Yankee

Cardinal Rift

Rhy̢thmia L̛ap̢şe҉u͘s

In what remains of the Grand Hall

---

The appearance of the woman in the hall wasn't that surprising, but her sudden attacker was. There were certainly people out there that would take advantage of situations like this, times of confusion and crisis, but to be so brazen about it? Having already been instructed to speak with the redhead, the Lapsean bodyguard Vati wasting no time rushing over to her while Rhythmia considered the state of the tower. In the hall, there were a few other house lords and heirs though they seemed to mostly be gathered on the other side of the wide room. She met Reina's eyes but didn't call out to her nor any of the other individuals on the far side of the hall. With just that look she could tell they didn't have the information she was looking for.

There didn't seem to be much noise coming from below the hall, in contrast to above it where loud thrashing could be distantly heard. What exactly did that information mean? Was no one in the basement levels, or were they completely collapsed? Or perhaps the shifting of the tower itself moved the lower levels up above? The whole situation was stonged either way. The sounds of crashing from above were getting louder and louder, and Rhythmia looked up and braced herself for whatever was coming down.

Vati had only just made it over to the redheaded woman, putting himself between her and the scavenger, gun drawn, when the ceiling collapsed. The force gate bore down on the hall's occupants, and Rhythmia grit her teeth and narrowed her eyes as she planted her mechanical leg firmly into the floor and steadied her own weapon even as her flesh halves were being pressed upon. Through the cloud of dirt and dust that the ceiling's collapse had kicked up, the white haired woman could see the two figures who'd fallen, although the identity of one would have been easily assumed from the gate above them. They were Lord Pachel and Lord Kothlin, locked together.

Rhythmia was not happy. This trip to Harrow's Tower was one she'd already been loathe to attend, but now a mana bomb had gone off, her sister was missing, she felt woefully unprepared, and these two prideful buffoons were threatening to destroy what was left of the tower with whatever squabble they were having. It wasn't unlikely that the bomb's origin was the source of their fight, but the men were acting like adolescents instead of diplomats - very unbecoming, not to mention dangerous. Rhythmia brought the muzzle of her gun up, focusing it on the form of Pachel. It was charged and ready, all she had to do was pull the trigger and it would kill him and disrupt the gate overhead. Kothlin was in his armor, he'd probably be fine. Still, though the Lapseus Lord had a mind to do just that, a cold thought gripped the back of her mind.

She didn't want to drag Lapseus into a war that, despite the best efforts of the house heads voting earlier, was much closer to becoming a reality. If Pachel, a pillar of the Southern houses, was killed now in cold blood...

"Pachel!" Rhythmia shouted out, her normally low voice crackling with the volume she'd used. Her single word was a demand and a warning. If he didn't dismiss his gate and calm down, talk out whatever had happened, then how could she not assume that he or his cohorts were the culprits? Of course she had no knowledge of the mens' argument upstairs or what had led to this now, but the conflict and his gate was a detriment to the relationship between the North and South and perhaps the tower's stability as a whole... and Rhythmia was resolute. Cut it out or die. Hell, at this point if she had to sacrifice Kothlin too she very well might do it.

Project Zasshu

Just waiting for ooooone tiny last thing before I put out a post. Just finalizing Wei's Archon with Psy

Root River: A Wonderful Life!

I also would like to continue, and I agree we should have some patience

Quest to End the Wars of Oblivion

First pick is A but in the need of a tie-breaker, D.

Adventurers! I want to hear your tales! - Dungeons & Dragons Discussion

So I'm... not entirely sure what it is exactly you want here but I do have a story from one of my earlier TTRPG experiences. Hope this is what you're looking for...?

Anyway, this was when I was still new to playing tabletops. At the time I used to do online RP over places like livejournal (remember that site?) but I was kind of awkward trying to roleplay out a character in real life. Tangent: I could never do LARP because I get too embarrassed, TTRPGs are the furthest I go with that. Now, my regular D&D group are amazing, we know when to goof off and when to get serious, and this particular campaign was a great mix of both.

It was Final Fantasy. Now, I didn't know jack shit about Final Fantasy back then, still don't now, but I'll play any dice campaign with that group. I made a big lizard man beast tamer. I had a hawk companion named Clint because I'm really creative with names I really liked my character! I bonded with Clint, did little side quests with him, somehow tamed a behemoth really early on with a bunch of nat 20s... it was fun. Then Clint died in a boss fight.

I wasn't sad IRL, but I went about the next couple sessions with my character depressed. Eventually, we came across a soul train or something like that, with departed spirits aboard it. Clint's soul was there! He had a chance to come back to life!

One of my party members had his soul in their hand. They had a choice between letting my beloved bird companion return to life or... sacrificing it to get an artifact their god wanted them to get. The person that played this character is a good friend of mine, there was no bad blood between us at all. Throughout the RPG thus far our characters had always cooperated and went above and beyond to help each other. I suspect you know where I'm going with this.

He crushed Clint's spirit right in front of my character, making him Dead Forever^TM. Props to them for following their character's goals, but... at the table I suddenly burst into tears. I hadn't felt any sadness at all prior to that moment, and suddenly I was so distraught. I left the room to get a hold of myself. Obviously this ended the session since everyone felt weird about it even though I assured them I wasn't mad! Even I was confused at my own actions. The GM and player both apologized to me but I wasn't upset with them, just felt the same thing I think my character might have. I think that was the first character I actually really connected with, so when his BFF bird was for sure gone I just got overwhelmed.

Thankfully the campaign didn't end after that or I would have felt awful. Now our group looks back at that moment and laughs Still love playing TTRPGs, but haven't quite had a profound experience like that since.

Fate/Lost Epoch

_{That Morning}
Fuyuki Bridge
^{_________________________________}

The girl's energy was... surprising, to say the least! Still, it was a little infectious too. Zoe, huh? The Great Chosen One? She certainly didn't seem like a bad person. Jigen found himself smiling along with her as she continued with her spiel. He'd paid close attention to everything Saber had told him about the nature of the Grail War, how at the end only one pair would be able to claim the wish once everything was over, so the thought of an alliance was a bit strange to the boy. Even if it was useful in the short term, eventually they'd have to betray each other, right?

Jigen's smile softened a little as Zoe went on. She was genuinely enthusiastic and seemed to have a passion for life in general. She was nice - Jigen found himself liking the foreigner. Still, despite her best wishes...

"Um, Zoe right?" the student gave her a bright eyed look and clasped her hands in his own. "You seem like a nice person! But, I won't accept your offer."

True, the brazen offer of an alliance could have been many things: an advantage that would protect him, a trap that would kill him. A ruse to betray him or possibly the best chance he had to survive.

However, Jigen didn't think of any of that.

"If we worked together, eventually we'd have to fight anyway, right? I wouldn't want to fight a friend."

He smiled wide. "Instead, let's compete as rivals. You told me your name, so I'll tell you mine - I'm Saito! I'll trust you, a chosen hero, to fight fairly, okay? Nice to meet you!"

With a quick shake of her hands, Jigen bid her farewell and continued across the bridge into Miyama. Maybe refusing her was a dumb thing to do, but he didn't feel any regret in that moment. Instead, he thought about the other things she said. That the "Hercules" was an impostor, and that she had a Greek servant of her own. Were they still people that Saber would know, or was that presumptuous? All Ancient Greeks knowing each other...

"I am getting kind of hungry, maybe I should have let her buy us lunch... oh well! I'll pick us up something on the way back!"

...

True to his word, Jigen had picked up a pair of yakisoba meals and a few onigiri from the Lawson nearby his family's apartment on the way back from Miyama. Apparently servants didn't really need to eat, but that didn't mean they couldn't. The pair's trip was mostly successful in that they'd been able to pick up a few pairs of sweats that could fit Saber and Jigen was able to bluff as to why he needed them in the first place. He'd apologized to all his teachers and was assigned extra cleaning duty, but it didn't bother him at all - there were more important things going on!

The day had wore on quickly and by the time they made it back to Jigen's home, the place was empty. Not unusual, and in fact it was a minor blessing. No need to explain why there was a big muscular man tagging along. Jigen led them both into his room, carrying an extra futon from the hall closet. Similar to eating, servants apparently didn't need sleep either, but he'd feel weird if he didn't at least offer.

"Well, welcome to my house Saber. It's not much, maybe we can work on a base of some kind tomorrow, but for now I hope it works. Make yourself at home! Since most of the fighting is at night, I'm gonna try and look up some stuff to help us. Um, you don't mind if I look you up too, right...?"

Well, that was his plan anyway, but staying up all night and summoning a servant was pretty tiring. After a while, Jigen fell asleep at his computer.

_{Present Night}
Shinto Town
^{_________________________________}

"Okay! I'm up and ready!"

Jigen did a few stretches in the modest room, something he wasn't really used to doing but he figured it might help. His impromptu nap had re-energized him, but man was it gonna be bad for his sleep schedule. Outside of the window, two brilliant lights shone. One was a bright firework, the other a clear message. Both were across the river. The bridge they'd taken yesterday was a route Jigen was very familiar with, getting to either location shouldn't be too hard.

"On the Miyama side? It shouldn't take us too long... looks like one is over the park and the other..." Jigen leaned close to his window, squinting. "A bit further, maybe the mountain or... Aw man, I really hope that's not my school."

He turned to his partner.

"Wanna check it out?"

_{Past: @Crusader Lord
Present: @Breo}

Fate/Lost Epoch

_{Shinto -> Miyama}
Fuyuki Bridge
^{_________________________________}

'Not as bad as you think,' huh? Well, a compliment was a compliment and Jigen would take it. He hoped it was true. He may not have a wealth of strength... or coordination... or agility... or intelligence, or magic power, or money or - Ooookay let's stop this line of thought, the boy thought to himself, I need to focus on what I do have! Um, spirit! Stamina, sort of! Pluck!!

He tried a confident laugh on, a (hopefully) flattering imitation of Saber. Listening to the man talk was fun, so even if the bold chuckle felt flat when compared to Saber himself, Jigen's laughter soon enough turned to simple mirth as they chatted. Their goal was the academy where Jigen was a student. Saito-san, the boy's father, was much smaller than Saber so his clothes wouldn't work. The clothing shops around weren't really suited to his muscled frame, but he didn't mind checking just to be sure. He thought that surely some loose gym clothes would fit the servant - and maybe even suit him. The thought of Saber dressed as a coach brought a grin to Jigen's face.

...also, he'd had to apologize to Fujimura-san and the other teachers for missing class today. Yeah.

When a comfortable silence fell over the pair, Jigen didn't miss Saber's wistful mention of the name "Herakles." Many groups they'd past had been chatting about a "Hercules," and even Jigen knew who that was. He and Saber were both ancient Greeks, right? Maybe they knew each other. They probably did. The student vowed to research everything he could about his new partner, it'd just be embarrassing if he didn't. Unless... maybe he wouldn't appreciate that? A man was entitled to some privacy, right? Aaaah, this was complicated.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the command spells on his hand heating up again. He idly itched them as he thought about Saber's question.

"Me? Hmm... I guess it would be world peace or... end hunger or something," he replied. Truth be told, he hadn't given his own wish much thought. He was more interested in having a cool spirit pal. He glanced sideways at Saber. "I'll let you know for sure when I decide. Something good though. It would be nice to help people."

He scratched at his hand again. "So that guy everyone's talking about, do you know him? Would you want to meet up with him? Maybe we can go ch-argh, are these marks supposed to burn for so long? I - "

His complaint was interrupted by a woman's shout. Surprised, Jigen looked up and spotted her running towards them. Fair skinned, reddish hair, loud... a foreigner? Obviously not the first one he'd met today. He gave the lady a little wave.

"Er, maybe she's...?" he trailed off, thinking that she of course would be another Master. He didn't see anyone beside her, was her servant invisible? Should he be worried? Nah, I have Saber with me, he said he could take on a whole army. No reason to be nervous. Of course, with the woman shouting right ahead of them, Jigen didn't even consider there might be more than one other master on the bridge.

_{@Breo@Lucker13@ObsidianNoir@Crusader Lord}

---

_{<you too...?>}
Commerce District Yo-Yo Show
^{_________________________________}

Hercules' words shocked the Pharaoh. He drew his arms a little closer to himself as a chill ran down his spine, but his eyes narrowed and he put all of his focus on the servant before him. It was the case indeed, and a man as sharp was Hercules apparently was could easily see that. This man... whether it was a guess or not, seemed to know too much about him. Were they really kindred souls, or was it as plain to everyone else as it was to Hercules? Did the touch of his curse seep out so far from his core that it was no secret at all?

Am I that far gone?

His offer of an alliance was just as surprising, but he supposed a great hero would think such a thing up. Behind him, his master's tone was much more natural, and his answer...

Not for your own sake, you would take his offer? Berserker privately questioned, turning slightly to meet the man's eyes. At first he'd thought his master was a difficult one to pin down, but little by little he felt he could see the true Markansas, though it'd been less than a day. He had to admit that what Hercules claimed was true, he wanted nothing more than to take the Fate that destiny had given him and tear it to shreds. His father, his grave robbers, even his very self - if erasing them would remove the dark stain from Egypt and the world he would do it.

But it wasn't possible, save for perhaps the power obtained at the end of this war.

"...fine. You heard my master," he said. Slowly, Berserker stood up straight. The quintessential hero wouldn't strike down those that just agreed to join him, would he? Now, the boy king set his cold gaze on the rest of those gathered in the area, daring them to move against the unlikely alliance.

_{@SSW@Over Illusion}

World of Light

Extra EXP (Dreams): +18+8
Word Count: 952 (+2 exp)
Level: 4 - Total EXP: 2/40
Location: Land of Adventure

LEVELED UP! (AGAIN!)

A new power: Palico Rescue! When Ace Cadet or a teammate nearby would faint or otherwise be knocked out of the fight, the Palico Cart arrives to whisk them to safety! These felynes will bring their charge to the last known "checkpoint," usually a base camp, but are intelligent and can be instructed, though they won't do anything but ferry the injured. Has a hard limit of three rescues before the cats need to "rest," so to speak.
Remember, there's no shame in carting!
***

It wasn't hard for the Ace Cadet to stay asleep most of the ride back. He ended up waking up a few times, sharing a small conversation with Kamek. His advice was appreciated - and good to know! He wasn't entirely sure if he would be precise enough for such a thing, but still. Spirits seemed cool, but it was nice to have a solid scale or slab of flesh in your hand. At least, that's they way he saw it. Thinking back to Geralt's earlier question, the Cadet decided to let the Brachy spirit go. Up for grabs, so to speak. It would be nice to get some new equipment, but he'd really been expecting to be able to chop the monster up. Next time he'd settle for a spirit. When the vehicle hit the smoother area of the ride back, it was right back to slumberland for the hunter. Sleep had always come pretty easily to him, and between the soft voices of the rest of the crew and the soft Nopon beside him that made for a perfect pillow to lean on... he was pretty comfortable, even in his armor. Despite the strangely cozy setting, the even stranger events at the farmstead seemed to have made for a nasty dream. He didn't jerk around or anything, but the sudden wake up made the young man spring awake as if called to action, his arm reaching for a weapon that wasn't there.

"What's - ?! Oh, we're back!" Phew, he was back home! Or, well, in Lumbridge! Cadet hopped off the car and cheerily followed the others back into town. The hero's welcome was pretty nice all things considered. The hunter gratefully took a blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders in the mockery of a cape, listening to the rest of the group as he decided what to do himself. He could go with the Courier to... wherever he was going, to be honest he sort of forgot. Something to do with metal. Might be interesting, but really what he needed was to get some supplies himself. However... turning out his coin purse let out naught but a dust bunny. Ouch. That giggisux, I've been slacking on getting rewards, huh?

Now didn't really seem like the time to ask for payment though, Cadet had at least enough tact to know that. Maybe a trip to the shop was in order - after all, he did have some empty jars which seemed to be worth their weight in gold around here. Then again... Hmmm... I could keep them to put more stuff in, but with a big group like the one we got some powders would probably be better. Maybe if I only get rid of one?

That seemed like a fair enough plan to him. It would have been nice to invite Peach or Linkle but one seemed really tuckered out while the other was speaking with someone he didn't recognize. Old friend maybe? She was pretty cute too. Oh well, maybe next time. "I'll catch up with you guys," Cadet said, fully intending on taking the innkeeper up on his offer. Sure, he still had a night left at the room he'd originally rented, but who could say no to such a heartfelt gesture? Either way, Ace Cadet was off to one of the markets that would be open at this time of the night. After some back and forth, he managed to trade one his jars for a trap tool. After that, it was scavenging time.

---

The hunter woke up just a liiitle bit late. Last night on his way to gather any items he could to restock, he'd wandered back towards the Brother Grimm. After all, there wasn't much to be found in town unless one planned to swipe something from someone, and that wasn't really the Cadet's style. He'd managed to find and armful of plants and mushrooms, when a strange felyne took offense to his presence. Or rather, took offense to the truck. After a squabble about the vehicle and offering to give the thing some of his weird berries - I'm nyot one of the things that likes those!!, it hissed - they managed to talk it out. Maybe the Cadet was feeling a little attuned to cats that night? Even so, the affair had him back at the inn later than he wanted, and kept him up crafting later too. In the end though, the Cadet added some nice things to his arsenal: a smoke bomb, dung pod, shock trap and lifepowders; his goal from the get-go. Then he'd promptly passed out and had a much nicer dream than earlier. So yeah, he'd slept in.

The sun saw the hunter bolt out of the inn and toward the Guild Hall, his equipment and items all packed up and his sword freshly sharpened. As he made his way, snippets of conversation reached his ears.

"...just appeared here..."

"...survive... Dead Zone..."

"...hope...okay?..."

The red head turned his head to listen, ever the curious one, even as he continued moving. It wasn't just one conversation, but talk among the townsfolk in general. Interesting. What the heck was a Dead Zone?

It wasn't long before the Cadet burst through the doors himself. He looked between the Guildmaster, the princess and the Koopa Troop, and Kamek's talk of "proof"...

"Please tell me that glowy orb is enough," Ace Cadet chimed in. Considering that the Brachydios had turned to ash it would feel awful if they couldn't provide solid evidence that the hunt was complete. Then again, the Cadet didn't hold any suspicions about the hooded Guildmaster so he hoped the man would just let them take on the next quest. "Come on Guildmaster!"

Video Games: The General Discussion & Community Thread

Was Devil May Cry even on a nintendo console? I must've forgot.

@Majoras End

Got Switch ports at the least.

What Are You Listening To?