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>>40521456
You and Embers are sitting in the Cadillac (aka ‘Ashmobile’ aka ‘Joyride’), and staring at the strange object that’s placed on the side of the road. You’ve been taking turns driving and sleeping, so you’ve made good time across Tributary. The car gets fantastic milage, you’ve only swapped batteries once. The Voice’s last transmission said that you were going to be entering a nation known before as ‘Swanmay.’ She also said that she had no cameras, sparse radio coverage, and little knowledge of the area. This was due to a low People of Joy presence, so she couldn’t hack into anything they set up, and the presence of a Joy-In-Heart, who apparently has been infected by the Hubris.

The Voice was, as usual when it came to asking questions about her, unwilling to reveal where or how she knew this.

Emmy lowers the map she got from the glovebox of the car. “So…this looks like we just passed the border between Tributary and Swanmay.” She points behind the two of you. “Like less than five miles.”

“So, it’s a border marker?” You say.

Emmy shrugs. “We might as well just stick with ‘art.’ Embers wants to see if we can tip it over.”

The ‘Art’ is a small pyramid-ish mound of scrap metal. It’s not a pile of junk, as you can see that it’s hollow inside. You can see welding marks, binding ropes, and other signs that this was purposely created. At the top of the ‘pyramid’ there’s five ‘antenna’ sticking out, all going in different, seemingly random directions. None of them are the same length. At the end of each antenna is a ‘pinwheel.’ They’re made of shiny scrap metal, and glass. They spin wildly in the breeze, causing flickering lights and a tik!-tik!-tik!-tik!-tik! noise. There seems to be no other purpose to the thing.

(cont)

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>>40521484
Alright, well…you’re here in Swanmay and you need to get across. The first priority is finding some food, and a secure place to sleep. You’ve got two or three days of food left, and the car’s fine for keeping Critters out, but you doubt that also goes for Hubris and crazy Joy-In-Hearts.

But, apart from that, what should be your second biggest concern?

> Getting through Swanmay as fast as humanly possible.

> Getting through Swanmay without being noticed.

> Dealing with the Hubris and the Joy-In-Heart, ASAP.

> Finding a way to get the Voice access to a better signal, and what’s left of Swanmay’s infrastructure, so she can aid you.

> Get to a secure place so you can take the time to consult and train with Joy-In-Meadows

>>40521522
>> Finding a way to get the Voice access to a better signal, and what’s left of Swanmay’s infrastructure, so she can aid you.

>>40521522
> Finding a way to get the Voice access to a better signal, and what’s left of Swanmay’s infrastructure, so she can aid you.
sure why not

>>40521522
>> Finding a way to get the Voice access to a better signal, and what’s left of Swanmay’s infrastructure, so she can aid you.
what's the frequency, Kenneth?

>>40521522
>> Finding a way to get the Voice access to a better signal, and what’s left of Swanmay’s infrastructure, so she can aid you.

"Alright. We need our friend to be able to help us if we want to get through this." You say.

Emmy shrugs. "Well, we lost the 66.7 frequency a while back."

You nod. "Yeah, guess that means we're looking for a radio station."

"Then we're heading for the town of Bewick." She says, pointing on the map. "And hope that they've got something."

You both jump into the car and drive.

> Observation Roll 1d8

Rolled 7 (1d8)

>>40521961

Rolled 5 (1d8)

>>40521961

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>40521961

>>40521980
You spot more scrap art as you drive along. Same kind of sculpture, pyramid with pinwheels.

One odd thing you notice, as you see more, is that they're also colored. You thought it was unintentional, but now you know that the red parts of the pyramid you had stopped at, were a deliberate choice.

There's also yellow and blue pyramids, and there's a weird system to it all.

The reds have the most, they're small, squat, and scattered all over the place. (It seems, there might be a pattern, but you'd have to fly to see it...maybe.)

The blue and yellow ones seem to be in competition with each other. You'll see a yellow pyramid that has some wear and tear, and then you'll see a blue pyramid that's been built bigger than the yellow, and all the pinwheels loom over the shorter one, like they're taunting it.

Then, you drive a few miles, and you'll see an older blue pyramid, and a yellow one built over it. You also see the ruins of a pyramid that built too high and caved in on itself, and there's two opposing pyramids, looming over the untouched rubble.

With that much scrap metal, Genesis could have set up a township, and it doesn't look like this thing is local to this area.

"They must have ripped apart buildings for that junk." Emmy says.

"One of the big ones." You say, agreeing with Emmy.

You arrive at Bewick. It's bigger than what you thought. It's closer to the size of the city across the bridge in Peninsular, than that of a typical Genesis township. Not quite as big, but close. Also, there's no building that's over five stories high. You can see where the tall buildings have been cannibalized and ripped apart.

"I wonder if they did that to the radio tower." Emmy asks.

You're on the lookout for people.

> ???? Check/???? Check/Observation Check: Roll 3d8

Rolled 3, 2, 3 = 8 (3d8)

>>40522440

Rolled 8, 2, 7 = 17 (3d8)

>>40522440
FAIL EVERYTHING.

Rolled 3, 6, 6 = 15 (3d8)

>>40522440

Rolled 6, 5, 6 = 17 (3d8)

>>40522440
Hope I'm not late.

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>40522477
>>40522490
>>40522495

Well, good news, you did manage to find the local affiliate station. So, there's probably radio parts, and a good chunk of other tech in there that could be useful.

Another part of good news is that the large antenna that's sticking out of the building is still intact. In fact, it looks like it's sprouted a whole mass of little antennas. Then you get closer and see that whomever has been building those pyramids added about fifteen or twenty extra pinwheel-antenna to the large structure. Hopefully, that wont interfere with anything.

Finally, in slightly bad news is that you see some people. There's about two blocks down from where you are. There's about five of them. They're dressed in squatter clothing. (I.E. Multiple layers of clothing, and most of the layers are filthy) They're gathered around one of the pyramids. They're just staring at the spinning pinwheels. They shift their weight, and occasionally wipe their faces or yawn. But their vision is locked on the spinning, flickering lights.

(cont)

oh great, we've got Cultists. Most likely the kind that are trying to signal 'aliens'

>>40522827
That's it. That's all you notice.

The people don't really seem to notice your presence.

> Ignore the squatters and make your way inside the building of SWNB 5 'The Western Trumpet'
> Go over and peacefully greet the squatters.
> Go over and greet the squatters with knives and kicks.
> Run 'em over in the car

>>40522903
> Ignore the squatters and make your way inside the building of SWNB 5 'The Western Trumpet'

>40522903
> Go over and peacefully greet the squatters.
First of all... make sure the radio station isn't holy ground and entering won't set them all on us in a rabid frenzy.

>>40522903
> Go over and peacefully greet the squatters.

>>40522925
Not sure why you defaulted to cultists. Someone setting human traps was my first instinct. Trap them in place with flickering pretty magical lights.

FYI Echo Garrote, 4chan quests are suffering from someone intentionally Misarchiving quest threads. Your got hit with "Edgy Grimderp Magical Girl Quest" Need to talk to Lord Licorice to fix it.

>>40522903
>Ignore the squatters and make your way inside the building of SWNB 5 'The Western Trumpet'
shiny hypnosis, maybe?
also, the misarchiver is starting early today, I see

>>40522903
>> Ignore the squatters and make your way inside the building of SWNB 5 'The Western Trumpet'

>>40522903
> Go over and peacefully greet the squatters.

>>40523117
I heard that apparently Lord Licorice doesn't give a damn anymore. Might just have to archive super early to beat them to the punch.

>>40523170
I'm talking to him right now, he's told me that he won't be removing quests and that if a thread gets troll archived, he should be e-mailed with details.

>>40523170
We're supposed to email him @ 4chan@thisisnotatrueending.com if a thread gets troll archived with details (correct title, tags, description, etc) and he'll fix them in batches.

>>40523217
I'd also say to archive quick next time and have a link to this thread.

>>40523217
Oh, okay! That's lovely.

I believe there's been a couple of misarchived threads. If someone wants to catch all of them, blessings on you. I honestly do not find it that big of a deal. (Although, the tag stating that Christopher Walken's dancing being superior to my writing is something I find very funny, and soberingly accurate.)

I'm too tired to enjoy this. Please don't kill the corrupted Joy in Heart instead of purifying her if we can. That would be no fun to wake up to.

>>40522919
>>40523123
>>40523125

>>40522925
>>40522951
>>40523135

Any more votes, or does speed (>Ignore) take it?

>>40523427
Ignore it is.

Writing...

>>40523501
The door is nothing. A broken glass door that was boarded up with wood planks and panels. None of them that thick. One kick from you and you're in.

You do, with Emmy's help, move the toppled reception desk to block the door. It probably wont keep people coming through, but it'll be loud enough to warn you if they do.

The station is pretty pristine, all things considered. No signs of scavenging, or salvaging. There's hints of a squatter presence, but they're all old signs. No one lives here currently, or has lived for a while.

You feel Joy's presence slip away. You must be near a siphon. And yep, just like that, lights start to turn on in this place. Then they immediately burn out or burst into sparks. The more sensitive looking equipment is a bit slower turning on, you don't see any Screens light up, but the little lights on the desks covered with buttons turn on.

"This is...a lot more advanced than the set-up at Genesis." Emmy says as you linger in a room with a desk that's lighting up.

"No kidding." You say. "You sure this is even the one connected to the radio?"

"Well, can't you tell?" Emmy asks. "You can read this stuff. Right?" She gestures to the Civ writing on the desk.

Yeah. This stuff is in a language you can read. That's true. You just have NO idea what any of these words mean. That's not even touching the abbreviations. PIN, PAL, CEO, CEI, SED...and that's just the beginning of the alphabet soup. You feel really tempted to just start pressing things.

"Is there a manual, or something?" You ask, looking around. It's...not something you're hopeful for finding though. You open a desk drawer and find Pre-End books...that have been exposed to 150 years of mold, dust, and not being in a secure place. So, a soggy mass of unreadable pulp. Unless you get really lucky, odds are most of the books here are like that.

(cont)

>>40523878
"Could you ask Meadows?" Emmy asks. "She might know something. This is her technology after all."

"She was a soldier," You say. "Not a radio operator." Although the idea has merit. She might have an idea on what some of this stuff means, at least.

Although, you'd have to focus and leave 'Now' and go to your headspace where Meadows is. If something goes wrong, Emmy and Embers will be on their own until you come back out. They won't be able to warn you or contact you.

Also, you'd be doing this, while under the effect of a siphon.

> Start pressing buttons and see what that does.

> Spend a large amount of time to really search the place and hope you get lucky and find something intact that can help.

> Contact Meadows.

>>40523965
> Contact Meadows.

>>40523965
> Spend a large amount of time to really search the place and hope you get lucky and find something intact that can help.
We're a salvager. We should be able to find something.

Huh, not many voters today.

>>40523965
>> Contact Meadows.
WHAT CAN POSSIBLY GO WRONG

>>40523965
>> Contact Meadows.

>>40523965
>> Spend a large amount of time to really search the place and hope you get lucky and find something intact that can help.

>>40523965
>> Spend a large amount of time to really search the place and hope you get lucky and find something intact that can help.

>>40523965
>> Spend a large amount of time to really search the place and hope you get lucky and find something intact that can help.
tie breaker I guess.

>>40524140
>>40524286
>>40524357

"Alright. I'm going to go ask Joy-In-Meadows." You say, as you find a large comfortable chair to sit in.

"And I get to play babysitter," Emmy says. "I'm not wiping off your drool this time."

"I drool?" You ask, a little appalled.

"And sweat profusely, it's kind of gross." Emmy says.

Well...you WERE training with Meadows in knife fighting the last time. Hopefully this wont be so bad.

You close your eyes, and let your mind reach out.

You open your eyes, and the station is pristine, and filled with light, bright paint on the walls, and green leafy plants in pots.

"Ugh. Swanmay." Meadows says as she sits in a chair across from you, arms cross. "You know why the geese have long necks? So they can stick their noses into other people's business."

"Huh?"

"Here's one from Peninsular, how do you make a goose drown? Tell her that there's gossip written on a cloud during a rainstorm." She frowns. "Shit, I messed it up. Ah, you get it."

"Uhhh..." You say.

"I mean, Tribs we had the freedom of being the bottom rung, and Pennies didn't care what you did, as long as it was in your own space. But the Geese," She shudders. "Honestly, you think that it'd take longer than 100 years before a nation of uptight pricks had a civil war with itself."

"Meadows!" You snap. "Focus!"

"Right, right. Okay." She sighs and motions for you to follow her. "First off, you were looking at the Radiant Transmission Board, and that stuff hasn't worked for a while. The radio is..." She opens a door and looks in. "Not here." She tries the next door in the hall and smiles. "Here. This is the radio stuff."

You frown. The control board is twice the size of the one you were looking at in the real world.

You remember the steps you took to get here, you're going to wake up back in the chair. So, details are important.

"So...now what?" You ask Meadows.

> Roll 1d8

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>40524610

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>40524610

>>40524775
We observe like a hawk.

Please remind me again, good anons - Peninsula - was that the army propaganda recruitment girl's country?

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>40524610

>>40524839
I think so.

>>40524775
"Well," She sighs. "I've only worked a field radio, but...I'm pretty sure that...you flip that, that, and that. Then you use that dial to change the frequency you're broadcasting on. Although, this is a commercial thing, so...I have no idea how that might change things." She shrugs. "Still, if Miss Personality is as savvy as she is, you start broadcasting at all, and she'll hear you." She pauses. "Oh, press that to turn the microphone on." She says. "Now, I can't tell you what the rest do, so...you'll have to deal with not sounding like a space alien, eliminating vocal fry, or adding any sound effects." She grins.

You sigh. "I'll manage. Thanks."

"No problem." Meadows says. "Umm..."

"What?" You ask.

"You do know that you don't owe this Voice person anything." She says. "Right?"

You feel your hands clench. "We're not talking about this." You snap.

"Ashes, just because someone shows you a little kindness, doesn't mean you have to balance things." Meadows says. "After all, Emmy stays with you because she trusts you, and Embers looks up to you as her Elder Sister. That was a Big Deal back in my time."

You have to focus on your breathing so you can unclench your jaw. "I can't owe people." You say, quietly.

Meadows sighs and nods. "I know, you've kept a very close tally in there." She points at your head. "You're very proud about how neither you or Pytor
'owe' each other."

"It's how this world works." You say.

"No," Meadows says. "That's how YOU work, Little Sister." She puts a hand on your shoulder.

> roll 1d6

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>40525107

>>40525107
>Pytor
Did we encounter this name before? I do not recall that being the name for the super computer running the movie for the end project.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>40525107
rolling
>>40525149
Rv man we lived with remember?

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>40525107
Here goes nothing.

>>40525168
Here comes nothing.

>>40525160
Oh.

Ahhh, how embarrassing.

>>40525168
>>40525160

You feel your stomach and nerves all clench at her touch.

> Let her touch you, even though it's going to be plain on your face that you're NOT happy with Meadows touching you.

> Draw away from Meadow's touch

>>40525168
Welp, we wake up and 100 year has passed and we see the whittled away corpse of Emmy guarding her big sister.

>>40525233
>> Let her touch you, even though it's going to be plain on your face that you're NOT happy with Meadows touching you.

Trust the Meadow. She has not wronged us so far.

>>40525233
> Let her touch you, even though it's going to be plain on your face that you're NOT happy with Meadows touching you.

>>40525233
>> Let her touch you, even though it's going to be plain on your face that you're NOT happy with Meadows touching you.

Should cancel out to the 4, which is still okay.

>>40525233
>> Let her touch you, even though it's going to be plain on your face that you're NOT happy with Meadows touching you.

>>40525233
>> Let her touch you, even though it's going to be plain on your face that you're NOT happy with Meadows touching you.

>>40525286
You stand there, and Meadows takes her hand back. She looks very sad for some reason. You don't understand why.

Well...she is dead and stuck in her corpse, rotting away, save for the few brief moments you spend like this. So...that's probably it.

"Until next time, Little Sister." Meadows says.

You wake up, and there's a piece of paper taped to your forehead.

You pull it off.

Ashes -
Everything's fine.
They just want to talk
Come outside when you get this.
CHANGE FIRST!
DO NOT COME OUTSIDE IN REGALIA!
- E

> Go outside, changing back to Lupa
> Go outside, staying as Ashes
> Stay inside and get the radio connection hooked up.

>>40525472
> Go outside, changing back to Lupa

>>40525472

Well fuck. This is the trappiest trap that every trapped things.

>>40525472
>> Go outside, changing back to Lupa

Lovely. Hostage situation. Let's hope we can diplomance our way out of this.

>>40525472
[x] Go outside, changing back to Lupa

2 possibilities:

1) Squatters are hostile and forced Emmy to write that

However, Emmy did not put anything in that message to tip us off

Or

2) Squatters are just addicts.

>>40525472
>> Go outside, changing back to Lupa

>>40525535

That's the scary thing. There's no hint in there. Which means they probably looked the message over, which means they're probably smarter than the average bear (or whatever they are).

>>40525472
> Stay inside and get the radio connection hooked up.
If they were really hostile though they could probably have messed with our body, so it's probably fine. But there's no reason we can't get some intel and make sure.

>>40525472

We are on the second floor.

Take a look outside the window. In a sneaky way so people down their don't see.

No point in going out as Ash. It takes as a turn to transform, but if they are friendly we just aggro'ed a whole town.

>>40525503
>>40525526
>>40525535
>>40525549

You change back to Lupa. You shift around a bit. You haven't been Lupa for days now. It's a little...uncomfortable. Your limbs feel very heavy, and more...solid? You guess that's the best not-quite accurate word to use. Also, you REALLY need to pee.

So after that's taken care of, you walk outside. Hand on your knife.

Emmy's standing on the top of the steps. She lets out a sigh of relief as you come out. There's a small clump of people, just standing there on the street, in front of the doors.

You now understand why Emmy didn't want you to come out in your regalia. That would have ended very badly, because all of these people are Hives.

Although, you've never seen these kind of Hives before. The boils have all been deflated, and the reddish pus that's inside them is caked on. It has an appearance like they're splattered with red clay. The Hubris Larva can be seen in them, but they're fat and sluggish. Looking like small yellowish tumors, than the aggressive monsters
that you're more used to.

Also, they have tape on their bodies. Thick grey duct tape, black sleek looking industrial tape, and wide brown packing tape. It's...holding them together. You can see the parts of their body where the skin is cracked, showing the Hollow within.

These people should be dead by now. Their bodies should have caved in on themselves and new Eyeless emerged from their remains. That or they'd go Vainglory.

Also, it looks like someone took a brush of house paint, and just did one stroke of color on the backs of their clothing. A few people have red, some have blue, and the last have yellow paint on them.

A woman walks up to you and looks at you. Then she looks upward and stares at one of the spinning pinwheels on the antenna. Then she goes back to you.

"Tai..." She frowns and gestures with her hands. "Tik?" She frowns and then shakes her head and then looks at Emmy, she points at her, and then she points at you.

(cont)

>>40526200
"Tik tik-tik." She keeps making that sound and contorting her face in different ways.

"We are together. Yes." You say.

The woman snaps her fingers at the crowd. They all stop staring at the pinwheels and back to her. She barks out a series of 'Tiks' and two of the group suddenly hold each other in an embrace and move to ki-

"NO!" "NO!" You and Emmy both say at the same time.

The crowd and the woman burst into laughter, suddenly. All of them are laughing hysterically. It takes a moment for the crowd to get back under control.

The woman, who is a Blue, then makes a grabbing motion, and kicking at the walls and doing a hand motion that you recognize as harvesting copper wire from a wall.

"No." You say, shaking her head. "We're not salvagers." Not today at least.

She gives you a 'You better not be lying' look. Then she gins, and nods, giving you a thumbs up.

You now notice that the crowd has several blunt instruments, chains, and knifes in their possession.

Blue then holds up a finger to get your attention. She clasps her hands to her chest, and mumbles some 'tiks' and then spins around and throws out her hands in a, what can only be called, jaunty pose.

She's asking in you're a Joy In Heart.

You look at Emmy.

"I was able to keep them out here by saying that you were sleeping." She says. "They haven't seen you."

You look back at Blue, she's waiting for an answer.

> Tell Blue the truth. They're going to find out at some point. No sense delaying.
> Lie. And then try to remember that means you have to pretend that they're just crazy people wearing tape. Nothing else.

>>40526368
>> Tell Blue the truth. They're going to find out at some point. No sense delaying.

>>40526368
> Tell Blue the truth. They're going to find out at some point. No sense delaying

>>40526368
> Tell Blue the truth. They're going to find out at some point. No sense delaying.
Can we cure them? I mean Ashes can, but can Lupa?

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>40526443
You sigh and nod.

Blue's eyes go wide with fear, and she pulls a kitchen knife and tries to stab you.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>40526541
Which she does, it's not a deep cut, thank you environment suit. But you're cut.

The five other Hives, grab their bat, pipe, chain, and knives, and charge forward.

Emmy opens fire into the crowd with her pistol.

>>40526578
The shot goes wide.

> Draw your knife and fight back

> Run back into the TV station

> Embrace Joy. (REMEMBER! You are RIGHT NEXT to 6 Hives that are FAR beyond their Collapse point.)

>>40526604
> Run back into the TV station

>>40526604
>> Draw your knife and fight back
>> Run back into the TV station
Fighting retreat, keep them off of us.

>>40526604
> Run back into the TV station

>>40526604
> Run back into the TV station

>>40526615
>>40526644
>>40526644
>>40526665
>>40526678

"Back!" You shout at Emmy, wildly swinging your knife to get Blue to keep back.

You and Emmy dive back into the TV station, and flip the desk over and push it against the door. It thumps as the crowd tries to force their way past. Thankfully, you two, even as Lupa and Emmy, have enough strength to hold them back. However, the moment you two leave, those six people are going to force their way through. You need to make a choice.

> You can out run them. Forget trying to contact Voice, and bolt out the back door and lose them. They're not that smart, easily distracted, and you are faster than they are. Even as Lupa.

> See if you can fight them inside the studio, while staying as Lupa. If you get them into a hallway, which are pretty narrow here, you can fight them two at a time.

> Embrace Joy, and all the havoc that comes with it.

>>40526785
> See if you can fight them inside the studio, while staying as Lupa. If you get them into a hallway, which are pretty narrow here, you can fight them two at a time.

>>40526785
>> See if you can fight them inside the studio, while staying as Lupa. If you get them into a hallway, which are pretty narrow here, you can fight them two at a time.

>>40526785
They seem... capable of talking with some degree of sanity, can we make a roll for negotiation or talk to them and calm them down? We don't mean them any harm.

>>40526785
> See if you can fight them inside the studio, while staying as Lupa. If you get them into a hallway, which are pretty narrow here, you can fight them two at a time.

>>40526917
You just told a bunch of sheep that you were, indeed, a wolf. A wolf who can also cause them to go insane, and turn into uncontrollable beasts just by your presence alone.

This isn't a matter of 'negotiation' for them. This is a matter of survival. You are a terrifying threat to them, their families, and their community.

You'd have to have one HELL of a good argument, pray they can understand you, and roll really damn high. Like 18 or above.

But if you want, the option's open.

>>40526917
Seconded.

Maybe retreat inside the studio and barricade up, and try to talk to them while they can't get at us?

Even if we do have to kill them, we could get some valuable intel about the nature of Hubris

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>40527054
Shout out to the blue woman or anyone who would listen (seems to be the leader) that you intend no harm and specifically changed out of your regalia to meet them, and if they keep trying to kill you, you will have no choice to turn into Ashes to fight back and survive which will cause the mall to go crazy.

>>40527143
FFFFF- Well plan B > Embrace Joy, and all the havoc that comes with it.

Unless someone can save my roll.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>40527054
18+ hmmm

>>40527237
and there it is

>>40527237
noice one m8

>>40527237
Please tell me this counts.

>>40527237
One more to confirm. Then I roll, because your 'appeal to reason' is pretty weak, and I like to see a bit more roleplay in responses. Unless you get a 19 or a 20, let's give you a fighting chance...16+ you'll still have a problem. Anything less and they decide that running away is a safer option than risking fighting the monster.

>>40527288
Oh man I hope so.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>40527054
Guess I'll samefag since no one wants to risk ruinning the 18

>>40527374
>>40527347

\o/ praise the dice gods

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>40527374
Okay, so make that 17+ for them to want to stay and fight.

>>40527237
>>40527374
That's it people I'm out of good roll for the thread, make them count.

>>40527408
fucking hell why cant embers roll like this

>>40527237
Oh my!

>>40527347
Did you want me write more details and more reasoning behind it or did you want some writing like : "Lupa grunted in frustration as she pressed her back against the desk from the cultists trying to break it down. Trying to figure away out of it.....".

If so, I can try that in the future but I'm very slow and not that great at writing, but I will try.

>>40527408
Fucking fuck

>>40527408
(-Gets up from the floor after laughing.- Oh dice gods, you do truly love me. Giving them false hope like that.)

>>40527447
Nah. You don't need to be that detailed. Just write what Lupa is actually saying. Don't give me generic statements.

Also, if you need time to write, say so. I'll wait.

Your words only seem to make the people angrier. Their banging and pounding is forcing their way through and you can see cracks starting to appear in the center of the desk.

"Hallways!" You shout, and the both of you give the desk a shove and tear through the studio and stop in one of the narrow hallways. Emmy behind you, reloading the revolver.

"How are you for ammo?" You ask.

"Good. Although, I doubt they'll let me reload." She says.

"Well, be sure to hit one of them this time!" You snap.

"Recoil is a bitch! You KNOW that!" She says. "Besides, these things are over a 150 years old! OF COURSE they're pieces of crap! Be glad they don't ex-"

You clamp a hand over her mouth. "Don't. Tempt. Fate." You say.

Then you let go and get your knife ready. You hold it properly, like Meadows taught you, and when the first Tape-Hive come charing down the hall, swinging a large metal pipe, You're ready for him.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>40527656
I'm tempting fate

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>40527656
fucking bullshit dice

>>40527686
'Fucking bullshit dice' indeed.

File: [Gitting Gud Intensifies].gif (81 KB, 217x215)

81 KB GIF

>>40527686

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>40527656>
Alright I'll keep that in mind

>>40527686
Stop playing with my emotions dice gods!

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>40527686
You swing your arm out, the blade slicing through the man's neck cleanly, and then you jerk it forward suddenly, pushing the gurgling man aside and your knife buries itself into the skull of the kid with a baseball bat (aluminum), stright through the eye socket into the brain. Both of them drop to the ground at your feet, very much dead.

Emmy fires her revolver into the approaching crowd. Who find the death of their comrades to be an encouragement, instead of a source of fear.

Rolled 12, 4 = 16 (2d20)

>>40527791
That gun really is a piece of crap. The bullet just embeds itself in a wall.

A guy with a knife charges you and a girl, who can't be older than you are, lashes out with her chain.

>>40527791
That girl just cant catch a break on the rolls can she?

>>40527819
The chain goes wide, and you just barely manage to avoid getting hit by the knife.

Thankfully, Blue and the eldest looking member, who both have knives, are blocked by the hallway, and can't get at you.

> Call your target (knife/chain) and Roll 1d20

File: knife-gun.jpg (25 KB, 425x240)

25 KB JPG

>>40527848
I've got an idea for improving her attacks...

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>40527859
knife

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>40527859
Kill the girl with the chain so the knife guy can't pin you while she takes swings at you.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>40527859
chain

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>40527976
You dodge to the side and stab your knife right into the chain woman's side, right where you know the sweet spot is.

She goes down, with dark arterial blood pooling out onto the already bloody floor.

Emmy aims and fires with her revolver.

Rolled 4, 12 = 16 (2d20)

>>40528158
The other knife guy goes down, right in the chest, pretty sure she hit his lung.

Blue and the Old Man look at each other, and then they charge you. Desperate. Terrified. But certain in their knowledge that they HAVE to kill the monster, or she'll kill everyone they care about.

>>40528193
It's tough, dodging two, people, while in a cramped hallway, standing around and on top of dead and dying, with blood everywhere. But you manage it.

Now it's your turn.

> Call target and roll 1d20

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>40528214
Blue

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>40528214
blue

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>40528214
old man

>>40528246
so i rolled a 20 and a 1 consecutively
huh

>>40528289
I haven't rolled anything besides 1s and 20s for the past day and a half.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>40528246
You move towards blue, but suddenyl your legs are jerked out from under you and you fall onto the ground. You look into the dying, defiant face of chain girl, as she's using the last bit of her strength to pull you down.

You're on the ground, prone, covered in Hive blood.

Emmy tries to keep Blue off of you and fires again.

Rolled 6, 10 = 16 (2d20)

>>40528349
The bullet goes wide again.

Blue and the Old man both dive for you with their knives.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>40528364
You shove Chain in front of blue and roll, completely covering yourself in blood. Blue pulls back to not stab her comrade, and the old man misses.

You get back up on your feet, wiping the blood away from your face.

Emmy fires her fourth shot.

Rolled 15, 20 = 35 (2d20)

>>40528394
It does actually hit Blue, but it's just a graze, not enough to stop her and the Old man from coming at you again.

>>40528429
o no

>>40528429
the dice enjoy toying with my feelings

>>40528429
ded
everyone go home

>>40528429
And now it's your turn to be very unhappy, as Blue slices your arm, and then you get stabbed HARD by the Old Man, right in the side. And he has gotten some things that shouldn't be encountering knives.

Your body convulses. You realize that you're about to transform and Accept Joy. It's a semi-involuntary act, to keep you from dying.

You aren't going to die if you don't...but take another hit or two like that and you will.

If you transform, you'll be in a healthier position, but...well...a Regalia wearing Joy next to two Hives...not good.

> Resist the transformation
> Accept it.

>>40528499
>>> Resist the transformation
>

>>40528499
>Resist the transformation
>"Stop this!" Stop this now!"

>>40528499
>>>> Resist the transformation

>>40528499
Only 2 enemies left right?
> Accept it.
Just so we are clear, this means changing into our regalia to not turn into hubris right?

>>40528582
>>40528552
>>40528545
> Roll 1d8 to resist, you'll need at least 2 Pass (or better) to fight past the pain.

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>40528610

>>40528499
>>> Resist the transformation
Ember can take care of them.... probably.

>>40528583
I don't think so, can QM confirm/deny?

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>40528641

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>40528610
rolling

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>40528657
sorry forgot to change dice

>>40528610
rolling

>>40528583
>this means changing into our regalia to not turn into hubris right?

Yes, this means turning from Lupa to Joy-In-Ashes.

>>40528641
>>40528659
>>40528672
What the shit.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>40528641
>>40528659
>>40528672

The pain is too much. Your vision is blurring and you can't, you want to, but the flesh is too weak.

You find Joy even in the Ashes.

The three of you flinch as you erupt into a burst of light.

The old man and Blue look horrified and terrified out of their minds.

Emmy uses the moment to try and shoot Blue.

Rolled 4, 20 = 24 (2d20)

>>40528718
The bullet goes wide, again, and you hear Emmy swear at her gun. She's either only has one shot left, or is out. The way shoots...

Blue and the Old Man start convulsing and their tape starts to rupture and split.

>>40528749
1 spontaneously combusts, 1 goes vainglory?

these dice just constantly disappoint now

>>40528749
The Old Man is fast though, and he will NOT let himself OR his daughter become mindless monsters thanks to this walking nightmare.

He lashes out with his knife and cuts Blue's throat hard enough that she drops to the ground, bleeding too much to finish her transformation.

Then, still cracking and convulsing he jams the blade up into his own skull, right below the neck. He spits at you, in defiance, and he falls to the ground. His twitching slowing and then he goes still.

You stagger around and collapse in the chair you were just sitting in. You hurt, everywhere and you can feel your body trying to fix itself by becoming less solid, and then more solid. Repeatedly.

It's exhausting and painful, and you vomit a good chunk of blood and black goop.

After it's all done, Emmy walks up to you.

"Holy shit." She says.

"Yeah." You croak out.

"You...um...probably should change back. Cause...fuck me. They seemed...nice. Weird, but..." She shrugs.

You nod.

> Get to the radio and get Voice connected, continue with the plan. This will mean staying here in the studio for the night.

> Scrap the plan. This place is too dangerous. Get back to the car, and drive as far away from this city and those fucking pieces of 'art' as you can.

>>40528882
> Scrap the plan. This place is too dangerous. Get back to the car, and drive as far away from this city and those fucking pieces of 'art' as you can.

We fucked up

>>40528882
> Scrap the plan. This place is too dangerous. Get back to the car, and drive as far away from this city and those fucking pieces of 'art' as you can.
Lessons learned. I don't want to force any others here to have to ill themselves over this.

>>40528882
> Get to the radio and get Voice connected, continue with the plan. This will mean staying here in the studio for the night.
Look, people died for this. Stay here and finish the job.

>>40528709
Ikr?

>>40528882
> Get to the radio and get Voice connected, continue with the plan. This will mean staying here in the studio for the night.

We got hurt for nothing? Theres always Joyride that we can use to make a quick get away so long as we keep it near by and have it within view of a window. There probably is time to check the area for any more threats.

>>40528882
>> Get to the radio and get Voice connected, continue with the plan. This will mean staying here in the studio for the night.

>>40528882
>> Get to the radio and get Voice connected, continue with the plan. This will mean staying here in the studio for the night.
>>40528972
is right, people died for this, we're not getting hurt for nothing.

I guess we learned a valuable lesson - lying is better than genocide here in the waste.

And negotiation don't always work.

>>40528882
>> Get to the radio and get Voice connected, continue with the plan. This will mean staying here in the studio for the night.

>>40529029
You stagger to the radio room, and follow Meadows' advice. Still occasionally spitting out blood, christ, you better not have to do anything more strenuous than pressing buttons, because you are in shit shape.

It takes a bit, you broadcast the 'code phrases' that Voice had you learn earlier so you could communicate without the POJ knowing.

Finally, when you finally begin to feel only slightly nauseous, instead of mostly, Voice makes contact.

She secures the line as best she can, and you brief her about what's happened.

"Well...that's interesting." She says. "A pity their fear response was so dramatic."

You nod, and spit out some blood on the carpet.

"Anyway, I'll need one of you to adjust the station so I can broadcast from there." The Voice says.

"I'm free." Emmy says. "Tell me what you need."

The Voice and Emmy talk technical terms that fly over your head for a bit, and then Emmy takes off to do things, and hopefully keep watch.

You're alone with the Voice.

"Well?" You say.

"Well, what?" The Voice asks.

"Why didn't you tell us that those kind of Hives existed?" You ask.

"I didn't know they existed, until now. Apparently things have changed since the last time I received information on this area." The Voice says.

"When was that?" You ask.

"Is that really relevant?" You say.

"I'm in a lot of pain, and in no mood for your mindgame-bullshit." You say. "Just answer the damn question."

"Gaft attempted a rescue a few years ago. It ended poorly for his chosen agent." The Voice says. "The last time, it was predictably cultish, with the Hives treating the Infected Joy as a diety figure. Now, apparently, the society has altered. Interesting."

"What do you know about the Infected Joy?" You ask.

"Very little. She must have been infected, and then Embraced Joy before her Hive transformation was completed." The Voice says. "Certainly a unique scenario. She was supposedly very young when this happened."

(cont)

>>40529268
Uhmmm. Get infected, then embrace joy, and you become an infected joy.

Interesting.

>>40529268
"So, how old is she now?" You ask.

"I would guess close to your age." The Voice said. "Interesting...as she would get older, she'd be less of a figure and more of an active agent...perhaps that caused the behavior shift? I certainly can't understand why the Hubris would create 'art.' Although, I doubt it lacks any utility."

"So," You sigh. "Now what?"

"Well, ideally...I'd prefer it if you confronted the Infected Joy." The Voice says.

"Seriously?" You ask.

"Yes. Understanding her might give us the chance to understand the Hubris and prevent them from becoming even more of a threat than they are now." The Voice says. "Also, a Joy-In-Hearts' power grows by leaps and bounds when they match them against other strong Joy-In-Hearts."

"You think I care about that?" You ask.

"Most likely, I'd think you'd be very interested in anything that could make you stronger and more secure." The Voice says.

Damn her, she's right.

"Now, I'll be needing you to go to Cygnus City, next." The Voice says. "It's a double goal. I'll get access to the city's few remaining functions, and the Infected Joy is there."

"Do we even know her name?" You ask.

"No. Gaft was surprised as well. We have theories on the bloodline, but nothing solid. Although Gaft did grant her a superfluous name." She sounds rather put out by the whole thing.

"What is it?" You ask.

"Joy-In-Ruin." She says.

You wipe away a, slightly bloody, crust of drool that's been on your face since you woke up. "Huh."

"Do you have any other questions for me?" The Voice asks. "Please remember, I'm not going to tell you anything about myself, or other topics I feel are personal."

> Well, do you?

>>40529411
1. Tell us about the history behind this place.

2. What does your eyes in the sky see about the designs of these windmills.

>>40529411
Tell us more about infected joys.

What exactly does it do to them?

Is there a way to reverse it?

>>40529411
Anything interesting happen in Genesis and the rest of Peninusular while we've been gone?

>>40529454
>>40529475
>>40529485
all good questions

>>40529411
Have you heard anything about a RV with crazy people trying to find us?

>>40529661
that sounds metagamey.

but asking about an RV with an angry dude with a shotgun is probably okay.

>>40529454
"What's Swanmay's history?" You ask.

"Before the Event?" The Voice asks. "A nation that never really got away from a poor reputation. While Tributary was seen as the nation for the Second Class Citizens, and Peninsular was for People who didn't like People, Swanmay was always seen as the Traitor Nation."

"Huh?" You ask.

"We have to go back further, to the Sorrow War." The Voice says. "This was the point where Joy-In-Song had revealed everything, and the war was in full swing. This nation had institutions that reacted very poorly to the idea that women were the only ones who could express themselves, and every day more and more girls were embracing, or becoming Small Joys. This was before Acceptance. Technological advancement was racing forward as well, and that also caused ruffled feathers as Clean Energy hurt some markets.

"So, Misery sent agents to the nation that was to become Swanmay. They gave offers of dominion, that Misery was a puppet of a higher power, and that if they helped, then dominion of this land would be theirs once the planet was part of the Sorrowful Empire.

"That wasn't their actual name, just so you know. Beauty was...just awful at naming things, and Love was barely better."

"Anyway, they were swayed, and then paid the price of betrayers. The whole nation became Misery's. Anyway, in the end, Love and the others took back the nation and the capital, with the sacrifice of Joy-In-Swans. Love then...forgave...the traitors, and gave them back their country, albeit renamed after the girl who had given her life for it. Who was born there too."

"They just got it back?" You ask.

"No. Love was forgiving, the United Council Court was NOT. They were tried for high treason, found guilty, and executed. Love was very upset, but she believed in the trials. I think that's one of the reasons she disappeared in the middle of the Golden Age."

(cont)

>>40529777
Uhmmm. Joy - in - song somehow triggered the sorrow wars.

Misery seems to be the big opponent, lead by Joy in Beauty.

Somehow, after the end of the war, in their petty squabbles, Joys took up different countries, including the ones we were meeting.

>>40529777
"So, Swanmay has always been a place for people who disliked certain aspects of society." She chuckled. "You wouldn't imagine the amount of Objectivist and Purist tripe that came out of this nation. And at the same time, they kicked out Unaccepting, and bent over backwards for any Joy-In-Heart that emerged. Usually they left." The Voice snickers. "Anyway, the best irony happened during the Conflict Age, turns out when you put a lot of repressive people in one place, they tend to hate each other more than anyone else. Civil war. No one cared. Save for Unity and the Peace Conference Committee, but she was a big picture person. I understood the logic, but that's just fluff. I think that's all that's really relevant, even though most of it...isn't."

"Alright, so what do you know about the Infected Joy?" You ask.

"Very little, I'm afraid. As I said, I didn't get much information. The Hives worshipped this very young child as a divine being. Now that child has grown into a girl like yourself...and I haven't received any data."

"Speculate. Could she manipulate the Hubris, Vainglories, can she express her Joy?" You ask.

"Possible. You said that the Hives you fought were very well past their Collapse threshold, correct? I think we can place high odds on that being Ruin's handiwork. The rest is speculation. Although, it's almost certainly she can express her self, though in what form I have no idea." The Voice harumphs. "I still barely understand how your expressions work."

"Can...can we reverse it? Like how I can purify Hives?" You ask.

"At this point, I can only say that it's possible. I'd need further data. Still, that would be an ideal result." The voice says.

"Has anything happened in Genesis, or the Confessor Ranch, or the rest of Peninsular?" You ask.

"They took notice of your kidnapping, and sent out pursuers." The Voice says. "I attempted to contact them, but the People of Joy have made it difficult."

(Cont)

>>40530001
Can we draw the symbol of redemption without changing into ash?

>>40530001
"What about a big scary guy in an RV?" You ask.

"I did not see him among the search parties sent out by Genesis." The Voice says. "I'm sorry."

You sigh. That does sound like Pytor. You left. Now it's your job to find your way back. That's how it's always been.

"I have to thank you again, Joy-In-Ashes." The Voice says. "For coming to help me. I can't imagine how difficult it has been. Your resilience and ability do you credit. I enjoy speaking with you. It makes me feel less lonely."

You feel your heart beating, and you smile. "I like speaking with you too." You don't dare say the other part, but that's true too.

"Oh, can...can I do my Humility symbol as Lupa?" You ask. "It would be very helpful."

"Expressions as a civilian were astoundingly rare. The last time that happened was during the Sorrow War with Love and the other Pre-War Joys." The voice says. "So, it's not unheard of, but it will not come without effort and possibly not even then."

Alright, something to work on. Good.

"Now, I should probably close this channel. Too long and we'll risk detection." The Voice says. "Have a pleasant evening, Joy-In-Ashes."

She signs off.

You just sit there, in the darkened room, letting the painful throbs in your side slowly fade away.

Eventually you get up, go outside to the car, get some food. (No one is around staring at art, thankfully.) And go back inside.

Emmy had gotten the bedrolls and made camp. You eat, and then sleep.

You stare at the ceiling for a while. You know you won't be able to sleep until the image of those accusing eyes of the Hives fades from you mind. Thankfully, they do as exhaustion wins you over.

You sleep. No dreams. You have to focus on rest.

Tomorrow, you ride to Ruin.

END PART 13

>>40530251
Excellent as always, Echo. I was really happy that I managed to catch this one. Do you have a schedule, or a planned time for the next one?

>>40530251
Thanks Echo!

I look forward to the next thread.

Also the voice is very good at this dodging questions business.

>>40530305
>Do you have a schedule, or a planned time for the next one?

No. Sorry. Outside factors.

>>40530251
So, I may just be stupid but what reason do we have to try and find and off Ruin?
Just because we know shes out there and shes dangerous?
Unless, the voice doesnt mean kill when she says confront

>>40529921
>Uhmmm. Joy - in - song somehow triggered the sorrow wars.

This is 100% true and accurate. While still being technically wrong.

>Misery seems to be the big opponent, lead by Joy in Beauty.

Yes to the first part. No to the second. Beauty just named the people and groups that are known as: Misery, the Sorrows, Woe, etc.

>Somehow, after the end of the war, in their petty squabbles, Joys took up different countries, including the ones we were meeting.

Immediately after the war, for about 100 years, everything was good. A golden age. Then events occurred and the world slid into conflict. And it was less a Joy taking up a country, and more 'You were born in this country so you'll fight for it.'

Were those crazy cultists trying to turn us into one of them?

And do them worship Joy-In-Hearts?

>>40530457
Ahhh thanks good DM.