[Diane] Chapter 2: The Hero's Home

[Anima mea]

Throwing her hands up, taking great care with the flaming weapon, she shakes her head, "Will you three stop all of this if we just got stop the enemy threat and I either die or we win?  If that's the case, we leave and dawn to go to the front.  I learn what you can teach me on the way and what I don't learn before we get there, well, I'll just have to make do without it.  I'm good at winging it with my analytical mind." 

Sighing, she shakes her head and walks over to the chair she was in before, muttering another spell, "Water. Cool, eternal and flowing, may you always bring life to the world.  Flame extinguish." Putting the dagger down where she can easily pick it up, she sits down and begins to fill her plate with various foods.  Once she has enough to fill the plate she begins to eat.  She devours the food with gusto, her appetite that of a hungry teenager who has put in a hard day of work.  Once she finishes one plate she speaks up, "Also, the steam engine in the kitchen could be filled with water, and set up to use firewood or coal and well, if you get it setup correctly it can automate the blacksmithing process, either a grindstone or the bellows being consistently the same temperature, as long as someone is feeding it firewood or coal.  Or you could adapt it, make it bigger and make a train or automatic wagon."

[Throndir]

Kenver was about to say something, though Maban stared at him too, and he chose not to say anything. When you began to stuff food on your plate, and eat with gusto, the rest eventually followed. It was a good thing Gerens had been invited, as he seemed to get the general tense atmosphere, and had attempted to make light conversation with both Kayden and Kenver. Along with generally telling stories of his own world. Little by little, eventually the others started to warm up, even if Kayden and Kenver never really responded to each other through most of the dinner. Hunt was the most enthusiastic about the food. Right after you, it was the squire that ate with as much gusto. On the other hand, Kayden ate slow and methodically, and had even made time to properly cut up chunks of potatoes into easier bite-size portions. Gerens, doing most of the talking, was animated in his stories, and simply sipped or ate some food in between his retellings. It would occasionally switch to Maban, who would praise his brother's fine cooking, and simply encourage everyone else to keep eating, including Kayden. Kenver himself was the quietest, though by the end of it, he eventually cracked a few jokes, and even told of how he went about preparing each of the foods out in the backyard, which earned him a smile and grin from Gerens and Maban.


Location: New World - Chynance Village - Hero's Home - Dining Room
Date: Day 1 - 9:00 PM

When you brought up the steam engine, it was Gerens who first spoke.

"Now... Kenver mentioned that contraption you had changed his stove into... But it sounds absolutely amazing." The man said. "I understand it as some sort of machine... An automatic wagon? Do you mind.... if I take a look at it?" Gerens asked. "With yours and the mayor's permission too of course." Gerens corrected. "I wonder if this is something that can help with sales in some way..."

[Anima mea]

Pushing back from the table and standing up she looks at Kenver, "Dinner was wonderful thank you." Taking up her recently reshaped dagger, she looks at Gerens and smiles, "I have an early morning and a lot of marching to do.  When I have time at night I will write a paper on the subject so I can send it back to you and you can use it."  Turning away from the table, steel in her voice and body language, "Good night all, morning comes early and well, if there are roosters they will wake me and I will be off, with or without you. "

[Throndir]

Each of the people at the table nodded their heads. Gerens didn't repeat his request either, seeing that the situation was still tense. As you were on your way out, when Maban hurried off after you.

"I'll show you to your room, hero Diane." He said when he caught up, but he paused a moment later. "Unless you'd like the directions yourself?"

The rest of the group was still at the dining room. Around 40 ft. away. Kenver began to pick up everyone's dishes. He must have made some sort of comment since Kayden had immediately stood up. But Gerens could be heard. "Now, now... this sort of talk could be saved for later."

[Anima mea]

Simply nodding to Maban, she follows him, "Lead the way, I was going to just pick the first empty room with a bed.  I don't plan to stay here past tonight, so it doesn't matter where I sleep, as long as the rooster crows at dawn and we head out."  Hearing Gerens, she sighs softly, "I've never made the right decision with these situations, but I will simply have to stay the course, because I won't be able to save you three from each other until the threat is over."

[Throndir]

"It is your choice of course..." Maban started as he lead the way up the stairs. "But like my brother, I don't see it as any good thing for you to be shipped out to the front lines, even if you were given intense training by the alliance. From what I heard, the Felencorp treat everything they can simply as tools. Cogs to their great machine that makes up the strongest military in this world." Maban sighed. "We haven't even begun training either, not in your blessings, or of magic. For example... Saying 'Status' should bring up information about yourself, at least it is so for other heroes. As for magic... I'm impressed that you managed to figure out so much about it already without any formal training. I admit, the atmosphere was.... well, let's just say uncomfortable earlier, but usually it would take a mage weeks or even months to be able to cast their first spell. There are others too who never get to that point."

[Anima mea]

A soft growl escapes her lips as he speaks the last bit, "And I would love to have the time, but apparently to bring peace to the people I am the hero of, I am going to need to go end this threat.  And as I can apparently upgrade and reshape items, plus I seem to be decently adept at working out spells, I think it's safe to say that I can learn as I go and try new things on the road to the front.  Let's put it this way, you two are less in danger of failing me than Kayden at this point.  I somehow doubt Kayden will successfully get me trained up to spec before we get there.  As I intend to cover as much ground as possible each day.  Meaning, that rooster better crow at dawn or he will find himself breakfast on the road.  I bet a fire spell will get him up to the correct temperature to make sure he's thoroughly cooked."

She chuckles and then looks down at the skirt and gets a clear image, or as clear as she can of a set of riding skirts and touches them, speaking the word she has learned to appreciate so much, "Reshape."  Letting the result come to fruition without much more thought to it, she looks at Maban, "I'm starting to realize that your world doesn't need nations fighting each other, we need a united nations congress, at least temporarily, to resolve this threat."  She sighs softly, "While we travel I want to write out speechs and make speechs preaching such to the world as we go, that way even if I die you'll have the speechs to push the world in the right direction to save itself.  I may die from this decision, but I want my death to push this world forward towards salvation.  Towards eventual peace, maybe your world can do what mine was never capable of."  The sad tone of her voice fully breaks as she stops and takes a deep breath.  Punching a wall, she turns and looks at Maban, a little more in control, "According to my religion, well, I guess my old religion, we once had a savior who died to give humans, at least the ones that followed my religion, the ability to say a prayer, heartfelt mind you, and be forgiven for all sins before we die and be accepted into some kind of idyllic afterlife.  Although, that's our belief, there are so many different beliefs in the world and that's what makes the world, my world, so violent."  She shakes her head, and smiles tiredly at Maban, "I want to save you guys so that my life has meaning.  I want you guys to have a hero who matters and does right by you."

"So if I say the word status, will you be able to see what I see or will I need to write it down or tell you what I see?" She looks curious for the first time about her abilities as far knowing what she was doing outside of her experiments are concerned.  "Also, do the words, reshape, upgrade, fleeting tinkerer and mass builder mean anything to you?"

[Throndir]

Whenever you spoke the word 'Reshape' without any intent, there would be a notification appearing, stating something you had seen earlier that day: 'Requires a valid target.'

However, as you said the word 'Upgrade', without any particular intent to it, a familiar screen appeared. However, there seemed to be more stats about it this time.

Current UP: 300
UP Points Earned Per Day: 15
UP Points Earned From Possessions: 0

[Possessions List]
Clothing: 0

When you had the intent on changing your skirt however, the 'Upgrade' menu came up. It had what you wanted, but also a couple of other options too.

Current UP: 300
Change to Riding Skirt: 30 UP
Change to Leather leggings: 50 UP
Change to Plat Leggings: 150 UP

However, when you proceeded to touch your skirt instead and trigger 'Reshape', and once you did, you knew it would take a full minute for its transformation to complete. At the same time, you saw the numbers under 'Change to Riding Skirt' slowly reduce in cost. The moment your skirt was fully transformed into a Riding Skirt, the cost had reached 0 UP, and the entry for changing it into a Riding Skirt simply vanished.

Added Riding Skirt to Items list in your sheet

Mana couldn't help but chuckle when you mentioned Kayden. "I noticed this earlier in your use of pronoun, but Kayden is a woman. But still, I'm glad you are putting her in her place. Though, I still don't see approve of sending the Chynance Hero to the front. There's other heroes in this world as I'm told. But both Kenver and I will follow. We already discussed the potential of you leaving Chynance with the rest of the townsfolk a few weeks prior, and in truth, most of our duties have been in maintaining this home. Without you to use it, that would free us up. The tax collector from the Felencorp alliance had been handling much of the financial obligations our village has anyways, and we trust the rest of the village to handle their affairs."

When you punched the wall, Maban began to reach out for you, and place a hand on your shoulder. Any show of resistance and he'll stop the action and simply stand back.

"Hero Diane, just those words alone tells me you are more than worthy of the title of hero." He bowed his head towards you. "When it comes to beliefs, to us, at least, the Chynance village, you represent the hope of my old world."

When you said the word 'Status'. A new screen appeared. Like all the screens prior, it had a translucent green background. You had also gained a new title.

You have gained a new title 『She Who Knows Status』
You have gained +1 INT

Diane Licia Malone
She Who Knows Status
Level 15

Condition: Uninjured, Refreshed

HP: 34/34
MP: 34/37
STR: 20 +
DEX: 20 +
CON: 22 +
INT: 21+
WIS: 11 +
CHA: 9 +
MAG: 24 +

Blessings: Quick Learner, Mana Sensitivity, Translate Languages, Personal Status, Upgrade, Reshape

You have 3 unspent ability points.

Maban shook his head. "Heroes tend to have abilities that are unique to them alone. However, there are some common ones too, such as status, mana sensitivity, learning quickly, and the ability to speak any language and understand it."

[Anima mea]

Taking the time to read the screen she nods to Maban as she talks, her mind cataloging information as quickly as she can, but when it comes down to it, she simply absorbs more than understands at first.  She then shifts her attention fully to Maban, "It seems my blessings are called quick learner, mana sensitivity and translate language.  There are three more listed under personal blessings called personal status, upgrade and reshape.  I also have a list of stats, much like one might find in roleplaying games in my world.  Hp, Mp, Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha and Mag.  Do you have any information on those? I mean, what i know of roleplaying games from a passing knowledge of those types of games I can guess what they do."

[Throndir]

OODM: You can optionally roll Knowledge (popular culture) if you have it. Otherwise do INT if you want information specifically that might pertain to it.

"Roleplaying games...? Do you mean... a game where you pretend to be someone you're not?" He nodded thoughtfully. "Many of the children even in this world do similar things... Games where they pretend to be Felothian knights storming dungeons, or even fighting against evil dragons."

"Yes... You may even know them already. Many of these stats as you call them, are the same ones recorded by the Guild, with some of that information displayed on adventurer cards. I don't suppose anyone has mentioned what the guild is yet to you? But basically it's simply an organization that handles requests, and employs adventurers to complete them. 'HP' would stand for your general health, and the number should reduce whenever you are injured. 'MP' represents your mana. The next 7 represent specific levels of your own ability. 'STR' would mean how physically strong you are. 'DEX' is usually how agile you are. 'CON' was how healthy you were, which differs from 'HP' earlier, as CON doesn't go down whenever you're injured. 'INT' this one represents how knowledge you are. 'WIS' was a difficult one, but eventually we realized adventurers who had a high 'WIS' were more intuitive and perceptive than others who had a low 'WIS'. CHA is related to one's attractiveness and their personality; their charisma. Lastly, 'MAG' represented their power in magic. It was written that these letters actually meant a similar thing in a different world... which is why I'm guessing that you might already know, too. Though, it's strange why these specific letters represent the things they do in your own language, for example 'CHA', meaning charisma are different words completely, and they don't even start with the same letter." He shrugged. "Your blessing 'Translate Languages' had something to do with that we surmised... and it's also proof of the goddesses, among many, many other things."

[Anima mea]

Nodding at the explanation Diane simply looks at the last bit, "I have unallocated ability points.  Should I allocate those by saying allocate ability points charisma? Or something?"  She shakes her head half way expecting this to allocate all.of the stat points all at once I to charisma.  "That being said, I should probably get some sleep as we have an early morning.  Also please let Gerens look at the steam engine, I wanted to show him that particular piece regardless, things just got so heated at dinner that I lost my cool.  And tell him I will keep my word on writing papers on it for him."

[Throndir]

"Unallocated ability points... Yes, as I recall reading, heroes can choose which of these 'ability points' they can raise. That is actually different than the rest of the people in this world where our individual stats increase simply as we level, and do activities. There should be an icon near the ability that you want to increase, focusing in on that will increase it."

Maban eventually lead the way to the third floor of the estate. He had passed by a room and mentioned that that was where Maban and Kenver would be sleeping in. A room next door to it was apparently where Kayden would be in. Apparently part of the deal with the alliance was to have at least one knight near the summoned hero at all times. He passed though, and soon enough he stopped in front of a door.

"This is your room. Kenver and I are usually up at sunrise."

OODM: You can roll Knowledge (nature) or Knowledge (earth and life sciences) to attempt to figure out the rough time estimation on when that would be, otherwise just do a regular INT check if you don't have either. Without a clock, if you want to wake up at a specific time of day, you can set it as 'just before sunrise', or 'middle of the night', etc.

[Anima mea]

Noting all of the information she's being given with nods and little.tricks she's picked up over the years, Diane simply walks quietly along with Maban.  Noting which rooms are used by her handlers, she shrugs. When they get to her room she looks over the room and notes it would be an excellent workspace for her with the way she usually does during a project.  She nods, "Wake me as close to dawn as possible.  I will pack what little I have which won't take long, from there, I want to head out."  She shakes her head and walks into the bedroom and look snout the window onto the balcony and shakes her head, "It is a pity that we aren't staying, that balcony would make a great small workshop.  And the extra room in here would let me design and work on detailed stuff."


She turns and looks at Maban, dagger in hand, "I am not by any means trying to.make your lives hard, however, this situation is probably best resolved by moving it into a direct situation that we can effect instead of the endless arguing by Kenver and Kayden.  I am putting them on the back foot by changing things so drastically for both of them."  She grins, "Also, can we give some of the grounds over to Gerens for future use for trade if he needs it? I know it's not traditional, but I think he will help the village rebound a little faster if he has things in place for him already.  I have a good feeling about him.

[Throndir]

"Of course. I am sure Kayden is absolutely thrilled that you are choosing to head out to the city and frontlines as soon as possible. Though... I for one am hesitant to so readily agree. Kenver and I fought to allow you to stay here for at least a month before we had summoned you. We also managed to delay the ritual for as long as possible, in order to ensure everything was just right... We have a wagon and horses prepared already for the journey though. We keep it on our estate, not too far from the hero's home, but not quite in the village either."

"You are the hero. If you choose it, I think even the alliance would eventually bend to any demands you might make. Fear not, I'll catch up to Gerens after this and let him know though. I'll have Kenver write up a letter to the rest of the town to tidy up any more loose ends we might have here. I'll have Kayden's knights and your squire help with the preparations for tomorrow, tonight. That way we can get on our journey once dawn arrives."

[Anima mea]

She smirks, "Yes, but this honestly, puts all of us, even Kayden I'm sure in a situation in which we are all due some surprises and as such I benefit from it.  Mostly because Kayden, well, she'll have to worry about me dying without the proper training.  Plus, we are not going to the capital for any sorts of scholars or training, I didn't go to school to learn to be a mechanic, I learned by doing it and watching.  I didn't learn to use magic from formal training, I watched you one time and learned.  I think we can safely say that I will be a student of life, don't you?"  She winks at Maban and then turns and looks out of the window, enjoying the view.  She goes quiet for a moment and then looks out the window, "I know you are to serve me, both of you, but what would happen if I released you from such?  What if I choose to make you my friends or even family like I did with Hunt?  Would you choose to go with me or would you stay and run this village the way you always have?  I have no doubt Kenver would come along, he seems like the type that would want to get into trouble with a hero, just because he could, not because he's expected to, but what about you Maban?"  She turns and looks at him, leveling her eyes on his face.  "Would you stay and take care of the villagers or do you have that adventurous bone in you that Kenver has and would follow along just to see what trouble I could get into?"  She walks over to stand in front of him and looks him directly in the eyes before he has a chance to answer.