- Location
- PA
It also encompasses Life Magic. It's okay, the actual lines were stuffed in a mild info dump. You can be forgiven for just skimming past it. Sometimes I do as well even when it's my own fic.
Shards of Reality (Gamer SI)
- Thread starter dingbat779
- Start date
It also encompasses Life Magic. It's okay, the actual lines were stuffed in a mild info dump. You can be forgiven for just skimming past it. Sometimes I do as well even when it's my own fic.
Link Start 1.7
- Location
- PA
Link Start 1.7
Sunlight streamed in through the windows as the dulcet tones of a car horn woke Alice up. She'd need to figure out a soundproofing enchantment or something. She may no longer have hearing hypersensitivity, but it was still obnoxious to be woken up by urban earfuck. She wanted to enjoy her fluffy bed, damn it. At least there was coffee brewing.
Wait.
Alice sat up in bed and yep. That was five feet of rat woman puttering around the kitchen. She'd even set up the cloth crafting station. How did she get that stuff out of the Inventory?
"Are you certain this is okay?" Nezumi asked softly. The phone in her hand chimed. "If you say so. I would do anything my Summoner asks. This is the first time I've had an honest-to-goodness Quest given to me…"
Well, that explained that.
"Good morning. Nezumi. System." Alice said as she stood and stretched, switching to some leggings and a sports bra with a flick of her finger. Workout clothes made for good loungewear. Hm. "System, two things. First, how's Themis sound as a name for you? Second, can you give me a quest for finding a gym to become a regular at?"
[Themis is a wonderful name. Now as to a Quest for finding a gym… specifications or general? Oh, never mind. I have an idea.]
[New Quest Added!]
Getting Pumped! - Do you want to be the leanest, meanest, fighting machine or just lose the love handles? (Please don't, you're fabulous already) Find a gym that suits your needs!
Reward: 1,000 XP, Random Physical Training Skill Book
Failure: 100 XP
Accept: Y/N
"I made a fresh pot of coffee. I would've made breakfast too, but Themis told me you have a breakfast date," Nezumi's smile crinkled her eyes with good humor.
"Appreciated. I'd be worried about how much of the stuff I'm chugging, but Themis would've shot me a warning about debuffs or whatever if it was an issue." Alice said as she grabbed a seat at the kitchen isle, a steaming mug slid in front of her in short order, "You'll be tagging along, although it is dealer's choice if pretending to be my little sister or in hiding. There's a guy who's earned himself a mark. Investigation and sabotage."
"Perhaps introduce me to your friend another time. I would like to investigate this troublesome fellow from the shadows," Nezumi said as a more malevolent warmth filled her eyes.
"Hot." Alice mumbled into her coffee. Damn, but she was a weak, weak woman to petite knife creatures. The comment only made Nezumi smile wider. "Speaking of, what can you do? I can guess at the generalities, but still."
"Okay, so this next part can be difficult to describe. The term 'Spirit' is a catch all, that much is obvious, but it doesn't quite explain what we are. New Spirits are born as time goes by from the blending of metaphysical energies…Ahem. That's not important right now," Nezumi cut herself off sheepishly. She continued after a moment to gather her thoughts, "The body we are summoned to is more like a vehicle. Our native self is safe and sound. That's why we are only unsummoned when killed. Now that that's out of the way. You wanted to know what I can do personally."
Nezumi took a seat at the kitchen isle beside Alice, a mug of her own cradled in her hands. The albino would bet anything that impeccable manicure was built for slicing through flesh and slipping in toxins.
"My Clan are mainly information gatherers and thieves. Usually if you want an assassin that would the Raven Clan. Snakes are good as well, but work best as conmen. Anyway, my native skills are geared around infiltration, concealing myself, and my magic is geared towards making me unnoticed. I'm quite proud of that last part because it's passive. I can selectively let myself be noticed, although as my Summoner you can always find me. The Ninjutsu Skill Book enhanced my capabilities in several ways. I'm normally a lackluster fighter, but now I could probably hand one of those Special Forces mortals his teeth. The ability to kill from stealth…" Nezumi's giggles at the thought left Alice rubbing her thighs together. God damn it, woman. "The magical apple doubled my health and vitality. It also gave me regeneration."
"So you can do strike and fade now on top of all that nonsense." The Russian woman grunted. As always, defense enabled offense. Who cared if she got winged? That would heal in minutes, but the patrol she put in the past tense wouldn't be coming back.
"That's right. The best part is that I get to keep the knowledge and power boost. You increased my Rank among my Clan. That earns you special privileges," Nezumi smirked before tagging a sip of her coffee.
"Minx." Alice snorted, laying a quick peck on the Spirit's neck, shooting her a playful wink, "I look forward to discovering each and every one of them."
"I'm looking forward to it too," Nezumi teased. She glanced at her coffee cup and added more sugar.
Honestly, they may have to skip on the sisters excuse unless they wanted to invite some unpleasant scrutiny. Speaking of. Alice slid off the stool, a dozen steps and a hip check on the crafting station had it churning along. If shit hit the fan, she would really rather have a way to hide her identity.
[Item Received!]
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity.
- Durability: 20/20
Nun habits and gas masks went together like peanut butter and jelly. "Hey, Themis, any option to make the mask hide my hair?" Game logic woo.
[Perhaps add the habit to your gasmask? Put the two together.]
"I could use my Shadow Magic to help. Shadows aren't just for concealing, but I can also increase the size of darkened spaces," Nezumi offered.
It made for a productive morning.
[Item Upgraded!]
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
The diner was busier today than the day before, but not so much so that Betty didn't notice her friend walk through the door. She did double-take at what Alice was wearing, but nothing could dim that smile. Dressed in a flannel shirt, bomber jacket, jeans, and calf high boots she looked very different.
Nobody needed to know about the shrunk down rat hiding in a wreath of shadows inside her coat pocket.
"Good morning, Alice. I've got you a table over here," Betty managed to seat her at the same table as the day before. "What can I get you?" She asked while pouring Alice a cup of coffee.
"Good morning." The Russian woman replied with a small smile as she trailed after her friend. "Dave's Special, please."
"You got it," Betty smiled before walking away with a playful swish of her hair.
Alice took that as her cue to pull out the Dreams of Green notebook. God bless refuge in audacity, nobody would ever think this was actually relevant to anyone's power. Well, unless there were mages running around, but then that'd just make for a free meeting with them.
Much of the notebook amounted to the author daydreaming or working out scientifically how something would work, incomplete work she'd need to finish up if she wanted anything from it. There were exceptions, though, like the defensive spell she'd just landed on. Either the author had winged it extra hard or he had gone Plus Ultra on the research.
[Spell Found! I won't just add it to your spell list until you're in private.]
Coat of Thorns - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Delicious stuff. Especially so if she could adapt it to terrain. If there was one thing Plant Magic should be good at? Taking and holding territory. It would kick one hell of a hornet's nest if she had to do it in realspace, but better than dead.
"Here you go… Sorry for the wait…" Betty trailed off as she set the plates down, snapping Alice out of her thoughts. The defeated look returned to the waitress' eyes as she looked past the albino. "Excuse me…"
Mr Mueller returned, but Betty was already fleeing for the back. She was gone by the time he stepped through the door. The man sat at the counter like last time, but this go around no one seemed inclined to serve him. Dave himself came out to take his order instead, which made for a very sour kraut.
<Is this the esteemed Mr. Mueller?> Nezumi inquired in Alice's mind, conversational tone doing absolutely nothing to hide her homicidal intent. Again, hot.
<That he is. Happy hunting, o' familiar mine.> The Russian woman replied through the ethereal tether between them, hiding her smile behind a sip of her drink.
The man finally gave up, tossed some money on the counter and headed for the door, muttering darkly the whole way. Right in time for Nezumi's weight disappeared from Alice's pocket. He stopped just outside to cast an angry glare at the sign before lighting a cigarette. Mueller started coughing violently causing the just lit cig to fly out of his mouth. Jamming his hands in his pockets, the thoroughly aggravated hoodlum stormed off down the street.
And that would be that.
Now, back to her bacon and eggs.
Betty came back to apologize after a few minutes. Apparently yesterday he'd been waiting outside her apartment, so no wonder she was on edge. That wouldn't be a problem soon, but Alice could hardly tell her that. The check was given, and paid, before Alice set off for her next stop of the day. Though her friend did suggest a gym near the edge of E88 territory. It was an old boxing place that the owner converted into a swanky high end gym. He kept the original gear in the back for his true regulars.
Sounded like a plan, although she'd be doing the rounds beside. Knock out two quests in one go.
[Quest Complete! Miss Alice's Neighborhood!]
[Quest Gained! Miss Alice's City!]
The neighborhood was quiet for the most part. Alice already knew many of the points of interest from the day before. She did find a guy who was a part-time bladesmith working out of an old garage, some pretty good pieces on display. Now she was standing in front of the gym Betty suggested.
[Quest Complete! Getting Pumped!]
[Level up!]
[+5 CP]
[Reward Obtained!]
The Way of the Body by Akesame Koetsuchii - This is a training manual written by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this he details the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently.
[I remembered you talking about pink muscle.]
It was an ugly yellowish square block about three floors high, standing as a monument to gentrification's failure, a neon sign proclaiming it "Old's Gym". There was a parking lot in the back full of expensive cars, a few beaters tucked away towards the back like a fat guy in the locker room. The sidewalk had a few gym rats and yuppy types hanging around, with a man in the latest gangsta chic trying to play it cool on the corner.
Absolutely none of her concern so long as they had a working AC and pipes that didn't screech like banshees when the showers ran. So she just shoved her stat points into Charisma because fuck trying to grind that and headed right in.
The inside looked like that gym that had popped along her old commute back home, minus the disco lights. Lots of machines, bright lights, and people in spandex hard at work. At least most of them were serious about improving themselves. There was a sign on the wall that read 'This is a judgment free zone'.
A perky girl at the counter brightened as Alice walked through the door and wasted no time launching into her spiel. "Hi and welcome to Old's Gym. Are you interested in a trial membership or just skip to a full one?" She had the enthusiasm down, but it was plain she gave this pitch a lot.
"Trial, please." Alice replied with a small smile, taking the pep in stride. She'd had the presence of mind to make a gym bag before leaving the house, so it had just been a matter of pulling it out where nobody would notice and she was ready to get started immediately.
"Awesome! Just sign here and here… and you're good to go! Do you want to sit in on a class or go at your own pace?" The girl asked.
"Sure, let's go for a class. May as well." Alice decided after a moment's thought. It wasn't like she could slurp up the Skill Book right here, right now.
The class currently in session was about getting a full body workout with minimal equipment. That might seem counterintuitive for a business that relied on gym equipment, but the teacher clearly didn't give a damn. He was short and extremely fit with a face aged straight into silver fox territory. The helpful girl mentioned that this was Harry Old, the owner of the gym, and one of the fittest men in America. His students looked like they were dying, but they refused to give up. Either he was the greatest teacher alive or they were all that stubborn.
Yep, this was a good class and she was going to be cursing herself to the depths of hell within the first five minutes.
"Got a new one, huh? Fine. Get in line and pay attention. Everybody! Take five and start from the top!" Harry called out. There were a mixture of sighs of relief and groans at that announcement.
[STR + 3]
[DEX + 5]
[CON + 4]
Pain. Suffering. Agony.
[Skill Gained!]
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
That was nice. But still. Owwwww.
Name: Alice Belobog
Age: 21
Level: 4
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
HP: 80/80 [+1 HP per minute]
SP: 160/160 [+5 SP per minute if active, +20 if resting]
MP: 300/300 [+1.01 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 30
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 13 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 6 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 1 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 6 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level = 1.6
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Hungry Mold lvl 8 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 1 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Inventory
Money: $800.21
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
10 Rolls of Cotton (40 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
9 Soul Stone (Minor) - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Age: 21
Level: 4
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
HP: 80/80 [+1 HP per minute]
SP: 160/160 [+5 SP per minute if active, +20 if resting]
MP: 300/300 [+1.01 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 30
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 13 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 6 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 1 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 6 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level = 1.6
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Hungry Mold lvl 8 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 1 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Inventory
Money: $800.21
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
10 Rolls of Cotton (40 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
9 Soul Stone (Minor) - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Author's Note: I'm moving to a new format for uploads. Updates will be done twice a week on Monday and Friday after this. For my Patrons you can read two whole chapters in advance of Shards of Reality and eventually A Light into the Future.
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Apple has a 30% upcharge that doesn't go to me. Read the full story here.
Last edited:
- Location
- England
Oh yah, we're sisters. Kissing-sisters. Like kissing-cousins, only more appropriate to the harmfully-stereotyped location of your choice.
Nihilo
Authorial parasite
- Location
- Catalonia
Link Start 1.8
- Location
- PA
Link Start 1.8
There was no greater superpower than competent help. Alice would be treating her familiar to a nice restaurant sometime soon… which led to the current issue. She was running out of money.
Thankfully, her body was superhuman enough to be recovered to full by now. No muscle fatigue or pain to speak of after some cool down stretches, a hot shower and two hours of vibing in the park. The grass and the things crawling on it were a hell of a lot more accommodating of her than she remembered, must be her elemental affinity. Which, speaking of, she had found more stuff for in the notebook.
[Spell Gained!]
Rumble Vine lvl 1 - You know the spell Plant Growth? Why waste time with that when you could have this? This spell affects an area around the caster that drives the vegetation into frenzy. It uses the surrounding nature to create an ad hoc Summon Circle to briefly call a horde of wild Plant Spirits. Vines rise up out of the ground and thrash anything that looks at the Caster crosseyed.
MP: 15
Number of Vines Summoned: 4 + 1 per 3 lvls.
PWR: 4 per Vine
Area of Effect: 20ft + 2ft per level.
"The Control Stat on my Summoning Skill is going to work overtime keeping those in line." Alice sighed as she got up, fishing out her phone. February 6th, 2:21 pm. Time to plot a route to the Trainyard and get busy.
She wanted some real, serious face armor. She did not want a teleporter or space warper knocking her out of the ID. The abandoned industrial area would more than suit her needs.
The ID in the Trainyard had the same sky as the one she woke up inside, with the fog and decaying buildings feeling like Pyramid Head would pop out around the corner anytime now. But nope, it was just more zombies. This time train flavored, haphazardly fused with chunks of machinery and stuffed into railway uniforms. Every so often one of them would stop and roar at the sky with a sound like a train whistle, which she had admittedly laughed at through her gas mask the first couple of times.
There was so much scrap, holy shit. Everything was made of rusted shipping containers and derelict engines. The Inventory's grinder was eating good today.
Now, there was one teeny tiny issue that was actually the size of a building. A mechanical monstrosity stomping around, shedding baleful coal-light from its furnace-guts as it patrolled aimlessly. Didn't seem to have any interest in her, so she left it to its business while she shoved more and more rusted plates and parts into her inventory.
Many of them generously donated by the zombies, after some cleanup by her Hungry Mold. The dumb things were easy to get the drop on, especially once she figured out how to upcast Husk Bolt into a buckshot barrage.
Of course the gravy train had to end sometime. One of the train zombies noticed what Alice was doing and let loose with a blast from its throat whistle, drawing in the rest jittering and shuffling. That's when steam started to billow from their joints with a faint chugging sound. Alice had a moment to notice their odd behavior before the crowd surged forward with growing speed.
"Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly." The albino crooned through her mask as she walked back into a bottleneck between containers, green light shimmering around her costume and through the ground around her.
Four monster vines immediately ripped their way out of the ground, the twisted gray-green tendrils dotted with razor-sharp thorns. Just in time for the first line of zombies to walk into range. A vine thick as her calf hammered into the leading edge and hurled them back without a care in the world for the weight of their machinery. The second vine lashed out lightning quick and sheared through the torsos of three zombies. Their shattered bodies collapsed in a heap tripping up the chargers behind them. The third vine snatched up a steam zombie in its coils before using it as a bludgeon against all and sundry. Rotten blood, oil, and other fun things splashed the zone. With a titanic heave the last vine grabbed a nearby mine cart and hurled into the fray.
Alice could feel the Spirits in the back of her mind. Blind, dumb things incapable of words, seething with hunger and malice. Chemical warfare and pogroms were the clade-wide sport of plants, so no surprise there.
They were also very, very, very upset at all the oil and metal. Made the zombies hard to eat.
A flicked glob of her orange slime mold and they were singing a very different tune, eagerly piling up the undead to have them turned into delicious soil.
Smelled like money.
[Loot Found!]
Money: $6800
Soul Stone (Minor) x 12
Soul Stone (Medium) x 3
Soul Stone (Major) x 1
Steel x 51 (1 lb ingots)
10 Rolls of Cotton
Hellish Whistle (Rare) x 1
Hellish Whistle (Rare) - Forged from the despair of generations of railway workers and those who died building the rails. One toot on this is enough to send those of weaker wills fleeing in terror. When Mana is channeled through it this whistle can petrify a listener with fear.
Inflict: Terror, Petrified with Fear MP 10
Durability 5/5
[Level Up + 4]
[Plant Manipulation + 5]
[Husk Bolt + 2]
[Hungry Mold + 6]
[Rumble Vine + 4]
[Summoning + 2]
[Coat of Thorns + 1]
[You have received enough CP to advance your Charisma to 50. Just like in The Gamer a unique Trait is gained at 50 in any Stat. The Trait is always related to how it was earned and your current Class.]
"What sort of Trait would proc if I went for it right this moment? Broad strokes." Alice asked as she flipped through her pilfered bills purely for show. It made her feel cool.
[Something to do with either Max MP or Power.]
"I wouldn't mind more staying power, but on the other hand Summoning is really promising." Alice hummed in thought as she went back to exploring. She had plenty enough loot, so now it was mostly a game of if she could find anything that qualified as a crafting station.
[There is a Summoner Subclass. The Summoner Subclass is mainly based around the Summoning Skill– oh for heaven's sakes. Let me boil it down to something rational and concise. It makes Summoning even more busted than it already is. Improving the number and quality of general Spirits as well as making it easier to form Pacts with higher entities. The Subclass comes with two unique abilities. Grand Summoning and Boon. Boon is calling on your Pact forged Patron, or Patrons, for a Ritual-level spell at no cost to you. Occasionally I have to sift through the stuff the Creators left and make it simpler.]
"Appreciated. Alright, dump everything on Charisma and try to skew towards Max MP. I want more staying power." Alice decided after a moment, idly prying open a door with her crowbar. "I have pretty potent spells and haven't even started really cooking, but the price tag is an issue for anything drawn out, especially with my recovery rate. Should make some time for grinding Meditation…"
The inside of the factory looked as if it had gone unused for years. Unused but preserved, not a speck of rust or decay in sight. Just dust. The whole thing was roomy, with an old fashioned forge with the machinist's tools. The forge was probably used to repair or make new parts in house, now that she was looking closer and noticing some patches throughout the room. A stack of coal sat in the corner miraculously untouched by the weather. Though the spiders nesting among the pile might complain.
[Charisma has reached 50!]
[Perk Gained!]
Medium Mana Capacity lvl Max - Your ability to hold Mana has increased enabling even greater staying power. MP x 2, MP Regen + 4
MP: 1000/1000 [+5.05 MP per minute]
Alice very nearly tasted the factory floor when she read that one.
Yeah, okay, she could definitely manage in a drawn out fight now. Unless she was deeply stupid about it, anyways. "Right, time for the other type of staying power. Let's make some armor. This costume is nice enough and I may use it if I try to go grassroots, but I need some serious face gear for if Hookwolf rolls up spoiling for a massacre."
Fuckin' Brockton Bay.
The armor took a great deal of time to put together, solely because Alice and Themis wanted it to be perfect and they were sorely lacking in experience. There was nothing to do but trust the magic and try again, again and again. Casting, melting, casting again. She had materials to spare, it didn't matter if some got lost every cycle so long as she got to the goal post. This was the line between her and a grisly death, there was no room for mediocrity.
As she worked more of her mana flowed into the crafting until the metal began to change, staining the steel green until it felt like nature itself. Her Stamina started to deplete as the working grew more involved, demanding that she hold pieces in place and bend others for all that the metal shaped itself to her desire. She started to become lightheaded, thoughts spinning faster and faster as she let the muses take her. By the time it was finished a reddish glow was flowing into the metal from drawing so hard she tapped her health. The creative fugue finally released her as an impressively menacing suit of armor stood before her.
[Armor Obtained!]
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
There was only one issue.
It was too big.
Not by that much, mind you, it was about two or three inches taller than her and a fair bit bulkier. It could be tailored to fit her just fine. However.
She had the Hungry Mold. She had Healing Hesperide. She had Coat of Thorns.
Gattai.
[New Spell Created!]
[Huh, looks like this might be your first sustained spell! Sustained Spells tie up a portion of your MP until dispelled. They level up slower than normal spells or Skills because they lack upkeep.]
Slime Suit lvl 1 - This just might be one of the oddest spells ever created in this cluster. The result of combining three very different types of spells has given rise to something new. Your Summoning Skill was needed to bind it all together. A Neutral Spirit has been Summoned into this unique working. Usually Slimes are considered generic, but this one has been infused with a purpose.
- Sustained Cost: 100 MP
- Armor Value: ½ Charisma
- Durability: Twice Charisma
- Heals the Wearer by 20 HP per minute + 2 HP per level
- Reduces Damage by 50% against Blunt, Fire, Acid
- Critical Heal: Sacrifices its Durability when the wearer is at 20% HP.
- Critical Retreat: Puppets the wearer's body to escape if the caster is incapacitated.
- Movement +30% + 5% per level (Negated by Heavy Armor)
There was no Summoning Circle, the mana coalesced directly in the air in a cloud of shimmering green sparkles, solidifying into a glistening orb. Alice could almost hear it giggling as the orb expanded into a jelly… which proceeded to splatter over her without any warning. It squirmed and wriggled like a playful puppy as it enthusiastically covered her body, the Slime Spirit radiating joy at being useful while giving the impression of an uncomplicated existence. That was a polite way of saying it was as dumb as a bag of hammers, but that just meant Alice could feed it a grilled cheese sandwich and call it good.
Now. It was currently laid over her nun costume for the most part. This neither looked good nor was as useful as could be. She had to swap it for the armor.
Which would leave her floating inside a sentient slime in nothing but her underwear.
She silently thanked Themis for not bringing up her blush as she tapped the equipment set.
The Slime Suit actually felt nice on her skin. Cool, soft, and smooth. Not at all oily or mucusy like she'd been fearing. Most importantly, it didn't go anywhere it didn't belong, no matter what her rotten brain muttered about. The armor itself was a massive beast, heaps of cured leather and steel far from the lightest thing in the world. If not for the Slime Suit acting as padding, she would be chafing within minutes, Excellent Quality or not. With it? It was solid, a comforting weight around her like a metal duvet, holding her steady. There weren't any issues with field of vision, either, the helmet's Special Quality made sure of it and the slime did something by pouring into the gaps to make it feel like there was nothing in front of her face at all.
"Alright." Alice said with a nod as she rolled her shoulders, voice coming out of the helmet a bassy rumble. That and the bulk of the armor would make absolutely everyone think she was a guy. Especially since she talked and moved like a man for the most part. "Next up, a mage staff with a blade pounded into it. Themis, how do magic foci work?"
[You make something that can handle magical energy and imbue it with talismans that mean something to you. Wizards who make staves out of wood for casting Fireball are idiots by the wa– Look out!]
Themis' warning occurred just a moment before a massive clockwork hand tore the roof off like it was made of tinfoil, baleful yellow searchlights shining down on Alice's armored form. The giant off in the distance was suddenly much closer and in full horrible detail. It looked like someone mated a Warhammer Chaos Titan with a locomotive. The front had what was best described as a human meatball all but oozing out, a greasy face the only thing recognizable in the mess of meat and metal. An obvious weakpoint… covered in layers of metal grills.
<Shadow Trainwreck - Ruler of the Trainyard lvl 45>
Name: Alice Belobog
Age: 21
Level: 8
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
Max HP: 80 [Recovers 1 HP per minute]
Max SP: 160 [Recovers 5 SP per minute if active, 20 if resting]
Max MP: 1000 [Recovers 5.05 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 50
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
Perks
Medium Mana Capacity lvl Max - Your ability to hold Mana has increased enabling even greater staying power. MP x 2, MP Regen + 4
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 13 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 8 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 3 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 8 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level = 1.6
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Hungry Mold lvl 14 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 2 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Rumble Vine lvl 5 - You know the spell Plant Growth? Why waste time with that when you could have this? This spell affects an area around the caster that drives the vegetation into frenzy. It uses the surrounding nature to create an ad hoc Summon Circle to briefly call a horde of wild Plant Spirits. Vines rise up out of the ground and thrash anything that looks at the Caster crosseyed.
- MP: 15
- Number of Vines Summoned: 4 + 1 per 3 lvls.
- PWR: 4 per Vine
- Area of Effect: 20ft + 2ft per level.
Slime Suit lvl 1 - This just might be one of the oddest spells ever created in this cluster. The result of combining three very different types of spells has given rise to something new. Your Summoning Skill was needed to bind it all together. A Neutral Spirit has been Summoned into this unique working. Usually Slimes are considered generic, but this one has been infused with a purpose.
- Sustained Cost: 100 MP
- Armor Value: ½ Charisma
- Durability: Twice Charisma
- Heals the Wearer by 20 HP per minute + 2 HP per level
- Reduces Damage by 50% against Blunt, Fire, Acid
- Critical Heal: Sacrifices its Durability when the wearer is at 20% HP.
- Critical Retreat: Puppets the wearer's body to escape if the caster is incapacitated.
- Movement +30% + 5% per level (Negated by Heavy Armor)
Inventory
Money: $7600
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
20 Rolls of Cotton (80 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set, what she started with) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set, the one she just got) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Hellish Whistle (Rare) - Forged from the despair of generations of railway workers and those who died building the rails. One toot on this is enough to send those of weaker wills fleeing in terror. When Mana is channeled through it this whistle can petrify a listener with fear.
Inflict: Terror, Petrified with Fear MP 10
Durability 5/5
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
Soul Stone - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
- Minor x 21
- Medium x 3
- Major x 1
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Miss Alice's City - Take a look around the neighborhood and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Range: 1 square block.
Reward: 500 XP
Bonus: Continue exploring the city 1 square block at a time.
Bonus Reward: 500 XP
Failure: None
Note: Different areas offer special prizes!
Age: 21
Level: 8
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
Max HP: 80 [Recovers 1 HP per minute]
Max SP: 160 [Recovers 5 SP per minute if active, 20 if resting]
Max MP: 1000 [Recovers 5.05 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 50
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
Perks
Medium Mana Capacity lvl Max - Your ability to hold Mana has increased enabling even greater staying power. MP x 2, MP Regen + 4
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 13 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 8 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 3 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 8 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level = 1.6
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Hungry Mold lvl 14 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 2 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Rumble Vine lvl 5 - You know the spell Plant Growth? Why waste time with that when you could have this? This spell affects an area around the caster that drives the vegetation into frenzy. It uses the surrounding nature to create an ad hoc Summon Circle to briefly call a horde of wild Plant Spirits. Vines rise up out of the ground and thrash anything that looks at the Caster crosseyed.
- MP: 15
- Number of Vines Summoned: 4 + 1 per 3 lvls.
- PWR: 4 per Vine
- Area of Effect: 20ft + 2ft per level.
Slime Suit lvl 1 - This just might be one of the oddest spells ever created in this cluster. The result of combining three very different types of spells has given rise to something new. Your Summoning Skill was needed to bind it all together. A Neutral Spirit has been Summoned into this unique working. Usually Slimes are considered generic, but this one has been infused with a purpose.
- Sustained Cost: 100 MP
- Armor Value: ½ Charisma
- Durability: Twice Charisma
- Heals the Wearer by 20 HP per minute + 2 HP per level
- Reduces Damage by 50% against Blunt, Fire, Acid
- Critical Heal: Sacrifices its Durability when the wearer is at 20% HP.
- Critical Retreat: Puppets the wearer's body to escape if the caster is incapacitated.
- Movement +30% + 5% per level (Negated by Heavy Armor)
Inventory
Money: $7600
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
20 Rolls of Cotton (80 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set, what she started with) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set, the one she just got) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Hellish Whistle (Rare) - Forged from the despair of generations of railway workers and those who died building the rails. One toot on this is enough to send those of weaker wills fleeing in terror. When Mana is channeled through it this whistle can petrify a listener with fear.
Inflict: Terror, Petrified with Fear MP 10
Durability 5/5
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
Soul Stone - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
- Minor x 21
- Medium x 3
- Major x 1
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Miss Alice's City - Take a look around the neighborhood and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Range: 1 square block.
Reward: 500 XP
Bonus: Continue exploring the city 1 square block at a time.
Bonus Reward: 500 XP
Failure: None
Note: Different areas offer special prizes!
Author's Note: I'm moving to a new format for uploads. Updates will be done twice a week on Monday and Friday after this. For my Patrons you can read two whole chapters in advance of Shards of Reality and eventually A Light into the Future.
Patreon Note: A shoutout to my friends over on Patreon. The Patreon page is now updated to be even friendlier and clearer than before. Please think about helping me as I've still got lots of bills to pay, a cat to take care of, and not enough money for it all.
Thanks to my Patrons:
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Huh well its atleast distinctive and probably having people declare her a Trump/Tinker with a Plant theme that's the forbidden love child of Armsmaster and Dauntless somehow
Nihilo
Authorial parasite
- Location
- Catalonia
If really pressed, Alice would claim that she is a very weird Tinker. In the sense she has a source of power she tinkers on to create exotic effects.
God damn, that looks like a Chaos Warrior of Nurgle.[Armor Obtained!]
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
And now with the slime armor beneath she now sounds like one too! Imagine someone stabs her and this sickly almost rotten slime oozes out... Truly she will terrify her enemies.
Nihilo
Authorial parasite
- Location
- Catalonia
About as tough as one with that sky high armor value and the slime suit turning most things into blunt damage that it can DR into the ground.
Uses soap, though. Doesn't even get sweaty thanks to the slime! May very well come out of a night patrolling literally smelling like roses.
Hmmmm ya on second thought would Shaker/Tinker because of a combination of similarities to Kaiser in function combined with the ability to do BioTinker Shennanigans would probably be a closer estimate of what she might get Labeled with
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Nihilo
Authorial parasite
- Location
- Catalonia
I straight up grabbed Saint Barbara's pic to illustrate what I meant about nun habits and gas masks SLAPPING when put together.
Alas! That is being used for a different character in a different fic. It will be a while until that one starts uploading, but it'll be under @Omida
Set Up 2.1
- Location
- PA
Set Up 2.1
'Every time!'
Vista, the youngest superheroine in the city, mentally cursed Shadow Stalker for the thousandth time. Everyone thought she would be happy to have another girl on the team. No, she wanted another teammate! Stalker was not a teammate! She was a half-feral psychopath with zero ability to follow orders or protocol! Her power to phase through objects was useful and she took her fitness seriously, that was the end of her value.
Point in case, she was supposed to be Vista's patrol partner tonight. Guess who was running through the rooftops solo. GUESS.
"The Trainyard? Why is she there? It's not even close our patrol route!" Vista grouched under her breath as she turned the fabric of space into a glorified slip 'n slide, a light jog eating dozens of yards of rooftops in an eyeblink. Using her spatial warping powers to catch up to Shadow Stalker wasn't the problem. The problem was that if they were needed on their route, they would be out of position and working around other people took her ten times as long so it wasn't like she could just slingshot the insubordinate little shit back to her place. She shouldn't have to deal with this!
At least there weren't any concerns about keeping her presence subtle, not when she was wearing a pastel princess version of a high visibility vest. It used to irk her that she had a cutesy costume, but after three years in Brockton fucking Bay? Being both the youngest superheroine and having thrice the service time than most cape careers lasted? She appreciated that being a sparkly eyesore meant villains saw her before accidentally turning her to ragu. Hook had done a number on her back in the day and all of a sudden every single gang in the Bay went to ground as Legend zipped down from New York the very next day to have a little speech.
"Vista to Base. Don't let Shadow Stalker know I'm here if she asks," Vista said through her comms. The spatial Shaker was already altering the boundary of the Trainyard in such a way that anyone trying to leave would find themselves returned to the same spot. A never ending loop. Sure, her range wasn't infinite, but the Trainyard was isolated. Unless Stalker felt like footslogging through a hell of a lot of miles to circle around her blockade, she was shit out of luck.
"Acknowledged,"" Kid Win said, stuck with monitor duty again. Someone should tell him that imitating Armsmaster's speech patterns wasn't really flattering, he fumbled it more often than not. Well, her evening was ruined already, so she may as well take him to task later.
But back on track, there was no point trying to locate Shadow Stalker with her Mark 1 eyeballs. Unsurprisingly, a vigilante that'd lasted that long before getting caught knew how to hide, even if the truculent bitch would call it something else.
So Vista simply used the fact that the Trainyard was largely abandoned by anything qualifying for the Manton Limit to feel out for her. It felt a lot like groping an unopened bag of chips, all sorts of crinkling and shifting. Her range wasn't infinite, which if she worked at line of sight like the wiki it would be thanks to the wonders of lensing and curving the light around to play periscope, but when it came to wide area she had even Labrinth beat.
Coupled with her mobility, it meant she only needed three scans to brush up against the northern edge of the Trainyard, someone moving to slip out into the forest. It sure as hell wasn't Trainwreck, the guy was some sort of quadruple amputee from how he felt to her power. Which meant it was time to slam the trap shut, the space between her and Shadow Stalker going from a mile and a half to about half a foot.
Two things happened in rapid succession.
The former vigilante appeared before her, already shifting from confusion to battle ready. Even if, when it registered who had yanked her, that battle very much shifted to prickly bullshit instead of crossbow bolts. This was normal and expected.
The loud tearing sound as her power hiccuped and someone stomped out of the spatial distortion? Not so much. Guy screamed villain, a menacing helm glowering down at them, bristling with antlers which together with all the leather and animal skulls? She was suddenly wary of that roving band of barbarians the Teeth rolling back in town.
Vista and Shadow Stalker had been drilled enough to close ranks and get ready for a retreating fight without outright starting one. It did, however, let the Shaker catch the older girl's muttered, "Cool…"
Vista was never going to let her live that one down.
[HP: 20/80]
[SP: 40/160]
[MP: 250/1000(-100)]
Well, this was decidedly less than ideal, Alice mused. Especially when staring down two startled parahumans. The only silver lining was that the pair who she could only assume were Vista and Shadow Stalker hadn't jumped to attack her. There was… not a lot she could do if one of the most powerful Shakers in all of America decided that she was or was not going somewhere.
"Good evening, ladies. I am Druid, you would be Vista and Shadow Stalker, correct?" Step one, introduce yourself. It tapped into the backend of human social hardcode, made sure they saw you as a person and individual rather than just 'a villain' or whatever else.
"That is correct, ah, ahem…Right. I'm Vista and this is Shadow Stalker," The shorter of the pair introduced herself.
"Druid? What kinda name is that?" Shadow Stalker muttered. Trying, and failing, to pretend she didn't just call the newcomer cool within moments of arrival.
"As much as I would enjoy running aggressive copyright enforcement on Cleetus and his Klan of unflattering bedsheets, I do not think I could get away with calling a geblōt on the lot of the curs. Celtic, therefore, was my next port of call." Alice said with a put-upon sigh, shaking her horned helm. Step two, make them laugh. That'd drain tension and fully change the context of the interaction to a friendly one. "And to tell the truth? Any who know history will know to tread lightly, for all the name on its face is not, oh. Ghoul, Undertaker, or anything of the sort."
Stalker's shoulders shook once as she failed to suppress a laugh.
"Console? Look up those terms," Vista ordered quietly. The rest of the speech did make her smile, but she was doing her diligence.
"Uh, 'geblōt' is a ceremonial hunt and feast? Not humans though," Kid Win reported.
"Shadow Stalker? Why is your headset set to broadcast?" Vista asked in an aggrieved tone.
"Ain't we trying to be polite with the new Parahuman?" Shadow Stalker asked innocently. Vista showed impressive restraint by not responding to the obvious bait.
"Would you like to be officially registered? I could take your picture and help you set up an account on PHO," Vista inquired politely.
"Dohohoho! By all means! Entering the public eye is out of my hands now that your powers dredged me into the light, nothing to do but take the initiative." Alice laughed like an old man, rolling her armored shoulders in good humor before she spread her arms, before ringing a gauntlet sonorously against her chestplate. A subtle bit of puffing out and pitching of the voice and suddenly she felt so much larger, "Especially with one such as I! It would be deeply unfortunate if our beloved parahuman gallery misunderstood my armor as yet another flaccid attempt to garner fear by an up and coming villain, no? If we are to fight, it ought to be on the sparring mat."
Just like that, Shadow Stalker was off the fan list. The bombastic attitude probably called to mind other larger-than-life Capes like Mouse Protector. Vista was the polar opposite, lapping it up. The photo was taken and an account on PHO was made for Druid. Even better the verification came through a minute later.
The horned helmet turned towards the Breaker, a much quieter and rougher chuckle sounding out. "Rest assured, Miss Stalker, you will not find me grandstanding around the rot gnawing at this city. Speeches are all well and good for reasonable folk who may want some reassurances, but I find the universal language is rather needed when it comes to one's enemies."
"What language is that?" The former vigilante asked skeptically.
"Violence and victory, what else? Break their teeth, break their bones. Win, and win again, until the strategic scale shifts by weight of blood and bruise." Alice said with a wide, toothy grin nobody could see. "Of course, you do not accomplish anything more than becoming a statistic unless you temper the brutality with cunning, but I hardly need to tell that to two veterans of this meatgrinder, do I?"
Stalker, despite her stern faceplate, was eating it up by the fistful. It was easy to tell, with how she leant forward, hanging to every word. Vista clearly didn't want to outwardly agree, but she very pointedly didn't speak up against her statements. Both also visibly preened as she acknowledged their chops as child soldiers without a single spec of patronization or moral panic. Teens were teens, validation was validation. It was easy.
"Now, speaking of violence and initiative. My plans for the evening are rather moot at this point, so I do not suppose you ladies would begrudge a newcomer some of your hard earned wisdom?" Alice asked with deceptive gentleness, knowing she had them now. You did not need a Master power to use people. "Of course, I wouldn't want to keep you from your patrol, so why don't I follow? It will make matters much simpler for all of us going forward, no?"
Vista inquired with HQ and received permission soon after. That was one hurdle down. While she was patrolling in the northern part of the city, Nezumi could raise some hell in the south. A feeling of eagerness and affection sang across the link from her loyal rat.
Poor, poor Mr. Mueller. What a truly rotten string of luck. He had to call off the burning of Dave's Diner because of a sudden attack of diarrhea, never-you-mind the mess that the lotion had made of him. His whole body was covered in dried skin and red welts, the poison oak and hogweed sap doing their work even if she hadn't increased the dosage enough to cause the distinctive oozing boils to pop up.
"Yeah, shit, listen… Listen! It's off for tonight. I can't go out like this…" Mueller groaned as he made another deposit at the porcelain bank.
"Fuck, man. Really?" Nels also groaned, if for a completely different reason.
"Really. Just…do collections tonight…lay low," He gritted out.
Nezumi was quite proud of her work. When the diarrhea from hell showed no signs of slowing or stopping after an hour, he got in his car and drove to Brockton Bay General. After putting down a garbage bag, for obvious and very humiliating reasons of course. She could not have expected what happened next. The nurse on duty took one look at him and stuck him in a room by himself.
"Why did you have me isolate him, doctor?" The nurse asked, the rat hearing her just fine through the shadows.
"The red skin, the welts, the bloodshot eyes… He was complaining of abdominal discomfort and diarrhea? I have no clue what it could be. Not without more tests. Until we know more I suggest we keep him separated for now," The doctor replied with a shake of his head.
"Do you think it could be that serious?" The nurse furrowed her brow in disbelief.
"Better to be safe than sorry. I'm putting in a call to Infectious Diseases to see if anything new is floating around. We're usually the last to find out. Let's stay on top of this," The doctor decided with a sharp nod. Then, with the distinctive humor of all health workers in every era, "At least getting a fecal sample won't be hard."
The rat sat on her haunches in sheer disbelief. Good thing no one could hear her laughing as the esteemed Mr. Mueller was now patient zero of a mystery illness. She had to contact Alice for further instructions, given her main target was pretty much neutralized. The shrunken rat slipped out to the waiting room and found a safe place to take her human guise. A moment later, Nezumi approached the desk to ask the receptionist if she could use the phone.
"Hi honey! I know you can't talk right now, but I wanted to let you know something. Our special friend is in observation for the foreseeable future. Where? Brockton Bay General. The doctors have no idea what it is. Poor man is leaking from every orifice," Nezumi clucked her tongue sympathetically as she left the message on Alice's voicemail. Of course, she could've used telepathy, but it gave her an excuse to call her Summoner 'honey'.
That done, Nezumi sent out a call to her Clan's pups. The playful little scamps loved to explore and get in trouble. They were just baby Spirits, not at all wise to the ways of the world, and endlessly inquisitive. She told them to go play in E88 territory and that was that.
Later reports would claim that a rat-based Master had run amuck among the E88's stash houses, meeting places and even safehouses. They infiltrated homes and stores without causing obvious harm, just a few nibbled wires here and there. Mostly it was to gain intelligence on their movements and personal identities. No one was going to pay attention to a few minor inconveniences when their major money makers were getting hit by hordes of pests. Then one of the pups got creative.
Enter the Cocaine Rat.
It wasn't really done on purpose, but the pup took advantage of the situation. A particularly fat and mean mundane rat got into a brick of cocaine. The pup promptly cast Enhanced Endurance, Diehard, Maximized Endurance, and Animal Growth on the damn thing as he urged it to keep eating. With that done the pup stole somebody's digital camera and recorded the festivities.
He earned himself a promotion from the Clan Elders just like that.
As for the fool children that got into the ammo supply…
Nezumi would be having words with them for detonating a storehouse. The fact they were unsummoned while screaming "Worth it!" did not improve her mood. This was supposed to be subtle sabotage! Although she supposed she had brought it on herself when she decided to call upon her Clan's young. Hopefully her Summoner would get some amusement out of this, at the very least.
Name: Alice Belobog
Age: 21
Level: 8
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
Max HP: 80 [Recovers 1 HP per minute]
Max SP: 160 [Recovers 5 SP per minute if active, 20 if resting]
Max MP: 1000 [Recovers 5.05 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 50
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
Perks
Medium Mana Capacity lvl Max - Your ability to hold Mana has increased enabling even greater staying power. MP x 2, MP Regen + 4
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 13 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 8 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 3 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 8 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level = 1.6
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Hungry Mold lvl 14 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 2 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Rumble Vine lvl 5 - You know the spell Plant Growth? Why waste time with that when you could have this? This spell affects an area around the caster that drives the vegetation into frenzy. It uses the surrounding nature to create an ad hoc Summon Circle to briefly call a horde of wild Plant Spirits. Vines rise up out of the ground and thrash anything that looks at the Caster crosseyed.
- MP: 15
- Number of Vines Summoned: 4 + 1 per 3 lvls.
- PWR: 4 per Vine
- Area of Effect: 20ft + 2ft per level.
Slime Suit lvl 1 - This just might be one of the oddest spells ever created in this cluster. The result of combining three very different types of spells has given rise to something new. Your Summoning Skill was needed to bind it all together. A Neutral Spirit has been Summoned into this unique working. Usually Slimes are considered generic, but this one has been infused with a purpose.
- Sustained Cost: 100 MP
- Armor Value: ½ Charisma
- Durability: Twice Charisma
- Heals the Wearer by 20 HP per minute + 2 HP per level
- Reduces Damage by 50% against Blunt, Fire, Acid
- Critical Heal: Sacrifices its Durability when the wearer is at 20% HP.
- Critical Retreat: Puppets the wearer's body to escape if the caster is incapacitated.
- Movement +30% + 5% per level (Negated by Heavy Armor)
Inventory
Money: $7600.21
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
20 Rolls of Cotton (80 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set, what she started with) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set, the one she just got) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Hellish Whistle (Rare) - Forged from the despair of generations of railway workers and those who died building the rails. One toot on this is enough to send those of weaker wills fleeing in terror. When Mana is channeled through it this whistle can petrify a listener with fear.
Inflict: Terror, Petrified with Fear MP 10
Durability 5/5
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
Soul Stone - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
- Minor x 21
- Medium x 3
- Major x 1
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Miss Alice's City - Take a look around the neighborhood and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Range: 1 square block.
Reward: 500 XP
Bonus: Continue exploring the city 1 square block at a time.
Bonus Reward: 500 XP
Failure: None
Note: Different areas offer special prizes!
Age: 21
Level: 8
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
Max HP: 80 [Recovers 1 HP per minute]
Max SP: 160 [Recovers 5 SP per minute if active, 20 if resting]
Max MP: 1000 [Recovers 5.05 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 50
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
Perks
Medium Mana Capacity lvl Max - Your ability to hold Mana has increased enabling even greater staying power. MP x 2, MP Regen + 4
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 13 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 8 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 3 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 8 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level = 1.6
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Hungry Mold lvl 14 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 2 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Rumble Vine lvl 5 - You know the spell Plant Growth? Why waste time with that when you could have this? This spell affects an area around the caster that drives the vegetation into frenzy. It uses the surrounding nature to create an ad hoc Summon Circle to briefly call a horde of wild Plant Spirits. Vines rise up out of the ground and thrash anything that looks at the Caster crosseyed.
- MP: 15
- Number of Vines Summoned: 4 + 1 per 3 lvls.
- PWR: 4 per Vine
- Area of Effect: 20ft + 2ft per level.
Slime Suit lvl 1 - This just might be one of the oddest spells ever created in this cluster. The result of combining three very different types of spells has given rise to something new. Your Summoning Skill was needed to bind it all together. A Neutral Spirit has been Summoned into this unique working. Usually Slimes are considered generic, but this one has been infused with a purpose.
- Sustained Cost: 100 MP
- Armor Value: ½ Charisma
- Durability: Twice Charisma
- Heals the Wearer by 20 HP per minute + 2 HP per level
- Reduces Damage by 50% against Blunt, Fire, Acid
- Critical Heal: Sacrifices its Durability when the wearer is at 20% HP.
- Critical Retreat: Puppets the wearer's body to escape if the caster is incapacitated.
- Movement +30% + 5% per level (Negated by Heavy Armor)
Inventory
Money: $7600.21
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
20 Rolls of Cotton (80 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set, what she started with) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set, the one she just got) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Hellish Whistle (Rare) - Forged from the despair of generations of railway workers and those who died building the rails. One toot on this is enough to send those of weaker wills fleeing in terror. When Mana is channeled through it this whistle can petrify a listener with fear.
Inflict: Terror, Petrified with Fear MP 10
Durability 5/5
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
Soul Stone - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
- Minor x 21
- Medium x 3
- Major x 1
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Miss Alice's City - Take a look around the neighborhood and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Range: 1 square block.
Reward: 500 XP
Bonus: Continue exploring the city 1 square block at a time.
Bonus Reward: 500 XP
Failure: None
Note: Different areas offer special prizes!
Author's Note: I'm moving to a new format for uploads. Updates will be done twice a week on Monday and Friday after this. For my Patrons you can read two whole chapters in advance of Shards of Reality and eventually A Light into the Future.
Patreon Note: A shoutout to my friends over on Patreon. The Patreon page is now updated to be even friendlier and clearer than before. Please think about helping me as I've still got lots of bills to pay, a cat to take care of, and not enough money for it all.
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Apple has a 30% upcharge that doesn't go to me. Read the full story here.
Horrid Creature
Nihilo
Authorial parasite
- Location
- Catalonia
Snowflame's spirit lives on in its pure white fur.
As far as I can Tell her leaving got hooked on the Warping and dragged her on front the them and given her State probably finished the Trainwreck fight
Nihilo
Authorial parasite
- Location
- Catalonia
Got knocked around a bit then managed to hit a wall and leave that way. Vista's power sucked her in as she was tumbling out.
Well. 'A bit'. You saw her HP. Only part of that was from crafting the armor.
Set Up 2.2
- Location
- PA
Set Up 2.2
Alice had intellectually known she was signing herself up to be a celebrity. It still felt bizarre as people chattered, jostled one another, took pictures and chucked questions at her. Not that it broke her stride, mind, she had dealt with enough chaotic conversations to roll with the punches. Sure helped that Vista and Shadow Stalker were with her and had years and months, respectively, of experience and PR training.
"We usually go through Downtown, the Commercial District, and loop back around to PRT headquarters. You can see from our route that it's a big circle. We're not supposed to deviate…" Vista directs a look at Shadow Stalker, who was busy admiring Arcadia High's architecture in the distance, "...but this worked out. After all, we got a chance to meet you!"
"Woo." Shadow Stalker deadpanned, wiggling her fingers in mock-cheer.
"From her that's enthusiasm," Vista 'translated' without missing a beat.
"I am honored." Alice drawled, a good-natured chuckle blunting the sarcasm. "Onwards, then?"
"Normally we'd be further along than this, but…" Vista glanced at Shadow Stalker and wisely decided not to poke the bear any more, "...Anyway…Part of our patrol takes us near E88 territory."
"Wait. We're actually going to patrol down there? I thought the last couple got canceled," Stalker said, suddenly very engaged in the conversation.
"You know how it is. City Hall said something and somebody else said something…" Vista rolled her eyes.
"Tch. Of course," Shadow Stalker said with heavy sarcasm.
Alice had already sent telepathic notice to Nezumi to adjust her operation as she saw fit, so it was whatever to her. Normally she'd be leery of traipsing down there given how the Empire had the most wiggle room to act in this city bar none due to their power concentration and overseas connections, but with two Wards along for the ride? If they tried anything they'd be the ones holding the bag when the dust settled.
"Man, I just got a reminder to be home early. It's a school night," Stalker sneered as she pulled a buzzing phone from her belt.
"You're the only one who wants to do this all night…" Vista shook her head.
"Can't wait until I'm eighteen. Then I don't have to deal with this baby shit anymore," The dark heroine said.
The Wards' patrol routes were posted on the website. For those people who didn't own a computer, or at least pay attention, it was well known that pint-sized heroes wandered the neighborhoods. This, of course, hardly stopped the common clay of America from committing crimes absent a higher up smacking them upside the head. According to Vista the most they had to deal with was the odd car thief or shoplifter. Sometimes, if they were really lucky, it was a strung out Merchant. Stalker audibly groaned when reminded of that fact.
Thankfully, those who didn't respect some pint sized veterans of this gussied up warzone sure as hell respected six feet and change of armored behemoth. So far her best success had been a crook hurriedly walking back, returning the bag she'd snatched and putting her wrists up for handcuffs all from running into Alice's chestplate and staring up into her helm. Charisma was a fantastic investment like that.
"At least you're getting some street cred," Vista pointed out to Alice.
"Watchin' them get all wide-eyed is kinda funny," Stalker admitted.
"Vindication tastes ever so sweet." The mage chuckled lowly, before looking up. "Ah, another runner. Vista, would you begrudge me taking this one?"
The options for running away with the canny Shaker in the area were a plain, flat 'no'. Therefore, no harm in asking for a shot at handling it herself.
"Go ahead," Vista gestured. She whispered something to Console. Probably making sure they were recording all of this.
Green light pooled in her armored palm, floating up into a bulbous bundle the size of her first, almost like grapeshot. A crisp snap of her fingers and it shot like an arrow, breaking on the thief with a splat of viscous sap that nearly had him taste the sidewalk.
Then the pong ball sized seeds sprouted.
[New Spell Created!]
Shackle Seed lvl 1 - Looks like you sampled some nearby crabgrass. This special seed grows like a weed on steroids to entrap the target. It extends its roots into whatever crevices it can get a grip on. Non-invasive but it will seek to restrain them by as many points as possible. Quickly regenerates from harm until its limited HP runs out.
- MP: 20
- HP: 10 + 5 per level
- Target: Medium and smaller. Upgrades at tenth level.
- PWR: 5 (Upper grip strength)
- Number of Seeds: 1 + 1 per 3 lvls.
[Plant Manipulation + 1]
"Mmmph!" The thoroughly bound criminal thrashed but the vines weren't even budging.
"That works," Vista nodded.
"How strong is this stuff?" Stalker tried to cut it with a utility knife, but it didn't go far. The vine bled green sap for a moment before visibly sealing up. With the blade still in it. The Breaker had to yank full force to get it out.
"Don't mess with it…" Vista sighed.
"I would suggest a whetstone at the earliest, its regeneration likely warped the edge." Alice hummed as she casually flipped the very unfortunate thief, checking to make sure he could breathe just fine. Thankfully, magic tended to be more tuned than not to the caster's intent as she'd found. "And another gift for our fellows in blue. Savor your five minutes of fame, mister."
Her piece said, she propped him up against a lamppost, making a show of lighting up her fingertip with green mana before having a little growth spurt firmly tie the crook to the metal bar.
"Mmph hmph…" The hapless criminal slumped in his surprisingly comfy bindings.
The humorous mood was instantly shattered as a loud gunshot rang out. Stalker hissed, "Next street over!" Before Vista could respond the black clad heroine was already gone.
"Console? Shots fired. Shadow Stalker is investigating– on my way," Vista hastily replied before following, space crumpling down and curving around for her and Alice.
By the time they reached the place there was no sign of the shooter. Propped up against the wall was a young Latina with a spurting wound in her leg. Shadow Stalker was calling it in as she attempted to use a pressure bandage to stop the bleeding. She was plainly out of her depth as the blood continued to spill out. Vista took over and sent Stalker to try to find out where the shooter ran.
"Don't engage!" Vista told her.
"Yeah yeah," Stalker waved her off before leaving.
"Ahhh…!" The woman cried out, sweating and trembling. Alice may not be a medic, but that together with the glazed over eyes sure sounded like shock.
That's when the darkening evening lit up again. An explosion briefly turned the night to day from somewhere deeper in E88 territory. Vista looked plainly alarmed as the nearly empty street suddenly played host to a group of running people. She looked to Druid in shock before hastily reporting all of this to the Console and getting to work managing the panicking crowd by writ of the fabric of space being her personal snot rag.
Alice was just about the only one calm, by writ of a very exasperated Nezumi explaining what had happened through their telepathic bond within ten seconds of the explosion. She was rather more concerned with the woman in the process of bleeding out.
A Shackle Seed made for an excellent improvised tourniquet. Now. Time to see how far Charisma 50 really went. "Focus on me. I am Druid. I am going to save you."
Clarity actually returned to the woman's eyes… if with a bit more fear than Alice would've liked as she stared up into the imposing figure looming over her. Still, the latina just gritted her teeth and nodded, "H-haz lo que quieras." <Do what you want>
"Con permiso." <With permission, then> Alice replied without missing a beat as the Slime Suit oozed out from her gauntlets, very pointedly not mentioning that she'd have done this anyways. If someone wanted to try suing the armored behemoth who saved them from bleeding out, that was their business.
"Right, record it all. I'll take responsibility." Vista said to both Alice and Console, before muttering under her breath, "She's lost too much blood…"
The woman winced as the slime made contact, tensing up in preparation for whatever it would do to her in the name of healing her… then blinked as the pain faded away. The ooze had slithered right into the wound, numbing everything as it went. Alice barely needed to give it any guidance to wrap around the bullet and slide it out. The rest it handled itself, the intent behind the healing magic working overtime. New blood was produced and threaded into the severed veins, muscle fibres were straightened out and reconnected, nerves were restored for all they were kept numb.
Within little more than a minute, there was nothing left of the bullet wound other than brand new skin, slightly off-tone from the rest. Not a spec of scar tissue.
"Whoa…" Vista breathed out. Alice supposed it made sense, the Shaker had probably been expecting some fancy form of wound packing instead of just regrowing the tissue like she was the second coming of Panacea. Or Othala, if you felt uncharitable.
Now, it was time to see how well Alice could project her voice. Vista had kept anyone from being trampled with her powers, but they were still screaming and scrabbling.
The 'fun' was over and it was time for the aftermath. A PRT van arrived to take Alice and her patient back to headquarters. "Hello, gents. I am Druid, may I know your names?"
The tension in the armored van had been steadily chipped away by small talk, the troopers all too easily prodded into chatting about old incidents. So she learned the tales of Chesty Puller, the sriracha styptic, Hookwolf on ice and so much more. Craggly old Agent Hamilton had so much to tell, having been there for the formation of the Teeth.
As for Carla, the lady she'd saved? She was delighted to have someone with whom to chat in her mother tongue, even if there were a fair few stumbles between Castilian Spanish and Latino Spanish. Funnily enough, she actually worked at Brockton Bay General.
They pulled up to PRT HQ and drove around to the back entrance, after which they were shoved in. The formerly injured woman was taken to medical while Alice was escorted to a holding room, not quite a cell, not quite an interrogation room. Although it did have a one-way mirror.
Barely five minutes into telepathic chitchat with Nezumi, the door's hydraulics hissed open to admit who Alice could only assume was Miss Militia. Middle-eastern features, american flag bandana, gussied up military fatigues.
"Druid is it? Hello there. Vista and even Shadow Stalker had good things to say about you," She opened up with crinkled eyes while taking a seat.
"Dohohoho! I could hardly disappoint my seniors." Alice let loose a belly laugh, the very image of a jolly viking, "The little warriors may be over a decade younger than me, but only a fool disrespects experience like that."
"It is a sad fact of life that even our youngest have this kind of experience," Miss Militia said heavily. She was a war orphan and a child soldier. This obviously didn't sit well with her. There was a reason Alice had called them warriors rather than soldiers. "Anyway… this was your first time out? From what Vista said you handled yourself like a professional. Did you perhaps have an identity beforehand? You don't need to answer that. I'm just curious." She was skirting the Unwritten Rules, but just barely.
"A city like this spares none, aye. Worse, they suffer like many soldiers in Vietnam, treated like men one moment, like children the next. I can scarcely imagine their frustrations, trusted to fight for their lives and those of the fair peoples of this city, but not with deciding for themselves so much of their lives." Alice commiscerated, all too happy that her savage smile couldn't be seen behind her helm. It was ever so fun to take an incautious comment and yank it like a ripcord.
That neatly robbed Miss Militia of anything to say for several minutes. She didn't know what to do as the comment hit far too close to home.
"Ah, but such things aren't for us fighting men to decide, are they? It is for the brass to bow under the weight of the crown, to decide whom to sacrifice in the name of strategy. The dignity and security of their corpsmen or the purity of their name in the arena of public perception. To validate their suffering and give them the tools and training to fight at their best for them and theirs, or to keep the populace happy enough funding and recruits keep on flowing." Once upon a time, Alice had spent years learning fencing. The saber taught a very simple lesson, seize the initiative and do not let it go for a moment. "Can they afford to acknowledge the war that is being fought in these streets and act accordingly? Can they afford not to? I well and truly do not envy them."
Miss Militia seized on something Druid said, "So then you see this as a war? I've been in war. The situation in Brockton Bay is nowhere near that bad…" An exclamation of frustration could be heard just beyond the window. It must have been loud indeed to get past whatever soundproofing was in the room.
"And I shan't say Brockton has degenerated to the atrocities and open chaos many other nations have succumbed to, as much as great many forces would wish otherwise. But war takes many forms. A wise woman once said, 'diplomacy is war by any other means'. I will call the men and women fighting for the message of hope across the airwaves soldiers at war as readily as you or I." Alice stated, steady and sedate like a stone slowly rolling downhill. A calculated tilt of her horned helm and she added, "As much as I personally do not agree with a number of their decisions, their toil and their cause is to be respected."
The meeting kind of ended after that. Miss Militia made the appropriate noises and gestures, but it was clear there were irreconcilable differences. Alice was given permission to heal people if it was necessary. A pamphlet was provided listing the Do's and Don't's of Parahuman Healing. Then there was a heap of paperwork to register as an official hero, who could be called through a work phone they provided for any number of troubles, parahuman and otherwise. A bit of questioning told her it also tapped into police frequencies, although she would have to visit the precinct on her own time to sort out their paperwork to be called upon by the BBPD, since she very much wasn't Protectorate.
The phone, of course, had a tracker. They told her as much, with the excellent justification that they rather needed to know roughly where a parahuman was to know when and what to call them for. They assured her it turned off together with the phone, for the sake of anonymity when she was off the clock.
Alice didn't care either way because the damn thing would be hanging out in her Inventory when she wasn't going around as Druid. No way in hell it packed the sort of Tinkertech needed to send a signal while in that.
[Reputation Meters]
PRT - Good
ABB - Neutral
E88 - Neutral
Merchants - Neutral
Public - Neutral
Ah, wasn't it beautiful to make oneself utterly poisonous for recruitment without burning a single bridge? Now, time to say hello to the boys in blue, whose only convincing would be that yes. A parahuman really wanted to work with them.
Name: Alice Belobog
Age: 21
Level: 8
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
HP: 80/80 [+1 HP per minute]
SP: 160/160 [+5 SP per minute if active, +20 if resting]
MP: 1000/1000 [+5.05 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 50
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
Perks
Medium Mana Capacity lvl Max - Your ability to hold Mana has increased enabling even greater staying power. MP x 2, MP Regen + 4
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 14 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 8 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 3 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 8 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Shackle Seed lvl 1 - Looks like you sampled some nearby crabgrass. This special seed grows like a weed on steroids to entrap the target. It extends its roots into whatever crevices it can get a grip on. Non-invasive but it will seek to restrain them by as many points as possible. Quickly regenerates from harm until its limited HP runs out.
- MP: 20
- HP: 10 + 5 per level
- Target: Medium and smaller. Upgrades at tenth level.
- PWR: 5 (Upper grip strength)
- Number of Vines: 1 + 1 per 3 lvls.
Hungry Mold lvl 14 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 2 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Rumble Vine lvl 5 - You know the spell Plant Growth? Why waste time with that when you could have this? This spell affects an area around the caster that drives the vegetation into frenzy. It uses the surrounding nature to create an ad hoc Summon Circle to briefly call a horde of wild Plant Spirits. Vines rise up out of the ground and thrash anything that looks at the Caster crosseyed.
- MP: 15
- Number of Vines Summoned: 4 + 1 per 3 lvls.
- PWR: 4 per Vine
- Area of Effect: 20ft + 2ft per level.
Slime Suit lvl 1 - This just might be one of the oddest spells ever created in this cluster. The result of combining three very different types of spells has given rise to something new. Your Summoning Skill was needed to bind it all together. A Neutral Spirit has been Summoned into this unique working. Usually Slimes are considered generic, but this one has been infused with a purpose.
- Sustained Cost: 100 MP
- Armor Value: ½ Charisma
- Durability: Twice Charisma
- Heals the Wearer by 20 HP per minute + 2 HP per level
- Reduces Damage by 50% against Blunt, Fire, Acid
- Critical Heal: Sacrifices its Durability when the wearer is at 20% HP.
- Critical Retreat: Puppets the wearer's body to escape if the caster is incapacitated.
- Movement +30% + 5% per level (Negated by Heavy Armor)
Inventory
Money: $7600.21
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
20 Rolls of Cotton (80 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set, what she started with) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set, the one she just got) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Hero Phone
Hero License
Healer License
Hellish Whistle (Rare) - Forged from the despair of generations of railway workers and those who died building the rails. One toot on this is enough to send those of weaker wills fleeing in terror. When Mana is channeled through it this whistle can petrify a listener with fear.
Inflict: Terror, Petrified with Fear MP 10
Durability 5/5
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
Soul Stone - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
- Minor x 21
- Medium x 3
- Major x 1
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Miss Alice's City - Take a look around the neighborhood and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Range: 1 square block.
Reward: 500 XP
Bonus: Continue exploring the city 1 square block at a time.
Bonus Reward: 500 XP
Failure: None
Note: Different areas offer special prizes!
Reputation Meters
PRT - Good
ABB - Neutral
E88 - Neutral
Merchants - Neutral
Public - Neutral
Age: 21
Level: 8
Class: Mage
Specialization: Plant
Subclass: <Locked>
HP: 80/80 [+1 HP per minute]
SP: 160/160 [+5 SP per minute if active, +20 if resting]
MP: 1000/1000 [+5.05 MP per minute]
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 15
CHA: 50
LCK: 24 (12 after World Debuff)
CP: 0
Perks
Medium Mana Capacity lvl Max - Your ability to hold Mana has increased enabling even greater staying power. MP x 2, MP Regen + 4
General Skills
Perception lvl 7 - This encompasses more than just sight, hearing, and the like. This is a measure of how well you can grasp the world around you and its varied nuances.
- 10% + 1% per level chance to uncover hidden objects, see through disguises and detect bullshit.
Meditation lvl 1 - The ability to focus oneself and maintain a level head. This skill is an important foundation not just for Mages but for Martial Artists as well. In time it may even be possible to enter a meditative trance while doing other things.
- Passive MP Regen + 1% per level.
- MP Regen + 5% per level while active. (Must Meditate for 1 minute for it to become active)
- Active use gradually removes mental effects at a rate of -10% + 1% per level.
- Chance of taking action or any disturbance breaking the meditative trance 90% - 1% per level.
The Way of the Body [1/10] - This is a training process devised by one of the foremost masters of the body. With this the user can cause the formation of "pink muscle" capable of doing the work of red and white muscle even more efficiently. This serves as a solid foundation for most Martial Arts training. Unlike with normal Skills this is a trainable Perk completed at 10.
- Alters the distribution of XP for the Body Trinity to 80% gain for all.
- Increases Reaction Time by +1% per point of DEX
- Increases Explosive Strength by +1% per point of STR.
- Increases Resilience by +1% per point of CON.
Combat Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery lvl 1 – A good whack is nature's reset button. This skill covers the various ways you can make upright people lie prone.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Bladed Weapon Mastery lvl 1 - This is a general skill for handling sharps without cutting off important bits in the process. Blades can inflict the Bleed and Severed Debuff.
- Attack Speed +15% + 5% per level.
- Damage +5% per level.
Magic Skills
Plant Manipulation lvl 14 – The ability to manipulate plants from the simple flower to the mightiest tree. This is a subset of Life Magic which also covers certain healing spells and physical recovery.
- Spell Costs are reduced by 1% per level (Max -75%)
- Spell Effects are enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Range is enhanced by 1% per level.
- Spell Duration is increased by 1% per level.
Summoning lvl 8 - This Skill is based on the research of Guy Dupont and covers the summoning and dismissing of various Spirits. Summons remain until dismissed or killed. A killed Summon merely returns to their natural realm. The more MP is used the more powerful the Spirit that is called.
- MP: 20
- Control: 10% + 5% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
- Dismiss: 25% + 15% per level. (This is based on Charisma)
Healing Hesperide lvl 3 - Conjures healing apples or apple juice, with some input from you.
- Cost: 4 MP
- HP Recovery - Must consume ½ lb or 1 pint for the full benefit.
- PWR: 1 (+0.1 per lvl)
- Amount of Food Created: ½ lb per lvl
- Amount of Drink Created: 1 pint per lvl
- Quality Modifier: +0.5% per level
- Active Time: 1 minute per level. (After this the magic healing is inert)
Husk Bolt lvl 8 - This is a variant on one of the most basic spells in a Mage's arsenal, Mana Bolt. It conjures up a seed husk based on a template and fires it at high speed. Simple and efficient. This variant has the potential to debuff.
- Cost: 1 MP
- Range: 175 ft + 5 ft per level
- PWR: 1 + 0.1 per level
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Debuff: Capsaicin - The bullet sprays dust on impact which can get in the eyes and nostrils. Irritation and radius increases by 5% per level. Base Range: ½ ft Causes watery eyes, runny nose, and burning in the mucus membranes.
Shackle Seed lvl 1 - Looks like you sampled some nearby crabgrass. This special seed grows like a weed on steroids to entrap the target. It extends its roots into whatever crevices it can get a grip on. Non-invasive but it will seek to restrain them by as many points as possible. Quickly regenerates from harm until its limited HP runs out.
- MP: 20
- HP: 10 + 5 per level
- Target: Medium and smaller. Upgrades at tenth level.
- PWR: 5 (Upper grip strength)
- Number of Vines: 1 + 1 per 3 lvls.
Hungry Mold lvl 14 - A creepy fungus spell that turns putrefying flesh into a ravenous mold. All putrid flesh is consumed until nothing organic remains. After ten minutes with nothing to consume it dries out and dies.
Effect:
- Infests 1 lb of flesh per level.
- Can be ended prematurely by the caster.
- Cost: 20 MP
Coat of Thorns lvl 2 - This spell is more than just a variant of Mage Armor, but also combines aspects of Flame Shield as well. The caster's garments are altered fundamentally to increase their toughness yet also add a bit extra. Any attackers in melee range trigger an immediate thorny reaction. This can be discharged immediately for an omnidirectional attack by casting the spell again.
- MP: 16
- Type: Defense, Pierce
- PWR (for thorns): 1 + 5% per level. (Stacks with Armor when triggered)
- Armor: 4 + 5% per level
- Duration: 2 minutes per level. Auto-renews unless dismissed.
- Reactive Damage: Equal to the Spell's Total Armor Value
Rumble Vine lvl 5 - You know the spell Plant Growth? Why waste time with that when you could have this? This spell affects an area around the caster that drives the vegetation into frenzy. It uses the surrounding nature to create an ad hoc Summon Circle to briefly call a horde of wild Plant Spirits. Vines rise up out of the ground and thrash anything that looks at the Caster crosseyed.
- MP: 15
- Number of Vines Summoned: 4 + 1 per 3 lvls.
- PWR: 4 per Vine
- Area of Effect: 20ft + 2ft per level.
Slime Suit lvl 1 - This just might be one of the oddest spells ever created in this cluster. The result of combining three very different types of spells has given rise to something new. Your Summoning Skill was needed to bind it all together. A Neutral Spirit has been Summoned into this unique working. Usually Slimes are considered generic, but this one has been infused with a purpose.
- Sustained Cost: 100 MP
- Armor Value: ½ Charisma
- Durability: Twice Charisma
- Heals the Wearer by 20 HP per minute + 2 HP per level
- Reduces Damage by 50% against Blunt, Fire, Acid
- Critical Heal: Sacrifices its Durability when the wearer is at 20% HP.
- Critical Retreat: Puppets the wearer's body to escape if the caster is incapacitated.
- Movement +30% + 5% per level (Negated by Heavy Armor)
Inventory
Money: $7600.21
Smartphone (Great)
Dreams of Green Notebook (Poor)
ID Paperwork (Basic)
Apartment keys (Basic)
Crowbar (Good)
- Durability: 125/125
10 Rolls of Heavy Leather (100 lbs)
20 lbs Steel
1 lb Gold
1 Roll Kevlar
20 Rolls of Cotton (80 lbs)
Fishy Nun Outfit (equipment set, what she started with) (Good)
- Armor 12
- Durability 25/25
- Comfort + 25%
Vogue Frills Outfit (equipment set, the one she just got) (Basic)
- Durability 20/20
- Comfort + 0%
Shotgun (Basic)
- Durability 125/125
Ammo (6 shells)
Clothes
Hero Phone
Hero License
Healer License
Hellish Whistle (Rare) - Forged from the despair of generations of railway workers and those who died building the rails. One toot on this is enough to send those of weaker wills fleeing in terror. When Mana is channeled through it this whistle can petrify a listener with fear.
Inflict: Terror, Petrified with Fear MP 10
Durability 5/5
Costume Gasmask (Basic) - This looks like a proper gasmask but in reality is fake. The lens blurs the edges of the wearer's eyes and general color to aid in concealing their identity. The mask has been enhanced further to conceal the wearer's hair under the habit and change it to something nondescript.
- Durability: 20/20
- Effect: Disguises hair color/hides hair perfectly
Casting Beyond the Veil (Excellent) - This tome was written many years ago by a scholar of otherworldly magic. The scholar, Guy Dupont, wrote this after translating a much older grimoire. Contained within these pages are the fruits of his labor. Teaches Summoning Magic Skill.
A Passion for Burning (Excellent) - This Guy Dupont really gets around, doesn't he? These are his observations on the inner workings of Fire Magic and how it interacts with other elements. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Flash of Brilliance (Excellent) - These are Guy Dupont's observations on Lightning and its unique place within the Wind Element group. Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
The Deepest Darkness (Excellent) - Guy Dupont sought to find a connection between Dark and what he called "The Elements of the Earth." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
A Ray of Light (Excellent) - This details Guy Dupont's journey to discover a connection between Light and what he called "The Elements of Heaven." Confers several benefits that require research to unlock.
Soul Stone - This possesses a tiny fragment of death magic and acts as the motive force behind undead creatures.
- Minor x 21
- Medium x 3
- Major x 1
Tinkertech Baton - A high-quality self-defense tool advertised as the best on the market. It comes highly recommended by Toybox, but you don't care about all that. This thing is made of space-age materials capable of withstanding tremendous force, heat, cold, acid, and shocks. Your noodly arms will break before this bad boy. Your new toy can be set from 0 (no charge) to 11 (max charge). Max charge comes with backlash so please be responsible. Each charge is a 10% chance to stun or paralyze the target.
- Damage Type: Blunt
- Activated: Blunt/Electric
- Inflict: Stun/Paralyze
- PWR: 4
Shortsword - A basic shortsword. Well forged and simple to use. It was someone's homecraft as evidenced by a lack of discernible style.
Damage: Slash, Pierce
PWR: 6
Legacy of Nature (Excellent) - You hate nature, you are part of nature, nature has always fought and weaponized itself. There is no finest love letter to it than usurping its power. This armor is a declaration of intent to any who witness it: 'Gaia lives, and she hates you more than me.'
- Upgradable: Enchantment Slots 8/8
- Helmet - Allows the wearer to see clearly in natural darkness and extends visual range in power induced shadows. Alters the wearer's voice.
- Armor - Resist Environmental Effects -80%
- Gauntlets - Reduces the change of disarm by 80%.
- Boots - Freedom of Movement through natural terrain. Ignores difficult terrain.
- Durability: 300/300
- Armor Rating: 100
- Special Quality: Material Absorption - Absorbs materials to repair itself. Requires 1 lb of material per 10 points of Durability loss.
Quests
A Child's Dreams of Green - Where did this notebook come from originally? It appears as fantasy but the principles within are solid. Are there other mages out there?
Rewards: 10,000 XP, Potential Mentor, Advanced Plant Spellbook
Failure: 1,000 XP. (Note: The only way to fail this quest is to give up.)
Miss Alice's City - Take a look around the neighborhood and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Range: 1 square block.
Reward: 500 XP
Bonus: Continue exploring the city 1 square block at a time.
Bonus Reward: 500 XP
Failure: None
Note: Different areas offer special prizes!
Reputation Meters
PRT - Good
ABB - Neutral
E88 - Neutral
Merchants - Neutral
Public - Neutral
Author's Note: I'm moving to a new format for uploads. Updates will be done twice a week on Monday and Friday after this. For my Patrons you can read two whole chapters in advance of Shards of Reality and eventually A Light into the Future.
Patreon Note: A shoutout to my friends over on Patreon. The Patreon page is now updated to be even friendlier and clearer than before. Please think about helping me as I've still got lots of bills to pay, a cat to take care of, and not enough money for it all.
Thanks to my Patrons:
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Apple has a 30% upcharge that doesn't go to me. Read the full story here.
They probably think Druid is Some Veteran that Triggered at some point or something
That's impressive; most mention their hatred for the gangs while getting questioned by the PRT at which point that information gets relayed to the gangs.
PRT Interlude 1
- Location
- PA
PRT Interlude 1
Miss Militia watched the interview again. There wasn't much else to do to pass the time, not when she didn't (couldn't) sleep. The blessing and curse of Noctis Capes. It paired well with a little known power of hers, perfect eidetic memory. That didn't mean there wasn't use in keeping records, memories only went as far as what she perceived in the moment.Druid worked very hard to project an image of joviality, helpful and friendly and most importantly? One to listen to, making themselves out to be older than the mid-twenties they had implied during the interview. It worked, too. The new parahuman on the block knew how to take over and maneuver a conversation, to the point analysts were convinced of a background in oratory.
They were tentatively classing them as a Tinker, possibly a Blaster if the 'seeds' weren't Tinkertech. A sample of the vine restraints was down in the lab right now, baffling the scientists due to being just crabgrass. There were no overt modifications, it was as though a whole new subspecies had been discovered.
"There just isn't enough to go on…" Miss Militia sighed.
Druid could easily be mistaken for a German cape with their massive armor, analysts reporting matches in design to Norse warriors. For Druid's sake they were going to report this to the news that a new Gaelic Hero debuted tonight, ensuring they connected Druid with anything but the E88. At least for long enough that the hero could make a name for themselves that'd outweigh speculation.
It helped that apparently they spoke Castilian Spanish fluently, which would muddy the waters wonderfully. No Empire sympathizer, nevermind member, would ever be caught dead speaking anything other than English or German.
It would've made inducting Druid easier… if the attempt hadn't gone down in flames. Druid was polite and well-spoken, but it was clear they had opinions. Worse, opinions backed by logic and evidence. They understood what wasn't being told to the public, that wasn't even told to the Wards for all they picked up on it. The PRT in Brockton Bay weren't really Parahuman Police, they were fighting a holding action in a near-warzone…
…and losing.
It was a good thing Miss Militia couldn't sleep anymore.
Paperwork was the bane of any reasonable person's existence. It only got worse in this profession. The shooting alone tripled the load, to say nothing of the explosion. Missy's circumstances were far from reasonable, however, which was why she even volunteered to do Stalker's share. Not that the Breaker had accepted, nor had Missy pushed given the look in her eyes.
She still had her own, though, so she could put off going home just a little bit longer.
Despite what some people thought she didn't live on the Rig, although it wasn't for a lack of trying. The Youth Guard thought they were doing her a favor by making sure she went home, by making sure she spent time with her 'family'. She scoffed under her breath, shaking her head clear. Thinking about that wasn't going to do anything for her, much less for this AAR. If she didn't have the paperwork done before ten they would just send her home anyway.
The incident report was fairly standard all things considered. A young woman was shot in the leg and had her purse stolen by a Merchant, business as usual no matter how much it made something curdle in Missy's gut. Then something exploded in E88 territory, which the police were positive wasn't parahuman doing and took the case themselves. From there it was almost rote filling in the different boxes. That is until she had to describe her impressions of Druid.
That was a bit thornier.
Missy groaned. Even when he wasn't here, Clockblocker got into her head.
Still. The new cape didn't really seem new, the nervous energy of a recent trigger just… wasn't there. The big guy had all but stated to have kept under the radar practicing, but how the hell had they pulled it off when pretty much all other capes got headhunted doing that shit? The analysts were losing their minds, there was nobody in the database remotely matching. Not in getup and build, not in powers. It must've been one hell of a rebrand, although it would be doable if the eggheads were right about Druid being a Tinker. There would've still been an impression, though, with someone like that.
She'd had half a mind to walk herself into M/S quarantine after that whole thing, but there was caution and there was paranoia. Master powers were rare, human Masters doubly so. Subtle influence instead of making drooling drones? Ha!
No, more often than not it was just a Social Thinker. Except there was no way Druid was a Thinker too, no cape was that versatile. Just the powers they showed were already wild enough that everyone was leaning Tinker.
Which meant there was no manipulation, no powers reading through her and giving someone all the levers to make her jump.
She wasn't sure what to feel about that.
A patrol cut short wasn't the end of the world, normally when that happened she would just sneak off to do her own thing. Except tonight there was a shooting and the E88's territory looked like someone kicked over the hornet's nest. Her mom was called and she insisted that Sophia come home.
Tonight gave her something to think about anyway. The new hero, Druid, was not what she expected. They started off loud and stupid but the things they said. Things that echoed what Sophia already felt. She felt they weren't doing enough, that they weren't going hard enough. If someone was fucking with them, then they should be punished. Don't take no shit from anybody. Except the way they said it even got Vista agreeing with her.
Druid understood and could even get their point across. That was something Sophia wanted to learn. Then maybe her teammates would understand that sometimes you can't play nice, sometimes you had to go for the throat. Except that Druid was better at hiding their claws and biding their time.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to hang around them a bit more…
Druid. An independent healer with a boisterous attitude reminiscent of Mouse Protector. They weren't a one to one match, but close enough… except the annoying teleporter never asked such pointed questions. The Director of the ENE PRT leaned back in her chair with a weary sigh. There was genuine frustration in the new parahuman's tone as they delivered their biting commentary. The only thing keeping Brockton Bay from being declared a warzone was the PR department, Druid saw through the flowery garbage and delivered it to them straight.
"Damn them…" Emily groaned as she tried to get comfortable.
The part she wasn't looking forward to was explaining to her bosses that Brockton Bay had a Biotinker. How else could they explain the 'healing slime'? What sort of Tinker were they? Was it only biology or was there something else involved? According to what Armsmaster observed, the armor they wore didn't appear to be Tinkertech. His voice stress analyzer couldn't even tell if they were male or female. From what Vista and Shadow Stalker reported Druid could shoot 'seeds' that turned into capturing vines.
She clenched her fist around the stress ball.
Her scars ached, dragging her mind to the mission that had ended her career as a trooper. When she had faced down the 'children' of the worst Bio-Cape in America. Nilbog. It was thanks to him and that damned Thomas Calvert, that she was now on dialysis. Them and the 'heroes' who had spat on duty and abandoned them all.
Did she blame all parahumans? No, but she did believe they needed regulation, that they were traumatized civilians given power on par with entire military divisions. Emily just didn't have enough information to go on at this time. She put in an order that Druid's actions were to be under close supervision. To do any less would be negligent.
Now who would be the best fit to observe them…?
Emily drafted the order specifically to the Wards. If they saw Druid then try to engage peacefully. The new parahuman liked to pretend to be a boisterous and helpful person? Perhaps they should see how long it takes for cracks to develop in the facade.
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Oh boy Piggot's gonna try to poke and prod the local not-a-Nurglite and see what happens.
Piggot, had you considered that maybe people are complicated? That someone might be boisterous and helpful around the wards because they are the wards? Just send assault to interview her, and ask politely. You would be shocked just how much you will learn. No need to burn bridges to get intel right off the bat. You escalate these things slowly to minimize outrage.
Nihilo
Authorial parasite
- Location
- Catalonia
Fuck around and find out.
To be fair, she isn't being overly aggressive. Just going "okay, Druid is friendly with the Wards so far. So make the Wards the main point of interaction and see when/if the bastard shows some dirty laundry"