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>>5902325
You Embraced Her completely.

No ambiguity you went from hating her to downright simping for her. She became your master and you two have never been closer. By embracing her you became more demonic, closer to her powers. In return she spoils you and feels the need to protect you.

2/4

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>>5902326
You Reluctantly Accepted her Help.

You were grateful for the power. But that was it, you weren't going to just forgive the woman for bullying you all that time. You unlocked dark powers, but they were a reflection of your own inner darkness. By rejecting her, you put a lot of distance between you and her, but it's not entirely icy. You still are able to speak on friendly terms mostly. Even if you do rather hate the position you're in.

3/4

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>>5902330
You Rejected her, and the Mana Stone. But accepted her housing

You were still powerless, entirely still reliant on her for housing. By rejecting the Mana Stone you believe in your own abilities despite having no magical aptitude. She will not defend you from bullies because you rejected her. You would still Attend Astra, but be utterly vulnerable without her. She will still tease you and probably try to mess with you.

4/4

>>5902333
>You Rejected her, and the Mana Stone. But accepted her housing

>You were still powerless, entirely still reliant on her for housing. By rejecting the Mana Stone you believe in your own abilities despite having no magical aptitude. She will not defend you from bullies because you rejected her. You would still Attend Astra, but be utterly vulnerable without her. She will still tease you and probably try to mess with you.

4/4

Imagine dedicating most of your free time trying to kill a board on 4chan and failing miserably at it.

Sort of a modern day Don Quixote - true pioneer of failure

>>5902333
>You Rejected her, and the Mana Stone. But accepted her housing

The most interesting option.

>>5902325
>You Rejected her, and the Mana Stone. But accepted her housing
Let's rooooooock

>You Embraced Her completely
Love is love anons, and that is never going to change.

>>5902326
>You Embraced Her completely.
Comfy romance with former bully gf? Sounds based!

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>>5902612
>>5902668
Sorry Anons, you were outvoted by one. I guess I can keep the door open if everyone decides they want to change their mind later. But for now...

>>5902411
>>5902452
>>5902458
You expected upon your rejection of her and the Mana Stone that she would be furious. But, something else happened... Sycamore stared somberly into her wine glass trying her best to maintain a smile. With a gut-wrenchingly sad inflection she merely utters, "Oh..." Silence lingers in the mansion for a moment, as the smug girl is lost for a moment.
"Somehow, I thought it would be easy... Just give you the Mana Stone, give you a place to stay, and you'd be all over me. But, I guess it doesn't work like that does it?"
Even though you dislike her, hearing her sad words still hurts. Maybe she just wanted someone to connect with, even if it was in a weird way.
"Sycamore I... I have to be independent, I'm grateful, for this place to stay, and the money you've loaned me to complete my schooling at Astra... I promise to repay you."
Theres an eerie silence, you can sense that something is deeply wrong, stirring in her.
"I would've given you... My everything, you'd have wanted for nothing... You'd... Still be my pet of course but..."
The room rumbles as she begins madly laughing.
"Sycamore calm down I-"

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>>5902803
She laughs cruelly.
"Oh but if thats how you want to play it! I'll be more than happy to oblige! I'll just keep teasing you and tormenting you on the side. We'll see how long this little independent act of yours can hold up!"
Shes saying a lot of mean stuff, but its beyond clear from the tone of her voice she's deeply hurt by your rejection.
"The Prisma, the Animus... And the Ords are gonna eat you alive you little twerp! I could've protected you! We could've ruled this school together! But now... I'm just gonna watch as you burn."
She quickly turns to leave.. You decide to leave before things get worse, retiring to your room in the mansion for the night. As you plop on the plush bed. You feel a sense of relief and yet sadness. Was she really going to protect you and rule the school with you? Did you just make a giant fuckup? The one ally you had pissed down the drain, and for what?
You pound the bed in frustration.
"Just fucking great.." You say to yourself.

>>5902805
Shes right about one thing though, the Prisma, Animus and Ords WILL kill you or seriously fuck you up if you go in without joining them. They went after your scholarship and told you not to come back. As the new day rises after a.. Less than perfect nights sleep, you think carefully about your options.

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>>5902807
I should Join the Prismas. They're a man-hating Feminist Religious Cult that believes men are useless and should be either killed or disposed of. Any man who stands in their way must be killed. However, using magic they can transform initiates into biological women. They will not allow trans-women into their ranks. Only those who have been transformed by their powers. The Prismas are extremely kind and friendly to new initiates and help them with discovering their new life as part of their worldview.

By joining them, I would no longer be a biological male but instead through magic become a female.

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>>5902808
I should join the Animus. The Animus are a group of Animal-People who used to be human but have transformed themselves with magic into various animals. They plan to turn everyone in the world into an animal for their own purposes and end humanity outright returning us to the animal kingdom and entering a more primal society.

By joining them, I would no longer be a human, but instead an animal hybrid of my choosing.

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>>5902814
I should Join the Ords. UNDOUBTEDLY the hardest path of the three.

Ordinaries, or "Ords" as everyone calls them, are Ordinary human delinquents who abide by the no-graduation policy. They are the definition of a crab-bucket mentality, and you are familiar with this group because you were one of them for a while. But hated their refusal to study or do anything productive. In their minds, choosing to succeed would put them at risk of being attacked by magic-users. So instead of trying to earn their degree, they use what little influence they can to hold everyone in the group back on purpose to avoid angering magic users. They're lazy, unmotivated, slackers, whos mean pettiness knows no bounds.

Joining them, would mean trying to somehow change their stubborn minds about letting you graduate and get a Magi-Tech Degree.

So lets see here...

>Prismas
Feminists

>Animus
Furries

>Ords
Niggers

Dear god... Its the trifecta of the worst possible options... OP PLEASE give us the option to apologize to Sycamore!

But if we're stuck down this path, I guess the Prismas are the least bad? Yeah we'll get Yuri'd but at least its better than joining the fucking Furry or Nigger faction.

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>>5902827
>OP PLEASE give us the option to apologize to Sycamore!
Fine, I'll leave the option open as I said earlier in case people feel like they want to change their mind.
--------

Uh yeah on Second thought, I'm not joining ANY of these groups. I'm going back to Sycamore, and we're going to rule this school together. All of these groups are irredeemable assholes that need to be reformed by any means necessary.

Going back to Sycamore means admitting you were wrong, and agreeing to serve her as her precious pet. You would lose some freedom, but gain the power she offers and protection.

>>5902815
>Join the Ords
We'll reform them from the inside. Teach them to be less self-hating and mend their broken hearts so they can strive for something better.

>>5902446
Imagine talking about nothing that makes sense.

Sort of a modern day schizo - true pioneer of weirdness.

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>>5902827
We've got a charmer here, folks. Picrel.

So, QM giving us a choice between radfem with rainbow piss hair, unironic furries, and a /qst/er. >>5902835 Kind of want to back this, desu. All three are hell-to-the-no tier.

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>>5902803
>>5902805
>>5902807
>>5902808
>>5902814
>>5902815
>>5902835
>Reject all of them

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>>5902803
>>5902805
>>5902807
>>5902808
>>5902814
>>5902815
>>5902835
>Reject all of them

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>>5902803
>>5902805
>>5902807
>>5902808
>>5902814
>>5902815
>>5902835
>Reject all of them
So mad I had to post three images.

>>5902835
FUCK IT.
WE.
FUCKIN.
BALL.

>>5902860
BACKING.

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>>5902803
>>5902805
>>5902807
>>5902808
>>5902814
>>5902815
>>5902835
>Reject all of them
Fuck it. Here's a fourth one too.

Welp, I see their is no serious thought behind any of your decision's and instead want to set yourself on fire for fun. Welp, Im going to just watch the fire show and have some delicous pretzel bites as you all go down the fastest route to suicideville.
Sigh, for what its worth I vote for
>OP PLEASE give us the option to apologize to Sycamore!

>>5902860
>>5902869
>>5902873
>>5902879
I, too, choose the path of perpetual torment.
>+1

Is it okay, if we ever get a bad end (And I know for a fact everyone is heading nose first into one) that we can just restart it from the begining with a different set of options, because something tells me that title of the quest got derailed very quickly?

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>>5902827
>>5902852
>>5902876
>>5902885
Deciding that heading to Sycamore and begging for forgiveness is the best course of action given the current situation. You see her being escorted by her usual entourage of retainers.
"H-hey! Sycamore!"
But she's not paying you any mind..
"Listen Sycamore, I'm sorry, I am! I fucked up ok?"
You say trying to keep up with her,
"I realize now... That you're literally the only reason I'm not homeless and the only reason I still have a place at Astra... I... You're literally the best person in that entire University, and thats saying something considering you were one of my bullies.. I-it's confusing, er... What I mean to say is, I'm helpless without you, I need you!"
You say desperately trying to appeal to her ego as her entourage leaves and she takes a seat on her throne. You throw yourself at her feet looking up at her.

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>>5902979
She has the most deliciously smug look as she peers down at you.
"Yes... Thats a good look for you. Down on your knees where you belong." She says teasingly.
"Y-yes... I... I belong at your feet ma'am... Forgive... My insolence earlier."
You say reluctantly. She chuckles softly to herself.
"It seems you've finally come to your senses. You had me worried. But don't worry my precious pet... I forgive you."
This is so damn humiliating... She tosses the Mana Stone down to you. And upon touching it, and using it to unlock your power, you become a demonic creature much like her. You feel yourself invigorated with new powers as well as demon wings and horns.
You feel her hand trace along your jawline,
"I'll teach you how to use magic, now that you've awakened it my love. And it may be humiliating now, but in time... You'll come to see I always had your best interest in mind..."
---

-Teach me magic my master... Guide me... I am yours.

-What is your bidding my master? Shall we destroy those other groups, or reform them?

-I have some ideas for what we can do, (Write-IN)

-Can we get to know each other? Maybe go out on a date?

>>5902981
>-I have some ideas for what we can do, (Write-IN)
Reject her.

>>5902984
>+1

>>5902981
-I have some ideas for what we can do, (Write-IN)
>find some privacy, so we can actually have a conversation without the social pressure of a group

>>5902979
Were you not going to accept a write in to reject them all on the last vote?

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>>5902981
>-Can we get to know each other? Maybe go out on a date?
I think the smartest idea we could have would be to date her, and get her to relax around us while learning more about her, ourselves and the world before we rush into shit and get ourselves gang-fucked by the twisted-trio.

>>5902993
FINALLY a decent idea.

>>5902984
>>5902986
Yeah, what a 'great' plan anons. Lets tell the demon lady who we just groveled to and begged forgiveness to, to go fuck herself. Probably pissing her off, and either bad-ending us there immediately, or setting her up to be an even BIGGER threat when we least expect it. Fantastic idea, especially since we have no idea how the magic we just got works, and for all the good it does us at this very moment might as well be holding a rubber chicken.

I mean you may as well just have us bend over and spread our ass for the twisted trio to just gang-rape us right in the hallway. Take the strap-on, the knot, and the slacker cock all at once.

>>5903008
Stop trying to fuck us over! What is your damage dude?

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>>5903011
>Underage
>Phone poster
>Literal Faggot
>Newfag
>Defending OP who doesn't show proper QMing etiquette

Silence, child.

>>5903011
I also would have rather rejected her than begged for forgiveness. You just have no faith in our MC.

>>5902827 voted Prisma
>>5902835, >>5902852, and >>5902885 voted to beg
>>5902840 (me) voted for Ords
>>5902860, >>5902876, and >>5902887 voted to reject them all

That said, it's pretty obvious that this isn't going to be my kind of quest given how that was arbitrated and played out, so you folks have fun.

>>5903011
>>5903013
I mean... I'm a phone poster too, but he's right; you're being an asshole and Booley is acting passive-aggressively rude.

>>5903015
Good riddance, at least understand what its going to be about when you read the title and the intro of the quest.

With that taken care of, its time for some sensible voting.
>-Can we get to know each other? Maybe go out on a date?
Always good to relax and ask question over dinner, least thats always been my experience anyway.

>>5903023
I wanted to maybe be self-reliant and have a tsun relationship with a demon babe who would tease us, without being a groveling pet simp. I don't think that goes against the spirit of the quest given that both my votes were for default options QM offered (>>5902333 and >>5902815). You're just a tremendous silly-billy.

>>5903020
I have yet to see Booley so much as post something into the chat, let alone be aggresive anything. As for the questor, to be fair i was also pretty angry when the vote decided to just screw over the main waifu of the quest, realize everything else sucked, and then still decided it was a great idea to light us on fire, so im not minding his attitude so far right now.

>>5903023
Fuck off, nigger. It's up to players as a whole on how to interpret a quest and QMs to write them as such.

It's not up solely to (You) to decide that, cocksucking faggot.

>>5903025
Bro, that would have worked if you had picked option number 2, instead you decided to go straight for number three. That wasn't going to happen if you tried number 3, because that meant that you completely rejected her and said you didn't need her but you still wanted her housing. That's not a tsun relationship, thats just you being an ass.

>>5903028
Ehh, if you still feel that way, you can still participate in the quest you know, this isnt exactly the end of the world?

>>5903031
>"Sycamore I... I have to be independent, I'm grateful, for this place to stay, and the money you've loaned me to complete my schooling at Astra... I promise to repay you."
was how the MC phrased it, while OP told us
>She will still tease you and probably try to mess with you.
I didn't want to be on friendly terms right off the hop because she bought our affections, and I wanted to find power on our own terms so she'd maybe respect us. Lots of ways it could have played out. They didn't, the current direction doesn't appeal to me. Simple as.

Have fun, anon. Maybe simmer down a little, though.

>>5903027
You really don't understand the irony of your own post, do you?

>I've yet to see Booley so much as post something into the chat

Not communicating with your players on how you want to run the quest, informing them their viote isn't valid, and then continuing the quest by pretending they didn't vote is passive aggressive behavior.

Way to out yourself by the way, literally and figuratively.

>>5903033
Don't be a fucking prissy ass little bitch about it, you dumb cunt, especially when you say shit like

>Good riddance, at least understand what its going to be about when you read the title and the intro of the quest.

Dumbass faggots like yourself who think people can't remember 3 seconds into the past, read the thread, or can't verify what you just wrote lower the quality of the board as a whole.

I hope you kill yourself.

>>5903035
out my self in what way? Besides that, now that I think about it, I haven't honestly seen much of his involvement outside of just story posts, do you think he's gone to sleep?

>>5903038
No, I will not. Im interested in how this play's out though I do apologize for my behaviour on the thread. My emotioms got the better of my, which I should have been better at controlling myself with.

>>5903040
lol No, I'm not going to spoonfeed you. Maybe a kinder anon will, but I won't. Just know people will instantly recognize that you don't belong here. If I had to guess, you're a 2016 tourist who never left.

>>5903041
I forgive you. Have fun, newfriend.

>>5903042
I was at best 11 years old in 2016, I wasn't even of 4chan's existance till 2021. Honestly, this is my first few weeks interacting with 4chan in any offical capacity outside of reading archived threads of other quests, or reading 1d4chan. Good site by the way, though its been down for about a month unfortunately.

>>5903043
Thanks man, Im sorry that I was being a jackass towards you. I'll try not to argue with other anon's about their voting options or problems they have with the QM.

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>>5903046
Don't worry about it. That's half the fun of this place.

>>5902325
I want to HUG you and help banish the darkness gripping you, OP.

>>5903052
It is? I thought all of the over the top insults were because you were seriously angry? I get anomnity as a fun concept so no one can judge you, but whats the point of anonmynity if its just so you can say something taboo that over people find offensive? It's why I never try and insult anyone, if I wouldn't do it in real life I see no reason I should ever do it on the internet, in 4chan or anywhere else.

>>5903052
But if thats the case, thanks man. Its hard at times to tell from a screen of text if your really angry or not desu.

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I messed up. I think I'll try and retcon that previous scene, and continue from the perspective of what this >>5902840 particular Anon said.

I think there's still a lot of opportunity for romance building, but this post, >>5903034 I feel really sums it up best. She has bought the players emotions and current state of being, thus it's not particularly as satisfying as being more independent.

I appreciate anons helping me out and standing up for me. It's nice.
----------------
As you rise from bed after a particularly restless sleep having just argued with Sycamore the previous night, you do your best to avoid her, making yourself some eggs and toast before heading off to Astra. Astra University is a large old structure. With its spacious interior which makes every step seem to echo slightly in its cavernous abode, and making you feel smaller and even more helpless. Paired with the trepidation of having no magic, no allies, no nothing it would take a lot to prove you have any hope of surviving here. They wouldn't expect you back either, as Sycamore is personally paying for your way back here after your scholarship was cancelled...
----
As you enter inside you see students of the Ords recognize you immediately. But you continue inward, just trying to get past them. Just focus, run past them...

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>>5903069
However, it's inevitable as you do run into an old classmate in class who speaks to you.
"Thought they carried your ass out with the trash last week."
You take a deep breath.
"Nice to see you too Virgil."
"Don't gimmie that sass nerd. You tryna succeed, tryna make something of yourself? You trying to start some kinda war? Wonderbread we out here narrowly avoidin getting ourselves gotted by the Prisma, and the Animus. As long as we prove we ain't tryna succeed the mages leave us alone, and the government continues to pay our way and keep giving us money, and we all go out happy."
He tosses his assignment as it's been folded into a paper airplane as it flies through the room, guided slightly by a trickling of magic. Some Ords possess a very tiny amount of magic, it's not uncommon, but it's nothing compared to what real magic users can do.
-----

-Virgil come on dude, we can't just stay like this it's pathetic. We're here to get an education, I'm trying to get my Magitech degree! We could be famous for being the first one to graduate this place as an Ord in over 5 years!

-We should try to ally ourselves with the Prisma

-We should try to ally ourselves with the Animus

-You been holding up ok Virg?

-Write-in

>>5903059
>>5903062
No, don't misunderstand. I'm still angry at you, but I can also hear the inflections and tones of your writing. You're still being snarky and judgmental.

What I am saying is, it doesn't matter, because this is a random anonymous Mongolian basket-weaving BBS. If you want to call someone a faggot, call them a faggot. If someone wants to call you a faggot, they're gonna call you a faggot. 9/10 times, it's undeserved.

>>5903072
No worries Booley, I wouldn't be surprised if this is your first time making a quest. Making mistakes, especially early ones are natural.
Now, in order to not be a bitch, you've got to have the spirit of not being one in the first place.
-Virgil come on dude, we can't just stay like this it's pathetic. We're here to get an education, I'm trying to get my Magitech degree! We could be famous for being the first one to graduate this place as an Ord in over 5 years!

>>5903073
Sigh, just to let you know, I was not trying to be snarky or judgemental to you. I am trying to be as honest to you as a 4chan poster is going to be without uploading their identity to the internet. Still hope the day(?) for you is going okay though.

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>>5903075
>Sigh
>Still hope the day(?) for you is going okay though.

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>>5903075
"Virgil come on dude, we can't just stay like this it's pathetic. We're here to get an education, I'm trying to get my Magitech degree! We could be famous for being the first one to graduate this place as an Ord in over 5 years!"
He looks around back and forth to make sure no ones listening.
"Bro what you think this is? You think I like lickin mage boots all day? Shit if they was to charge me by the hour I could retire with all the bootlickin and asskissin I do to make sure we ain't neck deep in a turf war we can't handle. Bro I dunno what magic shit you been smokin while you was gone, but in case you done forgot, we got. One spot. One fucking spot, in this whole fucking school, and it's under the bleachers, and we gotta share that spot with booster-ass motherfuckers shootin up."
Boosters... Thats the name for people who use a steroidal mana drug called mana-boosters which raises your mana levels to insane degrees but can also get you high. It will eventually ruin what little magic potential you have if you abuse it.
"I haven't forgot.. Hey weren't you guys trying to develop some kind of magic armor or some shit?"
Vergil leans back, "That wasn't me, that was Muffin."
Muffin is her nickname, her real name is Muffy.
"So wheres Muffin then?"
"She prolly out there playin wit da damn armor as usual. I told her to stop playin with that armor. If they find out we possessin shit like that we gonna get gat by the mage fucks."
Suddenly Muffin shows up behind you and hands you a coffee.
"Welcome back! And the armor is almost finished."
Her pink hair and bright demeanor put a smile on your face as you sip the coffee.
Vergil chides her,
"Muffin what the hell you doin showin up to class 12 minutes late?"
"Gettin coffee, whats it to you Virgie Virgin? You never study here anyways.."
Vergil growls at her,
"Actin all smug just cause he showed back up. You just keep on standin out, and them mages gonna get you. They gonna recruit your spunky ass. And you gon end up being they lil human experiment, or whatever the fuck they do with humans they keep out there as pets."
Muffin smiles,
"Hey, wanna hang out after class and come look at the armor proto-type I maybe you can help me finish it since you actually study too."
--------

-Heed Virgils warning, don't stand out

-Go work on the armor with Muffin

-Write-in

> -Go work on the armor with Muffin
Might learn some magic from Muffin, or more likely to keep her out of trouble.

>>5903122
I walk down the hall with her to her secret workshop in the library.
"Virg is always so wound up. Why is that Muffin?"
"His little sister, they made an example of her, beat her so bad she's still in the hospital. Animus did it."
"Animus... Guess they're more serious than just a couple of fursuiters. And here I thought the furries might be pushovers."
Muffin looks at you with concern.
"They're not. Animus boasts wild, beastly strength far beyond even what most bodybuilders can achieve even with steroids. Every seen what a chimpanzee can do? Or a gorilla?"
You shudder thinking about that.
"Ok... Maybe they're a bit more threatening than just some furry."
"What about Prisma? I mean, at least they're not physically strong right?"
Muffin presses her hand to your forehead,
"You ok? You must've forgot since you've been out of class for a week, but Prisma are masters of mental manipulation. They can brainwash people, make them do things they don't wanna do. And they don't care who they hurt. If they're a man, it doesn't matter."
"I notice you didn't join Prisma even though you're a woman."
"I would never betray our cause. I've vowed to always stay loyal to the Ords, because they need me more than ever. Especially now with both groups looking to recruit what few competent people we have, leaving us with... Well nothing."

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>>5903140
You and her move around some books, entering the secret passage in the library.
"Virg says we only had that spot under the bleachers."
"Virgil knows about this place too. He just doesn't come here often because he's scared he'll bump into Prisma or Animus."
"He's really scared of them."
She looks down and then replies,
"We all are, but thats why..."

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>>5903141
She shows you the Armor.
"This is the Bastius Test Type 1. I finally got all the cords removed so we're fully wireless and operating on battery power! There are 24 mana sensory nodes insde which detect changes of mana and automatically disperse harmful spells by locking onto their resonant frequency and emitting a counter frequency. Spells are powered by thought, so it's really not that hard to dispel a thought thats already in motion away from the host."
She tweaks the armor a bit.
"Of course... Like anything, it's not flawless, and uh... You can see I only have a chest piece, so the arms are a little bit on the exposed side... And... the legs... And head... but uh... But the shield is pretty tough! Most wordless casting can't break through!"
"Wordless casting?"
"Oh yeah, didn't they teach you? Theres a lot of different ways to cast spells, and phrase assisted casting is actually much stronger than silent casting in most cases unless the user is particularly skilled. What I'm saying is, you've got an opportunity to interrupt them if they're trying to do phrase assisted casting. Also gotta watch out for wands, or staffs or other magical catalyst items. As the B.T.T.1 can't really tank much more than some basic wordless casting for now... Oh and thats not all I've got!"

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>>5903142
She pulls out a glove.
"Check this out, its a Mana Glove."
"Mana Glove?"
"Yep! It turns out every person ever has at least a little bit of mana inside them, so the Mana Glove guides your internal resonant frequencies emitted from the Mana Veins in your hand as cast-assists for non-mage folks."
"Uh... In English?"
"It lets you cast spells. Weak spells, but uh.. Spells none the less! I'm thinking of connecting it to a battery-pack so you can get more juice out of it, but you uh.. Might be able to cast a little fireball with that. I'd probably use it for spell redirection and dispersal personally."
====

Won't Virgil be mad if he sees this?

This is bad, what if the mages see what you built?

This is sick, let me help you build more stuff, I think I can tweak these designs.

Write-In

>Won't Virgil be mad if he sees this?

>>5903143
This is sick, let me help you build more stuff, I think I can tweak these designs

>>5903143
>This is sick, let me help you build more stuff, I think I can tweak these designs.

>>5903069
Is this your first quest, QM? I appreciate your open mind and willingness to learn and adapt, and wish you the best of luck. I'm >>5903034, and since we're going a route I have more personal interest in, I'll stick around for now. Don't feel obligated to cater to me or anything, though, as I'm sure there's an audience for whatever avenue you follow. Remember, everyone starts somewhere!

Might I suggest lurking some other threads to pick up on some formatting cues?

>>5903043
To be fair, you owe him an apology as well.

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>>5903460
Yes. I'm something of a chronic porn addict. So sometimes the idiocy of those habits tends to slip in without me really considering how that affects a narrative. I think Fate Stay Night also started out as like a porn game? And I think more nsfw/lewd plotlines are just much more interesting than stale plots with no life or spiciness to them. (Too sterile, test tube may be the correct term)

I guess, I'm just trying to find the right balance, to make something, that is both narratively coherent, with maybe some lewd or playful undertones. Its been satisfying to try and make something that has a bit more meat to it than just strictly a porn plot.

I appreciate everyones patience with this. I'll do my best to keep following the vibe everyone wants. I do read other quests from time to time. Though its fair to say I have my own ideas about things too. For example a lot of quests I feel, at least trying to read into them are uh.. Hard to parse, it's hard to sort of get past that initial dryness. But again, I understand the need for such dryness in more narrative/worldbuildy type plots. Or ones that play more like an interactive game etc...

>>5903252
>>5903424
>>5903441
Looking over her work, it's hard to deny the hours of painstaking craftsmanship that must've gone into these things. Muffin isn't fucking around. She clearly wants to help us. You see all the wires, bits of scrap laying around the hidden library workshop. There are some books and bits of scattered notes, some shelves, a whiteboard with various notes. The books are mainly related to magitech design, you recognize the covers as you have the same textbooks in your bag. Still, Virgil will hardly be pleased. This sort of intimacy with... Well self-defense implies a level of readiness and competency which may be viewed negatively by the mages who want us entirely defenseless and servile at all times.
"Won't Virgil be mad if he sees this?"

Muffin looks down. You notice her hands have some callouses on them. A few cuts too. "He will... But it's fine! As long as nobody finds out... I'm sure I can get more than just the proto-types working, and if I can... It'll change everything for us, we can actually start defending ourselves against mage warfare!"

"This is serious business, magitech designs like these, while rudimentary would still cost thousands of dollars. You can't readily buy anything like this without spending a light fortune on it. It'd be like buying a car!"

"I know! But thats why, maybe we as Magitech wizards need to make a cheaper and more affordable product! If we graduate from Astra... We could change this world for the better, make things that truly revolutionize our day to day lives, without having to live in total fear from the mage-class..."

You look over her handiwork.

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>>5903664
After looking at her designs for both projects, I can see the mana gloves resonator pickups are eating a lot of the devices battery power. You could add a tuning apparatus which would cause it to eat up less power. Hell, you've been reading how people bypass the resonator completely by drawing magic directly from the blood. But that requires more conduits and tubing that you don't have the supplies for.
As for the armor. Installing an amp to boost its negation properties seems like the way to go. It'll be like a more complete forcefield around the user. Though not a proper one as that would require a specially programmed computer chip with the spell format written into it. And it would require additional batteries to try and maintain it for any reasonable length of time. I probably have only enough time for one of these projects today...

-Work on the Mana Glove

-Work on the Armor.

-I have a different Idea, (Write-in)

>>5903664
>es. I'm something of a chronic porn addict. So sometimes the idiocy of those habits tends to slip in without me really considering how that affects a narrative. I think Fate Stay Night also started out as like a porn game? And I think more nsfw/lewd plotlines are just much more interesting than stale plots with no life or spiciness to them. (Too sterile, test tube may be the correct term)
There's lots of room for this, and plot-with-porn can play well here or even porn-with-plot, but that's trickier because genuine sex scenes or explicit images are verboten on blue boards). Just be aware that if you want the thrill to last longer than it takes to get off, drama and narrative stakes must be enhanced. Seems like you're on the right track!

>>5903665
>Work on the Mana Glove
it's more subtle, and thus less likely to get us targeted and 'got', as Virgil would say.

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>>5903687
You decide to work on the Mana Glove. You thought it might be tough getting started after not having had a practical exam for Magitech Assembly in over a month, but just like riding a bike, once you've done it a few times the skills carry over for life. You make a small tuning node after about 6 hours of grueling work you make a tuner for each glove.. After soldering wires to attach them, the device auto-tunes to frequencies, and with it you're able to effortlessly do some wordless casts of flame manipulation as you let some moving flame bits flow around your hand like a snake to test the control. Magic itself is super intuitive once you get a feel for the resonance of the mana around you. And with the tuner, this just makes it easier to tune whats in your brain, to the mana around you, and make stuff using magic. As you make a small squirrel out of fire, watching it burn near the palm of your hand, you figure you have enough control now to be able to really.
Muffin smiles, she had been working on some homework, occasionally checking on you to see how you were doing.
"Incredible. You finished making those tuners."
"Hah... Yeah, I guess I did."
She checks her phone.
"Yeah... We should leave these here and get going."
As much as it pains you, you decide to leave the gloves in the workshop.

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>>5903783
As its well after class, the sky is somewhat dark and twilighty as the hallways are also dark. You hear noises, seeing the Prisma shocking the face with some guy with a kind of bright prismatic spell. Their glossy black latex nun outfits and clear veils, and their sickly pale white rainbow-esque hair. Their white porcelain skin like dolls as they torment what you think is just an Ord. You and Muffin look at the scene transfixed, far enough away to feel like you're not directly involved. You hear them speak,

"You're GOING to become a girl! You will put on the dress!"
The others kick him as he's slumped against the wall with a fearful expression.
"God no please! I'm sorry for whatever the fuck I did... Let me go!"
They press him up against the wall,
"Male scum!"
They start beating and smacking him in the face.
"Thinking you can talk back!"
But just as they think they've got him pinned, he ducks down escaping their grasp, with a mad dash he charges full sprint unknowingly at you. Thoughtlessly you hadn't realized just how horrible the situation you find yourself in, and how maybe you should've not stared so much at the scene. But now you hear the Prisma shout,

"Stop him! Stop that guy!"

If you stop him, they'll almost certainly brainwash him. But it would probably put the Prisma in your debt, and they might consider you at least friendly enough to not brainwash or do anything bad to you. But, if you allow him to run on by without stopping him, you'll almost certainly infuriate the Prisma, and they'll likely not hesitate to turn their rage on you.
---
-Stop him. Self preservation is more important than doing what is morally correct.

-Let him by, and allow him to escape. Putting you at high risk of being attacked by the Prisma.

-Write-In

>>5903785
>-Make a show of 'trying' to stop him, and fucking up so that he 'escapes' from you
>-While we're tussling, whisper him a hint of where he can hide, back at Sycamore Hellscream's place

>>5903785
>-Make a show of 'trying' to stop him, and fucking up so that he 'escapes' from you
>-While we're tussling, whisper him a hint of where he can hide, back at Sycamore Hellscream's place

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>>5903831
>>5903847
On the fly, you come up with a crafty plan. You stand in his way, making a show of trying to stop him. Gripping him as he panics in your arms,
"Ngh! Let me-!"
You whisper to him,
"Sycamore Hellscream, go to her place, the mansion on the far side of town, don't stop for anyone till you get there. Tell them you know me. They'll take you in for a bit."
He whispers "thanks" before jetting off as fast as his legs can carry him.
The Prismas surround you. Theres a nervous tension in the air as they eye you suspiciously before replying,
"More Ords... What are Ords doing staying after school, not studying are you?"
FUCK... Of course it would be suspicious why Ords are staying after class if you're not trying to better yourself and study... Muffin then yells,
"Porn! We uh, both were watching porn on the school computer. We stayed after class so that no one would catch us... We're Ords so we don't have internet access at home... W-we're huge degenerates."
The Prismas look at us with mild disgust. You then realize that Muffin was smart, if they think we're degenerates, they're not going to try and recruit us..
"You Ords are truly revolting. Staying after school just to fail harder? Pathetic."
One of the Prismas, seems a bit transfixed, as the other Prismas leave, she stays.
"You... You're both porn addicts." Her eyes light up with a sort of strange curiosity.
"It's sad, you.. You should join our cause! We, might be able to cure your addiction."
Muffin replies laughing slightly shoving your arm with her elbow,
"Nah I think we're a lost cause."
The girl then says,
"I'm Holly." She gives you a prismatic business card.
"If you... Need assistance, we er... I.. I can try and help." You look down seeing her number. Your heart beats slightly as you're beyond confused as to what the fuck is even happening. Is she... Is she crushing on you? But before you can even process what the fuck happened you hear her heels clacking as she jogs down the hallway into the dark of it disappearing entirely from view.
Muffin sighs a breath of relief,
"Sorry about that, I... I didn't know how else to get us out of that jam."
"Nah, that was... Good thinking... Mostly, I think that Holly girl she... Nevermind.."
"She seemed different huh... Oh well, I should get home. I'll see you tomorrow ok?"
She waves leaving you there in the hall.

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>>5903877
As you're trying to clear your mind, in the twilight of the late evening you see Virgil on your way back to the Hellscream mansion.
He's got a lit cigarette in his mouth.
"I ran into Marcus. Said you saved him, told me he was headed to Hellscream manor. It all makes sense now. You hiding out there. I dunno how you managed to get that demon Hellscream on your side but if she's paying your way, it makes sense now how you managed to come back."
Fuck, he knows everything...
"R-right, listen, Virgil, it's complicated ok?"
"I bet it is. But I'm not in the mood for your excuses homeslice. You puttin the faction in danger by doin this shit, playin with shit you can't understand."
I growl getting fed up with Virgil,
"Goddamn you Virgil! What the fuck is WRONG with you!? You're the fucking leader of the Ords, and you act like some little micropenis bitch! How the fuck did you ever got put in charge I'll NEVER understand."
He looks hurt as he stares forward.
"Yeah... You right, my dick ain't big, but that ain't got shit to do with why I'm runnin shit the way I'm runnin it."
Did... he not understand the microdick comment was a figure of speech? You resist the urge to chuckle at him outing himself as having a less than adequate member.
"Alright Virg, then whats the real reason?"

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>>5903880
"Knight Everhart. She used to lead the Ords... Before she put me in charge. She was the last bitch to graduate this facility, and she held herself back a few years just to be sure she was leavin it in good hands. I was supposed to be the leader for a new generation... A leader that would fight back the mages harder than ever."
"Yeah well, what happened then?"
He takes a drag on his cig, flicking the ash.
"We was setup to hit em big, we was threatenin to raid they facilities... I got too cocky. And... As punishment, the Animus, got a hold of my sister. They fucked her, and fucked her up too. Broke both her legs, fragmented em so that healin magic can't do shit. She's been in the hospital ever since."
"What the fuck Virg, I mean, I knew somewhat about your sister.. But even still, why fucking give up dude!?"
"You don't understand, I promised Knight I would protect everyone. That I'd live up to her standards... She was the most badass chick I ever met. She was... Like an older sister to me. But I couldn't even protect my own family. I let her down. From then on, I vowed even if it cost me my pride I'd bend the knee to the mages, to protect them. I hate it, every day I wanna die. But I keep on because the Ords would get gotted harder if I wasn't capitulating."
He starts tearing up a bit. You place your hand on his shoulder.
----------------------

-"Well you did fuck up. And you did let everyone down, but so what? You're an Ord aren't you? We're ordinary, we're all fuckups some way or another, but thats no reason to act like a bitch and keep giving in. We have to fight back."

-"Hey Homie, it's ok. But you're not a failure. You just did what you thought was best. It's time to pick ourselves up though and start moving to protect ourselves though. Capitulating won't always protect us ok?"

-Write-in

>>5903877
A Prisma? Crushing on us? I mean, damn, she cute, but chances are that just means she thinks we'd look hot AS A GIRL.

>>5903881
>"Don't you see, homes? They aren't gonna' let us be just 'cause we bend the knee. They're gonna' keep turning bros into hos, and hos into housecats, and whatever the fuck else. Maybe they'll lay off our bodies some, but they'll break our spirits even so... And as soon as it suits them, for any half-ass reason they'll push our shit in anyway. I'm not saying we go loud, but we need a way to protect ourselves. Livin' at some fucker's mercy ain't even living, man..."

>>5903881
Eh, why not, seconded >>5903885

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>>5903885
>>5903959
"Don't you see, homes? They aren't gonna' let us be just 'cause we bend the knee. They're gonna' keep turning bros into hos, and hos into housecats, and whatever the fuck else. Maybe they'll lay off our bodies some, but they'll break our spirits even so... And as soon as it suits them, for any half-ass reason they'll push our shit in anyway. I'm not saying we go loud, but we need a way to protect ourselves. Livin' at some fucker's mercy ain't even living, man..."
Theres a brief awkward silence, as he stares down, taking a moment to truly absorb what you've said. Then out of nowhere he embraces you. You hold each other for a moment feeling each others warmth as the sun sets.
"You right... You completely right homie. I'm, sorry for bein a lil bitch this whole time."
The hug breaks. He looks at you, a man transformed. A soft vulnerability as he says,
"Thanks for setting me straight. I needed it. I'd follow you home and check your new crib, but I don't wanna jeopardize the thing you got goin with your girl Hellscream."
"Its cool bro."
"Hey bro."
"Huh?"
He pauses, his eyes filled with this sort of intensity.
"You ever need anything, I'm down for you. You feel me?"
"I.... Y-yeah... Sure."
"Aight... See you tomorrow homie." He says waving as he walks off into the sunset. Did he just... No... Must be your imagination. Virgil is completely straight after all.

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>>5903965
You arrive at the Hellscream manor after a hellishly long day. Marcus is being tended to by a servant. And Sycamore seems to have been waiting for you. Her smug grin says everything.
"Made yourself a new friend I see.."
You growl feeling somewhat annoyed.
"Y-yeah.. I did. How was your day Sycamore?"
"Mmm, you know, same as always. So cute seeing you try so hard... You really aught to know your disgusting place, and just bow and submit to master." She says tauntingly. Ok she's definitely TRYING to be annoying now... You turn and walk away,
"Oh don't be so cold! Enjoy your stay jerk."
You sigh.
"I'll try."
She hugs you suddenly from behind.
"P-please, don't... Ignore me too much ok?" She says softly. You turn to face her, but as you do, she's already walking away. Fucking bitch knows just how to keep you on edge...
As you settle in for the night, you finally rest and recover for the next day.

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>>5903966
The next day you arrive at school to see Virgil being hounded (literally?) in this case as a black wolf and his entourage come up to him.
"Virgie you're being so uncooperative today... Did you forget what we did to your little sister?"
"Fuck off, I ain't got your money today G."
They laugh at him, howling in the halls as Virgil shivers slightly.
"Don't look now Virgie, your boyfriend is here."
He turns around looking at you.
"Stay outta this, don't get involved homie.. I got this!" He says protectively.
The wolf slaps him with one paw sending him smashing into a locker. Virgil crumples to the ground. Looking up rubbing his jaw.
Before you even realize, the black wolf is up in your face.
"Whats up, got nothin to say for your little Ord buddy down there? You gonna face me, or run to kiss his booboos?" He says sneeringly.
===

-Shutup you ugly furry, I could take you!

-(Go tend to Virgil ignoring this asshole.)

-Write-In

Alright furry ye asked, and ye shall receive.
-Shutup you ugly furry, I could take you!

>>5903967
>(Go tend to Virgil ignoring this asshole.)
>Murmur an apology on Virgil's behalf
>Whisper to Virgil "Remember, we don't go loud. Not yet."
Bide our time. Wait until we have what we need to win the fight.

>>5903984
Fair point, the mutt broke a locker with barely a swing of his fist. Voting for this option.

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>>5903984
>>5903990
You go to tend to poor Virgil. "Hey man you alright?"
The wolf guy scoffs at you. "Hey buddy! What the fuck, I'm right here! Don't just fucking act like I'm not here!"
He jumps and attacks you while your back is turned, but then suddenly a wolf-girl with white hair jumps in to stop him. He immediately shrinks back looking fearful. But then yells,
"Outta the way Lora! I got beef with these two!"
She growls at him however and he backs off, with the other two next to him also scurrying away.
"My bad, it was shameful of him to attack you while your back was turned. My name is Lora Lunar. I'm with Animus. My pack gets out of control sometimes, it's hard to keep them in line without having to bark you know?"
You feel, like she's very powerful. Like she has a completely different air about her than those other three.
"Uh, it's cool I guess.. Lora right?"
She nods.
"Yes, I'm Lora. Is there something you'd like as compensation? You Ords have been fairly cooperative with us, I'd like to reward that somehow."
Virgil dusts himself off.
"No thanks, we don't need it."
You then say to Virgil,
"Remember, we don't go loud. Not yet."
"We're fine with accepting some help, if you can give it to us."

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>>5904055
You're out in the woods, standing in disbelief as Lora transformed into her giant wolf form. You had only agreed to take a walk with her, and... Well you're not entirely sure how things ended up this way, but... This is beyond anything you expected. Lora, this unassuming wolf girl, turned into the most gigantic tree-sized wolf. She towers over you, looming like a great beast. No wonder she could keep her pack in line.
-----

-This is terrifying, how on earth did you manage to do this Lora? What kind of magic is this?

-Love the wolf form, very cool! Could you tell us more about Animus? Surely you're not all bad right?

-Write-In

-This is terrifying, how on earth did you manage to do this Lora? What kind of magic is this?

>>5904056
>This is terrifying, how on earth did you manage to do this Lora? What kind of magic is this?
It is both scary AND cool, but fear is the reaction these bullies will expect. Also, her pack... Raped and crippled a girl if I underatand right? Don't get too chummy too fast.

>>5903785
If we help them they'll still hate us. If we don't help them they'll hate us. Let's fuckin just back off em protecting the guy using our fire doodad if we need to

>>5904895
You're a couple updates behind, anon.

>-This is terrifying, how on earth did you manage to do this Lora? What kind of magic is this?

>>5905154
oop, yeah
>>5904056
>Neat spell. What's your power source?
Get her talking about herself. Square cube law is a bitch, probably can only hold that for a short amount of time, what kind of magical capacitors she's using to power that would be VERY INTERESTING to know. man we need to make magical RPGs now, this is fuckin bonkers.

>>5903062
>>5903059
Roodypoo

I'm honestly hoping we get to become some kind of anti-mage faction. Think SCP, or the Illuminati from Secret Legends. Using enhanced modern-day tech to keep up. That shit just oozes style and intrigue.

>>5904056
>Love the wolf form, very cool! Could you tell us more about Animus? Surely you're not all bad right?
She was super decent to us

Also next time we see Hellscream tell her that if she didn't mock and belittle us every chance she gets, we'd be a lot more open to spending time with her. Treating us cruelly like that will breed resentment no matter how much money she throws at us.

This is an interesting quest premise, be a shame if it got dropped. Though you'd think MC's parents would consider transferring him to a different institution of secondary education if things were this bonkers at the university.

>>5904056
>-This is terrifying, how on earth did you manage to do this Lora? What kind of magic is this?
For now, act subservient since she doesn't seem to mind weak humans that do as they're told.

>>5906157
I don't see persuading Sycamore with facts and logic being an effective approach. She's a demon-woman with power over the MC, being illogical/unreasonable is par for the course. It'd probably be better to dryly counter-tease her about our mutually-beneficial arrangement: we take up a modest amount of space in her mansion to stay off the streets and in exchange she gets first-hand amusement at our predicament on a daily basis. The status quo is acceptable for both parties at least until MC grinds enough XP to "correct" her.

>>5910865
I think it is indeed a dead quest. I'd take it over, but I'm already running one.

Okay so long-time lurker for a few years so I decided to take up the abandoned quest and attempt my left hand in QMimg. It might crash and burn, but I will give it a try since I liked the setting and the idea of chat trying to become the anti-mage faction. But it will take a lot of resources, research, and planning to just get Daniel on par or exceed a mage and worse reliably. It can technically be done but you need a lot of training, time, and a boatload of resources to set up an anti-mage army. Also, this will be very scuffed as I only had 8 hours to rejig everything into a system I am making up as we go. So, for that I will have to rerail one thing and get replacement photos for most of the characters to explain away the sudden QM style change. This is my quest but now with blackjack and hookers. Also how do I archive, spoiler, and put in negative mods to rolls? Hopefully I don't get banned since I have no idea what the ban list is. Thinking of just keeping the quest title since the LORE ™ is important so time for the first vote of the new quest. Man, I am nervous. Aah.

Lora’s wolf head turns toward Daniel with her white sharp teeth contrasting against the dark woods barely noticeable in the small bits of moonlight streaking down from the canopy. With the forest itself falling silent with not a single cricket chirping in the area. Taking a breath as Lora prepares to talk only to be interrupted by the sound of a thunder clap forcing everyone to wince from the sudden surprise. As sounds of snapping twigs and a rush of leaves is heard coming toward Daniel. A big mass with a furry black head and ears with familiar read markings is throwing flying towards him. On reflex Daniel tries to step aside as a foot clips the front and side of his head like a hammer being brought down against his skull. Skin peeling and moving unnaturally as it tugs against his head by gravity and momentum. Feeling something crack as a bloom of pan covers his vissson as warm steaks of reeeedd reeeeed read drip on the hair as he rests on the soft, waaarmmm black. Two noodles massage him as his legs fffaaaalll asleeeepp not hallpping hos friend to run away tooo daaa paaarrty fiingeras dancierng aaetmpr to hold on touch the sttaaaarrs wyh si cold dddaaan ne in da out aaaaaa panicking red Virgil aaaaaassskkk htisn as the sounds of two howls and claps say goodbye.

Daniel opens his eyes again feeling numb as he stands up to see the ground, the sky, the horizon in a thick gray fog. With only a distant dim light greeting him as it bobs and blinks in an obscured horizon. With nothing better to do Daniel begins moving his legs forward with each step walking through knee high mud as the cold air stings his lungs. Every step slowed, every step clinging to the ground, breath slowly escaping his lungs as the light dims. One minute, two hours, three days, four weeks. Time melted together turning a once annoying walk into sheer agony feeling as if he was there for an eternity. Endlessly chasing after that once dim light now a baleful red and black as it burned away the fog and mud to leave behind darkened charcoal under a starless night. Hunger pains stabbed his stomach as every groan made his entire body convulse, his throat shriveled from dehydration making each breath spit out blood, lungs wheezing out a whistle of death and decay, skin pulled taut as it splits at the seams showing marble white bones underneath. Walking a few more steps only to drop to the cracked ground unable to deny reality anymore as he fights back tears as he sucks in a wheezing breath trying to calm himself. Opening his mouth hearing his young voice full of vigor once again from long ago.

“Did I die? I really thought it would have been in school, or the streets, or Hellscream. I died in a ditch when I didn't even do anything. I really did amount to nothing in the end? Are we supposed to be cattle? Why, why if you exist god tell me why? I, I …”

>>5922234
>Also how do I archive, spoiler, and put in negative mods to rolls?
Check out suptg or the /qtg/ thread for archival tips. "[ spoiler ]" and "[ /spoiler ]" without the spaces between the brackets will spoilers. roll "dice+-XdY" to add a negative modifier rather than just "dice-XdY".

>>5922236
...Uh?

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>>5922236
Boon choice. (Pretend the pic was added to the second post)

>“I regret leaving everyone behind and not being able to do a single thing.” (Regret. Unlock bo4 rolls for all non-combat skill checks.)

>“I hate them all. The mages, the university, the cults, the tyrants, the Prisma, the Animus, Hellscream, the government, the helplessness, the fear. I will never forget.” (Cold Fury Unlock 4d20 learning martial skills, magic, and integration of mage tech spells and runes.)

>“I am okay. I died as myself not bending down to Hellscream, disfigured by Animus, lobotomized by Prisma, broken down, cursed, I didn't get any of my friends injured, or worse…” (Content. Unlock +40 mod resistance to saves from fear, intimidation, charm, curses, mind control, soul manipulation, morale break, trauma, and any save or die spells.”

>“a wshed… i…could…be. Better. (Paths to Ascension. No advantages, no resistance, only bo2 to all actions, 2d10 on learning martial/tech, and 9 boons/skills locked behind every narrative milestone. Final Unlock Silent Judgement.)

>>5922239
Thank you for the tip also ran out of text space and had to find a fitting picture. I sleep now and see if any of the old posters return and hopefully the duct tape system doesn't collapse from a stiff breeze.

>>5922241
>I am ok, I died as myself

>>5922241
>“a wshed… i…could…be. Better. (Paths to Ascension. No advantages, no resistance, only bo2 to all actions, 2d10 on learning martial/tech, and 9 boons/skills locked behind every narrative milestone. Final Unlock Silent Judgement.)

Tempqm here currently phone posting at the moment. So I reread the boons and found that I made content way too defensive-reactive and does not actively aid you in any way. So to fix that I will give it a buff to make it at least more useful rather than an after thought. So it keeps all the resistances and it gains a free reroll, negates a Nat 1, or an auto pass for one roll but can only be used once every in game week. Can be used at anytime as long as chat declares it.

>>5922241
>>5922551

>“a wshed… i…could…be. Better. (Paths to Ascension. No advantages, no resistance, only bo2 to all actions, 2d10 on learning martial/tech, and 9 boons/skills locked behind every narrative milestone. Final Unlock Silent Judgement.)

The way rolls play out it'll help a ton

I should have done my chores before stealing a quest. So I'll leave the vote open for today in case any more voters might come by and start writing about 18-ish hours from now.

But first so guys what would be your overall goal to reach? Just focusing on teching up the mage armor for self-defense, graduating uni and getting out, planning on killing mages by making the SCP foundation, trying to stay out of sight and mind, or a combo of all of them?

>>5922665
To kill Sycamore Hellscream, the Prismas, the the Animus, the Ords, and everyone else who got in our way.

To tear the whole unjust system down from the ground up.

>>5922525
>>5922560
Daniel’s words echo into the void as the baleful light slowly approaches him as its oppressive aura beats down on his soul. Demanding his attention, his focus, his last gasps of life as it floats listlessly a few inches above him. His hands tracing along the ground trying to find any rocks to beat this night light with as his hands grabs a jagged piece of charcoal. Taking one deep breath feeling his body struggle for breath as he pushes himself against its pressure to raise his hand against the light. Only for a deep burning sensation to light up his entire body on fire in red and black. A flash of pain and panic immediately replaced his thoughts as something rips him apart, put back together, and flings him away as darkness covers his eyes.

Opening his eyes again Daniel to see his surroundings looking right at the Sun as Daniel squints his eyes to see he is inside a rundown alley. The smells of rotten meat, iron, and sewage coat the air as cars echo down the streets. Eyes moving rightward and locking in on a familiar red and black magic buzzing from Hellscream’s hands as she sits on the floor while muttering incantations as beads of sweat form on her forehead. Turning his eyes to the left to see Virgil with bloodied hands and a knife with bits of pink blob and pools of blood dotted around the floor. Taking a moment to check his body feeling his skull grinding against bone as it locks in place as he feels his hair to be a bit wetter and warmer than he remembered. Stinging cold biting into his ripped skin as it shudders and stretches on his head looking for more skin to connect to. A quiet growl rumbles in his stomach demanding food after spending so long without a crumb of nourishment.

Fingers tap against the tile floor, leg muscles tense, and his lungs follow a steady rhythm to let Daniel know he isn’t dead again. Deciding not to risk ripping something he closes his eyes again to let everyone finish whatever they were doing.

Minutes pass by as Hellscream slowly pulls her magic away, taking away the oppressive aura away from his mind. With Daniel letting out a sigh of relief at being free of that taint finally allowing himself to relax his tense body from all the stress building up. Hellscream takes a breath before the sound of rushing wind strikes something as she begins speaking.

Cont.

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>>5923321
“Speak monkey. What happened to Daniel? Lie to me and I will skin you alive.” Growls out Hellscream.
“I didn’t do nothing we just got jumped in the middle of nowhere you cr-hmm.” Chokes out Virgil as Daniel immediately steps in.
“Hellscream it was not Virgil’s fault we really were attacked at night.”
“Your awake!? Wait night? It is still morning and your pet only called me five minutes ago.” States Hellscream as she drops Virgil before grabbing one of Daniel’s arms.
“Sorry my man but you know the trauma office only cares about useful students and the nurse office would not be able to save you with cough syrup. So I had to look into your phone and call her.”
“Hellscream, why was your number in my phone?”
“Well for things like this and your stupid pride! It was there for when you were ready to grovel back to my feet and not to be used when you were already dead!” Shouts Hellscream as her grip tightens around Daniel’s arms sending a spike of pain through it.
“It was bad Daniel pieces of your brain were leaking out and you did kinda die there for a bit.” Adds Virgil as he tries to keep his hands from shaking.
“How did I come back?”
“I had to keep pumping you with Heal, Spare the Dying, and Regenerate but there were bone fragments inside, so I had to overheal you to push the fragments out.”
“W-I had to ugh, cut out brain tumors that grew out and carried the fragments. Took us ten minutes to grow your brain and hopefully catch all the shards. Are you okay man?”
“Yes. So that is why I thought it was night and had some broken memories.”
“No, you're not okay you died because you didn’t want to serve under me. So, take the Mana Stone and give up this childish spat or at the very least keep it on you to avoid you dying from a sudden hairball again.” States Hellscream as she pulls out the Mana Stone.

>“Hellscream I would rather die than ever willingly chain myself.” (Reject Demonic Mana Stone)

>“Fine, I will take it with me, but I won’t use it unless I am actually going to die.” (On death, you turn into a demon.)

>“Thank you for the offer. I will accept the stone but I will stay independent no matter the cost.” (Gain 1 Demonic Mana Stone in inventory CANNOT be used on death.)

>Write-in

>>5923324
>“Hellscream, I thank you for all you have done for me, for caring for someone like me, however, I would rather die on my feet as my own man than ever willingly chain myself.” (Reject Demonic Mana Stone)

>>5923324
>“Fine, I will take it with me, but I won’t use it unless I am actually going to die.” (On death, you turn into a demon.)

>>5923324
>“Fine, I will take it with me, but I won’t use it unless I am actually going to die.” (On death, you turn into a demon.)

File: Daniel Daylight FE.jpg (73 KB, 417x542)

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>>5923420
>>5923524
“Fine, I will take it with me, but I won’t use it unless I am actually going to die.”
“That is assuming you get the time to even use it before someone scatters pieces of your brain on the floor again.”
“I know I am nothing compared to everyone else but I didn’t regret my decision before, during, or after my death. So I will keep my Humanity for as long as I can.” Daniel states with a new burning conviction staining his words.
“What good is your Humanity when it is my demonic energy bringing you back from death? Are you even Daniel anymore after all that brain damage? Fine, if that is your decision then I will look forward to leashing you when all your efforts become meaningless.” Hellscream states with a bitter tone as she mutters out a spell as she blinks out.
“So Dan, give me your arm. I can carry you back to the whore’s house.” Asks Virgil as he begins picking up Daniel.
“I am fine, I can go back there on my own.”
“You will skip school and stay at home until I call a doctor and drag your ass for an X-ray.”
“Didn’t you both get all the pieces?”
“Dan your brain got turned into an omelet so shut up and get some rest. Also are you still Dan you seem off a bit.”
“I think so or things got fuzzy with the back alley operation. Also what is with your speech?”
“What do you mean I always talk like this man.”
“Hmm, okay then so I definitely have a lot of distorted memories.”

The Friday, Saturday, Sunday passes by in a blur as Daniel rests for days passing through a few rundown clinics making sure not a single speck of bone is found in his brain.Virgil paying off the medical debt, Muffin asking questions making sure Daniel still remembers his life and knowledge, with Hellscream checking in on him occasionally from afar before silently leaving Daniel to his devices. Finally reaching Sunday after a last minute round of doctor appointments as Daniel enters his room’s bathroom to see himself in the mirror.

“My eyes must have been really messed up seeing myself again. I am still myself.”

Cont.

>>5923545
MECHANICS TIME!

TIME SLOTS. So every in game week you will have seven time slots representing one day of work that can be spread out or stacked between activities.
Spells/runes. To avoid too much wasted time and considering Daniel is a university student he can hunt for specific spells in the DnD handbook. Level 7, 8, and 9 spells are locked out or require connections to reach.

SOCIAL. Hang with friends, find friends, become friend shaped. Get to know them or help out with some of their problems.

CLASS. Every AP spent gives an equivalent level of DnD spell. Spend 4 AP gain a level four spell, spend 2 AP get a level two spell of a chosen school, spend 1 AP get two cantrips or a level 1 spell. Repeated copies of getting the same spell adds a 2d10 bonus to any learning involving this spell. However, for each AP spent here, you will risk a d100 encounter during school unless you have a plan to augment the roll. So spend 6 AP get a sixth level spell but 6d100 encounters. I will say a Nat 1 and below won't game end you, but at worst if you cannot soften the blow it will cripple you or be a major setback or both.

CLASS options: Adjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, Transmutation.

CONTACT. Hang with Lora, Holly, or other future threats found to learn how they tick with varied risk. D100 to see how it goes and may be augmented if you have a plan prepared or information to tailor the approach.

R&D. Attempting to refine a spell requires you knowing the spell, an idea, goal, and time.
Making a project requires resources, time, and learning DC checks. Integrate runes/spells onto the armor has a variable cost to be determined.
Muffin/Muffy gains 2 low quality scrap a day for projects and can aid in projects if assigned.

Resources are tied to scrap(copper, aluminum, iron) lowest quality, industrial(gold, tungsten, lead) moderate quality, exotics highest quality(ent tears, spell engraved chips, adamantine), and special(Mana Stones and unique items)

Current stock: Scrap 8, industrial 0, exotics 0, special 0.

LEARNING. Practice combat arts, raid the library for lore, or study level 3 and below class spells to learn how they tick and their rules. 1d10 bonus for every AP added. Roll 2d100 potential encounters and pick the highest per AP spent.

APPEASEMENT. Tolerate Hellscream and give her attention. This is required to be taken at least once a week to keep Hellscream from kicking you out.

EXPLORE. I dunno declare a location, fuck off and do adult things? Maybe worldbuilding shit.

SPECIAL. Write-in if you got an idea that doesn't fall into any of the categories.

>>5923550
Heat.
Every week there will be a 7d5 roll representing yo that scholarship nerd is still here. Reaching 100 will overflow and trigger a Nat 1 mage encounter and you will either fight, escape, or set up a plan to distract the attacker.

Path to Silence
Okay here things will mostly be tied to narrative growth and stuffs, so you have to stumble into opportunities to fulfill the requirements. Once the charges are filled you will auto get the completed boon. I might shuffle things around as I learn on the job.

>>5923550
This seems pretty complex to drop on us.

>>5923551
Daniel Daylight

Specialty: Educated Commoner level 0
Health Points: 5
Armor class: -50

Equipment:
Mage Gloves lvl 0: Theoretically can disrupt cantrips and cast spells using energy.
Mage Armor lvl N/A: Theoretically can protect vitals.

Spell list:
Spark: Make a small ball of flame.

Martial art:
N/A

Items:
N/A

Boon:
“I, wis-hed… i…could…be. Better. (Paths to Ascension. No advantages, no resistance, only bo2 to all actions, 2d10 on learning martial/tech, and 9 boons/skills locked behind every narrative milestone. Final Unlock Silent Judgement.)

Progress Boon Count
You Rejected her, and the Mana Stone. But accepted her housing.
Will to Stand Up. 1/??

While we're tussling, whisper to him a hint of where he can hide, back at Sycamore Hellscream's place.
The Rationality to Maintain Discretion. 1/??

Don't you see, homes? They aren't gonna' let us be just 'cause we bend the knee.
Face the Fear, Break the Cycle. 1/??

0/?? x6
----------------------------------------------
QM note: Okay so I was very happy that you guys picking Silent Judgement as I could reference one of my favorite games in. So just keep maintaining the convictions and stumble into the rest of the boons. The first three were easy since it was from a dead quest but future boon requirements will be a bit more dangerous to fulfil. Also, I needed to give you guys a general idea of how to get the boons.

From here you guys can either make a plan for all 7 AP or do you guys want to take it day by day instead?

>>5923556
It basically boils down to you guys having 7 actions that can be used to

Social with friends
Go to class to get spells while dodging mages
Contact and met with Lora or Holly
R&D fuck around with spells or equipment.
Learning. Learning new spells taken from class
Appeasement tolerate hellscream
Explore. Explore
Special. Do something not on the list.

>>5923556
Okay I am back from a super ball party. Originally, I thought chat would want to jump straight into working on their projects so I will just cut things down to day-to-day options I'll figure out how to reduce the words. I will just save the mechanics for down the line when options grow back.

[QM: Ignore the mechanics for now I will just cut options down a bit and clean up the descriptions. I can just save all this stuff on my doc and bring it up later when needed. Also I’ll put you guys on rails until you are ready to step off them.]

Daniel gives one more look at the mirror of the bathroom before letting out a breath and returning to his bed getting ready for a new day. Waking back up seeing the demonic mana stone waiting on a nightstand stretching out his body as Daniel takes a quick shower, a change of clothes, and puts the stone into his pocket making his way to school. Grabbing a few dry biscuits from the kitchen closet making sure there were no maids to interrupt his breakfast as he moved. Exiting Hellscream’s mansion as Daniel made his way to a subway system and using her funds to take an early 4am train to avoid the mage students. Seeing a few other Ordies in the seats with the same idea of reaching early school to hide away from the predators. An hour passes by after taking a quick nap as the subway comes to a gentle stop as the intercom pings to life to let everyone out.

A cart full of Ordies picked up from other stations streamed out of the subway as the mob made their way quickly toward the nearby forests surrounding the academy. Knowing they have to wait another two hours before the school unlocks its arcane locks on the doors. Ordies move forward taking up their hidden spots as a few take out breakfast and begin trading each other bits of food, chocolate, and coffee. Foxholes dug into the ground, tree bark pulled off the ground to cover their bodies, and a few loners climbed trees not trusting the ground to hide them if a mage stumbles into a hole.

Daniel picks a random tree and begins climbing a random tree that overlooks a few Ordies hole using them as an alarm clock to let him know to drop down. Taking a moment deciding what to do for the day.

>Social: Meet with Virgil and Muffin to see how they are doing.
>Class: Go to class to get a spell while dodging mages.
>Contact: Met with Lora(Animus) or Holly(Prisma).
>R&D: Fuck around with spells or equipment.
>Learning: Visit the library for information.
>Write-in.

>>5923807
>Contact: Met with Lora(Animus)
What exactly HAPPENED back there?

So I am back to work so expect an update either everyday or every other day and a lot of updates during Sunday. I will usually update 11 hours from now after work.

>>5923807
Backing>>5923811

>>5923420
>>5923524
>>5923556
>>5923811
>>5924762
Look at these worthless fucking niggers. Steal a vote and can't even be bothered to continue the quest.

>>5925343
Stole from who? How was it stolen? What are you on about?

>>5924762
>>5923811
Watching the school as Daniel spots the first students coming in. Animus popping out of trees as they rush out on all fours in packs racing to their morning classes. Flickers of rainbow light as Prisma blinks into existence on the front entrance of the school in teams of three as they begin walking in. With several wannabe knights walking in pairs or alone unbothered by the flashes of teleport spells around them.

Waiting for the fireworks show to die down as Daniel tries to spot Lora needing answers. Eyes straining to spot her hair only to come up empty as the morning rush of mages ended and ordies come out of hiding. Climbing down the tree Daniel gives a sigh as he has to look for her in Animus territory. Flexing his hands as Daniel tries to calm his nerves as he begins his search. Spending two hours keeping his head down and avoiding any groups of mages. Finding Lora nowhere on the outskirts of their land Daniel gives out a sigh as he heads to the heart of Animus land known as the greenhouses. Making his way to the heart while dodging Animus as much as possible, before flinching as a tiger and a fat panda looking guy approaches him. Both demand a toll to be paid for walking into their land. Taking a few quick breaths trying to steady his breathing as Daniel begins.

“H-hey I wanted to check in on Lora after we both got jumped about three days ago…”
“Do you know anything about this Rex?” Asks the panda as the tiger gets his phone out.
“Nope but I can check it. If you're lying, runt that will cost you a hand.”
“U-understood.” Says Daniel as he grits his teeth while holding his hands together to hide the shaking as a ping echoes from the phone.
“That was fast so time to see if we are breaking a few bones.”
“Hmm. Okay she is on her way over so apparently; he was saying the truth. You got lucky today.” Says the tiger as he reads his phone letting the awkward silence continue until a new voice breaks the tension.
“Hey Virgil's pet, good to see you aren't crippled!” Yells out Lora as she rushes around the corner and toward the group.

Every step Daniel flinched from the memories of the night. Every stomp sound like thunder in a storm as he sees a predator running towards him as his instincts screaming at him to run.

Fear check 1d100 DC 40.

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>>5925380
[/Second attempt to uploading picture]

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>5925380

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320 KB JPG

>>5925395
Daniel clenches his hands letting his nails dig into his flesh using the pain to suppress his fears as he exhales a breath caught in his throat. Closing his eyes as the stomping reaches closer until he feels the burning breath of the wolf near him. A hard smack on his shoulder breaks his concentration as Lora stands in front of him as she stretches out her arms. Noticing Lora in a new light or actually seeing her after getting my brain scrambled spotting a few ominous dark crystals along her legs.

Cont.

>>5925590
“Okay guys you can head back to your posts. I don’t want the hallways to have a blind spot again.”
“Yes ma’am.” Both the tiger and panda immediately replied as they give one last glare at Daniel before turning away.
“Hey you must be V’s new friend or something, good to see you're still walking. I didn't expect you would have survived that hit.”
“Hello L-lora it is a surprise to be back but turns out I could walk it off and just needed a few days to get over the incident. So what happened?”
“Yeah sorry about that it was just another hit attempt.” Says Lora as she runs a hand over her hair to comb out the messiness of a run.
“B-by the Animus that flew at me?” Asks Daniel trying to fish for information.
“No, no. Just the Prisma cultists naturally disliked by my faction but generally ignored as we assumed they won’t try anything with people who can fight back.”
“So they jumped you for not helping them?”
“Nooo turns out they were not all talk about hating all men and instead they started a blood war after they ripped one of my guy’s rockets off of him when they kidnapped him.”
“I can’t imagine that would be pleasant.”
“It was not. It took us a few hours to realize he was missing and had to track him down using his gym clothes. By then it was too late to fix it and Prisma refused to revert it, so naturally we did the second worst thing that would traumatize them.”
“Morph them into a male animal?”
“Huh, I-we didn’t think of that. Can we change their gender? I am getting off topic, no we just tied up the fuckers and ran a train on them until every bone of their body broke.”
“A-and Prisma retaliated?”
“Yes, ever since that day we have been stuck in a constant skirmish with them. We can physically overpower them but they can teleport out so it is annoying we can’t jump them and have to play whack a mole instead. Not counting the other two to seven factions waiting for any sign of weakness.”
“I can’t imagine how much pressure it must be on your shoulders having to defend Animus.”
“Eh, I can take it since I am the boss. I have to look out for my pack. Oh right give this token to V as a minor favor that he can call in for the work he is doing for us.” States Lora as she hands over a card with her phone number and a wolf’s claw bleached white and holding a piece of dark crystal on it.
“I will make sure to give it to him.”
“Good boy.” Says Lora as she gives a condescending headpat to Daniel.
“Right, I forgot to introduce myself.”
“That is not important, I just need to V to keep up the good work.”
“Tch, well I was recently promoted to help out V so I might be seeing you more often from now on.” States Daniel noticing a slight intense glare on Lora at hearing his irritation.
“Is that so?”
“Y-yes ma’am. I hope to continue V’s work with you.”
“Good now, any questions before I leave?”

>>5925592
>What work does V do for you? (DC 30)
>What is with the black crystals? (DC 70)
>Seven factions? (DC 50)
>Nothing else ma’am.
>Write-in

>>5925592
>What work does V do for you? (DC 30)

>>5925595
>What work does V do for you?
>Whats with those crystals?

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5925595
>What work does V do for you? (DC 30)

>>5926428
>>5925785
>>5925630
Yeah, sorry I should have specified a 1d100 roll for whatever vote you guys picked. Forgot to add that bit in the choice update. I will take just take Veag's roll and add in the crystal question for my mess up. Would that lead to bandwagon a vote for the highest roll? Yes. Will I do something about it? No.

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>>5925630
>>5925785
>>5926428
“So since I got recently promoted I have not had the chance to look over everything. What does V do for you?”
“You don’t know?”
“Well to be fair I just recently came back, then we got jumped, and I had to spend the weekend on check ups.”
“I can’t imagine ordies would have the money for the good healthcare.”
“Well yeah that is why we spend so much time on check ups. Medical bills are killers.”
“Okay so I am not sure how V runs it but he is our faction informant for movements of other clubs.”
“Like a snitch?” Daniels asks as he bites down on his tongue to avoid showing any tells.
“More like a watchman seeing and reporting when Prisma teams move between classes, when the Coven is on the hunt for subjects, when the knights decide they need temporary volunteers, or anything else that might look like a threat moving.”
“Oh, a warning system for the other mages but doesn't Animus have better hearing and scent for that?”
“Yes but we have to move in packs and leaving a male Animus alone searching for information is asking for another conversion and leaving a female Animus alone is still a problem. We really don’t want to risk that.” States Lora as she rubs the black crystal on her thighs.
“Excuse my curiosity but shouldn’t female Animus be safe from Prisma?”
“No they aren’t if anything it would be worse for them.”
“How?”
“Ugh.” Growls out Lora as she shifts her body.
“Sorry I asked, I didn't know it was a sore topic.”
“No, I should tell you if your going to work with V. So you know Prisma can convert males to females?”
“Well yes and the general things of them being welcoming to those who throw away their identity.”
“From what we can tell Prisma doesn’t just flip your gender, they literally tear a chunk of your soul off. Something as important as gender acts like veins of the soul and it is why they want willing converts. Easier to make the process go smoother if the victim doesn’t fight back.”
“What the fuck?” Asks a horrified Daniel feeling bile rise up behind his throat at once thinking about joining Prisma.
“It gets worse. For females the spell can’t find the male gender to pull so it instead the closest equivalent, the female gender and pulls. Now the spell was not designed for females in mind, so it was weaker.”
“How do you know this?”
“I was targeted by five of the soul lobotomy spells during the rescue, follow up battles, and ambush attempts, fuckers kept aiming for my legs to keep me rooted. It was like feeling your entire soul had chains piercing your being and pulled in all directions. The black crystals are I think either soul burns or holes. I can still feel the burning weeks later.”
“And the crystal just grows on you and never heals?”
“Soul bullshit that normal magic can’t heal. One spell burned me, and it was a limb blow but for you it might become hell.”

>>5926551
Roll 1d100 for option pick.

>Other factions are making trouble? (DC 40)
>Wait, you said an Animus was caught, what happened to him?(DC 80)
>How are you doing? (DC ??)
>Anything else you would like me to tell V before I go? (End conversation.)
>Write-in

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>5926554
>Other factions are making trouble? (DC 40)

>>5926554
>How are you doing? (DC ??)
>Write-in: Surely there must be some way to heal them?

>>5927772
Tempqm here phone posting right now. Add a roll for your vote to see if you pass the hidden dcs or not.

>>5927772
>>5927254
“Other factions are pushing in?”
“That would be V’s job to fill you in. I have more important things to deal with than giving you a pamphlet.”
“Hey, information is always good and maybe one of them could fix the soul issue. We are in the best mage academy of Ashyn, surely one of the factions here must have a way to heal that damage.”
“Unless you can pry that spell out of a Prisma then it's a lost cause we should know.”
“Uhh one more thing before you go.”
“What now?” Asks Lora with a tinge of irritation filling her voice.
“How are you doing this morning?”
“That is it? Just fuck off and get to doing V’s job. Don’t make me regret giving V the favor or you fail to measure up to his usefulness as I gave you a lot of patience for being a new grunt.”
“I will do my best ma’am goodbye.” States Daniel as Lora begins to retreat back to her territory.

Losing the best source of information Daniel slinks away at the very least grateful that he didn’t join Prisma or had his soul sucked out. Turning to face down the hallways as he tries to plan for his next action seeing he still has six hours in the day left.

(Each day has 4 action points and each option takes 1 AP. So you guys have 3 AP left before the day ends)

>SOCIAL. Find V get what he knows.
>CLASS. Go to class, get a random spell while hiding from mages.
>CONTACT. Locked out for today.
>R&D. Find Muffin fuck around with magic tech armor.
>LEARNING. Go to the library and browse.
>Write-in

>>5928460
>Social

>>5929500

Deciding to see what Vee-Virgil's work is about, Daniel checks his phone for the time seeing 9:56 AM. Slinking outside and into a corner to wait out the mage changing classes as Daniel passes the time as he texts Virgil for a meet up under the bleachers as he gets back a thumbs up. Waiting for more mages move between classes as Daniel walks into the forest to avoid the walking out in the open as he makes his way slowly toward the bleachers.

Passing by trees, holes, and the occasional shrubs as Daniel makes his way under the bleachers while passing by some stoners passing around a syringe filled with white liquid. Students tying up their arms to bulge their veins for easier aiming as the needle pierces their flesh making Daniel wince as the white liquid disappears. Ignoring the stoners Daneil spots Virgil texting on his phone as he looks up before grabbing Daniel’s arm and gives a pat on the back.

“Sup Dan. What is it that you need me for? Already have a plan for us or stay low?”
“Stay low. So I finished speaking to Lora so it turns out we got jumped by Prisma.”
“Hmm, yeah makes sense since the blood war is still going on with both of them.”
“Also Virgil got this wolf claw token as a minor favor from Lora for you and I gotta ask what do you do for Animus?”
“For the token, keep it since you probably can think of a better way to use it. For Animus you know how Ords are basically less than dirt for the mages?”
“No really? Must be the brain damage that erased that part.”
“Shut up. Anyway Ords have to be in one class to avoid dropping out and getting that sweet grant money so they are usually around when mages talk shop. Girls on Prisma classes, water boys on gym duty, unpaid interns in the nurse office, and rumor overhead in hallways.”
“And none of the mages notice or expect someone to listen in?”
“They do expect to be spied on but put all their efforts on anti-magic protections to avoid scrying and for Ords they either assume we are not a threat or they don’t think we would try anything.”
“Magic must be draining their brain cells if we aren’t even given a second glance.”
“Well to be fair it does help that Animus have a great sense of smell and marked territory so it helps us avoid notice.”

>Can they follow orders?
>What else can they do?
>Any problems that could flare up soon?
>Do we have any specialists like Muffin to help with research?
>Write-in

>Do we have any specialists like Muffin to help with research?

>>5932613
“So do we have any other specialists like Muffin to help out?”
“Man you have gone from Ords too long. We got no one, you, me, and Muffin are the only proactive people in the faction. I have to beat some heads in to get them to do something different.”
“There has to be some students that can help out or are good at something.”
“I got a few ideas for driven students or at least ones I see often at school. One would be the librarian assistant constantly having her nose in books all day, the stoner’s medic that stays on watch when they get hit by the seizures, and the baker’s assistant.”
“Two assistants and a medic? What they got PhDs or degrees from other places?”
“Nope, undergrads that just picked up a job here and there.”
“And the school let them?”
“I think the school ignored it and didn’t reprimand them since it is cheaper letting students do some of the work for them than hiring a mage to make food, organize books, or deal with overdoses.”
“Why them in particular?”
“If I have to guess they have some goal if they are risking staying at school so often or they have no other options and need to stay. ”
“Sounds like something some mage would take issue or complain about.”
“Out of sight out of mind since most mages only care about their status, reputation, and if they ace the next exam.”
“Oh right, what are their names and where could I find them?”
“Not sure what you might find but I will go in order. Library girl’s name is Alice and is in the cheap library with the basic cantrip level shit all day. Next we got the stoner’s medic named Rose that hangs under the bleachers in the morning to watch over the overdoses and get them back up. Lastly we got the baker named Betty and hangs in the cafeteria during lunches and after school to clean.”

>“Any threats popping up along our land?”
>“So beating heads or craving them in?”
>“Does Lora send any other requests?”
>“How did you pay for my medical bills?”
>Write-in

>>5933467
>“Any threats popping up along our land?”

>>5933840
“I’ll keep them in mind if I can find them later. So any new threats popping up on our land?”
“Well your royal highness we got the usual suspects and a few extra groups but they usually stay out of Animus and Prisma’s way. So they are not important right now.”
“Animus is docile with my constant reports so we only have to deal with paying tolls and the occasional chokeslam. For Prisma they are pulling back their hunting teams after the failed ambush so we don’t have to worry about them for a week. But the High Ring appears to be probing everyone's territory for some reason.”
“Tch, I guess Hellscream is trying to go back into our old routines.”
“What in the fuck did you do to get her to hate you specifically? Did you insult her ancestor's bloodline or something?”
“I assume she wants to break my spine since I refused to give up on my education even after all the burnt books, heel grinding, and stolen lunches.”
“But why did she save your life and let you stay at her mansion? Did she buy you?”
“What? No! I just live under her roof rent free until I can pay her back for the generosity. I don’t really know why she is pouring this much effort into helping me.”
“Maybe she is trying to fatten you up and eat your soul?”
“Maybe, we do know undercooked meat is better than your burnt ass.”
“Hey I at least got lean meat compared to your skin and bones.”
“I am getting hungry from all this food talk.”
“Stuffing you full for the feast.”
“I don’t think demons eat souls?”
“That you know of.”

>“Do you know any cantrips or fighting techniques?”
>“How are you and Muffin doing now that I roped you both into standing up?”
>“So do you need help beating the Ords into compliance?”
>“I’ll head to the cafeteria now. Get lunch and find his Baker character.” (Leave)
>Write-in

>>5934410
>“Do you know any cantrips or fighting techniques?”

>“So do you need help beating the Ords into compliance?”
>“I’ll head to the cafeteria now. Get lunch and find his Baker character.” (Leave)

These are the three options I'm most interested it in order. How to fight, and get our people in line. Apart from that leave.

Like the premise of the quest. Ascend and win or die free.

Is the MC so dense he doesn't realize she has a romantic interest in him. It's just her definition is him being a dog.

>>5935215
It is more as Hellscream being a heavy tsundere with only the emotional abuse shown to the MC for years. So to William all he sees and experiences is someone that wants him to bow down to her. With the mansion and payments to keep him leashed to her. It being a crush is too alien to enter his mind as if she liked him, she would you know be a normal person as ask him out on a date. She even flat out said he is her pet to be owned not friend, guest, or student.

>>5935215
“So do you need help beating the Ords into compliance?”
“Yes, I am sure your noodle arms can help bust some heads to get them in line.”
“I can help in some way…”
“You are a nerd, you probably have never been in a fight before.”
“Okay yeah I don’t know how to fight. Do you have any cantrip ideas or techniques to help?”
“I can’t teach you techniques in a day but I got something better. So normally Ords don’t have that much magic but what magic we do have is enough for a cantrip or two.” Says Virgil as his fingers spark in an orange glow as he winces as he pulls a string out of his ear.
“Damn Virgil, do you need some Q-tips for that?” Asks William as a chuckle leaves Virgil’s mouth.
“Nah, I am fine. So this here is a cantrip called Encode Thoughts. It copies a memory or message into a strand of magic and if you cast another Encode while holding a strand you instantly learn its contents. Very useful for me to collect information for a bigger picture and not have to rely on paper messages that would leave out like half of the details.”
“Any thoughts, even spells?”
“I imagine spells would be harder as you need a fundamental understanding and actually know the spell you're trying to copy over. But for cantrips? You could instantly learn it as long as both parties have Encode Thoughts. For techniques you won’t become a kung fu master with one thought. I tried and you basically need multiple memories overlapping to build the fundamentals, examples, practice, and repetition so at least around four cantrips to get a novice understanding.”
“So four memories can skip weeks worth of studying to gain a technique.”
“Four memories, one day, and a host but yeah pretty much. But don’t cram in a lot of memories at once or your brain will get seizures from trying to combine your memories and the foreign ones or get an out of body experience thinking you are someone else so avoid that.”
Cont.

File: abstract-genetic-mutation(...).jpg (72 KB, 1060x606)

72 KB JPG

>>5935453

“What technique do you have and what if I Encode two different ones on different days?”
“I have Battle Master Maneuvers technique that I found in the library which helps out with positioning against multiple Ords. Hmm, I think you get both? I don’t know as I spend all my magic keeping up with reports to Lora.”
“So I could theoretically learn or teach all the cantrips all the Ords know if we both learn Encode Thoughts?”
“I guess so? But you should avoid taking every spell you know or memories get fuzzy trying to keep your train of thought focused.”
“Is this how mages study? Just cast two spells and be done with exams?” Asks William with a tinge of hate lacing his words.
“Probably, it would explain why all the mage students never flipping out during exam weeks.”
“All that work was bypassed.”
“Mages just get all the luck, so back to the spell I kinda don’t remember how to write the spell down as I cast it on reflex. So you should head to the library to grab a copy. The better the understanding the easier time the spell will have on copying harder and more detailed memories.”
“I can do it at the end of the day. Kinda need to grab lunch first and see what the baker is doing.”
“Sure boss, see you tomorrow so we can start the Encoding trade.”
“Later Virgil see you tomorrow.” Waves off William as he begins heading his way to lunch as he prepares to brave the mage minefield.

Roll 2d100 taking highest for mage encounter

>>5935455
Don't exactly remember how to roll but let's see if I'm remembering their right.

Also how often is this updated? Once a day or based on participation?

Rolled 62, 30 = 92 (2d100)

>>5935455
Ok did it wrong last time.

>>5936970
Once a day or after a single vote. Whichever comes first.

>>5936971
Walking at a brisk pace as William moves across the campus as he takes his time moving between corners, trees, and the occasional empty classroom as he pushes toward the cafeteria. Setting up in a treeline close to the cafeteria as he checks the time on his phone to see it 12:14 PM, putting his phone away as he nestles into a crater and pulls over branches for added cover. Flickering the gloves on as he tosses a ball of flame between his hands feeling the slight warmth buzzing and fizzling against his disruption field before buzzing and sliding the flame to the ground. Pulling another ball of fire and pressing against the glove to feel a harsher buzz and a quiet pop as the disruption field of his glove shuts down. Passing the time with small experiments with his glove to figure out it doesn’t have the power to delete magic but can parry or slide spells off his hand. Checking the time again to see its 1:53 PM before deciding enough time passed to head for food.

Another loud thunder clap pops further away from William’s location as he ducks out of reflex as he peeks through the bushes. Seeing two Prismas running from the cafeteria as a rune knight with a tattered and stained uniform charges after them yelling curses at them. All the while Prismas fires off two Grease spells into the ground behind them as the rune knight slips on the spell only to catch himself on one knee by slamming his sword on the ground and kicking off from the base. Sliding off the grease faster only to immediately dodge a blob of acid peppering his area as he continues his charge out of sight.

With the show finished William clears off the dirt and plants as he double checks for no onlookers as he rushes for the cafeteria. Pushing the door open seeing an empty cafeteria as a few Ords grab their food and rush out of the area before another mage or worse comes in. Scanning the room to find the usual cooks quickly stocking high quality food for mages and mystery meat, undercooked pizza, and milk cartons for the normal students. With Williams eyes falling on a very out of place blond cook with a smile on her face as she prepares expertly made small cakes for mages. Moving quickly to avoid another mage coming in, William approaches Betty as he tries to think of a plan to start his recruitment pitch. A few seconds pass as he realizes he doesn’t have any way to start this without looking bad or convincing and instead deciding to brute force it.

Cont.

File: betty.jpg (332 KB, 850x1258)

332 KB JPG

>>5937244
“Ms. Betty, can I have a word with you?” Asks William as Betty slightly jumps at hearing her name before turning around with a smile.
“Hello, valued student. What kind of lunch would you like? Any preferences or do you have a usua-wait you're not a mage.” Says Betty as she lets out a breath.
“I am not bu-”
“You should go before the next mage batch comes in to start another fight. At least no one was hurt this time.”
“I have some questions to ask you.”
“That is not important as I have to get these cakes down before the next shift.”
“Tch, by Order of Virgil I require you to speak to me privately.”
“Why would he need me to speak with you? Wait, why does the leader know my name?”
“I can explain that or we can both stay here and get in each other’s way until the next mage comes. So what do you say?”
“Fine, Jessie cover me. I am on break. You follow me to the freezer.” States Betty as she points at another coworker as she deflates on the counter as both students hide in the back.
“So a student and a cook? Bit of an overachiever?”
“I am not doing any of the exams or homework if that is what you are implying.”
“But why cook in the middle of a cafeteria?”
“The leftovers are great and the company is nice. So why did Virgil require me to speak with you? Last I heard I didn’t break any of the taboos.” States Betty as she crosses her arms.
“Well we are just doing a check in with those who are driven.”
“I have been a cook for months. Why are you checking in now?”
“Tell me Betty do you wish you could do more?”
“What do you mean?” Asks Betty keeping her tone neutral as she inspects William.

>“How do you like the current situation?”
>“No really, why stay here cooking when you could die?”
>“How are you a great baker with those cakes back there?”
>“What happened with the Prismas and Rune Knight?”
>“Cake or pie?”
>Write-in

>>5937254
>“How do you like the current situation?”

>>5937862
“How do you like the current situation?”
“A bit of a vague question don’t you think? I need more information than that.”
“Sorry, I am still getting used to getting back into the Ords. What do you think about always being in danger from the mages?”
“I hate it but that is the usual answer for anyone under their foot but not much we can do than put up with it and hope to be alive tomorrow.”
“And not crippled, lobotomized, or worse.”
“I mean mages are always a problem but at least I have less of a chance of getting my face melted off by a satisfied mage.” Betty says with a pause to her words.
“Less of a chance but not zero.”
“That is true but hopefully a mage likes my cooking enough to try to keep me in one piece but not enough to kidnap me.”
“Then why stay if you think that?”
“I like cooking and baking as I get my practice in for my back up plan.”
“And if it fails?”
“Hopefully a mage knight conscripts me as a chef as those are much easier to deal with.”
“How so?”
“When you spend enough time listening to everything you can pick up some things here and there. Mage/rune knights are all arrogant and look down on everyone and if you know some basic information you can work around everyone’s egos.”
“Seems a bit dangerous to get involved with them if they ever discover your listening in on them.”
“This is the cafeteria. I have to watch and listen to any bit of body language and rumors I can. I can kiss the mage knights asses enough they will move on, Prisma is much more terrifying so I have to constantly deflect their recruitment with clothing talk, Animus I just stay silent and hand them their orders.”
“Ah you like to watch people like a stalker.”
“No, they come to my work so it is not stalking. It is being nosy if anything.”
“So basically you know how to handle mages egos?”
“And lie to avoid having to admit to Prisma I don’t hate men since you know I actually have a father and parents I can care about. Oh right and blame rune knights for taking the last parfait when the Coven came down for some sweets. Made the cafeteria a mess but I avoided getting kidnap for experiments as compensation.”
“Did they take the last one?”
“No, we ran out and I didn’t want to lose another kitchen hand. I swear the reason this school doesn’t descend into a eight way student free for all is everyone wants to graduate or keep their scholarships.”

Pick one and roll a 1d100

>“How are your parents?” (DC 20)
>“Is it worth constantly being afraid to not see your parents when you leave?”(DC 40)
>“Can you teach your social skills to me?”(DC 50)
>“Would you like to join a new resistance?”(DC 120)
>Write-in

>>5938521
>“Can you teach your social skills to me?”(DC 50)

I want to recruit her but as is I don't think we have the skill to do so. I also don't think a social talk is appropriate her since we forced this meeting. So it comes down to either asking for help and hopefully get closer over time to lower her dc or asking her now and hoping for luck.

>>5938521
Oh it's d100 so recruiting her is impossible anyway.

>“Can you teach your social skills to me?”(DC 50)

>>5938521

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>5938521

>>5938856
I should have said this sooner but Ordz students especially driven types can be recruited. It was how Virgil joined you with a specific speech tailored to his situation and Muffin jumped in willingly. You just either need to entice them to join you, offer something, or know them enough to guess what they might want. After all, joining a resistance needs a reason that would overcome their doubt. Also, if some random guy walks up to you and asks if you want to help start some shit it would be a hard sell.

>>5938862
>>5938856

“Can you teach me your stalking ways?” Asks William trying to add a bit of humor to his request only for Betty to shut it down.
“It is not stalking, I just like to watch people.”
“Still stalking but in one place.”
“Says the guy who followed me to the back of the kitchen.”
“Says the stalker that ordered me to the back of the kitchen.”
“Just for that I refuse to share it now.”
“Okay fine I am sorry for my slanderous remarks.”
“Well at least you're not violent or prideful like the normal mages.”
“I have pride but I can see when I overstepped a bit.”
“Then thank you for the apology. And for the social training I don’t want to risk that information escaping from loose lips. If the mages hear rumors of how a baker is playing them then I doubt I will see the next morning. And I quite like being alive and helping ma and pa.”
“I understand and that is a fair concern.”
“So now what else have you got?”
“Already trying to get rid of me?”
“I don’t know how much time we have before the next mages come in so I think I have enough deserts made to answer two more questions before I have to go.”

Pick one roll 1d100 or pick two and roll 2d100

>“Do you need any help with maintenance or chores for the kitchen?”(DC 30)
>“There are no rumors already or do you word things to avoid attention?”(DC 50)
>“Do you need some kind of help with handling mages random ticks?”(DC ??)
>“Just to be safe then I will head out to avoid taking up more of your time.” (End encounter +30 to future social rolls to Betty.)
>Write-in

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>5939066
>“Do you need any help with maintenance or chores for the kitchen?”(DC 30)

>“Just to be safe then I will head out to avoid taking up more of your time.” (End encounter +30 to future social rolls to Betty.)

Hoping we can learn through watching if we help her or build social to recruit her in the future. Otherwise he might as well leave.

Rolled 51, 43, 85 = 179 (3d100)

>>5939282
Betty's ???

>>5939785
What's the question?

>>5939282
“Do you need any help with kitchen chores before I head out?”

Betty adjusts her posture as she stares into William’s eyes as she taps her chin in thought letting the awkward silence stretch out for a bit as William squirms under her gaze. Trying to think what he said wrong to end the conversation before Betty pipes back up.

“Hmm, this is a weird interrogation you're doing trying to pry information out of me.”
“I mean it is not an interrogation. I don't have a bad cop here to help me.”
“Pssh, you're not a cop, you're more like the coffee runner.”
“Hey, any job is good enough to avoid starving.”
“I can see since you're flailing about trying to get things from me while having no idea on how to negotiate.”
“To be fair I did ask for pointers first before you shut me down.”
“True but fuck man I almost had to wack you thinking you were going to silence me for being too proactive. Now I know you're just trying to survive too.”
“You got that all from two questions?”
“You lied about Virgil’s order as your eyes refused to make eye contact, I got your desperation from the first and the body language of your fidgeting hands. The second was a social blunder for calling me a stalker when I first denied it.”
“I mean…”
“No. And third told me the raw inexperience you have in negotiating and tried to offer a bridge.”
“I feel like I am being scolded for a test I didn’t know I was taking.”
“Pretty much. So first of all these questions are all over the place so you need to be focused. You should tailor your questions on what you know of the person or lean into their expertise to get the basics of one's interests.”
“So become a kitchen hand and watch people.”
“That or get throttled by the next failed interrogation by a mage. Like if I was a mage they would get annoyed by the random questions. For your first try the start and middle was awful but in the end you did better.”
“Well I did get promoted last night so the best way to learn is on the job.”
“I can imagine intern work grabs whoever they can to pad the staff roster. I would say, umm, man your offer came out of nowhere.”
“What, you don't usually get help?”
“The kitchen and restocking gets done easily. Can you cook?”
“No.”
“How fast can you clean dishes?”
“One every twenty seconds…”
“Can you decorate?”
“I can pour syrup.”
“...”

Cont.

>>5939833

“I can take out the trash?”
“Just giving you my skills would be dangerous for me and I don’t even get anything in return.”
“What do you want then?”
“I don’t know, I am doing well so far. Well I do want something but unless you're an arch wizard that will never happen. Why do you even want to learn from me anyway?”
“I would take any help to survive and resist. Also since I am basically the right hand of Virgil so if anything comes up you can give me a call.” Says William as he offers his phone with Betty hesitating for a moment before trading phone numbers.
“Fine, now shoo. I got deserts to prep for the next rush.”
“Okay don’t catch fish disease.”
“It is called salmonella and that is on Thursday.”

Exiting the cafeteria quickly as William puts more distance between the mages as he ponders his last action for the day. With relief washing over him at his first attempts at being social.

>Library. Learn Encode Thoughts and find Alice.
>Manor. Leave school early to eliminate the chance of encounters.
>Bleachers: Find this Rose Medic.
>Find Muffin and see what she cooked up.
>Write-in

>>5939799
That was Betty's insight check on William to see if he was full of shit or truthful to her.

>>5939835
>Find Muffin and see what she cooked up.

Rolled 7, 5 = 12 (2d10)

>>5939891
Muffin's R&D chest project
DC 5-10-15

>>5940858
>>5939891
William looks at his phone for the time again seeing it has reach 2:18 PM knowing classes were in session he pushes forward into the hallways. Taking a few seconds to hear any sounds at each corner making sure he didn’t get caught out by Prisma again as he doubts the porn excuse can be pulled twice. Moving past a few dusty bookcases as William enters the secret passage as he looks for Muffin. Entering the workshop to see Muffin gnawing on her pencil looking down at her schematics deep in thought.

“Hey Muffin, is anything cooking today?”
“Ah! Oh hey Will I got some things on the table. I am just unsure what to go with.”
“What upgrades for the gloves?”
“No, you grabbed the gloves last night to break them in. That reminds me I need to switch some fabric on them to avoid anyone noticing the metal.”
“Sure here you go.” States William as he pulls the mana gloves out of pocket.
“So what are you working on?”
“Well since you got the gloves I went back to the chest piece and tried to figure out how to best use it without the mages coming down on us if they peek at it.”
“Yeah as the chest piece is big and bulky?”
“Pretty much so far I got some ideas for it to be used and not to reveal our tech.”
“That would be great after what happened before.” Says William as he rubs the side of his skull.

Cont.

>>5940923

“So I have three options that might work. I can convert the central piece to either a more refine theme. I even got theme names! First is a Wraith rig designed for sneaking and dodging actions but it needs leg modules to get real benefits on it.”
“Like a ninja?”
“Uh, yeah! It won’t have power or defenses but would help escaping or hiding from mages. While it can’t turn you invisible yet it would help avoid students a little bit easier.”
“Muffling sound or something?”
“Silent servos and padded footsteps but need the chest piece for power and I can pull out the major wiring and add insulation to absorb a bad hit.”
“What about the second?”
“I got the skeleton rig which is just Bastius Test Type 1 but a better name which is just the same thing but I did manage to figure out a way to decentralize the mana node to hide the tech more easily under your clothing."
"So I can carry the chest piece without risking to get caught?"
"Yup but in exchange it loses some of its disruption field power, so you know don’t get shot or just get lucky and punch magic out of the air. But hey you will at least have a reason to learn for to fight with your hands. To hide this stuff, you just need to wear thick clothing and a jacket, so no one spots a weird corner poking out and place the mana node on your shoulders, armpits, forearms, and the sides of your waist and back.”
“Heatstroke would get me when summer comes by.”
“I will buy you a milkshake to keep you alive.”
“I am suddenly in full health now. What about the third?”
“I tried making Titan armor by adding more mana nodes to give you more power with the mana gloves. This focuses on theoretically more head-to-head "combat" with stronger spell outputs and better disruption fields, but I could not get the wiring connected without the capacitors running the risk of burning up. So that option was no good for now.”
“Combat as in fighting on par or surviving?”
“Surviving long enough for the field to disrupt spells easier if they hit your body and I can tack on more armor to the rig so you don’t get splattered by a body again. I can work on this tomorrow to see if I fix the thermal problems to get a blueprint out or I can focus on one project theme.”
“Are they mutually exclusive?”
“I can switch the rigs between phases by working on it for a week, but it would waste and split my R&D time. So, which one would you like me to focus on? Wraith would be the sneak dodge option, Skeleton might help out with casting, and Titan I focus more on warfare spells and hard defenses.”

>>5940928
>>5940928

Pick one Muffin's a research tree to begin progression.

>Wraith rig lvl 0: Requires limb module but focuses on stealth and dodge over power and defense. Easily hidden and repairs. Gains no shield points to block magic attacks.
>Skeleton rig lvl 0: Focuses on melee combat parries and cantrips. Provides +10 shield points to block magic attacks. Easily hidden and moderate cost to repair.
>Titan rig lvl blueprint: Requires another Muffin research action to blueprint.

>>5940934
>Wraith rig lvl 0: Requires limb module but focuses on stealth and dodge over power and defense. Easily hidden and repairs. Gains no shield points to block magic attacks.

Going the batman route, defeat through misdirection, trickery and stealth.

>>5941000

>Wraith suit research tree begins.

“I say focus on the wraith rig as I am more confident in hiding and running than tanking a fireball.”
“Sure, give me a day or a day and a half to get these legs working. I might not have enough capacitors or quality materials, but I should get something up the next time you come.”
“Materials low?”
“Hmm, I can grab scrap from junkyards and recycling centers once a week, but competition is fierce as other people want to see what info they can pull from computers or motherboards with chip engravings.”
“How do you get anything if there is competition?”
“I have to do it around 3am to grab enough copper to be worth a damn and usually on Thursday as weekends people can stay up longer, Monday and Tuesday get fresh trash.”
“Well thank you for your efforts, Muffin and wait you go alone?”
“No, even I am not that confident in my punching game, so I had to grab Virgil into it. It was the reason I could not hide the armor from him and he didn’t want someone else to get jumped.”
“Just Virgil can he take on multiple people?”
“Well, he is the leader and has to beat some head in if an Orz is a bit too stubborn but yeah he can take at least two, maybe four if he pushes hard and I throw crowbars.”
“Do you need help with the leg modules?”
“Nah, I just needed your opinion so I can start the foundation. Also, I don’t have the blueprints all worked out so I should be able to handle this myself so go and enjoy the rest of your day.”
“Okay if you say so I’ll drop by later or call me if you need something.”
“Sure. Oh, wait I’ll keep the gloves so I can start padding them with clothing to cover up people asking about the funny looking hands and chest.”
“Don’t stay out too late or the school will lock you in.”
“Ugh, that was awful. Sleeping on the hard floor or table threw out my back for days.”

William gives his goodbye as he looks at his watch seeing only 30 minutes passed allowing him one last action for the day.

Pick one.

>Class: Join class, learn shit, dodge mages.
>Contact: Meet with Lora or Holly.
>Learn: Go to library and learn Encode Thoughts and find Alice.
>Manor. Leave school early to eliminate the chance of encounters.
>Social: Bleachers: Find this Rose Medic.
>Write-in

>>5941000
Oh right Batman was a sneaking hero I had batman arkham knight on my mind where he tanks bullets and had tank battles.

>>5941429
>Learn: Go to library and learn Encode Thoughts and find Alice.

Need this to start the MA tree. Also let's us figure out Alice for later actions.

>>5941431
People have just forgotten Batman is a Ninja.

>>5941591
Yeah pretty much since detective and ninja stuff are mostly centered around comic books then games, movies, and live actions paints him more like an action hero. Like I can barely remember when batman did normal shit and not going around throwing hands with gods, aliens, and monsters.

File: Alice librarian.jpg (88 KB, 438x813)

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>>5941589
Deciding since he was here already William might as well get the spell and social out of the way now rather than later. Betty’s words popping up in his head about focusing his questions as he hums to himself knowing what to say this time to avoid another mistake. Walking toward the front desk seeing an empty seat as he looks around trying to spot the library hermit only to spot a simple bell on the desk. Deciding it would be faster to ring up the bell and hope Alive pops up to help a student. Flicking the bell as a quiet thud answers back, furrowing his brow as William taps the bell this time only to still hear a thud. Grabbing the bell with one hand to check that it is broken and unable to make any noise before bringing his other hand on the desk and knocks on the wood. Seeing no library hermit William knocks again but slams his fist in case he was not heard. Waiting for a moment longer as he searches around the library again hearing nothing before deciding to break the one library rule that everyone has to follow. Taking a breath as William clears his throat to break the sacred rule.

“Hello!”
“I am coming, I am coming! Keep it down!” Says a voice on the second floor of the library.
“Hey I tried ringing the bell, the wood, and only used my voice at the last second!”
“Yeah, yeah I had to test you if you were Ords or a mage.”
“Ignoring students is your litmus test?”
“Shut up! Usually mages would enhance their voice or thunderclap something if they are impatient so I would hide from that.” Says the voices as her steps echo down the stairs.
“Wouldn’t that just piss them off harder?”
“Yes and it would give me more time to decide how to hide.”
“But your books could be ruined.”
“This school is not worth my life and the teachers can deal with it.” Says the voice with a tinge of venom lacing her voice as a pair of footsteps come down behind him as Alice enters his view.
“So hello again.” States William as his eyes stare at the weird circle thing on her head with a scowl on her face.

>>5941794
“Eyes down here pale head.”
“Uhm, okay.”
“What do you want? If it's the password again it is still the same one from last semester AstraUniMagos7 the a, u, and m are capitalized.”
“No, I don't need the password. I was hoping I could be directed to a book.”
“Last year comics were in the fiction section on the left side once you enter the library on the shelves B2 to B7.”
“Not comics, I need help learning a spell.” Says William as he sees Alice’s eyes light up before she coughs into her fist.
“Fine, what spell are you looking for?”
“Encode Thoughts.”
“A cantrip, not fire ball or disintegration or healing word?”
“I am good. I just need encode so where can I find it?”
“Follow me I can lead you to the book since you would just get lost looking for the barcode.”
“Thank you miss?”
“Alice just Alice.”
“Well I am William, nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, yeah not like we will remember each other’s names.” Says Alice as she leads William by several bookshelves as she looks at the labels and sticks her hand in a shelf as she pulls out a book before handing it over to William.
“I have to ask why the interest in cantrips of all things? Usually, Ordz don’t care about cantrips and tried for the more useful spells hoping they got the magic to reach it.”

Pick one and roll a d100
>“I have to fight back in some way.” (DC ??)
>“You know got nothing better to do than learning the basics while hiding from everyone else.” (DC ??)
>“It is safer that you don’t know why.” (DC ??)
>“I still want to learn since this is still the best mage school of Ashlyn.” (DC ??)
>“Well to have an excuse to talk to a cute girl.”(DC ??)
>Write in

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>5941798
>“Well to have an excuse to talk to a cute girl.”(DC ??)

I don't trust her enough to hunt at the truth in any way or suggest we're trying to learn. She gotta wait for the second date for those questions.

So try to kick her off balance while masking things. if we get an excuse to hang out it's a bargain.

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>5941993
Alice spagetti composure roll -39 to roll.

>>5942233
>2
Hahaha. Well she isn't a social person so that tracks.

>>5941993
>>5942233
“Well mostly to have an excuse to talk to a cute girl.”

As soon as William’s words left his mouth a look of confusion washes over Alice’s face as she looks at William before turning to look behind herself only to see nothing but books. Her head turns side to side looking for someone only to realize there is no one else in the library before her eyes go back to WIlliam. A light blush colors her cheeks as she tries to stutter out a response over the sudden words directed to her.

“T-tah, ach, buh?”
“Uh, can you repeat the question?”
“Ghu, tah.” Says Alice as her hand gestures in the air before pointing to the book.
“I do not know sign language. Do you need paper to write instead?”
“Hmm!” States Alice as she shakes her head furiously.
“Sure here you go.” William says as he hands over the book as Alice snatches the book as she hides behind the counter before passing the book back over the desk with a note written in.
*I thank you for your confession and I am flattered, but I have to prioritize the well-being of the library first.*
“Rejected by a piece of paper, I can’t tell if this is better or worse than being rejected over a phone text.”
Alice’s hand reaches from behind the desk as she feels around for the book before pulling it back to her as another note is scribbled in.
*A paper message is at least handwritten so more care was given than just a text.*
“But the cute girl is not handing it to me and is hiding behind a desk.” Adds William as he pushes the book forward for easy reach.
*Shut up. I am merely busy with multitasking the barcodes and returns behind the desk*
“Do you need help back there?”
*Nonono. I am fine by myself as I kept the library in good condition all by myself for two years.*
“How do you not have allergies from all the dust?”
*Prestidigitation the places I often use. Not like anyone else uses the library as mages have their own high-quality library and Ordz only comes for the free internet.*
"You have not seen me or Muffin coming in every once in a while?"
*Who? I am usually in the back and only see the computers usually used when I make my rounds.*

>"Are you sure you don't need a hand?"
>"Do you need me to head out before you turn into a tomato?"
>"Well miss librarian I still need to talk to you about this spell."
>Write-in

>>5942267
>"Do you need me to head out before you turn into a tomato?"
>"Well miss librarian I still need to talk to you about this spell."

Is there a way to phrase it so she doesn't question if the spell was the main reason and the compliment was a distraction.

We are truly Bruce Wayne, playboy as a distraction.

>>5942461
Not really, since you went with the talk with the cute girl reasoning she would assume the spell was the excuse. Asking about the spell now after complimenting her would imply the spell was actually important. You can settle on picking one option, make a custom write in, or roll for a DC 80 as your splitting focus.

>>5942471
I know i won't win the gamble if I try a dc80.

If I cut my loses, can we ask the someone else or search for it without her help? Maybe learn how the library is organized.

>"Do you need me to head out before you turn into a tomato?"

Hmm maybe act like learning how the library is organized from her with the excuse of trying to take interest in things she does?

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5942807
Does Alice compose herself back?

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>>5942813
“So do you need me to head out before you turn into a tomato.”
“I am not turning into a tomato!” Yells out Alice as she pops back up from behind the desk before wincing and sliding back behind as she grabs the book.
“Is that a yes or no?” Asks William as the book is passed back to him as its back cover is slowly being filled up with scribbles.
*You can stay. It is nice to have some company other than the pervs on the computers.*
“The ords or are you hanging in chat rooms?”
*Both.*
“What?”
*I don’t get out much because of reasons.*
“So you spend most of your time organizing the library and books?”
*Pretty much just making sure the books don’t get moldy and university property does not go missing.*
“How does the job work like you got a map for where the books go to?”
*Usually I, actually yeah I just made a map myself after the last librarian got ran off because of an impatient mage. It was the entire reason I avoided sitting in the front desk, I hope she is okay.*
“I have to ask how does anyone find books in this library without getting lost?”
*It took me a few weeks but I was able to section off the library into History, hand manuals, non-fiction, magic, and a section for others that don’t fit in any of the previous categories.*
“Is it not based on alphabetical order or barcodes?”
*Nooo. It was frustrating trying to categorize things. I assumed the headmasters just bought what discount books they could find just to meet the government quota to count as a library.*
“Is it mostly filled out or do you need a hand?”
*Filled out so if you need a book to pass the time I can point you to it. It is a bit confusing to read my map as I made it up as I moved around finding what shelf has what books.*
“Oh right, should we move away before we get jumped by a mage?”
“Yes!” Yells out Alice as she hops over the desk with surprising ease as a hand grips William’s collar and pulls him with surprising force towards the stairs.
“Okay then why are you so strong?”
“Books!”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“That is not important right now.” States Alice as she drags William toward several bookcases on the second floor as both walk into several pillows and blankets thrown around with bits of half eaten chicken on a school tray.
“Ah, yuo- having lunch?” Asks William as his eyes trail over an open book near the food with a page open to a spell o-.
“Yes! You didn’t see anything?” Yells out Alice as she dives onto the book while hiding it near her chest with a nervous smile on her face.
“All I saw was paper and chicken.”
“Good, good. Soo, uhh ignore the stuffs I was not expecting visitors today.”
“I understand, I doubt I would ever have any visitors to mine…” Says William as his voice trails off remembering the leash he has and the scholarship he was robbed.
“Soooo what is going on in school? I kinda don’t know much going on in the hallways.”

Cont.

>>5942899
>“Same as usual, Animus leashing Ords, Prismas sending kill teams.”
>“Okay it is bothering me, what is with your head thing?”
>“How come? Don’t you leave to go home at the very least?”
>“I don’t know since I usually try to keep my head down.”
>“Primas tried recruiting me and a friend, Animus leader got a hit, I am Virgil’s right hand, and a mage knight is hunting Prisma.”
>Write-in

>>5942901
>“How come? Don’t you leave to go home at the very least?”

Might as well learn more about her while we're here.

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>>5942906
“How come? Don’t you leave to go home at the very least?”
“I can’t…” Says Alice as she rests her hands and chin on the thin side of her book.
“Did your parents kick you out?”
“Nonono. They are keeping my room tidy and clean when I finally come back to them. Even if it takes years they will wait for me.”
“Is it rent or food costs?”
“Actually none, all my tuition for books is helping pay a part of the mortgage as I am still getting that government money. I know they are safe right now and I could try to reach them but I can’t put them at risk.” States Alice with a wince as she looks down.
“Fo-wait are you being hunted by mages?”
“I would not say actively hunted but I would get kidnapped and experimented on because of this stupid halo.”
“Ahhh, tch.” William tries to mime to avoid having to ask about the halo thing not knowing how to proceed.
“I wasn’t born with this halo, it was from an experiment of some kind.”
“By Prisma?”
“By the Coven. To me at least they are much worse than Prisma as the Coven want to push the limits of knowledge and research, no matter the cost.”
“So science interns?”
“Backyard science teams funded with magic teaching and whatever allowance they get but yes.”
“How are they worse compared to soul tearing?” Asks William with a bit of skepticism in his voice.
“Prisma would just kill men and maybe press gang women and be done with it. The Coven would use you for experiments, tear off your skin for a deeper look, heal you to keep you alive longer, and leave the subjects behind or at least what is left of them.”
“Just randomly?”
“No and that is the worst part. They would have a thesis of the week and look for candidates that might help their little experiments. They prefer living people and if they live they get data, if they die they can just redo the experiments to avoid “cross contamination of results” or some other excuse.”
“How have they not terrorized the rest of the school?”
“Usually either they hit a research roadblock or they got scolded for leaving the latest mess behind. From what the old librarian said the Coven take breaks after getting caught to avoid getting marks on their academic reports. So they are getting better at hiding experiments and they should be picking things back up by the end of the week.”
“How does anyone avoid them?”
“Run and hope they lose interest or hope you get lucky and live.”
“How did you live?”
“I think it was a mental experiment or something as I still had all my limbs and most of my blood. Just felt like I was being stretched and almost ripped apart but I somehow woke up in the dumpster.”
“Woke up in the middle of a trash compactor?”
“Flame enchanted dumpster before after school classes finished and activating the enchantment.”

>>5943448
“That is horrible.”
“Eh, I got over almost dying but the worst thing that happened was this thing popping above my head. First I thought I was hallucinating but remembered I was an experiment. So I could not go home and risk my family protecting me if Coven decides to finish the job.”
“Wait so you lived at the library all this time?” Asks William piecing together the food and preparations Alice made.
“It is not too bad and was fairly easy. I could intimidate Ords to not mess with my computers or snitch about my halo in the early days. Only popping up if some Ords trying to steal the computers for their copper before I had to glare at them from a distance. Plus who would want to mess with a mage?” Says Alice as she sucks in a breath as her hands ball up.
“Yeah the halo was intimidating and I didn't want to say anything about it.” Lies William trying to cover up being more confused than intimidated when he first saw the halo thing.
“Right? Though why a circle of all things as it looks nothing like a ritual circle, glyphs, runes, or rare symbols. It is just a clock thing instead of something more unique like uhh something other than a clock.” Adds Alice in a more relaxed tone.
“Maybe Coven spent all their budget on magic scrolls and had nothing left for aesthetics?”
“Probably had to spend it all for janitors instead.”

>“Do you remember anything about the experiments?” (DC 80)
>“Are you now part gremlin staying online all day?”(DC 30)
>“What is your favorite book here?”(DC 20)
>“So have you made a book fort yet?” (DC 0)
>Write-in

>>5943451
>“Are you now part gremlin staying online all day?”(DC 30)
>“What is your favorite book here?”(DC 20)
>“So have you made a book fort yet?” (DC 0)

Don't really see these as mutually exclusive. Feel like they fit a teasing tone we're going for, which leads to getting to know her more.

Seems we have someone to steal research data that may help us from. Just got to figure out where and how.

Rolled 42, 95 = 137 (2d100)

>>5943519
I mostly figured I should add in votes between updates or otherwise I might fall on rails or take too long to move scenes.

Also William rolls for first, second, and auto pass third.

Forgot to roll entirely and I had the dcs staring me in the face.

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>>5943519
“I have to ask something very important now.”
“No, I am not letting you touch my halo. It feels weird.”
“Not that, so where is the book fort?”
“I don’t have one! I am not that childish.”
“Every person from the smallest child to a grown adult had intrusive thoughts on making a snow fort, a pillow fort, and even a book fort. So where is it?”
“Aaaaaaa.”
“Where every person can be free to rule their land behind the walls of their great kingdom as it stands as a bulwark against the evils beyond.”
“Did you read this from the back of a cereal box?”
“So we can see the dawn of tomorrow and seize the day. Now tell me your secrets.”
“Back of the library in the archive files but away from the fire exit as I don’t want to risk a surprise fire department inspection.” Groans out Alice as she crumbles under the weight of embarrassment and William’s conviction.
“Walls made of the sturdiest of cardboard and blankets imported with only the finests of plastic sheets.”
“Shut up you ass.” Says Alice as she grabs a random book and tosses it at William as it smacks into his chest with a thud.
“I have been wounded so- wait then what are we sitting on then?”
“This is my reading and watch corner to keep an eye on the computers and desk.”
“I can imagine the computers are the only way you can keep the money transfers going to your parents.”
“It is annoying being stuck in here but it could have been worse.”
“I cannot imagine that being a gremlin online is not an already worst fate. Online 24/7 all day and you don’t even have access to a shower.”
“I make things work with a sink and Prestidigitation. I try to steal a bit of soap every night for washing but I save that for the end of the month or if dinner is a bit more messy than expected.”
“So a gremlin only 23/7 of the day.”
“I only spend half my time there to have a break from all the dust and books everywhere.”
“Yeah, like fanfiction or porn.”
“I don’t read any of that.”
“You're right, you watch it.”
“Bringing you up here was a mistake.”
“Well it's too late to get rid of me. I am like mold, I will grow on your papers.”
“The first person I talk with turns out to be delusional.”
“Hey I start off normal to suck you in and trap you in my book fort.”
“Do you have a response for everything I say?”
“No, I am running out of material and need time to think of more. So what is your favorite book here?”
“That is hard as I had a lot of books that brought me joy or awe for a lot of sleepless nights but if I had to pick one it would be the Adventures of the Roadwarden.”

>>5943659
“Like a beat cop bringing the law to the roads?”
“Something like that so it is about the main character named Adrien Fallhorn where he sets out as an adventurer of old to do quests, fight bandits, kill monsters, and maybe rescue a princess. Mostly inspired by his grandpa’s stories of how it was to be an adventurer before the nation’s founding.”
“Is this a knight story?”
“No… It is not. Adrien starts off with simple fetch quests but the worldbuilding showed hints of devastation and scorched lands as he tries his best to meet the goal of being an adventurer. But every journey shows more of the world broken and suffering with him trying to ease and help others. Some being successful, others failing but all giving people a little bit of hope in their lives to keep on living. All the while a looming merchant guild is hunting him across the plains for being too inspirational and making rumors of resistance flare up at every village Adrien leaves behind.”
“Sounds like a reverse outlaw story?”
“Huh, I wow that fits. Anyway Adrien at every turn faces bounty hunters, mercenaries, military, organized bandits, and even betrayals from people he helped to acquire his bounty dead or alive. At every step of his journey being a constant danger as he barely survives ambushes, rundown, and hunted while sleeping.”
“At that point why even help instead of just hiding away and letting the search parties go cold?”
“That is what a few characters he meets even says to hide and offers to house him while the search parties pass by but Adrien refuses as it gives over the danger to others. In his words “One must live life in a genuine way, passionately, in spite of what other people think.” even if he might die in his sleep, even if he is hunted across the lands, even if he has no one by his side, even if he is smeared as a lunatic by the government and guilds.”
“So he still chooses to fight a war all alone as it is the path he chooses?”
“Yes, the book is one of my favorites as it keeps me going even if I am stuck in the library until I can get rid of this halo. And it helps remind me it is not as bad as things could be.”
“How did it end?”
“After failing to assassinate the merchant treasurer, Adrien died in a cave-in by collapsing a canyon’s walls to take four entire squads of mercenaries after being rundown for a day and two nights.”
“So even heroes can’t escape to a happy ending.”
“They can’t but I like to think the people he helped still remember him so he still lives beyond that canyon. But that is just my headcanon as there is no sequel to this book as I tried to search for the author but found no other publishing books under the author’s pen name.”

>>5943661
William takes a moment to digest the words of Adrien, the death he faced, the difference between someone that had the power to stand up to someone who could not even own the room he lived in. How similar but different a fictional book and his life could be from someone looking beyond the horizon to someone struggling trying to find a scrap of magic. How Adrien died for an ideal while he died for nothing how insignificant he was to real mages.

>“Was it worth living only to die alone surrounded by corpses?”
>“So no matter who a person is, they can’t change the world?”
>“He might have made a difference to those people even if he will never see it.”
>“At least he never broke against the world and never bowed to it.”
>“Do you think Ords could ever amount to anything?”
>Write-in

>>5943662
>“At least he never broke against the world and never bowed to it.”
>“Do you think Ords could ever amount to anything?”

Stuck between these two. Never bow, never break! There are no gods, no kings! Only man!

>>5943817
“At least he never broke against the world and never bowed to it.”
“I guess it was one of the better ways to go out instead of being enslaved, experimented, or imprisoned. Bit of a downer ending but it made sense how one person could not do much against a world.”
“So all the book says is that all we can do is wait to be killed?” Asks William as Alice winced at the question
“What else can a person do against a mage society?” Says Alice with a bit more volume in her voice
“Plan even Adrien while rundown still came close to taking out the treasurer and took a small army to corner him.”
“The people he helped didn't offer weapons or manpower to help fight back, just shelter.” Hisses out Alice.
“They offered what they had and at the time as who was ever born as a fighter?” Says William as he stands up trying to get his point across.
“He refused to involve anyone else as they would be in just as much danger as him!” Yells out Alice as she stands up refusing to look up.
“And yet normal people, non mages, were willing to put their lives on the line to help him. No power, money, or skills, just a home and a prayer. With the hope what they were willing to do would matter to him!”
“They were being grateful and not thinking clearly when they offered to help him. They were blinded by a small kindness and risked everything for one moment!”
“Yet they choose to be like him, willing to help someone else rather than themselves. Or is the book's message that people should only look out for themselves?”
“There is no warden out here magically fixing things. No great hero comes to help everyone he sees.”
“You're right there is no hero like that.”
“Of course not, no one can stand up against real mages.”
“Do you think ords or anyone could ever amount to something in this society?”
“I would like to think it's possible but I doubt anyone can do more than making sure their family is safe if that is even possible.”
“So if Coven rolls into your neighborhood you're going to roll over and let them take you?”
“No… I will never become a victim again. I will make sure a few die with me.” Utters Alice with a burning Will in her eyes.

Pick and roll a d100

>Write-in recruitment pitch
>“What if you had someone else to help?”
>“With what power you are nothing to mages.”
>“All alone it is impossible to change anything.”
>“And what will you do to not turn into Adrien?”

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>5944278


Feel like this option is the answer for the fourth option. Stand together or fall alone.

Is it better to lead her to the answer we want or tell her outright?

>“And what will you do to not turn into Adrien?”

It's better if she comes to it herself on second thought.

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>5944340
Alice's counter argument.

>>5944340
>>5944373
“Then tell me wise one what will you do to not turn into Adrien?”
“I wil-I ca-I will stay in the library for decades if I have to or at least until the Coven graduates in one more year.”
“Tell me what guarantee do you have that Coven does not keep records or that they won’t get curious about rumors of some halo spotted in the library?”
“I made preparations to make sure that any Coven that comes into my library would be crippled.”
“Yes, a few plans to give them a papercut as you either run or hide from them.”
“I know these bookcases like the back of my hand. I can escape to my home.”
“What if that halo never disappears? It will be a target for any curious mage that wants to know what is wrong with that little ords.”
“I can get a hat! I can look for a more permanent enchantment to hide it!”
“Detect magic, flickering, anti-magic runes.”
“I will stay at home and never go out!”
“Leashed like a pet to never go outside in the daylight.”
“And that is not much different now?”
“You won’t have a future, always watching your back, always afraid, always a test subject hiding from everything. All alone when your parents can’t stay with you forever. Just like Adrien.”
“He…”
“He did his best, he made his enemies remember him but still died surrounded by blood and sand without anyone by his side. The only thing he had left was memories of better times.”
“And what is your solution? Just throw a punch and hope for the best. That sure looks like a winning solution.” Asks Alice as tears well up in her eyes.

Pick and roll a d100+30

>“I will plan, build, recruit, and learn to be on par with mages.”
>“I will hide in the shadows waiting for graduation to usher a new age to help invent self defense weapons against mages.”
>“I don’t want to repeat Adrien’s mistakes. I believe if he had just accepted someone’s help he could have made it.”
>“I don’t have a true solution. All I have are ideas, goals, and a dream to stand up.”
Write-in

>>5944408
>“I don’t want to repeat Adrien’s mistakes. I believe if he had just accepted someone’s help he could have made it.”

>>5944675
“I don’t want to repeat Adrien’s mistakes. I believe if he had just accepted someone’s help he could have made it.”
“What difference can one person make in a world that hates them?”
“I don’t know but in Adrien’s case he could have had one person to convince him out of the assassination, one person that could have remembered his struggle at the end, or one person that he could have leaned on to push on.”
“One person’s will isn’t enough to change fate.”
“One person’s will touched a lot of people’s lives in that book and probably in real life too.”
“Characters in books don’t count and you're assuming the book was popular enough to be more known.”
“Well you remember it and it kept you going all these years. Even touching one life makes his efforts worth remembering.”
“You have a lot of faith in the ability of one person.”
“Faith and spite to keep moving.”
“And what do you have to prove your words? Adrien needed a life on the road to make personal changes so tell me what do you have? What will you do?”

>“My first step is to learn Encode Thoughts and how to fight with my fists first.”
>“Ask a cute girl if she has any knowledge on how to gain magical potential.”
>“Build armor to take away a mage’s main advantage.”
>“Bring together others that think the same and want to see a new future.”
>“Hide, lie, sneak, and wait in the shadows to push the mages to tear each other apart.”
>Write-in

>>5945173
>“My first step is to learn Encode Thoughts and how to fight with my fists first.”
>“Bring together others that think the same and want to see a new future.”
Start small and take the first step. The next steps still have time for planning once the MC knows more about the situation and the tools/people well have access to.

I do want to pull a Batman tho but stealth strat seems to be the intrigue path. Turning all the groups against each other to buy time or have them self destruct.

Also still don't want to give her too much info on the armor yet. Only needs to know what's necessary to know until the MC knows her skills and her willingness to the cause.

>>5945175
“My first step is to learn Encode Thoughts and how to fight with my fists first. Better to know how to fight with what I have from a teacher than not having a goal ready.”
“You think mages would just let you walk to them?”
“Aside from rune knights, what mage expects an Ords to fight back. Just one lucky punch could make the difference in living for a few more seconds.”
“Mages are a lot hardier than one punch.”
“True but like a mage they don’t start off as perfect prodigies but as new students to magic.”
“Then after you know how to throw a punch?”
“Bring together others that think the same and want to see a new future.”
“Heh, friends that will stop you from making a stupid decision like assassinating a treasurer?”
“That or help hide the body if it was successful.”
“I mean there is a dumpster that self immolates every night.”
“You thought about it?”
“Of course, having someone else to help could lessen the chance of being caught. You really think you can find others to help?”
“I already found a few people helping me right now using their smarts and knowledge in their fields to push things a little bit further.”
“This is stupid and you're going to get everyone killed.”
“That is a risk but it is something they accepted to bear so we don’t end up fractured and alone. So what do you say?”
“Okay… I’ll join your little club but I can’t go out much until I find something to hide the halo. So the best I can do is look up and teach cantrips if you have the mana to sustain it. I just don’t want Coven find me.” Says Alice as she offers her phone numbers.
“Thank you for your trust and I hope to live up to it.”

Gained Alice as an ally.
“My first step is to learn Encode Thoughts and how to fight with my fists first. Better to know how to fight with what I have from a teacher than not having a goal ready.”
Boon progress Will to Stand Up. 2/??


Pick 1 choice from each set
>“I’ll head out now it is very late.”(roll 1d100 Mage encounter DC 70)
>Stay the night and sleep in the library(roll 1d100 dodge back cramps DC 20)

Pick 1 choice from each set
>“Can you share with me your wisdom?” (Subvote learn: History, martial techniche, or Coven lore.
>“Can you teach me some cantrips?”(roll 5d10 to Learn encode thoughts, and 2 extra cantrips.)

>>5945175
Depending on Muffins mechanic rolls, resources, Alice's learning, and Virgil's techniques you can turn into batman with the stealth, intrigue, and melee focus. The bottleneck would resources, time, and learning so using allies time wisely can help mitigate some of the bottlenecks.

>>5945216
>William
>Damien
Oh my fucking god I have been using the wrong name for half a month? Where did I even get William from, why William of all things, thank god I didn't add in last names of I would have fucked up that too. Aaaaaa. At least Hellscream is recognizable enough to not be forgotten too.

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5945222
Just caught up was literally just going to ask you about that.

>stay in library. Find anti magic field rune, counterspell, dispel magic, greater invisibility.

We should put these on our armor.

>See if we can find wonderous item crafting. Looking for cloak of resistance +1 to saves. And boots of elvenkind.

Are there elves and shit here too? Or just humans, demons, furries, fembots?

>Learn encode thoughts, mending, and prestigation.

Rolled 2, 1, 8, 5, 1 = 17 (5d10)

>>5945212

>>5945252
Okay uuuhhh. While you can find low tier spells and cantrips you won't find the actual good shit like invisibility and counterspells here. Okay I check my lore again and you can find counterspell but we are starting with the cantrips and tier one spells first then going up. It is justified as William needs to build the foundations of magic first before moving up. The really good shit will be in the arch mage library or going to actual classes and both risk mage run ins to get and learn.

Applying magic to armor, I wanted to save this later when you get the spells first but yes. While armor can't have all spells applied to it all at once it can have a few spells applied like anti-magic gauntlets or thunderwave boots or regenerating chest armor. It will just cost resources and time as Muffin tinkers with the spells. There is some other things that can be added and I don't want to spill it until you visit Muffin for more info.

For crafting you would need to break into school workshops and steal resources while dodging suspicion and traps. Also learn crafting to even begin to make items or find someone that can. Or steal it from a mage and deal with the heat of a dangerous mage or mage group hunting for you.

For races I can say elves do exist and that is as far as I planned. Maybe fox girls too as a special enemy transfer student arc but that is not important right now. No fembots as normal golems fit that role and I don't want to add more factions.

For cantrips can I go with my cantrip ideas for this first learning action? I kinda have two things to immediately improve the MC. I am not use to an extra vote and need to adjust some things in the back.

Also the basic idea for the quest will be kind of a slow burn as William builds tools, spells, friends, and plans so all out brawls will be a long way off for now.

>>5945212
>“Can you share with me your wisdom?” (Subvote learn: History, martial techniche, or Coven lore.
> History

Information is power, and vergil is already going to give us MA. Is her better or more varied?

>Stay the night and sleep in the library(roll 1d100 dodge back cramps DC 20)

This will likely piss off the mcs demon tsundere but she can wait, as long as we don't do it too often.

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>5945575
Hers will be more varied but basic levels while with encode thoughts and Virgil you will gain faster veterancy in his class as you can copy his knowledge instead of studying books.

Rolling Hellscream future response.

>>5945252
>>5945575
I can do both. Since Alice will know what spells can be found and I can add my lore dump for Astra. Time to make up more LORE.

>>5945252
>>5945575
“Can I stay the night? It has gotten pretty late.”
“Sure I have some spare blankets and a few pillows.”
“So time to learn. What wisdom can you share from the books? Like anti-magic runes or invisibility?”
“Things that would be helpful and in the library would be counter spell and dispel magic. Greater invisibility is locked to the magos library where all the high tier magic and mages stay. But you need more than cantrip levels of mana or have a mana stone from the factions to break your limits and use those spells”
“Yeah, I might start off at cantrips and figure it out later.” Says William wondering how much power the suit can convert to magic.
“For cantrips I got the whole list to choose from and anti-magic runes would be a Blessed Blade secret as they refuse to let any of their runes be written down.”
“Well, encode is my first thought then figure it out from there. Also maybe something like control fire as a practice run.
“I say you should get thaumaturgy as throwing out someone's voice can be a helpful distraction. Unlike an illusion a rookie mage can't hear the difference if you're behind a wall.”
“That implies higher tier mages can.”
“Yes, they would be better able to tell different pitches, inflections, or verbal ticks if they know the person but different factions won't be able to tell the difference. Saved me a few times by spooking mages with Coven announcements.”
“Anything on crafting?”
“None, those classes were important enough to have workshops established to teach mages. So reagents, books, and projects are held by them.”
“What about mending and prestigation?”
“Slow down we only have a night to learn one or two cantrips not five. Pace yourself or you will get headaches trying to memorize a lot of stuff at once.”
“You're right I kinda got ahead of myself. So is it mentor, teacher, or boss that I should call you by?”
“Alice is good enough so we will start with Encode first so what do you remember from before summer break?”
“Who remembers anything before summer break? I would be surprised to even remember the definition of mana.”

Part 1

>>5946054
“Okay that will be our start. Magic also known as mana is naturally found in ley lines across the world that channels mana and circulates it into every sentient and non-sentient things in the world. The current theory is that they were built by forgotten gods from the age of dust to breathe life into the world only for their names to be lost to time leaving their descendents to carry the torch. That is a history and religion discussion I am going to skip over as mana learning is more important.”
“We got all night though.”
“We need to sleep. Magic requires materials, vocal, or somatic components. Material allows ley lines to latch on to send a burst of magic for effects, somatic channels the ley lines to follow specific movements like pointing at a tree and sending out a constricting vine to grab it, and vocals is your soul asking the ley line to follow your lead. Wordless casting relies on your thoughts and requires you to know the spell, what it will do, what it will cost, how it will work, and where it should go. While possible to use high tier magic with wordless and has the added benefit of not being telegraph and making counterspells harder to pop off it lacks the normal energy channels.”
“So like making a sandwich but only having ham?”
“Uhh, yes. Weird analogy but its close enough are you hungry?”
“I may have skipped lunch.”
“Have some chicken then.” Says Alice as she gives William a half eaten chicken drumstick.
“Thank you.” States William as he begins chomping down on cold chicken.
“Back to mana, while any spell can be used by any student, some people have natural inclination or find a school more easier to remember. You can’t just memorize all the spells and use them at any time. You need to regulate your mana veins and pick the spells you want to use for the day and maintain their paths to go to the body parts that need the mana. Stoneskin you need to channel mana to all your skin, fireball you need to prepare the flame resistance to protect your hand from burns, and for teleportation you need to feel your entire body or you end up teleporting only your legs. Attempting to use a spell you did not prepare would cause backlash if you're lucky or if you're unlucky you teleport only your muscle and nerve structure out of your body.”
“So that is why I have to slowdown if I do not understand the spell it will snap at me.”
“Yes, why ley lines are accommodating to people’s wishes if its abused it will lash out. Now pull up the Encode Thoughts spell. ”
“Okay I got it.” Adds William as he flips open the book.
“Now don’t read the spell but image what it does and slowly read and adjust your perception. This is the greatest danger of learning as one incorrect idea, wrong framework, or missed step could take you years to correct that. Now imagine what the spell does and say it outloud to channel your idea.”
Part 2