Shards of Fantasy [VRMMORPG / Anima Beyond Fantasy]

[JarOdirt]

"...and in that place, I could feel: the wind on my face, the rain as I walked, and the smell of an impending storm in the air. It was a dream, but one unlike any I had ever felt before..."
— Dr. Shaun Johansen, Ph.D., Medical Officer, FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Division of Biomedical Physics, describing his experiences to colleagues.

"…What we're discussing here is pure sci-fi, Mike. Magical hocus-pocus crammed into a device that should be 100 times the size and cost 100 times the price—that's a conservative estimate. Time dilation? Sensory perception? What in the—"
— Dr. Lena Marquez, Ph.D., Cognitive Scientist and Technology Critic, discussing the feasibility of the "Interface" with Mike Grayson, host of Tomorrow Today.

"…Claiming the ability to alter players' perception of time by a factor of four, along with graphical fidelity so advanced it's nearly indistinguishable from reality, Imperium Technologies' flagship product, the 'Interface,' is currently in advanced development for use with…"
— Cameron Lyle, Chief Product Officer, Imperium Technologies, presenting the "Interface" to investors.

---

In the year 203X, a little-known startup announced two products, both considered either impossible or technologically advanced enough to seem so.

The first, a device called the "Interface," took the form of a visor designed to be worn over the eyes and ears, intended to invoke a form of controllable lucid dreaming during REM sleep. Additionally, Imperium Technologies boasted the device's ability to alter users' perception of time, allowing them extended interaction with the device.

The second, a companion product to be used with the device, received only a brief description and a name.

A game, the first of its kind.

Shards of Fantasy

It wasn't until a year later that Joseph Able, CEO of Imperium Technologies, chose to reveal the true nature of these products at the world's largest gaming convention: GameCon.

---

"…You won't see anything like it for at least a few more years. However, I'm not here to discuss the 'Interface,' although it's related. I'd like to use this time to showcase what we intend to do with it and the main reason I'm here at this convention. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to introduce our next, up-and-coming product: Shards of Fantasy! and the lands of Gaia!"
— Joseph Able, CEO of Imperium Technologies, announcing the world's first VRMMORPG, Shards of Fantasy, at GameCon.

"…Of course, we've been very tight-lipped about Shards of Fantasy and its main setting, Gaia. With the way the gaming industry is today, games are practically spoiled from the outset. I can't count how many times I was disappointed as a kid, finding secrets in guides or on MeTube that I would have loved to discover by actually playing the game. We've kept the trailers and demos as simple as possible—but not too simple. We want launch week to be unforgettable."
— Joseph Able, CEO of Imperium Technologies, speaking with Mike Grayson on Tomorrow Today.

Spoiler: Trailer #3: The Fall of an Empire

Slowly, the trailer begins to play. At first, nothing—just darkness and the sound of rain. Then, a caption gradually appears:

...32 years ago…

"You, you, you…and you." A voice suddenly cuts through the interior of a tent, sharp and commanding. In the distance, the sounds of men screaming, animals shrieking, and metal clashing echo. "You're all with me."

A swift pan reveals the viewer's perspective as they see their own hand enter the frame, fingers flexing as if confused by their own control. Then it's yanked aside, focusing on another figure.

"Snap out of it, Bart. I need you with me for this," the armored man barks, turning his attention to the others he's gathered. "You all know why we're here. What we must do. Lord Elias has called, and we must answer."

"Any second thoughts are long past us, so don't bother voicing them," he says, his intense gaze sending shivers down spines. "The son will take the throne and save us from his father's tyranny. Otherwise, the whole empire is at risk."

"We do what we must," he intones solemnly.

The others reply in kind; Bart, the player character, joins shortly after.

---

Scenes flash by in rapid succession: peaceful villages set ablaze, women dragged from their homes, and citizens sent to the chopping block, the tyrant's grin showing no mercy.

…We sought to end the sins of a father…

---

A chaotic battle ensues. Soldiers, including Bart, storm a massive castle. Flashes of swords, showers of sparks, and the ever-present screams of dying men paint the scene. The soldiers push deeper, moving toward the throne room with supernatural feats of speed and skill, soldiers crashing into enemy lines with incredible force, invoking invisible forces to strike down foes.

…But we were too late. For the tyrant had one last, poisoned gift to give…

---

"...and so the tyrant falls," the emperor mutters, blood trickling from his lips as his grin morphs into cruel satisfaction, his gaze shifting from a horrified child to those entering the throne room.

"Even now, with all your plans," he sneers, "you still fail, Elias."

"Lascar..." Elias Barbatos gasps, horrified, as silence fills the throne room, punctuated by the quiet sobs of the emperor's son. "What have you done?"

"Only what I must," Lascar replies, blood spilling over his shirt as he shoves his son away. "And so ends the rule of the Giovanni."

With ragged, shallow breaths, Lascar Giovanni speaks his final words:

"May it be everything you ever thought it would be."

The trailer fades, ending on a somber note, the cries from the throne room gradually disappearing until only the gentle drizzle of rain remains.

Shards of Fantasy

---

...Launch Day...

[203X-12-24 18:43:12] : Booting Interface Module…1…2…3…
[203X-12-24 18:43:15] : Boot Sequence Complete
[203X-12-24 18:43:20] : Establishing Link…Please Configure User WiFi Passcode…
[203X-12-24 18:43:23] : ****************
[203X-12-24 18:43:25] : …Passcode Accepted…
[203X-12-24 18:43:30] : Verifying Signal Integrity…
[203X-12-24 18:43:35] : Connection to Imperium Servers: **Alpha-Nexus_05**
[203X-12-24 18:43:40] : Handshake Protocol [v.7.34] …SUCCESSFUL
[203X-12-24 18:43:42] : Initializing Primary Functions…
[203X-12-24 18:43:47] : Beginning REM Cascade…
[203X-12-24 18:43:50] : Neural Dilation Process: ENGAGED
[203X-12-24 18:43:51] : Corporeal Sync Point: ESTABLISHED
[203X-12-24 18:43:51] : Wake Profile: GENERATED
[203X-12-24 18:43:53] : Running System Diagnostic…
[203X-12-24 18:43:56] : Diagnostic Status: ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL
[203X-12-24 18:44:02] : As this is your first time accessing this system, please take a moment to read the End User License Agreement. If you feel you sufficiently understand, please intone or invoke ACCEPT.
[203X-12-24 18:44:10] : ACCEPTED
[203X-12-24 18:44:15] : [Access Granted] — : Welcome, User!

…Darkness…Everything…Nothing…

Yet, not for long.

Light floods your eyes, sensation returns to your body, and a vast white courtyard forms before you. Overhead, a blue, cloudless sky appears, while a breeze gently brushes your cheek. The smell of a fresh spring day fills your senses, almost overwhelming.

It's…more than you expected. More than advertised.

Almost instinctively, you begin to move. Holding up a hand, savoring the sensation as you flex your fingers, you take stock of your form. It's…featureless, almost doll-like, leaving you with a feeling of vertigo and unease.

*Ding*

A chime echoes around you, drawing your attention to a screen that gradually becomes clearer. Small buttons labeled Home, System, Shortcuts, and More dot the simple, utilitarian display as it automatically directs you to a specific series of text boxes.

: User Account Creation :
: Please enter both your personal information and billing information. Once complete, intone or invoke ACCEPT.

---

Please pick one character, or 'Archetype' to play as:

[ ] The Enthusiastic Newbie
You have little experience with games such as this; but you've seen the combat and you've seen the world. Your friends have spoken nothing but the game's praises; and you'd really like to play with them more…

[ ] The Injured Athlete
You have experience fighting, just not in a game. Normally, you wouldn't even consider something like this; but your friends and family have told you this will help. The game is even more than you thought it would be.

[ ] The Awkward Solo
You're awkward. You're Introverted. You tend towards being quiet; and sometimes, even just sitting in a voice chat is enough to make you happy. You've been drawn towards GAIA for the potential to even maybe make friends. But in the end, you just fell back on old habits.

[ ] The Stubborn Crafter
Combat just…doesn't do it for you. Not really. You find yourself collecting materials, grinding non-combat skills, and making items far more often than anything else in the games you've played. It very much drives what friends you have insane.

[ ] The Jaded Pro
You've played a lot of games, and not much surprises you anymore. The quests, the leveling system, the grind—you've seen it all. You came here mostly because it's the newest thing, but a part of you hopes GAIA will be different. While you might not have the spark you once did, maybe you can find it again?

Please enter your name:
[ ] First Name:
[ ] Last Name:

Please choose your gender:
[ ] Male
[ ] Female

Spoiler: AN

I recently became enamored with the TTRPG 'Anima: Beyond Fantasy'. And oh boy, this is very much a crossover with that medium; if portrayed in the format of a VRMMORPG (Which I think fits with it very well). However, it's no mystery that Anima is a very crunchy boy in terms of mechanics, so I'll be taking...authorial liberties with that.

I'm very interested to see how this quest turns out.

 

[JarOdirt]

[This is a threadmark for the character sheet, dependent upon further details]

 

[JarOdirt]

[This is a threadmark for the character sheet, dependent upon further details]