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THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zapdos

“Excuse me Lucy, could you please show me how to send a message using the Source Mail? I'd like to send something to my friend Glee and I've only used it to view the one from yesterday. Of course, if you're busy now, I can come back later.”

Lucy waved away the politeness. "Not at all, young sir. If you'd like to follow me, I'll take you through everything."

Lucy showed Adam how to use the client holo-screens to navigate his profile and access the Source Comm.

"And if you just hit that symbol there, you'll open up a new Comm to write." Lucy waited for Adam to touch the screen, then explained the presentation of the next screen that popped up. Fortunately, Adam would find himself quite familiar with the process, as it was remarkably similar to sending emails. "Here is where you enter the name of the Adventurer Party. Ooo... True Grade," she realised. "I see you've become familiar with one of the more famous Party Names of this era." She raised her eyebrows as she nosily inquired. "Friends in high places? Or just a fan?"

However Adam answered, Lucy explained that entering just a letter or two of the first name of the recipient would automate the rest. Source Code connected everything in Mytheria, but no men and women were more connected than those crystal bearers who whose to be Adventurers.

"I'll let you have some privacy, Adam. If you need anything, just shout down and I'll come back up."

With that, Adam was left alone to send his message. It would be some number of days before True Grade arrived at the northern fortress, Fornost, and Glee the famous Diamond Tier Druid would have a chance to connect to the system and see the message, but it would be waiting for him when he did.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool

Lucy and Terence stopped their conversation to look at MacKensie, neither unable to get a word in as the woman rattled off an entire speech about her innocence and honor. When the lady was done, there was a pregnant pause before Lucy and Terence burst out laughing.

"By the Quinity, you are utterly adorable," Lucy said as their laughter died down.

With decades in the business, seeing a lot of different classes and reading about a lot of different abilities, to say nothing of knowledge that Polymorph Potions were not an impossiblity, it was not so far-fetched that MacKensie was telling the truth. Lucy also had enough experience with people to be perceptive of the fact that this Ranger's mannerisms, facial expression and overall demeanour felt nothing like the MacKensie Trydant she'd thrown out of the building, a few nights previous.

And so, with MacKensie's strange accent, snobbish indignation and yet heartfelt, pained plea, all wrapped up in a petite, cute little package, Lucy felt like it was too transparent and hilarious not to be true.

"Hmmm," Lucy mused playfully. "What do you think, Tee?"

Terence, the barkeep and long-time friend of Lucy, was already on the same page. Not that he was comfortable in a 'reasonable certainty' like Lucy. But he could tell that the Guildmaster had made up her mind and so he just played along.

"Hmmm." He leaned on the bar and scrutinized MacKensie, thumbing through his handlebar mustache. "A tall tale, the lady's tellin."

They didn't leave the Ranger hanging too long before both chuckling again. Lucy nodded. "Alright. I believe you. Just tell your friends to behave themselves. I don't care what world you came from, I'll take you out of this one if you break any more of my furniture," she warned with a smirk. "Is there anything else we can do for you, or was it just your stained reputation that you needed sorting out?"

Whenever MacKensie was out of earshot and Terence was back to work, he recited the phrase he'd heard to himself. "I have not forgotten the face of my father. Heh." He liked that. Even at his age, he always and had always liked to think that he had become a good, principled man like his own father. He'd never heard such a saying, but he understood it instantly and made him like MacKensie for the words and seriousness she said them with.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud

Sunrise saw activity in the city slowly start to pick up. Across these early hours of daylight, more and more citizens were leaving their homes to head to work, casting anxious glances up at the north-eastern sky barrier that was under a steady bombardment.

Everyone had been told to continue on with their lives until the time came to be called up the mountain. It was difficult, but seeing as there was no escape from the city, all they could do was follow the State of Emergency Laws in place, that had been delivered through the militia door-knocking, newspapers and the magi-tech speaker system in town squares, bazaar and other population-dense hotspots.

For those whose work required them to go outside Valhiem's walls, such as farmers, people of the churches, huntsman and woodsmen, most had been repurposed for the steady flow of distrubtion traffic up and down Citdel Mountain. Food and supplies were being delivered up to the Citadel in droves and the various municpal buildings: Halls of the Court, Academy Classroom Halls, and virtually any large enough sheltered area were being turned into areas where people could stay for the duration of the coming the battle. Other smaller rooms and buildings around Citadel Mountain were used for food storage.

A Courier came down the mountain with Fenna's Spear, MacKensie's Gauntlet and the mysterious trinkets of James and Adam. She delivered them to The Mended Drum with a very short letter bearing the wax seal of The Academy. It simply thanked Second Chance for their cooperation.

___________________________________________________________

The analysis of all items that Second Chance had offered up to Second Chance had ended up pulling all four Heads of Department in to help Identify them. They met in the morning with the President.

"Nothing?" the President Jordash Sigmar repeated. "Nothing at all?"

Only Enio Ivey shook his head. The other 3 Department Heads would not condescend to do so. However, there were a few comments.

"I would have believed that they were trying to decieve us, and that the items were mundane," Reginald De Wran stated. "But Source certainly connects with them on a magical level. But-"

"Not through any Elemental Domain," Clarissa interrupted.

"Thank you, Clarissa," Reginald loudly, dripping with anger and sarcasm. "Your interruptions are always necessary."

Clarissa looked oblivious to the obvious anger, but she was really just ignoring the gnome. "I used a special prototype Identification Tool I've been working on and managed sense something." Everyone was intrigued. "But upon further inspection, it's just Source Code biographical information of the owners. All information that can easily be brought up on Magi-Tech software by simply scanning their crystals."

"Well that is more than we found," Director Yddral Rowan said. "My best loremasters couldn't activate a single item. We are looking into any possible similar equipment or jewellery recorded in our archives."

"The more I hear..." the President started. "...the more I am starting to believe the High Septum."

No one outright agreed, but no one rejected the notion either. This was all so outlandish, yet no logical explanations could better fit the appearance of Second Chance or their rapid rise in Ascension. Although Reginald and Clarissa stayed silent, it was they who already believed Areleth. They also were the only ones in the room who were part of the secret and illegal Ressurection of Clive Michel.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Um... hello.

@EnduMakyr

Hey buddy! We are tentatively open to newcomers, even at this stage in the story. I will PM you to talk further about you joining our group!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

MacKensie: "This war, all this killing, it's weighing on me."

Adam: "Had an uncle go to war once. After he returned, he killed himself."

MacKensie: "..."

Adam: "You'll be okay."


lolololol

@Saiyan

Credit to @Zapdos for bringing this format of joke to our group. There is some really funny material from our cast of heroes, providing you purposefully ignore the context. Always a winning formula!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

lol at Zell selling candy in 12th grade. Correction 12 years old. Not sure why I suddenly remembered the mistake but here I am

as you were ppl

@Saiyan

Haha! Well that aside, congratulations on your hotstreak of always having an absolutely amazing post to read. You never know what you're going to get from Zell, but you always tie his personality and actions together very realistically and with good consistency. A very 3D character, so to speak.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Sorry for the delays, heat broke our electrical transformer, been without since a couple hours ago

@Teyao

Thanks for letting us know, although I'm sorry to hear to that. GM Post coming end of Monday so you have time!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud

Mayor Joseph Pendlebury:

The mayor bowed his head to Barracker. "As a Paladin, your word and reputation holds great value and will be taken into account." For a moment, he looked around for approval at this response and saw the High Septum's soft smile and nod of agreement. Then he went on to Barracker and the rest. "We are confident in your intentions, Second Chance. Nonetheless, we have a city to defend. Fortunately there is time to prepare. The hour is late. I would put it to the War Room that our noble adventurers could do with some food and sleep. This time and courtesy we can surely afford, lest we overwhelm our guests."

Ambassador Malcom Crane:

"Our good mayor is correct. Another War Room Meeting can be be scheduled for the near-future. And much of the preparations will get done outside of this room, where our specialists will get on with their part with rigour and our faith."

High Septum Areleth:

Areleth inclined his head in agreement. "There is wisdom in the Mayor and Ambassador's words. Let us adjourn here and reconvene when progress has been made on our various fronts."

___________________________________________________________

And so, Second Chance was shown out of the meeting by Lucy Bottrill.

But before they did, The Academy Officials requested to borrow the weapons and equipment that each member had shown up with, in the coffins. Not any mundane gear, of course... The Heroes from the Sky were not asked to strip down... only items of magical power were requested and Second Chance were assured that they would be returned in the morning.

It was the personal choice of each Person From Another World, what items they were willing to part with.

@Jay009

While Second Chance were handing over whatever enchanted weapons or gear they chose, Areleth found a moment to pull Barracker Kassel aside and have a quick chat...

@Teyao

Commander Thorn also had the urge to briefly speak with a member of Second Chance. Before the party left, he pulled James Sirius aside to get a brief summation of what they would speak more on in the future: Knowledge of the enemy from the mind of Zigmund Mugba-Zarack.

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud

Lucy was sympathetic to Fenna's words. The guildmaster was the one in the meeting of officials who knew best what Second Chance had chosen to go through in order to reach that Source Comm message that was locked behind The Ancient Law of The Source Crystals.

She took them down the mountain and along the Inner North Wall Road that led to The Guildhouse, keeping her usual lively spirit and ready to reply to anybody who spoke to her, but mostly leaving the adventurers to chat amongst themselves.

"Here we are," she announced as they arrived at the Guildhouse. But she stopped at the door and turned around to everyone. "You two," she said, looking at Zell and MacKensie. "I am willing to overlook your actions a few nights past, on this one occassion - I will go back on my word. You are unbanned from the Guildhouse, but know that you are on thin ice, my friends." She was deadly serious. "I won't hear of any apology or excuses, or relitigate the issue, so don't bother." She wagged her finger at them both. "One slip, and I will see to it that you never step foot in this Guildhouse ever again."

She didn't even wait for the response, just turned and went inside.

The Guildhouse was surprisingly half-full, a rather normal level of business. In fact, Second Chance would soon find out that the entire City of Valhiem was running relatively normally, in spite of the impending threat of total annihilation. The barman, upon seeing Lucy roll in with Second Chance, gave a greeting to Lucy, then his expression grew stern when he saw Zell Brooks and MacKensie Trydant. And he was not the only one. The Adventurer party who'd gotten into the arm wrestling competition and the barfight that followed, that night when James and Zell had gone a drunken rampage; they also were present in the Guildhouse and they side-eyed Zell and MacKensie with threatening stares, although the were good enough to do no more than that.

There were some formalities. Each member was asked to scan their crystals at main desk upstairs. The first person to scan brought a confirmation on the system that Second Chance's mission was complete and Lucy carried out the relevant administration duties.

Second Chance were all imbued with additional Source as a bonus for their work, increasing their experience to bring them a step towards the next level of Ascension.

Aswell as this, they also upgraded their adventurer party's Reputation and Classification. Second Chance was officially now a Silver Ranked Adventurer Party. They were awarded money as a gratuity for their hard work and also recieved a financial reward for the Gold Ranked Mission. Together this amounted to the sum total of 10,000 Silver Coins (Given in the form of 100 Gold.)

The main perk of being a Silver Ranked party was ultimately the reason they were all here:

Source Comm Access and [Level 1] use of the features.

Lucy did not delay. She showed them all how to, when linked the Magi-Tech system, handle the movement and use of the User Holo-Screens. She showed them how to access the Source Comm, then gave them a little bit of privacy by going over to her Dog, Scribble, and giving him some loving attention aswell as a few treats.

Second Chance were left to see, in their Source Comm Inbox, there was one single message. Once it was touched, it opened up...

___________________________________________________________

This is an Imperial Missive from His Majesty, Emperor Quintus Young:

To those who read this message, I hope it has found you well. Please take my words in utmost urgency and with great understanding and patience, for I know that it will likely not have been easy to get this far. You.......... ............ .............. .............. ........... ...........

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........... .............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. .......... ............ .......... .......... ........... ........... I see you. You do not belong here. I'm sorry. You should not have been dragged into this. Those who did so are selfish, ignorant, manipulative and unworthy of you.

I can send you back. To your world. Where you belong. From where you should not have been stolen. I will return you to your rightful place. Back in your familiar world. Back with your families and friends. I'm sure both miss you very much.

Let me help you. Abandon those who are trying to drag you into this war. A war you do not understand. A war that they will show in a light that favors them. Do not listen to the lies of the guilty. Or the lies of brainwashed. They will paint me as the cause of all suffering. Label me, The Evil Witch Queen. They will paint this world as Black and White - Good and Evil. They will paint the imposter Emperor as the righteous. The only truth they will actually tell you is that I am the leader of the invading army. I am the aggressor in this war. This much is true, I do not deny it. Nor do I deny using brainless beasts to help me. For the brainless cannot be brainwashed. It is all I have.

We have a lot in common, you and I. Having our rightful lives stolen from us. Now being used as political tools for usurpers and traitors to Ileandra Young the Great's ideals and foundations.

Let me help you go back home.

East.

East to Azeroth.

The road is dangerous. Wartime cares little for innocent lives, unfortunately. Those who walk in the path of the Warmachine will get trampled. An unfortunate consequence of a much greater cause.

East.

East to Azeroth, is where you will find me. Is where you will find salvation. Come of your own free will, and the closer you get, the safer the lands will become for you. My power and influence increases the further east you go. The closer you get to Azeroth. I promise that you will be treated kindly. I promise not to use you until your bodies and spirits are dried up, dangling fake promises and platitudes in your face like carrots for horses.

I was not the one who stole you from your former life. I am not the one who seeks to use you a tool for ends you do understand. But I can be the one to save you from your nightmare.

Yours faithfully,

Melina Rasputia Young, the Rightful Empress of The Free Peoples Empire.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Zool@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Teyao@Zapdos@Jay009@Dark Cloud

High Septum Areleth:

As James explained the arrival of Second Chance, Areleth was looking around at everyone, even going as far as to gesture to James in a sagely and dignified attempt to communicate 'I told you so.'

When James was finished, he turned back to the Cleric. "Thank you, my son. A succint, yet detailed explanation." Then he waited for the obvious naysayer to chirp up.

Ambassador Malcom Crane:

"Quite the outlandish story," the man countered. Ambassador Crane's role was essentially to be the voice of Capitol City and advisor to the Mayor regarding matters of policy and administration. "Stone coffins from the sky? Humans from a plane of existence beyond the purview of The Quinity? An entire world beyond Source?" He looked at James apologetically. "I do not mean to accuse you of dishonesty, but might there a more probable explanation?"

2nd Guildmaster Lucy Bottrill:

"I assumed some kind of mental status that doesn't show up on The Source Code," Lucy said. "Like a form of Amnesia, or something of the sort. But; I've seen some wild and outlandish things in my time... and never have I paid out a Platinum Ranked Bounty to a newly registered party. Nor have I read some of The Source Code that appears on their Adventurer Information Pages, upon further inspection." She looked at Second Chance. "They are certainly a unique bunch, I'll give them that." Then she added in a cheerful tone with a loveable shrug, "Apologies for talking about you like you're not here. You understand."

Director Clarissa Shields:

"I've spoken at a short length with Miss MacKensie Trydant," Clarissa gestured to MacKensie. "She's no liar... a fact I surmised that struck me as weird, given the claims made. My gut tells me that Areleth's gut is correct: They are 'The Summoned' - here through a ritual of the highest levels... levels not seen since the Mythic Age. Whether or not at the behest of Capitol City or The Witch Queen, we cannot be sure. Either is plausible." Then Valhiem's genius of theoritical science and engineering changed the subject. "But, if we might speak on a matter more pressing, for a moment..."

And that's when it was Adam's turn to explain, giving Clarissa a repeat account of how the cube came into the possession of Second Chance. Sometimes in investigation, after pulling at all the threads one can and collecting all information from those threads, it was worthwhile to go back over old ground with a new eye, cross-referencing old information with the new. And Clarissa was rewarded for it.

"Purple light..." she repeated. "I'd assumed it was just..."

She'd assumed it was just Source - purple generally being the color that Source manifested it's light in the physical world. But after many hours of analysis of the mysterious cube, it had become clear that it wasn't just a magical container encased in a metal information processing unit. The entire thing was some kind of advanced compact computing unit of it's own. 'Compact' to put it lightly. 'Advanced' was an understatement too.

There was no Source magic held within it at all.

Clarissa started muttering rapidly and unintelligably to herself, pacing around. "...Electricity isn't..." was two words that one might actually hear properly. Then more nonsense. Then "...but no. Sooo..."

Academy President Jordash Sigmar:

"Might I suggest continuing without our esteemed Director," he said with a smirk. "She is currently unreachable and one cannot know how long she will be like this. But I can confidently say that this is her at her most helpful."

A few members of the meeting chuckled.

2nd Guildmaster Lucy Bottrill:

Lucy was one chuckling. Though she got the meeting back onto the primary topic on agenda. "Well, I can say that The Source Code matches up to your story," she said to the Heroes from the Sky. "It looks like 9 villagers of Hommas all woke up with Source Crystals on the same day. Which would be rare. And your accents don't really match the region..." she pulled a confused face. "Or eachother, for that matter. You all sound like you could be born and raised lands apart."

After some more questions were asked, surrounding details of Aurok's death, their multiple Ascensions and other things like foreign weapons and gear or trinkets, or finally; any contact with enemy agents of importance, James Sirius took the opportunity to then smoothly transition the meeting onto the next topic on agenda. His intelligence and determination, matched with the arrogance of Adam and the casual apathy of Zell, all added to the show of strength and mystery that was Second Chance. Lucy could tell from the feeling in the room, that others understood that Second Chance was no ordinary party. Though she'd experienced enough of the Top Brass to know that such an enimga stood before them could be met with many different emotions. Respect. Fear. Admiration. Greed. And more.

Garrison Commander Thorn:

"Garrison Commander Thorn," he commander introduced himself, as was his habit. "Any information you have would be more than welcome." He nodded at James. "We can talk afterwards," then added to them all, "Unless any of you have urgent intel to give that can't wait." He gave everyone a chance to speak before continuing.

"Our military resrves have been drained from the need to reinforce Fortress Fornost, in the north. But what we have left is a solid army ready for defence." It was an optimistic assesssment, but no sense in scaring the party. An estimation of the invading forces was over 3 to 1. The city was in dire trouble. But Thorn would remain stoic and strong until his death. "Problem is; we have few Adevnturer parties in the city, right now, so we plan to split all parties into single units, spreading the offensive Classes among the Garrison Regulars, as Captains of Regiments, whilst using Support Classes in tactical groups."

Thorn shuffled around in his belt pouch and counted out 7 Alarm Recievers. "I will fill your party leader in with the details. He can relay them to you. And as it stands, you'll have 10 days before any fighting is needed. However, each of you must carry one of these around with you." He put the Alarm Recievers on the table, each small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. "It will signal you by your Source Crystal, when you are needed at the North and Eastern Wall. The first time it goes off, will likely be a drill, to ascertain our compentence and organization as a defensive force. The second... well, that will be the real deal."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Dark Cloud had IRL drama that has been dealt with (that kept him from getting online) & he's working on getting things sorted before he returns.

@SleepingSilence

Noted. Thanks for taking the time out to let us know, buddy!