I decided I wanted to write another chapter today so this is literally hot off the presses, Ch2 of book 2 is still mostly about Goliath which means I have the bulk of it worked out and I’m confident that this rough draft is pretty close to what my final vision will be. Plus its still mostly setup so I don’t feel like I’m giving away book 2s goodies. A few characters near the end I’m partially introducing but I really don’t have much conceptual work done for them hence no names and little dialog, they will get fleshed out more in this chapter eventually.
Keep in mind this is the first version of the rough draft, please let me know what you think though.
Confused, afraid, and fatigued with his trump card spent and still cooling down, The Dark Psion opts to flee from his attacker. His goals here on the false world completed, his next target lies deep within the ancient temples scattered across the Home-World. Though he is vastly powerful he does not yet wield the immeasurable power it will take to overthrow the Illithid and reach the SEED first. Screeching out of sight The Dark Psion quickly fades into the Horizon. GOLIATH, now earthbound, is far too slow and heavy to give chase. Turning his attention to the Citadel, GOLIATH sets out toward the nearest rail line where his mechanical feet can propel him quickly toward his goal. Approaching the city GOLIATH encounters guardsmen, already on edge due to the attack on the courtyard. Preparing to face the construct the guardsmen receive mental missives from the council. "Let the construct pass". Standing aside as the odd looking golem passes those who see Goliath all wonder what he could be. Approaching the courtyard of Citadel Litheria GOLIATH prepares himself to face the council, hoping his advanced knowledge of the enemy and the situation might turn the tide of the war. At the entrance to the Citadel GOLIATH is met by one of the Councils personal guard. A Dwarven defender named Hol D'Jhor, and a dozen of his men. "You will follow me to the Temple of Inquisition, make no deviation from my course." Following behind the soldiers GOLIATH rolls forward approaching the Inquisition room and the long awaited confrontation with the Council of 13. Entering the Inquisition chamber GOLIATHs tall stature is dwarfed by the pedestals from which the Council look down from. "What business do you have here Construct? Our city smoulders now from attack, and now is the time you choose to address this council?" says one of the shadowy members of the Council. "We have our sources." says a second member. "Your not in the playbook, in fact neither is that man who attacked our Courtyard. Just exactly what are you? Where do you come from?" Facing the council GOLIATH makes his plea. "I come from a fissure in time itself. For 3 aeon I have watched as the worlds of men fight this war valiantly, doomed to failure each time. In that time i have learned, i have laid plans, i have set traps against our enemy. The man who attacked your courtyard is David _______, the same David scheduled for reinforcement duty on that very shipment." GOLIATH proceeded to explain to the council the events of the temporal loop, and Davids ascent to power culminating as The Dark Psion. Projecting the images he has accumulated of the situation."This Council faces a threat far greater than it comprehends. The Illithid wage war across ALL the planes, in every corner of existence on each populated world they seek the power of the SEED, and it is on our world that they will find it. Should the Illithid reach the SEED they will use its power to merge as a single consciousness and become a God of Gods, reshaping the universe in their horrific vision." GOLIATH pauses a moment. "But through an astronomically unlikely series of events now David stands poised to gain the SEEDs power as well, and should he succeed..." "David intends to use the power of the SEED to extinguish the light of the universe for all time. Should he get his way the universe will not be, and in fact will never have been. I urge this council to heed my words, the stakes are higher than you could have ever imagined, our world is but a sliver of what lies in the balance. I come to this council with a single request, to defeat the Illithid I will require an army. I can lead the armies of Litheria to victory should you give me the chance." "Give you men? Are you Mad? We have hardly the manpower to defend the Towers as it is!" exclaims one member. "What makes you think we can trust your vision of the war and how it shall unfold?" says another. "We have the prophecy, it has not failed us, and it foretells of our victory." The Council mummers back and forth, displeased at the brash request of the construct, discussing what they should do with GOLIATH. "ENOUGH!" GOLIATH roars, his spacial accelerators vibrating space itself to cast his voice. Frustrated by the Councils imperfection, accustomed to the clockwork precision of his own internal council, GOLIATH stands and assumes his combat stance. "I HAVE SUFFERED FAR TOO LONG IN THE DARKNESS TO HAVE THIS COUNCIL CONTEMPLATE MY IMPRISONMENT. I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR PETTY BICKERING. I WILL LEAD THE WORLDS OF MEN TO VICTORY IN THIS WAR, AND I WILL DO IT WITH OR WITHOUT YOUR BLESSINGS!" GOLIATH turns to exit the chamber. "This conversation is over." GOLIATH says, calming himself, as he walks out of the chamber. "HALT!" yells one of the councilmen, casting a force screen over the doorway preventing GOLIATHS exit. Pausing for a moment, then pivoting on one foot to turn to face the council again. "We have far too many enemies clawing at our doors to fight amongst ourselves my brothers." GOLIATHS says as a high pitched whine builds within the room. Turning his hands backwards to face the wall beside the doorway GOLIATH charges his spacial accelerators. Within his mind in the streams of code one line stands out amongst the rest. "Weapon Request: SAC 1, 2, 4, 5: Full Discharge." Culminating in a deafening explosion the high pitched whine of the power build up pales in comparison to the force that tears through the several foot thick stone wall of the inquisition chamber. Stepping through the newly created doorway Goliath leaves his hopes for the Council behind. Jolting to their feet several council members prepare to case offensive spells at GOLIATH. "Take your seats!" says the eldest Council member. "Clearly if the construct wished us harm he could do so, his words ring true, we should not fight amongst ourselves. Perhaps the construct is powerful enough to be of some use to us." Entering the Courtyard once more GOLIATHs next goal is the repair of the teleportation rings, without which the war for the Home-World cannot continue and GOLIATH is stranded on the wrong planet. Approaching the smouldering remains of the teleporter GOLIATH looks at its rings which lie shattered from the feedback of the temporal loop. His eye shining brightly Goliath begins mapping the broken pieces, calculating their reintegration. Scanning for microscopic tears and lesions GOLIATH builds a detailed repair map at the molecular level within seconds. Scanning the crowd of survivors and first responders GOLIATH calls out. "Who among you knows of constructs and of metals? I have the knowledge to repair the rings but not the means." From the crowd a Gnome steps forward. "I do." he says meekly at the sight of the giant lumbering construct. Looking at the Gnome GOLIATHS eye once more glows and a thin bright sliver of light passes up then down the Gnome. "Come here." GOLIATH says, His eye focusing down toward a broken piece of the rings, projecting cracks and knicks not visible onto its surface. "We must bridge the gaps." GOLIATH says as the Gnome kneels down and takes a closer look at the fragment. GOLIATH once more looks to the crowd "Who among you is telekinetic? Perhaps you specialize in magic of the force school?" he asks. A brash young Elf steps forward, "I am master of the 7 dimensions.". Once again GOLIATH projects an image of the fragment, but this time he expands the image greatly, zooming down to the molecular level and shining a beam of light on the exact spot on the fragment. "We have much work to do." GOLIATH says as the image of the fragment animates to show the molecules rolling back together to their original configuration.
And the beginning of Ch. 3 too. Ive had this action sequence worked out for several years and this is where it happens but its not enough for a whole chapter in itself so this chapter will remain only partially finished.
Chapter 3: The Cerulean Towers
"RUN!! RUN!!!" Shouted the Litherian soldier, unloading the last of his ammunition from his sidearm against the monstrous aberration giving chase. Close head a young woman in flowing white robes runs frantically across the landscape. "To the East!" He screams, "Toward the towers!" The giant insect like monster gaining ground, drawing other monsters in its wake. Discarding his sidearm the soldier pulls a stone from his pocket and holds it to his chest. "EMERGENCY INVOCATION REQUESTED AT TOWER 7" he shouts, "IVE FOUND A SURVIVOR! REPEAT NATIVE SURVIVORS VERIFIED!" A voice from the stone responds "WHAT?!" "NATIVE SURVIVORS VERIFIED, HEAVY CONTACT TRAILING TO TOWER 7 REQUEST IMMEDIATE INVOCATION! CONFIRM!" a moment passes and the soldier catches up to the young woman, the top of the tower coming into view in the distance. "Invocation confirmed!" a voice calls out from the stone. "Fifteen seconds!" Grabbing the woman and pulling her to him he pulls an item from his pack, Throwing it to the ground several yards ahead of them. In an explosive instant a short trench is formed in freshly turned soil. Diving into the trench, monsters just yards behind them, he yells "Close your eyes, cover your ears, and take a deep breath!" High atop the simple stone tower a powerful wizard finishes his incantation. Focusing the power of the Cerulean Sign through powerfully enchanted crystals of light The Cerulean Sign bursts forth high above the tower in a deafening clap and roar shining its blinding light outward for miles. Upon impact with the aberrations exoskeleton resonance buildup tears the beast apart from the inside. Killing it instantly. The focused light from the incantation destroys blinds and disorients most other creatures of the night, leaving them helpless and vulnerable. "QUICK LETS GO!" the soldier yells, knowing not all manner of monster are vulnerable to the signs invocation. Approaching closer to the tower the stone calls out "Whats the status of the survivor?" "She's OK, Says shes a Keeper herself, tells me they have an entire society underground." the soldier replies. "Well we might need their help soon then, we just lost our teleporter back home" the voice responds. "Oh shit..." the soldier replies as they enter the base camp for the tower. "Yea..." the voice responds.
I think I’m going to have sidearms mandatory issue for emergencies, when thinking that idea over its clear your going to want a magnum, your shooting monsters not people a 9mm isnt gonna cut it. I always loved the gun from trigun. I might make the sidearms similar.
The idea here is when the crew sets the weapon to fire they pull a lever or a rope etc and it raises the plate under the springs at the top releasing the tension from the axles. There’s a bottom plate as well, the arms have a slight bevel near the end of the swing that will contact a rod and raise the arms up an inch or two at the end of each shot, pulling the gear assembly off of the power plates. So to fire one pulls said rope and the top plate slams down engaging the clutch and wham instant Titan killer. All the mechanics below the teeth would rotate at all times when the flywheel is engaged, their added rotational momentum will supplement the flywheel when its engaged.
