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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
[it's incredibly annoying that the most he can seemingly do is knock these creatures around with gust after gust of anemo, and that irritation is easily showing on his features with every arc he sends slicing through the air towards the attacking wolves. still. . . when Rin speaks up, asking him if he can use his powers to gather the creatures together, he lets out a sharp laugh]
Can a tornado decimate an entire village with its raw display of power?
[YOU CAN'T MAKE A TORNADO, WANDERER]
[but what he can do is-- well, first he is going to zip out of the way of a leaping wolf, just barely avoiding a good mauling of his own. but as he does so, he gathers a small ball of wind around his palms, creating what seems to be a small vacuum that he then hurls down into the center of the wolf pack]
[like this, but. you know. weaker. it won't do much damage but it'll at least gather the creatures together for her!!]
no subject
Just say yes! [FUCKING CHUUNIS
but wow! that's impressive! even if it's weaker, she can acknowledge good magic and wonders what it could do if there wasn't a weird suppression spell at work. her nerd brain gets activated for half a second before she focuses on what she has to do next, which is find one of her gems, already imbued with her mana. given how little she can trust things here, she decides to pick a few and hopes this won't cost her later.
so she'll reach out with her non-bloody hand (you're welcome) and grab one of his billowy lil capes and yank him back] —Get down!
[while her other hand will toss the jewels out, flying over to the collection of wolves now neatly gathered.]
Gewicht, um zu Verdoppel ung!
[with the incantation together and the stones as conduits, it's enough to let pillars of light shoot down from the clear blue sky. they rain down on the wolves in a cluster, who have lost enough hp from all the combined attacks that the random encounter is now won.
bitch team, represent!]
no subject
[also he absolutely wasn't expecting the yank, so. . . the combination of Rin taking him by surprise and her own strength mean he's being snatched from mid-air like an angry little balloon. all he can do is let out a surprised yell as he tumbles towards the ground. . . and the only thing that keeps him from making rough landing is a gentle breeze around him that slows his fall]
[. . . but it doesn't stop him from landing face-first into the grass, his hat flying off his head with the impact]
[ugh. so undignified!!]
[with a grunt, he pushes himself upwards just in time to watch as the wolves are finally decimated. teamwork!!]
-- watch it. Don't just grab me out of the air like that.
[YOU COULD TELL HER SHE DID A GOOD JOB, WANDERER. also she's bleeding???]
no subject
I'll make a note that you want to get skewered next ti—
[oh yeah, she's bleeding.
and she's been running her mouth and using up her energy all this time, so it's about time or rin to pay her dues. karma hits her when she has to turn away mid-roast, coughing into the hand that she's been pressing against her abdomen. blood seeps past her fingers and shows more obviously even against her red sweater. gross.]
no subject
[you know, for as rude as Wanderer is. . . there's a small part of him that clings to the person he was before life handed him a shitty deck of cards. bright-eyed, optimistic, willing and eager to help. . . hah. well, he wouldn't describe himself as any of those things now, but. . . a tiny part of his heartless soul doesn't really want her to die on him]
[especially since dealing with a corpse would be super annoying]
[his frown tightens as he reaches out to take her by the shoulder]
Shut up for a minute. You're wasting your energy; we need to get you to a healer.
[NOT THAT. . . HE KNOWS WHERE A HEALER MAY BE. but there are signs of a city in the distance. if they go there first, certainly they'll be able to find someone who can help]
no subject
she moves her hand just enough to be heard - ]
I'm a healer, I just—
[she coughs again and her brow furrows, frustrated. even if she's a healer, because even if all of rin's magic is lvl. 1 that doesn't steal from the sheer breadth of what she can do, she knows she depleted a lot of her mana. normally a fight like that would be nothing but...
both of their communication crystals blink! trying to get their attention!
can two rudeasses manage mana exchange skinship? uh oh.]
no subject
[as soon as the realization hits, he jerks back from her as though burned, his expression twisting into one of obvious displeasure. I'm sorry?? displays of affection?? WHO DOES THIS. . . WEIRD PUSHY CRYSTAL THINK HE IS??]
What?!
[the word comes out sharp and shocked, and in the interim, Rin is still bleeding out. despite all joking, he really won't let her die, but like. give him a moment to come to terms with what just happened and to also wonder if he can just carry her via wind all the way to the (distant) city before she becomes deceased instead]
no subject
but his reaction is so strong, and her pride bruises easier than a peach, so she'll just get snide.]
Shy, huh?
no subject
[as soon as she smirks at him with that expression, Wanderer feels his face turn red]
Shut up. Give me your hand.
[but before she can actually do so, he snatches it-- blood-soaked and all-- and holds it tightly in his own]
But I'm only doing this until we make it to the city.
no subject
and it's so embarrassing?]
Wh-hey! [NOT THE BLOODY HAND, NOOOO. she's protesting for so many reasons, and it's kinda gross, but also the mana exchange is doing its thing. slow, gradual, but flowing.]
Why would I want to hold your hand for any longer than that?! Don't flatter yourself.
no subject
[despite his sharp words, when he does tug on Rin's hand to start guiding her towards the city, he does so remarkably gently. almost as though he doesn't want to aggravate her injury]
If you find yourself unable to walk, say something before you collapse.
no subject
then, stubbornly:] I won't die from this.
[... well, if she doesn't seek treatment soon, she doesn't know how true that'll be. she feels that her magic is weaker, but she does know how to heal. her unoccupied hand settles over her injury and she focuses, trying to slowly close it with the same mana he's giving her.
it's annoying, to be in someone's debt.]
So? What do you want in exchange?
no subject
Something more than an "IOU," but considering we just met, I don't know what you have to offer.
[. . . unless. . .]
What about one of those stones you used?
no subject
second of all:]
You wouldn't know how to use it.
[DON'T SASS THE PERSON YOU OWE A DEBT TO, RIN TOHSAKA!!!]
no subject
[but he also acknowledges she has a point-- after all, she spoke an incantation in a language he didn't understand before using hers. so he lets out a soft "hmph" but otherwise lets it go]
Then what else do you have to offer?
no subject
Ugh - You like holding my hand that much?
[stop her and her sass. but she frowns thoughtfully because honestly? it's not that rin ever doubts her ability to repay a debt.]
There's not much I can't do. [ok girl dang] Even if I can't give you a stone, I can use my magecraft to accomplish most other things. If it's something I can't do now, I can learn it.
So what do you want?
no subject
. . . give me the rest of the journey to think.
[aka he has no idea what he wants right now. he's only been here like a full ten minutes]
I'm sure something will come to me before we part.
no subject
[she can agree with that - she's not in any particular rush. but what she's more interested in - ]
Do me a favor and at least make it interesting.
[she has her own intentions and things she needs to get to, but a puzzle to divide some of her attention on might be... well, nice. all things considered.]
no subject
[so even while she's like, bleeding to death, she has some spark to her, huh? he can respect that, in a way]
Not for your sake, I won't. But I'll do it for my own.