A mirror shimmered into view in front of him, and he saw the reflection of the Wood Elf.
Do you wish to alter your default appearance? Yes/No.
Atlas selected Yes. Small slider bars appeared near many of his features in the mirror. It reminded him of the customization options in many of the old school MMO games where the player could adjust the size of different body parts. He selected the slider that stretched the length of his body and mentally slid it higher. As he did, he noticeably grew taller. With glee he slid the slider as far as it would go, and he rose to a little over seven feet tall. It was an odd feeling as he shifted his feet, trying to gauge his new balance.
He slid it back down and settled for a height just a little over six feet instead. A few tweaks to his ears, eyes, mouth, and forehead allowed him to make the face he sought. High cheekbones accentuated his face and the long, pointed ears stood out. Satisfied, he nodded at his new form and looked around in confusion. What do I do now?
He took three steps away from the mirror when a box popped up again.
Are you finished with your customization? You can’t change this appearance once you leave. Yes/No.
Yet again, he selected Yes and another portal of blue sprung to life.
Congratulations adventurer. Proceed through the portal to choose your starting class.
Atlas hopped through and appeared in another room. It was like the last, but not as many forms stood in the place. The people swirled with energy and power. Many bristled with weapons sticking out all over them. Atlas was both amused and a little scared to see another musket. Damn. It’s going to suck dodging gunfire in this game.
Most of the figures he could figure out by sight. A Gladiator and a Warrior stood side by side. One wore what looked more like Roman style armor, while the other had a full suit of medieval plate armor. An archer stood nearby in her leather armor. Near her was another figure that confused him. The man stood in leather armor but stood with his arms to the side and green energy swirling around his hands.
Atlas walked forward and examined him. The box labeled him as a Druid, but there was almost no information other than that. Unlike the races, the classes showed nothing more than the class name and the hints at what the person wore.
He looked further along the line and saw a Wizard. Close by was another figure dressed in robes but with swirling purple energy. A quick inspection of him showed this was a Warlock. Directly beside him was another figure with purple energy, but flashes of black lightning showed in the magic. The man looked pale as a ghost, and Atlas understood as soon as he saw the title. Necromancer. For fuck’s sake. Undead too?
An assassin dressed in dark leather crouched to the side of the group. His small blades and black clothing made his profession obvious. Atlas also swore he saw a green liquid dripping from the blades.
The selection bummed him out. He truly expected there to be far more options with the extensive selection of races they had. Mr. Ingram’s words about there being special items to unlock other skills reverberated in his mind, though. It must be possible to make hybrid classes with some special items found in the game. That would explain the lack of some classes he’d expect to see. A Paladin was a prime example of that. They were essentially warriors with divine magic.
With the options on display, he walked back over to the Druid. Reaching out, he touched the man and the prompt he expected showed up.
Do you wish to take the Druid class? Yes/No.
Atlas selected Yes, and the figure in front of him moved. The druid lowered its arms and stared directly at him before speaking.
“Well met. I’m Zephyr Longstride, Master Druid of the order of Ancients. What is your name?” the druid asked.
Frozen in shock for a moment, Atlas’s mind struggled to comprehend what was happening before his eyes. A name? Makes sense. Need to figure out a name. He thought as he lifted his hand to his chin. I’ve used tons of names through the different games I’ve played before.
“I’ve used many names over the years, Sir Longstride, but call me Atlas,” he told him with finality. This place already feels far more real than anything I’ve ever played before, so why not keep my name real as well?
“Well met, Atlas. Find me in the town of Kilthan. I’ll instruct you in the ways of the druid upon your arrival,” the man finished before turning and walking away. The Master Druid faded from view as he left the area. Atlas looked around in confusion for a few seconds until he spotted another swirling blue portal behind him. In eager anticipation, he jumped into it.
Swirls of color assaulted his mind until he finally stood in a small wooded area. Tall trees rose high around him, and the underbrush in the area low and clear. The scent of the fresh breeze filled the air with a hint of pine. He walked to the nearest tree and placed his hand on it. The familiar warmth of the trees reached out to him and he almost felt like he could speak to it.
The sensation surprised him. This was truly a game on a whole new level. No clunky devices, no peeks of your surroundings from the sides of your glasses
