Dungeon Central

I suddenly feel different as my surroundings vanish. It takes a moment to adjust to the changes in my body. I appear in front of a large mirror. I see my slimet body as my reflection, I am covered by underwear only.

"Please select from the starting attires available" as the dungeon central voice sounds, I found myself in a large changing room.

Some rows of hanging clothes appear, behind me. I always been fascinated by how many ideas people who draw or write about fantasy have with clothing. The clothes in the other world were a bit simple, much like medieval times. Sure, craftsmen did create some incredible things, but they tended to focus on function.

I used to wear an enchanted chain mail over, steel wool clothing. I was lucky the trousers were dark blue, and acquaintances has landed a pair of cyan ones and his adventurer name had been sealed there. Fancy pants, true it gave him renown but not the kind you wanted.

As I first think about pants, the rows of clothing move and to leave only pants in front of me. I had to confess I keep denim in a very high esteem, so I look for something similar to it. I think about manual labor clothing and the options narrow down. I touch the fabric and find a rough feel from it. "Damn slimets truly are sensitive", I mutter as I feel another texture. After a few tries I found something durable and comfortable enough. All the clothes are in a plain ivory color, I test on the pants and at first they are big, a second later they adjust to mi size and a menu appears.

It shows a color palette and an array of options to personalize the pants. Kind of weird if you think about them being your starting clothes, but, a sandbox with high customization was what was promised. I choose a tone akin to grey and brown. I notice there is also another menu to resize the piece of clothing you had. From my experience running around needed to be in some parts tight, and loose in others. The fabric was not sportsware or elastic, being too tight would end up breaking it. I so not know the number of details put into these things, but I go with something similar to my pants from the other world.

I proceed with the rest of the clothes, a simple with shirt with some celt embroidery on the sleeves with bright blue and a light grey travel cloak, nothing really fancy. I had left for the last, the shoes. I there was one thing I could never go back of my old life, were shoes. I love sneakers, sure I have preferences on how they look but honestly, for me, is how they feel. The most expensive thing I ever owned on my other life, was a pair of shoes made with enchanted leather. I wore them everywhere when not on the job. I nearly got killed for not wearing my adventuring gear ones, but they do not compare to memory foam.

I sighed as I take the most comfortable pair of boots available and slowly put them on. I fear the slimet sensitivity will make them more uncomfortable. I stand up, and to my surprise they felt incredibly good, "As default we override the sensation for the shoes, would you like to turn on the facsimile true shoe feel?". I immediately cancel the suggestion. Blessed developers, they must have spent time researching the sensation and decided it could take people away from the game. The same thing happened with pain, you could adjust the sensitivity, on full sensitivity it was close to reality, saying it from experience.

"I am ready" as I spoke, the room once more vanishes and found myself floating in space. "You will be taken to Dungeon Central, the starting zone. Safe travels, claimant". I began falling or felt like falling from space, accelerating, until I feel like I'm making a lightspeed jump in some movie. Finally, I feel colliding to the ground, and find myself in a open space, several magical runes engraved on the floor beneath me.

"Look a new one" a hear a voice, but felt dizzy from the fall "You take care of it"

"Welcome to Dungeon Central claimant" as I recover my sight, I notice there is someone in front of me "My I inquire about your name". After I recovered my full senses I am standing in an covered space, but there is no ceiling. Several hooded figures are sitting near the center, they are a purplish color. They seemed to be made of some unstable substance, like the one addressing me.

"Saga Aurin, and you are?" I notice my voice has a small difference in tone.

"Acknowledge, Saga Aurin. This one is named Vrn Lktch, I have been assigned to assist you, if you wish to form a contract with, this one" The being in front of me was part of a race called Archons, they were once summoned creatures, but have become a race on their own.

"Nice to meet you Vrn" The starting zone Dungeon Central, was a place out of space, a convergence of realms. By chance, several beings found their way to this place. Trapped for a while they discovered a way to travel to the gates present here, to travel to other realms, what is more each one of them could govern a realm on their own. These individuals established Dungeon Central; a place were other individuals who possessed this strange ability would eventually find their way here.

This information was part of the game lore, and as you logged in were given the introduction. Every player was a claimant, as they had this precious ability. Dungeon Central was a city, a gate hub, to travel between realms and were claimants could anchor and develop their own space, their personal dungeon. Archons were originally summoned by the first claimants, to help other like them. They evolved to form a race on their own, but they could only live on these spaces, more importantly they needed to form a contract with a claimant, as they needed mana to sustain themselves a remnant of their ancestry.

The main AI designated and Archon for each player, they all had generic personalities that would evolve the more players interacted with their personal Archon. Their most important role was to guide new players.

"Yes Vrn, I would like to form a contract with you" I replied, and the Archon bows.

"Please, Saga Aurin, come with me. I will take you to the contract designation office" He beckons me, the other waiting Archons gave us a small nod as we pass. There is one who is dressed in white robes, however. They are the High Archons, they served the city, and ordered the other Archons until they got a contract with a claimant or were granted the higher status.

As we leave these platforms, I noticed behind me two more individuals materialize, and two Archons go to meet them. We leave the small platform to a great room, a massive library. The Contract Library, one of the main buildings in all of Dungeon Central. The place like many in Dungeon Central, are bigger than what they appear. Massive numbers of rows of bookcases extend to the back of the main desk. There, three high archons, are waiting to attend anyone. Vrn takes me to the one on the right.

"Greeting High Xrl, I am here with claimant Saga Aurin, to create a contract with oneself" Vrn addresses with respect to Xrl.

"Acknowledged Vrn, claimant Saga Aurin, do you wish to create a contract with VrnLktch?" the high archon says in a monotone voice.

"Yes"

"Very well" a book materializes at the hands of Xrl, the cover engraved with the same runes at the platform. I notice they also form a name. Vrn Lktch. Xrl opened the book the first page, is made up of some kind of spell, according to lore, it is the spell that made Vrn, the second page, it's a spell as well, but there is a blank space on it "Claimant Saga Aurin, if you please place your hand here, it will formalize your contract with Vrn Lktch, and as of this moment he will forever assist you"

I turned to look at Vrn, but he is just there waiting, Archons have eyes, but that is their only facial trait, not many emotions can be transmitted with just those. I place my hand, immediately, the page completes itself. Runes began appearing, my hand is engraved and bellow it my name. I feel dizzy, and drowsy, caused by the loss of energy.

"That is all, from this moment Vrn Lktch is no longer an Archon of Dungeon Central, but of Saga Aurin" Xrl takes the book and walks to store it somewhere withing the library.

"Master, Saga Aurin, as of this moment this one belongs to you. Is there any other way you would like to address this one?" Vrn asks, his monotone voice had changed a bit, growing livelier.

"Vrn, is fine for me. If you ever feel you would like to be addressed differently, let me know" I reply, and Vrn make a small turn on his head. I could not help to smile thinking of a confused dog.

"Acknowledge, master Saga Aurin. Vrn is functional, if you would ever felt diferrently let this one know. There is also a matter of preference for this one, Archons do not have gender, however we are not limited to not take a stand on it. Do you have any preference Master Saga Aurin?" I am taken aback by the question. Well, they did say sandbox, and very open gameplay,

"I do not have any preference Vrn, how would you like to be addressed?" the archon stops for a moment.

"This one would like to be addressed in the same manner as it had been called to this moment. Vrn, with no preference" the archon answers.

"Vrn it is then, if you ever feel a need to be addressed differently let me know"

"Acknowledge, master Saga Aurin. What would you like to do next master?"

"I am looking for a friend Vrn, we were supposed to meet here"

"Your friend should be, outside the library, or at the meeting plaza, master. Would you like me to take you there?" Vrn asks, I nod, and he beckons me to follow him. As we exit the Library I hear a scream.

"A SLIMET????"

"I have found my friend, thank you Vrn" I smile.