Luminous Shadows

A signal from deep space unveils an ancient VR world, offering a glimmer of hope for a crumbling Earth. As explorers dive into this mystical realm, they must uncover its secrets, harness the power of enigmatic essence, and navigate alliances and territories. Facing existential threats both in the VR world and back home, the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

History

• The arrival of the alien ship. A large alien ship appears in Earth’s solar system.
• Nations compete to be the first to reach it.
• The discovery of the VR world access point aboard the ship and other technology beyond human understanding.
• The first group journeys into the VR world in an attempt to locate any clues as to where the alien ship came from.
• Civil War on Earth erupts as humanity struggles with environmental, economic and political problems.
• Desperate call for volunteers to scour the VR world. Enter players.

Setting

VR World: Set in a fantasy world, this ever-expanding virtual world is focus of the story. It contains an endless array of biomes and environments providing endless opportunities to discover something new.

• The Nihilum: The edge of the VR world. A wall of whiteness that is ever expanding the VR world.
• Outpost Bravo: Main human encampment
• Demon Town: The territory of the Demon, species. Ancient and docile.
• The Crystal Spire: The final dungeon and VR world control point
• Realm of the Creators: The location where the creators of the VR world are rumored to reside.

Characters

• Major Tom: Main quest giver on Earth. Driven by the need to find a solution for humanity's survival. How far is he willing to go?

• Lisa: Head researcher on Earth, struggling with work pressure and the search for answers. Overworked and tired. If she is ever convinced to enter the VR world, she and Malory abandon their positions and start a guild whose sole purpose it is to bring all of humanity into the VR world and abandon Earth completely. They see it as the next step for humanity.

• Captain Felix: Main quest giver in the VR world, a charismatic leader with a sense of humor. He has an absolutely fabulous mustache and is proud of it. He talks about his wife and kids back on earth profusely. If he ever loses his connection to earth he loses his humor and will do whatever it takes to find a way back.

• Malory: Lisa's wife and VR world counterpart, passionate about discovering the secrets of the VR world. She believes that by promoting vibrancy throughout the whole of the VR world it could be made into a paradise. Shes asks for the players help with this.

• Kiera: Squad leader of the first group to enter the VR world. Haunted by her inability to return to the real world. Left to search the VR world for answers and hasn’t been heard from since. She can later be found at the Crystal Spire and seems to have information about the Creators of the VR world, she believes them asleep and thinks the only way to get their attention is to turn the whole VR world dark. She asks for the players’ help.

• Annelexia: First of the Demon species to be encountered. Unhappy with how weak her people have become since becoming pacifists. Intrigued by the human species and willing to help out at least as long as she’s entertained. She eventually asks the players for help to convince her people to reclaim their heritage. This could be what is needed to push back the Darklings, but it might also create new challenges in the future.

Notable Aspects of the World

• Essence: The VR world's magic system; a source of strength, spells and abilities. It acts as mana, experience points and a form of currency all wrapped into one. The more essence something has the more ‘vibrant’ it appears. The colors of objects become more muted as their essence is absorbed, providing a visual representation of the essence level in an environment.

  • Essence can be absorbed from the environment or from the bodies of fallen enemies using a variety of cultivation methods.
  • When a creature dies some of its total essence is left behind, to be absorbed by the environment or other creatures. Essence originates from the Crystal spire, which directs it out into the land.
  • Essence can be consumed to grow permanently stronger but is also used to fuel spells and abilities. Balance must be sought in its use or players risk becoming weaker the more they battle.
  • Essence can be used in a variety of ways to interact with the environment using Divine Artifacts.

• Spells and abilities: These can be learned in a number of different ways. Some can be innately learned by consuming essence to grow stronger. Others can be discovered from books found in ancient ruins or taught by those who already know. There are no classes or roles the players have to pick, they are only limited by their own choices.

• Environmental Artifacts: When enough time passes and enough essence gathers in one location eventually powerful objects form. These objects alter the very landscape and empower the surrounding creatures, giving them unique traits and abilities. One example is a ‘Fire Stone’ might appear and give its location the the fire trait, causing geysers of fire to appear, the trees to catch fire and turn the ‘Wolves’ in the location into ‘Fire Wolves’. Often times ‘dungeons’ are created around the artifacts, which are closely guarded by the creatures that dwell there. Environmental Artifacts can be taken from these places and have a variety of uses such as item creation or empowering oneself. They come in different grades depending on how much essence has been distilled into them. Once an Environmental Artifact becomes ‘Divine’ grade it becomes indestructible and becomes a permanent fixture of the land.

• Divine Environmental Artifacts: These act as control points for the areas they reside in. Players can spend essence at these locations to cause greater environmental changes to the land they reside in. Such changes could include changing the day/night cycle, changing the habitat, changing the monster strength and spawn rate, absorbing other territories, creating a fast travel system, creating structures, adjusting essence generation or other similar changes. Each sentient species has its own Divine object in its starting location that acts as a permanent re-spawn point. The Crystal Spire has the Master Divine Artifact within that allows changes to the VR world in its entirety.

• Darkened Areas: These are places in the world that have been drained of all essence. They have dulled colors and are generally darker due to the lack of ‘vibrancy’. They are usually devoid of life and no longer generate essence. These areas are able to be claimed by other territories while in this state. Darkened areas are able to be revitalized by placing an Environmental Artifact at their heart.

• True Death: A rare event in the VR world. As long as a player has some essence they aren’t truly dead. Dying takes its toll however, reforming a body requires essence so it is important not to run out. If a player doesn’t have enough essence the VR world marks their ‘soul’ for deletion, preventing them from reforming their body. Coming back to life is still possible, it just requires a friend who is willing to pay the heavy cost at a Divine Artifact to bring you back.

• Severing: Exploring the VR world for extended periods of time is not without risk. Spending more than a week in the VR world without disconnecting causes a “severing” of ones ability to ever return to Earth again as a person’s body is dissolved by the alien artifact that grants access to the VR world. Each person is advised to return to Earth and spend some time out of the VR pods in order to “maintain” their connection to Earth.

Plot lines

• When players first enter the VR world, they spend time learning about the essence and how it works. It quickly becomes clear that essence equals power here and that all creatures strive to obtain as much of it as possible. There are several ways to go about this and it is up to each person to decide which route they want to take.

• Darkened areas and Divine Artifacts allow for territory control to occur. Players might attempt to claim land for themselves, though holding them might be another matter.

• The main goal players have is to explore the VR world and uncover its mysteries. It is vast and filled with strange mysteries and artifacts. The aim is to find some reason for why the VR world exists and to make contact with its creators. Doing so might lead to a way to help people back on earth. The Demon Tribe is the first such species players will encounter, though getting to their territory will require enough essence to travel through the deeper more dangerous territories.

• Will the players abandon their real bodies and let them dissolve like with what happened to Kiera? What impact will this have on their explorations?

• Find where Kiera went. It is likely she is still alive and out there somewhere. What has she discovered? Why hasn’t she come back yet?

• A new species like the humans entering the VR world isn’t a new occurrence and won't be the last. What species will they encounter next? The silent and cold blooded Vaelish? The Ogrimund with their never-ending appetite? The Darklings whose sole purpose is to turn the world to darkness??

• What is the Crystal Spire at the center of the VR world all about?

• Will the VR World be filled with or drained of essence? What happens if one of these outcomes is achieved?

• Who created the VR world, and will players be able to contact them?

• Events keep unfolding back in the real world while players are exploring the VR world. Is everything ok back on earth? Will the connection be severed? Is there a way back for those who have lost their bodies?