When I opened up my eyes there was a brand new world. The planet was around 10xs the size of Earth, it had around forty continents. There were four clusters of continents (ten each) along with several mysterious banks of fog in the middle of the oceans that connect them. Each cluster represented a specific set of biomes. The clusters were separated by thousands of leagues of ocean water while the continents in each cluster were connected together by strings of small islands that were bridged together. Each continent in a cluster had a slightly different environment each one harder to survive in than the last, but as the continents got harder to survive in they grew larger. Some of the largest continents having dungeons and magical beasts. Each cluster had a vastly different biome set.
The first cluster set spanned from the equator of the world to the North pole was covered in deserts and grasslands, the central continent which was about the size of Asia while being the smallest had one large chaparral biome. While the largest continent in the cluster was an arctic tundra in the north pole. Other continents had hot desserts like in Arizona where the soil is solid and not sand, or like in the Sahara desert where there were miles upon miles of sand dunes.
The second cluster set was three thousand leagues south and west of the desert cluster falling beneath the equator this cluster had large numerous forests and jungles. With the smallest continents being full of deciduous forests being set so that it had four seasons. The two largest continents were a Taiga biome continent that bordered the south pole, and a Tropical Rainforest biome that dominated the north of the cluster claiming most of the equator and tropical areas for itself.
The third cluster was on the opposite side of the planet. This cluster set was full of water biomes swamps, marshes, coral reefs, there were even underwater cities bordering underwater trenches. It was hard to keep track of this set of biomes as they were mainly segmented by the island chains that bridged the different areas together making a pathway to the different areas.
The fourth and final cluster was three thousand leagues north and east of the water biomes cluster. This cluster was covered in mountain ranges and volcanoes, it ranged from the north pole to the equator. Some of the mountain ranges were ancient and had become rounded with age much like the Appalachian mountains in the U.S. others where tall and where similar to Mount Everest in a scale of height. While all around the edge of the cluster a large number of volcanoes had formed encircling the cluster in a ring of fire.
Suddenly I find myself in a large white blank space. There was nothing within the space except for a large silver mirror. Within the mirror's reflection was someone who was not her. She looked young, had long white hair, eyes like pools of gold, and skin as white as snow. Waving her hand enthusiastically, she introduces herself
"Hey! I'm Cybele! I'm the major deity/AI of the game." She waves her hand and rows upon rows of different variations of me show up in the mirror.
"You can choose any Tier of Race of up to Tier 5. But before you get into that let me explain more about races. First off, certain races are more powerful than others this is why they are divided into tiers. For example, the average goblin is going to be much weaker than an adult human, thus a goblin is in the first tier and humans are in the second. Second, you can customize a race any way you want, but it has to be within the realm of possibility for what your race has adapted to within a region. For example, a goblin from the swamps might grow gills or gain a poison/venom resistance. Third, you aren't going to be able to be a bestial race (bestial, in this case, running around on four legs without the option of running on two) for instance you won't be able to start out as dire wolf looking to hunt any players it comes across. Fourth and final, most races past a certain tier are evolutions of lower races or hybrids of races of the same tier so this is the part where you get to have a lot of fun with your character, but keep in mind that some races aren't compatible with each other. Let's get started shall we."
"Do you have any preferences of your race, we can go by tier or by category?" asked Cybele. I think about it for a moment then said, "Cybele can you pull up any playable races related to the word feline." "Sure, I've got devils (not demons), anthropomorphic and human-like beast-kin, spirit, and some undead races. What can I do you for?"
"First explain all of them to me." "Hmm. Ok. Devils are the offspring of demons and any other race available but demons aren't a playable race due to the whole trapped in another plane problem.
The beast-kin are what you would expect the anthropomorphic kin look like a werewolf of their respective lineage, the human-like kin is the opposite and looks like what someone would wear to a costume party. Of course, there is a reason for their differences. The anthropomorphic kin is one of the strongest races available but has very limited magical abilities, while the human-like kin is again the opposite terrible physical prowess but tremendous magical abilities. If you would like a middle ground between the two I would make a devil or a spirit hybrid.
Now onto spirits, first when the word spirit is mentioned it does not mean ghost or similar words like phantoms, those are undead. Spirits would be similar to the Fae. Something like a kitsune would qualify.
Undead races have skeletons, zombies, wights, shades, phantoms, ghosts, ghouls, draugr, and many, many more. For you, though I would choose something that could interchange between ethereal and solid at will if you choose this race. Also, this race would have to be a hybrid to related to cats otherwise it will be randomized.
Ooh! I forgot about Fae! Fae is more of an aspect rather than any kind of specific race. They usually have a weakness for Iron and a few chosen wood-types. There now I'm done what would like me to pull up."
I thought about it for a bit... then said, "Ok, can you pull up the anthropomorphic kin, devils, fae, and undead you would recommend for me?" Having said those words I see a line of graceful looking weres followed by a being cloaked in a dark-red aura, then a cloud of multicolored sparkles orbiting in a circle around nothing, ending the line with some different colored clouds of mist. Then in typical VR fashion, a blue table pops up.
Races available based on Filters. Race, Coloring, and Tier Attribute bonuses and racial features. Tigress kin (Orange-black, white-black, black) (Tier 4) +2 to Strength, +1 to Agility, +1 to Constitution, Darkvision, Natural Camouflage, Queen of the Jungle/Forest Lioness kin (Tan, white, black) (Tier 4) +2 to Strength, +1 to Agility, +1 to Constitution, Darkvision, Natural Camouflage, Queen of the Savannah/Mountain Leopardess kin (Spotted, black) (Tier 4) +2 to Agility, +1 to Strength, +1 to Constitution, Darkvision, Natural Camouflage, Ambush Predator Cheetah kin (Spotted little/large) (Tier 4) +3 to Agility, +1 to Constitution, Darkvision, Natural Camouflage, Run-down Predator Snow Leopardess kin (Spotted) (Tier 4) +2 to Agility, +2 to Constitution, Darkvision, Natural Camouflage, Cold Resistant, Silent Predator Jaguar kin (Spotted, Black) (Tier 4) +2 to Agility, +1 to Strength, +1 to Constitution, Darkvision, Natural Camouflage, Unseen Predator Rakshasi (See Tigress) (Devil) (Tier 4) +2 to Charisma, +1 to Strength/Agility, +1 to Constitution, Magic Resistance, Natural Charmer, Arcane Eyes, Alternate Form, Holy Vulnerability Fae (Tier +1) (Subrace) +1 to Charisma, +1 to Wisdom, +1 to Intelligence, +1 to any 1 of the previous attributes, Enchantment Immunity, Fae Weakness, Magic Resistant Shadeling (Black mist) (Undead/Revenant) (Tier +1) (Subrace) +3 to Wisdom, +1 to Agility, Blind-sense, Arcane Eyes, Life Sense, Dark & Death Immunity, Ethereal form, Light & Life Vulnerability, Enchantment Resistant Mistling (White mist) (Undead/Revenant) (Tier +1) (Subrace) +3 to Wisdom, +1 to Agility, Blind-sense, Arcane Eyes, Life Sense, Light & Death Immunity, Ethereal form, Dark & Life Vulnerability, Enchantment Resistant
Looking over the different choices for races with the last three being subraces I eventually chose the black Jaguar kin, Snow Leopardess kin, and Shadeling.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
What came of it was a 5'5'' tall, weighing in at a 175 lbs., Anthropomorphic Big cat with glowing toxic green eyes, dark grey rosette patterns on a black field, and black mist floating around it.
Hybrid Race Shadeling Snow Panther kin (Jaguar) (Revenant) (Tier 5) +3 Wisdom, +3 Agility, +1 Strength, +1 Constitution, All-Seeing Eyes, Blind-Sight, Natural Camouflage, Dark & Death Immunity, Ethereal form, Enchantment Resistance, Weather Immunity, Silent & Unseen Predator Shadeling Panther kin- You are a beast-kin that has become a type of undead. This gives you the ability to turn from your normal solid form into an ethereal form of dark mist, your ethereal form allows you to move through extremely small spaces but does not allow you to fly, if you are falling you can transform into your ethereal form to glide instead. You have many sharpened senses from your original body. The claws and fangs beast-kin are known for now have a slight necrotic effect when used in combat. Being a Shadeling means that even in your physical body you make no sound from moving. Any weapons/equipment/armor transform with you. You are also very resistant to non-magical weapon attacks in either of your forms. (Revenant) Race Type- Not undead or alive, revenants are in between the two states. They are immune to poisons. They have no vulnerability to certain magicks. They no longer require food, drink, or sleep. The effects of life and death spells are for the most part reversed, life spells (especially healing spells) damage revenants, death spells now heal the revenant. DoT spells that use death magic as a source now heal over time, while HoT spells that use life magic as a source now damage over time. Critical Strike areas such as the heart, kidneys, and lungs are no longer as effective. Revenants have a faster regeneration than living races despite being part of the undead. Revenants can't be found using Reveal Undead or similar spells likewise they can no longer be found by spells or senses such as Life Sense. Recommend Classes based on based on attribute bonuses, race, and predicted playstyle: Rogue, Ranger, Monk, Shaper, Conjurer, and Maker.
Reading through the screens that popped up I'm glad the game agrees with me over how I'm gonna play. I should probably start working on my Character sheet.
Name: Overall Level: Attributes: 75 available (Cont.) Arianna Shadowpaw N/A Strength 1 Intelligence 0 Race: (Tier 5) Alignment: Agility 3 Wisdom 3 Shadeling Snow Panther kin (Revenant) Undetermined Constitution 1 Charisma 0 Gender: Female Faith: Main-Class: N/A Level: N/A Professions: Unchosen Secondary: N/A Level: N/A N/A Tertiary: N/A Level: N/A
Seeing what I had to work with I began adding and subtracting my available attribute points till I was satisfied. After asking Cybele I found out that 5 is way below average, 10 is about average, 15 is above average, and 20 is around the superhero range. Further than that is the realm of demigods and gods. Finalizing my choice the same character sheet updated itself.
Updated Character Sheet
Name: Overall Level: Attributes (Cont.) Arianna Shadowpaw N/A Strength 10 Intelligence 10 Race: (Tier 5) Alignment: Agility 20 Wisdom 16 Shadeling Snow Panther kin (Revenant) Undetermined Constitution 16 Charisma 10 Gender: Female Faith: Main-Class: N/A Level: N/A Professions: Unchosen Secondary: N/A Level: N/A N/A Tertiary: N/A Level: N/A
I averaged out my dump stats so I wouldn't be terrible in them but I wouldn't be great either. Then I maxed out my main attack modifier as high as I could and not make my character incompetent in my secondary stats then brought those stats as high as I could. So finishing my CS my conscious was transferred to my avatar. Then I checked out my Racial traits.
Racial Traits Racial Traits Name: Description All-Seeing Eyes You have access to all types of vision. This is a combination of Darkvision, Arcane Eye, and Life Sense. Darkvision allows the character to see in the dark in greyscale. Arcane Eyes allows for the character to see magic writings, through illusions, mana veins running through a person, and large concentrations of magic. Life Sense shows bodies of heat and gatherings of life magic. Blind-Sense You use your sense of smell and hearing to locate object or people in a limited area. Natural Camouflage Your body is ideally suited for hiding in certain regions. +5 to stealth in certain ecosystems. Dark & Death Immunity You are immune to the ill effects of Dark and Death magicks. Damage spells from these branches of magic heal you instead. Ethereal Form You have two forms one is corporeal, the other is ethereal. In your ethereal form, you take the shape of a cloud of dark mist and are able to move through tiny openings. Enchantment Resistance You are resistant to the Enchantment school of magic. Weather Immunity You are unaffected by normal weather. This includes the effects of extreme cold and the heat. Silent & Unseen Predator You make very little noise unintentionally. When you move you leave few tracks behind. You are unlikely to be noticed when you are in stealth. +10 to stealth.
I ask Cybele about skills and abilities and she says skills are unlocked through gameplay and abilities are a part of the boons classes provide.
Explaining the answers to my questions and telling me that I would now be going to the Tutorial.