Virtually, Anything Goes 47

By Lady Bast


"Welcome to the antechamber of VR2L Third Earth," said the cat-headed image on the monitor. "I am your hostess, Lady Bast. Please state your name and step up to the screen to choose your character format."

"Format?" asked the newest player.

"You require a character to enter the world of VR2L Third Earth," said Bast. "Please state your name."

"Mbswolf."

"Alright, mbswolf, can I call you 'Wolf'?" asked Bast slyly as the sensors scanned in the player's dimensions. He grinned.

"I don't see why not," he said good-naturedly. "I'm at your mercy after all..."

Bast's laughter filled the room and faded away even as her imaged did, replaced by the images of himself as he truly was and the blank form that would be his character. "So, Mr. Wolf, what race will you be?"

"Human will do for me."

"Male or female?"

"I'll stick with male," the player shrugged. "It's worked so far!"

At Bast's prompting, mbswolf designed his character to be his essential duplicate with minor alterations to suit the gaming environment. In the end he stood at six feet with just enough muscle masse to be strong without compromising his athleticism. Blue eyes contrasted with dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail which fell to just below his shoulder blades. His clothing was practical: black t-shirt, blue jeans, thick leather jacket, and sturdy boots for hiking through rough terrain. As a final touch, and a tribute to his love of fiction, the jeans bore a winding pattern over the right leg and part of the left. It was printed in black ink with subtle gold accents and bore a striking resemblance to a sinuous Asian dragon. The T-shirt was printed with white, carefully highlighted with silver and the pattern, winding its way up from the bottom right-hand corner to the top of the left sleeve, was the landscape of an alien planet, its triple moons rising over the right breast.

"Nice touch," complimented the voice of Bast. "Character designated 'mbswolf' is saved. Basic equipment includes food, water, and basic bedroll. You may now choose one weapon and one additional item of equipment. Others may be gathered in time."

"Let's stick with the mixed fantasy and sci-fi themse," grinned mbswolf. "Can I chose two weapons?"

"Yes," replied the Avatar, "but your proficiency will be with the first weapon chosen."

"In that case, I'll take a long sword as my first weapon and a blaster as my second."

"Please define 'blaster'," said the voice of Lady Bast. "We have many varieties of energy weapons at your disposal."

"I think you're basic death ray type will do," replied the player. "Maybe a few different settings, but no more than three. Even that might be too much. I'm just looking for an old-fashioned pulp sci-fi weapon."

"Very well," said the voice of Bast. "Please balance your skills and your attributes."

This task was far easier and mbswolf, like most players, balanced his character's attribute points in such a way that survival was maximized. His skills took a little longer for him to choose, but he finally decided on a computer knowledge skill, an increased athletics skill, and a combat skill.

"Attributes designated to character 'mbswolf' are saved," said Bast. "Thank you for joining the VR2L test group already in progress. I hope you enjoy your stay on Third Earth."

"Don't I know it," sighed the player as he watched the wall rise up. "You'd think Felina would have waited for me before plugging in."

But he himself wasted no time in plunging into the light beyond as soon as the opportunity presented itself and the sound of the Avatar's crystal laughter followed him as he went.

*********************

"Mooncat. Also known as Moonkitty."

"Please specify a single name," said the voice of Bast politely.

"Mooncat then," sighed the player.

"Alright, Mooncat, what race will you be?"

"I'm a cat!"

"A fully feline cat or an anthropomorphic cat?"

"Anthro. I'm humanoid although I can move on all fours if I have to. And I have a muzzle and a tail. And I'm cute! Don't forget that!"

"Alright, cute. Male or female?"

"Female!" said Mooncat with a hint of indignation.

"Your physical description?" prompted the Avatar as the blank figure on the monitor took on a feline appearance.

"Bright eyes...nice and golden...and rich, dark fur. Oh! And sharp little teeth..." ennumerated Mooncat, ticking each trait off on her fingers. "And furry all over with maybe a little more around the head, like hair...I think I mentioned the tail right?...and a sexy figure. I'm a cat, I have to have a sexy figure. And cute! Did I mention cute?"

"Cute has been recorded," the voice of Bast assured her. "Would you like to clothe your character?"

"Well, she's furry so it probably doesn't matter...but pockets might be nice," said Mooncat brightly. Nonetheless, she chose a brief outfit of laced sandals with a doeskin halter and short hip-hugging skirt held on mostly by the grace of a wide belt. The belt had four small pouches attached to it in lieu of actual pockets. For a little extra adornment, Mooncat added a simple strip of leather knotted loosely around her neck and decorated with tiger's eye beads, their warm, buttery hues glowing softly against her throat.

"Character designated 'Mooncat' is saved," said Bast. "Basic equipment includes food, water, and basic bedroll. You may now choose one weapon and one additional item of equipment. Others may be gathered in time."

"Weapon? I don't need a weapon," sniffed Mooncat. "That's what claws are for! Can I have two items instead?"

"If that is what you wish," said Bast slyly.

"I'm not letting your silly old tone of voice scare me," accused Mooncat. "I want sexy things. Something musical..."

"How about a bow harp?" suggested Bast. "It's easy to carry. Or a sistrum?"

"Sistrum?"

An image of a sistrum appeared on the monitor, replacing Mooncat's original scan. It was little more than a handle with a curved loop of bronze at the top. Crossing the loop were fine bronze wires upon which were tied tiny disks. When rattled, they made a soft chiming sound. "The sistrum is meant to be used in dance," explained Bast. "It can be both sensual and spiritual. It is my instrument."

"Hmm...okay, I'll try it. It makes me think of gypsies with their tambourines," mused Mooncat. "So, that's all well and good, but what else do you have that's sexy?"

Bast suggested the 'body care kit' designed by Suzene, but Mooncat turned it down. "Too many oils," she grimace. "Oils and fur don't mix."

"How about something magical?" said Bast. "We haven't many magical items, but those that we have might interest you."

Mooncat studied the list of magical items. "What's a 'conjure ring'?" she asked drily, unimpressed by the pun.

"It will allow you to conjure fifty pounds of unliving matter per day," said Bast. "Slightly more if you do not use it every day. The matter will disappear within twenty-four hours of conjuration...when it vanishes, you may use the ring again. Food and liquid are considered living matter as they are unprocessed."

"How would that help me?"

"You could conjure fifty pounds of fine, light satin and feather pillows," said Bast suggestively. "More if you do not use it every day. Enough, maybe, for scented candles, incense..."

"Catnip?"

"If you wish."

"Oooo! I'll take that!" cried Mooncat.

"Very well, your equipment has been added to the list," said the voice of Bast. "Please balance your skills and your attributes."

Because she was weaponless, Mooncat made up for this deficiency by not only improving her constitution, but also her fighting abilities. She chose a martial arts type of combat skill first to make full use of her claws before supplementing it with an increase in strength and agility and adding a dancing skill in order to make full use of her sistrum.

"Attributes designated to character 'Mooncat' are saved," said Bast. "Thank you for joining the VR2L test group already in progress. I hope you enjoy your stay on Third Earth."

"With any luck, everyone ELSE will enjoy my stay on Third Earth," said Mooncat with a teasing smile as she slipped under the rising wall and into the bright light beyond.

*********************

"Let's stick with my classic: Boron," said the player.

"What race will you be?" asked the voice of Bast.

"Psi Lunatak, male. About six foot six with purple hair...no a little lighter than that...that hangs straight down to his shoulders. Hmmm...maybe a little longer. To the shoulder blades. Right. And as well as the usual markings, he should have a light blue stripe running down the centre of her face. Yellow eyes...good...and with a decent build."

"Will you have a costume, Boron?"

"Yeah...something simple, but cool. Like black pants and tabi boots. I'll need some torso armour too, maybe with shoulder guards. And guards for the forearms as well...I'll probably be doing a lot of hand-to-hand combat."

"It seems rather...simple," prompted Bast with a verbal nudge.

"Well, the armour could be stamped with the crescent moon of the Lunataks," said Boron with a shrug. "It would look a little more official." He considered the design for a minute. "Do you think you could add a...hell, what would you call it?...a sort of ceremonial loincloth? A really long one, white edged with black and also stamped with the crescent moon?" The final effect, when the Boron-image was standing at attention, was of a royal guardsman. "Good...but shorten it a little. Just to mid-shin or so...great."

"Character designated 'Boron' is saved," said the voice of Bast cheerfully. "Basic equipment includes food, water, and basic bedroll. You may now choose one weapon and one additional item of equipment. Others may be gathered in time."

"Definitely a sword. Something long-bladed and fairly light," said Boron. "Hmmm...can I have a second weapon instead of a piece of equipment?"

"Yes," replied the Avatar, "but your proficiency will be with the first weapon chosen."

"No problem, I just want a knife to go with my sword. This way I have close-up and stabbing covered as well as arm's-length and slashing," grinned Boron.

"Very well," said the voice of Bast once the equipment had been added. "Please balance your skills and your attributes."

"Easy enough," said the player with confidence as he did so and chose his skills: a combat knowledge and two computer knowledge abilities for both programming and hardware.

"Attributes designated to character 'Boron' are saved," said Bast. "Thank you for joining the VR2L test group already in progress. I hope you enjoy your stay on Third Earth."

"Are you going to play?" Boron asked as the wall raised behind him, revealing the white light of the game port beyond.

"Am I?" laughed the cat-headed woman in a crystal cascade. "I'm already *in* the game! You are speaking to a pre-programmed response system."

"In that case, I'll meet you on the other side," said Boron with a slanted grin as he plunged into the world of VR2L Third Earth.

*********************

"Call me Cleo."

"Alright, Cleo," said the voice of Lady Bast, "what race will you be?"

"Just human. Female."

"Very well. What is your physical description."

"More or less like Lara Croft," the player said sheepishly. "But with Egyptian embellishments...I like Egyptian things."

"You have excellent taste," purred Bast. "But I'm afraid there is no description for 'Lara Croft'."

Cleo raised her eyebrows questioningly. "You don't know about Lara Croft, star of the Tomb Raider series of computer games?"

"I am a game function," said the cat-headed woman. "I was created to provide a character design and game information. It is not my place to know about registered games...nor is it the game's. It is an issue of copyright. However," she added slyly, "should you describe a character that happens to resemble a trademarked personna, then it is the player's choice and not our own and therefor above such laws."

Cleo's smile spread slowly across her features as the meaning took hold. Then she quickly described the animated heroine - with a slightly modified height and proportion to avoid any possible copyright issues - right down to the shorts, top, gloves, and footwear. Sunglasses as well. And a long, long braid running down her back. As she began to describe her Egyptian accents, she was interrupted by her hostess.

"If your interest runs so deeply, would you like to be an Avatar?" prompted Bast.

"An Avatar?"

"A character allied to a particular god of a particular pantheon."

"Okay, I guess...like an Egyptian deity?"

"Just so. I," stressed Lady Bast, "am not Bast, but an Avatar character bearing the same name who serves as the hostess of VR2L Third Earth."

"Okay. Do I get to choose or do you?" asked Cleo.

"You may choose."

"I'm the adventurous type...and a relic hunter. I wonder who would be a appropriate," mused Cleo, falling into deep concentration.

"Nephthys, goddess of revelations and secrets?" prompted Bast in a helpful tone of voice.

"Mmm...too tame," replied Cleo after a moment. She thought she heard the voice of her hostess making a little sound of disappointment, and she wondered why.

"Anubis, the great tour guide of the Underworld?" prompted Bast again.

"Aw...I like him! But I don't think that's quite right," said Cleo, frowning in concentration. "I'd have to know a lot about history, and languages, and science...and probably magic for that matter."

"Thoth," said Bast triumphantly. "Creator of math, science, language, magic, and many etceteras."

"That might not be a bad idea," said Cleo, brightening.

"Would you like to morph or have an animal companion?"

"What? You mean I could change shape?"

"Thoth has various animal representatives...the foremost are the baboon and the ibis," explained Bast.

"I know that," interrupted Cleo. "You mean I could change into one of them?"

"Of course. I am a cat-morph in my in-between stage. You could morph as well, or choose an intelligent 'familiar'...an animal companion who could help and communicate with you."

The player thought it over for a while. "I don't really want to change into one of those shapes although an animal companion might be nice. An ibis, I guess, since I wouldn't want a baboon...they're just not my thing."

"The game rules have some flexibility...any simien would do as an animal companion," said Bast. "After all, Artemis has a leopard as an animal companion and yet they don't figure very highly in Greek mythology. Still, a cat is a cat to Artemis."

"So I could have a little spider monkey?" said Cleo with sudden interest. "I understand they're very clever!"

"Indeed! Is this your choice?" Bast inquired.

"Yes...I will have a spider monkey. Female, I think..."

"And the name?"

"Merima'at."

"As an Egyptian Avatar you are required to wear an indication of your station. I normally recommend a collar. The current Avatars are wearing broad collars, but a slimmer one is available."

"I'll have a slimmer one with an ankh charm if I may," said Cleo. Then she went on to describe a few other items of Egyptian jewelry such as serpent armlets and kohl to help shade her eyes from the glare of the sun.

"Done," said the voice of Bast. "Character designated 'Cleo' is saved. Basic equipment includes food, water, and basic bedroll. You may now choose one weapon and one additional item of equipment. Others may be gathered in time."

Cleo took far less time in choosing a large firearm as her weapon. Capable of generating a very broad and rapid spray of energy pellets - bullets being impractical to the world of Third Earth - it would cut down nearly any enemy in her path. For her equipment, she chose a thief's kit.

"Done and...done," said Bast as the equipment was added. "Please adjust your attributes."

Without hesitation, Cleo chose a hand-to-hand combat skill, as well as both an ancient languages skill and an Egyptian knowledge skill to boost her Avatar powers.

"Attributes designated to character 'Cleo' are saved," said Bast. "Thank you for joining the VR2L test group already in progress. I hope you enjoy your stay on Third Earth."

"Well, at least I'm not early for the party," said Cleo. "It's always better to be fashionably late." And, as the wall was still rising into the wall behind her, she ducked beneath it and into the light beyond, followed by the cascade of Bast's laughter.

*********************



virtually 48