Once and Future (WormxFate)

Aldsan · Oct 14, 2023

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Dan1142000 · Oct 14, 2023

[X] Gotta get good to get Glory
[X] Training: raise melee by 3
[X] Vacation: England
[X] [Activity] (Write-In) Visit old castles, and perhaps a strangely familiar lake.
[X] Freetime: Hit the gym

Aldsan · Oct 17, 2023

"Come on, don't scream. Just be nice and quiet and it'll all be over soon."

The woman – girl, really – did not listen. The man sighed and pinned her to the ground, slapping her across the face to shut her up before wrapping a hand around her throat. Panicked, the girl tried to swing at him, her hand slapping ineffectually at the man's head. It wasn't enough to dislodge the man. It never would be enough. It was enough to annoy him however. More importantly, it was enough for the figure watching them from above.

Sophia's crossbow let out a twang as she pulled the trigger. Her bolt buried itself in the creep's shoulder and he went spinning off of his victim in a spray of blood. The girl ran off, not even waiting to thank her savior.

That was fine. Sophia didn't care about getting thanked. She was just here to take scum like this off of the street.

She hopped down off of the roof, her body dispersing into shadow, allowing her to land safely and reform, a second bolt already slotted into her crossbow. Walking over to the man, she kicked out, her boot finding purchase in the man's ribs as she flipped him over onto his back.

Blank, empty eyes stared up at her.

Shit. That made another one. She groaned softly. That meant she'd need to hide the body. It was hardly the first time, but it was still a pain in the ass. She couldn't call Emma to help her with this either. The last time she'd called Emma in to help with a dead body, her friend had freaked out. Emma might be a survivor, but she wasn't as strong as she liked to think she was.

That was fine. That was part of being a supportive friend. Sophia would help her get there. Eventually.

Bending down, she yanked her bolt free of the body. Maybe she could widen the wound, make it look like a stabbing instead. Just another mugging gone wrong in Brockton. That could probably work. That girl had run off so fast she probably hadn't even seen Sophia.

Nodding to herself, Sophia drew her knife, a nifty little thing she'd gotten at a sporting goods store, more hunting knife than pocket knife. Perhaps it was a bit much for the job, but well, needs must. She placed it over the man's chest and thrust.

An iron grip closed around her wrist. Sophia instinctively tried to jerk away before she realized it wasn't some third person who had grabbed her. It was the corpse. The man she had killed had reached up and grabbed hold of her. The shock held her in place long enough for the corpse to lunge upwards and sink its jagged fangs into her shoulder.

She cried out and turned to shadow immediately, but the corpse had torn a chunk of flesh out of her. She rematerialized a few feet away and sunk another bolt into it, but it hardly seemed to even notice. It simply licked at its blood-stained lips, staring at her with eerie red eyes.

"D-Don't scrrream," it gurgled wetly. "Just b-be nice and quiet. It'll all be overrrr soon."

Yeah, fuck that. Sophia dashed backwards, but the creature was fast. It was ontop of her, bearing her down to the ground almost before she'd realized what had happened. The world inverted, shadows turning ghostly as she became insubstantial, slipping the thing's grip again.

Range. She had to get out of this thing's range. She rematerialized just enough for her feet to meet the ground, jumping upwards. Her breaker state had all the mass of a shadow, and she soared upwards with the momentum she had generated, reforming to grab the roof's ledge. She could just snipe this thing safely from above–

A hand wrapped around her ankle and yanked her down before she could pull herself over the roof's ledge. She hit the ground, hard, the air driven out of her, but forced herself to roll away, instincts screaming at her. The creature landed where she'd fallen a moment before, the pavement cracking under its feet.

She stumbled, shaking her head. Things were getting blurry. The alleyway was covered in blood – her blood. The wound in her shoulder ran deep. She had to get out of here. She knew the creature would be on her in a second if she reformed, but she had to in order to generate momentum. She kept her momentum in her breaker state, but she had to leave it, even just for a moment, if she ever wanted to redirect herself.

The world regained color for a brief second, her body physical again as she leapt for the wall. Claws raked across her side and she screamed even as she slipped into incorporeality once again and into the building, away from the monster behind her. She stumbled and reformed once she was inside.

The other side of the wall was some kind of fridge. Those big walk in ones that butchers and some restaurants used, all steel and hooks and hanging slabs of meat. At least, she assumed that was the case. The lights were out, the room plunged into utter darkness. She bumped into something hanging and prayed that it was what she thought it was as she stumbled forward through the room, searching for the door.

Part of her just wanted to lie down. To go to sleep. A deep lethargy had settled on her, her limbs growing heavier with each passing moment. She took that part of her and stuffed it in the trash where it belonged. She wasn't dying here, in some restaurant freezer. She hit the opposite wall. No door yet.

A loud rattle came from her side. Someone trying to open a locked door and failing. The door rattled again before suddenly banging open, blown off its hinges. A dark figure stood there, silhouetted by the light behind it. Sophia didn't wait. She immediately jumped sideways at the wall.

A scream ripped out of her as she hit a wire, live electricity racing through her entire body.

She hit the ground, twitching, unable to move. Shit. Shit, shit shit. This is why she didn't just jump through random walls. Was this really where it ended? She was supposed to be the predator, stalking criminals unseen until she struck, and now she was being hunted down? She squeezed her eyes shut, the sound of heavy footsteps approaching.

"Shadowstalker."

Sophia cracked her eyes open, staring at the cobalt plated steel boots in front of her. "Armsmaster?"

The man paused, looking around the alley, shifting his grip on his halberd. "Come on. Let's get you out of here."

"Already… t-turned down your Wards pitch once, y'know?"

"I think you might wish to change your mind. Unless you plan on bleeding out here in the alley?" Sophia shook her head minutely. "Good. Then come with me if you want to live."

Sophia groaned softly. "M-Movie references now? D-Didn't think you were that corny."

He wrapped his arms around her and hefted her upwards, his grip surprisingly gentle. "What reference?"

Sophia tilted her head up to look at his face. The grim set of his mouth seemed entirely serious. Damn it. This was her life now, wasn't it?

She let her gaze stray back to the alley as Armsmaster carried her out. For a moment, she swore she saw red eyes staring at her. Then, she blinked, and only darkness remained.

UnderlingMaster · Oct 18, 2023

Vampires? Are these from Pendragon or something else?

Yukon Heavy · Oct 18, 2023

Oh boy, was that a Dead Apostle on BB? That place really can't catch a break

Aldsan · Oct 27, 2023

Voting said:
[X] [Training] Leadership 3, Politics 1, Parahuman Studies 1, First Aid 1
[X] [Vacation] England
[X] [Activity] Talk with the Locals
[X] [Free Time] Visit local places of power

The crowning of a King was no simple affair. The sword may have been drawn from the stone on New Year's day, witnessed by God and man alike, but that was not the end of it. A new assembly of noblemen came from far and wide to witness the miracle on Candlemas, and once again, the sword was drawn.

"Truly amazing, my Lord. To think that we would see a King over all of Britain again. After Uther fell, I thought our country was doomed for destruction, but I feel hope once again."

"You shouldn't be deceived. This beardless boy is just a puppet of Merlin. You can't trust a sorcerer, especially not that one. I, for one, will never swear to this pretender."

So it went. Some declared their fealty. Others their distrust. Again, more noblemen gathered on Easter. Again, the miracle was repeated. Again, noblemen stepped forward to swear their loyalty, but many left instead, believing it a hoax. On Pentecost, the miracle was repeated for a fourth time, and with it came the crown.

"Stand firm, and hold fast from henceforth this seat of royal dignity, which is yours by the authority of Almighty God. May that same God, whose throne endures forever, establish your throne in righteousness, that it may stand fast forever."

She stared up at the Archbishop as he lowered the crown upon her head. It had been five months since she drew the sword from the stone. A part of her questioned the need for this pomp, but both the magus and Ector had insisted it was important. It was a necessary foundation upon which to build everything that would flow henceforth.

"Rise, Arthur. King of Logres, and High King of Britain."

It was not true. Not yet. Logres may have bowed to her, but the rest of Britain had not. In just a few days, King Lot and his dissidents would assemble an army outside the city and she would have to spill the blood of her own countrymen. For now, for this brief moment, the people celebrated the coming of a new era.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

I jolted awake as the plane bounced, the wheels hitting the tarmac. The flight to London had been a long one, and at some point I had drifted asleep. Yawning, I stretched in my seat, the fleeting images of my dreams slipping away now that I was awake.

"Finally here. Hate these international flights."

Paying only half an ear to my father's complaints, I gathered my bags. We were staying here for a week. A week in which my parents hoped that the Protectorate would wrestle a lid back onto the boiling pot that was Brockton Bay. There was no hope that they would actually stop things entirely. The gangs had been embedded within the city for well over a decade. If they could have removed them so easily, they would have by now.

The three of us moved through the terminal and out to where our rental car waited. Three, because Dean had not come with us. Something about his work being understaffed and needing all hands on deck right now. I wish I had been allowed to stay behind with him; this trip felt cowardly. Violence had erupted on the streets and I had retreated to another country entirely for safety. It had been my parents' choice, not mine, but it was no less bitter a draught for that.

It could not be helped. I would simply have to make the most of the opportunity.

There was something here, in this land, that called to me. An urge that I knew not the name of. Something stirred in me, a desire to seek it out.

Unfortunately, I did not know where to begin. I spent the first few days simply seeing the various tourist attractions in the area. Big Ben. Buckingham Palace. The Tower of London.

It was when we visited Saint Paul's Cathedral that I found my first hint of something.

A sense of nostalgia welled up in me as I approached the Cathedral. For a moment, I saw not the large edifice that was there, but instead a much smaller church. Outside, there would have been a small, closed off yard, covered in snow that had fallen the night before. A large, flat stone would have sat in the center, a single piece carved into plinth with a sword driven into its center.

No sign of it remained. Yet, I was certain that I had once stood here in my dreams.

I took a deep breath. The air lay heavy here. This was an old place and memories were worked into the very stone beneath my feet. It may have changed from my dreams, but the core of the place had not.

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Spiritual.

Inside, tall columns made of white marble lined the nave, the cathedral long enough to make it look narrower than it was in truth. There was an enormity to the place, a sense of sheer scope that left our church back home pale by comparison. Art decorated the ceilings, the walls, and was even carved into places in the floors.

This was a building that no longer reflected the small island nation that had been beset on all sides, but instead the wealth of an empire that had conquered the world.

"A miracle has a price. In exchange, you will lose the thing most important to you."

There was a time when the peoples of this isle fought to push the invading tribes from its shores. The Angles. The Saxons. The Normans. In the end, they had failed. This was no longer the land of the Bretons. Nor was it the land of the Cymric. It was England now. The land of the Angles. And just as they had invaded Britain, so too had their reach spread to the rest of the world.

My heart clenched, a strange melancholy overtaking me. I could stay there no longer.

"You doing okay there, Ells?"

"Just a stomachache, I think," I told my father. "If you do not mind, I may just stay in the park for a bit whilst you visit the museum."

My parents shared a look briefly. "Sure, I don't think that's a problem. Just stay in the park and don't wander off. You've got your phone on you, right?"

"Worry not. I have it with me."

"Okay. Don't talk to strangers or wander off with anyone."

"I will be fine. Go. Enjoy yourselves."

"Alright, but call if you need anything."

"Go!" I laughed. Really, they worried too much. Shaking my head, I wandered into the nearby garden, enjoying the warmth of the sun upon my skin and the breeze at my back. As parks went, it wasn't especially large. I could walk a circuit within a handful of minutes without effort. The trees made a barrier between the park and the rest of the city however, lending the space a bit of peace.

Settling beneath a tree, I folded my legs under myself, simply taking the time to watch the other people in the park. There, a child walked hand-in-hand with their parents. Across the way, a pair of old men sat, playing chess. A young woman was using the path to jog. A couple was walking their dog, a tiny thing that did not even come up to the woman's knee.

Everyone was going about, living their lives peacefully. Everyone was smiling.

A warmth spreading through my chest for the first time since I arrived in this land. If this was the result, I could accept the journey that had led to it.

A series of gasps went through the park, people pointing upwards. I jerked my eyes upwards, taking a moment before I managed to spot a man flying past, dressed in vivid blue and red.

Gamemaster said:
Recognize: 20 | 4 = Fumble!
Gain a check to Recognize.

I did not recognize him, but the surrounding voices seemed excited rather than afraid. A local hero then, perhaps. Even knowing it was safe, however, it still put a damper upon my mood.

People in Brockton Bay would not have reacted the same. Even knowing that the parahuman was a hero, there was always the undercurrent of fear that their presence meant violence would soon follow. London had its villains as well, but it was safe in a way that Brockton Bay was not. Safe in the way that Los Angeles or New York were. Safe in the way where heroes ruled the streets, rather than villains.

Britain may have been my home in my memories and dreams, but Brockton Bay was my home now. I could not – would not suffer to allow its people to live in fear.

Elaine Stansfield was gone. That girl had died a year past. Yet, neither was I the woman in my dreams. At least, not yet. Every day, a bit more of who I was now was chipped away, replaced with the King who had once lived in this land. I knew I ought to feel dread at the prospect, but I did not. They were my memories, of this I was certain. I was simply reclaiming them.

Most importantly, the woman in my memories had been a warrior. She would have had the power to do something about the barbarity that plagued our land. With her memories – my memories – I may have the ability to drive out the malefactors that plagued my city.

"No way."

A voice nearby wrenched me from my thoughts. I looked up at the young Asian woman wearing a bright red shirt and white chinos. She stared at me in return, her blue eyes wide with surprise.

"Saber?"

"Rin," I breathed, the unfamiliar name escaping my lips.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

"Sorry again, you really do look a lot like her."

I hummed thoughtfully, sipping at the tea the woman had bought for me. The two of us sat at a cafe just across from the park where we had met.

"I take it you have not seen this friend of yours in some time?"

"Yeah. It's been, oh… about six years now? I didn't really expect to ever see her again, so you caught me by surprise."

I wasn't truly surprised to find out that I resembled the person from my dreams. Already, I had noticed details about my face shifting ever so slightly in the mirror. My cheekbones just a bit higher than they were before. My eyes just a hint more green. It was gradual enough that I doubt anyone would notice, not without comparing me to a photograph at least, but to someone who had known her, it must have been a shock.

No, my surprise was not in my resemblance. My surprise was that a person in the modern era knew her. I could not remember Rin. Not yet, at least. Yet, there was an instinctual fondness that told me this was no coincidence. It had truly been my past life that she had known.

"I apologize if it was an unpleasant discovery."

Rin waved her hand. "No, it's not like that. It wasn't unpleasant. It was just a shock is all. It's strange though. You even talk a bit like her."

Gamemaster said:
Trusting: 13 | 10 = Failure

I pursed my lips. A part of me said that I could trust Rin. Perhaps if I could remember anything about her, I would be able to place my conviction in that feeling. However, I could not and therefore I would not. For now, it was better if I kept my cards close to my chest.

"You said her name was Saber?" I asked. "Was she a cape?"

"Cape? Oh, you mean a parahuman. Well, it was something like that, I suppose," Rin said vaguely. "You probably won't be able to find her searching online though."

"Why is that? Did she not gather any fame as a parahuman?"

"Oh, she was plenty famous," Rin said with a wry smile. "But that was back when I lived in Japan. Before Leviathan did a number on the city. I'd like to think we got along pretty well, but truthfully, I only knew her for a couple of weeks."

Gamemaster said:
Academics: 3 | 11 = Success

I blinked. "You lived on Kyushu?"

"Not on the island itself, no. An island sinking is a big deal though. The rest of Japan caught a lot of blowback from that. Fuyuki was spared the worst of it, but it was still pretty bad."

I frowned and looked down into my cup. Every Endbringer attack was bad. The devastation they wreaked left scars in cities that would take decades to heal, when they did not destroy the cities entirely. Some attacks were worse than others however. Kyushu and Newfoundland. Twice, Leviathan had not been content with simply destroying a city and had instead sunk an entire island.

Millions dead because of a monster's whim.

"Easy. You don't want to break the cup."

That was true enough. I loosened my grip and set my cup gently on the table. "Is that why you moved to England?"

"No, that was unrelated. I got a scholarship with a school here, so I've been working on that. I do visit back home sometimes though, and things are doing better these days."

"Oh? What is it that you are studying?"

"Mineralogy."

"That is… an unusual choice of major."

"Ahaha," Rin laughed. "I suppose it is. I've always had a bit of a connection with gemstones though. Speaking of which, I'd like to give you something before I go."

"That is not necessary, Rin."

"I know. I'd like to though." She reached into her purse, digging around for a moment before pulling out a peridot the size of my little finger. It had been shaped into a kite, likely intended to be fitted to a necklace or pendant, though the stone was still loose. "Take this."

"Rin. This is too much."

"It's my money, I get to decide if it's too much or not." She placed the pale green stone into my hand and folded my fingers over it. "Take it."

Gamemaster said:
Peridot added to equipment.

There was energy trapped beneath the stone's surface. A swirling vortex straining to be unleashed. A tempest that had been constrained to this small rock. "It's warm," I murmured.

Rin's eyes widened for a moment. "Yeah. It's said that peridots are associated with healing and protection. So keep that close, and if you're ever in trouble, maybe it'll help protect you."

I hesitated for a moment before finally placing the peridot into my pocket. "Thank you, Rin. You are a good person."

"Hmph, don't overthink it," Rin said, turning her face away. "I'm not some hero going around rescuing puppies and kittens like a certain idiot I know. It just would have left a bad taste in my mouth otherwise. Consider it an investment. You have to live and pay me back some day."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Then I will be certain to do so. You may rest assured that I will pay my debt in full."

Rin looked back towards me, her eyes soft again. "Yeah, I know you will. You really are just like her. It makes me wonder… Well, I can look into it later. It's a good thing Shirou was visiting back home though. I can only imagine how he would have reacted if he saw you."

"Shirou…?"

"Yeah, he'd definitely make something more out of this than he should." Rin shrugged as if to say, 'What can you do?'

She stood atop a mountaintop, facing the rising dawn. The horizon shone in glimmering gold, banishing the night. The morning sun rose. The halted wind began again.

"I see. Then our contract is at an end. I became your sword, defeated your enemies, and protected you. …I am glad to have fulfilled this promise."

"...Yeah, you did well, Saber," a voice said behind her.

"In the end, there is something I must tell you." She turned to face him. "Shirou – I –"

I clutched a hand to my chest, suddenly breathless. I did not know the name. It was unfamiliar to me. Yet, happiness swelled in me knowing that he was well.

Rin studied me with keen eyes. My reaction had given something away. I did not know what. She nodded to herself however and stood up. "Well then, I'd best be going. I've got a paper to write for class and a bit of research to do. …Take care of yourself, okay?"

"...You as well, Rin. I am glad to have met you."

With that, she left, leaving me alone once again.

A quick bit of housekeeping. I am removing Politics and Science as skills. They felt unnecessary for this quest. The points in Politics will be added as a bonus to Intrigue instead. In addition, for the sake of making things a bit easier, I am also removing the Charge skill and combining it with Drive. You will now just use Drive as a limiter for Charge attacks. The points in Charge are added to Drive as a bonus.

It is July of 2010.

You have one last place you wish to visit in England before you have to leave.
[ ] [Visit] A lake
[ ] [Visit] An oak tree
[ ] [Visit] A large standing stone
[ ] [Visit] A grave

After that, you will return to Brockton Bay. Choose someone to spend time with:
[ ] [Social] Dean Stansfield
[ ] [Social] Victoria Dallon
[ ] [Social] Amy Dallon
[ ] [Social] Chelsea and Morgan
[ ] [Social] Erin Archelot
[ ] [Social] (Write-In)

Choose an activity to participate in:
[ ] [Activity] Sports
>You could use the exercise.
[ ] [Activity] Hunting
>Your father likes to go hunting in the woods outside the city every now and then. It hasn't ever been your thing before, but you could give it a try.
[ ] [Activity] Charity
>You could do volunteer work.
[ ] [Activity] Summer Classes
>You may have gotten into Arcadia, but it wouldn't hurt to get caught up more.
[ ] [Activity] Modeling
>It could earn you some money on the side if you do well.
[ ] [Activity] Religion
>Visit churches to try and find a new one.
[ ] [Activity] (Write-In)

Eternal_0bserver · Oct 27, 2023

Copying comment from SB for discussion.

Aldsan said:
Elaine Stansfield was gone. That girl had died a year past. Yet, neither was I the woman in my dreams. At least, not yet. Every day, a bit more of who I was now was chipped away, replaced with the King who had once lived in this land. I knew I ought to feel dread at the prospect, but I did not. They were my memories, of this I was certain. I was simply reclaiming them.

This actually works well with the Nasuverse lore, where the soul mutates the body. It's strange that it takes so long, but still, the situation is quite anomalous, considering that Artoria should be dead.

Aldsan said:
"No way."

A voice nearby wrenched me from my thoughts. I looked up at the young Asian woman wearing a bright red shirt and white chinos. She stared at me in return, her blue eyes wide with surprise.

"Saber?"

"Rin," I breathed, the unfamiliar name escaping my lips.

Okay, I didn't expect this.

Aldsan said:
Rin studied me with keen eyes. My reaction had given something away. I did not know what. She nodded to herself however and stood up. "Well then, I'd best be going. I've got a paper to write for class and a bit of research to do. …Take care of yourself, okay?"

Well, obviously Rin noticed a lot more than she said. She of all people should understand that such accidents do not happen. I wonder how soon we'll see her again.

[] [Visit] A lake.

How is Vivian doing? I don't think they will meet, but still...

[] [Social] Dean Stansfield.

I think Elaine would like to spend more time with her brother while she is still mostly Elaine.

[][Activity] Religion.
-[] Try to find a more traditional church. Catholic, maybe?

As I noted earlier, this should seriously help with Elaine's soul searching and seems important to her. Plus, seeing the restless dead roaming around, seems even more relevant.

Unravenan · Oct 28, 2023

[X] [Visit] A lake

[X] [Social] Erin Archelot

[X][Activity] Religion.
-[X] Try to find a more traditional church. Catholic, maybe?

Aldsan · Nov 7, 2023

Voting said:
[X] [Visit] A lake
[X] [Social] Dean Stansfield
[X][Activity] Religion

I walked through thick fog, eddies swirling around my ankles. It had been warm out this morning, too warm for fog. The summer heat had burned off any that had remained in London. Yet, here, it seemed pleasantly cool, the fog thick enough that I could not see more than a few feet in front of myself.

It was our last day in England. Tomorrow, we would return to America. All week, I had felt called to find… somewhere in Britain. Some place that I did not consciously know. It was only today that I had made an excuse about going shopping to my parents and left, catching a taxi to take me out to a lake hidden in the English countryside.

At some point the ground had begun to feel smooth and even beneath my feet, as though I were walking on glass, though I had plenty of friction. It was only when I looked down that I realized that I was walking upon the water itself. My skin prickled, gooseflesh raising along my arms. The air hung still, the lake motionless, the world trapped in a moment of time.

"What is this?" a voice hissed from the murk. "Some new jape of Merlin's? Some new prank with which to torment me?"

I let out a slow breath and turned towards the voice. "It is real enough. I am real."

A woman stepped out of the fog, her dress trailing across the water's surface. Pale blonde hair, nearly white in the surrounding gloom, framed an eerily familiar face. How could it not be familiar? It was my face. Simply grown more mature, the face of a woman rather than a girl.

She reached out, tracing fingers across my cheek, blue eyes staring at me in shock. "Thou art real," she said in wonder. "It is truly thee. How is this?"

"I know not the mechanism. Simply that I am."

"Thy body still rests. This cannot be thee in truth. So how…?" The woman frowned and leaned in, her face nearing so close to mine that our noses nearly touched. Her eyes roamed across my face, as though taking in every detail. "I see," she finally said. "So that is the way it is. To think we had concluded our cruel fates only to see its thread reeled out once again."

Her hands rose to cup my face. A strange anxiety filled me, an urge to step back, to get away from her. Her hands held me in place, unflinching, her lips curving in a wicked smirk.

"What are you–?"

"Thou wert stolen from me once upon a time. Thou once took mine kingdom from me, and thine kingdom in turn took thee from me. Thou who shouldst have always been mine." She leaned forward, pressing her lips against mine. For a moment, my thoughts fled, lost in the shock. For a moment, all I could focus on was how cold she was, as though I were being kissed not by a human but a sculpture of ice.

My hands found her shoulders, pushing her away. She did not so much as stumble, but she released me, letting me fall to the water's surface. The woman smiled down at me and my skin crawled.

"How wonderful that we might have another chance. I see not the reason for your return, only the means. 'Tis a simple enough trick, however. Yes. Simple enough that it may be imitated."

"Imitated?" I whispered, not trusting my voice.

"Indeed. The Age of Faery hath ended. Magic hath faded from Britain. I cannot leave here anymore than thou couldst leave Avalon. Yet, something found a way to bypass that. A way with which to bring thee to the Modern Era. It galls me not to have done so first, but for something like this, I will make exception."

I slowly pushed myself back to my feet. "What are you planning to do exactly?"

The woman simply smiled enigmatically and turned to leave, vanishing back into the fog. Only her voice remained.

"I shall see thee again soon enough, Sister."

I awoke on the lake's shore, the sun shining down bright overhead. It was a warm summer's day, yet I found myself covered in a cold sweat.

Gamemaster said:
You gain 50 Glory for meeting the Lady of the Lake.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The flight returning from England was a long one, and I found myself unable to sleep the way I had on the way there. My stomach churned with unease and I kept my head bent forward, resting on the seat tray in front of me for much of the trip.

Had I made a mistake? My memories were too scattered to say for certain. Yet, a creeping dread gnawed at me, insistent that this could only lead to ill.

Even if I could not remember everything, I was not so stupid that I did not fail to connect my memories to the legends. The sister of the King had plotted his downfall and orchestrated it successfully in the end. However, she should not have been the one associated with that lake.

Moreover, there were her final words. Did my carelessness result in the theft of someone else's mind and body?

I squeezed my eyes shut, tasting bile at the back of my throat.

It was a great relief when we finally reached Brockton Bay. It felt as though I had tied myself in knots during the trip, and the source of my worries was not cured, but at least here, I felt like I could do something. Anything. I was no longer trapped in the air with nothing but my own thoughts to torment me.

The experience had left me exhausted however, and I barely managed a brief greeting to my brother when we arrived home before departing to collapse in my room.

A short series of knocks interrupted me before Hypnos could claim me. I let out a short groan before rousing myself and pulling the door open.

"Dean?"

My brother smiled at me brightly from the other side. "Hey there. I just wanted to check on you. You kind of rushed back here when you got home."

"It was a long flight, Dean. I wished to rest."

Gamemaster said:
Ellie Deceitful: 1 | 9 = Success
Dean Suspicious: 14 | 5 (+10 Empath) = Success
>Dean wins the contest.

Dean frowned at me. "You know you can tell me if something is bothering you, right? You don't have to hide it."

"I … Thank you. Truly. It is not something you can help with however." I smiled at my brother and patted his arm gently before stepping back to allow him into the room. "Tell me how things went while we were gone. Is the latest battle between the gangs all over?"

"It seems to have died down, at least," he said, sitting down next to my desk. I only had the one chair in the room, so I simply sat on my bed. "The News said that Challenger and Armsmaster managed to arrest Panzer and the Empire retreated after that."

Gamemaster said:
Recognize: 5 | 4= Failure

The name did not mean anything in particular to me, but it was good knowing that another villain was off the streets nonetheless. For a moment, I could picture the scene of a week ago. A creature of jagged steel and hooked blades tearing through the fallen bus where civilians had sheltered but moments before, heedless of the damage it caused. Someone had to stop them. I had to stop them.

"What even started the conflict?" I wondered.

Dean shrugged. "It's hard to be sure. I think there's some speculation that they were trying to assassinate Lung. They failed, obviously, because he's still around."

Honorless wretches.

"What of you? Were you safe during the week?"

"Me? I'm perfectly fine," he said, flashing me a bright smile. "Nothing too exciting at work. We got a new intern at the office. She's still adjusting to the idea of working with a team of people, but her heart's in the right place."

"I am glad. I was worried that something may have happened without me here to protect you." I closed my eyes, leaning back into my bed. It was true. I was happy that my brother was safe. Yet, there was a strange, wistful melancholy mixed in with it. "Be sure to treat your new coworker well. If she has difficulties in adjusting, then be patient with her."

Dean let out a short laugh. "I'm the big brother. I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be the one protecting you."

"Is that so? I suppose I should not lighten your duties, in that case."

Dean squinted at me, a troubled expression settling on his face. "I feel like I just got tricked into agreeing to more work."

"You will survive, I am certain," I said with an amused lilt to my voice.

Dean sighed. "Fine. It's not like I could refuse you anyways," he joked.

"As you should not. I am the King of this household, after all."

"Don't you mean Queen?" he asked.

"I meant what I said." I folded my arms and looked away, my cheeks burning.

"Of course you did." Dean grinned and gently punched my shoulder. I swatted his hand away, but that just widened his smile.

"Begone knave. Your King requires her sleep."

"Very well, I am off, your Majesty. Is there anything else I can do for you before I go?"

"I–"

She shivered beneath a blanket, rain pounding on the window. Her brother sat at her bedside, idly whittling at a block of wood.

"Hey brat. You had better not go dying on me. I still need you to haul my gear and polish my armor, you know. It would be troublesome for me if you were to die now."

She smiled gently, suddenly burning despite having been shivering just moments before. "I would not wish to inconvenience you, brother. I will get better soon."

"Good. I won't lighten your duties, you know. But… Well, if it will help you get better, I'll do just one thing for you. Anything you want."

"That is not necessary, Kay."

"Just pick something already. I'm not taking no for an answer here."

"Then… I wish to have a dream. A dream of a lion running across the plains."

"I suppose I would like to see a dream."

Dean frowned. "I don't think there's much I can do about that."

"...I know. Thank you, Dean, but I do not need anything else."

"Okay. Have a good night then, Ellie."

He left and I watched him before sinking down to rest my head on my pillow. A moment later, Kay (the cat) darted into my room and hopped up onto the bed to begin kneading at my chest before settling down to curl up on top of me.

"Fine. A dream? You got it." He focused on his whittling and eventually handed her a small statue that looked like a cross between a cat and a dog, though he looked inordinately proud as he placed it into her hands. "There, I made you a lion to accompany you in your dreams."

"This is meant to be a lion?"

She hesitated, unsure if she should say anything. "Thank you, Kay. Though it looks more a dog than a lion."

Kay's face turned stricken. "Really? I thought I did really well on it," he mumbled. "It was supposed to be an old, dying lion. One that couldn't even hurt a mouse. That way it wouldn't hurt you in your dreams."

She laughed, the sound bright and pure, and reached out to squeeze her brother's hand. "I shall cherish it, Kay."

That night, she dreamed of a lion running across the plains.

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Love (Family)

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The tall steeple loomed over me. I took a deep breath, staring up at it, before stepping forward to press against the large oak doors. The hinges were well-oiled, and the doors swung easily despite their weight, admitting me inside.

I had spent the weekend investigating various churches in the area. Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, even some non-denominational establishments. Some called to me more than others, but I was intent on being thorough. Even if one "felt right" to me, I intended to make a survey of my options and how they differed.

So it was that I entered the Catholic church. It was a relatively small chapel, though well-kept all the same. The pews were of rich oak and stained glass lined the windows. An unearthly quiet hung about the place, as though excessive noise would taint this holy place.

A voice broke the silence.

"Well, hello there. What brings you here, young lady?"

I turned to the voice. The priest was older, nearly bald, with what hair was left long since turned gray. I nodded in his direction. "I suppose you could say that I am looking for answers."

"Well, I'd say you came to the right place. I'm Father DiMaggio." The priest moved towards me and offered his hand. Despite his apparent years, his gait was steady and his limbs thick. Age had not yet withered him. I clasped his hand.

"A pleasure to meet you, Father."

"So, what answers can I help you find?"

"I…" I frowned, pursing my lips as I thought through what I wanted to say. "I am having something of a crisis of faith. I grew up in a church, but recently looked around myself and saw nothing but worldliness and self-interest. Nothing of what the church was meant to be."

Father DiMaggio nodded slowly and sat down on one of the pews. "I hope you will excuse me. My knees aren't quite what they were anymore. However, as to your question, you would hardly be the first to come to a similar conclusion. At the end of the day, the Church, any church, is made up of people, and people aren't perfect. It is hard to grow up idolizing the organization only to one day realize its flaws."

"That is not particularly reassuring advice, Father."

"It's true though. We will never be perfect so long as we are on this mortal world. Only once our Father in Heaven claims us and purifies our souls and bodies and we are born anew will we be truly faultless."

Perhaps not even then. If man was already a flawed creation, would he become better for being reborn? Even if that were true, if all of man's impurities were washed clean, could he truly be said to be the same creature?

My lips grew tight in a pained grimace.

"If it is advice you want however, I suppose you have a few options."

"What options are those?"

"The first, obviously, is to decide the flaws are too much and to turn your back upon faith entirely."

I squinted at him. "Is that truly advice that you ought to be giving as a priest?"

Father DiMaggio laughed. "Perhaps not, but I wanted to be frank with you. Besides, it's just an option, not what I would recommend. If you were the sort to do that, I do not think you would be here asking questions now."

"Then what are my other options, as you see them?" I asked tersely.

"The second is to continue doing what you are now. Moving from church to church in search of perfection, never quite satisfied with what you find. For, no matter where you go, you will always be able to find some sort of flaw."

"I take it you do not recommend this either."

"I do not," he said. "It's one thing if they are teaching false doctrine or the differences are simply irreconcilable, but you will never be happy if you're simply seeking perfection."

"However bad the result, you can't change what's happened. Wanting to redo something because you couldn't do it is just childish selfishness!"

Was that what I was doing? Seeking perfection?

"Your third option is to confront it. Go and be the change you wish to see in the Church. Lead by example, with compassion and love."

"I am surprised, Father. None of your options included joining your church."

Father DiMaggio smiled and waved a hand as if to brush aside my comment. "You are welcome here, of course. I just want you to be sure that you are making your decisions for the right reasons, not because you are running away from something."

"Thank you. I shall have to think over the advice you gave me."

"Of course. The world will hardly end tomorrow. You've got your whole life ahead of you. Take your time and make sure your decisions are the right ones."

A sinking feeling curled beneath my breast, some part of me warning that perhaps I did not have as much time as the priest believed. That eventually tragedy would strike. I was here for a reason. Something loomed on the horizon. Something I would be needed for.

I turned to leave and Father DiMaggio called out to my retreating form. "Evening Mass begins in one hour if you would like to attend."

Stopping, I considered the offer. It would not hurt. I turned back into the church.

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Religion.

You have activated my trap card. One of the odder parts of Type Moon lore is that Vivian and Morgan are alternate aspects / personalities of the same person.

It is July of 2010.

Choose someone to spend time with:
[ ] [Social] Victoria Dallon
[ ] [Social] Amy Dallon
[ ] [Social] Chelsea and Morgan
[ ] [Social] Erin Archelot
[ ] [Social] (Write-In)

Choose an activity to participate in:
[ ] [Activity] Sports
>You could use the exercise.
[ ] [Activity] Hunting
>Your father likes to go hunting in the woods outside the city every now and then. It hasn't ever been your thing before, but you could give it a try.
[ ] [Activity] Charity
>You could do volunteer work.
[ ] [Activity] Summer Classes
>You may have gotten into Arcadia, but it wouldn't hurt to get caught up more.
[ ] [Activity] Modeling
>It could earn you some money on the side if you do well.
[ ] [Activity] (Write-In)

Choose a way to advance yourself as a hero.
[ ] [Heroism] Practice
>You don't have much in the way of weapons right now, but you should work on improving your ability to fight anyways.
[ ] [Heroism] Design a name and costume.
>You can't just be X forever.
[ ] [Heroism] Look into types of Parahumans.
>If you're going out doing hero things, you're bound to run into them at some point. Knowing the difference between a brute and a breaker will probably be good.
[ ] [Heroism] Study your first aid.
>You might need to treat injured people in the future.
[ ] [Heroism] Look for trouble.
>You're not a hero if you aren't actually going out and saving people, right?
[ ] [Heroism] (Write-In)

Aldsan · Nov 11, 2023

So, I was going over some rulebooks and realized I made a mistake with regards to how daggers (and by extension the baton and bat) are handled. What I originally had pertained specifically to grappling rules, not just a general attack.

Dagger - Does Brawling damage + 2d6. Right now that would be 4+2d6 damage.
Baton - Does Brawling damage + 2d6. Right now that would be 4+2d6 damage.

Bat - This is going to be using ablated weapon rules (i.e. blunted tournament weapons). This just means it uses your full melee attack, but deals half damage. If 2h'ing, this still works out to 3d6 effectively at the moment.

Aldsan · Nov 25, 2023

Voting said:
[X] [Social] Erin Archelot
[X] [Activity] Hunting
[X] [Heroism] Practice

The tip of my sword cut through the air. Slash. Step forward. Bring the sword through in a reverse cut. Parry. My mind knew the motions, even if my body did not. I had to rebuild that instinct, to make myself more than I was.

"Well, it was the only thing I was good at. You can train your body even if you don't have talent as a magus."

A fond smile crossed my lips. I could not remember the source of those words, yet a warmth permeated my chest all the same. The sentiment was true however. Even if I lacked the power I had in my memories, I could still train my body.

The image in my head faded. No longer was I practicing with a sword – a mere stick occupied my hand. The warmth of the summer sun beat down on me. Brockton Bay tended to grow humid during the latter half of summer, and the air clung unpleasantly to my skin, leaving sweat to soak through the t-shirt and jeans I had chosen to wear today.

The week since we had returned home had seen me listless, with little to occupy my time. Worry gnawed at me. If my once sister were to appear in front of me now, there would be naught I could do to resist her.

A flash of blue caught my eye. Our gardens were large. A number of flowers were planted across the grounds. A batch of blue tansies and purple pansies should be beneath my notice. The heady scent of floral perfume tickled at my memory, the sensation of cold fingers caressing my skin. My jaw tightened and I turned away.

This could not continue. I knew that. I could not allow this paranoia to destroy my life. I could not ignore the threat, but I could not allow my fear to rule me. I would simply do as I had always done.

I would arm myself. I would hone my skills. I would steel my resolve. I would vanquish my enemy.

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Melee.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

It was early the next morning that a clatter downstairs woke me. Repressing the urge to yawn, I pushed myself from my bed and padded down to our parlor, where I spotted my father dressed in camouflage, a rifle slung over his shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

He looked up from putting a pack together, surprise clear in his eyes. "Oh, good morning, honey. I'm just going out hunting with a few of my buddies. You can go back to sleep if you want."

"I am fine," I answered shortly. I had been waking earlier of late anyways. A memory niggled at me of a time when I had slept only from dawn until the sun rose, and that time I slept was spent learning from the Magus in my dreams besides. The five hours I slept now was ridiculous luxury by comparison. "Is Dean not going with you? I thought he usually did for these trips."

"He was going to, but he got called in to work at the last minute. Some emergency or another," my father grumbled.

"His employer must rely on him a great deal to call him in on short notice," I mused. "I did not think that was typical for interns."

My father hesitated. "It's not. Dean's been eager to prove himself though. I keep telling him he could just come work for me at our company and take things easy, but he won't hear it."

"That is not a bad thing in and of itself." The ability to stand on his own two feet would serve Dean well, so long as he did not take his independent streak too far. He would be expected to inherit the company some day – knowing how the company functioned would be important when that day came. "If you require extra company however, I do not mind acting as a stand in."

"Really?" My father straightened. "You've never shown much interest before."

"I am interested in trying new things. In having experiences that I did not have the chance to before."

My father's eyes widened for a moment. "...Alright then. I'll warn you now though, it's mostly just a bunch of old men sitting around and drinking all day. You'll probably get bored."

"Perhaps," I said, "but that is still a valuable experience in itself."

"Fine. Go get dressed and you can come with."

I nodded my assent and returned upstairs to my room. Unfortunately, my wardrobe did not lend itself well to stalking about the woods all day. Most of it was thin, easily torn fabrics, chosen for fashion rather than practicality.

In the end, I settled on a pair of overly soft boots, jeans, and a long sleeved t-shirt. I hesitated over what to do with my hair, before eventually settling on simply drawing it back in a ponytail. A baseball cap and a set of sunglasses and … this is uncomfortably close to what I was wearing when I rescued that man a month ago.

It would have to do. The clothes were nondescript enough anyways. I doubted anything would come of it.

Heading back downstairs, I joined my father in packing the rest of his gear into the car. The ride after that was quiet. I glanced over at my father, wondering if I should say something to attempt to connect with him. He kept his eyes on the road. Eventually, he turned on the radio and I turned my gaze out the window, watching the scenery go by until we left the city limits.

I … no, Elaine did not have the same acrimonious relationship with her father that she had with her mother. That was because there was hardly a relationship at all. He was permissive and acted loving, at least, but for the most part she had gone unnoticed, passed over in favor of her brother.

Eventually we turned into a campsite in the woods. Several other cars were already there. To my surprise, I recognized some of the men standing about. My father got out of the car and waved.

"Max! I see you managed to rope Theo into things this time."

"It took some doing, but I managed. No Dean this time?"

"No, work called him in at the last minute. Elaine volunteered to come though."

"Elaine? Now that's unusual."

"Do not mind me. I was simply curious," I said, having unbuckled myself and followed my father. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Mister Anders."

"Please, just call me Max. I'm sure you'll pick things up quick enough."

Nodding, I said, "Max then. I ought to go say hello to Theo as well."

"Sure, you go do that. His girlfriend is here too, so it'd be good for you to meet her."

I raised an eyebrow. "I was not aware he had started dating. Good for him, I suppose."

Max laughed. "I know it can be hard to believe with the way my son is."

"Hm." I nodded my assent and turned to search for the boy.

Maximilian Anders was a tall, broadly built man with slicked back blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. For all of his bulk, it was clear that most of it was muscle. The man took care of himself. Theo, by contrast, had the same sort of height and bulk, but in his case it was mostly fat with little muscle to be found.

I found him sitting in silence next to a blonde girl who did not particularly look as though she wanted to be there. The girl was scowling out at the woods, only to switch her glare onto me as I approached. "So who are you then?"

I raised an eyebrow and silently looked at Theo, who looked embarrassed over the girl's outburst, the tips of his ears turning red.

"Hi Elaine," he mumbled quietly.

Looking back to the girl, I took a moment to silently examine her. Average height (which was still taller than I was) and thin, with long, straight hair that ran down to the small of her back. Her face slowly grew redder as I looked her over – perhaps she thought I was ignoring her? I decided to finally answer, "I am Elaine Stansfield. May I have your name, since you so rudely demanded mine?"

"Tammi," the girl bit out.

I nodded my acknowledgement and turned my attention away from her, dismissing her from my mind. "Theo, it is good to see you well."

"Thanks," he gave a small smile. "Um. I'm glad to see you're doing better. I heard what happened."

"Thank you. I will not say it has been easy adjusting, but I have been managing."

"Great," he said awkwardly. "I'll look forward to seeing you at Arcadia then?"

"Of course." I glanced at Tammi, who didn't seem particularly pleased with her paramour promising to see another girl. She glowered at both him and me in turn. "Will Tammi be joining us there?"

"No," she said shortly. "I go to Immaculata."

I tilted my head. Immaculata was a private all-girls Catholic school. Tammi had not struck me as the type – not with how tightly her jeans hung to her hips or how her shirt rode up to expose her stomach. Perhaps that was simply prejudice on my part in thinking that a 'Catholic schoolgirl' had to conform to a certain archetype.

"A shame. You are religious then?"

"Ugh. No. It's just my uncle being a controlling asshole. Not that it's any of your business."

An uncle. Not her parents?

"If you would like to spend time together outside of school–" I began in a softer voice, only for her to cut me off.

"Fuck off. I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't need your pity."

"Very well. Theo has my contact information should you change your mind." I would leave Theo to assuage her injured pride. I did not care to. "Until next time."

I turned away and left. For a moment, I thought I caught Tammi staring at me from a distance, but perhaps it was simply my imagination.

Another three men had shown up – I actually recognized all of them, I realized, by face if not by name. Other than Max, only one other had brought a child, a ten year old boy who was occupied by his cellphone. Now that I thought of it, the fact that Max had brought Tammi was rather odd in itself. In the case of most children, bringing them along was meant to serve as a bonding activity. A paramour did not fit with that.

Gamemaster said:
Intrigue: 11 | 7 = Failure

I suppose it was none of my business.

"This is a lot of people for a hunting trip, isn't it?" I asked my father as I rejoined him.

"Well, to be honest, we don't do much actual hunting," my father replied. "It's mostly an excuse to socialize. We'll split up later to see if we can spot anything though."

"Do you ever have much success?"

"Not really. Actual hunting involves a lot more patience than a couple of drunk old men wandering the woods have. Ideally, you want to sit as still and quiet as you can for a long time, keep the animals from ever knowing you're even there."

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Hunting.

A simple enough lesson, though one that would likely be difficult to implement in reality.

"I think I may leave you to socialize and take a hike through the woods for a bit."

"Alright," my father said. "Don't wander too far and get lost. You have your phone on you, right?"

I didn't. I had left it behind when I was dressing. No matter. I probably would not need it.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

I was lost.

Grumbling, I walked through the woods. The sun was beginning its descent, so it must be past noon now, at least a few hours had passed. One tree looked much like another and they had all blended into each other some time ago.

Vague memories of playing in the Forest Sauvage came to mind, but nothing that translated into actual ability.

Surely if I simply picked a direction and traveled, I would eventually find my way to somewhere.

There was no guarantee of that. The woods had a way of turning and twisting so that a person could think that they were heading in a straight path when they were actually walking in circles. Still, there was nothing for it. I had to make the attempt.

A half hour later saw me no closer to finding civilization. The hair on the back of my neck had begun to prickle however. There was something odd here. Frowning, I looked around for any sign of my discomfort, but found nothing.

Turn back.

Something lay ahead. Something that rejected visitors. Something that did not want me here. I hesitated.

The howl of a wolf echoed behind me and I stared back with wide eyes, my body already lowering itself to act.

Time with Erin will be next chapter.

It is July of 2010.

A wolf is behind you, an unknown danger ahead.
[ ] [Wolf] Fight
>You don't have much in the way of weapons or armor.
[ ] [Wolf] Hide
>You're not very good at this, but you could attempt it.
[ ] [Wolf] Flee
>Something dangerous lies ahead, though you don't know what.

Choose a way to advance yourself as a hero.
[ ] [Heroism] Design a name and costume.
>You can't just be X forever.
[ ] [Heroism] Look into types of Parahumans.
>If you're going out doing hero things, you're bound to run into them at some point. Knowing the difference between a brute and a breaker will probably be good.
[ ] [Heroism] Study your first aid.
>You might need to treat injured people in the future.
[ ] [Heroism] Look for trouble.
>You're not a hero if you aren't actually going out and saving people, right?
[ ] [Heroism] (Write-In)

14tigers · Nov 25, 2023

[X] [Wolf] Fight
[X] [Heroism] Study your first aid.

Aldsan · Dec 1, 2023

Voting said:
[X] [Wolf] Fight
[X] [Heroism] First Aid

The howl of a wolf echoed through the forest. Further away than the first, thankfully. Still, something I would rather not deal with. I took a step back, preparing to flee.

Turn back.

No, that was not an option. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed a branch from the forest floor and put my foot against it, forcing it to snap at a sharp angle. The resulting creation was a rough approximation of a spear. A very rough approximation.

I eyed my sharp stick with some trepidation, suddenly unsure of trusting my life to this thing. Another howl, closer than before, forced me to put those doubts aside. I did not have the luxury of choice.

Spear in hand, I leapt for the nearest tree, scrambling up to secure myself atop a branch even as a gray blur came barrelling through the underbrush. It slammed against the base of the tree in a rush of snarling fangs and snapping jaws, leaping after me to try and pluck me from my precarious perch.

Invoke Passion: Honor: 3 | 15 = Success

Modifiers:
Elaine: Inspired (+5), Height Advantage (+5)
Wolf: Height Disadvantage (-5)

Elaine Melee: 2 | 12 (2+5+5) = Success
Wolf Bite: 11 | 9 (14-5) = Failure
>Elaine wins the contest.
>>Damage: (3d6=11) (0 Armor Reduction) = 11 damage dealt to Wolf. (24/35 HP)

Elaine Melee: 19 | 12 (2+5+5) = Failure
Wolf Bite: 16 | 9 (14-5) = Failure
>No Hit.

Elaine Melee: 19 | 12 (2+5+5) = Failure
Wolf Bite: 20 | 9 (14-5) = Fumble
>No Hit.

Elaine Melee: 5 | 12 (2+5+5) = Success
Wolf Bite: 2 | 9 (14-5) = Success
>Elaine wins the contest.
>>Damage: (3d6=12) (0 Armor Reduction) = 12 damage dealt to Wolf. (12/35 HP)

Elaine Melee: 7 | 12 (2+5+5) = Success
Wolf Bite: 18 | 9 (14-5) = Failure
>Elaine wins the contest.
>>Damage: (3d6=8) (0 Armor Reduction) = 8 damage dealt to Wolf. (4/36 HP)
>>>Wolf is rendered Unconscious and unable to continue.

Most people do not realize just how large a wolf is. Those without experience often think of them as large dogs. They are not. Wolves are massive animals. They are predators that could easily take down most grown men through sheer size and weight. There is an instinctual fear when faced with them, a time calling back to when men feared the night and the beasts that roamed it.

I could not afford fear.

Without thinking, I stabbed downwards with my makeshift spear. I caught the wolf just below the neck. Not a fatal injury, by any means, but the wolf let out a yelp of pain before lunging again. Its teeth came within inches of my foot and I scrambled to pull my legs up further before thrusting down again.

My thrust went wide, glancing off of the beast's fur. I quickly thrust again, only for my spear to catch, not quite managing to pierce, but instead splintering along the handle as the pressure began to break it apart. I hurriedly retracted it, shifting my grip as the wolf snarled at me from below.

A gunshot split the air. Too distant to be of help. The wolf jumped again. I was waiting for it. My aim was off however. Instead of a fatal blow, my spear buckled, piercing into the wolf's side but a scant few inches.

I felt a snarl of my own forming on my lips. What I would give for a proper weapon right now.

Still, the strike had left the wolf on its last legs. Any normal animal should have retreated after that. This one did not. It kept lunging at me with unchecked aggression. Rabid – or something else? I did not have the time right now to find out.

This time, I waited. I made sure of my strike. The wolf leapt and I placed my spear in its path. This time, I made sure the spear drove deep, leaving the wolf to bleed out on the forest floor.

Far away, I heard another howl. Another gunshot. I itched to go and help – but no, the risk was not worth it. Not with no weapon. I instead took the opportunity to climb higher in the tree, out of the reach of any enterprising wolves.

Gamemaster said:
Gain 25 Glory.

I sat there for a half hour before Max Anders burst into the clearing, hunting rifle in hand. He looked the part of some sort of action hero, here to save the day. Theo and Tammi, following in his wake, looked far less blase about the situation, looking nervously in every direction.

They stopped as a group when Max spotted the wolf's corpse at the base of the tree.

"What the…?"

I cleared my throat. Max's eyes darted upwards to where I sat, still bloody spear slung across my lap. "I assume the area is clear of threats?"

"Yes," he said roughly. "You killed this wolf? With a stick?"

"Yes," I replied simply. "Was anyone else hurt?"

"One of them took a bite out of Justin before we realized what was going on." He shook his head and straightened, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "I've never even seen wolves in this area, much less seen an animal act like that before. Your dad's been going crazy with worry. He tried calling and couldn't get a hold of you."

"I dropped my phone," I said blandly. "Would you mind not telling my father about this? He will be worried enough as is – you can simply say you found me hiding in a tree."

"I can do that," he responded slowly. He narrowed his eyes, studying me from below. "Would you mind explaining how you managed to kill a wolf all on your own? Are you a parahuman?"

"I am not. I was simply lucky."

"A good thing then. If only we all had that sort of luck," Max joked.

"If only," I said dryly.

"Hey," Tammi said, having circled around to nudge at the wolf's corpse with her foot. "I think it's still alive."

She was right, I realized. The wolf was undoubtedly bleeding out, but its chest still rose and fell.

"A shame it wasn't a clean kill," Max said. He frowned and turned to look at his son. "Well, nothing for it. Theo. Put it out of its misery."

Theo had hung back, quietly watching our conversation. Now he was the center of everyone's attention. "That doesn't seem necessary," he said quietly. "It's already dying."

Max's voice hardened. "I didn't ask if it was necessary. I said to do it, Theo."

Theo hesitated. Max's face turned thunderous. He strode over to his son, and for a moment, I thought he might strike Theo. Perhaps he would have if he did not know that Tammi and I were here watching. As it was, he grabbed Theo's wrist and leaned in to begin furiously whispering to the boy.

"Theo," I cut in, my voice gentle. "It is already dying. There is no sense in prolonging its pain."

Theo finally nodded, his lips drawing to a tight line. "Fine. I'll do it. Sir."

Theo stepped forward and unslung his rifle, placing the muzzle against the wolf's head. Even from here I could tell his hands were trembling. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned his face away.

The firing hammer fell.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The walk back was an awkward one. Theo did not seem to want to look at any of us. Max still carried his anger like a cloud around him. The mood was tense enough that Tammi stuck to my side the entire way back, despite her earlier cattiness towards me.

I stared at Theo's back.

Theo was a gentle boy. There was no disputing that. There seemed something deeper here however, some undercurrent that I was not aware of.

What was I missing?

"Um, Elaine right?" Tammi whispered.

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. "Yes?"

"Look. Sorry for being such a bitch earlier. I – Well, I didn't really want to be here. You seem cool though. If you ever do want to hang out, just let me know, okay?"

"Of course," I said, smiling gently. "I would be happy to."

"Cool." She raised a fist. I stared at it a moment, before realizing what she was after. Slowly, I raised my own and bumped my knuckles against hers. She grinned and said, "I'll see you around then, Short Stuff."

I blinked.

"What do you mean Short Stuff? You are only a few inches taller than I am!"

"But I am taller."

"My height is completely normal!"

"Whatever makes you feel better," Tammi said, smirking.

I made a noise of discontent. How was I to respond to this slander? Folding my arms, I turned away. Some battles were better left unfought.

"What do you think made the wolves so aggressive?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Who knows?" She replied, graciously allowing my diversion. "Maybe they were just hungry."

"In the height of summer? There should be plenty of animals in the area for them to eat."

"Honestly, I really don't know, Elaine."

That was fair. I doubt she had ever even seen a wolf prior to this. Max had indicated they weren't common to this area. That just made it all the more strange however. What had brought them here? What had stirred them up?

"Look, there's everyone up ahead," Tammi pointed.

So they were. We walked up to where the cars had been parked – several foldable chairs and coolers filled with beer had been unloaded in the time I was away. One man was sitting down, his arm a mess of bloody bandages. My own father seemed unharmed, but a look of immense relief crossed his face when he saw me approach.

"Elaine! Oh, thank God. I was so worried that something had happened. Are you okay?"

"I am fine. Truly. Nothing happened."

"It's true, Mark," Max cut in. "You've got a smart girl there. I found her hiding up at the top of a tree."

My father shuddered and hugged me close. "Thank you. I really can't thank you enough, Max. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened."

"Think nothing of it. What are friends for, after all?" Max asked, a wide smile crossing his face.

"Of course. Let me know if you ever need a favor, alright?"

"I'll keep it in mind. You go ahead and take care of your girl for now."

"Right. Let's go home, Elaine."

I nodded my assent and followed him to the car, though my eyes lingered on the injured man. There would inevitably be more injured people around me in the future. Even if it was the very basics, knowing how to treat someone in an emergency would be important. One more thing to study.

One more, on top of everything else. I was starting to wonder where I would find the time.

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to First Aid.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

"Oh, this dress would look great on you! You should try it on."

After we returned from the hunting trip, things more or less returned to normal. Summer vacation continued to wind along, and I found myself staying at home for the most part. Still, I had at least one more social obligation to discharge. I had promised to spend time with Erin. Things had been delayed somewhat by my family's sudden vacation, but it would do me no good to go back on my word.

The problem however, was that I was unsure what to do with her. I simply did not know her well enough to make plans. In the end, I had simply called her and we decided on the common pastime that girls across America indulged in.

We went to the mall together.

"I am not sure the color would suit me," I said, eyeing the pale green sundress a bit dubiously.

"It will, trust me. Besides, half the fun is in trying things on, it doesn't matter if it looks good or not."

"You truly know how to make a person feel confident in themselves," I said dryly.

"Who needs confidence?" Erin asked. "You're just trying things on, not going out on a date. Now come on, quit stalling and go put it on."

I huffed amusedly and allowed her to push me into the changing stall.

Disrobing, I caught sight of my body in the mirror. I was not… womanly by any particular stretch. I had not grown curves to enchant men. I did not have the long legs that modern fashion models prized. My training had resulted in the beginnings of muscles visible along my back – the muscles of a warrior instead of smooth skin of a beauty.

Just as in my past life, I could convincingly pass as a boy if I truly wished it.

I scowled at my reflection and pulled the sundress over my head. It is not as if I even particularly wanted to date anyone. There was nothing to be upset over aside from my own injured pride.

"Well?" Erin's voice came from behind the door. "How's it look?"

Not as bad as I feared. I would have preferred if it had sleeves to cover my shoulders at least, instead of simple straps, and the amount of cleavage the dress had was unfortunate, given that I did not have the assets to complement it. I stepped out of the changing room.

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Fashion.

"I still maintain that it is not my color."

"It's not the worst," Erin replied absently, her attention having seemingly settled on my chest.

"Erin?"

"Oh! Sorry, I was just thinking – where did you get that necklace from?"

I touched a hand to the peridot that Rin gave me. After we returned from England, I had asked to have it set and strung on a chain so that I could wear it with me wherever I went. Normally, I kept it beneath my clothes, but the dress left it bare.

"It is just something that I picked up in London. Why?"

"You just picked it up? Nobody gave it to you?"

"Erin," I frowned. "What is the issue exactly?"

"I – No, it's nothing, sorry. Nevermind."

"Very well." I stepped back into the changing room to switch back to my regular clothes. "It is getting close to noon. Did you want to continue shopping or head to the food court next?"

"I could go for a pretzel."

I smiled. I, too, would most certainly enjoy a pretzel.

We left the store and continued on our way together. On the whole, it was surprisingly pleasant. Not that I did not enjoy my social interactions with my other friends, but there was always a tension present in them. The knowledge that these people had been friends with Elaine – the girl she was, not the imposter who had hollowed her out and replaced her.

There was none of that burden with Erin. She had not known Elaine, only the me of the present. That was a rare gift these days.

I just wondered how much longer these days would last.

The dice continue to be in your favor. Be very glad that I made Elaine climb a tree. That first attack would have hit her otherwise. I rolled damage just to see what would have happened and it would have taken her out in one shot.

It is August of 2010.

We have arrived at a rest period.

First is to tally checkmarks.

Checkmarks said:
Spiritual: 19 | 10 = Increased by 1
Love (Family): 11 | 10 = Increased by 1
Recognize: 18 | 4 = Increased by 1
Hunting: 13 | 0 = Increased by 1
First Aid: 1 | 2 = No Increase
Fashion: 2 | 3 = No Increase
Religion: 18 | 3 = Increased by 1
Melee: 15 | 2 = Increased by 1

Next is training and practice. You may select any one of the following improvements:

Training said:
Change a Personality Trait
You can add one point to a Trait, decreasing its opposite by the same amount (subject to an effective minimum value of 1).
-OR-
Change a Passion
You can add or subtract one point from any Passion.
-OR-
Change a Characteristic
Players may add one point to any one of STR, DEX, CON, or APP.
-OR-
Train Skills Up to 15
Add 6 points to any number of Skills under 15 in any combination—all points may be added to one Skill, divided between two Skills, or more—as long as the values are not raised over 15.
-OR-
Train a Skill Up to 20
Increase one Skill over 15 by one point, up to a maximum value of 20.

Please structure this vote as a Plan, i.e.
[ ] Plan Name Here
-[ ] [Training] Skills 1, Skills 2, Skills 3, etc.

The next stage is to tally Glory and to receive Glory rewards.

Glory said:
Chapter 2 Glory = 75
Passive Glory: (15 per Famous Trait & Passion (>16) = 30) ; (Fair Appeal = 15) = 45
Total Glory = 259

(I've retroactively fixed your passive glory for Chapter 0 and 1 so you have a little bit extra).

No Prestige Rewards awarded this month.

Next, you receive your monthly allowance. Given your status as a Wealthy Heiress, you earn $100.

Remember, if at any time you wish to buy something from the shop, please do a write in as below, and I will add it to the next vote.
[ ] [Shop] (Write-In)

You have unlocked your first Adventure! At the start of each month, you can choose if you want to focus on investigating and solving the problem presented in the Adventure. If you choose not to, you will instead focus on normal street-level patrols and heroics.

Please Note: Not every adventure is meant to be completed immediately when it unlocks. Sometimes it's better to wait until you are better trained and better armed to attempt it. That said, the problem won't necessarily stay around forever either. If you take too long, it might get worse, or someone else might solve it.

[ ] [Adventure] The Adventure of Aggressive Animals
>The animals in the forest are acting strangely aggressive. It might be worth investigating.
[ ] [Adventure] The Adventure of the Forbidden Woods
>There is a part of the woods where you fear to tread. Maybe you should find out why.
[ ] [Adventure] Focus on your duties
>Do not engage in adventure this month.

Now, for our actions going forward into next month. School is starting!

Choose someone to spend time with (at school):
[ ] [Social] Dean Stansfield
[ ] [Social] Victoria Dallon
[ ] [Social] Amy Dallon
[ ] [Social] Chelsea and Meagan
[ ] [Social] Erin Archelot
[ ] [Social] Theo Anders
[ ] [Social] (Write-In)

You have several new classes at school. Which is your favorite?
[ ] [Class] English Literature
[ ] [Class] Math
[ ] [Class] Biology
[ ] [Class] History
[ ] [Class] Computer Science
[ ] [Class] Physical Education

You have several options for extracurricular activities.
[ ] [Extracurricular] Student Council
[ ] [Extracurricular] Debate Club
[ ] [Extracurricular] Journalism Club
[ ] [Extracurricular] Baseball
[ ] [Extracurricular] Part-Time Job
[ ] [Extracurricular] (Write-In)

Choose a way to advance yourself as a hero.
[ ] [Heroism] Design a name and costume.
>You can't just be X forever.
[ ] [Heroism] Look into types of Parahumans.
>If you're going out doing hero things, you're bound to run into them at some point. Knowing the difference between a brute and a breaker will probably be good.
[ ] [Heroism] Look for trouble.
>You're not a hero if you aren't actually going out and saving people, right?
[ ] [Heroism] (Write-In)

Aldsan · Dec 4, 2023

Theo hurriedly raised his arms to block the fist coming towards his face, only for it to plant itself in his gut a moment later. The air drove itself from his lungs and he fell over, wheezing, clutching at his bruised stomach.

It was not the first such blow he had suffered today.

"Get up," Brad said. When he didn't reply, the man kicked at him.

Theo groaned and scrambled back to his feet. He barely managed to get his hands up when Brad's fist blew past his guard and slammed into his face. He crumpled into a heap again.

Brad just scowled. "This isn't going anywhere. Fucking Tammi over there did better at this shit than you. Are you going to let yourself be shown up by a girl?"

Theo opened one eye – the other was swollen shut – to stare across the room. Tammi sat there, typing away at her cell phone, completely ignoring the beating that he was taking. He slowly pushed himself to his feet again.

This time, Brad split his lip.

"Stop," his father's voice echoed across the empty ring. "This is going nowhere."

"Heh. I could have told you that to begin with. Boy's too soft."

"Watch what you say, Hookwolf. He is still my son. He just needs tempering, as any good piece of steel requires."

Brad – Hookwolf – shrugged. "No skin off my back. You want me to keep beating him, I'll keep beating him."

His father stepped into the ring, the clink of steel ringing with each step. "There is no need for that. I think he has learned his lesson. Haven't you, Theo?"

He lifted his head to stare at his father, clad in all his glory. Steel plate armor shone, intricately fitted to his father's body. The joints held no gaps, only increasingly small overlapping plates that shifted and pulled with the man's every movement. The helmet was all one piece, blades rising in a circle around it in imitation of a crown.

Before him stood not Maximilian Anders, but Kaiser, the leader of the Empire Eighty-Eight.

"Yesh, shir." Theo mumbled, his words slurring together more than he would like.

"Hm." His father stood there silently, as if waiting for some further reaction. When none came, he turned away. "You can keep the bruises overnight. It will help let the lesson sink in. I will ask Othala to see to you tomorrow."

Theo nodded. He had expected as much. His father would probably force him to keep the bruises even longer if it weren't such a potential problem for people to see him like that.

"Hookwolf. I'm assuming that Rune told you what happened in the forest. What are your thoughts?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Theo saw Tammi look up, suddenly interested in the conversation.

Hookwolf scratched at his chin. "It's not impossible she's telling the truth. People can do some crazy shit when their lives are on the line. Still, killing a fucking wolf with nothing but a stick is pretty out there. I'd say chances are she's a parahuman."

"I thought as much as well."

"No real way to tell what the powers are though. She actually used the stick, so probably not a Shaker or Master, but could be just about anything else. If you want, I could send a couple of my boys to rough her up. We'd find out what powers she has real quick that way."

"That's a terrible idea," Tammi interjected.

There was a brief silence, both men turning to look at Tammi. His father finally asked, "Do you have something to add, Rune?"

"Yeah. We want to recruit her right? Sending a couple of our own guys to attack her is just asking for her to develop a grudge. Pay off a couple of druggies – or better yet some chinks who are willing to wear red and green. Don't send them directly after her, that's way too overt. So soon after exposing herself in the forest, she'll know one of us had to be involved. Target one of her friends instead."

"You've been giving this some thought," Kaiser said quietly.

"Hah," Tammi barked a short laugh. "No. That's just the obvious stuff. The hard part is convincing her to actually join."

"And do you have any suggestions on that front?"

"Dunno," Tammi said flippantly. "I don't know the girl well enough. She's offered to hang out though, so give me some time and I'll figure it out."

"Hm." Kaiser silently examined Tammi for a long moment. "I will admit, this is more initiative than I am used to seeing from you, Rune."

"It was just a thought. Take the advice or don't." Tammi shrugged, her eyes flicking up towards Brad. "No skin off my back."

"The idea is a good one. We will discuss the details later. Keep your nose clean in the meantime."

"Of course." Tammi shifted, returning her bored stare back down to her phone.

Theo knew it was the worst thing she could have done. It was as if she were the one dismissing his father instead of the other way around. His father wouldn't make a scene of it – that would undermine his dignity. Instead, Tammi would probably find herself occupied with some sort of drudge duty in the near future as punishment.

Hookwolf eyed the girl in exasperation, having apparently come to the same conclusion. Shaking his head, he looked at Kaiser. "We should probably talk about our operations up in Midtown. Had a few of our buildings burn down during the fight with Lung."

"We can rebuild. The Protectorate is still licking its wounds, and Lung has shown no interest in coming out of his hole."

"That's not the point. If Purity's gone off the reservation –"

"She's just being stubborn," Kaiser said, turning to walk away. Hookwolf followed close behind. "She thinks she can do things on her own. Her failure is a good lesson in why that won't work. She will come crawling back soon enough."

"How soon is that? How much damage does she do in the meantime?"

"I have it under control, Hookwolf."

Their voices faded as the two left. Even after the door swung shut behind them, Theo waited a full minute before allowing himself to collapse. Every bit of him ached. Hookwolf had not held back. No – He had. If he hadn't, Theo would be dead. Instead, he was just covered in bruises, every bit of him pummeled by the man in the name of training.

After all, according to his father he was too soft. Too weak. Hardly worth calling his son at all.

Theo grit his teeth and looked up. Tammi was still typing away at her phone, unconcerned with him.

"What the hell was that about, Tammi?"

"I'm not sure what you mean," she replied without looking up.

"I mean sending them after Elaine like that."

Tammi's phone snapped closed. "I think you will find, Theo, that I convinced them not to attack Elaine. So why exactly are you upset?"

"You could have – you could have convinced them that she wasn't a parahuman. To just leave her alone."

Tammi scoffed. "If you believe that, then you really are as stupid as you look. Even if I was interested in sticking my neck out for a girl I just met, there was no stopping this."

"F-Fuck you." He stuttered the curse word, unused to saying it. Shame ran through him, a part of him rebelling at the idea of speaking up. Of speaking out. Of using words he wasn't supposed to.

"You wish." She stood and stretched out. "In any case, at least I did something. Meanwhile you just laid there like a useless lump. You can criticize me when you're capable of actually doing something yourself."

Theo squeezed his hands tight, his fingernails biting into his skin, and looked away.

"Yeah, I thought so." Tammi said scornfully and walked off.

The room fell silent. The only one left was Theo, his body battered and bloody. He was alone. They had left him here. His father had not even cared enough to see him home after the beating he had given him.

Tears sprang from his eyes. He slammed his fists into the ground, trying to push himself up, only to fall back down, unable to support himself. Tammi was right. He was useless. Helpless. He had never accomplished anything worthwhile in his life.

He laid on the ground weeping, cursing his own weakness.

Aldsan · Dec 16, 2023

Voting said:
[X] [Training] Melee 6
[X] [Purchase] Sword
[X] [Adventure] Focus on your duties
[X] [Social] Amy Dallon
[X] [Heroism] Design a name and costume.
[X] [Class] History
[X] [Extracurricular] Student Council

"King Nym. Your father once swore himself to Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain. Now, I, Arthur Pendragon, rightful heir of his kingdom stand before you. Will you honor your family's vows?"

Nym squinted down at her from atop his throne, turning the jewel-encrusted goblet that she had brought him as a gift over in his hands. The man himself was short, with an atrocious curling beard that he tugged on idly as he thought.

"So," Nym said, "a Boy-King seeks to take my armies and my lands."

The girl felt Kay stiffen beside her, but she kept her composure. She had no room to allow her own stung pride to intrude in this.

"This gift is a good start. It is well that you see my value. I will not lead my men to their dooms for something so paltry however."

"Paltry?!" Kay burst out. She knew what he wanted to say, but the girl silenced him with a look.

"I understand your worry, King Nym. Is there aught I can do to allay your fears?"

"No. Everyone knows that you only have a scant few banners rallied to your cause. Lot's army outnumbers yours. The Saxons outnumber both of you."

"Numbers did not bring Lot victory at Carlion," Kay growled.

"Kay," she rebuked gently. "Enough."

"If you are so confident, then you do not need my men." Nym looked her in the eyes and continued. "The Kingdom of Britain is dead. Let it rest in its grave."

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

"You have your schedule?"

"I do."

"And your locker combination?"

"Yes, Dean."

"And your books?"

"If I did not, it would be somewhat late now," I said, looking pointedly at the gate to Arcadia High School. The two of us stood out front, a good thirty minutes before classes were supposed to start. I had requested the extra time to acquaint myself with the building to prevent myself from getting lost.

Not that there was much chance of that. The building was built to resemble an 'H," with two large wings to the north and south and a shorter cross-section connecting the two. It formed a natural courtyard as we approached the school.

"You know you can come find me if you run into any problems, right?"

"Cease your worrying. I will be perfectly fine, Dean."

"Okay. Good luck then, Ellie."

I sighed and watched him walk off. I had not even been hurt in the incident with the wolves, yet my family was back to treating me as if I were made of glass again. Undoubtedly, this is why modern heroes found secret identities so convenient.

On that subject, I needed to put together an actual costume at some point. It was the social norm for those acting as heroes in this day and age. More to the point, there were different expectations for parahumans. Many of those without powers would immediately back down or surrender when faced with one.

Violence was a tool that would sometimes be necessary. However, it was still better when conflict could be resolved without resorting to it. Peace was a rare thing in this world. All too often we human beings chose to live by the sword.

Gamemaster said:
Fashion: 6 | 3 = Failure

The problem was that I did not know where to start with designing a costume. I would need armor, of course. I was not willing to sacrifice practicality to wear the skin tight suit that many parahumans favored, even if I were to put aside issues of modesty.

Even putting that aside; however, it was a different sensibility from that which I was used to. Flashier. More concerned with bright colors and photogenic smiles than simple regality.

Regardless, I could consider it later. Matters of secret identities could wait.

I stepped inside, walking past rows of lockers without pausing. I had been assigned one of my own, but I did not feel any particular need to use it. A few books were hardly heavy enough to warrant storage. I could simply carry the load for all of my classes with me throughout the day.

Even this early, there were already a few students on campus. Small groups were scattered about the building, simply spending time talking with one another. Walking past a window, I caught sight of the school's football field. Athletes were already there, performing drills – though I knew the athletic teams were not official for the year yet. New students still needed their chance to try out.

It spoke to a greater degree of motivation than I had expected. Where I saw these sports as mere games, an entertaining way to pass the time, perhaps they saw something deeper. Where I saw school as a passing diversion – important, certainly, but not something that would shape my life – they saw it as central to their identities.

A strange sense of vertigo overtook me. I was fifteen. Many of the students on campus were older than I was. Yet, for a moment, they all struck me as so terribly young.

I traced my fingers across the window and shut my eyes. The future was bleak. Crime ran rampant. The Endbringers picked off cities one by one. The world continued to burn. Hope was a feeble outpost, beset on all sides by thievery and misery and murder.

Yet, these children still hope. Hope for their futures. Hope for themselves.

How was I to respond to that with anything less than my all? My abilities were limited compared to my memories. I did not have the strength to repel the darkness of this world. Not yet, at least. However, I still had my voice. My voice, which I could raise as their advocate and their shield.

My destination in mind, I moved back downstairs and walked briskly to the front office. A secretary looked up as I entered, a hint of exasperation in her eyes on seeing a student enter this early in the morning. No matter. I stepped up to her desk.

"I am interested in joining the student council. How would I go about accomplishing this?"

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Leadership.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Apparently joining the student council was more complicated than simply asking to. Instead, I would have to advertise my candidacy and be elected to the position. Fie on the Greeks and their blasted Democracy. In my day people listened to the King and that was that.

Jokes aside, I did not mind so much. I was not doing this for fame or recognition, so if the student body ultimately decided that the position was better suited to another, then I would wish them well.

Unfortunately, in the meantime, I was left attending classes. Classes in which very little learning had occurred – Instead, we were going over the classroom syllabi.

"--We'll be covering expectations for the semester – starting with our attendance policy. I understand that sometimes emergencies come up, but generally speaking you are expected to be here. Unexcused absences will count against your grade."

My eyes glazed over. Did they doubt their students' abilities to simply read the sheet of paper they had handed out? We had to spend an hour going over how plagiarism was frowned upon? I did my best to maintain my attention, I truly did, but I was glad when the bell rang and I was able to make my escape along with the rush of other students.

The teeming mass of bodies pushed its way downstairs, in pursuit of the cafeteria. I followed in their wake until I saw a familiar mess of brown hair sitting morosely at one of the tables. A part of me said to stand in line and get my food first, before anything else, but… Well, it is not as if it was going anywhere. I sat down next to Amy.

"Hello Amy."

The girl lifted her head ever so slightly from where it rested on her arms so that she could glare at me with a single eye. "Ugh. You. Just leave me be."

"Well, you are certainly sunny today. What has you in such a temper?"

"I was up late last night. This is my nap time. What do you care anyway?"

I frowned, taking a moment to study the girl, as if I could find some hint from what was wrong simply from her slumped posture. I finally asked, "Have I done something to offend you?"

"No. What could have possibly given you that impression?"

"Amy–"

"No really. It's not like you made a big deal of us hanging out only to then ditch me all month."

Ah. Well, I could see now why she was angry.

"And that's after you spent all afternoon trash talking me."

I did perhaps go a bit overboard in that conversation.

"And you still owe me a new door!"

I cringed back under the onslaught. That was… well, it was perhaps deserved. My once sister had occupied my mind since returning from England and I had allowed my promise with Amy to slip by the wayside. Cheeks burning, I cleared my throat.

"You are right. I am sorry. I should have been more considerate."

Amy kept a baleful eye upon me for a long few seconds before finally sighing and looking away. "It's fine," she mumbled. "I get it. I'm sure you had other stuff to do."

"Even still. It was my mistake." I placed a hand over hers. "Please allow me another chance."

Amy ducked her head down, hiding her face between her arms. "Fix my door and we'll talk."

"I promise I shall do so this weekend. I am surprised your parents have not already done so, to be honest."

"I don't think they've actually noticed," Amy grumbled.

I raised an eyebrow. I could not see how they possibly could have not noticed. If they truly had not, it raised some serious questions.

"Well, regardless. I promise I will be there."

"Sure. Whatever. Now go away, I wasn't kidding about this being my nap time."

"Very well. I shall keep quiet and let you sleep."

"...You aren't leaving," she said, rather than asked, her voice drained of emotion.

"I am not."

Smiling fondly, I reached out to ruffle her hair. She swiped at my hand and glowered at me, but that was an upgrade to the glare she'd leveled at me before. Progress.

"You're a menace."

"Some have called me that before," I admitted. "Putting that aside, were you… alright after what happened with the bus?"

Amy let out a long-suffering sigh. "Perfectly fine, even if Vicky made a huge fuss. She wouldn't leave me alone for days afterwards. Honestly, it's like she didn't have bigger things to worry about."

That's right. Victoria would have been more involved in the actual fighting, given her position as Glory Girl. "How exactly does your family respond to something like that? Do they just patrol more and hope to run into criminals shooting at one another or is there a more proactive approach they are able to take?"

Gamemaster said:
Intrigue: 8 | 9 = Success

"Given that I'm the only one in the family not involved, I'm really not the best person to ask. I'm sure Vicky would be happy to talk your ear off at some point if you ask her. But yeah, basically. If the Protectorate gets a tip off about a location they want to raid and need the extra muscle, they might ask my family, but otherwise they're stuck just pulling active crime off of the streets."

"How do they actually stop it then?"

"They don't," Amy said bluntly. "Most of the time all they can do is try and keep a lid on things and let the gangs burn themselves out. Big batches of violence like that don't usually last very long."

I furrowed my brow. Nothing would improve if that was the case. You could not win a war fighting purely defensively. Eventually you would be worn down. No, if they were to win this war, then a strike would have to be made against the leaders of these brigands. Kaiser… and Lung.

A shiver went down my back. The memory of a flash of light seared my eyes, of a distant roar that thundered in my ears. The memory of a peaceful day turned into a nightmare.

I was not ready to face that. Not yet. My past self could have, but my body and my skills were not yet adequate. I would need to sharpen myself against the lesser criminals of the bay.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

That night, I snuck out of my house. A long scarf was wrapped around my face, hiding my mouth, while a baseball cap was pulled low over my eyes. As a costume went, it was not much. I would have to work on that. It would do for now however.

The one improvement I had managed to get ahold of was the sword I had strapped to my side. It had been a rare moment of fortune finding one among the pawn shops near the Lord Street Market. I had simply been browsing for anything that might catch my eye at the time.

The sword itself was nothing special. A simple longsword with a crossguard hilt. There was little to no ornamentation upon it. It carried no special powers. A nameless blade, the same as any other. Even still, it was well made and sturdy enough for what I would be putting it through.

It just went to show that all sorts of odds and ends tended to appear in the markets here. Unfortunately, I doubted I would find anything quite as useful as actual armor. For that, I would likely need to turn to the internet.

I had done some research and there were modern blacksmiths that sold historical recreations of such armaments – apparently the cape scene had given them a boom in demand as well. A surprising number of capes liked to employ medieval weapons or armor, whether for practicality or aesthetics. That led to cape followers and fans wanting their own copy as a collectible item.

Cape followers were an odd lot, who I did not entirely understand, but it worked out in my favor in this instance.

Thoughts of new equipment aside, I did intend to find criminals to dispatch tonight. The question, I thought looking at the empty streets around me, is where to find them?

It is August of 2010.

Where does Elaine patrol?
[ ] [Patrol] North End
[ ] [Patrol] The Docks
[ ] [Patrol] Midtown
[ ] [Patrol] Downtown
[ ] [Patrol] Stratham

You actually have to run for Student Council. What is your strategy?
[ ] [Student Council] Speeches
>Focus on giving speeches about your platform.
[ ] [Student Council] Grass-Roots
>Focus on speaking with students individually.
[ ] [Student Council] Advertisement
>Focus on advertising yourself with posters around campus.
[ ] [Student Council] (Write-In)

Time for our name and costume votes. This will have a couple of run-offs. To start, please submit names as a write-in. This is purely to generate names of interest, so feel free to submit multiple ideas.
[ ] [Name] (Write-In)

Same for costume, submit images or descriptions of what you want the costume to look like.
[ ] [Costume] (Write-In)

Aldsan · Dec 16, 2023

Aldsan · Dec 17, 2023

Alright, time for our first run off vote.

For the costume, it sounds like there's general consensus towards Mercenary Knight as a mid-point and eventually transitioning into a canon design, so we'll go with that.

For the name, it's time to vote:
[ ] [Name] Pendragon
[ ] [Name] Valiant
[ ] [Name] Avalon
[ ] [Name] Saber

Brainstorm813 · Dec 23, 2023

>Plan Slow But Steady
[X] [Patrol] Stratham
[X] [Student Council] Grass-Roots
[X] [Name] Saber

Aldsan · Dec 25, 2023

Voting said:
[X] [Patrol] North End
[X] [Student Council] Grass-Roots
[X] [Name] Pendragon

The North End of Brockton Bay sat adjacent to the Docks and thus was hit the hardest when the Union Riots happened over a decade past. The district was littered with empty, abandoned warehouses that had once been filled with goods and now served only to house the ever growing homeless population.

The larger gangs could not be bothered with the area – it was not worth the projection of force that would be required to hold it. However, the sad reality was that poverty bred crime. Minor criminals still fought over what few scraps remained in the area.

On a more positive note, this did mean the area would be ideal for my purposes. I needed opponents to sharpen my skills against, and any criminals I caught here were unlikely to be members of any criminal organization with enough influence to actually retaliate.

The problem of course, was with finding crime in progress. I did not have much in the way of experience as Elaine nor as the King in actually catching criminals in the act. I had rendered judgment upon thieves and malcontents upon numerous occasions, but rarely had I ever been involved in their actual capture.

Gamemaster said:
Hunting: 16 | 1 = Failure
Awareness: 12 | 3 = Failure

The streets remained quiet. Perhaps even brigands preferred to sleep this late at night, despite the stereotypes of thieves conducting their business under the cloak of darkness. I sat on an empty bench and blew the air out from my cheeks. Nearby, a dirty man slept underneath the bus stop's overhang. Homeless.

He was not the first such person I had seen sleeping out on the streets tonight.

It was a problem that I did not know how to solve. Simply removing the criminals who preyed on these people would not grant them sturdy roofs over their heads nor warm food in their bellies. It was a necessary first step, but it was not enough. Nothing she had ever done was ever enough.

Far above, the stars twinkled, distant and uncaring. Long ago, the Magus had taught the girl how to read the stars, to divine the future and read the strands of fate. She had not – I had not been the best of students. I had used the skill on occasion to divine if my path was the correct one, but I had often ignored the warnings of fate. Now, I was not sure I could read the stars even if I wished to.

"You some sorta cape?"

I looked towards the poor man who had awoken during my introspection and nodded. "I am. A Hero."

"Pull the other one. Heroes don't bother comin' all the way up here."

"It is precisely because others do not, that I felt I had to."

Gamemaster said:
Appeal: 9 | 14 = Success

The man slowly sat up, combing his fingers through his scraggly beard. "Huh. How about that. Some white knight come down to save us poor folk, is it?"

"To the best of my ability. Although, I admit, I have not had much success thus far."

"I suppose you wouldn't. Ain't much around here but drug dealers and pimps, and they're already asleep by now."

I frowned, but it was not much different than I had expected. I slid my wallet out of my jacket's inner pocket and placed a twenty in the man's hand. "Thank you. I know it is not much, but I do appreciate the information."

"Ehh, I didn't really tell you anything anyone else couldn't have, Sonny."

Sonny? I shook my head. I spent a lifetime concealing my gender. I should not be surprised that it was so easy for him to make the mistake. "Even still. I am new to this, so any information at all is helpful."

The man's face soured, but he folded the bill up and stuck in his coat. "Damn kid, you're going to get yourself killed. Fine. There's a couple of dealers that like to hang out in the alleyway two streets up. They're part of some minor gang. Just big enough to keep anyone from tryin' to rob 'em for their stash."

"Hm. I did not think addicts would be so easily dissuaded."

"Even addicts know not to get their knees broken. The Merchants might be trash, but they'll still kick your ass if they think you're messing with their product. Look. Just remember you didn't hear it from me. I don't need any trouble, you hear?"

"Of course." I stood up and looked back at him. "My lips are sealed."

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Approaching the alleyway the vagrant had indicated, I quickly made my way up a fire escape to a rooftop nearby to watch. True to his word, a trio of men had occupied the alley – one obviously in charge with two bodyguards, metal bats slung over their shoulders. The situation was obvious, but even still I waited, watching a few transactions take place.

I had not doubted what the man had told me, but I needed to be sure. Over and over again, desperate people came, seeking their next fix.

Decision made, I slipped back down to the street and advanced on the alley.

They spotted me before I could get close. A shout of, "Cape!" went up and the dealer began sprinting in the opposite direction, while his two bodyguards shared a look, unsure if they wanted to actually fight me or not. I did not give them the chance to run as well.

Invoke Passion: Heroism: 11 | 16 = Success

Modifiers:
Elaine: Inspired (+5) , Outnumber (-5)

Elaine Melee: 20 | 9 (9+5-5) = Fumble!
Merchant1 Melee: 16 | 8 = Failure
>Elaine drops her sword. Gain a check to Melee.
Elaine Melee: 15 | 9 (9+5-5) = Failure
Merchant2 Melee: 15 | 8 = Failure
>No Hit

Elaine Evade: 9 | 17 = Success
Merchant1 Melee: 13 | 8 = Failure
Elaine Evade: 10 | 17 = Success
Merchant2 Melee: 5 | 8 = Success
>Elaine evades the attacks and picks up her sword.

Elaine Melee: 8 | 9 (9+5-5) = Success
Merchant1 Melee: 1 | 8 = Success
>Elaine Damage (6d6) = 27 = (1/28 HP)
>>Merchant1 takes a Major Wound and is knocked unconscious.
Elaine Melee: 18 | 9 (9+5-5) = Failure
Merchant2 Melee: 15 | 8 = Failure

Elaine Melee: 7 | 19 (9+5+5) = Success
Merchant2 Reckless Melee: 15 | 8 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (6d6) = 18 = (10/28 HP)
>>Merchant2 takes a Major Wound and is unable to continue.

My sword struck. The two each hurriedly raised their bats to defend, their eyes widening as they realized what exactly they were up against. Their movements were clumsy however. Slow. Yet, by some chance, one's wild flailing caught my blade with his bat and the force ripped my sword from my fingers. The sword skittered across the alleyway and I was left dodging these two thugs, their confidence suddenly renewed by my lost weapon.

My cheeks heated in sudden shame. These two had no skill to speak of. Their swings were wild, easy to dodge. Yet, I still found myself on the backfoot simply because my own skills still had yet to catch up to my memories. No matter. I danced around their blows until I could scoop my blade back off the ground, quickly twirling it to parry one bat aside before driving the point into a thug's shoulder.

The man screamed. The other was panicking, swinging with all his might at me – How foolish. His blows had already proven clumsy. Forgoing his defense in favor of strength was only to his detriment. I allowed the bat to pass over my head and brought my sword's edge across his thigh. I turned away before he had finished falling.

Two down in mere seconds. That was how combat went. The long drawn out fights of Hollywood simply did not match what was often true of reality. However, this would still have been for nothing if I did not catch the actual dealer.

Gamemaster said:
Elaine Movement: 7 | 17 = Success
Dealer Movement: 18 | 15 = Failure
>Elaine wins the contest.

I began sprinting after him. He had a lead on me, but it was clear that he did not often need to run. He was thin; however, it was not the leanness of a fit body, but the scrawniness of one who simply did not have excess fat. His breath came in short wheezes with each desperate pump of his legs.

Elaine Grapple: 1 | 7 = Success
Dealer Brawling: 16 | 8 = Failure
>Dealer is grappled.

He did not have a chance. I leapt upon his back, driving him down to the ground. He attempted to spin, to throw a punch, but I wrenched his arm behind him, quickly sliding a zip tie into place around his wrists. A useful invention of the modern era – certainly faster than tying him with rope would have been.

"Fuck! Cocksucker! Skidmark is going to make you gargle your own shit for messing with me!"

I frowned. The lamentations of the defeated were common enough for me to ignore, but I was off-put by the crude language. That was… new. "I do not know who this Skidmark is. You should cease your struggles however. You are only delaying me from treating your comrades' injuries."

"Fuck those assholes. They couldn't even buy me twenty goddamn seconds to run away."

"Please be quiet for the moment." I finished tying his legs and dragged him back to the alley where his compatriots waited. The man who I had stabbed in the shoulder had passed out from the shock of the wound. The other, still-conscious man looked up at me, fear in his eyes – but he had not tried to flee. "You did not attempt to escape?"

"Not much point," the man with the leg injury said. "Not like I would have gotten far. Besides, I've heard what vigilantes do to runners. I'd rather go to jail than get stuck to a wall."

It seemed I would need to pull my blows better in the future – or find tougher targets. I pulled a roll of cloth bandages out of my jacket pocket and set to binding their wounds. "I have a few questions for you. So long as you stay put, we can keep things civil."

"Yeah, sure. Thanks," the man said, though his tone was not particularly thankful.

Gamemaster said:
First Aid: 2 | 2 = Critical Success!
>Gain a check to First Aid.
First Aid: 5 | 2 = Failure

I focused on the man I had stabbed in the shoulder first. His wound was the more critical of the two. "The three of you are members of a gang?"

"Yeah, we –"

"You shut the fuck up! This shitstain doesn't need to know anything!"

Leveling a look down at the dealer, I said softly, "If you interrupt again, you will lose your speaking privileges."

Something about my threat made the dealer go pale and he edged away from me as best he could, pushing himself up against the wall. I turned my attention back to his bodyguard, continuing my treatment of the one I had stabbed.

"The gang?"

The bodyguard swallowed and nodded. "We're just small-time dealers mostly."

"Your friend mentioned someone called Skidmark?"

"He runs the Merchants. They sell to us, we cut them some of the profits."

"Where can I find him?" I asked.

"I don't know. Honest. He calls us up when he wants to meet."

I pursed my lips and examined him for any signs of dishonesty. If he was lying, I could not tell. Nodding, I turned my attention to the dealer. "And you? Did you have you aught to add?"

"Fuck you!"

"I thought not." That only left one thing left to do.

I called the police.

Gamemaster said:
Glory gained (2 x Merchant) = 30
Glory gained (capturing dealer) = 20

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

A red blur arrived before the ambulance or the police managed to. It slowed to a stop in front of the alleyway, resolving itself into a man. I squinted at him a moment, trying to place him in my mind.

Gamemaster said:
Recognize: 16 | 5 = Failure

"Hey there. Got a call about an arrest?"

Hm. He was one of the city's defenders, but I could not place the name. No matter. I nodded at him as he approached.

"The three behind me. The one tied up was the dealer – the other two were bodyguards who attempted to attack me when I approached."

The hero looked back and forth between me and the men on the ground. "So you're claiming this was self-defense."

"Not at all. Their attack forced me to incapacitate them quickly, before their compatriot could flee, but I still approached with the intent of apprehending these men."

"Well, that's something," the hero muttered. "Would you mind talking off to the side?"

"As you wish." I stepped forward to the edge of the alleyway, careful to keep the three prisoners in sight.

"Look," the hero – Acceleration? – said, "It's great to see new heroes out here, but you might want to consider not using a sword."

"I am not sure I understand the issue. A number of heroes use weapons. Some of them are even among this city's local Protectorate."

Momentum nodded. "That's true. But people like Armsmaster train extensively to use their weapons safely. You can't use excessive force. The lethal option should only be there in a life-threatening situation."

I glanced back at the three still-living men.

Blitz let out a huff. "I get that you didn't kill them. You have to admit though, this could have very easily gone badly. That's the entire point of the Wards – to make sure that young parahumans like yourself have the training to use your powers safely. Training to make sure people you capture actually get sent to jail and don't get let out due to a technicality too."

"Hm." I mulled over his words. It was true that I did not have the skills that my past life had. Not yet, at least. An organization such as the Wards would be helpful in that sense. Not just for the training, but for the team support and the logistical support of actually finding crimes for me to stop.

On the other hand, a more prideful part of me rebelled at the thought. Joining such an organization would mean ceding my own authority. I would have to obey orders that were given rather than moving to my own initiative. I would be shackled to the decisions of the Protectorate's leadership.

It also meant that my family would need to be informed. My family who had increasingly been treating me as if I were made of spun glass. Just what would the reaction be with this added on top of everything else that had happened?

After a long moment, I nodded and said, "I cannot accept your offer tonight, but I will give it some thought. Do you have a way to reach out to you in the future?"

"Sure." Impulse gave me a broad smile and fished a business card out of a belt pouch. "The number on here will send you to an operator, but they should be able to direct you to a Protectorate hero who's on duty if you need to talk to one of us."

"Thank you. I will be in touch. Can you handle these three from here?"

"Of course. The cops should be here soon enough, I can watch over them until then."

Nodding my thanks, I turned to leave.

"Hey. I didn't catch your name."

A small smile crossed my lips. I had given my name some thought. There were a number of options I could have chosen. Perhaps those options were a better choice in some ways. They would have adhered closer to cape culture and expected norms for Heroes. They would have obfuscated my identity and my abilities.

However, I had no need to hide away. If I was to be a banner of hope in this age, then I needed to make clear what I represented. I needed to make clear what I was. I needed to make clear who I was. Nothing less than my own name would do.

"I am Pendragon."

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Proud.
Gain a check to Honor.

It is August of 2010.

You have been offered to join the Wards.
[ ] [Wards] Join
[ ] [Wards] Stay Independent

How lethal should you be in the future?
[ ] [Force] Lethal
>You will not go out of your way to kill a defenseless enemy, but you will not hold back against those who bear arms against you either.
[ ] [Force] Defensive
>You will avoid killing enemies, but if your life is on the line, you will resort to lethal force.
[ ] [Force] Merciful
>You will avoid killing enemies whenever possible.

Your cape identity could allow you to pass for a boy.
[ ] [Gender] Male
>Hide your gender and pretend to be male in your cape costume. This could help protect your identity.
[ ] [Gender] Female
>Make it clear that you are female if someone assumes otherwise.
[ ] [Gender] Ambivalent
>Allow people to assume what they will. It doesn't matter to you either way.

Choose someone to spend time with (at school):
[ ] [Social] Dean Stansfield
[ ] [Social] Victoria Dallon
[ ] [Social] Amy Dallon
[ ] [Social] Chelsea and Morgan
[ ] [Social] Erin Archelot
[ ] [Social] Theo Anders
[ ] [Social] (Write-In)

While campaigning for Student Council, students bring their concerns with the school that they want addressed to you. What are they?
[ ] [Concerns] (Write-In)
>This is just an aggregate, just fill in ideas, don't feel the need to vote for someone else's once it's been suggested.[/spoiler]

Aldsan · Dec 25, 2023

"Hashire sore yo–"

"None of that here!" A bokken swung, banishing the pretender from the sacred space. Task accomplished, Taiga turned. "Hello everyone and welcome to this Tiger Dojo! This time we're here for a special Christmas Edition."

"Hello, thank you for having me along this time." Artoria stepped in and bowed.

"Ah, yes, thank you for being a guest this time, Saber-san. Though, eh… Isn't your outfit a little off?"

"Hm?" Artoria looked down at what she was wearing. A white kosode with a red hakama. "What seems to be the issue, Taiga?"

"I mean, what's with that cosplay! I'm not going to have any presence at all if you start wearing costumes!"

Artoria frowned in thought. "Is it that large an issue? I was informed that these were the traditional clothes in which to greet the New Year."

"No! Shrine Maidens are banned! First of all this is a dojo, not a shrine!"

"Is that so? I shall keep it in mind for the future."

"Who told you to wear that anyways?" Taiga asked.

"OSU!" The Senior Student popped through the door. "It's the holidays, Sensei. We can't just do things the same way as always!"

"Geh – I mean, that's why we brought Saber here to begin with, Ilya."

"No! We brought her because we needed someone actually related to this story. And who else were we going to bring? Amy?" Ilya sneered. "That girl would only bring down the mood."

"I do not think Amy is as bad as you make out," Artoria interjected. "She certainly has a rough tongue, but so too did my brother Kay. She just needs someone to encourage her. In fact, she lacks many of Kay's vices. She is not off indulging in alcohol or lusting after women at all times."

"Ehh…" Taiga looked at Artoria with pitying eyes. "Sometimes I can't reconcile how positively you speak about your brother with the actual stories you tell about him."

"Do not be ridiculous. My brother was Seneschal of Camelot. He looked after our finances and ensured that not a single coin was misspent. That just goes to show how responsible he could be when he put his mind to it."

"In other words… doesn't that just mean he was a tightwad?" Ilya asked.

"You are mistaken, Illyasviel–"

"Wait, wait," Taiga interrupted. "I feel like we've already had this argument in another timeline. Let's just move on."

"Yes, Sensei~"

"Right then, before we wrap things up, do you have any advice to give our viewers, Saber?"

"Yes. Thanks to the vote to focus on examining my memories in Chapter 1.2, Elaine is much more in tune with my personality than she otherwise would have been at this point. Unfortunately, that does not necessarily convey skills."

"Ah… Yeah, we've noticed. Elaine has been getting into all sorts of dangerous situations, hasn't she?"

Artoria nodded. "Indeed; and such situations are likely to continue. However, no one is an island. Your best hope at victory is not to do everything yourself, but instead to recruit dependable allies. Even when I led my armies, I did so with the help of many others."

"Aw," Ilya complained. "But all the coolest heroes go solo. Like Spider-Man and Superman."

Taiga put her hands on her hips. "Untrue, my young apprentice. Spider-Man has been a member of the Avengers and Superman leads the Justice League. Even a loner like Batman is accompanied by Robin. Now, if only there were a Tiger-Man to look up to."

"Hmm, I guess… Who would Elaine even partner up with though?"

Taiga scratched at her head. "She doesn't really have too many options right now. She could always train up a sidekick herself?"

"I will avoid giving too much input on that matter, as I do not wish to bias the voters," Artoria replied. "Besides which; now that Elaine is venturing out as a hero with more regularity, she may find more opportunities to ally with other heroes in the future without compromising her identity."

"Alright, with that established there's just one thing left for this Tiger Dojo."

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Merry Christmas everyone. On top of the Omake, I also bring you a Christmas gift.

Gamemaster said:
Gain 500 Glory.

Five hundred Glory, giving you a free Glory upgrade. (This would normally be every 1000 glory in an actual tabletop session of Pendragon, but I have decided to accelerate things for this quest). This gets you two rewards!

First, you may increase any Trait, Passion, Characteristic, or Skill by one, ignoring any usual restrictions. Right now, I would recommend using it on Characteristics for the raw stats, but this does potentially allow you to increase Skills past the hard limit of 20. Every point above 20 increases critical threshold range (So a threshold of 22 would crit on a roll of 18-20), so something to keep in mind for the future.

[ ] [Glory] (Write-In Increase)

Second, you get another Parahuman Power upgrade:

[ ] [Power] Spiritual Armaments
>Manifest your arms and armor using mana. Be the magical girl you were meant to be and never be caught without your equipment. (You still need to purchase equipment to use it).
[ ] [Power] Chivalry (D)
>Gain an additional 3 armor and 4 hit points.
[ ] [Power] Mana Burst (E)
>Deal an additional 2d6 damage on Melee and Charge attacks.
[ ] [Power] Instinct (E)
>Enemy attacks suffer a -2 threshold penalty.
[ ] [Power] Riding (E)
>Automatically pass checks to stay mounted if you take a hit exceeding your Knockdown value.
[ ] [Power] Charisma (E)
>Roll Parahuman Power at -10. On a success, gain a +5 threshold bonus to any Social roll.
[ ] [Power] Magic Resistance (E)
>Roll Parahuman Power at -10 opposed to parahuman powers that target you. On success, the effect is negated.

Drakon2112 · Dec 25, 2023

[X] [Glory] Strength
[X] [Power] Instinct (E)
>Enemy attacks suffer a -2 threshold penalty.

TheManW/oAPlan · Dec 27, 2023

[x] [Glory] Strategy
[x] [Power] Charisma [E]

Let's try to be more of a king if our name is pendragon.

Aldsan · Jan 19, 2024

Voting said:
[X] [Power] Spiritual Armaments
[X] [Glory] CON
[X] [Force] Defensive
[X] [Gender] Ambivalent
[X][Wards] Stay Independent
[X] [Social] Amy Dallon

The next day saw me more tired than I expected. There was a time when staying up late into the night to work or to train would not have presented me with any issues. Now, I had an entire four hours of sleep, yet I still found myself yawning the next morning. Truly, this easy life had made me far too indolent.

Gamemaster said:
Energetic: 12 | 14 = Success

Still, I pushed on through the day, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I listened to Mr. Harrison discuss early Mespotamian settlers and the Indus River Valley. It was interesting, hearing how historians had come to regard the period, but staying awake proved more of a fight than I had expected it to be.

No matter. Difficult or not, I would not be defeated by my own body. I bit down on my tongue, letting the pain shock myself back awake and pushed through the day – and when my classes finally ended, I forced a smile upon my face and went to meet with the students.

"Hello, I am running for Student Council."

"I would hear any concerns you might have."

"Have there been any school events that you particularly enjoy?"

"How can the school improve?"

"Has your club run into any issues?"

"Please keep me in mind while voting."

It was exhausting in a different sense. Things had changed. Supreme executive power was now derived from a mandate from the masses. To speak with each individual student was a bit much, but I could not just speak to them from on high as I would have as King. I had to instead approach them as equals.

Considering that I was not a familiar face and had no deeds to my name, they were not inclined to listen to me.

Most brushed past. A few heard me out, but gave no promises. Many did not seem interested in the election at all – they saw the student council as being largely ceremonial and not terribly important. If they were interested, they were more likely to be inclined towards the rival candidate, who had served as Vice-President the previous year.

Even still, I persevered.

Gamemaster said:
Intrigue: 2 | 9 = Success

"Please tell me your hopes for the school."

"Well… I suppose if I had a complaint, it's that the cafeteria could use a bit more variety. We get a lot of the same every week," one boy said.

I nodded seriously in response. A student could not learn on an empty belly any more than a soldier could fight on one, and poor food led to poor morale. It would be an important issue to address.

"Well, I mean, everyone knows that the athletics clubs get most of the budget, right?" Another replied. "It really ought to be distributed more evenly."

A more thorny issue. As far as I was aware, that sort of thing was dictated by the school itself, not the student council. Moreover, schools tended to favor athletics departments because said departments helped to generate revenue for the school in turn. Still, if things had become unbalanced to the point that regular students were noticing, then perhaps it bore looking into.

"Not a student council thing, but if you're just looking for problems in general, then some of our equipment has gone missing," a girl in a sports jersey said.

"What do you mean by it being missing? Was it stolen?"

"I assume so. I can't imagine why else someone would go around taking balls and bats from the storage shed except maybe to resell it. Weird thing is that we actually found some of it – not all of it, just some – stashed under one of the bleachers. One of the other girls on the team swears we've got a ghost, but it's probably just some punks looking to make a quick buck."

"A ghost?" I asked, lifting a brow. "That seems like a strange conclusion to draw."

"Don't ask me. She was here late the other day and is convinced she saw something out there."

"...I will look into it," I said after a moment. Ghost or no ghost, theft of the school's property could not be tolerated.

"Sure," the girl said, clearly not expecting anything to come of it.

Gamemaster said:
Adventure discovered: The Haunted Storage Shed

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The sound of my hammer rang throughout the empty house. It was said that a kingdom could be lost all for want of a nail. Fortunately, I had brought plenty with me to fix my previous bout of recklessness.

"Are you… sure you know what you're doing?"

Correction. The almost empty house. I glanced over at Amy who was watching me with a bemused expression from her desk. "Of course. Even I can do something as simple as this. Rest assured, I should have the door returned to its rightful place soon enough."

"Not really what I meant."

I hammered another nail into place. "What do you mean then?"

"Nothing," Amy sighed. "Never mind."

A brooding silence fell over the both of us. I continued my work, trying to think of something to say, before finally asking, "Where is the rest of your family? You did not mention it when you said they would be out today."

"On patrol. Where else?" Amy's lips twisted in a strange grimace. "I'm the only one who doesn't have powers, so they're all out being heroes while I'm left here by myself."

"You would prefer to be out there with them?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Amy drew her knees up to her chest. "I… When you got hurt at the mall, it might have been one of the most terrifying moments in my life. Not just seeing you get hurt, but seeing how that could have almost been Vicky instead. I can't imagine having to feel that sort of fear every single day."

"There is no shame in that, Amy."

"Isn't there? Every single person in my family goes out and saves people except me. Even you – When that bus crashed, you started evacuating anyone while I was so paralyzed I couldn't even think of what to even do next. Even if I got powers, I would be too scared to actually use them."

Frowning, I tapped a final nail into place before answering. "A year ago, when we were confronted at the mall, you were the only one to speak up against the injustice of it all. Not me and not your sister."

"And I fucked things up as a result."

I met her eyes. "It was an incredibly reckless thing to do. However, it was not the action of a coward. You may not have the abilities that your family does, but that does not mean you lack for bravery."

Amy looked away, her face turning red. "Well. Thanks for the vote of confidence, I guess. It doesn't really change that I'm useless though."

Sighing, I stood up and flicked her forehead. Ignoring the ensuing cry of pain, I said, "You are not useless, Amy. Or if you are, it is simply for a lack of training and motivation."

"You're saying I lack motivation?" Amy glared up at me, her hand covering where I had struck her.

"Amy. When the Protectorate goes to battle, they do so alongside the Parahuman Response Team, do they not? The PRT troopers do not have powers – are they useless?"

"So what? Instead of being a hero I should join the PRT?"

"What of the doctors who tend to the heroes when they have been hurt? What of the analysts who study their opponents for weaknesses? Are they useless? What of the lawyers who strive to see that those arrested stay behind bars? Are they useless as well?"

A moment of indecision crossed Amy's face.

"The work that your family does is important. However, there are any number of people out there whose support they need to be truly successful. No person is an island able to work without any help at all. You wish to be like your family. Of course you do. However, even if you are not on the frontlines, that does not mean you cannot find ways to help them."

Even in the past, when a castle was sieged, those who were unable to fight did not just hide away in safety. They would carry water and supplies to the walls, tend to the wounded, and help however they could. There was no such thing as a bystander, because everyone had a stake in ensuring that the castle survived.

"But I… I don't want to just sit on the sidelines and watch them be in danger."

"Then learn to fight. You do not need powers to be a hero or to save someone's life. Otherwise, find other ways of supporting them, even if it is simply to welcome them home to a warm meal."

Amy frowned. "You make it sound so easy."

"Of course it is not. Why should the difficulty of the task stop you, however?"

"Yeah," Amy said, a strange note entering her voice. "I suppose you're right. If I really did care it shouldn't matter how hard it is."

Must she take everything in its most negative light? I flicked her forehead again and she flinched backwards. "You know perfectly well that is not what I meant."

Scowling, Amy swiped my hand away. "What the heck, Ellie? Quit doing that."

"Hmph. Then listen for a change instead of making up whatever narrative paints you in your worst light. If I wished to say something ill about you, I would say it. I do not need your assistance in doing so."

"You've gotten awfully mouthy since you woke up," Amy scowled.

I lifted my nose, the gesture feeling more familiar to the part of me that was once Elaine than who I was now. "And you became a miserable recluse whilst I slept. Thankfully, my mouth is a small price for you to pay for my company."

"You're certainly not lacking for self-confidence. Whatever. Be that way if you want, I don't care. "

A slow smile began to spread across my face, a hint of mischief in me – only to stop as I realized it. That was… Elaine would have had that reaction, that amusement to Amy's attempt at aloofness, as if she were a grumpy cat that wanted attention but would not allow anyone to actually get close. Elaine would have had that reaction, but the King I once was would not.

I brought a hand to my head. I had thought I had replaced Elaine in her entirety. I had thought Elaine was dead and gone and I walked in her place, a stranger in a strange land. And yet… My vision swam.

"Ellie? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lied. "I was just suddenly dizzy for a moment."

Naked concern shone in Amy's eyes. "Do you need to lie down?"

"No. I am fine." Taking a deep breath, I plastered on a smile. The same smile that Elaine had worn thousands of times. "Do you want to go outside? Get some fresh air?"

Amy's face scrunched up. "Do we have to?"

"Yes," I said definitively and reached out to take Amy's hand, pulling her to her feet. "Come with me. Do not worry. We will not be going far."

"Fine," she grumbled, but followed my lead downstairs and out to her backyard.

Like most of the house itself, it was an odd mix of suburban normality and paranoia. Several chairs and tables were set up near a grill on the patio area, a few scattered trees gave light shade to the yard, and the flat grassy expanse made it easy to use. However, the fence was higher than most, high enough that someone could not easily look in. The trees were trimmed back so that someone could easily be spotted if they were among the branches. Padlocks kept the gates shut tight.

"So?" Amy asked. "What did you have in mind exactly?"

"Sparring. I have said so before, but it is important for you to learn at least the basics of self-defense. This is especially true given who your family is – you are a natural target."

"It's not like I don't know anything. Uncle Neil's taught me to throw a punch before."

"Humor me then. I would like to judge your skill for myself."

She squinted, the glare of the Sun in her eyes. "Do we really need to do this out in the heat? I could do without the tan."

I raised an eyebrow. "I suppose that is true. You could use the reflection off your skin as a weapon to blind your opponents."

Amy scowled and swatted at my arm. "I'm not that pale!"

"You have yet to burst into flame, so we may at least be assured that you are not a vampire," I said blandly.

"Ha ha," Amy said humorlessly.

"More seriously, I am sure you will appreciate the grass a great deal more than the wooden floor when you hit the ground."

"Again, not sure why you're so confident. Pretty sure I've had more self-defense lessons than you have."

"Then show me."

So she did. Amy threw a punch. She did not put her full weight into it, clearly expecting to catch me off guard and not wanting to hurt me. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her through, sending her falling into the dirt.

"Again."

Amy stared up at me, blinking in surprise for a moment, before scrambling to her feet, her face hardening in determination. Again, she came at me and again I put her on her back. A smile floated across my lips. There was something nostalgic to this. It was not the same as having a training sword in hand, but she showed the same determination that someone else I had once known had.

The name and face floated just out of reach. It felt as though I could picture him if I could try a bit harder, focus just a bit more.

Amy managed to reverse my hold and I went flying. I allowed myself to turn, getting my feet under me so that I could land on them and avoid falling prone. The memory was gone.

"The hell? I finally got you and you still manage to land on your feet? What are you, a cat?"

A grin came unbidden to my lips. "My mother signed me up to be a gymnast when I was younger. I will admit to be rather out of practice these days, but controlling a fall is simple enough."

My past life could have managed it through sheer agility, but I did not have that advantage in this body. I had to rely instead on the training that Elaine had once had. It was a strange thing to rely on her memories instead. How much of her was left?

Amy huffed, but a smile flitted about her lips. The girl was clearly enjoying herself, even if she would no doubt refuse to admit to it. "Well, good. You'll need it, because I'm going to keep throwing you from now on."

"We shall see," I replied simply.

In the end, she only managed the one throw and spent the rest of the afternoon gathering bruises.

Gamemaster said:
Gain a check to Brawling.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The red setting sun cast its shadows over the classroom. The room was empty, but for me, the students long since gone for the day. I had spent another afternoon campaigning for the student council, but for this moment, I simply wanted time to reflect.

Stretching a hand out, my sword appeared in it. Not the sword I had in my past life, but the one I had found at a pawn shop. I let go of it and it disappeared in small motes of magical energy.

I did not understand.

This was not a skill I had in my past life. This was the skill of a spiritual entity. The skill of a Servant.

However, I was flesh and blood, not a ghost. Moreover, Servants were able to summon their weapons because the weapon was an inherent part of their being – a physical object purchased in this age should not be capable of being summoned and dismissed in this manner, even by a Servant. Yet, I suddenly found myself able to do so.

What was I? Every time I came to a conclusion, I found new facts to contradict it.

Who was I? Elaine; A girl with memories of the past? Artoria; A king reborn into the present? Or something else entirely?

I paused. That had been the first time I had acknowledged my past name to myself. Artoria. Even though I had known it instinctually, I had never thought it before. Why? Biting down on my lip, I scrubbed a hand through my hair, frustration mounting.

A card materialized in my hand. The card that Velocity (and I made sure to commit his actual name to memory) had given me. A team to work with would not be so bad. As I had told Amy, no person was an island. The Wards stood to give me support, equipment, and legal standing.

Yet, how could I ask them to trust in me when I could not even trust in myself?

I allowed the card to vanish, just as I had my sword. For now, I would continue on my own path.

It is August of 2010.

Where does Elaine patrol?
[ ] [Patrol] North End
[ ] [Patrol] The Docks
[ ] [Patrol] Midtown
[ ] [Patrol] Downtown
[ ] [Patrol] Stratham

Choose someone to spend time with.
[ ] [Social] Dean Stansfield
[ ] [Social] Victoria Dallon
[ ] [Social] Amy Dallon
[ ] [Social] Chelsea and Morgan
[ ] [Social] Erin Archelot
[ ] [Social] Theo Anders
[ ] [Social] Tammi Herren
[ ] [Social] (Write-In)

The election is here. Elaine can give one final push for more votes. What does she focus on?
[ ] [Election] (Write-In)

BattleHungry · Jan 21, 2024

[X] [Patrol] The Docks
[X] [Social] Dean Stansfield

TheManW/oAPlan · Feb 2, 2024

[ x] [Patrol] Stratham
[ x] [Social] Chelsea and Morgan

Think its been a while since we hung out with these two. Not really so concerned about the patrol route though.

Once and Future (WormxFate)

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