1.01
Nate sat quietly at the long table, the plate in front of him still untouched. He had followed Lady Dandridge into the dining room listening as she continued to talk to the man who had brought him here. Looking over as she began to select plate from the platters before them.
"So, I am sure you have many questions." Rosnan said as she set the utensils down.
"I...." Nate said before realizing that he did not even know where to start.
She smiled encouragingly and began to cut up the meat on her plate. "Well, I guess the easiest place to start will be the beginning. What do you remember?"
He blinked at her for a moment. "I was in my bedroom playing a new video game." Nate said, going through the memories of everything before waking up here. "Then I went to bed as I have work in the morning."
Lady Dandridge nodded chewing while listening as he spoke though Nate wondered how much she understood. How could this woman know what anything he said was, everything around them looked like something out of the Middle Ages. Nate sighed as she watched him with what must be worry over his sanity.
"I see, well when you went to bed was the video game turned on or off?" Lady Dandridge asked still watching him while slowing her chewing to allow speech.
"It was...I think I left it turned on." He said with a frown, not seeing why this would matter let a lone make sense to her.
Rosnan nodded at his words but instead of speaking she continued to eat in silence for a few moments. Nate sighed and looked down at his plate, most of the food could be recognized but there were a few things that he did not have a name for. Taking a sip of the wine provided he found that it was a very good vintage.
"How far into the video game were you able to progress before going to bed?" She asked, taking a sip of her own goblet as she continued to watch him.
He frowned for a moment, trying to remember how many hours he had played. "I'm not sure." Nate said, rubbing his temples in thought. "I played for several hours last night"
Rosnan nodded again, taking in his words as he spoke while she continued to eat. "I see, were you able to make it to Lake Verona or to the Village of Bubbleton?"
Nate thought back to all of the locations that he could recall from the game. Neither of these sounded familiar by name, though he could vaguely remember several of the nonplayer characters in the game talking about a lake. Nate shook his head to sifting through memories before answering that he had not.
She nodded. "Well, then you will not have met my men or myself during your hours of playing." Rosnan said with a sigh setting set the goblet aside. "Normally I myself am nothing more than a regular character within the game, however due to unexpected happenings I have been coded to be more than a regular video game character."
Nate blinked at these words, his mouth falling open slightly. "Excuse me?" He asked, clearly at a loss for what to think.
Lady Dandridge smiled gently. "The easiest explanation I can give you Nathaniel, is that you have become entrapped in the game due to an unexpected error." She said watching him intently.
Nate blinked stupidly at her for several seconds as he took in what she had said. "What?" he finally managed to say though he was sure this was a joke. "That-that's impossible."
Rosnan shook her head gently. "Nothing is impossible Mr. Jones." She said as she took up her fork again to spear some of her food. "You are not the first to be trapped in here, I was coded to be given a new purpose outside of just being an NPC within the game after the first person was trapped."
Again he could not fully believe what she was saying. "Who was the first?" Nate asked, wondering how this was not a listed warning if this were true.
"Arthur Franklin was the first, he was one of the lead Developers of the game and in particular me." She said with a proud and adoring look. "After he was entrapped I was redesigned to assist Arthur as much as I could and to explain the situation. It took a long time for them to locate him and bring him to me, but once we met I was glad to be of help."
"So, did he ever make it out of the game?" Nate asked with apprehension. "Are you still coded to help those who are trapped?"
She gave him a sad smile and took a sip of her wine. "Yes I am still coded to help those and to explain what has happened." Rosnan said gently massaging her temple. "Arthur is still in the game, he has not succeeded in finding the exit yet and I am unable to tell you where that is."
Nate was perplexed, how could the gaming developers allow a game that was trapping people to be released. He sighed and finally picked up his fork and began to eat. Nate could feel her watching him eat and was sure she wondered what he was thinking.
"From what I understand, the Developers made a realm that is only the Village of Bubbleton for players who have become trapped." She said after a few moments of silence. "We are connected to the main game, but only those like yourself and Arthur are able to enter this realm and only when you first enter the game."
"How is that supposed to enable you to help us?" he asked looking back at her in alarm. "If we can't get to you, how are you going to aid us?"
Rosnan laughed softly, the sound like tinkling bells. "While you are trapped in the game I function as I do now. Anytime you speak with me I will be coded to respond with the information that I can provide you and I can give you what assistance I am able." She said as she began to pull one of the desert platters toward her, scooping some of the gelatinous substance onto her plate.
Nate sighed and continued to eat, surprised to find just how hungry he was. He felt his mind racing as he took everything that she had said in. Despite this Nate still wondered just how true this was, but for now realized he would have to wait and see.
"I will provide you with lodgings for tonight and tomorrow Bodrick and a small contingent will take you to the border where you can begin your journey." Lady Dandridge said as she lifted her goblet for another sip. "I will also give you some gold so that you are able to start out properly. This will only be enough for a start but you will have plenty of opportunities to find your fortune."
He again was shocked to find that she was going to provide monetary assistance so early. "Thank you." He said with as much gratitude as he could.
***
Emily sat quietly in her room, she had only left the house today to go and buy her new game. She looked over the case, reading the information carefully to ensure that her computer did indeed have the requirements to run the game without difficulty. It had been a while since she bought a new game and she was eager to sink herself into a new story.
Sighing happily she looked up to see that the installation was finally finished after only thirty minutes. She clicked on the desktop icon for the game and watched as the opening credits began to play. The music immediately captured her, pulling her into the depths of its rhythm.
Emily smiled and began to make her character, she looked through the available characters that were premade to chose from. She liked the idea of the Elven Sorceress but decided to make her own version instead of the optional. After several minutes she finally had what desired for a character.
Taking a deep breath, Emily dove into the video game and began to explore as she fell into the story. Several hours passed as she played on until realizing that it was nearly three in the morning. Blinking tiredly she set the controller down and stretched, it had been months since a gaming session had lasted this long, especially not one that she had been recording or streaming.
Sighing, she turned the game off and stood from her chair. Looking about Emily noted laundry needing to be done the next day, making a mental note she moved to her bed. Settling in she quickly got comfortable and within minutes was fast asleep.
[Enter Player Name: Emily Carter ]
[Registered Species: Human ]
[Registered Gender: Female]
[Registered Class: Unknown]
[Registered Age: 23 Years]
[Registered Status: Unknown]
[Marital Status: Unmarried]
[Registered Skills: None]
[Registered Level: 1]
[Registered Allies: Lady Rosnan Dandridge ]
[Registered Magic: None]
Error: Diagnostics incomplete....
Registering new paramater database....
Incorporating Oxygenic Atmosphere Module....
Incorporating Gravity Realism Expectational Module....
Incorporating Edible Foods Module....
Incorporating Human Needs Module....
Incorporating Human Waste Module....
Incorporating Human Emotions Module....
Incorporating Human Senses Module....
Incorporating Human Autonomy Module...
Incorporating Realistic Autonomy Global Module....
Incorporating Realistic Randomness Global Module....
Incorporating Realistic NPCs Global Module....
Incorporating Human Module.....
Overwriting Character Functional DNA....
Overwriting Character Skeleton Parameters...
Overwriting Shadows....
Overwriting Character Base Skin Textures....
Overwriting HUD Allocations....
Overwriting Inventory Allocations....
Overwriting Control Functions.....
Releasing Parameter Restraints.....
Released Parameter Restraints.....
Releasing...
[Registered Location: Village of Bubbleton ]
[Registered Region: Unknown]
[Registered Instance: Tutorial]
[Registered Status: Sleeping]
[Registered Inventory: None]
[Registered Wealth: None]
[Registered Dwelling: None]
[Registered Mount: None]
[Registered Livestock: None]
[Registered Family: None]
[Registered Guild: None]
[Registered Sun Cycle: Morning]
[Registered Moon Cycle: 3/4 Full]
[Registered Time: 08:00 a.m.]
Emily awoke to find herself in a meadow filled with tall swaying grass. She could hear the sounds of grazing cattle nearby carried upon the gently blowing wind. Sitting up she looked about to find that there was no one close, though what appeared to be a small village nearby across the meadow.
Standing Emily was terrified to find that she was nude, looking about her heart sank as she realized that there were no clothes nearby. Mentally agonizing Emily cast about for anything to cover up with, but found to her horror that there was nothing. Sighing and mentally preparing herself for the worst, she began to make way toward the village in the hopes of finding clothes and to determine where this was.
Crossing the small bridge of the babbling stream into the village, Emily was pleased to see that the houses and animals all seemed inviting and welcome. As she walked along the high street the presence of people could be felt, but Emily none other than the animals. Looking through the gates and over the fences she could tell that the gardens and animals were well cared for, but still no people.
Stopping just outside of what she felt must be an Inn, Emily took a sip from the bucket in the water well. Looking about she was startled at the sound of approaching hooves, turning Emily felt her entire body blush as a group of men came riding toward her on horseback. They stopped a few feet away as the man in the lead looked down at her.
"By order of Lady Dandridge what business brings you to this realm Miss?" He asked as he dismounted, taking his cloak off and offering it to her.
She took the cloak and wrapped herself within it gratefully. "Thank you Sir." She said, taking in his shining armor and that of his fellow riders. "I am afraid I do not know how I got here, I was asleep in my room at home and woke up here Sir."
The Knight nodded and sighed. "Looks like we have another one." He said with a frown. "You will come with us, her ladyship will know what to do with you."
Emily frowned as the man held out a hand to her, offering help up into the saddle of his horse. "You may ride with me." He said as he waited patiently for her to clamber into the saddle.
Emily allowed him to help her and did her best to keep herself covered and settle in. The Knight jumped back up into the saddle behind her and took the reigns, giving them a sharp snap causing the horse and the others to move forward. They rode for several minutes in silence until riding into the courtyard of a large house set at the head of the village.
As they came to a stop the man behind her jumped down and turned to offer assistance once more. Emily allowed him to help her down before following him into the house and along a hall. After several moments of silent walking they came abruptly to stop before a woman dressed regally in a dinner gown.
"Again Bodrick?" She asked as she looked Emily up and down. "Well, take her to get dressed and I will meet her in the Study."