Hear me out here. The Water Sword will allow us to accelerate our personal time. And we know that Reverse the Glass allows us to go back 10s in the past but will get a 10s cd. So by accelerating with Water Sword we can go back in time again faster due to how the two powers should interact with each others.
We use Reverse the Glass then accelerate the 10s away and re-use Reverse the Glass making us be able to go back in time again. This is literally Overpowered.
There is personal time, world time and outside time. Reverse the Glass is on world time. Personal time does not affect it. The Water Sword lets you use the time you have more effectively, but it doesn't add more time to the hourglass. No exploit there.
Note the immunity to precog only works while this temporary power is active, so it sounds balanced enough to me. Enough for a fate defying action.
Mask of the Sand Wraith operates outside time, which is why Reverse the Glass doesn't work with it. Can't rewind to a time you don't exist. But you can use the mask, turn it off, then rewind, so that perk combo would work.
There is personal time, world time and outside time. Reverse the Glass is on world time. Personal time does not affect it. The Water Sword lets you use the time you have more effectively, but it doesn't add more time to the hourglass. No exploit there.
There are unlisted synergies.
Like this one. I didn't think of it.
Note the immunity to precog only works while this temporary power is active, so it sounds balanced enough to me. Enough for a fate defying action.
Mask of the Sand Wraith operates outside time, which is why Reverse the Glass doesn't work with it. Can't rewind to a time you don't exist. But you can use the mask, turn it off, then rewind, so that perk combo would work.
[X] Plan Screw Destiny
-[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
-[X][Perk] The Tie That Binds
-[X][Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
I'm hoping for a fluff scene where he's meets everyone he knew who has died in the previous timeline and just Hugs the shit out of them
Nikos' power is not his own. This power spread to him, and it could spread again. You must assume that anyone tainted by his power could be vectors for further spread. It's like - a laugh escapes you.
We killed the Regent. His power comes from the same Agent as Nikos. Some strange interactions in the firmament. This is more or less the only connection that exists there, because we no longer interacted with the Heartbreaker in any way, and were thousands of kilometers away from him.
It's not Prince of Persia lore, just Worm lore mixed with background stuff in this story. This is Worm, with PoP styling. That's why I used "theme" in the title instead of "crossover".
One correction: getting the perk The Ties That Bind was not the cause of the Hellscape Canada arc.
We killed the Regent. His power comes from the same Agent as Nikos. Some strange interactions in the firmament. This is more or less the only connection that exists there, because we no longer interacted with the Heartthrob in any way, and were thousands of kilometers away from him.
I'm logging off and will be back in 16 hours. If anyone wants a spoiler post, just ask. Or wait for Prince to figure it all out himself by the end of the story, or die trying.
This is a silly story, so the mystery isn't very complex. Try a binge re-read? Remember to check for invisitext.
Edit: there's another big, but optional, in story clue if you take the perk Fever Dreams, or A Touch of Wisdom, or move time forwards and keep moving forwards.
Yo @Ablative Id shouldn't we have gotten 4 perks not 2 since we saved the Sands from last time. Or is it part of the complications because our dagges was destroyed?
Yo @Ablative Id shouldn't we have gotten 4 perks not 2 since we saved the Sands from last time. Or is it part of the complications because our dagges was destroyed?
[X][Move] Follow the harem to Nikos, and attack.
- Are you ready for this fight? He has all the power of his Thralls, and more.
- Easy to find him if you enter the flare. Harder if you have to fight through the harem.
- Failure and reward depend on your choices and rolls. Death is possible.
- If he dies by the dagger and you don't enter the flare, gain 3 Sand perks of your choice.
- If he dies by the dagger and you enter the flare, keep the Thrall powers.
- If Nikos dies in other circumstances, no reward except the world is a better place.
- [ Yes, this is the Old Way, from before the diaspora... ]
Nikos died in other circumstances. But the shard is happy you tried anyway. Or it was until the dagger broke.
So you get half the reward.
Adhoc vote count started by Ablative Id on Nov 30, 2023 at 1:16 PM, finished with 20 posts and 7 votes.
[X] Plan Screw Destiny
-[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
-[X][Perk] The Tie That Binds
-[X][Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
[X] An Invincible Sword
-[X][Fate] Wrap the Tie That Binds around your arm and use it to anchor yourself to reality.
-[X][Perk] The Water Sword
-[X][Perk] From Dust to Dust
[X] Jail Break time
-[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
-[X][Perk] Repair the Glass
-[X][Perk] The Water Sword
7 for [Fate] Release the Sands
4 for [Perk] The Tie That Binds
4 for [Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
4 for [Perk] Repair the Glass
3 for [Perk] The Water Sword
1 for [Perk] From Dust to Dust
Adhoc vote count started by Ablative Id on Dec 1, 2023 at 1:01 PM, finished with 22 posts and 9 votes.
[X] Plan Screw Destiny
-[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
-[X][Perk] The Tie That Binds
-[X][Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
[X] An Invincible Sword
-[X][Fate] Wrap the Tie That Binds around your arm and use it to anchor yourself to reality.
-[X][Perk] The Water Sword
-[X][Perk] From Dust to Dust
[X] Jail Break time
-[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
-[X][Perk] Repair the Glass
-[X][Perk] The Water Sword
There is a 3 way tie between, uh, The Tie, The Mask, and The Water Sword.
Some stuff I want to clear up. Spoilered for those who like to vote without GM ramblings.
Killing Regent did not cause the Hellscape crisis. But it did cause it to happen in Canada, via the Heartbreaker shard.
Another Hellscape can happen again, in a variety of forms - but I hope the quest finishes before then.
There is no perk or perk combo that directly causes a Hellscape crisis. You'd need to heavily abuse them.
Without a rating boosting perk, Prince has a PRT rating of 3 next update, moving to 4 when he can resupply some tools. For instance, [Perk] The Tie That Binds does not boost your rating.
This means Mask of the Sand Wraith is worth 1 or 2 successes. Which means normal human fighting strength. You are el Chapulin Colorado of Sand Wraiths. More agile than a turtle, stronger than a mouse.
The Mask can still be used strategically if you need to hide a quick action from a thinker. It can stop a bullet or send a message. It's not going to win a cape fight on its own. But it may stop a disaster.
The idea of the Mask is that no one can force you to lose. It prevents you from rolling badly. But that doesn't mean you win.
Also it's from Narwhal's power.
Just a resource for trying to determine fighting strength, based on PRT threat ratings:
1 = a threat only just above human norms.
2 = equal to an an alert, exceptional, well-equipped, or trained individual
3 = superhuman. Civilians can't fight this. Send squads with confoam.
4 = A fully equipped squad of 10 to 24 PRT troops, with confoam, should handle the threat most of the time.
5 = Average parahuman. Equal to most Protectorate capes, maybe with a squad to help.
6 = Strong parahuman. Equal to any normal cape with squad support. Think twice before engaging.
7 = Big name parahuman. Equal to two or three capes and a squad. Whole departments act as physical and intel support in a fight.
8 = Triumvirate tier. Evacuate civilians. Do not engage unless you need to.
9 = Top Triumvirate tier. Just run away if you can. Bring out the biggest guns if you can't.
10 = Lowest Endbringer tier.
I'm going to try for smaller updates for a while.
Edit: contending Perks for reference.
[][Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
- Clothe yourself in the Sands of Time and ride the storm towards infinity.
- Sand will form an ancient, monstrous facsimile of Paradox's costume, mask, and weapons.
- Gain a Breaker state that increases speed and strength linearly over time, while you can keep up.
- The Sand Wraith exists outside fate. Provides resistance to some powers, such as precogs.
- State exits when you stop moving, can't keep up, or take heavy damage.
- Breaker state recharges slowly and restarts the time limit of Reverse The Glass.
- Damage will not transfer outside the Breaker state, barring exotic damage (black holes, Sting, etc).
- Mechanically, gives a fixed number of successes equal to half your total dice. This replaces the lowest roll.
- Doubles as a cool costume, potentially another identity.
[][Perk] The Tie That Binds
- Give another a copy of your powers.
- You do not control the target, but the Sands of Time may change them, body and mind.
- Gain a Trump rating.
[][Perk] From Dust to Dust
- Gain a touch range Striker power that ages matter until it disintegrates.
- Gain immunity to containment foam and a way to escape most restraints, including barred cells and PRT paddy wagons.
- The chain focuses this power, allowing it to cut through most physical objects.
- Can be used without the dagger or chain, through touch, in a slower, wider, less focused form.
- Gain 2 Striker dice.
[][Perk] Repair the Glass
- Restores the power of Reverse the Glass
- Blade is still broken. You'll need a new weapon for any serious fight.
- This iconic power lets you reroll dice and reverse time by ten seconds.
- Coil was very interested in this power.
- Edit: restores 2 Thinker dice from Reverse the Glass.
[][Perk] The Water Sword
- Your personal time field gained by Sort the Grains - AKA your body of sand - becomes larger and more controlled. By manipulating your personal time, you can charge up or degrade attacks.
- Gain bullet time. Time slows down when you focus, allowing truly superhuman feats of strength and agility.
- Gain 2 more Brute dice. A total Brute rating of 4.
- Immune to bullets as long as there is room to dodge.
- Focus to charge up attacks that can break a brick wall.
- Do math. Manipulate the Time part of Speed and Force equations.
[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
[X][Perk] Repair the Glass
[X][Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
8 for [Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
6 for [Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
5 for [Perk] Repair the Glass
Runner ups:
4 for[Perk] The Tie That Binds
3 for [Perk] The Water Sword
2 for [Perk] From Dust to Dust
Scheduled vote count started by Ablative Id on Nov 29, 2023 at 3:20 PM, finished with 25 posts and 10 votes.
[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
[X] Plan Screw Destiny
-[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
-[X][Perk] The Tie That Binds
-[X][Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
[X] An Invincible Sword
-[X][Fate] Wrap the Tie That Binds around your arm and use it to anchor yourself to reality.
-[X][Perk] The Water Sword
-[X][Perk] From Dust to Dust
[X] Jail Break time
-[X][Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
-[X][Perk] Repair the Glass
-[X][Perk] The Water Sword
[Fate] Stab yourself with the Dagger of Time and Release the Sands stored in your body.
[Perk] Repair the Glass
[Perk] Mask of the Sand Wraith
You lie, dying, in this unplace between clock ticks. Below you is bare cement scuffed by the hard souls of work boots. Around and above you is a raging sandstorm. The Sands of Time encroach on this small human world, erasing it grain by grain
Soon, all that exists will be scoured clean, and the end will be as before the beginning.
You - in this oasis - are the last man. You refuse to go quietly. You must rage against the dying of the light and choose your own destiny.
So grasp your severed hand and twist. The pain is nothing compared to the raw, burnt nerves racking your back. The broken Dagger of Time now points inwards. A sliver of time's blade gleams golden in the half-light.
This is how it started. This is how it must end.
Press time's jagged edge to the hollow of your neck. Tilt forwards and let your dead weight push the blade inside. With your last shred of will, pull on the Dagger of Time - let it rip open vital arteries, let it turn you to Sand, let's join the victims in its cracked glass hilt.
A quick, short drop and drag - it is done. Armsmaster's prophecy is complete. The dagger has killed you.
The small human world fills with slick blood - shockingly bright; vivid red. The eye of the storm contracts.
At first, the dagger seems to reject you.
Then blood shines gold and disintegrates. More is pulled from you. First a trickle, then a stream, then a torrent. You feel hollowed, but the Dagger of Time pumps grit and sand into your veins, only to rip it out again. You fill the glass and the glass spills into you, each iteration scouring you clean.
You and the dagger form a single never ending cycle. The loop twists into infinity.
Time is pushed back. The eye of the storm dilates. The dagger shoves you away. Nikos returns and you fight savagely with a broken blade, repairing his body with each strike.
You stalk the halls of a police station, returning victims to life.
You blur away from Canada. Unspeak secrets between conspirators. See a riot unform. Glimpse coffins rising from the grave. See Hadhayosh - the Behemoth - in retreat, heal Mexico City, stumble blind through the darkness of Brockton Bay.
Blink and see a field of alien stars. Nebula curl in opposition and meet in the middle - the discs of two wormholes forming a domino mask. You drift in the spiral of a black hole.
Blink and the stars are desert sands. The black hole is an oasis and the spiral a long pilgrimage. Countless versions of you go into the water and vanish past the event horizon. Observing it all is the baleful glare of two white suns beyond figure eight clouds.
The touch of water tears you to grains.
You are the Sands of Time and you rage as a sandstorm.
Trapped in your eye is an alleyway and a fixed tableau.
There is a boy - a bulky teenager, pale and wide eyed - frozen in air, mid-lunge, in defiance of gravity. He hold an ornate dagger of no importance. It is a prop. A convenient shape for the ultimate power.
On the ground is you as a younger human. Your third iteration. He's on the ground, looking up at the boy, consumed with fear for the future and longing for the past. He is soft and clean and innocent of your regrets. He will be unmade.
Slowly your eye contracts and buildings disintegrate.
Another you steps out of the storm. Your first iteration - the blasphemer, the breaker of chains, the mistake.
This other you is darker, scarred, and wears the baggy pants costume of a false hero. His eyes are so blue they glow.
"I'm sorry," he says, with the true Dagger of Time in hand. The blade is broken, but there is edge enough. Destiny has already been recarved in stone. He cuts the groove ever deeper, and will until the stone shatters.
Outside of you, a world of crystal-flesh writhes in agony. It is being tortured and driven mad - you ache with it. But it is outside of time and beyond your grasp.
Within you lies all eternity. You need only reach into yourself and...
Sit Rep
New Perk: Repair the Glass. All rolls are re-rolled and the best used. Gain 2d6t5 Thinker dice.
New Perk: Mask of the Sand Wraith. No roll is lower than half your total rating, rounded up. Auto 3 successes. Bonus: Screw Destiny actions unlocked.
Equipment lost. Lose the Resourceful trait until you can get a new costume, a weapon, and general equipment such as transport, guns, grenades, police or military grade radio, fancy smartphones, hand cuffs, etc. Or money enough to buy them or equivalents.
New rating: 1 Normal dice + 2 Thinker dice + 2 Brute dice = Total 5, unskilled target of 5. Total: 5d6t5. Congratulations, you are an average cape.
Power quirks: You reroll and keep the best. You cannot roll less than 3 successes.
Objectives
Cure Mum's deadly cancer.
Catch Coil and learn why he wants your power.
Prevent a crisis like the one in Canada. Talk to an expert in Parahumans.
Defeat the Endbringers, or mitigate them if possible.
Fix your life. You're an unemployed, unqualified immigrant with sick family and medical debts.
Don't lose your soul to the Sands of Time.
Knowledge of Futures Past
Your mother's spinal cancer is metastasizing into her brain.
In two weeks she will die without parahuman healing. Expensive life support equipment can keep her alive, but by then, even the touch of Panacea will not restore her lost mind.
You have considered alternatives to Panacea. Cask the chemical Tinker in PRT:Anchorage. Bitter Pill the drug Tinker of Mexico. Othala the E88 Trump who can grant regeneration. Coil claimed to have a true cure, which you rejected.
Your father will be receiving news of your mother now. It will break him, without your support.
Should Coil discover your power to rewind time, he will wear two faces. One will be kind, and offer medicines and riches. The other will be cruel, and create traps and hardships.
You know his true name: Thomas Calvert. A PRT advisor, consultant, and trouble shooter.
In two weeks - on November 14, 2010 - Hadhayosh, aka the Behemoth, will destroy Mexico City.
In three weeks, the Heartbreaker Nikos Vasil gained a variant of the Dagger of TIme and sacrificed his children to seize time's throne. The Dark Prince was erased from the timeline, but will another be born?
Your second iteration did not survive four weeks.
Choices
You are an ocean in a storm, subject to the winds of fate. But the Mask of the Sand Wraith can hide even from the tyranny of stars.
Dare you disrupt the timeline further?
[][Mask] No. Enter the Dagger of Time, replace the Sands, and take the place of your third iteration.
- You will control your younger body, whole and unhurt, with all your powers, memories and the broken dagger.
- All of eternity lies inside of time, but not everything.
[][Mask] Yes. Wear the Mask of the Sand Wraith and take the Dagger of Time.
-[] Optional write in. How do do treat your first iteration? Punch him? Ask something? Hug? What will you do with your innocent third iteration?
- When you take off the Mask, there will be two Princes. One soft and naive; one hardened and hurt.
- There cannot be two thrones. There is only one Dagger of Time and it cannot be shared.
- Your mortal body is still on the edge of death. Luckily, you are near a hospital. Young Prince will take you there. He's a nice boy, if hopeless.
- Gain more medical debt. But what is a drop to the ocean?
- Gain an injury penalty. Lose 1 Brute dice. Effective rating will be 4 until you heal. Could take a week or two.
When the sand storm clears, you'll be back on the street with the knife wielding maniac. Except you're the maniac with a knife now. Even if its broken.
In your second iteration you did nothing to the boy. Two weeks later, he had "E88" tattooed on his face. He joined a riot against the PRT-ENE. Presumably he completes his initiation with a different victim.
You are not who you were. What will you do with the boy?
[][Boy] Nothing. He looks scared. He's just some kid. Let him run.
[][Boy] Punish. Beat the shit out of him.
[][Boy] Murder. This was an attempt on your life. Sacrifice him to the Dagger of Time.
A tangled path lies before you.
What path will you take in this third iteration?
[][Path] Go visit your parents in hospital.
- Your father might avoid a mental breakdown. He could be an ally, instead of a hindrance.
- This will be very awkward if you wear the Mask of the Sand Wraith. "Hi folks, I'm the third son you never knew you had. We're twins! Is it okay if I hug you for a really long time? Why are you calling the PRT?"
[][Path] Go to the PRT. Sign up like a good cape. Again.
- You have knowledge of future disasters, if they believe you.
- The wheels of bureaucracy have immense power, but they turn very slowly.
- Fast way to regain your Resourceful bonus. Gain 1d6t4 as equipment, including confoam.
- You've walked this path before, but can one cross a river twice?
- "Hi Gary. Hi Karen. No, we haven't met before. Yes, I do know you. I know all about you. Put the gun down."
[][Path] Go on a short crime spree.
- You know some targets from your time in the Protectorate.
- Fastest way to regain your Resourceful bonus. Gain 1d6t4 as equipment.
- Choose a new costume, cape identity, and equipment loadout.
- Afterwards, choose your target. Othala of Empire 88, Coil, Panacea, Bitter Pill, Cask, or go to university to seek a parahuman expert.
- Time burns. This is a fast path.
- Great way to make a debut.
- Due to past actions, this defaults to an aggressive approach. Smash and grab!
-[] Optional write in for style, preparations, another target, or a shopping list.
- [] Target an ABB crack house and brothel.
- - Money is good.
- - Equipment options are poor.
-[] Target an E88 gun smuggler.
- - Guns and money.
-[] Target the rich Boardwalk.
- - Everything you could need.
- - High security and fast response times.
- - "Hi Gallant. Hi Kid Win. Hi Rory. Oops, I meant Triumph. My bad."
-[] Target the popular market.
- - Lots of people, low security, random equipment and money.
- - Someone will be selling replica swords. Someone might sell armour and costumes.
-[] Target the PRT compound.
- - Risky, but you know the passwords, the people, where everything is, and how to disable trackers.
- - The full spread of PRT equipment will be available without the paperwork. Confoam get.
- - No money, unless you roll very well and steal extra to sell.
- - Steal a motorbike on the way out.
[][Path] Write in. You have the Mask. Your destiny is your own.
Thank you for reading.
This weird outside time perspective won't last. Prince will be back to normal next chapter. By coincidence, it fits nicely with the Sand Wraith themes. It's nice when things justify themselves.
I have no idea when the next chapter will be. Could take two weeks or more. Could take a few days for a small chapter.
I'm trying to keep things smaller and tighter, ~2k words or less. The Canada Arc felt sloppy and there weren't any characters to bounce off each other.
Is there anything I should be doing better?
It took 7 months and 54k words to deliver what was promised in the first chapter.
[x][Mask] Yes. Wear the Mask of the Sand Wraith and take the Dagger of Time.
-[X] The wheel of time has left it's marks, but they are ours to bear. We should guide our younger self to a better future.
[X][Boy] Nothing. He looks scared. He's just some kid. Let him run.
[X][Path] Go to the PRT. Sign up like a good cape. Again.
[X][Mask] Yes. Wear the Mask of the Sand Wraith and take the Dagger of Time.
-[X] The wheel of time has left it's marks, but they are ours to bear. We should guide our younger self to a better future.
[X][Boy] Nothing. He looks scared. He's just some kid. Let him run.
[X][Path] Go to the PRT. Sign up like a good cape. Again.
[X][Mask] Yes. Wear the Mask of the Sand Wraith and take the Dagger of Time.
-[X] The wheel of time has left it's marks, but they are ours to bear. We should guide our younger self to a better future.
[X][Boy] Nothing. He looks scared. He's just some kid. Let him run.
[X][Path] Go to the PRT. Sign up like a good cape. Again.
[X][Mask] No. Enter the Dagger of Time, replace the Sands, and take the place of your third iteration.
- I am thou... Thou art I... From the future, I come...
Burdened by knowledge, we shall make a new line better than the one before.
[X][Boy] Nothing. He looks scared. He's just some kid. Let him run.
[X][Path] Go to the PRT. Sign up like a good cape. Again.
[X][Mask] No. Enter the Dagger of Time, replace the Sands, and take the place of your third iteration.
[X][Boy] Nothing. He looks scared. He's just some kid. Let him run.
[X][Path] Go to the PRT. Sign up like a good cape. Again.
- [X] Make Panacea curing our mother immediately a pre-condition of employment
