The Rising of the Shield Heroine

Tale Swapper · Feb 7, 2021

She wasn't angry.

The realization fell in with the rest, as she felt her knees give out beneath her.

Taylor- garbed in armor, capable of jumping twelve feet in one go, strong enough to bash a man flying in one hit (still pretending to be Alexandria) - didn't sound furious. Or bitter. Or even upset.

She just sounded… tired.

Green gaze locked with her own, and she crouched before Emma's limp form, eyes now level with hers. Taylor looked almost the same; wide mouth, prominent nose, and big eyes. But the calm, stoic expression was different. No. It was the same. The expression she'd always seen as weakness, passivity.

Now she could tell. This was the face of someone who'd ceased to care. And that burned.

Why? Why did this hurt?

Why did she care?

Maybe those… shrinks were right. When you start defining your place based on where others are, what happens when they move past you?

--[0]--

Emma's gaze stayed locked on mine for a few minutes, before it finally dropped. Her voice came out in a whisper. "...how?"

I shook my head. "If you push someone hard enough, they run, quit, or fight back. I finally chose the last, in that damned locker." As she looked up, startled, I continued. "I swore to survive and learn the truth. This is where it brought me." I kept her gaze locked on mine. "So. I know what happened, know that Sophia saved you, much like this. And I get you wanting to be strong." I leaned in a little. "But where did torturing me factor into it?"

Emma swallowed, silence spreading. "...I wanted to feel strong. But I wasn't." She let out a shuddering breath. "I started faking it. To wear my strength like a mask. But you… you were going to pull me back. Make me remember. So I pushed back."

"And the torture? My flute? The locker?"

"You shattered when your mom died. That made you weak. A good benchmark." Emma's voice was soft, broken. "I couldn't be like you."

I held my tongue at the obvious response. You weren't and you aren't. Instead, I shook my head. "You weren't trying to prove it to Sophia, were you." There was no response. I sighed, and stood up. "Well. As I said, the girl I loved, as a sister, died a year and a half ago. I don't think you deserve to die for what you did, broken as you are." She curled up on herself as I spoke. "I think you need help, which makes me wonder why you ran. And why Sophia isn't here."

Emma looked up, startled. "The PRT has her on lockdown."

I raised one eyebrow. "You didn't know? She slipped her leash a few hours after you did. No one knows where she went." I paused. "Though I suppose you wouldn't have known. I'm guessing the mental ward doesn't allow you to use the internet."

"We do. But she doesn't." Emma murmured, eyes wide. She shook slightly. "Where is she, then?" She started muttering to herself, eyes dancing back and forth on the snow-touched roof.

After a few minutes of her monologue, I sighed. After pocketing her crossbow and bolts, I reached down to seize one arm, yanking her to her feet. As she came upright, I stared her in the face. "You're not my sister. And by the looks of things, your 'mask' is gone. So you're nobody to me now." I let her go, putting my helmet back on. "Two strangers, meeting on a rooftop. Maybe I'll see my sister again someday, but I doubt it."

Emma swallowed, looking down. "...strangers." She grit her teeth, hugging herself. "Not even worth an insult? A hit?"

I snorted once again, my helm distorting the sound into a dismissive humph. "Would it hurt any worse than what you've done to yourself? I still wonder why you fled those who wished to help you."

"...I wanted to prove I could. That I didn't need help."

"Silly girl. We all need help." I clasped her arm, ignoring her yelp as I felt around her legs and rear, pulling a knife out from beneath her outer coat. I couldn't help but feel a tad warm as I checked her torso for another weapon. I suppose I'm not entirely straight after all. "And right now, I'm going to help you back to your kin. Your parents are worried, child."

Emma looked up, shock in her eyes. "...mom?"

"You still have those who care for you, even if I am not among their number. Come, let us get thee home."

I scooped her up, ignoring the second yelp as she struggled for a moment before going limp. I winced at the weight, before I set my shoulders. Think about it like weight training. Hopping down, I took off for the familiar place I'd last seen my old friend.

--[0]--

I groaned as I set down the girl at her front step, only sparing her a glance to confirm she wasn't going to run again. I hadn't managed to make the full trip in one go, and I'd had to make several detours to avoid questing cops or bands of Merchants; apparently the drug-peddlers were out in force, possibly over the girl I held in my arms as I vaulted rooftops. Still, it was only seven o'clock as we arrived at the Barnes residence.

As I approached the door, I heard Emma sniff behind me. "...what's your name."

I paused, interpreting the question. "Heraldry." I turned to watch as she twisted her hands over each other.

Emma finally let out a long breath. "When we last spoke, Sophia… Shadow Stalker said she was going to handle Madison the first chance she got." I stopped as she continued. "If she's really loose, that's where I'd check for her first."

I let my instincts guide me as I turned back to the door, my gauntlet sounding heavy against the wood. "Thank you."

"...if I don't deserve to die, neither does she." Emma spoke as though the words pained her, her shoulders hunching once again.

"No. She does not." I turned back to her, putting one hand behind her back and pulling her forward as frantic steps approached the heavy door. Seconds later, I heard a gasp, then the sound of frantic babbling as Aunt Zoe pulled her daughter into a hug. "I'll be off, then."

As the door opened, I turned to leave, only to stop as an older voice interjected. "Wait! Who are you?" Zoe's shout carried only a short distance through the snow-touched air.

But the second set of words bade me continue on. "It's Heraldry, a new hero, mom. They… they found me."

I walked into the snowy night, footsteps crunching as a window appeared before me. I rounded a corner and ducked behind a gardening shed to read it.

Of Traitors and Lost Girls Quest Complete!
Emma has been pulled off the streets and handed over to her parents. She's also had her worldview completely shattered, and you've had a clean break with her.
2500 EXP gained (Suspended)
Heraldry has gained 50 Standing with Alan and Zoe Barnes
Emma Barnes relationship set and locked at 0
Bonus Reward: Sign of Shed Burdens, ???

I eyed the quest rewards. "Suspended?"

"The two quests were linked. You don't get the full rewards of one until both are resolved, though I can't see why such a system's in place." Allie answered. "So. Are we going after Madison, or letting her-"

"We're going."

"Thought so. Question is… where is she?"

"Should not Winslow have her home address on file?" I asked. "We go there first, and hopefully catch Stalker before she gets to her."

"...right. You know, what will you do if I end up having to leave?"

I winced. "Do not joke about that, Allie."

"Yeah, poor taste. Okay, head back out on the street and take the first left. We'll be heading back into midtown, apparently Madison lives in the middle-class neighborhoods."

I nodded, picking up speed. "You know, this Gamer's Body thing is really useful." I muttered to myself. "I would have tired out a long time ago if it weren't for that. Instead, it's just my MP which suffers a bit."

"You are down to less than half, so pace yourself. Incidentally, you seem to resume talking normally so long as you aren't talking with someone."

I parsed over the lines I'd spoken to myself. "Intriguing. And reassuring. I suppose my own thoughts have remained constant." I thought further as I followed Allie's instructions. "It is not what I wish to do that the helm alters, merely how I present myself as I do it." And I could live with that, if it would keep my dad safe. I just wish it didn't leave me sounding like someone at a renaissance festival!

Dodging through the neighborhoods and watching the affluence of the houses we pass slowly drop, I fell into the casual rhythm of my daily run. My near-torpor lasted right up until Allie cursed in my ear. "SHIT!"

"What is it?"

"Madison's house just placed a 911 call, reporting a black-clad intruder burst in during dinner and chased Madison outside. It's a bit garbled- they're panicking pretty hard- but they claim the figure came in through the walls."

"Are there police en route?"

"Yeah, and a couple ambulances- and a PRT van is following them." Allie cursed. "We're almost there, but unless we're able to track them quickly-"

"Madison will not make it." I summarized, vaulting a fence to find myself standing in front of a cookie-cutter two story house. One door was wide open, and a bewildered and desperate man was looking around wildly, screaming into the night. As I came to a halt, I blinked, then opened my inventory. There, in one of the more recently filled boxes, was a shroud of white fabric. Holding it up, I triggered Detective Vision, grinning as I beheld the trail laid out before me. It led down the street, towards a power substation.

I sprinted off, tearing past an approaching cop car and the frantic man. As I ran, I switched my shields, transitioning to the one I'd gained from absorbing the Lightning Catalyst. From what little I'd seen of Shadow Stalker's character sheet, she had to be somewhat vulnerable to electricity.

1000 Volt Shield

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Attack: 12 + 20 Electric Damage
Defense: 34

Ability: Magnum Bolt (25 MP): creates and throws a massive bolt of focused electricity at a single target, dealing 300% of your current attack as electric damage. Disperses at extreme ranges.

Active Skill: [Thunderproof] (4): Grants immunity to electricity (up to 25000 volts) and reduces Electric damage taken by 2

The trail was short, but as I came up to the small concrete house near the substation a hoarse scream echoed off the metal before being cut off. I cursed, vaulting atop the fence to get a better view.

"...should have kept your mouth shut, worm. If you want to survive, you should never piss off someone stronger than you." I dropped down, stepping lightly to round the house, following both the golden path and an ever-growing trail of blood drops. I winced, even as I advanced. No time to hesitate.

"S-sophia?" Madison's voice was interrupted with a half-sob of pain. "Y-you're-"

"Save it, you little snitch." I finally cleared the corner, eyes lighting on the scene- Madison half curled at the base of the service building, desperately clinging to the bolt sticking from her upper leg. And the larger, shrouded figure, black camouflage cloak billowing around her, a knife held in one hand, a crossbow in the other. "Now, I can't take too long, but I can leave a mark for every week you left me to rot, just to-"

Her words were cut off as my foot crunched on gravel, and she whirled just as I sprang forward, my shield leading. For all her surprise, she was more experienced than I, misting the second I came close- only for my shield to catch her anyway, sending her mist-body tumbling backward through the air, only for her to reform clutching her ribs as she came up out of the roll. "WHO THE FUCK-"

"Sophia Hess, also known as Shadow Stalker. This is a citizen's arrest, and a parahuman apprehension." I stepped forward, shield swinging, and I struck it with one gauntlet. "You should have been locked up long ago, and you have spent your only chance at redemption." I swung my shield up to deflect her crossbow bolt, continuing to advance. I stared at her, my eyes seeing her own wide ones through the black hockey mask she wore. "You will answer for your crimes, villain."

I could almost hear Stalker's teeth grind behind her mask. "Villain? VILLAIN?!" She snarled, planting another bolt on her crossbow. "I'm the only one willing to do what's necessary to take these bastards out!"

"By that logic, none of what the PRT does matters." I dashed forward, shield leading, only for Stalker to spring to the side, a second bolt sparking off my armor as she flowed away from me. "Law and order matter much more than imposed fear, though goodness stands above them all."

"Trite talk." Stalker snarled, phase leaping over me only to curse as I rolled to one side to avoid her knife-thrust. "I'm going to skin you-" She cursed as I triggered Shield Rush, barely dodging to one side. But I was close enough, now- I knew I wouldn't miss. With a flick of my wrist, I hit her with a Magnum Bolt. She screamed, a raw sound of agony as she convulsed from the shock.

As soon as she twitched into reality, I slammed my shield into her stomach, then planted my fist in her face, yanking off her mask and exposing her skin to the air. Second later, her eyes widened as I swung the upper rim against her chin, and she instinctively went intangible- only for the Holy Shield to catch her anyway. Seconds later, Stalker's unconscious form tumbled into the snow, and I panted, dropping her mask into my inventory.

I stopped, breathing heavily, then cursed as I heard a low moan from nearby. Madison was blinking slowly, her grasp of her wound slowly deteriorating as the pool of red-touched snow slowly spread. I darted towards her, coming to a stop over her, wincing as I saw her HP drop below 20%. "Shit. Stabilize!" The bleeding stopped, but her head rolled forward regardless, and I cursed again as she slipped into unconsciousness. "Shit- we need a medic. Allie, summon aid-"

"I've already called the paramedics and the PRT. Just keep pressure on the wound and keep casting Stabilize." Allie informed me.

"If she dies-"

"She's not going to die. You're here."

I nodded absently, clinging to her. I wasn't going to let the first civilian I saved die on my watch, even if she'd been one of my tormentors.

Minutes passed as Madison's health slowly dropped before stopping. Finally, I heard the approach of multiple people, a group of men wrapped up in white and red and a few men in blue clearing the corner. As they froze, I stood, motioning to one side. "Miss Clements needs a doctor, and possibly a transfusion, soon. Shadow Stalker needs to be treated for electrical burns and a shattered jaw, and restrained with powered handcuffs." I found myself bowing. "I apologize for not getting here sooner."

As the paramedics rushed forward, one of the policemen eyed me suspiciously. "You that cape spotted jetting about uptown?"

"I may have been, yes. Why?"

He eyed me for a moment, then sighed. "Well, at least you're a hero."

"Not yet. But I will try." I paused, thinking through what might come of this encounter. "I do not believe I will be up for questioning this evening. Which precinct should I approach tomorrow to lay out what occurred here?"

The man looked at me stunned, then rattled off his precinct number. "Although I think the PRT are going to want to talk to you."

"I will speak with them later, when I am in better humor." I motioned to Stalker's still collapsed form. "And when there is less obvious evidence of their incompetence on hand."

"...I assume you don't want me to say that?"

"Nothing of the sort. I would not say it to anyone if I did not mean it to get back to them."

"Huh. You got a name, knight?"

"Heraldry." I paused as I heard heavier tires crunch up to the side of the power station. "I will take my leave. Have a good evening, sir." Turning, I burned the last of my mana as I sprinted to the far end of the substation and vaulted the fence. Minutes later, I'd vanished into the night.

--[0]--

I called dad on the way home. He was waiting for me when I came in, sagging as I accepted his hug. I felt… drained. I didn't accept any of the boxes which had popped up on my HUD, and went upstairs, crawling into bed after a quick shower. I hadn't felt this exhausted since I gained my powers, but I couldn't keep my eyes open.

The next morning, I fortified myself with a cup of tea and a bowl of cereal before I finally went to open the new updates which had been queued up the night before.

Combat Completed! Boss Defeated!

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You defeated Shadow Stalker!
You gained 300 EXP
5 Dark Essences (Lesser), 150$, Predator's Athame, and PRT Body Armor (Ruined) Received

For Defeating a Parahuman for the First Time, a new Perk has been Unlocked
Stolen for the Forge: Allows for the creation of new shields based on Parahuman powers, gained by taking weapons, masks, or key costume elements from defeated opponents and absorbing them. The Parahuman in question must be defeated by the player before the shield can be unlocked, and the item absorbed must have a direct connection to their cape identity. The activated shields must be unlocked and mastered normally.

Of Predators and Hunters Quest Complete!
Shadow Stalker made an attempt on the life of your acquaintance, Madison Clements. Fortunately, you were there to interrupt things. Better yet, Stalker has been incarcerated, and the circumstances which led to her release won't happen again.
Reward: 1700 EXP, Ring of Stern Shadows, -5 PRT Reputation for Heraldry, +10 BBPD Reputation for Heraldry, Special Enchantment Rune: Traceless

Congratulations! You're now level 10!
Mastery Bleed applied to '1000 Volt Shield' and 'Seeker of Truth Shield'
You've gained two points of END
You've gained 5 Stat points. Spend them wisely!
You've gained 1 SP

For leveling up, Gamer's Body has increased by 1. Gamer's Body can no longer increase until Gamer's Mind has been activated.
EXP Gain Halted. You may now Class Up!

I stopped opening new windows, instead staring at the newest one before me. "Class up?"

Halp: Class Up

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After a certain number of levels (10 for base classes, 20 for Advanced and Expert Classes, and 30 for Prestige Classes) you gain the ability to either select an evolution for your current class or select a new class you qualify for.
As the Chosen of the Holy Shield, you currently do not qualify for any other classes, so you'll have to select to evolve into an advanced Class. That's not really a problem, since more developed classes have more perks and abilities, and receive more base stat points per level. Head to your Character tab to select your class Evolution.

"Apparently, you've got four options." Allie said, her tone clipped. "Here, let me throw them up for you to look at."

Class Up: Chosen of the Holy Shield -> ?
Select One:

Defender: A stalwart defender whose focus on protecting his team and the innocent makes him nigh-invulnerable, though limiting in offensive might.
Stat Gains per Level: 2 END, 1 WIS, 1 Random
Core Active Skill: [Blades to Barriers] (0): Converts all offensive power of any equipped shield to equal points of Defense. You gain 5 additional points of armor for each level in Defender or subsequent classes. Damage output from any direct source reduced to 1.
Core Passive Skill: Unfaltering: you regain 0.2% HP per second so long as [Blades to Barriers] is equipped.
Ability Focus: Taunt Skills, Barrier Skills, Disruption Skills
Class Evolutions: Guardian, Retributor

Man-at-Arms: a skilled warrior who can take up a second arm alongside the Holy Shield, allowing them to stand alone against the rising dark or draw the ire of all around them.
Stat Gains Per Level: 1 END, 1 STR, 1 AGL, 1 Random
Core Active Skill: [Accord of Arms] (0): Disables the restrictions on weapons while wielding the Holy Shield, allowing one-handed weapons to be equipped without penalty. Increases offensive damage of the Shield by 25%.
Core Passive Skill: Frontliner: increases damage dealt by 1% for each aggroed enemy/enemy focusing upon you so long as [Accord of Arms] is equipped.
Ability Focus: Integrated Arms combat skills, Weapon use skills
Class Evolutions: Hoplite, Legionnaire, Genoese, Houscarl

Warden: a Shield-toting caster who uses potent healing and offensive magics to support their team from the very front, with spell in hand if necessary.
Stat Gains Per Level: 1 END, 1 WIS, 1 INT, 1 Random
Core Active Skill: [Indomitable Caster] (0): Reduces casting times for non-instant spells when in combat. Negates the effects of spell disruption and taunts. Increases passive MP regeneration by 2 p/second when in combat.
Core Passive Skill: Casting Barrier: whenever a spell is cast, gain a temporary HP barrier equal to the expended Mana so long as [Combat Caster] is equipped.
Ability Focus: Healing Spells, Buff Spells, DoT Spells
Class Evolutions: Battleshaper, Shield Cleric, Sentinel

Vanguard: an aggressive and untouchable combatant who dodges as many attacks as they take, and hits like a trebuchet shot when landing a blow from the rush.
Stat Gains Per Level: 1 END, 2 AGL, 1 Random
Core Active Skill: [Gathering Impact] (0): adds a separate meter to the HUD, tracking 'Charge'; Charge increases as more time is spent mobile, and is expended to multiply the effects of an attack or spell upon use. Expending at maximum increases damage/effect by 100%. Nullifies encumbrance when using Medium armor or Shields.
Core Passive Skill: Rolling Armor: increases armor by percent of filled charge meter so long as [Gathering Impact] is equipped.
Ability Focus: Mobility Skills, Hand-to-Hand combat Skills
Class Evolutions: Concussor, Grappler, Dynamic

I hesitated as I looked through the array of options. "I don't think I want to make this decision right now. Can we hold off on this for a bit?"

"No problem. How about we take a look at the last popup, then figure out when we wanted to go in and talk to the cops?" Allie suggested as the info box closed.

I nodded slightly as I tapped the last box, opening one remaining info panel.

Congratulations! You've completed every Tutorial Quest.

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You are no longer restricted in what Dungeons and Quests you can take.
You may now establish a Home Base by converting a Dungeon. Standard restrictions apply.

Your actions are being evaluated…
Interaction: Helpful
Openness: Neutral
Trust: Accepting
Development: Constructive

Overall… you've chosen to aid rather than harm, build bonds rather than destroy them, and preserve rather than ruin.
You've received The Chains that Bind
??? Approves of your Actions

I blinked as a set of shining metal chains settled into my lap, falling from the box before me. I held them up, inspecting each link and fingering the odd hooks on the ends.

The Chains that Bind (I)
Enhancement (Bracer, Gauntlet), Relic, Growing
Def +10 to equipped armor

Ability: Binding Restraints (0 MP): Binds a defeated enemy in solid chains, which barely hamper movement so long as the restricted obeys lawful authorities and the orders of those who created the chain. Those that disobey or attempt aggressive action have their movement speed reduced by 95% and their STR and AGL Dropped by up to 50 points, to a minimum of 3. This debuff lasts for twenty-four hours.

Ability: Chain Shot (15 MP): fires a whirling line of chain which can wrap around targets, much like a bolas. On hit, deals 150% normal physical damage, and inflicts Hampering on affected limbs. Deals non-lethal damage to foes.

I whistled as I inspected the chains. "I suppose I should go ahead and equip these."

"No duh." Allie responded. "Honestly, it looks like we've got a lot to think about."

"I'm more concerned about the mysterious ??? we've seen a few times. What do they want?"

"Search me. At least they seem to approve so far, so that's good."

As I nodded, I couldn't help but consider what others were thinking right now. After my first night out, how many people were thinking about the newest hero out there, and what would they do in response?

And yet even now I'm not certain how the ripples I cast into the world created such waves…

Tale Swapper · Feb 7, 2021

ChaosStar0 said:
Yes, I'd love to see the class tree.

Okay! Granted, this has been tremendously stripped down, but the names and general descriptions are below.

Defender: Shield only, high defenses, no attack
- Guardian: even greater defenses, defensive magics
  - Aegis: perfect defenses, defensive magics, basically unkillable
  - Bulwark: massive party defensive buffs, strong aggro draw
- Retributor: small defensive increase, heavy retaliation/counter damage
  - Champion: party defensive buffs, retaliation party damage, party buffs when outmatched/outnumbered
  - Avenger: adds 'reversal mode,' where attack is temporarily swapped for defense after taking certain amounts of damage
Man-at-Arms: adds offhand weapon slot, single-handed only
- Hoplite: spear focus; gain additional bonuses when paired with a spear or lance
  - Halberdier: adds mover abilities, sweeping strokes
  - Landsknecht: defensive increase, adds counter-mover abilities
- Legionaire: sword focus; gain additional bonuses when paired with a sword
  - Crusader: offensive buff focused, with some combat magics
  - Praetorian: support buff focused, fights shoulder-to-shoulder
  - Gladiator: trickery focused- gains bonuses against impeded foes
  - Rodelero: mixed combat focused- small shields grant bonuses, and adds kicks, punches, and mobile maneuvers
- Houscarl: axe focused; gains additional bonuses when equipped with an axe or mace
  - Hermaor: battlemaster, focuses on debilitating, sudden strikes to disable and defeat foes in one blow
- Genoese: ranged focus; gains additional bonuses when equpped with a crossbow or gun
  - Siegebreaker: focus on SWAT tactics, gaining access to a variety of entry and exit tactics, special loadouts, and gun skills
  - Duelist: focus on pinpoint accuracy at the perfect moment
Warden: gain access to healing spells, battlefield control spells, and ranged offensive spells.
- Battleshaper: increased ranged attack and capability of battlefield control spells
  - Battlemaster: heightens combat magics, allows the user to manipulate the environment to control the flow of battle
  - Lawbringer: adds 'edicts'- area of effect suppression abilities and direct enemy manipulation
- Shield Cleric: increased healing and support capabilities
  - Shield Saint: absurd healing, powerful team buffs
  - Sanctioner: establishes powerful defensive and healing zones
  - Inquisitor: adds offensive capabilities and debuffs to the roster
- Sentinel: slight increase to both types of spellcraft, adds multiple self-buffs and special states
  - Immortal: focus on defensive buffs and upgrades, temporary invincibility and second-chance maneuvers
  - Savior: increased mobility and fast healing/buff spells, intended for immediate team support
  - Maverick: focus on drawing aggression, damage output, and crippling opponents
Vanguard: Grants additional mobility options to be first into any fight
- Concussor: Increases mobility and damage done while using the shield as a weapon
  - Secutor: focus on shield bashes and brutal melee blows; gains attack power from heavy armor
  - Shield Knight: dual-wields shields, gains bonus combat abilities which make use of both shields
- Grappler: focus on use of your off-hand to contain or beat down opponents
  - Caedere: adds additional options to decimate foes with your closed fist
- Dynamic: focus on quick entry and exit from combat, with heavy damage and bonuses for quick engagements
  - Dervish: focuses on chaining blocks, strikes, and counters with accumulating bonuses for perfect execution
  - Shocktrooper: further focuses on quick combat, with added abilities to temporarily stunlock foes

Tale Swapper · Feb 8, 2021

Below is my idea of what would have been playing for each of the currently face Boss Fights in the series. Taylor has yet to get her Soundtrack yet, so I'll post them here.

Forge Spirit: Phyrnna - Rage of the Abandoned

Shadow Stalker (Sophia Hess): Aviators - Paralyzed

Tale Swapper · Feb 10, 2021

Assault groaned as he slouched over the table, his hands holding his coffee mug in a death grip. The entire last month had sucked, but six AM meetings did nothing to make this better.

He wasn't the only one pulling himself together. Around the room, the rest of the Protectorate, Aegis, and both the PRT leaders were working through their own morning rituals, with the exception of Armsmaster and Miss Militia. Cups of coffee and tea, half-chewed pastries, and protein bars were scattered between sheaves of paper and electronic devices.

Oddly enough, Assault felt heartened by the presence of food; if Piggot was going to read her troops the riot act, she'd have kept things tidier.

His thoughts were confirmed when Piggot grunted, her nutrient shake half finished. "Alright, people. Some of you weren't here two nights ago, so we'll go over the facts once." Her normal dour expression tightened. "Pay attention." She waited for the normal round of 'yes ma'am' and 'yes Director' to quiet down before she gave a sharp nod at Deputy Director Renick.

"At 3:14 PM Thursday afternoon, the downtown headquarters of the ENE branch suffered a major cyber-attack, at a time when Armsmaster and Security Chief Jacobs were both out of the office. The attack took down the active monitoring of the internal cameras, and shorted out the inner defenses for a few minutes. During this time Shadow Stalker removed her ankle monitor, phased through the deactivated barriers on her door, and fled out through the windows on her floor. The attack was originally thought to be incidental to her escape, but Armsmaster has since discovered that the attackers made use of a long-hiding security breach, which may be only one of many."

Armsmaster grunted as he slurped a brown concoction from his mug. "It seemed wasteful to use what could have taken down the entirety of the local defense grid to free one prisoner. It seems they were using only one backdoor they had available. As of yet, it's undetermined when we'll find the last of them."

"Right. In any case, reconstruction of her probable movements tracks Stalker to a hidden stash of supplies in a buried basement. There, she retrieved a copy of her old costume, a pair of modified crossbows, and a backpack of medical equipment, cash, and spare clothes. She then proceeded to head in-town, and waited for nightfall."

"Waited for what?" Triumph ventured, only to be glared down by Piggot. The Director was still mad a the former Wards leader, after he'd utterly failed to act appropriately to contain Sophia.

"Waited for a chance to kill the girl who confessed." The Director spat. "Madison Clements, one of her little band of bullies at Winslow."

"During the Clements' supper hour, Stalker burst through the walls, and was only prevented from killing Miss Clements on the spot when her mother swung a hot basting pan at her. Madison fled out the front door, and was pursued by Shadow Stalker. Stalker put a bolt in her right leg, in the calf muscle. She then moved to finish her off, before being intercepted by a new Cape."

Renick tapped several keys, showing a blurry image of a green and silver figure leaping across a rooftop, interposed alongside one taken on a cellphone camera of the same figure at rest. The Cape was garbed in a full-face helmet, an upper-torso breastplate which obscured their body shape over a cloth gambeson, a steel skirt, and armored chausses and gauntlets. The gambeson and the scarf coiled around their neck was dark green. Most curiously, the figure carried no weapon, but had a serving-platter sized shield in a shining silver, with a triple circle around a three-pointed star emblazoned in the center.

"...someone went all out on the knight theme." Assault muttered.

Armsmaster's assessment was a bit more descriptive. "Without chemical analysis I cannot say for certain, but the armor seems rough-made. Likely hand-crafted." He stroked his chin. "They could have purchased it, but that would be relatively easy to track if it was bought online, and there aren't many active blacksmiths in Brockton. None who do armor, anyway."

"We have blacksmiths?" Triumph asked.

"One or two. Mostly dealing with custom craft projects. No weapons, no armor. The Empire sources their gear for Fenja and Menja by supporting the local renaissance shops near the boardwalk."

Piggot cut off further discussion. "According to Miss Clements and what little Shadow Stalker revealed to us, this cape called himself Heraldry. He's reported as running at what must be twenty or so miles per hour, for hours on end, can jump far enough to clear single-story buildings, and hits hard enough to knock a man twenty feet. He also can throw lightning." Piggot stopped, turning to Dauntless. "Do you have any relatives who might have Triggered recently?" She asked tiredly. "It's be nice if we could find him that easily."

"No, ma'am."

"More's the pity." Piggot groused. "So, we've got a probable Brute and Blaster with limited Mover abilities running around. Any more details?"

"Police reports indicate Heraldry was courteous, but used an uncommon diction. During the first meeting Heraldry expressed significant antipathy towards the PRT, likely for having to 'clean up our mess'." Renick's voice was sour as he continued. "He made his opinion quite clear when he left the scene ahead of any PRT agents, and returned to give a statement at the South Docks precinct, rather than come here."

"Has anyone in the PRT encountered him yet?"

"No. And perhaps with good reason." Piggot snarled. The whole room turned to look at her. "Somehow, he knew when and where to go to intercept Stalker, knew Stalker was loose and a threat, and came equipped with the right tools to take her down."

"You think he's a setup." Battery surmised. "A plant or using us as a false flag?"

"Actually… no." Piggot clarified. "If he was trying to smear the Protectorate, he'd have let Clements die, then taken down Stalker as a murderer." She grunted. "We dropped the ball on Stalker, and someone tried to take advantage. But whoever plans this deep wouldn't let a girl's death obstruct him from getting the biggest impact possible."

"Whoever arranged Stalker's release wanted chaos on the streets, and a chance to discredit the PRT. Stalker was apprehended the first time she tried something, undercutting the narrative, and no-one has claimed Heraldry as a new recruit yet." Renick said. "However, someone might have leaked that Stalker was loose to Heraldry, and be propping him up behind the scenes."

"For now, Heraldry is to be treated as a new independent hero." Piggot said. "The Clements family is singing his praises, and the BBPD are willing to give him a shot. Until he does something obvious or screws up, we'll give him as much rope as he could want."

"...and if he's just an independent hero?"

"Then we send Miss Militia to give him a talk." Piggot shrugged. "She'd be best at it."

"...why me?" The America-themed cape asked.

"He talks like an old-school knight. It's the one consistent thing we got out of Shadow Stalker, and what was observed in both BBPD connections. He never broke character, even when surprised."

The whole room froze. "...did Mouse Protector get a squire?" Assault muttered.

The visible parts of Miss Militia's face visible paled dramatically. "I hope not…"

--[0]--

Patient Report: Emma Barnes
Current Therapist: Dr. Brockstein
2/8/2011

Current Diagnosis: Severe Anxiety Disorder (undetermined), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Induced Antisocial Personality Disorder (self-induced), Parahuman Idolization Disorder

Major Talking Points of Today's Session:

Discussed past, including the incident with ABB
Monologue about Sophia Hess, strength, difference between savior and hero
Discussion on hunter-survivor-prey mentalities in real life humans
Answered questions on recent leave of absence from St. Judith's
Discussion on nature of heroism

Therapist's Notes:

After weeks of being stonewalled, Emma has finally been shaken enough to actually talk to me about her issues. There's a lot to confirm some of the things I'd previously suspected, though I'm happy to say her initial reaction to being 'saved' was more a reflection on her own weakness, rather than an intrinsic fascination with violence. I'd been wondering about that.

Regardless, Emma seems to be far more withdrawn than before, but also less reticent about talking to me. She's admitted to a number of minor offenses, times she tried to prove to herself by threatening others, and alluded to a number of times she was in contact with her 'savior' after the ABB incident. She's acknowledged that at least part of her issues are self-inflicted and unhealthy, but is still defiant on the subject that one needs to stand strong alone, and damn the consequences. This may be slipping, but it's very well entrenched.

It'll take time to let her release her empathy, I think.

Emma fled our care to prove that she was strong enough to stand on her own; the fact that she was nearly assaulted again even when armed and 'ready' seems to have shaken her resolve. She isn't deep enough in anxiety to need suicide watch, but I suspect we'll see some depression once her worldview is completely discredited, if it ever is.

Emma is still fixated on heroes; she seems especially interested in the recent PHO posts on the hero that retrieved her, although she seems more tentative. She revealed that she believes in saving oneself first and foremost, and that those that rely on others to help them are weak. These ideals were given to her by her 'savior', who was her longtime partner in crime. Latching onto a powerful figure in a time of distress fits many of the observed patterns.

...on a personal note, Emma has referred to Shadow Stalker as Sophia several times, and vice versa. I'm going to need to erase the recording of these interviews, or have them sealed very well. For once, I'm very glad of patient confidentiality.

For now, I think I'll see if I can keep her talking. We'll see if her new openness lasts through our Monday session.

Treatment Notes: Continued Talk Therapy, continued confinement in the Medium Security wing. At this time, I cannot recommend giving her internet access or TV privileges, though she is allowed to check out as many books as she'd like from the library. Have advised her to keep up her exercise routine. Inter-patient interaction is to be closely monitored.

Treatment Time Table: Two more months at least before we give her any on-site freedom. Will reassess current stance on medication and therapy at that time.

--[0]--

Thomas Calvert sighed as he looked over his written notes of the last collapsed timeline. As usual, his attempts to corner and acquire his newest asset had failed. Making a kidnapping attempt on a precog was always dicey, though Alcott's circumstances helped a lot with his plans.

That failure had been almost expected. The other failure was slightly vexing, but worse, had been unexpected. He'd known Shadow Stalker would cause chaos once she was poured back into the cesspit of Brockton Bay, and he'd been hoping she'd leave enough of a blood trail that'd he'd be able to bargain with her to join the Undersiders. Blackmail would make people say yes, after all. And with the PRT scrambling to retrieve an asset they'd claimed was a heroic figure, they'd look much weaker, if not outright incompetent.

Instead, Stalker had been captured before she'd managed to do anything, besides assaulting one of her former classmates. His carefully primed media surge over Stalker's release had sputtered out on a story about her recapture, instead of flaming the PRT for its incompetence. The info he'd leaked about Shadow Stalker's previous crimes would put egg on their face, but Piggot already had a well-developed paper trail justifying her actions, and without an ongoing crisis the issue would become just one more little failing. On the Alcott side of things, the PRT and BBPD had intervened in both side-timelines he'd tried to catch his new pet, so his attempt to stir up enough chaos through Stalker to complete his grab had been a bust.

But in the process, she'd revealed a new player in the game. Heraldry, whose patrol tracked down and retrieved a runaway over her head, and then had gone and taken down Stalker with little effort. He'd be an excellent recruit, if he could track him down.

Still, that was a long-term plan. He was likely one of Miss Barnes' paramours, who'd intervened to pick up his girlfriend and then saved her friend out of altruism. Heraldry was a dedicated heroic type, so unless he had proper leverage, recruiting him was going to be tricky. Maybe more so than it was worth, since recruiting a Brute wasn't on his list of needs.

Well, another Brute. His bait should pull Trainwreck into the fold. Offering the monster a hint of his old identity and a few payments would be child's play, and soon he'd have a Tinker-Brute on hire and a mole in the Merchants.

Calvert flipped the notepad to one side. Getting real info out of Cauldron was nigh-impossible, but from what he'd inferred of their operations, it should be easy enough to lead the dirty man by the nose.

For now, it was time to indulge in one of his guilty pleasures; gorging himself in one timeline while eating these noxious Armsmaster protein bars over a working lunch in the other.

--[0]--

Aisha Laborn was never a demure girl. She never passed up the opportunity to annoy, encumber, or needle those around her, unless things were really messed up.

When she'd thrown up the pictures of the new girl on the block, she'd done so simply to garner a few moments of internet fame. She'd only put up a general caption, since she couldn't remember who the girl was and she didn't accidentally want to break the Unwritten Rules. But when the early responses had been all about the new guy? Well, that was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.

Aisha paused as her brother popped his head into her room. "Aisha, are you done with your homework yet?"

She let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. "I got all the stuff that matters done, bro. Now I'm taking a break to shitpost all over these geek faces." She started typing as Brian wandered in a little closer.

"Huh. This thread is about that new Cape, the one who took down Shadow Stalker." He snorted. "Good riddance; Alec is still salty about the couch."

Aisha looked at her brother. "What's this about a couch?"

"The bitch pegged me with a crossbow bolt once. I bled all over Alec's white couch." Brian said softly. "Don't tell anyone."

"...got it." Aisha turned back to the computer. Well.

If this bitch was taking down cunts like Stalker, maybe she could muddy the waters a little more. She could probably get someone to write a Glory Girl/Heraldry cuck fic, which would help solidify things on the 'Heraldry is a guy' front. Would make Gallant out as a limp-dicked little prick, but he probably deserved a little needling if he let Shadow Stalker run around.

...now if only she could remember who that girl actually was. She might be able to thank her if they passed in the halls.

Aisha frowned as she tried to think back. Not in the lunchroom, not in any of her classes… where did that voice come from? Having a superhero friend would be a good counterpoint to having a supervillain brother, and it'd give her options if she ever got powers of her own.

Eh, it'd come to her. Not something she needed to worry about right now.

Author's Note: I have no idea how Psychologists or therapists record their treatment plans, interactions with patients, or record what they suspect a patient is suffering from. Please disregard the specifics if they're wrong, and focus on the story, please.

Tale Swapper · Feb 10, 2021

Name: Unknown
Alias: Heraldry
Gender: Unknown, presumably male
Disposition: Unknown, Heroic tendencies
Personality: Polite, resolute, and eccentric. Speech patterns apparently modeled after a Medieval-era knight. (chivalric?) Has yet to break character.
General Description: Steel Armor, green cloth, full-faced helm. Carries a shield over one arm, with several known variants. Carries no other weapons yet known.
Powers Assessment:
Primary: Brute 4 (Heraldry has demonstrated greater-than-normal strength, capable of leaping buildings and throwing men about like a bodybuilder. More impressive is their endurance and toughness, which allows them to shrug off bullet wounds and crossbow bolts with ease. Containment foam should be effective, but is untested)
Secondary: Blaster ? (Heraldry has demonstrated the ability to project blasts of lightning from their hands. Current limitations and power is unknown)

Notes:
Heraldry's armor is suspected to be custom-made, and hand forged at that. Considering the impressive durability it exhibits, it is definitely functional, and may or may not be Tinkertech.
Heraldry has begun a good starting relationship with the BBPD, but has declined to approach or interact with the PRT or Protectorate. BBPD has their number on file, though it is likely just a burner.

HeellllooooooOP · Feb 12, 2021

Taylor, this time she has a shield. by Sketch-yTimes on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

Metal is a pain in the stylus to paint. So are backgrounds.

Tale Swapper · Sep 20, 2021

Madison Clements hated her room.

That hadn't always been the case. As little as eight months ago, she'd loved her room, having her own space separate from the rest of her family. The old-style vanity to one side, the desk with her rebuilt laptop, and the many knicknacks cluttering the bookshelf had been indicative of her style, and who she was.

She supposed self-loathing would make a place created in one's own image a prison.

Madison glared at the vanity, not for the first time wishing it was one of the ones whose heavy mirror could be rotated to place the surface against the wall. The mirror, and the person in it, was no longer her friend.

Madison couldn't ever lay a finger on the one moment that made her think she'd sold her soul. Taylor's flute had been bad, but she'd managed to retrieve it and get it patched up. Seeing Taylor humiliated- for the twentieth or thirtieth time- was, at the end of things, relatively minor. Something that would pass. Ruining her books, something that caused the already poor Hebert family to pay for replacements- well, that might have been a bit much.

But Madison knew her soul was already gone by the time Emma suggested the Locker. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken until Taylor's screams died into wimpers within the metal box for her to feel the slowly churning pangs of guilt she'd gotten so good at suppressing.

She was actually pretty scared about that. How much further would she have gone, if Sophia had managed to get away with even that torture? How much further would her empathy have shrunk?

But even at school, within her carefully constructed mask, she had felt the horror and fear. Been baptized in guilt, time and again. Never during the acts; it was easy, when surrounded by the popular folks, defended by Sophia's muscles and Emma's charisma, to ignore the feelings. But afterwards, in the comfort and security of her room, she'd broken down, many times.

It was all too easy to see herself in Taylor. So she'd tried to harden her heart, simultaneously hoping Sophia and Emma would always rule the roost and praying for their downfall. And then her prayers were answered.

Madison still wasn't sure what had happened to her was enough. Expulsion? Grounding? Those were chump change. Owning up to Taylor, and apologizing; that meant a bit more. Getting a crossbow bolt through her leg was a good payment, she supposed, but surviving meant the debt had not entirely been paid off.

(Also, of course Sophia had been getting away with it all, she was Shadow Stalker. No wonder they got into Taylor's locker so easily… So many things made more sense.)

But through every punishment, the guilt remained. She'd cost Taylor a year and a half of her life; to that a few months of grounding was nothing. Apologizing and returning the only priceless thing she'd helped steal didn't begin to pay back for every ruined lunch, ripped textbook, or pilfered assignment. And Taylor's wounds in the locker were worse than any Madison had ever endured.

And now… now her family was treating her like a victim.

She knew why. Shadow Stalker had attacked them, gone after the only daughter of her family- that struck close to home. But seeing Sophia's actions writ large in her alternate ego's black costume had only further driven home how much of a villain Madsion Clements had been; and Taylor was only the main target of her manipulations.

Her cutesy smile, clever tongue, apt agility; all turned into a small-scale monster. As much a villain as the one who'd nearly ended her life.

Curled up in her bed, Madison looked around the room, remembering the girl she once was, and lamenting that she'd never see her again. As she drifted off to sleep, she found herself half-hoping to never wake again. It'd be better than living with the guilt, knowing nothing she could do could pay off the debt she owed her own soul.

Madison stood on a balcony, overlooking a sprawling city. Thatch roofs, wattle and daub made up the main construction materials, and the sky was a perfect blue. It was something out of a storybook.

"The view is lovely, isn't it." Turning, Madison set her eyes upon a single man, sitting at a table overlooking the city below. Despite the opulence of the palace room behind him, the man sat on his seat in coarse brown robes, his white beard and hair cropped neatly but without styling. Before Madison could speak, he held up one hand. "Before you protest, this is no dream. This is a glimpse of what might have come next, for you."

Madison took a seat across from the man. "Living in a palace? I don't think I deserve that."

"Neither do I, Miss Clements. But what you see below is but an illusion of prosperity and peace." The man sipped from a clay cup as he spoke. "The people there are mere facsimiles of reality; they cannot properly think, nor reason. We are alone in this city, far from any friends or family. And I cannot leave."

Madison shuddered. "Isolation? I suppose that's a punishment of sorts."

The man nodded. "Once, I was king of this place. Melromarc was my wife's demesne, and I was her co-ruler. I was known as Aultcray Melromarc. But by the end of my life, I was known as Trash." He groaned, sinking in his chair. "I earned that name."

Madison's lips pressed together. "So you're trapped here, alone, with no company. For what sins?"

"I broke numerous oaths and many laws to see one of the heroes of the realm accused of heinous acts, a decision which nearly caused the world to end. I allowed for the construction of a system of slavery which ended many lives and broke the spirit of thousands. I allowed my eldest daughter to run roughshod over many, corrupting and betraying dozens of good men and women while I turned a blind eye. My actions cost my sister and her daughter their lives, caused the deaths of tens of thousands, and allowed a sadistic monster a chance to overrun our world." Trash sighed. "This is my punishment. Either eternity alone, or-" he motioned to one side, towards an empty doorway standing nearby "to suffer through what I caused."

"What do you mean?"

"Each time I step through that door, I live through the life of one of the people, one of the beings who suffered directly for what I did. I must live through twenty one lives, each one beginning with joy but ending in tragedy and sorrow. Because of my own actions, and the horrors they enabled." Trash's head was bowed as he stared down into the cup before him. "Children torn by whips, raped and left for dead. Loyal knights and lords, who saw all they'd built torn to pieces by my policies, until their children were forced to shoulder their burdens. My own niece, dead at eleven because I was too focused on retribution to look for the sister I claimed to avenge." His face clenched, cutting off gathering tears. "I've lived through eighteen of the countless lives I've ruined. This city is a refuge, but one I must leave to one day see my family again. And to leave is to suffer, to take wounds upon my soul."

Madison listened, her gut twisting as he spoke. "Do I need to step through that-"

"No. You have sinned, yes. But your sins could be fixed in this life, not the next or the space between." He held up one hand, forestalling her questions. "I have an offer for you. A way to get the power you think you need, and pay the debt you shoulder."

Madison's brow furrowed. "...think I need?"

"You believe that only power will allow you to make a difference. Eventually, I suspect you would settle. Maybe become a teacher, or a community leader. Someone with the power to guide others. But here, I can offer you a different strength. Something more… immediate."

The long-dead king waved his hand, a small crystalline orb appearing on the table. "This orb contains the remnants of a dead soul. That of a raven demi-human infant." His face grew lines as he stared into the orb, his shoulders slumping forward. "She was killed to punish her mother, a slave who had become too unruly. Another death at my hands, and in one too young to have developed a complex soul."

Madison's heart stilled as she stared into the small orb. "Why would- how would offering me that help me? Shouldn't she rest?"

"Souls that young have no full sense of self. They are passed back into the cycle of reincarnation. This one had yet to be sent back." He motioned towards the orb. "Despite that, it still contains the essence of the soul it held- the potential, the link to power. If you accept, her soul would be spliced into yours, and you would carry her power with you as you grew. A similar thing has been done already, in your world."

Madison eyed the orb with trepidation. "And if I messed up…"

"It would damn her soul as well, yes. Although, with even a little time, she and you would become one." His face grew grave, lips curling into a frown. "As I said, young lady, you could still do a lot of good alone. You do not need power to do the right thing. This bargain will twist your body, and to a smaller extent, alter your mind and soul."

"But I'd be able to…" Madison's thoughts went to a silver-and-green figure, intercepting a shadowy assassin. Standing between her and a monster, not knowing that they had one at their back, as well as before them. At the very least, she could ease the burdens on those real heroes, the ones who had nothing to repay. "I'll do it."

"Very well." The old man lifted the orb. "Take this, then. A warning- it is likely to be painful."

"Yeah well-" Madison grabbed the orb, feeling it sink into her hand. "I deserve every bit of it."

"I doubt that." Madison's last sight of the man was him standing, taking steps towards the empty doorway, even as shocks and tremors began to run through her form, the dream collapsing around her. "Fare thee well, Miss Clements. Seek out the Shield, once you figure out your new abilities."

Madison nodded, even as she convulsed on the flagstones, the world fading from her vision. As she vanished, she heard the fallen king speak to someone just out of sight. "You have grown more forgiving as you age, Lord Naofumi. If even the gods can change, perhaps there is hope yet for me..."

Author's note: you know, I actually finished this some time ago, then forgot to publish it. And now that I'm going back through my notes, I found it waiting. Well, I'm still writing. Let's see how far I can go...

Tale Swapper · Sep 24, 2021

This will be the last Interlude before we head back to Taylor's perspective and reach the end of the Tutorial Arc. Enjoy!

Trainwreck's workshop had changed dramatically since he'd first set it up. From the empty shell of an engine depot, the monster cape had filled it with half-assembled armors, homemade generators, and a nest of ratty pillows and blankets which he used as a sleeping spot, tucked into one of the many overhead eaves. More recently, Trainwreck — or perhaps one should say, Gregor had set up a bay of computer monitors and jury-rigged satellite uplinks, allowing him to access the internet, message his new friend, and monitor a large array of surveillance cameras yanked from abandoned housings all over the trainyard and reinstalled around his base.

Today, these cameras dutifully recorded Trainwreck as his scorched, half-melted armor staggered in through the huge doors which once allowed locomotives entry into the space. Rumbling ominously, the shaky armor lurched to a halt, then opened, allowing the near-protoplasmic Cape to slide free and pinwheel across the floor to take his seat, wincing as his burns chafed on the fake leather.

Gregor's eyes darted back and forth until he confirmed that he was safe… for now. Taking a deep breath, he jabbed one pseudopod into the controls for his chair, sending the heavily modified office chair rolling along smoothed surfaces. "A trap, I should have expected. Was it real, his offer?" He shook his head. "No, no. No speculating. Madness lies down that path."

It had been a good offer, too. Gregor had been approached by a group of armed men, several weeks past, asking if he might be interested in steady employment. Gregor had been interested, and had allowed the men to arrange a meeting with their superior. It hadn't been difficult to discern who the men were working for; there weren't many with Tinkertech rifles in such number. He'd not been surprised when the man he met with introduced himself as Coil.

At first, the deal seemed promising. Coil wanted Trainwreck to go on retainer, maybe hire himself out to another group and report back to him. Trainwreck would get money, access to some of Coil's resources, and a place in the man's organization, in return for spying.

Trainwreck had been interested but not invested, but then Coil offered another bargaining chip. He offered to use his contacts to try and find Trainwreck's past. Told him he had promising lines of information, that he might even be able to get Trainwreck's name.

"Pfeh. Already have my name, and a glimpse. Such power, such knowledge. Why would he need me?" Gregor muttered. "He was lying, or he had no real need of me. A pawn, not an ally."

Gregor's refusal of this last point had seemed to shock Coil. He'd seemed to agree with the refusal, and had walked out- only to let in men with rifles, to silence Trainwreck.

They weren't expecting vented steam. Weren't expecting that trick Heraldry had given him, the sweeping rush which had knocked them aside, moving through rather than into. He'd managed to get free, fight his way past the mercenaries. But in the process, his nicest suit was trashed.

Gregor scowled as he shoved his best gear into a knapsack. He had to go, had to leave. Coil's men had managed to neutralize one suit fast, and it was painfully obvious that the Snake wouldn't let him live for long. He was too distinct, he stood out too much… Where could he hide?

Unbidden, his memory flashed to the one time he'd followed Heraldry through the docks, to see her vanish between a pair of upright pillars. The old machine shop was empty, he'd checked. But the girl still vanished between one step and the next. A pocket dimension.

Gregor wheeled himself over to his terminal again, cursing softly as one of his cameras scanned over a discreet man carrying a high-tech pistol. "I will owe her much for this." He muttered, but… well. Better than the alternative.

Gregor's tentacle tapped one of only two numbers he had keyed into his phone. After a few rings, an unfamiliar voice answered. "Ah, Gregor?"

"Who is this? I must speak with Heraldry. At once." He found himself barking.

"Hang on, let me put her on." The voice… sounded similar to the girl's. A sister, maybe?

Seconds later, the familiar voice of his neighbor (friend?) came over the line. "Gregor, what's wrong?"

"Issue I am having. I made a mistake, rejected an offer from Coil." Gregor explained tersely, watching over the cameras as the man pulled out a cell phone. "Attempted to silence me, likely know the location of workshop. I will-"

"Stay there, Gregor. I'll be right over." Heraldry's voice seemed to change, deepening and warping into something not recognizably female. Or perhaps, not quite human. "Are you injured? How many are there?"

Gregor nodded, looking through his cameras. "Three teams, five men in each. They are flanking the warehouse as we speak. And I am… mostly fine."

"...right. Hold out as long as you can."

Gregor nodded, even as the line went dead. He whirled his rolling chair back across the floor, smiling softly as he came to a halt before his current prototype armor. Unlike his bulky, oversized armor suit, this one was built a little differently. Heraldry's advice had pushed him to rebuild this suit; he supposed it was time for a field test.

"Size matters… but more may not be better." He chuckled, slipping into the armor and letting the clamshell drop into place. As he began to work the armor through its paces, he grinned. "Let's see if they can deal with a smaller target."

As he snagged his custom steam rifle from the rack, the man inside the armor felt his smile grow. "A better suit, and backup on the way. Truly, having allies is a wondrous thing…"

--[0]--

Lisa Wilbourn, once known as Sarah Livsey, and occasionally known as Tattletale, groaned as she heard her phone ring. There was only one person she used the standard ringtone for, and considering her current headache, the last thing she wanted to do was talk to her boss. Reaching out with one hand, she grabbed hold of the cell phone beside her, flipping it open and bringing it to her ear while keeping the ice pack balanced on her forehead. "Hey boss, whassup?" She groaned out.

"Tattletale. I've recently suffered a setback." Coil's voice came out of the phone in its normal monotone, but Lisa's eyes shot open as the words registered. Angry, covering fear. Uncertain.

"Really? What happened?" Lisa sat up, snagging her laptop with one hand as she pressed the phone between her shoulder and head, the other groping for a rarely-touched bottle of tinker-made painkillers. Using these, no matter how addictive, might be worth it. "I didn't know you were running any ops today."

"It should have been a milk run." Coil's response was terse. "I was aiming to recruit a new agent, perhaps a teammate if Hellhound didn't work out. He responded well to my early overtures, only to reject my final offer." He paused as Tattletale upended a pill into her mouth and booted up her laptop. "I want to know why." Confused, angry at you yet not you. Hates being confused, hates information gaps, believed this a sure bet. Received assurances from other sources. Other sources included thinkers. Other source was you.

Lisa bit her lip as she considered her power's revelation. "I'm going to need more info than that." Lisa responded, quietly bringing up her speculation document. "Who was it, what was the offer?"

"Trainwreck." Monster Cape, slumming, new arrival in Trainyards. "I offered him money, a support network when his job was complete, and information about his past."

Lisa whistled at the last line. "Kinda cruel with that last one, boss. No one knows where Case 53's come from."

"...no, they don't. But he shouldn't have known the false documents I'd drawn up were false." Pause too long. Does know where Case 53's originate from, or has info therein. Would not share. Would not even pretend to look. Scared of source. Lisa gulped as those lines soaked in, even as an email popped up on screen. Coil continued. "Listen to the recordings. If there's a leak, it needs to be patched."

Lisa let her newest Coil facts percolate as she listened to the conversation between Coil (Body double) and Trainwreck. As she listened to Trainwreck's rejection, she flinched. Conflict between information he knew to be true and Coil's lie. "There wasn't a direct leak, boss. He already knew his name, and knew your 'leads' were fake."

Long pause, running through options. Very nervous. "Can you confirm that?"

"With a bit of work, maybe." Lisa replied. "Not sure where I'd start, though."

"Don't." Coil's response was clipped. "Focusing on managing the Undersiders for now. Let them know that if the opportunity comes to kill or capture Trainwreck in the next week, you should take it."

Lisa swallowed again. Trainwreck's knowledge is dangerous to long-term plans. Needs to dispose of him before he can share what Coil plans. Will dispose of you as soon as possible. "Brian might push back against that. Killing another cape would bring heat on us."

"Let all your teammates know that there's a 250 thousand dollar bounty on whomever makes the kill, so long as it happens before he runs his mouth." Knows Bitch won't hesitate for that amount of money. Knows it will give Brian and Alec second thoughts. Doesn't care about long-term team cohesion. "Also let them know I will be spreading this job to other parties."

"Understood." Lisa paused as a second directive showed up in her inbox. "What's this?"

"The one who helped bail Trainwreck out." Coil's response was clipped. "It could be a coincidence, he's been running around the Trainyards for some time. But I need you to monitor Heraldry closely. I want a preliminary dossier submitted in three days."

"Gotcha." Lisa ignored the abrupt end to the call, studying the picture before her closely. "So this is the guy who took down Shadow Stalker…" She murmured. "Hmm. Now, what are you hiding?"

--[0]--

For most of Brockton Bay, the Medhall Building was one of the few places in the city where people found some hope for the future. An old-money pharmaceutical company employing thousands of people, Medhall was a cornerstone of the city's economy. Its CEO was a regular participant in charity events across the city, a man with links to City Hall and European backers.

Max Anders himself saw himself as a businessman in both roles he played. He dealt drugs in both personas, dealt with problems in both personas, and serviced clients in both personas.

...and did paperwork for both personas.

Grumbling under his breath, Max hastily scrawled a messy Kaiser on the bottom of an E88 directive. "Finally." Looking up from his desk, he slammed one finger home on his intercom's button. "James, come on in. I know you have news."

A few minutes later, the stocky build of Max's right hand man entered the room. "Max, is there anything we need to lead with?"

Max shook his head. "Nothing except the take." He leaned forward, tapping a piece of tinkertech, nodding as it failed to sense any bugs. "Start with Shadow Stalker. What happened with her, and why shouldn't we be using her as a recruiting tool?"

Krieg shook his head. "Sophia Hess was backed by the school authorities, white or black, and she had white friends. Worse yet, none of our young guns in Winslow ever intervened to stop her actions, or even mark her for reprisals outside of school." He snorted. "In short? We can use her as dirt on the PRT, but we can't use her for more general recruiting purposes. The narrative breaks down too fast."

"That's not stopped us before."

"It has when the PRT admits they screwed up, then pours out a tide of scum as scapegoats." James rubbed his hands. "It's more of a failure of the school system than anything else. Winslow is a shithole, and someone was embezzling funds. Not exactly good propaganda when it was a white woman causing the mess."

"Right." Max shook his head. "Fine. PRT response?"

"Mostly unchanged. Apparently losing Stalker will reduce the Wards' presence for a while, but otherwise their patrol and rotation schedules are static."

"Other gangs?"

"The ABB hasn't made any major moves in the last few days, and that seems unlikely to change. Coil is still laying low, the Undersiders haven't made a hit in a few days, and Faultline's crew only recently returned to the Palanquin." He paused. "The Merchants are stirred up, though. Heraldry, the new cape, has been making big moves through their territory, and beat down a dozen of their competent leg-breakers the same night he captured Stalker. That, combined with Trainwreck's greater activity, has gotten Skidmark upset."

"What's he doing?"

"He's started demanding his men patrol, saying he wants to catch the people intruding on 'his' turf." James shrugged. "He'll lose interest in a few days. We just need to be careful; Squealer's joined in with her latest monstrosity."

"Anything else?" At James' head shake, Max inclined his head towards a nearby couch. "Sit down. We've got some more to go over, but we can take our time."

"Yessir."

Tale Swapper · Oct 23, 2021

Being a Cape changed things. Some of it was big things, directly related to being a cape- I could run faster, jump higher, lift more weight even without the benefits of the shield. I would never need glasses again, and I'd put on muscle and earned some narrow curves I was proud of.

Some things were big things not entirely connected to the Shield. My dad was coming back together again (I don't know how he thought he could hide his medication, but he was more like his old self every day. I wish he'd gotten it sooner.), I'd made some interesting social connections around town in the form of a gaggle of craftsmen and handymen, and I was going to Arcadia in a few weeks, so long as I passed the entrance exams.

And then there were the little things about being a Cape, some of which made me change my behavior. I didn't need to sleep nearly as much; these days I only slept a few hours a night. Being up at two in the morning was not a new experience, but now I had enough energy to do something rather than just toss and turn in my bed. And with my new strength, I found it safe enough to go outside to avoid waking Dad, even at the witching hour.

I'd have never perched myself atop the roof before, looking up as the moon drifted through a cloudy sky. The cold bit me slightly, but the scarf wrapped around my neck was enough to push back the cold… somehow.

Video game logic at its finest.

After a few minutes of taking in the moonlight, I sighed. As much as I liked being able to simply enjoy the evening, I did need to make a decision. Languidly, I browsed through the various menus, pulling up the class selection screen.

"...Dad wants us armed." I muttered, glancing at the Men-at-Arms option. "And I want speed." I glanced at the Vanguard.

"Both are viable. But I still think Warden is the way to go." Allie said.

"Warden would be good." I thought back over what dad had taught me. "It really depends on what spells I learn from leveling. Without Spellcraft, I'd be pretty hampered otherwise."

Allie was silent for a long moment. "Well, what about making that the next Priority quest? We could try to find the basics we needed to get that up to speed."

"We need to do that anyway." I groaned. It hadn't felt that bad at the time, but the bullets I'd taken in my fight with the merchants had cleaved chunks off my health. I needed to upgrade my gear, and either enchanting or better materials would be necessary to pull that off. "We can set a priority once we've done a bit of searching on our own, and filled out a few more quests. Maybe see if we can find something without having to set a priority."

As I turned back to the window, a box popped up beside me. Glancing at it, I felt my eyebrows rise, even as Allie answered the phone. "Huh, who's calling me?"

"Dunno, let me…" Allie went silent. "It's Gregor. It sounds bad."

I leaned in a bit as she connected the call to me directly. "Gregor, what's wrong?"

"Issue I am having. I made a mistake, rejected an offer from Coil." Gregor explained tersely. I frowned, trying to remember who Coil was. Some sort of mastermind? I shook it off as he continued. "Attempted to silence me, likely know the location of workshop. I will-"

I didn't hesitate, speaking even as I pulled on my helmet. "Stay there, Gregor. I'll be right over." I paused before I cut the call. "Are you injured? How many are there?"

Gregor hesitated before replying. "Three teams, five men in each. More are coming. They are flanking the warehouse as we speak. And I am… mostly fine."

I nodded. "Right. Hold out as long as you can." I cut the connection, hesitating as the still-open 'Class Selection' screen. I scowled. Gregor was hurt, and I was still hesitating. I needed to help.

...healing.

Madison… if the ambulance hadn't been right there, if I hadn't been as fast as I had, she'd have bled out right there, for all that I'd stopped Sophia from putting another bolt into her. So far, my quests had unlocked attack abilities, defensive skills, and mobility options; but no healing spells.

Reading over the class options again, I frowned as I leapt to the ground, tapping one of the options and locking in the selection.

Class Selected: Warden
Active Skill [Indomitable Caster] (0) and Passive Skill 'Casting Barrier' unlocked and equipped
You've Gained the Abilities 'Project Barrier', 'Force Burst', 'Mage Bolt', and 'Cure Wounds'

Congratulations! You are now Level 11!
Mastery Bleed Applied to '1000 Volt Shield' and 'Night Stalker's Shield'
1000 Volt Shield Mastered
You've Gained one point of END and INT, and two points of WIS
You've gained six Stat Points and one Special Perk Point. Spend them wisely
You've gained one SP

I didn't hesitate as I hit the ground, pumping forward as I started burning stamina. "Allie, give me an update on my new skills." I swiped aside a 'New Quest!' notification as I continued to run. "And read off that quest prompt, please."

"Project Barrier allows you to summon a five by five barrier of force for a modest amount of mana. The barrier won't hold up to more than a few bullets, but it would shield you temporarily, at least. Force Burst is a better form of Pushback, and Mage Bolt is a magical missile which explodes like a little flashbang on penetrating a target. Cure Wounds is a minor healing spell, but only works on physical trauma, not disease or sickness."

"Alright, and the quest?"

"Save Gregor. Don't let him die is the primary, fighting off all enemies and keeping them from robbing his workshop are two of the secondaries. There's also a 'Leave no witnesses' award, but considering how I don't think you want to kill…"

I grimaced beneath my helmet. "...if they're trying to kill Gregor, I'm not going to hold back. But I won't kill a downed man, either, and I'm not going to be aiming for kills."

"Then we're not getting that reward." Allie paused. "Coil, huh?"

"Yeah. What's he up to?"

"No idea."

I let out a huff. "Coil was supposed to be a minor player. I didn't know he could throw fifteen mercenaries well-armed enough to handle a Tinker in his workshop."

"We only know what's available online. If he was recruiting people but is killing them for backing out, then he's trying to hide his movements." Allie sighed. "He's playing a long game."

The rest of the run was finished with a minimum of conversation, the two of us ruminating on what Coil's actions could mean even as we moved to work against him. As we neared, Allie paused. "The quest's critical timer just went active. I think the mercenaries have finished casing the building, and are starting their assault."

I scowled, listening as a series of explosions, faint at this distance, began to cut through the night air. "Alright then. Let's see how these guys handle me."

I vaulted forward, leaping atop a long building which used to be a train terminal, sprinting across it while keeping my eyes fixed on the roof of the building I knew to be Trainwreck's hideout. As I came to the edge of a rooftop, I looked down, eyes lighting on one of a group of five men advancing towards one of the buckled inward warehouse doors, advancing under the cover of a smoke cloud. Tightening my gaze, I muttered "Observe."

John Grace
Level 9 Soldier (9)
Race: Human
HP: 190 (140 + 50 Armor)
Stats:

STR: 12

END: 14

AGL: 9

INT: 12

WIS: 13 (11+2)

Status:
Well-Led (Increased resistance to panic, +2 WIS)

Raising one eyebrow, I scanned the rest of the group. Aside from the squad leader (a Sergeant, with increased INT and WIS as well as the 'Leadership' buff, the rest were all of a type. They didn't seem like that much of a threat. But as they passed through the doors, I glanced at their weapons.

Augmented M4 A.Carbine
Tinkertech Modified Assault Rifle
Attack: 78 Piercing
30 Round Magazine

Ability: Melter Burst (5 Second Cooldown, Limited uses) Deals 250 points of Flame damage to in a ray attack. Has a 10% chance to destroy augment, and has four uses between charges.

If someone managed to get a direct hit on me, my defense would nullify a lot of that damage. But not all. And Trainwreck would be similar, if it weren't for the fact that Flame damage could destroy armor.

If they managed to focus fire on either one of us, it would all be over. And from what I could see of the rising smoke clouds, Trainwreck was getting attacked from multiple sides.

Now or never.

I vaulted over the side, hitting the ground with a thump and accelerating towards the advancing soldiers, even as from the other side I heard the chatter of gunfire, and oddly enough, the soft 'toot-toot' of a train whistle. My feet clanking against the ground drew the attention of the rear members of the team I was pursuing. With a yell, one of them pivoted and poured shots my way. "New contact, at the rear! Cape!"

I threw out one hand, throwing up a Barrier to absorb his fast shots. The shield shattered, but by that point I was already among the mercenaries, fists flying as I smacked aside one, the rest moving to flank. I quickly triggered a Shield Throw, sending a translucent copy of the Holy Shield pinballing one way as I pointed in another. With a pull, I triggered my second new spell. "Force Burst!"

A wide cone of sheer force blasted from my hand, knocking the two men in that direction stumbling backward, giving me a moment to duck under the last man's aimed fire. I rolled to one side, bringing my shield around to knock back the last man's rifle, then spinning again to throw my shield twice more. Men were knocked prone from their stagger, even as one man got in close enough to smash my helmet with a rifle butt. With a swear, I was knocked prone.

Rolling to my back, I started to lift my shield to intercept my attacker's raised rifle when the toot-toot of the train whistle sounded again- and the mercenary's shoulder crumpled as a metal projectile smashed into it. Coming upright, I took a glance back along the firing line.

A hulking armored figure stood a few yards from our small fight. The aesthetic of the armor, made of scrap metal and salvaged protective gear, was definitely Trainwreck's work. The weapon looked like it had been assembled out of train parts and scrap, but as I watched the bulky weapon pivot towards another soldier, even as he, and two more, raised their rifles at Gregor.

With a cough and a whistle, I saw a railroad spike jet from the muzzle of the gun, impaling one man in the chest even as I moved to intercept the other two. With a crack, I smashed my shield into one man's side, knocking his aim off as his buddy opened up with his rifle. The bullets pinged off my barrier, then thudded into my armor, battering into my HP before I could slam him in response. Looking around, I felt bile well up in my throat as I saw the crumpled forms of the two men Trainwreck's bolts had smashed; one lay whimpering as blood pooled around him, while the other lay utterly still.

I shook off my hesitation as Gregor's voice sounded from the armor. "Heraldry, you came." He walked closer, and continued speaking. "Thank you." His voice was strained.

I looked over at him, frowning beneath my helmet. "An odd weapon, and hardly non-lethal." I murmured, focusing on his rifle. "Did you build it yourself?"

"For hunting Lung, or driving off Hookwolf. Maybe the twins." He grunted. "Do you disapprove?"

"...not if you're not using it on the innocent, I suppose." I responded. "The Dockworkers I know often carry guns." I stopped next to the injured man, casting Stabilize on him, then stood and walked over to Gregor. "Are you alright?"

"...you can heal?" He murmured, staring at the wounded man. "I have suffered burns. My other armor took a lot of heat." He reached as if to open his armor, only for me to lay a hand on him, casting Cure Wounds for the first time. "...that's much better." He shook slightly. "Come, I think they'll be gathering at the trapped side. Yours was the only one where they were unopposed."

"Traps?" I asked, falling in step beside him.

"Yes. Set pipe bombs linked to tripwires on the west approach, and barricaded the northern one. One of them stumbled over the tripwires when entering, and then the rest started throwing rocks and using their lasers to cut a path." He grunted. "They kept my head down with fire, but I sent a few spikes back their way. I think the men I kept out and the ones who dealt with my traps are gathering."

I followed as he headed back towards the center of the warehouse. As we rounded the corner on some stacked boxes, I winced, seeing the slagged form of his primary suit. "So that's how you got burned…" I murmured, taking a look at the battle damage. The suit's left arm had been nearly melted, drooping metal showcasing where energy beams had damaged the suit.

"Yes. They were not gentle." He turned, sighting down his rifle towards the sole open entryway. "And they will not be. I saw you holding back, Heraldry. That may not be an option, if we are going to leave alive."

I pursed my lips beneath my helmet. "I won't begrudge you killing in self-defense. But as a hero, I can't kill indiscriminately." At his look, I shook my own head. "Do not worry. I shall kill if I have to. But I don't think it necessary, not against these foes."

"If you insist." He sighed. "Perhaps this is what earns respect. Holding to a code, even at cost."

"Honor demands it." I reply, letting the enchantment on my helm shape my words. I can't quite bring myself to disagree with them, for all that I would have never phrased it that way. Something to think about later. For now-

"Here they come." Gregor rumbled, holding his weapon in one hand as his other scrabbled for a cylindrical object on his waist. Smoke grenades clattered into the entryway, filling the air with thick white fog even as more grenades flew further into the room. I raised my shield, ducking behind some equipment even as bright lights flashed. Gregor crouched beside me, throwing the cylinder over the lathe he crouched behind, the homemade frag bomb going off as the first wave of mercenaries advanced through the smoke.

A massive bang signaled the proper moment for the two of us, and without a word Gregor stood tall and leveled his rifle even as I vaulted out from behind cover. Sprinting forward, I slammed my shield into one staggering man, knocking him prone before spinning to throw a phantasmal copy of my shield blindly into the slowly clearing smoke. The glowing green projectile drew fire, and I grunted as I took the bullets on my guard. I responded with another force blast, sending the men stumbling, and thinning the dense gray smoke.

The quickly thinning smoke exposed me to the sight lines of half-a-dozen soldiers, but also opened Gregor's sight line to them. Within seconds, the armored figure of my ally had spat a trio of flying railroad spikes, impaling two men and causing a third to duck for cover. As the remaining troops pivoted to blast Gregor, I used their distraction to hurl another Shield Throw into their midst, following up by smashing my shield into one man who stumbled too close.

One of the man's close companions, quicker on the draw than the rest, leveled his rifle and thumbed the secondary trigger as I swung myself in his direction. Within seconds, my shield was blasted by a surge of searing heat, a ray of concentrated plasma ignited by an ultraviolet laser cooking off my health and damaging my armor. I screamed as the heat splashed around my shield, clapping my spare hand to myself and pulsing Cure Wounds to generate a barrier and keep myself alive. Moments after the blast began, it petered out, and I took the opportunity to smash the man into the ground.

I heard a crash behind me, and spun to find Gregor kicking another mercenary away. He'd charged into the fray, preventing the men from setting up suppressing fire, but now they had him surrounded. I quickly charged in, roaring as I shouldered aside another man then lashed out with a punch.

These soldiers weren't equipped to handle me, or Gregor's new armor. They were expecting to take down a single bulky and cumbersome target with few long-ranged capabilities. Gregor's rifle, my agility- these, they were unprepared for.

And it cost them.

It took several seconds of me standing in a ready stance to realize that there were no more black-clad figures moving through the drifting fog. Looking around, I winced as my gaze passed over the half-dozen groaning, unconscious figures… and those whose bodies failed to move, impaled on spikes of broken under Gregor's fists and feet. Beside me, Gregor looked about, then groaned as he straightened in his suit. "More may come, but they are cleared for now." He turned, looking at me. "...Heraldry. Thank you."

"...I wasn't going to leave you to die, Gregor."

"Still. We are… were, on opposite sides." He swung his rifle over his shoulder. "I owe you more than any debt you owed me. And I will be hunted. Should Coil's minions, or the PRT catch me, I cannot repay my debt." He paused. "I must deepen it to pay it back. I ask for sanctuary."

I barely kept myself from flinching at his words. "What do you mean?"

"I am not safe. This place, it is known now. And Coil is unlikely to stop, if he was willing to kill me as his first resort." Gregor said. "I followed you once. You have a pocket dimension."

My brow furrowed beneath my helmet. "You saw that?"

"Yes. I apologize." He said softly. "I only meant to see you out of my land. Instead I found your base." He leaned forward, in what I realized was the closest he could get to a bow in his armor. "I ask to stay there, until I can find another path forward. In exchange-"

As Gregor spoke, I felt something shift inside me, and I casually waved aside a pop-up. "I accept your request for sanctuary. My doors are open to you, so long as you promise to do no harm." I paused, weighing my words as the armored figure before me straightened. "Why are we opposed, Gregor? Why must we fight?" My meaning carried through the distortions of my helm, even as an idea settled into my mind.

The power armor before me shifted. "...because I am a villain. And you are a hero."

"You have honor. You refused the offer of an evil man, and performed your acts in pursuit of survival. You are not cruel, Gregor. Trainwreck was a villain… you may not be." I held out my hand, as the idea crystallized into action. "And if Trainwreck is hunted… perhaps he should not come again."

Gregor looked down at my hand. "...is this your price?"

"No. Sanctuary is yours, so long as you attack no hero or innocent while you stay under my roof. But if you would swear yourself, seek to remake yourself, maybe you could join me."

Gregor reached out, steel hand clenching around my gauntlet. "I shall try, Heraldry."

*Ding*

Quest Complete! Derailing a Murder
(9 Lines hidden)

Party System Unlocked!
You currently have 3 Full Party Slots and 2 Temporary Slots

Full Party members gain access to standard and derived class options, skill progression, magical skills, and subordinate gamer system. Full members will always have access to the system so long as they are not 'Kicked' or gain the 'Traitor' status. 'Kicked' members cannot be readmitted to the party for 90 days, and slots emptied via kicking cannot be filled for 30 days. Choose your party members wisely!

Temporary party members are only granted observer abilities and status monitoring, as well as 'Growth correction' for all levels gained while in the party. Temporary party members can be dismissed or recruited at will.

Would you like to add Gregor Lapunov to the party?
Yes (Full Member (3 Remaining))
Yes (Temporary Member)
No

I smiled as I reached for the screen. "Well. Gregor. Let me let you in on a few secrets about my powers. Then we can get you packed."

Yes

2 Slots Remaining

Author's Note: Three Years. This should not have taken this long, but it's finished. The tutorial, that is. From here on out, Taylor's going to have a lot more engagement with the city, as the new Arc, 'Party Preparation' (name pending a better one) cranks up. I don't expect that one out until mid-December, though.

Why? Well, I'm going to start posting a snippet thread soon. Like, hopefully this time tomorrow. And the first few snippets will be my attempts at hammering down a NaMoWriMo topic. I've got four ideas (one of them hopefully good) and plan to release pilots for each of them in the next few days. Fingers crossed, and keep your eyes on the story board.

In other news, I've had some people (cough*Miho*cough) tell me I should set up a Patreon. I don't want to shill from you guys, but if anyone thinks I should (whether or not they plan to contribute) let me know. Having some impetus would help me, mayhap. (getting paid for writing makes me feel tingly- and I don't know if it's the good kind of tingle)

Still, it's been three years. I hope everyone who enjoys this work keeps following, and keeps commenting, and keeps dropping off likes. Those keep me going.

Oh yeah, and Taylor chose magic. Sorry if that disappointed anyone, but seriously. IT'S MAGIC. You know you'd choose it too, if you got the chance.

You may begin speculation on Gregor's new primary class now. Again, mid-December. Hold me to that; maybe I'll listen this time.

Tale Swapper · Oct 23, 2021

Classes Overview

Taylor's gamer-system is heavily inspired by the class systems present in most Lit RPG, but is also derived from the Fire Emblem and WoW games, Konosuba, and Arifureta.

Upon first gaining a combat character level (usually through training with an already-classed individual), a person under these systems can select from a number of classes depending on their circumstances, current stats, and prior training. At Level 10 of their starting class, these individuals can choose to promote (or 'Class Up') to an Advanced class. Advanced classes can promote further to a Specialist class at level 20, while some Specialist Classes can promote to a Prestige Class at level 20. At any of these level 20 Benchmarks, the person can instead choose to return and choose a new starting class or go try a different Advanced promotion- though considering that requires losing out on stat points (more on that later) this is less common than simply progressing to the next rank of their class tree.

Taylor has a huge advantage over most classes- due to her class being a Heroic one (a variant of Special quality classes- more on that later) she gets a large number of free stat points at each level. Most ordinary people in this system have to earn free stat points through quests or gain only one or two per level- instead, they receive several fixed stat points at each level up. These stat points increase as your Class Rank improves, which is why doubling back on a class tree is uncommon- as levels are cumulative (10 Starting + 20 Advanced = True Level of 30, even if you go back to take another Advanced class) leveling becomes harder even if you don't ever move beyond Advanced Classes. So you end up with a wider range of powers, but much lower stats. Not a good idea, unless you figure out some crazy synergy. And who's capable of experimenting like that?

In addition to Primary (or Combat) classes, there are also Secondary classes. Working in a trade or performing activities like running errands can unlock Secondary classes, many of which have limited combat utility but offer benefits and EXP for pursuing trades, crafting, or developing your understanding of a field of study. Secondary classes count towards your overall threat level and EXP calculation, but only at a rate of 1/4 for most characters- and since Secondary classes still offer small but noticeable Stat gains per level, most adventurers or nobles will pick up and level one or two. Secondary classes can be swapped at 5 level increments, and caps for these lesser classes range from 10 (basic ones like 'Message Runner' or 'Hornblower') all the way to ways of life which can take a lifetime to master and have level caps at 100 ('Bazaar Master', 'Runesmith', 'True King', or 'Wilderness Farmer'). Secondary Classes are a powerful asset, though unlocking the more powerful ones can be very, very difficult.

Individuals who do nothing of importance and don't bother to hone any measurable skill tend to end up as No Class individuals. Their paltry EXP gains and non-existent stat gains are limitations on their growth, only serving to make it increasingly difficult to gain a proper Combat or Secondary class at a later date. Though near-impossible to gain in most Lit-RPG worlds, requiring a childhood and formative years spent drifting through life and without aim, modern society can easily churn out these individuals. Interestingly, when and if a No Class character gains their first Combat or Secondary class level, half of their accumulated No Class EXP is converted to that class before their level resets to zero. So perhaps there is hope for anyone without the focus to pursue greatness at the outset...

Unlocking Classes and Class Rarity/Quality

When a person first triggers their Combat Class screen, they are forced to pick a combat class from a list of ones available. With few exceptions, their lists always contain one of five basic classes; any revealed from there on out are a result of their skills, legacy, stats, and circumstances. In general, these classes can be sorted into five ranks of increasing rarity and power; Basic, Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Special.

Basic Classes are available to anyone who gains a combat class rank. Focused on one of the five basic stats, these are Fighter, Soldier, Rogue, Mage, and Priest. While none of these classes are spectacular, each offers a few type-specific powers, and they all rely on one primary stat for the majority of their skills. These classes have quick progression but offer only two Advanced promotions, and only a single Specialist promotion from each Advanced class. These classes are picked by either the desperate trying to quickly gain power, or the canny hoping to make use of their 'Low Expectations' Class Skill, which grants +10% EXP gain at all levels. To have a basic class available is simplicity itself- one needs only have the appropriate stat above 10 to unlock the class. As almost everyone has at least one of these stats at level 10 by the time they can gain a combat class, this is not much of a bar to clear. As these classes are very well-known, many armies force their raw recruits or conscripts to take one of these classes, so as to standardize training.

Common Classes are considered the bread-and-butter classes of people who planned to go into the more dangerous professions. Unlike Basic Classes, common classes require the user to either have two or more stats at level 10 upon the first class level, or have a single stat at level 15. Common classes usually have similar powers to the five Basic classes, but with added specialties or hybridizations which greatly increase the utility and capacity of the class. These include Archer, Pikeman, Hedgewitch, Warrior, Cleric, Spellcaster, and Swordsman; classes which inspire archetypes and appear as companions to greater figures. Common classes have only two Advanced promotions, but each in turn have two Specialist promotions. Their stat gains are usually higher than Basic classes, and they tend to gain more and greater variance of Abilities and Spells as they promote. Many low-leveled adventurers bear common classes, and some legendary figures reached level 30 or even 50 in these classes before switching to more powerful ones.

Uncommon Classes are not often seen on skill sheets for wanna-be adventurers or hopeful warriors who have not specifically trained to gain them. Many require multiple stats at 15 or higher, or demand a single stat at 20 and others at 10. Others have Passive Skills, trained Abilities, or special circumstances such as lineage or race to be revealed in addition to other effects. Classes such as Warlock, Fencer, Huntsman, Rider, Witch, and Evoker fall into these categories, and have potent stat gains or offer free stat points upon leveling, in addition to strong abilities, three Advanced promotions, and two Specialist promotions from each Advanced class. Interestingly, Uncommon classes have a second variant, the so-called 'Trainee' classes; classes such as Squire, Apprentice, Acolyte, and Lieutenant offer lower stat gains, but have access to potent skill gains and highly powerful and specialized Advanced classes, some of which are Specialists in Common class trees, which in turn have Specialist classes of their own. Adventurers with Uncommon starting classes often begin their adventures with greater resolve, for having such a class marks one as having prepared for greatness.

Rare Classes are just that- rare. Unlocking a Rare class often requires vast innate talent, special or contrived circumstances, or even innate and hard-learned powers and abilities only acquired by Advanced or Specialist classes of lower rarity, and many times a mixture of these things. The mechanics for unlocking a Rare class are not well understood; even the more 'widely' used ones like Mechanist, Blessed, Prince, Hermit, Champion, or Chosen are actually Specialist classes in other trees, the result of mental revelations, or the consequences of highly specific upbringing. Rare classes usually boast impressive stat gains, powerful or diverse ability sets, multiple free stat points per level, and legendary class promotions. While there are many benefits of having a rare class, some will fix one's promotion path upon acquisition, or draw attention from the higher powers when selected- after all, by choosing to take such a powerful class, one accepts that they will never leave the spotlight, and in turn, open themselves to outside influence.

Special Classes break all known rules; if one has one as their option upon gaining a Combat Class level, it is immediately locked in. Classes in these areas can be signs of divine mandate, known as Heroic Classes, which grant powerful abilities and difficult limitations. Others are curses, lodestones around the neck of those unfortunate enough to have terrible circumstances or beneath horrible fates like Posessed or Infestor. Those who have no stats above 5, or even a single stat at 0 when gaining their first Class Level, may end up with such classes as Wretch, Feral, or Broken. Still others are consigned to a journey which can raise them to glory or break them entire, such as Questor, Maverick, and Vengeant. And a few, such a Divine Heir or Nascent King represent individuals who will hold the fate of nations in their hands. Many Special classes are near-unique, and gaining one marks one as abnormal; for better or for worse. Gaining the Advanced or Specialist promotions of any of these classes often bring relief from a part of the circumstances which bind them- or drive them deeper into the situations which granted them no choice in the first place.

The Rising of the Shield Heroine

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HeellllooooooOP

Simping for Monster Girls

Taylor, this time she has a shield. by Sketch-yTimes on DeviantArt

Tale Swapper

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