The Finnish Dream test-out.
Chapter I: Antediluvian
During the SOPA PIPA war on the internet, a group of Finnish scientists wanted to see if they can make an MMORPG with lucid dreaming instead of internet. SOPA PIPA was a movement that tried to censor the internet and all it's content. Of course regular denizens of the web did not take kindly to this, it would mean no more Youtube Poop, no more edgy conversations on forums, and most devastating, no more porn! This was one of the only times in history where a troll would be seen standing up for a furry, if not THE only. Since all of the internet was threatened, that also meant online games. This would mean no more slutty armor for chicks in World of Warcraft and similar games. This is where Finland came in.
On March 15th, 2012 Finnish scientest Dr.Anton Markus invited imaginative people who had experience in lucid dreaming to attempt to create a game the can host thousands of players, to play a life-like game. On his website he said he'd pay 1000 euros for participating, but only needed 5 people. The following week he got his five people. Lazlo Brown, Vincent Martin, Arto Dagmar, Elisa Ensio, and Vance Yohan. Little did they know that this wasn't a harmless experiment. For such a great idea, had it's costs.
Markus showed the participants pictures of fantasy environments and buildings and told them to picture that in their minds before going to bed. He also showed a picture of a gate that he said to connect the world to, so people may enter. He shown a picture of a gothic-style gate. Lazlo claims it would warp into a vulgar depiction of a human vulva but when you looked away it'd be normal again. The others denied this statement.
When they finished creating their world they instantly thought it was a master piece. But not Markus, no he thought it'd be like any game and this was just the alpha. Markus had made a connection with that world you see, he had the gate on his mind 24/7 and could enter in a day dream, but not the participants. He said that he needed a proper system for the game, like you'd see in any MMO. So he got his website designer to draw a few graphics for things like health bars and inventory space. After that he told his patients to add features like music and sound effects to the world. During his sleep Markus added the graphics in, and something else too, something much darker.
In a dream, the participants all saw Markus holding 5 gold amulets. He said "I give you the gift of demi-godhood in this world! Will you take it?" Vincent and Lazlo found it odd that he suddenly speaks perfect English now and Vance for German. Though much confusion was present, they all accepted. This was when they became the Antediluvians, when they allowed a beast to take over their waking bodies and warp them into terrible shapes, this was the end of the alpha.
On March 25th,2012 Markus announced a success. This was the beginning of the beta. When he asked for tulpae.
Chapter II: Tulpa
A tulpa is a forced hallucination that feels real to it's host. But it must have a host, because it is only an advanced imaginary friend. Markus promised he could import a person's tulpa into his world, but only if they were approved to be NPCs. The tulpa community exploded with excitement when they heard of this news. They could finally make other people see their tulpa and their tulpa see others and their tulpae. It sounded like a dream come true.
On the website their was a picture of a gate, it said to focus on this before sleeping and you will be lucid dreaming and in that world. It also said if you want your tulpa to stay in that world you had to focus on the sign of the tulpa in that world. Some people on tulpa forums really wanted to get rid of their tulpae, either from life situations or sheer annoyance. Almost every tulpa could be an NPC from what reports said. This is how the Tao of Tulpa was formed, a group of tulpamancers who formed content for the game, under the allegiance of the antediluvians. They had the power to create new tulpae instantly and some say the higher-ups could kill people and turn them into tulpae!
On April 1st, 2012 Markus said the bet-test was a success and final release was close. This would mark the end of the test out, but I still have some information about the final release.
Chapter III: Dream of Splendor
On the release date of april 5th 2012, 5000 people played that night. Everyone played at night because it was an optimal to dream, according to most players. Not much people tell full details about the game but it was described as "epic" in some points and "trippy" in others.
"So we gave up our humanity, becoming gods in one world and beasts in your's. We are the first to be here, the ones who formed this world, we are the antediluvians."- alleged quote from Lazlo
"1. Tulpae are tools, and are treated as such. 2. None shall create tulpae outside our tao. 3. Tulpae are the only ones subject to control, none shall use any ability to control human minds."- The 3 commandments of the Tao of tulpa
"I was like Warcraft with guns, only it felt real and looked real. Quests don't repeat though, you gotta be fast, naw what I be sayin? It's hard to believe your in a dream, but sometimes it seems something is up, real up."- quote from anonymous player.
Everyone said on launch day, a giant skeleton popped out, and declared that should you decide to not play, that your real body will rot from the inside out until you either die or play again, though nobody knows how to stop playing.