Altered Fates (The Movie Trailer)

I don't usually post any videos on this particular blog. (I tend to do that elsewhere.) However, with the advent of AI video, it has really opened up a new way to tell stories, and I honestly couldn't be more excited. I already promoted my YouTube channel last week, but I thought I'd give a shout out to a few of the videos on there by linking them on this site as well. I dunno, I guess I just think they are pretty decent in terms of content. And if people hadn't already sniffed them out or seen them already, now their chance. Also, maybe it helps with SEO? I dunno. I've never been good at SEO; I just like showing off what I do sometimes. I figured it also couldn't hurt to encourage people to like and subscribe and whatnot.

A Simulation

You looked out the large windows from your living room to see the beautiful lake your house sat right next life. Life seemed perfect...almost too perfect. It had become fairly typical of your wife Yumi to spoil the moment.

“It’s all fake, you know,” She said with a Mona Lisa smile on her face, “I keep telling you we’re actually in a simulation. None of this is real.”

“Come on, Yumi. It’s feels real. We’re real.”

“We are,” She paused, “But these bodies aren’t. Our real bodies are hooked up to these weird virtual reality machines experiencing all of this! I’m not even a woman in the real world! I’m a dude! And you’re not a guy in the real world either; you’re a chick! I don’t even think we’re married out there.”

“Come on. This is ridiculous. How would you even know any of this?”

“I think my system is glitching. I find myself back there sometimes. I can’t move when I’m there, but I can look around. I can hear things.”

You sighed, “We need to bring you to see a psychiatrist on Monday, Yumi. I worry you aren’t well...”

“Or maybe you’ll learn you are really a woman, and that sort of scares you, doesn’t it?”

Into the Game (Epilogue)

View Into the Game (Part 1) here.
View Into the Game (Part 2) here.
View Into the Game (Part 3) here.
View Into the Game (Part 4) here.
View Into the Game (Part 5) here.
View Into the Game (Part 6) here.
View Into the Game (Part 7) here.

Once arriving at the graveyard, Martin was able to succesfully cast the spell and return people to the real world. As the spellcaster, he had to stay behind. He was filled with curiosity. What would they do with his lifeless body? It certainly wasn’t dead. Would he be considered in a coma and go to the hospital? Would the group be blamed for what happened to him? He sighed.

“Hey, Old Man, you just going to stand there all day long? We’re going to need to find a new party!” A voice shouted out.

Martin turned around and smiled, “I’m glad you stayed behind with me, Xira. I think I would’ve been sad to lose all of you.”

Xira smiled back. “Truth be told, everything about this is what I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve always wanted to be a woman, first and foremost. I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone that. And once given that opportunity, I couldn’t give that up--even if it means fighting kobolds for the rest of my life.”

“I’ll fight by your side as long as I am able.”

“Thanks, Martin. You’re a true friend.”

“You too, Xira.”

Into the Game (Part 7)

View Into the Game (Part 1) here.
View Into the Game (Part 2) here.
View Into the Game (Part 3) here.
View Into the Game (Part 4) here.
View Into the Game (Part 5) here.
View Into the Game (Part 6) here.

“The dark elf is right,” A low voice spoke out.

Martin was the youngest member of their group, but he always used the same wizard character he had simply named ‘Martin the WIzard.’ As such, his character was the wisest and had the most experience.

“The quest is not the answer. The way home is through the graveyard.” He said.

“How do you know, old man?” Hissed Arthur.

“It was all there. In her words. At the graveyard, I can send you back to the real world.”

“It sounds like you aren’t coming,” Jenny asked.

“I need to cast the spell. I must remain.”

“Let me cast it!” Jason offered.

“You are not a magic user. The dark elf is too novice. I’m afraid I’m the only choice.”

Into the Game (Part 6)

View Into the Game (Part 1) here.
View Into the Game (Part 2) here.
View Into the Game (Part 3) here.
View Into the Game (Part 4) here.
View Into the Game (Part 5) here.

“I don’t know this character’s abilities. I created her almost at random when my previous character died right before we entered this world and assumed the form of our characters.” Matthew stated, “I hadn’t even written a name. She’s a novice, a newb. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t quite done, I can still sort of feel myself at Kevin’s table. It’s like I’m both there AND here. We’re lifeless.”

“I don’t feel any of that,” Althea stated.

“No, you do. You just don’t know you do. You know the answer is not on the quest.” Matthew paused. His body seemed to space out for a moment, seemingly disconnected to the world. He resumed, “I have no solution, though. No hope. It’s darkness and depair. I am a woman with no identity. I am a mage with no magic.”

While Jason had Althea woried, Matthew had her downright scared.

Into the Game (Part 5)

View Into the Game (Part 1) here.
View Into the Game (Part 2) here.
View Into the Game (Part 3) here.
View Into the Game (Part 4) here.

“I hate to say it, but he may be right,” Althea said.

“She,” Jason corrected.

“What?”

“I am Xira right now, and Xira is a she.”

Althea was worried Jason was getting weirdly into the game. She felt a weird tingle inside her that was trying to tell her something. Her character was mostly human, but was also 1/8 dragon, giving her a few clearly non-human traits (such as her yellow eyes) and the ability to sense things. Was it trying to tell her something about Jason? Or was there danger nearby?

“You feel it, too, don’t you?” Matthew interjected rather suddenly.

Into the Game (Part 4)

View Into the Game (Part 1) here.
View Into the Game (Part 2) here.
View Into the Game (Part 3) here.

Much like Arthur, Jason had also selected a female character (a female warrior elf, to be specific). But unlike Arthur, Jason created characters he actually wished he could be. He had never told any of his friends about his secret desire to be a woman, and (truth be told) he was absolutely thrilled that he now had the body of “Xira” (the elf he had created). Seeing as how the rest of his friends seemed to be in a panic about being stuck in their characters’ bodies, he assessed that now wasn’t a good time to tell them either. It probably helped that he made his character rather stoic and logical in nature.

He added to his initial disgust, “This is no time for your lust, Devra. Even if this isn’t the master’s world, our best hope is to continue on our quest.”

“Did you just call Arthur, ‘Devra?’” Althea asked.

“I did, Jerica,” Jason replied referring to Althea by her character’s name as well.

“Stop being weird, Jason” Althea sighed.

Into the Game (Part 3)

View Into the Game (Part 1) here.
View Into the Game (Part 2) here.

Much like Jenny, Arthur had regrets about the character he had created. He tended to make characters he could fantasize about, and “Devra” had been no exception to this rule. He had designed Devra as a seductive thief, and he now could feel both her bloodlust and her hyper libido that he had given her. Perhaps the only thing containing both from exploding were his scars that his character obtained in a battle right before everyone literally became their own characters. They were more painful than he could imagine.

A thought dawned on him. Since his subclass allowed him to learn a few spells, he tried to heal himself and was amazed as the scars went away.

“Holy shit!” He exclaimed, “Not only are we are our characters, but the magic is now real.” He quickly put on a seductive grin, giving a noted glance over in Jason’s direction, “If anyone wants to celebrate.”

“Ew, no!” Jason quickly responded.

After the Emergency

“So, I’m not dead?” A very confused Harriet asked the woman sitting in front of her.

“Luckily, no,” The woman replied, “In emergency situations, we can now download the contents of people’s brains into new bodies. It works seamlessly whenever there’s a body available. Unfortunately, it’s hard to be picky about the body one gets, and I’m sure it’s difficult for you going from female to male. I had a similar experience when I first entered this body a few years ago. But after that, I decided to put my skills as a psychologist to use helping people when they wake up.”

“What’s your name?” Harriet asked.

“Dr. Lee, but you can call me Grace if you’d like.”

“What was your name before though?”

Grace paused. “Anthony,” She replied, “You can call me that if it makes you more comfortable, but the first thing we should talk about is having you pick out a new name.”