Kermie
Surprisingly Not A Frog
- Location
- Somewhere On The Planet
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
C'mon, we could get a ghost body to send out if we take Grey! Doesn't that sound cool at least?
Reborn as a Book: The [TBD] [ERROR] of the… System’s Pre-Integration Testing?
- Thread starter Runetyr
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi Fantasy
I think that's highly unlikely. Although Grey does sound interesting on second thought. Still not above Pastel Yellow or Light Green for me though.
As funny as this is, do you realize this is choosing what we read first? The length of time it takes to read each one is probably important. I'm guessing we have a certain amount of time before something else happens.
Well I also don't really have a preference so…
[X] Deep Blue
[X] Tan
[X] Grey
[X] Tan
[X] Grey
- Location
- Somewhere between the stars
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] White
[X] Grey
Really interesting premise so far, and not gonna lie. My first thought when i saw idol, was like a hololive v-tuber figurine statue, instead of like the more proper God idol. Which would be kinda funny, your now just Calliope Mori
White seems most interesting to me from the describtions, even if the copying time is semi long
[X] Grey
Really interesting premise so far, and not gonna lie. My first thought when i saw idol, was like a hololive v-tuber figurine statue, instead of like the more proper God idol. Which would be kinda funny, your now just Calliope Mori
White seems most interesting to me from the describtions, even if the copying time is semi long
Last edited:
[X] Light Green
[X] Pastel Yellow
[X] White
I like Light Green as the first one who spoke to us. I find it interesting that she showed to us first, but we are worried she may run away. I think I'd like to learn from her first, on the off chance that a part of our psyche knows she may not be around for long. Its just a weird feeling, but it's something to go on.
Pastel Yellow seems like a good teacher to us, which sounds good. It appears we could use a little bit of a lesson in taking some things more seriously as well perhaps. Maybe PY could help!
With white we are joining a whole new world, as a magical item no less with no way of seeing the world, comfort and hope I feel is about as important as anything that could be taught to us.
[X] Pastel Yellow
[X] White
I like Light Green as the first one who spoke to us. I find it interesting that she showed to us first, but we are worried she may run away. I think I'd like to learn from her first, on the off chance that a part of our psyche knows she may not be around for long. Its just a weird feeling, but it's something to go on.
Pastel Yellow seems like a good teacher to us, which sounds good. It appears we could use a little bit of a lesson in taking some things more seriously as well perhaps. Maybe PY could help!
With white we are joining a whole new world, as a magical item no less with no way of seeing the world, comfort and hope I feel is about as important as anything that could be taught to us.
Alright, two to three hours left and a four way tie! Let's discuss the options.
At this point all we can do is speculate on the actual contents of the books, it would be unwise to vote based on what abilities we think they'd give us. My guess is most or all of them will not be spell books or books that give us skills or other abilities. Their main value is in helping us understand this new world and the cultures within it. In that regard there isn't much too go off of besides their vibe or "personality" such that it is.
One thing to keep in mind is their copy time, which I assume is based off of length though it could also factor in each text's complexity. The pros of shorter texts are obviously that we can copy them quicker and have more room left over afterwards, which may be important depending on when we get interrupted. I assume we won't be able to finish the entire shelf otherwise there'd be no point in voting. The pros of longer texts are that if we're interested in the book's subject matter it will likely go more in depth on it and it may have a greater variety of information than the shorter texts. Of course that isn't guaranteed, as texts can be denser or contain more fluff and description, but it should be a general trend.
Light Green is at the higher end of the shorter books, and seems fairly mysterious, but not in a spooky way like Grey.
Deep Blue seems pretty wise, he reminds me of books of Folklore for some reason. He could likely offer some insights into the setting. It's also the shortest to copy.
Iron seems the most interesting to me, it's the longest of the four leading books, and just seems like it would be a good read to me. The kind of book that might describe the wonders of the setting.
Grey it should be stated I have a bias against, it's the only one of leading options I have not voted for. The reasons being that it's described as spooky, I don't like reading horror and while it is mysterious, I just can't picture anything it could be about that I would like. I don't think it's a spell book, but if it was it would be more likely to contain necromancy spells than energy constructs. Which by the way is a negative for me. I really don't want to go the morally grey/evil necromancer route.
That's the top four, I might do another post talking about some of the others but I want to post this while there is still time left to discuss and vote.
At this point all we can do is speculate on the actual contents of the books, it would be unwise to vote based on what abilities we think they'd give us. My guess is most or all of them will not be spell books or books that give us skills or other abilities. Their main value is in helping us understand this new world and the cultures within it. In that regard there isn't much too go off of besides their vibe or "personality" such that it is.
One thing to keep in mind is their copy time, which I assume is based off of length though it could also factor in each text's complexity. The pros of shorter texts are obviously that we can copy them quicker and have more room left over afterwards, which may be important depending on when we get interrupted. I assume we won't be able to finish the entire shelf otherwise there'd be no point in voting. The pros of longer texts are that if we're interested in the book's subject matter it will likely go more in depth on it and it may have a greater variety of information than the shorter texts. Of course that isn't guaranteed, as texts can be denser or contain more fluff and description, but it should be a general trend.
Light Green is at the higher end of the shorter books, and seems fairly mysterious, but not in a spooky way like Grey.
Deep Blue seems pretty wise, he reminds me of books of Folklore for some reason. He could likely offer some insights into the setting. It's also the shortest to copy.
Iron seems the most interesting to me, it's the longest of the four leading books, and just seems like it would be a good read to me. The kind of book that might describe the wonders of the setting.
Grey it should be stated I have a bias against, it's the only one of leading options I have not voted for. The reasons being that it's described as spooky, I don't like reading horror and while it is mysterious, I just can't picture anything it could be about that I would like. I don't think it's a spell book, but if it was it would be more likely to contain necromancy spells than energy constructs. Which by the way is a negative for me. I really don't want to go the morally grey/evil necromancer route.
That's the top four, I might do another post talking about some of the others but I want to post this while there is still time left to discuss and vote.
Last edited:
Another thing to keep in mind is that although we have the ability to enact spacial warping hijinks on the text within us, we don't have unlimited pages. This isn't just choosing what book to read, it's choosing what we want inscribed on our pages. If someone picks us up this will be the information we can offer them.
Actually a few questions for the QM: Can we erase words? How long does that take? Is there any mana cost to doing so? And this is unrelated but how do we earn Xp? Or is that something we have to figure out on our own?
Actually a few questions for the QM: Can we erase words? How long does that take? Is there any mana cost to doing so? And this is unrelated but how do we earn Xp? Or is that something we have to figure out on our own?
I will start off by saying, yes. I prefer if you learn as the character does.
That said. At least some of that will atleast be brought up in the next chapter. Otherwise I will refer you to your skills for now.
Okay! Quick recap!
We have under 30 minutes left and a 4-way tie! This is getting exciting!
I would like to say, I have really been enjoying reading the reasonings and thought processes. While I won't confirm anything OOC, some are at least going in the right directions.
Apologies that I was a bit short with my response earlier. I didn't give as much thought at the time, I was in the middle of something. So I hope this helps clear things up a little.
As I said earlier, Yes! I prefer learning along with the character. I personally think it adds more to the story experience. Also being a DM for RPGs, I'm a bit poisoned towards Meta Knowledge.
That said, I am happy to answer questions! Especially if there seems to be a good deal of confusion. Does not mean I will answer mechanics questions, per say, but I will do my best!
So to answer a little bit of what was asked as best I can: As for erasing things, inherently it should be possible with the Writing Skill. If that means you can edit what you copy is a different story and will take some experimentation most likely. Same goes for mana cost.
For XP... this is going to be addressed in story sooner rather than later.
I hope this helped! I look forward to see this votes results!
We have under 30 minutes left and a 4-way tie! This is getting exciting!
I would like to say, I have really been enjoying reading the reasonings and thought processes. While I won't confirm anything OOC, some are at least going in the right directions.
Apologies that I was a bit short with my response earlier. I didn't give as much thought at the time, I was in the middle of something. So I hope this helps clear things up a little.
As I said earlier, Yes! I prefer learning along with the character. I personally think it adds more to the story experience. Also being a DM for RPGs, I'm a bit poisoned towards Meta Knowledge.
That said, I am happy to answer questions! Especially if there seems to be a good deal of confusion. Does not mean I will answer mechanics questions, per say, but I will do my best!
So to answer a little bit of what was asked as best I can: As for erasing things, inherently it should be possible with the Writing Skill. If that means you can edit what you copy is a different story and will take some experimentation most likely. Same goes for mana cost.
For XP... this is going to be addressed in story sooner rather than later.
I hope this helped! I look forward to see this votes results!
- Location
- Boston
Let me skate in for the photo finish then
[X] Light Green
[X] Light Green
Vote 1 Closed
New
Almost chapter 2 time!
Chapter 2
New
Mentally, I took a step back. 'Okay, okay, Nakia. You're getting all worked up about what book to read. Chill. It might be the only thing I can do right now, but…' I forced myself to focus. 'Breathe. In through the pages, out through the… pages? Right. I'm a book. I've got all the time in the world. Keep it simple.'
I steadied myself, trying to let the… the overexcited beating of my heart— 'No, wait. That's gone.' I don't have a heart anymore. But I still had the mind of someone who used to. That rush of thoughts, that weird, buzzy feeling when things got overwhelming? Yeah, still there.
'Used to…' My thoughts trailed off as I actually thought about it. 'I'm a book. I'm in a completely different world. This is all real, isn't it?' Sitting in that white void, making the choices. It had all been rather over whelming and I had just gone along with it. Not that I was complaining, much. Being a book was… interesting so far. Plus, 'I do have other books to read to keep me busy, at least.'
But even as I told myself that, a familiar dull ache settled in my center. Homesickness. I felt the warmth of the rhythms again, their gentle whispers buffeting against me. It was like they knew what I needed, even without me asking.
'Aw, thanks, guys,' I thought, the ache easing just a little. 'I'll be fine. Just… a lot to take in, I guess.'
'Right. Let's get this started. I chooooose… light green. Now… how do I do this? Is it like a spell… or do I do the Power Rangers thing and call out the name?' I thought of my scroll, and it unraveled before me. 'What was it again? Ah, yes. Echoing Script.' I focused on the skill and the light green rhythm. Something seemed to click into place and I watched as my mana ticked down.
Mana: 682/732(824)
The other rhythms started to fade, like they were stepping back to give someone else the stage. Not gone, just… quieter. That's when light green began to grow. The light thickened, gaining weight—if that even made sense—and her whispers got stronger. Not enough to make out, though.
'Oh. Oh, that itches. Ho! Oh!' The sensation hit me all at once, like an itch and a tickle. It spread across my pages, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to laugh, shiver, or… sneeze? Can books sneeze? 'I wanna sneeze.'
I focused on the feeling, and that's when I saw it—writing, appearing on my pages. Each letter traced out in light green, slow and careful, like it was taking its time to get everything just right. After the outline was done, black ink filled in the letters, neat and tidy. But even then, the black wasn't just black. It had this subtle shimmer of green to it, like it couldn't quite let go of the light that had created it.
'Thankfully,' I thought as the sensation continued, 'the ink filled in dry. That would suck if I stained my own pages doing this!'
The itch-tickle combo eased a bit as more letters appeared, though the strangeness of it all lingered. 'This is… definitely a new kind of weird. I wonder if this is what getting a tattoo feels like?'
'Huh, not sure this is exactly what I was expecting, but…' I listened to Light Green's, no… Wildlife's rhythm and the comfort it gave off. 'It makes sense. Not only that, that is Wildlife I am 'listening' to. Not the author. They may have penned the words, but those words make up who, or rather what, Wildlife is.' I thought it over a few moments more before focusing back in on the text that was being transcribed into me.
Wildlife was… wow. Definitely an interesting read. Right from the start, it had this soothing, inviting vibe, like it was saying, "Come on in, the woods are fine!" The tone wrapped around me, pulling me into its world of tangled woods, lowland fields, and gently rolling meadows.
The entries weren't just text; they came with the kind of soft sketches that made you feel like the artist really knew these creatures. Like they'd sat in the bushes for hours, watching and waiting just to get them right. There was the Velvet-Horn Briarstag, all elegance and moss-like thorns that covered its antlers. The Burrow-Furred Fizzle Hare, which sounded like it might sneeze itself into a puff of fur at any moment. Oh! And the Rust-Tail Brushfox—classic fox vibes but with that extra touch of whimsy.
Each creature came with these neat little descriptions, behavioral notes, and even tips for spotting their subtle signs. 'Like tracking a Brushfox's paw prints? Heck yes, please!' The pictures nearly making up for the fact that I would never actually see one.
And the maps! Oh man, the maps were something else. Simple, sure, but you could tell they'd been drawn with so much care. They showed dens, foraging grounds, and watering holes, like little treasure maps leading straight to these creatures' homes. 'It's like someone took the time to say, "Hey, this is their world too, and it's worth sharing."'
I couldn't help but soak it all in. If I still had lungs, I would've sighed. 'This book is pure magic! Oh man! I can't believe the detail they put into this!'
'If only it hadn't taken so long to transfer over!' It took longer than I had expected, but then again the pain staking precision with which each letter had been written… 'If I had actually been reading the book, I would have read it so much faster. I guess that could be a draw back of the skill? It is listed as Level 1… Wait, what's that?'
Race: Handbook, Level 0
Experience: 1.63/100
I had gained experience! 'What?! How?! What did I do? Was it from copying over Wildlife?' I stared at the number glowing in my mind. I had been so busy going over the text and admiring the drawings, I hadn't even noticed until after the copying had completed. '? That's so specific! But who cares? I got XP! Boom shaka laka BOOM!'
The thrill of that revelation alone had me buzzing, but it wasn't even the best part. Echoing Script—it didn't just transfer over the book. Nope. It had brought everything with it. Every handwritten comment, every little note in the margins, all of it. Personal encounters, sightings, things that worked for them and things that didn't.
'Eryngo, Wildlife was your book too!'
'I… don't think you wrote it like you did me, but still! That is your writing in the margins! I can recognize your handwriting anywhere! Wait…' I shifted my focus. The words and images across my pages began to shift and slide about as I dug through the information. 'You've been to some of these places. No, we've been to some of these places. I can see your own maps of them. Here… this one is the most recent…'
'This isn't too long before they disappeared… yada yada… possible sighting… grayberry bushes… Oh, Eryngo. Did you try and find this creature?'
Mana: 814/814(824)
'It looks like my mana is back to normal too. The 50 I was down refilled while I was copying the book.' When the lock was done though, the mana that had been locked away was gone. 'I didn't realize I was gonna have to regen that too. Hmm, makes mana planning a bit more important, eh? It does say 1 Stamina and Mana per minute. So that's pretty decent I guess, especially since the Admin said that is tough to do, or something. I guess that is a good way as any to keep track of time at the very least.' I studied my scroll intently.
Traits
Native - Your form resonates with the fabric of this world, marking you as one of its own.
Effect: Local creatures and inhabitants are less likely to treat you as an outsider or threat. You gain a slight edge in understanding the environment, customs, or languages.
Skills
Reading - Level 1
Description: You possess the inherent ability to comprehend any text written within you, regardless of language or medium. As long as it's inscribed in your pages, you understand its meaning entirely.
Inherent
Writing - Level 1
Description: You can inscribe new words or symbols into your own pages at will. The writing appears as if created by an invisible hand and can include any language or cipher you understand. This ability allows you to record thoughts, observations, or information directly.
Inherent
Resonant Scribe – Level 1
Description: By harmonizing the rhythm of your internal content with the ambient knowledge around you, you generate a steady flow of energy that restores both physical and magical energy. This synergy of internal and external order fuels your vitality and intellect alike.
Passive: You regain 1 Stamina and 1 Mana per Minute
Analyze - Level 1
Description: You can delve deeper into the essence of anything written in your pages or within your Aura Detection range. Analyze reveals intricate details such as magical properties, hidden meanings, or historical context, giving your wielder unparalleled insight.
Active: 10 Mana
Infinite Layers - Level 1
Description: Your pages defy the laws of physical space, allowing you to hold an infinite amount of knowledge and writing. Text begins to shift and overlap in surreal layers, with each piece of information accessible through intent or specific searching methods.
Inherent: Locks 1.1% of Mana.
Echoing Script - Level 1
Description: When placed near another book, scroll, or written text, you can absorb its contents into your own pages. This creates an exact copy of the text within you. The process is subtle and undetectable, preserving both the original material and your copied version. Over time, this skill could expand to copying enchantments or magical properties tied to the written work.
Active Ongoing: 60 Mana. Locks 10% of Mana while in use.
'Hey! My XP went up again!' I tried to flutter my pages in excitement, forgetting I was wedged between other things. Nothing so much as twitched, and honestly, I wasn't sure if it would have even if I wasn't stuck. 'It's at 1.64 now. How?! I didn't copy anything new… I wonder what I did?'
Back home, I'd played some games. Mostly idle sims, because it allowed me to do other things while I played, but a few friends had roped me into trying Dungeons & Dragons. It had been a lot of fun, even though I never got to become a werewolf, and I knew enough to figure out the basics of how XP worked. Most of the time, you got it by killing things.
I felt about myself. Still only the two flattish surfaces on my sides and some dust beneath me. No corpses. Check. I flicked through my pages. Nothing smothered, besides the pressed plants, between them. Check. No ominous bloodstains on my cover, that I could tell. Triple check.
'Okay, so maybe it wasn't combat-related. Quests? Yeah, quests could give you XP too, if this world played by similar rules. But maybe not? Since I don't think you could be a book in D&D.' I zeroed in on my scroll again, hoping for some answers. 'Uh, quests?' I focused like I did to pull up my scroll. Nothing.
'Weird. I mean, I don't recall seeing any notifications for a quest,' I mused, 'and it's not like I could've missed them. Unless they're, like, super subtle? Or invisible?' That idea felt unfair. It was one thing to complete a 'hidden' quest, but not to receive an acknowledgment for doing so?
I grumbled inwardly, poking at the mystery like it might suddenly explain itself. 'Well, at least I'm getting XP… whatever it's from. But now I have more questions… like why was it so little?'
Majority Vote! With Approval!
[ ] Copy another Book
- Write in which Book
- Copy Time Still Applies
[ ] Piece through Eryngo's notes
- What happened to you writer? He clearly had a connection with the other books. What does Wildlife of the Western Thickets actually have to say about him?
[ ] Experiment with a Skill
- Write in Skill
[ ] Focus on the Rhythms
- Now that you've copied one of the books, can you use that to try and 'read' the rhythms and determine their content? Or perhaps there are other things you may have missed?
[ ] Focus on Surroundings
- Is there something you missed? Where actually are you?
[ ] Write In
- This is a chance to test a theory if you have one. Or do something you would like to check.
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:00 PM Until Vote Closes
I steadied myself, trying to let the… the overexcited beating of my heart— 'No, wait. That's gone.' I don't have a heart anymore. But I still had the mind of someone who used to. That rush of thoughts, that weird, buzzy feeling when things got overwhelming? Yeah, still there.
'Used to…' My thoughts trailed off as I actually thought about it. 'I'm a book. I'm in a completely different world. This is all real, isn't it?' Sitting in that white void, making the choices. It had all been rather over whelming and I had just gone along with it. Not that I was complaining, much. Being a book was… interesting so far. Plus, 'I do have other books to read to keep me busy, at least.'
But even as I told myself that, a familiar dull ache settled in my center. Homesickness. I felt the warmth of the rhythms again, their gentle whispers buffeting against me. It was like they knew what I needed, even without me asking.
'Aw, thanks, guys,' I thought, the ache easing just a little. 'I'll be fine. Just… a lot to take in, I guess.'
'Right. Let's get this started. I chooooose… light green. Now… how do I do this? Is it like a spell… or do I do the Power Rangers thing and call out the name?' I thought of my scroll, and it unraveled before me. 'What was it again? Ah, yes. Echoing Script.' I focused on the skill and the light green rhythm. Something seemed to click into place and I watched as my mana ticked down.
Mana: 682/732(824)
The other rhythms started to fade, like they were stepping back to give someone else the stage. Not gone, just… quieter. That's when light green began to grow. The light thickened, gaining weight—if that even made sense—and her whispers got stronger. Not enough to make out, though.
'Oh. Oh, that itches. Ho! Oh!' The sensation hit me all at once, like an itch and a tickle. It spread across my pages, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to laugh, shiver, or… sneeze? Can books sneeze? 'I wanna sneeze.'
I focused on the feeling, and that's when I saw it—writing, appearing on my pages. Each letter traced out in light green, slow and careful, like it was taking its time to get everything just right. After the outline was done, black ink filled in the letters, neat and tidy. But even then, the black wasn't just black. It had this subtle shimmer of green to it, like it couldn't quite let go of the light that had created it.
'Thankfully,' I thought as the sensation continued, 'the ink filled in dry. That would suck if I stained my own pages doing this!'
The itch-tickle combo eased a bit as more letters appeared, though the strangeness of it all lingered. 'This is… definitely a new kind of weird. I wonder if this is what getting a tattoo feels like?'
Wildlife of the Western Thickets
'Huh, not sure this is exactly what I was expecting, but…' I listened to Light Green's, no… Wildlife's rhythm and the comfort it gave off. 'It makes sense. Not only that, that is Wildlife I am 'listening' to. Not the author. They may have penned the words, but those words make up who, or rather what, Wildlife is.' I thought it over a few moments more before focusing back in on the text that was being transcribed into me.
Come closer now, little one, for I promise I mean you no harm. Let us sit quietly beside the old willow, where the breeze plays with the leaves, and watch our gentle neighbors roam the thickets. May this guide serve as a lamp in the twilight, showing you the shapes and shadows that call these woodlands home. We need not fear what we understand. Instead, with knowledge, we show respect to the furred and feathered souls who share our paths.
Wildlife was… wow. Definitely an interesting read. Right from the start, it had this soothing, inviting vibe, like it was saying, "Come on in, the woods are fine!" The tone wrapped around me, pulling me into its world of tangled woods, lowland fields, and gently rolling meadows.
The entries weren't just text; they came with the kind of soft sketches that made you feel like the artist really knew these creatures. Like they'd sat in the bushes for hours, watching and waiting just to get them right. There was the Velvet-Horn Briarstag, all elegance and moss-like thorns that covered its antlers. The Burrow-Furred Fizzle Hare, which sounded like it might sneeze itself into a puff of fur at any moment. Oh! And the Rust-Tail Brushfox—classic fox vibes but with that extra touch of whimsy.
Each creature came with these neat little descriptions, behavioral notes, and even tips for spotting their subtle signs. 'Like tracking a Brushfox's paw prints? Heck yes, please!' The pictures nearly making up for the fact that I would never actually see one.
And the maps! Oh man, the maps were something else. Simple, sure, but you could tell they'd been drawn with so much care. They showed dens, foraging grounds, and watering holes, like little treasure maps leading straight to these creatures' homes. 'It's like someone took the time to say, "Hey, this is their world too, and it's worth sharing."'
I couldn't help but soak it all in. If I still had lungs, I would've sighed. 'This book is pure magic! Oh man! I can't believe the detail they put into this!'
'If only it hadn't taken so long to transfer over!' It took longer than I had expected, but then again the pain staking precision with which each letter had been written… 'If I had actually been reading the book, I would have read it so much faster. I guess that could be a draw back of the skill? It is listed as Level 1… Wait, what's that?'
Race: Handbook, Level 0
Experience: 1.63/100
I had gained experience! 'What?! How?! What did I do? Was it from copying over Wildlife?' I stared at the number glowing in my mind. I had been so busy going over the text and admiring the drawings, I hadn't even noticed until after the copying had completed. '? That's so specific! But who cares? I got XP! Boom shaka laka BOOM!'
The thrill of that revelation alone had me buzzing, but it wasn't even the best part. Echoing Script—it didn't just transfer over the book. Nope. It had brought everything with it. Every handwritten comment, every little note in the margins, all of it. Personal encounters, sightings, things that worked for them and things that didn't.
'Eryngo, Wildlife was your book too!'
'I… don't think you wrote it like you did me, but still! That is your writing in the margins! I can recognize your handwriting anywhere! Wait…' I shifted my focus. The words and images across my pages began to shift and slide about as I dug through the information. 'You've been to some of these places. No, we've been to some of these places. I can see your own maps of them. Here… this one is the most recent…'
Take heed, little one, for among the soft rustle of leaves and the glow of emberwasps lies the domain of the Ash-Horn Nightstalker, a creature both reclusive and fiercely protective of its range. You will know its territory by the ragged scratches it leaves at the base of grayberry bushes, the resin being paralytic to any other beast. If you come across these markings, walk lightly, lest you stir its slumber.
Should you chance upon a Nightstalker, resist the urge to brandish blade or bow. Calm your breath, lower your gaze, and let it sense your stillness. Slowly place a handful of sweet, crushed frostroot at the edge of its path. The scent will soothe its ire—enough that you may retreat without bloodshed. In this quiet exchange, you respect the beast's authority over its home and avoid needless harm to you or the Nightstalker.
If you remember only one lesson here, remember this: Understanding the ways of the forest's guardians grants you safe passage. In reading these pages, you hold a key to peace over conflict, and I pray you use it with a gentle hand.
Should you chance upon a Nightstalker, resist the urge to brandish blade or bow. Calm your breath, lower your gaze, and let it sense your stillness. Slowly place a handful of sweet, crushed frostroot at the edge of its path. The scent will soothe its ire—enough that you may retreat without bloodshed. In this quiet exchange, you respect the beast's authority over its home and avoid needless harm to you or the Nightstalker.
If you remember only one lesson here, remember this: Understanding the ways of the forest's guardians grants you safe passage. In reading these pages, you hold a key to peace over conflict, and I pray you use it with a gentle hand.
'This isn't too long before they disappeared… yada yada… possible sighting… grayberry bushes… Oh, Eryngo. Did you try and find this creature?'
Mana: 814/814(824)
'It looks like my mana is back to normal too. The 50 I was down refilled while I was copying the book.' When the lock was done though, the mana that had been locked away was gone. 'I didn't realize I was gonna have to regen that too. Hmm, makes mana planning a bit more important, eh? It does say 1 Stamina and Mana per minute. So that's pretty decent I guess, especially since the Admin said that is tough to do, or something. I guess that is a good way as any to keep track of time at the very least.' I studied my scroll intently.
| Name: Nakia Davids | |
| Species: Handbook, Level 0 | Experience: 1.63/100 |
| Health: 25/25 | |
| Stamina: 26/26 | Mana: 814/814 (824) |
Traits
Native - Your form resonates with the fabric of this world, marking you as one of its own.
Effect: Local creatures and inhabitants are less likely to treat you as an outsider or threat. You gain a slight edge in understanding the environment, customs, or languages.
Skills
Reading - Level 1
Description: You possess the inherent ability to comprehend any text written within you, regardless of language or medium. As long as it's inscribed in your pages, you understand its meaning entirely.
Inherent
Writing - Level 1
Description: You can inscribe new words or symbols into your own pages at will. The writing appears as if created by an invisible hand and can include any language or cipher you understand. This ability allows you to record thoughts, observations, or information directly.
Inherent
Resonant Scribe – Level 1
Description: By harmonizing the rhythm of your internal content with the ambient knowledge around you, you generate a steady flow of energy that restores both physical and magical energy. This synergy of internal and external order fuels your vitality and intellect alike.
Passive: You regain 1 Stamina and 1 Mana per Minute
Analyze - Level 1
Description: You can delve deeper into the essence of anything written in your pages or within your Aura Detection range. Analyze reveals intricate details such as magical properties, hidden meanings, or historical context, giving your wielder unparalleled insight.
Active: 10 Mana
Infinite Layers - Level 1
Description: Your pages defy the laws of physical space, allowing you to hold an infinite amount of knowledge and writing. Text begins to shift and overlap in surreal layers, with each piece of information accessible through intent or specific searching methods.
Inherent: Locks 1.1% of Mana.
Echoing Script - Level 1
Description: When placed near another book, scroll, or written text, you can absorb its contents into your own pages. This creates an exact copy of the text within you. The process is subtle and undetectable, preserving both the original material and your copied version. Over time, this skill could expand to copying enchantments or magical properties tied to the written work.
Active Ongoing: 60 Mana. Locks 10% of Mana while in use.
'Hey! My XP went up again!' I tried to flutter my pages in excitement, forgetting I was wedged between other things. Nothing so much as twitched, and honestly, I wasn't sure if it would have even if I wasn't stuck. 'It's at 1.64 now. How?! I didn't copy anything new… I wonder what I did?'
Back home, I'd played some games. Mostly idle sims, because it allowed me to do other things while I played, but a few friends had roped me into trying Dungeons & Dragons. It had been a lot of fun, even though I never got to become a werewolf, and I knew enough to figure out the basics of how XP worked. Most of the time, you got it by killing things.
I felt about myself. Still only the two flattish surfaces on my sides and some dust beneath me. No corpses. Check. I flicked through my pages. Nothing smothered, besides the pressed plants, between them. Check. No ominous bloodstains on my cover, that I could tell. Triple check.
'Okay, so maybe it wasn't combat-related. Quests? Yeah, quests could give you XP too, if this world played by similar rules. But maybe not? Since I don't think you could be a book in D&D.' I zeroed in on my scroll again, hoping for some answers. 'Uh, quests?' I focused like I did to pull up my scroll. Nothing.
'Weird. I mean, I don't recall seeing any notifications for a quest,' I mused, 'and it's not like I could've missed them. Unless they're, like, super subtle? Or invisible?' That idea felt unfair. It was one thing to complete a 'hidden' quest, but not to receive an acknowledgment for doing so?
I grumbled inwardly, poking at the mystery like it might suddenly explain itself. 'Well, at least I'm getting XP… whatever it's from. But now I have more questions… like why was it so little?'
I hope you all enjoyed Chapter 2! Some of you may be starting to figure out some of the basics! I look forward to hearing your theories and thoughts.
I kept this chapter a little simple, didn't want to get into too much too quickly but still wanted to touch on a few things. Show how some things seem to work, etc. I also wanted to introduce a couple more options of what to potentially get into at this point. You are still a book, so obviously things may be a little limited at first, but I still want things to be interesting and engaging.
I kept this chapter a little simple, didn't want to get into too much too quickly but still wanted to touch on a few things. Show how some things seem to work, etc. I also wanted to introduce a couple more options of what to potentially get into at this point. You are still a book, so obviously things may be a little limited at first, but I still want things to be interesting and engaging.
Majority Vote! With Approval!
[ ] Copy another Book
- Write in which Book
- Copy Time Still Applies
Reddish-brown – White – Deep Blue – Pastel Yellow – Tan – Grey – Iron
[ ] Piece through Eryngo's notes
- What happened to you writer? He clearly had a connection with the other books. What does Wildlife of the Western Thickets actually have to say about him?
[ ] Experiment with a Skill
- Write in Skill
[ ] Focus on the Rhythms
- Now that you've copied one of the books, can you use that to try and 'read' the rhythms and determine their content? Or perhaps there are other things you may have missed?
[ ] Focus on Surroundings
- Is there something you missed? Where actually are you?
[ ] Write In
- This is a chance to test a theory if you have one. Or do something you would like to check.
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:00 PM Until Vote Closes
Last edited:
- Location
- Philippines
Fun thought if they could get an ability to make familiar or a very low lvl precision attack spell should they try attacking book lice, silver fish and termites?
I just want to say how much I love this quest. We're still relatively early in, but the world just feels so real. I like that you add these little details like Nakia wanting to become a werewolf in D&D. Small details that might not come up again. I also love the names of the animals. You've really created a sense of wonder and magic for me.
Oh, and the character sheet under the spoiler has the Xp listed as 0/100 when earlier Nakia said he had 1.63/100.
Thank you for making this.
Oh, and the character sheet under the spoiler has the Xp listed as 0/100 when earlier Nakia said he had 1.63/100.
Thank you for making this.
Thank you kindly! It really does mean a lot to hear readers are enjoying it. The world is a really important bit for me, adding in those details that actually make it pop as a reality, rather than a place the story happens to be in. I will admit, it is tough work, making sure you aren't saying too much or too little
but it is an immense amount of fun!I had even specifically made a note to myself to make sure to update the xp... haha! Thank you for pointing it out, I'll get it fixed.