Herrscher(Worm/Honkai) | Herrscher!Taylor

Armsmaster interlude before the timeskip to when Taylor gets home (after this scene)?

  • Yes, please

    Votes: 7 100.0%
  • No, thank you

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    7
  • Poll closed .
Good chapter!

[X]Test Sophia (Shadow Stalker Recruitment Path)

I mean, someone like Taylor would pay to have Sophia under her thumb, even with the justification of making sure she isn't bullying someone else or causing trouble.
 
[X] Ignore her. Not worth my time.
I mean, someone like Taylor would pay to have Sophia under her thumb, even with the justification of making sure she isn't bullying someone else or causing trouble.
Let's just hope Taylor won't be influenced by Sirin's opinion regarding minions - something to be easily sacrificed if useless.
And I'm kinda worried that recruiting her would cut off some other recruitment option.
 
Let's just hope Taylor won't be influenced by Sirin's opinion regarding minions - something to be easily sacrificed if useless.
And I'm kinda worried that recruiting her would cut off some other recruitment option.

That worry is one I can answer. Namely that as of the current moment, there is not one character who would be made impossible to recruit by recruiting Sophia.

However, it might make things a tad bit more difficult for some. But I mean only a little bit.
 
Speaking about recruiting ... Should we try to talk to Purity? I mean, her attempt to be a hero didn't work out in the original story, and that's in no small part her fault. On the other hand, she had no support, or anyone to tell her what she was doing wrong. And she at least tried to be better, which is more than I can say for most of the characters in the original story.
 
Speaking about recruiting ... Should we try to talk to Purity? I mean, her attempt to be a hero didn't work out in the original story, and that's in no small part her fault. On the other hand, she had no support, or anyone to tell her what she was doing wrong. And she at least tried to be better, which is more than I can say for most of the characters in the original story.
Eeeh, I feel like her attempt at being a hero is greatly exaggerated in fanon. She committed acts of terrorism after Aster was taken by CPS, never let go of her racist beliefs and was completely willing to work with Empire capes. The way I'd vote completely depends on which Purity we're getting, are we getting one who has let go of or is working on letting go of her former beliefs and is trying to be truly heroic and make up for her past crimes, or are we getting canon Purity, who at best was a violent, mass murdering, racist vigilante.
 
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On one hand we did try to redeem rune but she actually feels gulit, plus Sophia feels mire personal that a random person.

On the other hand the one ring fit showed that a true hero Sophia is quite amazing and we did try to redeem a Nazi I really don't know which is right
 
Clarification on the "X" Path designation
On one hand we did try to redeem rune but she actually feels gulit, plus Sophia feels mire personal that a random person.

On the other hand the one ring fit showed that a true hero Sophia is quite amazing and we did try to redeem a Nazi I really don't know which is right

I recognise that it is perhaps my fault, having not clarified what "Path" meant in the context of this quest. I will remedy that with this AN.

An "X" Path can be understood as something that contributes towards X. It does not, I repeat, not lock you(the players) onto that path, nor usually lock you out of any other path unless it is specifically mentioned.

In this case, the info if Sophia is a parahuman or not is a crucial part of the path towards recruitment, which is why it is designated as (Shadow Stalker Recruitment Path).

Also, newest chapter is almost ready to drop. Sirin gets thrown off her game for the first time and we see an old face for her, but a new one for Kiana and Taylor.
 
An "X" Path can be understood as something that contributes towards X. It does not, I repeat, not lock you(the players) onto that path, nor usually lock you out of any other path unless it is specifically mentioned.
So it's like that game Until Dawn, where even if you choose all the right options, there is still that chance of Bad End because your hands just aren't steady enough... or your friends are being dicks and keep messing with you.

Shit can still happen.
 
So it's like that game Until Dawn, where even if you choose all the right options, there is still that chance of Bad End because your hands just aren't steady enough... or your friends are being dicks and keep messing with you.

Not the comparison I would make… Mostly because I haven't played the game. I am a big proponent of the idea that if there is a clear right and wrong choice, it is not a choice. All paths go somewhere. The path designation is just an basically " You are moving in that direction"
 
basically the choices don't lock us into an arc that we need to complete it. It gets us started on a recruitment quest that gives us a glimpse into how they are and tests the water and it only progresses should we make the choice. So if we choose it just once and never touch it ever again, that's on us and would say most of the questers didn't see the value/didn't want to recruit the person. meanwhile if we really do want to recruit someone you'll have to put in the time and effort getting to know the person and how they are.

one good conversation will give the person to think about, going on patrol or just the every now and then talk will get them used to our presence, etc, etc. its a chain each link being forged as we go and gets stronger each time we continue choosing the option.
 
An "X" Path can be understood as something that contributes towards X. It does not, I repeat, not lock you(the players) onto that path, nor usually lock you out of any other path unless it is specifically mentioned.

Hmm if that is the case then I would choose to ignore her then, it's still too fresh for Taylor to try to befriend someone she considers as her worst nightmare, maybe later when she enters the headspace where she considers the bullying as something insignificant.
So
[X] Ignore her. Not worth my time.
 
Reunion:Dragon
{No.}

{Oh?}

{I could make a logical argument as to why, but in the end it comes down to this. Right now, I do not care how easy it would be, or how much it benefitted me, or whatever. I don´t want to deal with her or her crap. I decided to help Rune because I wanted to. Taking care of everyone´s crap is not part of that.}

{Fair enough. A waste of an opportunity, in my opinion, but ultimately, it was only of small value to begin with.}

Kiana stayed quiet, feeling the tension.

Sophia on the other hand, seemed unconcerned about the tension between Taylor and her. "You seem different, Taylor." Her eyes focused on Taylor, and said girl couldn´t help but compare her posture to that of a cat.

"Didn´t know I held so much of your attention, Hess." Came the response with a cold, hard voice. One that only served to amuse Sophia apparently. She was done taking her shit.

"You did not. You were utterly unimportant to me beyond being annoying. I never liked you, to be fair, just like I don´t like whatsername that always just takes everything without fighting back but still draws attention to herself… but it was also never my crusade. But you do now."

Taylor´s temper flared, but she recalled that it would be unwise to attack the other girl inside the frigging police station. So, she resorted to snark. "Sorry, but even if I were interested.." She trailed off before continuing, "I could do better."

The black girl had the audacity to laugh. "There it is. That bite. Not quite the same as back then, but I see it deep inside. I thought you were a spineless worm, but you are more.." She paused. "What was it called…Fuck it. You are basically the ugly duckling, hiding the swan."

{Is… Is she trying to compliment me?}

{I am unsure. It could be a flirt, buttering you up or just an honest comparison and acknowledgement. She works on a different rationale than most humans and while I am good, I am not a psychologist.}

{You could just ask her.}

Kiana had a point, Taylor had to admit.

Standing up, her arms crossed across her chest, she moved to stare down Sophia. "What is this ? Are you trying to flirt, is that your idea of buttering me up so I help you with the investigation?" Frustration bled into her voice.

"It was acknowledgement." Sophia explained."I know I fucked up by not reading the signs right. But I also won´t beg forgiveness or try to justify my actions to you. You are stronger than I thought, and so you do what you want in retaliation for the actions I took because I wanted to."

Taylor huffed, but she was surprised by how calm and collected Sophia was."So you attempted to torture me just because ?"

"No." Sophia shook her head. "That is the one thing you seem to not understand. For me, it was never about you, that I happened to not like you was a benefit, but not the core motivation. I helped Emma because she asked me to, and it made my life more tolerable by making her more tolerable."

Taylor paused, swallowing a bit. Looking back, she had to admit… Sophia´s only noteworthy involvement in the bullying was because she was physical, making her stand out because she was unique. Not of the severity of her bullying. It had always been Emma who pushed for more.

"Who came up with the locker ?"

"Emma and Madison. I did not care for it. Apathy, not against it, to be clear. Although, after doing a bit more research, something Medison was supposed to do…" This was the first time Sophia Taylor knew, the rage filled one, shined through. "I would have been. It was supposed to show you your place, push you, test your reaction, not end up killing you. In the end it did, and you seem to do better than ever."

Finally, Taylor snapped. "So, what, you are now blaming Medison ? After you blamed Emma ? And it is all okay because I am tired of taking your shit ?!"

Sophia paused, before shrugging. "Is it okay ? I do not know. I am just observing what is. I am currently not sure what is okay and what not." She gave a sardonic chuckle. "Admittedly, this is the first time I got this kind of reaction. It is … " she paused "..exciting."

Taylor blinked, before asking almost incredulously "Do you think this is a game?"

Surprisingly, Sophia nodded, before smirking. "Funny enough, I do. Does not mean it is not true. It is a brutal one, but we live in a world where being brutal prosper. We can only believe what we have reason to believe. Admittedly, you are perhaps the biggest challenger to it yet." She paused, frowning then. "I do not know why, but that change of yours, it leaves me… interested, instead of angry." Once she paused, before she asked "Have you ever witnessed an Endbringer attack? It puts things into perspective."

The Elevator arrived at this moment, Sophia entering it.

How annoying.

{So, was I the only one who got some major Sado-Maso vibes from her ? It was almost like she wanted to be punished.}



We will be right back~



(Showing Page 2 of 2)
► GloryGirl (Verified Cape)​
Replied on January 27, 2011:​
I am still confused about rune tho.​
I mean, seducing the villain is all good and well, but she is still a freaking Nazi​
► FreshSo
Replied on January 27, 2011:​
Gotta agree with the Barbie, letting Rune off the hook just because she is pretty sounds pretty bad.​
► TheRealAbyssFlower (Original Poster)​
Replied on January 28, 2011:​
Oh my, what tasty takes!​
Well, they are actually quite boring.​
As much as I like to say I seduce Rune, we merely talked. As a Hero, I want to help people.​
The first question I asked myself was not if I want to be a hero. It was if a hero was someone who wanted to help, or someone who felt the need to help because they couldn´t live with themselves otherwise.​
My answer was the first. The second is someone who needs help. Or get laid.​
I don´t have a duty to take care of anybody´s crap but my own. I however, much like everyone else, have the choice to do so... Shit, I should have called me something along the lines of Racoon.​
Sometimes, that means not punching someone but to listen to them.​
It can naturally also be that sometimes you need to give someone die gute, alte Schelle der Erleuchtung.​
End of Page. 1, 2


Time moves on



Entering the imaginary space was easier than Taylor expected. However, that did not mean that it was not unsettling.

The Imaginary Space was not space in the traditional sense. It lacked the definitives traditional dimensions had. It was pure potential.

She finally understood what Sirin meant when she explained the Tree and Sea. What followed next was only possible by Sirin´s guidance, her understanding of the forces at play far exceeding that of both Kiana and Taylor. If she had to compare it to something, it would be watching abstract math in action.

In the end, they had somewhat of a pocket dimension. True, they had to cut the bubble off from the infinite potential outside, but according to Sirin, it was better this way.

{The Potential.. it wants to be used. It just takes the smallest of wills for it to be tainted. The Tree is solidified Potential, solidified by the will of the Tree. Inside it, the potential can be used safely, but outside of it, among the sea of Quanta, it would be too volatile for any base to be of any use.}

When it was all said and done, Taylor was still baffled by the intrinsically worked masterpiece. Sirin took the bubble they had created and linked it somehow to the tree, using just enough power to do the deed without overtaxing Taylor.

{It is no bubble universe, but it is functionally similar enough for the difference to be academic.}

{It does remind me of the Theater of Domination.}

{It is essentially that. Admittedly, it is not my area of speciality. I mostly gleamed how this is done from Reason and Legion. Sadly, that also means that while we can shape the world as we like, it does not maintain shape in the real world. Simply not something we can do without Reason. It is why we need to import actual resources later on. That being said, any wishes for the design of these places I will try to include if they aren´t too annoying to look at.}



CHOOSE THE DESIGN OF THE IMAGINARY DOMAIN



[]St.Freya

[]The Palace of Selene

[]Write in



As the new designs took place, Taylor watched in awe. Terrified Awe. She had seen what Sirin was capable of at the peak of her power, casually crushing even those deemed as S-Rank without much effort and replicating feats that should have been in the domain of many different Herrschers almost casually, something even Kiana admitted she could not do.






But that was talk and brief flashes, images that did not convey how she twisted reality to her whims.

She now knew, truly knew, what Sirin meant when she said that they were the nearest thing to a God.

It left her both incredibly giddy… but also feeling incredibly small.

{We have two other issues to cover today. Let us deal with the most important one first. Minions. Despite your unseeming conduct, you are, in fact, a leader. Among the many servants of the Honkai, we are it´s general and most capable agents. It´s eyes and ears, the hand that decides when it is time to cut a branch and start it anew. However, regardless of our own divinity and royalty, we can not do everything by ourselves. As such, we have access and command over lesser manifestations of the Honkai. While you are currently too weak to summon forth any of the more combative manifestations, we can still call upon some of the most minor of them, those that are used for more stealthy actions.}

{Basically, she means to say that you can´t yet get a combat pet, but you sure can get something cute that will help you with getting this started. Now, usually, a Herrscher is accompanied by a Judgement Class Honkai Beast, but you won´t get one yet. When you want to call for your beasts, just release the hold on your core.}

{Not that they are all that loyal…}

{Look. Bella chose me because she wanted you, us, to be happy. If we fought right now like back then, she would choose you over me.}

{That traitor can shove-}

(Taylor Domain rolls d20+5…. 25, fucking Taylor being fucking bullshit.)

(+1 Proficiency)

Perhaps it was how strongly Sirin felt, or perhaps that the sting of betrayal, and the shameful desire for the one who caused that sting to return was so familiar, but as she released her core, her call into the infinite beyond was not solely her own. It was one filled with the pain of a soul betrayed, hurt by too many, too often.

A caring entity responded, entering this new world among a tempest of wild energy.

"My queen, your Bella returned once more in your service, although I am embarrassed to present myself in such a diminished state."

{Bella...}







{Tell my former servant that I do not wish to speak with her. She is a traitor and cheater.}

"I can hear you, My Queen, I am sorry you feel that way."

{I told you that you aren´t allowed to talk to me anymore, Bella!}

"Acknowledged. Mistress Taylor, may I trouble you to relay my message to my Queen?"

Taylor was perplexed. It felt unlike Sirin to act so… childish, yet fully genuine. She always felt aloof, in control, but right now she felt raw as she talked with this former servant of hers.

"S-Sure?"

{Fucking stupid smart Bella}

"Tell her that while I am unsure how I betrayed her, how I cheated her, as my memory ends with my death during our first attempt to cure the world of the plague of Humanity, I am deeply sorry for having caused her grief. I will accept any punishment or demand she deems needed. As for you, Mistress Taylor, while I will serve you in any capacity you like, I am Her faithful servant beyond anything else. If that is not acceptable, please eliminate me."

Taylor waved her hands in desperation, fairly out of her depth "No! I don´t know what is between your two, but that is for you two to work out. You don´t have to call me Mistress either."

"Master then ?"

"No! I me-"

"Exalted ?"

"No! Liste-"

"Boss?"

"No- Actually, that is okay. Better than the rest at least. So, since I have already crossed my weirdness horizon for today, what with Sirin pouting in my head. I called for a minion,

{I am not pouting!}

The dragon lady nodded, before pausing." While I can serve as your personal servant, I must admit that I am barely more worthy than an Ant in all but an administrative role. Currently. Although.." she eyed Taylor. "I am fairly sure I can keep up with you at least in physical combat. I sadly no longer have the abilities of a Herrscher."



Command me, my Queen!~



Benares action

[]Companion

This option means that Benares will not focus on administering and coordinating the other Beasts, which will reduce their effectiveness in their task, but she will accompany Taylor on excursions as Abyss Flower as a relatively powerful ally.

[]Administrator

While Benares will not provide combat support, she will expedite the progress made on any project considerably.




Having done all she could in the Imaginary Space, Taylor returned to her home. She had new options for tomorrow.



~Chose tomorrow's actions (2)~



[]Go Patrolling

[]Build Forces (Summon minor minions)

[]Gather Materials for the Generator

[]Do Research (Rune´s Path)

[]Something is off about Sophia (Shadow Stalker´s Path

[]Find a swordsmanship Teacher

[]Write in



Sophia was odd to write, partly because she was supposed to be off from her normal self due to shardanigans.

Also, Taylor continues to roll bullshit level of good. Let´s hope that the luck is not used up when we get to the big fights.
 
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[X] St. Freya
- It would make an excellent base, and an evacuation point should an Endbringer *cough*Leviathan*cough* attack Brockton Bay. Plenty of space, more than a few rooms for a potential extended stay, and a way for Kiana to do stupidly silly stuff she couldn't do in school because it was against the rules.

[X] Companion
-Bella is a DRAGON. I want to see her fight against LUNG.

[X] Something is up with Sophia
-Her speech is too refined (if this is an Author problem, that's fine, but I can't see Sophia talking like a refined lady), her attitude too accomodating, and she is not hostile in the slightest. This will ping Taylor's Paranoia HARD. Potentially a Master effect, at that.
[X] Gather Materials for the Generator
 
[X]The Palace of Selene
This is just fluff
EDIT: Maybe play into a sort if Other dimensional princess/Refugee angle if it is possible

[X]Administrator
I wish to keep Benares hidden for now as it would have the option to blindside an opponent with her presence, mainly Lung and the E88

[X]Gather Materials for the Generator
[X]Build Forces (Summon minor minions)
Build forces because we can build an army, Just hope we can customize the beasts
 
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Her speech is too refined (if this is an Author problem, that's fine, but I can't see Sophia talking like a refined lady), her attitude too accomodating, and she is not hostile in the slightest. This will ping Taylor's Paranoia HARD. Potentially a Master effect, at that.

Apparently I talk like a refined Lady. But it was partially intentional , partly accidental... still, fucking college ruins me. This Sophia is ... Hmm, not gonna say it. I have been sitting so far on it, I will wait till it comes up IC
 
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