World Walker (Multicross Quest)

You take a minute to calm down, even if you've gone crazy that's no reason not to be polite. You step back into the room with the bracelet and school your face into a neutral expression.

[X] Introduce yourself

"Hi, my name's Alice Steiner. What is yours?"

It does not respond for several moments.

You don't deserve to know what I am called as of this time.

Okay then.

You ignore flash of irritation at the insult and try a different tack.

[X] Ask it what it is

"I'm sorry I called you a thing. What are you?"

You remember something your mother always said, about how a lady never unintentionally gives offence.

I am a device.

Why was it offended at being called a thing again? Maybe it didn't like the insults.

I serve as a companion for a mage and assist in the formulation of spells.

Magic now huh? Your delusions are being a bit too on the nose. You wonder if you have magic now as well. You probably do, otherwise why would your delusions mention it?

[X] Ask it what it can do

I can do many things.

It stops for moment. You wait for it to continue and it does with some reluctance.

…However I am lacking the vast majority of my functions at this time. Due to malfunctions and a shortage of power. I require extensive repair and maintenance. At this current time, I can offer advice and can do some basic functions.

Well that was too much to hope for. No point asking it if you have magic now.

Why do you think your sire was stuck on this world and stooped to having an affair with a native mis-

You are not liking this line of inquiry. It's time for a quick change of topic.

[X] Ask it how it knew your dad

"How did you know my dad?"

I served him loyally for many years. I will not say more than that.

At least you got something.

[X] Ask who made it

"Who made you?"

I was made by the greatest civilisation that spanned the dimensional sea at that time. Maybe I'll tell you more when you've earned it.

You stop talking to it by that point. The exercise in frustration too much for your patience. You jump onto your bed and bury your head into the pillow.

It doesn't want to give you its name? Then you'll give it one. Something German and cool. Your father was from there, or so you thought. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea given its prickly nature but who knows? Perhaps it would give you some respect then.

You are exhausted from the revelations today. What do you do tomorrow?
[] Spend more time with it
-[]Give it a name (write-in)
[] Try to world walk

[X] Spend more time with it
-[X] Metatron

The next day you endeavour to spend more time with your dad's erstwhile partner. You decide to set the tone of your future relationship.

"From now on, I shall call you Metatron."

The several moments of silence seem almost mocking.

Analysis of your world's primitive interweb indicates the origin comes from an animation for juveniles. The reference to 'giant stompy robots' while amusing is ultimately childish.

That's not what you named him after… "Well look harder my supposedly intelligent device."

It quietly stews realising it must have made a mistake. Point to you.

"Wait you have internet? How?" You don't see any cables. "I thought you were pretty much non-functional."

My limited capabilities at this time are more than enough.

This is arguably one of the best features of Metatron you've discovered. No more having to choose between having a phone.

You celebrate by having breakfast. You decide to expedite matters since you have a packed day ahead. It does not turn out to be a good idea.

Metatron sits there, silently judging you.

Microwaves and eggs do not mix.

Now you need a new microwave.

"Can you help me by looking up tips online?"

This device is not a cooking aid. It sounds offended.

You quickly change the topic away from the recent failure, "is there anything you want to know about me?"

Do you speak other languages?

That was almost civil, you're making progress! "Yes, I learned Japanese in school." It was one of the things you were good at.

So not any useful languages.

"Hey!"

You'll never get anywhere in life knowing such a niche language, though I suppose I can't hold it against you if all the options were indigenous.

"You'll teach me?" you try to nudge its insolence towards something productive.

Tell you what, if you can hold a passable conversation with me in Belkan by the end of the month I'll solve your money problems. That way you'll also learn a useful inter-dimensional language.

"Can't you just translate everything?" You don't like the patronising tone, also learning a new language seems like a hassle. From what you gather, Metatron can speak all the languages.

Yes. Leave everything to me. Your faithful servant, nothing will go wrong. Nothing at all.

"I'll learn…" you give in gloomily. It seems like talking to it in its native language will improve your relationship. At least you made some advancements.


[X] Try to world walk

After making a lunch that didn't result in accidents you decide its time for your great adventure. All dressed up for outdoor hiking with the standard items.

Metatron asks to come so it's now wrapped around your wrist. Maybe taking it with you will be helpful.

"Why did you shock me anyway?"

Standard anti-robbery protocol.

You get the feeling it just wanted to shock you.

Anyway, it is time to see what this whole world walking thing is about.

You take out your mother's pendant and look at it. The knotwork design looks vaguely Celtic, you stare closer. You feel your scalp crawl, squinting at the design. The sound of your heart beating becomes unbearably loud. The impossible knot seems to twist in front of your eyes.

An abrupt sense of nausea washes over you and you fall to the ground. Said ground is now grassy. A wracking spasm catches your gut, leaving you feeling extremely sick.

Your head feels like it's going to split. It is pounding like a hammer and your stomach is twisting. The urge to vomit is strong but subsides quickly.


This is such a strange way to dimensionally teleport.

You stumble to your feet and spend a minute to gather your bearings. You are in some kind of grassy woodland. The terrain seems somewhat familiar and you recognise a couple of landmarks. There is no sign of civilisation however, no houses, no roads.

Giving further thought you realise that if the civilisation in Europe and North America is still feudal then it would be much more primitive here.

Amid the large grass nearby you spot the form of a giant snake, like any good city girl you scream and run. You need some way to protect yourself. "Help me!"

I have several options for weapons… unfortunately my current state is too damaged to assist.

This is not helpful.

Try not to disgrace your heritage by dying to hunter gatherers.

...Thanks.

How are you going to survive here? What should you do?

[] Explore
[] Search for people
[] Head back immediately
[] Write-in

[X] Head back immediately

You take a minute to calm yourself down. It's really hot out here, and humid.

You were obviously not prepared for this excursion.

You try to world walk back but only give yourself a bad headache.

Wait you recognise this clearing. There was a commuter carpark built here in your world. So you can't just world walk into solid objects, that's good to know. You walk a short way towards a hill you recognise, it should be clear on the other end. You immediately world walk back.

You curl up into a ball on the earthy ground and whimper. The discovery that world walking in rapid succession makes the side effects worse is not welcome.

Once recovered, you walk normally back home while in deep thought.

You now have unrestricted access to another, virtually pristine world.

You are at a loss as to how to actually exploit this access. How can you even use this ability? You're just one person.

If you go back into that wilderness you should be prepared. You should find a means to defend yourself.

Having backup mass weaponry is never a bad idea.

Oh wait guns got banned in this country a few years ago or something. Or heavily restricted whatever. You won't be getting easy access to firearms any time soon. So much for that.

You arrive home and sink into the couch. Metatron takes this moment to communicate.

I have been thinking about that knotwork diagram you inherited and have come to the realisation that it acts like a rudimentary set of dimensional coordinates. I believe making small changes to it will alter the world you travel to.

"And how did you come to that conclusion?" That's quite a stretch. Your mother never mentioned anything like that, and her extended family have been doing that for centuries.

Through my peerless intelligence of course. I will prepare a preliminary set for you to test.

You sigh in annoyance. You're done with adventure today in any case.

You may also begin preparing to learn the basics of linker core magic. While you will not be able to properly practice, having the theoretical grounding would be helpful in the future.

"I have this magic?"

You have a moderately powerful linker core. It will involve higher end mathematics.

Maths. You were actually quite good at it contrary to stereotypes.

And perhaps you should also get around to learning this Belkan. You don't really want to get a job yet.

What do you do in the next week?
[] Pursue the basics of this 'Linker Core' magic
[] Learn more of the Belkan language
[] World walk to a new world
[] Grit your teeth and get a job

[x] Grit your teeth and get a job

You decide that your first priority should be to actually get some income flowing. Be responsible for yourself and not trust shady bracelets that promise to solve all money problems. You can't live off your modest inheritance until it dwindles away to nothing. Being homeless would be bad.

So, you metaphorically pull yourself up by the bootstraps and go out looking for a job. You ignore Metatron's jabs and allusions to prostitution. That thing has been persistently rude to you and insulting your maternal heritage for some reason. Well it has to learn that you'll do what you want.

You soon manage to get hired part time at a popular fast food chain. The day that confidently walking in with a winning smile and asking to speak to the manager stops working will be a very sad day.

The job is… not what you expected. This profession seems to sort those young and female into front end customer service roles. This means that whenever something goes wrong your role is to get shouted at by the customers. You also get shouted at by the manager when you do something wrong, even when you didn't do anything wrong. Maybe that's why this store has such a high turnover.

You come to the horrible realisation that this will be your life. Crushing mediocrity.


[x] Learn more of the Belkan language

Well looks who's come crawling back.

You sigh at the melodrama and close the front door behind you. Metatron must still be sulking about not getting its way.

"I have nothing to do for the rest of the day and tomorrow. Why don't we get started?"

Finally.

Over the next week Metatron teaches you the basics of the Belkan language such as the alphabet and common phrases.



[x] Pursue the basics of this 'Linker Core' magic

Another day at work and you come home exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

You try to get Metatron to teach the advanced mathematics for linker core magic but you can't get your head around it. Your body is too fatigued by this new routine.

You feel like you're on the edge of a breakthrough, some kind of new understanding when Metatron gets fed up and calls it a day.

The following days progress is not much better.



Later in the week you have a curious conversation with the self-described device.

Do think this is what you are destined for?

"What do you mean?"

Slaving your life away like a menial. Wouldn't you like a life without that?

"And you're saying you have some way of doing that." You admit to being tempted, very tempted. It does sound good, almost too good to be true.

How would you like to stare across a land and be the sovereign of all you survey?

"What… no!" That sounds like being a cliched movie tyrant.

There are many worlds in the dimensional sea. Metatron says no more.

No… you just need to get used to this work-life balance thing. That's all. Adjust to the new way of doing things.


You are making decent progress in your extracurricular activities, though it could be better. But your still not making ends meet. After rent, power and other bills your finances are still in the red. The bleeding has been somewhat stemmed now. You face the unwelcome prospect of taking more shifts, meaning less time. There is still a niggling in the back of your mind, it seems that you have been given some food for thought.

[] Take more shifts at work to break even
[] You give greater thought to Metatron's words
[] Practice the Belkan language
[] Practice Linker Core magic theory