Chapter 31 - A new sort of quest

If everything had gone as per plan, with Saachi spending nearly 16-18 hours a day in game, he would have definitely reached level 10 by 1 month.

Something had changed, obviously. He gained loads of RPN ( reputation points for NPCs)and become a nobleman in eyes of villagers. This meant they could share their problems which were of higher level.

The logic instilled in them meant they would slowly increase difficulty in quests, so Saachi still had no idea he would be sucker punched later. The chances of him failing, and losing levels was getting more and more as he fulfilled NPCs' requests (quests) regularly.

'Escape' touted itself as a game suitable to all sorts of players. Meaning it could engage both noobs end of spectrum and elite player end of spectrum. This sort of division was becoming more apparent to Saachi as his levels increased. Noobs might take few months before they started their journey within level 10, which may take few months in itself. A year or more to spend in novice village. The story content, types of monsters and maps, the quests....none should seem repeating and boring. Others would stay for half year or more before rushing to towns where one would stay for few years and move around different towns or settlements later. As game progressed, many would like to stay in player made settlements, be it a small village, town or city, as it gave them more ways to earn money. Of course, earning comes hand in hand with paying. These players had to pay a lot of tax to work or earn. If one did not have good backing or not moving in groups, surviving in cities was difficult. The travel time from one end of city to other make take half a day(within the game) even with vehicles. And teleportation of sorts had restricted use, meaning not anyone could use it. Most important stumbling block for normies or normal players was the level of quests given were high. Noobs should not even try to get into cities. The amount they may earn would not be enough to pay to entry fees into the city.

Saachi was thinking of these things because now he had to make some tough decisions, decisions which would determine how much and how fast he could develop.

Right now, this village had unconsciously divided into 2 groups of players. The first group, battle bloodied or completed compulsory quest had lowest number around 13 or 14. But they were strong, had level advantage, more affinity with NPCs, higher level in lifestyle skills too. The second group was filled with newcomers. The ones sent 1 day post the compulsory quest.

Saachi did not take notice of them and they did not talk to a player whose level they could not see.

The basic skill 'identify' is just basic. Even this skill has to be upgraded to get more value. At higher levels, it would have equal standing with skill 'appraise', the famous money minting skill. Unfortunately, even in Saachi's previous life very few got the skill 'appraise'. That skill was easy to upgrade, keep on appraising and just take money for appraisal too. And this skill had similar components as that of skill 'identify' and not many realised it.

Now players used the skill to see the players, potential party members, opposite party members etc and to identify monsters.

The NPCs? Only noobs would try that skill on NPCs and learn that the skill won't work on them. No one cared about the reason or the logic. The logic is that the skill at basic level had level range, generally 2 to 3 level range, beyond which it would not work.

The skill would show results like this :

????

NPC.

Level???

Status - neutral

Just like using skill on level 6 or level 8 monster,

????

Monster

Level ????

Status - very dangerous.

Niyam's identity by skill 'identify' in basic level:

?????

Player

Level ?????

Status - neutral

So no one made noises when he was around. They became googly eyes when they saw Bree with Royo moving behind as bodyguard. They held their breaths whenever they saw Kylie's surly countenance. Even the female players who fell in love with Kylie's face, didn't squeal or gossip in his presence.

So these people had no idea what was happening in rest of the village most of the time. The oldies or the Original Fourteen, would be in higher level maps or holed up in alchemy trial rooms or in Smithy. They were following the suggestion given by Saachi. The power meant they would not be bullied.

The Alchemists would deal with NPCs or with Niyam, they did not go near player market at all. That was what they believed and behaved too. The chat logs would look like proof of that.

Yet inside this small group were inflitraters or power hungry, hugging thigh of powerful, kicking the weak, shameless kind of people. Not many, a small group, very small group.

They had tucked their snake tails and bellies when they saw there was no opportunity, but opened up their mouth to gobble up when the chances arose.

The chance was in shape of newcomers.