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zepybespectacled · 3 years
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Cyclops Story Proposal
This was my entry in the Bullet Echo Discord Server’s mini-competition for the origin story of one of their heroes: Cyclops! The One-Eyed Hunter
"Another day... Another task... Another battle... Nature is just a long war for survival..."
Corporal Calum McManus of the 77th Dublin Infantry Battalion was raised alone by a single father in the dense forests of Central Europe. Growing up, he was taught to be resourceful and to make do with whatever nature provided. Crafting, tracking, and hunting were the tools of his trade, and the young boy became intimately familiar with the kick of a buckshot round from his father's shotgun. When his father died, he moved back into Ireland in an attempt to connect with his ancestral roots.
With the country's woodlands all but gone, there wasn't much place for a man of his abilities. Thus, he enlisted with the military where his quick-thinking, resourcefulness, and skill with firearms earned him the role of a close-quarters specialist. Armed with an automatic shotgun, he and his squad cleared dozens of buildings and scores of sectors against terrorists and rebels throughout their service. For a while, Calum thought he had found his place among his people, until the Taoiseach of Ireland began approving various "Peacekeeping Missions" in foreign lands. Thousands of Irish soldiers died overseas, protecting corrupt governments who did not care what happened to them. It was no secret that the Taoiseach was under the power of the growing megacorporations and was undermining Irish power and stability to have the country sold to the highest bidder. Soon it was Calum's turn to be thrown into the meat grinder.
He was deployed in a foreign jungle, among people who did not even speak the same language, and caught in a bloody ambush that almost caused Calum to drown in a river as he fled from the insurgents. Losing much of his supplies in the water, he decided the mission could screw itself. His only goal now was to survive and make it back to their Forward Operating Base. "Civilization...? Power...? Normalcy...?  Empty concepts made by cowards and weaklings so that the strong will die in their stead... "
Other than the rebels, the tropical jungle was crawling with all manner of parasites and predators. Days were spent on long walks, keeping his eyes and ears open and carefully navigating through the trees. Nights were spent in tense paranoia, trying to get minutes of fitful sleep and shielding himself from rain. He had even fashioned himself a makeshift Ghillie Suit from nearby plants. Eventually, his food stores ran low and he was having poor luck in finding animals to hunt. Calum felt lucky when he saw smoke coming from a village, until he saw the armed men that walked within and realized that the rebels owned the place. However, he did not intend to give up after getting so far.
"... Only out here... Only in the roar of battle does nature speak clearly..."
Under the cover of night he creeped in. He killed one guard with his knife and grabbed an isolated man, held them at gunpoint, and asked "Food! Where is the food?!" The scared man did not understand until Calum made eating gestures. When he pointed at a specific house, he knocked him out with the butt of his shotgun and quietly ran for it. Once inside, he quickly stuffed all the water and food items he could carry inside his repaired backpack when he saw a little girl staring at him. they both looked at each other in disbelief for a moment. Then the child started screaming.
Calum dropped the food in his hands and quickly ran for the girl, wrapping her in his arms. He knew they had heard her, and he had to leave now. This girl was his best chance at survival. He held her by the neck and dragged her outside.
"I HAD to survive... And if the girl was smart... She would have lived too..."
Men and women, some of whom were armed, all came running out of their huts, and saw a man covered in leaves and with wild eyes holding a child at gunpoint with a dirty shotgun. "STAY BACK!" Calum shouted. If they did not understand, he shouted louder and shook the girl and his gun. Every time someone tried to approach, he would shout at them, and if one of them tried pointing a weapon at him, he would press the shotgun so hard against the girl's head she would start crying out. He did this the whole time as he walked out of the village. Once he managed to put distance between him and the people there, he shoved the girl away and ran into the shadows of the jungle.
In the safety of darkness, he checked on the supplies he had managed to steal. He was not happy with the amount, but he hoped it would be enough to get him home. That was when he heard the plane engines.
Looking up, he saw the streaks of jet fighters against the stars in the sky. He only had a second to wonder about their mission, when he heard the familiar sound of screaming missiles. The ground shook and the night was lit up in an orange inferno as missiles slammed into the trees. Calum saw the jungle and the village he just came from become engulfed in flames a mere second before he ran for his life.
At first the screaming was in the distance, then it came from his own mouth as fire and smoke began surrounding him. His muscles burned as hard as his skin the whole time he ran until his legs gave out. Then he crawled as long as his arms would listen to him. Smoke filled his lungs and he felt chemicals burning his skin and eyes.
He would have fought death until his last breath, but it was not meant to be his final day. "My superiors thought it'd be better if I were dead... These people promised not only life... But my eyes too... There was no choice"
Calum woke up blind, and being told that while his body was saved, his lungs were damaged and he would never see again. He was found by an assault squad and healed until his superiors decided they couldn't afford a witness to the firebombing. A strange visitor came to his hospital bed and said his organization would have a use for a man of his determination, and let slip that he would be listed as MIA within the week. The man told him they would grant him sight greater than he had known, if he swore an oath to obey the will of their "Great Leader".
Calum knew what his government would do to him if he stayed. The men in power had killed for less. He refused to be part of their body count. He was a survivor, and he would do whatever it took to be the last man standing.
In the night, he was whisked away on a discreet transport, placed on a plane to God knows where, and laid down on a new hospital bed, where many strange voices told him that he would see everything as it truly was. The following days were spent in a blind haze of sedatives and pain as tools invaded his skull. Occasionally, the strange voices would speak in languages unknown to him, chanting the same words, sometimes for hours by his bedside. Calum lost track of how long he was kept there, until the bandages were removed from his face, and a lone voice told him to open his eye. "My sight... My body... My life... None of it was mine anymore. To continue to survive, I had to become a weapon... Their weapon... HIS weapon..."
At first, seeing again was painfully bright, and he could not bear to open it for long, but through medicine and therapy it got easier, and the headaches would fade faster. Soon, the new eye somehow started making use of his old ones if it wanted more sight lines, transferring the odd yellow glow to his dead white eyes. They told him they had given him his life and his sight back. Calum knew none of it was his anymore, but surprisingly he did not mind. These people not only saved him from certain death, but restored his vision and promised him a place of prominence among them. His loyalty, was a fair price.
He was no longer Corporal Calum McManus, and he did not want anyone to recognize him as such. He hid every part that hinted at his old life. Now, he was an ogre of the wilds, an Oni of the woods, a primal force that was neither good nor evil, but a reminder of the natural order, a member of a pack of predators who simply abided by survival of the fittest.
Force and Arms did not just recruit a soldier, they summoned a Cyclops.
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Glory Hounds 1 - “Night Shift”
“The night shifts are the worst…”
The man mumbled as he walked through the clean white hallways of the building. He wore a dark blue dress uniform, marked with a couple of silver medals on his left chest. His head was topped with dirty blonde hair and held thin hazel eyes. He had a light skin tone that contrasted with the blues of his clothing. He stopped at a blue metal door marked with the sign “COMMAND”. Pressing his hand up to the identifier, it scanned and beeped in confirmation as the door slid open. Speakers from somewhere within the room began to broadcast a feminine and robotic voice.
“Hello, Captain Walters! The time is currently: Twenty-one hundred hours in Gaia Standard Time. The scheduled report on logistics and the status of all active units have been uploaded into your computer. Awaiting further orders”
“Thank you, Nikola. Please connect my terminal to the operational network,” Walters said to their headquarters’ AI assistant as he walked inside.
The room looked like a standard office-space, though minimalist in nature given the scope of his work. A large computer terminal took up the space in front of the wall on the left side of the door, with a swivel chair in front of it. Several boxes containing spare parts and supplies were stacked on the opposite end of the room. To his right, were filing cabinets and drawers filled to the brim with both data-tablets and physical documents. The voice of Nikola echoed from the room speakers once more.
“Connection to operational network, established. Command interface, online” She announced as Walters sat down in his chair, put on a wired headset and looked at the computer screen.
A timer counting down showed that he had a little less than five minutes before the first stages of the evening’s operations were underway. To the side of his screen he saw the names and callsigns of all the active units within his platoon, all showing their status as “Green”
Captain Jin Walters was the leader of the “Glory Hounds”, a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) platoon assigned to the Gardis 22nd Regiment, which worked under the command of the Eden Expeditionary Force (EEF) 3rd Division. Originally his platoon was called the “Wardogs” but given their habit of arriving at the last part of the battle to finish it and claim victory (due to the nature of QRF’s) the other Republic soldiers had taken to mockingly calling Walters and his troops as “glory hounds” and the name had stuck.
Tonight, the EEF 3rd Division had assigned the Gardis 22nd with securing a dense forested area which Arachling scout drones had positively identified as Soul Energy hotspots. They were to do this in advance of the Federation-class ships which would be sent to siphon the energy later. The drones also identified a large number of local lifeforms, falling under the category of “Beasts” that inhabited the area. Early contact resulted in their teams getting attacked with arrows, so negotiation was off the table.
The leaders of the 22nd wanted to initiate an artillery barrage and level a whole chunk of the forest to drive out the locals and make the area easier to secure with ground forces. However, the higher ups in charge of the EEF 3rd Division told them such destruction was unacceptable. They didn’t explain how, but apparently the scientists in charge of gathering Soul Energy said something about how massive destruction could cause the energy to dissipate and hotspots to disperse. In any case, a wholesale bombardment was out of the question, which meant they had to take over the area the old-fashioned way.
The Gardis 22nd had prepared another platoon, the “Renovators” to take point for the operation. They would deploy Marine squads with Snipers ahead to scout and clear the area, while a 2nd force of Demolishers escorted by Marines and Sentinel Walkers would follow behind them, to tear down the trees and clear the route for a Pulse Tank column of the “Stone Crawlers” armored unit, who were to move in last, form a defensive line around the operational area, and lay down a suppressing bombardment from their energy cannons to force the local Beasts into fleeing the area. 
The operation was scheduled for the night, as it was assumed that most of the locals would be asleep in whatever village they had erected nearby and would be unable to respond immediately to the loud movements of the walkers and the tanks. Meanwhile, their own soldiers were equipped with night vision goggles and their vehicles had various cameras and sensor arrays to help them pick up on life signs even in the darkness of the forest. As far as the Gardis 22nd was concerned, the operation should progress smoothly and the area ready for energy harvest by sunrise.
Still, no one became an officer without expecting any plan to go horribly wrong. So, the “Glory Hounds” were activated as a QRF on standby for the operation. The task of Walters and his troops was to keep an eye on the mission as it progressed, listen for status updates over the operational network, and be prepared to mobilize at a moment’s notice should the other platoons call for reinforcements.
As Walters watched the countdown for the operation’s start, he knew that his soldiers would be lounging around their Vindicator jeeps, keeping themselves busy with coffee and card games while waiting for the call to jump into action.
As the countdown timer hit zero, a gruff male voice came through the speakers on Walters’ headset. A voice he recognized as Colonel Kimball, the leader of the Gardis 22nd.
“This is ‘Foreman’ to all active units. Sound off” he said.
“This is ‘Sniffer’, roger that” Said another male voice, which Walters recognized as Sergeant Riley of the Renovators platoon.
“This is ‘Dozer’, reading you loud and clear” Said a feminine voice, which he knew as Lieutenant Sandra of the Renovators’ walker unit.
“This is ‘Trucker’, standing by” Said a thick male voice, which he recalled as Lieutenant Darius of the Stone Crawlers Tank unit.
With all of the other units having reported in, Walters held down a button to activate his own microphone to transmit over the operation network. “This is ‘Supermart’, we are standing by” He said. The voice of Foreman came through the speakers once more.
“Good. All units, the operation is a go. Sniffer, Dozer, you are clear to move out”
Walters adjusted himself in his seat as he switched over to the local network used by his own platoon in particular. Once connected, he spoke loudly and clearly.
“Attention! This is your Captain speaking. The operation is underway so look alive, people! All squads, check your gear and make sure your vehicles are ready for action” he announced. Leaning back into his chair, he watched the updating information on the terminal as the units moved into the area of operations.
He hoped this would be a quiet night with a clean operation, but he knew the inhabitants of Eden too well. They would never make things easy.
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Getting Started: The Seven Laws of Magic
Magic is an inherently mysterious thing but there is a strange logic to its nature. Describing said nature is a difficult thing. How does one describe something that can never truly be known?
The answer for most of history? poorly. Practitioners of the arcane arts are not known for straightforward explanations. I will do my best to explain the basic mechanics:
The Law of Contagion: Once together, always together. The part of the thing is the whole of the thing. By performing magic on a strand of your hair, one can effect your entire body. The more intimate the connection, the more powerful the effect. A cigarette butt you smoked will have almost no effect, but a phial of your blood will be extremely effective. Magic using this law is known as Thaumaturgy.
The Law of Sympathy: Like attracts like. The image is the thing. A drawing or representation of something can gain its properties. A photo or drawing of you will have a similar thaumaturgical connection to you. Combining sympathy and contagion is the basis for poppet magic.
The Law of Correspondence: As Above, So Below. The gods are like us and we are like them. When viewed closely, atoms resemble solar systems. The big effects the small. The idea that there is a sort of harmony between similar patterns no matter their size. This is the basis behind astrological magic.
The Law of Resistance: Some things are more magically conductive than other things. Everything exists on a spectrum of “magical“ to “mundane“ and the less magic something is, the harder it is to effect with magic. The same extends to people who, for whatever the reason, simply have a harder time being interacting with magic. 
The Law of Balance: Magic seeks equilibrium, and therefore, every magical action has a cost. No magical act takes place without some sort of power behind it. Energy will not move unless something is moving it, be it a practitioner or the natural energy of the moon. A body in motion will stay in motion, a body at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.
The Law of Reciprocity: If you don’t know where its pointed, its pointed at you. If it doesn’t have enough energy, it will get get energy from you. The process of getting hit with your own improperly constructed spell is known as Recoil. Safe practice often involves setting up wards to act as a barrier between you and any mistakes.
The Law of Reversal: That which is done by magic can be undone by magic. For every spell there is a counterspell, for every ritual a counterritual. Every ward can be hexed, every curse can be dispelled. This does not mean countermeasure will be easy or efficient.
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Notes of Dr. Marie Reynolds - 1: The Occupation
It has been over a month ever since our planet surrendered to The Lurkein. The Liberation Fleet promised by the Gardis Republic never arrived, and so it seems this occupation is permanent. Yet, we have not all become processed into food by their Empress X'inn as we had feared.
After the fall of the local Republic garrison and the surrender of all remaining troops, we were herded into the urban centers while their Terminites collected the bodies of the fallen. We thought that we would soon be taken away and consumed as well, but instead we were spoken to by X'inn herself. This was, concerning to say the least. Somehow her psychic presence had rooted itself here so deeply, and become so potent that she could begin broadcasting messages into our minds. The data I knew regarding X’inn’s abilities to take control of organic entities did not slip my mind, and I was worried over the implications of this development. Still, the announcement she had made was not something any of us expected.
She said that the takeover of our world had taken a heavy toll on her "children" and they required replenishment and sustenance. We were to provide it, but not by offering our own bodies. Instead we were to be sent out to the rural fields and forests under the supervision of towering creatures with armored carapaces. 
Farmhouses that were once evacuated at the start of the invasion were re-occupied and began caring for litters of animals once again. Workers were removed from Republic factory lines to instead clear forests and till the earth to plant new crops. Areas that were converted into ugly hives and nests were repurposed by the Lurkein swarm within days to become potential farmland while the underground nestss they established as their bases of operations, were completely converted into nurseries for their eggs.
It seemed that our planet was not going to be stripped of all life as the Gardis government had warned us. X'inn said that if her "children" were to grow here, then the world must be capable of nurturing them. The hives which they had polluted the ground with were supposedly temporary measures done during war to keep their invasion nourished. I don't know if I believe that yet, but I will keep recording my observations. No other scientist I know has had such a unique opportunity like this. We have only ever had data on their behavior and capabilities in combat, and know next to nothing about their actions outside of battle.
If ever I somehow make it back to my colleagues, this research will be incredibly valuable in the field of xenobiology!
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Chapter 4.1: Introduction to Powered Suits 
Excerpt from: The Digital Republic Engineering Manual
Greetings, trooper! If you're reading this data-slate then that means you have the engineering expertise to repair and maintain the various powered armors and equipment of the Republic Military. Remember, a soldier is only as good as their equipment and you're here to make sure they have the best! On the next page we will have an overview of the types you are likely to see on your tours of duty. Details and instructions on their operation and maintenance will be in the following chapters.
PHALANX POWER ARMOR - The Phalanx-series power armor is one of the most common Powered Armors you will see on the job. Used by the Gardis Peacekeeping Corps to pacify riots and dissent, it has been modified for military use in hostile environments and extreme weather conditions. This gigantic suit of armor has one job: protect the wearer. It has been designed to withstand projectiles, explosives, energy weaponry, and blunt force trauma. It comes equipped with a heavy-duty shield that can only be lifted with mechanical assistance. Much of your work on these suits will be the smoothing of dents, sealing of any holes or punctures, repairing wiring, and ensuring that all the joints are functional and responsive to the pilot. Keep your soldiers standing!
TREBUCHET POWER ARMOR - The Trebuchet-series armor is often worn by the Grenadier Heavy Weapon Troopers. This armor is designed to withstand a great deal of force and punishment. Beyond that however, this armor is also equipped with some of our most advanced projectile-guidance software in its on-board computer. Calibrated to the weapon it is using and with sensors to account for wind and world gravity, it provides the wearer with an accurate firing solution for any marked target. When firing it "locks down" making the wearer unable to move to mitigate the recoil of the weapon. Your job is to ensure proper calibration and function of all its systems so the wearer can trust their data!
VANGUARD EXO-SUIT - This new prototype exoskeleton is a lighter armor to be used by high ranking officers in the field. Using new medical stabilizer tech, it is designed to keep its wearer alive against all wounds and conditions using medi-gel injectors and healing nanites. In addition, it boosts the physical prowess and vitality of the wearer, making them stronger and move faster as if they're wearing no armor at all. You will be tasked with maintaining the gel and nanite distributors along with the suit's responsiveness to ensure maximum combat efficiency. Your leader is counting on you!
[LOGGING PERSONNEL ID...] [SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION CONFIRMED] [UNLOCKING CLASSIFIED DATA...]
BERSERKER BATTLESUIT - This armor is a part of the GOLIATH Project of the Bioweapon Research and Development branch. As an approved senior engineer we expect your discretion pertaining to the following information. This Battlesuit is designed to heighten the wearer's aggression and improve the already impressive physical power of the Mutant Subjects. Based on the commands of its handler, the suit can inject the wearer with various chemicals to induce either an obedient or berserk state, while also simulating a dopamine and endorphin rush upon successfully following commands. It comes equipped with vitality sensors due to the dangerous nature of these substances. The maintenance of these suits is crucial to ensure proper dosage and power distribution in the heat of battle. Provide regular reports on the Battlesuit's performance in combat and work with medical specialists so that we may optimize the efficiency of its functions.
SHINBU SHOCK TROOPER ARMOR - This is an experimental armor equipped with the latest innovations in teleporter technology. This allows the wearer personal, short-range teleportation, and provides heavy-duty protection while also augmenting speed and movement ability for CQC Specialists. It is still unreliable however, and it may teleport the user slightly off the target coordinates. It is currently only in use by Special Operative Tadakatsu and his Shinbu Shock Troopers to gather real-world combat data on its performance. You are to study the provided schematics carefully and apply adjustments to the teleporter calibration according to your judgment. You will provide regular reports on modifications and adjustments so that we may further improve its designs for eventual mass production.
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Script recovered from a leaf-like object by the EEF 2nd Division. Found stuck and damaged under Private Doug's boot during debriefing. Restored and translated from Eden script by the Gardis Xenolinguistics Division
Village Notice
The Druids of White Horn summon all those who answer the call of the wild. Strange intruders have come to upset the balance and harmony of the land of Saarn. Even the greedy lords of the Veritas Empire have ceased their relentless expansion into the savannah to fight these newcomers.
Human weaklings hiding behind steel and gunpowder topple the trees and trample the land with the machines they use to fight their battles for them. Alongside them, mindless creatures of teeth and claws who know no reason nor instincts but to kill and feed. Both of these enemies embody a grave disrespect to the rule of nature and the law of evolution. The warriors of Leo'Rar have answered the summons and follow behind their king. The Penguin Clans of the North march to join the battle. Mages of the Ancient Forests re-awaken the noble Turtalons. The Salamanders and Wyrmlings of the Great Desert lend their destructive powers to the fray.
The invaders shall soon learn that those who stand against the flow of nature, will be swept aside and turned to dust. As it has always been, and as it shall always be.
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Parchment recovered from [REDACTED]. Security Level: Bravo-3. Officer's Eyes Only. Translation from Eden script by Dr. [REDACTED] of the Gardis Xenolinguistics Division
TO ARMS! PEOPLE OF EDEN!
Veritas needs YOU! Invaders from another world have come to defile OUR hallowed land! While the beasts of Saarn continue to plague our borders, malicious creatures from beyond the heavens have arrived to destroy all in their path!
Abhorrent insectoid monstrosities transform our fertile fields into sickening breeding grounds for their maggots and worms. Trees, crops, animals, and even our children are nothing but food to these foul beings. Will we allow this to continue? Even worse however is the steel-clad humanoids of the so-called "Republic". Do not be fooled by their appearance or claims of peace. They are a blasphemous mockery of our image and principles! They seek to steal the holy energies of Eden, the very gifts granted by OUR Gods! And use it to power their twisted machines of war! To take the power used by our holy and noble Saints for such a purpose is heresy beyond redemption!
The Veritas Empire has decreed that this shall continue no further! Every man and woman able and willing to carry arms in the name of god and glory is encouraged to enlist at their nearest Imperial Recruitment Center. Let your names and deeds echo through history! Fight for your lands! Fight for your families! Fight for OUR WORLD!
Thought for the day: "Victory starts with righteousness"
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Death and Taxes
“Nothing is certain but Death and Taxes…”
The thoughts went through the head of Bart. Once known as Bartholomew Williamson, he was now known as “Bart from the Tax Department”. He had been doing his job for a long time, even longer than most. He had numbers to crunch and quotas to fill, and doing it was almost second nature to him. He shifted slightly inside of his hoodie to make himself more comfortable in his seat as he scanned the next stack of documents. Everything seemed in order so far. Based on the amount they were earning, if all the operations continued as they were, they would be able pay all of the taxes the ones up-top needed them to. The door to his office burst open and a figure, also wearing a black hoodie and some loose-fitting pants, appeared. “Hey uhh Bart…?” “Get to the point, Jerry. What’s so important that you had to run into my office?” Bart asked. 
“Y-Yeah we uhh… have some problems…” Jerry answered. 
“I said to get to the point” Bart cut in. 
“Right right… Uhh yeah it’s about the… incident on the ocean near the arctic shelf. The boat catastrophe? Yeah the uhh… guy we sent in to deal with collecting the payment from that’s been… held up by people from our competition. The delay’s going to be way past protocol…” Bart put down the papers he was holding, let out a sigh and shook his head. “You could’ve explained all of that a lot quicker and a lot simpler, Jerry…” He replied. 
“Y-Yeah, sorry sir I just-” “Are our agents in reserve still not available to help?” Bart asked. “No sir, they’re still busy with-” “I understand. Get back to your office and resume your work. I’ll deal with this… development,” Bart said, shooing Jerry away. Once his co-worker was gone, Bart stood up from his desk and tapped a button on his intercom. “Samantha, I’m heading out to deal with a situation. Tell my next three pending appointments to either re-schedule or cancel,” He said as he pulled open a closet to the side of his desk. 
“You got it, boss. Don’t want me to phone the upper departments for assistance?” The intercom speaker asked. 
“Give them the details from Jerry, but tell them not to worry. I can handle this myself,” Bart responded. 
“Alright, boss. Good luck!” Bart pulled out what appeared to be ornate-looking belts from the closet and began to wrap them around his torso one by one, tightening them carefully over the black hoodie. Once they were secured, a humming sound was heard from the metal on the belts and a faint glow emanated from them. Lastly, Bart wrapped his bony fingers around a long and beautifully designed scythe, taking only a second to appreciate the sight, before swiftly swinging it to his side as he strode out of the office.
“Nothing is certain but Death and Taxes…”
-----------------
The sounds of screams and creaking metal could be heard nearly everywhere. The cruise liner was hopeless. Water was rapidly climbing up from the lower decks. Poor souls trapped by the collapsed ironworks were starting to drown below, while those above were at risk of falling into the freezing depths as the boat shifted against the raging waves. The last of the lifeboats had begun to detach from the ship, and many of the lucky ones were off to sail away to rescue. Those who were not so lucky, could now only wait for the cold to take them. Some cried, some sang, some prayed, some screamed in fear, others screamed in defiance, but ultimately none of it would matter. Their fate was sealed.
Invisible to mortal eyes, two figures floated high above the icy seas. Bright glowing creatures that appeared similar to dragonflies, with 4 great golden wings, and several pairs of long and thin arms, each with hands holding up to five clawed fingers each. Two lines of golden parchment with indecipherable symbols orbited around their main bodies, criss-crossing into an “X” at their front and back. At the top of the body appeared a human-like head, as if taken from a marble statue and attached to the top of these glowing creatures. They stared emotionlessly at the spectacle of despair and desperation that was taking place below them.
Behind the great flying creatures, the air bent and distorted, as if the sky itself had started to become rubbery in that particular patch. Emerging from the distortion was the figure of a skeleton that wore a pitch black hoodie with subtly glowing belts all around it. In one hand they held a long and beautiful scythe, hanging lazily off to their side as they floated in the air.
“Pardon me… But what are you doing here? These people still need to be processed” Bart said, getting the attention of the flying creatures in front of him. The glowing ones turned around to face him. One of them spoke, though Bart could not tell which, as neither of their mouths moved.
“These souls pray for our salvation. They plead for His angels to take them to peace and paradise. We are here to answer their prayers” The angels responded.
“I see. So answering their prayers involves your lackeys getting in the way of my people who were coming to help these souls pass on?” Bart replied dryly. 
“They prayed for our help. Not yours, reaper” The angels replied.
“Nice try, but you can’t pretend you’re simply fulfilling the wishes of your followers. These people prayed for help. If you truly wanted to help them, you would’ve saved them from this disaster. Instead you watch and wait like vultures to snatch their souls as they leave their bodies,” Bart said venomously.
“Are you not here to do the same, reaper?” The angels asked.
“I am, because that is our duty. We take souls to the other side, peacefully and intact, and process them for their proper afterlife. You want to take them right now without having to deal with us,” Bart replied.
“To leave them in your hands, risks the lion’s share of souls to be condemned into Hell,” The angels said, their tone taking on a hint of anger. 
“So... you’d rather take it all right now for yourselves? We distribute these souls fairly and equally. If you have a problem with our methods, file a complaint” Bart answered back.
“Better for these mortals to be in the skies of Heaven than in the depths of Hell,” The angels retorted. 
“Oh please, don’t act as if you and the demons are any different. The method and purpose doesn’t matter. Both of you only want more and more souls for your dominions. You need us to make sure neither of you grow fat” Bart replied.
The reaper knew comparing them to demons would start a fight, and thus he was ready when one of them rushed towards him. Several gangly limbs were outstretched as the angel attempted to claw at him from the side. Floating to the opposite side, Bart raised his scythe to parry it and used the speed of the angel’s charge to send them flying away from him. Spinning around, he brought up his scythe as the second angel attempted to slash down on him from above. Their claws and his scythe locked into each other for a moment before Bart’s belts began humming louder, and with a wave of magical energy sent the angel spinning away from him.
Bart heard new waves of energy vibrating behind him and turned around, swinging his scythe. The blade cut through the first angel’s golden parchment and sliced into their dragonfly-like body. A loud inhuman screech echoed in Bart’s thoughts as the angel reeled away from the blade. Bart was not about to let them recover however, and dashed forward to deliver a long and wicked slash through their middle. With another scream, the angel’s form dissipated into brilliant golden dust.
The reaper turned around to face the remaining angel, who had their arms out in a combat stance, but was otherwise holding their position. Below the two of them, the cruise ship sank ever lower, and Bart could sense the first souls being wrenched from their bodies from the lower decks.
“Will you return to Heaven of your own accord, or must I send you back there like your friend?” Bart challenged them. The angel stared at them but did not respond. “Clearly your superiors were not expecting you to get intercepted by a reaper. They sent others to delay my colleague, so weaklings like you could harvest these souls,” Bart taunted further. He figured this would either break their spirit, or make them attack him. In either case, he wanted to end this fight quickly so he could begin guiding the dead souls before they wandered off, or were snatched by others. The angel spoke again
“What gives you the right to decide the future of these souls?” They asked. 
“The fact that we hand them out back to you if it seems right, or send their energy back into new lives on the mortal plane. You only keep them forever. Now will you let me do my job, or must I send you back?” Bart asked in return.
“They will not be happy if I return empty handed,” The angel answered. 
“Allow me to provide you with an excuse then,” Bart said, before the glow on his belts shone brightly. He pulled back his scythe and seemingly teleported right in front of the young angel and cleanly cut them in two before they could react. With another screech of eldritch pain, the angel disappeared into shining golden dust.
Having evicted the angels from the mortal plane, Bart looked back down on the cruise ship, seeing it much deeper in the water than before. He could also make out the specks and swirling energies of lost souls starting to light up the area in an almost beautiful spectacle of shining sprites, not that any of the mortals could see it. With another sigh, he floated down and away from the scattering dust as he prepared to ferry these scared souls into the peaceful domain of the reapers for a proper transition.
Bart knew that the angels came in the hopes of being able to claim more souls this month than what was decided upon in the energy taxes they paid to Heaven. The angels made no secret of their displeasure over the Hell taxes being higher than theirs in the previous month. Bart sometimes had doubts as to whether treating souls as numbers on a spreadsheet was the right way to do things, but he knew that they had to in order to keep the angels and demons from becoming too powerful. Otherwise, they might convert the world into becoming a part of their kingdom, making mortals completely and eternally subservient to their whims. At the end of the day, Bart understood that a reaper of the Tax Department had to do many things to ensure the balance of the world, so that humans and other creatures may continue to live by their own choices, even if they all end up the same way when they do die.
“Nothing is certain but Death and Taxes…”
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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A Walk in Cindersap
The high afternoon sun broke through the gaps in the tree line. The sounds of crickets and chirping birds set the tone, occasionally interrupted by the rustling of bushes. A small white rabbit jumped out from the green shrubbery and stood on a clear dirt path. It surveyed the area briefly before heavy footfalls and loud squeaks caused it to leap away and disappear into the bushes. Further down the path, a young man in a thick brown jacket and denim pants walked slowly through the forest. With gloved hands, he pushed an old, squeaky wheelbarrow holding a hand saw and a rusted axe. Through the glasses on his face he looked around the scene, searching as he moved along the path. His name was Merlin.
Unlike the origin of his namesake, Merlin did not put much stock into stories of magic and spirits. He did not believe in connecting with the energy of the forests or summoning the favor of elementals. And he most certainly did not want to be walking through nearly a kilometer of woodland while his clothes were soaked in sweat.
“What in Yoba’s name am I doing here…?” He thought to himself, looking down at the simple woodcutting tools he pushed in front of him. It had only been a few weeks since he left his technical assistance job at JojaCorp and used most of his savings to move into Stardew Valley, and he already felt he had made a huge mistake. “Here I am, a computer engineering graduate, trudging through a forest, looking for saplings and fallen logs just to get some damned firewood…” He thought as he went around a patch of rocks that blocked the path. Merlin rationalized that it seemed like a good idea at the time. He had been working 6 days a week at the office, advising and assisting dozens of people who would rather vent their anger at JojaCorp and its products than actually use common sense. It wasn’t his original plan. In addition to his hardware knowledge, he wanted to learn more about programming and coding. He intended to take additional online classes while he started his first job. The Ferngill Republic’s economy was in a bad spot however, made worse by the eruption of a conflict with the Gotoro Empire. Most tech companies would not risk paying the salaries of fresh graduates with no work experience and little credentials. The Joja Corporation were the only ones whose requirements were low enough for Merlin to meet, and he figured he had to start somewhere. He hoped he wouldn’t stay long and he’d be able to add the job to his resume for future employers.
Instead, Merlin fell into a vicious cycle of working day after day just to pay bills and rent, saving a pitiful amount of money each month for his future plans, and even that had begun dwindling as the continuing war further strained the republic’s economy. He even had to work on Saturdays and overtime on a few occasions when he could muster the energy to do so, just to be able to add a little bit more onto his savings. Merlin did the math and knew that if things continue as they were, he was going to be working as customer tech support for the next decade or so if he was going to earn enough money to keep paying for his online programming classes without starving. Merlin dreaded the idea of moving back in with his parents and asking for their help. His self-esteem was poor ever since he started his job, and begging for help from his family after he graduated college would have solidified the idea that he was a complete failure. Desperate for options, he turned to the old envelope his grandfather had left him, and that was how he ended up here.
“I exchanged mental exhaustion for physical exhaustion… In the hopes of finding a future in some backwater town. What the Hell was I thinking…?” He lamented as he pushed the wheelbarrow over a bump on the road. “There’s no turning back now… Grandpa said he earned the family fortune with this land… And I just blew the last of my savings to make sure I wouldn’t go hungry here for at least a month. If I can’t make this work…” His thoughts trailed off. He didn’t want to think about what would happen to him if he failed here.
Merlin stopped as he spotted a fallen log off to the side of the trail. It looked old, and some mushrooms were growing on it, but it wasn’t rotten, and it seemed small enough for him to fit its pieces on the wheelbarrow. He parked it next to an oak tree and slid his backpack off him and onto the grass. Sifting through the bag, he pulled out an old notebook and approached the log. He quickly flicked through the pages, searching for the ones detailing wild mushrooms within the Cindersap Forest.
“Grandpa mentioned that he kept lots of notes on foraging and survival in the cabin. Thank Yoba he was thorough…” Merlin thought as he studied the sketches of the common mushrooms, and read the descriptions of its details. Merlin pulled up the handkerchief hanging around his neck so that it covered his mouth and nose, to avoid inhaling too many spores, and knelt down next to the log. As far as he could tell, the mushrooms on the log matched the color and other descriptions of the ones in the notebook. It was hard to be one-hundred percent sure though, especially when it came to wild plant life, but he figured he could examine them more closely back at the cabin. He pulled out the survival knife slung on his belt, and carefully started cutting away the mushrooms at the base of their stem, depositing them one by one into a pocket of his bag.
After he had taken all of the mushrooms he could see, he pulled out a piece of measuring tape and started crunching the numbers on how small he’d have to make each cut and segment to fit all the pieces into a pile on the wheelbarrow. “At least my education is still good for something around here…”
Once Merlin had the measurements, he pocketed the tape and reached for the rusty axe. He clumsily pulled it out of the wheelbarrow and held it with both hands. He still wasn’t used to any of this. With a deep breath through the cloth of his handkerchief, he pressed the blade of the axe onto where he intended to cut the first segment. With a grunt, he raised the axe over his shoulder and prepared to swing it down, hoping that he wouldn’t cut his own feet from doing so.
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The sky had begun to turn a tinge of yellow by the time Merlin had managed to reach the old cabin. The quaint little hut stood out against the forest in a clearing that opened into a path going out of the tree line. The faded wooden sign along the path read “Fae’s Reach Orchard and Plantation”. 
Merlin pushed the wheelbarrow, now filled with various planks and pieces of wood, towards the cabin. He stepped carefully around the small patches of potatoes and parsnips he had planted earlier in the day, and released the wheelbarrow as soon as it hit the front porch. He trudged up the steps to the door and collapsed into a sitting position on the porch floor. Panting, he wiped the sweat off his head and took off his glasses to rub the moisture away from his eyes.
Looking around, Merlin saw the pines and oaks bathed in the orange light of the slowly setting sun. Having been stuck between his office and his apartment for months, the sight was new and beautiful. He felt a bit of joy creep up from within him, until he remembered he was expected to make a living off of the land before him. “Geez gramps… How did you even start?” Merlin muttered as he pushed himself up on his feet. His legs, arms, and pretty much his whole body was sore. Yet all he achieved today was planting a handful of crops and gathering enough wood for a fire and for crafting some simple support fences for his plants in the future. “By Yoba… I need help…” Merlin thought forlornly as he considered his chances of even lasting a single month in this place. The people of Pelican Town seemed friendly enough, but they didn’t owe him anything. Not to mention the thought of begging for handouts and pity made his stomach churn. He was an educated adult, armed with an inheritance and a laptop with internet connection. He figured that if he couldn’t make it with all of that going for him, then he didn’t deserve to be carried around. Merlin looked down once again at the pitiful patch of land he cleared for his potatoes and parsnips, and frowned. “I won’t beg but… maybe I do need help…” He thought. There was another farmer in town who’d been here longer than he was. Maybe he could learn a thing or two by offering to be a farmhand. It’s not as if the land of Fae’s Reach demanded much of his attention in its current state, in any case.
“Guess I should talk to them tomorrow morning, but first… I need to make sure those mushrooms I found are safe to eat. Otherwise I’m having instant noodles from the JojaMart for dinner…”
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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Guide to my Tags
A guide for easy navigation of the different pieces of content on my blog through these tags! More tags may be added as more characters/concepts are added
Original Content:
#Gurnovadis - Posts/Stories related to the fictional characters, concepts, and locations of the original world of Gurnovadis
#Angels of Gurnovadis - Posts/Stories involving the angels of the world of Gurnovadis
#Demons of Gurnovadis - Posts/Stories involving the demons of the world of Gurnovadis
#Reapers of Gurnovadis - Posts/Stories involving the “grim reapers” of the world of Gurnovadis
#Hunters of Gurnovadis - Posts/Stories involving the members and associates of the Hunter organization of the world of Gurnovadis
#Nations of Gurnovadis - Posts/Stories talking about the countries of the world of Gurnovadis and their histories
#Creatures of Gurnovadis - Posts/Stories involving the magical and mythical creatures of the world of Gurnovadis
#Magic of Gurnovadis - Posts talking about the magic systems that exist within the world of Gurnovadis
Fan Fiction Content:
#stardew valley - Posts/Stories related to the game “Stardew Valley” by ConcernedApe
#sdv Merlin - Posts/Stories involving my farmer OC, Merlin
#sdv Allengarde - Posts/Stories involving my friend’s farmer OC, Allengarde
#warframe - Posts/Stories related to the game “Warframe” by Digital Extremes
#wf Faraday - Posts/Stories involving my OC Tenno, “Faraday”
#wf Aries - Posts/Stories involving my friend’s OC Tenno, “Aries”
#soul of eden - Posts/Stories related to the mobile game “Soul of Eden” by Rayark.
#Gardis Republic - Posts/Stories involving the Republic faction of Soul of Eden
#Lurkein Aliens - Posts/Stories involving the Aliens faction of Soul of Eden
#Saarn Beasts - Posts/Stories involving the Beasts faction of Soul of Eden
#Veritas Empire - Posts/Stories involving the Empire faction of Soul of Eden
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zepybespectacled · 4 years
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A Primer to Soul Energy
(Excerpt from the Republic Infantryman's Digital Guidebook)
Greetings, soldier! If you're reading this segment then that means you are one of the brave and lucky troops who have been assigned as a member of an Eden Expeditionary Force (EEF) and have the great honor of helping gather the special resource dubbed as "Soul Energy" for the glory of the Gardis Republic! But what is Soul Energy, and why do we need it? It's vital for a soldier to know what they are fighting for, so this section will brief you on the importance of your task!
Soul Energy is a unique power source that was discovered during the opening of the Eden Gateway. It can be used as a power source for any electronic device and just one concentrated canister has enough energy to power a city for a century! Its discovery has allowed Gardis great strides in innovation and technological improvement. Its contribution to our ongoing conflict with the vile Lurkein race cannot be overstated. From your standard-issue Pulse Rifle, to the advanced Teleporters, Soul Energy allows us to power things that would have taken millions worth of other energy sources!
However, gathering this energy is no easy task, and that is where you come in!
Soul Energy can only be obtained using special siphons physically put in the strange world of Eden. Unfortunately, the denizens of this world are either savage beasts or primitive kingdoms that have rejected all of our attempts at negotiating peace. Thus the Republic has formed the EEF's of which you are now a part of! As an EEF Trooper you will be deployed into the world of Eden through our Federation-Class Motherships. Equipped with a built-in shield generator, advanced sensor arrays, and high-caliber, twin rotary cannons, these heavily-armed ships will be the vanguard of all expeditionary parties and the center of all military operations beyond the Eden Gateway.
Most importantly, these ships contain the special energy siphons that will draw Soul Energy from various hotspots. They also carry Teleporter Links which connect to your Forward Operating Base Teleporter to summon an escort as it gathers energy. Using its sensor data, it transmits location coordinates to Republic deployment teleporters and allows our forces to instantly respond to any calls for reinforcements by the Federation ship crews. Your duty is to answer these calls and protect the ships from the dangers of Eden until the energy in the area has been harvested.
Fight hard, fight well, and bring home the power that shall carry us into the future. Glory to Gardis! Peace to Humanity!
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