[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjg4LjAwMDAwMC5WR2hsSUVkaGRHaGxjbWx1WnlCVGRHOXliUSwsLjA,/pill-popper.regular.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent][indent][color=gray][sub][right][color=black][b]Location:[/b][/color] Mizushima Gaming Corporation, Tokyo, Japan[/right][/sub][/color] [hr] “Should we tell them?” There was a quiet unease that could be felt in the server room, a long pause emanating between the towering shadows of the computer servers and the administrators who had been sent in to investigate the anomalies in the system—anomalies that would have far-reaching consequences that the company at large was not prepared for. In short, the company that provided a unique virtual reality experience for the general public for a whole year without any major issues had suddenly run into an error that could’ve brought attention to them in the form of litigation and financial ruin. This concern being that the players that were currently logged into Pariah Online were at serious risk in that the integrity of their safety had been compromised; compromised to the point of actual risk of death beyond the simulation. It was every virtual reality designer’s worst nightmare. “They deserve to know.” The other administrator looked to his ‘partner’, a scowl forming on his lips. “Do you want to cause a panic?” The idea to inform the active playerbase that they could lose their lives if they perished in the game was a double-edged sword; but really, both administrators knew that even if they didn’t tell them they would find out as soon as their healing wards no longer worked on reviving their comrades. It was the kind of scenario that was a legitimate horror movie to the people inside the company and those who had invested into the innovative experiment in the first place. Pariah couldn’t fail—too much money had been put into it and not enough money had been made off it. If the efforts of the administrative team failed to locate an issue and solve it, both of the two people in the server room knew it would be them, not the board, who would be the fall guy for the colossal breach in public safety and trust. It would be them who would be offered up to the proverbial guillotine. Maybe even the [i]actual[/i] guillotine. “We’re going to have a panic if we don’t.” There was another pause. “I am aware.” The older Japanese man sighed as he went over the data again. He’d have to compose a proper message and have one of the attendants carry it out. But what kind of words wouldn’t result in the game world being at risk? If he said the wrong thing people would [b]die[/b]. If he didn’t say anything at all? Well, it would be almost as bad. They didn’t train you for these kind of perils, but he supposed that was the problem with building a game around the technology they had gotten their hands on. He still didn’t completely understand it. Only the creator of the technology did and he had disappeared months ago; a disappearance that made him wonder if it was connected to the glitch infecting the system. But what reason could Toshiro Mizushima have to destroy his life's work? It was a question he would have to ponder at a later date, at least. He just hoped that the gamers inside the virtual world would be able to survive long enough for there to be a plan in place... [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZCCkyVyzdg[/youtube][/center] [color=gray][sub][right][color=white][b]Location:[/b][/color] The City of Thorinn, [abbr=Pariah Online]Aetheria[/abbr][/right][/sub][/color] [hr] For most of Pariah’s denizens the City of Thorinn was one of the last of the major cities in the known kingdom, sitting on the edge of Thoros, the spiraling riverbed that made up the natural border between the unknown and civilization. Sitting as one of the several outposts that persisted on the edge of the nation that every man, woman, and child called home: [i][b]The Kingdom of Aetheria[/b][/i]. That said, despite Thorinn’s stature and status it wasn’t truthfully a place anyone could call small. That much was supported by the census office and their citation claiming that the city held an estimated population of one hundred and eighty thousand denizens in total. But despite Thorinn’s capaciousness it did not afford it the absolute safety from the threats of the world at large outside of a comfortable shelter from the stray monster and usual collection of nomadic raiders and bandits. The city would most certainly have a challenging time defending itself had an abyssal or colossal creature made a venture out of destroying the city. And if a dungeon erupted from the earth nearby? The city would’ve needed dire help in that case. And as much as the residents of the kingdom didn’t like relying on the strangers from beyond the veil, those wayfarers, drifters, and outsiders had been the only ones to be able to stop the phenomena that had begun only a few months before their much needed appearance some time ago. It would be fitting that in only a few days the people of Thorinn would realize this when a structure appeared nearby, standing suddenly in the forests that overlooked the city itself like a threatening beacon and declaration of war. It wouldn’t take long for monsters to start appearing. It would be up to the good will of the outsiders and the city’s Guild of Acquisitions to save them from a potential horde. They had no other choice. [color=#DD9C00]“Oi. Is this the place?”[/color] The ginger-haired warrior cracked his neck as he looked ahead at the lodge in front of him and his companion, a brown-haired girl who seemed to be as unamused as his hair was red. [color=tan]“That depends entirely on what place you mean, Siegfried.”[/color] [color=#DD9C00]“You know what I mean, Sif, stop bein’ all weird. This where we get the gig?”[/color] Siegfried groaned in annoyance as he looked to the smaller, brown-haired girl over his shoulder. [color=tan]“My dearest, lovable, [i]idiot[/i] brother. Of course it is. This is a Wayfarer’s Retreat, after all. The Guild told us this is where the summons came from and you do know a dungeon did appear only a few days ago. You know why we are here.”[/color] When the dungeon appeared on the outskirts of Thorinn a beacon had been sent to the Guild of Acquisitions, the so-called adventurer’s guild of the world of Aetheria. As a result a group of wayfarers was needed to clear it, as was their role in the world. The raid leader, whomever they were was opportunistic and quick. Admittedly, Siegfried felt nervous since it seemed like the person in charge wanted to swoop in before any other groups could beat them to the punch. It made sense, he supposed, but it would pretty much limit the options of who was going to be part of the group. Then again, maybe he was lucky. If his sister had not heard of the grouping then he would still be in some village a day out from Thorinn playing blacksmith for a bunch of denizens. So he shrugged and opened the door in front of him as other had done before him. Couldn’t have been long for the raid to start. Hope he wasn’t late. [/indent] [/indent][/indent]