I crumpled to the ground, thankfully at my campsite. I couldn't move, everything washed over me. I was more myself, and I had a lot to process. I not sure if I cried or just laid there catatonic.
Staring into the Void.
At some point, the Woen came and laid next to me providing support through their presence. They didn't know what was wrong, but they could be by my side, so they were.
The dark depth of the ocean, I was sure that was my mind's way of interpreting the sheer power and scale of the real Beings behind all those Masks. They existed in multiple extra dimensional spaces. That's as stated in most legends and stories. But the reality of their metaphysical MASS, it was too much to really understand. What could I do against that?
Maybe someday, because that was the supposed point to all this right? I grow and evolve and become. like. them.
Oh, they wanted me to become as twisted as them, broken until I could only perceive the world with a cracked lens.
I finally shuddered. It might not have been good, but at least it was movement.
And what was with that fucking Hell Clown, why in all the choices that must be out there did it pick me. I didn't even really know what it was.
The Beast Below, obviously a demon. What kind of demon, ya got me, but a demon none the less.
The Dead Lord, undead all the way, which variety, who could say.
The Grand Laughter, no clue. Could be a Vampire, a Demon, A Devil, an Eldritch entity from the void, even a dark twisted Fae. Some combination of those, something else entirely? I had no answers, and as much as I didn't want to know, that level of obsession just doesn't go away. I'd be seeing that freakshow again, probably when I least expected it.
My fingers were twitching, and little spasms started.
Killing the Goblins hadn't bothered me in the slightest. To the Pits with those scum.
The Mimirians were a little different, sure they have killed me and taken all my treasure and violated my women, if I had any, but under other circumstances we might have been having a drinking contest instead. Nah, I'm okay with it. The Dice were tossed and I'd won. Other than the Jarl, theirs's was a good death. Off to go to their version of Valhalla, I guess.
The rest being more recognizably human hurt a little, but it was a dull ache. Not overwhelming.
Was I really okay with being a killer? Seemed so.
Moreover, was I really okay with being a Giant Elf on the path to what, Godhood? I hadn't and still didn't seem to have a choice. I'd grow or I'd die. That made it real easy.
I sighed, and managed to sit up, still janked up but getting better.
At least now, I had an idea of why everyone seemed so accepting of me on this World. It was suppose to be Safe for me. A place to figure things out. So while I'm sure there were atrocious Villains and everyday assholes out there, something was causing them to lay low for now.
The Woen started licking me in excited greeting, so happy to see me moving.
'What hurt, I'll bite.' Rowdy thought.
I gave them ear scritches. That works even better on the Woen than normal canines, as they can't use those rear talons to scratch their own ears safely.
That was enough moping. Night was falling. I needed to get a fire going.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
After staring into the flame for a while munching from my great diminished Jar of Jerky, sharing bites with my buddies.
[ You have Completed Daily Quest 3
You get 2 Loot Chest (Random), and 1 Authority Core. ]
Must open Boxes!!!!! Maybe I have a problem.
The first roll was 30 flat. That gave me 20 of those silvery metal ingots like I had gotten off the H/H assholes.
The second roll was 76. That gave me a Basic Item Upgrade Module. Hmm tuck that away in my Hiking pack.
I turned to the Authority Core, a shining ball of white energy, surrounded by lattices of a black metal.
GIPs do it.
[ Authority Core
A device to hold and utilize Metaphysical Mass and Energy.
May be filled with Essence, Exp, Stats, Mana or any Exotic Energy.
Must be Bound to be used. ]
"How do I bind it?"
Blood maybe? Works in a lot of stories. I niched my finger and smeared some blood on the orb.
[ Chose Stats or Mana. ]
Uh? For what?
[ Chose Stats or Mana. ]
"Mana?"
I felt something pull at my energy, quite uncomfortable.
Mana: 10/13 (5 mana bound permanently)
Oh! Okay well probably better the Mana then the Stats.
But what does it do?
[ Authority Core Options
Found a Base - 10 MC
Found an Outpost - 5 MC
Alter Hub World Features - Varies
Change Authority Core Appearance - First Time Free
More options currently unavailable. ]
Well I wouldn't want my base to be here, at least not yet, maybe after I put some more effort into building out the camp.
Not sure how the Outpost differs but also filed under later.
Altering the World seemed a bit, much. Maybe if I had some compelling reason down the road.
Change appearance sounds cool but to what? Why. Looked neat as it is.
No pretty sure what I needed now was a change of scenery.
"Okay, let's do this!" Tried to psyche myself up.
[ You have Purchased a randomly selected New World to integrate into Hub World for 10000 credits. ]
[ Please Roll the Dice. For the Theme.]
Percentiles 48%.
[ Dystopian Near Future. ]
[ Roll for the number of Worlds to be used as part of the Theme. ]
A Four sider. 3.
[ Three Worlds shall be combined. ]
[ Roll for First World, this will form the core of the Theme. ]
Percentiles 91%.
[ The First World is Metalpunk 2121. ]
Oh Dear. Whelp that's scrudged. Still, I know a little about the setting and can maybe find a way to thrive.
I rolled again, 22%.
[ The Second World is Xenos: Flesh-hunt ]
No, no, no, no, no, no! No face Glompers and Chest Eruptions, Argh! No, no, no. Terrifying!
But hey, space travel!
I rolled again, 02%.
[ The Third World is Arbiter. ]
There are three different Series that could be. One of them would be visually similar to Metalpunk, just with better Law Enforcement. One would have space battles and alien fuckwads to kill. The last would be full of Cannibals, Vamps and Psychic douches. Tough to say which is worse.
[ World Conceived. ]
[ Please Choose Starting Options. ]
[ Knowledge Level
Basic, you know the general everyday things. - 3 GC
Advanced, you have an excellent grasp of the History, Geography and Lore - 6 GC
Expert, You know where the Bodies are buried. Warning exploitative. - 9 GC ]
No hesitation I buy Advanced. Oh, it was the first Arbiter. Hey maybe I'd get to meet Arbiter Fred. I had better not break the Law. Looks like it will be way more like Metalpunk though.
[ Starting Package
Basic, some local currency, a poor place to live, no contacts - 3 MC
Advanced, large amount of local currency, a decent place to live, 3 contacts, a poor vehicle - 6 MC
Expert, You are Wealthy, A Rich Home, 6 Contacts, a luxury car, a care package - 9 MC ]
Again Advanced, so it won't be too bad. At least, until my face gets Glomped. Fucking Xenos.
[ Please note, the general World Setting will be Hostile.
Advanced challenges will drop GC, MC, and credits in addition to localized rewards.
Random Encounters will stick to the Theme, but may come from Otherworlds that fit the Theme.
Time will flow differently relative to the Hub World. ]
So a shit show. Always in Danger. Gotcha.
A Silvery Portal Appeared.
I put on my armor, grabbed my gear, guns and the Hiking pack, lastly the Spear. No Clue how I'll stack up.
The Woen got up to go with me.
"Oh Hell No! I love you guys too much. Stay watch our home. I'll be back."
Yes there was life there but it was iffy. Half the world was still messed up from wars. Genetic manipulation, and cybernetics abound. Over a Dozen Corporations fight for control. The shadowed corners are full of Junkers, Scrappers, and Road Knights. Eldritch AI roam the ISL (Information Super Layer). Arbiters, super enhanced Law Enforcement, killed on a whim, thankfully their numbers were small. And on their way from some scrudged up colony were the Xenos. Who use you as fertilizer for their young.
They sat and watched me go, worry clear as day radiated from them.
Forward to Madness.