Death Game: The Floating Castle of Aincrad

Aincrad, First Floor December 4, 2022

It had been a long month since the Death Game started. There had been approximately 2000 deaths this month alone, and the players had not even cleared the first floor dungeon. Many had lost hope. Many were cowering in the Starting City, too terrified to leave. As for the those brave, or stupid enough to venture forth......

Aincrad First Floor: The Starting City

The Starting City was located at the north side of Aincrad's first floor, and the massive walled city was both sanctuary and prison to the remaining players. The imposing turret of the Black Iron Castle loomed over the city, and the very atmosphere was dreary, as if everyone had lost the will to live.

At the heart of the city was a huge stone obelisk that bore the names of each one of the ten thousand players of the game. Some names were crossed out, a sign that they had gone from this world forever. And right next to the crossed out names, were the date and cause of death. It seems that Kayaba had a cruel sense of humor.

Right in front of the obelisk was a tall man, who seemed to be making a speech. "All of you! Listen up!"

As the crowd gathered around him, he grinned like a shark and continued.

"I know the reason why we haven't gotten out of this hellhole and what to do about it! Listen up!"

Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

The lush fields outside the city was mostly barren of life, aside from the occasional mob.

As it had been a month already, the mad rush to level up had mostly passed but there was still the odd straggler trying to get stronger by hunting the wolves and boars here.

It was one of these stragglers that found herself cornered by a pack of wolves....

Aincrad First Floor: Outside the Dungeon

The huge tower that connected the first and second floors seemed to mock the players with its seemingly unconquerable nature.

Now, just outside the tower, sitting peacefully on a rock was a red-clothed man....

You may start from any of these three places...

Kanata Uesugi

Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

Kanata was gazing vacantly at the field of wind-kissed verdant emerald blades. It’s been a month, one long month, since the reveal that he’s trapped in this virtual gilded cage. He let out a deep sigh at that- really, how is this different from the first 18 years of his life?

Great, now he’s feeling depressed.

Eh- what- something furry? No time for wallowing in exaggerated self-pity!

He have always had a keen sense-comes with always having to find things for his near-blind Grammpa- and as such he spotted someone about to become doggie chow.

Jumping to action, he moves to engage the canines. His aim, interruption of the wolves’ attacks and either help the girl escape or beat them.

edited 14th May '13 4:54:48 AM by PBlades

Larry Campbell

Aincrad First Floor: Outside the Dungeon

It had been a month ever since he had been trapped here, sure the incredible physical enhancement and the freedom to do anything that his heart desired was highly rewarding; but the fact that all of this had real consequences and the ever-present risk of dying for real is what really made this particular player by the name of Larry Campbell harbor a particularly strong resentment against the psycho who caused all this.

"Kayaba Akihiko... Just wait till I get my hands on you..."

As Larry approached the entrance to the first floor dungeon, feeling brave and strong enough to try and get to the next level after having put at least a dozen or so other player's lives of similar levels to his sword and looting their corpses; he catches sight of another player in Red. Figuring that the red guy had the same plan as he does, Larry decided against killing him and attempted diplomacy instead.

"Yo. Planning on raiding the dungeon too?"

Though Larry wasn't being openly hostile, anyone with any experience in reading body language would see that Larry was obviously tense and was ready to either strike or defend.

edited 14th May '13 7:05:34 AM by strigon

Aincrad First Floor: The Starting City

John Slothe

It's been a very long month since the game was turned into a deathtrap. I'm leaning against a building and thinking about the last month.

I can't believe it's been a month and we haven't even cleared the first floor. How many people have died in this last month? And for what? What did those people die for? What if it's impossible to beat the game? What if i'm stuck here for the rest of my life?! What if...

My thoughts are cut short by a man's shouting. I see a crowd gathering around the obelisk and decide to get closer to see what's going on.

Aincrad First Floor: The Starting City

The man seemed satisfied of the crowd that had gathered in front of him. He grinned again and continued speaking.

"Have you ever wondered why so many of us died?! It's because some bastards took all tge good quests and items! They left us all to rot! Who am I talking about?!"

He gestured widely with his right arm, as if for emphasis.

"Those damn beta testers of course!"

Aincirad First Floor: Fields outside the city

The wolves noticed the player charging to the rescue and quickly dispersed, giving the terrified girl enough time to run behind her rescuer.

The pack snarled in annoyance and began circling the two, getting closer and closer....The girl sobbed clasping her short sword to her chest....

Aincrad First Floor: Outside the dungeon

The man in red turned to look at Larry with a slight smile, his calm grey eyes betraying no emotion. At his feet lay a sword and a huge cross shaped shield.

"Mmm. Not at all." His voice was as calm as his eyes.

"I am simply enjoying the scenery. Try it sometime, you might come to like it."

A small laugh.

"You may call me....Heathcliff."

Kanata Uesugi

Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

Keeping his eyes on the wolves’ movement, Kanata whispers to the girl.

“Don’t panic. Don’t be afraid. I’m here-we’ll get through this. Don’t run or they’ll chase you down. We will move toward the other stragglers, or the town. It’ll be a date, ne? A nice walk in the park.”

Without turning around, Kanata tries to inject as much levity into his voice as he can, suppressing the anxiety at being surrounded by a large amount of sharp fangs. He starts to move toward either large amount of stragglers or the town, clasping his hand on her non-weapon wrist gently-but firmly- to get her moving.

“GET THE FUCK AWAY, MONGRELS! WE’RE NOT YOUR PREY! I WILL GO MATTHEW 10:16 ON YOUR ASSES!”

Kanata desperately hopes that the wolves’ aren't all that hungry. Also, that AI wolves act like real lives one.

edited 14th May '13 8:15:42 PM by PBlades

Shishikura Haruko - First Floor Dungeon

At that moment, a bizarre sight would make itself known to Larry and Red. A beautiful female player, approximately the same level as Larry, wearing what looked like the cross between the leftovers of a Renaissance festival and a touring mariachi band. The player didn't say much. She just walked up to Heathcliff, same as Larry had, and asked, "This is the dungeon that leads to the second floor, correct?"

Aincrad First Floor: Outside the dungeon

Larry shrugs at Heathcliff's response.

"I would if it wasn't for the fact that getting ganked by monsters or other players hiding behind a rock or something is an ever-present risk."

Larry then looks around, noticing that nobody else was here.

"So are we the only ones brave enough to actually go near the dungeon?"

And then the female player shows up.

"I stand corrected."

Larry then stares at the female, scanning her from head to toe to get a bead on her strengths and weaknesses.

edited 14th May '13 9:59:18 PM by strigon

Shishikura Haruko - First Floor Dungeon

Haruko saw the man staring at her, and turned to look at him in turn. There was an orange bar over his head, just below his username. This man was a branded criminal. Given recent events, he'd most likely be guilty of player-killing outside of regulated dueling arenas. He certainly looked the type. With that determined, she turned away disinterestedly, as if she had nothing more she wanted to say to him.

Let me know if this isn't right, I just assumed the player killing was done illegitimately.

edited 14th May '13 10:00:48 PM by KSPAM

With that kind of reaction, Larry immediately knew that she was one of those "white knight" types; the ones who didn't approve of the harsh but necessary methods that people like himself had to take in order to pull through situations like this because it was; in their words: "Wrong and unjust". With that, Larry has decided that she must die as her very presence and existence jeopardizes his chances of victory by a huge margin.

"..."

edited 15th May '13 2:26:50 AM by strigon

Aincrad First floor: Fields outside the city The girl nodded slightly, although she was still trembling. And then her rescuer started shouting. She looked up at him incredously. "What are you doing?! That will draw their aggro!" Sure enough, one of the wolves growled and the entire pack charged.

Shishikura Haruko - First Floor Dungeon

If Larry were to look closely at Haruko, he'd notice an orange bar beside her own name. Although Haruko wasn't afraid to say it, she too had already gathered quite a substantial criminal record. Mostly from attacking the players who had attacked other players. He'd also notice that despite his rise in aggression, the female swordsman remained totally aloof and unaware of him.

Attacking an orange player won't turn you orange.

Aincrad First Floor: Dungeon

Heathcliff seemed to sense the tension in the air.....but was completly undisturbed. The grey eyes turned to look at the girl.

"Peace. Indeed, this is the dungeon. But I am afraid that no one has located the boss room as of yet. Besides, the boss would most likely require a full raid...."

"In any case, would you care to join me?"

Thanks. She should probably still be orange though, considering by this point she's probably delivered "justice" to some of the craftier cheaters and powergamers out there who avoided criminal charges.

Shishikura Haruko - First Floor Dungeon

The girl nodded silently, and approached Heathcliff.

Aincrad First Floor: Dungeon

Larry broke eye contact with Haruko and turned to look at Heathcliff to reply to his suggestion.

"The more the merrier I suppose."

But even then, Larry would trust the two as far as he could throw a 500 lb dumbbell in real life and continued to stare at Haruko like she was a piece of meat, eyeing her every movement and trying to discern an opening to exploit should the inevitable clash between them happen sooner than expected.

edited 15th May '13 7:21:02 AM by strigon

John Slothe The Starting City

What did we do? I think as the mans words reach my ears. I continue to listen.

Kanata Uesugi - Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

"Oops. Uh, I mean, no worries! We can handle this. Don't panic, don't run or they'll chase you down. We'll support each other, kick their furry asses."

Kanata absently notes that making loud noises will, in-game atleast, "draw their aggro". If he make it through this, he'll put it to good use. As the wolves charge, Kanata easily slides into what some could -very charitably- calls a "combat stance".

1.weave.dodgeleft.dodgeright.2.punch,kick,usemomentumtothrow.3.switchwithgirl.rinse,repeat. Adapt.

First, he have to dodge the wolves' charge and attack from the sides...

Crepemaster24
Within the Starting City
Jacques rolled his eyes as he listened to the guy giving a speech. What do you want to do? he thought. Fight the stronger and better equipped players? Truly, a masterplan right there. Nope, that wasn't how Jacques was going to play it. He had begun playing this game with a goal and he wasn't going to throw his life away because some blowhard was butthurt about missing out on the beta. Now if only he knew his brother's username, he could find him. In the meantime, Jacques was stuck skulking around the city, filching where he could.

Aincrad First Floor: The Starting City

The man growled and continued his speech.

"Those bastards took off on the first day! With their knowledge of their precious beta, they made off with all the good quests and strengthened only themselves! They should have been helping us! But, noooooooooo. They left us to rot!"

"We need to band together, find out who the beta testers are and force them to help!"

Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

The first wolf lunged for Kanae's left side teeth barred, and at the same time another monster leaps towards the girl, who screamed and waved her sword wildly, which by pure luck, lopped off the wolf's HP.

".....Erm...."

Aincrad First Floor: Outside the dungeon

Heathcliff smiled serenely, then gestured at the grass to his side.

"Please, sit. We have strategy to discuss."

"....For instance....What are your skills, friends?"

Kanata Uesugi - Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

What were you thinking?

Oh god you're seriou- hahahahahahahah-

Why not use a sword- the system does the motion for us! It's way easier, stronger too.

-hahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahha-

You silly prat, bringing fists to sword fights.

-hahahahaha-. No, seriously, you're doing it wrong.

There were many who doubts. Many who questions. There were scorn, ridicule.

Always, Kanata have came up with an eloquent counter arguements and dissertation on the benefits of martial arts over steel, mainly by punching everyone in the face before they could complete their Motion to activate the sword skills.

Compared to those days, Kanata easily ignores the fact that "those days" was barely a week ago, these wolves are nothing!

Kanata moves to grab the charging wolf and, with its own momentum, throw them at one of the other beasts. Sparing a single glance, and a smile, at the girl's direction, Kanata counter-charges the wolves.

Shishikura Haruko

She nodded. "One-Handed Swords," she said as she gripped her blade, "and Iron Skin."

Aincrad First Floor: Outside the dungeon

Larry drew his spatha in response to Heatcliff's question.

"One-handed, same as her and acrobatics, Gotta be quick or be dead."

Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

The thrown wolf, rammed two of the others, depleting its own HP and halving the others. The remaining wolves growled, and began circling the two once more.

"I-I don't think that will work anymore..."

At that moment.

"Karina! There you are!"

Two male players ran towards them, one wielding a two handed sword, the other a one-handed spear.

The girl visibly relaxed....

Aincrad First Floor: Outside the Dungeon

Heathcliff nodded slightly.

"One Handed. And Battle Healing. Apparently, we are both tanks, miss."

"....Now, about this dungeon. I have been inside only twice, and indeed the monsters there make the ones out here look like Porings in comparison."

"....A large number of demi-human types, kobolds, goblins and the like. They are dangerous since they can carry weapons and use sword skills..."

Larry snorts derisively at the description of the enemy waiting inside, honestly; he was expecting horrific abominations like giant spiders, psycho midgets with poison blowguns and walking suits of armor carrying swords the width of small children.

"As you can see from the bars over our heads, me and the girl are quite experienced in dealing with enemies of that type."

He spares a glance at the entrance, pausing for effect.

"But then again, It wouldn't be too much of a surprise if they're going to fight intelligently and dirtily."

Kanata Uesugi - Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

Kanata relaxes slightly at the approach of potential friendlies, but kept his eyes on the wolves. Once the players arrive, it will be a simple enough matter to clear them.