A Box of Toys

And they weren't done yet.

"Now you may be wondering, valued guests, how are you to survive a year in wilderness?" Verus said. "How would you possibly be able to defeat an organized army of the greatest mage in the multiverse?" Attica said. "How would you, who only a few short days ago didn't know anything about magic, break specialist interplanar seals?" Verus said. "And good on you for coming up with good questions!" Attica said. "You have also received three golden tokens per person!" Verus said. "That really puts you ahead of the rest of the people from Earth," Attica said. "You may exchange your tokens for various rewards when we finish setting up your stall," Verus said. "Be sure to talk to your team-mates to avoid embarrassing overlap!" Attica said. "Congratulations once more on reaching first place in the survival challenge!" Verus said. "So you won't be sleeping rough in the woods," Attica said. "Unless you want to!" Verus said, and they both laughed in that same simultaneous harmony again. "Now we will open up the floor to questions!" Attica said. "Make sure to ask now, as our other presentations won't have a Q&A section!" Verus said.

The room was quiet for a moment, but this wasn't first year in community college. We all actually cared about getting information that might allow us to survive.

"Who are you, how dare you, and what gives you the right?" Artemis said.

"I am Verus," Verus said. "And I am Attica," Attica said. "Through the guidance and advice of our wonderful leader, the Archmage of Archmages, lord and scholar of all that is Arcane, spearhead of Multiplanar theory and our beloved friend and lover, we may dare whatever we set our minds to," Verus said. "And might gives us the right!" she said, talking to us in an excited voice one might use when explaining a kindergarten class that the field trip will be going to Disneyland. "Be sure to grow strong and you too can do whatever the fuck you want!" Verus said, like an encouraging personal trainer. "For now, however, the whatever the -ef- you like will have to be in the constraints of the Tower. But worry not, there are plenty of opportunities for growth and exciting challenges in the wilderness," Attica said.

"Wait, so you've taken like ten million people?" Emma said from further back in the crowd, where she had her boots on a banquet table.

"The initial count was exactly 70 million," Attica said. "Unfortunately, taking any more would both strain the Tower and Earth would likely notice your disappearance," Verus said. "But with you missing, it's unlikely that anyone will jump to the conclusions ahead of schedule," Attica said. "So fear not, Earth is not descending into panic just quite yet!" Verus said.

"Alright, alright, we get it. We have to work together, create order, and act like an armed unit of our own. We've been enlisted, and now have to learn how to work as an army," Brandt said. "Oh, my good, dear guest, we would never presume to tell you what you must do," Attica said. "Come together into a mighty army," Verus said. "Organize into adventuring groups and run dungeons for rare powers and loot," Attica said. "Lounge around drinking and waiting for the end," Verus said. "Or kill every other creature in the second challenge, your fellow Earthlings included for enough power to crush an army," Attica said. "Anything goes!" Verus said.

"The Journal indicates that we will be building settlements and constructions. But a year is not enough time to get much value out of that. What's the point?" Artemis said. "How clever of you to catch that," Verus said. "There are many tools and materials you will find that will accelerate the development of resources in this second challenge," Attica said. "Some will be the resources we offer at our stall," Verus said. "Others will be simple crafting materials you can gather in the field," Attica said. "And some- rare rewards from dungeons and boss monsters," Verus said. "At a minimum you will need to survive until you are ready for the big climactic battle at the end, and we do hope that with initiative and gumption you will be able to do so in comfort," Attica said.

"What's dungeons?" Emma said. "An excellent question!" Verus said. "A dungeon is a custom crafted experience made by Ygnarothrax Xem himself," Attica said. "Many dangers lurk inside them, and no more than five people can enter at a time, but the rewards are significant!" Verus said. "And -spoiler alert!- there is an overarching story that may give you hints about the nature of the Tower, your next challenge and the wisdom of your gracious patron," Attica said.

"And that is our incentive? If we somehow manage to survive this second challenge all we have to look for is another? How many more? Is there even an end to this Tower?" I said, finally pissed off enough to break through the strangeness of our hosts. I didn't want to fuck around in a demiplane with deadly dangers around every corner. I might have a few days ago, but the three day nightmare that had been the first challenge had more or less eradicated all my interest in continuing to grind levels and face dangers. The magic was the only thing that still fascinated me, but I wasn't sure it was worth my almost certain death.

"Another insightful question!" Verus said. "And we once more remind you that suicide is always an option," Attica said. "That being said, there are several reasons to go on," Verus said. "First of all, we can inform you that the second challenge is one of three total. Once you are inside the tower only one thing remains- ascend to the top and gain an audience with the Archen-Arch Mage himself," Attica said. "After that, choices abound! You may explore the multiverse, study the deep magics of nature, or even seek vengeance!" Verus said. "There are many worlds and few are quite as exciting as the Tower," Attica said. "But if you are really really tired and can no longer bear it after challenge two, you may still be in luck!" Verus said. "The third challenge will have no time limit," Attica said. "In other words, you will be able to choose to live in peace and- if you manage to gather sufficient resources during the second challenge- comfort," Verus said. "Or even luxury," Attica said. "By entering the city in the Tower," Verus said. "So stiffen up that upper lip and lift that nose up," Attica said. "And get ready for the adventure of a lifetime," Verus said. "Please clap!" Attica said.

We didn't and they barely seemed to notice.

As we gathered in our groups once more, there was strangely more hopeful faces among the group. And fuck, I could see it. I already had hundreds of gold coins in my inventory, and I could only assume that getting more would be easier here. Would I be alright living out the rest of my days in some small, but comfortable apartment in a city inside a tower, perhaps working as an artificer or even a bartender? It sure as shit beat dying in a burned out hallway of a never-ending school. It wasn't a concrete goal, but it was reason to survive.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"We taking that promise seriously then?" I said to the Guild members nearby. "It's a lot better than what we had before. It is a hope," Artemis said. "A small guild-hall in some sort of a dark city doesn't sound so terrible from a certain point of view," Anna said. "I will kill the archmage," Hannah said. "Hey, Hannah, was it? You been feeling any violent urges? Any gnawing anger like hunger rising from your chest?" Chum said. "I- no, I," Hannah stammered. She hadn't stammered since her death. "Look, doll, listen. You better be damn sure it's rational, 'cause undead hatred is a bitch. You really don't want to give into it," Chum said. "It's just about him," Hannah said. "That's probably fine, so long as you don't think about him too much then. But keep that willpower attribute high and don't think too many angry thoughts," Chum said. "Fuck," Hannah said. "Listen, one way or another we have a thing now. A goal, you know. I don't care if I end up working in wizard Hot Topic for the rest of my life, if I get to, you know actually live my life," Zack said. "Zack's right. And even if we are to figure out a way to kill the archmage guy, we'll have a better chance if we take our time and grow our resources," Brooke said. "Fine. I can be patient," Hannah said.

"We are really getting ahead of ourselves. You understand what this challenge means?" Artemis said. "Yeah, riding into battle like viking berserkers," Zack said, "Smashing my way through an army of goblins on the dark side of the moon sort of shit." "Politics," I said. Zack groaned, but most of the rest of the Guild nodded. "We cannot beat an army as disorganized bands of five to a hundred people acting independently," Artemis said. "Finally decided you want to be a queen?" Chimo piped up. "Fuck no. It's just going to be, you know, alliances, planning, organizing. You can organize ten million people by organizing many sets of a couple of hundred, but I don't know shit about military strategy or how it would work," Artemis said. "And someone will decide that the best way to get that sort of thing organized fast will be to enforce order," I said. "Fuck that," Hannah said. "It's not a bad strategy. Especially if everyone knows how important it is, if you go around beating up people who refuse, most will fall into line," I said. "You're forgetting something, boss," Chum said. "And what would that be?" Artemis said. "We're not on Earth anymore. There's probably two or three people in this demiplane already nobody else could make fall in line. No matter how much they teamed up. And those are the people you want on your team the most," Chum said. "Unless the person no one can make fall in line decides to be the bringer of order," I said. "Sure, there's that, in which case I recommend you listen to what they say," Chum said. "Fuck, we can't even get this group to work together. How the fuck are we going to organize ten million people into an army?" Artemis said. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Chum said. "You wouldn't?" Artemis said. "Nah, five million will be dead by the time the battle starts, for sure. Five million is much more doable, right?" Chum said.

We were all tense, walking over to one of our tables, picking at the food that had appeared in front of us once more.

"Fuck it, we won't know how possible it is until we get onto the field and start picking up the civ-building advancements and things like that. Maybe we can organize with the Journals somehow. Or maybe magic can help. Or, Hell, maybe there are quests just for that out in the world. Let's just do our best and set up shop over the first few weeks and then see where we can go from there," I said. "Great idea! So long as there's no overpowered warlords. Oh, or stupid busted monsters. Or-" Chum said. "Shut up, Chum," Hannah said.

So we began getting ready to leave. For the first hour or so we were just gathering our things and looting whatever of value we could find in the hotel. Then, the two strange people had set up their stand- it looked very much like a stand a cult would have in an anime convention. There was nothing but booklets and pamphlets on the table they'd set up, but as I threw up my HUD spell, I immediately noticed several things. One- I couldn't tell their levels, which meant they were more than level 35. Which was perfectly terrifying. Second, every inch of that table was enchanted to hell and back.

I walked up to the table before the queue was really forming, as most people seemed to assume it was some sort of a useless prank or a trap that the Tower would pull. But when I approached the table, Attica spoke up and said:

"Would you like to peruse the menu? All sales final, dear!"

I looked it over and had to admit it was pretty cool stuff. It wasn't particularly well organized, but I saw that it had effectively three sorts of things for sale-

First, there were survival tools and equipment. Most of this stuff was perpetual in some way and cost one coin. There were boots that would never break, let in water, or grow uncomfortable, regenerating ration bars that would turn into a full bar of granola so long as even a crumb remained and everburning torches.

The second kind was pre-fabricated buildings. Anything from a mansion (4 coins) to an outhouse (1 coin, re-castable) could be bought here, including many kinds of dwellings, workshops and fortifications.

Finally, there were utility abilities. Most of these too focused on wilderness survival and included immunity to blisters, a permanent spell of insect repellent and increased efficiency of food consumption and digestion.

Each set had some purchases locked behind special requirements, most often needing one of many classes or titles. Only rangers, hunters, beast-masters, archers and scouts could get camouflage cloaks, for example, and they would only work if they were wearing them while being one of those classes.

As I was just about the first of the Guild, I felt safe making my choices without consulting with everyone. I was sure we could get everything we needed with spares to spare among the rest of the guild, but I really wanted these two items. The first I wanted, because it came with a set of shirt and pants and seemed to do a lot for its price of only one coin:

The Backpack of Endless Adventure This backpack carries the amount of items it appears to be able to carry. In addition, it can carry a tent, a sleeping roll, a sleeping bag, a set of traveling clothes, a flint and tinder and a simple mess kit. These items are provided and will re-generate if lost or destroyed within 24 hours.

The second was me sort of exploiting the Tower's biases. It had shown over and over again that it had a preference for wizards and would reward us disproportionately to our expenses if we leaned into the class. This cost me the other two coins.

Pre-Fabricated Wizard Tower This token contains the imprint of a proper wizard tower. By dropping the token on the ground and speaking the incantation 'erectum!' a tower will spring into being. This tower will have all required wizardly amenities and quarters for one wizard plus a space under the stairs for an apprentice. The tower will meld its form to fit any environment it is built in, but extreme locations might make access difficult.

Verus produced the token from his pocket, and Attica produced the backpack from somewhere, and I grabbed them out of their hands without so much as a thanks.

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