After a long wait here is the next chapter.
Mature language is used a little
The first thing I decide to do is order the helmet used to play the game which as expected was absurdly expensive at little under £600.
“Damn it looks like I'm living of pot noodles for a while if I want to play new frontier”
I said to myself as I clicked the order button slightly regretted the loss of the large of amount of money. The next week waiting for the helmet to arrive and to me it was the longest most agonizing week of his life as I spent every hour of every day waiting for the package to arrive in my modest apartment.
My college had just entered a break so I have a little over 2 months so I had plenty of time off as I thought about how lucky I am to have it match up with my time off college. I preferred to spend most of my week in agonizing wait on my computer scouring the internet to find any scrap of information on new frontier from the official website to beta tester’s blogs talking about the game and from these various sources I managed to find out about some useful information.
1. The amount and range of classes was absurd from ordinary classes like swordsman to things diplomat.
2. For now the only race’s available for players are humans’ dwarfs and elves. With human’s have no set bonuses, dwarfs have a penalty towards magic usage but have better starting strength and elves are the opposite with lower strength but increased wisdom and intelligence.
3. It is possible to increase stats through certain actions.
4. You get classes by either gaining one from an NPC or by deciding a play in a certain way and the system will create a class around that. It also does this to pre-existing classes and they can be modified to better suit that playstyle
5. Your avatar is based on how you’re appearance and it offers little change in the form of customising yourself and as a result of this it is impossible to change your appearance.
6. There are things called traits which are like a permanent passive that can’t grow, these are incredible hard to gain but are very useful to have.
7. Your avatar’s starting statistics are based on your perception of your body so someone who’s physically fit will have better starting statistics.
Armed with this somewhat helpful information when the helmet arrived I felt less nervous entering new frontier. The helmet all too soon as I grabbed it from the delivery before quickly signing for it and quickly reading how to set it up. Seems simple enough I finish the step and I finally put the helmet on after torturous week of waiting and felt my mind disconnect from his body.
Scanning
Your brainwave signals indicate you are a new user would you like to create an account?
Yes.
Registering brainwave pattern
Connect to new frontier?
Yes.
Connecting…
Please select a starting city...
Suddenly a series of cities and a small blurb on information showed up on them. After about 10 minutes I decided “hmm this city here Wellrose, sounds like a decent enough starter town it has a little bit of everything and few players decided to start there for some reason, can’t see a reason as to why I shouldn't start there so Wellrose works fine for me.”
you have starting city has been picked as wellrose city is this okay?
Yes.
I picked the damn place I'm sure I muttered under my breath.
I then felt myself feel transported to a white room where I could clearly see myself. To the side I could see a series of menu’s detailing different options I guess this is my avatar, let’s see I’ll keep the hair colour the same slim him down a bit, add a bit of stubble and that should do it.” I give one in depth giving one quick look to the avatar before pressing the confirm button in front of me.
“Now I just have to come up with a name.”
“How about ember?” inputting ember into the character creation menu to finalise the character creation process.
Character created entering new frontier
I felt my conscious shift once again this time into the game world.
Part 2
I felt my feet step on to the cobble and it was then that I
“Hmm, the first step would be to talk to NPC’s see if I can ask them where the library is, as annoying it is having a week delay I better not rush and stay methodical for now.”
Only after that did I look around at my surroundings and the town of wellrose. Wellrose was a small city it gave off a rural feeling, the building were simplistic and well-built with the mage guild being the building the biggest in town on par with the church.
“Now let’s see who looks like they know a lot” I thought as I began scanning the town centre for someone who could help me, I noticed one person quite close to him who gave off the feeling of something resembling a tour guide in a stall in near the centre of town. I walked up to him wanting to ask him some questions but the man immediately answered “I take it you are new to our world?” the man enquired.
“Was it that obvious?” I asked the man slightly depressed that I looked that noobish.
“Yeah you've got the same look all begginner travellers have on their face a mix of excitement wonder at the whole thing it makes you stick out like a sore thumb. That and the starter gear. Name’s hill and I've been tasked by the local lord to help you travellers on your way.”
“Okay then where’s the library? Also where can I get some food?” I asked.
“Here take this map of the town it should make wellrose much easier to navigate and I believe that you travellers have some food and water to start with.” The man told to with well-practised ease.
“Thanks the map will help me a lot.” I thanked the man accepting the map from him with key places in the city. As I made my to the library I let his feet take me and half glanced at the map and mostly focused on what I wanted to do in new frontier.
I knew he wanted a created class but apart from that I had no idea as to what direction I wanted to take. Support, long range and close range with debuffs? These and many more combinations where what I was thinking of as I made my library. “Well I have a rough idea of what I want to do I’ll ask someone more knowledgeable if it’s possible later.”
I concluded which looking at my surroundings on the map I was at the library. Well that’s convenient I thought as I made my way into the library.
The library was one of the taller buildings around and looked very humble for a fantasy library which disappointed me slightly. Still ember went in and the first that I noticed was the unique smell libraries have and the old guy at the desk reading a book. “Hello would you mind if I spent some time reading a few of these books?” I politely asked the old man at the receptionist’s desk.
“I don’t see why not as long you register and make sure to follow a few rules to do the rules. The rules are simple don’t take a book without permission or damage any of them you are free to read as many as you want. Just take this card and it will take a sample of blood before registering to you.” the old man informed me with a courteous smile before looking in the desk and taking a small card and giving it to ember before going back to reading his book.
“Best to get started now then.” I thought to himself as I took the card which reminded me a lot of a library card and felt a small prick as it took some of my blood before displaying my name. “Wow that’s fancy for a library to have” I though marvelling at the whole process. Now registered I began combing the bookshelves for books focusing on magic to better give myself an idea on magic as it’s a completely foreign concept to me. I also picked up a book on religion as that seems like something important to know. It both the real world and any game that I play I spend more than half of my time reading every scrap of information I can find to help immerse myself in the world and that’s what I plan to do in new frontier.as I made my way to the nearest desk to sit and read the pile of books I had collected. Picking up the first magic theory book at the top of the pile it was simply called ‘mana what we know’ written by Edmund Mauntell.
It started simple enough.
> Quote:Mana is a word known to everyone but what it is exactly? In my years of research I have heard of many different things for this and the conclusion I reached I have reached is simple. Mana is a form of form of energy used differently by everyone. Some use it for necromantic magic while others will use to heal or to hurl fireballs. It is fascinating how mana can do all of this and more. Its properties tell me how it is a form of energy that present in all forms of life from plants to humans.
“Wow the author really know what’s he’s talking about” was the impression I got from reading the book from start to finish. It was only around 100 pages which made it easier for him to read it only taking around an hour and a half. “Now onto to the next book, magic is really interesting.” I then moved onto the next magic book which was called mana, magic and applications of both’ again by Edmund Mauntell.
> Quote:It is common belief that magicians such as elementalists and sorcerers are the only people who use mana. This belief as I have found is very wrong. All professions use mana from blacksmiths to scouts. It is a vital component to the world that no profession doesn't make use of it.
The rest of the book talked about how mana is used and magic is simply a name for a specific use of mana. I found it strange how the second book on magic I was reading was written by the same guy. I then began to read through the rest of the magic books I had picked up. I completely cut off any unnecessary sounds and actions and focused on reading occasionally eating some bread and drinking some water when the system warned me I was getting hungry or thirsty. But this didn’t stop me from leaving the desk.
“Okay this is seriously weird.” I said to himself. I just got through the 8th book and they were ALL written by the same guy Edmund Mauntell. “Who the hell is Edmund Mauntell, I’ll ask the old guy at the front.” I said as I got up from the desk but I first did a quick stretch as I felt my virtual muscles were asleep from not moving for around 8 hours.
I found the old guy fairly easily as he hadn't moved at all from his original place and the only change was how he reading a different book than before. “Excuse me I was wondering to you know anything about Edward Mauntell? All of the books I read he wrote and I got curious about him.” I asked the old guy who was engrossed in his book.
“Edmund Mauntell? Ah yes Here is a book about him it’ll be easier than telling about you that man” the old guy said standing up and handing him a thick book.”
“Thank you I’ll start reading immediately.” I politely told the old man. I then made my way back to the desk I was at but first decided to put back the books I had already read. I then sat back down and made myself comfortable before starting the book he gave on Edmund Mauntell.
The book was called ‘the continent’s greatest ever genius’
‘Wow the title says it all I guess I'm even more curious about him now.’ Reading the book had me amazed at what Edmund had done, from humble beginning from the son of a farmer he left to become an adventurer and his talent soared. Beating sword masters casually performing grand magic which re-invented the term grand magic and sneaking into the most guarded palace to assassinate a corrupt official. One paragraph stuck out to me that was the ending paragraph.
> Quote:Edmund Mauntell is a name known to all revered by most and respected by all. His achievements are immeasurable from conquering the labyrinth to befriending the primal elemental spirits. Everything that he tried he reached the top at. All this fame power and recognition and yet to everyone who met him he was a humble person only ever interested in perfecting his own skills while helping people.
After reading the entire 300 page book on Edmund Mauntell the opinion I got of him was that he was a Marty sue that a developer put in for some reason. ‘Well I think I'm done with the library now let’s go somewhere else, first I’ll give the book back to the old guy though’ I made his way back to the old guy.
“I see you read that book, he was a great figure wasn't he? Such a shame about the disappearance” the old guy said with a sad look in his eyes.
“He disappeared? The book never mentioned that.”
“It only happened a few years ago he was in the Weinia palace as an esteemed guest and he disappeared. It caused an uproar and they've been looking for him ever since and he hasn't been found. Some say he was kidnapped while others say he left to live a quiet life.”
“Wait how do you know this if this is from when he was in the kingdom of Weinia when that is the adjacent we were recently at war with and it was at the palace?” I asked the old thinking it was weird how much he knew about another country’s rumours.
“We all have a past and a story we may not want to tell other’s kid.” The old guy said while glaring at me to keep quiet.’ I'm definitely not brining that up again’ as I began to make out of the library.
“Thank you for the card I’ll be going now.” Ember told the old guy as he left the library.
“Be sure to stop by” the old man said as he got reading another book
Part 3
After exiting the library I quickly checked my food situation and discovered I had used pretty much all of it. well better find somewhere I can buy some food’ I thought as I noticed there was a inn where I could go to for food.
As I made my way over to the inn for some more food I saw a store vendor with Gorm’s meat painted on a billboard at the top of vendor. The vendor who I'm assuming is Gorm looked like an eccentric chef complete with stained apron with varying colours and burn marks that made one question what exactly he did to colour his apron that way. “Hello could I have some of your dried meat Gorm?” I ask Gorm.
“You want some of Gorm’s meat do you? Well I would to oblige you but I just ran out of meat you came at a bad time travellers came here about 10 minutes ago and bought all of my food tough luck there.” Gorm told me
“Well that’s disappointing I was told that Gorm did the best meat around and I was itching to try some” trying to flatter him I turn up the sweet talking.
“That’s very kind of you traveller. You know what I like you a good look in your eye How about this you go out into the forest and get me some meat and I’ll teach you how to cook it and you give me the meat sound fair?” the vendor told me.
You have received a quest
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Gorm has trouble keeping up with the demand of his meat and kindly offered you how to cook like him in exchange for some meat and a good word where you go about Gorm’s meatprerequisiteintimacy with GormRewardGorm’s cooking methodDifficultly: E Failure you don’t give him any meat. Gorm will never sell to you again.
“I was thinking heading to the forest anyway this is perfect, Gorm I’ll get you that meat.” I tell him confident in myself.
Quest accepted
“I’d knew you do it if you get me some really good meat I’ll give you some side money as well.” Gorm tells me as I make my way to my next stop.
My next stop is with the 50 silvers I started with I make my way to the weapon and buy a small dagger for 48 silver. As I plan to head into the forest the dagger is mostly for confidence sake so I’m no longer unarmed and have something to kill an animal to get the meat with.
The forest I'm entering is massive. Easily the size of the city according to the map when I chose to make Wellrose my starter city, and I learned that it is filled with monsters and the deeper you go the stronger the monsters I'm guessing.
As I made my made into the forest I notice several parties of other parties all significantly better equipped with swords staves and actual armour instead the starter clothing I have. I feel some strange looks when they see my gear and what direction I'm heading but they keep their distance for whatever reason. Probably want to watch the new player fail seeing me in starter gear with nothing but a crappy dagger. Now that I thought about it this really isn't a good idea is it? Oh well nothing ventured nothing gained.
Now entering the forest of serenity
While the forest of serenity is a very picturesque forest. The area is mix of ancient thick trees and some smaller ones sticking out complete with the occasional berry bush, all its missing now Is a river or stream for the complete picture if I say so myself.
It wasn't until the town of wellrose was founded near it that they learned that the forest of serenity was home to powerful and very territorial monsters which hindered well rose’s expansion I would find out much later and when it was marginally less useful. Hindsight’s a bitch like that.
As I enter the forest I begin scanning the area for any animals for me to kill for their meat. Scanning the area and walking aimlessly for some animals. Usually games will show you where they can be found or give you hint but not new frontier it’s realistic like that. I’ll stick to this search pattern of walking aimlessly till I see something till I actually find something.
2 hours later.
Well this is turning it a pointless search. So far I've found at least 10 rabbits but they always out run and I either lose them from speed or I trip on a root. Fuck roots. I've seen a few deer or at least the new frontier deer equivalent but honestly their worst. The rabbits at least run away full power from the beginning but those ass hole deer know their faster than me and tease me by slowing down at times then outrunning me.
I'm really stupid for not buying any sort ranged weapon or traps. Actually another problem entirely has surfaced. I'm lost. I ended up somewhere where I have no idea how to back. Well I've fucked up and it’s now sundown and with night comes stronger aggressive animals. well my luck can’t much better can it.
As I think that it starts raining. ”ARE SERIOUSLY JUST TRYING TO SHIT ON ME GAME. CAUSE YOUR DOING A PERFECT JOB SO FAR” I scream at the sky to no one but the game.
Who am I kidding this is no one’s fault but my own. I forgot to keep track of where I am. I didn't buy any sort of ranged weapons so I ended wasting both time and money. Well luckily there’s a cave nearby I can use to spend the night. So it’s not like it’s really bad I can just stay in the cave and hope to find something to counteract the terrible luck I've been having lately.
now entering boss den.
The black bear has been awoken by someone entering his lair!
I seriously feel like crying right now. And then I see the bear I just pissed off by entering its home. The black bear was funnily a black bear except triple the size of any bear in real life and covered on scars and the missing bits of fur. And checking its name above it is
black bear lord level 190
yeah I'm screwed I slowly realised.
“Nice bear I’ll be going now bye bear sorry for waking you please let me live.” I beg the bear as I slowly make my way back out of the cave. Sure its cold, wet and I'm lost but there isn't a fucking level 190 bear extremely pissed at me. I’ll take my chances with outside. I notice the bear looking at me with its functional eye seriously pissed at me. It raises itself onto two hind legs and with a swipe it sends wind needles directly at me.
That attack would have killed me if I hadn't felt something when he went onto his hind legs. Well time make use of my legs I think as I begin running at full speed to anywhere where he isn't. I must be losing him and I look behind me to the bear has changed back to all fours and it chasing after me. ‘Not good not good’ I think as I see the bear start to catch up to me. how? your so much bigger and faster than me? that's just not fair.
Once I past a tree I felt a change in the air and I didn't notice at the time the rain had stopped. Paying it no mind from the bear chasing me I see a small cottage.
Thank god shelter or better yet meat shield for the pissed off bear chasing me. As I run to the door it’s slammed open in my face shoving me back. Oh god the black bear is going to kill me I prepare to die by bear and be kicked from the game. Huh? I'm not dead?
I look around and see the bear slightly shivering and looking at the man who came out of the cottage. Wait why is the black bear so scared? Why is it staring at the guy who just came out of the cottage?
“Forest lord huh. What are you doing in my territory? You know this somewhere you can’t be.” He glares at the frankly meek bear that was at my throat not 10 minutes ago.
“RRRRROOOOAAAARRRHHHHH” it roars to the guy.
“So he entered your cave and you chased to him because he pissed you off. Fair enough but you made a mistake. this is my territory and the kid entered my area so his life is mine.”
“RROOOAAARRRRHHH” the bear roars at him.
“I don’t give a shit about your pride leave before I add to those scars you are so proud of.” The guy threatened the much larger bear who gives me one final look of anger before leaving with a snort that seems to say I'm not worth it anyway.
“Now to deal with this kid. For disrupting the great genius’s nap is a capital offensive I’ll have you know.” He says as he gets closer to me. Now that I can look at him properly he looks very wild I guess. His head is covered with a thick beard and his hair reaches his shoulders and it looks like he hasn't been too interested in personal hygiene. His clothes have a thin layer of grime on them but they seem to be good quality clothing and beneath it is an incredibly well trained body. Honestly who could this person be?
“Oi kid stop checking me out I don’t swing that way. Now explain to this genius why and how you broke my barrier and are this deep into the forest.” He says looking at me with eyes that seem to pierce into my very soul.
“My name is ember I am a traveller new to this world.” I manage to get out despite my fears of this man. I somehow get that out smoothly and get the feeling I can't lie to him. Come on man be cool. “I was tasked to find some meat and got lost chasing animals when it started to rain. Trying to find shelter I found a cave.” I say wanting to get away from the scary looking hobo.
“I wasn't asking for your life story. How did yo break my barrier it’s a top level Druidic that prevents humans but doesn't disrupt space and allows small and unintelligent animals through.” He explains to me with some pride in his voice as he explains it to me. “Wait a moment you’re a traveller. “As he says that begins to examine me.
“HAHAHAHA oh that’s good, so that’s how you broke my barrier. Your weak stats coupled with my barrier not recognising travellers made my barrier categorize you as an animal on a level of a rabbit. Oh this is hilarious.” He explains to me amidst the laughter. My stats are weak? Thinking about it I haven’t checked my stats since entering the world I have I? With a thought I summon my stats.
[center][table]tr][/tr][td100]-[/td4]
Status WindowName:EmberAlignment:neutralLevel:1Class:NoneRace:HumanGender:MaleTitlesnoneFame:0Infamy:0-Health:75 / 75Health Regen:1/ SecMana:60 / 60Mana Regen:1 / SecStamina:80 / 80Stamina Regen:1 / SecStrength:6Agility:8Vitality:6Intelligence:7Wisdom:6Leadership:0Luck:5
Wait what? Isn't supposed to start at 10 each? It said that how we think how fit we are affects stats I didn't realise this could happen. Crappy starting stats on everything. That explains why I couldn't catch the animals and why everyone was walking faster than me.
“well now that I know how you slipped past barrier I have no interest in your life and killing you does nothing to travellers so you can leave the great genius Edmund Mauntell am sparing your life”
“Wait a second Edmund Mauntell?! The continents greatest genius currently missing? Why are you in a shack in the middle of a forest.” I want to know this is seriously weird.
“If I tell that I'll have to kill you in a extremely painful.” Edmund emphasises to me. okay not asking that again. even with pain being 70% suppressed I don't want to know what he could do. wait a second this is the continent's greatest genius isn't he the perfect person to ask about creating a class?
“Please help me create a created class!” I beg of him on my hands and knees come on man I need this
The look on Edmund’s face tells me that he doesn't believe me and was thrown a massive curve ball.
“A created class? That’s what you ask of me? Not a skill or a weapon? I wouldn't have given you anything but still it makes more sense. A created class. Interesting, you're the first person not to ask me for anything actually remotely unique. you know fuck it I can help you create a class. Haven't got anything better to do but wait in this shack anyway. I warn you my training is tough you're not talented I can tell so I'll have to work you to the bone!"Edmund says with a devilish smile on his face.
You have received a quest
Edmund Mauntell has offered to help you create your created class. This will be a great memory for many years to come. Assuming you survive.prerequisitehave edmund be intrested in you and find himReward'teaching' from the continents greatest genius and a created class.Difficultly: B Failure:you don’t want to know trust me
Accept?
What’s with the different system announcement? Accept of course.
“Now tell me about your class and I’ll create a training regimen for you.” Edmund tells me
“Okay the main focus of the class is” as I explain the class I want I see Edmund look more and more interested in my class idea.
“Okay I get the concept for this class to work you going to need both your magical and physical abilities worked. Without delay let’s begin!”
So that’s the prologue completed this was my attempt at the setting of what to expect for the world and it was mostly how ember ended up meeting the continent’s greatest genius who is nothing like the books write him to be. Reason for that and why he’s living like how he is and the weird system announcement will be revealed in later chapters. I'm still not too happy about it and may redo it at a later date but for now this is fine.
Anyway the reason for the massive gap in time and style from the prologue mostly comes from me starting to write this then exam revision season starting then my exams giving me no time to write properly. Curse you hindsight The change from sort of 3rd person to 1st person is me wanting to write in a way I’m not used to but want to try for this story. Sorry for that the next thing is that this is the end of the prologue and the next arc the chapters will be shorter and more episodic and I name it the hell training arc.