Topic Request: Earthquake, Waterfall Bridge, Corrupt data (topics from Atnok)
Inside the virtual world called The World, players from all over the world play as fantasy styled warriors with unique weapons. This online game has five main towns called Root Towns. There are rumors of there being more than just five since hackers, with enough skill, can make their own Root Towns or domains. This is not legal and thus not encouraged, but the hackers find their ways around the shields put up to block this from being done. One of these Root Towns rested along a mountain area and, actually was, quite different than the other Root Towns.
This Town allowed for players to walk out from the Town’s limits and explore the field it inhabits. Most Root Towns don’t allow this. That is because of the dangers in the fields. Also, most towns are separate from the fields where dungeons and monsters roam. This one was created by hackers though, it somehow survived being erased, and was known by almost every player in The World.
Some were just waiting for the day it would be removed, but for now it remained. This inaction alone, by the Administration, was a crushing blow to the players who said it was a Town made by a hacker. Hackers were known to have top skill in some cases, but even they could get their illegal creations deleted. Yet the Town remained, upsetting those against hacker made creations. This brought about the rumors it was actually created by an Administrator player, or a Moderator player for fun, and to see how it would work as a test.
Walking along the streets of a city set in a forever setting sunlight basking over the cobblestone and brick ground, wooden buildings, and bridges made of stone and wood, in the Water Root Town, clicked the fluid steps of black combat boots. The person walking was a female character with long hair of green, and eyes of yellow with hints of maroon. Her armor she wore was simple, one might say. Her chest armor consisted of a shoulder pad on her right and armor trailing down her arm to include covering the top of her hand. A strap of leather crossed over her chest to hold on the shoulder pad and a plate of armor, covering her front and back but stopped about an inch below her breast line.
Her lower armor looked to be everyday pants fitting nicely to her legs, but also held enough give to move as she walked. The waist held metal surrounding it in silver and following down the side, and front of the pants a couple inches before stopping. Around the bottom of the pants also held metal rings that held the fabric closer to the skin. The top of the shoes could be seen as she continued on her way towards the beautiful golden double gateway. There was no weapon showing on her back but on the small of her bare back, was a tattoo shaped like two eyes within the other and, a diamond shape within the rounded circle inside of the main eye shape.
Once to the gateway she stared at the outer ring turning in its left to right rotation, and the inner ring turning in it’s up to down rotation. It was a masterful creation to have two rings turning in different directions. She thought while the hum filled her ears before deciding and watched as golden rings fell down around her body until she completely vanished, after the fourth ring to come down and it vanished upon touching the ground. She had changed to another Root Town named Nightingale. It was a dusk environment Root Town, one rumored to had been created by hackers as other rumors claim someone from the Corporation had made it for fun.
When the rings fell and by the fourth ring falling and vanishing her body had appeared, and stood in front of the gateway gazing out at the square of the Town. In the center stood a mighty fountain with carvings and, some jewels sparkling against the dusk sky and the lit streetlamps. Stepping forwards at last she began to step down the brick steps, leading down to the square and away from the landing area of the gateway. This Root Town was more like a Root City by its size. Compared to the common two Root Towns sizes this one would take all of one and half of the other.
Most Towns were small to medium but this one was large. This fact many players used on the message boards to defend the rumor it had been made by a hacker. Most designers liked uniform size in some things due to, making the process of writing a code easier to remember and fix if needed. Others used this same fact in their defense it was a new type of Root Town being tested out by the Corporation, and could be implemented in an update down the road to make The World more exciting. Either way it made little difference to her.
So long as she could log in and explore the game areas while having fun, she was good. It was a world meant to allow players to escape the stresses of their real life, to live in the life of their fantasy creation. There were many jobs as was easy to see, by simply walking down the streets of almost any Town. The sounds of talking filled the busy air alongside the noise of a hammer striking metal. A few of the Jobs or Expertise followed the lines of an Adventurer or Dungeonier, Blacksmith, Alchemy, Medical, Hunter or Gatherer, Merchant, and other different Jobs or Expertise were open for anyone to do. Most went into the Dungeonier Job.
The Dungeonier was any player who made a living exploring and clearing dungeons to claim their treasures, as well as clearing the fields of monsters then selling those treasures to other players, or to NPC store owners for money. It also helped add up the experience for the player in question, to grow their total level at a quicker rate. The others were more self-explanatory and clearer. The Job was called Dungeonier but some went with the name Adventurer since it as well was clearer than Dungeonier though didn’t sound as unique. The female character walking the streets taking in the sights paused at the running fountain.
The height appeared to be about eight feet and the gemstones glistening in the light, thanks to the water gave the illusion there was a color tent in the bluish clear liquid. Due to running streams and large rivers, it was easy for the fountain to have a water source channeled in. The Root Town of Nightingale was known for its large river and many streams on the fields. With those rivers and streams, also was a waterfall that many players would travel out to see and admire in the mostly blue, starry sky with small hints of pink and blood red orange. By this waterfall to allow the players a better view, and to open up an easy way to get to the field where the monster portals could be found with the area’s dungeon’s, stood a bridge.
It was built out of steel and white stone. It looked too had been created to be able to handle the moisture from the falling water spray. Yes it was a digitally created structure so wouldn’t rot or decay, but it was a nice little detail given by the creator of this area, by either a hacker or an actual Corporation worker. The second large river at the base under the bridge, in the cliffs shadows no player could get down to but, speculated there were monsters below the bridge. It was a nice spot and the landscape was beautiful outside the stone carved walls surrounding the large Root Town.
She admired the running fountain with its soft melody of water. Eventually after some moments of silence, she continued her way around the fountain and admired the stylish buildings. The class in Nightingale was almost a refine taste. The NPC’s were something in a fashion reminisces of the Victorian Era in the real world. The shop keepers were nicely dressed not that of the upper crust, not all of them, but nice nonetheless.
Other characters walked around with a person behind the mask of data numbers and pixels. It was thrilling because so many from everywhere could come together, and mingle in a land where they could do as they wished, to a degree. Her plans consisted of exiting the Root Town and seeing about what was on the other side of the bridge, or taking in the sight of the waterfall. It was recorded in the information board outside the gateway that, the large canyon was made from a huge earthquake. This earthquake was said to have been caused during a great struggle and battle between the Great Hero’s and the Fallen Corruption.
This most likely was Nightingale’s backstory: created in an attempt to bring beauty to a landscape seen as a wasteland. So to bring players from far and wide to join and mingle, getting together for fun and enjoyment with games. The daylight was ever at bay by the night sky that kissed the dusk counterpart. Some even went as far as to call it the Root Town of love. This brought a repulsed feeling in the female’s stomach.
Romance wasn’t bad but it wasn’t her cup of tea. Who would really want some guy swooning over them and getting them things? It wasn’t what she envisioned as ‘love’ or ‘romance’ in the slightest. She, if she ever decided to, would want a man who could keep up with her, and allow her to fight at his side. She wasn’t one to sit back and wait on a guy to do something for her.
If she could do something and he could then she expected to be allowed to participate. Waiting and letting a guy wait on her was something she scoffed at. It was pathetic in her eyes. Pausing she rolled her eyes just steps away from the gateway leading out to the field. There standing by the double doors of bronze metal was a man in white armor and large blade on his back. This was just what she needed.
“Well what do we have here? A fair and beautiful woman unlike anything my eyes have beheld? What brings your radiance into this magnificent city?” he was giving off a strong and almost loud voice as though he were some mighty hero of old. A small smirk tugged at her digital lips as well as her lips outside of the data created world.
“Oh so flattering for someone who doesn’t understand the stars logic. You call me fair and beautiful but are you sure you are even looking at the right body part when you say those words sir Knight?” she asked with swooning niceness with a hint of sarcasm. She hated people like him and her words didn’t seem to faze him much as he chuckled putting a hand with fingertips on his chest eyes closing.
“Oh my, the dear maiden has a sharp tongue. Do they sharpen daggers on that thing? I thought a woman would be more refine when they visit a city known to unite hearts that long for love.”
“Cut the crap. You can tell I’m not interested so go and find some beast to ride on. Best yet go find a beast, jump on it, and ride it into the canyon that divides the main monster field from the city.” With her words she made her way forwards, stepping past him with hate burning her tongue.
“Well I dare say this has been quite the interesting meeting. I wonder if the fair maiden could soften her serpent tongue and speak to me like a lady. I prefer those who know how to properly speak to a man of my statue. I am the reigning champion of the Coliseum. You will respect me and speak to me correctly. Now, get back here and swoon over my ability to defeat all who have dared to challenge my title.”
His orders did nothing but grow her annoyance and distaste for him. Pausing after she had exited the city, the scythe user turned looking at him from over her shoulder, giving a cute sweet smile. “I suppose since you asked so nicely.” Her words were delivered in a softer, cuter voice with an added giggle at the end. Her eyes closed, opened to see him smiling feeling proud, as if she had actually decided to give him what he wanted.
Turning fully around she walked towards him as he came to stand in the doorway proudly in his white armor. It was nicely crafted with its smooth sections, sections with colored jewels, and other sections were raised for texture. She came to stand in front of him, hands folded behind her back and a cute smile on her lips as a small giggle exited her throat. A grin pulled his lips back and he leaned forwards as if to kiss her. As he leaned forwards, she leaned slowly forwards as well but at the last seconds she slammed her fist hard into his stomach where his armor had an upward pointed V shape.
He coughed pausing then falling back. He hit the ground and she stood upright and looked down to him. “Did you really think I’d actually fall for that line and your orders? Give me some credit. See ya.”
Her tone was to give him the message she was tougher than she looked. Turning on her heel she walked away leaving him on the ground in stunned shock. He couldn’t believe he got knocked winded by a woman. He hadn’t met a woman to punch him like that. Normally characters could not attack the other unless they were in the Coliseum.
Yet here she just winded him with a punch outside of the Coliseum. This by itself interested him to how she managed to do that. Pushing up the Knight stood and a grin retook his face as a wind blew. “You, my dear fair maiden, will be mine. I am not going to let a woman bring me to fall and walk away.”
His words fell on no ears but his own with her distance from him as well as her ignoring him. She made her way to the bridge humming softly a quiet tune to herself, on her way looking out at the dead landscape. There was some vegetation here and there but mostly it was like a dried up desert just with no sand. As she crossed she turned her head, watching the waterfall. It was magnificent with its roaring voice booming, echoing off the walls of stone.
Other players were busy exploring a dungeon rumored to be on the other side. It would appear and disappear, according to some. It held a rare treasure put in place by hackers. Or so the rumors went. If it was true none were exactly positive since none had ever reached the end to find said treasure.
Coming to the end of the bridge she paused. Before her feet just centimeters away was green grass. Looking up and out there were patches of green, like on the other side. But these patches were more joined and resembled a lawn that hadn’t been watered in some time. Inhaling then releasing her breath it felt exciting.
Somewhere there was a hidden dungeon and monsters with a range of power levels. Reaching behind her she touched her back. A light shot bright from under her hand. As her hand raised and removed itself from her back the handle of her weapon came to view. Once done, she held firmly now in front of her a large scythe of red. Its red colored blade shimmered in the light.
Contrasting from its red blade were the small teeth of silver and black metal. These teeth were on a special chain set up to give it added bite. It was a steam scythe. This weapon was a powerful unique one. Yes there were other steam scythe users out there but hers was custom made.
Thanks to a friend of hers being in the Inventor’s class she got it specially modified for herself. Was it legal within game rules? Perhaps not, but what could she do? She wasn’t the one who worked on it. She didn’t supervise him the entire time.
Carrying the weapon at her side she continued on. Marching on strongly into the wild field she hummed the small tune again. The sound of combat echoed from here and there. It was a massive field, as many were. “Alright then, time to do some leveling up.” She turned a grin to her weapon. “And to break in my baby here,” she muttered quietly.
The scythe user took off running to find her-self a fight. Other characters were seen fighting, taking down monsters or getting themselves killed. The ones dying could have been due to lack of power or lack of potions to heal themselves after getting mobbed. Getting mobbed on the field wasn’t too uncommon. It had to be expected and planned for when going solo.
The field was an open battle. There were the spinning gates that held the monsters inside. These, though, once activated leaves the monsters free to roam the field if not killed. If too many are activated and left alive then it did make for an interesting time. Sliding to a stop she came face to face with a headless monster wielding a spiked club.
“Alright, round one.” With those words she lowered her body then dashed forwards. Her scythe roared to life with a twisting of the handle with unique engravings. The monster roared, somehow, she wasn’t sure and didn’t quite care. The club came down quickly and she pushed off the ground, sliding right.
Pushing forwards she resumed her forwards motion. Her blade swung out around, catching the middle of the monster. Revving the blades faster she pulled hard, slicing through the monster. As the beast’s body turned into pixels and vanished into the digital afterlife, a breath released almost like a sigh. Her scythe released its own sigh, shooting off four shots of steam below the blade.
“Now for round two.” She began to leave but paused when a chest appeared where the monster had fallen. Twirling her weapon she tapped the top of the chest with the end of her blade. It clicked and opened, allowing her to pull out a potion bottle and three herb items. Putting them away she continued on her way, searching for another battle.
This would continue for her and others. Slowly as all this took place, under the evening sky came a small crack in the greenery. This crack showed lines of red and yellow. It began to crackle softly, like it was spurting sparks. Taking out another monster she landed from her flight in the air.
Her back was to the monster and as it vanished she stood, turning around smirking. “Heh, this is too easy. I thought this would be more challenging.” She felt disappointed in the fact the monsters didn’t seem as hard as rumored. Maybe that was all the levels were: rumors. She stretched twirling her blade and slammed its end into the ground once her arms came down.
“Maybe I need to find somewhere else. I had hopes this place would be better for breaking in this beauty.” A sigh left her lips with eyes closed. It was disappointing. When the ground shook it brought her eyes to snap open. Her grip on her scythe’s handle tightened to keep standing. “Whoa! What the hell?
“Was that the server? It shook the ground like an earthquake. But how can that be? This is just digital space. I know they simulate real world events but that might be going a bit far.”
The ground calmed and she stood on steady legs. Pulling her weapon up she looked around feeling uneasy. The area had gone quiet. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t feel right for an area once busy with sounds of fighting to suddenly go quiet. Starting to take a few steps she kept her eyes peeled, scanning her surroundings carefully.
It was the first time she’d experienced an area shake like that. Once a town shook, but that was due to a slight server malfunction. Thankfully that was fixed fairly quickly and an Admin appeared, explaining the situation to them. There was no Admin in sight as far as she could see at least. As she drew closer to an odd red glow she slowly looked down when a new sound came to her ears.
Under her feet it showed broken data on the grass blades and ground. This wasn’t a good thing. Quickly looking up she hoped no players were injured. She broke into a forwards run. She ran some ways before stopping and starring face to face with a headless beast. This beast had the body of a feline, its paws were like a lion, tail like a tiger, and its upper body was attached like how a human body was attached to the equine body of a horse for a centaur. It had two arms and two more coming out of its shoulder blades.
The sight was almost sickening to her. Never had she seen a monster like that on the field. They normally were inside dungeons where the inside was like moving flesh. “What in the world…what…is this thing?” her words were quiet, mostly to herself to know she hadn’t frozen up. Her grip on her scythe had almost loosened to drop the weapon due to her stunned shock. She was happy to see no players around though.
She didn’t want any players to be injured or hurt so she readied herself for battle with this monster, regaining her grip on her weapon and sense of self. She was a strong Steam User. She could do this easily. She had to at least until someone could get back up there. “Here goes.” She muttered before charging forwards with her weapon rising up high. It sliced downwards into the monster slicing into it before she was thrown back after cutting halfway into it, from the shoulder into the chest.
A short yell escaped her mouth when her body struck the ground, her body bouncing once before sliding to a stop with her weapon landing in front of her. The scythe user looked up, retaking her scythe and stood glaring. The monster had paused but she could see the open wound stringing itself back together, healing with red and yellow data. “Crap so it’s one of those? I thought the Heads had that under control.
“Great,” she groaned rolling her eyes. Her grip adjusted itself and with tense shoulders she used a skill to scan the monster for its information. While this happened she took in its appearance, looking for anything out of the ordinary. When the scan came back about it having infinite health she knew then there was a Viral Loop somewhere on it. She had to find it and somehow destroy it or the battle would never end.
As the monster started to charge to attack and her weapon rose at an angle to block it, a sound drew her attention from the side. A blur of white armor shot into view, slamming into the monster. It was that knight from before. Glaring she couldn’t believe it was him that was there trying to save or help her. She didn’t need or want someone like him helping her.
“What are you doing here? Get out of here now before you get hurt. This area is quarantine ‘till further notice.” She ordered coldly to the knight, her eyes equally as cold as her tone.
“Don’t you want help? I’m here to show you that I can protect you, maiden.” He said turning his body to her and giving her a bow. She groaned rolling her eyes with head leaning back. This guy must have been incredibly dense or stupid. Either way, she didn’t need him to get his character destroyed or worse, his self in the real world injured based on stupid virtual pride.
“Look this place isn’t safe so warp back to the town now.” As the scythe woman approached him her blade spun at her side then came to rest at his throat, the saw tooth blades against his digital flesh. “This place is now under restricted use. Return to the town or I’ll be forced to take you out and force you to revive at the town.”
“Did anyone tell you you’re cute when you’re mad?” he asked ignoring her words. This brought her face to twist in anger at his idiotcy. How stupid could one man be? The sound of the monster stirring drew their attention but too late. The monster attacked striking them hard with a charge attack, throwing both back. The knight hit a tree as she hit a rock hard, a sick crack ringing out but from which one or both wasn’t clear.
She groaned and slowly started to move, her character in a daze and even the player’s own head was spinning. That blow had been hard and made her devices shake causing moments of a disoriented feeling but she recovered. The character stood picking up the weapon and huffed deciding on what to do. “I just need to find that spot…then I should be able to end this…”
“Huh? Find what spot?” the knight asked curious, a confused look on his face. She shook her head stepping carefully to the side around the beast, looking it over from head to toe.
“You aren’t involved so leave. You’ll know like the others if the area is clear for re-entrée or not later.” She kept her tone cold and firm. It was her hope he would listen to her and obey but that hope was quickly destroyed as he stayed and started to circle the monster in the other direction.
“Well since you won’t tell me I shall guess so I may be of help to the fair maiden.” His tone so out there and full of himself left her with no taste of affection towards this player. “Hmm you must be looking for something out of place. Why would someone look for something that’s normal?” he inquired looking the monster over himself. His ability to figure that out was astounding. She didn’t think by his actions he had such brain power.
“There, there’s something on its back between the upper arms and lower ones. It looks like a weird…well I’m not sure what it is. It sort of looks like something you’d find in the ground and not want to mess with.” His comment wasn’t too helpful but it did give her an area to look at. It went into another charge at her but this time she was ready. When it drew closer she readied her weapon and swung it forwards, slamming it down and using the force to push her body up and over the monster, landing behind it and just in front of the knight.
She looked at the back of it between the shoulders and there she saw a shape like a piece of shell or rock. Its shape was similar to a pentagon but it had three extra points inside its main shape. Its arms were out and wrapped around but as they were, it looked like they were buried into its flesh as well. “That’s it. That’s what I’m looking for. I suppose you were helpful, now leave.”
He ignored her more, it wasn’t like she didn’t not see that coming, and as she started to get a magic spell charged, he began to start and chant to use a spell of his own. She shifted a foot back swinging her weapon and sent out six yellow scythe shaped blades at the monster. A few hit the Viral Loop but others struck the monsters body. It turned and somehow released a loud roaring sound. Stomping its front paws hard, three strips of fire shot out at her but the attack stopped short of striking and the knight grinned at her confused look behind her frustrated eyes.
“Barrier spell. Basics of basic for a knight.” He said proudly. She didn’t answer to that as she charged forwards, revving up her scythe as her player went through selecting finally a skill she was sure would work but, she had to get a clear shot at the Viral Loop. It charged again and the pair split up, her going to one side and him the other. He drew his large sword out and swung, using a skill based with plant type magic.
She on the other hand kept her skill ready letting him draw its attention and it worked. When his skill struck, the monster turned and paid attention to him. This would work nicely. He could work as monster food for the time being. When its back turned to her and it sent another spell at him she saw the Loop. Taking aim her blade rose into the air, spinning and began to glow a golden color with sheens of blue shimmering through with the teeth revving and running quickly, turning almost to a blur.
She swung the weapon down and out to the side, slicing through the air, and sent out the skill straight at the monster. It flew being a perfect outline and shape of the weapon. When it struck the thing on the monsters back, it cracked further before shattering into pieces. When this happened the monster froze starting to appear to become stuck with slight jerking movements. The knight was just centimeters away from being struck by its mighty fists. The scythe using female sighed readying another skill and sliced down into the monster, this attack holding a golden color with a red sheen flowing through it.
The strike shot out and went clean through the monster but oddly did not harm the knight, leaving him untouched as the monster was cut in half. She watched as it turned into data and looked at the squares and dots float up into the air. “Turn your eyes to the night sky~ Where the sun glistens in night light eyes~ Destruction reins when peace is all there~ Look to the center of the star on the ground~”
This strange sounding verse was said with a singsong tone in a simple rhythm which drew the knight’s attention. He stood tall and his weapon was returned to its sheath on his back. “What’s that? I never heard anything like that before. What were you just humming or trying to sing there?” he asked.
“Just something that is in The World. You’ll learn later.” She replied calmly staring at the sky mixed in night and dusk. She turned and began to walk away past him heading towards the bridge in the now silent area with a wind blowing. He watched her leaving feeling almost stunned before finally following after her. The female scythe user started humming that simple tune once more.
“Well how did you bring that monster down? I never saw any attacks look like that before.” He said quickly trying to get her attention as she kept walking. He finally made it to stay at her side. Her speed wasn’t fast but was brisk.
“Hmm? Oh that was a simple move used by those with permission. I’m a volunteer Moderator. I have limited ability compared to the true Moderators and Administrators. I have the skills to collect data, report players, and to deal with basic anomalies such as that Viral Loop you witnessed. When it comes to actually fully dealing with a situation such as repairing the data I don’t have that authority. I’ve already sent in a report to the Heads and they should be able to handle a simple task. I also set out a report on the Boards for the ones in charge here; if the Heads can’t do anything, then they could heal it themselves.
“Do you think it’s strange that a Player is granted some lead with a few benefits of being a Moderator?” she explained then asked, turning her head to look at the male character at her side with serious eyes. She wasn’t joking about this and was quite serious.
“So…you are a Moderator? But…why aren’t you dressed like them?” he asked getting a glare from her. “Okay so you said you are a volunteer but still…shouldn’t you have an outfit similar to them so it is obvious to others you are able to do something when things go wrong?”
“No it’s not important for me to look like the others. I’m supposed to blend in. It is why they let me wear as I wish. My weapon has the skills you saw to deal with the anomalies such as the Viral Loops mainly. There are other things but those are the most deadly. So…if you don’t mind…I’m going to be returning to town, find the pub and grab me some relaxing time.”
Her words were blunt, speeding up her steps. She swung her weapon up and touched it to her back, making it vanish into thin air. He was impressed and somehow felt more attracted to this lovely beauty with a steam scythe. “Here let me join you and I’ll pay for your drinks!” he shouted racing after her now to catch up.
ns 15.158.61.23da2
