The games we play.

I watch sheep me with trepidation, anxiously waiting for this so-called message. ‘I have so many questions! Why me? Why so much interest in me and my family? Why so much secrecy in getting this message to me? Are we going to be offered some epic quest to vanquish some ancient evil? Are we the chosen ones? Why is this damn sheep taking so long?!?’ My anxious expression turns to a glare of exasperation as sheep me winks at me. ‘That bastard is drawing this out on purpose! Why am I such an asshole!?!’

I open my mouth, fulling meaning to ask sheep me to get on with it, but naturally, that is when he finally starts talking. “The message is thus. We welcome you, Traveller, as well as your family, to the world of Ifnirius. The reason that we have reached out for you so early in your is twofold. First a warning, second, a request.”

“The world is vast and is full of many wonders, and just as many perils. Your presence here signifies a time of significant change is upon us, such has been the way before, and so it shall be again. Our warning, therefore, is this. Those with a vested interest in the status-quo will not take kindly when that status-quo is threatened. As for our request, it is simple. We do not know how things were on your home world, we only ask you consider that though the form may differ, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.”

Silence reigns for a few moments as I absorb the message, only to be broken as I sigh in a long, dramatic exhalation of breath. I look at the sheep, who is sporting a rather enormous grin. Ever seen a sheep grin? It’s quite something. At his expression, I shake my head then say, “So this world subscribes to fantasy trope number three, then? Everyone’s a little bit racist?” The sheep’s grin only widens. “They can hear me, yeah?” At his nod, I continue.

“I thank you both for the warning, and I will keep your advice in mind. I am new to this world, but I will try to view things with an open mind and will treat those I meet with respect, if they do the same for me and mine. Be aware, however, that the safety of my family is my number one priority.”

Not knowing what else to say, I shrug. Silence reigns again, until sheep me says, “Ok, it’s just the two of us now.” My whole-body slumps as I let out the breath I’d been holding. I clasp my hands together to stop the shaking as I ask, “Was that who I think it was?” Sheep me opens his mouth to reply, then looks at the sky imploringly, as if asking for permission. The System chooses this moment to chip in, and a window opens in my vison.

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Achievement unlocked!

Is that who I think it is?!?

You recognised the name of a powerful being, but despite close scrutiny, you managed not to give the game away. How, you may ask, are beings from myth and legend from the old world here on your new world? Read your shiny new book and find out!

Rewards:

• +2 Charisma.
• +250 Exp.
• Skill Primer: Theology.

Would you like to use your Skill Primer now? (Y/N).

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I shrug, then select yes. For a moment nothing happens, and the first twinges of disappointment form. Then information floods into me, and I stagger backwards in shock. There is a hell of a lot of information here, far too much to absorb all at once. I scrunch my eyes shut in pain as new knowledge burns itself into my brain. Then, as quickly as it started, the process is over. I slump to the ground, feeling utterly spent.

I lay on the floor for a time as my world spins, gravel poking into me uncomfortably. As soon as things settle, I crack open my eyes. I half expect to find sheep me looking down at me with either amusement or pity, but I’m surprised when I see he’s also lying in the gravel, looking a little worse for wear. ‘Makes sense, he's me after all.’ “A little warning would be great next time.” says sheep me through gritted teeth.

I shrug apologetically, then say, “That was intense. It felt like new information was being **** into my brain. All that info feels a little fuzzy at the moment though.” Sheep me nods, then says, “Apparently that’s Skill Primers for you. From what I can tell, it’ll take a day or so for the information to settle. Lucky for you, I can access at least some of the information now. Lets see here… oooh interesting. Is that how it works? Never would have guessed.”I sigh, refusing to rise to sheep me’s attempt to rile me. “Care to share with the class?”

“you’re no fun. Theres a lot of info here, and I can only access so much of it, but I can fill you in on some basics. First things first, you were only half right. T-man is not the father of monsters from Greek mythos, but a father of monsters, or more accurately a god of monsters. With me so far?”

I level a glare at sheep me, then say, “First of all, T-man? Really? Second, absolutely bloody not! What the hell does that even mean!?!” The sheep grins at me again, then continues, “Pro tip, saying a god’s name out loud more than once in a day or so is generally a bad idea. Didn’t you learn the whole ‘words have power’ lesson already? As for the rest of it, this only covers Ifnirius, so the jury is still out on the whole 'gods: yay or nay' thing back home, but over here a god’s name comes with the domain. That means that T-man wouldn’t have been called T-man before he achieved divinity.”

“Not only that, but it looks like different named gods can all belong to the same domain, as well as have more than one domain, hence why T-man is a god of monsters, but not necessarily the god of monsters. The System must like you, as it provided a helpful example in the primer. Turns out that miss-Q was an Egyptian fertility and/or lust goddess back home. Over here, she belongs under the umbrella of a lust goddess, but holds sway over fertility. Voluptas, or as we must know her for the next day or so, miss-V, is also a lust goddess, but has much more sway over pleasure. With me now?”

I simply nodded. There was a hell of a lot to take in all at once here, so I used my usual tactic of stuffing it all in a box to unpack later. Before closing the lid entirely, I frown, then ask, “Why was it miss-Q and T-man who sent me a message? Seems like an odd combination.” Shit-eating grin plastered all over his stupid sheep's face, sheep me replies, “They must recognise a monster fucker when they see one.”

The last obstacle had been in the centre of the path, just in front of the other side of my Mana core, but had been easy enough to clear. Afterwards sheep me had nodded stoically, then had dived into that weird void without so much as a goodbye. I had a few seconds to gawp at the spot where the sheep had stood moments before, then the floor dropped out from under me, and I fell into darkness. The last thing I heard (over the sound of me screaming) was sheep me cackling madly. The bastard.

Conscious returns to me slowly. I am lying on my back, feeling comfortably snug and warm. The only fly in the ointment is the feeling of pressure pressing down on me either side of me. My brow furrows slightly as my disorientated mind tries to make sense of the confusing sensations.

On my left, I feel something soft and warm pressed up against me. The pressure seems to be worst over the length of my upper arm, but I can feel that my forearm seems to be wrapped up and elevated somehow, pressed up against something delightfully soft.

My right side sends my addled brain equally confusing sensations. The presence is there also, but the positioning is different. I can feel something relatively solid over the right side of my chest and shoulder, but the rest of the arm remains free. Further down, I can feel the pressure of something resting over my upper thigh. A couple of centimetres higher, and I'd probably be waking up a hell of a lot quicker.

The warmth is pleasant, but the pressure is making me slightly uncomfortable. I shift slightly, trying to get more comfortable, but seem to be stuck. ‘Whaaaaaaa?’ I try a little harder, only to be met by soft, feminine grumbling.

‘What the?!’ My eyes spring open at the sound, suddenly wide awake. I’m back in my tent, and the first light of day is peeking in through a small crack in the tent flap. Lifting my head from my pillow, gawp at what I find. To my left, Emily sleeps on her side, facing away from me. She is tightly hugging my arm to her chest in her sleep. I blanch, realising where exactly my hand is pressed. I try my best not to think about that warm softness. 'She's not wearing a bra.' I violently tamp down the stray thought, desperately resisting the urge to squeeze. Wanting to be distracted by literally anything else, I shift my focus to my other side.

Ash’s head rests on my bare chest, her face peaceful in sleep. ‘Wait, bare chest?’ The maelstrom of conflicting emotions inside me intensifies when I realise that the only thing I’m currently wearing is my boxers. ‘What the hell happened to my armour?!?!’ More fuel is thrown on the internal dumpster fire as I realise Ash seems to have draped her leg over my thigh in her sleep.

My face burns as I try my hardest not to think about anything. Later that day, I wrack my brains to why I didn’t wake my sisters up at that moment, but the thought never occurred to my panicking mind. Instead, it latched onto the first distraction it could find, my pending notifications. Much, much later, I look back on the event and smile. How different could things have been without that first domino?

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Congratulations! You have read a Skill Primer, and unlocked the following Skill:

• Theology (Lvl 1).

Description: Rather than knowledge of any singular god, Theology is the study of the how’s and why’s regarding the divine, as well as religious belief. Higher levels of this skill increase knowledge of the divine, and therefore will help you when dealing with gods and their followers. Just don’t let any gods know you have this Skill; it’ll make some of them a mite bit smitey.

As this Skill was unlocked with the help of an item, you do not earn any Exp.

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Congratulations! Your Skill in Theology has increased from Level 2 to Level 10!

As this Skill was levelled with the help of an item, you do not earn any Exp.

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Congratulations! Your Skill in Theology has increased from the rank of Novice to that of Apprentice. As this Skill was levelled using an item, you do not earn any Exp. You do, however, still earn the Skill Perk.

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Quest complete!

Congratulations! You have completed the Quest: When there’s a wool, there’s a way!

Objectives completed:

• Clear a channel throughout your torso, connecting all of your arms and legs. (1/1 Torso cleared).
• Clear a path through each arm, and each leg (4/4 Limbs cleared).

You have received the following:

• The Mana manipulation Skill.
• +500 Exp.

Optional Objectives completed:

• Clear out every single blockage in your Mana channels using the map provided. (100/100% Cleared).

You have received the following:

• X1 Perk (Mana sight).
• +2 Wisdom.
• +3 Intelligence.
• +1000 Exp.

Description: For the cost of 5 Mana per second, Mana sight allows you to channel Mana into your vison, allowing you to view the magical spectrum. This Perk does not require concentration, and can be channelled alongside other spells cast by the user.

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Ding!

Congratulations! You have reached Character level 4!

Your Health, Stamina, and Mana, have all increased by 10 points.

You have 5 free Attribute points to spend.

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Congratulations! As a reward for completing the quest: When there’s a wool, there’s a way, you have unlocked the following Skill:

• Mana manipulation (Lvl 1).

Description: Mana manipulation, as the name suggests, is the art of manipulating one's Mana. This skill will passively improve how Mana passes through your Mana channels, allowing you to cast larger spells, and spend less mana doing so. Rumours surrounding this skill are common among Magi, with one such rumour suggesting that this Skill is a vital component in crafting spells. Hint hint.

For unlocking a Skill at the Novice rank, you have been awarded 50 Exp.

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You have been offered a new Quest!

*Warning*: This quest is not being offered by the System, and instead has been offered by a god of lust.

Quest available: Exquisite ****!

Description: As part of their domain, your morning predicament has somehow drawn the attention of a lust god. Naturally, with a domain like lust, the god is question is a huge pervert who finds the predicament you find yourself in more than a little hilarious, as well as rather enticing. The god is offering to use a portion of their divine power to combine two of your Skills to create a new, helpful Ability that you could really use (whilst still keeping the Skills used in the combination). All you need to do for the god in return is put on a show. What? We weren’t lying when we called them a pervert.

Objectives:

• Remain where you are for the next three minutes, without disturbing your sisters. (0.00/3.00Min)
• For the entirety of those three minutes, squeeze with your left hand. (0/1 sister titty squished)

Rewards:

• The lust god will combine your Analyse Skill and your Life Magic Skill to create the Ability: Medical Analysis.
• +500 reputation with this god.

Do you accept this quest? (Y/N).