Hiro Ecks is a gamer. After he was used as a cat's-paw in a villain's evil scheme, he is left traumatized, and just about ready to swear off video games forever. 8163264128 is a changeling. Almost pathetically incompetent when it comes to fighting, she is stranded at the entrance of a ruined palace, unable to escape due to her damaged wings. Fate, chance, or something stranger still has forced the two of them together. Hiro, through the medium of a small golden orb, has to win the changeling's trust and guide her into the depths, for the only chance that 8163264128 has for escaping the ruins is to reach the bottom of the catacombs beneath the palace, where a treasure beyond compare awaits... a wishing star. But between the two of them and their goal are fifteen floors of monsters, traps, sliding block puzzles, bosses, and more.
Rated Teen For Language
A Spin-Off from The Changeling Who Broke The World. Not strictly necessary for reading, but it will provide some background into Hiro's story.
Hooray, some background of our Japanese friend! And hopefully these two stories will intertwine~
Bleh, it's like 140% plot dump. I'm willing to read on, 'cuz plot dumps usually have limited duration, but this is not up to your usual standards, BN.
All of my yes. I am faving this as hard as I can.
Your ability to weave a maritime around countless other stories your made all a few in different universes is unrivaled my good man
Narrative lol
Waiting for next chapter, this one got me.
and also the genepool
I'd really like to see the next chapter to this. I enjoyed reading but interestingly enough - and I don't know if you did this on purpose - this chapter is heavily reminiscent to the opening cutscene of a video game. If I had slightly more skill in programming (which I'll be getting soon) I'd be quite tempted to make this into a video game (with permission of course).
In general, very nicely done. You have a like, favorite, and moustache
5351864
. I like Hasbro, and I'd rather not give myself reason to be at odds against the company that helped provide us with this wonderful show), but the feel I'm trying to give this is a very video-gamey feel to it all, so a game being made for it would be... incredibly fitting.
That was, in fact, kind of what I was going for. And if, when it's done, you want to make a game out of it, I wouldn't object to it. Of course, it would either have to be free to play, or have the MLP:FIM elements removed (I'd rather not draw the wrath of Hasbro down upon me
5351974 I wouldn't dream of charging money to it but if I could make a game of it and do it justice, this seems like the perfect fic to do it on.
When I started reading, I was instantly reminded of the intro to Borderlands. I actually might have to listen to 'No rest For The Wicked' now because it's playing in my head so loudly. XD
5352003
I can oblige
.
This chapter pleases me. I shall read the next one when you write it.
NEW CHAPTER UP!!!
Why must you remind me of midna? ....Stupid adorable imp.
Love it! please, moar!
Hell yes! So much gamer humor, and a nice heartwarming bit at the end.
That's a normal name... Huh. Okay. Three cheers for Lizzeh! 8D
5360404
Well, I've been giving changelings odd names for a while. Felt like doing something different for this one.
Hero X... or "Heroics!"
I like this a lot better than the first chapter. Hell, you could skip the prologue and the first sentence of this chapter and lose nothing at all.
Cover picture reminds me of this:
Hiro the Gamer X Elizabeth the Changeling? Ehh, why not.
Good choice for her too, I've always been fond of the name Elizabeth.
this is a great story, keep it coming.
You have not disappointed me with this chapter. Which is what I expected from you. Good job. This is quality work.
fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/320/4/0/zero_punctuation_run_fatty_by_sinned2bsaved-d330nbf.png
If that isn't it I've made a true moron out of myself.
5370369
You have it exactly right
NEW CHAPTER UP!!!
Just don't break the first rule of dungeon diving, never split the party lol
Great chapter
Well, this is an interesting start of an adventure. And a romance. I like it.
5371990 ... What are you talking about? That's, like, the OPPOSITE of the first rule of RPG Dungeon Crawling: ALWAYS split up the party! That way you get more done, and make it look even more epic when you manage to get out alive without anyone in the party dying.
(Then again, ours is a Dark Heresy RPG, and we had about 10 people in the party, so it was easier to split up into groups, lol.)
5370682 Yusss.
5372350 the music says nay to u[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUMCIn2swTU]
5372350 Well yeah, if you have 10 people and can split into two fairly balanced groups - and have a DM who is willing to accommodate you - that would work. Hell, it might be easier for a DM to manage than 10 people at once. Unless you can split off into balanced sub-parties of at least four, it's best to stay (at least reasonably close) together, even in town.
Interesting ... this almost looks like it's going some very ... romance-y places.
New Chapter Up!
5379878
AND ANOTHER, BECAUSE I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
YAY!
Awesome! Loved Hiro teaching Elizabeth cusswords in English. Will he teach her Japanese ones too? He almost certainly knows them, even if he isn't exactly fluent.
And I am guessing the metaphorical penny is going to drop in the next chapter.
... Dude, SO much love for the Breath of Fire series shout out, and number IV especially.
I find it a little odd that he has not tried to use task manager to find out what the is program actually doing it would be a good way to find out if his computer was actually processing it I mean if such an advanced game was not using any of the power of he's rig that should start setting off alarm bells.
5380648
He's still somewhat in a state of denial about this. Partly, it's due to how different this situation is from his last experience. Also, his 'responsible research' before running the game itself left him with the assumption that things were on the up and up. He took several steps to ensure that this was exactly what it was supposed to be on the surface, so, while he's becoming more and more suspicious, he's still not yet at a point where he would say 'OH MY GOSH, MAGIC IS HAPPENING!!!' Like he said, after you've been struck by lightning once, you expect lightning to come from thunderstorms, not for lightning to politely come into your house and politely chat with you over tea and cookies. Like he said, the time when he'll make the full realization is coming, but it isn't here yet. He's at the point, though, where a good, solid push will put him over the edge.
But, how you're describing how he'd confirm it is a pretty good method, yes.
The initial premise--- about Deniers, marginals, etc.--- has only one problem.
The vast majority of the world is NOT a 21st century, agnostic, materialist society. aka the kind of people who are Deniers or Marginals.
Translation: the overwhelming majority of human beings on the planet, even in the most secular nations on earth, believe in the supernatural, and always have. There are still billions of people on this earth who believe in ghosts and spirits and mythical creatures as confidently as you believe in the existence of your local McDonald's.
Changelings don't need money. We're a race that survives on love energy. As such, we don't place a lot of value on currency, or any other material wealth.
Uhh, so what? Humans are a race that survive on meat and vegetables. That doesn't mean we don't need a commodity of exchange to facilitate commerce. And using your food as money is a really, really bad idea.
5380811
True. Which is why 95% is marginal: Magic was once very common on earth in this story, and that magic formed the basis of the myths and legends that people tell now. Then, for various reasons, the magic left. However, the magic is coming back now, slowly, and has been for a few decades. Problem is, the absence was long enough for 'Deniers', something like a genetic defect, to appear and become a little more widespread than it would be otherwise. Were magic to never return, eventually, everyone would become a denier.
Likewise, while magic is coming back, it isn't coming back where it once was before. The creatures coming back are smart enough to know that, good or evil, it is best to go someplace where no one is likely to look for you. If a kappa, a japanese man-eating turtle monster, suddenly appeared in the african wilderness, for example, the locals wouldn't notice the signs that would warn them that this creature was present... or know that it could be dissuaded from eating people by throwing cucumbers into the water (Although, I don't think cucumbers are native to Africa, so even that method would be unavailable to the locals). Plus, there's enough mundane man eating, or just man slaying, animals in or near the typical african river or stream (Crocs, hippos, lions, stuff like that) for one to blend into the local wildlife. Another example, if one of the 'Fair Folk' were to suddenly appear in Japan, he'd be able to blend right in, and be able to enter most places without a problem, unlike many places in Great Britain, where most homes, as a tradition, have an iron horse shoe nailed over the door way, even if it may have been painted over or forgotten. In Great Britain, where the traditions are strong, and upheld in many places, even today, a fae would be in danger of being caught, or even killed. In Japan, he'd have very little to fear. Last example: If Baba Yaga's hut on chicken legs were to appear in the australian outback, most sensible folks would just think that they were hallucinating, unlike in Russia, where her presence is well known and strikes terror into the hearts of men.
In a way, its like how, in the comic Tales Of The Questor, the author mentions how Basilisks kill people due to misinformation: People are expecting a monster that turns people to stone with a glance, not one that kills a man just by being near him.
The people who 'believe', don't necessarily believe in the things currently moving into their neighborhood, so while not blind, they just think that its odd, not a monster from a foreign culture. It takes a certain kind of 'all-over belief', a willingness to suspend disbelief in any quarter, no matter how bizarre, to be able to see it all. One has to be able open their eyes to everything, in order for one to be a digger.
5380875
True, but its another way the aristocracy keeps its stranglehold on the population: Currency facilitates trade, which facilitates contact with outside societies, which facilitates the free exchange of ideas. Ideas like maybe, just maybe, those shiny disks of metal, which may not be able to buy you 'food' that you can eat, may be able to buy you things that can supply you with food. Money can't buy love, but it can buy a puppy, which essentially is the same thing if you treat the little thing right. If the changeling commoners had been allowed more contact with outside societies, beyond just going in, taking what they needed, and leaving, then things might change, and they might find newer, gentler ways to live. The aristocracy, like many ruling classes that kept a stranglehold on their population, has done all it can to prevent new ideas from coming in, to prevent anyone from even entertaining the idea of change. 'Those outside hate us, they say, and will kill you if you leave us, if we don't kill you first.' On every level, the aristocracy has taken steps to retain their hold on every aspect of changeling life. The few houses that are more progressive are a minority, and to attempt to force a change would result in a civil war... one that the progressives would be certain to lose.
On the Hierarchy of Needs, most Equestrians are at the top-most level, Self-Actualization. To keep the commoners in check and reliant upon their masters, the aristocracy keeps the changelings at a point where they are constantly struggling to maintain the lowermost level, the Physiological. It has proven to be a most effective tyranny, given that, a thousand years after its creation, the aristocracy still maintains its power, even with a zero percent approval rating.
5380325 Well, i'm currently learning Japanese and there are no so to speak curse words. The closest to them would be to be impolite or extremely rude. Or at least that's what i learned. Of course there are words to be translated into English curses but they do not hold such a meaning in Japanese. (I'm reciting this from memory, don't kill me if it shows out I'm wrong.)
5380973 i am surpriced there isn't assassination attempts from the commoners, i mean even while struggling to maintain the basic needs, there would be a lot of unrest, and some might consider to try one, or even from the more progresive aristos.
Why do I find the term "nobuggy" to be so amusing?
5382179
Love energy, the 'wealth' of the aristocracy, translates directly into magical power for them. Each of the aristos have enough love energy available to level cities, and while normally divided against each other in internal power struggles, they unite against any threat to their power, real or perceived. The last time there was an assassination originating from the common class, centuries ago, they killed every commoner above the age of eighteen, just to make certain that everyone understood that this would not be tolerated again. There hasn't been another attempt since then: Risking one's own life is one thing, but risking the life of your entire generation? Completely different thing entirely.
5382189
Because it's funny?
5381111 I only know a few words myself, so you'd know better than I would, though given that "Baka" is just about the meanest thing I know in Japanese that isn't aimed at a demographic (and would make sense), and I do tend to try to look for that sort of thing somewhat (a legacy of elementary and middle school), you're probably right.
I loved this chapter! Can't wait for the next.