Epoch of New BeginningsLike the turning of the seasons every year, the Epochs of the Great Game's Cycle too do change. The ebb and flow of these Epochs, like the world, begin with a time of new beginnings.This is the Epoch of New Beginnings, the prelude of the Great Game. As a Convict you have the unique privilege and burden of being in the first wave to enter Crownfall a returning continent of Pandora.

  Selection PhaseChoose from one of the following [Starting Scenario]s to begin your journey upon Crownfall. This scenario will determine your starting location as well as an initial challenge to overcome.You are in Selection Group 25 which consists of 1024 Pyers in total. Your group will have 5 neldes to each choose your own decisions on a scenarios. You can reserve one slot in one of the scenarios; other pyers cannot take the reserved slot. The reserved scenario will be chosen at the end of If you have not made a choice by that time.

  Prisoner 24601[Universal Point]s = 5000Reserved Scenario: !Random {Free}{Unlimited Slots}

  –{640 cantas}–

  [Starting Scenario]s:!Random {Free}{Unlimited Slots}!Random Refined {X UPs}{Unlimited Slots}#173 Subject Case Study {111111 UPs}{1/3 Slots}7th Legion of Goldgrove {1000 UPs}{1000/1000 Slots}A Daring Gamble {X UPs}{158/200 Slots}A Dusk of the Dragons {2192020 UPs}{0/1 Slots}A Deadly Duel {2000 UPs}{2/2 Slots}…

  Scenarios can be expanded to show additional information.

  An entire vertical slice of the white crystal ste became filled with sprawling text. From top to bottom were listed many different scenario names in alphabetical order. Beside each of the names was written their cost in universal points and the number of slots avaible.

  Octavia piped up trying to help. "By the way there is like a hundred pages more after this. Each scenario also has a description of what it is. Since you still don't know how to interface with the terminal I'll help you navigate just tell me when.

  The sheer multitude of options gave me pause. But I managed to nod in acknowledgement to Octavia's comment.

  I considered the best method of approach to pick an ideal scenario. With only five neldes to make a choice I don't have time to read through all the options. I can try to reduce the number of choices by judging the name and the point cost and not the summary. But with such a long list that will still take up more than my five neldes. In addition without a method of approach the thousand other contenders take good scenarios that I might want before I can. At this point I don't know enough about the scenarios to even begin to formute criteria by with to select the scenario. My first step should then to be just to read through a couple of the scenario descriptions and gather information.

  The best I could do was to start skimming the scenarios and getting an understanding of what each scenario was.

  "Octavia can you show me the first scenario?" I asked.

  Octavia responded in an upbeat tone. "One random scenario coming right up!" Her avatar jumped up and down animatedly as she spoke.

  Then the dispy changed showing the scenario.

  –{590 cantas}–!Random {Free}{Unlimited Slots}

  Draw a weighted random [Starting Scenario] from all avaible [Starting Scenario]s. Uses the inverse of its cost in [Universal Points] of [Starting Scenario]s as the weight. [Starting Scenario]s with a cost of X or no remaining Slots will not be included in the pool.

  Self expnatory. Picks a random scenario, the higher the cost the less likely it is to be picked."Next" I stated.

  –{582 cantas}–!Random Refined {X UPs}{Unlimited Slots}

  Draw a weighted random [Starting Scenario] from all avaible [Starting Scenario]s. Uses the inverse of its cost + X in [Universal Points] of [Starting Scenario]s as the weight. [Starting Scenario]s with a cost of X or no remaining Slots will not be included in the pool.

  Mostly same as before. Picks a random scenario, but (functionally) increases the likelihood of higher cost scenarios as more points are spent.The random options were exactly a that, a random scenario albeit with weighted odds."Next" I called to Octavia.

  –{575 cantas}–#173 Subject Case Study {111111 UPs}{1/3 Slots}

  You wake inside a gss cylinder a heavily modified test subject. Around you is a long abandoned research facility.

  More points than I currently have and seems very vague. I knew that I didn't have enough points, but I still wanted to see what a high cost start would look like. Unfortunately the summary didn't help much. Trying to crify I asked Octavia. "What does 'heavily modified mean?'"

  Octavia's avatar paused mid spin. "I don't have any more access to the scenarios than you so I can't tell you anything definitive. From what I remember from past Cycles of the Great Game the modifications that occur during the early stages are fairly limited, mainly non-invasive modifications and reversible cosmetic alterations"

  Her response drew my curiosity to the body modifications that the Great Game could administer. I want to ask further but, as I couldn't pick the scenario in any case I decided against pressing Octavia for a more detailed answer.

  My voice rang out. "Next"

  –{569 cantas}–7th Legion of Goldgrove {1000 UPs}{1000/1000 Slots}

  You are conscripted from prison into a hastily assembled legion. This motley young legion is tasked with traveling aiding a nearby town defend against an impending monster wave.

  This scenario gave far more information than the previous; though still vague there was at least a general description of what was to be expected. There is nothing particurly interesting in the scenario aside from the completely full slots. The early pcement and average cost is probably the primary reasons as to the full slots. A rough estimate of all the scenarios on the first page pced 1000 UPs as fairly close to the median cost.

  Me: "Next scenario."

  "So demanding." Octavia grumbled before obliging; the dispy shifted to the next scenario.

  –{545 cantas}–A Daring Gamble {X UPs}{158/200 Slots}

  You are a skilled thief that has spent most of your time working on small jobs and building a repertoire of skills, tools and connections. Now is your big moment, a grand heist like no other.The number of points (X) put in will increase the value of the treasure.

  I stopped after this scenario. My initial foray into the options had left me with questions. Questions I would need to resolve to press forward.

  The most important was Universal Points. What are they. What purpose do they serve? How are they obtained? Obviously with a name including the words "Universal" there is likely a variety of usages or are a common resource. But the question that matters here to me is whether there is any way to use the points immediately in the scenario and if so, if there is anyway to obtain more points in the same time frame.

  Following my lines of reasoning I asked Octavia. "Besides choosing a scenario what are the uses for universal points?"

  Octavia responded quickly. "Universal points are functionally the standard currency in the Great Game. There are many uses for universal points but the primary ones are for trade between those in the Great Game or, like your are doing here, to spend them directly on buying upgrades from the System."

  While her answer contained good general information I wanted specifics for the current situation. "Do you know of the ways that universal points can be used in the scenario specifically?" I asked her, seeking crification.

  There was a long pause before she answered. "Well the scenario is probably this Cycle's version of the Vilin's Initiation. I don't have remember ever watching a Vilin's Initiation so I don't have any idea what you are able to use your points on. I know that in the Commoner's Initiation there are periods of time in which your are allowed to spend your points on a tutorial points store. During some Cycles, though, there are no restrictions on..."

  I put up my hand stopping her, I could literally see the cantas tick away. Her verbal deluge only added more terms and concepts that I had no understanding of. If she knew something useful for my decision making, it would be better to just ask her for her input rather than spending the limited time on learning those things. I could always ask for details ter when there was no time restrictions. "So the scenario I am picking is for a Vilin's Initiation?"

  Octavia: "Didn't you listen to what I said?"

  I cut her off before she went on another diatribe. "Just answer Yes or No."

  With a loud huff Octavia responded. "Yes."

  Me: "So I'm going into a Vilin's Initiation. How much faith do you have in your assessment of the possible usages of points during this phase?"

  "Well using the Commoner's Initiation as a baseline I have a general idea of what might be possible. But..." Octavia's voice faded out, unwilling to admit the truth.

  I prodded her. "But?"

  Reluctantly she finished. "But I can't say with any amount of certainty that my conjectures will be correct."

  Me: "So that means you don't know whether or not universal points can be used for during the Vilin's Initiation?"

  "Well, Yeah." Octavia muttered chagrined.

  Having gotten to the bottom of the problem, I firmly admonished her. "So just say that instead instead of giving me endless information."

  "I just wanted to share with you what I know." Octavia admitted ashamedly. Her shoulders slumped and the golden glow about her faded until it was nigh imperceptible.

  Internally I sighed. Clearly my response had come off as too abrasive to her. There is no need for me to sour a retionship, especially one that can be mutually beneficial. I mellowed out my tone; clearly stating my priorities, but giving her some leeway. "That's wonderful, I would love listen to you and learn more about the Great Game. But right now we are in a serious, life-threatening situation. Can what you want to say wait until the stakes are as high?"

  Octavia looked miffed. "Yeah. It can wait."

  With the conversation finished, my focus was now squarely back to the problem of which scenario to pick.

  –{489 cantas}–The clock on the dispy ticked down as I looked. I decided to give myself at most until 400 cantas to reason out a new approach.

  The biggest challenge was how much of my points should go to the scenario and how much should be saved. There is no right answer. With Octavia not having information on how universal points would operate once in the scenario, there was a good chance that there would ways to spend points in the game and that it might be of lethal importance. I could gamble by pcing all my points into the scenario and make the assumption that there was limited use of universal points once inside. I could also conversely spend as few points as possible on the scenario and assume that there would be plenty of uses for points inside the scenario.

  There was also the additional complexity of what the point costs for each scenario represented. The major factors to the price, would likely be the difficulty and the reward along with possibly, the rarity. The lower the difficulty and the higher the reward and rarity the more expensive the scenario would be. If the points I spent on a scenario were due to a retively high reward but also had a correspondingly high difficulty then it would be more important to know whether or not there would be ways to spend points in the scenario. Alternatively a scenario where the points were all spent on a greatly reduced difficulty would be less impacted on the ability or inability to exchange points for assistance once in the scenario.

  –{444 cantas}–My mind raced calcuting the possibilities trying to see what the right ratio of points should be spent here picking a scenario and how many should be saved.

  But as I was thinking, I struck a simple yet incredibly impactful realization. I had been pursuing this from the wrong perspective. The greatest danger was not the scenario, but rather the other contenders. With such seemingly high stakes there was bound to be dangerous conflict.

  Thus the most important selection criteria is the location retive to the other pyers as well as the quantity of pyers within the specific scenario. In an area with a denser popution like a metropolitan area or the army scenario the rest of death or harm by other pyers skyrocketed. Only in a more rural area or a wilderness would the risk of enemy pyers be reduced.

  Now with a direction, it was time to find a suitable scenario. To save time, I asked Octavia if she could help with interaction with the System Terminal. "Octavia can this list be sorted in order of slot count instead of alphabetical order?"

  Octavia: "Do you want to sort starting with the highest slot count first or the lowest?"

  Me: "Lowest."

  Her avatar floated to the upper corner of the dispy. She pressed a button, which I was certain wasn't the before, and brought up a sub-menu with basic sorting features. Octavia fiddled with it until the list of scenarios reordered itself.

  A new column of scenarios was now on the dispy; starting with scenarios with a single slot and increasing further down.

  After a quick gnce I could see that most of the scenarios dispyed were either already full or had a Universal Point above 5000, which was how many points I had.

  "How about sorting by point count?" I asked.

  Octavia sighed dramatically as I asked. "Of course I can sort by point count." She responded as she maniputed the sub-menu again.

  Behind Octavia the list changed to reflect my request. As it did I interrupted her to ask. "Actually you don't need to change it, can you sort it by slot count again?"

  She gred at me not changing the list back.

  I continued ignoring her silence. "And can you limit it the scenarios to under 5000 points?"

  "Anything else? Or are you just going to keep telling me to do things!!!" Octavia excimed explosively. Her avatar shook her fist at me angrily.

  I was unfazed by her childish antics and only responded. "Yeah could you also only included scenarios which still have at least avaible slot?"

  Octavia begrudgingly obliged, changing the parameters of the list to my specifications. The whole while, she grumbled half audible insults.

  I scanned the new list sorted by criteria.

  –{389 cantas}–Reserved Scenario: !Random {0 UPs}{Unlimited Slots}

  [Starting Scenario]s:The Summit of Mount Edmund {0 UPs}{0/1 Slots}The Baker's Apprentice {1300 UPs}{0/1 Slots}The Cssics {4000 UPs}{0/1 Slots}…

  There were only a three scenarios that were ideal. Scenarios with one open slot, under 5000 universal points and was still avaible. I decided to analyze the summaries of these three to see if any were viable starts.

  –{372 cantas}–The Summit of Mount Edmund {0 UPs}{0/1 Slots}

  Your life long dream was to reach the top of Mount Edmund. When the opportunity came, you sold all your worldly possessions and ended all your retionships. You exhausted your small wealth in hopes to climb Mount Edmund.And you succeeded, summiting Mount Edmund. Now you stand at the peak with nothing to your name but this great accomplishment. Not even food or water for a journey down.

  A definite no. This scenario almost read as a bad joke. Looking at the point cost of zero I surmised that this scenario seemed more like taking the quick way out of life than an actually viable starting scenario. It is somewhat surprising that no one has taken the easy way out. Maybe they picked other simir options. Or maybe the pyers are chosen for their tenacity.

  –{356 cantas}–The Baker's Apprentice {1300 UPs}{0/1 Slots}

  The Baker is one of the pilrs of a small vilge. They are entrusted with a portion of precious grain from most vilgers to make bread with.You are an orphan of the vilge of Brunsvar and have found yourself fortunate enough to become the apprentice to the only Baker of this vilge. In the craft of baking nothing is more important than to be consistently and constantly at work, toiling day in and day out. But how will you manage to py in the Great Game if you become shackled to a Baker's bor?

  Very strange. This starting scenario didn't seem particurly bad on the surface, but neither was is particurly interesting me. Being a baker didn't seem very useful; there was little that bread making could do in a deadly blood sport. The location was good, a small vilge meant that there was likely only a few, if any, other scenarios that would start in the same pce. I could see this being viable if all the other scenarios were truly abysmal

  –{340 cantas}–The Cssics {4000 UPs}{0/1 Slots}

  Wolves have always roamed the forests around Fairshore. But of te a pack has grown bold attacking loggers and outlying farmers. While the damage has been minimal, the community of the small vilge have been put on edge and they have been looking for a way to remove these animals.You are a Hunter who is passing through Fairshore. When the vilger hears of your profession they pool their wealth to put a bounty on the wolf pack. Eager for work you accept the task and head into the forest to drive off the wolf pack.

  Almost Perfect. The location indicated was a smaller settlement, the small popution should help distance me from other pter poputions. The scenario itself was certainly challenging, I couldn't even begin to expin what hunting entailed, and as such carried a high degree of risk. Still, only going against simple minded beasts was not an insurmountable mountain and I was confident I could outwit them. The rewards was more ambiguous but still seemed very lucrative.Making an initial choice I asked Octavia. "Hey, can you set my reserved scenario to this 'The Cssics' scenario?"

  Octavia updated the scenario silently. Her avatar was facing away from me such that I could not see her face. She was probably throwing a tantrum and had stopped intentionally bothering me. Though looking at her shapely backside was more distracting to me than when she had been talking. I coughed and shook my head to clear my mind.

  –{320 cantas}–Reserved Scenario: The Cssics {4000 UPs}{1/1 Slots}

  [Starting Scenario]s:…

  Having found a good starting scenario I spent some time reading through more scenarios in the hopes of finding a better fit. But to no avail; most of the following scenarios were often critically cking in at least one facet. Some were too challenging, some were located in pyer dense locations, and the rest had a variety of other fws.

  –{256 cantas}–Having looked through most of the sorted list I hadn't found any options better than "The Cssics" scenario which was still my reserved scenario. Now as I prepared to judge the quality of another scenario I had an epiphany. If the scenario can be ordered by point cost can it be ordered in other ways? I grew excited as I considered the possibilities. Before my imagination carried me away I reigned my mind in and asked. "Octavia. Can you order the scenarios by the number of times the word 'Fairshore' appears in the title or description?"

  Up to the point Octavia had helped me operate the System interface while turning her back to me, not that I minded, and otherwise ignoring me. With my question Octavia seemed to finally deem it important enough to turn and face me. Octavia frowned and spoke a slow and measured voice. "That is not a function that the System allows you to use during the scenario selection phase."

  I pressed her unwilling to abandon the idea. "So do you mean that I can't search in general? Or am I unable to search descriptions?"

  Octavia nodded responding. "Beyond basic navigation and low level sorting, the System isn't responding to higher level queries."

  With the most direct approach shot down I decided to return to the drawing board. I could sort alphabetically to see if Fairshore appeared as the first word in a scenario name, but the results would be very limited. As I searched for alternatives I repyed Octavia's response in my head. "basic navigation and low level sorting" likely referred to my earlier usage of the System to order based on point cost, slot count or others. I stopped on the second half of her response, "the System isn't responding to higher level queries", Octavia was, as far as I could tell, a separate living entity from the System. She had said that the System couldn't help me search, but I could ask her to search through the scenarios herself then direct me to the scenario using its name.

  Octavia, as someone who lived in the System, would reasonably be able to navigate and read through the scenarios far faster than I. So I asked. "Then can you help read through the scenarios and you tell me l which one of these scenarios contain the word Fairshore?"

  "Of course I can help your" Octavia responded enthusiastically.

  I released the tension in my shoulders upon hearing her reply. Hopefully this could give me a definitive edge once the Great Game started. "So you an help me. How long will it take for you to search through all these scenarios?"

  Octavia: "Just give me a minute, I can do you one better than just directing you to scenarios."

  Octavia's avatar completely froze; this was the first time I had seen it devoid of movement. Even when she had been ignoring me, she had a rhythmic restlessness. Now even her eyes were frozen. Then the dispy began to rapidly flicker as she read through countless scenarios. I could see her open and close hundreds of scenarios every canta. In only a dozen cantas Octavia reached the st scenario.

  Octavia: "Now for the grand reveal!"

  Her avatar shimmered and disappeared. In her stead was a new menu that was almost identical to the System menu. The rgest difference was cosmetic, a gold border, rosy pink highlights and a flowing flowerily font that resembled hand writing. On the new menu was a list of scenarios ordered by the number of instances of Fairshore.

  "Come on pick something." Octavia's excited voice came out from the new menu, eager to show off.I tried not to think too hard on the fact that she was now a menu. Focusing on the matter at hand I asked "Show me the first scenario then, 'Shaman of Glubiyeti'."

  –{186 cantas}–Shaman of Glubiyeti {50000 UPs}{1/1 Slots}

  …

  Once she brought up the scenario I started reading. I didn't have much time left so I tried my hardest to remember the important points and to hold myself back from over analyzing.

  Me: "Next"

  –{175 cantas}–A lone...

  Me: "Next"...

  Before I knew it the time ran out.I was satisfied having grasped a good understanding of the other pyers that would be in the same region as me. The greatest danger for me now was being blindsided by pyers that were nearby but didn't have "Fairshore" or other keywords I had tried in their scenario descriptions.

  The selection phase is now over. Your final selection is The Cssics {4000 UPs}.

  Prepare yourself.