True, that isn't Sumire where demonic influence is said to remain. The governor's internal dialogue suggests the horned man isn't actually a lacerta however, so I looked at the glossary again and Devils and Demons are 2 separate categories! Considering the horned one likes contracts, then it does seem like he's a Devil instead of a Demon.
Wonder what the connection between the two is. Guess we'll just have to find out by going to Tarshish or Sumire!
Farah walked excitedly down the road towards her destination, a faint flutter of hope in her heart. The gnoll had finally found a match through the app that felt just right to her. The guy was sweet, funny, kind, and a human that was interested in gnolls that wasn't too… out there. She coughed. Farah liked humans, she wasn't ashamed to admit it, but there were a lot of weird perceptions out there that people got wrapped in that she wasn't into. She's been searching for a while, and the gnoll hoped this would be the one.
The next day, two worried parents called the police when their daughter didn't come home.
Johari tapped his foot on the floor in the room he was told to wait in for his interview. The human had been taking on several jobs ever since their parents passed in order to support his younger siblings, and it's worn on him. He'll be the first to admit that he hasn't always been the best guy, but right now what remains of his family couldn't have the Johari that was a lazy slacker that got involved in all kinds of shenanigans. The man had to get his shit together. The door opened, and Johari turned to see who it was.
The next day, a young girl called and shakily asked where her big brother was.
Ebele, a cleric of the Light, hummed softly to herself as she made her rounds. Although she performed her duties during community gatherings, the miu thought the most important job was in reaching out to those who couldn't or wouldn't come for one reason or another. She felt that those were the ones in most need of the Light's guidance. Whether they hid and shied away from the Light's gentle rays or simply were unable to leave their home easily, Ebele would be there with an open hand.
The cleric had her hand slapped away sometimes, but she didn't take it to heart. People hurt in different ways, and she accepted that her brand of aid wasn't always the best way for some people. She would pray for them to find the right help.
Suddenly, Ebele stopped. The house she was just about to knock on… there was a roiling mass of malice and malignance, a sign of the particular feeling of sin that all clerics were taught to recognize. For a moment, the cleric hesitated. She was no paladin or hunter of evil. Ebele knew a few ways to call upon the Light to hurt the wicked but…
She heard a pained cry coming from inside. Ebele knew who it was. Amir, the kind old man who was so happy to talk to someone willing to listen to him. The cleric couldn't hesitate anymore. Quickly, she set down her basket and pulled out her tablet, activating a distress beacon before hiding it opposite the basket.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. She called to the Light within her and prayed to the divine beyond before entering the house.
A perfectly plain and ordinary human fumbled for the keys to his home in his pocket. Jalal had been having a few good but hectic days recently. He was told to slow down a bit and wait though, so the man was going to sit at home for a while. Maybe he'd use the time to catch up on some shows, he mused. Finally finding the keys, he opened the door and flicked open the lights.
"Hello."
Jalal nearly jumped at the voice as he cried out, "What the—who the fuck are you? What are you doing in my home?"
The intruder, a miu dressed in some strange getup consisting of a trench coat and suit pants with a wide-brimmed hat covering part of her face, tilted her head to the side. Jalal's felt a chill run down his spine when he noticed the long rifle resting on her lap.
"Those are some very good questions, Jalal Ahmed. I wonder if you've heard them before."
"How do you know my name?" He spluttered, but his eyes were intent as he scanned the miu and room before her.
The miu ignored his question, "You were a top student during your time here in a preparatory magic academy, and were scouted by a prestigious college in Tarshish. Sadly, the ease with which you breezed through various subjects here did not carry over to your new school. You returned in disgrace within two years, unable to keep up with your peers."
Jalal sneered, clenching his fists, "What of it? What would you know of my life, huh?" He would direct his anger there and hopefully mislead her into believing that was what he cared about.
Once again, she ignored him, "You were approached by someone who sympathized with your woes and struggles. They criticized the way the college handled your education, and offered you a better way towards mastery of the arcane arts. You accepted."
Here, the man was silent. His expression became blank as the miu calmly began listing out various facts about his life.
"You were inducted into a demonic cult and sent here after your initiation to kill and spread your filth to grow in strength and sow the seeds of turmoil in our region. You murdered a human man and used his tablet to lure the gnoll he was speaking to. You murdered the guardian and older brother of three younger siblings when he came to apply for a job. You murdered an old man and recorded his cry of pain to lure and kill a cleric of the Light. You are also suspected of two additional murders before this."
The miu's head raised, slitted pupils boring into Jalal as she spoke, "Well? Did I get it right?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then Jalal threw back his head and howled in laughter.
"Yeah, you got me! Took you long enough. Well, there is one thing you got wrong."
He snapped his head back, eyes glowing a malevolent purple as veins bulged throughout his body.
"There's about to be a dead cat in this house too."
Jalal lifted his hand to send out a stream of roiling energy at the cocky miu, aiming to disintegrate her before she could react. Faster than he could blink however, her rifle came into position and a bang sounded across the room right before he screamed in agony. A white glowing bullet seared through the bubbling energy forming in his hand and his arm, burning and causing the limb to writhe in pain.
With an unnatural tolerance however, Jalal merely growled as he stepped forward to maul this uppity miu. Before he could, someone who should not have been as quiet as they were wrapped two armored arms around his neck and began to squeeze. He tried to pry them off with his strength, but found his hands scorched when he touched the armor. Jalal let out one final curse at his fate before he slumped unconscious.
Fatoumata eyed the unconscious form of the scum restrained on the ground. They finally got him and could begin sniffing out the rest of the cultists around here, but the victory felt hollow. He already managed to murder and probably sacrifice at least seven innocent people already. The demon hunters were notified too late, and it was only through the sacrifice of Cleric Ebele that they could find him before he could murder more people.
"Did you get all that recorded, Jasiri?"
A gnoll stepped from a hidden corner with a snarl on her lips, "Yeah, I did. Camera didn't break down for once. We'll be able to send it to the analysts."
"We must find this scum's accomplices, not waste time wondering about demonic powers." Amin, the armored human paladin, spoke up with a frown.
"We can do both," Fatoumata cut off the argument before it could start. "Having recorded evidence and a small idea of his powers will help in understanding our enemy here while we pressure them. The demons have been upping their game, and we have to adapt to match them."
Jasiri broke off her glare at Amin and looked down at the cultist, "You think he was sent from one of the northern regions?"
Amin scratched at his beard as his anger focused on the objective before him, "Sent from the north? Yes. Sent with a particular mission to sabotage the region? Unclear, they could have just as easily sent him off further away to make his sacrifices so he couldn't be tied as easily to them."
"Still," the gnoll spat. "What are the people up there doing? They really have no idea what forces they're playing with here, or how to properly deal with it."
"Let's discuss this more back at headquarters." Fatoumata said, keenly aware of the noise they made and time they have spent here since then.
The three nodded, and as they made their way back, the miu spared another glance at the cultist. She's been at this job for over ten years, and things never seemed to change. Ultimately, there would always be people tempted or desperate enough for easy power and fixes to their problems. Fatoumata could kill as many demons and cultists as she wanted. They always seemed to sprout two more for each one that died.
Shaking her head, the demon hunter looked away. Fatoumata needed a drink.
The Small Republic
Mimi winded her way through the streets of the town, carrying a long, thin pole with a long length of cloth hanging at the top to signal her presence. The nearly one foot tall minima began humming as she passed by houses barely taller the pole she carried. Other minima milled about, but only one or two carried poles like her. Mimi was the only one she knew in town that went to the other sections without business or school-related reasons. The road in between the rows of houses where the larger smallfolk walked were similarly empty.
She smiled as she braced herself against the wind, the cloth on her pole billowing. Mimi made a lot of friends with the people there, and they each did something nice for her every time she came by. Besides, today there was something she wanted to ask them. As she looked to the set of buildings in the distance that towered over much of the village, a determined glint entered her eye. One day, she'd leave this place and meet all the people out there in the world.
"Mr. Heartgather! Do you have any cherries for me?"
The middle-aged halfling smiled down at her from his stall, "Ah! If it isn't Mimi. Of course, I keep a few cherries on hand just in case you come by. Don't eat too much now."
He helped set her pole aside before handing her a cherry. Mimi took it with both hands and began to nibble on it, savoring the sweetness of the fresh fruit.
"What brings you here, Mimi? Is it just to nab a cherry from poor old Lary?" He asked, a mock hurt expression on his face.
The minima fiddled with the stem of the berry as she thought, "Actually, I wanted to ask you something."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Mimi looked up at him, a rare expression of seriousness on her face. "You went to Avista once, right? For vacation?"
Lary's expression twitched, but he kept the smile, "Ah, yes. A friend of the family set up shop there and was feeling lonely, so I decided to visit with some others. Why do you ask?"
"What was it like? I heard there's super tall towers and lights everywhere, with the bird people flying all over the place to get around!"
"Ah…" Lary said. "Well, you're not wrong, I suppose. But Mimi, you shouldn't romanticize it too much."
Mimi tilted her head, "What do you mean?"
Lary sighed, "Out there, Mimi, it is a chaotic mess. A place where they do not care for the smallfolk. I'd be very worried if you should find yourself there. I suggest you put it out of mind. The places outside our fair town can be quite ridiculous."
"Ms. Tinkersong! What are you studying now?"
The pink-haired gnome looked up from her book and smiled at the minima, "Oh! Hello Mimi. I'm studying some very fun stuff! I'd demonstrate for you but uhm…" she coughed a little. "I would need your parents' permission first. It can be quite explosive, you see."
"Aww," Mimi pouted, setting her pole down and scrambling up a stool. "I don't think my parents would like that. But uhm, Ms. Tinkersong. Can I ask you something?
The gnome beamed, "Of course! You're speaking to Trilys Tinkersong! I know the answer to every question."
Mimi smiled brightly, "Okay! Ms. Tinkersong, you're so good with magic. I was wondering if you have ever been to Tarshish to study?"
Trilys's expression faltered, though the gnome managed to stop a scowl from forming on her face, "Mimi, why on Orbis are you asking about that dreadful place?"
"A-ah… I was just curious about some places outside here and…"
"Oh alright, I can't criticize you for wanting to know more," Trilys sighed. "Yes, I've been to Tarshish. Every good mage has. I wouldn't say I learned nothing there, but the people! So close-minded and arrogant. Wouldn't listen to a thing I said, and then they'd patronize me like I was—"
The gnome deflated when she saw the slightly wide-eyed expression the minima had, "I'm sorry, Mimi. I wish I could say something good for you but…"
Mimi bobbed her head, "It's okay, Ms. Tinkersong. I understand."
Trilys looked around for a bit before picking up a book, "Well, I do have some pictures, so here…"
"Mr. Riddle! Mr. Riddle! What are you doing out here?"
The well-dressed goblin, Cect Riddle, paused and looked around before spotting the cloth pole.
"Ah, Mimi. What a coincidence. I'm just taking a stroll. And you? Have you finished the homework I assigned?"
Mimi smiled, "Yep! I decided to go talk to some of my friends out here after I was done."
He smiled, "Good, very good. The social division between the minima and the rest of the smallfolk is a travesty, given our history. It gladdens my heart to see you connect with the town."
"Why wouldn't I?" Mimi asked, "Everyone here is nice. Except for Jelk. He's mean."
"Well—"
"Actually, Mr. Riddle, I want to ask you something now that you're here."
Cect sighed, but smiled genially, "Well, go ahead Mimi."
"You know so much about history Mr. Riddle, but you only talk about us! Can you tell me about the others? Especially the reallllly far away ones, like Zownngha and Yash imma?"
"Oh?" He questioned, amused by her mispronunciations. "Usually those are for the later years but…"
Mimi's eyes shined, "Are there super cool sword fighters there, fighting each other for honor and love? Are there really pretty clothes and drawings?"
"Oh, there's some of that there," he started. "But Mimi, you should know now that a place's history is quite complex. Zhonghua and Yashima's history was often not as beautiful as you make it sound. After all, they—"
The minima's eyes began to glaze over as her goblin teacher began to give an impromptu history lecture on the various ills in their history.
"Um, hi Ms. Polly. Is it okay if I come in?"
Brie Polly looked down at the minima before she sniffed and waved her in, "Oh, very well Mimi. It's good to see the youth willing to talk to their elders. What have you come in here for?"
Mimi stepped in and set her pole against the wall, "Well, I wanted to ask you something."
"Well ask it then, young one." The old mus said, whiskers twitching.
The minima blushed but forged onwards, "Have you been to the other countries and places in the world? I've been wondering—"
"No."
"No?"
"No." Brie said stiffly, not looking at Mimi.
"Oh, well… I'm sorry for—"
"Mimi. Let me tell you a little story passed down from parent to child for the mus." Brie said, still not looking at her.
Mimi perked up, "Oh, I love stories!"
"We'll see," the mus said. "Once, the mus lived freely both underground and on the surface. We ate plenty and lived happily amongst ourselves along with the humans, miu, lacerta, and others."
"There was a group of people who hated us for living in the same places they do however. We tried to speak and reason with them, to show that we can live together in peace. They did not listen. They raised their armies and terrible weapons of war. They scoured the land of us and pushed the mus to the fringes. They considered it a job well done, and celebrated when they thought to be rid of us."
"W-what…" Mimi stuttered.
Brie turned to stare down at the young minima, and Mimi thought she could see the scars of something from thousands of years past. She opened her mouth as if to continue, then shut it. Her eyes softened slightly, and she moved to the pole.
"I'm sorry, Mimi. I shouldn't have said that," Brie helped hand the pole back. "Here, let me to buy you something as an apology."
Mimi licked the dessert in her hand clean, but her thoughts were in turmoil still. What Ms. Polly said… she said it was a story, but it felt like she wholeheartedly believed it. Thousands of years ago… could something so terrible affect someone today? Was the outside world truly so horrible?
Thinking such thoughts, she didn't notice her grandfather waiting by the door to home until she nearly bumped into him.
"Ah! I'm sorry—Grandpa!" Mimi cried out, immediately going in for a hug.
"Hello Mimi, you've grown!" He responded, ruffling her hair as he hugged her back.
"What are you doing back here?" She questioned.
The elderly minima smiled, his antennae twitching as he pulled something out of his bag and presented it to her.
"Why, to give you this, of course! I got in contact with an old friend of mine in Avista, and he finally got around to making a console custom-designed just for us, with properly sized controllers!"
Mimi's eyes boggled as she took in the device. She heard about this, but never really saw it here in town. And he said someone from Avista made it for them?
"Grandpa…" her voice wobbled.
His smile slipped as he noticed her mood, "Mimi? What's wrong?"
"Do people outside here hate us?" She blurted out, and continued before he could respond. "I talked with a lot of my friends, and they all said really bad things about other countries. One even said a lot of their people got hurt, and then…"
He brought her in for a hug as she burst into tears, "Shh. Mimi, the people in other places don't hate us. Maybe some of them are bad, but there are bad people here too."
"Like Jelk?"
"Like Jelk," He said, laughing as he soothed her. "Mimi, the smallfolk… they have reason to be mistrustful of the other races. I won't deny that there have been bad times in the past… but you shouldn't ever think that they all hate you without even seeing how wonderful you are, understand?"
"I…" She started, then slumped into the embrace further. "Thank you, grandpa."
"Always, Mimi. Now, why don't we go inside and open this device up?"
AN:
Sorry for the late update. Had to visit the doctor during the time I get a lot of my writing done, and got busy with other stuff later. If the writing quality dropped a little for this, I apologize. I hope you enjoy them both still. The two have very different vibes and themes, but ultimately they're both focusing on deeply rooted internal problems. The Small Republic snippet was originally a lot longer, but I cut it down a bit to make it more on par with the rest. It still runs on a little long, but I didn't really want to remove a whole section. New Hope and Yashima should hopefully be finished tomorrow, and then we can get back to our regularly scheduled program haha.
So Sumire's demon problem is mainly cults and warlocks. Local authorities are holding, but Deirdre's experience would be really helpful to wipe them out before things get worse.
The Small place gave me bandle city vibes. And the impression I'm getting is once bitten twice shy, and thus Dei's role there would be as a living counter-example of all the bad stories they tell about the outside world…
So Sumire's demon problem is mainly cults and warlocks. Local authorities are holding, but Deirdre's experience would be really helpful to wipe them out before things get worse.
Yep. If there was like an actual outbreak of demons, Sumeri would probably quickly form up and focus on the threat. There's a lot of trauma associated with the Incursion still. Though with how people are, who knows if they could set aside their differences in time. The United Peoples would probably start intervening too.
Cultists are dangerous, but every nation sort of has them to some extent, and they are hardly going to risk their own people for another nation's squabbles if there's no gain from it. Sumeri isn't too far behind socially or technologically compared to other places, but the lack of real central authority and regional struggles sets the infrastructure and organization that could take on cults better back.
Granted, none of the nation's conflicts are about to erupt into apocalyptic levels, or else I wouldn't be giving choices haha. Some situations are worse than others but yeah, there's some competent people in every place. And who knows whether these visions of each nation are taking place at the same time? Currents are a weird place, after all .
The Small place gave me bandle city vibes. And the impression I'm getting is once bitten twice shy, and thus Dei's role there would be as a living counter-example of all the bad stories they tell about the outside world…
I had a lot of inspirations for the Small Republic, though it was still sort of difficult to fully put together. Some nations have clearly defined conflicts and issues while others are a bit more vague. This option though is mostly to show that you don't need super dangerous demons or battles against criminals to have an exciting adventure somewhere with its own difficulties.
Responding to this now that the New Hope interlude is coming up next. Remember that Deirdre psychologically can't really stay in any one place too long. The few characters I'll introduce for the city though might have some interesting stuff though you can do something with, I'm open to a lot of different paths.
Cultists are dangerous, but every nation sort of has them to some extent, and they are hardly going to risk their own people for another nation's squabbles if there's no gain from it. Sumeri isn't too far behind socially or technologically compared to other places, but the lack of real central authority and regional struggles sets the infrastructure and organization that could take on cults better back.
Suzuki Akira stared down at the city from the roof he was standing on, a blank expression on his face. Both bright magical lights and neon signs obscured the muck and grime beneath it all, with the various spotless corporate districts overshadowing the squalor everywhere else. He knew that in those palaces of glass and metal, the rich and influential lived in luxury and ate well from the imports of food they hoarded to themselves.
The state of everybody else depended both on how useful and exploitable they were. Most people were either homeless drifters or working a job so bad they might as well be dead inside. Those people could either be passed out in an alley from drugs or spending all their money on the various entertainment services in the city. Some were useful as enforcers and gang members. They flaunted their power and lived a moderately better life until they met someone bigger than them. A few had valuable skills, and they were quickly snatched up and forced to work for one corporation or another.
Akira was one of the few who was both valuable and too difficult to coerce. Twenty-five years ago, he left his home in Yashima to get away from his family and the general stress he was under to see the world. He lingered in Goryeo, Zhonghua, and Avista for a bit, but eventually ended up in New Hope. Akira didn't come during the period where everyone was working on building it up, but it wasn't quite as bad as it was now. The mokujin was drawn by the sheer amount of people and activity around here, and quickly found his niche as a rare programmer and hacker who knew how to work magic into digital technology.
He should have left when he had the chance.
Over the next fifteen years, Akira threw himself into the city, doing odd jobs for various start-ups and people who needed help. He shared various bits of knowledge and advice as someone who learned from the best in Yashima back when everyone used to help each other out. The mokujin helped design some of the tech around the city that people used every day, and he was a pioneer and leader in the developing digital and virtual world with his expertise in magitech.
Now, he was tired and just entered his early 40's not too long ago while the city went to shit. His family never made it to the continent, and he assumed they were dead. Akira would never get to reconcile with them again. He had no friends and hadn't talked with anyone for reasons besides business in years. He found himself adrift and listless, and Akira found he lacked the will or determination to refuse the high-paying jobs from corporations that ruined the lives of the people here and sometimes even outside.
Yet, he felt like he couldn't leave. Akira spent so much of his life and time here, and what else did he have? Yashima was closed off to him, and nowhere else held any memories for him. For a time, he was happy here. It was a question he shelved in a dark corner of his mind, but deep, deep down… he wondered if things could change for the better.
Dr. Visser began to chuckle to himself as he beheld some of his newest products. Vials, needles, glassware, and other containers littered his laboratory, each one holding within them a result of his genius. They were for commercial purposes and sold to either the richest or destitute depending on what they were for, but he appreciated them all the same. No other mind in this city or the world could match his understanding of the body.
Oh he didn't have a degree, but that was the beauty of New Hope! So long as he proved his capability, he would be sponsored and hired to experiment all he liked. Having to peddle a few drugs and scheduling the occasional medical appointments with the rich was such a small price to pay to finally be able to see the fruits of his labor.
He smiled widely as he thought back to his old university. Those utter fools. Dr. Visser would make them regret kicking him out. Their obsession with "ethics" and "standards" doomed them all to mediocrity. Didn't they know how many advancements in scientific knowledge they used today have been from those very same unethical experiments?
He was beyond those mewling simpletons now. While they had to go through red tape to get a shred of funding or attention for their ideas, Dr. Visser obtained all the resources he needed from people who recognized his true value. He looked all around himself, his smile widening at the lines of vats and tanks surrounding them. Bodies from a variety of races hovered in each of them, suspended in liquid with wires attached and a mask over their mouth.
Dr. Visser could accomplish so much now. He would work to discover the ideal physical form and see how far the mental processes of an individual could be improved. Not only that, he would solve the conundrums and issues that have stumped the finest minds for decades. His gaze shifted to a small section of his laboratory where some cell samples in stasis along with a few innocuous strands of hair rested.
Elven hair.
Ada felt the tension leaving her body as she watched her crew of misfits mess around in the game room. The human had her worn out suit jacket slung over her shoulder and was currently leaning against the door frame just out of sight. She never thought she'd end up here back in the lecture halls of her mage academy in Tarshish. That life seemed so far away now. Ada wondered if she'd still be stewing over flunking out of school if she hadn't received the call for help from her brother that got caught up in some trouble in New Hope.
She helped him out of the city, but in the process saw the sea of suffering and pain there. Ada wasn't sure if it was the Light secretly motivating her or her own desperate need for a purpose in her life, but she decided to stay and do what she could to help people out. The dropout mage took jobs with little pay from those who needed the help and set up her own little system of connections among the grateful. Her crew came from those who she helped or inspired, wanting to follow in her footsteps despite the pay.
Ada wasn't powerful enough to challenge the whole city, but she swore she would be different from the rest. Her little band would fight for the people against those who sold themselves to large corporations, and hopefully one day it would lead to something more.
In one of the many rundown, unremarkable sections of New Hope, a nondescript warehouse sat among many others like it. A group of individuals clad in varying amounts of cyber tech and protective gear sat around a table playing cards, a flickering light the only source of illumination in the room. They had just got done with a job for one of the corporations needing a little muscle and were relaxing with each other for a little while.
Suddenly, the sound of the steel reinforced door leading to their hideout being kicked down made them jump as something tore through it with enough force to tear it off the hinges. They immediately scrambled to take out their guns and pointed it at the fallen door, where the barely visible form of someone stood silently at the entrance.
Too shocked to say anything, they watched as the figure casually took their foot out of the hole in the door, the metal holding it being torn apart as if it were wet tissue paper. Then, as if nothing occurred, it began to slowly walk towards them, the scraping sound of a pipe sliding on the floor the only thing they could hear.
One of them snapped out of it, "Crew, gun that fucker down already!"
They opened fire, but the bullets and energy did nothing to stop it. It did not get knocked back when they hit. It did not flinch or halt. It did not stop.
One of the bullets must've ricocheted or been misfired as suddenly the lights were hit and the room entered darkness. A momentary sense of panic was all the crew had before the monster was on them. The sounds of screams, bones being shattered with each impact of a pipe or fist, and flesh and blood being pulped and sprayed across the interior echoed in the building and surrounding area.
Not even a minute passed before a figure left the warehouse, the sound of the pipe again scraping against the floor. Blood, grime, and more were splattered all over their hair and mismatched clothes, obscuring many identifying features. Bullet holes and burn marks could be seen everywhere on their clothes, but what little could be seen past the grimy skin would reveal an almost ceramic or porcelain-like skin with strange cracks and materials running through it that had little to do with the projectiles shot at them.
Han Seo-yoon walked listlessly to her next target, a single minded focus driving her every step. Her raspy breaths and quiet shuffle forward were the only other sounds besides the pipe being dragged across the ground. In the haze of her mind, only one thought steered her actions.
She was going to tear down this city and its corporations to its very foundations, brick by brick, with her own two hands.
AN:
Yep, here's the cyberpunk setting of this world! Just gonna post this before I head out for now. It originally had a part with a CEO/business owner portion, but I took it out since it was short and didn't really add anything you guys wouldn't suspect already. Lemme know what you guys think. I found it somewhat difficult to move past certain tropes about these kinds of settings, but I think I have a very interesting idea for what will essentially be the cyberspace, and some magic/tech fusions possibly. Still, I'll admit that this snippet is probably the one I'm least confident on. Last up is Yashima, and then I rest my hands for a bit haha.
Okay. So we may be obligated to head over to New Hope sometime and stomp out a mad scientist's teeth, depending on what's going on there. Good to know.
Aoki Junko sighed angrily as the caller on the other end of the line hung up on her. Setting down her tablet with a bit more force than necessary, the mokujin ran a trembling hand through her messy, papery hair that came undone not too long ago. Another polite dismissal by the United Peoples despite repeated promises to organize a proper sophontarian response for Yashima, one she's heard hundreds of times.
Ten years she's led the Yashima Refugee and Reclamation Association, and all she's been able to do was help ensure that her countrymen weren't dropped in completely deplorable conditions. It was important work and needed to be done, but she felt like it was just constantly reapplying a band-aid on a wound which never stopped bleeding. The actual problem of what occurred at Yashima was kicked down the road, with nations either mostly apathetic or viciously opportunistic in snatching up the scientists and technicians of the doomed nation to take their technology.
She stared at a photo frame she set on her desk, the image of two younger, almost identical mokujin being held by their parents. A decade ago, her twin brother pushed her towards one of the last airships sent to evacuate people from the last urban center. The pilot, who had been discharged from the force after, had flown to Yashima against orders and shouted to the people that this was the last airship and that she could only take a few with her.
Junko could remember it so vividly still, her screaming at her brother to not go. An adult kitsune who had been watching carried her the rest of the way, and all she could do was sob as she burned the sight of her last remaining family in her mind. She screamed to him that she would come back with help and to wait for her. He only gave a sad, but determined smile before turning back to go be a godsdamned hero like he always wanted to be.
Ten years later, the quarantine remained. She's made no real progress. Sometimes influential people or various officials would make sympathetic remarks, but never actually committed to something. Junko was a liar, a failure who shouldn't have been the one saved that day. Her brother would've kicked everyone's behinds and rallied them to Yashima in the first year if he were here. She… she couldn't do it by herself. Junko needed someone else to come support the cause, but who would help?
A merman angrily stormed away from the UP meeting he had been forced to attend. Those short-sighted, egotistical suits! Archie swore they were only there to serve as a mouthpiece for whatever propaganda they've been ordered to spout instead of actually ensuring international cooperation in one of most extraordinary institutions to ever exist. They had just informed him that the proposal that he pulled on every connection to get accepted had failed to see any real results or benefits, and that they'd discontinue it soon if that didn't change.
No shit his proposal wasn't working when he was getting stonewalled and denied from actually doing anything with it. Every fucking time some issue popped up that his group might be able to help with, they'd deflect his offer and then leave his people collecting dust on the sidelines. They'd either keep silent about him to people who could join or straight up block them from recruitment.
Archie shook his head to try and clear it of the anger. He managed to snag one person from out of Avista, an extremely talented mage from the most prestigious magic academy in Tarshish. But the rest of his group were from Avista. The council would use that point to claim that this proposal was a blatant power grab from Avista in their mission of trying to establish a hegemony over the rest of the world. The Avistan representatives had to be very careful about outright supporting him, else they risk the rest of the council pulling the plug on it in response.
He truly believed in his vision. An international team of the best, strongest, and skilled people with a personable image to serve as a first response and force to rally behind for the numerous problems Orbis still suffered. His team just needed something big, something public they could deal with. They couldn't just be stopping petty crime on the streets of Avista. But what? What big cause would the other nations let him act on?
Yashima
Fushimi Fumi stood with perfect poise and composure despite the exhaustion seeping into her bones as she observed the area before her. This was one of the sanctuaries in the city shrines for the people too afflicted by the corrosive and corruptive atmosphere of Yashima to function. They were left here to stall the affliction's progression, or to have a peaceful death. Some volunteered to be part of the scientific experiments in search of a cure, but most chose to be under the protection of the kami.
The miko she led bustled around the wide space, providing a mixture of spiritual support and mundane medicines to the patients. Some stared blankly forward, as if they were looking at something far beyond Orbis. Others had various parts and protrusions growing out of them, a mixture of random animal parts or something made of whatever the esoteric material the corruption created. A few muttered meaningless statements as if they were the most profound thing they ever heard. They stopped trying to identify a pattern to it all, none of it made sense.
Many looked towards her for hope, faith shining in their eyes as they beheld the traditional red-white outfit she wore. The four-tailed kitsune somehow managed to look them in the eyes and smile at them as she assured them of their safety and recovery in the last haven of Yashima. In truth, Fumi felt like a great deceiver wearing the skin of someone much greater than herself. She was no powerful miko able to single-handedly ward off a legion of demons.
That miko fell defending the shrine at the capital. Fumi remembered watching in horror as those… incomprehensible monstrosities tore her apart and did something to what was left. She was powerless as the great nine-tails was altered to become a mockery of what she was before. The Light that she believed in so much didn't save her from that fate. What remained of her essence? Would she ever have a peaceful rest? Was she writhing in constant, unending agony as her flesh and mind rebelled against itself?
Fumi respected and looked up to her, despite the differences in their beliefs. She always preferred the old ways of the kami Yashima had always followed before the Light, but the nine-tails led the various factions ably. No one deserved that fate. She never wanted to become the next Guji of the faith like this.
She had to endure however. The people of Yashima would endure alone as they always have. Fumi would trust in the kami and the last vestiges of strength in the population because in the end…
…no one was coming to help.
Aoki Junpei let out a battle cry as he charged into the horde of writhing, ever-changing monstrosities. Quicker than the eye could blink, his blade flickered and cut down a dozen before they could react. Blood and fluids of all colors coated his uniform, with his face bared into a rictus of furious determination. He stomped down on a tendril attempting to skewer him and ran forward to shove his blade into the roiling flesh of the abomination to do it.
Junpei ignored the sensation that came over him at the sight and sound of these monsters, his resistance to the mental and physical corrosion of the air and monsters the highest recorded in what was left of the population. The horrified fascination and wonder the monsters were reported to instill in their victims slid over him easily. Because of this capability, he went out on solo missions for the most dangerous encounters daily, knowing it was his duty to serve as the first line of defense.
He grabbed at some winged beast that shouldn't have been able to fly and spiked it into the ground, splattering its contents onto the ground. Pivoting, Junpei focused his mind deep within himself, calling on the strange energy that he felt ever since the day of the Impact. Feeling that connection click, he roared as he swung his sword in let out an arc of energy and force that cleaved through the remaining mob of monstrosities charging at him.
Taking in deep breaths, he looked around at the dozens of corpses half-dissolving into the air. Nobody knew if it worsened the atmosphere, but what choice did they have? The shifting colors and forms of these mockeries of life seemed to pulse around him, and he quickly looked around for the people he was saving.
Junpei saw them, a mother futilely trying to cover the eyes of her two children. The three of them were obviously terrified, so he began to walk forward with an arm raised in greeting. When they shrunk back in fear, he realized they weren't just frightened by the monstrosities.
They were scared of him.
He stopped, looked at them for a moment before pointing to one direction, "Go. I'll watch over you from a distance."
The mother sat frozen for a second, before jerkily nodding and leading her children out. Seeing those two kids, Junpei's heart ached for the person most precious and closest to him. He missed his twin sister dearly but… Junpei would take solace in her safety far away from here. The mokujin strode forward after the family, blood seeping into the wooden sections of his body.
He would do everything in his power to halt the advance of the monsters here. They would not spread past Yashima so long as he still lived. He didn't care what he had to do in order to get powerful enough. Junpei would take it because while he loved and respected his sister, he knew deep down…
…no one was coming to help.
"Wha—what do you mean the materials I requested aren't coming in? I was told there was enough to go around!"
The harried looking messenger could only shrug as he said, "I'm sorry, Sanada-sensei. The shipment simply didn't come by."
Sanada Tomoko looked incredulously at him, "Never came by? What does that even mean you—" she stopped, took a deep breath, and sighed. "Okay, okay. Fine. Just, I'll figure something out. Leave me be."
Tomoko turned away as the kitsune left. The bake-danuki was dressed in her customary lab coat as she turned back to her work. Not that she could do anything if she didn't have the fucking materials! She kicked the metal table leg closest to her in blind anger and screamed as she collapsed to the ground and curled into a ball of pained bushy fur. Gasping in pain and blinking out the tears that came, the scruffy figure of the short bake-danuki tried to focus.
The water and food situation was bad as always, but Tomoko managed to maintain the technology that helped purify, create, and grow them just enough to supplement enough to feed everyone. The power broke down all the time around the city, and she still didn't know why. She still couldn't pierce whatever interference was blocking communication with the continent, and Tomoko could barely organize the sewage system because of the metaphorical shit that kept messing it up. The mechs, power suits, and valkyrie units were fine for now, but she didn't have the parts to replace anything if they got damaged.
Not enough parts, not enough tools, not enough people that could help, and not enough time. Tomoko shakily stood up and stared at the table littered with various objects in a haphazard order only she understood. She wasn't sure what the outside world assumed about the situation here, but she knew it with a painful clarity. There weren't just a handful of survivors here. There weren't a collection of a few hundred. There wasn't even a sizable thousand or tens of thousands. There were hundredsof thousands of people they knew about stuck here after everything happened, and who knows if there were surviving communities in even direr straits out there?
"Fuck those idiots for getting us into this. Fuck their grand projects and great vision for Yashima to 'ascend' or whatever bullshit they were spouting." She began muttering.
Tomoko wasn't part of the main group behind whatever initiative that started this catastrophe, but she knew people who were. They would consult her on this and that matter, and the dumb tanuki that she was happily supplied her knowledge to them.
"Damn it. Those fucking… FUCK THEM!" She screamed, the stress making her want to pull on her fur.
"M-mama?"
Tomoko stopped, her anger evaporating as she saw her little tanuki standing at a doorway with a hand holding onto her android assistant. Said android gave her an apologetic glance but remained silent to give them their moment.
"Hoshi-chan… I'm sorry that—did you get drink and food all over yourself again?" Tomoko said, half-scolding and half-comforting as she approached her adopted daughter who was holding onto her bushy tail with her other arm.
"Sorry Mama…" the little rascal murmured, but there was a smile on her face as she was cleaned up by her mother.
Tomoko thought as she tended to her. She had theories behind what happened with the Impact. The bake-danuki knew it had something to do with what occurred on the Lost Continent, her having gone there once to study its environment. The demons, the monstrosities, the Lost Continent, the things beyond… they were all connected, she just knew it. But it was useless conjecture when she couldn't do anything about it. Not with what she had, and what she had to do to protect little Hoshi and the people of Yashima. She had to let it go and put her all into her duties, because after all…
…no one was coming to help.
AN: The final interlude is over! Discuss, vote, change your vote, ask questions, I'll give... a two day voting period, both to give time and help me relax and prepare.
Woo, I churned this one out fast. Woke up from a little nap energized and inspired. I decided to include a small United Peoples portion because they'll be really important in the first part if you guys choose Yashima. Also, yes. That is a potential maybe superhero team thing. I thought it'd be fun, and I partially based Avista on the western superhero genre. However, whether in Yashima or other parts where they may pop up, you may decline to include or be part of them if you guys feel it won't mesh well with the setting. I just thought it'd be cool to have what a magic fantasy version of a superhero team would look like. These won't be the only people you'll be in contact with for the UP portion if you chose it though, if you're worried about that.
Also, Yashima. I've had these three character conceptions in my mind for a while. Each of them have a valuable perspective on the Impact. The situation there is obviously bad, but like Sumeri, Avista, and Tarshish, there are competent people holding on for now. There's still people dying and suffering though like everywhere else though, and probably a bit more than anywhere else. And yeah, this one had a little more guilt built into it, but can you really blame a population of people being abandoned for ten years in a post-apocalyptic environment? I feel like it'd make sense if they were a little bitter about it, and probably more so as the years went on. I swear I didn't meant to add the little guilt trips at the end, but they fit so perfectly with the general tone of the interlude.
Side note, but I swear to god the hardest part with writing these was coming up with names haha. I had ideas for all the places, but writing these out really helped conceptualize them. I really hope you guys didn't mind the wait and delay from the actual quest. I didn't plan for the "snippets" to be so long. Anyways, signing out for now. Points to anyone who gets the reference Tomoko's daughter is based on .
Yashima and Sumire are definitely my picks, the former because monster slaying is something our elf would be able to help with a lot, but I want clean up demonic influence and cults first since that's directly tied to the backstory we chose.
We shouldn't leave the job unfinished after 3 wars spent eliminating the threat.
Yashima and Sumire are definitely my picks, the former because monster slaying is something our elf would be able to help with a lot, but I want clean up demonic influence and cults first since that's directly tied to the backstory we chose.
We shouldn't leave the job unfinished after 3 wars spent eliminating the threat.
I was debating whether to comment on this for a bit, but decided on not possibly giving the wrong impression. Deirdre would know this too anyways. While I don't think anyone thought we'd be removing demons as a threat for good or anything, going to help in Sumeri isn't going to really change the fact that it's more vulnerable to demonic influence in its southern half, just like the northern part of the continent(I'll get to it one day!) is also a bit wonky due to the lingering corruption from the Incursion. They would have dealt with it already if it were so easy. I'm a bit too tired for good metaphors, but going to help in Sumeri is going to be like plugging a leaky bucket. Stopping it from leaking as much is going to help save lives and make things better, but the bucket still isn't actually repaired.
Deirdre knows some magic and stuff about dealing with demons, but she isn't an actual mage that's dedicated a significant portion of her life studying the stuff that people have working on and adding onto for the last thousand or so years. There's stuff in each nation that could possibly give better answers and an understanding of it(or companions who do), like Tarshish for magic, Avista/New Hope for tech, and Yashima for straight up knowledge/theories. I even have something cooked up for the Small Republic in a way regarding that. What Deirdre was surprised about was that Sumeri still didn't have a good handle on the situation due to its various regional problems, not that cultists/demons were still there.
Hopefully voters don't take this as me saying to not go for Sumeri. You'll definitely be fighting cultists and whatever they decide to do if that's what you want to do. I just don't want to potentially disappoint anyone if you guys thought we were gonna banish the demons for good in Sumeri. (Edit: Thought I should also add that the vulnerabilities in the north and south of the continent are still no where near as bad as they were during the Incursion, just that it's really difficult fully stabilize areas that had a full on demonic invasion for decades.)
Eliminating the threat isn't in the cards it seems but stopping the cults from spreading and hopefully being able to share some knowledge with the locals on how to do it might help them effectively contain the threat on their own at least.
Testing the schedule vote feature while it's still early. Decided to extend the voting period to Tuesday morning for me since I'll probably not be posting that late anyways and will be looking at final results in the morning. You guys have 38ish hours to finalize the first destination. Seems pretty close!
Also (tentatively) made/finalized a character sheet and system I will be using. Decided to use 3d6 rolls for less variance. It might look weird, but I'm pretty sure it'll show off Deirdre's skills. I might post one or two more informational posts on the magic system and demons/fae/other beings if you want that, though I don't want to clutter too much.
Ahh screw it. I'd rather give you guys as much information as I can, and I'm getting antsy waiting anyways. So far, I feel like I've neglected the magical/spiritual side of Orbis, so here's a short overview on what I have on the Currents and general cosmology of the world which will be updated as we go. Important, considering the places you guys might be going to very soon.
Currents
The essence and source of all that is in the world and beyond. It is an ever flowing and shifting space of energy and magic, of thought and belief, of souls and creation, and of death and cycles. The connection between Orbis and the Currents runs deep, and events and happenings in both reflect on the other.
The Currents is what maintains, powers, and protects Orbis from what lurks beyond. It is the system on which the material world runs on, and without it Orbis would almost certainly not exist. In turn, Orbis helps shape the various beings, places, and spaces in the Currents. It is the anchor to which the Currents are tied to, and the solidity and quality of the essence of life in Orbis strengthens the protections, laws of reality, and systems the Currents maintains for both. Though the Currents are technically much vaster than Orbis, space and time are strange inside it and a small area in Orbis may be tied to much larger spaces in the Currents.
Currently, laws and structures are in place that heavily restrict the interference and movement of beings on Orbis. This was done to help close the rifts torn open by the Incursion and limit the demonic influence on the material world. Of course, these are not absolute, and various beings have their ways around it...
The Promised Lands
A great collection of all the disparate good realms, it is both a vast and deeply contained plane. It includes realms such as Heaven, Elysium, Nirvana, and other paradises. Though theoretically the strongest and largest realm, the Great Council which helped connect them all together was as in the Material Realm a somewhat rough process. Conflicting domains and identities along with the battle between worship of individual gods/pantheons or the all-encompassing Light made the Promised Lands unable to unite into a true cohesive whole.
Still, there isn't any real infighting either, and the celestials dedicated to defeating those threatening the sanctity and balance of the realms are as focused as ever. They help create a safe afterlife and paradise for the faithful and ensure that the remnants and essence of mortals entering the currents do not get lost in the Currents or taken by malicious forces. Constantly defending and maintaining their realms leads them to almost never appearing on Orbis, however.
Their mindset may be more defensive than other beings towards combating evil, but their role is vital in ensuring the stability and sanctity of the Currents. The celestials guard the safe havens and harbors of the ever flowing and moving Currents and are each symbols and beacons of virtue and selflessness in the vast sea. Beings of the divine prefer to inspire and empower mortals to be able to defend themselves, grow, and decide their own fates. If one were to appear in Orbis, it would be only in the most dire straits.
Hell
The plane of devils and fiends, an organized torture for souls delivered to eternal punishment. Researchers theorize that Hell was originally simply a regular prison for dangerous spirits and forces, one among the many "underworlds" that existed in the Currents. When the Abyss came into being in all its horrific majesty however, it held the line and became a rallying point for various beings to organize and strike back against the demons. It evolved into its own realm entirely eventually, and it became a place where its inhabitants would imprison the sinful souls and beings that came into the Currents and slowly torture and eventually remove the the taint entirely.
Devils and fiends are a diverse collection of beings, drawing from all different kinds of mythologies and religions in Orbis as well as some wholly from the Currents. The standard red-skinned bipedal form with horns is most commonly associated with them, but there are many that look little different from the unaligned beings and spirits in the Currents. Some are even former—or current celestials that either came to seek a more active approach to combating demons and other malicious forces or as sent to collaborate and coordinate efforts. No fae are ever found willingly there though, as they find the stifling atmosphere of order and structure of Hell repulsive.
Hell and devils are now an integral part of the order of the Currents, essentially functioning as police and hunters of sinful and rogue beings of all stripes. Their methodology is controversial however, and they are uncompromising and thorough with how they perform their duties. Their "deals" with mortals are actually theorized as ways to sniff out the sinful, guide them to a predictable route in life, and collect their essences after they die to ensure minimal harm is done by them. Devils and fiends know how to skirt past the laws of interference, and a good number know ways into Orbis, including devils who have gone astray. How they determine who to deal with is unknown, and some devils are more uncaring towards the mortals caught up in their schemes than others. To a devil, most people are sinners in some way or another.
The Fae Courts
People have polarizing views of the Fae, seeing them as either harmless, playful spirits or as horrifying tricksters out to harm people for their own brand of enjoyment. The truth is that they are a complicated and varied group of beings like any other, and that to hold either an unblinking admiration or a vicious hatred of them is unwise. They are the first beings capable of true thought and independent action in Creation, and their oldest members remember a time where everything was unformed and shapeless. Fae are not beholden to or influenced by mortals or Orbis nearly as much because of this, and often have their own mystifying way of seeing things.
While this should always make people wary of them, it does not mean that they are incapable of understanding others, empathizing, and reasoning if things are properly explained to them. They can be staunch allies and never back out of a promise, debt, or deal. There are many Fae dedicated to fighting off otherworldly invaders and stemming the tide of demons due to both personal reasons and the binding vows many of them make. They have the most in-depth knowledge of how to manipulate the various forces in the Currents and traverse the strange and turbulent spaces between the isles of stability, making them most able to match the demons in the chaotic scrambles they like to employ.
A fae's form is always variable and different, with no one true identifying feature for them. The only semi-consistent signs are that their attempts to structure a material form always end up looking off ever so slightly. It will also stretch and compress to some degree, with their bodies often having a misty quality as they phase in and out of Currents and Orbis. Their "true forms" verge on being masses of energy and mana, though they have much more of an essence, center, and varied makeup than elementals or purely shapeless spirits.
Ever since the increased restrictions on interference between Orbis and the Currents set after the Incursion, Fae are rarely seen anymore. The increased industrialization, structure, and slow reduction of natural environments that the Fae preferred in the modern era has further eroded their presence. Those able to traverse or peer in the Currents know that they are not gone however as they can be seen frolicking, playing, fighting, and doing as they please in their numerous courts.
Abyss
The plane of demons and horrors, it is the terror of that which is all too familiar. They are invaders from beyond the Currents that are theorized to have come when the civilizations on the Lost Continent fell. They feed on the darkness and desire lurking in all beings, masters of drawing it out from the hearts of mortals. Sustained by the sins committed by their followers and the suffering they inflict on sacrifices and innocents, they have plagued life on Kiengir since the earliest days of civilization.
They come in a large variety of forms, and unlike the Fae, are all too good at maintaining a material body due to their greater understanding of mortals and life in Orbis. The terrible beauty of succubi, terrifying and imposing hulks of ferocity, shadowy masses of malevolence, and writhing masses of flesh and bones are but a few of the forms a demon may take. With their grasp of the mortal psyche theorized to be greater than all beings in the Currents, they easily adapt to the changes in Orbis and constantly invent new ways of inflicting suffering.
Demons are not a singular force or mass with a unifying ideology. They kill, enslave, and torture each other as much, or even more than other beings. Many demons are often incredibly opportunistic in turning on their allies. While this has been used against them, relying on the behavior of demons to stay consistent in any one way is a mistake. The many demon lords and powerful forces of the Abyss all have their own ways of sowing chaos and destruction as well.
One thing is clear, and that is one should never underestimate a demon no matter how weak it seems. They believe nothing is invincible, unbeatable, or incorruptible. Their opportunistic behavior bites them, but there are times where they strike at precisely the wrong times because in a way, they are utterly fearless and confident in acting on that impulse of "what if…"
The Beyond
The little-understood theoretical area beyond the Currents. It isn't really proven to strictly exist outside strange rifts being observed, but it is widely accepted that the demons aren't native to the Currents. Evidence of the Beyond was further supported by the Impact in Yashima, where a new set of horrors and monstrosities struck the nation in a disaster theorized to be similar to what happened with demons and the Lost Continent. Peering into the voids and rifts too deeply is difficult, and can often be mentally hazardous.
So far, every intrusion from the Beyond has been malicious and destructive in nature. The people of Orbis have every reason to believe that any forces desiring to step into their reality will also be doing it for nefarious purposes. This leads to a question on everyone's minds. If a calamity struck the Lost Continent and led the demons here, and another hit distant Yashima and drew the still unknown but terrifying monstrosities… would a destructive evil also invade Kiengir one day?
I was thinking of talking a bit more about magic, religions/gods, souls, and other stuff here, but I think they deserve their own sections. Hopefully you guys like this. I've always been very interested in the various cosmologies and pantheons of fantasy worlds, and I'll often look through all the lore surrounding them. There's something so fascinating about it all.
One thing I don't tend to like though is when all these beings sort of lack free will or are entirely sustained/created by either mortal belief or god stuff. These are all independently thinking beings that may share common causes and be influenced by the material world, but have existed before Kiengir and Orbis came to be, and would still exist if they somehow disappeared. I find it a lot more interesting to have varied behaviors and motivation for these beings while making them clearly still distinct from normal mortals.
Anyways, less than 1 day for the votes to be finalized and we'll finally be back on schedule!
[X] Sumeri: 8 votes
[X] Yashima: 6 votes
[X] Zhonghua: 2 votes
[X] The Small Republic: 2 votes
[X] New Hope: 2 votes
[X] Avista: 1 vote
Alright, I have something finished written up, and the vote isn't changing so I decided to just post at the original scheduled time. Might have spent a bit too long on the interludes.
You tilt your head back, thinking carefully on how to answer Grog's question. Where to go next has always been a difficult decision to make, and one you slowly chew over on the last few weeks or days of the current trip. Kiengir was a large continent with innumerable sights and locations to get lost in while wandering, hence the times when you go on trips where you can be gone for months or even years without a word. Each nation is host to cities and towns with long histories behind them and diverse cultures mingling with each other as well.
Right now, the itch for something more… exciting has been present in your mind for the past few days. The cycle your mind seems to go through has long stretches of time where you can peacefully immerse yourself in the serenity of nature and small villages for years or decades, with occasional bursts of activity. This slowly changes and becomes shorter over time until you are at the other side of the cycle where you feel the need to get involved with people, conflicts, and various other dangers more often.
You rode the tide of the international hubbub after the World War before quietly slipping away into your travels. If your estimation is about right, this would be around the time where you'll start wanting to stick your nose in everyone's business, wouldn't it? The trip to Central Kiengir only captured your attention for a few months, after all.
The question remains though. Where? The inclinations your elvish heritage gives you doesn't force you anywhere in particular. You mentally start crossing off various nations, shelving them for a later time when you have more recent adventures under your belt and don't feel as antsy to have something thrilling right this moment.
Avista can be turbulent at times, but it isn't a place where you can be part of the action immediately. Tarshish has many issues, but those problems don't look like something you can shoot an arrow at. Zhonghua and The Small Republic both were undergoing difficulties with the modern era, but how will you help them when you haven't fully adapted yourself? New Hope is something you need to learn more about before jumping in. So that leaves…
Sumeri and Yashima. You chew your lips, the agitation settling in as your mind goes once more to past and new threats. Going to the island nation in peril is your first instinct. To help those in need when no one else is stepping up, to face unknown dangers despite the risk, and to inspire others to rise above themselves. Those are the values instilled by those much greater than you over millennia. Being reminded of it so suddenly while you are in this state of restlessness, it rankles you to not pull on every connection you have and confront a great threat once more.
The thing that barely holds you back is the question of whether you're truly ready and capable of acting on a plan for aiding the quarantined nation. This was a situation where if the first attempt fails, there may really be no next time Yashima will ever receive the help it needs. When was the last time you truly got into a conflict with serious risk and stakes? Combat ability and other skills aren't static capabilities people always have mastery with, they have to be sharpened constantly or lose their edge. The only time since the war you have really been pressed was during an ambush in New Hope decades ago, but even that posed no real risk of death or worse for you.
You need to hone your skills first, to get used to being in danger again while raising your awareness of the world at large. The fact that you believed Sumeri had their affairs well in hand was a sure sign that you've been unfocused and out of touch. Dealing with an ancient foe of yours in this new era seems like the best way of shaking the rust and cobwebs off you.
"Sumeri," you answer finally as you look back down to meet Grog's gaze. "I think I will head to Sumeri next."
For a moment, the orc seems relieved, the slight tenseness that remained in his grip holding the cane relaxing as he smiles. Then he appears to remember what he said about it and he sighs.
"Well, if anyone has a chance of stamping out the cultists there, I guess it'd be you eh, Ms. Crusader?" He half-grumbles and half-jokes.
"Indeed, Mr. Clown," You say easily. "I do think I will be able to smite a sinful soul or five."
Grog laughs, "Have fun down there then. Don't cause too much of a mess there. Authorities don't like unexpected elements no matter how helpful they are. And…"
You lay a hand on his shoulder, "I'll stay safe, Grog. If the full might of the Incursion could not end me, a few cultists will pose little threat to me."
"Tch," he mutters. "Alright alright, go kick some ass already. Show them how the Doom Commandos handle their enemies."
With that, the two of you go in for a hug before separating. You stare at his retreating form for a moment before turning away and focusing your mind on the task before you.
As you start the process of scheduling a flight to head to Sumeri's southwestern region, a thought crosses your mind. This isn't a trip you're taking just for pleasure. This is also a mission you have assigned yourself with a clear goal in mind. Old instincts come trickling back in bit by bit. During the Second Crusade, you participated in many operations where you had to approach hostile or contested territory with the goal being to either sabotage or learn about enemy movements.
You aren't a largely unknown figure in this world anymore. Going to Sumeri through a normal flight might notify the cultists paying attention to anything coming to oppose them. Even if you aren't the most famous celebrity, you have publicly mentioned your involvement in the Crusades in various interviews, posts, and to influential figures. Not to mention, it's possible their demon masters might know of you too. It's difficult to fully conceal your presence as well, and there may be people aligned or unaligned with them that notice you during your time there.
You have a few options here, possibly. The Hurricane would have advised you to hide your presence and intentions until you spot the best time to strike. Knowledge and planning are paramount to victories and accomplishing missions such as this.
However, waltzing through a country's borders isn't nearly as easy as it used to be anymore. You've learned how to go through all the bureaucracy of entering a new nation, but not all the different ways of bypassing it. You're not so confident you can make it unnoticed or in a timely manner, not to mention the legal difficulties if you are discovered to have not been permitted entry there. That would be very complicated to explain to the Sumeri authorities, and you don't know if they'll take you wanting to investigate demons there well as an explanation.
Captain Shel would have told you to stop overcomplicating things and just go. Wasting time thinking about this means you're wasting time not actually dealing with the issue. The World War was fast-paced and required quick and decisive decisions, which Captain Shel was adept at doing.
It's quite possible the cultists there might not be paying attention at all to whoever is entering the places they reside in. Even if some noticed, perhaps not everyone would be notified. Surely there must be other figures of note that visit without issue. You can probably deal with any complications too. The many uncertainties in these thoughts make you hesitate however. You've learned not to underestimate demons, and this was something you could afford to spend some thinking on a better solution for.
A thought occurs to you. Archbishop Ismael sent notice of his arrival to the places he visited and announced his presence when he arrived. You could do something similar and make a public post on social media about your future visit to Sumeri to "explore familiar old sights" and see what has changed. You will take refuge in audacity, reveal yourself to the wicked, and dare them to oppose you in the Light.
The cultists would definitely know of your coming then, but what could they do about it? You will catch the eyes of various people in the public as well, and perhaps even relevant authority and religious figures. Hiding your intentions behind the publicity of your visit will not be hard either. Most demon worshipers are fundamentally cowards and failures, wanting to only act when they think they have a good opportunity to do so. If they do act off some impulse, you will likely be prepared and catch them in the act. You will definitely be watched in some way, however, and you don't truly know the extent of their capabilities and reach.
How do you choose to enter Sumeri?
[] Try to find a way to go through the border and secretly enter Sumeri: Knowledge and surprise will make up for the difficulties of achieving this. You could strike a great first blow on them if you succeed.
(May or may not require rolls depending how you choose to go about this)
[] Just go normally without announcing your visit: You shouldn't waste time thinking about this, and surely they won't notice you immediately and have a plan in place to deal with you. Getting there quickly and dealing with the scramble after is within your capabilities.
[] Post on social media about your visit before you go: You fear no demon or cultist, and you'll let them cower from the Light as you return to Sumeri to be rid of them once more. This will notify the public and relevant figures who might help as well.
[X] Try to find a way to go through the border and secretly enter Sumeri
Cults are hard to root out, so surprise is essential. The authorities might get mad, but better to ask forgiveness than permission, since we can earn forgiveness by dealing the cults a severe blow.
[] Post on social media about your visit before you go
As I understand the problem, this…
Is probably a terrible plan actually. See, the catch is, Sumer can't keep it together because they're a bunch of smaller powers in a trenchcoat.
So yeah, going loud will spook the cultists…
But it has two failure points I can think of.
1. everyone goes: the last elf's got this! And proceeds to go back to their tit for tat games that give the Cultists room to breathe while they dodge a bogeyman they do not want to fight, or set up decoys and other ablative defenses to keep her busy…
2.Going loud mean la everyone looks at us, and we become the Roaming King's Court for however long we wanna hang out, but dealing with politics means not dealing with the cultists who just hide and wait out our patience.
Basically: Gang A treats us to their Sumerians fish industry, then Gang B shows us the old ruins and ask how well they've kept them up from the last time we were there, etc, etc. meanwhile the cultists are packing up and running while we're posing for the cameras, to keep our hosts happy.
[] Try to find a way to go through the border and secretly enter Sumeri
The Link answer, just one day Death shows up and that's the last you hear from people of that base. I suspect this ends poorly unless Dei makes her roll to sneaky. Failure probably means political bog-down only now the hosts are starting off annoyed at us. No offense to the Elf but I reckon it might be best not to go this route unless we're sure and she does not sound all that sure about her odds.
[X] Just go normally without announcing your visit:
Just be all hi I'm Deidere, and I hear ya'll's got a demon problem. Let's a go! The lack of social presence or shenanigans means we'll be reliably quiet, and the relaxed pace without broadcasting might make it look like we're still doing the lazy walk-about thing instead of getting ready to shoot some demons.
[X] Just go normally without announcing your visit
I think we're currently the least famous we'll ever be during this quest. If we get dogpiled by walking in now, it's a very valuable lesson for the future. And I do doubt that the cultists have a plan to detect and attack someone who hasn't actually fought demons for decades.
I think I can say that there won't be any clear 100% you screwed up by picking this and will fail horribly decisions in this quest. I'm not trying to trap people haha. Certain choices will be riskier still and have their own or more difficulties, of course, but there may or may not be unexpected boons/events that happen for each of them. And of course, I take into account all the backstory stuff you've chosen when coming up with all this, so keep all this in mind.
