Chapter 2: Prologue 2: Prologue Harder
In the mind of the dwarf, an information display supplants his vision of the rune covered walls. Black and gold borders pulsing around a series of tabs. A name in the upper left corner and a number in the upper right are ignored by the dwarf as he selects the tab labeled Respawn Options and Modifiers.
A new sub list populates and he scrolls immediately to the bottom, selecting an entry near the bottom as his eyebrow raises.
“Gloria, make note of two new entries at 10,000,000 XP. First is Ascendance - Rise above the mortal plane, mostly. Second is True Legacy - Guide your descendants. Note Ascendance as a possible solution for my… issue.”
“Both items added. Ascendance noted.”
With a mental nudge, a different entry is selected in the dwarf’s head.
Focusing on the XP cost, a window Identical to the screenshot that Gloria shared earlier appears:
“Yup, sure.” Willing the ‘Yes’ prompts a new entry to appear and a stillness to wash over the dwarf.
“Well, I guess that is why there is no further information available. Sorry I didn’t say goodbye, Gloria.” The dwarf’s lips don’t move, but the thoughts hang in the air of his mental space.
“What is this ‘Karma’?” touching the word mentally causes a small bit of text to appear.
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Karma - This value determines unnamed modifications and options provided to the user after the Full Reroll is complete. Positive results have beneficial modifications, negative results are the opposite. More is better.
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“Oh swell… Well, without my memories I’m not really the same person… so I want to at least reclaim them, and I’m pretty sure I can Sam Beckett for a while. Maybe a mage or engineer path? Magic is fun anyhow. Store, select option C for prompt 1.”
“Interesting, I’d rather not come back as an intelligent amoeba… But some entities would likely be immune to the Bane even if it isn’t cleared otherwise. Heh, maybe an AI? A Dragon, Kraken or Elemental might be an interesting change of pace.” A low chuckle rumbles in the mental space, “Maybe pull old anime meme with a slime life. Convinced myself! Store, select option A for prompt 2.”
“New meaning to Toddler. I really don't want to be too old or too young, but this is one I could work for Karma, I wish I knew how good the benefits might be... Store, select option A for prompt 3.”
“Unavailable?” Focusing on that line of text a new line of text appeared.
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Home Sweet Home is unavailable due to selections for Prompt 2 and 3. Random factors may trigger unexpected survival risks which would be prevented through automated system adjustments.
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“I mean, I suppose if the new body was huge it might be a problem, but why not the same region? Oh, right, land locked, might be rough for a kraken. Ri-ight… Store, reset selections for prompts 1, 2 and 3. Return to prompt 1.”
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Unable to reset selections once they are made for Full Reroll. Option to cancel Full Reroll remains. Cancel Full Reroll?
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“Isn’t that convenient. Store, do NOT cancel Full Reroll. I should have thought to ask. Store, display prompt 5 and the prompt 5 options.”
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Prompt 5 is unavailable for display. All previous prompt selections must be made prior to displaying Prompt 5. Selection for Prompt 4 is not set.
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“Store, can you provide any information about Prompt 5 prior to making all selections for Prompts 1 through 4?”
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No
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“In for a penny, in for a pound… another full random it is. Store, select option A for Prompt 4”
“Hmm, Well, the high Karma variance indicates how important this option is… But do I care? Well, if I start as a baby of an impoverished indenture it would be very high risk. Store, is there anything in place to exclude the possibility of starting enslaved?”
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No
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“Store, are there examples provided for what might qualify as Bottom social status?”
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Branded Criminal, Criminal Indenture, Vilified Creature such as Feral Beastkin in an urban techno center .
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“Yeah, certainly not good. I could work around it though. But I also don’t want the politics of nobility… certainly don’t want to pay for it… So Boring, but... Store, select option A for Prompt 5”
“Yeah, time for a change.”
Mentally pressing the Yes selection triggers a glow that washes over the dwarf from all directions. Brightness increases moment by moment until the very flesh of the stout body begins to flake away, revealing only more light beneath. Once the dwarf is gone the light pulses and shrinks to nothing.
