Jake, May, 26th 2104.
A few days had passed before Jake had really been able to get back into the game. He had planned about the next step with John and Michael to some detail. Bubba had gone radio silent except to guild leadership and had not been able to help, while Travis was busy on a different server-world dealing with a chaotic incursion.
Jake went to a temple and began the ritual of communication. He was rather surprised to see more than a dozen patrons in a dim field of light when the connection began. Each stood with quite a bit of confidence and were obvious paragons of some aspect of some Law. Closer study revealed it to be less of a law, as though each of those present represented some ethos or set of behaviors that were ideal. Banners suspended from the light in a way both weird and yet correct.
Jake tried to decide which to approach first as he read the list. It was the same as his study had suggested. There were seven banners on which were written, prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice, faith, hope and love.
Beneath the banner labelled prudence stood a woman in a practical looking robe, though lined with a mix of serpents. When Jake focused on her a background opened around her. A city, a throng of people, the pipe in her hands relating a stream of purple notes, freezing snakes in the crowd until her followers could snatch them. In her off hand she held a rod and children clutched at her robes. Her hair was held by a black threefold cord.
Jake looked to the next figure and saw an elderly man. He wore an unused and undrawn blade, but it was obviously well-kept. His black robe was marked with stars and constellations. When Jake focused he saw that visions were revealed. Behind the figure opened a field with multi-metallic statues, an axe with an irresistible cutting force, a fight of incredible violence between different kinds of animals and unnatural beasts. This only ended with the approach of some monstrous behemoth of steel and smoke, though it looked weak in the final approximation.
Third, sat a knight a glare on his face, visor opened by an axe blow, his armor colored by a setting sun and with the knight’s own blood. His horse wheezed with effort. The knight’s shield was marked with a black olive tree. As Jake focused, he saw the battle the knight had just fought through, and his confrontation with his friend and commander.
Unwilling to rush such an important part of his character build Jake looked to the next banner, earning a smile from the woman and the old man and at least a remittance of the glare by the knight.
Beneath the banner of temperance stood a scholar with hardened hands. On his cloak were patterned the golden outlines of three fruits over a purple layer. When focused on translucent, but obviously sound city walls glowed around him.
Next to the scholar stood a man whose muscles seemed to have muscles. He was not posing to make them stand out either, but he clearly had put some work in. Jake focused on him, expecting to hear the sounds of a gym or heavy music, but instead he saw that the man’s armor was alive. Over his clothes he was wearing a swarm of grasshoppers. Behind him opened a vista of this strongman breaking others. With an apparently simple punch he broke armor, with a slap he dissipated a gaseous foe and in the final image he ate half of a honeycomb before offering the other half with a sticky smile.
Beside him stood a man who firmly gripped a blazing staff. When Jake tried to figure out what was special about him, and focused on him. He had to blink and lower his screen’s brightness as the man’s mind glowed with fire and in background he was displayed breaking illusions with his staff. He, like those before him looked watchful, focused and observant. None of these figures could be surprised. Jake knew this instinctively.
He next found fortitude, following the order of the circle and saw a figure with a robe and hooded cloak. When focused on, all background music and sound bled away and he noticed untreated battle wounds beneath the figure’s clothing. Jake turned to the next potential patron hurriedly.
The next was a woman wrapped in a white cloak edged with silver. She wore an intricately worked silver mask with two lambs leaping, covering her mouth and nose. Her off hand rested on a book and from her bag she drew a crystal bottle with a clear liquid throughout it.
After this he saw a rugged farmer, chewing an unidentifiable piece of plant fiber, hands heavily gripping a tool sharper than most swords. When Jake focused on him, he saw the fields open behind the farmer and an that the harvest had been done thoroughly. A storm pursued him.
Next stood a jolly looking man, arrayed in a bright cloak and matching tunic, holding a sack that looked far too big for him. He smiled as he looked forward and Jake noticed after focusing on him that he saw a crown and gold reflected in the man’s eyes. Last under this banner stood a figure covered in scars. He did not look like much, nor did the closer look reveal that much about him, so Jake moved on.
The next banner was that labeled justice. First, beneath it stood a king. His crown was marked with gems and in his hand he held what looked like a cross between a mace and a scepter. His armor shone with honest scrubbing and other than his regalia, he looked almost poor. However, when Jake focused on him he saw a scene of chaotic creatures, monsters not of this world and corrupted men fleeing in terror before him. The scene behind flashed and the king himself bore the headsman’s axe. Again the scene flashed and he was giving a bag of money to someone. His eyes looked like ice, but when the scene cycled back showing battle against the enemies of Law, the man’s sword glowed with a purifying light.
Next to the king waited a judge. If the king was a picture of action, the judge was that of contemplation. He sat on his chair unmoving. When Jake focused on him, he saw a hundred bribes attempted and all dismissed. Then he saw assassinations attempted and fail miserably. A hand of stone forming and striking the offender down with finality and without remorse.
To the side stood a man with a staff. He wore a turban and robe, both dyed white. Behind him appeared a storm, flashing lightning, the sound of a massive choir and the cries against violence. Weirdly, even in this context Jake found it weird, there was then a montage of the man killing some kind of bird, perhaps partridges? He looked for the next potential patron.
Last under this banner stood a radiant figure. The wings were not immediately obvious, but there were a small set on his shoes and helmet. His cloak also looked like it could act like wings. When focused on, instead of appearing among heavenly clouds, as Jake had expected, he saw the figure landing in a desert. Turning the desert into a vineyard and then protecting it with a flaming sword. He led rescue missions, bringing light to prisoners and with the strike of his hand shattered chains. Jake thought he would approach him, but wanted to be sure and looked for the next category.
The next three banners had a different trim and had generally fewer patrons under them. Beneath the banner titled faith stood a full four. The first he focused on was a beautiful woman, her clothing reminiscent of flower’s petals, a lyre (or at least he thought that’s what it was) in her hands. He did not wait for the second view but quickly looked to the next. This was a man in very heavy armor, a sturdy shield in his hand. Jake was impressed and watched with increased focus as the figure deflected arrows, and let fiery darts embed themselves in the thick wood, before forcing his way through to close action and used a direct thrusting attack. Jake turned to the next and saw a man in chains and yet obviously unbroken. A necklace glowed and the chains shattered and then there was a scene of the figure running through a battlefield, healing the wounded with a touch. Impressive, but not the direction Jake wished to move in.
He focused on the last man under this banner. He was dressed in roughly sewn animal skins, clean shaven, but clearly subject to hard labor. Jake almost turned away, unimpressed when the next part played. Behind him were listed the man’s achievements; a vision him defeating the giant kings, a dreamlike image of the man fighting off malefactors unarmed while they bore weapons, a scene of him leading a vast choir, a long march through horrible conditions, an image of him briefly captured by the giants. Jake entered the unknown figure into his mental list of choices, even if what he was wearing now looked like three random goat skins.
Beneath the banner called hope rode two figures; the higher a man on a camel, man and camel alike covered in armor, though the armor was covered in green silk. When focused on, he led a thousand camels in caravan, supplying a besieged city, driving draconic cultists before his lance and bow. For reasons Jake could not exactly understand the sound a heavy wooden machine went back and forth throughout. Stars seemed to grow closer and Jake looked away.
The second and last man under this banner wore a darker green, and rode a lion bigger than a horse! Jake had to spend a while just looking at that. It was covered in scars, but its teeth shone and its eyes flashed and Jake had no doubt that this cat was ready for a fight. The man’s shield was marked with an anchor, three doves and three bears. His lance shone with light and as Jake watched his deeds, he could not help, but be impressed. First the knight, alone an unarmored, dashed through a troop of elves and so confused them that they ended up forgetting he was there as they fought one another. Next, he fought through a dozen orcs and overthrew their dark altars, releasing a woman bound for death. Next he and a thousand others rode with the king against the giants. He measured swords with elite warriors of a dozen chaotic races and was every time the victor.
Beneath the banner titled love stood a single figure in a pure golden armor, spattered still in the blood of his enemies, his sword emanating a terrifying power. When Jake focused on him he saw the figure cut through lions and corrupted creatures with the sword. He confronted a thirteen sorcerers and with the force of his steps destroyed their serpents and with a song in unknown words and sword blows he conquered. Then he fought a band of elves and defeated them in their own defenses. Jake could not see where the titled virtue came into this, but the scene changed. The figure was standing between a horde of dark things and a fleeing stream women and children. He had taken arrows between the joints of his armor, but he held his ground. A second image showed him pulling a wounded man from a trench and shielding the wounded man with his body against the dark magicians chanting.
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Jake pulled back and thought over his options. What were his goals here? He did not want some long and complicated quest now. Maybe a month ago, but he did not have the time. He had already decided that his time in game would be spent on the battlefield. So he thought that could safely rule out the various non-battle looking people. He quickly decided that meant that he could ignore those from prudence, temperance and fortitude, though the knight with the olive tree on his shield was tempting. There were just better offers. The warrior for love scared him. Had he still been using his first character, the heavily armored shield bearer from faith would have interested him, but he wanted to focus this character and so he ruled that man off his list. After reconsidering the other options from faith, he ruled it down to justice and hope. The man on the lion was really cool, cooler than the guy on a camel, but one detail just kept standing out to Jake; the angel-like figure with a burning sword was an angel-like figure with a two-handed burning sword. Where could he possibly get anything else comparable to this?
He approached, his screen’s brightness turned down to rest his eyes. The figure hovered a few feet into the air, but remained silent. Jake was not sure what to do, but he figured it was appropriate to bow. After all, his character was in a temple and this was a patron beyond human limits.
“DO NOT DO THAT!” Boomed a thunderous voice as the figure was suddenly there, hoisting Jake’s character off the ground with a brief and slightly calmer explanation, “I am a servant of Law, just as you are. Do not worship me. Especially, not here!”
Jake got his heart rate back under control and shifted his headphones before interacting further. It was really even more terrifying up close, eyes glowing and the drawn sword obviously giving his character some heat damage. He pushed a button and sent an apology.
The figure hummed and sank to ground level before making a motion and there was a pop-up.
Choose.
[Guardian of the Holy]
[Name withheld] offers you the knowledge of the gardens of forbidden days of yore, with the strict duty to protect them from fey, chaos and unlawful entry by man. While in sight of the hedges of the guardian you may respawn in ten minutes and do +500% bonus damage. While thus entrusted you are safe from all ensorcellments, enchantments and poisons.
[Hunter of Law-Breakers]
[Name withheld] offers you a writ of hunting. With it, you are recognized as a hunter of the chaotic creatures and nature will aid you in this hunt. A few moment’s of conversation with plant or animal will reveal to you the nearest force of chaotic beings, their strength, numbers and whatever else they have gleaned from their following. The very earth cries out for their blood and you will answer it with blood. All damage to known chaotic humans or chaotic races is multiplied by seven. All other damage is divided by three.
[Constant Judgement]
[Name withheld] offers to grant you the ability to pursue Lawfully designated targets. While in the pursuit of these targets, you will be able to manifest wings (vastly increasing speed), ignore most binding effects, and enjoy +2 true/fire damage to all attacks.
Jake read the prompts a few more times and then selected [Constant Judgement] before thinking better of it and pausing to type out, “Could you teach me your sword fighting style?”
The figure blinked and then said, “It doesn’t really suit your style, nor can it be learned quickly, but I do know a move that will work well with you. I will teach you the [Bronze] version if you will accept a quest.”
“What is the quest?” Jake asked somewhat nervously.
“Are you sure you are not better suited to one of prudence’s patrons? No matter. Break five altars that the giants raised over my homeland and I will allow you to have one of my skills. I have marked your map. You will have the skill now, but it will activate, once you have broken the five altars. Do you accept?”
“Yes.”
His character lost a hit point and he got a popup. He made his goodbyes, left the temple and after starting down a road towards the markings on the map, he checked the skill.
[Burning Cut] (Bronze) (Locked.)
When your sword cuts or passes through an enemy there is a chance based on the cutting speed through the target of setting the target on fire. This inflicts basic fire damage for three seconds and then inflicts punishing flame damage for as long as the fire lasts after that and as long as [Name withheld] still has fire energy to supply to the skill. Once unlocked, make 2 000 successful [Burning Cut] attacks to level up the skill.
Jake smiled at that, and then selected [Hunter of Law-Breakers] and started to work out the route he would need to follow to get the best time possible on getting these altars.
Breakdown of the ‘Drums of Chaos Event’ in “Universe of Heroes by Decree,” published on a obscure blog.
Doomsday is nearly on us. Or about a month out, give or take a day, for when this actually publishes. According to the marketing the ‘drums of chaos’ is an event type they have run before. My reading suggests that these are actual drums. Thousands upon thousands of goblins, kobolds and other subjugated creatures will be forced into a field to play the drums. They will then play them until they die. This disturbing ritual is meant to destabilize the whole server-realm. If precedent is followed, a bunch of ‘edge case’ neutrals will reveal a new (or true) allegiance to Chaos. On some worlds this means the ice-giants went from basically peaceful to trying to overthrow the Lawful order. In others, creatures have an obvious change of nature and previous allies of Law retreat to their strongholds in fear or terror. Singers also have it harder.
According to the reports, 100 000 drummers will be entering the drumming area on the 31st of May and they might last till the end of the last month, though I would guess they will not make it through the middle of the month.
I wouldn’t suggest raiding them. It has been tried before, but the drumming effect tends to cause negative effects on Lawful creatures. The list of historical ailments reads like the part of bad medicine advertisement where the narrator suddenly reads everything as quickly as possible; agitation, indigestion, depression, chance of sudden death, madness, creeping rot, narcolepsy, loss of limb, growth of unwanted limbs, hair loss, excessive hair growth, boils, leprosy, bad breath, loss of language ability and disintegration.
Jake, May, 31st 2104.
The altar hunt was going well. Four out of the five proscribed altars had been quickly found and eliminated by Jake and an uncharacteristically quiet Michael.
“Have you been trying to go for a second class?” Jake asked as they rapidly approached the fifth.
“Yeah,” Michael shook his head before saying, “But I am not really sure what to do. The title I want to push is called [On Your Shield]. There are a few ways to earn it, but the easiest one is to parry more damage than your hit point total in a battle, by a multiple.”
“Would a duel help?”
“No. It has to be in battle. I tried to force it with duels, but I ended up just getting the title [Willing Training Aid], which is sort of good for improving my parry skill, but it doesn’t add the active bonuses or the passive to my spear work.”
“How many people do we need to game the system?”
“It needs at least one hundred combatants to be involved and I am worried that I might get another weird blocking title instead of an upgrade to this one, if I am not fighting chaotic enemies.”
Jake frowned and said, “Something is different here.”
Both of their characters slowed and prepared their weapons. They were greeted by a narrow miss with an arrow.
“Well this brings back memories,” Michael said cautiously as he held up his shield and began advancing at the two centaurs, as they drew back their bows. Jake moved behind them and angled his sword. He did not comment, but these were not a favorite foe.
Two more arrows snapped out. One caught on the shield and dropped to the ground, while the other missed both the shield and the shield bearer. One of the centaurs made a mix of a laugh and a donkey’s call, as he gestured to the other’s missed shot. Both centaurs then retreated twenty feet and prepared to fire again.
“This is a problem. Do you have a bow?” Michael said as he blocked both arrows.
“No. They are really hard to use in this game.”
“Yeah.”
Their advance was countered by the centaur angling slightly, staying between them and the altar, retreating twenty feet and unleashing another two arrows. Michael took one on his helmet, but he managed to shatter the other.
“What do we do?”
“I have a patron ability that should pin one of them. They are chaotic, right?”
“I think so. They must be.”
Jake quickly prepared the command and tried to have the world slow down the centaurs. One immediately broke through the encroaching rocks and vines, but the other was distracted. It made a concerned noise, that sounded like a mix of a foreign language and the snort of a horse. Jake rushed forward, his armor sprouting two arrows, as he brandished his sword. The centaur boxed its bow and withdrew two reverse curved swords. At the same time the legs, as though commanded by the mind of another, fought and strained against the world’s command.
Jake made a strike for the head, but could not land a clean hit. The centaur riposted and his step only barely saved him from a heavy thrust. He took his sword into the half-sword technique and drove it into the centaur’s upper body, before rotating the handle like a mace and his title ensured that he shattered a leg. The centaur’s attacks failed to pierce or slice through his armor, while Jake rotated his sword into a more firm grip. He took an arrow in the back, presumably from the other centaur, but the damage was insufficient to stop him. With a powerful stroke he severed the centaur’s front two legs. Then he made a head strike and finished it off.
A quirk of centaur biology was that a stab to the heart was not especially reliable as a means of finishing them off. This factoid was forcibly brought to the forefront of Jake’s mind as he heard a mix between a horse’s squeal and an inhuman snarl of rage, while the remaining centaur, its upper heart partially pierced by Michael’s broken spear.
“I got him, but he has entered a new phase.”
Michael’s shield was marked with two dents that corresponded with hoof marks and his character had clearly been run over.
“You are lucky this is half-pony, not half-Percheron.”
Michael’s retort was lost in a horse-like scream. The centaur came forward, the humanoid-torso almost dangling above the galloping horse hooves, arms flailing, but only below the shoulder. Jake stayed out of its line of sight and then rushed it, sword in a wide swing. It clipped the rear left leg, but did not cut through due to the angle and forces involved. Jake muttered something inarticulate and the maddened monster crashed into Michael and his second spear.
The spear punched through the upper heart, showing that Michael had not realized his previous mistake. The legs kept moving, undeterred by the trauma, while the arms dropped their loosely held swords and grasped for the spear. Michael was trampled over by the charge.
“That’s not great.”
“Yeah, can you keep fighting?”
Michael sighed as he stood and said, “I can do this all day. As long as he doesn’t get a lucky hit through my helmet or on my neck.”
“Thanks for that mental image,” Jake said with an involuntary shiver, “Hopefully, it won’t take that long.”
He tried to bind it in place, by making an appeal to the nearby plants and rocks and they obliged. The centaur’s charge suddenly became an undignified collapse, followed by a heavy roll. Jake stepped forward and finished it with a strike.
“You made that look pretty easy.”
“Justice is best served through salad.”
“What?”
Jake tried to explain, “I got a new ability that lets me try to bind or lightly injure opponents by tripping them or poking them. I got the nearby plants to trip him, so salad.”
“Not all plants are salad,” Michael retorted.
“Yeah, but it is funnier.”
Michael maintained a silence at that remark before saying, “Break the altar.”
Jake flicked out his mace and began the process. He couldn’t wait to see what it was like to do a fight like that, but with the ability to set his opponents on fire.