Showing all 140 replies.
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>>6420397
>>Seek guidance from Hue Doan, the Lead Elder at the local church
We need guidance from those experienced and demanding an audience with the local Bishop would make us look crazy and if we show our powers to prove that we need to talk to him only endangers us. We need yo keep it on the download as possible.
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File: Kim Yeongya.png (1.0 MB)
Status Window
>Name: Kim Yeongya
>Age: 28
>Class: Priest
>Rank: F
>Strength: D
>Agility: D
>Endurance: D
>Intelligence: C
>MP: 5
Abilities
>Heal
A powerful healing miracle. It can close wounds, mend broken bones, and cure infections. Cannot restore missing limbs. Cannot cure poison, disease, or curses.
>Samson's Strength
Temporarily increases the target's strength for three minutes. Only works if the target possesses long hair.
>Adam's Armor (Exhibitionism) (Passive Ability)
While completely naked, your skin hardens to the toughness of thick leather. Provides protection comparable to light armor.
>Inflict Pain (Sadism)
Cause the target to experience agonizing pain, as though thorns were buried throughout their flesh. Effect lasts as long as concentration is maintained. [2 Corinthians 12:7-9]
>Priest's Voice (Hypnosis)
Makes your voice more persuasive and authoritative. Effectiveness depends on the target's mental resistance.
>Ezekiel's Bread (Coprophagia)
Bread baked with human or cow excrement gains minor healing properties. Effects expire twenty-four hours after baking. [Ezekiel 4:12-15]
>Delilah's Curse (Bimbofication) (Homosexuality)
Failed spells have a chance of afflicting the target with bimbofication, regardless of gender. Effects are cumulative. Can only be removed by completing the System Quest: [THE FALL OF CHICAGO]
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File: Restoration Church.png (2.6 MB)
Three unread text messages wait on your phone. All from your boss. You ignore every single one.
Restoration Church is only a short walk from your apartment, located on West Berteau Avenue. A modest brick tower rises above the entrance, giving the church a medieval appearance. Inside, sunlight pours through tall windows. The atmosphere feels peaceful.
Near one side of the sanctuary, several people are rehearsing with musical instruments. You decide to pray.
The moment you kneel, a strange warmth flows through your body. The sensation is calming. For a split second, a vision flashes before your eyes. A giant dollar sign. Then a deep voice echoes inside your mind. "No man can serve two masters." Pain explodes through your skull. You gasp and open your eyes. The vision vanishes and the church returns.
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File: Hue Doan.png (1.1 MB)
After asking for directions, you are eventually introduced to Hue Doan. He was supervising the band rehearsal when you arrived. He's a fit Vietnamese man with an easy smile and an air of confidence. When he sees you approaching, he calls for a short break and invites you to sit down.
The neighborhood is located just south of Albany Park, an area historically known for its large Korean community. Seeing Asian faces around here is common. That had actually been one of the reasons you moved nearby. Of course, the rent helped too.
"I recently Awakened," you explain. "I'm looking for guidance. I don't know whether I should keep living normally or do something else with these abilities. Maybe explore dungeons. Maybe dedicate myself to some greater purpose."
Hue nods thoughtfully. "My advice is to pursue after what Jesus tells us to pursue. Not our own desires and passions. Because when we do those things, we will not produce fruitfulness. Eventually, this pursuit of our own selfish desires and passions, sooner or later, will lead us away from God."
The vision of the dollar sign remains fresh in your mind. So you ask the obvious question. "What about work? I process insurance claims for Cigna Healthcare. It pays fairly well."
"I have a day job too. I'm Vice President at Berkley Custom Insurance Managers."
That catches you off guard. Of all the possible answers, that was not one you expected.
Hue continues. "Money is good. It helps me provide for my family. It helps support the church."
He stands. "Let's take one step at a time. We have a young woman in the church named Dahnbee. She's a deacon. Intelligent, kind, and easy to talk to. How about I arrange a coffee date for this evening? And come back on Saturday. We'll talk more."
About the date:
>Accept
>Decline
About the conversation:
>Confront him about the vision and the topic of money.
>[Nazism] Confront him about the racial diversity in his church.
>Ask if he could hire you at Berkley. [Roll 1d100]
>Thank him for the advice.
About your next action:
>Drive to work, as advised by Hue Doan.
>Demand an audience with Cardinal Cupich at Holy Name Cathedral.
>Experiment with Ezekiel's Bread (cf. "Abilities" above), go shopping, and take a stroll.
>[Sadism] Beat up a random person and test your "Heal" power.
>Write-in
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File: come on now.png (987.7 KB)
>>6421076
>Character profile picture updates
Chef's kiss.
>>6421086
>Accept
>Thank him for the advice.
>Register with the Hunter Association and join a guild
>>6421103
>Be weak, average intelligence newly awaken
>Receive vision from God warning you about nature of man
>Decide to confront him
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>>6421120
you know what you're right
I don't agree with joining the guild though, that seems to me to lead directly to getting another vision of the guild logo and something like "beware false prophets" or something
instead, I think just experimenting around with our abilities and absorbing the world around us is the best way forward, see where that takes us
>>6421086
>>6421103
changing to
>Accept
>Thank him for the advice.
>Experiment with Ezekiel's Bread (cf. "Abilities" above), go shopping, and take a stroll.
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>>6421086
>Accept
>Thank him for the advice.
>Demand an audience with Cardinal Cupich at Holy Name Cathedral.
If our class is as valuable as we think we should probably get some powerful allies before we end up getting strong armed into doing someone else's bidding
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>>6421076
>Delilah's Curse (Bimbofication) (Homosexuality)
>Failed spells have a chance of afflicting the target with bimbofication, regardless of gender. Effects are cumulative. Can only be removed by completing the System Quest: [THE FALL OF CHICAGO]
Clarification please. Does it mean our failed spells have a chance to cause this on our targets or that if we target someone with this, their failed spells will cause them this ?
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File: 제시.jpg (30.7 KB)
>>6421380
It's a passive condition affecting you. When you fail to cast a spell on a target, the target has a chance of suffering bimbofication effects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkhN7B_bqzU
Character background: You developed a bimbofication fetish after watching Jessi's "Girls Like Me" music video.
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File: Mrs. Gloss.png (1.3 MB)
>Accept the date
>Thank Hue Doan for the advice
>Drive to work
You send a quick text message to your boss informing him that you'll be late. Then you rush back inside. A few minutes later, you're dressed in your usual office attire. The uniform of a man whose greatest daily adventure is arguing with insurance paperwork.
Perception (>>6421511): As you leave your apartment building, something catches your eye. A black Tesla Model Z is parked across the street. The moment you appear outside, the vehicle starts moving. The electric motor is nearly silent as it pulls away from the curb and disappears around a corner. You stop walking. You have seen that car before, several times.
The moment you enter the office, Mrs. Gloss, the head of your department, summons you. You sigh. That can't be good. A minute later, you're sitting across from her desk. She folds her hands together.
"Yeongya, you are two hours late. This cannot happen again."
Her voice isn't angry.
"Company policy dictates that if this happens again, I will have to issue a written warning. I'm covering for you this time, but there are limits to what I can ignore."
A written warning is serious. A few of those can permanently damage a career. Enough of them can lead to termination.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gloss," you say. "I woke up with a terrible headache this morning. It won't happen again."
Back at your desk, you power on your computer. Like every morning, you spend a few minutes browsing the news before starting work. The headlines are fairly routine.
>Dungeon breach at Oak Woods Cemetery. Hunter Association forces have sealed off the area and requested assistance from local hunters.
>Suspected goblin sewer nests in Englewood linked to increase in disappearances. White Guild promises investigation.
Interesting, but both incidents are taking place on the South Side, far away from your neighborhood.
Eventually you open your assigned casework. The file belongs to a woman named Camelia Escamilla. You read through the report. House fire. Severe burns. Daughter deceased. Requesting coverage for skin graft surgery and follow-up treatment. Estimated cost: $30,000. You already know where this is going. Cases like this don't end up on your desk because approval is difficult. They end up on your desk because approval is easy. The surgery is clearly covered under company policy. Which is precisely why management wants another opinion. If you succeed, Cigna saves thirty thousand dollars. Roughly half your annual salary.
>Work on your case
>Search for more information about the Oak Woods Cemetery dungeon [roll 1d100]
>Search for more information about goblin sewer nests [roll 1d100]
>Bring Mrs. Gloss a coffee and share office gossip with her
>Write-in
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Rolled 87 (1d100)
The consensus is to help the woman. Since we have a tie, I'm going to go with the write-in:
>Heal her
>Deny claim based on "she got better"You can't realistically bake Ezekiel's Bread >>6422001 while you're at work.
The DC is 25.
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File: Dice.png (9.4 KB)
>How do we roll in this quest?
The DC (Difficulty Class) is either specified in the voting options or disclosed after the rolls. To succeed, you must roll equal to or higher than the DC.
>Critical Success: 3 anons succeed on the check.
>Critical Failure: the check fails and at least one anon rolls a 5 or lower.
>Faith Bonus: You gain a +5 bonus to your roll if you quote the Bible. The quote must appropriately match the current situation and not be used ironically.
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File: Heal.png (1.3 MB)
>Heal [87]: Successful
You would rather leave right now, but office workers are expected to stay until they're allowed to go. You have a lunch break, nothing more. So you wait.
When noon finally arrives, you get in your car and drive south toward Hyde Park. The area around the University of Chicago is heavily secured these days. A B-rank dungeon opened several years ago in a nearby park, and hunter activity has become a normal part of life in the area. Armored men and women carrying weapons walk alongside students as if it were completely normal.
You find Mrs. Escamilla's room and quietly step inside. The sight awaiting you is difficult to stomach. She lies suspended above the bed by medical supports, her limbs held in place by medical restraints. Most of her skin is gone. Her eyelids have burned away completely. Even her nose is missing. What remains is covered in bandages and scar tissue. She appears to be unconscious.
For several seconds, you simply stare. Then you raise your hands. You have absolutely no idea how magic is supposed to work.
"Heal."
White light pours from your palms. The room is instantly filled with a warm glow. The energy washes gently over her body. Then the miracle begins. Burned flesh regenerates. Pink skin spreads across ruined tissue. Facial features reform before your eyes. When the light finally fades, the woman lying before you appears completely healthy.
You take a step backward. Your heart pounds. It worked. It actually worked. Unfortunately, you do not have time to stay, because your lunch break is almost over. You turn around and leave as quietly as you entered.
The remainder of the workday passes slowly. You spend most of it staring at spreadsheets while thinking about miracles. By the end of the afternoon, however, you finally submit your report by email.
"I have studied the case extensively and identified several weaknesses that could have supported a denial. However, after contacting the hospital, I was informed that the claimant has apparently been miraculously healed through the anonymous donation of a healing potion. Therefore, the claim can be denied and the case closed."
Because of your late arrival, you remain in the office long after everyone else has gone home. By the time you shut down your computer, it's nearly ten o'clock. The office is silent. Rows of empty cubicles stretch into darkness. Only one light remains: Mrs. Gloss's office. You frown. The memory of your meeting with her still irritates you... You caught yourself saying "I'm sorry," and afterward you couldn't stop wondering why. You have never liked apologizing, because you’ve always tried to avoid showing weakness. A brief thought flickers through your mind: in a place this empty, there’s nothing to stop you from raping her.
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File: Dahnbee.png (1.1 MB)
The parking lot is almost empty. As you pull onto the street, your eyes drift toward the rearview mirror. A black Tesla Model Z exits shortly afterward. The same one, again. It emerges from a nearby side street and falls in behind you.
>Accept the date
Old Irving is one of the few places still serving food this late. The brewery is warm and crowded despite the hour. As you enter, a young woman near the back raises her hand. Dahnbee smiles shyly.
"I hope you haven't waited too long," you say.
"No, it's fine. Elder Hue arranged this, so I wanted to be here."
You sit down. The conversation starts awkwardly. Fortunately, Dahnbee really is easy to talk to. She speaks passionately about her hobbies. She makes clay sculptures, produces short films, and works for Borderless Magazine covering immigration issues. Her political views are almost the exact opposite of President Donald Trump Jr.'s, which she discusses with enthusiasm.
As you finish your burger, your phone begins ringing. Unknown Number. You excuse yourself and answer.
"Who is this?"
A familiar voice responds: "It's me, Elizabeth."
Three years without a single word. And now she's calling.
"Elizabeth?" You recognize her voice immediately. Soft and impossible to mistake.
"I'm sorry I was gone for so long," she says. "I'll explain everything."
"Three years is a long time," you reply. "And I'm busy right now."
"I'll keep it short." She takes a shaky breath. "Three years ago, I Awakened. It happened in the middle of the night. I wanted to test my powers. I had a stealth ability called Shadow Step. I found a goblin nest in the sewers and thought maybe I could sneak in, grab some treasure, and leave. It was stupid... I triggered a trap. A net. They captured me."
The words come out slowly, as if each one hurts. "I was their prisoner for a very long time... And honestly... I don't know if I make sense anymore. I think I lost what little sanity I had."
You glance at Dahnbee and she gives you a concerned look.
How do you deal with this situation?
>Write-in
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>>6422169
"I'm really sorry. An old friend of mine. On one hand, that person is mythomaniac. On the other, there's a chance they truly require my help right now."
>Drop money to cover the meal
Not quite interrested in Dahnbee. Let's start our party with psycho mytho ex gf rogue!Maybe healing magic can fix her sanity
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>>6422169
"Sorry, a friend who I had lost contact with for years just called needing my help. They're a compulsive liar.. but this time it might be real? I don't want this time to be when the boy cries wolf and no one listens."
I think a deacon would get the meaning and the intent.
>Exchange contact details
>pay for meals as apology and excuse ourselves
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>>6422166
>A brief thought flickers through your mind: in a place this empty, there’s nothing to stop you from raping her.
Hmm
>>6422169
>I had a stealth ability called Shadow Step. I found a goblin nest in the sewers and thought maybe I could sneak in, grab some treasure, and leave. It was stupid... I triggered a trap. A net. They captured me."
>The words come out slowly, as if each one hurts. "I was their prisoner for a very long time... And honestly... I don't know if I make sense anymore. I think I lost what little sanity I had."
Zam
>>6422340
>+1
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File: Phone.png (430.3 KB)
>Write-in
You cover the phone with your hand.
"Sorry," you tell Dahnbee. "A friend who I had lost contact with for years just called needing my help."
"Is she going to be okay?"
"I think so."
"Take your time finishing dessert. I'm leaving."
The bill comes to a little under a hundred dollars. You pay for everything and exchange contact information with Dahnbee. A few moments later, you're sitting inside your car.
"Elizabeth? You're still there?"
"Yes."
"Where are you? I'll come get you."
"Let's just talk on the phone for now."
"So when did you get out of the goblin nest?"
"Are you sure you want to hear this story?"
"Yes."
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File: hq720.jpg (78.7 KB)
The net had caught her completely. The more she struggled, the worse it became. Ropes tightened around her arms and legs until she could barely move. For over an hour she remained trapped in the darkness of the sewer tunnels.
Eventually a goblin patrol found her. They cut her free. Then immediately placed an iron collar around her neck, and dragged her deeper underground. The lower levels of the nest were unlike anything she had imagined. The air was damp and foul. The smell of mold, stagnant water, sickness, and unwashed bodies hung permanently in the tunnels. There were chambers filled with crude bedding made from scavenged cloth.
There were holding cells, and inside those cells were women. Some looked exhausted. Some looked frightened. Some barely reacted at all. One woman had a badly infected wound on her leg that seemed to be worsening by the day. Slimes drifted lazily through stone channels carved into the floor. That was the moment she realized the severity of her situation.
The goblins took turns to torment her. The days that followed eventually blurred together. Sometimes she slept. Sometimes she stared into darkness. Sometimes she drifted through strange dreams. At some point she stopped feeling entirely human. Reality became distant and memory became unreliable.
One day she briefly regained clarity and discovered her mouth filled with ejaculate. The taste was revolting, like spoiled mushrooms soaked in stagnant water. She spat it out immediately. Only then did she realize she had been eating it for weeks.
Later she learned the goblin shaman had been feeding the captives a medicinal mixture made from slime, moss, and other dungeon ingredients. It dulled the mind, blurred memories, and made resistance difficult.
Among them crawled goblin cubs. The creatures constantly fought one another. Biting, scratching, screaming. One moment they would be playing. The next they would be trying to gouge each other's eyes out.
At some point she discovered she was pregnant. The realization frightened her more than anything else.
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Five months later, rescue finally arrived. Hunters from the Black Crypt Guild breached the nest and evacuated the survivors. When they found her, she was barely capable of understanding what was happening. The first thing she remembered was sunlight and then sitting inside a large tent erected in a nearby park. Someone had given her clean clothes and a bowl of hot food. It was the first normal meal she had eaten in months.
A physician named Dr. Kiley examined her. She asked if she wanted an abortion. Elizabeth quietly agreed.
The crude field hospital lacked the comforts of a real medical center. The smells of antiseptic and blood mixed together. The pain came in waves despite every effort to minimize it. She remembered gripping the sides of the table until her fingers cramped. Remembered crying. Remembered wanting it to be over. The goblin's limbs were removed piece by piece, each step accompanied by the soft clink of metal tools being set aside. Then, the skull was crushed and suctioned out. Everything seemed coated in a slimy green residue. The remains were later defleshed and buried in an unmarked grave.
The months that followed were darker than the sewers. She isolated herself completely. Therapy helped little. Conversations felt impossible. Most days she remained inside her apartment with the curtains closed. She only left after sunset.
***
The street is silent around you.
Finally you ask, "How are you feeling now?"
"Better. Not good, but better."
***
What will you do the next morning? [Pick two actions]
>Search for information about goblin nests. [roll 1d100, DC 50]
>Search for information about the Black Crypt Guild. [roll 1d100, DC 50]
>Bake Ezekiel's Bread.
>Go shopping for equipment.
>Take a walk in the neighborhood.
>Invite Dahnbee for breakfast.
>Invite Elizabeth for breakfast.
>Write-in (must be a small action)
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File: Crow.jpg (114.1 KB)
>Search for information about the Black Crypt Guild [Rolled 56]
>Search for information about goblin nests [Rolled 92]
>Bake Ezekiel's Bread
The next morning begins with baking. You have never baked bread before in your life, but the recipe itself is simple. Flour, water, yeast, and salt. The special ingredient is less conventional. Since obtaining cow excrement on short notice proves difficult, you substitute your own contribution for the requirements of [Ezekiel's Bread]. You mix everything together into a rough ball of dough and place it in the oven.
You open your laptop and begin researching. The first subject is the Black Crypt Guild. According to news reports, it's an illegal guild operating outside the authority of the Hunter Association. The organization has been linked to grave robbing, murder, and necrophilia. Its leader is known only as "The Wraith." According to rumors, he is a high-ranking necromancer attempting to build an army of undead.
While researching, your phone vibrates. A message from Dahnbee. Attached is a photograph: a dead crow nailed to a front door. You stare at the image for several seconds.
Dahnbee's message is short. "I'm scared."
Whether it is a prank, a threat, or something else entirely, someone clearly wanted to send a message.
Next, you research goblin nests. Goblins are among the most common creatures to escape during Dungeon Breaks. Unlike other monsters, they rarely attack cities directly. Instead, they scatter and hide underground. Over time, they establish nests. The wealthier districts of Chicago receive regular extermination patrols from guilds and government hunters. Poor neighborhoods are another story. Large portions of the western and southern sewer systems are reportedly infested to varying degrees.
Then you stumble onto something strange. After digging through several dark web forums, you find a leaked memo supposedly written by a Hunter Association contractor. The document claims the Association has deliberately introduced goblins into poorer districts. According to the anonymous source, the resulting fear increases public dependence on the Association and strengthens its political influence.
That sounds ridiculous. A conspiracy theory. And yet... The more you think about it, the less certain you become. The Hunter Association keeps plenty of secrets, and you've already decided to ignore their registration requirements.
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File: Targets.png (1.6 MB)
A terrible smell pulls you away from your research. The bread is ready. You remove the loaf from the oven using oven mitts. The result is uneven and misshapen. Frankly, it looks terrible. The moment the loaf leaves the oven, a blue screen appears.
[SYSTEM QUEST: THE FALL OF CHICAGO I]
>Chicago has defiled herself and become a city of sin and corruption. Only a chosen hero can save her from impending destruction. As the bearer of the unique class [Priest], granted upon completion of the quest [Chicago Pedway's Vampires], you alone may undertake this quest.
>Objective: Feed Ezekiel's Bread to a hostile target or personal enemy within 24 hours.
>Reward: Target receives unique class [Priest's Assistant] if Intelligence Rank B or higher. Otherwise receives unique class [Priest's Maid].
>Failure: Quest forfeited.
Chicago Pedway's Vampires? You have absolutely no memory of completing such a quest. The Pedway is simply a network of underground tunnels downtown. You have walked through it before, but nothing remarkable ever happened there. Had the system awarded a quest without informing you?
As for the current quest... The objective seems obvious enough. The System wants you to recruit a subordinate. The only question is who.
Your thoughts drift toward the office. Rachel, the office bimbo, immediately comes to mind. She has repeatedly complained about your behavior to management and may be partially responsible for your lack of raises. Then there is Mrs. Gloss. She's one of the few people in the office who might actually qualify for the Assistant class, and you have thought about punishing her before >>6422233.
Outside work, there are other possibilities. Cathleen, your stepmother. Three months after your mother's death from brain cancer, she married your father and slowly turned him against you. By the time you turned eighteen, she had successfully convinced him to kick you out of the house. And Tiffany, her daughter. She spent years mocking you, calling you a loser, and treating you as an unwanted guest in your own home. Worst of all, she destroyed the last photo you possessed of your mother.
The bread cools on the counter while you consider your options.
How will you deal with Dahnbee's nailed bird?
>Ignore her
>Tell her that you will investigate and protect her
>Write-in
Go to work:
>Ignore the quest and work on a case
>Feed Ezekiel's Bread to Mrs. Gloss
>Feed Ezekiel's Bread to Rachel, your coworker
Skip work:
>Feed Ezekiel's Bread to Cathleen, your stepmother
>Feed Ezekiel's Bread to Tiffany, your stepsister
>Feed Ezekiel's Bread to Dr. Kiley, the gynecological surgeon
>Feed Ezekiel's Bread to a random target
>Write-in [describe your criteria for a target]
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>>6423238
>Dahnbee
"Wow, so creepy! You have someone that hate your guts you know about?"
We know it's Elizabeth jealousy speaking though.
>Feed the bread to Rachel
Miss Gloss have done nothing that would net her punishment (she's cool and actually COVERED for us). We're good at our job so if Rachel managed to sabotage us, she might have the smart that goes together with the looks.
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>>6423238
>>6423242
Support this option.
Crow's timing aligns to night after the supper with Dahnbee. It's probably Elizabeth and so MC could offer a token help.
Offering protection is a stretch too far.
Bring some scent like vanilla essence or cloves on the bread to cover the smell as it's
>fed to Rachel.
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File: Hospital Room.jpg (196.0 KB)
>Random event: NPC Negative [92] [Rachel], Trick of Randomness [71, 59]
>Tell her that you will investigate and protect her
>Feed the bread to Rachel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdgPZllmLX0
SUNMI - MAID
You enter the office with the loaf sealed tightly inside a plastic container. Your first stop is Rachel's desk. Except Rachel is not there. No handbag or coffee mug. No monitor is running. The cubicle is completely empty.
"Where's Rachel?" you ask Tyler.
The bearded man in the neighboring cubicle swivels his chair toward you. "Oh, you didn't hear?"
"Hear what?"
"She had a rough day yesterday. She was driving to the University of Chicago Medical Center for a meeting related to a provider review when she got into a car accident. Concussion. Possible spinal injury. They admitted her to the Center for Care and Discovery."
Well. That certainly makes things easier.
You spend the next hour reviewing your assigned case.
A woman has gone viral on social media after publicly pleading for coverage for her twenty-year-old daughter, Katy Mayor, who suffered a severe brain injury. The post has attracted sympathy from friends, former classmates, and strangers alike. Unfortunately, she also tagged the CEO Brian Evanko directly. Your job is to prepare documentation for escalation to the Special Investigations Unit. Management wants the situation contained before it grows further.
You rub your forehead. Every case feels worse than the last. Part of you considers healing Katy. But two miraculous recoveries linked to your cases would be difficult to explain. For now, you decide to leave the matter alone.
When lunch finally arrives, you drive back to the University of Chicago. Finding Rachel's room proves easy. Getting inside is harder. A man dressed in black stands outside the door. Sunglasses. Expensive gear. A massive sword resting beside him. Hunter. You immediately wonder why an insurance employee has a hunter bodyguard.
"I work with her," you explain. "I brought snacks."
The hunter checks something on his phone. A moment later, he nods.
"Go ahead."
Rachel looks surprised when you enter.
"Yeongya?"
She shifts slightly in her hospital bed.
"What are you doing here?"
"Visiting a coworker."
You place the container on a nearby table. Rachel immediately notices the smell. Her face twists.
“What is that…?”
You move before she can react, stepping onto the side of the bed and climbing over her body. The mattress dips under your weight as you position yourself directly above her, blocking her movement with your knees on either side of her frame.
“Hey... what are you doing?!”
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File: Rachel.png (601.6 KB)
You place your palm firmly over her mouth. She struggles beneath you, turning her head and trying to break free, but you hold steady.
"Don’t move, please," you say quickly.
With your free hand, you pinch her nose shut, cutting off her air. Her eyes widen in reflexive panic. Instinct kicks in immediately; she gasps and opens her mouth to breathe. In that exact moment, you shove a piece of bread between her lips.
"You need to eat this."
Rachel coughs violently, trying to spit it out the moment it enters her mouth. She turns her head, struggling harder now. You adjust your grip immediately, switching positions: one hand holds her jaw steady while the other pinches her nose again, forcing her to breathe through her mouth.
"Eat this if you want to breathe!"
She thrashes once more, weaker this time. Then, finally, her throat moves. She swallows.
>>6421076
[SYSTEM QUEST: COMPLETE]
[YOU HAVE GAINED A PARTY MEMBER]
[THE TARGET HAS GAINED THE UNIQUE CLASS: PRIEST'S MAID]
Several more screens appear before your eyes. Apparently, the Priest's Maid class creates a party connection. As loyalty increases, additional powers become available.
Current Loyalty Score: 0
Current Powers:
>Summon Food
Allows the summoning of common uncooked ingredients such as fruit, meat, vegetables, and water.
>Maid's Outfit
When wearing a maid outfit approved by her master, gains a minor increase to Endurance and Agility.
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File: Rewards.jpg (100.1 KB)
Another screen appears.
[CALCULATING QUEST SCORE...]
[CHOOSE ONE REWARD]
[TIME LIMIT: 1 MINUTE]
A list of four rewards materializes before your eyes. All of them are labeled: [COMMON]. You stare at the options. Seriously? For such an important quest, this is the reward? The frustrating part is that you have no idea how the System is grading your performance. Was the quest completed poorly? Did you lose points somewhere? You don't know.
The timer continues counting down. 00:59. 00:58. 00:57...
Quest reward choice:
>Hammer: a simple 4 lb hammer with fibreglass handle
>Necklace: a minimalist necklace with a heart and infinity symbol
>Mask: an elegant masquerade mask with black feathers
>Maid suit: a high-quality latex maid suit
What will you do about Rachel's injury?
>Nothing
>Leave her Ezekiel's Bread
>Cast Heal on her [Roll 1d100; DC 25]
What orders will you give her?
>Rest here the afternoon
>Clean my appartment
>Accompany me outside after work
>Write-in
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>>6423774
>Maid suit: a high-quality latex maid suit
The only one that's worth something and I like latex-clad women
>Leave her Ezekiel's Bread
It has healing properties after all and healing her will attract the attention of the hunter outside
>Rest here for the afternoon
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File: Dr. Jessica Kiley.jpg (20.6 KB)
>>6423238
For reference, this is Dr. Jessica Kiley, abortion surgeon and professor of gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine.
Knowledge (local):The Feinberg School of Medicine, located in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago, is one of the best-ranked medical research schools in the world and has had three Nobel laureates.
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File: Latex Maid.jpg (16.4 KB)
>Maid suit
>Leave her Ezekiel's Bread
>Order: Rest here the afternoon
00:50. 00:49...
You think quickly. The reward itself is unimpressive, but the outfit catches your attention. A high-quality latex uniform has to be worth several hundred dollars. For someone carrying twenty thousand dollars in student debt and barely one thousand in savings, that is not a trivial amount. You tap the reward icon.
[REWARD STORED IN INVENTORY]
Like every Awakened, you possess an inventory: a small extra-dimensional storage space linked to the System. When you reach toward an item displayed inside the inventory screen, it materializes in your hand as a real object. Your inventory can currently hold ten items. Higher-ranked Awakened gain more space. Time still passes inside it, however, and food spoils.
You withdraw the uniform and toss it onto Rachel's bed.
"That's for you."
Rachel stares at it. "I'm not wearing that. Now explain what you're doing in my room."
"I needed someone to transfer Awakened powers to. I thought you'd be a good choice."
In truth, you are not entirely convinced >>6423897 >>6423995. Rachel's stats are terrible. Her Intelligence rank was too low to qualify for the Priest's Assistant class. Still, there is a certain satisfaction in knowing the office snitch became your maid.
You glance toward the armed hunter stationed outside the room. "Why do you have security?" >>6424002
"I don't know who he is. I assumed it was normal hospital security."
"Whatever. I order you to stay here and rest this afternoon. And don't tell anybody what happened."
You already know the Maid class compels obedience. The System had made that clear when she awakened. A new menu has appeared inside your Status Window.I had forgotten to mention it in the previous post.
[PETS]
Rachel's portrait appears beneath the title. Below it is a Loyalty Score and a description of the Priest's Maid class.
>The Priest's Maid must obey all direct orders from her master or suffer the effects of Inflict Pain until compliance.
Before leaving, you place the remaining bread on a nearby table.
"If you want to recover faster, eat this."
A new notification appears the moment you step outside.
[SYSTEM QUEST: THE FALL OF CHICAGO II]
>A Priest's healing powers make him the pillar of a party. Recruit four heroes to aid you in saving Chicago.
>Objective: Recruit four Awakened hunters within 48 hours. You may use Ezekiel's Bread to Awaken one target with the unique class [Crusader].
>Reward: Party members cannot voluntarily leave the party.
>Failure: Quest forfeited.
You read the quest twice. You don't know four hunters. Hell, you don't even know one. The quest is promptly shoved into the back of your mind. That sounds like a problem for later.
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File: Dahnbee's House.png (2.3 MB)
On the drive back to work, you try speaking to the System.
"Hello, System."
Silence.
"If you can hear me, answer."
Silence.
The System never responds. It watches, judges, and assigns quests. Nobody knows where it came from: AI, aliens, God? Every theory has its supporters. You personally have no idea.
***
>Tell her that you will investigate and protect her.
At eight o'clock that evening, after another endless shift, you drive to Dahnbee's home on North Troy Street. She greets you at the door and invites you inside. The house is warm and well-kept. Shelves hold pottery and small decorative items. Paintings hang neatly on the walls. A few strange dolls occupy corners of the rooms. Everything is clean and organized, and it's obvious she takes good care of the place.
She offers you coffee. You accept.
"So," you say, taking a seat. "Tell me about the bird."
Dahnbee shakes her head. "I don't know anything. Nothing like this has ever happened before."
"You don't have enemies?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
You take a sip. "Anyone at church who dislikes you?"
"God forbid, no. Everyone has always been wonderful to me."
As expected. You are almost certain that it was Elizabeth who nailed it to her door out of jealousy. >>6423242 >>6423375 Somehow, she must have learned that you were on a date with Dahnbee.
"All right," you say. "Let's investigate."
The two of you spend the next hour questioning neighbors and asking about security cameras. The effort yields nothing. Whoever left the crow knew what they were doing. Eventually you return to the house empty-handed.
How are you going to protect Dahnbee tonight?
>Sleep on her couch
>Sleep in your car outside
>Order Rachel to protect her
>Write-in
Today is Friday evening. How are you going to spend the evening? [Pick two]
>Drinks with coworkers
>First date with Rachel
>Second date with Dahnbee
>Stalk women in the street
>Search for information about the Hunter Association [Roll 1d100, DC 50]
>Search for information about the Restoration Church [Roll 1d100, DC 50]
>Search for information about the symbolism of crows [Roll 1d100, DC 50]
>Search for information about the symbolism of masquerade masks [Roll 1d100, DC 50]
>Search for information about healing potions [Roll 1d100, DC 50]
>Write-in (must be a small action)
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>>6424222
>Sleep in your car outside
>Search for information about the Hunter Association [Roll 1d100, DC 50]
Might help with recruiting hunters.
>You may use Ezekiel's Bread to Awaken one target with the unique class [Crusader].
Does that mean a random can become a crusader? That's pretty freaking boss.
>Write-in (must be a small action)
Hit up old friends. Steer conversation towards Awakens. See if one of them is
A.) Not an Awaken
B.) Wants to meet up.
Preferably a buff dude.
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Rolled 6 (1d100)
>>6424222
>Sleep on her couch
>Write-in : turn Dahnbee into Crusader
There, protected by herself.
>Search for information about the Hunter Association [Roll 1d100, DC 50]
We then recruit Elizabeth and some from the association. Ideally 2.
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File: Kasey's Tavern.jpg (143.4 KB)
>Sleep on her couch
>Drinks with coworkers
>Search for information about the Hunter Association [Rolled: 96]
You are sitting on Dahnbee's couch with your laptop open, researching the Hunter Association.
Officially, the Association is an international organization that operates independently of national governments. It regulates guilds, parties, auctions, hunter disputes, contracts, and countless other aspects of Awakened life. If an Awakened needs something, the local Association Tower is usually the place to go.
Digging through dark web forums, you discover allegations that rarely appear in public discussions. Low-rank hunters frequently borrow money from the Association to purchase weapons, armor, and dungeon equipment. When they fail to repay their debts, they can be sold at private auctions as slaves. The allegations do not stop there. Several sources claim the Association also traffics civilians and sentient dungeon races. Elves, beastkin, and other intelligent creatures discovered inside dungeons appear in the same auctions
.
You close the laptop. That's enough research for one evening.
"I'll be back later," you tell Dahnbee.
Then you head downtown. Kasey's Tavern sits in the South Loop only a few minutes from the office. Your coworkers gather there almost every Friday. Normally you avoid them. Sixty hours per week is already more than enough. Still, you do not exactly have a thriving social life. A few drinks sound tolerable. The usual faces are present: Tyler, a few coworkers, and Jacob, your boss.
"Look who's here!" Jacob shouts.
You can tell immediately that he is drunk. The group has only been drinking for a couple of hours. Westerners really cannot hold their alcohol. Kasey's is famous for its beer selection: more than a hundred varieties line the menu. Tonight everyone seems committed to a locally brewed lager called "Beer For Kicks".
Jacob raises his glass. "That's my boy, Yeongya. He's made me fifty thousand dollars this week. Next week, you’re making me a hundred thousand, right?”
His humor is heavy. The work talk after work is heavy too. Still, there is one thing you appreciate about Jacob. The drunker he gets, the more unhinged he becomes. His jokes turn crude, his opinions more offensive, and soon he is ranting about women, management, and anything else that comes to mind. And that, in its own way, becomes entertainment.
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File: Polymarket.png (77.7 KB)
"The Chicago Sky have been awful lately," Tyler complains. "I'm already down a thousand bucks from sports betting."
A few beers later, even conversations about sports start to feel engaging.
"What platform are you using?" you ask.
"Polymarket. You want to give it a try?"
Answer:
>"No."
>"Yeah, sounds great. I'll bet $500 on the Chicago Sky."
***
The next thing you know, sunlight is shining through a window. You slowly open your eyes. A dull headache greets you immediately. Dahnbee's living room. Right. At some point during the night, you must have returned here. Dahnbee is sitting in a nearby chair reading a magazine. When she notices you're awake, she smiles.
"Good morning. Thank you for watching over me this night. That bird incident really worried me."
She stands and walks into the kitchen. A moment later she returns with a glass of water.
Your memory of getting back here is a bit hazy. Still, you kept your promise. No additional threats appeared. Whoever left the crow either lost interest or decided not to test their luck. For now, Dahnbee appears safe.
How will you spend Saturday morning?
>Follow Dahnbee around to protect her
>Visit Rachel at the hospital and see if she's healed
>Go to the Hunter Association Tower and recruit party members
>Seek guidance from Elder Hue Doan
>Write-in
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>>6424818
>"Yeah, sounds great. I'll bet $500 on the Chicago Sky."
>Seek guidance from Elder Hue Doan
Movin' on up, to the east side. Could have been a massive psy-op set up by him and members of the church to see how we would react.
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>>6424818
>"Yeah, sounds great. I'll bet $500 on the Chicago Sky."
>Seek guidance from Elder Hue Doan
Tell the Elder, that after the coffee date with Dahnbee, she had a dead bird nailed to her door. You are concerned for her safety but need some advice or assistance.
Also bring Ezekiel's bread so we can feed it to anyone at church who volunteers to help.
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>>6425191
I am okay with that as no one seems to like my idea of turning her "Crusader".
Would you like us to do a "Peter Parker"?
>Find outstanding moral fiber yet having tons of problems kids
Preferably a combination of orphan, survivor-guilt, smartest kid of the town, bullied, good christian.
>Proceed to make his life substantially worse by gifting superpowers
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File: Brunch.jpg (258.1 KB)
>"Yeah, sounds great. I'll bet $500 on the Chicago Sky."
>Seek guidance from Elder Hue Doan
It's 11:15 in the morning and Elder Hue Doan invited you for brunch. Several folding tables have been arranged in the church hall. Church members move between them carrying trays of food while small groups chat over coffee. The selection is fairly generous: mini bagels, cream cheese, sliced meats, fruits, vegetables, muffins, eggs, bacon. Hue sits across from you.
"Dahnbee has spoken highly of you," he says.
"Oh?"
"She told me you went out of your way to protect her. She also mentioned that you helped a troubled young woman named Elizabeth."
So Dahnbee told him everything. You take a bite of bacon.
"I tried my best."
Hue nods. Then his expression becomes more serious. "So tell me. What is troubling you?"
"I don't want to discuss the specifics of my powers, but I have access to a special item. A type of bread that can Awaken another person. I need to choose the right candidate. The bread is called Ezekiel's Bread and it's somehow connected to the Biblical story of Ezekiel."
You lower your voice. "There is one embarrassing detail. According to the recipe, it has to be baked with excrement."
"This is an important matter. Helping you select candidates is now a priority. Give me until this afternoon. I will think of several possibilities."
"Thank you. I was also thinking about Dahnbee."
"I will speak with her as well."
"I was also considering picking a troubled youth."
That seems to interest him. "Our Alms Program works with several organizations. We occasionally support young adults through LYDIA Home Association in Irving Park. We also cooperate with Lawrence Hall in Albany Park."
"What about all those kids selling candy downtown?"
Chicago is full of them. Every day, migrant children stand on street corners selling candy bars for a few dollars each. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands. Many never attend school. Most have little hope of escaping poverty. And in a city filled with gangs and monsters, that makes them vulnerable.
"They're beyond our reach," Hue says. "We work through transitional homes and partner organizations. We don't have direct contact with most of the street children."
"I see."
***
As you leave the church, you think of another possibility: the goblin nests. You remember reading reports about sewer infestations in Englewood. The System quest specifically requires Awakened hunters. But does it actually require humans? You are not sure. If a goblin somehow qualifies, recruiting one could solve part of your problem.
You have a few hours before Elder Hue Doan gets back to you. How will you spend the time?
>Nothing. Let Elder Hue Doan select all your party members.
>Recruit a sewer goblin to your party [Roll 1d100; DC 85]
>Find talent among candy-selling kids [Roll 1d100; DC 75]
>Recruit Elizabeth [Roll 1d100; DC 75]
>Visit the Hunter Association Tower and recruit party members.
>Write-in
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Rolled 16 (1d100)
>>6425288
>Find talent among candy-selling kids [Roll 1d100; DC 75]
>Visit the Hunter Association Tower and recruit party members.
>Write-in
Call up old friends and see if they want to join your party.