WO-01. Shields Of Strathmar, page 1
part #1 of World Over Series
© 2021 Marc Mulero. All rights reserved.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Please Read! It’s Important!
Chapter 1
Hearthden
Aegis awoke abruptly. His hand reached out in front of him, fingers clawed. He didn’t recognize his skin, his body. Where am I? Who am I?
“This is…?” He flipped his hand to read his palm.
The amber light around him was dim and flickering. A hearth crackled with life in the next room, and muffled voices could be heard too. He wasn’t alone.
He tried to move, but the little energy flowing through him was not enough. He slumped back against the wall he’d been awkwardly sleeping against. It felt like the greatest hangover of all time, though Aegis had no recollection of even taking a sip of alcohol. Now nearly paralyzed, all he could do was stare ahead as his eyes slowly adjusted to the dancing shadows coming from the other room.
“Ugh,” he complained to no one, propping himself up more comfortably using the newfound strength of his arms. I’m bigger than before. I don’t remember having these lines of muscle. Well, I don’t remember anything really.
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
The wooden floor beneath him began to creak. Two slabs rubbing together pinched him as they bent.
“Ow, damn it.” He twitched in his seat before looking ahead.
He could see someone approaching. A silhouette. The large man was slightly bow-legged, heavy, and not at all walking in a straight line. What was that in his hand? A mug? Yep. And his beard was so bushy it cast its own shadow.
Aegis’ first impression told him this guy would be a handful.
Best to pretend I’m sleeping.
“Oh! Looky here! Can’t believe it. Another joins us from the world over, huh?” The man slammed his mug down on the desk beside him, making the candlelight tremor.
Ugh. Too late.
Such a simple motion made Aegis’ ears ring and his vision dizzy, but eventually all senses focused on the rosy-cheeked man that finally came into view. He was straddling Aegis now, almost face-to-face. His breath was of mead and pipe smoke, and not the good kind either. Eyes were somewhat glazed, but he still had a sense of alertness about him.
“This is?” Aegis began.
“Your second chance, laddie,” the man said, his smile widening. “Oh, I’m sure you have many, many questions.” He looked Aegis up and down. “Probably in a bit of pain too, hm?”
He reached out and pinched Aegis’ arm.
“Ow! What the f—” Aegis slapped away the man’s hand.
“Just making sure all your connections are intact.” He laughed heartily before patting Aegis’ shoulder, sending a wave of foul-smelling air in his face.
His stomach turned. “Oh, I can smell everything here, trust me.”
“Oh ho! A sense of humor too! Bet you were a load of fun back where you came from.”
Aegis frowned. “Do you know where I came from?”
The man’s eyes glimmered as he stood and held out a hand. “I know where everyone here came from, laddie.”
“Why do you talk like that?” Aegis accepted the hoist up and dusted himself off. He felt dizzy again for a moment, holding one hand to the wall behind him and the other over his aching head.
“Of all the questions in Strathmar, that’s what you’re worried about? My speech?” Two burly fists rested on his hips. “Oh Fuhsha, what are we going to do with this one? What are we going to do?” He clicked his tongue playfully. “Here, let’s have a sit over there, hm? Get to know each other. Maybe I’ll teach you a thing or two before I get back to my mates. Not right to leave a choochoo to wander aimlessly outside of his bound.”
“A what?” Aegis followed along, subconsciously fixing the chairs the burly man knocked as he went.
“A choochoo.” The man looked back, motioning as if he had a small toy train in his hand. “A greenhorn, a noob. Someone who’s never set foot in this place before. It’s only right to give you a little kick in the right direction.”
“Uhh, thanks, I guess.” Aegis wrapped his cover tighter around him, concealing the bare bones leather armor strapped around his torso and arms. He felt like he’d fallen from a freezing sky, like an angel who’d lost his wings. “What should I call you?”
“Probably my name.”
Aegis rolled his eyes. “Which is?”
“Oofan Bodox Dilleray Muse. You can call me Oof, though.”
“The hell kind of name is that?”
“Ey ey ey! I picked that name. Thought it sounded cool, had a nice ring to it.” He looked at the ceiling, eyes glinting. “Just think: Oofan, the Great Axe of Strathmar. Got a ring to it, no? Or how about this one: The Bodox Muse of the Eleven Isles?”
Aegis shrugged.
“Yeah, well, guess the public agrees with you, cause neither of ‘em stuck. Only Oof did. Anyway, can I getcha something? Some Stefsteed ribs? Maybe an Arbor steak?”
“Oofan, I really don’t know what you’re saying to be honest, or if any of that is good for me.” He looked at his atrophy ridden arms. “Everything just hurts.”
“Some elixir, then.”
Oof reached into his cloak, and as he did, Aegis noticed pristine glimmering armor under it, a breastplate so ornate that it almost had an angelic glow. But before he could inspect further, a crystal vial that clearly didn’t belong in such an ordinary tavern was twinkling on the table.
“Now, let’s see if a lad can trust somebody he’s just met. What do ya say? Want to feel better? All you need is a sip.”
Aegis eyed the vial like a curious puppy would a bone. He wanted it, sure, but what were the consequences? Why would this man he’d just met want to randomly help him? Either of them could be murderers or assassins for all Aegis knew, from rival tribes or something. His mind was starting to fire off some obscene scenarios. And if one thing was clear right now, it was that Oof had the upper hand in every respect. But on the other hand, truly, who would want to kill such a pathetic soul right here, in this wholesome tavern?
“Your eyes are comin’ to life! Finally!” Oof slapped the table. “Was wondering if you were curious about anything, really, Aegis.”
“I never said my name.” Aegis pushed back his chair, scratching it against the floor.
Oof leaned in closer, as if telling a secret. “Don’t you find it strange that you knew your name, but nothing else?”
Aegis felt his heart racing. The burly, goofy man knew too much. How? How did he pull his name out of thin air? Even though there was a danger of having amnesia, he still had a certain sense of things. This was obviously their first meeting. Yet, Oof digging into his thoughts, knowing something so innately personal… it made him feel exposed, like he was on display on a stage for all to see.
Oofan laughed and slapped the table, making the elixir hop once next to his hand. “Relax, mate. Just messin’ with ya. I know your name because I can lens some of your information.”
“Lens?”
“Inspect. I can see your tag if I choose. I know you have no affiliation with any guilds, trades, or federations. I can see your hilariously low armor protection of two.” He giggled. “Also, that you have a full health bar, but you’re in a state of temporary paralysis because your new Idol is just coming to.”
“Idol?”
“Who you chose to be in this world.”
“Well then, why can’t I ‘lens’ your name? I don’t see anything like that.”
Oof again pretended to be playing with a child’s train toy.
“Choochoo?” Aegis deflated further.
“Sorry laddie, you kind of have to go through this process of knowing nothing and feeling like a drog on Felixday. Mostly, anyway. This elixir here, it usually works to heal, but even though you’re not harmed, I think it will give you some much needed energy. Have a sip, will you? Swear, not trying to hurt ya.”
“Fine. But then you have to explain why you, an obviously experienced Idol—”
“That’s not what you call people here,” Oof cut in. “Just sounds weird when you say it.”
Aegis took a long breath in frustration. “An experienced what? Warrior? Oaf? Axe Wielder?”
Oofan winced harder with each guess.
“Whatever. You have to tell me why you, the Fat Muse of Strathmar, are helping me, a choochoo. It doesn’t make any sense. Shouldn’t you be off doing something important?”
Oof smirked and took a swig of his foamy brew, silently agreeing to the terms and waiting for Aegis to take a sip from the crystal vial.
Aegis looked Oof in the eyes as he swiped the elixir, unscrewed it, and took a swig to be done with it. He was trying to show he’d accepted the challenge, but when the contents kicked in, whoa was he not ready for it. His eyes grew wide, which made Oof cackle.
“No more drowsy, sad sack, huh? Good, that means your connections are working just fine.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your mind, body, and soul have been successfully transferred to your Idol. No hiccups or glitches.”
“Except for my memory,” Aegis countered, rubbing his face to massage the tingly feeling out.
Oof waved the concern away. “Everyone experiences amnesia in the beginning. It’s a side effect of the process.”
“So then… you have all your past memories?”
“I do, laddie.” Oof took a healthy drink from his mug.
“Hm. Well. I don’t know why, but I’m kind of scared to ask this next question.” Aegis stared at his hands, feeling energy beaming through them.
“Heh. I know why. Because discovering an unknown past is more terrifying than wondering about an unknown future.”
Aegis looked at him blankly.
“You see, laddie, we are responsible for our past. Future is out of our control yet. All of us go through it in here, so don’t fret. That’s why I’m here, to ease the transition. I volunteer once in a moon on my downtime, to help the choochoos get on their feet. Not everyone is so nice, though. So, keep your wits about you. Anyway, go ahead, ask your question.”
Aegis couldn’t quite pinpoint his reasoning, but he felt oddly comfortable around Oofan. Maybe it was his personality, maybe the elixir, or maybe it was some kind of other trick entirely, but he appreciated him in this moment nonetheless.
“Where did we come from?”
“I told you already: The world over.”
“Over where?”
“Some would say back in ‘real’ life, others would call it another dimension, but either way, the old world is another plane of reality. We exist here, in Strathmar, sent from the dying planet of Belna from which we were born.”
Aegis felt a shiver rush down his spine at the thought.
I come from a dying planet?
“How did I get here then?”
“Hard to say with precision, but the story is generally the same for everyone. You and your family likely scrounged and saved enough currency back in Belna to transport you here. To take a risk. You must have been your family’s greatest hope of rescuing them from poverty. You see,” Oof burped and crinkled his nose. “This world is somewhat of a second chance. We tried to evacuate our planet for a new one by traveling through space, but that literally blew up in our face. So, then we tried a different route. We went inward, through simulation or whatever you’d like to call it, but scientists eventually figured out how to transport consciousness here. And now our worlds are connected by way of accomplishments.”
Aegis’ mouth hung open in dismay, fingers squeezing tightly around the bottom of his seat.
“The further we progress, the greater our deeds in Strathmar, the more currency our families are awarded in Belna. It’s a new type of economy, and it seems to be working, heh. But I can’t know for sure. I can only judge by way of inbound choochoos.”
“We… can’t go back?” Aegis cut in with a hoarse voice.
“Hey, hey.” Oofan reached over and patted him hard on the shoulder. “You okay there? Throat seems dry all of a sudden. What’s the matter? Don’t freak out, it’s okay. Breathe. Listen. Time moves way slower here compared to Belna. It’s by design. So, you can take it easy for now.”
Aegis took a labored breath, feeling his neck muscles tensing. “Can they… can they see us right now? Whose watching?”
“No, no. Calm down, laddie. We are allowed privacies. It’s part of the legal terms.”
Aegis frowned.
“What? Don’t look at me like that. Of course, we signed contracts to get here. There is still some order in Belna. Just not the prettiest of places anymore. Anyway, the good news is Strathmar is beautiful. You’ll see. You’re gonna like it here. I promise.”
Aegis felt his body relax. He leaned back in his chair as Oofan continued. “There are events, though, where spectators can join in and out of Belna. But that’s a lesson for another day, hm? Yeah, I think so. Let’s stick to the basics for now. Back to your concern. No, you can’t leave Strathmar from what I have surmised based on our contracts and experience.”
“So, what happens when we die?”
“Generally? Heh. We end up here.” Oofan spread his arms. “Homebound. You can bind at any safe haven, really, but this tavern is as good as any, I tell ya. This is where you ‘revive’ unless you’re on the field and are resurrected by a curative type.”
Aegis furrowed his brow. “I’m not even going to ask. So, uh, there are no consequences of death here?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that. You lose currency, and time, both of which can hurt your family back in Belna. Short of angry orphans and hateful personalities, most people here aren’t looking to die every five minutes. Oh, and progress in certain dungeons can be forgone too upon death. Careful for curses and Time Prisons though, okay? Those are worse fates than simply dying.”
Aegis shrugged. “Uh, okay.”
“Hah.” Oofan grabbed the crystal vial and tucked it away into a pouch within his cloak. “Most of this is better experienced than spoken. You’ll get the hang of it for sure, choochoo. Just give it time.”
“Thanks, Fat Muse. I appreciate the pick-me-up, and your wise words.”
“Oh ho! I don’t very much like this new nickname. What happened to Oof?”
“Flew away with the name Aegis, apparently. So long as I’m a choochoo, you’re Fat Muse.”
Oof blew air from his nose like a huffing dragon. “Have it your way, laddie. Here, here.” He held up his mug. “To the start of your journey in Strathmar. May it be bright, prosperous, and full of wonder!”
“Here, here.” Aegis felt compelled to repeat, knocking on the table for acknowledgement.
Oofan sighed happily after chugging what was left of his pint. He then wiped his lips and beard as he rose. “Stand up, laddie. Let me have a look at ya.”
Aegis rose with more confidence than when he had initially sat down.
“Mm. Yep. Alright.” Oof narrowed his eyes, opened the flap of Aegis’ cloak, and squeezed his arm. “Hm. Fine. Okay,” he muttered to himself. “Alright,” he raised his voice, “unhook that armor. I want to see something.”
“Why don’t you buy me dinner first?”
“Oy! Not like that, mate. Just do it!” Oof urged, his expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. “You’re going to have to choose your archetype one day, so if you want some advice, I gotta know what infusion you chose.”
“Huh?” Aegis unhooked his armor and spread it, revealing his six-pack abs under the glowing candlelight.
“Looky there.” Oof pointed to the sides of Aegis’ stomach. Thick, glowing ice-blue stripes lined either side of his ribcage. “Glacial type, huh?” He snapped his tongue.
“Is that bad?” Aegis asked, eying the pulsing light coming from his body.
“No, just not something I can relate to, really. Hmph. Going to be interesting to see where you wind up, laddie.”
“How so?” Aegis grunted, hooking his armor back up. “Better yet, what’s your infusion?”
“Me?” Oof slammed a fist against his rock-hard breastplate. He then snapped his finger, and his cloak and armor whooshed away in an animated fashion, leaving a burly body that was way less full of lard than Aegis would’ve expected. But none of that mattered… it was the slate grey stripes curving around his chest and down his ribcage that drew attention. “Why don’t you guess?” Oof thumbed over the slate part of his skin like he was dusting furniture.
“Hmm. Something big and stupid, surely,” Aegis murmured.
“What was that?” Oof snapped.
“Rock type?”
“Mm.” Oofan judged him. “Pretty good. Yes, I have a Stone infusion.” He snapped his finger again, which re-equipped his godly armor. It produced an angelic hymn before his plain brown cloak swooshed over to cover it.
“What can you do with it?”
“Better shown than told, laddie. Trust me, when we meet again, you’ll be oozing with all sorts of meaningful questions.”
“You’re leaving, then?”
“Me? No. You are. If you don’t jump out of your Homebound early, you’ll get too comfortable. Best to spring to it on your first day.”
“Alright, then.”
