Chapter Three

If Dion were here, he’d be getting a slap. I’d been stuck on the very first step of character creation for a long time. “Fairly on brand, I guess.” I said to the empty void and the floating black and red page before me.

What is he, a genie or something? “Use the exact right wording with the gods, they don’t understand the fucking context clues.”

It took a while to calm upon seeing my character creation options. Dion had omitted a rather glaring detail which might have been useful.

All of my options were monsters.

Species Options

Aberration - Beast - Construct - Deep One -

Elemental - Fiend - Monstrosity - Nightbeast -

Ooze - Plant - Undead

My assumption was that picking this option would lead to a slightly deeper choice, maybe one more and then a general assigning of points for attributes or skills. However, this really was a problem, right? When Dion had put it to me to take over the world, I’d… been arrogant. I had thought that innate, and magically enhanced, charisma was the answer.

No. It seemed I would take over the world by force. Okay then. If this is a task from an actual god, I guess this is literally a holy crusade. Deus vult, then.

So… nope. I’m no closer to the answer. I was definitely the type of gamer that would agonise over these decisions before, let alone when it’s actually life and death. At least there were a few that were simple non-starters to be crossed off. Becoming an aberration, construct, deep one or monstrosity just wasn’t happening. Nightbeast sounded interesting, but I had absolutely no idea what that would actually be

Beast had a certain allure. I’d often watched my sleeping dog and wished to trade places, but a cockapoo wouldn’t take over anything except a sofa. Elemental, ooze, plant and undead were also a little esoteric and difficult to imagine becoming. I had read a few stories about the undead, and that made it definitely my number 2 option. As far as taking over the world, zombies certainly would be effective.

Yet, I knew I was just talking around a decision that I’d already made. The promise of magic, and this was the real way to grab that. If anything on this list was likely to let me scratch that itch, it would be that one.

I mentally accepted Fiend and the page moved to the next set of options. Prepared for anything, I managed not to groan this time. I would be here forever.

Fiend Race Options - Tier 0

Hell Hound - Imp - Gremlin - Infernal Bat

Sulfur Snake - Abyssal Hornet - Demon Cat

Flaming Skull - Incubus - Succubus

Cambion - Child of Woe - Penitent

Some of these names were completely unknown to me, while the others felt like a joke. What was even the difference between an imp and a gremlin?

As luck would have it, this choice became easy.

Hey chief! A familiar voice made me scream. Oh! Sorry! You were concentrating, that’s… another strike for me. The first entity, the one who I was pretty sure to blame for my current predicament, sounded in my head. It felt different to hearing, as though the words were a part of my own thoughts, but in a different accent.

Like I said before, I would make it up to you for that accidental firestorm I put your body through. Dion got you all prepared for the transition with the cocktail and now I can give you the gift I was going to give you before. The one that turned your body into pure pain.

“Hi, hey, hello!” I said, trying to stop the voice from doing whatever it was going to do.

Hello, Isaac.

“Can you,” I half-begged, “please just tell me what you’re doing before you do it.” I had dealt with more than enough unexpected surprises since the Earth was destroyed earlier. It was probably going to continue being strange for a long while, so I settled in.

Oh, absolutely, that makes sense. Confusing times, right? Okay, so, I’m going to supercharge your start here a little bit.

“Whoa,” I said, unable to stop myself. “Isn’t that unfair?”

Fairness is something you mortals keep thinking up. Have you ever really seen it occur in practice?

“I… well, that’s a big question.”

Mmhmm, I agree. While you think about that, I’m just going to fiddle with this interface a bit.

The dark box with red letters which had been my only sight in the pitch black disappeared. Strangely, I felt exposed. Or maybe lonely? That feeling was fleeting though, as the box appeared again.

That was wrong, obviously. This was not the same box at all.

The page that appeared looked like the life’s work of the most talented scribe in the world. Each letter and word dripped with luxury, the deep black ink strokes perfect with every letter. The border was a stunning golden filigree.

I much preferred it. Not least of all due to the changes on the page itself. The paper was a light blue, like a duck’s egg..

Species Options

Aberration

Beast

Celestial

Construct

Deep One

Elemental

Dragon

Humanoid

Fae

Fiend

Monstrosity

Nightbeast

Ooze

Plant

Undead

Now we’re cooking. Back to step one, and I am worrying a lot less. Celestial, humanoid, fae… They were nice additions. Except there wasn’t really a choice here, just fluff surrounding an obvious direction. Without wasting time, I chose Dragon.

“So, I’m definitely happier. I’m going to be a dragon?”

Definitely at least something approaching a dragon. I can’t start you out stronger, but I have given you more options. The system doesn’t work like this for anyone else, so make the most of it. The rest is up to you.

“One last thing, if I can.”

Yes?

The voice wasn’t really a voice, it was understanding appearing in my mind. Still, they seemed nice enough. “No hard feelings about the pain. It was awful, I’ll never forget it for as long as I… exist,” I maneuvered around my current limbo-state gracefully, “so, alongside forgiveness, I say thank you and just ask your name.”

Ah, how adorable. Yes, of course. My name is Namaviel. I wish you luck upon the Tree. May you make your mark.

I hadn’t felt them arrive, but I felt the presence of Namaviel leave, like the pressure dropping in an airplane. I smiled to myself and looked at my next set of options.

Draconic Race Options - Tier 0

Chromatic

Gem

Metallic

A lot less options than the fiend’s version. In the literature that I’d read, chromatic dragons tended to be evil, while metallic dragons were benevolent. I’d never heard of a gem dragon before, and without thinking I chose it. I cursed as I realised I couldn’t return to the previous page. I calmed instead of being frustrated. This would probably have been my choice anyway.

Gem Dragon Subspecies Options - Tier 0

Amphithere

Cloudchaser

Drake

Hydra Whelp

Kobold

Wyrmling

I was pretty sure one of those was a type of theatre. As with the fiend choice I had seen, I apparently only had the option of becoming a tier 0 being. The choice didn’t take too long, only a few hours of theorising before I decided. It one again came down to familiarity. Of those options, I only knew of one that had opposable thumbs.

I chose Kobold.

The screen then disappeared for a moment, before reappearing with new information.

Status Page

Name: Undecided

Race: Kobold

Species: Gem Dragon

Level:N/A

Class: None

HP:N/A

Strength

Tier 0

MP:N/A

Body

Tier 0

Magic

Tier 0

Will

Tier 0

This page’s appearance brought with it further understanding. The terms were mostly known to me before, but I understood them on an instinctual level now. Strength for physical might, body for physical durability. Will was magical defense and magic… The magic attribute governs magical power.

The status page was in tutorial mode, it seemed. First, I would have to choose a name. As I reached towards the page, I noticed the change. Gone was my shaky fox mask tattoo, gone were my scars. Replaced with a scaly skin, that to the touch wasn’t hard but soft in a way that my human skin hadn’t been.

I am a kobold now. This is happening. I shivered, and moved past it in my head and on the page.

My name. I have to choose a new name? I’m not very creative, and I was loath to part with one of the final parts of my identity. Still, I couldn’t help hamming it up a little.

Name : Izaark

Next, it seemed, was my class choice. This was the moment of truth, and the options did not disappoint. Actually, this was a little staggering.

Class Options

Alchemist

Artificer

Bard

Barbarian

Battle Master

Cavalier

Druid

Fighter

Healer

Monk

Ranger

Rogue

Shaman

Sorcerer

Warlock

Wizard

That was a lot of options to ignore for the final three choices. It really wasn’t much of a consideration for me, the draw of actual magic at my fingertips was too thrilling. The choice then lay in the difference between the choices. Which was really anyone’s guess.

There was a small part of my mind that still had demons on the mind. Wizards brought to mind people in schools or stuffy old men, which I was not aiming to be. A sorcerer was probably similar, though maybe without the book learning. That was closer to what I wanted, but I wasn’t planning to be a street performer or craftsman.

The world was meant to tremble at me, right? That’s the role I play in this game, and a draconic warlock sounded like exactly the right mix of menace to set people shivering. Reading it on my status page after I reached my clawed hand to choose Warlock helped that feeling.

Status Page

Name: Izaark

Race: Kobold

Species: Gem Dragon

Level:N/A

Class: Warlock

HP:N/A

MP:N/A

The rest of my stats had remained unpopulated, and I moved to what would be the final screen.

Attribute Assignment

Available Experience Points: (EP)

1000

Cost

Strength

Tier 0

100

Body

Tier 0

100

Magic

Tier 0

100

Will

Tier 0

100

There was a smart choice to be made here, and then there was the choice that I made. It was a hill I would happily, though hopefully not, die on. The rest of my status page filled with information and it seemed as though I had completed character creation.

That was when the notifications started to appear. There was a quiet moment between the disappearance of my status page before the chime of bells filled the air. Amongst the pale blue pages, a certain, different, shape stood out. Smaller though it was, I instantly recognised that this was a message from Dion. Written on a slightly stained bar napkin, his handwriting was scratchy and quick. As I focused on it I laughed out loud and shook my head. This really wasn’t fair, but I would take all the advantages he could.

First one is always on the house, hope you come back for another cocktail.

“Achievement unlocked”

Go raise hell, Izaark the dragon warlock.

His words were mirrored on the small collection of system messages aside from Dion’s own.

Achievement Unlocked - The Nectar Of The Gods

Dionysus crafted you a special cocktail, it’s effects are long-lasting.

Effect: Ability unlocked - Strong Constitution

Achievement Unlocked - You’re a rare one, aren’t you?

Gem dragons are extinct on nearly every corner of the Tree. Through you, fate has decreed that they return.

Effect: Improved relation with Dragonkind.

Achievement Unlocked - I’ve heard of you, right?

You are named. Names are powerful within the Tree, and your’s is not simply a noise by which to call you. It is a title with which to announce your coming.

Effect: Improved ability to intimidate others.

Improved ability to converse with others.

The achievements ended there, but the coursing information slotting itself into my brain was an intense feeling. No pain, at least not compared to recent memory, but that was a weird one. My tongue moved around my teeth, feeling the new shape and sharpness of them. A slight worry was now a thing of the past. I knew, with that flood of knowledge, that I could speak multiple strange new languages now. That will definitely move things along.

Ability - Strong Constitution

Effect: You are immune to the effects of diseases and poisons.

You have a small resistance to physical damage.

You have an increased stamina, relative to your Body attribute.

“Cheers, Dion.” I said out loud. My voice surprised me, a little. I chuckled a little and said “the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain” and almost howled at how ridiculous I sounded. I’d get used to it, but compared to how I sounded in my head, it was hilarious. My tongue was thin and snake-like, my jaw larger than before. Talking around a snout was odd.

All the notification pages dealt with, there was one left staring at me, waiting. I took one last look over my status page, feeling confident at what I saw.

Status Page

Name: Izaark

Race: Kobold

Species: Gem Dragon

Level: 01

Class: Warlock

HP:22

Strength

Tier 0

MP:43

Body

Tier 0

Magic

Tier 3

Will

Tier 1

I reasoned that the stronger my magic, the easier it would be to get EP or experience points. You gained that from completing quests and defeating enemies in most games, that would hopefully be how this worked for me.

Putting off the inevitable for long enough, I sucked in a deep breath and hit yes on the final prompt before me.

Start New Life?

Yes

No