Fanwork#1281 Words
Reaction: "A Moment's Reprieve"
A bit ambivalent about the results here. On the one hand we've been pretty worried about possible complications and detrimental effects this journey might cause, seeing how we can't really afford debuffs right before entering the Temple, so on the whole it's a pretty good outcome.
Still, a greater danger would have also yielded greater rewards, and it feels a bit strange for the journey to pass relatively uneventfully. It's just greed talking though, this is far from the worst result and we've managed to gather some momentum for the challenges ahead.
He'd finally had a chance to examine the treasures they'd extracted from the King Fish. Gisena had concluded that the jade pearl and scale might sell for a considerable sum, but the map in the bottle offered more precipitous value. Drawn in quicksilver ink that shifted with the light was a map of their immediate environs in the Voyaging Realm, and a route to which they could reach an ancient ruin named the Temple of the False Moon.
Combined with everything we've learned and experienced so far, this turned out to be an irresistible plot hook. I don't think it's right to solely blame this on our risk-taking tendencies, as questers have at times shown themselves capable of caution and prudence in the past. We want the quest to continue, so it's not like we completely ignore the risks, especially when the dangers are made quite plain.
Yet as someone mentioned, we're also a manifestation of the Apocryphal Curse. Reading about slice of life can be fun and we like to talk about slow and steady winning the race, but more often than not we crave
excitement. Rewards become almost secondary in comparison to the possibility of seeing a Hero truly shine when pushed against his limits, or of getting a look beneath the surface, of discovering something hidden from view. The allure of mystery boxes can become nigh-inescapable.
Time and again we've gambled in the past, both in this quest and previous ones, sometimes winning and sometimes not, but it is these instants of heart-pounding anxiety and subsequent elation (or despair) that become truly memorable.
Is it any surprise then that we've done it again at such an important juncture?
There was no particular reason for them to pursue this lead, but his instincts told him there was something of great value resided within, and his Rank-assisted intuition had rarely been wrong in the Voyaging Realm. The map was slowly disintegrating in the oxygenated air outside its bottle, so it was now or never. Even re-stoppering its container had failed to halt the degradation.
But of course that was only the Doylist perspective. The Hero has his own concerns and reasons to accept the risks. His intuition is well-honed through a decade of fighting the Tyrant, if blunted somewhat due to reduced Rank, and he can feel that going to the Temple is a fulcrum of his heroic journey that will either swiftly elevate him above his previous station or strike him down remorselessly. The Apocryphal Curse has thrown down a gauntlet in challenge, and he decided to take it up, for good or ill.
Gisena was characteristically enthused about the prospect of magical treasures secreted away, and Letrizia, having dueled the blue swordsman directly, felt badly that they needed the strength: so, ill-advised as it sounded, they set out for the Temple directly. At any rate it was only a few days' travel.
I'd expected at least Letrizia to object for some reason. Maybe because she's the most 'normal'-seeming one in the party and one subconsciously expects more common sense from her? Or because she's a party pooper that scolded us for fishing? Well, I should have known that as Verschlengorge's pilot she should be plenty courageous. Not everyone can accept the constant risk of having their life drained away slowly unless they manage to defeat strong opponents regularly.
Gisena's eagerness to plunge into danger doesn't surprise me one bit. It's hard to pin her motivations down completely, but living in the moment and seeking excitement is definitely a part of her character. In that sense she might be the quintessential quester?
The hours passed slowly as they wandered, a warm and sullen-sweet haze like a daydream on a summer's afternoon. Verschlengorge lumbered through pastoral fields of green, rolling hills beneath clouds like dolloped cream, past dirt roads and cottages of grey stone where farmers' children emerged, gawking crudely at the cruelly angled giant. Packs of them scurried gleefully in its dust-cloud wake, waving to the pretty Sorceress on its shoulder.
I know we've been told space is confusing in this strange Realm, but
really, passing farms along the Quickest Route? What an incongruous picture it seems to be, peaceful scenes where we expected a blitz of encounters.
And hey, what are we, chopped liver?! Man, Gisena is getting all the attention from the kids. We can be pretty too if we only try!
"Aren't they adorable?" Gisena gushed, hands clasped to chest. Letrizia answered with an affirmative chirp through the machine's speakers.
I wonder if they're used to the adulation of the masses. As a Sorceress Gisena belonged to the highest echelons of power in the Manifest Realm and enjoyed all the privileges brought by that position, including reputation. And Letrizia is both a Duchess and Versch's pilot, so she should enjoy some measure of popularity too.
The Hero might be weirdly enough the least used to such open shows of respect from the populace, the days of the fight against the Tyrant too busy hiding from the king, - assuming such shows of defiance didn't invite immediate retaliation from the Tyrant, - the time afterwards poisoned by all that he lost.
Hunger, laid flat on the opposite shoulder, kept his eyes skyward. So much had changed these past five days. He'd nearly died, then become a Cursebearer, gifted with power and obligation beyond reason. Aside from the Apocryphal Curse, the yoke of his dooms had sat lightly on him so far. For that he could count himself lucky.
Despite how much we complain about the Curses, it's true that we haven't truly seen them at their worst yet. No worries though, Hero, we'll have plenty of opportunities to gnash our teeth about all the inconvenience they bring into our lives!
He spoke sparingly to the populace, and Gisena was well-aware of how to navigate the Tyranny. The Decimator's Affliction he'd been proactive in mitigating, and was successfully free of it for a time. And the Geas of Indenture, though it promised a thousand trillion, trillion lifetimes of servitude, stretched long into the uncertain future, a problem for tomorrow's Hunger, not the languid beast of today.
Thankfully we're free from moral quandaries at the moment and don't have to worry about slowly killing life around us. Those will be some 'fun' decision points once it becomes relevant. And the Geas has always been the least of our worries - even the Hero himself has trouble grasping the magnitude of the burden and will continue to wrestle with the concept for quite some time until he fully realizes its significance.
He was, if not content, at least occasionally happy with his lot as it presently stood. Some might resent the cavalcade of trials that the Apocryphal presented, but that was a small enough price in his reckoning, when so recently ago he'd been reduced to nothing. His companions were able and only infrequently annoying, and his powers had expanded with explosive speed. In a year's time or less he might again be the man he once was. What might he be in ten year's time? A hundred? He could scarcely imagine it, even though his benefactor lay even further beyond; far, inestimably far beyond the span of finite years.
Yeah, it's hard to imagine what heights he might reach, but even harder to conceive the trials he would have to survive to even begin approaching Accursed's heights of power. This sort of growth seems incredible when viewed through the lens of days, how much more ridiculous are the power levels going to get once we truly get going? We didn't have the chance to really see Progress shine in the longer term when reading Seram's story, but hopefully we'll see more of it this time.
Would his companions of this first month still be beside him, when he repaid the Accursed's favor? Assuming - and it was by no means certain - he survived, would he be some juggernaut with merely the countenance of a man, so far removed from mortal concerns as to scarcely resemble the creature he once was? Given the trajectory of his projection, it did not seem an unlikely outcome. Very nearly inescapable, in fact, with an early demise his only alternative.
That is a serious concern we've seen in past quests occasionally. It's all fine and good to talk about love overcoming all, but can there be a relationship between people who experience life at an entirely different and even
quality? Will his wife be able to touch his heart or even understand the Hero again after all the different vistas and heights he'll inevitably encounter? Even normal long-distance relationships are difficult, how much worse is this going to be?
And yet there had been humanity in the Accursed, after all. Perhaps that was the calculated facade of a being so far beyond human comprehension that mere reason and causality found no purchase against its abilities, but he liked to think otherwise. What need had such a being to offer so generous a bounty of power with his burdens? Why design the Cursebearer's systems with such care, as if to nurture and foster their growth? He was raising an army, but it was not a faceless one.
Yeah, this is one of the facets I like about the Accursed. For all his power, he hasn't become divorced from lesser beings, staying capable of such things as empathy despite the vast gulf in power. Maybe it's just self-deception, but it paints an optimistic picture I quite enjoy.
A peal of thunder broke his reverie and he looked ahead to see clouds towering like stygian anvils, gathering angrily in a mass upon the horizon. Rain fell upon their bucolic expanse, pouncing like a nimble invader, its onslaught sudden and overwhelming and brisk. Gisena cried in joy and tilted her head skywards, catching the water on her tongue, while he grunted and shifted to an upright position, the Evening Sky sheltering him utterly from so trifling a concern.
That's right, it can not only serve as protection in battle, but also fulfill a secondary role as an umbrella! Perhaps we can even repurpose it into a vacuum cleaner?! What a coup, all for the low, low price of 7 Arete.
Lightning rumbled and rippled through the darkened heavens, splayed-finger aftershocks the only evidence of its passage, forked bolts of brilliant yellow like the gods playing at javelins. The hairs on his back began to rise. This was no ordinary storm.
Because of course we can't have nice things. Well, this was expected after picking the Quickest Route, so complaining is pointless.
Unsurprisingly, he was correct.
Monsters down upon them from the clouds, eyeless myrmidons with skin of thunderhead-grey, whose blades were plumed like water-drops, set upon chariots of twisting fire. They charged in their dozens and tens of dozens, and Verschlengorge roared in response, an echoing shock of sound as to drown out all thunder, blasting the children away, deafened but alive.
I wonder what they were even doing up there. What are the bizarre logistics that would lead to such an encounter? Do these monsters live in the sky or was this a purposeful ambush?
"Shit." Letrizia cursed. "I've seen these guys before. I hope we didn't attract them to these people..."
Hunger grimaced. "It is what it is. Kill them quickly and you've nothing to be sorry for."
As always, Hunger is practical and knows there's no point worrying about things he can't change. Better to just deal with the problem at maximum speed.
They died, quickly. Almost surprisingly so. Their movements lethargic to his eyes, their strikes middling, bereft of passion, even of desperation as he scythed them down. Halfway through the moment of carnage he finally realized. He wasn't exhausted any more, nor injured, and now held Seralize's speed and all the power he had accumulated these past days in its fullness. His pressure poured forth upon them harder and heavier than the storm-rains, the well of his spirit like a spigot turned open to drown them in fury and might.
What a strange feeling, to be on the other end of the power scale in an encounter. I don't think Apocrypha will afford us such chances too often, so let's enjoy dealing with weaker mobs while we can, eh?
For a time, he was king of the battlefield, and though he knew it would not last, that more and greater enemies awaited, still for a moment he exulted that his sword-arm was strong enough, his eye sharp enough, his fury swift enough, that he would lose no companions today. But all good things, as they say, come to an end, and ill things no less so. The battle concluded, the storm begrudgingly dissolved, and short hours later they came upon the Temple, having slaughtered their way through a trail of Astral monsters, none of whom was a match for his Blade.
So this is probably an expression of that 10% improvement to effectiveness, part morale boost, part sheer momentum elevating him slightly. Nice to see the Hero actually enjoy a fight for once.
All too quickly their journey was over, and the porcelain towers of the Temple loomed large against the silk-panel blue of the sky. A foreboding came over him, and over Gisena as they saw it; impossibly high and vast, spires like a claw made to clutch at the heavens, tear free the moon and leave only a wound weeping into the void.
The Temple doesn't betray its ominous reputation. Though that imagery... is its purpose teleportation or communication with other realms? After all, nobody would build a pointless edifice in the middle of the Voyading Realm. Might be some mechanism left by the Foremost, might be some Astral being's expression on the world.
Only one way to find out!
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The winner last time was [X] Quickest Route with [X] Conservative, though you may have an option to change strategies depending on which build wins. You rolled a 60; uneventful journey, no complications.
Select 3. You may spend up to 9 Arete, though you only have somewhat over 8, so it will put you into Arete Debt. This is a complicated vote, so take some time to discuss and make plans. What you decide here may well determine Hunger's fate in the Temple, as it is incredibly perilous...
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[ ] Forebear's Blade - Echo of the Forebear
Cloud-shadow of the Forebear's might.
Legendary strength and speed, and the resilience to exert them. Can be taken multiple times. [+Might, +Agility]
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Fall of Night - 2 Arete
The stroke of his blade is the fall of night, to every foe the sun of hope extinguished
Conjunctional Advancement with the Evening Sky. ++Strength, +Agility. Blade projections of all kinds deal one-third more damage with a one-tenth chance to inflict critical damage, tripling the harm done and applying half again the power of ruin. Control and manipulation of blade winds becomes far less taxing. The surcharge in power for stronger blade-winds is substantially reduced.
The wielder becomes capable of manipulating the properties of his falls; falls whose nature is languid but whose movement is swift, gentle falls that strike with magnified weight and heft, falls from great distance that do no harm, and so on.
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Form of Rage - 7 Arete
When flesh and spirit both have abraded away, what remains of a man?
His essence at last stands bare and alone, free of the armor that presumes to shelter the world from its glory. A silhouette, bare outline of a figure, through which pale light pours forth without end.
If the form of flesh and the form of spirit are both felled, and if he should still be compelled to fight on, then he may assume the form of Rage, which is pure light and thunder, heft and raw Pressure, the forces of the world arrayed as a fist to strike down his enemies.
The form of Rage can only be entered if one has a compelling reason to fight on, else one dies instead. While in this Form, triple all Attributes for purposes of battle and increase Astral Rank by a significant* amount. The wielder moves like living lightning: the wake of his blows is the crush of thunder, the blaze of his eyes like furious stars, his merest regard like a mountain onrushing.
Use of this Form is taxing in the extreme. Should the wielder avoid annihilation, after the battle concludes he emerges, human once more and fully healed, but diminished as well. Choose one Advancement to revoke or lose 1 point of Arete after re-emergence, and become Tired, or Exhausted if already Tired.
*+1 if Low-Ranked, +0.5 if Mid-Ranked, and +0.25 if High-Ranked
Pre-requisite for Final Form.
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Undying Vanguard - 7 Arete.
Where tread the Forebear, his men would not fall, for the shadow of his presence could turn even death aside. And for his most stalwart servants, the reach of his shadow spanned continents and worlds.
Taking Echo of the Forebear (1 pick) and Undying Echo (2 Arete) unlocks Undying Vanguard (upgrade to Undying Echo, 5 Arete).
Choose up to 5 companions whose true Astral Ranks do not exceed your own. They receive bonus Protection, Constitution and regeneration depending on both your relative power levels and their level of loyalty to you. A highly loyal companion would be about as difficult to kill as you yourself are, including the effects of your Artifacts. [+Might, +Agility, +++Constitution]
You personally don't receive any healing from this, though the extra Constitution will increase your effective health.
[ ] Forebear's Blade - A Thousand Cuts - 7 Arete (0 picks)
In the Forebear's grip could even a common knife blaze with fell power. All melee attacks made with the Forebear's Blade now apply cursed wounds. Septuples the power and speed of the Fell-Handed Stroke and allows it to be used with blade projections. Such horrific offensive power allows one to challenge foes vastly stronger.
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Ruinous Valor (3 picks)
Where he advanced, so did the tide of entire wars, the shock of his blade like a hurled epicenter, the trail of his passage but wasteland and rubble.
[+++++Strength]
Power of Ruin now scales upwards depending on your Strength.
Choose:
Einhander - You may not regrow or replace your left arm by any means. Substantially reduces the cost and increases the range of special attacks made with the Forebear's Blade. This Advancement grants Might instead of Strength (+Might = +Str, +Con).
Zweihander - Regrow your left arm. Your barehanded strikes now carry the full destructive power of the Forebear's Blade.
If Einhander is taken, unlocks One Arm Fury.
If Zweihander is taken, unlocks Martial Stances: Forebear's Blade
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[ ] Evening Sky - Opalescence - The soft light of evening before which all attacks falter. Improves defensive parameters. [+Protection]
[ ] Evening Sky - Iridescence - 2 Arete
The sharp light of the stars before which all malice is lessened.
+Protection, +Charisma. Expands the range of effects subject to the Evening Sky, allowing it to passively weaken almost all forms of magic. Even Nullity itself can be once withstood before the Sky recedes.
Requires Opalescence.
[ ] Evening Sky - Philosopher's Wreath - 7 Arete (2 picks)
The twilight hours are a time of contemplation, growth of mind and spirit. Perhaps there are more things in earth and heaven than are dreamt of in one's philosophy. But that may not always be so.
They for whom the heavens themselves are aegis and raiment, these are the hours to speak - perchance to dream. And in dreaming, grow strong beyond the imagining of mortal men.
[+Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma]
Select one magic system which you have personally encountered and which is no greater than the Noble Praxis. You may use that system to the limits of your Intelligence or applicable Attributes, developing any appropriate qualities within reason, but this may no more than double your overall advancement.
Allied mages with which the wearer dialogues extensively find they may develop novel applications of existing abilities and steadily grow in knowledge & power with effort, independent of their own paradigm. This can no more than triple their overall level of advancement, but any progression done on their own will raise this cap. Should said mage no longer be allied, the wearer may strip this power at will, like a dream dissolving at break of day.
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[ ] The Ring of Power - Dominion - 2 Arete
A ring of power does not exert influence casually. It has its own will, its own preferences, and if that will should be inseparable from its owner's, its sway thereby shall be greater for it.
Select a domain of influence. While acting within its domain, [Ring of Power] effects are substantially less taxing and more potent; the effects of this can be abstracted as follows: treat the owner's Rank as if it somewhat* higher for related actions. You may select this advancement multiple times, choosing a different domain each time. If multiple domains apply, their bonuses do not compound.
*+0.5 if Low, +.25 if Mid, +.1 if High.
The available domains for Hunger are: War, Passion, Life.
War - Applies to any conflict with real and serious stakes
Passion - Applies whenever in the throes of a powerful passion, or to inflame the passions of others
Life - Applies to the manipulation, augmentation, or restoration of biology or life-force
[ ] The Ring of Power - Preeminence - 7 Arete
It is no small thing, to master a ring of power; and for those few who have braved that height, at its peak they shall only glimpse the true jewel which lies even further beyond.
Choose a domain you have already purchased. While acting within its purview, double its effective Rank modifier and gain +All Stats. You may select this advancement multiple times, choosing a different domain each time.
The available domains for Hunger's Preeminence are: War, Passion
Finally, you may decide one advancement your companions have made in the past days:
[ ] Letrizia - Hollow Star: It appears your Pristine light actually is capable of healing Verschlengorge... just not by very much. But the giant has regained some small matter of functionality, enough to fight about as well as it fought when you first encountered the Armament, all those... days... ago.
You haven't really been the best of bodyguards, have you? [+Letrizia]
[ ] Gisena - Sorcerous Advancement I: By studying your body and spirit and its correlated astral shadow, Gisena has made a breakthrough in the nature of Sorcery and findross, though it will take additional time for this to translate into power. Nothing concrete as of yet.
How surprising, I haven't found it in myself to betray the Form of Rage at the last moment. Am I losing my edge?
PS: Finished just in time!
