>>39732226
“We could dump stuff.” You say.

Pytor makes a displeased grunt, but you know he agrees with the sentiment. “Still, that canyon is a maze. We can lose them, maybe collapse a tunnel or two, and get away clean.” He says.

“But they’d still be after us…after me.” You say.

Pytor nods. “And you know what I always say about that.”

You nod, and rub your hands over your knife handle. You’ve hurt people, stabbed people, and have left people for dead. However, this would be the first time that you’d actually kill a person, and you’d have to kill a lot of them if you want to make sure that you weren’t followed.

> What is your main priority?

> Escape at the safest opportunity
> Eliminate all the Righteous Path zealots

>>39732232
> Eliminate all the Righteous Path zealots

>>39732232
> Escape at the safest opportunity
a bit too outnumbered for my taste

>>39732232
>Eliminate all the Righteous Path zealots

>>39732232
> Eliminate all the Righteous Path zealots

>>39732298
You look at Pytor. "I don't want to be always looking over my shoulder. Not from these guys at least."

"Alright. Difficult way it is." Pytor says. "Still the first step is fairly the same. You need to keep them away from the RV. Let me get in there, grab the pipe bombs, and lock it up."

'Don't forget the bucket of Feline guts' Joy pipes in. 'We use that the right way, and we've can even out the numbers a bit.'

"How am I getting out of here?" You ask.

Pytor points to a ladder on the ground, and then a window that's up above where you are. The shutter's not one of the heavy duty ones. You could kick it out no problem.

As Pytor sets up the ladder, you look at the bucket of Feline blood and guts. It's one of those large white buckets, complete with a lid. There's also the still dripping hide of the feline itself.

> Cover the bucket and take it with you.
> Smear some Feline blood on you
> Drape the feline hide over your body
> Leave it, best not to risk adding the Felines to your troubles.

>>39732868
>Cover the bucket and take it with you.

>>39732868
> Cover the bucket and take it with you.
> Drape the feline hide over your body

>>39732868
> Leave it, best not to risk adding the Felines to your troubles.

>>39732868
>> Cover the bucket and take it with you.

>>39732868
> Cover the bucket and take it with you.
I guessing were gonna dump it on one of them then?

>>39732889
>>39732920
>>39733000

You ensure that the lid on the bucket is firmly tight, and then climb up the stairs. A quick kick punches a hole in the metal, and a few nudges with your foot widens it.

'So, two story drop. We can do it.'

'Seriously?'

'Yeah, with ash dodge we could probably jump from the three story building and be fine.'

You take a breath and jump down from the window, landing on the ground. Your legs feel a slight shock of pressure, but no pain.

'Good. That worked.'

'You weren't sure?'

'Mostly sure. Also, the more we use 'em, the better they get. Don't you want to be able to jump 10 feet high from a standing position?'

'Can we focus?'

'Alright alright."

You're in an alley separating one studio from another. You can see the flashlights of the search parties, slowly prowling the area. Looks like they've split up in groups of five, with the robed one staying near the trucks. Four are attempting to do a sweep, but it's clear that they don't quite know what that means. The fifth is slowly heading to the RV. None of them have seen you yet. It looks like they're carrying nets, and those electrified stun batons people salvage from police stations.

> Run out and become the center of attention.
> Run back and forth, opening all of the doors to the studios.
> Make a distraction away from the RV
> Directly assault the RV group
> Try to get to the trucks and break that machine that's controlling the eyeless and feeding the Hives.

>All Hives are at Infestation Level: 1, at level 6 they'll become Vainglories.

>>39733331
> Run back and forth, opening all of the doors to the studios.
> Try to get to the trucks and break that machine that's controlling the eyeless and feeding the Hives.

>>39733426
Backing this one

>>39733331
> Run back and forth, opening all of the doors to the studios.
> Try to get to the trucks and break that machine that's controlling the eyeless and feeding the Hives.

>>39733331
>> Run back and forth, opening all of the doors to the studios.
>Make a distraction away from the RV.

I don't think going after the machine without explosives or at least a gun will work. It seems safer to make a distraction somewhere else.

>>39733473
>>39733458
>>39733426

Okay, plan is simple, zig zag between the buildings, heading for the trucks. Opening the doors to each building as you go along. All the while trying to be as fast, quiet, and intangible as possible.

A mixed blessing is that you're next to the override box for the other studio. (You know Pytor's watching and will open up his studio from the inside when it's clear enough for his tastes.)

You press the override button and the doors start to lower.

All of the flash lights swing over to it.

Time to push it!

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39733685
Please be good.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>39733685

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>39733685

>>39733750
Good job anon.

>>39733750
You ash dodge the second you hit open ground and reform at the gap between the next two studios.

'Holy shit!'

'Fuck, what was that, 40 feet?'

'At least...we ARE getting better at this.'

'We better not do that, and then discover that we're missing a toe, or worse.'

'Well, get ready to do it again. Open up these two, and then we've got to do that again.'

The building you opened before was the smallest of the Private Studios. There's controls on either side of you. Two button presses and the building with all the comm dishes and antennas, and the largest one are opening.

The flashlight beams are scattering all over, and you hear footsteps approaching. The good news is you don't see any flashlights pointing at the RV.

Bad news is that this time you'll need to run right through this gathering crowd.

You take a deep breath, tug on your masks' straps, and push off.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>39734123

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>39734123
Aren't we manipulating air to do the ash move because it isn't teleportation? I wonder if we could do West Wind's tornado trick someday.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>39734123

>>39734187
Well there goes the toe... and possibly the rest of us.

>>39734187
Fuck really?

>>39734187
Fuck. (For those who forgot, 1d20s aren't immune to crit 1s.)

>>39734187
At.. at least they aren't aiming to kill?

>>39734187
It's a beautiful, graceful, dash and Dodge. It's a clean shot to the next side of the studio lot.

That is until one of the zealot Hives runs right into your path.

You solidify instantly as you crash into him, sending you both tumbling to the ground.

All the flashlights turn directly towards you.

You can see the Hive boils and larvae on the man you smashed into start to grow and multiply much faster. And it looks like they're slowly creeping up on the others as well.

> Humility on the guy you smashed into.
> Ash Cloud
> Ash Dodge
> Ash Cloud ??? (One person)
> Armor
> Ash Shot
> Kick the guy you landed on in the head.
> Ash knife
> Ash knife Thrown (Do this twice to unlock Ash Knife ???? - Thrown)

>>39734341
> Humility on the guy you smashed into.

>>39734341
>Humility on the guy you smashed into.
Into
>Ash Knife Thrown

>>39734341
> Also 5 zealots of the other 24 have progressed to Infestation 2. The guy you just tackled is now immediately at 3.

>>39734341
> Kick the guy you landed on in the head.

>>39734341
>Humility on the guy you smashed into.
>Ash Dodge

And see I was worried it would end up like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Am7oKBD3PU

>>39734360
>>39734367
>>39734392

You scramble as you slash the Civ Symbol on the chest of the guy struggling with you.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>39734540

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>39734540

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>39734540

>>39734563
Flick flick, curve, swirl, circle...and three dots.

There's a burst of ash and the Hive is back to being an ash covered man.

"She's DEFILED him!"

"Look! The Messengers! They're coming to help him!"

You look up. Oh shit, the Eyeless swarm is headed straight for you.

> Ash dodge away.
> Ash cloud
> Armor
> Ash shot
> Throw Ash Knife

>>39734715
> Ash dodge away.

>>39734715
>Ash dodge away.
We have to take out that machine
Also can we dump the bucket of feline guts on this guy?

>>39734788
Better to save it for someone who isn't unconscious.

>>39734715
> Ash dodge away.

We need to get an Ash Cloud up soon.

>>39734846
>Better to save it for someone who isn't unconscious.
I was thinking the felines might fight the eyeless which would cause the hives to fight the felines.

Getting one to go Vainglory in the middle of a bunch of others might actually be a good tactic.


>“And remember, if any of your brothers or sisters become so blessed to transcend…stay away from them, for in their revelry at their ascension, they may not be able to immediately see you in their euphoria.”

>>39734846
>>39734788
>>39734730

Time to bail! You ash dodge towards the biggest gap in the crowd that's in the direction of both the last two override boxes for the House Studio and the Three Story studio, and the trucks and the Eyeless Control Device.

> Roll 1d20

>>39734947
Except for the fact that the only way we've killed a vainglory so far was to do the light burst.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>39734988

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39734988

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>39734988

>>39735010
You get away clean, and, judging by the searching flashlight beams and shouts of confusion, it looks like the zealots haven't figured out where you went.

The downside is that the Eyeless mosquitos have all descended upon the zealot you just cleansed with Humility.

The guy starts to writhe on the ground as multiple eyeless start sticking their needles into them.

You notice that the first three eyeless that try that come into contact with the ashes that cover the man, and they burst like balloons, splattering pus and larvae all over.

Yeah, you can see that his skin is already starting to crack like glass. Vainglory incoming.

> Ash dodge to the door controls
> Ash dodge to the trucks
> Ash cloud
> Armor
> Ash shot
> Throw Ash Knife

>>39735130
>Throw Ash Knife

>>39735130
>Ash dodge to the trucks

>>39735130
... Shit. Learn something new every day?

> Ash Cloud

Make it so nobody can see shit.

>>39735130
> Ash dodge to the trucks

>>39735191
This should increase the chance of collateral damage from the Vainglory and general confusion.

>>39735182
>>39735211

You ignore the shouts and the squishy sounds coming from behind you and you ash dodge/run towards the trucks. You see the robed man working on the machine. He looks up as you approach and he puts a hand on one of the switches.

"One move, and my Messengers covert ALL of my followers at once!" He says. With his other hand he points a shock stick at you. "Stand down, and we'll let your friend leave in peace."

> Ash shot at the zealot.
> Ash shot at the machine.
> Throw knife at the zealot.
> Throw knife at the machine.
> Ash cloud
> Stall for time

>>39735398
>Throw knife at the machine.

>>39735398
Can you describe the machine does it look like it has gears that could be gummed up by ash or tubes that could be cut by a knife?

>>39735398
> Ash shot at the machine.

>>39735398
>Throw knife at the machine

>>39735398
>Ash shot at the machine.

>>39735398
>> Ash shot at the machine.

>>39735455
Looks like a bug zapper with the metal cage on the inside and the glowing coils on the outside.

>>39735473
>>39735647
>>39735765

You respond by flicking your arm out at the machine and shooting as dense a cloud as you can make it.

'How exactly do we hurt people when those things land, by the by? Heat?'

'Not quite. We're flaying their skin, or whatever, off. It burns, but it's more of a friction burn. I think.'

'You think?'

'Well shoot a cloud at your head and I'll have a better description for you.'

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>39735995

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>39735995

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>39735995

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>39735995

I look a way for a bit and this happens:
>>39736009
>>39736029
>>39736036

>>39736062
not like you did any better than me

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>39736084
No better, no worse

>>39736062
pot, kettle, black ...

>>39736009
You shoot a cloud at the machine and a layer of ash covers it. It sparks for a bit and the man swears.

"Fine, you asked for it!" He says and he flicks the switch.

BOOM!

"What the-" You both say.

BOOM!

Ah, Pytor must have gotten his pipe bombs.

You hear the Eyeless start to buzz even liuder than before and you see them swarming over the crowd of screaming panicking cultists.

You hear gunshots and more screams. Pytor's shooting as well.

BOOM!

Also that probably was the last of his bombs. They had all been gathering around you when you bumped into that guy, so...he's probably completely caused them no end of panic.

> Ash dodge away and try to fight the swarm of Eyeless before they descend.
> Ash dodge to take on the crowd and try to take out as many as you can before they go Vainglory
> Take on this asshole and his machine.

>>39736242
> Take on this asshole and his machine.

>>39736242
>Take on this asshole and his machine.

>>39736242
> Take on this asshole and his machine.

>>39736242
> Ash dodge away and try to fight the swarm of Eyeless before they descend.

>>39736242
>Take on this asshole and his machine.

>>39736242
>"BOW BEFORE YOUR NEW GODDESS!"

>>39736242
>> Take on this asshole and his machine.

>>39736289
You turn back to the robe wearing zealot and narrow your eyes.

The man stands up on the truck bed, stun stick in both hands. "You don't scare me, demon of this False Age! You don't truly exist, you're a false shadow of how things are Not, and I am the light that shall burn you with the Truth!"

Your reply is a...

> Ash shot
> Thrown Knife
> Ash cloud
> Jump kick

>>39736401
>Thrown Knife

>>39736401
> Ash shot

>>39736401
> Ash cloud
> Thrown Knife
At his legs

>>39736401
>Thrown Knife
>Ash cloud

>>39736401
> Jump kick

>>39736421
>>39736450
>>39736461

...knife hurled at him at a considerable speed.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>39736513

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>39736513

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>39736513

>>39736528
Well, I very nearly fucked it up real bad.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>39736534
The man ducks and the knife sails past.

Thankfully, you feel it reform back into your hand.

The zealot jumps off of the truck, swinging his shock stick at you.

>>39736723
You ash dodge out of the way just enough that you can feel the tingle of the electricity in your hair.


> Ash shot
> Thrown Knife
> Ash cloud
> Jump kick
> Use the bucket of Feline Blood. (You only get ONE chance to use this.)

>>39736752
>Use the bucket of Feline Blood.

>>39736752
>> Thrown Knife

>>39736752
> Use the bucket of Feline Blood. (You only get ONE chance to use this.)

>>39736752
>Use the bucket of Feline Blood. (You only get ONE chance to use this.)
Oh, what the heck, may not get another chance anyway. Also, this is probably the safest target; who'd want an infested feline?

>>39736752
> Use the bucket of Feline Blood. (You only get ONE chance to use this.)
Let him zap himself because of the increased conductivity of the blood and him using the stun stick.

>>39736853
You chuck the bucket of blood at the guy.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>39736906
Here goes everything.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>39736906
roll

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>39736906

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>39736906

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39736906
Here we go

>>39736918
That's two twos in a row I think I'm done rolling for the night.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>39736925
The mass of blood, organs, and other fluid splash over him in a mass, soaking him from head to toe in a thick black, chunky mess.

He wipes off his eyes, snarls at you and swings.

>>39737010
He's way off. Can't hit the broad side of anything with blood in his eyes.

> Ash Shot
> Ash Cloud
> Throw Knife
> Kick
> Ash Dodge out of there.

>>39737042
>Throw Knife

>>39737042
> Kick

>>39737042
>> Kick

>>39737042
>Kick
Let us use our superhuman kicks.

>>39737042
>> Kick

>>39737064
You lash out with a hard kick at the guy.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>39737099

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>39737099

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>39737099

>>39737134
Not another one.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>39737134
You lash out with your foot, and the zealot jumps out of the way at the right time, and your foot sails past him, and punches through the side of the truck and causes the entire engine block to go flying out the other side.

Leaving your foot caught in the hole...stuck.

The zealot swings at you with his shock stick.

>>39737199
But you lift your other foot and let your body drop to the ground and the stick sails clear.

> Ash dodge to get your leg out and back fighting.

>>39737199
Can we start kicking people with our knife? Seems like it would be effective.

File: Stiletto_heels.jpg (23 KB, 500x351)

23 KB JPG

>>39737243
Get some nice stiletto heels.

>>39737232
Do we need to roll or what?

>>39737353
Yes, please.

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>39737374
DICE

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>39737374

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>39737374

>>39737386
>>39737447
Holy shit we did good!

File: planet-hype.gif (34 KB, 600x300)

34 KB GIF

>>39737386
>>39737447
What is this!? WHat is My LIFE!?

>>39737243

We need some greaves and steel stilettos.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>39737386
>>39737447
You twist, and concentrate so your foot can get out of the truck.

When you reform, your foot is flying through the air at a startlingly fast speed and it slams, toes first, into the zealot's right elbow, and then it keeps going, and taking the elbow joint along for the ride.

When you pull your foot back, the man is staring at his arm, it's just hanging there, completely limp, and it's bending the wrong way.

You're a little surprised to see that you dodn't cause any skin ruptures, although his entire arm is rapidly turning blue.

The man makes a little gasping noise.

>>39737580
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

>>39737580
The man has his eyes roll back up in his head, and he has a little spittle come out of his mouth.

Then the pain and shock just causes him to collapse to the ground.

'Holy shit.'

'No kidding...can we get some greaves, or stilettos, or steel toes?'

'Next time you find some equipment designed to withstand Joy-in-Heart use...we may have a few costume changes. Although...greaves aren't easy to make...what about knee high lace-ups with steel toes and steel heels?'

'We'll talk later. Machine first.'

'Right. Let's drop kick...oh no...'

You hear the growls and turn. Yep, there's your 'backup' right at the moment where you don't really need them anymore.

There's about three of the Lynxes you CAN see, which means two Felines that you can't.

Maybe they're just interested in the zealot?

> Smash the machine
> Ash dodge away
> Don't. Move.

>>39737728
>Don't. Move.
>And make yourself look big.

>>39737728
> Don't. Move.

>>39737728
>>39737773
Backing

>>39737728
> Smash the machine

>>39737728
> Smash the machine

>>39737822
>>39737810
>>39737773

You stand perfectly still, and try to focus your cloud to make you look as big and imposing as possible.

> ???? Roll 1d8

Rolled 7 (1d8)

>>39737900

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>39737900

Rolled 6 (1d8)

>>39737900

I'm a little surprised that you didn't use the bucket on a vainglory.

But intimidating cats is fun too. I wonder if they'll track us down 50 threads later.

>>39737949
In 50 threads if some cats are still an issue we are likely going to be lying in a ditch somewhere.

Rolled 6, 5, 6 = 17 (3d6)

>>39737916
Two of the cats go to the zealot, and promptly rip the guy's throat out and start pulling the body apart.

Aww...it looks like one of then is trying to sever the arm so she can bring it back for the kids.

The third...comes up to you...and rubs against your legs. Purring.

'What?'

'They like us now. We think.'

'One of them tried to claw our face off before.'

'Yeah, but now Gold's 'presence' is gone...and we're giving off the same kind of Clean Energy she did, also, we just 'fed' them. They might be mistaking us for Gold.'

'God was dead for at least 100 years before these things were even alive!'

'Yeah, but Critters also feed off of Clean Energy...and we're not 'tainted' like everything else...sorta. Gold's presence was probably putting out a little trace amounts with her 'scent' on it. Now that's gone and we're the next nicest scent.'

'Are we sure about any of this, or are we pulling this out of our ass?'

'Mostly out of our ass. Gold's gone, we're their new mommy. Go with it, cause they're not eating us, and we shouldn't complain.'

You grab the machine, drop it on the ground, and smash it with one stomp.

"Fair enough. Come on, ugh, 'babies.' Let's go help Pytor."

You run back to the main fray. Three Felines following you.

The middle of the studio is a clusterfuck.

'So much for splitting them up.'

Let's start with the havoc that was caused by Pytor's pipe bombs.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>39738184
Yeah. WOW. Pytor makes his pipebombs with LOTS of roofing nails and a goodly amount of explosive powder. (Probably used half of the shotgun shells he had to make them.)

The lot is covered with seriously wounded or out and out dead people with shrapnel, nails, or explosive burns on them. The eyeless don't seem interested in infecting people who can't move or fight.

So Vainglories can only be created by Hives that are active...good to know.

Now, Pytor has been hanging back in one of the alleys between the studios taking shots with his revolver at the crowd.

>>39738184
>>39738289
>6 5 6 6 on d6
Holy shit Pytor. Why are we even here?

SO anyone think Pytor has acceptance genes? Or is about to get hubris'd?

>>39738359
No.

>>39738375
To which?

>>39738398
I'm guessing both.

>>39738359
He would have manifested something already. Ray was pretty quick with his Acceptance.

And he's kicking too much ass to get hubris'd, especially now that we're back in the fight. No, he's going to live to kick us out, which is going to happen immediately because there are a ton of spare cars here.

>>39738289
Yeah, you never fuck with Pytor Strakel, son of Lema Strakel. (Yes, he has his mother's name. His father didn't argue, and was gone by the time Pytor arrived. Less 'divorced' and more 'discarded') There is a reason that the Confessors and Genesis hire him when they want a large man who is terrifyingly good at violence.

Six shots in his gun. Six dead men on the ground. Headshots and shots to the chest that were fatal in moments.

'And we're SURE that Pytor isn't one of the Accepted?'

'He's clean. Maybe his ancestors were but...holy shit."

"LUPA! Be careful!" He shouts.

You can see why. The last two living zealots are covered, head to toe in the mosquito eyeless. The machine is broken, but it's clear that the Eyeless don't need controlling at this point. They're desperately protecting, and feeding, their last two Hives.

You can see cracked and broken skin when the eyeless move to expose it. They're primed to become vainglories at this point. The moment the swarm disperses, they're going to hatch.

Of course, that swarm could stay there for a while. They're feeding off the fallout that's all around here, and they don't like leaving their precious Hives.

You could carefully sneak around them and take off.

Or you could...not.

> Look at the Felines. 'Sic' em.'
> Do an ash-shot to clear the swarm off of the Vainglories. With the machine off they'll disperse.
> Ash cloud, hopefully that'll keep the swarm grounded so they wont fly away and you can deal with them too.
> If you do a Bright Burst now, you'll fry all of the Eyeless in one blow. But then you won't be able to use it on the Vainglories.
> Carefully walk around the 'happy' couple and make for the RV.

>>39738603
> Look at the Felines. 'Sic' em.'
> Do an ash-shot to clear the swarm off of the Vainglories. With the machine off they'll disperse.

>>39738603
> Do an ash-shot to clear the swarm off of the Vainglories. With the machine off they'll disperse.

>>39738603
> Look at the Felines. 'Sic' em.'

>>39738637
Backing this one

>>39738603
>Ash cloud, hopefully that'll keep the swarm grounded so they wont fly away and you can deal with them too.

>>39738637
I support this

>>39738637
You gesture with your arm and blast an ash shot at the swarm.

> Roll1d20

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>39738757
let see

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>39738757
HWG

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>39738757

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>39738757

Rolled 10, 7, 6 = 23 (3d20)

>>39738772
The hive quivers, gets up off of the pair of people.

"Sic 'em." You say to the three felines, and the three animals snarl and tear forwards towards the pair.

Downside is that the shot hasn't dispersed the swarm. Rather that it made them angry, with you.

Still, the Felines pounce on the Completed Hives.

>>39738935
They claw at them, lash out with their tails, and are generally as lethal as they can be. However, the Hives don't seem to notice at all. They ignore the gashes and wounds, and standup, shaking the Critters off.

Then they crack, and thick blubbery red brown fluid starts to ooze out from one. The other one starts oozing this thinner liquid, that looks like a jelly made of metal shavings. The fluids intertwine and writher around each other, fusing the bodies together. The blubber keeps on coming and the silvery stuff binds it in place. Wrapping around it like a net.

Finally it stops, and it looks like a person sized red-brown slug, with a mass of silvery tentacles coming out of the tip of it's 'head.'

The swarm is also buzzing towards you. It sounds angry.

> Ash shot at the swarm, try to disperse it again
> Ash cloud
> Ash armor
> Throw knife
> Bright Burst

>>39739094
> Ash cloud

>>39739094
> Ash armor
Shields up!

>>39739094
>Throw knife

>>39739094
> Ash shot at the swarm, try to disperse it again

>>39739094
>Ash cloud

>>39739094
>Ash Cloud

>>39739094
>> Ash cloud

Rolled 11, 8, 11 = 30 (3d20)

>>39739311
You point your hands at the ground.

'Why is there a second delay?'

'Because 1) It takes a moment for us to use our energy and 2) Come on, it DOES look cool when the ground-'

Explodes up around you in a wide radius covering everything in a cloud of ash.

>>39739094
A giant slug with hair tentacles. Do we have any salt in the RV?

Rolled 14, 15, 20 = 49 (3d20)

>>39739742
The swarm is confused and it clumps together in the chaos, but it doesn't look like you slowed it that much.

The felines seem fine in this mess.

The Vainglory Slug seems to be also annoyed by the blast, but it doesn't see to be all that inconvenienced by it.

The Felines tear into the Vainglory Slug

>>39739793
Baaaaaaad kitties.

>>39739852
gooood kitties

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>39739793
Okay. It looks like the kitties learn really really quickly.

One of them rips open a gash that pours out black goop and bile.

The next bites into it and pulls away a huge chunk of blubbery flesh.

The third whips out with it's tail and actually severs one of the metal tentacles. It flops on the ground before dissolving into sludge and larvae.

The swarm is now trying to buzz through the ash with hopes to rip you to shreds.

Rolled 20, 10, 14 = 44 (3d20)

>>39739872
You easily duck out of the way.

The Vainglory slug, now with only three tentacles, tries to attack the Felines.

>>39739899
Poor kitties.

>>39739742
>'Because 1) It takes a moment for us to use our energy and 2) Come on, it DOES look cool when the ground-'
I love Joy's sense of aesthetics. She's right, old man hair sucks.

>>39739899
>>39739793
Geeze they are tearing each other apart. 20s everywhere.

>>39739899
Two of the cats it misses, thanks to the ash cloud, but the last one actually wraps around the Cat. It makes a loud yowling noise of pain, and then there's a CRACK and the cat goes limp.

The Vainglory then tosses the dead feline onto its body where the poor thing starts to get consumed by the red blubbery flesh.

>Your turn, targets are the Swarm and the Slug

> Ash shot
> Ash armor
> Throw knife
> Bright Burst

>>39739965
> Throw knife at the slug
that bitch hurt our kitty

>>39739965
> Bright burst

>>39739965
> Bright Burst

>>39739988
>Throw knife at the slug

>>39739965
>Bright Burst
BOOM bitches

>>39739965
>>Throw knife at the slug

>>39739965
> Throw knife at slug

We get an upgrade if we use throw knife enough, and Bright Burst has a chance of detransforming us leaving us fucked if it doesn't finish the slug off.

>>39740083
what he said

>>39740083
I agree entirely it is very reckless to use bright burst if we don't know we will kill it.

>>39740083
What are the chances that the upgrade is throwing the knife much like ash dodge?

>>39739965
>> Throw knife
slug

>>39739995
'Ready to go bright?'

'If you call in the ash cloud, we can cause even more pain.'

'Do it. That thing killed one of our cats.'

'Oh they're OUR cats now.'

Pytor has arrived back from the RV with a now loaded shotgun, and he sees the ash cloud that has sprung up now recede rapidly to one point. He remembers the last time Lupa did this, and he shields his eyes.

You look less like an ash statue of Lupa, but now a stature of a vague humanoid shape.

Then bright white light lances out from where the eyes would be on this statue, and there's an explosion of light, and ash.

> Roll 1d20 10 or less, take 1 hit. 11-15 no extra effect, 16 above, 1 extra wound.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39740136

dice+1d20

>>39740136

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>39740136
>>39740151
Nice.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>39740136
dICED!

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>39740136

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>39740136

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>39740136

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>39740136

>>39740136
>'Do it. That thing killed one of our cats.'
>'Oh they're OUR cats now.'
Hahaha. I love this quest.

>>39740161
Pytor can see the burst of light through his closed eyes. When it fades, and he blinks to opening them. He sees that Lupa has wiped the battlefield clean.

The giant slug thing is a mountain of ash, and there's a pile of sizzling larvae on the ground where that cloud of eyeless were.

She walks up to the pile of ash, the Felines threading through her legs, purring, and she flicks her wrist, and the ash pile floats into the air and becomes part of that ash cloud that surrounds her when she's like that.

It's wondrous and terrifying.

You flex your hands and grin. You feel amazing. You also feel really tired, but it feels so good when you get that surge from killing Hubris.

'Before we...yawn...go back to being Lupa. We figured out the new knife trick.'

'Oh?'

'Yeah, the Vainglory boost made it easy for us to figure it out. Throw a knife at that wall.'

You grab your knife and flick it at the wall. You see your ash cloud quickly gather and then.

THUD. THUD.

You see two blades embedded in the wall. They crumble to ash, and your knife reforms in your hostler.

'Sweet huh? The more you let us practice that, the more knives we can make...anyway...night.'

There's a pulse of light, and you're back to being Lupa.

Pytor walks up to you.

"You've changed." He says.

"That last move take a lot out of me." You say.

He nods, and then he points at the people on the ground. "Some of them aren't dead. We need to make sure." He takes out his own knife.

> Help Pytor make sure that all of the Righteous are dead.
> Let him take care of it on his own.

>>39740379
> Help Pytor make sure that all of the Righteous are dead.

>>39740379
> Help Pytor make sure that all of the Righteous are dead.

>>39740379
> Help Pytor make sure that all of the Righteous are dead.

>>39740379
>Help Pytor make sure that all of the Righteous are dead.

>>39740379
>Let the remaining kitty have it's fun; it's earned it.

>>39740379
>> Help Pytor make sure that all of the Righteous are dead.

Lupa needs to become a Hard Woman making Hard Decisions who don't need no man or woman.

>>39740379
>let the cats have a meal

>>39740416
You nod and you draw your knife, and go around to all of the bodies on the ground.

Nothing fancy, nothing sick. Once across the neck, and a jab at the base of the skull. You try to be as smooth and quick as possible.

One of them moans and makes a gurgle sound. You jab twice on that one, to make sure.

After a moment, it's done. You get up and sigh, and go to where Pytor is. He's looking at the other two trucks.

> ???? Roll 1d12

Rolled 7 (1d12)

>>39740494

>>39740494
> ???? Roll 1d12

Rolled 2 (1d12)

>>39740494

Rolled 5 (1d12)

>>39740494

Rolled 1 (1d12)

>>39740379
>You grab your knife and flick it at the wall. You see your ash cloud quickly gather and then.
>THUD. THUD.
>You see two blades embedded in the wall. They crumble to ash, and your knife reforms in your hostler.
>'Sweet huh? The more you let us practice that, the more knives we can make...anyway...night.'
Cool as hell. We're like a ninja.

>>39740494

>>39740521
Glad you felt the need to type all that out

>>39740535
I had it typed then saw the post. But it doesn't matter, 1's only count when there's two for d12 or lower.

So, what are we going to name our two remaining Felines? And do you think Pytor will let us keep them.

>>39740679
>And do you think Pytor will let us keep them
Somehow I am doubting that, bright side there are some nice shiny trucks sitting here that he will probably be more than willing to give us.

>>39740510
You stand there and watch as Pytor inspects the cars. He opens the hood. Looks at the engine and the batteries. Then he uses the keys he got from the bodies he checked to start them. Then he gets out.

"The best one was the one you ruined." He says gesturing to the red one.

He points at the unpainted one, that might have been blue at one point it its life. "That one is a piece of crap. We should salvage the battery, and leave the rest."

He points at the one that's a filthy white. "That one can run...but I don't see it getting more than a month of service out of it."

He stands and thinks a while. Then he hands you the keys.

"You're going to follow me." He says. "We'll go to Salome. If we can get it fixed up, it's yours. If not, we'll sell it."

You nod and feel the keys close around your hand. You're still with Pytor...and there's a chance that you may still be with him for a while.

Still, an extra truck bed means that much more salvage, so you two heap on as much as you can, and that includes stripping the other two trucks down to almost nothing.

You wave goodbye to your Feline friends, who are busy enjoying their feast. With the blast doors down, they'll now have total run of the studio.

You're okay with that.

Although, you do poke your head into the other closed studios to see what was behind them.

The smallest one looks like the inside of a shopping center. The largest one, is a (now dead) park. The tall one is a school. And the one with all the dishes and antennas looks like a city street.

Weird.

Anyway, it's dawn when the pair of you load up your vehicles and take off.

You're midway through the canyon, when you get a thought. It would be...fairly easy...to sabotage this Truck. So that it would just limp its way out of the Canyon...and then you'd be back in the RV.

You won't say you aren't tempted.

> Break the Truck and ensure that you'll be back in the RV.
> Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not.

>>39740379
The felines threading through her legs was the terrifying part. Pytor is going to have nightmares about that for weeks.

>>39740715
>> Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not.

>>39740715
>> Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not.
Seriously, Lupa?

>>39740715
>Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not.
I want to have some of of those kitties as companions

>>39740715
>> Break the Truck and ensure that you'll be back in the RV.

>>39740715
>Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not.
>>39740758
You don't overwhelmingly want to be abandoned by your father figure it isn't an unreasonable thought.

>>39740715
>> Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not

>>39740715
>Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not

>>39740715
Awww, we're not keeping them. Sad now.

>>39740715
> Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not.

We going to pick up the preacher's kid for an extra gun/ survival buddy?

>>39740829
I'd rather head deep into Genesis and see what Ember's all about first. It should be safe enough there. Ray already more or less said he'd rather stay with the Confessors.

>>39740715
>> Don't harm the truck, and see if it can be fixed in Salome or not.

this still going?

>>39741763
I hope

>>39741763
Previous parts have had EchoGarrote leaving for quite some time presumably doing something in real life.

In any case what are everyone's thoughts on Pytor, he clearly seems to care about us in his own way even if that is based on how useful we are, for instance a month isn't too short a time for a truck to work in this world so he could have just shipped us off in that.

>>39741834
If he no longer wishes to house us, perhaps we can make a business arrangment. We can, after all, translate and fix things better than most. Now with our powers, we can help out in combat, presumably more than we could before.

>>39741834
He's a fucking badass and I hope we get to meet up with him later in the quest. Maybe hire him if we ever need a mercenary.

And of course he cares about Lupa. That was never in doubt.

>>39740855
Actual reason to go alone to Genesis: Save on bribe money.

>>39741834
We helped him get all the salvage from this place, but we also caused this whole fight. As long as the pros outweigh the cons he might keep us.

>>39741834
Of course he does.
It isn't so much as he wants us out of his life, but that it's time we've outgrown living with him and start standing on our own.

>>39741989
Yeah, this. Reminder that Lupa sleeps in a closet. A comfortable blanketnest closet, but still a closet.

I think it's weird that Pytor would have kept Lupa around if the only things she was good at were being small and climbing good.

Pytor is a good man. Despite the hardness it takes to survive he chose to take in a child and protect her from everything that could happen to her.

>>39742072
We told him everything including the fact that we attract the eyeless and whatnot, he would rather not die so we were just something that helped with a few things not to mention we might not have been seen as being able to protect ourselves and everything properly now we can.

Ugggghhhh. I was honestly really hoping this would be it and we could go it alone from here. Pytor's a stone badass, but I want to do some solo questing.

>>39742209
Bright side, no one is currently pushing us to find and seduce those small joys we fought before.

>>39742109
You keep driving. You try to push those thoughts out of your head.

This truck isn't too bad actually. It's an old junker of a beast, which isn't surprising as the newer models don't run. You're pretty sure it's something to do with Siphons as opposed to Batteries. Either way, 2 doors 4 seats, no leaks or holes, and the upholstery is intact, even though it smells like black licorice.

The fan works, the AC doesn't. The defroster and heating work, but the seat warmer doesn't. Decent windshield wipers, and as Pytor said, no holes in the truck bed, tires are still good, and the only thing wrong with it is that the engine's never seen any real maintenance. If you can fix that...

You stop as Pytor stops his RV, he's checking his bearings.

Let's see what's in this truck anyway, Pytor didn't really poke around in some of the more sensitive areas. You think his mind was elsewhere.

You pop open the glove compartment, and check the door pockets, and all the little spaces people hide things, as well as the back.

> Roll 1d10

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>39742289
Rolling

>>39742289

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>39742289

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>39742289

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>39742289

>>39742321
Some maps. Recent maps of the city. They mark fallout areas, collapsed roads, fallen buildings, and a bunch of other symbols that you don't get.

This stuff will be crazy useful if and when you head back to the city.

A first aid kit. Always handy.

Finally, there's some tapes labeled 'TO EASE THE FAITHFUL'

The truck does have a tape player.

> Play the tapes. The more you learn about the Righteous, the better you can deal with them.
> You don't need to hear crazy. Also, this stuff was used to keep Hives in line. Listening to these is dangerous.

>>39742446
>> Play the tapes. The more you learn about the Righteous, the better you can deal with them.
Knowledge is power, and we must become OP

>>39742446
>Play the tapes. The more you learn about the Righteous, the better you can deal with them.

>>39742289
So if the newer cars use siphons as opposed to batteries couldn't we start a car while in joy form which should mean a lot of available cars for us.
>>39742446
>Play the tapes. The more you learn about the Righteous, the better you can deal with them.

>>39742446
>> Play the tapes. The more you learn about the Righteous, the better you can deal with them.

>>39742446
>> Play the tapes. The more you learn about the Righteous, the better you can deal with them.

I'd rather wait until we aren't currently driving. But whatever. This quest isn't the sort to kill us for something like this.

>>39742502
>This quest isn't the sort to kill us for something like this
As you attempt to put the tapes in the player you accidentally over-correct while driving swerving into the side of the canyon since you didn't say you were wearing a seat belt you are ejected from the car and die instantly.

>>39742492
>So if the newer cars use siphons as opposed to batteries couldn't we start a car while in joy form which should mean a lot of available cars for us.
It's been 100 years. All those cars that can be reached have probably been stripped for scrap.

>>39742534
Still a better chance than finding a working non-siphon car.

>>39742594
We probably have one already, but in the unlikely event that we don't, we have a ton of money and can buy a car from somewhere in Genesis territory.

You pop one of the tapes in.

"And know that this world is not the one that was meant to be." A woman's voice says. It sounds like she's reading a script. "When time comes, the way will be opened, and we will return to the golden age and we will prevent this foul shadow of a world from coming to be. The Righteous shall live in the Golden Age as heroes, and those who follow the Path will be reborn in the Proper Age, and see the world as it should be."

Mmmph...there's this other tone that's going on as the woman talks about obedience, and faith, and how this world isn't the right world. It's in the back ground and it's...causing you to wince.

"Follow our way, and let us lead you to the Righteous path of Redemption. Follow Father Plath's way and you shall see the world as it should be..."

You feel something wet drip from your nose.

Shut the tape, off, you need to shut the tape off...

It's weird, you feel so steady, your hands know where to drive and go...there's the RV...hiiiii Pytor....you give him a little wave...he waves back and hocks the horn...

hahaha...funny old Pytor...

"Know that we know that there will be where is now know that here now where be Place...Time Wrong World Right World Right Time..."

Ugh! Head...focus!

> Roll 1d8

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>39742704

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>39742704
i figured it would be something like this

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>39742704
That went well.

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>39742704

>>39742704

Well, fuck. Brainwashing, probably with a bit of magic on top of things.

>>39742724
>>39742730
>>39742736
Well. The dice wanna do 2s

>>39742731
Thank you.

>>39742731
oh thank god

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>39742704

>>39742731
Thank fuck. smash those tapes.

>>39742704
Okay so we definitely want to turn the tapes off now before the brainwashing takes hold, and probably clean the blood off our nose.

>>39742704
That's the Clean Energy fallout symptom isn't it? I really hope this tape is only lethal against Joys.

>>39742731
You smash your hand against the tape player, and you smash the breaks.

You sit there and it takes you a moment to realize that Pytor has stopped yelling at you and is moving to break the window.

"I'm okay! I'm okay!" You say as you open the door.

"What. happened?" He says.

You point at the tape player and the pile of cassettes.

Pytor looks at them, looks at you, takes the tape out of the player, and dumps the rest on the ground and starts stomping on them.

> Stop him, maybe you can save one or two tapes.
> Let him

We might want to make pit stop at the confessors for stew and to tell them to smash any fucking tapes they see.

>>39742818
> Let him

>>39742818
>> Let him
Fucking evil little shits

>>39742818
>> Let him

>>39742818
> Let him

Right, we should spread the word to Genesis about these tapes. They'll be much more effective then anyone else rooting them out.

>>39742818
>Stop him, maybe you can save one or two tapes.

My incredibly dangerous research materials noooo

>>39742818
>Let him

>>39742838
Do we have to fling around words like 'evil'? They have the same goal as both People of Joy factions. Are those groups evil too?

As for the Hubris, they're a hivemind. Nothing evil about hiveminds.

>>39742920
The groups have semi-noble intentions. I can respect that. Brainwashing cassette tapes, on the other hand, are evil little shits.

>>39742818

>Let him

>>39742920
They appear to believe our very existence is an affront to their belief system, we naturally consider ourselves good therefore we consider them evil.

>>39742920
The sort of brainwashing that was on that cassette might as well be murder.

>>39742839
You let him.

Pytor doesn't say anything, he just gives you a look as you both get back into your vehicles.

You follow him, and thankfully you exit the canyon without further incident.

Next stop, Salome.
- - -

"And none of them have come back, or reported in, or anything?" One of the three People-of-Joy ask Plath.

"No, sir." Plath says.

"We sent 26 people, three trucks, equipment, they had a Lure with them. None of these are replaceable James!" The woman in the group says.

"I know. Maybe, maybe they're lost in the Canyon. It took them a while just to find the way to Gold's studio." Plath says.

The second man puts his head in his hands. "Plath, have you been able to complete ANY of the tasks we give you?"

"It's HARD! You KNOW that every time I try to wreck the Confessors or Genesis, Gaft makes moves to stop me! How am I supposed to work in conditions like that."

"Because it's. Your. Job." The woman says. "You had a very simple job, stop Gaft's work. That ALSO entails dealing with Gaft! Now, I know you like having your cult, and all the easy sex that comes with it. So far, we'd been happy, because your efforts were causing Gaft to focus all of his energy on fixing what you broke. However, we are starting to need actual RESULTS and not just 'Oh Gaft and his friends are out of play for another month.' Do you understand?"

"I DO understand." Plath says. "That's why I SENT 25 people, and a Lure. I think someone told me that sending that many was overkill."

The first man looks at the woman and the second man. "He's right. Can't fault him for not making the effort."

"His one saving grace." The other man mutters. "Fine. So it's obvious, the Righteous are just not the right tool for the job. Let's keep them focused on dismantling Gaft's creations."

"And what of the rogue?" The woman says. "We have to deal with her."

(cont)

>>39743092
I really like these alternate PoV bits. Especially the ones you do when Ashes is doing something particularly cool.

>>39743092

"Do we?" The first man says. "Attacking her has shown to be a poor exercise, and if she's content to just be another sad shadow, she'll have no interest in OLYMPUS."

"So we ignore her?" The second man says.

"I think we have better uses of our resources." The first man says. "I say we let her run around, rip out copper wire from walls, kill Hubris, and be wiped away with all the other sad shadows."

"Mph, I dislike having a Joy-In-Heart run around free. It makes my skin crawl...an uncontrolled factor." The woman sneers. "What about the Genesis one?"

"Still hasn't Embraced yet, but we think Gaft may have made contact." The second one says.

"A rogue we can tolerate, if she has no interest, but a Genesis Joy-In-Heart? We know Gaft has people in there. We can't allow it." The woman says.

"I agree," The second man says with a smug look on his face. "That's why I've already taken steps to deal with her."

"Good, get it done. I'll announce to the rest that we'll have a vote on our next move." The first man says.

"Do I have to do anything about this?" Plath asks.

"James..." The second man puts a hand on the man's shoulder and grins at him. "You have EVERYTHING to do with this."

"And THIS time, we want results." The woman says. "And a corpse...hopefully not yours."

END PART 6

>>39743232
*applause*
I do enjoy your writing Echo, thanks for running.

>>39743232
Thanks for running Echo.

>>39743232
thanks for running

>>39743232
Thanks for running

>>39743232
Thanks for running

>>39743232
Good thread, can't wait till next one

>>39743232
>"Still hasn't Embraced yet, but we think Gaft may have made contact." The second one says.
Do these people know that Gaft had contact with Ashes? They seem to be seriously overestimating his commitment to controlling Joys.

And is Embracing just another name for female Acceptance or what?

>>39743390
>And is Embracing just another name for female Acceptance or what?

'Embracing' is the fist time a girl fully accepts Joy into their Heart and transforms.

Emily 'Emmy' Carcel is still just Emmy. She hasn't discovered who else she can be.