"Have you heard about the new game?"
"No? What is it?"
"Seriously? It's called Settlement. It was made by the same company who made last year's game of the year."
"Yeah so? It doesn't mean it is going to be as good."
"No no no. Look at the trailer."
"Are you serious! Look at the graphics! I can practically drink that water and feel the heat of those flames"
"YES!!! There are elves!!!"
"Look at that dragon at the end of the trailer absolutely stunning"
…
Settlement, the new game produced by Lotus. I got this game after hearing everyone talk about it on my way back from work. Whether it was teenagers, middle-aged men, or women, all I heard from their mouths was that Settlement is the next-gen game.
"Well, at least I haven't stopped playing games since high school. Might as well jump on the hype train."
I sat at my desk and turned on my computer, and the familiar beeps and boops filled the room as I slouched in my chair. For a moment, I closed my eyes and thought back to the good old days when I could happily play games every second of every day, not worrying about a thing. Everyone around me, friends and family, would always be grinding to improve just so they could rub it in each other's faces the next day. Letting out a deep sigh...
"I miss them..."
It's been 4 years since my parents passed away in that unfortunate car accident and I have been living alone since. I distanced myself from my old friends and colleagues, and now only work at the local convenience store to get by. I used to be that happy-go-lucky child who did whatever they wanted, from sports to music to camping to playing video games, but now I sit at my computer playing games after I return from work, sleep and eat.
I shake my head and turn my head toward the computer.
"Enough, no need to reminisce on the past. It's time to look into this game."
I sit up straight, crack my knuckles and search for 'Settlement' in the web browser. Clicking on the first link takes me to the homepage of the game, welcoming me to the trailer as well as some other links but I click on the 'Forums' tab first. Seeing how active the forum is by the sheer number of upvotes, already speaks to me about the popularity of the game. New posts appear every time I refresh the page, but the most eye-catching one is a moderator-pinned post with a title in bold red font.
"Things To Know Before You Play!!" - Elves_or_Nothin
Clicking on the post, I'm presented with some basic information about the game, created by the user Elves_or_Nothin
1. You start with nothing. NOTHING!!
2. The aim of the game is to create a city how do you do it? IDK!
3. The world is 10 times as large as the earth and incorporates fantasy elements (as shown in the trailer) LIKE ELVES! HOT BLONDE BUSTY ELVES!
4. Players are spawned in random locations
5. There is NO inventory like other games
6. There are NPC humans in the world that I assume you can befriend or maybe enslave?
7. Watch the trailer. IT'S AMAZING!
I will post more when more information comes!!
I close it and go back to the home screen to watch the trailer following Elves_or_Nothin's advice. The video loads as I put on my virtual reality helmet to get the full experience, waiting for the trailer to start.
[Loading Settlement Trailer...3...2...1...Start]
The trailer starts from the perspective of the player observing the environment and listening to the sounds of nature.
I see the clear blue skies, the emerald grass and the soft whispers of the wind fill my ears. It feels like standing in the middle of the North American prairies as the sun washes over my body and the breeze brushes against my skin but then the scene suddenly changes.
Replaced by the hot, damp forests with large trees and rushing rivers. I hear an unfamiliar language and the neighs of horses as two females ride past me close enough to touch. Their skin, spotless, with long pointy ears and waist-length platinum blonde hair. Their mounts were white horses with blue eyes and a silver mane and at the top of their heads was a golden horn. Just as I was about to reach my hand out to touch them the scene changed again.
Salt lingers on my tongue, as raging waves crash along the nearby cliffs as giant twin waterspouts gather water, similar to the ones that occur near Nassau. the force of the winds pulls me into the storm together with various kinds of debris, trees, boulders, and tips of waves as they bend to the might of the storm.
Hearing a thunderous rumble near me, I assume it was raging grey Columbus above but no... Looking up, I observe boulders both large and small rolling down the cliff, tumbling toward my fragile self. I try to let out a scream, but before it lands on me the scene changes once more to that of the interior of a cave.
Silence, except for the sound of my breath. No wind, no rain or water, no footsteps. Just breathing. Then, suddenly the sound of a creature inhaling. Soft and gentle at first, then aggressive and fast, as the heavy stomping of a creature echoes in the cave. Much like its breathing, it starts low and slow gradually picking up the pace until I can gradually see its large yellow eyes with jet-black serpent-like slits in the depths of the cave. Crimson red scales, human-length claws, large spikes around the skull, and folded wings dashed past me.
Seeing the edges of flames lick around its mouth ready to burst out and wreak havoc on the world, causes my body to shudder. With a final step outside of the cave, it spreads its massive wings larger than its body and raises its head towards the sky. The unbearable heat, the strength of the winds, and the echoing roar created by the creature were the end of the trailer.
"Interesting, the realism in the game is definitely top-tier. Elves, dragons, and I bet there will also be the classic goblins and orcs even though it isn't shown in the trailer. What's more, is the environment I can be spawned in any sort of biome from plains to deserts to mountains and a snowy field. It's going to be interesting to see what I can do and what other players can do as well. Well then, let's get ready - it's almost midnight."
Turning off the computer, I complete some simple tasks as I wait for the server to go online. Taking a shower and having dinner for just a few. Once I had food in my stomach I lay down on my bed and place the virtual reality helmet on. I look at my ceiling for the last time before I dive into the new world and right on cue,00:00 midnight, my vision blurs before being replaced by golden light, fluffy clouds, and a girl.
She was not that much taller than me, but with the addition of white angel wings and a halo, I couldn't stop myself from feeling amazed. She looks at me with her blue eyes and smiles. She pushes her white hair to the side and speaking to me in her soft angelic voice.
"Starting from here is where you will create Civilization"
Hey guys! First time making a webnovel! But I am excited to share with you this story.
Now I have gotten advice to not put an info dump but likeeee I gotta describe the trailer with a little detail right? :D
I love to hear any comments positive or negative so I can improve and put our better content!!
And if you like the story then stay tuned for more.
Edited slightly by me - 22/12/22
"My name is Ariel, I will be your guide as you experience this new world." - Ariel
Next to Ariel, a full-length mirror appears and I see myself in it. Short straight black hair, a babyface but dead-looking eyes, and skinny arms, and legs. Looking away slightly, as I can't bear to look at myself and what I had become after my parent's death.
"You may change your appearance slightly, up to 15%." - Ariel
Ariel's words bring my attention back to the mirror.
"How do I change my appearance and what can I do?"
"You may change your appearance slightly, up to 15%. You can change your hair, height, body mass and you can do so by imagining yourself in your changed appearance. What you see in the mirror will be how you look in the new world." - Ariel
Thinking for a bit, I close my eyes imagining how I want to look. As I open my eyes I see myself... Me from 4 years ago. I had a similar hairstyle but a brighter face, still a baby face though. My arms and legs are a little bit more muscular and I look like I was happy with where I was in my life.
"Are you happy with these changes?" - Ariel
"Yes, I am happy."
I give Ariel a smile and she returns the favor by smiling back.
"What should I call you human male?" - Ariel
"Ian, my name is Ian." - Ian
"Then Ian, starting from here is where you will create Civilization. I wish you luck." - Ariel
Golden light surrounds Ariel, expanding as it envelops me.
....
After the golden light fades away, I finally get to see the world. Feeling the heat from the sun on my back and the clear blue skies that stretched toward the horizon. Without a hint of pollution or smoke in the air, instead, a soft gentle breeze that brushes against my body. Looking in front of me, I observe the cracked, red chalky ground.
Rock formations of varying sizes, litter the ground with little bits of dry greenery here and there. Occasionally tall desert trees could be seen on the horizon. The arid environment made me a little skeptical about how to create a city in this location but that doesn't mean it hasn't been done before. Many cities have been built in arid environments, utilizing the resources under the ground to their advantage in the process.
Like in every game there must be a status screen so I thought of status, in my head and it appeared. The familiar but not so familiar opaque bluish screen.
Name: Ian
Race: Human
Health Points (HP): 10/10
Mana Points (MP): 0/0
Strength: 5
Vitality: 5
Intelligence: 5
Dexterity: 5
Agility: 5
Luck: 1
Equipment: Torn Shirt, Torn Pants
"Ian, are you ok?"
Stopping me from observing the status screen, the sudden voice, causes me to turn my head. A young lady maybe in her late 20s with a flushed face steps close to me, grabbing the edge of my gray clothes. She was wearing a dirty grayish-brown one-piece dress with the ends ripped and frayed. Next to her, holding her hand, was a boy around 14 or 15 with sharp eyes and a frustrated face.
"Excuse me miss but you are...?" - Ian
A look of confusion could be seen on the young lady's face, facing my own. Tilting her head a bit and squinting her eyes, a face of worry spread across her face.
"Don't worry about him Lucina, it must be the heat. Did you see him stop for a bit? I bet he must be regretting his actions."
A loud, out-of-breath male around 30 years old was behind her. He had short reddish-brown spiky hair and tall stature, carrying two bags over his shoulder. Next to him was an old man with a slightly hunched back.
"Howard I was just worried since he wasn't moving plus he did save us from the encampment. It's the least I can do." - Lucina
"Whatever. Hey, Ian! Come on, take a bag, let's move." - Howard
The loud man, Howard, shoves a bag into my arms and slightly pushes me to the side, as he continues moving. Lucina and the other two people follow behind him slowly, glancing back in my direction.
Is this the backstory of my character? Slinging the bag over my shoulder, following the group of people, I slowly turn to the old man, hoping to start a conversation to gather more information.
"Are you alright there, sir? If you don't mind me asking, how long has it been since we left the encampment?" - Ian
Looking at me curiously for a second, before turning away and looking ahead. The old man let out a small sigh as he tries to recount the previous event.
"I am fine young lad, and as for how long it has been... Since we left last night and the sun is at its peak right now blazing down on us, I would say it's been a little over 12 or so hours. Looks like you have forgotten, but I did tell you to not call me sir. Instead call me, old man Hus. The young lady over there is Lucina, and next to her is a little boy called Luke.
While they are not mother and son, Lucina takes care of him to the best of her ability. As for the tall bloke over there, that is Howard, our protector and the reason we lived until the day we left. Until the day, you helped us escape it is. So, I guess you are our protector now." - Hus
"I see...I am glad you guys are out of the encampment then." - Ian
Looking at old man Hus, I could see a soft smile on his face as he looks forward. I can only guess how happy it would be to leave a place called an encampment.
Though it got me curious, what is an encampment? A place where they were slaves? Or a prison? Looking at their clothing, that isn't impossible... No, not with a child, then it must have been a place where these people were kept as slaves of some sort. Wait... But then that raises the question, who were their masters?
Looking at Howard, he must have been able to resist most people even through armor and weapons. Even with armor, he should have been a threat to people with just his size. Does that mean it was some sort of creature like orcs or kobolds? Should I just ask? Is it appropriate to ask?
"Sister Lucina!"
Luke's shouting snaps me back into the present as I see Lucina collapsing to the ground. Luke hurriedly kneels next to her shouting her name while shaking her shoulders slightly. Howard rushes towards Lucina, touching her forehead with the back of his hand.
"It's burning hot, and she is breathing erratically. Plus she is covered in sweat. Shit, what do we do? We don't have any medicine if...If it is some sort of sickness. We can't- we can't be losing people when we just escaped." - Howard
"I-I-I'm fine. Just-Just a little faint" - Lucina
Responding faintly, Lucina flutters her eyes open, as she grabs weakly onto Howard's arm. Gritting his teeth, Howard racks his brain to figure out a solution, as his eyes dart from side to side, searching, looking, and thinking.
"Wait, wait, Howard calm down. Relax. Panicking won't help. Looking at Lucina she looks like she might just be experiencing heat stroke or something similar. After all, it is hot and the sun is directly over our heads. It isn't uncommon for something like this to happen in this sort of situation.
The first thing we need to do is cool her down and give her plenty of water. Look. See that tree over there, that's the closest place where we can get some sort of shade and shelter. Right now, we must hurry. The faster we bring Lucina over there, the better." - Ian
I calmly diagnosed Lucina's condition, however, I am not a doctor or a nurse so I was not completely sure if the diagnosis was correct. Merely going off the random bits of information that swim around the internet, and on television series, is the best I could do.
"Alright, how are we going to get her there? Do we just lift her?" - Howard
Howard bends down, putting his hands under Lucina as he prepares to lift her up.
"WAIT! Give Lucina some water first. Also, give your bag to Luke, you shouldn't carry more than you need to. Afterward, take off your shirt and cover Lucina's head with it, and wrap it around the top. Then, carry Lucina on your back and run to the tree we will catch up ourselves.
Once you are at the tree be careful, check the area before you place her down. Make sure there are no insects nearby, and no big rocks either. In case something is hiding under it. Make sure to check the tree trunk in case of other insects, only then can you settle her down. Hydrate her, and fan her with your shirt or something." - Ian
"Okay...Okay, I got it." - Howard
Howard got out the water sack in his bag, pouring water into Lucina's mouth slowly. Compared to his attitude towards me earlier, he had a gentler look and a worried expression. After giving Lucina some water Howard passed his bag to Luke while telling him to make sure not to drop the bag. In the meantime, I helped Howard position Lucina on his back. Looking back at us with a face of gratitude, he nods his head as he heads to the shade.
Holding the second bag and making sure Luke and old man Hus was walking with me I spoke to them with a confident tone and a smile.
"Everything will be ok, let's follow them." - Ian
Second Chapter!!!
Little world-building and an introduction to the characters especially the main character.
Hope you guys like it!!
Comment if there are any positive or negative things you wanna say!!
Edited by me - 23/12/22
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