Immersion: Fallen Kingdoms, a fantasy LitRPG Saga (Book 2), page 35
‘What does a dwarf, two elves and a couple of humans intend on doing in Carrick then?’ One of them called. ‘An odd sight in Carrick.’
He was wielding a purple glowing warhammer on his waist, but had vibrant green magical boots on his feet, matched with near pitch black wizards robes. He had a horned warrior’s helmet on his head.
‘Just visiting,’ Jacob replied. ‘Are you from Earth?’
‘Born and raised,’ the man replied. ‘Do I hear a bit of American in your accent? The south?’
‘Texas,’ Jacob replied with a smile. ‘How many of us are there here?’
‘Until seeing you, I’d have guessed all of them. Here or the nearby kingdoms. You been to Westwood with the dwarves?’
‘Yes and it’s far less chaotic than this.’
‘Doesn’t that just make it boring?’
Rodor growled and turned to face the man.
‘What do you know of the west, boy? Now shut yer trap and point me to the nearest tavern.’
‘Oh wow, they really made them to fit the stereotypes, didn’t they?’ the man said, grinning broadly. ‘Calm down, friend. Go two streets forward and take a left. Go down there for a good two or three minutes. You can’t miss the Midgard Inn.’
It was enough talking and the five of them pushed their way through the crowd, towards the Midgard Inn. Or at least Rodor did and they all followed. Rodor found it first, dropped down from his horse and charged into the tavern. He already had a pint in hand by the time they were able to catch up with him and he had gulped it down furiously. By the stunned expression on the inn keep’s face, he had been a little heavy handed.
‘Let’s take a table and figure out our next steps,’ Jacob said, pulling Rodor by the arm and guiding him to a nearby table. Morgan went to the bar and gathered them all drinks.
They sat in silence for a few moments, examining the chaos in the pub and realised they were in an altogether different place. Jacob loved it, but it was certainly overwhelming. Princess Ariawyn detested it, and Ailmer was constantly on guard. But Rodor and Morgan seemed at home, and on their third pint within minutes.
While they settled after the journey, Jacob couldn’t help but look over his character sheet. The sight of Earth Humans rushing around to progress made him hungry to focus on his own development.
DETAILS
Name: Jacob Jones Race: Earth Human
Title: Ambassador to Dwarves Class: Warrior Level: 15
Experience: 16,736 Experience to Level: 1,009
STATS
Health: 33,000/33,000 Mana: 140/140 Stamina: 1,740/1,740
ATTRIBUTES
Strength: 50 Constitution: 30 Dexterity: 20
Wisdom: 4 Intelligence: 3 Charisma: 11
SKILLS
Prospecting: 26, Mining: 22, Axes: 14, Shields: 14,
Heavy Armour: 11, Woodcutting: 3, Crossbow: 1, Swords: 1,
Fists: 1
Unallocated Points: 0
EFFECTS
+10 Strength from Item: House Dwodor Axe
+2,000 Health from Item: House Dwodor Armour
+3% increased melee damage
+1% defence against ranged and melee attacks
+50% Ranged Defence
+25% Melee Defence
-25% Magic Defence
+5 Charisma from Title: Ambassador to Dwarves
REPUTATION
House Dwodor: Revered (4,000), Kingdom of Reawen: Protected (1,000),
Kingdom of Griden: Protected (1,000), Kingdom of Biven: Protected (1,000),
Kun Doroh Refugees: Friendly (500), Ashen Elves: Friendly (300),
Kingdom of Taedur (Frosthorns): Hostile (-500), Dark Dwarves: Hostile (-500)
After an hour, he realised that the Earth Humans were coming and going frequently. Some were handing in quests, claiming rewards and bolting out to their next one. Ignoring the difference in attire, the most obvious difference was the pace in which Earth Humans moved.
Those who were local moved like everyday people. Those who were Earth Humans seemed to be in a rush, bolting out with a new quest or working furiously on a craft while they sipped their ale. It was what he was used to seeing in games, but he was stunned to see it still happening within Amehurst.
‘Sorry about my friend, sir,’ Jacob said, approaching the inn keep. ‘We’ve had a long journey and we aren’t used to the chaos of a city like this. I wondered if you would be able to help me with something?’
‘If you have the gold, I can see what I can do,’ the inn keep said simply, drying a glass with a cloth.
‘I’m trying to find a friend. Is there a way to find someone in this city?’
The inn keep rubbed his fingers together, and Jacob dropped a couple of gold coins into his open palm.
‘There are bounty boards setup outside the town hall of any of the districts. When we Earth Humans arrived, there was such demand for finding people that they had one setup special like,’ he said calmly. ‘Who you after anyway?’
‘I’m looking for a friend called Kai Miller —’
‘Ah, Kai!’ the inn keep said happily. ‘A great customer. He has a room rented from us upstairs. He’s been out on quests for a few weeks, but he’s always coming and going. Stick around long enough and he’ll show up. I have a few rooms going as it so happens.’
‘The fates watch over us,’ Jacob said cheerfully. ‘We’ll take the rooms. Thank you, sir.’
Chapter 29
Natasha
She stirred within her comfortable bed of roots and leaves. It had been the best sleep she had ever experienced. She slept right through until she was fully refreshed. She had no idea how long it had been, but she stretched and yawned, and a smile fell on her lips. She was still within the forest and there were no orcs or goblins to be seen or heard.
The sun was high above, breaking through the canopy. There was a gentle breeze in the forest, though it wasn’t cold, nor warm. She climbed out of the roots and watched as they relaxed and reformed back into the earth. With another stretch, she looked around her.
The forest was still alive, the chirps of birds and insects all around her. Her stomach growled angrily at her, so she slipped a piece of Judith’s jerky from the small sack she had been given and nibbled on it while she wandered the forest.
It was beautiful and peaceful, somewhere she felt completely relaxed and at peace. She wasn’t sure why the orcs feared it so much because she couldn’t see anything at all that was dangerous.
She stopped at a small pool of clear water, twinkling under the light above with a gentle trickle of a stream entering its depths. Her mouth was dry and she looked down into the water and wondered if it was safe to drink. With a glance around her, she built up her courage and scooped a handful of water and gulped it down.
A rush of delight washed over her as the water went down her throat. It was cold and refreshing. There was a freshness to the water that she couldn’t ever recall tasting before, even from her family owned spring back on Earth. She gulped down more and more, until she felt satisfied and a smile fell on her lips once more.
Closing her eyes, she let the rays of sun stroke her cheeks and she listened to the songs of the forest. And when she thought she couldn’t be anymore at peace, the sound of a twig snapping made her jump from the pool and spin around.
‘Whose there?’ she demanded, her hand shook as she held it out in front of her. ‘I will kill you!’
A flutter of wings buzzed around her and she darted away quick enough to see a figure fly up above her and land on a branch high in the tree beside her. Peering up through the branches, she saw a petite creature staring down at her with interest.
‘I don’t want any trouble,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve intruded on your home.’
‘Who are you?’ the creature asked. ‘You are not a dwarf nor an orc.’
His voice was soft, slow and gentle. He flew from one branch to another slightly lower, and she knew at once what he was. He’s a fairy!
He had two green wings guiding him from branch to branch, and his frame was as short as a dwarf, but much more slender and petite. His body was wrapped in bark, but she couldn’t tell if it was his clothes or if that was part of his skin, which was also a light green.
He had high cheeks and a pointed nose that matched his pointed ears. He was handsome, in a strange magical creature kind of way and had piercing green eyes that looked like giant orbs. His hair was pure white, braided into one long ponytail.
‘My name is Natasha Evans. I’m an Earth Human. I came to Amehurst from another world. I mean you no harm. I escaped the orcs.’
‘Why are you here?’ the fairy demanded.
‘My friend told me that the forest would protect me. She said the orcs didn’t dare enter,’ she replied. ‘Will the forest protect me?’
‘The forest will protect any who are pure of heart,’ the fairy said, buzzing to another branch, another one lower. He laid on the branch, rested his head in his hand and eyed her with a smile. ‘Did you drink from the pool?’
Natasha looked behind her to where the pool twinkled and she nodded. Panic washed over her. Was it poisoned?
‘Then you are pure of heart,’ he said happily, fluttering down to land on the ground in front of her. He only reached to her shoulder. ‘If your heart was impure, the water would have claimed you.’
Natasha breathed a sigh of relief, and placed her head in her hands. The fairy moved around her, eyed her with interest and then he flew back in front of her.
‘I don’t know of Earth Humans. But if the forest protects you, then I shall honour its protection,’ the fairy said. ‘My name is Buddilor, but everyone just calls me Buddy. I’m a fairy of the The Grove. This is the Forest of Fae, home to fairies, centaurs and dryads. You are welcome, for as long as you remain pure of heart.’
‘Thank you, Buddy,’ she said, smiling. Tears erupted in that moment and Buddy flew around, examined her emotions and left her to it. ‘I’ve been a slave for months, from the moment I arrived in this world. I just want to find my friends.’
‘Come, Earth Human,’ Buddy said, flying east. ‘Let me show you our home.’
She followed the fairy. In truth, she knew it was reckless. This forest was known to kill orcs and she had no reason to believe she wouldn’t be killed as well. But returning was certain death, so she didn’t really have a choice.
She weaved through the trees, following Buddy as he flew between the branches and guided her to the far east. She noticed he let out a faint trail of what looked like glitter as he flew, and she added it to the growing list of things that were stunning about this small forest.
After an hour of moving east, she arrived at the place Buddy called home. He stopped on a branch and waved his hand to reveal the small village. There were huge mushrooms formed into homes, around a large pond in the heart of the village. The trees that wrapped around the village were dense and connected with bridges and small homes built within the branches.
There were no fires, but insects and flowers glowed around the village giving them all the light they required. She could see other fairies flying around the village, and she saw her first centaur when two of them charged into their presence.
‘Who do you bring to our grove, Buddilor?’ the centaur asked. ‘You know the rules on strays.’
‘She is not a stray. She is a guest!’ Buddy said. ‘The forest offers her its protection. We must honour the forest.’
The centaurs eyed her suspiciously, but stepped aside for her to move forward into the village. They closely followed and Buddy flew overhead, landing on the edge of the pond in the middle of the village. She stopped beside him and the entire village gathered around, landing on top of roofs and hovering in the air around them. Centaurs moved in from the borders with their bows held in hand as they peered out with their stern expressions.
The endless flutter of wings was all she could hear, as fairies swarmed over towards them. Their whispers were like a song she couldn’t understand, and she dared a few glances up to see fairies of all colours, watching her with interest.
She kept her eyes down, examining the soft ground beneath her and the large colourful fish that swam within the gentle waters of the pond.
‘You threaten our safety, Buddilor!’ A centaur proclaimed from a distance. He looked stronger than the rest, perhaps he was their leader. ‘We do not take in strays.’
‘I will be the judge of that,’ a soft, delicate voice broke through and all eyes moved down in a gentle bow. ‘If the forest has offered it’s protection, it must be honoured.’
Natasha looked up as everyone’s head remained bowed. Moving slowly towards her, almost gliding, was a woman of dark greens and browns, with roots wrapped around her body. Her feet were wrapped in thick bark that connected and released the ground beneath her.
Her ears were long woven branches, with small white flowers blossoming upon them. Her skin was green, though her clothes, or perhaps it was another part of her skin, was made of a bark. Ivy wrapped around her body, lacing itself across her legs and torso, and her long flowing green hair fell in soft curls of ivy.
‘Welcome to the The Grove, child. I am Silene, our grove’s elder,’ she said softly. She smiled softly as Natasha’s eyes examined every inch of her. ‘I am a dryad. And you are new to this world.’
‘Yes,’ Natasha said nervously. ‘I’m from another world, a place called Earth. My people came here some time ago and I was captured by the orcs.’
A hiss spread throughout the village, a nasty, dangerous hiss that sent shivers racing down her spine.
‘Yes, we have seen many slaves taken by the orcs. They infest all they touch. I am glad to see you escaped. You are one of very few who succeed,’ Silene said solemnly. ‘You have drank from the forest’s waters and passed its test. For that I welcome you to our grove. All who are friends to the forest will find sanctuary here.’
‘I ask only that you learn of my people in exchange for this sanctuary,’ Silene said. ‘You are new to this world and we have our traditions that must be honoured. Accept this and we will welcome you to our home.’
Quest Alert: Traditions of the Fae
You have been tasked with learning about The Grove and its inhabitants, to honour their traditions and keep their peace. Learn and respect 5 traditions.
Reward: up to 5,000 experience (1,000 per tradition)
Failure: After you have recovered, you will be asked to leave
It was a quest she finally felt like would lead her to progression. She accepted it quickly and an eruption of cheers and celebration spread across the village. The fairies swept down and hugged her, shook her hand and draped chains of daisies over her.
Before long, the entire grove had erupted into work to put together a feast of celebration. She wandered around the village, seeing what they were up to and saw that there was no meat. Their food was all grown in large vegetable patches and foragers returned from deep in the forest, baskets filled with mushrooms and berries.
They sang a delicate song, which echoed across the grove and made her dance along with them as they continued their work. She helped them carry baskets to the centre of the village and then as darkness fell, the entire village enjoyed the wide selection of fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms that had been plucked and prepared into an dizzying assortment of dishes. They sang and danced, played games and filled the air with laughter.
In that moment, she felt like she had finally found a home for her to settle into Amehurst. She sat and wept tears of joy by the pond, gently stroking the fish that came up to the surface for attention. But she wasn’t left alone for long. Buddy pulled her to her feet and moments later she was dancing with a group of fairies. She brought up her character sheet—something she had neglected due to her lack of progress—and looked over where she was finally beginning her journey.
DETAILS
Name: Natasha Evans Race: Earth Human
Title: None Class: None Level: 2
Experience: 500 Experience to Level: 598
STATS
Health: 1,000/1,000 Mana: 200/200 Stamina: 680/680
ATTRIBUTES
Strength: 28 Constitution: 1 Dexterity: 5
Wisdom: 3 Intelligence: 7 Charisma: 1
SKILLS
Mining: 30, Lockpicking: 24, Fishing: 7, Foraging: 5,
Dodge: 4, Cooking: 4, Woodcraft: 1, Tracking: 1,
Trapping: 1, Spear: 1
Unallocated Points: 0
EFFECTS
None
REPUTATION
Frosthorn Orcs: Enemy (-5,000), Frosthorn Goblins: Enemy (-5,000),
With a sigh, she closed her character sheet and returned to her beautiful surroundings. Finally, she was free. Finally, she had a home.
***
The End
Dark Descent, book three in the Immersion series. Coming soon!
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Join Natasha as she finally begins to learn magic under the protection of the fairies and dryads, while Kai and Jacob are finally united and take their entourage to investigate the darkness that begins to spread across Amehurst.
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