Chapter 6: The Orb of Creation
Chapter 6: The Orb of Creation
Andrew O'Kelley
andrewokelley.com
The Dark God looked down at me and gave the slightest of nods, so small I thought I might have imaged it if not the feeling of unease I felt before he started walking forward and waved aside the railing of his balcony. The response was immediate as it sank down into the floor, absorbed into the castle stones beneath him.
He wants all of us to see what it is that he's doing. My Wisp whispered to me, and as I watched, I couldn't help but agree as the Dark God appeared to be grandstanding as he reached into one of the pockets of his robes and pulled out a glass orb that looked as if it held living fire inside of it and held the orb delicately in his palms before making a fist and to destroy it.
"What I have done just now is crush an Orb of Creation. A dark art that is known to only a few. It is a cursed artifact created by the death of a world and fueled by the souls trapped within unable to move onwards towards whatever heaven or hell awaits them." We all watched in horrified awe as this Dark God held out his hands as waves of ambient purple light began to radiate outwards from him.
I had to shield my eyes for a moment from the intensity of the light, and when it had passed, I looked back to see the Dark God smiling as he held both arms outwards as he reveled in his power. "I never get tired of that feeling. The sheer power of burning a lost soul is without equal." The Dark God shifted his eyes and looked directly at me before shifting his sight towards Atticus and then a few others in the crowd that had somehow caught his attention, "Play well and listen well, or your own soul will be used as fuel when I host the next game."
As soon as the light cleared, my Sol guide the Wisp Fel began to glow overhead. But Fel was not alone. The entire area was full of the glowing Wisps who acted as the Sol guides for everyone else who was there. I didn't release we all had Sol guides. I should have known better. I'll need to work on making mistakes in assumptions, I told myself.
Fel interrupted my thoughts. Most of the time, Christopher, we are invisible to the naked eye. Only seen by our victims and by those we have bonded with. The Wisp explained tiredly as it worked to process whatever energy and information were being transmitted by breaking the Orb of Creation.
The signs and signals were all there. Important information was coming my way, I understood that. The message was well-received that I needed to pay attention to what was coming. I wanted to survive this. I understood that more than just my life was at stake. So just as this dreadful God had commanded, I paid attention, entirely fixated on the glowing messages provided to me by my Sol guide. A quick look around let me know that not all of my peers had taken the fatal lesson of the man killed by the undead to heart. They'll come to regret it soon enough, I'm sure. But as for me, I had other concerns in the meantime.
All around me, every Sol guide that hovered overhead began to glow as a series of alerts and information began to be absorbed and transmitted to their host.
You'll need to know this information. Christopher, listen like your life depends on it, because it does. The Wisp cautioned me as my eyes scanned around to see how the others were reacting. You need to worry more about yourself.
Yeah, I get it, I don't want to die either. I understood I needed to pay attention, more than just my life was at stake. Just as the Dread God had commanded, My attention was entirely fixated on the series of messages my Sol guide had sent to me. A quick look around let me know not all of my peers had taken the fatal lesson of the man killed by the undead to heart. They'll come to regret it soon enough, I'm sure. But I had other concerns in the meantime. I knew better than to miss the information.
!Alert!
1 of 8
The Survival Game will Begin Shortly. There are no limits to the number of days and nights to the game. The days and nights have radically been sped up, and the weather also follows no discernable patterns. Additionally, random events will be implemented in the form of person verse environment threats.
!Alert!
2 of 8
You have been given 350 shillings to start with and 200 units of lumber. These are units of currency to be used to buy items, artifacts, upgrades, and mercenaries. Additionally, these resources are used in the construction of the buildings that comprise a village, wherever you may decide to build a base or village. The system unit above your head will automatically store these resources until a more appropriate storage location is established.
!Alert!
Message 3 of 8
//Starting Information//
Level I of 30
Class - Peasant
Default Faction - The Red Henchmen
Name - Christopher Settlemire
Race - Not Yet Revealed
//Starting Information//
!Alert!
Message 4 of 8
//Current Abilities Available To Be Unlocked//
Dredging Net 0/20
Totem 0/200
Underwater Breathing 0/6
Spartan Spear 0/200
Immortal Body 0/10
Alchemic Powders 0/12
Summon Animal Companion 0/1
Cherry Bomb 0/200
//Current Abilities Available To Be Unlocked//
!Alert!
Message 5 of 8
//Power-Ups//
Coffees Consumed 0/16
Armor Upgrade 0/35
Sword Upgrade 0/30
All-Seeing Eye 0/1
//Power-Ups//
!Alert!
Message 6 of 8
//Buildings Currently Unlocked//
Farmhouse *Free
Firepit *50 Shilling, 25 Lumber
//Buildings Currently Unlocked//
!Alert!
Message 7 of 8
//System Profession Notice//
*The following professionals can be unlocked at any time once the conditions are met.*
Hunter - Allows the Peasant to attack and kill animals. Allows for unlocking the ability Spearshot.
Farmer - Allows the Peasant to plant and harvest crops as well as raise livestock. Allows for unlocking the ability Scarecrow.
Brewer - Allows the Peasant to create potions. Unlocks the ability of Toxic Bomb and the Power-Up, Coffee.
Crafter - Allows the Peasant to create accessories and items. Unlocks the Power-Up, All-Seeing Eye Brewer
Blacksmith - Allows the Peasant to create the Power-Ups, Sword, and Armor.
Miner - Allows the Peasant to harvest gold and iron ores from nodes.
Lumberjack - Allows the Peasant to harvest lumber from trees. Unlocks the Acorn Ability.
Fisherman - Allows the Peasant the ability to catch fish. Unlocks the ability Fish Net, unlocks the ability of Underwater Breathing.
//System Profession Notice//
!Alert!
Message 8 of 8
//System Location Notices//
Fishing can occur at the top of the mountain at a secluded lake near the central castle, the seaside southwest coast, or the lower-lake.
Hunting equipment can be purchased at either of the Hunter Lodges located just outside the Northeast and the Northwest Cave systems.
Farming can occur anywhere that has good soil after you've built a farm, barn, and a greenhouse and is primarily reserved for the central plains.
To be a lumberjack only requires you to build a farm and cut trees.
Mining ore locations are found in the Southern Swamp and the Northeastern Mountains.
The Crafting Kit can be purchased in the northwest and the southeast.
//System Location Notices//