Once and Future (WormxFate)

[Aldsan]

[x] [Helm] Don't Buy

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Thick fog swirled around the girl's ankles as she walked, the Magus leading her through the mists. It had been a warm morning when they left Pellinore behind. Too warm and too late in the day for fog. Yet, here it was pleasantly cool, the fog thick enough that she could not see more than a few feet.

"Where are you bringing me?" she asked the Magus.

"Patience, good King. All will be revealed in time."

She let out a sharp breath, irritated with the Magus and his secrets. Truly, he would never answer a question when he could pose a riddle instead. However, she trusted him, and so she continued in his wake, treading the uneven ground until it abruptly evened out to a smooth surface. She glanced down, curious, but instead of the stone she expected, she saw naught but water.

"Merlin? What magic is this?"

"We stand now in the domain of the Lady of the Lake. Come."

The girl took a tentative step forward, but found her footing as sure and steady upon the water's surface as any road. More so, even, for there was no unevenness, nothing to catch at her feet or cause her to trip. It was not slippery as wet stone could be, nor did she sink in the slightest.

Suddenly, the fog cleared, revealing a woman that stood before them. Dressed all in white, a veil covering her face, the girl could not help but think the Lady looked almost a bride, if not for the sword she held in her hands.

"Merlin. I've said before that you are not welcome here."

"Come now," the Magus winked. "I've brought someone special with me this time."

"Is that so?" The girl felt the Lady's eyes settle on her. "Arthur. Child of Uther. King of Britain. You certainly are one for jokes, aren't you, Merlin?"

"Here I thought family reunions were joyful affairs."

The girl furrowed her brow, tilting her head to look at the Magus, but he did not so much as return her look, instead staring steadily at the Lady. Finally, the Lady sighed. "Very well then. Arthur. You require a sword, and upon Merlin's urging, I have obtained one for you. It is yours. However, I will ask a boon of you in the future as payment."

"By my faith," the girl said, "I will give you what gift you ask for."

"Very well then."

The Lady gave the girl the sword before abruptly turning and vanishing into the mist, leaving just the girl and the Magus behind. The girl drew the sword from its sheath, marveling at the inner light with which it shone. Caliburn had been the sword of a king, but this was the sword of a warrior – and many battles stood before the girl still.

"Your highness. Which do you like better? The sword or the sheath?"

The girl tilts her head. The sheath was finely made, but who would say they preferred it over the tool it was meant to protect? She answered, "The sword."

"Please make no mistake here. The sword slashes the enemy, but the sheath protects you. As long as you have the sheath on you, you will spill no blood and take no wounds. You should truly value the sheath, not the sword."

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•​

Recover 5 hit points via Natural Healing. HP: 39/39

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While the Student Council spent most of its time organizing events for the student body throughout the year, it unfortunately did not have an unlimited budget to do so. In fact, for all that most of our work was done behind the scenes for the sake of the students, very little of our funding came from the school itself. Instead, we had to organize various fundraisers throughout the year to help pay for anything that we might choose to do.

Typically, there were two major fundraisers a year. One in autumn and another in spring, each covering the following semester's costs. So, the costs of Homecoming had been covered by the previous year's Student Council, while we would hopefully cover the cost for whoever was elected next year.

"Personally, I think a car wash could do well–"

"It's freezing outside! You want to do a car wash in this weather? What about an eating contest instead?"

"How many people are really going to pay for that…?"

Sighing, I rubbed at the bridge of my nose. The problem was that my Council did not know what they wanted to do yet.

"What did the Council do last year?" I asked, looking at Vedika.

"We ran an auction," she replied. Like me, she had largely been staying out of the argument, as Austin and Kayla had bantered ideas back and forth.

"Hm." It was an idea. "We do not have any particular assets to auction off at the moment however. Perhaps we can aim for something similar in the spring."

Vedika nodded. "I can think of a few things we could use, but I agree. Better to save that for spring. It'd be a popular Valentine's Day event."

A shiver went down my spine. Vedika's face and tone had been entirely placid and yet… What exactly was she planning to auction? She smiled at me and I quickly turned away. "What about a bake sale? Can we ask the Home Economics class to help with that, perhaps?"

"It should work. We did that two years ago. We'll probably need to chip in with supplies and help with some of the work though."

"We shall go with that then."

Leadership: 18 | 5 = Failure

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Vedika began jotting notes down and I cleared my throat to gather the attention of the rest of my officers. They did not listen. I tried again, but the others simply kept talking, their voices drowning my own out. In the end, it was Vedika who stopped the argument.

"Hey!" she said, her voice raised to reverberate through the room. "Quit fighting already! We've decided on what we're going to do!"

"A car wash, right? That's clearly the best idea so far–"

Vedika slammed a hand down on the table. "I said quit it! We're doing a bake sale. That's it. It's decided."

Austin and Kayla both shot sour looks upon realizing that neither of their choices had made the cut. I spoke up and said, "The decision has been made. Let us look at implementing it as best we can going forward. For now, you may retire for the evening. Take the chance to calm yourselves."

Everyone slowly filtered out of the room, leaving only me behind. I allowed myself to sink back in my chair, allowing myself a moment of peace. The Student Council was always fairly busy, but I had perhaps been allowing myself to allow on Vedika a bit too much to keep things in order rather than directing things myself. They respected me, but I was not sure they truly saw me as their leader.

There were simply far too many things calling on my attention. I had not had the time to dedicate to the Student Council that I would have liked. I had not been negligent, by any means, but I knew from Artoria's memories that true leadership required active investment. If she had ever been less than fully committed to her role, her subjects would have felt it.

Sighing, I pulled myself to my feet and left, making my way downstairs. It had been a shorter session than usual, but the sun was setting earlier these days. It would not be long until night fell and I took to the streets once more. Or so I thought. I came to a stop as I saw Victoria and Amy both standing near the school's gate.

Looking between the two of them, I asked, "Is something the matter?"

"We need to talk," Victoria said shortly

She held up her phone. On it was a PHO post discussing the death of the vigilante, Haze.

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"It's not your fault."

"If not mine, then whose? If I had spoken better, talked him down–"

Victoria shook her head. "Elaine, stop. He's the one who attacked you, and for what? A couple hundred bucks? If he ran into some trouble afterwards, it's not your fault."

"She's not wrong. You did the right thing, Ellie," Amy said, squeezing my hand.

The three of us sat in Arcadia's courtyard. The courtyard was a popular place for students to gather in the summer, but here in the late Autumn when the air had turned brisk, nipping at our faces, most people preferred to stay indoors, leaving us with the privacy to discuss what we needed to.

I closed my eyes and leaned into Amy. "I just wonder if I could have done better. Who even killed him? For what?"

Victoria shrugged. "Hard to say. The only details we have is what PHO has, and it's not like they're privy to the crime scene. Some posters were saying he'd withered away, looked more like a mummy than someone who just died last night."

Lore: 13 | 2 = Failure
Recognize: 10 | 6 = Failure

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An odd effect. I frowned. "Do we know any capes capable of something like that?"

Amy and Victoria shared a look. "Well, Sere probably could," Amy said. "He's a hero though, and operates mostly out in Concord. I doubt he killed Haze."

Lore: 4 | 2 = Failure

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"No one in Brockton Bay proper? That means we likely have a new enemy in the city." My voice grew cold. Already, I could feel the guilt of the situation fading as my mind focused on the problem at hand. It would return later, undoubtedly, when I no longer had something to divert my focus, but for now the distraction brought welcome clarity. "We will need to investigate and see if we can discover anything."

Victoria nodded. "I'll reach out to the Wards, see if they know anything."

"Let me know what you find."

"Don't worry. I will. Why don't you go ahead and take the night off?"

I frowned. "I am not so fragile that I cannot go out and continue fighting, Victoria. Besides, what would I even do with my time other than this?"

"Me," Amy said.

"What?" I blinked.

Amy colored. "I mean, erm. Spend time with me. We could relax, just the two of us."

"Well, there you have it," Victoria snickered. I glared at her, but that just sent her outright laughing. "You two lovebirds have a good time. I'll check in with you tomorrow!"

With that, Victoria flew off before I could say anything in response. What a cheeky girl. Turning back to Amy, however, my gaze softened. Perhaps it would not be so bad to heed their advice. "Did you have anything in mind?"

"Not really. We could go to the batting cages again?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Here I had been led to believe that you hated exercise."

"Har har." Amy rolled her eyes and poked at my nose. "It's not my favorite thing in the world. But you had fun the last time we went there, right? We did what I wanted last time, so let's do something fun for you this time."

"It is not as though I did not enjoy myself last time," I said, glancing away.

"Is that you asking for a repeat performance?" Amy smirked and twisted to face me. Her brown eyes caught the light of the setting sun, seeming almost crimson as she stared up at me. "I don't really mind providing if that's the case, you know."

Chaste: 9 | 10 || Lustful: 4 | 10

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I cleared my throat and glanced away. "We should simply catch a movie for now."

"I get it. I won't push." Amy smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips before pulling away. "There's a movie I've been wanting to see that just came out recently anyways."

"Oh? What did you have in mind?"

"There's this movie about a ballerina that came out recently that's supposed to be good. It's gotten good reviews at least and seemed interesting."

"Mm?" I stood up and slid my hand into Amy's as we walked towards the school's front gate. It was odd comparing us standing to how we'd been sitting just a moment before. Amy was taller than I was. I only came up to her nose. Yet, with how she scrunched up on herself, you wouldn't know it when we were sitting next to each other. "That sounds a bit outside your usual fare."

Amy shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. I used to be big into horror movies, but I just haven't really been interested in any of them lately."

I had never particularly seen the appeal in horror as a genre myself, so I would count that as a personal positive. Amy had forced me to sit through The Thing a few months ago and that had been more than enough for me. No matter what Amy claimed, I most certainly had not shrieked while watching it either.

"Well, it does not hurt to try new things, I suppose. The theater over on Sycamore?"

"Works for me," Amy replied and leaned her body into mine.

Later, of course, I would find out that Amy's ballerina movie was not nearly so tame as she had made it sound. A psychological thriller was hardly any better than pure horror. It was worth it, however, to see Amy enjoying herself.

Gain a check to Amor (Amy).
Bond with Amy increased to 8.

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Spoiler: Combat

Elaine invokes passion: Heroism: 16 | 16 = Critical Success!
Gain a check to Heroism.

Modifiers:
Elaine: Impassioned (+10 to Melee) (-10 Multiple Opponents)

Elaine Melee: 6 | 16 = Success || Goblin10 Knife: 17 | 12 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 24
>>Goblin10 is Slain.
Elaine Melee: 14 | 16 = Success || Goblin9 Knife: 20 | 12 = Fumble
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 26
>>Goblin9 is Slain.
Elaine Melee: 7 | 16 = Success || Goblin8 Knife: 19 | 12 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 33
>>Goblin8 is Slain.

Elaine Melee: 15 | 16 = Success || Goblin7 Knife: 7 | 12 = Success
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 30
>>Goblin7 is Slain.
Elaine Melee: 10 | 16 = Success || Goblin6 Knife: 9 | 12 = Success
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 27
>>Goblin6 is Slain.
Elaine Melee: 19 | 16 = Failure || Goblin5 Knife: 14 | 12 = Failure

Elaine Melee: 7 | 16 = Success || Goblin5 Knife: 12 | 12 = Critical Success!
>Goblin5 Damage (2d6+4+2d6) = 15 (13 AR) = 2 Damage (37/39 HP)
>>Knockdown: 11 | 14 = Elaine keeps her footing.
Elaine Melee: 7 | 16 = Success || Goblin4 Knife: 18 | 12 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 36
>>Goblin4 is Slain.
Elaine Melee: 8 | 16 = Success || Goblin3 Knife: 20 | 12 = Fumble
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 20
>>Goblin3 takes a Major Wound.

Elaine Melee: 12 | 16 = Success || Goblin5 Knife: 5| 12 = Success
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 32
>>Goblin5 is Slain.
Elaine Melee: 2 | 16 = Success || Goblin2 Knife: 11 | 12 = Success
>Goblin2 Damage (2d6+4) = 12 (13 AR) = 0 Damage
Elaine Melee: 11 | 16 = Success || Goblin1 Knife: 13 | 12 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 24
>>Goblin1 is Slain.

Elaine Melee: 15 | 26 = Critical Success! || Goblin2 Knife: 4 | 12 = Success
>Elaine Damage (12d6) = 33
>>Goblin2 is Slain.
>>>Gain a check to Melee.

My sword cleaved through a goblin. Another stumbled and I stomped a foot down, crushing its skull. A third leapt for my back and I spun, catching it on my blade in mid-air.

The day after my date with Amy, I had received a text from Erin saying she had finished tracking the goblins down. Their main nest was apparently a scrapyard here in North End. Goblins were inherently creatures of entropy – they despised signs of civilization, especially forged metal. Thus, I had been surprised to find them here. Erin had explained the reasoning.

The metal here was cast off. Unwanted. Rusting. Degrading. It made the perfect home for them.

And the place was swarming with them. Three more lunged for my legs, only for my sword to cleave through them. They were not flesh and blood, not truly, and their bodies soon decayed into nothingness once they had expired.

Two more lunged at me. I swung at them, only to feel an impact on my shoulder blades, a third goblin having jumped down on me from above. I stumbled at the sudden weight, but the goblin's knife failed to penetrate. I grabbed it by the ankles and swung the goblin to the ground, smashing its head against the hollowed out frame of a car.

Erin had stayed outside. Goblins were naturally cowardly creatures, and so I had decided it was best if she maintained a bounded field around the scrapyard, preventing their escape. Those who did flee would find themselves incinerated.

A burst of strength caught another three goblins in a single swing. Their bodies crumpled under the force, magic enhancing the strength of my blow. It was not to the level that Artoria could have once done so, but for all that I had her memories, I did not have her advantages. I did not have a dragon's nature fueling my power as she once had. Perhaps that would change in time. Neither I nor Erin knew.

My phone rang, and I flipped it open, turning on voice as I pinned a final goblin against the ground. Erin's voice came through.

"How's it going in there, Pendragon?" She asked, voice turning amused at the use of my chosen alias. "Not sure how much longer I can keep the barrier up."

"I am almost finished. It occurs to me that you should choose a name of your own if we are to continue working together in the field."

Erin laughed. "It's better for me if no one knows I'm even involved."

"While I am sure that is true, things do not always go as planned," I said shortly, looking around. For the moment, there were no more goblins here. Just piles of trash, stacked high enough to form walls around me. I stalked forward, the area eerily quiet.

"I'll give it some thought. Anyways, there's likely a Queen or a King of some sort in there. If you haven't killed them yet, you aren't finished."

"I have not seen any sign of such. What will they look like?"

"Big."

"How big?" I asked. Most goblins came up to my chest – and I was not particularly tall.

"You'll know it when you see it."

"Erin–" I began, only for a pile of trash to burst down as a massive figure came charging through. It swung a club – actually a car door that had been crumpled into a wieldable shape – down at my face and I hurriedly parried to the side "Nevermind. I see it."

Spoiler: Combat

Elaine invokes passion: Station: 11 | 12 = Success

Modifiers:
Elaine: Inspired (+5 to Melee)

Elaine Melee: 1 | 21 = Success || Goblin Queen Club: 14 | 15 = Success
>GQ Damage (6d6) = 19 (13 AR) = 6 (31/39 HP)
>>Elaine Knockdown: 16 | 14 = Elaine is knocked down.

Elaine Defensive: 17 | 26 (-5 Height, +10 Defensive) = Critical || Goblin Queen Club: 2 | 20 (+5 Height) = Success
>Elaine Defends, gets to her feet.

Elaine Melee: 5 | 21 = Success || Goblin Queen Club: 19 | 15 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 27 (10 AR) = 17 (27/44 HP)
>>GQ Knockdown: 20 | 10 = GQ is knocked down.

Elaine Melee: 7 | 26 = Success || Goblin Queen Club: 3 | 10 = Success
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 33 (10 AR) = 23 (4/44 HP)
>>GQ Knockdown: 12 | 10 = GQ is knocked down.

Elaine Melee: 4 | 26 = Success || Goblin Queen Club: 2 | 10 = Success
>Elaine Damage (8d6) = 29 (10 AR) = 19 (-15/44 HP)
>>GQ is Slain.

The next strike hit me head on, and though I blocked with my sword, I was still sent flying backwards. I rolled through trash and refuse, my ribs bruised from the blow. The Goblin Queen did not give me time to recover however, its club swinging down towards my head before I could find my feet.

I hurriedly blocked it and rolled away, taking a moment to look at my opponent. It was large, but not a giant. Perhaps three times the size of a normal goblin. Perhaps as large as a particularly tall man. No one would mistake it as such however. Its corpulent visage was ugly in a way that only goblins could be, twisted and malformed. It drooped and sagged, as though a candle had been left next to a mask made of wax.

She swung her club for me and I dashed in underneath her blow, my sword darting out to strike her knee. It was not the most honorable method, but then, this was not an opponent for whom honor mattered. She fell with a thunderous rapport. Before she could rise to defend herself, my sword came down, a mirror of her earlier strike.

She raised her club to defend, but my sword still found purchase. It only took her shoulder instead of cleaving open her head, but it was still a grievous blow. A second strike found my sword biting deep into her arm. Either of these blows would have disabled a normal person, but one could not expect the same of faeries. I struck a third time, and this time my sword found its mark.

The Goblin Queen burst as my sword drove through her heart. For a moment, I was surrounded by noxious fumes, the stink of mold and unwashed sweat, and then even that was gone. All that was left was the scrapyard itself, no sign of any goblins remaining.

"Elaine? Are you okay?"

"Fine." I sniffed myself and grimaced. The unnatural stink of goblins aside, I had fallen into actual trash. "Mostly. I need a bath."

"You can borrow the bath at my house if you need to. Ready to get out there?"

"More than ready."

I let my sword disappear. These goblins had not been much challenge. There had been a great many of them, but they were almost all individually weak. It worried me however. If this many had come through from faerie, then what else could have slipped through as well?

Gain 100 (10x10) Glory for killing Goblins.
Gain 50 Glory for killing the Goblin Queen.
Gain 50 Glory for completing The Goblin Nest

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---

A quick bit of housekeeping. Parahuman Studies has been renamed to Lore and will also cover knowledge of various faerie creatures going forward.

It is November of 2010.

We have hit a new Glory milestone.

First, you may increase any Trait, Passion, Characteristic, or Skill by one, ignoring any usual restrictions.
[ ] [Glory] (Write-In Increase)

Second, you get another Parahuman Power upgrade:
[ ] [Power] Chivalry (C)
>Gain an additional 3 armor and increase Major Wound threshold by 3.
[ ] [Power] Mana Burst (D)
>Gain an additional +1d6 Weapon and Charge damage and +3 to Movement checks.
[ ] [Power] Instinct (E)
>Enemy attacks suffer a -3 threshold penalty.
[ ] [Power] Riding (E)
>Knockdown Threshold increased by 3.
[ ] [Power] Charisma (E)
>Roll Parahuman Power at -10. On a success, gain a +5 threshold bonus to any Social roll.
[ ] [Power] Magic Resistance (E)
>Roll Parahuman Power at -10 opposed to parahuman powers that target you. On success, the effect is negated.


Where are you patrolling with Glory Girl:
[ ] [Patrol] North End
>Arguably the poorest part of the city. Not much concentrated gang presence, but lots of crime. Supposedly some gang called the Merchants here, but they aren't a big player.
[ ] [Patrol] The Docks
>ABB territory.
[ ] [Patrol] Midtown
>Arguably the safest part of the city, has the most patrols by New Wave and the Wards.
[ ] [Patrol] Downtown
>There's supposedly a villain called Coil with mercenaries in the area. Heavily patrolled by the Protectorate.
[ ] [Patrol] Stratham
>E88 territory.

Choose an activity to participate in:
[ ] [Activity] Focus on the Student Council
>You will be doing work for the Student Council regardless, this is to spend extra time devoted to the task.
[ ] [Activity] Study Group
>Spend some extra time studying for your classes.
[ ] [Activity] Party
>You've been invited to a house party by Chelsea and Morgan.
[ ] [Activity] Modeling
>You were offered to make regular appearances with the modeling agency. It would be good for PR, maybe, and they'd pay you.
[ ] [Activity] Charity
>You could do volunteer work at the local homeless shelter.
[ ] [Activity] Sparring
>You have people you can practice your fighting with now.
[ ] [Activity] Church
>Visit Father DiMaggio at his church.
[ ] [Activity] (Write-In)

Choose someone to spend time with.
[ ] [Social] Dean Stansfield
[ ] [Social] Victoria Dallon
[ ] [Social] Amy Dallon
[ ] [Social] Chelsea and Megan
[ ] [Social] Erin Archelot
[ ] [Social] Theo Anders
[ ] [Social] Tammi Herren
[ ] [Social] Vedika Dhawan
[ ] [Social] (Write-In)

 

[Aldsan]

[x] [Glory] Size
[x] [Power] Magic Resistance (E)
[x] [Patrol] North End
[x] [Activity] Church
[x] [Social] Victoria Dallon

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Recover 5 hit points via Natural Healing. HP: 37/40

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The cold of November had begun to set in, and even with the many layers I wore as part of my costume, I found myself shivering as I roamed the streets under the night sky. Victoria had reported back that the Wards did not know anything more about Haze's killer than we did ourselves, and so she had cautioned me to refrain from patrolling for a time.

I took her advice, for at least a few days. I soon found myself restless however. It was not in my nature to just sit back and do nothing.

So it was that I found myself pushing Victoria to come patrol with me in the northern end of Brockton Bay, among run down apartments and foreclosed businesses. I knew it was reckless with a murderer on the loose, but I needed to be doing something. I could not simply cower away in the shadows.

It was not as if we did much in the end anyway. The streets were quiet at this time of night. Even criminals liked to sleep. A few homeless people dotted the alleyways, but none doing anything that seemed illicit. In the end, flew me to the roof of a business and we simply sat on the edge of the building, staring up at the stars.

Come to think of it, when I had first started patrolling a few months ago, I had come to this same area. It was odd to think on how much had changed in but a few short months.

"Penny for your thoughts, Ells?"

"I… am unsure what my thoughts even are. Frustration, I suppose. It feels as though I've made little difference in the time since I've woken up." I was simply too weak. I didn't have the power or the skill that Artoria did. I was just a failed copy after all. "Instead, I am simply treading water."

Once again, I reflected on my failure with Haze. What could I have done differently? If I'd been faster, stronger, could I have stopped him from running away? If I'd been a better leader, could I have convinced him? How much of the boy's death could be laid at my feet?

Victoria squeezed my shoulder. "I get it. I feel the same way all the time. No matter how many gangbangers I help put away, it doesn't ever feel like I've made a dent. The gangs are still there. Crime's still there. It does make a difference though. Even if only to the people we save in the moment."

That… wasn't what I meant, exactly. No, my concern was that I knew I had the capacity for improvement. I had the capacity to be more than I was. I just wasn't improving quickly enough. A sharp breath escaped me.

Had I made the right decision in staying Independent? The Protectorate would have been able to provide resources. Arms and armor and allies in my fights. Even my parents could have helped provide equipment.

I'd had my reasons for not approaching either. The Protectorate would have limited what enemies I could fight as a Ward. I would always be subject to their rules and not my own decisions. My parents might even be worse. They'd acted like I was something fragile after I awoke from my coma. They might have opposed my heroism altogether.

I'd had my reasons, but was that just selfishness on my part? If I was failing to save people I could have otherwise saved, then perhaps I'd made the wrong decision.

"Could I have done more if I'd joined the Wards instead? As my brother has?"

"Mm," Victoria hummed a response, folding her arms across her chest. "Hard to say. There is something to be said for having the strength of a large organization like that behind you. It's why I patrol with them from time to time, even when Dean isn't there. But I've heard the Wards complain too, that most of what they do is PR, not actually fighting people."

"How so?"

Victoria shrugged. "They patrol, but only in safe areas. They fight, but only safe villains who are known to hold back. They spend a lot of time doing meet and greets with the public. They make a difference. They do. But I think you and I both want to do more than that, right?"

"I do." I took a deep breath and met her eyes. "Thank you, Victoria. That was helpful to hear."

Bond with Victoria increased to 2.

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"Any time, Ellie. You about ready to pack it in for the night?"

"Yes, I think – Do you hear that?"

Awareness: 1 | 3 = Success

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The faint sound of sirens split the night, steadily coming closer. A loud thumping and the roar of an engine beat an alternating staccato to the siren's scream. A car tore around the corner, blasting music with the bass turned up enough to rattle the windows of the buildings it passed by, its occupants yelling in delight as they swerved wildly through the road. A moment later, the distinctive green and white lights of a PRT vehicle followed.

One of the car's occupants stuck his head out the window, shouting something back at the PRT van, but whatever it was he said was lost to the sheer noise. What wasn't lost was the shimmering field of blue that spread across the road. The van hit the the light and suddenly flipped over, skidding off into the sidewalk.

Merciful: 16 | 12 || Vengeful: 8 | 10
>Vengeful succeeds.
Strategy: 11 | 4 = Failure

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I sucked in a sharp breath. That sort of sudden stop was bad – The PRT agents had no doubt been injured. They needed someone to tend to them, to pull them free of the wreckage and help stop any bleeding until an ambulance could arrive. However, leaving these criminals to roam free would only allow them to hurt more innocents.

There wasn't time to think through my options. I had to make a split second decision either way.

"Victoria. Drop me on their vehicle. We need to stop them."

Victoria shot me a sharp look, but whatever reservations she had with my plan, she also knew that there was no time to argue about it. She scooped me up under my arms and the two of us streaked forward. Fortunately, while the criminals in the car were certainly watching for followers, they weren't looking up. As we approached, Victoria spun before lobbing me forward at the vehicle.

Dexterity: 19 | 14 = Failure

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Falling Damage (2d6) = 12 (6 AR) = 6 Damage (31/40 HP)

I hit the roof of the car – and then kept going, the momentum carrying me off to the side. Fortunately, I fell behind the car and not in front of it, or I'd truly be having an unpleasant night. The car swerved, slowing as the men inside were startled, but after a moment they realized what had happened and began laughing. The laughter stopped when Victoria took their distraction to slam through the car's engine block.

"Shit! It's fucking Glory Hole!"

The sharp bark of a gun rang out. Victoria took a moment to look distinctly unimpressed before smashing her fist through the car's windshield and pulling the man who had shot at her out of the car, tossing him down the street. Then, a violet line formed beneath her and she was flung back, following the man who she'd just tossed.

The rest of the men spilled out of the car and I took a moment to assess. Four men, plus a fifth wearing a cloth mask covering the top of his head. All of them had guns tucked into their waistbands and none seemed particularly steady on their feet. The cape spun around and screamed, "You fuckers think you can fuck with Skidmark? I'll fuck both of you up!"

Recognize: 19 | 6 (+5) = Failure

Click to shrink...

Who? I squinted my eyes. That name sounded familiar. I'm sure I'd heard it before somewhere. However… no, he must not be that important. Shaking my head, I got to my feet and met his eyes.

"This is your chance to surrender. I suggest that you do so."

"Bitch, you've got another thing coming if you think I'm surrendering to a couple of snot nosed brats like you!"

Listening to him was already becoming tiresome. Well, let it not be said that I had not offered mercy. I allowed my baton and shield to form in my hands and stepped forwards.

Spoiler: Combat

Elaine invokes passion: Heroism: 4 | 16 = Success

Modifiers:
Elaine: Inspired (+5 to Melee) (-10 Multiple Opponents)

Elaine Brawling: 4 | 10 = Success || Merchant1 Brawling: 3 | 8 = Success
>Elaine Damage (2d6+6) = 12 Damage (16/28 HP)
Elaine Brawling: 16 | 10 = Failure || Merchant2 Brawling: 15 | 8 = Failure
Elaine Brawling: 10 | 10 = Critical || Merchant3 Brawling: 12 | 8 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (4d6+6) = 15 Damage (13/28 HP)
>>Merchant3 takes a Major Wound.
>>Gain a check to Brawling
Skidmark Power: 8 | 16 = Success
>Elaine Knockdown: 6 | 14 (-5) = Success

Victoria rejoins the fight.

Elaine Brawling: 6 | 10 = Success || Merchant1 Brawling: 12 | 8 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (2d6+6) = 9 Damage (7/28 HP)
>>Merchant1 goes Unconscious.
Elaine Brawling: 16 | 10 = Failure || Merchant2 Brawling: 17 | 8 = Failure
Elaine Brawling: 18 | 10 = Failure || Merchant4 Brawling: 9 | 8 = Failure

Victoria Brawling: 9 | 16 = Success || Skidmark Power: 6 | 16 = Success
>Victoria Knockdown: 15 | 16 (-5) = Failure
.>>Attack fails, Victoria is knocked down.

Elaine Brawling: 4 | 15 = Success || Merchant2 Brawling: 18 | 8 = Failure
>Elaine Damage (2d6+6) = 13 Damage (15/28 HP)
Elaine Brawling: 14 | 15 = Success || Merchant4 Brawling: 6 | 8 = Success
>Elaine Damage (2d6+6) = 18 Damage (10/28 HP)
>>Merchant4 takes a Major Wound.

Victoria Brawling: 16 | 16 (-5) = Failure || Skidmark Evade: 7 | 17 (+5) = Success
>Skidmark Flees.

Merchant2 Valorous: 16 | 8 = Failure
>Merchant2 Surrenders.

I was immediately glad that I had, for bullets quickly began pinging off of my shield. My lips thinned, but I could deal with this much. The brigands' aim was so bad to begin with that most of the bullets were hitting the street behind me instead. Skidmark himself was busy laying whatever his power was over his own body, each piece of his clothing lighting up in a vivid blue.

No matter. I'd leave Victoria to deal with him for now. I dove into the unpowered gangsters that surrounded him, swinging my baton. At this distance, they couldn't shoot at me without possibly hitting one of their allies. That left me to attack with abandon. A strike to the wrist. Another man attempted to punch me, only for his blow to be pushed wide by my shield. I drove my baton into another man's sternum.

Then Victoria was among us again. The men around me quailed, even for a brief moment, as every eye was drawn to her. She rocketed in, throwing a punch towards Skidmark. I saw it connect – and then Victoria went tumbling down the street once more and the moment was broken.

I huffed as I kicked a man's knee, his leg snapping as he went down with a cry. Really, Victoria, this was growing embarrassing to watch. Another man attempted to strike me from behind, only for my elbow to drive into his gut. I finished by sweeping his legs out from under him and slamming my baton into his temple.

That left only one. The man looked around at his fallen friends before suddenly throwing his hands in the air. He quickly called out, "I surrender! I surrender!"

"Kneel and place your hands behind your head." He did so and I took a moment to survey the field. Skidmark was missing. He must have used the chaos of the moment to run away. He could not have gotten far, but it would be difficult to track him in the dark of night.

"That… could have gone better," Victoria said, floating up alongside me.

"You don't say," I replied, raising an eyebrow and staring at her. She at least had the good grace to look embarrassed.

"Not every fight goes well, especially with unknown Parahumans involved," she said defensively. "We'll learn and do better next time."

Sighing, I nodded and began using zip ties to secure the captured criminals. "You should check on the PRT contingent and make sure that none are injured."

Victoria placed two fingers to her forehead and saluted. "You got it, Captain." With a wink, she flew back the way we came, leaving me alone to brood.

Had I done the right thing pursuing these criminals over helping the wounded first? It was what Artoria would have done. She had been able to discard individuals to secure the ultimate safety of her nation. Even if I – Even if she acknowledged the individuals mattered, it was still immaterial to her duty as the King.

Modest: 3 | 10 || Proud: 1 | 10
>Modest succeeds.

Click to shrink...

However, I was no longer the King. No, I had never been the King, had I? Perhaps it could be enough to be satisfied with simply protecting the people I saw in front of me. After all, even for all the sacrifices she had made, Artoria still failed to protect her kingdom in the end.

King Arthur does not understand human feelings.

A strange disquiet rose in me. Was I truly any different?

Perhaps… Perhaps I should turn outside of myself for answers.

Gain 60 (15x4) Glory for defeating Merchants.
Adventure discovered: The Merchants of Death

Click to shrink...

First Aid: 14 | 15 = Success
Recover 5 hit points. HP: 36/39

Click to shrink...

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•​

The small chapel was as I remembered it. A silence lay over the space, seeming almost sacred in its totality. The faint rainbowed hues of light filtered through stained glass and scattered across the pews, casting the room into unearthly relief. There was no sign of any people, not even Father DiMaggio.

'Hello?' My lips began to form the question, only to falter, as if to break the silence here would be wrong. Instead, I simply knelt in front of the cross and bowed my head.

There was an urge to pray, but if I were honest, I did not even know what I would pray about. I felt lost. Untethered. I did not know who I was in truth. Erin's revelation had unmoored me. Nor, if I were honest, did I even know who I wanted to be.

The King.

The Hero.

The Girl.

All of them? Or perhaps none of them.

"What is this? A lost lamb returned to the fold?"

A soft voice broke the silence. My head snapped up, looking for its source. A girl wearing a nun's habit sat in the pew behind me. She hadn't been there when I came in, I was certain, and I hadn't heard her approach. She seemed fragile at first glance. Doll-like, almost. Pale, porcelain skin. Snow white hair despite the fact that she couldn't be much older than I was, her early twenties at most. Even her eyes seemed lifeless, a dull amber that stared through me.

Her fragility didn't mean she wasn't dangerous however. I tensed, shifting to a position where I could easily rise to my feet if needed.

"Oh? To immediately leap to thoughts of violence while visiting the house of the Lord. You must be a great sinner indeed."

Religion: 3 | 4 = Success

Click to shrink...

"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," I answered, allowing my weight to settle back down on my knees. "I am no greater nor lesser than any other in this regard."

"You are more conscious of yourself than I would have assumed," the girl said, examining me. "In any case, the Lord's house welcomes all. How may I help you?"

"I was hoping to consult with Father DiMaggio about something. Is he present?"

The girl shook her head. "The Father is away at the moment. I have been entrusted with this church until his return."

"Oh? Where did he go, if you do not mind my asking?"

"Another church required his assistance with a small matter. It is nothing to concern yourself over. I would be glad to act as your advisor until his return however."

I frowned but nodded after a moment. "Very well. I am sure he would not have entrusted this church to you if he had not thought you were capable."

The girl puffed up, clearly proud to receive the compliment. Well, at her age, it was likely her first important posting like this. No matter how skilled she might be, she could not have much actual experience.

"Then, what is your issue?"

"I am trying to decide what path I want to take in the future. I want to help people, but… Is it better to help those immediately in need, or to prevent further harm from coming to them in the future? Is it better to be a chirurgeon treating the symptoms, or the constable removing those causing harm to begin with?"

"To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. The Lord has called you to a purpose. You need only listen and use the talents he has given you."

A dreadful weight settled on my chest. I had hoped for a different answer. After all, I knew where my talents lay. Even if I had inherited them from her. Even if they weren't mine to begin with. The Heroic Spirit in me had granted me her power. She had granted me her strength. Most of all, she had granted me her memory.

A king is the one who kills the most in order to protect everyone.

To live for people. To live with people. To lead people to their future. That's what it means to be in charge of a nation, to bear the proof of a King.

Could I bear to walk that thorny path as she had? The thought terrified me. The thought that I would drive away those closest to me as she had. The thought that my home would be destroyed as hers had. The thought that I would reach the same ruinous end that she had.

She'd made many mistakes. Perhaps there had been things she could have done better or more skillfully. But in the end–

Many people were smiling.

I closed my eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. "Thank you for your advice. May I ask your name?"

"It is Caren. You seem to have come to a conclusion."

"Sister Caren," I repeated, reaching out to take her hand in mine. There was a jolt of surprise as I realized they were covered in bandages, the faint smell of antiseptic finally triggering recognition in my thoughts. "Would you pray with me?"

"Rejoice Miss Stansfield. For the Lord offers strength in all things. Set your foundations upon him and he shall be your rock, carrying you through even the harshest of storms."

With that, we prayed together. It was only later, after I had left, that I realized I had never told her my name.

Gain a check to Religion.
Gain a check to Spiritual.

Click to shrink...

---

It is November of 2010.

What adventure do you pursue next?
[ ] [Adventure] The Damsel of Distress
>The villain known as the Damsel of Distress is causing trouble in a nearby town, Durham.
[ ] [Adventure] The Uncatchable Undersiders
>The Undersiders have proven to be masters of escape. Can you catch them?
[ ] [Adventure] Takedown the Clown
>Circus is out robbing various stores. A clown can't be too hard of an opponent, right?
[ ] [Adventure] The Dog Rings
>Hookwolf supposedly runs dog fighting pits. Close him down.
[ ] [Adventure] The Merchants of Death
>The Archer's Bridge Merchants are a relatively weak gang. If you were to take out their leadership, they may fall apart.
[ ] [Adventure] The Wendigo Spirits
>Spirits of Hunger are stirring things up in the woods.

Choose an activity to participate in:
[ ] [Activity] Focus on the Student Council
>You will be doing work for the Student Council regardless, this is to spend extra time devoted to the task.
[ ] [Activity] Study Group
>Spend some extra time studying for your classes.
[ ] [Activity] Party
>You've been invited to a house party by Chelsea and Morgan.
[ ] [Activity] Modeling
>You were offered to make regular appearances with the modeling agency. It would be good for PR, maybe, and they'd pay you.
[ ] [Activity] Charity
>You could do volunteer work at the local homeless shelter.
[ ] [Activity] Sparring
>You have people you can practice your fighting with now.
[ ] [Activity] Church
>Visit Caren at the church.
[ ] [Activity] (Write-In)

Choose someone to spend time with.
[ ] [Social] Dean Stansfield
[ ] [Social] Victoria Dallon
[ ] [Social] Amy Dallon
[ ] [Social] Chelsea and Megan
[ ] [Social] Erin Archelot
[ ] [Social] Theo Anders
[ ] [Social] Tammi Herren
[ ] [Social] Vedika Dhawan
[ ] [Social] (Write-In)