"Where am I?" was the first thing I said as I appeared in the middle of a field under a clear sky and a blazing sun. I looked into the distance; all I could see was nature... Wait, no, beyond I spotted what seemed to be an ancient village, almost like the rural towns I knew in the past.
[Enter your name] *It doesn't have to be your previous name. This will be the name you are recognized by in this world from now on. **You can still use your previous name even if you don't enter it; this is just to establish your profile.
[-Lyricus-]
"Okay, with this, my new adventure in this world begins."
A floating globe appeared in front of me, showing the different continents and their empires, each represented by its color and characteristic symbol in the center.
[You must choose your place of origin.]
Here was the dilemma. There were three methods to choose the place of origin. The first was based on genetics: if you were a descendant of a certain culture or community, you could be accepted in that same region in this ancient world. Then there was a kind of exam, where you could choose any kingdom and answer questions about it; if you got enough correct, you would be accepted. This option was ideal for scholars of ancient cultures, as it would allow them to live in the kingdoms they had always admired. The last method was destiny: if any culture was intrinsically linked to you, you would be sent there, regardless of the other two methods. If none of them worked, the choice would be random.
[The trivia to determine your starting place will be presented. Please select which trivia you wish to solve.]
The globe in front of me turned into a flat map showing the main kingdoms and empires in more detail, all shining brightly. I could choose one by tapping it with my finger, but I paused to think about which one to select. Even if I failed, I could always try another trivia, right? I had no idea about the history of this world. I had learned some things, but I didn't feel confident enough to tackle something complicated. I sighed, extended my finger, and touched what would be equivalent to Europe in my old world.
It was strange. I heard a buzzing sound, and the map seemed to distort, like old televisions when they malfunctioned.
[Trivia finished.]
"What? But nothing happened!"
[Your origin land has been selected.]
"But I didn't even get a chance to try the other two methods! I was supposed to be able to choose between the three..." I grumbled to the air.
[The selected land does not exist.]
[-Processing situation-]
[Unexpected circumstances analyzed.]
[Creation of strange lands in process.]
[Loading civilization data.]
[Adding unknown components to the world.]
[...]
[Work finished. Please choose the type of start you want:]
[Live your adventure]<>[Found your empire]
Well... something was very wrong with what had just happened. Luckily, there was a help system designed for those who were not completely familiar with the world, offering them a better understanding.
"Help!" I murmured, trying to invoke it. In reality, it only took consciously wishing for assistance.
[Consultation]
I accessed the inquiry menu and unleashed a flurry of questions about what had happened. However, none of the answers were truly helpful or decisive, which only increased my anxiety.
I didn't have many options. The only thing I could do was move forward, even though insecurity lingered. I thought I had already made a decision, but apparently, doubt still resided within me.
It took me longer than expected. If the issue with the origin selection hadn't occurred, perhaps I would have finished faster. But now, in the face of uncertainty, my doubts grew, and I discovered some additional things in the inquiries that made me reconsider my options. In the end, I chose the path that seemed least uncertain.
<[Found your empire]<
[We wish you luck. Strive to build an empire that will be etched in the history of this world and make you immortal.]
I closed my eyes, hoping not to end up floating in space or something equally strange.
I waited and waited. What forced me to open my eyes wasn't any warning or alert, but the cold that began to invade my bones.
When I opened my eyes, the landscape before me was not the meadow with forests and villages in the distance that I had seen before. No, what I saw was much darker. Literally. The sky was covered with enormous clouds, so dense that I could barely discern the sun, indicating that, although it seemed like night, it was still not.
Looking around, I observed that the ground was covered in grass, but a darker shade of green than before. It was probably due to the lack of light, but it also seemed wilder, denser, and somehow more aggressive.
In the distance, I saw several forests. However, something about them caused me discomfort. If the overall landscape was already gloomy, some of those forests were even darker, shrouded in a thick, strange fog. Some groups of nearby trees had that fog, while others did not.
A chill ran down my spine. The place radiated a sense of death and decay, as if something terrible was about to happen at any moment.
Alright, calm down. Not everything is lost. We shouldn't fear death, I told myself.
In fact, we really don't have to fear death here. When we arrived in this world, all foreigners received a kind of special protection. If we died, we would simply reappear intact in the cities corresponding to our origin, although with some penalties. From what I read, the "universal consciousness" expected many to die shortly after arriving due to their lack of knowledge, which is why they granted us this temporary protection. Of course, death wasn't impossible. There were areas where, if you died, you really did die. There were also events and situations, like duels to the death, where one could put their life at stake definitively.
Calming down a bit, I decided to check my status.
[Lyricus]
======
Race: [None]
Class: [None]
Skills: [None]
Ranking/Title: [None]
---/---
Region/Territory: [Unknown land]
Civilization: [???][Generic]
Domain: [None]
======
"Okay... no, wait, what do you mean by 'Generic' and '???'?"
I said to myself upon seeing the status, expecting something different. The Generic civilization applied to those who did not wish to affiliate with the existing kingdoms. However, it had its advantages and disadvantages.
Affiliating with an existing kingdom or culture offered benefits. You would receive additions to the [Race] section, as well as unique classes, empire-specific technologies, and recognition within their borders. You could even serve the crown of that kingdom, which brought more benefits but also implied responsibilities and being subordinate to someone. On the other hand, those who preferred to forge their own path fell into the "generic" category, with no initial benefits. They started with the standard, in absolute mediocrity, with no access to any particular technology or development. To progress, they needed to find a path that would allow them to start a completely new civilization, which was extremely difficult. Furthermore, if they were about to achieve it, the existing empires would likely oppose them fiercely, as no one wanted competition.
And what about '???'... was that a civilization? Fortunately, the [Help] system was still functioning. Let's see what it says...
[The civilization lacks a name or precedents. Please assign it a name when your Domain reaches the classification of 'Village'.]
"Do I then have two civilizations? And one that has never existed?" Thinking about this wouldn't lead me anywhere. I should move on and later figure out what to do.
I looked at one of the floating screens that had been beside me. I knew what I had to do. This was the notice to summon the people and initial resources that would accompany me on this adventure. By accepting it, they would appear wherever I was, but I could also delay it a bit to find a more suitable place to settle. Once summoned, the resources could only be transported by our own effort.
I surveyed my surroundings. I had no idea if this was a good place. Maybe I should explore a bit more.
...
After walking for a few minutes, I inspected everything I could under the gray sky. I had absolutely no survival skills, tracking, orientation, or recognition. The only reason I stopped was that I found a bush with small berries… although I had no idea if they were edible. Still, I decided it was time to get started.
[Do you wish to initiate the establishment of your 'Generic' camp? (*You can rename it upon reaching the Domain: Village.)]
"Accept," I said aloud.
At that very moment, several boxes appeared around me. At the same time, I heard footsteps behind me. When I turned around, I saw a group of people walking toward me, accompanied by a cart pulled by a donkey, loaded with various objects.
"Leader!" greeted the man at the front, notably taller than the others.
"Hello," I replied, somewhat nervously. The group consisted of four men and one woman. According to what I had read, the ratio between men and women varied by civilization, but in the neutral category, it was completely random.
As soon as they appeared, I received another notice.
[You have the opportunity to choose a class. Please select one from the list.]
In front of my eyes, a list of professions appeared: Farmer, Carpenter, Agriculturist, Rancher, Militia, Woodcutter, Weaver...
Some were more general, while others were more specialized, but all were quite common. This was another disadvantage of generic civilizations: they had nothing special. Other civilizations had unique and more powerful classes from the start.
I had debated quite a bit about which class to choose, knowing that the beginning was crucial. If I wanted to advance, I had to put in the effort and get my hands dirty, so I opted for...
[Worker]
Yes, one of the most general classes, if not the most general of all. Its initial skill was weak but versatile.
I checked my status once more to see the changes.
[Lyricus]
======
Race: [None]
Class: [Worker][Leader]
Skills:
>Jack of All Trades (Common)
>Little Leader (Common) [5/5]
Classification/Title: [None]
---/---
Region/Territory: [Unknown land]
Civilization: [???][Neutral]
Domain: [Small camp]
======
There they are... but what a pity, it seems I'm not lucky this time. I should check later to see if I have any negative luck.
The two skills I have; one is from the class I chose.
The two skills I have come from two different sources. The first is from the class I chose:
--/--
[Jack of All Trades (Common): Work speed in all jobs +2%]
--/--
The other was acquired through the class obtained by selecting "Found Your Empire."
"Little Leader" is the first stage of this skill, which can evolve by meeting certain requirements. What it does is ensure the loyalty of five people. That's why I was assigned five subordinates initially. Beyond that number, it will depend on my charisma and each person's natural loyalty. This skill prevents you from being backstabbed at the beginning. As it evolves, the number of people under its effect increases, and when you level up (bronze, silver, gold...), it offers additional features, such as the ability to see the mood of the population, their needs, and the number of inhabitants in the domain.
I looked again at the people who would now be loyal to me, and also at the donkey... or rather, to what it was carrying. I approached the cart and saw several useful things, like tools, along with some scrolls that caught my attention.
[House Blueprint]
Ah, here it is. This blueprint is more than just a design for a particular house; it's a complete guide on how to build a dwelling. It doesn't limit you to a specific structure but teaches you the general principles of construction, its key points, so you can design the house you prefer, although within certain limits. The guide adapts to the biome and civilization, teaching how to build a house according to the times.
"I'm a farmer, my lord," replied the first.
"I'm a fisherman," said the second.
"Rancher," declared the tallest of the group.
"I'm the innkeeper," said the fourth, who was somewhat chubby.
"I'm a weaver," commented the only woman.
"Well, I know that what I'm about to ask isn't your specialty, but we have to start." I pointed to the tools in the cart. "Two of you take those axes and get firewood from the nearby trees, and if possible, some wood to build the first house. The other two, start setting up the first house with the materials we already have, but first, set up the tents from the cart. And regarding those bushes over there, I need to know if they're edible. If anyone knows, speak up. You," I pointed at the woman, "will gather them if it's safe. If it's not, or when you're done, organize the food supplies we have to consume what is closest to spoiling first."
The five people nodded and got to work immediately. The two strongest grabbed the axes, while the other two looked for the tents in the cart. There were three tents, each capable of holding three people or five if they squeezed a bit. The woman went straight to gather the berries.
I was going to join them, but first, I had to check the other pending notice I had received.
[Do you wish to begin establishing your camp '???'? (*You can change the name upon reaching the Domain: Village)]
"Accept"
As before, more boxes appeared. Luckily, I had moved from my previous position, because otherwise, they would have piled up on top of the previous ones. This was getting me quite excited; I was practically receiving double the resources compared to a standard start.
I quickly looked around to see if more people were arriving, and indeed, there they were. However, something was different. This time there were not five people, but three, and they all shared a common ethnicity, unlike the previous group, which was more diverse. Additionally, they looked... how should I put it, miserable. They were thinner, paler, and had tired, almost empty gazes. Another curious detail was that, although there was a cart with supplies, it was not pulled by a donkey like the previous one, but by a pony that also seemed to be on the verge of starvation.
"Master," the men said, but without much enthusiasm.
"Hello..." I replied, curious. This group looked poorer... and why were there only three of them?
I decided to momentarily ignore the situation and saw that another notice appeared to choose a class, which generated a fragile excitement in me.
You see, it is possible to have more than one class, but doing so makes it difficult to level both classes. The more different they are, the harder it is to improve in all of them. I used [Help] once more and nearly jumped for joy when I saw my situation. Apparently, having two civilizations granted me two initial spaces for classes, allowing me to have both without penalties. But there was something more.
When the class list appeared, it was empty. I checked again and discovered that, since there were no precedents for this strange civilization I have, it is being established over time. I must discover its details as I progress. So, for now, I can only choose a class native to this civilization, but since none exist yet, I have no choice but to wait.
Despite this, my status changed:
[Lyricus]
======
Race: [None]
Class: [Worker][Leader][Slave Master]
Skills:
Jack of All Trades (Common)
Little Leader (Common) [5/5]
Lesser Master (Silver) [3/3][0/2]
Classification/Title: [None]
---/---
Region/Territory: [Unknown land]
Civilization: [???] [Generic]
Domain: [Small camp]
======
Wow, there's a lot of information here. Although I know that depending on the culture, the name of the skill that grants loyalty changes... "Slave Master"?
--/--
Lesser Master (Silver):
>You have the loyalty of 3 normal beings from the ??? civilization and 2 unnatural/supernatural beings. *The ratio of dominated abnormal beings is usually one or two-fifths of the total. **An additional amount equal to the natural beings for slaves can be added if possessed.
>You have knowledge of the general number of slaves in the domain.
>You can estimate the value of a slave by looking at them.
--/--
I didn't know what to think of this, so I decided to ask the people in front of me. However, before I could approach, another notice arrived: an addition to the civilization record, this time related to a racial feature.
[Transylvanian Villager]
What?! Does Transylvania exist in this world? Will it be the same as the one I know? These people seemed to have that racial characteristic, and being close to them, I acquired it in the record. Since they were part of my civilization, I could also obtain that racial benefit if I wished.
The racial aspect not only covers the general race but also minor characteristics. For example, some tribes make body modifications that in this world grant benefits, and if one follows the proper methods, they can also acquire those characteristics and their benefits.
Just like with classes, it's possible to have multiple racial traits, as long as they don't contradict each other. This was great, an additional benefit. But one must be careful, because not everything is an advantage; some traits can bring disadvantages or even be completely harmful.
Fortunately, there was a description.
[Transylvanian Villager: Citizen of a dangerous and depressing region. Inhabitant of a land forgotten by God, where evils lurk and life is bleak, often culminating in a horrible death.]
Characteristics:
>Always young: Rarely exceeding 40 years, usually because if normal evils of the time don't kill them, something unnatural will claim their lives first.
>Low expectations: Due to their grim fate, they usually don't have great aspirations or desires. If things go well, great; if they go poorly, that's normal. (Difficult to lose their loyalty due to their own actions).
>Low growth potential: Advancing beyond being a simple villager is extremely difficult unless this racial characteristic changes or evolves. The difficulty to progress is 100 times greater than that of other individuals.
>Prevalence: Despite the constant death, their population persists and does not go extinct. They have good reproductive capacity, proportional to the deaths.
>Enraged mob: When they gather in mobs, their siege power increases proportionally to the number of people in the crowd.
"Damn! This isn't a normal Transylvanian villager from my previous world; this is a Transylvanian taken straight from horror stories!"