note: after looking at the previous discussion, I'm still of the opinion that the combo "apocrypha: at most once per month"+"decimator: hunger sated more often" is better than going direct mitigation.
I'm also still of the opinion that it's not worh it to worry about mitigating indenture so soon. It's something that could feasibly be done during the 50 years of rule, or even the 10 years of downtime. Or at least closer to end of this world. I mean, if Gisena somehow died that would likely be a slot wasted!
I did change my mind about the fish's reward and tyrant though. Healing (especially short term healing) is less important once we have the defense of the evening sky, which makes me favour the stat boost. Rank would not be bad either, except the stat boost is ALSO useful while we're exhausted/tired.
About Tyrant, the explanation that Trusted Counsel would only work on a single custom ever makes me find it less interesting. Being able to acknowledge important laws and customs is not quite as good in any specific case, but it's always effective. At least we won't be provoked quite as easily.
now, on to the panoply!
I. The Forebear's Blade
Tenfold strength and speed, and the resilience to withstand such exertions
Infuses all attacks made by the bearer with the power of Ruin
The power of Ruin ravages and destroys without leaving trace, penetrating - at least partially - almost all defenses
Grows steadily in power and refinement alongside its wielder (abstracted as an extra Experience multiplier)
[Thick as Thieves] II - ++Intelligence, ++Charisma, ++Heartlessness
[Fell-Handed Stroke] - A devastating blow of unutterable magnificence from which no recovery is possible. A powerful, but draining strike that inflicts cursed wounds from which spirit and will leak as freely as blood. Resists healing.
our dear old sword.
...now that I think about it, wasn't the power of Ruin a DxD thing? Rias' family magic? It IS basically the same concept... probably a coincidence though.
Maybe we'll find a way to have our sword "absorb" other special weapons in time, stealing their strenght. Other than that it's an incredible sword, nothing to complain about.
Potential Advancements
[Iron Curtain] - 7 Arete. The Forebear could not be dissuaded, nor could he be stopped. To dissent was folly, to resist was death. The laws of the Forebear were as natural law, and just as inevitable. When active, ++Willpower, +++Protection, ++Constitution, Ignore Wounds, Deflect Exotic Attacks. Become Tired afterwards.
[Once And Future] I - 25 Arete. Channel a fraction of the Forebear's true might, and glimpse a small fraction of his true history. +1 Astral Rank, applied externally after all other factors. Does not raise the difficulty of improving Rank. +2 Astral Rank in matters military.
Iron Curtain = super mode (shounen version)
Once and Future= Ultra mode (conceptual).
And they stack together!
they're a bit generic, but certainly VERY effective.
II. Hunger
Imparts noticeable spiritual vigor and a thirst for life's pleasures
Cripples non-combat, non-conflict advancement, but dectuples progression from any conflict with serious stakes
[Ring of Power] - Asserts bearer's will upon the world, bending it to his designs.
[Might's Repose] - Only grow stronger, more glorious and more capable with age, so long as bearer sleeps 9+ hours per day. Life- and healthspan can be indefinitely extended in theory. Modest bonus to physical actions, minor bonus to mental actions when well-rested. Immune to hostile sleep / tiredness effects.
Ring of Power can probably help a little to deal with Apocryphal (and really, with all our curses).
Might's repose is a wonderful alternative to battle-growth when we're not really able to profit from normal training anymore. Sleep IS one of life's pleasure after all. The immunity to sleep magic is just a nice extra.
And obviously we need all the exp multipliers we can get if we want to get ahead of apocryphal.
Potential Advancements
[Ring of Blood] - 2 Arete. Wielder fully recovers health with [Might's Repose], can use [Ring of Power] to restore health, though inefficiently.
[Ruling Ring] - 25 Arete. There can only be one Ruling Ring. Enormously increases the strength, range, and control of the [Ring of Power] effect. ++All Stats, ++Progression.
well, Ring of BLood is a decent and reasonably cheap health regen option. It might also give us healing ability as well if that "restore health" also applies to other people, which is always nice.
Ruling Ring is OP, and I want it. Extra stats, extra growth.. what's not to love?
III. Evening Sky
Deflects physical attacks within its coverage less powerful than an atom bomb
Imparts 75% resistance to almost all other forms of damage
Imparts 75-90% resistance to most inimical status conditions
Grants breathtaking majesty of the evening sky [++Charisma]
-Physical attacks stronger than an atom bomb no longer count as "mundane force" - capable of blotting out the sky. Magical attacks reduce this protection proportional to the strength of their magic.
-The attack of a Rank 2 being bearing signature weaponry is slightly magical.
..oh, look, we're now immune to less-than-nuke-attacks!
AND we have high damage reduction against nearly everything else!
AND we have extra charisma!
Truly a wonderful choice. most likely best long term than the thousand cuts option, especially in terms of the survivability it offers us, and if we can find another hunger sated target before the month is over it will have been the objectively best choice I think.
Potential Advancements
[Opalescence] - The soft light of evening before which all attacks falter. Improves defensive parameters. +Protection.
[Winter Moon] - 2 Arete. The cold bright orb which presides above all nocturnal wisdom. Gain access to the wearer's [Soul Evocation], though no especial talent is guaranteed.
[Pillars of Creation] - 25 Arete. At the end of each lunar month, wearer and companions may steal away to the realm of Evening, during which no time passes in the mortal world. Divine opulence and every conceivable luxury await the fortunate interlopers, restoring wholeness of mind, body, and spirit.
The realm of Evening responds to the desires of the wearer and can be shaped to induce a variety of effects at nigh-deific scale - worthy enemies, fields of unique reagents, anagathic peaches, arms and armor of myth. Only one rule is absolute: that each stay lasts seven days, no more and no less. Items typically cannot be carried out, though the effects of items consumed within the realm remain after departing it.
All Curses save the Geas of Indenture are only at one-third severity within the realm, though this does not stack with other forms of mitigation, nor impede their function outside.
Not sure what Opalescence not having an arete cost means. Probably that it will be offered as a random reward in the future.
Winter Moon gives us access to our Soul Evocation, which If I remember right was supposed to be something we would have gotten with the seven seals. We can basically consider a minor alternative magic system I think, which is nice.
Pillars of Creation is... wonderful. Just wonderful.
Temporary mitigation, comfort, safety, worthy opponents on which we could likely get hunger sated if in combination with Huntress' Moon, ingredient for consumables (though we'd need to consume them before leaving the realm)...anagathich...(quick search of what it means)...
!!! An anti-aging measure for our companions! THis basically works as a mitigation for Decimation for them! It might even synergize with MIght's repose, as that one stated that "becoming stronger with age" is not the same as "keeping the vigor of youth". But we could have both!
Basically we get our own dimension in which to rest, recover, enjoy life and train. Our own monthly vacation free of worries from everything else, in which we can train, rest or have fun as much as we want.
I'm not sure what I want more, Pillars of Creation or Ruling Ring (Probably Pillars), but I KNOW I want both more than Dead but Dreaming.
I wonder if one or both of these was taken by now... I DO have 1600 pages to go through yet..
Don't tell me. I'll let it be a surprise
