PA-01. Den Of Thieves, page 29
part #1 of Pantheon Online Series
There were so many things he wanted to know, but he knew he couldn’t risk spoiling this opportunity. “What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to ascend, Jake. You’ve created an intriguing origin story. An elf betrayed by his mentors and forced to walk his own path. You’ve got the makings of a guild of your own in this crypt of yours, but I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You’re not ready for that yet.”
“I’m not?”
Nymoria smiled maternally. “I loved the way you refused the Nighthawks. I think it will all play well. You’ve been a hit with the focus groups.”
“Focus groups?” Now, that was really intriguing.
Nymoria grinned. “I think the Nighthawks understand the potential you have, just as I do. They’ll come back calling, and when they do, I want you to say yes.”
“You’re sure about that?” Jake asked.
“I need you to trust me, Jake. I know a thing or two about how this thing works.”
Jake shrugged. “All right.”
“I think we have the makings of a heavenly partnership, Mr. Darrow. But there are still plenty of people who want to bring you down. The real game is about to begin. And the world will be watching. I hope you’re ready.”
Jake did not say so, but he was desperately hoping the same thing.
There was more going on. More than Nymoria was letting on. Perhaps more than she knew.
But for now, all he could do was play along.
“I’ll be ready,” he said.
“Good.”
Nymoria crossed the room and pressed a keypad on the wall. A compartment opened, and she removed a silver-lidded platter. The goddess brought it over to the table and removed the lid, revealing a sizzling cast iron plate filled with food.
“I hear you like rib eye.”
He smiled and took a seat.
The meal tasted divine. The steak was tender and juicy, with just the right amount of marbled fat, and Jake Darrow did not let a single bite of it go to waste this time.
When Gunnar respawned, he nearly screamed at the hideous face hovering in front of him. Yellow snaggle-fangs jutted from a leathery black mouth mere inches from his face. Its breath smelled like rotting flesh.
Azmar cackled in his gravelly voice. “Never gets old.”
Gunnar shook his head. In truth, he was glad to see him. “I guess I’ll just have to get over it.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“It’s sweet of you to wait up. Did you miss me?”
“I do the bidding of my mistress. And so I am here on this gods-forsaken roof, in this gods-forsaken city, waiting for a house cat who thinks himself a king of the jungle.”
“You can say it. I did all right, didn’t I?”
“You’re a house cat with claws. That’s as far as I’ll go.”
Gunnar grinned. “I’ll take what I can get. Anything important happen while I was away?”
“After you so impressively died at the end of your quest?”
That reminded Gunnar that he hadn’t actually seen the reward from his quest. He pulled the notification back up.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest Break the Chains! You have successfully rescued ten prisoners from the clutches of evil. Here’s 150 XP!]
[Congratulations! You’ve reached Level 12 in Stealth. You’ve reached Level 17 in Throwing Blade. You’ve reached Level 7 in Slashing Blow. You’ve reached Level 11 in Parry Blow. You’ve reached Level 12 in Lockpicking. Hey, you’re not totally horrendous at this Rogue thing.]
[You sacrificed yourself so that others could live. You’ve earned the Bleeding Heart badge! Now, everyone will know how to tug on your heartstrings and take advantage of you: +1 to Agility, +1 to Strength.]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 12 in Glory!]
Nymoria did not appear this time, and Gunnar guessed it was because she had already appeared right after he died. But a quick check of his HUD confirmed he had another attribute point to distribute.
Considering all he’d been through and all that lay ahead, he applied it immediately to Wisdom, distributing the skill points between Mindful Moment and Perception.
It was hard to believe how much had changed in one night. He’d infiltrated a noble’s party and been betrayed by his friend. He’d completed his trial, saved some dwarves and a whole shipload of slaves, and potentially set the stage to form his own faction in this damn city. He’d garnered the favor of his goddess, who was actually some wealthy titan back in the real world.
And now, he had an opportunity to be one of the first heroes—or is it villains?—in the most advanced and immersive virtual game the world had ever seen.
Gunnar smiled. “Yep, Azmar, I’ve done pretty well for myself considering I’ve only been here a few days.”
Azmar rolled his dark eyes. “Well, before you get a hard-on for yourself, need I remind you that you completely botched your initiation into the Nighthawks?”
“I think that will work itself out,” Gunnar said.
“We’ll see. Your freed prisoners reached safety for the moment,” Azmar continued, and then his expression shifted into a dark smirk. “Oh, I should probably tell you that Sykes was not pleased with the way things panned out at Dravingdel’s party. He is rounding up his forces.”
“A lot of good that will do him.”
“Your pal Kohli is with him.”
“Sykes let him live?”
Azmar nodded. “Your old friend may have failed to sabotage your guild trial, but he did still have some useful information.”
Gunnar thought for a minute. “Ah, shit. The crypt!”
“I don’t think Sykes will rest until he has your head mounted on the wall of the Mermaid,” Azmar said. “So I wouldn’t dally.”
But Gunnar was already crossing the roof. As he ran, a notification appeared.
Quest Alert - Mermaid’s Vendetta
Description: You’ve gotten on the wrong side of a powerful crook in the underbelly of this decrepit city. And he knows the location of your new safe haven.
Objective: Protect your new sort-of faction from a ruthless barkeep and his minions.
Reward: A chance at a future in this game.
Do you wish to accept? Yes/No
Gunnar glanced up at the sky. The deck was stacked against him again, but he couldn’t help but think, I bet this will play great IRL.
He grinned and accepted the quest.
INTERLUDE
The goddess Nymoria strode through the towering halls of the fortress of Elysium, basking in the swaths of darkness that shrouded her passage. Shadows fell upon her skin tangibly, cold and bitter and intoxicating.
Nymoria detested the daylight. The way its warmth pressed upon her chest as though trying to suffocate her. The way it illuminated every blemish, every secret.
But the dark…
It could make even the most loathsome place tolerable. Even the illustrious halls of Elysium.
She supported her steps with a sleek black staff with a silver lioness’s head at the crest. The body of the staff was etched in runes, which had once shone brilliantly, an immediate symbol of her power. Now, the staff barely glowed at all, and Nymoria’s spells were equally weak.
It would not be permanent. She would not let it be.
Every day, she was growing stronger. She could feel the warmth of magic pulsing through her body once more. And even more, this night.
Nymoria slowly ascended the long and winding steps to the tower at the western end of the fortress, where she found the goddess Ariadne waiting for her.
The spritely woman’s long dark hair was pulled back, and her pale skin flashed in the moonlight as she turned and greeted her with a delightfully sinister smile.
Nymoria clasped Ariadne’s hand and pulled her into the shadows and into an embrace.
“It has been long since you’ve graced these halls,” Ariadne said.
Nymoria had hoped never to return. All the more since she’d been brought low, humiliated before the entire Elysian Court. The memory ate at her gut.
In the daylight, the shimmering spires of this place only reinforced her revulsion, but at night, the towers reminded her of sharp spearheads plunging into the heart of the night sky.
“Well, thankfully, little changes here,” Nymoria murmured. “It appears I’ve missed precious little these past years.”
“For now,” Ariadne said.
Nymoria smiled softly and nodded.
The two goddesses met one another’s gaze. There was a pregnant pause as they contemplated the gravity of what lay before them.
Ariadne broached the subject. “This new realm holds promise.”
“We’ve thought that with others. Yet the Elysian Court remains as it always has.”
“But this is different.”
Nymoria nodded. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. This realm is fixed as always. But there seem to be forces conspiring in our favor.”
“Perhaps it is fate.”
“I believe in no such thing. But something—someone—is also trying to tip the scales. And we can bend that to our will. If we are patient.”
“At last,” Ariadne said, “a chance to forge our own destiny.”
Nymoria raised her fingers toward the sky, relishing the thought, picturing this entire fortress in flames. Crimson magic coalesced at her fingertips for a moment, and then, vanished.
“For now,” Nymoria whispered, “we must wait and see.”
They, and so many others, had waited years for such a chance to shift the balance of power.
It was probably only the fraction of a chance. And it would take little for it to be obliterated entirely.
Nymoria feared it was only a fool’s hope. But she could not deny the change in herself, even if it was only a taste of her former strength.
Hope is a cruel, tantalizing seduction, she thought.
But she could not help herself.
She clasped Ariadne’s fingers once more.
“Let the games begin.”
End of Book One
Gunnar’s story continues in Rogue Assassin…
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed Book One of Pantheon Online. If you did, I’d be immensely grateful if you took a moment to leave a rating or review.
Can’t wait for Book Two? Come join my Patreon for first access to new chapters as they are written.
GUNNAR’S FINAL STAT SHEET
Gunnar Ashwood
Glory: Level 12
Servant of Nymoria
Coins: 167
Character Traits
Race: Dusk Elf
Clan: Maldan
Class: Rogue (Rank - Initiate)
Faction: Well, this is a bit of a cluster right now…
Renown: There’s a Small Price on Your Head
Character Stats
Health - 120/120
Stamina - 110/110
Mana - 140/140
Physical Attributes
Strength - 9
Dexterity - 14
Agility - 9
Constitution - 9
Mental Attributes
Intellect - 9
Wisdom - 11
Charisma - 10
Creativity - 5
Physical Skills
Endurance - Level 10 (+25 Stamina Buff)
Throwing Blade - Level 17
Slashing Blow - Level 7
Parry Blow - Level 11
Head-Butt - Level 6
Enhanced Blow - Level 9
Sheer Strength - Level 8
Wall Climbing - Level 10
Leap of Faith - Level 8
Pickpocketing - Level 14
Lockpicking - Level 12
Stealth - Level 12
Stealth Attack - Level 6
Mental Skills
Perception - Level 26
Mindful Breathing - Level 7
Art of Diplomacy - Level 15
Active Items
Basic Dark Cloak (+10% Stealth)
Stealth Boots (+10% Stealth)
Leather Vambraces (+10% Resistance to Damage)
Leather Greaves (+10% Resistance to Damage)
Inactive Items
Lock Picks (2)
Spells
Scan - Level 26
Dark Sight - Level 8
Mindful Moment - Level 13
Call of the Wild - Novice-level Bond
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is dedicated to the members of my writing group—David, Jason, Blake, Zack, and Danielle. I am almost certain this book would not exist had I not started meeting with you guys every week. Your critiques made this book so much better, and your encouragement and excitement for this project kept me at it.
An especial thanks to Blake for feedback on the game mechanics, and for literally introducing me to this incredible genre.
My wife, Kaitlin, has supported my writing career every step of the way, and she always enthusiastically reads and critiques my books, even when they are often far outside her normal genres.
Thanks to all my family for their love and support, and especially to my boys, Logan and Parker, for their constant source of joy.
A final thanks to the first readers of this series over on Royal Road. You all helped me spot logistical and mechanical errors, and encouraged me that I had something good going here.
ALSO BY S.A. KLOPFENSTEIN
Don’t miss S.A. Klopfenstein’s complete epic fantasy series, The Shadow Watch Saga!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
S.A. Klopfenstein grew up on a steady dose of Tolkien and Star Wars. As a child, he wrote his first story about a sleepwalking serial killer. He lives in the American West with his wife and sons, and their dog, Iorek Byrnison. He can be found exploring the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, or daring the halls of the high school where he teaches mythology and English.
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Klopfenstein, S A, PA-01. Den Of Thieves
