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Post by "Shade" and JEM on Apr 4, 2014 5:03:40 GMT
This particular area seems rather bright and inviting, much like a marketplace. Its full of life and bustling with people. Well, not people, rather NPCs. Collections of data made to interact with Players. Though, in this unique game, the Players are a lot more realistic than most. A playful smile dances onto gentle features as a dark haired person crosses their legs while they await the commotion that is bound to happen. Already a girl around her mid teens has found her way among the people, the dark haired person had to hold back the urge to help this lass as she shrieked and found a place to hide in.
"Well, that is one down," They sigh to themselves as they wait. Many others are bound to show up soon. And, if not, then they guess the girl will have to do then. Not that they entirely enjoy hurting fragile creatures, its just the game's rules are the games rules. Even they have to play fair. And playing fair is what they do best. "I wonder if more pretty things will show, hmm...?" They are certainly curious, but must act as an observer for the moment...
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 4, 2014 5:11:49 GMT
Damian walked into the area then and looked around with an interested expression as he made his way through, the fingers of his right hand idly playing with the end of the chain wrapped around his wrist. For a horror game it didn't seem very scary but he supposed that it was the calm before the storm and took the time to look around. If anything it meant that he could stock up before they got down to the main business of the game.
As he looked around at the various NPCs he could see that he was apparently wrong, the one girl huddled away seemed to be absolutely terrified. Damian couldn't help but laugh quietly and shook his head as he walked onward.
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Post by Mako "Major" Kusanagi on Apr 4, 2014 5:26:14 GMT
Of course this wasn't a normal game. But there was something even stranger about this one, and that made it exciting to the Major as she stepped into the square. Of course, daylight. Horror games were all the scarier if they started someplace scary, and she'd heard rumors about an RPG element in this one, so she wasn't sure.
Still. Being pulled into the game itself... that shouldn't have been possible. Couldn't be real. She hadn't purchased any virtual reality equipment. And this felt way too real to be fake.
So do your memories.
My memories aren't fake.
She boldly stepped forward into the square. Nobody cleared games by skipping events.
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Post by Leon Rose on Apr 4, 2014 5:34:59 GMT
Leon looked around him and scanned the area with a bewildered face as he recalled the events leading him to his current position. "What the hell....no, where the hell am I? This is one trippy game I give it that. I know they said 'realistic' but geez..." He stares at the weapons in each of his hands. "Kunai...huh? Man these things are huge...Where the hell did I get these?" He looks at the assortment of people around him. "Right...gotta remember, trippy game. But....where am I supposed to go?"
He walks around looking at the people who pass by. "Okay...Three oddballs stand out, one a.... actually pretty cute girl. She looks a bit too...frantic? The other is a....really hot foreign chick.....she looks like she's about to face an army though. The last one was a guy...that was laughing? Okay then....."
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Post by Cass Song and Brianna Shears on Apr 4, 2014 5:40:37 GMT
Brianna peeks out from her hiding spot, once everyone has passed her. She exhales and then inches her way out. Alright. The game has said this was supposed to be like, really-really-realllllly real... She hadn't realized it meant getting literally made into part of the game real! She frowns to herself, her eyes flicking around as she is practically shaking in her boots. But Bri doesn't like the fact that these few people that walked past her seem to be less NPC like... and more... real... Staying on the outskirts she shivers by herself, biting her lip while thinking to herself about how messed up this whole ordeal is.
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 4, 2014 5:50:43 GMT
Damian had made his way over to one of the NPCs manning one of the various market stalls and was examining an object he'd picked up. He had to admit that he was quite nervous about this since he had no idea how he even got to be here. It's not like he had a VR set or anything like that. "Well, they certainly didn't skimp on the realism." He muttered to himself and placed the item back on the surface of the stall before he turned back to the bulk of the area to see who had arrived.
If anything there were certainly a collection of characters. They seemed a little too real in their movements to be NPCs but there was only one way to find out.
"Hey!" He called out to the girl with the short hair. She seemed armed to the teeth so maybe she knew what was going on, that is, if he wasn't wrong about her being another character. "You have any idea what's going on?" He asked her as he approached, circling one hand in the air to indicate the area they were in.
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Post by Mako "Major" Kusanagi on Apr 4, 2014 6:03:34 GMT
"Hey!" she called, turning around and giving him a grin. Her English was flawless (of course; she often played international servers) but it had a light accent as she propped a hand on her hip. "Not any more than you do. Didn't know this was an online game... then again, I didn't know I had any VR equipment, either. You in the same boat?"
It wasn't until that moment that she noticed the weight of the pistol at her hip - it wasn't until she'd touched it that she realized it was there. She'd never seen a real gun, but it was cool and 'familiar'.
"Huh. Isn't that something..." she mumbled, patting it lightly.
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Post by Leon Rose on Apr 4, 2014 6:34:21 GMT
Leon continued to walk around until he got a good scan of the area. "Damn it, nothing changes here, except that one skittish girl...along with the laughing dude and the foreign chick. Okay...well, who do I talk to first?" He stares and watches as the skittish girl inches along and the other two begin to talk. "So those two are talking, but is it scripted? But if I tried to interrupt would I piss em off? If I eavesdropped though it would be rude and they would probably get madder. Plus, if it is scripted I'll feel stupid. Damn it, I still don't know what's going on. Alright, I'll try the skittish girl first. Okay Leon, calmly walk so she can see you as you move toward her, but don't seem imposing, no sudden moves, and play it cool." Leon walks up to the girl as calmly as possible. He lightly calls her attention and stands in front of her. "Uh...excuse me...miss? I'm a little lost right now. Are you a...erm, player? In the game I mean. Do you happen to know where we are?"
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Post by Cass Song and Brianna Shears on Apr 4, 2014 6:38:53 GMT
Bri looks up, listening to his words. Though she never once made eye contact. When he finishes she looks down at her feet, her head ducking as she speaks, "I'm lost too... And, I don't know... Is this really happening? Or is it a bad dream? I don't know where we are..." She glances up, biting her lip a little more before looking down again. "... Should we exchange tag names... or, um, something?"
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 4, 2014 6:47:20 GMT
"Pretty much." Damian said with a return grin that was followed by a light shrug. "No VR equipment either but here I am." He spread his arms in a gesture to accompany his words, his arms falling back to his side as she seemed to notice the weight at her hip and he followed her line of sight. "Huh, that should come in handy. Especially if this game lives up to the hype." He certainly envied her a bit even if he'd never really handled a gun. Damian knew he'd probably suck at it even if he had but didn't mention that and instead held up his arm to indicate the chain. "I've just got this but, hey, it's better than nothing, right?"
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Post by Mako "Major" Kusanagi on Apr 4, 2014 6:56:03 GMT
"Hey, trust me, depending on what kind of stuff they've got in this game, that might be more useful. No reloading. And if it's not the typical zombie game, which it's not supposed to be, you should be fine at close range."
She stuck her hands in the pockets of her cargo pants and smiled.
"So. You a regular gamer? What do I call you?"
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Post by Leon Rose on Apr 4, 2014 7:07:52 GMT
Leon calmly scratches the back of his head as an awkward silence picks up. He thinks about her response and nods his head. "Well...As far as I know, it seems like a real thing. A VR game if I've ever seen one. Still....odd that we didn't need the equipment so something ain't right." He nods his head as he speaks to her. My tag is 'theUnt4med' Umm...just call me Leo." As he reaches out his hand, the awkwardly large kunai falls out of his hand and onto his foot, pointed end first. He jumps into the air trying to stifle a scream as he hops around holding his injured foot. "Crapcrapcrap Yeooooooowch!!!! That hurt like hell! I stabbed myself in the foot....why the hell do I have these things anyway!? Wait....waitwaitwait, Why did that HURT?"
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Post by "Shade" and JEM on Apr 4, 2014 7:34:20 GMT
As Bri when to respond she was interrupted by a new person. A figure mostly cloaked in shadows and a top hat mostly hiding away their dark colored hair, steps in between the two small parties. A wicked grin painted on their face as they look to the boy who clumsily dropped his kunai. When they speak its just as Bri opened her mouth, "Yes, dear Leon, that did hurt. As lovely Brianna was about to say... This game is very real, so real its deadly. Do be careful now..." They turn their gaze onto the other two now, their grin widening to show teeth. "Well, well... If it isn't the infamous and beautiful Major... Makoto, right...? I do wonder what drew you in my darling. Your record itself is quite stunning, so I assume it was the realism and the idea that something could actually scare your pants off... As for strapping, young Damian here...? I'm quite sure he's just in it for the ride."
They then pause a beat before chuckling to themselves, shaking their head a little as they pull off their top hat in a fluid motion. Bowing and spilling ink colored locks over their shoulders as they do, they give the motion to both parties, "Excuse my lack of manners. I know all your names, yet you do not know mine... Unfortunately you have not yet been graced with the permission to know such information. So, for now, call me Shade... Oh!" The straighten up and place their hat back on their head with a sigh. "That does remind me... Do any of you Players have any questions? I am more than willing to part with some information... Hmmm..."
They tap their foot and click their tongue.
"How about this," They pause for dramatic effect. "Each of you gets to ask one question that I will, without a doubt, answer truthfully. Be careful through, despite my position, I may not know your answer... Even if I do tend to know all."
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 4, 2014 7:44:33 GMT
"I'll give you that." Damian admitted as he brought his arm back to his side just in time to hear another of those gathered in the area cry out in pain. A quick glance said that the boy had dropped one of his weapons on his feet. Well, it was good to know that they weren't the only players in the game.
He'd just been about to tell the girl his name when he was cut off by another person appearing in between their two parties. The person or.... whatever it was quickly began to speak and revealed a little more about their situation. No matter which way you looked at it, it did not seem good. At the very least, it got rid of the need for introductions as each of their names were revealed. "Ok, I've got a question for you." Damian said to the man once the offer had been made. "How the hell do we get out of here?"
Damian didn't like this guy already. Something about being sucked into a video game that was apparently deadly just didn't sit well with him.
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Post by Mako "Major" Kusanagi on Apr 4, 2014 7:49:16 GMT
She frowned.
She was a gaming veteran, and intellectual puzzles gave her almost as much of a thrill as challenges involving reflex and timing. This, though... this smacked as a trap. She had almost, just barely almost, asked how he knew her name - but that would be a waste of her question, and she wasn't going to waste her question by confirming the rules of the game. Still, she mused out loud.
"So. You're a bit dramatic. One question for each of us which you'll answer truthfully. Probably safest to say that any other questions you'll either lie or refuse to answer. Maybe with a bit of truth thrown in just to keep us on our toes. You're cocky and pretentious which says this is your game, in- or out-of-universe. Possibly both. I don't have enough information to ask anything particularly useful yet, so I'll hold my question until everyone else has gone."
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Post by Leon Rose on Apr 4, 2014 8:07:03 GMT
Leon simply looks around at each of them and sighs as he rubs his foot. "Sigh...right, so things just keep getting freakier....Okay, I guess...a question....a question..." He didn't really have any prior knowledge of the game, so he was in a tight position. He didn't want to waste the question, so he took a deep breath and then spoke.
"Alright then...What the hell are we supposed to do in this 'Game', provided I can call it that. I mean, to simplify the question, what's the primary goal and such and how do we win this whole shebang?"
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Post by "Shade" and JEM on Apr 4, 2014 8:11:59 GMT
Brianna shifts around, biting her lip. After a small moment she says, "Pass." Shade, as they lovingly named themselves, smirks at her.
"I see, you and Mako-darling aren't all too different, aren't you?" Then they look to Damian, eyes flashing brightly. "Ah. Well, simple. There are two ways I know of. Beat the game, well... Beat my game and take the spoils... Or die, I've heard dying is the most common choice..." Shrugging they look back to Leon.
"The goal, how do you win? Well, you survive of course."
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 4, 2014 8:17:23 GMT
Damian sighed in exasperation and rubbed the back of his neck. "Wonderful." He muttered, not exactly fond of the choices at hand. He still had a bunch of questions bouncing around inside his head but even he knew better than to go past the allotted amount. As calm as this guy seemed, Damian was willing to bet an entire paycheque that it wouldn't take much to actually piss the guy off. At the moment that was something he wanted to avoid.
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Post by Mako "Major" Kusanagi on Apr 4, 2014 8:25:18 GMT
"So, Damian," she said, turning her attention back to the man she'd been talking to. "That's your name, right? And I guess you already know mine, but I'm Makoto, Mako for short. My gaming tag is 'TheMajor' and people like to call me that sometimes but honestly, Mako's fine. What made you get this game? Me, I personally like the challenge."
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Post by Leon Rose on Apr 4, 2014 8:45:30 GMT
Leon simply sighs as he looks around at the group, one seeming to have completely ignored the situation at hand, but then again, how was he supposed to tell what's going on in someone else's head? The shy one skipped, and the boy's questions seem to have been deflected like bullets off of captain *****ca's shield. He stopped and thought and just decided to try and keep talking. "Sigh....okay then. Win the game and survive...but I think part of my question went a little unanswered...yeah, you said survive and then we'll win, but survive what? For as much as you say you'll answer our questions, you are really just trying to give us the bare minimum here." He shakes his head and then speaks. "Nevermind...the game said we had to deal with our fears...so I guess that answer is already ours...survive our fears right? I guess the question I have to ask, whether you'll give a truthful answer or not is...well...what do you WANT to tell us?"
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Post by "Shade" and JEM on Apr 4, 2014 8:51:18 GMT
Brianna is surprised by this question, but holds in her surprise.
But this person just grins hugely.
"What do I want to tell you all?" They shift their weight back and forth before they nod. "Lies. I want to lie to you all, but I am required to speak some form of the truth. But I must also interact with you all and you all must be forth coming with me if we are to advance in this game. But, in the end, I wish to not tell you the truth."
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 4, 2014 8:57:31 GMT
When it was clear that this guy wasn't going to answer any more of their questions he instead looked to Makoto. "Yeah, that's my name." He confirmed before she aired her question, the one about just why he'd bought the game. "Eh, many reasons. It's mostly like he said though," He vaguely gestured in Shade's direction. "I was just along the ride but a challenge never hurts. Of course, that was before we got sucked in here. I swear, it's like being in a glorified sci-fi flick."
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Post by Mako "Major" Kusanagi on Apr 4, 2014 9:03:01 GMT
"Horror flick," she corrected. "Well, Sci-fi/Horror flick, but I don't know.... mostly horror. That's the genre. Survival horror. Face your fears. Live. Survive to the end and you win. Lose and you don't make it, and I doubt there's any sort of revival or continue options in a game like this. Look out for typewriters," she added as a joke with a smile.
"So, Shade. Top Hat Man. I think I'm ready to formulate my question now."
She frowned, putting one hand to her chin as she thought, before looking back up at him.
"I'm not going to waste time asking you personal questions you can dodge easily, because I know that's the red herring inherent in your little game. My question is - if we want to make it to the end, to beat the game, what is the one piece of advice you would give to each of us? Individually and collectively."
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Post by Leon Rose on Apr 4, 2014 9:11:35 GMT
Leon looks on as the girl asks her question to the person in a top hat. He scratches his head and sighs as he looks at the others. He then looks to shade and simply mutters under his breath, "Lies huh....well, at least it's better than nothing at all." He steps back and sits down as he looks up at the shade person.
"Alright, she raises a good point, go for her question. I just want to know the rules afterword, like if we are allowed to work as a team or stuff."
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Post by "Shade" and JEM on Apr 4, 2014 9:15:29 GMT
At the mention of their game being written off as a glorified sci-fi flick, Shade frowns. Obviously unhappy with the description. But, with what Mako said, they brighten up. If only for a fraction of a second. So. They tilt their head a little and ponder, “With what I know right now you really want to... Alright...” They then remove their hat and toss it into the air. “Alright. Dearest, Leon I mean, relying too much on others could be your downfall. Damian... Smart mouthing is for the mute and the dead, a rather unpleasant thing to be for a person like you. Darling Mako... Playing things safe is not what your class does, please, feel free to react rashly... It would hardly count against you. Brianna... Cowering is for the weak and the weak are fodder...”
They then catch their hat and dust it off.
“As for the group response... As pieces you lack, as a whole you lack less.”
Placing their hat once more on their head they sigh.
“Rules, rules, rules... Always rules. None of you know how to have fun, do you?” With a long sigh they continue. “Rule one. Survive. Rule two. Everything is as it seems, nothing is irrelevant. Rule three. I prefer my players to not kill each other off, but if you get desperate I cannot stop you.. Rule four. Meet me in my own fearscape, defeat me, and you will win...”
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 4, 2014 9:24:51 GMT
Damian chuckled at Makoto's typewriter reference, having played those particular games as a young kid when he'd had the opportunity. Shade obviously wasn't happy with his comparison even if Damian couldn't help but think that the comparison itself was fairly accurate. He was still glad that it at least didn't keep the guy from giving them some rather vital clues. Finish whatever it took to get to this guy's "fear scape", defeat him or her, and go home. "Seems simple enough. Well, the whole 'dying' thing aside." He said as he looked towards the exit of the area they were in, a thoughtful expression on his face. He wasn't sure about the others but he definitely was not against the very vague suggestion that they team up. "So I guess we need to figure out where to go or what to do first."
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Post by Mako "Major" Kusanagi on Apr 4, 2014 19:15:19 GMT
She looked around and frowned. "This is a pretty neutral space. If we want to get anywhere, we're probably going to have to leave this area. But, if we leave the area, we'll be open to attack. This is a marketplace; my suggestion is that we see if there's anything for sale here, weapons, useful items, or if it's just a set-piece. Also find out a way to make some cash if there is stuff for sale. Find out more about the environment; talking to NPCs to learn vital information should also be up there on our agenda. We can't head out until we're absolutely ready."
She shook her head. "I'm pretty sure dying here means we die in the real world. If we're not in a real world already."
Normally she would've said it was impossible, that that kind of thing only happened in the games she played, but this felt too real - this was too real.
No matter what Shade said about rushing into things, in a game like this, it was always better to go prepared. Caution and hanging back weren't her play style, but neither was getting killed right off the bat.
"So, Damian," she said with a grin, "wanna partner up? I'm a Strike class, so I'm good for fast and heavy hits, and for ranging out and clearing areas. Anyone else who wants to work with us," she called out, more loudly this time, "I'm open to that too. All of us should be cooperating, but it's probably best to work out of a few small groups. We're less of a target for whatever's out there, and we cover more ground that way."
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Post by Leon Rose on Apr 4, 2014 20:08:47 GMT
Leon gives a heavy sigh as he looks at the Foreign girl named Mako, then to the boy named Damian, and finally at the skittish girl apparently named Brianna. He looks at the Kunai in his hands and frowns. "It's already coming to pairs and groups huh...? Man this feels like a bad joke. Hmm...I don't know if actually dying here means a game over for good on both ends, but I don't think I wanna find out. Pain is pain, and considering the pain I felt when I accidentally dropped this goofy thing on my foot, I can quite honestly say I don't wanna have to experience that again." He dusts his pants off and stands up before saying the next thought that pops into his mind.
"What the hell is a strike class anyway? I didn't really get to pick anything to start with let alone my weapon, look, and class. As far as money goes, I'm definitely broke. If we try to gather info and all that, we'll be here for hours, and that's if they don't pull a normal NPC and start spouting off the same crap they do every 5 seconds. I still don't know if we need actual food and rest to survive too." He looks at them before saying, "Well....that comes in a second. Name's Leon Rose. Damian, Mako, and Brianna, right? Umm...I guess it's nice to meet ya, regardless of the circumstances." He then looks over to Shade again, hoping to get a little more out of them.
"Well...might as well ask. Spotlight's on you...can you answer my questions?"
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Post by "Shade" and JEM on Apr 4, 2014 20:16:39 GMT
Brianna does nod to each person, making sure to keep in the boy who came to talk to her's shadow. She glances to Shade, biting her lip as the person watches them, listens to them. Then they speak once more.
“Ah. The first step,” Shade muses before nodding. “It is fair to say you aren't alone in this game, yes? Find other members, help them, they may already be trapped in their nightmares after all. The more people you have, the better off you will be. Mmm...” Snapping their fingers the shadows surrounding them bounce forth and touch each player there.
“Oooooh, nice, very nice...” Tilting their head back into the upright position they hum happily. “My oh my, those weapons, those elements, a little uneven on the classes this time around, but... All well...” They point to Damian, move their finger to Mako, then Leon, finally landing on Brianna. When they look to Leon their eyes flash menacingly, knowing something the others do not of course. But they just pull their pointing finger back and sigh.
“Damian, honey, you'll be my first victim...”
The laugh a little at that and shake their head, “No, no... not my first... It seems someone else has already stumbled upon their own fears, how wonderful.” Shaking their head again they pull off their hat and examine it. “Each of you have fears, secrets, nightmares you would rather die than face. If you can over come your own fearscape you will unlock your element in its full potential. As it stands... You all would just drop dead if I engaged you in battle right now... Even if some of you could honestly take me on head to head given our elements at this point in time...”
Tapping their toes a couple times they move around, twisting to look at the two groups. A frown setting deep into their playful features. “Nothing is as it seems after all and everything is irrelevant... Mmm... Right... Damian is fiery and powerful. Mako is very lake like, despite the fact she seems to burn brightly. Leon... Wisp like, both sides of you. Bri... Sturdy, yet reflective... If you can figure these out you already know your element or elements... Later on you may discover, those of you with only one to count, that another element has been drawn out of you. Its quite possible... But do remember. What one is weak to one cannot be strong to as well. And everyone, everything has a weakness. Don't take this wrong, I'm sure you all excel in your own ways, but... as it is... Three of you race ahead, one of you stands tall on your own... Apparently none of you know balance. Whether you are armed or not does not matter at this time, just know I am, at the moment, the least of your worries...”
“As for working in small groups... As I said... I am the least of your worries. Though, I am sure two of the strike class will make a hot headed relationship and one of the stability class and one of the strike class will make a balanced relationship... In pieces you are lacking, in partners you lack a little less, as one you lack least... And your starting funds, if combined together, should be able to get you a nice hot meal each and two rooms for one night. Beyond that... You'll have earn your money... One way or another...”
They pause. Sigh. Roll their eyes and clear their throat.
“Excuse me. I missed something... A strike class is the offensive class, three of you are part of it and one of you is part of the stability class or, as many gamers would put it, the defensive class. This means three out of the four of you are heavy hitters, but take damage like a piñata at a five year old's birthday party... Mmm, stability means you can take hits, or at least it hurts less, but your attack power is little. The third class, the strive class, is balanced. They are neither overly strong nor overly defensive. It will show in their personality as well as their fighting styles. Just like your classes will show through your own actions...”
Sighing again they look to the left, the sounds of a young woman in the distance seems to have caught their attention. Frowning they look back to the group, “One last round and then I shall leave you be. But be quick, this mother doesn't like to be kept waiting...”
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Post by Damian Flynn on Apr 5, 2014 1:51:31 GMT
Like Makoto Damian glanced around the space, taking in the different stalls set up that were being manned by various NPCs. She definitely had a point, stocking up if they could was probably the most important thing they could do right now. He heard Leon express his doubt about the likelihood of them dying in the real world if they died here. "All the same, I don't think I want to risk it."
Damian grinned at Makoto's offer, speaking of his ready acceptance. "Sure, I'm Strike class too but I can take case of the close combat." He said in reference to the chain around his wrist. Depending on how much length he used it could be used as a ranged weapon but didn't have close to the same distance as the pistol Makoto had on her.
His attention was brought back to the "Shade" guy as he/she began speaking, mostly about their powers, fears, and group dynamics. Of course, Shade then picked Damian out as the first one to be a victim. He couldn't say he was surprised after his smartmouthing earlier and tensed in preparation to uncoil the chain but thankfully the choice was apparently rescinded. The young man allowed himself to relax as the lecture continued, explaining what the classes were, hinting at their elements, and how they worked. "How did we get sucked in here to begin with?" He asked after they were told that Shade would allow one more round. "We didn't have any VR equipment or anything?" Damian gestured to Makoto and himself as he said this since he wasn't sure about the circumstances of the others.
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