[X] Go back home
-[X] Learn more of the Belkan language
If one were to compare our MC with a regular mage of TSAB, a mob character rather than someone like Nanoha, then how good is our linker core magic theory compared to them?
If I estimate it from the show we are pretty good for how long we have studied, we are probably a genius. Even a A rank linker core is incredibly rare, Nanoha naturally had a AAA one.
We are still behind Nanoha in terms of talent though, she could intuitively use tons of spells on the go making them up on the fly and firing them pretty accurately even when she didn't have the basics of magic theory down.
I wouldn't worry about it though, we are bound to become stronger than anyone in Nanohas plane simply because world walking, when properly exploited, is incredibly op. Just think about it, all we need to hit is a good jackpot plane and we will snowball into power rapidly.
But this also depends on how the multiversal physics work in this quest, for example, if we go to Fullmetal alchemist will we get an alchemy gate? if we go to a cultivation world will we get qi pathways? if we go to Naruto will we get chakra? If yes then we will be ROB level by the time we are done, if not even then we can probably become ROB level if we are smart about it.
We have the equivalent of a nerfed planeswalker spark minus the magic.
Guys, can you think of anything useful we could do with all those empty earths? Maybe we can seed populations and make an empire but it would take too long, anything else we could do with those? Maybe if we get a power or item that can eat matter to grow in power we can consume those planets.
Guys, can you think of anything useful we could do with all those empty earths? Maybe we can seed populations and make an empire but it would take too long, anything else we could do with those? Maybe if we get a power or item that can eat matter to grow in power we can consume those planets.
Metatron's right our linker core, an A rank one is simply not good enough for our long term plans. We should look into upgrading that to the max which is SSS if I remember correctly.
Metatron would point out that TSAB mage rankings are a very rough estimate of capability. They are a scale used to measure the capacity of a mage to achieve the tasks. Your ranking would naturally increase the more theory and spells you learnt (and got a working device of course). Link to the MGLN wiki about it, you can easily guess what class Alice would be called.
What stuff can we trade here to get some cash? The language barrier stops us from doing much for now, lets solve that.
There isn't a very big language barrier. Metatron was being unfair to Alice and taking an opportunity to highlight the fact she hadn't practiced learning the Belkan language recently. She has Belkan language comprehension at a decent level so she would understand things fairly well but the conversation would be stilted and somewhat broken. Going back to learn more like the current winning vote would improve the quality of any conversations she had.
I wish I could have mentioned this point earlier but I often update late at night and work full time. So there is usually a long gap before I can see responses.
As many as you want, though more options chosen usually dilutes the progress. This was implemented after one of the winning votes picked all of the options, which took a while to write out. Focusing on one learning option would advance you by one level, with three dice being rolled for any additional successes. The dice rolled reduces by one for each extra learning option.
This is MGLN not Ace Combat, I have no knowledge of that franchise apart from fighter jets. Both settings have a nation called Belka, common theory is that the MGLN version was paying homage to Ace Combat.
He was exaggerating. You can communicate decently well, just not smoothly.
Vote tally. Will close the vote in 6 hours time. Vote locked.
Adhoc vote count started by Emdeman on Mar 1, 2019 at 6:46 AM, finished with 14 posts and 7 votes.
[X] Go back home
-[X] Learn more of the Belkan language
[X] Interdimensional adventure
-[X] Look around and see what exactly is around you and where you could possibly go to implement your future plans
[X] Go back home
-[X] Learn more of the Belkan language
[X] Go back home
-[X] Learn more of the Belkan language
Hmm… decisions, decisions.
You decide on a cautious approach and head back home for more preparation. It takes a couple of jumps to return, with a short stopover in the medieval world. Experience has taught you that a break of a few hours is enough time to refresh your world walking ability without severe ailments.
Making your way home you put everything aside and choose the next course of action. Learning to communicate with the locals on ex-Belkan world was a priority. You don't want to seem too out of place with a broken grasp of the language.
With a goal to work towards you set out to learn the Belkan language with a vengeance. You spend the fortnight reading up on all sorts of things and reciting the proper pronunciations of countless words.
Metatron also taught you some of the small differences in the local lingo it picked up from network access. Just so you are not completely unaware and in case you need it.
The progress you make surprises even you, speaking the language becomes smooth and flowing. You think you can hold a decent conversation with another speaker, with them none the wiser about it not being your native language. Not bad, not bad at all.
Ability Improved: Belkan Language Comprehension [Level 7 => 11]
The device appears shocked and impressed at your level of improvement. It presents to you a bright star shaped sticker, as if you are some small primary school child.
You graciously accept and tell it in fluent Belkan exactly what you think about it. The expression of disapproval appears to thrill the device.
Apparently working towards a goal has its benefits.
***
Being able to comfortably speak the language you ponder your next plan. Returning to Cordamar is a more viable option now. Metatron suggests some cover stories like a stranded traveller or a lost noble. You could also claim to be a local from the other side of the planet if you wanted. You can make up whatever story you want really.
It also mentions offhand that if begging is beneath your dignity maybe you could find some way to make money. You could offer your services as some kind of guard or mercenary with your limited magical powers, the world is somewhat safe but there's always small time criminals. You could offer to be a wandering scribe or accountant using your - read Metatron's - analytical prowess. Or you could just steal the money when you had the chance.
That actually makes you feel a little uncomfortable.
Regardless, you will have to walk or seek lifts to places. At least until you can afford transportation.
Of course you could put it off and do other things in your home dimension. You don't have to leave just yet. Metatron just came up with this weird idea that you should lobby - aka throw money at - the local politicians for some reason. You are unsure how viable that is. You can think of other things like maybe philanthropy.
[] Investigate Cordamar
-[] Search for urban areas
-[] Search for information
-[] Cover story
--[] Local
--[] Traveller
--[] Noble
--[] Write-in
-[] Write-in overall strategy
[] Stay home
-[] Learn more Linker Core magic theory.
-[] Visit some of your old friends
-[] Get more info on your mother's family
-[] Do something with that medical data
--[] Write-in
-[] Spend money
--[] Write-in
[X] Investigate Cordamar
-[X] Search for urban areas
-[X] Cover story
--[X] Traveller
-[X] Overall strategy will be to play it safe and try to find a job as an accountant to gather seed money. But if this requires an ID of some sort do not do this, instead, figure out how much we can sell raw materials for, for example, if we get some bars of gold from our world will they be worth anything here? Or maybe we can sell art, like wood carvings or paintings, hell even songs from our world could probably be sold for a good price. If there is something like a youtube there we can start posting songs and monetize them using merch and selling albums of stolen songs.
So there is a slight risk of people finding out the stuff we are selling is off from scanners, maybe, I'm not sure. This is why I would like to gather some seed money from a part-time job before we start to do anything drastic.
This universe is really advanced, we do not want to piss off the government here if we can help it. If we want to risk it we can go lost logic hunting once we have our unison device fixed. There are tons of things I want to buy here but we have no money...
@Emdeman Metatron would know this, but how much does raw material and stuff like art sell for around here?
[X] Investigate Cordamar
-[X] Search for urban areas
-[X] Cover story
--[X] Traveller
-[X] Overall strategy will be to play it safe and try to find a job as an accountant to gather seed money. But if this requires an ID of some sort do not do this, instead, figure out how much we can sell raw materials for, for example, if we get some bars of gold from our world will they be worth anything here? Or maybe we can sell art, like wood carvings or paintings, hell even songs from our world could probably be sold for a good price. If there is something like a youtube there we can start posting songs and monetize them using merch and selling albums of stolen songs.
[X] Investigate Cordamar
-[X] Search for urban areas
-[X] Cover story
--[X] Traveller
-[X] Overall strategy will be to play it safe and try to find a job as an accountant to gather seed money. But if this requires an ID of some sort do not do this, instead, figure out how much we can sell raw materials for, for example, if we get some bars of gold from our world will they be worth anything here? Or maybe we can sell art, like wood carvings or paintings, hell even songs from our world could probably be sold for a good price. If there is something like a youtube there we can start posting songs and monetize them using merch and selling albums of stolen songs.
If one were to compare our MC with a regular mage of TSAB, a mob character rather than someone like Nanoha, then how good is our linker core magic theory compared to them?
It varies as most rank and file TSAB mages have weaker linker cores and lower power levels, so theory isn't a great indicator. Even if they had the theory they wouldn't be able to use the higher end spells. The average Ground Service mook would rate somewhere between Level 5-10 in practical terms. Alice could take them on if she had a proper working device. On the other hand the average aerial mage or Ground Service officer would rate somewhere between Level 10-20. There are exceptions and outliers. The scale goes up to Level 30 and is exponential, higher levels are harder to achieve.
Depends on what kind of raw materials and art, conditions and tastes vary. Anyway, MT can find it out so you can describe it as a general action without going into detail. Anyway, the first part of your plan can work. The accountant route is a go...
Out of curiosity, what would you have preferred doing? I would be all for taking huge risks in places like Naruto and Fullmetal or even some d&d world. This world is too dangerous for now, too organized for us to be taking risks. If they brand us a criminal and put out a bounty we will cripple our ability to exploit this plane. I really want the tech and magics of this world so its worth being cautious. Once we get to one of our dads hidden caches we can take some risks.
Out of curiosity, what would you have preferred doing? I would be all for taking huge risks in places like Naruto and Fullmetal or even some d&d world. This world is too dangerous for now, too organized for us to be taking risks. If they brand us a criminal and put out a bounty we will cripple our ability to exploit this plane. I really want the tech and magics of this world so its worth being cautious. Once we get to one of our dads hidden caches we can take some risks.
Okay I don't know why but I am only getting about half the update notices for this quest! Also @Emdeman can I get a clarification on how the voting system. Even though I've been following this for a while now I'm still a bit confused by it.
[X] Investigate Cordamar
-[X] Search for urban areas
-[X] Cover story
--[X] Traveller
-[X] Overall strategy will be to play it safe and try to find a job as an accountant to gather seed money. But if this requires an ID of some sort do not do this, instead, figure out how much we can sell raw materials for, for example, if we get some bars of gold from our world will they be worth anything here? Or maybe we can sell art, like wood carvings or paintings, hell even songs from our world could probably be sold for a good price. If there is something like a youtube there we can start posting songs and monetize them using merch and selling albums of stolen songs. [Sadly Youtube does not exist yet so Alice has no frame of reference]
You decide it's time for another trans-dimensional expedition after taking a break. You've spent the spare time brushed up on the language
You finish brushing up on the local variant of Belkan and prepare to go out to buy some trade goods.
Your shopping trip is stopped by Metatron when it asks you what you're buying.
I'm going to buy some art or music CD's to trade.
You have mostly stopped speaking aloud by now just in case someone is bugging your home. Yes, its paranoid but people like the government or the Clan, your maternal family could be out to get you.
That's a silly idea Alice. You don't have the capacity to carry much art, I am already collecting a vast database of interesting cultural trade goods. I can even transmit it in a readable format to Cordamar.
Can you really do that? How?
Yes, you are obviously unaware of the benefits of mass storage. I have a very fast internet connection, unlike some people.
Oh god, you're going to get sued for hundreds of millions by the music industry, aren't you? Like that kid in the news that got caught pirating music off a website. Why not spend the money if you have unlimited amounts?
Okay that sounds fine. Just be careful.
It's too late, I'm finished.
Looks like it's a criminal's life for you, hopefully you can world walk out of jail cells.
***
With preparations made you take out your mother's pendant and start the trip to Cordamar.
The stopover on the Clan home dimension – it was getting silly calling it medieval-land – was largely uneventful. The only notable event was when you saw a small group of indigenous people in the distance.
You avoid them, and they hopefully didn't see you. In your haste, you almost ran into a nasty spider's web. You back away slowly from a nasty, yellow striped arachnid and be on your way.
***
You arrive on Cordamar in the middle of a nondescript field. It's interesting how the climate is different from what you're used to. The weather is a nice temperature.
You search for a nearby road which turns out to be a dirt track. Following that unsealed road for an hour leads to a better road.
After another hour, and some mounting annoyance you see a vehicle in the distance. It slowly grows larger and turns out to be some kind of strange tractor. It has large wheels and no roof, you see a middle-aged man driving it.
You hail the vehicle, taking a breath to prepare yourself for your first Belkan conversation with another person.
"Greetings, how do you do?" you say as Metatron taught you.
The man – wearing a broad rimmed thatch hat – squints down at you. You wonder if you said something wrong.
"Howdy ma'am, what's one such as yourself doing around these parts?" he notes your clothes.
You don't know what's remarkable, they are vaguely similar to his own outdoor outfit.
"I am looking for a lift to the nearest town. Could you bother yourself to give me a ride?"
Frowning, the man nods. "Get on behind me, ma'am."
You get on and the tractor rumbles to a start. The farm vehicle makes its way down the road at a decent pace.
"What is it you do for a living again?" asks the farmer. There is a note of uncertainty.
"I am a keeper of accounts for various commercial entities."
"You look very young to be an accountant."
Say you are older than you look,Metatron interjects.
You repeat the assertion, earning you a narrowed look over the shoulder. You deflect by asking the farmer his name.
"Perrel, ma'am."
He doesn't reciprocate like you expect. After several moments you respond by offering your own.
"My own name is Alice."
The conversation stops for several more minutes. You wonder what is up, the interaction is different from what you expected. Perrel begins speaking again by asking if you would like to come to his home for lunch as it's on the way.
You suspect this might be a prelude to a mugging, but Metatron assures you it's genuine.
Stopping by the quaint farmhouse you sit in the lounge room, waiting for lunch. Looking around you reckon it looks like something from the early twentieth century.
Perrel comes out with some steaming food. You are unsure where he had to time to cook it and you see no one else in the house.
I hope this isn't poisoned or spiked.
It isn't, now after you finish, we should try out the pitch to see if it works.
The food is decent, if very different to what you are used to.
Thanking him for the hospitality, you ask him if you could look over the accounts for his farming business.
The man looks shocked and stammers out a reply saying it's not necessary.
You insist, "-as a measure of my gratitude."
You finally get your point across as the pale farmer relents.
***
You are an accountant, that's your cover story. You are rather surprised its working to be honest. What's really happening is Metatron is feeding you info of the rudimentary datanet. You are unsure why the technology levels are so uneven.
You quiz the farmer on a variety of clauses and exceptions. He seems surprised at your depth of knowledge.
You sit down behind a desk and take a look at the account book with its multitude of numbers.
This is a problem as you actually don't know how to write and can barely read in Belkan. You haven't reached that point yet in your learning of the language. But you've planned for this already, you ask Perrel for a drink.
What sort of drink is appropriate here?
Metatron lists a drink with long name and a list of what you presume are directions in making it. You faithfully repeat it, causing the farmer to hurry out of the room in a rush.
With that out of the way you lift Metatron over a blank piece of paper. The bracelet hums and writing appears on the entire page. You do this for several more pages until the device tells you to stop. Ten minutes later Perrel carefully comes back in.
The drink tastes nice, it seems to be some kind of tea. While sipping it, you explain to Perrel what you did.
The various instructions Metatron gives you seem intricate and asinine, but Perrel's estimation of you grows by bounds. Well, you seem to have reduced his tax bill by quite a bit.
"I cannot thank you enough my- ma'am!" The man reaches into his wallet and tries to give you some strange chips. "Please take this, it's not much but it should get you home."
You take the strange money, having felt like you conned him.
100 Cordamar currency added to Inventory
As you leave the house, you hear the noise of movement in the floor above you. Perrel takes you the rest of the way to the town. It is more a large village than a town. Along the way you chat about a variety of things, including the local geography and nearby urban areas.
You conclude you have three options.
You could go to the Bloodthorn Estate, one of the gated settlements with advanced technology where the upper class live. It should have a dimensional gate that you could access.
You could travel a bit further to the harbour town of Port Recontis, it is a trade hub with semi-frequent stops by dimensional freighters. You could book a passage on a ship there. If not, you could easily trade some of your other goods Metatron claims to have.
Or you could stay small scale in the village and gather up some more funds. Perrel will definitely provide a glowing reference for more accounting work.
Also 
