image [https://imgur.com/hMGkFmF.png]
The Greeter, Luka, felt the hairs on his arms stand up. The air grew tense and heavy, and then the stone platform shimmered, and a young woman was standing there. Wearing a very simple white robe, the default garment of all arriving Chosen. She glanced around, eyes wide, before she spotted Luka. She was fairly average looking to Luka but had a gentle sweetness of the face that he immediately liked. He smiled and approached her.
“Hello Chosen. First, know that you are safe. You will have many questions, but I am here to make your introduction to The Continent a pleasant one.”
Luka wore thick ancient armor, an arming sword at his side, and held himself at the ready. Luka had met many Chosen before. They would become Heroes that shook The Continent, or they would die. He found that a calm and immediate introduction triggered social instincts that stopped them from lashing out or acting in a self-destructive manner. Inwardly he felt removed from the interaction. He had no desire to care about what happened to them after his job was done.
The girl blinked at Luka, her face relaxing, and a warm and trusting smile came onto it.
“Oh! Hello! I’m Samantha!”
Samantha looked around at the stone platform, the deep blue sky, and the ancient grove that surrounded them.
“Wow?! This isn’t a trick? I’m actually in a different world? And here I’m going to be a… hero?”
Samantha’s eyes were wide and almost shimmering with wonder and excitement. Luka smiled calmly back at Samantha.
“Hello Samantha, I am Luka. I shall be your guide, for a short time. And you are indeed chosen to be a Hero in this world.”
Luka paused.
“I am a bit surprised at how calm you are. There is usually a much lengthier period of disbelief and even shock when Chosen arrive.”
Samantha was clearly thrilled and soaking in the world around her. To Luka she felt like a child. Luka’s stomach sank, and he hardened his heart. Samantha’s smile grew.
“The book I found in that antique store told me that if I said the right words I would become a hero in a war of Good and Evil! That I could get powers and go on adventurers and maybe even help save the world!”
Luka nodded. “Yes. This world has been made as a staging ground of True Evil vs True Good. Good shall prevail, but only with the continuous effort of the pure of heart. If you found the book it is because you believe that you can change the world, and here is the best place for such an effort.”
For the first time a focused look came onto Samantha’s face.
“I do. I truly do. Thank you for believing in me Luka. Not many back home did.”
In spite of himself Luka felt a small crack form in his emotional armor. Samantha was so eager, so trusting. Luka couldn’t do much, but he felt an urge to help beyond what he normally allowed.
“Samantha. This world is… dangerous. If you feel that you cannot overcome an enemy, please retreat. The greater your opponent, the stronger they are, the greater the power you shall inherit from their death. It is easy for many to see this world as a game, of sorts. But death here is still a true death. It is better to grow strong slowly, lest your path be cut short. Many heroes do not take the stakes seriously.”
Samantha nodded, eyes still bright.
“I understand Luka! I truly believe that I’ll make a difference here, that I’ll make the world better! For everyone!” She pumped her fist into the air as she said the last part.
Luka let out a slow sigh. “Y… yes Samantha. You will. Let me lead you to town, and get you situated.”
The town was only a short walk away, and the day was beautiful, so Luka refrained from using any of his abilities to get them there faster. He wanted Samantha to see some of the beauty of this world, while she could. They walked in silence for a bit, as Samantha looked around, mouth slightly open. He noticed her look at him, and then slowly reach out a hand before pausing.
“Your armor, it’s beautiful. It looks so weightless and perfect on you! The book said this world has magic in it… is your armor magical?”
Luka slowly nodded. “Yes. It protects me from most physical and magical blows. All Greeters get such armor. It allows us to help the Chosen that arrive.”
Samantha let out a slow “Oooh”.
“Wow, I bet it stops fire, and poison, and bugs, and is it also cool to wear even in the heat?”
Luka couldn’t help himself, he chuckled.
“Well, there are limits to what this level of armor can do, but it is a bit cooler in the heat than it should be, yes.”
Samantha smiled. “Will I get some armor? I think that could really help me if the world is as dangerous as you say it is!”
Her smile wrinkled the bridge of her nose a bit, and small freckles dotted across her cheeks. Luka felt much older than his thirty eight years. He felt tired. He forced a smile onto his face.
“Samantha, we will outfit you with some basic leather armor, and give you a few enemies to combat. At level five you will be escorted to a staging ground that will allow all the newly arrived Chosen to meet one another. There will be a contest, and then past that you will be given the freedom to roam the land and fight against Evil, as best fits you.”
Samantha blinked at him, a look of confusion on her face. “Level five? Like a video game? This isn’t some kind of virtual world thing right?”
Luka shook his head. “The more recent Chosen do talk about such concepts, but no, this has been the way of it for thousands of years. It seems that some of our concepts have bled into your world. Through dreams and imagination much of what happens here ends up in the psyche of your reality.”
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Samantha looked gobsmacked. “Wow. That’s so cool. Did the idea for The Sims come from this world? Wait. No. That’s probably home grown...”
Luka allowed his mind to drift. He tuned out most of what the Chosen said about where they came from, as there was no way to get to the worlds of the Chosen. Their concepts and technology were limited here, and he had long since grown uninterested in what would never apply. Occasionally a Chosen would attempt to introduce some kind of advanced weapon or cultural movement. The world itself was aggressive in weeding out such foreign ideas.
The low stone wall of the Town came into view. It was quaint, purposefully so. It had been designed to be approachable and non threatening. Gentle ivy grew up over the walls in places, small blue flowers peeking out from between the leaves. The clay tiled roofs of the houses were easily visible over the top of the wall, and gentle white smoke drifted up from chimneys into the sky. The houses were all white washed and gleamed in the sun, accented by artful filigree and delicate carvings.
Some new Chosen would stay here for a few weeks, but it was a permanent residence for none of them. Even the villagers in this town were selected for their affable nature and approachability, and it was a rare and deeply valued honor to get to live in a Starter Town. Chosen had access to abilities nobody born of this world could attain, and grew at prodigious rates, so it was important to get them into the right mindset before their “adventure” began.
Samantha let out a small sound of delight as she saw the town. “Wow!! It’s so cute!!”
She sped up in her approach, and Luka followed. There was no guard at the wall, simply an open archway. The archway itself was carved with tiny reliefs of Heroes of past ages battling against fierce monsters, but in a way that showed clearly the heroes would win. Although this town was not a true town in many ways, neither was it false. This town had been here long enough that any ancient rotting map would contain it, and likely all future maps would as well. Samantha looked all around as she entered, smiling, exclaiming, delighting. “Oh just like a movie! Oh my goodness the homes all have little flower boxes under the windows? And is that a unicorn??”
Samantha hurried over to a stable and began to stroke the muzzle of a horned horse, that was indeed a unicorn foal. Luka let out a low sigh. The town was working its charm, even if it was a bit unsubtle.
“If you’d like, Samantha, you can go straight to the inn and get something to eat. You can rest, and we can begin some light training tomorrow.” Most Chosen were tired and overwhelmed by this point, and a comfortable bed and good food easily won them over.
Samantha quickly shook her head. “No way! I want to try being a hero! I want to get some cool magical skills and everything like that!”
Luka nodded. “Very well. I had something prepared. Your first level will be easily achievable.”
They walked to the Town Center. In the middle was a simple pit. The pit was made of black stone with black hammered iron rings studding the lip, and it contrasted sharply with the surrounding gentleness of the town. In the middle of the pit a Razortooth Lizard was bound with thick hemp cords. It hissed slowly, baking in the sun. Samantha peered into the pit, eyes wide.
“Oh no. That poor lizard…” She looked up at Luka, lips trembling slightly. “Is that animal really evil? Do I have to…” She did not finish the sentence. Luka nodded.
“It has been corrupted by malignant forces. It will hunt and kill all it can find, as it cannot be sated.” Dark drool spilled onto the ground from the lizard's gaping maw. “The Evil of this world can grant great power, but with that power comes a desire to destroy. Once a living being has fully converted over there is no bringing them back. Death is merciful.”
Samantha looked down at it again, her eyes clearly filling with tears. “Right. Being a hero is going to be hard, huh.”
“Yes. It shall.” He handed Samantha a long simple spear of fire hardened wood. “As you battle against an opponent your beings shall become tied by fate. When they die, the energy they have accumulated in their life will become yours. The greater the battle, the more intense the connection, the more energy you shall absorb. If you yourself come close to death, that connection will be even further strengthened.”
Luka gestured to the lizard. “In this case the enemy is not very strong, and you are in no danger. You will gain only a small fraction of their energy, but it will be enough to reach your first level.”
Samantha slowly took the spear in hands that trembled slightly. She poked it slowly down into the pit, holding the tip against the back of the lizard. It shivered and tried to pull away, but was too tightly constrained.
Luka heard her whisper the words “I’m sorry”, and then she pushed the spear down. The lizard thrashed. Sand and blood sprayed into the air as high-pitched screams erupted. Samantha held the spear in, and after several minutes the lizard stopped moving. Luka saw that tears dripped down Samantha’s face.
“You did very well. How do you feel?” Luka’s voice was soft. This first step was hard for many.
Samantha hiccuped a bit, and wiped at her eyes with her hands. “I… I got the level. It says I have two unspent points?”
Luka nodded. “Good. As a Chosen you will get two points where as someone born to this world will only get one. Additionally the skills you will receive will be much more powerful. You should receive a skill sometime later today, or tomorrow. Right now you should feel a tingle in the forefront of your mind. Try to focus on that.”
Samantha’s face once again scrunched up, and after a few long seconds she gasped. “Writing is forming! It’s made of flowing silver letters!”. Luka nodded.
[Chosen]
[Level 1 Classless]
[Ability points: 2]
[Physical:0]
[Magical:0]
[Mental:0]
[Darkness:0]
[Light:0]
[Charisma:0]
[Luck:0]
Samantha frowned. “Uhh… I have a zero in everything. Does that mean I am like… very dumb and very weak? Oh no.”
Luka shook his head. “All people that arrive in this world start at zero. Think of the points you allot as an enhancement to who you already are. Once you have ten or more stat points in any one area you will have pushed far past what any from your world could achieve.”
Samantha traced the shimmering letters with a finger. “What do they do? If I put all my points into “Magical” can I like, shoot lightning from my fingers? Or like, with “Physical”, would I be immune to damage?”
Luka smiled. “Unfortunately no. They will increase your skill level with the associated abilities. You will get faster and stronger, immensely so, but an arrow into the eye will still end the life of even high leveled heroes. Items, such as a magical helmet, will be what you rely on to stay safe.”
Samantha looked up at Luka, her eyes wide. “What level are you? Can you like, jump over a building?”
“As a rule most are guarded about their exact skills and levels, and will not disclose such things… however as a Greeter I am happy to oblige. I am currently level thirty two. My skills are very oriented around keeping others safe, and helping get people where they need to be. As a native to this world I am not as strong as a Chosen would be at my level, but I am capable enough.”
Samantha’s eyes grew even wider. “Wow… level thirty two! Wait! I want to see something!” She bent down, and her fingers scrabbled at something in the dirt.
“What are you-” Samantha picked up a stone, and then without warning tossed it at Luka’s face. It pinged off a transparent membrane directly in front of his nose and Luka backed up in surprise. “WHAT!!” Some of the dust settled into his eyes and he rubbed at them angrily. “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING??”
Samantha blushed and waved her hands. “Oh no! Oh I’m so sorry! I thought you’d catch it or it’d break or something! You’re just at such a high level I wanted to see what would happen!”
Luka glared at the young woman. “No. Do not do that. Never Do that.”
He felt the anger dissipating as he looked at her sad and worried face, and let out a slow sigh. “Ah. Well. The armor does protect against any small “attack” like that, so no harm done.”
He glared at her a bit longer, to make sure she got the message. “BUT if I had NOT been wearing the armor, then that WOULD have hurt. Understood?”
Samantha nodded eagerly and apologetically. “Yes! I’m sorry! Um. Okay, I’ll put my points in now!”
Luka nodded. “The best place to put your points, for a beginner, is into the physical attribute.”
Samantha had swiped her hand through the air. It looked a bit like she swiped across two rows, but Luka figured she had simply missed with the first swipe.
Samantha sighed with delight. “Wow. This world really is so cool. I cannot WAIT to get my first skill!” She looked around herself, seeming to just bask in the scenery and town. A few townsfolk were idly watching as they went about their day, one would occasionally wave a greeting or smile as they passed by. Samantha in turn would brightly respond, her sadness from killing the Razortooth lizard entirely forgotten.
Luka also allowed himself to relax in the gentle warmth of the afternoon. Starter towns had powerful magics that positively influenced the weather and even the natural flow of the body. It was very hard to feel unhappy in such a blessed place.
Samantha looked over at Luka, a puzzled look coming onto her face. “Luka, the book said that the “Luck” and “Charisma” stat could affect the world around you, whereas the other stats affect you directly. What does that mean?”
Luka nodded. “Luck… can be a useful stat. Events can occur that otherwise would not, treasures can be found, and allies COULD be there when you need them. Sometimes. It is not something you can rely on. It is finicky and when you need it most it will often not be there for you. Most treat it like a luxury, a stat that you can put additional points into once you feel like you have taken care of the necessities. The same is true with Charisma. People will find you more engaging and your insight into social cues will deepen. Nobility are some of the few that invest in it, and at the higher levels it can make their words and actions carry immense weight. But please remember that stats like Luck and Charisma will do nothing to help save you from an animated skeleton or any other being of evil you may meet.”
Samantha nodded earnestly, eyes very wide. “Makes sense!”. Her tone sounded like she didn’t quite understand.
Luka sighed. He really would have to look after this one more than usual. “Okay. Let’s get you situated at the inn, Samantha.”