One day, the entire world was told of the presence of the so-called 'Gods Favoured.'
These people were supposedly from the heavens, each with a basic education. Many initially thought of them as unique beings blessed by the gods, people who would help the nation prosper and not be bothered by worldly pleasures.
But this was wrong. Oh, so very wrong.
They were just as prone to greed, corruption, and the lure of power as everyone else.
The only difference between us and them was that they needed to take resources to a faraway place.
But this sentience and emotion.
And more importantly.
Their attraction to vices makes some so easy to control.
So very easy indeed.
And this realisation all started with one event.
The Gods Favoured Rebellion.
This helped us to increase our understanding of them and their nature by leaps and bounds.
Making them seem no different to ourselves in the end.
King Kadziork Karmine of the Kingdom of Oovere.
….
On the 10th of February, 2122.
Spring 4007 ASA in Dynasties Online.
A week in real life after the official release of Dynasties Online, where interest in it was beginning to grow.
An event would happen that would shock both the real and virtual worlds and show that Dynasties Online had a way of dealing with even the most exploitative players. It would reveal that the humanlike AI in DO was far more challenging to deal with than in the past, forcing players to increase their power slowly instead of by exploits.
The name of this event was known by the real world as.
The Stator Rebellion.
However, the sentient NPCs of Dynasties Online would call this even by a different name.
The Gods Favoured Rebellion.
An event that would have long-term effects on both NPCs and players alike.
It all started on the 8thof February when a popular streamer with millions of followers named Stator announced that he would be joining the game on the 10th of February and invited his fanbase to join him in his attempt to take over a nation within Dynasties Online.
After some research, this streamer found that, unlike in other VRMMORPG games, where a player's level was the primary indicator of strength, with the higher-level players healing damage faster than can be dealt to them, Dynasties Online was different.
There was no level system in DO, and everyone, even the world's powerhouses, could die from a stab to the heart. They decided that if enough players got together and all chose to start in the same country, they could take it over and share its wealth.
This greed blinded many who had seen the cars and paid debts of those lucky enough to do well in Dynasties Online into following this supposed quick way to wealth.
Stator's idea was to use their large numbers to take over some land and form a new nation of players.
This had been discussed on the DO forums for a while, and some of the more casual players who only wanted to farm or become small-time merchants did not understand the power or skill that the NPCs had all questioned why no one had tried such a thing.
After all, it's not like the armies of these kings would be able to kill millions of players, right?
Right?
But despite this question, which remained unanswered to these players, they were all too happy to enjoy this drama from afar, not aware of the drastic potential long-term effects that even small, fun things like this could have on the game.
But there were some people who knew the answer to this question.
Reginald and the other players who held significant power knew this answer.
And this answer did not look good for Stator or his new prospective kingdom.
The streamer's large fanbase was all too happy to help him, and those who had not joined the game already promised to start in the kingdom of his choice to help him in his endeavour.
However, there was a slight problem.
Many of his fans had already joined the game and were in no position to help him because there was no easy way to travel from place to place quickly, and it was mainly people who were unemployed who watched steamers to pass the time. The only ones who could were the Iraviens, who could use their flying capabilities to cover large distances, though they would be heavily restricted in what they could carry.
A few overzealous ones even voluntarily gave up their dynasties but cried tears of regret when they found out they had to wait an entire two months in real life before they could create a new one, meaning that even if these fans wanted to join Stator, it would not be possible while lamenting the loss of the dynasty they made before the game which was usually more powerful than ones created later as dynasties created later have far more limited options for their occupation during character creation.
But despite this, the streamer still wanted to proceed with it, and because he chose to do it at the weekend, his fans with actual jobs in the real world could get the game to support him, too.
….
After leaving the virtual world on February 8th, Reginald was looking at the news on his phone as usual when he saw the streamers' announcement. Remembering the skill of the NPC soldiers he faced during the Dynasty History System, he shook his head in disappointment at these people's arrogance.
These people who didn't know what they were getting into would have a rude awakening.
Other players who had also experienced the skill of the DO NPCs or its realistic nature had similar reactions, each letting out a sigh. Most of these players were the higher-status players, those who successfully became nobles or attained military positions, and so knew that the skill of the elite NPC soldiers controlled by a nation was not something to be underestimated.
A perfect example is when Reginald first fought against an expert-level fighter while playing Lucius House Aurellion's founder. He would have died in one strike if it weren't for the high-quality armour he received as a general of Chavaria and the loyalty of Leon, a well-known powerhouse who killed the orc captain before the green-skinned tusked monster could finish.
'At least this guy had put some thought into it, but it seems some people still need to be taught a lesson about how unique a game DO is. I just hope it doesn't cause too much backlash against players from amongst the NPCS.'
'After all, if even an average player can come up with this sort of idea, then all those powerful businessmen would have can as well.'
'And no one tries to consider that there may be very good reasons why none of these greedy business' have tried it.'
Reginald thought, pouring himself a pint of lemonade into the pint glass he took with him to university; he was not stupid enough to get himself wound up in a streamer's antics, but there was nothing that he could do to stop it or the death and chaos it would bring to the virtual world while remembering all the times the NPCs had put his ass on the ground.
….
Stator smiled as he pressed the go live button on his streamer interface, which was much easier to access from within the virtual world because he made a decent amount of money as a streamer. He had a capsule instead of the headset that Reginald and others used to play the game.
The capsules used to play Dynasties Online were large black dome-like objects that players could open by confirming their DNA and even taking all the security precautions an average headset does. Each capsule had a golden crown imprinted on it, and it was exactly the same as the case that Reginald got when he bought his headset.
The game company behind Dynasties Online knew that players would eventually want to record their gameplay and make videos or streams.
To accommodate this, once you were in your lobby, there was a way to connect your streaming channel to the game, which allowed you to control your stream from within the game.
You can also choose to record your gameplay to edit and upload later in a video, even being able to directly send it to your computer to make it more convenient.
Of course, intelligent players would never stream their time in the game as they are giving away all their secrets. Like with any stream that streams a particular application, millions of people worldwide can see all your moves, menus, allies, etc., exposing your strengths and weaknesses.
Something only the stupid do.
This would also be why streamers would struggle in the game as their enemies would discover their plans, their interactions with NPCS army size, and anything else they want from these people's streams, allowing them a considerable advantage if any conflict ever occurs.
But in his greed to get clout and make money, the streamer who goes by the name Stator, like many others would in the future, ignored this and enthusiastically greeted his audience after entering the game and finding himself on a cloud high in the sky like every player going through character creation.
"Hello, everyone! Today, we will attempt to take over a nation in Dynasties Online, James Larant's new MMORPG."
The streamer said jovially to his audience who spammed the chat.
'Let's go!'
One chatter said.
'Time to become kings and get rich.'
'Let's go! +1'
'Let's go! +2'
Other chatters then posted their own comments to show support for the streamer.
Stator quickly started creating his character but found his options were limited. Even if he wanted to join a nation's army to get some weapons from his starter kit and maybe some subordinates or high rank to help him in his endeavours, he found that he could only become a basic soldier starting from the bottom of the barrel.
Some people in chat saw this and began to get angry at the company, seeming to forget that James said that those who built their characters before the game started would have much more freedom in their choice of character and occupation.
The 30-year-old businessman meant it. The main problem that people didn't seem to understand was that, unlike before, the servers opened when the history of DO could be subject to change, and now they were locked in, as are all the landed nobles and knights in the game.
Because of this, unlike House Aurellion and the millions of dynasties created before the servers opened, who could play through Dynasty History Events to build up their power base, the new players cannot essentially having to take over some no-name NPC that no one cares about as there was no history for them to be a part of or create.
'What! Why can't we join the game as landed nobles anymore?'
'How is this fair!'
One commenter complained as they had heard on the forums that some players had become landed nobles able to make hundreds if not thousands or tens of thousands of gold from their lands alone.
Of course, this money was not pure profit as a noble estate had many expenses that needed to be paid out. In fact, if you only want to make money off DO, being a merchant would be your best path to prosperity as they did not need to fight wars, upkeep an army, or rule over their citizens well.
Stator then asked the ever-snarky and slightly sadistic friend system, who quickly responded.
"The game world's history has been created, so there is no way for you to create your dynasties history and have it more integrated into the game. Of course, you would have far fewer options compared to those who created characters and dynasties before the game officially started."
The friend system said as if it were natural, and he was dealing with the buzzing of an annoying fly.
"So the Dynasty History System…."
Stator asked, only to be interrupted by the Friend System, who seemed able to read his mind. He had been expecting to have to go through that hellish system that many of the other players complained about and praised, but instead, now, except for an occupation, his attributes, a few skills, and a starter kit, he would get nothing more.
"Yes, your assumptions are correct. It is no longer a part of the game as from now history will be created by the players in real-time."
"After all, how can we create dynasty history events when there is no history to base it on?"
"Instead, you will start from the bottom like every dynasty did, whether a player one or otherwise and live every part of your history in real-time."
"What a privilege for you."
The friend system said the last sentence sarcastically, while Stator and his chat were confused about why the game would create such an intricate system like the Dynasty History System, only to just use it for a few days, and then throw it away.
"Why would you create such a complex system only to throw it away after a few days."
The player asked because, like many others in the world, he never saw through the true intentions of the game's creator and supporter, James Larant. Even if he could not do the coding, his vision and dogged determination to see it through to the end led to the creation of such a complex game.
"When a chair is broken or not needed anymore, should a person leave it around when it no longer has a use?"
The friend system asked as he watched the arrogant player's eyes seemed to glint with enlightenment while the Friend System internally sighed as he thought that anyone who tried to take a rag-tag group of players with no real backing to take on a nation while not being a military genius to be the height of arrogance unfortunately.
'I suppose that eccentric guy may be able to pull it off, but even that is a long shot.'
The Friend System thought to himself as he imagined Reginald at the head of this movement, a player from a family with no real backing in the real world but who had shown a terrifying hidden talent both for political and military affairs within the game becoming one of the players the system and the DO team was keeping a close eye on.
After all, not everyone could take 50,000 men and annihilate a 100,000-strong Allied army on an open field; even if he had a slight advantage in cavalry, they were not infallible.
'Especially in the way he did it."
The friend system thought while continuing his explanation to the streamer and his audience.
"The Dynasty History System was useful and needed before the servers began as it helped the players who made characters and Dynasties early to have an advantage and integrate better into the world, but the new players are different."
"You don't get the chance to be part of the history of a bygone age. Instead, like many low-born or powerless nobles, you use your own abilities to rise in a world where both NPCs and players vie for money, power, and influence."
"As such, a system like that is no longer needed."
"Think of it as a reward for those players who decided to invest in the game early to be able to be part of the game's recent history and use it to get a head start."
The Friend System said, but neither Stator nor his chat had anything they could say against the Friend System's logic because it was perfectly logical. In fact, many had asked how character creation and dynasty history could be simulated when the game's history was now being made in real-time.
They had their answer now.
It wouldn't; instead, they would take over a low-born and slowly climb to the top, just like Lucius Aurellion and the other player's first characters did. The only difference was that Reginald and all the other pre-release players had it simulated by the system going through key events but being able to skip the 30+ years in the game that was needed to work your way up from a lowly commoner soldier to a general who was respected and feared by an entire portion of the continent.
People could only cry at the unfairness, but nothing would or could change the game company's mind, which was led by one of the most stubborn and eccentric businessmen in the real world.
A man whose true intentions were figured out by only a select few talented people.
Despite these questions and gritting his teeth in annoyance, the streamer continued creating his character, choosing to become a soldier because it would give him a weapon, armour, and other things essential in his conquest of a nation within the game and entered to begin his conquest.
His target.
The Kingdom of Oovere, a goblin kingdom located in the far southwest of the continent, which the arrogant streamer believed was primitive enough to be conquered.