I would like to Thank everyone for the support and a special thanks to those that left a constructive review. I do take time to read every review I receive; I like reading opinions of my story and I do try to address problems.
Author's Note:
I get so many idea's that I have to place them somewhere while I'm working on other things or I'll just have a list of mishmashes of content.
Please take a gander, and let me know what you fine folks think!
Disclaimer: I in no way own these characters or worlds that take place in this story, I am just playing around with the sandbox left to me and my imagination. But the OCs are MINE!
Chapter 1: Every Story has to start somewhere . . .
[? POV]
Slowly blinking at the sudden bright light, I look up at the smiling face of a red-haired man.
"Welcome young one! I apologize for having to inform you, but welcome to purgatory!" He informed, and I was immediately beset with confusion.
"I died? I don't remember that . . ." My own voice sounding alien.
"Well, death can often be traumatizing so I removed that little blurb from your memory. I could show you a play by play of how it happened, but it boils down that you got crushed by a bookshelf." The man replied before reaching down and picking me up in the palm of his hand.
This enlightened me to my current lack of body.
"Are you god? What will happen to my library?" I asked, thinking over all the precious books I watched over for so many years.
"For your first question, no. Just a powerful entity passing through your little corner of the Omni-verse. As for your second question, I believe that your assistant took over after your untimely demise." He informed, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Johnathan was more than capable of looking after the collection.
"Which brings me to the next decision you need to make." The being stated, and with a wave of his hand, screens appeared around us.
Events from my entire life appeared and started playing silently as the man continued; "You've led a decent life, and I could shuffle you off to your afterlife of choice as you are a relatively good soul."
"Relatively?" I ask, and he shrugs.
"No one is perfect. But regardless, you have a special little quality to you that I wanted to give you an opportunity." He replied, causing my curiosity to be piqued.
"I am an entity simply labeled as a gamer. We see worlds through the eyes of an outsider, and embark on various adventures of our own, finding new experiences and information wherever we deign to travel. You've started to dabble in a few games yourself in between the massive volumes of books you consumed."
"Your soul caught my eye as you have the spark of something special. A little kernel of chaos that meshes well with my own. So, I'd like to sponsor you your own system."
I had heard of the concept before . . . I think Johnathan was reading a Korean webcomic about the concept . . .
"What is the catch?" I ask, and he smiles gently.
"I'm glad you understand how there are no free handouts. The catch is that I need you to build a grand data repository. All the knowledge you accumulate, I need an identical copy for my records." The being informed, and I was immediately beset by confusion.
"But you're obviously a higher being. Why would you need a copy of whatever I find?" I ask, my curiosity getting the best of me.
"Its more for an experiment on my part. I wanted to see if another entity could acquire different data than what I did thus far. And I'd like a second source to cross check against, and I thought "who better than a former librarian?" Realistically, you may have a different preference of worlds than I do, and you may uncover something I missed." He explained, and I nod once.
Truthfully, he had quite the enticing offer. Here I had the chance to create the biggest library across all dimensions. I might even have the chance to acquire long lost manuscripts. The likes of the fabled library of Alexandria could be within my grasp.
"I accept your offer Mr. . . ?" I question, and he chuckles.
"Tavish Byrne my friend. Now lets put you through character creation." He stated, waving his hands and text coming to life in my vision.
"What's this now?" I ask, and he smiles as the percentage bar fills.
"We all start somewhere, and this is where you decide who you wish to be." He stated, a panel opening in front of me.
[Welcome To the Record Keeping System!]
[Please Select a Race]
[Human] [?] [?] [?]
"What are the question marks?" I ask, watching him smile down at me.
"A possibility. Do you want to roll for the chance of something greater? Or abandon all risk and stick with human?" Tavish offered as I debated.
I've played it safe up until now, but those question marks were tempting . . .
Selecting the second question mark, the text glowed before expanding out.
[Angelic Abomination]
Angels are often not beautiful when defined by human terms, and many look outright terrifying to humans, as your mere form is incomprehensible in their minds. You are an eldritch being that can only be defined by the approximation of what you represent.
What the hell?
Tavish suddenly dropped me as I grew and my vision changed to reveal the never-ending whiteness that surrounds us.
"How biblical . . ." Tavish commented, a mirror appearing in front of me to reveal my new form.
I stood at a towering 8'1, my face featureless as white skin coated my vaguely human shape.
Two intersecting golden halo's surrounded my head, each one lined with gleaming red eyes.
Feathered wings push themselves out from my back the edges of my feathers taking a deep red tinge.
Along the joints of my wings, eyes opened displaying the red irised eyes that I was quickly becoming familiar with.
This was completed by the white robes protecting my modesty from the waist down.
[Perks Added!]
[Gamer's Mind]
The quintessential tool of every gamer's tool box. Prevents mental intrusion, and allows the gamer to keep a cool head.
[Gamer's Body]
Allows the gamer's "Body" to receive the benefits of a video game character.
[Inventory]
The hammer space that allows you to hold items and treasures you may come across in your journeys.
[360-degree Vision] (Rare)
You can see everything around you. Your eyes help out with that.
[World Records] (1/100) (Common)
Allows the user to read the records of any entity or item they may come across.
Drawback added!
[Unsettling]
Regular mortals find your form unsettling. Adds difficulty to any social interaction.
A sudden headache slams into me with the new onset of sensory input before it slowly fades, and I look back at Tavish.
A massive tome made of some unknown metal was floating above his head, and I reached out a hand and the book flies to my outstretched hand.
But I couldn't even open the cover.
"So this is your version of "observe"? Quite interesting." Tavish mused, seemingly unbothered by my attempt to read his records.
"Alright, I'll give you a bit as a freebee." He comments, snapping his fingers and the cover opens.
Name: Tavish Byrne
Species: Administrator
Power level: Higher-Being
Tavish is a wild soul that possesses the Slayer System. He always is in search of his next great adventure wherever it may lurk.
He is currently taking a break to administer a young soul in a system of his own creation.
"And that's enough of that!" Tavish cheerfully states, causing the book to slam shut.
"You can acquire more information the more you use it, but it's time to decide what world you're starting out in!" He stated enthusiastically, as a massive wheel appeared next to him.
Giving it a heave, it started spinning through thousands of options, and I prayed for a relatively peaceful world.
The wheel slowed, ticking down until it finally came to a stop.
[Destination Selected]
[DC Universe]
[Initiating world in 3 . . .]
[2 . . .]
[1 . . .]
The floor opens up beneath me and I fall through.
"I'll be in touch friend! And you might want to decide on a name!" Tavish throws after me as I furiously try to flap my wings.
Rain falls around me as I fall faster and faster, the pavement of the city below zooming ever closer before coming to a halt just above the ground, before I was lowered gently.
[Racial Perks discovered!]
[Flight]
Angels are able to fly through a combination of physical wings, and magic. Being inherently magical beings, you spend a miniscule amount of mana to assist with flight.
[Mana Usage]
The power source of all of your abilities. You are an inherently magical being that can utilize mana. Mana slowly regenerates over time.
[Without Trace] (1/100) (Common)
Regular entities cannot detect you without revealing your presence.
That probably suited me just fine, as I didn't want the populace to be running in terror of my very presence.
I don't even know where I am yet . . .
[Time Skip]
I pour over a volume in the local library I had found.
This had been part of a routine I had developed over the past month.
It only took a day to realize that my lack of mouth would make acquiring sustenance a challenge, but I quickly came to the conclusion that I sustained myself through other unseen means.
I had a theory that I absorb ambient mana, but without knowing more about how exactly magic worked, it was just a guess.
As for sleep . . .
I just kinda entered a meditative state and just floated in place.
Really weird experience the first few times it happened, but I'm getting used to it.
It was somewhat on the backburner as I was trying to learn more about this odd power I've been gifted with.
Reaching above my head I pull a tomb out of the air and open it.
Name: Akriel
Species: Angelic Abomination
Class: Bibliomancer
Grand Archive Cataloged: 132
Archives available for trade: 10
Strength: Base Human
Dexterity: Average
Intelligence: Above Average
Wisdom: Armchair Philosopher
Charisma: Anti-social
The Grand Archive stat was basically a running total of books and/or information I read and recorded, allowing me to save and retrieve at a later date.
These archives could be traded for abilities that can assist me in my quest.
[Zone of Peace] (5/100)
You project an aura of peace that prevent violent actions within its area. This effect will break if you attack someone within the zone.
It was the only ability that I had bought so far, but I feel that it was a worthwhile purchase upon discovering this library.
The library itself was on a downhill slope as the city had abandoned it due to lack of funding, but my presence has done a minor amount to stop it from being completely defiled.
Which is where my class came into play.
[Bibliomancer]
Masters of the written word, these mages specialize in literary based magics. From cataloging the chronicles of saga's, to most forbidden of magics, these mages are capable of manipulating and recording any information they come across.
New Spells Added!
[Book Crafting]
Craft a book with a record of information known to you.
[Literary Manipulation]
Freely manipulate anything that falls under the category of literature.
[Book Conceptualization]
Conjure temporary copies of any book you have read.
[Data Reading] (1/100) (Common)
By simply touching a source of information, your able directly absorb the information for quick retention. (Warning: make sure to use sparingly as headaches may form from over absorption.)
I decided on an angelic sounding name, but I might change it if I can find a way to change back to human.
But I had more pressing concerns thanks to some old archived newspapers I found in the archive.
The Gotham Gazette.
As in, Gotham city, the most crime ridden location in this particular universe?
I was on edge, as I quickly read through the fiction section of the abandoned library, almost rushing in places as I planned out my next move.
With no wish to deal with Batman or his menagerie of villains, I needed to find a new repository of knowledge.
Most of my DC knowledge was quite spotty as I had enough interest to read a few comic books out of curiosity, but so many other stories called for my attention.
But there was one place where I could think of that could possibly provide relative safety while I quietly study.
The Tower of Fate.
But I probably needed permission in order to access such a facility.
My inner monolog was broken when I heard a creak behind me and I turn around to spot a redhaired girl that was peering up at the five or so books I had floating around me.
"Hello? Who are you?" she whisper's and I debate internally before I hold out a hand and her book floats over to me.
Name: Barbra Gordon
Species: Human
The daughter of police Commissioner, James Gordon, Barbra has always had a certain curiosity when it comes to crime and its associated fields.
This led to her becoming "Batgirl", as she fights crime in a crusade to make the city a better place.
She is currently investigating the suspicious lack of violent crimes in this area of Gotham.
I hadn't ever spoken to anyone in this universe yet. Physically, I didn't have a mouth, so that was a relatively large stepping stone in my attempted communication . . .
"Ahem . . . hello human." I speak, the voice echoing around us in an ethereal manner.
Racial Trait Discovered!
[Omnipresent Voice]
Your voice comes from . . . somewhere? You can create auditory or mental sounds for communication.
"Human? Are you not? She asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Ah . . . no. I can reveal myself if you promise not to freak out." I offer, the books around me closing and organizing themselves back on the shelf.
"You're not going to try and eat me, are you?" she questioned, causing me to blink in confusion.
"No? Is that a common thing on earth?" I ask, causing her to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
"More common than you think." She states, not elaborating any further.
"Strange customs . . ." I finish, my body fading into view, causing her eyes to widen and take a half step back.
"A biblical angel?" she asked, as she watched my many eyes focus on her.
"As close to your understanding of it anyway. I have been reading in this library for the past month." I answer, gently landing on the ground.
"Why not go to the church? Or the Vatican? Surely, they could help you out with whatever you need?" Barbra asked, and I focused on her for a moment.
"Even if I were an Abrahamic Angel, I shudder to think about associating with the church at all." I reply, and she latched onto that tidbit.
"So, what god do you serve?" She questioned, and I thought about how to describe my situation.
"I have no idea . . ." I answer, holding out my hand and another book floated towards me.
"Let's try a different angle then, do you know why the violence in this area dropped off?" she asked, as I paged through this newest book.
"My presence in an area deters the very thought of violence. It is simply a byproduct of my existence. Is that an issue?" I ask and she shakes her head in bemusement.
"No, I doubt any of the criminals will put the pieces together on the phenomena." She stated before pausing for a moment.
"Have you considered putting your powers to use for something bigger?" She asked, watching me closely.
"Like playing superhero, Batgirl?" I reply, causing her to jump in shock.
"Don't look so surprised. I can see your being in its entirety. Your struggles, your triumphs. A little footnote like that is trivial for me to find out."
"But in answer to your question, no. This world does not need an angel enacting his own version of justice upon it. If I started acting on my morals, I'd put the likes of the Joker down for good. Too many people would frown upon that, and I am quite content on accumulating knowledge and writing books." I finish, raising my hand and creating a copy of the book I was reading.
"That's a cynical outlook . . ." she comments, and I turn my head to look at her.
"It is a fact on what will happen. I could save so much pain and suffering if I went out and killed about half of Batman's rouge's gallery. But no one would believe me, and I'd be villainized for my actions." I reply, pausing before retrieving Barbra's book and copying it as well.
Every life was it's own story after all.
"Have you actually interacted with any human's since descending to earth?" She asked, and I tilt my head.
"Do you count?" I ask, returning the books to their place as she shake's her head.
"Then no." I replied, and a golden book appeared in front of me and opened to reveal text.
[Quest Added]
[Don't be a shut in]
This is your second lease on life, and the administrator would like to see you enjoy yourself.
Objective 1: Meet 30 new people
Objective 2: Learn the true meaning to "being human".
Bonus Objective 1: Embark your career as a hero to the universe.
Bonus Objective 2: Steal something from the Batcave. (I don't recommend it, but I'm kinda bored watching you read all day. Plus, it would be kinda funny.)
Reward: New Skills, New Friends, a title.
"Perhaps that is my issue Ms. Gordon. I haven't gotten to know humans. All I have to go on are what stories I read." I state, ignoring the little note that Tavish had added to the quest.
While it does tickle my funny bone on a certain level, I had no desire to deal with Batman at this time.
"Logically speaking, my statement remains correct. But perhaps this world can show me something different." I continue, before Barbra spoke up.
"Well, there's your first mistake, you are applying logic to humans." She replied boldly, causing me to smile internally.
Which was all I really could do without a mouth . . .
"Fair enough Ms. Gordon." I replied, my voice filled with mirth.
We spoke for an additional hour before she had to depart for home.
[Time Skip]
Flapping my wings, I hover over my destination before landing in front of the brick-and-mortar building.
[215 Archives Traded!]
[Heavenly Garb]
Your robes adapt to fit the environment you find yourself in and help you blend with the populace just a little. They possess the properties of "self-repair" and "self-cleaning".
[120 Archives Traded!]
[Mouth]
You have developed a mouth that allows you to display emotions, eat food, and not freak people out with a voice that comes out of nowhere.
My robes shift to a beige suit and I adjust the tie, as a stack of papers appears in my hand.
Ducking under the doorway, I stand up into the dead silence of the room, people frozen in place as they take note of my presence in the already quiet library.
Stepping over to the front desk I look down at the librarian sitting behind the front desk.
"Hello. I read that you had an open position and I was looking to apply." I state, breaking the librarian out of his shock.
"A-ah, yes. We are looking for more librarians. Do you have an appointment?" he asked, and I nod happily.
"It should be for Akriel. No last name." I cheerfully inform, as he takes my resume and scrambles to the back room.
[James Gordon POV]
Crank calls aren't unheard of at the GCPD. But unfortunately, whenever reports come in of costumed individuals, it warrants a substantial response in case of a new villain emerging.
However, I had no idea what a villain would be planning at the Gotham University library.
So, this resulted in us taking the soft approach, with more units close by as backup.
Captain Sawyer accompanied me as we stepped in the doors, the silence almost deafening as I laid eyes on the supposed "man" in question.
His features were quite remarkable in how monstrous, yet angelic he looked. The many eyes on his halo blinking sleepily as he waited in a chair that was too small for his large frame. He held a large book in his hand, that he would page through every so often.
"Y'know, I never thought I'd see a cape look like an angel as described by the bible." Maggie spoke up, her no nonsense manner coming through. The man's eyes snapping open and focusing on the two of us.
"My apologies for the confusion officer, but this is just my natural appearance. I am neither a hero, or a villain. I was just hoping to apply for a job." His voice floated through the room, his mouth trying to move in sync with the words being produced.
"So, did you suffer from a scientific experiment gone wrong? Here to avenge your wronging in some grand scheme?" she continued, and I raised an eyebrow at the blasé approach she was taking, but if the man was offended, he didn't show it.
"I don't think so? I came into being a month ago, and I just like books, so I decided to go to get a job so I could afford a place of residence." He informed happily, and I refocused on the angel.
He was homeless?
Why didn't I hear reports about him before?
"You haven't had a place to sleep? Where have you been staying for the past month then?" Maggie questioned, her abrasive nature softening.
"Ah, I've been sleeping above the cloud layer. Kinda cold up there, and I think I almost got hit by a jet a week or two ago, so I thought I'd find somewhere less dangerous to stay." He replied, and I silently thanked the powers that be a passing jet didn't crash into the city.
Glancing at Maggie, we both come to the same conclusion as the very nervous librarians were looking out of the back office at us.
[Time Skip]
[Akriel POV]
In hindsight, I think I was missing some very important things for applying for a job.
The most notable of which was ID, any sort of qualification, and literally no work experience that would be deemed acceptable in this dimension.
So after a nice little ride in a very cramped cop car, I found myself sitting across from Captain Sawyer's desk with a cup of less than stellar coffee.
The usual hustle and bustle, overridden by the sounds of people being held in lock-up was unusually silent, the quiet shuffle of papers the only thing breaking the silence.
The good captain was typing across from me on the computer as she made a few phone calls and attempted to get me an ID, and it was a bit of a shock when she suddenly slammed her fist on the desk.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she yelled, frustration evident in her tone.
"Sorry?" I ask, my many eyes blinking in confusion.
"It's never this quiet in here, Fergus would have tried to break out twice by now, and I've worked with capes often enough to know when something is off. So, what did you do?!" She exclaims, gesturing at one of the men in lockup.
"I might have a minor byproduct of my presence that removes the thought of violence." I confess and she stares at me blankly.
"Can you turn it off?" She asked, and I shrug.
"I've never tried. Wasn't really big on violence in the first place." I comment, before I mentally switch it off, and the holding cells explode in a variety of jeers and a minor scuffle breaks out between an officer and someone he was in-processing.
"I think I prefer the quiet." I add, and she lets out a small laugh.
"You get used to it." She commented, pulling a camera out from under her desk and snapping a picture.
Blinking away the flash, I watch her send the picture to a card printer, and she hands me an ID.
"That should help you stay registered until we can figure out what to do. Technically, all we can do as register you as a resident. Their isn't really precedent for an angel coming to earth, but that should at least provide a record of you so you can get a GED." She explained, and I looked down at the ID card.
"Thank you, Captain. I'm still adjusting to humanities customs, and this will be most helpful." I say gratefully, getting ready to stand up.
"Hold on Akriel. I have an offer that you might be interested in." She stated, pulling a piece of paper off her printer, and setting it between us.
"I'd like to hire you as a GCPD . . . consultant, while you're putting yourself through school." She began, as I listened.
"It's a paid position, but we are dealing with a lot of crazies that have been cropping up in Gotham. And your ability to passively deescalate would be in quite high demand." She continued, and I thought about it.
This would help me fulfill the requirements for the quest. Plus, outside of reading, I hadn't given much thought to what I wanted to do in this world.
"It's . . . quite an interesting offer Captain. I think I'll look forward to working with you." I reply, watching a grin flit onto her face before vanishing.
"Great! That means we have a bit more paperwork to do . . ." she stated, hitting another button and a sheaf of papers started printing.
They probably only offered to keep an eye on me. The revelation of my power was just a nice bonus for them.
Plus, I kinda needed money.
It made the world go round, and I didn't have anything particularly marketable outside of the Zone of Peace.
My ability to copy books notwithstanding, my two saving graces for this world were that I hadn't ran into any of the criminals yet, and that I didn't require food for sustenance.
I really would like to sleep in a real bed at some point, but I've been getting by with that weird trance thing and floating up somewhere safe.
The jet nearly hitting me was not the most pleasant of experiences to say the least . . .
[Time Skip]
Maggie Sawyer was a bitch.
Almost as soon as I signed the paperwork, I was put through remedial training, having to meet her high standards for physical fitness, as well as reading up on all of Gotham's laws and practices.
She even had me sit down with the psychologists and hostage negotiators, in order to understand and use my ability to the fullest.
Then the self-defense training occurred, leaving what felt like bruises all over after discovering how harsh a teacher Maggie was as she basically threw me around the gym.
I do appreciate the perk I discovered, and the muscle definition I acquired.
[Heavenly Physique] (Locked) (Currently: Peak Human)
Your body retains the peak of physical fitness for your species. You will have to train on your own to continue getting stronger.
Skills Added!
[Self-defense] (5/100) (Common)
[Negotiation] (32/100) (Common)
Most of my work so far, involved simply hanging around the precinct, using my ability. Which the officers were immensely thankful for, as they weren't having to worry about getting suddenly jumped by the various people that make their way through the front doors.
I did purchase a few new abilities as I prepared for the now eventual meeting with a villain.
[Holy Energy]
You can now tap into holy energies and manipulate them to your will, infusing your attacks, or developing abilities of your own.
[Razor Wings]
Your wings can now be as sharp as blades with a thought, allowing you to fire feathers as a minor ranged attack.
[Restorative Aura] (3/100)
You emit an aura that restores everything around you to its natural state.
That last one was quite the interesting power, as its potential simply feltlike their was more than the simple sentence would suggest.
My biggest hurdles however, would always remain the humans.
My presence . . . unsettles them, to put it lightly.
This was illustrated when I visited a coffee house.
I quite missed the taste despite not requiring sustenance, and the burnt black coffee at the GCPD didn't quite cover the fix.
And one really couldn't quite compete with the feeling of curling up with a warm drink and a book.
But this an awful hard thing to accomplish when the one coffee shop you walk into, your barista passes out on the floor, frothing at the mouth.
I was requested to purchase my own coffee machine after that incident.
A bit of good news though, I was allowed to claim the books in my abandoned library.
Some sort of grant for the preservation of libraries from the Wayne foundation was handed to me at the police department, and I was ecstatic that I could seize all of the library's contents, the problem came on where I could store the collection.
I didn't even have a place to live at this point, as none of the apartments in Gotham were built for someone of my size in mind.
The only thing within my budget was the abandoned clock tower oddly enough. The building itself was condemned, and with many of its internals rotting away, it was in perfect condition for a re-model.
My only gripe about the property was the damnable bell that reverberated over my head every hour.
And as an added condition, I was responsible for the clocktower's maintenance and upkeep.
Thankfully, the city provided an additional grant for that particular fund, as it was technically public infrastructure, but I had a place to live now that wasn't just drifting around aimlessly.
The city was probably more worried about me causing a plane to crash, than me having size appropriate housing, but I digress.
I want to fill the first two floors with a pseudo library/bookstore but that was probably a dream for the far-flung future me to worry about.
My most current worry was how quick I made it onto Batman's radar.
But so far, it was only in the form of Bruce Wayne giving me money, so maybe that's a good sign.
I might be one of the first "monstrous" entities in Gotham that wasn't trying to start shit, so he was giving me some slack.
The GCPD kept me busy in their records department for the most part. Many of the officers were hesitant in employing any of my "supernatural" skills, but they seemed to just be content to keep an eye on my whereabouts for now.
Regardless, it wasn't long before I got my first assignment.
Arkham Asylum.
I am one hundred percent convinced that I pissed off a higher power somehow, as I sat in my small office deep within the asylum.
And continue to sit there for extended periods.
Granted, they incentivized me with a lot of money to spend as much time there as possible.
My only solace was that the library here was fairly decent, but I had to leave my zone of peace on twenty-four seven.
I also had to report to Doctor Hugo Strange.
A very odd duck, as far as quacks go, but he rules the asylum with an iron fist and what he says, goes.
I had orders from the GCPD to report any strange occurrences, or oddities, but thankfully everything has been quiet thus far.
But even I felt that their was something inherently wrong with the asylum.
That something almost felt magical, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
Especially since the asylum contained its own colorful collection of capes.
Occasionally, I'm tapped to issue reading materials to certain inmates and I get the privilege of bringing the book trolly around for the inmates to get a little enlightenment.
The fact that someone found out that I could create books, made this a permanent duty, as I could use my powers far cheaper than they could purchase books.
"Good golly! Is it time for the rapture already?! And here I am not wearing my Sunday best!" A cackle echo's out from one of the cell's nearby as I walk past, and I get a glimpse of the Joker peering out from within.
"Greetings Joker. I take it that your back for Mac & Cheese night?" I question, remembering the Vicki Vale report earlier that evening that detailed his latest scheme being foiled by Batman.
"Oh! You know me too well Aki old boy! They don't quite cook it right in the other prisons! Has Hugo given any thought to my request?" He asked, and I rolled my many eyes at him.
"He looked at your request for book privileges for a full three seconds longer than usual before shredding it this time." I offer, before I stop at the cell next door.
"A shame really, old Johnney won't share any of his." The clown pouted, as the slit in the door opened and several books were slid out.
"Do you have "The Dunwich Horror"?" a new voice interjected and I shift my gaze to the face of Jonathan Crane.
Better known as The Scarecrow.
Conjuring the book in question, I pass it through the slot, and I scribble down the request on my notepad.
"All your books are accounted for. Do you have any requests Dr. Crane?" I ask, as the Joker continues to yammer on.
I'd like to request "Paradise Lost"." He stated, the tone of his voice unchanging, and I make another note.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do." I reply, taking Crane's books and setting them on the cart.
As I pick up the last one, I felt whispers echo through my mind before I drop it.
The book lay on the floor innocently, but I could see an ethereal book appear above the book.
[World Records]
[Tome Of Eldritch Madness]
A book detailing the insane experiments of mad men, and details magics and rituals of other planes. It inflicts madness on those who read its contents.
[Gamers Mind activates and prevents the madness]
[The Tome of Eldritch Madness is absorbed into your library.]
[Eldritch Magic Unlocked!]
The Abomination portion of your bloodline unlocks as you see the horrors hidden beneath the veil of reality.
My blood runs cold, at the sudden notification as I look closer at the book, its true appearance slowly revealing the tendril covered tome, a purple eye blinking on the cover.
"Oh? Did you finally notice Aki? Don't worry! You'll fit right at home with the rest of the people here!" The Joker bursts out laughing at my reaction.
New Quest Created!
[Eldritch Magics]
You've found a clue indicating the inherent wrongness that you felt when arriving at the asylum.
Objective 1: Find more clues.
Bonus Objective: Uncover the dark history of the Arkham family.
Reward:?
The book in question vanished into the air as I continue my route for the day before returning to my office.
I couldn't report this to Dr. Strange. He was already eyeing me up like a test subject, and a report like this could easily be twisted to suit his own ends.
Which led to me wishing for the first time since coming here to meet Batman.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, as I turned to look down at Aaron Cash.
One of the senior security guards at Arkham, his stern demeanor was one of the few things that didn't put me on edge in this place.
"How was the book cart duty today?" he asked, getting down to business quickly as I shift.
"It was fine, but . . ." I try to put into words before pulling the tome from my inventory, and Aaron flinches back.
"The hell is that?" he questioned, reaching for the book before I pulled it back quickly.
"Careful! The book causes madness to any who touch it. My physiology protects me from its influence." I bark out in warning as I set it on the desk.
"You know, if you had told me that ten years back, I would have laughed it off as nonsense." He stated gruffly.
"And now?" I ask, and he looks back up at me before down at the book once more.
"I've seen too much. Besides, standing next to an angel really puts things like magic into perspective for you." He jokes, and I pick up the book once more and put it away.
"Scarecrow was the owner of that particular artifact. He almost slipped it amongst the other books on the cart. It and other books like it are probably part of the problem of the sheer number of patients that this asylum has produced." I explain, causing him to scratch his chin in thought.
"So should we stop loaning books?" He offered and I shook my head.
"We don't have the slightest inkling on what might be behind this. I have no idea on what they do, but the completly mad inmates are aware of their existence. Joker was "helpful" in pointing that out, but I don't know where to even begin looking outside of the book repository. I would recommend that none of the doctors or guards be on book duty for awhile." I comment and Cash nods in agreement.
"That's easy enough to hide. Your presence here over the last few months has certainly made things easier in handling patients. So you taking care of books is fine. It's also the most peaceful I've seen Croc whenever we have to move him. Haven't had a casualty in months thanks to that ability of yours." He replies, relief prevalent in his tone.
"Don't let your guard down. My "away" days are perfect opportunity for something to go awry, and I'd hate for people to die because they got lax." I warn, as I pack my bag to go home.
"No worries, we hold off on any of the truly dangerous transfers unless you're in. If nothing else, we just go to the old method of loading up the transferee with a whole lot of tranqs." Aaron called after me as I head home.
Glancing down at where Aaron's hook once resided, I smiled to myself at the confirmation of the flesh and blood hand in its place.
Killer Croc had torn off Aaron's hand at some point, leaving him with a hooked hand to look after.
It grew back completely after about a month of me being stationed at the asylum.
I think he knows I'm indirectly responsible, but he hasn't said anything except throw grateful looks my way occasionally. I choose to keep my silence on it because I prefer it that way.
Flapping my wings, I take off over the Gotham harbor, and let the wind catch under my wings.
All in all, my first few months in Gotham have been relatively peaceful. And without superpowered interference.
Honestly, I was more surprised that I've met a large number of villains in passing and have yet to meet a "hero", but I doubt I've escaped their radar.
Hopefully, if I kept to myself, things would remain relatively peaceful as I grew my power and library.
Rain poured down from the sky, as I land outside the entry to the clocktower, and as I fumble for the keys, I notice the front door is open a crack.
Was I in the process of being robbed?
I gently nudge the door open, and step in hearing something rattle about in my kitchen.
"Oi mate, do you have anything stronger than coffee? It's pissin' cats and dogs out there, and I imagine this conversation is gonna be a long one." A voice called out, and I bit the bullet and poked my head around the corner.
A man with blonde hair, and a long Trenchcoat was rummaging about in my cupboard, coming away with a bottle of whisky I had stashed away.
His book floated over to me, and through the arcane sigils that made up the cover, I could make out the name of its owner.
Name: John Constantine
Species: Human/?
"I don't recall giving you a spare key Mr. Constantine." I comment, shaking the water out of my wings, and stepping past him to start the coffee maker.
"To be fair, I didn't know angels were allowed to descend willy nilly from heaven." He shot back, pouring a quarter of the bottle into a spare coffee mug he had "liberated" along with the bottle.
"I didn't. I suspect I might be something else entirely, but for what? I'm not sure yet." I return, watching the coffee slowly percolate.
"Not going to question who I am? Or why I'm here?" John asked, and I roll my many eyes.
"Your John Constantine. I'm sure if I wanted, I could peer into your very being and ascertain every single little factoid about you, but I'm quite exhausted, and outside of seriously depleting my liquor stash, you haven't stolen anything or shot me, so my next guess is religious fanboy? Sorry, but I don't do any of that religious crap." I snark back, as he quickly tops off his mug of whisky once again.
"No. I'm just a bloke who dabbles in things of the occult nature. And part of that job, is checking in on any weird occurrences that crop up.." He started explaining.
"So imagine my surprise when my buddy Batman, reaches out about a biblical angel applying for a job at the library, and somehow ends up working for the GCPD at an insane asylum." He continued, and I blinked in surprise.
"You know magic?" I question, as drinks deep from the mug.
"I dabble in the mystic arts from time to time. Though I have to say, I've never seen anything quite like you. And apparently, I'm not the only one." He stated, pulling a huge scroll out of his trench coat and setting it on the table.
"Batman wanted to observe you for a bit longer, but something changed tonight, that caused everything with a finger on the pulse of anything eldritch to pay attention. So my question is, what the fuck did you do, because whatever you did has even got the deep ones to shift." He demanded, his tone getting decidedly darker.
"Me? Nothing. I've just been slowly collecting books. I did come across an oddity in the asylum, but I haven't used any magic outside of some bibliomancy." I protest, and Constantine's gaze bores into me.
"Can I see it?" He asked, and I snap my fingers and the book appears on the table between us.
He immediately recoils from the book, and I see a magic circle surround it and chains wrap up the book.
"You have no idea how dangerous that book is do you?" He asked, more chains binding the book.
"I am aware of how it can turn humans mad if they were to read it. I found I was immune to its effects and it contents were absorbed into my mind. I have yet to fully process its contents." I confess, and he looks closer at me.
"You . . . don't understand what you are, do you?" He asked, and a mild sense of paranoia started to set in.
"I am angel as far as I'm aware. Does their need to be more to it than that?" I question, and he snorts.
"Buddy, if it were that simple, it would solve a lot of problems in the world." He started, and topped his cup off again, emptying the bottle.
"Batman called me about an angel, and I came and found an eldritch entity with an approximation to an angel. Normally, I'd exorcise you from the world and be done with it. Most eldritch entities are bad for us mortals if they hang around too long." He started explaining as I tense up.
"But you? A passive healing effect, and a no fighting zone in your general vicinity makes you a hell of an oddity, even amongst your own kind."
"And to top it all off, your obsession with information verses blood sacrifices, cults, and the like. Makes you a very good deterrent against those on the other side of the metaphysical wall, so to speak."
"Why? If you hadn't guessed by now, but I'm not much of a fighter." I protest, and he smiled at me.
"Tell that to "the deep ones" that were slowly creeping into that damn asylum with their corruption. Your passive restoration was slowly undoing their slow creep into the world. I didn't even notice it until, I examined your place of work." He chuckled, and images flashed through my mind at the mention of the deep ones.
A pair of glowing red eyes glaring out from the inky blackness of the ocean, mutated tentacles struggling to drag my consciousness in.
Ability discovered!
[Eldritch Awareness]
You can sense the presence of other eldritch beings. Their magics leave a distinctive mark, and you can perceive their interference.
I sat up ridged as the "entity" slowly withdrew into the depths, Constantine himself was holding his head in pain.
Whether it was from the magic or the alcohol, I couldn't tell, but it took a minute or two before he continued.
"It seems like you don't have a choice anymore mate. And that thankfully pulls their attention from me, while they figure out what to do with you." He revealed, and confusion set in.
"What do you mean by that?" I ask suspiciously as he stood up to stretch and pulled a leather bound book from his coat, immediately triggering my new eldritch awareness.
"Nothing personal. Most entities have a good century of protection from the eyes of the higher powers. Call it, a safety net if you will. However, an entity can have that veil that hides them removed, if someone enlightens them to their nature." He explained, and anger welled up from within.
"Now I happened to need a particular artifact attached to the deep ones, so after I "liberated" it from one of their cultists, I just passed along some information that you would have had found in the next few decades or so . . ." The rest of the statement was cut off as I shattered my coffee cup against his face.
Slashing the broken cup against his face causing some minor cuts before I was blasted against the back wall of my kitchen.
Spitting shards of ceramic from his mouth and wiping hot coffee from his face, he staggered to his feet a smoking amulet clutched in his hand.
"I got to admit, you've got some spunk to you lad, but you're a bit young to match the likes of me." Constantine said with a bloody grin, before it vanished as he started looking for around, a grin coming to my own face.
"Looking for something asshat?" I comment, his missing book flickering into existence in my hand for a brief moment before vanishing into my library.
Book added to library.
[Necronomicon] (Legendary)
The Book of the dead, a grimoire bound in human flesh that details many lost and forbidden magics.
"Before you ask, no you can't have it back. You decided to inconvenience me, and throw it in my face, so you don't get to keep your shiny new toy after setting me up to take the fall for your shenanigans." I utter, summoning hundreds of pages to start swirling around me.
"You have no idea how dangerous that little book is mate, you may want to give that to an adult." He said, a magic circle coming to bear in front of him.
"All I see is a petulant child. Or are you talking about Batman hiding above?" I comment, catching some movement higher in the clocktower.
The sound of wind rushing overhead, and the flap of a cape notified me of his presence before he landed between us on the floor.
As he stood up to his full height, he examined me with a glare before redirecting the gaze to Constantine.
"I asked you to check his intentions, not extort him for personal gain." He growled, causing Constantine to shrug dismissively.
"I ensured his intentions were to fight some of the higher powers. I was just going to add a little benefit to the situation. I'd be more worried about that little book he has his hands on." Constantine said dismissively, trying to redirect.
Batman shifted his gaze back to me; "Is the book dangerous?"
"It's the Necronomicon. Of course it is. If its knowledge was let out for people to use it to their own ends, you'd be dealing with all sorts of weirdness. However, now that I've absorbed the book, it is a part of my being." I replied.
"Can it be extracted?" he growls, and his question causes me to puzzle for a moment.
"I don't believe so unless I do it voluntarily. And I'm immune to most mind control effects. If I die, it will be destroyed with me." I explain, and he thinks for a moment.
The sound of energy catches our attention, as Constantine vanishes through a portal that quickly closes behind him.
"I apologize for how . . . overzealous, my friend was. Batgirl told me about you and I was concerned about what your presence could mean." He stated, surprising the hell out of me.
"Ah, I wondered where she went. How much did she tell you about me?" I asked, as he moved away, looking at all the bookshelves surrounding us.
"Enough to know you can see more than the surface presents." He stated cryptically, and I nod as I start examining the minimal damage.
I need more whisky and a coffee mug.
"Then I'd like to thank you for helping me get settled. The grant was immensely helpful in building out my home." I stated, dancing around the fact that he was Bruce Wayne under that mask.
"Constantine wasn't wrong however. Various supernatural forces are going to be gunning for you thanks to your unknowing interference at the asylum. I'd like to bring an associate by to validate your claims about "protecting" that book." He continued, ignoring my implied statement.
"That's fine. Constantine is no longer welcome here. I was fully intending on a semi-normal life before he pissed off multiple elder gods on my behalf." I replied, watching the Batman freeze.
Turning around, I saw Tavish sitting in Constantine's recently vacated seat.
"Apologies for the sudden intrusion Akriel, but this required a bit of face to face intervention." He greeted, snapping his fingers and the cups repaired, and fresh cups of coffee sat on the table.
A steaming fresh plate of beignets sat between us and he tossed one into his mouth as I gingerly sat back down.
"Ah, probably should send him back." He commented, swirling his finger, causing Batman to vanish.
"If he asks, you agreed to his friend coming to visit, and he disappeared shortly after that." He explained, as I looked at where he vanished.
"Won't he question the missing memories?" I ask, feeling a bit tired of people intruding without permission for the day.
"Did a little modification. Not enough for him to notice, but Batman has always managed to surprise me." He grumbled, before a beaming grin made it onto his face.
"I got to say Akriel. You were a bit boring at first, but you've managed to prove me right about you!"
"Pissing off Cthulhu and friends, drawing the attention of every goddamn god in the universe, and to top it all off, slashing open Constantine's face with a coffee cup! You've either got the crappiest luck in the universe, or the luck of the devil with how the pieces fell for you." He praised, and I scratch the back of my head sheepishly.
"But that does leave you with a bit of a problem." Stated, his tone taking a darker tone, as he folds his hands in front of him.
"You've managed to irritate elder gods, and I can't protect you despite it being largely out of your control."
"Still, I've seen worse. So you just have to get creative." He continued, a book appearing in front of him.
As my fingers brushed the cover, it vanished and new words flew infront of my vision.
New Quest Logs added!
[Heads or Tails]
Foil a plot of Two-Face.
[Must Be Fate]
Aid Kent Nelson against the forces of chaos.
[What goes bump in the night]
Scarecrow has viewed you as an obstacle to his master's plans. Deal with him.
[ . . . .]
"I can't give you anything. But I can point you in the direction that can gain you the most benefit. I don't have the best handle on the Record keeper system, but it should provide you with plenty of power if you manage to step onto the larger stage." Tavish informed apologetically, as I read the extensive list of quests and hints.
"So no peaceful night for me anymore. Do you think I'm ready to take on any of these?" I asked, causing him to snort.
"Hell no. Beings like us don't ever get any peace until we are strong enough to shut down any challengers. I kept a power-bat next to my bed for centuries until I managed to prevent extra dimensional travel from 5th dimensional imps." He commented dryly, and I was immediately beset with confusion.
"Hold on . . . a power bat? What on earth is that?" I asked, and Tavish quickly checked his watch.
"Shoot, looks like I'm out of time." He said standing up, a portal appearing in front of him.
"Keep what I said in mind Akriel. Also, don't be afraid to experiment with whatever magic you find. It can result in more books!" He said cheerfully as the portal closes behind him.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, I look at the sheer volume of quest logs that Tavish had left me.
Find and assist Kent Nelson?
. . .
I have no idea where he is . . . .
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