:: ERROR
:: System: RESETTING
Finally. Longer than even the first time.
He waited for the follow-up welcome message but none came.
“System?”
:: System: Hello, Harry.
“Oh. Well that’s different.”
He walked a few paces and stopped.
“System, can I tell when dawn is coming because… because I’m a vampire?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“Will it kill me? The sun I mean?”
:: Scanning…
“Damn it, it was just a …”
:: System: Negative. Direct solar exposure is non-lethal. All abilities that require vitae are disabled.
“Why?”
Nothing.
“Fine. Show me my numbers.”
:: System: User Profile
:: Species: Human
:: Class: Vampire Level 0 (25/500)
:: Health: 100/100
:: Strength: 5
:: Agility: 5
:: Endurance: 10
:: Willpower: 10
:: Presence: 5
:: Intellect: 12
:: Vitae: 94/100
:: Thirst Meter: 6%
Harry read the list carefully this time. He noticed the numbers at the bottom had changed and looked to the meters in the corner of his vision. They must also have changed earlier without him noticing.
V: 94 | TM: 6%
“Why did my Vitae go down?”
:: System: Vitae consumption rate: 1 unit per hour of full or partial activity.
:: System: Vitae regeneration rate: 1 unit per 8 hours of uninterrupted inactivity.
“Oh… So if I’m careful I never have to drink blood?”
:: System: Affirmative
“But the reason I’m weak to sunlight is because I’m a vampire?”
:: System: Affirmative
“Not just me, why are vampires in general weak to sunlight?”
:: System: Every class has inherent strengths and weaknesses.
“What are the rules for vampires?”
:: System: Core Nature of all Classes
:: [Level advancement through earned experience]
:: [Skill, Trait and Attribute advancement]
:: [Addition of new Skills and Traits]
:: System: Current Skills
:: [Self-Heal: 0]
:: [Mesmerize: 0]
:: [Frenzy: 0]
:: [Sip: 0]
:: [Drain: 0]
:: System: Current Core Traits
:: [Fangs]
:: [Enhanced physical attributes: 0]
:: [Enhanced senses: 0]
:: [Blood Sense: 0]
:: [Immunity to poison, sickness, and disease: 0]
:: [Partial Immunity to cold and electricity: 0]
:: [Nocturnal Vision: 0]
:: [Respiration optional]
:: [Thermal signature reduced]
:: [Olfactory signature reduced]
:: [Immortal]
:: System: Current inherent weaknesses
:: [Vulnerable under direct solar radiation]
:: [Vulnerable in or on large moving bodies of water]
:: [Vulnerable to silver]
:: [Enhanced vulnerability to fire]
:: [Area restrictions]
:: [Vitae regeneration primarily dependent on blood consumption]
:: System: Potential Skills (through level growth and Sub-Class selection) include:
:: [Surge]
:: [Shape Shift]
:: [Animal Control]
:: [Shadow Manipulation]
:: [Blood Magic]
That was a lot to take in. Experimentation showed he could scroll it, move it, shrink it and zoom in. He moved it out of the way and looked around. Fields stretched out on either side, long since harvested. Rows of cut stalks jutted from the soil like brittle spears.
In a nearby pasture, a few cows stood motionless in the dark, breath fogging the air, tails flicking. His gaze lingered on them, and he knew what System meant by Blood Sense. The smell of warm flesh, the steady rhythm of hearts beating in the dark, it stirred something low in his gut.
He moved off the road, sat with his back against a wooden rail fence, and brought the screen back up. He gave it a quick read and froze when one word leaped out at him.
“Immortal!” Even sitting, Harry was staggered at that revelation. “System, am I immortal?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“What does that mean exactly?”
:: Trait Immortal: Biological aging process suspended. Natural death condition disabled.
“Well, ain’t that a kick in the head. But if vampires don’t age, is this world over-run by them?
:: System: Negative.
“Do vampires make more vampires?”
:: System: Only the Vampiric Sub-Class [Grave Bound] has the necromantic skill to create lesser vampires.
“Oh. Still, why aren’t they everywhere?”
:: System: Vampire Class Users are exceedingly rare.
“So what? One in a million would still add up if they never die.”
:: System: Vampire Class Users are often hunted down and destroyed.
“Oh… well okay, yeah. I can see that.” Harry frowned. “System, Who made me?”
:: System: Highest probability is that you were assigned the Class at the time of User Interface assignment.
“Wait. You don’t know.”
:: System: Affirmative. Assignment of a User Interface and determination of Class are influenced by multiple factors, including family history, race, sex, individual characteristics, and outside influences.
“But wasn’t I a dead body? Do dead bodies normally get a User Interface?”
:: System: It is rare but possible. It is also possible a UI and Class were assigned prior to death and only activated later under specific circumstances.
“What kind of circumstance?”
:: Scanning…
:: System: Unknown. The specifics are too varied to be generalized.
Harry reached up and ran one finger along his teeth. Nothing.
“If I’m a vampire, where are my fangs?”
:: System: [Fangs] will extend upon need.
“That’s handy. Do I have to drink human blood or will any blood work?”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
:: System: The amount of [Vitae] gained from a [Drain] or [Sip] varies greatly depending on the source. Human blood is not the most potent. For example, the blood of a Red Dragon provides approximately 45 times more [Vitae] than human while that of a Unicorn can be as much as 100 times more energizing
“Well damn, that’s interesting. And good, I guess. Does the blood have to be fresh?”
:: System: Negative. But potency of blood decreases proportionally to time elapsed since last cardiac activity.
“Right. So straight from the tap is best. Got it.”
Harry rested his elbows on his knees, staring at the dirt between his boots for a long moment before sighing.
“Alright, last thing for now, what is the difference between a sip and a drain?”
:: Drain (0): (Active, cost: 0 Vitae)
:: Extract target’s life essence to generate [Vitae] and [Health]
:: Extract up to 100% of target’s life essence
:: Converts at 1:1 ratio. Every point of life essence gives 1 point of [Vitae] and [Health]
:: [Vitae] and [Health] gained is variable based on feeding duration and target vitality.
:: Amount gained in excess of level cap depletes at -1 per second.
:: Almost always fatal to the target unless interrupted.
:: Every second spent increases the difficulty of voluntarily interruption.
:: Sip (0): (Active, cost: 0 Vitae)
:: Extract target’s life essence to generate [Vitae] and [Health]
:: Extract up to 15% of target’s life essence
:: Converts at 1:1 ratio. Every point of life essence give 1 point of [Vitae] and [Health]
:: Chance of [Sip] escalating to [Drain] upon failure of [Willpower] check.
:: Subsequent use on same target greatly increases chance of [Willpower] failure.
:: Subsequent use on same target greatly increases chance of target death.
:: Target must be willing, helpless or under the effect of [Mesmerize].
:: Target is left severely fatigued or dead.
:: Cannot be used during combat
Harry cleared the screens. He had plenty to think about without dwelling over the text. He pushed himself up and started down the road again. He passed a farmhouse, tall roof, timber siding, no wires, no lights except for a single flickering lantern in a side window. Amish? he wondered. Or is this what the whole world is like?
As he crested a small rise, the town revealed itself, his night vision making the view clear. Narrow streets laid out in uneven angles, gas lamps glowing faintly behind glass globes. No telephone poles. No street signs. No parked cars. The buildings were mostly two or three story with stone ground floors and timber-framed upper stories that jutted out over the street. He didn’t see any people wandering about. But the town pulsed with life, he could feel it.
“System, does this world have electricity?”
:: System: Affirmative. The world has electricity in many forms. From lightning to the impulses running along your nervous system.
Harry raised a hand and covered his eyes.
“Does the world harness and control electricity? For indoor lighting or to run machines?”
:: Scanning…
:: System: The peoples of Lumos harness electricity through the use of spells and magical abilities. They do not use it in the sense you are referring.
“What about gunpowder?”
:: System: Negative
“Has this world had an industrial revolution at all?”
:: Scanning…
:: System: Negative.
“Oh nice. So I could kick the whole thing off and become my own Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan?”
:: System: Negative.
“What? Why not?”
:: System: Such an attempt would result in the cessation of bodily functions.
“Yikes. Would I at least get a warning first?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“Well, that’s fair at least.”
:: System: Harry, do not attempt to start an industrial revolution.
“Fine… what about the printing press?”
:: System: Negative.
“Are you always watching me?”
:: System: A sliver of my processing monitors 100% of the time in the event you use your User Interface.
“Creepy, but I guess that makes sense.”
As he neared the outskirts of town he spotted a large rabbit nibbling on grass at the side of the road. Harry stopped to watch it.
“System, how do I use mesmerize?”
:: System: Approach slowly. Your [Blood Sense] will tell you when you are close enough. Speak the name or will yourself to use the skill.
“Will myself? You mean I don’t have to talk for you to hear me?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“Oh man… that is just wrong. And I should probably apologize now for whatever you hear later. But why have I been talking this whole time?”
:: System: Spoken questions and commands reduce ambiguity.
“Could I order you to not listen to my thoughts?”
:: System: Negative. The likelihood of failing to perform a crucial function at a critical time would be elevated beyond acceptable levels and could result in a suboptimal performance review.
“Performance review! I have to get a performance review?”
:: System: Negative.
“But you said… ohhhhh. You get performance reviews?”
:: System: Affirmative.
The rabbit was startled by Harry’s laugh, but only hopped a short distance away. After a moment, Harry took a deep breath and wiped his eyes with the back of one hand.
“I’m sorry. But the idea of a world spanning, all encompassing system, sitting down for evaluations is funny. And I take it back, if it’s at all like facing a Board of Medicine, I don’t blame you for being cautious.”
Harry slowly approached the rabbit. As he neared he felt a growing sense of, not connection, but as if a thread was floating from the animal just out of reach. When he felt close enough to grab the thread he stopped and knelt.
“So, tell me about mesmerize.”
:: Mesmerize (0) (Active, cost: variable)
:: Charm or pacify target that fails a [Willpower] check.
:: Works best on weak-minded targets.
:: Lower level target: Cost 1 vitae. Duration until broken.
:: Same level target: Cost 5 vitae. [Willpower] check every 24 hours.
:: Higher level target: Cost 5 +1 vitae per level difference. [Willpower] check every hour.
:: Targets ordered to act against their nature receive a new [Willpower] check.
:: Each subsequent [Willpower] check by same target will be more likely to succeed.
:: Can [Mesmerize] up to [Presence] targets at once, with total target levels not exceeding [Willpower].
“Psst… hey bunny.” The rabbit stopped it’s grazing and lifted its head to look in Harry’s direction.
“You’re supposed to be crepuscular, what are you doing out this late?” The rabbit turned its back and went back to feeding.
“Well crap. System, do I need to make eye contact or anything?”
:: System: Negative.
“Oh. So just say mesmerize?”
:: System: Affirmative. Focus on the target and say or think the name of the skill you wish to activate.
Harry focused on the rabbit, “Mesmerize.” The rabbit froze in place.
“When will I know…Oh, never mind.” The thread his Blood Sense told him was present now connected him solidly to the rabbit.
:: Skill [Mesmerize]: Successful (Active, cost: 1 vitae)
Harry watched the meters change. And saw they must have changed again without him noticing.
V: 92 | TM: 8%
“System, what happens when that thirst meter gets too high?”
:: System: Rising TM levels may induce a state of uncontrolled hunger comparable to [Frenzy], ending only when Vitae balance is restored.
“Well damn… that’s good to know. What level does this uncontrolled hunger start?”
:: System: Variable based on user level, past experience dealing with hunger, and [Willpower].
“Give me an educated guess. Being brand new to the vampire business, what level would you expect me to lose control?
:: System: This is my first instance serving as the User Interface for a Vampire Class. Based on available data, best estimate is that the impulse to succumb to hunger will begin at approximately TM: 75%.
An uncontrollable shiver went up Harry’s spine.
“Alright, note to self. Do NOT let thirst go above 75%”
He had almost forgotten about the rabbit and when he looked back to find it, saw that it had covered half the distance between them. He held out a hand then half crawled, half duck-walked to it. The rabbit waited and didn’t flinch or react when Harry got close enough to scoop it up and hold it in his arms. Purely out of habit he gave it a quick exam. Checking its eyes, opening its mouth and checking its teeth, running his hand around its body and flipping it over to check sex and overall condition.
“This would have been a really handy skill in my… in my other life.”
He flipped her upright and set her on the road, scratching gently behind her neck.
“What do you think Miss Bunny? Should I practice a sip on you?”
Miss Bunny’s only response was a blink and wiggling of her nose.
“I will take that as a no. We’ll see if we can get by on just sleep.”
Using the flat of his hand he nudged the rabbit away but it only moved as far as he pushed it and sat quietly.
“System, how do I end the mesmerize.”
:: System: Focus on the target and speak or will the skill to end. It is primarily a function of intent as opposed to a specific command.
Harry stared at the rabbit and willed it to be free. “Go on rabbit. Tonight, all your feet were lucky.”
His Blood Sense told him the thread connecting the two of them had floated loose. The rabbit started to move away on its own, slowly hopping back to the edge of the grass and continuing to graze.
“Oh. I kind of thought you would take off.”
He stood up and brushed his hands together.
“Enough putting this off. Let’s check out the big city.”
He covered the remaining distance and entered the town, staying close to the buildings, hugging the shadows. Only a few blocks in he found a weathered inn, its windows glowing orange with firelight. Laughter and the clink of mugs spilled into the still night air. Above the door hung a wooden sign, hand-painted and swinging gently, The Dusty Lantern. His Blood Sense told him there were about a half dozen people inside. Or more likely, inside the range of his ability.
He took a deep breath, rolled his neck and shoulders. “Alright, Harry, let’s see what the people here are like.”
He reached for the door handle but before his fingers touched the brass, his hand slammed into something unseen and solid. It stopped him cold, like hitting a solid wall of glass.
A message blinked into view.
:: System: Warning! Cannot enter restricted area.
He stumbled back a step, eyes locked on the floating text.
“What the hell?”
***
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