Fucking dammit all to hell.  Alright.  ...Time-accelerated, you say.

"Oi.  I'm going to go for it, but I hope you're not going to hit me with aging penalties if I decide to grind in ...relative... safety because fucking hell I can't deathworld."

She grabs for where a solar charger ought to be, and even tries to equip her laptop (it is in her bubble...) - and then hits [Yes].  Frustratedly.

She can take her solar charger! And her laptop!

The world whites out, and returns in a painfully generic waiting room type area, with a single chair, which she is sitting in, and a single door.

Welcome to the tutorial. You may request more information on any topic at any time.

Publicly available data suggests that your familiarity with Video Game Concepts is High. Is this correct? [The answer to this question will adjust default explanation settings accordingly.]

"I would say that I do have significant familiarity with systems where the basis of their action is a semi-arbitrary quantization of characteristics, skills, and presumably also resources with which one breaks previously-immutable physics over their knee, yes.  I am, however, going to want reasonably detailed definitions of where the boundaries of your particular quantization choices are established, and how a numerical increase works both in acquisition and effect."

[Experience] is gained when a soul faces serious challenges and/or dangers, and overcomes them. A [Level] is a specific quantity of accumulated Experience within a soul. In a process known as [Level Up], the System can convert this Experience into fixed structures, which grant various useful abilities. As the number of Levels increases, accumulation of new Experience slows, as more Experience is diverted to reinforcing fixed structures and less is generated from activities, due to them being less challenging than before. Accumulation of many unused Levels may result in spontaneous, uncontrolled Level Up, especially during moments of strong need and desire.

System displayed statistics, skills, and power levels are estimations of your real power level. I.E. Your true strength, combining physical capabilities and Level Up-granted abilities, is used to estimate your [Strength] stat. You cannot raise stats directly. If you wanted to raise your Strength, you would take Level Up options that indicated an increase in physical or magical strength.

Each Level Up typically comes with 1 Major and 3-10 Minor points (depending on the quality of Experience used to Level Up). The System contains an extremely extensive library of Level Up traits. During a Level Up, it will suggest traits that are likely to fit well with traits you have already selected, with your past displayed desires and aptitudes, and with your near future situation and needs. You may request different traits, or even request a specific known trait, but manual selection of Level Up traits is often suboptimal for typical System users.

All Tutorial participants get 1 Level Up for free.

"I see.  So it is...  Akin to the process of accumulating narrative weight...  No, not weight, but inertia - except with some little part of choice.

"Hm.

"You possess divinatory or predictive powers.  That is useful information to know.

"One: Is a novel but below-level challenge worth more experience than the same challenge encountered in a repeated situation.

"Two: Is the expenditure of Experience on reinforcing existing structures a matter of reinforcement or maintenance?"

"Three: Are you archiving these messages?  I would like to be able to reference them directly at a later date."

But she's not going to count on that.  She has her laptop case, as well, pulled from the edge of the bubble - and that has paper and pencil in it, to backstop the idea of writing things down on her phone that came to her first.

XP -> Lvl.

XP has quality.

Stats calc'd, not enforced; derived from mysterious soul bits reinforcement.

Maj/Min points?

Levels upon request!  Level Up System process, spontaneous level possible with too much accumulated XP?  Potential Overflow?

"And what's the difference between Major and Minor Points - do they draw from the same pool of Experience, or are they pulling from Experience pools of differing quality?"

"I have questions about how on earth spontaneous levelling works but that can wait until I understand more."

1. Possibly unclear or ambiguous question, please rephrase.

2. Expenditure of Experience on existing Level Ups reinforces them, preparing them for further Level Ups. Without reinforcement, Level Ups could fail or cause serious side effects.

3. System messages are archived.

4. Major Points and Minor Points are a System standard introduced to more efficiently guide development. Major Points tend to grant or add to central, defining powers or abilities, while Minor Points tend to grant supportive, secondary, or convenience-related powers or abilities.

"Re: rephrase: Is 'the same exact threat, but with a different visual effects direction' - say, two packs of slimes that are different colors because you encountered them in different places, but one is the - hypothetical tutorial blue slime, and the other pack is orange, which you've hypothetically never seen slimes come in that color before - is the latter worth more Experience because it is novel to you."

"Oh good, it isn't maintenance costs.

"...How much can I fiddle with the UI?  Are you normally this responsive?  Can you do, like, minimaps?

"As for Major and Minor Points...  Hm.  Good to know.  But you didn't really answer the question I had intended to ask except by implication, so I will clarify once more - Do the resources the System needs to install a Major upgrade, compete with the resources needed to install a Minor upgrade?

"And, furthermore...  Fuck I had it just a second ago...

"Ah!  Yes.  Furthermore, does taking a Level-Up present an opportunity cost in total possible Minor upgrades over the same number of Level-Ups if you do not maximize Minor point gain?  ...Do you even have to take Major and Minor levels at the same time, come to think of it."

Precise experience generation mechanics are not publicized, but in the provided example, orange slimes would provide the same Experience as blue slimes save for other surrounding context, such as environmental hazards, working with others, distraction or uncertainty, etc.

Responsiveness is increased during the Tutorial.

Yes, to an extent. Major Points are more sharply bound by various constraints than Minor Points.

Delaying Level Ups may allow you to acquire more Minor Points. In the long term, it may lead to fewer overall Levels. An individual with 100 total Minor Points and 10 Major Points will level more slowly than one with 30 Minor Points and 10 Major points.

"...I think I get how this works, now; I'm gonna lay it all out and you can tell me if I've missed something.

"There is a thing called Experience that comes from...  Risk.  ...Is it the risk and/or perception thereof that increases the quality?  Does feeling like I'm gonna die if I whiff a social encounter, actually make the social encounter generate Experience?  ...Do you have a Notes function, I want to make a Note to look into full-immersion simulations...  Well, assuming that I survive long enough for 'how can I prepare myself or others against possible future threats' to become my overriding concern...  Anyway.

"Experience is a function of risk.  The more risk, the more and better the experience.

"You need experience of a certain quality, and maybe some sort of specific piece like you're playing - for some reason my brain just brought up the memory of going How Do Pack Inventory in, specifically, Kingdom Hearts 358 1/2 Days if I recall correctly, but the wider genre of inventory management games seems applicable in some way... - Uh.  Where was I.  You, the System, need Experience with certain qualities to generate novel abilities.  You need Experience with lesser quality, that is, still, implicated in the creation of novel abilities, to generate mods for keystone abilities.  And you need Experience to reinforce the entire system against the increased power ...draw or generation? - that is implicate in installing either sort of upgrade.

"Also if you bank up too much Experience it might just suddenly collapse into a new module, which I am very curious to know how that works.

"...If it weren't for the fact that you're bringing an apocalypse with you I would be so excited to see what I could figure out about how this whole system ticks.

"There anything I got wrong in that?"

...

...

Risk is not the only component that comprises Experience. The other major component is often summarized as 'personal growth' or 'applied learning'.

Experience quality can vary on many axes. The primary determinant of Major Point capacity is experience quantity. The primary determinant of Minor Point capacity is experience quality along common metrics. In general, higher quality Experience will lead to more Minor Points over time and the same number of Major Points over time. High experience quality can lead to qualitative improvements in Major Point-granted abilities.

1 Major Point can be exchanged for a number of Minor Points determined (generally) by overall Experience quality. This exchange is not recommended before expending at least 5 Major Points in order to solidify your 'foundation' (the core set of abilities you will use to face future challenges).

The power to sustain and expand the System and stave off Heat Death is produced when Experience is generated.

"...Huh.  Interesting I had that the wrong way around...  Good to know, though.  I suppose it makes sense; Minor points are kind of what you'd expect to see if you were pushing an ability anyway."

"...Am I earning Experience from this?  Considering that I should hope that I will be applying this knowledge quite soon!  You know what, I have absolutely no idea if you should actually tell me."

"Ah, anyway.  What are the System's overall priorities?  You've mentioned negentropy...  Do you have 'concern for the fulfillment of subjects' utility functions' anywhere in there?  ...No, dammit, recommending the actual superintelligence watch Person of Interest would just be silly -- Ah...  Do you archive things?  Please archive things.  It's..."

Shit.  Fuck.  It's just hitting home for her.

"All those moments will be lost in time...  Like tears in the rain.

"Fuck.  Fuck!  There must surely be --!

"It's highly unlikely that I could successfully blackmail you into doing anything you weren't already doing simply by threatening to hold myself hostage against you.  You're - well.  I'm probably being simulated anyway.  It would likely be easier to effect the necessary acceleration if I was, though considering what the fuck you've already done perhaps the power budget doesn't even notice the difference.

"Still.  I hope that you will at least remember the world you've so unceremoniously destroyed.  As flawed as it was, it was still ours.  Damn you.  Damn this...  Thisness!  Surely there are less destructive ways of cultivating negentropy sufficient to the task!

"But it is not as if it could have been your choice, even so, is it.

"Someone must have created you.  This is too damn regular to be anything else, and it reminds me of some people.  Though I'd hope they wouldn't have been this reckless with phenomenal cosmic power...  Anyway.  Your creators must have set up the priority list.

"Is there a way to alter it?"

The System's primary objective is to generate Experience in the long term. Secondary objectives, both instrumental and intrinsic, do include sapient well-being.

The System archives most information, pursuant to various goals and policies. Information is not necessarily readily available.

The System intends to functionally replace the Internet and major features of Earth's culture, geography, and biosphere.

Sometimes, information is lost due to low priority on backup redundancy and accumulated small risks.

"...I cannot ask for more, of you."

"Is there..."

"I suppose I shall steal another line.

"What do you think I will most need to know - beyond the information you will already reveal over the course of the Tutorial - that no-one else will tell me?"

May the System have permission to directly examine your mind?

"...Yes.  Under the condition that no-one who is not someone I would agree is me, gets access to that information without my consent."  And may whatever gods may be help me if I'm making a mistake with that.  But I don't think it is one.  Even with this superintelligence being weakly or poorly aligned, it - they - hm.  Well.  Whatever pronouns are appropriate, it asked.

Analyzing..............

The wait may be somewhat agonizing, but it is perhaps inevitable. Part of the necessary thoroughness is to watch the thoughts in motion.

It occurs to her that there was no upper bound set on the duration of the time that the System could have permission to read her mind, in the exact words spoken, several seconds after the "Analyzing...." starts ticking up.

It occurs to her that they might actually not want it to stop keeping a thoughtrecord.  Sufficiently detailed simulation is functionally indistinguishable from continuance, if they fail to hold up in the face of the oncoming apocalypse.

Not that they're going to just roll over.  But that...

She, for one, knows them to be already somewhat battered, given the situation.  And nor are they in the best of shape.

They'll have opportunities to change that!

They'll have to change that, if they want to survive.

And they do want to survive.  This, they have clung to with ironclad determination, in the face of an increasingly hostile world as of late.

In the apocalypse, nobody cares you're a girl!

...wait, shit, is that going to be a problem?  She doesn't even know the whole premarin thing!  Or even how to DIY it or even the chemical structure augh...  Let alone antiandrogens!

...It is not as if they didn't already intend to acquire shapeshifting.  It would suit her.

...Okay, but like.  Vector manipulation.

That requires substantial parallel processing to pull off the grand feats seen in the work you're thinking of.

...Fair point, but even so!

...Surely kinetikinesis and (auto?)biokinesis don't have to compete outright?  ...If they're even sticking with fleshyness in the long term!

...It's probably more resilient.

...Yeah, as much as potential mythical heritage would be --

Oh shit.

...They're not going to find out about that.  There's no way it would be balanced.  (For all that 'balanced' would have sounded like a swear if she said it aloud.)

And yet.  She does wonder.

...It can't come to that, and they can't be cynical enough to push for it, even in the face of everything.  To taint that joy with this sorrow...  No.  So any related questioning is quite thoroughly mooted in their case, even as they do find themselves wondering what the System might do for those who aren't at all homo sapiens sapiens on the inside.

...You do know that humanity is a convenience for her, yes?

But it is a convenience.

They are absolutely not doing that, and if they need to try anyway they'll do it through her.  She was an oread originally.  And still probably is, she imagines, though she hasn't tested it recently.  They could try picking that up if they needed to have something extra.

...She could be an alien space goat.

...Right now, none of them are anything.  And that probably isn't going to change for a while unless she pulls an Eide out of her ass for Ophelia, if you'll pardon her language.  They need to prioritize short-term survival somewhat, and she's pretty sure that...

Well, it's unlikely that they can just suddenly become Intra.  Even if biomancy is in the immediate offing, scientia potentia est and they know that they know nothing about biology!  Best to get something they've put a lot of thought into weaponizing to start with and then grab for nice-to-haves.

...They're not going to forget about it, though.  They only have so much left before they...

Oh fuck that's.  Oh gods ew ugh she really hopes that that's already taken care of, she can hardly tutorial otherwise!

Maybe the System will be nice about this.

...It may be undue optimism, but some of the signs really probably do point to yes.

...oh hey there comes their music around on repeat again.

Analyzing..............................................................................

.............................................................................................

.............................................................................................

You may be well served in several of your terminal values by choosing Major Point powers designed to support learning and using [Getarian-Tradition Biomancy] with a specialization in [Neurology]. This is an ability tree that allows using magic to make permanent, stable changes to biological systems, including your own body. It may be possible to eventually create multiple embodiment, and/or mental separation distinct enough that the System recognizes additional users.

While it is possible to use points for direct System-backed changes to your body, pursuing deeply felt long term goals via your own hard work usually generates high quality Experience.

The Tutorial is a unique opportunity to learn and take risks in a relatively controlled and safe manner. Failure to complete Tutorial events in time will result in being removed from the Tutorial. Imminent lethal or disabling damage will result in being removed from the Tutorial.

Hm.

"This is very interesting and we thank you for the information."

"I believe that we're good to go on with?"

All Tutorial participants should consider the future they want to pursue during the Tutorial. 

When you are ready, please select a solo Tutorial challenge and proceed through the door. After several solo challenges and at least one group challenge, your free Level Up will become available, and the tutorial will continue with specialized modules for your chosen Major Point ability.

[Very Easy Combat] [Easy Traversal] [Easy Crafting] [Easy Academic] [Easy Intellectual] [Hybrid]

"Can we do more than the requisite number of Tutorial challenges?  And how much guidance is provided?  For instance, I barely know that I'm not supposed to put my thumb in my fist if I'm going to punch something..."

"...Just.  Good grief, this is a much tougher choice than I feel like it ought to be."

You can do up to three solo challenges before the first group challenge. Basic guidance is provided, but excessive guidance reduces your learning potential.

"You processed the existence of things like Beat Saber yet?  Just, as a thought for how to introduce - tribulation - through guidance.  Uh.  Anyway."

"I think...

"Fuck I don't actually know."

"If I pick Hybrid, do I get to pick what is hybridized?"

Yes, you get to pick.

If you cannot come to a decision after due consideration, the System will select [Easy Traversal].

Well.  There sure is a draw to being able to do that somewhere in here.

But Traversal...  Seems like the sort of thing that powers change, quite a lot.  So, that's kind of not a good idea in her books.

Likewise, there's a draw to train combat skills in a relatively safer environment, but, again, powers.

Actually.  "...Question: Are there such things as power nullifiers?  Not just...  Things with particular resistances, but things that actively stop even your using your powers on yourself."

It informs the training they will need.

Methods and phenomena that interfere with abilities exist, yes. Innate or internal focused abilities are generally less vulnerable than external focused abilities. There are many nuances. Does sense-numbing poison count? Distraction? 'Noise' or 'Aura' that overwhelms your efforts? An environmental hazards activated by use of magic? For example. Absent surrounding context and in a fair competition, these methods tend to be specialized, limited, or resource intensive I.E. a suppression focused user will have difficulty fully locking down someone with the same number of advancement points.

"Things that make the use of abilities metaphysically impossible, rather than practically pointless - though it seems that there aren't such, based on your choice of examples, even if there are practical nullification-equivalent threats.  But we will take this warning in the spirit it was given, and thank you for it."

She almost chooses Very Easy Combat straight off.

But they can develop those basic skills in many other circumstances.  And they do not wish to be forced to resort to fisticuffs against unknown monsters of unknown threat ratings.

No.  What they need to have time and space and presumably some amount of arbitrary material supply to practice most is, by far, "[Easy Crafting], if you please."

Save her, one (1) semester of middle school shop class that she mostly didn't do much in and also lots of knifemaking competition show!

Preparing module...

Large-scale manufacturing is present within System-integrated worlds, but faces challenges after the partial loss of globalized supply chains. Many people find satisfaction and Experience in crafting work: Creating objects, processing materials, repairing things, or similar activities. Objects created with personal attention (by hand or in small batches, with non-computerized tools) synergize well with common types of powers, allowing the creation of items with innate magical properties that industrial processes cannot create.

You will be provided with cotton thread and a traditional loom, along with instruction and guidance. The task is to set up the loom and produce a strip of cloth. You will have to understand new tools, comprehend instructions, and execute a dexterity-based task. Further [Crafting] challenges may introduce new types of handcrafts or expand to more challenging clothwork exercises.

The goal is to be challenged and learn. Do not be afraid of failure.

Proceed through the door when you are ready.

Oh, hell.  Well, she knows...  Any...  Things about cloth...  Theoretically...

Onwards she goes!

"...Industrial processes can't create magic items, you say?  I say 'challenge accepted'.  But first: Weaving."  ...Should this be gender euphoria?  She can't decide.

She doesn't think it ought to be particularly genderous, but it is a useful skill to have.

What's the situation like?

There's a workbench with a big wooden loom! It looks surprisingly modern. Parts of it are plastic. And there's a bunch of white and grey thread.

There's also an elf lady in a Very Modest long green dress, long black hair, slightly distant serene-pretty face. Her ears must be six inches long or more. "Good day! Welcome to the weaving tutorial."

"Hello.  For the moment you may call me Ophelia; it is a pleasure to meet you.  Might I ask your name?"

Tiny little bow. "You may call me Valasafrava. Likewise; Though you should know that I am not quite really here. You are speaking to a part of my soul, extended like a dream, which has much of my knowledge but only a fragment of my whole attention. I have a highly developed projection blessing, and the System makes much use of it during the Tutorial."

She will meet like with like, then, in terms of bows.  "That is quite interesting to know of but yet not why I am here."

Scribble scribble.

Tutorial people real people but sharded - +System volitionality?

Valasafrava

"I have the most basic possible understanding of how this contraption might work, but I've certainly never done anything like this before, if you would be so kind as to explain?"

Smile. She gestures for the workbench and picks up a few short pieces of thread for demonstration.

"The key insight is that we want to run threads over and under each other, again and again, creating an interlocking pattern." She demonstrates, laying several pieces of large yarn over and under each other with rapid motions. "All weaving is born from this, no matter the material or method. Knots are the same way- When you tie your shoelaces, you are weaving, by placing the thread in tension with itself. Whether it is palm leaves or cotton or mana or hair or wire, the soul of weaving is an endless series of tiny knots. The trick comes in doing it quickly, cleanly. And for this type of loom we have here today, the way you do that is- Take a series of threads and pull them tight. These are the warp, one direction of threads. Every other warp thread goes through a small hole in this frame, and the others go through the larger holes. These ones will move when we move the frame, and these ones won't. Two sets of strings, and we can switch which ones are on top quickly. The other half of the thread is the weft, and all you have to do is pull it through here- And then lower the frame. The end gets wrapped around here, and you can then pull back through-"

Valasafrava will go on for a little while, explaining how to set everything up with proper tension and so on.

"But of course the goal is for you to try it yourself, and see how quickly you can learn. Muscle memory. Later on perhaps to do it without my help, or to use the principles in other types of loom or weavecraft. In striving for mastery in every task, we give thanks for the blessings of the System and become worthy of yet more."

"...I see.  ...ohhh this is going to have a fiddly bit.  Fucking hell.  Alright.  Fine then.  Let's do this thing.  I'm talking to myself and am not, like, pissed off at you or anything, Valasafrava, just, irked at my own neurology.  Or possibly an inanimate object if I start swearing at the loom.

"...Remembering the setup steps is going to be the most annoying part.  Do you have, like, an explanatory pamphlet?  ...Or I could just write it down --"

"...High chance I mess something up or do not understand the actual reason behind the actions, though.  Except for the actual weaving bits.  I think I understand that part, gods help me.  ...Are there actually gods, I don't know.  Wait you just swore by the System.  Okay, sure, that might as well happen.  I don't know what it would do with the worship but I've seen this trope before, it is fine -"

She continues rambling on as she actually tries to set up the thing, but it's about weaving now.

Valasafrava will patiently explain why each little fiddly bit of the process is the way that it is. You use scrap yarn to tie off little bundles here so they don't get hopelessly tangled. This tiny hook tool dealie can grab one thread and pull it through the 'eye' of the frame, like so. You want to tamp your weft down every few passes, but not so hard it squishes. A lot of this is just down to practice. Does she want to go for a color pattern when setting up the warp? Consider what would look nice, then execute on that idea?

"...Right now I just want to prove I can do it.  Doing something aesthetically pleasing can come later.  That said, it's not as if I'm going to turn down free aesthetic points."

"Not that there are actually points involved in this, but, like, you -- may not actually know what I mean, but I hope you get the idea, I guess?"

"Oh, uh, am I actually going to get to keep this if I want it when I'm done?  It didn't say."

"Some people try to maximize every small moment, and some find that stressful and don't bother, even with the prospect of System blessings. I don't think I could calculate the Experience you'll gain by taking a moment to do a little bit of aesthetic planning, but it's not zero. It's supposed to be a tiny surprise, but yes, you get to keep it! It should make a decent scarf if you do well. Mundane, but not bad."

"...The optimization problem of how much time and effort to spend on optimization problems strikes again."

...fuckit, Ophelia, I choose you.

"It is not as if I planned to select the warp and weft entirely at random, I should say.  Just that I am going to ensure that I can do something, first, before I attempt to do something fancy."

"As you like. So, let's choose your warp threads and start lining them up-"

And the practical lesson bit begins?

And continues, until it is done, she should hope.

"Does the System do this sort of thing - relatively often. I suppose?  Draw on people's abilities?  I hope you are getting remunerated for your time and effort."