First Shot

[tank_sniper]

[There is yet another new and confused face wandering around Mac Anu today. This time, it is a petite Steam Gunner. Currently her attention is split multiple ways; sometimes she is checking her Relic with a look of frustration, others she is looking intently at her surroundings as if it may clue her in on some big secret. And on some occasions, she will stare directly at your character, almost expectantly. At any rate, it is clear she will not be the first to approach, so that will be up to the other to initiate.

However… once approached, she is quick to fire off a question before any pleasantries can so much as begin.]

Where is this place? It isn’t GGO… But it can’t be SAO, either.

…Is it?

[Her voice is calm with only a slight tinge of suppressed fear. Whatever it is she’s saying, it must be some cause for concern. Why else would someone work so hard to control the tremors in their voice?]

Comments

[doingthemistything]

[Kirino's nearby and decides to pipe up when he hears the girl.]

This place is called Mac Anu. It's part of a game called The World.

[tank_sniper]

"The World"?

[That's... not a familiar name. Maybe she should have paid attention to what other MMOs were around after all.]

I didn't mean to log into this. I was supposed to be logging into Gun Gale Online, but somehow I ended up here. [Which shouldn't even be possible, but maybe it was some kind of horrendous glitch? Somehow?]

Is there a way to log out?

[doingthemistything]

Gun Gale Online?

[Kirino frowned.] Unfortunately, no. I have no idea why and it's really frustrating, but we can't really leave... I've been here for about a month or two, I think...?

[tank_sniper]

No way...

[It really is like Sword Art Online all over again.]

What if we die here? What happens then?

[doingthemistything]

I wouldn't know; I haven't died yet. [That was a good question, but one that Kirino wasn't too eager to find out the answer to.]

[tank_sniper]

...So we just need to make sure we don't die.

[Panic levels have officially reached High.]

Is there like- like, some kind of goal we can reach to get out, or...?

[Grasping at straws? Maybe a little.]

[doingthemistything]

The people who run this thing are looking for a way to get us out of here, I think. In the meantime, it's a good idea to try to make due.

Oh. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Kirino Ranmaru.

[tank_sniper]

Make due?

[But... at least someone's looking for a way out. That's better than what anyone had during the SAO fiasco.]

...I'm Shinon.

[doingthemistything]

It's pretty easy to get by around here. And apparently we get our stuff back when we hit level 20.

It's nice to meet you, Shinon!

[tank_sniper]

It's... nice to meet you, too.

[The level 20 thing catches her interest, but she should probably focus on the basics first.]

I've only stayed in a game long enough to need a virtual snack, but it's probably different here... What do we do for food and sleep?

[doingthemistything]

Food is readily available around here, as for sleep... well, I usually sleep 'round the Chaos Gate, but I heard if you're part of a guild, you get a room there...

[tank_sniper]

So it's like any other VRMMO.

[She dips her head in thought. Unlike her excursions into GGO, she would be relying entirely on the game's food system to keep herself going.Too bad it's actually different from the one she's used to.]

And what about getting our stuff back at level 20? You mean equipment we had before, or...?

[doingthemistything]

I assume so? I haven't actually played any other MMO before I got sucked into this one. So my stuff that I'd get back would be my normal clothes and soccer uniform...

[tank_sniper]

So I might be able to get my Hecate II back...

[Maybe there's still hope yet.]

Do you know if it's very easy to gain levels in this game?