I drove for another couple of hours, Crossing New Mexico then into Colorado. I found a rest stop that was quiet and knocked out my first daily quest. Limericks counted thankfully. I couldn't remember any good poems.

The air was cooler here, it wasn't by much, maybe 5 degrees or so but it was noticeable. The elevation was already much higher. Something about the land felt different.

[ You have completed Daily Quest 1

You get 1 MC and 50 credits. ]

Since I hadn't seen another car in over an hour, I chose to sit on the ground for a spell and dig into my options.

[ Meta Options

Advanced Guide Information Popups - 3 MC

Advanced Daily Quests unlocked - 3 MC

Add Extra Daily Quests - 3 MC to add 1 Quest per Day

Collapse Exp Framework: Category Level - 5 MC

Collapse Exp Framework: Character - 10 MC

Add Random Encounter - gain 1 MC per encounter added

Subtract Random Encounter - 1 MC per encounter subtracted/may not be reduced below 1 per day

One Hour Unobserved Time per day - 10 MC

Protection from Malicious Manipulation of Random Encounters - 100 MC ]

That was what I wanted! I was sure of it. I tried to buy Collapse Exp Framework: Character.

[ Cannot Purchase requires Collapse Exp Framework: Category Level ]

Fuck that would burn most of my Coins. Aw hell, I did it anyway.

[ Collapse Exp Framework: Category Level purchased.

All Exp Types are reduced to the Base Category Level.

Costs do not change. ]

I checked my Stats.

Stats Exp: 2100 Mana: 11/12 Physical: 15 Str: A Dex: B Con: S Mental: 12 Int: C Will: C San: D Social: 13 Cha: B App: B Man: C

YES! It did exactly what I hoped it would, reduced the complexity of the Exp system. Of course, I bought the next one.

[ You have Completed Daily Quest 3

You get 4 MC and 1000 credits ]

I got most of the Coin back and some creds to boot. Great. I made my next purchase.

[ Collapse Exp Framework: Character purchase.

All Exp Categories are reduced to Character Exp.

Some Exp costs reduced. ]

I checked my Character Sheet. I cackled Maniacally.

Just one damned Exp. Type to deal with. All Exp was Character Exp, just like most Games ever made. Now if we could get it from an expenditure format to a milestone setup. Then get Skills and Abilities to "grow by doing". I'd be the happiest Camper.

As tensions drained, little sparks of emotion started reaching me.

My frustrations had blocked them out before. I needed to learn to maintain calm.

A cacophony of interactions between countless small plants, higher notes of bigger emotions from scrubs and larger still from the few trees in the area. Counterpoints of small moving bundles of feelings, insects and small animals. This was right, as thing should be.

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I flared Perfect Soil.

A 20' sphere of soft green tinged light expanded out from my feet, and where it touched the earth the nature of the ground shifted. The balance of phosphates and nitrogen improved. The micronutrients more flush. Where plants actually grew, the soil in their vicinities tilted more towards their specific needs. All for only one point of Mana.

The energy of the Ability also lingered, adding a touch of, for lack of a better word, flavor. How long that would last I didn't know. That flavor seemed to be the signature of my mana. An idea was starting to form of how this could build, making a place more mine.

I used Plant Growth.

The same type of light sphere. The nearby vegetation visibly grew, maybe 10 percent, and seemed hardier, their color more eye catching.

Excitement and joy. Such a good feeling.

Ambling back to the Van, I could sense a presence. A beat sounded in my ears, low and slow. It wasn't within human hearing range, but to me it was loud.

There Floating about 30ft up, a man. Blond hair, bronze skin, chiseled features, wearing a skintight white suit with black accents. No cape, thank all the Stars. An easy smile creased his face, bright green eyes shining with amusement. An aura of friendliness surrounded him. If his color scheme had been Red and Blue, I would have thought it was Awesomeman himself.

Power surrounded him, not quite mana, similar but different.

"You Victor?" A more mellow voice than expected.

"Uh, yeah?" No Clue where this was going.

Quicker than my Alfar senses could follow, he was suddenly next to me and shook my hand. "Hey, good to meet you! I'm Charlie but everybody calls me Powerstream. How're you doing?"

I guess SEPT read him in to my situation.

"Wow. So fast. What? OH, I'm trying to pull my head together, it's been a quite a ride." Dangerous as this was, his personality disarmed me. Fortunately, not literally.

GIPs finally caught up.

[ Charlie Burnick - Powerstream

Tier 0 integrating to Tier I (42%)

Threat: Extreme ]

Holy Fuckballs. Not even integrated and I bet, he could've pasted me. Right well now I have to get the upgrade.

[ You have purchased the Advanced Guide Information Popups. ]

Let's try that again. Go Go Magic Eyes.

[ Charlie Burnick - Powerstream

Tier 0 integrating to Tier I (42%) Estimated Completion: 4 days

Stats: Physical 35 / Mental 20 / Social 30

Abilities: Flight IX, Plasma Breath V, All Sight VI

Trait: Invulnerability VIII, Mevtonian X,

Threat: Extreme ]

Duh Hell! Was. Dat? Paste? There wouldn't even be a speck left.

"Is there something on my face? I move too fast, and sometimes there's bugspatter." I chuckled at him frantically wiping his face. I sort of got this was an old joke. Probably told to relax star-struck folks.

"No, no just thinking man. I get lost in my head sometimes." Shook my head. Both sides of my blood said not to fuck with this guy.

"Ah gotcha. Everyone says, I don't think enough." He frowned, "I try but sometimes things just have to be done, even if a few buildings get destroyed." Another joke trying to get people to underestimate him, maybe? I mean that would have been the dumbest thing to do. Right after don't stick your head into a nuclear reactor.

"So were you looking for me, Charlie?" I couldn't get a good read on him. Honest or just a real good actor? Play it cool.

"Yes and No, I was just up North, Harold called me up, said there was a situation. Filled me in on your story. I guess it was solved if you are here." His smile loss a couple of watts. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Yeah, I managed to survive. For now. Figured it was time to head to the hills. This isn't over and I don't want anyone to get hurt." Think good thoughts. Awesomeman knock off isn't real and he can't hurt you. Except, he's. Right. There.

"I get it. Maybe, I can help."

"There a neat little Town of Supers in the White River Area. Name's Ravell kept off the maps, so some good people have a place to get away from the pressure. Here, I'll show you." He pulled a Cellphone out of somewhere. Not going to think about it.

He fiddled with his screen a bit. "Here we go." Tilted the phone so I could see, "Make like you're heading to Aspen, but see here this gravel road that looks like a drive way? Take that, you'll hit a tunnel, on the other side, the road gets better and it's a straight shot to Ravell. Only way into the town. Just look for the Watch for Crows sign." He chuckled like it meant something.

I was nodding along. "With only one road what's the supply situation like?"

"It's good, they have a pad. Oh you don't know about those. Teleport pad, they get pretty much everything. Here's the best part, it abuts the Liveman creek area, miles of Forest to get lost in. No hiking trails, you might get a Park Ranger or a survival nut, but it's not likely." His grin was infectious.

"Sounds perfect, I head up and check it out. Thanks, Charlie." I offered my hand.

"Great! Stay Safe Victor!" We shook. Then he was just gone. That fast. Scary.

You know what bothered me most? Just how far could he see? To have found me like that in the middle of nowhere.

After my hearts settled down, I continued my drive. A few more hours down the road, I stopped to rest in a small town, it had a nice hotel and cool little 50's style diner. It was done up in neon, had a great Jukebox, and the waitress even had skates.

After I scarfed down a huge meal of Burgers and Fries with a couple of milkshakes, I walked out to the woodlands surrounding this little place to meet the Daily Random Encounter.

I geared up, armor strapped on and spear in hand. Hopefully, ready for whatever came. I passed the time just connecting with the local wildlife and emptying my mind into the cognizance of natural order.

The Portal was a greenish Blue.

Out of it sauntered three of the most interesting creatures I had ever laid eyes on.

Head and front half was a giant black furred wolf, the back half covered in dark feathers like a raven's. Though the positioning was more conducive to the quadruped body, and the claws were more raptorial. Huge wings also styled as a raven's sprouted from their shoulders. I barely had to till my head down to look them in the eyes, and what I saw there encouraged me to think this wouldn't end in a fight.

The felt inquisitive, almost playful. Ah, they were young. Like yearling wolves, mostly able to take care of themselves, but still curious and energetic.

They didn't feel off, or dissonant to the environment. The knew their role in the cycle of life.

I so wanted to be friends. Course, I know better than to have thought it'd be so easy, as to just stick out my hand, but I had to try.

I tried to project friendship at them, "Hello, there." My blood and mana stirred, churning with purpose, connecting lightly with these Great Beasts. We had stood still for a few minutes at this point.

I gave them a once over.

GIPs

[ Unnamed Species Rating: Tier III

Stats: Physical 20/Mental 11/Social 35

Abilities: Stealth III, Flight IV, Bite V, Claw II

Traits: Unknown..., Keen Senses (Smell, Hearing) VI, Unflagging III ]

The lead, Ravolf / Rolf/ Raolf / Woven / Woen, hmm Woen remind me of something, I'll call them Woen for now.

The lead Woen chuffed at me as he approached. Cautious steps. Ready to bounce away, or pounce forward. My mana frothed and flowed between us. He took huge sniffs of the air, to get the read on my scent. More time passed this way. Patience.

My mana snapped into a firm cord.

His emotions and thoughts became far clearer. They were searching for a new territory to start a new pack. His females were soon to grow fertile.

"How about joining a pack with me?" A lilting tone crept into my voice some ancient instinct. The Alfar blood for sure. "I'll help you guys find a home. I'm looking for one myself." It was enough common ground to join us together. A Home.

Then I was buried by excited yipping and licking. We wrassled, (AN: this is intended) and played. Happy to have found company. Both strangers in a new World.

The Portal vanished.

It took hours to stop laughing.

That's how beast taming works I guess. It just helps you communicate. It was my link with nature that did the most work. Helping us with an awareness of purpose, and place.

Instead of going back to the hotel, I decided to sleep under the stars.

With my new friends.