In the end, I choose the [Mage] class, it has an addition 5% to magic attacks and a 10% boost to magic defense. Won't be much help at first maybe, but I plan to stay either far away or on the good side of people with pointy metal objects. Plus the addition of the [Wisdom] stats boosts mana regen nicely since it starts at 5 rather than 1 or 0 like I feared.

I reach out and touch the glowing staff representing mages. To my surprise, my fingers wrapped around it. next thing I know I'm holding a piece of wood that looks like it fell off of a tree. A suicidal tree that cuts itself, when no one is looking. It's an ugly piece of lumber, but I have a sneaking suspicion I know where this is headed. I look closely at the staff and think 'inspect'. Sure enough...

Balsa Staff Type Magic Staff Durability 15/15 Attack 1-3 +3 INT Weak magic conduit

Yup, novice equipment. Well, every great magi have to start somewhere I suppose. I'm about to ask Sigma-Bob how to get better gear when

New ability Identify

Nice. I wave the window away and the skills tab come up with a thought. I'm liking the intuitive nature of the Celestials system. We may all still die, but at least it won't be because the system wasn't idiot proof.

Skills and Abilities Name Level Experience Inspect 1 2.25% Fire shot 1 0% Stone skin 1 0% Haste 1 0% Splash 1 0% Meditate 1 0%

Fairly straight forward except for splash.

Splash Type Magic Attack Damage n/a KnockBack Please vacate my personal space

Heh. "Bob! I didn't know you had a sense of humour, 'personal space', ha!"

"I'm sure I will develop one should I choose to, however, the skill notes are not a Sigma construct. " He says stiffly.

For a guy who's still developing a personality, he sure has a stick up his butt. Anyway, that's a bit of interesting news. If the Sigma Celestials are different from other Celestials...

"Ahh, I get it." I look a little closer at Bob-48 to see if I get a reaction. "2400 Celestials, 100 Sigmas. So 24 sets of you guys. The Greek Alphabet!?"

"Yes, but it is not a secret. I am a guide, Most of the skills, spells, and abilities were made by the Pi's and Omicron's. The Omicrons are specially developed from prolonged exposure to the reference material used to build that part of the system."

"Reference material?" I ask.

"All the myth, legends, lore, stories, religions and games of this world."

Huh, I was thinking I might want to meet one of those guys, but no one raised on pure Earth fiction could possibly be right in the head. On second thought, might be best to stay away from the Pi's and Omicrons for future references. But before I forget, I better get some additional info before making my way in the world.

Speaking of stray thoughts, 'Inventory' I think to myself. Good, it opens up readily enough but I see only four square spots. Poking around a bit reveals it can be upgraded with both coin and materials.

Inventory Upgrade cost

*5 Mana Shard

*1 Spacial Gem

* 10 Cloth Pouches

No idea what those are just yet, but I'm guessing loot drops. We'll see.

I spend some time testing out my spells but they really are pretty straight forward. Shoot a small fireball, skin gets tougher, feet move faster, ring of water explodes outward pushing everything away and Sitting quietly activates a faster [MP], [HP] and [STA] regen.

"Hey Bobs-your-uncle, I saw a lot of noncombat classes earlier. Is the only way to get new gear to buy it or something?"

Sigma-48 looks at me for a bit then answers anyway, determined to be the bigger man perhaps, heh.

"Not the only way, just the safest. You can earn money by killing certain... mobs, for sure, but some will also drop items like you are used to in your games. You will, I'm sure, notice that certain mobs will drop certain loot, and so will you if you die."

Well damn it, I was afraid to ask, but now that it's come up I might as well bite the bullet. "Hey Sigma-48," See I can be polite when I have to. " Huh, about that whole dying thing..."

"Re-spawns," He interrupts me, "Aren't Impossible. There are more than a few methods to do so, finding one is up to you. On that note, I should also tell you to be careful with your soul. When this world was sealed, the usual avenue of escape after death was also sealed.

Normally a soul is drained of its memories and experiences after death then set to be reborn somewhere new but random in the universe. Now the process will take years after death, and there is no guarantee you won't be reborn before your aura can be drained. That is something you do NOT want to happen. A baby with years worth of memories will grow insane with time. Also while dead the memories and experiences of your soul's aura can be used as a power source for magic. But only by force and it is one of the few ways to actually cause damage to a soul. Not to say, you are completely vulnerable after death, just for a short time until a Theta claims your soul for safe keeping."

So if anyone but a god or Celestial handles my soul after death, it's bad news. Got it. Note to self, find a way to rez asap.

"Ok Sigma-48, I appreciate the time and effort you're putting in to keep me alive. Is there anything else I should know?"

The severity of the warning makes me want to be polite to the guy. It's sobering to know there ARE worse things than death.

"You are welcome although no time as actually passed. But Yes, there is one last thing." Sigma-48 says.

Right before the pain hits. Son-of-a

My sight goes blank and the next second I'm sitting up in bed, covered in sweat and wondering where the pain went. Nothing hurts though, in fact, I feel pretty good. I'm about to start wondering if that was some kind of stress dream when I notice my staff at the foot of the bed. Huh, ok then.

'Inventory' I think. It opens up and I start to test it out.

Seems I can put any one thing into each slot and similar items will stack. The kitchen knives stack despite the different sizes so there is some leeway there. My go-bag takes up only one slot despite having many things in it, but that's less of a benefit than one would think. Well, no, not as long as I don't put anything I might need in a hurry in it. When I close the inventory screen another pops up. Heh, so that's what Sigma-Bob meant...

Quest Hope is the Dream Sigma-48 would like help building its personality. It is leaning towards Optimistic. Surviving until level 20 will show there is reason still for Hope in this world. Rewards 4 Gold Coins, 5 mana Crystals, 1 Spatial Gem, 10 leather Pouches, Sub-Class Accept Decline

Well Bobby, what can I say. Who am I to let hope die. Besides It's not as though surviving goes against any future plans I might make. I touch Accept.

I put my go-bag in my inventory, same with the knives and the baseball bat the boys didn't take. I eat some of the nicer canned goods and fill the last inventory slot with another bag full of food. I also use [Identify] on everything I can. Safety might be relative, but relatively speaking, this may be my last safe night for a while. I have no reason to stay until the food runs out. Not if everyone is going to be out and about getting stronger now. I'd rather leave on my own terms and besides, eventually, I'm going to have to deal with other people, no way I want to be in a position of weakness when that happens.

In the morning I eat another big breakfast, the food tasting better than it really should, but I guess that's a given when you may die soon. I use the facilities, hide the toilet paper and take one last look around the house. Despite everything, we've kept it clean and now I'm kind of hoping Mr. Smith will get to see it, even though I already know...

Well, I'm just stalling now, so I walk briskly to the door and barely hesitate before moving the barricades. There is something different about viewing the world through the window as it goes to hell and actually being a part of it. The neighborhood looks worse than a bad storm on garbage day, but fuck it, let's do this.

I step out into the new world...Incursion[/url][url=http://picosong.com/R7jC/]

Status Name Leon Level 1 Health 114 Mana 195 Stamina 114 Strength 11 Intelligence 19(16) Dexterity 8 Agility 12 Wisdom 5 N/A 0 N/A 0 N/A 0