by M J Conlon
“Hello.” Derick began.
The boy continued to go.
“Excuse me, boy?” Derick said a little louder hoping to catch the boy’s attention. Fortunately for Derick, this time the boy turned toward Derick.
“Excuse me, could you possibly help me find Master Horace?” Derick said, while holding out a platinum piece in between his bony digits.
The boy licked his lips hungrily, then quickly looked left, then right before reaching up for the coin. Derick held out the coin, letting the boy grasp it with his fingers, but never letting go of the coin. Derick stared into the boy’s eyes for a second. I imagine the only reason this interaction is even able to play out is due to my universal friendly reputation reset. This would have to be scary as all get out to a regular kid.
“Yes, it is a good thing you purchased the Undead merit first, then upgraded, otherwise the Undead merits’ faction deficits would have taken effect over the premium badge.”
As soon as the idea of how a person who bought the premium package would have their reputation gains lost in an instant if they chose the Undead merit on their final life brought no end of joy to Derick’s evil mind.
“He is up at the top of the tower.” The boy said, yanking the coin from Derick’s fingers.
“Do I need a code word or anything to enter the tower?”
“No, sir.” The boy said, pulling on the coin again.
“Thank you, where is the tower?”
The boy pointed with his other hand down a hallway that was perpendicular to the hallway that he was currently on. With that Derick let go of the coin. The boy quickly stuffed the coin in his shoe, before trying to scamper off to a room where he was no doubt late. Derick thinking about it, took out a second coin.
“Hey boy.” Derick said, but the boy never even turned back to look. Derick looked at the platinum coin in his had for a second, shrugged and then went down the hallway indicated by the boy, flipping the platinum piece in the air while he walked and whistled a faint tune to himself.
As he approached the doorway that led up to the tower, he saw two guards who were stationed at the entrance to the tower. As Derick approached, he noticed the two guards slowly twist their wrists from a relaxed position holding up a metal spike to a position where they could actually use their weapon in a second if the need arrived. Derick strolled up to within three feet of the guards, flipping his coin the entire time with one hand and catching it with the same hand then repeating. All the while Derick reached into his bag with his right hand and produced a second coin. With that Derick paused, then flipped the first platinum piece up toward the guard on the left. The guard caught it in midair with a remarkable quick swipe of an arm covered in a metal greave. The guard took the coin, examined it, then pocketed the coin before resuming a relaxed position. Derick did the same with the guard on the right, watching the same exchange take place. Once both guards were in a relaxed positon they seemingly spread out a little further form the door. Not needing an invitation, Derick proceeded to whistle quietly to himself as he casually strolled through the door way and began walking up the seemingly endless spiral stair case that led up the tower. Derick was surprised that he didn’t see any rooms or random balconies on his way up the stair case. Even a little alcove to rest would have probably been preferable to many who made the trip, but as Derick was undead and was not moving fast enough to lose stamina, he didn’t need to stop on his way up. Finally after what felt like an eternity Derick took a final step up and was found himself at the top of the tower. How many steps was that?
“That was 31,415 steps exactly.”
The number seemed to have meaning for Derick, but he could not think of what. Before the meaning of the number of steps could take him to too long of a tangent he looked around. It was only here that he saw a man with a golden glow next to the giant purple teleportation device. Derick approached the man and the giant glowing portal.
“Greetings traveler. Please tell me your desired destination.”
The word destination caused his ears to burn once more. Quickly Derick looked over his most recent log. HAIL show skill gains that occurred within the last minute.
Instantly a new pop-up appeared showing one skill advancement.
Eavesdrop has increased to 22.
Derick nodded to himself realizing where he wanted to go.
Without pause or hesitation Derick stated.
“I want to go to the secret dungeon.”
The man that still glowed with a golden internal light nodded, before gesturing with his hand for Derick to enter the purple ring before him. Derick looked to see that the center iris of the purple eye had changed to a golden color much like the wizards.
“Horace?”
The wizard nodded with a smile.
“Will going to the dungeon unlock my profession?” Derick asked the wizard who now glowed an even brighter golden color.
“Yes it will.”
Derick didn’t hesitate and began walking toward the portal.
“Wait! We don’t need to do this…” HAIL began, but his words were already being blocked by Derick who took his first step through the shimmering portal and toward his future.
Character View 4
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
2 (18 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
67
Journeyman
Dual Casting
75
Journeyman
Channeling
75
Journeyman
Meditation
75
Journeyman
Casting Fight Form
50
Journeyman
Individual Attack Form
50
Journeyman
Eavesdrop
22
Novice
Concentration
1
Novice
Remaining 0 (0 of 0 spent)
Spell Power / Abilities:
Name
Power Level
Description
Psychic-Viewing
9 (8 +1)
Range: 87 Yards, 48% chance to identify Magically/Ability hidden people, objects, or locations
Levitation
1 (1)
Duration 14 minutes, 21 minute cooldown.
Psychic-Telekinesis
8 (7 + 1)
Can lift 184 lbs per Mental Energy or Stamina Point spent. No range limit.
Phasing
1 (
1)
Duration 7 Seconds, 1 minute cooldown.
Psychic-Vampirism
21 (21)
39% chance to steal power from slain enemy.
Psychic-Stealth
1 (1)
Channelled: 11 Mental Energy +1 Mental energy per second channeled to avoid all forms of detection from each targeted individual
*Psychic-Tracking
1 (1 + 0)
Player can climb with their base gear without Stamina or energy loss. Each additional Power Point applied to this ability allows the Player to add 10 lbs to increase maximum weight carried without incuring Stamina loss.
*Climbing
1 (1 + 0)
Player can track any item or individual that they have come in contact with a base cost of 5% Mental Energy.
Spell Power /Ability Points available: 0 (20 of 20 spent)
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.
Immortal
Player will never grow old or die from old age
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 remain with Player thanks to purchase of 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).
Reputation
Default: Friendly
Underworld City Guards: Honored
Chapter 4
Derick found himself walking on a smooth and glittering path of what appeared to be polished marbles placed delicately piece by piece in front of him going on until a sharp turn caused the path to disappear. Glowing crystalline spikes protruded from the ceiling and walls, creating a jagged path of danger. Well the path would be dangerous for people who were normal in size, Derick’s small gnome frame made walking down the path while avoiding the sharp spikes that jotted out of the wall at random directions and intervals rather easy. Derick thought about his race, then realized he wasn’t quite a race, he was something else. What is a celestial gnome?
“They are one of the progenitor races.” HAIL began, but continued to go before Derick could ask the obvious follow on questions. “Progenitor races are the races that were here at the beginning of recorded histories. Originally there were just elves, gnomes, dwarves, humans, orcs, goblins, and a smattering of other races that have gone into anonymity. from these original races there have been many deviations. Take for instance the elves, from their original beings, we get the dark elves, the wood elves, high elves, spirit elves, blood elves, just to name a few. while the similarities of the different elf factions are different at the end of the evolutionary tree, each can trace their origin back to a single variation that links all the different races of elves. that original elf has since been referred to as a celestial, as from there all variants are both possible and likely more deviations are possible if given enough time and environmental conditions.”
So my being a celestial gnome means what?
“You are special, you can choose to go down the path of any gnome or you can choose to forge your own path. To be honest you are likely an update that I am not privy to.”
Derick thought about this, and all the different variations that he could choose to go, while walking in stealth carefully around each corner. Each step waiting to see any hostile or stealthed enemies, objects, or rooms on his way. Once I buy off the flaws associated with my Undead status, I will be able to do a lot more with this character than I originally thought possible. It was only while looking at his character sheet and the Undead status, that he real
ized something else about his character sheet that seemed odd. All right, so why is my age listed as 27, when I am quite a few decades older than that?
“Oh that is your mental age. Seeing as you are little more than a construct of your own mental view of yourself, the developers thought it would be best to let the players define their age, sex, and general starting appearance. If you envisioned yourself to be skinny you would be, likewise if you envision yourself to be a 27 year old soldier ready for war, despite having been retired, your character will appear to be a 27 year old soldier. Or at least would have, if you weren’t all skin and bones.”
Good to know, think young, be young. Is this why the developers allowed you and other AIs to join with players to help encourage people to be young mentally when they were resurrected?
“Yes, that is a part. Also some of the lead developers wanted to see what was possible for players who were given a ‘map’ to the game.”
So that is how they thought of you? You were created to be just a simple map?