Riez took a deep breath and looked over at Jasper. However, before she could ask any questions, a pop-up appeared.
Text from image
You are loading into a world with existing players
Message: You have been advanced to Rank [4]. This will mean gaining the following benefits:
<ul>
<li>Base Energy: 4</li>
<li>Base Impact: 4</li>
<li>Worship spent: 10</li>
<li>Unspent Power Points: 15</li>
</ul>
Do you want this boost?
Y/N?
"Seems like I can start at a higher level like you said, but I can also choose to start at a normal level?" The questioning tone in Riez''s voice made Jasper smile.
"Yeah, I decided that we wouldn''t force it. So you can choose to start underlevelled, " he answered, though Riez had already pressed Yes to the question.
She did pause after that, as she realised she hadn''t really understood all the information. "What does Worship Spent mean?"
Jasper couldn''t help but giggle a little at the fact that she had just clicked. "Since your rank is determined by how much worship you spend, you are starting out with having already spent some of it. Just to ensure that we don''t get any funny business where you can gain multiple Ranks for Worship you already have gotten credit for."
She looked at Jasper with a raised eyebrow. "We are going to talk about what Impact and Worship is later, right?" And Jasper nodded before they both delved into their powers.
<hr>
Riez considered her options. Her build was unorthodox. She would be happy to admit that much, but as a potential prankster god, she needed the power to move quickly and the power to lie about what she was doing. The Loyalty Domain had been to ensure that she could create a team of pranksters who could help her out and remain loyal to her. After all, a clown was better with a circus.
She probably wanted another Domain but couldn''t decide what to pick. Riez considered the Theft Domain. It was probably the one that aligned most with her trickster nature, but was there something in that Domain that she didn''t already have access to? She wasn''t sure if she wanted to steal from people, as much as she really just wanted to annoy them.
Madness could be fun. However, that might be a bit too extreme compared to what she was looking for. The Trickster was looking for pranks and chaos, not outright lunacy.
There was another option that did appeal to her, though. Vengeance. Her goal was really only to prank those who deserved it, so maybe, just maybe, that was the right Domain. Punish those who had done her wrong the first time around.
Before taking the plunge into looking over her Powers, Riez looked over at Jasper. "So, how much does each power cost?"
Jasper was clearly taken off guard by the question, having already started reviewing his own character. "Huh?"
Riez repeated the question and then had to repeat it again as Jasper had started to look through the options halfway through her speaking. "Well, a new Domain is 3 points, Greater powers are 2 points, and Lesser powers are 1 point." He explained before almost instantly diving back into the character-building.
Riez took a deep breath and decided not to pick a new Domain until she had looked at what powers were available to her.
Thinking that it was her main Domain, she started looking at Deception. As she pulled up the list of powers, she could see that while she had the ability to create her own powers, the default was simply presenting her with a top 5 list of powers based on what she wanted. Riez saw no need to change the default and looked over what the system suggested for her.
<table style="width: 90.0373%" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8438%">Power name</td>
<td style="width: 52.9868%">Summary</td>
<td style="width: 16.1238%">Read more?</td>
<td style="width: 12.6808%">Type</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8438%">Liar’s Flawless Grace</td>
<td style="width: 52.9868%">Your lies can never be detected as such by magic or other special abilities, including those of the Deception Word. Lesser foes will always believe them unless they are completely implausible or emotionally intolerable.</td>
<td style="width: 16.1238%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.6808%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8438%">Conviction of Error</td>
<td style="width: 52.9868%">Commit Energy. All chosen targets present become convinced that one of their beliefs of your choice is actually a terrible lie that has been imposed upon them. Worthy foes get a saving throw.</td>
<td style="width: 16.1238%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.6808%">Greater</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8438%">A Familiar Face</td>
<td style="width: 52.9868%">Commit Energy to blend in with a populace or group. This blending works even with entities who look nothing like humans.</td>
<td style="width: 16.1238%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.6808%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8438%">Deceiver’s Unblinking Eye</td>
<td style="width: 52.9868%">You can always tell when someone’s trying to lie to you or deceive you. You can see through mortal illusions and disguises.</td>
<td style="width: 16.1238%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.6808%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8438%">Impenetrable Deceit</td>
<td style="width: 52.9868%">You state something you believe to be false and Commit Energy. Everyone who hears you speak at that moment will believe it, though worthy foes get a saving throw.</td>
<td style="width: 16.1238%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.6808%">Greater</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Riez couldn''t help but note that each of those powers were definitely incredibly powerful. While she had tried the game once before during a demonstration, this was beyond anything she had ever expected.
She also noted that each of the powers had a full description attached, meaning that even with the brief summary, some of these powers would probably have conditions and limitations attached.
With 15 points, she considered buying all of them. However, she paused and took a deep breath and looked over her options.
"Liar''s Flawless Grace", which allowed her to lie to anyone and never really get detected, was practically the opposite of "Deceiver''s Unblinking Eye", which would allow her to determine whenever someone was lying to her. With them both being Lesser powers they were an easy pick. 13 points left.
While the two greater powers seemed incredible, allowing her to practically manipulate anyone, they would probably take some of the fun out of pranking people.
The last Lesser power, "A Familiar Face", which allowed her to blend in with anyone, was probably the funniest thing she had ever seen. It would be absolutely hilarious to gaslight someone into thinking that she was a troll or something like that. She picked that one as well, leaving her at 12 points.
With her picks in mind, she looked over their full descriptions to ensure that she wasn''t picking something that wouldn''t be useful due to the limitation.
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Liar’s Flawless Grace
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: Your lies can never be detected as such by magic or other special abilities, including those of the Deception Domain. Lesser foes will always believe them unless they are completely implausible, emotionally intolerable, or would oblige them to self-harm.
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Deceiver’s Unblinking Eye
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: You can always tell when someone’s trying to lie to you or deceive you. You can see through mortal illusions and disguises. This power does not affect others with the Deception Domain.
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A Familiar Face
Type: Activated ability
Energy usage: Varies
Full effect: Blend in with a populace or group. Assuming they’re not actively vigilant for intruders, no one will bother you unless you wish otherwise, and you will intuitively know how to act, speak, and conduct business so as to avoid drawing attention. This blending works even with entities who look nothing like humans.
Happy with what she had picked, she moved on to her Loyalty Domain. Here, she chose to see the top five as well.
<table style="width: 90.0373%" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Power name</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">Summary</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">Read more?</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Type</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Invincible Iron General</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">All NPCs serving under you double their health and mana, gain a hit bonus equal to your Rank, and will never flee in fear. Your will is automatically known by all your lieutenants and you always know the location, condition, and general activities of all units that accept your command.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Greater</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">A Thousand Loyal Troops</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">Commit Energy. A visible NPC immediately becomes cooperative toward you, doing for you all they’d do for a superior or employer. Those who are worthy foes get a save to resist this effect.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Guards! Seize him!</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">Up to a Small Mob worth of minions or a half-dozen individual retainers can be made to appear in the current location, provided they''re within fifty kilometres of you.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">The Soldier''s Faithful Heart</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">A visible Lesser creature who freely pledges loyalty to you finds their oath totally binding.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">The Lines of Rule</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">You can spot the true leader in any group or social context. In addition, you may Commit Energy; a group of NPCs who are lesser foes will instinctively obey you as if you were their superior or employer.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
All of these powers were definitely interesting and, without a doubt, something she could use. She could probably conquer entire worlds with the boost from "Invincible Iron General". The fact that it seemed to be a flat boost to anyone she commanded was insane. However, it was the second part that appealed to Riez. Not having to give orders to her second-in-command would make coordinating pranks so much easier! For two points, it was quite a good power, too!
Riez picked it, leaving her with 10 points and looking over the other options. There were a few she liked "A Thousand Loyal Troops" and "The Lines of Rule" seemed very similar, the only difference being that one would allow her to take command of pretty much any one person, while the other allowed her to take command of groups of lesser foes, and let her see who was in charge. It only took her a minute of weighing the pros and cons before she decided on The Lines of Rule, as it would allow her to find good targets to prank, and pretend that she was in charge. It was really a two-for-one package deal.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
That left her at 9 points.
The two last powers were interesting but didn''t seem good with her build. She really wanted to spend her points on something else, and with that, she looked over her choices.
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Invincible Iron General
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: All NPCs serving under you double their health and mana, gain a hit bonus equal to your Rank, and will never flee in fear. Your will is automatically known by all your lieutenants, and you always know the location, condition, and general activities of all units that accept your command.
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The Lines of Rule
Type: Activated ability
Energy usage: Varies
Full effect: You can spot the true leader in any group or social context. In addition, you may Commit Energy; a group of NPCs who are lesser foes will instinctively obey you as if you were their superior or employer. If the strangeness of this is brought to their attention by circumstances or those unaffected, they get a saving throw.
Happy, she moved on to her Alacrity Domain. The top five powers appeared once more, and she almost gasped.
<table style="width: 90.0373%" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8117%">Power name</td>
<td style="width: 52.3719%">Summary</td>
<td style="width: 17.0142%">Read more?</td>
<td style="width: 12.096%">Type</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8117%">Untouchable</td>
<td style="width: 52.3719%">Commit Energy to the next loading screen to become tremendously difficult to hit until the start of your next turn.</td>
<td style="width: 17.0142%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.096%">Greater</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8117%">All Directions as One</td>
<td style="width: 52.3719%">You can navigate vertical or overhanging surfaces as if they were flat ground. You can pass through rough terrain effortlessly. You have an invulnerable defence against being pushed or made to fall.</td>
<td style="width: 17.0142%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.096%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8117%">Walk Between the Rain</td>
<td style="width: 52.3719%">Your armour is heightened dramatically. You cannot be hit by anything not driven by a purpose unless you allow it.</td>
<td style="width: 17.0142%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.096%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8117%">Flickering Advance</td>
<td style="width: 52.3719%">Commit Energy to the next loading screen. Instantly reach any location you can see with your unaided sight out to the horizon.</td>
<td style="width: 17.0142%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.096%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.8117%">Time in a bottle</td>
<td style="width: 52.3719%">Commit Energy to the next loading screen end when anyone visible declares an action. You get a free round of action and movement before they can perform their act.</td>
<td style="width: 17.0142%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.096%">Greater</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
She wanted them ALL! Alacrity was the best Domain ever! It would effectively allow her to be a roadrunner! Or whatever cartoon character she wanted! She took a deep breath, realising she was hyperventilating a little and practically drooling. Picking all the powers would cost her 7 points, which was something she could afford... unless she wanted another Domain. She would have to at least sort one of these options out... maybe two. She took another deep breath and skimmed over the options again.
All Directions as One and Flickering Advance seemed to be the biggest edge cases. They were probably fine, but with her other powers, they probably weren''t that good. As such, she picked everything else. Riez looked over the powers just to be sure that she liked the abilities that she had picked.
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Untouchable
Type: Instant ability
Energy usage: Until next loading screen
Full effect: Become tremendously difficult to hit until the start of your next turn. Physical attacks hit you only on a natural 20, even those attacks from foes that would normally hit automatically. As an Instant power, you may use it after an attack roll.
Riez''s eyes went wide. This was even better than what she had expected. Being able to use this power after people had attacked her was almost perfect.
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Walk Between the Rain
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: Your armour is heightened dramatically. You cannot be hit by anything not driven by a purpose unless you allow it; falling objects will never strike you unless some will to harm you set them in motion. Traps meant to hit an intruder have a chance to hit you. Armor and shields don''t benefit you.
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Time in a bottle
Type: Instant ability (Smite)
Energy usage: Until next loading screen
Full effect: You can only activate this when someone performs an action. You get a free round’s action and movement before they can perform their act. If their desired action is rendered impossible by yours, their action is wasted. As a Smite gift, this can''t be used two rounds in a row.
She had 4 points left. That would be enough for the Vengeance Domain and one Lesser power. She picked Vengeance Domain and looked at the passive power she got from it.
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Divine Domain Unlocked: Vengeance!
Players with the Vengeance Domain repay what is owed. Your normal attacks always hit against a target who has inflicted health damage on you within the past round.
That was definitely good! Vengeance was a perfect choice, as it would allow her to be a bit more offensive.
With only 1 point left, she looked at the list and then filtered it to show the top 3 and only lesser powers.
<table style="width: 90.0373%" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 20.3799%">Power name</td>
<td style="width: 67.5501%">Summary</td>
<td style="width: 11.7957%">Read more?</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 20.3799%">Conditional Forgiveness</td>
<td style="width: 67.5501%">Commit Energy for the day and target a visible creature, naming an offense they have committed. If they ever perform a substantially similar act again, they immediately perish or suffer some lesser curse at your discretion.</td>
<td style="width: 11.7957%">See full description</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 20.3799%">Sanctified Violence</td>
<td style="width: 67.5501%">Even your words scourge those who incur your wrath. Your weapon or unarmed attacks count as a 1d20 magical weapon with a range of up to 200 meters. As long as you do not strike first, you cannot be faulted for any murder with this power.</td>
<td style="width: 11.7957%">See full description</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 20.3799%">Corona of Vengeance</td>
<td style="width: 67.5501%">If brought to zero health, you may choose to enact your vengeance. You immediately gain health equal to half your maximum, rounded up, and bonus Energy equal to your Rank. You are immediately freed from any magical effect that is binding or constraining you, whether mental or physical, and for the duration of the Corona, you cannot be controlled or bound by magic.</td>
<td style="width: 11.7957%">See full description</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Riez gave a soft whistle. Vengeance seemed to be much more focused on fighting, which made sense. She did need something to take down people, and while Conditional Forgiveness and Corona of Vengeance were both great, they wouldn''t really improve any combat she got into. She chose Sanctified Violence and looked over the power in full.
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Sanctified Violence
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: Even your words scourge those who incur your wrath. Your weapon or unarmed attacks count as a 1d20 magical weapon with a range of up to 200 feet. If you kill a target who first initiated violence against you, either with this gift or another power, lesser foes who see it or learn of it will be unable to consider the death as unlawful, unfair, or socially inappropriate.
With that done, she looked over at Jasper, who seemed consumed by his own dive into his powers.
<hr>
Jasper looked over his options. He could do so many great things, and- Riez asked him a question. He tried to answer her without being pulled out of his stream of thought. Then she asked him something again, and he realised it had been the same question as the first time around. He pulled himself out of the menus, only to realise that he had misread one of the powers in front of him and- Riez asked the same question a third time, and Jasper made a herculean effort to answer the question to the best of his abilities.
With that done, he could dive back into the Contract Domain. With 7 points to spend, he didn''t want to expand into another Domain. Jasper rolled his shoulders, adjusted his glasses and dove into the top 5 powers recommended by the system for the Contract Domain.
<table style="width: 90.0373%" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Power name</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">Summary</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">Read more?</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Type</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">God of Oaths</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">Soul Oaths no longer require you to spend Energy or Worship to achieve high levels. Spend 1 Worship to break any Soul Oath where you are not an active participant.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Witness of the Pact</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">You can retroactively bind any deal or agreement as if it were a Soul Oath. Doing so will enforce divine will upon all participants. The agreement must be considered valid by all parties involved.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Market of Souls</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">You can trade or barter metaphysical aspects (e.g., memories, years of life, divine power) with another creature. Any bargain struck for metaphysical aspects must be in the form of a Soal Oath.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Greater</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Ledger of Obligation</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">You mentally catalogue all promises, debts, and agreements made with or near you. You always know the status of these obligations, even if the parties involved forget or deny them.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Lesser</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.7142%">Divine Escrow</td>
<td style="width: 53.1174%">Store the rewards or costs of a deal outside time and space in a divine escrow. Neither party can claim or lose their stake until the deal’s terms are fully honoured. Once fulfilled, payment and rewards are automatically given to the proper parties.</td>
<td style="width: 16.3039%">See full description</td>
<td style="width: 12.4091%">Greater</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Jasper sighed. All of these were good. He tinkered with them, looking through his other powers, weighed them with his other options and tried to compare the impact. He wasn''t sure how long he had been at it, but Riez was looking at him, so he finally picked all of them.
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God of Oaths
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: Soul Oaths no longer require you to spend Energy or Worship to achieve high levels. Spend 1 Worship to break any Soul Oath where you are not an active participant.
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Witness of the Pact
Type: Activated ability
Energy usage: Until next loading screen
Full effect: You can retroactively bind any deal or agreement as if it were a Soul Oath. Doing so will enforce divine will upon all participants. The agreement must be considered valid by all parties involved and must not be under dispute in any way. You can choose the level that this Soul Oath is bound to, paying any cost that this will incur.
Text from image:
Market of Souls
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: You can trade or barter metaphysical aspects (e.g., memories, years of life, divine power) with another creature. Any bargain struck for metaphysical aspects must be in the form of a Soal Oath.
Text from image:
Ledger of Obligation
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: You mentally catalogue all promises, debts, and agreements made with or near you. You always know the status of these obligations, even if the parties involved forget or deny them.
Text from image:
Divine Escrow
Type: Constant
Energy usage: N/A
Full effect: Store the rewards or costs of a deal outside time and space in a divine escrow. Neither party can claim or lose their stake until the deal’s terms are fully honoured. Once fulfilled, payment and rewards are automatically given to the proper parties.
With the powers picked, he smiled and turned to Riez. "I am ready. Are you ready?"
Riez nodded with a grin, and they were pulled into the game.