Mod Superhero (Book 6 STUBBING on Oct 27th)

SIMULATIONS - Mages Guilds and Magical Relics

"Are you sure you want to continue queries without Wight?"

"Yes. I already know the questions that he'll ask. I'll send it to him once he's cooled off. We can run new simulations of the Menagerie later... Let's do a rundown of the mages guilds and how they factor into all of this."

"And Emmett and the others?"

Venture raised an eyebrow. "Who's running this team?"

"I was led to believe this was a democracy."

"Your humor is getting better, TINA. They can catch up later."

QUERY: Threat assessment of mages groups.

LOADING SIMULATIONS...

ERROR: SCALE — There are 6 major guilds, roughly two hundred mid-level cabals, and thousands of minor organizations.

ERROR: REDUNDANCIES — Mid-level and minor organizations are composed mainly of Class 3 magic users and below. Consider removing from simulations.

ERROR: REDUNDANCIES — The Resistance is composed mainly of Class 3 supers and below. Consider removing from simulations.

"Of course, remove any redundant variables and recalculate."

LOADING SIMULATIONS...

ERROR: MORE INFORMATION NEEDED — Cohesion between the six major guilds.

ERROR: UNKNOWN VARIABLE — Extent of magical communication networks outside of major cities.

"Calculate the best case and worst-case scenarios."

RESULTS (BEST-CASE SCENARIO):

Mage organizations across the world remain fractured and unwilling to work together until it's too late. Most Class 5 mages are non-factors—they remain isolated in personal demiplanes, suspended animation, or continue their vows of non-interference.

If magic communication networks are centralized or limited, then disruption via jamming is possible.

RESULTS (WORST-CASE SCENARIO):

Mage organizations across the world put aside their differences and work together, resulting in some or all of Class 5 mages joining the war. If at least three major guilds align, the probability of all organizations joining rises to 73%.

If magic communication networks are mesh-like, then disruption via jamming is difficult or impossible.

NOTE: ADDITIONAL FACTORS PRESENT — Earth rendered uninhabitable.

CONCLUSION:

Worst-case scenario results in a three-sided war between the Resistance, the Binary Brotherhood, and Mages, with Class 4 and 5 supers on all sides.

NOTE: In either scenario, time is important—either to prevent mage organizations from banding together, Class 5 mages from joining the war, and to prevent catastrophic destruction of the planet.

Venture rubbed his eyes. "You know, when I said it was going to get worse before it got better, this isn't what I had in mind."

"Would you rather go into the endgame completely blind?"

"No, of course not. But the results are... sobering."

Emmett's voice came through the intercom. "I hear you're running simulations without me."

Venture cleared his throat. "I thought you and the others might want a break. Should I wait for you to come back?"

"No. I can multitask. I'm reading the data directly from TINA. If you don't mind, I have some queries of my own to run."

"Be my guest."

QUERY: Compatible magic relics.

LOADING SIMULATIONS...

Venture asked, "You're still experimenting with Athena's staff? Any luck?"

"Yeah. You could say that."

RESULTS:

Three relics exist that satisfy all requirements, including magical signature and power level.

Option One — The first three Rings of Shelok. Together, the First, Second, and Third rings have suitable abilities and power levels.

The best course of action would be to take Hunter Prime's ring, then take the Second and Third rings.

NOTE: ADDITIONAL FACTORS PRESENT — The First Ring of Shelok is a sentient artifact, which holds the majority of the ancient sorcerer's power. Unknown interaction between the True Will of Shelok and Emmett's cybernetic brain. If Emmett can exert his will on the rings, there is a non-zero chance that the stored will of Shelok can exert the same control over Emmett.

Option Two — The Chain of Morvek. The artifact is entombed with the Class 5 mage, Morvek, and binds him in a state of suspended animation.

NOTE: ADDITIONAL FACTORS PRESENT — Removing the chain from Morvek will wake the sorcerer. Morvek is worshipped by two of the major guilds. Those two guilds will likely ally with the sorcerer and turn against the Resistance.

Option Three — The Mirror of Borrowed Fates. The artifact is stored in a private artifact collection in New Venice.

NOTE: ADDITIONAL FACTORS PRESENT — Ownership of the collection is unknown, as are the magical safeguards. Additional surveillance and data collection recommended.

Venture said, "Setting your sights a little high, aren't you?"

Emmett replied, "No. This isn't optional, and it's just one part of what we need..."

QUERY: Are there universal laws that govern superpowers and magic?

LOADING SIMULATIONS...

ERROR: MULTIPLE UNKNOWN VARIABLES — Accurate measurements—

Emmett interrupted, "That's alright, TINA. Same problems as last time. I was hoping our visit to McGuire's sanctum would've given us enough data to work it out."

[Canceling Request]

"McGuire's sanctum is too recent a construct. Perhaps if we had more time inside and McGuire was more cooperative—"

"No. He refused, and that's that."

Venture nodded approvingly. "I see you've been working on my theory while I was under... What about the Vaults? They're not ancient demiplanes, but Vault Alpha is over thirty years old now. It probably has a greater variety of magic and metaphysical nuance than even ancient structures..."

"Recalculating... Yes. If any demiplane is going to give us the breakthrough we need, it's Vault Alpha."

Emmett replied, "Good. We can study it before we tear it down."

Venture smirked. "Spoken like a true artificer."

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