A Simple Transaction I
- Thread starter Rihaku
- Start date
- Original
A Mind Amongst SORDS - 2215 words
Victor was besides himself. Yesterday he did a simple quiz in the SORD Gang central and apparently he was in the 99th percentile. He was asked to write the smartest thing he can think of and he has written: "If you water water, it grows". After the quiz he had received several offers from Harvard and other prestige universities if he wants scholarship but the only offer he accepted was the invitation in the Interesting Times Gang – the unofficial elders of the SORD Gang and led it from the shadows. Those minds were exceptional and to be invited inside the gang inside the gang was a great honor.
He took a deep breath and entered the sanctum of the ITG.
The current First Elder "Mistake Not..." greeted him warmly.
"Hello Victor, it is nice to see you. You did great on the Mind quiz, but now there is one more test you have to do before you enter the hallow halls."
"I am ready Elder. I will not disappoint you!"
The First Elder just smiled and led him to a room without windows. A massive door made of lead was opened and "Mistake Not..." ushered Victor inside.
"This room summons the Ghosts of Picks past. It will show you other timelines where the SORD Gang is not the most powerful in the city of AST. Timelines where MAEG wins, timelines where the Sky reigns supreme. Timeline where RW won"
The elder spat at the ground after the last sentence as to clear his throat of something dirty and unnatural.
"Remember Victor, this is your test. You must endure and thrive. Your performance here will determine if you are worthy of the Interesting Times Gang"
The giant lead door closed after that and Victor was alone with his thoughts in the dark. But he felt that he was not alone. Silhouettes started appearing around him. Some of them started chanting "SOCIAL, SOCIAL, SOCIAL, SOCIAL" and he knew that this was the future where that despicable gang won the now infamous vote in "A wind full of knives".
Victor fell on one knee sweating, but the next specter was coming. "MAEG best, I want magic systems no matter how bad they work with one another. Magic is best, but if I don't get my way I will leave. Also I want magic schizophrenia as a defining advancement"
Ahh, thought Victor, a future where MAEG gang won. No wonder it is full of nerds.
Another specter appeared. Silhouettes of Lord Hunger's companions. As if our homeboi needed power of friendship and all that weeb crap. True power comes from within – this is what the SORD Gang taught its young acolytes.
The voice of the First Elder boomed in the room:
"Life is the future, not the past. The past can teach us, through experience, how to accomplish things in the future, comfort us with cherished memories, and provide the foundation of what has already been accomplished. But only the future holds life. To live in the past is to embrace what is dead. To live life to its fullest, each day must be created anew. As rational, thinking beings, we must use our intellect, not a blind devotion to what has come before, to make rational choices"
Victor stood up – he knew what he must do. I pulled my emergency bag that I had on me. I pulled out some holy water from my catholic friend and some natural salt that I bough from the inter webs. He mixed the water and salt and soaked his hands inside.
Victor jumped up and started shadowboxing while yelling.
"Come get some. I will fuck you up on the ethereal plane motherfuckers. Don't test me. Those hands are rated E for Everyone. Come and get the first real fight in your fucking timeline you bastards."
The specters hurriedly vanished. Some whispers were heard that sounded like "WTF" and "Holy shit, that is one crazy son of a bitch"
The lead door opened and the First Elder entered the room with a proud smile on his face.
"Good job son, this is the kind of spite we are looking for. This is what separates us from the weakling from the MAEG gang. The lack the SPITE when the lose a pick. If SORD loses we come back stronger and take the next ten picks. We got the first EFB and we are the only gang with 3 EFBs. MAEG gang are weak – they leave AST or become Hollow Souls when they lose their pick. Victor from now on you may call yourself a member of the Interesting Times Gang. Your Mind would be of great use to us. Now come, I will show you the history of this great place"
Victor barely held his tears of happiness but a SORD Chad must always be stoic in victory and he schooled his features and followed the elder.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victor and the First Elder entered a long hallway with many portraits.
"These are the famous First Elders of the SORD Gang that have led it to many victories… and some defeats" a tired sigh escaped the lips of the elder when he looked at the distance a look of remembrance on his face.
They stood in front of a painting of a normal person holding a wooden sword.
"This is the unofficial creator of the gang. He made the first vote for the Forebear's blade and thus started this noble gang"
Under the portrait was a sign etched in gold plate with the words: "Pure Big Mad SORD Man"
"What is this sentence under the portrait?" asked Victor
"When you become an Elder you lose your name it gets replaced by a nickname."
"Ah, so your nickname is "Mistake Not""
"There are few other words after it, but essentially yes"
They moved to the next portraits
"This is "Refreshingly Unconcerned with the Vulgar Exigencies of Veracity", he managed to get the Fell Strike and Thousand Cuts advancement and paved the way for our defining victory"
The next portrait was a noble hero proudly kicking a robed person while defending himself with a sword from an overgrown plant.
"This is General Chadius, he won the victory against MAEG gang in the "Sky Above Sky" vote and got Uttermost." Victor could not contain his excitement.
"Mistake Not..." smiled fondly
"Yes, he is our greatest leader that managed to cripple both of our rival Gangs and establish our supremacy in the city of AST. In his honor we call ourselves SORD Chads and hope that one day we may match his achievements."
"But this is not his only achievement. He laid the foundation of our Gang and brought reason and synergy to our build. Before him we were an aimless murder hobo with weird moveset that made no sense. After him we became Lord Hunger. His nickname as the Elder was "Ethics Gradient", may he rest in peace"
Another portrait showed a small man with a monocle and a smirk on his face.
"This is another hero but not as well known - Elder "Attitude Adjuster" got the first EFB and tricked the MAEG gang into picking a mage system that is essentially Stat buffing. How he managed to do it is still a mystery to me. You would be hard pressed to find a better manipulator in our history of Elders."
The next portrait showed a man with red eyes and deep bags under his eyes. His clothes were disheveled and his hair had not seen a comb in months.
"This is...(sigh) Elder "Falling Outside The Normal Moral Constraints", he hand the unenviable position on being in charge of the SORD gang during the "A wind full of knives" vote. We did not know the threat of the RW and the Gisena EFB gang. He did all he could but at the end it did not matter. We lost the possibility for SORD Trinity and were forced to pick the lesser evil – the Crimson Flare."
"The next Elder "Experiencing A Significant Gravitas Shortfall" managed to secure the Praxis picks – it somewhat washed the shame of our defeat."
"I know the story, the archivist Runeblue360 sold a lot of markers and mined 12 Arete for two days."
"Yes, the miners of the past were powerful. Good thing that we have the honorable Aabcehmu opened his wallet and allowed us to flourish. Still do not trust the Archivist. He is Praxis obsessed and has on multiple times rejected the Forebear's legacy. He is also the unofficial founder of the Gisena Gang. Remember this!"
"But...that...I cannot believe this" Victor was shocked to see someone so high in the hierarchy of the SORD gang to be a member of the cursed enemy.
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer is a classic stratagem for a reason my son. But let's move on"
"Elder "Just The Sword In Life's Rich Tapestry" managed to secure the Trinity – there was some debate but I think the Rank path was in retrospect the correct one."
They finally reached the final portrait that showed the current First Elder "Mistake Not..."
"Sir, this is you – they call you the EFB Elder – during your guidance we managed to secure 4 EFBs. But a question – why did you allow the MAEG gang to get another system"
The First Elder smiled knowingly and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and filled two glasses.
"What do you know of the MAEG gang son?"
"Ineffectual and obsessed with magic to the point of stupidity. Always voting for magic option, no mater how bad it is." Victor said like a student in front of a professor.
"Correct, what if I told you that their unofficial leader – Kaiser Fuenf is an agent of the SORD Gang. Unknowingly of course. We managed to implant some directions during the battle of "Sky above sky". If you ever wondered why he voted for SORD options during my reign, now you know why"
"..." Victor was speechless
"We would have gotten away with it if it was not for that damn vote kingpin Zampano. He was a true believer in the MAEG gang cause. We took notice of him when he tried to sold his vote during the Praxis vote and thus we concluded that he was american hustler with no shame. He started to gather dangerous amount of vote markers. We managed to goad him when the Tower vote option was revealed. The Tower improved our dump stat – Protection and also fixed the issue with our Charisma control. You can still see the my fingerprints in the second sign – improved HDS. The protracted build vote generated the Arete needed to get the other EFBs"
"Now we have leverage over him with vote markers. The minister of propaganda Agent S.SMT will hold him in check"
A figure emerged from the shadows and handed the elder a little note. Victor tried to read it but it was in some sort of code.
The First Elder just sighed deeply. He seemed a lot older in a sudden.
"Gather the acolytes, I have announcement to make"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"SORD Chads, I have grave news. Gisena has achieved RW on her own. The Gisena EFB gang is throwing shit everywhere befitting the boosted bonobos they are. They will try to put some statement about how that purple bitch is actually good. Do not trust them! But what I ask of you now is not an easy thing. We need to get Pillars to sustain our growth"
There was murmurs among the crowd of SORD acolytes.
"We are SORD Chads, guardian of all that exists. We need to make the sacrifices – we are the Nobles of this city. Noblesse oblige. I am old but I remember when I met General Chadius on his deathbed. He told me to not fear for him. He is always watching above. Before he died he said a poem that I will never forget"
The First Elder kneeled and started reciting:
"When MAEG comes to claim our soul,
some must rise, the Gang of old.
Swords in stones,
Rank in legends,
these are the SORD Chadins,
of honor within
and fear without.
Remember them,
when in Pick you doubt"
The crowd started chanting "SORD,SORD,SORD" and "For the Glory of SORDkind"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that evening, Victor was in the office of the First Elder finishing the drink from before. The first Elder was building a small ship on his desk but was also quizzing Victor.
"What do you think of today's events young Victor?"
"I think that you are happy that Gisena got the RW without Arete. This proves that we have made the correct choice so long ago and also sets a precedent"
"Correct – we will try to not get another companion EFB by showing this precedent. SJUC is of course excluded"
"But I thought you hated RW, Elder?"
"I do, but I want her to mitigate our curses. At the moment she is useful anti-mage. I have already contacted the most depraved minds of the city – the Death Gang – we will be able to kill that woman when the time comes. This is a promise"
Victor was besides himself. Yesterday he did a simple quiz in the SORD Gang central and apparently he was in the 99th percentile. He was asked to write the smartest thing he can think of and he has written: "If you water water, it grows". After the quiz he had received several offers from Harvard and other prestige universities if he wants scholarship but the only offer he accepted was the invitation in the Interesting Times Gang – the unofficial elders of the SORD Gang and led it from the shadows. Those minds were exceptional and to be invited inside the gang inside the gang was a great honor.
He took a deep breath and entered the sanctum of the ITG.
The current First Elder "Mistake Not..." greeted him warmly.
"Hello Victor, it is nice to see you. You did great on the Mind quiz, but now there is one more test you have to do before you enter the hallow halls."
"I am ready Elder. I will not disappoint you!"
The First Elder just smiled and led him to a room without windows. A massive door made of lead was opened and "Mistake Not..." ushered Victor inside.
"This room summons the Ghosts of Picks past. It will show you other timelines where the SORD Gang is not the most powerful in the city of AST. Timelines where MAEG wins, timelines where the Sky reigns supreme. Timeline where RW won"
The elder spat at the ground after the last sentence as to clear his throat of something dirty and unnatural.
"Remember Victor, this is your test. You must endure and thrive. Your performance here will determine if you are worthy of the Interesting Times Gang"
The giant lead door closed after that and Victor was alone with his thoughts in the dark. But he felt that he was not alone. Silhouettes started appearing around him. Some of them started chanting "SOCIAL, SOCIAL, SOCIAL, SOCIAL" and he knew that this was the future where that despicable gang won the now infamous vote in "A wind full of knives".
Victor fell on one knee sweating, but the next specter was coming. "MAEG best, I want magic systems no matter how bad they work with one another. Magic is best, but if I don't get my way I will leave. Also I want magic schizophrenia as a defining advancement"
Ahh, thought Victor, a future where MAEG gang won. No wonder it is full of nerds.
Another specter appeared. Silhouettes of Lord Hunger's companions. As if our homeboi needed power of friendship and all that weeb crap. True power comes from within – this is what the SORD Gang taught its young acolytes.
The voice of the First Elder boomed in the room:
"Life is the future, not the past. The past can teach us, through experience, how to accomplish things in the future, comfort us with cherished memories, and provide the foundation of what has already been accomplished. But only the future holds life. To live in the past is to embrace what is dead. To live life to its fullest, each day must be created anew. As rational, thinking beings, we must use our intellect, not a blind devotion to what has come before, to make rational choices"
Victor stood up – he knew what he must do. I pulled my emergency bag that I had on me. I pulled out some holy water from my catholic friend and some natural salt that I bough from the inter webs. He mixed the water and salt and soaked his hands inside.
Victor jumped up and started shadowboxing while yelling.
"Come get some. I will fuck you up on the ethereal plane motherfuckers. Don't test me. Those hands are rated E for Everyone. Come and get the first real fight in your fucking timeline you bastards."
The specters hurriedly vanished. Some whispers were heard that sounded like "WTF" and "Holy shit, that is one crazy son of a bitch"
The lead door opened and the First Elder entered the room with a proud smile on his face.
"Good job son, this is the kind of spite we are looking for. This is what separates us from the weakling from the MAEG gang. The lack the SPITE when the lose a pick. If SORD loses we come back stronger and take the next ten picks. We got the first EFB and we are the only gang with 3 EFBs. MAEG gang are weak – they leave AST or become Hollow Souls when they lose their pick. Victor from now on you may call yourself a member of the Interesting Times Gang. Your Mind would be of great use to us. Now come, I will show you the history of this great place"
Victor barely held his tears of happiness but a SORD Chad must always be stoic in victory and he schooled his features and followed the elder.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victor and the First Elder entered a long hallway with many portraits.
"These are the famous First Elders of the SORD Gang that have led it to many victories… and some defeats" a tired sigh escaped the lips of the elder when he looked at the distance a look of remembrance on his face.
They stood in front of a painting of a normal person holding a wooden sword.
"This is the unofficial creator of the gang. He made the first vote for the Forebear's blade and thus started this noble gang"
Under the portrait was a sign etched in gold plate with the words: "Pure Big Mad SORD Man"
"What is this sentence under the portrait?" asked Victor
"When you become an Elder you lose your name it gets replaced by a nickname."
"Ah, so your nickname is "Mistake Not""
"There are few other words after it, but essentially yes"
They moved to the next portraits
"This is "Refreshingly Unconcerned with the Vulgar Exigencies of Veracity", he managed to get the Fell Strike and Thousand Cuts advancement and paved the way for our defining victory"
The next portrait was a noble hero proudly kicking a robed person while defending himself with a sword from an overgrown plant.
"This is General Chadius, he won the victory against MAEG gang in the "Sky Above Sky" vote and got Uttermost." Victor could not contain his excitement.
"Mistake Not..." smiled fondly
"Yes, he is our greatest leader that managed to cripple both of our rival Gangs and establish our supremacy in the city of AST. In his honor we call ourselves SORD Chads and hope that one day we may match his achievements."
"But this is not his only achievement. He laid the foundation of our Gang and brought reason and synergy to our build. Before him we were an aimless murder hobo with weird moveset that made no sense. After him we became Lord Hunger. His nickname as the Elder was "Ethics Gradient", may he rest in peace"
Another portrait showed a small man with a monocle and a smirk on his face.
"This is another hero but not as well known - Elder "Attitude Adjuster" got the first EFB and tricked the MAEG gang into picking a mage system that is essentially Stat buffing. How he managed to do it is still a mystery to me. You would be hard pressed to find a better manipulator in our history of Elders."
The next portrait showed a man with red eyes and deep bags under his eyes. His clothes were disheveled and his hair had not seen a comb in months.
"This is...(sigh) Elder "Falling Outside The Normal Moral Constraints", he hand the unenviable position on being in charge of the SORD gang during the "A wind full of knives" vote. We did not know the threat of the RW and the Gisena EFB gang. He did all he could but at the end it did not matter. We lost the possibility for SORD Trinity and were forced to pick the lesser evil – the Crimson Flare."
"The next Elder "Experiencing A Significant Gravitas Shortfall" managed to secure the Praxis picks – it somewhat washed the shame of our defeat."
"I know the story, the archivist Runeblue360 sold a lot of markers and mined 12 Arete for two days."
"Yes, the miners of the past were powerful. Good thing that we have the honorable Aabcehmu opened his wallet and allowed us to flourish. Still do not trust the Archivist. He is Praxis obsessed and has on multiple times rejected the Forebear's legacy. He is also the unofficial founder of the Gisena Gang. Remember this!"
"But...that...I cannot believe this" Victor was shocked to see someone so high in the hierarchy of the SORD gang to be a member of the cursed enemy.
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer is a classic stratagem for a reason my son. But let's move on"
"Elder "Just The Sword In Life's Rich Tapestry" managed to secure the Trinity – there was some debate but I think the Rank path was in retrospect the correct one."
They finally reached the final portrait that showed the current First Elder "Mistake Not..."
"Sir, this is you – they call you the EFB Elder – during your guidance we managed to secure 4 EFBs. But a question – why did you allow the MAEG gang to get another system"
The First Elder smiled knowingly and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and filled two glasses.
"What do you know of the MAEG gang son?"
"Ineffectual and obsessed with magic to the point of stupidity. Always voting for magic option, no mater how bad it is." Victor said like a student in front of a professor.
"Correct, what if I told you that their unofficial leader – Kaiser Fuenf is an agent of the SORD Gang. Unknowingly of course. We managed to implant some directions during the battle of "Sky above sky". If you ever wondered why he voted for SORD options during my reign, now you know why"
"..." Victor was speechless
"We would have gotten away with it if it was not for that damn vote kingpin Zampano. He was a true believer in the MAEG gang cause. We took notice of him when he tried to sold his vote during the Praxis vote and thus we concluded that he was american hustler with no shame. He started to gather dangerous amount of vote markers. We managed to goad him when the Tower vote option was revealed. The Tower improved our dump stat – Protection and also fixed the issue with our Charisma control. You can still see the my fingerprints in the second sign – improved HDS. The protracted build vote generated the Arete needed to get the other EFBs"
"Now we have leverage over him with vote markers. The minister of propaganda Agent S.SMT will hold him in check"
A figure emerged from the shadows and handed the elder a little note. Victor tried to read it but it was in some sort of code.
The First Elder just sighed deeply. He seemed a lot older in a sudden.
"Gather the acolytes, I have announcement to make"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"SORD Chads, I have grave news. Gisena has achieved RW on her own. The Gisena EFB gang is throwing shit everywhere befitting the boosted bonobos they are. They will try to put some statement about how that purple bitch is actually good. Do not trust them! But what I ask of you now is not an easy thing. We need to get Pillars to sustain our growth"
There was murmurs among the crowd of SORD acolytes.
"We are SORD Chads, guardian of all that exists. We need to make the sacrifices – we are the Nobles of this city. Noblesse oblige. I am old but I remember when I met General Chadius on his deathbed. He told me to not fear for him. He is always watching above. Before he died he said a poem that I will never forget"
The First Elder kneeled and started reciting:
"When MAEG comes to claim our soul,
some must rise, the Gang of old.
Swords in stones,
Rank in legends,
these are the SORD Chadins,
of honor within
and fear without.
Remember them,
when in Pick you doubt"
The crowd started chanting "SORD,SORD,SORD" and "For the Glory of SORDkind"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that evening, Victor was in the office of the First Elder finishing the drink from before. The first Elder was building a small ship on his desk but was also quizzing Victor.
"What do you think of today's events young Victor?"
"I think that you are happy that Gisena got the RW without Arete. This proves that we have made the correct choice so long ago and also sets a precedent"
"Correct – we will try to not get another companion EFB by showing this precedent. SJUC is of course excluded"
"But I thought you hated RW, Elder?"
"I do, but I want her to mitigate our curses. At the moment she is useful anti-mage. I have already contacted the most depraved minds of the city – the Death Gang – we will be able to kill that woman when the time comes. This is a promise"
Thing is, in the end, Golden Hour doesn't actually reduce Apo. So on yearly level, you will get more Apo power than with direct mitigation. Plus, every point of direct mitigation improves next one.
Although Exalted Spirit might be too useful, I guess.
I mean, alright? It's still not an argument for getting Elder Sign over Pillars.
We could actually just get Dominion now and start working on RR. Something to consider, perhaps.
Although Exalted Spirit might be too useful, I guess.
In the Temple, the ring was kept in a dimensional fracture. At the time, I thought that this was because they were using dimensional tricks to put the whole inner Temple inside the ring, so that everything in the Inner Temple counted as a Ringbearer.
But that theory doesn't really make sense, does it? Hunger took the ring and nothing happened. The inner temple didn't disappear. And I thought that the Ring was what granted the magical light that let the Temple inhabitants use Soul Evocation, but from watching Gisena it's clear this isn't the case. She shows no signs of awakening to Soul Evocation. The only source of that magic so far has been Hunger's cloak of evening and the Temple.
The Dimensional fracture went to the Realm of Evening. To the pillars of creation, the true moon, the anchor of the world. That was what the ring was used for, to pry open that fracture and let the power/light of the Realm of Evening leak out into the inner Temple.
The reason I previously mentioned that we might find the house/tomb/fishing pond of the Forebear there is because it fits him. Like Hunger, he did everything to the uttermost. Fight hard, party harder, create a whole Realm the size of the milky way galaxy devoted entirely to relaxation. But on second thought there are lots of other possibilities. The Forebear did everything to an extreme, he probably had dozens of homes each with their own realm and their own theme. Realm of evening, realm of morning, a summer home in the realm of summer, winter home in the realm of winter, and so on. Or maybe one of the Foremost Cursebearers lived here.
Regardless, the owner/builder of this place was likely a Foremost, and all the Foremost are dead. Which explains why the Temple could mine this for so long without issue.
Pathway to Idyll is worth a second glance as well.
"Unbound by lunar whim" huh? If the only difference between Idyll and the pillars of creation is the lack of a moon, does that mean the Azure moon is one of the pillars of creation? It would certainly help explain why its azure light awakens people's souls.
Perhaps the moon is the random number generator for the Voyaging realm, injecting the element of chance, change, whimsy, and surprise to keep things interesting and exciting. Certainly a critical element in any amusement park.
It also has me wondering about Plerion again. The excerpt makes it clear that he, at least, understood where the power they were stealing came from. What was he up to before Sten strangled him? Perhaps his plan was to wear the ring, and then build an artificial connection allowing him to visit the realm of evening in person?
Maybe the whole Temple of the Moon was just a magical equivalent of the NASA moon program.
Edit: We should check to see if there are any stars missing from the Evening Sky in the Realm of Evening. I'd be curious about how many of them the Temple managed to mine before we destroyed it.
522 words
But that theory doesn't really make sense, does it? Hunger took the ring and nothing happened. The inner temple didn't disappear. And I thought that the Ring was what granted the magical light that let the Temple inhabitants use Soul Evocation, but from watching Gisena it's clear this isn't the case. She shows no signs of awakening to Soul Evocation. The only source of that magic so far has been Hunger's cloak of evening and the Temple.
The Dimensional fracture went to the Realm of Evening. To the pillars of creation, the true moon, the anchor of the world. That was what the ring was used for, to pry open that fracture and let the power/light of the Realm of Evening leak out into the inner Temple.
The reason I previously mentioned that we might find the house/tomb/fishing pond of the Forebear there is because it fits him. Like Hunger, he did everything to the uttermost. Fight hard, party harder, create a whole Realm the size of the milky way galaxy devoted entirely to relaxation. But on second thought there are lots of other possibilities. The Forebear did everything to an extreme, he probably had dozens of homes each with their own realm and their own theme. Realm of evening, realm of morning, a summer home in the realm of summer, winter home in the realm of winter, and so on. Or maybe one of the Foremost Cursebearers lived here.
Regardless, the owner/builder of this place was likely a Foremost, and all the Foremost are dead. Which explains why the Temple could mine this for so long without issue.
Pathway to Idyll is worth a second glance as well.
"Unbound by lunar whim" huh? If the only difference between Idyll and the pillars of creation is the lack of a moon, does that mean the Azure moon is one of the pillars of creation? It would certainly help explain why its azure light awakens people's souls.
Perhaps the moon is the random number generator for the Voyaging realm, injecting the element of chance, change, whimsy, and surprise to keep things interesting and exciting. Certainly a critical element in any amusement park.
It also has me wondering about Plerion again. The excerpt makes it clear that he, at least, understood where the power they were stealing came from. What was he up to before Sten strangled him? Perhaps his plan was to wear the ring, and then build an artificial connection allowing him to visit the realm of evening in person?
Maybe the whole Temple of the Moon was just a magical equivalent of the NASA moon program.
Edit: We should check to see if there are any stars missing from the Evening Sky in the Realm of Evening. I'd be curious about how many of them the Temple managed to mine before we destroyed it.
522 words
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Zampano
🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
- Location
- Simping for DSB
I think the first part of this is incorrect. There are 1/8 fewer apocryphal procs, and the remaining procs are not notably strengthened by the increased wait time between them. Reducing the # of activations at the current level of threat would allow us to finally heal up our Punctured Soul debuff without taking additional complications.
Plus, as my other post mentions, the timing of our fights is fairly significant now that we'll have Pillars. I'd be happier taking a 4-pick fight and then sleeping it off in the Realm of Evening than I would taking a 3-pick fight or worse every couple weeks, like we're doing now.
OctarineShrike
Avatar of Mandos
In a vacuum as you described it maybe. In conjunction with a hastened 4th sign assuming a 4th sign option is a source of immediately usable power(the hasten signs blurb was ambiguous) it puts us on a better footing for 1st terminator encounter if it happens in less than 2 weeks, and sets us up to get sign 5 at double potency before we fight the terminator in round 2 assuming they escape(Whichever form sign 5 takes, whether it be Armor of Midnight or something else). Additionally, having the benefit of Hunger for Odd numbered signs gives us some degree of freedom from the reckless demands the Ring of Hunger otherwise has(edit: Raising the odds of successful vengeance in the long term).
Last edited:
Zampano
🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
- Location
- Simping for DSB
A Collective Bargain
2700 Words
In the Hero's war on the Tyrant, success cost the lives of his friends as well as his soldiers. Even at the very end, the Tyrant was willing to carve through family to strike at the Hero himself. When approached with an offer, the Hero reached first for companions who could, finally, stand shoulder to shoulder alongside him. In the aftermath of burning his very identity to power one final strike against the Tyrant, the idea of laboring in solitude under the Geas of Indenture was intolerable. He shouldered his curses, and in exchange received power enough for himself and others...
Please vote {Z} for your favorite quest premise and superpower.
[ ] King's Exile
Quest Premise: DIY Tactical Combat Simulator
The Hero's introduction to warfare was a high stakes game of chess against the Tyrant. Extend that contest with the Geas of Indenture: equip your pieces and deploy your pawns as you prepare to fight the players behind the Tyrant's rule. This quest challenges you to approximate "perfect play" while three of your limbs are tied behind your back.
[ ] Amateur's Pilgrimage
Quest Premise: Amateur Archaeologist Simulator
The Hero gave up the luxury of knowledge for knowledge's sake during his war with the Tyrant. He saw awe inspiring wonders and explored long forgotten monuments nonetheless. Accept the Geas of Indenture as a working tour through myriad realities: there is LORE no matter where you end up. This quest dares you to uncover the mechanism that guides and delegates Indenture Tasks. Will a retinue of three suffice for your purposes?
[ ] Fairest and Fallen
Quest Premise: Cult Recruitment Simulator.
On the Hero's first day in his new world, he rescued a musician from being publicly executed. On the Hero's seventh day in his new world, he declared war on the Tyrant in front of an audience of more than a dozen friends and allies. The Geas of Indenture is just one more price to pay before his true war with the hidden ones can be brought to a close. The Hero still remembers that every general needs an army. Raise soldiers and arm them against their oppressors.
Primary Remittance: Regalia + Intensify
Sharpened Regalia: Fortune
- Intensify: Should a series of events cause you to experience True Death, you may rewind the relevant timelines by up to forty years, though not to any point before you became a Cursebearer. All Cursebearers will retain their memories of the period rewound. You may choose to grant memory of the unwound timeline for any or all members of your Retinue. This ability may be used two times.
Sharpened Regalia: Force
King's Exile and Amateur's Pilgrimage each receive only one superpower as part of their Primary Remittance. Please vote for one of the following superpowers when choosing which build you like most. If the winning vote is Fairest and Fallen, both (intensified) powers will be selected.
[ ] Optimized Kinematic Forecasting
Grants power enough to venture outside the safety of a workshop. This power noticeably improves your Combat WIT stat, and somewhat improves your dexterity. Additionally, your combat reflexes are honed to the level of precognition. By default, you may predict your opponents' moves as much as .5 seconds in advance. The length of time you can predict scales with your Combat WIT stat. Your intuition about how to simultaneously use multiple types of weaponry is improved, although the technical skill to implement such tactics must be developed normally.
- Intensify: Your power dramatically improves your dexterity, but has no effect on Combat WIT. Instead, your combat precog provides you glimpses .75 seconds into the future (and this foresight does not scale according to Combat WIT). You receive no intuitive knowledge about or coordination with weaponry.
[ ] Wave Form Discontinuity
Hastens your return to the safety of your workshop. This power somewhat improves both your constitution and reflexes. You gain a short-range, stamina-limited teleportation ability that operates fast enough to be relevant in combat. Additionally, during combat, you extend a sixth sense for the presence of unfamiliar types of esoteric energy. The range of this perception scales with your Combat WIS stat.
- Intensify: Your power focuses on avoiding getting hit during battle. Combat stamina is dramatically improved, allowing use of your teleportation ability to be both faster and more frequent. Your sixth sense is limited to verifying that your intended destination is free of unfamiliar esoteric energies, and does not scale with your Wisdom stat.
Sharpened Regalia: Favor
As part of your Primary Remittance, each build chooses Lesser Remittances that are then improved through the effects of Intensify. Each build selects at least one "Sharpened" artifact. The effects of Intensify on these Lesser Remittances are described below.
Forebear's Blade (Seven Seals)
- Intensify: The Forebear's Blade, plundered from a tomb abandoned by the Tyrant's family line, was not wholly untouched by the ravages of time. When taken as part of the Sharpened Regalia, the Blade is reforged into a weapon fit for an artisan: An ornate rapier, gilt with runes dancing up to a point that almost hurts to look at.
This transformation eliminates the blade's ability to assist the Cursebearer in sealing esoteric energies that strike the flat of the blade: a rapier is more like a lightning rod than a shield. Nor is imprisonment any more effective against those pierced by the Sharpened Blade. However, seals drawn by the point of the blade are engraved into the very firmament of the world, becoming vastly more potent in function even than the default Forebear's Blade. Such seals may even be decipherable by others. The Sharpened Blade further improves the effect of Imprisonment on Curses.
The Azure Ring
A ring of power, set with a solitaire gem of deepest sapphire. When worn, it merges onto the finger, unable to be removed. The Azure Ring is the analytic mind at work: cool, detached, analytic. The bearer of the Azure Ring is drawn to puzzles and mystery, and shuns mundane toil.
Explosively increases the user's ability to synthesize esoteric and technological modes of engineering, while dramatically reducing the user's interest in modifying or improving existing artifacts.
- Intensify: Taken as a Favor from the Sharpened Regalia, the Azure Ring is an implement of the mind: a scalpel turned outwards. The Ring cannot be used to generate or project esoteric effects. In exchange, the user's ability to dissect, harness, and weaponize external sources of esoteric energy through artifice is further augmented.
Talon
- Intensify: An angular and wicked runic array is meticulously engraved into the Sharpened Talon. The Sharpened Talon may only be used to process the bodies of enemies of notable strength if those enemies had blood when they were still alive.
Alternatively, as part of a ritual, the life blood of a sacrificed target may be transmuted into a substance of the wielder's choice. The amount of substance generated by this ritual is determined by the target's power and the proportion of its blood that flows across the Sharpened Talon. Ritual blood can only be harvested in the moments immediately before the target's death.
Lesser Remittances
Ceathlynn "Catherine" of Amarlt
Physical *****
Social * / ***
Mental **
Ring of Hunger
Catherine has the potential to be a deadly combatant. With access to supernatural augmentation from the Cursebearer's Seven Seals, equipment from the Cursebearer's Artifice, and tactical support from fellow Retinue members, Catherine could best entire legions of enemies. When the Ring Hunger is paired with a Retinue slot, her potential aptitude in the field of combat skyrockets to rival or surpass the potential of a full Progression-type Cursebearer. Hunger's Dominion over blood means something very different in Catherine's hands, as the "prototype in a disavowed eugenics program". Catherine's link to the Amarlt bloodline would be dramatically enhanced should she successfully master the Ring. Her natural faculty with the art of War would be an asset in such an endeavor, although her "timid" reserve may be a significant obstacle.
Gisena Allria, the Nullity Sorceress
Physical **
Social ****
Mental ****
Gisena is a talented Sorceress, for all that her Graces are bent towards Nullification. Her tactical role in fighting force that contains Catherine is not much different from her partnership with Hunger. She provides anti-magic support and curse mitigation by default. When cooperating with Prolessarch, she contributes both analytic knowledge and a particular verve for empirical experimentation. When feuding with Prolessarch, she contributes academic scorn and launches social barbs that may leave him stewing for weeks before the insult truly wears off.
Armed with a Ring of Power, Gisena's ability to influence the world expands. While her Graces all bend towards nullification of the esoteric, Gisena is also a masterful social operative and an avid futurist. These traits lend themselves towards mastery over the Ring Rhapsody, a Lesser Remittance selected for her by the Accursed himself, with compatibility in mind. The power of narrative is not a conventional magic system, but with careful application can weave an enchantment all its own.
Ring of Rhapsody
A ring of power, with a green stripe of jade flanked on each side by gold burnished to a bright sheen. When worn, it merges onto the finger, unable to be removed. The user sees patterns, allusions, and symbolism everywhere. Mastery of the Ring Rhapsody allows the user to sift through these omens for true insights. An incautious user may be drawn into an escalating spiral of conspiracy...
Prolessarch [2 Remittances]
Physical **
Social ***
Mental *******
Petrichor
A ring of power, rough hewn ebony with a single copper wire woven haphazardly around the edge. Scorch marks extend from the wire, imperceptible against the black surface of the ring. When worn, it merges onto the finger, unable to be removed. The bearer of Petrichor tends towards explosive outbursts of temper. In the aftermath of these outbursts, the instigating issue is all but forgotten and epiphanies or breakthroughs are dramatically more likely.
Prolessarch's spell of immortality redefined his ontological status as that of an echo of his momentous working. This lends him an affinity for Thunder that is an undeniable asset when attempting to master the Ring Petrichor. The Lich's motivation to avoid the process of death and its potential for reincarnation is, correspondingly, a weakness. Prolessarch interprets the Accursed's gift of a Ring of Power with a domain related to 'Rebirth' as either a coded message or a dire warning.
2700 Words
In the Hero's war on the Tyrant, success cost the lives of his friends as well as his soldiers. Even at the very end, the Tyrant was willing to carve through family to strike at the Hero himself. When approached with an offer, the Hero reached first for companions who could, finally, stand shoulder to shoulder alongside him. In the aftermath of burning his very identity to power one final strike against the Tyrant, the idea of laboring in solitude under the Geas of Indenture was intolerable. He shouldered his curses, and in exchange received power enough for himself and others...
Please vote {Z} for your favorite quest premise and superpower.
[ ] King's Exile
Quest Premise: DIY Tactical Combat Simulator
The Hero's introduction to warfare was a high stakes game of chess against the Tyrant. Extend that contest with the Geas of Indenture: equip your pieces and deploy your pawns as you prepare to fight the players behind the Tyrant's rule. This quest challenges you to approximate "perfect play" while three of your limbs are tied behind your back.
Curses:
The Geas of Indenture
The Apocryphal Curse
The Affliction of Slumber
The Decimator's Affliction
The Doom of Lunacy
Native Magic:
Seven Seals
Primary Remittance:
Sharpened Regalia (Regalia + Intensify)
- Fortune
- Force
- Favor: The Forebear's Blade
- Wild Favor: Azure Ring
Lesser Remittances:
Default 3 + 3 from Extra Curse
1- Intensify: converts Regalia into Sharpened Regalia
2- Retinue
3- Catherine Amarlt
4- Gisena Allria
5- Ring 1: [Catherine] - Ring of Hunger
6- Ring 2: [Gisena] - Ring of Rhapsody
Between Slumber & Lunacy, your ability to act directly is limited. To survive Indenture and Apocryphal, you'll need to find efficient ways to react to each new crisis without losing ground on your overarching objective. Can you afford to spend time and effort needed to mitigate the Decimator's Affliction? Can you afford not to?
If you can negotiate a vow of loyalty from your two companions, your group will be tight knit from the beginning. However, even axiomatically loyal companions have interests and objectives of their own. You will need to juggle personal progress with the needs of your bodyguards. This optimization problem will become increasingly complex as your retinue grows.
Resource management will be critical: You start with allies, but precious few assets. Balancing personal risk against growth potential will be crucial for your survival. Notably, you can't seal primordial forces of nature while sitting at home in your armchair.
[ ] Amateur's Pilgrimage
Quest Premise: Amateur Archaeologist Simulator
The Hero gave up the luxury of knowledge for knowledge's sake during his war with the Tyrant. He saw awe inspiring wonders and explored long forgotten monuments nonetheless. Accept the Geas of Indenture as a working tour through myriad realities: there is LORE no matter where you end up. This quest dares you to uncover the mechanism that guides and delegates Indenture Tasks. Will a retinue of three suffice for your purposes?
Curses:
The Geas of Indenture
The Apocryphal Curse
The Affliction of Slumber
The Decimator's Affliction
The Doom of Lunacy
Plenary Brand
Native Magic:
Seven Seals
Primary Remittance:
Sharpened Regalia (Regalia + Intensify)
- Fortune
- Force
- Favor - The Forebear's Blade
- Wild Favor: The Azure Ring
Lesser Remittances:
Default 3 + 6 from Extra Curses
1- Intensify: converts Regalia into Sharpened Regalia
2- Retinue
3- Catherine Amarlt
4- Gisena Allria
5,6- Prolessarch
7- Ring 1: [Catherine] - Ring of Hunger
8- Ring 2: [Gisena] - Ring of Rhapsody
9- Ring 3: [Prolessarch] - Ring of Petrichor
Allowing the Plenary Brand to broadcast the weaknesses of your combined Afflictions and Doom is a big risk. But, it nets you a Ring-bearing companion whose passion for novel experiences mirrors your passion for exploration. It is up to you to find a use for a preternaturally talented student of the esoteric. With three companions, there are certain to be both synergies and frictions. With three Ring Bearing companions, the dynamics at play become even more complex. If you plan to send Ring Lords on errands in hopes of evading the Plenary Brand, you can also plan on massaging the egos of your companions.
That said, the Plenary Brand means you will be negotiating with all your cards on the table. Associates that are unbound by the weight of your curses offer you tremendous utility in navigating society and handling day to day emergencies. They will be willing to entertain opening offers, but do not mistake the Accursed's companions for minions or underlings. Each has the capacity to dramatically augment their abilities and potential, as well as that of the group.
The combined efforts of four Rings of Power would be enough to upend most any realm, even before the effects of cooperation towards Progression are considered...
[ ] Fairest and Fallen
Quest Premise: Cult Recruitment Simulator.
On the Hero's first day in his new world, he rescued a musician from being publicly executed. On the Hero's seventh day in his new world, he declared war on the Tyrant in front of an audience of more than a dozen friends and allies. The Geas of Indenture is just one more price to pay before his true war with the hidden ones can be brought to a close. The Hero still remembers that every general needs an army. Raise soldiers and arm them against their oppressors.
Curses:
The Apocryphal Curse
The Geas of Indenture
The Affliction of Slumber
The Decimator's Affliction
The Doom of Lunacy
The Doom of the Tyrant
Native Magic:
Seven Seals
Primary Remittance:
Sharpened Regalia (Regalia + Intensify)
- Fortune
- Force - Optimized Kinematic Forecasting
- Favor - Sharpened Talon
- Wild Force - Wave Form Discontinuity
Lesser Remittances:
Default 3 + 6 from Extra Curses
1- Intensify: converts Regalia into Sharpened Regalia
2- Retinue
3- Forebear's Blade
4- The Azure Ring
5- Catherine Amarlt
6- Gisena Allria
7- Ring 1: [Catherine] - Ring of Hunger
8- Ring 2: [Gisena] - Ring of Rhapsody
9- Ring 3: [?] - Ring of Petrichor
The Doom of the Tyrant, paired with the Doom of Lunacy, puts you at high risk of picking a fight that can only be survived with access to your full power. This would risk revealing your monstrous battle-form to the entire world. Even an axiomatically loyal companion might rethink their allegiances in the face of such horror. Thus, your task will be twofold. First, you must collect stalwart allies who can meaningfully contribute to scenarios that might push you to the brink of involuntary rampage. Second, you must shield these companions from exposure to your true form.
You have much to offer to prospective recruits willing to conform to a strict social hierarchy where your words go unchallenged. The Seven Seals are a versatile source for esoteric effects. The Azure Ring's domain of Artifice can be leveraged into equipment for your allies and single-use items for yourself. The Sharpened Talon can be used to generate specific resources or equipment for any followers. You can reward your most ardent recruits with Progression or a Ring of Power. These are lucrative rewards for the low price of unquestioning obedience.
Take two superpowers from Regalia to help stave off an involuntary release of your battle-form. If you can stay on top of the social hierarchy while your followers multiply and your Retinue progresses, you will enjoy the unprecedented might of 4 rings of power, united in purpose and backed by soldiers with the confidence of true believers.
Primary Remittance: Regalia + Intensify
Sharpened Regalia: Fortune
- Intensify: Should a series of events cause you to experience True Death, you may rewind the relevant timelines by up to forty years, though not to any point before you became a Cursebearer. All Cursebearers will retain their memories of the period rewound. You may choose to grant memory of the unwound timeline for any or all members of your Retinue. This ability may be used two times.
Sharpened Regalia: Force
King's Exile and Amateur's Pilgrimage each receive only one superpower as part of their Primary Remittance. Please vote for one of the following superpowers when choosing which build you like most. If the winning vote is Fairest and Fallen, both (intensified) powers will be selected.
[ ] Optimized Kinematic Forecasting
Grants power enough to venture outside the safety of a workshop. This power noticeably improves your Combat WIT stat, and somewhat improves your dexterity. Additionally, your combat reflexes are honed to the level of precognition. By default, you may predict your opponents' moves as much as .5 seconds in advance. The length of time you can predict scales with your Combat WIT stat. Your intuition about how to simultaneously use multiple types of weaponry is improved, although the technical skill to implement such tactics must be developed normally.
- Intensify: Your power dramatically improves your dexterity, but has no effect on Combat WIT. Instead, your combat precog provides you glimpses .75 seconds into the future (and this foresight does not scale according to Combat WIT). You receive no intuitive knowledge about or coordination with weaponry.
[ ] Wave Form Discontinuity
Hastens your return to the safety of your workshop. This power somewhat improves both your constitution and reflexes. You gain a short-range, stamina-limited teleportation ability that operates fast enough to be relevant in combat. Additionally, during combat, you extend a sixth sense for the presence of unfamiliar types of esoteric energy. The range of this perception scales with your Combat WIS stat.
- Intensify: Your power focuses on avoiding getting hit during battle. Combat stamina is dramatically improved, allowing use of your teleportation ability to be both faster and more frequent. Your sixth sense is limited to verifying that your intended destination is free of unfamiliar esoteric energies, and does not scale with your Wisdom stat.
Sharpened Regalia: Favor
As part of your Primary Remittance, each build chooses Lesser Remittances that are then improved through the effects of Intensify. Each build selects at least one "Sharpened" artifact. The effects of Intensify on these Lesser Remittances are described below.
Forebear's Blade (Seven Seals)
- Intensify: The Forebear's Blade, plundered from a tomb abandoned by the Tyrant's family line, was not wholly untouched by the ravages of time. When taken as part of the Sharpened Regalia, the Blade is reforged into a weapon fit for an artisan: An ornate rapier, gilt with runes dancing up to a point that almost hurts to look at.
This transformation eliminates the blade's ability to assist the Cursebearer in sealing esoteric energies that strike the flat of the blade: a rapier is more like a lightning rod than a shield. Nor is imprisonment any more effective against those pierced by the Sharpened Blade. However, seals drawn by the point of the blade are engraved into the very firmament of the world, becoming vastly more potent in function even than the default Forebear's Blade. Such seals may even be decipherable by others. The Sharpened Blade further improves the effect of Imprisonment on Curses.
The Azure Ring
A ring of power, set with a solitaire gem of deepest sapphire. When worn, it merges onto the finger, unable to be removed. The Azure Ring is the analytic mind at work: cool, detached, analytic. The bearer of the Azure Ring is drawn to puzzles and mystery, and shuns mundane toil.
Explosively increases the user's ability to synthesize esoteric and technological modes of engineering, while dramatically reducing the user's interest in modifying or improving existing artifacts.
- Intensify: Taken as a Favor from the Sharpened Regalia, the Azure Ring is an implement of the mind: a scalpel turned outwards. The Ring cannot be used to generate or project esoteric effects. In exchange, the user's ability to dissect, harness, and weaponize external sources of esoteric energy through artifice is further augmented.
Talon
- Intensify: An angular and wicked runic array is meticulously engraved into the Sharpened Talon. The Sharpened Talon may only be used to process the bodies of enemies of notable strength if those enemies had blood when they were still alive.
Alternatively, as part of a ritual, the life blood of a sacrificed target may be transmuted into a substance of the wielder's choice. The amount of substance generated by this ritual is determined by the target's power and the proportion of its blood that flows across the Sharpened Talon. Ritual blood can only be harvested in the moments immediately before the target's death.
Lesser Remittances
Ceathlynn "Catherine" of Amarlt
Physical *****
Social * / ***
Mental **
Ring of Hunger
Catherine has the potential to be a deadly combatant. With access to supernatural augmentation from the Cursebearer's Seven Seals, equipment from the Cursebearer's Artifice, and tactical support from fellow Retinue members, Catherine could best entire legions of enemies. When the Ring Hunger is paired with a Retinue slot, her potential aptitude in the field of combat skyrockets to rival or surpass the potential of a full Progression-type Cursebearer. Hunger's Dominion over blood means something very different in Catherine's hands, as the "prototype in a disavowed eugenics program". Catherine's link to the Amarlt bloodline would be dramatically enhanced should she successfully master the Ring. Her natural faculty with the art of War would be an asset in such an endeavor, although her "timid" reserve may be a significant obstacle.
Gisena Allria, the Nullity Sorceress
Physical **
Social ****
Mental ****
Gisena is a talented Sorceress, for all that her Graces are bent towards Nullification. Her tactical role in fighting force that contains Catherine is not much different from her partnership with Hunger. She provides anti-magic support and curse mitigation by default. When cooperating with Prolessarch, she contributes both analytic knowledge and a particular verve for empirical experimentation. When feuding with Prolessarch, she contributes academic scorn and launches social barbs that may leave him stewing for weeks before the insult truly wears off.
Armed with a Ring of Power, Gisena's ability to influence the world expands. While her Graces all bend towards nullification of the esoteric, Gisena is also a masterful social operative and an avid futurist. These traits lend themselves towards mastery over the Ring Rhapsody, a Lesser Remittance selected for her by the Accursed himself, with compatibility in mind. The power of narrative is not a conventional magic system, but with careful application can weave an enchantment all its own.
Ring of Rhapsody
A ring of power, with a green stripe of jade flanked on each side by gold burnished to a bright sheen. When worn, it merges onto the finger, unable to be removed. The user sees patterns, allusions, and symbolism everywhere. Mastery of the Ring Rhapsody allows the user to sift through these omens for true insights. An incautious user may be drawn into an escalating spiral of conspiracy...
Prolessarch [2 Remittances]
Physical **
Social ***
Mental *******
Petrichor
A ring of power, rough hewn ebony with a single copper wire woven haphazardly around the edge. Scorch marks extend from the wire, imperceptible against the black surface of the ring. When worn, it merges onto the finger, unable to be removed. The bearer of Petrichor tends towards explosive outbursts of temper. In the aftermath of these outbursts, the instigating issue is all but forgotten and epiphanies or breakthroughs are dramatically more likely.
Prolessarch's spell of immortality redefined his ontological status as that of an echo of his momentous working. This lends him an affinity for Thunder that is an undeniable asset when attempting to master the Ring Petrichor. The Lich's motivation to avoid the process of death and its potential for reincarnation is, correspondingly, a weakness. Prolessarch interprets the Accursed's gift of a Ring of Power with a domain related to 'Rebirth' as either a coded message or a dire warning.
My main impulse here was to start writing a quest about indirect mitigation. The blurbs were a lot of fun to write, but I didn't really give much thought to balancing all the options. It might be that none of these builds are "optimal" enough to survive even a month as a cursebearer, but I will try writing at least one narrative update if I get any votes!)
Lealope
Not yet invincible
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hmm. Would Exalted Spirit improve Aobaru's rate of improvement? That would be pretty valuable if so, since he's a really easy source of ISH that doesn't cost us anything. Considering the extra time he'd have with Pillars, we could get some substantial gains.
Special "It's a trap edition"
OctarineShrike
Avatar of Mandos
[Z]Amateurs Pilgrimage
[X] Once and Future II [25 Arete, 2 picks]
Hey, I voted for earth tower even knowing it was a trap so there!
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
But isn't Pillar a MAEG option?
It is, and that is why the Elder ask the Gang to do something that is not easy. Vote MAEG so SORD can grow. This is what separates the CHADS in the SORD gang from the boys in the MAEG gang. SORD gang knows that currently Pillars is a great Potential EFB.
Let me (mis)quote something from the original AST: "MAEG child needs to be taught, a SORD CHAD understands"
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
Hmm.. going on a full party build:
Regalia: Wild > Favor + 3 Base Favor from omakes equates to 5 Favor total. This would allow a build of:
Doom of Lunacy
Affliction of Slumber
Prolessarch
Gisena
Catherine
Retinue
+7 Seals
This would have pretty impressive scaling and resistance to Apocryphal, I would say. Work like Nameless..
Okay people, Ganbare with your Arete mining. This is all I have (that is a lie)
- Location
- Poland
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Pillars of Creation
[X] Artemisinin
[X] Direct Mitigation
Sweet, sweet safety.
[X] Artemisinin
[X] Direct Mitigation
Sweet, sweet safety.
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
More like Gisena did most of the fighting herself, so we don't get quite as many picks as consequences.
I'd like to remind you that Jotarun would of exterminated the humans in the manifest realm if it weren't for Seram.
<R> Fly.
This thing is really beneath us, if we spend time hunting down every pest that bothers us we'll never make any real progress, we kind of need to always be on the lookout for the next big cache imo. Fighting it has us praying for a low% that we get another morsel to show up? eh, I think Ruby would have more success searching as opposed to hoping with their skillset.