Darion stood back out on the street and looked at the large central park that was across the street from the Artificers lab. According to Biron this is the far side of the park with the market. He didn't really need to shop for gear any more, but one of the things he always heard about The Expanse; was the experience of eating.
Darion followed the route of streets that outlined the massive central park. Until he returned to the building he spawned from. And the market that took up this portion of the park.
Various cards of a variety of rarities lined blankets. Darion followed his nose, and before long the sights and smells of a variety of stalls that were owned and operated by people with cooking classes! The smell of bacon caught Darion's nose and he headed to a stall where a small crowd had gathered, a Hispanic looking man in a stained apron stood over a large steel griddle, just as Darion walked up he seemed to peel and dice a potato in a angle motion, he then cracked a single egg and a slice of bacon and before the crowds eyes he cooked up those 3 items into a mountain of food a pile of fried potatoes and eggs, and a pile of bacon that looked as if he fried up a whole slab rather than a single slice. The cook began to a\dd peppers and onions. And then started to throw tortillas onto the griddle. Just as Darion began to become excited about a breakfast burrito, there came a tap at his shoulder.
Darion turned to see a remarkably handsome middle aged man flanked by two enforcers, they wore modern looking clothing but likely enchanted for defense. Stitched into the breast of their suits were the double Vs of Value mart (VVal-mart), the corporation for whom I worked retail back on earth.
“Are you Darion Glassier?” the man asked in a neutral tone.
“I am, but what is this about? I'm not playing on work sanctioned time.”
“I am Randal Carrington, I'm a tier 2 Arbitration knight. I have been sent by home office to enforce that you cease any goings on with Council member Briggs, we already have deals in place with Council member LaCroix. Any actions you take from this point could endanger agreements for delves and treasure rights with the guild. So you see-”
As he spoke Darion felt the moment he began to flare his charisma. At first it made his demands seem reasonable, like he should obviously make way for the corporation's agenda. Because he was a team player. And he was a part of their team. But the second Darion felt that dread of tier suppression; it pissed him off. He recalled that his Talent pulled on his space affinity and applied it to his perception and dexterity. He tried to pull on his void affinity and apply it to his perception and charisma. He felt the cold energy trickle in, the sensation reminded him of an ex girlfriend of his who could suck blood through the surface of his skin but not leave a hickey, something about what he did was pulling void energy through a membrane, the cold electric sensation trickled through his pathways and settled on his eyes and vocal chords.
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He could see the auras around the three men, some part of him translating the synesthesia he was seeing into what stats they were flaring. The two men were low level pulling on all of their physical stats, but putting a fair bit into their own perceptions. When he spoke though he watched his voice shatter and dissolve the affect the Arbitration knight was emitting.
Darion's brows furrowed. “Did you just try to suppress me? Did you just flare your charisma at a Lv1 Tier 0.?!” his voice was raised and he was causing a commotion.
The man's lips pursed, and again he tried to suppress me, and again this void aura dismantled his intent.
One of the men moved forward to snatch Darion by the arm. He couldn't react or resist. but once the man had grabbed on he poured that electric cold onto his physical stats. The man was still physically stronger than Darion but the spiritual weight of his stats was gone, and then he began to scream. The enforcer jerked away, staring at his hand, all of the skin visible and sleeve were both gray scale, the sleeve began to disintegrate. Showing more grayscale skin underneath.
*****
New talent added.
Hunger of the void:
You have discovered a new talent through experimentation with your affinities.
Hunger of the void is a Dangerous talent, for a time you may channel the void into your stats skills and abilities, this Talent will degrade that stats utilized unless it is regularly fed. However if the hunger of the void is kept fed it will aid you, if you feed the Talent the bodies of your fallen foes and any loot cards the void will consume their potential
You may utilize this potential as a conceptual bonus that can be applied to anything that can channel the void.
**WARNING**
Void energy is anathema to Aether and creation aligned concepts. If this Talent is allowed to grow, it could destabilize your Universe. See Caretaker, the system will allow you to remove this talent and offer you an equivalent.
Hunger of the void consumed 4 strength
Hunger of the void consumed enchantment self cleaning.
You have gained 6 potential.
Potential can be used to over-flare a stat or ability by 10% percent for 1 action or 3 minutes whichever is faster.
Potential uses may stack but the allotted time will not.
*****
Before the group from VVal-mart could take another action, several city guards pushed their way onto the scene. An overwhelming presence pressed down on Darion and the 3 men. To Darion's current senses it was like a blue gray fog stetted over them. The three men dropped to a knee, but the void aura around Darion dissolved the intent in a small bubble around him. Just then Darion saw his Potential begin to tick down 1 every 3 seconds. Once it hit 0 he felt a sting and his nose began to bleed. He cut off his talent, and blackness was all he knew