Death Game: The Floating Castle of Aincrad

John Slothe Starting City

I don't want to go to the dungeon, it's dangerous in there! I've gotta get out of here!

I start walking away from the crowd.

Okay just keep walking slowly. Don't draw attention to yourself otherwise everyone will notice you.

edited 17th May '13 12:02:24 PM by Yeti0

Aincrad First Floor: The starting city

The man catches sight of the figure attempting to leave.

"Hey, you!"

"....Aren't you going to join us?"

Aincrad First floor: Fields.

The arrival of the two players seemed to trigger something within the wolves who howled in what seemed to be frustration and promptly ran away.

The girl, Karina, immediately sobbed in relief and jumped into the arms of the young man who wielded the sword.

"Oniichan!"

As the youth awkwardly comforted his sister, the other player, a dark haired youth with hostile eyes and a scruffy goatee, turned to look at Kanae.

"And you are?"

Kanata Uesugi - Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

The tension leaking out of his body, Kanata observes this -for some reason, this guy demeanour evokes an imagery of a rat. Well, this guy looks like he didn't wake up on the right side of the bed. Partially because his handle is simply a portmanteau of his name, but mostly because he plain forgot, Kanata introduces himself plainly.

"The Name's Uesugi. Kanata Uesugi."

With a disarming smile and a proffered hand, Kanata asks with just the mildest note of disapproval.

"And you, friend?"

Despite his amiability, an unspoken question hangs in the air- why would you let her wander alone?

John Slothe Starting City

Okay just remain calm and answer the question.

Honestly, I'm a little scared to help.

HereComesTreble72 - Aincrad First Floor: Fields Outside the City

Al, who had been watching the entire time, ran from the bushes he had been taking cover behind to give the four his congratulations.

"That was simply wonderful!" He cried as he ran up to the four. He held up his hands in a frame like position as he envisioned what he saw only moments ago. "I can still see it clearly: A young maiden, facing imminent demise by a pack of savage beasts. Then a young hero leaps into the fray to fight them! As all hope seems lost, two more heroes arrive to the rescue to drive off their foes! Tell me, if that is not inspirational, what is?"

Al had an odd glimmer in his eyes as he took out his instrument, a bizarre hybrid of saxophone and flute, and prepared to play a fanfare to commemorate their victory.

Shishikura Haruko

The girl responded bluntly, "Don't group me in with you." Yeesh, Sounds like someone wasn't feeling too friendly.

Larry smugly snorts in derision.

"Doesn't change the fact that you've taken lives like me. Dress it up all you want, but in the end; you cut down your fellow human beings."

edited 19th May '13 3:14:31 AM by strigon

Inside the Starting City

Jacques knew he was going to regret this. He stepped forward to be next to John. "I don't think forcing someone into helping you is the best way to go, friend. Honey attracts more bees than vinegar."

Aincrad First Floor: Fields

The ratlike player glared at Kanata in a manner not unlike the wolves from before.

When he spoke, his voice was, appropriately enough, sharp like a predator. "You're giving up your real name? That's pretty damn stupid-."

Just then, the other young man, who in stark contrast to his companion, looked like a clean and wholesome "boyscout", cut him off and spoke politely.

"Apologies, please don't mind my cousin. I am Kyoushirou. You've met my sister Karina...and surly here is Argent."

Argent snorted but said nothing.

"I really would like to thank you. Imagine my surprise when we found Karina missing from our room in the inn!"

Karina glared at her brother. "I told you that I wanted to be strong, too!"

"And I told you that you'd be dead in five minutes!" grunted Argent.

Karina was about to reply, but that was when Al burst into the scene.

.....Awkward silence. And then.

"Who the hell are you?" demanded Argent.

Aincrad First Floor: Starting City

The man glared at them for a moment, but then turned away.

"Whatever, do what you want! Just don't come crying to us when you're about to die!" He then promptly ignored them, and returned to his speech.

Aincrad First Floor: Dungeon.

Heathcliff raised his hand ans spoke, a little bit sharper. "Peace. We are all trapped here. We must come together."

"...Anyway, would either of you like to join me in a mapping mission? It will be beneficial for all of us if we find the boss."

Larry turns towards Heathcliff and shrugs.

"Was planning on raiding this place anyway."

He then stares at his spatha for a moment, as if he was imaging the blood that will inevitably be covering it.

edited 19th May '13 3:17:55 AM by strigon

Starting City

Now that the man had dropped his attention onthem, Jacques turned to the other player. "So, what's with the sneaking off, man?"

Starting City

Gray

Another day, and he was no closer to discovering anything. All he knew insofar from his dreams was that his name was "Gray". As far as he was concerned, this world was his "real world". A large two handed sword behind his back, which he found himself able to use quite well.

Deciding to see what kind of quests and individuals he could find here today, and if these could maybe bring him some answers. Aincrad was a dangerous world, though, so he would need to also go do some training against the monsters that roamed the wild.

Thus, roaming around the Starting City, Gray thought about how it seemed some people had joined a guild of some sort. Maybe there was a limit to how much he could figure out at his current state, and alone. He would need to go train until he would be worthy of being depended upon.

As he walked through an area looking for information, he then overheard something going on, and a few people talking. It looked like someone was asking for help or something, and others were talking to him.

edited 19th May '13 7:58:48 PM by NickTheSwing

John Slothe

I turn to the man that helped me and answer his question in a whisper.

"I was walking away because I'm one of the Beta testers that man wants to force into the dungeon... Also thanks for the help. John Slothe is my name. What's yours?"

Gray

Gray decided to walk over and see who these people might be, given that those people who went off looked hostile, and that they might not take no for an answer. And if their activities were discovered perhaps by the more upstanding people on here, then they might get into trouble.

And he couldn't just stand and watch.

"...I don't think you guys have seen the last of guys like that."

edited 19th May '13 8:05:16 PM by NickTheSwing

Kanata Uesugi - Aincrad First Floor: Fields outside the city

And did you say you were watching us fight them instead of helping? Even through you thought we couldn't handle them?...

Is what Kanata would have said, had he not realized that, with the wolf-rat-man raidating hostility, such words may well be akin to putting the eccentric stranger into the path of a rampaging bull. Rather, he said,

"And what's that instrument you're playing, friend?"

Sure, Kanata was a bit peeved at the man, but any anger he felt was overcome by sheer curiosity.

edited 23rd May '13 9:51:44 AM by PBlades

Jacques: Inside the Starting City

Jacques paused and considered giving a false name but decided that it would be better if he had trustworthy friends. "Jacques," he replied with a smile. "Jacques Lemieux." If this guy was a beta tester like Jacques's brother, maybe he'd know him.

However, before Jacques had an opportunity to ask, a third person joined them. Jacques nodded in agreement with what the younger man said. "He does make a good point." Realizing that both the others had weapons, he grinned. "So let's leave this place. Maybe head over to the fields or something? I mean, the longer we stay, the more likely they'll find out about you being a... Y'know. So what say the three of us work together?"

John Slothe

"Sounds like a plan. Lead the way Jacques!" I say. "Also, You, what's your name guy?" I ask the third member of our group.

HereComesTreble72 - Aincrad First Floor: Fields Outside the City

Al stopped short of playing and gave the rather impudent young man a wide-eyed stare as he realized that he had forgot his manners.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I become rather forgetful of my manners when I get excited." Holding his instrument in one hand, he took off his top hat with the other and gave a bow "You may call me Treble. I am but a humble wandering minstrel, although since we're only on the first floor, I haven't been doing much wandering."

He gave a small laugh as he turned to address Kanata. "Ah, this. It's a Saxoflute. I had a friend of mine custom-make it. He's dead now..." His voice trailed as his gaze fell to the ground, but he immediately raised his head back up and regained his sunny disposition.

"But enough about me, Mr. Uesugi! There should be a celebration about you!" He once again put his mouthpiece to his mouth as he prepared to play a tune.

Gray

Gray nodded in agreement with what Jacques was saying, and besides, he was headed out to the Fields anyway to get some training in. He supposed this might be a good chance to make friends.

"My name is Gray." He realized then that he didn't have a secondary name, but he hoped they didn't notice. He then gave thought to the offer of a partnership, "And...yeah, I'm willing to work together with you guys."

He did not consider himself a solo act, but he was admittedly worried about these two. Well, that just meant that he would need to pull more weight and help them out if they needed it.

edited 23rd May '13 1:06:48 PM by NickTheSwing

ColonelKillaton420 Aincrad First Floor: Fields Outside the City
A figure appeared in the distance, running much faster than any normal player character had any right to. But this was no ordinary player. No, this was one who had forgone the use of any combat skills, laughably ill-suited for fighting, and so far only managed to level up by sharing quest rewards, or running around bears while others stabbed it. But for all his shortcomings, he could run. By God, could he run.

Little did the man know that he was soon about to find several other equally-unarmed players.

"Ha, awesome hat, man," Jax said to Al when he got close.