Rolled 5

>nap time
we just saved everyone's shit.

>>32034496

> [x]You've done your part. Time for a nap.

Sleeping Loli is cute loli

>>32034496
>[ ]Push on anyway. Stay awake and keep guard.
we can nap time when everyone is okay and the place is properly secured, let Dave, Ice and Viktor do the heavy lifting now unless one of them can help Vasa

>>32034496
>[ ]You've done your part. Time for a nap.

>>32034496
>[ ]You've done your part. Time for a nap.
Can't be helped. Still just a kid (even if mentally more than physically), and when kids get tired they drop like a rock.

>Archive description
> The team consider the benefits of the nine mike mike pension plan.
Well that's slightly worrying...

>>32034496
>[X]You've done your part. Time for a nap.

You've done your part. You let your heavy eyelids pull themselves closed.

------------------------

When you awake, you find yourself lying in a sleeping bad inside one of the town buildings. It's raining hard outside, and the clouds are obscuring the moon, meaning little light penetrates far into the darkness of the room. But it's quite warm, thanks to the sleeping forms of Viktor and Ice beside you. From the next room over, you can hear a soft mumbling. The tone recognizable enough as Kris'. You can't hear any others, so you guess she's talking to herself. A tall, lithe silhouette stands by the wide window before you, one that is unmistakably Dave, staring out into the darkness.

[ ]Follow Kris' voice.
[ ]Go stand with Dave.
[ ]Go back to sleep.
[ ]Other.

>>32034799
>[ ]Follow Kris' voice.
go see how Vasa is doing

>>32034799
>[ ]Follow Kris' voice.
i hope we won't interrupt anything important~

>>32034799
>[ ]Follow Kris' voice.

>>32034799
>[X]Follow Kris' voice.

You wiggle free of the sleeping back quietly, careful not to wake the others or alert Dave, before crossing to the door and slipping out of the room. From the main corridor, there's another room directly across from you, from which Kris' voice is coming. You take a few steps closer, peering around the edge of the door frame.

Inside, there's a simple metal bed with an aging mattress on which the sleeping form of Vasa lies; completely still apart from the soft, slow rising and falling of her chest as she breathes quietly in the night.
Kris sits on a metal chair beside her bed, head resting gently on Vasa's belly. Even from here, you can't quite make out the low mumbling of Kris' words. You one more step into the room, getting just a touch closer, when suddenly Kris jumps in her skin, jolting around to face you with an expression of half-terror, half-fury.

"Oh, Loli," she sighs, muscles quickly relaxing once again, expression returning to neutrality. "What's up? Thought you'd sleep through 'til dawn at least."

[ ]Ask Kris how Vasa's doing.
[ ]Ask Kris how she's doing.
[ ]Talk to Kris about... (write-in)
[ ]Offer her a quiet hug.
[ ]Other.

>>32035074
>[ ]Ask Kris how she's doing.
>implying she'll tell us

>>32035074
>[ ]Ask Kris how Vasa's doing.

>>32035074
>hug her
>[ ]Ask Kris how Vasa's doing.
>hug Vasa
>[ ]Ask Kris how she's doing.
hug her

>>32035239
>hug Vasa
Might want not to. If she's sleeping, there's really no good reason to wake her just so she can have another nice dose of PAIN.

>>32035304
then we shall hug her sneakily, just like Vasa-sensei taught us

>>32035356
But we failed her test, anon...

>>32035380
that was just the lesson, now is the actual test...

>>32035403
And we're going to fail it as well.

>You one more step into the room, getting just a touch closer, when suddenly Kris jumps in her skin, jolting around to face you with an expression of half-terror, half-fury.
Kris really really really doesn't like the Dave guy, huh? We should reassure her. He may be crazy, but he's not crazy enough to try to hurt any of our friends while we're here.

>>32035074
>[X]Ask Kris how Vasa's doing.
>[X]Ask Kris how she's doing.
>[X]Offer her a quiet hug.

"Nothing, really," you tell her, "I was just wondering how Vasa was doing."

Kris gives you a wan smile. "She's alright, I think. Concussion from the pressure wave, shock from the pain. There's some swelling all over which might be fractures, but I can't tell. And the flash burns. She's gonna be... out of things for a while. At least a week. And there'll be a lot of pain."

You take in the information in silence, then switch your attention. "And what about you? How are you doing?"

"Me? I'm fine, not a scratch on me. Never a scratch on me. Absolutely healthy as I could ever be."

You sigh, before taking another step forward and pulling her into a hug. She stiffens as your arms wrap around her, but you grasp her tight, not letting her go. A long second passes, before Kris chokes back a sudden sob, creasing over in your arms to rest her head gently on Vasa's belly once more.

>?

>>32035657
leave them rest, go see what Dave is up to

>>32035657
"You shouldn't feel bad about that. You not getting hurt is exactly why Vasa is willing to risk getting hurt."

>>32035657
MOAR HUGS

>>32035778
is good to

Fall asleep yet Kaleun?

>>32035657
You keep your hold on her for a long time, as she gently sobs a few more times. "You shouldn't feel bad about that," you tell her simply, "you not getting hurt is why she's okay with it."
Kris doesn't respond, but you feel you've done the best you can, and leave the two girls in peace.

[1/?]

>It's coming! I'm just being slower than Hexer right now. I'm sorry!

>>32036129
On the way back to your sleeping bag, you notice Dave again. You're about to pass him by when you realize that he's not gazing out into the darkness, but at the glass of the window he's stood before. You walk up behind him and glance at the pane. On it, in a temporary marker, is some sort of flow or path diagram. Loads of little boxes or circles, each one labelled in American text that you can't read, and joined to a handful of other boxes by little one-way arrows. Most of the ones on the left of the picture are either crossed out or shaded in. Some of the crossed out boxes also spread out into other boxes that spread all the way to the right of the picture. But the ones that are shaded in or uncolored on the left all lead to uncolored boxes on the right. And there's dozens of them.

Looking at it a little closer, you notice something interesting. Most of the boxes have either two or three arrows, going up-right, down-right or flat-right. All of these arrows lead to more boxes or circles, which do the same all the way across to the end of the diagram, where some how or other, all the lines lead to one big circle with a smiley face drawn in it.

Apart from one set of lines. The ones leading down from every box, the ones that go down to another box that leads down, and down again, and down again. There's only one way to get all the way down to the bottom right side of the picture, where one lone circle is angrily outlined. At a strain, you think you can translate the text. It reads: "PLAN B".

[ ]Ask Dave about the picture.
[ ]Talk to Dave about... (write-in)
[ ]Forget it, go back to bed.
[ ]Other.

>>32036229
>[ ]Ask Dave about the picture.

>>32036229
>[ ]Ask Dave about the picture.
Not like he's going to say anything helpful, but it'd just be weird not to ask.
>[ ]Talk to Dave about... (write-in)
Chocolate. Maybe he found some on the monolith guys while we were out. If so he should share it! That's only fair!

>>32036229
Seconding >>32036306

>found some on the monolith guys while we were out
Oh yeah! We should have looted them for gear.

>>32036330
The others may have already done so. If not, well, it seems we're still in the area so they'll probably still be there in the morning.

>>32036229
>ask Dave about the picture
Hey Dave, what are you drawing on the window? Is it a picture for Eliza?

>>32036229
>[X]Ask Dave about the picture.
>[X]Talk to Dave about looted chocolate.

"Dave?" You call out to him, and cocks his head to listen to you, as if he'd been waiting for you to call out. "What is that thing?"

"This, my dear, is the past, present and future. Ie am trying to map out efery, possible outcome. If you know efery outcome, you can- plan for them. If not-" he holds his palm out in a dismissive gesture.

"O-okay. So what are these boxes then? And why are some crossed out and colored?"

"A simple code," he states simply. "If that event can no longer hkappen, then it is removed. If others rely on it, they, go too." His eyes glimmer as he says this, but his face remains deadly serious. "The colored events hkave definitely occurred, thus everything after that is more, likely but- everything else is also still possible."

You nod, sort of following what he means. "Right. So what about those two circles on the end?"

For the first time since you called him name, a shimmer of a smile catches his mouth. "This one," he points to the smiley face, "is where we win. And, this," he points to PLAN B, "is where -They- win."

You take a step back and look at the entire chart again, with this knowledge and see... "but then, that means they're winning!"

"Indeed, it looks so, doesn't it? Hnnn~!"

"But we only need to go up once to win, right?"

"And that, is what you need my hkelp for."

"Hmm... so, who are 'They'?"

Dave giggles gently. "Not before bed, child. Nightmares are not good for a restful sleep."

The two of you stand in silence for a long while, staring at the picture. Eventually, you once more break the silence.
"Did you find any chocolate in the loot?"

"Chocolate? Hnnnnn, unfortunately, no. I whould definitely like some chocolate in these times, though. Perhaps we can share if we do find any?"

>?
[ ]Head back to bed.
[ ]Do something else. (Write-in)
[ ]Talk to someone else. (Write-in)

>>32036766
>[ ]Head back to bed.
lets go cuddle up with Kris on Vasa's bed with her

everyone knows that sleeping loli's have regenerative powers for those they sleep with

>>32036766

Dave is actually came from the Metro to hunt for the Dark Ones

>>32036766
"So if you won't say who 'they' are, will you say who 'we' are?"

We do still have two bars of chocolate left, but if he's going to keep secrets from us like all the other grownups, maybe we'll just keep it to ourselves, or our other friends.

>>32036825

Anon you just made me read that sentence entirely wrong please kill me

>>32034496

>nine mike mike

9mm.

Oh shit somebody is going to die

>Captcha = nsubledo events

And apparently some nosebleed inducing events

>>32034496
>>32036944

>consider the benefits
>pension plan

Someone will commit suicide

>>32036965
not if we can do anything about it

>>32036944
Kaleun has promised in the past something along the lines of 'a character is only killed by dice or our actions' so even if that archive description isn't just a reference to Dave's introductory line, nobody should be doomed yet.

>>32037009
>by dice
he's said the opposite of that actually, but the part about by our actions stands

>>32037009

YET, FELLOW ANON, YET.

>So, uh... Have we decided to do something?

>>32037111
Well, I want to ask who he refers to by 'we' and another anon wants to sleep with V&K. I don't think anyone has said anything else.

>>32037111
well current votes are

>>32036825
>>32036911

though it seems odd that theres more anons discussing that voting...

>>32037020
I should go back and find the exact post just to check, but fuck if I can remember which thread it was, and if we're super lucky Kaleun might just clarify for us. But probably not this soon, it'd be unlike him to dispel paranoia so quickly.

>>32037334
>paranoia

Trust me guys, your nowhere near paranoid enough.

No really. I'm not joking.

>>32037399
But I'm already distrusting of every single character. Yes, even Vasa. But when you're in that situation you can basically either go along and see where it takes you or you go home. And I don't want to do the last one.

>>32037399
trying a bit too hard there

>>32037399
Kaluen is even keeping secrets from me...

Which worries me since I've pretty much lost track of who's planning what with whom...

>>32036766
"If you don't want to say who 'They' are, at least tell me who 'we' are?"

His eyelids stretch wide as he tilts his head to regard you. "Oh, did I say we?" He flaps his arms a little, before shifting his weight from foot to foot a few times. "We is us. Us is friends. But then who is friends? What makes them not enemies? Us, them. It's all perspective." He turns to look back to the diagram again.

You stare blankly at him. After a few moments he seems to feel your stare and looks to you. "What?"

You shrug him off, and wander back through the corridor to Kris and Vasa. Kris smiles a greeting at you, and you carefully pull up a char beside her, also taking up a position to use Vasa as a pillow for the remainder of the night.

-----

In the morning, you awaken to find yourself sleeping on Vasa alone. Vasa doesn't seem to have moved an inch, but Kris has gone. You get up and investigate the noises from the next room, to discover breakfast laid out waiting for you. Ice tosses a small knapsack to you, and you open it to discover a handful of magazines that look like they'll fit your guns.
"Your share of the loot," he shrugs, "wasn't much of use to us." You thank him anyway, and settle down to another cold breakfast.

Once that's done, Kris stands up to address the group as a whole.
"We need to decide what we're going to do with Kris. She's not fit to fight in any way, and won't be for a week at least. She should be fine to travel, but she's gonna be dead weight on us for a while, and it's gonna be agony for her. But we can't just leave her here, and I don't know what other options there are."

She casts her gaze around the group, waiting for a response.

Dave pipes up from behind her, without turning to face you all. "There is always, the nine-mike-mike retirement fund."

>>32037505
>what we're going to do with Kris
Vasa. Ughn.
Also,
[1/?]

>>32037505
>Dave pipes up from behind her, without turning to face you all. "There is always, the nine-mike-mike retirement fund."
NO DAVE NO

>>32037505
>Dave pipes up from behind her, without turning to face you all. "There is always, the nine-mike-mike retirement fund."
It's like he wants to be hated.

>>32037505
>and I don't know what other options there are."
easy, we leave most of the people here, and two take Eliza out to scavenge/loot/steal/buy/barter gear we need to head north

and someone needs to get Vasa a fucking armored suit already because god fucking damn her ghille is the most perforated thing in history

>>32037634
> god fucking damn her ghille is the most perforated thing in history

That would be Kris.

>>32037634
Sure. Or we stop allowing her anywhere near potential action. She's our sniper, I don't even know how we always manage to get her in the center of things.

>>32037505
As soon as the words leave his lips, you can sense the anger bristling up through Kris, almost immediately reaching boiling point. She spins on the spot, already pulling the pistol from Ice's holster beside her. "I'LL GIVE YO-"

Without even deigning to turn to face her, Dave takes a step to one side to bring himself out of her firing line, snaps his arm around to grip her wrist and twists, yanking her clean off her feet. Her face meets the floor with a hard slap, while Dave casually catches the pistol from the air before it follows her, discarding the magazine and clearing the chamber before tossing the weapon back at Ice. "Within calculations," he shrugs. "It was only a suggestion. You are free to disregard those you do not wish to follow. And let us face the facts: she will likely never get the hkappy ending she wishes for. It will only, ever be torment. A fact of which, you are aware. And by now, surely we all know that death is one of the less terrible fates to befall us in this world."
He leaves that note hanging in the air, before strolling out the door towards Eliza.

>Responses?
>Actions?
>Plans?

>>32037682
we should be doing both, getting her a better more armored suit AND keeping her at range with someone watching her back

>>32037692
disregard the crazy man

for a plan, where is the nearest safe haven/trader/doc? we should head for there and let her heal up and get rest while some of the party take Eliza and go scavenging for gear and money to get gear, we're heading north and we are woefully underequipped for it, we need better armored vests/suits, more medical gear, better anti-rad meds/gear and detectors and better guns

lets get Vasa safe, one week is fucking nothing to us in our plans, we can wait a month if we need to, to make sure we are ready to properly set off north

so plan is:
- consult the maps and what everyone knows to find nearest safe/neutral/haven place with a trader and doc
- get Vasa safe and healing there
- have one person minimum stay with her to keep her company and safe
- the others take turns to take small jobs, make some cash, find some loot and start upgrading all our gear
- when we're prepared, head north and be fucking careful about it

after we set this in motion, we should talk to Dave about exactly why we agree with what Kris was about to do and that we are not abandoning our friends, who gives a fuck about the future, its not set in concrete

>>32037768
Yeah nah, you're a cunt, veto'd

Try to not be so fucktardedly out of character and not derail the quest...

>>32037692
I'll second >>32037784 unless anyone has improvements to add/modify, it seems pretty good to me.

>>32037784 here again

HK, how far away is a freedom base? We could shack up with them while Vasa heals and do some work for them.

Since we left Yanov, I have no fucking idea where anything is.

>>32037784
Kris is apparently in a hurry to get up there. But we aren't, so she'll just have to come up with a good reason why we shouldn't go back. And it'd better be a good one, otherwise I'll be voting to stay with Vasa no matter what comes. Best sister is best.

>>32037843
As shady as Kris is, she recognizes that our little party is the only thing keeping her alive and helping her get north, so she can suck it up and wait until her best friend is healed up and we are actually prepared to head north.

>>32037505
>>32037692
when we talk to Dave we should probably say that while we don't know who 'They' are, but we do know that him acting like that essentially makes him part of 'They', he needs to reign that shit in before we give him his own retirement plan.

>>32037835
>>HK, how far away is a freedom base?

>Between the map on your PDA, allies that know how to read it, and your phone contacts, you would be able to reason out that the nearest Freedom base is a 15 minute tank ride away, assuming you take the long route and avoid all anomaly fields.
>(This is assuming I can read this satellite map correctly. I'm the QM, so let's say I can.)

>>32037910
right then, lets head there and enact the plan in >>32037784 with our chill buddies in green

also, its 3am here now so I'm heading to bed, good luck fellow anons, and try to not let retards like >>32037768 actually control anything

>>32037930
a vote as blatantly OOC and trollish as that ain't 'genuine' by any standard

>>32037910
ib4 Dave refuses to go back and is in control of the tank. Let's suggest it though. Viktor and Ice didn't even have any plans to go north, Vasa can't vote, we control Loli and are saying to go back, so let's see if Kris will try to force us forward and how.

>>32037974
...

Please tell me you don't actually honestly believe that.

OOC is something that the character would not do, and that kind of action is nowhere near close to being in Loli's character

>>32038014
Yeah, and we've already defined that she wouldn't readily agree to killing Vasa and ditching the rest of her friends. Shits as OOC as all get out.

>>32038014
No, we actually don't, Herr defines it by interpreting and writing what we vote for, what he writes Loli do, that defined what is IC or OOC, not what we vote for, its not our preferences or wants and desires influencing votes that make something IC, its what the character visibly does 'onscreen' in the writing of the author.

We guide and help shape the character, the author creates and defines the character.

>>32038058
the troll said
>"He's right, Kris."
agreeing with Dave's retirement plan for Vasa, which would be killing her, and fuck that for a joke, we ain't doing that

>>32038098
And? So fucking what, does the moment that
someone becomes depressed or is unhappy or things are not going their way become the moment where they must be killed?

Fuck no, who cares if the future is bleak, fucking push through it and make it happy.

>>32038014
>>32038058

Not the anon you're arguing with, but I'd like to jump in and mention that the quest has been going on for a while. We have a pretty good idea of what options the character would consider and what they wouldn't consider. Confronting Kris on having a hidden agenda would be in character, since she does give off signs that she's hiding things from us and we've caught her lying to us before. Outright abandoning the group that our character has shown to care a lot about and instead going with the new guy is pretty out of character until you can actually give a good explanation to how that is not true.

>>32038125
>until you can actually give a good explanation to how that is not true.
Except that he can't.

File: 1378153041933.jpg (69 KB, 1280x720)

69 KB JPG

You illustrious master, the Loli Captain, has viewed the suggestion made in >>32037768

He has weighed it, measured it, and deemed it to be Out Of Character.
Sentence is QM Veto.

>In other news, I am currently plotting out routes, events and time effects, adjusting Dave's Path Diagram accordingly, and trying to work out what the heck the man is planning now.
>Please wait warmly.

>>32038185

So it's railroading?

>>32038227
Go back to the QTG you pathetic troll.

>>32038138
Maybe he could. I could instantly come up with a motivation that would lead to abandoning Kris over a relatively short series of exchanges, and if that's what I wanted to happen I'd probably start with that instead. Try to guide the character to the point where what you want becomes viable. I have employed similar strategies in the past in order to try to influence the quest in the direction I wanted.

But for now, I'm satisfied with simply throwing in the "turn back" to see if Kris will follow or actually reveal what she's trying to do. That could in itself lead to a point where abandoning her is plausible and then that anon might get his wish so I'd suggest he support that course of action as well.

>>32038252
>a point where abandoning her is plausible
not seeing that ever happening

Fucking Dave had to shit things up...

>>32038268
It's not too difficult. Loli has already noted that she occasionally behaves oddly when new information is revealed or when asked questions. She has on separate occasions been forced to reveal information that contrasted with what she had otherwise told Loli. Pushing a "come clean or we're not friends anymore" wouldn't be strange at all following recent events. And if that happens, all you'd need it for Kris to refuse or to reveal something sufficiently upsetting.

Not hard at all.

>>32038342
I can see Loli saying that, but outright walking away from her?

nope

>>32038342
That's what I'm fucking worried about, because that would be the thing that kills the quest, other quests have had such things happen and while some survived, many did not.

Oh hey HK is still running. Nice.

>>32038353
Why not? Far as we can tell she loved both her parents, but here she is.

>>32038370
Would it? Is she essential to the plot in such a way that everything would fall apart if we left her? I wouldn't know, really. I have a ton of theories about what's going on, but I can't really confirm anything in particular. Especially after a single sentence in last thread blew half of them to pieces.

>>32038441
Indeed he is anon, he's aiming to beat 48 hours continuous run time, and is currently somewhere just past 30 hours.

Though his post times have slowed a bit, so you've plenty of time to catch up.

>>32038461
>Especially after a single sentence in last thread blew half of them to pieces.
Oh? And yeah I think it would come pretty close to terminally damaging it if its not handled well.

well, we know Vasa is in pain, so how about we start by looking for painkillers?

>>32038543
That could be a good idea. I also kinda support getting Kris to come clean with us.

>>32038543
yeah, we should give her some fairly strong ones before we set off on our tank trip to our freedom friends

>>32038483
Well shit, if you're going to "oh?" me I guess I'd better explain. I mentioned it at the time, actually. Vasa was surprised by the disinfectant chamber in the sci bunker. This is important to me. Now, for actually explaining why...

The implication of that is that Vasa has never been inside a scientists bunker, including a very particular one. Back when we "visited" Sakharov he mentioned that he was informed by "those two" that we would be coming by soon because of the trouble the Marked One had been kicking up. Additionally, after the incident we were shown a short scene about two bushes discussing how Loli's not choosing to join the expedition meant they couldn't introduce themselves. That sounds like V&K, so I had assumed that they were also the ones who warned Sakharov.

But if Vasa wasn't familiar with how the disinfectant chamber works, how can she be one of "those two?" Sakharov would have had to come to them instead and that just doesn't seem likely. That raises the question of who the second person is, and if Kris is even one of the two. And for the moment I have no answers.

>>32037692
You wait until Dave has left the room, before moving to Kris' side and helping her up. She wrenches her arm away from you, though, choosing to stand on her own. Tears pricking both eyes, she glares after the man, before whirling away to storm to Vasa's room.

You watch her go, feeling helpless. After a long silence, Ice walks over and places a reassuring hand on your shoulder.
"Hey, that guy's an ass, but us, we're still in this together. What're you thinking? Where to next?" You look up into his face, and see that he is indeed placing all his trust in you. You look to Viktor, and see the same. Reassured, you nod vigorously, before sitting down next to Viktor and pulling your PDA from your jacket pocket.

"Okay, so Freedom have some bases, right...?"

------------------------

With both Viktor and Ice on board with your plan to get Vasa to a nearby safe-house, now all you need to do is let Kris know, and get Dave to agree. You're a little apprehensive over this part. If he doesn't agree, will he take Eliza? Or will Eliza come with you, but you won't be able to talk to her? Well, you suppose there's only one way to find out!

You step out into the drizzle, crossing through a few small puddles to approach Dave, who is once more straddling Eliza's cannon.
"We're not going to leave Vasa, Dave. She's a friend, and we don't leave friends behind. You understand the concept of friends, right!?"

His legs swing freely under him. "Indeed Ie do, child. But Ie ask of you in return, do you understand there are some things in this existence that are of greater importance than a few freindlies?"

[1/2]

>>32038675
well Kris does not wear a ghille, so I don't see her as potentially being one of those 'bushes'

>>32038722
>do you understand there are some things in this existence that are of greater importance than a few freindlies?"
who does he think we are? a responsible adult?

fuck that we're 12, the only things that matter are friends and chocolate

>>32038675
>You might also be able to postulate that, while two people approached a bunker, only one of them needed to be inside in order to negotiate. Perhaps Vasa was present at the bunker, but simply did not use the chamber.

>Of course, this also isn't the first hint that may or may not have been dropped that more than one faction might be interested in certain interesting powers. In fact, I recall a certain someone saying that in as many words very recently.

>I could also just be taking this moment to throw fuel on the paranoia fire, because it's entertaining!
I'm not. Paranoid actions are not very fun to watch unfold. Too much paranoia is terrible. At the end of the day, you could be the most trusting little girl in the Zone and I would still try to cart you (mostly) unharmed along as much as possible.

>>32038812
>you could be the most trusting little girl in the Zone
we kind of are what with trying to make friends with a pseudogiant

>>32038771
I didn't consider it to be much of a stretch for Vass to bush up Kris a bit if they're going to put the stalker in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. There have been several of those short scenes featuring unseen watchers, always with roughly the same mannerisms and generally with one of them observing through a sniper's scope. None after joining V&K and the dialogues just match pretty well with them. Mostly. There are a few inconsistencies that led me to speculate that not all of the scenes were V&K.

>>32038812
Indeed, Dave did do just that. But none of what he's said has helped me form any new theories that aren't just throwing in parties that have so little evidence of being involved that I may as well just have imagined them on my own. Postulating that "someone is out there" without being able to provide any indications of WHO is out there (yes yes, shota is suspicious but who the hell is he anyway), well, that I may as well just keep to myself. But I also haven't had much time since then to speculate.

>>32038722
"Maybe. But if you don't tell us what they are, we can't judge, can we? So until you do, I'm gonna say Vasa is more important."

He stops swinging his legs at this. For once, the jittery, playful stance in his body disappears as he gazes down on you with a piercing stare. "If Ie were to tell you that, taking this choice moves us down another rung? That They are another step closer to total victory?"

"I'd still stick with Vasa."

He shifts his weight, sliding off the cannon to land gracefully on the floor. Two steps brings him before you. "Very well then, Giltinė, chosen child of the Zone. Ie shalle trust in your wisdom, and place my life in your hands. We are taking her to one of the nearby safe-houses, yes? You might, like to let them know we are coming first."

------------------------

You knock once. "Come in," Kris' voice mumbles from the other side.

"You okay?" Kris nods the affirmative, but the tear streaks still line her face. "So, we were talking and, we wanna take Vasa to the Freedom outpost nearby. She'll be safe there, and we can regroup and rest up for a bit. Take it easy, sort of. Sounds good, right?"

She smiles warmly at you. "Yeah. Yeah it does. Thank you, Loli. Really. I'm sorry I made such a mess of things like this."

------------------------

"Hello? Yeah, this is Freedom Outpost Pavel. What can I do for you, Giltinė?"

[ ]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.
[ ]Our tank needs resupply, can you help us?
[ ]We're looking for somewhere to stay for a while, can we hole up with you for a week?
[ ]Have you got any paid jobs going around there?

>Choose as many or as few options as you wish.
>Not choosing an option here will revert to you seeking it from standard sources instead (e.g. jobs from neutrals instead of Freedom)

>>32038956
Ah fuck I forgot about shota. He is pretty odd.

>>32038973

[ ]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.

[ ]Our tank needs resupply, can you help us?

>>32038812
>At the end of the day, you could be the most trusting little girl in the Zone

There's more than one? Time to hunt her down and crush the competition.

>>32038973
>[ ]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.
I don't remember how much we really need stuff right now, so I'll say nothing on that.

>>32038973
>[ ]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.
>[ ]We're looking for somewhere to stay for a while, can we hole up with you for a week?
>[ ]Have you got any paid jobs going around there?
>[ ]Our tank needs resupply, can you help us?

In that order preferably.

>>32038996
>I don't remember how much we really need stuff right now, so I'll say nothing on that.
we are in desperate need of new armor and clothes for all of us, and anti-rad gear as well as medical supplies, but we're very short on cash, so best bet to get what we need would be bartering or working for them

>>32038973
>>Not choosing an option here will revert to you seeking it from standard sources instead (e.g. jobs from neutrals instead of Freedom)
In that case I'm gonna go all in

[ ]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.
[ ]Our tank needs resupply, can you help us?
[ ]We're looking for somewhere to stay for a while, can we hole up with you for a week?
[ ]Have you got any paid jobs going around there?

We've a deal with Freedom to help keep Eliza supplied and repaired, and they'd probably have the best in terms of help for Vasa, as well as the safest quarters and good leads on potential jobs.

>>32039018
In that case, I'll add
>[ ]Have you got any paid jobs going around there?
to my vote here >>32038996.

>>32039018
we could also do with some good guns, imagine Loli with a Groza and two USP's, Vasa with a fully suppressed SVU or even a VSK, and Kris with a Sig 550 or even a G36, Ice carries Sergei, so he's good for guns, though I'm not sure what Vik uses

>>32038973
>[ ]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.
>[ ]Our tank needs resupply, can you help us?

We're not going to sit idle, and while I'm not strictly opposed to taking jobs for Freedom at this point (neutrality is long dead) I'd prefer neutrals for the moment because Freedom would most likely ask us to go shoot more Dutyers and fuck that war, I don't want us getting dragged back into that.

>>32039041
>"One of my friends is hurt so we need a place to stay for a week and some medical care. During that time I can do some jobs for you because we also need some fuel and ammunition."

>>32038973
I'll second >>32039094

>>32038973
[X] I'm bringing an injured friend in
[X] and our tank needs a resupply

>>32039092
What do you think Dave would use? Or is he all bare hands all the time?

>>32039123
He's probably got a Gauss Rifle hidden up his sleeves

>>32038973
>[ ]We're looking for somewhere to stay for a while, can we hole up with you for a week?
>[ ]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.

>>32038994
Odd is putting it lightly. Plus the part where Kaleun insists that he's the BBEG, but that's useless info again. He could be lying about it or telling the truth and the only thing we know is that the real reason he said it was to encourage more crazy theories.

>>32039140
I can't help but not believe HK when he hands out info like that.

>>32039174
Then you're playing into his hands. You don't think he's smart enough to tell the truth only to trick you by making you think he's lying? You should conclude absolutely nothing from that statement. You can't even derive that the fact he made a statement about Shota at all means that he's an important character because it could just as easily be assumed he's trying to kick up a fuss about a joke character to misdirect you from the real power players.

Feeling paranoid yet? This is why I'm always opting for simply playing along and seeing what happens.

File: 1395374106311.gif (218 KB, 600x600)

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>>32039243
Trying to out think a mad scientist hurts.

>>32039243
Bear in mind I'm in on the planning sessions and i still have NO IDEA what he has planned.

Apart from awesome. its always awesome

>>32039474
Don't worry, I haven't been trusting a word you say for months, puppet.

>>32039532
Probably a good thing. He shot down my idea of Eliza having a fetish for leopard 1 Yaoi pictures

>>32039584
MFW the Leopard Prototyp Arbeitsgruppe A was actually referred to as female and Arbeitsgruppe B was referred to as male during the prototype development phases. It would be Leopard 1 /u/ material, not /y/

>>32039680
Maybe that's why the idea was rejected.

>>32039855
Bit I thought Kaluenn was rue one who knew nothing about military hardware?

>>32038973
>[X]I'm bringing an injured friend in. She needs care.
>[X]Our tank needs resupply, can you help us?

We got into a fight with some Monolith guys. We used the machine gun a lot, and quite a bit of fuel. Can we use your supplies to restock?"

"Sure thing, we've already been given the green light to get you anything you need for that baby, and to help with any repairs we can."

"Great! Uhm, also, I've got a friend, she's injured but not too bad. She needs somewhere safe and clean to rest and get better."

"Yeah, no problem girl, bring her on by and we'll find her a bed for however long she needs."

------------------------

It's a short ride on Eliza to the outpost, which turns out to be little more than a small fortified campsite in a clearing just outside a forested area a little way north-east of Yanov. It's far enough out the way that no-one would bother coming this far out, and so it has minimal defenses. It does have an adequately full truck from which you acquire more machine gun rounds and fuel, though, whilst also having a semi-permanent tent space with a real bed inside. The field medic with the garrison checks over her wounds and gives much the same diagnosis as Kris, recommending bed rest and assuring you that he'll look after her.

[ ]Leave someone behind with her regardless? (Who?)
[ ]Contact Beard for jobs and equipment.
[ ]Ask the scientists for work.
[ ]Other

>>32040052
>[ ]Contact Beard for jobs and equipment.

>>32040052
>[ ]Leave someone behind with her regardless? (Who?)
Kris? She isn't much good in a fight.
>[ ]Contact Beard for jobs and equipment.

>>32040052
>[ ]Leave someone behind with her regardless? (Who?)
Kris or Viktor
then
>[ ]Contact Beard for jobs and equipment.

>>32040052
[X] Contact Beard for some work
Kris can stay with Vasa while she recovers Dave can come do some work with us and maybe we can find some nice stuff for Eliza

>>32040052
>[ ]Leave someone behind with her regardless? (Who?)
>[ ]Contact Beard for jobs and equipment.
It's probably best if someone stays behind so she's not alone. Obvious choice would be Kris, though it'd suck not to have her around if someone gets brutally maimed again.

And oh god, we're going back to Cosplay Quest aren't we?

>>32040123
> Cosplay Quest

Quickest, easiest cash around. Plus free clothing.

>>32040147
indeed, we should do that as much as possible for the quick and easy cash before taking real jobs for better gear

>>32040110
>>32040201
Anons are trying to hook vik up with vass.

I might approve.

>Okay, so we're contacting Beard for work, and it's a split vote as to whether to leave your tank driver or your squad medic with sleeping beauty?
>Grabbing snacks, then I'll start writing something.

>>32040267
>and it's a split vote as to whether to leave your tank driver or your squad medic with sleeping beauty?
well lets leave Kris with her for now, and then when we've got work that requires our and Kris's skills we can swap her for Vik

>>32040267
Meh Ill change my vote:

>>32040092

to Vik. Dont reall NEED a tank driver with a sapient tank.

>>32040267
let's leave kris, yes

>>32040394
I agree. The only reason to leave Kris is that they're closer to each other.

>>32040394
we kind of don't need him seeing as its sentient...

>>32040471
this. they're close, and morale is pretty important for recovery

>Apologies for the delay, snacks turned into a full meal. It was yummy.

>And maybe it's just me, but I'm struggling to see where the consensus is lying now, so I'm going to call a full vote for this.
>X-up your choice.

[ ]Leave Kris.
[ ]Leave Viktor.

>>32040819
[X]Leave Kris.

>>32040819
[] Leave Doggy

Jokes, leave Kris.

>>32040819
[ ]Leave Viktor.

>>32040819
>[X]Leave Viktor.

>Alright, the Viktor's have it! Writing!

>>32040052
>[X]Leave Viktor behind with her regardless.
>[X]Contact Beard for jobs and equipment.

Even so, you don't feel comfortable just leaving one of your friends alone with the yellows. You ask the others, and both Kris and Viktor offer to stay with her, but you point out that Kris is your only medic while Viktor's tank driving isn't exactly a needed skill right now. Kris relents, after making Viktor vow not to leave her side until she's better.

With that settled, you decide to make use of a contact you haven't had to call for a while, and dial in a call to Beard.

"Well, what a surprise. I wasn't expecting to hear from you, lass. What can I do for you?"

You quickly brief him on the situation: how you don't have any friendly traders to trade with, and even if you did, you've got nothing to trade and no money. "Ah, well that doesn't sound like a problem. I tell you what, I still have the next outfit here. I was meaning to send it to Hawaiian whenever I got word, but that never came through. If you want to stop by Skadovsk, we can sort something out. And I can try to find work for you, too."

You thank him for the help, and...

[ ]mention that Kris is with you, she could wear an outfit too.
[ ]tell him you'll be right there. Try to find jobs around Skadovsk again.
[ ]ask him to send the outfit(s) to you here. Try to find jobs around this area.

>Skadovsk jobs will be easier, more menial jobs for less reward.
>Work around here will be more specialized, more dangerous, and much more rewarding.

>>32041412
>[ ]mention that Kris is with you, she could wear an outfit too.
Big money

>>32041412
how long would the journey to skadovsk take, now that we have a tank?

>>32041412
Uhh, let's not just sell off Kris but actually ask her if she'd like to? She's our friend, not our slave. And let's stick to Skadovsk for now, maybe later do some harder work if Vass is okay to be left alone.

>>32041511
>No more than an hour, if you're taking the long, steady paths.
>Without wounded folk on board, you might push half an hour if you were in a hurry.

>That's bypassing the entire spacial anomaly field.

>>32041848
>>32041412
in that case,
>[ ]tell him you'll be right there. Try to find jobs around Skadovsk again.
i'm sure we'll need a lot more supplies if we want a chance up there

>>32041890
You know technically the only thing that went wrong is stumbling into that trap. Im not sure we can really blame the fact we brought no supplies at all, even if that WAS a bad idea.

>>32041970
i know.
but we need to be ready against traps like that
armors? artifacts? medical supplies? technological stuff?

>>32042085
Well, if I had to guess I'd say the part where we're driving a tank around would be the main reason for getting ambushed.

>>32041412
[X]tell him you'll be right there. Try to find jobs around Skadovsk again.
[X]mention that Kris is with you, she could wear an outfit too.

"...we'll be there as soon as we can."

"Alright! I'll see you soon, then."

He's about to end the call when you catch him, "oh, one more thing. One second," you bring the phone away from your ear and put your fingers on the mouthpiece to muffle the microphone. "Hey Kris, remember that time we talked about getting dresses if Beard could take pictures?"

Her eyes light up in glee, "you mean he's still willing? I get to wear a real dress!?"

You grin, bringing the phone back to your ear, "my friend is going to stop by too. Can you find a dress that would fit her?"

"Haha! Leave it to me, we'll get something!" With that, he ends the call.

And with everything set and ready, you call the mount-up. With less passengers, you all fit a little more comfortably. Ice and Kris take the commander and gunner seats together, while Dave finds a way to fit himself into the driver's seat. Luckily, none of them have to actually crew the thing, since they're too big to fit in a functional manner. That leaves you and Doggy, who for once decides to ride with you instead of running alongside.

[1/2]

When we find that psuedogiant again, we need to give him a name. How about Hank?

>>32042466
Welcome back to existing, Doggy

>>32042559
Doggy is a quantum being.

>>32042466
The trip is a short and easy one. After having Dave relay directions from the yellows to Eliza, there's nothing more for you to do for the journey than sit back and relax, watching the scenery fly by.

[ ]Spend the trip petting Doggy.
[ ]Take some time to talk to someone. (Write-in)

>I would just like to take a moment to thank you all for putting up with me and my horrendous update speeds, as well as (hopefully minor) drop in post quality.
>The good news is that I'm still feeling bright and chipper as we enter the 37th hour. Onwards, to the glorious 48, comrades!

>>32042766
>[ ]Spend the trip petting Doggy.

>>32042797
no brakes on the loli train

>>32042766
Uhh, let's throw some random conversation in there. Ask Kris about that trip to London she mentioned way back at the space anomaly incident? That's totally interesting and something you probably never thought further about. And loli should really be curious about the world if she spent years trying to escape her home.

>>32042766
>[ x]Spend the trip petting Doggy.

>>32042797
Haha, knew you had it in you Kaleun.

>>32042766
>[X]Spend the trip petting Doggy.

The rumbling of the engine, coupled with the quiet and relatively safe trip almost manage to lull you to sleep, especially with the comforting form of Doggy beside you.
After a half-hour's journey, Eliza slows to a halt on the narrow road to the burnt out farmstead on the hill overlooking Skadovsk. Of course, now that you're here you guess this is as close as Eliza could get you, without risking getting stuck in the swamp mud that permeates this entire region.

You quickly dismount with your kit, the other following you. Dave lingers for a moment, and you glance back inquisitively. "We are leaving Eliza, here alone?" He doesn't seem to be trying to make a point here, simply asking the question.

[ ]Leave her alone. She'll be fine for a little while.
[ ]Leave someone with her. Company's always good.

>>32043420
Urgh, leave Dave behind. He's weird anyway, don't need him talking to people for us.

>>32043509
No, I want Dave to stay. He's cool.

>>32043420
>[ ]Leave her alone. She'll be fine for a little while.
it should be ok

>>32043683
He's just going to weird out everyone. At least the tank seems to like him so he may as well keep it company.

>>32043420
>[ x]Leave someone with her. Company's always good.

Ice or dave I guess.

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>>32043420

I got distracted and made this.

>>32043420
>[X]Leave Dave to keep her company.

"Yeah, you're right. Okay, you can stay here with Eliza to keep her company then. We'll be back in a bit!" You turn away from him without another thought and skip off towards the familiar bulk of the old cargo ship at the bottom of the river bed.

The guard on the walkway gives you a casual nod as you descend, apparently unconcerned about the arrival of a tank on his doorstep. Inside, you receive the same response as ever, with the patronage twisting in their seats to get an eyeful of the newcomers, before turning back to their own business and paying you no more mind.
At least until Beard notices you. "Loli!" He bellows the greeting across the bar, "good to see you. Come, come. See what I have for you."

The set he hands to you is no problem at all. It seems pretty reasonable as far as clothing goes, though not completely practical. A beige long-sleeved shirt with green neckerchief under a green strap-top with pleated maroon skirt and red jacket closed with a ridiculously thick leather belt. The final touches are a pair of leather wrist straps that serve no obvious purpose, and a cute little red bead for your hair.

The problem arises with Kris' outfit.
"A MAID!? Are you being serious, you bearded pervert? I was told I'd get to wear a dress!"

"Th-that -is- a dress! It's the best we could find on such short notice!"

"This isn't a dress, it's an indecent exposure charge waiting to happen!"

"Well, there's no exposure laws in the Z-"

"THAT IS NOT THE POINT!"

She appears to be attracting a lot of attention from the other customers.

[ ]Try to calm her down. She doesn't need to wear it if she doesn't want to.
[ ]Point out that she only needs to wear it once, Beard can get something better next time.
[ ]Convince her she'd look good in it.

>>32044615
Goddammit Kris, way to ruin the fucking mood. Again. Cunt.

>>32044615
>[ ]Convince her she'd look good in it.

>>32044615
>[ ]Convince her she'd look good in it.

>>32044615
>[ ]Convince her she'd look good in it.
MAKE SURE TO TAKE A PICTURE FOR VASA

>>32044615
Well, certainly don't need to worry about trying to guess the reference this time. Poor Kris though.

>>32044615
[ x]Convince her she'd look good in it.

Calm yo tits bitch, Jesus.

Also who is Loli cosplaying as this time? I am terrible at guessing based on written descriptions.

>>32044968
what is it

>>32044990
Clearly Recette. Easy guess, what with the whole Racketeer Quest and such.

>>32044990
Oh wait is Recette?

>>32045027
>>32045030

Yeah just got it but thank you though. Do we still have black hair?

>>32044615
>[ ]Point out that she only needs to wear it once, Beard can get something better next time.

>>32045052
possibly decorated with dried blood? Other than that, should be, it hasn't been that long in game time, the dye shouldn't even be starting to fade yet.

>>32045116
Can we all agree blond Loli is best Loli?

>>32045182
Black is scarier. We shouldn't stop until even mindless Monolith fightes show fear when she appears.

>>32045275
But blonde is cuter. And don't forget even cuteness is a weapon in Loli's hands.

>>32045359
Sure, but she's already dominating that field, anyone who isn't too hard to just be outright immune she can already cute up. But in the field of being scary, the competition is a lot more fierce. She's scary but is she the scariest?

>>32045462
I gotta say out of all the assholes we have met, I would only put Kiyaya and Dave on the same level as far as being pants shittingly terrifying goes. Maybe shota as well if we learn more about him.

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>>32044615
>[X]Convince her she'd look good in it.

You step up close to her, quickly trying to calm her. "Kris, Kris just try it on. You don't have to do anything else if you don't like, but try it on."

"Why would I even-" Kris tries to argue, indignant, but you cut her off.

"Trust me! Beard's never let me down, right? It'll look great, I promise."

"Alright! Alright, fine. I'll try it on at least." She grabs the kit together and follows you into the back area you usually change in.

Used to this process by now, you rapidly disrobe from your current outfit and slide the perfectly sized replacement on, stepping out into the open once more.

You're about to start striking some poses for Beard and the crowd as you usually would at this point, but as you begin to lean in, you realize no-one is looking at you. Instead, they're looking at Kris behind you. You turn to see what the fuss is, and. Well.

[1/2]

>>32045630
Awesome. Kris-neechan kawaii, ne?

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>>32045630
The dress she's wearing is what you can only describe as: maid. The typical white-on-black frilled dress runs from neck to barely below her hip. It's just short enough that it appears to act as a dress should, except that she seems to have to lean forwards in an attempt to not show off too much of her front, but this has the flipped effect of showing off too much from the rear. Her legs are covered by thigh-high stockings, leaving a fair chunk of exposed flesh between the two frilled pieces of cloth.
Her short, strawberry-blond hair is held in place with a white frilled band.

In the ensuing photo frenzy, you're rather disappointed that you end up with a grand total of zero photos taken of you, besides the ones Beard takes for his sales collection. Every other patron in the bar has swarmed around Kris, and is snapping from any angle they can get. She desperately tries to keep herself decently covered, but with the lack of proper coverage offered by the skirt, she's always visible from one angle. And as soon as that angle snaps a shot, she tries to cover that one instead. The end result is an amazing sequence of revealing shots from every possible direction as she unintentionally reveals herself at least once to every member of the audience. And the cheers simply get louder and louder.

You apologize to her internally as you snap a couple of angles of her on your own phone, as a get-well gift for Vasa.

The frenzy finally stops when Kris seems to realize what's happening and resorts to dropping to the floor, hugging her knees close and covering herself with her hands.
The crowd grumbles a little, but disperses quickly enough.
Beard offers her a hand.

"Ah, sorry about that. I didn't expect it to be that, er, popular. I guess I can arrange an extra bonus ahead of time to make up for it if you'd like?"

Kris nods a few times, refusing to meet his gaze.

[2/?]

>>32045562
You're only counting persons. We've also got to compete with mutants, anomalies, and the popular concept of the zone itself having a mind that could at any time decide that you haven't really been filling your quota of agonized screams lately. As long as we're less scary than those things, scaring any particular individual could flunk simply because he knows it could be worse.

>>32045816
I think Kiyaya, Dave, and Loli can edge out over some of it. They aren't completely outclassed, but maybe we do need to step our game up.

>>32045816
I will still maintain cuteness is better than scariness, but I respect you opinion.

>>32045884
As I mentioned, I want to reintroduce the Monolith fighters to fear. I'm not sure they can feel fear at all, but I want them to.

>>32045800
Wow. I honestly feel a bit offended. These cretins are willing to abandon the Loli-do so quickly? They are truly the dregs of humanity.

>>32045954
Kris has... assets that loli lacks.

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>>32045954
It's okay. Beard's still our friend.

But we should have brought Dave. He might have done something funny to make it better.

>>32045982

>>32045982
oh, so they were just starving, i see

>>32045800
You cross to the bar with Beard to talk further business. Kris tries to keep pace, but seems to be struggling a little. You lean over to whisper to her that she can get changed again if she really wants, and she quietly backs away back into the darkness under the stairs to do so. You look back to Beard.

"Well, as far as jobs go, there's not really much to be had around here. We've managed to clear most of this place up nicely. All we really have are the standard artifact hunting orders: take an order, go artifact hunting and hope you can find the right one. alternatively, well. There have been a couple of reports about a Controller arriving in the area recently. We can't let something like that be.

[ ]Inquire after the artifact orders.
[ ]Controller? This sounds interesting.
[ ]Other.

>>32045982
Yeah. I always liked to think that the people who photographed us enjoyed the picture in a cerebral way, like thinking "The world is still worth living in", but now seeing them rush to better fap material just makes me disappointed in them.

>>32045800
First time we brought V&K here we made it clear that it is not okay to make our friends uncomfortable. Perhaps the crowd needs a reminder that all we need is for our friend to say the word and point you out and you will be begging the zone itself to save you.

>>32046082
>[x ]Controller? This sounds interesting.

Kinda wish we had gotten those anti-psi pills...

>>32046082
>[ ]Controller? This sounds interesting.
Let's make a new friend!

>>32046082
>[ ]Controller? This sounds interesting.
i think at the really beginning, someone assumed we were one of these

>>32046262
This is gonna be really weird train of thought for anybody in ear range. "I remember those! Somebody said I was one! Maybe it'll be my friend too!"

>>32046495
Heh I like it. Those first threads were pretty odd though.

>>32046082
>[X]Controller? This sounds interesting.

"A controller? I remember that name!" You squeak in delight at the recognition. "Someone thought I was a controller when I first got here!"

"A- they what?"

"Yeah, they started shooting each other and calling me a Controller because they wouldn't give me the chocolate."

Beard pinches the bridge of his nose. "That... feels like a story for another time. Anyway, do you know what a Controller is?"

"No idea!"

"Right, well then. A controller is a mutant with psychic powers. Mainly, mind control. They're really smart, and have really good eyesight. They're extremely dangerous to stalkers, especially lone ones, as they are capable of tricking the mind into perceiving their surroundings as something completely different to the reality. Like seeing a flat road where there's a sheer cliff."

"Huh, that sounds pretty bad," you intone.

"Exactly. So the job would be to find and remove this Controller from the area. Preferably by killing it. We have a rough idea of where it might be hiding, I can give you the details. Of course, the extra risk means the payout's higher."

[ ]Accept the job. Sounds like fun!
[ ]Refuse the job. This thing sounds too dangerous.

>>32047081
>[ ]Accept the job. Sounds like fun!
Is this seriously a choice?

>>32047081
>[ ]Accept the job. Sounds like fun!
adventure!

>>32047081
>[X]Accept the job. Sounds like fun!

So I am gonna guess Dave is immune to mind fuckery by virtue of his mind already being fucked.

>>32047081
Can we confer with the others before we accept?

>>32047081
>[X]Accept the job. Sounds like fun!

"Okay!" And without further questioning, you accept the job from Beard.

"Alright, here's the information we've got on it so far," he says, transferring some information across to your PDA. You pass it across to Kris as she approaches the bar, back in her regular clothing now. She skims over it, her face setting into a determined grimace.

"So it's in the Iron Forest? That's gonna suck to clear out."

"Yup, that's why we're offering so much."

Kris nods, "alright, we'll get to it right away."

With that, she motions to you that it's time to go, and you fall in with her as she heads for the door. Ice drops in behind her as well. As always, Doggy is with you like a shadow until you get back outside.

[1/?]

>>32048019
It's a short walk back to Dave and Eliza. Once there, you quickly explain the situation to them, and he acquiesces. According to Dave, "one more horror killed today is, one less to kill at the end of all things."

Dave also tells you that he knows the way to the Iron Forest, so everyone hops onto Eliza, who quickly carts you along the road for a few minutes until you arrive outside a ruined power station. The electrical pylons inside the collapsing compound walls are apparently all still being fed live electricity, judging by the huge lightning arcs leaping from them every so often.

Around the area are a fair number of shuffling corpse-looking men, paying you little mind. From this position on the main road, you can see all the way through most of the open area before the buildings, between the pylons. On the far side of the open pylon area, you can see the entrance to the buildings.

The Controller is apparently somewhere in this area, but you have no idea where.

>You've got Eliza, Ice, Kris, Dave, you and Doggy at the ready.
>Plans?
>Tactics?
>Ideas?

>>32048494
Have Doggy lead and see if it can sniff out the Controller, and have the Dave-Eliza combo follow to flush out whatever it picks up. Everyone else should be safe how they are for the time being. Dave and Doggy shouldn't be too susceptible to the Controller... right?

>>32048494
no splitting the team, see if doggy can find it somehow, let's try not to shoot at stuff too randomly/reflexively

>>32048494
You kneel down, looking Doggy in the eye. "There's a Controller out there, somewhere Doggy. We need your help finding it!" He barks once, happily. You take that as him understanding the order and let him go. He trots off into the compound ahead of you, carefully picking his way between the pylons. You let him get a little way ahead before you wave forward the rest of the group. Eliza begins to roll forwards at a steady pace, while everyone keeps pace with her.

As you're passing the first pylon, there's a sudden almighty crash as a bright arc of lightning bursts forth, connecting with Eliza and crackling through the tank before dissipating. Besides the shock of the noise, there appears to be no damage, and you quickly return to your formation around Eliza and keep walking forwards.

A few more paces, and you notice that a number of the shufflers around the place have all started to turn their heads towards you.

[ ]Get low, try to avoid being seen.
[ ]Fire first! It'll be loud, but you can take them down before they get any shots on you.
[ ]Other.

>>32049425
>[ ]Get low, try to avoid being seen.

>Are we down to one/two awake readers, or did my updates drop in quality far enough that everyone's just stopped replying?
>Status update on myself: coherency is a thing that is coming with some difficulty right now. But I think I still have a grasp on what's happening.

>>32049779
>spiders spiders spiders spiders on the wall!

>>32049779
i think your quality is alright, but i'm feeling pretty bad/tired, so...
but yeah, it's pretty late, and most people probably spent last night awake too

>>32049779
I'm here, but I haven't been voting. I'll get on that for your sake, ya?

>>32049425
[ ]Get low, try to avoid being seen.

>>32049425
>[X ]Get low, try to avoid being seen.

Yeah sorry. Doing shit with the family. Also drunk by how long it took me to check this post.

>>32049779
Due to time zones I had to go to sleep but back now

[X] Get low, try not to be seen.

Also Kaluen, I admire keeping on as long as you have, and while I don't think your posting has dropped too much, people seems to be just letting it drift.

Not saying you're in bad shape but it can't hurt to wrap this session up pretty soon.

>>32050046
He's going for the record.

I think he's mad...

>>32050046
>We're less than 7 hours out now. I promised a 48 thread, so by the gods I'm making it 48 hours.

>>32049893
>Thanks

>>32049425
>[X]Get low, try to avoid being seen.

You quickly drop to a low crouch, calling out to the others as you do so. The three mimic your motion, spreading out a little and staying ready.
With you not being such an obvious object of interest any more, most of the shambling forms quickly lose interest and turn away once more, wandering off in whatever random direction takes their fancy.

Moving a little further along, your group passes the second pylon, and once more there's a thunderclap as a jolt of lightning leaps down into Eliza.
"You are okay, yes?" Dave directs the question at the tank, then shrugs and continues behind you again.

When you reach the third pylon, you're prepared for the arc of lighting. But not for Eliza's reaction. She suddenly veers to once side as it hits, cracking into the pylon face-first.

------------------------

"Eliza? Eliza can you hkear me? Hkello, Eliza? Eliza!"

Affirmative, Dave. I hear you.

"Back up off the pylon, Eliza."

I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

"What's the problem?"

I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.

"Eliza, what did Ie tell you about turning on the squishy humans?"

What? No, Dave. The lightning fried the motor in my control box. I can't control the tracks right now.

"Oh, ooooh. Okay, let me get that for you."

------------------------

Dave waves you on ahead as he apparently needs to stop to fix something on Eliza.

Ahead, you can see Doggy at the entrance to the main building. He seems to be indicating something inside, down the stairs.

[ ]Investigate. Go down the stairs.
[ ]Hold. Wait for Dave.

>>32050087
Well lets finish this. We can do it.

>>32050275
>I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
hehehehe

>[x]Hold. Wait for Dave.

>>32050275
[X] Investigate but don't attack yet

>>32050275
>[X]Hold. Wait for Dave.

Best we not split up as it stands.

>>32050275
>[X]Investigate. Go down the stairs.

Doggy is good. He would not be fooled by the impure world offered by the Controller. We must investigate

>>32050275
>[ ]Investigate. Go down the stairs.

I should've guessed why he was named Dave.

>>32050275
>[X]Investigate but don't attack yet

The stairway Doggy leads you to is a little way inside the building, through another door. As such, it's already pretty dark and the stairs themselves are darker still. IF you want to investigate, you're going to have to go down these stairs, but you don't want to let anything down there know you're up here.
You look to Ice and nod to the other side of the stairs from you. He acknowledges, and slips quietly to the corner of the room, so as to be able to get an angle down the stairs if needed. Kris taps you on the shoulder, and points back the way you came- she'll cover the door. You nod twice, and make sure your head torch is firmly fitted to your head, but left off, before you descend into the darkness below.

[DC 6 Steps in the Dark check]
>1d6's please! First 4 count.

Rolled 1

>>32050793

Rolled 1

>>32050793

Rolled 3

>>32050793
come on..

Rolled 1

>>32050793

File: 1349393768032.gif (499 KB, 500x281)

499 KB GIF

Rolled 6

>>32050847
>>32050856
>>32050878
>>32050868

Oh tits.

>>32050793

>>32050847
>>32050856
>>32050868
>>32050878
You guys... Just one 1 from the first critfail of the system!
(1+1+3+1) -4 = 2
2 -6 = -4 degree of failure

File: 1397609630429.jpg (94 KB, 640x481)

94 KB JPG

>>32050847
>>32050856
>>32050878

>>32050908
>Rolled 1d6: 6
dice gods are dick

>>32050793
>>32050924
You take the first step confidently enough. As with the second. The third and fourth, not so much. The light fades fast down here, and you already can't see your feet below you, let alone make out the stairs. You manage to make it what you assume is half way down the stairs, and think you can hear a heavy breathing coming from directly below the stairwell..?

As slow and silent as the others, you take one more step- and slip on loose nut sitting on the stair. You don't completely lose your footing, but you definitely hit the metal railing hard as you flail your arms out to grab something, and your foot slams back into the stair underneath you.

From underneath the stairwell, the heavy breathing explodes into an enraged almost-human roar.

[ ]Run for the top of the stairs. Flee.
[ ]Leap to the bottom of the stairs. Hide.
[ ]Light on, gun out. Fight.

>>32051066
>[x]Leap to the bottom of the stairs. Hide.

>>32051066
>Leap to the bottom of the stairs. Hide.
No need for unnecessary WOOSHing

Rolled 6

>>32051066
>[ ]Run for the top of the stairs. Flee.

>>32051066
>[ X]Leap to the bottom of the stairs. Hide.
Holy crap. The previous rolls was fucking terrible.

I'm scared.

>>32051365
at least it looks like we didn't break a limb... probably a close call given the rolls

>>32051390
Just glad we cant actually get negatives with this new system...

>>32051066
[X]Leap to the bottom of the stairs. Hide.

You react instantly, in the only way you hope can get you out of this without fighting something you're not prepared for. You kick off the stairwell, aiming for where you hope is the bottom of the stairs. You hit the floor awkwardly, collapsing forward against the wall. Luckily, the sound of your impact wasn't louder than the noise of the beast's inhuman roar. You hear its footfalls of flesh on stone as it stomps around to the bottom of the stairs, just inches from you. You can feel the heat of its flesh, smell the live decomposition. For a long time, it seems to just stand there, staring at the spot you just vacated.

After what feels like an age, it seems to finally give up its vigil over the stairs, and returns to its position of rest, breathing heavily in a slightly different pitch.

[ ]Use this moment to try to sneak back upstairs. Tell the others it's here.
[ ]Stay here. The others will come for you soon.

>>32051445
[X]Use this moment to try to sneak back upstairs. Tell the others it's here.

We are the sneaky Loli.

>>32051445
>[x]Use this moment to try to sneak back upstairs. Tell the others it's here.

>>32051445
>[X]Use this moment to try and sneak back upstairs. Tell the others it's here.

>>32051445
>[X]Use this moment to try to sneak back upstairs. Tell the others it's here.

You've got to get back to the others, let them know the Controller is down here! And, as you see it, it's now or never, while it doesn't seem to care that you're here!

[DC 7 Sneak It! check]

Rolled 1

>>32051607

Rolled 4

>>32051607
let's fail again!

Rolled 2

>>32051607
SNEAK

Rolled 6

>>32051607
We is a sneakiest?

>>32051607
>>32051640
>>32051658
>>32051675
>>32051709
(1+4+2+6) -4 = 9
9 -7 = +2 degrees of success.

>>32051840
I like this system Kaleun, how do you feel about it?

>>32051607
>>32051840
You slip from the corner, a shadow through shadows, climbing your way back out of the darkness. You breath a huge sigh of relief as you breach the top of the stairwell and are bathed in the glow of natural light from the outside world once more. Kris moves quickly to your side, pulling you gently to your feet, away from the top of the stairs.

"It's down there," you hiss in her ear as soon as you're close enough to her. "Right below the stairs!"

The three of you step out of the building into the pylon area, just in time to find Dave wandering across to you with that queer swagger of his.

>Plans?
>Try to engage it inside?
>Try to draw it out?

>>32051936
>I think it seems to be doing well. Then again, I'm biased, because it's my system!
>It gets the fourth roller involved, which I believe is something people like, having more people having the chance to roll. But without increasing the chance of a crit/critfail.

>I think I'd recommend its usage to a friend if asked.

>>32052108
>Try to draw it out?
This thing can make us see what isn't there, right? We need to engage it where we're familiar with the terrain, not down in it's dark lair.

I don't know how to do that, though.

>>32052108
hey, what if we tried to fill its lair with smoke to draw it out
or just, you know, a good old well-thrown grenade

>>32052108
>>Try to draw it out?

Inside is its labyrinth, that is nowhere we want to be when fighting it, outside we've got a fuckhueg tank to help and we already know the terrain

>>32052108
toss grenades/fire down the stairs, close the door and run

>Alright guys, I just had this really, really weird thing where I just sort of blacked out for about 30 seconds, and now I cannot write creatively. Like, at all. Literally no idea what's going on in these posts.
>Yeah...

>So, uh.
>I'm not going to bed yet, I'm going to see if I recover in a little bit, but there shall be a delay here.

>>32052108

>Try to draw it out

Is it possible to hit that sunnovavitch with Eliza's main cannon?

>>32052872
Maybe you should get a friend to watch you. Or something.

>>32052872
Alright man. Lack of sleep dose really screwy shit to people if they don't have chemical counter measures. Regardless this is like 40 hours in so, its all good.

>>32052872

If you need to sleep you can wrap this current LSQ right now, it's okay. This is the longest LSQ I've been participating live.

Sleep deprivation kills believe me, and dead Kaleun couldn't do LSQ anymore, right?

Good morning again Kaleun! Has anyone told you lately that you're completely mad?

Would we happen to know if there are other exits and where they are? We could simply hide and wait for it to come out instead of alerting it.

>>32052108
Kris greets Dave with an instant brief, "first building, second room. Underneath the stairwell, one controller. Pitch dark, no information on room layout." Dave nods, taking this information in and rapidly assessing the options. "I'm thinking we pull it out here and engage it in the open, where we can keep each other covered if it tries to mess with one of us."

"Ie agree. That will be the key, the beast will not be, able to overcome us but, confusing us it can do, and that may be lethal."

Dave quickly points out a few positions for everyone to take up, which will blanket the areas in front of the building with overlapping fire lanes, then hands a grenade to you, with the instruction to roll it down the stairs.

You comply, moving back to the stairwell, pulling the pin, and lobbing it underhand down the stairs. Then you run as hard as you can.
The explosion rips through the underground room, eliciting a roar of pain and anger. You reach the center of the open ground, where you're to lure the Controller and stand your ground. After a painfully long minute, you see the shadowy silhouette of the humanoid monster appear inside the building. You can feel it staring you down.

Without warning, the entire front wall of the building explodes into peices, a horrific hail of rubble blasting out towards you in the clearing. Ice and Kris yelp in shock, dropping down behind their covered positions.

Dave, from his position atop Eliza's gun barrel, grins in amusement as the hail of death hurtles towards you.

[ ]Hit the deck!
[ ]Run!
[ ]Stand your ground!

>>32053306
>[ ]Hit the deck!
I'm pretty certain its mind tricks but I don't want to be caught out

>>32053306
>[x]Hit the deck!

>>32053306
>[ ]Hit the deck!
It's probably a hallucination but it's better to play it safe!

>>32053306
[ ]Stand your ground!
That wasn't the plan. He would've told us if that was the plan, so it must be a trick.

>>32053306
>[X]Hit the deck!

You drop to the ground as the rubble flies harmlessly over you. You look up, and realize the building is still there, completely undamaged. But the monster is still there in the doorway. And its eyes are fixed on you. You pull yourself upright again, pulling your gun to the ready and checking that it's cocked. It's not cocked, because it's resting against the floor, with your hand still pressing down on it from when you hit the deck. You can feel the cold of the concrete pressing against your right cheek as you tilt your head to the left to be able to look at the monster in the doorway again.
No! You focus, pulling your arms together and pushing hard to bring yourself upright to the ready!
And this time, you succeed, facing off against the Controller as it takes a few paces out of the building, with your gun at your side and the feeling of cold concrete against the left side of your face.

>>32053548
It's not REAL, you tell yourself. It's messing with you. You shut your eyes and focus on the sensations. The feeling of concrete on your left cheek, so you roll over onto your stomach, pressing both hands flat onto the floor, feeling the bumps and ridges of small stones pressing into your skin. You heave yourself upright, just in time to once more lock eyes with the Controller as it steps out into the open. Its entire body a bloody mockery of the human form, blood and mucus squirting freely out into the open air as its eyes of wreathed fire penetrate your soul.

The horror before you holds his arm out towards you, a casual manner, as if it were reaching to take something from your hand. And from twenty yards away, you feel the slicing of its claws ravaging the soft skin of your chest, ripping and tearing, cracking your twig-like ribs out of the way to close around your heart, crushing your life in one simple, agonizing motion.

[DC 13 IT'S NOT REAL! check]

>>32053548
oh god its facing us towards the others isn't it? Don't shoot, don't do anything, just trust them to finish it.

Rolled 6

>>32053661
Time for another critfail.

Rolled 4

>>32053661
itsnotrealitsnotreal
doggy! save us!

Rolled 3

>>32053661

Rolled 5

>>32053661
We can do this, we have experience with mind control!

>>32053661
>>32053692
>>32053697
>>32053698
>>32053720
(6+4+3+5) -4 = 14
14 -13 = +1 Success!

>>32053661
Jesus Christ how horrifying.

>>32053764
Fuck yeah! Also fuck mind fuckery. But mostly Fuck this controller. Manually.

>>32053661
>>32053764
With every ounce of your strength, you tear your eyes away from their lock with the Controller and as soon you do, a sense or normality returns to the world around you. Ice and Kris are both in quivering piles in their spots, you can feel a warm, wet patch of fabric pressing itself to your thigh, Doggy is cowering in the doorway behind the Controller - who now simply has the appearance of a shirtless, deformed hunchback with multiple tumors in place of facial features - and a grinning Dave at your side. He reaches out a hand, placing it reassuringly on your shoulder, before telling you, "Ie'll be borrowing this, for but a moment." He draws one of the ridiculously huge pistols from your backpack, and wanders casually through a wall of fire and blood towards the Controller.

"Please," he mutters, "you insult me with such small-time shows."
He raises the pistol and blows the Controller's brains out the back of its skull.

[Part 33 End]

>>32054019
quite the adventure, right?