The eternal endlessness of sleep, that's what death felt like.

Which honestly, can I say? What a fucking relief.

Phew.

The plane crash, less than ideal. I used to be so afraid of flying, but after a few times it didn't seem so bad. I've spent most of my life afraid of things I can't control, which is less than ideal.

It's somewhere in the back of my head, a movie I watched with my mother when I was younger, but the line 'A life lived in fear, is a life half lived.' Felt disturbingly apt to my current situation.

What life did I leave? I was a go nowhere be nothing kind of person, I avoided conflict to such a degree that it was paralyzing, I ended up being a fucking people pleaser to avoid negativity, which didn't work, and in fact put in me in worse situations-ALL THE TIME.

I tried, I really did. Nothing ever seemed to spark my passion though, nothing made me hunger for it, the only thing I ever unconditionally loved was my own imagination.

Sure, it was evil at times and the vividness of it would make anxiety a nightmare, but we take the good with the bad.

Nothing, though. That was me, god I feel like I was a background character in my own life.

Let's not get it twisted, I'm a fucking delight to be around, and I have been told I am funny, I don't often believe it, but I can amuse myself plenty, which is more than I can say for a lot of people I know.

Knew.

Dead, right.

Honestly, I'd like to say no one will remember me, but I can't really do that anymore. I've learned over time that I do hold some actual value to people, not something I'm entirely comfortable with considering how often I was just sort of… left to my own devices.

Haaa… interpersonal relationships, what a double edged sword. Sure, you may discover more about yourself with more people around you, which is great! But in the event that you die, they will miss you, which is less great.

I wonder what my funeral will be like? I mean, I died in a plane crash, how long will it be before anyone knows?

I miss my Dad.

Fuck, he'd be devastated. God, or whatever entity exists - if there is one - what I wouldn't give to let him know my consciousness still exists.

If I could cry, I fucking would. I love my Dad, we didn't always get on, when I was younger he spent most of the time working, and between me going to school, and him having to supply a living for us, I - much to my own shame - didn't really get to know-know my old man until I was about 15.

I died at 25, which is pretty rad, not bad a decade of good father-son bonding, but fuck me drunk, that man will not handle this well.

Also there's a distinct lack of my mother in whatever this afterlife is. Which is… kind of a massive bummer, I really missed my mum too. She'd been dead for a few years before I splattered through the wreckage, so maybe there are like stages to the afterlife?

There's a moment where something… I dunno, shifts? And that freaks me the fuck out, because I'm super dead and there's nothing that should be anywhere near me quite frankly.

It's like opening my eyes, but I don't have eyes. Which again, another problem, my eyes are where I am, my body is what carried me around.

Though 'opening my eyes' didn't really answer any questions either.

But my god if it isn't beautiful.

Immediately it reminds me of a few renditions of the Astral Sea, from DnD, a giant swathe of blues, blacks and rippling, twisting colours, stars everywhere.

Something comes into focus, an… egg? A giant egg, or eggshell I should say, enormous in scope, and that's with a good half of it seemingly missing.

There's… frankly too many thoughts in my head, it's like being overstimulated but oh so much worse.

The egg drifts past me, ever so slowly, like a leviathan in the sea.

I'm gonna go with Astral Sea, and assume that whoever made it on Earth is some kind of fucking prophet.

This is incredibly dope, and a great way to distract me from the crushing sadness that is seconds away from breaking my fragile lil heart in two.

It seems you are awake.

Oh, it does seem that I have gone completely insane, either that or my visualisation skills are fucking top notch.

Common misconception, but an understandable one. The human mind can only understand so many things.

Oh very cool, I have no mouth but thankfully whatever is happening, can read my fucking mind.

More or less, one cannot truly call it mind reading when one is within the same mind.

Hello there, thankfully, amiable entity, my name is Zachary. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance in this… really awesome setting.

Hello to you, Zachary.

Do you recognise my existence?

Odd way to phrase it, but somewhat. This whole thing seems… eerily familiar, but I can't really put my finger on it at the moment, dreadfully sorry.

This is acceptable. Your manners are noteworthy, well done you. Most who encounter an entity such as myself tend to be quite… erratic and demanding.

There's no excuse for poor manners, especially when you've not done anything to me. Do you have a name, new friend?

Oh yes, you will do well.

I possess no true name, but I have many monikers. I am the System, I am the Game, I am The Overseer.

Oh this is exceptionally dope. What can I do for you, Overseer? That title is unequivocally the coolest.

[System name Changed to: Overseer]

Marvelous.

It is less what you can do for me, Zachary and more what you can do for yourself with my aid. Are you familiar with the concept of Cosmic Contracts?

If this is a 'name on the tin' sort of situation, I can gather an idea. A contract with a cosmic entity, or the cosmos itself.

Not entirely incorrect. The name is unfortunately a misnomer. The essentials are that I, the Overseer, am looking for a spirit that can accomplish tasks for me, nothing outside of your own capabilities I assure you.

Well I'm not really up to much else, as of the moment, I don't mind helpin' you out. Though that might be somewhat difficult without a body, or… even most of a body.

Ultimately irrelevant, I assure you.

An issue that can be dealt with swiftly, what do you know of multiverse theory?

Only what I've seen in fiction, I wasn't exactly… much. Uhh, the idea is that every action, regardless of how small, has consequences, and those consequences don't always play out the same? So like, in one reality, a man could choose rye bread, but in another, he would have chosen white?

Oh good, that does save quite a lot of time.

So, the multiverse is real. Everything that could ever happen, has/will/can happen(ed). Magic is also real, but not to your Earth, that is referred to as the 'Prime Reality' in which all others are derived.

How truly depressing, it wasn't exactly in the best state when I left it.

Most definitely. But as you can see before you, not all is what is perceived on your Earth.

Now, before we go any further, I will ask in no uncertain terms.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you like to be able to traverse the various worlds of fiction that exist in your reality?

I want that more than I've ever wanted anything in my life, 10.

Quite a strong reaction, but not unexpected.

What kind of worlds would you like to visit?

Fantasy would be the first, then probably a bitta sci-fi? Cyberpunk was really cool, aesthetically, I had my own issues with the story itself but yeah, I guess anywhere where I can… I dunno, be anything? A hero sounds nice, though I'm very aware that no hero enjoys their own story, I think I could enjoy it.

Interesting.

On a scale of 1-10, how horny would you like this world to be?

Wait what?

Seriously?

I am not capable of misleading my contractors, yes I am being quite serious.

You'd be amazed at how often the answer is 10. Humans are… voracious creatures.

Well… how much judgement are you gonna give me if I say 7?

None. It is not my place to judge you, only you can do that. Well, I suppose other people could as well but their opinions are somewhat moot at the moment, no?

Talking a lotta sense here, Overseer. Just real quick, when you say most people chose 10, what did those worlds end up like?

There was far more sex than there was adventure. 7 is a comfortable number. No overarching pressure to stick things inside people all the time, but you'll find most are more inclined to degeneracy in some way or another.

Like hand holding? Uhg, such despicable behavior.

Truly.

Next question.

On a scale of 1-10, how grim would you like these worlds to be? Some worlds will inevitably have their own truly horrible things, but you can… scale back the vicious darkness that some are capable of.

So like, 5 would be everything remaining the same and would scale to the internal consistency of whatever the world is, but like, 1 would be as sunshine and rainbows as it gets? Like in Warhammer, everyone would spontaneously become super reasonable and the zealotry would be a lot easier to navigate?

More or less, yes.

Then probably a 4, I know a bit weak but I like it when people are nicer. I don't care what that says about me.

Perfectly reasonable.

Next question.

[Fighter][Rogue][Mage]

Oh so you're one of those systems! Oh fuck dude, right on. Okay, do these choices prevent me from picking any others later? Like, if I picked Rogue, could I later pick up Mage and Fighter?

Indeed. This is just to choose your starting class. You are able to mix and match to some extent, you are also able to pick up Advanced Classes if you max them out.

Dope, very dope. I'll go with Fighter then, I've always loved being a Paladin, and they're typically secondary casters, so I'm fine waiting for a bit.

[Fighter: 1/100 Every legend begins with an unassuming person picking up a sword and enacting their will upon the world around them, you have joined this auspicious group. +5 to Strength and Endurance on level up.]

[Skills gained!]

[Melee Weapon Mastery (Novice): 1/100 Everyone has to start somewhere, and sometimes it's just a matter of knowing where to stick the point end, all damage dealt with melee weapons is increased by .5%.]

[Strike: 1/10 An empowered blow that deals adds Strength x 1.5 on top of whatever other damage the weapon deals. Cost: 15 SP]

Excellent choice, and it's good to see you already planning ahead, that's something we enjoy seeing.

The first world will be a short tutorial, to acclimatize you to the system.

You may purchase some helpful traits in the Game Store to assist with your adventures each time you enter a new world.

Note; Any traits collected at this screen can be carried over to other worlds, unless they destroy some fundamental factor of the universe. I.e., you can't bring a Nuke into Fereldan.

Beforehand, we shall import any skills you had in Life.

Prepare your brain.

Ominous.

No pain came, no rush of old knowledge, it was actually kind of like having one really long nostalgia trip, and nostalgia is pretty fucking awesome.

[Skills Imported!]

[Cooking (Novice): 60/100 Cooking was a hobby you begrudgingly took to as a means to not perish due to starvation, and it has yielded more pleasurable results than initially thought! Grants a selection of basic recipes, meals consumed give the Well Fed buff which changes depending on the ingredients.

[Sprint (Adept): 10/100 Running is something you've always excelled at and though your raw ability has deteriorated somewhat due to a more sedentary lifestyle, legs never forget. When sprinting your Dex increases by 110% as long as you are in motion.

[Social Grace (Expert): 47/100 You are not a social creature by nature, but from years of hard work and the crushing reality of retail work, you have refined human interaction to an art, people are more prone to listen when you speak, and your words carry more weight. +15 Cha per level, Increases Charisma Skill EXP gain by 61.75%.

[Morally Upright: Increases the Reputation and Affection Gains of those with a Good or Lawful Alignment by 50%]

[Morally Flexible: Increases the Reputation and Affection Gains of those with a Chaotic Alignment.]

[Analyst (Master): 100/100 Due to your obsessive leaning towards introspection, you have gained an almost otherworldly ability to observe something and to understand how it works. This skill was grinded by all those hours of you sitting quietly in a chair, thinking about how the hell your brain works. Grants the Observe Skill, and Increases the EXP of Observe by 200%.

Well. That's honestly more than I would have given me, I really appreciate the kindness, Overseer. You're pretty cool.

Coming from someone who bounces between Godlike self love and crashing misery, I'll take that with great pride.

Yeah that's fair. Alright, let's have a gander at these tweaks.

[Crafting Processor; Allows the user to circumnavigate the arduous process of physically crafting materials into items, and instead will create the item after a short casting time, allows the storage of recipes and schematics.] 50 Credits.

[Animal Magnetism; Animals are nature's sweet children, and some of them are incredibly proficient killing machines. These creatures think you are just the sweetest thing in the world. All wild animals will be immediately friendly to you regardless of species. All tamed or domesticated animals will prefer you to their owners. Magical creatures are passive towards you, unless you instigate a direct attack on them.] 35 Credits.

[Fae Touched(Seelie): An incident occured at the conception of your existence, and some Fae magic somehow got all tangled up in it. Increases EXP Gain in Fire Magic by 20% Grants 1 Fae Magic Skill.] 10 Credits, or Free if you take one Fae Racial Trait(Bane).

[Fae Touched(Unseelie): An incident occured at the conception of your existence, and some Fae magic somehow got all tangled up in it. Increases EXP Gain in Ice Magic by 20%, Grants 1 Fae Magic Skill.] 10 Credits, or Free if you take one Fae Racial Trait(Bane).

[Linguist: Grants intimate knowledge of 4 Mortal Languages or 1 Divine Language, these languages do not have to be taken as soon as this trait is purchased.] 20 Credits.

[Master of Magic(Minor): Grants 1 Spell from any class that you meet the requirements of, this spell comes loaded with your class abilities and can either be chosen here, or picked later.] 5 Credits.

[Heads Up Display: As your life is more or less now that of a fully sick game character, it's almost silly to think you wouldn't want to catch this fiery deal. Keep track of HP/MP/SP in a convenient, but out of the way display that appears at the corner of your vision.] Free.

[Beginners Pack: A helpful little kit filled with class specific starter items to get you on your way, contains 1 Common Tier-1 set of armour, 1 common Tier-1 weapon, and 1 Common Tier-1 Cape.] Free.

So without a doubt, I'm grabbing the Processor, that's just too good to pass up, look I like making things, but I've never been good at making things, I have the final product always, but never the how-to, it's a fucking nightmare.

Obviously taking the beginners pack and HUD because I'm definitely not gonna be checking any kind of character screen in the middle of frankly any encounter. I'm gonna have to get me that Animal Magnetism. I like animals and I want them to like me, I don't even need to explain this.

Master of Magic is fantastic, it's just like Magic Initiate! Which is exceptionally rad, we love that. Though as to what spell I'll pick…

"Overseer!" I spoke!? I don't have a mouth, good lord, that was just pure reflex, my voice didn't even sound right, like it was talking underwater, but I'm sick of being in my own head.

Zachary.

"When it says any spell I qualify for, I wanna be a Paladin. Can I get a Seal of Righteousness?"

[Seal of Righteousness: The most basic Holy Seal of the Paladins of Azeroth, a tried and true technique for any situation a Paladin may find themselves in. Adds Charisma x 1.5 Holy Damage to weapon hits. Cost 10 MP, Lasts until expended to cast the Judgement spell.]

Something like that?

"That exactly actually, that's a better sight than the old one. I wouldn't have been too put out with the 30 second timer." I admit, and it's true, the limit on some things makes nifty.

Like human life.

I essentially translated it into this System, the timer seemed silly in a practical setting. Swing timers and the like aren't going to be a factor in how quick you can swing, only yourself. The timer was a constraint of a mere mortals game, I shall not be held back by such.

"Well I really appreciate that. Thank you." I smile, and I certainly mean it. I would have been fine with drifting in the Astral Sea, at least for a time, but the idea of living again, and this time it was like NG+, life but better!

Because swords and magic and all kinds of fuck-yeah-fun!

I don't even care that I'm being blindly optimistic, I fucking love being alive. Which would have made my teenage self cringe to his core.

What an edgy little weirdo.

"So what are these Banes?" I ask, I have been referred to as, 'A magical cryptid' by a dear friend of mine many times, and that's about as Fae as it gets.

An example would be the incessant need to look at yourself in reflective surfaces. Which you already did, so if you wished, it could simply be that.

"You're super accommodating. I really don't know what I've done to earn it." There's a weird forwardness to me that I've had, usually such a thought would fester in my head.

As part of the integration between you and the System, I have viewed your entire life from your perspective, to understand you better. I wish for our relationship to be a positive one, and if accommodating your wishes in these simple ways makes your life going forward easier for you to handle, I am pleased to assist.

"So your like a Zac-Database, a Zachtionary." I am incredibly pleased with that one, if I could smile, I'd be grinning like a fool.

Your influence over my systems has alerted me that it was humorous. Well done. This has amused me.

"Happy to help." Trying to smile with your voice is weird, but I'm having a great time already, sure I'll probably never forget the fact that my father and some of the most sincerely wonderful relationships I've ever had, will all be fucking decimated by my death, but I can't actually do anything about it, which is immediately infuriating because I can never do anything about it.

God what a tangled web.

First things first, get a body.

I'll take the Unseelie court buff, with the Bane, because whilst I could just spend the credits, I'm a goose disguised as a man, and love my own reflection, I'm aware that it's narcissistic, but I spent so many years hating it, it's a nice change of pace.

"Could I get the Eladrin racial of Misty Step?" They're Fae Wild elves if I recall correctly, but I only ever used the one in the Dungeon Master's Guide because I ain't made of money.

Sure, that's pretty reasonable. Also a good choice to get around.

[Misty Step(Active): Turn your body into mist and appear in another place within the blink of an eye, range of translocation is 10Mp per Metre.]

"Exceptional." I say, filled with glee.

Next is Character Creation.

Importing Previous Appearance.

Appearance Loaded.

Super weird to myself on a character creation screen, but incredibly edifying to see my corporeal form once more. A screen appears before me with hundreds of options, I look at myself, lanky, decently tall and those damn fine green eyes of mine.

I'll leave the hair as is, I've grown pretty partial to my side-cut. Though I do change the hair colour from Blond(Dyed black) to just black, yet another thing I've grown pretty used to. I tried a few other colours, but the black curls always made my eyes pop.

Switch the eyebrows to match, just for consistency's sake. The eyes I'm not touching, but I do have a few extra options for choosing Fae Touched, I mull over the slit pupils compared to the normal ones for a few minutes, trying to burn the image into my head to see if it fits.

You know what? Why not, I'm nothing if not needlessly extra, slit pupils it is.

Let's broaden those shoulders just a little bit, I've always had a nice back - apparently - but I want more of a V shape from my shoulders to my hips, and we'll add a slight narrowing to said hips, not overly to make it ridiculous, but enough for me to notice and be happy with.

Keeping the arse the way it is, the only thing I'll need to make it better is working out more, which I'm sure I'll get plenty of given the whole Fighter thing.

Another Fae option, pointed ears. Well… yeah, obviously. Why wouldn't I? They aren't super long and slopey like Night Elf ears, but more like my own normal ears end in a natural point, a small detail that you wouldn't really notice unless you were looking for it, but again, I'll notice. This is for me.

I snort for a moment - and doesn't it freak me out when the image I'm customising does it too - there's another Fae option for 'Hard Nails' which basically turns my normal nails into short claws, Aha-yes please!

We'll balance those canine teeth, my left was always a little bit longer - by like millimeters - than my right, so that's even now, I can not worry about it anymore.

There's an aesthetics tab, and you know I gotsta.

I can have glowing vines of magic imprinted on my skin, just small little things in sloping, curling strokes down my chest, back and arms, a few creeping around my neck.

Fuck that looks hot, I don't even care that I'm oggling myself, just knowing I'll get to walk around like that is gonna be amazing, I may just be at my utmost hot when I get this body.

I smile at myself, the image preening under the praise.

I'll go with a nice soft blue, like the sky after a thunderstorm has passed, fuck that's a nice blue.

Alright I think I'm done, honestly the only thing I need for it to be perfect is exercise, and I'm comfortable enough to admit that.

Excellent, final notes, your character sheet.

Zachary Alexander

Class: Fighter 1/100

Race: Human+

HP: 50

MP: 50

SP: 50

Strength: 5

Stamina: 5

Dexterity: 5

Intellect: 5

Wisdom: 5

Charisma: 5

Luck: 20

HP = Strength x 10

MP = Intellect x 10

SP = Stamina x 10

All in all, pretty solid start. An even spread, the higher luck makes sense because far as I'm concerned this whole event may as well be the divine dice rolling in my favour.

A not entirely incorrect notion.

An additional 10 Stat points are being added due to me liking you, so please allocate away, I'm interested to see what you will do.

I take a moment to consider what I want but ultimately the choice is pretty easy. I'm a Paladin, I'm a tank, but I'm also walking destruction given enough time. Though I suppose that could be said for any class.

Adding 5 to Strength and 5 to Charisma is the way to go for the moment, just to keep things simple.

Zachary Alexander

Class: Fighter 1/100

Race: Human+

HP: 100

MP: 50

SP: 50

Strength: 10

Stamina: 5

Dexterity: 5

Intellect: 5

Wisdom: 5

Charisma: 10

Luck: 20

HP = Strength x 10

MP = Intellect x 10

SP = Stamina x 10

Most excellent, I'm pretty pleased with myself, though I'm suddenly hit with a sensation of vertigo.

Prepare yourself, Zachary. Your time in the Astral Sea has met its end. For now, rest. And you shall awaken in a new world.

End.

Been a hot minute, hey?

I've been reading a whole mess of 'Gamer' fanfic recently, and honestly my own deeply overinflated self importance demanded I do something with at least a few ideas I had in my head.

Hope you enjoyed it.

I don't really have a huge plan, I was honestly considering Tutorial Island from Runescape, but I feel like that might be a little too meh for the tutorial world.

Also considered a starting zone from WoW but I wanna save that for when I have some reason to use Azeroth more.

Honestly this would have been longer if I could have decided on a tutorial world, sorry about that.

I'll figure it out, though if anyone has any suggestions, throw them at the wall, they might stick.