Posts from Tiaral

We have family guys with mistresses, while you have a 40-year-old loser. Looks like we'll be gathering at Heroist's barn, drinking beer, and making plans about how we'll improve Celia.

)

Waiting for the others to write their stories.

Awaiting moderator approval.

-- Mineko, come eat! Mineko... How long must we wait for you?
The smell of something aromatic, very tasty, wafted from the house, and the girl hurried to lunch. And her mother's voice, so familiar, so dear... How could she disobey it?
The door was closed. Strange... Oh, but she's probably expected at the back entrance, she should check. Locked... Mineko started knocking, but no one came. How was she supposed to get inside now? The door must be stuck, she just needed to push harder!
And the girl fell crashing onto the floor from the bed. She groggily looked around at her surroundings and began to remember that she had been living in a different house with different people for a long time now... And all those pleasant smells, her mother's voice -- nothing more than a dream.
Caught up in her own feelings, Mineko didn't immediately notice that the baby downstairs had started crying. Oh, that's not good... The girl quickly climbed back onto the bed and pretended to be asleep, and it soon became clear this was not without reason: the door to her attic sharply swung open and her aunt entered loudly.
-- I can see you're not asleep! Was it you making that noise?
Mineko didn't react. Maybe it'll blow over... But no, the aunt sharply pulled back the blanket and struck her across the face.
-- I spent so long putting the little one down, and now he won't fall asleep! You little wretch! -- another hit. -- We'll talk more tomorrow.
When the attic door slammed shut again, the girl could only whisper quietly, through tears: "But I didn't mean to..."

***

When Mineko lost her parents, the girl was taken in by her aunt and uncle. Who, however, considered it more of a forced measure and did not grow to love their foster daughter, largely because they had many children of their own. She got along with her new brothers and sisters, but the adults... They piled her with heavy work, constantly and unjustly punished her physically, and wouldn't let her cry or complain. At the table, she of course got food last.
And the portions she got were fitting. Just like this time, unable to chew the bones and cartilage of her uncle's hunting trophy, she spat it all out -- and received the expected slap from her aunt.
-- Dad worked hard, went hunting, and this is how you repay him, huh? Wretch... What have *you* done?! Huh?
Mineko didn't bother saying that today she had swept the floors of the whole house, fed and watered the animals, done everything that was already part of her usual duties. It wouldn't have worked.
-- That's right, catch something first, then turn your nose up, -- her uncle chimed in. Her uncle's friend, with whom they were actively chatting, drained his cup of sake and grunted:
-- Kids these days.
Mineko, meanwhile, decided that if that was how it was, she would just go and catch something herself. A boar or a rabbit at the very least. Finishing what she could eat and making sure the adults were busy talking to each other, the girl hurried away from the table, got her uncle's bow, and set off to hunt. The feeling of resentment was normal for her in this house, but now it had reached some special peak, and the act, which would later seem pointless to her, Mineko committed without hesitation.
Carrying the large samurai bow through the forest was awkward; it constantly caught on things and made noise, guaranteed to scare off any game. A couple of times the girl saw squirrels but decided they were too small to be worth catching. Eventually, she came out into a clearing. It became easier to walk there; the meadow gave way to a small forest strip, after which there was another meadow, and soon Mineko spotted a rabbit in the distance.
As best she could, the teenager drew the bowstring, took aim, fired, painfully hitting herself on the ear with the string. The arrow flew off sharply somewhere to the side about two meters. The rabbit, standing about a hundred meters away, noticed the movement and bolted.
This time, Min couldn't hold back her tears; luckily, there was no one nearby to yell at her for it. Everything was there: not understanding what she had done to deserve this, the pain in her ear, the fleeing cowardly rabbit... And also, when she got home, the girl would be in for a scolding like never before.
She didn't want to go back. Besides, she wasn't sure which direction the house was: everything looked so similar... Walking a bit further through the forest and finally exhausted, Mineko stumbled upon a small hut. She stood hesitantly nearby, but finally knocked. No one answered, and the hut was empty, but the door opened, so the little girl decided to go inside and wait for the owner, rest a bit, and then ask for directions.
This meeting was probably the most important in Mineko's life. The owner came after sunset, carrying fish. Not young, grey-haired, but not quite an old man either. His face was kind. Without asking many questions, he gave her a drink, fed her... Put the girl to bed in a comfortable bed, while he himself slept on the floor, and in the morning helped her get home -- where Min was surprised to find that no one had even missed her. But unfortunately, seeing her appearance now and the bow in her hands, they would surely guess she had run off into the forest... That didn't bode well.

***

In the last month, Mineko began to run away from home to that same hut very often, and its owner, a fisherman-hunter, would take her in when he was home. He was an interesting conversationalist, not talkative. But when he did speak, it was to the point.
-- How did you lose your parents, Mineko?
-- Well... My father was a fisherman too. He once went out to sea and didn't return by evening. Mother got worried. She went after him, to the sea. And... In the morning, she still wasn't there... I don't know where they are...
-- Eh... This land where we live now is a land of blood. We are strangers to it, and it doesn't like us much, not like Nihon. Do you know about Nihon?
-- No...
-- It is the homeland of our people. A homeland from which another people drove us out. And we became travelers, but alas, not with the purest intentions. For us to get this island we live on, many people died, including many of the local inhabitants. We became bad guests. And as a result, I sometimes hear that ghosts walk, people disappear. That is our lot now.
-- Will my parents come back?
-- Unlikely... I don't want to upset you, but I'm afraid they are no longer alive. They live in your heart, but not in this world. Otherwise, they would have returned long ago.
...
-- Have you seen many countries?
-- Well... I've seen a thing or two.
-- What is it like, to travel?
-- I see a spark in your eyes. Do you want to run away from home for good? Don't be scared, I wouldn't scold you or stop you. Maybe I'd take you in, but your relatives would soon take you back.
-- They don't need me.
-- As a child, maybe they don't. As a labor force, they probably do.
-- I'll run away anyway. Just teach me how to shoot a bow!
-- Oh. Well, I'll try, but don't get your hopes up. You can't support yourself by hunting yet, you don't have the strength. Later, maybe, over time, you'll master my lessons... You have another skill, that's the main thing. You know how to work. If you do decide to run away, remember that your hands will feed you. Clean here, wash there... Offer help everywhere, and you will be thanked for it. If you decide to leave, of course... I must warn you, it's a dangerous venture.
-- I'm already thirteen.
-- That's what I'm saying... That's what I'm saying...
...
-- You know, I fish in a small backwater. I got clever and set a net at the outlet to the sea.
-- Really? Where does the fish come from there?
-- The fish swam in there before. It thought it had found a good place, safe, with food. But in reality, it gave up its freedom and waits for me to catch it on a hook. Eh.
-- Does that... apply to me too?
-- I don't know, Min... Sometimes I really do think that way. But in any case, it's your life, and it's your decision.

***

The girl had already firmly decided to go on a journey then, and after about a month of preparation, she carried out her plan at night. Min decided not to go on foot but to ride a mule ("It's not my uncle's or aunt's anyway, they took it from my parents").
She spent not just one year traveling across the island and beyond, seeing many things, both good and bad... During this time, she acquired a fairly carefree adventurer's philosophy, but in some ways strict with herself, reflecting the Satori clan's warrior traditions of life, which she absorbed during her travels. To be more useful and to feed herself, Min tried to learn about herbs, adding this to her domestic skills.
She wanted to travel alone and visit as many countries as possible, but she suffered more and more from her loneliness. The mule named Nikibi ("eel") wasn't much for conversation, though having some living creature nearby was pleasant. And after the girl encountered aggression towards her a couple of times in Celia, she thought even harder about teaming up with some adventurers. It was important to keep her freedom and the ability to travel, but it would also be good to be of some use, perhaps...
That's how she found the "Steel Hearts".

Additional Information

Mineko usually has a sad, slightly thoughtful, quiet look. She might pluck a blade of grass from the roadside and chew on it, hold it in her mouth -- a habit, after all, she didn't always manage to get food. She introduces herself as just "Min", not bothering to use her full name.

Origin

Shinsekai
+1 to accuracy and evasion for each point of dexterity, +1% to melee damage for each point of dexterity, +1% to ranged combat for each point of perception, +2 to movement speed.

Conviction



Bushido
The character's parameters are twice as high, but in case of defeat (when health drops to zero or below) he must commit ritual suicide.

Perk


Enlightenment
Immunity to mind-affecting effects.

Skills



Path of the Warrior (Shinsekai)

— Kyudo (Bow)
+1 to accuracy for each point of wisdom
+1 to evasion for each point of wisdom
+8 range of fire
— Kyujutsu (Bow)
+50% damage dealt
+1% chance of critical damage for each point of intelligence.
+Additional shot
— Prohibitive Shot (Bow)
Removes all effects from the selected character and prevents them from using active skills for the duration of the battle.
Cooldown: 3 turns.



Alchemy (Tiaral)

— Special Technique — Extract of Nalian Flowers
With a 100% probability, the character gains +10 to a random characteristic. The second time, the chance to gain +10 to a random characteristic decreases to 50%, then to 25%, and so on. Up to five portions can be prepared per month. Not using the extract for a full month increases effectiveness by 1 point.

Characteristics

Strength: 30
Intelligence: 5
Willpower: 5
Dexterity: 50
Perception: 20
Wisdom: 30 (+20)
Charisma: 10

Inventory

Yumi
Katana -- even though she doesn't particularly know how to use it and doesn't draw it, which somewhat surprises people who think a warrior from the Satori clan should primarily wield this weapon. Why does Min actually keep it? Who knows...
Potions and/or Ingredients -- flowers needed for crafting, and the result of the crafting itself, when possible.
Straw Hat.
Money -- someone might have paid for work or for potions, and Mineko only spent when necessary. Though in the end, she had gathered far from a large fortune.

Intelligence: 5

They won't let me work at the Factory again.

Again, he's talking about his "tsukikami." He could have been part of our "no girls" community.

The cop has become an anime fan, that’s it.

Min

Excellent. There will be someone for my Viking to… well, you know, once it becomes clear that no one will survive.

Who will my Viking rape when it becomes clear that no one will survive?

There's still the character of Locken.

There's also the character Locken.

Really? I didn't read the whole thread, I must have missed it. That's even better.

Excellent. There will be someone for my Viking to… “interact” with when it becomes clear that no one will survive.

He has a billion points in Dodge and Accuracy, so it’s anyone’s game.

He's at it again with his "tsukikami." He could be part of our "no girls" community.

But you're building an army of fresh-faced, sword-wielding girls there...

Yes, they do it for fun and because of their perversions. But the main characters are normal, so you can later enjoy playing as them, sitting in a barn and having fun with a barrel of beer, rather than some arrogant girls who are completely indifferent to everything.

What a bunch of losers. (2)

But the main characters are actually good.

I'm afraid you'll change your mind...

the character Locken is still there.

I didn't implement this functionality in the quest, so if I want, there will be some kind of trap with a snare or knives. We'll have to see what the situation calls for.