Chapter Fourteen

Disclaimer

I don't own Mabinogi nor any NPC's connected. Either Devcat or Nexon does.

A/N

In the last chapter, we discovered the admins had isolated the direct cause of the glitched fomors in Mabinogi had started acting on it by first stating to delete Jack's pets and then tried to attack Jack himself. Fortunately, Nao rescued Jack just in time.

I have decided to suspend that storyline for the time being and tell the tale of how Jack first started playing Mabinogi and yes this will be an autobiography of sorts.

Nao tried to console me as I took refuge in the goddess' citadel but it felt like I was a prisoner more than a free person. Due to long length of this particular maintenance I had a lot of time to think. I started to go over the events and adventures of when I first started playing Mabinogi.

Back then I tried all avenues to give myself entertainment online. I had no idea about MMorpg. I stumbled upon an advertisement for Mabinogi by accident. Then I kept on seeing the advertisement over and over so I reluctantly agreed to try it.

Even though I was an avid fan of the Final Fantasy series I really had no real idea of what I would be getting myself into. It was the summer of 2008. After installing the game (which took a while) I was astounded while booting it up for the first time. It had one of the most complex character design menus I have ever seen in any game before.

I quickly chosen what I would look like and entered the world. Immediately I was teleported into what looked like a majestic all white realm. When I approached the center a very beautiful maiden appeared dressed in a simple black cleric type dress that hugged her in the right areas. She had beautiful white twin tailed long hair. The most impressive thing about her was her eyes. They radiated the most beautiful color of blue I have ever seen in my life. I could tell she radiated love.

Then she spoke to me, "Wecome Jack. My name is Nao and it is my privilege to escort you thru the soul stream to Erinn. Once there you need to deliver a letter to a person named Duncan. He will start you on your new life in Erinn."

Now you must realize this is before the beginner revamp in 2011 and before the Iria Pioneers expansion. Back then the only race was human. As I remember all this I realize that I am witnessing all this in the third person. I remember meeting Tin up on the hill. He was the one that gave me bread and asked me to go down the hill. He also introduced me to some of the very basics of the game.

Once I came down the hill, I saw the opening sequence of the game. Back in those days, only the G1 storyline was available and only to those with premium membership. The other players that played for free was could go everywhere else.

Duncan gave me what used to be called an Eiry. It was a beginner's spirit weapon that when we reach a certain level goes away after we complete a certain quest. In the meantime, it can guide us in our quest and it will never ever drop or really break. The Eiry was nothing more than a short sword. Many players made the mistake of fighting with it consistently even though higher-level weapons were available.

I remember one quest I could not overcome despite the amount of training I do by only using the Eiry. Finally, I ran all the way Dunbarton to get an upgraded weapon knowing a better weapon was the only way I would be able to overcome my apparent weakness. I ran for horses or any other pets were not available yet.

I thought Mabinogi was centered on Tir Chonaill. You can't really blame me for that for most of us at that time believed the same thing. Tir became the hangout for all us Militants alike. We were so naïve back them. Tir was only the beginning.

I recalled why Staton became so important to me. Way back then I remember when pets was first introduced. Not many of us had any pets because they had to be bought thru the premium shop. However, it became very apparent how useful they are. I finally broke down and purchased two pets, a pairs of dogs. The very first pet I ever called forth was Staton, my Siberian Husky. I did not know those were only offered for a very short time.

I cried the first time when Staton's time was over. He disappeared right in front of me. I begged every owner of a pet what I did wrong, why did Staton was either deleted or erased? I was grateful to learn of the time limits on pets per real day. I was scared to death that I would never see Staton ever again. I decided to call forth Regginald, my Samoyed. This time I was careful about its time limit.

Around that time, I started noticing the Paladins. There was not any Dark Knights yet. I remarked on how powerful they were. One time a group of us was in regular Ciar and had to have help with the Golem who was very powerful for us. On another day, a group of us was in the exact same dungeon. However, we did not know that one of us was a Paladin. We were surprised when he transformed and took out the golem single handedly. I knew I wanted this power too but had no idea of how to get it.

It was about that time my inventory started to get full as well as Staton's and Reginald's. My bank slot was full as well. I had to do something so I started to sell what I was not using. Trouble was the books were not able to trade or npc sell. I did not even know what to do with the fomor scrolls I was collecting.

The world we (the players) were exploring was fantastic. After the beginners revamp in 2011, most everyone knew how to get the skills we now take for granted but back then, no one knew how to get the skills besides trial and error. Talking to each other was crucial to discover new impressive things about the world of Erinn.

Soon guilds stones dotted the landscape. Some guilds did not want to take in newbies so they made a requirement that no one can join as long as you had an Eiry in your inventory. I flat out refused to join those guilds. I think the basis of a guild was to band together to share information more efficiently and to help each other. For that reckoning why not help the newbies be better players. They will be more loyal to you in the end.

Therefore, I created my own guild with these principles in mind. We were small but proud and we helped each other whenever possible. However, I was a better friend than leader. I realized I knew not the first thing about leading. When I had to take a leave of absence from the game, I placed the most powerful of us in the position of Officer so they take care of the guild in my absence. I made two tragic mistakes. My first was the choice for the position of second in command of the guild. They had different ideals that were contrary to my belief for the guild. Secondly, I let my Mabinogi Premium membership lapse during my absence.

When I returned to the game and discovered my errors, it was too late. The guild was no more. All my friends had either deserted me or no longer playing. Even my closest ally, who I should have entrusted the guild to, stopped playing. I did keep his name on my friendship list to the end in hopes he will start back playing but he never did.

From that moment on, I avoided the other players at all cost. I did get stronger though, I kept playing strong but avoided making friendships. I do not know how I made it past G1 that first time although I remember standing in the middle of Tir on the shopping channel until I got help with the final. I was overjoyed that G2 was solo. When I discovered G2 and G3 was mostly solo that motivated to finish up on my G1.

Halfway thru G2, something changed that got me involved with another guild. I was lonely. Therefore, I joined a group that was basically party animals. I had fun for a while and sometimes they did help me. However, I had to take another leave of absence because of work and when I got back that guild was gone as well. I was a solo player once again.

Just before my G2 final, a newbie started to ask me questions. I do not know how but they understood I was a very knowledgeable person of the game. I almost laughed when they stated that for I knew dozens that were more knowledgeable than I was. They asked me which guild they should join. I knew of the Hellcats since the days of my guild. I knew they still existed and where their guild stone was (at that time I have been considering joining them but was hesitant).

She applied and got in instantly and even talked directly with Danster in a PM. She told me Danster extends his thanks to me. I was flabbergasted by how friendly this Danster was. At that particular time, I never met him. I would find out latter although he never met me either, he did know of my old guild and my name thru it. He knew of my original guild it seemed before my first leave of absence.

I was working my way thru math a week later when I made the decision. After the boss room, instead of heading to Manus for healing, I applied to the Hellcats and was accepted in. This time, Danster wanted to meet with me in person so he came to Dunbarton when he could. I, in the meantime, kept myself busy doing odd jobs in Dunby. When Danster got there it was the start of a great friendship, not a close one but a great one just the same. I still kept people at arm's length.

Today I am held up in the citadel of the Goddess Morrighan. She and Nao are working with Tarlach to contact the Admin that tried to delete my very existence. I fear they truly do not understand what they were doing to me. I will try to make them understand I want to pose no threat to their game. However, I cannot help but to feel a little melancholy for I know things will never be the same again. At the same time, I wonder why I have not joined my family who departed before into heaven. What is keeping me here in this game environment?

A/N

I know this chapter reeks of the stench of a "filler" but the events I just described is my own actual experiences of when I first started playing Mabinogi thru when I joined "Hellcats" (not their real name). Oh and the guild leader did not actually request to see me right off but he did know of my first guild which I was the leader of.

Until next time – Chow!