Shahar City

[ ✓ ]

Preparations set– not that she possessed a weapon or a shield to hold in her hand (thanks, creators), Ahyoung headed of north of Shahar towards the Jungle of Stismia. She would require time and patience to get at a close enough distance to Qytet before she could use her teleportation stone, given the amount of monsters she'd have to fight without the assistance of a weapon and the probability of her death at least once because of that fact. If she wanted to be optimistic though, at least she had the potions. Or maybe the fact that Kangjoon and Chanyeol would be waiting for her on the other side– literally on the other side of the island. She was confident in Chanyeol that he would be able to scale the distance from Ipar to Qytet, even without dying or using his teleportation stone. As an Iparian, he at least possessed more defensive capabilities than she. With one last look at the city she had started in (and would probably return to by default), she stepped out of the gates and into the Jungle of Stismia. To die, probably.

(9/9; To the Jungle of Stismia)

[ ✓ ]

With a look at the map, she confirmed that the Jungle of Stismia would be her first obstacle before she were to reach the land of Dwyrain. She'd have to pass the Moonlight Beach to be closer to Qytet than Shahar in order to be able to successfully teleport using her singular teleportation stone who's function was to bring her to the nearest city. Her memory had done her well in accordance to location and distances, but she could not be sure of the monsters she'd face in her own country or Dwyrain. She had been too sapped of energy to continue her reading of monsters that night, only getting as far as Shahar's areas, barely even comprehending her words. Additionally, once Chanyeol had interrupted her reading with a three-way pillow fight, all intentions to continue had died down.

(8/9 or 10; TOTALLY HALF-ASSED THIS POST BECAUSE I'M LEAVING TO HAVE DINNER OUT BUT)

While walking towards the northern outskirts of Nótia, Ahyoung pulled up the complimentary map that she had so generously and considerately been provided with by the golden hearts of the creators. She stared vehemently once more at the unmeasurable distance between Shahar and Qytet that she'd be forced to scale with speed as her only defense and her bare fists as her only offense. She was most likely fated to die regardless of whether or not she consumed the potions, so she supposed it wouldn't hurt too much to die and revive at Shahar once more. She had no gold nor experience to lose as a novice anyway. It was all minor and harmless experimentation as to how far her bare fists and innate stats would take her.

(7/???)

"I don't know what they want from me. I don't know what they expect of me. Do they think this is some sort of. . ." she couldn't say game. It was a game. Just happened to be a savage and non-sensical one in particular. Furiously jabbing at the backspace key, Ahyoung continued ranting again. "This is sadism. Complete and utter sadism. But you know what? I'll show these es that seem to find copious amusement in our torture and hardship. I'll manage. Even if I die once or twice along the way. the system. I'll be at the appointed meeting spot. End message." More like rant over. Barely looking over her message to take note of her swearing (that would most definitely be replaced with asterisks when delivered to Kangjoon), Ahyoung took one last furious jab at the "send" button before stepping out of the alleyway, features now graced with a venomous glare and her signature "resting face" that was usually reserved for intimidating her volleyball opponents and to keep people away, both contrary to the polite and courteous smile that she feigned to don in her earlier encounter.

(6/???; Ahyoung is judgmental I am sry)

"Begin message," she seethed through her teeth, "Nevermind. It's not a glitch. I have to practically scale the ing island without a weapon and effectively, without any defenses." Offense was the best defense as a Nótian knight, and yet, her offense was now limited to the mere strength and speed boost that came with being a Nótian. Plain strength and speed alone would not do against a monster or a hoard of, and in the worst case scenario, a boss monster and his underlings. The more she thought about it, the more visibly irked she grew. The text that would be sent to Kangjoon would not nearly or as accurately be able to convey her annoyance and amounting surplus of anger at the fact she had been provided no such weapon. "I am being required of this damn game to scale such distances, without a weapon and without gold to even fathom purchasing one."

(5/????)

In denial of the idea that Kangjoon not being provided a complimentary staff was indeed on purpose rather than on accident, Ahyoung comfortably opened up her inventory again, checking her weapon tab. It took her a moment to process the 'Empty. No weapons found' text that veiled the empty slots of the weapon tab of the inventory. She stood like that for a while– eyes widened in disbelief, mouth slightly agape in a blank stare at her screen, as if the screen would be able to process her shock at the seeming stupidity and lack of common sense in the structure. "You're kidding me," she hissed, nearly unable to withhold the swear word that first came to mind ("You're ing kidding me," she had almost said). Furiously beginning to jab on her screen to get back to her private chat with Kangjoon, she opened up the text box. His lack of a weapon had not been a glitch.

(4/???)

The concept was foreign to her– it was a common necessity in an RPG to be provided with a weapon, even if the weapon was a mere wooden stick meant to pose as a sword, a pitiful one. Surely it was a glitch that coincidentally victimized Kangjoon that she'd have to email the company about when they exited the game. She proposed exactly that to Kangjoon– "It's probably a glitch. Do you want to leave the game temporarily so that we can email the corporation, or would you rather do it later? End message." She wouldn't stop Kangjoon from his attempt to gain gold (which she still believed should have been provided in the first place for the player's choice to select what the personally wanted) because she was aware that there were no current consequences to dying as a novice rank but. . . no weapon? That was most definitely a glitch. Making sure there were no mistakes that would be against her policy of professionalism still maintained to lesser extents around her boyfriends, Ahyoung sent the message.

(3/?????)

Exiting the friends tab, Ahyoung noticed another blinking icon along the top of her screen. It was another social icon, the familiar and mundane mail avatar that remained unchanging throughout her years of playing. Reading the message, Ahyoung arched an eyebrow in surprise. Kangjoon, a Dwyrain and priest, was going out, to fight? Nonetheless, she dismissed the fact, aware that there were no consequences at their current rank. Re-reading the message, her gaze lingered on the two particular words that posed as some sort of exposition to the message. "No weapon?" she murmured to herself. She herself had yet to check her inventory, beyond the potions provided in place of the absence of gold coins used to purchase, but a weapon was common necessity. Furrowing her eyebrows, she began to speak, opening up the text box. "Begin message. No weapon?"

(2/???)

With the intention of sending a couple of friend requests to her pre-determined future party members, Ahyoung strode towards an empty alleyway where she could talk to herself without other players overhearing. It was only when she opened up her menu that she noticed a blinking notification, the icon being the typical "friends" icon. Tapping successively, she accepted the friend request sent to her by none other than Kangjoon. Deciding it would be better to get things over with, Ahyoung also sent a friend request to Chanyeol. "Send friend request to i-l-l-u-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n," she spoke briefly. It was quite the relief that she had succeeding in coercing him out of the original Rilakkuma-centered username he had sought after, doing so through well-meant and fully genuine praise. While it was definitely a relief, it was no surprise– throughout the years, Chanyeol had grown to become quite vulnerable to words of praise and Ahyoung could accomplish exactly that through well selected words and phrases. It wasn't a feat considering not only was she a communication major, but the fact that she meant everything she had said.

(1/????)

@N유☥ tsundere "However, I should probably get to leveling up, amassing gold, and meeting up with my allies, so please excuse me," Ahyoung said, bowing courteously at the avatar in accordance to Korean etiquette. There was no way she could be sure of the avatar's real life age, but it was common courtesy in South Korea, that stuck throughout all the years, to bow to one you had just met, regardless of age differences. Besides, Ahyoung found it more preferable to be safe, professional, and precise rather than impolite and unsophisticated. "It was nice meeting you; I hope you enjoy this game as a new gamer," she said, sparing a polite smile towards the girl before walking towards the outskirts of the town.

(5/5; TO SELF-PARA
To Yeri: OTL sorry I had to cut our thread short. It's just that I have a three-day weekend and want to make the most out of it in order to level up and get a weapon for the upcoming quest[s?].)

@N유☥ tsundere "I see," Ahyoung mused, nodding in understanding. She personally couldn't even begin to remember the point of time in which she immersed herself into the world of gaming– it had been so long ago and admittedly, remained a mere memory amongst all those memories concerning gaming, which grew to be a large aspect of her twenty-one years of life. All she really recalled was how much she enjoyed gaming, especially alongside Chanyeol, and by the sixth grade, including Kangjoon. "I've never played a game quite like this myself, as it is a new concept to literally and fully immerse yourself in a virtual world," Ahyoung chuckled, "so I don't quite blame you there." At an attempt to avoid being unmannerly, Ahyoung chose her following words carefully.

(4/5; in response to Yeri)

The avatar, despite their questionable decision of class and race, seemed fairly polite– something Ahyoung could tolerate for the time-being. However, Ahyoung had matters to amend, the first being the fact that she was quite literally on the opposite side of the island from her boyfriends. It was quite the distance to scale, even when considering the fact that the three had agreed on meeting at the halfway mark– the Dwyrain city of Qytet, the middle between Ipar (where Chanyeol was) and Nótia (where Ahyoung herself stood), where Kangjoon was situated and presumably remained. Renihovitra, however, was discernibly closer to Qytet in comparison to Shahar, a fact that was an obstacle for Ahyoung given her reduced defensive capabilities as a Nótian knight.

(3/5?)

[ posts checked ]

Ahyoung was never one to voice her opinions, especially when the topic didn't necessitate or ask for her input. She had long since become accustomed to withholding her opinions, aware of the potential consequences of any form of criticism, regardless of her dubiously positive intentions. Additionally, it wasn't her life nor did it particularly affect her. Criticism, which was a concept most people feigned the acceptance of, was a concept that required light treading and sickening sugarcoating, which Ahyoung was most definitely capable of whenever the situation necessitated such. 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.' That was something Ahyoung lived by, but to her, it wasn't about being courteous. It was more about avoiding offended and unsophisticated behavior and reactions that Ahyoung had not the patience nor tolerance to deal with.

(2/???)

Curious about the avatar's class, Ahyoung finally took the time to observe their robes. The differences between their robes were distinct– Ahyoung's robes being significantly bulkier than their's. Their robes definitely didn't seem to be those of a priestesses', as those seemed to be more majestic in nature. Nor did they seem to be that of an archer's, as the robes didn't seem as if they'd allow for the flexibility and dexterity required of an archer during combat. Ahyoung could only deduce that the avatar facing her was none other than a magician. Ahyoung tilted her head subtly; she clearly remembered reading that Nótians were as incompetent with magic as they were with defense. To be fair, knights like Ahyoung did necessitate some defense, especially considering she was going for double swords rather than the shield. Nonetheless, that was something that could be amended through having a priest (Kangjoon), through the amounts of armor she'd attain, through potions, and through the heightened speed and strength that Nótians offered.

(1/???; I'll eventually get to the part pertaining to Yeri OTL)

@N유⚔ royalion She cracks a polite smile when she’s given the username rather than an actual name. It doesn’t really bother her. After all, you never know who might be lurking on the other side of the screen - in fact, it kinda helped add to the fantasy of it all. The erupting noises of npc and the dulled conversations of players around them adding a somewhat surreal feeling for the sixteen year old player.

“I recently got into gaming.” She admits. A love for manga had been her gateway when she realized a lot of her favorite graphic novels were based off popular games. “But I would consider myself now a gamer.” She says. “Though this is probably the most complex game I’ve ever played so I still have a lot to learn.”

(2/2)

@N유⚔ royalion If this was how tall people felt then she would certainly be looking forward to it. Yeri was already thinking towards the future when she had free time how to sneak away from her peers who would probably want to hang out or something. Yeri by no means was antisocial or inept when it came to people - quite the opposite in fact, but she did enjoy the seldom times when she had moments to herself. It was refreshing and since she spent most of her days taking classes and working alongside people here age or slightly older she just wanted a bit of time for herself.

She’s also never had a dependency on games to escape reality. But DZ might provide that opportunity now. The taste of air was crisp on her tongue despite the lingering mark of ash from Shahar. If she focused in enough she swears she can see tiny debris floating in the air - amazing to her that they would consider effects like that down to the minuscule level.
(1/2)

@N유☥ tsundere The second question brought fond memories to the surface of her mind– memories of times in which she could afford disregarding her homework (and occasionally, volleyball practice) for the sake of the pleasure that came with gaming with her best friends. That luxury was no longer something she could afford in university. Should she have been asked such a question five years ago, the dishonest response would've been immediate: No, she was not a gamer and she was unfortunately dragged into it by a friend. Her gaming status, by now, was something she was no longer ashamed of, instead, it was something she openly flaunted. "I'm an avid gamer, and you?" It was definitely no surprise that such a game would become so popular, considering it introduced a whole new generation of technology.

(3/3; Oops I went a tad overboard OTL)

@N유☥ tsundere Completely dismissing the avatar's profanity that she ordinarily regarded with distaste, Ahyoung instead nodded in agreement, a small smile forming on her lips as the competitiveness she held within bloomed at the thought of "kicking asses," fingers beginning to drum subtly against her thighs in anticipation of what was to come.

Ahyoung's eyebrow arched as the avatar's real life name flew from her lips– Yeri. She supposed it was a better name to call someone compared to "tsundere," but the redhead herself had no plans of revealing her identity in even the slightest manner to anyone, therefore only shaking her head in response to the avatar's question. "You can just refer to me as royalion." She was rather fond of the username she had chosen– it was no doubt her most favored username by far.

(2/3)

@N유☥ tsundere The boost in height was difficult to grow accustomed to; the frequency at which Ahyoung wore heels despite already being 173 centimeters was commendable but there was a distinct difference between a twelve centimeter height boost and being innately over six feet with horns to amplify stature. She now understood the reason for the uncoordinated limbs of Park Chanyeol in his innately humongous 185 centimeters. Ahyoung questioned whether the avatar facing her meant the virtual world or the Nótian stature and appearance, but Ahyoung wouldn't have been surprised either way; the virtual world they were immersed in definitely offered fresh visuals that no other game had before, while the Nótian stature gave: one, the height and simultaneous strength and speed most South Koreans lacked and two, the horns that no human had been known to have.

(1/3)

@N유⚔ royalion Yupp, she was going to spend her free time here rather than trying to make friends with the other trainees. This was much more fun. “What’s your name? Or should I stick to Royalion? I’m Yeri. Do you usually play games or is this a new thing for you. I heard DZ attracted a lot of new types of players given it’s hype. Don’t blame it. This is bad .” She’s also a fan of the anonymity. People will only know it’s her behind the screen if she wants them to. She's not sure what her peers or manager would think if they figured out what she was doing in her free time - but she figures there are much more detrimental things she could be potentially doing.
(2/2)

@N유⚔ royalion It’s such a drastic change for the girl who stands at a modest 158 cms in actuality. Though she wouldn’t complain - she has always desired something like this, to feel powerful and larger than what she was. It’s an odd sensation to give her virtual muscles a small flex and feel as though that strength was rippling from /her/. She feels mighty, to say the least. Once she got the hang of the controls and finished reading the guide she would certainly look forward to crushing some mobs under her fingertips - her eagerness ought to be cause for concern had it been anyone other than Yerim.

“Ah.” She says slowly. That should have been a given. But her excitement was clouding her sense. “This is /so/ different than real life. I can kick some people’s asses like this.” She says sweeping her arms around for a good show, the movements somehow ungraceful in nature but appearing precise.

(1/2)

@N유☥ tsundere Ahyoung had been observing the displayed swords in the store window when she was rudely interrupted by a sudden force against her body. She felt the full force of it– similar as to how it would've felt in real life. It was then Ahyoung realized just how much work, effort and attention had been put into even the most minuscule details of the game and its virtual world– everything was so distinctly palpable; from the gentle breeze that swept the city to the cool glass as her fingertips grazed the window separating her from a exquisitely crafted sword to the force of the person who had just crashed into her. The details, the sensations, even the fluidity and precision at which she was able to move her avatar were practically identical to the authentic world. Averting her attention from the weaponry on the other side of the glass, Ahyoung focused her undivided attention on the avatar who had so rudely interrupted her window shopping. Before she could dismiss the girl's avatar and excuse her for the uncivil incident, the avatar began to talk.

(1/2)

@N유☥ tsundere Ahyoung refrained from raising a precisely arched eyebrow– which seemed so feasible despite the fact she wasn't even technically in her own body, before speaking up in reply. "Well, it is a new game, so I suppose you could say I'm a new player." She took that moment to look above the avatar's head where the word "tsundere" was floating. "It really is like the real thing," Ahyoung added, before muttering faintly under her breath– "I was even able to feel the full force of our collision." The girl had horns and darkened skin similar to hers, though she was distinctly shorter in stature despite them both belonging to the same race. Nonetheless, she was fairly tall compared to those Ahyoung had met in reality– sans her unbelievably towering-in-height volleyball teammates and boyfriends.

(2/2)

/posts checked.

@N유⚔ royalion She wasn't sure what to expect with the game. She wasn't new to the entire video game experience but this was completely different than her usual - gapped open when she was dropped into the city. Eyes bright and awed, her tall avatar spun in disbelief. Yeri felt as though she was /in/ the game which was somewhat exhilarating. Perhaps it was some neat technology that somehow acted like a catalyst with her senses but she could swear she could taste the dust particles in the air and smell the exotic scents of the city. The many people hovering around with their names suspended over their character and NPCs haggling people to buy things. Yeri moved forward in amazement figuring this game was certainly worth the hefty investment. "Amazing." She says and is surprised by even the sound of her voice. She turned the corner and ran right smack into another avatar, quickly scrambling to straighten herself, eyes lingering over the username - for something to address them by. "My bad Royaliaon." She says quickly. "I wasn't really paying attention. Somewhat distracted by all of this. Are you a new player? This place is so /real/ it's unbelievable."

Believing it too early to go off into the wilderness battling monsters, Ahyoung deemed it more appropriate to browse some of the prices of the various items while accustoming herself to the virtual game. She supposed she could also observe a couple of the other players– take in what kind of people and parties she was amongst. With "royalion" floating high atop her head and in-between her horns, Ahyoung exited the alleyway she had initially been dropped into. Finally getting a clearer view of the streets and buildings, she took the briefest of moments to take in her surroundings before setting off to find the various stores that would provide her the potions, weapons, fear, and teleportation stones that she would most definitely require in the near future.

It was only when Ahyoung managed to take a look at her inventory that she realized that she had no gold to start off with. At the very least, she had been generously provided what seemed to be a starter pack. A knight's robe, shoes, a teleportation stone, five potions, and ether, and a v-potion. She could easily sell the ether to a buyer within the city, but she automatically ascertained that it would be better to just give to Kangjoon for both his and her benefit. It seemed she'd have to defeat numerous amounts of monsters before she were to successfully purchase anything without going broke– as if she wasn't broke already. She needed a weapon to defeat monsters, but money to buy a weapon– sounded a lot like American logic.