::The Last Avatar::
Gamer Edition
BOOK ONE
LEVIATHAN
1.0
Screen Writers Are People Too
Opening her eyes Rue found herself looking up at an unfamiliar white ceiling. It took a few moment of frowning up at it that she remembered where she was and what had happened to her. She closed her eyes again, wanting to go back to sleep and ignore the world for a while longer.
She had crumbled after Godo had left her on her own, crying silently for hours before she'd had the strength of body or mind to drag herself to the futon that had been set up in the corner for her to sleep on. After that Rue assumed she'd passed out, her body still ached though and the longer she stayed in the land of wakefulness the harder it would be to go back to sleep. She knew that from experience. Upon opening her eyes again Rue found herself staring at colourful words dancing before her once again;
CONGRATULATIONS!
ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED!
*First Blood*
Killed an enemy during the Prologue
…
*The Avatar Returns*
Learnt the Avatar State Limit Break
Rue sighed as the words faded away, it seemed she'd just added two more achievements to her list. That made four. None so far had given her any 'material rewards', whatever that meant. Sitting up was a struggle, her body didn't seem to appreciate her moving, but lying down had lost it's appeal.
Attention!
Sorry, my…friend…fell asleep at her desk last night, she's getting a lecture from our boss right now.
Well hey! You've saved up a fair few of these, so bare with me kid!
First thing's first.
…
Skill Unlocked
…
Limit Break - Avatar State
Limit Breaks are different from normal skills in that they can only be performed at certain times, such as life threatening situations. Like the Anti-SOLDIER monster you wasted last night. Nice, by the way. Even for a newbie.
We should point out that the Avatar State isn't exactly like other Limit Breaks being that it's a self-defence mechanism built into your psyche, to protect yourself and Raava. Or something like that I guess.
Try not to die while it's activated. You know why.
Rue frowned deeply at the screen. The person who had been throwing screens at her all afternoon had fallen asleep? That's why she hadn't had screens popping up at her during the meeting or fight. Well, that was probably a good thing in hindsight. Rue would have, in no way, been able to handle that shit happening. 'Okay', she thought, 'I have a Limit Break now so that's kinda cool,' she was avoiding thinking about the Avatar thing. That would be dealt with after she'd woken up a little more. Taking a deep breath Rue dismissed the skill information screen and prepared herself for more. She wasn't disappointed.
CONGRATULATIONS!
ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED!
*Lord of the Western Lands*
Met Godo Kisaragi, and didn't THAT go well?
Reward:
*Spear Weapon Set* Unlocked
…
*I'm the What Now?*
Made it through the Prologue!
It was only after the Achievement notice vanished from sight that Rue registered that she'd unlocked a new weapon set. Spears. Cool. Not that she knew how to use one of those any more than she knew how to use the bow that was leaning against the wall next to her bag. Rue blinked at that. Her things were in here? When had that happened?
Unthinking the teen went to scramble forward to make sure her things were still in her bag, but her body, it seemed, had other ideas. Letting loose an uncomfortable groan Rue settled back on the futon as her muscles screamed at her to stay put. She wasn't moving for a little while, not without help anyway.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Story Quest Completed!
…
*Escape the Forest*
…
You have completed your first Story Quest. Well done!
Here are your spoils:
200 EXP
100 AP
550 Gil
+20 Arrows
Rue blinked as a bundle of arrows plopped down into her lap, complete with quiver to hold them. She was relieved to have a new 'screen writer' or whatever the term was, had it been the other one, well, she wouldn't have been able to dodge that one. Strangely enough she heard the tinkle of coins coming from her bag and she figured the Gil she made would be deposited automatically into the purse she'd received the day before. She set the quiver aside and dismissed the screen. What else did they have for her today?
CONGRATULATIONS!
You've defeated your first Boss!
…
Anti-SOLDIER Prototype 0.0
…
Here are your spoils:
300 EXP
156 AP
500 Gil
Potion
+10 Arrows
A small bottle of blue Potion dropped into her lap, along with another small pile of arrows. She dismissed the screen, almost waiting for a level up screen, she had to be at a new level by now. Hadn't she? Wait. What level was she anyway? She needed a mirror, or something reflective at the very least so she could 'scan' herself and access her player screen. Or something to that effect.
Tutorial
Experience and Raising your Level
…
You have accumulated a fair amount of EXP and are probably wondering if you are actually close to levelling up, right?
Well your EXP value is this:
600/650 EXP
Once you've accumulated the required amount of points your Level will increase and you will begin the process again.
Upon levelling up, you will be given the opportunity to increase your stats. It is suggested that you keep your own personal strengths in mind while doing this as focusing on one stat, such as strength, can unbalance a person and cause problems later on.
Your Current Level is: Lvl 05
…
Oh yeah
…
Please note.
Some Quests have a level requirement that you must reach before taking them on.
B didn't mention that before in her Quest Tut yesterday.
Thought you should know.
Fifty measly points. That was it? That was all she needed to level up? Rue swore a little under her breath and dismissed the tutorial, irritated that she was short by only fifty points. She wanted to check her quest journal to see how many tutorials she had left to finish that other quest. She vaguely remembered something about a EXP bonus and a 'sponsored item' or something in the rewards for that quest. Again Rue found herself wondering who the hell would sponsor this absurdity.
Apparently the current bane of her existence was named 'B' or rather that's probably what their name started with. She'd have to remember that. Now she could curse the woman properly at least.
With a huff Rue looked around her for something reflective, unfortunately she quickly found there wasn't any windows or a mirror in sight anywhere in the room. Hanging her head the teen found herself fiddling with the items in her lap, the arrows were useless in her condition and the tips nowhere near shiny enough; but the bottle…
"Ah ha!" she announced victoriously. Looking closely at the bottle Rue found her, somewhat distorted, reflection. Recalling her scan tutorial she focused on the reflection of her eye. Nothing happened at first and Rue worried she wasn't doing it right, but she needn't have worried as a screen popped up between her and the bottle in her hand showing a photo of her as a teen wearing her Water Tribe gear. Gods, did she always look so serious and sullen? She really had been a grumpy brat as a teen, hadn't she. Rue let her eyes wander over her stats and sighed, they weren't great. "Of all the luck,"
Player Name: Rue Keeper
Level: 05
Class: Avatar
Weapon Class: Long Bow
…
PLAYER STATS
Strength: 7
Dexterity: 10
Vitality: 8
Magic: 9
Intelligence: 12
Luck: 4
Next Level: 600/650 EXP
…
Current Skills:
Basic Water Bending lvl 1
Scan lvl 1
Dodge lvl 1
Avatar State Limit Break lvl 1
…
Player Perks:
Stubborn Will - An extra two points to upgrade your stats each level.
Animal Guide - This perk is native to the Avatar Class. You are joined on your journey by a faithful animal companion.
…
Reputation
Negative/Neutral
The Avatar has been ejected from Gaia upon failing repeatedly to keep balance in the world. The few that know it even existed aren't all that impressed to be honest.
…
Title
Bridge-Between-Fails
The Lord of Wutai has decreed you a failure of an Avatar before you've even begun. Says loads about how he feels about you, doesn't it.
…
Morality
Neutral-Chaotic
You're a fence sitter, who likes to fuck with people for kicks
Honestly with that amount of luck she was surprised she'd managed to survive that encounter with the huge ass monster that had chased her about at all. With an aggravated grumbled Rue flopped back onto the futon beneath her. After a moment the screen tilted down to hover over her face. Rue glared at it, "thank you," she said sarcasm dripping, "I really, really wanted to keep looking at my shitty-ass stats," Rue pouted as she glared at the luck stat in particular. She'd always had crap luck and this was just rubbing it it. If looks could kill, and numbers were living entities, the abysmal number four would have dropped dead. Or grown into a larger number. She'd have preferred that. Instead, she got a tutorial.
Tutorial
Player Stats
…
Well done finding a way to open the Player Stat Screen with your limited resources. If I had the clearance I would totally give you those last EXP you need to level up, but I don't. I won't even ask B to do it, she'd probably deduct some just to spite us both.
Anyway, lets get the tutorial over with yeah? Prolly sick of them, I know I would be.
…
Your Stats are one of the most vital parts of your experience here on Gaia.
They determine how strong your attacks are, how accurate you hit, your speed, how much physical damage your body can handle.
As well as how easily you solve the puzzles that are presented to you, your magical ability and, as I'm certain you've noticed, your luck.
Or, as it seems in your case, lack thereof.
Certain Social Interactions have a prerequisite for a certain Stat as well, so watch out for those.
…
You can check your stats and on the Player Stat Screen anytime you want, you already know how to get there so I won't repeat B. I'd keep an eye on your Rep and Title though, they can tell you a lot with just those few words. The ones showed on the main screen you're looking at now are the ones that represent the way you're seen as Society as a whole.
If you want to see the personal ones you have to ask while on the main screen.
Welp, I think that's it for this one.
What do you know, an actually useful tutorial. Rue was starting to feel spoiled with the amount of information she'd just gotten out of the new writer. She was tempted to have a look at the personal 'Reputation' thing the new writer mentioned, sounded interesting. She dismissed the tutorial and looked over the information before her again.
Her intelligence, dexterity and magic were her higher stats, meaning she'd picked the right weapon at the very least. It made sense, if she thought about it. Maybe. Rue knew she wasn't a genius by any means, but she was good at puzzles and had a reasonable amount of common sense, even if her mouth got away from her sometimes. Dexterity was a bit of a surprise, she wasn't fast or graceful, but slow and clumsy. Or-No, that wasn't quite right. Rue was a short distance sprinter in her younger years, but she never lasted long due to a severe lack of stamina, hence her exhaustion after running away from the monster the night before and her aching body. Injuries aside, the teen's legs were killing her every time she moved them. She did have good hand-eye coordination, though, well, it was alright. Her high magic, well, that was a little confusing. Maybe her high creativity had something to do with that? She was always drawing or writing something or other. With a sigh Rue looked back at the Reputation section.
"Bridge-Between-Fails, huh," Rue pursed her lips as she considered it. "Yeah, sounds about right," she snorted. Godo really didn't like her, or rather, what she represented. "Personal Reputation," she requested after a moment of mulling over what she really didn't want to mull over. She watched the screen change with mild interest, knowing that allowing herself to fall into a stat of apathy was dangerous, but unable to help it currently.
Personal Reputation
…
You are currently acquaintances with_3_people.
…
Sephiroth Reputation
Positive
Your Awkward Conversations have made Sephiroth feel more comfortable talking to you and made a wonderful first impression.
It would appear your capture has been weighing on his mind.
…
Tseng Reputation
Neutral/Positive
While he is still rather suspicious of you Tseng is a Turk and that's kind of his job.
You did help steady his nerves in the battle so he's much more likely to like you now.
…
Godo Reputation
Negative
Godo knows who and what you are and he isn't impressed in the least.
In Godo's eyes the Avatar has a lot to answer for and he will use you to the best of his capabilities in order to win his war with ShinRa.
Rue's lips quirked up as she read the few lines for each individual, really, she couldn't hep it. This entire thing was absurd in the best and worst ways. Sure she was currently residing within the world of one of her favourite games, but she was what equated to being a 'main character' and she knew, very, very well what that entailed. She was a writer after all, one who had put a character or two through the ringer once or twice. If she'd been writing this thing, well, she'd be bloody screwed. Sadistic writer that she knew she secretly was. She'd deal with that crap with Godo later, after she'd figured out her own crap.
"Main screen," Rue tried hopefully and was rewarded by once again getting an eyeful of her crappy stats. With a disgusted sigh Rue dismissed the screen, she didn't want to look at it. So much for her apathy. Rue would have to remember that looking at the 'Personal Reputation' screen made her laugh on the inside at the very least.
Satisfied for the moment and in dire need of more rest, Rue closed her eyes and allowed the world to slip away once more. Distantly wondering if things would work out alright for her in the end, or if she was just going to end up like the rest of the main characters in this , she was already socially inept so she could check that criteria. Now all she needed was; emotionally scarred, dead, or insane. Maybe all three?
Are you there?
Yes, I'm here.
Oh, you can here us now? That's a switch.
What?
You were ignoring us pretty hard there, couldn't even get a smarmy comment in.
Who are you?
You don't know?
Would I ask if I did?
Probably. You can be a real brat sometimes.
But that's just me. I can hardly help it. Besides, ask enough times and eventually you get the real answer people try to hide.
Aren't you the one who's hiding now, though?
I'm not.
You're not?
No.
Are you sure?
I'm fine.
You can't even think about it without distancing yourself emotionally from it.
Maybe that's how I cope.
It's dangerous. If we hadn't stepped in when we did you would have found yourself back at the Game Over screen.
…Shut up
Rue.
I know, I get it. I'll try, I just, I'm scared. You know?
It's alright, you aren't alone. We're all here with you, you just have to listen.
Right. Thanks guys.
It was remarkable how much lighter Rue felt upon waking from her unplanned nap. Though she wasn't certain it counted considering she hadn't technically slept exactly. There were so many of them, all watching over her and her blunders. Suddenly Rue did not feel so light, but an immense pressure of all the responsibility she'd just inherited.
Don't think of it like that. This is just another piece of the puzzle that makes up 'Rue'. The voice resounding in her own head was a little off putting, but the soothing quality of it made up for that.
"If you say so Aang," Rue grumbled as she struggled to sit up. She probably would have said more to the older Avatar had the door not opened unexpectedly and a young woman carrying a tray not entered her room.
"Oh, you're awake," the woman looked to been in her twenties and seemed surprised. Rue blinked and tilted her head at the newcomer, the woman's long dark hair and eyes marking her Wutainese heritage.
"Was I not supposed to be?" she asked curiously.
"Oh no, it's just that it's quite early still, some of the others aren't yet," the woman shrugged as she walked over. She set the tray next to Rue with a smile and began backing away, her task done, Rue supposed.
"Oh!" Rue had a thought. The woman turned back to her, "could you bring me my bag please, I need to treat my injuries," Rue asked politely. The woman looked from Rue to her bag near the door and back again with a frown.
"You can't get it?" she asked with a frown. Rue shook her head with a grim smile.
"'Fraid not, I hurt my legs a bit last night and it's caught up with me," the smile turned into a grimace as she shifted her legs under the blanket. Dark eyes widened slightly and the woman nodded, fetching the bag on the other side of the room without another word. "Thanks," Rue held out her hand to shake the woman's own, "I'm Rue, what's your name?" all she was given was her bag.
"I'm sorry, we aren't supposed to talk to you," the woman replied quietly before retreating swiftly to the door without looking back. Rue was a little surprised, Godo had told people not to speak to her? Well that was boring. Or, she considered, an interesting game. Make the People of Wutai Talk to You. Yeah, she could play that. She was so very good at irritating people after all.
Optional Quest Discovered!
*Make the People of Wutai Talk to You*
…
Godo has ordered his subjects to avoid talking to you should they come into contact with you.
Your task is to engage them as much as possible and get the order rescinded.
…
People Engaged in Conversation: 1
People Irritated into Engaging in Conversation: 0
People Charmed into Engaging in Conversation: 0
Friends Made: 0
…
This quest is, more or less, repeatable. The circumstances will likely differ each time the Quest is undertaken so keep that in mind.
…
Nice find! Sounds like fun! Good luck with it!
Rue couldn't help it, seeing the quest screen in front of her nose all she could do was laugh her ass off. Maybe things were looking up, this quest actually looked fun and it gave her a chance to figure out when in the time line she was. It was obviously during the Wutai War, but where in the War would be helpful. Information gathering, bothering people and keeping herself busy. Yes, sounded wonderful.
Now all she had to do was heal herself. Baby steps Rue. Baby steps.
AN: Damn! Two Chapters within 12 hours of each other! I was on a role tonight and the words just wouldn't stop. It's almost 1am however and I have an appointment tomorrow. So I'll be heading off to bed after posting this.
This is our longest chapter so far being over 3k words. It's all the screens, they wanted to chat. They did give me a brainwave for an extra layer of story to add to what I already have planned. Which was cool. The Screen Writers have names, there are three so far, and I love 'B' she's so sassy and angry.
Shenanigans are coming with the arrival of that last Quest. They will include Rue being highly irritating and stupid.
Remember, Reviews make me write-well no, that's not entirely true. They make me write when I don't have a lot of naturally formed motivation.
Later~RLK