5
So far, I had no direction beyond “Do quests”, no idea of the rules, and no supplies. Ridiculous. Impossible. But, here we were. My mind parsed through what little information I’d been given before I was isekai’d, and I recalled that bitch Atricia had said that we could select a class after our first encounter, and my eyes returned to the little plus sign in the bottom right corner of my player icon. That had to be the level-up indicator. I focused my attention on it. It was time for character creation. As I honed in on the icon, a new panel popped up, but before I could examine it, yet another disembodied voice spoke in my ear. Or at least I think it was my ear - I felt the words as much as heard them. The voice was cool and female, friendly and calm. It didn’t sound stilted or artificial. It was a bit like the voice of a kind stranger from a call centre who was about to put me on hold.
Greetings Luck, do you require the assistance of an advisor?
“Woah, shit!” I exclaimed looking around. “You guys keep doing this invisible voice shit. It’s… startling,” I said. “Where I come from we don’t do telepathy, or whatever the hell this is. At least not yet. And uh...hi.” I paused to sigh as I adapted to more of this crazy shit. “I’m gonna guess that using an advisor is probably better than not, huh?”
Yes. History indicates that reliable advisors are a valuable asset to those pursuing power, or seeking to keep it.
“Would that be your history or mine?” I asked, fishing for information about this ‘Planet of Official Origin.’
Both. Would you like to make use of my advisory capabilities?
“Uh…I think so, but one more question: are you an AI, or like a magic thing? A real, living person, maybe? Like a highly credible phone-in psychic beaming thoughts into my head…?”
I’m sorry, but that information is not relevant. Please rest assured that I have your best interests at heart, and will do my utmost to provide information and advice that will increase the chances of your success. It’s my hope that, should you choose to accept my assistance, we will be a formidable team, Luck.
I thought it over. Why was its identity classified? Maybe to throw me off? I guessed that an AI could observe me and report to whoever was overseeing the players, but if a person was observing me, that was another story altogether. That was observance and judgement; human judgement. People can’t help but judge the world through their own lens. If I had some religious nut watching over me who was obsessed with this “Origin” bullshit, that would saturate their personality and absolutely affect the kind of advice and information I would get. Blurry man had said the Church of the Origin didn’t even consider me human. I didn’t know what that was, but it had sounded like it played an important role in whatever society or culture produced this madness. That was a chilling thought. On the other hand, if the voice were an AI, it would likely be more neutral and pragmatic. I hoped. Christ, I thought, I would actually prefer a god-damned robot. I wasn’t sure what that said about me.
“Why can’t you tell me? It doesn’t make any sense to withhold that information, does it?” I asked, my brows furrowed.
“It is a matter of legal and proprietary issues. The status and nature of individual Advisors is considered a trade secret among sponsors. Some use custom AI’s, others use Human advisors, others a combination of the two. This adds a strategic element to the game which allows sponsors to participate, if indirectly, in game events and quests. Each sponsor is permitted to use a custom set of support systems, including an advisor, which of course must meet certain rules requirements. I play one role in that system of support. Also, your ability to speak directly to an audience in the millions presents a certain risk to the integrity of your sponsor and the identity of your advisor. The showrunners prefer to avoid interrupting the drama with unnecessary censorship, and in order to protect your sponsor’s interests it would be necessary to filter out discussions that could reveal your advisor’s identity. In order to protect the interests of your sponsor, I am not permitted to provide details beyond that. As I stated earlier, my identity is ultimately irrelevant, as my only goal is to help you win. If you and I win, your sponsor wins.”
I was silent, mulling it over. If our goals really were aligned, then that was a good thing. Provided it stayed that way. If my sponsor had money in the game, then I could at least rely on greed to motivate them to keep me alive. Unless they’d make more money if I died, I thought. Fuck. Well, I could choose to be cautious or suspicious here and go it alone, but I already knew the people behind this, and the viewers, could listen to or watch me whenever they wanted. Regardless of just whose eyes were on me, information was a survival tool. I needed all the advice I could get if this game was anything like I thought it was going to be. I would just have to be careful how much I trusted this “advisor”.
“Alright, your help sounds a lot more promising than stumbling my way through this blindly,” I said in a bland tone. “I accept your offer, though I’m not sure I really have a choice. Anyway, do you have a name I can use? Or like, a designation or something?”
“Your sponsor has given me the codename Sage. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Luck. Note that while I am perfectly capable of physical speech, you can also communicate with me internally.”
That was both disconcerting and terribly convenient. I tried it out. "Like this?" I intended the words, as though speaking in my inner monologue, just kind of…louder.
Yes, the voice said warmly. I can understand you just fine. I see that you have several choices to make concerning character creation and levelling up. Are you prepared to undergo the levelling up and class selection process? I can offer suggestions based on your current statistics and game performance, known playstyle, or we can discuss a build you have in mind and work to develop it.
“A build, huh? Are you a gamer too, Sage?”
I have access to an extensive database of earth’s entertainment, including games you’ve played regularly. I even have access to character choices, playstyle and previous builds you used frequently. This information was collected when determining your candidacy.
That’s both super-convenient and absolutely creepy, I thought. What else did they know about me? Anyway, It tracked with the dystopian techno-criminals running this show. I tried not to think about it. “Okay Sage, let’s check my stats and then we’ll review class selection.” This, at least, might be kind of fun. A little daunting, considering the potential consequences of a bad choice, but who doesn’t like character creation? Every good D&D campaign started with a character building session zero. I guess every nightmare campaign did too. I looked around, scanning for anything that might be goblin-like. “Before we start this, Sage, am I safe here? I just fought a fucking goblin, and I suspect they don’t travel alone. I’d hate to get myself perished before I finish choosing my class.”
It’s interesting that you use profanity even in your mind, Luck. I believe you’re safe. I don’t detect any hostile creatures in the immediate area. I’ll warn you if something approaches. Class selection has benefits that will contribute to your continued survival, so I recommend doing so at your earliest convenience.
“Okay then, let’s do this” I said, grinning at her profanity comment. “As for swearing, I worked in a factory for years. Not a sentence was uttered that did not include ‘fuck’ or ‘shit’ or ‘god-damnit.’ The habit dies hard. Better get used to it.”
Noted, she said neutrally. Let’s pull up your statistics. These will be the stats determined by your current physical and mental capabilities, as well as any specialised knowledge and experiences of note you possess. Average scores are 9-11, consider anything above that to be notable. You should be familiar with this type of statistical arrangement, but know that the game considers skill acquisition an emergent process. You’ll be awarded skills based on in-game performance. Classes come with their own skills, but there are a wide variety of skills that can be acquired regardless of class, including gathering, crafting and performance skills.
“Alright, I think I’ve got it. Let’s see my stats.” A panel appeared showing my level, class, and race, which was listed as “Unproven.” That was a bit ominous. There was also a Status section which Sage said would display active buffs, debuffs, and passive skills” The “Unproven” racial designation was eery, but I guessed that tracked with what the silky god-voice had said. I focused on my base stats, which were listed as:
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 7
Intelligence: 12
Charisma: 7
“Shit,” I said, looking at the top set of stats. “A seven in charisma? Really?” I asked, mildly outraged. “I played guitar and sang in a god-damned band for almost ten years!”
My analysis indicates that your Charisma score is accurate.
“Oof,” I said. That hurt.
If it’s any comfort, your charisma stat is reflective of a multitude of factors, including socialisation and status.
“No, that is not comforting in the least. Thank you, Sage” I shot back sarcastically. I was unimpressed, but I guess it kinda figured. I had been a near-recluse for the past few years. “The other stats mostly make sense, though the crappy constitution sucks. And before you start, yes I know I am underfed and out of shape. I’m great at taking care of a kid, but I’m terrible at taking care of myself. That’s something I’m going to have to change,”
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
There were three stats set slightly below the others, labelled “Emergent Statistics” that Sage said would be reflected by game performance. They read:
Wisdom: O
Luck: 2
Cunning: 2
I supposed I had gained the small bonuses as a result of my fight with the goblin, since I hadn’t had much of a chance to do anything else. Sage continued with her analysis. Your score of thirteen in dexterity is notable. That will be beneficial should you select a rogue, monk, or one of a few dexterity-based fighter classes. Your twelve in intelligence, while average, is still a viable starting point for magic-based classes. Please note that classes are fluid and these initial classifications are only starting points. You’ll also have the opportunity for specialisations that award specific class bonuses and unlock new skills later on in your journey.
“So, I can multiclass?” I asked curiously. I rarely played a straight class if I could help it, I liked diversity, though I wasn’t aiming for a utility or support class here. I needed to be dangerous all on my own.
She continued on in her calm, friendly voice. You’ll have to start with one of the base classes, which are made up of a standard twelve-class system. As for multiclassing, yes, it’s certainly possible. You can choose to focus on acquiring new skills that would orient you towards a second class. Do you have a build in mind, Luck?
There was something I’d always wanted to try, but had never quite found the right fit in games I’d played before. Maybe this was an opportunity to see if it worked as well in practice as it did in my head. “I have something I’d like to do, but I think it depends on a few things. Can you advise me on its viability?” I told her what I had in mind, and she seemed to think it over for a moment.
I see. There are some inherent risks to your progress in dividing your focus. It will require some careful planning and balancing in order to be effective, especially at higher levels. You’ll need to seek skills outside of your initial class and work to build them up without the foundational class bonuses. The modifications you’re seeking are possible, but only if you meet the requirements for a specific casting type. You’re also going to have to find a way to significantly boost your Charisma stat, which is central to what you’re proposing. Based on these factors, your wishes, your time on earth and your in-game performance, I suggest you select the “Rogue” class. This will provide a foundation upon which you can build towards your eventual goal. I would recommend you seek out the Trainers available to you at local branches of the Adventurer’s guild to expand and empower your skills further.
“Rogue, huh? You know Sage, there is a part of me that very much wants to be a Wizard, Harry, but I fucking hate wands.” I said, looking over my stats again. Jokes aside, this was a deadly serious choice I was making; one that would have long-term consequences. A rogue did track with my game choices on Earth; I always played DPS, and I migrated towards dexterity-based high-damage classes. Glass cannons, in some cases. Being sneaky was always fun and made for some interesting solo play opportunities. The downsides were that I would be low in hit points thanks to my poor constitution, and I couldn’t equip armour classified as heavier than “light” if I wanted to make use of my class-based Stealth skill, which I absolutely wanted to do. The light armour made dying more likely, which made me very nervous, but if I was being rational, I had to play to my strengths. What I lacked in raw strength I would make up in speed and cunning.
One thing I was not particularly interested in was reliving my former life as a musician in bard form here on Feyhold. I’m sorry, bards, you’re awesome - except for poets, fuck those guys - it’s just that I have absolutely no desire to sing or recite poetry to my allies, or at my enemies, in the midst of battle. Frankly, it just sounds like a bad time. Singing for a crowd can get pretty rowdy and chaotic, but it was a far cry from pitched battle. If something is trying to kill me I want to hit it, not lower its damned spirits with a dirge. Just call it a personal preference. I mulled my choices over for a moment longer before I pulled the trigger.
“Alright, Sage. Make me a rogue.”
Acknowledged. Congratulations Luck, you’re now a Level 1 Rogue, she said, then continued a moment later. The rogue variant you’ve started with, determined by your initial stats and performance, has been designated as a “Back Alley Shanker.”
I laughed. “That sounds noble. Did you give it that designation, Sage?” I asked aloud.
I did not, she said neutrally, letting the words hang. My attention was diverted from this when my screen briefly flashed golden and text appeared that read: Congratulations. You’ve reached Level 1.You have stat points to distribute.
I returned to my stats page and saw that I did indeed have three stat points to distribute, and I’d gained a small amount of hit points. I thought for a moment, then decided to play to my strengths for now, as well as starting towards my other goals. I put one point in Dexterity, raising it to 14, then two points into Charisma, making it 9. I was, at least, now an average person when it came to social interactions. I suppose that’s a step up, I thought dryly.
I checked out my Equipment tab, and saw a panel that showed an outline of a human body with equipment slots arranged around it. It seemed I had a head slot, a neck slot, a cloak slot, slots for chest armour, gauntlets or bracers, a belt slot, ten ring slots, legs and boots. My current equipment was my star wars t-shirt, my jeans, my belt and my shoes, as well as the shortsword and the dagger equipped to two of three weapon slots. I noted there was no underwear slot. No magic boxers for me, I thought sadly. My armour rating was 0, which was concerning, but a ripped t-shirt was hardly armour. They could have started me with some, the pricks. There was one weapon slot for each hand as well as a third for what looked like a ranged weapon, or maybe a two handed weapon of some kind.
A new tab had also appeared in my interface, highlighted beside the others. In addition to my Inventory, Equipment and Stats tabs was now the Skills tab. I mentally opened it and saw several different categories of skills. They were: Inherent Skills, Class Skills, and Emergent Skills. My Emergent Skills list was currently empty, but beneath Inherent Skills was a scrollable list that contained a bunch of “skills” that were both mundane and potentially useful. Each had a heading and a corresponding level. Among many were:
Childcare: Level 5
Commercial Cleaning: Level 4
Visual Arts: Level 1
Performance Arts: Level 5
Songwriting: Level 3
Martial Arts: Level 3
Scholarship: Level 3
Rhetoric: Level 2
History: Level 1
Seduction: Level 1
Critical Analysis: Level 2
Situational Awareness: Level 2
Written Communication: Level 3
Hand-Eye Coordination: Level 5
I blinked a few times, considering. “Childcare is level 5? Well shit, I guess thousands of diaper changes and late-night bottle feedings paid off. Maybe I can babysit for gold..” I waxed sarcastic as I went down the list. “Commercial Cleaning at level 4? Great. My fantasy work opportunities are quickly expanding,” I said, my voice flat. “The rest of these look like they might be useful. Maybe if I get a hold of a lute or something I can do some busking. Wait, seduction?” I asked, incredulous. “I don’t exactly have an extensive… uh, track record, Sage. I dated like five people before I got together with Abi’s mom. I wouldn’t call myself ‘seductive’ in the least.”
Records indicate that you had romantic opportunities you were unaware of, primarily during your time as a performer. Evidently your obliviousness radiates a certain degree of charm, Luck. If not for this fact, I suspect your Charisma score would have been even lower.
I lapsed back into verbal speech. “Ouch,” I said. “That’s called a backhanded compliment, Sage. Anyway, lucky for us both this isn’t that story where I go around making a harem out of elves and demon girls. I don’t expect to need seduction a whole lot.”
I’m relieved to hear that. The contents of your pc’s hard drive generated some concern.
“Holy shit,” I blurted, face-palming. “Of course you have my PC contents.”
It was necessary in forming an accurate profile.
“Uh…yeah, I’m sure it was. For both our sake’s, let us never speak of it again. I’ll just say this: Japan is a weird, weird place, okay?” A brief pause ensued before Sage went on as though she hadn’t heard me.
Note that skills rated as average or below are not displayed in the Inherent skills section. Skills listed here are considered above-average or exceptional in some way.
“Well, I guess I’m worse at badminton than I thought,” I said while my eyes wandered down to the next section, Class Skills. There were five in all, and I hovered over each to get a description:
Stealth - Level 1: Increases your chances to conceal your presence and/or move silently. Effectiveness increases with level. May only be used when certain conditions are met.
Pick Locks - Level 1: Open locked doors, containers and other items secured by conventional locks. This skill requires the item “Lockpicks”. Higher skill levels reduce the difficulty of lockpicking attempts, and if certain conditions are met, unlocks specialised skills like Glyph Break and Arcane Seal.
Find/Disarm Traps - Level 1: An internal warning will sound when a nearby trap is detected. Allows the player to disarm traps once detected. Effective range, accuracy of detection and other options, such as Tamper, Dismantle and Reassemble become available at higher levels.
Cutpurse - Level 1: Use sleight of hand to gain temporary access to a target’s inventory. Length of access and chances of successful removal of items is determined by the user’s dexterity and the level of the skill. Skill increases with use.
Shit, I thought. I never really liked those pickpocket hobo rogues in TTRPG’s. Those guys were dicks. They were always stealing from anyone and everyone, including the party, just to cause shit. Levelling this is going to be a pain in the ass, I thought. All in all, these were pretty standard Level 1 Rogue skills, but it was the last that I focused on, having hoped it would be available right away.
Cunning Strike - Level 1: A high-damage attack launched from a hidden position. Requires the user to be using stealth, or for an opponent to be surprised or engaged with another combatant. Damage increases upon level up.
Good, I thought. I needed combat skills that gave me the ability to hit first, hit fast, and hit often. I was a bit of a World War 2 history nerd, and I remembered hearing that from an American Admiral, Bull Halsey. It had become the motto of the U.S Navy during the Pacific campaign, and it fit my emerging combat philosophy like a glove. I pulled Cunning Strike to my abilities bar and took a deep breath, looking around. “Well, Sage. I think we’ve got it covered for now. I should get moving, I’m going to need to find food, water, and shelter before nightfall, preferably somewhere the goblins are not. Is there anything nearby?”
Map data will be expanded as you travel. This is in keeping with the ‘fog of war’ method employed in many games you’re familiar with. Hostile mobs will be represented by red dots, and neutral creatures as yellow. NPC’s are displayed as white dots, and allies or party members are green. I am authorised, in this case, to tell you that a settlement, the village of Spade’s Rest, lies approximately 10.8 kilometres to the south-east. If we begin our journey now, we should arrive a few hours before nightfall.
I took one last look at the clearing where I’d faced the savage little green bastard. His body still lay slumped to one side at the foot of the large tree where I’d killed him. The first thing that had ever tried to kill me, and the first thing larger than an insect that I’d killed. A ray of sunlight was hitting his broken face, and the bright, wet blood glittered in the afternoon light. There would be a lot more blood before this would end, I knew. I turned south and started making my way through the trees.