Multi-Dimensional Merchant System

“Why?” Oliver mused to himself as he stared at the system screen. “Why would a bounty for Excalibur cost over a hundred million credits?”

His fingers drummed idly on the table as he pondered over his own question. “The Multiverse is infinite, so shouldn't there be an infinite number of them out there?”

“Even with all the possible variables... Excalibur never existed in many of the Universes... And, in some where it did exist it could have been destroyed... Or it is currently owned by someone, or lost, or any number of things...”

“Even if you can only find Excalibur in less than one percent of all Universes... Less than one percent of infinite is still infinite...”

“So why is it so expensive?”

His mind circled around the question, always feeling like there was some unknown factor. Something he couldn't quite pin down... “Unless...”

His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but gape at the system screen. “Even with all those factors, and assuming other people could possibly be hunting for weapons like that or collecting them... It shouldn't be so expensive... Unless there was market manipulation!”

Sagging in his chair, he shook his head slowly. “So, either the system is artificially inflating prices to limit access to certain things... Or an outside source is disrupting things...”

His mind couldn't help but wander to the massive, strange eye he had seen through the Rift. Recoiling from the very thought, he shook his head quickly. “Yeah, maybe... The little ones weren't that smart, but maybe the big one is? Or they have other types of creatures that are smart... Or there's something else I haven't thought of. There are just too many possibilities for me to consider all of them.”

With a shrug of his shoulders, Oliver sat up straight and focused on the system screen again. “Ok, Oli. Stop wasting time. You've got a shit load of credits to work with... First priority is always survival... Lita is already good armor, and likely to get better... So, healing? Yeah, healing.”

With a simple flex of his Will, Oliver switched over to the Bounty Board and clicked the button he had only toyed around with before...

“Hmm, how should I word it?” Oliver slowly sipped on a drink as he considered exactly what to post to get the results he wanted. After nearly an hour had passed, he settled on what he wanted to post and quickly reread it.

Multiversal Bounty: Healing on Demand

Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 2(minimum) healing Spell Tome

Details: I require a Tome in order to learn a healing spell. The Tome must be at least Tier 2 and capable of working on most organic life forms. A single target spell that can be cast on myself as well as other is preferable. The spell should focus on repairing the physical body of cuts, bruises, abrasions... Mending broken bones is optional, but preferred. With no adverse effects(this is absolutely required).

Compensation: 50,000 credits

Post Bounty? (Yes/No)

Oliver stared at the compensation for a moment. It was higher than he expected, especially since the other tier 2 Tomes he had seen were valued at only around 20,000 credits. After a moment of puzzling over the discrepancy, another prompt popped up.

Multiversal Bounties, due to logistical difficulties, incur a 100% price increase over the items estimated value.

Universal Bounties incur a 40% price increase.

He sighed softly, shaking his head. He should have expected something like that. “Hell, the system taxes me when I get trade items through the Auction. Of course there would be a price hike here... But what the Hell does the system do with the credits?”

(Power conversion, Oli. A portion goes to facilitate the transport of the goods... And what is leftover comes to me... Because I desperately need it.)

Oliver blinked dumbly at the sudden prompt that was clearly a message from... Whoever was behind the system. “Does that mean its time for our talk? And why do you desperately need power?”

Seconds seem to stretch out indefinitely as he sat waiting for a response. Several minutes passed, yet no answer came. He sighed softly and shrugged it off. “Ok, no conversation yet. But at least that kinda makes sense. I imagine teleporting items across Universes isn't exactly easy. But...”

“It's only ten percent with the items from the Auction. Why is it so much more for this?” Oliver grunted in annoyance before quickly brushing it off. “I've got a lot of questions for that conversation... Whenever it happens...”

Oliver didn't let the unexpected message distract him for long. With a thought, he posted the bounty before immediately starting on more.

Multiversal Bounty: Offense is the best defense

Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 single target offensive Spell Tome

Details: I require a Spell Tome for an offensive spell. The spell should take the form of a projectile, single target, with a range of at least 50ft. The nature or element of the projectile does not matter, though its primary focus should be on damage. Secondary effects inflicted upon the target are optional. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.

Compensation: 100,000 credits

Post Bounty? (Yes/No)

Multiversal Bounty: Bombardment

Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 area of effect offensive Spell Tome

Details: I require a Spell Tome for an offensive, area of effect spell. The spell should have a cast range of at least 50 ft and cover an area with a diameter of at least 20 ft. Cast range must exceed area of effect. The nature or element of the spell does not matter, but its primary focus should be on damage. Secondary effects inflicted upon the targets is optional- if present, effects that slow, stun, or immobilize are preferred. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.

Compensation: 120,000 credits

Post Bounty? (Yes/No)

Multiversal Bounty: Control the flow

Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 area of effect control Spell Tome

Details: I require a Spell Tome for an area of effect control spell. The spell should have a cast range of at least 50 ft and cover an area with a diameter of at least 20 ft. Cast range must exceed area of effect. The nature or elements of the spell does not matter, but its primary focus should be on inhibiting the targets. Effects that slow, stun, immobilize, paralyze, or incapacitate are preferred. The spell must affect living, organic targets, but the ability to also affect non-organic or non-living targets is preferred. Damage is secondary and not required. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.

Compensation: 125,000 credits

Post Bounty? (Yes/No)

Oliver carefully reread each of the bounties before posting them. He knew the details he provided weren't perfect. There was simply too many possibilities for him to envision the perfect details, especially since he had only seen very few Spell Tomes. The lack of information to work with hampered him a bit more than he liked...

“But it's enough, right? My requirements are pretty detailed. I basically spelled out what I want, but left some wiggle room to allow for options... If I make it too specific, it may be more difficult for someone to complete... And, if it's too difficult, no one will even bother with it.”

“And even if they do, it could take a while. What I want right now is spells that mostly fit my requirements. That way they will not only be completed, but hopefully completed quickly.”

He smiled slightly, an eager glint in his eyes. “More fire power will be good, but having a healing spell is a game changer. I won't be as bad off as I was against those weird entities, at least.”

He glanced at his remaining credits and grimaced slightly. “Well, it's a start at least. Gotta spend money to make money, right? And can't spend it at all if your dead...”

“Fuck, I'm almost broke again... I should hold on to what I've got left for emergencies... Like if something comes up on a job and I need a specific answer...”