I wake up in a daze with the Quest notification still in my vision. “So it wasn’t a dream?” Well, no reason why I shouldn’t listen. Still in a daze, I tell a coworker that I don’t feel well. I leave my office and make my way back to my apartment. Encountering no issues on the road I successfully make it home. Checking the clock as I enter my apartment, 3:37pm. I climb into bed while swiping at a new notification, not bothering to read it. "Why am I so exhausted?"
Quest Completed!
Reward: Mad Science starter kit, Privacy field until completion of Initialization.
Beginning Initialization…
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Initialization Complete…
I wake from another dreamless slumber, the memories of yesterday still fresh on my mind. Time to see what has changed and accept my quest rewards. Basic instructions on how to interact with my version of The System begin to flow into my mind.
“Status"
Name: ______ (please choose a new secret identity)
Villain Name: ______ (assigned through notoriety)
Mad Scientist lvl 1. XP (0/250)
Skills: Design 0%, Create 0%, Inventory 0%, Efficient Creations 0%
Additional Abilities: Untapped Potential 0%, Quest System 10%
Inventory: 1 Starter kit
Quest Log: (please choose a new Quest)
Hmm I have the perfect name.
“System, from this moment on you shall refer to me as Doctor Eric Von Ilman.”
Accepted.
Name: Dr. Eric Von Ilman.
Now, let’s see what all my Abilities do. I mentally select each item listed under my status screen.
Design: Design inventions.
Create: Create inventions.
Inventory: A portable sub space for holding items. 25 slots, up to 1000 lbs per slot. Items stack. Time is stopped within sub space.
Efficient Creations: Extra durability and power to inventions.
Untapped Potential: The ability to upgrade.
Quest System: Accept quests to gain additional XP and items.
Seems simple enough. I should open my quest reward.
I mentally activate my inventory and a 5x5 grid appears within my mind. I select the only filled slot and imagine the item appearing in my hand. A small 6 inch long box hovers in the air ahead of me. I reach out and grab the box, flicking the lid off as soon as it rests in my palm. Inside the box is a matte grey multi tool. The multi tool has a solid exterior, it can be folded open to reveal a pair of pliers and 5 assorted tools on either side. I inspect every inch of the multi tool and receive a system notification.
Multi-Tool of Madness: A simple but indestructible Multi tool.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Well, indestructible I can work with. Next, I select the Quest System and look through my options.
Quest Log:
1. Rob your neighbor: Pick any person living within 1 mile and steal at least $1000 from their home. (25xp + 1xp per additional $100)
2. Rob a gas station: Steal at least $1500 cash or goods from a gas station. (50xp + 1xp per additional $100)
3. Mug a stranger: Rob at least one person. (xp rewarded based on difficulty and number of targets.)
You may only choose 1 quest.
Well, obviously I’m choosing the closest option.
Quest Log: Rob your neighbor.
I know Jerry across the hall just got a new TV. That should be worth enough by itself. I check the time, it’s 11am. Jerry should be at work. He could come home for lunch though. Better to play it safe. I’ll wait a few hours.
While I was waiting I decided to play with the design interface. The interface was simple, having only a field to input my idea. Since I have the time, let’s try making an automatic lock pick. I input the name and The System gave me three slots to fill to make the device. The first slot was the piece inserted into a lock. I was given a small list of acceptable parts to choose from. One of my options for the head was a metal coat hanger. I grabbed that out of my closet and put it in my inventory.
Once the coat hanger was in my inventory I selected the second slot. All the options were some form of motorized device. I went into my kitchen and grabbed am electric hand mixer. I placed it into my inventory and The System accepted the mixer in the second slot. I inspected my options for the third slot and found that it was for a power source. I decided to keep things simple and just used a 9 volt battery.
I placed the battery into my inventory and slotted all three items into the design. The System gave me confirmation that it would work. However, nothing happened.
What am I missing?
Then I remembered the create skill. I selected the skill and was given the option to choose a design to create. I chose the auto lock pick and slotted in the hanger, hand mixer and 9 volt battery. The System gave confirmation and combined the items in my inventory.
Auto Pick: Will pick any mundane lock with relative ease.
+100xp for first creation. 10% Design for first design. 10% Create for first creation.
+15xp for new creation. 5% Design for new design. 5% Create for new creation.
115/250xp to next lvl
The Auto Pick wasn’t a beautiful creation. The coat hanger was sticking out the front with the tip being poorly flattened, looking like a pair of pliers were used to squeeze it. The 9 volt battery was just taped to the side, not even plugged in.
Hopefully this works better than it looks.
I check the time and see I still have about an hour until I’ll feel safe robbing dear old Jerry. I check my status and see that I earned 10% in both design and create. Seems self explanatory.
55 minutes later. “It’s go time!”
I step out into the hallway and confidently approach Jerry’s door. I summon the Auto Pick from my inventory and slide the tip into the deadbolt lock. I squeeze the trigger and watch in amazement as it unlocks within a second. “muahahaha I can do anything! I can go anywhere! No measly hunk of metal can keep me out!”
I open Jerry’s door and jump through into his apartment. I look around for anything of high value. Well, I am definitely grabbing the TV. I quickly March up to the TV, a 60 inch flat-screen mounted on the wall. I pull out my Multi-Tool and begin unhooking the TV from its mount. Once it is unsecured I toss the TV into my inventory.
$1237/1000 Quest will complete once items are stored in your base of operations.
Might as well grab as much as I can while I’m here. Heh I’m sure Jerry won’t miss his fridge.
I go through Jerry’s kitchen and grab his fridge and microwave. I move out of the kitchen, into his bedroom. On his dresser there is a nice looking watch. I nab the watch as I continue looking around for anything expensive looking. Nothing else stands out and I don’t want to deal with a bunch of cheap shit.
Well, this has been fun.
I confidently stroll out of Jerry’s apartment and back into mine. I check the Quest Log before I unload my haul.
$2658/1000
I move my couch out of the way and deposit my bounty in the middle of the room. I prop the TV up against the fridge with the microwave next to both. I loop the watch around my wrist and admire it. The watch is black with gold accents, clearly an older model. I like the way it looks, so I decide to keep wearing it. After I stop admiring the watch I receive a notification from The System.
Quest Complete! +25xp +16xp bonus +5% Quest System
156/250xp to next lvl
Damn, I didn’t level up from that? I need to do a few more quests. I’ll check my quest Log and see if I have enough time for what it offers.
Following my thoughts I activate my Quest Log and check the offered quests. The options listed are the same as before except the robbing a neighbor quest.
Rob your neighbor II: Pick any person or persons living within 1 mile and steal at least $2500 from their home. (50xp + 1xp per additional $100)
I accepted Rob your neighbor II and checked the time. My new watch reads 3:23pm. Plenty of time for another robbery or two. With the auto pick I should be able to hit a few more apartments no problem.