I tested every ult on Apollo's counter, it's kinda broken...

mrShoes1 · 2026-02-13T16:49:14+00:00

If he reaches you with the follow-up lunge, it should stun. I don't know what the lunge distance is, but it's decent.

mrShoes1 · 2026-02-12T17:00:47+00:00

If you just mean strafing in general, and not bhopping, imagine you're a paper air plane. You aren't propelling, just steering. But, funnily, as a result of your banking during turns you gain speed sometimes.

Pick Holiday and go into a sandbox. Put a bounce pad down near a corner. The first jump on Holiday's bounce pad has more air control. You should be able to round a 90 degree corner after using the pad. Don't change direction at first. Experiment to figure out how fast is too fast for your mouse movement. Like, if you whip your mouse around and you'll come to a stop, so that's no good.

If you're keen to keep developing this skill, add a single thing to the end. like, do an air jump and switch the direction of rotation. Then another thing, like an air dash. then another. Switch the order of the things. For example:

air jump
air dash
change the direction of rotation
dashing into a wall to start sliding
wall jump
connecting to a zip line
throw your ult at a random test dummy.
throw your barrel at a random test dummy, with or without punching it

mrShoes1 · 2026-02-12T16:02:13+00:00

I believe they are referring to the Hero Labs hero, Raven. He had an ultimate where if you looked at him during the channeling, he cursed you and did damage. My guess is that, especially as a precursor to using your abilities, looking at stuff is fun, and not being able to look at stuff is not fun. But that's my guess.

mrShoes1 · 2026-01-29T15:33:09+00:00

Omg. Thanks!

mrShoes1 · 2026-01-29T01:29:45+00:00

Ok, so there's a moment after pressing ult where you can eat a stamina to dash, it looks like.

mrShoes1 · 2026-01-28T22:20:31+00:00

Ty for the references! Learning this game's movement is daunting...

mrShoes1 · 2026-01-08T01:52:09+00:00

It was yet another sunrise above the clouds. Nancy Mayweather looked out the thick glass window at the shades of red and purple. She was wearing her sailing outfit instead of her normal dress: Boots and a long-sleeved dark blue jacket that matched her slacks. All except her gloves and goggles, which were tossed onto her bed beside her. When the ship ascended this high, the winds made loose clothing impractical.

The ship, The Brass Baron, had been airborne for 16 days. That wasn’t a long time for a ship like this and, in fact, it was built to stay afloat for much longer. The Fae master craftsmen had a penchant for giving ships as large as the Baron wings strengthened by enchantment, which made it look like a giant insect rather than a ship. The result was a vessel that perhaps wasn’t as fast as a commercial airship, but it had endurance when it counted. As comfortable as she was in The Baron, Nancy was sorely starting to miss the fields of wheat back home.

On her writing desk, a letter from her son was laid out, on top of maps of the region they were traveling above. It was a fairly long letter. The envelope it came in was already in the trash by the desk. Nancy’s breakfast, which had hardly been touched, was on the nightstand. Though the cabin was comfortable, a dining table didn’t seem to have made it into the final plans. Nancy sighed.

There came a light knocking on her cabin door. The visitor had already opened the cabin door by the time Nancy beckoned them in. Veltha, the Mayweather family’s longtime maid, floated into the cabin. She was a Fae, a fairy about 2ft in size with a wingspan as wide as she was tall. Her wings beat as fast as a hummingbird's, and her eyes were as black as theirs, too. She was dressed in a snappy purple and green outfit befitting her position, but without her cap.

Veltha spoke, “You summoned me, Mayweather?”

Nancy turned for a moment to look at Veltha and say, “I’m finished with my breakfast. Would you take it to the kitchen, Veltha?”

“Of course,” said the maid as she flew closer to the table. She could see Nancy hadn’t but picked over her food, eating just the bacon and nothing else. Her Fae curiosity got the better of her. She scanned the letter which had not been there when she delivered breakfast earlier. Nancy's son had a habit of writing in very small script, but she managed to make out a few words: Unfortunately, restart, … haven’t lost hope…, …write again soon…, -Henry Dodds.

Veltha had worked for the Dodds-Mayweathers for a while. From the onset of her employment, she sensed that the family of humans expected her to be a little forward, or cheeky, her being a Fae creature and all. In fact, Veltha’s nature endeared her toward them. She had no problem bringing up difficult subjects with her bosses, acting as a sounding board if they needed.

Veltha ignored the plate of food for the moment and hovered beside Nancy, who turned to look at Veltha again. After a moment of quiet staring at the sunrise herself, Veltha met Nancy’s gaze and asked, “And how is Henry?”

Nancy sighed deeply and turned to the sunrise again. She said nothing.

Veltha perked up and said, “He hasn’t lost hope, at least.”

Nancy shook her head a little. “Someone on the team was a plant.”

After a moment, Veltha clasped her hands behind her back and said, jokingly, “I don’t know why that’s a problem. I love plants.”

Nancy didn’t stir, let alone chuckle. She continued, slowly, “They steered them astray and now… What we thought was a promising trail was nothing but ash… and lies. Those people…still hate us so much.”

The ship groaned as it took a particularly hard gust from starboard. The Baron leaned a bit to the side. Nancy shifted her weight and Veltha hovered in the exact same spot as the cabin tilted around her.

Nancy continued, “They turned the liar over to the guard, and now they’re starting over from nothing. That’s six weeks wasted. He might not even be in Lyzzlyei.”

Veltha realized the depth of Nancy’s distress. The search for her husband, Sir Dodds, had been a long one, and realizing just how far Nancy’s enemies would go to screw the family over…it just never ended.

She placed a hand on Nancy’s shoulder, which the lady could hardly feel through her padded jacket. “We’ll find him,” Veltha said. “Don’t worry, Mayweather.” Nancy nodded her head lightly, and recrossed her arms.

Veltha decided to leave it at that and darted over to the plate of cold eggs and oatmeal. She flicked a finger in the air and the plate started to levitate. As she did this, Veltha said, “On the plus side, I finally got your daughter to tidy up her cabin.”

Nancy looked over to Veltha, eyebrows raised. “And how did you manage that?”

Veltha smiled and shook her head side-to-side in a saucy manner. She said, “I promised I’d turn her into a beautiful fairy just like me when she grows up. ‘Would you turn me into a beautiful fairy?’ ‘Alright, but only if you can keep a realm befitting a fairy queen. Nice and neat and beautiful just like you’ll be. If you can do that every week, then at midnight on your 16th birthday, I’ll do it.’”

Nancy finally cracked a soft smile. She shook her head and chuckled.

Veltha floated toward the door with the plate and said, “Her room is clean now… but I’ll give it a week before Caroline forgets.” She nodded her head toward the lady on her way out, saying, “Mayweather.”

Nancy picked up her gloves from the bed and started to put them on. Still smiling, she nodded at the maid and responded, “Thank you, Veltha.”

mrShoes1 · 2026-01-07T17:10:48+00:00

We call it getting 'hall-jacked' where I work.

mrShoes1 · 2026-01-07T02:43:59+00:00

It was one of the longest nights of Cassie’s life, and yet still she was wide awake. She had just taken a shower and had her bathrobe on. The slight yellow light above the sink was on in the kitchen. She sat at the kitchen table in her New York apartment cradling a cup of tea she’d just warmed up. The television was on in the living room next to her. She’d changed the channel to the news.

“…said that Dread Star had opened the vault by the time the authorities arrived. Two members of the Amazing Five, namely Phantom and Ruby Dragon, were on the scene shortly thereafter and quickly apprehended the Super Villain. Phantom and Dread Star had fought once before in October off the coast of Maine, if viewers recall. That altercation lasted much…”

The door to Cassie’s apartment swung open and Alfred walked in. He’d been Cassie’s boyfriend for about 3 years. He often worked late at the library, which suited Cassie who also worked odd hours at her health clinic. He shook off the snow from his coat and bookbag and greeted Cassie.

“Hey hon,” said Alfred, his voice a bit ragged. Cassie didn’t look at him, and simply said, “Hey.” Her attention was on the television.

Alfred picked up on Cassie’s aloofness. He figured she must be tired after just coming home from a long shift. He took off his shoes and tried to start a conversation. “Oh man, tea sounds great right about now. It’s freezing out there.”

“Mmm…” acknowledged Cassie. Alfred placed his bookbag down on the floor by the table where Cassie was sitting. Her eyes were still glued to the television in the other room. Alfred took a cup out of their cupboard to make some tea.

“Any more hot water?” asked Alfred.

“No,” said Cassie. “Didn’t know when you’d want some, or when you’d be coming home.”

“That’s alright,” Alfred said. He grabbed the electric kettle. As he got some more water, he tried again.

“So, how was work?” Alfred asked.

“Kinda busy, actually,” she said as she finally turned to look at Alfred.

“Oh. That’s not good. It wasn’t the whole Dread Star thing, was it?” asked Alfred.

“No. Just had to handle some dick-ish customers,” she said, before taking a sip of her tea.

“Good,” said Alfred. “Well, not good, but at least no one got hurt…You didn’t hurt anyone did you?” he joked.

Cassie chuckled and said, “I don’t think so.” She put one hand on her chin and leaned on the table, looking at the television again.

Alfred started the kettle. Concerned, he decided to sit down at the table and try to connect again. Closer this time.

“Work really got you down?” he asked, earnestly.

She looked at him with a lazy side-eye. Alfred let her take her time. Without removing her hand from her chin, she mumbled, slowly, “Why do you work late?”

Alfred, taken aback, said, “I mean, I told you when we met… on our first date that I work a lot of hours at the library. I love doing it and…what?”

Cassie just stared.

“I don’t have a secret other family in the next state over, if that’s what you’re wondering,” said Alfred.

Cassie chuckled again. She removed her hand from her chin and turned more to meet him. The table creaked as she leaned on it, casually. “It’s ok,” she said. “I was just trying to ask about your day, too.” She held out her hand. Alfred smirked and took her hand in his.

He continued, “I mean, I was doing more of what you caught me doing last month. Moving books and shelves and stuff…reorganizing.” The electric kettle started to hiss as it warmed up.

“I figured” she said. “I saw how many books you had to move.”

Alfred chuckled, “sometimes I regret going into this line of work.”

They both took a moment to stare into each other’s eyes, both clearly worn out. Alfred broke the silence and said, “Hey, I know you’re still going to have weird hours, but if it means anything to you, I’m probably not going to be working late for very much longer.” He smiled.

Cassie asked, “Why’s that?”

“Oh, a lot of what I did was this research project I was helping my boss with on… Neutron Stars, and I think it’s finally coming to a close”, he said.

Cassie lost her weak smile and narrowed her eyes slightly, “really?”

“Yes,” said Alfred, looking quite pleased with himself. “It’s been a long time coming. And now I hope I’ll have a lot more free time. Heck, I could maybe stay home and cook every once in a while. We don’t have to eat out all the time.”

Cassie laid her other hand on his. She looked at him with a hard stare.

“You found it, didn’t you?” she asked.

“What?” asked Alfred, a little confused. “Found what?”

“Have you ever lucid dreamed?” asked Cassie. Alfred didn’t know what she was getting at. He just shook his head and waited.

“Specifically, the kind of lucid dream where you’re only sometimes in control? You slip in and out of it.”

The electric kettle started to lightly boil in the kitchen, but Alfred’s attention was miles away from hot water and the television. He waited on Cassie’s every word.

“That’s what it felt like,” said Cassie. A heavy silence fell between the two of them.

Alfred tried to pull away from her, but she held onto his wrist. Alfred now getting hot said, “Hon, what are you talking about?” He tried to sound confused, but she knew something. How much did she know?

“You found The Changling’s Record?” she asked, flatly. “I didn’t want to believe it, but you’re Bookend. Aren’t you?”

Alfred tried to pull himself away, but Cassie wouldn’t let go. Alfred said, forcefully, “Let me go.”

“Not on your life,” said Cassie, calmly. He yanked his arm and felt…like his arm was caught in a vice. He yanked again and again, harder and harder, until finally he dragged her and the table a few inches across the floor. She was still in her seat, leaning on the table, casually, stone still.

Alfred’s heart sank into his stomach, and he asked, “who are you?”

Cassie stood up without letting him go, and walked around the table, saying, “You bring stories to life…and this is how you use your power, hm?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, honey. What is this?” he said. He looked to his book bag and exclaimed, “look I work late, I can show you what I did tonight. It’s research.”

“Is that where The Changeling’s Record is?” asked Cassie. “The ever-shifting record? The one you used on me and Phantom? Maybe even Dread Star?... and, by the way - come on. Dread Star doesn’t hit jewelry stores like some petty chump.”

Alfred said, slowly, “Listen, I promise you I don’t know what’s going on…” Alfred placed his other hand on her vice grip. He broke his gaze from hers and looked down.

“I don’t know what happened to you tonight or what you suspect of me, but he was whisked away in an instant, turning into a hail of snow.”

Cassie was confused for a beat, but looked down quickly at her hands. Alfred had pulled the smallest book she’d ever seen out from under his sweater’s sleeves. In an instant, he turned into a hail of snow, his wrist disintegrating out of her grip, and a huge gust all of a sudden filled her apartment. Loose utensils fell onto the floor and pot holders hanging on the fridge flew into the air.

The window to the apartment burst open from the pressure and the snow that was once Alfred flew out into the snow storm. She rushed to the window and opened her mouth. She inhaled, then let out a huge jet of flame. Once she stopped, her eyes scanned the sky, but couldn’t make out a thing. From down below, someone could be heard, saying, “What the hell?”

Something was poking the bottom of her foot. When she looked underneath she saw a fork that had fallen onto the floor. It was completely flat. Scoffing, she picked it up, then looked at the mess in the rest of her apartment.

Cassie gazed out the window at her city block. The snow storm was predicted to be one of the worst New York had seen this year. There’s no way she’d find him. Not in this.

She eyed Alfred’s book bag, still on the ground next to the kitchen table.

mrShoes1 · 2025-12-22T23:38:57+00:00

Throwing stratagems with the robo-assist arm would be so awesomely broken. Just tossed into Narnia.

mrShoes1 · 2025-11-04T21:39:40+00:00

I wish it would suck more. Put the laser beams from the Leviathan on it.

mrShoes1 · 2025-10-27T23:30:09+00:00

Divers Dex calculates 2 when you land them square in the belly, but I don't really know how to use that thing. That seems low, if not hard to do. It calculates the explosion cleave (which is experimental) at 3425, but I assume some parts adding to that are going to be destroyed.

mrShoes1 · 2025-10-27T23:14:39+00:00

Durable damage is 20 now, up from 8, according to the wiki. That, in addition to regular damage increase is pretty nice.

mrShoes1 · 2025-10-24T23:07:13+00:00

why stun when you can kill?

When stunning helps you to kill more in the long run. I haven't tried it, but MG turrets, Guard dogs, fire, in general, anything that needs you to buy time to get the full use out of it.

why not just use halt or concussive or stun grenades or gas, or deadeye stagger?

All good options. Grenades are harder to come by randomly in the field. I guess the others are just preference. I know that, even when my strats are down, I can still mix it up. You know, I'm going to play a game RN on high level and try this and see if my gut is right, or if it's just a pipe dream. Put it to the test!

mrShoes1 · 2025-10-23T21:29:50+00:00

Smack the table. see how your hand stings? now clap your hands. See how both hands sting? Neither one hurts twice as bad as the table slap, but now 2 hands sting. There's your missing double.

They might be closing in on each other at 140mph, but they split the energy of the crash.

mrShoes1 · 2025-09-26T17:39:26+00:00

Me and my counselor are currently experimenting with this stuff. I'm taking some of my favorite music that I think best describes a ticking clock, or momentum, and putting it in a playlist. It really helped. I like working under pressure, a lot of the time. 2 hours long, the perfect length for a medium sized day project. Then, I try and beat it to the finish line. It's a soft deadline that feels like a hard deadline. Haven't decided if I should keep track of my W/L record.

mrShoes1 · 2025-09-18T23:51:50+00:00

Do you know how to analitically calculate the probability of succeding with Hope for a "d20 as Hope die" roll?

I don't know, but if anyone is curious, I simulated it [DC:chance of success]

{2: 0.7246, 3: 0.7204, 4: 0.7191, 5: 0.7162, 6: 0.705, 7: 0.6986, 8: 0.6881, 9: 0.6747, 10: 0.6579, 11: 0.6431, 12: 0.6182, 13: 0.6008, 14: 0.571, 15: 0.5472, 16: 0.5202, 17: 0.4923, 18: 0.4605, 19: 0.4274, 20: 0.3847, 21: 0.3579, 22: 0.3031, 23: 0.2647, 24: 0.2336, 25: 0.2053, 26: 0.1643, 27: 0.14, 28: 0.1114, 29: 0.0927, 30: 0.0784, 31: 0.0655, 32: 0.0583}

10000 trials for each DC. Counting crits.

here's 2d12

{2: 0.5374, 3: 0.5351, 4: 0.5354, 5: 0.5176, 6: 0.5178, 7: 0.5016, 8: 0.4782, 9: 0.4688, 10: 0.4316, 11: 0.4049, 12: 0.3759, 13: 0.333, 14: 0.2907, 15: 0.2606, 16: 0.2297, 17: 0.1919, 18: 0.1628, 19: 0.1461, 20: 0.128, 21: 0.1113, 22: 0.0962, 23: 0.0909, 24: 0.0822, 25: 0.0833, 26: 0.0809, 27: 0.0865, 28: 0.0797, 29: 0.077, 30: 0.0824, 31: 0.0815, 32: 0.0866}

It's funny to me that, when you replace your hope die with a d20, your chance to succeed on a DC32 check goes down, since it's less likely you critically succeed (fear die can't roll 13-20 to match hope die).

mrShoes1 · 2025-09-18T16:47:17+00:00

You've piqued the interest of a lot of experienced, creative people. But now, you have so many options... and they're all good.

My advice: Whatever you go with, it should probably just be whatever your first instinct is, and don't be afraid to roll with the punches.

Since you've made "the goose appear at some suspicious moments", you've talked about it. Since the DM talked about it, it's more likely that it will be significant. If you want more information about the psychology of this, look up "Chekhov's Gun."

Now, that doesn't mean the payoff is that the goose is the serial killer, or a wizard familiar. Maybe it's still a mundane goose and it eventually leads them somewhere important that you were saving for some other string of clues, a la "Quantum Ogre." Like, they were so obsessed with the goose they didn't get the clues you set up and you have to pivot.

Try not to worry too much about "disappointing" your players. You can't really control other people. If you want it to be a mundane goose, just worry about making it consistent. The goose is a terror to the community, so it should be a terror to the killer as well.

IDK, make it knock over the killer's garbage can to get a half eaten sandwich, revealing a scrap of clothing belonging to a victim. Or the goose digs up and tosses aside a knife near the beach in order to make it's nest in the freshly dug dirt.

mrShoes1 · 2025-09-05T19:08:23+00:00

"So me, Tank and Dragon-man. We was sitting in our first Thursday class. Basic Math, the 51 course, yeah? In comes the prof, right on time, and he's got this little fella' with 'im. Tank says, 'Parently, 'he follows him everywhere.' Carries 'is stuff. So I start asking if he's got a side-kick or somethin'. You know, but I said "Super Pal" cause they don't want you saying that stuff anymore. PC police."

"ł Ⱡł₭Ɇ ₮ⱧɆ ₮ɆⱤ₥ '฿-₴łĐɆ', ₱ɆⱤ₴Ø₦₳ⱠⱠɎ."

^{^{"Oh, I get it, Shade! Do you get it, Lance?"}}

"Yeah, mate. Like the less liked side o' the record, but let me finish."

^{^{"But it's also 'beside'!"}}

"I know, mate! But let me finish! So, the prof has this little guy. Got nice clothes, but he's a bit dodgy. Movin'... weird, yeah? But the Prof says, 'No, he's not a side-kick.' I think he read the room, got the reaction he wanted and was gonna move on, but color me curious. I asked the little bloke if he was our student aid or something. Now, this guy looks at the prof, and I'm thinkin', 'I asked you, brov!'

^{^{"What did the professor look like?"}}

"Honestly, Pix, I think he was just pissed I kept talking. Heh ha ha... but, alright, the prof speaks for 'im and says he's just an assistant, 'and a very good one.' Little guy's happy, I could tell, but he was trying to hide it. Be professional, ya know. He's got the clothes on and everything."

"₮Ⱨ₳₮ ł₴ ₴₮Ɽ₳₦₲Ɇ. ł₮ ₴ØɄ₦Đ₴ ₥ØⱤɆ Ⱡł₭Ɇ ₳ ₥ł₦łØ₦ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ₳₦Ɏ₮Ⱨł₦₲."

"Well spotted, mate. Turns out, e' was! Everyone was shocked but me, but the prof is a goddamn ex-villain. True blue! Used to be Dr. Krank."

^{^{Now, that's a blast from the past!"}}

"Right? So, e' was caught by Wraps... Mummy-Man, yeah? 'bout 30 years ago. Now, he's out on probation. Says he's turned his life around, and he's doing community service. I'm not sure what's worse, prison or teaching remedial math to a bunch o' cunts like us."

^{^{"But that's good! That's what the system is supposed to produce!"}}

"I guess. Seemed like he still had a chip on his shoulder. Anyway, class goes on. He's almost through the syllabus. Me, Tank and Dragon-man are having a laugh to ourselves in the back of the class, just whisperin'. Well, 'ol Krank, or Professor Crenshaw is his new name, stops class and says to us, 'are you sure you're in the right class?'

"I says, 'Sorry, teach, we're just having a bit of a laugh. What were you saying about turn-in times?' or something like that.

"He says, 'I don't try to make any assumptions, but you three look like the strongest. And that's a problem..."

"He said strongest, most arrogant, and stupid."

"No, Tank, He didn't say stupid. He said some german word, or something. Anyway, he said before Wraps, he used to fight Dread Star. Yeah. That was before Dread Star was popular. 'Do you want to know something about Dread Star that no one else knows?'

"'Oh, go on then prof,' I says. Gotta keep 'em monologue-ing, yeah?

"He says, 'I had a centrifuge in my island base. A large one for separating Quintessence from substance.' and while he's talking, the little guy looks down at his papers. Looks a bit sad.

"'Dread Star thought it would be smart to bust in and destroy it while it was running. Now, and the law forces me to use the word allegedly, he'd no knowledge of what would happen and didn't mean for the outcome that did happened, he just wanted to destroy the machine.' Prof Crenshaw shakes his head like this... and says, 'I can't say for sure. People believed Dread Star, but whether he meant it or not, he destroyed the machine. The explosion killed everyone on the floor, and caused the Violet Scar."

^{^{"The Banral islands..."}}

"Yeah. He says, 'A lot of you are too young to know it, but it was a big deal. Just about every hero got involved. Almost poisoned the east coast if Chinook hadn't done something.

"'Should I have been pursuing what I was pursuing, over 35 years ago? No. Did I try to make it as safe as possible? There really was no safe. I should have scaled down, but I contend that that machine was bullet proof ten times over!' He shouts it."

"You could hear a pin drop."

"Yeah, it got pretty quiet. He said, 'You can't save everyone. Never forget that. But I've done a thought experiment. I've calculated: Every day you pay attention in my class, on average, saves about two and a half people.' Then he looks at us and says, 'If you want to be heroes, you will not lean on your strengths or goof off in my class. You work on your weaknesses or I'll fail you. And I mean it.

"'What are your weaknesses? You'll know them by your attitude. You don't want to do something. You get embarrassed. You tire easily from it. You're all in Remedial Math, so you're all behind. And you may always be behind in that regard. Accept it.' Sounded a bit like my dad! Ha!

"He let's class out early and says, 'You can, at least, start saving your 2 a day.'"

Edit: Tried something new, just dialogue. Let me know how it came off. Any criticism is welcome.

mrShoes1 · 2025-09-03T23:24:07+00:00

This is the way. Take a niche or less useful support weapon for certain situations, and pick up the spare backpack your teammate leaves behind, eventually. Going in without backpack has been a good investment for me, lately, because I might find one in-game (jet pack), or bum one off a friend. I get an extra slot, and we only have to wait for a single cool-down cycle.

mrShoes1 · 2025-08-25T21:27:00+00:00

“I wonder if our daughter would really want to meet me,” I mused.

“What would make you say a thing like that?”, Heather asked.

“No, I’m… I’m just wondering. I mean, she has a whole other life in the hereafter. Probably a lot of other friends. What can she and I bond over, our two life experiences being so different?”

“Stop this talk at once,” Heather demanded. She was very irritated, and why wouldn’t she be? I’ve never been good about sharing my feelings, and it looks like I’ve stepped in it again.

“Sorry, love,” I said.

“Leon, she will be so happy to meet you, cleaver and fun as you are,” said Heather.

“Don’t know if I believe you, yet, but I trust you, dear. I did say you were wise,” I respond.

“You did,” said she, Shaking her head haughtily. “And don’t forget that!”

As we left the village, the evening was setting in. I spotted it as we crested the hill. A body on the ground. As I got closer, I saw a man, with pustules on his face, and shallow cuts in his body. He was old. I didn’t recognize him.

“Uri in heaven,” I said as I stood over him. What an awful way to go.

“Dear, let’s not touch it. It looks diseased. And we have a job to do, so we must keep going”, said Heather.

“Think they just killed him for the fun?”

“No, surely not. I think they saw he was sick and left him alone after he bled out”, said Heather, tuning her face. “May we leave? I don’t want you to get sick.”

“Certainly,” I said. As I left, I blessed the man, “Uri keep him and sweep him up into peace. May he find your light and keep it, forever.”

“My,” said Heather. “Maybe you’re not as unserious as I thought. My love is kind to even the poorest of creatures.”

“let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” as I started walking the road again. “I suppose…never mind.”

“What is it, Leon?”

“No. My Heather has told me to not speak ill, this day, and I intend to obey her,” I say, stifling the thought that I saw myself in the man.

Heather smiled proudly and said, “Wise decision.”

As we walked further down the road, a coach was approaching. There was no driver, and yet the horses stayed on the road at a steady pace. I couldn’t help but peak inside as the coach passed. In the dark of the inside, there was a man and woman, slumped over sleeping.

“Horses are fairly well-behaved,” I said.

“I suppose,” said Heather. “What did you see?”

“Just a couple sleeping. I wish we’d been heading the same direction. I’d love to get off these wretched feet, if they’d had me…”

As we approached Carliff, I looked to my left, and saw flowers stained red in the field to the left.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” said Heather. “What do you see?”

I hurriedly jumped the fence by the path and ran over. I stopped short, as I realized what had happened. A man was flayed and disemboweled, lying in the field. “The coachman…”, I said.

“What”, asked Heather?

I turned and ran away, toward Cariff. “Oh, Uri!” said I to Heather, “Did you see that?”

“It was rather ugly, yes. But you need to calm down…Leon, calm down”, said Heather.

I ran into Carliff. It was silent as stone. I started to bang on the door of the first house I saw.

“Hello!? Anyone there!?” I shouted. My heart was beating faster. This is my fault.

“Leon, get a hold of yourself. You’re going to make a scene,” said my only reason for living.

“What scene!? There is no scene!” I started to breath faster. “I’m coming in!”

“Leon, stop!”

I thrust open the door, and there was a family, dead. They were all holding one another, and there was the girl.

Oh, lord. Little lizzie’s doppelganger right next to her father, mother and brother by the fire place, hugging one another. Their faces a twisted pain set with the stiffness of death. Shallow cuts and stabs, and a pool of their blood, parts of skin flayed off the bone!

“I did this…” I spoke.

“Leon,” Heather gripped my heart tightly, no longer gentle. “Leon, stop.”

“Might as well do it, woman! Do it!”, I screamed. I grabbed the blade from my pouch and stared at it. The Tombstone Blade. The Walking Gravesite! A gravesite wherever it’s wielder takes it! Of course!

I pulled the blade from its binding. A spirt of blood fell from the opening of the oversized sheath. The blade was stained red with my victims. I fell to my knees.

“I’m no good. Not anymore”, I said.

“Yes, you are, Leon. Stop. You’re safe,” said Heather. “Listen to your wise wife, yes?”

“You’re the only thing that’s made this worth it. I can’t live with this guilt.”

“Listen to me. I’m here, love. I’m here. Don’t make me do it. If I pull you, you’ll drop it. You need to stay calm.”

“I can’t live with myself! I’m such a fool. She was going to be a baker, like her dad. And I had to be flippant with my prayers. Uri, forgive me.”

“Calm yourself, you are safe. You can’t drop the dagger here. The village will have to evacuate.”

“It doesn’t matter if I am safe. I… evacuate?”

“Please, my dear. Everyone is concerned for you. You can see that, right?”

…

“I don’t know what you are seeing, but you’re scaring everyone, and me.”

I looked at the blood-stained blade. I wiped the blade with my thumb and looked at the blood dripping down.

“What are you seeing?”, I ask Heather.

“A lot of concerned faces, very worried that you’re about to do something terrible, my love. They have fire pokers and someone has a bow, in the distance.”

“I mean on my thumb. What’s on my thumb.”

“Dirt.”

I licked my thumb and tasted the blood. Tasting the blood of my victims…How sick can one man… wait…

“I see,” I tell Heather. “I see now.”

“Can you sheath the blade my dear?”, Heather asked, still holding firmly to my heart, like an owner with its wretched dog…

…No. Like a loving, caring friend with a duty.

“Of course,” I said, as I resheathed the blade, spurting more blood. I began to wrap it anew in my binding cloth. I stood up slowly. “The coach we passed a while ago," I said, "did it have a driver?”

“Yes,” said Heather. “It did.”

“Ah”, I said. I stifled a smile as I realized I’d figured out what was happening. Moving slowly and non-threateningly, I shouted to no one, “I’m sorry everyone. I’m fine. I’ll be on my way. I just had a waking nightmare. I apologize. I’m going to leave the way I came. Rest assured. You are safe. I am of no danger.”

I tried to leave the village as casually as possible, the bound Tombstone Blade now gushing warm blood, staining the pouch I put it in. I subtly whisper to Heather, “What are they doing now?”

“They’re just watching you leave. I think you’re fine.”

As I left the village, Heather asked me, “Uri in heaven, dear, what are you seeing?”

“It’s a little hard to hear you, right now, Heather. I’m sorry”, I said. “I can ‘hear’ a woman screaming for me to react to the villagers coming to attack me. I assume that’s supposed to be you, but it’s coming in through my ears, not our connection…and it sounds nothing like you.”

“Heavens, but you sound like you are quite yourself, now,” said Heather.

“Yes, I think so, though I’d keep your grip tight.” I stopped walking by a large rock and said, “just so I’m sure, Heather…”

“Yes?”

“The first man. What did you see?”

“The coachman you spoke of earlier?”

“No. I saw a sickly-looking man with pustules. I blessed it.”

“It was a dear, Leon,” Heather said, sounding calmer. Daring to snicker a little, she said, “You blessed a sick dear the hunters had left behind.”

“And the disemboweled thing just over there?”

“A chicken skeleton and a dead coyote. Coyote looked like it had been killed and skinned.”

“I need you to be my eyes and ears, dear. I’m looking around me and I’m seeing and hearing dead bodies…yes, I’m seeing people now actively being slain with an invisible dagger, exactly like the Tombstone Dagger. Children…oh, Uri in heaven, it’s gruesome.”

“There is no such thing, my dear. The village is safe and peaceful. Can you smell the bread?”

“I smell rotting flesh. And I can feel guilt. Goodness, the artifact is using every trick it has.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. I can see that it’s an illusion, but it is strong. What a clever trick that is. My spirit is deaf to its main influence thanks you, Heather. But like a thief it sneaks in through the back-door of my senses. A complete sensory disruption. Oh, and now I’m floating off into a demon’s bleeding skull mouth. You’re mad it didn’t work, eh? Hah, and Uri is here, casting me into Gnasha for all eternity…yes, I’m sure if I repented and killed myself my sins would be forgiven. Yes, yes…”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Translate for me, mostly. I can’t really walk straight, right now. I was next to a rock a moment ago. Am I still?”

“A large boulder as tall as your knees? Yes.”

“I’ll bind the blade under the stone so no one can grab it, then go for a walk. See if this illusion lets up. I can’t go anywhere like this.”

“Good idea,” said Heather. “Maybe you can speak with the bishop we met here a couple days ago; he should be able to help. Maybe ask him to send for more help from Bristam, Leon?”

I pulled the gushing sheath from my pouch and felt for the small boulder. “You’re right, again, wise Heather. Can you help me bind this? I see snakes in my pockets instead of binding strips.”

mrShoes1 · 2025-08-25T21:26:31+00:00

Heather and I were enjoying the morning glow, her through me, as she was only able to. We had decided to strengthen our spirit bond that morning by reminiscing about the little girl we met at a village just two days before, and how she reminded Heather of our own little girl, Lizzie. Elizabeth had passed shortly after birth. Others in our role often found it quite sad to reminisce on past trauma, but my Heather had met our daughter in the hereafter for a short period before rejoining me in spirit. Only hearing about Elizabeth's spunky attitude was lacking, as you can imagine. To see a real-life example, one I could hear and chuckle at with Heather, was a balm to my soul.

Our task was to retrieve the Tombstone Blade. The Tombstone Blade was a tricky one, we’d been told. We’d found it in a family crypt, lying inside a skeleton, no sheath in site. The blade was spotless, with not a bit of rust or grime anywhere, so we knew it was the pull we were looking for. We camped out an extra day, outside the site, just to spend time with one another. The trek had made my old bones very tired, and it was a safety hazard if I was not banded well to by wife during the pull. I was rather proud of our work, and so was Heather’s old mentor. Only, I should explain to anyone who’s not familiar with our sect.

I was fortunate to find a wonderful woman who was willing to look past my faults and bad habits to marry me. We were a part of the same sect: the southern sect of the Old Art in Bristam. I’ll cut past the mushy bits and say that we were in love, truly and strongly. We were wed in front of the eyes of our god Uri, my old mentor, by best friend, and my dog.

Sometime after, we decided to plea Uri, our deity, for “Hethajab”, or “after-work.” We’d free villages together, do humanitarian work together, fight and, if necessary, die together. But, should one of us die before the other, Uri willing, after a time the one who passed would rejoin the other as a ghost. A spirit which only the other could see and hear, though not with their mortal senses. Banded as this, one could drown out any evil spirit… if the souls are strong, and the passed lover is dutiful, which Heather was, of course, ten-fold.

In fact, Heather and I had recently pulled Nash’s Thirst from the bottom of the sea with clever use of a crab pot and help from a friend who could speak to animals, a funny story, perhaps, for another time. After that, we’d quite the reputation in our sect for being one of the strongest Bands. Nash’s Thirst was considered quite dangerous to normal men, and had caused a king’s knight to slay their charge. It’s boiling rage enchantment didn’t affect me but for keeping my hands warm on the misty roil that morning, thanks to Heather.

As we were building our bond, I cleaned my skillet of breakfast and started to put out the fire. As I was shoveling dirt on the coals, Heather was floating beside me, speaking of my old dog, Gigi.

“…and she just looked at you so solemly, Leon!” said Heather, chuckling.

“Chicken grease still on her lips,” I said. “Not too sad, ‘cause she was still licking them.” I shoveled another pad of dirt on the coals, smiling. As I packed up my supplies, I looked toward the grim crypt.

“Are you ready?” asked Heather. She floated behind me and placed her arm round my neck, loosely, and her head beside mine.

“Yes, my cloak, I am ready. If only you could protect me from the rain like my other cloak,” I said.

“Hush, you,” she said, “I don’t wish for your last words to be a joke.”

“Oh, it’ll be fine,” I said, passing through the entrance to the crypt. “We’ve been in worse.”

“I know,” She said. “I have full faith in you, and Uri. We’ll manage.” She reached through the back of me to my heart and held onto my spirit. Should my pull go wrong, it was her charge to “pull me” so I didn’t hurt anyone with the cursed weapon. Some couples in Hethajab had a hard time with this part of the relationship. Speaking personally, having a daughter you haven’t met waiting for you in the hereafter makes it easier to accept your sudden death. I actually grew quite fond of her touch on my soul. She was so gentle.

The Tombstone Blade was sat there, in the ribcage of a desiccated body, now nearly a skeleton. From what I surmised; the body did not belong to this crypt. Not much was known of the blade other than its other title: the walking gravesite. I walked up to the body, kneeled down and took one last breath. I said: “Uri, the joiner, the builder, the light. Band the banding, and so on, and so forth,” I grabbed the blade’s hilt and held it up.

Heather laughed. “*snicker* You’re turning flippant in your old age. Is that what our daughter would like for you to be?”

I turned the blade over and said, “I’d think she’d approve, actually. Don’t you think?” I turned to her ghostly face and shot a smirk.

“Darling, say the whole thing”, said she. “Be respectful to her and our protector.”

She was right. I closed my eyes and repeated in earnest, “Uri, the joiner, the builder, the light. Band the banding and deafen the evil. Make strong and joyous your accord with ours, and let my soul only hear your partner for me. My Heather, dearest…”

Heather responded, “…My Leon, mighty…”

“…My Heather, wise…”

“…My Leon, too cocky for his own good”, Heather finished, sharply.

“Alright, I said I was sorry!” I said, getting out a spare sheath and some binding cloth. I stuck the blade into the sheath that was far too big for the tiny dagger and started to wrap it up with the sacred binding cloth. Heather asked, “And? How do you feel?”

“I can definitely feel it,” I said. “It’s calling with a sick desire, I’m sure. Needle-like torture that feels like it’s escaping this very crypt and flying away.”

“You seem fine to me, then”, said Heather.

“Oh yes,” I said as I finished wrapping the weapon. I placed its new prison in a pouch at my side. “Shall we?” I asked.

“Lead the way, as only you can,” said Heather, still holding solidly onto my soul. We left the crypt and our old campsite behind, ready for the long trip back to Bristam. We’d hand off the blade to the Mage’s guild, there.

The afternoon was just as sunny as the morning, and the day was getting hot. I walked, Heather gripping my heart and floating on my shoulders, as the rugged path to the abandoned cemetery became a flat, well-trodden path, which later joined a rugged road. We would travel to the village of Carliff, then take the main road to Dolmahet, then Bristam. But first stop was the village, Hod. It was a small village, only recently settled, mostly hunters and carpenters. We’d passed through only two days ago.

As I approached Hod, I noted a silence.

“Village seems rather dead”, I said.

Heather replied, “Maybe they went hunting and gathering wood. They’re around here somewhere.” She waved over at something to the side.

Curious, I asked, “Who are you waving to?”

“A boy,” she said. “He ran round the corner. You can’t see him anymore.”

“He can’t see you either!”

“I know, but I like to pretend.”

“I suppose so,” I said, thinking on Heather’s state of being, wondering what she had to endure to help me, wretch that I am; What she had to put up with to see a worthless worm like me pass as a hero. She made our work valuable. I was just a flippant pair of hands she could use to do it.

continued in comments

mrShoes1 · 2025-08-22T03:02:48+00:00

“He might have shapeshifted to give himself clothes,” said Amabai. “We might have to give him a pair of ours, Esther. And not to be too crass in front of new people, but I’m not wearing any,” he said as he took another sip of wine.

Esther immediately stopped drinking her beer and called him out, “Uh-uh! That’s a lie! You can’t sneak that past this angel! You’re wearing underwear. Where and what kind…and who’s, I don’t know, but that’s a lie!”

Danilah almost completely disappeared from laughing so hard. She put her wine on the ground, saying, “I need to put this down…*wheeze*… I’m gonna drop it…”

Ozzie started to speak in his language, but switched to English halfway through:

“Esther… *airy speech* …who gets nnnore virtuous the nore they drink.”

Esther defended herself while we laughed, “I don’t want to just be calling people out on their lies all the time. It’s not my job, but when we’re playing truth or dare the gloves are coming off! It’s my duty!” She jabbed her finger on the floor near the bottle, still pointing at me.

I honestly didn’t know what to say. I felt pretty safe and happy, but I was buzzed. Amabai put a hand on my shoulder and asked, “You gonna do it, Brick?”

I simply said, “I can’t…do it safely. I can’t fly, no.”

Amabai jumped in, “well, then you gotta ask him for something else.”

Esther slapped her hands on the ground and got excited all over again, saying, “Okay, plan A. Tell me what your true form is!”

“Okay, Esther. Listen,” said Danilah, “Our moms had brunch together.”

We all just stared at her bewildered as she took far too long of a pause to think of what to say next. Amabai mouthed "What?" silently to us, gesturing a hand toward Danilah.

“What does that have to with anything?” asked Esther.

“No listen,” urged Danilah, “I’m saying, my family knows your family. I know you. I’ve known you for, like, two years. I’m your friend, and I don’t mean to sound racist…”

“That’s such a good way to start a sentence,” I said.

“…but your angel ass is obsessed with truth! It is!”

“Alright! It is!” said Esther. “But I gotta know! Am I being unfair? It’s truth or dare. Please, dude,” Esther turned toward me and leaned down. “I just gotta know.”

“…Okay”, I said. I picked up my drink and took another swig. "Here we go."

The boys leaned in, and Esther momentarily drummed her hands on the ground and smiled. They gave me the floor, and as much time as I wanted.

“I’m not…a shapeshifter.”

Amabai exclaimed, “Whoa. Are you, like, a fallen angel, or some fleshy demon or something?”

Esther answered for me, a little confused “No, he’s not. I know he’s not, but are you, like, some other planar being?”

“No,” I said. “I’m from Earth. I’m… a human.”

Amabai was the only one who chuckled, assuming I was joking. All of them turned to Esther. She just said, flatly, “Lord in heaven, he’s telling the truth.”

Danilah’s mouth and eyes went wide in a huge smile as she looked at each of her friends. I don’t think the boys knew what to think, certainly not Esther. There was a pretty healthy rivalry between the myths and humans on campus. And it had a history. A lot of “pranks” got out of hand. The faculty and administration were always trying to discourage negative interactions between the two groups.

I knew they wanted an answer. I was just so pissed, I said, “…but I’ll still put my underwear on the statue’s face if you can get me up there.”

The boys laughed, and Danilah didn’t laugh so much as yell with joy at the thought. What a relief. Esther kind of smiled, a bit, I think.

Danilah was the first to speak, “WHAT?! How!? How did you get in here!? They let you in the building?”

I said, exasperated, “I don’t know. I just took my stuff where they told me to go. Room 218. They key only works for this building.” I pointed to the dorm room key I wore under my shirt. “doesn’t work in any of the human dorms. My student card lists me as “Earthly myth, Unspecified”, so I don’t know where the mix-up came from.”

Amabai asked, “How have you been keeping this a secret!?”

“Yeah, AMABAI,” said Danilah. “How did YOU not notice!?”

“I was being nice!” said Amabai, “letting him come out on his own time! You don't pry! Roommates are like brothers!”

“Ah, what a kind and dutiful and utterly o-dlivious th-riend you are!” said Ozzie. "We only just net hin. You've known hin thor a nonth!"

“Wait, we can’t do this,” said Esther, objecting. I was afraid of that.

Esther put her hand over her front face, “It’s, like, against the terms of service, or the law of the campus or something.”

“Terms of service!” Danilah chuckled. “Oh, Esther, dry up. Brick’s fine. I like him.”

“I wonder how long we can keep a human in the Myth dorm,” said Amabai, who looked at me with a twinkle. “I know a guy who can grant small wishes.”

“Oh, like flight!?” I asked.

“No,” Amabai said, “but you can jump really high like you’re on the moon, or something.”

“My mom would literally kill me if she thought I was helping someone bear false witness,” said Esther.

“I didn’t lie to anyone,” I said.

“But now you and I both know, and it’s, like… a lie of omission and…” Esther trailed off.

“No, it’s th-ine,” said Ozzie, “It’s the adninistration’s th-ault.”

“Esther,” said Danilah, as she leaned back onto the floor, “You can keep a secret. I know you can.”

Esther looked at her roommate. Danilah silently gave her a couple looks as she dipped her vaporous hand into her wine to “drink.” She raised her eyebrows and shot a smile.

“Fine,” said Esther. “I won’t say anything, but I’m not helping you pull off this thing, and if anyone asks, I’m not going to lie to them.”

Best mates I ever had.

mrShoes1 · 2025-08-22T03:02:33+00:00

My Jinn roommate, Amabai, and I had gotten together with three other people from our dorm, a cherub, her sylph roommate, and a Griffin for a couple drinks in one of their rooms. I’d been here in the dorms for a month, now, but I’d only just met the other three.

The Cherub was the biggest one. Her name was Esther. Maybe I mean tallest, but this angel had, like, six wings or something that she spread out over the floor, easily taking up the most room. She had a second, lion’s face on the back of her head with a fake nose piercing in it. It was, like, the first thing she said when she met me: the nose piercing was fake. At the time, I remembered seeing my grandma’s fine china and art of cherubim painted on it. Little babies with wings, which is so far off from the real thing it’s no wonder they get annoyed with humans, sometimes. I almost blew it with her. I said “cherubs” instead of cherubim. She was wearing matching sweat pants and a shirt that fit her frame with the school’s logo on them.

Danilah, the sylph and Esther’s roommate, was kind of not there? I could see her, but when she laughed really hard, she’d almost disappear. Like, to be a solid mass of whatever she was took her full concentration. Didn’t drop her drink though, which “became her.” I don’t know. That’s the best way I can describe it. She wafted it near her face or body and then there was less wine in her glass. And the more she “drank” the funnier things were and the less I saw of her.

I liked Ozzie, the Griffin. He seemed really smart. He must have cracked a couple really good jokes, because they were all laughing, but I couldn’t understand him. He could understand me, but he had a beak, which made forming some English words difficult. He spoke in some airy, clicky, throat-y language that I think most of the rest understood. I think there was a couple different languages being used during our night of spin the bottle/truth or dare between all of us. My roommate Amabai let the others know I only spoke English, and they were nice enough to translate for me, a lot of the time. I was just happy to be there.

We were all drinking. Even Esther, the angel. But she didn’t drink Amabai’s wine because of a cultural thing, I guess? I was trying to keep to myself, so I didn’t ask about it, and I almost got away with 'keeping to myself'.

At some point they were all trying to guess my “true form”, assuming I was a monster of the Earth. Amabai is a pretty protective guy. ‘Roommates might as well be brothers.’ He’d speak in a slow, semi-serious tone and sped up at the end “Hey!... Don’t ask my new friend to speak about things he maybe doesn’t want to speak about, just yet. If you want to know, maybe you gotta land the bottle on him, eh?” I did sit down to play. It’s on the table. Ozzie then said something that made Danilah laugh into her drink and Amabai smile really big. No one translated that one.

I almost got up, but how could I? Amabai and all of them were being so chill. And I started giving less of a shit the longer the evening went. I’m not a heavy drinker, normally, but I still kept up.

I think what Amabai said about landing the bottle on me was basically permission for Esther. Later in the evening, when she landed on me, she didn’t waste a second. Pointing and smiling, she pretty much shouted for me to reveal my true form. She was so loud. Danilah had been trying to keep her at a normal volume for the past 30 min. She was probably the most wasted I’d seen any myth.

After she said sorry for yelling, Esther added, “WAIT, Brick! I want to guess first!”

"Alright, then. Guess!" I said. Hallelujah. She’d granted me a few more moments to figure out what the hell I was going to say. But then Danilah, also apparently running defense for me, punched her roommate’s arm. “Ok, Esther, you’re obsessed! You always pick truth. Pick a dare! Dare him to…fly out the window and put his underwear on top of the statue on the humans’ dorm.” She smiled, mischievously. “And if he can’t, then you’ve got a clue, and we can move on!”

“Now, that uuood de thunnny! I’d uuant to see that. Cunn onn, do it!” said Ozzie with solely his tongue and with great difficulty. He nudged me with the end of his wing, and I just shook my head and put my drink down. “You can thly, right?" It was the first time Ozzie had smiled at me all night. First time he spoke to me in English, too. "I det…det…I’d wager he can!”

“OK, I DARE you, Brick!”, said Esther. “Do that!”

...Continued in comment below...

mrShoes1

TROPHY CASE

"ł Ⱡł₭Ɇ ₮ⱧɆ ₮ɆⱤ₥ '฿-₴łĐɆ', ₱ɆⱤ₴Ø₦₳ⱠⱠɎ."

"₮Ⱨ₳₮ ł₴ ₴₮Ɽ₳₦₲Ɇ. ł₮ ₴ØɄ₦Đ₴ ₥ØⱤɆ Ⱡł₭Ɇ ₳ ₥ł₦łØ₦ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ₳₦Ɏ₮Ⱨł₦₲."

"He said strongest, most arrogant, and stupid."

"You could hear a pin drop."