Platinum gold hair, white fur that made her look like a half-turned werewolf, and beautiful round gold eyes. A white gown hugged her features, and she radiated authority beyond them. Her young face stared at them all from across the hall impassively.
"Welcome known and unknown gods" her voice was sultry, dominating, and yet curious. I was certain of it, this being was someone to be avoided.
"The very fact you are here means you have proved yourselves capable of surviving the other side of the coin that is my realm. " she waved a palm dismissively like she'd said something irrelevant.
"Here comes the hard part. " her eyes flashed with mirth and her body leaned forward. There was an almost radiant joy within her body and facial expression.
It stunned me how well I could awe when from this distance.
"In the coming weeks and months. You lot will have to claim your place in this land. As you might have seen the realm isn't unending, its resources aren't infinite. The powers you bear or seek to wield lie within the lands and their creatures. Most of you have seen it. " she was gone from the throne in a crack of lightning that made no sound.
She appeared instantly next to a player. Her face was so close to him that I was certain if not for his Argatan face he might have turned red.
The thunder from the lightning boomed.
"Fallen for its compulsion" her eyes looked disapproving right before she vanished once more. Her voice rang in the air before she even appeared. "While most.."
Her form materialized right next to me. A smile that could smite the coldest of hearts etched on her cheeks. "...have pulled through".
She was gone once more appearing right back on her throne.
" Nevertheless all is your choice. Experience makes a good teacher. And for some, you'll find it is not the best. Go out there. Grow and thrive. There are only a few native races in the realms. Act wisely. " She stretched like a cat in its waking hours.
The libido in the air was suffocating as males stared.
"Now, I think I've said enough. Tether yourselves to the core. The temple bars all fights. Any disputes can be taken outside. You'll find some necessities and amenities around. Use the temple as you see fit but remember you're a guest. Do not displease me." she clapped her hands in finality.
A frown formed on her face as she looked at us. I pondered what it was when she pointed and I realized someone had raised a hand.
"I have two questions. Uhmm, who are you? mam? You did not give us your name" the female player made a low bow which seemed to stall the NPCs anger but did not negate it.
"I guess introductions are in order. I'd warn you to be careful about how you use your inspect if you already learned it. Not all casual glances are appreciated. Well." she contemplated before us as she rose off her throne sauntering about.
Then she stopped. Looked at us with a smile before disappearing.
Lightning comes first. We were wrong. The high-pitched boom of thunder resounded within the halls of the throne room. A flash of lightning appeared next right over our heads.
"I am the one who split the realms in two. Who vanquished the forgotten of the lost worlds. " her eyes lit up in a thick glow of white that hid her gold pupils and made her feel ancient. Her platinum gold hair got flecks of blue running in them. Her fur bristled, her gown whipping about in the storm she was creating above us.
"I.." she paused there. Like the special effects got cut off the lightning and winds vanished. There was a noticeable pout on her face.
"I don't have anything else to say. " she frowned before shrugging her expressions replaced by mischief.
"Just call me Skywalker". her response raised an uproar in the crowd of NPCs gods. At first, there was lots of it before the gist reached my ears.
"She is one of the four who rule the realms of this universe. An administrator god". Porteis with his incredible hearing was able to glean.
"About what you all should do? Hmmh". I suddenly felt that having her tell us to do something would be a very bad idea.
"Long ago, my brother tamed an aether beast. A feat that at the time should have been impossible for him. Us". she looked around chuckling at our fidgeting forms.
"I have something better. In one of my many caves, lives and breathes something very nasty. Now generally it would ignore you if you, well, ignore it. If you deem yourself capable then I challenge you to poke it" she smiled.
No one said a word. Only fools wouldn't realize she was goading us to get into some sort of trouble.
"Now if you don't mind. There are things to be done. Don't stay lazy forever my dears" everything turned white in a flash. Then as our visions cleared in came the boom of the thunder.
She was gone.
Then the knights all turned in unison to face us. Hands-on their swords. The message was clear.
Get out.
Everyone fled the throne room spilling out into the massive courtyard of the silver temple.
"That feels more like a power play than a welcoming invitation" Jean grumbled her three eyes flashing about.
"You mean more like a warning to not be stupid in her temple. " Realer stated. I nodded in agreement. While she had said a load of things that few knew and others didn't I was certain there was merit to her words. I told the rest the same.
"So we uhm sticking together or what?* Gertrude was the one to ask. A look at her told me she was a team player kind. The rest I was unsure of.
" How about we all head out? Scour and see things for ourselves and decide later. But we can keep helping each other. Best not to burn this bridge when we remain unsure of what the realms hold for us" It was Yarrow that spoke this time.
"For a death god, you are surprisingly civil. " Hardima noted with a grin. Jean shrugged at the idea while Kondark nodded.
"For a child, you have surprisingly mature speech" The Lomrie just rolled his eye.
"Very well then. Let's exchange player ID then". I suggested. At first, we all looked down to the ground before blobs of light left each of us and zoomed into the other.
[You have received a communication link to God Porteis of the Hunt]
[You have received a communication link to Goddess Jean of Combat]
[You have received a communication link to God Yarrow of Death]
[You have received a communication link to God Kondark of Wrath]
[You have received a communication link to God Realer of strength]
[You have received a communication link to God Hardima of the Forge]
[You have sent a communication link to Goddess Gertrude of Technology]
*****
The silver temple was decked out like a huge city. There were next to no buildings for anyone to stay within it. The streets were paved with the still shiny material that was yet to be named. Walls that towered up as high as the gates spread at all sides in a curved pattern.
The interior was beautiful but there was nothing to see. Almost like the devs didn't want us sticking around for long. I sighed at this weird game.
'What now?'.
Looking around I just walked in front. By this time I realized that we were in a circular structure. With the outside forming a circular courtyard around the throne room. Zeukite knights stood even behind the throne room walls silent and watchful.
Then I saw it. I wasn't the first though as surrounding it was a large group of players.
Moving quickly I approached the landmark. It was a pond, artificial. Marble stones circling its edges.
I watched players take a sip of its clear waters and a light leave their bodies and into the water. Yells of level-ups occurring had most trying out the pond too.
From my peripheral vision, I spotted the others in my group approaching the pond. Jean and Yarrow nodded to me while the others were too interested in the pond to take notice.
'Let's find out the hype'. With the thought, I stepped forward and squatted. Then I scooped up two palms of the liquid and drained it down.
It was like I had been thirsty all my life. My throat was both chilled and warmed. I felt a sense of vigor and energy rush through me. I realized that if ever gods had a stamina issue this water would do well to reinvigorate us.
[You have leveled up]
[Buff of Mobility]
You have drank from the pond of the absolute. Not exactly its use but still. x2 to all agility and movement-based skills and perks.
10% death penalty negation.
[Your core has been tethered to the Silver Temple]
[To change or add respawn centers, drink from the ponds located in other realms]
I blinked at the string of information that flowed into my mind. Amazed I looked at the pond and used intent on it.
[Pond of The Absolute]
[It's just drinking water, maybe. •¶∆& ~¶•∆•• ¶∆•••× ¶∆∆~
Effect 1 - Respawn center.
Effect 2 - Negates 10% of death penalties.]
[Requirements met]
[Tutorial II complete]
[Assistant unused time evaluated]
[Restructuring personal template...]
[Unlocking parameters...]
[Accessing quests...]
[...]
[Restructuring complete]
[You are eligible to use Store - The store can be accessed mentally]
[You can now access Quests and Missions - Both are only given at specific points]
[Please review the current template]