>>6037578

You return to your allies, happily humming to yourself as you think about the horde of authorities, influence, and items you just secured for yourself. As you land, you see the Manticore and Pallas lazily playing gin rummy while Isabella pokes at nothing, presumably fiddling with the system.

“Hi, Rosa! Welcome back!” She seems happy. Too happy.

“How did your betting go?”

“It went great! For a minute there, I was worried you’d side with the incarnation army at the end there, but I knew I had you pegged as the ‘burn it all down’ type. Eris does like you, after all.”

“Eris likes you too,”

She lets out a dramatized grunt of pain, “Et tu, Huber?”

“Don’t ‘et tu’ me, Brutus.”

“What do you mean?” she asks, guilt painted all over her face.

“You bet on Dove, didn’t you?”

She starts to visibly sweat, “Hahaha whaaat? No, I would never. I mean, you and I are buddies right? Haha, I always believed in you.”

“Ladies, Ladies.” Dorota interjects, sliding out of your shadow, “What matters is, everyone wins! Isa is dead and none of us are. Is that not what really matters?”

“Easy for you to say. I didn’t even get a single good duel.” Pallas says with a pout. The manticore stays silent.

“Next time. Unless you wanted to get caught up in THAT.” You point to the bloody scene behind you. She puts her hands up in admission of your point.

You drive the RV back to the base in Israel. About halfway back, You hear a thud on the roof of the car and a knock at the door, despite the fact that you’re driving at more than 60 miles an hour. You open it, and see Dove’s head poking in from the top of the RV.

“Got room for one more?”

You let her in, and she flops down on the couch, picking her teeth with her knife. You notice the conspicuous absence of Isa’s heart.

“You may not have won this time,” she says, staring at you, “But you got really damn close. If I hadn’t used my trump card, I’d have had to share the kill with you.”

“Trump card?”

She puts a finger to her lips, her dagger still in her hand and now pointed at you, “Sorry, I don’t wanna share my methods. Especially since we might hunt each other some day. Still, it seems like I’m not the only one with tricks up her sleeve- if I hadn’t hightailed it out of there I’d have been in deep shit.”

You shrug and sit down on the table across from her, “Fair enough.”

Pallas and the Manticore are sitting in the truck while the rest of you are in the RV. Dorota is hanging out in someone’s shadow, while Isabella is mixing drinks at the bar and the two of you sit at the couch.

What do you want to do?
>Chat with someone (specify)
>Wait until you arrive
>Write-in

>>6037579
>Chat with someone (specify)
I want to get some insight into Dorota and whatever she's been up to

>>6037579
>Double-check with Dove if she thinks she killed the real Isa
We didn't receive <Pistis> or influence sufficient for a genuine world power, right?

>>6037592

You didn't receive the subjugation rewards period: the 10,000+ influence was solely from your directives. Dove, being the killer, would be the one to receive the credit

>>6037579
>Chat with someone (specify)
Compliment Dove on her poker face. If she had flinched on seeing our face we would have unleashed Deep Shit right then and there.

>>6037579
>>Chat with someone (specify)
Chat with Dorata. I want insight from her too. What is it like getting a front-row viewing of the Ate channel?

>>6037591
>>6037592
>>6037598
>>6037606

>Chat with Dove

“Still, I commend your poker face,” you say, “If I thought any of the soldiers recognized me- could have been you- you’d have been in ‘deep shit’ like that.” you snap your fingers for emphasis.

“Authorities help, but it’s a trick of the trade.” She replies, absentmindedly twirling her dagger in her hands, “Animals notice when you react. See you as a threat. People aren’t so different. We should go buck huntin’ some time- it’ll teach you a lot.”

You’re not sure if she’s actually talking about deer.

“So, what myth did Isa have in the end?”

“<Pistis>, but there was something pretty interesting I was gonna tell you about that. I killed the guy, got the subjugation reward and everything, but the <Myth> was gone.”

“Interesting. Is it possible that his soul got away?”

She shrugs, “Maybe, but if so all of the incarnation shit on it stayed with his corpse. The 12th level incarnation of <Pistis> is dead. Isa is dead. If his consciousness pops up again in some schmuck and if he regains his powers that only means I get to play again.”

>Char with Dorota

You’ve become able to recognize when Dorota is in your shadow: she is, and, as you proceed to the bedroom, you ask her to come out.

“Hello!”

“So, have fun shadowing me?”

She gives a short chuckle at the pun, “It was interesting. Especially your trick with the chains…” she sighs, "It's just a shame I do not get to see what happens in those little- dreams? Illusions! you like to cast."

Seems like she might have learned of the existence of <Arts> by observing you.

“Fair enough. Out of curiosity, what do you get up to in your free time, anyway?”

“Oh, you know, striking deals. Having fun.”

A perverse smile, joined by a blush on her almost pallid, almost greenish skin, creeps onto her face as she reminisces over what she's presumably subjected people to. You understand perfectly how this woman deified at 100% synchronization. She continues, “Is there something specific you wanted to chat about?”

>Ask about a member of the pantheon (specify)
>Offer a deal (Specify)
>No
>Write-in

>>6037631
>Write-in
Try and teach her Arts, if she's willing

>>6037631

>Ask about a member of the pantheon
Eris of course. And how long Dorota thinks she'll last before one of us crazy bitches goes for her.

Just started reading this quest, so I can't vote yet, but just wanted to give my compliments to the QM.

>>6037631
>>6037658
+1

>Atë is now the same level as a former world-player incarnation
O shit

>>6037660
Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the quest

>>6037656
>>6037658
>>6037662

>Ask about Eris

“Well, since you asked, she has actually been pretty busy- her and Saanvi and I think also Jen are pulling some scheme in Bangladesh. I’m not completely informed on the details- I was… otherwise occupied during the meeting, but she should be back sometime soon if everything goes well.”

“Do you think someone else is gonna try and take her crown?”

“Well, anyone will, it is probably Jen. Unless it is you, of course. Bella doesn’t care to lead, Saanvi recognizes that Eris is easier to use when she thinks she has power, and I, of course, am on team Atë,” she says with a wink.

“Thanks for the intel. Any updates on pantheon progress?”

“Saanvi claims to be looking for leads among the incarnation meeting places, but until further notice, the plan is to try to broker for more information at the next incarnation auction. I was surprised to learn that something like that was even a possibility, but I hear they have some pretty major incarnation power- and a whole lot of money behind it. At least that’s what Bella says. Have you been?”

“Yes, actually. It’s where I met Dove,”

She laughs, “For better or for worse, right?”

You sigh, “It is what it is.”

>Ask about something else (Specify)
>Offer a deal (Specify)
>Talk to someone else
>Wait for the RV to arrive at its destination
>Write-in

>>6037701
>Wait for the RV to arrive at its destination

>>6037701
>Talk to someone else
Is Manticore still being a bitch? You have way too much attachment to your shitty crime syndicate man

>>6037662
To be fair he seemed pretty weak for being world tier
Kronos is far more intimidating

>>6037701
>Wait for the RV to arrive at its destination
Aw no Arts tutoring

>>6037714
For what it's worth, I think we should keep Arts to ourselves, and those bound to us. Dorota wouldn't hesitate to kill us if the chance arose.

>>6037714
>>6037701
+1
I would imagine Isa was basically a rebellious upstart

>>6037722
The fact that she didn't get his Myth really makes me think this was a remote-controlled body double or the like.

>>6037726
Fair it might even have been weaker than his normal body

Firstly (since I forgot to link it in the op, >>6037578) I have an email now for commissions and other inquiries: olympusqm@gmail.com

>>6037704
>>6037708
>>6037714
>>6037717
>>6037722

>Wait for the RV to arrive at its destination

You kill time playing cards and chatting with the other passengers until the RV arrives first at a checkpoint and then to its destination, a military air base from which you’re flown to the location you previously met Dayan at.

As you disembark from your jet, your party exits the plane and explains the broad strokes of what went down, including the incongruencies regarding Isa. Dayan seems concerned, but she seems convinced that the Isa dove killed and the Isa she knows are, at the very least, the same person. She has a brief phone call, presumably with one of the Commander’s men, after which she informs you that the Commander will give you your reward, and that you can meet with him to claim it at any time.

Isabella gives you a quick hug before popping her wings and flying off; she says she enjoyed the vacation, she’s been away from her family for long enough. Dove and Dayan are still chatting- it seems like Dayan is hoping that she might deal with the Defender in Western Europe for the sake of the hunt. Dove seems conducive to the idea, although she doesn’t seem to appreciate being used like a weapon by the IDF.

Dorota is still lingering in your shadow- it seems like she might want to tag along with whatever you do next.

What should you do first?

>Claim your reward from the Commander
>See what Eris is up to in Bangladesh
>Have a rematch with Dove- this time, the Defender
>See how your mafia men are doing
>Go back home and meet with Pheme
>Write-in

>>6037781
>See what Eris is up to in Bangladesh
It's been a while since we've seen her, and we missed one of her parties earlier.

>>6037781
>Claim your reward from the Commander
This then Eris, I think

>>6037781
>Claim your reward from the Commander

Curious to see if Omen still triggers...

>>6037781
>>Claim your reward from the Commander
>Keep Dorata in our shadow
Lets get it done first. I am sure nothing can go wrong.

>>6037781
>>Claim your reward from the Commander

Can we summon Isa with Ate's Plaything? He died, otherwise Dove wouldn't have gotten the subjugation rewards. And he succumbed to our primary directive, otherwise the system wouldn't have told us exactly that.

>>6037832

>Can we summon Isa?
You feel like you can, but you'll have to experiment with it to be certain of the specifics

>>6037784
>>6037787
>>6037793
>>6037813

>Claim your reward from the Commander

You change your gown’s form from a pair of practical exercise leggings to a skirt that drops all the way to your ankles.

“Move into the shadow of the skirt,” you say to Dorota, “We’re heading back to Europe.”

A chuckle rings out from below you as you feel her presence shift. Knowing on instinct that it will work, you use <Crash The Party> to drop in on Povondra.

You see him in his office, holding, almost caressing a photograph of him and his family- a wife, a teenage daughter, and a baby boy. He slowly turns his head up to look at you.

“So, how are the kids, Lubomir?” you ask, somewhere between a nicety and a threat. He looks back at you: his face is gaunt and large bags rest beneath his eyes. His hair and beard are groomed properly, but he seems greasy, like he hasn’t slept in too long.

“Dead.”

You pause for a moment in surprise, “What? How did it happen?”

“It was better this way.”

A twinge of an emotion you forgot plays in your heart. “Povondra, did you... kill your own family?”

He casts a gaze that would be full of hatred were he not too broken for resentment, “They were beautiful. Pure. You showed me that the only thing waiting for people like that is suffering. I spared them that. I spared them what I saw.”

An involuntary chuckle slips out of your mouth, “You’re a sick fuck, Povondra.”

He seems too tired to respond.

You activate all of your stealth abilities and use your <Cloak> to fly. This time, you easily hit mach speeds as you jet through the clouds towards Vienna. As you fly, you use your secure line to text the Commander to meet you at the café you struck a bargain at.

~

>>6037845

You land, settling down in front of the quaint coffee shop. Inside, just as before, you find Kronos enjoying a cup of coffee as his lackey stands at his right hand.

As you enter, you can hardly contain your glee. <Preservation Instinct> and <Omen> still blare as you approach, but the feeling is completely different. When you approached him the first time, you got the impression that he was an insurmountable wall, that, no matter what you did or how hard you tried, victory was completely, laughably impossible.

Now, however, though your odds still seem next to zero- they are real. Of the billion billion ways the fight between you and him could go, at least a few of them result in you toppling the Austrian. A smirk tugs at your lips, which you quickly morph into a businesslike smile.

“I did as asked.”

“The circumstances seem more complicated than that but, essentially, yes.” The commander replies, placing his porcelain cup down on the little dish it came with. “You said you wanted to visit one of our divinity farms?”

>Yes
>Yes, but I wanted a subordinate to use it in my place (Specify)
>No, I actually want an item
>No, I actually want an authority
>No, I actually want an epithet
>No, I actually want information
>No, I actually want money
>Write-in

>>6037845

Just realized I forgot to mention it: you took the fast track, but Pallas and the Manticore are headed to Austria via jet, same as they came

>>6037845
Jeez, we might have broken Pov to the point of uselessness
Might be better to just kill and replace at this point

>Yes
Refill gown, fill sword
Now that I think about it, didn’t Pheme have a sword of Damocles title? Any relation with the item? We should ask her.

>>6037858

Oops, I'm realizing I said divinity farm instead of influence farm. They do have divinity farms and that is an option you can pick, but influence farms (like operation Sous Vide) were the original agreement

>>6037846
>"Run it by me, how do the influence farms work? What's my expected gain from it? I might just take a rain check and come back to it later. I have some personal projects to get to."

>>6037846
>>Yes
man we should probably start organizing our subordinates soon, we have many abilities that makes having many subordinates useful but we barely utilize them

>>6037846
>Yes
Y'know, I have no clue what kind of epithets we should deliberately pursue to improve Atë. Probably one with a stronger monstrossification, one suited to a psychological horror?

>>6037846
Hey QM you forgot to put new titles on the charsheet, also can you create a pallas charsheet?

Also, if we were to summone palladium or playthings would they be immune to mind altering authorities?
>>6038029
I personally really want to get ride of some of our epithets we have before we start going on the hunt again, either via the authority manufactirer or via making new subordinates using an epithet holder, but I know that both of those options would be expensive

Right now for atë authorities we are kind of well set

>>6037846
> Yes

A little terrifying that we can wipe out a city in the blink of an eye and this guy is still way stronger than us. Admittedly time manipulation is pretty busted.

---

There's been a blur of upgrades, where did we end up using our free levels? Did we max out anything new?

>>6038049

>New titles?
Added, thanks for reminding me

>Pallas?
I didn't post one before because I realized all of the sheets were becoming a bit too much info, but if Pallas is going to effectively become your new right hand man I should probably do that

>Palladium and Playthings?
They would be susceptible to some but not others: ones like <Whispers> that rely on things like desires wouldn't generally work, but illusions, stealth authorities, sleep and stunning authorities, and the like would still work as normal

>>6038059
Nope, all 6 are still available- in fact, let's hold a quick vote on it while I work on Pallas's sheet

Here are all of the 8th level authorities you possess- choose 3 to max out

>A: AThousand Faces, A Thousand Voices
>B: Touch of Madness
>C: Assess Hamartia
>D: Supernatural Speed
>E: Stealth
>F: Divine Armor
>G: Battle Acuity
>Write-in (any level 6 authority will take 4 of your 6 free upgrades rather than 2)

>>6038067
>A: A Thousand Faces, A Thousand Voices
>B: Touch of Madness
>C: Assess Hamartia

>>6038068
+1, max the CORE

>>6038067
>A: A Thousand Faces, A Thousand Voices
It does it all, and a miracles version at level 20 will be even better
>B: Touch of Madness
Our deadliest weapon. I have to wonder what a good miracle pairing would be...
>D: Supernatural Speed
Maybe miracle this with Thousand Faces? Just instant snap transformations for all occasions, lengthened arms, shift organs and blood vessels, all guided by our dear friend Preservation Instinct.

If there's a tie I have problem with ceding to >>6038068
Assess Harmatia is an excellent tool as well, though the risk of a block revealing us is a concern.

>>6038067
use the 6 charges like
>ABBCCE

I missed a lot!

I want to get Battle Acuity up to max too. My plan is that we should use it as a basis to make an Art. Not in a way that tasks our brain, but time dilation and information processing in our soul.
Transcend humanity, transcend that flesh prison, transcend the system.
and free up another authority slot... actually we should try to artsify every authority that we don't need for a miracle

>>6038067
>>6038068
More COREMAX support

I did think it was weird the farm was a divinity type but figured I just misremembered. Still want to use it so we can get an idea of just how effective it is, but the best way to level up quickly might be to follow Prometheus' example and wipe out King strongholds, considering how much influence the last one brought it. Sure a good bit of that was Isa's army, but now we have bonuses for killing King followers thanks to our titles.

>>6038111
no, the original pitch was influence farm.
and I hope people were voting for it to think it's the influence farm.
But I missed my window, I think.
otherwise
>>6037846
>Yes, if it's the influence farm
otherwise just ask him for some of those divinity batteries with charge, don't need the hassle of going to a farm for divinity, when we already have a divinity relic commissioned

>>6038111
Party crash Prometheus and just be like "yo, let's fuck shit up for the king"

>>6038111
I agree, hunting the Penitent sounds like a productive way of garnering influence without actively targeting powerful incarnations. Plus, fuck the Uncrowned King

>Primordial Body (EX): Increases the effective level of all physical enhancement and regeneration authorities by half your level
Oh shit, that's a busted authority. Is there any method for Atë to copy that off of Pallas?

>>6038241
For now, not unless you kill her. Even then, you'd get a degraded version. Who's to say what would happen if you were to upgrade <Divine Servant>, though

>>6037858
>>6037873
>>6038005
>>6038029
>>6038059
>>6038068
>>6038079
>>6038091
>>6038106
>>6038111
>>6038114

Firstly, I wanted to point out a change I forgot to mention in Guerilla tactics:

Negates the information gathering effects of shop items, as well as similar effects provided by divine relics below fable grade.

Secondly, Pallas’s sheet is finished: https://rentry.org/pallas-incarnation-status

>A Thousand Faces, A Thousand Voices: 8->X
When you take the shape of a target, you may create a copy of a target’s consciousness (but not their soul) should you have an auxiliary brain in which to store it. You may either allow the consciousness to act in your stead while manipulating it with your mind altering authorities or maintain control and use the copied consciousness for information.

It is possible to freely manipulate your size so long as you remain within the bounds of 1 to 1,000 pounds.

>Touch of Madness 8->X
While a person is under the illusion effect of this authority, you may freely manipulate their body in any way you wish, including suicide. It is also possible to use their authorities so long as you are aware of their effects.

Once a target falls under the effects of this authority, it consumes their divinity to remain active rather than your own.

>Assess Hamartia 8->X
With a sufficient difference in level, it is possible to retrieve any piece of information about a target which they know, including but not limited to people or things they find important, possessions, incarnation status, bank account and government identification information, occupation, and age.

>Yes

“You came at a good time,” the Commander says, “The <Moros> instance in Sous Vide just hit level 8: combined with the subjugation rewards, that’s 12,800+ influence.”

A pretty penny, to be sure, although it does serve as a depressing reminder of just how unforgiving the exponential price hikes can get.

“Can I wait until level 9?”

He shakes his head, “It’ll take too long. we can’t hold up our entire operation. If you believe the compensation is insufficient, we can negotiate something else.”

>Accept
>Try to haggle for more rewards
>Ask for something else
>Write-in

>>6038246
>Ask for something else (Rights to hunt
cults dedicated to the Uncrowned King within the Commander's territory)
12800 influence is not really that much compared to what our new trait can yield through a few cheap massacres. If he says no, I'm fine settling for the 12800.

>>6038246
>>Try to haggle for more rewards
>grow another brain in our torso with Kronos' consciousness to gauge how haggling with him is going.
>"Throw in a couple of those divinity batteries and you have a deal."

>>6038246
Also, did we buy <Divine Will> last thread? Because it's not on the Authority list.

>>6038246
Backing >>6038258

>>6038253
Uh, they're a thorn in his side, and in the side of all world players. Instead of asking him if we can hunt them, we should be asking him how he'll repay us if we do hunt the ones in his territory.

>>6038288
Added at level 1

>>6038253
>>6038258
>>6038296

You try to replicate the Commander’s consciousness using the auxiliary brain in your torso, but…

><A Thousand Faces, A Thousand Voices> has been blocked by another authority!

It seems like either Kronos or his minion has some authority that blocks the gathering of intel, which likely includes this function of your <Faces>.

Still, you always have been good at cold reading.

“Firstly, I’d like to add a small bonus for my clear reward.”

“That being?”

“20,000 divinity worth of containers.”

He strokes his beard, “Doable. Secondly?”

“I’d like to add another arrangement- have you heard the news about the Penitent? About the Court of the Uncrowned King?”

“Cultists. Likely orchestrated by some incarnation.”

You shake your head: “No. The Uncrowned King is real- more than that, the threat is existential. The Court and the Penitent are capable of using divinity outside of the context of the system. I have the titles to prove it, and if I have to I’ll even sign a <Pact> to confirm the honesty of my claim if I have to.”

Kronos looks to his aide, and she nods to him. Looking back at you, he says, “Suppose I take your word for it. What do you want to be done?”

“If you ever discover a Penitent cell, let me know. If I can, I’ll drop by and exterminate them for you. In exchange, I’d like some reward equivalent to the size of the compound.”

“How do I know how much to compensate you? It’s not like I have any frame of reference for the capabilities of these compounds.”

“You can send a minion- your friend here would be perfect but anyone will do- to observe. Or, you can just take my word for it.”

He shrugs, “We’ll negotiate the specifics of each reward in advance on a case by case basis. For now, I don’t mind the arrangement.”

“So, about that influence farm? Do I have to go now?”

“Actually, that isn’t necessary anymore.” The commander takes his phone out of his pocket, taps on it a bit, and then hands it to you. On the screen is a red button.

“I just push the button?”

“That’s all there is to it.”

You push it.

>Congratulations! You have subjugated the incarnation of Moros…

>Influence: 14,759-> 28,093/204,800

>You have gained the authority <Death Knell!>

>Death Knell (1):
You clap, creating the bang of a gong instead of the normal sound. Any individual who hears it will feel a sense of doom and cynicism.

>Keep
>Toss

Would you like to take another authority from <Moros> or upgrade an existing one?
>Another from <Moros>
>Upgrade an existing authority (Specify)

>>6038314
>Toss
>Upgrade <Supernatural Speed>
I forgot that this would yield an authority upgrade, lol

>>6038258
but wouldn't we need to copy him first before creating a copy of his consciousness?
>>6038246
so the pallas is a combo of both the childhood friend pallas and the giant that athena slayed in the the gigantomachia. also looking at that we should probably make pallas into our second divine servant whenever we upgrade divine servant miracle
>>6038319
+1

>>6038314
Damn, he really deserves his industrial ritual title
Unfortunate that we couldn't look at the place to totally not copy later
>Toss
>Upgrade <Supernatural Speed>

>>6038320
>also looking at that we should probably make pallas into our second divine servant whenever we upgrade divine servant miracle
On the one hand we can upgrade it right now
On the other we just got 3 more authorities up to X tier and can do some miracle experiments.

Question for OP - if a miracle is a bust and we want to discard it, what is the process?

>>6038338
>Question for OP - if a miracle is a bust and we want to discard it, what is the process?

You can simply delete it using the system interface.

>>6038319
>>6038320

>Toss
>Upgrade <Supernatural Speed>

Influence:28,093-> 30,004

>Supernatural Speed: 8->9
It is possible to temporarily double the maximum speed of this authority. However, you can do this for no more than a total of 1 second per minute.

"The <Myth>, please."

He hands you an epithet crystal and, as agreed, you put the myth of <Moros> into it. He nods to his aide, who takes the crystal and hands you two aluminum canisters. Inspecting them, you see

>Divinity Canister: 10,000/10,000 (x2)
Holds divinity which can be transferred into other relics or weapons

You smile, "Pleasure doing business."

"So, feel like doing another job?"

>"Sure, whatcha got?"
>"No, I have business to attend to." (Specify, using either one of the options listed here >>6037781 or a write-in)
>"Only if it involves the King. The world's in grave danger, after all."
>Write-in

>>6038392
>"Sure, whatcha got?"
Might as well hear him out, plus the last one gave us some good world scale contacts
Also he didn't seem too enthused about paying us for the King work. If he's not taking them seriously, they'll migrate here from America and other hot locations until he's begging us to help wipe them out.

>>6038392
>"No, I have business to attend to."
Touch base with Pheme and lock in our alliance with the system. Or you know, find out she's been playing us for a fool. One of those.

...maybe mention we know the ultimate sadist for Pheme's revenge plot she wants to enact.

>>6038430
+1

>>6038392
>>6038430
+1

>Temporary double output
I wonder if Titanic Strength is the same.

>>6038404
>>6038430
>>6038433
>>6038434

>”No, I have business to attend to.”

He shrugs, “Fair enough. You have my contact details should you change your mind.” He flashes you a smirk, “Enjoy your vacation.”

“Right back atcha,” you say, giving him the finger as you waltz out of the café yet again without ordering anything.

You check your watch- it should be about time for your subordinates to fly in. You greet them at the runway and pick Pallas up like luggage. She gives you a nasty look and sticks her tongue out at you, kicking her legs like a kid throwing a tantrum. You tell the Manticore to go report to Slavíček, and he nods and exite.

“Everyone on board? Great.”

You decide to drop in on Pheme. You catch her playing some visual novel as she whirls around behind her and presses a button, switching her monitors over to her research and conspiracy theory tabs.

“Jesus Atë, didn't anyone ever tell you to knock?”

“Sorry, I didn't wanna have to fly across the entire Atlantic ocean to get here. I’m gonna drop this off real quick.”

“Don't talk about me like I’m a carry-on.”

You flick her on the forehead, forgetting for a moment that she has a base durability exceeding most metals. She's unphased physically but nonetheless offended.

You bring Pallas to your apartment and toss her your spare key. As she looks around, she shoots you a look of genuine pity that, in perfect honesty, kinda pisses you off.

You fly back to Pheme’s apartment, making a point to loudly knock this time despite having a key, and she lets you in.

“Hilarious."

"What can I say, I'm a natural comedian."

"And I'm a runway model," her smirk mellows into a more genuine smile, "Anyway, it's been a while. Sup?”

>Discuss the King
>Discuss formalizing your alliance
>Ask about something else (Specify)
>Exchange gifts
>”So, what was that game about?”
>”Let’s boot up some mario kart”
>Write-in

>>6038536
>"And I'm a runway model,"
I mean I'd take her out to a nice restaurant before rearranging her organs.

>>6038536
>Discuss formalizing your alliance
To business

>>6038541
Agreed, Pheme a best

>>6038536
>Discuss formalizing your alliance
Besties forever

>>6038536
>Discuss formalizing your alliance

It's telling that I think this moment worries me more than swallowing the King's Pearl thingy.

>>6038536
>"Check it out" hand her the penis enlargement authority for a good laugh
>Reveal Dorota
>Discuss going against Eris
>Discuss formalizing your alliance

>>6038646
lmao gold

>>6038536
>”So, what was that game about?”
>Exchange gifts
>Ask about her Sword of Damocles title

>>6038552
>>6038579
>>6038613
>>6038646
>>6038662
>>6038670

>Discuss formalizing your agreement

You think to get Dorota out of your shadow, but you find that she’s already slipped away. It looks like she swapped over to Pallas, most likely with the intention of either checking out your apartment or giving Iwana a good spook.

“Before we start,” you say, “I have something I wanted to show you.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“One weird trick! Doctors hate this authority.”

You say, tossing her <Blessing of Priapus>

She reads the text, bursting out laughing. Before tossing it back.

“Anyway,” you say, “let's get down to business.”

Pheme leads you to the living room of her apartment, sitting down on the couch and prompting you to follow. You do so, and she speaks.

“So uh, I’ve been thinking about that formalization agreement.”

She drops a stack of papers on the desk numbering at least 50. You flip through them- most of them are on loose leaf or digitally drafted and printed on blank paper, but a couple of them are written on everything from napkins to notebook pages. One of them is in what looks like marginally more expensive paper than the rest, but she snatches it away with a nervous laugh and a “how did that get there?”

“So um, how do you make friendship into a contract?”

Silence hangs over the room for a second before laughter racks your body.

What do you do?

>Drop the idea
>Sort through the papers and pick something that seems good
>Propose an idea (specify)
>Write-in

>>6038701
>Sort through the papers and pick something that seems good

It's a shitty truth that we're bad people and we'd both sleep better at night knowing we're contractually bound not to murder/kidnap/maim each other.

Listen, I'm the personification of bad decisions, and I just... I want to know I can't screw this up. I need someone. Not a slave, not a rival, not a tool or an objective, just a friend. Fuck, it's as much to protect you from me as it is to protect me from you.

>>6038701
>Friendship as Contract. Clauses:
>1. Your goals are my goals, vice versa. We agree to aid one another in our designs to the same degree that we would pursue them for our own sake.
>2. What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine. With exceptions made for weapons/relics/authorities/assets of particular importance to a given party, in the spirit of camaraderie we agree to share all but the most essential of items.
>3. Mutual defense of life, liberty, and property. To the same degree that one might act to protect one's own life, freedom, and possessions, we agree to extend such efforts to the other.
>4. Friendship is life lived in common. We agree to continue to hang out on a regular basis so as to further the bonds of friendship.
It's a bit radical I know, but I see no point in half measures. Pheme is probably the only one out there sane but amoral enough to agree to such terms with someone like Atë.

>>6038701
I’d prefer to just
>Drop the idea

Formalizing things seems to be the majority opinion though so if no one else wants to drop it I’ll back >>6038721

>>6038721
+1

>>6038701
>basic friendship stuff:
>>We share each others secrets and goals, and we're not allowed to tell anyone.
>>We are still allowed to lie to one another if that lie doesn't endanger the other.
>>If we don't agree with the others goals or methods we voice our concerns, are allowed to try and talk the other out of it, or just opt out of helping.
>>But generally we support each others endeavors.
>Then the more dicey bits: shared property. Like a prenup, all marriages with prenups work out fine, don't they?
>>We do a basic 51/49 with one person taking lead, or any other percentages routinely agreed upon, depending on how the workload is split up and how it changes over time. So if we ever were to split, we know who would have to pay out the other.
>And regarding splitting up...
>>We still keep each others secrets and goals secret, as well as keep up an non-aggression pact that lasts for as long as we've been working together up to a max of 10 years. And in that time we should also allow us to make up again, of course.

File: AD67E863-6912-476A-AFB0-3(...).jpg (1.03 MB, 2984x1770)

1.03 MB JPG

>>6038717
>>6038721
>>6038726
>>6038805
>>6038947

First, the second round of popularity contest results are in! Atë reigns uncontested as the favorite (you) of the quest, and Pheme takes the overwhelming lead for favorite secondary character, with a single Eris vote undoubtedly sourced by someone who was either swayed by the 3rd OP image or is unwavering in their love for psycho chicks.

The silver medal is shared by previous winner Jane (the hind) and the incorrigible sadist Dorota, with a single noble soul writing in for Braun

>>6038717
>>6038726
>>6038805
>>6038947
>>6038721

Seems like people generally support

>Friendship as Contract. Clauses:
>1. Your goals are my goals, vice versa. We agree to aid one another in our designs to the same degree that we would pursue them for our own sake.
>2. What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine. With exceptions made for weapons/relics/authorities/assets of particular importance to a given party, in the spirit of camaraderie we agree to share all but the most essential of items.
>3. Mutual defense of life, liberty, and property. To the same degree that one might act to protect one's own life, freedom, and possessions, we agree to extend such efforts to the other.
>4. Friendship is life lived in common. We agree to continue to hang out on a regular basis so as to further the bonds of friendship.

Pheme looks over the contract you drafted, nodding along and chewing at a pen. "Uh, Atë?" She asks as she puts the paper down, "The terms look fine to me, but isn't this basically a marriage proposal?"

>"It might be a bit overboard, but I wanted to be thorough."
>"How do you figure?"
>"Til death do us part,"
>"Oops, I hadn't noticed that. Care to revise?"
>Write-in

>>6039022
>"Hey, your words, not mine."
>"I have a gender change potion and an interesting authority, if you're interested."
I kinda want to play Ate as ace tho

>>6039022
>"Marriage is just friendship with baggage, y'know?"

>>6039029
>>6039034
Can we have both? There's enough baggage here to fill a small torture basement's tool closet

>>6039022
>"Funny how the first thing you said was that you were fine with it."
>"Til death do us part,"

>>6039029
Do we even really need the potion at this point? Ate can grow bodily structures now. Just give her a biology diagram to work with. Kinky as shit.

>>6039065
>Ate can grow bodily structures now
yeah, but... Pheme can't

>>6039068
You think Pheme wants to be a dude? Serious question. I can't recall if she's ever expressed interest in the idea when we first got the potion.

>>6039071
no idea, I just put it out there.
and that's besides the point, but I kinda don't know how much we really shared besides what was onscreen text.
and again, I'm more on wanting to play Ate ace, and my own write-in ( >>6038947 ) was probably too late to even get others voted on.
The other write-in >>6038721 feels too much "We have to help one another, no matter what."

>>6039068
>Pheme can't
We don't have a Pheme sheet, we don't know that

Could we use a Fuser to combine Phylonoe's Mercy and the Sword of Damocles, and then stick that hybrid in the Arms of Khaos to get a shape-shifting anti-law anti-beast weapon?

heading to sleep. if the vote comes up, don't fuck Pheme.

>>6039183
That is possible, yes

>>6039029
>>6039034
>>6039045
>>6039063

You shrug, “Eh, marriage is basically just a friendship with baggage. And you and me? Baggage for days.”

“Ha, you’re not wrong. That being said, I think the terms of the contract are still a little absolute.”

The two of you spend the night quibbling over tiny points- like whether or not websites and sock accounts count as things, edge cases for contrary goals when it comes to things of trivial enough contexts- a whole hour and two pages of which dedicated to what counts as trivial- and, eventually, the two of you find yourselves passed out in front of a 30 page document that fits both of your standards.

You awake, roused by the meager beams of light that managed to sneak through Pheme’s blinds and curtains. You find her sipping a black coffee while looking over the terms one last time. You pick up your copy of the agreement, chuckling as you remember some of the petty arguments you had while forging it, and look up to meet her face.

Pheme picks up your copy and checks it quickly for tampering and text differences before handing it back to you. She pulls out a <Stygian Pact>, diligently copying the text onto it as you watch. She signs the bottom and hands it to you.

“Do you agree to the terms of the agreement?” she asks.

“I do,” you respond.

She smiles, “‘Til death do us part.”

You sign, and the contract goes up in crimson flames. You see the blaze reflected in the black marbles that rest where her eyes once rested.

>Congratulations!...

You ignore the system’s interjection for now as the two of you stand, looking at the absolute wreck of papers, wine, and ink littered on the table. You look back up at her- you’re always surprised at just how much taller than you she is. Somehow, in your mind, she seems so much smaller.

Pheme raises her arm, dousing the table in a black slime which seamlessly picks up the trash. She lazily waves her hand, tossing it all into the garbage.

“So, uh, what now?”

>Discuss the King
>Discuss a major incarnation (Specify)
>Discuss Eris
>Ask for Pantheon leads
>Ask about your digital stalker
>Hang out for a bit
>Write-in

>>6039210
>Discuss a major incarnation (Whoever controls America)
We live here but Atë knows very little about whoever is dominant.

>>6039247
+1

>>6039210
>>6039247
This - we know they have Heracles as a subordinate at the very least but nothing else.

Also show her your sword of Damocles and ask if there's any relation to her title of the same name.

>>6039365
Giggity.

>>6039247
>>6039251
>>6039365
>>6039395

Ask about the Sword of Damocles

She inspects it for a bit, then hands the sword back.

“No relation it seems. Guess there are only so many greek myths to work with.”

>Discuss a major incarnation (The Whittling Club, Heracles, and Prometheus)

“Honestly, of all of the major world powers, the Shadow Cabinet are the hardest to get a finger on. They’ve been hiding their existence as a body for centuries anyway, with only a few crazy internet conspiracy people,” she pauses, gesturing to herself, “even having a drop of real evidence regarding their existence. Heracles is a bit easier though- he’s been publicly operating on behalf of the federal government to subjugate monsters.”

She shows you some videos of a massive- maybe as tall as 7 foot- muscular man fighting monsters and presumably evil incarnations including some familiar faces: the Nemean Lion, the Lernean Hydra, and the Sphinx to name a few.

“The guy physically changed- I ran his face through some databases and couldn't find anything. I’ve been digging into crime databases and hacked VA records to try and find a potential candidate, but the going's been pretty slow.”

“And about Prometheus?”

She shrugs, “I’ve heard about his involvement in the penitent, but he's been incredibly careful about hiding his identity- if I had to guess, he’s wealthy, tech savvy, and decently clever- although that last one could be inferred from his deification anyway. He’s managed to sink his tendrils deep into the US government and military. At first, he was probably working on behalf of the Whittler’s Club but now he’s most likely a rival power to them in his own right.”

>Ask about the mortal origins and details of the Whittler’s club
>Discuss the King
>Discuss a major incarnation (Specify)
>Discuss Eris
>Ask for Pantheon leads
>Ask about your digital stalker
>Hang out for a bit
>Write-in

>>6039512
>Discuss Eris

>>6039512
>Ask about the mortal origins and details of the Whittler’s club

>Discuss Eris
Any idea of her strength level? Anything stopping us from just subjugating and thralling her the next time we see her? Hypothetically?

>>6039542
+1

>>6039524
>>6039542
>>6039547

To avoid excessive exposition in the main thread, I’ve decided to draft a quick field report (written by Pheme) later, which I'll provide a link for when completed. For now, I’ll just go with:

>Discuss Eris

She strokes her chin, “She’s certainly been busy- specifically, she's been running around causing riots and hunting incarnations to grind levels like crazy.”

“Do we know why?”

“My number one theory is actually you.”

“Is she scared of me? Has Isabella shared intel about my power?”

“It's possible, but that's actually not what I think. Your arrival seems to have escalated the plan. I think she's actually taken a serious shine to you.”

“Really? We didn't spend all that much time together.”

“She saw in you a kindred spirit. Plus…” she trails off.

“Plus what?”

“I think in a lot of ways,” she gazes off to somewhere far away, “you might have reminded her of me. Or I guess, of what her and I used to be like.”

“So, do you think I can win?” You ask after letting the silence hang for a moment.

She leans back and shrugs, “Her level is undoubtedly lower than yours. Considering the lack of a demonstrated miracle, maybe even sub-ten (although that data is a couple days old). The easiest way to figure out her strength is to meet up with her- that’ll be the easiest way to gauge her.”

>Ask about something else (specify)
>Hang out for a bit
>Leave
>Write-in

>>6039614
>>Hang out for a bit
mandated friend time :)

>>6039614
>Hang out for a bit

The visual novel. TEASE.

>>6039627
>>6039630

>Hang out for a bit

She smiles, “You know I’m down. So, whaddaya wanna do?”

Choose three. If you want, you can specify the order (daytime, evening, night). You can also choose to rope in one of your tag alongs- specify if you do so. For any option to select, you may choose to add more details if you have a specific idea in mind related to the activity

>Binge a tv show
>Play some video games
>Play a board game
>Grab something to eat
>Exchange gifts
>Take a flight around the city
>Go out for an activity (e.g. ice rink, bowling alley, arcade, pool/water park etc.)
>Go shopping
>Have Pheme pick
>Write-in

>>6039636
>>Grab something to eat
probably starving for comfort food after spending days in the middle east.
else...
>Have Pheme pick

>What's Pheme's level?


other stuff on the agenda
>We talked about finding people before.
>Ask if she has some ideas for people to bargain and make incarnations
>Plan out fan meetups, we got to get them souls in.

>>6039636
>Go shopping
>Take a flight around the city
>Exchange gifts


Dang what does that sword of Damocles title she has even do, if there’s no relationship with the physical sword we have

At least we don’t have an obligation to give it to her now

>>6039642
The sword of damocles is a literary term referring to impending doom or danger IIRC. I can't remember exactly off of the top of my head.

>>6039636
>>6039638
+1

>Atë is ~1.4 MILLION influence away from level 15
>We have cumulatively spent ~204,000 influence to reach level 12
Jesus Christ, we need to eat some more Penitent cities ASAP.

>>6039849
We spend 100k, and level 13 is 200k, 14 is 400k and 15 is 800k... well, 819200

>>6039860
Cumulatively as in for all levels from 2 -> 12.

>>6039849
I'm not even sure that's enough. We might need full blown popstar status for those kinds of numbers. Or go after major metro areas.

Maybe we should reach out to Prometheus and offer a deal? Let us build a brazenly open cult if we help him smash the King.

>>6039870
influence doesn't need to be spent to level up
you calculated 800k+400k+200k to get to those 1.4M

We're finally home and can focus on getting followers again.
We do fan meetups, there are 1500 people in our closer circle cult already, and if we only were to get those, that'd be 15k Influence a day, and that's just scratching the "cultists" of our list, while we can just gain more and more followers. And it wouldn't give us any notoriety.
But I think we should get a Lethe first in case things go wrong at these meetups.
We need community managers who can actually manage the amount of followers we have to organize these meetups efficiently.

We need to experiment with the working of Bargain too. Like, can we fill a hall with people and ask them all to give up their soul for their goddess. Or do we need to do it one by one.
The logistics of this need to be figured out.

>>6039921
>influence doesn't need to be spent to level up
Ah, my bad

>>6039638
>>6039642
>>6039644
>>6039836
>>6039860
>>6039872

>Grab something to eat
>Have Pheme pick something
>Discuss business

You leap to your feet. “First order of business,” you say, “I need a fucking burger. Do you have any idea how much military cult rations suck?”

She grins, floating off of the couch and into a standing position, “Alright, let's head out. I know a place.”

The two of you fly downtown, landing next to an old, 20’s style diner.

“This place has been here forever. Like, I remember what it looks like forever. My dad took me here all the time. Well, he used to anyway.”

You decide not to pry, opening the door. Pheme gives you a mock curtsy as she steps through the entrance. A woman in her mid forties greets you with a warm smile. “Sit wherever you’d like,” she says. You comply, plopping down in a booth next to a window. Pheme sits across from you.

You order the breakfast burger- you’ve been craving bacon, especially after going two weeks without pork- while Pheme seems to order a meal fit for four people, including a chicken fried steak, the same burger you got (but without the pickles), a stack of blueberry pancakes, and a slice of apple pie. She insists you order one as well, saying that they have the best pie in town, and you comply.

“So, how high have you been able to get your level?” You ask, using <Guerilla Tactics> to mask any odd or anomalous elements in your conversation.

“Eleven. Not quite as good as you but I’m still useful I think.”

You whistle, “How the hell did you manage that without offing anyone?”

“Well, I have caught a kill here and there while people sleep, but mainly I use these for influence.”

She pulls out a clump of feathers, which turns first into a crow, and then into a small child.

“<Feather Puppets>. I can create and manipulate fake people- I’ve created an identity for one that's been very, very successful in the politics sphere. Managed to get on one of those independent media networks. I peddle made up stories and misinformation to thousands every week.”

You give an impressed whistle.

>>6040016

Onto the next thing,” you say, pulling out an itemized list of all of your epithets and the known characteristics of the people who previously held them, “Let’s get down to business. You’ve been looking into potential <Divine Servant> candidates, yeah?”

“We really gotta get you some hobbies.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.” she sighs and pulls out a notes app on her cellphone, “First, I wanted to ask about the specifics of that new item you told me about.”

“<Folly’s Grasp>?”

She nods, “Have you tested what happens to people if you use your transformation authorities in their body and then undo the possession without reverting their form?”

You shake your head, “No, I haven't. Why?”

“Depending on what may or may not be possible, you have a considerable degree of leverage. For example, if a person is morbidly obese? Old? Insecure about their body shape? Has a small dick? You could find a million people who would sell their soul for a fix like that.”

>Test it out right now
>Leave it be until later
>Write-in

>>6040017
>Talk a bit more, but test it out soon. For now just talk.
>Tell her about the Level 12 Shop items
>Tell her we bought a ring that can story authorities at level one and mean to give it to someone whom we'd contract to play our streamer persona.
>Tell her we bought a chalice that creates a gender change potion. The "Gender Fluid", if you will. With some vague plans for giving it to a Dysnomia with an "Be gay, do crime" kind of shtick.

Is Feather Puppets her relic?

>>6040020
+1

>>6040016
>“<Feather Puppets>. I can create and manipulate fake people- I’ve created an identity for one that's been very, very successful in the politics sphere. Managed to get on one of those independent media networks. I peddle made up stories and misinformation to thousands every week.”

Damn it, she's living our streamer dream but successfully

>Test it out right now

>>6040020
>>6040023
>>6040024

“A good thing to test out later,” you say as you fiddle with the wrapper of your straw. “For now, I have some information you might find helpful.”

You explain the items and authorities available at level 12, as well as some of the artifacts and items you’ve come to own.

“Practically, <Fusers> are by far the most useful. I’ve been tinkering with <Enchant Item>, but honestly, its usefulness is a bit dubious a lot of the time without a more fundamental understanding of how relics work.”

She pulls out an item, a small statue of Baphomet. You inspect it:

>As Above, So Below: Legendary Relic (0/10,000)

When imbued with a target’s divinity, either by relic, authority, or direct injection, creates a small simulacrum of the user’s soul which can be grown using the divinity of the user.

>Create Homunculus (5,000)

Temporarily recreates a copy of the target which, though completely unable to access the memories of the target, will retain their personality, preferences, and knowledge about skills and information which doesn’t directly relate to them. The homunculus will also be able to use authorities and incarnation abilities at half their normal level, rounding up. The simulacrum soul is destroyed upon the end of this function

>Soul Fetish (5,000)

Creates a life sized talisman in the shape of the target which can be subjected to a single attack. The attack, while unable to be dodged, can be blocked by defensive equipment or authorities. The simulacrum soul is destroyed upon completion

You stroke your chin- while there are certainly beneficial features to the item, the destruction of the simulacrum soul after the use of each authority, and its ability to only hold one at a time and only create one from any given item or situation, creates what can almost definitively be described as an ‘almost useful’ relic.

“Did you make this?” you ask. Pheme nods, “I’ve been using bad gacha results for enchant fodder. My original concept was ‘An artifact that I can use to help in a fight without being there.’ I can steal some divinity from a person while they sleep, but none of the individual functions are worth the investment I’ve put in.

“I have a contact- a real craftsman. If you want, I can-”

She shakes her head, “We can’t trust in that forever, especially where we’re going. We need to learn how to do anything we have to on our own.”

You shrug- she isn’t wrong, after all.

“Speaking of relics, have you bought your <Personal Relic> yet?”

She nods, taking off her rounded sunglasses and sweeping her hair out of her face. You notice that, though her left eye is the usual marble, the right is completely, endlessly black, as if you were looking into a bottomless pit.

“This is the <Omniscient Eye>. Theoretically I just have to hold it in my hands, but it was more convenient to just put it in my face.”

“What does it do?”

>>6040171

“Something pretty similar to your <Assess Hamartia>, except without the hamartia bit and a couple extra features.”

“Being?”

“I can use it to assess items, see through stealth beneath a certain effective level, and see divinity. It also synergizes with precognition authorities, allowing me to visually see what will happen next in addition to just kinda feeling it.”

You can’t help but feel a bit jealous.

“Does it work for all of your eyes everywhere?”

She shakes her head, “Only ones within an 11 mile radius of the relic.”

Solid, but far from all-seeing.

As you chat, the food arrives. The portions are massive- your burger is so voluminous that you have to strain your jaw to cram it into your mouth: Pheme’s plates are just as big, with a towering stack pancakes bigger than your face and a chicken fried steak that takes up so much of her plate that the piles of eggs and potatoes are crammed underneath, soaking in the savory white gravy as it pours off of the crisp fried meat.

The burger is an explosion of moisture- the juice of the tomatoes mingles with the grease of the burger and the running yolk of the sunny-side up egg placed above the melted American cheese. You wolf down the food, interchanging bites of the sumptuous burger and the thick steak fries piled alongside it. Pheme is devouring her three plates of food with no sign of slowing- you wonder just how she manages to keep so thin.

The meal was good, but the pie was the absolute peak of the experience. The warm, soft apples provide tartness and warmth to the buttery crust and the generous scoop of vanilla ice cream piled on top. Pheme pays the tab as you stumble out of the restaurant, more full and more satisfied than you’ve felt in a very long time.

“I wanted to go for a round of tennis but, uh-”

“Yeah, I think I’d die.” You say as you lazily float through the air.

“How about Mario Kart? I want my get back.”

>”Sure, but let me test out <Folly’s Grasp> first.”
>”It’s on, bitch.”
>”I’d rather do something else (Specify)”
>Write-in

>>6040172
>”It’s on, bitch.”
We will spare this restaurant our fury.
Visual novel teasing when?
Also we probably should call ahead for Pheme party crashes in the future. Common courtesy.

>>6040176
+1

>>6040172
>”It’s on, bitch.”

>>6040172
>”It’s on, bitch.”

File: E8E8E76F-9154-48ED-85B8-5(...).png (239 KB, 1002x1504)

239 KB PNG

>>6040176
>>6040180
>>6040182
>>6040206

As the two of you return to Pheme's apartment, she revs up her switch and plops down onto the couch with a gamecube controller in hand. You follow suit, preparing to activate your host of new powers before Pheme pokes you on the forehead.

"No powers. Dick."

"Fine. I don't need them anyway.

>I need 3 rolls of 3d10. Specify between Normal, Cautious, and Reckless

Rolled 2, 2, 5 = 9 (3d10)

>>6040359
RECKLESS

>>6040367
MY GOD THE BLUE SHELL MAYHEM

Rolled 4, 4, 10 = 18 (3d10)

>>6040359
CAUTIOUS

Rolled 7, 10, 4 = 21 (3d10)

>>6040359
Normal

Rolled 5, 5, 7, 8, 6, 8, 6, 3, 10 = 58 (9d10)

I was gonna do it behind the metaphorical dm screen, but I'll show you the roll just this once. Reckless.

>>6040367
>>6040390
>>6040419

You race well, however, not only does Pheme have a marginal edge in skill, she also has an advantage which matters much, much more in Mario Kart.

An edge in luck.

When Pheme gets three red mushrooms from first place on Cheese Land, you almost throw your controller through her tv screen.

Minutes turn into hours as you play round after round. Eventually, after a series of humiliating defeats with sparce victories sprinkled in between, dusk turns into night.

Pheme gets up, stretching her undoubtedly tensed limbs as she flips the light switch on.

"The night is still young," she says, "what should we do next?"

>Barhopping!
>Wine and bad movies
>Drinking games (invite Iwana and Dorota over)
>Write-in

>>6040448
>Wine and bad movies

>>6040448
>Drinking games (invite Iwana and Dorota over)

>>6040448
>>Wine and bad movies
a classic

>>6040467
+1

>>6040458
>>6040460
>>6040467
>>6040492

>Wine and bad movies

The two of you get absolutely, incoherently wasted off of impractically expensive wine (Pheme prefers white, but she seems to have more and pricier reds somehow). The extreme intoxication makes the entire Sharknado series even funnier than it already was.

You realize, somewhere at the halfway point of Sharknado 2: the second one and your third glass of wine that you genuinely aren't- and indeed, haven't been- stressed at all, despite probably being in more danger than you ever have in your life.

You smile. You honestly, genuinely smile as you watch Pheme stumble around the pantry like a newborn giraffe looking for her bag of oddly flavored potato chips. You realize then that Atë is happier than you ever have been.

“Hey Pheme?” You ask in the emotional phase of your drunkenness, “are we still us?”

“Hehe, whaddaya mean.” She says, sloshing her words in a way she never would sober.

You briefly explain the matter of your soul.

“Aaah I see. Think about it like,” she pauses while she thinks of a metaphor, “Russian nesting dolls? No, a GUNDAM.”

You cock your head in confusion. She continues, “If you rode a mech and put it on a scale, right, 99% of the weight would be the mass of the gundam. Over time, you can upgrade it and it might get heavier and the amount of weight you contribute might get lesser and lesser. But in the end, who’s piloting?”

You point your finger at yourself. She grabs your wrist and gently uses it to poke you in the Cheek.

“Bingo.”

You both go back to enjoying the movies and the drinks, and you find yourself awoken at 12 pm by the light of the sun, accompanied by a raging hangover and a very unconscious Pheme. You quickly <Regenerate> but doing so temporarily exacerbates the symptoms as it cleanses and, eventually and unpleasantly, ejects the toxins from your system.

Once you recover, what should you do next?

>Discuss something else with Pheme (specify)
>Discuss something else with Pallas or Dorota (Specify)
>Focus on streaming
>Drop in on someone (Specify)
>Contact Dove to see what she’s up to
>Write-in

>>6040647
>Discuss something else with (Pallas)
>How to git gud at fighting natty
It's been consistently mentioned throughout the quest that Atë obviously doesn't know how to fight outside of the context of the system. It'd be nice to receive some tutelage in how to act like a real fighter.

>>6040654
>Discuss something else with (Pallas)
>How to git gud at fighting natty

TRAINING MONTAGE

>>6040647
Test some things immediately
>Test out if we can bargain someone, <Folly's Grasp> them to change shape, and leave
>Test if Pallas gains influence from fighting a perfect <Atë’s Playthings> copy of herself

Continue building our empire
>Find people for our epithets
>>Lethe
probably the first thing I want to fill. A Lethe would allow us to go around and try to bargain people without leaving a trail of bodies if they don't agree.
And I don't want to use the "submit or die" tactic again. Because it stops us from killing them once they outlived their usefulness.
>>Fake cyber_siren
On the low end we bargain someone's soul for a ring that allows them to shapeshift. We need to find someone whose personality aligns with us tho.
>>Workshop people for our other epithets like Dysnomia I mentioned here >>6040020

Once we do have a Lethe
>Test if we can bargain multiple people at once if we ask into the room if they want to give up their soul to strengthen their favourite streamer.

>Start a business
>>whispers and bargain some media company/news agency and have them create a branch to do investigative journalism on incarnations.
This would operate at a monetary loss, but it gives us a lot more intel to work with, and Pheme can stretch her feelers and rumors into every other aspect of the company too

>>6040647
Backing >>6040660
Fighting natty is cool and all but I want to be an immortal eldritch cognitohazard

this >>6040660 was me

I want to add that most of that is organizational stuff that can also be done by Pheme, or doesn't need quite that much time or stamina.
I'm also in favour of continuing to train our arts and make new ones, and train our normal combat skills, as everyone else here does.

>>6040771
I'm not opposed to any of your suggestions either desu

Maybe we can simplify to

>Test out if we can bargain someone, <Folly's Grasp> them to change shape, and leave
>Test if Pallas gains influence from fighting a perfect <Atë’s Playthings> copy of herself
>Learn from fighting Pallas/have Pallas train Atë
>Find people for our epithets
>ESPECIALLY Lethe
Seeing that the business stuff is more Pheme's realm

>>6040788
We ought to hand off our level 40 undetectable recordings to philotes too.

Maybe see if Pheme wants a level forty brain melter.

>>6040654
>>6040658
>>6040660
>>6040676
>>6040788

It seems like there's still a bit of division among the direction here so we’ll go with:

>Run <Folly’s Grasp> Experiments
>Talk to Pheme about divine servant candidates
>Train with Pallas

You call over Pallas to help with testing regarding <Folly’s Grasp> and <Thousand Faces>. First, you try as radical a departure as possible, extending the body well past human limits- she quickly reverts the moment you drop the transformation.

Next, you transform into a tall white man in her body. Again, the transformation is revoked.

Finally, you try to take a shape that would have worked with your earlier level restrictions for imitation- that is to say, within the bounds of genetic plausibility: you find a surprising amount of malleability in it- you can make Pallas almost a foot taller or a couple inches shorter, change, style, and dye her hair, and manipulate not only her level of fitness, but even the proportions of her body to an unexpected extent.

Nature vs nurture is a hell of a thing.

~

You give the results of your experiment to Pheme, and she lets out a chuckle,

“Honestly, I had expected it to not work at all. Genetic plausibility, eh? Yes, we can certainly work with that.”

She scratches at a printed packet of paper with her pen, adding some notes and crossing out a few names. In total, you have over 40 names with brief descriptions and projected synchronization rates. You thank her, before proposing your other idea.

“An incarnation investigation media company, eh? It's an interesting idea…” she trails off, ignoring you for almost ten minutes as she clacks away at her computer.

“Maybe doable! I’ll keep you posted.” She says, waving her hand in an obvious ‘I’m busy, leave me alone’ gesture

>>6041101

Once you arrive at your apartment, you approach Pallas, asking her to help with your martial skill.

“You want to practice combat without relying on authorities too much, huh?” She nods, “You did always seem a bit rough around the edges there.”

She looks around your cramped apartment, “We’re uh, gonna need more room.”

You nod, picking her up and flying off, alighting on a nearby forest clearing.

She gets up, assuming her combat form and using her spear to carve a training stick from a nearby log of wood.

“Bear your claws, but make them dull. Here are the rules- you can use your shapeshifting thing, it's how you fight, but only use it to change your proportions. Do NOT up your specs. Other than that, no superpowers.”

You follow along. She draws a circle around her feet.

“For now, your goal is to make me step out of this circle.”

A devious smirk settles on the now-man’s face: he might be a little pissed about how you've been treating him lately.

~

The sun has sunk below the horizon, leaving only the traces of its light across the sky. You lie flat on the floor like a starfish, regenerating a mountain of bruises and even a few broken ribs. Pallas stands smugly perched in his stupid circle.

“As I suspected, your natural instincts are very good. Particularly, your ability to calculate when it is good to take a hit and when not to, as well as predicting when an attack is a feint is quite excellent. However,” he pokes you with his stick, “your attacks are entirely too committal. You leave openings everywhere and, even if you can dodge them, you hand the enemy the ability to turn your attacks around and put you on the defensive. It's good to try to kill your opponent with your attack, but you seem to be unable to think about what happens if you don't.”

You want to beat her up, but you know she's making good points.

“I’m going to bed. Wanna come with, or would you rather sleep out here?”

She sighs, “Let’s make a stop at walmart. I need a sleeping bag.”

You fly back, worldlessly contemplating your inadequacies.

You awake the next morning completely healed of yesterday's wear and tear. What do you want to do today?

>Drop in on someone (Specify)
>Focus on streaming
>Focus on music
>Train with Iwana
>Look for a <Servant> candidate (specify)
>Buy a location item or quest ticket (specify)
>Practice an <Art> (Specify)
>Hang out with someone (Specify)
>Write-in

>>6041102
>Focus on streaming
Let's see how much kick strings gives us

>>6041102
>Focus on streaming
I really want to work on Down to the Core, but the boring stuff also needs it's due.

>>6041102
>>Focus on streaming
What do you do? I stream.

>>6041102
>Streaming
Feels like a waste after how hard we leveled after leveling that complex, but Pheme hit lv 11 like this so there must be potential

>>6041102
>>Focus on streaming
people don't stream so much early in the day, so I hope that includes the maintenance
>Start looking for editors and compile the video/audio we made while the gown was active.

>>6041181
>Feels like a waste
It's a surprise tool that will help us later! It's so much easier to take over the world when a billion people are a brainless turbo-simp that will do whatever you say without question.

>>6041181
It's the kill switch aspect. Especially with the new miracle improving the Whispers, we should be able to score at least a few hundred thousand influence by finally pulling the trigger on all these simps. Streamer cult plans don't interest me, mass destruction and death do.

>>6041348
people whose soul we bargained give daily influence. And even those who are not bargained, still pray to our idol. We should not slaughter our livestock

>>6041348
>Streamer cult plans don't interest me, mass destruction and death do.
Hi Eris

>>6041478
Guilty as charged lol

>>6041105
>>6041113
>>6041151
>>6041181
>>6041185

>Focus on streaming

You stream for the first time in a while, activating your <Strings> to increase viewer loyalty. You’re shocked by just how fast your discord grows just by pointing it out casually. Your general follower count also sees a substantial spike:

Follower Count: 186,837
Cult: 7,635

Also, tabulating passive influence for today and the past three days:

Influence: 30,004-> 40,109/204,800

You smirk- increasing the size of your cult really does net substantial passive income. You salivate at the thought of getting all of those souls to generate passive income for you

Where should your focus go to further your career?
>Just focus on advertising with <Strings> and streaming consistently
>Focus on networking with other public figures
>Plan a meetup for your inner circle
>Attend some sort of content creator convention (ie vidcon)
>Write-in

>>6041348
What I'd like to do is have a Philotes->Atë Indoctrination pipeline.

> Philotes levels up until she can buy Divine Realm, levels it up until it can hold/maintain a sizable mortal population.
> We furnish the Divine Realm with an <Idol> of us, or use the one we have.
> We use The Dress, Spotlight, Eutrype's Harp, any other bonuses we can think of, dig up, to create a "Become Atë's Devoted Worshipper" music video.
> Philotes gathers mortals into the divine realm, plays the music video for them.
> Indoctrinated worship slaves live only to worship us. They sever ties with family and friends to avoid people wondering where they went.

>>6041496
10k for three(four?) days of streaming, oh boy
>>Plan a meetups (plural) for your inner circle
consolidate the power we already have
still, I want a Lethe beforehand

and
>Attend some sort of content creator convention (ie vidcon)
I think it should be pretty obvious to other incarnations that cyber_siren is one as well, so I think we should GT ourselves the blue Aura that Brigitta had as siren

maybe we should roll for an GT/Thousand Faces miracle and see if we can use it to give false information out that lower incarnations will take as fact

>>6041496
>>6041506
+1. It doesn't excite me but I must kneel to 10k influence for a few days work.

>>6041501
Delegating away a significant part of maintaining Atë's income that would be fantastic.

>>6041496
>Just focus on advertising with <Strings> and streaming consistently
Especially good because Strings is tough to clear with DoS, so we'll ensnare other incarnations as well.

>>6041501
How do we feed them all and house them and dispose of their waste

>>6041529
>How do we feed them all and house them and dispose of their waste
All of those functions can be dealt with by a sufficiently leveled Divine Realm based on what Perdix said.

>>6041531
Might take Philo a while to get where he is, I got the impression he focused on nothing but that and item crafting.

>>6041501
I don't want to use Philotes for that, if possible she should have nothing that links her to anything evil.

Not that I'm against the idea, but this can similarly be on Lethe who makes them forget to have ever lived outside this Divine Realm.
With a combination of loving us and forgetting their original lives, we can make the perfect livestock.

>>6041614
we can always buy it ourselves, chuck it into a crystal and give it to them

>>6041501
>>6041506
>>6041522
>>6041529
>>6041616

It seems like the general consensus is:
>Set up a meetup with your inner circle, but first acquire a <Lethe> candidate

You check Pheme's list and, though there are several other candidates, the one with the highest sync rate ane bearing Pheme's strongest recommendation is one Frank Ciotti, a former made man in the New Jersey mafia, now reduced to a senile, borderline vegetable in a care home in the suburbs.

As you plan to depart, you consider your options

>Upgrade <Divine Servant>
>Buy an <Epithet Crystal>
>Write-in

>>6041616
It might take us a while to get there as well

>>6041628
>Upgrade <Divine Servant>
I remember a "who knows what could happen at higher levels" from somewhere.

>>6041628
>Upgrade <Divine Servant>

>>6041628
>Upgrade <Divine Servant>
I also remember that who knows and eagerly await stealing/copying <Primordial Body>.

>>6041616
Worried she'd get a reputation for her fans vanishing without a trace? She is a siren at heart you know.

>>6041640
>>6041649
>>6041650

>Upgrade <Divine Servant>

Influence: 40,109->30,109

The maximum number of targets for this miracle is equal to the level of this miracle plus one. You are able to channel any one authority held by any <Divine Servant>, using it as if you possessed it. The authority you choose to copy can be switched once every 72 hours. Similarly, each <Divine Servant> can copy an authority you possess in a likewise manner, with the effective level of the authority lowered to that of their incarnation level if it is higher

What should you do now?
>Meet with Pallas
>Meet with Dorota
>Head out to find the Lethe candidate
>Write-in

>>6041628
>Head out to find the Lethe candidate

>>6041660
>Head out to find the Lethe candidate


Ooooh we can make 3 now, I was expecting just 2.

>>6041660
>Head out to find the Lethe candidate

With the authority copying we can do we could pick up Siren's Voice from Philotes, and she could pick up one of our many useful tools. We'll want to check in on her once we acquire Lethe.

>>6041660
>Head out to find the Lethe candidate
Primordial Body time LET'S GO (after finding/creating the Lethe)

>>6041661
>>6041663
>>6041667
>>6041673

>Head out to find the Lethe candidate

Masked by your stealth authorities, you tear through the skies at supersonic speeds, crossing the sizeable difference between your residence and the sleepy New Jersey town in half the time a commercial airliner would. The day is still young as you land in front of the dilapidated retirement home specified by Pheme’s documents. You enter, uncontested and uninterrupted due to your authorities.

A distinct smell hits your nose, the trademark funk of the elderly, as you observe the sobering reminders of the effects of mortality. You're sure that, once, these people were as funny, intelligent, powerful, and beautiful as anyone else- now? Wizened, terrified husks with memories and time slipping all too quickly through their wrinkled fingers.

You find your man, drooling into a bowl of microwave soup as he murmurs a meaningless garble of word salad. You rearrange your innards to make room for a vestigial brain, then place a hand on his head.

~

You find yourself in the spacious dining room cum living space of a picturesque suburban house. Checking the calendar, you see that the date is over two decades ago. Two children, doubtless grown adults by now, play outside in the yard, fighting with foam swords and laughing as they roll around in the grass.

Frank, in his early fifties, sits at the counter, eating a messy, slightly burned omelet and looking at a card that reads “Happy Father’s Day to the best dad in the world!” alongside a crude drawing of him, his wife, a baby, and the two kids. He seems not to have noticed you.

What kind of impression do you want to make?

>A friend
>An impersonal employer
>A Mephistophelean dealmaker
>A deity
>An unspeakable horror
>Write-in

>>6041677
>A Mephistophelean dealmaker
We're well practiced in this.

>>6041677
>An impersonal employer
Simple, the ability to control memories, and rejuvenation, in exchange for his soul and him working for us

>>6041677
>A Mephistophelean dealmaker
Better be straightforward that this is a deal with the devil. Don't want to break him like ponvy boy.

>>6041677
>A Mephistophelean dealmaker
Play it straight

>>6041677
>A Mephistophelean dealmaker
A little nervous this won't work out, but hey, he has dementia. We can just try again in 5 minutes.

>>6041679
>>6041687
>>6041689
>>6041698
>>6041714

>A Mephistophelean dealmaker

You make yourself known, in a shape fitted to his taste in women with shorter, jet black hair, a slender physique, and legs that are so long they border on disproportionate.

You sit across from him. He seems confused for a few seconds, but seems to realize something almost immediately.

“This isn't real, is it?”

“You catch on quick,” you say, waving your hand and creating a pair of champagne glasses from nothing, “Are you aware of your situation?”

He looks down at his hands, “I’m… senile.”

You give a genuine round of applause, “Very rarely do you find someone with the mental flexibility to admit the impossible. I knew you were worth my time.”

“How am I so clear? How do I… remember my kids?”

“Most memory,” you explain, “is stored in your brain. It acts as the storage and processing unit of the mechanism that is you. However, a few memories, a couple of very important, impactful things, are etched into your soul.”

“What do you want?”

“I need reliable subordinates. Ones with cunning, skill, and a willingness to set aside their qualms in exchange for the mission. Plus, a couple of other conditions that you just happen to meet very well. You fit.”

“So you want me to work for you?”

“Yes, but that's just my reasoning- the deal is like this:” you appear beside him, reducing the distance between the two of you from feet to inches as the smell of perfume plays at his nostrils, “I’ll give you back your youth, and control of your own mind. As perks of the position, you’ll gain powers you never thought possible before now.”

“And in exchange you want, what, my immortal soul?”

“I only need it while you're alive. Maybe a couple seconds after.”

“I only need one condition- promise me you won't hurt my kids.”

“I might have to if they get in my way. You never know.”

“Fine- if they become a threat and I can't talk them out of it then- and only then- can you take them out.”

>Agree to these terms
>Modify these terms
>Make a threat
>Write-in

>>6041720
>Agree to these terms
>Inb4 one of his children is a member of the Whittler's Club

>>6041720
>legs that are so long they border on disproportionate.
That's fitted to YOUR taste in women, you retard QM!
backing >>6041726

>>6041720
>Agree to these terms

It would be funny if his kids are incredibly important. Fucking Herc himself, or Braun. Give Pheme so much shit if she missed that.

>>6041730
>Heracles's dad is some random guy in New Jersey
It's more likely than you think!

>>6041720
>Agree to these terms
They seem like pretty good terms

>>6041726
>>6041727
>>6041730
>>6041736
>>6041743

>Accept his terms

“Fine,” you say, “of course, should you die, that portion of the contract will become void.”

He nods, “One last question,” he says, “If I take your deal, will I get my memories back?”

You shake your head, “I’ll preserve what I can, but the plaque buildup in your brain that causes the symptoms of your disease don't just block the neural pathways, they degrade your neural tissue itself. I can give you a brand new brain and preserve whatever I can salvage, but ultimately what's lost is lost.”

He nods, “I get that.” He holds out his hand, “It’s a deal.”

He shakes your hand, and you both open your eyes.

Jade light leaks out of Cioti’s body, first a minor glow, then a radiant explosion of luminosity that completely obscures his figure. He’s unrecognizable, even from the somewhat overweight middle aged man in his mindscape- a powerful build, the increased muscle mass pushing at his clothes, a much more youthful face- early thirties at the oldest- and his sparse salt and pepper hair replaced with a voluminous, slicked back pouf of jet black hair. He stands, looking at his body and articulating his joints.

“Jesus christ,” Frank says, “I’m back.”

>Lethe Incarnation level: 6

Passive influence: 120 per day
Divinity: 2,705 (2275+100+230)

You walk up to the lady behind the desk, hitting her with your <Strings>

“Can you have Frank Ciotti officially released into the care of a relative?”

She gives you a hollow nod.

“Perfect. Get it done.” You turn to Frank, “You’re gonna have to give your kids a call. Can you fly?” You ask. He shakes his head, so you sling him over your back and bolt back into the sky.

“You got money?”

“Yeah but I can't withdraw shit. Look at me.”

“Touche.”

What should you do with him?

>Take him back to your apartment
>Pay a visit to one of his kid’s houses
>Relocate your operation to your much bigger living space in LA
>Write-in

>>6041777
>Relocate your operation to your much bigger living space in LA

>>6041777
>Relocate your operation to your much bigger living space in LA
Next auction we should exchange some points for money, we could be a billionaire.

>>6041777

> Buy a Divine Realm, level it to 6, pass it to Philotes and have her create a divine realm for you to operate out of.

Nope nope nope, we have too many enemies with too much power to be sleeping in an apartment fucking Eris gave us, or anywhere that a rival incarnation could just explode. There are probably players out there who can rod from god us, and I'd rather just not be on the planet during our downtime.

>>6041777
Switching from >>6041793 to >>6041910

Setting aside the fact that Atë is definitely on New Putin's and Ye Min's radars (however distantly), I'm reminded of the fact that Atë has the titles
><Figure Unspeakable>
><Polisiphage>
><Apocalyptic>
And of course
><Seventh Labor of Heracles>
Which MIGHT put her on the radar of the American government and noted monster hunter Heracles.

>>6041910
+1

>>6041777
>>6041910
sure
>Buy a Divine Realm, level it to 6, pass it to Philotes and have her create a divine realm for you to operate out of.
but don't work out of pbilotes divine realm but copy hers with divine servant, ask her if she wants divine armor or preservation instinct in return

and I hope we ket topping of Pandora pithos each day, should he about full again

>>6041942
Just copying it from her could be a smart move, though we couldn't pick up her siren voice then. Wouldn't one of our mind altering authorities be more useful to her purpose? We don't want her in combat at all. Hell, if Divine realms have internet access we might want her sequestered in one for safety.

Just a thought. After offing Eris, maybe we should consider contacting the Whittler's club. I bet we could work out a deal involving trading them the <Seventh Labor of Heracles> title that ends with us killing Prometheus and all the Penitent cults in America. Which might be pretty nice.

>>6041947
Nah, we use the title to lure out Heracles and use him as a puppet to slaughter the Whittler's Club.

Speaking of schemes, I wonder how hard it would be to set up an influence farm of our own? Or would anything we set up just be inferior to brainwashed worshippers?

>>6041793
>>6041811
>>6041910
>>6041924
>>6041932
>>6041942

Buy a level 6 divine realm, pawn it off on Philotes

You decide that habitating in the real world has become an unnecessary risk. However, you aren't in a position to waste an authority slot to make room for <Divine Realm>, so you decide to just use Brigita’s system interface to buy it for her, then copy it for yourself.

>Divine Realm (6)

Creates a private subspace proportional to this authority’s level that can only be entered with your permission. It is possible to designate prohibitions, arranging it such that certain actions will be impossible to perform inside your Realm. Additionally, it is possible to create Obligations, actions which, if not undertaken, will automatically expel an individual from your realm.

It is possible to create constructs within your realm which cannot be taken out, including food and drink, but all edible substances will provide no nutritional value. You may imitate any real structure or location within your divine realm of which you have sufficient recall. However, only a portion equal to or less than the size of the domain can be replicated. These will have the facilities they would in the real world, including landlines, electricity, plumbing, and internet.

It is possible to filter divinity not sourced by you or a trusted ally from your realm.

Once you return to your apartment, you replicate the authority via <Divine Servant>, and enter (size available 6,000 cubic feet)

>A hallway in an apartment complex
>A small mansion
>A massive white void
>Write-in

>>6041973
I assume we can change it on the fly as well
6000ft^3 is not a lot, barely a large apartment
(in metric terms, depending on ceiling height 70 to 80 m^2)

>Simply the best apartment one can think of
nothing too extravagant, but gaming collection, perfect sound studio, streaming setup, with a comfortable lounge

I've been meaning to ask for a while, but we have we both slain the Ceryneian Hind and Cretan Bull, shouldn't we have both the third and seventh Labours or Heracles?
And if not, is it even possible for anyone to gain the third labour, because we have the Hind's myth and nobody can capture it now?

>>6041973
>A small mansion
Style! It better have a pool! Pity we'll still have to buy groceries.

>>6041981
I remember at some point we were told we were added to the requirements for one of the titles.

So Heracles has a quest to kidnap us?

>>6041981

Whoops, typo there I meant 60,000 cubic feet. My bad. (For context, an average apartment runs at circa 4-6k)

Also, you didn't get the credit for the hind- you weren't supposed to kill it to complete the labor

>>6041986
okay, that changes things by an order of magnitude

>hind
we captured her heart


>>6041973
>A small mansion
with all the amenities of >>6041981 and a pool >>6041982
plus a training field with different weapons in which we can train and fight

>>6041973
>>6041990
+1

>>6041986
Ah, so Heracles has a quest to kill Atë. Unless we deal with this. Cool!

>>6042158
Maybe we should get ahead of that curve
I read it again and it states
>All <Labor of Heracles> titles may be freely exchanged between incarnations, unlike other titles. A special reward is granted to any incarnation that collects every <Labor of Heracles> title. Only one incarnation can hold any given <Labor> title at a time. Even if another incarnation meets the requirements, they cannot gain the same <Labor> title as another living incarnation.
We could sell it.
What for? Eris' subjugation.
It is probably on their list anyway, but we have information all we want are the myths and items she holds.
We may be a villain, but we're an American villain! And we're not going to shit where we eat.
We may have levelled a city before, but we also saved the world. We can get on their good side.

>>6041973
>Small mansion

>>6041982
>>6041985
>>6041986
>>6041990
>>6042158
>>6042183
>>6042227

>A small mansion

You create the image of a mansion in your brain, with lavish bedding, ornate wall decor, and expensive marble flooring. Using the space, you decide to construct: (choose among the following to a limit of 60,000. You may allocate more space to increase the size of the facility. Write-ins require volume measurements.):

>Grand Master Bedroom (includes bathroom): 2,000 ft3
>Standard Bedroom: 1,300 ft3
>Standard Bathroom: 200ft3
>Foyer: (Any size exceeding 1,000ft3)
>Indoor Gym: 3,000 ft3
>Training hall: 20,000 ft3
>Study: 1,300 ft3
>Kitchen: 1,000 ft3
>Dining Hall: 3,000 ft3
>Indoor pool: 12,000 ft3
>Write-in

>>6042258

Ah, right, and a minimum of 150 ft3 of hallways will be added for each facility or room you select

>>6042258
>Grand Master Bedroom (includes bathroom) x2: 4,000
One for us, one for Pheme.

> Standard Bed & Bath x4: 4500
Pallas, Philotes, Lethe, and a spare.

>Indoor pool: 12,000
> Indoor Theater: 2000
>Study: 1,300
>Kitchen: 1,000
>Indoor Gym: 3,000
>Training hall: 20,000+, max this out with remaining space. Maybe combine the gym, training area, and pool into a single combined space?

> Hallways: 2000?

>>6042258
>1x Indoor Gym: 3000
>1x Training hall: 20000
>1x Grand Master Bedroom (includes bathroom): 2000
>4x Standard Bedroom: 1300 (5200)
>2x Standard Bathroom: 600 (1200)
>1x Lounge: 4000
>1x Sound studio: 1500
>1x Streamer window-dressed bedroom: 1300
>1x Sauna: 1000
>1x Study: 1300
>1x Kitchen: 1000
>1x Dining Hall: 3000
>1x Indoor pool: 12000
>17x Hallway: 2550
59050

can we keep this vote open and continue with the story?

Time to test Lethe's abilities and make some bargains.

Can you make a sheet for him, or just his directive and an explanation of his mind wiping powers?

>>6042286
>>2x Standard Bathroom: 600 (1200)
was meant to be full sized bathrooms, with tub and sink not just toilets

we probably need a room for washing machine and dryers as well

>>6042283
Oh mismathed on my counts.

>>6042286
I'll switch to this, streaming setup is a good idea, and I want to drag Pheme back to our bedroom anyway

I’ll keep this vote open for now and continue with the narrative as requested:

You emerge, moving some of your stuff- computers, books, games, and objects with sentimental value- into your new living space. Iwana says something about finally sleeping in a bed again, while Ciotti gives an impressed whistle as he looks around the space.

As you re-enter your apartment to grab more items, Dorota emerges from the shadows:

“Hello, Atë. Would you like to chat?”

“Bit busy right now, is it important?”

She slinks around the room, settling on your couch: “Important to me. Take a seat, please.”

You hesitantly do as asked.

“You are planning to contest Eris, yes?”

“As a matter of course.”

She nods, “And you intend to rule over the world rather than destroy it?”

You nod, “That's the current agenda, yes.”

Her smile widens, revealing her sharpened, slightly yellowing teeth, “Brilliant.” She speaks in a sing-song voice, “I have something to sell you.”

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“Me.”

You pause for a second. She elaborates: “My soul. Want it?”

…what?

“Of course, there are conditions.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I’m not dumb and neither are you. Setting Isabella aside for a moment: me, Saanvi, Jen, Eris, all of us are liabilities. Unstable,” she puts up four fingers then puts down two, “Unreliable,” she down a third finger, “and deviant.” She points to herself, “You were either going to collar or kill us, no matter what we did.”

“If you know that, why not run away? Or side with Eris?”

“Because I believe in you, Atë. And more to the point,” she leans forward, close enough that you can feel her hot breaths on your cheek, “I like you.”

“What are your terms?” You say, subconsciously leaning back.

She explains:

-You will make Dorota a <Divine Servant>, with an epithet you possess of her choice
-You will not attempt to kill Dorota directly or indirectly. However, any other forms of harm or humiliation which do not violate other terms are acceptable
-You will not attempt to create conditions such that she should be confined or physically incapacitated for an extended period of time (more than one year)
-You will not meddle with the incarnation status of Dorota nor take the influence earned by her against her will
-You will not act or give any orders with the intention that she be unable to follow her directives or which result in a knowing inability to do so for more than one month
-You will explain the concept of Arts and the general way to create and use them to Dorota

>Accept the offer
>Propose modifications to the terms
>Reject the offer
>Write-in

>>6042329
Oh man
I’ll be home in a bit so I can follow links and read this over better, but I’m initially in favor of agreeing

>>6042329
>"So you want to be my dog, but still go off the leash to grow stronger on your own terms?"
>"Counter offer."
>>"Option A, I accelerate your predicted timeline." Transform a hand into claws.
>>"Option B, you renounce your myth and I have Lethe clear out your mind, send you on your merry way, but alive."
>>"Option C, I make some amendments to your offer."

>"You will stay two levels below me, any Influence above that is mine to use as I please, including upgrades to your own authorities and miracles. Any below you get a say in whether you want to give it to me or not."
>"I will not teach you Arts. However, if you allow me to do an experiment with your soul, that might give a kernel of understanding to find the path yourself."

>>6042329
>Propose modifications to the terms
I'd amending
-You will not meddle with the incarnation status of Dorota nor take the influence earned by her against her will
And
-You will explain the concept of Arts and the general way to create and use them to Dorota
To
-You will not meddle with the incarnation status of Dorota without consent and will only take influence without consent in order to prevent Dorota from being within two levels of Atë's own level
And
-You will explain the concept of Arts and the general way to create and use them to Dorota if and only if Dorota agrees to not use or develop any arts which are contrary to Atë's goals, undercut Atë's core authorities, and otherwise might constitute a significant threat to Atë's circle.
There's a hierarchy here and the agreement must codify it.

>>6042329
>Propose modifications to the terms

Oh you crazy bitch. You are fun.

> You will make Dorota a <Divine Servant>, with an epithet you possess of her choice
Ahahahahaha no. We'll talk over what epitaphs we have available and we can make a mutual choice, but she doesn't get to make a unilateral choice.

> You will not meddle with the incarnation status of Dorota nor take the influence earned by her against her will
We reserve the right to take influence for pressing tactical needs. A good faith effort will be made to repay influence in full within three months. (Haggle to a 10% interest fee if need be)

> All limitations void in the event that we think she's working against us, pulling a sneaky, developing an Art to severe the chains of Divine Servant, etc.

> No fucking with the chains of Divine Servant you fucking sly bitch, yes I know you were plotting it, because so would I.

> All limitations void in the event of immediate tactical need. Good faith attempts at reparations/make whole will be rendered in event of this clause.

My biggest concern is her using Arts to alter the nature of Divine Servant, but yeah, having Dorota, and her shadow skill authority, would be great.

>>6042348
I'll add
>If she learns to use Arts, she always needs to tell us what Arts she wants to create, and if she wants to create some to mess with the way she is chained to us by Divine Servant, we're allowed to immediately kill her.

>>6042386
>>6042401
>>6042348
These are all good, including not directly teaching her Arts but guiding her indirectly like what we went through

>>6042342
>>6042348
>>6042375
>>6042386
>>6042401
>>6042404


>Propose modifications to the terms:

You tell Dorota some of the modifications to the terms. She thinks for a moment and gives the following counterproposal regarding the proposed alterations

-The influence required to reach the level 1 below Atë’s level at any given time will serve as a limit to the total amount of influence Dorota may accrue before it will automatically be sent to Atë instead
-Influence may be taken should a dire tactical need arise, but regardless of the circumstances, miracles, authorities, titles, traits, and the deification of Dorota must never be sold or discarded. In addition, regardless of tactical necessity, the clauses regarding imprisonment or death must never be violated for as long as Atë holds ownership over Dorota’s soul
-Atë may choose not to teach Dorota arts if and only if she creates circumstances, such as the described experiment, which allow Dorota to understand the concept independently. Should Dorota develop an Art, she will inform Atë of how it works as early as is reasonable
-Atë may select a number of unique epithets constituting no more than 1/3 of the unique epithets she possesses which Dorota may not select
-Dorota will not act with intent to undermine Atë’s control over her soul, nor interfere with her goals, nor harm other individuals designated by Atë
-Should the control over Dorota’s soul by Atë be severed for any reason, Dorota will offer Atë control over her soul once again with identical terms to the initial agreement. Neither party will attempt to circumvent or undermine these terms

>>6042408
works for me

my nono list is:
Chrysus, Spirit of Gold
Pride of Artemis, Ceryneian Hind
Opaline Offering, Cretan Bull
Dysnomia, Goddess of Lawlessness

>>6042408
I'm happy with this.

>No Chrysus
>No Pandora
>No Dysnomia
We already gave away Lethe, and the rest don't really matter.

>>6042408
These look good to me.
Off limits:
Phonoi
Pandora
Dysnomia
Pride of Artemis, Ceryneian Hind
Wrath of Artemis, Calydonian Boar
Opaline Offering, Cretan Bull


>>6042258
>Grand Master Bedroom (includes bathroom): 2,000 ft3
2 of these for 4300
>Standard Bedroom: 1,300 ft3
4 of these for 5800, total 10100
>Foyer: (Any size exceeding 1,000ft3)
1 for 1150, total 11250
>Indoor Gym: 3,000 ft3
1 for 3150, total 14400
>Study: 1,300 ft3
2 for 2900, total 17300
>Kitchen: 1,000 ft3
2 for 2300, total 19600
>Dining Hall: 3,000 ft3
1 for 3150, total 22750
>Indoor pool: 12,000 ft3
2 for 24300, total 37050
>Training hall: 20,000 ft3
1 for 20150, total 57200.

Expand the foyer by another 1000 feet with the spare space.

(why is nobody else voting for a common room/lounge for people to just hang out)

>>6042434
+1

>>6042408
>No Chrysus
>No Pandora
>No Dysnomia
>No Hind
>No Bull
>No Boar