Azure: Gunner

Any other remaining bastions of civilization undoubtedly maintain their own records, but communication beyond the Lost Angels area is nearly impossible. Perhaps someday we will discover a mechanism that allows our researchers to establish radio contact, or maintain mana entanglement, through the effect of the mana gradients surrounding the Wastes. Until then, relying on what remains of the historical record here, the details we can give about the Wasted War itself are sparse.

In the early days of the System, pre-System technology still functioned normally. Now often referred to as historical tech – h-tech, or e-tech – due to its reliance on electricity as a source of power; this technology enabled instantaneous global communication. These communication channels were filled with stories of wars across the planet. In the last preserved messages, we find a rising panic about the potential deployment of atomic weapons.

Speculation was rife as to which nation would be first to deploy these so-called city killers. Evidence suggests that wagers were being placed on the outcome, with the ‘favorites’ to escalate being the nations of India and Pakistan, at approximately -250 odds. It is unclear whether any bettors were able to collect on their wagers or even who was correct.

What we can extrapolate from the records and accounts of travelers from distant lands is that, regardless of who ‘went nuclear’ first, everyone else swiftly followed.

- Rufus Veres, Level 37 Verbose Historian, A Brief History of the System

“System, give me my item!”

The Essence I’d accumulated from the monsters I’d killed was pulled out of me, coalescing into a small, softly glowing white ball a bit smaller than my first. Awesome, my first mod! I laughed as I reached out and grabbed it. It was slightly warm and felt almost like glass in my hand as I examined it closely. The glow seemed to pulse in a soothing, random way.

“System, what kind of mod is this?” I asked excitedly.

[YOU MUST USE YOUR IDENTIFICATION SKILL TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF A MOD!]

I blushed at the reminder. Right, I can only use Inspect on myself and my Class Items, but it’s free so I can use it anytime. Identify works on other people, monsters, and unknown items, but it costs mana. I hope this works better than it did on the stupid scorp!

I concentrated on Identify and channeled mana into the Skill.