>>32551527
((Archives are located at http://archive.foolz.us/tg/search/subject/monsterhearts%20quest/type/op/order/asc/
and also at
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Monsterhearts%20Quest
))

>>32551527
Shit, I have no idea what to do.
Shooting at her won't do to much, we've seen Excrucians shrug off gunfire.
We have to change the battlefield so it benefits the WiW more than lolithar, but I have no idea how

what exactly would
>[]Toss some curses and enchantments around. You only need to tip the balance a little.
mean? How likely is it to affect her?

>>32551527
>]Toss some curses and enchantments around. You only need to tip the balance a little.

Direct intervention is not gonna do shit.

>>32551527
Can we use our magic to ensure a clear, good shot? If so, do that.

If not:
>[]Toss some curses and enchantments around. You only need to tip the balance a little.

>>32551527
>[]Intervene directly. You’ve got your own gun - if you can get a clear shot, it should definitely throw Iolithae off. You’ll need very precise aim, though.
Can we do this and throw some power into the bullet to ensure it hits and can damage the bitch?

>>32551527
If we shoot, can we make the bullet "Really good at taking the life of an Excrucia"?

>>32551641
((It means whatever you think of using. There isn't a predefined 'correct strategy' here. If you think of something cool, suggest it.
>>32551675
For example. Cool idea. Yeah, sure, you can do that. Controlling the bullet in flight to make sure it hits, particularly. Making sure it damaged her would be trickier. Spin it as something control-related.
>>32551666
You can probably do this too, but I might end up wrapping it into 'controlling the flight of your bullet' rather than 'controlling the entire fight so you get a clear shot'.
>>32551702
This... probably not. I'm having a hard time working this into 'miracles of control'. Miracle of death or destruction, maybe, but that's not your purview.))

>>32551755
>Making sure it damaged her would be trickier. Spin it as something control-related.
Controlling the damage done by the bullet? Forcing it to act as an extension of our will/magic/metaphysical properties? Controlling the relationship between Iolithae and the bullet?

>>32551824
>Controlling the relationship between Iolithae and the bullet?
((Hmm. I like this one. Sure, okay, you can do that.

Feel free to suggest other stuff as well, of course. More options are always good.))

>>32551527
>[x]Intervene directly. You’ve got your own gun - if you can get a clear shot, it should definitely throw Iolithae off. You’ll need very precise aim, though.
Use some minor curses and enchantments to make this happen.
Control - Enhanced control of our breathing, musculature, and nervous system to make our aim perfect. As well as control of the path of the bullet so that it goes where we want it to go.
Also throw in a little curse to make the coefficient of friction exert just a little more control over Iolithae's high heels; shoes like that won't work well on ice.
And make the relationship between the bullet and Iolithae such that the bullet controls the kinetic energy imparted into Iolithae, making it hit and hit hard.

>>32551755
Isn't taking something of others considered to be under domination? From the pastebin:
"Make someone (including yourself), something or some abstract concept much more strongly obeyed, much more able to take things from others...."
Can't we just make the bullet's destructive capabilities dominate her damage resistance or immortality?

>>32551978
I don't know if we've got the mojo left for that. We used up a lot of juice on Coriander, and our power pool hasn't refreshed yet.

>>32551755
If right now the (wo)man and her are fighting at roughly equal footing, can we just slightly tip the control of the fight to our guy's favour? (By modifying the very reality of things)

>>32552097
((You could. However, in that case, you'd basically be trying to brute-force override the other two active miracles in the area with your own reality-warping. It's not impossible, and in fact it would be very effective, but it's *expensive*. Your other options are slightly less reliable but quite a bit cheaper.))

>>32552011
I don't know that much about Nobilis, but i think Excruians, Nobles and Imperiators have resisance against Miracles. I figured that if we modify the bullet's capabilities instead of the Excruian's would be cheaper. (Making a bullet that overrides defences instead of taking away defences to make bullets effective)

>>32552208
((You're trying to put an effect upon your target either way. For example, the effect of 'just been shot'. Rephrasing your miracle can help establish how much it costs and how it fits into your sphere of influence, but it can't just deny someone their defence.))

Now that we an idea of what we can do, should we actually vote?

>>32552465
((Yeah, please do. I'll give you guys a little while to do that because you have clear options to vote on now, but we do need to get this show on the road again.))

>>32552505
I'll (re) vote for >>32551878/>>32551824 then.

>>32552505
I'll give my vote to >>32552530. Most of the plans are some variation of those in the first place

I'll vote for whatever the current "manipulate bullet to hurt her" plan is

We know these guys are incredibly hard to permanently kill.
Does the same apply to the (Wo)Man in White?
Or do they only need one win to kill him?

>>32552505
Going with >>32551939

>>32552697
((You have no idea. Although considering that he's currently possessing the body of Isabella...))

>>32552762
>considering that he's currently possessing the body of Isabella
He wants to be a little girl?

>>32552709

>>32552530
>>32552576
>>32552676

((Okay, behind-the-scenes maths and writing proceeding.))

>>32552889
You carefully slide the magazine out of your gun, holding it up so that you can clearly see the bullet at the top. You breathe out a thin whisper of power which wraps around the bullet, imbuing it with the ability to control its own flight. A second, deeper exertion stretches a connection between the bullet and your target, Iolithae. It should have greater control over her, a more significant effect in some way. You're not sure quite what that will entail, but anything helps.

Your breathing steadies, then slows. You're not even sure if you technically need to breathe at all, so keeping it under control doesn't take too much effort. Your hand is steady, your aim sure. You load the gun again, cycling your prepared bullet into the chamber, and take careful aim as the two fighters separate after another blur of fists and feet.

Iolithae leans subtly to one side as the bullet whistles past her head, but her smirk quickly dies as it rapidly changes course and turns back towards her. She dives forward, trying to use the Woman in White as cover, but a few quick kicks force her to retreat. She dodges again, knocking the bullet straight up into the air with a deft parry, but it spins in mid-air and dives at her.

With a snarl, Iolithae makes a chopping gesture with one hand, and you feel the world twist 90 degrees in a direction that doesn't exist, then snap back again. The connection you forged between her and the bullet severs with an almost audible snap. The bullet embeds itself in her shoulder, but she barely seems to notice, pointing one of her weapons straight at you with a vicious glare.

She opens her mouth, but before she can speak she's tossed across the room as the Woman in White darts past her other guard and lands a solid punch straight into her gut. There's a crash as she slams into the far wall, but then she back-flips off the wall and lands in a crouch. Still, she's pissed off. That's got to be worth something.

What do you want to do now?

>>32554450
((Sorry for the delay, everyone. One part the usual plague of computer issues, one part high level Nobilis combatants have way too many options. Latter issue should mostly be sorted now, at least.))

>>32554450
Set up as much defenses as we can, such as increase the control that gravity has around us, increase the control that friction has in the air to slow down anything traveling in the air towards us, increase the control that the coefficient of friction has on the ice to make anybody walking around us be more beholden to the laws of physics as they control mortals.

>>32554450
This >>32554542 sounds fine.

>>32554542
>>32554895
((Okay, writing.))

>>32554949
You draw back, waiting for Iolithae's counter-attack. Thin webs of power begin to saturate the ground and the air around you, minor blessings that won't turn a solid blow, but might serve to mitigate a hit or strengthen you against a glancing contact. You have little time to prepare as she gathers herself to spring, but it's time enough to raise up what blessings you can.

It seems, however, that Iolithae has eyes for only one foe. The fierce martial arts duel resumes again, but this time, one of the participants is winded and weakened, while the other is as strong as she was at the beginning. There is no single killer blow, but step by step, Iolithae Septimian is pushed back, picking up small bruises here and there. As her back is nearly against the wall of the warehouse, she attempts to roll past the Woman in White into clearer space. Instead she receives a rapid side kick that sends her sprawling towards you, her daggers clattering away across the floor. The Woman in White stalks forwards, her gun ready.

[]Take the chance to make the kill yourself.
[]Watch and wait. Interrupting would just be rude.
[]Say something...

>>32556070
[x] Watch but prepare. Interrupting would be rude.
Use the charm we used on the bullet last time again. Iolithae may be forced to listen per Narrative, but that doesn't mean we can't shoot her in the back when she makes her move as per Narrative.

>>32556070
[X] Watch and be prepaired to shoot if Iolithae tries anything.

>>32556177
>>32556401
((Writing now. Probably wrapping up for the night soon. Hopefully I'll also have the next pastebin finished by then.))

>>32556554
(( http://pastebin.com/SzBNeVAw

Enjoy. I know a few people have been waiting a long time for this one, and I can only apologise that it took so long to finish.))

>>32557014

Hooray! Thanks, MH!

>>32557014
Thanks. Better late than never.

>>32556554
>>32557014

The Woman in White is grinning as she walks towards Iolithae's prone form, raising her gun as Iolithae begins to struggle to her feet.

"No, no. Stay down. You people really need to learn when you're beat, for fuck's sake."

Iolithae stops trying to rise, but grins back at her.

"Oh? You think I'm beaten already, so soon?"

"Pretty much. You're all washed up. Look at this, some kid with a tiny sliver of power is pumping bullets into your ass. And you picked exactly the wrong face, too. Yeah, you taunted me. Yeah, you pissed me off. Yeah, I might have made a mistake eventually. But you made the mistake first, in picking someone I know. Because it means I can do this. Iolithae Septimian, in the name of Mary Rowland whose skin you wear, by the bonds that you have forged with Creation, I command you to die, and to fucking stay dead this time."

There's a horrible scream, and Iolithae's face tears in half, like it's suddenly made of tissue paper. The cold, white-haired woman you almost recall seeing before is revealed as her previous form sheds itself from her body, shattering into pieces which dissolve before they hit the ground. Now dressed in the black and white outfit that seems to be standard Excrucian wear, Iolithae hauls herself up on one elbow and spits in her foe's face.

The Woman in White lifts her free hand to wipe her face clean, never breaking eye contact with Iolithae's strange, hollow eyes. "Didn't expect that one to stick. But I know what it costs you bastards to lose your skin, so hopefully I can make it stick anyway." She points her gun at Iolithae's head, pulls the trigger - and there's a click. The hammer falls on an empty chamber.

Iolithae grins wildly and rolls sideways, grabbing for one of her dropped daggers. Despite the loss of her skin, the bullet wound you put in one shoulder is still there, but her other arm is perfectly fine - until you carefully line up your shot and put a bullet into that shoulder too.

((Cont.))

>>32557898
Iolithae jerks backwards, her arm going limp. You see her grit her teeth and haul herself up by her other arm, so you put another bullet through her elbow. Then, just for good measure, you walk to the dagger she was reaching for, kick it across the room, and pump four more bullets into both her kneecaps, her chest, and finally her head.

Disturbingly enough, Iolithae is still moving even with a large hole through her forehead. She manages to roll over and pull herself up onto her damaged elbows and knees, leaving smears of blood on the floor. She looks up at you and grins.

“Master and student, yes? Teacher and pupil. Lord and servant. A house...” She pauses, coughing up blood. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

“That’s the trouble for you, Iolithae,” says the Woman in White, from behind her. “We’re not divided. All of us, from the greatest Tempest to the lowest Pawn, we serve the War, and we get rid of scum like you. There’s not a soul who doubts that we’re all better off getting rid of the Excrucians.”

“Then you are all fools,” she laughs. “We are the best thing that ever happened to you. We are purity. We are blessing. We -“

The Woman in White walks forward and kicks Iolithae, sending her sprawling again.

“That’s quite enough of that nonsense. It’s over, Iolithae. Go home, or die for a while. Either way you’re finished here.”

Iolithae nods slowly. “It will be a while before you see me again, Adrian.” The Woman in White scowls, but she carries on. “Just remember one thing. A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

She begins to grow translucent. A shimmering texture comes across her body, she fades, and then vanishes completely.

The Woman in White shakes her head, then walks over to the intricate ice sculpture of the town, which is already beginning to melt. “She’ll be back in a few decades. For now, let’s get this mess cleaned up, and then I can finally go home.”

>>32557946
((Thank you, everyone, you've been awesome. We will reconvene at around the same time, next TUESDAY, the 10TH OF JUNE. Questions, comments, etc below. Pastebin a few posts above.))

>>32557980

Thanks for running, MH.

>>32557980
What's happened to Coriander? Will he slink away now that Iolithae has been defeated for the next few decades?

>>32558024
((Possibly. Or he might decide to stick around for a bit just to be a pain in the arse. Or he might get shot up a bit more and decide that he'd rather go somewhere where he's better appreciated. Might be a matter for the next thread. We'll see.))