Chapter 1
Shangri-La, the world's first Deep Neural Dive MMO, has reached its final day of operation. In under an hour the game's server's will be shut down, and with it everything I've ever done in it's world.
What fucking bullshit.
What happened to the preservation of art huh? Of planting a tree now so your descendants can sit under it for a hundred years? You know we used to be a real culture- we used to CREATE things! Things that would be passed down for generations and studied by scholars!
Now? Now the most innovate and transformative game in the medium since Super Mario over 150 years ago is getting scrapped and wiped from existence for the crime of not making enough money.
Ugh. I guess I can't blame them (but I will). The economy's been in a constant death spiral for the past few decades- so it's not exactly a healthy environment for a game like Shangri-La. Still they could have at least made it public. Let people download the world, or even just their player homes, not blow up everything we've ever built.
I've been playing Shangri-La for well over eight years now. I started back in undergrad when a friend got me into it. To be honest, I had always been more of a single player kind of gamer. While I had dabbled in multiplayer games throughout my life, before Shangri-La I had never gotten into an MMO.
Of course, Deep Neural Dive Technology made Shangri-La a pretty easy sell no matter what genre it was, and for as much as I played it I still mostly focused on solo content.
I never joined any guilds, avoided PvP almost entirely, and spent a lot of my time exploring the world, PvE, roleplaying, and going through the story content of each new expansion on my own. Only occasionally calling in groups of my friends to help me get through any bosses or raids I couldn't do by my self.
A majority of my time though was spent messing around with Shangri-La's surprisingly in-depth base building and NPC follower mechanics.
For a lot of casual players of Shangri-La it was an experience more akin to something like The Sims or even Minecraft, but with all the realism and detail DND Technology could offer.
I was a History major, but had always held a deep love and fascination for architecture. Math however turns my brain into a grey pudding so it was never a career path I seriously considered.
Its detailed modeling and depth of customization combined with a lack of real world physics, Shangri-La allowed me to play at being an architect and, if I do say so myself, create some impressive digital structures.
The greatest of these (and the one that took the longest to finish) is my main player home and where I'm standing right now: Gentle Shade Monastery.
I know it's just a player home made of digital ones and zeros, but I poured my heart and soul into this place. What started out as a simple curiosity ballooned into a years long effort to recreate a set of real world Monasteries in Shangri-La's engine.
During one of my Medieval Art History classes, you see, we were shown photos of the monasteries on Mount Athos in Greece, and in all honesty that's the closest I've ever gotten to love at first sight.
Simonopetra in particular stunned me. The way the buildings seemed to emerge from the rough mountain face, as if the whole structure had been chiseled out from the stone, how it contrasts with the narrow paths leading down to the terraced gardens— all of it seared itself into my mind, and I knew I had to see it in person. To my immense displeasure the real Monasteries had been bought out and developed over by mega-corp hitlerites decades ago, so my only opportunity to see them with my own eyes was to build them myself.
It took years of pouring over old documents, ancient websites, and photos, then just as much time spent stretching the home customization mechanics to it's limits and grinding for materials.
It took literal years, and more than a few videos and blog posts begging the devs for hyper-specific additions, but I did it. First Simonopetra, then Agiou Pavlou, Vatopedi, and finally Megiste Lavra. It's only 4 of the 20 Monasteries that were actually located on the real Mount Athos, but I was glad to have been able to preserve even just a narrow slice of that legacy.
Of course, in real life, women were banned from the entire mountain, so I could see my presence even in this digital recreation upsetting some of those old monks. Still, I like to think most of the monks who lived there would appreciate that someone, icky gross girl or no, cared enough to try and preserve such a beautiful place in whatever form they could. Kinda of a sexist rule in the first place anyway, so fuck it! Anyone who would care is dead anyway.
I've done my best to not let all this work go to waste. Photos, videos, exporting models, anything I could do to keep hold of this place even after its gone. I think I've done an okay job. Its not as extensive as I'd like, but it will be enough to rebuild it in some other DNDMMO, or probably better a single player Dive game. Now all that's left is to say goodbye to this place.
Logging-in I'm back in my personal quarters located in Megiste Lavrara. Basically just a large master bedroom where I keep my personal storage, glamour outfits, and other gameplay elements the devs tied to an in-game object for the sake of selling things to you.
Most of the practical applications of Player Homes/Bases are either here or in the rest of the Lavra. Since in real life Megiste Lavra was (sort of) the administrative hub of Mount Athos, I thought it made sense to do the same thing in my digital recreation, even if only in spirit and my own personal roleplaying. I've got about half an hour left before the server shuts down- where should I spend it?
A thought is all it takes to manifest a context menu in front of me. Austere white text on a black background list the various Teleport Beacons that let me freely move about the monastery. I select the one labled [Outside Simenopetra] and warp to the gardens.
The gardens are by far what I'm most proud of building. Hyacinth, iris, and marigold flowers sit alongside all manner of more exotic flora native to the world of Shangri-La. Together they form a green canvas dotted with explosions of colors in all shapes and sizes. The garden climbs up from a flat clearing, a series of terraces and angled pathways on the cliff face form a zig-zagging path through the flowers up to the Monastery itself which looms over the garden like a protective, stony giant.
Opposite the gardens there is a clear view of the ocean, brilliant and blue. The sunset over the water will be the last thing I see in this game. For now though there's still some time to kill.
Looking around I see a couple of the outer discipleses: low level NPCs I have set to automatically maintain the Monastery. Its kind of funny, or sad depending how you look at it. They're still working away. Harvesting and replanting crafting and alchemy materials. They have no idea their world is about to end.
I was gonna take one last walk through the gardens while I still had time... might as well let the NPCs join in. With a flick of my hand I open the NPC interface.
[Manage NPC Tasks]
[Gather NPCs]
[Summon NPC]
I tapped the Manage option and ordered all nearby NPCs to stop their tasks and follow me. Soon a train of a dozen outer disciples was lined up perfectly behind me. A little creepy, if I'm being honest, but I can forgive them that considering the circumstances.
Its unlikely I'd be able to gather all of the other disciples in the Monastery before the shutdown, but might as well try. Whoever gets here gets here. I touched the Gather NPCs button then dismissed the interface.
I started walking around the garden- reminiscing and taking in the sights. As beautiful as it is, I've always been a little sad Shangri-La doesn't simulate smell or temperature. I'm sure it would make this place perfect.
Strolling around, it wasn't long before the the Inner Disciples showed up and fell in line behind me. First was Sophia, a kitsune and the first NPC I ever summoned. Following her were they Arch-Fey Oberon and Titania, the King of Summer and Queen of Winter respectively.
A few more minutes pass. I try to take it all in before its gone. Next to arrive is Psyche: A Lunar Mothkin and the NPC who's appearance I probably spent more time on than all the others combined.
Finally came Morgan. They were the last NPC I had ever raised to 100. Less than a year ago now, come to think of it. And with their arrival that's all of the level 100 NPCs accounted for.
Only five minutes left.
Well. I've taken my time to smell the roses, nothing to do now but sit and wait for the inevitable. In theory I'd like all the NPCs to fan out behind me or something, but I don't feel like fiddling with the interface again. I walk back out to the central steps of the garden and take a seat.
The sun was setting, painting in hues of deep purple and gold across the gently rolling waves...
At least that's what I’d be saying if I could SEE it!
I have to assume some bonobo within the clown car that is the Shangri-La development team decided it would be funny to play some sick joke on me.
Fog. Instead of a beautiful, poetic sunset to finalize my experience with this game all I get is an ominous wall of FOG looming over my creation.
Oh haha Mr. Bonobo what a funny joke this is- how APT a metaphor it is for the entire history of this god-forsaken game of yours! Years of effort and love from your players swept over and blanketed by an opaque wall of bullshit!
Seriously, how did I not notice this earlier? Did they just spawn this on top of me right when I turned around or something?
Wet and cold, what a way to end things eh?
Seriously though its freezing! What, was blocking my view not enough, now we have to freeze my ass off?
...
Wait.
What?
Its freezing?
Like— the temperature?
Fucking... what? How? Huh?
"Teacher— is everything alright?" Says a gentle voice behind me.
Turning around, I find the NPCs have all stepped out of line to look at me. Not like the blank facial tracking they normally have I mean like actually looking at me. Their eyes were darting back and forth between me and the fog around us. Looks of genuine confusion on all of them.
They were moving on their own. Moving like people do.
"Teacher?" The voice asks again.
Its Sophia. While her face was more neutral than the others her vulpine ears had flattened against her head.
She was nervous.
HOW!
What the hell's going on?
The servers should be shut down by now, so what is THIS?
Is it a sequel? That would be the most obvious answer, but then why did they not announce it? And how would they just instantly roll over to the new version? Did they shadow install it on my Dive-Set? No, that doesn't make sense. Shangri-La already took up most of the storage I had on there- there's no way I wouldn't have noticed something happening to the files, not even considering how much more storage a sequel would take up. Still, its the most logical explanation I have.
I try to open the menu interface. Then I try again. And again, and again.
Nothing.
I try every possible gesture I can think of to try and make something, anything happen. Open a menu, call a GM, order a pizza, anything!
Still nothing.
All I feel is the freezing cold air and the moisture seeping into my clothes. It feels real. No— it is real, at least as real as a human brain can process something to be.
But that's even crazier. That's some Isekai shit. Occum's razor is pretty fucking clear in this situation.
"Teacher?" A new voice pipes up.
Its Psyche. She's terrified. The lesser disciples as well. On all their faces I see fear, anxiety, confusion.
And they're all looking at me for answers. For some reassurance.
They believe in me.
...
Fuck it. Probably best to proceed as if this is all real until proven otherwise. At worst I'm wrong and it makes for good content.
"Morgan."
"Yes, Teacher?" comes a monotone, androgynous voice— like it was scrubbed of any and all potentially discerning information.
"I'm not sure what, exactly,, is going on. I need you to scout the mountain. Carefully. If you run into trouble pull back here."
Morgan nodded. "I will be back shortly."
"Psyche."
"Y-yes Teacher?" Psyche's voice was beautiful and melodic, despite her anxiety, and underneath it was a subtle vibrato like buzzing wings.
"Assemble your School and try to identify what this fog is."
Psyche gave a jittery nod before unfurling her massive, moth-like wings and taking to the skies.
She definitely couldn't do that a few minutes ago.
"What about us?" said a deep baritone voice. It carried itself with a confidence, perhaps a little too well. While not a lie that confidence felt... forced.
Just like I put in his settings.
"Oberon- assemble the School of Body and place them on high alert. Bring all of the outer disciples still outside into one of the temples while your at it."
"What about Psyche? Will she be okay by herself?" This voice was similar in tone but higher in pitch compared to Oberon.
Where Oberon felt like he was putting on a brave front- Titania felt like she was trying to ask the right question to force everything to make sense.
Its a good point. Psyche has the best chance of doing something about the fog out of anyone within Gentle Shade Monastery. If anything were to happen to her we may find ourselves up shit creek without a paddle.
"Good point Titania. Take the Grail Knights and guard Psyche."
Oberon and Titania, now looking more confident with a plan of action to follow, bowed before they too took to the skies on ephemeral, almost holographic wings.
Next I turn to the remaining Outer Disciples.
"You heard me! Get inside! Once it's clear what is happening I'll assemble everyone once more."
The disciples, slowly overcoming their shock, manage to give quick bows before racing up the steps to the walls of Simenopetra.
Very good. Now we’re alone.
"Teacher, do you have a task for me as well?" The voice was gentle, soothing, and laced with a clear nervousness alongside a genuine curiosity.
Sophia: the first NPC I ever summoned.
She lead the School of Mind, and both her lore settings and character sheet were built around gathering knowledge and processing information. If there is anyone who can handle the truth among the NPCs its her.
At least, I hope so.
"Sophia. What were you doing two hours ago?"
Sophia made a quizzical tilt of her head.
"Well… I was transmuting alchemical recipes as you instructed. The Outer Disciples had brought in a fresh harvest of Spirit-Flowers and so I was preparing a new batch of Mana Potions."
Hmm- so she does have memories of Shangri-La?
"I see. And what is the first memory you can recall?"
Sophia's eyebrows raised as her ears stood up straight.
"That's... tough to say."
Sophia closed her eyes for a few moments before answering.
"I remember hearing a bell... then I was standing in the Garden- right over there actually-" Sophia pointed to the lowest terrace of flowers before continuing, "and then you were there, speaking to me." Sophia smiled as she remembered.
Okay I think I get the appeal of parenthood now, that almost made me cry. I remember that day as well. In Shangri-La you summoned a new NPC using a consumable item called a Summoning Bell. During the tutorial you get a Level 1 Summoning Bell for free, and Sophia is the NPC I summoned with that very first bell. I was so excited at the idea alone that when she actually appeared I just started yapping all by myself like an absolute fucking dork.
"Teacher?" Sophia asked, interrupting my musings.
"Yes?"
"Something happened, didn't it? Something really major? First the fog, then you send the others off, now you start asking me questions about my memory... Do you think this fog has done something to us? Affected our memories somehow?"
Wow. She is clever. Her conclusion isn't that far off to be honest, considering the information she has. That final jump to 'was I a video game character up until a few minutes ago' is one even I'm struggling to make.
"I don't know if its the fog exactly- but something has definitely happened. Or rather, something else was supposed to happen instead."
"Something else?" Sophia asked.
Oh boy. Here we go.
"The short answer is that the world was supposed to end about five or so minutes ago."
Sophia's gaze was piercing, scanning my face for any additional information not conveyed in my words.
"...and the long answer?" She asked.
Straight to the point hmm. Welp— out of the frying pan into the fire I guess. Lets see how she takes this.
"Gentle Shade Monastery is not truly my home, nor am I indigenous to the world in which the Monastery resides."
"You are from the Heavens, no?" A good guess. My character race is Angel after all.
"Not quite." I say. "The world the Monastery inhabits, Shangri-La as we called it, is— or I suppose now was— a virtual world created by the advanced technology of the world I actually come from." I waited for a response, but Sophia said nothing. Her eyes were glued to mine.
"In that world, there are no classes nor feats nor levels nor 'spells', at least not how you know them. Shangri-La was a form of advanced entertainment and artistry, made using the most sophisticated science available to us in order to create a virtual world as close to reality as possible."
Sophia nodded. "So you are from another world… or a higher plane of existence in a sense, but it is wholly separate from 'Heaven' as I have come to understand it? In fact— that Heaven too is a construction of your home-world, correct?"
Huh. She's taking this... well? I think?
"Uhm... correct yes. Rather spot on actually."
Sophia nodded once more, a growing excitement in her mannerisms while her eyes sparkled with curiosity and wonder.
"So then, the people of your world made the decision to destroy 'Shangri-La', and that is why you called us all together? But then, of course, this world didn't end, yes?"
Uh, wow okay she is really taking this well.
"Yes, but that isn't all."
"Oh?!" Sophia took a step forward in her eagerness to hear what I had to say next.
"You see, in this 'video game' as we called it, you and all the other Disciples here at Gentle Shade Monastery were what we called 'NPCs', meaning Non Player Characters. The reason I ask about your memories is because, from my perspective, just a few minutes ago none of you were sentient nor sapient beings. Your personalities and personal histories existed only in my own mind. Not to mention the additional sensations I now experience: touch, smell, true proprioception; none of this was possible in Shangri-La, it did not have that level of realism to it."
"...You mean that, less than an hour ago, I wasn't real?"
While her blazing curiosity didn't fade from her eyes, the revelation did seem to hit Sophia hard.
"I would argue there was an ontological construct that went by the name Sophia who lived in Gentle Shade Monastery, but at least from my perspective that is true, you were not a 'real person' in the most literal interpretation."
"Like Pinocchio..."
How the hell does she know what Pinocchio is? I'll have to ask later, for now I think pressing her on that will just make the existential crisis worse.
"I think that would be a rather apt comparison, yes."
We stood in silence for a bit. Sophia's gaze still boring into my soul.
"I'm sorry to tell you all this so bluntly. I promise this is all just as shocking for me. But I want you to know— getting to finally talk to you right now is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
It was true. There were so many awful, painful moments in my life I was only able to get through because of Gentle Shade Monastery. Writing their lore, planning their class builds, and fantasizing about the conversations I'd have with them were outlets for me during times when I felt I had truly nothing else.
Sophia's eyes went wide. I hope because she understood my sincerity.
"Teacher..." Sophia said, her eyes falling to the ground in front of her feet. She seemed to think for a moment, processing everything I just told her.
I stood there in silence as well, no need to put pressure on her or anything. Eventually her gaze returned to meet my own.
"Thank you for telling me, Teacher. To be honest its a lot to take in. I can only imagine what this must be like from your perspective, yet you so quickly placed your trust in me and shared this truth... that is all I need to know you are still the same person I love and respect from my memories— false though they may be. Even if I can no longer be sure who or what I am, I know that I can trust you."
"Of course Sophia. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I kept that from you guys, and I know for a fact I won't be able to figure out what's going on by myself."
Sophia giggled, and her ears tilted to the side like little airplane wings.
"We do find ourselves in quite the pickle don't we?" She said.
"Indeed we do. You wouldn't happen to have any theories on that, would you?"
Sophia put a finger to her lips and began to think, her foot drumming the dirt and kicking up small clouds of dust.
Yet another thing they didn't have in Shangri-La.
"Is it possible this is simply an evolution of the same technology that created Shangri-La in the first place?"
She also went to the sequel theory. Certainly lends more credence to the idea.
"I had the same thought. I seems the most logical explanation, but the issue is that it would require a massive leap in technology well beyond what’s possible. They'd had to have made a technological leap of at least 30 years in less than a decade and somehow kept it hidden from the public until this exact moment."
"Hmm, I see your point, but then we must contend with the idea that we have somehow been taken to some other reality."
"Yeah- I'm still not sure how to feel about that."
"I think we can't say anything for sure until we hear back from Morgan and Psyche."
"That makes sense."
I had hoped Sophia may have some insight into this situation that I lacked due to her being an NPC, but it seems she’s just as lost as I am.
Nothing to do but wait for Morgan then.
"Teacher?" Sophia asks.
"Yes?"
"Do you plan to tell the other disciples what you have told me?"
That's a very good question. I think morally the answer is 'yes, absolutely' but I can't be sure the others will take it as well as Sophia. Its fine if after learning the truth they want to leave, that is their right, but again I really don't want a Frankenstein situation and one of the NPCs hurting themselves or others.
"Eventually yes, I would like to tell everyone, but I'll have to think about how to handle that conversation a bit more in depth."
Sophia begins to say something, but I'm pulled from the conversation by a monotone voice speaking in my head.
Teacher, I have scouted Mount Athos and while all appears in order on the mountain itself, our surroundings are totally different.
That must be [Farspeak]. So magic still works then?
Very good Morgan. What do you mean when you say the surroundings are 'different?'
The archipelago that used to surround the mountain is gone, instead we seem to be part of a large continental mountain range.
So our surroundings are different. That supports the Isekai theory, though we'll have to learn more about the area before we can say that for sure.
Understood. Meet Sophia and I back in the garden as soon as you can. * Yes, Teacher.*
"What did Morgan report?" Sophia asks.
"It would seem Mount Athos has been... transported."
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
"In what sense?"
"Our surroundings are different, where once was ocean are now mountains."
"I see..." Sophia once again retreated into her own thoughts, her foot drumming up more clouds of dust.
While I waited for Morgan to return, another message pinged my brain.
Teacher? Asked a voice carried with a low humming.
What is it Psyche?
I believe we have been able to identify this fog. While the nature of it's sudden appearance is rather odd, everything indicates that the fog itself is mundane. A simple Control Weather spell should be enough to dissipate it.
I see. Excellent work Psyche. Whenever you are ready please proceed with clearing the fog.
It shall be done!
The fog is mundane? Maybe it was already present in the area when we were transported into it? Psyche could also have a different definition of mundane than I do, considering she is from the highly magical world of Shangri-La...
We'll just have to see how Control Weather goes. If it’s truly mundane it should disappear with little effort. Right on cue a warm breeze swept through the garden, the flowers bowing to its presence.
Looking down from the mountain the fog melted away to reveal a valley with a large stream running through its center. The valley was almost bare of large foliage aside from grass, though there were a few scattered trees. The grass itself was a vibrant green, and grew especially tall and dense along the streams edge. At the base of the mountains the grasses thinned before being replaced by stone with the occasional weed or other hardy foliage clinging onto the mountain's face. The mountains themselves were massive, many of them doubling or tripling Athos in size. At their peaks were bright white snowcaps which reflected the suns glare, making it impossible to stare at them for long.
The air was cold and crisp, free of the acrid tinge of industry and human settlement I had grown so used to in the real world. It was beautiful, but definitely not a place that existed in Shangri-La.
"Teacher." Morgan interrupted, heralding her return.
"Welcome back Morgan, thank you for your help."
"Of course, Teacher."
"I think we can say for sure that Athos has been moved... somehow."
"This geography is alien to me as well." Sophia said. "While I can't say for certain until we know more of the local area, I'm fairly confident such a place did not exist in the world we came from."
I hate to say it, but that's another point for the Isekai theory. Can't imagine why a sequel would let me keep my player home and NPCs, but arbitrarily throw it somewhere random on the map. Well, maybe I can. The Shangri-La devs have done strange things in the past. Still though if this happened across the board then that would upset a lot of players.
"Teacher-" Morgan said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"What is it?"
"It would appear we are not alone." Morgan pointed to the stream in the valley. I had to strain my eyes to see what she was referring to, though my senses were noticeably sharper than in the real world.
Along the river was a small, humanoid figure. They seemed human, though it was hard to say for sure.
"Ah shit." I said.
"Should I intercept them?" Morgan asked.
"No no, that's alright. If there is a local population I don't want to imply we're hostile. I'll go down and investigate."
Morgan gave a subtle tilt of her head while narrowing her eyes.
"Alone?"
"Yes. I would rather not risk any of you down there before we know more of the threat."
"What if you are attacked?"
"I'll Farspeak you all if I get into any trouble down there. For now I want you to stay here are defend the Monastery. Keep an eye out for anyone poking around."
Morgan still seemed unsure, but aquiesced.
"What will you do while you're down there?" Sophia asked.
That's a good question. What am I going to do down there?
Well, probably best to find whatever town or village that figure at the stream came from, and see if they've noticed our presence up here. From there... I'd like to establish friendly relations and learn more about wherever we are, but I imagine that will take considerable time.
"For now I just want to survey the situation, and get a grasp on the local population. For all we know that figure is some lone hunter living in isolation."
Sophia nodded. "Then make sure you return safely, Teacher."
I gave her and Morgan as confident a nod I could muster. Then I flew into the air, and descended down into the valley.