The group quickly shuffled inside, and E4 immediately heard The Hymn telling her to clean up. With a gesture a broom flew to her hand and she froze. Corvus shot her a questioning look. “The Hymn made me do it.”

“Then we must get you charged as soon as possible, a tier 0 Blessed will not last long out here.”

“I’m tier 1.” E4 replied. “I have a skill that lets me hear The Hymn so I can know what’s going on around me and can follow along. I think it gives me a bit of knowledge on how to do what I’m supposed to.”

“An omni-compitence skill? That’s rare and highly useful.” Corvus commented.

“Does it let you navigate a train?” Richard asked.

“That would be truly powerful, but conductors are touched by Aether so I doubt it extends that far.” Corvus corrected, while fiddling with another lock. “Have a seat, or just relax a bit. I’ll get the furnace running.”

E4 nodded, and went back to cleaning. With a bit of telekinesis each sweep of her broom moved enormous amounts of dust and dirt. She quickly dropped into the Hymn and within a single minute she was done with the first floor. A single tear dropped from her eye, and when E4 went to remove the dust that caused it she found an isopod. She smiled at the little creature, letting it feed from her hand for a moment before dropping it into the large pile of dust she collected. Immediately it devoured the dust, before scurrying off to find a hiding spot. She shot a look to make sure A7 and Richard hadn’t noticed, to find the pair lip locked in the corner, Richard’s hands finding their way under A7’s shirt. A few moments later the lights flickered before coming on. Richard paused for a moment, though A7 did not.

“Having fun love birds?” E4 jumped at Corvus seeming to appear behind her. He smiled, amused at her fright. “Seems we have to work on,” he noticed her hand half way to his throat, and the glimmering blades that stopped just centimeters from his throat. “your perception. Where did you get those?”

E4 retracted her claws, the ravager toxin fading into Aether rather than myst. “It is a subset of telekinesis, as well as the skill Aetheric edge.”

“So you went from Aetheric weapon to Aetheric edge? I’d think a healer would prefer ranged weapons.”

“Before I came to The Distant Shores I was a doctor. Guns weren’t allowed, but a scalpel is always handy. When I met my patron she granted me my claws that I might never be without a weapon. Adding Aether to them was the next logical step once I came to The Distant Shores.”

“You knew your patron before you arrived?” E4 paused, realizing what she had just revealed, but nodded. “That is, interesting. My fellow pawns were under the impression that our patrons were Myst cursed who have been here long enough that they have gained a true understanding of The Myst, if not become partially merged with it. Now we know at least some of them can come from beyond The Distant Shores, or at least have a corresponding entity. Who did you say your patron was?”

E4 froze, ice in her spine. She rolled her die on a nearby table, and came up on a 1. “Sorry, my boss is saying no.” With a gesture the die jumped back into her hand. “She’s a bit shy.”

“I get it, my patron is not fond of his name being said aloud either except if I am declaring his victory before his enemies.” Corvus stroked Cap’s head and Cap let out a croaking sound. “And this adorable devil can’t keep a secret to save his life. Though I must ask, which group are they in? My patron is from the Flight of Feathers.”

“They arrange in groups?” E4 asked. She got no response from Mara, which we interpreted as Mara hiding her surprise. For all her intelligence, Mara’s knowledge only seems bottomless.

“Sure, Lords Who Crawl, Flight of Feathers, Uncrowned Kings, Circle of Decay, Counsel of Seers, Titans of Industry, like minded entities who form non-aggression pacts. Some patrons even join multiple groups.”

“Just don’t call them pantheons, for they are not gods right?” E4 asked, earning a very confused look from Corvus. “What?”

“That’s a very odd sentiment. While none of the patrons can claim to be an all powerful creator deity, each has the power of a minor god, to administer their own domain within the world. Did your entire world fall prey to one religion?”

“No, there are a few, but most agree there is one God, just not which one. The big three believe in the same god, and yet they can’t agree on how best to worship him. M… My patron wants none of that. Anyone who dares pray to her or call her a god is immediately rebuked, gently at first, harshly after. Puking up coffee grounds is usually enough to get most fangs to seek religion elsewhere and just do their job.”

“And you refer to yourselves as fangs, sounds like the Pride of Beasts shall soon get a new member.” There was a loud bell sound that echoed from outside. “Well it seems our betters are out of bed, quite early if I do say so.”

The device E4 was led to was a large table attached to a machine that resembled a humanoid torso with six arms. A crystal ball shot through with flecks of some kind of metal sat where the machine’s head should have been, and someone had given it a blonde wig with four braids, two pig tails and two front braids. A dress had been thrown over it, a fine silk dress bearing symbols of pickaxes and forges. The six hands rested on the table on either side of a crystal ball slightly larger than the machine’s head.

“A relic from a more prosperous age.” A7 answered before E4 could ask. “Donated by Gerric Stone-Weaver, High Mason of the Uncrowned Kings. Later modified by Mason Eagle-Wood, if the rumors are true. Place your hand on the handles and channel Aether into them.” E4 eyed the two handles, both dull gray and resembling the ones used to charge the stove back on the Eagle-Wood’s train, then a separate handle that had gold worked into it. “Part of the Eagle-Wood modification.” As she spoke she drew three cards. “He believed that a Myst Folk who spends long enough with a Blessed can develop skills like you do. Turns out he was right. If I served you then you’d grab those two, I’d grab this one, and it would read me rather than you.” She shrugged. “But I’m taken, so it’s a moot point. Now go on.”

Taking a slow breath E4 examined the machine. With a gulp she reached out and gripped both of the dull gray metal handles. For a moment nothing happened, until she noticed a slot for coins. She placed a coin inside and heard a click before placing her hands back on the handles. Immediately she felt the Aether running through her hands, and the machine sprang to life. Its head began to glow and spin, the metals casting strange reflections across the table. The hands moved with inhuman rapidity, making a series of gestures the purpose of which E4 was unable to discern. Two sets seemed to examine the crystal ball on the table, two the crystal ball on its head, and two seemed to reach out towards her. She noticed this set of hands bore several strange looking springs within glass, as well as devices that resembled tuning forks. She felt a strange resonance, and her right eye began to tear. She noticed the isopod that slipped out begin to scurry towards the machine, and made a move to catch it.

“Don’t.” Corvus admonished, raising a hand over hers but not touching her. “If you move your hand you could corrupt the reading.

E4 watched the isopod slip into the machine, and felt when it took hold. A moment later several cards shot forth across the table. The Hymn prompted her and E4 waved her hand across them, pulling them up with telekinesis. She quickly moved to pocket them for later examination, but she had no pockets in her current clothing and they went all over the floor.

“Allow me to,” With a gesture they jumped back into E4’s hands. “I see you favor privacy as much as your patron.” Corvus coughed into his hand. “Well let’s get you into a set of decent clothing before,” A loud THUD struck the door. “Devil’s handkerchief, they must have half murdered the horses to get here so quickly.”

Immediately the door was struck again, throwing it open to reveal the intruders. To E4’s surprise two men in full metal riot gear approached, their steps heavy and slow. Silver masks with crystal eyes stared out, while a golden shield crossed with a syringe and a scalpel sat etched on the pauldrons and chest. Her heart caught in her throat as she saw both armed with the long headed axes they had been known for. Short black clubs meant to subdue sat at their hip, but she could smell a faint wiff of the sickly sweet ISC9 that followed them. Each carried a four barrel shotgun on their back, for the rounds they fired would melt the barrel otherwise.

“Corvus, Darling, Doth thou not know thy must inform me before running to play with thine friends. Mine heart may freeze with loneliness lacking thine presence” A Husky voice announced. One of the men in riot gear stepped aside as a woman in an opulent red gown stepped into the room, her dress seeming to squeeze together so it would not brush the door frame. E4 couldn’t see much of her, her red gown went down to her ankles and while its sleeves only went to her forearms she wore long pink lace gloves. A red hood reached up her neck and covered her hair line, which was further hidden by an elaborate hat that looked as if someone had taken a blood red tricorn had and added a stuffed peacock to it. E4 could even see the glass eyes of the poor bird staring at her. Whoever did the dye job to turn the thing pink had either intentionally or unintentionally left it uneven, giving the bird a sickly pattern like bruised flesh. Immediately The Hymn demanded E4 curtsy, which she did even as her clothing threatened to rip. A7 did likewise, but had her eyes not been shadowed E4 suspected she would see some nasty emotions behind them. “Alas Richard, no welcome for thy dear mother?”

“Greetings Step Mother.” Richard replied, a wince on his face.

“And what vision is this, Corvus, A strumpet of thy own? What fey fortune you have found.” The woman tutted behind her fan, which was emblazoned with an image of a raven perched on a butcher’s knife. “And an exotic one as well, and so daring. That red skin, I must match it with the black leather dress I just had made, and such a clever tail, can it function as a whip, tell me truely.” E4’s tail twitched, no one else had noticed her tail yet this woman called her out without trying. “You simply must bring her by. Bring Richard and his pet, I know Bul’gor has been dying to get his hands on her and Sir’fan would love to clutch her flesh as well.” Richard said nothing, his blanching face spoke loud enough. “Pity. Now, about the tax, for as lightning falls from above so too coins into my purse.”

E4 eyed the others before taking out her small coin pouch. She didn’t have any pockets, so she had just tied it around her waist with the drawstring. She paused, eyeing the armored purifier. The man eyed her from behind a blank mask. She hesitantly approached, and turned over the bag before stepping back out of range of his club. The man emptied the bag into his hand and pocketed half before throwing the rest back to her without a word.

“Skittish, shame. Here I thought I’d get to break her. A hellion vision she does appear, a freak borne from the darkest of unions, yet a tame pet beneath ferocious skin. A fine whore for a fop like you Corvus, to be used and discarded. Now, hurry up. I hunger for breakfast.”

“I am going to bring up the taxes and regulation clause.” Corvus spoke as he turned over his coin purse, which the armored purifier accepted before taking half and returning it. “Only the Regulator guild can establish a tax based on what is received from the Standing Stones. Further, items from the Standing Stones cannot be taken except as allowed by the anti-undeath accord or in the case of emergencies in which case certain allowed consumables can be purchased at an agreed upon rate.” The purifier then took the entirety of Richard’s. “That seems excessive.”

“It is not my fault his strumpet cannot provide for her own taxes. Stretch her throat with a soul instead of thine manhood if thou so dislikes it.” The woman replied, plucking a coin from one of the purifiers and swallowing it. E4 saw her shiver in pleasure even from within her voluminous dress. For just a moment E4 caught sight of the woman’s face. Her mouth was caked with red make up, but the flash of sharp fangs within her mouth caught her eye. They weren’t that of a vampire, or at least, E4 didn’t think they were. They certainly weren’t ravager fangs. “I’ll leave you peons to it. I’ve had my fill, even got some new tanks out of the deal for these new FOG’s.”

“You didn’t!” Richard exclaimed, only to receive a beanbag round to the gut from a wrist mounted launcher. Two more beanbags shot forth, flying over his head and striking the wall behind with a loud THUMP. E4 winced, remembering how much those hurt even with an isopod taking the sting off it.

“Hold your tongue boy. Leave these decisions to your elders and betters.” With that she walked out, her two guards waiting a few moments before following. As they did E4 noticed they each had a large copper tank on the back, one shedding a bright blue light the other far dimmer and slightly pitted as if it had been exposed to acid.

“Who was that?” E4 asked as soon as she was sure the woman was out of earshot. “What just happened?”

“Countess Ni’ole Von Vale and her minions. Looks like they found new FOG armor, I don’t recognize the make, but the arm mounted weapons are new.”

“And they really hurt.” E4 quickly assessed his wounds, finding as she expected a fairly bad bruise but partially to her surprise it was no worse than that. A7 brought her a small doctor’s bag from behind the counter and E4 got to work. It was quick work, a topical analgesic followed by a concoction of chili peppers and volcanite lily to increase blood flow and hasten the removal of damaged cells. As she worked E4 felt the Aether her body was producing being directed towards her efforts, helping to break down damaged flesh and attract the surrounding Myst to create new flesh. Stripe licked it for good measure, and immediately started gagging at the taste of the medicine. “It’s tingly.”

“I think that means it’s working, still getting used to treating bodies made from congealed Myst.” E4 replied.

“With that out of the way we do have work cut out for us. If she took the bargain, we need to make sure whatever comes after her doesn’t go through the town to do it.”

“She can do that?”

“Countess Von Veil does as she sees fit, regardless of how much we peons must suffer for it.” Corvus replied. “Sometimes I think she’s a myst cursed whose eyes just never arrived. A7, get E4 something to wear, I need to check on something.” With that Cap took flight and Corvus removed a copper mirror from his pocket. As A7 lead her away, E4 noticed the mirror was decorated with ravens, and the reflection was displaying some sort of image from high above the ground.

The room A7 brought E4 to looked like a giant walk in closet, and functioned the same way. Countless outfits, as well as several sets of many kinds of gear, had been arrayed. Armor sat on armor stands, though it was far less common. A7 quickly took her by the hand towards a corner.

“So quick question, you’re not taking that noble’s advice are you?” E4 asked, eyeing the leather corset and skirt on a stand as they passed.”

“I think you’d look good in them, and they provide some protection, but that one’s for me.” A7 moved to a different shelf and pulled out what E4 first thought was the remains of a black leather outfit, only to realize all the missing parts were intended. “Maybe for an informal gathering.”

“What kind of informal gathering requires, no, not going there.” E4 shook her head to clear the image. “Just, if you ever meet a woman named Marissa Eagle-wood, never show her that.”

“Are you trained in heavy metal armors? We have a few but, it will be a bit of a squeeze.” A7 mentioned. “We don’t normally have many female regulators, just A5 and I, so most armors are sized for men. We could go with A5’s old gear, you’re about her size, and she won’t need it.”

“Did she pass?”

“No, she’s pregnant so it doesn’t fit.” A7 quickly fetched the armor, which E4 found a little tight but a few modifications using fast fabrication, and a few more when A7 was looking for something else with flesh fabrication, E4 had a decent set of clothing consisting of a soft leather shirt and knee length skirt. Both had several stone, obsidian, and turquoise beads worked into them, the shirt having an obsidian raven perched upon a turquoise butcher's knife while the skirt had a black ostrich or some other type of terrestrial bird against an orange background. E4 noticed the skirt had a slit that went almost up to her hip, but it did allow for her to crouch and move more effectively. A slight modification to the shorts she was already wearing ensured she retained her modesty, though salvaging the material shortened them even more than they already were. A7 passed her a hardwood bow carved with several lightning bolts. “Well now you look like a proper archer. Should we rename you A8?”

“E4’s fine with me, and I use a crossbow rather than a bow.” E4 paused. “Is renaming a thing commonly done?” A7 shrugged. “Let’s leave things as they are then. On that note, I do have to do something about a weapon.”

“You said a crossbow, right? I think we have a few but they might not be in the best repair.”

“That’s perfect, I have a fabrication skill.” She paused. “Though I need some privacy to use it, and lots of food. Is there a workshop I can use?”

A7 left her in a basement workshop to get to work. A small Aetheric forge, which resembled a squat half dome with several metal levers on it, sat ready for use besides a workbench with more tools than E4 knew what to do with. E4 eyed the device, and a thought came to her. She made a few gestures, cupping her hands, before conjuring a symphony of resonance in her hand. She closed her eyes and tried to remember. A lambent green flame, the fires of the metabolism that purified all they touched, reducing them into small and reusable bits. A fire borne not just of fuel and air, but of resonance. A lout SNAP echoed in the room as the resonance resolved into an electrical discharge, and lightning sprang from her hands.

“Guess that won’t work.” E4 placed her hand on the forge, and it began to hum. She noted a coin slot, and upon placing a coin in a small blue flame formed, a flame made from Aether and which could be guided somewhat with telekinesis. “A poor substitute. Still, have to start somewhere” E4 quickly got to work, laying her cards on one of the worktables and taking out her basket of eggs. She gave one a shake, pouring resonance into it before cracking it over the crossbow A7 had found in storage. Thousands of threads of myofibers poured out. Tearing a strip of her own flesh off, which came off easily, E4 got to work.

Muscle tissue replaced the string, and the arms were strengthened by bone supports which grew out of her arms at E4’s command. She downed two of the eggs to replenish the required nutrients, not trusting the surrounding myst to do so in a reasonable time. A few minutes later she had her crossbow back. Two more eggs replaced her twin fang knife. She examined the bone blades, and gave them a toss. Their telekinetic cells allowed her to throw it with far more force, and on a whim she made the blade curve midflight and sink into the side of a training dummy. With a gesture the blade opened up, one of the prongs ripping out of the dummy a moment before she pulled it back. Another gesture and the circle within the blade was filled with crackling electricity, which immediately burst forth in a cone. “Why if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye.” As she spoke an isopod slipped from her right eye and she placed it into the pommel where it latched on and grew into the weapon. It wasn’t a true isopod, just a modified harvester, but it allowed the weapon to have a better store of ATP “I can’t wait to show… I can’t show this to Marissa can I?” She frowned. “Maybe when I’m tier 2 I can think of something.” She examined the cards again. She immediately noticed that while her skills were displayed, her subversions weren’t. She chittered in frustration, and as she did she caught a glimmer. She chittered again, and the subversions were revealed in invisible ink.

Skills

Subversions

Aetheric weapon (innate): channel Aether into a weapon. Increases damage against creatures of the myst and converts some dense myst into Aether. Allows for the use of Aether based weapons. Uses Might

→ Aetheric edge (Advanced): run Aether through blades or weapons. Increases the sharpness and inflicts more damage than Aetheric weapon. Does not affect ranged weapons. Uses Might.

Ravager toxin*: Host inflicts ravager toxin with all natural weapons and resonant weapons. Ravager toxin inflicts a penalty on Might, Speed, and Tenacity.

Ravager toxin has pain alleviating effects at first, and can also provide euphoric effects. Through proper resonance penalties may be reversed granting a short burst of power at the cost of damaging the poisoned individual. Host is constantly under these effects and thus doubles tenacity when resisting pain.

Ravager toxin is an Aetheric effect, damaging a target over time as it breaks down the Myst they are made from. This does not cause pain and is easily overlooked.

Uses intellect.

(Ravager toxin can be applied to mundane weapons, but can wash off in time. Just don’t let others see you licking your weapons ok? -Red Queen)

Aether infusion (innate/Cursed): Release Aether in order to temporarily boost MIST score. This ability may boost score beyond tier limits

Curse: Aether capacity is permanently inhibited to 10% normal. Aether may still be directed into capacitors or Aetheric tools

Attributes constantly increased by double the tier (currently 2)

For there were some who chose power over perfection, and to them their prayers and fears were granted in equal measure

ATP conversion protocol: Constantly release Aether to generate ATP and resonance. ATP is used to power subversion, while resonance powers resonant machines. ATP can be spent in place of Aether for skills, but cannot be used in Aether shaping. Research on biological rituals ongoing. Increases Might, Intellect, Speed, and Tenacity by 2. MIST score maximums are increased.

(So, sorry about the not being able to shape Aether. I can’t wrap our head around how to store it without converting it. So we can’t be a mage, but rogue is still an option- Red Queen)

Danger sense (achievement): Sense hazards such as ambushes or traps. Uses intellect.

Prey sense. Gain insight on nearby predators or dangerous entities, including general direction, type, and numbers

(There is something here, more potential, but I’m still working on it- Red Queen)

Fast Fabrication (achievement): Quickly create an object from raw materials using Aether. Allows one to forego the use of some tools. Expend additional Aether to forego time consuming processes such as drying or curing. Some materials can be crafted directly from Myst using a tool kit. Reduces the cost of using kits such as healer’s kits or trapper kits. Uses Intellect.

Flesh fabrication protocol*: Human flesh, the most useful building material. Create materials from the host’s flesh and bones. If Myst is available it may be used to bypass the conservation of mass and energy. If it is not the host must be replenished through food and rest. Some materials must be provided by external sources. Increases intellect and tenacity by 1.

(Oh, we are going to have FUN with this- Red Queen)

Healing hands (Acquired): Expend Aether to accelerate healing. Bruises and minor wounds heal with just a touch. Larger wounds may still require stitches or bandages. Aether cost scales with damage. Doubles the effect of all Aetheric medical devices. Reduces the risk of infection. Uses intellect.

Regeneration protocol*: Expend ATP to close wounds, regrow limbs, and recover from near fatal wounds. Cost is relative to damage. Only works on resonant entities. The use of Myst is required to ignore conservation of mass but host can regenerate without Myst or in places where Myst is insufficient. Uses tenacity. Increases Tenacity by 2

(So our bread and butter is still on the menu. To be fair, healing hands alone would be cheating on Earth, but so would undead elephants. At least you don’t have to go on special diets after almost dying anymore, though you’ll still be hungry. Also, please refrain from almost dying- Red Queen)

Hymn listener (Innate/Cursed): Retain the ability to hear The Hymn. Allows for the adoption of any role a Myst folk can.

Curse: Myst score reduced. Maximum MIST score equal to tier. Blessed may gain the benefits of reagents, but their MIST score will never increase beyond this maximum.

And those who chose to hide in shadow were granted their desires for a price, that they might serve a purpose until they found their courage.

Innate human mimicry*: Host can choose to be identified as Aether Blessed or Myst folk, changing at will. Blood tests, genetic tests, or other tests cannot reveal the host as a Ravager. Others will not notice tells of ravager symbiosis. Opponents will defend against natural weapons but will not be able to focus on them, forgetting the details. Pact skills will read as innate skills

Host can fake the effect of any curse, disease, or poison.

(No clue exactly what’s going on here, but looks like our IHM is fooling the measuring device. Best guess, because we metabolize aether it can’t get a good read. Not sure if that maximum’s before or after Aetheric infusion. Also what’s with the flavor text?-Red Queen)

Inductive (achievement): You have danced with the electrons to the hum of the Aether. Convert Myst to Aether quickly by coming in contact with an electrical current. Double the efficiency of Aetheric charging. The wielder is resistant to electrical damage of their tier or lower. Increases speed by 1

Bio-lightning*: The human body communicates through electricity right? Think of this as a discussion with the enemy, at high volume. Expend ATP to shoot lightning, power electrical/Aetheric devices. This actually works by firing a small barb at the target and channeling energy through it, but it looks like you’re shooting lightning. Can channel electricity through weapons, not sure about how that works with gloves. This is an Aetheric effect. May cause paralysis in target. Uses intellect. Increases Speed by 1

(Rogues can cast lightning bolt, right? Also might be able to use electricity to start fires, not sure yet)

Makeshift hammer (Achievement): when pounding nails into boards to keep the monsters out anything will work. The Myst blesses your efforts and removes the penalty for improvised tools. No matter the quality of the tool for its intended purpose it remains a basic tool for this improvised purpose

Flesh fusion protocol*: Use organic materials to repair and improve non-organic objects. Fused items that use fuel can be powered by resonance. (Probably works with Aetheric items, haven’t tested it yet.- Red Queen)

Psychic (Innate)*: Sense the world through unusual means. May manifest in precognition, retrocognition, object reading, or other means. Increases intellect by 1

Genetic memory*: Host may consume parts of other creatures to learn from their DNA. Consuming the brain may allow for memories to be recovered at increased risk of prion formation. Increases intellect by 1

(Yeah… don’t do that. Also *spoilers* your version of ESP is sensing things with telekinesis. Still working up a catalog though.)

Lone Survivor (Achievement): You have been been left for dead, but by the grace of The Myst or luck you have survived. When gravely injured doubles effective tenacity before death. Increases Tenacity by 1

Cystic resilience*: when gravely injured reinforces vital organs at the cost of all else. May drop all other MIST scores to the host’s tier and divert lost score to tenacity. So long as Myst is available Host does not need to eat, drink, or sleep. Regeneration is required to restore MIST scores. Increases tenacity by 1

(Good thing we have regeneration, or this would be a one way trip)

Synergy: Regeneration protocol + genetic memory

Regeneration protocol can reverse SOME prion formation at great expense.

(Ok, so maybe you can have a little brain, as a treat)

Synergy: Genetic memory + lone survivor

Genetic memory allows host to survive by packaging their memories and soul into a tiny cyst or even a single cell. Host may regenerate should adequate circumstances occur. Host soul cannot merge with another sentient soul

(… Yeah I can’t wrap my head around that last part either)

Surgical precision (Achievement) when providing treatment reduce damage done by the procedure and reduce the chance of infection. By exerting aether ignore tenacity and armor while performing surgery while doing no damage and inflicting no pain. Incisions heal immediately once the wound is closed, requiring no stitches and leaving minor traces that heal based on user intellect and subject tenacity. Uses intellect. Increases intellect by 1.

Invasive surgery: Increases the damage when targeting a specific organ, muscle, or wounded location. Uses intellect. Increases intellect by 1

(so you know that whole hypocritic oath? You still flexible on that?)

Synergy: Surgical precision + Healing hands

Healing hands is now more effective on organ damage, allowing for temporary fixes for low cost and longer term fixes for higher cost. Direct access to the organ may be required to actually fix the organ

Synergy: Psychic +Surgical precision

Gnostic Diagnosis: Using Psychic with Surgical precision allows you to use object reading on a living or recently living body to identify injuries, identify bacteria, and supernatural afflictions such as curses.

(sometimes you have 2-5 days to figure out a pathogen, sometimes its last victims are breaking down your door)

Telekinesis (Innate)*: The art of reaching through space to move distant objects. While all Aether Blessed and Myst Cursed can use basic telekinesis true telekinesis is more versatile. Uses intellect. Increases intellect by 1

Telekinetic claws* Telekinesis turned to aggressive ends in the service of The Bitter One. These claws are razor sharp and count as Aetheric weapons for the purpose of damaging creatures of The Myst. Uses intellect to augment might. Increases intellect by 1

(another old favorite, this place is really welcome to us Ravagers)

Synergy: Surgical precision + telekinesis

Psychic surgery: Surgery can be done without breaking the skin.* It is recommended patient does not move, for their sake.

Wild Harvesting (Achievement): You have gone into the wilderness and come back with a bounty. Grants a buff to Might for harvesting and Intellect to spotting useful plants and minerals. Increases Might and Intellect by 1

Harvest-men: Increases the number of harvest-men isopods that can be controlled. Increases isopod regeneration overall. Harvest-men isopods use the host’s harvesting skills. Uses intellect. Increases might and intellect by 1 (This feels suspiciously easy, just saying)

Consumed reagents

Mountain Marrow (+1 Tenacity)

Requirements for molting

time (1 year)

Unknown

E4 Innate/Infusion attributes

M: 1/3

I: 1/3

S: 1/3

T: 1/3

E4 actual attributes (innate+infusion+skill+reagents+subversion= total)

M: 2+2+1+0+3= 8

I: 2+2+4+0+7= 17

S: 3+2+1+0+3= 9

T: 2+2+1+1+6= 12

(So since you’re constantly using Aether infusion, seeing you’re constantly making ATP, I’m just going to include it. I think most folks can turn it off. Not sure what innate does. Also, maybe ask what this actually means, since I have no reference

* Can be used with just ATP even if no Myst or Aether are available

E4 eyed the cards, noticing the cursed ones had an ominous black outline and some disturbing text while the achievement ones had a red and gold outline. Each card’s back had her name printed on it beneath a monogram of an M stylized to appear to have fangs, which made R4 roll her eyes. “Real subtle there Mara. Maybe you should make tee shirts. Fangs of Mara, definitely not a cult.” She next examined her remaining eggs. She considered what she could make, before a soft head plopped itself on her lap.

“Well hello there.” E4 said, petting Stripe. He purred in response, slow blinking with his forward facing eyes. “Maybe I should make you some armor.” Stripe sneezed. “No?” She continued petting, and Stripe continued to purr. “So, how exactly are you purring? Are you some kind of cat?”

“E4, you down here?” E4 turned to see Richard trotting down the stairs. He wore a black apron over a set of what looked like biking leather, dyed white with orange and blue flames on the arms and legs. “Ah, that’s where your pet got off to. What are you working on?”

“New dagger.” E4 replied, giving the blade a toss. Richard froze, until with a gesture E4 caused it to levitate right in front of him. “It’s got some special properties so I can use telekinesis on it more easily.”

“Really?” He reached out and E4 felt him try to take it. She let go and the twin fang dagger dropped for a moment, before slowing. He put his hands to his head and squinted his eyes, yet the blade’s descent only slowed to a crawl rather than stopping. With another gesture E4 pulled it back. “How do you do that? You can only use telekinesis on small stuff.”

“I got a skill for it, and I’ve got a lot of practice. I’ve been moving stuff bigger than this since before I arrived at the Distant Shores.” E4 replied. “It is harder at range, but that’s why I made this blade to be easy to grab. What are you doing down here, are you just here to get me?”

“No, cooking.” He said with a grin. He quickly stepped into a side room and E4 followed him to find a kitchen, but not like any kitchen she had seen. There were seven different ovens, one of which she was certain was actually a blast furnace. Above the island, a granite edifice that proudly jutted from the center of the floor and had enough surface area to qualify as a continent, hung dozens of tools. Most were various knives in copper steel and obsidian, but a few were definitely two handed blades; and at least three warhammers numbered among them in three different materials..

“What are you cooking, tanks?”

“Why would I cook a tank?” Richard asked, before lifting a metal tank almost as large as himself and tapping on it twice. “would boil the stock and make the whole thing blow up.”

“No, tank as in, armored vehicle.”

“Ah, Corvus has told me of those. Train cars that move on tracks rather than rails, I would like to see one someday. I was born in The Distant Shores, so I have never seen the wonders of television or diesel motors.” He quickly got to work, preparing some manner of roast. R4 watched with interest as he worked.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“So, question, why are those two cloves of garlic kept in a different box than the other six?”

“20 charge garlic, protects the body from afflictions, vampires, and nobles.” He replied, sauteing several vegetables before adding them to the roast. He made a gesture and one of the ovens turned on. “Unfortunately you need the 100 charge ones to make a skill, and those are hard to come by. Corvus noticed a few rotting corpses coming our way, so I’m making something that should protect us from the undead’s sickening abilities.” R4 noticed a pile of potatoes and with a gesture began peeling them with her claws. Initially she thought they were going to be put into the roast, but the hymn told her otherwise, so she began cutting them into fries. “What are you doing?”

“You wanted these cut into fries right?”

“Well yeah, I was thinking about it. Corvus told me about this place with a giant golden W run by a clown. It was a strange story, but some of the food sounded pretty good.”

“You sure it’s not an M? Either way, I’ll handle those if you like. My claws are good for dicing, and telekinesis is good for moving lots of little things.”

“You sure? I can barely get it working unless I concentrate.” With a gesture R4 send a dozen potatoes through her claws, cutting them into uniform fries before sending them into a pot. “Ok, I’ll leave that to you.”

As E4 continued to help she noticed a strange pressure building in her skull, which was echoed in her joints. She set the fries to soak, before stepping to help Richard dice another vegetable for the roast, then shred some lettuce for a salad. Moving the fries to the stove top to boil she observed as he used telekinesis to maneuver a whisk at inhuman speeds through some batter, all without losing a drop. “I thought you said you couldn’t use telekinesis.”

“I didn’t say I can’t use it, just only for specific things. I have a skill called “Good to the last drop” which lets me avoid spilling anything no matter what the conditions are. I also have a skill called “Returning blade” Which allows me to call my weapon back to my hand if I drop it. I recently got it up to “Dancing Blade.” He fiddled with his pocket and pulled out a pair of cards. On the back was a symbol of a raven sitting on the handle of a meat cleaver.

Good to the last drop (Acquired): Your love of good drink ensures you enjoy every drop. When consuming liquids, be they potions, elixirs, or regular fluids you do not spill any regardless of conditions or attacks. When consuming a liquid, either directly or when cooking, you always add the exact amount you desire so long as you know how much you want to use. Expend Aether to gain full effects while using only half, allowing you to give the rest to someone else or just save it for later. This charges both halves with Aether.

→ Not a drop (Advanced): While enjoying the finest vintage it is important not to wear it, especially second hand. By turning the effects of the skill in reverse you push away liquids, and even loose particles. Liquids splash around you, not on you. Direct attacks will still hit, but you will not be caught in splash or AoE attacks. This ability uses speed. Increases speed by 1

→ Finest Vintage (Achievement): While most need to slay creatures of The Myst to consume their dense myst you may skip this step. For every bleeding or bloody creature nearby you gain increased health and Aether regeneration. Expend Aether to gain an enormous boost to speed and sprout fangs for a bite which may paralyze the target for a short time. Increases tenacity by 1

Soaring blade (Acquired): Either you have butter fingers or you have a passion for throwing your weapons. By gripping a weapon you place a mark upon it. Should the weapon leave your hand you can call it back with a minor exertion of Aether. For a larger expenditure you may throw the weapon, striking a distant foe before calling it back, with various effects based on weapon. Should you lose a weapon outright you will find it again, eventually. Increases speed by 1

→ Dancing blade (Advanced): Either you do not wish to bother with your foes or you have so many you need additional blades. You may touch a number of blades equal to your intellect to mark them as dancing weapons. Exert Aether to have these weapons attack and defend. This is a might using ability. Increases might and intellect by 1

“These are sweet.” E4 gushed returning the cards. “I wish I had this back in the hospital ward, or our cook had them. Does Good to the Last Drop work on medicine?”

“As long as it’s a liquid and you drink it. Watch.” He took a bottle of cooking wine and took a swig. “Look.” E4 did, and noticed there was a section that was lighter floating on the top, and crackling lightly with Aether. “take a sip.” E4 did, it tasted fine, as fine as cooking wine did. Yet as she took a second sip she noted a slightly different taste, and it felt denser.

“Is this safe for Myst folk to drink?”

“A7 doesn’t mind, but most can’t stand the taste. It’s supposed to be for Myst elixirs and potions, but it works with baking too. Water doesn’t work so well, but if you're trying to make a really thick sauce it works great.”

“Also, this bleeding thing, does this mean regular bleeding or is there a status called bleeding?” E4 asked.

“Regular works, but the worse they bleed the more I heal. When you use a skill enough you get an advanced version based on how you use it. However, if you use a skill in an unusual way you get an achievement skill, which is a bonus and does not lock you out of other skills.” He picked up the batter he was making and poured it into a pan. He eyed the pan, then the bowl, then the pan E4 pulled from the proper cabinet without being asked. “That’s handy.”

“Here,” R4 showed him her card. “Hymn Listener, it lets me take on the role of any Myst folk, and an assistant chef would know where the pans are and realize when you’ve got too much batter.”

“That’s pretty handy, why is it… wait.” He took the card. “What’s this about your maximum MIST score? Is your patron trying to get you killed?”

“Yeah, I have another skill that lets me channel Aether into my body, so I’m not as weak as I look.” E4 continued to help with dinner, and continued to ignore the pitying looks that Richard was giving her. There wasn’t much left to do, and dinner was on the table within 8 minutes. E4 had no issue setting the table, her telekinesis and the hymn allowing her to finish in moments.

“That is a very convenient skill, is it an advanced version?” Corvus asked. “Or a mutated form?”

“It’s a synergy between Telekinesis and Hymn Listener.” E4 replied.

“Unfortunately it’s cursed.” Corvus froze, though A7 continued eating her salad.

“Cursed? How on Earth did you get a cursed skill?”

“Is that bad?” E4 asked.

“Generally, yes. Cursed skills often come from consuming bargains without completing the requirements, or from your patron if they are upset with you. In some instances, it is the nature of your pact. Rarely they can be inflicted from an outside source.” He drew a pair of cards, seemingly from nowhere, and extended it to E4.

The first card was marked Pact and was decorated with a symbol of a crow sitting on a branch and had a sinister purple outline. The second, like hers, had an ominous black outline.

Herald of Crows (Pact): You gain a crow familiar who can help you shape myst. You can use feathers from any bird as a material component to strengthen Myst shaping, though your familiar’s works the best.

→ Raven Mystic (advanced): Your familiar whispers secrets into your ear, allowing you to expand your ability to shape Myst outside your patron’s sphere of influence.

→ Bird’s eye view (achievement): you may use any reflective surface to see through the eyes of your familiar by exerting Aether

Pact of Feathers(Pact/Cursed): You have secured an alliance with a member of the Flight of Feathers. You can instinctively shape myst in ways that corresponds to your patron’s sphere of influence. You can learn myst shaping outside your patron’s sphere with difficulty.

Boon: Attacks made against insectoid creatures are treated as one tier higher. Attacks from insectoid creatures are one tier lower.

→ Carrion feeder (advanced): Attacks against creatures that are badly wounded are treated as one tier higher. This includes undead or parasites that use a dead host

Curse: All felines will see you as a threat or as prey. Attacks from felines bypass all resistances.

For those of a feather flocked together, feasting upon insects even as the most canny of predators fed upon them.

E4 turned the cards over, noticing both had a symbol of a raven sitting on a butcher’s knife with Corvus’s name on them. “Huh, I don’t have any pact cards, just two cursed.” She extended them to Corvus while returning his cards, and watched as he turned pale. For a moment he did nothing, so she finished off her salad and got to the roast.

“E4, does your patron hate you?”

E4 looked up. “Why do you say that?”

“As far as I know, there are no foods that could inflict a curse like this. Even if there were, it would say acquired rather than innate. Innate abilities come from things you had before coming here, or things that come from our connection to The Myst. The ability to infuse our weapons with Aether, telekinesis, and a few other things come from the connection between our soul and The Myst. I know of no creatures that could corrupt these skills in this way, but should they exist they would slay you without any effort. These skills both seem rather powerful on their own, but the curse makes them horrible liabilities. First, you can’t learn Aether shaping since you can’t carry enough Aether to make it work, I’d be surprised if you could even fire a zap pistol let alone the more powerful Aether weapons. Worse, you have to exert what little Aether you do have just to get above the average of a Myst folk.”

“So, it gets better with time?”

“E4, you sweet summer child, the human maximum is 4, but with each tier your maximum increases by 5. You’re stuck at 1 right now, 3 if you exert what little reserves you have. Normally a young regulator would go hunting for reagents, skills, and achievements to increase their score before the day of imbuement, yet your curse prevents even that from working for you. Forever shall you be reduced to mediocrity. Even at the peak of your power your score shall be 4, 12 in short bursts. Even a mediocre regulator would have such stats by the end of their third tier, for that to be your apex is a tragedy.” He folded his hands. “Were I to bear your burden I would revoke my pact and welcome the release of death, that your next life be better. Alternatively live a safe pampered life as some noble’s wife until you can find a way to remove the curse.”

“I have healing abilities though, those have to be useful.” E4 replied, panic gripping her heart. “Besides, those stats can’t be that important. Guns and ranged weapons have to make up for a lot, and planning too.”

“Normally yes, but you have Aetheric blades, and your patron even has stolen from you ranged weapons, giving you claws in their place. You are meant to be up close with your foes, or to use them only as a last resort.” He paused. “E4, you are not meant to be a soldier, but a sacrifice. Your patron wants you dead, his only goal is to ensure you die for whatever plot he is working on. You can barely heal, since healing hands and most of its skills are based on intellect and yours is crippled”

“No, that can’t…” E4 felt the fear and anger pass from her mind like a match dropped in water. “I see.” Her eyes began to recede into shadows. “So that’s that.”

“Corvus, come on, you can’t mean that.” Richard shot back. “Corvus,”

“I’m sorry, but from where I stand that is the only option I can see.” He extended another card. “A7, do you mind showing E4 your card?” She did, as did Richard.

Richard Butcher

Tier 2

M: 9/12

I: 3

S: 4

T: 5/8

A7

Tier 0

M: 3

I: 4

S: 4

T: 3

Corvus Cain

Tier 2

M: 3

I: 9/13 (13/17)

S: 3

T: 4/10

“I see.” R4 replied, “What exactly do these stats mean?” Looking at Corvus’s card something looked off, his Intellect score shimmered, the 9 vanishing and a 17 appearing, though only to her right eye.

“After generations of study, we have figured that the higher numbers are better.” Corvus replied. He made a gesture and a pair of spectral glasses appeared, while a tome with a raven on it seemed to coalesce in his hands made from myst. “Approximately 50 years ago a brilliant natural philosopher and botanist tested forty individuals who all had 3 in might, 3 in speed, and 3 in tenacity. They managed to bench 100 kg 15-20 times in five minutes, run 100 meters in 14 seconds, and survive being flayed alive for about 3 minutes. A pair of might 8, speed 6, and tenacity 9 individuals managed to bench 300 kg 40 and 42 times in five minutes, run 1000 meters in 90 seconds, and slay the philosopher shortly after seeing what happened to their juniors.” He closed the book. “Primitives, unwilling to sacrifice for the good of science.”

“That’s horrible.” R4 replied taking a bite of the roast, for a ravager can eat just about anything regardless of circumstance. To be fair, the roast was quite good, even if the conversation turned her stomach.

“Agreed, my family have much to answer for, but that is why I am trying to do right by the people here.” Richard replied. “Once I reconnect our land to the rail system I shall join the regulators in earnest and travel the land righting the wrongs of the world.

“Regardless, it seems that ability score improvement is not linear, though the improvement each tier makes also affects the abilities. That, at least, has some documentation since it is easy to have a regulator do a before and after.” With a rustle of wings Cap returned to Corvus’s shoulder. The bird whispered something in his ear, that made Corvus stand. “An opportunity has arisen, the time to act is now.”

“But we just got to the main course.”

“It will have to be leftovers then, we must move.”

As the others stood, A7 begrudgingly so, E4 looked at her meal one last time. With a gesture she threw a large chunk of the roast into the air and speared it with her tongue before opening her mouth wide to devour the entire thing. Her fangs extended over her teeth, turning her mouth to a storm of telekinetic blades. She swallowed, the entire thing going down with even less issue than it would on Earth. E4 politely wiped her mouth and was off, a final gesture calling her crossbow and holster from where she had set it on her chair.

“E4 come on.” At Richard’s words E4 felt a strange swiftness to her steps, almost as if another force was pulling her.

[[Changes have been observed in host structure, potentially a new skill is forming. Observation will continue. Remember to stay safe and have fun.]]

Just outside the guild hall Corvus was waving his hands around while black feathers seemed to form from the surrounding myst in a circle marked by a dozen coins. “Careful, don’t smudge the circle.” He spoke, as E4 carefully stepped inside. “By the Flight of Feathers, let us cast aside the ties of mundane earth and fly!” Immediately E4 felt lighter, and her hymn shifted. Immediately both she and Corvus shot into the air, followed shortly by A7 and finally by Richard, who seemed to fly in an odd shifting pattern. “Come, flight is easier if one does not stop, for to soar is to thrive but to hover is hard.”

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Richard replied.

R4 was already high in the air, doing circles as The Hymn sang into her ears. Immediately she was aware of the many mice and rabbits on the field, how easy it would be to swoop down and grab them. “Hey, I think the Hymn thinks I’m a hawk.” She immediately tried to do a loop, and lost control of the flight. She hit the roof with a hard THUD. “I’m ok.”

“I will remind you this once that you have 1 tenacity and can be knocked over by a stiff breeze.”

[[I will remind you that you actually have 12. You are probably fine.]] E4 grinned inside before jumping down, using the instructions from The Hymn to control her descent. “This is really cool, I wish I had this back home.”

“You can have it!” Richard yelled, floating helplessly about three meters up, before he promptly fell back to the ground.

“A7, will you get him up? My feathered companion has brought news most dire… to our foes. Come, let us strike at their moment of vulnerability.” With those words he took off, large black wings coalescing upon his back as he flew over the fence. E4 took flight after him. The Hymn whispered wind currents, not consciously, but in the back of her mind. For a normal person it would sound like ghosts, speaking secrets just out of hearing. Yet E4 grinned, for to her it held not a candle to resonant. She leaned to one side, banking far, before correcting. “Maid, how fair you in your flight?”

“I’m loving this, I always wanted to fly, but my patron never granted me the ability. We had airplanes and helicopters, but it’s not the same.” She smiled. “Probably the closest I ever came was swimming in the ocean.”

“Is your patron one of the Regent of Waves, or Lord of Lakes?”

“If those involve power over water then not in the slightest. My patron swims in the blood of her followers, and by their bones are her desires known. Her designs are carried out by twitching flesh and clicking gears… or was it clicking flesh and twitching gears?” E4 paused for a moment. “To be fair I’ve never been sure which was the correct interpretation.”

“I see, so a failure as a warlock then as well as now.” E4 gritted her teeth, but said nothing. “I can see why she has cursed you so. Perhaps in the next life she shall relent and you may actually be a worthwhile servant. There, I see our opportunity.”

Before them a large, armored figure in familiar riot gear wielded the classic axe of a purifier against a cohort of thin women in black veiled dresses armed with short blades. E4 saw he stood on a gravel path that led between the town and a distant structure that might have been a mansion given how large its silhouette was. Both the structure and the town seemed to be built on taller elevation, with the pathway going through a low spot marked at the center with a wide stone bridge over a now dry riverbed. With a single swing the figure cleaved in twain two of the women, and immediately both burst into lambent violet flames that immediately sealed the wounds. The torso of both figures let out a low moan even as the flickering flame devoured them. With a burst of agility the armored figure leapt over one of the shuffling women, snapping her neck in the process, before bathing the remaining four in a cone of flames.

“Wait, I know that maneuver.” E4 realized as they landed upon a wide gravel pathway that led up towards a distant structure obscured

“Come crows, fill your beaks with the spoils of battle.” Corvus called out, shadowy myst gathering in his hands. With a gesture the shadows became an entire flock of crows which burst forth, finishing off the still burning women. “Well met flaming knight.”

“Oh great, a wizard and his pet amazon, this whole place is full of nut cases?” R4 heard the man whisper under his breath, in a voice she recognized.

“Donovan?” E4 whispered, quiet enough that Corvus couldn’t hear her

“Come friend, seems you have been dealt a bad hand. Where are your fellows, they were quite keen on kicking in my door before absconding with their unjust tax.”

“Don’t know nothing about that.” Donovan replied, turning to face them. Rather than the blank facemask that most purifiers wore his was sculpted to a more human shape, with glowing blank eyes and a grill that provided a stern mouth. Over his armor he wore a tabard emblazoned with a weasel curled up in a beaker, its head resting over the edge. E4 actually smiled at the image, remembering when Donovan confided in her the story behind it.

“Well what lies before me if not a proper peacock, customized FOG gear is neither common nor cheap. Where hast thy mistress gone off to, leaving one such as you all alone?”

“Behold wizard, for on this day did not these wretches awaken and choose violence. Hast thou come to my aid in slaying such foul entities such as these? Alas the lady Von Veil has left me alone to deal with other affairs.”

“Nay naive, I have come for thy armor. Remove it, or I shall wash thy flesh from within.”

“Woah, isn’t that a bit harsh?” E4 asked. “You said we had an opportunity, you didn’t say we were going to murder a man for his armor.”

“Be silent maid,” He spoke throwing E4 off balance with a telekinetic shove. “This is not a man, for has he not cast his lot in with that foul pretender?” He made several gestures, which disguised him drawing a piece of glass and a bit of silk from a hidden pocket. “I will have your answer, beholden to a false queen. Surrender, or die?”

“Look man,” Donovan replied, “I know not thy quarrel with Countess Von Veil, not my business. Should you seek armor two sets does she have, with fuel greater than mine. Yet should you insist on this set,” He aimed his wrist at Corvus and R4 saw the wrist mounted launcher aim. “Problems we shall have.”

“On black feathers spark, LIGHTNING!” Immediately the air split as a crackling bolt of plasma simply appeared before Corvus and struck Donovan. Immediately his launcher went off, firing and detonating a flare round right in front of Donovan. Yet as E4’s eyes recovered from the blast she saw only a minor burn on his armor.

“Pretty lights wizard,” Donovan replied, loosening his shoulders as he gripped his axe. “But this armor was designed to fight biologic nightmares in any condition.” With a gesture his axe burst into flames. “Now let’s see how well you disappear.”

“Corvus, what are you doing?” E4 exclaimed.

“Insolent little maid, this is no man, a puppet that dances from the strings of the countess, herself a puppet. It is no more a sin to snuff him out than to slay a kobold” He made a gesture with both hands that for a second convinced E4 his hands had turned inside out. She was thrown back by a cloud of black fog, and immediately every muscle locked up.

“Corvus, what are you doing?” Richard exclaimed, finally flying in with A7 beside him.

“Behold, before us is an agent of your step mother’s will. His destruction shall bring us victory from her twisted schemes. Worry not, for none shall miss a Myst folk.”

“He’s not a Myst folk!” E4 shouted. “He’s from Earth!”

With a roar of machinery Donovan charged, hidden thrusters pushing him forwards on jets of steam. For all his speed the black fog Corvus threw hit him first. The armor locked up, landing awkwardly before falling into a roll that slammed right into Corvus. The axe fell from his hand, promptly starting a grass fire.

“Corvus!” Richard exclaimed, running towards the man and heaving Donovan off like he weighed nothing. “Are you alright?”

“I will live.” Corvus replied, his hands still cloaked with cloying darkness. “Quickly, extract the canister.”

“What do you think you’re doing, that is Purifier equipment bestowed upon me by,”

“Under the sounds of ravens all voices are silent.” Corvus spoke. Immediately E4 felt feeling return to her limbs. “And maid, should the notion of intervention spark in your skull, I will not hesitate to spark something else through your chest.” E4 shot a concerned look at A7 and Richard. A7’s expression was unreadable, but Richard’s was not.

“Corvus, are you sure this is a good idea?” He asked, hands reaching for the man’s armor. “Stealing from the countess is one thing, but this armor has clear heraldry. We don’t know who’s backing these mercenaries.”

“Do you want to escape your step mother’s grasp or not. She is strangling the life out of our home with her excessive taxes and cutting us off from the rest of the Distant Shores. If we want to save our town we need to fix the rails, and the only one who can do that is a Myst Cursed. We can’t get a Myst Cursed so long as that pretender sits upon her throne.” He held up the power source, a metal cylinder that churned with dense Myst and glowed with an eerie purple light. “This shall allow us to do so. No matter how many soldiers she conjures, we shall bring them low.”

“Fool, you play with forces you know not. A device such as this uses minerals found in the darkest depths of the world, minerals that lay to ruin all flesh.”

“Away knave, for thy babbling of falsehoods bores me.” With a gesture Corvus threw Donovan to the side. “Feathers of flight, pin this fool to the ground!” With another gesture dark myst formed into a trio of feathers and shot forth like a canon. To E4’s horror all three went through Donovan’s armor, piercing right out the back before they came to a stop. “Come, let us depart before the countess’s curse animates this one as well. Come maid, that you might be of some use.”

E4 was already examining Donovan’s armor, trying to remember where the emergency release was. “E4, come on.” Richard spoke up. “We’ve got to go before he rises.”

“What is wrong with you, you just murdered a man!” E4 exclaimed towards Corvus.

“Forthooth, for I forgot your foolishness. Before you lies a Myst folk, little more than condensed myst and as temporary besides. It walks upon its hind legs and sounds as a man, yet it is but a phantom of condensed myst, no greater than a goblin or kobold.”

“Kobolds are sentient creatures just like you and I.” E4 snapped back.

“Then truly thou art a fool. Come Richard, for this one will only slow us down.”

“You sure? we still need a healer,”

“A bird who cannot fly is to be shoved from the nest, to soar or be crushed. With this artifact my patron’s power shall carry us aloft. The countess’s curses and afflictions shall cast aside before they can take root.” He held out a hand, which Cap immediately perched on. “On the wings of the black raven do we fly, Winged gate!” Immediately the wind picked up, throwing black feathers into the air. E4 covered her eyes for a single moment, and they were gone. Yet that was of little importance to E4.

“Come on Donovan, don’t be dead.” She quickly flipped him onto his back, despite the fact he was in metal power armor. E4 checked his armor’s locks, and found them in bad shape. “Seriously, you always harped about how much work your armor was, and NOW you decide to skimp? She extended her claws and dug into the armor. “Come on, fail open, FAIL OPEN!”

With a POP the armor opened up, revealing the man within. He had three feathers the size of spears through him, and E4 immediately knew he was doomed. One was in his right lung, one was going right through his lower intestine, and it would be a miracle if the third hadn’t skewered his liver.

“Ok, this is fine, you’re going to be ok.”

“You’re lying.” Donovan replied, his voice a low croak. Without his armor he was far from the imposing man who had struck fear into the hearts of his enemies and lit hope in the hearts of his friends, which E4 had counted as both. He was tall and lanky, and far thinner than she remembered. He hadn’t shaved in days, lending him a scruffy brown beard that contrasted with his completely bald head. Yet his eyes blaze the same bright Amherst as the flames of his suit, and he still had the square chin that his wife had loved so much though it was a little thinner than E4 remembered. Those same eyes stared into E4’s, making her look away with their accusation.

“No, I’m being reassuring there is a difference.” E4 replied, taking out her healing kit. “Come on, you’ve got over a decade of experience and a bag full of magic goodies, what fixes internal injuries?”

Her mind immediately set upon a treatment. She first went for the c’pse’eter spit, then for the cotton. Her hands worked a blur, Aether flowing through her limbs and sending pins and needles of feedback up her arms. The feathers she had to pull through, eliciting a low groan from Donovan. “Shoot, hold on, I have some pain killer.”

“I don’t know if I want to see what pain killers you use out here.” E4 extended a small round pill that gleamed slightly, “What is that?”

“Powdered White aspen bark around a core of grave lily and 1 mg of silver.” E4 replied, reading the label. She thought back to her textbook. “Grave lily help stem bleeding, powdered white aspen bark eases the pain, the silver stops lycanthropy and vampirism. I think the base is calcium carbonate.”

“You think?” Donovan asked before taking the pill, and E4 held her flask of Aether elixir to help him swallow. “What is that?”

“Aether elixir, oh, and this should help.” E4 quickly applied Aether jelly to the wounds, which immediately started to steam.

“Is it supposed to do that?”

“I think so, I’m still learning.” E4 paused as she watched the piercing wounds fill in, reduced from punctures to scars. “Um… so, we might have to cut you back open.”

“Pardon?”

“The Aether jelly is good for healing skin, my mistress used it on acid burns and it worked like a charm, but I’m not sure if you have internal injuries.” E4 drew a scalpel. “Sorry.”

“No, you put that down.” Donovan replied. As he rose E4 half expected him to burst into flames like his ax had done, but nothing happened. “I’ll get to a doctor, they have one in the nearby village right?”

“Hel’en, yes. She might be able to help.” E4 replied, reaching down for Donovan, who quickly took her hand. “Lean on me.”

“Yet maid, should not thou chase after thy master?” Donovan replied skeptically. He took a step, and within a few steps he was moving mostly normal. “By the blood, doth this magical potion work with such,”

“Save your strength, only Corvus actually talks like that.”

“The Countess does too, occasionally.” Donovan replied, switching back to normal speech. “Is this place always so weird?”

“I only just got into town, so I don’t know what’s normal.” E4 replied. “I think the countess disconnected her town from the rest of the continent, and that’s bad for some reason.” Donovan let out a low groan. “Hold still, I’m going to try something.” She drew a long sheet from her bag and lay it down. With a gesture she levitated the outer edge, making a pseudo stretcher.

“Telekinesis?”

“Yeah, you haven’t learned it yet?” E4 asked, as she began running now that she didn’t have to worry about jostling Donovan. “Both my mistress and her step-brother can do it, I think all Blessed can to some extent.” E4 winced, thinking of the pair. “I really wish they were here right now.”

“Buck up, we got this.” He whispered, before closing his eyes. “Just, let me catch a little shut eye.”

“Same old Donovan.” E4 whispered quietly. She crested the hill to the town and saw the fence was under attack. Dozens of withered humanoids slammed on the fence, each dressed in threadbare gowns and pale of skin. One turned to her, its lips pulled back to reveal the long fangs in its mouth and the fang scars on its neck. “Vampires?”

“Maid, what are you doing out there?” Ri’ard exclaimed. “Never mind that, where’s Richard and Corvus? The countess’s dinner seems not to agree with her anymore.”

“Out of my way!” E4 yelled, drawing her crossbow. Immediately five bolts were in the air and in the backs of the vampire spawn. The spawn barely reacted even as Aether began to leak from their backs. One turned, and hissed at E4 just before her claws found its throat. Immediately Aether began to pour forth, and the creature dropped. That got the attention of the rest, which immediately turned on her. “I don’t have time for this!” She yelled, and with a gesture lightning danced from her hand into the first, igniting its chest and sending it stumbling to the ground. The one behind it tripped over it, and the one behind that tripped over it, sending the crossbow bolt deeper. A second bolt sent the entire pile alight with a strange pale flame that seemed to be made mostly of Aether. E4 was already reloading and raised her weapon towards the final of the five just before it dropped, the ravager toxin doing its job. Yet even where five had fallen, so many remained.

“I don’t have time for this.” E4 exclaimed, raising her dagger. “Bio-lightning.”

Immediately her dagger lit up as her arm swelled with hidden capacitors. Sparks danced across her arm, before shooting forth and striking half a dozen spawn. Immediately they were obscured by Aetheric static, and when it cleared nothing remained. E4 grinned, before launching herself into the remaining spawn.

Yet there were so many. E4 cleared the next one with three swipes of her claws, and the one after that with four, but in that time three had surrounded her and one managed to strike her. That one got a rebuke from her tail in the form of a poisoned cut across both legs that rapidly leaked Aether, but there were always more. E4 kept fighting, keeping the attention of the spawn on her. She dared glance where Donovan lay, only to see small hovering black hands carrying him off. “Donovan!” In her distraction one of the brides grabbed her, and another bit into her neck.

That proved to be a mistake. The biting spawn got a dose of ATP rich blood. Had that blood been full of dense myst the spawn would have benefited. Had it been full of Aether rich blood it could have tolerated it. Yet when all those cells, still drawing resonance from E4, registered they were outside of their host body they reacted, poorly. Immediately the liquid blood latched onto the nice dense myst flesh of the spawn, and calcified. The spawn stepped back, retching.

A crack echoed from overhead, and the spawn and E4 were all drenched in a sweet smelling solution. E4 immediately recognized it, “Bio lighting!” The sweet smelling gasoline went up, lighting her and the spawn on fire. The Spawn went up like tinder, E4 dove for the nearby grass, rolling to extinguish the flames. She quickly felt something grab her and struggled to break its grip.

“Girl it’s me, hold still so I can put out the fire.” E4 froze at the words as Hel’en covered her with a thick blanket that extinguished the flames. “You were supposed to step back and let me light the fire, not ignite yourself.”

“I heal quickly.” E4 replied, pushing the blanket off and looking at the remains of the spawn. They lay on the ground, reduced to bones and bits of twitching flesh. “They don’t. Wish I knew they hated fire so much before I started.”

“Come, let’s get you and your friend inside.” Hel’en chided. “What were you thinking taking off without Corvus, how did you even get beyond the fence?”

“He was with me, we flew.” E4 replied as they approached the gate. She saw Stripe waiting by the gate, ashamed eyes looking at her in concern. He approached her, immediately licking her wounds. “Hey, easy boy.”

“Their saliva treats wounds.” Hel’en reminded her. “Cowardly as they are, they do have their uses.” Immediately Stripe turned to Donovan, his stretcher still held aloft by tiny shadowy hands, and sniffed before ignoring him. With a gesture Hel'en pulled him towards her. “What’s with this one?”

“Corvus struck him with some sort of feather attack. I managed to treat the surface wounds, but I fear he has internal injuries.”

“Well let’s get him inside and I’ll take a look. Blessed tend to heal internal injuries fairly quickly, remember you’re not as reliant on biology as you used to be.” She put a hand on his chest. “Tsk, not even charged. Even one of those spawn could have dropped him. Change in plans, get him into the coffin and get him charged. That should fix up the damage.” She eyed the standing stones, which were already opaque with Myst. “Hit the standing stones first. The Myst can smell desperation, maybe it will give you something good as a bargain.” She sighed. “This town is probably doomed, might as well get some good out of it.”

“What do you mean?” E4 asked.

“Look around you, with how heavy The Myst is we’re going to be crawling with creatures of The Myst shortly. The countess has been making spawn like that for years, but they never actually came out of the pit she dumps them in.”

“She, makes those?” E4 asked. “And you just let her?”

“I’m Myst Cursed, I can’t even approach her castle without getting sent back here. Used to be The Butcher lived In that castle. He’d come by, put a bounty on some rare creature, and a Regulator would come by and bring it to him. He’d decide they would make a good meal and either they’d get butchered or escape. Maybe they’d lose a Myst Folk now and again, but that was the deal. It provided stability, helped remind the Blessed we’re not invincible. A cut of 100-200 charge steak prepared by The Butcher was often a rite of passage, used during your ascension to the second tier. We all did it.”

“You make him sound like a early-mid game boss.” Donovan spoke up.

“Donovan, you’re awake.” E4 worried. “Don’t worry, we’re going to get you fixed up.”

“I heard, but this is important information. You say this guy was someone the blessed often bothered.”

“Often no, never without preparation. Beating the Butcher was one of the final tests before you hit second tier. Yet The Myst does not let anything go to waste. If The Butcher died his spirit would return in time, and a new butcher would rise. The face and hungers may be different, but we knew he’d always be back.” She paused. “Except this time he didn’t. Come, we’re wasting time we do not have.”

E4 helped Donovan get into position and helped him tap the standing stone. Before her plopped a bag of ingredients, beans, tomatoes, and garlic that seemed to that gleamed with its own internal light. She also received the usual coins and a few eggs. Donovan received a set of mechanical gloves, a hefty bag of red peppers, a container of beef emblazoned with a butcher’s knife, and a large copper cylinder that crackled with Aether. In the center, resting on a pillow, sat a hefty wooden stake. Next to it was a gleaming set of power armor, just Donovan’s size.

“No, do not take it.” E4 spoke up quickly. Hel’en shot her a disapproving gaze

“Why not, it’s right there.” Donovan said weakly.

“If you take it the creature of The Myst will know where you are and come after you. See that stake, I bet blood and bones it would be Countess Von Veil.” E4 turned to Donovan. “Did anyone teach you this stuff?”

“I woke up on the ground in damaged armor. Protocol dictates if we become cut off from command we are to connect to the local government and support the relief efforts of the afflicted and the purification of the lost. Countess Von Veil was surprisingly helpful, especially after I showed her guards how to use the armor.” He rubbed his head. “Now that I think about it, she was strangely persuasive, and her people took right to it. Like, they were already trained. But still, there were a set of those stones in the castle, and we’ve been taking the stuff from the center all the time.”

“You fool, have you been killing the things attacking the castle?”

“We were, but they started to get tougher. Lumbering brutes that brushed off our rounds and became immune to our fire.”

“That is why you move on, so The Myst does not get used to you.” By this time they were in the guild hall. Hel’en lead them into the basement, then off to a side room E4 hadn’t noticed. Inside were several machines, and the coffin. “Strip, leave everything out here except for the container. We’re on a time crunch, and that catalyst will make the process faster.

“So, what is this thing?”

“So, how it was described to me and from what the books I’ve read say, when we come here our souls coalesce raw Myst from around us to make a body.” E4 explained, before going into a more detailed explanation. “If you like, you can think of it like optimizing your genetic code.”

“More than optimizing, rebuilding and enhancing. Mightier, smarter, faster, tougher, all around better than you were before.”

“Funny, I know a few folks who tired that. Didn’t work so well.” He chuckled before asking, “Think you could rig it that I get some fire protection?”

“The Myst bestowed you charged garlic for protection and chilies for fire. A pot of extra spicy garlic chili would likely give you exactly that. If you ask nicely, maybe someone will make some.”

“No problem, I’ll even save you some.” E4 replied, which made Donovan chuckle.

“You know, you remind me of an old friend of mine.”

“Really?”

“Yes, an old friend I lost a long time ago. A friend I hope to see on this side, if God allows.” He closed his eyes. “Ready.”

“Wait, what do you mean by,” The coffin closed and with a loud whirr the machines lit up. Sparks began to ladder, and gauges shifted. “Wait, what was that last part?”

“No clue, but I can’t stop the machine now that it’s going.” Hel’en replied. She eyed one of the machines. “I might not be able to use my old self’s Intellect score, but I’d guess you have about 8 hours until the machine’s done. Plenty of time to start that chili and maybe thin out the horde of creatures a few times. I have a feeling they’re going to get bad soon.”

“I see, I’ll get to work then.”

E4 quickly found her way to the kitchen and got to work.

[[Currently Ravager isopods can only be created at tier 0. Once patient Wallace Donovan is Tier 1 he will be unable to receive a ravager isopod.]] E4 continued cooking, finishing up slicing the garlic before placing them in the pot.

“Red Queen, how many times did we sneak an isopod into someone’s eye or force them to become a ravager?”

[[3 times you used subterfuge and 2 times force was used.]]

“Wait, we actually did that?”

[[Records indicate it was tried twice, in one instance the potential ally became an aberrant cannibal and consumed fifteen individuals before being put down, in the other they immediately jumped off the building they had previously been cornered on. You personally used subterfuge 3 times, once slipping a ravager isopod into a woman’s contact container, once tricking an individual into a pool full of ravager isopods, and once leaving a ravager on the cheek of a comatose patient you were treating.]]

“But that patient was suffering from a coma and was going to be terminated if she didn’t wake up.” She huffed. “Lindsey made a great ravager anyhow, just took her a few days to come around.”

[[Incident disregarded. Two incidents remain. The former, Fang James Rockwell went on to turn evidence against the purifier group, which stalled them for two years before they overthrew the country formerly known as Canada and attempted to execute him. He survived the attempt before retiring to the nation formerly known as Cuba. Purifier Rhiana Green underwent surgical removal of her isopod. By that time the isopod had fully consumed her occipital lobe. She did not survive the procedure.- Red Queen]]

“Yeah, that’s about the time Donovan and I stopped talking.” E4 remembered. She did not speak until the chili was simmering. She drew an isopod from her eye and, with a little work, made an automatic stirrer. “You know what to do right?” The isopod, who now was connected to three seperate wooden spoons gave a small salute before using a third spoon to take a bite of the chllie. “Not too much of that, there has to be enough for three people.” She eyed the eight gallon pot which was three quarters full. “Hope we have enough. Red Queen, can you set an hour long timer?”

[[1:00:00 set]]

E4 took off the apron she had found in the kitchen and made her way to the fence. Awaiting her were several dozen withered figures covered in scabbed over skin. Several of the townsfolk were stabbing them with spears, but the hardened scabs seemed to act as armor, deflecting the points.

“Here goes, Aetheric boost.”

[[Notice: I do not think you need to speak a skill to use it-Red Queen]] Regardless E4 jumped over the fence and landed without a sound. Immediately she charged, slashing into each spawn before moving to the next. Half of the spawn noticed, but half did not. The ones who did notice began stumbling after her, their nerves already numb from the scabs and dead flesh further numbed by the toxin. Already slowed by the poison E4 had no problem taking them apart one by one, lashing out at joints at first, as the toxin continued to slow their movements. One tripped, and received a claw through the temple for its negligence. The remaining ones were barely moving by this point, and were dispatched with ease. The ones at the fence were already down for the count by the time E4 returned, the toxin combined with the Myst Folk spears having done their work. Hel’en was already outside the fence with a pair of pliers pulling fangs, while two spawn just out of range of the spears were being held down by shadowy hands.

“Are those valuable?”

“Actually yes, you can submit them at the guild as evidence that you have slain the creature, and every year the guilds gather them up in a huge pile within the standing stones and set them alight.” She drew a knife and threw it into the throat of one spawn, and a shadowy knife broke off to penetrate the forehead of the other. Both went still, and she gathered four more fangs.

“Really?”

“Oh yes. If you cannot wait you can place them in the standing stones when you tap them and get additional rewards. Most times it’s just more money, but some regulators claim you can get specific materials or ingredients for the right combination. Personally, I always found they worked better as ingredients. You can extract the last bits of vampire spawn venom from them to make a potent analgesic. A blacksmith could turn them into blade points, with interesting properties. Fortunately these aren’t true undead, and neither are their mistress.”

“Really?”

“Countess Von Veil may style herself as a vampire, but her real name was Cla’de’dar when she was a Myst Folk. Does she still eat coins?” E4 nodded, even as Hel’en took another coin. “A true undead would not bother. We Myst Cursed can consume coins to boost our power temporarily, some Myst folk can do it too in order to extend their life. I suspect it’s why she’s taxing us so hard, she wants to generate enough density to become a true undead.”

“And that’s bad, right?”

“Extremely, especially cut off from the rails as we are. With no way to escape our souls would be consumed by her, and this town would soon belong to the undead. Her minions could reach out to other towns, and tied back to her The Myst would be unable to stop them. Only if someone from another town was able to track the undead back to her would they be able to slay her, and then we’d be free. That could take years, years of torment.”

“And we’d still be dead.” Hel’en didn’t agree. “Right?”

“Worse, we’d be cursed. Getting killed by an undead is how I ended up like this.”

“Wait, what?”

“You haven’t figured it out yet?” Hel’en asked. “We’re already dead, I’m not sure if this is Heaven’s basement or some weird circle of Hell Dante did not visit, but we’re dead.” She gestured wildly to the Myst folk around her. “These guys, geists and spirits sent to keep us thinking we’re still in the mortal plane.”

“Really?” E4 looked over at Ri’ard who was holding a spear and quietly motioning for them to come back inside. “Well I think that spirit is trying to get us inside, and I can’t exactly blame him.”

“They aren’t real! They are the product of our dead minds as we fade into nothingness!” E4 looked at the woman as she promptly tripped over one of the spawn.

“Are you high?”

“I might have had a few coins.” E4 couldn’t see her eyes, couldn’t see if her pupils were dilated. “But I do know this, being cursed is bad. You are trapped in whatever back water town The Myst sends you to. Worse, you won’t always realize it! When I was Blessed I met Cursed who saw nothing wrong with the world around them. They thought they were still alive, thought NOTHING was wrong with there being monsters that just appeared. They remembered nothing about Earth. They thought SPONTANEOUS GENERATION was NORMAL!”

“Hel’en, calm down.” Ri’ard said, taking her by the arm. He hugged her and stroked her hair. “It’s going to be alright, you’re going to be fine. Go home, get some sleep.” He turned to E4, “She needs her rest, please leave her be for now.”

E4 took a moment to consider the matter before beginning her trek back to the guild hall to check on Donovan.

“Please do not let it concern you.” A man said as she passed him. “Do not let Dr. Hel’en worry you, she gets like this when she’s been up too late.” A woman spoke, completely dropping the conversation she was having with another woman. Just outside the guild hall a young boy pulled on E4’s skirt. “Don’t let Dr. Hel’en worry you.” He promptly skipped off.

“Red Queen, does that seem strange to you?”

[[Qwery: Do you mean that three individuals have approached you regarding the same incident over the course of 5 minutes despite not witnessing said event, or that The Hymn has been telling everyone around you to encourage you to disregard the matter?]]

“Both, I don’t think The Hymn knows I can hear it, or it doesn’t care enough that I know.” She paused. “Do you think she was right, if I was killed by an undead, would I come back as a Myst Cursed?”

[[There is only one way to find out. Mara does not encourage self termination except in especially rare situation. Remember, in the event of an emergency the isopod in your skull can serve as a consciousness escape device which can regrow the rest of your body given adequate time and resources. Notice: Mara has taken an interest in how this would work in The Distant Shores. This is, however, a low priority and should only be performed if the situation arises.]]

Checking on the food, as well as Donovan, E4 found both were coming along nicely. A quick bite, or two, of the chilli sent waves of warmth down her spine, and she could almost feel the skill forming. After a few minutes of rest she went back to the surface, to find the standing stones already full of Myst, and creatures of The Myst banging on the fence.

“Is this normal?” She asked, tapping the stones. When no one answered he jumped the fence again. “Alright, who’s first?”

Spawn fists met ravager claws, and where they had numbers E4 had speed. Yet this time around they were a little faster, and when she tried to peel off a few of the spawn the rest of the horde followed. “So you’re not making this easy for me?” She drew her blade and fired a bolt of bio-lightning that fried several, but of those struck only two stayed down. “Bleeding Havoc, are you guys tougher? She dove in, harassing the horde and punishing any that overreached, yet this group was faster. Twice she darted in to punish an overreach, only to catch a blow from one of the other spawn. “You’re getting faster huh?” E4 ran back to the gate, slipping in before the spawn could get to her. “Anyone have some kerosine? Anyone?”

One of the Myst folk brought forth a small wrapped bundle. E4 took it, and immediately an icy chill went down her spine as she unwrapped it. It was a grooved off sphere labeled ISC-9. With only a moment’s hesitation the grenade was in the air, and the ground before them was reduced to a sea of lambent purple flames. So hot were the flames that even getting near them the spawn burst into flames and fell to the ground. E4 watched the flames burn for exactly 18 seconds before the fuel was expended. So hot were the flames it did not even have a chance to spread. Even when the flames were gone E4 remained, staring at the small wasteland she had so easily created.

A wasteland that brought back memories she would rather forget.