Race: the new nameless humanoid species
Gender: Female
Age: biological - around 21 in human years; actual(?) - almost half a year (?).
Background: protege of a natural science scholar, unknown origins
Status: Healthy
Perk(s): "Follow the white cat" - you have a moody guiding spirit at your side who can boost your spirit aspect advancement should you get on its better side (+1 spirit arcane charge point after passing hard charisma attribute check (18)), expect its occasional interference.
"No one is an island" - you get 1 + n bonus to all social influence skills and CHA rolls when applied to teammates, where n is the number of steps of the target's affection tier beyond neutral (applies to both positive and negative affection dimensions). Additionally, get +3 to the mentioned bonuses if Amalia is around and can provide quick advice. Passive effect: unearth more insights on followers.
"It's in my blood" - you get a permanent +1 bonus to Intelligence and +1 to arcane skill. Actions that train arcane aspects have a 1/6 chance to double the yields unless the base earning equals or exceeds one full level. You are more prone to magic-related actions and thoughts. You might find it harder to resist the allure of magic in some situations.
Attributes
Base value
Modified value
Total value
Dice bonus
Strength
9
9
4
Constitution
16
16
11
Mobility
10
(+2 cond.)
10 (12 cond.)
5 (7 cond.)
Perception
11
11
6
Coordination
14
14
9
Micromotorics
13
13
8
Intellect
18(+1/3)
18
13
Wisdom
17
17
12
Charisma
20
20
15
Luck
4
4
4
Misfortune
2
2
2
Skill
Attribute value
Learned value
Modified value
Dice bonus
Melee combat
1
4
5
Ranged combat
2
2
Arcane skill
7
7
(+1 cnd.day)
14 (15 cnd.day)
Defense
3
4
1 (+2 cnd.w.)
8 (10 cnd.w.)
Objects usage
2
2
Mounted combat
3
3
Willpower
7
1
8
Balance
2
(+2 cnd.w.)
2 (4 cnd.w.)
Sneaking
3
3
Reconnaissance
5
1
6
Persuasion
10
2
12
Intimidation
6
6
Haggle
7
7
Performance
8
8
Seduction
8
8
Geography lore
7
2
9
Nature lore
7
1
8
Arcane lore
7
5
12
Social and cultural lore
9
2
11
Craft lore
7
2
9
Lingual lore
9
9
Daily craft
6
2
8
Pharma and treatment
7
3
10
Weaponsmithing
4
4
Armorsmithing
6
6
Tailoring
7
2
9
Art
7
7
Artificery
6
1
7
Burglary
5
5
Huntsmanship
4
4
Alchemy
7
7
Sorcery
7
7
Flight and wing-related traits
Wings skill level
13
Flight mastery level
advanced
Normal speed
above average, can forcefully accelerate to considerably fast
Maximum range
considerably far, anywhere up to twenty-eight kilometers.
Maximum height
considerably high (up to 250 meters)
Maximum extra lifting weight
low (10 kg)
Balance
above average, withstands weather and can try to regain without landing
dodge extra propulsion, posing, enhanced balance, enhanced surface acceleration, shielding with wings
#1) Thaumaturgy level 7 (6/7 to level 8):
You can sense the activity of the entropic aspects within ~1000 meters radius, and unusual concentration/malfunction of other aspects within ~200 meters radius.
You have gained the permanent +1 bonus to constitution
You have gained the permanent +1 bonus to wisdom
You regain mental strengths a little bit faster during the daytime.
Using thaumaturgy during the daytime requires less mental and physical effort.,
You can allegedly see prophetic dreams
You can temporarily nullify magic in ~30 meters radius or in a 45 meters-long 30' cone a few times a day, or emit an anti-magic field up to ~15 meters radius a few times a day.
you can temporarily amplify the aspects power around you once a day
you can temporarily amplify or suppress the aspects power of a target up to two times a day
You can try to scan surrounding areas for traces of planar breaching with very high odds to succeed and sense the short residue of extraplanar entities.
You can conjure light on the basic level (sparks, flashes, rays)
You can shape light on the basic level (flash explosions, molding into orbs, luminal barriers, luminal domes, wedges of solidified light, sparks strike)
You passively gain +1 to arcane skill when exposed to the sun but also get -1 to arcane skill at night AND in dark places.
#2) Spirit level 7:
You are able of an advanced Nether-realm vision
You can assess the memory traces of objects and entities via nether-realm vision and tactile contact
You can sense soul sparks in ~75 meters radius
You can sense the sparks of the living, undead, minor spiritual beings, bound spirits, phantasms, genius loci, and some other spirits
You can sense concentrations of the Limbus energies, the thickness of the barrier, and traces of spirits from the material plane
You have gained the permanent +1 bonus to perception
You have gained the permanent +1 bonus to wisdom
You can scan the target's soul characteristics and receive advanced-depth results
You can try to smite a spirit
You can try to disperse a spirit
You can try to temporarily bind or scare off a singular lesser spiritual being
You can communicate with discovered spiritual beings
#3) ~Open affinity slot~
Your journal, a comfortable set of clothes, a plain dress, a custom-made set of lightened composite armor, an arming sword ("Holly"), a high-quality rondel ("Mercy"), a decorative blue ribbon, a silver necktie with a bounded spirit, superb leather harness.
Capable of crudely repairing clothes, making basic tailoring items like belts and patches, and producing low-effort/cost items like stuffed toys. Capable of applying first aid to prevent bleeding. Knows how to make and disinfect bandageware.
Ulren Kyres (aka Ren, aka Mountain boy)
Race: Bhiroth
Gender: Male
Age: 68
Background: mercenary, former soldier, outcast
Status: Healthy
Perk(s): "Not on my watch, not again" - shields Lucy from considerable harm in combat situations at own expense.
"I promise you that" - when in the same group as Lucifina, will make the second set of saving rolls to avoid critical health conditions.
"Odd kind of friendship" - when Ulren and Sephorah are fighting crowd-controllable enemies (not giants, flying creatures, etc.) in the same team, the one who makes the lowest total offensive or defensive score out of two can reroll that offensive or defensive roll set (only the highest score counts).
Attributes
Base value
Modified value
Total value
Dice bonus
Strength
21
+1
22
17
Constitution
21
+1
22
17
Mobility
14
-1
13
8
Perception
12
12
7
Coordination
15
15
10
Micromotorics
13
13
8
Intellect
14
14
9
Wisdom
18
18
13
Charisma
9
9
4
Luck
2
2
2
Misfortune
2
2
2
Skill
Attribute value
Learned value
Modified value
Total value / Dice bonus
Melee combat
9
9
18
Ranged combat
5
5
10
Arcane skill
6
6
Defense
10
10
20
Objects usage
6
3
9
Mounted combat
8
8
Willpower
6
-3
3
Balance
7
7
Sneaking
4
-5
-1
Reconnaissance
5
4
9
Persuasion
4
4
Intimidation
9
9
Haggle
3
3
Performance
3
3
Seduction
5
5
Geography lore
6
5
11
Nature lore
6
3
9
Arcane lore
6
6
Social and cultural lore
5
5
Craft lore
6
6
12
Lingual lore
5
5
Daily craft
6
4
10
Pharma and treatment
5
2
7
Weaponsmithing
6
6
12
Armorsmithing
6
6
12
Tailoring
3
3
Art
4
4
Artificery
5
7
12
Burglary
4
4
Huntsmanship
5
2
7
Alchemy
6
6
Sorcery
6
6
Unknown, but he demonstrated feats of great balance, stability, and hardiness. Perhaps, he might have an undiscovered arcane aspect bound.
A very worn half-plate armor set, worn set of clothes, a glaive, mechanical mace with spare heads, heater shield, hand crossbow, one quiver of bolts, enchanted amulet (+1 STR +1 CON - MOB)
Semi-proficient in the daily craft. Adept in smithing (martial-level weapons and armor). Proficient in artificiery (lesser contraptions). Expert in picking/maintaining war gear, and capable of minor mechanical upgrades of such. Knows the basics of hunting and skinning.
Sephorah of house Terphor (aka Seph, aka Sephie, aka Princess)
"Odd kind of friendship" - when Ulren and Sephorah are fighting crowd-controllable enemies (not giants, flying creatures, etc.) in the same team, the one who makes the lowest total offensive or defensive score out of two can reroll that offensive or defensive roll set (only the highest score counts).
Attributes
Base value
Modified value
Total value
Dice bonus
Strength
15
15
10
Constitution
15
15
10
Mobility
16
16
11
Perception
14
14
9
Coordination
18
18
13
Micromotorics
12
12
7
Intellect
14
14
9
Wisdom
12
12
7
Charisma
18
18
13
Luck
2
2
2
Misfortune
2
2
2
Skill
Attribute value
Learned value
Modified value
Total value / Dice bonus
Melee combat
7
6
1
14
Ranged combat
4
4
Arcane skill
4
4
Defense
6
5
2
13
Objects usage
4
5
9
Mounted combat
7
7
Willpower
4
4
Balance
8
8
16
Sneaking
7
8
15
Reconnaissance
4
4
8
Persuasion
6
5
11
Intimidation
7
7
Haggle
6
2
8
Performance
6
7
13
Seduction
8
7
15
Geography lore
4
4
Nature lore
4
4
Arcane lore
4
4
Social and cultural lore
5
6
11
Craft lore
3
3
Lingual lore
5
5
Daily craft
3
2
5
Pharma and treatment
4
4
Weaponsmithing
4
4
Armorsmithing
4
4
Tailoring
5
5
Art
5
5
Artificery
3
3
Burglary
4
6
10
Huntsmanship
6
6
Alchemy
4
4
Sorcery
4
4
Unknown if any. No signs of her having seeds of arcane aspects bound so far.
A set of clothes and undergarments, a superb set of compositive medium armor (manticore materials), a superb leather harness for bags and tools, a qualitative longsword "Ember", a parrying dagger, a quiver of tossing knives, a kit with burglar's tools.
You suspect she's incapable of legal manual labor aside from the bare basics of daily routines.
Karl Norskov (aka Mage, aka 'that' mage)
Race: Human (unknown heritage)
Gender: Male
Age: appears to be in the late thirties to early forties
Background: elementalist mage, major arcane enthusiast, disowned son of a noble family.
Status: Healthy
Perk(s):
"Old habits die hard" - when making an offensive arcane skill roll in combat and getting less or equal to four, reroll it (only the highest score counts). This perk also applies to combat rounds where Karl makes an arcane skill roll only for the defensive score.
Attributes
Base value
Modified value
Total value
Dice bonus
Strength
11
11
6
Constitution
11
11
6
Mobility
11
11
6
Perception
13
13
8
Coordination
10
10
5
Micromotorics
16
16
11
Intellect
20
20
15
Wisdom
16
16
11
Charisma
14
14
9
Luck
2
2
2
Misfortune
2
2
2
Skill
Attribute value
Learned value
Modified value
Total value / Dice bonus
Melee combat
1
1
Ranged combat
4
4
Arcane skill
8
9
17
Defense
1
2
3
Objects usage
5
5
10
Mounted combat
2
2
Willpower
7
6
-2
11
Balance
1
1
Sneaking
2
2
Reconnaissance
6
6
Persuation
7
7
Intimidation
2
2
Haggle
5
1
6
Performance
6
6
Seduction
3
3
Geography lore
7
7
Nature lore
7
7
Arcane lore
7
9
16
Social and cultural lore
8
5
13
Craft lore
8
8
Lingual lore
8
7
15
Daily craft
8
8
Pharma and treatment
9
9
Weaponsmithing
7
7
Armorsmithing
7
7
Tailorng
8
8
Art
6
6
Artificery
8
8
Burglary
7
7
Huntsmanship
3
3
Alchemy
9
9
Sorcery
8
3
11
#1) Conflagration and radiation level 7:
You have gained the permanent +1 bonus to strength.
You have gained the permanent +1 bonus to intellect.
Your casting in dry weather or nearby fire sources amplifies pyromancy.
You can regain mental strengths faster near the heat sources.
You can sense and read the heat sources in a vast area.
You can channel the arcane powers to temporarily amplify own physical strength.
Your spellcasting uses both mental and physical strengths or the varying proportions of such.
You can temporarily infuse objects (including tools and weapons) with pyromancy powers.
You can conjure heat on the intermediate level (sufficient to melt iron)
You can suppress and channel heat on the intermediate level (rays, waves, charges, orbs, tactile)
You passively gain +1 to arcane skill for every 3 points of STR above 10. This trait also applies -1 penalty to arcane skill for every 2 points of STR below 10. Does not apply in the case of arcane self-empowerment.
A worn set of travel clothes, a backpack, a grimoire (or a diary), an old pocket chornometer with a chain, an intricate smoking pipe
None you know about
Amalia Brant (aka Lia)
Race: Human (Eastlander)
Gender: Female
Age: Young adult
Background: Former maidservant
Status: Healthy
Perk(s): "Shipper on deck" - +3 To all social skill rolls against the companions with positive affection levels (neutrality affection level excluded). If previously gossiped with about other characters that she knows, can provide a one-time boost of +3 to all types of social interaction skill rolls to the requester.
Attributes
Base value
Modified value
Total value
Dice bonus
Strength
12
12
7
Constitution
15
15
10
Mobility
11
11
6
Perception
16
16
11
Coordination
12
12
7
Micromotorics
18
18
13
Intellect
12
12
7
Wisdom
20
20
15
Charisma
11
11
6
Luck
2
2
2
Misfortune
2
2
2
Skill
Attribute value
Learned value
Modified value
Total value / Dice bonus
Melee combat
2
2
Ranged combat
7
3
10
Arcane skill
5
5
Defense
4
1
5
Objects usage
7
3
10
Mounted combat
4
4
Willpower
8
3
11
Balance
2
2
Sneaking
4
4
Reconnaissance
7
7
Persuasion
5
5
Intimidation
4
4
Haggle
5
4
9
Performance
6
6
Seduction
3
3
Geography lore
8
2
10
Nature lore
8
8
Arcane lore
8
8
Social and cultural lore
6
2
8
Craft lore
8
3
11
Lingual lore
6
6
Daily craft
8
10
18
Pharma and treatment
7
7
Weaponsmithing
6
6
Armorsmithing
6
6
Tailoring
5
9
14
Art
7
3
10
Artificery
8
8
Burglary
7
7
Huntsmanship
7
7
Alchemy
7
7
Sorcery
6
6
Uknown if any
Leather camisole of fair quality, compositive crossbow, a quiver of bolts, a bag of small tools, a rucksack, a set of road clothes, a plain cloak, a knife, a belt water bag.
Master of daily craft and inventory management. Fairly good cook (specializes in fried snacks) and knows how to correctly ration different foods. Good tailor, capable of qualitative repair of clothes and production of professional effort/materials goods like suits and dresses. Her designs lean towards practicality rather than fanciness.
Isaac
Race: Human (unknown heritage)
Gender: Male
Age: Young adult
Background: Healer apprentice
Status: Healthy
Perk(s): "We are of one blood" - Any non-hostile actions towards animals or beast folk have +4 bonus to attributes or skill rolls. Can use WIS instead of CHA for interactions with animals and beast folk (aka empathetic approach).
Attributes
Base value
Modified value
Total value
Dice bonus
Strength
13
13
8
Constitution
15
15
10
Mobility
12
12
7
Perception
14
14
9
Coordination
10
10
5
Micromotorics
17
17
12
Intellect
15
15
10
Wisdom
14
14
9
Charisma
7
7
2
Luck
2
2
2
Misfortune
2
2
2
Skill
Attribute value
Learned value
Modified value
Total value / Dice bonus
Melee combat
2
-5
-3
Ranged combat
5
-5
0
Arcane skill
6
6
12
Defense
4
1
5
Objects usage
6
-5
1
Mounted combat
3
-7
-4
Willpower
5
7
12
Balance
2
2
Sneaking
2
2
Reconnaissance
5
5
Persuasion
1
1
Intimidation
3
3
Haggle
1
1
Performance
2
2
Seduction
1
1
Geography lore
5
5
Nature lore
5
2
7
Arcane lore
5
5
10
Social and cultural lore
3
3
Craft lore
6
6
Lingual lore
3
3
Daily craft
6
3
9
Pharma and treatment
6
7
13
Weaponsmithing
6
6
Armorsmithing
7
7
Tailoring
5
5
Art
4
4
Artificery
7
7
Burglary
7
7
Huntsmanship
3
3
Alchemy
6
6
Sorcery
5
5
#1) Body level 5:
You can sense breathing and blood pulse of living entities in ~100 meters radius.
You gain the permanent +1 bonus to constitution.
You gain the permanent +1 bonus to charisma
You can scan the detailed physiological state of a target in many details including sicknesses, inflammations, as well as the state of physical integrity.
You can make an attempt for a minuscule boost of the physical performance of oneself or a target at the cost of own mental strengths.
You can accelerate the metabolism (and so, often times, the recovery from ailments or traumas) of living creatures at the cost of own mental and physical strengths.
You can try to numb the minor pain of a target living creature at the cost of both mental and physical strengths or share it with yourself with the low transference loss ratio
A robe with a hood, a bag with bandages and medications, an old iron amulet, a belt with tincures
Good at applying and synthesizing remedies. Capable of providing first and complex medical aid. Has some skills in inventory management.
Jorgen Ostgard (aka Jory, aka Craven)
Race: Human (Lyflander?)
Gender: Male
Age: Young adult
Background: Alchemist assistant
Status: Healthy
Attributes
Base value
Modified value
Total value
Dice bonus
Strength
11
11
6
Constitution
11
11
6
Mobility
12
12
7
Perception
18
18
13
Coordination
12
12
7
Micromotorics
15
15
10
Intellect
16
16
11
Wisdom
13
13
8
Charisma
9
9
4
Luck
2
2
2
Misfortune
2
2
2
Skill
Attribute value
Learned value
Modified value
Total value / Dice bonus
Melee combat
2
2
Ranged combat
6
1
7
Arcane skill
5
5
Defense
2
2
Objects usage
6
4
10
Mounted combat
3
3
Willpower
6
6
Balance
2
2
Sneaking
5
4
9
Reconnaissance
7
5
12
Persuation
2
2
Intimidation
1
1
Haggle
3
3
Performance
2
2
Seduction
1
1
Geography lore
6
6
Nature lore
6
4
10
Arcane lore
6
3
9
Social and cultural lore
4
4
Craft lore
5
6
11
Lingual lore
4
4
Daily craft
5
3
8
Pharma and treatment
6
6
Weaponsmithing
5
5
Armorsmithing
5
5
Tailoring
5
5
Art
3
3
Artificery
6
6
Burglary
7
7
Huntsmanship
6
6
Alchemy
6
6
12
Sorcery
6
6
Unknown if any
A robe with a hood, a traveling cane, a bag with small instruments, a belt with glasses, a rucksack
Good at synthesizing remedies or other compounds from both organic and inorganic ingredients. Fairly good at understanding how chemistry works and has an eye for experimentation. Capable of locating and recognizing substances. Has basic skills in inventory management and knows a thing or two about craftworks.
General condition:High morale, everyone's healthy, two weeks worth of food supplies, sufficiently-budgeted, low on alchemic reagents. Money: 1081 Talers Food: 82 food units (9 full days of sustenance on Bloom 28) Food consumption: 8.5 food units per day
"Let us go through it one final time, shall we?" You spoke while eyeing the curtain separating Karl's "quarantine" from the rest of the barn's space. Isaac nodded to your suggestion in a bust-like manner.
"I need you to constantly track his vitals and to numb his senses to the best of your ability when I ask to. The void contamination acts like a parasite, and similarly to one, it might resist our attempts to burn it out. If during the procedure things go awry and Karl - or what possesses him - gets violent, I immediately neutralize the arcane aspects in the area. At the same time, you rush out to alert Sephie, and she does the tackling. If the contamination would build up to harm either of us directly, we cease the procedure immediately and think of another approach. Are you fine with this plan?"
Notwithstanding the faint anxious frown that stained Isaac's face at the mention of the word "violent," he slowly nodded in agreement. With the algorithm and backup plans done, you took a few moments to reflect on the situation, if only to calm your nerves. It was late afternoon, meaning you still had some hours of the arcane boost advantage. Ulren prompted the idea of going into the town with Hjorn to get the supplies and took Amalia and Jory with him to give you and Isaac some breathing room. There was no point in keeping away from Seph the information regarding Karl, so you asked her to stay on guard, just in case. And as for yourself, you felt nervous even after practicing some more with Mia and compiling a thorough plan on how to operate Karl's affliction. After all, this is where more than a week of your efforts, experiences, and emotions went into, about to get tested.
"Right... let's dilly and dally no more," you finally concluded, pushing the curtaining cloth to the side and entering Karl's place; Isaac's careful tread followed you. The patient-to-be was lying on the thick pile of fabric layered upon old dry hay. Contrary to the chaotic bedding, the man himself retained the rather tense straight posture like an old carcass pulled out of their burial mound. While looking more or less healthy overall, his unnervingly unfocused eyes were the giveaway of his not-so-well condition. Even more unsettling, despite arguably retaining the capacity of discerning anything, they were following your motions.
Aware of how creepy the symptoms of soul damage might be from that night when you failed to bind a man to his dying flesh, you inhaled and steeled up your nerves, sitting on one's knees right above Karl's head. Isaac took place to the mage's side, reaching for the hands the latter folded on their chest. Unsure whether it was for the better that Karl didn't drop a single comment while most likely registering your and Isaac's presence, you inquired of the healer: "What's the physical state?"
Signs of recurring minor fever. Otherwise normal. Isaac scribbled on his belt-chained board with a piece of coal after scanning Karl's condition.
Hearing that, you looked down at Karl's face; he stared back at you through the veil of partial unawareness with his mouth slightly open. Perhaps, he was still sleeping or residing in another borderline-unconscious state. But in any case, the surface-level readings from his soul spark were not that harrowing in terms of damage. Speaking metaphorically, he was like a fortified tower that withstood a few waves of assault but ran out of supplies and began to run out of defenders; any further postponing would've resulted in the first severe damages.
Unwillingly swallowing the thought of not having a right to mistake now, you slowly lowered your hands and touched the man's sparsely sweat-dripped forehead. You needed the fullest intel on the state of his soul, and to procure it, you dived into the transient state, minting the imprint of his spirit against your own, just like you did with Ulren and Sephorah earlier.
Surprisingly, you found at least some similarities between Karl's soul and those of your closest companions. Like Sephie's, Karl's being had an unavoidable division on metaphorical "before" and "after" states - the unmistakable evidence of a life-changing event. Still, unlike the daeva's case, the mage's lifepath before the "threshold" wasn't his nemesis beast from which he tried to hide or run away desperately. Meanwhile, just like with Ulren's soul, there seemed to be a specific centerpiece element around which the whirls of thoughts, emotions, and beliefs were formed. But at the same time, this "article" wasn't a metaphorical treasure to which he clutched with all his essence like Ren, but rather a peculiar irritator (or, perhaps, an unanswered question) that simultaneously prevented him from finding peace while also holding him together. The void-originated irritant didn't seem to corrupt this central element yet, even though it did stir the thoughts and emotions around it. Apparently, your intervention was right on time after all.
Mildly relieved by the findings, you narrowed down on the seed of chaos that stirred memories and emotions sealed in the "before" part of the mage's spirit, right next to the "centerpiece's" roots. And ho boy was the younger Karl a complicated individual: brazen ambitions, constant thirst for passions, unrelenting if also blind drive further amplified by cunning and ruthlessness - the young version of Karl was anything but the cynical, indifferent, and reserved man who was now lying before you. After all, they say that the brightest blazes are the first to go out for a reason. Nevertheless, the chaotic contaminant appeared to attach itself to those echoes of the long-gone fervors, attempting to erode the sealing "centerpiece" element and reignite the flame Karl once was, even if in a malformed state.
That was it: you have located and confirmed the "damaged" zone, so not it was time to undo the harm. However, recalling yesterday's experiences of the reaction of void contamination in the static state to tampering attempts, you had to amplify its volatility in a controlled manner before proceeding with any manipulations. The only feasible way to do so was to mimic its behavior and strike Karl's chords.
"Isaac, what is about to follow might appear unpleasant or uncanny. Please, remain calm and know that I'm doing it for Karl's sake. Now, can you make him a bit more lucid?"
For a moment, it seemed like your message only made Isaac more unsettled, but whether it was your voice or a momentary flair of confidence, he did oblige your request. The feeling of the arcane bodily aspect activating next to you emerged shortly, and in a few more moments, the micromotions of Karl's fingers and twitches of his eyes indicated the change of his state closer to that of clarity.
"My word, you boys really slack on keeping up the order, don't you? With those piles of... mental grot, it's hardly a wonder Amalia tends to steer clear from you - she had never faced such debris."
Isaac looked at you with dish-round eyes, hardly understanding why you would say that. Karl, in reaction, made an attempt to speak up, but the soreness of his throat caused him a short coughing fit.
"Why, would you look at that - our precious seer has finally yielded to the call of her arcane bonds," Karl's voice was noticeably hoarse, almost creating a feeling that it was some imposter speaking instead of him. Perhaps, it was even true, as the being replying might have been the "old" Karl or a voidling proxy of him - a shadow, so to speak.
"Foresight, bending of all the aspects, soul-seeing, and the capacity to dig into the stories of things living and not. And that is not even all you can do." After counting your talents, a rough hybrid between coughing and laughing escaped Karl's lungs, "Oh, Erika, I always knew you were far less what others saw in you - not just to betray the patron who thought of you as a friend, but to do it for so cheap, letting such an asset slip to whatever the bidder was." He sighed self-content before continuing: "Friendship between women is outstanding in its oxymoron, isn't it? But what about you, Lucifina? How does it feel to possess the powers that cause the actors of the grand leagues to orchestrate lives and fates-shattering maelstroms only to obtain you?"
His words on lady Erika's and your account might've shaken you a bit, although there still was a possibility it wasn't the "real" Karl speaking. Or was he? The readings of your spiritual senses indicated energization of the void tendrils in the median layers of his soul. The patent was ripe for the procedure, so you said:
[] "Is that envy, nostalgia, or both that I hear, Norskov?"
[] "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
[] "It is how it is. You are not thinking about advocating against my intervention for the absence of a more defined answer, right?"
[] "I have never asked for these endowments, and I would've gladly traded them for a simple, happy life if only there was a chance. But alas, this is something I'd have to learn to live with." [] "I hate it. I fear and hate every waking moment of this realization."
[] Nothing. Be it due to the perceived irrelevance of such, the annoyance from having to compile an answer, or other reasons, your response was nothing but silence.
After which, you gestured to Isaac to sedate Karl immediately. It took the young healer a couple of moments to snap back from the shock of witnessing the surreal exchange between you and Karl, but still, he obliged. The intensity of the mage's restless soul spark's glow toned down, caused by the Haber Vitae deceleration under Isaac's manipulation. After studying and interacting with the spirits of both living and ethereal in the last week, you figured out the axiom of ethereals' emotions and thoughts soul layers were more vulnerable due to their vitality shell being substituted with memory traces alone. Meanwhile, the median soul layers of the living entities are stabilized and interconnected with the vitality shell, meaning they can be manipulated. As a result, Isaac's sedation of Karl soon caused the breached mind slice of the latter's soul to metaphorically ossify it, limiting the potential spread and damage of the contamination.
Without losing a moment, you narrowed the focus on Karl's spirit, paralyzing most of his spark except for the compromised spot. The volume of the defect wasn't even half as large compared to the ghost child's from yesterday before your intervention. However, knowing the danger of trying to remove static tendrils, which were now slowed down by the meso layer's stiffening, you had but a tiny window for the actual removal attempts, with the need to repeat the algorithm becoming a certainty. And that you did, operating cautiously with the compressed fang of thaumaturgic energy.
You disposed of about one-third of the alien cells before the light-consuming sprouts fell idle again. Taught by the bitter experience, you knew it was time to go for the second round, which reflected in you removing the clutch on Karl's soul, a handwave to Isaac, and the instruction to wake the pyromancer.
"Just to think how much the event that set you on this life course would make a difference from whom you used to be..." You tried to chisel out a reaction from Karl verbally without sounding too acrimonious and possibly scaring Isaac further, "was it, at least, for something?"
"Fascinating!" While struggling to suppress a malformed laugh, Karl blurted out, "Not a single encounter with another thaumaturgist but as judgemental as all of them! This - this is the only intrigue about this whole dull and mirthless voyage! Tell me, is it a call inside of you proclaiming you have a right to judge? Do you hear your inner voice whispering things you ought to do? Or, perhaps, the avatar of your bound to the arcane core aspect bestows duties on you in your dreams?"
This... was an even stranger question coming from him than the last time. But, with the grip of the void affliction weakened, you had fewer excuses to suppose it was the "shadow" or voidling version of Karl speaking. You were not alone in shock: having to observe all of this, the expression on Isaac's face became equivalent to "I no longer have the slightest idea of what's going on."
"Doubt you still remember my words regarding whether it is yourself or the source of your arcane powers that is fundamental to who you are as a complex, living construct. Give it thought on a leisure occasion and who knows - maybe fate would spare you from what she served me."
[] "No one can or should resist their nature. Otherwise, they would likely end up like a person before me."
[] "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
[] "I won't argue with you on this, but do know that I am attending you right now out of my own volition and not because of mystical premonitions or visions telling me to."
[] "Not yielding to temptations of the powers has never been an issue for me - I had more problems trusting those energies when situations called for it." [] "Purposefully or not, there may be a chance of you confusing the inner urges for esoterics, depending on the context I don't follow."
[] "..." You are not here to fancy his feverish debates, so you remained deliberately, even demonstratively silent.
Yet again, you caught Isaac's stare with a hand motion and pointed him to do his part. The sequence started over, but unlike the last time, the activity of the void nodes in Karl's spirit appeared to be higher, causing you to ponder if his prior inquiry of you was of higher personal importance than the one before it. Although this speculation occupied your mind but for a fleeting moment before you reconjured the thaumaturgic beam and proceeded with the expulsion of chaos nodules. Without the nighttime advantage of narrowing down at the soul through Limbus, it took extra effort to locate and verify the placements of the damaged areas, bogging you down significantly. Still, you took no additional risks, as there was no option to sweep failure under the rug by pushing your patient to the afterlife.
"What is his physical state, again?" you asked Isaac after running out of time and having to go for the third round to remove the remaining tenths part of the contamination. To this, Isaac pointed up his thumb, then straightened his palm horizontally and shook it. Apparently, according to the healer apprentice, Karl's vitals were statically normal.
"Splendid." you commented, "Wake him up and prepare for the third lap. Here's hope it would be the last one."
To that, Isaac nodded and obliged your request. A brief moment of observing vitae manipulation by the healer, and the elementalist drowsily flashed ques of waking up. In this round, however, he appeared to be noticeably worn down: breathing heavily with audible wheezing and with fingers shivering. The activity of the remaining chaotic aether nodules appeared to be inversely proportional to the original "size" of the infestation, with you not even needing to poke Karl in his exposed nerves and memories anymore. He, however, still insisted on interacting with you, which took the form of a tired (if with mild tones of desperation) question, "Why? Why are you doing this?". Perhaps, you even found his curiosity about your person somewhat obsessive, but the answer you gave him was...
[] "Because I want to."
[] "Because I can."
[] "Because it needs to be done."
[] "Because the alternatives are worse." [] "Because there is no other choice."
[] "One day, I might barter my answer if you would find one after asking yourself first."
[] Silence. Neither he was in a position to demand anything, nor did you find it necessary to get yourself distracted over this.
Then, you nodded to Isaac, intently watching you handle a surprisingly troublesome patient. And for the last time, you narrowed down on the mage's coarse spirit. The time was no longer the issue, unlike the problem of keeping focused on the few remaining hotbeds of the soul's erosion. But, in part, thanks to all the hours spent over the general spellcasting discipline build-up, you managed to eradicate the remaining aberrations without serious issues, releasing your clutch over Karl's soul at last.
"I'm done," You said with a relieved exhale while sitting further from the bedding and leaning against the wall, immediately adding: "done in a good sense." Unmistakingly, the addendum made Isaac visibly ease his expression and pose, too.
"Please, if it's not too straining on you, would you check him one more time? Those sedation sprees were called to mitigate or minimize the damage, but it would be better if we ensure the state of his wellbeing anyway."
The lad nodded in a manner that you began to find familiar and took a couple of minutes to touch Karl's palms and forehead, measuring his vitae energies against his own. Ultimately, the dark-haired lad turned to you and exposed his wooden tablet to you after some moments of scribbling with a coal piece. Fatigued but in a recovering sleep. The ague is no more, meaning he should be better after a mighty nap. What's on your side?
"The contamination is no more, and there seems to be no irrevocable damage. Even though it would be wise to confirm this after he wakes up, the source of his affliction is no longer there. Although it did nettle a part of his long-buried memories and emotions, I'm sure he would feel a little erratic and restless for some time. But hopefully, it won't be as bad as it was with the void pushing onto his soul spark, and he would get over it on his own."
Hearing your conclusion, the young healer's face morphed with relief, with him sitting down by the wall you were leaning against. Then, he grinned, looked at you for a moment, and extended his hand towards you, exposing the front of his clenched fist and holding it before you.
"Uhm... excuse me?" you looked down at his hand gesture and then up at his face, "Do you... want me to touch it?" As you said this, his grin gained some vibes of awkwardness, but the now-familiar affirmative nod still followed, even if not so confident as before.
"Err. If I must..." unsure of what he wanted from this, you extended your right hand and touched the offered fist with the index finger for a brief moment. "Would this do?" you inquired while slightly tilting your head. What was a cheery if a bit tired grin on the lad's face was now a sunset-themed painting with all shades of pink. Hadn't you been aware of his sphere in the arcane arts and never witnessed him in the state of fluter, you might have suspected him feeling unwell. Boys - what mysterious creatures they can sometimes be. Although, after this whole ordeal with Karl, this loosening of Isaac's conduct around you felt like a windfall of him finding a solid reason to trust you.
_________________________
It wasn't that long before Hjorn, Ren, and their entourage returned to the property's vast yard. But you left the shed only after the returnees spread out a little, proceeding with their whims and routines. Sensing Sephie's and Ren's presence at your favorite spot behind the shed, you waddled in the pinpointed direction. It wasn't until you came out and inhaled the fresh evening air before the realization of just how tired you felt struck you. It wasn't even the amount of strengths you spent on liberating Karl from the uncanny menace but the sheer emotional exhaustion tied to doing so.
As soon as you got in the line of sight of your older companions, two pairs of eyes trained on you, and whatever chat they were having while obviously waiting for you was abruptly stopped.
"It's done," you broke the pause before it stretched to theatric-like lengths, "Karl is resting. Isaac and I think he should be fine from now." Hearing that, Sephie could not withhold a broad grin accompanied by a triplet of small claps with her hands; Ulren visibly relaxed his poise, giving away the face of mild relief.
"The contamination stung him into the memories he tried to bury, so..." you stopped yourself before spilling out finer details: regardless of what you thought of him, it felt like a wrong thing to do, given that anyone could've been in his place. "Uhh. Imagine a cauldron with boiling contents hanging above a fireplace. That is, perhaps, the most straightforward analogy to the state in which Karl was. What Isaac and I did today was extinguishing the fire beneath the said cauldron. The contents will keep on boiling for a short time, though. In other words, Karl might still be a bit... turbulent for a time, but he is no longer endangered, and we expect him to get better."
"A fitting end for a long week, wouldn't you say?" Despite the wording, Ren's presumption of your hard time of trial, error, and dedication was on the surface.
"Yes, it was," You replied and approached your companions sitting on a bench, "And I must thank you for supporting me through this. The both of you. If it wasn't for your support, I might have given up the night I failed to save that last man from the militia's trio. And you too, Sephie - we might not have told you of the situation outright, but you still saw yourself helping us with the sorties, that nightly stroll, and today as well. And it means a lot, really." From hearing that, something odd happened to Seph's grimace: you could be wrong, but there might have been a tiny inkling of short-lasting yet genuine happiness hidden under her faint grin.
"But," you tried to sound theatrically solemn for what you were about to say, "I'm not going to just praise you: the malady that struck Karl found sustenance in the old scars of his soul. Both of you have been through a lot, which incurs serious baggage of doubts, regrets, and pain, meaning you could have easily been in Karl's place..." Your somber tone began to slip away, giving place to emotionality, "Please, the both of you can be pretty stubborn and somewhat handful at times, but for your own and my sake - do not lock up and let traumas gnaw on you from the inside. If you ever considered lightening your burdens by voicing them out and whatnot, please, I will do all I can to help. And if that makes you feel uncomfortable, consider seeking help from each other. It is just... I implore you to not be like Karl." You ended up your request almost half-whispering. Your emotional plea surprised Ulren and Seph, causing their eyes to swiftly shift from you to each other and then back at you again.
"Pardon me," you attempted to shift the topic after realizing the situation's awkwardness, "it must have been just the fatigue weighing on me and causing me to make a scene."
"Eh, tosh. C'mere," Ren replied while gently nabbing and seating you on the bench between himself and Seph, "you've put a lot of heart into accomplishing what you set before yourself. You've been through pretty rough moments and probably have a lot on your mind now, so you deserve all the rest." Seph didn't say anything, but her warm look and a faint smile were the best indications of sharing the sentiment. With that, Ren's hand covered your left side almost like a warm blanket. You tried to reply with something, but it most likely resulted in a couple of incoherent blurts before you nearly passed out while being squished in between your dearest people.
You did not fall deep asleep, but the blurriness of the queues from around also suggested you weren't exactly awake. Locked in this strange but comfy state, you had a few options than to reflect on the week that passed. All the troubles and challenges, the costs you and others incurred, the things you did, and even your reaction to Karl (if it indeed was him) trying to dig under your skin today: there was a lot to unpack. But at the bare minimum, you somehow felt more confident... and maybe even older in more than one sense.
"You think she's asleep?" the veil on your perceptions thinned, letting through Seph's voice as your brain decided to spring up.
"Seems close to it." Ren was talking to Sephie noticeably without that usual steely tint to his voice, "Would you help her to bed in a while?"
"I don't mind, but isn't it your job?" it was too much to hope for Seph not to mess with him, wasn't it? "Or, perhaps, you are wary of trespassing the threshold of the ladies' space?"
"Each soldier worth his salt knows which terrain not to traverse," Ren answered with a fake sage accent.
"Oh! Sons of Pheotor, beware the boudoirs and garters that dwell in them as they would take your lives and freedom!" Now, she was just plain silly.
"Hmm... garters. It does have a menacing ring to it, you know. Almost like an utterly smashed yrslander trying to find an original name to the terrifying monster they certainly slain with their bare hands the other day."
"Not sure if you are being plain silly or actually not knowing what that is and trying to handwave it in such a long-winded way, making it even sillier."
Pampered in the warmth and comforting presence of your friends, you tried to yelp that it's likely the latter, but the only sound you produced was a pretty funny squeak. Still, thinking on the topic, Sephie could've been so glamorous if Rosaline had spared some of her wardrobe. The mental picture of it almost made you want it to become truth...
"The world is full of mysteries." Ulren summed up with the same mockingly sage-like voice and, drawn by your squeaking sound, gave you a soft, warm squeeze, almost making you doze off again. "But thank you anyway."
"What happened with the "do, not tell" approach to gratitudes you told me Roths are sharing?"
"Who said I'll thank you only verbally? Hjorn is almost done with the armor set for you, so guess who will be teaching you how to wear it tomorrow?"
"Right, because what girl does not want a set of armor made out of some plagued murder beast that had an attempt at her life~" Seph tried to either joke or snark. Most likely the prior. "but what do you mean by "teaching"? Like, doesn't one just dons it on, and that's about it?"
"Girls might not fancy armor sets over other things, but they might dislike the idea of getting extra orifices or losing some of their fancy parts even more. And as for the armor-wearing skill... I'm surprised you survived to this point with that level of knowledge."
"Could not have possibly disappointed you with my absence, didn't I? Imagine how dull the life would've been~."
It felt surreal, but it seemed like they were finally getting along. Too bad you missed what might have been a hefty chunk of the banter, drowsily reemerging from the brink of sleep only when the topic has shifted.
"Do you think there are others?"
"Perhaps. Pheotor hosts a lot of strangeness. Stories about people and even settlements disappearing or popping out of the air aren't that rare. Damn - they are relatively commonplace, even. However, it is possible that Lu came from so far away in space or, perhaps, even in time, that even if we somehow find out the truth, she still won't have another kin except for us if she considers us as such. And your thoughts?"
"I... honestly don't know. My mind tells me that there should be her family somewhere far away. Perhaps, if she is lucky, they are even looking for her as we speak. Yet, my intuition tells me that anything can be possible when it comes to her origins. But regardless of whether we would find it out or not, she will always be one of a kind in my eyes."
Ren, Sephie, I... barely clutching to consciousness, you attempted to say something. Perhaps, something ridiculously sentimental, to which you struggled to find the right words, but even then, the only thing that left your lips was a soft, sleepy meowl.
Something delicate touched your hair and carefully brushed it as if in response to it. Something you might have suspected to be Sephie's palm if only, lulled by the sensation, you did not fall asleep properly.
____________________________________________
Lucy's plan for the next day (pick up to three)
[] Amalia is reported to be planning a tailoring project or two. Maybe, ask her for some new outfit options?
[] With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
[] Try checking on Jory's project Isaac told you about earlier. Perhaps, he could use some help, even if from you.
[] Intensive training of attributes (A round raises an attribute by 1/2 if the base attribute is X < 14, by 1/3 if the base attribute is 14 =< X =< 17, and by 1/4 if the base attribute is X => 18) -[] STR
-[] END
-[] MOB
-[] PER
-[] COOR
-[] MICR
-[] INT
-[] WIS
-[] CHA
[] Practice and study your magic disciplines! (For thaumaturgy: current level 7 (+0/7 of the next level), above hard wisdom attribute (18), above hard intelligence attribute (18), hard arcane skill (24) each yields 1/x of the next level + 1/x default for investment. For soul aspect: current level 7 (+0/7 of the next level), above hard wisdom attribute check (18), above hard intelligence attribute check (18), hard arcane skill (24) each yields 1/x of the next level + 1/x default for investment, Mia's +1/6 yield applies after hard (18) charisma check) -[] Practice thaumaturgy
-[] Study soul aspect
[] Targeted skill training -[] Melee combat
-[] Ranged combat
-[] Defense
-[] Objects usage
-[] Willpower -[] Balance -[] Sneaking
-[] Reconnaissance
-[] Persuasion
-[] Intimidation
-[] Haggle -[] Performance
-[] Cultural and social lore
-[] Daily craft -[] Weaponsmithing -[] Armorsmithing -[] Artificeiry
-[] Pharma and treatment
-[] Tailoring
[] Try bonding with someone (insert the flavor text to set the course/goal of interaction) -[] Ulren busy -[] Sephorah busy -[] Karl
-[] Amalia
-[] Isaac
-[] Jory -[] Hjorn busy
[x] "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
[x] "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
[x] "Because I want to." [x] With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too? [x] Intensive training of attributes -[x] INT
[x] Practice and study your magic disciplines! -[x] Practice thaumaturgy
[x] With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
[x] Practice and study your magic disciplines!
-[x] Practice thaumaturgy
[X]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
[X] "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
[X] "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
[X] "Is that envy, nostalgia, or both that I hear, Norskov?"
[X] "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
[X] "Because it needs to be done."
[X] Amalia is reported to be planning a tailoring project or two. Maybe, ask her for some new outfit options?
[X] Intensive training of attributes
-[X] INT
[X] Practice and study your magic disciplines!
-[X] Practice thaumaturgy
Updated the ship-o-meters (there have been two status changes, any ideas which exactly?), logistics, and statuses. Would try to make a new lore drop before the next update until next weekend, hopefully (going on a business trip again).
So, yea - don't shy away from voting and stay safe, people.
[X]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
Check Ins should be encouraged and I want to make amends with our possible Shaman Teacher Ghost before we meat with our targeted one.
edited!!!
[x] Intensive training of attributes
-[x] INT
[x] Practice and study your magic disciplines!
-[x] Practice thaumaturgy
I would vote for the the other activiites too but I have been waiting since the beginning for Luci to get Flying Light Swords and dang it she will get those!!.
[X] "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
[X] "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
[X] "Because the alternatives are worse."
[X] "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
[X] "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
[X] "Because it needs to be done."
[x]With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
Angel armor lessgooo [X] Try checking on Jory's project Isaac told you about earlier. Perhaps, he could use some help, even if from you.
Time for most underrated boy to shine. [X]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
They might also help us figure out the demon that attacked the town guards, since they seem to know of most of the local spirits.
[X]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
They might also help us figure out the demon that attacked the town guards, since they seem to know of most of the local spirits.
[X] "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
[X] "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
[X] "Because it needs to be done."
[x]With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
[X] Try checking on Jory's project Isaac told you about earlier. Perhaps, he could use some help, even if from you.
[X]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
Fragment of conversation with Amalia Brant on 14 Bloom of the year 1469
The Highfather cult?... Lucy, tell me honestly - are you trying to interrogate me and make a case for inquisitors out of vengeance for not getting many sweets of late? Oh, don't make such a face - I'm just jesting. But, if I recall correctly, you are aware that I am not a theologian, right?...
Guess it can't be helped, then. Fair, fair enough: I'll try to tell what I know in a manner closer to those fancy-schmancy encyclopedias you fuss over. Just, please, don't lob at me your boots if I don't provide scientifically-tested theories, unopinionated statements, and whatnot. Good? Good, I still have some time while the stew is cooking.
Ahem, so... First thing first: you need to know the basics of the Highfather's cult mythos, and I must do my best not to forget you were asking about the church and not just its belief. And as the name of the faith suggests, you might have figured out already that the entirety of it revolves around a single entity referred to as Allfather or Highfather. According to this faith, Highfather embodies order and existence as concepts that emerged from the universal chaos. Yes - you heard that right: according to the equally-named cult, everything that exists is but a tiny grain of Highfather themself. And by everything, I mean literally: sun, skies, clouds, you, me, trees, animals, and even the dirt we walk on each day and those pesky pebbles that sometimes end up in our boots - everything is a part of the Highfather's plan and hence a part of him.
Now, the mentioned plan of Highfather is the second root principle of the faith and the center point of its mythology. It is believed that after Allfather became an idea on itself and thus separated from the universal chaos, he has lain down the path for himself as a concept, which is, by working with and around the unpredictability of primordial chaos, to crystalize an orderly, self-sufficient, and, brutally speaking, perfect architectonics. And to achieve this, he had to use the only building material he had at his disposal: himself. So, he laid the foundations of existence by using his divine power of organizing the elemental misrule. But then, when the concepts of time, space, and matter were made real, he figured out that the template of the newly-created world needs more than just one omnipotent being to function and develop further. And so, the deity conducted the first fission, kindling twelve first beings aside of himself with his divine flame and gifting them free will.
Those twelve entities were given many titles, but the Highfather Orthodoxes prefer to address them as "primordials." Born from the blaze of the ultimate deity, they are believed to be the embodiment of the Allfather's facets. I want to mention Vrod, Folesene, Stalhot, Liggodon, and Ongelor from all of them for the reason you would soon grasp. Along with the rest of their siblings, they took part in further constructing their progenitor's plan, to the latter's joy. They followed their father's example and gave life to semi-deities, continuing a chain of kindling that resulted in the young world getting populated by animals, birds, fish, and mortals, all blessed with thoughts and emotions. All the primordials and demiurges fulfilled their roles and duties within the complex frame of the And, for the time being, the Allfather's plan was coming up perfectly.
But as it often happens in the legends like this one, the harmony was not to last. It is believed that love for their creator drove those five mentioned primordials to overstep the boundaries of their roles in the world's architecture. They saw to adorn their father's creation by themselves, with this ambition leading them to break the taboo on shaping the cosmic chaos which was still raging around the grand design. They say that the path to ruin is paved with the best intentions, which is precisely what happened: having to shape the chaotic aethers, the void's eternal madness that dwelled in it corrupted the daring primordials one by one. It seduced them into introducing the original sins to the once perfect creation of their father. These original sins were mockeries of the facets bestowed upon the primordials by the Highfather: Vrod's ardor turned into fury, Folesene's sensuousness turned into indulgence, Stalholt's industriousness and prudence morphed into greed and hubris, Ligoddon's patience became apathy, and Ongelor's craftiness degraded to insidiousness.
Driven by their new twisted natures, they discarded the original goal of cheering their creator with the fruits of their ambitions, opting to spread the latest concepts in the creation. And this is how the plan got corrupt. Their siblings and father did intervene, restraining the maddened primordials, but it was too late: the creation had been stained with the first sins, which further fused and mingled into each other, branching out new sins and corrupting the once-pristine cosmic design.
Various teachings and schools of thought within the Allfather's dogma start to vary here: some state that the deity was furious at his offsprings while others state he was sorrowed but still not out of love for his creations, even after what they did and what they became. The former narratives suggest that the wayward primordials fought their siblings and creator, while the latter say that due to being sparklings of their progenitor's divine flame, the deity effortlessly subdued his creations. Both views conclude that all the five disobedient lesser gods are locked away on the five outer moons, with Baudur and Sophrona moons set as their wardens.
But what next, you might ask? The church says that Highfather could not eradicate the sins from the plan without damaging it, so he decided on mending them by a counterweight via creating first humans, granting them the tiny sparks of his flame, and bestowing the desire for righteousness. From here on, the church of Highfather seems it their ultimate goal to spread their view of virtues across all the lands and seas, neutralizing the poison left by the primordials and thus undoing their malaise, making their pardon in the eyes of their father possible. In short: harmony and forgiveness through repentance and uniformity.
Yes, I know it sounds a bit botched but recalling all the mythos of the Alfather's cult is something unliftable even for such chatterboxes like myself. So sorry for condensing it this hard. But anyway, besides mythology, a church is also an organization of people. This cult, most likely, originated as a branch of some sun-worshipping early religions of Yrslanders, considering the canonical Highfather's descriptions and attributes. The sun that drives away night's chaos is, perhaps, the best allegory to Highfather, so the celestial motif is dominant in the iconography. Sun cults are pretty widespread, though: both Yrslanders and Eucadian landers are known for having pantheons where the central deity is associated with the sun. However, neither of the mentioned saw the rise akin to the cult we're talking about.
Faith multiplies with the number of believers and landers that migrated to Pheotor settled in the most fertile and hospitable part of it, making the population boom unavoidable. And then, there was Saint Aethlig and the Pentarchy. Ever since the creation of the Holy Pherinian empire, faith has always been the primary source of power for the Westlanders. They had their share of kings, queens, emperors, dukes, and other nobles. Still, they have always been and remain subordinated to the patriarchs, bishops, and cardinals, having only some power over the civic population. As you can assume, there were a few periods of conflicts where the civic nobility attempted to take the reign and liberate themselves from the yoke of the clergy. The sum of these attempts is all of the Eastern Kingdoms. Once, they were parts of the Pherinian empire, but after its fall, they became independent states with hereditary monarchies linked to the five founding houses as the most popular source of legitimacy.
But while losing its grasp on some territories, the Highfather's teaching - and I separate the idea from the church - spread to other regions and even races. Somewhat modified versions of the Highfather religion (mostly changed to include the said or all the sapient races as Highfather's chosen) are present among Alvizians, Gvuroths, and even Bhiroths. Of course, they are not canonically recognized by the Olfadirian Patriarchy, but the lack of political approval is hardly a barrier to the religion that focuses on familial love, justice, and redemption - something that unites all of the races living under the Pheotorian dome. It is kind of embarrassing how much better these ideas are received by Alvizians and Roths, who have competing native religions and yet don't recognize the faith in Highfather as heresy at the same time as Westlanders would merrily butcher you for the slightest deviation from their dogma.
So, yea - these are the basics. Speaking of, I am now feeling like a dummy for not mentioning the role of the Olfadirian Patriarch on the political affairs of the Olfadir... Wait, do you sense this? It smells like... Goodnes! I forgot about the stew!
[x] "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
[X]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
[x] With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
[x] Intensive training of attributes
-[x] INT
[x] Practice and study your magic disciplines!
-[x] Practice thaumaturgy
[X]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
[x] Intensive training of attributes
-[x] INT
[x]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
[x] With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
So, the final output be like:
> "The talents I was given brought me and others up to this point through rather bleak situations. In my book, this outweighs the associated inconveniences."
> "Even if one can't fight or ignore their nature, fitting oneself to route it towards the best outcomes is still a choice."
> "Because it needs to be done." 4, 4, 3. AVG 3.66 So you decided to go with the path of the arcane nature acceptance, eh?
> With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
> Practice thaumaturgy
> Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
My thoughts: Lucy is on the path of a battle priest.
[x] Intensive training of attributes
-[x] INT
[x]Check in with the old spirit in the derelict church while bringing Mia on a walk. She might be happy to know that at least our mistake with the childs corrupted spirit was not in vain. It might assuage your guilt some.
[x] With the Seph's armor set out of his pipeline, there's a chance Hjorn would be willing to armor you up, too?
Sorry, a bit too late. But hey - it's still pretty close to what went through.
Edit: now, the rolling time...
Edit 2: +3 Progress points in thaumaturgy (1 base, 1 WIS pass, 1 INT pass), meaning Lucy now stands at 3/7 progress towards level 8. She missed 1 facet on the arcane perk bonus roll to dupe the progress and get to 6/7.
From other news: the next content portion will be a mainline update. Would start writing it today after the shift. Also, I'm edging ever closer to posting that surprise I mentioned before. The slight attributes rolls rebalance is around the corner (it won't change the characters' capacities much, but rather decrease the randomness factor). And on top of that, the new character art is in the making and I've selected among the first sketches already. Any speculations on who would get the treatment?
I would vote for the the other activiites too but I have been waiting since the beginning for Luci to get Flying Light Swords and dang it she will get those!!.
Btw I need to ask and I understand if you want to keep it vague due to spoilers and no pressure on your part! but how many chapters long would Lucy's journey would be if we kept surviving so far?
Btw I need to ask and I understand if you want to keep it vague due to spoilers and no pressure on your part! but how many chapters long would Lucy's journey would be if we kept surviving so far?
There are many routes and possibilities. But, if you go through the path which seems the most probable (at least from where I see it), then somewhere between 45-55% has been done. There are shorter, longer, and way longer routes aside from the one I used as an estimate, though.
What the threademark says: the second story in this very same universe and at approximately the same point in time.
The purpose of it is for me to recall how to write smaller (under 4k words, at least) updates, to familiarize people with the worldbuilding from a new angle, and to experiment with the whole "chronicling" mechanic.
And don't worry: it is a side project to which I'll be returning when the main story (this thread) is in its voting phases or I'm otherwise unable to drop an update just yet. Also, it would most likely be completed before Lucicfina's journey reaches the fifth chapter. In fact, while the voting goes there, I'm drafting the next update here already.
By fate or choice, you are now in the vast plains, also known as Blugd-Tur. Vicious, verdant, and mysterious, these lands are famous for their dangerous fauna, half as dangerous flora, rustic traditions of the hardy locals, and a whole plethora of unexplainable phenomena. And if that wasn't...
forums.sufficientvelocity.com
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4.6 Bloom 16 of the year 1469. All's quiet on the homefront.
After barely opening your eyes to the sunlight, you checked the surrounding souls' readings as if this idea pressed onto you even in your sleep. Through the post-dreamy haze, you set your senses free: Amalia's signature by the entrance to the shed; Ren, Sephie, and Hjorn were in the yard together; Isaac's spark giving out its presence in the corner of the "boy's" half of the "hotel barn," and most importantly, Karl's reading was just outside the other side of the shelter along with Jory. From as much as you could perceive, Karl's soul no longer felt containing the chaotic aethers, with muffled sounds of him conversing with Jory confirming that he was, more or less, back to normal. Apparently, you've done it - with some luck and even more dedication, you've bailed one group member and averted a possible crisis in your little pack.
This simple realization heralded the wave of relief that washed upon you: against odds and failures along the way, you really did it. Unable to repress the happiness that came with the sense of easement, you nabbed Amalia's pillow from her bedding, pressed it onto your chest, and merrily flopped back into your sleeping roll, listening to the ambient sounds and savoring this liberating feeling for just a few more minutes. After all, this feeling of proof that your nature and associated powers can be beneficial felt incredibly reassuring, as if you passed one of the exams Rosaline used to subject you to. Peculiarly, this association made you feel... older? Perhaps, perhaps...
But as much as it felt good to luxuriate after a single (even if significant) success, there were still plenty of chores, tasks, and issues that required your attention. You still felt uneasy about what happened between you and Rene. Perhaps, given the perceptiveness of the latter, a polite visit and a justification of your earlier choice would assuage the feeling of guilt, at the very least. From other matters, Sephie's "armoring-up" project made you consider the possibility of getting some protection for yourself, too. Given that there is some mysterious group that tries to hunt you down and the frequency of you encountering rather lethal entities is more akin to a trend, having an extra layer of protection does not sound out-of-place. Besides, Ren mentioned that Hjorn enjoys challenges and sees your possible armoring as such, meaning it would only be polite to oblige your magnanimous host with what he delights in, right? And aside from these endeavors, after what seems like making peace with your arcane nature, you felt this itch to return to practicing Thaumaturgy. Something inside of you called for delving deeper into it, tempting you with the possibilities should you just continue exploring. Is this what Karl meant under the call of the arcane aspect?
Seeking to avoid procrastination, you forced yourself to release Amalia's pillow and crawl out of the bedding at once. Yet, while you were fixing your sleeping corner, a recollection from yesterday popped up in your mind - the part where Ren asked Seph to help the sleepy you to the bed. The notion of being pampered by your de-facto caretakers (and now there are two of them!) hung an embarrassed smile on your face: you're not that infantile as to need this sort of babysitting, are you? But along with embarrassment, the experience filled you with warmth: you could not deny how being aware of the degree of others' care for you filled you with unadulterated happiness.
The signs of this happiness materialized via your jolly hip-bump with Amalia and a subsequent news&gossip sharing spree over a bowl of meaty stew, which then progressed into Amalia-powered wings grooming session. As she was reducing you to the state of a big drooly pet, you caught glimpses of Seph clad in her new armor, watched over by Ren and Hjorn. Adorned in the dark - almost purple - mahogany-colored set with intricate plating shapes enveloped in a sturdy leather framework, Sephie looked drastically different from the regular appearance you got used to. In fact, the masterfully-crafted layers of armor made her look imposing and reminded you of just how large daevas are as species. Albeit the streamlined angles and shapes of her new rig even visually corresponded with her grace and agility, by the expression on her face, you could assume she was feeling somewhat confused by the novelty of the experience, almost like being tossed into unfamiliar waters. Hjorn and Ren, however, seemed like having fun while inquiring about how well it fits and shooting tips on how to move in the freshly-minted set; you could even sense hints of pride for the result in their voices.
Shortly, Amalia's deft hands moved to your hair; she always seemed to love making it, and you always loved the results, especially braids. Although your enjoyment of the procedure was interrupted by another observation: still dressed in a long-unwashed shirt and not shaved for over two weeks, Karl disengaged from an exchange with Jory and recently-joined Isaac. The uncharacteristically unkempt appearance of the mage contrasted with the liveliness of his motions and micro gestures, which implied his recovery from the affliction. When your stares have met, the pyromancer's usual mask of impassiveness slinked for a heartbeat, exposing his grimace of surprise and mild embarrassment to you for the first time. The event on its own suggested that he had a reason to recoil from your presence and that this reaction had everything to do with the exchange you had during his "active treatment" procedure. Still, he recomposed himself swiftly and gave you a semi-acknowledging and semi-grateful nod. But even then, if there was something you were sure about, you would no longer be able to see him for the facade of a person behind which he hid all this time. This promised a degree of unavoidable uncertainty in the future.
Fortunately, Amalia's presence offered you an easy way to disengage from the awkward situation when she poked you with the question of whether everything was alright. And in truth, aside from more global issues, it was for once. So, you returned her a confirmation supplied with a loose thankful squeeze for her time caring for you. And with that, you let the noon flow leisurely, having a bite on some minced wyrm meat flatbread wraps and hanging some more with the group's indefatigable logistician to at least somehow repay for her troubles with you.
But slacking off, despite the temptation, wasn't on your "to-do" list; after all, it felt improper slothing when everyone seemed to be busy, and it wasn't like that itch to get back to practicing thaumaturgy gone anywhere. So, while Sephie and Ren were engaged in instructions and practice on how to optimally move around armored, how to decide whether to take or avoid a hit, and the basics of efficient defensive angling, you occupied the opposite side of the yard to practice spellcasting in relative peace.
It was quite a while since the last time you practiced thaumaturgy seriously, and returning to it felt almost like opening a chest with old clothes and accessories: they - the spells in this case - were witnesses of the times that felt simpler. But while you were distracted from pursuing your arguably primary talent by the need to deliver Karl from his affliction, you still theorized a lot on the principles of magic, not forgetting to train the arcane weaving even if of another aspect. Due to this synergy, you ended up with a whole plethora of theories and ideas on how to shape your thaumaturgic talent. Some of them "fermented" over a long time like fine wine, while others were fresh and fleeting like sparks shooting from a bonfire. As an example of the former, there was an idea of mastering the more controlled and aimed bursts of thaumaturgic forces akin to the areal aspects nullification blast that saved your life in a fortress to the north from Beilford. While you became quite apt with conjuring and manipulating the luminescent matter, the prospect of mastering its polar opposite - the dynamic power of light - tantalized you greatly. And as for the newer ideas, you've yearned to test a hypothesis if it's possible to use the conjured light orbs as energy reservoirs for subsequent shaping, which would theoretically increase the volumes of operatable arcane force compared to the straightforward projection from the body.
Without wasting much time, you acted upon these and other meticulously-crafted case study plans, pursuing the realization of the studying goals. And, for a short amount of time, the clarity of vision and quality of concepts made you believe that you were on a cusp of a breakthrough. Alas, your body and the practical side of spellcasting with it were behind your mind. There was one case where you nearly caused a luminescence explosion by oversaturating one orb with mana. In addition, when it came to mechanical peculiarities of spell weaving and shaping, your frame felt like refusing to cooperate on some instinctive level. Perhaps the temptation to slack a little after yesterday's exertions wasn't such a poor idea. But it wasn't just the inadequacy of your shape that thwarted reaching the desired results: the creeping sense of being watched grew irrepressible exactly when you fumbled yet another attempt to perform a condensed burst of a light ray. Karl was there, leaning with his back against the shed's wall and puffing smoke from his trusty pipe when you looked around.
"Oh. Please, don't mind my presence," he said after seeing your puzzled face, "Just thought it would only be polite to come and thank you for your involvement with my case. Interrupting your training wasn't the purpose but rather a deviation from the plan."
"I got myself distracted, either way, so no harm was done," You replied, slightly confused by the man's uncharacteristic urge to hang out, "Do you feel any better?"
"Why, yes, indeed. Back in my youthful years, I wasn't an icon of restraint, but even then, I've never felt as sick and intoxicated at the same time, even during my most "daring" binges. So, once again, you have my thanks." Perhaps out of politeness rather than self-care, he extinguished whatever he smoked from the pipe. "But enough about me: it seems like you've got back to your primary aspect, isn't it? For a moment, I was worried you'd abandon it for other pursuits."
There was something off about him: the uncommon mentioning of his rowdy youth and this seemingly obsessive interest in thaumaturgy; in your thaumaturgy, no less! "Indeed - with no pressing matters inbound, getting back on the older track is now affordable. But don't count it as prying; you seem to have a particular vestment in thaumaturgy. I reckon you have known other practitioners from before?"
"The "knew" verb would be somewhat overblown, dear Lucifina. But yes - I've had a brush against thaumaturgy in the past. An encounter that left me with a lot of mess and even more questions. Some of them remain among those few motivators that prompt me to still wake up in the mornings." Even though his reply was still dodgy, you can't remember him approaching this close to disclosing information about himself. There was also a faint, lopsided grin on his face, which you perceived as tricky or even playfully challenging - something you had never noticed about Karl.
"Even though my inspection of your soul's condition during yesterday's "procedure" did not unearth that many insights regarding your person. Still, my recommendation for you would be considering if these sought-for answers can be gained from where you expect them, or even if those questions are the ones worth raising at all." You tried to sound most polite. "This facet of your being was the one afflicted by the chaotic curse, so it might be reasonable to patch it out before any possible relapses could happen." After adding this up, you pulled a charming, if a bit formal, smile.
Hearing your lukewarm reply, Karl's faint grin turned into a rather playful smile, which might have signaled the vetting of some theory he had on his mind. "Oh? But I've already begun to harvest some clues." Saying that, he lowered his shoulders theatrically before straightening up once again. "Nevertheless, I can't avoid but notice that you have changed, Lucifina. Changed in a more... refined way, should I add. Once - or if - we would get back to Kirhol, debating with lady Rosaline on your progress would be an utter delight. But until then, if only you still deem me qualified to offer you any advice or tutelage in spell weaving, I'll be glad to get back to our prior arrangement."
"Sure," you answered even though you no longer felt that sure internally, "And please, do take care of yourself."
The mage gave you a polite parting nod and proceeded to seclude himself away from your eyes. But as he left you, the sticky feeling of uncertainty remained. Something inside of you pushed for a conclusion that you might have never really known this man, and the facade of his to which you got accustomed to is gone along with the void infestation.
____________________
If today's less than stellar magic-bending performance wasn't enough of a motive to not extend the practice session, the exchange with Karl sucked out any remaining motivation to sharpen the thaumaturgic techniques. Hence, you spent some hours over a good read until Hjorn and Ren stopped bossing poor armor-clad Seph and chasing her around half the property's yard. Funny enough, this moment came when the sun began its pivot towards the horizon, filling a slice of the sky with gentle golden hues. Lured from hiding by a prospect to voice your request, you found the "elder" trio by the smithy.
In stark contrast to their earlier dispositions, Hjorn was sitting at the edge of the furnace, weakly dangling his sole "real" leg, while Ren stood by the wooden column supporting the canopy, leaning on it with his weight arms crossed on the chest. Unlike the roths, Sephie's frame brimmed with energy: the playful shifting of weight by rocking on her feet, inklings of restrained twirls, and the overall body language hinting at her desire to run, roll, jump, and, maybe, even somersault. But what was even a more obvious giveaway: she could not hide an excited smile and shimmer of juvenile-ish enthusiasm in her eyes. Perhaps, not that much of a surprise for those aware of her easily excitable nature, especially if it's about physicality.
"Seems like you're getting the hang of it well." Ulren shot a comment while watching the daeva, barely restraining herself to a single spot, "The weight center with the feeling of dimensions would take some time to develop, but, in a week or two of usage, you'd likely feel it like your second skin. Just keep in mind that being armored does not mean you're invulnerable, so don't forget about avoiding blows altogether where possible. You'd be safer for it and will also prolong the service span of the gear that way."
"Aye, what Ren said," Hjorn picked the torch of the conversation, "When it comes to designing armor, the balancing act looks like drawing a triangle with the parameters of coverage, weight, and density being its sides. The longer - and hence better - are these sides, the higher is the cost in terms of construction complexity and materials replaceability. And, humbleness aside, your new panoply might as well be one of the seven most complex ones I made in a lifetime."
"And caused me to forge horseshoes and arrowheads for the locals in your stead while you had your fun," Ulren injected a bit caustically but not exactly maliciously.
"Oi, you've made the joints and the helmet! At least have the decency to take pride in your share of the art!" To this Hjorn's comment, Ren exhausted a single silly grumble, which the smith hasn't even noticed over getting back to the topic: "But anyway, pauldrons, hip shields, and knee joints can be easily replaced with side material substitutes without dwarfing the general quality, which can't be said about the chest plate: the thing is compositive of the crucible steel carcass and remolded manticore bone filling, wrapped with the beast's leather. So, unless you have an even bigger stash of 'em manticore chunks, the know-how, and a top-notch workshop around, changing the breastplate for any lower-grade replacement would basically half the set's defense and utility."
Although it seemed like Seph did hear the boys' instructions, she was too busy fiddling with the set's auxiliaries and the helmet. Perhaps she could not find what to say, or maybe she was just that excited.
"Say, is this thing on the back of the helm made for me to conveniently hide hair?" She broke the spell of silence that was starting to get awkward.
"Yes," Ren answered dryly.
"And I can open and close the helmet fragmentally?"
"Yes." Ren dubbed in the same manner. "There are also hasps on the sides and back to keep the thing shut and in place during all your acrobatics."
Sephie said nothing aside from emitting a hushed yet melodic squee from under the lid and mask of the now-closed helmet. You weren't an armorsmithing expert or even an armor wearer (for now at least) to assess the masterwork with any level of competence, but even visually, Sephie looked fantastic in it: imposing, streamlined, elegant, and of exotic color. It was as if the boys produced these armaments as a continuation and reinforcement of Seph's traits. Perhaps there was now a little bit of that weird feeling others call envy in the corner of your heart.
"So, I take it you're satisfied with the result?" Hjorn summarized snidely.
"As if you can't see it for yourself~" Seph answered in her teasing manner after unlocking the helmet and lifting the lid "mask." Yet, her face changed immediately after the snarky reply that she made, "But seriously: it's fantastic. I thought it would be something heavy and cumbersome at first and quite possibly a waste of your efforts, but I could not have been any more wrong by Maat's starry grace."
Sephorah's reply simultaneously put a half-smug and half-content grin on Hjorn and Ren in perfect synchronicity as they refrained from further comments.
"But with this," Seph's face changed to a bit more complex: a mixture of well-hidden embarrassment and something else, "There must be a way I can thank you for it. That is some formidable effort and talent you've put for someone you barely know - this armor might be worth a little fortune, and it feels like taking advantage of you should I not give anything in return."
Ren and Hjorn exchanged glances before staring back at shy Sephie, with the latter answering: "Nah, beat it! Ren's friends are my friends, and I be damned if I'd let him down. Especially not after he bailed our bums from under Strasford, that is!"
Ren's face changed for a couple of seconds from hearing the reference. He looked as if he had caught a punch in his guts for this short moment. He recovered from it before Hjorn took notice, though.
"You folks have seen what havoc is happening around Tevon-Talab, so it is more than enough to have you around in these times, not even mentioning bringing me a treat of a chance to make an art piece instead of the routine hodgepodge, so I call that fair."
"Sing, if you may," Ren perked up suddenly, "whatever you feel like."
Hjorn turned his head towards Ren, wondering but not voicing the question; Seph did it in the smith's stead: "You want me to sing? Like, now?"
"Yes, why not? It's something you have a talent for, and, if you haven't figured it out, the only "real" form of payment that we seek from you is staying safe and supporting the group."
"Oh?" Evidently, Sephie was expecting anything but this, judging by her eyes, "Oh! Alright then, just give me a moment to think of something..."
It took her a couple of moments to ponder and clear her throat before a melodic tune with a dash of playfulness resonated through the yard. It was short-ish - just three or maybe four verses, but even with such a compact content payload, it managed to chisel out allusions to a celebration in some faraway idyllic place you have never been to. It was on Kathran - the language neither you nor Hjorn with Ren knew. Still, if you were pressed to guess what it was about, you might've considered it a song rendition of a tiny folk tale, parable, or, alternatively, a seasonal celebration song. But, just like all good things, the song did not linger for long.
Seph made it known that she had finished the canto with a broad smile and minimalistic imitation of a curtsey (which looked pretty... exotic, given she was still clad in a complete set of armor and not an eye-catching dress). It took Ren and Hjorn a moment to process the event, after which the former broke the silence: "Told you she's talented in this!"
"Hmm. Yes, it does sound like it," Hjorn commented while stroking his beard melancholically, "but I still like the north coast fishers' thos more."
"You can't be serious," sincere disbelief was traceable in Ren's voice, "What's so good about 'em thos sounding like rostgnurs' mating calls? Not even half as good as!"
"Oi, that's just my opinion, alright?!"
While the guys were debating musical tastes, you noticed an evanescent detail: Seph's atypically unfeigned expression flashed into existence to the feedback she received. It was uncharacteristically complex for a reaction to such an ordinary situation: there was a veritable surprise mixed with what you could only characterize as faint nostalgia. Peculiarly, her eyes were trained on Ren, but it wasn't a heavy gaze - rather the opposite: she was staring through him into something distant, either in space or time. It was the face of someone suddenly retrieving their old belongings or coming back to an old dwelling after a long absence only to find them in their place and intact. Bittersweet, perhaps, would be the best word you could find to describe it.
"Hey, I want armor too!" you called out suddenly, drawing everyone's attention before Sephie would be lost to an introspection loop and the boys' debate get out of the shores. When the message sunk, Sephie grinned, endeared by your definitely-not-childish plea and the manner of its delivery, Hjorn's eyes gained an enthusiastic shimmer, and Ren unlocked his arms with the "Really, now?" indignant inquiry written all over his face.
"If we're doing a complete rearming, would it be a stretch for me to ask for a new saber or a longsword, please? I have more songs in store, just in case."
While Ren's shoulders sank from a subsequent request, you injected: "Hey, you've just got a masterwork piece, while I had to face all those monstrosities on our way with nothing but a robe dress separating me from all the claws, teeth, blades, and whatever those hideous meat projectiles were!"
"Don't be so greedy, Lu," Seph cooed condescendingly after clicking with her tongue, "You have two named bespoke blades. Meanwhile, I can't even remember to whom the sword I'm using belonged. Won't be surprised if it was taken from the westlander zealots storming Beilford."
"I want an iron sight to the crossbow! Can I have one?!" Amalia abruptly materialized with her request like an ambush predator from the shadows. Is this a skill shared by all the maids? Considering that they are expected to be unassuming, and Ren was looking like on the verge of flipping a table if only one was in front of him, then probably not.
"Fine, fine," Ren grumbled, "Lu, you go with Hjorn so he could kickstart his new pet project. And you, minxes," Ren glared at grinning Sephie and Lia, "You'd have to prove that rearming you won't be a waste of time. You see that target?" he pointed at an improvised "mannequin" clobbered from old wooden planks that saw some beating in the recent days, "I want to see some accuracy. Now, get your projectiles, and I'll give you the drill of the competition. The winner gets the new gear, got it?"
You weren't there to see the "drilling" part as Hjorn, despite your meager protests, swiftly ushered you to the smithy hut. Cluttered with skin patches bearing coal-drawn schematics, old parchment rolls, and various disassembled tidbits of armor parts, the insides of the smithy's workshop were what one could only describe as a state of the creative mess. Or, at least, that's what came to your mind when you witnessed Hjorn's uncanny ability to procure ruler ropes, writing appliances, and other tools from under the messy stalagmites of items. Enthusiastic about the prospect of getting armored, you tried to talk the blacksmith up. Alas, his earlier metaphor of being married to his craft found its confirmation: the only thing he told you were the instructions where to turn and which limbs to lift, with his only question being whether or not he squeezed the ruler too tight around your breasts. What was more outrageous: the sight of your splendid fluffy wings chiseled out only his perplexed look. He did not even ask to touch your silky ivory feathers (preposterous!)
"Sorry if they cause you troubles," you said while lightly ruffling your feathers, low-key drawing his attention to them. In reaction, he only grunted.
"Could you shift them to the sides a little?" Hjorn's request rang from behind you.
But of course, you obliged, hiding a grin and theatrically spreading the wings' elbows to the sides. Although, just a moment after, the smith's massive palms carefully but surely pushed apart your wings at their basement, exposing your back in a manner he'd expected from you in the first place. This instantly wiped out the grin from your face as it wasn't how you imagined someone's captivation by your precious wings. The sound of Hjorn's puzzled sigh only reinforced your disillusionment. Luckily, Ulren's footsteps came in soon, breaking the spell of awkwardness.
"So soon? Did the horned one win?"
"Nay - told them to practice together and then try their best with the targets before I come back to check. In truth, I'll oblige both their requests regardless, but at the very least would have them train for it."
"Look who did not change at all," Hjorn commented, hiding a hint of mischief in his voice, "Just like the old times, eh?"
"Nay," Ren denied, somewhat annoyed, "Too many women in a unit compared to the old times. What's on your side, anyway?"
"One word: challenging" Hjorn's voice switched back to serious.
"The anatomy?"
"This and the general purpose of a set: if she's capable of flight, wouldn't it make sense to design leg protection with amortization? If so, the top weight would have to be decreased. Speaking of the weight, would you mind helping us out, Lucifina?"
"Sure," you turned around to witness bhiroths' meditative faces, "What do you need me to do?"
"Nothing complicated: just try picking up and holding to those pilers in the corner." Hjorns seizable paw pointed at the arms-long pair of smithy pliers leaning against the wall. And, being a good girl that you are, you obliged his request, picking them up with less effort than you expected at first and asking: "So... do you want me to put them somewhere else?"
"No - the opposite. Just hold them for a while."
The reason behind such a weird request eluded you at first, but as the previously not-so-heavy tool began to weigh down, depleting your humble strengths, the truth became clear along with both bhiroths' growing frowns. They were measuring your strength, obviously.
"Should this be enough?" You inquired with a tense voice when the strain of your muscles began to cause mild pain. But, the bhiroth did not reply - just raised their brows to your performance. The situation resolved itself before it became even more embarrassing on your part: your fingers simply failed to clutch to the heavy tools for much longer, and the appliance struck out a loud thump after slinking out of your half-numb palms. Hjorn rubbed his unshaven chin while Ren clenched his jaw with the air of finality on his judgment regarding your dubious brawn. You never pretended not to lean on the gentler side of the physical power scales, but your cheeks still bloomed with all the sunset shades.
"That's not good," Hjorn nailed his verdict coldly, "The chainmail grade might be the absolute ceiling in terms of weight. And only if there were any mythral or its substitutes for spare, which isn't the case."
"Any ideas about the chest piece's design?" Ren steered the smith's trail of thoughts.
"For one, those things on her back are so restrictive that it makes things easier by narrowing the choices: she could only wear a half-shell or a half-cuirass while leaving a portion of the back exposed. And then, seeing how ample her mammaries are relatively her dimensions, only the cuirass design remains a viable choice."
Wait... mammaries? Did he just call your- "So, a collar-stemming cuirass pattern with the rear flap going all the way down to the waist where it gets fixated to the belt?" Ren's comment could not have been any more timely...
"Mhm," Hjorn hummed, "And then, we have to balance out the composition scheme, the auxiliaries, and the coverage while considering whether she'd be able to fly in that at all." After Hjorn's last input, both bhiroths sighed in puzzlement, leaving you in awkward silence, wondering about the meaning of what they just discussed.
"Uhm... I am by no means an expert in armorsmithing or armor at all, but perhaps there's some way I can you to settle on a design?" Your meek offer drew the eyes of both roths up to you.
"Well, yes." Ren replied to your suggestion, "Not sure if Hjorn told you about his favorite "triangle" method through which concepts of armor sets can be balanced, but, in your case, it no longer works as it turns to a square due to flight-worthiness variable added to the mix."
"Yep. The thing would be yours to wear, so you might have a firmer grasp of which risks you wish to mitigate at the cost of what downsides."
"Oh," you grinned faintly to the notion of being offered a choice. "You already have some ideas on your mind, I take it? If so, then please bear with me, as you might find my comprehension of all things armament quite lacking."
"Eh, we've dealt with one utter tyro just before you, so don't fuss about it. But regarding your options, here's something that unites all of them: you might not be able to wear anything remotely heavy, meaning that the set would be more of a precautious measure than the integral element of your fighting tactics and style. You do understand the difference, do you?"
"It sounds like by precautiousness, you mean the armor would serve the purpose of mitigating the blows already missed while I'd still have to avoid them at all costs instead of considering taking some of them onto the armor deliberately."
"Correct. And now, for the options at hand. The first one would be an even coverage of all the main zones with the orthodox approach to the density distribution. In this case, your chest would be protected with a multi-layered leather cuirass featuring a wide-ringed chain flake. Sabatons, legplates, and vambraces can be fashioned similarly, offering decent protection from stabs and strikes for its weight. The downside is, I'm not sure how easy it would be for you to take off with all the extra mass or if you'd be able to fly at all with how strong you currently are."
"And the other options?"
"So, the other one is somewhat similar to the one I mentioned bar two significant downscales: there won't be a ringmail layer, and the pauldrons with some other minor auxiliaries will have to go. The protection capability would be lower, but the thing would be way lighter, hardly obstructing your movements and flight while still offering balanced zonal coverage. So, it would have a well-rounded performance overall aside from being ineffective against heavy or piercing hits."
"Is there a way to retain mobility and proper defense?"
"Yes, indeed. Basically, only your torso and legs would be well-protected in the same manner as in the first case, but the most we'd be able to cover your hands with would be wristguards. This might be a good option if you prefer to stay away from melee skirmishes and not risk getting your hands cut off. Otherwise, it might get pretty risky without any other ways to protect yourself. A proper shield might mitigate it to a certain degree, but I'm not sure how good you are with them."
After his last remark, he hurriedly followed up: "And one more thing: if you would find it beneficial, we might think of something to absorb the shock to your feet whenever you land and whatnot. Just in case."
"Why, thank you~" you answered with a charming smile, "that's quite thoughtful of you." To this, Hjorn shrugged his massive shoulders, obviously expecting your decision.
[] "I'd like you to proceed with the..."
-[] "first design. If working up some muscles is the price for staying conveniently safe, then so be it."
-[] "second design. It sounds the most well-rounded option, even though it may not work as a universal solution in all situations."
-[] "third design. It might be the best one despite the flaws as all this time I had to face the dangers without any non-magical protection to speak of. So, leaving hands uncovered is still better than being universally underarmored or encumbered."
Hearing your reply, Ulren gave off a weak nod while Hjorn's face morphed into a rare smirk which could only be translated as an acknowledgment of a challenge accepted.
____________________
The night was warm and gentle, with a faint lukewarm breeze enswathing the sleeping town with a comfortable sense of freshness from time to time. But, unlike the previous nights when you were pulled out from the cozy bedroll by necessity, your volition prompted you to look through Limbus once more. You did take Mia with you, just in case, but, like any self-respecting feline whose whims were ignored by the circumstances, she boycotted your unrequested care and barely left the safety of her choker amulet bound.
But even though, for once, you did not have a pressing matter, you did not venture into the night aimlessly: there were still grains of regret after the last exchange with Rene. You still felt guilty and in need to at least relay that your mishandling of the corrupted child's spirit exorcism wasn't in vain as it allowed you to save Karl. Surely it would not mend the scratch on your heart left by this event, but at least there was some sense of closure to attain. And so, after an eventless (if a bit nervous) promenade towards the ruined bell tower, you clenched your hands in fists and wordlessly prayed to whatever powers may be for the old shaman's spirit to not hold a grudge against you.
Seeking the last-moment reassurance, you cast your eyes at Ren and Sephie. They, per now-established tradition, accompanied you outside the group's shelter and were engaged in a lively discussion. Well, it was more of Sephie, still clad in her fancy new armor set (probably to get used to it faster), telling Ren about Munnite Justicars - the Kathorian analogs of knights, soldiers, monster hunters, and guardsmen combined. With the eyes glittering with elation, she relayed to the bhiroth of those exotic warriors' gear, traditions, and the cultural impact, furnishing up the monologue with the recollection of how one of her siblings dreamt of becoming one and how they would've reacted to seeing her in the fancy new armaments. Ulren, despite already spending uncharacteristically much time with Sephie today, apparently allowed himself to get captivated with her stories, voraciously absorbing everything she had to relay and inquiring for even more. This wasn't the encouragement you yearned for, but the sight of your two closest companions getting on progressively well did brush your heart with a sense of peace.
Past a brief bout of thoughts gathering, you closed your eyes and exhaled before slinking into neither vision trance and seeking contact with the old resident spirit. You sensed their presence but, behind all the strange lights of Limbus, did not see its shade. On some instinctive level, you could attest that Rene also felt your presence and was, mayhaps, even more puzzled about how to proceed with it than you. Not willing to beat around the bush, you weaved a string of thoughts: We've saved our friend from the void overtake. The experience with the contaminated child helped to save another life. It may not amount to anything, and you may not care, but I am sorry for how this "exchange" played out. So, please, forgive me if you can.
Since your last visit to this ruin of an ancient tower, its Limbus projection changed only a little: the upside-down rainfall behind its "windows" disappeared, the furniture and appliances inside gained some extra glow and definition, making the visage more realistic. In this phantasmic abode, the spirit of Rene moved a little after receiving your missive. A couple of moments passed as if the old ghost likely considered how to react to your uninvited visit. Then, their shape rose up from the dirt and ancient cobbles, taking the form nested in a projection of a chair. In your absence, Rene's shade followed the changes that befell their abode, and, for the first time, you could make out a male's figure from the old soul's glowing silhouette. So it was "he," after all.
Happens. Can't save everyone. The short response took you longer to ponder on it than to decipher. How did you do that? A follow-up reached you shortly, bringing your wandering mind back to the here and now. Also, you could bet that even Rene's "spirit language" became more coherent. Is this what happens with spirits whose memories get reactivated?
Thaumaturgy, or just magical ordination. I can banish voidspawns in addition to mingling with other spirits. The reply took a bit longer to weave.
Fascinating... You indeed aren't a common lander.
This remark actually stung you. You were sure that Rene did not intend to pinch you like that, but he did what he did. Inordinary? Can you tell me more about these irregularities from witnessing my soul?
The shaman's shade twitched a little, suggesting that the unawareness of your own nature caught him by surprise. You can even make out a tilt of his ghostly head. Can try, the spirit replied while lifting off from the glowing phantom of a chair, dispersing its shimmer into a cloud, and slowly circling around you for about a minute before reforming from where he took off.
Strange. Was the first feedback message Rene sent you while his shade assumed the pose with one leg put on top of the other and his ghostly hand supporting what should've been his chin, still staring at you. Three inmost tones, harmonious but different. A kernel with a suture but unbent and without a fracture. The flow is young, and the bound only half-filled. Very strange.
You quickly recalled Bartholomew Dalgaard's take on your soul of how there is a peculiar suture on it, which still remained a mystery even with the new testimony. The three tones? The only "trinity" related to you that your mind excavated from its depths were those three versions of yourself that recurred in your dreams. But even then, a connection of those delusions to your soul felt somewhat far-fetched. What you did feel like more or less piecing together was the spirit's line about the bounds to the young spring: it could hardly be anything aside from Rene characterizing your arcane potential as only half-realized! If his estimation was correct, it could mean that your species are about as magically-gifted as Roths or maybe even more! And should the theory of the diminishing relationship between the age of origin and the arcane threshold of various races be applied, it might mean that old blood flows in the veins of your kind. If you have kin, that is.
So, you haven't encountered anyone like me before? You summarized.
Not in life. Not after. Sorry. Rene finished his inspection of you. While he still "sat" in the ghostly chair, you noticed his mist starting to flicker, suggesting that, while not as weak as a few days before, his energy was diminishing to the point that self-projecting was becoming complicated.
It's fine, you weaved together a comment, you did all you could, and I'm thankful for it. But, if it won't be too much to ask, can you tell me something about that demonic being that murders local hunters? It is crucial, and if we get to know what we are dealing with, it might save lives.
The old ghost tilted his head to the other side before answering. Comes to town from away to hunt. Hunts for own. Hunts in revenge. Is remembered and hunts those who know. Was senior before disappearing. Loved. In many ways. Can't forgive, and neither can the abyss.
Digesting the clues, you spent a few moments in silence, expecting for a follow-up that never came. The shimmer of Rene's shape intensified, pointing out that bothering him for much longer would be counterproductive if not harmful.
Thank you for all these clues, you summed up, is there anything we can do for you in return? You offered while stealing a glimpse of your companions still conversing at a distance from the ruin.
The feedback came in mixed: it wasn't a confident "no," but the only non-rejecting things you managed to mine out of it was something akin to "remember" or "make recall." Whom or what Rene asked you to recollect remained unspecified with his "Later" stopping the exchange at least for this night. Perhaps, you'd have better luck next time.
Before you stood straight and wiped away the shroud of Limbus from your eyes, you gave a polite parting nod to the dissipating shade. Both of your companions noticed your reemergence from the ruin and were starkly surprised by the absence of requests from your fellow ghost; Sephie might have even been mildly disappointed by the lack of action. As for you, the visit was a relief: Rene wasn't holding a grudge against you after all, and there were plenty of clues to harvest. Processing both the hints to your nature and the identity of the manslayer, you had a hard time falling asleep when you got back to the familiar shelter. And, as if the higher powers decided to play a cruel prank on you, the following day offered no venue for rest either: Before noon, Inga - the gvuroth hunter with whom you raided the haunted farmstead earlier - shattered the leisure morning idleness of your pack. Her eyes were shocked and her voice trembling. She explained her appearance bluntly: one of the kherees outer outposts got attacked during the night. When the relief team came in, they found no survivors - just bodies horribly mangled and cut in the most gruesome ways. Out of six members on the nightly shift, they found five corpses.
Aware of your "special talents," she pleaded for your assistance in the investigation, not as a kheree officer but as a terrified person witnessing her extended family getting butchered. To see someone so formidable being so shaken was an argument sufficient to oblige her plea, not even considering that the local militia still had leverage on you. And so, you assembled your team for the coming investigation.
[] Your team (up to three members aside from yourself) -[locked] Ulren (He wasn't joking about not letting you go without him)
-[] Sephorah
-[] Karl
-[] Amalia
-[] Isaac
-[] Jory
Sorry for keeping you waiting for so long: the real world has gone a little bit too bonkers and now makes me wonder if the realm in which Lucy lives is still that dark of a fantasy compared to the times when her journey began. But in any case, don't forget to make to vote in both boxes. The plans for the next art piece have changed and the next piece would be a bit more... worldbuilding. I'll update the character sheets soon and then proceed to the spinoff story update. You do remember about that one, right?
[x] "I'd like you to proceed with the..."
-[x] "second design. It sounds the most well-rounded option, even though it may not work as a universal solution in all situations."
[x] Your team (up to three members aside from yourself) -[locked] Ulren (He wasn't joking about not letting you go without him)
-[x] Sephorah -[x] Karl
