FABLES

, Just an MMORPG?
By Nicky Barnes


The room was hot and dark, the curtains drawn to stop the sun's bright glare from touching the computer monitor. A twelve year old boy's gaze is fixed on the brightly coloured screen, left hand feverishly pushing buttons, while the right slides the mouse about on the mouse-mat. Almost there, a few more kills and then the all important.....

Ding! Glowing sparks surrounded his character on the screen as he reached level thirty two.
"Yay! Whoopee, I did it." he shrieked bouncing in his chair.
"Tim, Jason's at the door. Are you coming down?" His mum's voice carried up the stairs pretty well, he guessed, she'd had lots of practice.
"Can you send him up mum?" he yelled back, "thanks."
He swivelled round as Jason walked in.
"Ah man, are you still playing that shit?" Jason gestured at the screen. "No-ones playing that anymore. This came earlier, I ordered it off E-bay, wanna try?" He handed Tim a black box. Tim turned it over to read about the game, there was nothing on the back. On the front was a symbol and nothing else, Y.
"What is this? Platform? Shoot 'em up?"
"Nah said it's an MMORRPG, guess that was a typo in the description but it looks amazing, saw some screenshots. You can't install the full game but you can use my 'friend key'. You can play the trial for a week, then if you like it, you gotta buy the game."
Tim opened the box. It contained a blank plastic case, inside that was a disc and a card. He took the card out and read it. There was just a serial number on it. Weird he thought, guess the game company don't like to advertise.
"Well whats it about?" Tim said.
"I don't know, I'm gonna try it later, I've already got it installed. Anyway gotta go, mum wants me to get milk from the shop. Cya's." Jason left the room and ran down the stairs. Tim heard him call out 'bye' to his mum, then the front door slammed.
Tim looked at the blank game case, guess it wouldn't hurt to try, he thought. He removed the disc and put it into his CD-ROM. A red loading screen appeared on the monitor, with a big flashing Y. The screen showed a bar slowly filling up at the bottom. 10%...23%...36%...
Tim got up and went to use the toilet, then went downstairs to get a drink.
"I hope you have done your homework Timmy." his mother said.
"Yes mum," he answered opening the fridge. He poured himself a cola. "Mum have we got any crisps?"
"No you can't have them now, dinners ready in twenty minutes."
"K mum." he moaned and ran back upstairs, mindless of the splashes of cola leaving his glass. Entering his room he heard music. The game had loaded and there was a box for him to enter the serial code in. He typed it in using two fingers as he read aloud from the card.
The screen went black and a wail came from the speakers. Three choices appeared on the screen: Beginner, Advanced and Expert. Hey, I'm no wuss he thought and clicked Advanced. He felt a tugging and looked down, nothing there. It came again, more insistent, something compelling him to move forward. He was pulled from his seat towards the computer screen. He grabbed hold of the edges of the monitor, trying to brace himself. When his fingers touched the screen they passed through.
"Mum!" he cried out. His head sunk into the screen, followed by his body. Feet kicking the coke glass over as they disappeared from view into the computer screen.

He was somewhere else. It wasn't his bedroom, his mind decided, so I must be somewhere else. The game! He must be in the game, his thoughts whirled with the possibilities.
"Wow! This is so neat." he said aloud.
There was a weight on his back. He slid it off.
"Huh?" The object was a backpack. Un-buckling the top flap, he looked inside. He pulled out a map, some wrapped stuff that looked like dried meat, a flask of water and two bottles. One contained a red liquid, the other blue. He stared at the items and then it dawned on him.
"This is my starter stuff! I really am inside the game. I'm a Newb!" He looked at the map, it depicted an island, showing rivers as winding blue lines, dots marking towns, he noticed there was one nearby and mountains as inverted V's. At the bottom were the words: Kantos Starter Island.....Y 2008.
He kept the map out and put the rest back in the backpack. Swinging it up on his back he headed down the dirt trail.

He approached a village, a guard spotted him and put up a hand.
"Halt newcomer, state your name and your profession."
"Um Hi, I'm Tim and well what professions are there?" he smiled up at the guard, who was wearing bright silver chainmail and had a broadsword at his hip.
"Didn't you read the on-line manual? And what sort of name is 'Tim'?" he sighed.
"Um no. Didn't know there was one. OK I will be 'Blast King'" Tim thought for a moment. Can I be a Fearknight?"
The guard chuckled. "No, you are of good alignment. Your choices are: Paladin, Warrior, Cleric, Mage or Bard."
Tim excitedly thought of throwing fireballs and sending lightning strikes at the enemies, but no, he didn't fancy running round in a robe. Bard? No too pansy. Prancing about singing tra-la-la didn't appeal either. Warrior! yes thats what he wanted to be. A mighty hero, cutting down hordes of attacking orcs and stealing their loot. He liked the sound of that.
"Warrior please and can I change my name to 'Eliminator'?" he smiled pleased with his choices.
"Excellent it will be done."
Timmy felt his skin buzz and he was surrounded by light, when it cleared he saw that he was dressed differently. Gone were his jeans and T-shirt, in their place was a rusty chainmail tunic with leggings, decrepid looking leather boots, on his head a leather skullcap and clutched in his hand a shortsword. It wasn't a nice bright shiny sword, like the guards, it was pitted and dull with nicks along the edges.
"When do I get a sword like yours? and armour! When do I get to wear plate?"
"First you have to gain experience young man, if you want to wear plate you will have to get stronger. It's way too heavy for you to wear yet. Now pay attention I have a chore for you."
"Ooh quests! I love quests." smiled Tim happily.
"Travel to the village centre and speak with Mayor Thornwhittle. He needs your aid."
Tim walked forward and passed through the village gates. There were shops lining the streets with big signs stating what they were: General adventuring supplies, Bank, Exchange, Tailor shop, weapon smith and more. He went in the one marked as bank and backed up quick as a huge tiger man came out.
"Watch where you are going kid."
Tim grinned nervously and entered the bank.
"Good day adventurer, welcome to the village bank. We can assist you with your daily finances." The banker then led him to a safe in the far wall, one of many.
"Your can store un-needed items here. There is a limit of fifty items."
Tim opened his safe, there was nothing inside but a piece of paper. He took it and read: Welcome to Y, you will have the time of your life. Spend it wisely. He left the bank and made his way to the village centre. He felt his skin shiver and voice in his head said, "You have discovered Hayton Village Square." The light surrounded his body again, the voice continued, "You are level 2."
"Cool," thought Tim.
A fat important looking man walked towards him with a lady dressed as a milkmaid.
"Ah there you are adventurer, we need your help. I have mislaid the petty cash box and this young lady here," he looked at the milkmaid, "has lost her cow. There is a cave northwest of here where wolves have been seen. We believe that both our missing things are there. Good luck adventurer." He shook a bag, it jingled. The milkmaid held up a wicked looking mace. "These rewards are for you should you succeed. Off you go."

Tim looked at his shortsword doubtfully and thought, I bet I can't even kill a bug with this. He walked to the place the man had described, ducking behind a big boulder as a huge black wolf came into view. The creatures eyes were red, he could see saliva dripping from its exposed fangs and could smell it's putrid breath. It howled and continued pacing in front of the cave entrance .
"Bugger that!" exclaimed Tim. What do they think I am! Superdude or something?" With his back to the boulder he looked around. He should have been a mage, he thought, then he could have 'in-vised' past the wolf.
"Hail Eliminator, I am known as Shalandra." Came a voice to his left. He looked up at a thin figure dressed in chain, they were carrying a big mallet.
"Hi." he answered.
"You are supposed to say 'Hail' this is a role playing game you know." said the voice.
"Hey your a girl!" he realised. "And why are your ears pointy?"
"Well duh! Im an elf! and girls play too. This is my cleric alt! I have a level 44 pally. Thought I'd give this advanced level a try."
"Wow," said Tim impressed.
"Anyway wanna team up and take that wolf on? I would try on my own but you know, I'll probably die. Not that that matters, we just start again at the village gates." She expertly swung the mallet, it looked more impressive than his sword he thought. "Come on I've just started this character and wanna try this mallet out."
"OK lets do it." He got up and went to walk off.
"Wait! I have to 'buff' you first." She waggled her fingers and coloured lights surrounded him. He felt stronger and somehow safer.
"I have given you a strength buff and warded you."
"Ward? Ah you mean like a defence shield?"
"Yes, right are you ready?"
"OK. Let's do it."
He ran towards the wolf yelling, what he thought, were fearful battle cries.
"Wait for me!" The Cleric chased after him.
The wolf saw them coming and leaped. Tim managed to dodge it, he brought his shortsword round in an arc, striking the beast. The blade sank in but not far enough to cause much damage. The wolf twisted and sank it's teeth into his other arm. Tim screamed, the pain and the shock bringing him to his senses, this wasn't right! He realized he could really be hurt! He tried to pull his arm from the wolf's jaws. He felt faint and his vision clouded. The Cleric looked shocked, judging by her expression she hadn't expected that either. She smacked the wolf on the head with her mallet and it released his arm. She waved her hand and his wounded arm glowed, it had healed! Another player ran up to them, Hey you two, don't you realise this level is Advanced! That wolf is way too tough for you. You should have got yourselves some more experience first."
Tim kept an eye on the wolf, it was still stunned.
"What's the problem? This girl here says it doesn't matter if we die, we just start again."
"NO! This is the Advanced level, this is an MMORRPG you know! It's real, as in 'Massive Multi-player On-line REAL Role-playing Game. You should have picked the Beginn........Watch out!"
Shanlandra swung the mallet again and missed. The wolf was on her in a second, its great jaws fastened on her neck. With a twist of it's head it ripped her throat out before she had a chance to scream. Blood sprayed the air and splattered Tim's face.
"Nooo!" He felt sick, his eyes filled with tears. He backed away, the wolf's eyes followed him. He turned and ran into the cave, he heard the wolf claws scratching on the rock floor, right behind him. He backed up against the far wall. There was a body on the ground next to him, ripped apart and barely recognisable as human. The ribcage was poking up through the torn flesh. The wolf glared at him, blood dripping from its fangs. It crouched getting ready to leap.
"Let me out of here!" Tim screamed as the wolf leaped. "Out, exit....QUIT!"

He was back in his room. He was covered in sweat and shaking from head to toe. He looked at the screen, it read: TRY AGAIN? Y/N. Beginner Advanced Expert.
No way! he thought and switched off the PC.
He raced out of the room and downstairs.
"Mum, mum I'm back!"
His mother looked up, Tim I told you no crisps, dinners ready. Go and wash up you look all sweaty! What have you been up to up there?"
He looked at the clock, he'd been gone hardly any time at all. He went up to the bathroom and washed his hands and face, then joined the others at the dinner table. The day had been totally unreal, he didn't bother telling his parents, they wouldn't have believed him anyhow. He quickly finished his dinner, he was famished! Jason! he had to warn him! He raced to the phone, "thanks mum," he called out. Punching in Jasons number he waited, listening to the phone ring. He gave up and decided to go round there instead.

The back door was open, as always. The Wilsons were used to him and their son coming and going.
"Hello Mr Wilson, Mrs Wilson." Returned 'Hello's' came from the living room. He glanced in, they were watching something on the TV.
"OK if I go up and see Jay?" he asked.
"Yeah, go on up," said Jason's dad, "see if you can drag him away from that bloody computer. You two should be out in the sunshine."
Tim bounded up the stairs two at a time and burst into Jason's room.
"Jay don't..........." he stopped, the room was empty. "Jay?" The computer was on. On the monitor were the words: YOU DIED....END OF GAME.