You licked your lips, trying to calm your nerves as you began to speak, "The Endbringers are intelligent." Your voice was steady, though there was a ripple of surprise that passed through the room like the words themselves had stirred something in the air. Around you, your fellow inner circle members exchanged uneasy glances, but what truly unnerved you was how the Master's gaze sharpened, locking onto you with an intensity that made your skin crawl.
"They react to attacks in ways that bait people, drawing them in," you continued, pushing through the growing tension in your chest. "They also plan their assaults. The three months between attacks isn't random; it's part of a larger design. Their reactions, when examined carefully, trend toward a specific goal, though I can't say for certain what that goal is yet."
The words hung in the air like a heavy weight, sinking into the minds of those around you. The others seemed nervous—muted nods, the barest flicker of comprehension—but the Master? She was smiling. No, not smiling. Her lips had curled into something more feral, more predatory. The sight of it made your pulse quicken.
"In addition," you pressed on, "I've been training the broader base in combat and physical fitness, preparing them for what may come. A select few have been inducted into the art of Edge, making them more than just soldiers.."
There was a hesitation in your voice, a moment where the words caught in your throat. You hadn't planned to mention the possibility of rising higher at your job, but something about the Master's gaze urged you to keep speaking. Perhaps it was the fire in her eyes, burning cold and relentless, or how her attention seemed to strip you bare, as though hiding anything would be impossible.
"I'm also in the running for the position of Director of the Houston Protectorate," you admitted, the words tumbling out quicker than you'd intended. There was a flicker of surprise from the others—small, muted reactions, just the briefest widening of eyes or subtle shifts in posture. The Master didn't even blink. If anything, her gaze grew hotter, colder, sharper all at once, a storm of emotion buried beneath her calm exterior.
You took a breath, steeling yourself for the final revelation. "Lastly," you said, "there's something else—something in the Woods." The words came slower now, heavier. The Master's movements halted abruptly, her pacing stopped mid-stride. Her hackles visibly raised, and for a moment, the room felt like it had plunged into a deeper cold.
"A strange enemy... It assaulted me." You swallowed hard but forced yourself to keep speaking. "I don't know what it is, but I need to deal with it. Would you be willing to share any information you have on them so I can... handle it?"
You could feel the tension in your throat, the way your voice wavered ever so slightly. You tried to keep your tone respectful and subservient, hoping—praying—that you hadn't overstepped. The silence that followed was oppressive, stretching on as the Master's gaze bore into you like ice, freezing you in place.
"You speak of the parasites," she said finally, her voice a low, dreadful hiss. The last word rolled off her tongue like venom, and a chill ran down your spine. You swallowed harshly, your heart pounding as she began to move toward you, her steps slow and deliberate across the wooden floor.
"Crush them," she ordered, her voice taking on a brutal edge. "Break them. Unmake them." Her words grew harsher with each step as she closed the distance between you until she was standing directly in front of you. Her proximity sent your heart racing. She didn't come up more than an inch from your waist, but you didn't blink for fear of what she would do if you looked away for a single moment.
"Destroy them," she continued, her voice still fierce but softening ever so slightly as she looked up at you, "So thoroughly that not even ash or fire remains."
You jerked your head up and down in agreement, the motion automatic, your thoughts too jumbled to form coherent words. "Yes," you managed to reply, though your voice wasn't as strong as you would've liked. Old habits saved you, keeping your nerves masked beneath a thin layer of composure. Your past had prepared you for moments like this, but it didn't stop the tremor that wanted to escape from your chest.
Her eyes locked onto yours, freezing you in place with a single look. "Do not let them infest you," she warned, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "They will crawl inside your soul and breed. They will fester, and when you break, I will be the one to excise them from your very essence." Her words were dark, filled with a quiet promise of pain. "And you will burn," she repeated, her voice quiet but so much more terrifying for it. "Understood?"
You nodded, feeling the weight of those words pressing down on you. Your chest tightened painfully, the flicker of sympathetic pain blooming beneath your ribs as the idea of her cutting something out of you took root in your mind. But you nodded nonetheless, agreeing to whatever fate she had outlined. There was nothing more to say.
"There is one last thing I must teach you," the Master growled, her voice low and grating as she stepped back, her eyes gleaming with a cold intensity. "You have learned much, but there is still a way to deepen that knowledge further, to make it resonate within you." Her words hung in the air like a weight, sending a shiver down your spine. Around you, a subtle tension spread, like the room itself held its breath in anticipation. You were aware of the others—Jane, Arch, Anatoly, and Ai—but your focus was solely on the Master and the intricate circle etched into the floor that you hadn't noticed until now.
"This," she gestured at the circle, her fingers barely brushing the air above it, "is a focus. It is a means to bring the Mansus closer, to channel its presence into this very space." She began pacing back and forth, her movements fluid, predatory. "Listen and learn."
Then, without warning, she reached down and pressed a single finger to the ground. The effect was immediate. The air around you rippled as though the atmosphere had been momentarily split, and you could feel the temperature plummet. You exhaled, watching in stunned silence as mist escaped your mouth. You raised your trembling hand, staring at your fingers as frost seemed to gather at the tips, delicate and ghostly.
"Come here," the Master's voice broke through your trance, snapping your attention back to her. "Channel the attention." Her command was laced with expectation—she didn't just want you to harness this power; she demanded it. At that moment, your mind raced, an inkling of an idea beginning to form, though still nebulous. You could feel it—a faint, almost imperceptible understanding of how to draw on this force that pulsed through the room. Nothing solid yet, but the potential was there, shimmering just beyond your reach.
And then, as abruptly as it began, it ended. "You have been taught," the Master declared, her voice final and dismissive. With a sharp flick of her wrist, the cold deepened, biting into your skin and making your entire body tremble. "Now begone."
Her command was absolute. You and the others obeyed, limbs stiff and unyielding as though encased in ice, moving toward the exit. The moment you crossed the threshold and left the biting chill behind, warmth flooded back into your body, and you let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding.
"Well, that was really fuckin' weird," Jane said, her voice shaky as she staggered down the stairs behind you. No one responded—there was no need. The shared experience hung in the air between you all like a silent understanding.
"Anyway," Jane continued, her tone brightening despite the obvious unease that lingered, "it's after the meeting, which means it's time to drink!" She skipped over to the counter with the carefree grace of someone far younger than she truly was. You rolled your eyes, though a small smile tugged at your lips as you followed her.
"One glass for everybody," Jane called out, already assuming Anatoly's place behind the bar. She poured out the glasses, sliding them toward each of you with practiced ease. "To surviving yet another meeting with our creepy-as-hell Master," she said, raising her glass with a grin. Arch blinked, looking up from where he'd been mumbling and counting on his fingers, and sheepishly raised his glass as well.
"Jane," Anatoly's voice cut through the moment like a knife, a warning laced beneath the calm. His words brought a nervous edge to the room, a reminder of the unspoken fear that surrounded any mention of the Master.
"Fine, fine," Jane grumbled, rolling her eyes dramatically. Yet, despite her irreverence, you noticed the slight tremor in her hands as she lifted the glass once more.
"To victory?" you suggested, breaking the uneasy silence.
"Victory?" Arch echoed, a frown creasing his brow. "What have we won? We've hardly even started—"
"To live another day," you interrupted smoothly, your voice steady. "Each morning that you rise and greet the sun is victory enough." The words were old ones, words that had been told to you years ago, but they held a weight that felt appropriate in this moment. The others seemed to consider this for a brief second, the gravity of it sinking in.
Jane shrugged, a grin tugging at her lips. "I can drink to that," she said, raising her glass higher. "To victory!" she repeated, this time more softly, mindful of the Master's presence upstairs, but there was a sincerity in her tone that hadn't been there before. The others followed suit, clinking their glasses together in a quiet toast.
The next few hours passed in a blur of shared drinks and idle conversation. Jane, as always, was the life of the gathering, her energy infectious even as the rest of you lingered on the edges. Arch, lost in his own world, occasionally chimed in with some half-formed thought, while Ai and Anatoly kept to the shadows, their presence more felt than heard. Yet despite the unease that had colored the earlier part of the evening, there was a sense of camaraderie—a fragile but undeniable bond between you all.
Eventually, though, as all things do, the night wound down. The drinks settled in your stomach, the warmth of the alcohol a comforting buzz, but you knew it was time to leave. There was still much to do, tasks and responsibilities that waited for no one. You stood, your body steady but your mind slightly hazy, and made your way toward the door. The others offered farewells in their own ways—Jane with a wink and a wave, Arch with a muttered goodbye, Ai with a silent nod.
There was still much to do, and you were always a busy man.
Your Master has taught you how to channel a temporary influence. Gain access to Single Circle Rituals and The Attention of the Laws
Ai has gained a few friends among politicians. Actions involving them will receive +3 as they aid you.
Jane has recruited quite a few new people. Some actions will receive +2 as they aid you.
Vote by plan
Possible Actions: You have 4 Actions each month, more can be gained by spending less time at work.
Current Funds: 370
Income: 100 Funds/Month
Items available for purchase (Books not bought will be lost, other items will remain however there is risk of somebody else buying them before you. Buying an item from below does not cost an Action)
[] [BOOK] A well-worn pamphlet about a hidden regiment during World War 2 - Secret Histories Level 1. Costs 7 Funds
[] [BOOK] A book on breathing and how to withstand cold weather - Heart Level 1. Costs 7 Funds
[] [BOOK] A cookbook with a strangely large section of repairing tools - Forge Level 1. Costs 7 Funds
[] On work and the challenges it entails.
-[] You'll work your hours and no more (Gain no extra actions, default)
-[] You'll cut a few corners here, leave a bit early (Gain an extra action, will not be noticed if not done often)
-[] You've got sick days, use them (Gain two extra actions, will be noticed by your direct superior, although the full extent is unknown.)
-[] Something has come up and you'll be out of the office for a week (Gain three extra actions, may be noticed by the Director although the response is not known)
-[] You can't even step foot in the office this month (Gain four extra actions, you will be called out on this)
[] On promotion and improvement (The below actions improve your chance of being selected as Director should Carol be unable to perform her duties)
-[] You'll stay and work longer hours
-[] You'll put the work in and bust a few gang operations
-[] There are capes out on the streets, you'll put them behind bars
-[] Request some help from Ai, she'll get people out of your way
[] On the goal. (All of the following options are suspicious. This only applies if you are caught)
-[] Do some research, watch some tapes of the fighting (Minor suspicion)
-[] Ask around, start seeing what folks know (Minor suspicion)
-[] Dig into the files, take a peek at confidential information (Major suspicion)
[] On furthering the cause.
-[] Train the fodder, get them up to snuff
-[] Search out the talented, teach them Edge (You don't have enough knowledge)
-[] Assist somebody else in their task
--[] Who? (Write in)
-[] Items and strange artifacts, go search for them. They could be useful
-[] You are the commander, but strong and stout men loyal to you alone would be useful
-[] You don't need fighters, you just need those who are willing to work for you
[] On learning the Lores.
-[] Search for books
--[] In the local libraries and bookstores
--[] Stranger and more hidden places
--[] Online, from places abroad (Will cost 10 Funds per book in shipping)
-[] You Master is willing to teach, request a lesson
--[] What lore? (Write in, she is willing to teach all Lores, except Heart, up to level two. You will gain 1 scrap of that lore)
-[] The cult's library has a few texts, go read up on them
—[] The manuscript on Knock (You will gain 1 scrap of Knock)
—[] The manuscript on Heart (You will gain 1 scrap of Heart)
—[] The manuscript on Lantern (You will gain 1 scrap of Lantern)
-[] You've got your own books now, just read them
--[] Write in (Pick two books, can have been bought this turn)
[] On Rites, Rituals and the things inbetween
-[] You'll cast The Attention of the Laws (Write in Lore, the first cast is a Free Action)
[] The Mansus, a place of contradictions. It calls to you, reach out.
-[] Explore the Woods and it's many secrets
-[] Climb higher, Glory awaits
[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions might never be available again)
-[] Alicja has just arrived in town and is asking concerning questions. You'll have to figure out how to handle this.
[] On matters outside the cult.
-[] Spend time with somebody
--[] Who? (Write in)
-[] Get to know somebody
--[] Who? (Write in, somebody from work, a low level person inside the cult, a random joe on the street etc)
[] Something else? (Write in, must be approved by QM)
Once again thank you to BirdBodhisattva for which I have borrowed the ritual mechanics from. And also go read their quest, it's got over a million words you know?
