Fate Online...
Ava looked around, she had not fully loaded into Ithea yet after choosing to continue as Ava Stormcaller. She was at a white screen, in the old games she would consider this a loading screen, but BlackRock had smoothed the transition between Character Creation/Choosing and loading into Ithea long ago. So whatever was happening, it more than likely had to do with Patch Thirteen. Suddenly she heard footsteps and out of the white light stepped Anthony Mitchels, CEO and Founder of BlackRock. "Hi, before you ask this is a prerecorded message. You cannot interact with this Avatar. Welcome to Fate Online and Ithea. I am bringing you this message because we have released Patch Thirteen. It unblocks certain tech on your FIVR Pod and uploads some software to digitize your mind to the world of Ithea. For the first thirty-six hours in-game, if you want to logout, you can. After that, the logout option will no longer be available and your course to become a permanent citizen of Ithea will be set." Anthony explained.
Suddenly a seat appeared behind him and he sat down in it. "Patch Thirteen is my greatest success for humanity's worst hours. We stand upon the brink of extinction. If you choose to go forward, there is no going back, you will still be an Immortal, but you will never go back to Earth. This is a one-way ticket. It is also by no means foolproof. One out of four people will fail to make the transition to Ithea. Seventy-five percent will succeed, but twenty-five percent will die. Humanity in one form or another will go on. The question is, will you be a part of it. No one can force you to choose this path. It is up too you. So...are you ready? Do you wish to proceed into the world of Ithea? To forever be a part of a new world?" Anthony asked.
Ava smiled, "Yes, I wish to proceed."
Anthony smiled, "Congratulations on the very first step. Goodluck Immortal...Remember, the only Fate is the one you make. Every choice has a consequence though." Anthony gravely informed her and with a wink, the floor dropped out from under her and everything went black.
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Surface- Bronze Rock Region
Nation of Duran'thia- City of Dera'kan
South Market
Ava appeared near the diner she had logged out of. Few Immortals were out and about, but it was not surprising considering Patch Thirteen had just gone live. Everyone had been booted before it had been uploaded to the servers. It would be safe to assume, most would take their time getting back in. Once Ava looked around and made sure she was clear of any prying eyes she brought up the Patch Notes.
Patch 13 Developer Notes...
A Note from Anthony Mitchels the CEO and owner of BlackRock Entertainment,
On behalf of BlackRock Entertainment, I want to thank everyone for their time and patience. As you know, over the last couple of weeks extremists have acquired and detonated a nuclear device in Rio de Janeiro and in Buenos Aires killing seven million people. Another five million have died over the last few weeks due to the nuclear fallout and the body count continues to rise daily. These extremists are not going to stop and are intent on destroying civilization as we know it. While efforts to stop them are underway, none of the other remaining thirty-four nuclear weapons have been found so far. Survival programs for humanity have been enacted to ensure that humanity will live on in one form or another.
Fate Online is one such venture.
Patch Thirteen removes certain blocks on FIVR Pods and will copy your conscious mind into the world of Ithea so even though your physical body is dead, your mind will live on. This transition process takes one week (Ithea Time) to complete. If you want to stop at any time, you can logout up too day three, after that you will be locked into the process. The chances that your mind will succeed in digitizing are...seventy-five percent.
Before you ask or worry about someone hacking into Fate Online, no one can. It is a closed system protected by some of the most powerful A.I. in existence. It has over a dozen backups all around the world so in case one Quantum Computer Core is compromised, another will replace it immediately.
Now as far as world mechanics, Adam and Eve will continue to balance everything out but by and large, the world is locked. There is plenty of the world to explore that Immortals have not found yet. Or if you don't want to explore and fight monsters, settle down and start farming, create something, anything you want to do. It is up too you. I hope you enjoy your new lives, remember the possibilities are endless. What you do is up too you.
Major Changes...
---100% Synchronization (NO PAIN FILTER!!!) however Skills to dull pain have been added but will not block it completely
---The continent of Mortihiemer has been added to the world of Ithea. This is the third major continent (Arakon, Jingoon, Mortihiemer). Dozens of small islands have been added to the White Cap Ocean, Storm Sea, and White Frost Sea
---The Norse Pantheon (Odin, Loki, Thor, Frey, etc...) have joined the gods and can be prayed too, make sacrifices too, gain boons and gifts from. However, their presence on the continent of Arakon is minimal
---Due to Chaos Acolytes being able to destroy Avatars, if your Avatar is destroyed your consciousness will be sent back to Character Creation. You will lose all progress that you have made (Skills, Abilities, Classes, Money, Items, etc...), but you will not be destroyed (Perma-Death).
---Dozens of new Dungeons have populated the world on, below, and above the surface.
---The chances of One-Off Dungeons appearing have increased
---New Dwarves can choose to spawn in the Obsidion Kingdom (Subject to the Empire of Night)
---New Humans can choose to spawn in the Nation of Rolling Sands
---Duergar Race has been unlocked and spawns in the Duergar city of Mul Duram deep in the Underdark
---Mer (Merfolk) Race has been unlocked and spawns in the Mer city of Atlantis (Located beneath the White Cap Ocean)
---New Classes (Including Axe Rager, Skald, Rune Mage, Etc...) have been added
---Head, Pouldron (Shoulders), Wrists, Chest/Back, Hands, Belt, Legs, Boots, Cloak, Rings (8), Trinkets (2), Main Hand Weapon/Item, Off-Hand Weapon/Item are the equipment Slots now
---The world will continue to evolve and expand as time goes on. A large amount of data was uploaded to the Fate Online Servers, but testing is ongoing and new content will be released once Adam and Eve have tested and vetted everything.
Ava dismissed the information and then sent a quick message to her sister letting her know she had spawned safely. Before she could move her stalker appeared and waved at her. "Hello my little Loranan, I am glad you are back." The man quipped as he moved closer.
"You are like a bad rash that just won't go away. I don't want to talk to you, so leave me alone please." Ava told him and tried to move around him but the man stepped in her way.
"I am just trying to have a civil conversation with you. I apologize for putting a knife to your back, will you sit down and have a conversation with me?" the man asked with probably his most charming smile.
Ava glared at him, "If you wanted a civil conversation, you should have led with it. You should not have tried to kidnap me and implied torture, it pissed me off and any chance of cooperation disappeared." Ava told him before shouldering him out of her way and heading towards the nearby market.
The man quickly followed her, "Ahh, don't be like that I just want to be friends."
Ava snorted, "I have enough friends. I know how people like you work. I used to be a lot like you. I am turning my life around and don't need people like you in it. So, if you want to follow me out of the city, feel free. I will safely say before any magistrate that I killed you because you were stalking me and I felt threatened. That this was the second time you had done so revealing a trend from you." Ava called out over her shoulder.
"My employer just wants to talk. Threatening me is not the smartest thing to do." the man replied and a certain edge in his voice brought a smile to Ava's face.
"Well, you know where I will be. Feel free to attack a Necromancer in a graveyard, that is always smart." Ava called out before letting her staff trail slightly behind her and tripping him. The man cursed as he stumbled and fell causing more than one passing person to stop and laugh or help him. Either way, Ava continued on ignoring the spectacle behind her.
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Surface- Bronze Rock Region
Stolen novel; please report.
Nation of Duran'thia- City of Dera'kan
Fallen Estates of Loranan
"Jedidiah, WHERE ARE YOU?" Ava called as she entered the graveyard next to the half-destroyed mansion.
"HERE!! Stop yelling girl, I have been talking to the others and we have been going over all the information you acquired. We are determining the best course of action. Now, what is the problem?" The Spirit asked.
"Two things first and foremost is that Immortals will be coming to Ithea in larger numbers and staying here permanently. I am one of those staying. Two, you said that those seeking our families Archives would start looking for me soon. They already started. Some idiot tried to kidnap me in the city yesterday, so we got to get out of here sooner rather than later." Ava told the Spirit causing it to seize up for a moment as it considered the various options.
After a few minutes of pacing and freezing up Jedidiah finally responded, "Ok the first thing is not important currently. Having any hunters on you already is troubling, we need to move quickly and get you to a safer place. Do you know of the city of Asethshara?"
"Yes, its a smaller city located north-west of here I believe. It is about a two-week trek. Why?" Ava asked back as she watched the Spirit pace.
"It used to be under the control of the Loranan family before our fall. It was a stronghold of our family's Mages and is still a stronghold for us. If you can get there, you will beyond anyone except the most powerful Magi. The local populace will be sympathetic and your first target is within the city itself. Getting there quickly will be a problem though. Few caravans from here head there, so you can make your way on foot or you need to acquire an alternate means of travel. Come here, girl." Jedidiah gestured for Ava to come closer and the Necromancer did with some trepidation.
Jedidiah smirked at her and grabbed her head causing Ava to scream in pain as new knowledge flooded her head. "I apologize but we have to do this quickly and I cannot teach you this the short way. The woods to the north-east are plagued by spirits. Seek out a Spectral Steed. They are rare, but their Stamina is endless. They are Undead so they are still weak against Light/Holy/Life magic. Use your new ability and forge a bond with one and have a life long bond. Goodluck girl, don't forget my skull!!" Jedidiah finished as he disappeared.
Alert...
Ability Unlocked Spirit Bond Acquired...
Alert...
Quest Issued: Roping a Spectral Steed
Description: Travel to the Spectral Woods and hunt down a Spectral Steed and use your newly acquired ability to forge a life long Bond with it. Be aware, the Spectral Woods are hostile to all the living, including the Loranan family. Do not expect a warm welcome or protection from the Spirits within like you have been around the Loranan Estates.
Success: Forge a Bond with a Spectral Steed
Failure: Fail to forge a bond with a Spectral Steed or leave the area before you do
Immediate Reward: Spirit Bond Ability
Reward(s): 500 Experience, Spectral Steed
Quest Issued: Path of Redemption (Stage 4)
Description: Due to an increased possible threat, you must flee the High-Elf city of Dera'kan and go to the Loranan stronghold outside the city of Asethshara. Once there you can plan your campaign against the Dragon Kings allies without worrying about outside influences.
Quest Difficulty: Nightmare
Success: Reach the Loranan stronghold outside the city of Asethshara
Failure: Fail to reach the Loranan stronghold
Reward(s): 1,000 Experience, Unknown
Restriction: Must Completly Alone, Level 27 Minimum
Ava groaned as she sat up, the world was spinning a little bit and the pain had been more intense then she had ever felt, but she was alive. So she did what she did best, she started cursing as she moved to break down the small camp and prepare for another long trip. Ava wondered if she would still have headaches after she was fully uploaded to Ithea or not. The idea made her laugh. "Truly to laugh in a graveyard, it must be amusing." Someone called from nearby causing Ava to freeze and slowly turn. Standing just outside the graveyard was her favorite stalker and two of the Dragons Claws. Elite soldiers and enforcers two the royal family and last but not least, a cloaked figure.
Ava glared at the human that smiled at her and winked. "Told you, my employer just wanted to talk. You invited us out here and told me exactly where you would be. I think you got a crush on me." He winked again at Ava and she was tempted to launch an Arcane Bolt at his face just too see what he would do, but the cloaked figures light laughter stopped her.
"Love and hatred are two conflicting emotions that are so close, yet complete opposites. Will you converse with me Loranan. You have my word I mean you no harm." the Cloaked figure called out.
"You want me to talk to you after that idiot,' Ava pointed to the scarred man standing beside the cloaked figure, 'tried to kidnap me yesterday and threatened to torture me. Why should I do anything other than activate a Portal Scroll and leave you all guessing at where I will come out. You could try to push through the Spirits of the graveyard, but even the Dragons Claws would be ripped apart before they made five steps within. Plus I don't talk to people who hide behind cloaks." Ava challenged.
"Ahh, see I told you she wasn't the bashful type, you just go to get past the---" Before the man could continue Ava let out a snarl and shot an Arcane Bolt towards the Human. One of the Elite soldiers intercepted it and blocked it with his shield. Both soldiers started readying weapons when the cloaked figure shouted at them.
"STOP!! Take the Hound and wait for me by the horses. Do not let anyone approach the graveyard. I will be fine. GO!!' the woman commanded as she moved the hood back revealing who she was before stepping closer to the graveyard. 'I hope that buys me a little faith."
"Queen Jenaveve, why are you here?" Ava asked as she kept some nasty spells ready. The Queen was a powerful Mage and if the Lore was correct, an Arch-Druid or Elementalist. Being within the Loranan graveyard would boost her power but it would not give her near enough power to defeat the woman.
"As I said, I want to talk. I do not wish to harm you in any way. I in fact, very much want you to succeed if you retrieved what I thought you did." Jenaveve replied.
Ava just shrugged her shoulders. Jenaveve smiled, "It's ok, keep your secrets Loranan like I will keep the secrets of the Dorathin Family. I will tell you my story and let you decide. I was a young woman interested in her studies more than anything else until one day a prince saw me. Being a prince, he got what he wanted and no matter what the woman wanted, no matter how much she ranted and raved, she was ripped from her family and her life and married to a bastard. The one thing this bastard ever did right was killing his father and mother to ascend the throne of the Dragon King. He is a spoiled little brat that cares about himself and cares nothing for the people. So he leaves his wife to tend the kingdom while he does anything that catches his fancy. Questing, drinking, women or men. As long as its fun."
Ava snorted and smirked, "What do you want me to do? Cry that you had to give up your life because a bastard took a fancy to you. Not going to happen." Ava told her as she pulled a Portal scroll out of her inventory.
"No, I don't want you to touch him or go anywhere near him. I want you to destroy his allies and strip away his protection. I will deal with him when the time comes. In return, your family name will be exonerated and it will be restored. Your family estates and lands will be returned as well as its fortunes. That is what I want." Jenaveve pleaded.
"If you really want to do this, sign a binding treaty between the Dorathin and the Loranan families. Send it to the Loranan stronghold outside the city of Asethshara. Do that and word it as you described, and you will have your alliance. Fail to do this or word in incorrectly, you will have made just another enemy." Ava replied and the Queen nodded before turning away.
Ava waited until the Queen was out of site before collapsing to her knees. "Well fuck me sideways...This just got more interesting. Welcome to a new world, Ava."