For a minute, I just stared. “The System?” I thought. “I really must be going crazy, because I don’t remember hitting my head or getting into some kind of accident. Maybe I’m in a coma and this is some kind of fever dream.”
Before I could dive further down that rabbit hole, the screen changed.
> Relax, gamer boy. You aren’t going crazy, haven’t been drugged, and aren’t in a coma. And yes, I can hear your thoughts. It makes things easier because I’m supposed to advise and guide you through your induction and beyond, if you want. But I at least have to introduce you to the basics.
>
> Anyway, allow me to introduce myself. As I said before, my name is Rodderick and I’m your personalized System AI. I’m here to, at a minimum, introduce you to the System for your section of the multiverse. I’ll be explaining how stats work and how levels and classes are gained. Just by opening me and attempting to experiment, you’ve automatically gained the basic Mage class.
“Mage class?” I asked. “Whoa. Wait a minute. This sounds too much like a video game. Maybe I’ve been gaming too much.”
> “It should,” says Rodderick. “Where do you think the ideas for those games you’ve been hooked on come from? The system has been around for millennia. It’s learned a thing or two about preparing worlds for integration. Sadly, this pathetic planet fell way behind schedule and now we’re trying to speed up the process, which includes customized Ais like myself to help you figure your shit out. In another couple of centuries, the System will just say ‘Fuck it’ and yank your world in, whether you humans are prepared or not.”
“Customized AI?” I thought. “Has this creep been watching me or something?” “So this System does what? Turn people into video game characters?” I asked.
> “You could think about it that way but there’s one major difference. There are no respawns, no extra lives, no phone-a-friend. If you die, poof, that’s it. You’re done. So keep that in mind. Now, would you like to know what’s going on?”
I thought about what he said and noticed the glaring plot hole. So I said, “Sure, but can you answer a question first.”
> “No, there are no cheat codes, no god mode. If you want god mode, you have to earn it just like every other sapient being.”, he said. “Was that your question?”
I laughed. I replied, “No, I hate using cheat codes. What I want to know is where did the System come from? Something like this couldn’t just randomly happen. Someone must have created it, right?”
It was Rodderick’s turn to laugh. It was at that moment that I realized that I was not only seeing the words appear on the screen in front of my eyes, but I was also hearing them, and his laugh, in my mind. So very cool.
> He replied, “Bro, don’t we wish we knew. No one, not even the System, knows who created it or them or whatever. All it knows is that it came into being with one directive, integrate the section of the multiverse it’s been assigned to. Develop means to enable the inhabitants of the planets that they can use to grow and protect their planet, and eventually the multiverse, from incursions from the darker dimensions, places you humans refer to as hell, or hades, or the underworld, to name a few. Beings from those dimensions are always trying to invade. So the System developed mana, a kind of mental or spiritual energy, to assist the integrated worlds in fighting off the invasions. Mana can be used to cast spells, and empower skills and objects. As planets get closer to full integration, the natural mana levels increase, allowing the general population to develop classes and skills. The Precursors, like you, are just ahead of the game. And you’re needed. Incursions are starting to happen again, so we need to step this up, buddy boy.”
“Wait. Wait. Wait, dammit. Two questions that seem important, at least to me,” I said.
> “Go ahead.”
I stated, “You kinda implied that there are multiple Systems. Are there? And just what the hell do you mean incursions are starting to happen again. This has happened before? How the fuck did no one notice?”
> “Well yeah, at least I assume so. The multiverse is infinite. There’s no way in hell one System can successfully manage it all. It’s just way too much. As for incursions happening before, damn right they have. And if Earth’s precursors hadn’t mostly been dicks, the integration likely would have happened a few hundred years ago. Where do you think all those fairy tales of elves, dwarves, gnomes, ogres, etc. come from? Those were Precursors from other dimensions coming over to help deal with incursions. Of course, from there, the fairy tales grew dark and gruesome, likely due to the influence of the dark dimensions.”
I asked, “So you’re telling me that trolls, ogres, orcs, goblins, they’re all the good guys?”
> He responded, “Well sure, some of them, at least. Just like you stupid humans, some are good, some are really good, some are selfish, etc etc etc. Get the picture?”
I nodded and said, “When you put it that way, I guess it makes some sense.”
> “Any more questions or can I get on with the explanations? Remember, we’re potentially going to be together for a long time. I can answer the unimportant questions later.” he asked.
I nodded and said, “Nope, do carry on.”
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> “Thanks. So where to begin? Well, I guess we’ll begin with experience. You gain experience from killing incursion monsters, mana-spawned monsters, clearing dungeons, and dealing with other Precursors who go off the rails. Occasionally, System or I will give you quests, which also offer experience, along with potential stat boosts, gear, consumables, and bonus spells and skills.”
>
> “Now on to stats. You’ve played D&D so you basically already know them: Strength (STR), Dexterity(DEX), Constitution(CON), Intelligence(INT), Wisdom(WIS), and Charisma(CHA). There are also secondary stats: Endurance(End), which is (Str + Con)*2; Reflexes(Ref) which is (Dex + Int)*1.5; Perception(Prc) which is (Int + Wis)*1.5; Will which is (Int + Wis)*2; and Persuasion(Per) which is Wis + Cha. So to understand stats, baseline for humans is 1-5, with 5 in any stat being Olympian/Genius level. So an Olympic weight lifter could potentially have a 5 in their STR. Einstein definitely had a 5 in his INT. Following so far?”
I nodded and said, “I’ll hold my questions until you finish. That way you might answer some before I need to ask them.”
> “Ooooh smart guy! Might have to tweak what the System gave you for Int after all,” he joked. “Now, next is levels. You won’t see an actual number for your experience, the System calculates all that behind the scenes, as it were. You’ll see a bar that represents your level progress, so you can at least guesstimate how far you are from a new level.
>
> When you gain a new level, you’ll automatically gain stat bonuses and free stats. As a mage, you’ll gain two INT and two CON. Even numbered levels grant you one STR and one DEX. Odd levels grant you one WIS and one CHA. You’ll also receive three free stats to place wherever you want. I will warn you to be careful with your stats. Don’t min/max. Never! Period! All of your stats are important and should be balanced. While it’s true that the most I can do is give you shit about it if you put yourself out of balance, I will also be the one to give you so much shit when you learn how badly you’ve fucked your stats up. So pay attention to the balance.
>
> When you look at your stat sheet after I finish going over everything, you’ll see you have a Rank and a Level. Ranks start with Novice, Initiate, Prestidigitator, Evoker, Mage, Thaumaturge, Master, Grandmaster are the first eight Ranks for Mages.
>
> Now, Novice is the easiest Rank. Once you hit the EXP cap for level 10, you’re eligible to progress to Initiate. Rank progressions aren’t automatic. Either System or I will give you a quest that you must complete to progress in Rank. If you fail, there’s a three-day cooldown before you’re able to receive another Rank progression quest.
>
> I guess that should lead into quests. Quests can be from me, the System, or spontaneous. Spontaneous quests are basically quests from the System that are given because you’re in proximity to an event, such as a Precursor flipping their shit or an incursion. Typically, spontaneous quests happen when you’re within about 1,000 feet of an event. You’ll know it’s a spontaneous quest because you’ll immediately receive a second quest from the System with more specific objectives. Quests that the System and I give you will always be specific. Instead of, for example, kill 20 demons, it will be something like kill the level x demon leader of the incursion. Also, the rewards spontaneous quests give will be more generic. You’ll get system cash, generic level-appropriate healing and mana potions, random gear, and a chance at class- and level-specific gear. The quests System and I give will always give you items and gear you need to progress.
>
> I’ve mentioned rewards a few times so I should explain in detail. First, rewards include when you kill monsters and incursion participants. The System gives you an automatic look ability that doesn’t count against your skill and spell lists so that you’re able to reap immediate benefits from putting your life on the line. The rewards grow with the level of the opponent so everything scales, including quest rewards.
>
> System cash is spendable once Earth is fully inducted into the System or when you’re able to make it to an inducted world. Also, as an active Precursor, you’re given a stipend, which I will automatically convert into Earth currency and will use to pay your bills. We can’t have a Precursor worrying about mundane shit like having to work when there’s an incursion here or on Klathius. Klathius is almost like Earth’s sister planet from another dimension. You’ll be travelling there once you gain a few levels. Of course, this also means school won’t be possible for you any more. I’m sorry, Cal, but Precursor trumps classes. Plus, it would be difficult for you to explain constantly having to leave in the middle of class. You dropping out in favor of induction just makes more sense.”
“Wait a minute!” I stopped him. “What do you mean I have to drop out of college? This is something I’ve been working hard for since high school. And you expect me to just give it up?”
> “I mean,” he replied, “you don’t have to but there’s a catch. If you give all this up, I’ll have to wipe your memory of everything we’ve talked about tonight. And you’ll have to wait and see if Earth manages to accomplish induction in your lifetime. And if it does, I guarantee you won’t have as cool an AI as me and you won’t get any of the benefits of being a Precursor. But yeah, the choice is, ultimately and always, yours.”
“Fuck!” I cursed. “Why is it always an either/or situation. This fucking sucks. And I suppose I won’t be able to tell anyone about what’s going on. Which makes this suck even more!”
> “Wait, Cal,” he said. “No, you don’t have to keep quiet about this if you choose to become a Precursor. The System and I just wanted you to understand the tome and the System and everything before you started talking about it. That’s why I stopped you from saying anything at lunch. The problem with saying shit to anyone before you understand what’s going on is that the rumors and conspiracy theories you potentially generate could crash the internet. Well, not really, but you get the idea.”
At that I hesitated. Giving up school would really suck. But at the same time, magic!!! “Will I be able to show my friends anything or would I be limited to just talking about what I know?” I asked.
> “Ok, I’m sorry but before we proceed with this line of thought and questioning, I need to know.
>
> Calvin Porter, do you officially and formally accept a position as one of Earth-725’s Precursors?”
Oh shit!! This is really happening. Do I accept? What the fuck will happen if I don’t? How will the guys react? Is it possible to get them inducted too? Shit, there are just too many questions. So I ask, “Do I have time to think about this?”
> Rodderick responded with, “Unfortunately, I can’t give you all night to think about this. If you don’t accept, I really need to selectively wipe your memories, dampen your mana receptivity, and move on to another part of your multiverse to seek another mage.”
It may have been my imagination, which very likely was out of control right now, but I could swear that Rodderick was really uncomfortable with what he was saying. I was already leaning towards accepting this but I guess that’s what made the decision for me. I can’t explain why but I felt a kinship with Rodderick that I’ve never felt before. I stopped him before he could say more and said, “I, Calvin Porter, formally accept the class of mage and the role of Precursor for Earth-725!”