Chapter 2
A long time ago……
He stared mindlessly at the flames, imagining their heat and the warmth they would produce to calm his frayed nerves. No comfort would come, sadly, and it served as a reminder of the fate that awaited him.
To the onlooker, the sight of a man in lavish, thick, robes and a crown would no doubt characterize him as a ruler, which, given the nature of his achievement, wasn't that far off. However, like all rulers, their leadership must come to an end, and his was in forty-five minutes and ten seconds.
He had wanted nothing more than to cry after learning of the sever shutdown not more than two hours ago. After having suffered a terrible day in real life, with the loss of his job due to a scandal that he had no part in, the heart-wrenching, and callous words spoken over the phone by what he had once thought to be loving and understanding parents to their eldest, and finally this. It had been too much for the poor fellow that now sat reclined over a non-existent seat in a simulated chamber.
Said chamber was for the most part ordinary, aside from the varying sizes of furniture and equally disproportionate books and scrolls that were kept neatly on the shelfs that covered the walls from side-to-side.
Still, this particular chamber brought back with it so many memories. Some of anger, others of satisfaction and even a few laughs. It was a chamber whereby a reluctant albeit fruitful alliance was made, and for a brief time, the talk of a community.
Memories both sweet and bitter filled his mind, so much so that he didn't notice the large figure approaching from behind the chair. Their avatar casting a shadow so large it covered half the wall behind them.
His brooding would be interrupted when he felt his chair suddenly lurched forward. Years spent in anxiety stimulated an aggressive response whereby he stood up and rolled to the left, before using that same motion to turn and face the intruder, drawing a blade hidden underneath his robes and pointing it at the intruder, stance ready to unleash a skill.
The figure before him was indeed massive, standing at 9 feet tall with bulging muscles. They looked to be a bipedal bull wearing thick trousers tightened by a skull belt and nothing else, chestnut hair bristling around their body. Their blood red eyes gave off a strong sense of intimidation.
While the beast's, mouth didn't move due to limitations, steam could be seen visibly gushing out of its two large nostrils. A deep rumble followed suit.
"My, my, what a surprise to see you here. It's been so long that I figured you were a lost cause to us. Oh, glorious leader." Spoke the beast with a raspy tone that contrasted its size.
The mention of leadership brought a frown to his face. Which, of course, wasn't exactly visible but he was sure that his follow-up response of moving back to his seat and dropping his rear on the padded cushion managed to convey the message of his current mood.
The creature- a Minotaur- moved to the right side, stopping just in front of the fire and to his right. His tail waving behind him, independent of the rest of his body.
"Come now, boss. This doesn't seem like you at all. Not that you look any different than usual, but still-.."
"I messed up hard alright. Chances are big that I'll be spending what time I got in a cube soon," interjected the downtrodden man.
That brought whatever merriment the newcomer had brought with him to a sudden halt. With an audible 'oh', an awkward silence fell into place.
Deep down, he knew that this wasn't right. To be so trusting of a stranger, even if it was one that he had known for a few years now, and what more so their weakest moment in life. It was cultural taboo in the game to talk about IRL, as there was certainly no telling the predator from the flock. Anyone with a few sweet words could easily find themselves in a position to exploit others. Perhaps, that was how he earned his current lot.
A cough earned his attention once more. The minotaur was facing him. Its head inclined so its eyes would meet his.
"We~ll, if you don't mind, I'd rather not spent whatever time I have left in this shitty game while feeling down in the dumps. So, would you please get off the sad chair, this instant. The others outta be waiting by the hole, now."
That got a raised eyebrow from the seated individual. While they did in fact own separate lands each in this place, it wasn't exactly a common occurrence for the four of them to converge unless there was something actually concerning such as a guild raid.
Funny to think that those were better times now considering just how much chaos usually followed whenever something like that happened.
Still, perhaps this was something good, he thought. Keeping himself busy was usually a good way to try and alleviate his depression. Perhaps, keeping his focus on providing a good farewell to his fellows would up his karma as well.
With a thought, his avatar was made to stand up and he gave a nod of confirmation to the other player. He then brought his left hand to his face and more specifically, the ring that was worn.
"Greater Teleportation: Central, Eternalspiral,"
With a bright flash, the human player disappeared. The minotaur player followed suit in a similar manner, but his instead involved using the charm worn around his neck.
They reappeared at a vast open plain that made the perfect picturesque scenery. Rolling green hills could be seen as far as the eye can see with healthy green trees that were found groups near and around the three lakes present. The only thing that mildly ruined the scenery were the massive walls that severed the glade from the outside world.
The two had appeared in a small open patch of dirt that had a path leading to a small stone structure at the centre of the plain. It wasn't what one would call a keep nor a temple but it was most definitely an eye-catcher for being the only man-made structure in this enclosed space.
Their walk up was a quiet affair. Both man and humanoid decided that it be in their best interest to enjoy the simulated scenery for one last time. A soft melody -courtesy of the game's sound systems- played, adding to the ambience.
After a good ten minutes, they arrived at the front of the keep. Up close, one could notice that there was no entrance at all. As if the place had been built to keep whatever laid inside permanently so.
The two raised their arms -the human his left and the minotaur his right- in unison, palms outstretched and facing the section wall in front of them. From each of their hands, a strong light came to life and from their centre symbols seem to be formed in the air.
The wall responded with its own light from the gaps in-between the stone masonry. Each stone would then part to the sides until eventually a large quadrilateral entrance was formed that stretched high above. For reference, the wall itself was around 5 metres high and the newly formed entrance took up four fifths of that.
The sight of the entrance and its prelude transformation never ceased to amaze the human player for its simple yet elegant movement. A trivia he learned about some of the thought put into the architecture here was the idea surrounding it was to give out a sense of nostalgia. He had to admit that it was most definitely a success in his book.
As they passed the entrance, the 'magic' once again sealed the entrance way from whence they came. Now, they found themselves facing a rather bizarre sight. A giant plant growth that had grown to envelop the convex exterior of what to looked be an entrance that led undergrown. The branches had also been made to grow outwards away from the entrance as well rather than converge towards the centre.
It was there, too, did the two players encounter familiar faces. It was another pair of players and they too were distinguishable by their height at first glance. One was clearly elven while the other was by far the shortest of the present four but what they lacked in height they made up in width for in unique attire that was by far the most original many would see in the game.
To first-timers, they appeared to be in light-hearted discussion but when up close, one could almost see the restrained violence hanging in the air.
The elf featured smooth olive skin with dark hair swept back in a fashionable manner. His thick tunic consisted mostly of varying shades of grey and gave the air of wizardry. A staff made of exotic metals was held in the crook of his arm, in a relaxed pose.
On the other hand, the dwarf seemed to be trying-and succeeding, somehow- to look like a veritable walking workshop with how many tools, gadgets and instruments seemed to be jutting out of every pocket of his finely made coveralls. The colour of the garbs was a dark shade of purple with blue that fitted well with the dwarfs much darker skin tone.
The elven one spoke first. His voice carried clear through the simulated air.
"Ah, how nice of you both to join us. We were just about to make way down to the core without you, weren't we Vas?."
"Hmpf. Like I'd willingly walk alone with a winger like you. There are better chances of me dying happily from a mugging than to stand next to you for a full hour." came the response, which sounded like a foghorn.
Winger; the term used or often associated with someone doing something out of bounds or completely against the norm. They were viewed as pariahs in real life the end result of their practices almost always end in disaster of varying degrees. Wingers, themselves often don't see the wrong behind their actions, not until its too late.
Thankfully, the winger in front of them limited their eccentricities to but the game itself which was as far as they were concerned. Sadly, however, that didn't mean his reputation hadn't been called to question in more than one instance.
The elf stared incredulously at his short companion.
"And who are you calling a winger? I'm not the one who's obsessed with making weird emoji's all over their quarter."
"Their called RUNES! And you dame well better show your respect for them knife-ears. 'Cause they've saved your asses more than your lightshows ever did."
As the argument continued, the human and minotaur players promptly chose to ignore it and make their way up the stairway that will take them to the lip of the convex-shaped entrance before going down the centre where they will find a spiral pathway that lead deeper down into the earth. Their fellow companions would follow suit but maintain a fair distance so as to not agitate the heteromorph player among them into shutting them up via physical intervention.
The true size of the entrance was roughly 10 metres in diameter and the stone fort that protected it around 50 metres from side to side. However, while the lack of battlements made it rather disarming, it was the grand wonder that laid under that truly gave the place the justice it deserved.
The concept of the place was based on the icebergs that once inhabited the now utterly decimated northern and southern polar ice caps. A small and harmless -visually speaking- surface that was belied by the sheer size of the mass that lay underneath the waters or earth in this case.
The place being described was aptly named as the EternalSpiral. A massive cylinder of carved stone, twining roots and disturbed earth that stretched several kilometres down with magic heavily saturated into the many pillars and floors as to keep the wonder viable.
Both, the dwarf and elf player had stopped their squabble the moment their HUD's alerted them to the change in magic. It was an unspoken agreement between them that this place was sacred ground, and that no violence or conflict will come here unless 'it was the worst of days and the probably the end of ages'.
The dwarven player, an enthusiastic Runesmith and Craftsman, held this place in high regards as within its depths existed one of the very,very few items that could ever hold his greatest runeworks which on themselves were considered very costly defense systems for guilds, made worse for being only one time use due to game limitations.
The dwarf also liked the place for its quietness. At the peak of the game, he'd carve a name for himself as 'The Aimless Forge' for he was renown for travelling from place to place and often setting up shop in shadowy corners where he would be less likely to be disturbed.
On the other hand, the elven player revered this place for being far out of the norm of other places in YGGDRASIL to the point where if it had been implemented fully, could've been spun off into its own game. As one whom obsessed over the concept of role-playing, he considered the artifact that existed here integral in both a lore and gaming standpoint.
Granted, the higher the spell tier, the greater the charge and cooldown time. Which was why he instead looked for ways to circumvent this problem by mixing the spell sets with weaker or external factors such as racial traits or job class bonuses. YGGDRASIL'S freedom of choice and movement for players worked wonders when used properly and his spell sets represented that. Though few, there were times when his spell sets would produce fantastic results in his favour.
As the four made their way down into the depths, they took the time to admire the 'trophies' scattered about. At its height, the place had seen numerous battles of varying sizes and intention. From the small elite squad of nomad players to the high standing guild with more than a hundred players, the surrounding area had become what many called 'YGGDRASIL's dreg heap' for the sheer number of broken gear that could be found here.
However, those days had died about as fast as they had started. Only a year or two after its appearance, the true nature of the place was revealed and the massive disappointment felt in the fanbase meant that the place quickly lost any notoriety, save for the occasional salvage parties and the four currently present.
That being said, the place wasn't completely useless, as what laid deep in its heart was where the value of an incomplete, metaphorical pothole-ridden city truly laid.
At the bottom of the spiral pathway, floating above dark, pristine water was an infinity cube with a myriad of colours pulsating from its centre. The object 'spun' in almost every way possible and it proved nauseating to the observer if perceived for more than a minute.
This was the true secret of the complex called Lumnos Iova. The complex which housed four races of which none of them should possibly ever be in close proximity to the other much less willing to share such an awesome source of power.
Hearthstone; was its name. A World-Class object that generated an absurd amount of mana and amazing buffs for the races that were initially present in its activation. Such item was rightfully guarded by a powerful being and it took the effort of hundreds of players to beat it. Out of all those players, only four remained by courtesy of sheer luck.
Thinking back to that battle still sent shivers down the human player's back. He himself only survived because of the minotaur player willingly taking the hits his armours stood no chance against. Even then, both of them had their dwarven ally to thank for the equipment overhaul they received. The surprisingly non-combat oriented player had been present under the behest of the raid leader whom paid extensively for his services.
They had struck an agreement before the operation began to work together as they couldn't-or rather wouldn't-join the other parties due to personal issues.
Pushing aside the memories, they each moved to stand on the different stone pedestals that stood erect around the edge that sloped down into the waters. Each pedestal also was specifically tailored to their respective owner's characteristics.
The human's pedestal was the most modest of the four. A golden themed railing that stretched back to a small flight of stairs behind him. A wooden chair with armrests was on standby for whenever he decided to sit down. His pedestal was decorated with his personal emblem which doubled as the symbol of his faction; a human duchy that was also the heart of congress for the four kingdoms.
The dwarven player stood on what looked to be a very elaborate platform, that had a lever conveniently placed beside where the speaker would stand to raise the platform. The pedestal itself was a conglomerate of machinery clearly designed with the intention to show off complexity. A simple, yet equally impressive set of runes flared to life in the air around the edges of the platform. They didn't carry any other use than to illuminate the construct in a warm, blue glow.
The minotaur's seat was unique in that it was, in fact, a floral life of some kind. A cash item he had bought using premium currency he had hoarded for over a year; it certainly made for a fine representation of the leader whom, was rather….laxed when not committed to battle of any kind. Other than the swishing tail of the Taurus and the little lights courtesy of the fireflies that hovered around the makeshift seat erected from bark and branches, the pedestal had no other unique features.
The final pedestal which belonged to the elf, was a magical construct made of a mixture of crystals and wood. From its collapsed position, it rose into shape when presented with the specific mana of its owner. His pedestal, in a way, mirrored his dwarven counterpart in the amount of complexity and data crystals poured in to make it look the part extravagant.
FOUR LORDS HAD GATHERED IN A SPECIAL PLACE. THEY AWAITED WITH BAITED BREATH FOR THEIR WORLD TO END, AND THEIR BEINGS TO BE MADE UNDONE. THEIR KIN BLISSFULLY UNAWARE OF WHAT IS TO COME.
HOWEVER, NOT EVEN THEY-BEINGS OF MIGHTINESS AND MIRACULITY- COULD'VE DIVINED WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
The human player was the first to break the silence.
"All rise," his voice echoed throughout the space.
All four rose in unison. The light from the Hearthstone the only thing illuminating their frames. The frenzied glow of the artifact was mitigated by it rising above the ground until its height was roughly the same as that of a chandelier hanging from above.
"My fellow lords," he began, his flare showing. "We, the greatest few, are gathered here today to witness the end that is upon us! We, conquerors of the Flawed Fortress, Enigma's of Midgard and Stewards of the Four Corners!"
The other three around him looked on. Their expressions mixed from one faux indifference to a grunt of acknowledgement.
"My fellow lords," began once more the player. "Surely, while this may be the end of the world, fret not, and abstain from the belief that this is the end of the union we serve. Belay not, your oaths! For we live one, in name, and two, in memory! This is I assure you as Duke Osma Alexander, a fellow lord of our walled realm; Lumnos Iova."
The end of the human's speech was met with thunderous clapping from the giant amongst them. The Taurus let out an amused chuckle that was well times with another audible puff of air escaping their avatar's nostrils.
"Well done, 'er boss," voiced the player. His raspy tone causing subtle discontentment in the other two players. Yet, they refrained just this once because it may very well the last they will see of each other.
It was then, the Taurus too chose to stand up.
"I have lived across countless seas of armaments. I have breathed miasma and filth as one breathes the fresh morning air and through it all, I never grew to regret what I had done!" spoke the Minotaur with a voice full of unrestrained fervour.
"Yet, until I found this place, never would I have thought that there existed a place where I could stay still long enough to get comfortable," at this, he took a good look at all of those present.
"It was fun, you know? I live for the adrenaline. To be able to do as I damn well please! It's part of why I chose a- what's it you call?- anthro- anthromorphs. Yeah, that!"
"It's called heteromorphs, you overgrown cow!" interjected the dwarf.
"Bah, semantics!" waved away the giant. "Look what I'm trying to say is that it's been fun staying here while it lasted. I like fights, and this place gave more than its fair share."
After brief pause in the player's dialogue, he then continued.
"And you guys weren't so bad yourselves, especially you boss." He said while gesturing at the human player whom couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that last statement.
"Indeed, astute is you observation, Gugalan."
The gazes of those present went to the elf in their midst.
"I believe it's my turn, hm?" when he faced no objections, he continued.
"I'll be frank when I say that it has a most interesting experience being with you all. I trust that perhaps, if fate may allow it, that we meet again sometime in the future," as he spoke he brought up his menu and began flicking through a few panels before finding the option he wanted.
With a few quick taps, several messages were sent via the guilds private chat. When opened, the players noted it was an email address which drew odd looks from them.
Due to the vast expanse of the Internet these days, governments have implemented various ways to keep watch over their citizens activities in the digital frontier. From cyberware divisions, to special laws requiring all private accounts be registered under the ministry.
Sadly, the same methods used to supposedly 'protect' the people have also been used against them. It would've been the first time either such a scenario happened. Hence, why people often had a off-the books- account when for use of something as unimportant as gaming.
They tried inquiring but only drew a shrug from the eccentric player. They then decided to move on to their final player whom countered with his own narrowed gaze.
"Oi, what do you expectin' me to do? Sing yer' a song or sumtin?" he snarked. "Piss off and get on with the show already."
"And we'll miss you too, Ptavastarsis." replied the elf.
The dwarf's final response was a loud huff before going silent.
By this point, the countdown was nearing zero. The timer read thirty seconds. The remaining time was spent in solemn silence as the four awaited their end.
The human duke thought back to the events earlier that day, and the bleak future to come. His only wish deep down was the one thing all true players would ask for; that being, for the journey to never end. In these final moments, he mentally joked about willingly trading the real life awaiting him for this one.
The Minotaur chieftain, deep down, reflected back on all the things he did in the game. While some would choose this moment to come to a self-realization of the atrocious acts they did, he simply chose to accept that all he did was within bounds and not at all too out of wack.
The elf simply pondered on what his next project would be. Simply put, all things will meet their end one way or another, including pleasure and delusions of grandeur. However, where the dreamer weeps, the performer takes flight.
The dwarf was also of the notion of acceptance, but his was a different sort. The game served well as a way of coping with his problems, but even he knew there was only so much it could do before reaching a limit in life. So, in response, he would do as he always did and understand the extent of the limit before moving to the next item that interested him.
And so, as the timer reached zero, the four closed their eyes in knowledge that when they opened again, it would be a different life they must lead. Their earlier, exaggerated banter gone. None knew of the future that awaited them but they subconsciously agreed that the history of their time in the game and as rulers of the Unfinished Kingdom would forever be cemented into memory.