NameIess

Chapter 1 Endings “You could have helped them.” I accused Eof as we walked away from the mostly ruined town. Eof had teleported us directly back there, which was appreciated. Galbus had been in no condition to travel. He’d emerged from his stupor just long enough to tell the family of his betrothed about what had happened before slumping back into the bottomless depths of despair. “You could have warned the town, gotten me to help them earlier. Or you could have teleported me and Galbus straight to the enemy. You could even have rescued the townspeople yourself!” Eof walked in silence for a moment. “You’re right.” He finally said. “I could have saved them. But should I have?” His words struck a tense chord within me. “Of course you should have!” I snapped. “Don’t start spouting some nonsense about the story being more important than their lives!” Eof snorted. “I won’t.” He said simply. “It’s understandable why the thought would come to your mind, but I do care about those people. I speak of choices. For all my power, I cannot be everywhere.” He sighed. “I once tried to gain the power I would need to prevent all suffering. You know how that turned out. Now I do what I can. I still have a plan, but I hold myself back. I do not seek omnipotence to complement my omniscience, no matter how much it hurts to see the evils I cannot prevent.” He waved a hand, and in a moment we were standing back in my workshop. “I abide by the constraints of the Authors. But I do help where I can. When it is necessary. This is why I have come to you.” I set down my pack, hanging my sword back on its mount on the wall. “Alright. What is it you want me to do? You mentioned something about fixing my mistakes? Changing my ending? And saving the Thread, of course. What do you see in the future that’s so terrible?” “It is not what I see that is terrible. It is what I do not see.” Eof closed his eyes and exhaled. “The future is clouded from my sight. I see that great danger looms. But I cannot see what that danger is.” He shrugged, looking far too calm for a god who’d just admitted to mortality. If Eof’s vision could be clouded… “How?” My voice did not shake, but it felt as though it should have. “How is it possible? I thought you had a plan. Even when I was a Narrator, I couldn’t break free of it.” Eof shook his head. “My memories have been altered. I cannot say for how long, but I think…” He paused. “No, I hope that it was me who did it.” I blinked. “Erase your own memory? Why would you do that?” He merely shrugged. “Because I saw that it was the only way to achieve the best outcome. But still, I… worry. If it was someone else who did this to me… even if it was me, this action rankles of the man I used to be. The man who would do anything for his plan.” His brow furrowed, and he drummed his fingers on his leg. “Regardless. I have seen a great threat to the Thread. It is coming, and I can see only a few, limited things about it. One of those is that you will be involved.” He looked at me grimly. “I see many possibilities around you. You might help prevent the darkness, or you may usher in its coming. You may die, or you may live. Even if you do die, you may still play a part in the coming events. So I have come to give you what advice I can. To help you find the right path. Will you accept my advice?” I hesitated. Was this all some manipulation? Was his story about clouded vision just a lie to make me accept his help? My fingers drummed on my leg as I stared deeply into Eof’s iridescent eyes. They glowed with power. They were mysterious, all-knowing, unknowable. But also… uncertain. Perhaps even afraid. No. This is not a lie. “I will listen to what you have to say.” I sat down in a chair and gestured for him to do the say. “What is it you want me to do?” He sat down as well, eyes alight. “You once fought the Witherlord. You were closer to slaying him than any in recent memory.” I frowned. “Yes. I… hesitated. Allowed time for the binding to fail. It was over in a heartbeat. The Mordite blade I was using to fight him melted away at his command, leaving me with no way to kill him.” Eof nodded. “One of the reasons the Witherlord is so fearsome is his control over every weapon capable of killing him.” He said softly. “The end of the Luxsprites was also the end of Luxite, the only material besides Mordite that could threaten his life. Until recently.” I frowned. What was he tal-my breath caught in my throat. “The Plotblades?” Eof nodded again. “Most would be helpful against his power, but there is one that could bring about his end.” My eyes widened. “Endings?” With a weapon like that… I could face the Witherlord and defeat him once and for all. I could defeat any threat to the Thread. “You know where Endings is?” I asked eagerly. Eof leaned towards me, eyes pulsing with light. Then he nodded once more.

Balitan looked up from his notebook, pen frozen on the paper. "Huh? I don't have a brother. Or any evil cousins. Or... any of those other things. Not that I know of at least." The drones proved to be a tricky target, nano-defenses activating on contact and attempting to overwrite the utility fog's programming. "What, your utility fog? Impressive to be sure, but the science of fundamental essences is far more useful." boosters fired on the front of Malevolence's armor, fighting against the utility fog's pull. Two guards stood in dark robes with their backs to the door. They were armed with spears and shields of intricate, almost ceremonial design. Kill them quickly. They are expert warriors, trained from youth for this position.

As of RoW and TLM? Definitely Kaladin. Kelsier has no access to the metallic arts as of now. Kaladin has a Shardblade, living Shardplate, and Windrunning. Kelsier might have more years of experience than Kaladin, but without powers, he stands no chance in a fight. Even if we give Kelsier his allomancy back, I think Kaladin still wins. Living Shardplate and lashings are just too strong and Kaladin has shown the ability to keep up with the best of the Fused even before getting his Plate, so experience won't be an issue. The only way I can see Kelsier winning is if we let him sneak attack Kaladin, give him a lot of Atium, or limit Kaladin's stormlight and resources. Radiants of the Fourth ideal are just too strong, particularly Windrunners and particularly Kaladin.

If you must. But I feel that you should implement the plan with Onyx anyways. Fate may be slow, but we can conduct other research in the meantime. And Malevolence is nothing if not slippery. "Graceful? Hah!" Malevolence said mockingly from. "As if you don't know the answer already." All around the outer edges of Rebus's anti-teleportation field, the surrounding walls and landscape vanished, replaced by a massive swarm of drones. Dozens of them fired Enulling beams at Rebus. "Your failure to work with her Nullite only proves my superiority." The drones rushed towards Rebus in a wave, firing all manner of weapons at him and his utility fog. They tried to steal me from you, so I dealt with them. The Blade pulsed happily in Rebel's grip. They are not worthy to hold me. Only you are worthy. Something drew Rebel's attention to an ornate door made from gold and embedded doors, sealed with chains.There are others outside this chamber. Since they could not steal me while you slept, they guard this chamber and wait for your awakening. They are unlikely to let us leave without a fight.

Erif’s Author is Fate. Same as Onyx. That’s why I’m worried the quest will take some time to start. Nameless came mostly into focus. Perhaps Malevolence would work as well. If you defeat and capture him, we can use him as bait. If not, you may have to create a character and send them to Onyx’s realm to make sure Tull and Onyx get the quest started. The Mordite sword teleported out of Malevolence’s hand in a shower of sparks. “It’s from her, if that is what you mean.” His voice rang out metallically from behind the helm, arrogance evident despite the distortion. “And I will not give you anything. You are the one who will be giving me what I want: Prismite.” With a crackle of lightning, a sphere appeared behind Rebus, projecting an Enulling field over him. Unintelligible glared at the Ghost. “They mechanize their members forcibly, then become their sole supply of the energy source required to keep them alive.”

Do you think you could get it? Onyx is an opponent I would hesitate to face even at full strength. Nameless fuzzed further, as if going out of focus. Erif may soon depart on a quest. We could offer him aid, bring him here, then leak the location to Malevolence. The tricky part will be ensuring the quest happens in a reasonable timeframe. "You think I'm incapable of locking my armor against teleportation?" Malevolence's face was totally hidden behind his faceplate, and the acoustics of the helm stole any subtext of his voice that might have given away a bluff. "Easy enough when working with Nullite." Despite his words, he made no move to cut himself free. Yes, power. The room had changed substantially since Rebel had fallen asleep. For one, it was filled entirely with treasure of all kinds. For another, there were a surprising amount of skeletons surrounding the raised dais Rebel had been asleep on. We must go somewhere where there are more people. A kingdom of some kind would be best.

Yes, I know you've met them before. Your memories are where I found them. Nameless tapped a few more buttons on a remote he'd gotten from somewhere. They are bound to withergeists, as should be fairly obvious. If we can capture one, we'll have our test subject. The light hit Malevolence's backplate and was nullified harmlessly. "True evil does not need to be showy." Malevolence leaped into the air after Rebus, shoulder cannons blasting all the drones, sword swinging for the utility fog beneath Rebus's feet.

Possibly. But mind controlling them in the first place would be difficult. Nameless looked up and grinned. Easier if you were to bind a withergeist yourself, but still difficult. A screen popped up next to him, and he spun it to face Rebus. Look familiar? On the screen was a rabbit, its eyes deep black holes into nothingness. "Very showy." Malevolence held his sword in front of him in a two handed grip and slowly circled Rebus. "Did you put any thoughts into practicality?" a small laser cannon popped up from his shoulder and shot a high-intensity beam of light covering Rebus's faceplate in an attempt to blind him. Malevolence charged forward, shifting one of his hands onto the blade of his sword and attempting to ram it in between the armor plates on Rebus's knee. -- Wake up. The voice entered into Rebel's mind, stirring him from his slumber. I have gathered some strength whilst you slumbered. I am ready to grow.

"I suppose you're right. But still, we should be careful." Balitan eyed Nameless nervously. "He has quite a reputation." Mostly deserved, I assure you. I know where to find a withergeist, or at least how to find one. Nameless moved over to one of the computer screens and started typing away at it, scrolling through the results of the experiments Balitan had been performing. Catching one will be dangerous, however. "Yes," Malevolence admitted grudgingly. "We share many traits." Lightning crackled across his body and he teleported a few feet away from Rebus. "Similarity does not imply equality. We shall see whose technology proves superior" A suit of sleek black armor appeared around Malevolence in another crackle of energy, and he levelled his blade at Rebus. "You will be forgotten long before my reign ends."

Balitan backed away from the mostly-solid Narrator. "I don't know that this is a good idea. I was thinking of more... exotic subjects. You mentioned withergeists earlier? "Perhaps I do not want to appear impressive right now." Malevolence spun his blade around to knock aside Rebus's lunge, then stepped inside his guard for a pommel strike to the Narrator's face. "Perhaps I am merely biding my time with these unimportant matters until I can carry out my own plans." Val walked into the room. "You're Achilles? The Achilles?"

"Balancium? Nameless?" Balitan's eyes widened. I hate that word. The man in the forcefield waved at Balitan with a mostly solid hand. I didn't make a true new alloy. Just a converter. Balitan gasped, hand going to his head. You could be right. We'll need subjects to test your theory, of course. Nameless continued. Malevolence stepped forward coolly. With a casual air that belied the speed at which the evil genius moved, he swung his Mordite blade through the utility fog and towards Rebus's head, aided by the dissolving powers he'd received from Ruia. "True evil always comes as a surprise."

"Sure." Malevolence turned, then, in one smooth motion, he spun back around, drew his sword, and stabbed it straight at Rebus's chest. "Sorry." Val turned and started walking away.

"If you're stronger than them, they can't. But I suppose I can't speak to your mental state." I can help with that. So you want to figure out about different forms of the essences? "Rebus? What's going on? Is that... man using telepathy?" Balitan sounded nervous. "Ah, of course. Prismite. I can do that."

Val tapped Tam on the arm. "Tam? Did you hear me?" Might've missed this post: Malevolence sighed. "Fine."

Malevolence's eyes narrowed. "Very well. Where is this Prismatine?"

"I'm always prepared for evil."

If you want my advice, just stick around. And fake your death. Once the nostalgia sets in, he'll never let you go. Malevolence rested a hand on his sword. "Sounds fun."

"Narrators are really powerful. Basically the hardest thing in the entire Thread for an Enuller to Nullify." Val shrugged. "Not much more to it than that."

The Man who met Darkness There once was a man who met darkness, upon a shadowy road. This man feared not the darkness. For he was a man of mighty feats, heroic and bold. The dark feared not the man. No room was there in its heart for fear, so full of lies untold. The man cried out his challenge, raised his staff to fight. And the darkness fell before him, his power split the night. As the man did stand in victory and the sun from skies unfold. It was then the darkness spoke in a voice all chill and cold. “You truly are one with great might, to defeat the power of my night.” The hero then did err, pride he allowed his face to wear. “Indeed. No darkness shall ever make me flee.” At this the shadow swelled with glee, saw a chance at victory. And so the true battle began. So the shadow begged the man, Not for its life but for the chance to give him greater power So that with glory and honor all would shower. For a moment the man considered, An instant he wavered, And then he saw the trap. With a burst of power he banished the darkness, With bravery he destroyed it. But too late was he. Too slow to see. For ever after, that darkness dwelt in his heart.

"Sure, as an organization. But individually? Narrators are crazy powerful. Even if you were up against one powerful enough to fully Nullify a Narrator, it would hardly be a trivial task. Hm. you've got the gist of it. Moniker tried to destroy me, but my Author prevented her. The voice sounded quite prideful of this. He will never be able to let me go. The body sneered. I doubt you'll need to negotiate with him. Not unless you want to do something unpleasant to me.

"Then... don't let them. Fight back. You think just any Enuller can Nullify a full Narrator?"

I thought you were a historian. The voice sounded mildly disappointed. I didn't 'end up' this way. My Author created me this way. I'm a copy, not meant to be active unless there's a great threat to the Thread.

"Enullers?" Val's eyebrows lifted. "Haven't met any of those either. But they aren't unaffected by Narration. And I doubt these tattoos can make anyone totally invulnerable to Narration. Sure, they might be resistant, just like Enullers are resistant. But not immune."

"Enemies that aren't affected by your powers? I find that hard to believe. You're a Narrator."

"A little bit of both." Val said. "On the one hand, it's nice to see that even Narrators can have common goals. On the other, isn't it a bit unfair to the common adventurers?"