“Good luck. And don’t screw this up,” Unc said, slapping me on the shoulder.
I felt a brief pang of nostalgia — he’d told me the same thing before every one of my football games. I loved the guy, but it had been a long debate on whether or not Brandon and I could trust him on this. In the end, though, someone had to look after Brandon while I was in-game. Unc wasn’t the best option, but he was pretty much the only one. And, in spite of his many flaws, I knew he really loved Brandon and me.
And he loved the idea that we’d be rich if this worked. Even after we paid the medical bills.
“Good pep talk, Unc. You always know what to say.” I stepped into the immersion rig and took my seat, slipping my hands into the cuffs. “Listen, just take this seriously, okay? And do not forget to take care of Brandon.”
“I have a cat, I know what to do,” Unc scoffed. “Which reminds me — you got litter on hand, right?”
“Brandon, keep him in line,” I said, not encouraged or amused by Unc’s response.
“I’ll call out when I’m hungry.”
Their jokes didn’t make me feel much better.
Unc’s eyes squinted along the outside of the pod as I settled into place, his face twisted in confusion.
“What?” I asked. “Something wrong?”
“How do I feed you? And where do you piss?”
“There’s an IV bag on the right that’ll feed me,” I said. “Don’t worry. It’s got more than enough to last until this is over. Luckily, this thing helps prevent hunger and having to use the restroom.”
“How’s it do that?”
“It puts your body in a dream state, Unc,” Brandon said. “That VR headset isn’t there to put something in front of his eyes. It locks into his neurons and puts Zane into REM.”
“The hell does that mean?”
“It means let’s get a move on,” I answered. “While it shocks my neurons into dreaming up this world, it also inhibits my need to go to the bathroom. Can we get started now? We have only five minutes left.”
“Once you log in, God Mode will be automatically enabled as soon as you finish character creation,” Brandon said.
“Wait, so he’s invincible?” Unc said.
“Not quite,” Brandon explained, seeing my patience running thin. “If Z runs around like he just grabbed a Super Mario Star, everyone will notice. God Mode just prevents him from dying, it doesn’t make him all-powerful.”
“You good?” I asked Unc. “Because I’ve got a tournament to win.”
“One minute to go, Z,” Brandon said, his voice becoming uncharacteristically soft as he checked the countdown clock. While the kid might have been sick for most of his life, the illness had given him a ridiculous amount of resolve. It was rare he actually showed any internal weakness. Spend enough time having doctors telling you your number was up, and you’re bound to grow some scars. “Good luck, bro.”
I nodded to Brandon. “I got this.”
It was just like getting ready for kickoff. Except this time, the outcome was life or death. “Message me if you need anything. I’ll also be accessible for real-time chat during rest mode phases.”
“Got it. And if you message us,” Brandon said, “remember that time moves way faster for you, so it may take a bit for me to reply, but we’ll do it as soon as we can.”
I pressed the button grazing my right fingers, closing the pod completely and enveloping me in darkness. The air system went to work at once, filling the small void in front of me with a fresh, filtered breeze. After a few seconds, the constricting silicon pads felt less and less like cushioning and more and more like nothingness.
A bright blue light shone in my eyes, and the next thing I knew, I was falling.
2
Welcome to MythRune
The sensation of falling slowed then finally stopped completely. But rather than feeling the ground beneath my feet, I hovered in what appeared to be an endless black void. A translucent projection appeared in front of me, showing miles of rolling green fields.
“Welcome to MythRune,” a deep male voice dripping with over-the-top drama said. “A land of adventure and opportunity. To navigate this world, you will have to learn many new skills. Combat —”
The projection transitioned to a battle scene where various humanoid races were embroiled in heated armed conflict.
“Leadership —”
The battle panned to a commander in a plumed helmet, pointing and shouting into the fray, though not one word could be heard.
“Magic —”
The scene transitioned to a hooded figure throwing balls of blue light into a group of large, furry, four-legged monsters. Upon impact they burst and set the creatures alight in icy fire.
“But MythRune is not just for the warriors, warlords, and mages. No world is forged by the sword alone. You will also learn crafting —”
The image transformed into an ogre-like blacksmith pounding on a red-hot sword with his hammer.
“Trading —”
A female merchant led a donkey, pulling her wares through crowded streets.
“And countless other abilities at your disposal. If you can imagine it, if you can attempt it, you can pursue it!”
The camera pulled back to the full world map, which seemed to have expanded quite a bit since beta. This whole cutscene was brand new, too, and even as someone who’d spent the past few months playing, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of jumping back into this new —
“— world of possibility and wonder,” the narrator continued. “A realm you help shape. But you can’t shape a world without first shaping yourself.”
The visuals faded into a static scene showing a carousel of the races I could choose from. I instinctively swiped through each with a flick of my hand. Holy hell, this was a whole lot more responsive than my crappy VR set. It was near impossible to distinguish my moves from the real world.
“Choose your race carefully,” the narrator cautioned. “Each comes with its own strengths and weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses that can affect the way you play, and ultimately change the trajectory of your entire adventure.”
The man wasn’t kidding. The first week of beta testing had caused quite the uproar. With most MMORPGs, gamers were used to the idea of grinding out experience to level up their respective core attributes, but in MythRune, attributes didn’t automatically increase with your level. In fact, it was the opposite.
Attributes increased by earning or finding Attribute Orbs that gave points for each area — Health, Attack, Defense, Speed, Agility, Intelligence, and Luck — and your level was based on the total number of Attribute Points in your character’s stats. More specifically, your level equaled the total number of your Attributes divided by five to start, and as you got into the higher levels, it required a higher number of Attributes to level up.
This system allowed players to tailor-make a unique character experience without being funneled into certain classes, but the slowness with which one increased their core attributes placed a lot of weight on the very first in-game decision.
With that in mind, I looked at my options and the stock character next to each description.
Choose your race:
Eedari — The most populous race of MythRune, the Eedari are adept at learning and exceeding in any role. If you aren’t sure what direction life in MythRune will take you, it’s hard to go wrong with +1 Attack, +1 Defense, and +1 Intelligence bonuses.
Not much to see here. Just your standard human. I needed something a little more specialized and, as such, moved right along from the Eedari.
Leprechaun — A race of mischievous halflings who wander in search of riches and wealth beyond their wildest dreams. The little folk, as they are often called, are equally at home beneath the ground or in the forest. Choosing Leprechaun may not do you any favors in terms of height, but it will give you an attribute bonus of +2 Agility and +1 Health.
Rather than a portly little ma
n in a green suit, the Leprechaun was basically a miniature human, albeit with bright orange hair — though you could change that if you wanted. The Leprechaun before me winked an almond-shaped eye at me from beneath his forest-patterned cloak.
In MythRune, Leprechauns were a strange combination race of dwarves and halflings from traditional fantasy stock. Players often chose them for a wide range of builds, including rogue, hunter/ranger, or, on the complete flip side, tanks. Tanking was integral to my particular strategy, but, as a former linebacker more comfortable in a larger body, the Leprechaun just wasn’t for me, and I swiped next.
Valkyrie — Known as heralds of war, the Valkyries are an ancient race at home on the battlefield. They’re primed for skills that fall under the Warrior and select Adventuring Pursuits, and as such, will give you an attribute bonus of +2 Attack and +1 Speed.
The Valkyrie woman in front of me had her face painted like she was ready to either tailgate or knock in some foe’s face in a battle. Her long blond hair was braided back, and she pounded her spear against her shield before letting loose a fearsome war cry. I loved the look of the Valkyrie race, similar to Nords in other games, but I was going for defense first, not offense, so I continued on.
Urok — A proud race forged from a harsh existence on the Bloodbone Plains, the Uroks are equal parts nomadic hunters and tribal warriors. Their unforgiving lifestyles have led to an increased fortitude not found in the other races of MythRune, resulting in +2 Defense and +1 Health.
Now this was more like it! Aside from the big ram’s horns curling out of their heads, these dudes looked like orcs who had spent some serious time bulking up in the gym. And that bonus to defense and health was just what I was looking for. I almost pulled the trigger then and there, but so far there had been some tweaks from beta, and I wanted to be sure to go through all of the races before I made my decision.
Sylvad — The forest-dwelling Sylvads boast more speed than their distant cousins, the Valkyrie, but prefer less direct fighting. The Sylvads are at home in the forest canopy, where they patrol their lands unseen and unheard by intruders until said intruders find themselves at arrow or spearpoint. Sylvads feature an attribute bonus of +2 Speed and +1 Agility.
The Sylvad character looked like a Valkyrie who had fallen into lavender dye. His purple skin was pretty cool, as were the antlers growing out of his head, but this race was built for someone who wanted to move fast and avoid being hit — definitely not me. Since I wasn’t going for ranged attack or a rogue skill set, I passed.
Jotun — A troll-like race of creatures known for their spellcraft as well as their brute strength. Like their distant relatives, the Urok, the Jotuns are a race tempered by arcane rituals and the bitter cold of their homelands. As such, choosing them brings an attribute bonus of +1 Intelligence along with +2 Defense.
The Jotuns were just as ripped as the Uroks but without the bulk. That, and in place of ram’s horns, they had a pair of short tusks jutting out of the sides of their mouth. I admit, I had to think twice about going with Urok here, but reasoned that the intelligence bonus would be wasted. Everyone had the ability to learn magic in MythRune, but it wasn’t as integral to my plan as a crap-ton of health was. With a last look at the sneering Jotun, I moved along.
Skrael — The runes that adorn the skin of this humanoid race not only look cool, but they also serve as an excellent means to channel magical potential. Be it healing or combat spells, if the Arcane Pursuit is your intention, Skraels comes with an attribute bonus of +3 Intelligence.
Man, I had seen some seriously badass magic-based players that had chosen the Skrael race. Their tattoo patterns could be customized in all sorts of ways, and their intelligence bonus gave them a serious advantage with Arcane Pursuits. Alas, there was no way this race would work for me, which brought me to the last choice:
Juarag — A fierce feline race from the southern realms, the Juarag are infamous duelists and assassins. Their lithe physique and catlike reflexes result in an attribute bonus of +1 Attack, +1 Agility, and +1 Speed.
Nostalgia made me pause here. I had chosen the Juarag race for my beta character and had loved the build I’d put together as a result. Many fantasy games featured a bipedal feline, but the Juarag looked so much cooler than just a walking housecat — more like a saber-tooth tiger. Unfortunately, when it came to combat, the Juarag, like the Eedari, Valkyries, and Sylvads, were better suited for damage-dealing roles. After a fond farewell, I moved on to the Pursuit screen, wanting to make sure there were no other unexpected changes before I made my final decision on my character’s race.
I then looked at the six main Pursuits on which the entire game system was established. While selecting a race didn’t force me down any specific path directly, some races were a tad more geared toward specific Pursuits. These Pursuits would not be selected from the get-go, but instead would be cultivated as I played, my actions helping dictate which Pursuits I would eventually develop. Every Pursuit fell under a Pursuit category, which were outlined as follows:
1. Warrior Pursuits — Pursuits involving weapons. (Example: the One-Handed Sword Pursuit)
2. Adventuring Pursuits — Pursuits involving all skills required to survive in the wilderness. (Example: the Hunting Pursuit)
3. Crafting Pursuits — Pursuits that involve trades that gather resources, craft items, or even delve into architecture. (Example: the Mining Pursuit)
4. Civil Pursuits — Pursuits with emphasis on trade, organization, and education. (Example: the Leadership Pursuit)
5. Arcane Pursuits — Pursuits of the unknown and the magical. (Example: the Magical Healing Pursuit)
6. Underground Pursuits — Pursuits involving the less seemly side of MythRune. (Example: the Thieving Pursuit)
I took a deep breath as I scanned through the options in front of me. As a beta tester, I’d seen all of these options before. In fact, Brandon and I had already decided that, given God Mode’s strengths, going for the tanklike Urok would be the way for me to go. Not wanting to leave any stone unturned, however, I read every word on the translucent menu, paying careful attention to the attribute bonuses and suggested Pursuits. For all I knew, other beta testers might have reported the races to have balance issues, and as such, the devs could have changed them up, potentially ruining my strategy right out of the gate. And as much as I wanted to get going with the game itself so I could get ahead, this process could not be rushed.
It turned out there were indeed a few minor changes made — though nothing that would prevent me from choosing Urok.
At the end of the day, it was the perfect character if I wanted to grind through dungeons and quests by myself. As a tank, I would be able to play through this whole adventure without partying up. Playing solo meant I wouldn’t have to share Attribute Orbs or Pursuit Skill Points, meaning the spoils of victory would be mine and mine alone. Plus, I wouldn’t run the risk of a party member realizing I couldn’t be killed.
I swiped over to the orc-like creature and set to personalizing my avatar’s overall look. Looking at it closer, I realized something insane: the darn thing looked almost like me. Sure, it had the orc-ish features, but if I could imagine myself as an orc, this would be it — down to my dark skin tone. It had even adapted my wider body frame to the Urok’s, and I briefly considered what it would have been like to play middle linebacker as this dude in college. It looked like playing using the full-immersion VR rig had the added benefit of speeding up the character-design process.
But I wasn’t quite ready to call it quits yet.
I looked at myself in Urok form and opted to eliminate the ram horns — I’d never been a fan of those things, and it wasn’t like they gave me any added headbutting benefit, as they limited the types of helmets I could wear. I also decreased the size of the fangs jutting out of my lower jaw. One complaint some gamers had in the beta was that fanged races — Uroks, Jotuns and Juarag — had a difficult time talking, as if they had a set of plastic vampire teeth in their mouths.
They’d likely already fixed this for the final version, but I wanted to make sure they were small enough I didn’t catch them on a passing tree branch and get knocked on my ass. I had no idea how the antlered Sylvads managed to navigate through their native forest areas.
I also gave my character an uncharacteristic blue mohawk. Yeah, it was kinda cheesy and a little 1990s, but it was something Brandon had done with his avatars ever since he was little, and if he couldn’t be here himself, I at least wanted him to be here in spirit.
He’d also taken a liking to the old manga series One Piece, and the moron even went so far as to try to cut a score on his left cheekbone to match Luffy’s. It didn’t work. All he got were stitches and a scolding from Dad. It was one of the few times Dad actually acted like a dad when he’d still been around.
I chuckled to myself and added a stitched scar to the left cheekbone. I knew he’d appreciate it when he saw it. Finally, I fiddled with the skin tone of the character, opting to go with a grayish-blue tint that matched the mohawk instead of the more realistic dark brown. I kept my name the same. Zane. Since I’d played beta, I could lock it down without any stupid numbers or alternate spellings. Plus, if I got busted for cheating, it wasn’t like I’d be able to hide behind my Urok alter ego, anyway. Germaine Studios would find a way to track me down.
With all the physical characteristics in order, I glanced over the character sheet.
Character Stats
Name: Zane
Title: None
Race: Urok, male
God Mode: A LitRPG Adventure (Mythrune Online Book 1) Page 2
