Chapter 3 – Pickup Groups

“Look out!” Vikom snapped his head away from the goblin that had just fallen to the ground, looking toward Rebecca the [Cleric], just in time for a loud ‘Crack’ as something hit him low, from behind, beneath the knees, causing him to stagger forward and almost fall.

“What the-?” Vikom turned away from Rebecca to see the Level 9 scorpion is not in fact [Charmed] – or not anymore – by the [Bard]. He saw the diminished health bar and knew immediately who was responsible: the [Mage] who was … possibly the worst group member he had worked with yet.

“This group sucks,” the [Mage] in question said to no one in particular. He had been 1) complaining and 2) disobeying orders the whole time. They agreed. They agreed to leave the scorpion alone until – darn it.

Before Vikom had a chance to focus the scorpion’s attention on him with the [Taunt] skill, as he planned, Rebecca cast [Heal] on him, causing the scorpion to shift its attention to the squishy target, forcing Vikom to step between them, cast [Taunt] and ignore the second goblin which then went after the [Bard], Ashtian. Meanwhile, Kyle, the second [Mage] shifted his attention to the scorpion, lobbing a [Ice Shard] in the scorpion’s direction – too soon after Vikom’s [Taunt] and not strong enough to finish the scorpion, which instantly one-shotted him with a vicious stab of that same tail, through Kyle’s mid-section.

Vikom watched the scene with horror, as the scorpion – finally – returned its attention to him, while the first [Mage] and the [Thief] both stepped back, trying to determine their next steps – or whatever.

Just when Vikom started to think he might get a handle on this entire situation, the first goblin rose to its feet, the one with the giant club. Although it had only a tiny sliver of health left, the first goblin had more than enough stamina left to stab Ashtian from behind. Ashtian died perhaps a second after Rebecca tried – and failed – to save him, drawing aggro to herself. From his current position, Vikom could not get to her in time, and his [Taunt] had three precious seconds (not enough time) before he could use it again. Even the short thirty-second refresh timer he had on that skill was too long in this situation. Erin died and then – before any of the remaining party can even think about trying to escape, in under a minute, they were all dead.

It was a TPW (total party wipe out).

And then, while hovering above his grave in a bodiless state, Vikom realized he had partied with three of them before, that two of them were newcomers like him and that they were a group of friends that were … literally inviting him into their friend group. Because he asked, because it was not-so-secretly the only thing he cared about at this point. Somehow, they started talking about religion, probably because Vikom was … thinking so many thoughts.

“I’m from England,” Kyle said. “My parents were Anglican but old-school Anglican and then … yeah, when they started marrying gay people, they left and we went with them. I was Catholic for a minute and left as soon as I could, because I had gay friends, and … also the whole pedophile thing which was rich, you know?”

“People mention that from time to time,” Ashtian, the Xaranyan in their friend group said. “What is the pedophile thing? What does that even mean?”

“Ugh,” the [Cleric], Rebecca, said. “I can’t believe I stayed in the room. If I had just left when you told me, Ashtian (the [Bard]), we wouldn’t be in this mess. Also, from South Florida and … yes, Diocese of Miami. I was actually pretty devout. Still am. Why I became a [Cleric] I guess. Even though I suck at it.”

“Next time,” Ashtian said. “Leave when it gets that bad. We all die, the mobs reset so the party is out of combat, and you can [Resurrect] us from outside.”

“I know that, now,” the Rebecca said. To Vikom, she said, “Where are you from?”

“Russia,” he said. “But my parents were – I think – westerners at some point, how we became Catholic for a moment before being not.”

“Interesting. I suppose, as a [Cleric], I should probably know these things, huh? Also how to prevent a TPW. I am so, so sorry guys. I’m sure the backup will be here soon.”

Meanwhile, the other two party members – both Xaranyans – were silently over there brooding, probably, thinking they should have never joined this inept, newbie pickup group made up of otherworlders.

Eventually (after about fifteen minutes), a [Cleric] came along, sweeping the dungeon and [Resurrected] the party. The [Thief] and the [Mage] who had caused the issues, both of them left, but Vikom stayed behind with the other three to talk.

“You should join our party,” Rebecca said, the one who had – oops – let them all die.

“Yeah,” the Ashtian agreed.

“He might not want to join a party,” Kyle said. “But yes, you would be welcome. But you know where he would really be welcome,” he added, to Rebecca, who shook her head.

“What?” Vikom asked.

“Leave him alone,” Rebecca said, and Kyle shrugged. “We agreed we weren’t going to … anyway.”

“Anyway,” Vikom said. “How did you three meet?”

“Since you asked,” Kyle said. “Look, he did ask.”

“Okay fine,” Rebecca agreed.

And that was how Vikom finally attended one – and only one – meeting of the so-called Former Earther Support Group, which was – and is – a real thing. He also learned a good deal more about Xaranya, how he wound up where he was, as opposed to somewhere else, and a good many other things he had been wondering about for a while. (These details will all be available in the appendix for anyone who is curious. All that mattered for the moment was that Avalon was one of several starting towns, with a population of less than ten thousand souls and about twenty or so newcomers at a time, all of whom knew each other – and everyone knew who they were. Anyway.)

Once a week, usually on a Thursday morning, the Former Earther Support Group meets in a shelter in The Wilds. Don’t let the name deceive you, it’s not so bad. A safe place outside Avalon, outside the Starter Town and on the way to Ashara Village, the group picked this spot as a way that feels … both normal and other to most of them.

They meet in a roadside stand along the main thoroughfare, a dusty spot that offers tables and drinks and food – all of those available with the Standard Starter Rations they pretty much all have, because they’re all new. The sky above is pale yellow, the earth dark brown and bristly, the air cheerfully cool, the day brighter than than bright. Upon first entering the area called the Wilds, I think it would be suitable to have some western music play in the background, something cheerful.

Cheerful but wistful. A tumbleweed or two might also be fitting.

Every week, the group sits at the table and they talk about … whatever. 

This week, Vikom attended, mostly to give it a chance. He was giving all kinds of things a chance now, trying to be more normal, to fit in, still – honestly – in the hope that God (or someone) would see the effort and get him the heck out of there. He is introduced himself to the group, saying where he came from, et cetera. The others also introduced themselves, one at a time.

“You are very obsessed with religion,” a [Warrior] named Iris said.

“I’m not,” Vikom said. “I didn’t used to be.” He closed his eyes, thinking of Susan because…. “I had a job, an actual job. I didn’t have time for religion or for games like this one.” And then, it all came pouring out, the problems in their marriage, stupid and minor and yet … why else was he here now, of all places, if not as some kind of sign that she was right and he was wrong?

“That was how we met,” he said. “We were both playing the same game, called Lord of the Rings Online, but she was much more into it than me. When we found out – through a mutual friend who was also a casual player – that we live close together, we decided to meet in person. It was just … for fun. Eventually we got married, and … the last words I said to her-” Tears filled his eyes. It was so stupid. “I told her that she was wasting her time, acting like a child, and … I wanted her to help me more. She had been planning to change this lightbulb for a while. This lightbulb needed to be changed. So I got up on this ladder angry, and … whatever this place is, maybe it is – I don’t know – maybe it is trying to make up for or to get me to make up for the last words I spoke to her.”

“That’s intense,” Iris said.

“Really intense,” Ashtian agreed, and then … nothing. What is anyone going to say to that?

“It must be really annoying to be here of all places,” Corel, another [Bard], said.

Vikom looked around at the group, tears in his eyes. He quickly, angrily wiped the tears away with the back of his hand. This was a stupid idea. “I have to go,” he said. “I can’t. We will party up again, yes?” He said this to the three friends who met here, two of them as newcomers – like him – and the third person as a facilitator.

“Of course,” Rebecca said.

“Of course,” Ashtian said.

“Take a moment,” Corel said. “Glad you decided to come around, finally.”

Vikom paused for a second, realizing – seeing perhaps for the first time since being in this bizarre world, that someone might actually … care, deeply, about him as a person. It almost made him want to stay. Almost. It almost made him start to believe this might be neither a delusion nor hell. This place might actually be real.

Almost.