The Young Pyromancer

Blank didn't draw the next words, they just appeared. *So that Epic was able to write on the paper again. Interesting. Perception based?* They then noticed what words were actually written. They ground their teeth. It was pretty obvious they were an Epic. But what KIND? The High Epic was going to consider recruiting them, but now... It all depended on what happened next.

I thought there was a WOB on it, but I was wrong.

The evil could be dragons!

Maybe Nazh is a dragon actually, that makes a lot of sense.

Sorry, for some reason I thought that the autonomy quote was for endowment.

No, it's just a theory that Brandon has hinted at, and has a good chance of being correct. There was the letter too, which sounded like it looked down on others, which would make sense as a lot of dragons in fantasy are stuck up.

There is also the fact that Endowment is a dragon, so that could be what he means.

I thought that ruining and preserving simultaneously works, based on his interactions with Wax and Preserving the northerners while dooming the southerners. What I imagined would be like that.

Blank frowned. They had learned how to lip read, of course, but they liked to pretend they couldn’t. The Epic changed his message. You can trace with your finger and I will make it change to reflect that. I repeat my question. Outside the van, a crow started to follow along overhead.

My interpretation was that he was compelled in both directions at once so if he acted with one to strongly, it would swing out of control, causing the other shard to escape.

He would be Ruining to Preserve. He would have to Ruin something, and he chose to Ruin others besides his people. Besides, I think he might fall into discord by that point. Brandon has said that there is at least one other way those shards could've come together...

I was browsing another thread and realized that by the time era 4 rolls around sazed will be pretty corrupted, and at the time he already struggles to balance his shards. Maybe he becomes the final villain, championing scadrial’s progress at the cost of the other planets and forcing the forming of an interplanetary coalition to defend the universe from the scadrians? Thoughts?

Maybe destroy attackers would work.

Someone asked me to post this here. https://www.google.com/maps/d/view?mid=1B0HN_kcbtj1WOmKlpabymhQeqsE&ll=53.55370967693075%2C-113.48867312735842&z=10

Well, nothing said this lawman was famous for his tracking abilities... I'd think he would excel at combat based on his abilities, which are pretty much unbeatable with only one ability. So change the game. F-Duralumin lets you hide, and if he finds you, he suddenly doesn't care about you anymore. Also, it could help you get into a position in the government. It might be hard to be arrested then...

Blank leaned back, startled, as the Epic wrote on an illusion. Blank’s mind exploded with questions. What in the… Another illusionist? Maybe a person gifted Typhon’s powers? Was the pen a motivator? Was that even there before? But what about the shifting of the original message? Or could this Epic be a power manipulator? That seemed more likely, explaining both of the noticed effects. Or maybe they were an infokinetic? Blank had seen stranger things. They leaned back in their chair, stroking their chin in thought. Blank had always liked swivel chairs, especially ones that were loose enough to lean back in. An infokinetic or power manipulator would be worrisome. A power manipulator could collide with others in the city, such as Nicroburst, and start a dangerous chain of events. An infokinetic, on the other hand, depending on strength, could possibly undermine everything Blank and the others had worked for, not to mention playing havoc with Typhon and the mobile system. Blank decided to deal with the matter directly. How are you able to write on this?

I fixed your list.

Blank suddenly realized that their message went awry. They quickly dismissed the image that had popped up in front of the flying Epic, hoping that no one had noticed. Interesting. Some sort of redirection power? Blank tried again, this time directly in front of the van. Hello.

Next to Kokichi and Liam, a piece of old-fashioned parchment appeared, floating in midair. Hello. Blank didn't know why they did it. They had a plan earlier, but they were really tired. It was hard to maintain a normal sleep cycle when you could black out the lights when you got tired. One of these days, they were going to find out that Epoch was making varying time zones around the place just to mess with them. Oh right! The reason they made the message was because they needed more visitors! Blank smiled. The plan was going well.

"I can assure you this is not the same epic." He exhaled a sigh. "Look, I'm getting the picture that you have secrets from the past. This is hardly uncommon for epics," he explained. "I am merely interested to know of your connection to events at the border, and what you are capable of." "It would be easiest if you would show me," he added. "My powers are... subtle. They aren't easy to demonstrate." "I see. What are they?" "Coincidence manipulation. And a few other weak ones." Jacklyn hoped Epoch would buy it. "Well, that explains a lot," he mused. "To what degree can you control these coincidences?" “Not very much.” "Right. That makes things... Difficult. No offense, but if you are being truthful, I would prefer you steer clear of my territory. Many of my rivals will doubtless be more welcoming." He paused to let the words sink in. "I will be taking measures to ensure that you are being truthful where it counts. Barring complications, you will be released with free passage to another part of the city of your choosing. We apologize for the inconvenience." Jacklyn slumped in the chair, visibly relaxing. She managed to hold back a sigh, which might be audible over the mobile, but she was certainly relieved. "That would be fine. No apologies necessary." Jacklyn had never actually heard someone say that, but she read it in a book once, and it sounded respectful. “They might become necessary in retrospect, but I appreciate your understanding.” This is the second half.

I think it's also @A Joe in the Bush, but I could be wrong. I don't know who else is in it.

He consulted his shopping list. He needed new gloves, but he doubted they would be sold here. He did see a nice trench coat though. The money he had left from his brief service to an Epic had been mostly used up, but if he ever ended up working for someone again, he needed to look the part. Nicroburst stumbled, and ran into someone. His power activated. Calamity!

I added one card and fixed a typo So... you're welcome?

I am annoyed that the one person that could have had the highest chance of saving me was an informant, and so didn't get my code. I enjoyed the blackout aspect, but I wish I hadn't died early again.

Jacklyn was thrown off her stride by Epoch's comment. Her facade momentarily slipped. "What Epic?"