Esper Online: Starting City.

Oct 25, 2046 03:17 AM.

The world swirled and rippled into patterns and shapes. When it stopped moving I was standing in some Hume craphole. The buildings were run down wooden affairs. The streets were clogged with people just standing around and the night air smelled of sweat and funk.

Quest Completed!

Choose Your Path!!!

Rewards:

5 Exp +1 Dexterity Class: Thief

A warm tingle started between my legs and exploded outward engulfing me in a yellow glow. I moaned in ecstasy, “Oh god! I love that feeling!”

Congratulations! You have reached level 1!

Rewards:

HP +60 Stamina +20 New Ability–Dagger New Ability–Short Blade New Ability–Mace New Ability–Crossbow New Ability –Thrown New Ability –Bows New Ability: Cloth Armor New Ability: Leather Armor New Ability: Lockpick New Ability: Thieves Tools Cp +6

Quivering on weak legs, I glanced over the message and blinked it away. Another filled my vision, “Okay this shit has to stop!”

Welcome to Beginner City!

You are new to the world of Esper and the gods have created this small hamlet for you to become used to your new surroundings. You may stay here til level 5, or until you leave through THE World Gate. While here you will not lose Exp for dying, nor will your equipment suffer durability damage. Also no Traveler on Traveler violence will be allowed. This is a peaceful realm where all may learn.

“Great, I’m in the land of pussys.” I blinked. “Another fucking message?”

New Quest

Orphans

With the opening of the gates, violence and dangers have increased causing a surge of orphans across the realms. Every major city now has thousands of unwanted children. You have rescued one orphan from a cruel death. Now it is time to give him a more permanent place in the world.

Quest Type: General

Difficulty: Very Easy

Outcome:

Take your Orphan to an orphanage.

Rewards:

Exp +50 5 Gold

Failure None

New Quest

Exit through the World Gate!!!

Find The World Gate and leave the City. Journey in to the Realms and begin your true adventure!

Quest Type: General

Difficulty: Very Easy

Outcome:

Leave Beginner City

Reward:

None

Failure: None

I blinked the quests away after accepting them both. Then looked around the square where I was standing. There was more people standing around here than I would have expected. Moving over to a black skinned drow who wasn’t even twitching a muscle I looked at him. “Are you awake? Hey Drow boy, are you there?” The tool didn’t respond so I turned as if to go. Suddenly I spun around and aimed my fist at his ugly nose in what I hoped would be an awesome roundhouse! Instead, my fist just stopped an inch before his face. The prat didn’t even flinch.

Warning: You are in Starter City and have attempted to cause harm to another Traveler. If you continue to cause trouble you will be arrested and exceled from starter city. Additionally all your possessions will be confiscated.

“Well that just won’t work for me.” I looked at the elf girl; she stared back at me with dull lifeless eyes, the normal eyes of a NPC. Turning I weaved my way out the square in search of an Orphanage. As I left I heard a guard call out, “Hey you! You there stop!” but I ignored it. The streets were packed with people of all shapes and sizes, I saw members of all the races, men and women and most of all tons of fucking people blocking my way! “What is with all these idiots standing around and not even moving?” A man who looked like a golem with bronze metallic skin said, “It’s some new log out feature. Your body doesn’t leave the game anymore.” He was looking at me rather intently; I gave him the finger and ducked around some fat ass orc. Eventually I found the orphanage. Outside stood an ugly looking grey skinned women with librarian glasses. As I moved closer, she turned to me. When I saw her milky white eyes, I realized she was one of those new Deathless. “Hello Traveler.”

Quest Completed!

Orphans!!!

You have brought the orphan to the local Orphanage. The life of a Traveler is one of hardship and strife; she will be better off here and away from you.

Rewards:

50 Exp 5 Gold

“Very good.” The Undead Caretaker said. “Would you care to leave the little brat here or would you rather adopt her and be responsible for him yourself?” An alert flashed with the two options.

LEAVE / ADOPT

“Oh hell no!” I refused that one on principle. As the hag handed me the gold from a small pouch at her side I smiled. Quickly looking up and down the street, I leaned toward the crone. “Hey about that girl I just brought in.” “Yes, the wild elf one. What about her?” “Well, it’s kind of something personal. You know not something to share out in public.” I looked at the people coming and going or more commonly just standing on the street. The caretaker followed my gaze, “And?” “If there was somewhere we could get off the street. I’d feel a lot better. The poor thing really doesn’t need more trouble.” I said the last looking at the door where the orphan had gone. The caretaker looked at me then back to the door. “Okay well it seems I have a moment, but it must be brief there has been a large number of orphans returned today.” I nodded,’ of course.”

New Skill: Apprentice Diplomacy 1 / 75

Being skilled at getting others to do, as you desire is a skill. Making them think it was their idea is a feat.

We stepped into the Orphanage and I shut the door behind me. Inside was a simple entryway that led to a long hallway. There were closed doors leading down the hall and at the end a stair leading up. As the Caretaker turned to face me she asked, “What did you need to…” I cut her off by slamming my knife into her throat.

Sneak Attack: Critical: You hit Orphan Caretaker for 42 damage.

‘Take that!” I shouted. The Caretakers eyes widened and her mouth opened to scream and I smiled. There was no way she was going to scream with that big of a whole in her neck! “GUARDS! GUARDS!” Pulling my knife free I stabbed her again, this time in the chest. She did not even draw in a breath to scream again. “Shit! You’re not breathing!” Pulling my knife back again, I saw her Status Bar.

Deathless Orphanage Caretaker (10)

Starter City

HP 87%

Mana 100%

Stamina 100%

I heard shouting coming from outside. Jabbing out again with my knife I felt it cut and tare.

New Skill: Apprentice Pick Pocket 1 / 75

There is more than one way to make some gold.

The Caretakers ties holding her coin purse snapped and the pouch fell into my waiting hand. “GUARDS!” She shouted again. I opened the door and glanced out. Coming from the direction of the central square, I saw a number of guards shoving through the crowded street. Thankfully, the signed out players were making a fairly useful roadblock. With a smile I asked, “Would you hold this piece of crap for me.” I buried my knife hilt deep into the Caretakers chest and spun out the door. Once on the street and in the crowd I slowed to a normal pace. When I got to the first side street, I glanced back. The Caretaker stood at the Orphanage’s front step with my knife still in her chest. Pointing my direction, she was speaking with a Guard.

Alert: You have been accused of Assault and Theft in Starter City by a noteworthy local. The Guards have been given your description and are looking for you. -200 Fame.

“What the hell is this?” I muttered. A Hume woman looked back over her shoulder at me. Then she did a double take. “What?” I snapped. Her round face grew hard, “Slut!” My hand went for my belt to draw my knife, but it didn’t find anything. With a horrid feeling, I realized there was nothing there at all. Slowly looking down I flinched. “Well that explains why I’m getting so many looks and why I was so easy to identify.” Stopping in the street, I pulled my clothes out of my backpack and got dressed.

New Skill: Apprentice Disguise 1 / 75

Sometimes its best not to look like you did 5 minutes ago.

I couldn’t help it, I began to laugh, getting a skill for getting dressed was weird even for me. Shrugging I turned down another street trying to put distance between the Orphanage and me. “Hey you stop there!” I almost ran into the hands of a Guard who had been standing at the street corner. “Eh, sorry. I … ah have urgent business.” Ducking another sloppy grab I pushed past two logged out players knocking them both over. I grit my teeth in frustration waiting for the system prompt to warn me about hurting Travelers again, but it never came. As I moved through another group of players this time pushing some back towards the Guard I grinned. It seems as long as I didn’t intend to hurt or effect them anyway, the players could be used as obstacles. “Stupid game!” I shouted as I passed into another street. Losing the guard in the traffic here. Up ahead I saw a large silver arch. As we drew closer, I realized that was where the flow of traffic was leading. It also happened to have 4 guards standing in front of it watching players. Bending my knees and hunching I kept a Large Hume in front of me until I was about 20ft from the arch. “Hey invite me to your party Penalopy. I want to make sure I go to the right zone.” Some Orc was talking to a Deathless chick. “Hold up, we are still waiting to here back from Lothorb on who we are following.” The orc frowned, “But I don’t’ want to waste my time here. Invite me so I can at least go kill something outside of town.” I was only 15ft away now, only the Deathless and Orc were between the arch and me. “Hey you stop there!” I jerked and rushed forward. “What the fuck! No!” I hit the orc intending on knocking him toward the guard, but the moron moved into my path. I hit him hard enough to bite my tongue and toss him into the air a few inches. He hit the ground and his head passed through the archway. By the time he vanished, my momentum had already carried me the few steps to his prone form. Off balance, I tumbled and crumpled to the ground inches from the arch. A hand grabbed my ankle. “Got you thief!” I smiled back a the sneering guard, “Why yes I am.” I reached my hand passed the threshold and the world went black.

Character Sheet for: Myst

Name: Tittia Turncoat (Myst)

Race: Wild Elf Class: Thief

Level: 1 Exp: 50 /1000

Strength (STR): 10

Muscle: 5 / Endurance: 5

Dexterity (DEX): 16

Agility: 7 / Instinct: 5

Constitution (CON): 10

Health: 5 / Resilience: 5

Intelligence (INT): 10

Logic: 5 / Mind: 5

Wisdom (WIS): 8

Perception: 5 / Conviction: 3

Charisma (CHA): 10

Appearance: 5 / Personality: 5

Luck (LUC): 0

Hit Points (HP): 140 / 140

Mana; 0 / 0

Stamina: 22.5 / 22.5

Character Points (CP): 7 / 7 Talent Points (TP): 0 / 0

Renown (REN): -250 / -1000

Fame Level: 0 Deity: None

Faith (FAI): 0 / 1000

Titles: None

Achievements: None

Deeds and Properties: None

Spellbook

Skills:

Climb (Apprentice): 1 / 75

Disguise (Apprentice): 1 / 75

Diplomacy (Apprentice): 1 / 75

Keen Ears (Apprentice) 1 / 75

Perception (Apprentice): 1 / 75

Pick Pocket (Apprentice): 1 / 75

Sneak (apprentice) 1 / 75

Abilities:

Armor: You can proficiently wear Cloth and Leather armor types.

Tools You can use Lock Picks, and Thieves Tools.

Weapons: You can proficiently use Dagger, Short Blade, Mace, Thrown, Crossbow, and Bow weapon types.

Social

Friends: None.

Enemies: None.

Family: None.

Clan: None.

Guilds: None.

Nation: None.