Chapter Text
I awoke slowly, aching and in pain as if I was horribly beaten before passing out. As I struggled to open my eyes I noticed two things, the first, a glowing blue semi-transparent screen was floating in front of me.
As I glanced down at it I was able to see in bold glowing letters was text that read:
WELCOME USER
Due to an unforeseen partial merge of dimensions, you were removed from your home plane! We deeply apologize for this and as a form of compensation have granted you access to the unique power known as The System, or The Gamer. Owing to aforementioned dimensional interference we were forced to integrate another source of power into it,and as such there will be two new tabs in your interface for CURSED ENERGY and CURSED TECHNIQUES, we hope that you enjoy these gifts and can use them on your quest
Best Wishes,
-Devs
Moving on to the second and more pressing issue, that being the mind flayer I just watched put a larva in someone’s eye and is now quickly approaching me. I struggled uselessly against the restraints of the pod as the Illithid stalked closer towards me. Glancing down at the left I saw what seemed to be a combat log.
You are Restrained movement and actions are heavily restricted!
You attempted to struggle out of your restraints! Result… FAILURE.
You are Restrained movement and actions are heavily restricted!
You attempted to struggle out of your restraints! Result… FAILURE.
You are Restrained movement and actions are heavily restricted!
You attempted to struggle out of your restraints! Result… FAILURE.
Eyes darting across the translucent blue screen I looked up towards the top of it and saw the various tab options. Unsure of how I am supposed to interact with it I squeeze my eyes shut as I focus on the interface. Thinking about what I want it to do and what it could do I dedicate all of my effort towards it before I hear a POP and quickly open my eyes. I see the mind flayer’s hand outstretched towards me with the larva on it poised to strike towards my eye at any second. But it doesn’t. It, much like everything else, has become completely frozen in time and space. I look around in awe as I am now given a chance to study everything in more detail. Shaking my head I refocus on the interface as I see that not only has the text changed, but nearly everything on it has as well. Again scrolling to the top I begin to read:
NEW USER DETECTED IN INTERFACE
PLEASE INPUT NAME
Below it was a blank box with a flashing I-cursor at the beginning, I began to reach my hands out towards it, before being stopped by the mind flayer pod imprisoning me. Sighing I think of other ways I could try and use the interface. Moving my hands and arms as if I were about to type on a keyboard? Nothing. Vaguely willing it to change? Nada. I was only able to find something when I mimed the actions of using a controller. Groaning as I realized the limited options in front of me I began to try and type my name. Thinking to myself that it’s oddly fitting for this great universe and reality defying power to have the same control scheme as an Xbox 360.
After about five minutes of struggling to type out my name with the outdated method I managed to get my first name typed. I stared at the pale blue glowing screen, took a deep breath, and hit enter. The screen changed again this time displaying a welcome message and various tabs:
HELLO ROSEMARY,
[CHA] [INV] [ JRNL ] [OPT]
QUEST
{ ACT } Know Thyself!
Learn about the interface and how it works!
REWARDS:
200xp
1x Stat Reset
Unlock BACKSTORY tab
Unlock CURSED ENERGY tab
Unlock CURSED TECHNIQUES tab
[MAP]
LOCKED
[BACKSTORY]
LOCKED
I rifle through the tabs and look for anything useful or some kind of tutorial starting at the options menu.
MENU
[CHA] [INV] [JRNL] [ OPT ]
AUDIO
VOL <||||| |||| >
MUSIC ON /OFF
SUBTITLES ON /OFF
AMBIANCE ON/ OFF
CONTROLS
INPUTS
TOUCH ENABLED
CONTROLLER ENABLED
M&K DISABLED
VOICE DISABLED
THOUGHT DISABLED (LOCKED)
GAMEPLAY
DIFFICULTY HONOR (LOCKED)
SAVES LOCKED
PAUSED
After enabling mouse and keyboard and voice controls I hovered over the music and ambiance options. Turning on the music I heard some generic fantasy background song playing. Turning that off I then flicked over to ambiance and turned it off and heard… nothing. Just complete silence, not even my own breathing was able to be heard. Quickly re-enabling it, I began to move on to the other tabs.
MENU
[ CHA ] [INV] [JRNL] [OPT]
CHARACTER
NAME: Rosemary
RACE: HALF-HUMAN
CLASS:N/A
TITLE:N/A
STATS
STR: 18(10+8)
DEX:18(10+8)
CON: 18(10+8)
INT: 10(10+0)
WIS: 15(15+0)
CHA: 13(10+3)
FOC: 17(12+5)
LUC: 10(0+10)
PERKS
Altered Physiology:
Your bizarre origins ensure you’re a cut above the rest
All physical stats receive +80%
Resistance to most poisons
Strike harder, move faster, and get back up
Natural Born Fighter:
Violence is part of who you are
Learn all combat skills 100% faster
Observing others combat skills could allow you to learn them
Do you like hurting other people?
Jujutsu Genius:
A once in a generation talent
Learn all Jujutsu related skills 100% faster
Immense Cursed Energy reserve
FOC +50%
The kind of ability that defines an era.
Not My First Rodeo:
You’ve gone through life before and experienced a lot
+5% to WIS
Gain insight into certain situations from your past life
I’ve been around the block before
Baby Faced
Due to your young age people are more gracious to you
+30% to CHA when dealing with those older than you
Chubby cheeks and bright eyes
SKILLS
Gamer’s Body(Modified)
Live life like a game character
Body ignores damage and pain unless wanted
With resources, can restore and heal by resting(LV MAX)
Gamer’s Mind(Modified)
Think like a game character
Most negative emotions will be subdued or negated unless wanted
Immune to most mental status effects(LV MAX)
CURSED ENERGY (LOCKED)
CURSED TECHNIQUES (LOCKED)
After processing all the information from that(including my supposed half-human status), I gave a cursory glance towards the inventory seeing, what appeared to be a large collection of books and a small dagger. Once I closed that I heard a small amount of fanfare and saw the menu open itself again.
QUEST COMPLETE
Know Thyself!
Learn about the interface and how it works!
REWARDS:
200xp
1x Stat Reset
Unlocked BACKSTORY tab!
Unlocked CURSED ENERGY tab!
Unlocked CURSED TECHNIQUES tab!
LEVEL UP!
LV1->LV2
10 Stat Points awarded!
CLASS unlocked
Rolling my eyes at the repetitive and annoying method the system operated I re-opened the journal and character tabs noticing that they automatically changed positions to accommodate more tabs.
MENU
[CHA] [INV] [ JRNL ] [OPT]
QUEST
Empty!
[MAP]
LOCKED
[ BACKSTORY ]
*Note Your own personal history has been changed and adapted to the setting, your memories and perspective are also altered- DEVS
Rosemary Baronmoore is the biological child of Melinda and Bradford Baronmoore, and [UNKNOWN] and [UNKNOWN]. Born in Baldur’s Gate to a former and impoverished patriar family, though her parents refused to accept that, Rose had to contend with not only the normal difficult and dangerous parts of the city but the ostracization and rejection by her family. Later, after discovering that her heritage is more complicated than once thought, Rose had decided to become an adventurer to gather her fortune and seize her destiny and ran away from home.
MENU
[ CHA ] [INV] [JRNL] [OPT]
CHARACTER
NAME: Rosemary
RACE: HALF-HUMAN
CLASS: JUJUTSU SORCERER
TITLE:N/A
STATS
STR: 18(10+8)
DEX:18(10+8)
CON: 18(10+8)
INT: 10(10+0)
WIS: 15(15+0)
CHA: 13(10+3)
FOC: 17(12+5)
LUC: 10(0+10)
PERKS
Altered Physio…
SKILLS
Gamer’s Body…
CURSED ENERGY
1000/1000 CE Remaining
0 CE/s Used
25 CE/s Restored
Textures:
Normal
LOCKED
LOCKED
LOCKED …
CURSED TECHNIQUES
INNATE:
BLOOD MANIPULATION(NEW!)(UNLOCKED)
CREATION
BOOGIE WOOGIE
STRAW DOLL
PROJECTION …
LEARNED
NEW SHADOW STYLE:
FALLING BLOSSOM EMOTION
HOLLOW WICKER BASKET …
Slowly digesting the atom bomb of information just dropped on me, I took a while to collect my thoughts. The first being, “ostracized and rejected is a very light way to put it.” The second of course being “what the fuck am I and who are my parents.” Thinking of the two settings that have been combined and all the information I know of myself there were two main suspects. Bhaal and Kenjaku(or someone like Kenjaku). If it’s Kenjaku it’s likely not also Bhaal due to his previous experiments it’s probably some random curse. One of the parents being Bhaal(or a Bhaalspawn) shouldn’t be a problem either as hopefully the Gamers Mind can counteract the urge, visions, and dreams. Or it could be something completely stupid and new because this is the Forgotten Realms. The class was unsurprising but the fact that the cursed technique tab implied that I could learn multiple innate techniques was very surprising and exciting. Doing one last glimpse through the various tabs and submenus to see if I missed anything, I took a deep breath, and hit UNPAUSE.