Cartonia

A new world comes into focus around you. You see a set of weights in front of you.

“Please lift the heaviest set you can.” A politely requests. This seems like a very silly request given it is a fictional representation of a world. Still, you know your real world streangth is immense, so you don’t hesitate to go to the heaviest set available. As soon as you pick it up a countdown of five minutes appears. You lift the weights with no further interruption for the entire period. When the timer strikes 00:00 a chime sounds.

“Thank you for your cooperation! You have successfully earned the maximum amount of points applied for this test.” The world blurs before being replaced by another. This one seems to be a dojo.

“Please perform any unarmed combat you may know.” The voice requests again. A nondescript figure appears before you, it could almost be a store manikin. It makes no move towards you, as the timer appears you instead make a move towards it. It attempts to block your attacks but it’s moves are laughable at first. The difficulty progresses as the five minutes continues but never comes close to becoming a challenge for you with your inhuman reflexes and streangth.

“Thank you! It is clear you are very proficient in martial arts, you have been awarded the maximum amount of points for this category.”

The world blurrs and reforms again. This time the room forms into a classroom with a single desk. You sit down to find a paper and pencil. On it are simple math equations.

“Please solve as many problems as you can before the time elapses.” The voice requests. The timer starts and you begin. Math was never an area you much had time for but you get through the first page rapidly anyway. Turning the paper over you find more complex math problems. When you have finished with this side you turn the paper over again to find the questions have changed. These ones are what appears to be simple equations but you have no experience with them and are unable to solve any. You let the rest of your time elapse without comment.

“Thank you for participating in this exercise.” The voice says as the chime and timer strike 00:00.

“Please fill in as many questions as possible in the section.” The paper clears then is replaced by a series of word essays. You frown then break your pencil and scatter the two halves across your desk.

“I don’t want to do this anymore.” You inform the disembodied voice.

“Do you wish to skip the learning portion of the tests?”

“Yes!” You reply frustrated.

“Warning, doing so may limit your ability to access certain classes later on. Do you still wish to proceed?” You huff, if any class has to deal with learning later on that doesn’t involve violence you don’t want to be part of it!

“YES!” You reply vehemently.

“Very well, let us proceed.” The voice intones before the room blurrs and reappears. You are now in a large savanna sitting on a rock. Beside you rest a few short spears. Off a short distance is large male lion on another rock.

“Prepare yourself.” The voice intones before the five minute timer starts again. Finally! Some action! You grab one of the spears and begin sprinting to the lion. It stands up and roars at you swiping its large paw in a threatening way. You duck under the swing, bringing your spear in to stab at the lion. The spear head comes away with blood on it.

You duck and weave coming inside the lions reach to stab repeatedly at it until it lays panting and bloody as the five minutes expire. Your only regret is you didn’t get to finish it off. The sound chimes, the timer reaches zero, and the voice thanks you for participating. The room blurrs and you are presented with a new challenge. The ones in which you get to fight are the best ones, you attack with vigor taking the offensive as soon as the opportunity presents itself. A few of the challenges have nothing to do with combat though, such as one where you are asked to swim across a river, another where you walks across a tight rope, or a third where a large bolder chases you down a narrow corridor and you are forced to run for 5 minutes.

Gradually it becomes clear these tests are becoming less and less about fighting or physical skills and your patients begins to thin with them. Eventually this comes to a head where a young child is on a train station with you. It is clutching your pants and looking up at you with wide water logged eyes.

“Please, can you help me find my parents?” It asks you. You quickly strike out at the child, snapping its neck and stuffing it in a nearby trash can before anyone can notice the action. There is a pause after your actions long enough you begin to wonder if there is another task you are to perform. Eventually though a chime sounds.

“No more tasks are required.” Had the voice sounded shaken there or was that his imagination? No matter, the world disappeared to be replaced by a few of a creature in a white room like before.

“Please choose your character now!” The voice says. “Based on your character traits the only option available to you is the Woorek berserker class. Your character has received a beginning boost to its streanght, stamina, and health based on your results. You will play as an enemy of mankind, prepare yourself to start the adventure of a lifetime! Please customize your character now!”

A beast appears before you. It is taller than you by a few feet. It has fangs and large arms which stretch down nearly the length of its body ending in visious claws. You discover it has several color options for its lanky fur.

A forest green fur in a striped pattern of lighter fur. This comes with navy blue claws and a pointed tufts for ears and tail. Based on your reading from the game you know this color is meant to be reserved for the scounts and it’s best advantage is in that area. As a berserker you would stand out slightly and this would do you no good in the game.

A black fur that has grey spots. It’s ears are round with a dark blood red interior to them while it’s tail is barely a stub. The claws are also a dark blood red. This is the color of the berserker and it’s color will help you blend in when performing assaults. A good choice for your class.

A brown fur with motly, uneven pattern that is asymmetrical but somehow pleasing. It’s ears drop down to the sides of the head and it’s tail is long and powerful looking. The claws are a dark grey color. You know from your reaserch that this color is greatly prized by the wizard class and likely only to result in your eventual death by exp depletion based on other users comments online.

The last color is a pure white. The fur shimmers a little when the sun hits it. The ears are somewhat squashed and close to the head, the claws are crystal and clear. Although pretty you have heard this color makes you a target in the game and sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s unlikely to do you any favors as a choice.