The Tainted Wood Read online

  Clint was so lost in his fantasy that he didn’t notice the man with a salt-and-pepper goatee listening in on the conversation. As Ned, Mary, and Clint talked, the bespectacled man looked down at his watch and called up a small holoscreen. As the minutes passed, the man seemed to become more pleased with something.

  Mary was the first to notice this man listening in on their conversation while going through some information on his watch. She stopped in the middle of explaining what classes she was taking at college and cleared her throat. Ned and Clint turned to the man who was still looking at his watch’s holoscreen. When he was finished, he smiled and met the cold glares of the three people he was listening in on.

  The bespectacled man grabbed the brim of a conical tin foil wizard hat with several blue stars glued onto it and tipped it. “Good afternoon brave adventurers,” he said with a smile.

  The voice rang familiar to all three, but they couldn’t quite place it. Mary scowled at the man. “Didn’t your mom ever tell you it’s rude to listen in on other people’s conversations?”

  “It is, and I’m sorry to have caused you any grief; but as I was standing around, I couldn’t help but overhear that you three are the famous Cleave, Tarka, and Krug, the heroes of Wilderwood and the saviors of Clearwater.

  “So that’s what they’re calling us?” Clint said, puffing up in a bit of pride.

  “Wow, I never knew I was a hero,” Mary said.

  “I never knew I’d done enough heroic deeds to earn a nickname. Maybe we’re higher on the food chain than I thought we were,” Ned said.

  “Actually you’re not that well known at all, even inside the Wilderwood. However, I know who you are, and believe me that counts for quite a bit,” the bespectacled man said.

  “Who are you then?” Mary crossed her arms over her chest.

  The man lifted his eyebrows over his glasses. “I’m surprised you three haven’t figured it out yet. I’m very surprised at you Mary. You and I used to have all sorts of fun conversations when you started playing.”

  Mary’s jaw fell. “Wait...hold on are you uh...at the start of the game.”

  Clint grinned, remembering his first time logging into Unexplored. “Jeremus. You’re the gnome that introduced us into the game, or at least me. Sorry I didn’t recognize you but you’re usually several feet shorter.”

  “And I have a longer beard,” the man said, walking over to their table. “It’s nice to meet you three in person. I’ve been following you, in the least creepy way possible, and have been following your adventuring careers. I have to say you’ve had a very impressive, if not very fortunate, run so far. With everything you’ve been through, I’m surprised you all don’t each have at least a hundred character deaths.”

  Clint felt pride swell within him. “We’ve been pretty great. But we didn’t do everything on our own.”

  “We somehow managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, or rather the jaws of Larkin,” Mary said, “thanks in no small part to Estelar, Tatarna, Vera, Sphiel, Berryl, uhhhh,” she counted her friends off on her fingers.

  “Don’t forget Lurupine and Bitterroot, the gods bless his tangled vines,” Ned said. “Good work programming his AI.”

  “It would be fascinating if he was an AI, but he’s played by a human last I checked,” the bespectacled man said.

  Ned gawped. “He’s human? That’s complete BS; he’s overpowered as hell.”

  “No it isn’t. He has many weaknesses his opponents haven’t exploited yet. That’s one reason he’s only been in one combat since he started playing the game.”

  “How did he get to be a Tree Person? That would’ve been cool,” Mary said.

  “Bitterroot’s player was a test subject way back during the Alpha phases, and as a reward, we allowed him to play whatever kind of fantasy character he wanted. The main reason you met him is that the game calculated that you needed his help. Otherwise you would’ve had no chance against the Crimson Kingdom.”

  “So the game just placed him there?”

  “No, it asked him if he wanted to be part of a quest. He said yes, and that’s led to where he is now.”

  Clint’s brow rose. “So it just asked him right out of the blue?”

  The man stroked his goatee and nodded. “Yep, sure did. It’s a feature of Unexplored’s amazing procedurally created quests system. It creates scenarios and quests on the fly. Pretty awesome, huh?”

  Ned rested his chin on his fist. “So the game reacts to the players?”

  “Precisely. Don’t you remember the advertisements for Unexplored? The players can shape the game. The procedural quest system is one way it does that.”

  “But if the quest system is nudging players in a certain direction,” Clint said, “that would mean that technically the game is controlling the encounter and not the player.”

  “Wrong, the game only gives you a small nudge. It lets you do whatever you want. If you don’t want to do something then the game gives another player the opportunity, as long as there is a character to give that opportunity to.”

  “So, in a way,” Mary said, “the game isn’t completely random. It really is trying to kill us.”

  “It certainly is, though I prefer to think of it as giving great adventurers, such as yourselves, a chance to shine!”

  “I know that you’re Jeremus in the game, but what do we call you here in the mundane world?” Clint stuck out his hand.

  “Depends on who you ask. Other folks that work with me on the night shift call me ‘asshole’ or ‘slave driving bastard.’ Those that work with me on the day shift call me Phil,” he took Clint’s extended hand.

  “Nice to meet you Phil,” Ned said.

  “Glad to finally get to see your face ‘asshole,’” Mary said.

  “That’s a nickname reserved for night staff only.” Phil tipped his hat to her. “Anyway, I think you’ll find I’m quite the generous fellow.”

  “How so?” Clint asked.

  “Well, while you three were sitting there talking, I couldn’t help but overhear the situations that have led to your relative lack of employment.”

  “You could help if you wanted to by not listening to a private conversation, but please, continue,” Mary said.

  “You’re right, of course, I could. Then, I heard your character names. Now, imagine my surprise, when I heard that one of the more successful adventuring parties, one that isn’t just out trying to get rich or get laid and that adventured in the sector of the game I watched over, were all unemployed.”

  “I don’t really know why you’d be surprised at all, with the economy the way it is, jobs are getting scarce,” Ned said.

  “That is the case, but not at Mindsplosion. Unexplored is a bigger hit than even we thought it would be. It seems like every day we’re adding a new position, especially temporary ones that involve playing the game.”

  Ned, Mary, and Clint all connected the dots at the same time. Interest lit up their faces. “Go on,” Mary said.

  “I thought you’d be intrigued. Well, it just so happens that our company is looking for a few people, preferably those that are familiar with the Wilderwood, for a temp job. It wouldn’t be anything major. You’d just log a few hours playing the game like you normally would,” Phil said.

  “Yeah, but what’s the catch?” Krug said.

  “Mindsplosion is looking for gameplay footage from other players, to show at the Exploring Unexplored seminar our company is giving at The Extreme Gaming Expo.”

  “Why are they looking for gameplay footage from the Wilderwood in particular?” Mary said.

  “It’s one of the more interesting parts of the game at this time,” Phil said. “We’re actually gathering footage from several different areas, the Wilderwood just happens to be one of them.”

  “What does the position pay?” Clint said.

  “Since it’s such important footage, Mindsplosion is offering a lot more than their usual rate. The job pays a four hundred an hour.”
r />   Everyone’s jaws, save for Phil’s, dropped. That was much more than any of them had ever made. Hazy images of a new computer, television, and neural transmitters for his 3D games floated around in Clint’s mind. He cleared his throat. “So how do we apply for this job?”

  “You don’t,” Phil said, “it was my task today to come out and find a party that would be interested in the job, and I’ve found my party.”

  “Really? Are you serious?” Mary said.

  “I’m gonna be really pissed if you’re not. I really need that cash right now,” Ned said.

  “Of course I’m serious. You three are awesome adventurers, and I think you’ll do very well,” Phil said.

  “When does the job start?” Clint said.

  “Tomorrow, and it runs until the end of the convention, which is the day after that.”

  “I’d be totally up for playing the game at the convention,” Mary said.

  “Great! That’s just what I was hoping to hear. However, that’s not the only requirement.”

  “What else do we have to do,” Ned said.

  “You have to play the game in front of an audience. This will be our way of testing out the footage we get from you guys without having to put together a test audience later down the road,” Phil said.

  Clint cringed. “So you want players to watch us do everything, uh including.”

  “Everything except that. I’m guessing you’ve forgotten that unless a player is involved in a sexual encounter, or is closely affiliated with the characters in the encounter, they will only see a big black rectangular prism with the word ‘censored’ across it.”

  Mary tucked her head. “So other players will be able to see how we fight and do pretty much everything else?”

  Phil nodded. “That’s how it will work.”

  “I don’t know how I feel about other people watching me play,” Mary said. “I don’t exactly make the best decisions as Tarka.”

  “I don’t think any of us are what you picture when you imagine a great hero,” Clint said.

  Phil chuckled. “Of course not, and that’s the point. You’re not majestic heroes; you’re just regular joes that have donned the mantle of hapless adventurers and fight the odds to defeat evils much greater than yourselves. That’s part of what makes Unexplored great, and what we want gaming journalists and the gaming public to see. That’s why you three would be perfect.”

  Ned closed his eyes and thought for a second, then nodded. “I don’t like the idea of someone watching me play, but I do need the money. I’m in.”

  The hazy images of the new computer and television became more solid in Clint’s mind. “I’d be happy to do this if it means furthering the game I love to play. I’m in.”

  Mary was silent. Her two friends looked at her, expecting her to say something, but she was pensive.

  “Are you interested in joining your friends on this adventure, Tarka?” Phil asked.

  Mary drummed her fingers on the table. “I uh...still don’t know how I feel about playing in front of a lot of people.”

  Clint furrowed his brow. “What do you mean? You sure didn’t seem to mind other players, especially the ones that uh, knew you well, knowing who you are.”

  “Yeah, but that’s different. This way other players will see how horrible I am at everything. I mean, I don’t play as much as those really hardcore Unexplored gamers do.”

  “That makes you even more attractive to us as an employee. Mindsplosion wants your average player, not your hardcore expert. Experts can find Unexplored on their own, we’re trying to market to the ‘casual’ player, like yourself.”

  “I just don’t want to be laughed at for how horrible I am,” Mary smiled derisively.

  “You’re probably better than you think. Remember, Unexplored works off your mental synapses, so it’s really just down to your skills and how you use them. I’ve seen you play and I think you’re great. A pro? Maybe not quite, but I think you’re pretty good. You’ll make an excellent subject of a gameplay video.”

  Mary looked more interested but she was still quiet.

  “Come on Mary, this will be awesome,” Clint said.

  “Right, your footage will help introduce people to the game,” Ned said.

  “Yeah, you’ll be a movie star,” Clint said.

  “Meh, I’m not really interested in being a star.”

  Ned grinned. “Tarka, please, we can’t do this without our mascot.”

  Clint smirked. “Yeah, we need our cheerleader to give us inspiration. Maybe you can be the cute, harmless character everyone falls in love with.”

  Mary scowled and turned sharply to Clint, “What the hell do you mean harmless. I’m more vicious than you when we fight.”

  “Yeah, the cute, harmless little characters. Maybe they’ll sell images of you on T-shirts and coffee mugs. You can get a royalty,” Ned said.

  “That is bullshit, I’m as badass as either of you,” Mary said.

  “Then prove it,” Phil said, “go on this adventure with your friends.”

  Mary winced. Clint and Ned just used her pride to manipulate her. She felt so stupid, while at the same time being pissed that they got one over on her. She didn’t like the idea of anyone taking a video her character was in and giving her gameplay shit, especially a video shown at the Extreme Gaming Expo.

  Then again, people were probably going to make fun of her anyway. Did that ever stop her? What was she afraid of? Wasn’t she the one who was supposed to be encouraging Clint and not the other way around?

  Mary nodded. “Okay guys, you convinced me. What are we supposed to do from here?”

  Phil clapped his hands together. “Awesome, this is gonna be so cool! Now all we have to do is get everything set up. Enjoy the rest of your evening. Tomorrow morning at around eight, Mindsplosion staff members will be by to give you further instructions. I’m excited to be working with you, cheers!”

  Phil gathered a suitcase from the table he was sitting at before and walked off. The three friends looked at each other, too excited to speak. They didn’t know if they’d be going on quests or if they’d just run around doing dumb stuff for a couple of days, but it didn’t matter. They were about to be working for a game company playing their favorite game. It was official. This weekend was going to be amazing.

  THREE

  Mary, Clint and Ned spent the rest of the evening mingling with several people from the game. Among those were men that Mary’s character, Tarka, had been with in game. The more Clint spoke with these guys, the less his jealousy flared up. Soon, he began to talk excitedly with them about the fun things their characters could do with Tarka.

  Clint worried how Mary would take this, but she seemed pleased, almost relieved, at the ease at which he could talk to these other men. Clint wished he could meet some of the other women he’d been with in game. He would love to set something up between him, Tarka, and a couple of other characters in game.

  He looked for a few other friends in the game that might happen to be at the convention, but he had no such luck. He did meet a few members of the Crimson Kingdom, and to his surprise, they were very friendly. There was a line between reality and Unexplored, he knew, but he’d feared that he’d run into someone that took the game too seriously, and it would cause an altercation.

  Two Crimson Kingdom members, a shortish, plump woman and a female professional bodybuilder, spent the rest of the evening with Clint, Mary, and Ned, laughing and joking about different things in game before they decided to go back up to their rooms. Clint wanted to stay down and hang out with the people they’d met some more, but Mary said if they were to get up early they’d have to hit the sack.

  Clint reluctantly agreed, and he went with Mary back to their room while Ned took the elevator back to his.

  Excitement rushed through Clint that night. He was going to be paid to play the game he loved, and the excitement still hadn’t left him. He rolled over to Mary and found out that she was having the same difficulty
sleeping. However, instead of excitement, she looked worried about something.

  “You okay Mary,” Clint asked.

  “Oh, I’m fine,” Mary said. “I uh...it’s just dawning on me that we’re gonna be playing in front of a bunch of people tomorrow.”

  “I know. It’s awesome isn’t it?”

  Mary sighed. “Yeah it, kind of is. My only thing is, well uh, Unexplored was something personal for me. It was my outlet to escape, my own, personal little safe haven. It was my own little world, and I don’t know if I want to share that or not.”

  Clint understood how she felt. For the longest time Unexplored was that to him as well. It was the place he could go to get away from the world, especially his former job, and unwind with friends while battling monsters and saving the world. If it wasn’t for Unexplored and his friends that played the game, he had no idea how his life would be right now.

  “I get that. Unexplored is a really important thing for me as well. Both of our lives sucked so we went there to escape. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way.”

  “Yeah, that’s why most of them play VRMMOs.”

  “Precisely, but the thing is, not everyone who has a rough life plays games, or does anything else to escape. They are like I was, just going about their daily grinds and then coming home to try and shake off the stresses of the day. I don’t know about you, but that didn’t work so well for me. This game was the only way I could escape the daily hell that was my life.”

  “You’re preaching to the choir. I played while I was at work, remember,” Mary smirked. “It’s why my boss fired my ass. Saved me from going up to her and quitting myself.”

  “Right, but my point is that here are a lot of people out there that don’t have the outlet you and I have. I’m excited to get the chance to play this game and make money at it, but I’m even more excited to show people who have a hard life that there is an escape. I mean, it’s not an escape that everyone would be interested in, but still, I want to show them it exists.”

  A thoughtful expression came onto Mary’s face. “I feel really passionate about this game, but I’m not as eager to share my passion publicly. I know I’m really open about sex, but that’s different. In real life, I’m only open with people like you, and right now, it is only you that I’m comfortable with. I know we probably aren’t going to be doing it on camera, but people seeing me play this game is kind of like I’m sharing that personal part of the experience. If that makes sense.”