System Break

Head technician Shi rested with his head in his hands. Between the player requests and what was possible was a humungous gulf. For a start, mages, sorcerers, and the spell caster types were simply not possible.

The door to his office swished and the gorgeous PR head waltzed in. She was wearing a halter top which accentuated her cleavage. He moaned.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Yes." He said and sounded forlorn. "You need to put out a narrative which fits what we can actually do."

She leaned over and put an elbow on his shoulder. He dared not turn in his seat because her breasts were mere inches away from his face. "Hmm," she said demurely.

Shi was certain she liked to tease him and probably laughed about their meetings with the rest of marketing afterwards.

She let out a high pitch sigh. "And what would that be?"

"The martial arts, swords, fists, all weapons really."

"Bows?"

He nodded.

"What about bolts of energy, or lightning?"

"Definitely not."

She sighed. "How boring."

"This is rushed, and I'm amazed we have what we have for launch given where we started a year ago."

She pouted. "I suppose it's beta. They shouldn't have high expectations at the beginning. We can add the good stuff later."

Shi turned and looked up into her eyes. She took a step back.

"You do realise that this isn't a normal game. We can't just program in fireball."

She twirled her hair and smiled. "I don't want to know, just tell me what ingredients you have, and I'll make it into a gourmet."

"We have swordsman, brawler and rogue."

"Hmm," she said. "I can spin this. It's hardcore adventuring and fighting. No, nansy pansy magics."

"Other than the boosting of their strikes and body enhancements."

"Can they fly?"

"No!"

"Okay," she said demurely and headed for the door. "Send it to me in a report and I'll get started."

<break>

My skinning knife carved up the horny lizard with relative ease. It was extremely sharp and its craftmanship was much better than my ability to skin. I went with the grain of its skin and sliced along its muscles, but until I had a better understanding of its anatomy, I made mistakes.

The first was a total mess and then second was much better. At least I learned from my mistakes. Ailen followed me, taking the best portions of meat, and storing them in his large wicker pack.

Gisael collected the cores. It was like an assembly line. Sakaala kept watch when she wasn't daydreaming and Reyas followed me around.

I held up my best skin and Reyas scrunched her nose. She held out a sack and I dropped it in. "Good?" I asked.

"No. Try for one large skin, not four small ones. Let the tanner and leatherworker do their part."

I frowned. "I start off trying for one. They just break."

She patted me on the hand. "Try harder." She squeezed the lizard skin and her eyes widened. "Soft."

"Spongy," I said.

She held up its main horn. "This will be useful too. Who should I give it to?"

Gisael peered at the horn. "Paphyra will know what to do with it."

I looked west and the sun was heading down towards the horizon. "We need to get back; I have a date with Mother."

Gisael glanced at me and then back towards the glade. "There is time and we will all attend."

"Really? Do you know what's happening?"

"If Mother wanted you to know she would have told you."

I grinned. "So, you don't know."

Gisael peered at me and bared her teeth. "I might." Then she took off towards our home.

"Come birdy," I told my pet. It was busy with its beak buried in the guts of the largest horned lizard. It hopped around happily. "Ok stay, but you'll have to fly back yourself."

Ailen sniffed. "Is that what it eats?"

I shrugged, stowed my skinning knife, and began to run after Gisael. It wasn't long before the others scrambled after me.

Sakaala looked around. We'd left. "Hey," she yelled, glared, and began to run after us.

When we arrived back at the glade, I was ushered away by Talila. "Come," she said, and we headed up the trees to where Elred waited.

He indicated for me to side on a wide limb and then proceeded to stick his finger into the tree without a word to me or Talila.

His finger came towards me and I flinched, so he put a hand on my shoulder. "Be still."

I sat still as he painted me with green sap. The tree wasn't bleeding but its sap was the darkest green for some reason. It was in contrast to my grainy brown skin. The intricate patterns he painted reminded me of the qi pathways in my body.

Its like the Svartalfar knew, without being able to see, the pathways of qi. He used a long fingernail for the most intricate and he painted me for an hour.

The sun had set, and twilight was waning. When we headed down to the willow, I immediately noticed the unusual sight. They had lit torches and were gathered waiting for us. The torches encircled the group.

There were twenty-one gathered - everyone including the gatherer's children. I sighed, I hated ceremonies. Gisael took my hand and led me to the willow, she had me kneel down with my back to it. Then she pushed my temple until my back was straight and my head was hard up against the sacred tree.

The ceremony went on for another hour before Mother spoke. There was chanting, vines moving on their own, dancing, and spooky spirit stuff. I was disappointed - there was no orgy.

Mother sat facing me and touched my head. She spoke to me, but all could hear. "It is known to me for a long time that you were different. Even on your first day I knew. Even before you came, I felt you coming."

"You will be powerful, and you are walking a narrow path. It would be a mistake to hold you back, to tie you down. So, we set you free."

I could hear the sharp intake of breath at her words including my own.

"Benzhi, you are now the Protector of the forest and with this title you answer to no one. Listen to the forest, care for it, and protect it as you best know how."

I felt something creep over my head and it wasn't her hands. I heard Ailen gasp and Sakaala squeal. I couldn't move my head, the tree had me in its grasp. Its wood covered my face down to my chin. I felt it pierce my skull sending down roots and attaching itself to me.

My head was totally encased by the tree. I could not see.

"Breath," she whispered, and I did. "Relax, it will not take long."

Slowly it let me go, but the wood was still wrapped around my head. "Open your eyes," she whispered. I didn't realise I'd closed them.

My bird squawked and it reminded me to look with his eyes. He showed me what he saw. I was wearing a mask, an intimidating wooden mask with six horns, they looked like antlers.

It had slits for eyes and enough cracks so I could breath. There was not much of an opening for my mouth. It wrapped my head like a helmet, and it looked wicked.

She took my hand and encouraged me to my feet. She then turned to the Svartalfar who were all gathered and staring. To Reyas, Ailen and Sakaala who were adopted in a way.

"Your Protector," she said.

I could see all their eyes on me, and they glistened with emotion but not a word escaped them.

My body rippled with toned muscles and power. It had dark green war paint and was almost as brown as I used to be.

It was a lump no more. I looked like a forest beast from someone's nightmare.

Gisael was first to embrace me. She flew through the air and wrapped her arms around me, her breasts pressed against my chest. She obviously didn't care about being usurped as top dog.

She kissed my wooden cheek and released me. And they all took turns embracing me, even the children. Gisael stood by my side with her hand resting on my back. She smiled at them in her own way, baring her teeth.

Last was Reyas who rested her head against my chest and hugged me. She was caught up in the emotion but was as lost as I. Could I even take this thing off. I didn't know. It was wrapped so tightly, and it was attached to me. Part of me.

My bird showed me what he saw. Reyas standing to my left and Gisael to my right. We looked a sight.

A green, naked Svartalfar killing machine and a pale, dark-haired barbarian wearing tight leathers with twin axes on her back. They flanked the striking forest beast that was me.