《Smoke Rising, A LitRPG Epic》 Sunfall? Whats that. It all changed on Toth¡¯s 16th birthday, He had been out with his girlfriend and a mishmash group of nerds and football players, who he had somehow convinced to play DND with him. Chase had been particularly funny to watch, he had chosen to play a half-orc barbarian with savage attacks and had waded through a horde of kobolds with two large greatswords. Toth had thrown his best fire spells out, but Marie was an incredibly experienced DM and he hadn¡¯t been sure he would beat the raging barbarians score. As if he¡¯d read his thoughts Chase had bellowed out ¡°I''m already at 5, Toth, try to keep up!¡± They¡¯d always enjoyed competing in everything they did, and funnily enough Toth usually won in anything sports related, he¡¯d always had a quick mind, and fast body, which was half the reason he used to be able to so easily make friends with the jocks and nerds. The other half being his confidence, as everyone who knew him always had one thing to say, ¡°Toth just makes everything enjoyable.¡± On the flip side the star football player Chase was somehow hiding that he was the biggest nerd in school, something Toth had only figured out after a particularly long night when Chase blackout began to quote Gimli from LOTR while swinging around a cosplay axe he hid in his room. After that the two had been almost inseparable, each appreciating that complete honesty they could have with each other. The game went on for a few more hours, a simple battle loot oneshot that ended with Toth and Chase back to back as the last players, beating back a horde of animated armor being puppetered by a Drow Magus, Toth in his final moments called down a flame strike with a beautifully timed nat 20 which managed to slay the Drow and pushed back the armor just enough to save him and a critically injured Chase. After they ended the game, they went to Chase¡¯s house to hangout and exchange gifts. Chase unlocked the door to the massive mansion and walked in and as Toth stepped in, in front of his other friends, Chase had let out a small cough, which erupted into a large crowd¡¯s chant of ¡°HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOTH!!¡± He watched everyone he knew from his grade come out from behind couches, cabinets, and corners shocking him to the core. He had known he was friendly, but he never knew that many people liked him! Chase smiled at him, and he understood a little better why so many people were here, sure some probably actually cared but with the owners of the house gone for a long weekend and Chase¡¯s large house and reputation for insanely fun parties who wouldn¡¯t deal with flattering him for a bit. Regardless of all that it felt pretty good, and he knew that Chase must have put a lot of work into keeping it a secret while still getting that many people. He pulled him in for a hug, ¡°Thanks dude, this is awesome.¡± Chase chuckled and smacked his back ¡°Anything for the Magister.¡± As Chase released him he grabbed a beer off of a nearby counter and said ¡°Cheers to Toth, everyone who brought presents, and to a great party!¡± Everything after that had been mostly a blur to Toth except for the sickening moment that he replayed in his head over and over. He had just finished his 6th beer and was at the overconfident, overpleasing level, so when he was dared by a jealous football player to dive into the pool off Chase¡¯s 10 ft high diving board he accepted. He stood on it as a crowd of drunk teens chanted ¡°TOTH, TOTH, TOTH!¡± starting to regret it but too far in to back out, and the small fear of water he had wasn¡¯t helping. The anxiety, beer, and darkness also caused him to overlook the netting, and nobody else had been sober enough to realize. When Toth hit the water it''s freezing cold immediately paralyzed him and the whipping net cut into his skin, causing him to thrash about, getting hopelessly entangled in the heavy ropes, that added to his drunkenness and sad swimming skills slowly brought him to bottom. He had begun to panic at around 1 minute, and began to thrash even harder at 2 when nobody came to help, around 3 he couldnt help but gasp and- he breathed heavily as he recollected the horrifying experience, he remembered the water forcefully pushing its way into his lungs, and the flashes of his friends and plans for life, the overwhelming terror, and the slow encroaching calm and darkness as his body stopped responding, and he fell unconscious. Chase''s POV: I remember the screams first, a group of girls screeching is hard not to notice, and then the people running. I was groggy from the beer and slow to react. If I had just been a minute faster¡­ Nevermind that. I made my way to where the screams were at a light jog, and saw Tucker on the ground paralyzed staring at the pool. I ran over to him and had asked him what the hell had happened, ¡°Toth- he, he jumped.¡± Soberness hit me, I had forgotten to taken off the netting, so many things to prepare and it had just slipped my mind, fuck. I sprinted and climbed over the pool yelling at Tucker to help me, a few other of my friends heard and ran over. I got in first and saw his blood fogging the water, the unnaturally still body, I still see it when I sleep. I frantically dived down and tried to drag him up, but I was just too weak. The feeling haunts me. It took 5 of us to drag him up and out and took us a costly 2 minutes. I still remember pounding his chest as Marie sobbed and Tucker stared at Toth hollowly. One of my friends called the ambulance, but the time in between felt like ages. He coughed up water, and I felt the wisps of wheezing breath. I kept thinking about what I could¡¯ve done, that it was my fault. He had told me he just wanted to have a small hangout and spend time with the people he loved, but I stupidly judged he needed a memorable party. FUCK. I watched the ambulance haul him off, and I called his parents. I was the first to arrive at the hospital, even as drunk as I was. I was there as his parents walked in, and watched them stare with sorrow that almost broke me. I heard when the doctors told us what happened, and I was there when Toth slowly left us, after months of crushing misery with no hope in sight. _____ I woke up surrounded by Marie, My mom and dad, and Chase, who I shakily smiled at. ¡°Hey guys, bad luck huh, I uh didn¡¯t realize that net was there, but the doctors must have done a good job, I don''t feel any pain.¡± My mom started to sob as I said that and Marie hyperventilated. ¡°It really doesn¡¯t feel good to be out of the know, guys, did I say something funny?¡± Chase looked like he was one word from either crying or breaking something, so I decidedly shut up, as a doctor walked in. ¡°Toth yes? I have some bad news, you seem to be paralyzed from the neck down.¡±Oh fuck. Fuck, fuck fuck fuck fuck. ¡°I see why you guys got so tongue-tied over what I said huh, makes sense there¡¯s no pain.. No nerves to feel it!¡± I chuckled a bit, and more, slowly breaking into hyperventilation and sobbing as I tried all I could to move my arms, my toes, my fingers. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Whatever else the doctor was saying I couldn¡¯t make out, It just didn¡¯t feel real. Marie hugged me while weeping but I couldn¡¯t say anything, I just cried. Chase promised me something about making sure I had every chance of recovery but I could feel in my soul that there was nothing left to save, something vital in my body had been lost and it was impossible to get back. For everyone else¡¯s sake I held my head high, I accepted Chase¡¯s help, and worked with specialists every day to try and recover, I made jokes, told Marie stories and even had a few bedside D&D games through a screen that tracked my eyes. But inside I felt dead, there was no confidence, and everytime I tried to drink water I had full on panic attacks, it got so bad that they had to inject me with a drinking straw. I could see fervor in Chase¡¯s eyes and he seemed very different, the once light, and funny jock had dark rings under his eyes, and seemed to never stop researching. He never told me what he was doing but I could tell that just as I was empty inside he was too, it made me feel even guiltier and after dozens of specialists I started to deny help in hopes of stopping him, and tried to let him know I didn¡¯t blame him. I don¡¯t know if it worked but eventually he stopped showing up as often, but at least once a week. Marie came almost every day, and was one of the last few good things about my life, she would read me fantasy books, watch shows with me, and kiss me goodbye. But I could tell she was slowly destroying herself too, she loved me too much and being as I was paralyzed I could no longer give her the love she deserved. Our relationship was wearing slowly and I knew that there was only way I could help her move on and build something new. I cried about it for a whole night, but the next time I saw her I did it. ¡°Heya love!¡± She said, her voice bouncy and happy. For the sake of the worthless parasite I was now. It wasn¡¯t something I deserved, I was just a chain on her. ¡°Marie. We need to talk.¡± Her smile turned down slightly, ¡°About?¡± I took a small breath and adjusted myself for the play I was about to put on. ¡°Us, I¡¯m just not the same man I was, you should move on.¡± She looked affronted, ¡°No! I love you, and I¡¯m not gonna leave you alone!¡± I shot back ¡°You have to eventually, you have college ahead of you and your gonna have to eventually move away, I know you want to go to an ivy league, whereas I¡¯d be lucky if I could even get into our community college.¡± She huffed and stomped her foot, something I always found cute when she got mad ¡°Toth! You know Chase is doing everything he can to help restore your nerves, and technology gets better every year, you¡¯ll be recovered at the very most in a few years, and I don¡¯t mind waiting.¡± I knew better, I had spoken to so many specialist¡¯s and while Chase tried to convince me otherwise the consensus from them all was not that my nerves were broken but DEAD, my lack of oxygen disconnected the brains connection and they simply stopped. It was incredibly rare I even survived at all, fate laughing in my face and making me live through it all. I spoke back ¡°Im paralyzed and hopeless, you have a bright future ahead of you and its fucking exhausting to see it every day, I¡¯m tired of your selfish pity, and I dont wanna see you anymore, we¡¯re over.¡± She stared at me in shock and began to cry, running out, as Chase walked in. Chases POV: I walked past into room 203 as Marie ran out crying past me. I stared at Toth who looked shaken but quickly morphed into disgust as he saw me entering. ¡°What happened?¡± I asked. ¡°I''m tired of everyones pity, and belief that I¡¯m going to get better, Chase, I¡¯m a dead man walking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m done with her and you. Just leave me alone and move on.¡± He bitterly said. After years of knowing Toth I knew the type of guy he is, the selfless, people serving, charming guy. He¡¯d rather die than hurt someone''s feelings for no reason. And I¡¯d started to notice his fake jokes, how he¡¯d hollowly laugh just to make us feel better. He believed all he could do was drag us down now, and I wasn¡¯t gonna let him fall alone, but I knew only by letting him think I believed him could I stop him from discouraging my help or feeling more guilty, and maybe figure out a way to save him. ¡°Anything for the magister¡± I said sadly, as I walked out the door. I decided that the only way forward was sticking my hands into all the pots I could, and making enough money to draw up a bounty from the best. THREE YEARS LATER I was lying in my bed staring into nothing when I heard the knock at the door. ¡°Mr. Toth? We have a delivery for you!¡± Huh, I hadn¡¯t gotten any gifts since I cut off Marie and the only friends I made were with the nurses, so who would send me anything? I called back ¡°Come on in, Susan.¡± Two large nurses i¡¯d never seen wheeled in a huge pod, it looked expensive and futuristic and they showed me a note. ¡°Huh, What''s this?¡± ¡°Dunno man, came from the guy who got this pod for you, want us to read it or throw it away?¡± One of the nurses said. ¡°Well read it of course!¡± I replied Toth, long time no see, I hope the present I sent makes up for that. I got exclusive access to this, they call it Sunfall, and you¡¯ll be one of the first testers! Anything for the Magister! Chase? Didn¡¯t he start running a business under his fathers conglomerate? I thought he¡¯d forgotten about me, he hasn¡¯t visited since that day. What the hell does he expect me to do with a big ass pod, it''s already claustrophobic enough in this bed. ¡°Susan, does that thing have any instructions?¡± I asked ¡°All the man who gave it to me said was to put you inside, he said something about not spoiling the surprise. The doctors who saw it just had wide eyes, and told me to hurry and bring it for you.¡± Weeeeird. I debated about getting in, but fuck, what do I have to lose. ¡°Alright Susan, put me in.¡± She had the two nurses pick me up and I got close enough that I could have a closer look at the pod. It had a big container of weird blue liquid in the back, a hatch that swung up mechanically, and a ton of cords. They put a large tinted futuristic scuba looking mask on my face that, and then put in a few needles, attached some weird patches, before closing it. I started getting panicky as I realized what was probably going to happen, and when the liquid started to pump out from the bottom, I began to yell, but the soundproofing must¡¯ve been good on the pod because nobody noticed. When it reached my chest I was hyperventilating, and when it went to my neck I began to feel lightheaded, and it covered me. I held my breath instinctively, but slowly calmed as I realized that I could breathe. That¡¯s when something pierced into my neck and I passed out. I woke up to a face full of dirt and a weird feeling, it almost felt like wind¡­ Ok what? That¡¯s definitely wind! What the fuck happened. I instinctively tried to roll over to see where I was and stared at a large sky. It took me a whole minute to process that. I HAD JUST MOVED? I had to make sure it wasn¡¯t a fluke, I began to wiggle my fingers one by one. ¡°Lefty your back! Oh god thank you, I can masturbate again!¡± I started to laugh with wondrous glee and pushed myself up standing on shaky knees, it felt wonderful, I tried to take a step but I was very unused to walking and all I managed was to trip myself and fall on my face. It hurt. IT HURT!! I didn¡¯t realize that pain could make me so happy until I lost it. It was about the time I fell that I realized the small blue notification box in the corner
Welcome to Sunfall
"Sunfall? Whats that." Hmm, I think I’m going to have to take a moment with this one. I waved my hand back and forth through the box, entranced by it, it shimmered as my hand went through and left trails of blue pixels. Wow. What the hell did that guy spend on something this lifelike, and how did he even get a hold of it! This is lightyears ahead of any VR tech on the market! As if noticing my thoughts (and repeated prodding) a small box was highlighted in the bottom right corner that flickered back and forth like a walk sign, making a motion for me to flick right. I did and another set of dialogue followed. Would you like to start the tutorial? Hmm. That makes sense I guess, this little area is nice but it¡¯d be a little rude to throw me in the game without any hints or advice. I press the button, and I feel a small prick in my stomach, which turns into a bout of extreme nausea as my world spins and I¡¯m whipped through.. something. Its incredibly dark for a second before I once again fall flat on my face. Ouch. I stand in front of an empty run down movie theater, with faulty neon letters that say Movie Palace. Everything except for the VI from Movie and P from palace are out. Huh. This is the tutorial? I look for a blue box to give me any guidance but all it says is.. Watch the movie in theater 3. Well, I mean, at least I don¡¯t have to fight any monsters right yet? I was starting to acclimate myself with the fantasy setting though, it reminded me of DND. I stop at that thought and sigh a little. I miss you Marie. CREAAAAK DAMN! The loud noise pulls me out of my head, and I see that one of the letters is hanging precariously now. I think I¡¯m going to head in before anything falls.. Anyways, let''s see what''s in here! I shake my head to throw off the mood that set in and walk in. The heavenly smell of butter and soda hit my nose, jeez, it''s been a long 3 years since I last had anything sweet, well.. anything edible at all really. With my bowel movements and lower body paralyzed anything too intense just kills my body. I stare at it longingly. It smells so real, and there''s nobody behind the counter. They wouldn¡¯t mind if I took some, right? Sure it might be a little stale but I¡¯m not too picky nowadays.. I quickly run over, grab a bag and a pop, and make my way into a theater at random. I find a nice seat, and happily clap my hands in glee as I dig into the popcorn. Its wonderful. The flavor is perfectly captured to my surprise, and I even feel my belly fill as if I was actually in the real world. I''m even more amazed that Chase could get his hands on this thing. Suddenly the theater screen turns on and I hear the reels spin as an old timey countdown starts. When the countdown ends I see a screen that says ¡°Produced by MASSIVE DYNAMIC, in cooperation with BIOPLEX¡± And then it flicks to the image of a planet from the perspective of space, it looks lush and vibrant. Before I can get a closer look the camera zooms in on it, almost like the camera is falling from above into the world. It quickly reaches a kingdom, and looks down on it from above. It bustles with life and traffic, kids and adults walking, a thief grabs a purse and runs, and a typical guard chases them. It goes down and then swerves up, leveling off in front of a large palace, where a handsome and tall man that I feel like I vaguely remember stands, he¡¯s smiling wide and seems to be some sort of.. Business man? For being in a fantasy-like game he certainly looks out of place. ¡°Hello folks! My name is Chase, but you may know me as the CEO of MD, Mr Binetti, you may even work for me.¡± Chase MADE this game?? Holy shit. That explains why was able to get me a pod. ¡°If you''re playing this game it can only mean one thing, you¡¯ve been greenlit to test Sunfall! The big guys up in the board stopped complaining long enough to give me a list of names and addresses to send these pods, as well as on deck nurses to make sure nothing goes wrong. I¡¯m sure some of you have a good idea of what this is, but for those of you who may not be in the know, Sunfall is a virtual reality RPG, with a heavily populated world of AI NPC''s with near perfect engineering. If my boys did their job well you shouldn¡¯t be able to tell the difference. Well, at least until you cast your first spell.¡± He chuckles a bit before continuing ¡°So, what should you expect? Well, that''s the fun part, I don''t know!¡± He pauses for a moment Great. That¡¯s real helpful Chase. ¡°Wait, wait, wait. Before you start getting mad just listen a little longer, you won¡¯t regret it.¡± Damn. Same old Chase, always seeing a step ahead in social situations. Makes sense why he made it so far in business. ¡°I don¡¯t know because where you land in the world and what you encounter are entirely based on what you want and who you are! The system in Sunfall can sort of skim your thoughts or emotions as well as gather¡¯s data on your achievements and activities whilst you play, and again! Please don¡¯t get angry, if you signed to accept this pod you also signed the terms of service that let us do this.¡± Heh, sneaky ass bastards, I didn¡¯t sign anything! ¡°There is also an AI Watchdog in the form of your System helper that can sort of intervene or help out if needed, with a bit more life to it, so if you encounter any bugs or issues it should sort them out or report them for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you''re asking Chase! It sounds like you have this thing pretty well put together, what do you need me for? Well folks, as much fun as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have, we have never actually had real players in this world. Now I know that sounds scary, but if you get into any danger the nurses will immediately eject you from your pod. But trust me, we have double and triple checked the systems and world, there should be no problems, and all we want from you is your honest gameplay! Just do what any normal gamer would do and try to min max and cheese the game so we can balance or fix what we need to. Well that''s about all I¡¯m allowed to say, the big guys told me I shouldn¡¯t spoil anything. He pauses again, before winking at the camera But you know I¡¯ve never been great at listening to them¡± The screen goes black Poof A piece of paper appears, slowly drifting down towards my hands. I reach out and grab it, and see that the handwriting looks the same as the note that came with my pod but a little more hurried and scribbly. Chase huh? It reads ¡±Be careful of players, Your stats will draw on your physical body, Weird happenings, Special pod-¡± The end seems sorta abrupt, and it looks like he tried to write something more but didn''t have the time. Sigh. Guess I¡¯ll just have to figure out a bit myself, but huh if it draws on my physical body for reference.. Whatever, there''s nothing I can do to fix that, let''s just hope it''s not that bad. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A blue box pops up as I fold the note up, which promptly burns away. Calculations complete, would you like to see your character sheet? I swipe right quickly, excited for the goodies. Name: Toth Height: 5¡¯9¡± Weight: 90 lbs Legacy: Human Class: Wimp Lvl 0 [Wow you suck. These are the worst stats I¡¯ve seen from one of you humans, you must be half a foot in the grave!] Health: 120 (200 + -3x10 + -3x20) Stamina: 120 (200 + -3x20 + -3x10) Mana: 190 (100 + 3x15 + 1x15 + 2x15) STR: -3 CON: -3 DEX: -4 AGI: -3 WIS: 3 INT: 1 CHA: 2 PER: 1 ¡°Uhh what the hell system! How am I supposed to do ANYTHING with this.¡± [The names actually Sunfall, Sunny for short. Should¡¯ve thought about that when you was doin, well nothin apparently.¡±] A vaguely new york accent speaks from the void. ¡°... First of who is talking to me. And second, you should KNOW that I would be moving if I could. I¡¯m paralyzed.¡± [Eh. Make¡¯s a bit more sense why the system summoned me.] Snap A man appears whom I observe wearing dress shoes, brown pants that flare, a yellow and white striped button up with the sleeves tucked and cuffed, and black slicked back hair. He puffs a pipe in his mouth. He wears brown tinted glasses as well, and gives off the general ambience of an old New York dad, with a surprisingly well put together fashion sense. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some advice and a few benefits to help with your terrible stats kid, just sit down with Uncle Sunny for a moment.¡± He snaps his fingers once more, and the environment around us shifts to a small, and busy coffee parlor, with me and him sitting opposite to each other at a table. A hazelnut latte sits in a small teacup in front of me while he takes a sip from a black coffee in a tall mug. He puts his coffee down and clears his throat. ¡°So kid, I got some good news and some bad news. Which would you prefer first.¡± ¡°I¡¯m used to bad news. Give it to me.¡± I respond He grins a bit and slaps the table ¡°You got some guts in you kid, I can see it, alright then. The bad news is that you are something of a nobody, and it¡¯s a bit hard to sell giving you any benefits because they don''t think you could give them anything back. The good news is one element took interest in you, and because I like you I¡¯m willing to throw out some of my own clout to give you a bit of an advantage.¡± ¡°Which element?¡± ¡°Surprisingly fire. Usually they prefer someone with a bit more destructive capability, ehh not to say that you couldn¡¯t hurt somebody, but your arms look like my moms spaghetti.¡± He says, squinting at my less than athletic body. ¡°I''m just gonna ignore that. But uh, probably because me and fire have been friends for awhile, I¡¯ve used it anytime I play a mage!¡± I respond ¡°Mm. Okay, well uh. I¡¯m just gonna pick some things and packages that¡¯ll you help alright? You won¡¯t see me much in the actual game so take advantage of it. All you have to do is accept the notification and you¡¯ll get sent in with your benefits. ¡°Wait, can I ask any questions?¡± I reply ¡°Hmm. Ok kid, three questions and then I have to go.¡± ¡°Uhh alright, first.... what should I focus on in Sunfall?¡± He thinks for a second before replying, ¡°Your skills. They are extremely important, and not just the level, but your understanding of them and base foundation. For you that would be the element of fire. Find hot places, make them, watch fire, and you¡¯ll progress. Obviously casting it and such will work too, but to truly become a mage of any element you have to become a channel for it. Next question kid we don¡¯t have much time.¡± ¡°Who are the ¡°they¡± you were trying to ask to help?¡± He moves his lips back and forth again, thinking carefully of what to say, ¡°Benefactors? People of Sunfall with goals, Elements, All powerful or with deep history in the world. Last question kid.¡± ¡°It says my legacy is human, can I change that?¡± He smiles, ¡°Yes, in fact I¡¯ll be giving you that option when you get into the real world, free tidbit before I go, you¡¯ll be starting as an apprentice in a fire mages academy, benefit of your element.¡± ¡°Thanks Sunny.. I dunno why you went out of your way but I appreciate it.¡± ¡°Its Uncle Sunny.¡± He snaps his fingers and disappears Another blue box pops up detailing the choice I have. Congratulations, Two benevolent benefactors have agreed to help you get started in your journey to Sunfall. You will gain: - Trait: Mana Bucket (+100 mana per upgrade) You have a little more mana than the average person - Trait: Beginners Luck (+2 luck until level 10) Sunny smiles upon you, and hopes to see you grow fast - Class: Apprentice Spark The element of fire smiles upon you, and hopes to see you reclaim its power You may choose a special option - Legacy Change. - Smothered Flame: The water took something from you, you will never again let it. +2 Con, +3 Cha, Gain negative reputation with Aspect of Water and its Acolytes Gain trait: Kindle You gain experience in flame magic 20% quicker, and it comes easily, you may do bonus damage with fire spells but also take overheat damage for the amount you do. Gain Passive: ??? This passive is dependent on your path and may change your legacy - Waterwalker When you died in that water it claimed part of your soul, this comes with certain advantages denizens of the light don¡¯t have +4 Con, -2 Cha, Gain negative reputation with Light-Affiliated groups, Gain positive reputation with Dark-Affiliated groups Gain trait: Dark Magicks You are one of the dead, which means your spells lean toward Dark damage, this affects any you learn in different ways. Gain passive: Half-dead Your skin turns a sickly purple, but you are slower to starve and thirst, and pain affects you less, you still bleed but it clots quickly. - Scarred Soul You have suffered mental and physical wounds far beyond your capability and the effects have marked you. +2 con +2 strength Trait: Tough Cookie Gain 20 points of Innate Mitigation Hmm, I think I¡¯m going to have to take a moment with this one. Everspark College After reading through all the options the choice became simple to me. The first one is very much something Toth a few years ago would love, and could help me get some semblance of self again. The second would let me lean into some of the more intrusive thoughts I¡¯ve had recently¡­ it''s been a long few years, give me a break. The third is basic and doesn''t tie me into any paths but has much less benefit. Obviously I¡¯m not choosing the third. And I¡¯m sure that the the 2nd could lead to some cool lich stuff.. but I¡¯ve barely had human connection. I don¡¯t want to miss that anymore, and a cool rpg game where I can pretend I have control of my body, and BE the sick fire mage I always played as in DND? That sounds fun. [Last chapters options] You may choose a special option - Legacy Change. - Smothered Flame: The water took something from you, you will never again let it. +2 Con, +3 Cha, Gain negative reputation with Aspect of Water and its Acolytes Gain trait: Kindle You gain experience in flame magic 20% quicker, and it comes easily, you may do bonus damage with fire spells but also take overheat damage for the amount you do. Gain Passive: ??? This passive is dependent on your path and may change your legacy - Waterwalker When you died in that water it claimed part of your soul, this comes with certain advantages denizens of the light don¡¯t have +4 Con, -2 Cha, Gain negative reputation with Light-Affiliated groups, Gain positive reputation with Dark-Affiliated groups Gain trait: Dark Magicks You are one of the dead, which means your spells lean toward Dark damage, this affects any you learn in different ways. Gain passive: Half-dead Your skin turns a sickly purple, but you are slower to starve and thirst, and pain affects you less, you still bleed but it clots quickly. - Scarred Soul You have suffered mental and physical wounds far beyond your capability and the effects have marked you. +2 con +2 strength Gain Trait: Tough Cookie Gain 20 points of Innate Mitigation I click the middle one and I''m a flame. I crawl and eat and hunger, my stomach never full I¡¯m creation and destruction Stolen novel; please report. But something tries to douse my spark. To choke me out. NO. I scream and explode in a ball of fire as I fall back into my body, and group of surprised, ecstatic, and bored students watch. Slowly the fire pulls back, and congeals into my stomach, a small ever present flame. A big blue box flashes in front of my face
You have entered Everspark College, as an Apprentice spark you may claim a spot in enrollment for this year''s ceremony.
My ears finally stop ringing and I notice the sound of someone running up to me, one of the students. She¡¯s drop dead gorgeous. Phoenix hair, streaked with orange reds and light yellows, dark red avian eyes, jade like skin. And she''s running toward me? As she approaches she grabs my wrist, breaking my train of thought ¡°Oh my spark! You must be a chosen, it''s really here. Guys, he is!¡± The girl throws my hand up with such glee, like I won against Mike Tyson or something. As the other students see it they gasp in surprise, some looking almost like worship, whilst others scoff in disdain. Great. My first day in the game and I¡¯m gonna be treated like a certain boy who lived. I quickly shake her off and look at the mark myself, and even with all the trouble I¡¯m sure it''s going to give me I can¡¯t help but gasp at how cool it looks. A pinpoint mark lays on each of my wrists, and I can feel them beat it tandem with my heart. In the inner ring they spiral inwards, like a deep hole straight into my body. The outer ring looks hot to the touch, like stilled fire barely contained. She giggles at me, ¡°Your handsome too¡± I blush immediately and grasp for words ¡°B-Wuh whats your name?¡± She giggles even more ¡°I¡¯m Cyra, a practiced student mage, I¡¯ve been here for 2 years, this is the start of my third.¡± ¡°So.. how¡¯d you all know to come here? Is this like a prophecy thing, cuz I¡¯m not much of a demon slayer.¡± She laughs, and it feels more honest ¡°Well, I¡¯ve read some pretty obscure books in our college so when me and the others felt the mana from this rusty teleportation circle, I remembered the book I read on the legacy of the founder of our school and how he said one day someone would appear with marks like yours, but no, nothing about some great destiny, the book doesn¡¯t go into much detail.¡± I frown a bit. That''s.. odd. This is a game. So how could it predict me well¡­ playing it? ¡°Bahaha, are you angry about that? What a weird guy you are. Well anyways come on, orientation is soon, and you don¡¯t seem like you know what''s up.¡± She pulls me along with her, and the students give us a wide berth, but I notice a lot more angry stares than before. Seems I¡¯ve ¡°stolen¡± the students'' favorite girl. As I reluctantly follow I notice a few notifications from the system, since I have a bit of a walk I decide to check them out [Due to gaining the legacy smothered flame you have been changed, try not to burn yourself to death.] [You have gained ??? Passive ????????????????m???????n???????????????n???????????????????????] [You have gained Trait: Kindle You gain experience in flame magic 20% quicker, and it comes easily, you may do bonus damage with fire spells but also take overheat damage for the amount you do.] [You have gained +2 Con, +3 Cha] One of those glitches Chase talked about I guess.. I wonder if that''s why the game seems to think I¡¯m some sort of chosen. And damn! The NPC¡¯s are so realistic, I can see why people get addicted to this sort of stuff. It takes us only a minute or so to make it to the entrance to the sprawling college, the design being incredibly flamboyant, in a pattern that seems to mimic a snake, with a large spiky back. It¡¯s both imposing and comical, showing the wealth of this college and their ego. I see three people float into the air slowly as people begin to chant around us. The volume gets louder and I begin to make out what they¡¯re saying. ¡°FLAME FLAME FLAME FLAME¡± The three people raise their hands up, and a wave of flame rises from the snake''s spikes, waving in the wind. It rise¡¯s higher and higher until all I can see is the shadows of the three (obviously) mages. And then it begins to crash down.