Stormlightsong

To an uninvested future Welcome to the Univested Future Organization. By proceeding with our recruitment process you have already agreed to our NDA. In case you are not already familiar here are the base requirements for becoming an agent of UFO: 1. You must give up all allegiances to any organization outside of UFO. You do not have to leave said organizations and are even encouraged to stay as an agent on the inside. 2. You may not have bonded to any invested entity such as a spren or aether. If you wish to proceed despite one of these bonds, we can help you break them with as little pain as possible. 3. If you have a genetic condition that allows you the ability to use investiture, you may still join but will have to agree to not use those abilities (see exceptions below). If you have matched all requirements and signed all the paperwork (not included here) you are now an agent of UFO and have access to our resources. Congratulations. —————————————————— UFO Agent creation guide: UFO supplies: If you would like your character to have any gear provided by UFO please list it when requesting approval. Special gear descriptions Agents sects: Here is a recruitment post template: I can find all other details in your character creation post. Disclaimer: this process is still a work in progress. Things may change to make character creation happen smoother. Questions and suggestions are appreciated.

It is finally time for the big reveal! If you don’t already know, I have been working on something fun for era 8 for a while, but the wait is over may I present to you: Alleyverse Era 8: the fight for New Hallendren As the title suggests this Era will take place in the Nalthian district of New Hallandren. A new power is coming and it is your job to stop, or help, it. and what is that power you ask? The Uninvested Future Organization (AKA: UFO) UFO is a newish organization that’s mission statement is to stop Alleycity’s reliance of the use of investiture because they believe(for good reason) that it promotes inequality and stunts progress. Their methods? Forced takeover. I say they are newish because they have actually been operating secretly for ~10 years but have been growing a lot in the last 5 years. They have been able to achieve this because they operate mostly outside of Alleycity and are very careful. UFO functions by having lots of sleeper agents that are able to activate at a moments notice. They have developed advanced technology with minimal use of investiture (I say minimal because they still use some stuff like leachers and Epic DNA but they are trying to find new solutions). they have gained access to surplus amounts of Aluminum through interdimensional travel and are finally ready to start working for change. Are they freedom fighters? Are they terrorists? That’s for you to decide. Here is how character creation will work: If you want to make a character that is Unaffected with UFO: great! They don’t need to know anything about UFO and probably shouldn’t because they will probably learn soon enough. But, if you want to make a UFO agent it will be much different. I plan on making the UFO guild thread soon that will describe in more depth how it will work, but here is a quick overview: 1. No use of investiture (with some exceptions like leachers). they can have a genetic ability to use investiture but UFO will not allow you to use it. 2. You can get some cool Aluminum and anti-investiture stuff. I’m talking partial and full aluminum weapons, IMPs (investiture EMPs), ISDs (investiture spike detectors), and IEDs (invested entity detectors). When I was making UFO I wanted to give an opportunity to make characters that don’t require magic to be at the same level as other characters. So look out for the UFO guild post for more instructions and in the meantime start making your characters.

Lucky, Smokestack, 3 days after the blood moon. Lucky sat in front the grave stone. Lucy had really outdone herself: the stone was made in the shape of a playing card, the name ‘Asylum Smedry’ was set on the top and upside down on the bottom. The picture was ok but probably intentionally unflattering. Lucky took a swig of wine then, after a moment of consideration, poured out the rest onto the grave. They had never found the body, probably because they hadn’t looked, but she felt that Lum would approve of the gesture. With a sigh, Lucky stood up and looked down at the face of her old friend. “They had it coming.” She said, and then walked away.

Asylum stopped mid swing as their chest burst open. They weakly turned towards Perses, who was now holding a smoking gun. ”Et tu Perses?” Asylum stammered before the second bullet when through their skull. —————————————————- The shadowy figure stood next to Asylum as they stared at their very dead body. “Whelp,” it said passively. “Looks like our luck ran out.” Asylum quietly watched their withered form before looking at the demon, their talent, and said, “was I a bad person?” the shadow rested a hand on their shoulder. “No,” it said, “I heard you were the worst.” Asylum smiled, and finally faded. @Lunamor @Longshot97 @Scars of Hathsin @Speeding Steelrunner

Asylum smiled as the hunter sped across the room. Channeling their luck, they grabbed for the nearest weapon. This happened to be a double edged steel dualing sword that was probably not there beforehand. Now, this is a proper fight! Asylum danced in pure luck. Parrying and striking, they dance in the center of the room. As pure fortune leaked out of them, they found themself dodging onto ground that wasn’t even there. Their peripherals faded until all was steel and blood and CHAOS. It was beautiful. Asylum and… they didn’t care who it was they were fighting, or why. They could fight and dance for an eternity without getting bored. “Isn’t this fun?” they said to the blur on the other side. Their luck drains fast but it felt like there was always just enough. One last dance. One last joy. @Lunamor @Koloss17

It took a solid five seconds for Asylum to process what had just occurred. They looked towards the hunter. On the ground, that’s good. Next they looked towards Eza, doesn’t seem too mad, so won’t be a problem. Finally they looked towards their boss, the self proclaimed prince of the Alleys, somehow more menacing than ever before. “I am in the middle of something, so if you don’t mind, GET OUT! Thank you!” Asylum turned sharply towards the other horsemen; they each flinched as Asylum drew closer. “If that radiant takes any longer, we march on the streets, ok? I will make my presence known to this entire planet if necessary. Is that clear?” The demons nodded as Asylum stalked away. “All I wanted was freedom! Yes, that’s what it was. Freedom to live and play. I make all this to kill some pesky radiants, but instead I’m left here with children, birds, and cowards!” Kill them. ”What would that solve?” They will be out of the way, and you can rain blood upon the world. “Fair point, but only the hunter. He’s really getting on my nerves.” With a flick of their wrist, a serrated card was in their hand. It wasn’t a standard playing card though, it was a card of divination, Tarot. A silvery skull glimmered off its face. With a fluid motion, Asylum threw Death at the praying hunter. @Scars of Hathsin

As the knife neared their face, Asylum brought their hand into its path. Blood sprayed outward as the knife went straight through their hand, mere inches away from their nose. Asylum looked around to see Famine pulling a dart out from between their eyes and War helping them back up. They also looked to see that their vampire was very dead. A shame really, Asylum thought, pulling the knife out of their hand, I kind of liked that one. Asylum thought before reacting. Nothing good came out of being rash. This man had potential, it would be a waste to kill him. Also it was too risky, Eza had forgiven their killing of strangers but would definitely not forgive this. Asylum looked around, looking for a target. They smiled when they found it. How could they have not noticed it! Asylum looked towards a bright bird situated near the hunter. Asylum could see its power. They saw its importance. It was the domino that just needed a sturdy push. “are you done now?” Asylum asked. “Good.” Then they threw the knife straight at the bird’s neck. @Koloss17

Asylum saw the terror in Eza’s eyes and was confused. “I did what I had to. I did what made sense.” Asylum raised their voice as the looked towards the withered body. “You think the guy is more important than your life? Would you die in his place? Why? What reason is there?” Asylum looked at Eza’s new friend and it all finally clicked. “You think you’re better than me. You think I am evil and selfish!” They thought about for a second. “Which is fair, but what makes you any better?” Asylum walked around the pair slowly. “You steal. You might say that you need to, or that you need it more than them, but what do you know? Do you care? Do you think about the people that could be harmed by your actions? No! You are selfish and vain. but that’s ok! No one will care for you but yourself.” Asylum smiled and paused before adding the final touch. “It’s kind of funny when you think about it. The moment you lost me you went straight to the next Smedry you could find.” They glared daggers into the man seated beside her. “Oh, you think I wouldn’t notice?” They spat out the last word. “Cousin.” @Koloss17 @Scars of Hathsin @Speeding Steelrunner

Asylum looked at the man for a moment before saying, “Okay. A little over dramatic though; It’s not like you’re killing someone.” Asylum scrunched their face in thought. “Oh. Well I guess- I mean they were already going to die if I didn’t do all this so it’s not like I’m doing anything wrong here.” More thought. “Look I don’t really have a choice in the matter either, part of the deal I made included…” they gestured vaguely to the surrounding area. “…This.” The door opened as the Vampire slipped back in holding a man over its shoulder. Blood dripped from the beast’s mouth and from the man’s neck. “Thank for incapacitating him for me, that will make this all go much smoother.” Asylum sat the unconscious man opposite of Eza and placed their spell book between them. After a bit of flipping they found the page labeled “Vitality transfer” Sitting down perpendicular to the book and two unconscious bodies, Asylum set up the spell. They held one hand of each by the wrist and found the heart beats. Eza’s was slow and quiet. For a moment Asylum felt sad, then sadness changed into unwavering attention as they spoke the incantation. They felt as the life force of the prisoner flowed into their veins. For a moment they thought of keeping it, using to prepare for their revenge, but they had a promise to keep. The power flowed out of them and into Eza. Color returned to her cheeks, and her heart rate was strong. Asylum looked over to the other side of the table to see a dry and pale body. It was cold and held no heart beat, no soul, no value. They dropped the pale wrist and gently cupped the other. “Welcome back my little raven.” @Lunamor

“A worldhopper eh?” Asylum said, flipping through their book. “Though I can’t really do it with a simple touch, I’ll see what I can do.” As they flipped through their book, they started whispering to themself. “I don’t have the ingredients for herbal magic so I guess my only option is…” they shut the book and walked over to the vampire who had been lurking in the corner. “Get me a prisoner.” Then looking back towards Eza and her new friend. “Find someone who was on death row.” Hopefully that will ease their conscious. They walked back towards the man as the vampire burned bendalloy and sped away. They heard a cough coming from Pestilence. “Oh yes, I forgot to introduce these three.” Asylum motioned towards the demons. “These are the other three horsemen of the apocalypse. Say hi.” ”Hello“ “Didn’t you say your name was Death. who’s this Asylum“ ”Do we or do we not have horses?“ “Hold your horses. I’ll get to all that, but now is not the time. we have visitors. “But we don’t have any horses!“ “I agree, what is up with the horses?“ ”The skinny one has a point.“ ”There are no horses!” Asylum yelled. “‘Hold your horses’ is a saying meaning wait! The horses are metaphorical, just how you are metaphorical horsemen! Got it?” “Oh, that makes sense.“ “I’m still confused.“ ”Oh, so it’s like a pun.“ Everyone looked towards War. “Oh no” Asylum said quietly. “What’s a pun?“ “Well for example, Famine, would you say you’re hungry?“ “Well, I’ve never needed to eat before.“ “Could you say you’re so hungry you could eat a horse.“ “Oh!, because that’s a reference to what we were talking about but also a thing people say.“ “Exactly!“ Asylum’s fist tightened around their book. “War, how did you even learn about puns?” ”There was this guy telling a lot of them, and for some reason everyone around him really wanted to kill him, so I had to check it out.“ ”I can see why.” Pestilence coughed again. ”You ok Pestilence? Your voice is sounding a little hoarse.“ Suddenly, there was a knife against War’s throat. “I did not summon you here to make jokes about horses, ok?” Asylum pressed the knife closer. “So if I hear one more horse pun I will send you back to where you came from is that understood?” ”Sorry boss. I don’t want to stirrup any trouble.“ Laughter erupted from the demons. “You win this time.” Asylum lowered the knife. “Be glad I need you alive.” Turning away from the giggling demons, they addressed the man beside Eza. “Sorry about them, they’re a necessary evil if you will. Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on ritual sacrifice?” @Lunamor

Asylum has sent a raven to bring you to the constabulary. Like with the cat, it is up to you how that happens. As a radiant, Eleos is much more protected from Asylum’s magic.

Asylum looked at the man before them. They had not gotten a good look before, but he looked smart. Most people Asylum gambled with weren’t smart; They could be tricked easily, but this man was dangerous. Asylum could tell from the way he held Eza that he cared for her and feared what they would do, and for some reason they felt something familiar about the man, something… familial. the man spoke and Asylum could tell he had a good poker face. He would be a good ally. “I think there has been a misunderstanding.” Asylum said before looking around the room and seeing the bodies. “And I see why there has been a misunderstanding.” They clapped their hands and two zombies stepped up. “could you clean up please? There should be a mop and a broom in a closet over there.” The zombies disappeared and returned with the mop and broom. One cleaned up the blood and cleared out the bodies while the other swept the salt away. “Please take a seat.” They motioned towards a table and then remembered about Eza. “Um, there should be some medicine in a cupboard somewhere. Would you like coffee or tea?” @Lunamor

@Speeding Steelrunner I would like to remind you that the specific vampire Fenna dealing with has different orders than the one that attacked Eza and Eighth. This one has very specific orders to capture and bring back Arranis and so would not try to feed on Fenna. (Though technically it was given a little bit of discretion on how to deal with Arranis as long as it keeps him alive. also @Scars of Hathsin you refer to the vampire in your post with masculine pronouns, but if you look at my original post I actually specified that the body was of a woman. Although it doesn’t matter much, continuity is nice.

Asylum walked into the break room followed by two zombies, each carrying two restrained prisoners, and one vampire who was trying desperately not to feed on it’s own. The room was rectangular; on one side there were tables and chairs, on the other there was a small buffet. Walking briskly, Asylum made their way to a door that lead into a small kitchen. Opening a cabinet, they found what they were looking for. —————————————————— In the center of the room, three flawless salt circles were arranged. Directly adjacent to each, there was a prisoner. In the center, between the salt circles, lay the fourth prisoner, surrounded by non-ritual empty salt shakers. With a swift slice, the middle prisoner spilled their jugular blood. Asylum drew crimson sigils as the three prisoners surrounding them whimpered through their gags. As Asylum started to whisper the incantation smoke began to rise from the salt circles, one green, one yellow, and one red. Once Asylum finished the ritual, they heaved their withering body towards the fifth and final prisoner. Having siphoned the man’s life, Asylum stood to face the demons. In each salt circle stood an undulating pillar of smoke; as the demon’s attention turned on them, Asylum spoke, “Welcome, Horsemen of the apocalypse!” Asylum motioned towards the green, yellow, and red demon respectively, “Pestilence, Famine, War! I have called you here to bring forth destruction and death! Join the final ride and take your places by my side!” It was silent, until “who are you?“, “I’m not very good with horses, you sure you got the right guy?“, and “why can’t I move?“ taking a deep breath, Asylum addressed them in turn, “you may call me death, I never really thought the horses were necessary, and SALT!” Asylum composed themself and thought of saying a short prayer before thinking better of it. “Look, I have called you here, to be the Harbingers of the end times, could you please be more professional?” They motioned towards the remaining prisoners as they spoke. “I give you hosts so you may walk in this realm freely on the condition that you follow me. Am I clear?” “yeah“ “that makes sense“ “I’m still confused about the horses“ “THERE ARE NO HORSES!” Asylum yelled at Famine. Behind them, they heard the faint step of paws. “Now, we will soon have visitors, so get into your bodies and compose yourselves.” The demons moved into their respective prisoners in a swift movement of smoke. When they rose they had started to personalize their bodies. Pestilence looked sickly with bright emerald eyes; there body was covered in warts and buboes. Famine was pale and thin as a skeleton; their ribs were showing, and their eyes shown bright yellow. But war was the most disturbing; their size had doubled, their skin was taut against bulging muscles. War’s eyes were bloodshot, and their pupils pinpricks in seas of red. Death smiled and turned their blackened eyes toward the door to greet the coming visitors. @Scars of Hathsin @Lunamor @Speeding Steelrunner @Koloss17

As Asylum looked around for their next test subject, they saw something in corner of their eye. They turned and saw the two figures right before they disappeared into the hallway. Eza? They thought trying to recall what they had just seen. Something was wrong though; what they had seen was a look of terror, and who was that man? Why were they here? Asylum looked down at their withered hands to find the first answer. Swiftly, they walked over to a cell with a young man trying desperately to hide in the corner. With a flick of their wrist, Asylum pulled the man forward and placed a hand on his forehead. The man’s skin wrinkled and decayed as life returned to Asylum. Their skin brightened, and the blackened veins receded until only Asylum’s eyes showed the darkness within. Asylum released the shriveled man and beckoned the darkness. Out of the shadows a black cat came to sit at their feet. Asylum spoke, their voice refreshed and human, “find Eza, protect her and lure her back to me.” That settled, Asylum pondered what to do next. They remembered passing a break room that the officers used to pass time. It would have to do. Picking five prisoners, they directed their thralls to bring the test subjects to the new room gaged; the screaming was going to give them a headache.as they walked down the hallways, they looked through their book for a new thing to try. @Longshot97 @Scars of Hathsin

Asylum walked through the constabulary with purpose. They’d already set up a perimeter of thralls to guard the exits, but they didn’t have enough minions to stop anyone serious. As they came to the hall where most of the prisoners were held, Asylum saw the remains of a fight. There were three guards positioned at the end of the hall, they looked around to check for potential threats. Then they found one. ”Hi,” Asylum said as one of the guards dashed toward them at unnatural speed. A slider. That will be useful. They thought as they slipped a knife directly in between the guard’s ribs. “My condolences.” Asylum said as the two thralls behind them shot the remaining guards directly in between both their eyes. As Asylum started turning the slider, a prisoner finally broke the silence. “So are you going to release us?” Asylum turned their head towards the prisoner. He was a strong fellow, he seemed to be a hit man for a mob of some sort, but that hardly mattered. “Of course,” Asylum said, raising a withered hand from the new vampire. They walked over and unlocked the door. Before the man could react, Asylum’s new pet was upon him. Within it’s speed bubble it fed, draining the prisoner. It was crude and wasteful, but it seemed effective. “So,” Asylum said with a grin. “Who’s next?” @Lunamor @Longshot97 @Scars of Hathsin

Asylum knelt beside the last guard that had come when the alarm sounded. They tallied up their new thralls on the young man’s chest. 5 mindless zombies and two vampires who were already feeding to gain their strength. Having done their calculations, Asylum split the man’s chest open the allow a large pool of blood to form on the ground. The veins on their face turned black as they said the incantation. Slowly the blood split into three sections each painting a different scene. A newly promoted police man sleeping in bed, a healer who tried to strike a deal with a crime lord, and a knight already walking into the dragon’s lair. Asylum smiled and held out an arm for two ravens to perch on. “bring me the healer and the copper.” Asylum released the birds before beckoning one of their vampires over. The body seemed to have belonged to a young woman before she was turned. She probably suffered much hardship rising through the ranks, but that didn’t matter anymore, Asylum didn’t discriminate. “Bring me our newest guest.” Asylum said standing up from the bloodied floor. “Alive preferably, but I wouldn’t mind if you had a little taste.” The vampire smiled, showing large, bloodied fangs before setting off for its target. Messengers sent, Asylum strolled down the hall to see how the other prisoners were doing. @Lunamor @TheFrugalWizard @RoyalBeeMage @Longshot97

Asylum, Smokestack, Smokestack Constabulary The blood moon shone over Smokestack as Asylum stood up in their cell. “What’s going on it there.” A guard yelled through the door while rapping his knuckles on it. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” Asylum said, picking up their spell book. Finally, it would help them. “Would you like to come in, or should I come out?” “you’re not going anywhere Smedry.” The guard said, sliding the aluminum viewing hatch open. Asylum pointed a slim finger towards the guard and read off an incantation under their breath. Suddenly the guard stepped back, clutching his throat. Blood seeped out of the man’s mouth as he tried not to heave up his insides. Asyum stepped up to the door and placed both hands on it. As they pushed they could hear the locks snapping one by one. Finally the door swung open to show the Guard, now dead, on the floor. Asylum turned as they heard the alarm sounding. They saw the second guard holding the alarm lever in one hand and a revolver in the other. “There’s no need for that.” Asylum said, walking closer. “I won’t kill you.” The guard shook with terror as Asylum pushed away the gun and leaned forward to whisper in the young man’s ear. “I have much better plans for you.” With one hand Asylum broke the man’s neck. With the other they flipped to a page labeled ‘Resurrection’. They placed the man on the floor and, taking his own knife, made the necessary incisions. They laid a hand on the body, and as they whispered the incantation Asylum’s eyes started to blacken. The body started to twitch as Asylum raised their hand from it. Guards started to pour in as the thrall rose, but Asylum could already see their bloodied bodies, some rising to their service. They smiled and raised their tome of sin to meet the oncoming hoard. This was going to be fun. @Lunamor @Longshot97

Asylum, Smokestack, Smokestack Constabulary. Asylum sat in their cell waiting. As the moon approached its apex, they began the preparations. Thankfully the guard that had the last patrol around the prison had also been an old gambling partner and had owed lots of money to Asylum, but these contraband would have to suffice. Asylum laid the mirror upright in the center of their cell. Taking some salt, they created a circle around the mirror, making sure there were no gaps. Finally they laid the candle that the guards had foolishly given Asylum when they begged for light next to the mirror. Then they waited. The moment what seemed to be a fight broke out a few halls down Asylum struck the mirror square in the center, the yells masking the shatter of glass. When they looked at the mirror, the glass had separated into thirteen equal pieces. And the face that stared back was no longer their own. Asylum smiled, “Hello demon” The shadow looked the same even after seven years. Even it’s expression was the same, a look of amusement. “I’ve called you here to make you a deal,” Asylum said with their perfect poker face. “I know that you have been restless because of my… reluctance to use your full power, restricting you to games of chance, but I have an ultimatum for you.” The figure started to shake, and Asylum frowned as they realized it was laughing. Asylum heard a whisper coming not from the mirror, but seemingly from themself. “You think you have anything you can give me?” The demon said from it’s cage, though it’s mouth did not move. “You who uses me for pleasure and gold?.” Asylum smiled. “Ah, but I know what you want.” Asylum said. “You do not yearn for power or control, but for the sweet taste of chaos. I can give you that. I can restore our former glory. In exchange for this.” They placed the Malleus Maleficarum the mirror. The demon tilted back it’s head in uncontrolled laughter. “Your old science project? Your ‘Field Research On The Practices Of Witches In Europe’?” The demon laughed as Asylum clenched their fists. “In this book I have collected the knowledge and spells of witches from Ireland to Russia! I can rain chaos from heaven to hell! All I need is a bit of leeway, so that I may bring misfortune to those radiants that put me here!” Asylum composed themself as the demon stopped its cackling. “Until the sun rises,” It said, as if weaving the thread of fate with its words. “You will have the power over misfortune as you desire. A power that will wither your soul and bend others to your will. In return you will raise hell on earth until the streets roll with blood and broken glass. A deal sealed in blood.” “How else.” Asylum said before bringing their palm to their teeth and biting. They licked the blood from their teeth as they reached toward the mirror. Suddenly a smoky hand reached out of the mirror and grabbed their wound as the candle went out. It was quiet as Asylum retrieved their hand from the mirror, which had finally started to crumble. The only light that remained was the silver shine of the moon. Suddenly the light changed. The moon darkened and glowed a deep red as if bleeding. Cries of surprise and confusion sounded from the streets as Asylum sat in their cell and smiled.

Well… let’s just say you’ll have a different type of problem.

@Koloss17 @RoyalBeeMage @Scars of Hathsin @Lunamor @Longshot97 @TheFrugalWizard Sorry for the double post but I just wanted to make sure that everyone’s okay with me doing the final post of the episode. Because it is my plan to make The Big Thing also The Final Thing of the episode so that we can start the finale section.

The target was taunting him, but Keshi had learned enough. With a final twist, he pulled out three nails from the inquisitors body. Then he was gone.

The moment everything started Keshi thought of interfering, but he didn’t. Something was wrong, why was the man not resisting the attacks? As Keshi watched, the man started glowing, and his wounds started to close. Right as Keshi was writing this down, a gigantic hammer appeared in the man’s hand. Seeing the signs that an incredibly dangerous fight was about to break out, Keshi started to interfere. Sending a message to Goto, Keshi appeared on the big hammer man’s shoulder. Before anyone could react, Goto teleported Keshi and the man a to a roof a block down. “Sorry about this.” Keshi said to the man. “He’s in my jurisdiction.” Goto teleported Keshi back to the building with the inquisitor. Keshi immediately laid down destructor fire and began to circle the target using light lines and short range teleportation. The target seemed to possess a cloak with a built in defensive system. For some reason, it seemed almost alive. The destructor blasts would only distract his opponent until they discovered it was mostly harmless. So as a nail the side of his arm started flying toward him, Keshi used this opportunity to teleport between the inquisitor and the projectile and attach a light line to the nail now flying away from him. Before Goto fell too much, Keshi sent him an image of the space directly behind the target. After teleporting himself and the nail to the new position, he used the remaining light lines to stabilize himself and angle the nail to swing directly towards the inquisitor’s shoulder. @Koloss17

I think that option 1 would work but it would mean the heist would have to happen at around midnight (which makes sense anyway) and and it would have to have them not reach the cell before The Big thing(TM) happens.