Blackhoof

Oh I misremembered it, that is fine then

Its a canon consideration, the way David talked about creation Epics it didn't sound like it was negotiable. Epics with the power to create anything can't create permanent objects. Basically a rule. And I think part of the point was to prevent Epics from just wishing up all the food they wanted for a ruler. You can't derive sustenance from a sandwich that stops existing in 3 hours.

Interesting power. Sounds fun to use :) one suggestion- in the books it makes the stuff epics create disappear after a few hours or a day, so how about the same applies with him? Doesn't make much difference for him in the moment

Hope he is ok. Hopefully its just regular life stuff getting in the way.

Yeah those are awful :P haha

Damien wandered west. This section of the map seemed to be very hilly, with a number of caves and some ruined buildings. He could see what could only be players running around, mostly alone, a mix of all different races looking for monsters to kill. "Hmm I'll bet this is mob central. I'll ask some of the players here if they are real. And I'll test out my newfound powers in the meantime!" It didn't take long until he found a pair of hobgoblins guarding a chest, hidden in the cleft of a hill, surrounded by rocks. The hobgoblins glared suspiciously in all directions, red eyes glinting beneath their brows, but they didn't seem to notice him as he watched them from afar. "So what's my strategy here... lets do a check of my inventory." -Goblin Summoning Stone (x10), Ink, Journal, Adventurers trousers, Adventurers shirt, Bronze sword, Bow, wooden arrows. Damien frowned. "Wait, I have a bow? And arrows?" He looked down at himself and could only see his sword. "Where on earth are they? Do I just.... will them into my hands?" He thought about drawing his bow and arrow and like magic, they appeared in his hands. He jumped in surprise and they fell, vanishing before they hit the ground. "Ok... so that's how that works. What about those summoning stone things? Maybe a little goblin minion will help beat these two." He draw a summoning stone out of his beltpouch, and threw it on the ground, crying dramatically "Summon Goblin!" A goblin materialized in front of him, green and barely 4 feet tall, armed with a little sword. It grinned up at him. "Follow me, little goblin." Damien declared, imperiously. The pair approached the hobgoblins. Finally they noticed him, and they raised their bronze swords and hissed a warning. Damien smiled, projecting confidence. "Hobgoblins, I warn you. Allow me to loot that chest and I will let you live." The hobgoblins looked at each other, and cackled. Damien shrugged casually. "Have it your way then." With a flourish, he threw a blue bolt of energy at the left Hobgoblin, striking it in the chest. Damien dealt 10 damage to Hobgoblin The pair roared, and charged towards him. His goblin rushed forward to defend its master, and in unison they attacked each other. Goblin dealt 8 damage to Hobgoblin Hobgoblin dealt 8 damage to Goblin Hobgoblin dealt 7 damage to Goblin Damien threw another three bolts at one of the hobgoblins while the goblinoids hacked at each other, until finally his goblin was impaled by two blades, and vanished into nothing. But not before its blade stabbed into the neck of one of the hobgoblins, and it too fell to the ground, but without vanishing. The last hobgoblin immediately turned its attention to Damien, and and it began charging. Damien decided to try something different. With different words, he threw what looked like a weaker pulse of blue energy, which struck the hobgoblin and knocked it back. The hobgoblin shook its head in befuddlement, and Damien threw a damage-dealing bolt at it. Damien dealt 8 damage to Hobgoblin The Hobgoblin's health bar was about halfway black. It began charging once more, and Damien began backing away, worried at how sharp that sword looked. He threw another stunning pulse and jogged backwards. By the time the creature came to, it had decided that he was too far away to bother with, and began walking back to its chest. With a sly grin, he threw a bolt at its back, and another a few seconds later as it charged towards him. It was getting closer, but its health was so low that Damien knew one more should finish it off. It got closer. He waited. It got closer. He waited more, grinning evilly. The goblinoid raised its sword and leapt towards him, his sword mere inches from him. With a cry, Damien threw one last bolt, and it blew a smoking hole in the hobgoblin's chest. The creature flew backwards, landing on the ground with a thud. Damien dealt 11 damage to Hobgoblin Damien laughed and cheered. "All glory to Xalthus! mwa ha ha ha!" He searched the bodies of the hobgoblins, finding some gold, a key and their swords. Typically, they easily fit into his inventory, despite there being no room on his person for such clutter. "I so love MMOs, hehe." With a spring in his step, he strolled towards the chest. The key easily fit into the chest's lock, and he opened it with glee. Inside was more gold, and some health and mana potions." He nodded. "Not bad, not bad at all." He looked down at his clothes. "Armour, and trousers? For a wizard? Tsk tsk this will not do. I'm going to find myself an outfit befitting a true sorceror." With that, he returned to town, shopping on the mind.

Sounds interesting, definitely

true, but I figure that she loses tags from normal deaths here and there constantly. Epics killing their servants, people dying from normal methods. And in this period of chaos, the level of tag-losses would jump way up. It can still help narrow things down, but I think only if the ghouls are being hidden. If they are out in the open they will be noticed very quickly anyway and at best you get a few minutes faster response time. Its a worthwhile strategy to try, anyway. True, but at the moment her role is quite minor among the Queens. If she suddenly becomes their primary method for taking down one of the greater threats to Corvallis security, she will freak out. Even if it doesn't trigger her weakness, her paranoia about it (and about becoming a target) might just get her to run away, or hide her usefulness. Her characterisation so far has been nothing if not that of a maximum scaredy-cat who runs at the first sign of trouble, danger or importance. That said, she is already established as having fought ghouls using her powers before, during the attacks. two clarifications- Iconoclast has found a new house and gone to sleep, his ally tagging along, since he recruited her.

From what i remember, way back at the start of Corvallis Winter and I decided that shifted vanillas count as having 'died' from Chase's perspective, so she loses them. So there isn't an immediate way to tell if a 'dead' human died or was shifted. You can narrow things down certainly, but that relies on Chase WANTING to be so proactive and important. Issues arise if she becomes their Icono-tracker for her weakness.

phew, I wouldn't know where to start In Portland, the Chimera/Lightwards fight is in progress. Corpsemaker has sent his troops throughout the city to impose his will, and is leading a convoy on a PR tour. Quote got Upgraded and is now smothering everyone in an oppressive feeling of despair. And Neverthere got tracked down and attacked by Electro and Timeport, but Nighthound and Lucentia fought them off and kidnapped her. She doesn't quite know she's been kidnapped yet.

Damien followed the blue lines that the tutorial super-imposed on his vision, and found himself facing a Kobold with a sling. Damien cocked his head. "Hmm.... well this should be an easy fight. But what do I actually do...." He looked at his hands. "Well, I am a mage, but.... can I actually do magic?" He tentatively extended his hand towards the creature, that was preparing to throw a rock at him. Words he didn't know he knew came out of his mouth, and a bolt of blue energy shot out of his hand towards the creature. The bolt struck the creature as Damien jumped in surprise. 8 Damage Damien looked at his hands in shock. "I didn't think... I... I can do magic!" A rock sailed through the air and hit him in the shoulder, although it barely seemed to hurt. -4 HP Damien chuckled. "Is that all you've got, little Kobold? How about one of these!" With a flourish, he threw another bolt of energy, and the creature lost another chunk of HP. The fight continued in a predictable fashion- several rounds of Damien inflicting consistent levels of higher damage and the Kobold erratically dealing damage in the low single digits. Soon the final bolt hit home and the Kobold fell to the ground for the last time. Damien looked at his hands again, marvelling at the power they had unleashed. "Maybe... maybe this game isn't so bad after all." He wandered off, looking for other trapped humans, hopefully someone had answers, or theories as to their predicament. But why not have a little fun along the way, first?

I assume eventually, we just need plots to move forward more first

Damien tapped his desk impatiently as Game of Guilds slowly installed. Critics were raving about this new game, apparently the most realistic and detailed MMORPG ever made. Damien licked his lips. "This is going to be great..." Finally the game finished installing. Eagerly, he created an account, and began crafting a character. "Hmm.... I'll go with my standard wizard build. Hopefully this game lets me be evil, so many RPGs just railroad you." Feeling peckish, he turned his large body around and yelled out, "MUM! Snacks and Mountain Dew!" He heard some movement, and his mother replied, her voice faint from another room, "Yes dear!" In short order he was done, and as he finished his mother delivered his chips and soft drink. "Here you go honey." Silence was all she got in reply, as Damien put the finishing touches on his character's face- making it harsh and angular, with bulging eyes. His wizard, Xalthus, was thin and pale, the very appearance of an evil sorceror. Damien smiled, and adjusted his headset. He cracked his fingers, ripped open the chips, sipped his Dew and clicked into the game. Darkness enveloped him. He opened his eyes. Damien found himself suddenly outside, in broad daylight. "What.... I.... what???" Suddenly a massive form moved by him, and he yelled out, cowering away. It was a Minotaur! A real-life, flesh-and-blood Minotaur! He backed away, and bumpedi not something. Spinning around in a flash, he saw a hulking figure with sharp wings and a horned head. A Demon!? He screamed, and ran away from the horrors. More beasts appeared wherever he looked, and he dodged around them all before they could attack him. He ran into a nearby building, and slammed the door behind him. Breathing heavily, Damien leaned on the door. "What... the ****... is going on here!?" "Hello, and welcome to Myster's Magic Mysteries, I am Myster, how may I be of service?" Damien span around, and saw a smiling old man behind a counter across the room. Behind the man- bearded and dressed in a robe- was shelf upon shelf of potions, wands, staves, and other miscellaneous magical items. Damien stared at the man, still panting, holding the door back as if the monsters outside were about to try to break it down. Minutes seemed to pass. Myster smiled, and his faced seemed to take a blank cast as he said, "Hello, and welcome to Myster's Magic Mysteries, I am Myster, how may I be of service?" Damien's brow furrowed and his mouth gaped open slightly. "Uh.... well... you can tell me why there are monsters outside..." Myster's face lost its blank cast, and he frowned. "Monsters? Oh that's just the adventurers arriving. I don't much like the non-human ones myself either. Very unsettling to do business with a man who is half horse, I can tell you! Ah well, gold is gold after all. Speaking of gold, would you like to peruse my wares? Perhaps a mana potion or two, for a fellow magic-user?" Damien realised with horror what was happening, and for the first time he noticed the little symbols at the edge of his vision. A minimap. Waypoint markers. It was a HUD. "I'm.... I'm IN the game, aren't I? This must be some messed-up dream!" Myster smiled. "If this were a dream, I'd tell you sonny! Hahaha calm down lad, there isn't anything to be scared of. This is just the Town of Beginnings." As if to emphasise Myster's point, text appeared in front of Damien. Welcome Xalthus to Game of Guilds, tutorial will begin in 3 seconds Damien, shocked into speechlessness, just nodded. "Yes.... yes I think a tutorial sounds like a good idea."

Lucentia's theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDRORgoZxZU haha

Iconoclast's theme would probably be something like this: Ave Satani (Gregorian) A mix of satanism with heavy metal, always a win.

Pure mage indeed! He will be a human stuck in the game, I think

I reckon I will be Xalthus- Dark Wizard extraordinaire! Real-life name: Damien Fenwick. Race: Human Skills: Magic - Chanting Magic - Increase Magic - Writing - Summoning

Hey Winter

who is up next in Corvallis?

Actually I'm on board with Voidus' plan. Had an idea for a trapped PC that quickly decides that being trapped isn't so bad after all, and goes mad with power. Becomes a necromancer or something, becomes an antagonist for the other PCs who want to escape. He wants to keep them trapped in case they ruin his paradise by escaping. So I'm excited

Hmm not sure if I'd be into that, wait and see how it develops i suppose. Sounds interesting though

How far off 3000 are we?

Aonar explained it to me as all entities and objects taken out of normal time (so Eternity and any object or person he takes with him) are semi-incorporeal. So basically he turned the earpieces incorporeal, whilethe air around them remained frozen solid. Also I don't know if anyone replied to you Edge, but I think you continuing the Lucentia/Timeport fight as you wish should be fine.

Part 2 of a collab between Aonar Faileas and me Winterspell flinched as a sharp crack filled his ear. His earpiece was gone. His burst eardrum turned to ice and melted as a new, healed one appeared, leaking water down the side of his face. He was about to demand an explanation when the Epic's servant began talking. "Does 'hospitality' include surveillance by destructive Epics and armed gunmen? While the efficacy of the gesture is moot, it does not speak well to your intentions. I believe we would rather find whomever is ruling in Lucentia's stead. Perhaps they will be able to show more decorum." His expression darkened as the rude cur insulted him. They march up to HIS bridge, intimidate HIS guards, and respond to his civility by assaulting him and... and.... how did they know about the other Epics? Winterspell realized in a flash that if this... temporal Epic had frozen time to remove his earpiece, then he could have done anything. Traipsed around the castle. Killed or captured his Epics. Fear replaced anger, but tempering the fear was... greed. Winterspell forced an icy smile. "Of course. Deathgale is ruling this city in Lucentia's stead. You will find him in the largest diamond building in the city center, no doubt you will know it when you see it. You may cross my bridge... toll-free, for my esteemed guests." With a thought, he moved himself off the bridge until he stood on a column of roiling water above the river. The pair began crossing, and he smiled evilly. With a gesture, the ground beneath the Epic and his servant collapsed and refroze, and in an eye-blink both were encased to the shoulders in ice. Not too cold, or very dangerous, of course. He swooped towards them, towering above the struggling pair. "Lets discuss... the terms of your surrender, shall we?" .............................. The Epic's expression darkened further, before slipping into a false smile. Eternity had no doubt almost every word was a lie, but Truce seemed satisfied, so they resumed crossing. A moment later, they were buried up to the chest in ice. Truce shrieked at the sudden cold. Eternity sighed. Diplomacy may not be my job, but maybe it should be. The Epic moved closer. "Let's discuss the terms of --" Time stopped. "My turn." Eternity grunted, pulling one arm free of the ice, then the other. With an effort of will, he heaved himself up through the ice. He turned to face the ice-Epic. Almost as an afterthought, Eternity reached down and pulled Truce up by the hair. Her face contorted with pain. "Peon! How dare you-" Eternity caught the hand that was about to slap him, calmy twisting it into a lock. "Accord's geas has no power here, Cynthia. Don't forget that." After a moment, he released her, turning his attention back to the Epic. Now, what would be appropriate? He looked at his surroundings, suddenly feeling very slow. Of course. Eternity reached down, touching the surface of the bridge. His fingers sank down into the ice. He stayed that way for what would have been several minutes, concentrating on what he wanted. A portion of the ice solidified under his hand. He pulled it free, revealing a large knife, simple but razor sharp. That should do nicely. He positioned himself just behind the Epic, and pulled him out of time. "-your surrender, shall we?" Eternity pressed the knife against his throat. "We shall not. That was a nice trick. I can do better." He dug the knife in a little more, hard enough to cause pain. "Now, most gracious host, I belive introductions are in order." ................................. No sooner had he begun gloating over his victory, than he felt a knife press against his throat. The Epic was gone, and the woman was freed from his ice, two holes where they had once both been trapped. His eyes widened in shock. "We shall not. That was a nice trick. I can do better." The Epic dug the knife in a little more, and while it wouldn't penetrate his skin, it hurt slightly. "Now, most gracious host, I belive introductions are in order." Winterspell swallowed, quivering in rage and humiliation. "My name..." He spat. "Is Winterspell, king of Icesteel Keep, and Lord of Columbia River. Who may you be?" .......................... Eternity almost laughed aloud. Pretentious much? "I go by Eternity. I hope the reasons are obvious."She," he said, pointing to Truce, "is known as Lady Truce. She is Accord's emissary, under his aegis, and by unfortunate extension, mine."Eternity raised an eyebrow at Truce, wordlessly asking if she had anything to add. She shook her head slightly before adapting to the situation in her usual fashion. A short, sharp spike of metal -probably a hairpin, Eternity thought- appeared in her hand from nowhere in particular, while she stalked towards Winterspell."Now that you are being less... obdurate," she practically purred, running the point of the pin along his jaw, "perhaps you will answer some questions."She stepped away, absently spinning the pin through her fingers as she started to circle the Epic. "Three questions and three true answers, and you will leave here unmolested." A hint of laughter touched her voice as she continued. "In all honesty, your life is probably only worth two, but I've always been one for tradition." She was clearly enjoying herself."First. Why are you so eager to detain those who have business with your liege?"

Part 1 of a collab between Aonar Faileas and me They had only taken a few steps onto the bridge when its owner appeared. Rising up through the bridge's surface like a swimmer from water, he was obviously the Epic that had constructed it. "What is your business in my domain?" Truce stopped, and Eternity fell into line just behind and to the left. He stayed silent. Diplomacy wasn't his job. Truce put on a mask of a pleasant smile, and spoke lightly, although her eyes stayed as cold as ever. "We have none. Yours is simply the most convenient passage into Lucentia's. Do you happen to know if the Queen is in?" ............................................. Tag's voice barked in Winterspell's ear as he listened to their question. "Be careful of the guy, boss, he has temporal manipulation. He's a powerful one, might be able to trap you outside of time, or something. Can't be harmed, either, looks like he can stop time before being hurt. As for the broad, she's just a vanilla." The Ice King smiled. An interesting pair, with the vanilla doing the talking. Although some epics preferred it that way. Perhaps this man, with his time manipulation, could serve him in removing the High Epics of Astoria..... yes.... this could work nicely. He finally replied to her question. "Well, I am sorry to say that she is unavailable at the moment. But she should only be a few days away. Perhaps you would be interested in staying at my keep until she returns? I promise that I treat Epic and their retinues, even those that don't serve me, with the greatest hospitality." ...................................... Truce's smile became slightly more brittle. Her left hand twitched in a vague shooing motion. Eternity figured that was his cue. The world went silent. Eternity walked up to the statue that was their greeter. Tall and strong in the way powerful Epics tended to be, he would have cut an imposing figure. Closer now, he could see the earpiece and radio the Epic wore. Wired. None of that, now. He plucked it from the Epic's ear, throwing it off the side of the bridge. Best see who he was talking to. It wasn't a short walk to the castle, and from there, navigating it's maze of halls to the battlements was no simple task. Eternity, however, had nothing but time. On the battlements, two persons stuck out immediately, although several armed guards were also in attendance. One looked important enough to be a minor Epic, standing at the edge with a radio to his ear. The speaker. He removed that radio as well. Better safe than sorry. The Epic would have a nasty shock once time restarted; although Eternity's powers exactly didn't see eye to eye with physics, things he moved still tended to leave a bit of a vacuum behind. It would probably be several days before he regained his hearing, at least. The second point of interest was the cripple. He was a non-sequitur among the castle's personnel, confined to a wheelchair and still heavily bandaged from whatever incident had put him there. An Epic, presumably, important enough to be summoned to a meeting of Highs, even damaged as he was. Something destructive then, or perhaps defensive. Nothing to worry about though, more like than not. Disrupting communications would make their point well enough. After a another short sweep of the battlements, Eternity leapt back to the bridge's surface. Pain flared in his legs from the many-stories fall, his vision fading momentarily before snapping back into place. A rictus grin formed on his face. It was strange. Although nothing could harm him here, his body had always seemed convinced otherwise. Back at Truce's side, he brought her and a large chunk of atmosphere out of time to brief her on what he had found and done. She nodded once, sharply, before turning back towards the Epic. A sharp crack sounded; the ice-Epic flinched slightly, almost imperceptibly, some fluid too pale to be blood leaking from his ear. Not wholly invulnerable, then. Truce spoke as his expression hardened. "Does 'hospitality' include surveillance by destructive Epics and armed gunmen? While the efficacy of the gesture is moot, it does not speak well to your intentions. I believe we would rather find whomever is ruling in Lucentia's stead. Perhaps they will be able to show more decorum."