Portal to D&D IC - Thokk_Smash

[Rizban]

The most direct way through the swamp is to just wade through it.

Alternatively, you could probably navigate through it if you had a proper boat.

[Rizban]

You hear the sounds of crunching leaves and a snapping twig coming from behind you.

You notice two ladies approaching along the path that led you from the valley to the swamp. One wears a blue Starter "Robe" similar to your own while the other one appears to be made entirely of metal.

[Thokk_Smash]

While he was considering, Jerry had pulled up his Quest menu and entered in "Task: Not In Kansas Anymore: Find some kind of civilization and learn more about my situation"

When he hears the crunching of leaves, Jerry whips around, afraid of another threat to his life. Instead, he sees two people who are (perhaps) in the same boat as him.

"Hello, there," he calls, waving slightly. "Care to join me on a walk? There's a pack of spiders down the path that way, and there was some sort of alligator in the swamp. I was trying to decide what to do next, but having more people makes it less scary."

[Rizban]

The seemingly human one responds,

I don't mind, myself, but, uh, who is your friend there?

[Rizban]

The System has implemented a series of Achievements. You receive a delayed popup from an earlier encounter.

Achievement: Killed a Monster
You have killed your first Monster. Gain 10 experience.

[Thokk_Smash]

Jerry looks askance to his eidolon.

"Oh, this is my eidolon, Berserker. Say hey, Berserker." Berserker obligingly gives a wave of a large hand.

[Rizban]

I'd like to avoid anything too dangerous till we get some gear, but the more the merrier, the one composed of metal says. We'd be happy to have you in the party. We're the Silence of the Bold.

Party Notice
[Player] has offered you a party invite. Current Members: 2 [names unknown] Do you wish to join Silence of the Bold? | Yes | No |

[Thokk_Smash]

"Absolutely agreed. I've been standing here hemming and hawing the best way to go without running into too much trouble.

I am Iriander, by the way," he says, as he mentally presses the Yes prompt.

[Rizban]

Continue in the party chat link above.

[Rizban]

Combat Notice
Enemies Defeated: 1 Enemies Avoided: 9 Experience Gained: 300

[Rizban]

The foreign language seems to pierce through you. Half a second after the voice finishes speaking, you feel something in your mind click into place as understanding comes to you. Though you are certain you've never heard this language before, you realize that you are rather fluent in Sylvan.

"An elfling dares trespass in my garden and call me 'witch?' Guard your tongue, child, lest it nourish my garden in its decay."

[Thokk_Smash]

Jerry tries to take being fluent in a fictional language in strike. "I beg your forgiveness for my tongue's transgressions, honored one," he replies in Sylvan, trying to use a respectful gender-neutral title. "I truly meant no insult."

He continues in Common so the party can understand.

[Rizban]

"Your platitudes are empty. Your words meaningless."

The ground shakes as a massive root grasps you and draws you through the air to the trunk. The bark of the trunk cracks and morphs into an aged face, with eyes that seem to pierce right through you. It looks at you with little more than disappointment.

"I have little use for the Riverborn, less for their words. You shall serve me in deed or in death. Choose."

New Quest Obtained
Choice: You have been asked to swear yourself to the service of an ancient being of power. You may choose to accept or reject this offer. Notice: Accepting this offer will automatically reassign your Hearthstone bind location.

[Thokk_Smash]

Spoiler: Sense Motive

Show

Sense Motive to try and glean in what way the being is disappointed: (1d20)[15]

[Rizban]

It seems disappointed in you, as a person, like it sees into your soul and finds you lacking.

[Thokk_Smash]

Jerry tries not to panic as the flipping tree root hoists him into the air. He has mixed results.

"I swear to you, I am sincere," he says, voice strained and tight from his awkward position. "It was a stupid joke made without thinking, without realizing there was anyone that would hear me who would take offense. I'm just really stressed right now, and I don't even know where I am or how I got here, and, and--"

Jerry manages to reel in his panic attack, somehow. Odds are this creature would have no sympathy for his plight, nor even understand it. "I wish to make amends. I wish to prove myself better than you think I am. I wish to serve you in order to do so."

Without waiting for it to respond, he mentally Accepts the Quest.

Spoiler

Show

If needed, Diplomacy check, or Charisma check to prove he really is freaking the f*ck out for reasons beyond the immediate situation: (1d20+3)[6]

[Rizban]

The face melds back into the tree.

The root rapidly sinks into the ground...

[Thokk_Smash]

Before he speaks to the others, he takes a solitary second to bring up his Quest log to see if any more details have been given by the game.

[Rizban]

Your quest log has indeed updated. You also note several changes to your character sheet.

[Thokk_Smash]

"Huh, well that's nifty," Jerry thinks to himself. "I'll have to put a rank into Knowledge (Nature) next level to get some mileage out of that bonus."

While the others pick their fruit and depart, Jerry moves through the clearing, inspecting the area with his newfound skills until he stops by The Mother's trunk to respectfully wait for some kind of instruction.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Knowledge (Nature), capped at 10 because I don't have ranks in it yet: (1d20+2)[14]
Survival: (1d20+2)[14]

These are just to glean info on whatever he inspects within the clearing.

[Rizban]

Before you can begin to wander...

Encounter Notice
Enemies Defeated: 0 Enemies Avoided: 0 Enemies Subdued: 0 Enemies Appeased: 1 Experience Gained: 750

Achievement: Patron Deity
You have pledged yourself to a patron deity. Gain 10 experience. You are the first player to gain this achievement. Gain 10 experience.

Experience Notice
You have earned enough experience to level up. Begin Character Advancement? | Yes | No |

The elf woman notices the slightly vacant expression you get when reading your notifications and the excited smile you don't even realize has grown on your face as you read.

"Gained enough experience to level, have you? Do so now. If you have any special options available due to your new bond, I suggest you accept one of them. While you are always free to make your own choices, doing so will please The Mother."

[Thokk_Smash]

The elf woman's acknowledgement of his leveling up shakes him out of the excited haze he'd been in. "Okay," he says, mentally pressing the Yes to start leveling up.

While the level-up is in process, he asks the elf woman, "My name is Iriander. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name, miss?"

Spoiler: OOC Question

Show

While Jerry was playing as Lance, were NPCs aware of when players leveled up? Were NPCs even aware of leveling up as a concept?

[Rizban]

The instant you mentally select "Yes," your vision goes black, and you find yourself floating in the same featureless, dark void that you experienced during Character Generation.

Character Advancement
You have 1,405 experience.
Select an option
	Advance Primary Class Slot		Unlock Secondary Class Slot

Spoiler

Show

You recall that some NPCs spoke in game terminology, usually the tutorial guides, but most only had simple scripts related to their purpose.

[Thokk_Smash]

“Oh, come on!” Jerry shouts into the void. “Can’t a guy talk to an NPC in peace? And I would really, really like some more explanation on the chargen process before I continue. Will picking “Unlock Secondary Class” lock me out of progressing Summoner if I change my mind? Please?”

Jerry starts poking the popup box and the area around it, hoping for some sort of explanation.

[Rizban]

This appears to be something entirely new. There was no such thing as primary or secondary class slots in the game before now. You could multiclass, but you went to an NPC class trainer for whatever class you wanted and just gained the level.

The interface provides no further explanation and seems to be waiting for you to select one of the two choices.


You also recognize that you can cancel out of this process if you choose but strongly suspect that you'll need to reach another experience milestone before being able to enter Character Advancement again.

[Thokk_Smash]

Here it is again. The panic. Can one have a panic attack in a featureless, black void in a video game? Because Jerry sure as hell is.

He sits down, knees bent up to his chest, hands covering his face, and just breathes shaky, unsteady breaths for a minute. There are a few sobs he tries to choke back. Then, into the void, he starts, “Maybe this is all a hallucination. Maybe I’ve gone so delusional in treating game NPCs as real people that I’m starting to think the game itself may be real. But it seems like there’s someone or something here directing all this. And it seems like you want me to continue, to—I don’t know, tell a story, or just to play the game.

“Well, a story is better told by two people working together, right? And a game is more fun when both players know the rules. I just...I’d appreciate a bit more clarity.”

Jerry doesn’t really expect much from this sudden outpouring of emotion from him, but he’ll take a few minutes more to compose himself before stiffening his upper lip and carrying on.

Spoiler

Show

d20 roll for the heck of it: (1d20)[5]

[Rizban]

Your current prompt grays out as your entire interface locks and becomes unresponsive.

System Notice
You seem to be having difficulty with this process. Would you like to activate the personal assistant? | Yes | No |

[Thokk_Smash]

It takes a minute for Jerry to collect himself and raise his head. Seeing the new prompt, he gives a chuckle. “What, like Clippy? I don’t think I’m that far gone.”

Ah, well. At least having a good cry got the anxiety out, at least for now. He mentally presses No on the personal assistant, and assuming the previous popup becomes available, he’ll pick “Unlock Secondary Class Slot”. May as well diversify at first, then solidify as time goes on.

[Rizban]

As you click no, the system plays a sad trombone.

When you select "Unlock Secondary Class Slot," your experience total rapidly ticks down from 1,405 to 405.

Character Advancement
You have 405 experience.
Select a Secondary Class

You have the same class options as before—Bard, Beguiler, Psion, Sorcerer—plus a few new choices: Divine Mind, Druid, Monk, Ranger, Scout, Shugenja, Totemist, Wilder.

[Thokk_Smash]

If there is the option, Jerry picks "Information" for the new classes.