Anna
Anna waited a few moments to collect her thoughts, then began, “Arn and I were going home after watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl, and we were killed during a head on collision.” Realizing that most didn’t know what the hell she was saying, Anna rephrased, “Uh, my husband and I were traveling home and were crushed to death by a large truck, which is like a big metal box that weighs thousands of pounds and is on wheels.” Seeing looks of confusion change to horror, she added, “I don’t think we felt a thing, we died immediately on impact. Anyways, that’s not what’s important, after we died, we found ourselves in our home, except it was empty and the system told us what had happened.”
“Same here. Kicked the bucket, ended up in my apartment, and a large screen calling itself the ‘system’ scammed my ass! Told me I’d be whatever I wanted in my next life, and look at me now. I’m a damn brunette! I wanted to be a natural redhead.” yelled one of the women in the crowd.
Is that really all she wanted? The system brings us back from the dead into a magic universe and she wants to be a redhead?
“Did the system just tell us all something different? Maybe whatever we wanted to hear to get us to agree to come? I was told I’d get to experience my life as a man with superpowers. Definitely a man now, but ain’t have a superpower that I know of yet.” called out a man at the edge of the group while he looked through the underbrush in search of something.
“Why promise us things though? If the system was powerful enough to bring us back from the dead, why did it need to convince us?” Added Helen
“Did it need our permission? If so, why has it not made good on those promises for some of us? What’s the point in bringing us all here in the first place?” Anna observed, jumping back into the conversation, “What does the system want? I have a hard time believing that it brought us here out of altruism for the dead. Has anyone figured out how to reach the system yet?” No one had. It must have some reason for keeping some together and not others.
At this point people began to lose interest, most realized that talking was leading to more questions than answers. Yeah, probably my fault. No one likes people who bring more problems without solutions.
Some began to look through the underbrush, searching for clues or tracks. Others began to mingle with those of the same species. No one left the clearing, however, as if there were some unspoken rule that it would be safer together. Greg, taking one for the team, approached some of the other humanoids in the clearing. “So were you all humans, or were you always this way?”
“Can’t speak for anyone for anyone else, but I am and always was a dwarf.” The dwarf that replied had a shiny bald head, eyebrows that were so large they stuck out on the sides of his face, and a beard that covered his entire torso. “I’ve never met any of the other species here either. Here’s a more important question, how the hell do you all speak Redcore?”
“Redcore? Pal, I hate to break it to ya, but you are definitely speaking good ol’ English.”
“I think the system is translating what everyone is saying for us. I mean, it spoke directly into our mind, so I think some sort of psychic connection isn’t too far fetched.” Anna offered, now worried that the system had mind control powers. If I become some mindless zombie, I’m blaming Arn for ditching me. He better be dead or really hurt to not be here. Who do I talk to file a complaint?
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It was then that one of the lizard people spoke up, “Isn’t that messed up? On the one hand, the system can fuck with our minds, how else could you explain the translation. On the other hand, talk about the death of cultural diversity. My people have a long and proud history. How would we be able to tell if we’ve met one of our own if we cannot trust their words?”
“I think the fact that you all have scales would be a giveaway mate,” responded a human.
“Pfft, you think that simply because we are one species, that we all are alike? Do all humans share in one culture? I would think not. You may all look the same, but I at least have the tact of assuming the universality of your oily flesh does not entail a unanimity of culture.” Although most in the area could not read the expression on the lizard person’s face, the disdain dripping from his tone was obvious.
“Well… alright, point taken.”
“Perhaps,” said the dwarf, offering an olive branch to end the suddenly tense atmosphere, “we can make some introductions in order to ensure there aren’t too many misunderstandings.”
As the introductions began, Anna was able to learn the names of all of the different species in the group. The humans and dwarves had already been identified, although the dwarves began trying to explain the subtle differences of plain dwarves and mountain dwarves, which turned out to rely on the thickness of the hairs of one’s beard. Suffice to say, no one but the dwarves were able to discern the differences. Perhaps that would come with time.
The lizard people were called metatiles. They preferred the name, geckites, however. The gray-skinned orcs turned out to be called volcanic orcs. The other two species of orcs, not among the group, were shale orcs and marble orcs. It seemed that orc culture had a long history of rock obsession. To each their own I guess. The maybe-gnomes turned out to in fact be gnomes. Plus one to Helen! Finally, the purple-people turned out to be elves. Their ears actually had the slightest points, and apparently it was a touchy subject.
As the last person, a female gnome, woke up from her glazed look, a system message finally appeared.
System Alert:
Welcome to the Dharmic Dimension!
You have been placed in a group of Karmic denizens. You and your allies have all been given the same quests. These quests are designed to give you a crash course on Dharma, Karma, and your class selection.
New Quest:
Dharmic Crash Course:
Complete your personalized crash course.
Time Limit: 7:59:59
Reward: Begin the quest, ‘Karmic Crash Course.’
New Quest:
Karmic Crash Course:
Complete your personalized crash course.
Time Limit: 8:00:00 (Begins once you complete the quest, ‘Dharmic Crash Course.’
Reward: Begin the quest, ‘Class Selection Guide.’
New Quest:
Class Selection Guide:
Complete your personalized crash course.
Time Limit: 8:00:00 (Begins once you complete the quest, ‘Karmic Crash Course.’
Reward: At the completion of your crash course, you will be shown the path to get in touch with Arn Pand!