David Davis
I search the app store with bored eyes before something interesting shows up. It's an app called Idle Adventurer and the art shows a classic TTRPG character sheet and little sprites of wizards, warriors, druids, and so on fighting monsters out of myth and legend. This should make this boring job that much more entertaining. It's a bonus that it will keep going without interfering with my job.
I work security for a local "neighborhood watch" on the doorstep of a rather nondescript house. I don't know exactly what goes on in there even if I have a good idea as I'm not dumb enough to ask. It's a well-paying gig but I do get bored often. So, if this game is good, it will be a blessing.
I hit download, and I could swear it didn't even take a second to load.
"Hello user. Please input the name you would like to be known by. ______ ______"
I input my nickname I go by for those who come by here Mister Clean. They call me that because I'm a big white guy with a bald head, but I don't mind. I even take it as a complement. Mister Clean sounds professional. Plus, I like to think it's at least in part thanks to my style of dress. Nice, sharp, and clean.
With that done the game starts up. I'm a bit surprised to find my sprite bears a resemblance to me. A little mini-me. What a funny coincidence that the default sprite looks like me. Looking further there are 4 buttons on the screen: one says Character Sheet, one says Shop, another says Quests, and one at the bottom says Train.
I open the Character Sheet first:
Mister Clean
Hp: 6/6
Class: None
Spell Slots: N/A
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 8
Equipment: Snazzy Suit, Butterfly Knife, Packed Lunch, Enchanted Cell Phone, Wallet holding 120$
I'm getting a little weirded out. Not only does the sprite look like me, he's also carrying the same things I am, wearing the same clothes, and counting my money I see he has the same amount in his wallet. Though it is extra weird it says the cell phone is enchanted. Out of morbid curiosity I click the next button.
I see a window not too dissimilar to an online mall, only the items for sale are strange. I see a wineskin on sale for a cup worth of human blood for instance. A bit weirded out I select it and suddenly feel woozy while I hear a soft thump in front of me. Looking down I see the exact wineskin as was in the image.
Growing oddly numb to the weirdness I feel compelled to continue. I click Quests:
RedRum: If you want to be an Assassin, all it takes is a little stealthy murder, and meeting the stat requirements: Str 12, Dex 12, Con 6, Int 11, Wis 6
Hallelujah: If you want to be a Cleric, show your devotion to a god or concept through a significant charitable act, and meet the stat requirements: Str 6, Dex 3, Con 6, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 6
Nature's Gifts: If you want to be a Druid, show your devotion to the Earth Mother by serving nature in some way, and meet the stat requirements: Str 9, Dex 6, Con 7, Int 3, Wis 6, Cha 6
Beat em up: If you want to be a Fighter, all you have to do is win a straight out, and out fight, and meet the stat requirements: Str 6, Dex 16, Int 15, Wis 6, Cha 6
Look at the shadows dance: If you want to be an Illusionist you have to tap into the shadow plane, learn to harness it's powers, and match the stat requirements: Str 3, Dex 6, Int 9, Wis 6, Con 6, Cha 6
Magic Fingers: If you want to be a Magic User, study the currents of magic till you can figure out how to store them in your mind, and meet the stat requirements: Str 12, Dex 6, Con 9, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 17
Smite the Evil: If you want to be a Paladin, show you have what it takes to protect the innocent, strike down the wicked, and meet the stat requirements: Str 12, Dex 6, Con 9, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 17
Far Ranging: If you want to be a Ranger, learn the wilds, show your marksmanship, and meet the minimum stat requirements: Str 13, Dex 6, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 6
Step Lightly: If you want to be a Thief, simply steal something of value without being caught, and meet the stat requirements: Str 6, Dex 9, Con 6, Int 6, Cha 6
After reading the quests, and putting off the choice of class, I turn my sight to the last button. I hit Train, and a microphone icon pops up. I try it out. "Train Dexterity." and an obstacle course appears in the app which my sprite starts to run. Speeding through the course at triple actual speed. I start to wonder why I don't feel any different but then I notice the text of the button has changed to Collect improvements: +0 Dexterity.
____________________________________________________________________________
David Davis later that day
I exited the app after that discovery and hid the wineskin in my jacket. Luckily, I wasn't caught slacking on my phone with an old timey wineskin next to me. That wouldn't have ended well. Honestly the people I work from are a bit scary. I'm pretty sure they are having illicit dealings in the house I guard, considering how one set of people enter with a duffle bag and another leaves with the same duffle bag. I'd hate to have to explain that one to them. Especially as what I'm pretty sure was blood loss must have looked an awful lot like drunkenness.
Now that I'm in the comfort of my own home I take the wineskin out, to sate my curiosity I try a sip. It's got a nice fruity taste to it. Reminds me of a strawberry wine I once drank with my sister Hannah. Man do I miss her.
I take a longer sip and brace myself before opening the app. Seeing my little sprite still running the obstacle course. There is a difference however. The button now reads: Collect improvements: + 1 Dexterity. I hit the button to see what happens.
I feel a bit more agile, and sure on my feet. I check my stats and see that the Dexterity stat has gone up. I then set my sprite to train Intelligence cause it feels insulting that that's my lowest stat. Accurate but insulting.
Now to figure out which class I should aim for, and I will be using this app to the full ability I can. I can feel my long slumbering ambition waking up. It feels ravenous.
It may be the wine speaking with sweet whispers of better times, but I think I'll go with Assassin. I know just who to go after. I go to the shop, and find a poison not of this world called Spider's Kiss, it induces a deep sleep, where he will waste away in hours as if he'd been in a coma for months. It will serve him right for how he treated Hannah.
____________________________________________________________________________
David Davis Three days later
I wait till he's not looking to put the pellet in the basterd's drink, and watch it dissolve. "Oh would you look at the time? Sorry Micheal I have to get going but before I go how about a toast in Hannah's memory? To Hannah!"
"To Hannah!" I almost feel bad for the poor fool as he takes his shot, but then I remember how the utter scum treated her on her deathbed. He didn't even bother to pay for treatment. I had to cover the payment for her hospice.
I leave the bar with a clean conscience and check the phone the sprite seems to have gotten to + 4 Intelligence. I smile. Now I just have to wait for him to croak, and I'll qualify to be an Assassin.
