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With Amara still riding atop your shoulders, you carry her through the spiral-marked corridor and away from the evidence of Sister Uzu’s outburst, the two of you emerging into the Monastery’s cathedral-esque main hall. You pass a group of battle-weary Daughters coming from where you’re headed; towards the sparring room, where Amara informed you that Rath is more than likely still training.

“…orking us like nobody else, that girl doesn’t know when to quit…”

“…eird training regiment, too. Why’s she so specific about how we attack?”

Snippets of their mutterings drift by you, and the moment you enter the space you’re assaulted by the smell of sweat and the tang of blood hanging in the air. After a moment of searching across the bustle and noise of various sparring partners you find Rath, wailing on a thick tube of meat suspended from a calcite rig with her Phantom Limbs moving in a series of quick, yet powerful jabs. Her gaze meets yours as you approach, and she gives you a four-armed salute before the extra arms disappear into the skin of her back and shoulders.

You recap your time with the Colossus to her, skimming over the incident with Gina and ending with your conversation with Uzu. It’s the last part that prompts Rath’s eyes to go wide and the base of her fist to smack into the side of her head in anger.

“Shit. SHIT, I had no clue it was that bad. I’m so sorry Shu, I should’ve…” She begins scolding herself before your hand finds her shoulder. Amara shushes the redhead, putting a finger to her lips and gently whispering ‘don’t waste the magic’, to which Rath cocks an orange eyebrow in confusion.

“Nope, none of that, Rath. You and Amara both did great here.” You assure them, re-adjusting your grip on the Skintalker’s ankles before you continue, your voice low in the presence of the other Daughters around you. “I get the feeling that the problems that pervade this place were here long before we arrived.”

“Yeah, Uzu's just…worn. Homegirl’s just stressed with getting pulled every which way, and I get that, y’know? She didn’t bring this on herself, unlike…” Rath says, stopping herself just shy of bringing up your oldest friend. “Anyway, what’s the plan, Shu?”

You’re left wondering the same thing as you stare into Rath’s glimmering citrine eyes, weighing the paths ahead.

>>Leave Amara here with Rath and check in with Gina. You’ve given her a little while to herself, and you know there’s a fine line between personal time and spiraling…or you do now, at least.

>>It’s been a minute since you’ve seen Julia and Dorian after the latter stalked off to make his Choice. You’d like to check on him proactively and see how it went.

>>Both Gina and Dorian still probably need more time, so you’ll wait with (Rath/Amara/Magpie/Gemma/Niku/Dream Daughter/Other) until they’re ready.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3488240
Go to the bathroom.

>>3488240
>>It’s been a minute since you’ve seen Julia and Dorian after the latter stalked off to make his Choice. You’d like to check on him proactively and see how it went.

Gina might need more time, and might come find us when she is ready.

Also good to see this back BHOP.

(Gentlemen, voting shall close in two hours.)

>>3488252
(It's good to be back, Anon. I hope work has been going well for you.)

>>3488240
This >>3488252

>>3488240
>Both Gina and Dorian still probably need more time, so you’ll wait with (Rath/Amara/Magpie/Gemma/Niku/Dream Daughter/Other) until they’re ready.
>Go into your dreams. It's time you try to talk to Sam.

>>3488240
>>It’s been a minute since you’ve seen Julia and Dorian after the latter stalked off to make his Choice. You’d like to check on him proactively and see how it went.
The Choice usually doesn't take long, once the trance sets in. I imagine that even when it doesn't result in "fuck you and the giant alien placenta you rode in on, lady", Mother would still want to keep the sessions short.

Also, good morning, thread. How are you all this Monday?

>>3488258
As well as work ever treats anyone.

>>3488289
>fuck you and the giant alien placenta you rode in on, lady"
Kek
And doing well, considering its a Monday.

>>3488258
Wait, who's Gemma? The names not ringing any bells.

>>3488330
(She's the Daughter who came to the Monastery and asked Shu to devour her. She went to Mara first, but Mara directed her to Shu and you met Gemma shortly after that.)

>>3488336
Oohh yeah, thats my bad. Guess i just didn't think she would be one to talk to again really.

Hrm, well now that's certainly something to consider...

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>>3488240

You beckon for Rath to follow as you track down where Dorian and Julia went, having do doubt found some quiet nook of the Monastery in which to have a moment of peace for your brooding painter to confront Mother on his own terms. Between a few pulses of your empathic field and Amara whispering to the storied walls it doesn’t take long to locate your pair of resident artists, gazing out the window on the third floor of the towering building. You see Julia first, delicate fingers rubbing gentle circles in the small of Dorian’s back, his sharp crimson suit and scarlet, shifting limbs a stark contrast to the pale blonde next to him. Julia turns at the sound of your approach and gives you a weak smile as Dorian continues to stare wistfully out the window, his electric blue eye intently focused on rolling mounds of flesh that make up the horizon.

“Dude, you okay?” Rath opens bluntly, and Julia gives her a very tactful, yet pointed, glare. Dorian leans back from the sill at the same moment you become aware of movement in the shadows. A chill runs down your hive as a pair of familiar forms take shape in the dark, their shifting hues mirroring Dorian’s previous, multi-colored attire, and you watch as the hideous facsimiles of Dorian’s mother and sister merge once more with their creator.

“Yes, Miss Rath, I’ll…I’m fine.” He says, straightening and smoothing the creases from his suit with a deep sigh. “Mother gave me a choice of bringing one of them back, and I expected her to take that route. She would’ve had me choose between two ghosts.”

Dorian fixes you with his singularly azure gaze and smiles. You can feel the waves of guilt and regret flowing from him across your empathic channel, though they’re feelings towards his past rather than ones focused on the decision her just made.

“She gave me a choice that would’ve only benefited me…so I made one that would help us as a whole.”

>>WAKING DREAMLANDS (Dreams in the Witch House Augmentation): The first of two effects of the Fool’s Choice Dorian made is one that now binds his familial constructs to his allies, allowing you and your allies to summon them to your aid when unconscious, making death saving throws, or upon succumbing to a status effect that would render you or an ally immobile and/or unresponsive. When one of these criteria are met, one half of the ally’s remaining BIO may be spent to generate a powerful Construct that gains their abilities and latent ACTS, while lacking HEALTH or BIO REGEN, thus allowing abilities that require concentration to continue as the mother or sister constructs pick up where your fallen ally leaves off. Though they were not reincarnated into the Crucible’s vicious cycle, Dorian knows that his family would want to help those he’s close to…and so they shall.

(Continued)

>>3488552

After Dorian’s taken a moment to collect himself, you explain Uzu's worrisome situation to the artists, and while the severity of her mental state causes them some alarm, it’s met with little surprise.

“I w-was afraid of s-something like this.” Julia murmurs as she bites her lower lip fretfully, the deep furrowing of her brows stretching her artificial skin taught, threatening to tear it away from her ears and scalp. “I kept getting this feeling like she was, I d-don’t know, like she w-was…”

“…teetering on the brink?” Dorian offers, and Julia gives him a nod. “Given my time before Shu found me, I can empathize…though when it comes to putting innocent lives in danger, that’s something I cannot and will not abide, regardless of Sister Uzu’s state of mind. We should get the Daughters out of here as soon as possible.”

“Christ man, throwing Uzu under the bus, don’tcha think?” Rath replies incredulously, citrine eyes snapping at Dorian with an affronted glare. “She just needs some time and TLC, dude."

“S-starting small would be good, I think?” Julia offers softly, putting a hand on Dorian’s shoulder. “As m-much as I want to help everyone here, we j-just d-don’t have the time or resources t-to devote to keeping everyone happy and healthy…”

“…and I only have s-so much t-tea.” She adds, downcast.

“…What about the Disassociated Ones?” Dorian counters, looking to you. “Perhaps they’d be willing to help?”

“Yeah, no thanks. After what they did to November, I sure as hell don’t trust a town full of Doctor Wests to have the Sisters’ best interests at heart, yeah?” Rath fires back before looking a little sheepish. “The armor was pretty bitchin’, though.”

You need to step in, but you’re not entirely sure what the solution is to this situation.

>>Uzu’s dead-set in her Grandmother’s ways and it’s going to drive this place into the ground sooner or later. We’ve seen what happens when a large group of Daughters fall to the Hunger in one place, and I’ll be damned if that’s going to happen here (Write-In where you’ll try to find them sanctuary.)

>>You’ll spend some time helping Uzu get in a better frame of mind. She’s the one that’s been here and she knows the people; we don’t, so trying to shoulder that burden would stretch us too thin, too fast…but you have an idea (Get Gina and attempt to convince Uzu to let you both into her mind).

>> You don’t have enough information to go on to make such a large decision, right now. You’ll spend a little more time here and make that decision. In the meantime, you’d like to touch base with (Magpie/Gemma/Niku/DreamDaughter/Other).

>>This isn’t your fight, and you have a larger goal in mind that will help everyone left alive in this world. You’ll continue westward and leave the companions you don’t take with you in the town at the foot of the Calcite Peaks.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3488552
I did wonder if Dorian's mother or sister where made into daughters some time before Dorian woke up and had left by the time he did. Guess not.

>>3488565
>> You don’t have enough information to go on to make such a large decision, right now. You’ll spend a little more time here and make that decision. In the meantime, you’d like to touch base with Gemma and Niku.

Now here's my thought. Uzu will probably throw a fit if we try to get into her mind, but we otherwise are far from prepared to move anyone to a new location. So lets go talk to the two people we know who are in some way part of this place, and see how they feel about it and what they think could, can, and should be done.

One is a longtime resident who can give us insight into the place as a whole, the other is new, but needed their help, and can tell us who effective said help has come, and where she feels they are lacking. Such info will help us know where and what we can do for this place, and what we might need to do if we make our own place.

>>3488565
>>3488586
Supporting. Let's go around talking to a bunch of the older residents and other sisters, in fact.

(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next two hours.)

>>3488565
>> You don’t have enough information to go on to make such a large decision, right now. You’ll spend a little more time here and make that decision. In the meantime, you’d like to touch base with Niku and Magpie.

I mostly agree with >>3488586 but prefer speaking to Magpie over Gemma. Magpie and Niku are the people I would most expect to know Uzu and the Monastery well and thus give us the best advice.

If we can't find a way to save the Monastery, I suggest evacuating to the Sororitas' factory. Maybe Ringo can help keep everyone sane in exchange for the Daughters helping protect the Engine? (Though we'd have to carefully vet who gets to know it exists)

>>3488682
I'd rather we evac to the Calcite peaks.

>>3488682
Thing is, Niku could be biased, even potentially Magpie. And while Magpie may know Uzu, just like Mara she probably doesn't stick around for long nor help out in the place too much, meaning she won't know about its actual inner workings or issues. Shes like us, an outsider who visits.

Meanwhile Gemma actually has issues that require her to get more deeply involved, but hasn't been around long enough to be biased, and is a fresh face not tinted with nostalgia against its problems.

Im still of the opinion spicing up the mountain town may work better, its location is alot more hidden and defensible. As someone whos been in big Warehouse/factories, trust me, the work necessary to make those places actually defensible would be enormous.

>>3488565
>> You don’t have enough information to go on to make such a large decision, right now. You’ll spend a little more time here and make that decision. In the meantime, you’d like to touch base with Gemma and Niku.
Speaking of Niku, I'd like to ask her if there are any safety precautions to follow when disposing of a Relic. The items we looted from West's lab are pretty foul things, and if possible I'd like to destroy them.

>>3488776
Im with you there, lets let the daughters inside finally find some rest.

>>3488719
On reflection, I think you're right, changing my vote to support >>3488586.

How hidden is the town? I was under the impression it was on the other side of the mountains and not too far from the swamp and hidden city.

>>3488833
From what details i can remember, its about halfway or so into the mountains in a valley, but surrounded by said mountains on all sides. Hell, minus if you can fly, Julias old art gallery is the only way in from one direction, which is pretty useful. Cant say fir the other directions though.

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>>3488565

You know it’s too soon to make the call with what information you have on hand, so when you think on who to talk with about the Monastery’s current direction, two names come to mind. Leaving your allies to talk among themselves, you find the first name on your list in the eerily quiet main hall, having a solemn discussion with a girl that wears her face. As you approach Gemma and her doppelganger, the one you’re familiar with gives her double a brief hug and an assurance that she’ll be with her shortly before sending her on her way to the second floor.

“Thank you so, so much, Shu.” Gemma says before you can say anything. “That one of me is the fourth to come here seeking sanctuary in my mind, and at the rate things are going I think I’ll be strong enough soon to put up a fight if one of my meaner selves comes knocking! You’ve been such a huge inspiration to me, I just…thank you!”

She seems immensely pleased at her odd sort of auto-cannibalism, but as much as you’d like to address her other selves’ enthusiasm at the prospect of being devoured by one of their own, you sought out Gemma for a purpose.

“I’d like to ensure things keep going smoothly here so you’ll have that opportunity.” You reply, voice low in the cavernous space. “I wanted to ask your thoughts on this place.”

“You’re talking about how everyone seems so on edge, right? Okay, I’m glad I’m not the only one!” She says just a little too loud, and you make a gesture to encourage her to keep her voice a little lower to avoid any unfortunate echoes. “Sorry, sorry…so yeah, you could cut this tension with a knife, but it’s nice to know it’s not just me.”

“I know you haven’t been here long, but what do you think needs to be done here?” You ask, and you can plainly see that her opinion is the last thing Gemma was expecting you to ask of her.

“Me? Oh shoot, uh…Maybe someone could eat Uzu?” She blurts out, and you have to fight hard to not let your reaction show too plainly on your face. “I mean, it’s working for me, at least! A few of my fragments had been struggling with the Hunger until I absorbed them, and now they’re fine, and they’re helping me to keep calm too, since we can all work together. Maybe someone Uzu trusts could consume her in a voluntary kinda-way and then lead everyone here in her place? ‘Cuz Uzu’s a really good leader, but if she’s super-stressed in the real, then she’d be fine in the dream, right? She’d be a great headspace advisor, and then her successor things keep running smoothly here. Win-win!”

“What’s this about Sister Uzu?” Asks a soft voice from behind you. You turn to see the elegantly dressed Forgemistress Niku, her trademark kimono wrapped around her slender frame.

(Continued)

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>>3488921

“Thank you for your time, Gemma.” You say, giving the girl a small bow which she awkwardly returns with a toothy grin. “I won’t keep you from…you. Good luck.”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, Miss Shu.” Says Niku, giving Gemma a small wave goodbye as she runs off. “I’d normally be tending the Forge, but Lady Magpie requested it’s private use for a moment, so…”

Niku squares her shoulders and stares into your eyes with an uncharacteristic determination, clearly uncomfortable with putting her foot down in this capacity.

“…please forgive my forwardness, but why are you inquiring after Sister Uzu?”

You consider the short red-head before you as you weigh your reply.

“You’ve saved me from tracking you down, actually. I just spoke with Uzu privately and she seemed a little out of sorts.” You explain, watching Niku’s face shift from demanding to concerned as you speak. “I wanted to see if that was just an isolated thing or if…”

“I think you know well enough, Sister Shu.” She interrupts with a sigh, her scarlet eyes glancing about the largely empty room. “As you have a pair of Flesh Artisans by your side I think you understand that we are a particularly empathic sort. Uzu and I, we’re…quite painfully aware of the state of things here on a micro and macro level, as Artisans ourselves.”

“So then you and she understand that if things are left as they are, then there’s only one outcome. It’s one that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, least of all anyone here.” You intone, and you watch as Niku nods to herself, pausing a moment before she voices her faltering reply.

“I know, I just…Uzu won’t talk to me.” Niku’s voice is lower than normal, voicing a fact she’d rather not face. “She’s blocked herself off, and she’s refusing to discuss the Monastery’s affairs with anyone. We used to talk for hours, and now...nothing.”

“I want to get through to her, I really do. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she doesn’t succumb to the Hunger.” You begin, watching her eyes study your face. “But we need to have a backup plan. What about everyone else here? I can tell by looking that most of the daughters here wouldn’t last out in the Fleshscape, not with their lack of combat experience.”

“Then you should take them and go, but I’m staying here no matter what happens.” Niku says, and the same wave of defiance as you felt from Uzu washes over you from the girl in front of you. “Let me be clear, Sister Shu; I’m not leaving Uzu’s side. Her Grandmother saved my life on her way to the Cord, so I’m staying with Sister Uzu, come what may. I’m going to keep doing all I can to help Uzu…I owe them both that much.”

(Continued)

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>>3488925

You shrug your shoulders, and the shifting of a pair of Relics in your pockets reminds you something you wanted to ask. “On a different track, what’s the procedure for breaking down Relics in the Forge? Anything I should know about?”

Niku cocks her head to one side, curious at the question and change of topic, both.

“Not really, no. Its pretty simple, really. If it’s been made with Generator input, then there’s a small chance of detonation, but aside from that you should just be able to break it down into its component biomass, with some loss of material to be expected.”

You feel the Nail and the tightly-coiled Spine at your side, weighing heavily in the pocket of your dress. “And what if they were made by distilling a Daughter into one? Any side effects in that case?”

“Oh…in that case, then the biggest issue is that the Daughter inside would be lost forever, unless of course you have Phantasmal Conduit on hand to transfer them elsewhere.” She explains, giving you a cautious once-over.

“It’s about a pair of Relics I liberated from Doctor West’s lab. They were made with Daughters against their will.” She relaxes a fraction, at your elaboration.

“I never liked that one.” Niku replies with a shiver before casting a glance down the hall where Sister Uzu’s chambers lie. “So, um...Sister Uzu’s scheduled to teach a class in the next few minutes, but I’m about to see if I can take over for her, so…be safe, alright?”

She bows deeply, and you respond in kind before she shuffles off, her sandals scuffing along the hardened skin flooring. As you approach the Forge hall, a gust of heated air wafts across your face from down the corridor, while at the same time you can sense Gina somewhere on the second floor, pointedly isolating herself from you and your allies.

>>Visit Magpie in the Forge, and destroy West’s abominable Relics while you’re there. The markswoman seems familiar with Uzu and her Grandmother, so perhaps she’d have some valuable input.

>>You’ll wait to destroy the relics until you have your team by your side…and that includes Gina. It’s about time you checked in on her before you do anything else.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3488932
>You’ll wait to destroy the relics until you have your team by your side…and that includes Gina. It’s about time you checked in on her before you do anything else.

>>3488932
>>You’ll wait to destroy the relics until you have your team by your side…and that includes Gina. It’s about time you checked in on her before you do anything else.
Yeah, best to have our Neuromancer with us for that operation anyway, and we shouldn't leave Gina to brood any longer.

>>3488932
>>You’ll wait to destroy the relics until you have your team by your side…and that includes Gina. It’s about time you checked in on her before you do anything else.

Ffffffs godamnit Gemma thats not what we meant by our earlier talks at all. Thats like, the exact opposite of the morality we wish to teach. Fuck it, we have way too much to deal with to try and deal with her too, hopefully she doesn't become a problem we actually have to deal with.

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen.)

>>3488954
Here's hoping it's not foreshadowing. Gemma advocating eating Uzu so she can be a dream advisor, Niku saying she's never going to abandon her friend, Uzu herself breaking down...I can see this leading to Uzu going crazy and having to be killed for the good of the Monastery, with Niku then eating her and becoming the new Abbess with her friend in her head. Let's try to avoid that outcome, even if it probably actually would work out well.

>>3488980
God i hope not. I still dont see voluntary consumption as anywhere near a good or justified thing, and seeing anyone fall to the hunger is terribly sad. Like putting down a beloved pet that got rabies kinda, but worse.

>>3488932
>You’ll wait to destroy the relics until you have your team by your side…and that includes Gina. It’s about time you checked in on her before you do anything else.

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>>3488932

[Hey there] You begin, ascending the stairs to the second floor, taking you time with each well-trodden step. [I’d like to see you, if you’re up for it]

When you reach the top of the stairs the second door on your left swings open, and as you round the doorframe you see Gina sitting cross-legged on a small cot, her cords withdrawing back into her right arm. Light streams in from the open window, casting a golden-yellow glow across her long brunette hair, her hoodie still hanging just off her left arm, shoulder bared towards you as you step across the threshold.

{I didn’t lock the door this time} She says across your empathic tie. {That’s some character development, right?}

You walk over, smoothing out your dress as you take a seat beside her. Her cheeks shine in the glow from outside, wetness apparent as she gives you a weak smile.

“You know, I always hated that sort of character in shows back when everything was normal.” She says aloud, turning to stare out the window. “I’d get so pissed when I’d see these assholes who’d be surrounded by friends they clearly don’t care about. They’d always be the obvious villain, just these self-centered douchebags who wore their friends like armor, then used them like battering rams against their own problems.”

She makes a small, disgusted sound, somewhere between a laugh and cough.

“It took the end of the world for me to realize I was doing the same damn thing that I hated them for. I kept making friends with a specific kind of people to make me feel better about myself. Kosi, Isabelle, and then...”

Gina turns to you, her hazel eyes shimmering through a sheen of tears she blinks away.

“Then I met someone who makes me feel like who I really am, in every way.”

“…I’ll be honest, I can’t tell if that’s a compliment or not.” You chuckle, and she laughs bitterly.

“It’s a compliment for you and a scathing self-indictment to me, actually.” Gina replies with a sigh. “Look, I know you said you’re not mad, and I respect that. So please respect me when I say I am so, so sorry about what I did. I said that I’d make sure things would be simple between us, and I keep making things as un-fucking-simple as they can be. I mean, I n-nearly…I almost…”

She swallows hard.

“So, this thing that we have between us, I…” She takes a breath before hesitantly placing her palm on your knee. “I’m still going to do all I can to help you win the fight against Mother and finish the crucible, so don’t worry about me running off on my own or anything ridiculous like that. There’s this connection, something that violates your space and privacy, something you never asked to have that I’m solely responsible for, so…I have an idea.”

It’s thanks to your bond that you realize what she’s building towards before she puts the thought to words.

She wants to cut the Crimson Cord, and she knows how to do it.

(Continued)

>>3489535

You open your mouth to speak and find Gina’s finger on your lips, a silent request to allow her to continue her thought.

“I’ve run the numbers, and I think we’d still be able to use the Scarlet Drone, and your empathic field would still operate at full capacity.” She explains, and you hold your tongue as best you can to let her finish. “You wouldn’t have to do anything! It would be all on me, so you’d be free and clear. If they follow my specifications, then they’ll be able to target the source of the bond and then…do what they do.”

Your eyes study hers as she puts on a smile.

“I’m really curious, actually!” She says, starting to ramble as her hand quickly withdraws from your knee. “Ever since I’d heard about them and saw how they modified November, I’ve been really interested in the techniques they use to…”

You can sense it, try as Gina might to cover what she’s feeling with optimism and her love of the unknown.

She’s not curious.

She’s scared.

Scared of what she’ll lose in the process of severing the bond, scared of becoming something other than herself…but any fear she has of the procedure is eclipsed by the sheer, paralyzing terror clouding her mind at the prospect of driving you away. She sees herself as little better than B’ni; an emotional tie you can’t shake, a noose around your neck that you’re too kind to sever by your own hand. So she’ll do it for you, she’ll make the call she thinks she has to make to set you free.

You, the first person she’s opened up to. The first person she’s actually considered a friend.

She believes this is the right call, and you can feel that she’s not going to be dissuaded from her solution easily. You reach out, mirroring her earlier gesture as your finger meets her lips, giving her pause as you give her your reply.

>>”I don’t want that, Gina…and something tells me you don’t, either.”

>>”…If it would ease your mind, then we’ll do it. I trust you, and if you think this is for the best, then so be it.”

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3489542
>>”I don’t want that, Gina…and something tells me you don’t, either.”
Gina you may have issues but you dont deserve isolation nor to literally cut bonds like that.

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen.)

>>3489542
>>>”…If it would ease your mind, then we’ll do it. I trust you, and if you think this is for the best, then so be it.”

>>3489542
>>>”I don’t want that, Gina…and something tells me you don’t, either.”

>>3489542
>>>”I don’t want that, Gina…and something tells me you don’t, either.”

>>3489542
Also, hug

>>3489723
>>3489575
home now, and ill support giving her a hug aswell. also we know now thanks to Magpie that fuzzbuzz is good for cleaning up dirty messes so i think one would be perfect for drying up Ginas tears too.

too harsh a joke?

>>3489542
>”I don’t want that, Gina…and something tells me you don’t, either.”
>Hug. Kiss forehead.
I had this whole written thing, but it might have gone off topic and made some assumptions, so I nixed it.

>>3489755
Here's the stuff from the write-in.
>This power is a two-way street Gina. I could very well use it to use and abuse you myself. But you trust me not to. You trust me to support you and raise you higher in every way, and I think I should trust you to do the same.
>The fact that you reflected on what happened and want to sacrifice this for my wellbeing shows to me that you're a better person than you think. But I also think this may be running away from the problem rather than facing it. As people, we never stop growing, and this could also help you trust yourself. To become a better, stronger person that can be relied on and be proud.
>For me, it's a risk I'm willing to take. I think I'll also become a better person with you close to me, and I believe this connection can help us face and succeed the challenges ahead to beat this damn Crucible.
>But if you're worried, than how about this. Let's practice with it. Let's find limits and establish boundaries. We'll be safer in the long run if we actually explore what we can do with it.
If you see something from it that you like for your own write-ins, feel free to use it.

>>3489764
not too bad Anon. ill admit it does feel like just an extended version of the popular choice but nothing wrong with that.

>>3489542
>>Write-In
>"You know why it would have never worked out between me and Isabelle, even if she hadn't gone all crazy and run off into the wasteland? Because she put me on a pedestal. To her I'm this perfect being of compassion and good who could never hate anyone. She couldn't see me as a person, with my own selfish desires, but just this ideal. Even after she caved in my skull in a lovelorn rage, she still clung to this image she had of who I was rather than seeing me for who I actually am. I just wish I had said something sooner, maybe I could have formed a genuine relationship with her."
>"So let's not repeat that mistake this time. Gina. I am not so selfless that I would accept a bond like this and never express discomfort with it just because I'm too nice. All those feelings I can sense coming off from you about why you don't want to lose the connection? I'm feeling them too. I like what we have, Gina. Knowing that I've got someone beside me that I can rely on...it's really nice. If you're scared that you're just using me, don't be. I get as much out of this as you do. So no, I'm not going to let you go that easily, I've found a good thing here and I plan on holding on to it as long as I can."

>>3489805
This also looks good.

>>3489764
>>3489805
usually id love to take these two great posts and try and work them together but ive got a post-work headache so cannot find a way.

good work though anons,
>>3489575
>>3489754
changing to support these with a hug on top.

>>3489898
er, wow i fucked up that formatting. im not supporting myself im supporting the other two anons posts.

im beginning to think i might need an ibuprofen afterall...

>>3489542
Changing my vote to a write-in. If anybody wants to cut and paste parts of mine, feel free to do so.

>Gina, before anything else, I want you to listen to me using this power, so you know I'm not lying about what I say next.

>You don't have to do this. You're forgetting one important aspect of this ability - I know exactly how you're feeling. I don’t want to get rid of this power, Gina…and something tells me you don’t, either.

>You know why it would have never worked out between me and Isabelle, even if she hadn't gone all crazy and run off into the wasteland? Because she put me on a pedestal. To her I'm this perfect being of compassion and good who could never hate anyone. She couldn't see me as a person, with my own selfish desires, but just this ideal. Even after she caved in my skull in a lovelorn rage, she still clung to this image she had of who I was rather than seeing me for who I actually am. I just wish I had said something sooner, maybe I could have formed a genuine relationship with her.

>So let's not repeat that mistake this time. Gina. I am not so selfless that I would accept a bond like this and never express discomfort with it just because I'm too nice. All those feelings I can sense coming off from you about why you don't want to lose the connection? I'm feeling them too. I like what we have, Gina. This honesty, this understanding, this trust... it's not one-sided at all, it's an actual partnership. Knowing that I've got someone beside me that I can rely on...it's really nice. If you're scared that you're just using me, don't be. I get as much out of this as you do.

(Cont)

>>3489925
>I know that the Crimson Cord wasn't something that I asked for, and it wasn't something you planned for either. Mother springs these things on us, we can't control that. But just because it was unexpected doesn't mean it isn't a good thing. Sure, it's a bit new and scary at times, but it has a lot of benefits, too.

>Still, I understand that this power is a two-way street. I could very well use it to use and abuse you myself. But you trust me not to. You trust me to support you and raise you higher in every way, and I think I should trust you to do the same.

>The fact that you reflected on what happened and want to sacrifice this for my wellbeing shows to me that you're a better person than you think. You're not like B'ni, you actually reflect on your actions and try to be better than you were before. Horrible people don't worry about whether or not they're a horrible person. You made a mistake, Gina, but that doesn't make you a bad person, it makes you human. We all have our flaws, and the fact that you want to try and fix them says way more about you than you realize.

>But I also think that destroying the Crimson Cord may be running away from the problem rather than facing it. As people, we never stop growing, and this could also help you trust yourself. To become a better, stronger person. I believe in you, Gina, and it's only fair that you should believe in yourself as well.

>Hug.

>>3489542

"Gina, before anything else, I want you to listen to me using this power, so you know I'm not lying about what I say next."

She's about to interrupt when you pull her into a tight hug, wrapping your arms around her back as you pull her close on the cot.

[You don't have to do this. You're forgetting one important aspect of this ability - I know exactly how you're feeling. I don’t want to get rid of this power, Gina…and something tells me you don’t, either] You say, brushing the hair back from her brow with the hand that isn't held against the small of her back before you deliver a gentle kiss to her forehead. You tilt Gina's chin up with thumb and forefinger until you're staring into her deep hazel eyes, swimming with emotion.

[You know why it would have never worked out between me and Isabelle, even if she hadn't run off into the wasteland?] You ask, and Gina gives you a small shake of her head, sending a lock of brown hair tumbling down from where you pushed it back. [Because she put me on a pedestal. To her I'm this perfect being of compassion and good who could never hate anyone. She couldn't see me as a person, with my own selfish desires, but just this ideal. Even after she caved in my skull in a lovelorn rage, she still clung to this image she had of who I was rather than seeing me for who I actually am. I just wish I had said something sooner, maybe I could have formed a genuine relationship with her]

[So let's not repeat that mistake this time. Gina. I'm not so selfless that I would accept a bond like this and never express discomfort with it just because I'm too nice. All those feelings I can sense coming off from you about why you don't want to lose the connection? I'm feeling them too. I like what we have, Gina. This honesty, this understanding, this trust... it's not one-sided at all, it's an actual partnership. Knowing that I've got someone beside me that I can rely on...it's really nice. If you're scared that you're just using me, don't be. I get as much out of this as you do]

She shakes her head dismissively, turning to the window before you take her chin and bring her eyes to meet yours once more.

(Continued)

>>3490024

[I'm serious. I know that the Crimson Cord wasn't something that I asked for, and it wasn't something you planned for either. Mother springs these things on us, we can't control that. But just because it was unexpected doesn't mean it isn't a good thing. Sure, it's a bit new and scary at times, but it has a lot of benefits, too]

"Shu, I almost killed you." Gina chokes out, fighting back tears as she speaks aloud. "If I can do that just through touch what happens if I'm selfish again and I do something with my Neuromancy? Or my terror field, or...fuck, any of the weird shit I can do?!"

[I completely understand that this power is a two-way street] You say, the tone you project into her mind calm I could very well use it to use and abuse you myself. But you trust me not to. You trust me to support you and raise you higher in every way, and I think I should trust you to do the same]

[The fact that you reflected on what happened and want to sacrifice this for my wellbeing shows to me that you're a better person than you think. You're not like B'ni, you actually reflect on your actions and try to be better than you were before. Horrible people don't worry about whether or not they're a horrible person]

"I spent twenty years without introspecting about what a selfish bitch I've been, and now I'm using you as a crutch to try and make myself a better person!" She fires back, trying to press her point through the waves of fear that crash against your empathic field. "I should be able to do this on my own, without leaning on you and fucking up left and righ..."

[You made a mistake, Gina, but that doesn't make you a bad person, it makes you human. We all have our flaws, and the fact that you want to try and fix them says way more about you than you realize...but I also think that destroying the Crimson Cord may be running away from the problem rather than facing it. As people, we never stop growing, and this could also help you trust yourself. To become a better, stronger person. It's only fair that you should believe in yourself as well]

"Why should I?" She asks miserably.

You simply smile.

"Because I believe in you."

(Continued)

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1.62 MB GIF

>>3490027

Slowly, finally, she begins to relax into your arms. You're uncertain how long the two of you sit like that, staring out the window as you run a hand through her voluminous hair and feeling the rise and fall of her chest. You think she's fallen asleep until she shifts, moving to look at you after rubbing her left cheek with the back of her hand.

"I promise I'm not usually this weepy. I hope you don't think I'm...lame, or whatever." She laughs softly, and you smile when you wipe her other cheek.

"Nah, you're still really cool. Besides, it's the apocalypse." You reply, arcing an eyebrow at her. "I think everyone's allowed to get upset about this whole situation."

"I could feel how things went with Uzu." She says as her face falls, her voice solemn. "We can't stay here, can we?"

You just run your hand through her hair as you heave a heavy sigh.

No.

No, you can't.

>>Wrap up by going to the Forge with Gina to talk with Magpie, and finally destroy West's Relics.

>>Speaking of the dreamscape, if she wants to talk to Kosi there's one or two Daughters you'd like to touch base with before continuing on.

>>Your team is in decent spirits and you're ready to continue on. You trust the Monastery to remain standing for the time being, and with your new abilities you're far more confident in your chances (Choose your team, destination, and who will stay behind and where).

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3490031
>>Wrap up by going to the Forge with Gina to talk with Magpie, and finally destroy West's Relics.
its time we put to rest one last loose end before we go out. plus, maybe we can get Magpie to tag along again, or at least have a proper goodbye if she wishes to be alone, which she does seem to be the type.

>>3490031
>Speaking of the dreamscape, if she wants to talk to Kosi there's one or two Daughters you'd like to touch base with before continuing on.
>You haven't met Bella yet.
>Try to find Sam wherever she may be in your psyche. There are some things you should probably talk about.

(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening. Posting shall pick up the pace throughout the week similarly to the last Vein, with voting closing in thirteen hours and posting to resume in fifteen. It's great to be back, and thank you all for your participation and amazing write-in as always. I shall be around to address questions, concerns, and criticisms as usual, and I hope you have a fantastic evening.)

>>3490031
>>Wrap up by going to the Forge with Gina to talk with Magpie, and finally destroy West's Relics.

Bring Gina with us, as we want to save the Daughters trapped in the relics if we can.

>>3490074
actually, thats an interesting note. Niku said Phantasmal Conduit, not Neuromancer, and Julias aswell is one now too.

unless she means Core ability only in which case we cant do nothing with anyone.

>>3490067
thanks as always, have a wonderful evening yourself.

>>3490067
Thanks for running today BHOP, have a great night!

>>3490031
THIS >>3490057
Talk to Bella, get the lowdown from Kosi, then confront uber-THOT

>>3490083
Even if it means Core, we're in possibly the most populated place we know exists, could always ask around.

>>3490031
>>Wrap up by going to the Forge with Gina to talk with Magpie, and finally destroy West's Relics.

>>3490031
>>>Wrap up by going to the Forge with Gina to talk with Magpie, and finally destroy West's Relics.

>>3490057
I don't think we have anything to gain from speaking to the remnants of Sam. There wasn't really anything remarkable about her except for her ability to manipulate and, whilst that could be helpful in saving the monastery, she's not the most cooperative. What do you want to talk with her about?

>>3490173
You know what would be an absolutely horrible thing to do if we ever got the Neuromancer and Phantasmal Conduit abilities needed for it? Transfer the remains of Sam to B'Ni across our link. Have the memories of Sam as she actually was poison Isabelle's idealized version. Hopefully we can talk B'Ni down before things get so bad that we need to hurt her that badly.

Tactics/Waiter anon here. Back from work. What did I miss?

>>3490203
We had a talk with Gina, seem to have mostly assuaged her self-doubt for the time being.

>>3490173
I mostly want to talk to her about B'ni and confront her about the things she did. Get more information on the whole mess from her perspective to be better prepared for later, tactically and diplomatically.

>>3490150
True, though either at a high cost id bet, or they van only go to the Conduit.

We shall see.

>>3490184
Interesting idea though, wondering how much it would work. Technically she already sorta knows, she just ignores how Sam was. Maybe shoving them back in fresh would still force her to see them clearly/differently though?

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>>3490031

You rise, taking Gina by the hand and leading her back out into the main hall, with the heat and fury of the Forge felt by the two of you even at the far end of the corridor leading to the raging hearth. You share a look with Gina, feeling the paired weight of the Relics at your side. She squeezes your hand, and with that the two of you enter the stifling room as one.

As your eyes adjust to the glow filling every inch of the space, you see that the sniper’s been busy. A bandolier of freshly-forged rounds lay atop a nearby plinth, next to which rests a tall crystalline glass filled with some sort of green-orange substance. Magpie’s crouched by the hearth, a quintet of hovering eyes rotating to look at you as you enter.

“What’cha got there?” Gina asks, craning her neck around your shoulder to peer at the shining rounds that glint in the Forge’s firelight.

“A smoothie.” Magpie replies, using a pair of calcite pincers to pluck another shell from the hearth as she turns round to face you. Her stark, gaunt features are rendered even more eerie by the light of the fire behind her, and as she unfolds to her full height she looms over you, resembling more a tree lit by a forest fire than anything comfortably human.

“We came to destroy a pair of relics.” You explain, pulling the Spine and Nail from your dress. Her disembodied eyes draw closer, examining the pair of abominable creations you hold outstretched. “Do you think I’d be able to find a Conduit here to help me free the Daughters that’re trapped in these?”

“Hard to say.” Magpie muses, striding over to her creations and running hand over their cooling shells. “Conduits are a solitary bunch, by and large. It’s the nature of their abilities, with the emotional field, creepy constructs, and all that. They carry their friends with them in a manner of speaking, so the odds are quite low you’d find one here.”

(Continued)

>>3491255

“I’ll keep looking, then.” You reply as you step forwards to admire her handiwork, with Gina going around the opposite side of the table to inspect the rounds with her sharp hazel eyes. “Where are you headed after this, Magpie?”

“I thought I’d stay around here a little while. Maybe wait to see if Mara shows up, share a smoothie, shoot the shit about our recent hunts.” She replies, her lips pursed in a thin, razor-like smile. “I hear she’s hunting a legend, as we speak.”

“…I wish her luck, then.” You reply, your stomach sinking a fraction at the reminder of who she’s chasing.

“And yourself?” Magpie counters, placing the tongs back where she found them in the corner of the room. “Continuing west, or exploring the other corners of the world that was?”

“Not sure, yet.” You reply, watching Gina’s eyes glitter with curiosity, curiously entranced by Magpie’s newborn bullets. “It’s either north of the river to the Disassociated Ones or west to Carroll’s Forest, at this rate.”

Gina’s brow furrows, tentatively reaching out to run a finger across the length of one silvery round, the end of a jack barely peeking out of the digit. Her eyes go wide when an amethyst spark arcs from jack to bullet, and her gaze snaps to yours as Magpie chuckles.

“Careful.” The assassin hums, staring down with empty sockets as she plucks her smoothing from table and takes a delicate sip. “They have one hell of a bite.”

Gina reaches across your bond, concern thick in her voice as she puts on the veneer of a smile to the raven-haired sniper that looms over her.

{Shu, these bullets were made to kill a very specific class of Daughter} She says, streaming what she’s found directly into your consciousness. The tongue that rests in your chest cavity tightens at what you’ve learned.

They’ve been crafted to deal catastrophically lethal damage against Flesh Artisans, specifically…

…and you have a feeling you know exactly who Magpie intends to use them on.

>>Stay silent. You don’t want to assume what Magpie’s trying to do, and even though you have a sinking feeling that you know who her next target is, you don’t know if they’re simple insurance or something more…proactive.

>>Confront Magpie. If she’s made these things to use against Uzu now or later, you have something to say about it. You think you have a shot to help the Monastery stay together, to continue things in a better way, but what she’s made…they’ll only bring things to an end.

AND

>>Wait on doing anything with the Relics until you can find a friendly Phantasmal Conduit to try and draw out the Daughters within. They’ve been through hell, and deserve a second chance.

>>Go ahead and destroy the Relics. These Daughters deserve some peace after what West put them through.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

Okay, so Anti-Spiral Bullets. Nasty. I'd like to think that Magpie can be trusted to only keep them as a precaution, she seems too cautious to assassinate Uzu and risk destabilizing things. But then again, we've only really known her for a day. So the real question is whether it's worth risking offending her by bringing up "Hey, you're not going to assassinate Uzu, right?".

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen.)

>>3491257
Question BHOP. If Gina has levels in Phantasmal Conduit, then is she capable of extracting the daughters herself? I mean I kinda figured that the true nature of the Neurotic Halo relic/skill tree is supposed to be used to amplify Phantasmal Conduit abilities in a Neuromancer.
>>3491316
They'll still pack a nasty punch if they hit someone other than Uzu. It directly targets Daughters who have Flesh Artisans as their Core class. Hitting Niku would make things worse since she declared that she'll stay with Uzu no matter what. If the ForgeMistress and the Monastery Head Nun go down together, this will start the chain reaction that everyone's dreading.

>>3491326
(Someone with a Core of Conduit has an innately high chance of saving the Daughters within items. However, thanks to the combination of the Halo, her Neuromancy, and the points in Conduit, there is a small chance Gina could make it happen and absorb the Daughters herself, though transferring them to someone or something else would be out of the question.)

>>3491257
>>Stay silent. You don’t want to assume what Magpie’s trying to do, and even though you have a sinking feeling that you know who her next target is, you don’t know if they’re simple insurance or something more…proactive.

I'm thinking shes not the type to kill a clear friend just cause, even if they aren't the closest of friends. But she also is the pragmatic type. We gave her a cute gift and she only saw it as a better cleaning tool. What she sees is someone who might fall to the hunger who cant be left in such a state if she does, or so i hope is what this is.

>Have Gina and Julia team up to see if they cant rescue the daughters, but if not destroy them.
Waiting on finding a friendly core PC could be one hell of a wait...

>>3491326
>They'll still pack a nasty punch if they hit someone other than Uzu. It directly targets Daughters who have Flesh Artisans as their Core class.
No, I get that, I just wanted to say "Anti-Spiral Bullets".

Okay, so >>3491347 is probably right. Magpie seems at least friendly with Uzu, even if she might not consider her a friend. This is probably just another test in her mind. If Uzu manages to keep it together, she's proven herself. If not, Magpie has some special bullets handy. Magpie wants to hang out here at least long enough to meet up with Mara again, she's not going to go straight to "kill the new Abbess". Maybe we might leave her with a comment not to screw things up by shooting to early, but I think it is just a precaution.

>>3491257
Don't confront Magpie about it in a hostile fashion. If Magpie is the pragmatic sort, then we could get more information by being on the same wavelength as her.
>"Yikes, I hope they don't cause a hell of a mess for your gun too. Here's some swarmlings to clean your gun with."

>Spawn a few half-fuzzy swarmlings and be on your way.
>Said half-fuzzy swarmlings have messages on their abdomen:
>"Niku wants to save Uzu, potential for collateral damage: high."
>"Wrong shot will cause Hunger chain reaction in Monastery."
>"Will attempt to convince Niku to step up or stabilize Uzu's mind."
>"Requesting one bullet for close range."
>"Less chances of collateral."
>"S.O.S signal on swarmling = SNAFU."
>Also, said swarmlings won't cooperate with Magpie until she's read the message.

The implication behind this is that Shu is willing to collaborate with Magpie by offering herself as the one to shoot Uzu, in exchange for having Magpie follow Shu's plan of trying to help the Monastery stay together. This will allow Shu and co. to try their attempt at saving Uzu.

>Wait until Gina and Julia have advanced in Conduit levels before they try their rescue attempt.

>>3491450
Magpie might not like that. Like i said, shes pragmatic. We either confront her directly or we do not at all in my opinion.

>>3491428
the whole thing with "tests" and crows strangely remind me of the shenanigans Odin of Norse Mythos would go about. But since that Odin isn't a fitting name for Magpie, I think Muninn would be a better Moniker for her.

>>3491466
you may have a point about that, but what I'm doing is letting her know the situation better. She might have more information, but the circumstances for her to make the perfect sniper shot gets muddled unknown elements get in the way.

>>3491466
On the other hand, she is apparently at least a little fond of mind games.

>>3491478
No, i mean, i already put out my vote, but what I mean is, she wont like us being indirect and putting those messages on the swarmlings. If we wish to talk to her about it, i think we should do it with actual words, otherwise she might not like it as despite being a sniper, when it comes to people shes pretty straight forward.

>>3491480
Not entirely true. She did test us, but that was because of what she had heard from mara. Keep in mind, when we told her we dont like test or games after that, she said she didn't either and to stay away from mara if we didn't.

>>3491485
Ah... Well in that case.
>>3491450
Amending my vote.
>>Stay silent. You don’t want to assume what Magpie’s trying to do, and even though you have a sinking feeling that you know who her next target is, you don’t know if they’re simple insurance or something more…proactive.

>Wait until Julia or Gina have advanced in Conduit levels before they try their rescue attempt.
I'm cutting out the swarmling messages.

>>3491485
Ah, good point. Still, I don't want to just leave it at nothing. Maybe a "Nasty. I hope you never have to use them" in a tone that conveys that we understand her intent.

>>3491528
Hrm, maybe. I cant think of a good way to word it myself is the thing.

>>3491257
>"Niku wants to save Uzu, by the way. Just so you know. And if it comes to the worst case, Gina and I can force our way into Uzu's mind to see what's wrong, so don't hesitate to call if needed."
>Wait on doing anything with the Relics until you can find a friendly Phantasmal Conduit to try and draw out the Daughters within. They’ve been through hell, and deserve a second chance.

>>3491537
How about "Ouch. Looks like you could cause a lot of collateral damage with those things. I hope things never get so bad you have to use them." Conveys disapproval with impulsive use of them but tacitly acknowledging that they might be needed.

>>3491553
I guess my worry is like i said to the other anon. She just feels like the type who either wants us to say what we think she has them for, or just shut our lips. Finding a middle ground for people like her is difficult.

>>3491553
>>3491537
what about: "Make those shots count if you have to use them, but know that there's other methods to solving a situation."

>>3491560
Also while she isn't dumb her blunt, straight forward nature might make her slightly misconstrue what we say just as much as dislike our passive agressive approach.

Im just imagining her raising an eyebrow saying ' all my shots cause collateral damage, remember?'

Sorry not trying to diss on your ideas or anything, its just its a pretty damn sensitive topic here with a very... peculiar character, lets just say, so it feels like if were gonna sat anything we gotta be careful what that is.

>>3491562
A bit better yes.

>>3491568
Actually, you know what? You're right. We're Shu the Defiant. Magpie likes that we have a spine. Let's just come out and be blunt. "I understand why you are making those bullets, and while I appreciate that you're taking precautions I'm hoping that's all they remain. Niku has a plan, let's let her take her shot before you take yours."

>>3491575
Thats...ok yeah
>>3491347
Ill change my vote on what to say to her to support saying that. If we're gonna say something, we gotta be upfront about it, and i can see why some dont want to stay silent. Hopefully we wont throw our relationship with her under the bus but maybe its a risk we need to take.

>>3491495
>>3491257
Amending my vote:
>Confront Magpie about it.
>"Those bullets, I know who its for. I hope you never have to use them. Shoot the wrong Flesh Artisan with them, the whole Monastery goes into a Hunger chain reaction like a house of cards and we end up with a Nautilus-themed Colossus Daughter Amalgam."
>"Niku wants to save Uzu. Let her have a shot at stabilizing Uzu's mind."
>>3491575

>>3491257
>>Write-In
>"So I think I've got an idea why you're making these, Magpie, and while I appreciate that you're taking precautions I'm hoping they'll prove unnecessary. Niku has some ideas on how to get Uzu's head on straight, let's let her take her shot before you take yours. Unless I've misjudged the situation and you've got someone else in mind, in which case I apologize for the presumption."

>>Wait on doing anything with the Relics until you can find a friendly Phantasmal Conduit to try and draw out the Daughters within. They’ve been through hell, and deserve a second chance.
Whether through recruiting an ally or our current party members getting higher levels.

Eh, i guess i get why everyone wants to wait on the relics, i guess i just dont like the idea of leaving them in there any longer being constantly tortured, but i see the point of saving them being the better option; if we can find it as it were.

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>>3491257

You stand a little straighter, hoping that you’ve gauged Magpie well enough to where what you’re about to say doesn’t backfire.

"I understand why you are making those bullets, and while I appreciate that you're taking precautions I'm hoping that's all they remain.” You state defiantly as Magpie regards you impassively, unblinking eyes hovering around empty sockets. “Niku has a plan, so let's let her take her shot before you take yours."

All you hear is your own heartbeat in the long moment that stretches between your request and her forthcoming reply, her face utterly inscrutable. You let out a fraction of the breath you were holding when that razorblade of a smile creeps across her lips, her sharp shoulders bobbing in a silent chuckle.

“I can’t tell you how entertaining it is to watch you straddle the line between Alpha Bitch and Mother Theresa.” Magpie says with an amused sigh. “Alright, Shu the Defiant. You win. I’ll exercise some trigger discipline and see how things play out. So tell me; what’re you going to do with those?”

You follow her lines of sight to the Relics you have clutched in your fists, relaxing your grip on them now that the situation’s been diffused somewhat.

“You’ve just been holding on to them for the past few minutes. Going to give them peace, or...?” She trails off.

“The Daughters inside these have been through hell and deserve a second chance, so I’ll wait until we have the resources to give them one.” You reply with after a pause, and once they’re tucked back inside your dress you extend your hand to her in a gesture of camaraderie. “We’ll be heading out soon, but I’ll see you around, Magpie.”

“Likewise, Shu. It’s been a pleasure.” She replies, and in spite of her still sporting that damn unnerving razor-smile across her lips, you feel something close to warmth across the empathic channel. With that, you and Gina leave the sniper to her work and after a bit of searching, you find your allies gathered in the sparring room. Julia and Amara bear witness to Rath and Dorian exchanging some sporting fisticuffs, the ever-dapper Dorian having rolled up his sleeves despite them being a part of his new body, while Rath’s handicapped herself to just her two native arms to make things fair.

At your approach, Dorian disengages to give you a bow of respect, while Rath makes due with a salute after a quick, playful jab at the painter’s shoulder. Julia and Amara greet you with a gentle smile and an enthusiastic wave respectively, clearly pleased to see you and Gina in high spirits.

The gang’s all here, and at your command; so where do you go from here?

>>Depart for (Disassociated Ones/Carroll’s Forest), and choose who you’ll take, where the others will stay, and what they’ll do while you’re away.

>>There are still one or two things you’d like to do while you have a moment of relative peace (Write-In).

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3491709
Right, so my thoughts are;

>Carroll's Forest
>Gina, Amara, Rath join party
>Dorian and Julia both work to setup the mountain town as a more permanent base(for us at least), and also keep watch on the monastery. Also keep an eye out for a Phantasmal Conduit that looks trustworthy and/or we can barter with.
Here me out, we need Gina to transverse it for sure, but it sounds like a very tricky area in which having Amara and her unique abilities could also come in very handy. Rath because we have a pretty solid plan for her and she's the last to need her choice, so good thing to shoot for.

But if we go to the...

>The Dissociated Ones
>Whoever wishes to meet them joins party
>With the stipulation whoever stays behind does the same as above.
HOWEVER, im also worried about our connection to Isabelle, and want that severed. Entering into a wonderland forest while we might switch bodies at any time? Oof, that sounds risky. But i also understand we have put off progress towards the cord for awhile and not everyone agrees on cutting it. Also because of their unique status as another hopefully friendly group, i thought it less important to have a party based on need so much as based on who actually wants to be there. If they dont, probably best not to bring them anyway (coughrathcough).

As it is, id prefer to cut the tie to Isabelle but understand if we want to wait and make that decision later.

For now, im going with the DOs, but im up for discussing the choice of course.

>>3491709
>“I can’t tell you how entertaining it is to watch you straddle the line between Alpha Bitch and Mother Theresa.”
Um wow. I don't even know how to react to that. Is that a compliment or an insult?

>>3491726
(It's as good a compliment as one can get from someone like Magpie.)

>>3491723
I'm personally inclined towards the Dissociated Ones. Even if we don't sever the connection to B'Ni, we can still get a consultation on the process. Learn more from them about any side-effects of being connected, how much we have to worry. Plus, I want to see the cyborgs. So much technology was destroyed by the Crucible's formation, to the point that I'm pretty sure it was an intentional process rather than just accidental. Like was pointed out a while back, there are a ton of guns in the US and there should be more Daughters running around with weapons they didn't grow out of their bodies. But that would probably unbalance the meta, so Mother removed them. I want to find out where the Dissociated Ones found enough working technology to actually turn themselves into cyborgs. November said she found her tank in a museum, is it all refurbished antiques?

>>3491723
I'd also like to get moving but I'm concerned at how close the Monastery is to falling apart. Would hate to leave and find that Uzu's snapped and the place is in chaos, especially if Niku is killed, since Niku consuming Uzu seems to be the most promising way to save the Monastery if we can't stop Uzu succumbing. Is there nothing we can do now to force a resolution? Maybe have Niku ask Uzu if she can look in her head or help in some other way, while we and Magpie wait out of sight in case things go sideways. Thoughts?

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen.)

>>3491791
It honestly just feels out of our hands now to me. We never were close to those important to the monastery, and have done what i think we can because of that.

Oh, well is a bit late now i guess, as Magpie is holding up the forge, but upgrading Sui Tormentis and/or making Gina and Amara their fuzzbuzz companions is an option. Might be our best chance, we, uhh, could come back to a mess, even if it hasn't collapsed upon said return.

>>3491813
I see where you're coming from and I agree that at this point what will happen between Uzu and Niku will happen whether we meddle or not. It's just that if it does go badly, which unfortunately seems likely, it would be best if it happened while we are here, so it might be a good idea to nudge it into happening immediately.

I think that if we're not going to Carrol's Woods and need a Neuromancer to get us through safely, then Gina should be part of the team fortifying the town. Terraforming for rearranging the terrain, and the Red Cord to keep in touch with Shu's party. I'd say send Dorian with her, too, he's a strong fighter who can keep her safe and his little inklings (bloodlings, now?) can keep watch. Maybe even help her by moving things around like a cute workforce of toxic blood gremlins.

>>3491886
That sounds...kinda dickish? I mean trying to force it to happen. Good or bad, it feels like we should let it happen in its own time, naturally, especially said good, as trying to force it might turn it bad.

Plus, if it goes bad now, we're fucked. Our (potential) plan to take in those we deem trustworthy isnt an easy thing to set up, that takes time. Any sudden need to take in refugees too quickly with no actual place for them to go properly setup, will just lead to said new place being even worse.

Unless you just want to abandon literally everyone if things go south, which sounds like a dick move if we literally just forced it to happen.

>>3491896
I get what you're saying, but for the DOs im without a doubt but t budging on letting them decide IC. Its just not justified in my mind to plan for a fight nor force someone who really doesn't want to meet then to, unlike in more Combat oreinted situations.(not that we force anyone to go mind you, but i cant think of how to word that better)

>>3491813
>>3491886
>>3491902
And this is the sort of thing that makes me antsy. Knowing something bad is on the horizon but can't do anything about it because of lack of investment.

>>3491912
Like it was said earlier. We're and adventuring party. We are not really suited to dealing with these kinda situations.

If the monestary needed help with hostile amalgams or daughters or for us to retrieve and item or something, we could be on top of that like it was nothing. But solving a crumbling societies leadership issues so it doesn't collapse and end in dozens if not hundreds of deaths...or worse? Not exactly what we are built to do.

>>3491912
Yeah, it's a bad situation, but I'm just not sure what we can do right this moment. Maybe in another in-universe day, after Niku's had the chance to soothe Uzu over, we can talk to her again and try to patch things up and offer assistance in a way that won't get her freaking out again. But for now, we're really not much help.

>>3491709
>>Depart for (Disassociated Ones/Carroll’s Forest), and choose who you’ll take, where the others will stay, and what they’ll do while you’re away.
Head to the Disassociated Ones. In-character have a discussion on "hey, who wants to meet the cyborgs?" and let that inform the party structure but out of character I'd expect Rath and Julia to want to come along and so suggest them being in the party. Rath because she appreciates machines and Julia because she appreciates body modification. I'm impartial as to our fourth party member, but I do think that if we send the remaining members to work on the town then we should have Gina there to take advantage of terraforming. Flip a coin to see if that makes our final part member Amara or Dorian, either one would be useful at the town (Amara for assisting with shaping terrain, Dorian for standing guard), though I admit to preferring Doria stay with Gina because he's more combat-capable than Amara is.

>>3491709
>Carroll's Forest
>Gina, Rath, Dorian

>>3491902
I don't think we know them well enough to judge how things happening sooner or later will affect the outcome. And just to clarify, I didn't mean to intentionally force a bad outcome, just to encourage Niku to try talking things out while we are still around. Regardless, your point about needing more time to set up our backup plan has persuaded me that we're better off delaying for now.

>>3491972
Rath actually got pretty pissed off recently at the prospect of interacting with the DOs. She didn't like them over how they treated November i think.

Though whether or not that means she wouldn't want to come i dunno, might mean she wants to come for the wrong type of reason though.

>>3491986
Shit, you're right, I forgot. I guess I'm just eager to have Rath get some more screentime. Okay, then, Dorian/Julia/Amara for our party, with Rath and Gina hanging out at the town and fortifying it? Rath is still a good bodyguard for our support classes, and maybe she could do welding or something with her fire.

>>3491992
You vote how you want, like i said, im leaving it up to them IC as i feel that makes the most sense, and i also want to actually see who IC will go for said open option.

>>3491709

>Depart for Carroll’s Forest alone, tell the others to build fortifications while you're gone

>>3492042
Alone? Now that's just silly.

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>>3492042
(Heh.)

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>>3492054
>>3492042

>>3492050
im 70% certain its a troll. Congrats BHOP, this is how you know you've made it big, i think you've got a dedicated troll now.

>>3492060
(If it's the same person as posted the first reply in this Vein, then I'm still kicking myself for forgetting to have Amara question aloud why no one has to go to the bathroom in the Fleshscape.)

>>3492065
Look, Amara, our bodies are already breaking conservation of mass pretty hard. Where is Rath storing all those extra arms? Nowhere, they just pop out of her when she wants them. It's only fair that some mass vanish to make up for the mass we create ex nihilo, I'm not going to complain if that makes hygiene easier.

>>3492065
>"Shhh....It's magic."
Also. The thought of the poop-socking and bathroom breaks would somewhat be hilarious and gross if Mother forgot to put in the global patch that made sure that no one had bathroom problems.

>>3492065
I just assumed perfected cannibalism being our only sustenance had at least one benefit.

(Writing now, Gentlemen.)

>>3492147
(Gentlemen, work had a uptick in activity at the close of the day, so I shall resume writing once I arrive home. Thank you for your patience and participation, and take care.)

>>3492285
No problem, BHOP. See you later.

You know, something comes to my mind regarding the bleedover effect from Isabelle. If we are going to keep the connection with her, we'll need to set up a system that lets our friends know that the bleedover episode is happening and how to behave accordingly. It seems like there's always a slight delay that happens (enough time for a swift action) before the bleedover begins to take effect.
I'm thinking having Shu take the necklace that B'ni gifted to her and wear it out in the open when she feels a bleedover happening.

>>3492559
i think the main issue has been, we feel something is wrong but its often not something we immediately connect to being us switching over to Isabelles perspective, as the situation Isabelle is in effects what we feel in the first place.

that being said, im trying to get us to cut the connection so ill admit my say in this probably shouldn't hold as much weight, though said mention above is still a thing.

>>3492570
well then we should be able to figure it out by the time we have our third episode. The symptoms of the bleedover seem to be a sensation disconnection along with a growing headache followed by synchronizing emotions.

>>3492581
Gina may be able to help with Neurotic Halo's latest upgrade.

>NEUROTIC HALO (Lvl 7): Gina’s control over the dreamscape intensifies, allowing her advantage on any attempts to break through an imposed dreamstate or hallucination inflicted by Daughter and Amalgam alike. Additionally, she may freely summon up to three consumed Daughters to her aide in the dreamscape to help her in freeing her allies from an imposed dreamstate, with a small chance of leveling up the summoned Daughters’ abilities after they participate in combat. Gone, but far from forgotten. (BIO +10%)

Whatever we're getting from the bleedover effect isn't quite a hallucination, but I figure it's probably close enough that she could try to help us through Crimson Cord. Though if it did work, can you imagine what that would look like to Isabelle? It would be great if it resulted in her hallucinating the assisting Daughters showing up to tell her to stop being so stupid.

>>3492589
it sounded more like literal consciousness/body swapping, at least long term. more akin to if Gina could(though she mildly can) use her cords to fully hijack another daughter and see through their eyes.

ig nothing else, like was said earlier, maybe the DOs can at least explain how it works to us. before hopefully digging it out of our head, but i suppose we cross that decision bridge when we get there. knowing more about it cant hurt regardless of said decision though.

>>3492594
My guess is that it's less swapping and more merging. One mind in two bodies, probably having lost its sanity in the process. And then given how Daughter flesh works, I wouldn't be surprised if both bodies would wind up fusing together, even if physically separate. And then you get something like the Conglomerate, on a smaller scale.

Actually, shouldn't the Monastery have some information on how to manage such a bond, now that I think about it? Mara and Magpie got linked after three months of close contact. There have to be friendships among the Sisters that have lasted that long. Maybe the meditation they do to keep off the Hunger prevents the bonds from forming in the first place, though, and so they have no knowledge of how to treat it afterwards. Or maybe since there are so many people in close proximity the link can't form because it gets confused by having too many targets.

>>3492615
good point, though i feel like if that was the case, Magpie and Mara wouldn't of had to go to the DOs to remove/control it. the issue for them was less having it and more they said it started happening more and more often and inopportune times if i remember. suddenly switching bodies, even with someone you trust, could be a pretty big hassle i imagine.

>>3492615
So you're saying we're experiencing what the Ripper Engine was originally designed to do. A slow fusion of mind, body, and soul. Except that it's done over a long period of time. Should we let Isabelle know about the bleed-over effect?

>>3492615
>>3492621
i do have to say i dont think its an actual merge though. but who knows. id imagine its a side effect of mothers shitty trouble shooting, and the fact everyone is made of the same stuff now, including everyone's brain. throw in all the innate neuromancer stuff even with those not neuromancers(Mothers ability to talk to anyone, everyone having the dreamscape, etc) and id imagine its that if you hang around someone long enough, especially if you trust them(though Magpie implied even if you dont) i can see things starting to get confused on whos is supposed to be in what as it was.

>>3492622
>let isabelle know
ha, haha, no. no. i dont trust her in our body at all. not one fucking bit. Ginas life at least would instantly be in danger for sure, i guarantee it.

>>3492621
We know about how the bleedover effect happens over long-distances, but how would it happen over short distances when two people with bleedover with each other are within arm's length?
>>3492615
So if the bleedover effect is a link between daughters over time, then what about the Crimson Cord between Shu and Gina? wouldn't that be the permanent/active equivalent of the Bleedover effect?

>>3492633
well, Magpie and Mara were pretty close, but all they ever got was what we have, though implied to be at a later stage(both swapping and more frequently).

unless distance effects how fast it grows and how often it happens, it seems to make no difference.

as for the Cord, its an ability, so id imagine it follows different rules. the bleedover effect seems to either be a mechanic meant to dissuade long term relationships, or an accidental side effect of other mechanics. the bleedover also works very differently, sorta.

the Cord is an always active two way mind and emotion reading tool, with some ability sharing. the bleedover is a forced, uncontrollable body-swapping, or at least tag along ride where you gain some influence. ill admit not the most major of differences but at the end of it that fine line does make a big difference. the Cord also cant be upgraded, though that is a common trait with the choice actually if you look at the classes descriptions.(many are basically just augments to the core or change its forward path.)

>>3492645
>the bleedover effect seems to either be a mechanic meant to dissuade long term relationships
pfft. the term Humans are bastards come to mind. Why would Mom even need to install the bleedover mechanic intentionally when she could simply place a loot/relic equivalent to a shiny rare loot drop/hat cosmetic and watch the bloodbath happen?

>>3492649
i was kinda just putting forth options, but you are right. plus consuming long term allies already has extra advantages anyways.

maybe its kinda a secondary safeguard. if the extra ACT and second Core ability isnt enough for you to eventually consume your ally, then eventually that bond you share that stopped you will literally becomes a hindrance to both of you that could get you killed if you dont put an end to it, and considering the DOs are not meant to be a thing, well...leaves the option of how to end it pretty clear.

just a possibility though, like i said could be unintentional too.

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>>3491709

“Show of hands, who’s up for visiting the Disassociated?” You ask, with Rath and Amara’s hands immediately shooting skyward and Gina’s remaining lowered, to your surprise. You turn to her as you see Julia and Dorian exchange whispers a short distance away, and Gina beats you to the punch with an explanation.

“I trust how you said you feel about this bond, so if it’s cool by you I’d like to work on making Amara’s hometown a little more habitable in case of…y'know, reasons.” She explains, her voice pointedly dropping in volume at the last part. You nod, and your resident artists cease their hushed conversation as Dorian strides up to you, giving GG a respectful bow before addressing you.

“Miss Shu, it would be my honor to guard Gina and work alongside her to renovate the town.” He states solemnly, and you share a suspicious glance with Gina until his reasoning dawns on you.

“Ah, we’d both appreciate that, Dorian.” You say, putting a hand on his shoulder before you lean in to whisper close. “Great way to score some brownie points, too.”

“I’m quite sure I don’t know what you mean.” He replies with a sheepish smirk, and Gina’s face lights up at the prospect of interrogating Dorian about his crush. You give her a tight, quick hug before she and Dorian walk off, with Gina launching into gossip the moment Julia and the rest of you are out of earshot.

Thus you, Rath, Julia, and Amara take the distressingly empty waystation to the one near West's burnt-out lab, exiting and reaching the river's mercilessly acidic edge in no time. Northward, shining peaks glisten in the yellowed light of the fleshscape, a jagged, rocky cast stretching the length of the way to where the Disassociated ones lie.

The rest of your team forges onwards as you take a moment to cast your gaze across the gently lapping waves of the River of Tears, whose corrosive depths you survived thanks to the bond between you and the brunette that's working tirelessly to be a better person. You're wondering how Ceres and her group are faring when Amara shouts over to you, waving wide with both arms to beckon you to rejoin your group in their journey across the forbidding shore.

Julia takes point at her insistence, with Amara close at hand and occasionally throwing out the odd question to the surrounding fleshscape when she's not watching Rath shadow-box in front of you, the lithe brawler intent on a training regiment that exists only in her head.

(Continued)

>>3492684

It strikes you that you’re traveling in a group you haven’t really spoken with in the time you’ve had them by your side. A cool breeze wafts from the river's gentle undulating surface as you pick your way across the rough terrain, trying to remember the last time you really took the time to talk to Rath...the last time she opened up to you was when she almost died at the hand of Bella Nervosa's acidic waves, and while you've been keen on respecting her request for privacy you also have to wonder if she'd be willing to open up a bit now that you've known each other for a little longer than when you first started out.

With Julia, you've never really had anything resembling a heart-to-heart during your travels, as the closest thing you had to one was when you left for the swamp, when you thought it would be a while before your journey brought you back to her welcoming homestead. She's been holding together surprisingly well, having come into her own both as a friend and a fighter, and you know without a shadow of a doubt that if she hadn't been by your side when you fought the Fetid Conglomerate then it would have doubtlessly claimed one or more of your allies.

As for Amara...well, there's a lot you don't know about her. You have a few guesses as to what she experienced before all this, but so far she's been quite content to live for the here and now, and as gruesome as her surroundings may be she seems quite at ease in the apocalypse.

...Meanwhile, there exists within you a key to your past, a ghost of ill-remembered history that's done a great deal to shape the struggles you face in your present. You're not quite sure if there's anything there to contact...and even if there exists some remnant of your past self within this body, is it a thing you even want to reach out to?

Who, if anyone, do you want to speak with?

>>Rath

>>Julia

>>Amara

>>You're fine with keeping your eyes on the path ahead until you find some trace of the group you're seeking after.

>>Sam?

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening due to a long work day and a scattered mind, as if I press myself I do believe things will get incoherent rather quickly. Voting shall remain open for the next twelve hours, and posting will resume in fourteen. Tomorrow evening looks to be prime for rapid posting if everyone is able, so let me know as I shall be checking in here regularly to address questions and the like. Thank you all for your participation and enthusiasm, and have a great night.)

>>3492629
>i do have to say i dont think its an actual merge though. but who knows. id imagine its a side effect of mothers shitty trouble shooting, and the fact everyone is made of the same stuff now, including everyone's brain. throw in all the innate neuromancer stuff even with those not neuromancers(Mothers ability to talk to anyone, everyone having the dreamscape, etc) and id imagine its that if you hang around someone long enough, especially if you trust them(though Magpie implied even if you dont) i can see things starting to get confused on whos is supposed to be in what as it was.
I think that Daughters may not actually be biological creatures except in a technical sense. They're infomorphs, beings of pure data, who just happen to be running on a processor substrate of flesh. We know that a Daughter's brain isn't needed to store information. Process it, maybe, but not store. B'Ni can choose which part of her body she regenerates from, that one Daughter we looted the Shawl from could explode her head to use as vector for Neuromancy, and even if we don't specifically eat a Daughter's brain she can still wind up in our dreamscape. At a guess, I'd say there's some sort of bionanotech information storage mechanism in the cells of Crucible biomass, and we're fractally distributed throughout our entire bodies. It would be a natural outgrowth of the shapeshifting, the cells would have to actively store a blueprint of the form to take instead of just being driven by protein interactions to self-assemble certain ways. And it would explain how we can assimilate flesh so quickly, we're not actually digesting anything but just transmitting new code to take over the cells we've eaten.

Except that a Daughter's information can also be transferred pretty much immediately, over long distances, with no latency. That's how Magpie's teleporting works, she deconstructs her body and rebuilds it in another place. Which means that there isn't any deep connection between body and mind for Daughters, they're free-floating beings that are just coded to manifest just the one body at a time. We might not even actually be inside these bodies, but remote piloting them from a distributed network among the landscape's cells or even from inside the Cord itself. Elder Uzu did say Mother keeps a record of everything she eats, after all. Regardless, since there's only the illusion of mind-body integration, it makes sense that infomorphs whose avatars are in close proximity for extended time would get entangled like that. It's like you said, shitty trouble shooting. The system is bugging out on interpreting identifier codes, sending sensory streams from a given avatar to the wrong user.

>>3492694
Okay then, that's basically Digital Devil Saga's player mechanics in a nutshell right there. Except we're working with Meat-computers.

>>3492688
>Julia
Gotta be the wingman to the Julia x Dorian ship. See where she falls on the romance spectrum.

>>3492691
Good night, BHOP. Sleep well, man.

>>3492696
It's pretty similar, yeah, only from a posthumanist biopunk angle rather than a spiritualist cyberpunk angle.

>>3492688
>>Julia
i feel like she has been given the least attention, out of the three here. we dont know alot about Amara, but we still have gotten to know her and talk to her alot, in other ways.

>>3492691
hey man, i understand. you take some time to yourself if ya need. thanks for running like always my man. as for rapid posting, i should be up for it myself.

on questions, you said that liquid daughters can prevent/escape from relics and similar that would permanently bind to them. but for things like say, Sui Tormentis max level special, where it gives the person it binds to a new Ability tree, would he simply be unable to be the one to accept that, or would he essentially be tricking the armor into giving it to him, meaning if someone else then wears it and has it bind to them, they dont get that benefit?

>>3492706
You're also forgetting about the Cursus Alas Booster Set. The final stages binds the swarmling beetles to the user in a Mutualist symbiotic relationship.
>>3492691
Same question extends to the Cursus Alas.

>>3492694
i get what you're saying, but im really unsure on some parts. for one, only daughters with specific abilities can survive losing a head, and its a pretty big thing where if info and systems are in place, its quite possible to hack in and use them, or even have them be accidentally used. yet without outside info as it was, being assimilated, you are still bound by that rule and nothing seems to be able to change that, which would imply getting that ability outright rewrites your 'hardware' as it was, if were going off computer analogies.

im also very iffy on us not actually being in the bodies we are. again, it feels like if that was the case, we would see more proof of it. we certainly are not hard bound to said body mind you, only that i disagree we are not directly inside/controlling it.

>>3492715
well, Cursus Alas does not have anything like Sui Tormentis does at Level 5 though is the thing.

>>3492688
>>Julia
Yeah, we've had the least interaction with her. Let's catch up. Julia's cool, we shouldn't neglect her. How's she doing?

>>3492725
>The Final Forme of Cursus Alas. It integrates itself with its host, becoming neigh inseparable save for the death of its host, and lowering the Bio cost to use and operate the relic.
>neigh inseparable
>except for the host's death

>>3492733
Sui Tormentis
Level 5
>even Further, upon receiving this upgrade, the pure, deep connection to the armor gives the wearer instant access to either a new Calcite or Fibromancer Ability Tree, now separate from the armor and fully one with the Wearer.

this is something entirely different and unique to anything Cursus Alas has, as i have not said twice.

>>3492743
well call me a goof.

>>3492725
>i get what you're saying, but im really unsure on some parts. for one, only daughters with specific abilities can survive losing a head, and its a pretty big thing where if info and systems are in place, its quite possible to hack in and use them, or even have them be accidentally used. yet without outside info as it was, being assimilated, you are still bound by that rule and nothing seems to be able to change that, which would imply getting that ability outright rewrites your 'hardware' as it was, if were going off computer analogies.
It takes specialized abilities to maintain consciousness without a brain. It does not appear to take specialized abilities to store memories and identity. Like I said, I think that while it takes a brain to process the information, there's redundant storage for that information. Like the difference between your computer's CPU and its hard drive. Daughters who can remain active without their heads would then have gained the ability to grow processor structures elsewhere in their bodies.

>im also very iffy on us not actually being in the bodies we are. again, it feels like if that was the case, we would see more proof of it. we certainly are not hard bound to said body mind you, only that i disagree we are not directly inside/controlling it.
I admit that one's just a hypothesis for now, I haven't settled on it. It just seems odd to me that if the Crucible parasite is such an obsessive cataloger that it stores a copy of entire worlds its eaten, it wouldn't have some way to preserve the information in the Daughters from being lost on destruction. Not every death can be relied on to be one Daughter eating another and archiving the information for Mother that way. Remote piloting is probably a far-fetched solution to that problem, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some method of retrieving the information. Maybe the fleshscape around a corpse can copy it over, or Daughters burst-broadcast it via telepathy upon death, or some other way for Mother to get that information no matter what happens.

>>3492772
>Part 1
i may of not explained myself as well as i meant. i wasn't saying the whole body is the true storage thing was wrong, merely that its not inate, or as advanced, in every daughter as you made it out to be, requiring 'upgrades' as it was to be fully as you described. that or im the goof now and were basically agreeing and you were just further explaining things or something.

>Part 2
well, keep in mind, all we know is the cord keeps a copy of us. we dont know from when, if its even an up to date copy, only that some version of us is in there. we also know info is often lost. abilities not gained are lost, and without a daughters ability being consumed, they do not enter into the daughter consuming them, aswell as all brain buddies of the dead daughter are now also lost. i get these are more aspects in place for the sake of the game(IC game too i mean), but im more of trying to show how the crucible isnt a perfect system nor cataloging system. plus, i mean, look at mother and her human troubleshooting problems. while Sam is kinda in our head somewhere, she was technically lost, and possibly even chunks of her are fully lost, and it accidentally spat out an entirely new consciousness basically.

im not sure how to word what im trying to say with some of that, besides maybe you're putting too much faith in the crucible and its systems, aswell as how prepared and flawlessly they may operate?

>>3492745
goof?

>>3492815
What I mean was "call me an idiot for not reading thoroughly".

>>3492691
Thanks for running, BHOP! See you tomorrow, have a good sleep!

>>3492688
>Julia
I agree with what everybody else is saying. She's a sweetheart, and we haven't talked to her as much as our other teammates. Let's check in and see how she's doing.

>>3492820
well yeah, but thats a bit too harsh. i save that sorta talk for the actual trolls and my fellow asshats. of which you appear to not be either.

>>3492815
>that or im the goof now and were basically agreeing and you were just further explaining things or something.
Nah, nothing goofy about it, we're cool. But yeah, I agree that the data transfer protocols aren't of equal development among all Daughters. They're definitely there, though, so much more makes sense if Daughters have some information storage outside their brains than if it's all up there. Like, for example, Magpie's teleport bullets. The little totem the user has to hold could be a transmitter, sure, but the fact that it can copy over the information contained within the user's mind and body so quickly and easily means that there was probably already a "file" zipped and ready for transfer.

>im not sure how to word what im trying to say with some of that, besides maybe you're putting too much faith in the crucible and its systems, aswell as how prepared and flawlessly they may operate?
It's less that I'm convinced they work flawlessly, like I said I'm pretty sure the mental bleed-over effect is because they're not working right. But I do expect there's some method for Mother to remotely access a Daughter's information. We know that Mother can contact Daughters telepathically, it wouldn't be that far out to believe that she can use that connection to archive information.

>>3492842
personally, from what ive seen, i think we are all ourselves inside a semi-disposable vessel, and the fleshscape is like a....basically like a magrail, but not bound to one direction or anything. sorry its the best example i can think of.

basically we are a separate info block, but the fleshscape itself is one big battery and infoweb combo, which allows us to transfer our info into it and pop it back out someplace else, if we have the right software/hardware to do so. but unlike if we were remote controlling the body, we still have all of said self data inside ourselves locally, hence why messing up said transfer process can and seems to often have dire consequences to our data, and why said vessel getting destroyed or injured too badly messes with said date so hard and can even permanently destroy it, unless specific action is taken to back said date up into another persons files.

>>3492853
Yeah, exactly. See, it was just us sort of talking past each other because we couldn't get the language coordinated. That's basically my assumption too. Like I said, the remote piloting thing is just me covering my bases, I'm not certain on the idea. It's really just so that if it does turn out to be right I can shout "ah-HAH!". But no, it's probably all stored internally to a given avatar. It would be the more efficient way to do it.

I think it's like a hologram, really. I said "fractally stored" and that was the wrong term for it, "holographic storage" is better. No single piece of a hologram's medium corresponds to a specific part of an image. If I take a holographic plate of a person, and I cut it in half, I don't get two holograms of the person's right and left halves. I get two identical holograms of the person, but they're both fuzzier. I lost resolution, not imagery. Daughter information storage is probably similar, if it's throughout their body. You deal enough damage and their mind will decohere into meaningless static, but enough damage to kill them won't necessarily make it unreadable.

>>3492878
thats makes sense, though i didnt know holograms worked like that. neat. it does seem we were just arguing from different sides of the same coin yeah.

>>3492706
>>3492715
(Regarding the binding properties, the original 'bound' user would get to keep the benefits of the final stage, but they could slip out of the armor and give it to someone else.)

>>3492701
>>3492706
>>3492822
(Also, thank you all for your wishes of a good night's sleep. You're all absolutely fantastic and truly the best players I could ask for. I hope you all have a restful evening, as well.)

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>>3493001
ah, makes sense, thanks.

and speaking of the Sui Tormentis, i still think giving it to Rath at its Level 5 would make sense, if only because she is the only one i think would be ok with that, aswell as a Calcite or Fibromancer ability probably being best on her or Julia(but Julia already has a Calcite hybrid so 50/50 unnecessary on her).

mind you, im talking much later of course. i dont expect us to be able to afford getting it or anything to max level for awhile anyways. by the time its even a thing though, we could probably afford a new suit if we haven't already made one anyways, so it might all be a moot point to make.

>>3493001
oh, speaking of crafting, what class is Frozen Fury? Fibromancer?

>>3493016
(You are correct. Despite my poor choice of wording in the flavor text, it is not in fact a Phantasmal Conduit power.)

>>3493030
well, certainly didn't think it was that at least heh. now the real important question, is it its own attack separate from other abilities, or can it stack ontop of other abilities, maybe with the stipulation it must still be an unarmed attack to stack?

>>3493041
(It must still be an unarmed attack, but it doesn't have to be separate from any other attack Julia's performing. If you declare that you wish to trigger the retaliatory strike, then it will be applied to one of Julia's unarmed attacks.)

>>3493049
kickass.

also it appears we now have access to every class but Unnatural Predator, albeit hardly duplicates enough to properly spread out the costs. for example, Julia holds both our Calcite and Fibromancer classes, so upgrading Sui Tormentis is actually off the table, unless you think she can handle only having 90% Bio for a bit.

how did we end up with more abilities of some of the rarer classes then the most common ones?

>>3492688
>>Sam

How many opportunities are we going to get to address this? How many opportunities can we actually afford to choose to do this?

I don't know what's In the box, but we need to know one way or the other. It could be that Sam Isn't real, just a ghost of personality conjured from our horrified recollection of what she did. Maybe she's been here In whole the entire time. Either way, It's time to find out.

>>3493056
(Luck of the dice coupled with the way you've been playing, for the most part.)

>>3493058
i honestly just dont see sam as an issue, nor our past something we need to really know more about. sure, we dont know everything about her or our past, but in a way, so what? its not even our past, its hers, and we dont need to know everything about her to know what she did was wrong. even if, maybe, she wasn't so big and mighty, or always as bad as she was, in the end, she was the worst type of person, and got what was coming to her.

theres nothing left we need to find out. shes someone else, and something we have no reason to fear or cling onto. if ever someone in our head deserved to fade away, she would be the one. and despite isabelle still being a problem, shes nothing Sam or more information about her can truly help us solve. if anything, clinging to her and wasting time on giving her attention might be exactly what she wants, as its all she has left to 'get back' at us with considering her situation.

>>3492688
>Rath

>>3492688
>Sam?
I said my piece on this before. I also think this chat is inevitable and would rather have it on our terms.

>>3492688
>Sam?
Time to chat with Evil Serph

>>3493014
The only problem that I'm seeing with that is that Rath doesn't have any innate Health or bio regen.

>>3493684
Well, like i said its a moot point. We would have to sideline Julia at 90% bio to even get it to level 2, much less level 5. By the time we can afford level 5, everyone will have gotten so many levels for all we know rath will have the Highest regen stats out of the group. Its really too far out to know if that would be an issue.

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>>3492688

“Hey Amara, could you give me and Julia a little time to catch up? Maybe you could give Rath a few fighting pointers, show her how to throw hands like you?”

“Okay! I’ll tell her not to waste her magic, too!” She declares, sliding off Julia’s shoulders and bounding over to her hero. Julia giggles softly before turning her wide, dark eyes to meet yours.

“H-how are you feeling?” She blurts out just as you open your mouth to ask the same of her.

“I’m fine, but I really want to see how you’ve been feeling. It’s been a while since we’ve talked, and you mean a lot to me, so…” You trail off, seeing a tinge of red work its way into her cheeks as she starts to fidget. “…how’re you holding up?”

“Um….w-well, I mean, t-things at the Monastery have b-been a little stressful, b-but just being with you and everyone…it makes me really happy.” She replies slowly, taking care with her words. “You, G-Gina, Rath, D-Dorian, and especially Amara…it feels like a f-family.”

She looks away bashfully, her fidgeting increasing in intensity.

“Is t-that weird? That c-came out weird, I’m s-sorr…” She stammers fretfully before trailing off in the face of your reassuring smile.

“I feel the same way, Julia. It really does feel like a family.” You say, taking her hand as the two of you pick your way across a particularly jagged stretch of beach. “You know, I’m really glad you gave us a chance when we first met you. Everyone was really on edge, and you kept your cool, as you have with everything that’s been thrown at you so far. Actually, I know you’re not a fan of fighting but I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you helping us out here. It’s a fact that if you hadn’t been with us when we fought the Conglomerate, well…”

You trail off and Julia nods solemnly, your implication hanging in the air before she speaks again.

“I’m getting used t-to it. The f-fighting, I mean.” Julia begins. “It’s easier w-with Amalgams, but I still d-don’t like fighting g-girls like us.”

“You know what? Me neither.” You reply honestly, deciding to switch gears a bit. “On to something happier, I wanted to ask how things were going with you and Dorian.”

“O-oh, um, it’s f-fine.” She says as scarlet invades her neck and cheeks, the skin on her face drawn taught. “H-he’s really nice, t-to me, and t-to everyone, s-so…yeah. All the g-girls at the Monastery r-really like him, and it’s easy t-to see why, since he’s…um. Yep.”

“I can tell he’s making a point to be especially nice to you, regardless of the attention he gets from others.” You reply, fighting back a grin at how adorably flustered she’s getting until the nervous energy she’s emanating swiftly turns to guilt and fear.

(Continued)

>>3493728

“I j-just d-don’t…I’ve n-never really…felt like t-that, though?” Julia falters, struggling to put her scattered thoughts into words. “I m-mean, I r-read books, and I watched m-movies with love and romance and…it never r-really clicked? And so when h-he looks at me like he d-does and acts s-so nice, it k-kind of…I feel bad, and then I feel g-guilty about feeling b-bad because I d-don’t know if I c-can feel that way towards s-someone, or give them what they want and it’s just…”

The words come tumbling out of her in a torrent, her careful phrasing lost in the flurry of information she finally lends voice to.

“There was someone b-back in school, before I went t-to college…he s-said he loved me. We’d been b-best friends all through h-high school, and w-when he said he wanted to b-be something more, I didn’t know what else t-to d-do. I thought that t-this was h-how it worked, but then when h-he said he w-wanted more, I couldn’t…it didn’t really…work, like in an…i-intim…a p-personal way. He g-got really upset, and I started to…I tried to t-tell him t-that I loved him, b-but that I’d never felt that way, and I d-didn’t know if I could even…I didn’t see him a-after he w-walked out. He w-wouldn’t return my calls, he w-wouldn’t t-talk to…I lost my b-best friend right before I started my f-freshman year. H-he was s-so hurt, I…”

You put your arm around her shoulders as she wipes the tears from her cheeks with delicate fingers.

“It’s okay. I get it, you don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.” You say, and she leans into you as your northward march comes to a stop.

“…I really want everyone t-to be happy and s-safe, but when I think about telling Dorian about how I feel, I get really scared, so…” She says, watching Rath and Amara continue on ahead of you, giving you a respectful amount of distance. “I j-just want to make my art and m-my tea and have everyone I love a-around me, and I d-don’t want to let you or anyone else d-down, so…”

A look of horror crosses her face as she begins to voice an apology. "I'm s-so sorry, I d-didn't mean to dump all this on you so suddenly, I just..."

She glances up at you with one dark eye, the other hidden behind her golden hair.

"...I t-trust you, Shu. A lot."

>>”You’re amazing, Julia, so please don’t feel like you have to worry about letting anyone down. Relationships are…weird, to say the least. Everyone’s different, so maybe you just need some time to figure out how you feel.”

>>”I think Dorian’s like you, in that he wants to make sure everyone’s taken care of. The last thing he would want to do is make you feel pressure, and if you’re up for telling him what you just told me, then…I know he’ll listen, and he won’t be mad at you.”

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3493732
>>”I think Dorian’s like you, in that he wants to make sure everyone’s taken care of. The last thing he would want to do is make you feel pressure, and if you’re up for telling him what you just told me, then…I know he’ll listen, and he won’t be mad at you.”

(Voting shall remain open for the next hour and a half, Gentlemen.)

>>3493732
Oh my. I think we have a case of Twice Shy for both Dorian and Julia.
It's so adorable it hurts.

We'll need to examine this burgeoning romance between the Painter and the Sculptor.
So Dorian: He's instantly smitten at first sight. Not much to go about that. "She is everything and more. He knows that Julia wants to take care of everything else before taking care of herself, and says that isn't a healthy way to live in the long run." But he's got a gentleman's code about him and he doesn't want to pressure Julia into making rash decisions.

And then there's Julia. She's got a case of "Once Burned, Twice Shy" in her previous life. Her previous friend died before Julia's Freshman year, which pretty much made her very shy. It's also clear that she's got feelings for Dorian as well, but her past experiences are holding her back.

>"I think Dorian's like you Julia. The last thing he would want to do is to make you feel pressured. He's a Gentleman. What eats him alive on the inside is worrying what eats you alive on the inside. If you're up for telling him what you just told me, then... I know he'll listen and he won't be mad."

>>3493732
This >>3493738

>>3493732
>”You’re amazing, Julia, so please don’t feel like you have to worry about letting anyone down. Relationships are…weird, to say the least. Everyone’s different, so maybe you just need some time to figure out how you feel.”
She can take her time. There's no shame in that. But I'm fine with the other option as well.

>>3493773
Er, dude didn't die, he just didn't handle her not feeling romantic love back towards him by cutting her off and not talking to her anymore. The 'issue' here is, Julia is sating she can feel love, but not romantic love, and isn't sure if she can feel it for dorian either. She loves him, but like one loves family or friends, not a life partner.

>>3493118
It's not about fear. It's not about 'our' past. It was an option, and a very peculiar option. It's her past, and technically our body was made from, and resembles, hers. I'd like to find out If she really Is a stowaway or not, and wrap up the Sam Issue entirely.

Hopefully next time we get a good chance we'll take It.

>>3493773
>>3493732
Amending my vote. to
>”You’re amazing, Julia, so please don’t feel like you have to worry about letting anyone down. Relationships are…weird, to say the least. Everyone’s different, so maybe you just need some time to figure out how you feel.”
>"Dorian is a gentleman first and foremost. The last thing he would want to do is to make you feel pressured into a relationship like that. Tell him how you feel when you're ready."

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>>3493732

”You’re amazing, Julia, so please don’t feel like you have to worry about letting anyone down." You respond with a smile, drawing her into a tight hug. "Relationships are…weird, to say the least. Everyone’s different, so maybe you just need some time to figure out how you feel.”

She squeezes you back, her slender arms wrapped around you back as she mumbles a 't-thank you' into your chest.

“Guys, you’re gonna want to see this.” Rath suddenly shouts, directing your attention westward, where smoke's started billowing from just over the ridge ahead of you. Given how low it hangs and the fact that it wasn’t there when you and Julia started speaking, whatever caused it only just started.

“Fighting.” Rath barks, cocking her head to one side, listening intently. Her brow knits as she turns to you.

“Killing.” She finishes, and you shift your attention to your resident Skintalker.

“Amara, what can you tell about what’s over there?”

“Um…there’s someone really strong fighting a bunch of people…they’re getting whooped pretty bad.”

“Who is?”

“Oh, everyone else! Also, there’s…” She starts before somethingdraws her fleeting focus behind her, to a point on the river's horizon.

“Hey, a ship! A pretty ship!” Amara shouts, mid-wave to a distant vessel on the horizon before Julia darts over the rocky ground and snatches her up so as to not draw greater attention to yourselves. You squint at the shimmering object drifting towards you from across the River of Tears. Resembling a crystalline yacht, its shimmering gold and bright scarlet hull easily repels the waterway's caustic waves that lap against its bulk, lazily drawing closer to your location on the shoreline.

"If there's a fight, I want in." Rath growls from your left. "Knowing people are getting their ass handed to them by some OP asshat pisses me off."

"Amara, are they still fighting?" You ask, and she replies with a shake of her head.

"Nope! The hero's finishing off the villains now, one by one."

"W-why do you say they're a hero?" Julia asks quizzically.

"Because they won!" She exclaims with a grin. "The heroes always do!"

>>Investigate the aftermath of whatever happened over the ridge. You’d like to avoid drawing the ship’s attention for now, and if there’s been some sort of struggle then there may be someone in need, like Rath said. Even if you’re too late, knowing what’s fast and strong enough to swiftly end a conflict of that scale would be prudent.

>>You’d assume the ship to have been crafted by a Humoral Paladin given its construction, and with it’s sheer size you’d imagine whoever made it has some considerable reserves of Biomass and enough wits about them to make and pilot a vessel.

>>As strong as you team is now, you’re in no mood to chance either encounter. You’ll pick up the pace to the north and avoid them both.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen. My apologies, I had this update ready to go when voting concluded and then work hit hard. Thank you so much for your patience, and I hope you're having a good day.)

>>3494021
>>Investigate the aftermath of whatever happened over the ridge. You’d like to avoid drawing the ship’s attention for now, and if there’s been some sort of struggle then there may be someone in need, like Rath said. Even if you’re too late, knowing what’s fast and strong enough to swiftly end a conflict of that scale would be prudent.
Add in
>"Amara, that's not always true. Sometimes, the villain wins, which is why we ourselves have to always be careful and try our hardest, so that we can make sure that doesn't happen as often as possible."

I mean, unlikely sadly, but maybe we can save one person. If Amaras not right that is, and they are victims. Either way, friendly or enemy, i cant see waiting for the mystery boat to be as big an issue as potentially saving lives.

>>3494021
Supporting >>3494043

The ship can wait.

>>3494021
>You’d assume the ship to have been crafted by a Humoral Paladin given its construction, and with it’s sheer size you’d imagine whoever made it has some considerable reserves of Biomass and enough wits about them to make and pilot a vessel.

>>3494021
Supporting this >>3494043, with the addition of asking Amara to ask the ground over by where the ship docked if it remembers how the fight got started. Quiet, now, just a whisper. If they're a villain we don't want to alert them, and if they're a hero we don't want to look rude.

>>3494043
We can probably use examples, like when a villain kills good guys to show how dangerous and evil they are and motivate the hero to beat them.

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>>3494021

You and your team creep up the ridge, the jagged, hardened flesh proving to be stable yet painful handholds as you lean close to Amara, currently riding piggy-back on Rath.

"Amara, that's not always true.” You explain, peeking over the edge of the rocky mound, your eyes scanning the ramshackle settlement a few hundred yards off. “Sometimes, the villain wins, which is why we ourselves have to always be careful and try our hardest, so that we can make sure that doesn't happen as often as…as…”

Amara’s waiting for you to continue your thought as you watch a girl no older than her fleeing the bloodbath behind her. The makeshift town is littered with the bodies of countless Daughters, clean cuts having scatted bodies across the humble expanse of the settlement. Even at this distance you can see the sheer terror on her face, her frantic attempts to flee cut off by the figure that smoothly rises from the ground before her, leaving no trace of its emergence from the fleshscape. A long, elegant blade is held limp at the phantom’s side as it towers over the child dwarfed by its skeletal frame, a shimmering cloak of skin hanging off sharp, angular shoulders that weeps a steady stream of scarlet tears on the ground it hovers just above.

The girl is about to scream when the blade slides home in the girl’s neck, her head sent flying with an errant flick of the warrior’s wrist. There’s an anguished cry from the town, a pair of older girls conjuring a large, crystalline needle between them as they howl epithets at the phantom. It merely raises its empty hand, a flick of its slender fingers sending a cloud of jet-black flechettes that reduce girls and needle both to a spray of biomass that paints the shack behind where they stood. The mottled flesh of the ground behind the being explodes, a muscle-wrapped girl erupting forth with a tank-wrecking fist hurtling towards the creature’s head. She doesn’t even come close, the cloak springing to life and slicing out, carving off the offending limb with a flourish, its wearer stock still as they watch the Fibromancer tumble to the terrain before them. A flick of a blade, and their legs are gone. Another, and the girl’s reduced to a writhing torso on the ground, roaring with a defiant fury as the figure regards their victim with the hollow-eyed, inscrutable expression you know all too well.

“We could’ve saved them!” The girl bellows, her voice amplified through pain and adrenaline as you watch her muscle fibers struggling to form replacement arms, hindered no doubt by the accursed blade the warrior used to rob them of their limbs. “We could’ve beaten this whole goddamn thing and brought Mother to her kn…!”

(Continued)

Could be the Maroon (sp?) girl who went hunting that group.

>>3494369

The final blow is delivered by a cold, perfected hand, and then all is silent. The being scans their work and, satisfied, plunges their blade into the ground, the jagged fleshscape opening up a yawning mouth beneath each corpse littered about the massacre, devouring all evidence of the slaughter save for the blood-streaked shelters that remain.

It’s a moment before you become aware of the heat building at your hip, the Contender humming fitfully as it witnesses its creator tilt their head to the sky in a moment of silence.

You can feel your heart hammering in your chest.

It’s only natural.

This is the first time you’ve borne witness to Charon’s primary task, after all.

“...Fuck.” Rath mutters, and Julia simply nods in agreement. Amara leans in close to whisper in your ear, your eyes collectively transfixed on the sight only a short distance away.

“Is that a villain?” She asks.

You tear your eyes away from Charon to look at the girl to your right, and you find yourself at a loss for words.

“I don’t…Amara, is that ship coming or going?” You deflect. She whispers to the ground, tilting her ear to its surface for a moment before giving her reply.

“It’s coming towards us! The ground asked the water, and the water was happy to tell me.” She whispers back proudly. You nod, the Contender burning hot in its holster as you share a glance with Julia and Rath. Your gentle artist is at the ready to get Amara as far away from this gristly scene as quickly as possible, while Rath bristles with rage held back by the thinnest of threads.

“Rath?” You start slowly. “Rath, we…”

“I fucking know, alright?!” She hisses back, her glare flitting to you for a moment before locking back on the Hexane Disciple. “I’m not an idiot, I know that bitch has got a gun to Charon’s head, but…shit, this whole thing is just fucked.”

You can’t help but agree.

>>”…We continue North. There’s nothing to be done here.”

>>Leave, and wait for the ship by the shoreline as you try to push what you just witnessed to the periphery of your mind.

>>Approach Charon. You weren’t her target here; it was one assigned by Mother, and you hope you don’t currently rank high enough to warrant a similar treatment…not yet, anyway.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3494369
Oh snap.. that solo is a baddie?

>>3494374
Continue North. Shame we didn’t get to eat the bodies..

>>3494374
>>Leave, and wait for the ship by the shoreline as you try to push what you just witnessed to the periphery of your mind

I...well fuck. As much as i dont like letting that stand, Charon or not, we ain't prepared to beat what we just saw. Nor do i thonk we should risk being on the hit list.

Maybe.. dunno, maybe the boat will be good news, if nothing else we can warn em to take a second before going through the town, just incase Charons in some sorta 'kill mode' which doesn't discriminate.

>>3494381
It's our old pal Charon. Mother tasks her with destroying anything that threatens the integrity of the Crucible. She doesn't like it, but she's not really allowed much free will. Mother is cruel. I kind of want to stay and investigate, see if we can figure out how this group was a threat to the Crucible. But I fear that digging too deep into that would trigger Charon's protocols and consider us finally enough of a threat that we need to be destroyed.

Still, nice to have some insight into Charon's abilities. We're going to have to fight her eventually. Looks like she still fights as if she had the Contender, almost, sword and bullets. And that cloak is pretty nasty, too. Doesn't seem to favor the terraforming abilities they have, even if they're apparently quite strong.

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen.)

>>3494408
Oh, and add in this on our way back to the river;
>"Amara...yes and no. See, Charon is a good person deep down, but she's not like you or me or us. Shes from a different world, the one that went through this before ours. The thing is, shes only here because mother forced her to be as a punishment, and so she has to obey and do these terrible things if mother commands her to, because she isnt in control of herself like us or the other daughters. Amara...she is a villain, but sometimes a villain doesn't want to be one. Always remember things are not always black and white, even if that doesn't change the fact one day we will have to face her, and stop her from hurting anyone else..."

Others can feel free to word this better if they have ideas though.

>>3494374
>>Leave, and wait for the ship by the shoreline as you try to push what you just witnessed to the periphery of your mind.
There's nothing worth looting with how Charon disposed of the bodies, and I don't want to risk getting close to Charon anyway. But we can warn that approaching ship of the dangers, and maybe make some friends.

>>3494442
Yeah, I like it. Let me try.
>"I'm sorry, Amara, but this one isn't that simple. Charon used to be a hero, and still wants to be, but she doesn't have a choice. Mother is forcing her to do bad things, hurt anyone who could stop Mother. Like us. We met Charon before, when we were weaker, and since we weren't a threat she could be nice to us. She helped us a lot. But now, with how much stronger we're getting, I think Mother would make her fight us. So it's best to just avoid Charon if we can, we're strong but not strong enough yet. Maybe someday we can save her and let her be a hero again, but for now we have to treat her like a villain."

>>3494374
>>Approach Charon. You weren’t her target here; it was one assigned by Mother, and you hope you don’t currently rank high enough to warrant a similar treatment…not yet, anyway.

If we were tough enough for Charon to have to fight us, we would know it. Charon doesn't want to kill innocents and could probably use some friends right now.

>>3494625
i disagree that the risk is worth it. for all we know her orders are 'any daughter in this area must die', and if we enter it...well...

there could also be a hit list, in order of importance, and we are unlucky enough to be on it, but lucky enough to be much further down.

>>3494435
also, i just remembered, didn't you say after our colossus level ups, that after dorians choice the contender was gonna level up too?

>>3494374
>>3494688
Amending my vote to:
>Send a swarmling to Charon with a message. Is it safe for us to come and talk?

>>3494688
I think you're right. While you mention it, Dorian's Choice feature mentioned that it was one of two.

>>3494688
(Indeed I did, and the Contender's upgrade will be within the next update or so, considering it's warm at Shu's side. The delay was for a reason, though.)

>>3494717
ah, thats my bad then for jumping to conclusions that it was forgotten, sorry.

>>3494713
hrm, you are right. though it may just be a mis-wording and both parts are in there.

>>3494713
>>3494725
(Oh, you're both quite right about Dorian. The second boon granted by his Red Death skill tree is a fourth form that he's experimenting with now, actually. I didn't wish to reveal it quite yet since I hadn't expected the merger you ended up with, so I had to tweak it a bit to not be quite as game-breaking as it was about to be, hence the delay.)

>>3494739
Something game-breaking if it wasn't tweaked. West was right. Those core hybrids are the way to go.

>>3494739
well, something to look forward to once we see him again then.

>>3494739
Ooh, neat. I was thinking it was just something personal that he didn't feel like sharing with us, but it's a whole new form? Excellent.

>>3494743
Yeah. Say what you will about her ethics, but she knows her stuff.

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>>3494374

"Please stop."

The svelte voice enters your mind unbidden, your hive freezing in the act of creating a swarmling to carry a message to the part-time waystation attendant, full-time enforcer that's sheathing their blade after the slaughter. You withdraw the Contender from its holster, Karma's request still echoing in your mind.

"My Master would not be able to stop from striking you down if you approach at this moment." She explains, and you reach out to haul Rath down from the hill's edge. "I do not wish to see my current Master ended by my former."

"That makes two of us." You breathe, gesturing for your allies to follow you back down the ridge and to the imposing shore. "Are we far enough away to where they won't come after us?"

"You are, yes. Currently, my prior Master has been ordered to deconstruct any Daughter they see within that camp. If you'd decided to peek over that ridge and make yourself known, then you may very well have found yourself treading into that category."

"Super." You sigh before asking a question that's been buzzing around your mind. "How will I know when we pose a big enough threat to Mother for Charon to come knocking?"

"I do believe my connection with them will allow me to keep you abreast of your progress towards Mother's adverse action." Karma reports succinctly, her handle glowing with heat.

"Master Shu?" She begins hesitantly. "Please know that my prior Master want nothing less than for me to stay by your side, and when the time comes for them to come for you, then..."

She pauses a moment, a hard, focused edge to her usual airy tone.

"...I know that Charon would want me to keep you safe."

>>CONTENDER LEVEL UP - (SHU: Lvl 3)

(Continued)

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>>3494831

>>YOU ARE NOW AWARE OF YOUR THREAT LEVEL (Upon reaching 100%, the Right Hand of Mother will begin seeking after you to deliver judgement. Leveling up, , gaining new allies, disrupting with Forges/Sparagmos Engines, and keeping Daughters from falling to the Hunger all work towards increasing your Threat Level. The death of your friends, allies falling to the Hunger, and anything you do to encourage the chaotic world-state Mother desires will serve to decrease your threat level accordingly.)

>>CURRENT THREAT: 46%

CHOOSE *ONE* NEW EFFECT FROM THE LIST BELOW

>>SHORT FUSE: Shot effects now take 1 less turn to detonate.

>>ALANNA’S EDGE: You may choose to spend 1 ACT when wielding the Contender’s Lionheart Form to make up to three consecutive attacks with an increased chance of dealing a critical hit, though this ability lacks the quirk of shortening the timers of any active rounds.

>>HELPING HILT: Striking a foe that has an active STACK or non-CONTENDER effect on a timer applies an extra STACK or removes one tick of said effect’s timer.

AND

CHOOSE *ONE* NEW ROUND FROM THE LIST BELOW

>>CICADA'S CRY: A squat, fat round, this grenade-like projectile lacks the damage-dealing capabilities of its kin in favor of emitting an ear-piercing wail over a vast distance. This cry acts to disrupt any and all concentration-based effects in a medium range around the target area aside from those employed by its user, severely limiting the vast arsenals of Neuromancers, Humoral Paladins, and Phantasmal Conduits alike. They don't call out often in this desolate land, but when the cicadas cry...the world listens.(Cost: 10% BIO)

>>SCARLET PRIMER: The Scarlet Drone's innate ability to let Gina link to foes from afar has been distilled into an armor-piercing round, circumventing the natural drawbacks of the Drone by allowing the round to bury itself directly into the host, making it effectively impossible to remove through most conventional means. However, abilities that allow the negation of status effects will still be able to shrug off the round's remote link as before. (Cost: 30% BIO to load.)

>>HONEY TRAP: When fired, this naturally aromatic and pheromone-laden grub burrows into the flesh of its target, forcing the target's own body to emit an irresistible and infuriating scent that results in any and all constructs within long range to focus their aggressive attentions on the unfortunate target for the next two rounds or until the round is removed. Bear in mind this effect is indiscriminate, and any construct that enters the round's are-of-effect will be automatically and violently entranced. Love...such a fickle thing. (Cost: 20% BIO)

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next hour and a half, with rapid-posting to begin when the next update goes live. One hour voting blocks will then continue until the close of the evening, if everyone is still alright with that.)

>>3494849
Sounds great, BHOP.

>>3494836
oof, well that percentile is basically never going down on purpose and could raise pretty quickly. but we knew what we were getting into, we will figure out how to deal with this too.

and man, poor Karma and Charon. gosh i wish we knew a better way, but im pretty sure if Karma thought there was a way to save her old master, she would not hesitate to tell us. or maybe Charon feels too guilty and has forbade such a thing...

>>SHORT FUSE
waaay too helpful to our round types to pass up on.

>>CICADA'S CRY
because being able to disrupt those class types is immensely useful.

>>3494849
im up for it myself sure.

>>3494855
My issue with the Cicada's Cry is that two of our strongest party members rely heavily on Neuromancy and Humoral Paladin (well, a hybrid) skills, and neither of them have the range for me to be comfortable that they won't get caught in the blast. It feels risky.

>>3494867
ill admit its situational but i really dont see the others two as being as good.

Honey trap is even MORE situational, and mostly only matters in turning enemy constructs against their master, but thats not a very common thing to need to do.

Scarlet Primer isnt bad, but is wholly unneeded in that it give no new effect, is simply basically a replacement/upgrade for something we already have. not bad, but something we can easily do without.

Cicada however is new, and outright counters two not all too uncommon class types and one rare but powerful class type, all three with abilities that can be outright detrimental if we cannot stop them once they connect/activate. while yes we have to be careful not to disrupt our allies unless absolutely necessary, having said kill switch incase such classes/abilities hit us with another depression aura or a neuromancer stick an ally is a lifesaver beyond any measure we otherwise have so far when it comes to dealing with said classes/abilities. and can be deployed at range too is never a bad thing.

>>3494836
Okay, Short Fuse is a no brainer, despite how good the other upgrades are. All of our rounds for the Contender have some degree or delayed effect, speeding that up is amazing.

As for the new ammo type, I'm not sure. Cicada's Cry gives an excellent counter to a very nasty type of enemy, but risks friendly fire on Gina and Dorian. Scarlet Primer is nice, but given that we can stealth the Scarlet Drone it's never really been a problem to get one close. And Honey Trap seems really situational, but also really powerful in that situation. I guess I'm going to go with Cicada's Cry despite my misgivings, we'll just have to be careful with it.


>>SHORT FUSE: Shot effects now take 1 less turn to detonate.

>>CICADA'S CRY: A squat, fat round, this grenade-like projectile lacks the damage-dealing capabilities of its kin in favor of emitting an ear-piercing wail over a vast distance. This cry acts to disrupt any and all concentration-based effects in a medium range around the target area aside from those employed by its user, severely limiting the vast arsenals of Neuromancers, Humoral Paladins, and Phantasmal Conduits alike. They don't call out often in this desolate land, but when the cicadas cry...the world listens.(Cost: 10% BIO)

>>3494836
>SHORT FUSE
Seems to be the most directly helpful. If our team had more STACK or effect timer related abilities, I would've chosen to play with Helpful Hilt instead.

>HONEY TRAP
I want to play with this. Our party doesn't really use constructs, and even if it did they would probably be attacking whatever we shoot at anyways. It's the safer ability disruption that we can use on enemies that create numerical advantages against us. Scarlet Primer is a safer Scarlet Drone, but if it still costs one of Gina's Acts then I'm not sure if there's enough difference to justify it.

>>3494900
swarmlings technically count as constructs im pretty sure, so...

>>3494906
(They do, as do Dorian's paintlings.)

>>3494909
How does it interact with Bishops? Is it like Knights where it further increases the buff it provides the wearer with (if they're at least attacking the Honey Trap target, in this case)?

>>3494942
(Correct.)

>>3494836
>>SHORT FUSE
>>CICADA'S CRY

Damn, I was going to suggest thinking about ways to avoid seeming like a threat to the Crucible, but with these threat level mechanics, I am concerned Mother (read: BHOP) might be too crafty..

Waiter/tactical anon is back from work. what did I miss/

>>3494979
The only thing I can think of is that we might be able to spoof Mother's judgement with the "encourage chaotic world-state" clause for lowering Threat Level if we take out some major problem in a messy way. For example, if we defeat some Daughter building an empire and in the process cause a power-struggle as all her lieutenants fight among themselves to take her place. Or maybe if we save Daughters from the Hunger not by appealing to higher principles but base motives that cause them to go and seek more violence. "If you give in, you'll just turn into a monster and then you won't have the planning ability needed to go hunt down that bitch who hurt you, keep it together for the sake of revenge."

>>3495003
We ran into our old buddy Charon, carrying out their duty of killing Daughters that are trying to stop the death game. Karma warned us not to go near, even though our Threat Level (oh, yeah, she offered to start tracking that for us) isn't enough for Charon to consider us a priority target they're not in their right mind now and would kill us anyway. And now we're selecting new upgrades for the Hexane Contender.

>>3495003
not sure when you were last here but...

>on our way to the DOs
>talked to Julia about Dorian. she revealed she might have issues being able to feel romantic love and is terrified of driving him away like she did her past childhood friend if she tells him.
>suddenly we get stuck between a Humoral Paladin boat of large size crossing the river towards us, and a single dude taking out a large group ahead.
>we ignore boat, investigate battle.
>its fucking Charon absolutely slaughtering an entire town, Karma warns us to back off because his mission is to kill any daughters in that area.
>Contender is currently leveling up, and we are on our way to meet the boat as it lands to warn it about Charon, and also wish to explain to Amara the complicated nature of villians who do not wish to be villians, but still are.

hope this helps!

>>3495008
i can see the empire and similar things working, but note it simply says 'save from hunger' not how or why. at best i can only see it evening out, not lowering it for such things.

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>>3494836

>>SHORT FUSE & CICADA'S CRY: UNLOCKED

By the time the boat finally reaches the shore, you find that it's a smaller craft than the last river-worthy vessel you rode on. Despite its unusual construction of calcified liquid it's an otherwise unremarkable thing. You watch as a citrine plank extends from the hull, dragging part of the bow with it as a figure emerges from the deck.

A young woman around your age strides confidently down the plank on a pair of lissome legs, a stark black turtleneck tight on her angular frame. Her dark eye and darker lips make up the most natural part of her face, the other resembling your hive, myriad holes dotted with glittering yellow crystals set deep within.

"Ahoy, avast, and all that" She smirks, giving you and your team a once-over before casting her cool gaze towards the smoking remains of the settlement. "We came over to check out the smoke. Is that your doing?"

You shake your head, and before you can compose a greeting she's already introducing herself.

"Good, good. Name's Jacqueline, by the way, or Jackie to my friends. Call me Jackie." She rattles off, directing her single dark eye your way. "What's yours?"

"Shu...you said 'we' came to see the smoke." You comment, keeping an eye on the vessel behind her. "Your friends are still aboard?"

"Oh, yeah. We're headed north to the village of robo-broads. Heard some interesting things, wanted to check it out before we keep heading west. Anything interesting in the barbecue over there?"

""Can't say there is." Rath growls. You grit your teeth, but Jackie just tilts her head back and laughs.

"Ah, good to know. Actually..." She hums glancing over you and your fellows again before turning to size up her boat. "...wanna hitch a ride, we can totally..."

You and she both give pause when you feel your team tense.

"You're antsy. I respect that. Tell you what, if it'll make you feel better I can send my crew on ahead, I can walk with you for a bit, let you see the kinda girl I am, then you can see if you'd like a lift." She chatters, her eye flitting over your features as Julia leans close.

"Hull." She mutters under her breath. You glance towards their boat, noting the long, shallow gouges mar the underside of the vessel, evidence of a past struggle peeking just above the water's lapping edge. It's clear that this craft has seen some struggles, and that it's crew have lived to meet you today.

"Why the offer?" You ask, and Jackie just laughs.

"'Cause the sane are hard to come by and crazy's a dime a dozen." Jackie fires back. "It's your call, Shu. I respect whatever that may be."

>>Politely decline. You're quite alright hoofing it, just the four of you.

>>If you have questions, you can ask them right here, right now (Write-in).

>>Accept Jackie's offer of a walk.

>>Hitch a ride with Jackie and her crew up to the Disassociated Ones.

>>Invite Jackie and her team to join you on your way north...mainly to stay on dry land.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3495036
>Politely decline. You're quite alright hoofing it, just the four of you.

>>3495036
>>Accept Jackie's offer of a walk.
allies are too few to ignore an opportunity to make more, but we also cant ignore caution. im up for a suggestion for a more fair middle ground though, i feel like we should do something in return to show we really dont mean anything but to sate our understandable paranoia, as it were.

>>3495036
>Invite Jackie and her team to join you on your way north...mainly to stay on dry land.

>>3495065
>>3495045
As much as Strength in numbers is a good thing, we're already a balanced team that trusts each other implicitly. Having us interact with another full squad of 4 as it is will just ruin our plans on having the proper time and environment to teach Amara what Anti-Villains and Anti-Heroes are. Not to mention it just opens up a huge can of worms when it comes to party to party dynamics. We only met the Leader, but we don't really know what sort of squad she's rolling with.

>>3495036
Ooh, that's some nasty trypophobia, there. Been a while since I've felt any of the body horror of the quest's name, guess it had to catch up with me eventually.

Hmm. On the one hand "hey, it's okay, I'll go for a walk with you and that will get you trusting me" definitely sounds like something someone leading us into an ambush would say. On the other hand, if she had any friends in this area, Charon probably just put them in the ground. Actually, we can probably use that as an excuse to have the conversation here without being rude, we don't want to go wandering while Charon's still active.

>>If you have questions, you can ask them right here, right now (Write-in).
>"Sorry, but I'm not feeling up for a walk right now. The thing that wrecked that town is still hanging around, I'm happy staying put here until it gets bored and wanders off. I'm still up for a talk if that's alright with you, though. How'd you get your boat across the river with such little damage? I crossed on a much bigger craft and Leviathan still wrecked it."

>>3495073
not the first friendly team we have met, and i dont want it to be the last. our entire goal is to stop the crucible, to fight what it tries to force us to be and do. making allies and friends is part of that, and helps with that.

yeah its a risk, but no more one than we have made numerous times in the past. passing up an opportunity to meet sane, friendly individuals is not something we should do. they arent gonna join our party, if a fight happens we probably wont get to control them(assuming their friendly here), we really dont have anything to lose here other than a risk to safety, but its a risk worth taking.

>>3495080
she could very well be tricking us, but shes pretty willing to put herself in danger too, which doesn't mean nothing. also id assume we can walk around the town and avoid Charon or something, instead of waiting.

>>3495096
>yeah its a risk, but no more one than we have made numerous times in the past. passing up an opportunity to meet sane, friendly individuals is not something we should do.
You know, you're right. We've got Julia in the party right now, and where would she be if we weren't willing to take an offer of trust sincerely. Taking the risk that maybe someone will be sane is strongly in-character, and it's typically payed off, actually. Alright, maybe it's naive, but it's the Shu thing to do. And hey, she starts shit, she'll be right by us and we can grab her with our giant chest-mouth real quick.

>>3495036
Changing my vote.
>>Accept Jackie's offer of a walk.

>>3495036
>Accept Jackie's offer of a walk.

>>3495036
>>3495117
>>3495105
>>3495096

I have to ask BHOP and anons, did we have our adventuring party equip our relics?

>>3495036
Just thought of a thing to add to my vote. We're an empath, we can read emotions and get a weak sense of surface-level thoughts. What are we doing doubting whether someone's sincere?

>>Write-In
>See what we can get from our empathic senses. Do we detect any duplicity?

>>3495124
we did not but i just assumed he would let us do it when combat arose, if it does.

>>3495124
(You have not, but you may certainly elect to choose your layout and have it effective in the present.)

>>3495125
(You can detect that while Jackie is certainly on guard and sizing you up, she has no ill intent towards you. You can tell she's intrigued, more than anything.)

>>3495130
>(You can detect that while Jackie is certainly on guard and sizing you up, she has no ill intent towards you. You can tell she's intrigued, more than anything.)
Okay, then yeah, let's go for a walk. Maybe she's got a mind-shield power, but if we just start assuming every random person we encounter can spoof our psychic senses we might as well not even have them.

>>3495130
>>3495125
oh, well then im more than fine with our decision then.

as for Relics

>Shu
>>Contender

>Rath
>>Cursas Alas
>>Sui Tormentis
Rath feels like shes fallen behind base stats wise, or maybe Julia just jumped so far ahead she makes it look like Rath needs it that much more than her? plus, Rath will enjoy the hell out of the boosters. also Rath might be ok wearing the armor, while Julia id imagine would prefer to not wear the armor.

>Julia
>>Gauntlets

>Amara
>>Shawl
>>Whistle(RHO CUNT)

>Nail and Spine
>>Left back at home

>>3495138
though id imagine with less than 5 minutes to go we should give it til the end of next vote to decide this.

>>3495138
I hesitate to give Rath the Relics that require spending Health and BIO, as Rath's regeneration rate for those is 0%. She'd be really strong with them, but she already has the issue of burning out real quick in a fight.

>>3495130
Load-out:
>Amara: Whistle and cloak.
>Rath: Gauntlets and Sui.
The Armor will give Rath a better bio buffer since she's lacking any form of bio regen or health regen. Also, I don't want Rath to burn out very quickly because of her lack of regen.
>Julia: Booster Wings
Julia's got good regen, and she's equipped with Bloody Ripper should things get dicey. Gauntlets will help with her unarmed attacks.

>Nail and Spine: Left with Gina and Dorian.

>>3495036
>Spawn a FuzzBuzz for Amara:
>Via empathy channel: Amara, load up Rho Cunt. If you don't trust any of Jackie's crew or if you hear the ground say a something scary about Jackie's crew, rub FuzzBuzz's Fur the wrong way. If things start to get fight-y cast "Gra Ter (Rho Cunt)"
>Julia, Rath, Amara, be on guard. If things get very dicey, Amara will cast her spell, Julia, grab Amara and run, Rath, ready a firewall and run with Julia.
>>3495080
I'll support this.