Crow waited for the last and rather critical member of the Brain Trust to arrive at the meeting. It was a virtual space Samantha had helped design based on original intentions for the inner workings of her pyramid monument. It had a built-in dress code that, at first, Crow found stupid and tiresome. But, seeing it all in action, and him and the rest wearing their mostly matching attire, well… it was growing on him a bit.
All black and white ‘tuxedos’ in the apparent fashion of Ear...
2024-12-17 16:18:00 +0000 UTC
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As always, they awoke on the ground. Dax shot up almost instantly on her rear with her hands propped behind her, eyes wide with shock. Then she laughed and looked at Samantha with an amazed grin. “He feels the same way! It’s gonna work! Yes, yes, yes, it’s gonna work! Fuck yes!”
Fighting back a grin at what her friend and Follower seized on from that vision, Sammy pushed herself up and met Dax’s eyes. “You still gotta do it, though. You might be surprised h...
2024-12-14 16:06:35 +0000 UTC
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Drumming her fingers on the table as she bounced through all the possibilities in her head, Sammy glared balefully at the orb. “You’ve really made this difficult, haven’t you?”
“Have I?” The orb seemed amused. “Or have I simply dispelled your quaint delusions of familiarity? Have I confused and deceived you, or have I taken the wool from over your eyes? We’re always so blind to the ones… closest to us.” Rich, mocking laughter.
...
2024-12-13 16:26:13 +0000 UTC
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The void of so many sojourns returned once more. Samantha was merged with the Fortuneteller once more, caught into a familiar and strange body lodged out of time and space. One might deduce it a ‘higher place,’ and perhaps they’d be right on some level, but it didn’t quite feel that way. It felt separated. Off. Outside everything else.
There was no ‘figure’ before her, much less Dax. A long table stretched, appearing as if fit for a banquet, with a red tableclo...
2024-12-11 16:18:33 +0000 UTC
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Sammy staunchly suppressed a laugh at Dax calling Canmore a ‘stud.’ Well, he isn’t ugly by any stretch, but neither is Dax. And besides, past lives are tugging them. They’re each other’s ideal, I bet. “Dax, he’d be lucky to have you. Don’t make silly assumptions, hmm? Did he respond at all to your sick digs?”
Dax winced and sighed. “Nothing worth mentioning. He flashed that murderous smile and said ‘Oh, you’re coming up i...
2024-12-10 16:50:59 +0000 UTC
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There was just enough time to have a good, old-fashioned Shoot the Goddess Hour! She went out in the yard and rallied what folk were around the hideout to hit her with energy-based blasts so she could absorb them and convert to Pneuma FE.
Like Champion Cheaters do!
On short notice, the numbers were perhaps reduced to what they would otherwise be, but over thirty showed up to blast her, in a mix of laughter and embarrassment — Sammy had to encourage one blushing newbie t...
2024-12-07 15:35:26 +0000 UTC
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I could use this in Caneboro! Merrington! I could drop it like a bomb before sieging an important city! Rivermount? Matrazere?! Okay, maybe I’m stretching things there. I don’t want to have the effect fucking fail to some bullshit warding. No chance Matrazere isn’t super warded. But could I use [Alter Fate]? Whoa, this is a tough one…
She was not going to act rashly, that was for sure. Wherever she used it, it would inhibit her own arcane spellcraft — unless, of cours...
2024-12-06 15:24:22 +0000 UTC
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“I am honored again, Emissary Gelmak.” Sammy smiled as she took the little emblem up, wondering how effective it would be. Her Ring of Shield Projection certainly wasn’t impossible to top. She’d had it since she’d first created her Avatar, practically, and her temp shield spells outclassed it, though naturally, those were more vulnerable to dispels and such.
Gelmak next pulled out what appeared to be a spherical rock and held it out with an aura of great gravitas...
2024-12-04 16:13:51 +0000 UTC
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“I am definitely interested,” Samantha replied to the ash-gushing volcano. “Are there any issues? I know you- er, your children hold a lot of grudges and don’t forgive them easily. I’
m seeking to unify everyone under one federation banner. The minotaurs aren’t particularly known for venturing outside of their lands, at least not in the south.”
“They mimic me,” the mountain god said. “I cannot venture beyond the mountains and the m...
2024-12-03 16:19:20 +0000 UTC
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Sammy and Azure determined they’d arrange the betrothal at a later date left flexible due to their ever chaotic lives, but certainly relatively soon at some pocket of free time. The wedding in contrast would probably wait longer for a more settled period. As with most things, it was slated for ‘playing by ear.’
Not sure things will ever be fully settled. Perhaps before the war really starts rolling? After Merrington — if we win — maybe there will be a gap in intensity. Can...
2024-11-30 14:30:02 +0000 UTC
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In a sudden outburst to Redberry, Sammy added, “I love you so much!”
Redberry had a mixed bundle of emotions to this, but exasperation rose strongest. “Alright, but let’s not get carried away.”
Sammy giggled. “This has been such a wonderful day! It can’t get any better, really.”
“Your mother is also ready to return to you.”
“Whaaat?! Get out! Oh Em Geee!”
“Before you get too excited — th...
2024-11-29 15:29:29 +0000 UTC
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It was high time for Sammy to check out the updates to D.I.V.A., so she cracked it open to see what she was working with.
======================================================
MP Battery: 0/3333
Regeneration Rate: 37/hr
Draw Mana (24-hour): 433
Notes: Auxiliary tower destroyed. Mana level: Seething; Nexus in process of restoration (estimated time: 11 hours). Missing 3 of 12 secondary crystals (causing certain diminished effects and Draw M...
2024-11-27 16:10:50 +0000 UTC
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In the bowels of The Capital of the Dominion, in the bowels of the Dormancidia, perhaps the bowels of reality itself, His Honor, The True Sage felt a ripple disturb him while he meditated and recharged. Though the ripple was minor enough to ignore, it was followed by the distinct impression of full alteration that signaled global manipulation. A World Spell. This awoke him.
He soon realized what it was — the curse of that failure Itha Ranon ending — and felt nothing but mild derisio...
2024-11-26 16:32:42 +0000 UTC
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Sammy quickly organized efforts of preparation for the tower rising upon returning to her throne on Heavenpeak. The merfolk Current Changer Tenshai confirmed she had the capacity to handle the waves, and even seemed to understand the general magnitude, being familiar with the landmass that was under the water. Sammy did point out to expect a little more because the king had insinuated some parts were entirely hidden and buried in rock.
Tenshai’s response was something like how a craft...
2024-11-23 15:59:01 +0000 UTC
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“Before we leave,” Azure said, “I’d like to ask more about… her. How much more do you remember? Do you recall any details? What about where she’s from, or how you met in the first place?”
The god-king pondered this thoughtfully. “Things by rote, like a curse of hatred I accepted, have not faded and remain clear. The broken body and that false face so much hers. The final hours I’d seen her alive. Her smile. Things to treasure and despise at once, because the betrayal h...
2024-11-22 15:46:36 +0000 UTC
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New Quest unlocked: “Will the Bright Tower Rise Again?” — Reforge the crown of the god-king and pursue all options to resurface the tower, whether to success or failure.
● Rewards: +20-60 FE, 1-5 exp in [Goddess], 3-9 exp in [Magineer], other potential rewards.
OoOoh, so mysterious. You ain’t fooling me though, System! I’m going to see this done.
The god-king ey...
2024-11-20 16:19:11 +0000 UTC
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In the throne room, Azure suddenly seized and fell to her hands and knees. Sammy was there like lightning to take hold of her. “Azure! Are you okay?!”
The Naugite did not respond, her body shaking, her eyes having gone to the back of her head. Her mind was completely elsewhere.
Sammy glared accusingly at the god-king, who had a quite disturbed look on his face. “Did you do something to her?!”
He peeled his eyes away from Azure to meet Sammy's own. “Delivered the tr...
2024-11-19 15:41:54 +0000 UTC
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Azure studied the king, who seemed to deflate into melancholy even a bit more from the subject. “What happened? What deception? A betrayal from someone close to you?”
The king did not meet her eyes. “Must we broach this? Can terrible things not be left to die?”
“I’ll answer that if you answer me this: do you know for certain why I feel attuned or connected to all of this?” Though she left a pause, he didn’t answer, which might’ve been information enough. “I hav...
2024-11-16 16:06:18 +0000 UTC
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Linguist nodded soberly after Waytaker’s passionate declaration. His eyes were shining. “A king awakes.”
Stargazer smiled. “Under skies of hopefulness shining, the king awakes!”
“The king awakes!” Sammy shouted with both her hands upthrust. Off-hand, she dismissed her Force Wall spell, still surprised it had been unnecessary.
“So the skies see!” the masked spearman called as he stood up from kneeling. He clapped his spear on his shield. “The...
2024-11-15 15:46:35 +0000 UTC
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As the king stared at Stargazer, the floating wraith continued, “He begs for careful judgment and forgiveness despite dark auspices, and his life is laid down for the foremost speaker and orchestrator present. Hear the collective concentrated council, trusting as once the king did under clearer, brighter skies of happiness and plenty. Remember, oh king, skies full of illumination. Remember.”
The god-king, staring in apparent wonder, repeated in a murmur, “Remember…”
2024-11-13 16:09:40 +0000 UTC
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Everyone — Samantha, Orswyth, Azure, all three friendly ghosts — got through the doors into the foggy interstitial space. Samantha noticed the zone gradually got heavier and heavier in pulling one inward. By the time everyone was through, she was fighting pretty hard to hold her position, and Stargazer was being drawn further in.
While Samantha had wanted to cast her other ‘area denial’ specialty in Crowned Tower, she decided to conserve mana. Stargazer had cast some sort of inh...
2024-11-12 15:51:02 +0000 UTC
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Knowing she had to say something, Azure scrambled and mentally blurted, “I… okay, th-... The orb wielder. Right? He retains more faculties?”
Deathsting stared for a long spell, his eyes oddly shifting slightly over her as the only movement in reality. “Enough, perhaps. Distasteful for what he serves; an indignity, but not abominable. The rest should pass beyond. Don’t you agree?”
She felt cautious about how to answer. She decided on simple hon...
2024-11-09 16:08:09 +0000 UTC
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Azure popped out of the mirror, slightly blurry eyes targeting the struggling Linguist, who’d managed to pull his chain along somewhat as he desperately tried to make his way to the door. Azure had no mind for anything too complicated here. She immediately dove for the chain, grabbing it and pulling it away to help Linguist free. [Divine Mesmer] wasn’t the strongest class for the ‘direct’ route, but it wasn’t the weakest, either. She had an instinct about the chain, that was the mai...
2024-11-08 15:48:44 +0000 UTC
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Nearly too quick to see, a blade flashed and knocked the dagger zipping for Azure’s back right out of the air to clatter on the floor. If not for the way the blade slid smoothly and more slowly back into its sheath at Azure’s belt, Sammy might not have ever caught what did it — who.
Almost as if her eyes on it were a trigger, Samantha suddenly felt the presence ‘brush’ some distance away — not quite across her. Distant. The rustle of a being in hidden spaces upon ph...
2024-11-06 15:42:15 +0000 UTC
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“Are you okay?!” Azure sent Sammy suddenly in worry, her Blueberry's mental voice quite muddled. “Who… the fuck cut you?! I wasn’t looking — I can’t see!”
“Don’t worry about that,” Sammy replied. “I’m fine. Tiny nick. Just focus on getting your feet under you.”
“That hook bitch. That’s who it was. I’ll fucking kill him!”
Sammy rolled her eyes but spared no...
2024-11-05 15:47:37 +0000 UTC
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New Quest unlocked: “The Mad King’s Throne” — Find a way to enter the throne room and ‘cure’ or defeat the god-king.
● Rewards: +60-90 FE, 5-8 exp in [Goddess], 3-6 exp credit to most relevant sub-class used during quest, 1-4 exp to second most relevant.
Sammy made a bow with her hands clasped and looked to the ghostly visage of the one who’d addressed her. “Under a sky of rarest bea...
2024-11-02 15:13:43 +0000 UTC
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Azure had been the last to cross into the meeting place, just inside the ‘Underhalls’ frequented by those of the ‘learned’ that had retained their sanity. The Sentinels very seldom took any route involving such areas, leaving them to the ‘nerds,’ apparently.
The three mortal trespassers had breathed a sigh of relief together, and a masked Azure whispered, “By now, those Sentinel losers must be wondering if Waytaker’s insults are getting better.”
Sammy had suppres...
2024-11-01 15:09:55 +0000 UTC
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“Lord Gallust could know any number of capable wizards or warlocks,” Estran Bakesworth commented in his perpetually bored tones. The historian, herald, and political savant was never animated, whether discussing the details of battles, clothing, nobles — or even assassinations, for that matter. “He’s quite the social butterfly and schemer. He’ll certainly maneuver for gain with Agatha’...
2024-10-30 15:01:23 +0000 UTC
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Yeeeep. Here it is. Spells and Items in separat
2024-10-28 23:09:30 +0000 UTC
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