In a little box of a room, under the Courthouse of a certain city…
The terrible voice above him made ‘tsk’ noises. “Daxerris Stoneboro.” The voice was cold — like burning ice — and deep. The rich and luxurious pronouncement of death itself. “You could’ve just disappeared. But here you are, tempting fate in our jurisdiction. Weaving conspiracies…” The voice trailed off, pondering perhaps what those were.
Gentam Cutter sobbed with his cheek on the cold...
2023-07-19 05:16:22 +0000 UTC
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It was an eerie, uneasy period right after her refusal to play ball with Greizer. She blotted him out, blotted the mirror out, and simply waited, putting all her cards on silence, ambiguity, and her sanctuary’s literal sanctity — it was clear they could get to her mentally no matter what, but just how much they could reach in or glean… Well, she was supposed to be immortal, after all.
If those crusty old wizards can do something then they need to prove it! I don’t b...
2023-07-19 05:14:18 +0000 UTC
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“What?” Bast looked utterly puzzled and innocent. “Well, I might trace those lines over a little on th-”
“Don’t you ‘trace those lines’ me! Th- th- what the fuck?” Sammy just gestured with a hand at the painting, flabbergasted. “I didn’t tell you- you could fucking paint me like- like one of your French girls!”
Clearly incapable of understanding a Titanic reference, Bast looked from her to the painting with wide, puzzled ...
2023-07-19 05:12:56 +0000 UTC
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Above the goddess Redberry, the dryads tittered, one leaning over to another to whisper in her ear, as yet another called out, “Call her Baby!” which caused a ripple of laughter. Redberry’s head and eyes moved up slightly, and though they all couldn’t possibly see her glare, they cut off quickly, clearing their throats and sobering as Redberry sighed long-sufferingly.
Sammy found it hard to stop staring slack-jawed at all the wondrous things before her. It was something just shy...
2023-07-19 05:11:35 +0000 UTC
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Sammy’s relaxation time and internal musings were interrupted by a ‘ping’ from Estara at the hand mirror. Sammy could already ‘feel’ the realm she was in and its distinct separation like a partition in her head, so she simply left it, to return to her throne room.
Nice. I have a throne room. Needs a cool name. The Reflective Throne? No…
She walked up the steps, back in her regalia at the same instant she appeared. As Sammy sat she was already pulling Estara’...
2023-07-19 05:09:02 +0000 UTC
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“Yes, Transplant,” Orswyth repeated. “People from another wor-”
“I know, I know, ah, which world? Did he say?”
Orswyth seemed to consider this a moment, nodding vaguely. “I believe he called it Beraku. Some sort of wasted world that had fallen from times of great advancement. He lived in some sort of desert. He’s obviously a transplant due to unusual ashen gray skin and orange eyes. He was dropped into my lands with an estate.”
Sammy deflated a bit and lean...
2023-07-19 05:02:53 +0000 UTC
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To the question of the price, the black-armored beast of a man Danomeir shrugged his shoulders. “Half my normal rate, but I thought it would be an easy job.” He looked down at the bloodied corpse of one of his compatriots. “At least you’ve reduced the number of shares more than a bit.”
“I’d be happy to oblige reducing the rest,” Orswyth offered cheekily. He flicked his halberd in such a way that blood flew off of the spearhead into one of the men’s faces, who cursed an...
2023-07-19 04:59:32 +0000 UTC
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Tristan Algeros was the founder of the Algeros Oceanic Trading Company, which rose to prominence in an age of sailing and exploration on the world of Oderghaust Merix. He brokered multiple huge trade deals of core resources between his own nation and a foreign power of rich, exotic produce, ushering in greater prosperity for both.
He shook the hands of the highest royalty, led small fleets of merchant vessels across vast stretches, and haggled with men who could have his he...
2023-07-19 04:58:22 +0000 UTC
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The sound of some blade, likely an axe — or maybe two of them — splintering wood continued, as Sammy stared through the portal at the man preparing for his last fight, his face that of grim, resigned calm.
“I could help in some small ways, at least,” Sammy told him. “Principally, if you would become my follower, swearing to pray to me, I can give you a combat-useful buff, I think. The only price is the obvious of such devotion. I have no power over your soul. That’s up to th...
2023-07-19 04:56:16 +0000 UTC
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Dax and Merril appeared to walk through an alley between buildings of unknown use, all such buildings in the area being very tightly packed together. Dax needed a key to get through some side door and eventually into a room of somewhat better quality than the area would otherwise indicate. There certainly wasn’t a mirror, though.
“Couldn’t trust inns,” Dax muttered. “Too many eyes and ears. But I know a few people here, still. Maybe they’re even trustworthy.”
The mir...
2023-07-19 04:53:01 +0000 UTC
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Sammy decided to step down from the throne again for a spell, to have a walk around the platform. The marble disk was quite sizable for the action, which she made full use of by strolling along the edge, watching stars twinkle and the endless spinning of her mirrors around it all.
I need an escape from this at some point. But at the very least, not until I check on my peeps. Dax especially.
As time ticked by, she felt the hour of effect for Bast’s status pass, and almos...
2023-07-19 04:51:35 +0000 UTC
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“That’s splendid, my lord,” the servant said to the young man in the most neutral tone to ever exist, nothing at all indicating he had any clue or curiosity what was being referred to.
The young man blinked and looked through the mirror at the servant, lifting a hand to wave with two fingers in a dismissive gesture. The servant bowed and left the vicinity at that point, and there was a sound of a closing door soon after.
Sammy drummed her fingers on the throne arm a...
2023-07-19 04:47:01 +0000 UTC
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It took very little effort to convince the man to come clean, on threat of poorly defined, even worse consequences executed by Dominion agents who ‘were intimately involved’ and ‘had been watching the merchant for some time.’ The false witness was quick to begin vomiting forth all the crimes he knew ‘that vile villain’ had committed, eager to focus on something other than his own fate.
The night was almost dead by the end, so they let him stew a while longe...
2023-07-19 04:44:57 +0000 UTC
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It wasn’t long watching the man shave before Sammy found it distasteful, but she kept it up in case he broke his silence during the act, while also checking on other mirrors nearby.
Soon it was clear they were in a manor owned by someone of wealth and status, as she found plenty of mirrors and servants roaming about an estate even more lavish than Estara’s locale. Every servant was in fine livery with coats half burgundy and half silver, with a gold, embroidered symbol on it of four...
2023-07-19 04:43:49 +0000 UTC
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Estara’s mirror was the all-metal hand variety and was slightly scuffed and imperfect. The servant girl was whispering into it, a bedpost and a wall at an angle behind her. The lighting was sparse, perhaps from candles. “Can you hear me in this, Your Majesty Samantha?”
Sammy brought it directly to the two-way interface, which caused Estara to jump. “Any true mirror works, Estara. I’m glad you were so swift to respond.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I-I wasn’t sure you...
2023-07-19 04:36:33 +0000 UTC
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At the feast table Sammy was observing, the man who toasted finally sat back down, and no sooner than he did another well-dressed nobleman at the opposite end rose, which drew everyone’s attention. With a smarmy smile and a ‘tipsy’ demeanor, he toasted with his own great, ornate cup.
“To the alliance indeed! Double and triple to the Seven Sages and the Dominion of Wisdom who guide civilization to thrive and, of course, make the worthy rich.” Scattered laughter. “The Southern...
2023-07-19 04:31:33 +0000 UTC
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Taking a deep breath, Sammy knew she needed to respond to the girl immediately, but she wasn’t exactly used to speaking as someone who was majestically projecting from a throne to a potential subject. She’d taken and enjoyed drama class in high school, but…
I’m a goddess, damn it — I can do this.
The thought unexpectedly triggered something, a connection she understood immediately to be tied to that concept: Goddess 1. A class. She drew upon it to speak with a c...
2023-07-19 04:29:33 +0000 UTC
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Sammy immediately shot up onto her feet with a yelp from the shattering of the mirror/portal, though no physical harm came to her. Inwardly, it was somehow like a slap in the face to her extended senses. Like someone had broken something that was hers.
“Why did she do that? How dare she!?” The words just blurted out and felt off after she said them. “Wait, why do I care? Not like I only have one or something.”
She gazed curiously at a network of little broken shards of var...
2023-07-19 04:25:12 +0000 UTC
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Her immediate thoughts to the great mass of insanity that assaulted her was that it was a harrowing nightmare.
I haven’t even smoked anything in days! Did I eat something weird recently? Have I spontaneously learned lucid dreaming?
The text with the soulless voice came again:
User samantha_elizabeth_reine44444, your soul has been transported into the domains of the System. Please utilize the visualization aid to select your primary class or you will be...
2023-07-19 04:22:16 +0000 UTC
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Sammy was super pissed because someone had stolen her goddamn tarot deck yet again.
She had no idea who or why, but four times in six months was slapstick insanity. It was a prank skit; it was Candid Camera. The problem was she couldn’t study in her dorm room, and usually not indoors at all. She needed variety or she’d go nuts. She liked being out.
So she did it in the park, or outside a cafe, and if the weather wasn’t right, maybe the library. But...
2023-07-19 04:17:07 +0000 UTC
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This here is one of my favorite images to come out of it all, almost was the cover! 💗💗💗
2023-07-19 02:44:17 +0000 UTC
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