Messages

I thank you Jo.

"I appreciate you listening to me in this matter. It stressed me to no end, but it means a lot to me that you know the truth... I will let you know as soon as I can when Aurora is awake. I just want you to know she can't speak through my mouth or move me... I will have to tell you what she says."

"Maybe... you can help me with my power though my Queen... I... my apologies but how do you wish me to address you?"

Zurlane after a moment returns to his question. "I have learned that when I say, status, a box appears that I can see... One of these tells me that I have my AI companion, Aurora... the other is the word upgrade but I don't how it works or  what it does. Can you help me? Maybe I can use it to help you and your people?"

As for setting:

The game takes place in a fantasy/renassiance inspired world where fantastic contraptions and magic are somewhat common. In this game every npc is a human, however you are not limited to being a human.

[Here's an example google doc to look at, I'll put instructions below.]

Here's an example google doc to look at, I'll put instructions below.

Example Google Doc:

Image

Spoiler

[close]

George Williams

LUCK: 100/100

1. Reanimation Ability (7 uses/batch)
The key to bringing the dead back to life. Undead created, termed Reanimated, by you are animated through alchemy. Whenever you possess at least one dose of the reanimation Reagent, you may attempt to reanimated a creature that was once living (Only mostly intact corpse).
1-30: no rxn, 31-50: mindless + cannot control OR maintains autonomy, 51-70: Total control, 70+

2. Lobotomy
You may perform a surgical procedure. A creature, living or reanimated, that has this procedure done to them has their IQ and charisma cut significantly. After the procedure, if successful, the Lobotomized creature will listen to your every word and obey without question.
Subject must be sedated/restrained: 50+ for success
If not sedated/restrained: 75+

3. Advanced Reagent Usage
You may use a Reagent dose to activate as the following spells:
defending bone, false life, gentle repose, lesser restoration, revivify, spare the dying, speak with dead, reanimate parts (crawling hands)
Success: 30+


Special Item:
Ring of Sustenance (not eat and sleep 2 hours a day for full rest)
*Can not be used two days in a row*

George Williams Biography:

Spoiler

The last month was no vacation. Dean Wearrd has you all training a lot harder than you have before. He's been pushing everyone to the point that they're getting fatigued and sloppy. Even as a professor, you find this tiring, but your age does not help either. One of the reanimators gets eaten by a flesh golem. Another accidentally injects himself with an experimental solution and causes himself to be turned into a mindless zombie. Morale isn't exactly the best at this point. Especially with all the students signing up for this vocation, originally, to make a cheap manual labor work force for the public.

But the defense plan goes through when the students and professors of the "New Order" come and attack us. The reanimation workshop gates are opened within all the sections of the University for Responsible Reanimation. The New Order was met with the reanimated created by Dean Wearrd, you, and the students that have joined your side to defend the school.

Wizards fighting control of the undead were met with confusion when discovering their powers worked less against alchemically created undead. You always thought that it was an issue when Dean Wearrd opened his school to the magical necromancers of Professor Demar.

You remember Professor Demar and his student minions burning down the school as the undead created by both sides, alchemists and necromancers, began to leave school walls. To avoid the repercussions, you escape the schools as it was buried by flames and corpses. Dean Wearrd was found with a negative energy blast hole through his chest. As you leave through the campus gate, you see Professor Demar escape into the forest. Zombies, magical and alchemical were uncontrolled, attacking the buildings and people surrounding the school. You escape through the forest as well, with the intention to continue your craft and seek Professor Demar someday for destroying the school you taught at and murdering your mentor.

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Character Creation Instructions

1. Find a picture of your character
2. Pick out three abilities you would like your character to have, don't worry about the numbers for success that you see in the example above, you'll fill that in with me later. (They can be magical, chemical, or mechanical in nature.)
3. Pick a special or magical trinket that you will have with you that you can use to your advantage
4.Figure out a backstory for your character
5. When in doubt write down what I would need to read so that you could describe everything to me, we can always polish it up later.

Things to keep in mind:
1.Use your imagination, This is a classless system! Have a little bit of everything, make the character you've always wanted to play but never could.

2.Don't worry about an inventory yet. Your weapons, items and equipment are all cosmetic, you will only need to keep track of your inventory if you get something you didn't start off with or that it would be important to denote.

[Perception]

The queens suggestions that Aurora wasn't real or that he was possessed cut Zurlane deep. Though she had left him feeling broken and betrayed she still held a place in his heart and showed his pain on his face.

"Queen Ingrid Hierdsvain... to best understand Aurora you should know of my world a little more... she was originally a tool, beings like herself were not rare either. She was something called an artificial intelligence or AI for short, they were mass produced and shortly after birth every boy or girl had one put inside their bodies. They could see what you see, save and play back things that you've heard, and they existed to help you live better lives. When she first came into this world her name was AI Unit 4U8.084. A model 4U8 number 084 from the assembly factory.  Early versions like Aurora weren't even capable of original thought, she was like a piece of paper that you could write on to save information for later... However when others chose to upgrade their AI and get a "better one" I kept her. She was different from the other units, she had flaws that made her unique. She went against what she was commanded to do by her makers for the benefit of me in a way that no other AI was capable of. Still to this day I am unable to come up with why." Zurlane took a deep breath

"So I found a way to work at a place that made AI units, and after work I would sneak back inside the factory and would remove Aurora and upgrade her. She grew faster, smarter, and gained abilities she was not originally built to have, and when I went to war to fight a war we were doomed to lose she came with me. In fact the same projectile that fell me in my old life destroyed her as well." Zurlane stood up slowly

"What is she like though? Well, before, she had no emotions, she was a voice that followed my commands... However, when the goddess brought me back to life and remade me, she remade her as well. She is different now, she sounds the same, but she is hesitant, she has feelings now as well, something that is new to her. She is a tool that is living with the emotions of a person just like you and I..."

"As for how long ago she was suffered exhaustion from using her mana... it was when she struck down High... General Iona... so... I would guess twenty minutes ago?" Zurlane tried his best to meet Eydis and Ingrid's gaze.

Zurlane tried his best to see if he could tell what Eydis and the queen thought of what he had been saying.

Perception

Rolled 1d20+3 : 19 + 3, total 22

Zurlane looked up at the queen. "I told Audhild that a demon attacked both General Iona and I... I thought that it would be better that everyone thought a demon than... something inside me... had done that..."

Zurlan looked back at Eydis and the queen."General Iona is going to be ok isn't she?She can't be dead! No no no no no!"

Zurlane put his hands on either side of his head. "I assume you Aurora is real, Urania made her real and brought her back, just for me. She is a my only connection to my past life and I gave half of my soul so that she could come here with me. I... I drew my sword because I trusted Aurora that much... I didn't hurt general Iona though not a hair on her head. I brought her into another building alone so that I could have time to think, so that we wouldn't be attacked by a real demon. I did not want this, were I somehow possessed I would have killed Iona insilence and secrete. I didn't I called out for help... please you have to believe me..."

Zurlane raised his hands up begging to the Queen."Where I am from Valkires, magic, demons, and queens are the stuff of story books, that is why I drew my sword in that room alone. This world is terrifying to me my queen, even though I felt that Aurora had struck an innocent person and one who was very important to you... She was also all I had left. Since a child, sang to me in the darkness like my mother would when no one else around me would. My heart was broken my queen... it still is...and now it sounds as though Aurora broke your heart as well..."

Zurlane cleared his throat. "If I may your majesty Aurora's last words to me were that She had lied to me... She had enough mana left to fire one more projectile which... She hid from me... I don't know why... but then she then asked me if I thought that beings like her could sleep. She was originally a being that... well... if she ran out energy she would be forever dead. She didn't know if she was going to come back to me and she risked death to save me from something. There has to be more to this... don't you think?"

Zurlane looked down. "Who do you love more than anyone or anything else in the world my queen? What would you do if they had struck down Iona... and you were me? Who would you believe? I tell you this because I have to believe that the truth will set us free."

Zurlane blushed at the Queen's suggestion that he help give her a granddaughter.

Zurlane nodded as the queen explained the story of the hero that was prophesied to save them. He took a moment to think but then he answered. "I think my gifts that I can offer to you and your people are two fold. First and foremost I spent the last 8 years fighting alongside a ragtag group of veterans and partisans without a kingdom or home to call our own. We learned to live without many comforts and were always light on supplies. I hope that my experiences can come in handy for us. For example the plan that we used to escape was one i used back then... We called it Slash and Burn. As for my powers... One of them I have yet to unlock... The other I'd like to explain..." Zurlane lowered his head and took a deep breath.

"...There is a being that lives inside me, Sent with me by the goddess, someone from my past life. Her name is Aurora and she has been with me since my second hour of life. Before, she was an emotionless and souless machine who did as I asked. Now She has emotion and free will. She serves as my bodyguard and can do many things including the ability to fire a mana railgun that she used to save Alvilda and I's life... but that is not what I wished to tell you... You see tt was not a demon that incapacitated High General Iona... It was Aurora." Zurlane looked up into the Queen's eyes, his eyes beginning to tear

" I do not know why... we were only talking alone and Aurora used the last of her mana, which rendered hers unconscious. Because of this I can not ask her why she did what she did. Originally, when Aurora fired her last mana railgun, I believed she had killed Iona and so I was going to take her body to Alvilda to explain what happened but I discovered that she was still alive and I was terrified. I went into a building nearby and tried to understand what had happened when all of the sudden Winona called out looking for Iona and I answered... When She entered, she saw me with my sword drawn, afraid and unsure of what to do my weapon pointed at Iona's unconscious body. I had never had Aurora betray me and it didn't make sense, nothing that happened makes sense. Winona came over to me. She talked to me... She convinced me to let her take Iona away and she bandaged her..."

Tears rolling down his face, in shame he continued. "... I wanted you to know the truth. I know that it was not my fault but... Aurora has free will. I can not control her... and she dies with me if you see this would be acceptable justice. I also do truly care for Alvilda and before all of this... I could have seen myself happy with her... but I would understand if... Please if I am to be banished or to be executed... Please let me at least say goodbye to Alvilda." Quietly he sat down on his knees and looked over at Eydis and then to the queen then looked down and sobbed bitterly.

Zurlane takes the question inside himself and holds it, he closes his eyes. Then once the words come to him, after a few seconds pass, he opens his eyes and speaks. "Ohh your majesty, Alvilda is simply wonderful. She fights with tenacity and determination in spirit, of the kind, I have never before seen. She carries herself with confidence and grace that is inspiring to behold. However, I think the most stunning thing about her, is her heart, large and caring. You have raised her well in these times of war and I applaud you sincerely for that. You are strong as a queen that your people look up to, and stronger still as a mother." With that he bows with a small smile.

Distracted by how beautiful the queen was, for just a second Zurlane froze mid stride, forgetting everything around him and everything that had happened for a moment. His next action he did instinctively.

Through his injuries and pain his back snapped into perfect posture his legs snapped together so that his boots clicked and his hand went up into a fiery salute as if he was a soldier again addressing a higher ranking officer. "Staff Sargent Zurlane Rhomedes, 175 Guards Rifle Brigade, Escyae Defense Force."

Realizing what he had just done, he paused and felt embarrassed for a moment but maintained his salute. His eyes quickly darted left and right while he thought about what to say next and then continued. "And summoned hero your majesty. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

[Perception]

Zurlane nodded though it pained him to leave Alvilda's side. He kissed her hand and rose. walked to the edge and stepped off the cart to the ground.

He asked Eydis to lead the way and after walking a little bit at Eydis' side He turned his head to her talk as they were walking. "Eydis... I'm a little scared to meet her. Do you think she'll like me?"

While he is walking Zurlane looks around. He remembers that moment that he ran to assist that badly injured Valkyrie fighting in the city center before he was forced to retreat. He looks around to see if she made it out.

Perception

Rolled 1d20+3 : 14 + 3, total 17

Upon hearing Alvilda speak Zurlane couldn't help but smile. This is someone that cared for him. Someone that valued him for him, someone that he felt he could truly trust, and he couldn't help but need her.

With a bright flash of intensity Zurlane quickly went up to the nearest Valkyrie on foot, called out to her. "Sister, take this." Jumped off his horse and ran as fast as he could to the cart.

He grabbed right onto the side of the cart and pulled himself up and in.

When Zurlane made it into the cart he sat right down beside Alvilda and helds her hand. Unsure of what to do he proceeded to rub the side of her face and hum. Ocasionally he would look up at the other Valkyre tending to Alvilda but said nothing.

"Sister, how is she doing?" Zurlane called out to the Valkyre tending to Alvilda. His horse ridden up close keeping pace with the cart."Is there anything I can do to help you and to lessen her suffering?" He said with great concern.

Zurlane remounted his horse. The message was clear to him. The goddess did not have a place for him either it would seem... but there was one who did.

Before he could ever leave, he thought. He at least had to speak with Alvilda first, and if he was about to be stabbed in the back by this circumstance he found himself in, he could at least say goodbye first.

Zurlane turned his horse and rode off hard after the cart that he last rested Alvilda in.

Zurlane decided to slow down so that the rest of the Valkyre passed by him. He still moved forward but he did not wish to meet up with the rest of the Valkyre just yet. Unsure of what to do he looked for Winona. How would he explain what had happened? Would he lie about what happened? Could he really trust Winona? Did he trust Aurora anymore? Then his mind went to darker places. Could he trust Iona? What would she remember? Would he be killed for something Aurora had done?

He looked around. Was it too late to escape this place and start over anew? What was there for him in this place any longer? This place seemed to cause him far more misery than his old life had given him. He had no guidance and his moral compass pointed him nowhere.

He looked to his left and right and navigated his horse out of the path of the group he was traveling with and dismounted. He was at a crossroads. He knelt at the ground and looked up at the sky. Though there was no stars he asked for guidance. "Urania,
please hear me. I am lost. Help me know the way for I have no one left to ask, I do not know if you can see me, hear me on a clear day, but I am lost. Every path I see before me terrifies me. What... What would you have me do?"

With that he stretched up his arms, looking for an answer.

[Perception]

"You are too hard on yourself sister. I see great potential in you, I mean it. Come find me later if you are interested in training with me, and remember, as long as we are still alive there is always time for feast and stories." He places his hand on Audhild's shoulder, looks in her eyes with a smile and then rides off quickly in the direction of the horn.

Zurlane tries to see what he can see of the queens forces.

Perception

Rolled 1d20+3 : 1 + 3, total 4

After listening to her talk Zurlane felt guilt pang in his chest. "What am I going to do about Aurora now?" He thought to himself.

"If this assassin shows it's head again I will take care of it personally. You did not fail her Audhild none of you  or your sisters did. I must ask you to do your best to dispel any rumors you hear, rumors are the last thing that we need... It is only proof of her strength and many years that she still draws breath today and for that we can be thankful." He says grimly

After a moment Zurlane's attention returns to Audhild. "If I may... would you consider." He pauses "Could I convince you otherwise to consider developing your skills as a commander? I would like to work with you to develop stratagems that your people could use, strategies from my world that I can not pass on if I am felled in battle, for I almost did not survive today. I truly believe that you have the makings of a competent commander, and we do not know for how long General Iona will be unable to join battle. I believe that it was only fate that we crossed paths at that moment in Hiedelswatch." He says with more hope.

"What say you? Of course the choice is yours."