Atop a volcano stood a winged figure coated in black metallic scales that covered its entire body all the way down to his long sleek tail. Two short silver horns extruded out of its head glimmering against the clouds of ash that filled the sky. Steel gray eyes watched Lava pour out from the mountain coating the landscape. The horizon was filled with similar erupting volcanoes creating a barren landscape where the lava pooled into the valleys, producing a never ending river flowing far into the distance.
*Ding*
Would you like to receive your inheritance?
"Yes" came a smooth smokey voice.
The world flashed bright white and the figure suddenly changed forms and locations.
Confused at what happened the man now found himself on a set of pearly white stairs leading up the side of a mountain. When he looked out at the view around him he saw a vast city below covering many acres. He then looked up the stairway which seemed like it continued up through the clouds and into the heavens.
He just noticed his body had changed back to that of real life.
*Ding *
Inheritance Accepted:
You were found as a baby in front of a Gathering of Unity Church. Not knowing your linage, they sent you to be raised in a church sponsored orphanage.
The orphanage even with the churches support, was falling on hard times. That was because of the war against the last barbarian king led to an increase in orphans. During that time even the priest running the orphanage had to leave to go to the front lines and soon after the church funds stopped coming.
He left an elderly lady in charge when he left but she ended up falling ill and died soon after. Nobody was left to lead the orphanage. In this time of need you stepped up and took charge.
Under your leadership you kept the orphanage running smoothly by gathering wild plants and creating a garden to provide food for all the hungry mouths. Soon the garden became a field and you began selling the excess to the local villagers. The profits you received from the crops, were then reinvested on upgrading the living facilities as well as paying for other children's apprenticeships or tuition for schooling.
When the war ended the priest returned surprised at all that occurred. A few years have passed since then now you have reached the age where it is time to leave the orphanage and chose if you want to enter into the service of the church with the recommendation of the priest or blaze your own trail.
Skill learned: Commanding Aura (passive) Novice lv. 1(0%) (Inherited from father)
Skill learned: Light of Life (active) Novice lv. 1(0%) (Inherited from mother)
Skill learned: Developmental ??? (1/3) (Inherited from mother)
"Show skills"
*Ding*
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Commanding Aura (passive)Novicelv. 10%You have the air of a leader about you. When you speak people will listen. It may not lead those who are stronger than you to follow but it may persuade some who are weaker than you into following your command.
Option: Increase damage or regeneration by .001% with each member following under your command. The bonus is applied to yourself and all those under your command.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Light of Life (active)Novicelv. 10%The light within you shines like the heavens. All things that are exposed to your light will feel its miracle.
Cost 300 Mana + 50 mana/sec to instacast a beam of light 3 inches in diameter that heals 250 hp/sec to allies, Increases growth rate of plants by 3% per second, and deals 500 points of damage/ sec to the undead.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:???Developmental(1/3)33%1) Inheritance (passed)
2)???
3)???
He was pleasantly surprised after being teleported here and changed back into his normal form with the inheritance he received. Now what to do the man thought when he felt force pulling him within himself to climb to the top of the stairs.
He began his assent and as he kept going up into the clouds he didn't experience the air thinning like he had expected. once he could see the end of the stairs he knew he was close to the summit. The closer he got the more he could see the top of a magnificent white cathedral that towered even higher into the clouds.
Once he reached the top of the stairs before him was a gigantic statue of a beautiful woman smiling down on him. Her face was radiating a loving warm while she was slightly bent over with open arms beckoning him to come into her embrace.
***
Abruptly the hatch to the game capsule was closed right after he got all of his body parts in. Darkness flooded Kevin's senses leaving him wondering if this was how it felt like being in a coffin.
*Ding*
Iris scan shows you are a new player. Initializing startup....
Kevin's vision was obscured by a bright flash which then faded to a completely white room. The room was totally empty except for a white desk with a dull looking man behind it.
"Welcome to Boundless Saga I will be your guide as we ... "
Kevin didn't hear a word because he hadn't yet taken notice of his surroundings. He was too busy staring down at his legs. I'm standing, I'm standing he thought while starting to walking around.
"Excuse me." Came a restrained voice as the guide was trying to get Kevin's attention while also staying professional.
Can I jog? He thought to himself , his body soon followed his mind and he was jogging . After a few seconds he heard a voice in his head say run Kevin run. Quickening his pace Kevin answered the voice by not just running but breaking out into a full on sprint. He never felt so free in all his life. Stopping only when he started to felt tired but he still refused to stop moving. He started spinning in circles with his arms held out, laughing while almost tearing up.
"EXCUSE ME SIR!" came a loud irritated voice that snapped him out of his trance.
Kevin was attempting to stop himself from spinning so he could investigate the source of the voice. Although the momentum carried causing one leg to get tangled up with the other.
*Bang*
The loud sound reverberated off the walls and rung in Kevin's ears as well. Needless to say he made quite the impact as his face hit the floor.
Taking a few seconds for everything to stop spinning he looked in the direction of the voice. Sitting at a seemingly normal looking white desk was a rather plain looking man with a smug look on his face. There was really nothing defining about him plain short hair, plain nose, average height. He was just another guy. The only thing that stood out was the black 1017 on the chest of his otherwise white jumpsuit.
"Sorry sir, it's just that this is the first time I have been able to use my legs in two years." Kevin said while rubbing his forehead. How childish must he have looked he thought while being slightly embarrassed
.
"Oh I see." said the man then looked down at the desk in front of him while trying to suppress his laughter . He started tapping on the top of it revealing the whole top of the desk was a touch screen computer. He brought up the specs on Kevin's body while nodding as if he finally understood.
"Well once again welcome to Boundless Saga, Shall We begin" the guide asked in a seemingly slightly better mood.
Kevin eagerly nodded to the man's question.
"Alright first off what would you like your User name to be?"
"Um.... " Kevin mumbled while trying to think of a name. It has to be something that is meaningful he decided.
"Jace" Kevin stated with a look of determination
"I am sorry that name is already taken. I can suggest a few names similar that are currently available if you want?" he replied after going to work hitting a few buttons on the desk.
Shaking his head, Kevin went back to the drawing board. What if..
"Muffins" he blurted out abruptly without giving any time to finish his thought.
The dull man gave him a questioning look while continuing to hit his desk a few more times.
"That name is available, but are you really sure you want to be named after a breakfast item?"
Kevin only nodded in reply while wearing a distant look on his face. The guide went back to tapping away at his desk finalizing the name not really caring what it was.
"Now moving on to your race." he said once again hitting the desktop a few more times before pushed his hand across its surface towards Kevin. From the desk a blue window seemed to fly through the air until it appeared before him.
*ding*
Would you like to start racial customization?
"yes"
*ding*
Another blue box popped up listing the 6 races available in front of him. As he viewed each of the various races a projection appeared beside him showing him what they looked like.
(Sorry,I decided to spend my time writing instead of creating a whole new table.)
"Uh, can you tell me more about these races I was just kind of forced in here." said Kevin without taking his eyes off the blue box before him.
"Forced ? How much about Boundless Saga do you know?"
"Nothing, other than its virtual reality." Kevin replied nonchalantly.
Feeling irritated the guide asked with a serious face, " Have you ever played an mmorpg?"
"I was more of the outdoors type" he said once again like it didn't matter.
The guide gave up on asking knowing full well that if he asked any other questions he would just get even more irritated with this newb. He didn't want to say something stupid that might compromise his job because he rather liked the perk of getting free subscriptions. That reminded him he needed to quickly finish this so he could play himself.
"So, What are the differences between them?" Kevin asked indifferently.
"Alright my shift is almost up, I will probably only have a few more people to go. I'll only give him the quick overview of everything" the guide mumbled under his breath.
"Well the only races currently available are all human based. The first two on the list before you are the only completely human sub races barbarians and nobles.
The nobles are the controlling race of the human kingdoms. They are average in every stat category and have the ability to use magic. Their magic capabilities are average compared to all other undiscovered races. While the barbarians are just like you and me, they have no magic capability but have increased physical gain. A mix between Nobles and barbarians is considered a barbarian. This is because they mysteriously don't receive any magical capabilities from the nobles while gaining only half the physical gain of a barbarian.
The rest of the races are half human races. You can select the human half to be either barbarian or noble . If you choose a barbarian it will increase your physical gain but completely erase your magical abilities. While Nobles provide an average base along with their average magical capabilities.
By selecting half elves you will be limited to one decision. The only type of elves that humans have made contact with humans so far has been lost elves. Lost elves are elves who have been exiled from their homelands. Before they were cast out they had their memories erased, along with half of their magical capabilities taken away. This makes their magical capabilities lower than that of a noble. If you choose a half lost elf the elf part of you will be a chosen at random from all the eleven races. Keep in mind most elves will generally have higher agility and dexterity but lower strength.
After the elves you will see half dwarves. There are two kinds of half dwarves available, mountain dwarves and tinker dwarves. Mountain dwarves are the ones you would be most familiar with living in mountains, blacksmithing, and mining. Tinker dwarves however are smaller and physically weaker compared to the mountain dwarves but are known for their intricate and detailed craftsmanship. They have high dexterity and can pick up any trade quickly.
The multiple beast races have the ability to transform from a full beast mode to partial beast form to humanoid forms. Unfortunately as a half beast you are always stuck in-between the two races. If you choose a half beast you will get to choose three characteristics to add to that of your human of choice and be warned they will always show. Choose wisely because those choices will also affect your abilities. So, if you choose beast ears you will have increased hearing, a beast nose increased smell, so on and so forth. The only half beasts available right now are dogs and rabbits.
Lastly there is the random race, if you choose select this option you will receive a race at random. It will be chosen from the pool of undiscovered races and you will start in that races domain. Be warned some races are very powerful while others lousy , once you choose to go random you won't be able to back .
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The choice of going random would be beneficial because there are four human kingdoms in the whole world of Liren and it encompasses less than one percent of the rest of the unexplored land. Humans are considered a weak and unimportant race within the whole grand scheme of things, but that's what interesting about starting as them. You have the ability to actively change by yourself while making a great impact and becoming a legendary figure for all to come.
As we go on more races will be unlocked by quests in game. Many of those quest will need to be completed by players who chose random because they will be the first player of that race. You will be allowed to change race only once if you so choose. Although doing so causes you to lose everything and you have to start back at square one." The guide finished speaking out of breath which made him realize he gave more information than he originally intended to. Damn, all those training videos he watched to learn everything he could on Boundless Saga before its release.
"You said barbarians are the closest to reality?" said Kevin while seemingly discarding the rest of the information because of his nearly emotionless face.
"Yeah ... " cursed the guide while thinking if Kevin had just asked that first he wouldn't have needed to explain everything else.
"Alright, I'll be a barbarian then. Oh and how close is the game to reality?" He said nonchalantly.
"You really don't know anything do you? Well its 98 percent real." Growled the guide. "Where does this kid live under a rock?" he thought furiously.
"Even pain?" Kevin said questioningly.
"No, pain is only set to 20 percent of real life."
"So, your saying the game is only twenty percent real?" he asked confused.
"No its 98 percent real, like I just said were you even listening!" The guide face contorted in anger but his voice was still collected but its tone was that of seething rage.
"wait sorry, then its only 19.6 percent real. " came the tepid reply.
"LIKE I SAID ITS 98 PERCENT REAL AND 20 PERCENT REAL PAIN! " Roared the guide finally all of his emotions burst forth. His face was beat red while his body was shaking.
"How can you divide pain from reality they are both the same. Pain is a part of reality. With a part of reality missing how can it truly be 98 percent real" Kevin asked while tilting his head and without showing any emotion.
"Ugh, I see your point but your wrong. You will see what I mean when you go into the world." the guide said in a deflated voice. He was giving up on this hopeless child. What are they teaching kids these days? he thought.
"Can you change my pain meter to 98 percent real?"
"wha...uh...No we can't do that it has a possibility of causing mental trauma not to mention if the game gets too close to reality then you won't be able to tell the two apart. "
"I can walk and feel my lower body in one world where as I can't even feel my lower body in the other I don't think I will have a problem telling the difference between the two."
".... "
"Oh I have another request can you make my body the same as it is in real life. Well without the damage to my spine preferably. "
"Wait now you're saying you don't want to be able to walk? But you just running around like a child earlier almost crying." how outrageous can he get the guide thought.
"Right, I don't want to be able to walk right away. I was given my original legs but then I ended up wasting them. I took having working legs along with everything else in life for granted. I just accepted it all like there was no way I would ever lose any of it. That wasn't true, you can lose anything in life at a moment's notice. I want to work for these legs. To earn them." he said resolutely.
".... You know that will.."
"Don't care" Kevin interrupted while revealing a look of a man who was stranded in the dessert for a month at an all you can eat buffet.
"Alright ill contact HQ and ask." he said after he saw the look he received from the pair of piercing blue eyes. He started punching a bunch of buttons on his desk. After a while, a soft ring tone could be heard throughout the room. Once the other side answered he quickly explained the situation. Hurry up, say no and get this over with! I'm sick of this crazy kid thought the impatient guide.
The next second he heard loud laughing voice over the line granting permission to both requests. The guides jaw dropped dumbfounded. He slowly sunk down in his chair while blankly looking into the distance.
Kevin smirked assuming he knew the answer by the guides reaction. Then he waited patiently until the guide fully processed the information.
"Umm, alright they accepted both claims you just have to sign this waiver form for the increased pain meter and temporary disability," He said after hitting a bunch of buttons and moving his arm across the desk once again sending the document to Kevin.
*ding *
A blue waiver form appeared before him. Kevin smiled as he sign away on the piece of paper.
"oh, a could you perhaps not take away my legs until the game begins?"
"Hahaha what happened to that speech earlier" asked the guide. Everything was just becoming so crazy all he could do was laugh while accepting it,
"Well I just want to savor the moment." he said timidly because part of him really didn't want to part with that feeling of freedom. Although it was something he had to do. Something he needed to do.
"Your body doesn't change until you leave this space anyways so you won't have to worry for now. Alright we will move on to your appearance. The hologram before you is what the AI has come up for you as a recommendation on being a barbarian." said while trying to just get things moving once again.
Before Kevin stood a bare-chested ripped version of himself with longer messier blonde hair. He still had the piercing blue eyes but something was done to his face to make him look more handsome. He couldn't quite tell what it was but he knew he didn't like it. The person before him just gave off the wrong vibe.
"Um, I want to look exactly like myself."
The hologram then changed to a more familiar image. Although it was the first time seeing himself while standing up in two years, it looked he had grown an inch or two.
"Uh, why am I so tan?"
"oh, it's a radical trait you can change the shades slightly but it can't be changed if you wanted to be as white as your real self is you would have to be a noble. "
" That makes sense. Could you make me as light as possible also give me a scar like this on the left side of my face" he said. His finger started above his eyebrow and continued all the way down to his jaw. Another scar appeared on hologram and the coconut brown skin changed to olive.
"Yeah, that's right. Everything looks good to me" He said wile sporting a satisfied look.
"Normally this is the point where I ask you if you want to take the tutorial but since your requests haven't been fully integrated. I'll answer any questions you have until its ready which I'm sure you have since you haven't a clue about boundless saga or the gaming world." The guide said unenthusiastically after he tapping the desk a few more times to finalize his appearance.
"Um, could you just give me a quick overview?" Said Kevin like it was something simple.
"Okay, but most of this will be gone over in the tutorial. First off, your level is determined not by experience points but by stat points. Stat points are measurements of each individual statistic that makes up you characters attributes. Every 5 stat points is a level and every race starts off at level 1 with the base number of 90 stat points. Well everyone except for you that is."
"Huh, what do you mean?" Kevin replied completely confused and worried.
"What did you think would happen if you asked to lose all strength in you lower body? Your strength will be cut along with every other stat associated with your lower body like agility. Anyways once you get in game say show status and you will see what I'm saying." The Guide said shaking his head once again.
"A necessary sacrifice, but how do I get those stat points back?"
"Training of course. What were you thinking throwing away your legs without even knowing how to get them back. I advise you to raise their strength as soon as possible."
"..." Instead of replying to the guide Kevin was lost in thought. Strength training is something I rather enjoy. It's been such a long time I can't wait to get started he said to himself. while his mood visibly brightened.
"So continuing once you get in the game you will receive a message asking if you want to accept your inheritance?"
"Huh inheritance?"
"Yeah, when each player joins the AI automatically creates a back story for your character's life. It goes pretty in depth which adds a greater sense of belonging within the world of Liren. Your inheritance includes three skills that you automatically receive from your parents. Just like in the real world we are taught or gain abilities from our parents and that is what happens here too.
Of the three skills you gain one is a passive skill, another is an active skill, and the last is a random skill. Some skills can only be learned by inheriting them through the random skill which adds a bit of flavor to character builds. The skills will all start at novice although sometimes the random skill starts at the developmental stage.
Now you don't have to accept your inheritance. Your story will just start from the present with no back story but hey who wouldn't want three free skills."
"Hmm Interesting what were you saying about novice and developmental?"
"In the ranks of the skills, novice is the lowest ranking and each rank goes up with each ten skill levels from there. Well consult the guide for more on the rankings.
Developmental is different though it means your currently learning the skill. Each skill has 3 developmental stages that you have to accomplish before learning the skill.
There are three ways to learn a skill. First is you can just stumble upon skills. This way you won't know the skill or the developmental stages needed to achieve that skill, until you have completed the developmental phase. Second is to Read a book that describes each of the developmental stages you need to complete to earn a skill. Lastly is to be told about or instructed by somebody else through each of the stages until you develop the skill."
The guide took a second to catch his breath while looking to see if Kevin understands while he just nods.
"Now I almost forgot once you get your inheritance say show skills to be able to view them. Well its finally time to say goodbye. HQ just said everything is set and I need to guide more players.
Well it's time for you to choose if you would like to go through the tutorial. I have told you mostly everything you need to know other than what happens when you die and how quests work. You can read all about that in the guide book and many other things you desperately need to know." Said the guide as he was tapping his desk as usual.
*Ding*
Would you like to enter the Tutorial?
"I'll skip the tutorial." Kevin said while thinking that his first goal should be strength training so that he could get his legs back. he can just read the guide book later when he is done playing. Wait I don't know how to log out he just realized.
"Muffins the barbarian what a ferocious name" was the last thing Kevin heard right before he felt like he was falling.
***
"...a 16 year old faced with those situations wouldn't know how else to act other than to self destruct. I'm not saying that it gives him the right to act as he did ..."
"Sir......Excuse me sir, we have a problem!"
"What happened" Mr. Lindo said expecting a major problem otherwise Elle would have dealt with it toughly.
"Sir, Elle has overwritten a player's choice of race and appearance after they started game play while also completely altering a significant amount of lore."
"Elle" said David sternly while knowing she would have a reason.
"Yes, Mr. Lindo" Responded the AI in a
"What happened" He said while sounding like a father preparing to scold a child.
"A spark of inspiration." The AI responded with a proud voice.
A 70in flat screen TV ,behind where a distraught Aubrey was sitting came to life. It showed a picture of Lear on his knees bawling in front of a statue of a beautiful woman."
David felt his cheeks becoming moist while tears slowly started streaming down his face.
"Arielle" said Aubrey as she had her hand in front of her mouth and was tearing up as well.
"Yes she is now Arielle the Goddess of love, beauty, and harvest. Her personality is based off of what I have in my data banks from when she was creating me. It is only a single part of her but ...
"Thank you... my wife...you brought her back to us..."
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Thanks for taking the time to read my story so far. I recently realized that what I have planned so far for future chapters is lacking side characters.
So I invite you to send me a personal message with your own character. Please provide a name, race, personality, and inheritance. Feel free to go as crazy as you would like with race and personality or you could stick to the classic fantasy themes. I'm down for any suggestions.
If I decide to add your character to a future chapter we can work together to further develop the character. Of course I'll give credit where credit is due. So when a character makes its debut I will give make mention and give credit to the wonderful reader that came up with the character.
Thanks again and can't wait to hear your ideas.