"Just because I'm a player doesn't mean I can't issue quests!"
SilkLegs, hands on her hips, stood in front of the administration building, holding two paper scrolls. She addressed the Undead players who were questioning her. "I'm a clerk here in the administration building now, responsible for helping Lord Linde manage the Undead!"
"I get it, you're a power-tripping mod!"
Dozens of people had gathered there, and it was impossible to tell who had said that.
But it was clear everyone agreed.
"Well, I'll get to the point," SilkLegs said, unconcerned. It was just sour grapes anyway.
She'd gone to great lengths to make paper, allowing the Undead to evolve from an age of oral quest-giving to an age of quest scrolls.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that she, single-handedly, was responsible for driving a patch from the game devs.
Before, you had to wait in line to chat with the NPCs to get quests, and since the Undead basically all had brain problems... meaning: they'd open the map, rush to kill the enemy, but never paid attention to the plot.
In other games, it wouldn't be so bad. Even if it went in one ear and out the other, at least the NPCs had text above their waist and question marks over their heads.
But here, the NPC would explain the quest, and they didn't care if you remembered it or not. If you asked too many questions, they'd get annoyed.
The gaming experience was a real slog. Some Undead would even log off immediately after accepting a quest to write down the quest details in their phone's notes app, so they wouldn't forget.
"Everyone's been in Star Dragon Outpost for a few days now. It's true that our conditions here aren't as good as other starting zones, but I believe everyone has seen that Star Dragon Outpost is different!" SilkLegs said. "Our great Lord, a Goliath bloodline noble, the esteemed Linde Almann, trusts the Undead completely."
Some of the Undead were already curling their lips.
Others were muttering trash talk under their breath.
No surprises there. She was sucking up to the boss way too much!
No wonder they were stuck grinding while she was working in the administration building.
"Oh, so you're one of those guys. You deserve this."
"Going out of your way to suck up to the NPCs just to make things difficult for the rest of us? Isn't that a bit much?"
"I bet in real life, he's been an 'officer' of some kind since he was a kid. Probably racked up some serious time as a hall monitor, tattling on classmates with his 'heroic' acts of whistleblowing."
"We have a lot of freedom here in Star Dragon Outpost," he continued. "I think anyone who takes a look around on the forums can see that, and our Star Dragon Outpost is developing very quickly."
He raised a hand to gesture.
If he were wearing a polo shirt and pants pulled up to his belly button, he'd definitely be a local leader.
"I wonder if this guy is a manager in real life?"
"A full-blown manager? I don't know about that. But I bet he's the one who does the dorm room cleanliness checks, and he leads the way when the bosses inspect the cafeteria."
Those on stage spoke their piece, and those below chatted amongst themselves.
You might have power and influence in the real world, but I wouldn't necessarily care. There's no way I'm gonna grovel in the game world.
"Our gains in such a short time, which far exceed those of other players, already speak volumes. I'm not sure how this game will be in the later stages, but the fact that the last 1.02 update sent all the lost Undead in the wilderness to the settlement is enough to show that the early gameplay is about developing your own power and improving your stats."
SilkLegs's speculation was recognized by most of the Undead.
Everyone is already used to choosing a faction in games; it's just a basic move.
"So for us right now, the development of Star Dragon Outpost is the top priority. Accumulating more food, building higher walls, and creating defenses are just the basics. Later, I will invite some friends with hands-on abilities to join me in research and try to build some weapons, like catapults and arrow towers."
One of the Undead raised his hand. "Why not research guns and cannons?"
"Because this is a magic-based game!" SilkLegs exclaimed. "After seeing Lord Linde's strength, don't you want to be as powerful as him? Would using guns and cannons be as cool?"
"Yes! I want to play with guns."
"Then quit the game!"
SilkLegs was getting frustrated. "Why do you always want to use technology in a magical world, and magic in a technological world!"
"Because that's the basic setup for a protagonist in a novel, also known as a plot device (or cheat code)."
"Nice!"
SilkLegs explained, "I had a quick chat with the Lord about it. This world hasn't even entered the industrial age. Even if we have the knowledge and technology, it would take years to push this magic-apocalypse world into industrialization. We'd be max level by then."
No one disagreed anymore.
Not because they agreed with him, but because they saw several Star Dragon Outpost soldiers stride up and stand behind SilkLegs.
"Power-tripping mod, pulling rank, huh!"
Seeing that the others were agreeing with him, SilkLegs nodded in satisfaction. "Based on past experiences, we can confirm that the area around Star Dragon Outpost is definitely not safe. Of course, we can't stay here forever...you know..."
They couldn't stay here forever. The Undead were destined to roam the world; no one would stay in the newbie zone forever.
But it wasn't appropriate to say that here.
Who knew if the NPCs understood? Recent experiences had made them realize how weird the NPCs in this game were.
SilkLegs suddenly changed the subject. "And besides, don't you guys want to change jobs?"
"Huh?!" The Undead suddenly perked up.
"Right now, the maximum level is 10," SilkLegs said. "The devs have only opened up to level 10, and we're all just regular Joes. But according to a player friend of mine, the NPCs have a way for us to break through to level 11 and gain all kinds of cool skills—in other words, to specialize!" (Or "get a job class," depending on context).
"I'm not sure if this is a bug or a secret clue that the game deliberately left."
Looking at the Undead with burning eyes, SilkLegs's lips curled into a smile.
Just as he had thought.
Forget industrialization, forget cannons. Right now, everyone just wanted to specialize, just wanted to look awesome.
"Maybe we can find a way to specialize?" SilkLegs's smirk widened. "The devs locked our level cap, but that doesn't mean we can't find a workaround. Even if it doesn't work, it's still important to complete the quests ahead of time so we can specialize as soon as the update drops, right?"
Speaking in a tone that he knew would appeal to the Undead, SilkLegs said calmly, "And I even asked Lord Linde about it. Guess what? He said it might be possible."
"Heck yeah!! Tell us what to do!"
"I was born in Star Dragon Outpost, and I'll die a Star Dragon Outpost ghoul! Lord Linde, are you listening?!"
"I can simper too! I can love Star Dragon Outpost! Let me kiss your boots, Lord! Let me replace SilkLegs!"
Before, everyone was just complaining that SilkLegs was sucking up to the NPCs, but now that they knew about the specialization info, everyone immediately realized one thing.
"Being near the water tower gets you the moonlight first;" SilkLegs, having Lord Linde's trust, would definitely be the first to get the important information, and maybe even the first to specialize!
Everyone's just playing the game, so how did you suddenly become so much better than the rest of us? It hurts, man.
SilkLegs smiled. "Now that everyone is clear on our current situation, we should all work together to develop the territory. @EuroChenILoveYou and I have been researching some quests. Right now, the tavern is buying food in large quantities and hiring performers and waiters, etc. If you need a place to earn money, you can apply. I recommend everyone go after leveling up to 10."
"Then there's farming in the Twisted Sage Village, and building defenses. I have quest scrolls; everyone isn't allowed to hog the quests. Only one quest per person."
Seeing the swarm of Undead players rushing over, he added, "Line up!"
Lining up? Undead players are pros at that! It's a physical instinct they've been doing since they were little.