OhmN
Page 3
Perceptive
+1 Perception every level
Enduring
+1 Stamina every level
Strong
+1 Stength every level
Undead Flaws
Description
Out of the Running
Cannot achieve renown or world achievement points required to be resurrected upon game completion.
Nature Vulnerability
Take 50% more damage from Nature spells and effects.
Light Vulnerability
Take 50% more damage from light based spells and effects.
End of family tree
We all die alone, but you will live alone as well. You will never be able to reproduce naturally or enjoy the touch of another while undead.
*Penalties to the Undead Package can be removed at a cost of 1 respawn per flaw removed. Once all flaws have been removed, a final respawn can be exchanged to resurrect your character. Resurrected characters will be able to retain all merits that are still available. (Undead Flaws removed 0/5).
Character Creation Details
Name
Description
Effect
Random Character Race
Race chosen by Generator (Permanent)
Celestial Gnome*
*Last of Your Race
You are last of your race.
-Double prices offered for bounties against the player.
-Double the reputation lost from your actions.
Celestial Gnome
+10 Willpower
+10 Perception
+1 Spell Power per level
Size: 42 inches tall.
Weight: 12 lbs.
Merits (Purchased)
Merit Points Available: 7 Free, Plus 7 from flaws for 14 (All points are at a -25% for not having a premium account: Effect 10 starting points).
Merit
Description
Cost
Lucky
Automatically receive +1 to Luck each level
2 Points
Willful
Automatically receive +1 to Willpower each level
2 Points
Intelligent
Automatically receive +1 to Intelligence each level
2 Points
Wise
Automatically receive +1 to Wisdom each level
2 Points
Charismatic
Automatically receive +1 to Charisma each level
2 Points
*Merits will be lost upon first death without Premium Package.
Flaws (Sold):
Flaw
Description
Reward
Cannot Smell
All smell based checks fail automatically, significantly reduces some forms of tracking and limits progression in smell dependent abilities
2 Merit Points
Cannot Taste
All taste based checks fail automatically, significantly reduces some skills and limits progressions on taste based abilities.
2 Merit Points
Offensive to Animals
Cannot have a mount or familiar.
3 Merit Points
*Flaws will transfer upon death. Flaws can be exchanged for extra lives at a 1 for 1 ratio. (Current count 0/3 exchanged).
Chapter 1
Derick Draven awoke to the faint sound of metal grinding against stone coming from overhead. With that sound Derick quickly looked around only to find that he was stuffed in what could only be described as a closed tunnel that left only a few inches of movement on each side. With a horrific thought he realized he was in a box? No sooner had he started thinking about that, than the metal grinding sound began to get louder from just above his head. This can't be a box, he thought to himself, I am supposed to be in the new game. No sooner had he made the thought than a metal tipped drill poked its way through the top of the box that Derick was in, right where his head would have been had he been the right size for this box. The drill tip descended to the bottom of the box and once again began grinding quickly against the stone floor.
Faint curses could be heard coming through the ceiling of the box that Derick was in. Yet something didn't quite make sense, as there were so many stimuli that were all combining and inundating Derick's mind.
"Must be one of them shorties." A malicious voice cackled out from overhead.
"No biggie, just aim lower." Came a second voice.
"Haha, no biggie, that is a good one." The first voice cackled back, as the long drill point began to reverse its way back out of the box where Derick now found himself stuck.
It was now that Derick remembered back to his uploading day, he was so frightened that he had to go in drunk to ensure he wouldn't chicken out at the last minute. In life Derick wasn't afraid of much, but there was something about purposefully allowing your body to die for a chance to live on in a virtual world all in order to reach a planet that was at least seven decades away, also noting that 99% of everyone who uploaded themselves would die before they reached their final destinations didn't sit well. It was also during this moment of clarity that Derick did possibly the stupidest thing he could think of, he traded his extra lives for in game power. Wait, I have power, no wait, powers. He then remembered trading all six of his extra lives for powers. "Go big, or go gmome." Were the words he thought to himself as he kept trading in lives, taking flaws, all to maximize his potential start in the game, knowing that this moment was his only shot at survival and knowing that at least two people were trying to take his last life from him.
No sooner had the drill fully left the box that Derick was in, than dirt began pouring into the box that contained Derick cutting off any upward movement that might have been possible. Derick tried sliding his body down, using his feet, though this movement was soon cut off by another wall. Drilling could be heard coming from overhead, the sound of metal grinding into dirt. They are coming for me again, he thought to himself as he began pressing up at the roof of the oversized box that contained his small frame. With that he willed his arms to push with everything he had in his body. Deep down inside Derick knew it was over, not even one step taken before he would be killed in the game. But then something happened, the stone lid that held Derick in began to wobble, then rise slightly, then explode upward.
In a second Derick found himself looking up at the quickly ascending stone lid that had held him captive, now flying straight overhead. Dirt that was no longer supported on all sides began to trickle down, forming a trail of debris similar to the streams created by planes moving at supersonic speeds in the sky. A boulder fell with a crumpling thud from the lid that still flew upward, until it was stopped by protruding stalactites hanging from the ceiling. It was then that a sickening liquid enhanced crunch was heard, and with that the lid began to descend, Derick quickly directed it away, toward the pile of rocks that had already fallen out from its ascent into the air. A second liquid enhanced crunch was heard, then a rack of pain took over Derick's mind and he had to close his eyes to avoid the backlash and torrent of pain that now filled his mind.
It was then that a torrent of pop-ups and combat prompts filled Derick's mind.
OhmN has killed Taftinator, Spell Power increased. +1 for first player versus player kill, +1 for first human player killed, + 1 for player kill. Three unspent spell power points.
OhmN has killed Gyrospoon7 spell power increased. +1 for player kill. Four unspent spell power points
Experience gained. Experience deferred until entering the actual servers.
I just gained three spell power levels for killing other players? Then it dawned on him, of course the game would encourage other players to kill each other, that way those who survived really got to be resurrected on the new planet, while everyone else would have their profiles and in turn their whole being permanently erased from the data servers.
With that thought Derick began going through his other prompts:
Spell Power Psychic-Telekinesis critical, target coffin lid too heavy t
o lift with current mental energy and stamina pools, redirecting extra from Health pool. Adjusted, spell activated.
With that Derick looked at the rest of the combat log, Gyrospoon7 takes 85 falling damage. Taftinator takes 302 points crushing damage, 257 points piercing damage from Stalactite. Taftinator is bleeding, effect 35 points of damage a second until healed. Taftinator has taken 140 points of falling damage, Taftinator has died. Gyrospoon7 has taken 426 points of crushing damage from coffin lid, Gyrospoon7 has died.
Finally after what felt like hours, Derick sat up, no longer dizzy from the debuffs that plagued his mind after he cast his first spell. Then he received a second notification.
For casting spell Psychic-Telekinesis new skill unlocked channeling. Through a constant stream of will and energy you can make anything happen, within limits. This power decreases the cost for all channeled powers at the rate of .5% per level in channeling, rounded up.
Level up, you have gained enough experience to reach the next level. Leveling deferred, until you leave the introductory world you are unable to level, though you can still die, do be careful. Current Level 0.
I wasn't even level 1? Well no biggie, I just need to leave here, get my level and then go on from there.
Finally, once the last pop-up was dismissed from his vision, he thought to himself, there should be some sort of text or document that I could read to help understand this world. No sooner had he thought those words then a voice began to speak in his mind.
"Hello, traveler. I am your Helpful Artificially Intelligent Liaison, or HAIL. Please state your desired query."
My query?
"Yes, you have questions and I have answers. Please feel free to ask all questions, as I have been assigned to help you fully transition to this brutal world that will be your home for the next 77 years, 8 months and 21 days. That is of course if you survive the 'Culling', though an industrious individual such as you seems well equipped to handle this minor challenge."
Why not just have a book or a quick reference sheet available? Derick thought to himself.
"Initial tests showed that no one read the guides provided, and given that this is a game that could determine your life, beings like me were created to assist each traveler."
So you are the way the government avoids liability lawsuits over 'not providing enough information to players?'
"If by players you mean travelers, then effectively, yes."
Okay, so what can you tell me about this location?
"This is the starting point, you have an unlimited time to explore, open all skills. Hone your abilities and practice with the gaming system before the NPCs can kill you. It should be noted that other travelers can kill you while you are here." A slight pause, "oh, I can see you are already aware of this aspect to the game. Came out swinging did you?"
Derick winced as he finally realized that he took two lives from the players. What if that was their last life, I could have permanently erased them?
"Very doubtful, first they don't seem to be from this graveyard. Each graveyard represents how few lives you have left. Additionally, as you can tell, you are on your last life." HAIL said in his mind.
How can you tell? Derick asked in his mind as he looked down at his body. It was then that he saw the bones that connected together and moved for his hands. I am an undead, and why am I so short? He remembered how he filled up last than half of the coffin that he came out from. Coffin? Those sick bastards, they stuck me in a coffin to begin the game?
"To answer your first query yes, you have apparently chosen the 'Undead Psychic-Lich' status to begin your final life. As for the second query you somehow unlocked the Celestial Gnome race. It is an extinct race, but given that you are Undead it makes sense that it would be available when you chose the 'Random Race' flaw for more starting attributes. The Random Race also unlocked starting bonuses that stack with your 'Undead Psychic-Leech' status." Another pause as Derick could almost feel HAIL swirling around in his mind, seemingly looking for something.
"It seems that you have chosen every flaw available, though you have stacked them in a way that is quite intriguing. Was this your first VR RPG?" HAIL's voice seemed to trail off, again the tickling feeling of fingers gently probing his mind like a filing cabinet filled Derick's thoughts before HAIL began again. "As for your third query, the coffin is both symbolic and to add realism to the game. Everyone born in a coffin is on their final life, and this is also when they are most vulnerable to player killers, but to combat the vulnerable state of the Undead they are all born well away from the other travelers in this secret lair."
If this is a secret lair, then how were they already here? Derick queried in his mind.
"I am unable to answer this, though this does pose a problem. Perhaps looting the other travelers will yield some answers."
Loot? Of course, this is a game, as such there would be looting. With that Derick stood up then climbed his way out of the hole that contained him, the bottom half of his starters coffin, and a pile of dirt. At first he could not get out, but then looking back, he saw the pile of dirt toward the center. He climbed over to the pile of dirt, then began the laborious task of crawling his way out of his starting grave.
Finally looking around he could see thousands of plots, some with headstones, some without. So the ones with headstones are occupied?
"Yes, as you can see, yours is now empty."
Derick turned around to see a headstone that slowly began dissolving away. Similarly he could see the hole he just vacated resetting with dirt. He looked out to see two bodies that were now completely uncovered by dirt or a giant stone coffin lid. Derick ran over to the first body, and began trying to pry the metal armor off of Gyrospoon7's body. Instantly a pop-up menu popped up in Derick's vision showing an assortment of equipment that had names detailed in orange and purple. Derick didn't need much warning that these items were rare in the game, though how rare was a matter to be seen. Derick took everything, including a large bag that jingled as though it was full of different items, though it was light to hold. No time to contemplate why the bag is so light. As Derick closed out the now empty pop up menu and began running over to the second body.
"The bag is a bag of holding, one that can reduce the weight of all items placed into it. This bag is a maximum bag that holds 100 items at a 99% reduced weight."
What the? How would a player start with that and the other items?
"Items were available for purchase by travelers before the character upload process. Players could purchase better gear, extra lives, more powers, bags of holding, better starting reputation, better starting positions, and so on."
So this guy was rich? Derick thought as he began trying to pull off the armor of the second individual Taftinator. Instantly a pop-up menu appeared showing more items than the first, each item displayed had a name in blue. Derick didn't have to think, he grabbed every item and placed them in his new bag of holding. A strange feeling of energy filled Derick, with another pop-up filling his vision. He quickly looked at the menu trying to dismiss it instantly but got distracted by the wording.
Psychic-Vampirism power (Passive Ability, Psychic) activated. Ability of slain opponent taken. Ability taken stealth. Ability modified to fit class psychic, new power received psychic-stealth.
Ability unlocked psychic-stealth, activated ability. By applying your will, you can force other sentient beings to discount all forms of detecting you. This is a channeled ability that costs 20 mental energy per target desired + (1 per second X number of targets identified). This ability is different than other forms of stealth, as attacks by the caster will only break against the targeted individual, though channeling costs will continue at initial rates regardless of how many targeted individuals have been killed.
Wow, that is a great power, though I am curious about the psychic aspect of the power. Derick dismissed the different pop-ups and went back to looting the items from Taftinator, all to find that he could not just drag and drop the inven
tory bag like he had for Gyrospoon7.
Unable to transfer, as a duplicate unique item already exists in inventory.
"You have unlocked the psychic class due to the powers you chose upon trading in your extra lives at character creation. Those powers and the selection of undead, and random race generated a random 'Synergy Sync' aspect of the game that combined the Powers, Race, and undead aspects to form the unique traveler class 'Psychic-Leech'. It is important to note that this race and class will remain in effect, even if you buy off all the flaws associated with the undead merit and are finally able to move on to the active pool of players who can be chosen for rebirth." HAIL's words filled Dericks mind, causing him to flinch at first, but he quickly went back to taking every item from the second bag of holding that he could. He grabbed extra gear, extra red healing potions, yellow stamina potions, and a stack of unidentified Golden potions. He even got the unique Item "residential seal." No time to read the description on anything he grabbed as Derick could see many of the items starting to disappear. It came as a shock, but Derick grabbed the last thing available, a pile of starting platinum. With that the pop-up box allowing Derick access to Taftinator's items popped out of existence.
Derick looked around quickly, all to see that an undead dwarf skeleton was trying to sneak up on him. He instinctively knew it, due to the way the dwarf was crouched over, taking silent step after silent step. Even while crouched over, the dwarf was still much taller than Derick.
Derick looked at the individual who seemed at a loss when he was observed by Derick. In an instant the dwarf who was now 20 feet away raised his massive battle-ax in his hands and sprinted forward. A deafening sound came from the stocky frame, a pop-up appeared in the corner of Derick's mind, but was quickly minimized as Derick stuck out his hand toward the dwarf then gestured upward willing the player to fly upward as he willed the coffin lid earlier. In an instant the dwarf was flying upward. It took a bit of concentration but Derick realized he could direct the direction the dwarf took while flying upward.