A New Beginning (thetwo)

[NorthernCross]

The gleaming steel obelisk may have been an intimidating sight for new comers, but it was intimately familiar to Amy Ashfield as a repeat user. The path she had taken on the way here, the sound of the automatic doors sliding open and the familiar smile of the receptionist were all things she knew and loved.

After presenting her ID card to the receptionist, a mere formality as she was already a familiar face, she was shuffled straight to the EGG chambers. The administrator, a new face she hadn't seen before, stood as she entered the room with a clipboard in hand.

“Welcome back to the EGG. My name is Roberta DeLouise and I'll be administrating your EGG session today. I see that you already have previous experience with the EGG, so we can keep this brief so you can get straight to your new simulation.” The Administrator introduced herself and gave Amy a brief overview of the safety regulations, most of it stuff that she had already known but they needed to cover regardless.

Once finished, Amy was helped into the EGG machine and the familiar feeling of the start up sequence preceded her list of options appearing.

Spoiler

Humans: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5 where 1 is rarely and 5 is often)
Male/Female: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Female/Female: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Pregnancy: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Birthing: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Non Consent Sex: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
BDSM: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Slavery: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Monsters (Tentacles & Slimes & Likewise): Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Fantasy Creatures: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Machines: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Half-Human Hybrids (Anthromorphic): Y/N
Futanari:Y/N (If Y, frequency of 1-5)
Body Modification: Y/N (if Y, frequency of 1-5)
Roughness: (How gentle are the monsters when you lose?): This is left vague on purpose, a number can't properly convey this setting.

Extras: (Put whatever extras you want right here, I'll do my best to add it in wherever I can, also add a frequency to whatever you put in if you don't mind, it'd help me out a bit.)

And then a list of starting locations appeared.

Spoiler

Misty Forest
Occupied Newhaven
Azure Shores
Burning Valley

There was also a character editor available if she wished, but it had already defaulted to her natural look based on her previous selections.

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Amy nodded her way through the lectures, understanding that it needed to be done but impatient to begin. Finally, the options appeared. She had filled out similar sheets many times, but had found that it was already best to read it carefully, because it often changed. She started to fill it out.

Spoiler

Lets see... humans, men, of course. A good staple. But lets not clog the roster, eh? And a few women because we want a complete experience today.

Human: 4
Male/female: 4
Female/female: 2

Pregnancy, birth, 'non-consensual sex', consequences make this a game rather then just masturbation.

Pregnancy: 5
Birthing: 5
Non Consent Sex: 5

And 'punishment' as well. Slavery tends to take up a good bit of time, but it's such a good 'consequence' that we can hardly leave it off.

BDSM: 5
Slavery: 4

Ah, variety is the spice of life. And games.

Monsters: 5
Fantasy Creatures: 5
Machines: 5
Half-Human Hybrids: 3
Futanari: 3

This is a new one... body modification. I assume they mean my body. Well, I'm not going to say 'no' to anything, but maybe it's best if I keep it toned down the first time? Don't want any really nasty surprises.

Body Modification: 2

Ah, roughness. This one's been creeping up on me, but fuck it. I can't actually be hurt in here, and rough sex can be fun as long as you know you're safe. As long as I'm still getting pleasure, and they're not breaking bones or anything...

Roughness: Fuck me hard! ;D

Oh, and lets not forget... this was a bit fun last time...

Extra: Beasts: 3

The settings done, having crept up a bit since her last visit, she moved on to the setting. They were all new, but that was hardly a surprise.

Spoiler

Misty Forest - Hrm... mysterious. But perhaps a bit generic?
Occupied Newhaven - Oooh, that one sounds more interesting. Occupied by who? Or what? I bet whoever it is, they aren't very nice.
Azure Shores - Lots of water monsters, maybe? And I do like the beach... still, I have all summer to visit the beach.
Burning Valley - God, it's hot enough in real life, don't need more of that in-game.

She hesitated for a moment on Misty Forest, realizing after the final entry that the mist would probably be cool, but decided to go with her first instinct, and selected Occupied Newhaven. That done, she skipped the character editor and started up the game.

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Amy felt the familiar, almost out of body, experience of her being transferred into the game world. As she opened her eyes unto this new world, the first thing she became aware of was the sheer number of soldiers on the streets. Before her the town was filled with morose people and an occupation force of human soldiers glaring at anyone who looked like they were about to step out of line. One of the guards caught sight of her and she realized that he was staring at her sword.

“Halt, traveler!” The guard approached Amy, his hand on his own sword ready to draw it at a moments notice. Several other soldiers were watching them from a distance and seemed ready to intervene at the least provocation.

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Amy looked briefly down at herself, as she always did when she first entered the egg. She hadn't actually looked at the character creator, after all, and it was always best to verify that the scenario hadn't done anything unusual to her. Or spawned her in a uniform different from all the uniforms around her, which had happened before. This time there didn't seem to be anything that extreme, but her attire was apparently unusual enough to instantly identify her as not being a local.

Or maybe, given that the guard was looking at the sword, it was simply the fact that she was armed that was a problem. "Yes, is there a problem, captain?" Or, given that this was the egg, the fact that she was female and armed.

The sword at her hip felt familiar, but skill with weapons in the egg was handled by the computer, not by the player. She had learned enough in previous scenarios that she wouldn't completely embarrass herself just *holding* a sword in real life even if she didn't dare swing it, but even a master swordsman would start out losing at least half her fights in the Egg. Against this many soldiers... she kept her own hand deliberately away from the weapon.

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Amy had found herself spawned into a rugged traveler's outfit consisting of a tunic, tough pants and a solid pair of boots. Perfect for someone on the road a lot but not matching any of the locals. Although she didn't have the opportunity to look through it, she felt the weight of a pack on her back.


“Traveler, this isn't the best time to be entering Newhaven...” The guard glanced nervously at the soldiers. “Under the current circumstances, I must ask that you either surrender your weapon to me or allow me to Peace Bond it. When you leave town, you may ask me to either retrieve or unlock it.”

The guard looked a little pleadingly as the soldiers looked like they might want to intervene with or without his request. He pulled a small device that looked like it would fit over the handle of her sword and hold it in it's sheath.

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

"Oh?" Amy hesitated for a moment, then unbuckled her belt, holding up her pants with one hand while she removed her still-sheathed sword and offered it to the guard. When he finished with it she would add it to her pack, there being little point in it being easily at hand while it was Bound. Besides, the soldiers seemed like they would be a little less twitchy if she didn't have a weapon so close at hand.

"What circumstances are these, then? I'm afraid I've been on the road for a while."

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

The guard seemed relieved when she handed over her sword for bonding and she could hear a cat call or two from the soldiers when she had to partially remove her belt to offer it to him. He quickly slipped the device over the handle of the sword and it clamped down on the leather sheath when he locked it. He handed it back to her and she could hear the soldiers shout something along the lines of 'read the card' to the guard.

“Welcome to Newhaven traveler.” The guard said, pulling a card from his shirt and mechanically reading from it. “Recently, due to the oppression of the previous rulers of this town, the 'Glorious Yukto Empire' has graciously liberated this town and is working to restore the public order. Please obey the Yukto Army soldiers on all matters or you will be held without trial. Long Live the Glorious Yukto Emperor. Additionally, I am a-”

The guard stops reading to give the card a dark look as a couple soldiers in the background burst out into laughter. “Just... just stay out of trouble. There is an Inn you can stay at down the street.”

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Ah. Amy could practically hear the air quotes around 'liberated' as well as 'Glorious Yukto Empire'. Still, it was useful information. And from the way they had reacted when she'd loosened her belt... she made sure to tighten it an extra notch. It wouldn't do for her pants to fall down at this time. And she realized that she was blushing. Hells Bells, it really had been too long since I've visited the Egg.

Amy smiled sweetly at the guard and, aloud, said "Thank you."

She let the smile fade as she turned away and did her best to ignore the soldiers. She started walking purposefully down the street, hoping to get to the inn without any incidents. "Obey soldiers in all things" plus the cat calls could get... tricky. But probably not as long as she stayed in public, not unless the Yukto Empire was really degenerate.

Spoiler

Just clarifying conventions - the colored and italic sentences are Amy's private thoughts.

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

The walk to the Inn was filled with stares from the locals as well as glares from the on-duty soldiers. The off duty soldiers were more inclined to give her cat calls but didn't seem willing to do anything in the open. Especially since she caught one of them being dressed down by what appeared to be one of their officers, but it appeared to be more for dishonoring the uniform rather than whatever crime he had committed.

In the end, the trip to the Inn didn't result in any incidents and when she walked in she found it only hosted a few patrons in the first floor tavern. A couple of old men sat nursing drinks at the bar and a young male adventurer sat alone in the corner, his own weapon Bonded just as hers was. But what really drew her attention was the bar keeper.

She was a slightly older woman who was still very attractive, but her most notable feature was her large set of breasts that seemed to almost reach an F cup. But from the way she moved, it seemed like she was unfamiliar with her own bosom, like they were a new addition. She turned to give Amy a welcoming smile, although it didn't really reach her eyes. “Welcome, stranger! What can I do for you?”

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

"I'd like to hire a room for the night, if you've one free, and a glass of wine once I've secured my things." Amy didn't move to sit down yet. An inn would be a fine place to learn more about what was going on, but having a reasonably private place to use as a base was the first order of business.

She also paid particular attention to the bar keeper's breasts. She wasn't particularly attracted to women, and certainly preferred her own much smaller breasts, but so soon into the scenario their incongruity was obvious. Ah, and this is perhaps the first hint of that 'body modification' option. Certainly I'd be surprised if that woman was born with those breasts, and this place doesn't look advanced enough for implants. But probably not polite just to ask straight out what happened there... I'll have to lead into it carefully. And stop staring.

Amy pulled her eyes away, and waited for directions to a room where she could poke around in her own pack before leaving most of it in her room. After that it would be time to properly speak with bar tender, and perhaps the young man as well. She found herself blushing again, but forced it down more quickly this time.

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

“Certainly, dear. It'll be ten gold.” The bar keeper said, turning back to the wall behind her. Amy found her money pouch and found she had fifty gold coins to her credit. From where Amy could see, almost all the room keys remained on the hooks with only one exception. Selecting a key from the rack, the bar keeper returned and handed they key over to Amy. “It's room 102 and you'll find it up the stairs and all the way at the end of the hall.”

Finding her way up the stairs to the second floor, she quickly located her room. It was furnished with a simple bed, a dresser and a table with two chairs. It was simple but it would serve her purposes and the window allowed her a good look at the street.

Looking into her pack, she found a good three changes of clothing that roughly resembled her current outfit as well as a cloak intended for poor weather. Additionally she found two field rations in her pack. Once she was squared away, she would have the choice of returning downstairs and talking to the bar keep and young man.

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Amy kept the gold, but left everything else in her room, back in her pack and shoved under the bed. Having spare clothes was, in her experience, a rare luxury, but she didn't need to carry them around with her in the bar. Nor did she need rations, a cloak, or a peace-bound sword at this time. She walked back down to the bar and walked up to the bar.

She took a seat, and waited for her glass of wine. As she did so, she considered several ways to open the conversation. After a moment, she decided that there wasn't a truly tactful way to go about it, and decided to go for honesty. "This is the first time I've personally run into the... Glorious Yukto Empire." She kept her voice down as much as she could without whispering. "What should I know about them, as a visitor?"

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

After Amy sat down at the bar, the bar keeper fetched a bottle of wine and a glass. Opening the bottle, she deliberately poured her glass where she could see it and handed it to her. After she listened to Amy's question she leaned toward her and spoke in a low tone as well. “First things first, never take your eyes off your drink when the Yukto are around. Their soldiers may be brutes but their alchemists are the best around. Aside from the standard combat potions they have also created other... 'enhancement' potions that the soldiers like to spike people's drinks with.”

The bar keeps eyes drifted down to her own chest for a moment before she spoke again. “Don't bother trying to report it when it happens... they'll just get a slap on the wrist and then they'll make it their business to force feed you those potions. And they're the only ones allowed to order items from the alchemists so there will be no easy way to undo whatever they changed.”

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

It was always nice to be proved right, and now she even knew the means that the 'enhancement' was delivered. Amy caught herself just short of smiling before realizing that would seem insensitive to the barkeeper. Slightly larger breasts... might be fun. But she would have no way of controlling the dosage, and the other woman's melons looked more painful than fun. And then of course there would be other things that might be slipped into her drink as well - more like various body modifications in addition to the dangers she might face in one of the less reputable parties around campus. Best just to watch her drink. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind."

And she mentioned combat potions as well. I wonder if that's extra strength for the soldiers, or less for their enemies. I almost hope it's the latter, because I can imagine some male body enhancements that I wouldn't want to run into. I mean, there is such a thing as too big, after all.

But while the barkeeper might have more to say, she sounded a little too afraid of the Yukto. Learning the local dangers was well and good, and she might even get to experience them before long, but it was time to start poking around for her purpose here. Amy took a long drink from her wine as she moved to where the other traveler sat in a corner.

"Hello there, mind if I join you?" Amy sat her drink down near the edge of table, careful not to let it out of her sight. She pulled up a chair, not waiting for a reply. "Anything interesting happening in town, other than the new government? I've only just arrived."

It was a little cheeky and she wouldn't have dared to do it in the real world, but a tavern was the traditional place to start an adventure. And a young man - especially in the egg - probably wouldn't react too poorly to a reasonably attractive young woman striking up a conversation.

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

“Be careful, dear.” The barkeeper warned gently as Amy stood from the bar. As she thought no one was watching, she discreetly tried to stretch her back which was obviously sore from it's burden.

As Amy approached the young traveler at his table, she took a moment to give him a once over. He had shoulder length black hair tied back into a pony tail and rust colored eyes. He had a lean, muscular form and he sported a rough looking pair of pants and a leather coat over his shirt. Next to him she could see a spear that had a hard covering placed over the head.

“I wouldn't mind at all.” The adventurer looked up at her with an appreciating eye. “The name's Jack Mason. In town, practically nothing, the soldiers keep a firm handle on things regardless of their bad behavior. Outside of town, they don't give a fuck about anything that doesn't threaten their hold here so there's plenty to do if you go looking... You're like me, right? I saw that Bound sword in your pack when you came in here.”

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Amy shrugged, ignoring the man's gaze. "More or less, yes." She took another sip of wine, and again made sure she left the cup where she could see it. "Any idea what they do if you break the bond? I didn't care to ask in front of all those soldiers. And how dangerous is it outside the town, off the main road? Compared, for the sake of argument, to the streets in here after dark." She realized she was jumping around a bit, but she did have a time limit, even if it amounted to weeks or months in-game.

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

“Before the occupation? Probably seize the weapon and have you cool your heels in the lock up.” Jack paused to take a swig of his own drink. “Now? The soldiers keep their own lock up area and no one really knows what goes on in it. It is dangerous off the main road, but with less officers minding the soldiers after dark someone like you would probably be targeted for whatever gave them their jollies. And even the officers are on edge, with the...”

Jack paused mid-sentence to lean in toward Amy and whisper to her in a low voice. “...you didn't hear it from me, but there are rumors of a resistance cell.”

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

Ah, and there it was. A resistance? Given the kind of people who had taken over that was probably a worthy goal. And dangerous, and given the soldiers they were resisting again, the sexy sort of dangerous. In other words, perfect. She glanced at the nearest window to judge the time of day before turning back to face the other adventurer.

Amy did her best to keep a straight face as her heart started beating faster. "In a town where you disappear if you break a peace bond? I don't mind danger, but I'm not suicidal." She took another drink, nearly finishing her glass, and this time kept a hold of it. "And what do you mean, 'someone like me'?" She set her eyes on the man's face and pressed her lips together.

 

[NorthernCross]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

“What can I say? You're an attractive woman...” Jack stated with a grin that turned dark after a second. “And even if you weren't, they have enough potions to mold your body into whatever tickles their fancy. The only reason why they aren't squaring up men is because they haven't quite figured out how to change a persons gender. Yet.”

“Anyway, I doubt very many people trust outsiders at all around here...” Jack polished off his own drink and was clearly thinking about another round. “Even if that group existed, you'd have to build up a rapport with the locals first... I have an idea how, but I'm considering if it's worth the risk.”

As she glanced out the window to consider what he just said, she could see that the sun would soon set.

 

[thetwo]

Re: A New Beginning (thetwo)

And, that was a point as well. Someone looking to join the rebels could easily be an enemy soldier in disguise. Especially when that someone wasn't a local, and with a whole empire of soldiers to draw from.

"Well..." Amy sighed, deciding that 'attractive woman' had been good enough for her not to pretend to blow up at him. "If it'll build gold as easily as trust then it might be worth my while. Lets hear it." She finished her drink, deciding that an empty drink was less trouble then a full one. Now she'd only have to make sure it was still empty before it was filled again.

She leaned forward slightly. So that she could hear his plan better.