Liberty Tower, New York.

Oct 24, 2046 10:45 PM EST

Marcy Rogers sat in a dimly lit office suite. She was sitting at a desk near two great big dark oaken doors. The desks, cubicles, and other offices around her were dark and empty. Marcy was a short and thin. Her bone structure made her more handsome than pretty, but good genes made up for it. Her thick long blonde hair was naturally wavy, and reached her mid back. Her pale blue eyes sparkled when she was happy, but they had not done that in a long time. She sat typing at a holographic display.

“Yes ma’am. I understand, I’ll be sure to let them know.” She typed quickly. Rapidly typing in her bosses instructions. She was supposed to be off of work 3 hours ago but she was somehow the last one in the office, again. Her boss had left an hour earlier than everyone else, but had left Marcy a pile of work on her way out the door. Each time Marcy had gotten close to finishing the work, her boss would call and give her more.

Sighing, she hung up the holographic video call and glanced at the clock. “Only an hour and some change before Esper Online: The 15 Thrones is released” she said. Gritting her teeth she set to work.

Marcy finished up and glanced at the clock 11:42She smiled and pushed her hair back over her shoulder, “. I have time to eat and log in”. Before she could log out, the incoming call icon flashed. “No, please no.” As the display updated with eh contact ID, she groaned, it was MS Fletcher, again. Hesitating, her hand wavered before the accept call icon. “I really don’t want to. She is just going to give me more work” Marcy whined. Marcy had been looking forward to Esper Online’s expansion for months. She had reached the game’s max level half a year ago, and since she did not Raid there was not a lot for her to do. “I want to kill, explore, and get new loot” Marcy whispered. The call icon flashed again. Marcy pinched her fingers together and moved down opening a small digital mirror in the holographic display. She checked to make sure her makeup looked okay, closed the mirror, placed a rigid smile on her face and answered the call. “Hello, Miss Fletcher.” Ms. Fletcher’s face appeared. She was wearing a towel on her head and had some kind of green goo covering her face, but her eyes flashed with rage. “Marcy it rang 3 times, you know I expect promptness from my secretary.” Marcy kept her smile firmly in place, “Yes ma’am.” “Have you not looked in a mirror recently Marcy? Your hair is a mess! I expect my employees to be presentable at all times.” Marcy’s smile wavered as hands reached into view and placed cucumber slices on Ms. Fletcher’s eyes. Keeping her voice steady she replied, “Yes ma’am.” Well, nothing for your look now. But once we get off this call I want you to fix yourself, then start on these next assignments.” An icon flashed in the holographic display showing receipt of an action list from her. “But, Ms. Fletcher, I was supposed to be off at 6. I even have the next week off to visit my sick dad.” A sneer flashed over Ms. Fletcher’s green smeared face. “Marcy, Marcy, Marcy. You’re off when I tell you that you are. I don’t know how you even got the time off. But if you don’t want me to cancel it, you will not interrupt me again.” Marcy glared but answered in a cool meek voice, “Yes Ma’am.”

It was past 2 in the morning before Marcy got home and was able to log into her ER Study. As she settled the neural helmet over her head, colors swirled. The blackness solidified into a black marble room. The furniture that sat in Marcy’s study was made from polished steel and reflected the artfully distributed lights. A sultry female voice sang out, “Welcome back.” Marcy snarled, “Oh shut up! Load up Esper Online, I’m running late!” “As you wish” the voice said.

Colors swirled, and a cinematic video began. Marcy found herself floating over a stunning world. Great deep blue oceans divided massive continents, lush emerald green Forests reached from horizon to horizon, golden grasses waved in vast plains, pure white snow topped peaks rose so high they never melted. Over it all armies of Orcs, Dwarves, Humans and others clashed, cities were sieged and razed. Empires sprang up and were torn down. A deep masculine voice began “Esper is a world of sword, and sorcery. Love and War.” Marcy interrupted it, “I don’t give a shit! I want to play!” The world and voice vanished suddenly, everything going black and still. After a minute a prompt flashed in front of Marcy.

Esper online is experiencing a larger than expected creation Que. Please wait. You are currently 24,164 in line.

“What the fuck?” she shouted. “I do not want to create a character. I want to play my current toon.” Blackness was the only response. “Server list” she demanded. Nothing happened. “My character list.” Still nothing. “Gamemaster help!” nothing. Growling in frustration she snarled, “Log out!” still nothing. Over the next hour Marcy tried everything she could think of to get the system to respond. The only change was every few minutes the prompt would reappear showing a lower number in line.

Finally colors flashed and Marcy found herself in a small stone room. Light Grey Stone walls, floor, and ceiling all around. A prompt appeared in front of her.

WELCOME TO ESPER ONLINE!

The 15 Thrones!!!

It has been generations since the last rites of Magmamus. The 7 Thrones have stood empty none have been able to enter the Castles and survive to claim them. Many have died, and many more have lived in the shadows of the once proud and mighty castles. Now few even try, but change has once again claimed the realms. Petty feuds must be placed to the side, revenges and debts must wait. Because the Gates have been opened the Elemental and Outer Realms have been released! New adventures, challenges, and most of all dangers await those brave enough to sally forth into this new and more dangerous world.

Another prompt flashed open.

Welcome to the Hall of challenges, soon you will choose the path your life will take. The next few moments will shape your life, so choose carefully!

NEW Quest:

Your first Quest.

Choose a weapon and leave the room. Think carefully your choice will affect your class. But do not take too long, or you might be caught flat footed.

Quest Type: General

Difficulty: Very Easy

Outcome. Leave the room.

Reward: Possible weapon.

Failure: Die before leaving the room.

Marcy blinked twice, happy to see her macros were still in place as the prompts closed. She was standing in the same small stone room, but now a single torch hung on the wall, and an old, worn dark wooden door stood shut in front of her. Next to the door there was a small table with four weapons on it. On the left there was a dingie rusty looking mace, next to it lay a long gnarled looking staff, besides that a slightly bent short sword, and finally a rusty blunt looking dagger.

“Fucking hell” Marcy snarled. She grabbed the dagger and climbed up on to the table.

You have received.

Rusty Knife (grey)

Quality: Trash

Durability: 10 / 10

Weight: 0.50lb

Type: Dagger

Crafter: Unknown

Properties: 1-4 Piercing Damage.

Restrictions: None

After a brief climb up the wall Marcy was able to reach through the cobweb and grab the coin pouch hidden behind it. “If this bastard game is going to make me go through this again, then let’s not forget the loot.”

Coin Pouch (Grey)

Quality: Poor

Durability: 2 / 2

Weight: 0.01lb

Type: Container

Crafter: Unknown

Properties: Contains 1 Slot

Restrictions: None

She dropped off the wall as two more prompts flashed.

Skill Acquired:

Apprentice Climb: Rank 1. You know the basics of lifting yourself off the ground, by grabbing and holding onto something else. Beware the climber who reaches to high hits bottom rather hard.

Skill Acquired:

Apprentice Perception: Rank 1. You know the basics of seeing that which others may overlook. Beware you may see more than you desire and once seen things are hard to forget.

Marcy blinked those messages away too grumbling, “If I wasn’t so fucking short I could just reach that shit.” She jumped off the table and walked through the now open door.

Quest Completed!

Your First Quest

Rewards:

5 Exp +1 Dexterity Rusty Knife 50 Silver Coins

New Quest

The Journey Begins!

Congratulations you have a weapon. Now what will you do with it? Up ahead you will encounter two goblins on a regular patrol. Do you kill them or find another way around?

Quest Type: General

Difficulty: Easy

Outcome: Exit Through the single door.

Reward: Starting Gear.

Failure: Die before going through the door.

Marcy appeared in the long stone torch lit hallway and looked around in disgust. “Character Command. Log Out1” she shouted. She remained in the hall and after a minute she grumbled but started down the hall. “What the fuck is Siarra up too? Why make me start over? I know that gold I bought wasn’t exactly from a legit source, but give a girl a break.” After a few minutes echoing voices could be heard and Marcy stepped forward a few more feet, then stopped to listen. At first she could understand nothing they said, but slowly the voices became more clear. “It be mine turn for eats” one voice said in a high nasal tone. Another voice answered, “You eats last.” The first snapped, “It be many day.” The second voice growled, “It be more days since I eat.” Marcy shook her head. “Poor starving fools, maybe I should kill them and put them out of my miseray.” Smiling she started to move quietly making sure to creep next to the walls. When the hall opened up into a large cavern she quickly dashed into the shadows right of the pathway the goblins were patrolling. Staying to the shadows and hiding behind stalagmites she made her way toward the door. After waiting for the green skinned beasts to turn and start walking away from the door she dashed to it, and stopped. The goblins were now 40 or 50 feet away and moving even further. For a moment she just watched them, then smiled. Marcy whistled, “Hey you green skinned fools!” Both goblins jumped in surprise, turned and stared at her abrupt appearance. They glanced confused at one another , then as one yelled, “MEAT!” Eagerly they charged at Marcy. Smiling Marcy, turned around, pulled down her breeches, and bent over. She looked back, then slapped her rear. “You can’t eat me, but I’ll give you a treat anyway!” The green skinned creatures howled in rage and ran faster. Marcy opened the door then waited for the goblins to come close. A second before they could reach her she blew them a kiss and stepped through the door laughing as she vanished.

Skill Acquired:

Apprentice Keen Ears: Rank 1. You have tried to and succeeded at hearing that which others may miss. Listening is a valuable skill until you enter into a tavern full of drunk dwarves.

Skill Acquired:

Apprentice Sneak: Rank 1. Staying out of sight is not only a skill but an art form. You have begun to know the shadows, but beware sometimes the shadows may not want to be known.

Quest Completed!

The Journey Begins

Rewards:

5 Exp +1 Dexterity Starting Backpack