By then, the crowds were certainly filtering around more and more organized groups, as people ran around to get recruited or add more members to their parties.  While no one could say for sure, rumors started to float around that the game was extremely hard at later levels, and the more team mates one had, the better.  At the same time, it seemed guilds weren't particularly common, for the prize money that was advertised would have to be shared, and the difference between 8 people sharing and 30 people sharing was quite a bit.  In any case, one of these particular groups wasn't quite all that organized.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">As Felicia pulled away from Kimitsu, the smaller vixen girl looked at her in annoyance.  Now that she got a good look at the cat neko, she was not impressed.  "Seriously?  No commitment?  Either go full human or go full furry, what's the point in staying in the middle?  Also... your boobs are like... so small.  It's a game, show something off!"  Kimitsu was somehow frustrating herself over this girl, but why?  Why did she care so much all of a sudden?  Maybe that little close encounter was more social interaction than she tended to have in similar games.  </span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">Still, she couldn't help but get all leet on her, if for geeky reasons.  "I'm sure you'll see yourself again when the textures load in.  It's probably still processing everything, that's why we all have to wait," she remarked smugly, as if she knew that for sure, when it was only a guess.  As for the whole menu thing, well... she had already directed her question to this newcomer, so it wasn't like it was her place to reveal it...</span><br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Ran would find himself... or rather, Rana would find herself, among plenty of other players, apparently some still loading into the game.  A few avis were standing still, somewhat distorted, generally by the edges of the plaza.  Though several steps through the crowds of now congregating people, Rana would overhear the whispers and voices around her.<br/><br/>"Oh she's cute!" one voice would say.<br/><br/>"Man, should we get her too?  We can use a bunny girl, right?"<br/><br/>"Aw... so adorable!  I wish I had gone with bunny girl too..."  For the most part, male voices were all about the way Rana looked and whether she would join them or not, and a few were female voices, regretting their choice of race when that one was available.  Either way, a particularly loose formation of what appeared to be a developing group wasn't too far ahead, and for one, the utterly fluffy, thick wagging tail of a short fox girl, a bit taller than Rana, stood with her back to oncoming new arrival.  To the point that she never saw Rana coming.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">"W-what the hell is your problem!?" the vixen cried out as she tried to figure out how to shake the girl off her tail.  Yet pangs of surprising excitement shot through her body, something she wasn't used to in any game.  A deep blush formed over her formerly golden face as she had to turn around, but only managed to drag the girl along.  "Somebody get this lunatic off me!!"  Course, in the whirling, her skirt managed to shift, lifting up in something akin to an overexaggerated animation, leaving a fresh impression of her lime green panties in the eyes of those watching.  At the same time, it should certainly have been a warning to all the girls...</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">This commotion would've been noted by several other players around them, including three particular players.  One of them, the obvious one that stood out from the majority of the crowd and was visibly shunned by everyone around him, apparently took a spot to sit close to them, taking a stone from the paved area and sharpening his weapons.  He certainly looked impressive, that much was certain.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">On the other hand, the dragoness that left the awkward situation behind had come to join them, if not quite officially just yet, and sat just beyond the forming group.  As she sat, she could feel a bit of a forced animation on her body, one that would oblige her leg to slowly swivel to the side and then up and over to cross her legs, at least at first, as if any time any girl wanted to sit, she would be forced to exhibit herself a bit.  The creator was certainly one perverted maniac. </span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">---</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">For now, Valyn seemed in control, yet his avatar had clearly been changed.  Apparently, his... whatever he considered that other entity had done her job, and managed to overwrite some code for his character specifically, allowing not only a change to the personality, but also to the character.  For when the personality switched, he would physically change into a female version of himself, and with the hardwiring program that it was, his outfit would automatically form into its female counterpart.  But... that was yet to be seen.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Around him, a female human player stared at him as he yelled at some Sadie, and she was quick to give him a weird look before moving on.  Obviously, shouting out random things in public probably wasn't the best idea.  Yet that commotion over there... a group of some random characters to be sure, would have caught his attention, and as he approached, there was certainly a bit of a scene unfolding.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">---</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Suddenly, a loud blast of sound shot through the entirety of the plaza, like a gong being rung.  Then, a deep, booming voice overcame everyone.  "ONE MINUTE UNTIL ANNOUNCEMENT."</span>