After my power came back, I had to wait for my internet to come back too. Since then, I got really fucking sick last week around Wednesday and then got misdiagnosed by a doctor. Suffered for almost an extra week cause of it, but now feeling good enough to actually write.
Working on the update right now, so my goal is to have it ready by tomorrow or the day after.
Sleep was a luxury you couldn't indulge in, even though you really, really wanted to.
Wasn't a problem for Mia, she had snuck into your room and cuddled up to you, using you like a pillow like she used to when you'd had some of your worst nightmares.
A bit annoying, but you knew that she needed someone just as much as you did by the way that she was shaking like a leaf as she passed out.
You had smiled when she'd finally gone to sleep, happy that she had found some measure of peace now that she knew she was safe from monster attacks.
Well, for the most part.
People here might not have Imperial Gold or Celestial Bronze, the two monster killing metals that you actually knew about, but enough firepower would be enough to take down most monsters.
And you'd eat your left foot if the people here didn't have enough of an armory to give NYC police a problem. You knew for a fact that John, the slightly awkward innkeeper, had some kind of martial training. The callouses on his hands resembled Old Tom's far too much. And you think you saw a bulge on his ankle and waist when he had moved past you, but you weren't going to go digging around in there.
The fact that Dewgift was wary to irritate him yesterday only added to your theory.
Now you just had to worry about the whatever the hell was locked inside of that giant tree castle was apparently 'yours'.
You were too young to be dealing with all this.
Sure, you had spent more time awake and 'living' compared to other people your age. But this was just so much. Too much. All these people, looking at you like you were some kind of savior. That believed they owed you their lives.
This wasn't even adding in all the other crap with the Greek and Roman Pantheon, and apparently there were more pantheons out there.
As if you didn't already have enough problems as it was.
Morning came far quicker than you were expecting, and breakfast was a stale, delicious meal that you couldn't find yourself to enjoy. Though, to your surprise, a small cup full of steaming coffee was placed gently in front of you, the steady hands of John sliding it in front of you before he bowed and left the room without nary a word.
Was the man worried about you? Or were you just that open with how overwhelmed you were with… everything.
Well, you supposed that it didn't matter. You took a sip from the coffee, surprised at the splash of hazelnut and milk, but thankful for it as you didn't spit it out like you would normal coffee.
It was at least enough of a pick me up to help you deal with the lack of sleep.
"Nerves are a man's worst enemy. Understand it, control it, seize it, and it will never be anything but yours." John said quietly, so quietly that you almost wonder if you were just hearing things, as he walked away from you and towards the front door, opening it to admit three men.
One of them was Officer Dewgift, though minus his uniform. His alien-like green eyes glittered as he smiled at you, wearing a purple turtleneck and blue jeans, tipped with black combat boots.
The man in the center was the most inconspicuous of the three. About five foot six, Asian, with neat brown hair combed over one way, you might have thought he was a normal man. But there was something in the way that he stood that told you that he had seen some action. The way that his eyes surveyed the scene, and the tenseness in his shoulders relaxed.
The twenty-year-old looking man wore a primarily blue suit, though he lacked a tie, and the crisp darker blue of his suit jacket was accompanied by white along the edges.
At the end of the three was definitely the largest of the trio, who looked the oldest, but you knew the elf was the old man of the group.
Just over six feet tall, wide with enough muscle to lay the foundation for a brick house, he was dressed like a cowboy. No other way to describe the blue button-up shirt, dark pants, suspenders-who the hell still wears suspenders?- and a fairly wide cowboy hat on top of his head. He kept his hands on his belt, near to where a holster would have been, which he lacked. Clear blue eyes bored down into you, searching for something that you didn't have, a small frown on his clean-shaven square jaw as he shrugged his shoulders, short locks of brown hair peeking out from underneath his hat.
"It's always a pleasure to welcome you, Mr. Mayor." John said, shaking the unassuming man's hand, who took it and smiled at him.
"Of course John. Thank you for all that you have done. We appreciate it." The man in the immaculate blue suit said as he stood across from your group. He stared at you with dark brown eyes that seemed to gaze through you in a way that made you shiver.
It went on for longer than you would have liked, and you were starting to wonder if you were about to get interrogated when he finally moved. To your astonishment, and embarrassment, he bowed, down and deep, to the point where you were worried that he was going to plant his face on the floor.
"Thank you for saving my life, no, for saving everyone's life. I'm just sorry that we couldn't find you sooner." You stood there, mouth hanging open at the man who was treating you like some kind of savior, latching onto the one thing that confused you so that you wouldn't burst into flames right then and there from embarrassment.
"What do you mean, found him 'sooner'?" Rosa asked, wearing… well, it was about two steps away from being a scowl.
The larger man stepped forward then, his hat in his hand as he nodded at her and then at you. "Ma'am, he means some of us normal folk, ah, human, I mean, left the town and searched for your boy tryin' to see if we could find 'im. One of ours was actually in New York when you had your little get away, but was too slow and lost track of ya. He did find what was left behind of that scuffle, though. Nice work by the way." He grinned at you when he said that, and you just… sat there. Digesting what he was saying.
"Are you telling me, that we could have been found by one of you guys years ago this whole time!?" Mia asked with a screech.
The three men all shuffled their feet as the big man coughed into his hand.
"Uh… yeah." He finally admitted, lamely, not knowing what to say. "Thing is, we didn't know what you looked like, only that you were in a big city, and well, none of us here're local."
The man in blue nodded, and gestured at himself. "I am a psychic. Specifically, one who is able to see glimpses of the future, though my ability has proven to be far more chaotic since we all arrived on this world. A myriad of different possibilities, always fluctuating before I can get a clear picture." He bowed again after that. "Forgive me, we never introduced ourselves. My name is Sho Kasugai. You already know Sergeant Dewgift, and the man next to me is Arthur Morgan."
"Bah, will you all sit down already? All this standing around is making my hands twitchy." Tom finally spat out from his seat in the lobby, throwing his hands around wildly in aggravation.
Arthur chuckled as they all took their seats on one of the larger couches, Sho steepling his hands together as he considered you and your group.
"I'm sure that you have questions, and believe me, that we have them as well. I have no doubt that you are about as clueless as we are after reading Officer Dewgift's report on what you have gone through." Sho eventually said. "Before we get into all of that, I promise that this town can be your home if you wish for it."
No one except you notices the way that Mia clenches her hands underneath the table, as if part of her was scared that you'd have to leave the second place that would be deemed safe from the monsters that had plagued her entire childhood.
"You're more worried about what he can do to you now that the owner of this place is here? Aren't you?" To your surprise, the one that voices that question is Keith, the usually twitchy young man… well, he was currently twitching as every eye turns to look at him, but he does meet the three men's gaze.
"It is a pressing issue that many people here wonder. They have made this place their home, because none of us have anywhere else safe to go. Unlike most of the normal people of this universe, we can see through this Mist, and somehow, these 'monsters' can tell when we see through them."
You can't help but turn to look at Rosa, the only 'monster' in the room, who looked puzzled at first, before she slapped herself in the head. "Of course none of you know. I'm sorry, I've been… like this for so long that I genuinely forgot that no one else knows how it feels. Think of it like an intuition, though this only happens if we make eye contact with whoever spots us. It isn't always accurate though, think of it more like a learned behavior instead of an actual ability, though it does get stronger the older we get."
None of the men asked what that they wanted to, a quick glance telling you that they knew exactly what would happen if they did.
"Even if I could, I'm not going to kick anyone out of their homes!" You say when the awkward silence passed, causing the mayor of the town to slump in relief.
"Good. That's… very good. Now, onto the second order of business. The Tree." Sho said, glancing out the window, where the Tree was very hard to ignore on the skyline.
"How the hell is that not showing up on any satellite images?" Mia asked as she stared over at the Tower/Tree that was practically screaming at you to come towards it.
"Magic." Four voices said in unison, Arthur in particular letting out a bellowing laugh.
"Trust me, ma'am, sooner you get used to it, the less headaches yer goin' to have." Mia just rolled her eyes at that.
"Apparently, given just how much 'magic' there is floating around."
"You want to investigate the tree?" You asked the mayor, who nodded in agreement.
"Besides it being your rightful home, I also believe that it might be the greatest chance we have towards receiving some answers on our predicament." You consider that for a moment before nodding.
"Maybe Yuruth kept some notes or something. She lived a long time before whatever killed her, killed her." You weren't ready to think of 'her' as you. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
"I can provide a list of people that would be more than happy to accompany you, the three of us included." Sho quickly said, as he took out a small file and passed it over to you.
"That's a lot more people willing to put their lives on the line just for some answers." Rosa quickly says when you all skimmed through the list. Literally pages and pages of people. All of them were fighters?
Sho looked uneasy at this, and Arthur merely stared at the table as his boss gathered his answer.
"You- Yuruth, said to some of us that she had saved millions of people. Not everyone, but those that she could. Yet, only a meager ten thousand or so live in this town of ours." The pieces clicked in your head.
"So your only choice for hope of maybe seeing your loved ones again, is helping me." You finished their sentence, and felt the gaze of three desperate men all boring into you. Right. "No pressure then."
"The choice of who you bring is yours. While we do wish for answers, that tree is your home, and this place is your birthright." You quickly wave your hand around.
"I don't know anyone here, so I doubt that I'm going to be the best judge of whom to bring or not. If anyone should choose who's going to be going into that place with me, it should be someone who knows every player on the board." Sho nodded, a look of approval in his eyes. Had that been a test?
"Ha, I like this kid! He's got a pair on 'im." Arthur laughed as he leaned back in his seat, sizing you up in a way that you'd only seen out on the street. "Ya'ain't just a kid, are ya? What've you got up yer sleeve?" He asked.
You think about playing coy, but realize that you would probably be fighting against whatever was in that Tower with him and the rest pretty soon, and that meant that you had to know exactly what they were capable of, and the same went with you. So you reached into your pocket and brought out your little multi-tool, the cheap kind that you can get almost anywhere, and place it on the table. You clap your hands together, and press one to the knife, bolts of blue electricity cracking along your hands as you transmuted the tool.
Instead of a cheap multi-tool, you revealed a brand-new dagger, all the metal of the various tools fashioned into one pocket knife meant for cutting and stabbing. The craftsmanship is basic, but it would do what it was made for.
Arthur let out a long whistle, while Sho stared unblinkingly at the newly crafted tool. "Now that's a mighty fine trick you got there, kid."
"It's called Alchemy, though not the kind that you might be familiar with. The transmutation of equivalent exchange. I could do something flashier, but I don't want to mess up any of Mr. Wicks hotel." You admitted quietly as you passed the knife over to Sho who inspected it carefully.
"That is not all that you can do, though, is it?" You shook your head, and before you knew it, you spent the next half hour going over everything that you could do.
"While this place might be shoddy work, I promise yeh, it is built to last at least one of your generations! I know that isn't very long in the grand scheme of things, but I guarantee that we will get all the kinks work out in just a few more years of work!" Gildrum bellowed out as he walked in front of you and Rosa, gesturing around at the Dwarven Quarter of the Town.
While it might be the Dwarven Quarter, there were plenty of other shorter races living here. Gnomes, halflings, goblins, and some other shorter races of rat like people that walked around town.
Everywhere you looked, there was stone and metal, ingenious buildings that looked like they were carved out of mountains, with even more construction being done on top of the three-story buildings. Blocky, yet sturdy, they were all arranged in a maze like pattern, with shops and the like all carved in a multitude of languages on top of the entrances.
He said it was shoddy work, but it was probably the best stone carving and metal work that you had seen in your entire life, and the same could be said for Rosa with the little stars that glowed in her eyes as she stared around in wonder.
And 'only last a single generation' was still fucking better craftsmanship than most new places that were built nowadays.
"And all of it has proper electricity and plumbing?" Rosa asked the dwarf who just scoffed at that.
"Lassie, of course we did! Aye, it might have caused some of us to scratch our heads at first, and we might have to do some upgradin' whenever we finish properly making the foundation, but we are all taking part of the comfort that we have found in this world! It might have taken some weeks of studyin', and learnin', Stone, we are mere apprentices compared to what we would like, but we still wished to get our hands dirty with this new technology! Didn't hurt that there are some humans and others that live here that helped give us our introduction into electricity and improved plumbing." The dwarf bellowed as he led the two of you through the district, the sound of hammers, chisels, and bellows echoing across from the growing towers that made up the buildings of the entire district.
Where the center district of the city was more of communing with nature, and using trees as the actual buildings, this was the complete opposite. Pure craftsmanship, and steady stone chiseled from hardened hands.
Though, you knew what else dwarves were known for, at least in the stories that you'd heard, so you had to ask. "You're building underground too, aren't you?"
Gildrum just gave you a wide face breaking smile and nodding, pointing down with one big meaty hand. "Aye lad! Of course, we are! D'you have any idea just how much real estate is just hidin' beneath our feet? Sure, it requires some more work, this ground isn't a mountain after all, as we need to do some more work reinforcing everything as we go, but that's just more of a challenge that we are more than happy to work with!"
As he was about to take you down one road though, your attention turned towards the west, the concentration of magic that you had been feeling screaming into the world like a begging cry.
Before you knew it, you began to walk towards it, Rosa and the dwarf that was meant to be your guide following behind you without a word.
You kept walking past the bustle of the Dwarven district, ignoring the stares from the people that had lived here for the past fifteen plus years, completely focused on the magic that seemed to pulse with every step you took.
The sound of the dwarven district was soon left behind as you arrived at a small clearing, an entire block of nothing but a stone dais in the shape of a pentagon. On top of the pentagon, was a great warhammer, one larger than you were, the handle seeming to be crafted out of a white leather over golden metal. The actual end of the weapon was embedded into the stone dais, a single dragon headed green jewel glowing on the pommel of the weapon.
"That was here when we all arrived." Gildrum said as he stepped next to you, peering at the weapon with a respectful nod. "A wonder of craftsmanship, made out of materials that none of us have ever seen, although we think that the leather on the handle is some type of dragon."
"A dragon? Are you sure? Those are rare, even in the past when the gods ruled with a stronger grip." Rosa asked, as you stared at the green jewel that you could have sworn winked at you.
"Aye, my grandfather worked with dragon leather a few times throughout his long life, and this has the same consistency as the handle of one of his swords. Though, the metal the actual weapon is made of is beyond me. Same on whatever this green jewel is. None of us have been able to lift, or so much as budge the hammer, so we have deigned to leave the dais alone as well. We assumed that whatever importance this has, it would be found whenever its owner came to retrieve it." He stares at you after he said that, staring at you as you kept your attention on the hammer, the jewel at the end of the pommel glittering brighter than gold.
You reach out and grasp the hammer, feeling the magic coursing from the land underneath your feet, into the hammer, before being funneled to you. For that one terrifying moment, you were scared that you were going to die. That all that magic flowing through you was going to burn you from the inside out.
Only… it didn't. It simply flowed in and out, you, the hammer, and back into the land.
With a steady hand, you pulled the hammer out of the ground, the concrete giving way like water, as you finally stared at the head of the hammer. One of the faces was fashioned into a sharp spiral pick, while the flat face was engraved with images of leathery wings reminiscent of a dragon.
It was heavier than you, you knew that the moment you picked it up, yet you held it up as if it were a mere pillow with one hand. You felt your magic ebb and flow into the weapon, knowing that this was made as a conduit of magic, something meant to be used in conjunction with spell craft.
Yet, what kind of mage used a freaking warhammer as a conduit? You thought that staffs were supposed to be used for that?
That was when the ground started to shift underneath your feet.
Rosa screamed in panic, reaching over to you as if to pull you away when you shot into the air, the dais that had served as the weapon's home moving with 'clicks' and 'grinds' as if it were a mechanical creation instead of mere stone. You damn near feel off the pillar, kneeling and holding onto the edge of it, your other hand desperately gripping the warhammer that you rested on the floor, wishing that the ride would stop.
When it finally did, you stared out across the secret that the hammer held.
A mountain.
A.
Fucking.
Mountain.
The pillar that you had been standing on was now part of a greater stone building that seemed to have been shaped into the mountaintop. Stone balconies stared out across the rest of the town, even the giant tower seeming to be nothing more than a little stand compared to the majesty of the mountain.
You faced a giant stone door, one barren of any decorations. They each seemed to weight at least a ton, and you knew that if anyone tried to force the door open, they'd need to come with a wrecking ball. Yet, they'd open for you.
You didn't need any evidence to show it did, your home told you that it would. All you would have to do was ask.
Turning around, you saw that there were a number of different stone and metal carts connected to the ledges of the mountaintop.
You stepped into one, and found a simple lever, which you pulled with ease with one hand, the other one holding onto the warhammer.
The inside of the mountain was dangerous, much like the tower was. There was… something inside, and the more secrets you unlocked, the clearer the knowledge flowed into you. Like whispers that had been trying to reach your ears were becoming less and less impeded by the wind.
Damn, not even halfway down the mountain, you knew that dwarves were hollering their voices out in cheer, instead of getting irritated by the change in landscape.
Gods, you were going to get lambasted by Rosa and Mia when you got back, weren't you?
You have unlocked the Mountain!
New Tower Features Discovered!
Manufactorum
Mine More Minerals
Much like the Tower, there are dangers hiding within the mountains that you will have to deal with, and this is going to require those equipped for fighting. Like the Tower, this will be an expedition that requires more than simply one event, though the rewards will be immense for yourself and the townspeople.
The more that you unlock, the clearer that the picture of what you have will be, as will the secrets to finding the lost population that Yuruth saved in your previous life.
Magical Warhammer Unlocked!
Mastercrafted weapon, and magical conduit.
Will require a more advanced smith or enchanter to ascertain full capabilities, or for you to further your magical aptitude in certain fields.
Currently Unlocked: +15 bonus to Combat Rolls. +15 to Dice Rolls for magic activity.
[]Spice Shop: There were some interesting herbs in that spice shop. Along with the woman being some kind of shifting race. Perhaps you could find more out from there.
[]Dwarven Artisan: Meet with some of the Dwarven Crafters in the Dwarven Quarter. Integrate yourself with the community, and perhaps learn something or other when it comes to crafting.
[]Dwarven Artillery: One craft that the Dwarves have thrown themselves into is in the art of gunmaking. Now, they have made some of their own guns, and would be more than happy to inspect some of the heavier ordinance that you have brought with you. Lose some of your weapons, but make up for it with those guns being put into production.
[]Dwarven Architecture: Architecture has always been an avenue of learning that you have been interested, especially after looking at what the Dwarves are capabel of. While you don't have the years of dedication that most Dwarves require, you have been a fast learner.
[]Meetings: Meet with some of the people that have volunteered to go with you on future expeditions. These people will be the ones putting their lives on the line, and the more that you know about them, and the more they know about you in turn, the easier it will be to coordinate any assaults. Each option counts as one activity.
-Sho Kasugai
-Arthur Morgan
-Officer Dewgift
-Nick Burkhardt
-Jane Kelly
-Lara Croft
-Jude Mathis
-Randal Portman
-Lincoln Clay
[]Investigate the Woods: The surrounding woods hold their own secrets, and with having done your own sensory investigation, you should be able to find what concentrated pockets of magic are out there.
[]Southern District: A collection of farmland and gardens, it appears the southern area of the town is the breadbasket of the town.
[]Mia's Wandering:Your best friend has been doing her own wandering around town. Getting into bar fights, getting hit on by dwarves and half-orcs that really liked her scars, only to then have to break up a fight that she may or may not have started. Damn it Aphrodite.
[]Soldier Tom: Unsurprising, Tom has been doing his own scouting, and while none of the people here had ever seen war in your world, there were more warriors and veterans here than civilians. Maybe hang around him and see those that he's met.
[]Skulduggery Keith: Keith has always had a penchant for finding his way into trouble, and while he's avoiding getting his ass dragged into prison this time around, it doesn't mean that there aren't those around who specialize in his field of 'expertise'.
And here we are. Hope that you all enjoyed, I apologize again for the long wait. And if this seems excessive for the characters that are around, this is a Multiversal Quest, so things like this should be expected.
Okay, a lot happened here, like a whole damned lot. Most of it good.
Right off, that Mountain, and the Manufactorum, are huge, but need to be cleared out just like the Tower proper before it can be used. And while the Dwarves are more than likely willing to dive in and tame the place, there is no need to rush things when people are still being safe. If the choice pops, I suggest taking it easy and getting the lay of the land rather than rushing in.
That Warhammer, on the other hand…oh dear GOD that thing is ludicrous.
The FIFTEEN Extra dice for Magic is huge, and this is before we even think about applying any bonuses or penalties or similar. I think we might be able to blitz down Demon Blood with that many Dice, then swap over to other stuff afterward with the surplus!!
In light of Typos, this is now merely good and not flat-out incredible. Still, +15 to actions is nothing to sneeze at, so it still works out.
Anyway, Choice rating time! As usual, there are no Wrong answers, just less interesting ones.
[]Spice Shop: There were some interesting herbs in that spice shop. Along with the woman being some kind of shifting race. Perhaps you could find more out from there.
Still a good place to get Alchemy (Atelier) stuff, and still worth checking out sooner or later. Remember, Healing Potions are your friend.
[]Dwarven Artisan: Meet with some of the Dwarven Crafters in the Dwarven Quarter. Integrate yourself with the community, and perhaps learn something or other when it comes to crafting.
After seeing the Dwarven Quarter, I have no issue with heading to check out the Artisans at work. They will likely be just as impressive, and probably have someone who can take a look at that Hammer besides. Also, Learning about how to properly make stuff is a boost to Alchemy anyway, so it's still worth it…
[]Dwarven Artillery: One craft that the Dwarves have thrown themselves into is in the art of gunmaking. Now, they have made some of their own guns, and would be more than happy to inspect some of the heavier ordinance that you have brought with you. Lose some of your weapons, but make up for it with those guns being put into production.
Ah, the smell of Gunpowder in the morning. And letting the Dwarves make more of the good stuff will be good for Tom's soul, because a marine without guns to engage at range gets…twitchy.
You won't like Tom when he is Twitchy.
[]Dwarven Architecture: Architecture has always been an avenue of learning that you have been interested, especially after looking at what the Dwarves are capable of. While you don't have the years of dedication that most Dwarves require, you have been a fast learner.
Oh, look. Another Option and a fun task to do with Rosa, since she loves the stuff already. Take Mom on a trip to be awesome, learn something from the process, get boosts and meet people. What more do you need?
[]Meetings: Meet with some of the people that have volunteered to go with you on future expeditions. These people will be the ones putting their lives on the line, and the more that you know about them, and the more they know about you in turn, the easier it will be to coordinate any assaults. Each option counts as one activity.
-Sho Kusanagi
-Arthur Morgan
-Officer Dewgift
-Nick Burkhardt
-Jane Kelly
-Lara Croft
-Jude Mathis
-Randal Portman
-Lincoln Clay
So, I mentioned this before: the people are what is going to make or break this setup, and here are the ones to watch, at least that we know of. Interestingly, I see a few names I recognize on that list, and if they are anything like our other friends in town then they are more important than they seem.
Specifically, I feel like I should know the name Sho Kusanagi from somewhere, Arthur Morgan I know for a fact I have heard but I can't place it, Jane Kelly…is hopefully not who I think it is, Lara is Lara, I;ve also heard of Jude from somewhere, Lincoln Clay feels like it should be important…and then there is the last guy, Portman, who if that is the guy I think it is the town is in good hands.
Any one of them are worth the investment, but my mind is pulling me towards Portman, Mathis, and Kusanagi for some reason, with Lara and Dewgift being close seconds. Still, all choices are viable.
[]Investigate the Woods: The surrounding woods hold their own secrets, and with having done your own sensory investigation, you should be able to find what concentrated pockets of magic are out there.
Woods are still on the table, and considering what happened the last time we checked a place with high mana concentration, there is likely something good here too….along with something bad we need to overcome to gain access or use it right. Only way to know is to check, though.
[]Southern District: A collection of farmland and gardens, it appears the southern area of the town is the breadbasket of the town.
Second verse, same as the first. See above, the same points apply, with the exception being that farmland, at least when it is not planted and nearing harvest, offers surprisingly good visibility.
[]Mia's Wandering:Your best friend has been doing her own wandering around town. Getting into bar fights, getting hit on by dwarves and half-orcs that really liked her scars, only to then have to break up a fight that she may or may not have started. Damn it Aphrodite.
Big Sis is doing things, and it seems like she needs a little bro to annoy her out of her funk. Besides, she is quickly coming to see the place as home, and that is worth protecting.
[]Soldier Tom: Unsurprising, Tom has been doing his own scouting, and while none of the people here had ever seen war in your world, there were more warriors and veterans here than civilians. Maybe hang around him and see those that he's met.
Because Tom, that's why.
Everyone's favorite soldier needs some face time with the brass, so to speak. We should probably have him tag along to one of the stuff blowing up places or maybe the forest, just in case.
Also, Keeping him around may be a bigger priority than expected, as I do believe that the pursuit crew is due to pop back into the picture soon, and there is no need for us to get ambushed by the fucking cartel…
[]Skulduggery Keith: Keith has always had a penchant for finding his way into trouble, and while he's avoiding getting his ass dragged into prison this time around, it doesn't mean that there aren't those around who specialize in his field of 'expertise'..
The sneaky option, and one that is not as bad as it may seem. Specifically, Keith is now the main in to the rogues of the town, which is always a good thing to know about as they will be the ones that have your treasure when you turn your back for five seconds. Definitely worth a check out regardless.
IMPORTANT: As I mentioned above, I have reason to believe that the clock on our pursuers is running out this turn, meaning that we will have armed assholes looking to see us die showing up in town soon. To that end, it is basically imperative that everyone moves in at least pairs or is with someone that can provide backup if possible. (this also helps in concentrating force to avoid overwork.)
Thank you, and this has been my situation brief. Plan when I wake up later.
The FIFTEEN Extra dice for Magic is huge, and this is before we even think about applying any bonuses or penalties or similar. I think we might be able
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Jude Mathis (ジュード・マティス, Juudo Matisu?) is one of the two main characters in Tales of Xillia. He is a medical student training in the royal city when he is engulfed into Milla Maxwell's adventures. Fourteen years prior to the events of Tales of Xillia, when Jude was only a year old, his father...
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Randal Portman is The Fireman from Trinity Aberrant, you cheeky bastard you
Family isn't who you're born with, it's who you die for.Lincoln Clay Lincoln Clay is the protagonist of Mafia III. He is a Vietnam War veteran who starts his own criminal empire while seeking revenge after the Marcano Crime Family killed his adopted family, the Black Mob, and left him for dead...
[]Investigate the Woods: The surrounding woods hold their own secrets, and with having done your own sensory investigation, you should be able to find what concentrated pockets of magic are out there.
Woods are still on the table, and considering what happened the last time we checked a place with high mana concentration, there is likely something good here too….along with something bad we need to overcome to gain access or use it right. Only way to know is to check, though.
[]Southern District: A collection of farmland and gardens, it appears the southern area of the town is the breadbasket of the town.
Second verse, same as the first. See above, the same points apply, with the exception being that farmland, at least when it is not planted and nearing harvest, offers surprisingly good visibility.
With us gaining the hammer I am inclined to poke around here both to see what additional aspects we can unlock but also to see if we might gain some more equipment because when we go into the tower we want all the bonuses we can get, the hammer alone is going to help.
@Xolsis how many actions can we take this turn and how many turns do we have before we need to make an attempt at the tower?9
idk any of the fandoms in detail to know if the people are ones we want to talk to so I think give Tom another round to meet more veterans and then start looking into combat parties so for this one I think Investigate the Woods, Dwarven Artillery and Dwarven Artisan are the way to go unless another of those people is a really big deal or has something really useful. Woods will probably give something like the mountain and hammer, artillery is something we want set up ahead of the town being opened to atk and getting in with the crafters and getting crafting bonuses should also prove useful in the long run.
[X] Plan: a Veteran;s Homecoming
[X] Soldier Tom
[X] Meeting: Jane Kelly
[X] Dwarven Artillery
My reasoning is simple: we're running out of immediate time before the bad guys that were chasing us might catch up, and while the town itself is likely going to be fine overall, wemay not be. Also, Learning about the people whose main professions were fighting against the unknown for a cause...that would resonate with Tom.
The Artillery is just letting the man go to the playground, realy.
(NOTE: I was tempted to check the forest. I really was. But this seems more important at the moment. Also, Next turn I am going to suggest meeting up with Mr. Portman. Because he is that important that I almost used him instead of Kelly, only deferring to her as she is a Soldier.)
"Well, ain't this a nice surprise?" The large black man wearing an army jacket and a white t-shirt underneath said as he held the Uzi you had brought with you to the Dwarven Quarter. He was also eyeing the M16 Rifle that was sitting on one of the tables with an appreciative eye.
"I know what you mean." The twenty five year old looking woman said as she held a Benelli Shotgun in her hands, a smile on Jane Kelly's face that matched Lincoln Clay's.
"I knew that I should have brought Ma Deuce with me when we left the city." Tom bemoaned while he was placing a few of the pistols you had brought onto the table.
Behind one of the tables of the workshop, closest towards the steaming hot forge, was a dwarf that was somehow even wider than Gildrum. Where Gildrums beard had some streaks of grey in them, this one's beard was completely black, like steaming pitch brewing in a pot. His beard was braided, but had fewer rings and jewelry entangled in the braids, giving him a much more spartan look.
He inspected the guns with a critical eye, thick muscled hands deftly picking a pistol, a Beretta you think, pulling the muzzle off the gun before breaking it down into separate parts, each one neatly placed in front of him as he continued to do the same to the rest of the weapons in front of him.
There were other soldiers nearby, even Dewgift was nearby when he'd spotted you all walking down the street with a bag full of guns. Most of them were well muscled and versed in weaponry, though some like the Goliath Kumav wore some form of melee weapon, in his case a massive great axe that looked far too heavy to properly use in an actual battle.
Honestly, it was going to take a while before you got used to all the different races that populated the town. Easily more races of humanoids, or… 'other's' than you had expected to see in your life.
You didn't bother to count the amount of people that had walked in the door with Tom, the old man managing to make a number of new soldier friends in the few days that you had spent in Widow Creek.
"Quite a nice haul that you brought into our little town, brat." The dwarf artisan Korjuk said as he inspected each and every broken down gun with hungry eyes, the various soldiers around him already beginning to help with cataloging and documentation. "I appreciate ya lads coming and giving this dwarf a hand with his work."
"Think nothing of it. Haven't had a chance to get my hands on some good ordinance since we opened up the town. Almost two decades without getting my hands on a good gun was startin' to make me antsy." Lincoln Clay said as he wrote down the specs of the M16 into the notebook, while Jane Kelly did the same with the shotgun.
"Prohibiting us from getting involved in any form of organized crime outside the town was the correct call. Even if it limited us on certain avenues of information and supplies that we could get." Jane said while she grabbed an ammo box and started to separate the different calibers of ammo.
Lincoln nodded. "Especially with these gods and monsters runnin' around. Don't think that much normal ammo can do much against those kinds of things." Korjuk nodded as he began to press the various pieces of metal into different molds.
"Some monsters we should be able to deal with, I know plenty that have silver as a weakness, but the real find brat, are these." He tapped the golden weapons that you had taken off the demigods that had attacked you in the park almost two weeks ago. "The formula that you gave us is goin' to help too, though we're going to need that final 'step' that your friend has if we want to make more weapons to properly kill monsters."
That brought an idea to your head. "Could we melt down one of these swords into bullets?"
Korjuk bellowed out a laugh that could make an elk jealous, the rest of the surrounding warriors letting out their own chuckles. "I like the way that you think, brat, consider it done!"
He proceeded to chuck one of the swords into a pot looking thing, before he placed it inside the billowing hot furnace behind him. "First we'll see if those things can melt, and we can decide what to melt them down into later. 'Fore all that, I am most definitely going to spread out some of these schematics around. Sure, we've had some of our own firearms, we have managed to get our hands on some over the past few years, but these are military grade hardware, right Lincoln?"
The large man nodded as he leaned against one of the walls, given you a clear view of the gruesome scar on the side of his head. "Most of it is the same type of stuff I used back in Nam, though the guns are a lot more modified compared to standard issue equipment. Definitely would be nice to get some of these around town."
"Let's just be thankful there aren't any aliens to fight off in this world. Monsters that can usually be killed with a touch of this Imperial Gold or Celestial Bronze are better than alien/human hybrids that can brain fuck you with just a whisper." Jane Kelly said as she stared at you from across one of the tables.
Oh wonderful, they were all looking at you again.
"What? Why are you all looking at me like I'm about to set off some kinda bomb?" You asked.
"Well, while we have made this place our home over the past fifteen years, we all still got questions about… well everythin'." Lincoln said from his spot on the wall, a number of the different soldiers around you nodding, with even the artisan Korjuk sending over a glance of interest. "On whatever is coming, because we know that somethin' is coming."
You feel like a deer caught in the headlights, only multiplied by a thousand, with the eyes of actual killers boring into you. What could you say? You didn't have any answers? But somehow, saying only that felt wrong.
Yet, the pressure of panic didn't press you into a roaring mess, the land itself somehow helping you… center yourself, focus on the magic and the… feelings that it sent towards you. One of safety and warmth, faint as it was.
An old wrinkled hand clasped your shoulder, and you knew that Tom was offering what support he could, though you didn't turn to look at him.
You breathe in, then breathe out. Repeat it once before you respond.
"Whatever it is, it's going to affect everywhere. Not just one spot of America, or a single city, no it's going to hit the entire world." The more you spoke, the more certain you became, your Tower agreeing with you, sending you messages with approval as you put the pieces together of what you had seen over the past few weeks.
The scattered fragments of memories that you would sometimes see in your dreams, the strange buildings that suddenly appeared in New York that you knew shouldn't be there, yet no one noticed. How pieces of newspapers or fliers from this other place were blurred nonsense that didn't make any sense, but were becoming clearer the more that you thought of it. "The Daily Bugle" Newspaper being chief among them from that armory that you had made your home.
"The nature of it, I don't know. But it's like a shockwave. It isn't going to just be limited to something that we can mitigate. We have to prepare for it, and weather the storm. But before all that, we have to deal with the dangers that are already in this world in the first place." You couldn't help but glance towards the northwest, towards New York, where the Olympians held their court, and the children of the Greek's remained in one little camp, isolated there as the only place that they could truly call home.
"About as vague as the Mayor said it the first time, too, so can't really be mad at ya." Lincoln scratched the back of his head, while Jane Kelly grunted as she took a seat on one of the chairs, the various artisans behind the workbenches already in full work mode, hollering and yelling at each other as the clank of machines began to bellow across the workshop. They had already offered to give you a small tour around the workshop later and maybe have you take a 'basic' course, though they had looked pained when they had said that.
"Just wish that it was an actual thing that we could shoot instead of just… a natural disaster that we're waiting to happen." Jane said.
Just about every warrior nodded at that.
"You know the old sayin'. 'Hurry up and wait'." Lincoln said, to which almost the entire room cheered, Tom in particular chuckling quietly to himself. "So, kid, since you're going to be the one taking us into the next op, you should probably know a bit about us. I served in 'Nam, like Tom over there, but in a different one."
"But… you look like you're in your twenties. And you all showed up here when I was born fifteen years ago." You said, staring at him, and then at Jane, and then at the rest of the people around you. You knew that a bunch of the races here were long-lived, but that didn't extend to humans right?
"Something about the air here, some of the more… wizardy types say that it's the concentration of magic, is keeping most of us young. Lot of kids just stop aging when they hit their early twenties, while the rest of us tend to stick around to this age. Not sure what happens if we leave, though." Jane commented, and that… was going to take some time to properly process.
Someone threw something at him, which he managed to catch at the last minute. He held the bottle of beer in his hands, before everyone else caught one meant for them.
Korjuk just glared at all of them, the box of beers in his hand running fairly low as he threw more and more at the warriors around him. "If you're going to swap stories, lad, then you might as well do it properly!" He was about to toss one at you, but Tom shook his head.
"Von here is only fifteen, don't give any to the boy." Korjuk just snorted at that Toms protest.
"He's about to risk his life in that deathtrap you call a tower tomorrow. What kind of life could he say he lived if he didn't drink something that put some hair on his chest before it's empty of air?" Without another word, he tossed the beer at you, which you managed to catch easily in the air. Since the Light started to flow in your body, your reaction time and reflexes had been better than ever before.
You look at the beer, then back at Tom, who just sighed in resignation. "I ain't telling Rosa if you don't."
That's all the permission that you need before you pop the bottle cap and take a swig of the beer.
You then had to resist the urge to gag and spit the bitter brew out as the entire room laughed at you.
"The whole "Displacement" as everyone has started callin' it happened in 1969 for me, just a few weeks after I got this." Lincoln pointed to the scar on the side of his head. "Don't want to get into the gritty details, but let's just say that if any of the missin' people that Yuruth saved ever pops up, I'm goin' to check and make sure that the ones who gave this to me ain't in there." The warmth that you had seen in the large man's eyes were gone as he spoke, and you already knew what he was saying. He didn't care who tried to stop him, he would have blood, and even though you could probably take him down easily now, it sent a shiver of fear down your spine.
Tom didn't say a word, or even move an inch, but you knew that the old soldier was staring at Lincoln with the same dead eyes. The eyes of a killer.
Then Lincoln nodded, and the moment that could last forever ended without even going anywhere.
"So, you're helping me in an effort to see if I can help you find whoever you're looking for?" You asked.
They both nodded.
"When it happened, we had just finished driving the aliens off the planet. The truth had been unraveled, and the entire planet was in the middle of revolution. It was bloody, and there were people to bury, but it was better than being used as nothing but material to create psychic alien overlords new bodies. I have people that I fought with, people that I love that I hope that I can see again. It's the same for everyone else in this town." She said as she grabbed at a pendant around her neck, a small purple crystal that glittered in the light and felt… strange to your senses. Not magic, no, but… it was something close to it.
"So, you can both shoot, then? You were both soldiers?" They both nodded. "What about Dewgift? He as good a shot as you two?" The elf had wandered away at some point, lost in the sea of activity that was only ramping up with every passing second.
Both of them laughed at that. "Nah, Dewgift is good, but he doesn't much care for guns. Only reason why he carries one is 'cuz they make him." Lincoln said. "Nah, why carry a gun when you can punch harder and faster than a bullet can hit?"
That… was actually a good point. And you remembered how fast he was able to catch up to you and Keith when you had tried to make a run for it two days ago. Without making a sound, or looking winded, he had passed both of you, neither one of you having noticed until you damn near crashed into him.
"As for what we can do, well, I was in the normal army, but got moved into the 5th Special Forces. Got some training with more… aggressive and subtle means." Lincoln said quietly as he drank from his brew.
"He means he got trained by CIA on how to mentally fuck up the Vietcong." Tom said evenly from his chair, the two men meeting each other's eyes evenly. "I never got involved with any of that, but I did have a buddy who did. He wasn't ever the same when we got back home."
"So I've heard." Was all the Lincoln said on that matter. "Other than that, explosive, guerrilla warfare, tracking, even got some work on wiretappin' if you need it, but I doubt that's going to be useful going into that tree of yours."
"Much the same on my end, though I also know how to use a sword if you need something sliced up." Jane said, unsheathing her sword which sparked with electricity as it was exposed to the air. The edge of the blade glowed blue with heated electricity, science instead of magic, and you knew one cut from that would kill most things. "Oh, and like most of the other soldiers that served in XCOM with me, I got the gene therapy treatment. I can put up just as much of a fight as the big lug over here. Also got some training to throw off any psychic attacks that they might throw at us."
"And how exactly do you fight that kind of crap off?" Tom asked.
"Simple, it's a thing of focus and will. They can't do shit to you if your will is strong enough to shake it off. Though, mind reading can be a different type of thing to fight against." Jane finished her beer and threw it into the trash. "Now, John told us that you got some… trouble chasing you to this town. One of the more human variety."
You felt your teeth go on edge at that. "Yeah, you could say that."
"How do you want it handled when they get here?" The unasked question only made your stomach turn as Lincoln stared at you right in your soul.
He wanted to know if you wanted them taken out when they got here.
Oh god.
Could you just… order a hit on someone that crossed you know? Is that the kind of power that saving all these people had?
As if reality warping transmutation and Light alteration wasn't enough.
You recoiled from the question. "If it can be solved peacefully, then that's what I would prefer."
"Sometimes it ain't up to what we would prefer. That's something that you gotta learn when you deal with Cartel types, kid. Trust me." Something in Lincoln's words said that he spoke from experience, and he probably did with his special forces training. It didn't mean that you weren't going to try to keep as much blood off your hands.
"Then while I can, I'll do my best to keep as many people up and walking." But you knew that you would pull the trigger if you had to. You remembered that night almost a week ago. The gunshots, the pain in your chest bursting through the painkillers that the kind lady had given you. The broken SUV's and dead bodies that would never move again because of something that you did.
A hand clasped onto your shoulder, and you were brought back to the present, Lincoln kneeling in front of you, not having noticed him move in the first place. He looked at you with sad eyes, a knowing look as he lightly squeezed your shoulder, Tom's hand on your other shoulder. "You ain't there, kid. You're here. And it was you or them. Never forget that."
"I know." You said, but you didn't think that you believed it. Yet, their presence helped, at least a little.
You think. You hope.
You ended up finishing the beer without realizing it.
Dwarves have been provided various forms of weaponry, which they have begun to manufacture.
Military grade rifles, sidearms, and explosives will slowly be spread to the town's militia.
Lost Two units of Imperial Gold, they will be melted down into bullets and daggers for the Tower operations.
Due to Imperial Gold formula having already been discovered, you are many steps closer to being able to distribute the monster killing metal towards the rest of the town. You still require the blessing process for it to have an actual effect.
Dwarven Artisans are more than happy to provide training on various forms of crafts. New options for training unlocked in week by week turns.
Traits Discovered.
Lincoln Clay:
Expert Marksman: +20 to combat Rolls
Psychological Warfare:+10 to Intimidation, threats, and subterfuge rolls
Explosives Expert:+15 to Explosive related rolls
Indomitable Will: +10 to rolls against will checks
Guerrilla Warfare: +10 bonus during ambushes, both initiating and repelling.
Jane Kelly:
Indomitable Will:+20 to rolls against will checks
Master Swordswoman:+10 to combat, and melee related rolls
Fusion Blade: A plasma heated metal core contained within a thin magnetic field. +10 to melee rolls.
Guerrilla Warfare: +10 bonus during ambushes, both initiating and repelling.
You sleep more peacefully that night.
[]Spice Shop: There were some interesting herbs in that spice shop. Along with the woman being some kind of shifting race. Perhaps you could find more out from there. []Dwarven Artisan: Meet with some of the Dwarven Crafters in the Dwarven Quarter. Integrate yourself with the community, and perhaps learn something or other when it comes to crafting.
[]Dwarven Architecture: Architecture has always been an avenue of learning that you have been interested, especially after looking at what the Dwarves are capable of. While you don't have the years of dedication that most Dwarves require, you have been a fast learner.
[]Meetings: Meet with some of the people that have volunteered to go with you on future expeditions. These people will be the ones putting their lives on the line, and the more that you know about them, and the more they know about you in turn, the easier it will be to coordinate any assaults. Each option counts as one activity.
-Sho Kasugai
-Arthur Morgan
-Nick Burkhardt
-Lara Croft
-Jude Mathis
-Randal Portman
[]Investigate the Woods: The surrounding woods hold their own secrets, and with having done your own sensory investigation, you should be able to find what concentrated pockets of magic are out there.
[]Southern District: A collection of farmland and gardens, it appears the southern area of the town is the breadbasket of the town.
[]Mia's Wandering:Your best friend has been doing her own wandering around town. Getting into bar fights, getting hit on by dwarves and half-orcs that really liked her scars, only to then have to break up a fight that she may or may not have started. Damn it Aphrodite.
[]Skulduggery Keith: Keith has always had a penchant for finding his way into trouble, and while he's avoiding getting his ass dragged into prison this time around, it doesn't mean that there aren't those around who specialize in his field of 'expertise'.
Well as before woods and Dwarven Artisan if it's still an option since it isn't there but wasn't picked are my choice picks then assuming it's 3 picks again meet Portman as Aeon suggested. Did also notice the Daily Bugle newspaper mention which indicates the world merging is some form of Marvel verse that contains spiderman.
Oh nice, we got an extra meeting, I wonder if it the shop location. Arthur Morgan might be in the breadbasket area, wonder if anyone else is. Also would like to spend some time with Mia, as she is our closest friend and the cartel situation is probably messing with her.
[]Mia's Wandering:Your best friend has been doing her own wandering around town. Getting into bar fights, getting hit on by dwarves and half-orcs that really liked her scars, only to then have to break up a fight that she may or may not have started. Damn it Aphrodite.
One location
and one meeting with someone
Those are my current thoughts- Locations give us more information and might give us more equipment and more self buffs before going in are going to be useful
...well, that was heartwarming. And useful.
Anyway, my usual. []Spice Shop: There were some interesting herbs in that spice shop. Along with the woman being some kind of shifting race. Perhaps you could find more out from there.
Original points still stand, not repeating them.
[]Dwarven Architecture: Architecture has always been an avenue of learning that you have been interested, especially after looking at what the Dwarves are capable of. While you don't have the years of dedication that most Dwarves require, you have been a fast learner.
See above,
[]Meetings: Meet with some of the people that have volunteered to go with you on future expeditions. These people will be the ones putting their lives on the line, and the more that you know about them, and the more they know about you in turn, the easier it will be to coordinate any assaults. Each option counts as one activity.
-Sho Kasugai
-Arthur Morgan
-Nick Burkhardt
-Lara Croft
-Jude Mathis
-Randal Portman
My recommendations here are to go for Mr. Portman if we are going to meet someone. In fact, I am making a plan with that in mind.
[]Investigate the Woods: The surrounding woods hold their own secrets, and with having done your own sensory investigation, you should be able to find what concentrated pockets of magic are out there.
Still a valid choice, and likely more so with everyone being geared up now.
[]Southern District: A collection of farmland and gardens, it appears the southern area of the town is the breadbasket of the town.
Food. Of Course it's important.
[]Mia's Wandering:Your best friend has been doing her own wandering around town. Getting into bar fights, getting hit on by dwarves and half-orcs that really liked her scars, only to then have to break up a fight that she may or may not have started. Damn it Aphrodite.
This is the most important choice here, as Mia is the last of the crew that we need to hang out with, and she's going through a lot right now. Plan will be taking this into account and anything that ignores her will be ignored by me personally.
[]Skulduggery Keith: Keith has always had a penchant for finding his way into trouble, and while he's avoiding getting his ass dragged into prison this time around, it doesn't mean that there aren't those around who specialize in his field of 'expertise'.
Keith is fun, yeah, but Mia is more important.
So, here's the plan:
[X] PLAN: Sister Time
- [X] Mia's Wandering
- [X] Southern District
- [X] Meeting: Randall Portman
Only one explanation from me: South District is a guaranteed Thing and will avoid some of the issues with being in the woods at the time bad guys start showing up. Of course, it also has the disadvantage of being open ground, but we can deal with that later.
I was going to pick checking the woods but decided against it in the end, though I still rank it as an alternate pick if anyone wants to jump for that instead.
Dwarven crafted discarding sabot Exploding Poisonous Anti-Personnel rounds. For when you absolutely, positively must put down something known to shrug off most things, accept no substitutes.
