[4/4] Worker 2023/03/15(Wed)02:10 No. 1058635 ID: 92e4c4
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"Riede, now's probably the best time to ask: What spells do you have?"

She looks thoughtfully at her own wand, a standard grade HELCASTER, "INFERNITI, an ignition spell, ELECTIS, a taze spell, and PARASYS, a limb binding spell. The usual cop suite."

"Igniting things is a cop spell?"

"Well, except for that one. That was my beginner spell."

Right. Well, looks like that should be everything here. We could hit the study or decide to defy fate and deviate from the map if we're feeling lucky.

>_

Well, time to go to visit the study.
Also ask Riede how nulling grenades work exactly, because if it messes with the mana itself then that gives me an idea for a really funny prank involving those black hole mana batteries.

>>1058635
Go to study.

[1/2] Worker 2023/03/16(Thu)04:24 No. 1058699 ID: 33c6d9
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We begin the trek to the study, which is supposedly a floor above us.

"Say Riede, how do nulling grenades work?"

"They cause the mana in the nearby area to scramble, destroying magical constructs and causing spells to fail. It usually causes magitech machines to blow up due to the mana batteries inside them. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason."

[2/2] Worker 2023/03/16(Thu)04:24 No. 1058701 ID: 33c6d9
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The walk over there is uneventful, but it appears that there's someone outside the study already. We're gonna need to finesse our way pass them to get in it seems.

We stop just along the edge of the corner. The person in question is deeply into a... cooking book?

If we try speaking to them, it'll be up in the air if they'll see through our bluff, and judging by their get up they seem to be ready for a tussle. Alternatively if we could figure out how to sneak past them that would also work until we need to leave the room.

>_

Set them on fire and knock them out while they're extinguishing themselves.

>>1058701
Walk up and pretend you are interested deeply in the delicious pie they are clearly considering making; then pull their hat over their eyes and punch their lights out! Our sidekick can kick up while they’re down.

Hmm, a large hat...
Smells like an archmage. Which means trying to assault them with magic would likely fail. Use a nulling grenade and then assault.

[1/4] Worker 2023/03/18(Sat)08:07 No. 1058960 ID: 1f325d
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The hat doesn't look big enough to be an archmage hat. Maybe we could just do this the old fashioned way.

[2/4] Worker 2023/03/18(Sat)08:07 No. 1058961 ID: 1f325d
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I stride just to the right of the reading wizard, with Riede still on the other side hiding behind the corner.

"Hey! Just noticed the book you're reading. I don't do a lot of cooking since most of my meals come from the vending machines, are you thinking of making a pie?"

The guard's hat tips upward, but I still can't see his face, "Oh. Yeah! I've been thinking of making some blueberry pie for the post explosion party. Gonna have to pick up the ingredients beforehand since, you know, the planet's gonna be gone soon."

He pauses, "By the way, who ar-"

[3/4] Worker 2023/03/18(Sat)08:07 No. 1058962 ID: 1f325d
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He yelps as his tail spontaneously catches fire, leaving his face open for a solid thwack. He crumples to the ground like a sack of potatoes, leaving us to our prize.

[4/4] Worker 2023/03/18(Sat)08:07 No. 1058963 ID: 1f325d
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Alright that is way too many books. We are only gonna pick one section to go through because otherwise we'll be stuck here until the nuke goes off.

>1
>2
>3
>4
>_

My senses are at a loss.

There's some skulls at #1, so perhaps magic related to killing stuff, offense.
#2 has a snow globe, ice, perhaps defensive spells.
At #3 there's some plants, maybe nature or healing.
The last one, #4, seems to be only books, but it's got the highest amount of books.

I'd go with #4 because, well, I don't particularly care what spells we learn as long as the variety increases.

First order of business, pull a Hitman and steal that guard's clothes so you don't stick out like a sore thumb anymore.
>>1058978
In that case my vote goes for #3. Healing is obviously good, but there's a lot of potential use for nature-related magic. Think of all the people we could crush into a pulp with the power of spontaneously growing trees at will!

I say we look at number 4 and, if we can't find more info on who the four guardians are, I recommend we go against Keth, the spell eater, as we don't have that many spells and planning an strategy to beat thi guys up without magic will be good.

But until then, take that guy's hat and magic items, if we are going to sabotage this guys, we should go all in.

[1/2] Worker 2023/03/21(Tue)15:24 No. 1059195 ID: 4b26a5
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Riede scavenges the mystery books while I rob a sleeping man of his possessions. There's probably a law against this somewhere.

I finally look like a wizard! Hat's a bit wonky though. Only things on him are another phase rod and a strange little fragment of space-time.


SPACE CUTTER
Consumable - Dimensionally cut a hit target, splitting their body apart in two non-lethally, as both parts will be connected via a semi-permanent portal neither part can escape. Requires a skilled space mage to dispel.

[2/2] Worker 2023/03/21(Tue)15:24 No. 1059196 ID: 4b26a5
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Riede exits the study with two books in hand.

"Nothing but junk in there. Almost anyway."

The books are beaten and the papers riddled with cuts, but the magical knowledge nonetheless sinks into my mind.


EXCLAMA - "Firecracker"
Spell - Fire a magic missile that bursts into a cacophony of sound and light, blinding and deafening anyone nearby.

RODEK - "Summon Ghost Rat"
Spell - Summon a vengeful spirit with a lust for cheese. Great choice for beginner necromancers and kids with really poor parents.

A quick peek out the window shows the dark blues of the night outside. Well, looks like that's all we're gonna be doing. Faffing around like this has put a dent in our schedule already, so we're gonna have to head to the station now rather than later unless there's something we just HAVE to do.

The staircase up there is in this facility, but it's booby trapped with dark archmage magic. We also have our space worthy scooter just outside where we entered the place, with all the benefits and problems such a thing would offer.

Riede also paid out the ass for it, so she'll probably get upset if we don't use it.

>_

>>1059196
Alright let's take the scooter.

Scoot the burbs.

[1/4] Worker 2023/03/29(Wed)17:18 No. 1059852 ID: c59677
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The walk back is relatively uneventful. We walk back to the dorms and run into Talow again, who was nice enough to lead us through the doors before he left.

[2/4] Worker 2023/03/29(Wed)17:18 No. 1059853 ID: c59677
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The space helmets seal shut as a transparent life system field cloaks our bodies. Beats clunky space suits.

[3/4] Worker 2023/03/29(Wed)17:18 No. 1059854 ID: c59677
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The time has come. The scooter shivers before floating in midair, and before we know it, we're halfway through the atmosphere.

[4/4] Worker 2023/03/29(Wed)17:18 No. 1059855 ID: c59677
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Huh. You'd think this would be a bit trickier given how visible we are right now.

>_

You must really freak wizards out, they seem to only ever attack you behind the safety of portals through space-time. Like, uh, right now.

EXCLAMA them as they emerge.

RODEK a rat or a dozen, so that whatever comes through may attack them instead of you.

[1/2] Worker 2023/05/10(Wed)07:34 No. 1063325 ID: 26fb8d
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"Fools!" A gruff voice cries out from the dark between worlds, "You cannot stop what is to co-"

His rambling is interrupted by a firecracker speeding into his mouth, and his silhouette is overcome by a blazing explosion.

[MANA 2/3]

Old(?) man defeated. That wasn't too ba-

[2/2] Worker 2023/05/10(Wed)07:34 No. 1063326 ID: 26fb8d
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Aw fuck there's another one. Instead of speaking he instead fires what looks like a tear in space at us, a sharp sliver of pure black soaring across the sky.

Before I can cast RODEK, Riede casts PARASYS, causing the tear to still itself in midair, vibrating angrily as though it was wrestling against a chain.

The remaining space mage scowls and his wand seems to start moving in several directions at once.

>_

simple, just dodge his attack by moving in several directions at once.

If his wand's moving in several directions at once, it must be doing so from a stable fulcrum, or else his entire body would also be moving in several directions at once.

Meaning he probably can't reposition while he's doing whatever multicast thing here without fouling up... what must be a complex bit of sorcery. In other words, he stuck so toss some crap over the rift at 'em. Maybe a nulling grenade.

Stopping the scooter for a bit to drop air (/furiously try to restart the engine) to dodge may also be wise.

Swap places with the space mage while Riede moves the scooter out of the way and releases her spell

If he's an old man, ask him about what he would do to fix the broken economy of your world or something involving politics. Hopefully his old man senses will trigger and he'll stop casting his spell to lecture you younglins.

[1/3] Worker 2023/06/17(Sat)07:27 No. 1066087 ID: a37bbd
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Riede appears to be concentrating; casting a spell directly on a living thing takes time. Time to try out some political distraction thingy. "So uh, what are your thoughts on the Cake Party?"

"Shut your damn mouth and die already, interloper!" Ok.

Just before the space wizard casts his spell(s), I immediately cut the engines and we plummet downwards.

Suddenly like 12 different spells go off right where we were and where we were going. Good gods.

[2/3] Worker 2023/06/17(Sat)07:27 No. 1066088 ID: a37bbd
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The engines burst to life again as Riede casts ELECTIS, causing the wizard to suddenly stiffen and freeze. He tries to mouth some sort of spell but his paralyzed mouth won't let him.

"That spell should keep him there for a few hours. At least whatever levitation spell he's using is keeping him afloat." Riede glances at the paralyzed wizard as we fly off.

[3/3] Worker 2023/06/17(Sat)07:27 No. 1066089 ID: a37bbd
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We lift up higher and higher into the atmosphere, the earth below a blur of color and light. Hey! I can see the continent wide hole left behind by the Great Wizard War!

"...So, Worker, do we actually have a plan for when we get there?"

"There are four entrances, each will a particular guardian. We can choose who to go for."

"And then what?"

Man, I wish Boss was here to do the thinking for me.

>The North entrance will be guarded by Tyr the Shaper of Formless Beasts.
>The South entrance will be guarded by Earles the Opener of Gates.
>The East entrance will be guarded by Yand the Endless Blade.
>The West entrance will be guarded by Keth the Eater of Spells.

>Opening Strategy_

...you're in space. How do you tell which is the north, south, east and west entrance?

Well, we are not very good at magic, but very good at hitting people with blunt objects, so Keth, the eater of spells it is.

Do tell him we came to do a last minute inspection no behalf of that cranky hag we met down on their base.

If that doesn't work, at least we will get close enough to hit him with a blunt object.

The East entrance. We've already met someone with an endless blade, and it went rather well.

Should've taken that guard's clothes.

East. Maybe we'll meet that lizard's sister.

[1/3] Worker 2023/07/28(Fri)07:56 No. 1069140 ID: d03c4b
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The yawning eastern gate of the space station. There are holes all throughout this side of the station. Maybe it was some sort of transit zone? Reality seems to peel from the seams all around it.

As we pass through the mouth we feel air and gravity assert themselves.

[2/3] Worker 2023/07/28(Fri)07:56 No. 1069141 ID: d03c4b
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Riede appears to tense, hands balled into fists. The pulsating, rhythmic flow of mana around the station is so powerful even I can feel it. Like a giant's heartbeat.

"Well, here we a-", as we dismount the scooter, a blinding light surges across from the other end of the room. A shape seems to coalesce from a tear in reality, it's-

[3/3] Worker 2023/07/28(Fri)07:56 No. 1069142 ID: d03c4b
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...Oh.

"You."


She's still tied up. And in a wedding dress.

>_

She looks happy to see you. Try to resume you wedding.
And reassure her you won't question why she hasn't asked anyone to untie her since you last saw her. I mean, it's been a while, at least an hour, probably ?

Should we... give her back the... Endless Blade? Is that how this sort of thing works?

>>1069148
This, but more transactional: Tell her in exchange for her marrying you, you won't question her surprisingly continued bondage.

>>1069151
we could, but im pretty sure it got abandoned since worker couldnt use it

Also, we should question her on why she's still tied up and wearing the wedding dress :3

Go for a hug and another wild story - the time traveller's tale.

"Hi again, dear! Still looking good!"

On the topic of looks, assure her that look, you were trying to properly do the marriage proposal thing, but Riede didn't seem keen, so the whole affair must go through later, whoops haha - hm, come to think of it, did it need to be approved by one of the elders of the house? Gah, you can't remember their name. July? Ule? Someone like that. She should rest assured you'll have a spare certificate on hand for the time when it comes, just like you had the dress. Speaking of, is the fit okay? You do hope you got her measurements right, at least.

That said, you get the disapppintment at being left behind at the not-so-literal alter - utterly scandalous - and will work hard to make up for it and honor her and her house, once the world is no longer under threat of their COSMIC ULTRA NUKE that...

... oh right, she still doesn't know what the actual The Plan(tm) is? Or was the story she didn't care and was just in it for the gravity magic, like Rean? Man, that woman - her brother is decidedly more pleasant. Right?

Take a step back, apologize for rambling and say that given the MANY time shenanigans that've been going on the last few months of subjective time, you get the order of events confused a lot: you just knew you couldn't tell her anything in that first encounter - but that's really not your fault, because she told you - nagged, really - that you didn't!

Anyway, it's important she pay attention, because she'll tell you some of this later, before you get here. Admittedly, she also said you could've explained things better and that she was too upset about something at the time to really pay attention when you informed past-her, so um, let's reset, like a proper time mage should.

Greetings, Yand! You are Worker, an undercover time dynast and her future-her/present-you husband! And what you're really here for is to prevent her house and her from getting tricked into making the worst mistake of their lives! That isn't marrying you, that is. Future-her jokes about this a lot, haha.

(And if she manages to overcome her shock and horror to cut through your lies and blather, I dunno, just shrug and capture her anyway? She's swordless and wandless.)

>>1069153
I think Worker still had it in the sewers here >>1037224.

Get on your hands and knees and BEG Riede to officiate the marriage papers!
It’s the only way we can possibly hope to beat Yand.

Yand’s teammates must really hate her if they didn’t even bother untying her

Gonna be hard to get married after your papers got burned. But hey, maybe something happened between her and her masters or whatever that can be of help. It would certainly be a good idea to first find out about her circumstances and then adapt to the situation.

In general you should act all lovingly towards "your dear"; be worried, tell her that you're sorry about what happened the last time, but that she shouldn't get any wrong impressions - the marriage wasn't official yet, so if she wants to call it off... Btw, she won't hurt you if you untie her, will she?