow I'll have to hand in 40 ore pieces. But that's fine, if I don't mess up with the food again. Also tomorrow I should raise my Intellect and Stamina to the second level, so the coming day was looking very promising.