Caradon Day 4 - Earth: March 3, 2020

Nimrod messaged Frank early in the morning as Frank requested before going to bed. He exploded out of bed quickly dressing for battle today. He was furious that his citizens had been slain, and he would extract the full measure of retribution today on the responsible party. He felt sorry for his opponent since he felt more alive this morning than he could remember. Frank opened the notifications he saw flashing in the corner of his HUD.

Congratulations! Your learned the Healing Sleep power. You earn 100 XP.

Power: Healing Sleep

Discipline: Metabolism

Level: Beginner 1 5%

Marshall the powerful healing powers of your body during a sleeping period. Warning you will sleep through anything during the first 6 hours of the healing period.

Cost: 30 Power Points

Effects: +10 HP per hour of sleep, heals minor status effects

Frank raises his fist in celebration. He thought learning the power would take a long time, but he managed to learn it after his third attempt. Before heading down to meet the strike team, he needed to allocate his two Realm Master attributes to maximize his combat skills. Nimrod, what were the Realm Master attributes I could choose for Level 3.

"You may choose either strength, dexterity, or vitality." Nimrod replied.

Frank decided to allocate the point to vitality to increase his hit points; so that, he increased his chance to survive any conflict today. What about the attributes for level 4?

That calm, deep voice tersely stated "Either strength or intelligence."

Frank chose intelligence to maximize his psionic power points. Status screen.

Name Frank Richland Class Psion Level 4 Title Emperor of Caradon Current Experience 1,650 Experience for Next Level 2,600 Hit Points 160 Power Pool 250 Strength 14 Intelligence 25 Dexterity 13 Wisdom 20 Endurance 15 Charisma 15 Vitality 16 Luck 12

Frank was pleased, but not satisfied. It was not a bad start for four days, but he realized that managing a town, an empire, and a realm would prevent him from excelling as an individual character. There were just too many tasks to be accomplished, and each one was far more important than building himself into a super hero. Abilities, Powers, and Skills.

Abilities: Psionic Savant - +25% to learn new powers Powers: Healing Sleep, Beginner 1 5%

Perfect Memory, Beginner 2 95%

Telekinesis, Beginner 1 60%

Telepathy, Beginner 1 95% Skills: Club and Mace, Beginner 1 40%

Concentration, Beginner 1 0%

Innovation, Beginner 1 10%

Leadership, Beginner 1 40%

Meditation, Beginner 5 50%

Shield, Beginner 1 35%

Good enough! It was time to go meet with his strike team and the council.

*****

The council and the lieutenant leading his strike team gathered around Frank while the other members of the strike team prepared for the expedition. Frank and his council were standing to the east side of the road near the entrance of the town. “After reviewing all of the options, I spent the town points we acquired on a trading post to jump start a trading economy with other cities within the realm. I am hoping we will see an immediate benefit from the building, but there was limited information about exactly how the building works except that there will be some new citizens and animals after the building is constructed.” Frank told the members of his council.

He walked about 10 meters to the east of the road, pulled out the token, and set it on the ground. A screen appeared before him requesting confirmation that the Trading Post should be built with the token as the center of the building.

Frank selected Yes at the confirmation screen. A timer which was counting down from 12 hours appeared above the token. “It appears we will have to wait 12 hours before the building is available. Therod, please be sure to announce the construction of the trading post to all of our citizens.” Frank commanded.

After a short pause, Frank addressed his comments to Narius. “I promised to listen to your concerns about my leading the retribution strike, but you need to understand that I need your experience protecting the town from any additional danger. Between the expedition to the cliffs and this strike force, almost half of the guard force is deployed. Can you honestly argue that you are not the best individual for organize a defense if one is required.”

”While that might be true Your Imperial Majesty, the Empire cannot afford the loss of your person. That would be the end of the Empire.” Narius stated.

”I understand your concern, but I will return after 24 hours if I am slain. I still have multiple resurrections left on my counter. I will not use this precious gift foolishly, but the Empire will not end if I am slain.” Frank replied.

”Your Imperial Majesty! It is not appropriate for you to take this risk” Therod implored.

”Enough! It is my decision, and I have made it!” Frank stated. “Let’s go lieutenant.”

*****

Namon, Travor, and Barki ranged ahead of the main body of the strike team in a broad arrow formation. The silently moving trio were hyper aware of their surroundings; after all, something had killed two hunters. The main body of the strike team foolishly relied upon the scouts to warn them of danger, so many of the soldiers were careless and unaware of the danger before them.

The eager, hungry feeling continued to grow as the sources of power approached the kill zone. All of the members of the hidden pack waited for the Alpha's command. The beasts were anxious to taste the sweet nectar of power taken from their prey. Finally, the moment arrived. Five psionic Mastiffs triggered powerful overlapping cones of their [Psionic Blast] power with devastating effects. Every member of Frank’s strike team staggered as they absorbed significant damage from the massive amounts of psionic energy. Three soldiers dropped unconscious including Travor, two were stunned unable to defend themselves, four shocked men managed to keep their weapons in guarded position, and the lieutenant and Frank weathered the blast with no other effect besides damage.

Two of the Mastiffs attacked from the front: one of these Mastiffs knocked a stunned Barki to the ground and the other, the Alpha, ran straight at Frank. Frank activated his bracer which transformed into a small wooden shield and met the Alphas charge with a resounding crash. He repositioned his feet while swing his mace in an over handed strike which missed when the beast dodged.

Namon managed to stab the Mastiff after the beast tore a large gash in Barki’s shoulder. The strike caused the beast to switch its aggro to Namon providing the injured Barki with a brief respite. It bit Namon in his left leg, but Namon managed to stab the beast from above, a critical strike, as the beast bit him.

The lieutenant stepped to the right at the beginning of combat to protect a defenseless soldier on the ground from a third mastiff. He probably should have stayed with his Emperor, but he reacted without thought to protect his man. The Mastiff and the lieutenant traded blows with neither able to obtain an advantage until a chunk of wood, thrown by the lieutenant’s [Telekinetics] power, struck the Mastiff from behind. The distraction provided the opening the lieutenant needed to score a hit to the Mastiff’s left leg.

Two soldiers to the left side of the combat were barely holding their own with two other Mastiffs, and the final soldier standing was too stunned to participate during the first rounds of the conflict.

The Alpha darted past Frank’s guard gouging two deep claw marks into his left leg. Frank staggered but managed to keep on his feet despite the weight behind the beasts attack. said a soft, powerful, female voice within Frank’s mind. Frank immediately activated [Influence] without realizing he did not even know how the unknown power worked. Frank sent a command to the beast. Stop Fighting!

The beast froze in place. In fact, everyone was frozen in time or maybe moving very slowly. The voice of the Goddess sounded all around Frank. "Noble beast, I name you Branthor, and place a geas upon you. Your are to protect the Realm Master before you for he is important to my purpose. Take these powers a recompense for your loss of free will." Branthor began to glow for a moment.

"Frank Richland, I am Fionethsis, the Goddess of Mental Discipline and Psionics. By creating a realm of Psionics, you have done me a great service. This loyal guardian is the first of three gifts you will recieve if you complete the tasks I place before you. I sense that you are displeased that the beasts will avoid punishment, yet you are aware how foolish it would be to refuse this gift. It is good to see you are pragmatic." The goddess continued to give instructions. "Both of you must stop this combat before more lives are lost. Good luck, Frank! You will need since the Feared One has set his eyes upon your world. Oh, one more thing."

Frank felt a searing pain within his mind as a new permanent pathway was opened within his mind. The pain was so intense that he did not notice Branthor's wine of pain. As the pain subsided, Frank heard a new voice. .

“Find my temple Realm Master if you wish to speak to me again!” Commanded the Goddess.

Divine Quest: Find the Temple of Fionethsis Reward: ????? Fionethsis, the Goddess of Mental Discipline and Psionics, has given you a quest to find her temple.

As the flow of time returned to its normal pace, both Frank and Branthor sent out telpathic commands to cease fighting.

The two groups, the four living Mastiffs and eleven humans, separated from each other eyeing the opposing side with distrust and hatred. "The situation has changed because the Goddess commands it!" Frank pointed to the Alpha. "This is Branthor, my familiar. He commands his pack that will now become my personal bodyguards." Frank informed the soldiers.

One of the Mastiffs growled at Branthor, and his return growl was full of menace. The renegade would not submit to Branthor’s will, so an Alpha combat occurred. The Mastiffs stood calming watching the battle, but Frank barely kept control of his troops after many loud telepathic shouts. The renegade had zero chance against the Goddess blessed Alpha, and the renegade quickly submitted to its will. Branthor exiled the renegade unwilling to risk his master’s life. The humiliated beast slunk away with hate filled eyes.

After a few more moments, the three remaining Mastiffs knelt toward Frank. A pissed off lieutant kept yelling at the soldiers that complained about the Emperor’s decree. The soldiers that complained received the tough duty of carrying the stretcher where Barki laid unconscious. The only individual with a smile on their face was Namon. When he checked his notifications, he discovered that killing the psionic beast raised his [Precognition, Beginner 8] by 50%.

*****

When the strike team returned with news of the successful if unexpected resolution to matter of the slain men, there more angry words from of the citizens about killing those mangy dogs. An angry Frank ordered the crowd to be quiet or spend time in the stockades. Neither the citizens nor their ruler were content as the day ended. When Frank went to his quarters, the angst of his Majordomo and the Captain of his Guard was high as the Mastiffs followed the Emperor. Neither dared to voice their concerns.