VRMMO: World's First Glyphborne-Chapter 44: A Grand Entrance
The warning bells of the starting village rang out in desperation, even more so than when the wolves had attacked. However, the majority of the players that existed in the town at the moment had not experienced that event.
Only a few of the beta testers still lingered at this point as they cleared up quests or searched for secrets or held small fan meet ups. It was mostly new players and, despite the number of people who had flooded the game, the town was not overflowing with bodies.
This wasn’t the only starter town, after all.
But whether they were new or old, a massive bell ringing like someone was having a seizure while they held the rope, was enough to draw the attention of everyone. Guards hurried to the village entrance, quickly taking their stance in a shield wall.
That gathered the players attention even more.
Crowds formed, chatter was exchanged and a few of them started to find ways to sneak out of town to kill whatever was stirring up trouble, in hopes that it would give good loot, while others were finding good perches to kill steal from the previous lot.
A few inquisitive players, those who loved delving into the stories of the world, asked the guards what they were getting so worked up about.
The guards exchanged worried expressions. Some of them wished to know that themselves, as the information had not been fully spread. One voice cut through the noise, carrying with it an air of a particular wisdom that could only belong a hardened veteran.
"They say it is a colossal magical beast wreathed in chains. Dragging itself through the forest. The scouts reported that nothing, not even the youngest and most fool hardy wolves, dared to approach this beast."
"What is it?" A young soldier asked with a quivering voice, "Y-you said it was wrapped in chains. So it must be some overgrown Barghest, right? Barghest’s aren’t too tough. I’m sure we can-"
"Nay," The Veteran cut in, scolding the young soldier with his cold, thousand yard stare, "This is no Barghest. This is a Bear, bigger than you have ever seen. The spirit of those that were captured and killed by poachers."
"An...An Undead?"
The Veteran nodded slowly, turning his gaze off to the distance and taking a drag of a cigarette that he had produced seemingly from nowhere, already lit.
"Its the wretched, rattling chains that bound it in life still bind it in death. Those very chains are all that hold its head, severed by poachers in its last moments of life. It drags that very head across the ground as it tracks us. Its path has been on a direct course for us. It can smell the life force of the living.
Its fur, once white is snow, is stained with the blood of its victims long passed.
Then there are the groans... Those horrible, dreadful groans that could only belong to a beast most tortured. It is a tragic thing, that we must kill it again when it only seeks vengeance for its unfair life. But its vengeance against the living has led it to us."
The players heads swivelled between the two soldiers as they openly discussed the approaching threat. Even those who weren’t interested in lore and story were paying close attention.
The excitement that spread across the crowd of players was almost as palpable as the dread that spread amongst the soldiers, creating a strange juxtaposition.
A few moments later, the tree-line rustled ominously, sending the birds roosting within scattering into the air, before a large white mass of fur forced its way through. It let out dreadful, rumbling groans as it dragged its feet across the ground, each rattle of its chain sending a chill down the soldiers spine, while it only got the players more eager.
Above the gathered crowd, dozens of skulls floated ominously, their bejewelled eyes watching the events with rapt attention. These scrying skulls were given to every new player upon entrance, and were handed out to beta testers by a travelling merchant that roamed the starter towns.
They acted as the friends list, messaging system and a streaming camera all in one spooky device. They could even project the stream chat from one of their eyes.
Tension built and built as the beast drew closer, excitement clashed against fear, until finally it grew too much for one soldier. He sat upon the ramparts, bow in his trembling hands.
Fear gripped his heart, and when it squeezed once again, he let out a defiant, terrified scream.
"DIE MONSTER!"
He drew his bow back and fired it quickly, his arrow wobbling through the air. Unfortunately his hands never stopped trembling even when he fired, so the arrow completely missed the approaching bear and landed in the dirt a few metres from its head.
The beast stopped in its tracks, its head swinging on the dreadful chain to look at the arrow. Everyone held their breaths. The guards waited for it to attack, while the players waited for the quest to finally release.
No one was expecting the bear to shout back, and in the voice of a young woman no less.
"Hey! Watch it you dick! This thing is heavy, and I’m not dragging it all the way here for you to put more holes in it! If you ruin it anymore, you’re paying for it asshole!"
The tension that had been building since her appearance completely shattered in an instance, everyone watching was left utterly stunned and baffled as Belladonna poked her head out from underneath the bear.
Embarrassment swept over the guards, and a mixture of disappointment and greed filled the gathered players, as all of the gathered forces started to disperse as the girl dragged her massive kill into the town. But none was more humiliated than the grizzled veteran who had spun the tall tale of the Undead Bear.
A few tried to look for him, but he had pulled the world’s best vanishing trick and completely disappeared.
Naturally, Belladonna was completely oblivious to all the drama she had caused as she dragged the corpse through the streets, uncaring for the stares she was getting from other players. They were overflowing with so much greed it was obvious what their plan was.
Let them come, she thought, as she dragged the bear into the butchers shop. She strained to get it through the door and finally dumped it onto the floor. Stretching herself out, popping a few of her joints, Belladonna shouted into the backroom of the butchers shop.
"I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME GOOD KNIVES FOR ME!"
