'>>5964183

The Commander informs you that he has contacts in Israel that can give you key information regarding Isa- apparently he isn’t too familiar with the man- but he also wouldn’t have an issue if you decided to do the operation on your own. What should you do?

>I should wait: I need some time to check back in with the rest of the pantheon anyway
>I should do this on my own
>Write-in';

'>>5964183
>>I should wait: I need some time to check back in with the rest of the pantheon anyway
do a little management first, and get that czech mafia';

'I made a mistake the previous threat, the Pithos of Pandora doesn’t take influence, but divinity. So, we need to start using our secondary divine currency.
>Buy all the ambrosia we can for our level.
>Store half our divinity in the Pithos of Pandora.
>Take an ambrosia, just to see if it fills us up when the max divinity has increased.
>Max out our divinity with ambrosia. (and store divinity in the pithos if that works like that, but I doubt it)

Should get our divinity up to 600, at which point we could get 600 divinity for 200 influence (by buying and eating nectar). Since divinity also increases with the number of souls we have (10 per mortal under Faustian bargain, 40 per divine servant), that exchange rate only increases in the future. As it stands right now, we’d only need 10.000/600*200 = 3.333 Influence to level up any authority. Which means we should never ever need to level up an authority that is above level 6 from our own influence (6 to 7 is 3200). This would reduce the cost of upgrading an authority from 1 to X from 51.100 to only 16.300.
The next step would be at us having 65 human souls for 600base+650extra divinity: 10.000/1250*200 = 1.600, therefore only 9.500 Influence in total. That change is gradual, doesn’t need a jump from 64 to 65. At 190 souls our divinity would be 2.500, at 440 souls it’s 5.000, and at only 940 we have 10k divinity flat. Only a single nectar and pithos dumps to create a whole new plural myth. Well… one person needs to die per level, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. We can stock up authority crystals for enchantments. Or that new incarnation doesn’t need to die for a level-up. We can crank out an army.
In a world of growth having exponential cost for everyone else, having flat costs or even something that increases in benefit/cost is insane.

Of course, other incarnations can buy us nectar (as it would give us, with the highest max divinity, the best rate) and deposit their own divinity as well. In addition to that, we don’t only level-up one of our own authorities but also get one authority of that newly spawned incarnation. And if that authority is trash, we can buy an Authority Grinder for 200 influence, and see how much influence that trash authority gives.';

'>>5964185
>I should wait: I need some time to check back in with the rest of the pantheon anyway

Check in with the girls, get a little downtime in. Get Bridgette's agenda planned. Get a combat tutor? We've got the money, and the mind melting voice to do it.

Decide what to do with the Lethe epitaph. Personally I think we should use it on ourselves, then bestow it to a divine servant later. Mind erasure powers could be incredibly useful to have on tap.';

'>>5964204
With the Pithos at 8000, we ought to give this a quick whirl with a random homeless person. Deify them, murder them, level up whispers, collect an epitaph.

Busy busy busy. Should offer the bum a thousand dollars a day for the rest of their mortal life in exchange for their soul as well. Curious to see if anything changes when a person dies and we own their soul.';

'>>5964183
gyatt zam, she thicc. OP tell me about your quest.';

'>>5964227
To give a brief summary, the quest's protagonist used to be a depressed office worker with no prospects in life, but after she gained supernatural abilities thanks to an unexplainable system that dishes out powers based on greek mythology, she has decided to do anything, no matter how evil, in the pursuit of power, both worldly and divine. Her abilities are primarily based around making others succumb to their flaws and vices- she's a goddess of folly after all, one of which is shapeshifting, which she uses for espionage and to enhance her physical appearance (hence why her assets have appreciated since the first thread). The previous threads are a pretty quick read, but you can skip them if you'd rather just check out the system info and characters sheets linked in the op';

'>>5964235
>To give a brief summary, the quest's protagonist used to be a depressed office worker with no prospects in life, but after she gained supernatural abilities thanks to an unexplainable system that dishes out powers based on greek mythology, she has decided to do anything, no matter how evil, in the pursuit of power, both worldly and divine
interesting.

>Her abilities are primarily based around making others succumb to their flaws and vices- she's a goddess of folly after all, one of which is shapeshifting, which she uses for espionage and to enhance her physical appearance
does she have an onlyfans then ?

>The previous threads are a pretty quick read, but you can skip them if you'd rather just check out the system info and characters sheets linked in the op
alright then, I'll give it a try later';

'>>5964237

>does she have an onlyfans then ?

Funny you should ask. Whether or not to do porn was actually the second biggest if not the actual biggest debate this quest has ever seen. For now, she does not';

'>>5964196
>>5964208

>I should wait: I need some time to check back in with the rest of the pantheon anyway

You decide to make the most of the Commander's connections and resources: in the long run, a week isn’t much time at all, and you do have some loose ends to tie up in the meantime.

What should you do first?
>Go back to LA and meet with the Pantheon
>Go back to Prague and look into the mafia
>Chat with someone (Specify who)
>Offer the Commander another exchange
>Write-in';

'just too late for the first vote...

>>5964289
>>Go back to Prague and look into the mafia

>>5964204
will op let us get away with that?
at the very least we should never have a regenerating resource be capped out
I vote additionally to
>always store excess divinity in pithos';

'>>5964289
>Go back to LA and meet with the Pantheon

>>5964204
I never follow the supplemental links so this reads like nonsense to me but it would be sweet if it works';

'>>5964289

In priority order...

>Chat with someone (Specify who)
Give Pheme a call. Be clear that the line might have an eavesdropper. Ask about the Title she and a certain someone share.

---

>Chat with someone (Specify who)
Brigitte. Develop a plan for her role in our group going forward. I'm thinking social media sweetheart who funnels legal funds and godly influence to us. Cyber Siren can introduce her on stream with a heavy dose of Whispers to establish her and she can start making us resources.

---

>Write-in
Buy and use four nectars to fill up the Pithos, then forcibly deify a random in a hotel room and murder them. (Watch the system only give rewards within so many levels)

---

What was the deal with the Mafia again?';

'>>5964320
Unless there's some rule about not getting rewards from murdering a level 1 while you're level 10. You get reduced Influence I think, but that's the only low level gank rule I've seen.';

'>>5964326
>What was the deal with the Mafia again?
just to subjugate a criminal organization as our followers';

'>>5964326
>>5964336

Sure, add
> Subjugate the mafia
To my list.';

'>>5964289
>>Chat with the Commander
ask him kindly not to have us followed or wiretapped

>buy 10x ambrosia for 3000 influence and consume them all before doing the pithos/nectar strat
>buy a crystal and store "Around Every Corner" (because we gain an authority either way)
>do the pithos/nectar strat on a homeless
after that
>Go back to Prague and look into the mafia

for what to do with Philotes, I want to hold a seperate vote as it's something more important, and we shouldn't do something rash that we can't take back

>Philotes stuff
She goes public about being a goddess and takes "Miracle of Healing" while going around doing charity work, Doctors Without Borders and stuff, a really goody-two-shoes at that, someone other gods would approach on their own. She also does mostly just chatting streams with polyglot in the countries she’s in, with a variety of other streamer stuff.
At first there should be no recognizable connection between her and our streamer persona, but if she is successful, we take her epithet as siren and slowly come out as a goddess too, but as Siren, not as Ate. We admit that our directive would be luring men to their (financial) ruin, but didn’t want to “be evil”, so we set up the idol worship to gain in power while staying "good and moral". (But claim we can't do the same thing as Philotes because we'd slip in the Panacea problem.)
Both should be displayed as relatable goddesses that mortals can come to for questions about incarnations so we can guide public opinion.
Philotes end game could be to serve as a mediator for global divine conflicts. A miracle of Divine Realm + Mediate. Be something that other gods want to also trust in. More importantly, us being the first one to establish global neutral grounds, while having it under our control from behind the scenes. And such a (pretend) neutral party on global grounds is something I think a lot of mortals would like and be willing to pray to. So, she can rake in influence with her directive, which goes into our pockets as well.

>Pheme stuff
I want to get another pact up with pheme, because right now we basically only work together and are not allowed to use our abilities on the other, but something like this requires a little more trust and cooperation.
After taking over a mafia or more, we should also help Pheme ramp up her stuff. Finance a media empire. we maybe even shift Philotes’ “perfect partner” on Pheme, so she can take on multiple personas herself and slip into the roles of multiple different owners of different media companies that all spill several types of pro- and anti-god propaganda. Or just faustian bargain several media owners directly.';

'>>5964311
>will op let us get away with that?
QM explicitly stated that deifying people through the pithos and killing them would allow us to level-up our authorities.

>>5964320
usually leveling up authorities has exponential cost of "influence"
1.) we have a special effect that lets us level-up any authority when we kill another god
2.) we have an relic that lets us deify mortals at a **flat cost** of "divinity"
3.) nectar lets us use "influence" to get "divinity"
4.) the more souls we put under contract the better the exchange rate from nectar becomes
so in the end we still use influence to level-up the authorities, but, by jumping through a few hoops, the cost is an order of magnitude lower';

'>>5964756
I like the idea of Philotes being a public charity god, but I don't want us going public as well. We operate much better in the shadows.

A more formal alliance pact with Pheme would soothe my heart as well.';

'>>5964846
well, at one point it's going to be pretty obvious that this one streamer girl asks people to pray to an idol of her on a 24/7 stream, is a god
the bigger, immediate takeaway from my post should more be
>we shouldn't do something rash that we can't take back
and if we, as cyber_siren, introduce her as a new streamer, that ship is sailed

I'd like to get back to talk this over with pheme first. Both what to do with Philotes, and cyber_siren eventually coming out as a god. Because there can be a lot of big rumors around it first for her to cash in.
It will happen sooner or later, but we should be in control of when and how it happens.
But all of this should be its seperate vote';

'>>5964311
>>5964320
>>5964326
>>5964356
>>5964756

>Chat with Pheme
>Go back to Prague to deal with the mafia

You ask the Commander for the courtesy of moving without wiretaps or secret stalkers, and he readily agrees. You don’t trust his answer completely, but he seems to be satisfied enough with the terms of your agreement to allow you to roam free.

You and Brigita leave the cafe and head to the rendezvous point that the four of you had agreed upon in advance. Isabella and Dorota are there waiting for you.

“How did it go?” Dorota asks with a knowing smile, seemingly aware of the broad strokes of what happened.

“Good. I got Lethe’s myth.”

“Are you not going to mention the <Pact> you signed?”

Seems like they were observing using perception authorities. You respond coolly:

“Basically, it’s a nonaggression treaty: I promised not to wreck too much of his stuff in exchange for the privilege of not waking up to an Austrian dagger in my throat”

Isabella lightly punches your shoulder, “I’m just glad you’re ok, stupid. What did you trade away?”

“Tisiphone.”

Dorota’s eyes widen,

“<Postmortal> Tisiphone?”

She puts her hand to her mouth in contemplation. Isabella interjects:

“Well, anyway, what do we do with it now that we have it? There must be some reason you haven’t popped it yet.”

“I’m thinking about it. Anyway, the two of you can go back and report to Eris: I have some business to wrap up here.”

Dorota shrugs, Isabella gives you a hug, and the two of them fly off.
“What business do we have here?” Brigita asks once the two other incarnations are out of earshot, “we didn’t get anything from the Commander, right?”

“No. I want to deal with your former employer.”

Brigita’s eyes widen, but her face quickly steels with resolve.

“But first,” you say before she can speak, “I have a call to make.”

The two of you go back to your hotel room and you make a long overdue call to Pheme. Just in case your phone is bugged, you decide to use her feather instead.

“Yello?” Pheme answers your call, her voice transmitted through the grinning mouth on it.

What do you want to talk about? Select as many as you wish. A vote without an option will be considered a vote against it.
>Ask about her title
>Ask what she’s been up to
>Tell her what you’ve been up to
>Ask for information about Isa
>Ask for information about something else (specify)
>Ask about formalizing your alliance in writing
>Ask how her day’s been
>Write in';

'>>5964912
first
>tell her we made a non-aggrission pact with Kronos, who's in charge in Austria. And he might be listening in, so speak carefully.
then some smalltalk
>Ask how her day’s been
>Tell her what you’ve been up to (at least what the commander already knows, and that we got fancy new abilities and toys, but remain vague whle we're still in Austria. We can tell her everything once we're "back home")
>Ask what she’s been up to

>Ask about her title
>Also tell her that we're also staying in europe for a little while longer, to do something where we might get an influx of cash in the near future. So, she can pick out a present for herself.
>Warn that we have to step up our game and power level if we don't want to be bottomfeeders';

'>>5964934
+1';

'>>5964912
>>5964934
+1 to all but the last, she's the info gatherer of our group so I'm sure she knows
We can gripe about it though';

'>>5964934
Support. Covers the critical points.';

'>>5964934
+1 but EXCEPT the last one, as >>5965069 said
Gripe away though!';

'>>5965069
>>5965167
I'm fine with cutting it. I thouhght about not posting it myself';

'>>5964912
>>5965069
+1';

'>>5964934
>>5965030
>>5965069
>>5965161
>>5965167
>>5965181
>>5965267

Choosing your words carefully, you reply:

“I’ve made an arrangement with a government incarnation. We’re not fighting or anything, but he could be watching me, so mind your words.”

“Aha, that’s ok. Grab onto the feather.”

“...why?”

“Just do it, dude.”

You decide to follow her advice, clutching the base of the feather with your bare skin.

“Gimme permission to use an authority.”

You allow it. Immediately, your consciousness lurches, seemingly shattering into dozens-no, hundreds of pieces. A cacophony of sensations- pieces of conversation in more languages than you can count, flashes of vision, and a thousand other sounds you can’t place- assaults your brain. Your soul quakes under the pressure. Then, suddenly, it stops. You look around, regaining your bearings and assessing the situation. You recognize it as Pheme’s apartment.

“You, I, what?”

“Not teleportation. You’re not here.” Pheme explains, “You seem disoriented- I accidentally gave you full access for a millisecond or two.”

That was only a millisecond?

“I have this authority- <Word of Mouth>, if you recall, that allows for long distance communication and reconnaissance authority sharing. I haven’t been using it much because of our pact- it’d be easier to call than to ask for permission every time, and I couldn’t in good conscience allow you to keep it on auto-permit because, well, I could probably use it to kill someone if I wanted to.”

“Awfully considerate of you.”

“You’re talking with your mouth. Stop it. Use the feather instead.”

“Like this?” You manipulate the feather’s mouth: it’s awkward, more like moving a puppet than talking, but it comes to you pretty naturally.

“Exactly. Now, what is it you wanted to talk about?”

First, you decide to fill her in on what’s happened. Since you aren’t too worried about being watched thanks to Pheme’s trick with the feathers, you decide to give her a complete rundown.

“<Kronos>, huh? It checks out. It’s interesting, isn’t it?”

“What is?”

“That so many of the top incarnations are mythologically important. Statistically speaking, a vast majority of incarnations should be minor, plural, or both, right? What are the odds that the big fish are all people with names?”

You smirk, “I don’t see why you’re surprised.”

Her head cocks in confusion. You explain:

“The incarnation system works via two factors: divinity number and synch rate.”

She nods, and you continue:

“So, doesn’t it make sense that people with ego- but not with delusion- should end up with epithets of the great and powerful kings of the gods?”

She starts to laugh, first a little chuckle then a crescendo of hyena-esque cackling. Once she catches her breath, she replies.';

'>>5965591

“That checks out. It’s definitely better than any theory I could come up with. But, it’s a very you response.”

You’re not sure what she means.

“Anyway, you’re not the only one out striking deals.”

You cock an eyebrow. Sensing your curiosity, she elaborates:

“Mine is a bit looser than yours, but it’s still pretty solid- I have an in with the <House of Hades>. Specifically, an information exchange: they ask for intel regarding who’s gonna kill them, and I get a reward of equivalent value. Critically, I don’t have any obligation to do anything- I just can’t give false intel in a trade.”

“It sucks, doesn’t it? Having to play support on the big stage.”

“Don’t be such a downer. Sure, it’d be nice if we had the playground to ourselves, but this way is much more interesting. Plus, it means that people are doing us the courtesy of laying the groundwork for us- all we have to do is sit back, turn ‘em against each other, and swoop in to pick off whoever’s left.”

“Still, it would be nice to be ruling the world already.”

“Heh, maybe, maybe not.”

You decide to ask her about her title with Eris. She essentially repeats what she told you before: the two of them met after Pheme sought her out, they struck a nonaggression pact, and started working together. However, you can sense she’s leaving something out: you press her, and she explains.

Apparently, the two of them used to post on a lot of the same internet forums- vent boards, conspiracy circles, etc. They became internet penpals, then close online friends, maybe explaining why the ever cautious Pheme was willing to reveal herself to a person like Ashley in the first place.

“In the end, when she told me her plan- the same one she told you- I just… I couldn’t go along with it. It’s funny, it was the kind of thing we talked about all the time. Burning it all down and dancing on the ashes. But, once I got something to live for- power, ambition, my sight back, the plan just seemed so STUPID. Completely shortsighted and spiteful and dumb. I couldn’t go along with it. I betrayed her.”

“You were right to.”

She shrugs. She’s still smiling, but you can see that, unlike usual, she’s forcing it.';

'>>5965592

“I want to make a pact. A more formal one. I think we’ve both given each other enough proof of faith, and, unlike Eris, we share goals for our endgame. Let’s get this shit in writing.”

“I’d be happy to,” she says, “when you get back here for real.”

“And I want a rematch in Mario Kart.”

“It’s a deal.”

“Also, I’m probably getting some cash flow soon. Wanna pick out a gift?”

“Surprise me. I’ll put together something for you as well.”

What should you do now?
>Chat more (specify topic)
>End the call
>Write-in';

'>>5965593

> Know anything about Isa, an incarnation in Israel?

Completely random, we ought to consider purchasing our personal relic from the store. Its expensive, but it grows with us and is presumably tailored to our skills.';

'>>5965610
More random thing. Ask about Hacking and digital intrusion, do her powers cover that? What sort of god do you think would? We're maybe putting together a team of enslaved, I mean loyal underlings and some input on what might be useful would be appreciated.';

'>>5965593
>>Chat more (specify topic)
>Tell her what you’ve been up to (this doesn't need to be written out by op, just as courtesy)
>Ask what she’s been up to

>tell her we have a power that let's us subjugate people now
>>5965610
>>5965621
+1
>we might want to get a supordinate we can drag along who can get their mind infused by phemes powers
>tell her that we previously killed Epimetheus the Titan of Hindsight, whom we know to have had an EX rated authority "perfect recall", and we can deify a mortal as that myth, as our divine servant
>what are her thoughts on the plan, and would she help us pick the right candidate, someone who was already competent as a mortal

>but we're first looking to subjugate the czechian mafia. Any intel she has on that region would be nice.';

'>>5965593
Ask what she thinks of
>>5964204';

'thoughts for useful miracles:
>Guerilla Tactics + Stealth
>Omen + Preservation Instinct
>Titanic Strength + Supernatural Speed
then again, those are all thematically related, and maybe in their result more boring. We might want to do something more spicy:
>Divine Folly + Assess Hamartia
>Divine Folly + Touch of Madness
>Faustian Bargain + Touch of Madness

using Enchant Item we also might be able to make ghetto versions of miracles by enchanting one authority crystal with another to get an authority with a combined/different effect.
>Divine Body + Divine Armor + Divine Will
>Enchant Item + Divine Construct
>Resplendence + Divine Awe (more for Philotes than ourselves)

we should also take more Drops of Inner Chaos, because the last time we got banger gear from it
but all of that requires us to have influence to spend';

'>>5965610
>>5965621
>>5965774
>>5965939
>>5965991

First off, to those who didn’t notice it buried in the OP links, there’s a second round of the popularity contest! Last time’s results are in picrel.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1k-rC03K-K6zUXKf_PV9p1IA8WJeoItsSzgL7caC1XrI

You’ve already given her the rundown of what you’ve been up to. I didn’t write it out since you already know that, sorry if that was unclear.

>Ask about what she’s been up to

“Other than paying a visit to the world’s number 1 goth power couple? I’ve been looking into the King’s Court- that cult I’ve been telling you about.”

“And?”

“Despite multiple sightings of members using divinity, there hasn’t been a single instance of color among them.”

“Meaning?”

“No incarnations. Not one. They could be hiding in the shadows, puppeteering it all from behind the curtain but I have a hunch that that’s not the case. Something’s behind them. Something inhuman.”

“Like another <Incarnation System>?”

She shrugs.

>Ask about Isa

“Your next target, I assume?”

She swivels her chair around, clacking away at her computer for a bit before turning to face you again.”

“The guy is a recluse, mostly. Obviously deeply religious, but he keeps the specifics of his faith private- you know how bad religious sectionalism is in the Arab world, and I’d guess he’s trying not to divide his constituency.”

“So he’s more ethnopolitically motivated than religiously.”

“Seems like it. Although it’s possible that he is doing a jihad, just one step at a time: better to point your swords towards the great satan than your slightly misguided brothers in god.”

You nod. “So he hasn’t been trying to gain worship at all?”

“Funnily, no. One of the only public speeches he’s ever given says as much- “Though this power was granted to me by god, I am not his messenger. I am merely his broom, one sword of many. Do not worship at my feet, or revere me as you would Mohammed or Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him). All I ask is that we brothers cease or bickering and set our eyes towards the invader, the villain, and the shameless solicitors of the great demon, rather than to the throats of our fellow believer” is a rough translation of the excerpt.”

“And his abilities?”

“Physical, mostly. Strength, speed, and durability. He has essentially single handedly forced a cease to all attacks and settlements in the gaza strip and west bank. It seems like the only reason he hasn’t marched on Tel Aviv is because he’s worried about ticking off the west before his preparations are complete. Meanwhile he’s been consolidating the economies and agricultural output of the countries he has through dealings with other powers, particularly Ye Min and New Putin.”

“Any idea on how he gains influence?”

“It’s a mystery, but whatever it is seems to be working out fine.”';

'Forgot image lol

>>5966010

>Ask about pithos plan

“Can I see it?”

You take out the <Pithos>- a pristine urn of glimmering white porcelain. A look of confusion washes over Pheme’s face

“Bit odd, isn’t it?”

“How do you figure?”

“Pandora’s box is supposed to be ornately decorated but this is just… white.”

You shrug, “Anyway, what do you think of the plan?”

“Seems solid, but I doubt the system would let you get away with infinite authorities and upgrades. There’s probably some sort of trick to it. No way to know without trying it, and I don’t see the harm in doing so”

>Ask about hacking and <Divine Servants>

“If you ask me, based on your testimony regarding <Philotes>, <Divine Servant> is better used on mid to high level incarnations than random joe schmoes. As for hacking specifically, I can’t think of a <Myth> it would pertain to. Maybe it’s in the purview of knowledge and information? Hard to say.”

“What about one that can handle your full <Wings> output?”

“Ah, make no mistake. I’ve got that covered.”

“You can deal with that? Seeing and hearing from hundreds of inputs all at once?”

“I had to build up to it but yeah. I think that your body, brain, and soul sorta catch up to fill the gaps of whatever your authorities are with enough practice. I mean, think about it, you were able to pretty seamlessly act as a boar on your first try, right? That should be super disorienting for a human to do. Plus, your <Faces>: you were awkward at first, but now you’ve gotten to the point where you can dynamically change your size and dimensions and still seamlessly perform complex tasks like combat.”

“Regardless, I’d bet we both have tons of epithets. Let me know if you find any decent candidates.”

“Will do.”

What should you do next?
>Chat more (specify topic)
>End the call
>Write-in';

'>>5966011
>Chat more (specify topic)
>ask about czechia


>I don’t see the harm in doing so
playing with the pithos of pandora, what could go wrong?';

'>>5966011
>End the call';

'I'll wait a few hours for the tiebreaker and roll for it in the absence of one';

'>>5966011
>>5966043
some intel before going on a trip';

'>>5966219
meant to respond to >>5966127';

'>>5966011
> End the call

I could probably hang out all day doing lore dumps, but we should probably get on with life.';

'>>5966011
You... don't suppose the pithos will shatter after using it?';

'>>5966043
>>5966127
>>5966219
>>5966221
>>5966248
>>5966250

Having gained the information you wanted, you end your call with Pheme.

You have one week to subjugate Brigita's former handlers. What steps should you take to prepare? Select as many as you wish
>Ask Brigita for information
>Spend influence (Specify how)
>Stream to farm influence before moving
>No need to prepare, we should fly straight there
>Write in';

'>>5966500
>Ask Brigita for information
She can give us the highest level guy she knows, and we can thrall them and get the highest they know, all the way to the top

Oh and their resources and capabilities and all that.';

'>>5966500
>>Ask Brigita for information
would have needed to do that either way
>>Spend influence (Specify how)
10x ambrosia and some nectars to top of the pithos, deify and kill a hobo to get whispers to X';

'>>5966585
>>5966911

>Ask Brigita for information

She explains the basic hierarchy of the organization: there are a bit over a dozen regional divisions each managed by direct subordinates of the boss, Don Povondra. Povondra has essentially monopolized organized crime in not only the Czech republic, but in a number of regions in surrounding countries. They do it all: drug peddling, human trafficking and pimping, even white collar crime like cleaning dirty money on behalf of fraudsters and embezzlers.

“I’ve never met face to face with the boss himself,” Brigita says, “But I have spoken to the manager of the Prague division.” Her eyes narrow, “Josef Slavíček.”

“Does Slavíček own that restaurant you were working at?”

She nods. Each manager is responsible for operating their own money laundering schemes. Slavíček, however, is the only one to be running a business that also turns a significant amount of profit completely above board.

“Do they have incarnations among them?”

“They’ve been working on gathering them. Slavíček was able to buy one at an underground auction just before I left the organization. As far as I know, Povondra’s been an incarnation for a while.”

You raise an eyebrow: “Do you know what their authorities are?”

“I know the name of the <Myth> Slavíček bought: Phorcys. I looked it up- some kind of ocean deity. Regardless, I haven’t seen any of the incarnations in the organization use their powers: I’d guess they’re keeping it as a trump card or trying to avoid the eyes of rogue incarnations like you- or, I guess I should say us now.”

If they’re too scared to use their powers in public out of fear of retribution, they probably don’t hold a candle to the forces of the government: you guess that, rather than running rampant, they probably only continue to exist at the leisure of figures like the Commander or New Putin.

“Do you think you can get me in a room with Slavíček?”

“Maybe, but I probably wouldn’t need to. Odds are, you could easily infiltrate without my help given your abilities. We all pretty much know where he lives, I could just bring you there if you want.”

What should you do now?
>Ask for more intel
>Try out the scheme with the <Pithos>
>Ask Brigita to take you to Prague
>Write-in';

'>>5968164
>buy and consume 10x ambrosia
>Try out the scheme with the <Pithos>
just a random hobo. I checked the inventory and we still have nectar from some earlier preptime';

'>>5968164
Backing >>5968175
Let's see if it works or if the system is 20 steps ahead';

'and before it becomes an issue: character sheet says we have 20/20 authorities right now, but we stored enchant item, it is still listed as an active authority (and we have it in the inventory as a crystal too, but that's where it should be)';

'>>5968175
>>5968201
>>5968209


>Purchase 10 ambrosia
>Test <Pithos of Pandora>

You dump all 510 of your divinity into the <Pithos> in order to test if the ambrosia will refill your pool:

Divinity: 510->0/510 (+50)

<Pithos of Pandora> (8,076->8,586)

>Influence: 7025->4025/51,200

>Divinity: 0/510->100/610 (+50)

Guess not. You pour in the remaining 100 divinity and buy <Nectar> until the amount it holds hits 10,000

>Influence: 4,025->3,425/52,100

>Divinity: 416/610 (+50)

<Pithos of Pandora> (10,000)

Altering a German-speaking disguise using your <Faces> to fit in among the vagrants, you make your way to the slums and dirty alleys of Vienna, scanning the people you see for hamartia of <Spite>, <Vengeance>, or <Ambition>. Eventually, you find the perfect candidate, a young man riddled with bruises, shielded from the cold only by what seem to be the tattered, dirty remnants of a cheap business suit.

You approach the man and he seems to regard you with contempt.

Oskar Muig
Hamartia: Pride, Spite
Deepest Desires: Power, Revenge, Acclaim
Domain: N/A

“The hell do you want?”

“How,” you ask, ignoring his question and infusing your speech with <Whispers>, “did a man like you end up here?”
He seems reluctant to talk, but the desire to rant overcomes his caution:

“My brothers- those bastards- cut me out of my inheritance. Framed me for crimes THEY did. Sent me to a paid off court with a paid off lawyer to deem me insane. Took EVERYTHING from me- said they were “managing my estate.” “Taking care of me.” Bastards threw me out onto the street in less than an hour. I was locked out of EVERYTHING: my accounts, my business- I can’t even get work because I’m clinically insane! The last time I tried they ratted me out to the authorities and I got held in an asylum for a year!”

“You want revenge?”

“More than anything.”

“Then you’ll need power.”

“And how the hell am I supposed to get…”

His voice trails off as you manifest the <Pithos> from nothing.

“Have you ever heard of Pandora’s Box?”

“Of course I have.”

“Well, it wasn’t a box. It was a jar- this jar.”

His eyes widen, “What, you want me to open it and unleash evil into the world? Cause a calamity?”

“No, nothing that extreme. Not yet. We’re just gonna crack it open a little. Let out one- just for you.”

“You’re saying you’ll make ME a disaster?”

You grin: “A walking calamity.”

“What’s the price?”

>There is no price (Kill him after he deifies)
>Your soul (Keep him as a subordinate)
>Write-in';

'>>5968926
>Write-in
Sex';

'>>5968926
>"You allow me to watch your revenge, and you have to make it entertaining for me. While also not attracting the attention of other gods."
>Kill him after he had his fun
Maybe he gains some influence himself, and we do as his folly leads to other peoples harm.
if we make him our subordinate we'd probably not get a subjugation';

'>>5968926
>Your soul (Keep him as a subordinate)
I wonder what he was like before he got backstabbed and his whole life ruined.

>>5968947
Funny, but that does remind me Ate has never had sex once this entire quest. Not even anything with Pheme. She's been operating solo for most of the quest entirely, and it's been only recently she got an in with Eris' bitch squad and a deal with Kronos' Neo Austrian regime. Recruiting Brigita instead of killing her too. Our girl has ZERO sex interest. She is all in on the world takeover nightmare plot too much to ever consider getting laid, too into the folly+ruin goddess LARP to cope with being a monster to ever consider fucking a mortal guy, and too into murdering other people with god powers to ever consider fucking a nonmortal guy.';

'I'll wait another few hours for a tiebreaker before resolving the vote by chance';

'>>5968926
>There is no price (Kill him after he deifies)
The entire damn point was to check if we can farm levels. KILL HIM.';

'>>5968947
>>5968955
>>5968961
>>5969222

>There is no price (Kill him after he deifies)

“Did Zeus need a reason to give Pandora the box in the first place? No. He did it out of spite- to get back at Prometheus. At humanity.”

“Who’s your Prometheus?”

“I was telling a parable. Do you want the powers or not?”

“I-if I take them… will I be able to get back at my brothers?”

“Well, that depends on you. Big part on luck, bigger part on skill. But regardless of what you end up with, your odds will be better than zero.”

“So an improvement then.”

“Precisely.”

The man walks up to the jar like it’s a live grenade and places his trembling hand upon the lid.

The <Pithos> opens.

The inside is black- not like black paint, or a vat of black slime, but completely, endlessly black. A lime green ball of pulsating divinity appears from the void and seeps upwards. Oskar, equal parts enthralled and paralyzed by fear, does nothing but watch as the glowing mass forces its way down his throat. His body gives the telltale glow of <Deification>

Before he can even check his authorities, you tear through his throat with a single swipe of your clawed hand.

>Congratulations! You have successfully destroyed another incarnation, <Mania>! You have plundered their influence (0). Due to the difference in level, you receive only the influence to reach their current level (0).
>You have also gained 1 influence for following your directive and 10 influence for following your secondary directive

>Due to the authority <Divine Folly> you gain the authority <Cackle>
>However, all of your authority slots are full! (I checked, even after removing <Enchant Item> you’re maxed out on authorities.)
What should be done?
>Keep <Cackle> (specify which authority to delete or store, and specify whether you’d like to delete or store)
>Toss <Cackle>

Will you take one of the Plural Myth <Maniae>'s authorities or upgrade one of your own?
>Take a new one
>Upgrade an old one';

'>>5969274
AHAHAHAHAHAHA

> Upgrade Whispers to X!
> Store Around Every Corner

What does Cackle actually do? And what's the catch?';

'>>5969304
So what does this mean? We got 0 influence from him but we got a free authority?';

'>>5969308
It would appear so, barring the system being an ass. He was worth 0xp, but he was still an incarnation, and that's apparently all it takes. I'm still pretty worried there's some kind of catch, but even if this is a one time thing we've still saved a bundle of influence.

Pity using the relic didn't grant any Pandora Sync.';

'>>5969304
Oh right, it's customary to reveal that. My bad

Cackle (1):
You may infuse your laughter with <Divinity>, causing temporary panic in any mortals that hear it. Additionally, you can use any currently affected mortals who can hear your laughter as a point of origin for your other authorities at an increased cost proportional to distance. Does not function over recordings or brodcasts';

'>>5969274
>Upgrade Whispers
>Store Banshee Wail';

'>>5969317
> who can hear your laughter as a point of origin for your other authorities at an increased cost proportional to distance.
Oh that has terrifying potential.

>>5969323
We really ought to boost specter wail, the synergy with Whispers is nuts';

'>>5969304
>Support

Well time to max out all our high level abilities. That saved us a fuck load of influence. Like 30k+';

'>>5969274
> Store Around Every Corner
> Upgrade Whispers to X!';

'>>5969345
I think the synergy with around every corner is even better - we can spy on anyone affected within a huge range and now even use authorities through them? Just think, we make a dozen thralls, use them to scour a city for beasts or other incarnations, then remotely touch of madness them.';

'>>5969565
> now even use authorities through them?
Has to be someone who can hear our laughter, so they wouldn't be that far away. Mayyybe we can use Spectre Wail and Cackle together to project over long distances? Not sure if we can Wail a Laugh.

Around Corners is nice utility, but Spirit Wail gives us a powerful ranged aoe attack, and we can couple it with Whispers to plant psychological hooks into our opponents.

Honestly it'd be worth it to boost Corners, Cackle, and Spirit Wail and see how they evolve, imagine if we could chain Spirit Wails across a city?';

'>>5969623
I imagined we wouldn't have to be laughing while we used the ranged authority function, that the effect would linger after the laugh ends, at which point we could make them seeker missles. Perhaps that comes with upgrades past rank 1. I just worry that once we store around every corner it'll never come out again and what could be a Pheme tier info gathering authority will be lost.';

'>>5969657
Honestly part of me wonders if we've put too much focus into being a deadly combatant. Survival traits like Omen and Preservation Instinct are great, but Titanic Strength, and Boar Mode are more about rip and tear, while Scourge of Mortals is mostly obsoleted by Divine Armor. If we drop those we might as well drop weapon training as well.

We'd have no melee ability, but we could focus entirely on being able to melt minds and be a sneaky sneak if we had Cackle, Corner, Wail, and we could finally get Flight. We'd still have powerful defensive authorities too, just no capacity for ripping a man's heart from his chest.';

'guys, it's "Specter's Wail", not banshee nor spirit.

>>5969565
Whispers already works through broadcast or recordings, so we can just as well have an agent with a speaker around
and >>5969345 said the specters wail/whispers synergy, since you opted to store Wail

>>5969657
first we also got to figure out the cost per distance, and if it goes down as the level increases. But the cost might be too steep to have good utility if we want to actually take down a city or district with multiple agents in key locations.

We're constantly maxed out and are always getting distracted by the next shiny thing. (Even though I want to get some more drops of chaos to get thematic ones)
Easier if we can drop some into items.';

'>>5969701
Yeah, Divine Servant has a lot of potential, but it eats up two of our slots without providing much critical functionality and ffuck that sucks.';

'>>5969705
because we haven't got around to fully utilizing it. But neither has Regeneration, Bane of Calydon, or any of the others we haven't even used yet...
Divine Servant lets us get multiple people whom we can order to farm their influence and use as our own. That's a passive income, which, according to economics dudebros on the internet, is a good thing.
Faustian bargain gets us also quite literal passive income daily plus an increase in divinity.
And Induct can make some morals we have fausted more effective at things.';

'>>5969717
we really should be reorganizing our portfolio and or getting some sort of guardian inside the jar of pandora';

'>>5969717
Regeneration has definitely saved our life by this point, and Bane has scored a kill too, and both are peace of mind abilities anyway. Induct is single use, if we use it, it vanishes and disables Divine Servant at the same time.

Don't get me wrong, the potential of Divine Servant is insane, eventually it'll be totally worth it, but Faustian bargain will take months to pay for even itself, let alone turn a profit, unless we go around making bargains every day for a few weeks.

Admittedly we might be able to pick up quite a few souls at knife point while dealing with the mob.';

'>>5969719
It really is capitalism.
We can use influence to make others generate influence for us with which we can make "employ" more people

>>5969721
>Induct is single use
is it? I thought the authority which we grant the inductee disappears';

'>>5969723
> Allows you to grant an authority to a mortal, either directly or via an authority crystal. The target will gain the Pseudo-Myth: <Cultist of <Your Incarnation Name>>. They share your directives, and any influence, authorities, epithets, or titles garnered by the target are granted to you instead. It is possible for an <Inductee> to betray their god, at which point they will lose their power and pseudo-myth. Authority vanishes upon a single use.';

'>>5969760
yes, but I interptered it in our favor.
Say we buy "Weapons Training (sniper rifle)" from the shop, and we use Induct on a mortal with "Weapons Training (sniper rifle)", then the authority "Weapons Training (sniper rifle)" vanishes and we'd have to rebuy it from the shop. Not that "Induct" vanishes.
You may as well be correct, in which case, fuck.
but let's wait for QM to confirm';

'>>5969765
Yep, it's single use. On the bright side, the authority doesn't vanish, you just lose custody for a bit- you can take it back at any time.

>>5969304
>>5969323
>>5969378
>>5969390
>Keep <Cackle> (Store <Around Every Corner>)
>Upgrade an old one (<Whisper of Temptation>)

Influence: 3,436-> 3,136/51,200

You take a peek at the full glory of your newly maxed-out authority

><Whisper of Temptation> (9->X)

While in effect, individuals sustain permanent losses to their capacity for delayed gratification and impulse control, becoming more severe the longer they hear your voice. Recordings are sufficient for this effect. It is possible to lower the inhibitions of specific impulses. However, the more specific your restrictions, the longer it takes for your authority to take hold, and the more likely it is for your <Whispers> to not have any effect at all. (25 divinity/level per hour). It is also possible to use this authority with nonverbal sounds, such as breaths, footsteps, or clapping. When this skill is in effect, you may have it such that the target or targets experience sounds and words of your choosing contrary to the actual utterances or noises into which this authority is imbued.

It is possible to implant not only specific desires, but specific directives through your voice. However, as before, the more specific the command and the less in line with the desires of the target, the more exposure is necessary to bring about the desired effect.

You are capable of using your <Whisper of Temptation> to elicit not only desires, but beliefs which the target desires to be true: (for example, you can convince a person that they are beautiful). This process takes much longer than any other use of this authority.

It is also possible to produce a much more immediate effect with this authority by having the intended outcome align with the words you say.

Individuals who succumb to this authority will feel a sense of reverence and obedience for you if they are aware of your existence. Individuals affected in this manner will also subconsciously recreate the basic level 1 effect of this authority should you wish them to.

Aslook at the new text, possibilities for mass, international destabilization of the world governments play on your mind:
>Individuals affected in this manner will also subconsciously recreate the basic level 1 effect of this authority should you wish them to.';

'>The authority doesn't vanish
Meaning the authority you lend out. Induct does vanish upon use- but you can have as many instances of it as you'd like

>>5970112

You carefully pick up the <Pithos> examining it for cracks or blemishes. Instead, on the side Oskar opened the jar, you see what appears to be a painted scene. The image shines just as the rest of the <Pithos>, as if it was put on before the piece was glazed and fired. The picture, all black and red, shows a man being harassed by a winged woman with the claws of a wolf and a snake for a tongue as he stands above a sleeping child. You recognize it immediately as a visual representation of <Mania>.

You wonder to yourself, what would happen if the Pithos is ever ‘finished’?

>Notice! One of your epithets has exceeded a synchronization rate of 75%! A new reward is available! Check the <Manage Epithets> tab to claim it.

You check out the tab:

Would you like to accept the divine weapon <Shawl of Delusion> or the rewards for the quest <Psychotic Breaker>?

>Weapon
>Quest rewards';

'>>5970114
God, I gotta sleep more

<Shawl of Delusion> is not a weapon. It's a <Relic>.';

'>>5970114
>Induct does vanish upon use
not cool beans

>Quest rewards';

'>>5970114
> Quest Reward

Here's hoping Psychotic breaker gives us mental protections of some sort.';

'>>5970114
>Individuals affected in this manner will also subconsciously recreate the basic level 1 effect of this authority should you wish them to.
Oh hell yeah
Turn that shit on right away
Now people all over the world are our mobile white noise speakers

>Shawl';

'>>5970311
Yeah, just lingering in an airport bathroom and enthralling random passerbys would create little chaos fountains who spread madness everywhere they go. Or just announcing ourselves to a crowd of people and sending them on their way. The potential is crazy.';

'>>5970311
>>5970343
for reference: whispers level 1 had a description that goes as:
>While in effect, individuals sustain permanent losses to their capacity for delayed gratification and impulse control, becoming more severe the longer they hear your voice. Recordings are sufficient for this effect

probably best to get radio/TV/podcast hosts. The kind of people that others listen to a lot.
Or just impersonate some of them for a little while.

>>5970114
what percentage of the pithos would you say has the image of mania taken up?
has the systems description of the pithos itself changed at all?

the obvious theory is that we can only do this a limited number of times. Even so, just skipping the 8->9->X is still enough of an influence saving option.
Also, since we can postpone taking the rewards for a subjugation, we should always do so until it's most cost effective, like when we already have an authority at something like 7 or 8

Right now I'm rather serious about keeping our expenses low unless they can make us more influence
having others use whispers for us, getting soul deals, making philotes huge for her own directive.
But mafia first. then some personal projects, and more info on Isa before going to this ever peaceful part of the world.';

'>>5970353
Is it only new infectees? I figured all the people already under the influence from our streaming and white noise would turn into broadcasters.';

'>>5970384
it's only people who "have succumbed to authority" that can spread it. probably those 1500 in our cult
but we don't know in what positions they are in, so I suggested going after people who are in position to spread their voice easily';

'>>5970391
>Individuals who succumb to this authority will feel a sense of reverence and obedience for you if they are aware of your existence. Individuals affected in this manner will also subconsciously recreate the basic level 1 effect of this authority should you wish them to.
I think you missed the "this" in that sentence. It's anyone who is under the influence of Whispers itself.';

'>>5970406
>you keep argueing semantics, maybe your reading compression is lacking
you're probably right...
I just think "succumb" means total control like the soldier (before his soul deal)
not people who've losend their inhibition because someone was in the bathroom stall next to them ripping a loud one, or any other non-directs command such as talking about video games or tv shows on their stream';

'>>5970197
>>5970286
>>5970311

To clarify regarding the new <Whispers> clause, it specifically refers to individuals who we’ve been colloquially referring to as ‘Thralls’. That is to say, people who are both a) aware of your existence as an incarnation and b) fall prey to your <Whispers> completely in your presence.

>Quest Rewards

Wherever you tread, madness follows.

>You gain 700 influence!

Influence: 3,136->3,836/51,200

>You gain the title <Figure Unspeakable>

>Figure Unspeakable
Your appearance (while no transformation, disguise, or stealth abilities are in effect) defies comprehension. Those who gaze upon you may be stricken with madness. As this effect is not based in divinity, neither you no your allies are immune to it

>You gain the authority <Danse Macabre>! Due to a lack of authority slots, a crystal will be provided instead.

>Danse Macabre (1)
Individuals who see you dance, or perform other movement arts such as figure skating or synchronized swimming, will experience violent impulses proportional to the quality of the performance.

You wonder just what your “True Appearance” as defined by the system is now, given this new title combined with the effects of <No True Face>, but you decide to heed the system’s warnings and not gaze upon your own face.

You inspect the image on the <Pithos>. You estimate that the new painting takes up about 5% of the urn’s surface, but irregularities in the sizes of the “main” images and the rest. it’s difficult to tell how many times you can get away with using it again.

You consider the experiment a success. What should be done now?

>I’ve prepared enough, it’s time to head to Prague
>I should dedicate my time to using the <Pithos> to grind for authority levels
>I should sell off some of my less useful <Epithets> using the <Epithet Holder> to gain enough influence for a new <Miracle>
>Write-in';

'>>5970444
>in your presence.
Damnit, I figured anyone affected through the white noise machines would be out because they weren't aware of us, but was hoping our streamer audience would start spreading it. No exponential growth if we have to infect each spreader personally :(

Shapeshifting our way into a major news outlet for a night is out too

>I should sell off some of my less useful <Epithets> using the <Epithet Holder> to gain enough influence for a new <Miracle>
Something with whispers perhaps?
Should sell Danse at the very least, dependent on dance skill and overlaps with a lot of our kit already';

'I rather hold onto epithets and hand them out to future subjects who have already proven themselves useful
>I should sell off some of my less useful <Authorities> using the <Authority Grinder> to gain enough influence
>Grind "Grotesque Horns"
>Grind "Pride Before the Feeble"
I don't see us using either
The rest could all be useful on ourselves or subordinates
Riptide, for example, could come in handy when our cyber_siren persona would come out as siren and do a demonstration of her powers
Berserk and Bloodlust for a combat subordinate
Cursed Gold on a loan shark, which we can find in the mafia
Life Insurance is a soft immortality
etc.

>about 5% of the urn’s surface
so about 19 more "free" level-ups

It's becoming more clear with Danse now too, that we will not have a one size fits all solutions kind of authority set. Even though I don't want to invest the time to learn dance (rather further our music skills)
Danse could work on an inductee. Backupdancer for the superbowl halftime show without anyone even realizing...
Anyway, we probably want one set of authorities for "expected combat", and one "cause problems on purpose" (with the ability to get out of a fight if needed)
like swapping out Weapon Training and Titanic Strength for Scribe of Dysnomia and Around Every Corner';

'>>5970482
I don't want to grind grotesque horns, it would be hilarious to induct someone with that and fit our theme.';

'>>5970444
>Stream, use dance and whispers to make everyone into a Thrall and worship us. Make them think that they're better than anyone that doesn't like us and our music. Have them push it onto others.

Basically a self replicating virus. Have them worship our Idol we bought too. For more power gains. Time to destabilize the whole world.

>Use our money to buy ads in main stream media and YouTube ect. Let's push our content everywhere.

If we get ceos and every powerful person addicted to us they'll push our stuff too. Again a self replicating boost in power. Time to take over anyone that sees our stuff.

Let's do this guys we'll get potentially billions of influence. Once we have 100s of millions if not billions of followers we can order them to kill anyone that's a nonbeliever.';

'>>5970501
We talked about this before the latest update, it doesn't work like that according to OP. Only people we dominate in person are contagious.';

'>>5970444
We're truly becoming a monster. One of these days someone is going to use an authority to view our true form, and it is going to be amazing.

>I’ve prepared enough, it’s time to head to Prague

Alternatively, or in addition
> Level up Spirit Wail to 3
> Level up Cackle to 3

I'd like to see how these grow and change. All three together (more volume, spread from affected, melt minds) could be insanely devestating. Just touch down in the middle east and Spirit Wail a mad cackle laced with Whispers, then continue projecting it out from there. Fucking Joker Memetic Virus there. I really feel like we have a potential city killer there, and wiping out a city could give us a solid 500,000 to 1,000,000 influence.';

'>>5970536
+1 support. This shit is evil and I love it. As small fry as we are, we are still a hazard. I am interested to see how figure unspeakable and no true face mix';

'>>5970450
>>5970482
>>5970501
>>5970536

It seems like the people are in support of doing some spring cleaning in exchange for some influence, so we’ll do it like this:

>You may vote for as many of the listed options as you wish
>Any vote which does not include a specific option will be counted as a vote against that option
>Any option for which more people vote in favor of exchanging than do not will be ground up

>Authorities:

>Cursed Gold (1):
You may place a hex on any piece of currency (10 divinity per use). If a person willingly accepts that currency with the intention to keep it, they will be affected by the hex. The available hexes are:
-Sniveling Gratitude: The individual will be more susceptible to your orders
-Bottomless Greed: The individual is consumed by greed, neglecting all other motives in service of it.

>Life Insurance (2):
You may sacrifice money, of any widely accepted currency, to halt the aging process. The rate is 20,000 USD for a number of years equal to your skill level. Additionally, it is possible to make yourself younger, at a rate of 40,000 USD per year

>Riptide (1):
Allows you to summon saltwater from the sea, at a rate of 1 divinity per pound. This water is infused with your divinity, and can be manipulated freely by you.

>Berserk (1):
Increases all of your physical attributes, including durability, proportional to your rage. Additionally, deepens your anger when in use. Consumes divinity proportional to the strength of the authority’s manifestation.

>Bloodlust (1):
When active, increases your strength, speed, and stamina in proportion to the degree to which you want to kill your target. Also fosters your desire to do so while active. Consumes divinity proportional to the strength of its manifestation.';

'>>5970800

>Scribe of Dysnomia (3):
Any recordings or images taken of you while this authority is active, as well as anything written or spoken by you while this authority is active, including verbatim copies or transcriptions, slowly erode faith in public order when perceived. Additionally, targets of this authority also exhibit reduced guilt for immoral and illegal acts. Consumes 1 divinity per 3 seconds.

>Enchant Item (1):
Allows you to create a Divine Relic. Works better for items made by the incarnation using this authority. If an authority crystal is used, a specific effect may be imparted. The item is severely damaged in the case of failure.

>Grotesque Horns (1)
Grows horns from your head that emit an unpleasant aura, causing nausea, vertigo, and nausea

>Pride Before the Feeble (1)
When activated, increases the strength and effectiveness of your authorities against a weaker incarnation for the duration of the battle. However, if this authority is invoked against an incarnation of greater or equal strength, a penalty is imposed upon the user instead.

>Around Every Corner (1):
Allows you to observe any individual who has succumb to your divinity within ten miles, multiplied by the level of this authority

>Danse Macabre (1)
Individuals who see you dance, or perform other movement arts such as figure skating or synchronized swimming, will experience violent impulses proportional to the quality of the performance.

>Epithets:

>Phonoi, Spirits of Murder (Plural Myth):
Synchronization Rate: 80%

>Chrysus, Spirit of Gold:
Synchronization rate: 17%

>Epimetheus, Titan of Hindsight:
Synchronization Rate: 8%
>Polyphemus, the Blinded Cyclops:
Synchronization Rate: 5%

>Pandora, Harbinger of Maladies:
Synchronization Rate: 90%

>Wrath of Artemis, Calydonian Boar:
Synchronization Rate: 20%

>Atalanta, the Swift-Footed Huntress:
Synchronization Rate: 10%

>Pride of Artemis, Ceryneian Hind:
Synchronization rate: 1%

>Dysnomia, Goddess of Lawlessness:
Synchronization rate: 79.83%

>Opaline Offering, Cretan Bull:
Synchronization Rate: 82.5%

>Wretched Blight, Catoblepas
Synchronization Rate: 53.9%

>Agamemnon, the Felled King
Synchronization Rate: 27.4%

>Lethe, River of Forgetfullness:
Synchronization Rate: 73.2%

>Maniae, Spirits of Madness (Plural Myth):
Synchronization Rate: 83.7%';

'>>5970800
>Pride Before the Feeble (1)
Shit. Just bad.
>Danse Macabre (1)
We've got better, and less situational
>Grotesque Horns (1)
Probably actually really strong, but against our vibe.

>Agamemnon, the Felled King
The dork we got Pride before the Feeble from. Ugh no.
>Polyphemus, the Blinded Cyclops:
Weaksauce myth monster';

'Off topic question about Cackle. If we Cackle and affect a target, then have that target cackle, affecting a second target unable to hear our original cackle, can we emit a third cackle from that second target?

Tldr, can cackle chain beyond our personal vocal range? Like sweep across an entire stadium?';

'>>5970847
Cackle (for now) can only act as a <point of origin> for your authorities, which in the case of ones like cackle which are based on sound and not distance does not allow for chaining in that manner. Unlike <Touch of Madness>, for example, which does not need a medium like a laugh or a scream, <Cackle> <Whisper of Temptation> or <Specter's Wail>, alongside transformation or augmentation authorities like <A Thousand Faces, A Thousand Voices>, <Titanic Strength>, or <Polyglot> all cannot be utilized by individuals affected by cackle. However, if you had a line of people all affected by <Cackle>, you could move the point of origin all the way down the line one step at a time, effectively eliminating the exponential factor of the increased cost as related to distance';

'>>5970519
Brain washing someone to be our fan boy. And having them compulsory show others is inherently self replicating. We can show our discord people that we're a God so it does work with the new X level.

Come on connect the dots.';

'>>5970841
+1
but keep Danse, I already outlined how we could use it

also, upgrade both Specter's Wail and Cackle to 3
what is Cakle's range cost? it was never clarified.';

'>>5970855
Ahh, so we could use Cackle, then follow it up with ToM on nearby targets.';

'>>5970501
I was also pushing to be smarter about our streamer persona the past two threads.
get editors that cut our stuff together, to make more content per time we ourselves have to invest.
for videos always same shtick:
early in the vid, get the whispers command for people to watch through to the end. And at the end, whispers them to watch another one of our vids. Absolutely game the inherent algorithms that all those sites are already have in place. They already work exactly how we want them to. To keep the user on the platform as long as possible, and be subjected to our whispers as long as possible.
we don't even need ads for that.

>>5970855
>>5970993
right, we can use Cackle to not have to pay the *distance cost* of Touch of Madness, which is measured in inches
cackle would only deliver panic, but ToM is much more powerful, doing illusions
We still need to know what the distance cost of Cackle is. Description only says "cost proportional to distance"';

'I'll wait an hour or two for a tiebreaker regarding <Danse Macabre>, otherwise I'll flip a coin for it';

'>>5971219
we can always grind it later if another vote pops up, but continue on with the resale price of the common vote';

'>>5970841
>>5970875
>>5970902

Authorities:

>Pride Before The Feeble (1): 2,900 (-200)

>Grotesque Horns (1): 4,800 (-200)

Epithets:

>Agamemnon, The Felled King: 10,000

>Polyphemus, The Blinded Cyclops: 12,000

Total gain: 28,300

Influence: 3,836-> 32,336/50,900

Your eyes widen: in retrospect, it makes sense that epithets, particularly non-plural ones would bring significant value, but the amount that you received from the authorities surprises you. You imagine that common authorities like <Titanic Strength> or shop authorities like <Polyglot> would go for much less, but even still, the profits are considerable.

What should be done now?

>Spend influence (Specify how)
>Head to Prague
>Write-in';

'>>5971315
>>Spend influence (Specify how)
>Cackle 1->3 for 300
>Specter's Wail 1->3 for 300
>A Thousand Faces, a Thousand Voices 4->6 for 2400
>Assess Hamartia 4->6 for 2400
>Guerilla Tactics 5->8 for 11.200
for a total of 16.600

what the distance cost of Cackle ?
can you buy store authorities directly into authority crystals?

>>Head to Prague';

'>>5971332
>what the distance cost of Cackle ?
It doesn't say: you'll have to test it out

>can you buy store authorities directly into authority crystals?

Nope';

'>>5971332
Support!

+Buy our personal relic for 10k. It's gotta be good for us, right?';

'>>5971332
>>5971372

>Cackle 1->3 for 300

The effects of this authority linger for (60->120) seconds after the termination of its use.

It becomes possible for individuals affected by your <Cackle> to personally recreate the first level effects of one authority specified before a specific continuous use of this authority using their own divinity until the effects of this authority wear off. However, this effect does not apply to transformation authorities

>Specter's Wail 1->3 for 300

The volume of the screams increases. Additionally, once the threshold of serious harm is passed, the sound will continue to carry for (20->30%) more distance.

Additionally, it becomes possible to select from any of the listed afflictions:

>Despair
>Wrath

>A Thousand Faces, a Thousand Voices 4->6 for 2400

It becomes possible for you to enhance your physical capabilities using this authority, including hardening your skin or increasing your strength beyond that which is attainable by structures created in the human body.

Additionally, it is possible to create additional structures (e.g. limbs, organs) provided that the structure itself is an analogue to something which exists in the human body (For example, you could create a third arm but not an insect’s wings)

>Assess Hamartia 4->6 for 2400

The extent to which this authority increases the power of relevant effects is heightened. Provided a sufficient difference in level, it is also possible to ascertain the name of the primary myth of your target.

>Guerilla Tactics 5->8 for 11.200

You may mask (->or change the color of) your divinity, including the visual effects of the use of authorities, while remaining completely visible. Negates the information gathering effects of shop items available below level ->8, as well as similar effects provided by divine relics below ->super rare grade.

While this authority is active, should you choose to remain visible, it also makes it more difficult to detect the use of transformation or illusion authorities which alter your appearance, as well as interfering with effects that detect lies or negative intent.

Influence: 32,336-> 15,736/51,200

Should you buy your personal <Divine Relic>?
>Yes
>No';

'>>5971417
>>Yes
We want to get this sooner or later so why not now?

Also guerilla tactics seems like good synergy with our other things, now that it can hid the transformations.';

'>>5971417
> Yes

Oh wow,. Thousand Faces is so much stronger than I thought. It's probably a full multipurpose polymorph at X including flight.

I wonder if Thousand Faces miracled with Whispers makes us a Memetic Hazard? LETS FIND OUT.';

'>>5971633
Thinking we level Faces normally to 8, then use the Pithos Hack to go to 10. Then Miracle Faces and Whispers together to hopefully become a shapeshifting infohazard.';

'>>5971424
>>5971633

>Purchase your personal <Divine Relic>

Influence:15,736->5,736/51,200

You purchase the relic from the shop. As you do, an ornately decorated silver- or is it platinum?- ring adorned with blood red rubies appears in your palm. You decide to take a peek at its effects.

Folly’s Grasp (Fable <Omega> Ring)

You may expend divinity (10 per hour) to temporarily possess any individual who has either met the conditions of your primary directive <By Their Own Hand>, is bound by a <Pact of Submission> or whose soul you have come to own. You may only use this effect on mortals or incarnations of a lower level than yours. Additionally, you must know the true name and, for incarnations, the identity of their primary myth in order to possess them.

It is possible to manipulate up to 4 targets at a time, including your own body, but with each target, including yourself, the mental strain increases, and prolonged exertion of the full power of this relic may damage your soul.

It is possible to make use of both your own authorities and the authorities of the individual you have come to possess while the possession is in effect, but, though the effects will remain the same as they are at the level at which you possess them, the effective level of the authorities will be at the incarnation level of whoever you are possessing, or half of your own incarnation level, whichever is higher.

Additionally, any actions you engage in using the body of a target under the control of <Folly’s Grasp> which satisfy your directives will grant you influence as if you had used them yourself.

Your eyes widen at the power of your new relic. While it is true that, had you purchased it earlier, the power would be considerably weaker, you still lament the missed opportunities.

Having wrapped up your little experiment, you decide to finally head to Prague; once you return to your hotel room, you give Brigita the signal that the time has come. Under the cover of <Guerilla Tactics> the two of you make your way to the building’s roof whereupon she <Monstrossifies> and begins to fly you to your location.

As you fly towards the city, you consider what the best method of approach would be. How should you go about this?

>Infiltrate by taking down and impersonating a low level mook
>Have Brigita take you to the man in charge
>Break the door down and start killing people until someone important comes out
>Sneak into the building with stealth authorities
>Write-in';

'>>5971686
>Sneak into the building with stealth authorities
> Buy Diviners to identify the number of incarnations in the building';

'>>5971686
>Have Brigita take you to the man in charge

Oh wow we got some buffs
Wonder how strong Kronos must be';

'>>5971686
So Folly's Grasp. At first I was a bit disappointed, then I realized this effectively let's us puppeteer three people, and use all of our powers through them at level five. Possibly four people if we have a safe place to puppet from. (Implication that we are just another victim of Atë?) No maximum range is noted, and verrry interestingly no restrictions on transformation authorities is present either.

Possible applications:
- Boar Stampede. Three Calydon Boars on a rampage? Yes please.
- Four 'different' people shapeshifting into each other, or just mirrors of ourselves.
- Overlapping guerilla auras
- Multiple point blank Spirit wails
- Disposable attack drones

How long is the range? An important question.';

'>>5971808
There's no element of distance: the target could be next to you or in Timbuktu or on the moon and the effect would be the same. Also, don't forget that the relic is a growth type and will continue to increase in power as time goes on';

'>>5971813
Oh that's fun. So the big question is how quickly can we ruin a person without killing them. We should definitely pick up some ruined thralls before we leave for Israel.';

'>>5971686
>Buy Diviners to identify the number of incarnations in the building
>Assess Hamartia anyone to see our differences in power
>Sneak into the building with stealth authorities
Eventually drop the stealth aspects as we just make a cocktail for ourselves at the minibar of the big dick in charge
then just start out talking about a business opportunity

>Folly’s Grasp
doesn't that also just make "Around Every Corner" obsolete?

>>5971633
>Thousand Faces miracled with Whispers
hmm... I said earlier that a Guerilla Tactics + Stealth miracle would be good, but now I think a Guerilla Tactics + Thousand Faces would be best to fully pretend to be someone whom we are not.
We could actually become Siren, in the eyes of normal information gathering authorities.';

'probably also worth to discuss our appearances.
It's barely ever explicitly stated

1.) We have our original form we had pre-deification, which is now probably unusable lest we want to make people go insane.
2.) The cyber_siren persona. That appearance for sure falls under No True Face.
3.) The mustachiod "Huber, Mercenary", whose appearance has likely been described to quite some people (maybe even been observed in Braun's memories). probably enough for NTF.
4.) We introduced ourselves as "Rosa Huber" to Eris while having a random plain looking appearance (not the appearance of Rosa Beisel, Tisiphone). It was never stated if we ever let Eris or the rest of our pantheon see our original form. Both if they have seen our original form and if they are simply too low in number, this appearance will probably count to trigger NTF and let us be that transformation with no cost.
5.) The yet unnamed musician persona. I don't know if there was ever a need to have her appearance be known, but we should give her an appearance, simply to have another appearance we can slip into at no cost.

and the rest were pretty much one off characters to get a grasp on german/czech

>>5971686
>create a new persona like we mixed and matched cyber_siren
have her be our new default by getting enough people in the czech mafia to trigger NTF for this appearance.
and then
>Buy Diviners to identify the number of incarnations in the building
>Assess Hamartia anyone to see our differences in power
>Sneak into the building with stealth authorities';

'>>5971972
I was thinking we might want to develop a 'Combat' face for NTF as well since it can boost our stats now. Maybe even consider making it unusual, like with four arms and learning out to fight with that many.';

'>>5972022
also very valuable, as we don't want to have to worry about burning divinity on a transformation during combat...
then again, we can just make new social media accounts and get to a certain level of following to properly NTF them.
probably good idea to first consult with some anatomy people or xenobiology ones on how to best place joints and muscles and how these muscles should be refined. Then transform into exactly that.
It's meta knowledge that the system also handles how you think about moving newbody parts using your new center of gravity (from Braun and his training of Tisiphone and her wings). But Ate already knows that real skill is better than system granted skill, and we need to get real combat training regardless (though the mafia could probably help with that)

We could set up a persona who claims to be the myth of the Molionides, where the persona is able to grow another set of arms and legs, as well as head. Fitness/musclegirl workout videos. But the persona doesn't really want to use anything except the extra hands, because two heads is hard to handle, and another set of legs is >picrel

I should keep track of ideas...';

'>>5970875
I don't think you know what self replicating means anon.';

'>>5972103
It'd be interesting to see how far we could push the extra body parts bit. Like, extending our spine, adding additional limbs as we go until we're some hideous human serpent hybrid? At the very least we could manifest arms and wrap them around our body as makeshift armor, and of course we're also tougher and more armored as a result as well.

...I wonder if we could improve our own nervous system?';

'>>5971972
Don't forget, there's a difference between <Atë>'s true face and her civilian identity. The former 'her', the one in all the OP pics, is (as far as the system is concerned) a persona right alongside Cyber_Syren or Rosa Huber.

>>5971745
>>5971790
>>5971899

>Sneak into the building with stealth authorities
> Buy Diviners to identify the number of incarnations in the building

Influence: 5,736->5,706/51,200

Brigita flies you to a large, seemingly innocuous office complex in the heart of the city under the cover of your stealth authorities. You purchase and shatter a <Diviner> providing you with the following information:

><Phonoi, Spirits of Murder> (Plural Myth): 5
>(The incarnation status of this incarnation is obscured by an authority. However, due to the difference in level, you are still able to detect their presence)

While the exact information regarding the latter incarnation is obscured, based on the system’s wording, they must be significantly less powerful than you: level 7 at the absolute highest.

“Do you have any idea who the other incarnation might be?”

She shakes her head: “I’m not sure- I didn’t know he even had another in his employ. Whoever he is, he’s gotta be a made man.”

“Your boss, does he seem like the murdery type?”

“For a mobster, not particularly. As a rule, he has his underlings do the dirty work… particularly one guy. Václav Osika. Huge guy, maybe 6 and a half feet tall and solid as a brick wall.”

You nod. It can be reasonably assumed that, if the boss had bought <Phonoi> and deified with it, he’d be doing the killing with his own hands to increase his sync rate and gain influence via his directive.

“Do you know where Slavíček works?”

“Follow me.”

She leads you to an office at the top floor of the building. You open the door and are met with an ornately, almost tackily decorated office replete with paintings, a couple of plush chairs, and an ornately carved black desk. Behind the desk, a massive window lets natural light into the room. One thing you don’t find in the office is Slavíček himself.
“Where is he?”

“Out on business, I guess. Probably in a meeting with either the boss or some government people”

“Does he bring Osika with him on these little escapades?”

“Always- he’s his right hand man.”

What should you do?
>Purchase a <Detective’s Compass> and track down Osika
>Wait here for the boss to come back
>Find a gang member and extract the information
>Write-in';

'>>5972193
>Find a gang member and extract the information
maybe get as much thralls in the meantime as possible
pick them off one by one';

'>>5972193

> Enthrall as many people as we can and stage an ambush
> Set up a minion for Folly's Grasp
> Send in the minion to land Touch of Madness.

I'm thinking we try what we did with Molotov again, but this time with Folly's Grasp. We find someone and have them 'Meet with Disaster', maybe publically out their mafia ties on social media? That person becomes our primary puppet, we use them to move in for a Touch of Madness on the weaker incarnation, then then whichever incarnation survives we finish off.';

'>>5972193
>>5972206
sounds good';

'>>5972199
>>5972206
>>5972240

“Brigita,” you ask, “Are any of the made men in the Prague division parents?”

She stops to think for a second. “I’d guess so. Most of them have civilian identities completely removed from their lives of crime. Generally, they try to keep the two as separate as possible, and even though for many their families are an open secret, there’s an unspoken code not to go for them which very few would be stupid enough to break.”

You nod. Rather than grilling people for information, you decide to sweep over the people in the building with <Assess Hamartia> until you find a suitable candidate. The individual, though decently muscular, seems more like an administrator than a fighter considering the crow’s feet under his eyes and the writer’s bump on his left hand.

Benedikt Doležal

Hamartia: Greed, Paranoia
Deepest Desires: Family, Money

You wait until the man is in his office alone before you reveal yourself to him, being sure to keep yourself hidden to the rest of the world and any cameras it might contain.

“Mr. Doležal.”

You appear to him in the form of the woman you used to meet Brigita, but this time adorned with a pair of ebony-black goat’s horns and a set of razor-sharp claws of the same color. The man, seeing you appear from what was from his perspective thin air, staggers backwards, falling out of his chair. You extend the reach of <Guerilla Tactics> to him to avoid drawing undue suspicion.

“Y-you, who the hell are you! How did you get in here!”

“Tsk, tsk Benedikt. Isn’t it obvious?”

He subconsciously crawls further back as you step forward to approach. Though the man is taller than your current form, you tower over him.

“Incarnation,” he answers, his voice more a breath than a whisper.

“Well done!”

“Did the boss send you? No he, government?”

You grin, revealing a mouthful of razor sharp teeth, “Not quite. I’ve come to make a deal with you.” You approach, stabbing him in the leg and assaulting his mind with your <Touch>, strengthening his preservation instincts several fold.

“Tell me the names and address of your family.”

Due to the effects of your divinity, he cowers, spilling information which in his right mind he would have died to protect.

“Excellent. Thank you.”

You withdraw your talon and release your authority. As he returns to sanity, he begins to panic as he realizes what he’s just done.

“Y-you bastard! When the boss gets back you’ll-”

You place your claw, slicked crimson with his own blood, upon his lips.';

'>>5972468

“Listen, Benedikt. I’ll only tell you this once. I’m going to stroll out of this building, fly over to your little love nest, and put this claw,” you wiggle it, cutting a small incision in his filtrum for emphasis, before continuing, “And jam it into your wife’s eye socket. Then, I’ll pull it out, line up your little angels, and FEED them her organs before I bleed them out like pigs. Remember that little trick I used to make you talk? They’ll devour her innards like a bag of candy.”

“YOU BITCH” he desperately swings his fist at you. Rather than blocking it, you activate <To Mortals, a Scourge>, completely protecting yourself from the damage. The only thing he accomplishes is breaking his own hand.

“Unless,” you continue, “you give me your soul.”

“DEMON! WHORE! DIIIEEE!” He continues to uselessly flail his libs, until and after the bones break and the ligaments tear, to absolutely no effect. Once he tires himself out, he slumps down defeated.

“Well? What do you say?”

“God… god will come for you.”

“God is here for you right now.”

You extend your hand, crimson chains playing at the sides of your wrists.

“Last chance,”

Wordlessly, he shakes your hand.

>Congratulations! You have gained 10 influence for making a <Faustian Bargain>! You will receive 10 influence daily from this individual for as long as they live
>Your <Divinity> pool has increased by 10! This bonus will remain as long as they live

Though the divinity cost of that deal was significant, you have plenty of gas in the tank thanks to your recent ambrosia doping. First, you decide to try out <Folly’s Grasp> on your new pet.

Your mind quivers- while the strain is nothing compared to what you experienced with Pheme’s <Wings>, the experience of taking in the sensations and piloting two bodies is incredibly disorienting. It takes you a couple of minutes to acclimate. In the meantime, you use <Regeneration> as Benedikt, using his own divinity to heal the wounds he gave himself.

The two of you split up- the decreased effective incarnation level means nothing in the face of a building of mortal criminals, and, while still somewhat viscerally uncomfortable, you manage to maintain your usual standard of performance and ability while puppeting the other man’s body to a similar (possibly 75%) standard.

By using <Touch of Madness> and <Assess Hamartia> to soften their minds before commanding them with <Whispers>, the entire building soon falls under your control. Benedikt seems to be horrified- it seems like, even while you puppet them completely, the bodies underneath are fully conscious.

The gang is yours and your targets will return soon, but your and Benedikt’s divinity is nearly bottomed out.';

'>>5972469

Should you use <Nectar>?
>On myself
>On Benedikt
>On both
>On neither

What command should you give your thralls?
>Act natural once the boss gets back
>Gun him down as soon as possible
>Set up a trap using explosives
>Write-in';

'>>5972471
>On both
>Act natural once the boss gets back

Lure them in, get them with Harmatia, then have our new pet stroll up and nail them both with Touch of Madness. Gonna be fun with everything goes to shit.';

'>>5972496
+1';

'>>5972471
>>5972496
+2';

'>>5972471
>On myself

>Act natural once the boss gets back

Would be cool if we could pact the incarnation too, but I want to see what their relationship is like';

'>>5972517
actually don't use a nectar on Benedikt, we can just use someone else as a puppet';

'>>5972496
>>5972498
>>5972517
>>5972548
>>5972575

>On myself (get a new thrall)
>Act natural

You ask your new goons to gather in a meeting room.

“Who here’s married?”

About a dozen of the 40ish people raise their hands.

“Put your hand down if your marriage is in shambles.”

Three put their hands down- less than you thought. You pick out the most physically gifted looking men and bring them to another room. Thereupon, you use <Touch of Madness> to show them illusions of beautiful women.

“[Fuck.]”

You command. Blinded by lust (and, for the one on the bottom, a heavy dose of illusions), they do. You snap a few pictures and send them off to their wives.

Influence: 5716->5724/51,200

You take command of the stronger of the two men, temporarily dropping Benedikt so as not to put needless strain on your brain. Finally, you pop a <Nectar> restoring your divinity to the max.

Influence: 5,724->5,524/51,200

Slavíček returns to the base with his small retinue, including the <Phonos> and seems to be none the wiser. You pilot your puppet, naturally positioning yourself in a place he’d pass by:

Josef Slavíček

Hamartia: Narcissism, Sadism
Deepest Desires: Power, Money, Authority
Domain: Water, Underworld, Fire

Through the eyes of your thrall, you watch him pass by. It seems like whatever obstruction authorities he has are marginally below level 5, so you should theoretically have no problem doing just about whatever you’d like with him. What should you do?

>Put him and his divine crony down
>Trap them with your <Touch> and command them with your <Whispers>
>Reveal yourself and offer a <Bargain>
>Write-in';

'>>5972598
>Reveal yourself and offer a <Bargain>

Passive income maxxing
As for the bargain, we'll let him have his gang back and not torture then murder him for fun.';

'>>5972598
>Trap them with your <Touch> and command them with your <Whispers>

Establish control first. Dominate, interrogate, then bargain.';

'>>5972598
>>Reveal yourself and offer a <Bargain>
become a part of a bigger empire, or lose his small kingdom and die.';

'>>5972598
>Reveal yourself and offer a <Bargain>';

'>>5972598
>>Reveal yourself and offer a <Bargain>
we can play on his characteristics
tell him we're going intercontinental, we need someone to manage our european crime-division, and how "Kingpin of Europe" sound to him?
If he asks what'll happen if he says no, we can always find someone else in his organization capable of taking over for him. And we meant to give Algos, the goddess of suffering, a present anyway. He's gonna love her, she's the creative type.


I also came up with a nice heist idea.
There are temples full of gold in India, which were never touched in hundreds of years.
If we were to make him Chrysus, and he'd gain influence from amassing riches (and he's already level 8), he could take Divine Realm, we use some Guerilla Tactics and Stealth, get in the temples, go from vault to vault and move all the gold and gemstones into the divine realm, before fucking off without anyone knowing, because those vaults are never opened.';

'>>5972633
>and ruin. She, formerly a miserable but ultimately normal office worker, has since accepted her role as the embodiment of her <Myth>. She, along with her partner in crime, the incarnation of Pheme, titan of rumors and gossip, have been working to expand their influence and stack the deck in their favor against not only mortals, but also rival incarnations. In her own eyes, she is no longer human. Her ultimate goal- the elimination of all rival incarnations and, eventually, complete and total world domination.
>After traveling to Austria to hunt down a member of your pantheon who threw her lot in with the government, you discovered a conspiracy that, if revealed and believed, would shake societies across the world to their core- almost every nation is secretly being puppeteered by a small handful of powerful incarnations competing against each other for world domination. You decided to throw your lo
>>5972655
>>5972679
>>5972789
>>5972891

>Reveal yourself and offer a <Bargain>

You emerge from the point you’ve been observing from, dropping your stealth authorities to reveal your presence. Your thralls do not react, but Slavíček’s small remaining entourage draw their weapons and point them at you.

“[Kneel]”

Your men, as well as one of Slavíček’s more cowardly subordinates, drop to their knees. Oiska fires a round into you, but you simply shrug it off with your authorities, only using <Divine Armor> to protect your clothes.

“Pathetic.” you spit out almost involuntarily.

Slavíček, successfully assessing the situation, drops his gun and puts his hands up.

“Alright, I’m new to this god business but even I can tell you’re out of our league. What can I do for you?”

“I’m glad you’re so cooperative. I’ll get to the point- I was thinking about taking over the criminal underworld of, well, just about everywhere, but I have more important things to do than manage the minutiae of organized crime. I need guys like you, competent, seasoned criminals to run my little empire for me.”

“And what do you want me to manage for you?”

“Europe. Maybe Russia too if you prove your mettle.”

He whistles, “Goddamn lady, that’s one hell of an offer,” his eyes narrow, “but deals like that don’t come cheap.”

“Clever. I’ll be blunt- in order to ensure your continued cooperation, I’ll need your soul.”

His shoulders go slack as he puts his hand on his face, seemingly trying to hide his expression. A laugh escapes his lips.

“I don’t have to ask what happens if I refuse, right?”

“Whatever you’re thinking of is probably better than what I’d do.”

“Alright you goddamn psycho, I’ll bite.”';

'Wow, odd ui glitch there.

>>5972936

“Boss you can’t! You want us to grovel for this cocky bitch?! Besides, do you have any idea what Don Povondra will do when he finds out!?” Oiska interjects, outrage plastered on his face

“SHUT UP YA FUCKIN’ MORON BEFORE YOU GET US BOTH KILLED!” Slavíček roars. He calms down before elaborating “Look around you, dumbass, she’s probably got the entire building under her thumb. Do you think you can fight something that can do that?”

“But Povondra-”

“Forget about Povondra- I’d rather be dead later than dead right now.”

“A wise assessment.”

He extends his hand and you take it.

>Congratulations! You have gained 10 influence for making a <Faustian Bargain> with the incarnation of <Phlegethon>! Additionally, you may spend their divinity as if it was your own
>Your <Divinity> pool has increased by 20! This bonus will remain as long as they live

Huh, it seems like you don’t get daily influence gain by making <Faustian Bargains> with incarnations in the same way you do when bargaining with mortals. You ignore it for a moment and turn your attention to Oiska.

“Well? Your boss jumped on board, might as well join him.”

He draws a dagger from his inventory and leaps at you, dark red divinity shrouding the blade and pouring out of his body. You easily evade, but the fact that <Omen> and <Preservation Instinct> warned you to means that he’s at least capable of harming you. Slavíček screams at the man to stop, but he seems to be lost in some kind of berserk skill.

What should you do?
>Trap him with <Touch>
>Put him down
>Have someone else fight him (specify who)
>Write-in';

'>>5972939
>Trap him with <Touch>
>Put him down
Overwhelm him with despair until he guts himself for us.';

'>>5972939
>Trap him with <Touch>
>give Benedict a Cyclops eye and have him kill Oiska
that should transfer this Phonos to him, right?';

'>>5972939
wtf no daily divinity? boo

backing >>5972952
good experiment to see what happens when a bargained mortal deifies

probably gonna lose the daily divinity from him :(

guess we're going for Povondra after this?';

'>>5972948
>>5972952
>>5972955

Sorry for the delay, it took a bit to draft up the new status sheets

>Trap him with <Touch>
>give Benedict a Cyclops eye and have him kill Oiska

You extend your hand, basking the berserk incarnation with the crimson glow of your divinity. You easily trap him in an illusion where he can slaughter you and all of the treasonous wretches in the building to his heart’s content while, in reality, he slumps limply to the polished tile floor. You puppeteer Benedikt over to the hapless spirit of murder and use his now clawed hand to tear out his heart.

>Congratulations! Your vessel has successfully subjugated another incarnation! Would you like to claim the subjugation yourself or grant it to the vessel?

Without hesitation, you select the latter: as things stand, another incarnation on a leash is far more useful than the mediocre influence gain and authorities you would gain from taking the kill yourself.

You check your incarnation window and see… neither your divinity gain nor influence gain has increased. It seems like the passive income is a sort of incentive for incarnations to make deals with mortals, and that the system doesn’t particularly care what you do with them afterwards.

Slavíček, though obviously upset by the slaughter of his old friend, bites his tongue and resists the urge to say anything about it.

You check your incarnation window and notice that you’ve gained two more slots in your subordinate’s tab: <Phonoi> and <Phlegethon>.

https://rentry.org/phlegethon-incarnation-status
https://rentry.org/phonoi-incarnation-status

“Alright, I assume you wanna pay a visit to Don Povondra?” he asks instead of saying something stupid.

>”Yes, let’s go”
>”There are some things I want to take care of first” (Perform some system management)
>”No, I’m done here. For now, anyway.”
>Write-in';

'>>5974023
>>”Yes, let’s go”
Interesting. Perhaps we could accumulate all the rivers under our control?

Also thought just occured to me that there is probably an Ouranus, Tartarus, Gaea, Pontus andKaos out there somewhere. Most importantly, Phanes is likely out there somewhere, and he may very well be the scariest of the bunch';

'>>5974023
>”Yes, let’s go”
Oh man he's efficient, let's keep him';

'>>5974062
>>5974088

>”Yes, let’s go”

Slavíček nods, “Since you came here first, I’m guessing you don’t know where Povondra is right now.”

“That’s right. Do you know?”

“Just about- he’s at an auction in Lausanne. Switzerland.”

“Switzerland- that’s like the hub for rogue incarnations, right?”

“That’s right. Them and Germany are just about the last places where the new gods don’t have the government by the balls, but Switzerland had to pay a pretty high price for it. Instead of putting themselves at the mercy of one psycho, they brought in a hundred and hoped they’d keep each other in check. The only thing crazier than the idea is that it worked.”

“So I assume this isn’t an ordinary auction?”

“You catch on quick. The place is an incarnation auction- they sell relics, weapons, epithets, authorities, and sometimes even incarnation slaves.”

“For currency?”

“Not generally. You can buy your way in with enough cash- I’m talking billions with a B- but all auctions are conducted with a sorta in-house currency that you get by submitting items to the organizers with <Stygian Pacts> to keep it all honest.”

This is the first you’re hearing of this. Pheme probably knew it was happening and probably also assumed you figured the same. While you could imagine people were commercializing system benefits, the details would have been nice to know.

“Even a boss like Povondra can only afford to buy the absolute cheapest shit on the market using cash. The real customers are incarnations- hunters, mercs, and the like. People with a motherload of worthless epithets or myths that might be valuable but aren’t any good to the person who owns them.”

“How high do you think Povondra’s level is? And what type of incarnation is he?”

“I know it’s something related to crime- he told me something about even his deification being about work, but beyond that I got no clue. The Don’s always been the secretive sort- the only reason I know he’s at the auction is because he asked me for something I was holding onto.”

“Being?”

“A <Myth>. <Oread>.”

“And you just gave it to him?”

“Didn’t have a choice. I can tell he outlevels me- at least by three, probably 4 levels.”

Formidable, but probably still weaker than you.

“Look, I threw in my lot with you because I kinda had no choice, but Povondra is serious business. Multiple incarnation bodyguards, top notch combat authorities bought straight from the auction, and even some old models of the anti-incarnation guns the Austrians are working on.”

“You mean these?” You toss him a Cyclops’ Eye.';

'>>5974106

“Holy shit, this is the current model! Where the fuck did you get this?”

“From a corpse.”

“Jesus. you’re one scary lady.” he says as he hands the gun back to you.

“Hold onto it. In case you forgot, you’re tagging along.”

Having received your permission, he places the rifle in his inventory.

“So uh, how are we getting there, anyway? I don’t have my own jet or anything.”

“I have that covered.” You snap your fingers, signaling for Brigita to emerge from her hiding space. You release your stealth authorities placed on her and reveal her to the group.

Slavíček’s face contorts in recognition, but he stays silent, seemingly having a rough idea of the situation. You can see the hatred burning in his eyes as his skin goes red with rage. He clenches his hands until the knuckles go white and sizzling blood leaks from his palms, igniting as they splash upon the marble tiles of the floor.

“Mistress, remember when you said I could have revenge if I wanted?” Brigita asks. You nod, and she continues: “Can you do me a favor and let me borrow him? Just for a couple of minutes. I promise I won’t cripple him or anything.”

“If you wanted to enter the auction,” Slavíček deflects, “Registration and currency buying ends tonight at midnight. We need to get going as soon as possible.

Should you let Brigita have her revenge?

>Sure, why not
>Maybe later
>No
>Write-in

And how do you want to deal with Povondra?
>Enter the auction
>Infiltrate the auction without entering
>To hell with the auction, kill the guy and be done with it
>Write-in';

'>>5974108
>Sure, why not
Don't worry, you can heal from this. You CAN heal from this, can't you? You bought Regeneration like a sane man with god powers, right???
>Enter the auction
He doesn't know
HE DOESN'T KNOW';

'>>5974108
>Sure, why not
A few minutes couldn't hurt

>Enter the auction
Just to see what it's like, no biggie if we miss it. Subjugating or killing Povondra is the main goal.';

'>>5974114
>>5974121

>Sure, why not

Brigita’s mouth twists into a grin so eerie, it even unsettles you for a moment. “Thank you very much,” she says.

After you order Slavíček, as well as a few of his enthralled goons, to follow Brigita’s orders for the next ten minutes, she drags the hapless men to another room. You see her manifest what appears to be a small wardrobe before the door swings shut.

Grunts, moans, screams, and the smell of burning flesh leak from beneath the cracks in the door. Brigita exits, followed by a limping Slavíček.

“Sorry, I forgot his blood was flammable.”

“What exactly did you do?”

She shows you pictures of the mob boss dressed like a cheap whore, makeup included, and videos of him reading embarrassing lines, licking Brigita’s feet, and having objects, living and inanimate, placed in his various orifices. Physically, the man is mostly fine, but the mental scars are probably significant. You’re impressed with how efficient she was in only ten minutes.

>Enter the auction

Brigita is able to transport you, Slavíček, and Benedikt, though she (according to her) has no choice but to carry Slavíček in her talons. It takes a few hours, but you manage to make it to the provided address before sundown.

They booked a 5 star hotel for the affair- makes sense, given the magnitude of the money changing hands, as people from all over the world line up to enter. You approach the entrance, where a guard emanating a slight purple glow waits.

“Proof of identity?” He says in English.

You look to Slavíček. “Proving divinity works too.”

You change your form to exactly match the doorman and make use of <Guerilla Tactics> to temporarily change the color of your divinity to a dark green.

“Is this your first time at the auction?”

Everyone but Slavíček nods as he hands the guard an ID card.

“You can register by gaining a balance of at least 10,000 points. If you intend to use currency, that translates to roughly 10 billion USD.”

Jesus, they weren’t kidding about the price point.

“Everyone but me is only here as guard staff.” you reply. The doorman nods and steps aside.

You make your way to a register where a woman dressed in men’s formalwear is slumped in her chair. She rights herself as you approach.

“Welcome to the auction! How can I help you today?”

“I’d like to get some points. Do I have to buy my own holders?”

“Oh of course not, miss! The auction house not only provides them free of charge, but even adds additional points should you have them prepared in advance. Is this your first time here?”';

'>>5974161

You nod, and she pulls out a <Stygian Pact>.

“This contract states that, for the next 72 hours, you will not attempt to steal items from, destroy the property of, or assault the employees of the auction management. In addition, it stipulates that you not assault other guests in the auction room while the auction is in session during that three day period. You may do as you wish outside the auction room, including in other parts of the hotel. As a reminder, this hotel is not owned by the auction management. In exchange, we swear to give a fair evaluation of any items you submit for points. You may not enter the auction without signing.”

You read the contract, finding no tricks, loopholes, or issues with the wording.

Would you like to sign it?
>Yes
>No

If you are entering, what would you like to sell? If you cannot recall what you possess, feel free to check the following links:
https://rentry.org/ate-inventory
https://rentry.org/ate-incarnation-status';

'>>5974163
>>Yes
Sell riptide, huntress' bow, achaen's sidearm, dryad's bough.

I am sure there is more we can sell, but desu I want to keep cursed gold :)';

'>>5974186
Also Ate should be using whispers to bend every subordinate she has to like her. Everyone should constantly be exposed an affection aura so that we can make the most out of sweet venom. Furthermore, I feel like Ate should visit this auction in a completely different form for safety and infosecurity.';

'>>5974163
>Yes

>Sell list:
relic - Dryad’s Bough
weapon - Ladon’s Fang
crystals - berserk, bloodlust, danse macabre

Also we should make a miracle with whispers already - perhaps whispers and induct? Might need to buy a second induct';

'>>5974163
> Yes
Riptide, achaen's sidearm, dryad's bough

>>5974194
I was thinking Whispers and Divine Folly. Copy power from anyone we manipulate?';

'>>5974163
Oh, do they do appraisal? Appraise

> Phylonoe’s Mercy (Mythic Dagger)';

'>>5974163
>Yes
>ask if the Austrians are here

>Achaean’s Sidearm
>Ladon’s Fang
>Huntress’s Bow
>Berserk
>Bloodlust
>Phylonoe’s Mercy

Keep Dryad’s Bough';

'>>5974163
>>Yes
sell:
relics: Dryad’s Bough
weapons: Achaean’s Sidearmm, Ladon’s Fang, Huntress’s Bow
authorities: Berserk, Bloodlust

don't sell Riptide or Danse Macabre
I already outlined how they could be used.
plus, I also thought of trying Danse Macabre in combination with Folly’s Grasp and have a quartett.

I'm willing to part with Phylonoe’s Mercy too. It is powerful by itself, or can be used by, whoever buys it, as a bargaining chip with the commander, maybe?
And selling it would establish us as a high roller, while the rest is low level stuff.

We still have 3x Purified Drop of Chaos in our inventory. We should pop them and see if something worthwhile comes out or sell it off too.

We should also ask Pheme for tips on mental strain, and train ourselves up to control 4 bodies in combat. In combination with supernatural speed which should also slow our perception of time more at higher level.';

'>>5974186
>>5974194
>>5974207
>>5974219
>>5974512

>Ask if the Austrians are here

“Apologies, ma’am, but we cannot disclose the information of any of the other attendees. Speaking of which-”

She hands you a sleek blue venetian mask decorated with intricately carved sapphire serpents, as well as a set of similarly styled auction paddles and a white paper slip.

“We will keep a name- a pseudonym is alright, of course, to keep track of your in our internal records, but during the auctions, your ‘name’ will be Azure Serpent. An ID card will be prepared for you before the auction, but, in the meantime, please hold onto this temporary confirmation card along with your mask and paddles. Once your ID is available, you will gain access to the other services provided by the auction house.”

“Other services?”

She nods, explaining: “An item creation or enchanting service, mercenary services, both for clients and aspiring employees, an exchange system managed by the house to prevent scams, and a number of other useful resources.”

Votes and values:

Achaean’s Sidearm: 4- 40 points
Dryad’s Bough: 4- 210 points
Huntress’ Bow: 3- 130 points
Ladon’s Fang: 3- 310 points
Berserk: 3- 2,900 points
Bloodlust: 3- 2,500 points

Riptide: 2- 3,100 points

Phylonoe’s Mercy: 1- 45,800 points
Danse Macabre: 1- 2,700 points

The items which a majority have agreed to sell are insufficient to qualify for the auction (6,090/10,000).

>Sell other items, authorities, or epithets (specify)
>Use your <Purified Drops of Chaos> and sell whatever you don’t find useful
>Write-in';

'>>5974536
>Use your <Purified Drops of Chaos> and sell whatever you don’t find useful
Whooo gambling

> Sell
Danse Macabre: 1- 2,700 points
I'll add the DANSE to the heap.

Whew, that's a lot of points for Phylonoe’s Mercy. And item crafting services! Bet we could get some flight boots made for us here. And maybe negotiate a supernaturally good combat teacher for lessons.';

'>>5974536
>ask if anyone offers the following services:
>>Combat training
>>Mental strain training
>>customized item enchanting
>>"Redeification", provided you give them the epithet first
mostly to see what the rates are, and to start a rumor on that last one

>Use your <Purified Drops of Chaos> and sell whatever you don’t find useful
>Add Phylonoe’s Mercy

is the venetian mask a relic that obscures information?';

'>>5974536
>a name- a pseudonym is alright
since we made our aura dark green, let's go with: Atalanta';

'>>5974536
Do not sell phylonoe’s mercy, that thing is amazing
45800 points god damn
Go ahead with the riptide and Danse sell';

'>>5974536
>Sell other items, authorities, or epithets
>Phylonoe’s Mercy
>Danse Macabre
>Use your <Purified Drops of Chaos> and sell whatever you don’t find useful

>>5974559
think what better fitting stuff we could get for it
like trash epithets we can give to hobos to kill';

'>>5974576
I don’t want to give away one of our best weapons for epithets we might be able to buy that we already get for free by killing incarnations';

'>>5974590
fine, but will you at least vote for the drops of chaos too?
I want some points to buy stuff';

'>>5974594
Ugh my hoarding tendencies
Fine

>Use the chaos drops and sell whatever isn’t useful';

'Rolled 92, 45, 66, 54, 88, 15 = 360 (6d100)

Rolling for drops. First three are type, last three are rarity';

'>>5974547
>>5974552
>>5974559
>>5974576
>>5974618

An <Uncommon> title:

>Multitasker:
Increases your maximum authority capacity by 1

A <Super Rare> shop item:

>Reilquary’s Drop of Chaos x1
>Cyclops’ Drop of Chaos x1
>Purified Drop of Chaos x1
>Personal Drop of Chaos: x1

A <Dud> Weapon:
>Paris’s Courage (Rare Dud Sword):
A bronze shortsword forged as an archer’s sidearm. When in the presence of a more powerful incarnation, the blade emits a panicked scream that can be heard by anyone but yourself or your allies

Danse Macabre: 3/4
Phylonoe’s Mercy: 2/4
Riptide: 1/4

You sell off <Danse Macabre> and hold onto <Phylonoe’s Mercy> for now.
>Auction Points: 8,790/10,000

Would you like to open up the three new <Drops> you got?
>Yes
>No';

'>>5974674
Moar gambling!
> Yes

Can duds be used for enchant fodder?';

'>>5974679
They can, but the inclusion of dud items adds in a chance of the resultant item to be a dud as well, proportional to the %of dice that are sourced from dud items';

'>>5974681
Boo. I suppose a clever soul could use it as a crude diviner, or we could give it away as a poisoned gift.';

'>>5974674
>that can be heard by anyone but yourself or your allies
Wait so it's an alarm for our enemies to hear? That's actually super fucking funny.';

'>>5974687
Lmao I thought that was a typo
Explains the dud classification';

'Rolled 17, 62, 32, 51, 1, 12, 79, 56 = 310 (8d100)

Rolling in order presented: reliquary, cyclops, purified standard, inner:

For weapons:
1-10: Dagger
11-20: Sword
21-40: Spear
41-50: Axe
51-60: Hammer
61-70: Bow, Crossbow, etc.
71-80: Shield
81-90: Gauntlet, Knuckles, Etc
91+: Other

For Relics:
1-20: clothing
21-40: armor
41-60: jewlery
61-90: hand trinket (non-wearable)
91+: other';

'>>5974747
Since this is the first time we've ever rolled multiple different types of drops at once, I'll throw you guys a bone and have them grouped by category (in this case type,grade,type,grade,etc.) rather than collectively (type,type,type,type,grade,grade,grade,grade)

So this is:
Uncommon Clothing, Uncommon Spear, Dud Influence, and an Uncommon Authority of your primary myth';

'>>5974750
Ooh personal authority could be really handy. One more thing to compete with flight, divine will, and corner.';

'>>5974679
>>5974685
>>5974687
>>5974731
>>5974860

Uncommon Relic (Garment):

>Cloak of Chione (Uncommon)
Protects the wearer from all natural cold and cold effects of incarnations at less than half of your current incarnation level, rounding up, while worn

Uncommon Spear:

>Javelin of Perseus (Uncommon)
One of several spears wielded by the mythic hero <Perseus>. Deals additional damage to monsters, beasts, and any incarnation of an explicitly malevolent <Myth>

Dud Influence:

>Influence Coupon (Value: -10)
May be exchanged for the coupon’s value at any time

Uncommon Authority:

>Draw Eyes (1):
Shifts the attention of all individuals within earshot to you

Values:

Cloak of Chione: 1,200
Javelin of Perseus: 410
Draw Eyes (1): 3,400

Also thought I’d throw in values for some of the other inventory items haven’t seen much/any use:

Dysnomia’s Crown: 3,400
Psyche’s Lamp: 9,200

Cursed Gold (1): 4,100
Life Insurance (2): 20,300 (Note, price has been increased way beyond system-based appraisal value of rarity due to the projected popularity of the effect

As a reminder, 1,210 more points are needed to meet the minimum participation requirement.';

'>>5974943
> Sell
Cloak of Chione: 1,200
Javelin of Perseus: 410

Don't seem super useful. I bet we could arrange temp usage of Life Insurance for a hefty fee.

Draw Attention seems useless...but maybe not?';

'>>5974943
>after the book keeping break into other rooms and take them all as thralls. If we run into someone of comparable power we readjust skip them. Goals to take over as many people as possible. After the auction take over all the auction people too.

Time to make everyone team cybersyren.';

'>>5974943
>>Sell
>Cloak of Chione
>Javelin of Perseus

>>5974977
+1
>subjugate low level in carnations, use their money to buy shit';

'>>5974977
>>5975002

Low level incarnations aren't going to be hanging around a place like this unless they're someone's slave.

Hell, we should ask though what the going rate on an actual incarnation is, though I assume it varies heavily by level and attributes.';

'>>5975126
Slavíček was here before he was anyone's slave';

'>>5975183
That's a fair point, we might get lucky and find rich idiots we can pick off. I'm just concerned we're swimming in a much bigger pond than usual.';

'>>5974943
sell
>Cloak of Chione: 1,200
>Javelin of Perseus: 410

it seems like points are about equivalent to the influence we got from authority grinder, therefore I expect epithets to start at about 10k which the shop gave us.
>ask what the Cyclops' Eye goes for
it's "uncommon", and the medium weapon ticket is also only available at level 9, so I believe that lower incarnations are willing to overpay for it
>buy a Divine Weapon ticket (medium) for the same make and model as the Cyclop's Eye
don't enter it into the auction, first I want to see just if we can get the same ones. maybe second vote on how many to buy and how many to auction off


>>5974576
>like trash epithets we can give to hobos to kill
does that even work?
QM mentioned the system keeps track of epithet ownership
we could try with Lethe, as I kinda would like to have a memory wiping authority
and in response to >>5974977 >>5975002
I'd also feel more comfortable going around and try to subjugate people if - when they don't bite - we can wipe their minds without causing a scene by having it turn into a fight

>>5975126
and pacts of submissions and faustian bargain is only available at level 10, so all the bodyguards a level 9 incarnation has are normally hired people';

'>>5974964
>>5974977
>>5975002
>>5975126
>>5975183
>>5975279

Sell:
>Cloak of Chione: 1,200
>Javelin of Perseus: 410

Points: 10,400

“Congratulations, miss!” The receptionist says, “you now qualify for the auction! Let me activate your mask and account for you. Before that, I should mention the code of conduct here.”

“Were all of the rules not stated in the contract?”

She nods, “We try to keep as many of the rules as is practical outside of system-enforced contracts. The enforcement is a bit too absolute- it makes most guests uncomfortable. Why don’t you take a look at the mask we provided? You may keep it.”

>Auction Mask (Azure Serpent) (Common Relic)
Conduit for the Fable (Psi) grade relic <Heart of the Auction>. Facilitates exchanges and protects the identity of the wearer from information gathering authorities below their incarnation level while in the area of effect of the <Heart of the Auction>. Additionally, activates the <Alarm Mode> whenever authorities of types forbidden by <Heart of the Auction> are intentionally used against incarnations with masks not in <Alarm Mode>.

“Alarm mode?” You ask.

She nods, picking up another mask from behind the counter- this one, unlike yours, is a pearlescent white and is adorned with ram’s horns. She snaps her fingers, and the mask emits the loud sounds of a goat bleating as the mask begins to quiver before she signals a stop.

“Whenever you use offensive or mind altering authorities, inside the temporary <Auction House>- the hotel, in this case” she explains, “the <Heart of the Auction> detects them and puts your mask into alarm mode. If your mask enters alarm mode, other incarnations are allowed to attack you free of penalty. Additionally, you are immediately removed from the auction and,” she holds up a gloved finger for emphasis, “the next month’s auction is canceled. Of course, information gathering or stealth authorities are completely permitted should you wish to engage in any such activities outside the halls of the auction house.”

Your eyes narrow- an act of collective punishment essentially ensures that rulebreakers will be punished to an extent far greater than what the auction house could or would do themselves. Being banned from the auction would be one thing, but you doubt most incarnations could throw down with an entire stadium of pissed off godlings. It makes sense, you suppose- if it was feasible to use this place as an influence farm, someone probably would have done so already.';

'>>5975288

"Anything else I should know?”

“You may only exchange 100 points for cash at each monthly auction using the auction’s bank. However, you may exchange as many points as you wish with other guests once you enter the designated exchange area. Ah, please put on your mask.”

You do so, and you can see your balance in the upper right corner of your vision.

“While in the area, you may exchange items, money, and points with transactions mediated by the <Heart of the Auction>, so there’s no need to worry about counterfeit currency.”

“Are <Faustian Bargains> allowed?”

Her eyes widen, “Yes, of course.”

>How much is a cyclops’ eye worth?: 470 points

“Ah, one more thing-” she gestures to your bodyguards, “they’ll need these.”

She hands you three white domino masks. As you touch them, they shift in color, turning blue.

“These masks are connected to yours- if they break the rules, all of your masks will enter alarm mode.”

The three of them put on their masks, finding that they automatically fit the form of their faces.

“The first round of the auction is tomorrow,” she reminds you, signaling for you to leave.

What would you like to do now?
>Sell more items
>Ask more questions
>Look for Povondra
>Head to the exchange area
>Write-in';

'>>5975289
>Ask more questions
>can mind altering effects be used on subordinates of oneself?
>"offensive or mind altering authorities" is too small minded. Will the effect of relics, miracles, or divine weapons with offensive capabilities, such as just the Cyclops' Eye be detected?
>if an epithet is bought in the auction, can the transfer of ownership over it be directed to a third party without it going to us first?';

'>>5975300
Good questions

>Head to the exchange area
I want to see the item crafting services! Jet boots!';

'>>5975289
>>5975300
Yeah where do authorities like titanic strength fall?';

'>>5975289
>>5975300
+1
>Head to the exchange area and mingle with the other incarnations

>>5975279
>does that even work?
I dunno

>>5975300
>if an epithet is bought in the auction, can the transfer of ownership over it be directed to a third party without it going to us first?
my man';

'>>5975300
>>5975358
>>5975364
>>5975366

>Ask more questions

>Can mind altering authorities be used on my own subordinates? Or on myself?

The receptionist tilts her head, “Yes, you can. All people wearing masks linked to your identity are considered to be ‘a part of you’ as far as the <Heart of the Auction> is concerned.”

>Relics, Miracles, Weapons?

“Ah, right, I forgot to explain. Try using a <Divine Weapon>. Those gloves of yours are gauntlets, yes?”

You nod, attempting to pop your claws, but your fingers stay finger-shaped.

“Now try without the mask on.”

You remove the mask and try again. This time, the gauntlet works as normal.

“The masks not only channel the <Heart of the Auction>, they also power it. Any divinity you attempt to use on any lesser relic will be diverted into the mask instead. An exception is placed for items without any offensive or mind altering effects.”

“What about <Miracles>?”

She seems visibly confused: “What’s a <Miracle>?”

It seems like the receptionist is unaware of the abilities of higher level incarnations: it’s probably the case that very few incarnations have managed to hit the tenth level. You imagine that even a fable grade relic might have trouble interfering with, or even detecting, miracles. That being said, you’d wager that using one would immediately draw the attention of every incarnation powerful enough to wield one in the hall.

>Regarding Augmentation Authorities (eg Titanic Strength):

"Those may be used freely until you attack another attendee, thus using it against them."

Checks out, you suppose

>Regarding Epithet Purchases

“All epithets are given in the form of <Epithet Holders>. If you don’t use it on yourself, the epithet will never enter your ownership history.”

>Regarding Enchant Services

“If you want to make use of the Auction’s services in this regard, you can make a reservation at any receptionist’s desk, including this one. There are also freelance artisans, from whom you can commission services and purchase homemade items sold there rather than through the auction.”

>Head to the exchange area

You place your mask back on your face and, for the sake of being fashionable, you convert your black casualwear for a sapphire-blue sheath dress matching the color of your serpentine mask. You enter the foyer- a ballroom converted into a scene that almost resembles a comics or games convention more than a divine assembly, filled with stands selling various wares, not only the expected weapons and relics but also artwork, food, clothes, and what appear to be life-sized human dolls. Incarnations, all wearing masks of various colors.

What should you do?
>Search for Povondra
>Mingle with the incarnations
>Ask about setting up a stand
>Browse the wares
>Write-in';

'>>5975404

Oops, forgot to finish that last sentence :

Incarnations, all wearing masks of various colors, meander throughout the ballroom, socializing, haggling over items, and excitedly perusing the various items sold at the guest-ran item stands.';

'>>5975404
>Browse the wares
>Mingle with the incarnations

Be nice. Make friends. Prime people for Sweet Venom. Look for a gift for Pheme. Keep our ears open for hints of Povondra, but don't make it obvious we're looking for him.

Harmatia every fucking person we see. That's just information gathering right? And perfectly allowed.';

'>>5975404
Backing >>5975414';

'>>5975404
>>Mingle with the incarnations
>>Browse the wares
>Assess hamartia everyone';

'>>5975404
>Mingle with the incarnations
>Browse the wares
>Assess hamartia everyone

If we pose as a huntress as I suggested here >>5974553 (I'm phoneposting) we can claim that we gain influence proportional to the strength of our victim
We can ask people to purchase epithets together if we get to deify and kill someone with it first, then transfer it to them.
Say an 85/15 split, which doesn't change anything for them except them gaining a discount. While we also pay for the 2k epithet holder needed to transfer the myth back to them.';

'>>5975414
>>5975449
>>5975790
>>5975866

>Mingle with the incarnations
>Browse the wares
>Assess hamartia everyone

You take a look around at some of what’s being sold- it seems like, generally, things like authorities or epithets are generally sold through the auction itself rather than in this exchange area- you assume that, as a rule, the auction house will buy immediately, reliably, and at a consistently fair rate, whereas selling to other incarnations has none of the same benefits.

There’s a decent selection of armor, weaponry, and accessories with interesting effects, and, inspecting the booths, you find it curious that vendors are able to create multiple copies of relics with effects that aren’t related to shop authorities.

More interesting to you than the more standard fare, however, are the items that either wouldn’t come out of the system due to being an anachronism or because they lack what the system would consider to be a ‘practical purpose’: one standout is a platter that creates ‘eating experiences’- zero calorie food that imitates the appearance, taste, and texture of a variety of pre-made dishes, with bonus cartridges filled with related food items can be purchased separately.

On the more disturbing end, one individual is selling a line of divine real-dolls, pithily labeled ‘Galateas’ that can be customized to the exact physical specifications that you desire is being sold. Apparently, you can also purchase a cognition matrix that makes use of real human souls repurposed from death row criminals which can also be fully customized- for a fully tricked out Galatea runs for over 15,000 points.

You decide to check out some firearms as well, but most of them are inferior in performance to your <Cyclops’ Eye>, either succumbing to impractical frivolities like divine explosives or frost bullets, or performing the same function but simply worse.

You decide to browse around for a gift for Pheme, and a few things come up that might do-

>A mug that can consume divinity to constantly replicate its own (beverage) contents (hatch underneath must be regularly filled with water and organic material): 50 points

>Cufflinks that can store up to 50kg (around 110 lbs) of mass each: 400 points for a set of 2. They come in black

>A cat plushie that can store divinity (up to 5,000) and funnel them into other objects. Passively siphons divinity while you sleep whenever your pool is full: 75 points for a regular, 150 points for a jumbo (divinity capacity increased to 20,000)

>A blanket that can expand into a cushion (up to the size of a twin-sized bed) that will change shape to perfectly fit one’s form: 50 points';

'>>5975917

You make use of <Assess Hamartia>- around half, maybe slightly more, of the incarnations you check are immune to its effects thanks to the masks they wear. You can reasonably assume that 6-7 is the modal level range for participants at this auction house based on what you can see.

You strike up a conversation with one of the more friendly looking incarnations with a level high enough to block your <Assess Hamartia>- an African lady around your age in a full-face orange owl mask with her hair tied into a neat bun, and engage in some idle chatter. You explain that you’re new to the auction and ask if there’s anything she’d recommend from the shop, and she gestures to a stall selling bows:

“I’m not sure if you use them, but I’d totally recommend them if you do,” she says: though her English is fluent, a noticeable accent is definitely present: maybe Zambian? She continues: “The bows are of modern make, night and day from period accurate ancient ones, and they don’t skimp out on the grade, either. Plus, all of the magic is focused on just increasing the damage output- no situational buffs or weird gimmicks. You might be able to get something better with enough gambling, but those are pretty damn solid.”

You wander around and chat with a few more incarnations- most are understandably wary of strangers, but you do manage to get a generally positive impression from a decent number of other incarnations. None of your subordinates recognize Povondra, with Slavíček noting that his mask identity, vermillion spider, isn’t in the hall.

What should you do now?
>Look for something a bit more specific
>Chat a bit more with Tangerine Owl
>Ask about selling your own goods
>Look for Povondra
>Turn in for the night (skip to the auction tomorrow)
>Write-in';

'>>5975919
>buy the jumbo cat plush
>>Chat a bit more with Tangerine Owl
don't ignore the plot hook
>ask her if she has experimented with enchanting
and be honest that all our relics were from drops of chaos, quest rewards, or taken from corpses
>ask what she's looking to buy and that we're mostly interested in quantity over quality epithets
>bring up how we only look to deify randos and hunt these nascent gods down for our directive After that then we don't really need the epithet anymore


we have only ever seen enchant item at level 1, probably it gets additional info at higher levels that allow you to make stuff differently';

'>>5975949
Epitaph Holder states:
> Mortals deified in this way will not grant any influence or authorities upon being eliminated.

>>5975919
> Check out those bows
We're pretty lacking in ranged options.
>A cat plushie (jumbo)
For Pheem
>A cat plushie (regular)
For ourselves, it'd be good to help fill the Pithos with.
>Chat a bit more with Tangerine Owl
Ask if she thinks the enchanting services are worth using
>Look for Povondra
We hunt!';

'>>5975919
>>5976056
+1';

'>>5975919
changing from >>5975949 to >>5976056
but also ask what she's looking for
and more smalltalk';

'>>5975917
>Cufflinks that can store up to 50kg (around 110 lbs) of mass each: 400 points for a set of 2. They come in black
Heck yeah, one for each of us

>Chat a bit more with Tangerine Owl
Situational buffs are great though, just tune them to situations that give you trouble
>Look for Povondra';

'>>5975949
>>5976056
>>5976140
>>5976180

>Chat some more with Tangerine Owl:

“What’s the issue with situational buffs?” you ask, “It seems pretty helpful to have the right tool for every situation.”

“In theory, maybe,” she replies, “but think about it like this. Let’s say you can either have one set of armor that protects you from 25% of all damage, or a dozen sets that give you 50% protection from specific types- one for piercing, one for bludgeoning, one for fire, that sort of thing. But what happens if the guy you’re fighting has a spear and breathes fire?”

“For armor, maybe, but what about weaponry?”

“The issue is that a lot of situational weapon bonuses are based on the character of the myth- domain, relation to specific circumstances, things like that. Stuff that you don’t know most of the time. Besides, what happens if you have to fight more than one enemy at a time? Things quickly become unmanageable. At that point it’s better to dump all of your different artifacts that do 50% damage to one thing into an enchant and get one that does 50% damage to everything instead.”

You nod, “Speaking of enchantments, what do you think about the auction house’s enchantment service?”

She tilts her head, “Well, it’s pretty expensive, but if you supply the right stuff and pay the coin for the Chief Artisan, you could theoretically get a low to mid <Fable Grade> with specific tailored effects for less than 100,000 points, which is a pretty solid deal- around the price of a low-grade Fable or particularly appealing top-grade Mythic. The issue is that the stuff you’d be submitting just to get a good shot at fable will probably cost you that much if not more on top of the commission fee. Honestly, if I cared enough about weapon quality and specific effects to put in the kind of work it’d take to pay 200-300 billion goddamn dollars for a bow, I’d probably just bite the bullet and learn to make the things myself.”

“What about for lesser artifacts for utility and stuff?”

“For those, you can probably find most of the kinds of things a person might want to use at the guest-ran vendors. Last month, there was a guy selling <Polyglot> tongue piercings, for example, and I think he’s supposed to be back . But, if you have something specific in mind, the rates for a subordinate incarnation are a lot more reasonable.”

“Fair enough. Any recommendations about bows?”

“Well, I’d recommend commissioning a custom bow from that craftsman if you can afford it. He makes up to mythic grade, but honestly Super Rare will do the trick for most hunting work, especially if you’re not using it as your main arm.”';

'>>5976252

“Thanks for the advice.”

“No problem! It’s been a nice chat. Ah, one other thing,” her tone becomes much more serious, “Stay away from the girl in the red bird mask, Crimson Dove. Most people haven’t noticed somehow, but she’s seriously dangerous.”

You nod, thanking her once again for the tip before heading out to do other work:

>Shopping:

You go ahead and buy some of the things you were looking at earlier

>Jumbo Cat Plush (Black) (Common Relic) (0/20,000)
Stores divinity and can funnel it into other objects. Passively siphons divinity while you sleep whenever your pool is full

>Cat Plush (Pink) (Common Relic) (0/5,000)
Stores divinity and can funnel it into other objects. Passively siphons divinity while you sleep whenever your pool is full

Points: 10,400->10,125

You check out the bow stand. Like Tangerine said, they’re modern, compound bows constructed from metal and carbon fiber rather than the wood that most system bows are built of.

The ones on display range from common to uncommon grade, with the rare bows stored away and any higher requiring a commission fee. You inspect the bows- as expected, none of them have any elemental attributes or odd effects- the only functions they have are increased power and efficacy against incarnations. Also for sale are quivers, which fabricate temporary arrows using divinity that can be stored in advance. Cleverly, it is the quivers, rather than the bows, that can be purchased with specific special effects in mind.

You decide to check out the prices:
(Common) Bow: 120 points
(Uncommon) Bow: 500 points

(Common) Quiver, Standard: 100 points
(Uncommon) Quiver, Standard: 400 points
(Uncommon) Quiver, Monster Hunting: 500 points
(Uncommon) Quiver, Lawbringer (Anti-Evil/Chaos): 500 points
(Uncommon) Quiver, Frost: 450 points (Elemental quivers change daily)

You decide to leave the bow stand for now and come back later.

>Look for Povondra

Under the cover of your stealth authorities, the four of you sweep the hotel, searching for the Vermillion Spider. Eventually, you happen upon him and his guard personnel at the hotel bar, seemingly mid-negotiation with another incarnation, wearing a mask of a green cat.

You’re still within the confines of the <Heart of the Auction>, so you can’t use your authorities on him without breaking the rules. What should you do?
>Use <Folly’s Grasp> and have Benedikt tail him until he exits the territory of the auction
>Have Brigita seduce him and draw him outside
>Nothing, for now
>Write-in';

'>>5976256
>Use <Folly’s Grasp> and have Benedikt tail him until he exits the territory of the auction
First a quick Assess Harmatia to check level and hopefully vices too

If he takes too long to leave ignore advice and look for Crimson Dove';

'>>5976266
>support

>Find crimson dove. We like dangerous. She should be on the winning team. Aka ours.';

'>>5976256
>>5976266
>>5976312
+1
more plothooks';

'>>5976256
>just have Josef greet him normally, ask him to catch up later after he's done with the green cat
meanwhile
>Find crimson dove. We like dangerous. She should be on the winning team. Aka ours.
inb4 it's Eris';

'>>5976266
>>5976312
>>5976577
>>5976618

>Use <Folly’s Grasp> and have Benedikt tail him until he exits the territory of the auction

You try <Assess Hamartia> on Povondra himself to no avail- as expected, he must be at least level 6 and thus protected by the Heart of the Auction. You peek at his four guards and one of them, a burly brunette almost twice your natural size, is able to be read:

Elodie Jordain

Hamartia: Greed, Temper
Deepest Desires: Money, Violence
Level: 5
Primary Myth: Sybaris (Domain: Monster, Mountains)

You once again possess Benedikt’s mind- immediately, you gain a sort of feel for his authorities in the same way that you do your own. For a moment, you stop to consider the possibilities- if you manage to get this guy- or any other incarnation subordinate, for that matter, to a level comparable to yours, you could potentially wield up to 41 authorities at once with no penalty using their body. You shake your head- theory crafting comes later- now is the time to act. As Benedikt, you use <Stealth> and <Guerilla Tactics>, easily avoiding the perception of the mobsters before leaving to do other things.

>Look for Crimson Dove

You decide to seek out the supposedly dangerous incarnation, Crimson Dove. Once you inform your subordinates of this, Slavíček sighs in resignation while Brigita asks you:

“Is it really smart to have us tag along for this? If they have some sort of observation authority, they could definitely see through both of us because our levels are so low.”

She makes a solid point- you decide to dismiss the pair for now as you search, allowing them to meander the building as long as they don’t cause trouble. The two immediately disperse in different directions as you continue your search.

Eventually, you spot your target: with most of their features obscured in a mourning shawl that clashes in tone somewhat with the tailored business suit and pristine sanguine gloves, the Crimson Dove is seemingly haggling with a jewelry craftsman, seemingly oblivious to the supposed danger. As you watch, she turns her head (concerningly, at a more severe angle than it should normally be capable of) to meet your eyes. You try <Assess Hamartia> but are met with immediate failure. However, rather than it saying that you were blocked by the Heart, it says:

>Authority has failed due to a difference in level';

'>>5977061

Followed by a message of

><Guerilla Tactics> has blocked a perception authority

She lets out a chuckle which echoes and somewhat distorts as the sound reverberates through her full face mask:

“Interesting,” she says, “Not by the Heart, but by an authority.”

She moves towards you, almost seeming like teleportation as she appears before you faster than your eyes can track.

“But even then, you still couldn’t follow this?”

You turn your eyes down- the silver blade of a hidden dagger rests right above your sternum.

“I kid, of course,” she says, “What is it, Sapphire Snake?”

“Azure Serpent.”

“Interesting.” her tone quickly darkens, “You were looking for me. Why?”

“I heard you were dangerous. I like dangerous.”

“You’re quite odd. Is there something that you want?”

>”Nothing in particular, just wanted to say hi”
>”I was actually going to offer you a job”
>”I’d like to chat”
>Write-in';

'>>5977064
>”I’d like to chat”
Huh, that's both of us not blocked by the heart
Wonder if she has some way of disabling it
If so, we don't need to wait for Pov to fly the coop';

'>>5976618
Fucking kek. If you're right XD';

'>>5977064
>”I was actually going to offer you a job”
>”I’d like to chat”

>How do you feel about causing mayhem and chaos? And sticking it to the man?(Aka the government)';

'>>5977064
>>”I’d like to chat”';

'>>5977064
>”I’d like to chat”';

'>>5977064
>>”I’d like to chat”

>>5977144
probably her being (significantly) higher level than us, but her own information gathering authority still lower than our level 8 Guerilla Tactics
>>5977167
not anymore, Assess Hamartia even gave us Eris' mortal name the first time we met (while we were level 9 and AH was 4), I doubt Eris would have gone from significantly lower to significantly higher than us in the same time';

'some influence stuff
(buy and) upgrade to level 8 for 71.2k Influence: A Thousand Faces, a Thousand Voices; Supernatural Speed; Preservation Instinct; Weapon Training (Claws); Weapon Training (Bow); Divine Armor
7 authorities 2 times pithosmaxxing from 8 to X, which would cost about 46.5k Influence if we buy our on Nectar and our Divinity doesn't increase anymore
upgrade to level 6 for an additional 13.6k: Regeneration; Titanic Strength; To Mortals, A Scourge; Omen; Specter's Wail
71.2k + 46.5k + 13.6k = 131.3k
open to suggestion, ofc

but I rather we get to level 12 as quick as possible, that's 102.4k Influence, which I think is feasible, then we also have a good chunk of the influence for the plan above
Assess Hamartia as many lower level incarnations to get their name and myth to later go after with Detective's Compass
use them to level up our authorities and sell their epithet to the system
always have an authority at level 8 before taking the rewards for a subjugation.

speaking of influence gathering...
the planecrash gave us like 7.5k, but also it was covered up and didn't result in mass panic
our last stream (in which we asked people to prove they are praying to the idol, that wouldn't work every day) gave us almost 2000
the 24/7 idol stream seems to bring in about 200~300 influence a day
Throw many more members of the mafia under Faustian Bargains and order them to worship to the stream every day.


current TODO list, if nothing else comes up (from my perspective, I don't want to get ADHD'd and jump on the next shiny thing before covering our bases)
>make a deal with/subjugate/kill Povondra
>get as many mortals in Slavíček's (and Povondra's depending on the previous point) criminal enterprise under Faustian Bargains
>set Brigita on her way to farm influence as a goddess streamer
>start building up an entourage who will move with us as we do our things. We can even go through legitimate bodyguard agency
>>Lethe for utility
>>Epimetheus for Pheme's information network
>>later Calydonian Boar and Atalanta, or others: with Epimetheus that'd be 3 differently speced combat followers we can slip in and out of
>multiple fan meetups, throw them under Faustian Bargains, but get a Lethe beforehand so we can wipe the minds of the people who don't fall in line without causing a scene.
>plan with Pheme which people we should hand out some epithets to for people to do their thing
>>Chrysus, preferably someone already in banking/business
>>Dysnomia, maybe some more extreme leftist activist who will follow through on "eat the rich"
all the while streaming too and training combat and the mental strain of controlling multiple people
I want to have a proper base before checking out what's going on in the middle east (Israel and Yemen)';

'>>5977144
>>5977168
>>5977364
>>5977380
>>5977500

>”I’d like to chat”

“Well, you’re at least strong enough to be worth talking to, I guess. Let’s take this somewhere more private.”

Indeed: your <Assess Hamartia> was blocked by an overwhelming difference in level between the authority and its target- at the absolute lowest, Crimson Dove must be at least level 9 or 10 to have been able to resist the effects of a level 6 information gathering authority. However, given that your <Omen> didn’t react from her mere presence in the same way it did when you were meeting with the commander, she probably isn’t overwhelmingly more powerful than you, either.

Based on that conjecture, the two of you are most likely vaguely even in ability, with her perhaps holding a slight edge in combat and intel authorities. You watch her walk through the hall, her dress shoes not making a single sound as she moves across the marble floor of the ballroom. You watch with interest- the sound isn’t being canceled by an authority or trait, this movement, akin to a tiger stalking its prey in the underbrush, is pure, practiced, mortal skill.

As you follow, she says to you, “You really are quite odd.”

“In what sense?”

“Bluntly,” she replies, “you’re completely lacking in finesse. Your perception, your movements, your posture, none of it has even a drop of training or skill. As far as fighting goes, you’re a rank amateur, but…”

“But?”

“When I put that dagger to your chest- you didn’t even notice, and yet…” she gestures to your hand. As you look, you see that, beneath your now inert gloves, razor sharp claws have sprouted from your fingertips, “you reacted, completely subconsciously. Almost like a 6th sense, or perhaps more like an animal’s instinct.”

You retract your claws- her actions, lacking fatal intent, certainly did not activate <Omen> or <Preservation Instinct> and yet, your body somehow reacted anyway. Your eyes narrow as you look down at your hands as you ask yourself what exactly the Incarnation System has turned you into.

She looks at you, and, with a humid breath, exclaims, “God, you would be a beautiful hunt.”

You manage to control your discomfort and maintain a friendly facade as she leads you up to her hotel room.

“So,” she asks, closing the door behind her, “What is it that you wanted to talk about?”

>Talk about your upcoming hunt
>Offer to hire her
>Offer to exchange favors
>Ask what brings her to the auction
>Write-in';

'>>5977862
>Ask what brings her to the auction

>Offer to exchange favors
She seems like she enjoys killing strong opponents, we have some extra strong opponents that might need killing in the near future. Though I wonder what she might want in return...

Also oh god I hope she doesn't stalk and kill us after this like we're gonna do to Povondra.

Also still a combat amateur? I'd have hoped experience alone would have gotten us to initiate by now. I guess our fights have been too one sided.';

'>>5977977
From an objective perspective, Atë is actually a solid fighter as far as a street brawl goes. At the very least, she's marginally better than the average person. That being said, people like Crimson Dove, or even hobbyists like Isabella generally outclass her to a significant extent.';

'>>5977977
It's cause we don't have a weapon use skill maxed. Like claws or a martial art. We just brute force most things. Most of our skills are for sneaking or awareness. Or mind fuckery. We've been repeatedly told we don't know how to "fight" aka proper fighting form. We just mind fuck people or use brute strength/speed to wreck someone. If we had a high ranking combat authority we probably wouldn't get told that.';

'>>5977977
>>5977862
>Support
>+ how does she feel about chaos and mayhem. We would like to fuck with some hierarchies and the government.';

'>>5977977
She's probably Artemis. Which means she really likes to kill shit and she is absolutely full of herself. Probably.';

'>>5977862
> Actually I'm looking for a teacher on...finesse.';

'Question: Are we outside the influence of the auction? Could we pull a subtle whispers? I desire mindfuckery, as long as we think she isn't immune.';

'>>5978144
We can't do anything to people for 3 days. Due to the stygian pact.';

'>>5977862
>Ask what brings her to the auction
>offer a friendly spar';

'>>5977862
>"So, what usually happens if you make someone follow you to a third location?"
>"What is it you wouldn't want to discuss in company?"
>Ask what brings her to the auction
>make fun of lower incarnations, like there is this one dude who only gets influence if he punishes people who did something wrong.
>ask how she a chaos god
>offer a friendly spar
sounds good too
>"wouldn't prey with more finesse make for a more beautiful hunt?"';

'>>5977977
>>5978010
>>5978084
>>5978178
>>5978494

>Ask what brings her to the auction

“Well, last time I came here to sell off some of the things I get on my hunts and trade the points in for money. There’s a limit of 100 points transferred through the auction bank per instance of the auction, but at the current price of points, that’s more than enough.”

“Why would you need money? Taking hit jobs should be more than enough to fund whatever you could possibly want.”

You see her eyes narrow from within the holes in her mask: “I’m a huntress, not a mercenary, and certainly not a soldier. I don’t do jobs- I take what I kill, sell it if I have to, but I never kill anything for petty cash.”

“To each their own, I guess. Based on the wording of your answer though, I assume you’re here for something else this time?”

She nods, “I’m gearing up for my next hunt- a life or death battle against the strongest incarnation in the world.”

Out of shock, you let out an involuntary snicker, “Ye Min? Or are you hunting down <Nascent God> Gaia?”

“Got it the first time- honestly, I don’t know how to even approach hunting Gaia- there’s absolutely no information available regarding who, where, or even what she might be.”

“So, you’re stalking the infamous president of the CCP. How strong do you think she is?”

“Well, I haven’t even seen her, but if her lieutenants are any indication, she’s crazy powerful.”

“Lieutenants?”

“An elite group of highly trained, carefully optimized, devastatingly powerful incarnations with high-grade myths hand picked by the queen herself. This,” She unbuttons her suit jacket and pulls up her shirt, revealing a massive scar across the tanned skin of her ribcage, “Is what I got in a brawl against her newest one. Probably the weakest.”

“Oh? What was their myth?”

“At least that part made the attempt worth the time and risk- I picked up <Artemis>.”';

'>>5979219

>Offer to exchange favors

“Well, if you’re preparing for a hunt against the world’s strongest, how about training with one of her contenders?”

“They’re awfully slippery is the issue- or, in the case of the public-facing <House of Hades>, even better guarded than Ye Min. Getting information about any of the others is nigh impossible.”

“What if I told you that I got my hands on some?”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Like you, I’m here at this auction to prepare for a hunt. My quarry is Isa, if you know the name.”

“The Arab leader? How the hell did you manage that, the guy’s practically a ghost!”

“I have contacts in Israel- unlike you, I’m not above mercenary work: for me, undermining Isa is a job. That being said, I won’t be compensating you for this.”

“What’s your proposal?”

>”I’ll play support, gathering intel, undermining his power structure, and drawing him out for you to take down”
>”We’ll make it a race- the two of us will each independently hunt down Isa after the initial brief, exchanging information at a price along the way: winner gets the glory of the kill”
>”We’ll do this together, like duck hunting: since this is like a practice run for Ye Min, power in numbers is a fantastic survival strategy”
>Write-in';

'>>5979221
>”We’ll make it a race- the two of us will each independently hunt down Isa after the initial brief, exchanging information at a price along the way: winner gets the glory of the kill”
2 pronged attack';

'>>5979221
>>”We’ll make it a race- the two of us will each independently hunt down Isa after the initial brief, exchanging information at a price along the way: winner gets the glory of the kill”

I still want to cover our bases first before heading there';

'>>5979221
>”We’ll do this together, like duck hunting: since this is like a practice run for Ye Min, power in numbers is a fantastic survival strategy”

I'd rather do it together as two combat wombats rather than solo. Otherwise we're just giving ourselves someone else to fight against in the race to get the kill. Where as we can just kill them all together and not worry about sabotaging the other so we do better or vice-versa. Plus we have the info and she doesn't. Efficiency. Plus if we get into a position to save her ass it'll make her like us more.';

'>>5979302
>Plus if we get into a position to save her ass it'll make her like us more.
I dunno anon she's kind of a nutcase, can't apply standard psychology to her.
That's why I picked the race, I think she'll be more agreeable to that one rather than cooperative murder with friendship and handholding.';

'>>5979432
I don't think we'll ever be Bffs. But we could get a good working relationship out of it. I just worry about her stealing all the kills and loot if we leave her to her own devices.';

'>>5979477
Funny, I worry about her taking all the loot and kills if we work together.';

'>>5979240
>>5979270
>>5979302

>”We’ll make it a race- the two of us will each independently hunt down Isa after the initial brief, exchanging information at a price along the way: winner gets the glory of the kill”

“Hmm, I guess as long as he ends up dead, it’s a job done for you regardless of who kills him off, right?”

You put up your hands, “Caught me red handed. Do we have a deal?”

“Hell yeah we do. I couldn’t care less about whatever you get out of it, all that matters is that I’ll be taking down Isa.”

“Cocky, aren’t we?”

“Oh, you’re actually gonna try and win? Ha, ok, fun. I’ll meet you after the auction.”

“May the best man win,” you say as you exit her room.

As you’ve been chatting with Crimson Dove, your double (Benedikt) has been tailing Povondra and his men. A few minutes after you wrapped up your conversation with Dove, Povondra and his men exited the hotel- the confines of the <Heart of the Auction> to meet with some mundane government associates. How should you go about this?

>Use this opportunity to test out <Folly’s Grasp> (fight with Benedikt alone)
>Use this opportunity to give your subordinates a trial run (Send your other two underlings)
>Meet with Povondra face to face
>Write-in';

'>>5979590
Whoops, forgot to use my name again. Just clarifying that is an update, not reader speculation or anything';

'>>5979590
>Use this opportunity to test out <Folly’s Grasp> (fight with Benedikt alone)
Be close though, so we can step in personally if things go poorly';

'>>5979590
>>Meet with Povondra face to face
talk first';

'>>5979675
I thought I already added something...

>posess Brigitta and transform her into our current appearance
>meet with Povondra by having Josef make introductions
>discuss his subjugation
>meanwhile position ourselves with GT to make a potential OHKO when negotiations turn south
he will almost surely get away with a hydras head, but it gives us a chance to subjugate his subordinates';

'>>5979590
>Immediately whispers his ass so he wants to talk to us and gives us his hydra heads.

>Then we can talk with him or Immediately fuck him up.

Come on guys be smart. Whispers is level 10. We can easily control his ass. There's nothing he'll be able to do to get away of we whispers him from the start.';

'>>5979805
I'll include using whispers in our "negotiation", at least to get his subordinates aside.
but you can't faustian bargain someone who is not in his right mind, we know that already.';

'>>5979590
>>Meet with Povondra face to face
talk first, get him and everyone under whispers control, or at least gauge how far we can take it
more info on his strength is needed, and stack the deck in our favor before jumping into a fight';

'>>5979630
>>5979675
>>5979805
>>5979820
>>5979888

>Meet face to face, but lead with your <Whispers>

Cloaked by <Guerilla Tactics> and hastened by <Supernatural Speed>, you quickly catch up to Povondra and his gang. You check his and his guards’ <Hamartia>, and find about the things that you’d expect- greed, violence, temper, pride, shamelessness, and the like. Their incarnation statuses are as follows:

Guards:
Sybaris: 5 (Monster, Mountains)
Manticore: 7 (Monster, Blight)
Polybotes: 6 (Monster, Gigantomachy)
Alastor: 7 (Revenge, Retribution)

Lubomir Povondra

Hamartia: Greed, Ambition, Obsession
Deepest Desires: Power, Wealth, Self-Actualization

Incarnation Status: Chrysaor (Wealth, Monster, Violence)
Level: 7

Using your <Touch> and <Whispers> in tandem, you take grasp of their minds.

I'll need 3 rolls of 3d22, but before any dice are rolled, please specify between Cautious (closest to the EV of 34.5), Normal (the median value), or Reckless (farthest from the EV of 34.5)';

'Rolled 15, 2, 6 = 23 (3d22)

>>5979908
Reckless, always

Level 7, hah, and here I was worried';

'>>5979908

> Cautious

Personally I'd rather remove the worst case scenarios from the pool than promote the best case.';

'>>5979908
this is important... and a roll for multiple opponents
rather bank on the hamartia bonus and level difference
>cautious';

'>>5979908
>cautious';

'Rolled 9, 18, 10 = 37 (3d22)

>>5979908
RECKLESS
Also haven’t rolled in a while wow';

'Cautious takes it. Generally, I like to do the rolls and the roll type vote separately, so please give me another 3 rolls of 3d22';

'Rolled 22, 4, 3 = 29 (3d22)

>>5979957';

'Rolled 21, 2, 21 = 44 (3d22)

>>5979957
Here

>>5979959
Holy shit a maxroll';

'Rolled 7, 6, 1 = 14 (3d22)

>>5979957';

'>>5979980
haha, good thing we didn't choose reckless';

'>>5979959
>>5979975
>>5979980

>14, 29, 44 (Cautious): 29

Povondra, as well as his retinue of guards, are rendered completely helpless by your power, reduced to little more than drooling messes of false ecstasy. You lower the illusions, no longer needing them as they have succumbed to the enthralling power of your <Whispers>

“[Give me your <Lizard’s Tails> and <Hydra’s Heads> and I’ll let you return to your illusions]”

Each of them tosses you a lizard’s tail- apparently, none of them even possessed a Hydra’s Head. Your mouth contorts into a sneer as you take in just how pathetic your adversaries are. You put the guards back under your trance as you turn your attention back to Povondra.

“Do you have any means of escape?”

“I can fly, but other than that, I do not,” the disgraced boss replies.

“Excellent.” You plant your high-heeled foot firmly on Povondra’s chest, pinning him to the ground, before you release him from your control. As the crimson haze dissipates from the nooks of his consciousness, he begins to tremble with equal parts fear and rage.

“What do you want from me?” he says in a thick Czech accent, doing his best to remain composed given the circumstances.

“Your soul,” you bluntly reply.

“T-the rules of the auction-”

“Don’t apply outside the designated auction house.” You interrupt, “If you didn’t want a fight, you should have stayed inside.”

He looks around at the state of his guard and it obviously begins to dawn on him just how hopelessly outclassed he is.

“If you let me go, I can get you whatever you want- money, drugs, diplomatic immunity, anything you could possibly desire.”

“I want your soul.”

He tries to spit at you, but only succeeds in getting his own shirt wet.

What should you do?
>Put him down
>Threaten him with a fate worse than death
>Offer him some sort of incentive
>Put him back under and move on to one of his guards
>Defer to one of your subordinates (specify)
>Write-in';

'>>5980006
>Put him back under, ask who here is most suitable to succeed him, then put him down and move on to the indicated subordinate';

'>>5980033
I'll support but add

>>5980006
> Take them to a discreet location and have an extended discussion on how they could best hand over the criminal organization to you and your thralls.

I'll be honest part of me, a big big part of me just wants to kill them all and reap the rewards. Or kill 4/5 of them. With a little influence farming as Siren we could easily take Thousand Faces and Touch of Madness to X. And then Miracle them and Whispers together into something terrifying. All of them as copies of us is also fucking insane.';

'>>5980048
And of course, we could max Stealth and Geurilla Tactics instead and Miracle them into being frighteningly undetectable.';

'>>5980006
>>5980033
>>5980048
I support this, keep him thralled until the transfer of power is over.
and not to raise stealth next, only GT. So at most kill two of them.
stealth is just the common store bought version of GT.';

'>>5980255
+then go through with his current plan of meeting a government official.
That is probably worth something';

'>>5979820
Bro you forget we can just THRALL them with whispers. We don't need the faustian bargain. And we were told if they're a Thrall we can the faustian bargain them.';

'>>5980255
>>5980060
>>5980048
>>5980006

Key points. Faustian bargain doesn't allow us to COMMAND them to sell us their soul BUTTTT

"It is possible to implant not only specific desires, but specific directives through your voice. However, as before, the more specific the command and the less in line with the desires of the target, the more exposure is necessary to bring about the desired effect.

You are capable of using your <Whisper of Temptation> to elicit not only desires, but beliefs which the target desires to be true: (for example, you can convince a person that they are beautiful). This process takes much longer than any other use of this authority."

allows us to make them believe and desire to please us by willingly sell us their soul.

Though we don't need all of them.

>Kill 2 keep 3.

>Kill the weakest two.

>Max out GT.';

'>>5980319
To clarify, any change in personality, perception of reality, motivations, emotions, or actions brought about by a use of divinity (including but not limited to authorities, items, and miracles) which could alter the person's willingness to make a deal is considered to make an individual incapable of consenting to any pacts (including Faustian Bargains). However, things like post-hoc rationalizations of actions taken under the influence, threats of violence or supernatural retribution, or any other method, including torture, which isn't actively altering the mental state at the time when the deal is struck is acceptable';

'>>5980341
Thanks. So slight modification

Use whispers and madness to put them in a horrible torture loop. And pull them out every 10 minutes and ask if they'd like to reconsider giving us their soul.

Rinse and repeat.

They'll break eventually.';

'>>5980319
>Faustian bargain doesn't allow us to COMMAND them to sell us their soul
pretty sure you meant that WHISPERS can't command them to take a faustian bargain

yes, we don't need to have their souls for them to work for us, but thrall effects can wear off by Breath of Serenity and likely other things

Getting them all under Faustian Bargains is preferable as it would keep the strength of the organization we are trying to take over, while killing them makes it weaker only for us individually to get stronger.

I'm fine with killing them to get GT up if they only ask in their Bargain for something that'd maybe increase their standing in the organization, or some other stuff.
Bargain the ones who take it in exchange for their lives first, make it look bleaker and bleaker to try to resist for the following people.

Faustian Bargain for their life or no more torture > killing them

but I still preferable keep them all, or at least keep Povondra thralled until their meeting with the government went through, then throw him into the torture cycle.

(phoneposting for>>5980271 )';

'>>5980006
>>Put him back under (ToM torture) and move on to one of his guards
if he won't give in, try out our figure unspeakable on him';

'>>5980437
Can ToM torture people? I assume it's a lotus chamber deal, you like what you see. It's based on their deepest desires enflamed to consume their every thought.

---

I wonder what sort of effect Divine Realm would have Miracle-ed with some of our abilities? ToM literally boots you to an alternate universe of our design? Divine folly gives us an incarnation prison where we can pick and choose powers from imprisoned incarnations?';

'>>5980255
> stealth is just the common store bought version of GT
They actually have different listed effects. Stealth makes us literally invisible and is only sharable by touch, Geurilla Tactics seems to be more concerned with incarnation based detection for an organization. QM has said having both active makes us more difficult to detect, and ideally we'd eventually form a Miracle with both Authorities to take our sneakyness to the big leagues.

My Miracle Wishlist:
1. Divine Servant: Our only current miracle. Our way to build a team of incarnations that do our bidding.
2. Ultra Stealth: Geurilla Tactics+Stealth. We all know being undetectable is useful.
3. Survival Instincts: Omen and Preservation Instinct. An ability that warns of danger and an ability that gets us out of it combined together into hopefully something that keeps us forewarned, forearmed, and alive.
4. Infohazard: Touch of Madness, Whispers of Temptation, and/or Many Faces. Our first three abilities. I assume any combination of these three makes something truly nasty
5. Protection: Divine Armor and Divine Will. Protection from damage + protection from mind altering effects presumably equals protection from everything.

Hopefully we get more miracle slots eventually, but I feel like these five would be pretty useful. There's probably a case to be made for a lot of other abilities too. Cackle and Spirit Wail probably makes a WMD level noise.';

'>>5980457
>lotus chamber
I don't get that reference
but ToM can create the illusion of torture and time dilation. limited by them realizing it's an illusion... probably means it would not work over a "few rounds". But it will soften him up at least';

'>>5980486
Huh, it actually originates in greek myth, the Odessey, though I'm mostly familiar with sci-fi versions. The full term is Lotus Eater. It refers to any sort of pleasure trap, usually one you don't even realize you're trapped in. The OG Lotus was some sort of narcotic fruit.

The discussion is largely academic, Atë is perfectly capable of using physical torture. We could even take the Heal authority if we wanted to get creative!

(Been thinking we could have Brigitte/Philotes take Heal, and then stalk hospitals offering Healing for Souls. Maybe have Philotes play the part of a captured angel?)';

'>>5980485
>They actually have different listed effects
yeah, i know. It was a bit of an hyperbole.
I was simplifying for the purpose of sneaking around, having GT topped off, doesn't give topping of Stealth itself more benefits.
I agree that we should max Stelth out eventually, but right now I'm thinking the opportunity cost is too high and we should max something else out instead.

I also think that any miracle would be useful, but the slots are the limiting factor here. And maybe it's better not to make one out of authorities that are too similar in nature like GT+Stealth or PI+Omen
some ideas from my side:
>Preservation Instinct + A Thousand Faces, a Thousand Voices
automatically shift vital spots out of harms way internally, or don't have any at all. Who needs a circulatory system or a head when you can run on divinity at the command of your soul?

>Guerilla Tactics + A Thousand Faces, a Thousand Voices
hide and make up information about us as we please

>Faustian Bargain + Touch of Madness
circumvent the restriction that the victim must be of sound mind

And I do believe that we will have to make some miracles and discard them if they take up a slot unnecessarily. And while it was my original idea, I don't quite like Divine Servant that much anymore, but that might change if we are able to get that ball rolling.

@QM:
can you give us a little rundown on the redeification we did on Brigitta?
I assume Read the Room, Perfect Partner and Mediate were the authorities of Philotes, and upon redeification, because she was already Level 4, she got them at level 4 too, right? But I assume there's a cap to that, we can't just redeify a level 10 and them getting four level X authorities, right?

>>5980493
>we could have Brigitte/Philotes take Heal
It was also in one of my Philotes plan outline';

'>>5980553
Versatility vs Doubling Down is a really interesting debate, and yeah I think you're right that we're going to have to try and discard options. I feel like Doubling up a miracle with two similar effects is going to be the only way to overcome X level Authorities though. There's probably all sorts of terrifying possibilities by mixing two different things, though I'd wager bypassing the consent clause of bargains can't be done.

Weapon Skill+Faces: Innate combat mastery of any shapeshifting weapons we manifest? Manifest actual weapons as part of our disguise?

Faustian Bargain+Whispers: We can create standing contracts that people can take, even without us present or aware.

>Preservation Instinct + A Thousand Faces, a Thousand Voices
The wild thing is, this is already how it works, minus transforming our internals to not have vitals at all, and Faces might get there by the time it hits X. Preservation Instinct can already use Authorities to save our asses, so it has natural synergy with Omen and our other physical authorities. Maybe it would go all the way to reflexive intangibility to hostile actions?

Spectres Wail + Stealth/Geurilla: This is a weird combo, would it trigger the wail on anyone who detects us? Make us invisible to people who heard the wail? Make the wail not actually audible?

Divine Construct/Enchant+Whispers: Cursed objects that emit our Whispers effect?

Divine Realm+Omen/Preservation: Emergency Escape? We just eject to our Divine Realm anytime we're in danger?

Manipulate Object+Weapon Mastery: Telekinetic cloud of knives anyone?

Man, I could do this all day. The possibilities are insane.';

'>>5980033
>>5980048
>>5980255
>>5980313
>>5980350
>>5980437

Somehow, I managed to get away.

The force the masked assailant had on my chest was powerful, by <Monstrossifying> into the form of the giant winged boar, I was able to use the rapid change in size and blinding light to take her by surprise and force her off of me. I flew towards the hotel where the auction was taking place as fast as I possibly could, and it seemed like the speed of my flight was enough to make a clean getaway.

I transformed back to my human self, confirming my identity as Vermillion Spider while sticking as close to the auction staffer as I could before I entered the auction hall. Half running, half stumbling through the glass doors of the decadent building, I struggled to calm my pulse and regulate my breathing before I fainted from the panic. I collapsed into the soft plush of the lobby sofa.

That thing wasn’t human.

Between the sound of her voice, the flash of crimson light, it took her less than a second for her to completely disable myself and my men: the fact that I got away is nothing short of a miracle. As things stand, I’ll have to consider them dead- even if I see them again, they are to be killed on sight- all of them are compromised, slaves to the power of her divinity

Worse than its cruelty, or even its power, were the demon’s eyes. There was something lurking behind them, like the leviathan beneath the calm waters of the ocean. I can’t meet that thing again- I’ll have to get home with a Lizard’s Tail instead

Looking around the lobby, I noticed that the entire thing was empty. Odd, considering the fact that when I left, it was bustling with activity. As I finish checking around, I’m face to face with her again- with it.

“You can’t hurt me here,” I said, knowing it well but not believing it in the slightest.

“Can’t I?” She responded, her voice almost teasing rather than threatening. I looked down- every bone in my hand was completely shattered; pain assaulted my body as I used every ounce of will I had to suppress a scream. I looked at her, the panic probably visible in my gaze.

“H-how the hell did you do that?! The auction, your mask, how is it still?!”

“Didn’t you know?” she replied, a smug expression painted across her mouth, revealed by the open mouthpiece of her mask, “The <Heart of the Auction> doesn’t apply outside the auction house.”

“But we’re in-”

“Can’t you feel it?” She interrupted, “the weight on your chest?”

I turn my focus to my chest- the cloth of my suit is pressed against my body as if something was pinning it to my sternum. Then, I felt the weight- it wasn’t crushing, but it was enough to restrict my breathing- and remind me of the reality of the situation. I never escaped- the load never relented.

I looked back through the holes in her mask, and, this time, I glimpse what lurks behind them

The face of calamity.

Everything around me melted away in a crimson mist.';

'>>5980759

While it’s impossible to torture people with <Touch of Madness> in a strict sense, it’s possible to incorporate elements of reality into the illusion as you please. Of course, you had to actually break his hand for the scene in the lobby to work as it did, but this has served as a valuable experiment- dangling a realistic reality only to harshly remove it can be a more effective form of torture than any pain could bring.

Povondra seems to be at the end of his rope: he’s despondent, borderline unresponsive, as he stares up at you with dead, empty eyes.

“Are you ready to reconsider?” you ask him.

“There is no escape,” he states.

“Quite right.”

“Armageddon,” he says, his voice bereft of emotion, “I’ve seen the face of armageddon.”

“Are you going to fork over your soul or not?”

“Armageddon.” He replies, “I mustn't see those eyes again.”

He grasps your outstretched hand.

(We’ll resolve the soul contracts and incarnation statuses of the new servants after all dealings are finished)

What should you do with the guards? You may select a different option for each one
>Kill
>Offer a <Bargain> while Povondra stands aside
>Have Povondra order them to sign
>Write-in';

'>>5980760
>Offer a <Bargain> while Povondra encourages them to do so
This is just what the organization has to become to survive';

'>>5980760
>>Offer a <Bargain> while Povondra stands aside
they are dealing with us now, not him

>>5980666
I don't mind doubling down on stealth, but I want to get supernatural speed for preservation instinct to slow our perception of time alongside';

'>>5980760
>Have Povondra order them to sign
Really liked how that update was written QM';

'>>5980760
>Still kill two of the weakest for getting GT to max.

>Offer a <Bargain> while Povondra encourages them to do so.

If they refuse

>Torture loop them.';

'>>5980760
>>5980850
+1 support.
Very well written update. The face of armageddon...';

'I'm glad you guys enjoyed the writing! I got a bit experimental with it and I'm glad it had the effect I was intending

>>5980768
>>5980784
>>5980807
>>5980850
>>5980906

>Offer a <Bargain> while Povondra encourages them to do so.

You decide to keep 2 of Povondra’s guards while putting the other two down. At first, you consider just cutting down the two with the lowest incarnation level, but, as you’ve learned over the course of your run-ins with other would-be gods, incarnation level and power are not necessarily the same.

“Which two of these four would you say are the most useful?” You ask Povondra.

“Alastor and Sybaris, probably. They form a decent offensive-defensive core together, but I’m not an expert on combat.”

How should you go about deciding who to kill and who to spare?


>No need to overcomplicate things, just kill the two lower level incarnations (Sybaris and Polybotes)
>Take Povondra’s suggestion (kill Polybotes and the Manticore)
>Clear their minds and spare whichever two capitulate first
>Write-in';

'>>5981227
last vote only 2 out of 5 wrote to kill any of them';

'>>5981238
You're right- people were discussing it a lot before this vote and I got it mixed up- we'll do a similar thing we did with Jane where the option
>Don't kill any of them

Is valid and tallied against the collective of all kill votes';

'>>5981227
>Don't kill any of them

I had like 5 IPs the last 3 days... do I get a new IP for driving through a tunnel? let's find out!';

'>>5981227
>Don't kill any of them
If any refuse we can still kill them. While I'm deeply in the camp of "growing our empire", I also wouldn't mind getting GT up to 9 or X, and using the influence from the subjugations to upgrade assess hamartia to 8 to get more names+myths from the rouge incarnations at the auction to hunt down later

@QM
reposting the question on redeification:
I assume Read the Room, Perfect Partner and Mediate were the authorities of Philotes that Brigitta got upon redeification and, because she was already Level 4 as Siren, she got them at authority level 4, right? But I assume there's a cap to that, we can't just redeify a level 10 and them getting four level X authorities, right?

Can we buy "Divine Relic" from the shop a second time? It doesn't matter if it gives us a copy of Folly's Grasp or a different relic (surprise us), only if "Divine Relic" can simply be bought a second time.

>>5980341
this explanation works in favor of farming souls from fanmeetups, right?
people who were under our influence for months, loving us. just snapping them out for a moment to ask for their souls to make their object of affection stronger

I had another question but I forgot again...';

'>>5981351

>Redeification?

Generally, the <Redeification> process doesn't grant new authorities, traits, etc: it replaces them. Specifically, the trait, <EX> authority, directive, and 3 standard authorities of the highest rarity are converted into authorities of the new incarnation. Brigita's stacked redeification is a specific effect of <Divine Servant>. As stated:

>Since they have <Redeified> using this specific miracle, they retain the core authorities, including the <EX> rated authority, of their previous <Myth>

>Can we buy our personal divine relic a second time?

Nope, each incarnation gets one. You could if you redeified, though';

'>>5981245
I too would like to attempt to enslave them all, but if they refuse just kill them.';

'>>5981238
>>5981261
>>5981351
>>5981401

>Attempt to <Bargain> with all four of them

You release each of the incarnations from their illusions, and they slowly begin to awake.

First, the manticore arises. As soon as he looks at you, the man immediately assumes a position somewhere between kneeling and groveling. As Sybaris awakes, you receive the message:

>Your authority <Guerrilla Tactics> has blocked a lower level authority

Her eyes widen as she turns her attention to the manticore, and she immediately mimics his position on the cold concrete.

Alastor, the revenge spirit, rises, audibly gulping as he sees the two other guards on the ground, but does not kneel. He seems like he’s about to ask you something, but before he can, <Omen> and <Preservation Instinct> activate: you lightly make a sidehop, easily dodging a giant fist directed at you.

You turn your attention upward- the guard Polybotes seems to have <Monstrossified>, not only based on his giant stature- 30 feet, give or take- but also from the tusk-like teeth protruding upwards from the underbite of his newly twisted visage. He draws a weapon- a massive metal club, and swings it at you, however, with the combined power of <Supernatural Speed>, <Omen>, and <Preservation Instinct>, you easily dodge him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, you moron?!” the manticore roars, “Are you trying to get us all killed?!”

“SHUT UP,” the monster replies, rage- most likely authority induced- resonating in his words, “THAT BITCH HURT THE BOSS! BUT SHE’S NOTHING WITHOUT HER CHEAP TRICKS.”

Povondra stands aside, a look of resignation on his face.

You smirk- it seems like you’ll have to teach this thing a lesson.

What should you do?

>Give him an old fashioned beat down- it’s been a while since you’ve had a good fight
>Just put him back under mind control
>Order your new subordinates (Brigita, Josef, and Benedikt) to take him down
>Have Povondra deal with him personally
>Have Povondra order him to stand down
>Write-in';

'>>5981570
>Have Povondra deal with him personally
While I'd like the fighting practice, he seems weak enough to just statstomp and it wouldn't inspire the rest to make deals as well.';

'>>5981570
>"I will admit, my expertise is subterfuge and mind control..."
>Put him under mind control again and make him do a 30ft tall chicken dance.
>"Po, you said he's useful due to his usefulness in combat? Not because he's important to your organization, right?"
>Fight and kill him

>>5981581
I don't think it'll be a stomp, he's level 7 with monstrofication boosters, it probably will be our toughest fight if we fight him honestly';

'>>5981581
+1 he's all yours';

'>>5981570
Changing vote from >>5981594 to backing >>5981593
I want the black comedy moment. Bonus if one of these guys actually laughs involuntarily at it';

'>Put him bacn under mind control

We'll be rolling more dice, so please specify between Cautious, Normal, or Reckless for the roll';

'>>5981629
>Reckless';

'>>5981629
>Reckless';

'>>5981629
reckless';

'>>5981570
>Just put him back under mind control';

'>>5981633
>>5981636
>>5981640

Seems like reckless takes it; I'll need 3 rolls of 3d22 (10+6+6)>>5981581';

'Rolled 4, 16, 18 = 38 (3d22)

>>5981653';

'Rolled 1, 10, 20 = 31 (3d22)

>>5981653
Hopefully we can power through whatever defenses he's got';

'Rolled 5, 19, 14 = 38 (3d22)

>>5981653
Rollan';

'on second thought...
remember how Kronos went on about how good Monstrossification booseters are? And (as far as we know) nobody but the person with the "First Blood" title can copy the Monstrossification EX rated authorities, how the Calydonian Boar's EX-rated authority "Beastification" degraded to "Bane of Calydon" for us.
As much as I like getting our important authorities up to X, collecting Monstrossification/Beastification authorities
And a Monstrossification miracle also sounds really cool


QM, everything ok? need a breather?';

'>>5984281
Huh, miracling two monster Authorities...well then.';

'>>5984327
Bro, Miracle Typhon and Echidna together. The father and mother of monsters. Wild. Straight up printing lesser minions.';

'>>5984331
>Miracle Typhon and Echidna together
I get the feeling that the original owners of those authorities as well as their original original owners would all want that to happen if they knew';

'>>5984390
Twenty bucks says they already fucking?';

'>>5984281
That's a smart idea';