[open]

[selfconcept]

Who • Head Admin
What • A chance to see the Head Admin "in-person". May be cranky. Caution advised.
When • August 5-11
Where • Lumina Cloth
Content Warnings • Possible PKing (with player permission)

[ Any time between August 5 to 11, you may see a figure clad in a long black cloak with the hood up to obscure his face, either standing at random spots of the city with his 5' 10" height or sitting on a bench, being slightly less menacing. He stands out in a certain way, because his presence alone might be a little unnerving. He resembles what you would expect out of a grim reaper sort of existence.

Yet, if you check his character information, you'll see his level, class, equipment, and a very "friendly" blurb. A level 100... Harvest Cleric? Surely, that shouldn't be too scary to deal with, right?

Anyway, here are your options:

I ► You're here to talk about that weird quest. He will reject any attempts at being given the quest item. May straight up PK you without hesitation either way.

II ► You want to fight him. Maybe you want to launch a surprise attack on him or just straight up ask for a PvP round for whatever reason. Lumina Cloth is pvp-enabled for the entire root town, after all.

III ► You're not sure how to approach him, but you can hear him mumbling about a potato...

IV ► You want to talk to him about something else.

Wildcard ► Hit him up in-person or his inbox with whatever you'd like! I do want to note that every single in-person interaction has the possibility of him trying to PK you because he's a cranky and violent guy--yes, even prompt 4. If you would prefer not to get PK'd, please let me know in the comment header in advance, so that I can avoid that while threading with you! You can put anything you want under wildcard, including dragging him to the amusement park, but will he agree? Fuck around to find out.

He's just here to vibe. There will be no plot-relevant things here. ]

Comments

[worldbent]

Something like that.

[Matoba glances over at the bright lights inviting players into the casinos.]

Places to waste money come quickly along with any new social spaces, don't they? [He turns back towards the other and leans slightly, as if trying to glance into his hood.] In-game currency only, right?

[Mercifully, they are in a pre-microtransaction hellworld!]

[selfconcept]

Mm-hmm.

[ He turns his head to look at Matoba. Does this help, dear sir? His eyes are black and so is his hair. Nothing really unusual. ]

Places to waste money have plenty of incentives for people to stay willingly. With that many people in a single place, that would indeed... be called a social space.

You look like the type of person who'd gamble to prove a point.

[worldbent]

[Definitely looks like he needs some sleep.]

Actions speak louder than words, as they say. [Is that meant to be an agreement with Hien's assessment?] That's why so-called "pleasure districts" are always lively places of business. There's a lot that can happen when someone gets loosened up.

I guess that's a sort of addictive behavior, too. [He thinks back on his conversation with Mithrun, who had suggested the ability to drink oneself silly with no adverse effects.] Just like the news has been saying.

[selfconcept]

Of course. It wouldn't be addictive if it didn't feel good.

[ Biggest brain betrayals. ]

But addiction has been around regardless of technology. New things are always scary to the general public until there's knowledge about it. So they'll shame it. There will be things like that, and much more to come.

[ His black eyes continue to stare at Matoba's face before Hien decides to lean back into the bench's backrest again. ]

Are you here to take me out?

[ What kind? He'll leave that up to Matoba. ]

[worldbent]

Oh, I'm sure. Politicians will always need something to rally the public against when elections come around, and you're an attractive target as any old one. [Actually, maybe it'd get some heat off his back, lol.] If anything, this just opens up more options for everybody.

[Truly, he doesn't disagree. But convincing oldtimers that this sort of tech was the future and was something to take advantage of before the competition did was easier said than done.]

[Continuing to contemplate that to himself, he glances over to Hien with a small smile.]

I'm not really looking for dates. [Unfortunately for everyone involved that's an answer for both sides of that question.] ......But if you're interested in business, I'm listening.

[selfconcept]

[ That nonexpressive face of his? Immediately scowling at the mention of politicians. That grumpy vibe around him as increased to something like hostility that isn't sure what it should be directed towards, but it's not at Matoba. At least, not yet. ]

There's no business to talk about. There's nothing you want that I have and vice versa.

[worldbent]

[Oya, oya?]

[Matoba doesn't comment on the vibe, mercifully, but his eye lights up a little with his smile. But he's always smiling, it seems like. Maybe it's nothing.]

That's too bad. [A beat.] Haha, well, other than my test data, or I wouldn't be here.

I wouldn't put yourself down like that, though, Admin-san. [Matoba stands, smoothing the lap of his kimono automatically. Probably not necessary in a character model, but it seems like something he's used to doing.] I'm sure there is something I would be interested in from you.

[Even if he isn't willing to pay for it. Yet.]

[selfconcept]

And that would be?

[ He's aware that the timing is bad, or else Matoba probably would have brought it up already. At least that gets him to calm down a little. He'll put himself down all he wants, thanks!! ]

If you never ask now, you might never get it in the future.

[worldbent]

Is that so? Well, since you asked; I don't have any particular needs at the moment, but that sort of thing changes rapidly.

Interesting information is always useful. [A pause, his cat-eye resting on Hien's dull one. All of their appearances were chosen, which meant they all had their reasons for choosing each element.] I don't mean about the game, per se.

This time, I didn't approach you with anything but curiosity in mind, though. Don't read into it too much.

[selfconcept]

That's unfortunate. Here I was, thinking I was special.

[ His tone of voice sounds absolutely dead for that. He absolutely doesn't mean it, and seeing that smile of Matoba's almost makes him squint. He doesn't enjoy smiley types... ]

I'm just someone who keeps the unruly ones in line. Nothing more, nothing less.

[ A bold-faced lie. He doesn't seem to care about that. ]

So I can't see why you would be curious about me. Please understand.

[worldbent]

Reasonably, [Matoba agrees, cocking his head to send the ponytail behind him flicking.] But "special" doesn't do it all.

[Special permissions, special positioning... And he isn't as disagreeable in person as he is on the forums. Not that Matoba minds "disagreeable".]

At first I wondered why someone with your disposition would be in the role you have, but it's much simpler to understand someone when speaking with them directly. It's nice that this technology allows for that.

...Since you're here among us, should I presume you've been playtesting as well?

[selfconcept]

Mm, is that so...?

[ So what has Matoba found out? Hm. Hien doesn't mind what people think about him, but Matoba? This guy? His smiley disposition combined with his words and tone really just gives him the "dni" warnings off in his head. He can't think of other people around that age easily talking about politics like the back of their hands. ]

But that's right. I also test things here and there. It's best to test them live, after all. Since you are a beta tester, it wouldn't be too much to ask for your assistance in testing something, right?

[ Hien slowly stands from the bench. ]

[worldbent]

[Hien isn't easy to read the mood off of, but Matoba is sure that his previous reactions on the forums haven't come out of nowhere. His position being what it is, Matoba finds himself wary of such a request.]

[...Then again, it could be fun, too- to see what's possible.]

Sure. [A beat.]

But you ought to know I'm not the type to forget something easily.

[Test at your own risk, Admin-san!]

[selfconcept]

I'm aware.

[ Hien properly wields his staff in his hand. It definitely doesn't seem to match the vibe of what's supposed to be a "Summer's Staff". Thanks, weapon skins. ]

People never forget what deeply affects them.

[ Living in one's head rent free? But it's definitely some sort of backhanded taunt. Either way, Hien quickly casts an AoE wood spell: a flurry of sharp leaves encircles several NPCs wandering in the city. While Matoba may not be the main target, it is definitely possible to get caught within the spell. It has a pretty big area, after all. Despite it being a level 2 wood spell, Hien's stats more than make up for it for it to be a one hit KO scenario.

He is essentially trying to test how much damage nontargeted player characters receive in a root town. I'll leave this to you whether you want Matoba to be PK'd or not! He would be on the floor, unable to move for about 20 minutes if he does.

Either way, hope Matoba turned his pain sensors off, or it'll be very painful. ]

[worldbent]

[Unfortunately(?) for Hien, Matoba is a lunatic.]

[It's not a direct attack, which is the more surprising aspect- so it's nothing personal, right? That's fine. It's for testing, after all- whether they're breaking the setting or breaking themselves, that's the point of being here. Who is he to deny the Admin his data?]

[He watches the flurry of leaves with anticipatory interest as they cut into the NPCs, but the NPCs hardly seem affected by it. (He'll only learn later that doing damage to them is fruitless, but maybe this is how he gets the idea?) From his own magic, though, he knows that this Wood spell is an AoE attack.]

[So, of course, it will cut into him. At least he isn't weak to it, he thinks with a raspy chuckle as the leaves start to cut into his skin, and digital or no- yes, they hurt. It should be little surprise how much damage each hit does after seeing Hien's level, taking chunks off his HP rapidly until it bottoms out.]

....Is that it....?

[He'll get to experience how a PK feels in the game now. That'll be illuminating! ...He thinks, as his avatar collapses.]

[selfconcept]

[ They can be two lunatic peas in a pod. :)

When he watches Matoba collapse, perhaps one would expect Hien's face to stay unchanging and unmoved. However, when Hien lowers himself to sit on the ground in front of Matoba, he quietly sighs which turns into a low chuckle.

That felt really good.

He runs his hand through Matoba's hair in a gentle way that a caring parent would do for their child. Feel free to feel creepy vibes from him in waves. ]

We can test some more features, since you're so eager.

[ With that, Hien stands again, puts his staff away, and wields Matoba's PK'd avatar as a weapon. Since he is a Harvest Cleric he holds onto Matoba's hand as he is straightened out like a staff itself. Perhaps the only thing Matoba can do at this point is to talk while staying "conscious", but is it wise for a dying man to do so? ]

I see. This is also a bug that should be fixed. I'll note that.

[worldbent]

Oya? Desecrating the dead? This is a new way to do it, I must say.

[Matoba finds himself surprised that he can still talk, but... It wasn't like you got disconnected from voice chat when you died in a game normally, so maybe it makes some sense. It was a much stranger experience with the physicality of the game, though. His brow wrinkles.] ...It's a little immersion-breaking, isn't it...? [His mouth twists, looking upon Hien's hand with distaste.] I think a fade to respawn would be more realistic, personally speaking.

[If you're going to pet him and swing him around then he's going to make you listen to all his complaints, Hien, that's just how it's going to be.]

[His hands flex. In real life, he's testing the feeling in his limbs after that attack, considering how realistic it was. Kind of refreshing.]

So this is your aim. This is far more akin to what I expected for technology like this. [Breaking people. --Not in the game-breaking sense, like is currently happening, but this is interesting, too...] Why bother putting the investment into a game?

[selfconcept]

It's alright, because the dead don't speak. Therefore, you're not dead. A fade to respawn is actually in place, but it takes a little longer to kick in than expected. Around 20 minutes, perhaps? But I can let you go earlier.

[ There is no "if that's what you prefer". It isn't Matoba's choice. ]

You're free to interpret my actions as to however you'd like, but as I said earlier, I am no one special despite my title. I'm just here to partake in game testing just as you are, along with keeping the players in line with the forum rules.

Either way, I will forward this to the developers.

[ Hien swings Matoba as one would use a bludgeoning weapon and then proceeds to drop him on the ground. ]

Thank you for participating in the test. Goodbye.

[ And Matoba will find himself fading and respawn in Mac Anu shortly! He won't find Hien in Lumina Cloth on the same day if he returns, but he will be found in Lumina Cloth another day of the week! ]