If you'd really like a summary, peek below. Nothing gory or ghastly, just a special flavor of cruelty.
A young mage named Maggie Holt wished to help a friend of hers in a perilous mission, but she was fairly new to the world of magic, and wasn't strong enough to stand much of a fighting chance against any of the real powerhouses. A fey named Padriac approached her and said, "I will loan Maggie Holt a portion of my power. In exchange, Maggie Holt will agree to go to Toronto to help with the mission, and you will let me take some small item from your bookbag." Maggie agreed, and handed over her bookbag. Padriac rifled through until he pulled out a homework assignment.
With her name on it.
And so the fey with the name Maggie Holt glamoured himself as a young mage and went off to a fun adventure in Toronto, and the girl with the checked scarf, now stripped of her identity and all her magical power and protections with nothing to show for it, was left to pick up the pieces.
Yeah, never make deals with the Fey, period. It's safer to live with the original problem, even especially if you think you know all the variables in the situation.
Seriously, if you have a choice of making a deal with a demon or a Fey, choose the demon (well, run to holy ground as fast as you can for Plan A, but if you can't do that) since they'll be predictable in their evil. I kept a iron nail in my pocket for years after hearing some of the older tales.
Unfortunately, I have not read Pact, because I ended up burnt out even on Worm before the end, and I really wasn't wanting to feel even more depressed by reading anything else Bow had written.
Intellectually, I could make peace with SOME mages being selfish jerks with magic; that's more statistics than anything else. But when almost ALL the mages you see in the story use some form of that philosophy to varying degrees, it becomes unclear whether Blake has just run into a high-density pocket of jerks, or if the setting is Just Like That. To steal terms from Lunaryon's other quest, if you told me that my "Corrupt Superheroes" game has an optional magic supplement, but that most of the monsters are actively malicious AND almost every mage mid-tier and above is an Onogoran, and there is no Spellblade faction... then I'd probably think twice about if I actually want to add that in.
...That Fey scene was very well done, though, not gonna lie.
That's fair. I had a similar issue with a story I ran across where it was about a corrupt superhero world and every single cop, government agent, politician literally anyone with any official authority was a bully and used their power to suppress and hurt others.
Once it gets to a certain density, it starts feeling more and more incredulous that ALL of them are this bad.
If you'd really like a summary, peek below. Nothing gory or ghastly, just a special flavor of cruelty.
A young mage named Maggie Holt wished to help a friend of hers in a perilous mission, but she was fairly new to the world of magic, and wasn't strong enough to stand much of a fighting chance against any of the real powerhouses. A fey named Padriac approached her and said, "I will loan Maggie Holt a portion of my power. In exchange, Maggie Holt will agree to go to Toronto to help with the mission, and you will let me take some small item from your bookbag." Maggie agreed, and handed over her bookbag. Padriac rifled through until he pulled out a homework assignment.
With her name on it.
And so the fey with the name Maggie Holt glamoured himself as a young mage and went off to a fun adventure in Toronto, and the girl with the checked scarf, now stripped of her identity and all her magical power and protections with nothing to show for it, was left to pick up the pieces.
I do have to say though, that her recovery into being The Goblin Queen was pretty cool. It doesn't make it better, but Maggie had to be one of my favorite characters. She let NOTHING break her. She fought and clawed for everything.
I think she even ended up breaking Padriac's face, but that might have been a different thing.
Yeah, never make deals with the Fey, period. It's safer to live with the original problem, even especially if you think you know all the variables in the situation.
Seriously, if you have a choice of making a deal with a demon or a Fey, choose the demon (well, run to holy ground as fast as you can for Plan A, but if you can't do that) since they'll be predictable in their evil. I kept a iron nail in my pocket for years after hearing some of the older tales.
You were luckier than me, I was too muleheaded to quit reading. Had to detox with Terry Pratchett books.
I stil have not read any Terry Pratchett. I want to start with the first book, and that is stupid I've been told. But I've really never heard anyone say anything bad about his work.
I stil have not read any Terry Pratchett. I want to start with the first book, and that is stupid I've been told. But I've really never heard anyone say anything bad about his work.
Apparently the first two books, The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic, are a bit "rougher" than his later works, and generally aren't considered the best "first impression" introduction. However, most of the stories are relatively self-contained and only obliquely reference the others, so skipping those first two isn't really a dealbreaker. As for the "recommended reading order", that gets...complicated.
Personally, I would recommend Guards, Guards as a starting point to see if you like Prachett's style.
I am yet again feeling very validated in my continued stance of only ever reading Worm Crossovers with media I already like whilst also never touching Worm itself.
And this whole conversation is exactly the kind of thing that is the reason why the only Worm fics I read are fix-it AUs that tell Wildbow and his depressing headcanons to buzz off while we play in the sandbox that no longer belongs to him because he couldn't play nice with his toys.
If the fey can do that, he ought to run a check cashing business, and he'll have more human identities than he'll know what to do with in a couple of days.
Or become a copyright lawyer, since what he did is exactly what you *can't* do there--if you give someone a copy of a work owned by you, they get that particular copy, but the rights are still owned by you.
Apparently the first two books, The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic, are a bit "rougher" than his later works, and generally aren't considered the best "first impression" introduction. However, most of the stories are relatively self-contained and only obliquely reference the others, so skipping those first two isn't really a dealbreaker. As for the "recommended reading order", that gets...complicated.
Personally, I would recommend Guards, Guards as a starting point to see if you like Prachett's style.
Oh, did he get it published? I know there were rumblings about it when I was reading (I think I was finishing Twig when Wards was starting, for context of when I dropped out of the news)
Also, COMPLETE tangent, I've been tinkering around with your system a tiny bit, thinking about modifying it for a Quest I will eventually run on a different site. Would it be too much of an inconvience to poke you brain about the math and the like? Just want to see what kinds of things you think about behind the engine. No story spoilers. Well, I can spoil my stuff... I'mma stop rambling now.
If the fey can do that, he ought to run a check cashing business, and he'll have more human identities than he'll know what to do with in a couple of days.
Or become a copyright lawyer, since what he did is exactly what you *can't* do there--if you give someone a copy of a work owned by you, they get that particular copy, but the rights are still owned by you.
Basicly Discworld is a 20+ book series, but there are several "mini series" inside it based on the main characters (there is overlap) as well as standalone ones where people from the more serial ones can appear.
Also the first two books are not really indicative of what the series eventually become, so people often suggest skipping those at first because of that.
Personally i would suggest starting with Wyrd Sisters and other witches books, but i know some prefer city watch.
Or you can read them in publishing order and find plenty of enjoyment.
There is exactly 1 book in the main series i have not read (the last one), and one in the Aching series (again the last one), and in the main series there is maybe 2 (not counting the last one) books i have only read once.
From what I understand Wildbow's specialty is just writing dark & depressing stuff and that he apparently abandoned his PRT Quest because most people weren't actually interested in doing that.
So that gives me weird, mixed feelings: on one hand, he just wanted to write what he wanted. Having people treat you badly over trying to share your creativity hurts…
But on the other hand, there's just certain things that inevitably aren't going to be accepted by most people. His style is an inevitable turn off to most.
Anyways, Ben 10 even though it has its dark moments is ultimately still much lighter than Canon Worm. So I'm curious about how the tonal difference would be resolved.
Please spoiler with [ SPOILER ] and [ /SPOILER ] so that images don't take up too much space.
Otherwise they are fairly nice, with Taylor-as-Upgrade in the upper-left corner of the first image being my favorite.
Edit: I know that none of the people in the picture are actually Taylor but I think that the one dressed as Upgrade looks similar enough.
Edit 2: How did I even manage to misspell none as know?
Like some maniac I was thinking about Bonesaw/Riley, and went "Huh, she'd actually a pretty good Kevin Analogue- they're both pre-teens driven mad by both powers and external influence, who might not have been the nicest beforehand but have become so much worse now". There's also the fact, in Ken 10 (the OS sequel episode to OS Ben 10K) without anyone's kindness Kevin Levin eventually became an insane monster. Now, why didn't Kevin become a monster in the UAF/Omniverse timeline? Kwarrel. If Kevin could be saved, then why not the girl who also was saved because effort was put into doing so?
"Yeah... it's all coming together... after the S9 got stuck in the Null Void, once they got caught rampaging they were separated and shipped off to Incarcecon. No longer being constantly conditioned by Jack, Riley now has a real chance to break free of being Bonesaw- with Kwarrel seeing a troubled kid where others just see a monster. Helping Riley to regain her humanity, she clings to him as her Space Dad. So when the riot happens, Kwarrel tries to get her to safety, but ultimately ends up sacrificing his life to protect her. Watching the person who literally saved her soul and became like a father dying before her, Riley has a mental breakdown- if only she had her tools, she could save him. But everyone knows her as Bonesaw, so she's not allowed tools. Essentially forced to watch the one person who cared about her die, Riley completely breaks and Second Triggers. Filled with hatred towards Bonesaw, she not only renames herself (Scalpel is nice) but also makes it a goal to just throw shade at Bonesaw"
Also apparently her Second Triggering would basically make her Panacea Lite. I'm just all "This sounds awesome!"
Blugh, Update is short because I am not good at writing clowns, and because the next bit is going to need some dice rolls. You look to Sophia, and Sophia looks to you, and the both of you stand there for a moment, waiting and watching and trying to figure out where the other fits in your respective world views, before finally, after a long moment... Sophia nods. "Truce?" She offers quietly, holding out a hand.
You don't even have to think about it, before you reach out, taking her hand. "Truce."
Next to the two of you, Emma is doing some kind of silly little dance over having achieved what has clearly been her objective for the day. Naturally, there is only a single response.
"So. Now that we've got this truce." You start, "And Emma's been trying to drag the both of us into a conversation - Got any embarrassing stories of things Emma has done while I was off at Summer Camp?" Next to you, your best gasps, one hand coming up to her heart in a feigned look of horror.
"I have one or two." Sophia admits, a grin of her own matching the one on your face.
"Well I've got plenty. Trade you?"
There is a moment where Emma's eyes are wide as she looks between the you and Sophia, before the girl gives out a horrified little squeak, something so small and adorable that even the sound she made when you formed your truce with the dark skinned girl can't compare. She is only just realizing what the truce that the two of you have formed means for her.
And what is means is that both you and Sophia can freely tease her without getting bothered by the other, and more than that, it means that the two of you can work together to tease her even more.
There is another brief moment, where Emma continues to glance between the two of you - You've interlaced your fingers behind your head, a grin on your face, while Sophia just stands there, smirking with her arms crossed. Emma is clearly trying to find some kind of weak point, some wya to get out of the situation that she has found herself in. There's no point, of course, you don't have any weak spots. Not for things like this, and not when it comes to teasing your best friend.
This is what you live for, and you are getting the general vibe that while the same isn't completely true for Sophia, she gets the appeal. Instead, the two of you just grin at the girl, smiles wider and wider before Emma finally huffs, crossing her arms and pouting as she turns away from the two of you. There is a moment where you want nothing more than to reach out and pat her on the head, but before you can, Emma points rebelliously at the roller coaster. "There's no time for talking now!" Emma orders, despite the fact that hse is the one who has been carrying all the conversations up to this point. "We've a ride to check out." You can't help but snort at the way the girl says that, and even better, you hear Sophia chuckle next you to.
Maybe... Maybe the two of you aren't as different as you might have thought?
And Unfortunately for Emma's hopes, this is a little traveling circus, and while they might have had the world's largest Ferris Wheel, that doesn't mean that they have much else at all. Which means that... Well... The Roller Coaster is...
It is there. It is fine. It rocks back and forth, and there is even a loop that it goes through, but that...
That is all the coaster has. It's not even that fast. certainly not fast enough for you to call it a 'Fun' Coaster. It's just too small and too slow. Still, the important thing is that it makes Emma happy, either because her standards when it comes to rides are very low, or because she managed to get both you and Sophia on it at the same time. Regardless of the reason, the smile that the girl gives you is more than enough to make riding this stupid thing all worth it.
Not enough to get back on the dumb thing, but enough to that you are happy you did so.
The three of you spend another good fifteen minutes checking out all the rest of the rides that the Carnival has, but as you had guessed from your time atop the Ferris Wheel, there really aren't any other rides that are worth getting on. Not even for Emma's tastes. With your exploration done, there is only one last place to check out.
The Big Top itself. Zoe waves the three of you down as you approach the big top, a huge smile on her face and a stick of cotton candy in her hands. "Cool!" Your best friend's mom says, "You guys are just in time. The fun is about to start."
The rest of the crowd is starting to make their way into the tent, and you follow after Zoe, up into the stands. Once everyone is settled, both your own little group and the rest of the people in the tent, you notice the way that the door to the tent folds closed, making everything just a little darker.
With a flash, there is a single bright spotlight that shines down into the very middle of the tent. Then, tires squeal, and what has to be some kind of RC car comes riding into the room, before coming to a stop in the center of the tent. Then, the door of the little car opens, and somehow a slightly fat, overweight clown comes stepping out. It boggles the mind that the guy managed to fit in their, but he did. Somehow.
"Welcome, welcome. One and all, to the one, the only Traveling Circus of Laughs." The clown calls out, his voice almost echoing around you, like... Like... you don't have the words to try and describe what it is like, even as a simile. "I am Zombozo the clown, your host with the most for the evening." The clown, Zombozo says. "And ohh... Have we got a show for you tonight. There will be thrills, there will be chills, such sights to make your hair go white." The clown laughs, and there is something about the man's voice which just sends nails down your spine.
With a clap of his hands, the door to the tiny car that the man entered the ring in slams shut, and the car drives off all on it's on. "So..." The man says with a smile. "Let's begin."
"Welcome, welcome. One and all, to the one, the only Traveling Circus of Laughs." The clown calls out, his voice almost echoing around you, like... Like... you don't have the words to try and describe what it is like, even as a simile. "I am Zombozo the clown, your host with the most for the evening." The clown, Zombozo says. "And ohh... Have we got a show for you tonight. There will be thrills, there will be chills, such sights to make your hair go white." The clown laughs, and there is something about the man's voice which just sends nails down your spine.
Welcome, welcome. One and all, to the one, the only Traveling Circus of Laughs." The clown calls out, his voice almost echoing around you, like... Like... you don't have the words to try and describe what it is like, even as a simile. "I am Zombozo the clown, your host with the most for the evening." The clown, Zombozo says. "And ohh... Have we got a show for you tonight. There will be thrills, there will be chills, such sights to make your hair go white." The clown laughs, and there is something about the man's voice which just sends nails down your spine.
With a clap of his hands, the door to the tiny car that the man entered the ring in slams shut, and the car drives off all on it's on. "So..." The man says with a smile. "Let's begin."
I'm so glad this isn't also a Kim Possible crossover, cause I'm pretty sure Dr. Animo is next and him & DNAmy would be frightening together…
Also Mega Crossovers have a tendency to get messy, waste concepts, and blatantly ignore possible/justifiable events born of the setting fusions.
Worm already has like a huge wealth of background material beyond Taylor's tale, of the Whitelisters, Lich Five, and more- Worm is a large enough untapped place having more than 1 crossover just gets unnecessary.
1 reward for any Omnitrix Based roll, 1 reward either for Azmuth or something involving Mechamorphs, 1 reward for [STILL FIGURING OUT WHAT REWARD IS GOOD FOR THE TAY10k STUFF]
Regarding the Tay 10k thing, I think it really depends on if that'll be the Tay 10k reality that Taylor would get to visit. Cause only a few things there, like Tiffany and the Omnitrix *maybe* having a crush on Taylor & having accidentally Phlebotinum Childing Taylor would be things that stand out as unique. Also we're probably a bit early for the Tay 10k Arc anyways, given that's a Post-Zion Era where Taylor basically created a new Hub to replace Zion so Titans & Broken Triggers wouldn't happen. Just, like, huge spoilers for Present Day Taylor that the real enemy are the superpowers themselves.
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For the Omnitrix and Mechamorph stuff though... see, I'm a madman of sorts, so I'm about to get into a huge thing right here. I just want Tay 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United and Glitch-Taylor...
So basically it is canonical that Alpha would be in the Null Void. I don't get why there wasn't a follow-up during Omniverse, Alpha-Malware would of been infinitely more awesome than Malgax.
Instead of ending up in Rex's world, Alpha would end up in Earth Bet. Instead of having Nanites to feed on, he sifts through Parahumans and slowly gain more & more Shards connected to his "Alpha Hub"- with his ultimate objective being to overtake the Machine Army.
Alpha is stopped from assimilating the Machine Army into himself, and he almost seems defeated- then "Malware" shows up ("Why is my existence pain!?" since Albedo hasn't yet sabotaged the 2nd Helix meant to cure him).
Alpha recognizes that merging with a Mechamorph would give him sufficiently more power, and "Malware" is kind of just exhausted of being a "broken freak"- thus letting Alpha fuse with him.
With the tides turned on Tay (and maybe Rex?), the Omnitrix realizes that there's no way Taylor is gonna win at this rate- thus finally allowing the Galvanic Mechamorph form to be unlocked.
Now able to turn into a technological shoggoth, Taylor eventually puts together that since her new form can interface with technology and that Alpha-Malware is technology...
She lunges in there, persuading "Malware" he doesn't need Alpha and Alpha being Alpha doesn't like the fact Taylor is trying to stop him- but instead of a proper success, a Glitch is formed.
Though she may have lost her ability to become a Galvanic Mechamorph, the Glitch finishes her task- and thus emerges a girl that looks like Taylor if she was made out of nanomachines.
I just really wanna get Glitch-Taylor to exist and also get "Malware" properly treated instead of the deliberate failure Albedo let him be corrupted by. Also, like, "Alpha-Malware"- that's just freaking cool.
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Oh, and given The Secret Saturdays and Ben 10 share a universe... wouldn't that be true here too? Lots of interesting stuff could be done with Cryptids in that case, which weirdly canon Ben 10 never explored...
Also just imagine what Argost's Weird World must be like in Worm, where almost everyone would probably dismiss Cryptids as either Case 53s or Bio-Tinker creations.
I agree, I do not have any answers beyond "Apparently Zombozo came across the S9, considered them utterly pathetic, and the whole S9 ended up in the Null Void as a result".
@Kkutlord - 1 reward for any Omnitrix Based roll, 1 reward either for Azmuth or something involving Mechamorphs, 1 reward for [STILL FIGURING OUT WHAT REWARD IS GOOD FOR THE TAY10k STUFF]
I have an idea! Transformation/DNA tokens, redeem 10 of them (because theming and balance) to unlock a transformation (that isn't Alien X or something else you consider grossly overpowered for the current stage of the quest). Whether or not it's randomized up to you.
I agree, I do not have any answers beyond "Apparently Zombozo came across the S9, considered them utterly pathetic, and the whole S9 ended up in the Null Void as a result".
I agree, I do not have any answers beyond "Apparently Zombozo came across the S9, considered them utterly pathetic, and the whole S9 ended up in the Null Void as a result".
That... Is conflating a few off-handed comments that I have made across a few PMs and in my discord.
I have said that Zombozo thinks that the S9 is pathetic, but as of right now it is relatively safe to assume that he has not met them. At least not while they have been under the control of Jack. They are still the most boring of people however, that hasn't changed even if they are now lead by someone even more boring.
I have stated pretty sure in thread, that the S9 disappeared... not recently, but not long ago. They ended up near Mount Rushmore, knocked over a city, caused a ruckus, and they haven't been seen since, not even to finish their spree of murder. That was about 8 months ago in quest. What exactly happened is unknown, but I have at least implied that the Null Void is a possibility.
