Создатели Судьбы / The Creators of Destiny: Глава 32

Chapter 32

Camrad_RIP 25.11.22 в 16:46

Finally, I was able to concentrate on the scrolls, but with difficulty. However, the excessive relaxation had some effect: I could only get a "masterpiece" at the fourth dozen, and only one of them. But that was enough for me.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 08:19

There were all kinds of monsters in the mines, and I took a moment to grab all the spells that were there. Mostly trash, variations of magical "arrows," "fists," and other junk for inexperienced newcomers. I had to hunt for the really decent loot, the buffs, but I finished putting the first ranks of "Magic Armor" and "Elemental Barriers" in the book, which increased the protection from damage by various classes of magic for fifteen minutes. Along the way, I grabbed a spell called "True Vision," a strange mix of all sorts of detects - invisible, infravision, magic, and other things, up to and including stealth detection.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 08:23

It's a shame that the first rank only lasted five seconds. It's not fair because the gargoyle I got this spell from had it on all the time. I searched through the possibilities for using it to get quests - there's nothing in the public domain. It's a shame. It must have some sort of unobvious bonus! Just in case, I prepared a dozen scrolls. Now I can detect hidden passages and hiding creatures - five seconds is enough to turn my head, waiting for the illumination of the target alert.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:04

All right, it's time to go to work.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:01

Putting on the modules, checking, entering.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:06

Interesting: I no longer perceive the game from a monitor or tablet as the true one, only from the virt.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:08

"You seem to have made considerable progress in your quest for power, brother paladin. My advice to you is to go and see a mentor!"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:09

I raised my hand and silently blessed the priest and waited for a blessing in return. The trick of the voiceless cast was a forced one when my voice dropped to a hoarse bass because of a cold. The microphone, of course, still recognized the words, but I didn't feel like talking.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:18

"Is everything quiet in the city and the surrounding area? I spent almost a week cleaning the undead out of the old mines... though I don't know why. They're empty: no ore, no stones. Nothing but creatures hungry for warm blood."

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:18

"You're wrong, there are new mines being planned near those places, and the old evils must be contained. Besides, the Sentinels told me that there are slave traders nesting somewhere near the entrance. Have you seen anything suspicious?"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:20

I smiled happily. A quest, really a quest!

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:20

"No, but now I'll take a closer look."

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:21

"And don't forget to go to the magic mentor."

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:22

"Yes. Thank you!"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:23

I turned around and went to the stairs to the interior of the Temple.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 10:23

I picked up the habit of asking people around me about this or that place from the Q&A record. I was too lazy to talk to Mentors, and my buzzing head was not conducive to clarity of thought, so I downloaded a few dozen other people's advice on Creators, a dollar a dozen, and had fun listening to strange answers to stupid questions. But a few ideas, such as the same spells without words, were picked up and implemented. At the same time, I learned about hidden passages, hidden treasures, and dangers connected with them, about irregular quests like this hint to the slave traders' camp. Yes, in my day, there was no such abundance of opportunity. A chain of quests to get to the highest level and keep the player busy for all that time with at least some meaningful activity, then a linear storyline to access a dungeon with a strong boss, well, and daily "kill ten trolls" style quests to make a meaningful presence in the game after killing all available bosses.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 13:30

Things were more complicated in The Creators.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 13:30

The game appeared on the new wave of "popular technology" and the jump in power and at first was more like a chat room in a fantasy setting. Then the developers added Plot-AI changing the behavior of NPCs in accordance with the actions of the players and developing the surrounding world under the watchful eye of the writers. Already at the stage of the closed beta, it was decided to abandon the standard attitude to the quests: "go-get-find-perform-report". Of course, now it is a common principle, but the "Creators" were among the first and managed to skim the cream, gaining an audience. And now players had to work hard to figure out where the quest and the empty scripted chatter were. Everyone was satisfied, though.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 14:26

But actually, it's a strange situation. Apparently, the game is designed for virt and a full set of modules. They allow you to open inaccessible tasks and do all sorts of useful tricks for the player, besides, they simply increase the character's potential by at least twenty percent, if not more. But at the same time, there is no disadvantage to be seen.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 14:28

Of course, this is only for now. The first breakpoint begins at the seventieth level when resistance counting and rank factors come into play. At level seventieth, the newbie leaves the safe "sandbox" of the initial zones and enters the life of the big world. There it is already difficult, sometimes very difficult, to play alone. You have to cooperate. The second breakpoint is on the one hundred and twentieth, where one cannot survive alone. The third break is in the one hundred and eightieth, where you need not just a group but a guild. And a strong guild. One can only guess how they live on the 200th and above. The information comes from there in small doses because it's too expensive to get.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 14:37

But that's where you have to use a full set of modules. So it turns out that modules are one of the growth steps? Then why are there so many ways to use them at entry levels? Why such a waste of resources?

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 14:38

I stopped suddenly, barely having time to grab the handrail of the treadmill. Then I turned, changed my mind, and went to the Spell chamber. Later, training first.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 14:39

There was a line in front of the entrance to the Spell chamber. What I didn't expect to see in the game was players standing in a line. I had to stand behind the last one and wait my turn. As luck would have it, no one was behind me.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 14:58

The training went quickly. The priest was obviously exhausted and dumped both spells on me at once, not bothering to sort through them. After checking what I'd learned, I activated the voice commands I'd prepared a long time ago and went to the familiar drain into the sewers to test the idea.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:00

The quest was given to me, although the assistant manager looked suspiciously, obviously not understanding why such a well-dressed paladin like me, to engage in such a dirty business.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:01

I found the elemental's mud ball quickly, and without delay, I slashed it askew. A pop, a nauseating splash of slime, and a poisonous puddle on the floor. I'm getting strong. Let's try it another way.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:02

I hit the next elemental with my fist, then retreated and stopped defending myself. The monitor flashed red, and the life bar slowly crept down. I got it. Finishing off the elemental I took off the virt and, pulling the keyboard, went to find a new one. The other one could not take off at least five percent and be killed in two blows.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:04

So it turns out that virtual is a double-edged sword. I can cut the stronger monsters, but the weaker ones don't become safe for me as the level difference grows. I could have guessed earlier that there were no free cakes.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:04

And what follows from this? What is the purpose of such a system? I can't think of anything. But from now on, it is worth being more attentive to low-level monsters.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:11

Okay, I didn't understand anything, but I confirmed the idea. Now it's time to do something useful. After I finish another seventeen elementals, of course.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:11

In the trading house, the dwarf quickly stowed the mirror in the drawer of the desk at the sight of a visitor.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:11

"Hello, esteemed Drori! Is everything going well in your business?"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:12

Dwarf bowed:

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:14

"Thank you, brother paladin, it's all right!"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:14

"I see you followed the call of common sense after all." I looked at the clerk's beard, which was fastened with two silver rings.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:15

"This? With the new caravan from the Capital came new trends. Now beard pins must be paired!"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:15

"You are undoubtedly the most enlightened dwarf on the subject! But, speaking of the caravan..."

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:16

The clerk, proudly stroking his beard, immediately fidgeted.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:17

"Everything you ordered has arrived! And I'll tell you, it wasn't the easiest path! It's still hard for caravans; not as hard as it was ten years ago, but still. Bandits, bad roads, and the worst of it..." He paused, waiting for my question, and I couldn't help myself:

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:19

"The Customs?"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:19

Drori snorted.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:20

"I see you know a lot about trade, don't you? They're all thieves to thieves, aren't they? But here it is, your order. {late armor with ringed inlays of steel-silver alloy with sockets for magical essences, a longsword of the same alloy without enchantments, a round shield with two sockets, forged and reinforced, Although, it's not the right thing to order weapons and such armor by sight without testing and fitting.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:33

I nodded in agreement.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:34

"What can I do, Esteemed Drori? My old armor has fallen into disrepair after spending a full week fighting crap in the old mines. By the way, do you have any idea why they are abandoned?"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:36

Going through the armor in my inventory, I listened absently to the standard story. The dwarf didn't tell me anything new, though I'd expected otherwise.

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:37

"I see. Is there enough money in my account to pay for the order and delivery?"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:39

"Of course! You still have forty-seven gold pieces... with change. Would you like to take it?"

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:39

"No, let them stay with you. Coins are no good against monsters."

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:44

"That is if they are not undead! Silver is not only beautiful! I heard of a treasure hunter who used to tie a scrap of cloth to coins and throw them in dangerous places."

Camrad_RIP 02.12.22 в 15:44