After closing my eyes and seeing the welcome message I opened his eyes, only to be greeted with a blankness, no feeling.... of anything? Mentally frowning I attempt to bring up a menu, I've never ventured into the actual game, or any VR game for that matter but I don't think this was how it was supposed to go. Spurred on by my attempt to bring up the menu the system responded.
Initializing, Please wait....
Would you like an automatic startup scenario based upon your personality. Deity will be preselected.
Note: (Biochips scanners can determine root motivations based upon brain activity recorded within the last year)
Yes No
Being completely lazy and ready to start creating his character I mash yes without a thought.
Caution
Choice cannot be reversed, would you like to continue?
Yes No
Seeing the prompt I immediately pressed yes. 'It's just a lip-service for roleplaying most likely, no point in wasting time.
Connecting to Bio-Chip
Connection Established
Caution
First full immersion dive flag set to true, Continue?
Yes No
'First dive? But I've effectively spent over a decade inside simulations. Sure the realism is toned down to allow for the much higher time dilation while still allowing the user and the server running it to not be burned out. Deciding it doesn't really matter I brush it off and click yes again.
Calibration routine enabled
The world began to revolve, flashing and twisting in my vision. The originally completely black background slowly morphed into what looked like a lounge, a large square table with rounded edges sat in the center of the room, a dark midnight blue table cloth accented in gold around the edges draped across it. Nearest to me was a comfortable looking office chair and across the table sat a sofa, large enough for three people to sit on. The details of the room slowly coming together as my sight sharpened. Hearing a rhythmic buzzing I look around the room. Seeing nothing to cause the sound I try to listen for the source, coming into focus far more quickly than his sight the buzz became a ticking.
Guessing calibration meant that the game was effectively connecting the chip to all of my senses I let out a sigh by habit, *haaa* startled at the sound of an actual sigh I realize I already have a body, 'when did that happen?'. Breathing in I smell the unique scent of lavender wafting in the room. It looks like I was steadily gaining all of my senses, 'guess the calibration explains why everything is coming into focus so slowly'. My breath caught as I felt searing pain across my entire body, his clothes felt like they were taking skin off, breathing felt like glass was cutting into his throat and chest.
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Error
Custom Bio-Chip detected.
Warning
Where Software and all affiliated parties are not held liable for any effects caused by the use of unapproved hardware and/or software. [section 15 subsection 4 paragraph 9]
Do you wish to continue with calibration?
Yes No
Still disoriented from the flash of pain I manage to look through the messages after a few minutes. Gaining my bearings I makes a mental note to let Eve and the rest of the team kmow about the issue, all the long-term members all had beta chips installed. Although not experimental they had the service development kit included the team needed to create and modify the chips functionality. Irritably I tried slamming the yes button, my body however made no move, since the calibration had yet to give me control of what I guessed was my avatar. Confused I looked down 'Why can't I move the body? I was perfectly able to sigh earlier, maybe unconscious commands are the only ones registered.' Making a note to ask one of the neuroscientists on the team since they should know. I sent a mental yes command as I did with the previous menus.
Calibration continuation confirmed.
Initial sequence failure...
Alternate sequence enabled. Please wait...
Starting to feel pinpricks of pain I started worrying if that brief flash might be repeated. Luckily it seemed the change in the sequence the system mentioned kept the possible pain to a minimum. It felt more like my entire body had fallen asleep instead of just an arm or a leg. After 45 grueling seconds of what seemed like laying in a bed of needles the sensation finally relented, sighing in relief I brought my hand up. Smiling in relief at my newfound freedom I started testing out my new body. It felt remarkably real, 'Only ever being in a watered-down version makes the contrast from them that much cooler'. Curious I started patting myself to see how accurate the sensation was, arms, check, legs, check, face, check, feet *tapping his toes on the ground* , check. Patting myself on the butt.
*AHEM*
Looking up I see an old man sitting on the sofa next to a couple of women, caught in an awkward position I try to just put my hands in my pockets. Sliding along the outside of the shorts I notice there aren't any pockets. “haha” laughing nervously I give up, knowing any chance I had of not looking like a complete weirdo was now completely gone. “umm, Hi?” I said.
The old man adjusted his old-fashioned suit. “Yes, hello. My name is Surak. Welcome to my humble abode.” the old man said, thankfully ignoring my earlier embarrassment. “You know, I thought for sure you'd be some hot chick with big boobs.” I said with a smirk. “ah, yes, well. Each drifter is matched up to a deity based upon their personality and preferences. Typically I don't have many drifters entering into my home, you are actually the first after the initial migration.” Surak said, completely ignoring my comment.
'Initial migration? The closed beta most likely'. “So who are you exactly?” I asked. Surak tilted his head slightly, “I am Surak” he said again. “hahaha, no, I mean I got sent to you for a reason, so why did I get sent here to see you out of any other possible god?” Iasked doing my best to hold in the chuckle threatening to escape. The old god straightened his back and looked me straight in the eyes “I am the Surak, the warrior god of protection and healing. Those champions in the world below bearing my name can boast of a constitution and vitality virtually unrivaled, for the protection of those they cherish they stand as an iron bulwark against the tides that threaten to consume the lands.”
Frowning, I remembered the notification about preselecting a god. Shrugging and decided to go with the flow since it was already too late “So what do we do now?” Motioning to his right the old man said “This is Marcel, she will be taking you to the adjacent room for you to pick a new persona for your travels as a drifter,” motioning to his left “and this is Alexa, she will help you customize your persona for the world as well as helping you choose your equipment, afterwards” motioning towards Mike “you will return here and be allowed to choose a blessing based upon your earlier decisions.”
Standing up I turn towards Marcel and said “Shall we?” Nodding she lead the way through a door on the right. Passing through the doorway I heard what sounded like whispers coming from the main room, all I could make out was 'pervert' and 'fondling himself'. With a partially red face I looked around the room, seeing it the same midnight blue everything else was with only a single glass display case near the center of the room I made my way towards it. Marcel took a spot beside the glass case, as I stood in front of the it and what looked like fog flooded the case, condensing into an identical version of me “Holy shit, that's pretty cool” I said, raising my arm as the doppleganger mimicked my action in a similar but not quite mirror-like fashion.
Marcel seeing the pink in my cheeks that was slowly receeding, smiled knowingly. Waving her hand, she opened up a screen with a long list. “These are all the possible races that you are allowed considering your guardian deity.” she said. Letting loose a whistle I asked “so there are more than these? There are nearly a hundred.” She nodded once and continued “Most races are available to all gods; However, any race whose nature is diametrically opposed to the guardian deity is blacklisted.”
Looking at the massive list of races I slowly push through the list. The ones that seem the most interesting are.......