Adventurers Wanted

fter a few days at Separation Point, reliving old times with your friends and mulling over the mysterious message from "LC", it's finally time to move on, but not before one more night with your companions. On this last evening, you huddle together around a campfire and talk about the future. Of all the turning points in your life, this one feels the most palpable. You and your companions raise mugs one last time, promise to keep in touch, and toast to future accomplishments. Finally, with the fire reduced to embers, you part ways for the last time.

Alexle rouses you the next morning, and you wake to find that the T-1 is already carrying your pack on its back and is ready to depart. You get dressed and step outside into the brisk morning air. When you get to the road, you look down its length and see that it continues over the horizon. You smile at the thought of an unknown future ready to be discovered. "What was meant by the gesture you shared with your friends last night?" Alexle asks, surprising you. "Which gesture?" "When you all raised your mugs and touched them to each other," Alexle clarifies. "That's called a toast," you explain. "Humans do that to honor…things." "Things?"

You think about the best way to explain to a machine before answering. "Things like moments in time, events that have special meaning. Toasts can be for the future as well, like our hopes for good outcomes in life." Alexle is quiet for a long time while it processes this information. "Thank you, Enchanter," Alexle finally says. "I am learning a lot from you." After a couple of days, you come across a small group of rough-looking people who have set up a small camp near the road. You decide it's best to avoid them, and you direct the T-1 to cut through the forest. Unfortunately, one of the people at the camp notices you. "Hey there!" the woman calls. "Are you a wizard?" Some men in her group stand up and eye you. It doesn't seem likely that you would survive a fight with them.

"I'm an Enchanter!" you yell back. "Excellent! Why don't you come over and warm yourself by our fire?" While the woman isn't being aggressive, she doesn't really sound like she's asking. You decide it's best to comply for now. You and the T-1 enter the woman's camp, and her people give you space to sit. You notice that the area is littered with adventurer gear – mostly items magic-users would use, like wands and staves. The woman notices the concern on your face. "Don't worry; we don't want anything from you," she says. "As you can see, we have all the treasure we need." "Then what is it you want?" you ask.

"My name is Sasha," the woman says. "My party of adventurers explores dungeons and tombs in search of valuables. We used to have a wizard traveling with us." Sasha looks away for a moment before continuing. "He was my husband. He died in the tomb located in the center of the forest behind us." "How does that concern me?" you ask. "In the center of the tomb is a sphinx that legend says asks an unsolvable riddle. The idea of a riddle that couldn't be solved is what drew my husband here. He was sure he could solve it and unlock the sphinx' treasure." Sasha pauses again. "Unfortunately, the tomb killed him." "I'm sorry," you say.

The T-1 studies you then turns to Sasha. "I'm sorry as well," Alexle says. "It's OK," Sasha replies. "It's been some time since he passed. I only share my story with you now, because I understand that Enchanters like you are very good at solving puzzles. And it would bring me some peace if the riddle were solved. But it's also very dangerous, and the decision has to be yours alone." The idea of solving a puzzle no one else has solved intrigues you, but you need more information before you agree to help. "If I'm going to help you, then I need to know how the tomb kills."

"As soon as the sphinx speaks the riddle, the entrance begins to close, and poison gas fills the tomb. My party barely got out in time, but my husband wasn't quick enough." "If the traps have already been spring, then how do I get inside with the entrance closed?" "The tomb resets every few days." Your eyes narrow as you realize where all the gear surrounding you came from. "And you and your party go back in and loot the dead magic-users who failed."

Sasha stands. She looks insulted. "We told them exactly what we told you. We didn't trick them or force them to try. But we also aren't going to just leave them in the tomb to rot. If you want to help me, then help. If you don't think you're smart enough to solve the riddle, then that's fine, too." She sits back down. You look back at the open road. It seems endless. And being the one to solve the unsolvable would set you apart from all other magic-users at university. You decide that the road will still be there in a few days when you get back, and you head into the forest to seek this tomb.

fter a few days at Separation Point, reliving old times with your friends and hoping your new subscriber "T" is enjoying your content, it's finally time to move on, but not before one more night with your companions. On this last evening, you huddle together around a campfire and talk about the future. Of all the turning points in your life, this one feels the most palpable. You and your companions raise mugs one last time, promise to keep in touch, and toast to future accomplishments. Finally, with the fire reduced to embers, you part ways for the last time.

"Good morning, Gadgeteer," Sirixtana announces from your wrist. You groan and stir. "Before you hit snooze again, it's my duty to inform you that you've been sleeping for 5 hours and your sleep efficiency is 87%." You sit up in a mild panic; you realize that you need to make content. You wipe the sleep out of your eyes and fix your hair in a nearby mirror, then grab your Pocket Palantír. "Sirixtana, open up an etherstream," you command. Then, holding your Pocket Palantír over your head, you lay back down and pretend to sleep. As soon as you can hear enough people in your etherstream, you pretend to wake up and feign surprise at seeing all of your viewers.

"Hey guys," you say casually, stretching in your king-size bed. "I just woke up in my super awesome bed and breakfast and I'm about to start my day." You pan the room with your Pocket Palantír. "I'm going to get ready, get a bite to eat, and then hit the road. But, I'll make sure to host a couple of etherstreams while I'm traveling, so stay tuned. If you like this content, then make sure to give me a thumbs up and join my mailing list." For a few minutes, you watch as people in your etherstream extend their fists to you and raise their thumbs in approval.

Then you end the etherstream and go about your day. After documenting your meal and trying a few food challenges, Sirixtana hurries you along. "Gadgeteer, we have to leave now if you want to stay on schedule." You agree, capture last minute content of Separation Point, and begin your long hike to university. Hours fall off the clock and you pass the time by having Sirixtana report on things like the weather, your heartrate, the number of steps you've taken, and other amusing facts. On a whim, you ask about your subscriber growth.

"According to the mail coming in," Sirixtana calculates, "you have been fluctuating between plus or minus 10 subscribers." "I'm plateauing," you mumble to yourself. "What about Neph? Can you look into her subscriber count?" Sirixtana replies after a moment, "She is gaining roughly 100 subscribers every hour." The news stops you in your tracks. "What?! How is that possible?" You pull out your Pocket Palantír and search for Neph's etherstream. She's currently hosting one, so you join it. You find yourself looking into a home kitchen. It's probably Neph's parents' house. There's a small crate sitting on the kitchen table. Neph walks into view and stares into the etherstream. She's about to say something when she sees you and grins. Then she begins.

"Hey guys! I just bought this box off the Forbidden Market on the interverse. I have no idea what's inside!" She pries open the lid and reacts to the smell. "Oh my god! It smells like sulfur. Guys, I'm really scared!" Neph reaches inside the box and produces a kitchen knife. She handles it gingerly and presents it to the etherstream. "Guys! There's a knife. Do you think this was used in some kind of human sacrifice?" She stares wide-eyed at it, and you can hear the chatter gasp in horror. You look at the knife rack on the counter behind Neph and notice one of the kitchen knives is missing.

Neph pulls out a salt and pepper shaker from the crate. "What demons do you think were summoned using these reagents?" she asks the chatter. You shake your head and leave the etherstream. "I can't believe people actually like that content," you mutter through gritted teeth. "I need to create a new series." "Like what?" Sirixtana asks. Your mind races with ideas. "Maybe I could do extreme food challenges, like how many dragon eggs can I eat before the dragon comes back to the nest? Or maybe I could pretend to steal something right in front of a city guard and have them chase me around?" "That sounds dangerous," Sirixtana says.

"That's the point! I could call the new show 'Extreme Etherstreams'." Your eyes light up when you settle on a better name, "EtherXstreams!" "Gadgeteer, I don't want you getting hurt." Sirixtana vibrates on your wrist. In all the years you've been etherstreaming, you've never actually heard anyone say that to you before. It's usually the opposite, with the chatter telling you to put something in your mouth, put your hand in something, or put something on your face. For a moment, you consider Sirixtana's words but then shake your head. "Sorry Sirixtana. I need the views." Sirixtana goes still on your wrist. "Find me the most extreme location that's on the way. I want to etherstream from there." After a moment, Sirixtana complies dutifully. "I've found a location in this direction."

fter a few days at Separation Point, reliving old times with your friends and mulling over the mysterious message from "MT", it's finally time to move on, but not before one more night with your companions. On this last evening, you huddle together around a campfire and talk about the future. Of all the turning points in your life, this one feels the most palpable. You and your companions raise mugs one last time, promise to keep in touch, and toast to future accomplishments. Finally, with the fire reduced to embers, you part ways for the last time.

You wake up early, pack your things, and take to the open road, ready to explore this next chapter of your life. The sun is just barely cresting the horizon, and it warms your face as you walk. You can tell that Blade is happy to be traveling again. "I hate being idle," Blade says. "It's the active player that usually wins." After a few paces in silence, you realize that Blade has a lot of wisdom to share regarding combat. For the rest of the day, you and Blade exchange strategies for various scenarios in different competitions. Impressively, the conversation continues over the next few days. For every strategy Blade shares you have a counter for it, and vice versa. You stump each other more than once, but you also sense respect brewing between the two of you.

A tense debate over fighting stance is interrupted when you see a traveling fair up ahead. You're not sure if you should take a detour or not, but then Blade makes up your mind. "Ooh, ooh! Let's go! I'm sure there will be some casual games where I can prove my point!" You agree and head into the fair. You walk amongst the tents where various barkers beckon you to try your luck at their specific game. In one tent, fairgoers swing giant mallets to smash and crush as many pieces of candy within a time limit. In another tent, contestants use slingshots to launch birds at a small structure to try and knock it down. After every attempt, the attendant reaches into a birdcage to grab the next projectile. The birds peck at his hand angrily.

"You there," a voice calls, "Blademaster!" You turn to see a slight figure dressed in black clothing from head to toe so that only his eyes can be seen. When he speaks, his voice reminds you of your mentor, Master Gosu. The man beckons you forward to the platform he's standing on in the middle of the fair. "I see you carry a sword. Perhaps you would like to test your skill here." Blade vibrates at your hip, and you grab the hilt tightly. "Sure," you say to the man in black, and you ascend to the top of the platform. The man directs you to stand facing a backdrop of wooden planks. Then he produces a basket of fruit from behind the stage. "Draw your blade," he commands. As soon as you do, the man throws fruit at you. You slice it deftly.

He throws more fruit at you. Again, slicing them in half proves an easy challenge. Then he throws even more fruit, two at a time, then three at a time. Occasionally, the man mixes a bomb into the barrage of fruit. When you accidentally slice it, white powder explodes in your face. You vow not to make that mistake again. Soon, your ability draws a crowd of curious onlookers. They cheer as your slices send halves of fruit into the audience who throw money onto the stage in turn. Sensing an opportunity, the man in black yells out, "This Blademaster is unstoppable! Is there no one who can challenge this skill?"

"I can!" a voice shouts in response. Before turning to see who it is, you already know by the voice. Johnny Rolento wades through the parting crowd to stand next to you on the stage. As soon as he's there, the man in black begins tossing fruit at both of you. "Who will win?" the man in black shouts at the crowd. "The Blademaster or the challenger?" The crowd throws money equally at your feet and Johnny's. Both of you swing your weapons at the incoming food, round after round. Fruit and money begin to pile around you as your clothes become sticky with sweat. How can the man in black have so much fruit?

Suddenly, you and Johnny find yourselves swinging blindly at thin air. The fruit stops flying and the crowd gasps. You and Johnny look at each other, dazed, then at the man in black. His basket is empty. He looks at the crowd, unsure, and the crowd looks back expectantly. "It's…a draw!" the man in black announces hesitantly. The audience boos and begins pelting the man with fruit halves. In a panic, the man in black produces a glass ball, throws it to the ground, and disappears in a cloud of smoke. The money on the stage disappears with him. You catch your breath, exhausted from the effort, and watch the crowd disperse.

You hear Johnny sigh in disappointment, and you turn to him. "This isn't over," he says, pointing at you. "I know I'm better than you, and I'm going to prove it." He storms off. Blade vibrates in your hand. You look down and see Blade soaked in citrus juices. "Can you wipe me off now?" Blade pleads. "I'm filthy after playing these casual games."

fter a few days at Separation Point, reliving old times with your friends and mulling over the mysterious message from "T", it's finally time to move on, but not before one more night with your companions. On this last evening, you huddle together around a campfire and talk about the future. Of all the turning points in your life, this one feels the most palpable. You and your companions raise mugs one last time, promise to keep in touch, and toast to future accomplishments.

Finally, with the fire reduced to embers, you part ways for the last time. The next morning, you wake up before sunrise, just like you've done almost every day of your life back in the slums. Back there, you had to be early to beat others for jobs, handouts, and trades. You didn't get much sleep, but at least you and your family had something to eat by the end of the day. You step out into the chilly pre-dawn morning and make your way to the public notices board in the center of the small village. With every step you take, you walk into small clouds of your own breath.

"Would you like me to warm the suit?" Bioze asks. "No, save your energy," you reply. "I'm used to being cold." You scan the notices for any villagers or merchants giving away or selling anything that could be used for school. Your eyes dart around the board, and you make a mental list of who is selling what and where they'll be when, so you can schedule your travels accordingly. If you're able to take advantage of every discount on the board, then you'll have just enough money left over for something frivolous.

You perform one more quick scan and notice a merchant in a remote location by the sea is selling a giant foam finger in your school's colors. You smirk and add it to the list as a nice-to-have if there's time. "Hello, early bird," a voice says from behind you. You turn and see the red-headed girl who beat you to the necklace and the bookshop standing on the balcony of a hotel.

"Are you following me?" you ask. The woman taps her eyepatch. "I'm always keeping an eye out for you." She smiles. Her hand appears briefly from the depths of her cloak to smooth back her crimson hair. "Who are you, and what do you want?" "I'm like you," she says, "a rogue. Except I'm better in every way. There is no treasure that I can't snipe, and there is no merchant I can't get to first. In fact, no one can beat my speed.

My friends call me 'Eye'." "Eye?" you ask incredulously. "That's Ms. Eye to you. And this—" she says, undoing her cloak so that it falls off her shoulders to reveal her augmentation suit underneath, "—is Afterburner." Eye's suit is crimson and white with clear piping sewn into the sleeves and pant legs. Red blips of energy flash rhythmically across the piping, reminding you of a heartbeat. The suit hugs Eye's body, making her absolutely aerodynamic. She flexes, and the piping glows bright red momentarily, dazzling your eyes in the dim light.

"Afterburner is an advanced model," Bioze informs you, "and can reach higher over-voltages in normal conditions. We would lose a fair race 100% of the time." Even though you're very impressed, you make an unimpressed face at Eye. "Nice suit," you remark. "If you can afford something like that, then why chase deals and hunt down bargains? Are you bored?" In an unguarded moment, Eye rests her elbows on the balcony railing and slumps her shoulders.

"Frankly, yes, I'm bored." She drops her face into one of her hands and looks off into the distance. "When you're as rich as my family, there are no challenges. I can have anything. I hate that life is so…predictable." She taps her fingers on the railing absentmindedly. "But as a rogue, there are people like you to challenge me!" "Not much of a challenge when you have a suit like that!" you counter. "You're right. The only thing I hate more than predictability is losing." She laughs arrogantly.

"I need these supplies for school," you say. "I know you do," Eye replies. "That's what makes beating you to them so delicious!" "This isn't a game." "It is to me." The jovial tone drains from Eye's demeanor. "And I play to win." She slicks her hair back once more before turning and going back inside. You grind your teeth, pick up your pack, and head for the road.