NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53: Another NPC Auction Battle
Chapter 53: Another NPC Auction Battle
I needed to get my ritual enchanting skill from 9 to 23. Just by continuing my building projects, I hoped my stone foundations skill would reach its necessary level of 43. I still had the NPC auction. Maybe I could find an NPC with an expert level in the ritual enchanting skill.
I opened the interface and sorted. Only two NPCs on the massive list had the ritual enchanting skill at the expert level. Of course, one was undead, so she was out. The other was a foxkin male. At this point, I wished I could see NPC’s second skill. The only good thing about the beastkin enchanter right now was no one had bid on her. I guess other players didn’t understand the value of the primary skill.
I looked and had 16 bid slots and 23 platinum allocated for the auction. I dropped two platinum to open the bids on the paper makers I had marked. Paper and runic paper will be big export products for the Malcum in the future. My next two bids were on the two furniture crafters that I had tagged; two more platinum were gone. I bid one gold on the expert foxkin ritual enchanter next. I decided I would be going all in on the foxkin to build the Adventurers’ Guild, so I planned to have at least two platinum in reserve for him.
I looked at my tagged list. I bid on the two expert traders, two expert caravanners, and two expert caravan guards. That was just six gold total. The only remaining NPC I still had tagged was the master caravan guard. It was the female bull beastkin. I dropped the platinum on her but decided I would not pursue her if her price increased.
That went quickly; 12 of my 16 bids were already allocated, and just four were left. I checked builders next and wasn’t surprised to see ridiculous prices. A master builder was already over five platinum, and experts pushed 150 gold.
I filtered resource gathering and checked on miners. There were some bids here, but the number of NPC miners in the auction was quite large. I bid on a male human master miner and an expert female dwarf miner. This left me only two slots.
I had addressed my needs. I filtered masters of various magics and didn’t find anything not already bid on. Just going through hundreds of NPCs, I found an interesting master. A centaur male had a master’s level in animal handling. It was intriguing that perhaps he could give my new cavalry horses bonuses during the training. I didn’t understand the training process, but the opportunity was too good to ignore, so I dropped the platinum on him.
I had only spent two hours reviewing the auction house and was already down to my last bid. What hole could I fill with an expert? I checked smelters, and the bids were crazy, so that was out. Armorers were too costly as well. I had only invested seven platinum and eight gold, so I might just bid on another master. I sorted to just experts without any bids and eliminated the undead race—nine hundred and thirty-six remaining NPCs.
I removed the skills I had already addressed or didn’t feel the need to address, with one hundred and fourteen remaining. I started investigating the remaining NPCs, slowly whittling down the list until I had just two left: a halfling master fisherman and demonkin master calligrapher. The halfling was interesting because I hoped to make a lake north of town. The excavation would take months but should provide a natural barrier for monsters and hopefully add more fish to our diet. The demonkin was more of a guess. If she was a calligrapher, maybe she could copy books as well? That way, she could be an asset when the library was built. Also, I was investing heavily in runic paper with my two papermakers.
When the game launched, I was going to have difficulty recruiting masters from the NPC auction, so this was an important decision. I talked with Jaesmin, and she said knowledge was power, and that cemented it for me. I bid on the demonkin. I reviewed my selections.
Name
Level
Profession
Race
Sex
Age
Primary Skill
Gilly
123
Papermaker
Human
F
46
Master Papermaking
Jerra
140
Papermaker
Angelkin
F
33
Master Papermaking
Dasz
64
Trader
Lizardman
M
34
Expert Trader
Wurt
73
Trader
Human
M
39
Expert Trader
Marla
74
Caravaner
Halfling
F
43
Expert Caravaner
Quinn
77
Caravaner
Dwarf
M
118
Expert Caravaner
Yew
192
Caravan Guard
Beastkin: Bull
F
75
Master Survival
Raed
66
Caravan Guard
Human
F
32
Expert Survival
Vyne
65
Caravan Guard
Human
F
33
Expert Survival
Darrel
179
Furniture Crafter
Human
F
34
Master Woodcraft
Orad
155
Furniture Crafter
Human
F
35
Master Woodcraft
Harrod
66
Enchanter
Foxkin
M
29
Master Ritual Enchanting
Pauli
140
Miner
Human
M
67
Master Miner
Justine
59
Miner
Dwarf
F
80
Expert Miner
Stallone
148
Animal Trainer
Centaur
M
23
Master Animal Handling
Andrea
177
Scribe
Demonkin
F
29
Master Calligrapher
The only NPC I would pursue hard would be the foxkin enchanter. If I got into a bidding war on the other NPCs I might switch to someone else. The auction closed in 40 hours before going onto phase 2. Now, all I could do was wait.
I checked on the updates for the pre-game launch. It was in just 43 days, 5 hours and 17 minutes. I reviewed the restrictions hard-wired players would have during the early release period. The early release period was for real-world players who were paying large sums of money to get a thirty-day head start on everyone else.
No level advancement until either a) the game launch or b) all early start players pass your level
Skill and Spell advancement will be at 10% normal rate until the official game launch
No participation in the NPC auction
Can not accept new epic or higher quests
Must maintain fair trade for items
According to the forums, Mad Dog had said there were 940 hard-wired players currently in the game doing the testing. He didn’t know how many were in a similar position to me, though. If testers were hard-wired and not owned by game designers, they could not carry over their character. So, in an odd sense of logic, it was probably good that I had not gained my freedom just yet.
Information on how many people were buying into the early release was hidden. Initially, it was only supposed to be 1,000, but that number had slowly grown as the greed of the developers took hold. The game was the new frontier where anything was possible. With the game’s area being so large, I hoped not to deal with too many rich players in my small town.
I did need to level, though. After this NPC auction is finished and the NPCs are settled, I plan to explore the world until the game launches and gain some levels.
The 3rd rule was annoying. I was going to miss one auction cycle and only had one more NPC auction opportunity before the game launch. But it all made sense as the established players would have been able to easily outbid the early starters by having funds available. The 4th rule hadn’t really applied to me as I had been stuck in Malcum and hadn’t been offered too many quests since I became the lord. Maybe my new Adventurer’s Hall would help that out.
The 5th rule was interesting because I was worried, I couldn’t sell my building plans for exorbitant coins. My original hope was to milk the rich players for their coins. If I couldn’t do that, I was going to be extremely upset. The game would have a global self-adjusting market that would normalize over time. Like in the real world, enterprising players would have an opportunity.
I decided to focus on my drafting until the auction concluded. I sent messages to Mad Dog and crew and told them where I would be. I had a long list of buildings for the orc camp and Malcum to prepare. I also had numerous copies I wanted to prepare for sale. I should also draft a treasury building to keep my coins safe in the future from player thieves. I wasn’t sure if NPC criminal organizations would target players…no, I should be prepared for that as well.
I had dinner at the inn with Sanso, Jaesmin, Breda, Iona, and Varrine that evening. We focused on which order to build things and who was going where to build what based on their skills. Iona had four apprentices, and Varrine had three apprentices. All had hit novice level in at least one construction skill. It would be about four game years before they would reach expert…maybe faster if I built my lord’s manor. It was hard to imagine this small group had built so much, so fast. It was just a game, but it still seemed remarkable to me.
Jaesmin had five building skills above the novice level, and masonry foundations were almost at the expert level. I guessed her relationship with me had gotten her some bonuses in advancing her skills quicker.
Since that meeting had gone so well, I hoped my next meeting would go well. Mad Dog, Grinder, and Back Beauty entered the inn an hour later. “Thanks for meeting with me. I plan to leave in a few days to grind out some levels, and I was hoping you could show me the best places you found in your travels. You know about my cheat on my mount. So, what can you offer in terms of advice?”
Grinder smiled, “Twilight Hills. It is far from here, but it is the sight of a massive battle, and at night, the undead rise. An endless army of undead. But they are extremely slow. You need to be careful not to get encircled. Level range is 40 to 50.”
Black Beauty whacked Grinder. I had to cancel a player attacking another player alert, “Grinder, maybe when he hits level 35, he could handle that location. You should aim for locations about ten levels higher than yourself with no elite mobs. Locust Valley is my suggestion,” she finished and Grinder looked about to object.
Grinder said, “Yeah, that actually makes more sense. Especially if you are going solo. Rhinos and monkeys are in the valley. Just keep your eyes focused up and watch for the thrown rocks.”
Mad Dog, who had been thinking, offered, “The dungeon outside of Thira. It is the only dungeon you can bring your mount inside. Lots of open spaces, and the monsters are slower than Titan. Twelve levels in total and they start at level 30 monsters and culminate at level 54 on the final level. You will need to beat the floor boss to advance, but it is your best option.”
Grinder said, “That island city is 20,000 miles from here, Mad Dog!”
Black Beauty added, “He can take the skyships and get there in a week. Mad Dog is correct. It is your best location from our online archives. You should take an NPC with you and not go solo, though.”
I thought about her suggestion. I was allowed one NPC companion. Even though I wanted to level up Jaesmin, I would not risk her adventuring. I didn’t want to risk anyone adventuring. The sad fact was my NPCs all out-leveled me anyway.
I reclined in my chair and sipped an excellent ale, “I like it. I can activate city portals as I make my way to Thira. Getting back here would be quick as I would only have to portal hop.” I was nodding to myself. We talked about how they would remain in Malcum while I was gone to handle anything that arose. I wished I had the skill levels to build the Adventure’s Hall for them before I left. Maybe I could…if I won the auction NPCs, I could use my five banked skill points and get masonry foundations to 43. I definitely needed that foxkin ritual enchanter.
I returned to my shack and told Jaesmin of my plans. She was not happy. She insisted I take a warrior with me even if he didn’t go into the dungeon. I consented to choosing and taking a giantkin with me from the infantry. I drafted plans most of the night and told Tanguin I needed a volunteer giantkin to serve as my bodyguard. They needed to be able to ride, and that was the only stipulation. This set off a chain of events.
A massive combat bracket was set up for the privilege of being the Lord’s bodyguard. I let it play out as I had too many things to do and anxiously watched the NPC auction timer. Eight hours before the auction was to end, I got a notification.
Your giantkin warrior Yorick has been promoted from infantry to bodyguard, you can designate his advanced class as either Palace Guard or Lord’s Bodyguard
I selected lord’s bodyguard, and I got access to his information.
Yorick, Elite Lord’s Bodyguard, Level 32, Loyalty High
I reviewed his stats, and they were not overly impressive, but he did have 11 skills. This meant he was now an upgraded AI. It now made sense why there had been such an intense competition. With his skill set, it made him a tank, which meant he would be useful if I could get closer to his level, so he didn’t take all the experience.
I looked over the NPC auction, and I had been outbid on two NPCs. The dwarf miner and my foxkin enchanter. Damn it. I bid 40 gold on both, escalating the bidding war, hoping to scare away the competition.
I sat on Manto’s tower nervously with two more hours to go, watching Bella the bunny girl learn her first magics as a distraction. Manto had the best view of the town and wanted me here to motivate his new pupil who had been struggling. He casually dropped that my presence would help her tremendously. I learned that as a lord, I had an aura that helped my subjects improve faster! There was absolutely nothing about it in the developer release notes, and Mad Dog didn’t know it either when I sent him a message.
It explained a fair amount, though, how Jaesmin and Sanso got more done when I was around. The faster progression of my builds and how townsfolk seemed happier in my presence. Bella learned her first spell, static discharge. It was not a true spell, but it was a cantrip that allowed her to increase her skill in lightning magic by practicing it.
I had my screens open and watched my timer hit zero. Someone had a last-second bid on my two traders and enchanter. I had four NPCs going to the second phase. Not terrible, considering I had made 16 total bids.
Justine
59
Miner
Dwarf
F
80
Expert Miner
Harrod
66
Enchanter
Foxkin
M
29
Master Ritual Enchanting
Dasz
64
Trader
Lizardman
M
34
Expert Trader
Wurt
73
Trader
Human
M
39
Expert Trader
I secured one miner, so this second one would be gravy. The dwarf miner was currently at 7 gold. The enchanter was already at 80 gold. Both traders were at 10 gold. I had actually been extremely fortunate as none of my masters had been bid on! I was only competing for experts.
I moved all four bids up to one platinum. I wanted to know if my opponents had deep pockets, too. When phase two ended and the 60-second timer started, I had the lizardman trader move to my completed bids and was outbid on the other three.
I bid two platinum on the dwarf miner, four platinum on the foxkin enchanter, and two platinum on the human trader. I told myself that the miner and trader would be my last bids. I wasn’t getting enough value in return to go higher. The 60-second timer reached zero, and I won the human trader. I was outbid on the foxkin and dwarf miner by a single copper.
It made me think my opponent was the same person for both NPCs. Maybe I could trick him or her? I bid one copper higher on the miner, waited until the timer almost reached zero, and then bid seven platinum on the enchanter. The miner moved to my completed list, and the enchanter was raised to eight platinum. I immediately raised the bid to 10 platinum and asked Bella to get me five platinum from the town coffers in the general store. I was not going to lose this NPC.
It turned out her errand was unnecessary, as I won the bid when the timer expired.
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Danielle disliked this game sometimes. She was trapped here and had made the best of it. Her family had gotten her broken body connected to the game so she could keep her mind active. She should have felt lucky to have survived, but her body was just a husk in the real world. People said she was a miracle to be the only survivor of the plane crash, but she had not been living until she started playing.
When she first connected to the game, it had been fun. Gaining levels, getting more and more powerful. Then, she established a small outpost and had been trying to grow it for months. Her NPCs kept getting killed when she sent them out to harvest resources, and accumulating funds to hire builders from the nearby city was a full-time job.
Then she got extremely lucky on a dungeon prize. It was a set of building plans.
Epic Archer’s Tower, 500,000 health, Requires Masonry Structures 43, Woodcraft Structures 23, Ritual Enchanting 23 (Bonus produces 200 magic arrows daily, Increases Safe Zone by 400 yards) (Effect: Elite Archers 16, Spawn Rate 1 every 24 hours, Level 75)
If she could build this tower, her settlement would be secure, and she wouldn’t lose any more NPCs, and she could venture further out on quests.
The nearby city had NPCs she could hire with all the skills except the Ritual Enchanting Skill. That was why she had planned to use the NPC auction to get an NPC with the skill. Her advisory had outbid beyond her funds in the final phase. Last cycle, she had lost a dwarf city planner. She would teach them a lesson if she ever found who those people were outbidding her. She recorded the name of the NPC enchanter and grabbed her bow. Her companion NPC stood from his chair and fell in step beside her. If she could reach level 117 today, that would make her feel better.
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