CRAIG
This is not a game.....this is not a game....I have to repeat that over and over or else I'll forget I'm not playing Apocolavone - The Game of Mages. It's the greatest online App game of all time in my opinion, Just this morning I was logged in and our party was exploring a new dungeon that was an open battle zone.....stop, I get lost in my gaming, this is not a game...this is not a game.
One moment I'm hanging at Cory's house, just having finished our third run, It's late afternoon. Then without warning I'm at that integration thing and I've got text everywhere, It took a bit to realize it wasn't the stuff we were smoking or the gummies that Cory had. I was standing there reading the screen of text that was scrolling, then my first choices for skills showed up and I was able to grab Specialized Skill - Fire Affinity, Basic Weapon Skill - Staff, and Quick Cast three of the essential skills to my class in Apocolavone.
Next up was Class selection, when I saw the options loading I was dismayed they were less than Ideal but the last one was Fire Mage, exactly what I would choose and on top of that it was a Specialty Class as it required a Fire Affinity. Overall it was underwhelming but I received bonus Intelligence, Mana Sight, Willpower, and Additional Fire Affinity Making my total a +5 (50%). The Class Item provided me with a wand that seemed useful as I could channel my Mana Energy through it and create Fire Based attacks as a bonus it multiplied the damage they caused....though it was on me to figure out exactly what that meant. The Class Skill is a multiplier for fire or heat based spells, it multiplies the effect and damage when I cast related spells spells or skills and also reduces the damage I take from fire and heat skills as well. Add all that together and it means that I have super fire powers as long as I can figure it out, kind of a do it yourself starters kit.
Shopping was better than ordering from the big online shopping sites. It had everything you could think of and if you could imagine it, it would create it for you. I spent a few minutes going through everything Fire Magic related that I could find and finally purchased one spell for 6 credits....Fireball....every Fire Mages must have spell. Then I shopped for a weapon, my class came with a wand so I needed a staff, something that makes a statement. The problem was most of what I found were generic fighting staffs or plain looking mage staves, so I went with the option of imagining my own design.
At five foot eleven I didn't want a weapon taller than myself but I wanted it to definitely say Mage and not Monk. My staff should look like it was formed from the heart of a volcano, a Wyverns claw reaching out of a pool of magma grasping a ruby colored gem in its talons, the fine scales of its foot blending from the foreleg into a length of metal with dripping magma and veins of fire throughout. It took the remaining time I had left and I had to scale back its perks to meet the cost of my remaining six credits.
(sys) Wyvern Claw Fire Staff / Requirements - Fire Affinity, Basic Staff, Two Hands / Offense - Moderate Blunt Damage - Searing Heat Smash 1 Charge / Equipment Slot - One or Two handed / This custom staff increases the effects of spells and skills cast through the item. This is a growth item and may grow with the user as Mana Energy is absorbed by the item. During class advancement this staff may be used as one of the skill options. / Visual effects - Infuse staff with Mana Energy to create effects in both the gem and staff.
I had to skip all the other gear a mage might need but at least I have the basics, wand and staff. I wonder if Cory will be a Cleric when this is done, There should be some type of messaging here to coordinate our party options. Soon the timer runs out and I get more text across my vision, that is so annoying, it only takes a moment to find the settings and I begin to set my screen up like my favorite game. Stats up top with mana, hit points, stamina. A small spot for notifications and important warnings, I found the mini map option and made a tiny see through version of it on the right side. My eyes seemed more like touch screens, even though touch didn't work, and with some trial and error I was able to enlarge my 'screens' so all the new extra's seemed to be an outer layer and I could see more area to either side.
I was so absorbed in the settings.....I missed all the text scrolling up, Typical. Looking over where Cory was sitting while we gamed, there is no one there "Cory? what class did you get?" The condo is silent just normal background noises, I look at the flat screen and both our characters in game are just standing there....."Cory?" maybe he ran out for lunch or maybe I just dreamed all that shit.
"Spatial Storage." If i remember right that should.....In front of me a vortex spins around twice, ending with a small box hanging in the air containing "My Staff! Right on!" as I reach for it it pops out into my hand, heavier than I expected but not too bad, Standing up my tablet falls to the ground and I notice Cory's tablet right where he was sitting in his lazy boy.
There is also a wand in my storage space and as I think about it the foot long wand appears in my hand. "Wicked!" Waving it around I admire the dark metallic look of it, it's a bit to generic for me but sweet nonetheless. Pointing at the screen I give it a flick and say "Fireball!"
I'm not sure what I expected but what I got was a ball of fire slightly bigger than a bowling ball that flew right at the TV. Bits of liquid fire and sparks dripped off it as it shot out catching the lighting up the carpet and melting spots across the table in front of the couch. "Holy Shit, stop....stop...bad fireball!" When it hit the TV it stuck in the screen for a moment then exploded into flaming plasma, coating the area in sticky flames.
"Cory, we gotta run!" The condo isn't large but my quick look in the rooms on my way to the door doesn't turn up my friend. In the hallway I pull the fire alarm and race to the elevator, I'm on the fourth floor and I don't like stairs.
That wasn't even the worst part of the day, I sat in a Starbucks and watched people flee the building as it was destroyed from the fourth floor up then it just kind of collapsed in on itself. The fire department never showed up, the police never showed up, I have no idea if anyone died I still refuse to look at my notifications from then even though I got a level up.
Thinking back to those first couple of hours makes me want to block it out even more, the journey to this gathering of survivors was filled with nightmares, most of the group I ended up traveling with in this direction died to some type of oversized coyote or weird fox things the size of Rottweilers and faster than squirrels. Then a larger group of us for some reason waited until dark and we tried to head to the police station and something made of shadows just made off with half the group. After that we waited for help and eventually Rick's group showed up and brought us here.
I hope that guy Ben can help, I met Sam as we both were grabbing a snack and his story seemed almost worse than mine....giant fucking spiders. This is not a game...this is not a game. Looking over where Ben was sitting talking to a pool of shadow that was his tame bird, loaded down with weapons, and wearing a long overcoat like an old time Bad-Ass. During the horde of cockroaches he just stood up, summoned his gun and began picking off flying bugs like he was skeet shooting, then leaping up a ten foot wall he knelt there and annihilated more of them. I don't think he missed once, he was a silent exterminator, then calm as can be he went out and collected....loot? or bug bits. He might be able to help since he seems to have his priorities right at least. At least the bugs got me a level up.
Craig / Human Level 3 Fire Mage / Intelligence - Mana Sense - Willpower / Fireball
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BEN
"So, that's the big black bird of death I keep hearing about" The man sits down across from me looking with admiration at the raven. "No one's actually told me anything about the bird. I just always wanted to say big black bird of death. How did it get so large?"
Realizing I had taken Corbies size for granted, I respond " Corbie is level 5 now and I think almost level 6, like the other beasts every time he absorbs a core it adds to his power and size. Until you mentioned it, I didn't realize he was so huge." Knowing we are talking about him, Corbie spreads his wings then waddles around the table "kraaa...." A small cloud of shadow appears around him like mist, hiding him in plain sight in a pool of darkness.
"I think he ate too much" Looking at the guy across from me, I reach out to shake his hand and add "I'm Ben."
Clasping my hand and without giving me a manly squeeze like some people do "I'm Marco, That was a nice quick fight, I even leveled, I just hit three. I did not recognize the rifle you were using, but your aim was spot on."
"Nice to meet you Marco. The rifle is my class weapon, well class item, I just upgraded and it's a better rifle than it was before." Noticing the length of rebar next to him I add "Are you one of the staff fighters using the rebar?"
"That's us, we are trying to get staff fighting skills. Since guns only seemed to do marginal to no damage to some things. I think we need a Crafter or Weapon Smith as currently they are just chunks of steel and not staffs, at least they show up as weapons"
"Can I take a look at it?"
"Sure, we have a whole pile of them" Taking the staff from him as he hands It to me, it's thickest rebar I've seen at about 5 feet long, It has a good weight to it. Both ends were a jagged angle cut with making a nasty weapon kind of a short staff spear.
"This is nice, I may need to add one as a backup weapon." Giving it a thoughtful look, I have an idea. "Do you find if I try something with it or should I use a different one?"
"Go ahead, at this point they're all the same, just pieces of steel. John is trying to make his a system weapon, but he hasn't figured it out yet."
With a thought I change my Class to Scavenger and holding the staff in both hands use the class skill to scavenge the length of metal and create a (sal) Rebar Staff. This was actually a little easier than before as my understanding of Mana Energy and my Salvage skills a lot better now.
The new version has become what I was hoping for, which is a length of system steel that you can infuse with Mana Energy. The pointy bits of metal on each end from where the cuts were made are now evenly spaced around the angled cut, It's not quite a spear, but I would hate to get poked by it. Because I am who I am I snap my fingers and send it to my inventory.
"What the hell!" Marcus shouts
"I have a skill." I summon the new staff out of inventory, standing up, I start twirling it like a baton and add some of my dark fire Mana Energy through the staff, making a whirling vortex of shadowy dark flames. "That should be easier to use now, I believe once it is a system Item it is easier to use Mana Energy, Abilities, Or skills through it" Letting the flames die down I hand his weapon back to him.
Taking the staff he holds it like it's on fire and it might burn him. It disappears into his inventory, then a second later it's back in his hands. "Oh man! That is so helpful." With a look of extreme concentration I can just sense a small bit of energy where his hands are making contact, with Mana Sight I watch as the energy crawls along the staff, a very tiny amount.
"Well Marco, there you go one system ready fighting staff. You said there were more of them?"
Speechless and still focusing on his own, he points across the way to a garbage can near the command area filled with random lengths of rebar. Wandering over I pull out three of different lengths then Scavenging each one, add them to my inventory.
Footsteps behind me, I turn and see John, He's looking back over at Marco. "What did you do to Marco? He looks stunned."
"He was showing me his staff, hmmmm, not a euphanism.....and I improved it for him" Grabbing another length of rebar I 'Salvage' It, then make it dissappear and reappear "Just like that" with a twirl like a cheer leader I try and add some of my Freezing Mana Energy this time, a blast of cool air blows at John like an air conditioner the staff itself glowing with a blue-gray mist.
"Wait.....what?" John has the same stunned look Marco has.
"Have a seat over by Marco and you guys can ponder on it."
As I turn to walk away, I hear John say "Wait wait wait, don't go, how on earth did you do that? Some type of skill, an item, what class do you have." You can see his mind racing as he is trying to speak.
"It a Salvaging Scavenger skill one of my originals from that integration thing, It allows me to 'systemize' stuff that I understand....it's tricky on complex things but chunks of steel work just fine."
"Can......can you......can you do more? You made it look so easy?"
"It is not without cost, but I'm willing to help any way I can. Any chance we could trade, I'd love to get a few of the things that you guys have collected from people who didn't make it"
"That would be up to Joan, but I don't see why not if it would make us more effective. I'll be right back" Turning away, he runs off towards the command post. I get the feeling that items from original system store will be in demand, You can't beat magical everything.
Right about then my stomach, gurgles and I realize I haven't eaten since The coffee shop earlier. What a long fucking day.
Giving everything a quick check I see the guards are back at their posts on the wall, I can just make out the 2 snipers in their nests, people are scattered around in various spots trying to sleep or just staring into space, and over there a food table. Wandering over I see a selection of cold sandwiches, pop, fruit drinks, water, vegetables, crackers, etc. loading up a plate I go back to my bird and sit down.
Food always helps. Maybe I should wait till morning to leave. Sounds in the nearby area have died down, occasionally a screech or scream from some type of animal, at least I hope it's an animal, if that's a human making those noises....Hearing the gate rattling open I look over and see another group of people stumbling in. Tattered clothing and tired faces marking their journey to get to a safe place.
John sits back down across from me. "You're on, make us magical staffs and you can have your pick of the items we have found. I don't think any of them has a combat value, But I haven't looked at them in a bit."
"I decided to stick around tonight, I'll leave in the morning when it's light out. If you bring all your people over I will do each of their weapons before I try catch a few z's. Hand me yours, I'll take care of it now." Even though it is a simple process, I try and make it look a little more difficult than it is. I mean no reason to make it look easy.
Over the next hour or so, I convert everybody's weapons plus a few extra so they have them on hand. While I was working three more groups of people wandered in, seemingly drawn to the lights like moths, listening to the stories about missing people, attacks by various different types of animals, even people turning on people, reinforce my decision to stay for the night. Parts of downtown Reno seem to be flooded, and at least one of the casinos caved in upon itself. I am very glad not to be there.
Hearing the faint sound of wings flapping, I look up and using perception, try and pierce the darkness above. What looks like a black cloud moving across the sky is bats, thousands of bats, well....maybe hundreds I do like to exaggerate. For a brief moment they cover both moons the one to the North and the moon to the West. Having two moons is just odd but definitely not the oddest thing about today.
Let Craig and Sam know that we wouldn't leave until the morning I look for an out of the way nook to nap in, which turns out to be the cab of a truck converted to part of the wall but made into a very tiny space with one folding front seat with just enough room to stretch out, but not much room for anything else. Closing out of my menus and the map screen, I close my eyes and tune out the voices of people and the screams in the distance, Instead of counting sheep, I review all my various fights for the day. Counting the many, many, many things I've killed.
5 hours later I wake up as it starts to get light out. The moons have switched positions in the sky and the sun is just peeking over the horizon. Looking out into the main area It is standing room only, with dazed and shell shocked people everywhere, very few seem to be able to find rest they just appear to be waiting with a numb vacant look on their faces.
I guess I can really tune out the world when I sleep. Taking stock of myself, I don't notice anything missing. Though somebody trying to take my stuff would probably have woken me up, or Corbie The Raven, who I now notice had joined me in my small space, In a nest of shadows on the dash board.