by Cate Ryan
[15 unspent attribute points.]
Strength 10
Agility 10
Constitution 10
Intelligence 10
Wisdom 10
Charisma 10
[Take care all choices are final.]
Taysia wasn’t sure where she should distribute the points yet. She’d seen in character creation that she would need high intelligence for her illusions, so she put two points in that. And another two points into constitution. Leaving her with 11 unspent points for later.
“Okay, what else do I need to know?”
Tutorials were always the worst part of a new game. She tried to send a quick message to her watchers but as she brought up the interface, she could not connect to the chat room. She shrugged, must be disabled during the tutorial.
The man nodded to her. “Suppose you want a medal for that? You new recruits are all the same. What’s next. What’s next?” his voice took on a higher pitch as he continued his short rant.
“Bring up the crafting menu,” he told her gruffly. She navigated to it easily and waited for more instructions.
“You’ll notice there’s a list of things you can craft there. They do a lot of different things and you’ll find the materials all over Pantheon. Let’s do a practice one. I’ll give you the materials.”
[Milk has been added to your inventory]
[Cocoa has been added to your inventory]
“Now, there should be just one thing that’s ready to be crafted. Scroll down until you find it.” Taysia scrolled impatiently until she came across:
[Hot Chocolate – Potion
Value 10 gold
Rarity Common
Properties Restore 10% Stamina
Restore 10% Health
Description
This smooth chocolaty drink will do wonders for your health and morale. Drink it up and it will boost your stamina and your health.]
“Pretty simple really.” She’d forgotten the man was still there. “You just select craft and it will do it. Then it will be in your inventory. Do it now.”
He waited while she selected ‘Craft’
[Item will be completed in 5 seconds.]
She had only just finished reading the notification when a second notification popped up.
[Hot Chocolate has been added to your inventory]
The man had already moved on.
“You got a weapon recruit?” Taysia felt around her hips and pulled out a dagger. Barely large enough to do any damage.
“That won’t do you much good. You’ll want to be getting yourself a better weapon before long. Never mind. It’ll do okay for practice.”
He corrected her grip gently until she gripped the dagger in her right hand.
[Congratulations, you have learned a new skill
Dagger (Weapon) – Rank 1 (Novice)
This skill allows you to use a dagger mostly effectively. At higher ranks you will gain buffs to accuracy and damage with this weapon]
[Skill learned (Dagger). 15 XP awarded]
[5 XP until next level]
“Now, come at me.” Taysia hesitated. “Don’t worry, I won’t be hurting you much. And I’m stronger than I look.”
Taysia shrugged, in her experience, it was best to get these sorts of things over with.
She lunged towards the man with all her effort in the movement. Instead of her tiny dagger puncturing his skin she found herself with a mouthful of grass, dagger trapped beneath her. Spitting out the grass she pulled herself back to her feet.
“Maybe I ought to have started you off with something that doesn’t fight back.” The man laughed as she pulled herself to her feet.
Out of nowhere a multitude of dummies appeared. They weren’t straw filled dummies as she might have expected but high tech human looking things. Except they didn’t move.
“Try that one over there.” The man pointed to the nearest ‘dummy’. Taysia nodded. She made the same lunging motion she had made at the man.
The dummy took the full force of her attack. They both tumbled to the ground, again, her dagger trapped beneath her.
[Training Dummy has been defeated. 5 XP awarded]
[0 XP until next level]
[Congratulations – You have reached Level 02
You have unlocked BLOCK (unarmed)
30 XP until next level]
“Better. Try not to put so much into your attacks though. You need to hold back enough that you stay on your feet. Won’t do no one any good down there.” The man bounced from one foot to the other as if the ground was burning the soles of his bare feet.
Taysia nodded again and advanced on the second dummy. This time it went down without taking her with it.
[Training Dummy has been defeated. 5 XP awarded]
[25 XP until next level]
She grinned. She was getting the hang of this.
She turned. The other three dummies were all advancing on her. None of them held weapons at least. She sighed.
She ran at the first one taking it down but tumbling to the ground herself.
She rolled to the left and back to her feet slashing at the ankle of the second on her way. That one went down too. The third was harder. It seemed to have started some evasive action as its friends were slaughtered. It was quick. Too quick for her. She remembered that she was an illusionist, she didn’t know how to cast spells yet but with a thought she pictured the spell she’d chosen. Bolt of Energy. In her hand a small ball of fire appeared. It was warm on her skin but not burning. She hurled it towards the dummy watching as the flame sailed across the blue sky before smashing into the dummy’s back. It fell to the ground.
[Training Dummy (x3) has been defeated. 15 XP awarded]
[10 XP until next level]
“Well done. There might still be some promise in you after all. One last test, I think. Then you can be on your way.”
Taysia nodded. Finally, out of the tutorial. Then things would get interesting, she hoped.
The man came at her with a sword in hand. She didn’t remember him having it a moment ago but there it was. Her hand still outstretched she conjured another flame thrusting it at the man’s face. It hit. His hair singed, and his beard. But he kept coming. She tried again. Before she had a chance to throw the second sphere of fire, he rushed at her side. The sword pressed towards her. She held out her dagger hoping to get it in front of his sword. She managed to but the dagger was too small, and he was too strong. Instead of the piercing she had expected, the sword hit her on the side. Pain sliced through her hip. As the man pulled away, she pressed the dagger into his side. He gasped a little and stumbled back, falling to the ground.
A few moments later his body disappeared.
[Tutorial Master has been defeated. 10 XP awarded]
[0 XP until next level]
[Congratulations – You have reached Level 03
You have unlocked TINY TRICK
40 XP until next level]
“Well done.”
His voice came from behind her.
“You have passed the tutorial phase of Pantheon VR. May your adventures be adventurous, and may you not encounter a Kraken.” The man disappeared.
A notification popped into her field of vision.
[Quest Complete – Finish the tutorial. 10 XP awarded]
[30 XP until next level]
[Congratulations, you have completed the tutorial and the world of Pantheon VR is now open to you. Please continue toward Athens. You will find the Rolling Wave Regional Headquarters slightly south of the city where you can meet with the local members of your fellowship. Feel free to explore Pantheon as you make your way there. You might even find your first quest.]
Chapter 2
As she began the walk to Athens, Taysia attempted to open the chat interface again. It was still blocked. She sighed. Well, maybe she’d log out once she made it to Athens and try to fix it. Low level characters were such a grind and she wished she had her chat for entertainment. She decided to
head directly for the Rolling Wave Headquarters which had a glowing marker on her map.
To entertain herself, Taysia tested her new spell as she walked. Tiny Trick. The trick was indeed tiny. She tested every item she could think of, hoping it would entertain her viewers. The item had to fit in the palm of her hand, so she tested a basic crystal ball, a stone, a miniature version of her pixie character from Pantheon, a tiny backpack, a ring. They all worked though most didn’t hold up to closer scrutiny.
It wasn’t too long before a farm came into view to her east. The farmer working the nearby fields looked very much like the tutorial master. He nodded to her as she approached.
Perhaps he had a quest for her. She slowed.
“Hello, I’m Taysia, I’m on my way to Athens. This your farm?”
[New Location Discovered – Kostas Farm. 15 XP awarded]
[15 XP until next level]
The man stood tall, wiping sweat from his brow. “Yes sir, been in the family for five generations. We mostly have olives these days, but we used to have many things.”
Taysia nodded. “It’s a lovely farm.”
“Yes. It’s just me now though. And it’s really too much for just one old farmer.”
“I suppose it is. I could give you a hand for a little if that would help you? Not too long. As I said. I’m on my way to Athens. But I could spare a few hours.”
The man considered for a moment. “Yes, that would be very helpful actually. If you don’t mind. There’s a cellar up at the main house that needs clearing out. I always run out of hours in the day to finish it myself.” He gestured vaguely towards one of the two buildings at the top of the hill.
“Of course.” Taysia nodded her acceptance.
Text appeared.
[New Quest – Clear out Farmer Kostas’ Cellar]
Reward – 10 XP and common crafting materials]
Taysia made her way to the main house quickly, easily finding the cellar.
Damp wood held the door in place. She was careful to keep from damaging it in any way as she pulled the trap door up.
It was dark inside. Too dark to see what was happening. Flame. She thought to herself. And one appeared in her hand. Looking down the tiny shaft she couldn’t see anything. There was a ladder. Only a couple of steps really. She dropped easily down the flame still in hand.
Looking around the tiny cellar she screamed.
A mistake, she realized an instant too late.
Scurrying towards her were at least twenty rats. She screamed again trying to pull herself up the few steps and outside.
[-3 HP (Rat bite)]
[-4 HP (Rat bite)]
Her health bar dropped rapidly.
[Quest Update – Clear Farmer Kostas’ cellar of rats
Reward – 10 XP and common crafting materials]
[0/30 rats killed]
[-7 HP (Rat bite – Critical hit)]
Taysia hurled the sphere of fire as she managed to grip the top rung of the short ladder.
[8 damage to Rat (Bolt of Energy)]
[Creature has been defeated. 2 XP awarded]
[13 XP until next level]
[Quest Ready to Complete – Clear Farmer Kostas’ cellar of rats
Reward – 10 XP and common crafting materials]
[30/30 rats killed]
[Rat (x29) has been defeated. 58 XP awarded]
[40 XP until next level]
[Congratulations – You have reached Level 04
You have unlocked CUT
40 XP until next level]
Taysia gulped in the fresh air. How had she killed 30 rats with one sphere? That bolt of energy must be more powerful than she’d realized.
“User Taysia Mitchell. I am an Admin for Pantheon VR.” The voice had a musical lilt to it, although it came from a tiny male creature. Dressed all in white he looked out of place in the dark, damp cellar.
Taysia looked to the creature speaking. She’d never heard of an admin talking directly to a player like this.
“That’s me.”
“Good. I’m here with some troubling news. Best you sit down. I have dealt with the rats in the cellar for you so we may speak freely.”
Taysia shuddered. She really hated rats. She didn’t know what she would have done if the Admin hadn’t shown up. “Thankyou. I did wonder how I managed it.”
“Yes, well.” The small creature looked to the ground. “There was an issue as you were integrated to the game world. It happens very occasionally to those entering Pantheon VR. I regret to inform you that your human body has ceased functioning.”
Taysia almost fell back to the cellar.
“My what? Does that mean I’m dead?”
“Functionally, yes,” the creature continued as if he was delivering a lunch order rather than her death sentence. “You will continue in the game world as you are. My team in the real world has disposed of your body. We are in the process of erasing the minds of those who know you.”
The creature paused, “Given your situation, that has been quite difficult. We have decided that it would be impractical to erase the minds of all your viewers. Instead, we will release an announcement on your account that you have decided to work with Pantheon VR permanently and exclusively. This will be done sometime tomorrow. In the meantime, I suggest you continue to explore and level up. We will continue broadcasting your stream and send you daily updates of the stream discussion. The stream will be turned off during your sleeping hours.”
Taysia wasn’t quite sure what to think. This was her life now. Is that what the strange little creature was saying? And they were erasing the minds of everyone she knew.
“Does this happen often? Am I the only one?”
“No, it happens infrequently. There are others like you. You will be able to identify them by the symbol next to their character name. Visible only to yourself and others like you. It will look like a triangle.”
“So, my friends, my sister. They’re all going to forget who I am?”
The creature looked far too chipper. “Yes, in fact, we have already finished our scan of your family members and your boyfriend.”
Taysia sighed.
“Okay, well, thanks I guess.” She barely processed his words.
She made to move away from the creature and back to collect her reward from the farmer.
“One more thing. Well, two more things actually.”
Taysia paused, one step hovering over the lush green grass of the farm.
“I’ve been authorized to offer you a bonus given your situation, to make your time here a little more enjoyable.”
Out of nowhere a squat gray creature appeared. It stood on two legs but looked like a furry gray cow.
“Mack’s my name.” The creature held out a hoof to Taysia.
“Taysia,” she told the creature.
“Yes, well. I’ll leave you two to get to know one another.”
Taysia looked up a split second before the creature disappeared. “You said there were two things.”
“Oh yes, of course,” he paused a moment. “Don’t tell anyone about this. Not a word or we will delete you without a moment’s hesitation.”
Taysia shivered. When she looked back the little man in the white suit was gone.
Chapter 3
Farmer Kostas was right where she’d left him plowing his field. Or whatever it was farmers did in their fields. Taysia didn’t know that much about farming.
Mack waddled along beside her. He was only three feet tall but seemed able to keep up easily.
She glanced at the tag above his head.
[Mack (04)
Minotaur Companion, Rolling Wave]
‘Mack’ The fluffy gray creature looked to her, she didn’t want to offend him, but she had to know. “Aren’t Minotaur’s meant to be very big and monstrous?”
Mack stopped abruptly. “Well, you don’t gotta rub it in. I’m still growing. One day I’ll be as tall as my dad. He was nearly seven feet they said. I never met him though.�
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“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” Taysia backtracked. “I’m sure you’ll be terrifying once you’ve grown up a bit.”
“Yes, I will.”
They reached the farmer at that moment.
“How did you go with that cellar?” He rubbed dirty hands on his pants.
“It’s all clean now. There were quite a few rats down there. Managed to get rid of them all. This is my friend Mack by the way.”
She gestured to the Minotaur.
“Well, nice to meet you Mack. I’ll just get you a little something for all your trouble. How do you like olives?”
Taysia smiled. “I love olives. That would be lovely.” She’d half expected gold pieces, but this was much more realistic. She wondered what she could use them for.
It was at that moment, as Farmer Kostas turned to his cart and ruffled through it, that Taysia realized she would never go home. That this was her whole life now. And that actually, she didn’t really like olives all that much.
Farmer John turned back to them. A small hessian bag filled with olives in one hand and a glass jar filled with oil in the other.
[Quest Complete – Clear Farmer Kostas’ basement of rats
Reward – 10 XP, Green Olives x30 and flask of Olive Oil x1]
[30/30 Rats killed]
“I… thank you Farmer Kostas. I… I have to go.”
Taysia turned and left, barely waiting to grab the bag and jar. They were automatically added to her inventory.
[Flask of Olive Oil has been added to your inventory]
[30 Black Olives has been added to your inventory]
She dashed along the path toward what she hoped was Athens. Mack trailed along unable to keep up. With sudden urgency she took a right turn into the woods. Mack on her tail.
“Wait, Taysia. Come back,” the small Minotaur called after her. “We need to get to your Fellowship headquarters.”
As she ran, fat, hot tears welled in her eyes making it difficult to see. She didn’t blink, just kept running through the forest, the branches whacking arms, legs and chest.
Mack was more careful, but still his fur ended up tangled with leaves and dirt when he finally caught up to Taysia in a clearing a few minutes later.