Chapter 2: Chapter 2 New Beginnings

Chapter 2 "New Beginnings"

He jumped up on my shoulder and spoke, “Ok now time to choose where you wish to start.” The blackness faded and the light of a sun illuminated a blue sky. Some white clouds were off in the distance and below me spread a massive continent. I was high in the air, floating.

Simba continued, “Open World has one billion square miles of playable area. That is five times the area of earth. This also does not include the thirteen higher planes that can be accessed for adventuring. The game is also constantly growing, current game expansion is at the rate of about one million square miles per month. All new lands are created to the south. If you went there now you would see a shimmering impenetrable veil stopping you”

The numbers were too hard to process. I decided on another route. “Simba I want to start in a small village that has access to lumber, is mostly human, relatively safe for my level, and has no one with great carpentry skills.” I waited while Simba processed the information.

“I have seven hundred thirty three villages that match your criteria. Do you want to visit them?” We needed to shrink the list a little more first.

“Lets add a few more things. I want to be a good distance from major populations, at least 50 miles. I also want the village to have access to all the natural resources it would need to grow into a thriving community.” I hoped this would bring down my choices.

“Fifty four villages match your requirements. Would you like to visit these locations?” Well fifty four seemed manageable.

So with Simba on my shoulder we began to visit villages while we were ethereal. After visiting a few I said changed my demand to have between 40 and 80 people. This shortened my lost to just eighteen possibilities. I finally decided on a village that was in the shadow of a mountain range to the north. A strong river ran out of the mountains to supply the village with fresh water. On the other side of the river from the village, a majestic forest towered. On the village side of the river, there was great farming and grazing lands. A rough dirt road ran south from the village along the river. It connected many small villages before reaching a major population center 240 miles to the south on the river. The forest area was showing monsters level 40 to 50, the mountains level 60 to 70 and the plains level 5 to 15. The area along the road heading south was for levels 0 to 1 which is why it fit my criteria I think. It worked for me I guess unless leveling was going to be difficult and then I would just head south to another village.

The village was called Malcum. It had 52 people, all human. It also had a number of abandoned buildings and a lumber yard stocked with wood! I was hoping to walk in and offer my skills. I affirmed my selection and in a bright flash appeared in the center of town. Two young girls were playing and jumped up and ran inside one of the homes nearby. The homes were pretty beaten up and needed a lot of work.

I was alone, well I did have Simba on my shoulder. He had decided to clean his paws at this moment and was not talking. I turned around. The buildings were in rough shape. I didn’t notice how bad from my fly over. I was looking at one porch that was falling apart when I heard a door open. I turned and noticed an older woman walking toward me.

Her hair was mostly white and she had flour on her dress. She initiated the conversation. “Do you need help traveler? We have not much to offer ya in terms of comfort here. I suggest traveling south to Barrista. They have an ok inn there. It is about 15 miles and you can make it before dark.” She turned to leave.

“Madam, I am a carpenter and was hoping to ply my trade in your village for a few weeks.” She stopped and turned slowly. This time looking me over more closely.

“Where are ya tools?” She got me there. I thought quickly of a remark to save the situation.

I pulled out my tools from my backpack. She just grunted, signifying my possession of the tools did not mean I could do the work. I took a shot, “I am famished and would be willing to work for food today. Just give me a task. If you don’t like my work then don’t feed me.” She appraised me again.

“Ok carpenter. My chickens need a hen house out back. Build me one.”

New Quest Offered: Gwen’s Hen House, you have been offered a meal for building Gwen Hallo a hen house. Rewards: Meal, 50 experience

“I accept your offer Ms. Hallo.” I followed her to her back yard. A half dozen chickens milled about in the grass searching the ground for food. A dog was laying in the dirt. He looked up at me and then focused his gaze on Simba, suddenly becoming very alert. Simba locked eyes with the hound then left from my shoulder and darted around the corner, the dog not far behind. I sighed and hoped Simba was just playing and not antagonizing the dog.

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I surveyed the area. There was already a fair amount of lumber close by and a space seemed to already have been cleared for the hen house. I started by going back and forth to the river to collect large stones for the foundation. Then I and began to assemble the structure. I became lost in my work and my virtual body sweated and labored away. My clothes didn’t seem to get dirty though, the benefit on being a virtual world I guess. It was quick work as the game helped with cuts and placement. My best guess is I was working four times faster than in the real world. The largest annoyance was my magic pool was only 51 which meant I could only cast meld wood four times during the 8 hours it was going to take me. The magic pool took almost 8 hours to regenerate, I would have to do something about that. I did have access to some nails but was annoyed anyway that I couldn’t use my magic to build quickly like I had planned. It was fascinating to me how the magic works. I was able to merge to pieces of wood up to six feet in length melding the grains together just like they had grown that way in the wild. I ignored all notifications and finished the coup before sundown. It was a nice little structure with spots for twenty hens and a lockable door for night time. I opened my notifications to see what I had gained.

Masonry 2 Tier 2 Unlocked, +1 Strength, +2% health to structures

Woodcraft 2 Tier 2 Unlocked, +1 Channeling, +2% health to structures

Woodcraft: Carpentry 2 Tier 2 Unlocked, +1 Luck, +2% quality to structures

Woodcraft: Carpentry 3 Tier 3 Unlocked, +1 Luck, +2% quality to structures

Woodcraft: Carpentry 4 +2% quality to structures

New Recipe Learned: Basic Chicken Coup, holds 20 chickens, Health 200, Requires Masonry 1, Woodcraft Carpentry 3

Gwen came outside and inspected my work as the sun was setting. I noticed my satiety bar was flashing. Simba was close and noted this meant I could not regen health, magic or stamina until my hunger was satisfied. A smile broke onto Gwen’s face. “It is a good hen house. Come inside for dinner and we can discuss what other projects people of the village may have for you.” I was in!

Quest Completed: Gwen’s Hen House, experience 50, your meal awaits at Gwen’s residence

The meal was chicken pot pie. I ate nearly the entire thing while Gwen looked on and smiled.

Gwen Hallo’s Chicken Pie, +20% stamina regen for 4 hours

I gave Simba a large piece of chicken to chew on. The dog was laying in the corner, visibly exhausted from the days pursuit and now ignoring Simba.

“So are you going to tell me your name carpenter?” I choked on my food. Oops, I had forgotten basic courtesies.

“Tallis Mam. I apologize for not introducing myself the moment we met.” I drank the soft cider to wash down the food. The food was quite excellent. I reveled in the texture, temp, smell and taste…I felt like I was in the real world. I really couldn’t notice any differences really, except for small things like my clothes did not get dirty or smell from the long days work. My body did sweat and my clothes had become wet with sweat but they dried quickly…

“Well, Tallis. I am Gwen and the village elder of Malcum. Our carpenters were lost six months ago while gathering lumber in the forest across the river. We have actually lost many men in Shiverwood. No one dares to venture there now. Many widows have left when their husbands did not return. The village needs someone to give them hope. I think you can do that. We don’t have much to offer you but if you complete these twenty tasks,” she slide a piece of paper to me, “you can take ownership of the wood mill by the river. You can even have the house next to it to live there while you complete these tasks.”

New Quest Offered: Gwen’s 20 Projects, you have been offered 20 tasks around the village, rewards: the lumber mill and village carpenter’s house, 500 experience

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