>>29809851
>"Yeah. You can never have enough manpower."
As if we'd go this alone.

>>29809937
"Yeah," you respond, "you can never have enough manpower."

Sal nods in agreement. "Well, the airship can only fit four, so you should pick One or two people. Any ideas?"

PICK TWO!
>"The obvious choice is Lily. She could use that Fire Flower, and probably has something else up her sleeve from the mask."
>"What about Jimbo O'Malley, that steel drum guy from the World 4 castle? I want to see what he's got."
>"I think we should go with Kamek. He's been through a lot with Bowser, so he probably knows his stuff."
>"What about that Hammer Brother from the ship? I think his name was Harrison."
>"Let's look around and find someone in the barracks."
>"Actually, never mind. We should go alone."

>>29810070

Harrison is probably dying for some action.

Jimbo for the background music.

>>29810070
Lily and Kamek.
As much as I'd like Jimbo, waifu and third wheel take priority.

>>29810070
Lily and Jimbo.
Objectively best answer.

>>29810070

Wasn't Kamek supposed to check out the Comet Observatory after Tanoomba did his 911 call?

>>29810474
(He was, but this is more pressing. He'll be leaving soon.)

>>29810262
>>29810309
>>29810337
>Lily
>Jimbo

"Well, Lily's the obvious first choice. Let's take her. I also really want to see what Jimbo can do."

Sal agrees. "I could trust that team. Can I finish this while you go get 'em?"

"Ever the helpful one, Sal." you grumble as you get up.

"You know it!"

You stroll down the hall to the barracks and look for Jimbo. He's practicing his drums on one of the beds. He looks at you and waves at you with a smile.

"'Ey, commanda Koocaprio! A'nt you supposed to be goin' off to da Beanbean Kingdom, mon?" he asks.

You laugh as you approach him. "Actually, Jimbo, that's what I came to you about. It's a little bit dangerous out there for just Sal and I, and we were wondering if you could come with us and show us your stuff in a fight or two."

Jimbo frowns at your proposition. "Oh, mon. I told ya, fightin' be not my forte."

You dismissively wave the air. "Bah. You're a Koopa. Fighting is practically what we live for."

With some reluctance, the koopa shakes your outstretched hand. "I'll see what I can do, boss-mon!"

As you finish your greetings, an out-of-breath Goomba waddles toward you.

"Commander!" he wheezes. "There's someone at the door! He requests you and Sal's presence. And he's yelling... pretty loud..."

>"I'll go see him."
>"Uh, I've got business. Tell him I'll see him tomorrow."

>>29810858

Let's see this guy.

>>29810909
"Sure, I'll go see him. Our ship won't be here for another two hours anyway."

"Okay, sir! He's waiting outside the front door. They've called in a small squadron of enemies to the foyer, since he sounds really angry." the Goomba says as he steps out of your way.

You and Jimbo get Sal from the mess hall and walk to the foyer. About twenty Koopas, ten Goombas, ten Bob-Ombs and five Boos are waiting at the door. Lily sits on one of the couches, and gives you a wave as you approach the door.

"OPEN UP!" shouts the man outside, banging on the door. "I KNOW THOSE DANG CHEAPSKATE COMMANDERS ARE IN THERE!"

A Koopa slowly moves to you. "Um, should we open it, sir?" You nod, and he gets three other Koopas to open the door.

The huge, green wooden doors creak open, and your stomach turns at the man outside. He's wearing stretchy purple overalls and a stained yellow shirt, his body an expanse of muscle covered by fat. His jagged mustache hides a yellow snarl, and the yellow hat on his head bears a blue "W".

"Where's my dang money?" He snarls as he pushes through the guard formation. They all back away from him in terror.

The crowd whispers.
"I-is that a Mario brother?"
"He looks like he could take me out in one punch!"
"I'm not going near him, it's suicide!"
"I hope the commanders can take him!"

>Try diplomacy
>Try threats
>Enter combat
>Flee
>(Other)

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>>29811194

>Try diplomacy

No way are we taking on Wario. Give him his money plus interest and pray it'll placate him.

>>29811281
"Hey, hold on! We're sorry we didn't get you your money! I'll go ask Bowser to grab you a hundred gold coins now!"

Wario grabs you by your shell and hoists you into the air. As you look around, you see Lily and Sal getting into fighting stances. Jimbo doesn't look like he knows what's going on.

"Oh, I'll TAKE the coins, and then I'll pummel you and your little friends here into the ground! And when I'm done with that, I'll use your little shell as a trash can for my living room! How's THAT sound, punk?"

The squadron seems to be getting over their fear as they form a wide ring around you.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" they chant in unison like high-school kids.

>Fight! Fight! Fight!
>Flee! Flee! Flee!
>Diplomacy! Diplomacy! Diplomacy!
>(Other!) (Other!) (Other!)

>>29811516
Welp!
>Fight! Fight! Fight!

>>29811516

>Diplomacy!

Promise him three times the amount you agreed to.

>>29811619
"Don't do this, please! I can, I can get you th-three hundred coins!"

Wario's grip on your shell tightens. You look around to see the crowd growing. Sal makes all sorts of "NO NO STOP TALKING" gestures.

"Leo!" he calls, "do you have any idea what Bowser would do if we gave this guy three hundred coins? He was angry that we even said we'd pay him!"

Wario flexes his arm to the crowd.

>Fight
>Attempt to flee
>Mo' diplomacy
>(Other)

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>>29811797
(Posting in another thread and forgot my trip. What a guy am I.)

>>29811797

Tell him we'll try sneaking him into Bowser's treasury. Then he can leave with as much as he can carry, but ONLY if he leaves quietly. We don't want him to blow the lid off of the date operation.

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>>29811797
>Fight
Welcome to the jam.

>>29812004

Oh, and whisper this to him because we're moving into black op territory here.

>>29812004
>>29812025
Gonna need a tiebreaker vote here.

>Fight
>Give him tha munny

>>29812081

Changing my vote to fight. We don't have our disguise specialist anyway.

>>29812081
I guess we could try fighting though I really don't get why Bowser couldn't just pay the guy.

>>29812081
Ask if we can set up a payment program?

We'd be willing to sign a contract.

>>29812081

300 coins can't be that much. Besides, a deal's a deal. We might be bad guys, but we're not rotten!

Rolled 2, 16, 17, 15 = 50

>>29812173
>>29812309
>>29812025
You scowl at Wario, and he responds with a nasty grin.

"Put me down, fatty," you scowl. "Let's fight."

Wario's grin gets wider and meaner. He releases his grip and you fall to the ground. When you're on your feet, you see Wario in the corner opposite of you. The crowd is clapping and stomping in unison.

>FIGHT: WARIO! HP: 90!

>PARTY:
>Leonardo Koocaprio, HP 25. Special ability: Ice Flower
>Sal Guy, HP 20. Special ability: Stone Form
>Lily, HP 25. Special ability: Fire Flower
>Jimbo O'Malley, HP 15. Special ability: ???

Upon closer examination, you can see Kamek and Bowser in the crowd. They're both watching with violent anticipation and excitement.

>Attack! (Roll 1d20 and describe your action!)
>Flee!
>(Other)
Rolling for Wario, Sal, Lily and Jimbo.

Rolled 2

>>29812540
Well we're fucked.

I guess just do a shell attack.

Rolled 18

>>29812540

How are we gonna beat a guy who treats injuries as power-ups

>Shell-spin into him!

>>29812617
I don't know, I mean Bowser is right fucking there.

Rolled 5, 18, 13, 12 = 48

>>29812617
Wario runs back at you with a mighty arm raised and eyes full of rage. You get a running start and then retreat into your shell. You hit Wario head-on, smacking straight into his knee.

>Wario takes 3 damage! Current HP: 87!

Burning blasts of fire soar over your head and hit Wario in the chest. He cringes as he pats the fire out.

>Wario takes 2 damage! Current HP: 85!

You see pebbles rising off the ground around Sal as he concentrates hard. Jimbo, meanwhile, doesn't know what to do. He readies his steel drums.

>Attack! (Roll 1d20 and describe your action!)
>Flee!
>(Other)
Rolling for Wario, Sal, Lily and Jimbo.

>>29812645

Looks like an opportunity for PROMOTIONS to me.

>>29812745
Wow... Wario isn't rolling well today. Hopefully for you, the table won't turn in his favor and result in any nat 20's!

Rolled 6

>>29812745

Turn him into an ice cube with a volley of ice balls. Hopefully, the combined hot and cold barrage will give him an acute cold.

>>29812745
dice+1d20
Use the ice power to freeze the ground beneath his feet?

Rolled 19

>>29812879
Whoops, wasn't paying attention.

Rolled 9

>>29812745
Freeze the water in the air above him, making it rain monstrous hail.

>>29812870
Wario takes another run at you, but you step to the side. You almost trip as you toss a ball of ice at him. Your aim is off, but it finds its mark on Wario's arm.

"HEY!" he shouts. He makes a run at you, and almost hits before a rolling boulder crashes into him and sends him to the side. Sal, in his round, stony form, is sent careening into the crowd.

>Wario takes 5 damage! Current HP: 80!

Lily hits him again with a blast of fire. It hits his leg, and he manages to kick it out in a frenzy.

>Wario takes 1 damage! Current HP: 79!

Rolled 14, 7, 10, 12 = 43

>>29813014
Forgot to roll for Wario, Sal, Lily and Jimbo, and include the antecedent choices. What a guy am I.

>Fight! (Roll 1d20 and describe your action!)
Rolling for Wario, Sal, Lily and Jimbo!

Rolled 19

>>29813014

Man, this is gonna take forever.

Scout out a capable-looking audience member and have him toss you full force at Wario.

>>29813060
"You sure you don't want to set up like a payment program or something? Because one way or another, this is gonna take forever."

Rolled 3, 8, 15, 16 = 42

>>29813098
"Well... it's never failed before!" you mutter to yourself. You search through the audience to find someone big. There's a Chain Chomp, but he has no arms. You briefly consider Bowser, but your eye catches someone who looks more fit for the position. In the front of the audience stands a Chargin' Chuck, clapping profusely at the spectacle. You run up to him.

"Hey, Chuck!"

"My name ain't Chuck! Chargin' is just my job!"

"Whatever. Can you throw me at Wario as hard as you can?"

The tall troop hefts you up, and you go into your shell as you fly through the air. You connect with Wario's stomach, warranting an "oof" from the fat plumber.

>Wario takes 4 damage! Current HP: 75!

He holds the offended area with his able arm. After a second, his face turns red and his arms swing around in fury. He becomes an angry tornado, and his whirling arms swipe Jimbo and Lily into the crowd.

Sal ricochets back off the wall, and when he reaches Wario, the plumber swings his frozen arm at him. Both the ice on his arm and the rocks surrounding Sal break off in tiny pieces.

>Lily takes 4 damage! Current HP: 21!
>Sal takes 2 damage! Current HP: 18!
>Jimbo takes 4 damage! Current HP: 16!

>Fight! (Roll 1d20 and describe your action!)
Rolling for Wario, Sal, Lily and Jimbo!

Rolled 14

>>29813300
"So do you actually really need the money or something? You seem kind of distracted."

Rolled 10

>>29813300

Use the ice flower to cover him in snow, like a snowman, in an attempt to hold him down for a turn.

Rolled 20

>>29813300
Have the duck throw us into the air, and when we reach sufficient height, freeze the water in the air to our shell. And fall on him.

>>29813422

The dice are loving us tonight

>>29813422
Frozen Fist of the Falling Comet!

Rolled 7, 3, 20, 20 = 50

>>29813422
NAT 20!

You return to Chuck, and this time you ask him to toss you as high into the air as possible. He gladly obliges, sending you sailing toward the ceiling. You grab the rafter, position yourself above the fat man some 60 feet below, and let yourself drop.

You look on from inside your shell, and as you spin toward Wario, ice crystals condense around you. You slam down on Wario's head, and he rubs it from the pain.

>Wario takes 10 damage! Current HP: 65! Wario is incapacitated for the next turn!

Lily and Jimbo find their ways out of the crowd.

>Fight! (You know the drill!)
Rolling for Wario, Sal, Lily and Jimbo.

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>>29813540
>Wario's face when Lily and Jimbo's rolls

Rolled 19

>>29813540
Gaze of the Masked, and The Crash of the Drumstick!

>>29813594
That roll was to aid their attacks.

>>29813594
Awesome! So, how do you intend to aid their attacks?

>Ice powa
>Shell powa
>(Otha)

Rolled 4

>>29813594
>>29813500
Were any of these names any good? Just wondering.

>>29813540

Accept a chair from the audience and smack him over the head with it!

Oh yeah, Jimbo's gonna pull out some music buffs.

>>29813681
>Shell powa

>>29813682
I think they're pretty good. I might add them in if I ever make a party directory!

Rolled 13

>>29813681
By making mirrors of ice around the Masked Lily to reflect the Gaze of the Masked around.(Please let it be her stare now can cause SAN damage!)

>>29813699

I'll save this one for later. Let's go with a Troop Move >>29813681

>>29813739

I guess it could unnerve him a lot with that 19 roll.

Rolled 12

>>29813865
No, I want her gaze to be able to damage sanity, and for the icy mirrors to reflect the gaze around, so wherever he looks, SHES THERE!

>>29813739
"Leo!" Lily calls, "make some mirrors!"

You have no idea what she intends to do with this, but you go along with it. You summon three mirrors of shining ice in a circle around Wario. Lily then concentrates, and when Wario wakes up she opens her eyes to reveal horrible violet eyes with piercing orange pupils.

Wario skitters back, but he practically screams like a girl at the faces in the mirrors.

With a grin, Jimbo beats out a slow, haunting melody on his drums that sounds like the wails of Boos and Dry Bones in Wario's ears. The fat man can't stand up. He begins shaking profusely before his eyes snap shut and he falls back on the ground.

Sal smashes the mirrors and stands atop Wario's bloated belly, warranting a huge cheer from the crowd. Bowser runs forward and lifts Wario up.

His grin fades. "Alright, now back to work!"

The crowd thins out as the minions go back to their jobs.

>Stay to talk with Bowser
>Go back to wait for the ship
>(OtheR)

>>29813955

Now that's an instant KO!

>Stay to talk with Bowser

Just pay the poor guy.

>>29813955
ok that was amazing.
>go talk to bowser.

Rolled 13

>>29813955
YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Your 'insert title bowser like here', did you see Lily's eyes? I think that she has retained some of the mask within her!"

>>29814016
You make your way through the thinning crowd to Bowser. He still has Wario slumped over his shoulder.

"Your Rude Dudeness, don't you think we could just pay the guy and get on our way? I mean, he did do his job and get Peach for you."

Bowser responds with a malevolent laugh. "This guy? The guy who broke into my castle and started a fight, expecting to get paid? I know you're a dang good fighter, but I never thought you were a funnyman!" He lifts Wario off his shoulder and drops him on the ground next to Kamek. "Take him to the dungeon, Kamek. See if he's any use."

"Yes sir..." sighs Kamek.

"Oh, and Leo? Tell your girlfriend and the hippie that they're for a promotion."

You hear the tap of high heels and turn your attention to the west hall. Peach, in her signature frilly pink dress, taps her way down the hall. She stops in her tracks at Wario, and simply stares at him.

"Bowser... did you knock out Wario for ME?"

Bowser grabs her hand. "That's right, I did! Anything for my peach cobbler!"

Lily, made incredibly uncomfortable by Peach's presence, excuses herself. Sal, made incredibly uncomfortable by the horrible romantic drivel, excuses himself as well.

+ + +

>>29814250
You step around the patchy, burnt grass of the Comet Observatory. The Bob-Ombs have taken Mario and Luigi to the center of the ship by the Core, where they'd be visible to everyone.

Darryl has since gone home, but everything on this ship is touched by his influence.

>Go look for John-Omb
>Look for Spectro
>Look for Rob-Omb
>Look at Mario and Luigi
>(Other)

>>29814339
>look at mario and luigi
these guys should be able to kick his ass if we are able to play it right, and if they do, you don't ned to deal with a psycho ass dry bones from hell.

>>29814339

>Look for Rob-Omb

Let's see if he's transcended yet.

>>29814339
>Look for Rob-Omb
That guy seems to know the score.

>>29814405
You waddle to the glowing green Core of the ship, and there stands, in a huge metal cage of thick bars and mesh, Mario and Luigi. Every part of them is covered in heavy chain. Mario looks angry as you approach him, and Luigi is asleep.

The cage door has a lock that matches the ones on Mario and Luigi's chains. Both of the locks have "PROPERTEY OF DARRYL BONES, DONOT TOUCH" written on them in permanent marker.

>>29814422
The little hidden Luma you have with you shudders as Rob-Omb approaches. You look at him and see that his fuse is missing, and the hole in his cap radiates like a gleaming spotlight. Glowing cracks have formed around his eyes and cap.

"Examining the prisoners, I see? T'is quite astounding that such an oblivious moron as Darryl managed to capture them, is it not? Though their own intelligence is nothing to astound, I should say."

You shake your head. "True dat." You say mockingly.

Rob-Omb rolls his eyes, his air of superiority permeating the holy aura around him.

>Talk to Rob-Omb (What do you ask?)
>Go find Spectro
>Go find John-Omb
>Go back to Darryl's house
>(Other)

>>29814703

"All right Mr. Renaissance Faire, I guess you don't much fancy Darryl either. You planning on staying here for long?"

>>29814814
"Alright, Mr. Renaissance Faire," you call to Rob as you run up to him, "I guess you don't fancy Darryl either. Plan on staying here for long?"

Rob responds with a laugh. "Here? With these moronic walking bombs and that unbearable specter, where I'll be at the abominable Darryl Bones' beck and call? No! I shall leave at the very moment the opportunity presents itself!"

"And... would you like to take Darryl down a peg?"

"What are you implying, fungus?"

>"I'm implying that we take over the Observatory!"
>"I'm implying that we free Mario and Luigi and let them take Darryl out!"
>"I'm implying... nothing. Nevermind."
>(Other)

>>29814994
>take the observatory
>get mario/luigi and take darryl the fuck out.

>>29814994

"I've called Bowser, and he's gonna send Kamek over to assess the situation. That guy knows some pretty rad magic. With him helping out, we could kick some serious butt!"

Rolled 3

>>29815154
"And we could let the bros out, I mean, they have to realise that this is one of those occasions where they have to work together with Bowser, or at least get along. You know, like they do when they go go-karting, or playing sports."

>>29815154
>>29815044
"Well, I've called Bowser. He's going to send Kamek over, and that guy knows some pretty rad magic. He's going to assess the situation. Barring that, I think that if we played our cards right, Spectro, John and the rest of the commune would fall right into our hands."

"And what EXACTLY is your plan?"

>"We need to get Spectro and John on our side against Darryl."
>"We need to take over by force."
>"We need to release Mario and Luigi."
>(Other)

>>29815269
>"We need to release Mario and Luigi."
Everyone knows the brothers are unstoppable once they get going. We just have to convince them we're on their side.

>>29815269

Let's go look for Donkey Kong and enlist his help. See if we can bring Mario's hat for proof.

>>29815299
"We release Mario and Luigi. They're unstoppable once they get going."

Rob rolls his eyes. "Oh yes, and once we release them, they just get rid of everyone on board for us. And what do we do then?"

>"I go back to Bowser and take my promotion for getting him this ship. You can do whatever."
>"We live like kings on this comet for the rest of our lives."
>(Other)

>>29815383

Recruit Banana Slamma.

>>29815383
>"I go back to Bowser and take my promotion for getting him this ship. You can do whatever."
It's safe with Bowser. Plus it's lonely in space (not counting our Luma, but don't tell anyone that).

>>29815383
>Retire to a nice quaint village in the countryside. This is enough megalomania to stomach for one lifetime.

>>29815426
>>29815451
"What happens is I go back to Bowser and take my promotion for getting this ship. Maybe I'll retire to a nice little village in the countryside. As for you, you can do whatever your little divinely-twisted self wants."

"It will take quite a bit of work, fungus. We would have to retrieve the key from Darryl, and then convince them to leave without removing us entirely. And even THEN, we would have to make a portal here from Bowser's Castle. However, it is not like I have anything better to do."

Just then, you hear a sound like crackling flames, and see blue sparkles. From the sparks appears a see-through image of Kamek, his arms crossed.

"Holy moly," his static-tinged image muses, "you really tore this place a new one."

>Tell Kamek what happened
>Ask Kamek about Bowser
>Ask Kamek about Leo and Sal
>Tell about your plans
>(Other)

>>29815690
>Tell Kamek what happened
>Leave out one of the gory details
>Tell him about the Toad Lungs
>And what's left of Blueford

>>29815690

Tell him all about Darryl's crimes against nature, mankind and the balance between life and death. And he even captured Bowser's favourite enemy!

>>29815754
>I meant None of the gory details

>>29815690
"I just wanted to be a good houseguest, things kind of got out of hand."

>>29815754
"You remember that Dry Bones mechanic you fired?" you ask.

"Darryl?"

"Yeah, Darryl. Well, he holed up in Yoshi's Island and developed a hate for Bowser, and you, and Yoshis, and Peach's kingdom, and... pretty much everything. After breaking out of prison, I came to his house and long story short he turned all the animals on Yoshi's Island into his skeletal slaves, killed Rosalina and took over the Comet Observatory with a commune of Bob-Ombs. Oh, and he kidnapped Blueford and Yelmont Toad. He's turned Blueford into some kind of horrible sludge beast, and the last I saw of Yelmont was that Darryl had stolen his lungs and put them inside himself."

Kamek stands in silence for a moment, and slowly puts his hand to his forehead. "Heavens to Betsy..."

"Yeah."

Kamek puts his other hand to his hip and begins pacing around. "I'll tell Bowser right away. Something tells me that Darryl's next move is to come after Bowser's Castle, and we can't let that happen. So hang tight, and I'll send a---HEY!"

Kamek waves his wand, and the shimmering blue image comes into sharper focus. "Is that Mario and Luigi?" He points at the cage.

"Yeah... he got them too."

"This is serious. Let me go get Bowser, and we'll contact you soon. Do NOT let Darryl do what I think he's going to!"

The image fades away. Rob-Omb glares at you. "Well, HE was quite helpful."

>Go find John-Omb
>Go find Spectro
>Go to Darryl's house
>(Other)

>>29816169
>Go find Spectro
what's our other resident Boo's opinion on this whole thing?

>>29816169

Let's talk to Spectro. He doesn't really seem to care about anything.

>>29816273
>>29816303
"We should probably find Spectro. If we don't get him on board, he'll be quite a handful."

"Well now," comes a chuckling whisper, "didn't your mother ever tell you it's not nice to say things about people behind their backs?" Spectro fades into vision, facing away from you.

"Very clever. Since your back is facing us, and we're saying things behind your back. Truly ingenious."

Spectro flips around with a grin. "I liked you better mute."

"I preferred you in your grave."

"Touche," says Spectro with a grin before turning his attention to you. "I saw you chatting with that Magikoopa, and it seems that we've got a bit of a divided house. What's the matter, Tanny? A little moral dilemma? Why don't I just tell Darryl about your cute little mutiny?"

>"Because if you do, Mario and Luigi will put you back in the grave."
>"Why should we even be taking orders from Darryl anyway?"
>"Because Bowser would give out the big bucks to the guys who captured the Observatory."
>"I thought you liked chaos, Spectro."
>(Other)

>>29816520
>"I thought you liked chaos, Spectro."

>>29816520

>"I thought you liked chaos, Spectro."

This guy is loving it.

>>29816520
>"Why should we even be taking orders from Darryl anyway?"

>>29816520
"Because while Darryl killing Rosalina was pretty neat, wouldn't setting forth a chain of unlikely events culminating in Rosalina returning the favor be more fun to watch than Darryl just continuing to win all the time?

There will probably be multiple explosions."

>>29816565
>>29816611
>>29816642
"Because, while Darryl killing Rosalina was pretty neat," you cringe as the Luma whimpers, "wouldn't setting off a chain of events that resulted in Rosalina returning the favor be more fun to watch than Darryl just keeping on winning? It'd be chaotic! And I thought you liked chaos, Spectro."

Spectro can't decide whether to grin or frown. "Low blow, Tanny." he laughs. "I'll do it. First we'll have to release the Mario brothers, and I'd guess that Darryl has the key. Of course we'll need to get John-Omb and the rest of the commune on our side, but that's never been an issue."

>Talk to John-Omb
>Go to Darryl's house
>(Other)

>>29816785
>Talk to John-Omb

>>29816785

>Talk to John-Omb

>>29816835
>>29816860
"Then let's go see John-Omb. There's no way we'll be able to take over if he's not on our side."

Spectro nods and floats ahead. "He's set up shop in the Engine Room."

You and Rob follow behind him, heading up the stairs and into the metal dome. Inside you hear the twisting of gears and the belch of steam. John-Omb is lounging inside, none of the commune's members present.

"Ah, it's you guys. What's up?"

>"John, we need to talk. About Darryl."
>"Nothing. Nevermind."
>(Other)

>>29817139

Talk to John about Darryl. They can't be that enthused about his goals.

>>29817139
"Well I've been doing some thinking, and I've realized that while it's undeniably a sweet ride for a while, there are some disadvantages to working with a genocidal skeleton that hates all life."

>>29817382
"I mean, ultimately he's going to try to turn us all into his undead slaves, we all knew that signing up didn't we? I'm just saying that I think the time of us outliving our usefulness is nigh."

>>29817228
"John, we need to talk about Darryl. He's gone absolutely crazy. In fact, I think he was crazy from the start."

John looks from side to side. "Yeah, and?"

"What do you mean, 'yeah, and?'?"

John laughs. "This guy's crazy, no doubt. But me and my commune are sitting pretty up in space thanks to him! So what if he wants to kill everything in the Mushroom Kingdom? No steel off my back."

You're amazed at John's apathy. "But he could turn on you at any moment! In fact, I think you should EXPECT him to turn on you at any moment!"

"Whatever. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

>"What if you could have this place to yourself, instead of working for Darryl?"
>"Darryl's going to kill you, mark my words."
>"Nevermind. I'm going to bed."
>(Other)

>>29817494
>"Darryl's going to kill you, mark my words."
Do you not care that if Darryl kills everyone, no one will be around to see and hear your booms? That'd be horrifying as a Bob-omb, wouldn't it?

If a Bob-omb explodes, and no one's around to see or hear it, did it really explode?

>>29817494
"I guess if that's how you want to play it. I figured that you'd rather just get it out of the way and claim this place for yourself, seeing as even if we've not reached the point where Darryl is going to kill us, he's definitely not going to help us either.

You won't even have to much work."

>>29817578
>>29817641
You scowl at him. "Darryl's going to kill you, mark my words. I figured you were the kind of leader who'd take no prisoners and do what's best for your people. I mean, it's nice that you've let them come here and all, but what kind of mayor... or whatever you call yourself... leads his people into the claw of a genocidal robo-skeleton with a fancy new pair of lungs?"

John-Omb attempts to stammer out an argument, but you turn around and leave the room. "I'm going to bed," you grumble.

+ + +

>>29817803
Your airship touches down in a small clearing, its headlights illuminating the front of the old cottage. You look at the moon in the sky as you walk off the plank and onto the thick, long forest grass.

"Pretty spooky," muses Lily, holding a flickering flame in her hand. You, Sal and Jimbo all hold flashlights. You approach the cottage and shine your light on an old mailbox. You can hardly make out the faded letters: "C - - - E - - TA".

You push open the door. On the inside, there are only three rooms: the main room, with one dining table and chairs, a large bookcase, and a small bed in the corner. There are two other doorways, one on the right wall and one on the back wall.

>Examine the bookcase
>Go right
>Go forward
>(Other)

>>29818004
>Examine the bookcase

>>29818004
>Examine the bookcase
Shouldn't we also check out the Woohoo University at some point? We know the crux of their Beanstar machinations was happening there, so maybe there's some remnant of material there.

>>29818004

Look for some food.

>>29818108
>>29818151
You take a step toward the bookcase and shine your flashlight on it. The case, though large, has a surprisingly small amount of books on it.

You can only pick out four: one is a rather large tome called "The Complete History of the Beanbean Kingdom". The second is a green book, labelled "Negative Ions and You". The third is more of a stack of paper. The first page, in official type, reads "Woohoo Hooniversity Records: Professor Cackletta". The final book is a small, leather-bound tome with the word "Journal" printed in faux gold and "Fawful" written in ink.

>Negative Ions and You
>The History of the Beanbean Kingdom
>Cackletta's Records
>Fawful's Journal

>>29818323
>Cackletta's Records
Seems interesting.

>>29818323
>Cackletta's Records
This should prove illuminating (if we can make sense of it).

>>29818323

Let's see if Fawful's journal is even slightly comprehensible.

>>29818355
>>29818392
You grab the stack of paper and start reading.

+ + +

Woohoo Hooniversity Records: Professor Cackletta
Recorded by registrar Pinto Lima

1/4/90
Today, the dean hired a new history professor by the name of Cackletta. I thought it was a strange name, but I'm in no place to judge. The professor, for all her eccentricities, is incredibly competent at her job. Though I have had to reprimand her for outbursts in class, I look forward to working with her as she may be one of our best teachers yet.

1/7/90
Cackletta has taken on a second class: robotics! Yes, she's actually quite the electrician. I'd never expect a history teacher to do so well at anything like that... anything at all, in fact!

5/29/90
In a bit of a worrying turn, Professor Cackletta has become slightly hung up on legends of the Beanstar. For the past week, all her lectures have revolved around it. She asks students to study it, and bring her any information they can.

11/8/90
I have taken over for Professor Cackletta's class today, as she will be going on an archaeological trip for the next week. Lucky her!

11/15/90
Unfortunately, we have had to let Cackletta go. Her behavior around students has escalated into violence, and the way she talks to herself makes her lectures hard to understand. We wish her good luck in her next venture.

+ + +

You hand the stack of paper to Sal, and he stores it for later.

>Go to the back room
>Go to the left room
>Read "Negative Ions and You"
>Read "The History of the Beanbean Kingdom"
>Read Fawful's journal

>>29818627
>Read Fawful's journal
We might find a lead.

>>29818627
>read Fawful's Journal
We may need someone who can speak crazy on this one...

>>29818678
You grab the leather-bound journal from the shelf.

"Oh, what horrors await us in that tome?" Sal questions jokingly.

+ + +

Day 1
Today marks my first day of apprenticeship to Cackletta. I can't wait to get started! All the other children were so horribly jealous that I'd get to spend my time with someone so wonderfully smart. I hope that I'll get to learn a lot!

Day 9
Cackletta has been teaching me a lot about history. Particularly Beanbean history, though we will occasionally learn about Mushroom Kingdom history. I do love history!

Day 57
Today, I heard the most wondrous news! We will be going to the Evergreen Valley on an archaeological dig, just the two of us with a very smart Toad! I am so excited, I can hardly wait!

Day 60
Today, while digging, Cackletta and I discovered a funny mask in the ruins. She's left it to me to study while she continues digging. I don't like the way it looks at me, or how it speaks.
It tells me strange things.
It tells me to put it on...
It gives me fury...

Day 61
THE MAAASK
THE MASK IS GOOONE
THE TOAD HAS STOLEN IT
IT WAS MINEMINEMINE
MINEMINEMINEMINE
I HAVE FURY OF THIS MAN OF STEAL MASK
MINEMINEIIMENEMEMIIINEINEMIE

+ + +

From there, the journal is covered in incomprehensible scribbles, drawings of smiling faces, and rough sketches of the mask.

>Go to back room
>Go to left room

>>29818944
>shudder in horror at what you have just read
>go to left room

>>29818944

>Nothing between day 9 and 57

That's a suspiciously uneventful term.

>>29819002
You shudder in horror as you replace the journal. "I think Kamek mentioned that archaeological dig... but I've never heard of any Evergreen Valley."

You turn on your flashlight and open the door to the room to the left. And as you open the door, nothing could prepare you for what lurks behind.

+ + +

Thank you for reading this evening's Mushroom Kingdom Quest! I hope you had fun, and I'll see you on Wednesday for the next edition!

I was really impressed we beat Wario actually.