Quest into Hidden Realms Read online

  QUEST INTO HIDDEN REALMS

  Hidden Realms LitRPG Series #1

  By

  Tom Gallier

  * * * * *

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Rowdy Rooster Publishing

  Copyright 2017 by Thomas W. Gallier, Jr.

  Cover Design by Sarah Anderson

  Cover At by Felipe de Barros

  Title font Marschel Pro

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and locations within either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  List of other titles

  About the author

  Quest into Hidden Realms

  Hidden Realms LitRPG Series #1

  Daphne, the minotaur, bellowed in rage, grabbed the goblin racing away from her, and threw him against the wall. The half-timbered pub shook, with streamers of dust falling from the ceiling. Killum hastily moved a hand over his mug before it was befouled.

  "Oh man, that goblin is toast," Tiana whispered. "Daphne caught me trying to steal her purse on my second day in the Game, and killed me five times."

  Killum looked at the goblin more closely; a leather coin purse clutched in the goblin's left hand. He concentrated on the four foot tall goblin in the brown tunic.

  Goblin (Lvl 4).

  He frowned at the red script over the goblin's head. No name. Nothing else. Killum shook his head, thinking, Just a mob.

  Since the goblin wasn't a living, paying player, he didn't really care what the minotaur did to him. All Non Player Characters existed for players to fight and kill, and thus earn experience points and other loot. A level 4 mob wouldn't have much to give up.

  If a player sat around socializing, or otherwise not doing much, the Game would send in mobs to rouse you. The Game wanted everyone out questing, fighting monsters, and challenging dungeons. Mostly, the Game wanted the players buying newer and better weapons and spells to play the game more successfully.

  "How'd Daphne pull that off?" Asha asked. The raven-maned sorceress arched a perfect brow at the redheaded thief. "And I thought stealing purses was beneath you."

  Killum paused to study Asha a second. Full immersion virtual reality gave them the most lifelike features and bodies he'd ever seen. He could barely tell it was a game. The next version would probably be indistinguishable from real life. Even better, they felt heat and cold, and anything they held in their hands. Hell, if wounded they felt a muted pain. And sometimes, Killum thought the pain a little too intense and realistic.

  "It was my second day," Tiana said, shrugging. The thief wore a brown leather hooded mantle over a brown cotton tunic and loose homespun trousers, helping her to blend in with the city's mobs. She pushed the hood back to reveal her glorious mane of thick fire-red hair. "All this VR glory bedazzled me. Anyway, I came back to apologize."

  Killum laughed. "So it took you four attempts to apologize before you figured out Daphne is more interested in PKs than forgiveness?"

  "Die, thief!" the minotaur warrior shouted. She picked the poor goblin up, holding both ankles in her massive hands, and started pounding the floor with the guy. Blood splattered everyone and everything within a dozen feet. The goblin gave up the ghost in short order. "Ha! Another one bites the dust."

  Killum glanced at the battered and bloody body. The dead goblin vanished after a moment, leaving lots of dark purple goblin blood everywhere. Then he concentrated on the seven foot tall, black-furred minotaur.

  Daphne. Minotaur warrior (Lvl 43). PK: 102. -6 Dark.

  The battle-mage averted his eyes when she turned towards him, a challenging scowl on her bovine face. As a rule, one did not challenge a minotaur, much less a level 43 warrior. Killum wondered, not for the first time, if he should create an alternate minotaur warrior character. It would be so sweet to have that kind of raw strength. The intimidation factor alone might be worth it.

  "I enjoy a good fight as much as the next guy, but Daphne is killing way too many players," Rand whispered. The dwarf warrior paused to watch her return to her chair at the next table over. Then he watched her warily another long moment. "I heard that she's actually quite soft-spoken and nice in real life."

  Rand stood barely five feet tall, but with a big head of red hair, bushy red beard down to his waist, and piercing blue eyes. As he liked to say, he was built like a stump and strong as an ox. He was a fierce and enthusiastic monster fighter, always ready for battle in bluish-gray Dwarven cuirass and helmet, both thick and heavy. His homespun shirt and trousers were bright red.

  The dwarf warrior turned back to his companions, the dead mob already out of his mind. He pulled off his heavy steel helmet, dropped it on the floor with a loud thunk, and leaned in with a crafty look on his bearded face.

  "Now that the entertainment's over…" He looked around and lowered his deep voice even more. "I heard a new dungeon was found over in Deadman's Swamp." The dwarf paused, giving each person around the table a meaningful look. "I heard it is a 'secret' dungeon, with immeasurable riches."

  Killum perked up. He palmed the nearly empty purse hanging off his belt. His last acquisition, a Power Sword, cost him a month's worth of loot and a week's RL pay.

  "Like what?" Asha asked. The beautiful elven sorceress gave the dwarf a look of utter disdain. "The last dungeon with immeasurable riches you talked us into proved a bust. My cut was a diamond and a few copper shekels. And I had to spend it all to replace the health and mana restoring potions I used on that stupid quest."

  "We all got some nice experience, and we all leveled up in a few areas," Killum said.

  "I don't play the Game to spend all my time grinding away at dungeons," Fergus said. The elven ranger fussed with his green and brown leathers, while giving the ceiling a dirty look. "I'm a level 38 Ranger, so I'm looking to gain a few more skills and a lot of loot, not just more experience."

  "Effeminate snob," Rand muttered.

  "You want to take it outside, dwarf?"

  "I want to put my axe upside your head, elf."

  "You can't reach my head, runt."

  "Hey! Calm down," Killum commanded, standing up. He glowered at them, before shaking his head woefully. "That settles it. We've spent too long here in the Rowdy Rooster BSing. Let's go crush a dungeon."

  You've be
en offered Quest to Conquer Deadman's Dungeon! Death and danger are assured, but the rewards are unknown. Do you accept this quest? Yes or No?

  He looked to his left. Asha shrugged. They all had the same Game prompt before them. Tiana on his right nodded eagerly. Fergus and Rand just glared at each other. A smile flirted with the corners of Killum's mouth. They'd been playing together for two years, but the new FIVR was barely three months old. Fortunately, all five of them managed to scrape together enough money to upgrade and buy all of the equipment.

  I'll never get out of my studio apartment if I don't stop spending all my cash on this game, he thought. But I'd be missing out on all this awesomeness.

  Killum was the group's leader. He was a level 35 battle-mage in the Game, but only a bricklayer in real life. Upgrading cost as much as a small car, and wiped him out. Asha, their elven sorceress, never flinched when it came time to upgrade, so must be doing well. She claimed to be an Indian woman named Asha, working for the Indian delegation at the UN.

  Fergus was the oldest of their group, being in his late thirties in RL. All of their avatars looked mid-twenties. Fergus was a grocery store manager, divorced, no children. He didn't like to talk about his RL, and Killum suspected he lived only to play the Game. He definitely spent more time playing than the others, and had gone through several different characters.

  Tiana said she was an accountant by day, human thief by night in the Game. Other than that, she was mum on her RL. Rand was the exact opposite, telling way too much about his real world life. The college junior could be a little creepy at times, but a lot of fun in the game. And he loved, loved, loved to fight monsters.

  Killum concentrated on YES for a second, noticing the others looking off into space at their prompts.

  Congratulations! You've accepted Quest to Conquer Deadman's Dungeon. Fight to the death! No quarter given or received! Let the glory be yours and conquer!

  Killum paused to check his status. He was back to 100% on health, strength, stamina, and mana. So he was as ready as he'd ever be to tackle a dungeon.

  Current status:

  Name: Killum

  Race: Human

  Class: Battle-mage

  Level: 35 (87% to next level)

  Alignment: Neutral

  Health: 100/100

  Strength: 230/230

  Stamina: 150/150

  Agility: 80

  Intellect: 95

  Spirit: 75

  Constitution: 100

  Mana: 250

  Inventory: (Click to View/Hide)

  Player Kills: 3

  "I better win some new spells or talismans, Rand," Asha said. "Or I'm going to take it out of your butt."

  The dwarf grabbed his crotch. "I got something for your – "

  "Don't you dare finish that!" Tiana cried, pulling her dagger. "You little perv."

  "Hey, stop calling me little," Rand cried, before he plopped his helmet back on. "I'm sensitive about my height." He pointed at the horns curving upward from the helm. "See. I'm compensating."

  They laughed, drained their mugs, and started for the door. The Rowdy Rooster Pub was one of the larger, more popular hangouts in the City of Uhrs. It was usually crowded, but it was midmorning in that virtual world. Most of the players were out scoring loot and trying to level up.

  Killum let the others lead the way to the door. A massive black hand grabbed his arm before he could take two steps. He followed that arm up to find Daphne's huge brown eyes staring down at him. She looked even more fierce up close and personal. The others all stopped, hands on weapons as the room tensed.

  "Don't do it," Daphne said.

  "Do what?"

  "I overheard you talking about the dungeon that the elven ranger, Deidra, found in Deadman's Swamp," the minotaur said. Her whisper was like a normal person's regular voice. "And when's the last time you've seen hide or hair of her?"

  "Impossible," Rand said, stalking forward with battle-axe in hand. "You heard nothing. I whispered." And then he shook his axe at her. "And stop eavesdropping, you big busybody."

  "Sweetie, I'm deaf in real life," Daphne said. "So I read lips." She turned back to Killum. "Forget that dungeon. Players go in and don't come back. Ever."

  "Thanks for the warning," he said, prying her hand off his arm with some difficulty. "But we're not your everyday kind of players."

  "We have a lot of experience together, over several games," Asha said.

  Killum moved back a step. He hated looking up at the towering minotaur like that. It made him feel small and insignificant. "I think we'll be okay, Daphne."

  The minotaur shook her massive head, her horns almost touching the ceiling. "I tried. Fare thee well, Lords and Ladies." She turned back to her table, but slanted a look back at them. "And good luck. You're going to need it in spades."

  Chapter 2

  The midmorning sun was bright in a cloudless sky. The temperature was comfortably warm, but in Realm of Battle it was always cool enough to wear lots of leather and armor. Killum stopped just outside the Rowdy Rooster's front door, looking up and down the narrow, crowded street. Men and women of a dozen sentient races co-mingled. A centaur family was trotting by, and he saw orks, goblins, and even an ogre sitting with knights, wizards, and a Dark Priest at a nearby beer garden. Street urchin mobs raced between everyone, trying to steal purses or work out deals with players. Just seeing them made Killum wrap a hand around the purse hanging off his belt.

  "I know Deidra," Asha said. Her brows furrowed. "I was wondering why she wasn't around anymore. Do you think the dungeon permanently killed her character?"

  "Nobody really dies in this virtual world," Killum said. He waved for her to lead the way, and she turned and headed up the street. "She's probably just busy with real life. Don't worry, she'll be back."

  Asha led the way toward the city gate that opened onto the road to Deadman's Swamp. The elven sorceress might act nonchalant most of the time, but Killum knew she loved fighting monsters more than any of them. He followed next in line, covertly watching the sway of her hips. She might be a fighter, but Asha liked to sex it up, too. Her black hair was pulled back into a thick braid, decorated with silver threads and golden bands. Her shapely body was barely covered by a purple and pale blue silk sari, but about halfway to the gate she spoke a spell and the silk transformed into soft brown leather: tight pants, boots, and bustier-like top under a short jacket.

  She was now armed with a bejeweled, curved elven sword across her back and about a dozen matching curved knives on her belt. Various pouches with talismans also hung from her belt. Most of the gems sparkling at her ears, throat, and forearms were talismans as well. Asha was partial to any talismans that were fashioned as shiny, sparkly jewelry.

  Killum had his share of fighting talismans, too. His crimson hood and mantle were enchanted, giving him enhanced hearing and vision. His steel cuirass was the finest Dwarven craftsmanship, enchanted by their wizards to repel steel and bronze. His arms were protected by chain mail, while his lower body was covered with leather. His Power Sword rode his left hip, with two curved swords strapped across his back. Enchanted gemstones decorated his swords, daggers, and armor, giving him enhanced protection and striking power.

  Tiana followed him, doing her best to blend in like a good thief. She pulled her hood up to cover her bright red hair, and it was enchanted with a spell of stealth. Since the battle-mage could still see her without difficulty, she hadn't activated it yet. Her only weapon was a long dagger, but in stealth mode she was a fiend in battle.

  Rand scowled at everyone and everything, trying a little too hard to look dangerous. He liked to walk through the city with his battle-axe held in both hands. And immediately after leaving the pub, he pulled his round shield out of his enchanted weapon satchel, which had a dozen slots with things like bows, spears, short sword, and at least three spare battle-axes.

  Fergus brought up the rear, looking cool and collected. Really, he almost looked bored. He was as tall as Killum, b
ut slim and not armored. The elven ranger carried two curved elven swords across his back, several knives and daggers, and his fancy elven bow. A quiver of twenty arrows rode his left hip.

  "Killy!" a beautiful drow called. She was a tall and lithe drow warrior, with almost-black skin and snow-white hair to her knees. Her armor was quite stylized, black with silver decorations, and her pants were tight and shiny black. She looked Killum up and down with a lusty look. "I'm fighting Callis Bobtail again in the arena in about an hour. Come watch me put that arrogant chump in his place. Since the odds-makers say he'll win 5 to 1, we can make a killing when I kill his stinking ass."

  Killum concentrated on her a second, and then her info appeared above her head:

  Zeta. Drow Warrior (Lvl 11). PK: 3. -3 Dark.

  So she'd leveled up from 9 to 11 since last time he'd seen her, but Callis was a Level 23 Centaur Warrior. There was no way she was going to win that fight, but he admired her tenacity.

  "Come on, Zeta, give it up," he replied, shaking his head with a grin. "You've fought him five times, and he's killed you five times. Come with us instead. You can level up some more, and then maybe next time you fight Callis you can finally win."

  "What? You don't think I can win?"

  "I've lost a fortune betting on you," Killum said. He patted his nearly empty purse. She frowned at it, than palmed her own empty looking purse. "Now I'm broke, and apparently you are, too."

  "How about you, Asha? You always have lots of treasure. I'll fight, you wager on me, and we'll split the winnings 50-50," Zeta said. "Easy money."