Legend of the Shattered Kingdom - Prologue - A New Experience (Patreon)

Kaelen Sterling drummed his fingers against his keyboard, the dull hum of fluorescent lights overhead casting a faint buzz over the silence of his office. His screen flickered with yet another policy proposal he needed to review, a task that had become the bulk of his day-to-day work. He adjusted his chair, its squeaky complaint interrupting the monotony of the day. On his desk sat a small photo, encased in a simple wooden frame, of himself standing knee-deep in a river, holding a rare salamander. His face in the picture was radiant, glowing with the thrill of discovery.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

Now, his work as a wildlife biologist had lost its luster, long buried beneath mountains of bureaucracy. Fieldwork—his true passion—was reserved for interns or those lucky enough to land grants he no longer had time to chase. His days were consumed by endless forms, budgets, and meetings where the focus seemed more on pleasing donors than preserving ecosystems.

“Kaelen, you look like you’re about to fall asleep,” called a voice from the doorway.

He looked up to see Dr. Harris, his colleague, leaning against the frame with a wry smile. Harris was everything Kaelen wasn’t these days: vibrant, enthusiastic, and seemingly immune to the creeping malaise of their profession. He held a coffee cup in one hand, steam rising lazily from it.

“Just the usual grind,” Kaelen replied, offering a tired smile. “Policy proposals aren’t exactly why I got into this.”

Harris chuckled, stepping into the office and plopping into the chair across from Kaelen’s desk. “You know, you weren’t always like this. I remember when you used to be the guy dragging us all into the field, rain or shine. What happened?”

Kaelen leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily. “What happened is that I got buried. Fieldwork’s a luxury now. Between the paperwork and meetings, I’m lucky if I get to step outside for lunch. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I was in the field.”

Harris took a sip of his coffee, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. “Maybe you need an escape.”

Kaelen smirked. “An escape? From the exciting world of grant-writing and budget spreadsheets? Tell me more.”

“I’m serious,” Harris said, leaning forward conspiratorially. “Have you heard of Elderlands?”

Kaelen frowned, shaking his head. “Sounds like a fantasy novel.”

“Close, but way better. It’s a virtual reality MMORPG. The most advanced one ever made. It’s like stepping into another world—medieval fantasy, complete with castles, dragons, magic, the works. It’s got an ecosystem so real you’d swear you were actually there. Hell, you’d probably love it. You could spend hours cataloging fake species if you wanted.”

Kaelen raised an eyebrow. “Sounds ... elaborate.”

“It is. The game’s AI adapts to your choices, and the NPCs are so lifelike, they’ll hold grudges or remember favors. And the exploration? Unbelievable. It’s got these sprawling forests, mountains, underwater cities—name a biome, and it’s there. You can live out whatever adventure you’ve been dreaming of while wasting away behind that mound of paper.”

Kaelen’s skepticism remained, but Harris’s enthusiasm was infectious. “And you’ve played it?”

“Oh yeah. My cousin is one of the developers on the game and he got me an early version of the game. It’s … a little costly for a game—but it’s an experience that’s well worth it. It’s the kind of thing that makes you feel alive.”

Kaelen let Harris’s words linger. Feel alive. It had been a long time since he’d felt that.

Kaelen returned to his small apartment, the familiar quiet pressing in around him. He hung his jacket on the hook by the door, his thoughts still circling Harris’s impromptu sales pitch. The idea of immersing himself in another world—a world where adventure was a daily occurrence—was tempting. But wasn’t it just escapism? A distraction from the real problems he’d been avoiding?

He crossed to the living room and sank onto the couch, his gaze drifting to the shelves lining the walls. They were crammed with books about biology, maps of remote regions, and trophies from his younger, bolder days. One caught his eye—a glass case housing an arrowhead he’d found during a research trip in the Rockies. He picked it up, running his fingers over the smooth edges.

That trip had been one of his best: weeks in the wild, no emails or deadlines, just him, his team, and the open expanse of nature. He hadn’t realized how much he missed it until now.

With a sigh, he set the arrowhead back on the shelf and pulled out his phone. A quick search for Elderlands brought up a sleek website. The banner was a breathtaking image of a sprawling medieval city nestled against a mountain range. Players clad in armor and robes fought off a dragon, its fiery breath illuminating the scene.

“Step Into the Adventure,” the tagline read.

Kaelen scrolled further, watching videos of players navigating dense forests, battling mythical creatures, and forging alliances with NPCs. One clip showed a player diving into a crystal-clear lake, the underwater world teeming with fantastical fish and coral.

His initial skepticism began to melt away. The game’s promise of freedom, exploration, and purpose struck a chord deep within him. It was everything his life currently wasn’t.

Kaelen hesitated for a moment before clicking on the purchase page. The VR rig was expensive—much, much more than he would normally spend on something so frivolous. But as he hovered over the “Buy Now” button, a surge of impulsive resolve overtook him.

He clicked.

The confirmation email arrived seconds later, promising next-day delivery. He set the phone down and leaned back, a strange mix of anticipation and nervousness bubbling inside him.

As Kaelen lay in bed that night, he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts racing. Had he made the right decision? It felt rash, almost desperate, but he couldn’t deny the spark of excitement coursing through him.

He thought back to his childhood, when every day felt like an adventure. He’d spent hours exploring the woods behind his house, imagining himself as a daring explorer charting unknown lands. Those days had shaped him, led him to his career in biology. Somewhere along the way, though, that spark had dimmed.

Maybe Elderlands was what he needed. Not just a distraction, but a way to reconnect with the part of himself he’d lost.

For the first time in months, Kaelen drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.

The package arrived promptly at 9:00 AM. Kaelen opened the door to find a sleek black box resting on his porch, the Elderlands logo embossed in silver. The sleek black package felt heavier in Kaelen's hands than its actual size would indicate, its contents carrying an unexpected weight. As he brought it inside and laid it on the dining table and carefully peeled back the box's matte finish.

Beneath the layers of protective foam, the VR rig gleamed like something out of science fiction. The headset was lightweight yet sturdy, its black exterior laced with subtle blue lines that pulsed faintly, mimicking a heartbeat. The gloves—crafted from a smooth, flexible material—were fitted with small, intricate nodes at the fingertips. There was an elegance to the design, a promise of immersion far beyond any ordinary gaming experience.

Kaelen studied the instruction manual, marveling at the advanced setup. The rig didn’t just rely on visuals and sound—it claimed to be able to simulate texture, temperature, even pressure. The gloves alone boasted an array of haptic feedback systems, capable of replicating the feel of fur, stone, or flowing water.

“State-of-the-art indeed,” Kaelen muttered as he turned on the VR headset. The room filled with a low hum as the rig powered up, the blue lights brightening momentarily before settling into a steady glow.

Kaelen hesitated before slipping on the headset, anticipation and nerves tangling in his chest. He adjusted the device over his eyes, and the real world disappeared in an instant.

A serene voice greeted him, accompanied by the soft notes of a harp.

“Welcome to Elderlands,” the voice intoned. It was calm, melodic, and oddly reassuring. “We will now begin the calibration process.”

The darkness gave way to a glowing grid, a vast expanse of intersecting lines stretching into infinity. The voice guided him step by step—aligning his movements, fine-tuning his vision, and adjusting the sensitivity of the gloves. Kaelen marveled at how responsive everything felt. When he reached out, he could almost feel the invisible surface of the grid beneath his fingers.

“Calibration complete,” the voice announced. “You are now ready to create your legend.”

The grid dissolved and as the final calibration screen faded, Kaelen watched as the sight of the gloves disappeared before his eyes. Surprised he flexed his fingers experimentally, watching his virtual hands move with uncanny precision. His mind struggled to reconcile the sensations with the knowledge that his actual hands were encased in haptic-feedback devices in his living room. Slowly, Kaelen brought his hands to his head, running them over his temples. The faint tickle of hair brushing against his fingers felt so natural that he had to remind himself this wasn’t his body and his actual head was covered in the headset.

The rig had vanished, or at least, that’s how it felt. The weight of the VR helmet, so noticeable during setup, was gone entirely. If he hadn’t remembered putting it on, he might have believed he wasn’t wearing anything at all.

 Looking up he saw that the glowing grid had been replaced by a new environment: a grand marble hall illuminated by floating orbs of light. A large mirror stood before him, its surface rippling like water.

“Unreal,” he murmured, his voice echoing faintly in the grand hall.

He reached out to touch one of the glowing orbs of light that hovered nearby. His fingertips brushed its surface, which gave under his touch like a bubble before it re-formed instantly. Surprised, and unable to stop himself, he laughed.

This wasn’t just immersive; it was life-like in a way that was unlike anything he could ever have imagined.

He crouched and ran a hand over the marble tiles. The stone felt cold and smooth beneath his palm, and even the faint imperfections in the texture were perceptible. For a moment, he simply stayed there, trying to find the edges of the illusion. But there were none.

Kaelen straightened before staring into the shimmering mirror, his reflection wavering. For a moment, he was transfixed by the surreal image of himself—however, without warning, a faint chime broke the silence, and a translucent interface materialized before him, hovering just between him and the mirror.

Character Creation Initiated
Customize your appearance.

The prompt startled him, pulling him out of his reverie. He hesitated, then reached out tentatively, his hand finding slight resistance when it made contact with the glowing interface. However, as he stared at the interface and concentrated, it responded instantly to his thoughts, surprising him, presenting sliders, presets, and options that shifted the image in the mirror with every adjustment.

Kaelen spent a few moments tweaking the details. He started with the basics, keeping his avatar close to his real likeness—broad shoulders, a square jaw, and the same mop of dark brown hair. But Kaelen allowed himself a bit of indulgence. He added sharper features, a faint scar across one eyebrow, and a weathered look to his skin, as though his avatar had spent years braving harsh elements.

Next came the attire. Kaelen selected a rugged adventurer aesthetic: a sturdy leather tunic, a hooded cloak, and well-worn boots. Small pouches hung from his belt.

When he was satisfied, he nodded and took a step back. Another chime echoed, and a new interface replaced the first:

Choose a Name
Your name is your legend. Choose wisely.

Kaelen froze, his mind swirling. He wasn’t sure how long he thought but eventually he nodded and concentrated again, smiling when a small name bar briefly appeared above his image in the mirror before fading away.

Kaelen the Wanderer.

Class Selection
Your primary class affects how you experience the world.

The options appeared in front of him: Warrior, Mage, Rogue, Ranger, Cleric, Bard, Bartender, Jester, and several others. Each came with its own strengths and weaknesses, its own playstyle. One class caught his eye: Alchemist.

He focused on it for a second before its description popped up right below the title.

Alchemist
Masters of transformation and discovery, Alchemists blend science and magic to create potions, elixirs, and traps. Their adaptability makes them formidable allies and cunning opponents.

• Strengths: Crafting, versatility, environmental manipulation.

• Weaknesses: Low defense, limited melee options.

Kaelen smirked. It was perfect. The Alchemist’s emphasis on experimentation and resourcefulness resonated with his scientific background, and the thought of blending science and magic to create his own potions excited him.

Perhaps sensing his contentment with the option, the interface vanished leaving him standing alone in front of the mirror.

Kaelen stepped back as the mirror rippled again, his completed character now standing within the reflection. He couldn’t help but admire the rugged adventurer staring back at him.

However, he wasn’t left staring long at the surface, as the glowing mirror began to fade away almost immediately, before being replaced by a new interface. A spinning circular diagram segmented into skill trees materialized before him. The title above it read:

Skill Selection

Each section of the diagram represented a different specialization within the Alchemist class, branching into interconnected skills and abilities. Kaelen marveled at the sheer complexity and freedom of choice.

Primary Skill Trees:

• Elemental Infusions: Harness the power of nature to imbue potions, traps, and even weapons with elemental properties like fire, ice, and poison.

• Transmutation: Focus on crafting versatile tools and converting resources into usable materials.

• Battle Chemistry: Create explosive concoctions, potions, and combat-focused elixirs to dominate the battlefield.

• Restorative Arts: Specialize in healing brews and supportive abilities to aid allies.

• Toxicology: Delve into the darker side of alchemy, mastering poisons and debilitating effects.

Choose 2.

Kaelen considered his options carefully. He wasn’t sure what challenges the Elderlands would throw his way, but versatility seemed key. His real-life background as a scientist made him gravitate toward skills that emphasized adaptability and problem-solving.

“I’ll start with Elemental Infusions and Transmutation,” he decided aloud.

With a tap of his hand, the interface expanded, presenting a detailed list of initial skills. A melodic chime played as he selected his first few abilities:

Skill Unlocks:

• Ignition Flask (Elemental Infusions): Create a small flask that deals fire damage over a wide area after being thrown at a target.

• Frost Resin (Elemental Infusions): Coat a weapon or surface with ice, slowing enemies and reducing their agility.

• Resource Conversion (Transmutation): Transform common materials into rare alchemical components.

• Portable Lab (Transmutation): Unlock the ability to set up a temporary workstation anywhere in the field.

Each skill shimmered briefly after being read, before fading, as he felt an accompanying warmth spread through himself. A thrill coursed through him; even this simple progression system felt far more immersive than anything he’d experienced before.

Perk Selection

The interface transitioned seamlessly to the next phase: Perks. As with skills, perks seemed to be unique class-specific bonuses that supposedly enhanced his overall playstyle. The options were fewer but more significant, and each perk carried a short description to hint at its long-term potential.

Available Perks for Alchemist Class:

• Flawless Concentration: Reduces the chance of failed experiments and increases the potency of crafted potions.

• Quick Hands: Improves crafting speed and allows you to use consumables more rapidly during combat.

• Field Innovator: Unlocks the ability to improvise new recipes based on materials gathered in the wild.

• Reagent Whisperer: Gain the ability to sense rare alchemical ingredients within a certain radius.

• Catalyst Mastery: Boosts the effectiveness of traps and area-of-effect abilities.

Kaelen frowned, torn between the choices. Each perk seemed invaluable in its own way, but one stood out immediately: Flawless Concentration. The idea of having a higher success rate and potency of his potions appealed to both his scientific curiosity and pragmatism.

He selected the perk with a decisive tap, and the description expanded into a glowing notification:

Perk Acquired: Field Innovator

• Lowers the risk of failed crafting attempts by 50%, ensuring more consistent results when creating potions, traps, or transmuted items, even with unstable or experimental ingredients..

• All crafted potions and alchemical effects have a 15% increase in effectiveness, boosting damage, healing, or utility, making every creation more impactful in the field.

The notification dissolved into golden particles, and the holographic display faded. Kaelen felt a new sense of confidence welling within him.

“Prepare for entry,” the voice said, its tone shifting to one of anticipation.

The hall began to fade, replaced by a swirling vortex of stars and mist. Kaelen felt a rush of air against his skin, as though he were being propelled through the cosmos. Lights and shadows danced around him, forming fleeting images of forests, mountains, and ancient cities.

For a moment, it felt almost too real. His stomach flipped as the sensation of falling overtook him. Then, with a final flash of light, everything stilled.

Kaelen blinked. He was no longer in the vortex. In front of him stretched a quaint, sunlit village. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and fresh earth. The soft hum of insects buzzed in the background, mingling with the distant chatter of villagers.