Main Hall, Gaming Sanctuary

The two tourists and I pull up some desk chairs from the unoccupied stations and gather up roundtable-style in the middle of the aisle.

Winfrey nurses a cup of vending machine coffee, while Sherry looks dead to the world as she crumples half off the edge of her seat. To be honest, they both still smell faintly of alcohol.

"...Going in a capsule hungover isn't going to do you any favours you realise," I point out, as the only sober one among us.

"Shut uuup..." Sherry moans.

Honestly considering their job and experience, you'd think they'd know better than to try and enter VR like this, but that's their problem to pay for when they exfiltrate. It practically doubles down on the mental fatigue.

"Time's precious, so I'll keep this to the basics. If you want to explore the world and learn the lore - which you should - you'll have to do it on your own time," I start off, "Any questions before I go through Character Creation?"

Winfrey gestures with her coffee, "What are we doing today, exactly, Mr Tour Guide?"

"To start with I need to gather a fresh batch of logs from a low-level spot about half an hour's walk outside the city to craft with for a daily hand-in. You can either come with me and we'll go through the current crafting & gathering experience, or wander around until I'm done - up to you."

"I'll come with," Sherry announces, "Don't give a fuck about lore."

"I'll take a look around, then," Winfrey defers.

"Alright. For clarity, I'm talking about Meteo City, one of the four starting zone options," I fish my Pane out of my backpack, "I typed up a quick primer on the races and Star Signs. Winfrey, I recommend Fighter for your starting class if you're set on the shield-carrying tank for this game as well. Sherry...I honestly don't know much of anything about the gun-wielding hidden classes, so take your pick for what you think will suit you in the short run and build up to your goal. Just not Apprentice or I will actually slap you."

Sherry glares, "What?! Why?!"

I meet her eye contact steadily, "Apprentice is for new people who can't make a decision. It's capped to Level 5 and can learn any of the other starting classes' Skills and Spells for a reduced price. But it can't advance any further until you choose a Starting Class. After which, you will be set to Level 1 as that class, and all your items, equipment, accumulated abilities - everything - will be stripped from you. It's a hard reset."

Winfrey frowns, "That's pretty harsh."

I nod, "It's a waste of time for people who already know what they want to do. It has its uses, but if you want to make something of yourselves, don't bother with it."

If I had an Enduring Low Magicoin for every Newborn who thought that Apprentice was actually this hidden overpowered superclass, I'd have enough money to beat a dragon to death with.

Passing around my Pane, the pair seem to come to their own decisions for what they want to do.

"Made your decisions?" They nod, "Then let's hear them. Sherry, you first."

She clears her throat dramatically, before devolving into a sputtering coughing fit, "ugh..Panoplast Scout. The Rider."

Snickering at her friends misfortune, Winfrey follows up, "Firm Fighter. The Drake."

I can't help but smirk a little at her choice of Star Sign. It's pretty much the best option for Main Tanks. Though it reduces magical damage and poison effectiveness on you, it also makes your effective aggro range higher by a significant amount. Which is only a downside if you don't want that to happen. The Rider meanwhile, in addition to the 2% increased Stamina regen which can be a godsend on long expeditions, is best for people who want to go towards pet classes, and makes riding all mounts easier overall.

"Good choice," After a moment's thought I look to Sherry, "If you're looking to get a beast companion, I should warn you that you need a class that can actually tame animals and monsters. If you're looking for a firearm-focused class, you might consider picking something else, as the ones I know of don't have that ability."

Sherry shrugs half-heartedly, "Want that stamina regen, my dude. I run and jump around a lot."

"Fair enough. Most people I've met who take The Rider take it for that," I admit, "Stamina is one of the biggest limiting factors to progression. Unlike MP, you're constantly using it, after all."

From combat to walking, to crafting and gathering. Everything consumes Stamina. Getting regular exercise, sleeping, eating and drinking regularly and a few magical options can mitigate its loss, increase it's cap or accelerate it's recovery, but it'll always be hanging over your head like a Sword of Damocles no matter your class or playstyle, so items and consumables that deal with it will always be in high demand throughout the thirty years I played.

"Once I'm done with the daily, I'll set to work on some basic gear for you both and we'll go farm a dungeon for levels. So when you're asked to assign your points to purchase starter equipment, do not waste any on the combat gear - It's worthless crap. After getting the Citizenship Pin -  that's non-negotiable, get one - prioritise crafting and gathering tools and extra inventory space."

Winfrey passes back my Pane, "Finally, I don't know who you'll get as your Guide for the character creation section - the game tries it's best to pair you up with someone who fits you - but you need to bear in mind that they are functionally sentient AI and are considered the very real gods of Astral Reckoning. Try not to piss them off. And if you think you can trust them, try asking for their personal Guidance. What help they give and what price they ask is between you and them, so weigh your options."

I lick my drying lips, "Any last questions before we go in?"

Winfrey raises a finger, "How bad are the controls, really?"

"Bad. Get used to moving a second or two in advance. It's more like driving than doing it yourself, if that helps," I give Sherry a questioning glance and receive a negative response, "Then let's go in. I'll be waiting on one of the pews, look for the Silva in bronze chainmail wearing an ornate, cracked monocle. I will preface your later reaction that I'm fully aware of how much it clashes with my armour set, I'm not wearing it for the fashion statement."

Winfrey giggles, "Clown gear strats?"

I groan, "Yes, clown gear strats."

---

 

Cathedral of The Starlight Truth Faith, Meteo City

Some time later, I find my dozing interrupted by a vigorous prodding in my neck.

"Cut that out," I bat away the intrusive finger of a small Panoplast woman with bright yellow hair styled after a fox demihuman with a cheeky grin.

"You weren't kidding about the monocle," a tall brunette Firm woman observes, trying not to laugh.

Ignoring them both, I pick up my sword and stand up, "Names?"

Winfrey(?) points a thumb at herself, "Windy Fields."

"Jade Fairy," the Panoplast follows up, "This really does feel fucking awful, by the by."

Their voices are different, but their demeanour and cadence carry through to their Vessels.

"Silver Nosster. Shall we be off?" I point to the ostentatious entryway, "You can tell us about how it went with your Guides as we walk."

"I got this weird steampunk looking guy called Mauvon," Jade pipes up, "He was, like, super enthusiastic about guns. And cannons. He really likes cannons."

"There's steampunk in this game?" Windy questions, surprised.

"Here and there. Civilisation on Merrow has existed for several millennia more than on Earth - enough for technology to rise and fall by the wayside multiple times. At present, I'd say most nations are close to getting into the transitional stage from medieval standards to early industrial age. What technology is around is from civilisations long since abandoned and destroyed through successive Astral Eclipses," I explain, "It's why, though they do exist, firearm classes are rare and hidden. Not familiar with Mauvon, though, did he mention what his domains were at all?"

Jade shakes her head as we cross the threshold out into the plaza, "Not in so many words. Probably gun-related. When I asked him for Guidance, he said he contact me at a 'Shrine of Heroes Past' at Level 20."

I whistle, "A Hero? Very nice. Looks like he's got you pegged as a Potentiate for his Legacies."

"uh wuh?" Jade's face scrunches up in utter confusion.

After taking a moment to organise my thoughts, I elaborate, "Throughout Merrow are skilled, passionate NPCs with unfulfilled dreams and nobody to pass them onto. So when you go through Reminiscences, Legacy Trials and so on, the people who created them will pass on a bit of that to those they consider worthy. Potentiates are people who've been noticed in advance as being more likely to...empathise I guess you could say. Kindred spirits. So, those Trials are scaled up in difficulty, and the Legacy awarded at the end is far more complete."

Windy nods thoughtfully, "So, that's a good thing."

"Mhm. This Mauvon fella sounds like a Hero-class character who managed to ascend. If he's waiting 'til Level 20, he's probably going to point you towards a Legacy Trial for his personal Class. If you're up to the challenge, you'll be richly rewarded," I smile, inwardly ecstatic. There's a lot of potential here if she can be convinced to stick with the game through the first month.

Thinking about it some more as they take in the vista of the City from atop the hill, I speak up again, "If he didn't mention it already, I'd recommend taking the time to look into crafting subclasses related to firearms and machinery - enchanting as well. They'll likely be of great help in the long run."

Jade thinks about it, "Alright. Sounds reasonable. So, I'm supposed to be a Hero huh? Cool. Who'd you get, Win?"

Windy coughs, "I uhh..I got a bear. Just, a really big bear that turned into a naked woman covered in tattoos."

"Avosol?" I enquire, wincing. Avosol - Goddess of Tenacity - is a legendary pervert that's been trying to get into bed with the God of Healing Magic for centuries with no luck, which has left her perpetually surly.

She nods, "Yeah. She made me swallow some stone tablet that increased my Resilience by 10 and told me to fuck off."

Me and Jade laugh.

"Sounds about right. Don't be too disappointed, getting a permanent boost to your Resilience off the bat is definitely in the upper tier of possible Guidance outcomes. Usually, it's just a temporary buff, so she must like you. Have you both allocated your free attribute points?"

Seeing them both agree, I pick up the pace, "When we get to the market, me and Jade will go out to collect the wood I need. When I get that processed through and dropped off with the hand-in NPC at City Hall, we'll meet you at the blacksmith shop Stone Arsenal and I'll make your gear."

I gesture to the Pioneer's Alliance up ahead, "That's the Pioneer's Alliance branch for Meteo City, by the by. Avoid it. The Quests there are too dangerous for us right now, and the Branch Leader is a greedy, racist piece of shit to anything not a Firm. Associating with me will piss him off all the same - I'll explain some other time - so it's all-in-all not worth your time to fight through the crowd of Newborn."

Indeed, though far less extreme than previously, the street ahead is packed full of clueless Newborn and a smattering of slightly more experienced looking players identifiable by the haunted look about them.

Windy grimaces, "Why do some of them look like they've just left the theatre after watching a horror movie?"

I chuckle darkly, "Let's just say they're veterans of Ujax Forest and leave it at that. Best you don't mention anything that rhymes with Bire and Bulf to any of them. We're not going to commit to the same mistakes as them, don't worry."

---

 

Killigan's Copse

The journey back to Killigan's Copse is characterised by an awkward silence. Jade contributes the awkwardness, and I generously provide the silence.

Up ahead, I see that a few players have discovered this spot at last, and the melody of axe blade on tree resounds in disjointed harmony. Thankfully, there's still plenty of space for two more Woodcutters - Jade apparently taking my advice on starter gear to mean that she should get just about all the gathering tools, which is admittedly hard to criticise.

"Sooo..." Jade finally speaks up, "How do I do this?"

I shrug, "Equip your tool and go to town on a node. You'll be wanting the smaller Sad Oak trees at your level. Try and get yourself ten to fifteen stacks before we leave. You'll see why later."

Jade scratches her ear, "Uhh...how much is a stack?"

"150 Logs to a stack. Trees have about thirty logs in them before the node goes on cooldown for an hour. Bigger trees have more, so you can move to them once you get Promoted," I explain as I pull out my Beginner's Lumber Axe, "Once I've got enough Blue Birch I'll move on to Sad Oak as well, and give you what I don't need if you come up short."

"That's way more wood than I thought we'd need. We'll be here for ages!" The Panoplast whines.

"Close to an hour, I'd say. Then the walk back to the city. Welcome to the early game, comrade, I'm stuck here alongside you," I laugh hollowly, then move toward my first tree of the trip.

---

 

Winfrey

The market is bustling with activity, hundreds of players packed into the streets and plaza like a contiguous whole. It's not too different from certain parts of Paris during tourist season, but the atmosphere given off by the city itself is almost nothing alike. Far more stifling and bland.

It's like Meteo City doesn't really have a personality at all. Even the impressive view from the Cathedral on the hill seems almost sterile in hindsight.

Looking around some less populated sidestreets, I think I understand the reason behind that uncanny feeling: The NPCs.

Trying to start up a conversation with them is like talking to an automated teller robot. Soulless and discomfiting. 

Rounding a corner onto another street, I see a man in a bright green coat walking my way, whistling an offkey melody as he drags a rough wooden club behind him with his only arm. Is that a player? Can you lose limbs in this game?

Noticing my stare, the man's face forms into a gross leer, "Fair lady, might you perhaps also be looking for the grrreat and astoundingly popular Gragg? Come now, don't be shy! I have many things to teach a Newborn like yourself."

Gross. Does he not hear himself talk?

"I'm not interested in anything a creep like you wants to teach," I deny fiercely.

"I assure you, I am quite sincere. You are a Fighter, yes?" He wags a finger at me, all too smug.

Frowning at his insight, I hesitantly nod.

"Then allow me to issue a simple challenge. Simply dodge my friend here five times," He waggles the heavy club casually, "And I will bestow upon you a Skill Gem."

Blinking, I exhale a puff of air, "Alright, fine."

 

 

Strolling forward, Gragg stops a few paces in front of me, sporting a serene smile, "Then let us begin."

Raising the club over his head, he casually and slowly swings the club at my midsection in a horizontal arc. Stepping back half a step is all that's necessary to avoid the toothless attack.

"Good, now the second..."

Next, he chooses to thrust, an uncommon tactic for blunt weapons. Irritated by how simplistic this exercise is and his patronising attitude, I shove my hand out to block it and grab hold. 

"Oh ho? Little lady, the challenge was to dodge my club, but I must confess surprise that you were able to block me. You must feel it, no?" He grins wide, almost manic.

Indeed, despite the malodorous advance of his club, the moment my palm made contact with his weapon, a stinging pain echoed along my arm and I took 50 HP in damage out of my 410 total, the sedated movement belying a surprising amount of force.

Pulling his club back swiftly from my grasp, he taps it against the floor thoughtfully, "Shall we change the contents of the challenge then? Endure four more blows, and I will reward you accordingly. Should you fail to block again, do not fear, I shall still give you the Skill Gem I promised at the start."

Idly, I notice a few players nearby stop to spectate, whispering amongst themselves.

"...Challenge accepted, I suppose," I reply, feeling resolute.