There were at least a half dozen police and sheriff’s deputies, plus a few people in suits keeping a small crowd away from this side of the building. Looking around and casting a few REVEAL STATS spells, I saw a couple standing off to the side of the lot, next to a well-used red pickup truck. I knew I had to talk to them.

  A short stroll later, I was looking up at the Warrior Tank of the pair. The other was obviously a Healer. She wore light blue medical scrubs with EMT and Paramedic patches. I had to look up at her, too.

  He was big. By big, I’m talking about his being at least seven feet tall with gray skin. REVEAL STATS said he was a Half-Ogre Warrior Tank named Bartholomew Ironshaper. Two ivory tusks jutted up from his lower jaw. Each was two, maybe three inches long. Bright blue eyes stared at me as I approached. He’d protected the front of his chest with a crude steel breastplate worn over denim bib overalls with the legs raggedly cut off just above his knees.

  It looked like he’d cut and welded it with a torch. His breastplate had welds attaching the parts that wrapped around him. Plus, he carried a welded steel maul.

  The maul was several sheets of ? or quarter inch plate welded together on a four-foot steel handle. “This guy has to be a welder.” I decided, looking at the clean welds. He looked like a Tank I wouldn’t want to face.

  She was at least half a head taller than me and had long, thick blonde hair worn in two braids hanging down her back. Her Stats said she was a Valkyrie Holy Healer named Ingrid. A Valkyrie wearing blue scrubs that fit too tight and left a gap between top and bottom. It made her look like she was wearing a tight-fitting crop top. It was probably what she was wearing when she finished her character building. And she was Level 2.

  That was the second reason I came to meet them. The bag she had slung over her shoulder had an EMT patch and Paramedic printed on the side. That explained her level.

  Healers gained experience by HEALing, not just by doing damage like the rest of us. I was thinking party time.

  No! Not that kind of party!

  The formation of an adventuring party. We could be the base three. Tank, Healer, and Caster DPS. Maybe we had a better chance of living than I expected.

  Moving up to approach them from an angle where they could see me coming, I stopped just out of range of that weapon. I hoped.

  “Ingrid, Bartholomew. My name is William.” I said with a half bow. “We need to talk.”

  Ingrid looked shocked, while he growled at me and raised his maul. “How, how do you know our names?” She asked me.

  “Our new names?” He added.

  “I’m a Mage. I used an ability available to everyone called REVEAL STATS. I can see your name, base stats, class, and profession. Base spells, skills and such too. Things like that. But unless you use a spell or leveling point for it, you don’t get it. Most people won’t take it until much later for that reason.”

  “Why’d you take it?” she asked.

  “I’m not most people,” I answered her. “I’m an old gamer, Game Master and I read GameLit books. What happened is called a system apocalypse right out of some of the GameLit books.

  That’s why. I have a good idea what’s happened, but not why, or how. I think I know what’s going to happen before long and I want to be ready for it. Also, I’m Level 6. I could afford it.”

  Stopping, I took a deep breath, letting my words sink in before slowly letting it out and continuing. “And, I don’t want to see half or more of the town dead in a month. Maybe much less than that. Your stats say you’re Level 2. By your clothing and bag, I think you’re an EMT and Bartholomew’s a welder or does welding based on his breastplate and great maul.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  She looked shocked, and he nodded yes. “Now that I’m up close, I also think that the necklace around your neck has a Thor’s Hammer on it.” Now she looked really shocked.

  “You’re just guessing.” Shaking her head no, she added. “There’s no way you can know that.”

  Smiling, I replied, “Elementary, my dear Watson. You look Norse in complexion, hair and the braids. I didn’t know Valkyrie was a race that could heal. You’re a Valkyrie and not just a Holy Healer. Add in your name and I give it a better than 50/50 chance of being right. The way you responded says I am right. Yes?”

  “Yes. Yes. You are. How can you be level six? This just started a few hours ago?”

  “I also have a title. I’m the First MANA Mage. This means I’m the first player to create a character with MANA spells as my main abilities. It isn’t a listed class. I saw synergy possibilities and took the chance. The system gave me a five-level boost for being the first one. That’s how. From here on out, I earn them the hard way.”

  “OK. If you’re right. Now what?”

  “First off, it’s time to form a party before monsters appear. I’d like the three of us to start one and add others as we find people we’d like to add. Bartholomew's an obvious tank and you’re a healer. I’m DPS but also have protective magic.”

  “Mage know how use toothpick?” Bartholomew asked.

  “Ten years of rapier in the SCA. I have a clue or two. My stats don’t show it, but I know more than which end to hold and which end to stick in the other guy.” They both laughed. “Oh, and I’m not left-handed,” That got me another laugh. I knew I was going to like these people. “SCA or faire folk?”

  “Renn Faires mostly,” Ingrid replied. “A few pirate encampments. Daryll’s a welder and also does blacksmithing at faires.”

  “Good. I have a friend who used to do armoring. I think he still has his tools. He’s getting too old to keep pounding steel, but he can teach. If he makes it through the night, we’ll go see him tomorrow.”

  “You won’t protect your friend?” He asked.

  “I will, but only if he calls for help. I didn’t say he was helpless, just that he doesn’t make armor any more. He has other friends who live closer. They’ll protect each other. He might call me to find out if I need help.” I told them with a short laugh.

  “I’m not too worried about most things we’re likely to find today, unless we meet a lot of them. With your help, we all have a better chance of living and leveling up fast,” I added. “Do you want time to think and talk about it?”

  “Sally, we talked about joining a party. If he’s what he claims, I’m in.” Bartholomew said in a more normal voice. It sounded rough, like someone who smoked five packs a day for a few decades, but it was clear enough. I wondered how long he’d been working on his ogre voice. That could be useful.

  She nodded and smiled at him. “OK. You’re a bigger geek than I am, hon. I guess we should use our game names now. So, it’s Ingrid. But I still don’t know if Bartholomew Ironshaper works for a Half-Ogre?”

  “How about just Bart?” I asked. “Or maybe Bhaarrt? Sort of growl it. Not quite piratical, but more menacing?”

  “Bhaarrt smash! Bhaarrt kill. Bhaarrt like,” Bartholomew said with his tusky grin and growl. “Works for me,” he added. “I get to play the stupid brute and Hulk out on them.”

  “And I get to look so pretty and demure,” Ingrid curtseyed with a finger placed on her chin, and added, “While I keep you idiots alive.” We all laughed. “We’re Sally and Daryll McCormack. Who’re you?”

  Sweeping my hat off my head, I made a deep bow to her. “William Bannister. Also known sometimes as William of Brinsford. At your service, m’lord, and lady.” With that declaration, as I stood up straight, put my hat on, and gave my cane a twirl, ending with it in front of me and both hands on it, and a big smile.

  Casting a quick DETECT MANA spell and adding a swipe of my cane as I did, I looked around. “We need to add more to our party. I don’t know if we have a five-member limit, or if that’s only for the dungeons, which should soon exist. Maybe out in the open, it’s as many as we want. I’ll check the game info they give us when you bring up your stats page. Meanwhile, we need more good people.”

  “A thief would be good. Or maybe,” I said as I twisted, half lunged and thrust with my cane. It stopped with a sudden exhalation from something or someone, as my cane stopped in midair.

  “A Ninja.”

  A short figure, completely covered in black cloth except for an open strip across their dark brown eyes and skin, suddenly appeared. She was slightly bent over, holding her stomach with one hand. The other on the hilt of her sword.

  The outfit looked correct down to the tabis and Ninjatō, which gave her class away. It looked like she had breasts under her jacket. They seemed about right sized for her five-foot nothing height.

  Update to chapter title.

  Musical Interlude:

  With A Little Help From My Friends

  Let me know in comments what you think of the new people. You'll be seeing more of them. Or in one case, not seeing them.