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PLANET EARTH, Orion Arm, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster
World Media, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
2021-10-18 06:25 am Eastern Standard
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Pressing the start button brought up the EULA, which was very substantial and explained all of the rules governing how the app worked, and the legal agreement that James was entering in to. Like almost everyone other human on the planet, James just scrolled down to the bottom of the document, checked the checkbox, and clicked [Next].
'Welcome to the Portal to the Dungeons, Mysterious Mink. You have bravely stepped into the wider universe with your choice. As we begin our journey, you have more choices to make. These choices are permanent, and will have a great many ramifications, changing how your experience in the world happen and how others react to you. You can choose to customize your character however you wish, but beware... your choices will be permanent and will effect reality as you see it. Since not much is known about the Portal to the Dungeon app works, we recommend you take the [System Generated Character] or [SysGen] option. This option will optimize a character for you, based on your current life experience and skills. If you select the [SysGen] option, we will also offer you a special bonus gift.'
James continued to read the information in the app.
'Please do not exit the game before completing character creation, or you will be assigned a randomly generated character or [Random]. A random character will not take your personality or experience into account, and may have substantial penalties. You will also forfeit the special bonus package, as well as half of your starting credits. '
He was then presented with the following choices:
[System Generated Character] *Recommended Option
[Create your own character]
[Randomly Generated Character]
[Quit Game] *No tutorial if you quit the game now
Normally, James would create his own character. This is what he normally does. This time, however, he decided to create a [System Generated Character] to start off with. He was not familiar with whatever system this particular game used, so he wanted to see what the system generated by default. He pressed the [System Generated Character] button, and the app began playing music. A series of messages began appearing on his phone screen.
'Generating character stats...'
'Evaluating player James Allen "Masked Mink" Wesley...'
'Determining base race... done. Result: half-elf
'Determining base class...done. Result: exocortex mechanic'
'Determining alignment...done. Result: lawful good'
'Determining theme...done. Result: corporate agent'
'Special circumstances detected...first player to generate their character...Reward: Additional theme: dragonblood, overriding normal theme limit'
'Distributing 10 points to ability scores...Due to SysGen status, character gains 2 additional ability points...done'
'Distributing skill points...done'
'Equipment generated... 465 credits left'
As the prompts on his phone continued, James did not immediately notice that he could also see them in the lower left hand corner of his own vision. He was mesmerized by the text scrolling on the phone screen, and until he saw the prompt directly in front of his eyes, in large bold letters 'Now integrating the existing Personal Comm Unit into your body as your exocortex and custom rig' and his phone dissolved into his hand did James realize that something was off.
"What the actual crap just happened"!? he exclaimed.
The system was merciless. In front of James, a stairway of metal formed itself out of nothingness, and led up to a stone archway, with a green portal shimmering where a door would normally be. Hovering over the portal were the words 'Tutorial Zone (Level 1, Easy, Solo Player)'.
James started backing away from this strange phenomenon. However, a new prompt appeared in his vision 'Player Mysterious Mink should enter the tutorial. The tutorial will explain everything.' James also heard a chipper female voice repeating the same thing as the prompt. The voice came from everywhere at once, but no where in particular.
"Who said that"? James demanded, out loud.
'I did' replied the voice in his head. 'I am Nebula E2110, your personal AI. I have been integrated with the system to provide your user interface. If you will enter into the Portal to the tutorial dungeon, I can explain what happened.'
James shook his head, as if to clear it from the craziness he is experiencing.
"Well, I needed some exercise anyway..." he said as he walked up the stairs and entered the portal.
To the rest of the world, it was as if James walked off into the distance and disappeared.