by M J Conlon
Derick directed the dwarf toward the largest stalactite, when the dwarf threw his massive battle-ax at Derick. Without thinking, Derick raised his other hand and caught the descending weapon mere inches from his face. Now fueled by anger Derick made sure the dwarf flew ever higher until a liquid popping sound rang out in the cavern, showing the dwarf had been impaled by the stalactite. Yet Derick didn't stop with a simple impaling. Instead Derick kept pressing the dwarf up the sharp stone spike until his back touched the ceiling. Then for good measure he flung the dwarfs battle-ax up until is split the dwarf's head in two. With that he let the dwarf body fall to the ground. Power gained.
Channeling increased to level 2.
OhmN has killed SwordSmith5, Spell Power increased. +1 for first Dwarf Player kill, + 1 for player kill, +1 for final player death. Seven unspent spell power points.
Experience gained. Experience Deferred until entering the actual servers.
Skill unlocked dual casting. When casting two or more spells, this power consumes (X times base Power cost per second to cast, where X equals the number of abilities being cast).
Derick did a quick scan and then asked, why did he seem so shocked that I saw him?
"You have Aura Effect 'Psychic-Viewing' activated which displays all sentient minds in range. This also gives you a significant boost to your perception based skills." HAIL began answering, as Derick began going toward the falling dwarf's body. This is very effective having HAIL talk to me while I go about fighting and looting. Maybe the developers were onto something when they created HAIL.
"Thank you for the compliment Master, I aim to please." HAIL stated in Derick's mind.
You are welcome, though can you not call me Master? My name will do just fine. Also, can you have it so all pop-up menus are blocked until after combat, and do not interrupt current pop-up menus.
"Affirmative, OhmN." HAIL said.
A pop-up menu appeared as soon as Derick began tugging on the Dwarf's clothes. The items found in this looting were less than impressive, especially given the looting available from the first two player kills, but all of the Dwarf's items instantly flowed into Derick's bag without any prompting. Why did the dwarf's items instantly slide into my inventory, while the items from the other players didn't? He asked as a second pop-up menu tingled, but was instantly minimized and flashing at the bottom of his periphery.
"The other travelers still had lives available, which would normally put their items on lock from looting except their bodies had been flagged due to traveler versus traveler combat notices in a starting safe zone. This flagging, along with the location let all their items be available to be accessed until their bodies were respawned."
So that is why I couldn't loot all of Taftinator's items? He respawned?
"He must have started the process of respawning, though given that he started with less than a five minute window indicates he has a premium level account indicating he will likely be back here quickly."
A premium account?
"Yes, players that purchased the premium package get better starting stats, higher starting powers, access to all class related abilities without seeing a trainer, Increased starting resistances, Increased ability success rates, reputation gains will be doubled, reputation losses will be halved, and can learn any non-class ability when seeing a registered trainer which will cost the same as in class abilities to use. These functions are all available.”
That is what a premium package offers?
"Yes, would you like to upgrade your account now?"
Yes, how do I do this?
"It is a simple transaction fee of one million USD, or one million platinum. With the purchase of the platinum account the effect will be permanent, and you will have access to my knowledge for the remainder of your stay."
Wait, you aren't permanent?
"No I am a special 72 hour or until first death feature. Also, once I go there will be no further way to upgrade and receive the premium badge, a permanent effect that will transfer with you across all deaths and make your abilities transfer with you after each death as well."
Wait, our abilities don't transfer after death? Derick began crouching just as he saw the dwarf player do, then began walking around slowly, taking in the landscape and trying to see who if anyone was emerging from the graves. He saw two bodies far off in the distance seemingly appear out of nowhere, given that they were not spawned in the grave.
A sound that could only be described as a chuckle filled Derick's mind as HAIL began to answer "Oh no, just as in life some iterations start off with more than others. All your flaws will transfer, but you will lose all merits and bonus stats earned from merits unless you have the premium package designation. Being as you are within your first hour of play, you can purchase this bundle now, and be granted the missing stat points, spell power points, and reputation and faction settings will all be reset to friendly."
I can't afford that, I gave all of my assets to my little sister.
"You sure you can't?" HAIL asked, much like his father would ask questions, when Derick would say something stupid. With that Derick searched his inventory bag, and his mind almost boggled at the sight. What the fuck?
"Would you like to purchase the premium package while still in your starting window for the price of one million platinum pieces?"
Derick looked at the number and counted the number of spaces twice. Money: 1,123,963 platinum pieces 23 gold, 73 silver, and 18 copper. How can I carry all of that money? Was his first question but then before he got distracted again. Yes, I would like to purchase the premium package for one million platinum.
"You are able to carry the money due to your unique bag of holding that reduces the weight of all items by 99%." A slight pause, as Derick felt his bag get lighter, followed closely by the sound of an old fashioned cash register chiming the sound of a sale. A bright light filled Derick, as he felt power and energy flooding into him, as he the temporarily became incorporeal while he felt his body getting infused with power.
"Premium Badge awarded."
Derick felt another pop-up spawn and then minimize itself in his field of view.
While incorporeal he looked at the first pop-up.
9 Unassigned Attribute Points Awarded.
+10% to all Ability Success Rates.
+5% to Starting Class Ability Success Rates.
+5 Unassigned Skill Points Awarded.
+4 Unassigned Merit Points Available.
+2 Spell Power Points Available. Total, 10 Spell Power Points Available.
Universal Reputation reset to Friendly.
+25% to all Magic Resistances.
+100 Health.
+100 Stamina.
+100 Mental Energy.
+100 Mana.
+2 Unattributed Stats Points per level. Effect total +7 unattributed Stats Points per level.
+2 Skill Unattributed Skill Points per level. Effect total +5 unattributed Skill Points per level.
+1 Unattributed Spell Power Point per level. Effect total +1 Unattributed Spell Power Point per level.
After deciding on what to do, Derick finally settled on increasing his key Attribute Willpower with all 9 available points. Then split the five skill points to both Channeling and Dual casting to make them both 4 each. From there he decided to spend 3 of his 10 Spell Power Points improving Psychic-Telekinesis, and the 7 remaining points on increasing Psychic-Vampirism.
From there it took some time, but finally Derick found the merit increase psychic power ability +1% per 1 merit point spent. Being as it was a merit that would likely mean marginal gains currently, but drastic gains at the end levels, Derick took it four times for a total of +4% to all psychic abilities. This is of course was added to his recently acquired +10 to all spells and abilities, along with his previous +5% to all class related abilities. Seeing as the only powers that Derick had access to currently were his psychic powers he was looking at a 19% increase to all five of his spells. Derick knew that eventually he woul
d have to worry about being pigeonholed into the role of a one-trick pony, but as for now he drastically needed to increase in power. As the only powers he had access to were psychic powers until he left this area, he felt it was better to be well prepared for what he had, then prepared for the things he hoped he would eventually get.
Character View 2
Name
OhmN (ΩN)
Race
Celstial Gnome
Class
Psychic-Leech
Status
Undead
Age
27
Alignment
Chaotic Neutral
Current Level
0
Experience
0
Experience to Next Level
100
Respawns
0
Player Kills Required till free respawn
18 (2 of 20 complete)
Attributes
Attribute
Score
Strength
12
Dexterity
15
Constitution
20
Charisma
13
Willpower
59
Intelligence
15
Wisdom
15
Perception
25
Luck
16
Vitals
Health
300 / 300
(Constitution X 10)
Stamina
200 / 200
(Constitution X 5)
Mental Power
690 / 690
(Willpower X 10)
Mana
250 / 250
(Intelligence X10)
Skills
Name
Level
Skill Rank
Awareness
35
Journeyman
Stealth
25
Journeyman
Dual Casting
4
Novice
Channeling
6
Novice
Spell Power / Abilities:
Name
Power Level
Description
Psychic-Viewing
1 (1)
Range: 56 Yards, 29% chance to identify Magically/Ability hidden people, objects, or locations
Levitation
1 (1)
Duration12 minutes, 26 minute cooldown.
Psychic-Telekinesis
7 (4 + 3)
Can lift 170 lbs per Mental Energy or Stamina Point spent. No range limit.
Phasing
1 (1)
Duration 7 Seconds, 1 minute cooldown.
Psychic-Vampirism
8 (1 + 7)
26% chance to steal power from slain enemy.
Resistances
Resistance Name
Percentage
Poison Resistance
Immune
Disease Resistance
Immune
Bleed Resistance
Immune
Mental Power Resistance
75%
Darkness Power Resistance
75%
Spirit Power Resistance
75%
Stun Resistance
25%
Fire Power Resistance
25%
Earth Power Resistance
25%
Water Power Resistance
25%
Wind Power Resistance
25%
Lightning Power Resistance
25%
Energy Power Resistance
25%
Umbra Power Resistance
25%
Divine Power Resistance
25%
Aether Power Resistance
25%
Demonic Power Resistance
25%
Light Power Resistance
-25%
Nature Power Resistance
-25%
(*Synergy Sync) Undead Package
Undead Mertits
Description
Dark Vision
Player can see in the dark.
No Food or Drink
Plaer will never die of dehydration or starvation.
Restless
Player never needs to sleep.
Poison Immunity
Immune to Poisons
Disease Immunity
Immune to Diseases
Bleed Immunity
Immune to Bleed effects
Dark Resistence
50% Reduction from Dark Energy
Spirit Resistence
50% Reduction from Spirit Energy
Mental Resistence
50% Reduction from Mental Energy
Immortal
Player will never grow old or die from old age
Increased attributes
+10 Unattributed stats
+10 Stamina
Awareness Journeyman
+25 Awerness
Stealth Journeyman
+25 Stealth
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
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
*Psychic Power Bonus
Increase the effectiveness of all Psychic Powers and Abilities by 4%.
4 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 ba
sed 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 2
"You have received a message from a fellow traveler, would you like to accept?" HAIL's voice echoed in Derick's mind.
Sure, who is it from? Derick asked, wondering if one of his former Army buddies took his advice and decided to upload as well.
"Greetings Noob, you just made a big mistake taking my money, but I tell you what. If you give it back I won't hunt you down endlessly." The Words of Taftinator came
"HAHA" Derick began cackling, or at least what sounded like cackling to him, perhaps it is a voice modulation given to the Undead. "I already spent the money."