Gisele stood at the edge of the Mandir. She took a breath and then shouted “Mystic Trooper Pink!” One time stop and a seriously great Guitar solo later she was back in her spandex and armor. She spun her pole arm flamboyantly and posed heroically, “Let’s do this!”
“Hold up,” I said, raising a hand.
Gisele stopped mid-step just inside the Mandir’s field.
Analyze check… Successful
Name:
Gisele Carvalho
Race:
Human (Marked by Power)
Class:
Mystic Trooper (Pink)
Level:
23
HP:
58 (27 ablative)
MP:
9
Defense:
17
Power:
7 (12)
Mobility:
7 (12)
Body:
6 (11)
Mind:
4
Face:
4
Magic:
4 (9)
Boon:
Pink Energy Coin
The chosen bearer of the Mystic Trooper coin. Allows access to the Mystic Trooper equipment and locations.
Trait:
Ideal Bone Structure
This perk allows for increased ability to learn martial arts. For the sake of mastering martial arts the bearer of this trait is treated at one level of scale higher.
Perks:
Battle Joy
Some people just like fighting. The bearer of this perk can add the highest of Body, Mobility, or Power to all Mind and Face base rolls to resist mental effects while in combat. Also you get to have fun and feel good while fighting.
Cold Weather Acclimated
Unlock survival skills related to cold weather environments. Also gain one level of scale to resist cold.
Disposition: Gisele thinks you are pretty cool still, but not really attracted to you anymore. Watching you murder Madigan in cold blood sort of had her fall out of love with, not that she really considered a relationship with you anyways. She is also absolutely determined to prove that she and her team are ready to leave the Mandir.
“Doug! You can’t just spring that on people!” Gisele called. After a beat she asked, “Seriously what is that?”
Oh right. The Analyze Skill is crazy rare and everyone is super uncomfortable with it. I should probably ask permission before doing that. … or do I need to find a means of hiding that I have the skill. Brand and Angelica did react badly to me admitting to having the skill. Should I lie more? No, I am quite bad at that… also it is wrong and junk.
“Weren’t you super hyped to prove you should go to war?” I asked in an attempt to change the subject
“I mean yeah,” Gisele said, taking the bait.
“Cool hold that thought. Spine hold still.” I said and then immediately used Analyze again. Learning is exceptionally hard when you are trying to beat the clock.
Spine did not hold still. He turned to look at me and took a step back before asking, “Why? What are you gonna do? eghk!”
Analyze check… Successful
Name:
Spine Spindle-Bite
Race:
Goblin (Dark Touched)
Class:
Dark Huntsman
Level:
20
HP:
97
MP
20 (44)
Defense
98
Power:
14 (28)
Mobility:
39 (63)
Body:
14 (38)
Mind:
4 (18)
Face:
4 (18)
Magic:
20 (44)
Traits:
Improved Goblin Mode
Goblins can access a group collective. If a goblin knew it before, it is possible for the current user of this trait to know now. Accessing this knowledge requires a [Mind] attribute role. Use of this trait has consequences. Never go full Goblin.
This version works better… as far as you know.
Titanic Regeneration [Reduced to Demigod Scale]
Titan Spawn are often beyond mortal concerns. With this perk, your power allows your physical body to heal [Body-2] hit points per second. This will allow you to regenerate missing body parts and overcome damage based conditions.
Note: This Trait is from a Pact. it is reduced to Demigod Scale. Health Regeneration is reduced to [Body-2] HP per 30 seconds.
Titanic Speed [Reduced to Demigod Scale]
Titan Spawn are seldom limited by mere three-dimensional space, nor time for that matter. Increase Mobility Attribute by +20. Double walk and run speed, and triple sprint speed. Gain a number of seconds equal to Mobility attribute each day.
Note: This Trait is from a Pact It is reduced to Demigod Scale. Mobility Attribute is only Increased by 15. No Extra time is gained, but a successful opposed Mobility check between the bearer of this trait and the being stopping time will allow the bearer of this trait to be aware during the time stop.
Perks
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Shadow Assassin
Servants of the Titan Spawn can be both Cunning and Brutal in their work. This perk will unlock the skill needed to be the thing people fear in the night. Unlocks the following Skills: Blend In, Move Silently, Ambush, Detect Weakness, Terrify, and Manipulate Shadow.
Near Perfect Foundation From a Great Master
You have pledged yourself to a Master greater than you. You have rendered yourself a vessel for their teachings This perk allows user to learn Martial Arts faster provided their Master knows the martial art, the pupil is treated as three levels of scale higher with regards to meeting requirements. Also their Master is treated as Two levels of Scale Higher when using the Mentor or any other educational Skills on the pupil.
Note: this perk requires a bond beyond basic Master-Pupil.
Heroic Physique
You aren’t just brave and bold you are at peak performance. This perk increases both the Power and Body Attribute by 5. Also gain an addition level of Scale for all skills associated with these attributes.
Arachnid Reflexes
If you react fast enough you could also seem to be preemptive. You have that. Some may call you a bit twitch but they aren’t going to get the drop on you any time soon. The bearer of this perk gains 10 Mobility and two levels of Scale for reactions.
Warlock Magic (Doug)
Why develop power when you could Sub-lease it from a bigger power. You are tethered to a source immense magical energy. Gain [Difference between Patreon and perk holder]/2 in levels of scale for magical effect. User also Gains [Patron's Magic Attribute]/5.
Note 1: Patron is entitled to request tasks from the bearer of this perk.
Note 2: Patron could deny access to this perk at any time.
Disposition: Spine is in a pretty great mood. Things have been looking up for him. He was pretty dubious of you at first but now does see you as similar to a brother. That said he does worry that you don’t understand the world and could possibly kill everyone on accident. That said you could also save everyone on purpose so he’s got your back.
Uh-oh.
Expend Free action? Yes/No
Note: you must select the total number of seconds spent before activating.
I selected one second.
“I may have done a bad thing here.” I muttered to myself. “Hey Denise, could you come down here?”
“What’s up?” Denise asked.
“Why is everybody so weak?” I asked.
Denise blinked at me. She was clearly trying to figure out if I was stupid. Then she realized I was. Then she mentally switched gears to trying to devise a polite way to say that without me smashing her head. I could tell that last bit because she was staring at my hands as she slowly almost imperceptibly took a series of teeny, tiny, baby steps away from me.
“Denise so long as you hold to our agreement I am not going to hurt you,” I said. I rubbed my eyes. I was developing a near Narrator headache.
Denise gazed at me doubtfully, “The mystic troopers are some of the strongest Common Scale players for their level on the planet. The power coins make them effectively Rare Scale.”
“So why is Spine almost as strong as me?” I asked. The little guy was actually a serious heavy.
“Doug, Spine has apotheosed. Less than ten thousand people alive today have done that. He is the only one at Common Scale alive today to do that. He also has nothing but Heroic Scale Perks and Two Demigod Scale Traits. Then all the buffs from your pact. You have put more resources in to him than most nations put into Heroic Scale players.” Denise checked her phone. She frowned.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“It’s just Brandon.” Denise said looking up from her phone. “Lindsey is being… You don’t care.”
“Why do you care?” I asked. I regretted that immediately. That was involving myself.
“I don’t get to meet a lot of people. Brandon has his charms. Did you know he has an idea to end the forever war in Europe? It’s just that no one will give him a chance.” Denise stopped. She didn’t like the look on my face, “What?”
“You can do better than Brandon,” I told her. “Seriously, get a pet, or take up rock collecting. The dude is an idiot.”
“That’s not true,” Denise objected.
“He’s banging Lindsey,” I countered. “First rule of being a guy is never stick your dick in crazy. He messed up rule one. And rule 6 always clear the zipper first. Don’t get involved in that.” I didn’t want to deal with finding a new Narrator. The next one might be another Wilson. That would be bad.
Denise almost argued with me, “I am not going to discuss my relationships with you. Did you want something else?”
“How do you craft a training dagger?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t,” Denise said, baffled.
“How would I craft a training dagger?” I pressed.
Denise sighed dramatically as she checked her phone.
Time started after a blizzard of Crafting checks. Technically what I had crafted were two Full Contact Training Daggers, and ten Full Contact Training Arrows. They would each do five damage per hit.
“Okay before we get going on this, Spine, take these knives and arrows and give me your normal ones.” I held them out.
“That’s cheating!” Tamara declared.
“There is no cheating in war,” I said.
“Then how do you explain war crimes,” Tobias asked clearly unimpressed with my bullshit.
“It’s never a war crime the first time,” I said, quoting an electrician of non-svelteness.
Spine took the weapons I offered and after a moment's hesitation gave me his stuff to hold.
Spine and Gisele gazed at each other for a long moment. Then they kept doing that. The gazing just wouldn’t end.
“Are you two going to fight?” Zarina called.
“Is someone going to say ‘1, 2, 3, go!’?” Gisele asked.
Spine, seizing the moment, shot her with his crossbow.
“Ow! Dammit!” Gisele roared. She was pissed. She charged Spine, twirling her pole arm.
“Timeout!” Spine shrieked. He held up his hands trying to ward off Gisele.
For reasons I can’t begin to fathom, Gisele stopped mid swing.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked.
“He called timeout?” Gisele said almost whining. She turned to glare at me.
Spine took this opportunity to reload his crossbow and shot Gisele in the ass.
“Ow! Why?!” Gisele shrieked.
“There are no timeouts in war,” I explained.
“That’s not fair!” Gisele insisted.
“I am going to side with Doug,” Zarina said, shuffling a little closer to me, “War isn’t fair.”
Gisele was not prepared for a united front of Doug-Zarina dickery. She gaped at us stunned.
Spine shot her again.
“You dick!” Gisele roared as she charged Spine.
Trouble is Spine had been back peddling during Gisele's appeals to Zarina and my sense of fairness. She had forgotten that we didn’t want the Mystic Troopers to go to war. Regardless, Spine had the space to make yet another shot. This one hit her in the knee. It also caused an explosion of sparks.
There are a lot of things you could say about Gisele, but no one could fault her grit. She kept running with a damn bolt in her knee. I mean I could probably do that, but I would bitch the entire time.
With a dramatic twirl of her polearm Gisele clocked Spine upside the head. She then spun on her heels and struck him with the butt of her weapon. Then she just sort of stabbed him.
“Nuuuhaaaagh!” Spine screamed incoherently as he stepped into another vicious strike from Gisele. The thing is though this got him into stabbing range. Spine hit her with a left and a right. Both impacts caused an explosion of sparks. The second hit also caused Gisele to flip backwards almost in slow motion.
With a blaze of pink light she was no longer in her mystic trooper form. Spine bore down on her knives raised. He had one eye swollen shut and the other had a vengeful glint in it.
“Spine, Stop!” I called.
Spine considered for a brief instant and didn’t maliciously stab Gisele while she was down.
Gisele raised her head and after a beat slammed the butt of her weapon into Spine’s crotch
“Oof!” every man other than Spine said on reflex.
“Gisele what the hell?” I demanded.
“You said ‘there are no timeouts in war’,” She shouted back.
“Stop!” Zarina ordered.
“You alright Spine?” I asked.
“Give me a minute,” Spine managed, his voice much higher than normal.
When it was clear neither Spine nor Gisele were going to stab the other, I turned to Zarina, “So, Spine wins?”
Zarina didn’t look happy, “Yeah I would say he did.”
“I can still fight,” Gisele insisted.
“That’s not the point you lost,” I told her.
“Didn’t you just say there were no rules in war?” Gisele pressed.
“I said there was no cheating in war. You absolutely can die. Which having your shell break counts as dying,” I was being a bit petulant, but she also totally lost.
Spine tossed his hands in the air and whooped, “Hell yeah! I have taken a life! I win!”
“Does that mean none of us can go to war?” Bob asked.
“No,” Zarina said. That was unfortunate.
Mostly because I said “Yes.” at the same time.
The real issue here is Bob had asked an ambiguous question so either answer was confusing. Also Zarina and I didn’t coordinate. The true kicker was the kids heard what they wanted to hear and took that as a que. Momentum can and often does trump intent.
“I’ll take him on,” Tobias said, stepping forward with his massive club.
Some sweet guitar riffs and a transformation sequence later Tobias was bearing down on Spine.
Spine was drunk on his earlier victory and made a crucial mistake. Instead of shooting or getting the hell out of the way of the massive club he gloated, “I am a killer! What are you gonna do-oof!”
Tobias just womped Spine. The huge club made a Louisville slugger baseball bat on ball cracking sound. Spine went flying. Spine was big for a goblin but still wasn’t actually big. He took off like a rocket ship and sailed through the air like an arrogant stooge about to face check reality… and the ice.
Like all things, Spine's time in the sky came to an end. He bounced and rolled to his feet. He then charged Tobias shouting obscenities. I am not going to repeat them. Mostly because it was a glorious stream of cuss words and I forget the exact order. Also I don’t think Human should be a derogatory term.
Tobias’s feeling may have been hurt but that didn’t stop him from hammering Spine with his massive club again. Spine was launched into the sky once more. This time when he landed he started shooting at Tobias.
Tobias had a strategy for that. After getting shot the second time he shouted at Spine, “You know only scared little girls just shoot at people.” he taunted.
Spine paused and considered. He did want to be seen as a big, strong man. After a second he said, “Eh fuck you I am a feminist.” He then Shot Tobias again.
What happened next could be described as a fight but it could also be described as one kid running away from another kid as he pelted him with crossbow bolts and harsh language. Basically it was like a Benny Hill bit but with way more foul language.
Eventually though, Spine struck the final blow. Tobias changed back and had a crossbolt lodged in his arm.
Everyone looked at the injury.
“Do we take it out?” Spine aske reaching for the bolt.
Tobias slapped his hand away, “Don’t touch it.”
“Dude, it’s my crossbow bolt,” Spine snapped. He reached for the bolt again.
“It is in my arm, jerk” Tobias snapped back peddling away toward the Mandir.
“Doug, they’re robbing me!” Spine yelled.
“There’s no robbery in war!” Gisele called. She may be just a little bitter from losing.
“That’s just not true,” Zarina corrected. She was grappling with relief that her students weren’t going to war and disappointment that they weren’t winning the fights.
Gisele almost pouted.
I caught Spine by the scruff of his neck. I didn’t want him wandering into the Mandir’s effect. Lola and I were fighting, but she absolutely had favorites and Spine wasn’t at the top of the list.
“Okay this isn’t great. We are doing best three out of five. If Spine wins one more fight, you can’t go to war.” I declared.
This triggered another robust discussion about moving the goal post in war.
Eventually it was decided that the mystic troopers couldn’t make me do things.
“Alright pick your next fighter.” I said. We needed to wrap this up.