There are far more significant things out there than being an Essence Healer, the nature of your multi-power is that you will inevitably become a walking case of "NANI!!?!!" to anyone that takes too close a look.
And so the vote for relative anonymity (for now) is becoming more and more justified in my mind. The bad news is that that means the Lore Warden will end up a greater and greater risk in terms of getting sent away IMMEDIATELY over time. It's not like he'll say "Oops, you turned into a demi-god without me noticing, I guess I'll leave you alone and let you live your life." In my mind, the best way forward (apart from flat-out running away from home or otherwise declaring war on society) is doing research into what career would give us the least amount of oversight and/or duration of mandatory service, and cultivating ourselves to be a prime candidate for that.
But one way or another, through obedience or rebellion or calamity, we WILL be leaving Harmuph by the time we turn 13.
So, mind control, brainwashing, or both? Can't be threats. Can't be money. Even if money and prestige would be the smart option. Gilded cage makes the most sense from a logical position, but these guys seem pretty evil.
Less Evil and more "Incredibly invested in securing their own power in a place where theoretically some rando can get a horribly powerful 'Job' and scale up to a national threat"
The amount of bullets we've apparently dodged so far makes me sweat like crazy. I almost long for miss demigodling to roll in and destroy our beloved peasant village if only because it's the only way we'll be able to convincingly fake our own death.
And since we've gotten Oath Magic as apparently being a thing, I wonder what the odds are that 'The only ones who are let out of the tower are the ones who are bound to do the bidding of The Establishment and don't have the option of refusing'
And since we've gotten Oath Magic as apparently being a thing, I wonder what the odds are that 'The only ones who are let out of the tower are the ones who are bound to do the bidding of The Establishment and don't have the option of refusing'
This is why Heartsworn scared me the first time I saw it. Reading over the description again (more energy weapons powered by loyalty to our loved ones) and seeing Mathew's ability kept me from writing off the field of Oath Magic entirely, but I've got a bit of a phobia of magically-binding contracts that Lilly isn't powerful enough to break or clever enough to avoid getting caught by.
At least we have our green text to potentially ward off some of the Bad Ends, provided we can figure out how to best use it.
I noticed that you changed the quest title from "Try not to die" to "And Lily wants Adventure". That means that we've already passed the worst of everything and now we can look forward to a fun coming-of-age story where our hero explores a world full of wonder and friendship as she tries to support woman enfranchisement and thwart the bad guys with no shades of grey or systemic injustice or eldritch horrors that are working on levels that she can't even fathom.
I noticed that you changed the quest title from "Try not to die" to "And Lily wants Adventure". That means that we've already passed the worst of everything and now we can look forward to a fun coming-of-age story where our hero explores a world full of wonder and friendship as she tries to support woman enfranchisement and thwart the bad guys with no shades of grey or systemic injustice or eldritch horrors that are working on levels that she can't even fathom.
I noticed that you changed the quest title from "Try not to die" to "And Lily wants Adventure". That means that we've already passed the worst of everything and now we can look forward to a fun coming-of-age story where our hero explores a world full of wonder and friendship as she tries to support woman enfranchisement and thwart the bad guys with no shades of grey or systemic injustice or eldritch horrors that are working on levels that she can't even fathom.
I just thought the original title might put new readers off. Since while the looming threat is ever present, its not really going to be the actual tone of Lilly's experience until she becomes aware of at least a few of the malignant terrors. (The disclaimer at the top of 1.1 still clearly states its a major factor in the story, so no-one is going to be ambushed by a tonal shift later on.)
That notable world-building roll I mentioned a few chapters back has properly popped this chapter, should make for a fun finish. So far you've been getting a lot of benefits from your 3 week sleeping time-skip, but now its time to pay back your loan.
(I hope everyone is having fun with this story because I'm having a blast. It's just so liberating not having to worry about making things fair or contriving the plot. I can just throw the amalgamated lore of 10 years of creative daydreaming together into a world, set up a few intrinsic circumstances to justify why it has maintained a semblance of stability until now, then simply allow a few of those justifications to fray and watch everything follow.)
I'm enjoying the ride so far. The world and people we've met are engaging, and while great and terrible things may be on the horizon, I think we've gotten a better-than-average foundation to start with in terms of powers and social support to face what's coming. Besides, the Sage dice have already helped us with our father, who knows when they'll appear again.
...I'm willing to accept that there are consequences to being 3 weeks out of the game while the world keeps turning and the other godlings have been training, but could you walk us through the benefits? I can make some guesses:
Increased understanding of how our ability works through the extended tree dream as opposed to having to go piecemeal.
Fully growing the tree, which gives us a massive Essence pool.
Our father mourning us, which allowed him to reflect on us when we returned and eventually become our Reasonable and Super Supportive Authority Figure.
Our "beating the odds" giving us a chance to pick Cleaver of Fortune, which has proven extremely valuable.
The diviner owing us a favor for the misinterpreted reading.
I'd just like a chance to fully count our blessings before the bill comes due.
What you said, in particular though;
Some of you have alluded to understanding this, but it is a medium spoiler as it has not been confirmed 'in story'.
One of [Dream Within the Forest]'s main dynamics was supposed to be that it was remarkably difficult to use or make any sense of, this deep mystery that would take a significant investment of time to get conscious and directed effects from. The balance to this was it was significantly more powerful and direct than most Essence based Ethos once mastered (which tend to be far more subtle and long term). There are entire layers to the Ethos available to you now that never would have been. You have entirely skipped the caveat of poor awareness and manifest effect, pulling a long term benefit into the immediate short term. You have perhaps one of the Top 10 Essence Ethos in terms of raw potential and development across the entire continent.
But as you said, you gave up three weeks for this. We are about to transition into the climax of Arc 1 and you are out of time just as you got started.
I really didn't think I'd make it this week, but looks like next update will be finished later today.
Fun Fact: Your roster of potential Ethea is currently sitting at 57 (not including [Lesser]s). Although it will probably be about 70 when you hit your next Ethos selection.
Fun Fact: Your roster of potential Ethea is currently sitting at 57 (not including [Lesser]s). Although it will probably be about 70 when you hit your next Ethos selection.
Are there any Ethea that we get disqualified over time, or is it a "once unlocked, always on the list"? Granted, the big caveat is that the Ethea we get to choose from at a time is based on Lilly's mindset at the time and dice rolls, so even though we may still qualify for, say, "Service to Man" and "Duty of Wood", there's a chance that Lilly will never see those options come up again.
Yes, you can wrack up enough permanent negative modifiers to raise the DC above 101 so the Ethos is effectively removed from the roster.
It still stays on a second list as there are potential extreme circumstances that could bring them back for a one-time option.
[X] If people want to come here, they could train with us.
-[X] But I don't want word of my talent getting out. Please. Only a few people you trust.
[X] Mum, I feel like I've barely seen you since… well, you know. (Introduction to Sarah)
[X] [Dream within the Forest]
-[X] This isn't the first time the Dream has caused physical changes in your body. What's going on there?
[X] [Cleaver of Fortune]
-[X] The thing with the ants was just the tip of what's possible. You're so close to figuring this out.
[X] In their darkest hour, with a great shout, the men rallied.
- - - - The Calm Before 5th Day, 3rd Moon, LE 2302
"You're hurting me," you half plead. Pointedly looking at your shoulders which are being manhandled right now.
This draws attention to the impropriety of the situation. Mathew quickly remembers himself and releases you. You weren't really in any pain, but even through your reinforced skin it was quite uncomfortable. Before he can muster another declaration or offer, you seize the momentum and cut him off.
"I'm not ready to sign up for anything officially," you pronounce. You are quite proud of yourself for not stuttering at all despite the whirlwind turn this conversation has just taken. "But," you add, just as Mathew looks to interject, "as long as I don't have to leave home, you could bring watchmen out here and I'd happily help."
You try to direct firmness into your posture as you look up at Mathew who now looms over you still occasionally wringing his hand as if he cannot fully believe what you did.
Stupid Lilly. I have to be more careful or one day I'm really going to step in it.
You don't really like the idea of being surrounded all day by men in a barracks training. Which is definitely what Mathew meant by his offer, but doing what you did today with some extra company doesn't seem so bad. A little part of you also considers you could probably get out of most chores every day if you were doing extra grown up stuff. You try to push down all that excitement at the chance to train more though, now is the time for serious talk.
"Done." Mathew replies. A simple smile on his face.
"Done?" you say with surprise. You were prepared to stand your ground, you expected it to be harder and take some more convincing than that.
Mathew sighs as he scratches between a kink in his armour, "I can tell you're not keen for more than that, and besides…" He leans down closer to you to speak quietly, "Now that I think about it, don't tell anyone you can do this Lilly. They'd send you away from home tomorrow if they knew."
Oh the sweet irony. One day after giving away a secret that would send you away in 7 months, you give away another that could have sent you off immediately. You smile at the absurdity before wiping the expression from your face, it's not a topic you want to rehash with Mathew.
"I understand," you state simply.
"Excellent!" Mathew stands, clapping loudly. The serious tone of his warning gone, now the excitement of the rare opportunity you present to the Watch is seeping into his voice, "I will still need to declare what I know when you turn thirteen, but until then, we are going to accomplish so much Lilly." He eyes you up and down as he speaks, you can see him considering the new lessons he will teach you and your blood almost sings in anticipation.
Actually…
Just as you begin to notice a shift, Mathew does too, "The Pithe, it's contracting, your Ethos is going to expand." Somehow Mathew knows what's about to happen to you, "This feels like a big one, a Milestone expansion? How many times have you- nevermind, focus on coordination Lilly, finesse, guidance, control-"
You try to concentrate on his voice, but it is soon drowned out by the roaring churn of the Resonance rising back to surface. So many patterns, thundering and crashing and screaming to be chosen. You nearly weep at the sense of desperation the unending masses release as a long warbling groan, reaching for you even when it is already clear who has been chosen. The patterns, they are not alive, but they are also not nothing. Before you can try to understand more, the winner locks into place as a long branching line between your abdomen and throat and you soar back to the surface of that churning ocean, back in the field with Mathew.
You know the {True Song}. You are a singer, the greatest there has ever been, able to turn to any note into the most majestic symphony. You can call the hearts of men to rise to unseen heights, inspire the most craven wretch to-
"-ly! Lilly! Good, you're back," Mathew is shaking you gently as you come back to yourself. Concern is written all over his face even as he once again releases you.
You start to worry yourself at his penetrating look before he speaks, command in his tone, "Activate {Pulse Surge}, does it feel different."
'Why would it be different?' You think as you ramp your heart back up and activate {Pulse Surge}… it immediately feels different.
Before now, {Pulse Surge} was simply on or off, there was never anything more to it. But now, there is a question attached, 'where'? A malleability that was never there before. The surge can still wash over your whole body, or you can push it toward a certain place and watch it compress into something truly extraordinary.
Compelled by the possibility, with a single motion you compress the surge down into your fist and strike a nearby tree. With a resounding crash, your fist indents a full inch into the solid wood. The force transmits up from your wrist and through your arm, nearly wrenching your shoulder. Loose leaves and unsettled dust fall on you from above. This is a strength beyond your body's ability to handle safely if not used correctly.
You are drawn away from clenching your now rather sore fist by Mathew's uproarious laughter. He is able to compose himself after a moment, still chuckling as he explains, "You might just be luckiest girl ever born in this town. A Dynamic Shift as your 2nd? 3rd? expansion, some never get something like that at all across forty or more."
"A Dynamic Shift?"
Still half stuck between stilted laughs at the seeming utter absurdity of your luck, 'if only he knew just how true that was', Mathew explains, "Not just a new ability, which would be notable enough as an early Milestone expansion, but a change to the fundamental limits of your Ethos, a Dynamic Shift."
You have never heard of that before and still remember the rather unpleasant surprises your Ethos delivered to you this morning. "This is good right?", you ask as you try to shake out some of detritus that fell down the back of your neck when you unintentionally shook a tree.
Mathew, having regained his seriousness, replies, "This will probably never happen again in your entire life. It is a rare enough thing for an Ethos to gain a new expression, perhaps every one in five. But a Dynamic shift is more like one in fifty, a height you'll likely never reach. Though given your luck perhaps you'll find a literal divine artefact tomorrow," he finishes with a quip.
You neglect to mention you have gained a new ability every expansion so far. Something you suspected and have now had confirmed is not normal. More than that, [Brave Blood] itself has had some fundamental feature added, a kind of conscious control that simply was not there before. Unlike Mathew's assertion, you think a Dynamic Shift this soon implies there will likely be many more to follow.
"So, don't be shy, what else did you gain?" Mathew pries in good humour.
And so your thoughts return to the {True Song}. And now that you absorb the new instincts and muscles in your mind you see just how profound this might be. Like when you gained {Pulse Surge}, you understand the Song implicitly. Just as the Patterns each called out their desire, every single thing that exists likewise has a song that defines them. Your voice can now directly connect to that song through the Pithe Resonance, calling to remembrance and even awakening core truths from within. There's a lot more there to discover too, potential not yet realised.
"I can sing now," you reply excitedly.
Mathew is not excited. Your explanation was rather lacking.
"No really, I can sing really well now," you insist.
The look of apathy makes it clear Mathew doesn't think this is as impressive as you do.
I'll just show him.
As Mathew is about to make some unimpressed remark, you let out a mild flowing tune. It quickly picks up into a strong holding note as you layer a melody and further harmonies upon each other all impossibly from your own mouth. The wordless song comes alive as the grass, rocks and sky all join in the ascending chorus of nature and rejoice in the existence of creation. Tension you didn't know you had falls from your shoulders. You feel the distant notes of Mathew's own worries, but a slight twist of the song and they too melt away as light snow before a surging swell. When you release the first held breath that began it all, the song gently recedes back into the surroundings that birthed it, whispering its farewells and good tidings for the future.
There are tears in Mathew's eyes.
"That was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard," he says. He seems almost lost, wishing he could describe his experience with better words, but dismissing everything that comes to mind as an unworthy comparison, settling in the end for silent appreciation of the memory; content that no words need to be said.
With a cough, Mathew tries to recentre himself, "Well, you certainly do not need lessons in singing n-now," he stutters for a moment, wistfully returning to the memory of the song again. The {True Song} connects people to who they really are on some profound level, lets you draw out pieces of that truth. Mathew is probably feeling quite introspective from the experience. "-now, we still have the better part of an hour left. A bit of extra practice is the least I could do for you."
Yay!
- - - - -
Your final hour of training is… strange.
Evidently Mathew had been holding back on just how jarring the {Illusory Fighter} could be to conserve his strength. Positions can be reset, discombobulation simply applied as a condition, movements preplaced and repeated in slow motion. Every action can be practiced in a loop with subtle alterations before immediately being reversed to begin again, surprises injected at the opportune time to reveal your own instinctive weaknesses in the most educational way. Off balance recoveries form a large part of the dynamic, Mathew reasoning that since you cannot be trusted not to throw yourself out of a proper stance then you should at least know how to get back quickly. Whereas before he seemed to have a good idea of what you were thinking with your counter attacks and defences, now he is seemingly prescient. The correct way to move almost pushes on you like a physical force when he offers his corrections, the Pithe Resonance willing you to learn with tangible intent. The only reason this form of training is possible is because you keep the channel toggled open while you are both within the Illusion, otherwise Mathew would empty himself to unconsciousness in less than an hour running a distortion this far diverged from reality.
You think you might also understand how he knew [Brave Blood] was about to expand. There is a dim sense of push and pull each time either of you draw upon the Resonance, perhaps that is a skill you could one day master to predict your opponents before they even begin to move.
When the {Illusory Fighter} is dismissed as the evening twilight has well and truly come, it almost feels unusual to simply stand in the grass without having to defend from some sudden attack or unexpected diversion. Mathew never reintroduced gore after your immediate rejection of the illusion the first time, but you decide to ask him to try again tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Mathew has said he will return with a small group to continue tomorrow. The [Blessed Armsman] is coming back and from the sound of things has no intention of this being a short term arrangement, it makes your blood writhe with energy, wanting to sing again.
So you do.
The simple note once more pierces through the field and foliage. It needs no accompaniment nor support, it is fullness and whole in and of itself. You push your contentment onto the Resonance and it in turn fills all of your surrounds with the matching form. The two of you spend a small number of uncounted minutes basking in the unseen and yet easily felt glow of peace.
"Now that, is a good finish to a session," Mathew remarks; compliment and appreciation without caveat.
The time has come for you to return to the house, as the hour is late Mathew bids you farewell without detouring himself. His final piece of advice nearly held back, "I almost don't want to say it, but try as hard as you can to steer your Ethos toward the more direct sort of application. Potent as your Song is, most other expressions will be far less grandiose."
Perhaps for others, though I'm no longer so sure that's true for myself.
And with that the two of you go your separate ways. Your steps are light as you make the short trip back to the house a 20 minute walk away.
As you pass the fencing that surrounds the cows and pigs, your thoughts turn to your more complicated family situation. You dropped a glut of honesty on Father last night he's probably still reeling from. Zach's being weird and distant. Micah too in his own way. Marcus is going to absolutely freak when he realises how hard your skin is and you can't think of any way to make that easier for him. And mum… well then there's mum.
If someone had asked you which parent you were closer to the week before you ran to the clearing, you would have said your mother without hesitation. When you were returning home, you'd hoped to find her first to ease into the shouting and punishments rather than face father's wrath without any preparation.
Two Days. That seems so long ago now.
Your mother has been different since your return, the way she looks at you makes you feel uncomfortable now. It's not that you don't think she loves you anymore, but there's something complicated there that you neither understand nor have the solution for.
Ahem. I said there is something complicated that I don't have the solution for… … …useless power.
Supernatural cheats not forthcoming, you decide to pony up and talk to mother rather than just spending more time with dad. Ha, you never thought the day would come where you'd be convincing yourself to spend more time with your mother instead of your father.
Rounding on the porch and up through the front door, you arrive to a home in the last throes of a day's activity. It seems Marcus has stayed up at the table just to wait for you to come home before he allowed your mother to put him to bed. He is the only unexpected member at the table aside your parents and Zach who is finishing cleaning some of dinner's mess.
"Lilly!" Marcus coos, clearly having been instructed to not make too much noise on your return.
"A worthwhile day but the looks of the hour," your father calls as Marcus abandons the table to run into your arms.
"Marcus, don't-" you try to say before Marcus -offph- runs into you, knocking some of the air out of his lungs. "Marcus, my Ethos, I don't…" you're not sure how to finish your sentence.
Let him go.
What's that supposed to-
Marcus recoils in painful confusion, not quite understanding but still connecting the dots on what this means. "Y-You're stupid. I hate you!" He yells as he steps further away from you, his tone raspy from some pain. He quickly banks a retreat, running into the bedroom to hide and of course slamming the door as he does so.
"Marcus! Honestly you children and doors this week!" Your mother heads in after him, shooting you a concerned glance as she passes out of sight.
You want to follow Marcus. You knew he wouldn't handle things well, he only just got you back and now you've taken away something special almost as quickly. Even though you had little control over the process, you can't help but feel a little responsible.
Zach approaches you while you're busy furrowing your brows in helpless frustration. He takes your hand in his, squeezing it at the wrist to feel how hard and unmoving the flesh now is.
"You're okay?" He asks with uncertainty, his fingers sliding over rather than kneading into your skin.
Are you okay? Maybe? Mostly. Not having to face this question immediately this morning has given you some time and distance to consider your feelings. You're not happy that these sorts of changes will just kind of happen from now on, but you have somewhat accepted they might be something very helpful one day. You are ready to make the best of something you can't change.
"Yeah," you reply somewhat lamely. The two of you haven't been that emotionally close for a number of years and things are still extra strained right now. A more in-depth talk about your complicated feelings toward your power and its impact on your future is a conversation you're barely prepared to have with your parents; definitely not Zachariah.
"Okay, good," he replies, releasing the concern in his posture. Not that you doubted him, but it is a comfort to see Zach worry after you.
As Zach returns to the task of cleaning on the other side of the room, your father approaches you, the question clear in his demeanour.
You lightly knock your hand against the wall to elicit the now expected -thunk- sound as he reaches you. "Last night, that's when it happened," you explain somewhat sheepishly.
There is a pregnant pause as your father takes in your slightly altered complexion. You doubt anyone who was not your family could notice, but your skin has a polished sheen that was not there before; the subtle hint of deeper changes.
Your father speaks quietly so as to not be overheard, "Another Ethos?"
"No, just the first one, my expansions are more... more of everything I guess," you admit, your voice growing a little shaky at the topic. You don't think anything like what happened that first night in the clearing would happen again, but the continual changes that show no sign of slowing down mean you'll never be able to let down your guard lest you hurt someone. There'll be a distance between you and other people from now on and you have your doubts there will ever be a power that changes that.
"Lilly," your father pulls you from your musing, "You are safe. Our family is together," he says, kneeling down to embrace you in spite of your now rigid texture, "Anything else is just details."
You both know things are more complicated than that, but if your father's aim was to comfort you then he has succeeded. It might not be like you wanted, but he is right; you still have the most important things.
"I can't see the future," you father adds, "but we will find a way forward."
You don't have to be isolated anymore; it's okay to let people in.
Old habits die hard, but you're learning to be honest with your family. 'Whilst remembering to be less unguarded with my secrets around strangers,' you remind yourself, 'Two close calls in as many days is two too many.'
There is just one more thing to cover with dad before you try to spend time with your mother.
"Mathew's coming back tomorrow to help me train again."
"Why, what did you promise him?" your father asks surprised.
You scuff your feet along the floor meekly as you explain your propensity for revealing secrets to strangers, "I was able to use the Natural Energy I told you about to keep him from getting tired, he wants to bring more people from the Watch for me to help train."
You also realise as you say it that you are explaining how you agreed for a group of strangers from a powerful organisation within Harmuph to regularly visit your home. Without father's permission... Less than 24 hours after telling him about multiple extremely sensitive secrets no one outside the family can ever know...
He speaks slowly, perhaps having seen that you recognised your gamble for how risky it was as you spoke, "Lilly... you need to be smarter than this."
Your father releases a long sigh, likely considering if it would be possible to rescind such an invitation after the fact without calling down even greater scrutiny. Unlikely.
But, risks included, the chance to learn from a real warrior is just too much for you not to fight for it, "Please Father, I'll be careful, I want this... I need it," you plead with doe eyes.
In truth, he cannot truly say no without causing a stir in the Watch with unknown consequences, you've forced his hand on this matter. Though your nerves do not settle until he responds, "Very well. I suppose much of your time will go toward training now."
The soothing peace of your father's agreement is somewhat snatched away by a creak in the floorboards revealing that your mother has re-entered the main room just in time to hear that last part.
It is with some sadness you consider that the growing warmth of your own relationship with your father is reflected in an equal coolness settling between your parents'. It seems the pattern of your life repeats as you cannot help but still be an awkward fit, trading your old sense of misbelonging for a new one.
No words are spoken over the strained look your mother and father give each other, the few times mum has started a fight with dad are memories you do not wish to add another record too.
"Mum, can you please help me brush my hair," you ask her.
If there will be an argument, you don't want to see it. You'd rather they just take the out you've provided.
You have of course brushed your own hair for at least a year, but 'Mum please leave this for later and spend time with me instead' would be blunt in the extreme.
Your question is better at releasing the tension than you'd thought it would be, your mother visibly relaxing at the request. Perhaps she has been feeling the same sense of distance between the two of you aswell.
"Of course Lilly. Yolun," your mother nods in mock respect to your father. He doesn't rise to the barb, taking the disrespect on the chin and simply leaving back out to the Workshop without a word.
- - -
And so a short time passes and you find yourself at the table with your mother taking a brush to your hair. Zach has vacated the room after finishing the cleaning to go outside and do extra chores in the late evening again; a mystery your power sees fit to remain quiet on.
There is a small hope that you and your mother might find some huge breakthrough like with your father. Having that kind of understanding and support from both your parents would be worth more than all the gold and a silver you can imagine one day carrying.
As your mother starts on the strokes you feel your hair resist the external force for a moment, before some interaction with your Wood Memory allows it to 'remember' how it should move. Your mother doesn't seem to notice the delay before the mimicry takes hold. What a strange life you now live.
The silence hangs in the air with nothing to fill it, growing heavy the longer it persists. What did the two of you used to talk about? You want to try and reach for something important or meaningful, to form a connection... but you are honestly realising in this moment that such topics have never been part of the natural rhythm between mother and daughter. Your relationship has been more pleasant than father, but equally if not more shallow.
But... maybe there is a way without having to find the words? With nothing to lose, you {Sing}.
It begins as a hum, a low ebbing note to match the slow strokes of the brush through your hair. Soon the song grows more full and you feel it want to expand outward. There is a moment of resistance as the song asks you to release your feelings without restraint... finding the courage, you rise into a higher pitch, a haunting melody born of a daughter's lament she could not be the child her mother wished for but instead a thorn in her side. The music sinks into the walls and floor, echoing back a lifetime of memories. Within the Song you feel the unspoken response, your own mother's laments. The truth of the Song flows between mother and daughter, you feel the concerns of her own heart toward her daughter poured out onto you. There is no judgement or condemnation within your mother, merely a deep concern that your wanderlust shall end not in fulfilment but the certainty of tragedy and despair.
Your laments are revealed to be as false and fleeting as the darkness of a shadow cast from a leaf on the wind; your shame born only by and within yourself with no origin nor reason to be. Though you know not what, you sense some wrong idea of your own feelings to your mother be similarly crushed within her by the song. Perhaps if one of you choose to resist, it could not be, but against the fundamental banishing certainty that unites the pair of you inside the {True Song}, no falsehood can hide.
Comfort, Communication, Encouragement and Belonging always no more than a single note away. The impossible, the power to never be misunderstood. You've had it for hours and only now realise the monumental shift this represents for every relationship you'll ever have. You wondered if you'd ever gain a power to mend the distance between you and others, not yet realising it was already yours.
Never will you curse the gifts of your power again, for what they have given is so much more than what they have taken.
I mean it. Any cost is worth this. I'd go back to that clearing and feel my bones break every night if it meant I could keep this.
Somewhere within the Song the brush was entirely forgotten, dropped to the floor beside you. You notice Marcus asleep against your lap as your mother reaches around to hold you in a deep and full hug. Her face is wet with tears in your hair.
"I have to try mum. Even if I fail, I have to try." You state simply. It is the central issue, the core disagreement all others spin out from.
There is no need to explain the depth of your desire. The full extent of your sheer drive and need to try seek out all there is out there in the world was carried between the two of you on the connective cords of the Song. Your mother now knows how inseparable you are from that dream, it is not something that be set aside and forgotten.
The way your mother answers, it is as if she already grieves your passing again, almost pleading, "Is it really so bad here…?"
"Harmuph is my home, it always will be," you defend, "…but, it won't be my life. I don't want to read stories, I want to live them." You are thankful to be held by mother right now, it is a reminder that you can try to be close even if this topic remains a wedge.
"Stories are written by those who return," she snaps back, there is no anger, but there is fear. "There's a lifetime of depth in people Lilly. You can discover something new every day. You can grow old and happy. Not passing from this world from some infection or curse, surrounded by men and women broken by the worst of horrors."
You know that could be where things end, but even knowing it the idea of just staying is enough to make you scream, "Maybe it will end that way. But maybe it won't."
Your mother's tone is defeated as she releases you from her embrace, "I've found more joy in my four children then you could ever possibly find at the bottom of a Dungeon. By the time you realise I was right-"
"-I guess we'll see," you get up from the table, your patience running thin at the mention of children. There are expectations and pressures there you have always rankled against. You don't not want them, but you've dealt with a lifetime of assumptions that you should be nothing less than enamoured with the idea. Had you not just literally been magically informed it was not the case, you'd think it your mother's attempt to remind you of a personal failing.
"I- … yes, we shall," your mother responds. You both have found a new understanding through the Song, but neither of you can truly accept the other's reasoning.
Push her on the subject of your name tomorrow. She'll tell you if you ask between midnight and dawn.
Your mother takes your contemplative silence as the end of the conversation. Rising in weary movement to scoop up a sleeping Marcus and deliver him to his bed without further words. That was a heartful discussion, but tense.
You however face a new dilemma, that your Words of Guidance might be more manipulative than first thought. You sit back at the table, now alone. Right when you'd hit an obstacle that would make you want to stop speaking with mother for a time, the Words of Guidance provide a reason and incentive to come right back to her. You are confident the wisdom is offered in good faith, but how far can the words go to push you toward your best interest? Can they distort phrasing? Outright lie? The idea of anything, meta-physical or otherwise, 'handling' you for your own good hits a little close to home. The implications are troubling and even with your longer nights you are not sure when you'll find the time to seek out the answers.
Your conversation with mother still weighs on you, it is an unsatisfactory conclusion. You never considered the possibility that you could make your mother understand how important your choices were to you and yet still not count on her support. Tacit acceptance yes, you are grateful for that, but not support. What a strange upside-down reversal of expectation that you find yourself leaning hopefully on your father to prepare the way forward whilst recognising your mother is beyond convincing.
- - -
The night has come. Zach briefly acknowledges you with a nod as he comes inside straight to bed. All but father shall soon be asleep as he labours late within the workshop. You are eager to grow and work on your potential. To just work upon a task with your full focus is a welcome distraction from the roiling maelstrom of happy and sad revelations spinning around in your head. You hope tomorrow is a calm and boring day; there's been a bit 'too much' 'too quickly' of everything lately.
Settling out in the cold (you assume) night air behind the house, you find a comfortable spot to sit. Not that any surface wouldn't be comfortable anymore, but you can tell which is softer and still prefer it. First there is the [Dream within the Forest] to consider, the grass is wet tonight but you are unbothered. Your hair was able to mimic flowing as it would have naturally, can you do the same with your skin? You try to centre yourself on the thought of what your skin should be like, willing it to knead against pressure rather than obstinately oppose it. You desperately want this, if you can dismantle the hurdles your power creates it would sooth many of the worries you have for the months ahead. Nothing really happens, seeing Natural Energy and the interactions of the Dream within your own body is so much harder than outside it.
But you're not giving up on this.
Hours pass...
- - - 6th Day, 3rd Moon, LE 2302
With some success.
Each time your mind began to wander from the task, the thought of Marcus' smile when you reveal your skin is normal to the touch once more recentred your meditation. Awake and yet almost half within the Dream, you feel like you are on the cusp of getting it. But at least for tonight, it eludes you still.
It is not a total loss though. You figured out a number of other things in the process.
You've long suspected that you were not breathing underground next to that large tree. Well now you've replicated the same here and now. You need to concentrate, but you can make Natural Energy replace the need for air. It opens up some rather exciting opportunities for exploration. Are there any mountain peaks too high to climb or ocean depths too low to tread that you could be the first to explore? You like that image, standing atop the crown of the world, feeling the snow beneath your toes as you survey a great open expanse in all directions.
You can't give Marcus a soft hug back yet, but you're confident it's possible.
Feeling at the end of your inspiration on the Dream for now, you turn your attention to the [Cleaver of Fortune], the hour is past midnight, but you are still fresh and full of vigour to continue.
- - -
Unlike the Dream, your have full and total success in your attempts with [Cleaver of Fortune].
It was two hours into throwing rocks in the air and trying to bend the Line of where they were destined to fall (with zero success) that you hit upon the epiphany. It was your experiences with {Pulse Surge} that unexpectedly provided you the inspiration. The issue has been that your 'Weight' was simply so light and small that pushing the line of anything beyond a humble ant was beyond your scope.
Except, what if you flared all your Weight in a single pulse of strength, a surge followed by a dim time of recovery.
Whether it was a lucky guess or the natural end product of skilful deduction is irrelevant, because a rock fated to land on your left landed on your right.
You still need to isolate your thoughts and focus on nothing else, and have a clear idea of and control over the initial outcome beforehand anyway, but the potential here is massive. Your senses have expanded in a way you don't quite yet understand, but the image of arrows shot with perfect aim curving around your path or impossible coincidences being pulled by simple Willpower into your favour sound like exactly the sort of thing that should happen to a great hero. You can get there if you work hard on this, you know it.
This expression is transcendent to most forms of negation. Even amongst the upper echelons and otherworldly, defence from concordant subversion is uncommon and frequently of limited scope.
Your going to have to have a proper think about exactly what that meant, but the gist is clear. This is good, really good, and it will stay good.
You are closer to the house than last time, so you whisper triumphantly, "I am Lilly Silas, Master of Ant's Destinies, Queen of the Falling Rocks, tremble before me." Not an actual laugh, but you still make yourself smile with good humour. There are certainly worse ways to track your progress than with a silly epithet. Perhaps you can consider yourself a true hero the day that people respectfully nod rather than laugh when you say it, wouldn't that be a fantastic sight!
How are the cows doing?
Of all the absurd things you could interrupt me with, honestly-
Almost blocked from view by the house and far enough away you would neither sense nor hear anything, stand the cows, mulling around unfettered. An utterly mundane sight, were it not for the loping dark blur of fur rapidly closing in on one unlucky heifer.
Just as your hackles begin to rise in sudden fear, before you can move or call out, the two forms meet. What lunges upon the cow is the most singularly large wolf you have ever seen in your life, easily equal in both height and bulk to its quarry.
There is no fight, no struggle. In a single bite, the enormous beast encloses most of the head in its mouth and rips it clean from the body as one would a blade of grass from the ground. Viscera spraying out in a wide bloody arc as not even the nearby cows notice the soundless kill. You are stunned to silence by the spectacle. The monstrous thing proceeds to practically inhale the carcass, heaving down great throatfuls without chewing, as if its meal were not made of muscle and bone but liquid mush.
You see them now, dark shapes pouring out of the forest to the south. Ranging up north into the valley you and so many others call home. Wolves, dozens, perhaps hundreds of them. Their silhouettes flowing like an oncoming tide. The night is dark, but it would seem your natural eyes are themselves somewhat improved, for you can make out the occasional larger form amongst the rolling carpet of shadows. If ever there were creatures worthy of the title 'Alpha', these impressive forms certainly have claim on it.
Though they are many, the land they cover is vast. Perhaps only a handful are headed your way; no larger specimens among them save the one already here and gorging on its second meal. Your searching senses find a mad lusting hunger wafting along the strands of Natural Energy from the south, changed and perverted in some unrecognisable way.
As you focus upon the ill feeling, your new sense within [Cleaver of Fortune] reveals itself. The 'Weights' you can feel can also have a tone, and now as you point your perception toward the southern forest a tremendous sense of wrong sings a discordant nonsensical tune.
Your neighbours in the valley are all asleep, the Watch is hours away. Whatever is happening, you are sure of one thing.
This may yet be the bloodiest night in Harmuph's history.
- - - - - - - - - -
It's showtime folks. Such a shame you failed the supplementary roll to detect something wrong influencing that wolf back in 1.3
Three weeks is a long time to be out of the game on a ticking clock.
- - - - - - - - - -
Choice Time:
*** (When there are Sub-options): Highest voted option wins, then highest voted sub-option inside it wins.
*** Make sure you copy paste exactly from the options, the only change is adding 'X's.
* Approval Voting Allowed.
Time for you guys to help Lilly make some big choices about what kind of person she is going to be.
A Dangerous Migration: What should be done once you have woken your household and ensured it's barricaded against the animals? [ ] Even barricaded and prepared, it's too risky to leave. You will continue to prioritise your own family; others will have to fend for themselves unwarned.
[ ] Harmuph must be alerted. They are the only ones with the manpower to encircle and subdue such a horde. Take Chariot on an endless Natural Energy maintained sprint the whole way.
[ ] Your neighbours in the valley and beyond have no way of knowing, only you can outpace what's coming. Try to get the word to as many as possible yourself.
[ ] Something wrong festers in the forest, driving animals beyond natural hunger. Use Wood Memory to track down and end this disaster at its source.
[ ] Write In
The Question of Force: There is a very real possibility you will need to deliberately kill things tonight, how do you feel about that. [ ] Try to calm and divert with Natural Energy. Whatever's spooked them to come here, these animals don't deserve to die.
[ ] If it really must come to violence, I will protect those I love.
[ ] Animals understand danger. Aim to kill any Alphas immediately and cow the rest into retreat.
[ ] Wanton slaughter. Use your {True Song} to give yourself the Will to do what must be done.
[ ] Write In
Priority Votes: So I'm going to have a number of recurring and sometimes just one-off Priorities votes from now on. These are votes that don't necessarily correspond to a certain time/action or even the next update, but simply set Lilly's overall focus and direction on something.
They will often be posted separately straight after a new chapter to not clog the Threadmarks with needless repetition.
(Priorities) Power Focus:
When Lilly finds time to work on her Ethos, this will decide what she focuses on. For this, I will always tally votes from whenever her last Level Up/Ethos was. [ ] [Dream within the Forest]
- [ ] Continue trying to gain some control over the hardness of your body.
- [ ] Return to the site of your first awakening. Try to reconnect with the serenity and peace of the Dream.
- [ ] Try to improve your ability to heal. Restoring sliced fingers isn't really gonna cut it.
- [ ] Your Wood Memory has surprised you with where it's been useful. How else could such an ability be put employed?
[ ] [Cleaver of Fortune]
- [ ] You've cracked the mystery on how to {Ply the Line} of Fate. But there is so much more scope to explore.
- [ ] The 'Weight' you can throw around is minuscule, but maybe it can be grown?
- [ ] The words of guidance are fickle and seemingly random. Try to get a handle on how to control or at least steer them.
[ ] [Brave Blood]
- [ ] Push yourself to the point of exhaustion with {Pulse Surge} over and over again.
- [ ] Keep working on your coordination with the downbeats of {Pulse Surge}.
- [ ] The Pithe Resonance might one day be used to predict your opponents motions with split second precision and perhaps even more, work towards that lofty goal.
- [ ] You have no idea where exploring the {True Song} will lead, but there are unplumbed depths there.
[ ] Write In. (A specific synergy you think Lilly should aim for, pretty high risk/reward on if it applies).
(Priorities) Martial Style:
Mathew thinks it best for you to learn the style of Mace and Shield, since even with your small size you can already impact with the strength of a full-grown man. He considers this as adding a 'misdirection' quality to your power set; an opponent will not expect the slower blows to suddenly hit with that much extra force.
Will reset as new training opportunities appear or significant progress is made. [ ] Keep focusing on Mace/Shield training.
[ ] There's just something about an actual sword that's special.
-[ ] But keep the shield.
-[ ] Claymore. Because I would look epic with a Claymore.
[ ] You'd prefer a little more distance…
-[ ] Spear/Halberd
-[ ] Bow. I can just keep running and shooting.
[ ] Hand-to-Hand. You don't know what Ethea will come in the future, but the one thing you'll never be without are your feet and fists.
[ ] You could try to convince Mathew finding a mage to help train you is worthwhile. Good luck coming up with an explanation why.
[ ] Write-In
(Priorities) Violent Confrontations:
(Mostly temperament, but also tactical leaning). Naturally you will do what you must when your life is on the line, but when you have a choice with at least low to medium risk… Pacifist: Unless it would directly endanger your life, you will not walk the path of violence. When forced, you will heavily favour trying to end fights without doing unnecessary harm to your adversaries. Mercy is the hardest path, but perhaps the most righteous. Defensive: You won't shy away from a fight, but a measured and non-escalating approach seems best, even if you forgo some opportunities in the heat of battle. Aggressive: You will take every advantage you can get. If there is a weakness or flaw in your opponent's technique you can exploit, you will do so; even at risk of causing lethal harm to those not entirely deserving of such an end. Pragmatically Brutal: The best defence is to be known as one not to start a fight with. A few excessively punishing examples will ironically mean you do not even need to resort to violence from reputation alone. (The {True Song} enables this option.) -
[ ] Pacifist
[ ] Defensive
[ ] Aggressive
[ ] Pragmatically Brutal [ ] Write in
- Great rolls for talking with Mathew, you totally retook command of the situation and set firm boundaries without looking like you can be easily pushed.
- Rolling the specific outward expression of your level up choice had a 7% chance of giving you Directed Pithe Shaping. You made the cut. Enjoy one of the most dangerous and easiest to kill yourself with abilities there is . This carries over to any Pithe ability you ever gain from here on out, including those it's really not intended to function with. I'd say about one tenth of the people that can use it end up killing themselves with it.
- #hugfail2020. At least Marcus was comforted by the {True Song}, I was very happy things didn't get left hanging badly this chapter.
- Speaking of which, this wasn't really a hard roll to pass, but you picked the perfect combination of speaking with your mother and taking an interpersonal power right when Lilly's been spending tons of time thinking about her family issues, pretty much nearly guaranteed the expression of your power would directly address the situation. (Of course, now a new threat is here, and no you cannot sing them into death or retreat. You guys have gone quite heavy on family bonding and on utility powers; I hope you're prepared.).
- Middling rolls on your power experiments. Both of them were already on the cusp of improvement so you edged out some success in each.
- So, the wolves. Yeah. Notable Roll. Are you ready?
- You failed your spot check hard, thank {The Ladder} that your first warning wasn't being pounced by Mr 'Wolf who has never skipped leg day'.
Current XP: [Dream within the Forest] Lvl 2: 411/600 (+30) [Cleaver of Fortune] Lvl 1: 203/300 (+35) [Brave Blood] Lvl 1: 214/300 (+57)
Character Sheet and Maps: Public - It's a Girl's World
Let's NOT run into the middle of the forest when we have no idea what or why is going on. Haven't we been told repeatedly that will just get us killed?
....Well, that happened. Truth be told, of all the terrible things that could trigger, I'm...kind of at peace with this? Yes, we may never be able to calculate the opportunity cost lost from our coma, but there exists a hypothetical Lilly who spent 3 weeks trying to train her Magikarp power with little success, with no martial training paid for by Super Dad, and who still wouldn't have seen the wolves coming (other Lilly would still need sleep at this point).
As for the options:
[X] Harmuph must be alerted. They are the only ones with the manpower to encircle and subdue such a horde. Take Chariot on an endless Natural Energy maintained sprint the whole way.
This seems a nice split between boldness and security. Charging into the Wolves' Den by ourselves is a big NO in my book, but if Mathew got his trust crew together, we might be able to scout for them later. Besides, we can't cash in favors or get training if the wolves kill people we care about.
[X] If it really must come to violence, I will protect those I love.
I feel that Lilly doesn't really LOVE violence, so much as being able to defend herself is a mark of agency. This might change as we get ready to leave town, but I think it's a good place to start. If nothing else, losing herself in the Song of War seems like a really bad idea.
[X] [Dream within the Forest]
- [X] Try to improve your ability to heal. Restoring sliced fingers isn't really gonna cut it.
Considering that our Essence Healing is now our key "marketable skill", it might be good to do a bit more research into how it works.
[X] [Cleaver of Fortune]
- [X] The words of guidance are fickle and seemingly random. Try to get a handle on how to control or at least steer them.
The Ladder is still our most immediately useful tool, particularly if it's able to warn us about things we don't even see coming. I'd like to get this more stabilized if possible before expanding the more esoteric uses of Cleaver.
[X] [Brave Blood]
- [X] The Pithe Resonance might one day be used to predict your opponents motions with split second precision and perhaps even more, work towards that lofty goal.
As Mathew said, precog and/or reflex is still a weak spot of our combat kit. It would be nice to shore up that opening sooner rather than later.
[X] Keep focusing on Mace/Shield training.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides, our Oversurge seems suited for packing a wallop with a blunt weapon.
[X] Something wrong festers in the forest, driving animals beyond natural hunger. Use Wood Memory to track down and end this disaster at its source. [X] If it really must come to violence, I will protect those I love.
[X] [Dream within the Forest]
- [x] Continue trying to gain some control over the hardness of your body.
[X] [Cleaver of Fortune]
- [X] The words of guidance are fickle and seemingly random. Try to get a handle on how to control or at least steer them.
[X] [Brave Blood]
- [X] The Pithe Resonance might one day be used to predict your opponents motions with split second precision and perhaps even more, work towards that lofty goal.
[X] Keep focusing on Mace/Shield training.
[X] Defensive
