Ascend Online
Page 3
Create Custom Starting Package:
You have 10 attribute points unspent.
Choose a starting weapon and/or armor.
Choose a starting skill.
Enter your Character Name.
Current Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Constitution: 17
Intelligence: 17
Willpower: 10
Looking good so far! My character had a good start in the survivability aspect of the game. I looked for some more information on what the stats did before I made my final choices.
Strength – Increases melee damage, chance to block or parry an attack, carrying capacity and skill gain of offensive melee abilities.
Agility – Increases ranged damage, evasion, accuracy, chance to score a critical hit, movement speed, and skill gain of offensive ranged abilities.
Constitution – Increases hit points (1 Point grants 10 Hit points), hit point regeneration, physical resistances, lung capacity and stamina.
Intelligence – Increases the potency of Arcane Spells, mana pool, and skill gain of all non-combat abilities.
Willpower – Increases the potency of Faith Spells, mana pool, mana regeneration and mental resistances.
Alright, simple enough. But what direction do I want to go in? The game was hinting at a huge amount of flexibility for those who were willing to look for it. I paused to think for a moment, I wanted to use magic, but not be limited to only using magic. I especially enjoyed being able to hit things with a sword and being in the thick of the action. I assigned +5 to both Strength and Intelligence.
Next, I chose a Rusty Sword as my primary weapon, Power Attack I as my ability, and a Spellbook to round things out. I had to make a choice between a Spellbook and armor; I’m sure I could scrounge up some basic armor when I got into the game. I was more than eager to starting playing by now, I finished and double checked my selections. Ah, I forgot the character name! I didn’t hesitate; I used the same name for all the games I played. Lyrian Rastler. After checking to see if the name was available, I was presented with my full character sheet.
Lyrian Rastler – Level 1 Novice
Human Male (Eberian)
Statistics
HP: 209
Stamina: 170
Mana: 240
Attributes:
Strength: 15
Agility: 10
Constitution: 17
Intelligence: 22
Willpower: 10
Racial Ability:
Military Conditioning (Passive) – All defenses are increased by 5%. Total hit points are increased by 10%.
Abilities:
Power Attack I (Active: 50 Stamina) - You slash viciously at the target putting extra strength behind the blow. Deal weapon damage+7.
Skills:
(None)
Traits:
Open Minded: Accepting of racial differences and radical ideas, the player accepts wisdom and the opportunity to learn no matter what form it takes, allowing him to make intuitive insights were others would give up in frustration. Grants a modest increase in skill gain and the ability to learn all race locked traits, skills, crafting recipes, and abilities that are not restricted otherwise.
Starting Equipment:
Rusty Sword
Spellbook
“Are you sure you wish to proceed without armor?” Creativity’s voice broke my reverie. “Review your choices closely; you will not be able to make any further changes.”
“I don’t need anything to wear right now. I want that Spellbook!” I replied to the Goddess. “But… can you tell me if I missed anything important?”
“As I said before, I am forbidden from interfering,” the voice replied regretfully.
“I know.” I said slowly after looking over my sheet carefully. “I’m happy with my choices.”
As I accepted the system’s warning, my character sheet vanished and it was replaced by a huge map that took up my entire vision.
“Due to your choices, you are required to start your journey in the Kingdom of Eberia,” Creativity’s voice spoke aloud once again. “Do you accept this choice?”
“Yep!” I stated confidently, itching to get started.
“Very well, Lyrian. If you will close your eyes for just a moment,” Creativity said to me as I began to move. “The next time you open them, you shall be at your destination.”
I felt myself beginning to pick up speed as I flew through the cosmos, the stars blurring past me faster and faster. Closing my eyes before I started to feel sick, I heard Creativity’s voice whisper into my ear.
“Good luck, Adventurer.”
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Chapter 4
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Warning: The Capital City - Eberia has been locked for an Event!
Transferring Player Spawn to closest open settlement.
Tutorial levels are engaged. You will not be able to message other players until the tutorial is completed.
The tutorial will end at Level 4.
Welcome to Ascend Online!
The first few seconds after I materialized into existence was disorienting, I don’t honestly know what I was expecting with FIVR and for a moment I thought that I’d been logged out. Everything felt real! The wooden floor under my feet, a gentle breeze on my chest, even my heart beating in my chest. Wait, I’m holding a sword!
I paused to take an experimental swing with the rusty blade. “Neat! This is so real!”
I looked around and saw that I was in a room of some sort. A castle room maybe? The detail was even better than the trailer! Was this what Ascend Online promised? I just couldn’t beli-
“DIIIIIIIE!!!!!!”
A wicked high pitched screeching broke my thoughts and I spun to the noise. A dirty, vile looking creature was running straight at me!
“Oh shit!” I shouted in surprise, swinging my sword out of reflex at the charging creature - only to drop it straight on the ground as the creature evaded my swing and stabbed me in the arm with a crude looking shiv.
“Aaaaaah! What the fuck?!” I screamed as pain coursed through my arm, just as if I had been stabbed with a real knife! “Fucking shit! That hurts!”
The pain brought me to my senses and I barely managed to dodge the creature’s second attack. It barely came up to my waist in height, but so far it was doing a great job of kicking my ass! As I focused on it, I small prompt in my vision identified it as a [Young Goblin Raider] – Level 1.
Anger quickly replaced the pain as I lashed out with my fists, ignoring the fallen sword. My fist connected hard with the goblin’s face, sending it staggering backwards as teeth flew from its mouth. I watched as the blow took a third of the goblin’s health away. Not giving the goblin a chance to recover, I followed up with two quick jabs and a fierce kick that sent the goblin sprawling to the ground, dead. System messages appeared in the corner of my vision.
A [Young Goblin Raider] Stabs you for 12 damage!
You punch a [Young Goblin Raider] for 9 points of damage!
You punch a [Young Goblin Raider] for 5 points of damage!
You punch a [Young Goblin Raider] for 7 points of damage!
You critically kick a [Young Goblin Raider] for 14 points of damage!
You killed a [Young Goblin Raider]!
You have learned a new skill - Unarmed Combat!
You have gained 10 experience! 10/300
Looking at the dead goblin, my mind quickly flashed back to my morning in the ARES yesterday. This is a million times better than having to wear all that stupid haptic body gear! But holy hell does it hurt to get stabbed!
Beating a goblin to death with my bare hands wasn’t the way I had expected to start the game, but I wasn’t one to argue with results. When the goblin stabbed me, I noticed that a small health bar had appeared in the corner of my vision; a quick check now showed that I had recovered already from the wound.
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“Okay, while it hurts to get stabbed, it seems like I heal quickly enough,” I muttered to myself rubbing a bloody patch on my arm. Oddly enough, the pain was already a distant memory. Was the game helping me forget the pain? “And my brain has no hang ups against murdering goblins in self-defense.”
Picking up the sword I had artlessly dropped, I looked around to find out exactly where I was. This place didn’t seem like Eberia; the system messages told me I spawned somewhere else. Did everyone go through this? Or just me?
The room I arrived in looked like an office of some sort – a desk with papers strewn about and quills for writing, a few chairs. Nothing out of the ordinary, except you know. The goblin. Wait! What’s happening?!
The corpse of the goblin turned a pale green and slowly dissolved into pixels. In its place remained a plain sack.
It dropped loot! My eyes widened in surprise as I quickly darted forward to find out what the goblin had dropped.
Crude Goblin Shiv
Slot: Main Hand or Off Hand
Item Class: Common
Item Quality: Poor
Damage 3-8 (Piercing)
Durability 20/20
Weight: 0.4 kg
Favored Class: Novice
Level 1
Nothing particularly exciting, I thought to myself as I added the shiv to my inventory, after comparing the dagger’s stats with my Rusty Sword.
Rusty Sword
Slot: Main Hand or Off Hand
Item Class: Common
Item Quality: Poor
Damage 6-12 (Slashing)
Durability 60/60
Weight: 1 kg
Favored Class: Novice
Level 1
The sword certainly wasn’t Excalibur, but it was good enough for the time being, allowing for a much better reach than the shiv. Taking a firm grip of the sword, I walked carefully out of the room trying to keep low to the ground. As I made my way down the hallway, I began to hear people yelling, followed by the sounds of battle.
Where the hell did I spawn?! I thought as I hurried my way down the hall trying to keep as quiet as possible. With all the noise I didn’t have to work hard.
You have learned a new skill – Stealth.
Happy that I was doing something right, I slowed my pace as I came to a stairway. The sounds of battle were louder down here. Hefting my sword, I crept quietly down the stairs. I entered into a hall filled with chaos; a dozen goblins were trying to batter down a makeshift barricade comprised mostly of piled tables and chairs, manned by a quickly dwindling number of defenders. An alert popped up in my vision:
New Quest! The Goblin Raid!
Goblin Raiders have assaulted the village, save the villagers and drive away the goblins!
Warning! This quest will fail if all the villagers die!
12/12 Villagers alive.
30/30 Goblins in the village.
Difficulty: Average
Reward: Experience and ???
My first quest! I looked over the details with excitement as my heart started to pound in my chest. Geez, there are thirty goblins in the village?! Did I just spawn in the middle of a warzone?
Maybe if I catch them in small groups or individually I’ll be able to take them. Right now the bulk of the goblins seemed to be concerned at the head of the barricade by the hall doors. Closer to me however, were three goblins that I would have to take care of before I could move any further.
A scream from a villager brought me back to the moment as a spear wielding goblin found a hole in the barricade. Focusing on not being seen, I cautiously crept as close as I dared behind a [Young Goblin Raider] before I lunged forward and swung my sword with all my strength.
You Sneak Attack a [Young Goblin Raider] for 24 points of damage!
You have learned the Stealth Skill - Sneak Attack I!
Sneak Attack I - Passive:
Attacks made before the target is aware of you automatically deal weapon damage + 13.
You slash a [Young Goblin Raider] for 8 points of damage!
You kick a [Young Goblin Raider] for 10 points of damage!
You killed a [Young Goblin Raider]!
My vicious dispatch of the goblin caught the attention of two of its friends. They both charged me screaming goblin obscenities as I set myself to receive their charge.
This is going to hurt! I thought to myself, wishing I had taken armor instead of a Spellbook. Shit! I forgot to check my Spellbook!
My temporary lapse cost me a spear thrust to the ribs, taking a solid 10% of my hit points away. Grabbing the spear, I pulled the attacking goblin off balance as I slashed back at the second goblin, keeping it at bay.
I kicked the feet out from under the overbalanced goblin, sending it crashing to the ground, quickly followed by a sword thrust to the neck to ensure it stayed down for good. Surprised by my brutal assault, the second goblin shrunk away from me, turning to flee towards its other comrades. Taking quick aim with the spear I’d torn from the other goblin’s grasp, I threw it, watching it bury itself into the fleeing goblin’s back and slowing it down enough for me to catch up and run it through with my sword.
"You! Help us!" a red haired woman shouted at me from behind the barricade of tables. "They're about to break through!"
"Because all I'm doing is standing here right?!" I snapped back at the woman, as I watched the little bit of missing health regenerate itself and the pain fade away. I only took a single scratch and it hurts like hell! The pain settings here are far too realistic! Shit!
Right now it seemed my health took care of itself reasonably quickly. The later levels I was sure to need bandages or healing of some sort. My health quickly hit 100%, and I continued my efforts to clear the goblins out of the hall. I moved away from the makeshift barricade of piled furniture, towards the wall as I tried to flank the horde of goblins. Thankfully the goblins were far too focused on a trio of spearmen holding the barricade from being breached to see me as I crept along.
"Give it all you got men! Help is on the way!" I heard a voice shout from behind the barricade. "Stand fast!"
Taking the shout as a cue, I sprung forward, hitting the rear ranks of the assembled goblins. My newly learned Sneak Attack ability gave me the edge to kill two of the goblins quickly before the horde turned my way.
"Here's our chance boys! Chaaarge!" the voice shouted out again, followed by a guttural war cry as the spearmen leaped over the table they were using as a shield.
The spearmen's charge distracted the goblins long enough for me to slide my sword through a third goblin. The sounds of our battle brought more goblins from the other side of the barricade, the fight quickly descending into chaos. I fought wildly, swinging my sword with more strength than skill, at one point I even used a goblin as an impromptu shield as I slowly choked it to death with one hand. The battle took its toll, with two of the spearmen having fallen back from a dozen weeping wounds. I found myself fighting back to back with the last spearman and an older, dark-haired villager wielding an ax.
With the last fleeting bits of my stamina, I swung my sword in a two-handed chop and connected with a goblin's head, killing it in a spray of blood. Exhausted, I looked around the room, seeing nothing but goblin corpses littering the ground.
Quest update! The Goblin Raid!
Goblin Raiders have assaulted the village, save the villagers and drive away the goblins!
Warning! This quest will fail if all the villagers die!
12/12 Villagers alive.
17/30 Goblins in the village.
The quest update flashed again in my vision. Almost half of the goblins were dead, and the villagers were still safe.
Everything hurts. I fought to catch my breath while looking at health bar, seeing it flash at 47%. With combat over, it gradually began to climb as my body healed itself.
"Ahem. Adventurer?" I heard a voice call me back to my new reality.
"Yes?" I turned to see an older, dark-haired, bearded man looking at me. Along wi
th some the villagers, mouths slightly agape. A pair of women were blushing heavily.
"Thank you for your help… but. Erm." The older man said looking slightly above my head. "Are you aware you are naked?”
My mouth opened as I looked down. Yep. I’m naked.
I just killed a baker's dozen worth of goblins with my cock hanging out. I shut my mouth with a snap, looking the old man in the eye. I swear I had underwear at the character creation screen! Hang on, didn’t I say to Creativity that I didn’t need anything to wear?
"It seems I’ve misplaced my clothes. You know, the goblins…" I trailed off.
"Of course." The older man nodded. “The goblins.”
Achievement Unlocked – Nudist
For you, clothes are ‘optional’.
As I mentally waved away the intrusive system alert, I swear I heard a distant feminine laugh. Creativity has quite the sense of humor for a Goddess.
“I don’t suppose I could ask for a set of armor?” I asked trying to return to the business at hand. “There are still more goblins around. I can’t fight them as effectively if I’m… hanging in the wind.”