A Minecraft journey: on sunlight, zombies and chickens

In part 1, Wiehahn got stuck into Minecraft. Today his story continues.

Much has happened since I started with this Minecraft qest. “Bring me a rare item,” my lord editor had said. The words were still looming in my head and my mining addiction was now out of control. I no longer mined for any reason. The thrill of mining within itself was enough. My hallways became longer, my halls bigger, my mine deeper, much deeper. It wasn’t without any result. In my mining expeditions I discovered beautiful underground scenes.

I wasn’t completely disinterested in the outside world. I had devised a way to observe the night creatures without being in danger. Because they were all two blocks big, I left an opening of one block allowing me to scrutinize their behaviour without any fear.

In a way I had become a researching scientist. But like many research projects, the unexpected was encountered: small-chicken-riding-zombie-baby-things.

There I was, taking a break after three days of mining straight, indulging in some late night zombie watching when this creature came through the hole. Because of my mining addiction I had still not crafted myself a sword. I simply ran away with from any monsters I had encountered in my mining sprees, blocking them off with my over-abundance of cobble stone blocks.

Because of this I had no experience in fighting these night creatures and the only reason I stopped mining was because my pickaxe had broken. Needless to say the next few minutes were one of the most intense I had experienced in my Minecraft adventure so far.

Armed with nothing but a pixelated stump for a hand, I tried defending myself… and failed horribly. The small creature was hopping around like, well a zombie baby riding a chicken, and I could barely get a hit in. My bed, and spawn point, was in the same room which in turn trapped me in an endless loop of fighting, dying and respawning. After a few rounds I had finally defeated my first creature, a proud moment indeed.

As in real life, this moment of fear made me reflect on my Minecraft life. There was an entire world outside waiting for me to explore it, filled with sunshine, rivers and trees. And still I was digging into and exploring the lonely dark and dangerous underground caverns. It was time for change. So I squeezed out a few sticks from the little wood I still had and made myself a pickaxe, a wood-axe, a sword and a few cooked pieces of pork.

I was now ready to once again journey into the outside world. I walked into the sunshine gazing over the landscape I had not seen in ages with a combination of calmness and excitement filling my low-res bones. Luckily I had consulted my Minecraft veteran source before this journey.

“Be careful of this newfound sense of freedom. It will take you far from home and you will get lost faster than the addiction of mining that gripped you.”

Wise words these were indeed. To counter this problem I climbed the nearest hill and built myself a tall dirt tower. I’m embarrassed to admit that I built the tower in such a way that I could no longer safely descend it, forcing me to jump to my death. At least I was learning. This was nothing but a minor setback. I quickly respawned and gathered my lost equipment and once again dared to venture into the great wilderness of Minecraft.

My heart started racing as I strolled through the surface world. How could I have confined myself in underground tunnels for so long with such a vast and wonderful world waiting for me under the blue sky? I could not stop walking. I jumped on trees to get a better view of my surroundings. A few pigs and chicken joined me on the treetops (only in Minecraft).

My stock of wood was low so I spent a few minutes chopping some oak trees, dreaming of what I could build with them. I decided to build myself another landmark. It was then that a great fear descended on me. I could not see the first landmark I had built. And now the orange hues of sunset were once again taunting me with the promise of nightfall.

It was not long before the screeches of evil once again plagued the forest world. I just started running towards where I hoped my homestead would be but still, no landmark. Then came a horde of zombies. Zombies armed with swords, zombies armed with bow and arrow.

I fought my way through waves and waves of pixel-thirsty monsters, slaying them one by one. But I could not see any landmark and it was eventually, a green exploding zombie that got the better of me. Luckily, I respawned back at my mining operation but all my equipment and stock was now lost somewhere in the woods.

Defeated, I fell back into my old mining ways with the one pick-axe I had stored in my chest. But it was to no satisfaction. My mind was numb. Even though my hands were once again swinging a pickaxe into stone I could only think of my earlier failure.

Where was I heading? What was I doing? But then came a blessing from the gods of Minecraft. I had dug my way into a massive cavern, a scene of true beauty. There were waterfalls of water and lava pouring from the roof. In the distance I could see the walls littered with minerals such as coal, iron ore and gold. Although it seemed that this place was teaming with monsters I felt this feeling rise in me, a feeling of excitement and purpose. Could this be where I will find the illusive rare item?

The journey continues in part 3.