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beta testing 0.1: tutorial & dungeon
beta testing 0.1
BETA NOTE: This log is being used for Duocaeli’s Tutorial & Dungeon Beta Testing. Please note that some game features are limited and will be noted in this format on pages, and an invitation is still required to play. Thank you and have fun!
"On" Tutorial
It’s pitch black. Is the darkness an old friend or a source of anxiety for you? Who’s to say what you were doing before, but right now there’s only one thing before your eyes: an ominous word over a slowly generating bar.
All at once - you’re plunged into color.
> A1. TUTORIAL START
If you’re lucky, the first sights that greet you are lush greenery, dancing street performers, and a grand statue of an elephant with assorted birds nesting nearby. Welcome to Avisle’s Town Square.After a quick once-over, you’ll find that everything that you had on you before arriving is accounted for–so if you were barefoot and in your pajamas, you might not have much–with one notable addition: a glowing crystal in your pocket. The roughly cut gem fits in your palm and is already fastened on a chain for you. Convenient!
Soon after finding it, the crystal will begin to project information in front of you that is remarkably legible, even if you’ve never seen these particular runes before. It reads: New Worldwalker’s Checklist. Below, a series of tick boxes await you. You may need to start asking around or exploring. Seems like you’ve got things to do!
If you’re less fortunate, it seems you’ve landed just a bit outside the maintained grounds of the city itself. Somehow you’ve spawned in the middle of a pack of wolves. Huh! Well. You can see the city not too far from here, so maybe if you’re quick… Time to learn on your feet!
Whenever you do get to safety and complete the same inventory of your person, the crystal will respond to you just the same. Apparently you just decided to play on Hard Mode.
> A2. THE BUSTLING GUILD TOWN
☑️ Join a Guild
Avis Isle is a deeply uncharted place, welcoming explorers and curious adventurers. The Guilds do their best to provide structure for the city proper and for those getting a grasp of their magic; the Interguild Alliance (IGA) oversees the Guild Hub where quests are posted and dungeon crawls are organized. While there are all sorts of Guilds around, there are five main wings for each of the Grand 5.
Why not get to know them better? NPCs will call you over and try to encourage you to join them, some with challenging jeers and others with sincere, kind invitations–don’t you know that the very first guild that you join is free? Choose wisely! The guild’s mascot animal, some type of Avian, sits upon a very nice and color-coded throne in their respective wing awaiting your choice. Once you’ve made your selection, it will croon (or honk) at you, and your membership is complete. While you can’t actually hear the words, you have a feeling you’ve been told something like, “Now get to work, fresh meat!”
—Though if you're dallying, guilds aren't without mischief. A stray bird (though never The Throned Mascot Bird) may suddenly run by, webbed feet slapping on tile, and steal one of your items before ducking into the respective wing of their guild. The same goes for those that try to leave without joining a guild. Theft is a great marketing strategy, right?
> A3. BEGINNER’S QUEST: DUNGEON CRAWL
For all new worldwalkers, there is one quest that you must complete upon joining the server. Some call it fun-datory, some call it hazing. Don’t worry about it! Your crystal will blink at you before providing the details of the quest:
☑️ Dungeon Mission:
Retrieve the Hiccuping Hifloon
Retrieve the Hiccuping Hifloon
Though should there come a moment that you find yourself low on energy, whether it be from simple exhaustion or magic use, your communication crystal will flash. A new understanding will come to you: it is possible to transfer mana to one another via gestures of affection, borrowing from your traveling partner’s own energy. Why don’t you go and try it now? Holding a hand might just make you feel better, and not just emotionally!
> A4. TUTORIAL END
And with that, you’ve wrapped up the Duocaeli tutorial! Congratulations!! That said, while it's understandable to get off-track—if you outright ignore the prompts from your to-do list, you’ll find yourself respawning in front of the goal you need to accomplish! Come on, work with us a little here. Or don’t? You can be trapped in a loop if you really want.
Now you’re free to explore the rest of town. While there are some land masses in the distance, out past the wolves, it seems they're not quite open to you at the moment. Attempts to wander closer will lead to you getting turned right back around, and some glitchy text coming from your Communication Crystal that reads SERVER TRAFFIC.
If you poke around the options on your Communication Crystal, or just spend long enough logged on confused, you will eventually find it prompting you through the steps of Logging Out. Seems like there’s more still that awaits you.
"OFF" Tutorial
> B1. HOME SWEET HOME
When you awaken in the OFF world, the pressure on the front of your face is a little more apparent. Taking off the digital visor is easy—and it can turn compact right in your hand! Getting it to snap back into your cell phone just right might be a pain, thank goodness it’s durable—oh right, did we mention you have a cell phone? Whether you’re familiar with the device or not, it’s right there in your palm, the same color as your Duocaeli crystal. A closer examination of your clothes will also reveal that while your threads are familiar, they’re not exactly what you had in Duocaeli. Ever heard of a department store? They’re a little more like what you’d find there! Finally, your phone will suddenly beep and provide you with a new checklist, starting with:☑️ Locate Domus Hosus Room
Seems like the first one is to find your room… But as you take a closer look around you, you might finally notice it—the way that the tiles on the floor seem to be shuddering in excitement at your awakening, the opening and closing of windows and cabinets to get your attention and say hi. Not only is the house alive, it seems to be happy to see you! Make your request—maybe a passing soul tells you that the house likes to be called Dodo, rather than the formal Domus Hosus—and see if it can be answered! Dodo so wants you to be comfortable here.
…and perhaps be a little mischievous? As you try to find your room, designated by your name on a plaque, you might be in for a surprise. Maybe the stairs suddenly turn into a slide, prompting you to tumble into another person. Perhaps the doors flicker and switch at the last second, prompting you to find an unfamiliar neighbor instead of your own lodgings. Is this what they call… a meet cute?
> B2. SURVIVE THE INTERNET
☑️ Post on DUONET
You have some questions, right? Don’t worry, whether for the inquisitive mind or the petty complaint, there’s always the internet! Through your cell phone, you’ll be prompted and guided through the steps of posting on DUONET, which is available to your fellow Worldwalkers. Don’t forget there’s also an Anonymous function, though it’s not without its own hiccups!
> B3. HELLO, MY NAME IS
At some point in your exploration, you’ll be interrupted by a neat little beep beep! On the screen of your phone:
☑️ Go to Dodo's Welcome Mingle
Or It'll Be Sad It Worked Really Hard On It :(
Or It'll Be Sad It Worked Really Hard On It :(
O-Oh. No reason not to drop in for a little while at least, right? Heading down to the Lobby of the Dodo House will reveal that it's been spruced up for all the new arrivals—sweet little string lights and dinky party streamers probably look a little silly against the grand art nouveau architecture, but don't you see how the lights surge happily at your arrival? It's the thought that counts!
All arrivals to the party will also find themselves with a name tag that lists one fact about them, regardless of whether it's a closely guarded secret or an actual fun fact! Those are impossible to think of when you're put on the spot—isn't it nice to have one thought of for you?
> B4. THE GOOD FORTUNE CITY
Once you're done partying, you and your newfound friends are free to hit the town. There are an unusual amount of signs that read CLOSED FOR PRIDE PARADE PREP, but you'll at least find that the local convenience stores and basic modern amenities are open.
Perhaps you should focus on the way other people here treat you so familiarly, as though you’ve been here all your life. Maybe some of it is jogging your memory, maybe not. Regardless, it seems that, for now, you’re here to stay. The question is how, or whether, you’ll make the best of it.
OOC Notes
During Beta Testing, we'd like to remind players that we're accepting any and all feedback that could help us improve the game before official start!
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duocaeli duologs duolingosTaken / Applications / Hiatus & Drops
FULL NAVIGATION
no subject
i cant believe you did this though. hilarious. Meanwhile Matsui is just standing here like ?? ???? ???? because clearly the concept of a digital world is one that isn't too familiar to him!! At least "other worlds" are, in general, or he'd be even more at a loss.]
A digital world? Logging out...? [BUZEN WHY DID YOU GO TO THE LOGS. Matsui, who barely had time to pay attention to his crystal, finally fumbles for it to check it again. At least he's finished everything up to joining a guild...]
...Ah. So - in order to leave this place, I have to finish this? Is that what you mean? And then I'll find Buzen's logs?
no subject
Not his... [HIS LOGS. Help him. How is he gonna explain to a Boomer what the digital universe is? With the utmost patience:] Not his logs.
Leaving this world is called "logging off," and coming back here is called "logging on." It'll make a little more sense when you finally leave, I think. [...maybe.] But you're right about finishing.
Every time you complete one of these, [Can they see other's crystal things, idk!!! Anyway, he points through the display from the backside with a finger to the checklist.] it'll check it off. It's like a tutorial.
Uh... it's like... instructions. To teach you what to do here.
no subject
Hateful that he's a boomer in Riku's eyes now, though. This is the biggest tragedy to date.]
Oh... [HE SEES. Or does he. Hard to tell, there isn't much by way of expression to go off of. He probably sees??
He at least understands the importance of completing this stupid checklist, even if he's making a little bit of a displeased face at his crystal thing. PRESUMABLY THEY'RE NOT CRYSTAL-BLIND?? It's fine. ANYWAY.]
I don't think that it's very necessary. [He's saying this only because it's putting steps between himself and Buzen('s logs).] ...But if that is what it takes to "log off", then I will finish it quickly.
no subject
Riku can absolutely tell there is only a little understanding here, but it's fine.]
Well, you've completed the first one if you've joined one of the Guilds at least. The only thing left is the dungeon. I think you have to go with at least one other person to complete it.
[Forced Buzen not to be here for that in this thread, SAD.]
I'm Riku, by the way.
no subject
Have you already completed the dungeon? [Matsui says these words very stiffly like a boomer who is trying to feel his way around new lingo, so maybe the boomer title is deserved... IT'S FINE. He's going to stumble into Sooyoung apparently and make her regret accidentally making contact with aliens.
But!! Oh yeah, introductions, those are a thing. He dips his head a little.]
I am called Matsui Gou. Thank you for the help so far, Riku.
no subject
[Sorry for the immediate first name basis, they just all say first names where he’s from. This got him quickly into friend trouble with Buzen, so why not just accidentally forcing everyone into friendship.
Also realized Buzen didn’t say Gou, so now Riku can’t know they are related.]
I haven’t tried the dungeon yet. I only read over what it said about it. I thought I should probably join one of the guilds before I try. I’d have to find a partner too.
[Teamwork…]
no subject
Matsui doesn't use honorifics with anyone including people who are definitely higher up on the social ladder than he is, though, so tragically he doesn't assume that they're now turbo besties... unlike SOME PEOPLE.
He does, however, seem to consider the fact that this guy doesn't yet have a dungeon partner.]
Are partners necessary? ...If you still need one, then I can offer my aid, if you would like.
[He just wants to get to Buzen faster help. Also make sure this guy survives he guesses, he's been nice... wow i can finally bring the chaos plates to this thread]
no subject
He is turbo besties accidentally with Buzen, but remains simply passing acquaintances with Matsui, hilarious. HOLD ON, DON'T BRING THE PLATE BACK, I'LL KILL YOU. THEY AREN'T EVEN DOING ANYTHING WITH FOOD.]
I don't think you can complete the quest without at least one other person... so yeah. [Partners required. Tch.] Only if you want. If you have someone else you'd rather go with, I don't mind.
There doesn't seem to be a limit for how many can go together. [Imagine there is a group of five.] You just need at least two.
no subject
I have lost track of the person that I ran away from the bear with. [THIS BEAR KEEPS HAUNTING ME, AKI, PERSONALLY.] And I don't know anyone else here, so I would like to join you.
[Especially because this guy seems like he knows what he's doing, kind of?? Definitely more than Matsui does, anyway.]
What way is this "dungeon"?
no subject
You ran away from a bear...
[It's, like, a question, but also not a question at the same time. What in the Great Smokey Mountains tarnation is this? Gonna pull out his phone to look it over. Good thing his canon has map usage.]
It looks like it's way over at the edge of the city.
no subject
Anyway even if this is a not-a-question question, Matsui dutifully answers regardless.]
Yes. It was in the woods near the wolves... I have no idea why it decided to chase us, though, considering we were nowhere near it when we first arrived.
[Truly a mystery! Wow. Who put that bear there? Anyway. Glancing over toward the horizon balefully... He just wants to be Done.]
I see... I don't suppose there are easier ways to get there than walking?
no subject
Yeah, the woods are probably dangerous. I saw a lot of wolves.
[They were dead because Sevro had murdered them, BUT there WAS a lot of wolves anyway. Semantics. Matsui is alive? So clearly it couldn't have gone so badly.........]
I think walking is all we've got right now. Unless you have enough munny to buy a horse.
[No Buzen to speed them away...]
no subject
The wolves were very determined, too... [WHY DID THEY CHASE FOR SO LONG. THEY WEREN'T HUNTING OR DISTURBING THEIR HOMES OR THEIR FAMILIES!! Damn. Nature is wild. He sighs, shaking his head...] What a strange place.
[Yeah it's definitely the place itself that is strange... MORE IMPORTANTLY:]
Perhaps we could ask to borrow a cart from one of the people selling fruits and vegetables? They have many.
no subject
It's good you got out of there.
[GOD.]
They'll probably make us pay for a cart, too, but it can't hurt to try asking. [WAIT.] If we got a cart, who is going to push or pull it...?
[THEIR HORSELESS CART.]
Maybe someone with a cart is heading that way?
no subject
Anyway, he just nods at that because yeah! It's a good thing they all made it out of the wolf trap alive! More importantly, though, their cart...]
The last time I was on a cart, we found a way to get it to move without horses. [Don't listen to him.] But we could set off along the route and see if we could barter for a ride, just as well. Surely there are people doing trade between cities here...
[He doesn't even know if there's another city nearby.]
no subject
That's how it's going to turn out anyway probably.]
It... [No. Nevermind. He isn't going to ask how it moved on its own.] Let's start and see what we can find on the way.
[Riku dusts his hands a bit on the top of his pants at the waist, and then he starts to lead the way to get them going.]
If we find someone heading there we can ride with, maybe they'll be able to tell us a little bit about the place too.
no subject
For now, though, they just hit the dusty trail the old fashioned way... Matsui will follow along at a slight delay, never standing exactly even with Riku as they go.]
Mm... I have yet to find anything particularly useful. Not even so much as a name.
[For the city, he means... Or the outskirts where the WOLVES and BEARS are. It's troubling!! The lack of familiarity he has with just about anything here is also troubling! But he'll keep those concerns to himself for the time being, instead keeping an eye out for any fellow travelers or magical carts that can ease the burden of having to use their legs.]
Have you learned anything yet?
no subject
Oh. [Right. Their city.] I think it's called Avisle City. At least, that's what other people were calling it.
[Matsui... walk in line beside Riku, he won't bite. No, it's fine. Riku does not try to stutter his steps and slow down to match; too awkward and noticeable. As long as Matsui is trotting along with him, he doesn't care how they walk.]
I haven't seen anything dangerous inside, so I think we're okay for now.
[No Heartless or Nobodies appeared out of the ether...]
no subject
The most dangerous thing seems to be the persistence of that goose...
[It just won't quit. IT'S A GOOSE THAT WON'T QUIT!! Matsui's exhausted. He's also quick to spot what appears to be a cart up ahead...?]
--Ah. Do you think we could ask them?
[The cart itself doesn't appear to be moving, though. Maybe the people driving it along are just parked to take a little rest.]
no subject
...?
[Matsui is truly such a funky lil man that Riku doesn't think he wants to question it, if he's honest. Please. Stop getting beaten up by wildlife.
His eyes shift in the direction Matsui is looking. I'm so worried about this sudden cart you have brought into this thread. It has plate energy.]
Maybe. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask even if they say no.
[He leads the way toward the suspicious cart.]
no subject
Matsui will follow along after! But rounding the corner will reveal that no one seems to be on this side of the cart, either...]
Strange. It seems as though someone has abandoned this...
[Considering like, all the STUFF is still here! But a look around the area reveals no one. There aren't even any suspicious evidence-like footprints to follow, or scuffles in the dirt. Maybe they were abducted by aliens.]