The World of Crimson: Basic Training 101 — Leading the way. [Episode 126309]

“Woah!” exclaimed Crimson^{(aka Ranma)} on arriving in The World™.   He looked around what seemed to be a rural, urban village set on a misty mountain top.   “It looks so real.   It feels so real.   I look … like a dork.”   It was one thing to view the character on screen, and quite another to actually be the character.

“Really?” enquired a girl’s voice.   “I think your character design looks cute.”

He spun around to confront a little girl carrying a big stick.   She wore long robes with a floppy cap that made his dorkiness look good. … But, yeah, she looked ever so cute, too, he had to admit.   “Uh, hi.   I’m Ra- Crimson.   I’m Crimson.”

“You’re a Twin Blade, right?   I’m Firefly, a Wavemaster,” introduced the girl.   “You’re a newbie, aren’t you?   I mean, you look totally lost.”

“Yeah, it’s my first time,” agreed Crimson on translating what she said a moment later.   “So where’s the monsters and stuff.”

“Over there,” pointed out Firefly, “through the Chaos Gate!   Hey, why don’t we form a party so I can show you around?”

“Uhm, ’kay,” reluctantly agreed Crimson.   He belatedly realised that did need a guide, having skipped over the tutorial.   “Let’s go.”

“Already?” exclaimed Firefly, “But, you haven’t bought any items or anything… Okay.   Whatever, Numbnut.”

“Did you say something?” asked Crimson of Firefly as she lead the way to the Chaos Gate.   This looked like a oval mirror filled with translucent blue glass floating above a dias.

“No, nothing.   Ah, never mind,” dismissed Firefly.   “As you know from reading the game manual, this is the Chaos Gate which will take you to the various Fields in the game.   In the fields you will fight monsters and find tunnels that lead down into the dungeon levels where the treasure items are hidden.   Pretty basic stuff really.”

“Right, I knew that,” lamely agreed Ranma, not willing to show off his ignorance.   “I just didn’t know where to find it…”

“Fer sure,” smirked Firefly.   “And you know that to use the Chaos Gate you need three keywords, which define the nature and level of the field you want to be sent to.   As you gain levels and such, you'll learn more keywords.   Keep a log of them.   Now, and pay attention, the keywords for the first field are: ‘Basic,’ ‘Training,’ and ‘Ground.’”

Bands of metal appeared over Firefly's head and fell toward the ground at her feet.   As they did so, she faded out of existance to the sound of shimmering bells.

“Uh, ‘Basic,’ ‘Training,’ and ‘Ground.’” echoed Crimson following her example by addressing the Chaos Gate.   The rings dropped over him, but this time it was the town which faded from view, and another scene phased in to replace it.

“So this is a Field?” observed Crimson as he looked around.   “It … doesn’t look like much.”   Just dirt, grass, and scattered rocks as far as the eye could see.

“What did you expect?” defended Firefly.   “It’s only a first level field.   The backgrounds get better, and more exotic, as you advance.”

“Okay, but where are the monsters?” demanded Crimson.

“Murrr,” groaned a voice behind them.   The characters turned to see a dozen monsters shambling towards them.   “Brainzzz!”

“Eeek!” eeked Firefly.   “Zombies!   Why does it always have to be undead?   I hate ’em!   I really hate ’em!   Eeeeee!!!”

“Alright!   Time to be a hero!” exclaimed Crimson and attacked with a flurry of– one blow.   ”What the…?”

Crimson looked at his fist and wondered why it had moved so slowly and carried so little power.   He saw the zombie’s retalitory blow telegraphed and moved to dodge, but the T.V.R. controller had responded sluggishly to his will.

“What are you doing?” screamed Firefly.   “Your character’s not a Fighter!   Equip your weapons!”

“Uh, Right,” embarassedly agreed Crimson as he belatedly caught on to the rules.   His mad martial artz skillz wouldn’t serve him in The World and his character was only first level.   “How do I do that?   Please explain.”

“Explain my arse,” muttered Firefly, “you don’t know anything.”

“Murrr!   Brainzzz.” groaned another zombie as it rounded the left

“Murrr!   Brainzzz.” groaned another as it approached from the right.

“Murrr!   Liverzzz," groaned yet another from somewhere behind them.

“Run away!   They’ll kill you!” advised a panicing Firefly.