Civilization

My body alarm made me wake up at 0600, the same time as if I had just gotten out of the game. I stretch my joints and get ready for the day. I see a text from Sabrina and Evan that came through to my phone after I had slept, asking for a meet-up in the city. It seemed that Evan had gotten some replies about the prophecy and while he had to comb through the many troll replies there was one that stuck with him. A message from SAMurai, the top player from the previous 2 leaderboards, and rather than discussing over text, SAMurai flew from one of the other states of New Oceania, Haloha, to meet with Evan. Of course, Evan asked SAMurai if Sabrina and I were able to come since we knew about the prophecy in more detail and after hearing about this SAMurai agreed.

Luckily for me, I didn't have work and I could relax a bit after my morning workout before I had to go to the city. I had a light breakfast and watched some funny videos on Youtube until 1000 when I decided it was time to leave the house. I didn't have much on my mind as I traveled to the city was just wondering what SAMurai would be like. Meeting new people isn't exactly my strong point after befriending both Evan and Sabrina, I feel like I can do this.

We had decided to meet at a cafe near the station and as I leave the station I see Evan and Sabrina talking to each other in front of the Cafe. Evan was wearing a black bomber with a white shirt underneath and jeans while Sabrina was dressed in a grey singlet and black shorts with a white puffer jacket hanging by her elbows. I hurry over, waving my hand to greet them once I got closer.

"Yo, how was your train ride?"

"It was fine, I guess. Did you and Sabrina just get here?"

"Pretty much. Maybe 10 or so minutes ago."

"Looking real casual in your sweats and shirt there Ian."

"You like, Sabrina?"

"It's fine I guess."

"When is SAMurai getting here?"

"He said he would be here soon, I just got a text from him saying he got to the statin just need to wait until he gets here. Shouldn't be long."

We wait around for a couple more minutes talking about random stuff when a tall bald dark skin muscular man, wearing a tight black suit and black sunglasses taps on Evan's shoulder.

"Uh, yes? May I help you?"

"Are you Elves_or_Nothin?"

"Uh, maybe. Who is asking?"

The tall man takes off his sunglasses and folds them placing one of the arms in the chest pocket.

"Sorry if I scared you I was just worried I got the wrong person, my name is SAMurai. Nice to meet you all."

"You are SAMurai? DAMN DUDE! You're huge and I thought I was tall. Nice to meet you, I'm Elves_or_Nothin, and with me are Scarlet Witch Sabrina and Ian. Do you prefer to call you by SAMurai or by another name?"

"My normal name is Sam so you can call me that, how about the 3 of you?"

"Evan, Sabrina, Ian"

Evan points to the three of us starting from himself, then Sabrina and then me.

"Let's go inside first and grab a table and something to eat. You must be starving since you just got off the plane and straightaway went onto the train to meet us."

"HAHA, I am pretty hungry, how did you know Evan?"

"A big guy like you definitely needs food in his stomach."

"Ah touché."

Evan leads the group into the cafe and got us a table near the back. After some small talk about the food we would eat as well as getting to know one another, the more serious talk begins.

"I'll start the talk. Evan, Sabrina and Ian, before the server closed yesterday I was able to acquire something relating to the prophecy. For starters, I'll tell you about myself in the game and where I am most likely situated as well as the situation around it. Currently, my settlement consists of around 50 NPCs, half of them are demi-humans of the bison tribe while the rest is a mix of humans and demi-humans of the dog, wolf, and cat tribes.

I am most likely situated somewhere in the North-East. After the post by Settlement_News_Agent I was able to somewhat verify this but because of where I settled down, I have been in constant exposure to fighting. This was one of the reasons I was able to be at the top of the leaderboard, coupled with other factors. After the message about the prophecy, I asked one of the bison demi-human if they knew anything about it. They informed me that they did have something similar to it but it was lost when their tribe elder died.

After a couple of hours, they were able to piece together what little they knew about their 'prophecy'. It goes like this;

From green to yellow.

From yellow to nothing.

From the sky to the ground.

From the depths to the ground.

That, unfortunately, was all they could figure out. I asked them to think about it and if something comes back to tell me. Now from what I have figured out from this and their hand movements is that the last two lines were talking about mountains and seas. The peaks are mountains and the depths are the bottom of the sea.  I understand if the mountains will crumble and become just another layer of the ground but if the seas are becoming the ground then it means that the ocean is drying up or there is some sort of tectonic plate movement that pushes from the ocean floor upwards. That's what I have figured out at least, what are your thoughts?"

I see Evan thinking deeply about it while Sabrina leansSam, decide to speak my thoughts first while I let them think more.

"Sam, I think your theory is right about the mountain and the sea. However, at the same time, it contradicts part of the prophecy that I found. I found my prophecy from the elves and they spoke about the seas becoming red."

"WAIT, IAN. That's it."

"What Evan?"

"I had that same thought in my mind after hearing Sam's version but technically both versions can work. Seas turning red and the depth becoming the ground. I think it might be referring to a volcano eruption, an underwater volcano eruption. The sea becoming red is talking about lava and magma and when it cools in the sea it ends up as 'ground'."

"So the prophecy is talking about a volcanic eruption?"

"Not just that Sabrina, there is obviously more at play than just a volcano, however, this might be something that will happen. The sun and moon disappearing might be because of the ash being thrown into the sky covering the land in darkness. HOLY I'M A GENIUS. MATPAT WHERE ARE YOU, HIRE ME AT GAME THEORISTS!"

"Evan, that is honestly pretty good deduction."

"Thank you Sam. Your information definitely helped."

"Wait, but then how is this going to relate to the main storyline? We can't defeat a volcano it just happens but what kind of game makes the main storyline event be a volcano. We are definitely missing something."

"Yea, you're right Ian, and it's not like we solved all the mysteries in the prophecy that we do know. Sam's one is incomplete and the ones we now involve are more than just a volcano."

"The ones you know?"

"Oh right, sorry forgot to mention. We have 2 prophecies, not 1. The first being what I posted and the second being;

Our god will disappear.

Their blessings, lost.

Danger at every turn.

Elements will rage.

Time will stagnate.

One is not enough."

"Interesting, so you too were holding back on your information from the public."

"Of course, Sam. That's why you chose to meet in person rather than include information on the forum. You too don't want other people to get ahead."

"Then why share it now?"

"Because I want to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"The 3 of us are in an unofficial guild. There is no name for it yet but I want to ask if you want to be part of it?"

"Are you deciding to go against the 3 major guilds and eventually conquer the continent?"

"Something like that. For now we are just trying to progress through the game."

"I like that. I LIKE that. I've had some bad experiences working for Lotus and some straight-up terrible experiences when I was working for Bones. If I can make them pay in a game and make them the small dog then I would be glad to join."

"YES! Ian, Sabrina let us welcome SAM our new recruit."

"Good to have you on the team."

"Welcome."

"Thank you! However, I'm pretty sure none of us are near each other right?"

"I'm the closest."

"Oh, Sabrina is? Are we able to establish any sort of trading? And how close do you think we are?"

"Not sure, however, I have horses and once I establish a more concrete calvary I will find time to search the plains to find you. You said you are near a river and the plains. So am I."

"I am upstream and you are downstream?"

"That was my thought as well."

"Excellent! Then I will wait for when your horsemen will reach my gates. How about Ian? You being in the middle means you will be able to connect to all of us the easiest right?"

"No, unfortunately, Sam I have no means of transport. Sabrina was the first to find horses and the best I can do is pushcarts. But once I do find horses or something of the like I will be expanding my scouting radius. There is a river next to me as well and maybe it connects to the East."

"And I will be moving closer to Ian."

"Why is that?"

"No, no, don't ask Sam."

"Wait why?"

"FOR THE ELVES!"

"HAHAHAH! OF COURSE!"

The rest of lunch was cheerful and full of laughter but eventually, all good things have to come to an end. Sam had to leave since he had another flight later in the evening and both Sabrina and Evan left for home. I went home as well and once I got home Evan had already added Sam to the group chat as well as messaged everyone a very important update. The new patch notes.