"S-so what did you say?" Ash asked quietly, handing you a flask of warm tea, the steam curling through the chill air between you.
The two of you sat in what could barely be called a park—more of an overgrown, abandoned plot of land where weeds clawed through cracks in the asphalt, littered with broken bottles and scattered scraps. You were perched on the rusted remains of a broken-down car, watching the people of various shapes and kinds as they drifted by you. The reason behind the sudden change of scenery was how you looked when you returned home. Ash had never seen you look so scared before, even when you were being beaten to death, so to see you shaking and seemingly out of it, well it scared him too. He partically forced you to leave the stuffy apartment, saying that some fresh air would make us feel better, but you still couldn't fully shake off what happened yesterday.
"No . . . I said no . . . I couldn't, Ash . . . Their faces . . ." Your teeth clenched, and your voice caught in your throat, unwilling to go on. The memory had settled into your mind like poison, seeping into your every thought. the eyes of that little boy. He wasn't dead when they took him—his eyes, wide and terrified, told you as much. Those desperate, pleading eyes of a child, begging for help as he was taken into darkness, into the cruel, unfeeling hands of that clown. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't block out the image of what his final moments would have been. You could hear his screams, his cries for help, see his little hand reaching out, begging anyone to save him. Begging you. And yet, you did nothing.
No, no, you just walked away, the only hope of him surviving leaving because helping him would have been an inconvenience. God, how pathetic you are. So worthless that you stood there, doing nothing while someone's life was right there to be saved. They were right; you couldn't do anything right. You were a coward who would rather let children die than even try to reach out to help. You are nothing. Don't deserve anything. You will always be unloved. You are worthless, you piece of sh—
"Hey," Ash's hand shook you out of your own mind, awakening you from your self-made mental torment. "I don't know what happened to you, but you can't let it get you like this."
You stared at the dirt floor below, unable to look the man beside you in the eyes as you spoke in a hoarse whisper, "You don't understand . . . someone needed help, and I did nothing."
"No, you don't understand, Jackson," Ash said, his voice taking on a strength that steadied you. His tone was firm, unyielding, yet comforting. "You're in hell; you can't save everyone, and you can't think about what-ifs. Believe me—it'll crush whatever's left of you." His last words slipped out in a voice stripped bare, raw and vulnerable, as though he were ripping open an old wound
". . . Thank you, Ash," you breathed out as you let the heat from the red sky warm you and give you back some life, but you couldn't fully enjoy it. No. That feeling of guilt, knowing that you could have interfered, was stilling lurking within you. But for now it was pushed back, for now you could just sit back and relax.
You and Ash would just sit and relax and take in the area around you, from the strange beauty of the crumbling buildings that surrounded you to their impish residents with their strange antics they performed. You don't know how long the two of you would just sit there, but you didn't care. It was too nice to care, but there was one question that was bugging you.
"Hey Ash, you remember that incubus I was telling you about?"
"Y-yeah, why?"
"Well, do you also remember when I mentioned he was sniffing the air? What was up with that?" you asked, hoping that Ash, being of the same species, would provide some more insight into the situation.
"O—oh, well . . . You see—the funny thing about that is . . . Hum—" Ash continued, stumbling over his words as he nervously fumbled with his hands, his face deepening into a shade of purple.
"Ash, you don't have to answer"
Surprisingly, Ash would steel himself; Taking a deep breath, he would answer you . . . With a question.
"Jackson . . . Are you a virgin?"
"W-what?!?"
"Yes or no."
It was your turn to be embarrassed; your head forced to turn away from Ash as you answered.
"Y—yes."
"That's what I thought. T-the reason I ask that is because Incubuses and succubuses can smell that, and it smells . . . nice." His phrasing tipped off that there was more to it than that.
"Smells nice?"
"Y-yeah, like really nice"
You had to admit that your curiosity was peaked; What the hell did a virgin smell like to an incubus?
"So, what does it smell like?"
"W-well, you smell like fresh flowers, and that's not just it. It's also like a sizzling slab of bacon. The thickest, juiciest bacon ever. So greasy and savory that you'd never forget after tasting it. So juicy that you'd choke on it, and it'll be amazing, hehehe." Ash seemed dazed, his eyes drifting skyward as he talked, like he was lost in what he was saying, his mouth beginning to drool.
"Uh, Ash?" You shifted uncomfortably, but he wasn't listening.
"And then," Ash continued, voice rising with manic excitement as his eyes took on a animalistic hunger, "there's this sweetness too, like freshly baked pies… pies that are just begging to be taken, to be gobbled up whole! You smell like a forbidden feast, Jackson—a festival of flavors just waiting to be strapped down, covered in whipped cream, and absolutely demolished! JUST BEGGING TO BE—"
"ASH!"
"Wha—oh." He blinked, as if coming out of a trance, and quickly covered his face, looking horrified. "I… I should… I should probably go. Yeah. Yep! Gotta… do stuff. Bye!" With that, he scurried away at full speed, hands still clamped over his flushed face.
You were left sitting there in stunned silence, a single thought echoing in your mind: What in the ever-loving hell was that?!
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1000𝕊 -15(Food/drinks for Ash) = 985𝕊 left to spend.
MARTIAL (can only pick one)
[ ] - No pain, No gain: Rocket is completely gobsmacked and horrified when you had asked him to beat you with a baseball bat—For training of course! (Increase your pain tolerance and durability with the help of Rocket. Increase Martial. Increase health.) Dc: 30
[ ] Demonic Deformation: After finially unlocking your Demonic form, you have become sacred of it, but yet endlessly enraptured by it; You must learn more. (Further develop and level up your Demonic formation. Increase Martial.)
Dc:???
[ ] - Dining and dieting: after a gruelling but satisfying workout one day, Rocket was completely horrified to see what you had for a "lunch" and has offered to put you on a proper diet. (Get on a healthy diet. Will cost 20𝕊. Increase Martial and diplomacy.)
Dc:10
[ ] - AND A GUN!: In Hell, Everyone and their grandma is armed to the teeth with guns, knifes, axe, bombs, ect; Everybody but you, probably should fix that. (Buy a weapon for yourself. Will cost 50𝕊 will increase Martial.) Dc: 10
[ ] - Wax on, Wax off: You were getting the complete shit beat out of you by that local imp gang when a little old lady took pity on you and decided to help. (Learn to defend yourself. Increase Martial and learn a new martial art.) Dc: ???
[ ] - Pay back: For too long you let others walk all over you, for too long you let people like Toca make you their play thing without fighting back—no more. Today it ends. Today you'll make them pay. Today Toca goes down. (Confront Toca one last time. End Toca's revengful rampage. Increase Martial. Massively increase Prestige. WARNING!!!: VERY HIGH DC!!! Failure likely without hero unit helping.) Dc:???
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DIPLOMACY (can only pick one)
[ ] - Quality time: for the first time in your life you have people that actually want to be friends with you, YOU. Being both afraid of lose them and became you just want to, you decide to hangout with one of them. (Spend quality time with one friend and improve your relationship with them. If chosen then there will be a later vote to see which friend it is.) Automatic success, the higher the roll the more your relationship will improve.
[ ] - Loosening up: Your still trying to get use to now living in hell, when will you get use to it?, and your off your A-game because of it. Best way to get back into the groove of things? ALCOHOL!!! (Head to bar to hang out, loosen up, and maybe meet some new people.) Dc:???
[ ] - Suit up: Every Overlord has a certain way that they carry themselves through the clothes they wear, and you wearing a dirty wife-beater and sweat pants isn't exactly giving off Overlord vibes. (Buy a new pair of clothes. Will cost 100𝕊 increase diplomacy.) Dc:10
[ ] - Gym bros forever: Rocket is an amazing trainer and an even better friend, both things you need to become an Overlord. (Try to gain Rocket as a hero unit.) Dc:???
[ ] - Theater kids: You like Ash, NO NOT LIKE THAT SHUT UP!, you like Ash in the fact that he's an amazing actor and someone you know will be critical in your success in becoming an Overlord. (Try to gain Ash as a hero unit.) Dc:???
[ ] - Friends on the other side: sure Nail is a little . . . Weird, but he's damn good at magic and you need his magic on your side. (Try to gain Nail as a hero unit.)Dc:???[/SPOILER]
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STEWARDSHIP (can only pick one)
[ ] - I QUIT!: If you want to taken serious as a new and powerful Overlord, working at the shit shack probably isn't the best look. (Quit the shit shack, If not done then every action will have a -5 attached to it since you are busy working at the shit shack.)
Dc:???
[ ] - Tricky Tactics: Visting the various candy shops made a realization dawn on you: You had no clue on how to sell candy in a profitable way, and that won't do for a future Overlord such as yourself. (Reseach various marketing and selling tactics to increase future sells. Increases stewardship. Increase marketing. Increase appeal.)
[ ] - Silicon Solution: While your dingy, cheap phone works for your day to day life, you need more high powered stuff if you want a competitive edge over others. (Purchase a computer. will cost 300𝕊. Increase stewardship and Learning. Will open more actions relating to the internet.)Dc:10
[ ] - Junkyard Diving: There's a junk yard not to far off from the Shit shack and you see a thing or two worth selling, maybe a quick visit wouldn't be so bad. (Viste imp city Junk yard to sell find and sell scrape. 1/4 visits.)Dc:???
[ ] - Moving out: If you want to become an Overlord you need to start living like one, and living in this dingy, dirty apartment won't do. (Move out of your apartment and into something better. You cannot start candy production until this action is done.) Dc:10
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INTRIGUE (can only pick one)
[ ] - Pay up: You keep on hearing not only Mr. Gumlips complain about the Blue gills squeezing him for money, but your landlord Rocket's uncle, the owner of the supermarket you go to, seemingly anyone with a building. Maybe it's time to look further into this annoying gang. (Investgate the Blue Gill Gang. Will unlock further actions to deal with them. Increase Intrigue)Dc:???
[ ] - Quick cash: You got to spend money to make money, and well you don't much money. Luckily for you, your elderly neighbor, one Mr Fitzgerand, is rumored to have a nice stash of cash that can be put into better hands (Rob your Neighbor for extra funding. Increase Intrigue. Make a LOT of money.)Dc:???
[ ] - Spy time: you always read and saw stories of spies having secret tools like Lazer lip stick and hats that can cut people in half . . . That sounds so cool 😎 (Buy some secret spy tools. Will cost 100𝕊 increase Intrigue.)Dc:10
[ ] - Clowning around: That clown in the big top candy store was off to say the least and definitely hiding something, maybe a quick look into him wouldn't hurt. (Invistage Blubbles the Blue nose clown. Increase Intrigue. )Dc:???
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PRESTIGE (can only pick one)
[ ] - CHEESE: Apparently hell has social media platforms of their own, go figure. The most popular of these being Sinstagram, Maybe you should set up an account of your own; To just gather some Intel . . . And look at some cute cat pics (Set up a social media account. This action will unlock the Rumor mill.)Dc:10
[ ] - Hoody Neighbor!: with a broken front door, you've been forced to see and greet all the strange and horrorifying tenets that are your Neighbors; But the couple next to you seem surprisingly friendly, maybe paying them a neighborly hello wouldn't be so bad. (Meet your neighbors next to you. Increase Prestige slightly.)Dc:???
[ ] - Hellish Hootenanny: You've seen many posters and fliers advertising an event called the blood rain dance, which is apparently a very popular festival for imps and other residents of imp city to attend. Maybe you should go to? (Rub elbows with imp city's more powerful residents. Increase Prestige. This action can only be done this month, If not done then you will have to wait another seven Months/seven turns for another opportunity like this.)Dc:20
[ ] - SAY MY NAME!: Sinners seem to have a tradition of abandoning their old living name for a new and more fitting sinner name; Will you follow the trend? (Decide what your new sinner name will be, if you want one at all. Will increase Prestige no matter what is chosen.)Dc:10
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LEARNING (can only pick one)
[ ] - Hit The Books: There a small and, surprisingly, peacefully Library near you. Sure it's a bit creepy, you're pretty sure that the Librarian is stalking you, but it's a nice place to relax and study. (Study in the library to get smarter. Increase learning.)Dc:???
[ ] - Know thy enemy: Ever sense falling into hell, you've heard tons of names, terms, and creatures that you have no clue what they could possibly mean: Who's alastor? What are Ars Goetias? Are imps like you imagined? You need to study. (Learn about the basics of hell. Increase learning.)Dc:10
[ ] - Lay of the land: You realized that you don't know the area you live in all that well at all, maybe a morning stroll will fix that? (Learn about your surrounding area and what secrets it may hold. Increase learning. Because of failing this action, the DC is halved) Dc: 15
[ ] - Sweet Secrets: Sure you want to sell candy, but you got to learn who to make them first. So before you can sell candy, you must first learn how to make it. (Cannot make candy unless this action is completed. Increase learning. Because of this action failing, the Dc is smaller.) Dc:40
[ ] - Hobby Horse: While in hell, your days can get pretty boring and monotonous, just like you can be. One solution that can fix both issues is to pick up a new Hobbie to spice up your life. (If selected then their will be another vote to see what kind of hobby/skill Jackson will pick up.)Dc:10
[ ] - Handyman: Having a your door be open all day, all the time is maybe not the best idea with all sorts of freaks and murders sulking through your apartment complex; Best to fix it. (Fix your front door. Cost will vary based on choice. Will increase learning. Will gain no skill: Carpentry. If not done, special event will trigger: Night terrors every turn results it is not done.) Dc:???
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OCCULT (can only pick one)
[ ] - Blue Hue: There a strange blue glowing color that burns at night outside of your apartment, AND YOU CAN'T GET ANY SLEEP BECAUSE OF IT! (Investigate What the strange color is outside and gain a new friend . . . ) Dc:10
[ ] - Guinea pig: While studying under Nail one day, he said that he had a special spell, or curse as he phrased it, that he wanted to test out . . . On you of course, great. (Increase Occult. Try to survive Nails testing.) Dc: ???
[ ] - Potion Perusal: You know VigorX is quite a strange drink; With is magical properties and unknown origins. Maybe studying the beverage isn't such a waste of time. (Study the contents of VigorX. Increase learning. Increase Occult.) Dc:???
[ ] - Witch's brew: You learned that an easy way to use magic is by brewing different potions that will have various affects depending on their ingredients and preparation. (Buy a brewing instructional manual. Will cost 200𝕊) Dc:10
[ ] - Little shop: While walking home one day, you would find a job offer looking for a lifter to help a shop move some products into their store. One days work for a healthy sum of money, what could possibly go wrong!!! (Help the little shop move stuff around. Get 500𝕊. Meet a strange man.) Dc:???
When voting, please just vote for the plan name. Ex: - [x] name. This making counting the votes easier.