Talla's Frontier Temple: Chapter 2
Added 2022-06-16 11:31:02 +0000 UTCGood morning!
Okay, I worked last night and this morning to get this cleaned up and acceptable for publishing. Ottawa is about to get whacked by *another* thunderstorm that might knock out power here for days again (or maybe nothing will happen), but at least I got this released ahead of that.
We have our conspirators, realizing the horror they'd nearly unleashed, wondering what new plan they should devise.
We also follow an important side quest, with Maksa discovering the link she needed in her genealogy work.
Cheers!
Xavier
ETA: v2 of the file, with small text errors fixed up.
ETA2: added v2-libre version, edited in libreOffice and re-saved.
Comments
1. You have to remember Talla got pushed ahead by her accidentally large upgrade. This means that she'll need to get to the Neophyte promotion before she can get another upgrade. Basically, at Virgin, she has one Upgrade At Initiate, she has two Upgrades and can choose one extra in Point or Strength At Neophyte, she has three upgrades and can take one more extra in Point or Strength But she already has the Strength upgrade, so it's like she's got all the entitlements of an Initiate anyway. Until she makes Neophyte (and whatever Service that requires) that she'll see more upgrades. Also, in reference to the women like Zia, Tara, Bree and Del, there's obviously other ways to "Serve", like Priming or soldiering - especially if you were in a soon-to-be-historic battle. 2. Yes, history is taught very slowly. Shanata was trying to impress Talla, but basically, they keep the younger girls busy with laundry and menial tasks, so their schooling is stunted and heavy on orthodoxy rather than education 3. Indeed I have not touched on the examination, possibly because exams are boring and not particularly sexual-isable :-) although I'm sure I could think of something. Um, and as for the Sorceress of Facial and Talla, I'm not doing spoilers, so... Talla, when offered upgrades, also has to understand the politics of the Temple, and the politics of who she has to hang around with, so it's more than just promotions, practicality and her own vanity. There's a standing question of how much the Goddess of Beshenna understood in Zhair'lo's head and how much the Goddess of Gern and her eugenics team in Pussy understand about their accidental creations. The trouble with Talla's advancement, as you say, is that she's way *ahead* of the game in terms of physical attributes. She only needs the in-division and out-division upgrades to bring her up to speed. Some of her friends, with single upgrades, will be hitting promotion-time, but she will not. Yes, Kendrick - long did he wield sword - taught Gillian a lot. Kendrick was perfectly willing to use Zhair'lo's Rage-Detector in the middle of the battle, never mind it made no sense. Gillian was perfectly willing to use whatever Talla's ability was, no matter how ridiculous, no matter how little she knew about Talla. But yes, Shanata and Gillian's ideas of what happened in the battle, and what they should do about it will vary, because one is Talla's guardian/sister and the other is a military commander. Yeah, one upgrade per month(?!) A Goddess needs 99 upgrades, so anybody in the Temple can do that math and realize you gotta cheat a little on the 1/month rule somewhere in the Second->Sorceress->Queen->Goddess chain. When you say "migrant" I assume you mean the non-Temple women who get captured/invited into the Temple? Yeah, that'll come up. Again, no spoilers.
Xavier Torch
2022-07-23 23:27:18 +0000 UTC"So much history, so many names of people and places to get right. It cuts into my word count when I have to try to look up what I'd called the place they do upgrades." - XTorch I know a story of this complexity is much more challenging, but you are building a world. That’s much more difficult and consequentially much more impressive. It’s the difference between Jack and Jill and Lord of the Rings. Something to consider as you struggle to flesh this masterpiece out: World Mechanics are an important part of a world’s realism. J.K. Roweling: for example had OWL’s and Newt’s. You might Graduate Hogwart’s but without qualifying for certain qualifications, your future options might be quite limited indeed. “Anyone fancy becoming a Snatcher?” “Entry level owl’s qualifications are quite reasonable, and you needn’t even worry about bathing - as you spent a great deal of time, in the field - don’t you know.” “The pay??? - did I forget to mention just how reasonable the Entry level owl’s qualifications are my good man?” Clearly, unless your Fred and George, who have a mysterious financial benefactor and become entrepreneurs, and manage to break the rules entirely-rules are important. I was wondering why Talla hasn’t gotten another upgrade by now. we know women in the temple get upgrades via several mechanisms: 1) Service Includes Quota’s 52 – 1 point for Initiate. Service is a bit vague, but that might be a good thing since it allows the high officers, (and you as the author) leeway in charting the course of your protagonists advancement. a) Quotas: In absence of such heroic deeds, I suspect Quotas a subset of service, to be the bread and butter of service derived upgrades. Indeed serving a man is literally called a night of “service” "The mandatory quota for someone your age and rank is once per week," she said, "Most set themselves at two or three. The pacing is up to you." . . . "How many times must I Serve to become an Initiate?" . . "Fifty two." . . . "How fast can I go?" "No one may Serve more than five times a week. It would interfere with your other duties." "Then set me to five." https://www.literotica.com/s/tallas-temple-ch-07?page=2 In other words, the average service of a sister is 2-3 servings / week, such pace would mean an upgrade in 18 to 26 Weeks. But Talla “wasn’t having any of that,” and chose (ie: little over 10 weeks.) It’s Clear that Talla has set her service to about twice that of average (ie: 5 / week). A women doing the minimum possible gets 1 upgrade (Via Quotas) at age 19, an average woman (2.5 services) at 21 weeks (Via Quotas) . A proactive woman like Talla in 10.4 weeks (Via Quotas). I can’t be sure how many Citizens Talla has served and I am not sure all are enumerated in the series, or how service was calculated on the weeks to and from Breshenna. I suspect each chapter covers approximately 2 days, Talla officially began service in ch-07, page=3 with Zhairlo. We have had 50 Chapters since then, approximately 100+ days, 14.28 weeks. By this Measure Tallia should have gotten an upgrade (via Quota achievement) around Fallen temple Chapter 24. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Abundance seemed have been distracted working overtime just keeping our heroine’s Quadruple abundance upgrades off form’s - ever so inviting - wooden benches. “As if I haven't spent the last several weeks making up excuses to dodge whatever reason they have for wanting to 'interview' her again." - Abundance (referring to her current focus regarding talla) - https://www.literotica.com/s/tallas-fallen-temple-ch-29 Of course, not to mention everything going to hell and a hand basket as Brishanna fell, at which point every one became distracted and everything went F.U.B.A.R. (F*cked up beyond all Recognition) b) Boon: Service might be some great boon to the temple, like saving a conduit’s life, (like that’s ever gonna happen – oh wait). As much as I would like to say Talla should get an upgrade for saving Zhair'lo, her subversive actions almost demands this fact stay under the radar – and thus officially unacknowledged. So regretfully no Upgrades here – at least Officially, (but karma does have a way of working itself out - see below). 2) Schooling again this is vague, but it is clear that https://www.literotica.com/s/tallas-temple-ch-08?page=2 "We don't believe in mixing ranks in classes. You shouldn't have that mini-skirt if you're in a Virgin class. My job is to catch you up." https://www.literotica.com/s/tallas-temple-ch-08?page=4 Shanata said. "I have taught you tonight what girls your age learn in a month or two. We will meet again, at some later date, and you may ask questions then." Ironically, this-if taken literally-might be the most game breaking of them all, one night of “Special schooling” is equal to 4-8 weeks of “normal schooling”? Sign me up Scotty! Sounds great, but that rate is too game breaking, unless very rare, yes, I know at this point Abundance had probably flagged Talla for “Officer track,” but from an author’s perspective you might consider scaling this back to the pacing similar to Quotas: I suspect Talla’s special schooling should probably track about as quickly as her accelerated service, in which case she should have gotten an upgrade (via Quota Schooling) around Fallen temple Chapter 24, If chaos had not ensured. 3) Examinations Unfortunately, this area has not yet been elaborated upon, maybe it only happen once a year, no matter how fast or slow your service or schooling is set to. Where does this leave Talla: I suspect she should be soon getting at least two overdue upgrades: 1 due to Quotas, and 1 due to Schooling and possibly another outside of discipline, this is where a boon not officially recognized-but still remembered-might come into play. Altho saving Zhair'lo might not be officially acknowledged among the temple at large, both Facial and Abundance will know, bet this knowledge will also spread to some degree to Point and Strength. Strength is both practical and conservative and probably would still only grant a single upgrade. Strength would grant an upgrade out of need, but not pathos or emotion. Hence they were perfectly willing to grant Talla and upgrade for her health because it was necessary, but would not be moved to give her a double later on, but then as a practical matter they already gave her an emergency upgrade for her health, so Strength from 1 -> 2. Point, however has been historically much more aggressive than Strength and been VERY concerned and proactive regarding freeing “her,” virgins. She takes this duty personally and is not afraid to do these upgrades herself. Which suggests she feels she has “skin in the game.” If she finds out Talla saved Zhair'lo (who freed so many of Point’s virgins-and now might continue one day to free even more) despite Bershanna’s willful neglect, I strongly suspect she might grant a double, either explicitly or “accidentally.” Point = 2. This would take Talla to Keeper, where she would be eligible to get a non-division upgrade, but which would she choose? Seems like a nature vs. nurture argument. Her biological parents were clearly “Sweetness,” but I think that under her current trials she might turn to Facial (they have been more thoughtful-and need I say-more proactive to her emotional needs and goals than sweetness has.) Like Maska – Talla knows that Facial knows “more than meets the eyes.” If she chooses Facial, she might get a double there (would love to see more of the interaction between the Sorcerer of Facial and Talla. Will Talla recognize Facial as the lightly armored Valkyrie without her armor? I bet Facial couldn’t resist a little clue, however subtle. GREAT potential poignant emotional moment there. When Talla chose to do what was right, as opposed to what was easy - Facial was there. Talla could have refused Facials help, she certainly had good reason to distrust anyone from Form, and Facial knew it. Talla chose to take a leap of faith, and that faith was rewarded. Later Facial could have later sold Talla and her co-horts to Form for some EZ Form street cred, but instead took the time, and effort, to help them see that they were not solving the problem, but just creating other problems and gave them guidance and maybe a path and support to be a more proactive solution to the problem. Yeah - GREAT potential poignant emotional moment there. Would hate to miss that. As a side note Temple women often subconsciously accord more respect to those who have upgrade beyond there stated rank, Talla has seen it from women who see her Quadruple abundance upgrade, and treat her higher than the mere initiate her clothing declares. Maska has seen it from from others others who recognize a double Facial which is clearly an out of discipline for a Sweetness woman. Maska’s clothing might say she is an Acolyte I, her Facial-2 out of discipline for Sweetness, suggests a higher rank, normally deserving of Higher rank. Alternate (Pragmatic View) Of course this might be entirely academic:, Zair’lo is capable of delivering a perfection - and perhaps more significantly - by sweetness’s own tacit admission, Gerns best chance of successfully delivering a perfection. Zair’lo is in military terms: “Precious Cargo.” Talia, who saved Zair’lo , when no one else would, was able to was barely able to keep up with women of form with iron and tight upgrades, but most likely only by drawing from her innate power reserves as a goddess-born. Clearly after nearly exhausting that reserve she barely had enough to save Zair’lo. If Gern’s Goddess actually understands what happened and has any sense I suspect she will try to upgrade Talia to Double in each discipline (aside from abundance and str). This would ensure that she would not have to dip so deeply into that reserve. In the big scheme of things, this really isn’t that big a deal since a double (2) is far short of perfection (11). Although abrupt, this stop-gap measure is ultimately inferior, but not necessarily mutually exclusive to Officer track. If the Godess decrees it will be done, then it will be done: "Scrolls," the Queen demanded, when her pity had bled itself out. "Three of them." The first went to the Sorceress of Within. The next two would find their ways to the Seconds of Pussy and Lips. Men would have to be found as well, and anyone currently in line for the Augmentation Chamber could damn well wait until tomorrow. https://www.literotica.com/s/tallas-fallen-temple-ch-28?page=4 Would Zair’lo have even been in such a bad state if Talla’s reserves had not been drained keeping up with soldiers from iron and tight, - Probably not. Would Talla needed a woman of sweetness if she had within and pussy of 2 – again probably not. In any event, you would be absolutely justified to restrict Tallas advancement as you see fit. This is your story after all. It just feels that after ssssoooo many chapters its overdue, although with the chaos going on in that period it’s easy to see why it just didn’t happen. On the other hand, Tallas complete lack of Tight and Iron are making it a bit implausible that she could keep up with the army for an extended period of time, even with multiple bursts of adrenaline, sooner or later shear exhaustion, heat stroke ect . . . will take her down. Yes, she does appear to have some hidden reserve as a goddess-born, but you probably don’t want to have to use that all the time or it just becomes predictable and ironically less impressive, when it actually does occur. Thoughts beyond (breaking) the fouth wall: Don’t cheapen those goddess born moments, you have some really golden moments there. Take for example Talla’s slaying of the Enraged woman throwing chairs from the second story floor, as powerful as that scene is, it has the potential to be even more so though the testimony of third party narrative. You partially capitalized on this by Gillian’s interaction with Talla. Gillian an officer of Iron, didn’t believe a woman of Abundance could have made that shot, indeed, even with her facial upgrades (maybe 3-6 points worth) Gillian herself couldn’t even see the danger, thus unable neutralize it. Gillian herself could not have made that shot – and she knows it. Women of Iron tend to have brutally honest with themselves and others, that’s why they are the lawmakers. Gillian might not pursue it during the Battle, Talla’s actions served the Temple after all and Gillian got bigger things on her plate, she is ultimately responsible to getting perfection to Brishanna, but this moment is going to gnaw on her. This might later be a moral delima for her. Let us hope Kendrick’s training overcomes Irons tendency for blindly adhering to dogma, simply for dogma’s sake. By all accounts Kendrick was a great man, his lessons and his teachings should reach beyond his death - even if he was only a man. The other hidden, yet much more powerful witness is Shanata. Gillian’s attention was not drawn till the arrow was loosed, thus she only observed the effect. Shanata on the other hand was proactively watching over Talla, like a guardian angle. It was her job, and we all know how seriously Shanata takes her responsibilities. Good thing too, because Talla had no combat experience. On several occasions you noted that Shanata had to tug Talla this way or that to keep her from being hit or trampled by friend or foe. In time she could probably absorb some fighter training/skills through Zair’lo like she did with the bow, but this was just too much to process – in way too short of time. Thus, Shanata was likely watching Talla the whole time, what did she see? Shanatta has some facial (unfortunately Tia didn’t tell us how much in her examination.) Shanata, faithfully replayed her analysis of Gillian’s reactions and likely action to Talla, but withheld her own personal observations. I suspect Shanata might still be processing it herself – and I suspect its a lot to process, especially if she considers the bigger picture. If she does comprehend the ramifications – who could she tell? What did Shannata observe? What she didn’t see might be even more telling than what she did. She most likely saw Talla target some enemy in the distance Shanata herself could not clearly perceive. Shanata probably heard the twang of the bowstring, the sharp crack of the arrow hitting the skull, the sweet wet meaty thud of the arrow penetrating the brain and hitting and maybe stopping in the back of the skull plate. What she did not see was Talla drawing a second arrow. Talla knew the target was eliminated, a threat eliminated before the target even hit the ground. Talla acted with clear, unfettered certainty. What she saw was one shot – one kill. Very sobering to a soldier if one considers its’ inherent implications. Talla wasn’t just mimicking the master archer skills she learned from Zair’lo. Talla (through Zair’lo) was able to target an otherwise un-seeable target. Zair’lo effectively “painted,” the target through his link as a forward observer would via IR, ect . . . in a modern 21st century army. We are seeing a parallel technology today in Russia’s unprovoked and incredibly wasteful war against Ukraine. A drone or forward observer “paint’s” a target, a Himar launches a missile from 40 miles away, but with GPS and targeting information it is able to hit the target with almost pinpoint accuracy. Thus a 75 ton Missile depot that was allocated to decimate an entire town, it's infrastructure along with it’s men women and children - is eliminated. Make no mistake, almost all the enraged were targeting the conduit, if they kill or mortally wound him by throwing a objects from an elevated vector that the defenders could not detect, the Enraged win – and uncounted thousands ultimately die. The end results are eerily similar. You did a great job explaining the difficulties Talla faced: lack of height, thus limited field of view, the waves of smoke and heat distortion that make seeing, much less targeting a distant target a feat in an of itself. Of course Talla was beyond the city immediately after this. In addition, even if upgrades are forthcoming Talla may not want to stick around Gern too long, she has no idea what Form might do now that Breshanna’s crises is averted. Very curious to see if Gillian passes on her suspicions, and to whom she might pass it onto. Yes, Gillian is an Officer of Form, but she was trained by Kendrick, and Kendrick was clearly willing to adjust, if he felt it would achieve a higher goal. Technically only one upgrade per month, don’t think Talla wants to stick around three months, then again clearly she can take more and take it quickly. Sorceresses do seem to have some discretion. “On top of that, no one gets more than one upgrade per month except in the most dire of circumstances. It can become dangerous." “The older woman hesitated then, glancing at Talla's chest. Talla looked down in to her cleavage. Clearly they both realized that she could handle quite a number of upgrades at once. https://www.literotica.com/s/tallas-temple-ch-07?page=2 How are earned upgrades handled among migrant women?
Stephen
2022-07-20 11:23:52 +0000 UTCIs it just this file, or do you have trouble with all of the files? This one may have been edited through Google docs, so maybe it formatted the "Word docx format" differently?
Xavier Torch
2022-06-22 10:03:43 +0000 UTCOk. What is the secret ot process to open this file? Everytime ai try it needs to be extracted and nothing opens. Is there something I need? What am I missing here?
Nickcap
2022-06-22 04:07:34 +0000 UTC
