That said, The World is a very big place. With twenty million players, the number of stories waiting to be told is literally countless. I am simply here to tell a few of those stories, without receiving any compensation beyond what little recognition my peers may grant me.
Story 2: Misrepresentation
I scan the crowds near the Chaos Gate of Mac Anu. Hundreds of players pass by before one catches my eye. It isn't that there's anything special about his appearance. That, in fact, is about as nondistinct as it's possible to be. It seems like these days every third Wavemaster is using that design, in almost those colors. Rather, what I notice is the way he moves, never quite in the direction he wants to go, colliding with other players, as if he's not quite used to the controls. That and his equipment. I've been playing long enough that I recognize the majority of weapons by sight, but that's hardly necessary here. Anyone who's played for more than a few days recognizes the basic Cypress Wand. And no one who's played for more than about a week still has one. There's no doubt about it, this guy's a newbie. Or perhaps I should say, an easy target.
I wind my way through the crowd, getting into position. Before long, the newbie bumps into me, knocking me off my feet. Slipping into my role as a kind, experienced player, I reassure him as he apologises profusely.
It doesn't take long to draw him into conversation. Newbies are almost always eager to talk to someone, especially when things aren't going as planned. He says he'd made plans with a friend, to go to a dungeon, level up, and maybe get some better equipment. They'd meant to meet half an hour ago, but he was delayed, and by the time he got online, his friend had logged off. Now he is looking for someone else to go with. Apparently, he doesn't want to be stuck with the Cypress Wand any longer than he has to. I can't blame him.
He says his friend had a particular field in mind, one that wouldn't be impossible for a beginner like him, but he isn't sure enough of his skill to try it alone. Again, I can't blame him. No low level Wavemaster should go solo. Of course, no low level player who wants to survive should accompany me, either, but he can't be expected to know that. Staying in character, I ask him for the keywords to the field. I recognize it as a fairly good one: neither too difficult nor too easy, it's a good level for a newbie to gain experience, and there's a decent chance that he could upgrade his equipment there. Ironically, it's also one of the places I like to take my victims.
Being a kind, helpful individual, I offer to accompany him. He is every bit as grateful as most of them are, and seems most concerned that he's being a nuisance or wasting my time. I reassure him, and we're almost to the Chaos Gate before he asks the question I've been anticipating.
"Aren't you going to invite me to join your party?"
I don't want to form a party with him. That would involve giving him my member address, which would make it a lot easier for him to cause trouble for me later. I give him the line which has served me so well in the past: "You'll get more experience if I don't. If we're in a party, the experience will be split between us. You'll get twice as much if you do it without me in your party. I'll just be there ready to step in if you're in trouble."
Newbies are so gullible. He doesn't even ask any questions before agreeing. A minute later, we gate in to the field.
Turns out the kid's actually got some real potential. For two levels of the dungeon, I hardly have to step in at all, except for a couple of times when his SP runs out in mid-fight, or occasionally for healing. At times it's hard to believe this is the same player who was so awkward in the Root Town. It almost seems a shame to kill him. Almost.
As we make our way down to the third level, our conversation turns to game terminology. For the most part, I'm actually helpful, only giving a few completely irrelevant explanations. He's completely off guard, and doesn't suspect a thing when I ask a simple, innocuous question.
"Tell me, are you familiar with the term—" I strike in midsentence "—'PK'?"
That should have been the end of him. Instead, he turns around and says, "That kind of hurt."
The only way a Wavemaster could have survived that blow is if he were at a level far above mine. But that would mean...
I notice that he is no longer holding the level 1 Cypress Wand he had when we entered the dungeon. Rather, he has an exceptionally ugly staff. If I remember correctly, its level is somewhere in the 40s and its name is "Heh Heh Heh". I get the feeling he is trying to convey a message.
Then, once again, he is holding a different staff. It appears to be a rod of very dark wood, unornamented except for intricate carvings along its entire length. I've never seen anything like it in the game before, but judging from the sheer amount of detail in its design, it has to be quite rare, and probably powerful to boot.
Obviously, this is no newbie. I select a Sprite Ocarina from my inventory.
"It won't do any good," he says. I ignore him and activate the item. It doesn't do any good; I'm still right where I was. He continues speaking. "The Crimson Knights have a suspected cheat item maker cornered up on the second level. They've got a barrier up. No one's getting out of this dungeon for a while."
I back up, trying to keep a few options open. Somehow, though, I get the feeling it's futile.
The look on his face as he moves forward is now downright frightening. I make a mental note to look up whether the motion command "/evilgrin" exists.
"PK. Player Killing. Refers to an act where one player deliberately attacks another, causing sufficient damage to kill the other. A serious nettiquette violation. Player Killers often get their kicks by targeting unsuspecting newbies, offering to help and then killing them somewhere in the dungeon."
He raises his staff.
"Tell me, are you familiar with the term 'PKK'?"
Author's Notes: I managed to get it finished before the end of the year. By about 10 minutes.