Solar
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Player Character
Posts: 15
Player Name: Trevor Hao
OOC Username: Peony
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Solar on Nov 2, 2023 11:06:08 GMT 9
Once Solar had finished with the starter lab quest, he immediately noticed a couple of other notifications pop up. The first was the friend request from Comet (which Vernon had already informed him prior that was his username, so that he wouldn't freak out), and a few others were about...tutorial quests. And other open quests. Also, there was something about the newest big update, which opened a new region and some other things. Being completely new to the game, he would very likely have no idea what was that about, and he supposed he could ask Comet about it. Whatever he was able to skim, though, it sounded...dangerous. Like a boss area or something.
But first, the friend request. He accepted it immediately, and along with that, he also saw a message sent earlier while he was still with the Professor.
Let's meet up at the Briarbane Settlement! Look for Bethany's Boudoir on the map! The map seemed straightforward enough, at least, allowing Solar to zoom in using the same finger gestures he would do on his phone and tablet. There was also a fast travel option that he figured out after poking around through the settings, so he had to tell Cyndaquil to hold on tight (should he have returned him to his Pokeball?) before pressing the button. His body then suddenly glowed white before his vision was blinded for a moment, and then when he blinked again he was in a completely different place - one that actually had more life in it. Woah, were those computer programs or other players walking around? He would soon find out that they were the first, since when he saw Comet at a distance, he had a nameplate hovering over him, as well as a tiny icon that seemed to indicate they were friends in the game.
His appearance surprised Solar, mostly because of how different he was - it was a lot more edgy than he anticipated, but also quite cool (especially with those horns jutting out). Height wise, it felt like it was the same as his real self - a bit shorter than where he stood. And when "Comet" started to speak, that really sealed the deal. Solar would know his voice anywhere. Admittedly, his attention on his appearance only lasted a short while, for the large white rabbit that stood a little taller than him stuck out to him more. Was that...his Pokemon? Why was it so big??
He raised his hand up. Comet saw it and immediately ran to him with a big grin. ❝You made it!❞
❝Heh, yeah, I sure did.❞
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Comet
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The Creed
Posts: 130
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Vernon Quinn
OOC Username: Peony
Arena Points: 25
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Post by Comet on Nov 2, 2023 11:21:05 GMT 9
Comet hadn't realized that with the events of Thunderfall, (NPC) Professor Ash was no longer around to give the starter Pokemon. She had been replaced by (NPC) Dr. Bunya; someone that the player found less favorable with her tinkering into the corruption and all. But with corruption being the main theme for the next area, she might prove to be more useful than she currently let on. In any case, he wished he got to see (NPC) Professor Ash to thank her again for Kimchi. Now more than ever, he was grateful for his starter Pokemon. Anyway, he did ask all of the details from Solar, to which his friend was trying his best to describe what he saw and how the questions went (❝Really? She asked you about chameleons?❞)
Much like how Solar saw him, Comet also was surprised by how different his friend looked, but height and voice wise, he was still the same. It was an understatement to say how happy he was to have another friend in the game after the raid event, which felt like a long time ago but also not quite, since he had also gotten pretty busy to play the game.
Kimchi, all the while, was just standing nearby his trainer, watching this new player with keen interest. This was...someone that Comet knew in the other world? And they were here now? A tiny part of him was wary, but it was clear that they were close, so he would just have to wait and see how the conversation would pan out to give judgment.
❝By the way, this is my starter Pokemon, Kimchi! I see that you got yourself a Cyndaquil.❞ he said with a small laugh. ❝I got a Cyndaquil as well! Named him Ganjang, but he's really scared of people, so I'll introduce you to him some other time.❞
Solar had greeted the large white rabbit cordially before turning back to Comet, ❝You named your Pokemon after Asian food?❞
Kimchi perked his ears up. Was that where his name came from?
❝Yeah! Have you named your Cyndaquil yet?❞
❝Oh, uh...I might not? I haven't thought of any yet.❞ notably, the Cyndaquil on his shoulder looked a little disappointed, but Solar didn't seem to notice.
❝You should, it's part of the experience!❞ he figured that his friend would choose something from his books.
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Solar
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Player Character
Posts: 15
Player Name: Trevor Hao
OOC Username: Peony
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Solar on Nov 2, 2023 14:56:07 GMT 9
Putting the whole naming thing aside, Solar swore that Comet's Pokemon was appraising him, and he once again wondered about the extent of the AI and how good it was to create believable personalities. Comet hadn't been playing this game for very long, right? But a part of him felt like this Pokemon was partially the reason why he was so bothered that one evening and the days after. He also vaguely recalled seeing a figure that looked like Kimchi among his belongings, too.
❝So what's the plan? I know I'm getting these notifications about tutorial quests, but what do I do afterward?❞
❝Hmm well, I got a bunch of new Pokemon from all sorts of events, so I'm gonna roll call them, and then we'll head to Ostellia.❞
❝Ostellia? You mean that new place from the update?❞
❝Yeah! It's too high-level for a newbie like you though, so you should stick around in Asper before you head over there.❞
For some reason, the comment made the side of Solar's mouth twitch slightly. He had only been in UNOVR for a short moment, but with how painful his fall was in the lab, a few things became apparent to him: one, things that can hurt will hurt, and two, hurt can also mean death (though, he supposed that they wouldn't allow players to die in real life, otherwise he would've heard of it. That would be some crazy sci-fi shit). Still, if death was perceptible, wasn't that still traumatic? Did Vernon already die in this game? Was that what happened that one time when he was so out of it? What kind of dangerous game was this?!
❝Wait, you're telling me that you're deliberately going to a dangerous area? That's...dangerous!❞
And Comet couldn't help but laugh, ❝Well yeah! But the fate of this world is at stake, and I want to help Zapdos, so I'm going.❞
❝And Zapdos is..?❞ a Pokemon?
❝He was a boss in the last big event, but we got to talk it out and now he's helping us get to Ostellia.❞
❝Uh huh.❞ Solar didn't like this. Not at all, but how was he supposed to stop him? Log out of the game and yank out the device from Vernon's body? What kind of consequences could that entail? Could he even try to convince him otherwise when he knew so little about the game? Maybe the best option was to learn more about what makes UNOVR tick before he try to throw himself in front of him. The AI of the Pokemon was already intriguing as it was. What else was this game hiding? ❝I'll go with you.❞
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Comet
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The Creed
Posts: 130
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Vernon Quinn
OOC Username: Peony
Arena Points: 25
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Post by Comet on Nov 2, 2023 15:16:10 GMT 9
What the fuck?
❝I just said that it's super dangerous. There's like, a bunch of newbies here that you can go with, or are you too shy to talk to them?❞ Comet said with a smug look. Actually, it wouldn't surprise him if Trev wanted to stick with him since all of this must be super new, but something was also off with how he seemed to react about Ostellia. The place would certainly eat his friend alive if it were anything like Mistra, or even worse than Mistra. Even Asper had its dangerous places if he went off too far from the beaten path.
❝It's not that, it's...❞ his voice trailed off, clenching his teeth. ❝Okay look, I know that I've only really been here for like, what, twenty minutes? But something really doesn't sit right with me about--❞ he gestured his arms around the place, ❝--all of this. I didn't think how immersive--how real this game was going to feel, and now you're telling me you're going head first into fuck knows what?❞
❝Woah, calm down, Trev. It's just--❞ a game. No, he couldn't say that, not after what happened with Zapdos. With Kimchi. He was almost about to say it out of reflex, and here was Trevor who already immediately figured that out. He clicked his tongue, clearly displeased about this. ❝Well, I'm much more prepared than you are, so you should be following the tutorial shit before you even think about following me to the new region.❞
The whole time, Kimchi was watching the two bicker, and he had to admit that he misjudged this new player. Comet didn't seem to realize this, but the Cinderace picked up on it quite quickly: Solar was worried about his friend, and for good reason. The large rabbit crossed his arms, interrupting the pair, <You'll be able to help your friend better if you finish more quests and get more Pokemon, Mr. Solar.>
The two trainers suddenly looked at Kimchi in shock. ❝Kimchi?❞
❝Mr. Solar? Eugh. Solar is fine, Comet and I are almost the same age.❞
<Oh, okay. But yeah, we'll be safer in numbers, but you did just join in. I'm not suggesting that you do what Comet did by evolving me immediately, but Cyndaquil will have a hard time if he's by himself.>
<Man, all this talk sounds crazy, but I do want to get stronger! Being left behind sucks!>
Surprisingly, it seemed that Kimchi's words seemed to have made Solar back down. He definitely looked deep in thought, though. Comet looked down for a moment before meeting him eye to eye. ❝Well, you heard Kimchi. Of course I'd love to adventure with you, but it looks like you already figured out that pain setting is no joke. I can't say I'll wait for you, but I'll meet you there soon, alright? And I can always fast travel back here anyway to help you out.❞
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Solar
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Player Character
Posts: 15
Player Name: Trevor Hao
OOC Username: Peony
Arena Points: 10
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Post by Solar on Nov 2, 2023 15:30:40 GMT 9
It's just a game.
Solar didn't need Vernon to finish his sentence to know what he was going to say, but for some reason, he stopped himself. Why? Because of Kimchi and Cyndaquil? Did they know that they were in a game? (Man, he kind of wanted to ask more about what Cyndaquil knew, then, but he also held himself back, because somehow he was uncomfortable with making the little guy uncomfortable). In any case, he was more surprised that the rabbit stepped in, sounding very much like a mediator, and once again stunning Solar in how advanced the AI was. If anything, it seemed that...they had an understanding. They were both worried. And if nothing else, at least his friend had what appeared to be a reliable and strong Pokemon at his side.
He couldn't shake off the truth that gameplay wise, he was literally just starting out. No amount of smarts was going to help him win a battle with just one Pokemon. Even the little Cyndaquil on his shoulder wanted to get stronger. He let out a deep sigh. ❝Fine. Don't die, okay? I guess I see how you're so into this. I admit, the idea of getting stronger sounds exciting.❞
❝Pff, you know that what you said is a big red flag for people dying in the next episode, right?❞
Solar scowled, ❝I mean it.❞
❝I know I know. No need to sound so ominous about it. I can at least get you to the first tutorial area before I head off, sound good? How long are you planning on staying here anyway?❞
❝I guess give or take another hour, depending on how long that quest goes. I don't think Manager wants us under for too long.❞
❝Ugh, yeah. Well, let's get moving, then!❞
Solar pursed his lips. So this was how things were going to pan out, huh? Well, he had little game experience and much lesser Pokemon experience, but he could learn. And maybe once he had learned enough, he could convince him to stop playing this dangerous game.
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