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GATE: and so the Iron Pact Fought (a GATE: and thus the JSDF Fought fic)

Discussion in 'Creative Writing' started by Aaron Fox, Oct 10, 2018.

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  1. Ocean Sailor

    Ocean Sailor Not too sore, are you?

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    Hear, hear! Some works such as Gate and ZnT are wasted on their authors, who just stumbled onto an awesome setting only to misuse it grievously. Kudos to all fic authors who took these jewels and polished them to what they could have been.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2020
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  2. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Just letting you guys know, my dad's dog has recently passed away (had to be put down) and I'm still trying to get used to life without him. This has, predictably, delayed my latest snippet immensely, especially with the scene and trying to ensure I give it justice (not-so-spoilers, it's the Siege of Cologne during the Great War of Resistance aka essentially Stalingrad, WW1 style).

    I hope you guys can understand this.
     
  3. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Ok, is it just me, or did someone find reality's developer's console and made reality go crazy? I was getting some (slow) headway on getting this next part done when the riots started! Also, it is starting to become apparent that someone has been going into my chaotic brain and nicking ideas just to make reality look insane.

    I am not happy. It does not make my muse easier to direct. It delays everything.

    The snippet is shaping up to be something, odd, for me. Trying to make it not a gory mess while trying to keep it authentically Stalingrad-esque is... hard... to say the least. [sarcasm] Maybe I should start a Patreon and sell myself so I can get things done or something close to it. [/sarcasm] Still, one of the speeches that I've got is heavily influenced by the speeches made by General Sturnn and Castor of the Imperial Guard (seriously, the Imperial Guard has a lot of material for hold the line speeches)...
     
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  4. ATP

    ATP Experienced.

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    Becouse Saderan are arleady defeated,and our Eart could not fight other - what about making it slice-of-life ?
     
  5. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    The Saderan Empire isn't defeated yet. Remember, they're still Romans at their core and they are more than willing to send men into the meatgrinder if it means victory. There is a saying in Rome that means 'you aren't defeated until you accept defeat', and that is something that makes Rome different than the rest of the Classical world. They could have a fifth of their male population dead and then go 'we'll be back next year' (which is exactly what happened in the 2nd Punic War after Canne, which had Hannabil -the man that practically brought Rome to its knees- go 'what' in response).

    Right now, the fact that the enemies that they've made can't be simply drowned out by, simply, sheer force of numbers hasn't sunk in yet. While Malt understands that discretion is the better part of valor, he isn't at the point where he'll do that... yet.
     
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  6. ATP

    ATP Experienced.

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    Thanks for info.But they still are defeated,and our Earth could not fight Earth invented by you.If you want real fight,they need stronger enemies.But not too strong - do not throw WH40 at them.
    What about making Saderan gods stronger ? and as hostile as possible,too.something like "fu,fo,fe,fi,i smell human blood".
    .About AA - i read, that german made first AA railgun in 1945,but althought it was relativelly small/like 128mm gun/ it still needed entire plant to work.
     
  7. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    The thing is, this is for the setup for the real meat, the post-war politics and nation-building. Also it isn't a railgun but it is a naval rifle repurposed into an AA piece repurposed into an anti-tank gun.

    Right now the Saderan gods are on damage control because of Hardy's screwup and confirmation that our Old One is back on the planet. Due to that, they have limited options and due to the fact that they're not omnipotent, they need information, something that is being gathered by Rory and Leo. They're formulating a plan but within a set of restrictions now that the Old One is 'in-play' as it were... although once the full depth of their depravity and rulebreaking is discovered, let's just say most of them won't get a good end. Telling much more would be spoilers.
     
  8. ATP

    ATP Experienced.

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    They deserved bad end not for lack of morale,but lack of brains.Opening gates without checking what is there ? what Hardy is,stereotypical german mad scientist from old movies ? She certainly act like one.
    P.S please save Giselle - for one of your SI,of course.Evry true german would be happy with dragongirl waifu.
     
  9. bryanfran36

    bryanfran36 Experienced.

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    Heh.

    If they opened into worlds like Call of Cthullu, Eclipse Phase, or really, really bad like Warhammer (both Fantasy and 40k) they'd get tentacle fucked it's not funny.
     
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  10. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Thing is, the usual MO had been open the Gate long enough to set a reasonable breeding population through, close it, and then wait a while. If whatever is beyond the gate is too dangerous (they can walk back and forth through the gate like mortals), they can simply retreat and shut it before anything comes over. What the Sadarian gods didn't expect that the Sadarians themselves effectively putting a doorstop onto the Gates or the Old One (aka the actual Admin) coming back home as it were.

    If the Sadarians didn't put the metaphorical doorstop in the Gate and the Old One reasserting her Admin Rights, Hardy would have simply shut those as fast as she could. The problem is the doorsteps that the Sadarians made and, well, not having complete Admin rights.

    Basically, under normal circumstances that Hardy is used to, it'll play out like this scene with dimensions like Call of Cthullu, Eclipse Phase, or Warhammer before the Gate gets shut for good:

    However, these are not normal circumstances.

    Also, Giselle isn't going to have a nice time (although, to be honest, the likely circumstances for Giselle becoming Hardy's Apostle isn't likely to be of her own accord, given the Greco-Roman foundation the Sandarian Gods are built off of) for a while before she has to make a choice, the choice's specifics (and circumstances) would be spoiling but what I can tell you is that she'll be mulling over the choice for a while since the entire Great Fire Dragon arc has been aborted by a case of the Javelin ATGM. ;) The Dark Elves showing up would be for non-god related reasons as rumors of the Men in Green's selflessness spread.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
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  11. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Ok, here is what I have so far for the Psi-memory section:




    Fort Portal, Remus Hill; 22:00 Hours


    The ‘Iron Pact’ is something that I’m still trying to understand, their reasons of existence, their politics, their goals…

    … and understand the strangeness that is ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann.

    This one man has kept defying what I know as logic. This man is different than anything I’ve ever encountered. Then there is this aura around him, making him even more of an enigma. Everyone in the castra has been incredibly tight lipped about Hauptmann Neumann. My -and the warrior bunnies that managed to smuggle themselves here- investigations kept hitting stone walls, a lot of this man’s career is locked behind the term ‘classified’. What little that the warrior bunnies and I could dig up show that he is an incredibly powerful shaman. Almost stupidly so. He is also an incredibly capable warrior, and either of these facts does not jive with his calm, simple, introverted demeanor. There is just something off about him. After we returned from ‘Berlin’, Rory had told me her fears. Few things got her afraid of someone, and this man is one of the few that did.

    That was when I felt that reality got… bent… before I blacked out.

    When my vision returned to me, I was in a small rowboat of some kind. The people around me were clad in uniforms that are far older than the ones I have seen, each one of them had grim looks on their faces. The rowers moved with almost mechanical precision.

    I looked around and saw numerous other boats and barges crossing a great river. Most of which had more soldiers and some of them had older versions of what the ‘Iron Pact’ and the ‘JSDF’ are using studding them. That was when I saw the bodies floating in the water alongside wreckage.

    What the fuck have I been dragged into?

    “Kamaraden, I will not mince words with you, many of you will die,” the man in the front -apparently an officer- stated plainly, “your deaths will not be glorious, your deaths will not be remembered in history, you will die in the ruins of the city of Cologne. You will be only remembered as a simple number, one among many. While that is going to be our fate, I will commend you for volunteering to help our beleaguered kamaraden in the city proper. While Command has deemed that falling to the river is the only safe option available to us, we must ensure that our retreat is organized and covered. Given the likeliness of being killed, command will only accept volunteers that know the full gravity of their choice. Our orders are to hold the line as much as possible to ensure that we deny the enemy supplies and weapons while ensuring our wounded are extracted to the safety of the defenses on the other bank.”

    The soldiers simply nod in acceptance, like if they knew full well what they were getting into.

    The officer simply looked towards the shore, deep in thought. That was when I saw the other shore, littered with bodies and equipment. Men and women in a vastly different uniform with some sort of vest and a red cross on it scurried across the various groups, trying to ensure as many people survive as possible. There were even children trying their hardest to keep the medical supplies flowing. To be forced to use children in such roles, the manpower shortage must be catastrophic.

    “Kamaraden, know this,” the officer began, “while it warms my old heart, my soul, to see you volunteer despite cred or ideology, we are going to die. I am sending you where you will die. I am spending your lives and mine to ensure that our kamaraden will live. We will die, we will not be remembered as people, only as numbers. Yet, history will remember our actions today, for better or for worse. We will hold the line for as long as we can and make the enemy pay for every meter of land they take. That is what is expected of us…”

    That was when the boat came into a dock.

    “Boatmen prepare for non-critical casualties,” the officer said, “you are no longer to haul soldiers to the frontline, you are to move as many casualties that can walk to safety. Is that clear?” The rowers simply nodded and prepared to help people onto the boat. The soldiers disembarked and I, unable to control myself, followed.

    The line of waiting soldiers slowly moved towards the boat, moving only as fast as their child caretakers would let them. Each one suffering many wounds, barely able to walk towards the docks on their own, only to be sent to the other side of the river to safety. I slowly walked with the other able soldiers towards our battlefield. Along the way I saw how much damage this battle had wrought. Bodies still laid in the streets, their entrails littering the rubble like a sick sort of paint, buildings all but destroyed or simply annihilated to the point of being motes of dust. I have seen my fair share of horrific battlefields, but this is on a whole new level…

    … and I was being force-marched to the front of it all.

    The march was slow but brisk and it kept showing the horrific scars of this battlefield. That was when at the corner of my eye I noticed something out of place, something that didn’t belong, but I ignored it as neared my forced destination. The officer quickly ordered us about, taking up positions along a badly done trench line between the various houses of the intersection. That was when I heard a battle cry that I never heard of in my life and men with turbans on their heads charging like madmen towards our position. My body fired my weapon, sending death downrange like a demented automatic high-powered crossbow. The men had chosen their path well, and it quickly devolved into brutal hand to hand combat.

    Out of the corner of my eye I saw that the officer had taken out a stubby shovel, using it as an impromptu sword. I saw another soldier stab one of the madmen with the knife at the end of his weapon before flipping it around and using it as a club. Soon I heard explosions from all directions and sometimes I saw the results. This combat went on for what felt like hours when it only took minutes… and that was when everything… stopped.

    “Well, well, well, looks like Slick lost control a second time,” a mysterious voice -attached to a fairly lanky-armed man of middling height- in the most unusual accent said, “although, I wouldn’t blame him given the shit we’ve been through.” I soon discovered that I could move by my own accord again, and I took this advantage to gain an explanation.

    “What in Hardy’s name is going on here!?!” I exclaimed, “Why am I forced to go through this?” The man simply shook his head.

    “So, this is the first time through a psi-memory eh?” the man answered, “Oh, where are my manners, the name’s Tony Delvecchio and right now I’m getting you out of here.” I frowned at that last statement. Why is he so forceful of getting me out of this horror now? “That is if you want to become part of the scenery…” Wait… become part of

    … ok, that has set all sorts of red flags in my brain. If there is a chance that I could become part of this ‘psi-memory’, then I need to get out of here…


    One thing that I am not happy about is that it isn't complete and I think it is too quick and too sparse on the details. I'm posting this right now because it is better to ask forgiveness for this than bang my head for eternity while I try to figure it out...
     
  12. ATP

    ATP Experienced.

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    1.Fighting - i saw french movie "Captain Conan" from 1996 about french soldiers during WW1 in Bulgary - close combat looked as brutal as this.
    2.modern logic vs old logis - polish anthropolog,Malinowski during WW1 say to one local on Pacyfic,that soldiers killed in Europe would cover his entire island,so native asked how they eat so many - and could not undarstandt,why kill people if you do not want eat them.Malinowski wrote,that maybe he was more cyvilised then we/european/ are.
    3.Dying,so rest could go through river - best knight of Europe, Zawisza Czarny died so in 1431 as commander of rearguard,so emperor army could run from Turks.When emperor send boat for him,he refused saying,that there is no boat which could bring his honour,becouse he would left his soldiers.
    Best polish/and european/ knight ever.Win every tournament he participated ,and kill many teutons during Grunwald battle/1410/

    Good chapter.
     
  13. Dues_machine

    Dues_machine Know what you're doing yet?

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    Look can we get to the story and cut back on the gun porn, look at how awesome this guy is etc

    It's a real drag on the story you want to tell.

    It's fine to mix it in, but it's just to much. it's crowding out other stuff.
     
  14. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    [raises eyebrow]

    ... um, excuse me? I've been trying to mix various perspectives here, particularly having Medieval-era Romans trying to make sense of WW1 and modern technology, mores, and events. It is far harder than it looks. If you think that is gun porn and wanking, then that is what you think. You should also have noticed that I am not happy with what I've got for that scene and outright stated that it is going to need a lot more work.

    Also, I'm trying to paint a 'Stalingrad, WW1 style' in that scene as well, which is stupidly hard to do.
     
  15. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Ok, I've got three main ideas for the next snippet. One is some of the POWs watch a Baseball game and are intrigued, getting a soldier who has been assigned to POW watch duty forced to explain medieval Romans of what baseball is... while the Iron Pact soldiers start commenting that this is likely to be Japan all over again (fun fact when the US sent teachers to Japan in the 1870s, one of those teachers formally introduced baseball to his students and Japan went nuts with baseball... let's just say that Japan became just as baseball crazy -with their own quirks to boot- as the US for a time). The other idea is focused on a 'sound' mage investigating on what instruments both the US/Japan alliance and the Iron Pact has to offer... and proceeds to make both alliances go WTF in terms of musical ability (which would probably include an organ). The third idea is a priest/priestess from one of the conquered peoples of the Sadarian Empire raising an eyebrow both on the through atheism/monotheism/general disinterest with religion within the two alliances' ranks and the various chaplains assigned to the military units in said alliances despite said atheism/general disinterest with religion in the ranks.

    Does anyone have a preference for any of these ideas?
     
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  16. bryanfran36

    bryanfran36 Experienced.

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    I go with music.

    I don't get baseball at all with terms flying about and confusing indicators on who's winning and scoring.

    Just add in Heavy Metal \m/ and we're golden.
     
  17. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    ... I then recommend either watching Backyard Baseball videos on Youtube or grabbing ScummVM, grabbing the Backyard Baseball images from trusted abandonware sites or straight from their disks (you only need no more than 5 files to get them to work) and learn that way. ;) The reason I know quite a bit of baseball is because of Backyard Baseball as it actually helps you understand quite a bit about baseball.
     
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  18. Threadmarks: Sidestory: An Omen Dismissed
    Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    So, while I was going through my notes and checking a few things, I came upon a Reddit post that had the title "*Before going through the Gate, the Saderan General orders the Augurs to seek the wisdom of the Chickens.* "General, what was the wisdom granted by the wise Chickens?" A young legionnaire asked. "Yes." The General lied. The rest is history" and showed this video:



    Romans were superstitious to the extreme, only the Spartans were just as (if not more) superstitious. The Saderans, by contrast, would make both the Romans and Spartans look like they took superstition as a suggestion... and given Roman law, screwing with these holy chickens has steep punishments. So, a brain bug hit me and this happened... it is something of a side story really, an explanation of how things started...

    (________________________________________________________________________)

    Behind the Legate Quarters - Before the Holy Hills of Alnus, Alnus Province; 4th day of Martius, Year 6729

    The augers and I were surprised at the Holy Chickens' reaction... or in this case a lack of unified action. A portion of them was feasting, a portion of them was running around like if their heads were lopped off, another portion was simply standing there and doing nothing, a fourth portion was doing some odd dance, and it got weirder from there... it was just a giant mess.

    "I might be versed in some augury but this is well out of my league," I commented as I continued to watch the spectacle unfold in front of me, "Have you guys seen anything like this?" The augers were pouring through their books, trying to find an answer to this odd spectacle.

    "I don't have anything that has them doing all of this at once," the lead auger stated to his compatriots.

    "I got the meanings of the various individual omens in this case, but this situation is unprecedented, just like how two Gates showing up is unprecedented," the de facto second in command auger commented, "We're in unfamiliar territory here."

    "We've got omens for great gains, great defeats, strange happenings... and all at once," the third auger said, "If I had to be a betting man, we must exercise extreme caution."

    "As you said Auger Titus," I commented, "we've got omens for great gains and victories here, isn't it enough to move forward?"

    "It isn't," Auger Titus answered, "what we have here is something that is unprecedented and will take at least a day to fully realize an answer."

    "You'll have your day," I ordered, "just make sure that can give me an answer for this so I can tell the Legions."

    ________

    Legate Tribonius gave his three augers a day to rationalize their findings, and they said they must be cautious if they are to secure victory... and as they say, the rest was history...
     
  19. ATP

    ATP Experienced.

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    Not only greek,but roman commanders made offering before battles, and do not fought if augury was bad.And fight when was good.Well - there were exceptions.One greek commander refused to fight Spartan althought omens were good,and he had numerical advantage - becouse his troops were green, but it was rather exception.
     
  20. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Ok, been trying to work out the next snippet when I kept going to my 'adventure in a psi-memory' snippet... and things spiraled from there. So far, I have this:
    ____________________________________________________________
    The ‘Iron Pact’ is something that I’m still trying to understand, their reasons of existence, their politics, their goals…

    … and understand the strangeness that is ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann.

    This one man has kept defying what I know as logic. This man is different than anything I’ve ever encountered. Then there is this aura around him, making him even more of an enigma. Everyone in the castra has been incredibly tight-lipped about Hauptmann Neumann. My -and the warrior bunnies that managed to smuggle themselves here- investigations kept hitting stone walls, a lot of this man’s career is locked behind the term ‘classified’. What little that the warrior bunnies and I could dig up show that he is an incredibly powerful shaman. Almost stupidly so. He is also an incredibly capable warrior, and either of these facts does not jive with his calm, simple, introverted demeanor. There is just something off about him. After we returned from ‘Berlin’, Rory had told me her fears. Few things got her afraid, and this man is one of the few that did.

    So, what is the enigma that is ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann? Few things would get Rory all riled up, and fewer things on that list would make her afraid. If Rory is right and ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann is more than a shaman, then things are absolutely guaranteed to get complicated and fast. Shamans can talk to those who have not left without much penalty, but those that are shamans, but more are the sort to even take down gods. Not knock them out or lock them into a container, but genuinely kill gods. There has not been one of those since Rory started her trek to godhood, and that one individual left quite an impression on her.

    That was when I felt that something happened. Something terrible. I quickly got out of my seat and went to ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann’s room and saw him in absolute agony. I quickly call upon my powers to see what is wrong and… what I saw was something that even gods considered unnatural. How in Hardy’s name did ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann get a reality shard bonded to him!?! I quickly racked my brain and frowned, it is bonded tightly with his soul, so it would be tedious but doable. Thankfully, we Apostles have always kept a small cache of reality crystals on us just in case we find one of these damnable things. I quickly pull out one and prepared the ritual when someone came busting through the door.

    It happened quickly, almost to the speeds of apostle-on-apostle combat. The unknown person quickly put a weapon to my head with the intent of using it while I quickly shifted myself to see the assailant. The man has a lanky and somewhat thin build, the lankiness betraying his well-earned muscles.

    “Do anything and I’ll blow your fucking head off,” the man said in an incredibly interesting accent, “Slick and I go way back and if you caused him to have an event, there be hell to pay.” I frowned at the implication, but with how much is not in the public record, ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann might have some particular enemies, enemies who wouldn’t be unwilling to force a reality shard to bond with someone’s soul and damn the consequences thereof.

    “If you want to save your friend,” I flatly replied, “you better let go of me. Hauptmann Neumann has a reality shard bonding to his very soul. If that does not get removed before the process completes, he. Will. Die. He along with everyone within fifty mille when two realities clash with each other.” I narrowed my eyes at this man, his willingness to protect his friend is commendable but is likely going to land him into trouble. “I and Rory, as Apostles, will survive. If you want the blood of your forces and those settling around your castra on your hands, continue to keep me from doing this.”

    “Slick has been wrangling with what you call a reality shard for almost a decade and all of our attempts in removing it have failed,” the man answered, “he has to take special drugs to keep it at bay. So, what are you going to do to Slick?”

    “I was about to undertake a ritual to remove the reality shard,” I answered, “first, I must drag the afflicted consciousness from the shard itself, after which I start in the extraction. The extraction will take all my power as an apostle and take a considerable effort, given how closely bonded the shard is to ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann’s soul. Once I have removed the reality shard, I will put it into this crystal sphere. It is made from Elysium Quartz, and it is used for a handful of purposes including the storing of reality shards.” The man simply frowned.

    “Is it possible that I could go with you?” the man asked, “Given that I know this ‘reality shard’ better than you? That and Slick can be a bit… imprisonment happy if he has an event…” I kept my shock from becoming visible. ‘Hauptmann’ Neumann had been using the bonded reality shard as a prison? While ingenious, it is also one of the more… complicated… ways to ensure someone stays locked up for all eternity when all other methods had failed. The mages of Rondel had used that methodology only twice, and the two were incredibly powerful dark mages that could not be contained any other way.

    “Since you’re more knowledgeable about this reality shard,” I answered, “I’ll have to default to your experience. What is your name?”

    “The name’s Tony, Tony Delvecchio,” the man answered with a smirk, “now let’s go save Slick.”
    ____________________________
    Is that better than what I had before? Because it feels like it if you know what I mean.
     
  21. ATP

    ATP Experienced.

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    Now,i wait for results.I mean succes in removing shard - and,becouse it is Gate crossover, getting both Neumann and Tony harems of cute human,demihuman and other/Giselle!!!!/ girls.
     
  22. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Ok, ladies and gents, I've hit a roadblock. I can't seem to pick which song one character is going to play. On the one hand, I was thinking of one of Bach's harpsichord pieces, specifically Bach's Harpsichord Concerto No.1 in D Minor BWV 1052, on a harpsichord; on the other, I was thinking of using a Red Alert 3 mod's soundtrack, more specifically recordings of Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower) or one of their Lunar New Year pieces. I don't believe I've got enough time -so to speak- to have all three of them in and having Bach could be seen as shoehorning too much Germany in.

    What would you guys suggest?

    The only reason that I'm asking is that there is a shockingly abysmal number of youtube videos that have the harpsichord in it... at least not from Bach anyway.
     
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  23. bryanfran36

    bryanfran36 Experienced.

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    Use the Red Alert 3 soundtrack to breathe something different.
     
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  24. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Well, ladies and gents, I said I would post this scene and after banging my head like a madman, I got this scene mostly done. Had to dig through some of my old soundtracks to get the other piece... you wouldn't believe how rare the harpsichord is in music. I mean outside of Fire Emblem, there is only one other that fits the setting of Falmart, so to speak.



    Fort Portal, Business Quarter; October 5th, 2017

    The amount of businesses in the “Iron Pact’s” castra is something different compared to the Saderan Mondi Operus when it came to castra. The basic principles stayed the same, but the design and layout were radical by anyone’s metric here in Falmart. The biggest difference is the various shops not operated by the legions, like the one I am entering right now. Now, from what I have been told in the tour, this is a music shop and while it was hard to settle in, I never got to looking through the store. It would be a change of pace to simply look at how my other doctorate in musical science applies to those of the other-worlders.

    As I entered the store, a tone signaled my entry into the store… something that I note that stores in our and their worlds apparently share quite a few things in common. There was a man at a circular desk, overseeing much of the store while talking to a customer as several other people simply made sure everything was in order, something that both civilizations shared but only real difference being scale. Only the music stores of Rondel operate in a similar scale, and only due to Rondel’s status as a mage metropolis. There were only a handful of customers in the store, most of them from the ‘US-Japan Coalition’ or the ‘Iron Pact’, with only a handful of local bards simply milling about.

    That was when I saw something peculiar, a rather large instrument on some sort of stout stage. It looked like some of the instruments that two or three of the richest music-field mages were tinkering with, but it is also something different from a glance. The instrument’s shape was far more deliberate than the ones being tinkered with, it gleamed in the sunlight like if it was polished metal… while the underside of the instrument’s lid showed it was made of wood, indicating a laminate… or at least lacquered. Interesting, as previous attempts to utilize lacquered wood were fraught with failure, meaning that the ‘Men in Green’ have far more experience in building instruments with lacquered wood.

    I walked up to the instrument, inspecting it closely, absorbing the craftwork for all its worth. It is fantastical craftsmanship, and the sound it made when I tapped one of the keys was just beautiful, only one instrument like this one had ever made that sound back home. I took a seat and then started experimenting. I kept testing the limits of this instrument, trying to find what can and cannot be done. I was so into this experimentation that I did not notice the ever-growing crowd around me.

    “That is some pretty decent music that you’ve played there, miss,” a somewhat recognizable voice said with a thick, sharp accent, “It isn’t all that common to have someone able to simply sit down and play a harpsicord like an experienced professional would, given the picture that our interviews of the numerous bards and playwrights had painted for your musical sector.” That was when he nervously laughed and scratched the back of his head. “Where are my manors, the name’s Yōji Yamamoto, owner of this fine establishment.”

    “Wait, you own this store?” I asked meekly, “I… I did not know that this is yours! Please forgive me for trying it without permission!” I was about to go into an apology rant when Yōji put his hand on my shoulder.

    “Don’t worry about it, it's fine,” Yōji soothed, “It’s out because it is meant to be played by passerby. Now, may I ask the name of the music that you’ve played?”

    “It doesn’t have a name yet,” I answered, “I’ve been working on it for weeks and still haven’t perfected it. I’m a sound mage you see, and when I’m not exploring the interactions of music and magic, I’m writing music… although I haven’t played on an instrument this finely made…”

    “Well, we’ve got all sorts of instruments, although some of which can’t be displayed here,” Yōji commented, “… I’m being so rude, what is your name ma’am?”

    “Amala of Árheimar, Mr. Yamamoto,” I answered, “Doctor of Music and Magic, specialty in the interactions between magic and music.” Yōji raised an eyebrow at my birth city's name. “I was part of the group that came to investigate the two groups of men in green… and I was interested in what this store has to offer.” Yamamoto simply smiled.

    “Oh, so your part of the group that everyone has been talking about,” Yōji stated playfully, “can’t resist the urge to see what’s new in instruments then. You remind me of all sorts of people back home.” That was when he stretched his fingers and pulled something out. “Then again, if there is anything that brings people together, it's good music.” That was when the little device began to sing.

    The song that the device -which I assumed is something to a playback crystal- was playing is different compared to what I’ve previously experienced. While I have heard all sorts of songs in the various establishments, this was something I never heard of. It was, in a word, soothing. Soothing in the way only majestic beauty can bring. It went on for what felt like hours.

    “What song was that?” I asked, “I’ve rarely heard such majestic beauty in my, life…” Yōji simply chuckled.

    “That, Amala, is Chinese folksong whose name, when translated, is Jasmine Flower,” Yōji answered, “Music is an amazing thing, for it is one of the few things that bring people together. It can be powerful, it can be beautiful, it can be awe-inspiring. Whatever emotions you’ve felt, chances are there is a piece that uses, embraces, or embodies it.”

    “That is pretty interesting, Mr. Yamamoto,” I commented, “and that is a beautiful name for such a beautiful song. Are there more that I can listen to?” Yōji raised an eyebrow at the question. “I am a Doctor of Music and Magic and I didn’t become one of the top doctors of my craft by not being inquisitive.”

    Yōji simply smirked.

    “I’ll have to ask a few people, but you might get your wish,” Yōji answered, “By the way, the construction crews are currently putting the finishing touches on a concert hall down the way, once that’s built you can listen to a few performances. You might be in for a real treat though; it has an instrument that can be accurately described as the building itself.”

    That got me extremely interested, “Tell me more about this instrument…” Yōji then began describing the instrument, and true to his word it can be accurately described as the building itself. I just have to see it for myself…
     
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  25. bryanfran36

    bryanfran36 Experienced.

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    Can we have heavy metal sound magic later Aaron Fox?

    Guys like Eddie Riggs is just too good to pass up here with the possibilities that the latest chapter has shown us.
     
  26. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    First, stop trying to make me spoil the fic. [/semi-serious] Second, she'll need to understand how GATE!Earth and Iron Pact!Earth's musical theory evolved before putting her understanding of music/magic relations to it, which means she'll be digging through their combined musical canon. Everyone should know how deep and broad humanity's musical canon is. If you don't/can't comprehend how broad and deep humanity's musical canon is, then let me do a comparison: GATE! and Iron Pact!Earth's musical canon is like a large and deep ocean in just how much there is to go through just due to just how much time and resources were put into music (to give an example, Germany has so many composers and musicians to its credit thanks in part to the various German states having a cultural arms race between each other) in general, Falmart -due to having less time and resources put to it alongside interference by the Saldarian pantheon- in comparison is like the Mediterranean. Amala is going to understand it, it'll just take time just due to how much she has to dig through. It's like our warrior bunny squad digging through the library who has to dig through a lot of stuff to get a good understanding of everything.

    Also, please note that this is a snippet, not a chapter. A chapter (or informational) will be threadmarked. I kind of stole this sort of process from the author of GATE: The Janus Campaign where he would post snippets of the chapter to gauge what needs to be done, what works, and so forth.
     
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  27. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    So, giving you guys a status update:

    I have recently had a serious case of food poisoning and I'm currently recovering. I hacked so hard that there is likely muscular bruising, so that means my writing is delayed for a while. Hopefully, I'll heal enough to start writing seriously again soon.
     
  28. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    To give you guys an idea of my plans, the next snippets have our reality shard/psi memory diving Apostle discovering the 'signature' of the Iron Pact timeline's 'mastermind' which would cause chaos in every pantheon on the planet (to give you an idea here, the last time this mastermind came to the planet, it caused enough damage to the planet that the various pantheons had to step in to keep the planet from exploding) as the Saldarian Pantheon breaks out the 'oh shit' general alarm and our second snippet is a 'war room' ep, so to speak, and includes a natural derivative of the Iron Pact's cybernetics technology, even if its the equivalent of the first field model. That snippet will also set up for Italica that would likely come in late next chapter...
     
  29. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    Ok people, news update, I had to undergo gall bladder removal surgery yesterday. So content updates will be slow at this time. Sorry about the inconveniences that this will cause.

    My luck kind of went somewhat sour these last two weeks.
     
  30. Aaron Fox

    Aaron Fox That Crazy/Not-Crazy Guy

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    So, here is the second part of the psi-memory part of the chapter. I'm not exactly happy with it but since you guys are so patient, I have to post what I've got so far.
    ____

    We managed to land in good order despite the circumstances, but the one thing that got my immediate attention was the powerful stench of rotten eggs and burnt decomposing corpses.

    “I’ll be frank here,” Tony stated, “I’ve always hated dragging Slick out of this one.”

    “He had more than one?” I asked in dispirit surprise.

    “We removed them, but it’s always this one that defied us,” Tony responded, “Also, welcome to the city of Cologne, in the year 1921 Anno Domini. Thankfully, Slick isn’t having a replay episode.”

    “A what?” I exclaimed in an astonished tone, “Wait, do you mean what usually happens with a reality shard? Just how strong is Centurion Neumann?” Tony simply smiled in understanding as he looked above the rubble.

    “Slick has always been something of a helper,” Tony answered, “even if it meant it would kill him. I first met Slick back when we were kids, and he was hopping from base to base like all military kids did. Helped me and my sister understand our powers and have been friends ever since. Now, let us get to Cologne Cathedral, Slick will be there, I promise you.” Tony then pointed to the tallest temple that I have ever seen. “We better get moving, that is unless you want to see how much of a shitshow this siege was by seeing it firsthand.” That was when I noticed a presence, a very recognizable presence.

    While Tony and I skirt through the ruins, I reached out to make sure that the presence is not what I think it was. My fears were somewhat confirmed, for it was one of his underlings. If I could feel that, then the local pantheons would have seen it like it was naked in broad daylight. When I get this damnable thing into the crystal, I will have to get this information to the gods as soon as possible.

    As we moved closer to the temple, I started to hear singing in what sounded like ancient Saderan.

    “Yep, Slick isn’t in a replay episode,” Tony smirked, “He always makes sure that anyone rescuing him will be fast-forwarded to the moment that this song is sung. Fitting too, given that this is one of the darkest days of the Great War of Resistance.”

    “That’s interesting,” I commented as we neared what I assume was the front gate of the temple, “most temples don’t have the acoustics to have it heard outside its walls.”

    “The funny thing is, we would have only been able to hear it a few blocks at most. Slick was always… different… when it came to his brand of paranormal. This is just one of his many intricacies.” As we entered, the sight before me was unsettling as doctors and children ran about, the outlines of the former positions of immense benches still marked the floor. To have a temple turn into a hospital is… desperate. At the front of these was Hauptmann Neumann, mimicking the lead musician of the choir. Tony silently signaled me to allow him to finish.

    The song had many emotions to it with a hefty amount of natural devotion and regal-ness to it. Being an Apostle opens a lot of senses that are not available to mortals, and what I am seeing is something beautiful. Even though I am in the middle of what this world considers war, my eyes slowly swell with tears. Tony is right about one thing, this is one of this world’s darkest moments, and the choir song is a light in that dark moment.

    It took a minute for the song to complete before Centurion Neumann stopped mimicking the choir leader.

    “So, Tony, did you get Leo roped into a rescue mission?” Centurion Neumann asked as he walked towards us.

    “Not really, Slick,” Tony answered with a smirk, “He was just about to jump headfirst into saving your ass when I came barging in.” Centurion Neumann snickered.

    “Oh really?” Centurion Neumann said, “Well then, let’s get out of here before something happens and we get stuck in the playback.” With that, Tony muttered a few words after touching a door and we quickly exited…
    ____

    We reappeared in Centurion Neumann’s room, surrounded by people in rather simple-yet-extraordinary clothing… some of them pointing ‘pistols’ at my head.

    “Oh, come on!” Tony said, “I know you guys from A Branch are cynical and paranoid to a fault, but if I didn’t blow this guy’s brains out, then he’s cool.”

    “Ah, sorry about that,” the leader stated calmly, “we’ve had some particularly nasty characters try to use graf Neumann’s condition to try to assassinate him. Due to the situation, we assumed the worst.” Tony simply sighed.

    “I know Slick far longer than you guys have,” Tony sparred, “and that includes some of his abilities. Who do you think taught Angela and me how to use our abilities?” That was when Tony looked at me. “Alright Leo, how does your removal ritual work?”

    I took a deep breath and slammed my hand onto the floor, creating a ritual circle around Centurion Neumann, shoving everyone else out of the way. “First, I create the ritual circle and put the crystal into position,” I stated as I placed the Elysium Quartz into position on top of Centurion Neumann’s stomach, “and second, the pain starts…” That was when the intense pain started. I gritted my teeth and plowed through it. Oh, I’m so going to feel this in the morning…
     
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