World: MSS - Loading...
***
When she said that, I froze.
It’s not something I did consciously. It’s like a kid being caught with his hand halfway already in the cookie jar and you heard your mom’s footsteps. Sometimes fight-or-flight response tends to get stuck somewhere in the middle. This happens because you don’t plan ahead. Why don’t people plan ahead?
Because you get...
2024-12-01 08:13:09 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
In a fight, you have to be aware of not only the opponent’s weaknesses, but your own strengths.
Well, it sounds cool if I say it like that. What I really mean is that in MSS, type-match ups matter.
They matter a lot.
“He’s there! Get him!”
“Sound the alarm!”
A mage whose only discerning feature was the pointed hat with a ...
2024-11-30 04:24:19 +0000 UTC View PostHappy Thanksgiving!
Sorry about the late updates this week!
My mom likes to pick cabbages at a friend’s farm during thanksgiving and none of my siblings want to drive her there except I. So i was away for a few days!
But I’m back and the updates for MSS + Fabled Archives will be coming up today and over the weekend.
Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving!
2024-11-29 18:53:23 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
This… was going to be tough.
I waited till the sun disappeared beyond the ocean’s horizon, its orange glow diving deep beneath the waves. The last brilliant waves stopped shining through the tent’s open flap which served as a makeshift window in my little tent. Even then, the island’s smoldering coal-like aura still lit the night air like dimmed red neon signs. So I waited longer....
2024-11-23 08:40:59 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
On the way back, my thoughts were broody and dark. So much so in fact that my party members picked up on it.
“Lock, you look worried.”
“Mmm.” I replied thoughtfully to the Mage.
I saw Kyrian and Skaris share a look. Skaris’ tongue flickered out, licking his lips before he spoke. Though his features were identical to a human except for the ...
2024-11-22 08:34:40 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
In MSS, monsters have stats.
And naturally, if a monster has stats, it means those stats can be buffed or debuffed. Up to this fact, World: MSS doesn’t stray too far from other games. Plenty of games have stat blocks for monsters. HP, MP, Attack, even things like Stagger Meters. But what’s unique about MSS is the fact that monsters have Cores, and those Cores have abilities.
... 2024-11-17 05:48:59 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
“M-mister, Sis Aurora, her back… and Darwin…” Stole walked towards the two, each step dragging on the floor as if she was being dragged forward by something unseen.
“Stole, get back.” I pushed past her.
My heart was pounding and it made my head hurt.
I’d made the right choice, hadn’t I?
I did. But sometimes, the right choi...
2024-11-12 05:01:10 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
“Kyrian, fry him.”
Tiny marbles made of pure electrical mana filled the room. The air vibrated with latent power, all that potential power waiting to be released. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and static electricity caused the Samsoogook’s hair to stand on end like a porcupine-plush-wig. The monster stood still, its two sets of eyes on two different faces darting back and forth...
2024-11-11 08:37:43 +0000 UTC View PostAs Ashley and Cotner led the Valdemir’s into the room, Artemvian studied them carefully.
They were both thin. Not terribly so, but just enough for clothes to look good on them in a sophisticated way that the wealthy tend to prefer. Not merchant wealth either, like old-money wealth. The husband, Mr. Valdemir, wore thin-rimmed glasses which sat perched on his beak-like nose. Artemvian studied the man’s hands as Mr. Valdemir slightly adjusted his blaz...
2024-11-10 07:48:50 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
“You have brought the sacrifice?” The monster repeated.
The Monster’s three heads spoke as one. However, each tongue spoke at a slightly different pitch; adding onto the whole creepiness factor by threefold. Yet, when it spoke there was no emotion behind it. When someone speaks, there’s a hint of emotion and intent. When this monster, it had none of th...
2024-11-07 06:34:28 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
That night, we regathered with Stole, Darwin and Doror in the middle of the city.
“Watch yer step.” Doror said, leading the way.
Skaris and Stole sniffed the air and looked at each other, than at the rest of us humans who didn’t share their sense of smell. They both grimaced like tasting something sour. Well, technically, I probably had a [Smell] stat just as good a...
2024-11-03 04:25:07 +0000 UTC View PostCotner gulped audibly. “H-h-here?”
Ashley slowly put her gun together, holstering it with the safety off. Gary’s eyes were calm as he looked around.
“That’s why we can never pin it down.” Celine whispered, “It was always listening in on us. Always one step ahead of us.”
“The Valdemars.” Ashley said, her eyes flickering towards one of the doors.
Artemvian quietly noted Ashley...
2024-10-30 21:17:37 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
“You did what?!”
“I offered to bring them with us.”
“Lock, I don’t mean to offend you, I really don’t.” Kyrian’s tone was equal parts chastising and disbelief. “Are you insane?”
“Sssslaveborn hassss never been ssssane.” Skaris said dryly.
I did my best to keep the growing frown off my face. Kyrian hadn’t ...
2024-10-28 22:49:32 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
My head went blank and I whispered, “Stole.”
She was out there. Alone. With Darwin and the little girl, she wouldn’t escape even if she could. She’d stay behind.
Skaris snarled, cursing, and made to get up before Doror stopped him.
Even before I had spoken, the others had begun moving. Aurora ,especially, stood up so fast that her chair left...
2024-10-26 23:20:12 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
When we walked in the workshop-turned forge, Doror was already waiting for us.
“Ah, I knew you’d be back. I’ve been waiting for you”
The Master Smith sat slouched over a wooden table, the last bottle of Dwarf’s Blood before him. There was just a little bit of the drink left at the bottom, just enough for one more drink.
“It’s good to see you again...
2024-10-23 05:31:08 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
I waited in [Darkness], watching as the next [Chuu-in] leaped by, its powerful legs propelling it forward towards Delas and his party in the distance. For a moment, it paused to sniff on the ground and pointed its nose towards me, the old man's face leering in my direction. My heart froze for all but a moment and I thumbed my sheathed sword. But there was another scream –or battle cry– from Delas’ d...
2024-10-20 03:39:08 +0000 UTC View Post“We call ourselves,” Artemvian repeated for the hundredth time, his expression serious, “the Grimms.”
No one spoke for a moment. Artemvian turned to the side, looking out the passenger seat window of the unmarked police car. Buildings flew by as the car picked up speed, the people becoming indistinguishable from the background as if they were just strokes of paint. His reflection slowly turned into a smirk.
“I swear, if you-...
2024-10-18 06:45:17 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
I was leading the way with Stole following close behind.
“Mister, are you sure you don’t want me to warn you about monsters ahead of time?”
“Just tell me when we’re getting too close.”
Aurora was the next in line, with Kyrian and Darwin sticking close to her. Of course, as the Tank, she would have to protect two people. Skaris brought up the rear. 2024-10-15 01:46:46 +0000 UTC View Post
World: MSS - Loading....
***
“Get your hands off of my healer.”
The priest whose arm I grabbed froze, eyes wide. For half a second, I could imagine myself losing control. It would be easy. Just a snap of my wrist and it would be done. A clean break, and the message would be clear.
And at the same time, I’d probably make an enemy out of this entire camp.
Yeah, I could ima...
2024-10-12 07:08:19 +0000 UTC View Post“I think you’re being Haunted.”
Artemvian took a moment to get a better look. This time, his intent wasn’t just to admire her figure. No, Artemvian was very specific in what he scanned for. He studied her as a Mage would, searching for potential signs of danger. He looked for metallic-seams that might be invisible to the ordinary eye, listening for any sound of gears whirring as she shifted her stance, tilting her hip and putting one hand on th...
2024-10-12 03:33:50 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
Zenom set out some basic rules.
One. Every party needed to bring three fruits per member. If you had five members, you had to bring in 15 fruits. If you had six, you had to bring in eighteen and etcetera. If you failed, you had two more chances to leave for the hunt. But the catch was that you still had to make up the quota from the previous day, on top of that day’s quota.&...
2024-10-10 01:51:02 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
“You’re mad.”
The bodyguard who spoke to me had bluish hair peeping out from underneath their veils. It was the same bodyguard who had summoned the Amphiptere before. “You are absolutely mad.”
“Say the word, Bishop. And I’ll take his head off.” The other bodyguard whose name I didn’t particularly care to learn, took a step forward. He brandis...
2024-10-06 04:28:52 +0000 UTC View Post
“Megaboy? This seems fun.” Artemvian was laying down on his couch with the phone raised above his face.
“Jack in!” The tiny blue character shouted.
Artemvian, the rising star mercenary of Nero City, stayed there.
Once every few hours, he would switch positions. But his head was always attached to some part of the couch, while his legs stayed stretched or folded. The Mage would get up to grab water once in a while. Ot...
2024-10-05 18:47:48 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
Once the message was sent to the fleet, things moved quickly.
I showed them to the place that Doror had marked on the map. Since it was my first time heading there in person, it took awhile. But my memory held true and successfully found the place that Doror was talking about.
There was a small spot that resembled a beach where the fleet could make port. Surrounding the beach was a trough valle...
2024-10-05 04:32:09 +0000 UTC View PostWhen Artemvian woke up, he didn’t follow his usual morning routine.
Instead of lying in bed to watch MeowTube, he slid his legs over the side and walked to the bathroom. After cleaning himself, he moved onto the kitchen, his movements well and practiced. Quickly fixing a cup of coffee, Artemvian sat himself at the dining table. Turning on a tablet (courtesy of Riley after his last job), Artemvian checked his messages.
There was a message f...
2024-10-02 05:26:59 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
Leaving the underground city of dwarves, I organized my thoughts.
One. There was no doubt about it, this was a ‘Hidden Piece’. To be more specific, an underground City containing a Master Smith.
Two. There was a quest here.
Three. If I wanted Doror to forge something, I’d have to get to the bottom of that quest.
It might seem ...
2024-10-01 05:40:27 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
Doror Stonehammer led the way, the tiny little hairball of a girl on his heels. She clung the hem of his pants with one hand and gave me the occasional glance, her gaunt cheeks a stark contrast to the dwarf’s stocky build. Her eyes held the gleam of curiosity that only kids her age could have. Could she be his daughter?
Deciding it wouldn’t hurt to get some brownie points with the dau...
2024-09-30 07:09:15 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
｢ +11 EXP ｣
｢ +9 EXP ｣
｢ +2 EXP ｣
｢ +14 EXP ｣
The EXP was rolling in.
At this point, there were so many monsters that the [Rot Slimes] couldn’t keep up anymore. I was running low on Mana as well, so I recalled the [Darkness] skill, dancing between the stalactites. I stopped blowing on the Neung-uh’s Ocarina, stemming the tide of monsters.&n...
2024-09-28 06:59:16 +0000 UTC View PostWorld: MSS - Loading...
***
Arrosh would be safe. The entrance was blocked off from the infantile Myung-sas and there was only one way in there. He’d catch up.
Right now, it was just me.
I stepped softly, enjoying my [Superior Hearing] and [Darkvision]. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it. Darkness had become a friend to me before but with the absence of Lucky Beckoning Cat, I had been ...
2024-09-26 06:58:10 +0000 UTC View PostArtemvian stuck out his lips, crossing his eyes in opposite directions. An impressive display of facial control. He mocked the fallen Eldritch Mage, “Wei. Wam. Weldritch. Well, I gotcher Eldritch right here!”
He raised the dagger again, ready to start the slap the Mage in another fit of annoyance.
Right as he did so, he sensed a spike of mana in the area around him. Artemvian whirled, his hands already spinning and neatly dra...
2024-09-25 05:53:13 +0000 UTC View Post