Shirtaloon
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Chapter 911: A Matter of Mindset
🕑 Added 2024-06-21 23:00:03 +0000 UTCAs the ship approached Greenstone’s artificial island, Jason and his companions were gathering in a space not unlike a hotel lobby. Aspects of the vessel were similar to a cruise ship, although heavier on amenity and utility spaces and lighter on accommodation. Even Emir only travelled around with fifty or so staff, and Jason had far fewer people on board than that.
Jason was walking towards the lobby with Sophie and Humphrey as Sophie voiced her unhappiness with the destination. She hadn’t joined Belinda in their early visit to their hometown, and she wasn’t keen on going now.
“I don’t see why we’re even here,” she said. “What does this place have to offer us anymore? And I know you don’t like all this pageantry, Jason.”
“You’ve always liked your ostentation spontaneous,” Humphrey pointed out. “Having it scheduled and organised doesn’t seem like you.”
“It’s not for me,” Jason said. “Or for you, Humphrey. A special event doesn’t seem special to you because you’re the prince of this town. It may have a Duke, but everyone knows that the Gellers are the real power here. You were born for bigger things than this town has to offer, so a triumphant return visit doesn’t mean much.”
“Then what is all this for?” Humphrey asked.
“Every aristocratic house in Greenstone will be represented in the crowd waiting for us. Not just some pointless nephew, either. Elders, heads of house. Organisations, too. Directors of the Magic Society, the Adventure Society, the Alchemy association. There are as many of Greenstone’s silver rankers gathered here as have ever come together in one place before.”
“What do you care about the nobility of some low-magic backwater?” Sophie asked, not hesitating to talk down about her hometown. “You socialise with gods and kings and diamond rankers.”
“I told you, it’s not about me. Right now, all those people are gathered at the Adventure Society’s VIP dock. And who are they waiting for? It’s not me. People haven’t been talking about me for years, and I was only famous amongst Adventure Society insiders. These people are gathering for Team Biscuit. Adventuring legends and hometown heroes. For you, Humphrey, that’s not a big deal. Everyone expected big things of you. But think about all those people, and who else they’re here to see.”
He glanced at Sophie.
“People know your story, Sophie. They’ve doubtless mythologised it well outside anything that’s actually true, but that’s not what matters. What matters is that a pair of girls from Old City became famous adventurers. And now they’re coming home, celebrated by the city’s elite.”
“I never wanted to be a role model.”
“Too bad. And it’s not just for the next little Sophie and Belinda, either. Neil’s family have been stuck as what amounts to servants to the Mercer’s for years, but now the most powerful people in the city have to show them respect. Today they get to stand tall as Neil comes home, probably dressed in his aunt’s awful clothes. And you know who else is waiting for us? A clan of eel farmers. The important people of this city would cross the road to avoid them, but today, those eel farmers will be front and centre, waiting for their boy to come home. And those important people are stuck standing behind them.”
“Does it always have to be a speech with you?” Sophie asked. “You could have just said it will be nice for Neil and Clive’s families to see.”
“That seems a little reductive.”
“I think you just like hearing yourself talk.”
“What are you talking about? Everyone loves hearing me talk.”
***
The Adventure Society VIP dock was on the ocean side of Greenstone’s artificial island. The expectation was that if your vessel needed a sheltered harbour, you weren’t important enough to use it. Near the dock was a large building normally used for social events, as the dock itself spent most of its time empty. This also allowed the attending luminaries to save face. They could tell themselves they were attending a social function, not standing around, waiting for more important people than them to arrive.
The building had been restructured just a couple of years ago, and most of its three stories were glass walls. Elspeth Arella looked out at the ocean from the third floor, radiating a lack of desire for company. Most of the attendees were looking to ingratiate themselves with the Geller boy and his famous team. Jason Asano was a name that hadn’t entered their minds in years, and it seemed only Elspeth herself was focused on him. If they were all very lucky, that wouldn’t change.
She had been expecting to sense the ship before she saw it, but was proven wrong as it crested the horizon. Even as it drew closer, revealing how large it was, she sensed nothing, even staring right at it. She knew that most of the attendees would not notice, let alone understand the significance. They were socialites and merchant barons, not warriors and soldiers. The Messenger War had left Greenstone largely untouched.
That vessel was a message about power and who held it, and it was not one that the Director of the Adventure Society missed. She also knew that it was not accidental; Danielle Geller was on that ship. She did not send unintended signals, and she did not like Elspeth.
As the ship neared the shore, the collective group went outside. She glanced around, watching the crowd with her aura senses as well as her eyes. She’d put reliable people in key positions, hoping to keep volatile elements under control, but the potential for disaster was very real. One moment, a lord’s idiot son might be mocking the clan of eel farmers, unhappy they were given pride of place. The idiot would be hurtling out to sea at the hands of a gold ranker in about three seconds and things would only devolve from there. Elspeth’s spectrum for the success of the event ranged from a brawl to a massacre.
The massive vessel pulled up at the dock, larger than the building in which people had been waiting for it. Elspeth couldn’t help but remember the similar scene of Emir Bahadir’s arrival. This ship was different, in that the cloud material of the vessel was only visible in sections between large panels that covered it.
Elspeth wondered if the different ship signalled a different outcome. Emir Bahadir wasn’t easy to handle, but the treasure hunter knew how to navigate the locals on a visit like this. Jason Asano was smooth as sandpaper, always rubbing people wrong. During his time in Greenstone, he’d somehow befriended every person who was powerful and independent enough to make Elspeth’s job hard, and annoyed everyone else.
Clouds wafted from the ship to create a wide bridge, and a gap opened in the side of the ship. The Gellers emerged, Danielle and her son who was becoming as famous as she was. Next to the Geller boy was a man who looked similar enough to be a younger brother, but with silver hair and eyes.
It was only after Humphrey Geller left Greenstone that Elspeth discovered that he’d been wandering around with an actual gods-bedamned dragon the whole time. She’d known he had a shapeshifting familiar, of course, but an actual, true blood dragon? His mother had told her it was a lyre drake, but Elspeth should have known better than to trust Danielle Geller.
She catalogued the rest as they came over the bridge. The thieves she’d once tasked her society branch to hunt down, not knowing the chaos that would ensue. Asano, the main perpetrator of that chaos. The Magic Research Association’s archchancellor. The uncultured cheering that arose from the grubby-looking farmers at the appearance of the refined man of magic was a strange incongruity.
Elspeth’s gaze moved back to Asano. He caught her gaze for a moment before looking away, chatting amiably with the Devone boy. Then she felt a strange shimmer of aura around her and the sounds around her deafened. Asano’s voice came out of nowhere.
“It’s not me you have to worry about, director. I’m not the one you tried to sell to Lucian Lamprey as a means to slake his deprived appetites. But you don’t really have to worry about Sophie, either, because she’s dedicated herself to being a good person. She has this friend, though. You might want to check under your bed for alchemical bombs until we’re gone again.”
Elspeth was at the front of the line for meet and greets. Asano was polite, as if meeting a passing acquaintance after a long time.
“I’d like the chance for you and I to talk, Mr Asano. Adventurer business.”
“Of course, director.”
What came next was a lengthy and tedious sequence of introductions and reintroductions, carefully orchestrated in order and length. After her experiences with Asano in the past, she was amazed that it all went to plan. There was none of his signature disruption or anti-authoritarian antics. It seemed that he had learned some diplomacy in the last couple of decades. As for who had managed to wrangle the lunatic, she noticed Danielle Geller throwing glances his way.
By the time it was all over, the one thing Elspeth least expected to happen had taken place: everything had gone to plan. No aristocratic feuds flaring up. No spoiled rich kids had made trouble out of arrogance and pride. Asano hadn’t decided to take umbrage with anyone and start throwing people into the ocean now he was gold rank and no one could stop him.
As she made her way back to her office, she felt a strange relief, even as a new worry plagued at her mind. She would need to look closer into those former thieves, and she had just the person to ask. On reaching her office, she changed into a hooded outfit that would not look out of place in the Old City, then headed out to see her father.
***
Adris Dorgan was a happy man. Once a powerful crime lord, he found that legitimacy sat very well with him. As mayor of Old City, he’d dragged it kicking and screaming from the old days into a new era. Aristocratic families, as it turned out, were far more criminal than the old crime families, and with none of the sense of code or community. Now that Adris could shield the people from at least some of that, Old City was becoming a better place for its people.
His daughter was less happy. She had wanted to leave the city and rise through the ranks of the Adventure Society, and that had all come to nothing. Once, that had angered him, but those days were long gone. Greenstone was quiet, far from the Messenger War. The days of the Builder cult and the strange monster surges were almost two decades gone, and Greenstone was safe. Having his daughter safe and close were treasures to a father.
Walking through his library, he stopped dead. His mind flashed back to an encounter twenty years ago, where he found a young man staring at a picture in the library of his old home. The library was different, but it was the same man doing the same thing now, having once again ignored his security. Adris moved to where the man was staring at the painting.
“A long time ago,” Asano said, not looking from the painting “you offered to help me get my hands of a work or two by Moher. Said he was a family friend.”
“He still is.”
“I might take you up on that, if the offer is still open.”
“I suppose that depends on what your intentions are otherwise.”
“I gave your daughter a little prod and she’ll be coming to see you. I thought it might be a good idea for her and I to have a little chat.”
“I once warned you about interfering in my daughter’s affairs, Asano. I don’t care if you’re some all-powerful gold ranker, and I’m just a politician who got to silver with cores. If you do anything to her, I’ll find a way to kill you.”
Asano finally turned from the painting to flash a smile.
“I like you, Mr Dorgan. Family is important. Nothing will happen to your daughter from my people, even if she does have it coming. That’s not what we’re here for. I’d like to clear the air, now the power dynamic has shifted since my last stay in Greenstone. Also, there’s something she wants to discuss with me, and I thought it might be awkward in a room where she once dangled me in the air by the throat.”
“And you’re sure she’s coming here?”
“She’s crossing the bridge to Old City now.”
“You’re having her watched?”
“No, I’m just tracking her with my aura senses.”
“How do you extend your perception that far without washing the city in your aura?”
“Practise.”
“Well, can I offer you a cup of tea while we wait?”
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
***
Jason sat across from Elspeth in one of her father’s entertaining courtyards. It had enclosed walls covered in plants growing out of alcoves, and was open to the sky. The furniture was ornate wrought metal, with plush padding. A tea set occupied most of the table between them, complete with scones with gemberry jam and huge dollops of whipped cream. Jason paid more attention to those than he did the Adventure Society director.
“What can I do for you?” he asked as he dabbed at the cream around his mouth with a napkin.
“How familiar are you with Boko, Mr Asano?”
“A city to the north of here. A lot older than Greenstone, with a population native to the area. If I recall correctly, most of Greenstone’s people are descended from the original Estercost immigrants, I think, only a few centuries ago. Boko is a city of academics, if I recall correctly.”
“Scholars of the arts. Painting, poetry, sculpture, dance. People travel from across the continent and beyond to visit their theatres.”
“I only passed through briefly. A portal stop, in the aftermath of that disastrous expedition. It’s pretty, as I recall. Lots of gardens.”
“Do you happen to recall a group of raiders that came south during your time here?”
“I do. I was part of the group that dealt with them. They were rural tribesfolk, weren’t they? From the areas around Boko?”
“That’s what we thought at the time. As it turns out, their origins were in Boko proper. It began as some kind of anti-intellectual movement amongst low rankers and escalated from there. Moved out of the city and into areas where education was less of a priority. There, it festered like a sore. Getting back to primal manhood, that kind of thing. It thrives on low-rank, disenfranchised young men.”
“I’m familiar with the basic idea.”
“We had thought this particular movement had died out, but there has been a resurgence in the last few years.”
“Why bring this to me? Isn’t this a low-rank problem?”
“It’s not your rank that makes me want you involved. I’ve been keeping an eye on this alongside my counterpart in Boko. Our initial belief was that this was a naturally arising, decentralised movement. It probably was, in the beginning, but we’re starting to suspect some manner of organisational force behind it. Whether they were there at the beginning, or co-opted an emerging cultural phenomenon, we believe they are using it building a powerful political block, the arms of which don’t even realise they are heads of the same hydra. They keep their hands hidden, using populist groups as their face. Now it controls large portions of the rural areas around Greenstone, Boko and the Veldt. If we tried to reach out and quash it, we’d have towns and villages across half the continent in borderline rebellion.”
“Do you have any sense of their objective?”
“Industry, to start. The production of spirit coins and our signature green stone is a lot of money, when taken as a whole.”
“You think someone is looking to control small local governments? Extort shady tariffs on everyone operating in the region?”
“Something like that. If money is their end goal, we live with some graft. It’s not like the aristocrats are any better. Our concern is if they have a larger and more sinister agenda. Moving their power base into Greenstone and Boko, maybe. Or quietly supporting more traditional problem groups in other regions. Illegal magical research requires funding, after all, just like the legitimate research. Whatever the ultimate purpose, it’s an ongoing concern.”
“So, why not go in and clear them out?”
“We haven’t seen an approach like this before. It’s a matter of mindset. On this world, we always think top-down first. Rank hierarchy, which is why you get to come into my city and make a giant mess. The golds do what they like, the silvers run most of it and the bronze rankers do what they’re told.”
“I never had much time for that.”
“Oh, I remember. This operation, movement, whatever it is, they think differently too. Bottom up. People barely think about the iron-rankers and the normal. Even in a low-magic zone like Greenstone they don’t hold a lot of influence. This movement takes the people our way of thinking ignores and melds them into a power built not on magical strength but ideological indoctrination. Taking disenfranchisement and isolation and turning it into a sense of belonging, welded to cultural concepts that make them easy to manipulate.”
“You’re saying that whoever is behind this isn’t operating like someone from your world.”
“Back when you were living here in Greenstone, even I kept hearing about your endless pontificating about how our society was all wrong. People were dodging you in the admin building so they didn’t have to listen to it. And I remembered my horror at hearing that more of your kind had arrived. That was two monster surges ago, and I never heard anything else about it. But when we heard you were coming back, Vincent Trenslow remembered enough of what you would talk about then to put things together. Power derived from large groups of the weak.”
“That’s not how I put it.”
“But I think Vincent was right. He suggested that whoever is behind all this might come, not from our world, but from yours.”
Comments
Frederick
Fascists and communists both often took over their respective countries in this manner.
ItWasIDIO!!
Well Jason the "Best" ideas of our world is showing its ugly head also I take back what I said bad enough ya gotta recruit Anna don't wanna recruit another person who won't take blame for the bad shit that Jason gets involved in
Kconraw
Thx for the chapter
Michael Hawkins
We're about to be here for the entire book. He just set it up that way
Jeff Taylor
Suggested Edit: “A city to the north of here. A lot older than Greenstone, with a population native to the area. *If I recall correctly*, most of Greenstone’s people are descended from the original Estercost immigrants, I think, only a few centuries ago. Boko is a city of academics, *if I recall correctly.*” “A city to the north of here. A lot older than Greenstone, with a population native to the area. Most of Greenstone’s people are descended from the original Estercost immigrants, I think, only a few centuries ago. Boko is a city of academics, as I recall.”
Richard Parker
So, I hate sounding pretentious enough to make suggestions to the author after such detailed and exquisite story-telling so far, but I truly hope that Greenstone isn't too quickly passed over. I large part of why I fell in love with this series took place in Greenstone. Jason and Happy Biscuit Friends have certainly outgrown Greenstone, but I'd like to see some interaction with the old contacts and friends and not just a brief brushover before rushing on back to Earth. There's something enjoyable, maybe even cathartic, for me to read how Jason's interactions with Greenstoners (heh heh) will come about from his current position of power when he was so dismissed or idolized before he last left Greenstone.
Tim
No, the comma would be here -> "ignores, and" since "and" is a coordinating conjuction used to link two complete thoughts that work together. In the complete phrase: "This movement takes the people our way of thinking ignores and melds them into a power built not on magical strength but ideological indoctrination."‐------------- You have two parts that could be separate sentences. The first -> "This movement takes the people our way of thinking ignores." The second -> "[It] melds them into a power built not on magical strength but ideological indoctrination." Both are sentences that hold complete thoughts, however, since the second sentence modifies the first by illustrating what happens to the people who have been taken, you can merge them with the conjunctive "and" to create a better flow as splitting them would sound unnatural in speaking.
Feu et Glace
Maybe they are followers of the God of Sandwiches and they are trying to engage in preaching some of his earliest sermons to the masses.
Hunter
A low magic zone like greenstone and others like it is the only place where these equalist movements have any chance to thrive. Unless the leader is someone of importance for the future the whole plot line seems forced to me.
Diviknight
Rufus pointed out how Earth’s political powers are struggling in a new reality where power is king. Perhaps we are about to see the same power shift struggles but in reverse. What happens when Greenstone has to deal with the complicated ideologies of Earth?
Vincent Schneider
This movement takes the people our way of thinking ignores and melds... -> This movement takes the people our way of thinking, ignores and melds... - no?
J W
I know people keep suggesting more earthlings. But what if this group of people are just practicing what the random "travelling " monster fighting, food stall owning "priest" had been ranting about after literally swooping in and saving everyone's life at some point?
Bru-
Well this is fun but I am hoping for a Zara and Cassandra interaction.
Jacob Ison
It happens to me too. I think Jason is a kind of outlet for Shirt, sometimes. Being the author Shirt can unilaterally decide which points of morality his story stands on and ,while that's okay, it does feel like Shirt's particular political leanings bleed over onto his world.
Alex Martin
Tim
If youre talking about Victoria Grantham, shes Vice Chancellor of Clives MRA.
Lesley Holmes
Da da daaa
Razeel Nightfall
Will we witness Colin mass feeding next week? Stay tuned to find out.
Crystal Donak
I agree honestly there hasn't been much banter...in a long time.
Spicyice101
Well technically he was deprived at the end lol.
Kevin Anderson
I don't believe it's likely that they kept the outworldeea prisoner for 20 years. They've all been integrated into society for a while I'm sure
ABTelford
Please, please finish this conversation properly in the next chapter instead of just doing another a “cut scene” to someone doing something else days later. That works ok when used judiciously, but I realized my discontent with these latest chapters is because it’s been happening, seemingly, every chapter since Jason repaired the astral throne. I am craving some time line continuity. I am still very much enjoying the writing, but, that said, I think it could be improved between now and when it’s published - both added to and parred down to fill in gaps and smooth away unnecessary repetition. And fix typos!! I love your story! Your dialogue/banter is always delightful, I love that your main character has changed and grown over the series in real, believable ways - not all good and not necessarily a smooth ride. Hope your life allows you to keep writing!
Isaac Scharff
I thought that too
Isaac Scharff
More like communist incels which is kinda weird
ThoMiCroN
It sounds like Pallimustus is being colonized by incels.
Iain Grubb
Or he could take them all back to Earth and feed them to the vampires, er let them run free.
Iain Grubb
Well, Lamprey was definately Deprived but his tastes were more towards the Depraved. Guess Danielle didn't snag all the Earthfolk out of the Magic Societies hands after all. Was Boko were they had Clive running in the hampster wheel? Might be time to get reaquainted with his flame, since his wife is up to no good.
N8rtotPlayz
TYFTC!
DeviantSalivations
Side quest time!!!
Logen Felxon
YES! Cease the means of production! LET THE rank TYRRANY END! I mean, the hegemon himself would probably have something to say about the way this is, regardless of the political training he's been forcefed lately. :)
Kalanaere
Nope important things wrap up on Palli first. 1. Retrieve earthlings 2. I'm certain he's going to somehow help Arella, my guess is a good word about her to the adventure society 3. I'm guessing a stop in Vitesse as Jason has Saud more than once he planned to join Burning Violet 4. I'm guessing final .stop to be Storm Kingdom where they will also likely depart from
Aaron Schwartz
“I’m not the one you tried to sell to Lucian Lamprey as a means to slake his DEPRIVED appetites.” I’m fairly certain you meant to say depraved. He was certainly not deprived. That was kind of the whole point.
Aaron Schwartz
Something tells me that whoever is behind this is going to be a lot less altruistic than Rimuru… it would be fun if they turned out to be best buds with some ostracized asshole relative of stash
Aaron Schwartz
He didn’t really need shade for something like this anymore. He can use his aura to sense anywhere in the city, and I’m willing to bet wherever his aura sense can concentrate, a shade body could be present in that spot of aural power to eavesdrop. The only reason he would need to make a concerted effort would be if his or senses can’t find the problem immediately or if he needs to leave shade with someone that is going to go outside of his aura range
Greg Szarko
Can we just skip to Jason and party arriving on earth?
René Blaser
Mhh. I would be honestly surprised if Shirt would go that way with the story, but you are actually on to something with that thought. We'll see how that goes. :-) Maybe not in place of but in addition to?...
Charles Morin
Girling is a blood slave of the vampire queen now.
Kelly
Wait, did you have an existing character in mind? Bc I feel a little stupid now that I cant come up with anyone from Earth like that.
Kelly
Side quests are life. 😂
Maudley
People keep getting excited over Jason going to slap down Elspeth. This chapter has me even more convinced he's going to do the opposite, maybe even recruit her in place of Danielle. She's already proven herself a more deft politician than him, she's realized how bad she messed up, she wants out of Greenstone, etc. Also, Jason learned quite a while ago not to be petty when it doesn't benefit him. Elspeth is also likely more qualified to deal with shadier sorts than Danielle herself.
Jay Doubleyou Kay
with hundreds of shades to be able to sniff them out in like half a day hahahaha
Jay Doubleyou Kay
If the person is from earth, lol Jason is going to have a zero tolerance policy. Those earthlings gone and messed up. It's someone from one of the major earth factions that were around his football field monument. After Jasons adopted family seriously helped them out and they betray that trust. Ohhhhhhhhh they gone and messed up bad
Maudley
It'd be wild if there was some lady claiming to be his wife
BloodStorm
I’m not sure if I’m a fan of this upcoming mini arc in Greenstone
Maudley
Lol yeah he keeps mixing them up
Josh Vanderpool
Ohhhhh juicy
Zachary Ross
Why am I thinking insane anti intellectual American literally trying to colinise a new world with a skewed version of democracy. Because that's what I was reading in this description.
TorHKU
Yeah wow Jason's political leanings and ranting really came out of nowhere, definitely hasn't been ragging on governments and power structures and propaganda for... 900+ chapters.
Adrian
A careful re-read makes me think that the suspicion around an earth-based puppet master is specific to the recent resurgence of the movement, not to its origins from before Jason's arrival, so its likely an escaped outsider. Nothing says they caught every one of them from the first Biscuit/messenger fight or that there wasn't more than one incident or landing location 😇
Benjamin Grant
I love when someone threatens to kill Jason from the wise words of Princess Liara “It probably wouldn’t work anyway.”
Ligeia
Not necessarily. Doubtless here is a more literary usage of the word.
Hunter
Ugh I sense another side quest incoming.
David Harkness
Feels like whole story is just becoming an effort to push Shirts political Agenda. Sad. Canceling patreon
GentlemanG33k
I think Jason lied to Dorgan there is no way Elsewhere doesn't have a Shade body in her shadow till they leave the area
Telewyn
Clive invented an internet, it was only a matter of time.
Themo Grulld
Glad to be part of this.
Themo Grulld
Kinda insane ,are we sure this won't turn into book 15 and 16 or trick 17 .The arcs coming after this will be a nice finale.
Seaspike
That because he hasn't gone back yet. It's been mentioned multiple times that he is going to offer the Earthers a ride home.
Timothy
As soon as I read this end passage, “But I think Vincent was right. He suggested that whoever is behind all this might come, not from our world, but from yours.” I thought duh duh dun.....
DirePants
Oh that’s an interesting development. They basically have a bunch of MAGAniacs or incels grabbing power. Hmmm maybe not incels or anything right wing. Knowing how Pallimustus works it’s probably something more akin to liberal ideology. People tired of getting the short end of the stick because so many abuse their power. It could very well be someone from Earth or possibly just someone/people who were influenced by Jason’s defiance in the face of authority and overwhelming power. It’s really amazing how Jason crossing dimensions has had such profound effects on both worlds. I worry about Earth becoming more like Pallimustus, we all know the potential is there. But what I didn’t think about was how Pallimustus could be on the cusp of an upwards trend to be more progressive. Granted, Gold and Diamond rankers are old as sin and old people aren’t exactly known for their propensity to accept change. Still, I’m looking forward to this side adventure.
Ryan Cook
The line "independent enough to make Estella’s job hard" should probably be Elspeth?
Frog
Farrah disposed of him, remember? Norith asked Jason to get him out of the 2nd special transformation zone alive, and accepted that probably meant Farrah would give him the same treatment he gave her. And then he was never seen again. So definitely not that one.
Aaron
"They’ve doubtless mythologised it..." Should doubtless be doubtlessly?
Andrew J. Walker
I almost wonder if it might not be that nuker gold rank from Earth.
#savegarytheleonid
thank you!
Frog
Trying to decide if it’s the orthodox messengers baiting him into a trap, or one of the network/cabal fools that Taika and Mr. Magitech mentioned getting brought over with them. Or quite possibly Boris orchestrating a whole ordeal to break Jason out of his sightseeing to fix the bridge and go back PRONTO ahead of the oncoming mysterious calamity
Mist Sparrow
Or is it manosphere content
Havics Child
They are supposed to be mostly dealt with and those still active are with the messengers
Havics Child
Nah, it's earth thinking, that's what they are thinking anyway
Eric M
I mean it could be that adminstrator that brielfy ran Gerling for the Americans at one point, it could just be someone famous for being persausive, or a complete unknown. I think most of the silver rankers escaped the forced relocation from Australia to Pallimustus, but maybe it could be that French Silver ranker that attacked him shortly after his arrival.
Havics Child
No it really doesn't, maybe as a higher up of the resurgence, but at least the original leaders were on this planet before Jason got magic. I can't really think of anyone mentioned in earth arc shirt gave us any info on that would or could be the issue. Maybe that assistant that thought Girling wanted to rape an elf? Any ideas on who it might be if it is someone who Jason knows?
Ken Sevier
Nice job
Hayden Leech
What ever happened to the church of purity/god of disguise situation? I don’t think we’ve heard a peep about it in ages.
deadly chibi
"Everybody loves to hear me talk" best line
Russell Ventimeglia
Could it be the new, probably smarter, Thadwick? I know the area is lower end on the mana spectrum, but I keep expecting a much more clever Thadwick encounter before the return to Earth. And he does have the special "messenger" killing sword. Hmmm.
JonO
Who's a famous incel that would likely support other "disenfranchised" men, take slaves and such and work the system to benefit the weak rather than the strong, only to make themselves into the very dynamic they're supposedly rising up against and lives semi currently who this new character might be based on? Lol Rhetorical, I'm not looking to set flames lol
Havics Child
He's no god or king, just a GAB (beyond gods), and absenty patriarch of a clan... but yeah, though I don't see him needing his powers if they aren't at least a solid silver, not that we even know the new effects of half his powers.
Alex Schellenberg
Is this confirmation that Pallimustus has Podcast Bros?
Agent P.
Well he never took the Earth people back.
Abigail Hale
That time I got reincarnated as a revolutionary socialist!
Jordan Brennan
Tyftc!
Alexander Dupree
lol I love it.
Jordan Rogers
I want to know who the leaders is, cause it almost has to be someone he knows leading it,
Brad Gammey
You have piqued my interest in this new thread to the overall tapestry. So many possibilities! TYFTC!
S_Ally
"he’d somehow befriended every person who was powerful and independent enough to make Estella’s job hard" --> Elspeth Arella
Kalanaere
Damn Earthlings causing problems in the multi-Verse and now God King Asano is gonna have to go plague slap them stupid
SmokeJam
Must be a French guy. Vive la revolution!
Joanna
I like the delve into deeper origins for the "Ustei raiders". It felt a little...awkward..back then
Scott McCarthy
They were not on this continent, and they way she is talking, this is ret-coning the Ustei (unless there was another set of raiders not mentioned) so they would have to be pre-Jason.
Daniel Wills
I thought that, too. But, Estella is their forward scout. If it IS supposed to be Estella he just needs to separate the paragraph in two and emphasize that Estella is scouting out the city.
Gb
Scones
Jared Waggoner
Red velvet biscuits
Owen Kaz
Nah, this started when, or by the sound of it, well before Jason first walked around naked in a hedge maze
Joshua McAteer
I think Estella’s name is used in place of Elspeth once
spec4f150
Clive's wife
Justin
So Jason not meeting with and identifying the new outworlders from earth has come to bite him in the ass? Great start to the team arriving in Greenstone! TYFTC!
Flojoe
So only half of the earth group Returns, the other half gets the honor of getting killed by the System Admin?
Nergie
Finally the red revolution cometh to Pallimustus! Seize the means of production! Give wedgies to all kulaks!
Monadologist
deprived appetites => depraved appetites
J Holmes
So many biscuits...
Svenhardt
First
Michael Madsen
I no longer have to poop
Michael Madsen
I gotta poop
Leon Cleland
9 books we’ve waited for this moment 🙏
Matthew Buchner
Cake
mhaj58
Sandwiches
Raphael
Biscuits
