As my new investments settled in, I found more deadfall and started building a raised platform, it took a couple of hours. The Platform was about 5ft off the ground. I used the hand drill and whittled pegs to secure it, along with judicious application of paracord. Four corner post, four post on the sides, two center posts. All dug into the ground about 3ft.

It held under my weight, but I'm untrusting so I added some crossbeams between all of the posts and some angled bracing posts to the frame. Solid, till the post start to rot at some point down the road. Next time, I'll make the effort to fire harden them.

The surface area of the platform was 30ft squared, big enough for the tent with some room left over. I deployed it up there. Felt stable.

Should be secure from a quick flood. Maybe not the Snowmelt next spring, don't know yet.

[ Hub World Integration 95% ]

I cleaned up a bit using the brook.

I didn't want to get caught in the middle of a task so I browsed the new Purchase Options.

[ Purchase Options Tier II

1 Build/Craft Module - 200 credits

1 Full Repair Kit - 200 credits

1 Item Enhancement Module - 200 credits

1 Book of Starting Rituals - 1000 credits

1 Book of Starting Arcane Spells - 1000 credits

1 Book of Starting Spiritual Spells - 1000 credits

...

1 Steal Trait Potion - 10000 credits ]

Here comes building and crafting, oh joy!

I really wanted to buy the Ritual and Arcane books, but I didn't know what's coming and needed to have enough creds for the first world purchase.

[ Hub World Integration Loaded ]

[ Do you accept? ]

As much as I didn't feel like I had the right to make this decision for everyone on this World, I knew there was really no choice here. Nothing advanced if I decline. They might even have a way to force it anyway.

"Yes."

A wave of pressure and mana and other indescribable energies flashed out from me, and I presumed they would eventually cover the whole world.

A Red Portal Open, vicious and angry.

[ Step through the Portal ]

Oh. I've been here before.

A Demented Gambler's Dream spread before me. Ah, I see they've added new entrails at the Pachinko machines. I'm sure that's a real woman being split on an iron wedge slot machine.

Yup, just a Tuesday. Nothing to see here. This is fine. I'm okay with the events that are unfolding.

Of course, I'm not, but I can't really feel it. As if my emotions had been packed away in cotton.

"Greetings, Victor Simmons, Chosen of the Guide."

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For a blink, I thought it be that Evil Clown again. But the voice was rather pleasant, if a bit off.

It was a 3ft tall pixie girl, if said pixie had visited Metalfunk and gotten Tinkered up. Her enhancements, seemed excessive and almost random. Silver themed. Went well with her dark green hair. Her eyes were covered by a visor, straight out of Star Journey.

"I am M.O.D.A., Mobile Operator Designated for Action. I am here, sent by the Guide, to stand with you as you meet your sponsors. I will enforce the Rules if necessary. You are safe for the duration of this meeting from their Powers and Authorities. You are already owed for some anomalous behaviors and actions on their part. I will assure recompense."

Rapid-fire, I could only follow along due to my enhanced brain. It might sound bizarre but I had no doubt this pixie could lay the smack down, if needed.

"Okay, nice to meet you. Thank you." It's always nice, to be nice.

"I am serving my purpose. Let's meet the Crimson Delights Faction members here today." I would rather not. How about we go out for coffee? Say, in another universe far, far away from here.

We walked the paths of the Casino of Torment, well she floated. Wished I could float. Then I wouldn't have had to step on the squishy blood soaked carpets. I mean hat on a hat levels of try hard.

Endless agonies and countless horrors, visited upon what I'm sure where real people. There was no where safe to look.

Well, at least I didn't break down into insane laughter this time.

We arrived at a huge round table made of a bone frame, with red weeping flesh providing the surface.

The table kept trying to tell me about how it had been trying to reach me about my Car's Warranty. That almost broke me. Whatever force that was protecting my mind, had difficulties against such pure Evil.

Opposite us where 3 figures, one of which was sadly familiar.

The Grand Laughter, in the motley. My skin crawled, my eyes kept trying to avoid it. Thankfully there were other horrible Beings to examine.

Next to the Jester, was a huge hulking Devil, red skin, horns and spikes everywhere, fangs upon fangs. A top hat and bowtie and nothing else. Argh!

The third figure was wrapped in roiling shadow. Real Darkness is the absence of light, this was something. What I couldn't say.

"Victor so good of you to join us." The Devil spoke, his voice far more cordial and urbane than expected. Deep and Dark though.

"Beast." I replied simply. Try to avoiding speaking, I kept repeating to myself in my head.

"Smart. That's why we like you Victor. You have a respect for the Rules. Our Rules."

Uh, okay. I just don't want to owe anything like you. No clue what he was really talking about. Didn't think I wanted to find out.

"Hello Victor, I am The Dead Lord." The Shadow spoke, the cold whisper of the grave. Overly sibilant.

"Hello." Wonder what any of this was about. Why am I HERE.

"Victor, Victor, Victor!" Exclaimed the Clown jumping up and down. Hoarse voice scrapping at my sanity. "You see we are here today, because it is customary for the Guided to meet their sponsors, before the Greater Events start. With the Hub World's integration complete, it is now a Real Place resting with the greater confines of the Omniverse."

Whatever that means.

"An out of the way, well hidden and protected part, but yes." whispered the Shadow.

Well that sounded good for me, but was it?

"Usually it takes a year to absorb a Conceived Hub World into the greater whole. We may have, a little bit, interfered with the process. I mean it is so boring watching someone wander around in a Safe World, while they fumble about with their new gifts. There's hardly ever any fighting, or blood, or death. So irksome." The Beast looked embarrassed, but shrugged, as if to say, "What can you do?"

"Random Encounters." I'm sure I should be angry but dullness is all I feel.

"My Victor is so clever. Yes we twisted the tiniest features of the Start. Of those Chosen by the Guide, I picked you." Fiendish Harlequin, dancing as if they had done something good.

Why would this thing be so interested in me. I shuddered, rejecting anything to do with the thoughts that put in my head. No means NO!

"That is violation one, tell him about the rest." M.O.D.A. tiny but stern. A small beacon of sanity.

"We might have ensured your new DNA was slanted towards the Giantkin side at first, and strengthened those instincts, instead of the more optimal arrangement. Also we suppressed your original emotions. Thus insuring your more bucolic behavior at first." The Dead Lord admitted.

Ah, the increased aggression, lack of questioning, the hunger. The occasional thought of taking a bite out of people.

"As events quickly advanced, your original personality and Elven nature started winning out, so I maybe paid a tiny amount to increase the difficulty of one of your encounters. Knowing full well how that would affect your decisions after that." The Beast Below seemed contrite for about a second and then grinned, "But you defeated them soundly."

As if that made everything alright.

"Three violations, Victor is to be removed from your sponsorship. You have proven to be poor role models. The Guide will now take over his path. We will also remove him from the Witness Program, as he dislikes it. You still owe him one boon."

A boon from these guys?!

"NOOOOOOOOOOO! You can not take my Victor away. I still have yet to show him all the way a soul may be broken. The best methods for skinning your friends. He is my toy. YOU CAN NOT!" The Clown twisted and writhed finally arching backwards then the head twisted around and then turned again so it could look me in the eyes. "YOU WILL BE MINE!"

OH HELL NAH!

Then time stopped, nothing seemed to move.

I had the impression of being at the bottom of a deep ocean no light to see, but I felt vast presences, unknowable swimming around me. Hungry minds wishing to take a bite of me. I was such a small thing, so lost, so alone.

It vanished as a message rang out.

[ It is Done. ]

A Portal Blue and clear appeared.

[ Guided step through the portal. ]

Don't have to tell me twice.

M.O.D.A.'s voice reached me as I all but ran to safety. "I will negotiate your boon. Then, I shall punish these Entities, have no fear."

Too late for that.