The Majestic World Of Terranova

James got a bit depressed when he saw Brutal Faith disconnect. Although he wouldn't admit it, he very much so liked the feeling of killing in one hit. It was something refreshing, not having to wack something too many times to kill it.

James continued to head deeper into the the forest with Marcus behind him, all whilst killing their way over. They continued their reign of terror and unknowingly, they had created a bit of a scene in the Terranova's forums. Videos of both James and Marcus killing their way through groups and groups of players had been recorded, and some had called out for James hacking.

What gave them even more of a push towards fame, was that the developers had checked through James accounts and ruled that there was no foul play. That meant that there was certainly no bug, no exploit or hack that was affecting James and Marcus's damage or playing.

What most players were shocked by was not the damage, as guild leaders and core members all had a decent weapon, but more so how they played the actual game. Although only in an embrionic form at most, it was a different and more refined way of attacking and defending, not relying only in their Attributes.

By now, James had hit level 8 and Marcus was inching closer to level 7, mostly due to James double Experience requirement. They were inching their way closer to the first mark of Terranova's gameplay, level 10.

Players had started to get a whiff of what was to come, yet they had no real idea of what was really going to come. James had decided to go back to restock on potions and try and deliver the mayor of Fallen Oak Town the Key he had found.

They had to walk back to Fallen Oak Town, and whilst they were going back, James started to get many friend requests on his UI. He decided to open some of them, and they all contained basically the same thing. There were Guilds trying to pull James in, just so he could be like a decoy and use James's temporary fame to pull unsuspicious players to their Guild.

James wouldn't take none of it. He knew just how manipulative and cruel these Guilds could be to a person. One day you were in the height of fame, the next you were in a slump and were useless and you'd be expelled from your once high position. This had caused the rise and fall of many such players in previous games that were taken a bit more seriously.

James was barred at the entrance to the Mayor's Manor. He was requested to state his reason for being there and that was only after the NPC's saw his King Slayer title. Apparently, it gave him a bit of a status, which was helpful in some ways.

After taking out the "Key of the Oak", the NPC Guards quickly made way to the Mayor. James was told to wait beside a grand door, and the NPC went in first.

"Come in, I wish to know what you have to show me." - James heard a middle-aged voice, inviting him in.

Once James entered the room, he understood the difference players and NPC's had. The hall was grand, built with marble, but you could notice that it was getting older, as if it's splendor was going away. By now, Fallen Oak Town was no longer the booming town it once was.

"Sir Maddox, Level ???, Human, Uncommon (Silver)"

"This... I feel that this one person is not so simple. Be careful around him." - James heard Troyande complain in his head.

"What do you wish to show me, young one? This old one will try and help you through it. Altough I look like this, I was once young as well. But that's talk for another time. Now, come on. Show it to me, I haven't got the whole day." - Said Maddox, hurriedly.

James took the Key of the Oak, and he could quite literally see Maddox's eyes light up. James's instict told him he had done something he shouldn't have, but it was too late now.

Contrary to what it seemed, Maddox sped through the room and took the Key off of James's hand, and looked at it whilst mumbling to himself.

"Yes... It doesn't look like a fake indeed... Is it time already?"

James only got the notion something wrong had happened.

"Little one, I need to look into this object's history. Just as I feared, it's not so simple. Please give me a few hours to look through this please."

System Warning: "You have been elected for the Quest: "Darkness Descends". It's difficulty rating : C to S, depending on the players choices. Do you wish to undertake it? If so, leave and don't take the key. If don't wish to, demand Maddox for an explanation for his actions."

"I will now take my leave, Sir. Hope to hear back from you soon."

James chose to leave. Normally, Quests didn't have a difficulty change. Quests that changed outcomes depending on the player's action were no normal Quests. If James was lucky, it might even be a Main Story Quest, something that would push the lore of Terranova forward.

Since James point in visiting the city had been accomplished, he decided to leave the town once again, to try and push towards level 10. One couldn't lag behind, otherwise they'd fall behind other players.

Whilst he was waling towards the forest, he got a message from someone who got his attention. It was from Brazen Faith, the youth he had killed when finishing up the Bandit Leader.

The contents of the message were different from others, and made James feel tempted. Brazen was trying to recruit James as a personal aid, out of the Guild's hands. He was to create a special unit of players, to guide them and to get the players used to the game's mechanics. It even offered a big pay check, one that would make white collar workers waver when they saw it.

And although James had been tempted, he didn't give in to the bait. Right now, James had a little over a gold coin. 10 Bronze coins were going by 5 U.S Dollar, so one could see how much a gold coin was worth. This trade only went one way though, there was no way to buy coins through money, only through other players selling coins for money.

The game had the potential to create many rich people, and such had happened before in other similar games, where someone from the "common" people rose up through sheer luck and skills to become one of the tycoons of the game, wealthy to boot.

James proceeded to politely decline Brazen Faith's offer, and proceed to kill. Half-way through his established route, every player got disconnected and received a warning.

"The first patch of Terranova is rolling out. Please wait a few hours whilst the game gets patched. Please resort to the Forums to check for any information you might need. Thank you for your comprehension."

James checked the forums and saw that there was already a stickied* post that read:

"Darkness Descends, the first update."