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  Action Points Remaining Today: 4

  I smiled at the occupation. Many others were available. From cooking food to hunting to clearing the jungle and gathering resources, I had quite a few options available even as an NPC. Playing a strategy village building game might turn out to be more fun than tromping all over the place as a player character. When I turned around, I saw Augusta walk over to one of the other women. Wow. That was easy enough. Let’s try another.

  List All Villagers (12 adults + 6 children)

  Kron - Chief (Level 2)

  Chris - Hunter (Level 1)

  Kojack - Hunter (Level 1)

  Leonard - Gatherer (Level 1)

  Jackson - Tool Smith (Level 1)

  Jericho - Shaman (Level 1)

  Augusta - Seamstress (Level 1)

  Maria - Cook (Level 1)

  Addison - Seamstress (Level 1)

  Karen - Mother (Level 1)

  Jayon - Mother (Level 1)

  You - Chief’s Daughter (Level 1)

  Ooh. Maybe I do have a personal level of sorts to increase?

  I reassigned Jackson from making tools to gathering resources. To make the changes I wanted, we needed a lot more of everything available, including space to expand. Listing the villagers hadn’t cost anything, so I had three remaining action points. We definitely needed food coming in and someone to watch all the children so they weren’t eaten by wild animals.

  To increase the tribe, I needed to accumulate a hundred action points. At five per day, that would take twenty days—too long for my liking. If I could construct just a few of the minor buildings in our village, I’d have more action points per day to work with. Would everyone automatically did what I assigned them to do or would I have to convince them?

  My father stood, stopped singing, and walked toward me.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  “Just tired,” I said, not lying.

  He smiled.

  “From doing nothing all day?”

  “I’m going to change, father,” I said. “Starting today.”

  His eyes widened as he nodded in approval.

  “That would make me happy,” he said.

  “I want to construct some more buildings for the village.”

  His smile faded.

  “I forbid it,” he said. “Our village is the perfect size.”

  Uh oh. Is the game throwing me another curveball?

  “But father, we need to build and expand in order to survive.”

  He chuckled, shaking his head as he put a hand on my shoulder.

  “You’ve a lot to learn, young one,” he said. “Come join us for dinner.”

  I smiled, weakly, then followed him back over to the others. Before going to bed later that evening, I used my three remaining action points. One was to relieve Jericho of his shaman duties and assign him to resource gathering. The other two went toward training Chris and Kojack to become better hunters. We needed more daily protein.

  The first night of twenty long years, I thought as I fell asleep in a large chamber with all the others. One of the new buildings had to be more sleeping quarters. The other villagers were nice and all, but I needed my privacy to think and plan for the future. I planned on using every waking moment of the next twenty years to build a fabulous city inside the game.

  Nobody could stop me, or so I thought.

  Chapter 2

  Seeking the Quest Giver

  Sarah

  After a week of getting accustomed to my new life in the small jungle village, I woke one balmy morning and decided to make the best of things. Being the chief’s daughter gave me a bit of power when it came to how the village operated. With a bit of perseverance and luck, I might be able to make something out of my home for the next twenty years, or at least until Eric’s father got us out of the Tower of Gates.

  “Piper,” Kron called out from near the edge of the jungle. “Come here, dear.”

  I took one more bite of the milky porridge they called breakfast then walked over to him. He watched as I crossed the small clearing. He had this look in his eyes that said he loved me. I wasn’t a player character and couldn’t advance anymore, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. My in-game father smiled warmly and put a hand on my shoulder as I stopped.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “I talked to Augusta,” he said in a serious tone.

  My heart skipped a beat. While refusing to swim to another island with her, I’d been listening to her talk about some secret Quest Giver hiding somewhere on our sizable island. Had she cracked under pressure and told my father I was interested in it?

  “Talked to her about what?” I asked, feigning innocence.

  My father took a deep breath before continuing.

  “There’s a new danger that threatens our village,” he said. “Augusta and two others have sworn to me they’ve seen this creature in the jungle.”

  “What type of creature?” I asked.

  “A giant spider,” he said without pause.

  I immediately thought about Charlotte and how much I missed her.

  “Chris and Kojack have become better hunters over the last week,” I said. “Can I take them to hunt for this creature? It’s silk might be useful for the village.”

  Kron smiled.

  “Good idea,” he said. “Your sleeping quarters are almost complete. I can’t believe you sweet talked me into thinking it’s a good idea.”

  “Trust me, father. I’ll be able to contribute more with a proper night’s rest.”

  And privacy.

  He turned to the main hut in the center of the clearing. “Chris, Kojack!” he yelled. “Come out here.”

  The two hunters, wearing nothing but a loin cloth, stepped out of the shelter and walked toward us. At level two, they both could last longer in a battle. They might be strong enough to take on a giant spider if such a creature even existed. Augusta had lied in the last week more times than I could remember, but I still enjoyed her company.

  “Hunters reporting for duty,” Chris said, holding a spear.

  “Go into the jungle and see if you can find this mysterious spider bigger than a boar,” he said. “Take my daughter with you.”

  Both men turned to me. I smiled and raised a hand.

  “With all due respect, Chief…” Chris began.

  “You’ll do as you’re told,” Kron snapped.

  My father inspired fear in all the villagers when needed.

  “Yes, sir,” Chris said then turned to me. “Let’s go.”

  I followed the second level hunters down the main trail leading to the north side of the island where the spider had been spotted. A second village lived peacefully near the northern shore while my village, which still had no name, was founded on near the southern beaches of the jungle island.

  Chris stopped and held up a fist without looking back. Kojack, behind him on the trail, also stopped. I did the same, a few steps behind them. We weren’t very far out of the village. Had they already found something amiss? My heart pounded as I waited with bated breath for any news of what he’d seen.

  “Wild boar,” Chris said, turning around. “We should kill it now while we have an easy chance. The other mission is off.”

  “No,” I demanded in a firm voice.

  Kojack frowned. He never liked drama from what I’d seen of him since I arrived on the island. Chris furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes as he stared at me.

  “I’m serious,” I insisted. “We’re on an important mission.”

  After being basically trapped inside a radius less than a mile for several days, I was bored and wanted to explore the island a bit more. Knowledge led to power which was what I wanted. If I was resigned to being trapped on my own, I’d make the best of it.

  “Fine,” Chris relented. “We should arrive in an hour if we don’t stop.”

  I smiled then stepped forward. Chris turned and continued down the path with Kojack close behind. I f
ollowed, not struggling to keep up. The game had given me a decently healthy NPC body.

  We walked for about an hour in single file through the dense jungle. I’d become accustomed to the exotic and sometimes frightening sounds, but I still got spooked every now and then. The strangeness of it all got to me.

  “This is it,” Chris said, stopping a few feet away from a break in the jungle.

  “Cocoa Village,” Kojack said. “I never thought I’d see it with my own eyes.”

  “We’re not going near the village,” Chris said. “The spider’s supposed to be north of their settlement. We’ll stay in the jungle and try to find this beast that likely doesn’t exist.”

  “Sounds good to me,” I said.

  I followed them as they left the trail and headed north. Thick branches and other foliage made movement slow and difficult. As I walked, I heard a group of howler monkeys screeching overhead. Sweat poured down my face, getting into my eyes and stinging them as we laboriously made progress.

  “Maybe you’re right,” I relented, ready to give up.

  The other two stopped.

  “I don’t think this stupid spider is even around,” I said. “Augusta probably lied again.”

  “Who goes there?” a voice called out from above.

  I glanced up, scanning the canopy of the trees but not seeing anything. Chris and Kojack both lifted their spears.

  “Now!” the voice above us shouted.

  A dozen barely clothed warriors stepped out of hiding all around us. I spun, taking them all in. We had no chance of fighting our way out. I wondered if I died as an NPC whether I would be punished even more by the game.

  “We give up,” I said, raising my hands. “Chris, Kojack, drop your weapons.”

  The hunters obeyed, lowering then dropping their spears on the ground.

  “I demand to see your chief,” I said. “We mean you no harm.”

  “Bring them back to the village,” the oddly familiar voice above us said.

  I couldn’t keep memories of Charlotte out of my head as the other tribesmen guided us through the jungle and into a clearing roughly twice the size of the one where I’d spawned. Why couldn’t I have started with this tribe? I grumbled to myself as we walked toward a group of three buildings in the center. They led us toward the largest.

  As we approached, I saw a man with tufts of grey hair sprouting from his mostly bald head. His dour face stayed exactly the same as he watched us walk up. The other tribe’s hunters stood around us, all holding the tips of their spears at us. I tilted my head back as I concentrated on who I took to be their chief.

  “I’m Piper, daughter of Chief Kron of the nameless tribe,” I said proudly.

  The rival chief laughed hysterically, causing the rest of his people to do the same. Everyone continued heckling us until he stopped as suddenly as he had started.

  “Your humor precedes you,” he said.

  I took a deep breath, thinking of a way to get out of my predicament. Before I started, I saw a giant red and black spider walk deeper inside the dark building. The creature stood as tall as me on right long, thin legs. Chris and Kojack stepped in front of me, causing the other tribesmen to all stiffen and stick out their spears a bit more.

  “Careful now,” the other chief said.

  The spider stopped next to him.

  “Who is this one?” the spider asked.

  I swear that’s Charlotte’s voice, but maybe a bit deeper? She’s so big.

  “Chief Kron’s daughter. She’ll make good bait for the upcoming battle.”

  “Excellent,” the spider responded.

  I opened my mouth to tell the spider my real name, but nothing came out. What’s going on? I remembered being stuck as an NPC and not being able to talk out of character. There goes that idea, but maybe I can use my knowledge of Charlotte to make some kind of deal. It’s worth a shot, at least. I don’t want to die just over a week into the stupid game.

  “Mighty spider,” I began. “On behalf of my nameless tribe, I welcome you to talk with our chief. We are open to allowing you to name and rule us.”

  “Nice try,” the other chief said from where he sat cross-legged on the dirt. “There’s no way I’m allowing the spider to return with you three.”

  “Hold on a minute,” the spider said. “I control myself now, and I want to go with her to this nameless village that will let me rule them.”

  The other chief struggled to his feet, backing away from the spider.

  “We had a deal,” he said.

  Several of their warriors surrounded him.

  “We never finalized the deal,” the spider said. “I’m going to this other village before I make my decision. So that you trust me, I insist that the other village’s two hunters stay behind as collateral. They won’t be harmed until I return.”

  “No way,” Kojack said. “You can’t leave us here.”

  I really should’ve switched his career.

  “That sounds good to me,” I said.

  Chris and Kojack turned around as if I’d betrayed them.

  “It’ll be fine,” I said. “Trust me.”

  “You’re just the dumb daughter of the chief,” Chris said, his anger surprising me.

  I stood firm.

  “You’ll do as I say, or else,” I threatened, not filling in the blank.

  Both my hunters lowered their heads submissively.

  “Shall we go?” I asked the spider.

  “Let them through,” the other chief snapped.

  Their warriors parted, clearing us a path back to the jungle trail leading across the island. I walked in front with the spider right behind me.

  “You’re a beautiful spider,” I said as we walked.

  “Thank you. My name is Charlotte,” she replied.

  I stopped walking, causing her to crash into me.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “That name sounds familiar,” I said, wishing I could break character and talk OOC.

  “It’s a common name for spiders,” she replied. “Keep moving.”

  As I took another few steps down the forest path, an idea came to me.

  “Is there any chance you’ll lead our tribe?” I asked in a docile tone.

  “Probably not, but I’m curious to learn more before we attack you,” she said.

  I stopped again.

  “Cut that out,” she snapped, brushing up against me again.

  I spun around.

  “You’re going to attack us?”

  “Of course,” she began. “I’m a mercenary, after all, an adventurer seeking fortune.”

  “Can I join you for an adventure?” I begged.

  I wondered if I could get her to like me enough not to attack us.

  “You’re not a fit companion for a spider such as myself,” Charlotte said. “Besides, I’ve never had a companion before, especially a human like you.”

  “It would be fun,” I said. “Surely you’re not afraid.”

  “Stop and turn around,” Charlotte said.

  I followed her commands, wondering if I’d touched a nerve.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Are you going to eat me or something?”

  “No, but I’ve noticed something…”

  As she continued talking, her words sounded garbled. Was she talking out of character? Might I have a chance of not being stuck as an NPC for twenty long years? I opened my eyes wide and smiled as Charlotte kept spitting out nonsense words. Then it happened. A notification popped up.

  Join party with [PC] Charlotte the Spell Slinger?

  Should I do it? Or would it get me in more trouble with the gamemaster?

  Chapter 3

  Breaking all the Rules?

  Sarah

  “Charlotte, it’s me, Sarah,” I said right after choosing yes.

  “Sarah?” she said in a soft voice. “You left me.”

  “I died, and the game took you away from me.”

  Out of Character Penalty: -100 xp<
br />
  You currently have: -100 xp

  You can talk OOC for five minutes.

  “Come on!” I shouted, causing a group of frightened birds to take flight.

  At least it's not ten percent like before.

  “We shouldn’t talk about the game,” Charlotte said. “You don’t look like Sarah. She died. You can’t be her.”

  “It’s me,” I said then related a few memories only I would know.

  “Sarah!” she exclaimed.

  “You’ve gotten so big,” I said like a proud mother.

  “I’m so glad I found you,” she said. “I’ve got so many questions.”

  “As do I, Charlotte, as do I. How did you become a player?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “After you left, I woke up somewhere new on my own. Strange things started showing in the air, and I realized I could interact with them because of what you’d taught me when we were together. I woke up here on this strange island about a week ago.”

  “Me too,” I said. “This is so weird, but I’m glad you’re okay and you’re here. I’ve missed you.”

  “Have you? Then why did you leave me?”

  “It was the game trying to keep us apart, Charlotte.”

  “But why?” she asked.

  “I wish I knew…”

  “What now?” Charlotte asked. “Are we getting off this island?”

  “I think we’re stuck here for the time being, but maybe we’ll find a way off. Come with me back to my village. We can talk about that and everything else.”

  “Okay, Sarah.”

  “My character’s name is Piper,” I said. “For when the OOC timer stops. Come on, let’s go. We can catch up more later.”

  I turned and continued down the path with Charlotte not far behind me. When we neared my village, I stopped to talk with Charlotte before we entered.

  “What’s wrong, Sarah? Oh no! Not again! I’m so in the negative! This isn’t fair!”

  “Calm down,” I said, surprised to see her acting out so much. “Take a deep breath.”

  “I never understood what you meant about everything being a game, but now that I do, I hate it, every single moment!”