The first sensation Sora experienced was the heat from the sun shining on his face. Everything around him came to life before he opened his eyes. The warm air, the rough cobble street below his feet, and the sounds of people having conversations in diverse accents.
Sora was in the middle of the marketplace square at Stanlow. Different races of animal people were moving in and out of shops, which lined around the square. Most of them were dogs, horses, wolves, cats, and boars roaming past him. He couldn’t tell who was a player and who wasn’t without getting too close to them.
On his left, Sora spotted a window, viewing the reflection of his avatar. Maybe he was staring at his character, but he was actually staring at himself. He was Rodan the white wolf knight.
“Hello you handsome lad,” he said in his low toned husky voice.
He stroked his long white hair, admiring his charming look. Perhaps that was part of being his character since he designed him that way.
Rodan was an overconfident wolf who protected his looks with a playboy attitude. Sometimes he could get too much of his image. “I better look for Amy around here.”
Stanlow was a starting town for new players after they created their virtual avatars. In a starting town, the players can get their beginner equipment and meet their first quest giver who puts them on a role-playing quest. They learn their skills along their way until they reach their second level. Towns were also good places for them to log in and out so they wouldn’t encounter anything dangerous outside the public areas.
Sora checked his inventory. His gear was good, but he doesn’t have any potions. He should buy some before the raid.
Sora approached a store and walked in. It was an item store, full of potions and trinkets. The items rested on tall shelves, standing on the walls toward the desk.
A weasel in a purple robe stood behind the desk, chewing on a stick until he noticed Sora. “Welcome, sir. You look charming today.”
“Why thank you,” said Sora.
The game designers programmed the NPC merchants to greet players nicely. It doesn’t matter whether the player was male or female. It helped players feel special in the game.
“You may browse my items to see what you want.”
The store menu appeared in front of Sora.
Health potion
Heals ten damage in health points.
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Cost: 5 gold.
Elixir
Removes poisons, curses, and paralyzation.
Cost: 5 gold.
Resurrection potion
Player respawns immediately without waiting for five hours.
Cost: 10 gold.
Poison
Infected target takes 5 damage per minute till cured.
Cost: 10 gold.
Paralyzing potion
Target cannot move for three minutes.
Cost: 10 gold.
Mana potion
Refills mana power.
Cost: 10 gold.
The shop doesn't have enough items for Sora to raid a hidden dungeon. But it wouldn't matter if Amy's raid party has more items to use.
He selected five health potions, five elixirs, five mana potions, and three resurrection potions. The items appeared on the counter. When he touched them, they disappeared, and then their names appeared in his inventory.
"Thank you for your purchase," the merchant replied. "Will that be all?"
"Yes," Sora replied.
"Then have a pleasant day sure."
Sora nodded with a grin and walked out of the shop. He stopped in the middle of the road and looked around until a voice called out his name. "Sora! Sora!"
From the crowd, Amy rushed toward him while waving her hand for his attention.
Scarlett Red
Fox
Barbarian/Rogue
Female
Level: 20
HP: 200/200
PC
Her avatar was a fox girl, who looked like a furry from a Disney movie, nearly human-like with a fox shaped head. In fact, she almost looked like a furry version of herself. Her character has orange fur with long red hair. Green eyes like emeralds, long athletic legs, and a bushy tail with a white tip on it. However, she wore a green hood with a leather vest under her green cape. Baggy dark pants over her boots that fit perfectly on her human-like feet.
Sora remembered her avatar wore a bikini chain mail to represent her favorite character from a sword and sorcery comic book. What made her change her mind?
“Wow, my lady! You are looking gorgeous this evening,” Sora replied with a bow.
Amy laughed. “Why thank you. Are you ready?”
“I stocked up my potions. Good to go.”
“Great, I brought enough of items too. The others are waiting for us at the tavern.”
“Is Vicky joining us?”
Amy sighed through her lips. “Not tonight. She isn’t feeling well, but we still got enough players for our raid. Let’s meet them now.”
“Okay.”