[X] Head back
-[X] Prepare to walk to a new world
--[X] Get a gun your needle is pretty much useless in this state.
--[X] Make sure to mark the point at which you enter the new world.
--[X] Bring along a wireless drone to scout with.
 
We don't need a gun. The needle would work fine on anyone unarmored.

[X] Head back
-[X] Prepare to walk to a new world
--[X] Make sure to mark the point at which you enter the new world.


Alice, I am already doing that, your device says in that annoyingly patronising tone. Assume any offensive spells I teach you can be lethal unless stated otherwise.

You feel a little silly. If it was any consolation Metatron did teach you more magic theory.

Well, Nanohaverse spells are equally effective lethal or nonlethal so heh, pointless distinction.
 
Vote locked.
Well, Nanohaverse spells are equally effective lethal or nonlethal so heh, pointless distinction.
Yeah, Alice is going to realise that Metatron is full of shit in some areas. He is an Old Belkan device back in the days when they conquered planets in the multitudes.
Adhoc vote count started by Emdeman on Feb 17, 2019 at 9:57 PM, finished with 6 posts and 5 votes.

  • [X] Head back
    -[X] Prepare to walk to a new world
    --[X] Make sure to mark the point at which you enter the new world.
    [X] Head back
    -[X] Prepare to walk to a new world
    --[X] Get a gun your needle is pretty much useless in this state.
    --[X] Make sure to mark the point at which you enter the new world.
    --[X] Bring along a wireless drone to scout with.
 
13. New World
[X] Head back
-[X] Prepare to walk to a new world
--[X] Make sure to mark the point at which you enter the new world.

You decide that you can't put it off any longer. You're going to have to take the plunge. After one last bout of fun you take the pendant out and world walk back again to your home.

You prepare yourself for the next journey, packing suitable things. Metatron tells you to slot a CD into the PC and print out some pages. Each contains a knotwork design; with slight, subtle differences from your pendant. You don't look too closely at them as it causes a moderate headache.

The next day you head out, seeking out a public reserve and find what you are looking for. A large rock that you are sure has been there for millennia if not more. You mark one of its sides with some chalk and look at the pages one by one.

The first two don't do anything, the third one does however.

You are in bushland of some sort, the rock right next to you - you mark it for good measure. The plants are all different and in the wrong place. But it is no wilderness, you can hear noises of commuting and see towers rising in the distance. So this was no primitive world, you think to yourself.

You carefully walk out. Eventually the bushland becomes a well-maintained park. Everything looks different; the light poles, the seats, even the footpath. Occasionally pedestrians and bicyclists go past, a few give you passing looks. You wonder if you even speak the same language.

You spend the next couple of hours exploring the area around the park.

The architecture looks completely different. There are tubes for transit and countless elevated roads. There are many objects in the air, likely helicopters of a sort. It… looks like Futurama except not stupid. Somehow your city had become a futuristic looking Tokyo.

This is likely to be an advanced society you have been told to find. You wonder if this a TSAB world. Metatron disagrees but appears unsure, he asks you to investigate more.

Sometimes pedestrians look in your direction, it must be the strange clothes. Occasionally you see musicians or artists. Oddly, many do not visibly take any donations. The language appears broadly similar to English with a few weird mutations. You keep an eye out for various signs and indicators, such as news bulletins, passing conversations and what not. You are sure Metatron has been carefully investigating their version of the internet all this time. Everyone has strange objects and devices you not recognise, it looks very alien.

You are walking along a nearly deserted sidewalk when you are approached.

A young woman walks your way purposefully. She is wearing a peculiar costume, or maybe it's not a costume in this society. Something with too much lace and ruffles. By her side walks some strange hybrid four legged animal. It looks like a cat at first sight but clearly isn't. Maybe some kind of cat and rabbit hybrid, can that even happen? You tense up as the girl gets close to you.

"Hi, I'm Madeline," she greets you with a sunny voice, "I was looking f-", she abruptly cuts herself off and her face morphs into a confused frown. As if she were looking for something but didn't find what she was expecting to find.

"Are you from the colonies?" She asks suddenly.

Silly interrogator, never ask the interviewed person leading questions. You nod quietly, proceeding to stare at the weird bunnycat thing next to her. You notice it has rings literally hovering around its ears.

"You can see the incubator, I hope you know what that means." She gives you this weirdly excited and expectant smile, you get the feeling it's well-practised.

She acts like she expects you to know what she is talking about. Well you haven't a clue what she means, you are lacking too much background context.

This is most odd, I suggest trying to remove yourself from the vicinity. Analysis suggests she is attempting to sell a good that is desirable to females your age but somewhat frowned upon by parental figures. It is likely to be drugs.

You're not sure, you wonder if you can tease out more details.

[] Play dumb, politely ask her to elaborate what she means.
[] Panic, you've been made! World walk back immediately.
[] Tell her you're not interested in whatever 'goods' she is offering and walk (physically) away.
[] Write-in
 
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I've not read 'To the Stars', but is this it?

[x] Play dumb, politely ask her to elaborate what she means.
 
We don't need a gun. The needle would work fine on anyone unarmored.
If we end up in a world which has any sort armor beyond leather we will have no attacks. A gun at the very least provides a solid reliable attack. Sure our needle would be find for the primitive mirror one but what if we end up in a magic or high tech world? Hell even a regular modern world would make us defenseless unless we have a gun. The needle is practically useless unless it's in great numbers, its literally a needle sized projectile.
 
[X] Tell her you're not interested in whatever 'goods' she is offering and walk (physically) away.
-[X] If she insists, tell her she is acting rude and to leave you alone or you will report her to the police. If that fails world walk home immediately.

We can not get wrapped in the mess of the asshole evil bunnycat which sucks on magic girls souls. Either we head home or try to get away from this magic girls recruitment. Most worlds that I know of that have a bunnycat are not good worlds to stick around in. They usually offer you a 'wish' which they corrupt and in exchange the turn your soul into a gem so that they can eat mana from you. They are really evil things. Not to mention the nightmare creatures that spawn randomly in these worlds. Lets not forget that if we get turned into a magic girl our soul will become a timebomb which needs constant infusions of grief seeds to not go insane and die.

This is why I wanted a gun, a needle is useless against something like witches. At least a gun could do some damage.
 
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...care to elucidate? Do you mean the universe as a whole, or some specific fanwork?

Also:
We can not get wrapped in the mess of the asshole evil bunnycat which sucks on magic girls souls. Either we head home or try to get away from this magic girls recruitment.
What magical girls recruitment? *plays dumb* :whistle:

We wouldn't know much about any of this in-character. Still, we are unlikely to contract since we are already a mage, even though we are bad at it.
 
Vote locked.

I have some time left to get out one more update.

To answer the question, this setting from the PMMM fanfic "To the Stars".
Adhoc vote count started by Emdeman on Feb 18, 2019 at 10:11 AM, finished with 7 posts and 3 votes.

  • [X] Play dumb, politely ask her to elaborate what she means.
    [X] Tell her you're not interested in whatever 'goods' she is offering and walk (physically) away.
    -[X] If she insists, tell her she is acting rude and to leave you alone or you will report her to the police. If that fails world walk home immediately.
 
...care to elucidate? Do you mean the universe as a whole, or some specific fanwork?

Also:

What magical girls recruitment? *plays dumb* :whistle:

We wouldn't know much about any of this in-character. Still, we are unlikely to contract since we are already a mage, even though we are bad at it.
Pretty sure being suspicious of an alien looking bunnycat is appropriate. Plus the girl mentioned we were able to see the bunnycat which means we have the 'potential' to become a magical girl. Either way, why would you want to ever sign any contract with something when you have no information on the world or the nature of contracts here.

The reason I am being defensive is because bunnycats tend to blackmail/force people with potential who refuse to contract by making them miserable and torturing them until they accept. So if we refuse and stick around we will be in danger of a significant amount of mental and physical trauma. Who knows if this thing can disrupt out dimensional travel.

Edit: Damm the vode got locked. Lets hope mc does not get caught up in this mess and has the common sense to run away at the first sign of trouble.
 
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Edit: Damm the vode got locked. Lets hope mc does not get caught up in this mess and has the common sense to run away at the first sign of trouble.
Don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances to run away or just not make a wish. This is just a way to get IC info.
 
why did she mention colonies? are we in ye old times where people are colonizing the rest of the earth or future times when people are colonizing other planets?
 
14. Discussions
[X] Play dumb, politely ask her to elaborate what she means.

"I'm sorry, could you tell me more about what you mean by that?" You guide Madeline with an inviting tone.

"Don't you know about magical girl system and the MSY? I thought everyone knew by now."

You take a gamble. "Yeah, of course. I just want to more details, being a very sheltered civilian."

"I'll give you a data trans- wait never mind."

You look at her in incomprehension. You assume she is one of these self-described magical girls.

"Let me guess, religious background?"

You nod again, agreeing to her preconceptions.

"I can't believe people still go baseline these days," Madeline gives you a pitying look.

This is starting to get annoying.

"Since I can't look it up, what's your name?"

"I'm Alice, Alice Steiner."

"Nice to meet you, Alice."

"How did you even find me?" you were wondering this.

"Mister Incubator here found your soul signature just now and realised you had potential."

You have potential to contract.

It talks! Shit. Its sentient, was it an AI like Metatron?

"What's that?" you ask quickly to hide your shock.

Your soul rebels at the karma of your life, it has crossed the threshold for becoming a magical girl. You may make any wish, so long as your soul truly desires it.

What. Like Sailor Moon? Never mind the marketing crap, a wish?

You mind runs through the possibilities. What would you want to do if you had one wish? You could wish for Metatron to be repaired. Or… you could wish to see the future. That would be super cool. Get foreknowledge of where all the shinies are or enemy plans. It would be invaluable. Maybe combine the two. Or just get the precognition and try to foresee the best way of getting Metatron repaired.

"What does being a magical girl exactly entail?" you ask absentmindedly.

Madeline takes her hand out and a floating gem appears on it. "This is my soul gem, every-time I use magic it requires grief cubes to-

So, it's basically like being a DnD lich? You wait for her to finish.

"I'm not sure if I'd like to be undead, being a living corpse with bones sticking out." The words slip out before you realise it.

"Its not like that! You keep your form. You'd be a living being who can have kids." Now Madeline is looking at you like you're crazy... or maybe raised in an ultraconservative environment.

"I'm not selling my soul to the devil am I?" You have to ask to make sure here. Also hammer one last nail down in the preconception coffin.

"No, ignore that religious crap." Madeline looks at you with a determined look in her eyes. It falters when the incubator speaks next.

The role of a magical girl is to defend humanity from the demons that prey on them.

Oh thats it? Well you suppose someone has to fight demons. It's funny because you literally just had a religious argument and then this comes up. You guess you'd be fighting any prospective demons anyway, without the whole wish stuff. People summoning demons can only be a bad thing.

Where's the downside to being a magical girl again? You're sure you're missing something important.

Alice, we need to talk. Metatron says urgently.

"Can I have a moment to myself?"

In your case, breaking secrecy to talk to your family would taint the resolution of your soul and risk the viability of the contract. This is a one‐time offer.

"Does she even have one? I can't find anything…" Madeline mutters.

"I'm an orphan so that is not a concern," your eyes narrow in suspicion. You feel like they were trying to follow a script, but it got completely derailed since they knew nothing about you.

Madeline's face slackens in shock. "Oh you poor girl, I'm so sorry. Life must be rough in the colonies." She engulfs you in a tight hug.

Why is she suddenly acting twice her age? Like a consoling mother figure, what the hell? She looks barely older than you. Was losing ones parents truly so surprising?

Regardless, this is a one time offer.

"I just need a minute to think," you add the next words carefully, "I'm not going to talk to any family members."

Why are they acting like used car salesmen? Do they think you're a moron? It's like they assume you've never watched commercials.

***​

You quickly start a rapid fire telepathic conversation with Metatron.

Listen Alice, I have connected some data points and made some findings.

About bloody time! I've been running blind here, tell me.

This façade isn't going to hold up much longer. We need to think of a story to tell these people.

Why would that be important Meta?

This Earth is united under one government with numerous offworld colonies. This woman is a representative of one such official organisation.

I knew it.

Listen. These people are fighting a war, they are fighting a war and losing. They have interstellar travel but have not broken the dimensional barrier. They are fighting a war for survival against an alien species.

How bad is it?

They are desperate. If we introduce ourselves as a neutral human civilisation from an alternate dimension, they will realise we can be possible allies against their alien foe. They will fall over themselves to be accommodating to us. This will derail any possible nefarious activities. They do not want another foe when they are in such dire straits. It is clear they are more advanced in some areas, we could set up technology sharing or other deals more easily.

That seems like a very complicated story to stick to.

When acting from a position of weakness, obfuscation is key. We must make them assume there is force backing us.

What about the incubators?

They are not too important at the moment. Distant allies to these humans, extremely advanced but with their own agenda.

That doesn't sound right.

I am equipped with a first contact package for situations like this. Tailored to human civilisations that are close to being peer opponents. I want to send it to this human government soon.


"Can you quickly give me a run down on what's in it? History and so on?"

We are representatives from the Liran Commonwealth. Official name; the Belkan Commonwealth of Lira. We were one of the constituent states in the Belkan Empire which formed several hundred years ago after the fall of the Al-Hazard civilisation. The Empire expanded across the dimensions and conquered hundreds of worlds.

Are you sure we should tell them that?

Being upfront is the best policy, it will give us some measure of respect and wariness in their minds. Anyway, the Belkan Empire collapsed a few generations ago when the capital world was destroyed. Afterwards there was a bloody civil war that left the Commonwealth very diminished.

So not too much of a threat then.


Yes, I will be very vague about recent times. They will expect this and likely respond in kind.

But there isn't an existing Commonwealth in current times right?

For now.

Okay I guess.

They will realise from the first contact package that you share a surname with many historical Archons and assume you are someone important.

Like I'm some sort of princess?

No Alice, the Commonwealth does not have royalty. This will divert any plots against you for the time being. It will be to our benefit if they assume you are a figurehead and I am the official negotiator. We can't conceal your age from them, the potential to contract is only available from a certain age range.

This seems like a lot to remember Meta… I prefer to be upfront or tell them nothing and high tail it.

Alice, if you tell them you are a lone wanderer they could take hostile action against you. They are frighteningly advanced in some areas.

I imagine that takes a lot for you to admit.

Yes. If we try to run, then it is likely we won't be able to come back. It would be a potentially big missed opportunity. I noticed there were many drones flying above the city, some of them have to have been for surveillance.

What are drones again?

Pilotless aircraft.

Ah thanks, I was wondering what they were.

You can do this Alice. I have known you these last few months. Just follow my lead, I'm here for you.

That was almost sweet of you.


Now put on that cold, dead eyed look you often have.

What? What did it mean? You school your face to complete neutrality.

Yes that's the one.

You are unsure if you were just insulted or complimented. Whatever, what do you think about these wishes?

You can't seriously be thinking of making one. What would you want?

Future sight, precognition.

Oh… that would be evil. That would make things so simple yet more complicated. It is your choice, though we should probably wait.


You notice the incubator is staring at Metatron's bracelet intently.

"Would I be able to wish for future sight?"

Madeline stiffens in shock.

Unfortunately that ability died out centuries ago and-

The incubator abruptly pauses.

You are not from around here, are you?

You suddenly feel quite nervous.

I feel you would be able to achieve such a wish, I am unsure why. I noticed that you appeared out of thin air a few hours ago. Could you give an explanation for your appearance? I have also noticed you are capable of telepathy yet possess no magic.

From Madeline's lack of reaction you are guessing she isn't included in this telepathic conversation. It seems this incubator alien wants to talk separately with you. If it believes your story, it will likely add weight in the eyes of the human authorities.

What do you tell the Incubator? (and probably Madeline afterwards)
[] You are the representative of an interdimensional polity making first contact
[] You are an interdimensional traveller from an alternate Earth
[] Don't tell anything, be evasive and try to leave at the first good chance
[] Write-in
 
[X] You are an interdimensional traveller from an alternate Earth
-[X] offer your services in trading for resources across alternate earths and you can keep an eye out for what they could want from elsewhere

Metatron has been known to cash checks bigger than we can take. I'd stick to the lower point.
 
[X] You are an interdimensional traveller from an alternate Earth
-[X] offer your services in trading for resources across alternate earths and you can keep an eye out for what they could want from elsewhere
 
[x] Don't tell anything, be evasive and try to leave at the first good chance

Don't want the pc to be a experimental subject of the incubators or to help them spread across the multiverse.
 
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[X] Don't tell anything, be evasive and try to leave at the first good chance
-[X] If this fails try to get away and world walk back.
--[X] If that fails just world walk away in front of them.

This was a terrible idea, these guys will not be able to develop interdimensional tech anytime soon, if ever. Now who knows maybe using a reading of our world warp they may get a lead. Thankfully there is a reason so few worlds have such tech or magic, most worlds wouldnt even have the exotic materials or metaphysics to allow dimensional travel much less multiversal travel. Our AIs opinion is skewed as his multiverse cluster developed interdimensional tech which is pretty advanced. Simply put, if anyone in this universe ever gets lucky and makes interdimensional tech a lot of worlds are going to screwed.

We need to gtfo, who gives a rats ass about first contact and setting up trade, we should value our own security first. And giving away tech to anyone is a terrible idea in the first place. Once we are strong enough to wipe galaxies then we can come back and rob all the tech and magic here.

We need a better first world to acquire power without too much risk, and this is not the world for that. Hell, there is pretty much no way to get any power here unless you are willing to pay a price that is too terrible. The tech here is not that good and too hard to get. The mc seems to be on edge about making a wish, wishes are tempting but not worth it at all. Let's just have our AI create tons of world patterns and look at them with spy drones to get an idea of what they are before we go walking around risking our life willy nilly.

At worst we can ask pop in this world and copy its internet using our AI so that we can get modern tech at least.

Btw why did mc not know what a drone is?
 
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There is a trivial way to get power here. Just trade for components to repair Metatron.

What do you mean, "tech here is not that good"? It's the world MT chose precisely for that kind of thing. And more technologically advanced civilisations are typically going to have us at an even less advantageous position, since we'd have less to offer them, and in case of a bluff like the one MT is trying to pull off they might actually have a way to call it.
 
[X] You are an interdimensional traveller from an alternate Earth
-[X] offer your services in trading for resources across alternate earths and you can keep an eye out for what they could want from elsewhere
 
[X] You are the representative of an interdimensional polity making first contact

Guys. Seriously. Metatron just spoke with us, are you going to ignore the advice of a super-computer AI who probably knows better than us that's looking out for us since the start and is, in fact, a big tsundere that actually cares for us? He told us to trust him and I don't want to just ignore his advice just like that. Metatron has been our teacher for all matters since we discovered him, he's been our father's device who was likely someone very important. So I'll like to believe in Metatron, in this case. He hasn't shown anything to disapprove our trust in him.

And then again. Belka is glorious.
 
[X] Don't tell anything, be evasive and try to leave at the first good chance

dealing with the incubators is a bad ides. Besides we can get parts from other dimension if we really need them
 
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