The Twins:

Alexander Lynn Taylor (Lexy/Alexis): Protagonist, and somewhat androgynous younger twin brother to Alexandra Lynn Taylor. Player of Madelyn Alexis. A young man, newly idle rich, with an interest in video games, stuffed animals, and bunny rabbits. Introverted and a homebody, makes few friends but those he does tend to be very close friends indeed. Studied early childhood education in college and volunteers at the local library.

Alexandra Lynn Taylor (Lex/Luther): Older twin sister to Alexis. Very much a tomboy when she was growing up, hated dresses and having to have long hair. Athletic, with a penchant for exploration. Also plays ECHO, but her character hasn’t been discussed in detail. Studied physical education in college and volunteers at the local swimming pool.

Party Members:

Madelyn Alexis: Young, extremely cute Beastkin (Tauros subrace) character of Alexis. Character 50,000 and thus one of twenty Chrysanthemum Heroes or Heroines in the game. Archery-focused spellcaster with high charisma.

Tabitha (Tabby): Attractive, Undead (Ghost subrace) character of Meredith. Comes to the aid of Madelyn Alexis after the Tauros enters the gameworld. Her character’s backstory is that she was a princess who died while looking for her younger sister. Considers Madelyn Alexis as a possible surrogate sister. Uses Restoration and Summoning magic.

Abigail (Abby): Young, hyper Elf (Ria’Dine subrace) character of Ginny. Appears to be almost an identical twin with Gabrielle. Uses Air Elemental magic and a variety of support buffs.

Gabrielle (Gabby): Young, shy Faetouched (Tallemaja subrace) character of Allison. Appears to be almost an identical twin with Abigail. Defense-oriented character using a wooden sword and shield. Rescued by Madelyn Alexis and Tabitha.

Tamakotz: Earth elemental who serves as the summoned guardian of Tabitha.

Real World People:

Allison: Friend of Ginny and player of Gabrielle. It was her idea to make their characters children in the game.

Angela: High school cheerleader during Alexis’s senior year. Dating a girl.

Caroline: College friend of Alexis.

Carrie Wirkkala: Assistant librarian and single mother to Noabelle. Five years older than Alexis.

Cecily: High school cheerleader during Alexis’s senior year.

Coach McNarma: High school coach during Alexis’s senior year.

Dan Westbrook: Executive Vice President of Marketing and Operations. His GM character is Victoria Delacroix, a vaguely piratical elf with an outfit that’s more gothic lolita than true maid. His player character is Natalya Mistsworn.

Ginny: Seventeen-year-old player of Abigail. It was her idea to make their characters “sisters” in the game.

Hannah Mary Taylor: Alexis’s and Lex’s mother. Never named directly. Died of cancer before the start of the story. Single mother with very traditional gender expectations for her twin children.

Heather Lopez: Lex’s best friend and even more of an outdoorsy/explorer type. Keen interest in caverns and mountaineering.

Jacobi: College friend of Alexis.

Janet: See Nazhai (Other Player Characters and GM Avatars).

Jeffrey Farseer: High school defensive lineman and debate club captain. Boyfriend of Tanika.

Katelyn: High school cheerleader during Alexis’s senior year. Red hair.

Meredith: Player of Tabitha. Older woman with no sisters, nieces, or daughters of her own.

Michelle Suomela: Alexis’s childhood friend and high school girlfriend. A bit bookish with an interest in film and drama. High school cheerleader. Alexis and Michelle technically broke up when they went to different colleges but remain best friends and communicate almost daily. Has an older brother.

Miguel Alphonso: Lead Programmer for Heraldic Echo.

Mr. Schenk: Homeroom teacher during Alexis’s senior year.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Mrs. Beard (mentioned, never seen): Town librarian. Elderly.

Noabelle Wirkkala: Extremely energetic, first-grade student who has adopted Alexis as “Uncle Taylor.” Daughter of the assistant librarian, so she’s always at the library when Alexis volunteers. Likes to illustrate the stories that Uncle Taylor tells.

Tanika: High school cheerleader during Alexis’s senior year. Girlfriend of Jeffrey Farseer.

Tara: High school cheerleader during Alexis’s senior year. Buxom.

Victor Sonovich (Director): Head of the Heraldic Echo company. Does not enter virtual reality but appears as a televised presence during staff meetings.

Other Player Characters and GM Avatars:

Ben d’Overan-Tayket: Challenges Stegnar Rockbottom to a duel after being rebuffed by Tabitha and Madelyn Alexis. Loses.

Gawain: GM character of the Head of Security. Real name and identity is unknown to even high-ranking GM and staff members. “One scary dude.”

Jacqueline Spellsworn: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines.

Jaymee: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines.

Jazzybelle Ten’kage: An elf and apparent cheater whose victory over the final tutorial encounter was shown at a GM staff meeting. Probably banned as a result. Uses Darkness magic.

Johannes: Statistics and Analysis staff member, his GM and player avatars are both Tauros. His player character is a village blacksmith and he went through the non-combat route of the tutorial.

Leanna Sidhe: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines.

Lukas: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines.

Lynica: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines. Perhaps a future rival to Madelyn Alexis.

Melody: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines.

Mona: Character briefly mentioned in a conversation between Victoria Delacroix and Nazhai. Would apparently look good in a pink-and-white version of Victoria’s dress, as would Madelyn Alexis.

Mystarian: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines.

Natalya Mistsworn: Non-GM player character of Victoria Delacroix. Pirate and Seamstress.

Nazhai: GM and head of Player Relations. Her avatar is a Beastkin (Nekoun subrace). Her real world name is Janet. At her insistence, GM and staff avatars are dressed as maids or butlers to remind them that they serve the players and are not “over” them like gods and goddesses.

Stegnar Rockbottom: Dwarven player. Taunts someone harassing Madelyn Alexis and wins a duel. Forms a group with other players who were discomforted by their parties’ treatment of Madelyn Alexis.

Talos: GM character who appears as an aged, grey-furred Ratkin (Lesser Beastkin archetype and not available for player characters). Head of Instanced Content and Encounter Design. One of four GMs, along with Gawain, Victoria Delacroix, and Nazhai, who interviews Madelyn Alexis about her tutorial victory over Sar’Glagalth.

Tatebayashi Yumeko: One of the twenty chosen Chrysanthemum Heroes/Heroines.

Victoria Delacroix: GM Avatar of Dan Westbrook As head of Marketing and Operations, proposes to use Madelyn Alexis as a mascot character for the game. Her outfit tends more toward gothic lolita than true maid, and she seems a little obsessed with dressing up cute girls in cute outfits.

Xinonalaya: First character to reach level five.

AIs and NPCs:

Aurora (aka Mediator Aurora and Aurora Gamma): Advanced AI in charge of many game features. In her aspect as Aurora Gamma, attends staff meetings with the developers. In her aspect as Mediator Aurora, handles many things related to game stability and gameworld development.

Jasmine: Mischievous AI assistant for Alexis. Her form is that of a winged mermaid. Manages the home instance and all the behind-the-scenes stuff like messages and inventory for Madelyn Alexis.

Light of the Three Moons on the Beach of the Silver Lagoon; Jasmine and Lily Fragrances on the Evening Breeze: See Jasmine

“Madame”: Elfin owner of the dress shop Tabitha takes Madelyn Alexis to. Her name hasn’t been given.

Megan: One of the early AIs developed by the company, she disliked numbers and math, so declined a role in the game world. Manages a virtual reality “malt shop” in the virtual offices. She appears as an older, but still attractive, woman with grey hair and a green dress.

Qrilli: Older dwarven shopkeeper in Echerin. Sells bags and boxes out of a shop called Bags and Boxes. Frequently quotes his grandmother.

Ramantia: Young elfin assistant shopkeeper in Echeirn. Daughter of the owner of the dress shop Tabitha takes Madelyn Alexis to. Better with the business aspect than the crafting aspect.

Sar’Glagalth, Guardian of Stone, Destroyer of Nations: One of six possible final bosses for the tutorial instance. Appears as a gigantic stone centaur. Defeated by Madelyn Alexis.

Skri’ki’kikikt: Ratkin Ratmancer and Scholar in the tutorial instance.

Sunrise Sparkle: An elemental faerie (Ellione, light-based) who serves as a Tutorial Experience And Starting Expert and guides Madelyn Alexis in the tutorial instance. Had bad experiences with previous players. Enjoys blackberries.

T’Dhii: Gate guard at the western gate out of Echerin. Offers Madelyn Alexis and Tabitha a quest to find Abby and Gabby.

T’Dhum: Gate guard at the western gate out of Echeirn. Offers Madelyn Alexis and Tabitha a quest to find Abby and Gabby.

Tiabeth, Guardian of Light, Shield of the Righteous: One of six possible final bosses for the tutorial instance. Appears as a gigantic unicorn. Defeated, unfairly, by Jazzybelle Ten’kage.

Tiamana: Young elfin assistant shopkeeper in Echeirn. Daughter of the owner of the dress shop Tabitha takes Madelyn Alexis to. Assists Madelyn Alexis in finding a new outfit to replace the starter outfit.

Miscellaneous:

Annabelle: Fictitious human girl in a story that Alexis told to Noabelle.

Miss Starlight: Unofficial name given to Alexis’s non-player avatar when in the virtual reality offices.

Starlight: Another name for Alexis’s hivatar form.

Starlight and Moonlight Playing on the White Sands at the Horizon of Sea and Sky: name that Jasmine gives to Alexis’s hivatar form.

Princess Starlight: Fictitious mermaid princess in a story that Alexis told to Noabelle.

And assorted unnamed AIs, NPCs, GMs, player characters, and people.