AN: Published 4/8/2022
Last Time:
"No Cedric. I am not lying or tricking you. Did you ever wonder why your grandparents skirted around talking about your mother but told you how your father died?" My breath hitches and my head drops as we slowly hobble forward. My brain races through everything mentioning my mother and all that came to mind was the slight fear in my grandmother's eyes and her hurry to try and switch the subject. My brain kept circling that point but the thoughts seemed to start to slur and the world started spinning around me. I heard muffled words that felt a country mile away. The last thing I remember is falling.
Now:
I open my eyes and see I am in what looks like a cave. I jump up in fear and yell "Kadmos where are you!". I look down and see my leg is now completely fine. I scrunched my nose in confusion.
A smooth definitively female voice responds, "Kadmos is not here Cedric."
"Huh. What did you do to him? Are you with Graham and the other cannibals? Where even are you?"
She calmly responded, "I did nothing to him, he is fine and safe". Her voice then turned harsher "And I most certainly am not with that mongrel and his disgusting lot". I hear her take a deep breath and continue in a calm tone "I am in your head. You are dreaming after all. Would you prefer I talk to you in what looks like a physical form?"
"Yes I would but how are you in my dreams. Who are you? How can I know you are real or that I can trust a voice in my head?" Slowly a lioness starts forming in front of me. As it forms I scoot back as fast as I can till I hit the cave's wall. I grip the cave wall and breathe heavily but oddly there are no goosebumps.
The lioness shakes her head and then starts to talk "So many questions but it is good to be cautious, wise even." She takes a break to look at me and pauses for a moment and says "Ahhh I seemed to have scared you, dear, I do apologize." The way she said it helped my heart settle and made me feel like I was wrapped in a warm blanket somehow. She continues speaking "Now as to how I am in your dreams. I just simply can, it is like walking into another room by a door I suppose. Sadly I can't tell you who I am yet dear but you will know soon I swear. You will find there are few you can trust but I will always be one you can."
"I don't know why but I believe you. You make me feel oddly safe … … … I just said that aloud".
She merely chuckles and says, " It is okay I have that effect on some. Oh looks like you are about to wake up. Before you go I guess I should give you full access to your gift. Do appreciate it I have had this saved since the dirt face herself was awake." She then comes closer to me and licks the back of my head while warning "Be safe dear and keep questioning it will keep you alive." As those words left her mouth my eyes opened and I saw I was staring up at large towering pines.
'Ding'
"God Damnit! Where does that ding sound keep coming from?" I whirl my head around and see a light tan box in the air.
Congratulations on gaining access to the full game Player.
Would you like to read the base tutorial?
Y N
My eyes widened and I slowly poke my hand through it and felt no resistance. I look around and see Kadmos asleep propped up against a big pine. I tried poking the Y and felt some slight resistance this time.
Thank you for starting the tutorial.
Here is a list of the things that the tutorial goes over. You can read them through in any order you wish.
Stats
Quests
Reputation
Perks/Flaws
Titles
Money
Updates
Dungeons
Skills
Status
"Is this what the lioness lady was talking about?"
Stats:
Constitution: Your general immune system and how many hits your body can take before breaking.
Strength: How much you can lift or how hard you can hit something or someone.
Dexterity: How fast you can go and how precise you are in movement or attack.
Wisdom: How perceptive you are and knowing how to use the knowledge at your disposal.
Intelligence: How much you can learn and at what rate you can learn.
Charisma: How to empathize, be insightful and persuade or intimidate others.
Luck: Good or Bad you get it so always be careful when you roll the dice.
Quests:
Tasks that once done give rewards of varying quality.
Daily Quests: Tasks you should do every day with small rewards.
Weekly Quests: Do 7 Daily Quests in a row to get moderate rewards.
Challenge Quests: Quests that give you titles and moderate rewards.
Main Quests: Unavoidable and always needed to be done but can have branching paths that give great rewards.
Reputation:
How people or groups think of you and their relationship with you.
Hated:-1000 to -611
Disliked:-610 to -311
Unfriendly: -310 to -11
Neutral: -10 to 10
Friendly: 11 to 310
Liked: 311 to 610
Loved: 611 to 1000
Perks/Flaws:
They are things that can be a boon or a hindrance. You can gain or lose them through special actions.
Titles:
These can be equipped and give various bonuses. You can gain them through quests or gaining them naturally.
Money:
Don't spend it all in one place. All your money is stored in a virtual wallet and separated by type of currency. Also easily broken up into smaller amounts for convenience.
Updates:
We know that this isn't a perfect game so we are constantly trying to fix inconsistencies or add new fun things to always keep the player engaged so you may lose the main function of the gamer for a short while during these important updates.
Dungeons:
Naturally found areas to clear monsters, get gear, level up, and increase your skills.
Skills:
They are abilities or proficiencies that you have learned and that can increase in level with practice.
Status:
Say it aloud and find out.
My eyebrows scrunch inward as I say "How would I saying status help me find out?"
Status
Name: Cedric Vanburen
Health: 14/14 (10 + 2Con)
Health Regen: 0.4% Hpm (.1Con*2)
Mana: 20/20 (10 + 2Int)
Mana Regen: 0.8% Mpm(.1Wis*2)
The Gamer
Title: N/A
Level: 1
Exp: 0/300 0%
Race: Hooman
Constitution: 4(+1-3)=2
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 6(+1)=7
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5(-1)=4
Charisma: 4(-2-1)=1
Luck: 7
Points: 0
Cedric Vanburen is a 13-year-old boy that lives with his grandparents. He is a single child and knows next to nothing about his parents. He gets sick very often and for long periods of time. He loves his grandparents with all his heart and would do anything for them. He is a total Grandma's boy.
Perk(Permanent) Good Genes: Get an additional +1 to Constitution and Dexterity due to getting good genes from your parents. Get 2 Constitution and 1 Strength every 3 levels.
Flaw(Permanent) Blind as a Bat: Get -3 to Dexterity when you do not have glasses on.
Flaw Social Anxiety: Get -2 to Charisma also a -20% in boosting relationships with people that are below Liked.
Flaw(Permanent) Minor Asthma: Get -1 to Constitution due to not being able to breathe like a normal person.
Flaw Poor Immune System: Get -2 to Constitution due to lack of exercise and an unbalanced unhealthy diet.
Perk Two Webbed Toes: Get a 5% bonus exp to swimming and other aquatic skills.
Flaw(Permanent) ADD: Get -1 to Wisdom and -10% to stat gains. (not counting points allocated).
Perk Beginners Stride: Every skill until it reaches level 5 has a 30% increase to exp to the skill.
"Wow of course I have mostly flaws" I bemoan. A heavy sigh escapes my lips and then a deep breath flows through my nose as I try not to fall down that hole. "Well, at least there are some positives, and looks like two of the flaws I may be able to fix with time. Maybe."
Congratulations on finishing the base tutorial.
Coincidentally this was your first Hidden Quest. The rest of them will never be this easy but now you know they are out there. Keep an eye out.
First Tutorial/Hidden Quest Complete:
Quest: Finish the first tutorial
Reward: Basic understanding of the game, $20, 1 D, 35 exp
"Let's see what are my 10 highest leveled skills?" I wonder aloud.
'Ding'
"I thought I would have to search through all my skills so this works out nicely."
Gamer's Body LVL Max: Makes it harder for someone to rip off your ligaments and beat you to death with. Also allows you to heal by sleeping.
Gamer's Mind LVL Max: This helps keep your head on straight to an extent and helps buffer from low-end telepathy but will keep everything about the game hidden even from a supreme being.
Ancient Greek LVL MAX: You innately know everything to do with this language and can speak and write it better than anyone.
Lion Lvl MAX: You can innately communicate with lions due to your parentage.
"Wait a minute? Is that why I could understand the lion lady? Was she speaking lion the whole time? Would I not know I am speaking it like Harry Potter didn't? I am focusing too much on this, time to see what skills I have that aren't just maxed from the get-go."
Basic Math LVL 56: You know all the basics. (50+Basic math lvl)100% chance to get the answer correctly by writing it down. (20+BasicMathLvl) 76% chance of getting it right by doing it in your head. 56% chance of getting it right by just looking at it.
Walking LVL 19: You can walk and only have a 0% chance of falling and tripping over flat ground. You walk at 2.9 mph.
Pre-Algebra LVL 18: You know all the equations of Pre-Algebra you are 68% sure where and when to use them. (25 + Pre-Algebra LVL) 43% chance to get the answer right by writing it out. (10 + Pre-Algebra LVL) 28% chance of getting it right by doing it in your head. 18% chance of getting it right by just looking at it.
Folding clothes/towels LVL 17: Can fold these articles 27% faster and neatly. 1.7% of folded clothing gives you a +1 to Charisma while wearing them. Stackable
Swimming LVL 17: You have been swimming since you were little and are in no trouble of drowning. You can swim at 1.7 mph. You can hold your breath for 47 seconds.
Running LVL 16: You can run in a sloppy fashion at about 4.5 mph. You have a 15% chance of falling over flat surfaces.
" Huh, why does it sometimes feel like it is robotic in explanation and others not? Also how depressing that the highest skill I have and worked on is freaking basic math. I would have hoped I had at least my top 10 all be 25+, not half of them being sub 20."
Get Those Skills Up To Your Standards
Objectives: Get 10 skills up to LVL 20
Bonus Objectives: Get 10 skills up to LVL 25
Rewards: 300 exp, 50$, 3D
Bonus Rewards: 100 exp, 3 LVL1 skill Discs
The time limit is 30 days
Congrats on making your first Personal Quest.
These quests are simply made through your desires when said aloud. The rewards vary wildly depending on the difficulty.
Happy Questing!
"Huh, why wasn't that in the tutorial? Also, why is there a time limit, does that mean something bad happens, or is it to try and motivate me to complete it?" I wring my hands through my hair and exclaim "Ughhh I am overthinking again let's just get through today and not worry about this right now".
I hear a loud moan and see Kadmos get up and start stretching out on the ground. He looks over and his eyes widen and start to clumsily shoot over to me. He exclaims "Cedric how are you feeling? You passed out on me. I had to carry you here. I am glad you are mostly skin and bones hehe. Hey, all your bruising around your leg is gone? Hrmmm you heal crazy quick wonder if that has anything to do with your mother. Oh sorry, I just rambled like a mother hen didn't I?" He takes a healthy step back and … bleats in embarrassment?
"It is alright man. I know you just get like this when you care like when you found out the school just straight up doesn't recycle and you questioned the vice-principal into next week." We share a laugh and Kadmos's shoulders seem to slacken. Once I get my breath back I respond "I am feeling good but confused. Also glad to know there is a plus to my weight hehe. No clue how my mother could influence my healing?"
"Some children of the gods can heal quicker in general or if certain requirements are met".
"Do you want to know what is crazy? I am starting to believe you but this is just … just so insane. If I believe you it means grandma and grandpa have been lying to me all my life".
"They didn't lie from what you told me just that they made sure to never speak about your mother as if she didn't exist … Okay that sounds worse but come on you have to know they did this out of love right?"
"How can I know that!" I could taste the tears as they fell past my lips.
"If they told you more people like Graham would have been popping up to eat you all your life. Once demigods know what they are their scent gets exponentially stronger." He calmly says as I feel his arms wrap around me and pull me tight.
"I am sorry I don't know why I am all over the place! Heck, a few minutes ago we were laughing about you rambling now I'm a blubbering mess."
"It is okay just breathe." I started taking short raspy breaths until they turned to full clear breaths.
"Thanks, I hate when I do that." I shake my head and dry my eyes with my arm. "So what do we do now?"
"We go to the camp. From there you get settled in and you can use the landline to inform your grandparents where you are."
He gets up and starts brushing the leaves that are on his shirt and then my mouth drops and I scream "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR LEGS!" He jumps a good two feet in the air and then has the audacity to laugh.
"I guess that should be addressed. I am a satyr. Some of us choose to search for our wayward lord Pan, some choose to try and save the wild, and some just chase tail all day. I am one who chooses to search for wayward demigods and get them safely to camp."
"Alright so how are we getting to the camp?"
"Well, first we get up and walk. We will stick to the wooded trails. I am more familiar with these surroundings. Then when we can we will be taking a taxi to camp."
"How loaded are you cause I think a taxi from here to your camp in New York will be really expensive."
"Not really it is kind of a special taxi for people like us and the rates are much lower."
"Alright well, I guess it is about time I saw this camp of yours."
Strawberry Field Is Anything Real
Objective: Get to this Camp Half-blood
Bonus Objective: Make it there in under a week
Unknown Objective: It is Unknown duh
Reward: New Title, 200 EXP, New Mechanic Discovered
Bonus Reward: 150 EXP, 5 levels to walking and 2 levels to running
Unknown Reward: surprise Unknown