xenon

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Teyao@AvaP

Clarissa was in a veritable state of paralysis as she stood, straight as an arrow on the podium. If one could see inside her mind, it would likely resemble the light-projected screen on the glass in front of her that showed an enlarged magnified image of the smaller holoscreen of the main computer. Whereas that enlarged screen showed the computer rapidly combing through the foriegn programming code of the cube, Clarissa's mind was reprocessing every event and finding that she, James and her team had gathered so far.

She registered James' voice, but it was not enough to break her state. Her head turned slowly and she stared at him for a moment, her eyes briefly scanning his hands to see if he'd brought her anything. Then after an uncomfortable amount of time, perhaps 20 seconds, her eyes went to Alison. She also checked the hands.

"We could do it manually," she mused, mulling it over before nodding to herself, still staring at the two adventurers. Then her posture broke and she stepped down off the podium as if to properly greet them. "One thing our generation is missing..." she addressed Alison. "Real hackers. I mean REAL hackers - Clarissa Shields, nice to meet you" (the scientist left the smallest gap to allow Alison the option to introduce herself) "- the golden age of programming is over. Everything is now prefabricated hacking software designed with algorithmic instruction to do all the heavy lifting for us. Sure, we have studied to the highest qualification to be able to bend these programs to our will and do amazing things with them, our manpower spent on higher machinations and ambitions. No longer do we waste 4 programmers and 3 weeks building the simplest piece of software. Our computers can do the same grunt work in a matter of hours. Why would we bother ourselves? Of course, we learn in class what it is that is taking place at the foundational level." She opened and closed her fists in front of her. "But unless you've spent time laying those foundations, brick by brick, yourself. Made the mistakes, wasted entire days pouring through your own code to figure out that you've misplaced a single digit in the sea of macros... it's hard to really respect a fellow programmer's feel for the discipline."

And finally the neurodivergent rant was over.

"Sirius," she looked sharply at James, her tone no longer distant. "Where've you been? I needed you." It was an admonishment. Not that she didn't acknowledge just how much time James had devoted to the cause of the Cube. She knew, and while not grateful in the slightest, she did understand that not everyone was a complete robot like herself. Normal people needed time to mentally decompress on occassion. "We have work to do. I don't suppose you know how to read code? Not Source Code. Computer code." (Again, the gap left for James to answer was incredibly small.) "No matter, your inspiration and creativity will be useful nonetheless." As she folded her arms, her thumb, ring and pinky casted a high-level Identify while her index and middle fingers modified the spell for stealth-magic. A habit of hers when sizing up another Source Crystal User, honed almost to an illusionists level of sleight-of-hand. "Time is of the essence," were her last words for James.

"Alison," she looked at the Rogue. Whether or not the woman had introduced herself by name, Identify was filling Clarissa in on the newcomer. "I'm glad you're here - well, not really, I need Sirius - but it is nice to meet you. I trust you must be interesting, if Sirius would bring you here. Perhaps we can have a proper chat under less pressing circumstances. But, it is quite the convenience that you are of the Rogue Class. If you would kindly follow me." She didn't care what James did, but she waited for Alison to follow and led her out of the room. "I trust you know of The Thieves' Guild," she said as she led Alison down the hall. Each door they passed had a sign above.

[Shields 4]...

[Shields 5]...

"My associate, Titus Hart is from the Guild. I've been letting him use one of my labs for a project that might help us get out of this siege problem with our lives - such an inconvenience. The siege, not Titus - but I do believe he has some toys lying around that someone of your calibre may be able to make use of. Perhaps you could take a look and see if any tickle your fancy. You may aswell. No point in waiting for official patents to come through when extermination is on the horizon."

[Shields 11]

"Here we are," she announced and went straight in without knocking. "Hart." Titus was leaned over a table, welding mask glowing brightly as he worked. He stopped what he was doing, put his tools down and took off the safety mask. Chin raised slightly, he held his wrist behind his back as he awaited them closing in.

"Shields," he said politely.

"We have a volunteer for field-testing some of your weapons." Titus looked at Alison and bowed his head slightly in greeting. "I will leave her in your capable hands."

Clarissa inclined her head to Alison in a silent thank you and left. Now, it was time to toss fancy software applications to one side and get into some old-fashioned hacking. James had arrived with perfect timing.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@ZapdosHappy Thanksgiving, brother!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

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

The Enemy Encampment - General Saladin’s Pavillion

Saladin's mustache twitched. Wolfmen stink was almost as bad The Corpse Dropper.

"Is everything ready?" the General asked.

Captain Hrond Lewell, Chieftan of the Luna Clan, responded with his deep, snarling raspy voice. "My unit is in position. We will wait for the signal and strike with ferocious haste."

Saladin noticed some trepidation in the wolfman's face after his response. "What is it?"

"You can depend on me for strict timing and adherence to the plan. I have complete control over my soldiers. But..."

Saladin knew. "Zacharius." Captain Hrond growled low in his throat. Saladin smiled and turned his back on the captain.

Zacharius, Drinker of Divine Blood. Much like Zigmund Mugba-Zarak, Zacharius was a Source Crystal User who had undergone The Witch Queen's Hybrid Project. Using high-end technology and Dark Domain expertise, Her Majesty had created a procedure called a Soul Fusion, taking Crystal Bearers, captured Djinn's and fusing them together to create extremely powerful Demi-Djinn Mortals. It was not called a Soul Fusion because it was the souls of the two creatures from different planes that were fused. No, it was because the 'glue' by which the creatures were fused was tortured souls. A large amount of tortured souls.

Zigmund and Zacharius were of the 1st Generation of successful results from Project Hybrid. Demi-Djinn mortals, who reaped the benefits of powers from the Fey Plane, while being able to walk in this world and keep their own strength. But while Zigmund Mugba-Zarak was, and had always been, a scout and assassin, well before he volunteered for the Soul Fusion... Zacharius was once a Paladin, resulting in a mighty force far more suited for open combat. And thus, it was proved when Zacharius killed Userper-Emperor Quinitus Young's brother at the battle for Dantuin, drinking his blood in victory afterward.

"Don't worry about him," Saladin told the Wolfman captain. "You need not give him any commands. He will remain in your company for the first strike at least. Left to his own devices, he will be of great benefit to our assault."

"Very well, General."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

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

Capitol City - The Atrium Supra Magus

The 3 largest towers in Capitol City represented the 3 branches of the Imperium, able to be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Largest of them all, the Central Tower was The Sword of Ileandra, representing the Divine Bloodline. To the east of that was The Spire of Mytheria, representing the Senate. To the west, The Spear of The Source, representing the Church. All three were feats of great beauty and craftsmanship, but they were not just mere symbols of power and decorations of magnaminty. They were also powerful conduit towers reserved for the most powerful magical rituals and ceremonies.

The Spire of Mytheria connected to The Atrium Supra Magus, office of the highest magical authority in the Empire. Archmage Teclis was stood in the highest room of the tower, a room with missing walls, no glass in the windows, allowing the winds of altitude to rush throughout. The Archmage’s robes rippled with the gale as he stood dangerously close to the edge, only a hand on the stone column next to him for balance. He would always come here to think, when a problem or puzzle seemed insurmountable.

The prediction that The Wellsprings would remain asleep for several months was wrong. They had stirred already. Not quite awake yet definitely on their way back to full power. To be so incorrect was concerning on it’s own. The Free People’s ability to interpret the Source Code correctly and have faith in academic journals from The Mythic Age, was a fundamental pillar upon which The Empire leaned. But something else had also happened. In addition to their miscalculations: Yesterday, the moment that the Wellspring stirred was marked by a surge of Source that almost killed one of the city’s best Code Readers, leaving the woman permanently blind to boot.

“It is all so irregular,” Teclis mused as he went over the pieces to the puzzle. Academics were not known for tolerating inconsistencies.

His thoughts were interrupted by none other than Dante Valeron, leader of the Adventurer Party, The Good Fight, and Chairman of The Council of Heroes.

“Archmage.” Teclis returned the greeting but did not turn around. Dante came to stand next to him, the man’s silver hair and polished silver armour both glistening in the sun. “Valhiem is under attack.”

The Archmage bristled. “An unfortunate development. What do we know?”

“Nothing,” was the reply, Dante’s tone and expression as if the very word tasted foul. “It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I feel it in my bones. Contact with the city has been magically blockaded. I have put in requests for Code Readings on the city and surrounding area.”

“I will go to The Basilica Magna Decoris at once. Expedite the process and make sure that our very best are on the job.”

“There is something else too,” Dante added. “I have received word from Fornost, from the party True Grade, who were at Valhiem only weeks ago, that there is a strange and uniquely powerful party that have seemingly appeared out of nowhere.”

Teclis’ eyes grew wide. Dante nodded knowingly.

“They call themselves Second Chance.”

“Could it be…?”

“I think so. We know that the The Summoning was completed. They had to turn up somewhere. It stands to reason that they would land perfectly between here and Azeroth.” There were no more than a dozen people who knew about The Summoning. All of them were in Capitol City, with the exception of The Witch Queen, of course. Which meant that if this really was the heroes that had been brought from another world, Valhiem would not have a clue. “Whatever is happening in Central Mytheria, we must pray that they survive it.”

“We have gambled so much on them. May The Mother protect their souls and The Warrior smile on their battles.”

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Ugh, this post fought me all the way and I am still not happy with it. Got a lot of stress cuz some bad news lately and I can't focus properly on writting. But anyway, post up.

@Teyao

I'm sorry to hear that, brother. Bad news is never good, but it seems to feel worse so close to Christmas.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Sorry about the rambling dramatics. I should be able to get back to the plot and other things now lol xD

@Zool

It was worth the read! Some great insight into our resident princess. Such a good character. Bravo!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Hey, just a heads up, I might not be able to post anything until Saturday. I have a big test coming up that I have to prepare for.

@AvaP

Thanks for letting me know! Best of luck!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

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

From day to night and back to day again, the industrial sector worked away. They grinded out iron nuts and bolts, steel and wooden beams, and much more. The top craftsmen of the city made the most of the volunteer labour force and experienced builders. Scaffolding, spiked barricades, plaforms, rope bridges, dragon's teeth and anything else that might be useful.

The streets were set up with barricades, some blocked up completely, all a defensive plan to funnel any breaching enemy forces into specific choke points in the city, where Valhiem could mount enough of a defense to provide cover for tactical retreats.

The massive scaffolding towers holding up platforms for the mages to position themselves on were almost complete. A network of platforms and rope bridges ran along the tops of the buildings in northeast quadrant, above and behind the walls where Valhiem would mount their defense.

The Citadel, 3rd Hall of the Bureau, Commander Thorn's War Room

"How goes the evacuation?" Commander Thorn asked his subordinate.

Ever since the news had come that The Witch Queen had hacked Second Chance's Source Comm and potentially knew that Valhiem had gotten a spy into Saladin's camp, the evacuation had begun. They'd managed to bring near-2000 citizens up the mountain the previous evening, and organised them amongst the beds and makeshift living arrangements in the spare halls of The Citadel and The Academy. But progress had been halted during the night.

"This morning, we finished evacuating the northeast quadrant of the city," the officer reported. "We have started on the northwest and southwest quadrants this afternoon. We should be able to make a small start on the final southeast quadrant this evening and then finish tomorrow morning."

"Good work, officer." Commander Thorn was pleased, but nervous nonetheless. He wanted everyone up Citadel Mountain as soon as possible. With no idea what the enemy might do, he felt like his people were exposed. "Go to the Military Centre and take as many men and women as you need to expedite the process."

"Yes sir."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Teyao@AvaP

New to Alison and familiar to James, the interior of the Adventurer's Guild still looked fairly normal with business as usual happening in the common area. Adventurers were dotted about in ones, two and threes, enjoying some downtime away from the busy industrial, military and magical sectors of Valhiem. No party was whole, such was the demand for Source Crystal manpower in the preparations, and no one was sat in leisure for too long before getting up to leave and return to their work elsewhere in the city. The vast majority of Adventurer parties were Silver and Gold ranked, with the odd Bronze tier here and there. All those Platinum and above had long since left Valhiem to answer the call of Capitol City, The Fortress of Fornost and other places where military might was needed most.

James Sirius drew the attention of a fair few pairs of eyes upon entering, including Terence the barkeep. By now, everyone knew about the party, Second Chance, who came from another world. James and Alison would find Lucy Bottrill, 2nd Guildmaster of The Adventurer's Guild: Valhiem Chapter, at her desk up the stairs on the mezzanine floor where she liked to work.

Scribble, Lucy's dog, jumped off the Easterner Elf's shoulder and ran to James to bark at him, but the little dog's yapping shrank away when Alison made it to the top of the stairs. Scribble could sense the presence of Alison's Whispers, whimpered and ran back to Lucy to hide behind the desk.

Lucy managed to catch this, but did not let it bother her too much as she got up and placed her hands on the desk. "Hello James," she greeted. She never forgot a face anyway, but she had also been dealing with Second Chance a lot since their arrival in the city. "What can I do for you?"

"Hey Guildmaster, this is Alison" He signaled at the woman

"Afternoon Alison." She gave Alison a nod and then looked back at James.

"I want to register her as another member of Second Chance"

"Not a problem. Strength in numbers, I see. Good call," she said before gesturing to the Source Crystal scanner embedded in the desk. "If you'd both like to scan your crystal, I'll get you set up."

When she found out that their intention was to use the Source Comm, she first refused and explained that the system had been compromised and shut down. But, understanding that Second Chance were an exceptional cicumstance and potentially highly important, she agreed to let them look at their Comms so long as they did not send any messages out.

"Alison Walker," Lucy read on the system, checking a few other details before looking at the woman. "You're not from here," she noted. "Have you been in Valhiem long?" she asked, making small talk while she updated Second Chance's details and finalized the registration. Once it was done, she placed her hands back on the desk. "Alright, you are now officially a member of Second Chance." She rebooted the Source Comm system and left them at the computer terminal to read their messages, then read up information on Alison, her experienced eyes figuring out from the abnormalities in the data that the Rogue was also from another world. Another shocking development. Lucy looked warily at the new woman, wondering how she had only just turned up now. The guildmaster would have to report this as soon as possible.

As for the message that James and Alison had come to read...

___________________________________________________________

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

Sorry! I got home a bit late. My post will have to be tomorrow.