A budding Journey (Closed)

[Priest]

	Friend's list: Starlight |
	Priest Lv1 | | WordCount: 361/361

Link Start...

At first there was darkness all around, then brilliant flashes of color and light streaked into view. It is easy to imagine how ones senses could be overwhelmed their first time doing a full dive. The loss of direction, loud sounds and vibrant color, the system boot up could be overwhelming almost intimidating at first. But if you were fortunate and strong enough to make it through all that you were greeted by something that could only be described as a beauty that was crafted in the image of the heavens. A vast open sky filled with the most beautiful of blue, marked and streaked with the densest fluffy white clouds that you can imagine stretched as far as the eye could see. In the middle of it all was the imposing floating castle of Aincrad. Further off into the distance was the faint sound of voices and and fanfare, and further than that steel on steel of adventure rang out. It was time for his journey to start...

Slowly opening his eyes he was greeted by the town of beginnings, turning his head left and right to get his barring's he blinked his eyes a few times. In his immediate vicinity it would seem he had spawned within the bustling market place. He was greeted with the voices of the local merchants peddling their wares and striking up the best deal with the other players of the game. “Very interesting...” was his thought on all the new sensations we was feeling at the moment. He glanced down looking at his clothing that he was given to start off with. “Tch..” there was little style to his clothing simplistic leather armor with a blue shirt. He grasped the hilt of the long sword that was shackled to his waist and rubbed the pommel with the inside of his palm and hand gently and he smiled ever so softly. He stepped forward and began making his was through the market, glancing all the wares and objects with genuine enthusiasm and interest.

“It’s all so....foreign and cool." he said with a soft smile.

[Starlight]

The town of beginning is the largest town of the first floor, it is built on multilevel platform, with stone and dry grass houses, shops and busy streets, hidden alleyway, bridges and gardens, it have a very lively European small town vibe, although it was anything but small, covering about what? a lot of lands? like I said, the largest settlement on the first floor. The most famous place of the town being the palace was once said to have hosted some very important people (and also assassination attempts), it also play hosts to player guides as well as the home to a lot of beginner's quest, even spending days in the town, one would still not be able to see everything this town has to offer, especially when one gets embarrassingly lost in this town even thought she was here just a few days before, and by one, I meant Stella as she blinked a couple of times trying to figure out just exactly where she was at this very moment. 

Hm.....how??? I was...I....I...I totally know this place for sure, well, I came over that way, that way was the garden that I always visited..I think, I find this new street for the farmer's market, and got my bag snatched by this lousy thief (it got nothing in it because I have just cleared my inventory, just cleared it!! why did you want it, it has nothing but junk inside it, nothing of value at all!! give me back my bag you jerk!) I chased after this thief over the wall over there, and run along this alley, I lost sight of the thief just a moments ago, but having sighted him over the roof going to the east side, but more importantly, where am I right now seriously?! 

Stella let out a defeated sigh, if he could run along rooftop then that's good game, good for him, clap, clap, but if she ever catches him on the ground, well, let's just say that the scene would not be pretty at all. She has a good memory so he would have better hide for this couple of days. (smile) 

Thieves are generally not a concern within the town just because the guards of the town are soooo good, and that when people usually lived happily there was not much need for crime. But things like that occasionally happen anywhere really, and that is just life. 

Stella look around and decisively still lost, she randomly grabbed on the arm of a guy with black hair and red eyes who was going to walk pass her and asked. "Hey, by any chances, do you happen to know where we are right now?" Then she blinked, that was not an NPC that she just grabbed, leather standard issued outfit, standard issued weapon, that was in fact another Player, again not an NPC. Welllllll, hmmm........

[Priest]

	Friend's list: Starlight |
	Priest Lv1 | | WordCount: 206/567

A simple stroll in almost a daydream like fashion was concluded as someone had grabbed onto his arm ripping his mind away from all the thoughts of adventure and items that he had yet to see in his jaunt through the market. He turned his
attention to the lady whom had procured his arm with her own in a attempt to garner his attention.

"Hey, by any chances, do you happen to know where we are right now?"

He gave her a reassuring smile and placed his hand up recalling his system menu sliding his finger magically down and tapping the map option before selecting the submenu outlining their current location. Once he was confident in his answer, he turned and faced her.

"My dear, we are located on the First Floor, Town of New Beginnings. More specifically we are located within the market place exactly one and a half miles away from the new player spawn gate." He spoke softly and watched her with curious eyes.

"Do you need assistance in finding a place or person? I would be happy to help in anyway I can." he offered to her, finding it odd that she looked slightly frantic maybe even overwhelmed of her current situation.

[Starlight]

Stella's eyes widen slightly in shock as the magic...no...very high tech map appeared out of thin air showing their current location. "How are you doing that!" She let out a sound of surprised. That was....was that part of the start up bundles? It was always there?! Why didn't I think of that?! (because you didn't read the manual) That could have helped out like a long time ago, I needed that yesterday....oh gosh. Thinking back about the ordeal of her first day in town, her face was redden with embarrassment and shame, and also guilt towards the poor guy who got lost along with her. Oh damn, it was there all along, it could have helped, the entire thing could have been easily avoid, sorry again, but there is no point in dwelling in the past, the present is a lot more important. 

Coming back to herself, she looked up at this person who is currently standing in front of her. With his sharp bloody red eyes and mysterious aura, if she had a good look at him before she made contact, she might not have feel so comfortable just grabbing him like that. With someone with that look, she would have thought him to be...well...a lot more harsh and unforgiving. But instead, he seems....even as I was hesitant to say the word....but he seems.....almost friendly? And he was being....helpful?!! That was shocking, why? Why would you offer to help just right now? Well, but he kind of already did, by giving me a location. 

Her left hand touches her left side where her dark brown handbag was supposed to be, she looked down at her foot feeling slight down. It's...not like it worth a lot...it was just an old bag...but I have it for a while. Should I even ask someone whom I have just met to help me chase into a potentially confrontational situation? He was what...just got here? But it would be nice to have someone there, if I chase the thief and someone else circle to in front of the thief, cutting him off in front of him, then I got him...No no no, like I said, this guy just got here, completely new, he did not need this. Right after showing me kindness too, nope, he needed a friend maybe but definitely not a fight.  

If I was a thief....right....after this, I will go by the black market by myself and I am bound to find him there, that's where thieves likes to hang out right? Probably trying to sell my stuff damn him, it's not like it was worth that much anyway. And now I know how to summon map from out of thin air now, getting lost is of no concern of mine and I WILL give him a piece of my mind.

"Well, no, actually, there is nothing I need. I'm Starlight by the way, but people call me Stella." She smiled brightly at him, having find a solution to her problem, and then she cough a bit, hoping that he did not notice that she was staring off for about a few seconds there lost in thought thinking about how to best punch a person in the face. "What's your name stranger? " She tilt her head looking at him. "You are...new right?" She looked at his leather armor "do you want a tour of the Town? I have been pretty good at getting around the town lately, what with coming and going for the quests. Don't be shy, there are a lot more new players now, I have seen a lot of leather armors walking by recently, in fact, look at me, I'm a newbie too~" 

[Priest]

	Friend's list: Starlight
	Priest Lv1 | | Word Count: 260/827

He found slight amusement in her words, irony struck him softly as she was willing to give him a tour of this town when she was asking for her location not that long ago. But that did not bother him in the slightest in fact it made him smile deeper than he had in a good while, "Everyone calls me Priest, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance Stella." He said softly, he had been watching her facial features all through their meeting and found that she much like himself at times would have a inner dialogue that no one knew about. He was curious if that was her all the time or if it was merely a situation that she recalled that caused her this. 

He chuckled softly "I actually am pretty new...I've only arrived a couple of hours ago and I have just been wandering the market area. No real rush mind you, but I would like to see more of this place if your willing to show me." He stated softly gracious to accept her invitation to show him around the town. He truly did not have any place that he needed to be in this particular moment and Stella seemed more than willing to take him around the town. It was a optimal chance meeting that they had found one another, and for another person she was actually kind of nice and not hard to talk too. He would indeed explore this new personality more.

"Have you played games like this before?" He asked softly. 

[Starlight]

Have I played VMMORPG before?

"Well, yeah...but I don't play MMORPG all that often, I used to when I was little but since...hm, anyway, I mostly play single player VRPG, heavily story focused stuff, fighting monsters almost exclusively. After awhile, I guess I just get good? I am actually...surprisingly good with fighting monsters, like for example the old monster hunter series, where the point was to find the weak point and attack by strategy and timing...but here...I'm not sure if you have seen combat with this game? The physic is a little different then in real life, now all cuts show up in red lines and I'm not sure if targeting weak point is all the important anymore, everything looks to be stats based. But I still do play up the environment, and surprises and target weak points out of old habit, but I think eventually I would have moved on. But all that monster fighting also means I suck at PVP, lucky that this is a death game? So is not like a player is actually going to try to kill another player." Oh no, it seems I went overboard again.


"But anyway, the market you say? Which market? The farmer's market or the black market? In this area, because it is a smaller neighborhood, they are actually located in the same place, along that road, they all share to space because it is a smaller community." She pointed towards the location.

 "the farmer's market is in the early morning, they sell fresh vegetables and fishes. In the afternoon, the vendors switch to the merchants who sells clothes, decorations and small furniture and appliances, they usually closed around 5 pm, because the thieves and thugs returns around then and starts to hang about. After dark really no one should be out, because it is no longer safe, black market starts a little after sunset, and really, you should not be here by then, or so I heard. I don't normally hang around this area. I just run into a little....accident around here earlier today and lost my starter bag, I got attached to it so I was here looking to find it...probably accidentally dropped it somewhere on the ground, when I bumped into someone... I'm sure if I look around I will find it soon. But enough about me."  

Starlight checked her digital screen for time, it was a little after lunch hour so it is decoration time. "Well, it looks like you have just missed the fresh vegetable. What a shame, but wanna go window shopping today? Or have you change your mind? The market isn't actually all that interesting anyway, just a bunch of NPCs tying to trick their customers, but you know what is really interesting?" She smiled slyly at him like a cat, purposefully stopped mid-sentence to let the anticipation build, oh the mystery must have been eating at him right about now, wondering what it could be, but he would never be able guess what was that interesting!


........

But getting no visual reaction from the dark hair companion, she has to do her big reveal now before it lose its flavor....

oh well....

"It's the medieval knight show "Heros of the forever dawn"!!! Yes, if you can actually believe it!! They have a medieval knight show, within a medieval fantasy setting game, it was crazy it totally blow my mind! And it was actually quite good...filled with armored knights fighting the evil dragon and saving the world from eternal darkness...Wow" She stopped, still, even just thinking about the show now, even though she already watched it once, (the show is free to the public for a limited time between May to June) still gives her goosebumps, how is it such a cliche plot line even manged to capture even a single audience. There is how many movies about that subject now? It was so overused too. "It is a live action show, so I guess the live actor fighting part is the interesting part, I mean, for player who fight monsters, we can learn something by watching." Yeah that must be it, she has successfully managed to convenience herself. Yeah..that must be it, totally have nothing to do with just really good execution combined with a great and tearful story. Nope, I do not cry, for I am a knight in leather armor, I live only to fight and to learn, I do not get swing away by childish hero story. hahaha.

"oh, and also there's singing too. BUUTTT...there is also the Black Iron Palace where the royals used to live, that is a great tourist attraction around here. Well, since I am going to be your tour guide today, your wish shall be my command, where shall we go my good sir?" She waited patiently with glassy eyes for his answer.  


OOC: just when I think my block of text cannot get even larger, and all my posts are slowly turning into choice game....

[Priest]

	Friend's list: Starlight |
	Priest Lv1 | | WordCount: 178/1005

"Well, since I am going to be your tour guide today, your wish shall be my command, where shall we go my good sir?"

Priest turned and looked at her softly, and shared a broad smile just for her and no one else. He recalled their conversation today and softly brought his hand up accessing the submenu. He found Stella's name in the player registry and selected it, sliding finger tip over her name highlighted one of the few options under that menu.

In a moment a box appeared in front of Stella...

Priest has sent you a Friend Request Do you wish to accept?

He looked at her a moment and offered out his arm to her so that she may take it, "Show me the best places to eat around here, I'm starving!" he said with a chuckle. He was in fact hungry, but he felt that there was more to learn about this woman and she had a charm about her, that made him forget why he was in this area and what he was doing. All he was focused on was getting to know Stella more, and at the moment he realized...he may of just made a friend.

ooc: Since we have some bigger projects going on, figure we could wrap this up and turn it in for grading.

[Starlight]

Starlight blinks and accepted Priest's friends request.

A good place to eat in Town, and yet still nearby enough for within the walking distance huh...? Well, there is a lot of good places to eat, depending on what kind of food each individual likes, however, if you are talking about the most recommended place for beginners...I would have to go with....

Starlight gives him a big smile "You are in luck! There is this place near the church, goes by the name Millennium Gaden, it was a really popular place for both high level players and newbies alike! In fact! This one time, when one of the NPC waiter was on sick leave, I took a part time job there and got the chance to tried out all of their menu on the employee's discount, it was crazy!" She then narrowed her eyes at him and speak in a low whisperer very conspiratorially. "...and, not trying to brag or anything, but when I say that it was also favored by the high level players, I meant it. While it was working there, I saw them...Janeiro and Kyo!! Eating there too." Priest gives her blank look, and Starlight squeeze her eyes and quickly added "the boss raid!! In this game, there is a boss monster in every dungeon probably, for the first floor's dungeon, the two players that I mentioned before were part of the whole bunch of parties that went ahead and defeated the first floor boss!...unfortunately I believed that some players were also killed during the fight, but by defeating the boss, we can now go to the second floor. I am planning to go there too, there is no requirement to go to the second floor, a newbie like me can go too. Anyway, if you have no other preference let's go check it out! I still have the employee card so lunch is on me!"

With that, Starlight happily lead the way towards to the old establishment. The Millennium Gaden was established when the game first started and remain operational to this day, but because it was build so early, it had looked a little bit run down from the outside. What with the outer wall losing a little bit of paint over the years, from the wares and tares, and weather and what not. However, despite its outward appearance, the interior was remodeled and that combined with the chief's famous cooking skills and its good names, it somehow was not only able to retain its old customers, but was able to gain some new customers too. When Starlight and Priest finally arrived at the Pub and Grill restaurant, she noticed that she worked with one of the staff before and quickly run over to her to say hello.

They have arrived a little bit after lunch time, but the restaurant was still a little busy and with people chatting about around them. Starlight and Priest take a seat at one of the window tables at the second floor, with a view to the street below. Once seated, Starlight quickly makes her recommendations to Priest, guessing that it might be his first time here in this restaurant so she gives him a little introduction on the different types of dishes that this restaurant has to offer. But honestly though, Starlight likes just about anything that the chief makes, so there is no chance for Priest to accidentally order sometimes that turns out tasting bad. In her mind the old man was a true master indeed. The grumpy grandpa can be overly harsh at times, and is not afraid of snapping at the customers, therefore needed to be not near any customer at all times, but he seems to possess magical powers, with the ability to turn just about anything that he works with into delicious food. So in that regard, he was a good chief. Starlight picked the boar steak with varies berries on top and waited impatiently for her food to arrive, she didn't think about it before, but now that she has sit down, she was getting a little bit hungry. 

"So..have you heard of the news lately...?"

"Yeah...I know, I have heard, it was kind of scary isn't it?"

Starlight turns around to look at the table beside them, there were two NPCs having lunch and having a friendly conversation among themselves, seemingly discussing about some news. But not feeling like eavesdropping, she turns back, and chatted causally with Priest. After some times, the waiter has arrived with their food and setting them on their table.

"Wow! That looked nice! Thanks! I can't wait, hey Priest, let's not wait to let the food get cold, let's dig in!" She said happily and takes a bite of her favorite boar meat.


But as she was eating, she can't help but hear what the other table was saying, they were in fact, discussing about the news of Player Killers. Which is a player who intentionally kills another player. Starlight frowns, she thought that those people only existed in rumors, but according to the NPCs beside them, the PKers are not only real, but they are also in this town. 

So...are they saying that this Town is now no longer safe...?

Starlight frowned as she was chewing on the meat. That is bad, isn't it? She knows that the death game was taking the toll on some players, who have decided to stay in the Town of the Beginnings forever and never venture outside of the walls, although regretful but nevertheless, an understandable decision. As long as the players stay within the safe zone that is the Towns and some other places, in theory, they should be safe from everything. But if the PKers are truly here, that means the safe zone is no more, in fact, it is probably the level 1 players who never ventured outside the walls who are in the most grave danger. If I were a PKer, that is who I will be targeting, those without combat experience and without the courage to fight, they would be the most vulnerable and the least able to protect themselves at the same times.

Starlight frowns. But that is not my concern, if the PKers truly existed inside the walls, I will concerned about them when I beat them into a pulp. And anytime before then, they are the Town's guard's concerns.

Taking a bite of the berries when Starlight noticed something from the street below, it had almost looked like...three players were chasing another player?? And the player currently being chased has some serious low health bar, even from the distance all the way over here, she can see that the health bar was red. 

She pushed away her chair and stands up. That can't be the PKers that the other table was talking about can it?


She frowns and was about to watch them for a second longer, but decided that, no, she cannot waited any longer. She puts her napkin and her folk back onto the plate and puts some col onto the table. "Sorry Priest, for cutting the tour short for today, but head towards the main building of the Town next, it is the building located second highest on the hill, you can't missed it. You can get some free maps and information about the Town and that should help you figure out where you would like to go to next, and don't be afraid to ask for help, for directions or anything, most of the NPCs are super nice and are willing to help. The Town's library also contains information about the history and tales of the Town, that might help as well. Sorry, but I have to go to alert the Town's guards, but I do hope to see you again in the future. But for now, I have to go, but I wish you a safe journey to wherever you decided to travel next."

With that, concerned about whatever was happening on the street below, she quickly waved her goodbye to Priest and her NPC once co-worker and quickly headed downstairs, aiming for the walls, she quickly disappeared into the streets of the Town of Beginning.
 

[Priest]

	Friend's list: Starlight |
	Priest Lv1 | | WordCount:376/1381

Priest smiled softly as she walked with him towards the restaurant that she held highest esteem for, as she recalled and shared her interactions and time of employment with the place. He smiled softly and nodded his head softly keeping to himself, completely content to her hear speak about her experiences.  He made a mental note of her comment regarding the boss and the 2nd floor, he found it unique that we could freely move between the floors without actually having to face the boss head on. That could either be bad, or a good thing the answer for that would have to come at a later time.

They arrived at the place that she wanted to eat at and show him, as they strolled into the building and were seated he smiled softly. As she spoke to him about the better options to choose from when it came to the actual food. He gave her his undivided attention and took her suggestions and went with them. Mirroring her order he as well took advantage of ordering the Boar Steak.

He smiled softly at their conversation over their food, his attention followed hers as she paid more attention to those beside them. He noted the concern on her face but made no comment on it as he was sure there was a reason behind it but did not want to push too much on someone he had just met. Priest softly sipped his coffee and quietly ate once the food had arrived.

"Sorry Priest, for cutting the tour short for today, but head towards the main building of the Town next, it is the building located second highest on the hill, you can't missed it. You can get some free maps and information about the Town and that should help you figure out where you would like to go to next, and don't be afraid to ask for help, for directions or anything, most of the NPCs are super nice and are willing to help. The Town's library also contains information about the history and tales of the Town, that might help as well. Sorry, but I have to go to alert the Town's guards, but I do hope to see you again in the future. But for now, I have to go, but I wish you a safe journey to wherever you decided to travel next."

He stood up like a gentlemen when she went to excuse herself from the table, " Good Night Stella, be safe in your travels. Thank you very much for your time, and suggestions." He smiled softly watching her a moment as she fleeted into the night. He leaned back in his chair shifting his legs and crossing them the opposite way a moment drinking from the coffee. He looked around a moment and stood up with a final gulp of his coffee. He decided that it was time to gather some intel before calling it a day. He turned and walked out of the restaurant and started heading in the direction she told him to head. It was time for the adventure to begin...


~CLOSED~