《Affairs of Demons and Men》Magi 18 - Oakside Midtown Park
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We gathered little from 3-D2, though I do not think Elaine’s death is directly linked to Karma. Truth is, I am realizing what I have been missing this entire time is something my Mother explained to me a long time ago. Growing up, we often visited the Oratories and spoke with the Oracles. We were told of the other Realms. I learned of the other Realms and the Spirits that inhabitant them, my Father would tell me my Mother had a disorder that made her believe-
-this is insane to consider? I shouldn’t-
-going to-
-when someone goes to the superstitious and magical, my Father says, they are giving up on logical explanation. There has to be a logical explanation. Right? But ever since I have been a child, I couldn’t explain the things that I have witnessed, seen, felt, and encountered. And then to admit that I am hunted for-
-it couldn’t-
-could it? My Father will probably remove me from this case if he heard the things I am about to consider and open myself up to in this investigation. Of course, I can always keep him out of that conversation, but it makes things more complicated when there are several other people that I would have to do the same.
And what will she think when I tell her what I believe?
We’ve found a pleasant park in Oakside. The trees smell of wet leaves and the rest of the air smells of wet soil. You can smell the park benches and my right hand is currently aching with a dull pain. Wolf frowns, but places her hand in the brown bag, “One package of crackers and cheese, with the little almonds and cranberries.”
“Thank you,” I accept it with my left hand.
“And for me, what is this, an egg salad sandwich,” Wolf states.
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“Can I trust you?” I ask her while removing the film covering off the paper tray.
“Depends on what is going to be said, if this is the part where you confess you’re the murder the entire time, probably not,” she laughs.
“I’m being serious,” I tell her.
“I was too,” she responds with a smile, “What is it? Have you finally trusted me with something? Are you going to confess your feelings now?”
Confess my feelings? What-
“-I don’t joke like that, please, I have to explain something and I - it’s something that you honestly could call my Father and have me suspended for-
-why would I do a thing like that?” she interjects, “I wouldn’t get paid then and have to find a new client. And I am sure they wouldn’t be as cute and awkward.”
“This case differs from other cases I have worked on before,” I tell her.
“Not sure how much different it can be,”
“I am going to say something, and I am going to sound crazy,”
She nods while unwrapping her sandwich from its baker’s paper.
“Sound crazy away,” she responds.
“I am not sure how familiar you are with the Oratories and Archives of the Oracles, but I am garnering the feeling that this case is no longer something with a rational explanation, in fact what I saw in the apartment, I am certain was something they call a Phantom,”
She’s chewing slowly, taking it in. I suppose I expected more of a reaction from her. She doesn’t seem surprised or angry. She doesn’t immediately put me down or deny what I am saying. Instead, she nods while listening, then processes what is being said, swallows. And continues to nod.
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“I’ve always wanted to be involved in a magical investigation,” she jokes.
“What do you mean?” I ask her.
“I am not the Agent here, now am I?” she asks with a smile on her face, “I am just the Ward. And if the investigator is saying that, the case involves the Realms and mystical ghost monsters. Then who am I to deny that the truth?”
She just believes me? She just accepts that is the truth? What if I am wrong? What if my Father is right about my Mother and I am leaping to conclusions? Have I met my match, am I just accepting the fact I cannot solve the Karma case without a rational explanation? My instinct tells me no. Something is telling me, driving me to trust my gut on this one. But how can I? My Father told me my Mother suffered from hallucinations, he told me she was manipulating me as a child. I never believed him because that’s not the memories I had of my Mother. But they are so shattered and so warped that maybe he’s right.
I attempt a dry laugh.
“I’m just joking,” I attempt to bury everything I just said.
“Oh, really, and I was inclined to believe you too, shame, I don’t joke with people with such a serious expression,”
“There’s no such thing as multiple Realms, or Phantoms, I am sure the Oracles are just-
-and who told you that? You wouldn’t tell me something with such seriousness if you didn’t believe it,”
“You believe the Oracles?”
“The Oracles have never once told me you have to believe what they are saying,” she says, “They took Oaths to record the lost history as I recall. And didn’t declare anything about the history being some sort of Spiritual belief. That’s just the interpretations of the Traditionalists.”
“You think so?”
“I know that there are people in this world who have experiences I cannot explain or fathom, some in my family,”
Fine.
“What if I told you I think there is someone out there who can control Phantoms to kill people?”
“I would say find the evidence if that’s what you think,” she smiles.
I nod. I know what I am looking for then. Tomorrow, when looking over the security footage, I knew that distortion wasn’t simply a camera distortion. It’s something else entirely.
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8 152Luck And Chronomancy
Time Magic is the best magic as everyone knows, although there are lots of unique Talents in the world. Most people only remember Haste because it is hard to get to higher Phases of Chronomancy. That is still enough to make the Talent iconic. A lucky enough Aleatory Talent can position you for greatness or leave you languishing in obscurity. The only true equality in the world is when that glowing message pops up at 8 years old. Even if it doesn't activate until you are an adult at 16 you still know. Sure you can find a new dungeon spawn and get another chance at a rare Talent, even this one, but you have to already be ready to delve into the *Far Wilds*, which is far easier with wealth or family power. This is the story of where my good fortune took me and the difference it made, even among a party of 7 others including an Arcanist. It is a journey of magic and monsters but also math, which some think is actually worse. Luckily I was born with Intelligence and Focus as my personal traits, and my parents were scholars. Of course Chronomancy can also be a frontline combat talent. Versitility well beyond other Elder Talents like Gravity, Abstraction, or Arcana. Might could have worked for me, too. I also met a runaway princess. All the best adventures have a princess. She hated being a noble and we didn't get married but it still counts. Besides she really filled out our front line. All that Leadership training came in handy. I still don't know where she's from. Who cares? How well Haste goes with giant hammers is what's important. I never learned much about anyone in the party, except the one I grew up with. I'm not a people person. I just wanted to optimize dungeon clearing time. *******Story Details******* No romance, politics, or traumatizing content, slice of life, or even dialogue. 1st person narration, like a guide/adventure log. 2000-7000 words a day, maybe 40-60% rpgish combat log with some reasoning on combat decisions, with the rest character Talent discussion and progression stuff. 8 person party with a decent variety in roles. Party members usually have 2 primary functions. Told from the support/control Chronomancer's perspective. Each party member will have 6 Basic/Background Traits, then 3 actual Talents with abilities. Capstone from their Educational Institution, Arbritrary as a gift from the temples, and Aleatory which is decided at birth, revealed at 8, and activated after adulthood at 16. Aleatory Traits ignore requirements and are random why is why they are so important. They'll gain new Talents from finding Dungeons to consume in the *Wilds*. Mature dungeons in cities can provide *Challenges* to raise the Phase of a Talent, up to 3 times from 1 to 4. Each character will get to roughly 8 non-Trait Talents. Attributes come exclusive from Talents, are required by Talents, and provide various effects as well. I designed about 220 Talents with abilities, 4 in each of 4 phases. "Traits" are just Attribute stuff. I'm not sure how many will be detailed in the story, more than 100 for sure. I used Talents because I want to be free of the legacy of tabletop. Half those rules are just because of the limitations inherent in a pre-computer ttrpg. This story mostly uses combat Talents, although like 1/3 of the 220 are for crafting and other society and economy stuff. If you really wanted to be a Thief you might take Intuition, Awarness, and Might for Basic Traits and Deftness, Manipulation, and Trickery for Family/Education. Then you'd pick Acrobatics, and Climbing for Educational Capstone and Arbitrary traits. You Aleatory Trait might be Shadow(Light/Dark) Magic, Umbramancy. A Bard might swap Dexterity for Charisma, Music for Acrobatics, and have gotten Illusion(Shadow/Sound(Air/Force)) for their Aleatory Trait.
8 177Zjjan Master
Teaser: I've retired for my freedom and to find peace. I was born a knight with no inheritance. What could they expect from me? —Jaino. I've tried to purge the catalyst. Is my strength not enough? —Jesifer. Blurb: Including his guild master, many lives had lost to end a calamity. Jaino feels guilty. Still, the first prince of Jelfyr assigned him as a higher official. This has made him hiding to avoid conflicts. Wanting to find peace, he accidentally meets Criselia, forcing him to accept an agreement. Consuming many lives, her demonstration has left him no choice. Meanwhile, Jesifer, the queen of Jelfyr, she receives an urgent report from the JSA. Attempting to end the battle in the wide plain while avoiding casualty, she instead meets Dandia’s ruler, seeking for the strongest. The outside world now slowly unfolds. ------------------------------------------------- BTW, since the review title wasn't edited. I have to say, my work is not a poem compilation. I'm writing fiction. But I'm not a writer, I'm just a reader. :) P.s ------------------------------------------------- Story Progress: 1. Blurb is fulfilled on Chapter Three and Chapter Four 2. Story Arc One, The Savior is fulfilled on Story Arc Five 3. Yes, there is fighting scenes. Three Calamities have been Eliminated in Dandia -- The wide island. 4. The prologue is nearing to begin. 5. Too many conflicts. ------------------------------------------------- Past tense - When I just narrate a past without much actual actions. I mean like a news, or just telling or reporting the past. Present tense - Current event. And flashback with actions. I love flash fiction so world building is not on this story, like narrating a room, narrating a character's traits, etc. As possible, I want them to think, have their decision, etc. etc. etc. etc. Hallo guys, Help me locate my typos on Story Arc 5. I still don't want to edit Story Arc 1-4. I can't wait to reach story arc Chapter Six(I won't spoil). My outlines and very huge flowcharts are waiting. Sorry, about that, I can understand English without format so, each time I'm looking for typos I was hooked in my story and I didn't realize I forgot about them.
8 136Grand Defender
New chapter every two days or so A story of bite-sized chapters that follows the life of a Defender, a soul summoned to defend the ancient lands. Our protagonist faces harsh challenges as they get summoned to an unpopulated land with nothing to their name, not even their own name, as it was stolen by the System, and fight against the never-ending problems that surrounds them, such as climate, monsters, and loneliness! This is my first, ever, story. Any criticism will be delightfully accepted. Also, the main protagonist will be given neither gender nor appearance. You can Imagine them as you prefer.
8 77The Empath [hidden]
Just another vr game storywarning noob author read at your own riskHmm...will update on free time.
8 175Torin Hood (Toruka)english Version
Everyone knows the stories about the heroic good works of this man and his unique talent to make music together with his loyal friends. You don't know who I am talking about? Don't you know Torin Hood? Then be curious like a bow, hanging from the shoulder of this famous man to prove his accuracy at all times.
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