The center could not hold. Five Heaven's Feels ended in failure. The Greater Grail dismantled...
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Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO]
- Thread starter Vanathor
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Vanathor
『Back In Black』
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The center could not hold. Five Heaven's Feels ended in failure. The Greater Grail dismantled. The branch family seeking glory for their own ends, the Philosopher seeking to bring his world to life. The center could not hold. Through pact made, and thaumaturgic mystery brought to bare the chance for renewal was birthed, the chance for a Magic to be recovered, established. But you know naught of these hidden mechanization.
You are but a player. Who are you?
[ ] The Beta-Player. You were around since the earliest days of Sword-Art Online, you have experience, though this is your first true MMO you have ever participated in. Knowledge of the game itself is yours, and you are confident of your ability to perform, though you were not so involved as to make you inflexible of thought.
[X] The Spring-Blossom. You are new to the world of Aincrad, having bought the game for the official launch today. While you are inexperienced, you will be nonetheless quick to grow and perform with time. Your perspective is unbiased by a past with the game, and thus you are more open-minded with regards to the reality of this world.
[ ] The 'Beater'. You know not just this game, but every aspect of the mechanics by heart, where all the best 'loopholes' are to take advantage of. The classical power-gamer and munchkin. But this has colored both your perspective and may yet have repercussions from your fellow-players. Unfortunately if the status-quo were to change, you of all would be caught most flat-footed due to your reliance on pre-gained knowledge above all.
[ ] The Old-Hand. You did not participate in the beta, unable to get the invite to play. You are however, a veteran of multiple MMOs and have perhaps the highest learning curve of all the players, with the greatest intuitive skill towards deciphering the nature of the world before you. Given your experience those around you will tend to gather around you more then most.
[SIZE=1.35em]Story Posts [/SIZE]
- First Post (See OP)
- Second Post
- Third Post
- Four Post
- Fifth Post
Vanathor
『Back In Black』
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
-Character Sheet-
Name: Kisuke
Archetype: Spring Blossom
Armor Set: [Light Armor - Basic]
Weapon: [Lance - Basic]
Motivation: You want to know every secret of Sword-Art Online and discover the hidden truths within it.
Stats
[1] Strength
[2] Aglity
[-] Vitality
[2] Dexterity
Unique Traits
Lucky - You are luckier then most, to a significant degree. What effect this has beyond happenstance is unknown.
Inventory
[1] <Set of Light Armor - Basic>
[1] <2-H Spear - Basic>
[1] <Starting Outfit>
Sword-Arts Available
<Footwork> - Increases Dodge and Movement value speeds, and helps you attempt to auto-avoid hits, instead of the action being manually attempted. [30 Second Cool Down]
<Acrobatics> - Allows you to use your body like a professional gymnast in combination with your spear, effectively increasing your battle-field mobility to a large degree. Limited use in closed in environments, with little room to maneuver. [30 Second Cool Down.]
<Rush-Down Lunge> - An attack of good use against ground-bound targets. Gives you a momentary speed and strength boost in an instant that lets you inflict large amounts of damage against your foe. Unfortunately this attack makes you move in a straight line that is easily predicted and thus avoided or outright countered. [90 Second Cool Down]
<Dance The Spears> - Your so called 'trump card' at this stage. Functionally lets you improve your Agility, Strength, and Dexterity immensely by taking health damage corresponding to the time you enter this mode. Very effective but risky force-multiplier. Once you leave it, it has a 'cool-down' of a half-hour.
-Character Sheet-
Name: Kisuke
Archetype: Spring Blossom
Armor Set: [Light Armor - Basic]
Weapon: [Lance - Basic]
Motivation: You want to know every secret of Sword-Art Online and discover the hidden truths within it.
Stats
[1] Strength
[2] Aglity
[-] Vitality
[2] Dexterity
Unique Traits
Lucky - You are luckier then most, to a significant degree. What effect this has beyond happenstance is unknown.
Inventory
[1] <Set of Light Armor - Basic>
[1] <2-H Spear - Basic>
[1] <Starting Outfit>
Sword-Arts Available
<Footwork> - Increases Dodge and Movement value speeds, and helps you attempt to auto-avoid hits, instead of the action being manually attempted. [30 Second Cool Down]
<Acrobatics> - Allows you to use your body like a professional gymnast in combination with your spear, effectively increasing your battle-field mobility to a large degree. Limited use in closed in environments, with little room to maneuver. [30 Second Cool Down.]
<Rush-Down Lunge> - An attack of good use against ground-bound targets. Gives you a momentary speed and strength boost in an instant that lets you inflict large amounts of damage against your foe. Unfortunately this attack makes you move in a straight line that is easily predicted and thus avoided or outright countered. [90 Second Cool Down]
<Dance The Spears> - Your so called 'trump card' at this stage. Functionally lets you improve your Agility, Strength, and Dexterity immensely by taking health damage corresponding to the time you enter this mode. Very effective but risky force-multiplier. Once you leave it, it has a 'cool-down' of a half-hour.
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] What do you look like? Keep in mind you are a fourteen year old boy with all that entails in this regard. Either a short description or potentially a picture would be appropriate.
You've always been told that you look like a girly boy with your curly long hair (you had american ancestry here). But you can't help it... you're a bishonen even if you wear glasses. But not a bad boy bishonen or a pretty boy type bishonen. You just looked feminine, not that this has hurt your dating prospects with girls. It made the girls feel "safe" when dating you.
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
[X] What do you look like? Keep in mind you are a fourteen year old boy with all that entails in this regard. Either a short description or potentially a picture would be appropriate.
You've always been told that you look like a girly boy with your curly long hair (you had american ancestry here). But you can't help it... you're a bishonen even if you wear glasses. But not a bad boy bishonen or a pretty boy type bishonen. You just looked feminine, not that this has hurt your dating prospects with girls. It made the girls feel "safe" when dating you.
fitzgerald
Experienced.
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] We really didn't look Japanese (thanks Dad!)
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
[X] We really didn't look Japanese (thanks Dad!)
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
Vanathor
『Back In Black』
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
Well there was that one ti... nevermind :3Biigoh said:
Malcolmo
Insert custom title here
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
Appearance:
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now
Appearance:
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now
kinglugia
A Randy Avian
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal: To clear the Death Game SAO with your uncle, both of you surviving till the End-Game...and beyond.
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now.
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal: To clear the Death Game SAO with your uncle, both of you surviving till the End-Game...and beyond.
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now.
nick012000
Gone for Good
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal: To become the ultimate wizard.
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
Because I doubt Gilgamesh spent all his time lurking in Kirei's basement drinking, and we are a Type-Moon protagonist. Breaking the rules is sort of expected, and being Gilgamesh's one-night-stand bastard son totally fits.
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal: To become the ultimate wizard.
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
Because I doubt Gilgamesh spent all his time lurking in Kirei's basement drinking, and we are a Type-Moon protagonist. Breaking the rules is sort of expected, and being Gilgamesh's one-night-stand bastard son totally fits.
Larekko12
Connoisseur.
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal:To Drag these people from this Nightmare. Like a King of Old. A King of Heroes!
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal:To Drag these people from this Nightmare. Like a King of Old. A King of Heroes!
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
Selias
Well worn.
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] What do you look like? A Man.
[X] Kill one of every monster. With your bare hands.
[X] While flexing, loudly proclaim that panicking is for women and little girly-boys.
No bishounen, eh? That gives me an idea.Vanathor said:
[X] What do you look like? A Man.
[X] Kill one of every monster. With your bare hands.
[X] While flexing, loudly proclaim that panicking is for women and little girly-boys.
Terribly Fluffy
Lewdly Lurking
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal:To Drag these people from this Nightmare. Like a King of Old. A King of Heroes!
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal:To Drag these people from this Nightmare. Like a King of Old. A King of Heroes!
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused.Three people were much safer than two!
MrGazzer
Wabbit
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Re: Fate/Dreams Online [Type-Moon/SAO] [Mirror-Thread]
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal:To Drag these people from this Nightmare. Like a King of Old. A King of Heroes!
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused. Three people were much safer than two!
[X] You don't exactly look Japanese... it's a pity you never met your father.
[X] Goal:To Drag these people from this Nightmare. Like a King of Old. A King of Heroes!
[X] It's clear to you that once the panic ends, people will WANT to level up. Thus, you should hit a bit further out than the nearby regions, perhaps one of the not so distant Floor 1 towns to grind there with Uncle. He looks quite out of it. Grinding for levels is IMPORTANT now. Perhaps, grab that girl near you... even if she does look confused. Three people were much safer than two!
Vanathor
『Back In Black』
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[SIZE=large]Welcome to Sword Art Online[/SIZE]
Floor One - Deep Forest, Region 4"Come on Uncle! Lets go! I want to see the edge of the map before we have to log off for the day!" you cry out as you burst ahead of your adopted family-member, taking advantage of your reasonably high AGI score letting you move way faster then you possible could in <Real Life>.
'Ah. patience Kisuke! I hit things. I don't run around them like you!" <<Vanguard>> called out, his first gravelly and deep, changed by the power of Sword Art Online's powerful character-creation engine in stark contrast to the soft, polite tones of stereotypical salary-man he was in truth.
"Yeah well you snooze you lose!" you holler back, as you take to through the forest, your feet moving, calculated by the power of the specialized <Movement> sword art you purchased at the start. Helped you move to best judge the path through difficult terrain. That added a bonus to <Dodge> was a pretty nice bonus in and of itself.
And so you ran, jumping through and around the trees, moving like you knew the location better then you did. The world was just so vibrant. Sharper then the real world, more contrast. The sounds were clearer, less muffled. Despite this being only a small piece of the first floor, you already knew that you liked it.
Even if the game play was not great (and it was) then the landscapes around you would have made this a worthy way to spend time. And you got to spend with your Uncle.
The man of late you never really got to see in real-life due to his job taking him to America so often. With the power of the NERV-Gear and the powerful servers that connected them all, it was just like he was with one of his favorite people face to face despite them being over 10,000 kilometers apart. It was everything both he and you could hope for.
Out of the corner of your eye you saw something flash. It was yellow and black and moved through the air, a harsh buzzing sound originating from the direction of the moving colors. Then another. Then another. All around you. A small mob. Five of the things if you counted correctly. each of them level three. Two above you and your Uncle right now. This would be tough.
The insect lunged, and you reactivated your [Footwork] Sword-Art and sidestepped out of the way, and seizing the moment, struck forward with your Spear, jabbing it into the virtual flesh of the Hornet, its health meter shrinking by half. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw another of the creatures making a pass-rush at him now from behind trying to come in from his blind spot.
The cooldown timer on his [Footwork] would not renew for another 30 seconds, so he had to make the manual attempt at dodging. Nearly instinctively he lunged towards the tree, rolling towards it going low, kicking of of it get air-born and out of the dive bomb attack of the yellow-black menace.
Another was coming for him while he was in the air, trying to get him while he was vulnerable. That was okay, he just needed to line up the shot with his spear. Not now... Not now... THERE! He stabbed forward with his pole-weapon and dragged the edge of the blade through the creature, its health shrinking correspondingly.
Ah! He was double teamed. He should have to paid more attention, as the next of the swarm came behind him and attacked him. His health meter was in the yellow. Two more hits like that and off to <<Starting City>> he would go.
You checked the cooldown timers. [Footwork] was finished, so you could dodge again if he had to worst case.
Two of the five were hurt.
And only would need a hit each to finish them off. If you could hold them off, maybe whittle them down a little more, Uncle would show up soon. You could definitely handle this.
Probably. It would just be tricky. And in the worst case... well you could use the 'so-called trump card' you bought in Character Generation a little while ago.
The one with the ludicrously long cool down time - so you would only get one shot at it if you had to use it.
The five hornets surrounded you, circling. You staid alert, just waiting to see which of their AI's attack patterns would trigger next. Ugh. Maybe you should have stayed near your Uncle instead of running off.
[ ] Tactics?
You have access to the following four Sword-Arts
Footwork - Increases Dodge and Movement value speeds, and helps you attempt to auto-avoid hits, instead of the action being manually attempted. [30 Second Cool Down]
Acrobatics - Allows you to use your body like a professional gymnast in combination with your spear, effectively increasing your battle-field mobility in open locations. Unfortunately in the forest with the trees getting in the way this is of limited value. [30 Second Cool Down.]
Rush-Down Lunge - An attack of good use against ground-bound targets. Gives you a momentary speed and strength boost in an instant that lets you inflict large amounts of damage against your foe. Unfortunately this attack makes you move in a straight line that is easily predicted and thus avoided or outright countered. Low-use thus against highly mobile targets such as these Hornets. [90 Second Cool Down]
Dance The Spears - Your so called 'trump card' at this stage. Functionally lets you improve your Agility, Strength, and Dexterity immensely by taking health damage corresponding to the time you enter this mode. Very effective but risky force-multiplier. Once you leave it, it has a 'cool-down' of a half-hour.
Floor One - Deep Forest, Region 4
You eye the hornets, looking each over, moving in a circle yourself, trying to avoid being side-stepped. Paranoia streaming digital adrenaline through your avatar-body. You wouldn't die here! Not like this, with you not even having played for an hour yet! You wouldn't shame yourself so badly as that!
Then one of them launches itself at you, stinger first. Then another. This one pulls the same move that caught you unaware the first time, trying to double-team you. It wouldn't do it again! You move. You move like your body was the wind, a flowing thing, dodging out the way. Every blow, each pass you avoided narrowly, well timed to not be hit by the foot-long chitin blades.
Now you're starting to get a feel for their attack patterns. One alone. Then two together, always in the front then behind. If they missed they would circle around a full 360 degrees with another set of the two attempting the same. At least the predictable AI makes this possible instead of guaranteeing your death.
You strike forwards with your spear, but you miss, unable to intercept the rapidly-moving hornets. Ugh. You just aren't fast enough to take these guys down. Not with the way that all it takes for them to avoid your edge is to just slightly alter their trajectories.
This has to change. You pause for a moment, listening for your Uncle Kazuo, trying to hear if he's close. No dice. No foot-steps.
You can't hold out like this. Something has to give. But -- you've gotten into the rhythm now. You know the timing, how to step to avoid their attacks. You can do this. You can definitely do this.
One. Two. Breathe in. One. Two. Breathe out.
Every time you stab out with your spear, it simply fails to find its mark. You tighten your jaw in frustration. The difference in levels is just too great -- just those two levels separating you from them. You can avoid their attacks due to their repetitious nature. But actually striking back... It's like being able to watch a TV-show on 1080p High-Definition, but the signal is experiencing a lot of lag, rendering the image broken and choppy.
It's simply beyond you. Dammit! Your concentration is broken as one of the hornets breaks the standard attack pattern. Maybe it changes after a certain point? Did you trip some sort of [Flag]?
But you have a way out. You activate <Footwork> with a thought, letting the program guide your steps, twisting out of the way of the hornet's charge like Neo in the Matrix. That was... close. You need to be faster! Stronger! Otherwise they'll soon catch you off guard again and off to the [Resurrection Room] you go.
You activate your special Sword Art, the one that took you two Move-Points to buy at character creation. At your thought, the bullet is chambered. You aim, and you pull the trigger.
<Dance the Spears> engages, and you go into <Overdrive>. To use this ability was to run along the razor's edge. Slowly but surely your [Health-Bar] is running down, even as you grow stronger and move faster by an order of magnitude or more. The world before was sharp and clear but now it seems to be moving in slow motion. You move, trying to break away from the swarm, but you get stung in the back for your trouble. So you strike. And this time the spear's blade hits home. The hornet dies, collapsing into polygons and disappearing. Now it's four-to-one -- but two of them are in the red. You ignore the your own shrinking health bar, now midway through the yellow zone.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
You anticipate their attack pattern's change. You see them careen towards you, and twist out of the way. Don't go for #1. #2. You don't need to think anymore - you strike, bend out of the way of the first, slashing the second, swinging the spear around and stabbing the first hornet within a split second of hitting the second.
Both of them collapse into polygons and scatter.
Your health is almost in the red now. You have to end it -- now.
There's two left. You can do this. Inspiration strikes. You run for the trees, lining some of them up in a row as the remaining two hornets follow, driven by the scarce few lines of code that comprise their AI. This is going to be tricky... but --
Yes!
You launch yourself at a tree, running up along its trunks, pushing forward, the two hornets lining up behind you. Now normally the game's physics engine would be sending you to the ground. But you were creative. You always were best at looking at things from a different perspective. Time to see if your hunch was correct.
You activate <Rush-Down Lunge> and launch yourself at them, your spear striking true. Normally this wouldn't work. But your body is tightly wound. You are strong.
If the <Dancing the Spears> is like turning your body into a top of the line dragster, high-performance machine then <Rush-Down Lunge> is the instant burst of NO2, giving you a split moment of performance far beyond the ordinary for an instant, transforming you from a high-end dragster to an F-22. Unintended by the 'rules' of the game, yet permitted by a loophole in the game's engine, your Sword-Art is supreme. Through its power you defy the pull of gravity. The earth's shackles.
You fly.
Striking with the force of a crashing airplane your spear bursts right through the hornets. They collapse to the aether, briefly suspended on your weapon. Then they cease to exist.
You fall to the earth, like a shooting star. Smashing into the ground with a force that should by all rights have cratered it, you deactivate your <Dance the Spears>. You glance at your health bar. Just a few percent from [Game Over]. That was close. Your fire was nearly extinguished like that same shooting star's was. Your heart thuds in your chest from the exertion. You feel alive, and for a moment, you almost forget that it's not real.
Leaning against your weapon, you breathe heavily. You feel dazed... at peace. As if the day was perfect and nothing could possibly go wrong. Tranquility like you've never really experienced before. Your whole life has been one of action, of going and doing things. Every day you did something.
You never idly by. You never could understand why your Grandfather always just drank his tea and sat on the porch all day. Just to gaze at the stars, and breathe in the night sky.
Just for a moment, you understand why.
Your eyes wander. You see your Uncle Kazuo approaching in the distance, through the tree-line. His slow measured steps, thudding lightly against the ground. Like a heartbeat. In tune with your breathing. You don't know why, but you think you love him just a little more now.
You wave towards him. He opens his mouth as if to speak, but then there was a funny feeling. The sound of the forest going mute. He's saying something, you can see his lips moving, but you hear nothing. Then he turns blue.
Then a similar light envelops you. Then you can hear again. A ringing sound. Ding. Ding. Ding. Like a clarion call. High-pitched. An alarm. Odd.
Then light. Flash. Flash. Flash.
Floor One - Starting City, Region 1
The world shifts. You find yourselves standing in the [Starting City]. What? How? This is strange. There's a crowd around you. Players! So many players! So many you could not see anything else. Just faces and bodies -- too many to count. A sea of people.
The city is as you remember is. The road of unpaved, cobbled stone. The architecture of the buildings looking as though modeled on the whimsical dreams of an art-student from the times of the Renaissance. In the distance, at the borders of the town, hexagonal barriers, forming a sphere of sorts. What the...
The people seem just as confused as you. You look around for your Uncle, turning your head every which way trying to find the bulking frame of his in-game form. Where's Uncle Kazuo? What's going on? Just a moment ago there was peace and tranquility but now panic swells within you.
You open up the game's menu, and your hand drifts towards [Friends] -- but, you notice the [Log Out] button is gone. What's happening?
You have to find your Uncle.
You have to find your Uncle, or --
It becomes a mantra, matching your breathing. You have to find your Uncle. You had to find your Uncle. What's going on? Where's your Uncle? Where's Uncle Kazuo?
Your head twists left and right and you strain your eyes until they burn.
Where's -- ?
There! Your breath rushes out of your lungs. You rush towards him, ignoring the angry looks and annoyed growls and murmurs of the faceless crowd as you run past them.
You wrap your arms around him, and hold him tightly. You felt -- maybe you shouldn't have strained your eyes so much. Your nose is congested. Your eyes feel hot and you're sweaty and moist and they're itching too much.
"What happened?" you ask, glad, no, outright relieved you found him. You were supposed to play this game together. It would be fun by itself, but if he'd just disappeared --, Uncle Kazuo gone -- you don't know what you would have done.
"I...I don't know Kisuke. Last thing that I remember was that thing with the blue light and alarm sound... the [Teleport] function, I think... but that's supposed to require a special item, from what I was told when I was talking to some beta-players for an interview on the game. Mhm." 'Vanguard' looks down, deep in thought and pensive. His arms tighten around you, returning your hug, but you don't think it's a conscious act.
You just stand like that for a while, before letting go of him. This is just too weird. What's happ--
[Warning] - [System Announcement] - [Warning] - [System Announcement] - [Warning] - [System Announcement][/Warning][/Warning][/Warning][Warning][Warning][Warning] [/warning][/warning][/warning][Warning][Warning][Warning]
The sky turns red, the barriers around the city changing in hue, reflecting the change. Crimson rain like the shards of a defeated mob starts falling from the sky -- starting as a light drizzle but rapidly turning into a downpour, but in defiance of its appearance, it doesn't splatter or get anyone wet. Then the rain's vector changes. Pulling inward into a single shape... an orb, the fluid dynamically changing, twisting and into a figure and clotting... a man.
A giant man, many times the size of the largest human present, clad in red robes as red the sky. His face was hidden in shadows, making his personal features impossible to determine.
Part of you is as much in awe as you are disturbed by the special-effects powered by the game's engine.
"Attention Players. Welcome to my world.
My name is Kayaba Akihito.
As of this moment, I am the supreme entity in control of this world.
I'm sure you have already noticed that the [Log Out] button is missing from the main menu."
Your heart sinks in your chest. This is -- this is just too weird. What's this Kayaba, this [Game-Master] doing?
The right hand of the floating giant rises ponderously, and then taps the air in front of it, calling the menu exactly as if he were a normal player. The menu was of proportionate scale to the GM, and set to global visibility, so even if it was backwards, everyone there could see as the GM navigated to where the [Log Out] command should have been.
"But this is not a defect in the game.
I repeat, this is not a defect in the game.
It is a feature of Sword Art Online.
You cannot log out of SAO yourselves.
And no one on the outside can shut down or remove the NerveGear.
Should this be attempted, the transmitter inside the NerveGear will emit a powerful microwave pulse, destroying your brain and ending your life."
-- -- -- -- -- -- your heart flutters and your eyes widen. Almost like a panic attack. You feel Uncle Kazuo grip your shoulder tightly, reassuringly -- but you're not sure who he's attempting to reassure. You don't think he is, either.
What is this madman up to!?
The GM stills in a dramatic pause, letting the message sink in. The voices of the crowd around you are filled with horror. You overhear tense, pensive conversations, verifying that the NerveGear was technically capable of what the GM was describing.
"Unfortunately several players' friends and family have ignored this warning, and attempted to remove the NerveGear.
As a result, 213 players are gone forever, both from Aincrad and the real world."
Again the GM navigates his menu, although it has automatically reset to private visibility, so that his motions become inscrutable -- until his purpose is made obvious as various browser holographs become visible, the floating rectangles displaying several news threads, television news programs, and live videos of involved people.
Your eyes widen even further. Your mouth goes dry. That... That could easily have been you. Or Uncle Kazuo. Or any of the passing acquaintances you've made within this first hour. It might well have been some of the people you met.
You are suddenly very glad that Sister isn't here with you. That your friends had not been able acquire copies for themselves. To be trapped in here... Better you than them. Better you than your loved ones. Better that they be safe.
"As you can see, news organizations across the world are reporting this, including the deaths.
Thus, you can assume the danger of a NerveGear being removed is now minimal.
I hope you will relax and focus on completing Sword-Art Online, as it was meant to be experienced."
Although it is delivered with the same simplicity as the rest of the announcement, as if everything up until now had been a mere formality -- only now does something like real intent slither its way into the voice of the floating GM.
"There is only one means of escape."
He moves his hands again. A vast cylindrical hologram sprung up, stacked plates. The virtual world of Aincrad.
"To complete the game.
You are presently on the lowest floor of Aincrad, floor one.
If you make your way through the dungeon and defeat the floor boss, you may advance to the next floor.
Defeat the final boss on floor 100, and you will clear the game.
Finally, I've added a present from me to your item storage.
Please see for yourselves."
An item. [Magic-Mirror]. A silver-reflective object, surrounded by blades of grass forming the frame. Upon reaching into your [Inventory] it activates automatically. A flash of light, blue, the same as the beacon that brought you here. For a moment you felt a dull throbbing sensation, the same that you felt as you were moved to the [Starting City].
And then you were yourself. Your real self.
___
[ ] What do you look like? Keep in mind you are a fourteen year old boy with all that entails in this regard. Either a short description or potentially a picture would be appropriate.
The people around you were likewise changed into what was apparently their bodies from real life and no longer the fantasy they created for themselves as their Avatar. Your Uncle particularly was at odds, now being your stereotypical plain-faced salary man and not the muscle-bound hulk that he portrayed himself as previously to match his 'theme'. Fortunately the gear was re-sized to fit you. Otherwise that would have been... awkward.
___
The [Game-Master] spoke again, having waited for the noise to die down from the horror of the event.
"At this time I would like to announce the first content expansion for SAO.
The system for simulating Thaumaturgy has been enabled.
That is to say, the skills of manifesting mysteries and wonders, individually called [Spells], are now available.
"It is complete and accurate to the best of my ability as a simulator.
Please note that the item selection and Equippable Skills have been updated to eliminate ambiguities and overlaps with magecraft. [Items], such as [Teleport Crystals], and [Skills], such as [Night Vision], that produce supernatural effects have been removed as redundant and unnecessary.
I highly encourage you to develop your skills as a magic user. They will be indispensable in clearing the game."
Magic? In a game called Sword-Art Online? Odd for a game which had so stressed the Sword Arts, but in what is now a Death Game you cannot bring yourself to question it unduly.
"Right now, you're probably wondering why.
Why would Kayaba Akihito, the developer of the NerveGear and SAO, do all of this?
I will respond without answering by way of an old saying: 'To be a magus is to walk with death.'
If you wish to uncover my motive, struggle to clear the game.
I hope that you will endorse my objective when it becomes clear.
But no matter what, I will be pleased if you all develop into excellent magic users.
In the meantime, please consider this mystery as the central plot of the game SAO, and endeavor to solve it."
You center yourself with righteous anger. Before you were scared. But now you have a goal. A way to --
___
[ ] What is your goal? This can range from completing 'discovering the mystery of SAO', to 'Completing the Game', to 'Bringing Kayaba to Justice', etc. This will be your defining wish for the future, at least for the moment. This goal can and will of course change over the game most likely so its 'permanent' but consider it your driving force and what aspects of the plot I as GM will be focusing on for the moment.
___
"This ends the tutorial for the official SAO launch.
Good luck."
The avatar slumps in midair. Strange vapors escape from the hood and sleeves as it deflates and begins to fall. Before it can fall even ten meters, though, it dissolves into nothingness. It does not shatter into the familiar blue-green triangles and dissolve; it simply fades out and vanishes. Compared to the normal logic of Aincrad, it is definitely an unnatural way for the GM avatar to go.
. . .
It's quiet.
The air hangs thick with tension. Pressure. It was pushing everyone down. The tension is squeezing you like the air was winding into straps around you. No one moves. It's like everyone stopped breathing and didn't start up again because it was unnecessary for these virtual bodies.
And then someone screams.
___
[ ] Course of Action? This can be anything from 'Get out of the City to avoid the craze of the panic' to 'Find a safe place to talk with your Uncle' to 'Go and try and hunt Mobs with your Uncle before all the best Quests and EXP-grinding spots are depleted' etc. Alternatively I can 'Time-Skip' to the near future with you having given me a short-term course of action for what you did during that period and we can get to the 'meat of the story'.
-------------
Winning Vote
Details in my next post.[/warning][/warning][/warning]
Vanathor
『Back In Black』
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I decided to move this game to QQ permenant-like due to lag, and future content that may not make it past mod-inspection on SB such like the Marriage mechanic in game which would get me a banhammer since the protag is underage and all. Plus if I decide to go full NSFW I have that option.
Update will be coming sometime today/tomorrow.
Update will be coming sometime today/tomorrow.
nick012000
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kinglugia
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You forgot the SB vots.nick012000 said:
Vanathor
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nick012000 said:
That is up to including the winning vote from SB. This was always the mirror thread. Now its the main.
nick012000
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Why are the SB votes being counted when it's a QQ quest?kinglugia said:
kinglugia
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This used to be a mirror, and then Vanny got a mod paranoia to his knee.nick012000 said:
But he wanna get the SB vots bfore he upgraded this from mirror to official qq, so yolo.
nick012000
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Except that there's a clear majority here, we'll be the ones actually playing, and it's a far superior vote, to boot. I mean, Joe Random or Demigod Bastard Child of the King of Heroes, there's just no contest between the two.kinglugia said:
Vanathor
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Because you never would have gotten Demigod Bastard Child, just looked like him. Which would have been to your detriment. And I don't find that character concept to be very interesting as a writer in the first place.nick012000 said:
Vanathor
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Posting this so I don't forget what I rolled cause I have to run to class. Will finish update later.
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Vanathor
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You'll find out when I update :3Cyanios said:
