O2O - 1 - Introductions (Patreon)

“Looks like everyone hit level 10, as promised, though the last two are running late.” Rey remarked. The group of five had decided to give  'O2O' a try after each of them happened to get laid off work around the same time. It sounded irresponsible until Rey did the math and found that with some creative accounting and in-game money making the five of them could coast pretty easily off of unemployment for at least a month with in-game-moneymaking techniques. If by the end none of them had managed to hit gold in the game, they could simply begin the job search, or hit up opportunities they lined up during the month. It was a fool-proof plan.

Rey was the defacto leader of the group, since she had the plan and the experience. For the most part, she was the only one with any knowledge of O2O, but at the same time she was a noobie herself to the actual game environment. What she knew, she knew second-hand from articles and other gossip online. For example, she knew that the game was basically in tutorial mode until level 10 and you were not truly able to interact with the world at large. At the same time, that also meant the world was not able to interact with them. As a noobie she thought nothing of the fact that so many players were content with not gathering XP and instead choosing to linger in towns or cities at level 9.

“Is it true there aren't any NPCs in this game?” Jack asked.

“It's true.” Rey answered proudly. It was something she did know pretty well as it was the feature most publicized about the game. The world of O2O, or 'One-to-One' was originally set up as a simulated canvas with resources and landscapes that could be manipulated as people desired.
“The creators weren't game devs. They weren't interested in writing a story or creating an experience. They were scientists. They wanted to simulate a natural environment and see how outside interference would affect it over time, and how people would organize and utilize resources. Eventually more and more people started joining and consuming and building.”

Xandra whistled as she glanced around. “So this whole medieval city was built by players?”

“The game we're playing now with everything in it is ten years in the making. From humble beginnings.” Rey, the expert, gushed.

“So why are there monsters and bosses and stuff? Was that added later on?” Jack was interested, but his interest was more just an encouragement of Rey's interest in the game world. He did not particularly care for the background, he just wanted to have fun and potentially make a bit of cash doing nothing, as was implied by their plan.

Rey grinned widely. “That is actually a very interesting story.” She took a deep breath and readied herself to give another lecture.

“A story that will have to wait.” Luara interjected. She was panting, even though it was a simulation.
“Why am I out of breath?” She looked to Rey who was ready to give a detailed explanation.
“You know what? Never mind. How's everyone doing?”

“What held you both up?” Xandra asked, eyeing the two latecomers. They were both online at the same time as they were, but notably not present.

“This guy kept getting distracted.” Luara pointed with her thumb at Nyle, the last member of their little fellowship.

“Sorry.” Nyle said between breaths, since he was also panting from the effort of rushing over.

“You two leveled together?” Rey questioned.

Luara shook her head. “Just the last level. We ended up wandering into the same training ground by chance.”

“By chance.” Jack repeated skeptically, moving over to jab Nyle in the side.

“Focus up!” Rey shouted, clapping her hands together once loudly to get everyone's attention. A few passers-by gave the group looks, but ultimately just continued on.
“We are denizens of this world and the rules do dictate at least some roleplaying and immersion-”

“Really?” Luara grunted.

“She just finished telling us that it's created and populated by nerds, so... Yeah.” Jack added.

“Quiet! I have the metaphorical conch, okay?” She swept a glance across each of the four faces present. They all seemed to acknowledge the power of the metaphorical conch.
“Good. You're right, this game is populated and ruled by nerds. Like me.” She announced proudly.
“So you're going to have to pay lip service to the rules if you want to make money.” They were not as interested in the world or the game as her, but they at least had their attention grabbed by the promise of money.

“So what we're going to do is go around the circle and explain our character choices. Who we are, basically.”

“You've been watching too many of those old D&D roleplaying shows.” Luara stated offhandedly. Still, she stepped forward and cleared her throat in preparation.
“I am Luara. An elven rogue that hails from the Eastern Forests of the Dark Continent. My village was decimated by goblins. After that I began roving from settlement to settlement in search of fortune...” She leaned forward.
“And revenge.” All four of the other party members clapped.

“Wow! Good job.” Rey complimented. Though Luara was the least interested and most preppy among them, she was also a born and bred theater kid that performed in plays all throughout middle and high school. Characters in O2O typically take after the player's real life appearance in many ways, though there are definite customization options. Luara looked very close to her real life appearance. She was tall and somewhat dark-skinned. She was attractive both in and out of the game. The main differences between her and her character that stood out were her long ears that ended in a point and her luxurious silver-blonde hair. Even her somewhat bushy brows were silver. Her eyes that were a fairly normal shade of some wood in real life were a striking, unnatural green in the game. Her body Was not exaggerated at all and actually seemed fairly understated and tame compared to her bomb-shell real-life appearance. The real Luara would blow the elf out of the water if it were not for her striking in-game features.

“Next?” Rey asked as Luara nodded and stepped back.
“Nyle?”

Nyle nervously stepped forward and glanced around the assembly of friends. Though they were people he knew fairly well, he was still a bit apprehensive.

“I am Nyle of the... Same general location as Luara. I am an elf mage and I am happy to meet all of... You?” He furrowed his long brow.
“Is that- Are we roleplaying that we just met?” He questioned.

“That part isn't as important, I don't think? We can say we knew each other from various enterprises, right?” Rey offered. They all seemed to agree.

“O-oh. Okay. So, we know each other. Do I have to say what my motivation is?”

“Have you thought about it?” Rey asked encouragingly.

“I think that I want to be a... Traveling scholar.”

“Okay. That sounds fine.” She shrugs.

“Cool, cool. I am Nyle, a traveling scholar.” He said uncertainly before stepping back to signify he was done. Nyle was among those who played the game with a highly modified appearance. It was modified a bit to be more... Appealing. Though, character creation is not always so cut and dry and the nature of the modifier guaranteed that no monstrous or ridiculous individuals could be created. Nothing akin to a moon-faced man with a head twice the length of his shoulders. Nyle, who was not a significantly attractive male in real life, wanted to juice up his appearance and therefore selected all of the sliders that should have done so. In that attempt he became a very, very pretty individual. Lithe, soft features. The addition of the elven body type and features made him out to be quite a sight.

“So are you playing, like... A female character?” Xandra asked innocently. Nyle blushed deeply. She corrected.
“I-It's totally fine if you are!” She raised her hands appealingly. Luara laughed and slapped him on the back as he coughed.

“No no... Male character.” Nyle stated, his tone dripping with self-consciousness. His bright, golden eyes averted from the group out of embarrassment. He had chosen long hair, shiny, auburn hair simply because he thought it looked cool.

“Can you change character after the fact?” He asked delicately.

Rey shook her head. “Only through magic or alchemy or medical treatments. Even hair grows in real time in this game and has to be cut but someone, or yourself to be changed. It's pretty crazy.”

“Wow, cool.” Nyle uttered sardonically. His shoulders slumped.

“Anyway-” Rey began.

“Me.” Jack stepped forward.
“My name is Jack. I am an Ordered Paladin of the tenth level. I hail from the central continent and I stand for peace and unity among all the civilized peoples of the world. My goal is to be a bulwark against all the dark creatures of the world that would seek to enter our societies and-”

“Okay, stormfront, we don't got all day.” Luara cut in. The group was fairly certain that Jack was a good person. They were almost certain that he meant well in most things. They were also very sure that he held not-so-privately some questionable beliefs on genetics, immigration and other topics that they very openly chided him for. Especially Luara.

Jack lifted a finger to his chin cluelessly. “I don't think there was anything questionable in there. This is  a world where the civilized are under attack from the tribal  monsters out in the world, right?”

“Technically true.” Rey nodded.

“Uhm, good concept?” She added hesitantly, trying to straddle the line between encouraging him and reigning him in. O2O presented a unique outlet for people with strange beliefs or desires that would otherwise go unfulfilled in the real world.

“You mentioned you found an order already? That's pretty cool.” She said, trying to change the topic.

“Yeah, they use this funny cross-like symbol that I could've sworn I recognized from somewhere...” He began trying to take a piece of paper out of his pocket when the entire group stopped him desperately. He shrugged. “I guess it's fine if you don't wanna see it.” He said happily, stowing whatever it was back in his pocket.

Jack, much like in real life, was a blonde, muscular human male. Much like in real life he exuded confidence and  was hopelessly dim in some respects. The man had managed to hold down a fairly high-paying position in a competitive field for about as long as them, so he was certainly not an idiot, but he had his blind spots for sure.

Xandra stepped forward and pushed Jack back. “Xandra, Warrior Princess. I am a human barbarian hailing from the northern wastes. I have already crushed several enemies under my bare feet. I am the destroyer of orcs and goblins.” She nods to Luara who smirks and nods back.
“In fact...” She reaches into her bag and pulls out half of a large skull.
“I have already fashioned one's skull into a mug for drinking ale and other strong beverages. I enjoy many powerful alcohols as I am a very powerful woman.”

“Woah...” Jack said in awe.

Xandra stowed the skull and stood proudly before them. The mousy Asian woman in real life presented to them as an over six-foot tall, muscular woman with pale skin, raven hair and an incredibly attractive body hidden by barely any armor or clothing other than a long, black cloak. She exemplified the role of barbarian with her appearance.

“Tough act to follow... Alright.” Rey stepped forward last, clearing her throat. They stared at her expectantly, for she was the one with the greatest interest and the most knowledge.
“I'm Rey. Just a common, human journeyman from the central continent. I serve the kingdom and it's people in whatever capacity they need me. Not much else to say.” She carried a little smile as she shrugged.

“Boring.” Luara stated while pointing to shame her.

Rey gasped. “It doesn't have to be exciting!” She argued vehemently. That sentence pretty much described her presence both in life and in the game. The woman was fundamentally the same person in both, both in appearance and personality. Her looks had not changed. She was still a middlingly attractive woman with average features and dirty-blonde hair that she described as 'brown.' Even though she called herself as a journeyman, she was only that because it did not tie her down to anything. None of the classes truly existed within the game, they were descriptions that fit specific builds that players aimed for. Journeyman was a description for a build that aimed for no specialization, just generalization. The class for the undecided, or most commonly, the 'NPC.'

“You're building like an NPC.” Even Xandra complained.

“There are no NPCs!”

Luara leaned forward, silver brows rising. “There are people 'called' NPCs in the game, though, and you're building like one of them.”

“Suddenly you guys are experts?” Rey asked defensively.

Jack shrugged. “Even I learned a bit about the game. I think most of the people that shoot for the journeyman build just want to 'work' in the game, basically. Right?”

“Isn't that what we're trying to do? Make money? That's what I'm building for. Journeyman is the best, most varied build for making money. Period. No contest.” Rey said passionately.

The other four stopped and exchanged a similar look of concession. They were not wanting to argue with the expert over something so pedantic. They offered a collective shrug while Luara offered the verbal concession the group needed to present to move on.
“Alright, alright. I'm sure it's a great 'class.''” There was a pause.

“So... What now?”