Chapter 3: Races and Rebirth

The swirling has finally stopped and reversed, spitting out a new list of choices, which is good because my eyes are starting to burn. This list’s options all hold much more interest for me than the previous one (just to clarify, that means that I like more of the choices than just one). At the top in large bold text are the words: Choose your race and below that is a large scrolling list of pictures and descriptions holding the most fantastic creatures, some of which I have heard of, most of which I have not.

Choose your race!

Human: Racial benefits include:

10% increased reputation gain with locals (aka computer controlled characters).

Alliance: Either

It is unknown how the human race arrived in templa it is only known that they have existed since the dawn of time. Due to there long existence most people will hold them in higher regard.

High Elf: Racial benefits include:

10% increased damage dealt to all dark forces.

Alliance: Light

The high elves are mortal enemies with their dark counterparts and have perfected methods to destroy them, giving them an advantage when facing all dark opponents.

Dark Elf: Racial benefits include:

10% increased damage dealt to all dark forces.

Alliance: Dark

The dark elves are mortal enemies with their high counterparts and have perfected methods to destroy them, giving them an advantage when facing all opponents on the side of light.

Dwarf: Racial benefits include:[/font]

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5% increase to all mining abilities.

5% increase in all metalworking abilities.

Alliance: Either

The dwarves are a mountain dwelling race that are naturally attracted to all metals and gems which has made them excellent miners and metalworkers

Demon: Racial benefits include:

Ability to fly using wings(note flying is nearly impossible with regular armor made of metal.

Until you have gained reputation with a party they will naturally be distrustful of you due to a dubious reputation: -25 reputation with all new groups and -10% reputation gain.

The demon race emerged from a place called the crevice deep in the dark lands approximately 2000 years ago and have since made it their duty to wipe out all traces of the angel race for unknown reasons. Anyone who discovers the reason can claim a reward from either the Dark lord or the Emperor.

Angel; Racial benefits include:

Ability to fly using wings(note flying is nearly impossible with regular armor made of metal.

Until you have gained reputation with a party they will naturally be distrustful of you due to your tendency to bring fights with demons to the people you are with: -25 reputation with all new groups and -10% reputation gain.

The angel race emerged from the cloudless mountain deep in the lands of light approximately 2000 years ago and have since made it their duty to wipe out all traces of the Demon race for unknown reasons. Anyone who discovers the reason can claim a reward from either the Dark lord or the Emperor.

Attention! all races beyond this point are challenge races. They have no advantages and heavy disadvantages

Yeah as “great” as that last message sounds, I think I might take an advantage. I’ve already chosen a dubious class and this sounds like it would just be asking for trouble.

But what to choose from the 6 “regular races” that are here. Of all of them I think dwarf would probably be the best because depending on fighting for income doesn’t sound super wise. Then again, I don’t need those bonuses to become anything and I’m willing to work hard enough to get around that. Well, that and the fact that I really want to fly.

Ok I can’t resist it, and the choice between Angel or Demon isn’t hard for me. Lets just say that I am not really a good person. I do what I do to survive and better my situation and if someone else gets in my way I have no problem pushing them no matter who they are. I think the angels might frown on that particular approach to life.

Now if i can just focus enough to select it and… got it.

Now swirly thing again (seriously, kudos to who or what ever designed this. It looks really cool)

Another message but this time accompanied with a picture.

Choose your Starting location (available locations marked by an x)

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Sorry. I actually do have an image (https://twitter.com/jarth0n/media) , but it won't load in royal road and the X isn't on it so, just to tell you, it is in the middle of the island on the bottom left. Also why can't you upload images?

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Looks like there’s only one for me. No sense in putting it off. I mentally push the X and everything disappears in a brilliant flash of light. Seriously, really, really, bright I’m almost blind here people.

When I finally blink away the intense afterimage on my retina the most incredible sight meets my eyes.

I’m standing on a ledge halfway up a mountain of volcanic rock that may well be a volcano. Below me is a small village with stacking towers that curve up and have cool gargoyles on the edges. The houses are black and made of a polished version of the volcanic stone that I am standing on with red trimming on the shingles and in between the stones that make up the village. The style is vaguely reminiscent of ancient pictures I once saw in a history book on the East Asian district.

Beyond that is a vast plain with strange red trees, a reddish brown grass here and there and herds of animals too far in the distance to make out. The plain is only broken by huge lava fields; rocks floating among them and volcanoes both big and small that erupt surprisingly regularly throwing huge spurts of magma high into the air. Even the sky is tinged red with a regular yellow sun that seems too bright.

I hold my hand up to try and get a better view of some people in the village and nearly have a heart attack. I was so busy looking at the incredible landscape that I didn’t even think to look at myself. When I chose the demon class it really turned me into a demon!

My skin is red, (who could have guessed) quite thick and looks vaguely scaly. My fingernails are black and razor sharp, my hair has changed from it’s usual brunette to a deep black that seems to reflect light about as well as obsidian and 2 horns are poking through the black masses. Oh, and they didn’t stop there, 2 deadly looking wings that could've belonged to a dragon are poking into the tight fitting, red cloth I wear. The wings are reminiscent of a bats, with a membrane holding together tough leather like skin between them. Last of all I appear to have a demon like tail that fits out of the especially designed shorts I have on made of the same material as the shirt.

In short, I look badass.

Aside from the aforementioned shirt and shorts, the only things that I posses are a scaly belt, a black cloak with the hood drawn back, an obsidian dagger attached to a sheath in the belt and a pair of thick sandals protecting my feet from the sharp rocks beneath my feet.

“Hello, young traveler.”

Inhaling sharply and jumping just a little I turn and see the first demon, besides myself, that I have yet encountered.

He is an old looking dude with lines of silver running through his short black hair. Hunched over and using a gnarled red cane, this demon is clad in armor made of scales about the size of my fist.

“Silent eh, usually I get more than a gasp.”

“I come from a place where showing weakness could get a knife in your back.” I answer back, mentally kicking myself for the slight tremor in my voice.

“Perfect. You’ll fit in then. The last few people that have come through Rather sacrificed themselves to the gods to become a different being (I assume that’s what reseting your character looks like to the local’s). Tried to order us around and would’t do any work. I hope you are different, otherwise you might be left to die. We don’t have a very high liking for champions such as yourself.”

“Don’t worry. I’m no slacker.” And I really am not looking forward to being left to die.”

“Right then let’s get on with it. What should we call you?”

A new window appears in front of my face and much to my satisfaction I manage not to flinch.

Enter Name Below

Hm, this could be tricky. I could go with sam I suppose, but I’ll leave that as a last resort. I was given a new life and I have no desire to save this thread that connects me to my past. But what to do instead? I look around for inspiration, but Volcanic rock, lava and strange red trees don’t seem to fit. Well how about something I own. Let’s see, cloak, shirt, pants, sandals, belt and a knife. Struck by a sudden inspiration from the last item on the list I mentally enter 5 characters into the box.

Dismissing the box I turn to the old demon who is still patiently waiting, doing nothing but staring at me with black eyes and swaying slightly.

“Call me Blade”…. yea yea, I know it’s a little cheesy, but it sorta goes with my deadly look.

“Very well, Blade” he says possibly chuckling a little under his breath. “My name is Zim and after retiring from a life of battle I decided to settle down and help the new champions (I think that this is what players are referred to as) become accustomed to this world. It is I who will set you on the path to fame or infamy, but only you can walk to the end of that path.” He makes a strange gesture with his gnarled stick and suddenly my view is obscured by a torrent of new messages.

You have learned essence sight from Zim. This ability will give you the ability to asses almost anything you focus on and find information on the object or person. Quality and amount of information will increase as your skill level does. This ability won’t work on items obscured by an essence shadow of an equal or higher level than your level of essence sight.

“There, now you will be able to see what you can and can’t take on. To start with, try using it on me. As with most skills you will simply need to think ‘essence sight’ while focusing on something.” When I finally do manage to make something happen a window appears next to his head reading: Zim

I focus strongly on Zim. It takes me a couple of tries but when I finally do manage to make something happen a window appears next to his head reading: Zim, level 105, Paladin. Another thing happens too. I see a line of semi transparent text saying Zim with a red bar below that and a blue one below that. Both bars are full.

Before I can properly wonder about these two bars, a new window appears directly in my vision.

You have learned the passive ability essence field. You will now be able to see names as well as health and mana levels of NPC’s and champions. This skill has no levels.

“excellent job, you also learned essence field which is a valuable skill. It looks like you have the basics down.

With that he waves that odd little cane of his and yet another window shows up in front of my face.

Free stat points: 0

Strength: 1 Agility:1

Dexterity: 1 Endurance: 1

Heath: 10 (1 point= +10) Mana: 10 (1 point =+10)

Regeneration: 1 Wisdom: 1

So apparently I can earn points and increase my abilities. Strength and Agility seem pretty self explanatory as do Endurance and Health. My best guess is that Regeneration is how fast I gain health, but as for the rest I have no Idea. I would bet that Zim knows. His job seems to be to introduce “champions” as they are called into their new world. He would be pretty useless if he couldn’t answer simple questions like that.

“Hey Zim, what can you tell me about Dex-ter-it-ty, Wis-dom and Mana? ” I stumble over the complicated words. Gah, with some of these new word its like trying to say everything with a concussion.

Zim looks at me with an expression that is trying to say “Oh boy I got my work cut out for me” and explains the finer detail with annoyed reluctance. Despite his downtrodden demeanor I think that answering these so clearly ignorant questions may be something he truly enjoys. But probably not because he just rolled his eyes at me and is glaring so I should probably get off cloud 9 and start listening again.

…

It had been a long day of answering questions, but Zim had enjoyed it. Blade didn’t expect anything unreasonably of him, seemed hardworking and had a good head on her shoulders. He thought she would most likely make it in the demon lands and that was a skill that not many people had these days. Sure, lots of people tried, enticed by stores of high level demons who were some of the most powerful players in the game or attracted by the challenge of the most difficult start in the game (No pain, no gain.Right?), but few were strong willed enough to succeed. Not, blade though, she wouldn’t quit. She was on a path to fame. Although Zim suspected that infamy might be more her style.

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