The Karmadont Chess Set (The Way of the Shaman: Book #5) LitRPG series Read online

  “All right guys, here’s the situation: I need to head over to meet the Patriarch ASAP,” Plinto began as soon as we returned to the throne room. “I have this one quest to do and this ring makes it clear that I can’t put it off any longer.”

  “Just as the horn does for me and the dagger does for Mahan,” Anastaria echoed the Rogue. “I too need to go to Laertol Island to meet Nashlazar…Mahan, it looks like you’re going to be without us for a few months. We have to do these quests on our own.”

  “But I can still count on you in the event of an emergency, right?”

  “If there’s an emergency, yes,” smirked Plinto and offered me his hand. “It was fun adventuring with you, but it’s time to part ways. My amulet is on. I’ll be in-game 12–14 hours a day. If you need anything holler and I’ll come flying. But okay, I don’t like long goodbyes…Bye all!”

  The Rogue cast a portal and stepped through it. Anastaria and I were left on our own.

  “Dan, I have to go too, but before I do that…Want to go check out our bedchamber? It must be quite sumptuous in a Level 24 castle…”

  * * *

  Before leaving, Anastaria forced me to sit down with her and make some plans for the future. According to her, it made sense to follow my premonition but it wasn’t productive to do so all the time. You can’t really argue with a girl who’s pressing her body to you, so I opened my notepad and began to write.

  And so…

  First—the Second Dragon Dungeon, which would require a massive raid party. Since there wouldn’t be any bonuses in there for us, I’d have to take Magdey’s and Clutzer’s raids with me. Then, when we’d reach the last boss, I’d summon Anastaria to my location so that she could get a First Kill too. She was quite the collector it turned out…

  Second—the Skrooj Dungeon quest that Ishni had given me. Essentially, this is a place in which I have to acquire all of the materials I need for the Chess Set, so completing it ranks up there with our most urgent objectives. Again—this is a job for Magdey and Clutzer’s boys, with Anastaria called in at the last moment.

  Third—a visit to the pirates. Here I’d have to team up with Evolett, since we’d agreed to do this quest together. We were supposed to meet the pirates not near Narlak but much further west—they were expecting us in the city of Cadis, which lies on the coast right beyond Kartoss. There weren’t any deadlines for this quest and Evolett wasn’t pushing us to go, so I could comfortably delay this one until I had less on my plate.

  Fourth—the Eye of the Dark Widow. A quest that required at least twenty-five players of Level 100 or above. At the moment, I had more than that at my disposal, but Stacey suggested we keep the Eye quest as a backup in case it turned out that I couldn’t manage the Chess Set quest. That way, she said, we’d have another way of getting into the Creator’s tomb. I agreed with her, put the quest aside and forgot about it for the time being.

  Fifth—I had to sift through the loot in my inventory as well as the piles of it that we’d extracted from the Glarnis Dungeon. Since this was a new Dungeon that had never been completed before, there was a very high probability that there would be some valuable item among the general clutter we had picked up. Anastaria took all of the meat I was carrying and sent it to the Alchemist she knew, asking him to create Merlin’s Potion. According to the girl, I’d be very pleased with the results.

  Sixth—the Wolf quest in Farstead. Anastaria looked at me like at a madman when I told her that I wanted to complete this quest. Even taking into account that Farstead now belonged to Kartoss, I didn’t wish to abandon the Gray Death. She had very cute wolf cubs and being a Shaman, I’m quite fond of wolves in general…But, uh, well, under the girl’s withering glance, I filed this quest in the low importance folder…and yet, I did not forget it about it.

  Seventh—I needed to visit Prontho to find out what was happening with my Shamanic powers. Why were they blocked? When would I get them back? And how come neither Anastaria nor Plinto nor I had received a quest for killing Geranika? Had we really been counted out and excluded from this coming scenario? As if! An army of players wouldn’t pose much of a problem to Geranika now that he had the Heart of Chaos…the Dark Forest had shown as much. Surely the assistance of a Siren, Vampire and Dragon should be very welcome..?

  Eighth—I needed to find Kreel. I was very curious to know how this player had managed to bring Rogzar’s Crystal to Altameda and avoid the curse at the same time. And why Altameda specifically and not some other castle? Anastaria supported me in this and told me to call her once I’d found this guy. She too was very curious about this player.

  Ninth—the Karmadont Chess Set. More precisely, the Giants from the Chess Set. I had been struggling to learn the least bit about them for a week already without any progress. At this point, Anastaria called me a moron, explaining that I could have simply asked her about it and she would have dug something up. I was forced to prostrate myself and promise that this kind of thing wouldn’t happen again. But in any event, I’d need to start working on the Chess Set—I couldn’t procrastinate with this quest any longer.

  Tenth—(oh my god, there is so much to do! When am I going to manage it all?)—I need to develop my Jewelcrafting and earn my third Gem Cutter rank. It was safe to assume that the next two months would bring some intense battles against Geranika. The players would need upgrades to their weapons and armor. This was therefore an opportunity to earn a lot of gold for our clan. Although Stacey was the one who mentioned the idea, I’m sure that Leite was the one who put her up to it. That cunning spider tried to make a buck on anything and everything.

  Eleventh—I needed to find an apprentice. Regardless of what Prontho would tell me about my Shamanic powers, I would take on a student and begin to teach him the fundamentals of Shamanism. I had no idea who my apprentice would be, but I knew that he would have to have a certain attitude to playing this game. He’d need to be ready to act in contradiction to the game’s established logic. Where I’d find someone like that I had no idea, but I’d do my utmost. I certainly didn’t want to just take on the first person who came across my path.

  Twelfth—I needed to allocate my unused stat points. At the moment, I had 490 of them and saw no sense in growing my collection further. To my surprise, however, Anastaria categorically forbade me from doing this. She explained that the main stats maxed out at 500 points. This limit could only be exceeded by adding the unused stat points, so if I had the opportunity, it was better to leave them unassigned for now. To my question of how I was going to hit the max limit without pumping in my unused points, Stacey simply smiled enigmatically and asked me to wait. She added only that I’d be very happy with the present she was going to make me. As a result, I happily struck this twelfth item from my already lengthy list.

  Thirteenth—our training with the Patriarch. Unfortunately this would have to be put off for now, since I couldn’t leave Altameda for more than a day and commuting every day would be too expensive, especially in view of our recent expenditures. The important thing here was for the Patriarch to meet us halfway. He could easily tell us to either get on with the training now or forget about the whole thing.

  Fourteenth—I had to go see Renox. I don’t know when I’d be able to—it was looking like only after I reached Dragon Rank 10—but I desperately needed to talk to my in-game father. Nashlazar’s words still rang in my head: Renox had sacrificed Draco to the Tarantulas. It was an impossible thing to believe and yet the Siren had sworn an oath that she was telling the truth…All in all, this was a complicated issue and it was better to deal with it slowly.

  “Is that really all?” quipped Anastaria, running through the list one more time. “I’ll admit I only figured there’d be three or four points to keep you busy for the next couple months, but now it looks like you have your work cut out for you for the next year. We may as well go ahead and add the Geranika quest, the destruction of the Heart of Chaos and the future development of our clan to the list while we’re at it…”r />
  “I think I’ll be able to figure out what I need to do now and what I can put aside on my own. You’re right—there really is a lot of things to do, but at least now it’s clear what they are.”

  “Especially the Chess Set one. All right Dan. I’m going to get going. Make sure to check in and tell me how you’re doing…Try and have a good time here…” Anastaria cast the portal, gave me a farewell kiss and vanished to an unknown destination.

  “Master,” said Viltrius, appearing suddenly beside me as if he had been waiting for the right moment. “Dinner is ready. Do you wish to dine in the bedroom or the dining hall?”

  “Dining hall,” I told the goblin. Being an Earl was pretty fun, I decided. All I had to do was figure out the money problem and then I’d enjoy being an aristocrat so much that I wouldn’t even want to leave Barliona after my seven years were up. Life’s not bad when people fawn over you…

  * * *

  “Honorable Earl, there is a visitor here to see you,” Viltrius announced triumphantly as soon as I finished my meal. Even though the goblin had done his best, it was clear as day that I’d need to hire a chef for the castle, as well as a wait staff and several chambermaids. As hard as it is to admit it, there was no alternative. And yet even here, Altameda surprised me yet again. The salaries of a waitstaff of seven, including three chambermaids, only amounted to two million gold per year. And that was taking into account the high levels of these NPCs to match that of the castle. Making a mental note to compensate myself as soon as the clan earned some more money, I paid the six-month sum out of my own pocket. But who was this visitor, and where had he come from? Altameda had been at its new location only about two hours… “Do you wish to receive him today or shall I inform him that the audience will be held tomorrow?”

  “Let’s do it today,” I confirmed my payment, and watched as the goblin’s eyes flared with joy—now he’d have some personnel to manage.

  “As you wish, Master,” the goblin bowed. “I shall usher the visitor into the throne room…”

  As soon as I sat down on my throne, the wide doors opened and Viltrius proclaimed in a grandiose voice:

  “The Alderman of Happy Moss Village to see His Highness!”

  Why look at that! It turns out there’s a village nearby. Recalling the fundamental principles of Barliona, I knew that where there was a village—there was a quest! I’d been a bit naïve, making out my schedule for the next several years and not considering all the opportunities that might be awaiting me at my new location. My fourteen-point plan for world domination would have to wait…Hmm…world domination…I grimaced a little at the thought—Cain had mentioned that there wasn’t much time remaining to take over this world, and he wasn’t equivocating or being sarcastic either. Geranika’s warrior had been honest and sincere all along, and I had paid little attention to him…All I could do now was sigh bitterly and recall the mistakes of the past.

  A smallish man meekly entered the hall. He kept glancing about himself as if unsure of whether he should fall to his knees or hazard another step. Fiddling with his hat as if it were the source of all his troubles, he froze halfway between the entrance and the throne. He was dressed in a simple outfit, with a rope instead of a belt around his waist and scuffed boots…The Alderman of Happy Moss Village looked nothing at all like the Beatwick Headman. Even taking into account that the Beatwick Headman had since then become the Emperor of Malabar, the difference was immense.

  “Sire! Myrrh they call me.” The alderman decided to hazard an address. “Our village that lies yonder bears the calling Happy Moss. A peaceful place of a hundred homesteads. We are properly registered in the provincial registry of settlements. Have you come to rule us, oh Sire? I assure you we pay our taxes regularly and follow all the laws to the letter.”

  Having finished with his speech, Myrrh sighed with relief and peered at me inquisitively. Hmm…Does this mean that by teleporting to this new location, my castle has taken the surrounding villages under its protection?

  “Stacey, I need some emergency advice. Can players govern villages?”

  “No…What’s going on?”

  “There’s a village alderman here, asking me whether I’m the new boss. I can’t call you because he’s right here staring at me. My Energy’s almost out…”

  “Got it…Dan, summon a Herald and ask him about the status of the village. You won’t be penalized for the summons, since you have a visitor. Only, make sure that you make it clear that the man came to you and that you didn’t summon him yourself. All of the player castles I know about are located far from Barliona’s villages, so there’s simply no precedent for this. When your Energy returns, tell me what happened…”

  “I call upon a Herald, I request your assistance!” I said, trusting in Anastaria’s experience. I can’t make my own decision of whether I’ll govern the village or not—I’d definitely be punished if I chose wrong, so better let someone explain my rights to me.

  “Earl! You called me and I came,” the Herald’s bell rang in the throne room and the alderman of Happy Moss fell prostrate to the floor. If he wasn’t sure how to act in my presence to begin with, then the appearance of the Herald knocked the legs from under the poor NPC. Given how remote this location was from the Free Citizens’ typical haunts and, consequently, the simplified nature of local governance—or rather its utter absence—the simultaneous arrival of a mysterious Earl and even more the Herald—a high Imperial official—amounted to a major blow to the uncomplicated psyche of the alderman’s Imitator. He was clearly unprepared for all these changes.

  “I’d like you to clarify a legal question for me.” Having listened to the boilerplate about being punished for making an unsubstantiated summons, I explained the situation as it stood while makings sure to emphasize that I hadn’t caused it.

  “You have done the right thing by calling me, Earl. Please wait a little. I need to consult with the Advisors—this kind of thing has never happened in our Empire before.”

  The Herald dived back into his portal, which remained floating in the air. The alderman raised his head from the floor but as soon as his eyes met mine, Myrrh immediately planted his forehead flush against the floor again, terrified of displeasing the mighty Earl who had such self-assurance when speaking with Imperial Heralds.

  “Viltrius,” I called the goblin, noting to my surprise that he was also standing motionless and in awe at the edge of the auditorium, “tell our servants that the esteemed alderman should be bathed, fed and assigned a bedroom. He has no business wandering around the woods at night. Until the question of the village administration is settled, he will stay here as our guest.”

  “M-master Earl,” said the goblin with a slight stutter. “Th-there are two more visitors to see you. The village aldermen of Silent Vine and Lower Creek. Shall I have them bathed and fed as well?”

  “And don’t forget to issue them beds,” I replied with a smile. “Get to it!”

  Viltrius approached the prostrated alderman, raised him to his feet as if he didn’t weigh anything and nodded at the door, evidently indicating that the audience with the Earl had drawn to a close. I’ll have to call the goblin later and ask him why he had responded so oddly to the Herald’s appearance. Had he really never encountered such guests before?

  “Thank you for waiting, Earl,” said the Herald, returning after ten minutes. “This situation is truly out of the ordinary. The laws of Malabar clearly state that a Free Citizen may not govern any settlements or manage their resources. However, considering the various factors at play…Well, in short, the Emperor wishes to personally communicate his decision to you. Please follow me.”

  The Herald moved aside and it was my turn to step through the portal. As soon as the Herald had reappeared, Viltrius, who had returned by now, turned into a statute again. But when the Herald mentioned that the Emperor wished to see me, something must have gone wrong in the poor goblin’s head because he simply collapsed to the floor unconscious.

 
“Hi, Mahan!” The first thing I heard upon appearing in the Imperial palace was the happy voice of the Princess. After what had happened in the Cliffy Forest, my Reputation with Tisha had reached Esteem, while my Attractiveness to her (I paused specifically to check it again) was now at 83. Slate should be resurrected very soon—this time in human form—and no one will be able to stop him from becoming the Princess’s legal husband. “Are you going to see dad? Stop by to see me later please. Take this amulet. When you’re free, call me.”

  Quest received: Conversation with the Princess. Description: The Princess is incredibly happy that Slate has become human and wishes to express her gratitude to you. Quest type: Rare. Restriction: Reputation with Princess must be Esteem or higher.

  Item acquired: “One-time amulet of communication with the Princess.”

  “Of course, Tisha. As soon as I have time, I’ll meet with you. Excuse me right now though, I believe your father is expecting me…”

  Since the Herald could have delivered me directly to the Emperor, I could assume that the meeting with the Princess had been arranged for me ahead of time. Well, then…My to-do list was beginning to burst at its seams. With every passing hour more quests piled on and I was beginning to hope I wouldn’t have to start a new list to fit them all.

  “Free Citizens of Malabar! Earl Mahan, Ehkiller, Ankir and Karrar!” announced the crier, opening the doors to the throne room. Three portals appeared and the three other players emerged from them. We exchanged greetings and paused in anticipation—the Emperor doesn’t summon such an odd combination of people without good reason. Ehkiller I was acquainted with, but the others were dark horses as far as I was concerned. Who are they, I wondered, and where’d they come from? Judging by their clan symbols—Ankir was in Phoenix and Karrar wasn’t in any clan at all. Odd…

  The last time I was in this room, Geranika’s Dagger had still been stuck in the throne, which had been surrounded by the Stones of Light. Now, it was occupied by Naahti, who looked down upon us majestically. All six of the Advisors, the Duchess of Caltanor, the toad-like Governor of Serrest and several dozen unfamiliar NPCs, all imparted a certain formal quality to this meeting. Accordingly, all four of the players took on proud, prim postures as we entered the hall.