Once I returned to The Commons, I took a moment to soak in all that had transpired. All that I had learned or failed to learn. And here I was, standing in Spawn Alley where my journey began many cycles ago.
Full circle. But not really.
So much had changed since my first awakening into this dark and violent world. And yet, it was a world not without hints of beauty and wonder.
I opened my menu and scrolled all the way down to my Subroutines submenu. I erased some of my old notes and replaced them with new ones. A renewed set of tasks. A vision for my next steps. I knew what I needed to do.
I opened my full menu and beheld my progress. The comprehensive record of my True Self (™) according to Reality Inc.
[DESIGNATION
* VOLUNTEER ID
* 01001110 01101111 01100010 01101111 01100100 01111001
* ALIASES
* MAGPIE
* COSMETICS
* * WAVY ASYMMETRICAL CROP (hair)
* ALMOND (skin tone)
* MODS
* NEURAL-INTERFACE AXIS PORT
* B3-9S7-C10K CHIP (10,000 Crypt storage)
* OCULAR PORT
* B1-N0C-PRCPT-I 1 (+20 Perception / 4x zoom)
* ROUND TABLE SMART INK
* 5% ARMORY DISCOUNT
STATISTICS
* ATTACK - (40)
* STRENGTH - 20
* ACCURACY - 20
* DEFENSE - (30)
* ESSENCE - 20
* RESISTANCE - 10
* ABILITY - (40)
* ADEPTNESS - 10
* ENERGY - 30
* MOVEMENT - (30)
* SPEED - 20
* AGILITY - 10
* PROCESSING - (50)
* PERCEPTION - 20 (+20 from ocular implant)
* PERSUASION - 10
* PROTOCOL - 10
* PROBABILITY - 10
SKILLS
* Clurichaun (10 metabytes)
* Jiangshi (10 metabytes)
* {empty}
* {empty}
EQUIPMENT
* WEAPONS
* MARK I TRENCH KNIFE (10 metabytes) - 20 damage output
* SNUBNOSED REVOLVER (30 metabytes) - 20 damage output
* 5 / 5 .32 caliber ammunition (chambered)
* +10% fire damage (Hellhound)
* ARMOR (70)
* HELM: N/A
* BODY: TACTICAL JACKET (30 metabytes) - 30 defense (+20 storage)
* BALLISTIC VEST (10 metabytes) - 20 defense
* PROMOTIONAL T-SHIRT (cosmetic)
* ARMS: N/A
* LEGS: TACTICAL PANTS (10 metabytes) - 10 defense (+20 storage)
* TACTICAL BOOTS (10 metabytes) - 10 defense
* ACCESSORIES
* AMMUNITION BELT (10 metabytes)
* 12 / 12 .32 caliber ammunition
INVENTORY
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* CARDS
* FRAGMENTS
* Kappa - 10/10 (10 metabytes)
* CONSUMABLES
* MATERIALS
* MISCELLANEOUS
ECONOMY
* CRYPT
* (negative balance) -1,692 (stored on B3-9S7-C10K chip)
* CRYSTALS
MEMORY
* STORAGE
* 330 / 300 (340) (+40 soft storage cap)
* SCHEMAS
* Tincture of Fortune (fern flower + pure water)
* HISTORY
STATUS
TASKS
* Remove Minotaur from Grand Central Park in Eden West (Complete / Paid Out)
* Remove Jiangshi from Elysian Spires Financial District (Complete / Paid Out)
* Remove Clurichaun from Private Residence in Royal Heights (Complete / Paid Out)
* Remove Hellhounds from MAR Station Service Tunnels (Complete / Paid Out)
>SUBROUTINES
* Capture an invasive entity alive and bring it to Antisoc (Pending)
* Join the Round Table (Pending)
* Retrieve Camel’s map (Pending)
UNASSIGNED VALUE: 0
(ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO BE UNLOCKED AS APPLICABLE)
STORAGE CUBE
* 21 / 100 metabytes
* Voynich Manuscript page (?) (5 metabytes)
* 2 {common} fern flowers (2 metabytes)
* 1 {uncommon} coco de mer nut (1 metabyte)
* 1 white linen cloth (1 metabyte)
* 1 vial of pure water (1 metabyte)
* Minotaur data card fragments - 6/10 (6 metabytes)
* THROWING KNIFE (5 metabytes) - 10 damage output]
I closed my menu. Enough navel gazing.
Carrying my chest of 100 Crystals to the Data Forge, one thing was absolutely clear.
▶ My odyssey is just beginning.
END OF VOLUME I