What the hell?

The little voice rang out into the endless void. Darkness. No warmth or cold, no comfort or any pain. Nothingness. There were memories there, at least, a cavalcade of images and thoughts. A life lived constantly on the move, an empty hole in the heart that needed to be filled, moments of indulgence, crimes of passion and opportunity, violence, the sound of a gunshot.

Right, Carter shot me.

The voice’s thoughts drifted in the cosmic wrongness. An empty plane to dissipate into, to fade, to become nothing at long last. A life lived fully but without meaning, it was at least a life, right?

Connection Secured

Uhuh, well that wasn’t in dad’s holy book.

The words were a feeling. Calm, collected, they had the sense of an old man to them. Strange. A bell chimed somewhere in the vastness of it all followed by more words.

Beginning Transmigration

Loading Updates…

Updating Procedures…

Prior to vessel acquisition, a new introductory procedure has been introduced.

Pastor cedes to Journey

What is this some kind of computer?

The little voice was cut off, its questions lost to the void as a sensation washed over it for the first time. The laws of the universe took hold again. Gravity became constant, time began to move, distance became something of meaning. The world bent and twisted until the little voice felt itself fall, faster and faster, but even then no sense of terror or vertigo warped senses. Could it not feel fear?

The movement stopped and a voice reached out to it; “Why hello there!”

Disoriented, the presence tried to make sense of direction as the darkness around it became perceivable. It could see. Not it, she. The little voice dug deep, trying to hold onto its sense of identity. Simone. Her name was Simone. Simone Balfrey. The world had been her playground. She’d seen her name in papers. She was someone. She had a history and others would remember her so she wouldn’t dare forget herself.

“Wow! You retained that pretty quickly,” The feminine voice said, laughing a little.

Simone didn’t have a body, but she had a sense of how to move at least. She turned, unable to see what she looked like, and instead focused on the source of the voice. Real sound after who knew how long she had been drifting in the void. She found a pale woman sitting on a stool in the middle of the dark void, multicolored clouds crackling with power in the distance. Violet light ripped through one cloud and a loud clap of thunder echoed across the incomprehensible expanse. The woman let out a laugh, it was a pretty laugh. She was short and had a foreign look about her, eastern european? The woman crossed her legs and waved dismissively at the clouds.

“Don’t mind him, he just wants to make sure I don’t say anything I’m not supposed to,” The woman said, “Even though we’ve done this hundreds of times!” She shouted back at the cloud.

Who are you?

“Good question!” The woman said, clasping her hands together in her lap. “I am Ianna Kovac, and yes my family traces its origins to eastern europe. Though I grew up in Chicago,” She said pleasantly, “Nice to meet you Simone.”

You can read my thoughts?

“Sort of, it’s hard to explain. I’m not really here either. I’m a tutorial program of sorts, a way of explaining what’s about to happen to you. Someone took exception to the way things were done before and decided this would help with the transition,” The Ianna person said, shrugging. “A friendly face and all that.”

Transition? What is happening to me?

Why couldn’t Simone feel anything beyond curiosity and surface level trepidation? It was like the idea of terror and confusion was foreign to her. She tried to feel anger, something, but she couldn’t even feel that warmth in her chest at the idea. Nothing.

“You don’t have a body or brain chemistry to experience emotion, yet,” Ianna said, waving a hand.

Yet?

“Great transition!” The woman laughed, “That’s right, Yet. You are being transmigrated, your mind sent to another world with another chance at life. Crazy, yeah? But you’ve seen a lot in your life, haven’t you?”

Nothing this crazy, but I believe what I see with my own eyes.

“I like you,” Ianna said, “You’re being transported to a world called Orum, a world of magic and monsters and danger. It’s far from a perfect place to live, but it’s a second chance,” She tilted her head and then rubbed her chin. “Let’s get you into a body really quick.”

Loading Player Creation… PlayerID : SimoneB

Please select a Race to start.

Before Simone even had a chance to question any of the madness that just had come out of that woman’s mouth a cluster of bodies took shape in front of her eyes. From left to right they each looked dramatically different from one another in some ways but the same in others. They were all female and all had a dark skintone similar to her own from her life before. The first body looked almost exactly like she had when she’d been alive. Maybe a bit taller and leaner. She had a roundish face with narrow eyes and long black hair. Her lips were pressed firmly together in that resting frown that she’d been teased about ever since she was a kid.

Human

Racial Trait: [ADAPTABLE] Racial (Human) - Constant exposure to adverse conditions without succumbing will eventually result in tolerances or even resistances.

Wait you’re seriously asking me to pick what kind of body I get?

“Well… yeah, at least you get to pick before you go in,” Ianna said dismissvely.

I don’t have to be human?

“Of course not! You get five picks here, though I don’t think I’ll get in trouble for saying there are ways to make adjustments later on,” Ianna said with a wink.

Racial Traits, Race Selection, this is like a game.

“Now you’re catching on,” Ianna said with a nod, “Think of it like a game with your life as the stakes. At least to start. Don’t forget that where you’re going is a real place with real people,” A rumble of thunder cracked behind Ianna and she jumped, “Alright, alright, I’ll keep that kind of stuff to myself.”

Screw human. Cool ability but I want to be something else.

Ianna shrugged as Simone turned her attention to the next body, this one was shorter and stocky, a thick body with curves in plenty of great places. The dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun and the eyes were a bit more sunken behind heavy brows.

Dwarf

Racial Trait: [STONESIGHT] Racial (Dwarf) - You possess an innate tremorsense that allows for short-range blindsight as long as you are touching the ground.

She thought about it for a moment before moving on to the next one. This one was thinner than her human form, shorter, with a waifish frame and sharper facial traits. The pointed ears gave it away even before the text appeared in Simone’s mind.

Elfkin

Racial Trait: [ELEMENTALIST] Racial (Elfkin) - You possess an innate resistance to elemental magic; your resistance to elemental spells has increased.

Tempting, but I want to see the other two.

The next one was bigger than the elfkin, muscular with a red tint to the dark skin. The facial features were rigid and more square with a sternness about it. The creature had pointed ears and what looked like pointed teeth as well.

Azar

Racial Trait: [DEMONSKIN] Racial (Azar) - Your skin is naturally resilient to physical blows; your resistance to physical attacks has increased.

Demonskin? So these people are demons of some kind?

Ianna hesitated and then rubbed her arm, she glanced over her shoulder but the clouds remained still, “Some people call them that, unkindly. Kind of like certain words from Earth.”

Simone hesitated and glanced over at the last body, this one had dark-green skin, a powerful build and was at least a head taller than the human.

Orckin

Racial Trait: [NATURALIST] Racial (Orckin) - You take on attributes that compliment your surroundings, altering your appearance over time and providing you with various benefits.

Simone looked back at the Azar and the Azar’s eyes opened. For a moment she felt like the body was looking back at her, at the same time though she could feel sensation on her skin as if she had it. She could feel her heart beating, her chest rising and falling, she could feel emotions now and then, flickers of things. As if to mirror her feelings, the Azar looked thoughtful. She wondered about how they lived, what they were like. She felt her senses drawn back over to Ianna who kept a straight face though she could see a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

Something funny?

“You’re the first so far to take such an interest in being an Azar. Usually they just pick human,” She said, “It’s interesting.”

There are others.

“Loads. You aren’t the first to be transmigrated here and you won’t be the last, heck, I am a simulation of a previous person who was called to Orum,” Ianna said.

What happened to you?

She asked the question more out of self interest than anything. Why was she picked to be the face of this program? What did she have to do with the world now? Was she still there? How easy was it to die? She had so many questions it boggled the mind. The situation was insane, yes, but with evidence in front of her she had to accept what she saw. More importantly, she needed more information if she was going to make any sense of what was going to come afterward.

Ianna made a face and tilted her head, “Something tells me you’ll get to meet me one of these days.”

Cagy much?

“Sorry,” Ianna laughed, “I wish I could answer more.”

I pick the Azar.

Ianna froze, “...are you sure?”

It’s my choice.

Ianna put her hands in her lap and without warning Simone’s perspective shifted abruptly. She was suddenly looking away from Ianna, and she could feel something beneath her feet. Surface. Solidity. She had feet! She looked down at her bare feet and then at her hands. She turned them over and reached up to touch her face, pressing against the skin. She spun around and looked at Ianna who was smiling at her easily. “That’s the first step.”

Simone worked her lips for a moment and tried to take a step but felt her leg tremble a little. Her words wouldn’t come. She opened her mouth and made a sound. So she wasn’t mute. She worked her jaw a few times and took a few experimental steps. The height difference and shape of her feet made walking a little awkward.

“You’ll get used to it,” Ianna assured her, “Now we should talk about the perks of being called.”

Ianna waved a hand and three objects appeared in front of Simone. A worn looking book, a cracked compass, and a ratty looking bag. Simone made a face. She looked up at Ianna and cleared her throat, trying to speak again, the words coming out with a bit of effort. “What… are these?”

“First try visualizing a character sheet,” Ianna said, “Think about it.”

Simone frowned but gave it a shot, concentrating. A tone rang out in her mind and to her shock a semi-translucent square appeared in her face covered in information. She took a few wobbly stepps back in surprise, waving her hands frantically at it before realizing what she was seeing.

NAME: UNKNOWN

PLAYERID: SIMONEB

RACE: AZAR

SEX: FEMALE

AGE: 26

[LOCKED]

CURRENT LEVEL: 0 (0/300 EXP / Growth: 100%)

[LOCKED]

REPUTATION: N/A

ALIGNMENT: NEUTRAL

Physique:

Unawakened (0%)

Endurance:

Unawakened (0%)

Willpower:

Unawakened (0%)

Influence:

Unawakened (0%)

Agility:

Unawakened (0%)

Skill:

Unawakened (0%)

RESISTANCES

Physical:

Capable

Nullifies a small amount of physical damage.

TRAITS

[DEMONSKIN]

[TOOLS OF THE WANDERER]

[SPARK OF THE OUTSIDER]

ACHIEVEMENTS

[LOCKED]

“It’s like a menu,” Simone murmured, sitting down on the ground that both existed and didn’t exist at the same time, she scratched her chin and noted that many of the words were illuminated on the sheet. She selected physique.

ATTRIBUTES:

Physique, Endurance, Willpower, Influence, Agility, Skill

Physique governs your capacity for physical strength and speed.

Endurance governs your overall condition and health as well as your capacity to endure injury.

Willpower governs your strength of mind and ability to retain and manipulate mana.

Influence governs your force of personality and your magical output.

Agility governs your flexibility, quickness, and dexterity.

Skill governs your ability to learn and use skills as well as perform complex tasks.

Attributes are a measurement of the capabilities of an individual in comparison to an ordinary member of their race. Each point in an attribute functions as a 0.1 multiplier. For example, a Human with 20 Physique would possess twice the amount of strength of an ordinary member of his or her species.

Your current race: Azar

Simone quickly memorized the information and moved on to the Traits.

TRAITS

[DEMONSKIN] Racial (Azar) - Your skin is naturally resilient to physical blows; your resistance to physical attacks has increased.

[TOOLS OF THE WANDERER] Unique - You have been granted abilities to aid you in this new world.

[SPARK OF THE OUTSIDER] Unique - You possess a soul from another world, transmigration has altered you irrevocably. Some requirements and limitations do not apply to you. You are capable of consuming aspect stones to awaken abilities and powers.

“Abilities?” She mused and then glanced at the items floating in front of her. The window appeared without her even having to ask.

ABILITIES

INHERITED ABILITIES

[TATTERED JOURNAL]

Inherited Passive Utility

Provides access to some quests and limited information about the world around you within its beaten pages. Touching an object will give you a basic description of its properties. May be summoned or dismissed at will.

[OLD SATCHEL]

Inherited Passive Utility

Can be used to store a very small amount of items in an interdimensional space. May be summoned or dismissed at will. Items may be equipped directly from the storage space. May loot defeated entities with a touch, creating items from their essence.

[WORN COMPASS]

Inherited Passive Utility

Guides you to your next destination with pathetic accuracy. May be summoned or dismissed at will.

Suddenly the old ratty-looking objects weren’t so bad in her eyes. She glanced over at Ianna who had a knowing look on her face and couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She looked back at her stats and mused for a moment, “I don’t have any numbers here,” Simone said finally.

“You won’t until you acquire an aspect,” Ianna pointed out.

Simone turned to her, “An aspect?”

“Aspects are the magic of Orum. Normally a person can only acquire one aspect without outside assistance. As an ‘outsider’ you can absorb up to five of them without any help,” Ianna explained, “But absorbing one as an outsider is kinda painful, honestly it sucks.”

“But magic powers,” Simone said hungrily, “Sounds like a fair trade.”

“I know right?” Ianna barked out a laugh, “I knew I liked you for a reason. You’re in luck, unlike the normies on Orum, you get your first Aspect from me, before you even arrive! Aren’t I great?”

Simone raised an eyebrow, “Do I get to pick it?”

“Yes and no!” Ianna crowed, “It’s random, but you can influence it a little.”

Simone sighed, “Figures, well I guess I can’t really complain about free stuff, right?”

Ianna nodded and held out a hand, a ball of light forming over her palm. Simone gaped openly at the casual use of what looked more like the magic she was imagining, not just an enchanted book. The sphere began to spin and change color, soon it began to change shape. Ianna looked Simone in the eyes and curled her lips wickedly, “Say when.”

Simone’s eyes widened and Ianna laughed, “I’m kidding! Just think hard about what you want, it’s all you can do.”

Simone grumbled and closed her eyes, she didn’t care what the power was, really, she’d figure it out one way or another. She just didn’t want to feel limited by one thing or another. If she had a chance to do something she wanted to do everything, try everything, experience everything, she wanted to live even bigger than her first life. That’s all she wanted, just to do the biggest damn thing possible.

Simone opened her eyes and she spotted Ianna staring at her thoughtfully, a sad smile on her face. “What?”

Ianna shook her head and looked to her palm, a stone formed made of what looked like fool’s gold. It landed in Ianna’s palm with a slap of stone against skin. She looked at it and then looked at Simone with a raised eyebrow before tossing it over to Simone who rushed to catch it. It tumbled between her fingers once before she scrambled to keep it off the ground, When she finally held it in her hands another prompt appeared.

You meet the requirements to consume this [Aspect Stone of the Upstart]

This Aspect Stone contains raw, unbridled ambition.

Requirements: [None] as per [Spark of the Outsider]

Would you like to consume this Aspect Stone and gain access to the Upstart Aspect Tree?

Yes / No

Simone was about to select Yes when Ianna held up a hand, “When you use that, we will part ways,” Ianna said, “Is there anything you wanted to ask me?”

Simone lowered the stone to her side, “Yes, actually, why me? What am I supposed to do once I’m there?”

Ianna shrugged, “Why you? No idea, I have no idea why I got picked, none of us who came to Orum do,” she paused, “As for what you are supposed to do, well that and what you can do are two very different things,” she said with a wink.

“I’m being called for a reason,” Simone said, “That’s pretty obvious.”

Ianna nodded, “You’re right. But that’s not my place to explain it all, I have my own opinions on the matter and thunder-boy behind me and I disagree. Just live your best life, is all I can say.”

Simone frowned but nodded, “Thank you Ianna. I really hope I get to meet the real you someday. I feel like if I had just been dropped in this place, well, I don’t know what I’d think or do.”

Ianna looked away for a moment and let out a breath, “Good luck Simone, be safe.”

Simone looked down at the stone in her hand, the prompt reappeared and she selected yes. A sudden flash of pain rushed up her arm and her world went dark.

Vessel Located!

Transmigration proceeding.

SUCCESS! Finalizing Transmigration.

Transmigration Complete

Tutorial Protections are Active

Welcome to Orum

The next thing Simone could sense was the sound of shouting and the clash of metal on metal. She heard the guttural sound of a man crying out in pain and sat up, shaking her head and taking in her surroundings. She was sitting on grass, her hands in something sticky. She pulled her fingers out of the disgusting whatever-it-was and looked at them. Blood. A chill rushed down her spine as another shout rang out to her left. She dove to her right, finding herself pressed against an upturned wagon of some kind. Her heart pounded in her chest and her breath came out in slow heaves as she peered around the side and into the grass-framed road beyond.

Men were fighting monsters, she’d come into Orum in the middle of a battle.