(Vol 2) Chapter 17: A Token Anchorage

With Jeeves and Dart on monitoring and information-gathering duty near the coming of the dawn, Sammy decided it was about time to grill the System about a few things…

“Sys, can you tell me whether it is possible to move a consciousness disconnected in a Maze somewhere else? Other… housings? Realms like my own?”

This is hypothetically feasible with certain abilities, powers, spells, and so on, but the System does not automatically facilitate it.

“Why? Isn’t the Maze the same thing? Just some adjacent mind realm?”

No. It is self-contained and separate from you. It is simply subject to your willful, deific manipulation. Without the Illusion domain, this would be more limited. Souls are however still targetable (by you) with appropriate effects.

“What about bringing someone else into one?”

You may place a subject — i.e. a victim of the Mirror Maze power — into an existing Maze if desired, and they may or may not interact with other subjects as you wish.

I can bring Bast in easily at least, then.

“And my Servitors and such, can they pop in and out?”

No. The realm is self-contained and only accessible to you and subjects.

“Fine, fine. And just to verify, when I let someone go without a body, or the time comes up, they pass on immediately for reincarnation as normal?”

Correct.

“Can’t I just grab them again with the power or something?”

A disembodied soul cannot fulfill the target specifications of Mirror Maze. At the time of release, the soul has no locality whatsoever. Transferal is instantaneous.

“Bah! How can the soul be targeted at all?”

By appropriate abilities while still existent within the Maze, or by pre-existing conditional states without a locality requirement still persisting to pre-empt transferal. An example is a magical binding spell based on username and/or a soul impression. A disembodied soul counts as a [Spirit].

“Huh. Does it happen on its own? Are there ghosts?”

Detailed lore information is up to individual user discovery. It is feasible for a soul to be delayed from passing on. It is also possible for strong psychic resonances to create more limited spirit forms based on some exaggerated aspect of a soul. It is not actually the original soul but a phantom or shadow.

“These can become spirits?”

Correct. Spirits are formed out of complex protocols derived from mortal thought and belief, starting very intangibly. Phantoms of mortals can tap into this to grow into more.

“Hmm. Well, guess that’s all for now.”

Before dawn had even arrived, quite a few of her Followers were up, including several Devouts praying diligently toward the new domain, which most of them understood would be how she actually unlocked it for use. And she noticed the recovering Galynth was also up, and praying too. Which didn’t actually give FE.

Think it’s a bit of an oversight that he isn’t Devout at this point… and I need to ask him something that has been nagging me…

Sammy once more — rather gently — knock-knocked to say hello to the easily spooked young man. He bubbled up joyfully that she did, though.

“Your Majesty!” he sent in greeting. “It is an honor to be in your presence this morning. How may I serve you?”

“A pleasure as always, Sir Galynth. I was thinking that you are a quite devout believer already. Have you thought about swearing in as an actual Devout?”

Shyness crept through the connection from him. “Oh, well, yes, Your Majesty, but I was writing it out… and tweaking… and I didn’t know when a good time was… You are a goddess, after all. I think you’ve only gotten busier with time.”

“Galynth, please always just come to me when there is an issue. If you prefer, I have intermediaries you can check with to see if I’m busy, now. Servitors. There is the mirror spirit Resemblant Jeeves and there is Sir Dartagnan the fairie dragon. You’re probably better off with Jeeves honestly. He’s more professional.”

“Oh! Amazing, Goddess! Perhaps that is a good compromise, yes! Thank you.”

“I will be sure to have him touch base. Anyway, let’s hear it. Your words. You can speak it directly to me, then I’ll have Orswyth do a little ceremony later for the rest of you.”

He was suddenly sweating it. “Oh, uh- yes… Ah, as you command, Your Majesty… I just have it here, one moment…” Frantic rummaging around.

“Get out your mirror, too, Gally!”

“Ah, yes, right! Need to do that!” He was also quite pleased to hear her give him a nickname she noticed.

Finally, Galynth got his mirror propped up adequately and went to one knee, putting one hand to his heart as he read from a slip of paper — in a whisper for consideration of others sleeping nearby:

“Goddess of Mirrors, Illusion, Fate… and Light… Goddess Samantha, I, Sir Galynth of Lowbarrow, do swear in all truth by-... by witness under heaven… to serve you mind and soul and body. You are the guiding hand to a better future which I… take as offered, to always be led to a righteous and good purpose… no matter my fate, I accept it, because I trust and-and love you, oh Goddess. I count it glory to stand for you against whatever storm may come.”

Sammy, with a small smile, nodded soberly. “I will do all that is in my power to see that such trust was not misplaced, Sir Galynth. Rise as my Devout, my Torchbearer, and continue your walk in the light.”

Follower has obtained quality grade [Devout] and provides 1 additional FE per day.

Galynth, beaming proudly, rose. He picked up the mirror and began walking to go up the steps toward the deck. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I feel a lot better now. And I feel… more connected to you.”

“That’s normal. A relationship or affinity level effect in the mental link. Hey Galynth… I wanted to ask you something… do you… have Transplant listed on your status sheet thing?”

“Hmm? Oh yes! Of course, Your Majesty. Under Special Traits. Transplant, Token User, Berakuan Biochemistry… why do you ask?”

But Sammy wasn’t listening past ‘Transplant.’ Her ears were burning to hear it, and her eyes were burning as she looked at her own sheet.

It’s not here! I’m not a fucking Transplant! Fuck… misinformation… Dax told me it first, didn’t she? If someone comes from another world, they’re Transplants…

“But not me, right System?! Huh? Not me! Did you fucking punt me out and bring me back in?! What the fuck is going on?!”

The System cannot provide this information. This limited interface does not have access to information pertaining to your recruitment or universe.

Sammy surged up out of her throne, incensed… but anger would get her exactly nothing from the System, that she well understood. She took a deep breath, collected herself… her eyes flashed over to her Servitors who quickly went back to looking busy…

“System… do I have past lives within the multiverse under your control?”

Users within the System must ascertain their own existential nature utilizing the information available in-world, by experience, or through ability use. The System cannot provide this information. Upon death, you will reincarnate based on proprietary cosmic protocols.

“I swear, I need a fucking punching bag or something!” Ultimately, she supposed everyone had to find past lives rather self-explanatory. The people of Calrenazzod felt those past lives often very strongly and had a culture that taught them about it. She did not.

At best, she’d had deja vu. More so since being taken, but she’d had such feelings on Earth, too. Didn’t everyone wonder about past lives? Some believed in reincarnation more strongly there as well, but not her, really. Those sorts of things were discounted out of hand as far as she was taught. The tarot had been just for fun… however much she was drawn to it constantly.

Though she’d skimmed it without paying much attention, she drew up Token User to read it carefully.

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Token User

You utilized a Promotional Token to arrive within the System. This entitles you to the 30-day Token User Promotional Bonus as well as any future additive promotions for prior Token Users (note: there are no additive promotions for prior Token Users).

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“Gee, I can’t imagine why I didn’t read this carefully,” she said wanly. It was just a useless stain on the sheet after the 30 days were up. Technically, abilities that could glean information from a sheet would gain a little intel from it though.

And it’ll look weird as shit without Transplant there. I wonder if it stays after reincarnation? Transplant must disappear eventually as lives are accrued. I guess this is something to ask about. Maybe someone else has Token User without Transplant like I do.

1 FE (Fate, Light) obtained from [Devout] worship. Converted to Light FE.

1 FE (Mirrors, Illusion, Light) obtained from [Devout] worship. Converted to Light FE.

1 FE (Mirrors, Fate, Light) obtained from [Devout] worship. Converted to Light FE.

1 FE (Fate, Light) obtained from [Devout] worship. Converted to Light FE.

Hmm, I have enough domains that the tags on prayers are varying more. Interesting. 4 down, 146 more to go. Four or five days maybe.

No time being like the present for the bullshit of the past, Sammy targeted all of her closest believers in the early morning to send them a query about the recent problem. “Does anyone have the Special Trait Token User randomly? Or ever heard of it without Transplant? I… I don’t have Transplant.”

But all she got back was a lot of negatives to her questions. And a few other comments…

Estara was confused but seemed to like the idea, too. “Oh, you’ve had past lives?! You’re one of us, Your Majesty! It makes so much sense!”

“Well bash my head with a dummy broom,” Dax exclaimed, “I would never have thought it. Sorry, Your Majesty. That’s some tough medicine to swallow.”

“The heart confirmed it before the mind knew,” Orswyth mused. “When I first placed my hand on your shoulder upon that platform in encouragement, I felt I’d done it before. Though this may be a stressor, I hope it can become a comfort for you. As it is now, for me.”

“Of course!” Azure sent to her. “We are tied by greater bonds, She of Many Faces. I’ve dreamed certain dreams of you… Perhaps they are not of fancies and futures but shadows of the past.”

Sammy let it all wash over her without responding. It was… overwhelming. There was little doubt between Tashome’s words, the claim of Marjorie, and then everyone else’s. She’d returned to the System somehow. She’d been there before… perhaps long, long ago. Her memories were probably more inhibited than the others… others she actually had strong ties to.

After all the crazy shit I’ve seen and done here, this fucking place can still pull something I can’t even believe. Hope this is the last fucking thing. Ha. Yeah right.

“Accepted it finally, then?” Tashome, of course. “I was waiting for that. Are you alright? Still in shock?”

Sammy sent back a mental nod. “I guess in some way I expected this sort of revelation to come, it’s just… difficult to process. Anyway. I’ll be fine… old friend.”

Tashome laughed. “You mean young friend. As for this trait you mentioned, I am betting it clears after the first life is complete. I don’t think anything carries over, not directly.”

“Hmm. There’s also the fact that the System will just hide shit when it feels like it. Now, the biggest thing I’m curious about is whether anyone else got punted. Has to be some protocol right? And has anyone returned before?”

“Your situation might be unique. But only learning about the Before is ever going to shine a light on the Now.”

“So it seem- wait, was that another intentional pun or-”

Azure suddenly cut in with, “The dawn is well underway, Lightbringer. The farmers are up and at it, so probably time for us to move on. I’m fully dressed.”

Sammy sent her simple acknowledgment and a quick thank you and goodbye to Tashome, then turned to an already attentive Dart. “Ready, my brave parrot?”

Dart transformed into just such a creature in a puff of smoke and flew to land on her shoulder. Then with a whistle said, “Give it to me, give it to me!”

“Don’t you even fucking start with that shit, Dart!”

The goddess materialized back into the world and her new body, ready to bid some other mortal farewells, hit the road, and see just what the inn was all about. And at some point soon — as she dreaded — she’d have to deal with Bast.

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« (Vol 2) Chapter 16 | Table of Contents | (Vol 2) Chapter 18: What Truly Ties »

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Samantha, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors & Illusion
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Goddess Level 2 [15/20]; Minor Deity

Domains (3/4): Mirrors, Illusion, Fate
Faith Energy: 307/2500
FE (Mirrors): 6 ; FE (Illusion): 14 ; FE (Fate): 10 ; FE (Light): 4
Followers: 36 (Daily FE Gain: 46 [50])

Devout: 7
Priests: 3

Brute: 0
Rogue: 0
Wizard: 1 [14/20]
Bard: 0 [5/10]

MP: 16/28

Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Priestly Ordination, Holy Relic Investiture, Create Servitor, Read Runes, Spell Construction, Detect Magic

Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith, Avatar (Samantha; Core)

Spells: Identify (5 MP), Icebolt (3 MP)

Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Grant Prayer (Illusion), Grant Prayer (Fate), Mirror Sense, Mirror Communication, Intuition, Alter Fate, Create Illusion, Grant Invisibility, Dazzling Spectrum, False Auras, Mirroring Duplicates, Reflect Force, Mirror Maze

Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (8/30), Free Minor Divine Enchantment (Accessory; 1-use)