"Trinity Online is the Galaxy's largest VR-MMORPG. Spanning over 200,000 worlds of fantasy, ancient, modern, and advanced worlds, with a variety of magic, psionic, primal, and technological civilizations. The game is known for it's realistic worlds, characters, and effects, despite the additional elements of mana, and psionics. Come play, and see the majestic sights..."
Andaros Terasien sat in class, watching the special broadcast with the rest of his class. Today was the day that Supercal announced the results of their special promotion. He looked around to see the other students looking on with anticipation. For all of them, this was likely their only chance to receive a pod for the game, as they lived on a poor, backwater, agricultural world. Few, if any, of those in his class would ever be able to save up enough to purchase even one of the most basic pods, let alone make enough to save up for the grand prize, a platinum edition pod.
The lady, who was giving a run-down of the hottest game in the galaxy, animatedly continued introducing the game to the viewers, while Andaros looked around his class. He knew all of this, as did many of them, but Andaros fully expected to not win, he was used to nothing ever going his way, after all. Ever since he was young, things rarely went his way, and there were often situations where he was hurt, or things just went bad for him in general. He was often hurt doing simple things that shouldn't result in him being hurt. Things like guard rails often failed on him, resulting in a painful situation for the young man. This resulted in him being politely ignored, or avoided by the class, fearing his bad luck would rub off on them.
The top reward for this drawing might be a platinum pod with a unique class, race, a growth type weapon or paired weapons, and a mythic potential companion, but Andaros was under no illusions that he might receive such a thing. That just wasn't the way things worked out for him, and he knew it wouldn't be any different this time. One might think he'd at least get excited over one of the other rewards, but he was certain he wouldn't receive any of those either.
"Thank you for that information Melody," the second News reporter acknowledged his pretty co-host, and then addressed the rest of the galaxy. "As all of our viewers, and those of the other news networks that are covering this story on other planets, must know, the results of Supercal's Galaxy-wide drawing are soon to be announced by the owner, founder, and majority shareholder of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Incorporated, Professor Norton Coolidge. There will be 50,000 bronze pod winners, 20,000 silver pod winners, 4 Gold Pod winners, and finally, a single platinum pod winner from the commoners division. For the nobles' division, there will once more be 50,000 bronze pod winners, and 20,000 silver edition winners, but there will be 40 gold pod winners and 6 Platinum pod winners, with the grand prize winner of the noble divisions gaining a unique, mythic class growth weapon. We were just informed that all platinum pod winners will receive a free customizable companion. In addition to this, Supercal has announced a huge change to their commoner division rewards. Any students who are winners of any gold or platinum edition pods will also win a pod for every student in their class."
The whole class let out a cheer at this announcement, this meant that they had an additional chance to win a pod. Even a bronze pod could allow a commoner to change their destiny by earning rewards for quests and selling them on the ingain market for galactic credits.
The host paused for a moment, seeming to anticipate the cheering, before he continued his announcement.
"All gold pod winning students will earn their classmates and teachers a bronze pod each. If a student wins the Platinum Edition pod within the commoner bracket, that student will win silver pods for not only their class, but all those who currently work at their school," the male host stated, then paused once again, allowing the viewers to cheer before saying, "Now, on to the announcement by Professor Norton Coolidge."
A video feed showing Professor Norton Coolidge stepping up to a podium at Supercal's headquarters. He then addressed the cameras a moment later.
"Greetings, people of the galaxy, as many of you know, I am Norton Coolidge, founder of Supercal, and the Creator of Trinity Online," he introduced himself. "A list of all of today's winners will be posted on the Galactic Net. I will be announcing all Gold and Platinum winners from both the noble, and commoner divisions, beginning with the winners of the Noble division. Gold pod winners are Zelda Tremaine of Corzon XII, Golf Sendem... And finally Trem Dovem of Alpha Centauri. The platinum pod winners for the Noble Division are Dane Trekast of Earth, Deev Evdiim of Gelfen IV, Jul Torv of Gelfen IX, Zov Tremaine of Levum II, Caerna Ziv of Trem Domai, and the Grand prize winner is Princess Delama Fuuv of the planet Plooth. Princess Fuuv will receive an extra special Mythic Class Growth weapon, in addition to the standard rewards shared between the two divisions."
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"As some of you may know, I came from humble beginnings, and began my life as a commoner. I know what it is like to grow up as a commoner. Therefore, I have decided to make some... adjustments to the rewards for the winners of gold and platinum pods within the commoners' division. The biggest change is that all the classes of the 4 students who won a gold edition pod within the commoners division will earn a bronze tier pod for their classmates, while the student who won the platinum pod will win a silver pod for all students and staff of the school they attend. In addition, I have decided to give the winner of the platinum edition commoners' pod two additional super secret rewards, which will not be announced. This is to allow the player to start out on a more even footing with the winners of the noble division. With this in mind, the platinum pod winner will receive a lifetime account, 100 gold coins in in-game currency and a modest monthly stipend of galactic credits, while the winners of the gold pods will receive 10 gold coins in in-game currency, in addition to the standard rewards from the pods themselves. Without further ado, let's get to the list of gold and platinum pod winners within the commoners' division. We'll begin with the only non-student winner of the Gold and Platinum Edition pods, Dom Teraise of planet Corven IV, who will be able to designate 10 winners of a bronze pod in addition to his own gold pod. Next, our gold pod student winners, Elise Zen of the planet Forscem, Drez Zafen of the planet Col Teraise, and Guuv of the planet Cove. And finally, the Grand prize winner of the commoner's division, Andaros Terasien of the planet Torm! Congratulations to all our winners, and may you enjoy your travels in all our worlds, all commoner winners will receive a free year of service!"
Andaros was shocked when he heard the cheers go up throughout the school. He was so sure he wouldn't win that he didn't register what was going on until he looked to see his name on the screen, in silver letters with a rainbow graphic. Right in front of the words congratulations, and the picture of a platinum pod. His jaw dropped open as he realized the implications of that discovery. He had won? How had that happened? He couldn't understand why he would win such a reward. Nothing ever went right for him, never. If he was one who believed in luck, he'd say he was cursed with bad luck.
As he sat there, staring in shock, he was bowled over by the school's most beautiful girl, and wound up with a sprained elbow, missing a class so that the school "nurse", a licensed doctor, could examine, and diagnose his injury. He ended up with his arm in a sling as a result, reminding everyone of his situation. The beauty who had tackled him apologized profusely, while maintaining a small distance in order to keep from injuring him further. The same went for all the overly zealous students who came to congratulate and thank him for winning, as if he had anything to do with the changes Professor Coolidge made at the last moment.
The school principle called an all-school assembly once Andaros had been taken care of, and the girl had apologized thoroughly. Once all the students had made their way to the auditorium, he made the announcement that they had, indeed, received confirmation that Andaros Terasien of class 3B had won a Platinum Edition Lifetime Pod, and that every student and individual who worked for the school would be receiving a silver edition pod, and 1 free year of service to the game, Trinity Online. The students, and even faculty, gave a resounding cheer to this news.
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Norton Coolidge stepped down from the stage where he had announced the winners of the gold and platinum edition pods.
"Has everything been put into motion," he asked his secretary.
"Yes, Sir," she responded immediately. "The pods will be arriving tomorrow, while all teams are currently enroute to protect the commoners who won pods the team heading for Torm has unfortunately run into some "turbulence" in the Drev system, which will delay them for 1-2 days."
"Prepare my private spaceship," Norton replied, narrowing his eyes.
"As you wish, Sir," she responded, not in the least phased by his words. "I'll have your special team ready to join you within 30 minutes."
"Make it 10, if at all possible," Norton replied, "and have Celia join us. I want my lawyer on hand if something happens to my grand prize winner. I hate when "turbulence" disrupts our plans."
"As you wish," she replied, then quickly walked off.
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In the shadows of the planet Torm, a meeting was being held in haste.
"I don't care what you have to do, get me that pod," a single voice rang out in the dimly lit room. "Just make sure it can't be traced back to me."
"As you command."
"Have that ba****d take the fall while you're at it. How dare a commoner think themselves worthy enough to win a platinum edition pod!"
"It shall be done..."