The Call To Come

~With the roaring cries of the thundering trumpets and the cheers of the nation's vast populous behind him, Ryilin would leave the masses to there merriment....while he conducted toward the task given to him by the Queen.~

"Equip, Duel Cutlass: Aigis, Metis.."

~In a flash of light two sheathed blades appeared at his sides just as he made his way off into the distance and toward the warp crystal back by the Inn.

A lot of things happened during Beta testing...players back then would seem to lose who they really where outside of AO, taking up the persona of the characters fully....and to those who took up PKing...this meant severe mental confusion, which formed into things such as AO Serial Killers, or Terrorists. In a response to this a few where chosen by their respective Nation's leaders to seek these players out end there cruel attempts at humor before they would even get the chance.

Though even this sadist aspect was frowned upon, it was still apart of the game and it was up to it's own players to solve and handle these type of situations...~


~Something one should know of Ryilin was that, the killing of innocents was something he would not tolerate. The world of AO was suppose to be fun, and those who tried to ruin this...would find no mercy in his blade.

This would be the first time since Beta that he'd been called to duty.

The agitated aggression mod, something Adam had made solely for himself as a means to couple Ryilin's power and skill with a means of outer intimidation in times such as this caused his left eye to glow in a crimson light. Its lingering glow being the last thing saw of him before warping out of the City...~

There wasn't as great of a turn out of players for the speech this morning as Melodia had hoped, but it wasn't entirely unexpected. It was early in the morning for her, and around dinner time in America. Maybe things would pick up later in the day. Synced time on AO ran on GMT, which made it 1330; just after lunch. The midday sun would have blinded just about everyone in the crowd if she let it, but the shaded arch where she had chosen to position the guard was well enough out of the sun's reach to provide her some sort of comfort.

Though outwardly she kept her face expressionless to appear more like an NPC, she was honestly dying of boredom on the inside. She kept thinking 'Back in Beta...,' (insert thought here). Beta, beta, beta. That was dumb to dwell on the past, since things were bound to be even greater now, with an increasingly more detailed plot to sift through to accommodate the masses. How would AO manage to keep players in the loop about plots? Or would it allow each player to experience the game differently? It was hard to tell, since the number of ways information was distributed changed dramatically week to week pre-public release. Only time would tell.

The black stallion below her chomped at the bit, trying to rip the reins from her gauntlet-clad hands every so often, but Melodia wasn't fazed. A sharp tug and firm nudges with her legs kept him on the spot, though his prancing caught the eyes of a few new concerned players. Again, she cursed whatever stablemaster decided it would be best to give her such a green mount. He snorted, ears flicking straight back as he tried to nip her leg. A sharp tug and a firm hit later remedied that particular bought, making him stand in frame, fuming. Melodia made a mental note to stay a bit more ahead of the others than formation strictly called for, to avoid him putting his hooves in the face of the horse behind him.

Sometimes the horse AIs were just too realistic.

Athos had appeared only for the speech, it was just very simple. He guessed it was to see, who would show up and he didn't really see anyone of interest. His Shield was on his right and the sword in his sleathe just ready for combat. Of course, he was not of this nation, his duty was to Lordon for some odd reason. He was a soldier for hire, better know as a Mercenary but one day. He would be known as a Knight, to be one of the four or even the leader itself.

Of course it was only natural for him to become the best in this game. Like the others he had played. Now he was just trying to find out, what to do now. He was walking around the plaza, it was just the average place but he wished to do something. If not, then he would just wait for the chance to head back to his nation and do some sort of Quest.

He saw horses come and go, he didn't think they existed here. Yet, they must be the mounts, he wondered if there were dragons. That might be done the line of course, but nothing else was new to him. It looked like World of Warcraft, expect that he was there in the game, instead of pressing buttons to fight. " I wonder, what will happen now "

A tad late to the party, Zelisus rolled over to a crowd that was slowly gathering for the celebration. The first event in this VRMMO and it didn't look too packed. Maybe not a lot of people hear of it and he and Eisen was lucky enough to overhear some information about it. Speaking of Eisen, he looked back to ensure his friend was following him. Most likely he was...outside of the game, Seven was observant and quick on his feet. It was balanced by his mainly friendly attitude toward everyone.

He was bunched into the growing crowd, stuck next to a guy with black hair and white clothing, brandishing a shield and a sword. It looked cool, very balanced and tactically correct... Zelisus stood there wondering if he looked stupid having basically just a pair of long metal gloves ("D-D-D-Do I look like a noob?! TT~TT"). While he stood being completely embarrassed, someone pushed him to bump against the guy's shield on the right side a little, since he was being squished.

"Oh, crap. S-Sorry."

He said, lowering his head and little and tried to look ahead at the event, which was easier since he was taller ("Hell...yeeeeeahhh!!).

There were trumpets ("Are those real trumpet players or are they NPCs? It'd be cool if they were real."), colorful banners and...people on horses of all colors. Whoa. Those horses looked real. To be honest, Elise never touched a horse. For the longest, she wanted to ride one ("just not the one nipping the poor lady, geez"). She had always seen them in videos online or TV, but she never actually touched one or rode one. Call her sheltered, I suppose. It's what you get for living in the middle of Edinburgh, where your mother and father were mostly absent, yet still pulled the strings. School, home, occasionally out with friends, but nothing exciting like riding horses or doing sports she always wanted to like kendo or fencing or some kind of martial art.

The event went on.

The crowd was maybe no more than a hundred players or so. Zelisus went ahead of Eisen, but he was following close enough to be seen in his sight. As he approached the crowd, he was cut off by a separate party, so he couldn't get to where Zelisus was but he was still able to see him. Not many people went for the silver hair look so it wasn't too difficult to find him if they were separated from each other. 

Eisen turned his attention towards the attraction. A mix of NPCs and players were there, a majority of them on horses. Horses are everywhere in this city so there's no surprise but some of them has armor and a good variety of color. You can hear the trumpets echo throughout the plaza and the chattering among the people in the crowd, anticipating any announcements regarding their presence. The wind that circulated throughout the city waved the many banners with great volume. Just the atmosphere of it all was enough to keep Eisen interested. 

Normally, he would have his long sword equipped on the left side of his waist, but with the crowd slowly increasing in numbers, he decided to rest it on his back for the time being. His long sword, Elaine, emits a very faint light that's barely even noticeable, especially in such a sunny day like this. Eisen is keeping a constant look out for Zelisus, making sure they don't separate too far. He witnessed Zelisus being pushed a bit, accidentally bumping to the guy standing next to him and apologizing to him. Eisen couldn't help but chuckled and then sent his attention back towards the event. "I hope we didn't miss much. What's going on here anyway? I don't like sitting in crowds, but I can bare with it."

The ball of light flies over to Brigthwall and steers itself over to where the opening ceremony is taking place. The ball hovers over the ground of the new destination and forms the body of Xereu back to normal. He held his head in one hand from the dizziness of how the teleportation scroll works in this game. It'll take a while for him to get used to compared to the other MMOs where you didn't need the VR Gear. Once recovered, Xereu notice several people roaming towards the same destination and follows them. Granted, opening ceremonies are usually small on many other games since everyone is grinding early to reach end game. However, this one was greatly different from the rest.

There is a massive variety of NPCs, players, and special units waiting for the opening ceremony to begin. About 1/2th of the population is beta players while the other half is newcomers. It was very easy to tell the difference because of how exclusive some of the gear players were wearing along with special perks, titles, and mounts. Xereu was quite impressed from how AO has easily achieved a high recruitment on players that can easily beat World of Warcraft opening launch. Once arrived at the destination, he would wait for the ceremony to begin himself.

Out of nowhere, he'd felt a muscular hand placed on his shoulder and heard a familiar voice. However, it sounds different because it had an animal snare mixed into the vocal tone.

"Είναι ασφαλές να υποθέσουμε ότι είστε Peropo, σωστά?"
(It's safe to assume that you're Peropo, correct?)

Xereu's facial expression was confused with his eyebrow arched. Surely, he didn't know anyone else that knew his actual name already unless it was his father. He turns around and saw a tribal beast-man with battle scars all over its body. the attire is a red tribal uniform with only a armor plate on the left side of its shoulder. It had hair nearly all over its body as well and it looked a bit unique due to having a bulky body to match along with it. Xereu would let out a light smile and cross his arms.

Visual Image of Peropo's Father:

"Και υποθέτω ότι είστε ο πατέρας μου? Μου δώστεένα σπάσιμο."
(And I assume that you're my father? Give me a break,)

The two of them laugh at their comments since it really doesn't look like a father and son team at all. Imagine: A son who looks full human that has a father who is a beast-warrior that must have gotten lucky with a female human. Doesn't sounds like a typical novel or animation that's for sure. In the meantime, the ceremony is just about to begin so the duo listen carefully and awaited for what the ceremony was all about.

You know, one of the worst things about having your wife as the Queen was having to wait for all those hand maidens to finally finish with all their primping and preening of her. There wasn't a single day where Gabriel would be able to see Elizabeth first thing in the morning without being barred by flittering women doing her hair, makeup, or lacing her into her dress. In all honesty, it was more than simply maddening. But, he supposed that was what he got for not insisting she share his quarters.

Now, he tapped his foot as he waited for her to finally make her entrance to the curtained back area of the balcony; he simply couldn't appear to the public without her, but by the looks of the increasingly engorging veins upon his advisor's forehead, Gabriel wasn't the only one becoming impatient with the frivolous pace of the Queen's handmaidens.

As he dashed towards the area, Zion was met with a mass of players, probably even some from different countries, all this was exciting to take in, but as soon as his excitement came it left due to clumsiness. He hadn't taken into account that he could in fact trip over these other players and ended up face first on the ground once more. This time he was quick to get up at the thought of embarrassment and dusted himself off. He looked around quickly and lowered his head, hiding his face with one hand.

-I really hope nobody saw that...-

Zion then shuffled awkwardly through the mass and waited to see what this ceremony was all about.

The notification message of a P.M well sent appeared just after sending her request for vengeance. Her handmaidens circled around her putting on the finishing touches for her celebration attire. The maidens where quit stunning, wrap in dress robes of white silk while their gorgeous faces where hidden behind emotionless masks and though they where sights to behold they where nothing but the frame for the masterpiece they surrounded.

The doors to the Queen's chamber opened, the handmaidens began to flow out like blood from a wound making a two side by side lines down the hallway forming a walkway for her highness.

As she made her way through each corridor and turn, the large assembly of handmaidens followed like white shadows. Through she wore no mask her face held the same level of emotion as those of her followers if not more serious.

The door to the balcony area opened, the curtain still closed. With a wave of her hand the handmaidens where dismiss as they went to handle other duties in the castle.

"Well don't just stand there....our people are waiting."

Such a loving attitude was shared with the only other that shared the balcony at this time, her husband the King and although she knew the grimace he must be giving her toward her tardiness and attitude, what did she care? The people where waiting....and that was all that mattered.

Gabriel hadn't always been of such a high station. There was a time when he'd just been a common footsoldier, duking it out for what he believed in like anyone else. Never once had he regarded anyone he had slain as a particularly evil individual, but instead each foe was just that; individual. To extinguish a life, and the views that it held, was no laughing matter. Soldiers laughed and drank away their guilt, much like Gabriel had, for what else was there to do? If there was a man trying to kill you, it was often best to stick a sword through his gut before he got the chance to do the same to you. However, it wasn't the greatest mindset to be put on the throne with. People trusted him, lavished gold upon him in hopes that he would allow the kingdom to prosper (which it did), that he would lead them in kindness (which he tried to), and that overall he would be a good king (which he hoped he was).

But day-in and day-out, the king found himself dumbfounded by how such a simple man (of admittedly great physical prowess) could deserve any of the things that surrounded him on a daily basis. Especially his wife. She took his breath away as if it were nothing... thanks in part to, of course, the primping and preening that occupied much of her time that the men of the court were so found of ridiculing.

Offering her his arm, Gabriel straightened and cleared his throat. Of course she wanted him to be the flustered boy that she'd first charmed, but wartime had changed him, made him a more confident man; she'd need a lot more than that to colour his cheeks now.

"We'd have already been out there if it weren't for your maidens, my Queen," he teased. Of course he wasn't going to get off lightly for the jab, but there would be time enough for 'revenge' after the cerimonies.

As one, they stepped onto the balcony and into the sunlight, the rich reds and shimmering golds of their family colours glinting famously. Gabriel was sure to put on his best carefree smile before he addressed the masses.

"Welcome," he began, his voice deep and pleasant, amplified artificially by the game, "to the Kingdom of Stormveil. I am well aware that a good many of you shall not stay here long, but always know that you are welcome by myself, King Gabriel, personally. My wife, Queen Elizabeth, would extend the same warm welcome. Looking to you, I see a great many new faces, and far fewer returning to me.

"If you look to your left, you may find a friend. To your right, a rival; such a statement may not appear true at first glance, nor may it manifest itself in the most clear manner, but you may trust in its validity.

"Today is a day of celebration, however. A day to celebrate the discovery of many a new face, and to kindle the sparks of new relationships. I expect each one of you to make the most of the free food and drink, and indulge to your heart's content. Those whom have chosen to ally themselves with our neighbours, you have until sunset to explore. After the sun has set, you will be transported to the hometown of your nation. Thank you, all."

He paused, turning to his wife,

"Anything to say, my Queen?"

Putting her husband's smart mouth aside, Elizabeth stepped forward onto the balcony the sunlight hitting her like glorious spot light. There were so many, so many citizens of her country before, all looking rather glorious under that same sunshine.

As childish as he could be Gabriel's words where always so proud and it was when he spoke like this did the strong man she fell in love with vibrated out underneath his layers of childish antics and apathy.

A smile of all things came to the Queen's face as she stepped forward to address her nation's people.

"You are now in a world of endless possibilities, your limits are only what you make them to be. So no matter what you used to be here you all have the capability to be whatever you want to be. So go forth and make legends..."

She took one last time to look throw the crowd, to see all of their faces. Who among them would become the next great hero, or try to take her throne one day, or even become a mass PKer? There was no way for her to tell but...this was their world now and she was sure that they would make it a grand one.

"Dismissed!"

She said ending the formalities of the ceremony. With a wave of her hand she gave the order for the fireworks and so the players would now be free to go and began their journeys.

Turning and heading back into the castle the smile she had on her face still clang to her face...

"Time to go, it's in their hands now...but I don't feel like stepping aside just yet. What of you, my King?"

"Ah so that's the King and Queen? No way I'd be able to do their job. Queen Elizabeth was it? She sure does fit the role. Now...where did she go?.."

The masses of players begin to scatter going in all directions. This made it harder for him to locate Zelisus. Eisen was so fixated at the ceremony, he didn't keep an eye on his partner. Eisen also wonders what they should do first. There are so many options even at the beginning levels. Usually in typical MMOs there's a linear path from the starting zone leading into the major city. And usually your character reaches around level 10 by the time you do reach the major city. But in Ardermina Online it's different. Right when you create your avatar, you immediately spawn right into the city of your choice. And it looks like from there you can start doing everything immediately, whether if its crafting, questing, joining guilds, PvPing, the list goes on. Eisen anticipates to do everything but first he needs to find his former classmate.

Eisen shouts through the crowd of players.

"Zelisus! Can you hear me?! Where'd you go?!"

The crowd in front of him seemed to not respond to him, the mixture of NPCs and players ignoring his cries. However, eventually, a limb reached out above the crowd to wave to him. It stayed in the air as it waded over to him as if in water, gently weaving between the sea of people. Eventually he found himself in front of Eisen, the white haired tattered youth in his novice garments. He bent over a little, huffing after having to go through such feats just to reach him.

"Right here! Sorry, that was nuts. But you saw right?"

The male character's eyes lit up with excitement and wonder. The whole ceremony was soooo awesome. For a girl to never have seen such things especially on an online game, it was amazing. Zelisus grabbed Eisen's arm with a wolfish grin.

"Let's go and find out what we can do with these characters! Grab some levels!"

"Whoa! Excited aren't we? Although I can't blame you, I also want to find out what else we can do and how this game works. Hmm..Where do we get quests?"

Eisen can't help but smile at Zelisus's excitement. Eisen focuses his attention back onto the plaza, trying to determine where the front gate may be.

"Come on, let's head towards the main gate. I'm sure some guards or a bulletin board will have something for us to do. Have any idea which way that is?"