As you wind through this Thing’s life, you see it’s loved ones, it’s progeny, and it’s progenitors. You see through its eyes as a young Thing, playing in parks and meadows and chasing and being chased by small furry creatures. You see the moment it’s brought into this world, surrounded by masked Things in white not unlike those in your prison, before it is placed in the warm embrace of its Mother. Then the visions stop, and while you still feel the Thing’s integration into your own body, who absentmindedly informs you that his name is Patrick Mooreland, you have no time to waste, so shuddering, you approach the next captive Thing, a young female, who’s horrified screams only grow louder…

………………………………..

When you’re done, when the last Thing has been Communed with, your body is much, much larger, and you feel as though your mind has grown all that much sharper for it, and your gaps of knowledge in their language have been filled, granting you complete understanding of it. Remembering the girl, you send a brief mental message to her, telling her that everything’s fine and that you and her will soon be free.

>You’ve Communed with four Things for the first time, gaining you 50 Evolution Points, along with a free upgrade to Average Intelligence, leaving you with a total of 90 EP! They’re much happier now…

You feel that moving at all, let alone moving swiftly, will be very hard now with the locomotive limbs that you currently possess, and as reluctant as you are to do it, you may have to shed some of this excess biomass. You feel as though whatever you do next, you’ll have to do it fast, as you feel various grim minds outside of your cell gathering, steeling themselves for the last battle they will ever have…

>Shed body mass until you reach a point where you can move swiftly? Yes/No

>Send two of the black masked Things as a diversion? Yes/No

>With your new knowledge and the guidance of your allies, make a b-line straight for the girl, demolishing any resistance you meet along the way. WE WILL BE FREE, OR WE WILL DIE. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE.

>Write in

>>5113627
>Shed body mass until you reach a point where you can move swiftly? No
>Send two of the black masked Things as a diversion? Yes
>With your new knowledge and the guidance of your allies, make a b-line straight for the girl, demolishing any resistance you meet along the way.
LET'S GO

>>5113638
+1

>>5113638
>>5113644
Alright, give me 3 1d100 for
>MAKE A DIVERSION
and
>GET THE GIRL

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>5113679

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>5113679

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>5113679

>>5113708
>>5113705
>>5113681
Unfortunately this is a failure, but you still have your SCQ token to reverse any check failure. Would you like to use it now?

>>5113712
Yes

>>5113712
>78 is a failure
well yes, why not.

>>5113720
Sorry anon, it is. With your amazing bulk you have trouble even moving, and the check was in part about how fast you got to your destination and dealt with any resistance along the way, which gave you a -5 to the dice roll, with the DC itself being 80. I realize now that that wasn't clear so in the future every dice roll will have the DC and any + or - in the post asking for rolls.

I'll wait a bit longer on votes for whether or not to use the token and then I'll get started on the next post.

Alright using the token it is, writing now.

File: Spoiler Image (35 KB, 612x408)

35 KB JPG

>LUCK CHANGES, AND FATE GETS REVERSED

Quickly giving orders to the two black masked Things, you tell them to head in the opposite direction from you and create a diversion, by whatever means necessary. You feel apprehension from them, but all it takes is a little tightening of your psychic hold and they move off without protest. Giving orders to the rest of your allies, you quickly exit your old cell and start moving towards the girl, the memories of the Things you Communed with acting as guides. With your new bulk, it's slow going, but somehow you don't run into any Things that offer up any resistance. The dry pops you hear from behind must be what's distracting the other Things. Winding further down the halls, you feel the girls mind signal growing stronger and stronger.

Eventually you reach a double door, and when you burst past it, you are a little surprised to see your surroundings change, the walls no longer a dull grey but instead a warm beige color, along with the overhead lights changing from the harsh and sterile white lights that you've grown used to, but instead an inviting yellow. You realize that this is where they've kept her, and as you sense it, other Things, their biosignals dull and weak. One in particular reminds you very much of when you first met the girl, that strangely empty feeling emanating very strongly from it. Of course, it couldn't be that easy to get her and get out, as right in front of the door leading to the girl's room, is the bearded Thing, flanked by four black masked Things. You make eye contact, as your allies and his point their weapons at each other, the tension steadily rising.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V5UH0HoAz8&list=LL&index=3

And for some reason he's grinning.

Raising his arms, he orders his allies to lower their weapons, before approaching you, clapping along the way.

"I have to admit, you've exceeded my expectations, although I think you've played your hand a bit too early. Did you really think you could just abscond with little Sophia and leave that easily? No, me and my betters still have big plans for you, especially since you've revealed your ability for mind control. Why don't you just crawl back to your containment chamber, and we'll forget this even happened? In fact, I'll throw in a pig or two, because frankly, I'm proud of you 438."

>Order your allies to open fire, and join in the fray. I AM SICK OF THIS THING AND HIS FUCKING GRIN. THIS ENDS NOW!

>We are NOT going back in that cell! Break into his mind and assume direct control, his thugs won't do anything until they're ordered. Then we can make the masked Things leave, and deal with the dear old Director ourselves.

>You know, I never noticed it before, but this Thing has a deep pain in his eyes. Talk to him, try to get him to see reason. Maybe there's something we can do for him to make him let us leave? Besides, the less suffering we have to cause, the better.

>Write in

>>5113765
>Order your allies to open fire, and join in the fray. I AM SICK OF THIS THING AND HIS FUCKING GRIN. THIS ENDS NOW!

freedom.

>>5113765
>Order your allies to open fire, and join in the fray. I AM SICK OF THIS THING AND HIS FUCKING GRIN. THIS ENDS NOW!
Sorry Doc, but we're tired of your experiments.

I'm going to let voting continue overnight, next update will be at around 6 PM tomorrow. Good night everyone!

>>5113765
>You know, I never noticed it before, but this Thing has a deep pain in his eyes. Talk to him, try to get him to see reason. Maybe there's something we can do for him to make him let us leave? Besides, the less suffering we have to cause, the better.

awww yea psychological damage

>>5113765
>We are NOT going back in that cell! Break into his mind and assume direct control, his thugs won't do anything until they're ordered. Then we can make the masked Things leave, and deal with the dear old Director ourselves.

>>5113765
>>You know, I never noticed it before, but this Thing has a deep pain in his eyes. Talk to him, try to get him to see reason. Maybe there's something we can do for him to make him let us leave? Besides, the less suffering we have to cause, the better.

>>5113765
>You know, I never noticed it before, but this Thing has a deep pain in his eyes. Talk to him, try to get him to see reason. Maybe there's something we can do for him to make him let us leave? Besides, the less suffering we have to cause, the better.

Let's try to leave on a high note, yea?

>>5113627
>Shed body mass until you reach a point where you can move swiftly?
>Yes

Because we really shouldn't be this fat to begin with. This quest does remind me of INSIDE by Playdead though.

>>5113765
>You know, I never noticed it before, but this Thing has a deep pain in his eyes. Talk to him, try to get him to see reason. Maybe there's something we can do for him to make him let us leave? Besides, the less suffering we have to cause, the better.

>>5113765
>Order your allies to open fire, and join in the fray. I AM SICK OF THIS THING AND HIS FUCKING GRIN. THIS ENDS NOW!
I have come here to chew Biomass, and kick ass. And I'm ALL out of Biomass.

Also nice to see you running this quest again Thing QM, I thought for a second there this quest was gonna be discontinued.

>>5113765
>You know, I never noticed it before, but this Thing has a deep pain in his eyes. Talk to him, try to get him to see reason. Maybe there's something we can do for him to make him let us leave? Besides, the less suffering we have to cause, the better.

I would prefer to do things diferently but violence will only make them nuke us from a safe distance

>>5113765
>There is a deep pain

If this fails, we'll forcefully commune him.
But Lets hope it doesn't.
We can talk to Tobias through shifting the shape of one of those we communed with

>>5113765

>You know, I never noticed it before, but this Thing has a deep pain in his eyes. Talk to him, try to get him to see reason. Maybe there's something we can do for him to make him let us leave? Besides, the less suffering we have to cause, the better.
Ask him telephaticly. If we have a link to his mind we can communicate without any problems. We can also use our new friends to reasone (they know him, they know abaut this place, etc.)
We can also see if we are strong enough to dominate his mind.

>>5113770
>>5113782
>>5114154
3 for bloody murder
>>5114023
>>5114079
>>5114110
>>5114148
>>5114192
>>5114699
6 for diplomancy
>>5114052
1 for assuming direct control

Alright, give me 3 1d100+5 for
>TALK TO THE MAN, SEE IF WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT

Base DC is 70 but if any anons want put up a convincing write in argument feel free to do so, it could lower the DC. Also sorry for being late, had some family drama keeping me busy until now.

Rolled 5 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5115103

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>5115103

These rolls are turning me into a sad Thing.

Maybe the third one will be good?

>>5113765
What do you wish for, Director? Knowledge, status, material biomass? I think not. There is a motive held deeper, so deep that all other motivations fall to the wayside. There is another empty Thing, like Sophia. A Thing broken in spirit as well a flesh. A Thing only I can mend whole once more.

I don't wish to fight you, only to be free. Let me free, and I will mend your Thing.

Rolled 96 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5115103

File: IMG_3009.jpg (86 KB, 600x741)

86 KB JPG

>>5115310
You, sir, just turned my frown upside-down.

>>5115189
Its obligatory to read this in the G-man's voice

>>5115455
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu4kDfztSCI

>>5115310
zoo wee mama, thats good.

>>5115103
Really glad to see you back, your probably gonna catch some other people by surprise too even though you said you would be. Participation will probably be a little better next time

File: 1613310824210.gif (3.71 MB, 498x301)

3.71 MB GIF

>>5115958
Thanks anon, feels good to be back.
>>5115310
Based.
>>5115123
>>5115106
Writing now with the write in.

>TALK TO THE MAN, GET HIM TO SEE REASON... CRITICAL SUCCESS

Looking into his eyes, you see past the smugness, past the false superiority, past the anguish and rage, you see... Hope. Hope in you. For what you can do, and not just for him but... for this world. For a moment you can almost see your whole future on this world stretching past you like skin on a rack, and it feels you with hope as well. The words come to you with ease, as though it was someone else speaking them, forcing your vocal cords into alien shapes so as to form them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2t8pHCbVFc

"Whaaaat do you wissssh fooor, Director? Knowledge, stttaaaatus, mateeerial biomass? I thhhiink not. Haaaahhh... Theeerre is a moootive held deeeeeper, so deep thhaat aalll other mmootivaaations faaalll to the waaayssside. Haaaaaah... There isss anooother... Eeemmpty Thiiing, like Ssssophiaaa. A Thiiing broooken in spiriiit as well aaas flesh. A Thiiing only I caaan mend whooole once mooore. I doon't wish to fiiight you, ooonnly to be freeee. Haaaaahhh... Let meee be freeeee, and I will meeeennnd your Thiiiing."

At the mention of the empty Thing, the Directors eyes go wide. He sputters "H-How did you... Heh. Of course you know. Do... Do you really mean it? You will save my daughter?"

You don't say anything, but something in your eyes makes him crack a sad little grin, and he then orders his Things to leave, to which they protest, obviously thinking he's gone mad. He then reminds them that they're all facing an all consuming monster, and that if they fought they'd all die horribly anyway, and to just drop their weapons and to go away. This seems to make them see reason, as they gently drop their weapons on the ground and then leave, going through the back behind the Director. He then says to follow him, as he leads you to a locked door in the hallway, where you can sense the empty signal coming from. He produces a small yellow key and unlocks it, before opening it and stepping inside, motioning for you to follow.

You order your allies to wait outside while keeping an eye out for any Things with a death wish, and then you step inside. When you enter, you see a young adolescent female, who is little more than skin and bone, like Sophia but somehow even worse, with a neat little scar at the top of her head. You note that the Director won't even look at her, and you see tiny rivulets of liquid flowing down his cheeks. You tell him that you need to be as close as possible for it to work, and he nods before looking away as you climb onto the bed just enough so that you can get your pollen organs close without crushing her.

Then, with an oddly familiar and nostalgic sensation filling you, you order your pollen organs to go into overdrive, every cell in your body focused on one thing, to heal instead of consume. You push yourself, straining, as despite the improvements to your pollen organs this Thing is so far gone that she might need even more pollen than Sophia. So you give, and give, and give, the room filling up with excess pollen.

You don't know how long you've been doing it, but at this point it is starting to hurt, but you refuse to give up, your desire for freedom melting away in the face of your desire to heal. Before long, your pollen organs are bleeding, the precious liquid seeping down onto the bed, and it feels like your whole body is on fire. You realize that if this amount of pollen isn't enough, then nothing will be, and so before you totally collapse and pass out from sheer exhaustion, you stop.

And so you wait.

And wait.

And then... You sense it! That emptiness, filling up with life! And you can see it as well, her body filling in, her gaunt, sunken in face puffing up as your pollen does it's work, replacing and repairing damaged cells, bringing life to what was little more than a breathing corpse. The transformation is much faster than the process of getting the pollen into her, and you literally watch as her body fills in, the damaged organs and flesh being healed to perfection, and even beyond. By the time the revitalization is complete, that empty feeling is completely gone, and her biosignal shines so brightly that it's almost blinding.

Then... her eyes open. But... she's not looking at you, but her progenitor. You step off the bed just as she says

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NXilL56rSI&list=LL&index=19

"Daddy?"

As you look back at the Director, you see that his eyes are as wide as plates, streaming tears, before he rushes to her side and wraps her in a hug, saying

"Y-yes honey, daddies here."

"Dad why'd you grow such a big beard, it's tickles hahaha!"

"Sorry honey, I... I don't know why I let it grow out so much, heh..."

You let them have their moment, but you know your time is short and your window of escape closes with every minute. Still you let them have it. Eventually though, you nudge the Director with a tendril and remind him of the deal.

"O-of course, 438. Here, this is my Directors keycard, it can unlock any door in the facility. Just... Just go. And... Thank you.

You leave them alone, exiting the room and meeting your allies in the hallway. All that's left now is to get the girl and then...

Freedom.

You lurch and pull your bulk to the door leading into Sophia's room, and as you enter, you see her, standing up against the wall with some strange metallic tube in her hands. When she sees you though, she drops it before running over and asking

"It's you! W-what the hell is going on?! This isn't really a hospital, is it?!"

>Write in

>>5116263
And the write in is for what you'll say to her.

>>5116263
"No, this is a facility researching me, the sick things must have been there to test my regenerative and healing abilities.
Let's go now, we can leave but they may still change their mind soon."

>>5116263
>No Sophia, it is a testing place. We leave now, to safety where we are not poked and prodded.

Communion can come later.

>>5116284
+1

>>5116286
+1 on the communion idea. I'm still into being Sophia's venomsuit. Enslaving millions into our hive mind just isn't the same if we aren't a smug Queen bitch

>>5116284
>>5116286
>>5116301
>>5116412
I'll just combine these. Writing now.

File: Spoiler Image (145 KB, 900x598)

145 KB JPG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8mOXnWOrhw

This poor Thing, you think, she has no idea what's going on. Soon, you'll explain everything, but for now you know you both must leave soon, so through your mind link you answer her, "No Sophia, this is a testing facility, made to see what I can do, my abilities to heal and... Other things. We're free now, please come with me."

You see little more than confusion in her eyes, but it's something in yours that makes her gulp, and then nod. "Okay. Let's go." You motion with a tendril for her to follow, and then walk out of the room, with Sophia and your allies close behind. With your new knowledge of the facility, you wind through the facilities corridors with almost practiced ease, another mind guiding your steps. You pass laboratories and break rooms and cafeterias, and even one large room full of the pink skinned creatures. The Things hide and cower when you pass them by, and before long the stink of adrenaline fills the whole place, but you give them no trouble as you single-mindedly head for the exit. Before you know it, you've reached what appears to be a door, with a blinking mechanical object on the wall next to it. Feeling strange biosignals right behind the door, you place the keycard the Director gave you into the reader, and you watch as it slowly slides open, revealing... Green things, brown inorganic material, and a strange blue ceiling, a pale yellow dot hanging suspended in it.

Stepping out into the alien surroundings, you take a deep breath, and then exhale it.

Your first taste.

Freedom.

>CHOOSE THE INTERLUDE
>FORESEEN CONSEQUENCES
>A KIND OF HEAVEN
>BRAVE NEW WORLD

>>5117289
>>A KIND OF HEAVEN
First order of business, lay down somewhere and evolve.

>>5117289
>>BRAVE NEW WORLD

>>5117289
>FORESEEN CONSEQUENCES

>>5117289
>FORESEEN CONSEQUENCES

>>5117289
>A KIND OF HEAVEN
Happy outlook in life GET!
So regarding the shit ton of people we infected in the facility, who may possibly start to slowly become flesh hungry monsters, can we send out a single to stop that? As in reverse the effects?

Can we also spend some points to make our metabolism more effective so we require less mass to satiate the hunger? Photosynthesis for additional means of sustainence?

Aaaare we capable of taking the form of one of those scary old testament Angel's for shits and giggles? What are we going to do with our allies?

>>5117289
>A KIND OF HEAVEN

>>5117289
>A KIND OF HEAVEN

>>5117341
>So regarding the shit ton of people we infected in the facility, who may possibly start to slowly become flesh hungry monsters, can we send out a single to stop that? As in reverse the effects?
If I remember correctly you already did that, so it will only make them slaves to your will and filled with the desire to help you no matter what. Your ten allies now eight with you were the ones far along enough into the infection to be forced to help you, with a bit of psychic manipulation
>Can we also spend some points to make our metabolism more effective so we require less mass to satiate the hunger? Photosynthesis for additional means of sustainence?
Yeah sure, I'll add that onto the list of adaptations. One thing to keep in mind is that no matter what, the more biomass you contain the hungrier you get and the more biomatter you need to keep from going mad from hunger. You also already have photosynthesis, and you'll get your first free EP from that pretty soon now that you're outside.
>Aaaare we capable of taking the form of one of those scary old testament Angel's for shits and giggles? What are we going to do with our allies?
You could give it a shot, I suppose. And what you do with your allies is up to you guys, you could assimilate them, Commune with them, keep them following you around, or just tell them to fuck off.

>>5117381
Not him but if we converted organic beings into Things with spores, could we merge with them?

>>5117389
Yeah, you can consume pretty much anything organic, barring some special cases. The Things themselves wanting to merge with you, however, may be a different matter.

>>5117289
>Forseen consequences

The director probably doesn't care, his daughter is alive.

>>5117289
>A KIND OF HEAVEN

>>5117393
Reject feeding
Become tree
Photosynthesis time

>>5117393
Reject feeding
Become truly free

>>5117289

>FORESEEN CONSEQUENCES

>>5117393
TREE
FITTY

>>5117597
It was about that time that I realized the little girl was actually a alien from the Paleozoic era wrapped around a little girl

>>5117289
>A KIND OF HEAVEN

I want a goddamn happy vision for once.

>>5117393
in that case we could feast a bit on dirt

>>5118203
I'm gonna go ahead and say now that you can't eat dirt, if only so the rest of the quest doesn't devolve into you burrowing into the ground and exclusively eating dirt. Sorry anon.

>>5117293
>>5117341
>>5117359
>>5117373
>>5117415
>>5117615
6 for A KIND OF HEAVEN
>>5117295
1 for BRAVE NEW WORLD
>>5117297
>>5117311
>>5117411
>>5117476
4 for FORESEEN CONSEQUENCES

Alright, writing now.

>>5117615
Happy is heresy

>>5118444
oh its that it has organic compounds but it has no energy its all nutrients and the minerals needed for life and is just the decayed corpse mush of countless deaths of thousands of generations

A KIND OF HEAVEN

TOBIAS GRAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFMluqTxbKg&list=LL&index=11

It's done. My life's work, over a decade of sleepwalking from one research site to the next. I finally did it. Well... That's not quite true... You know, when I got briefed and read the uncensored research papers on it, when I first looked at Subject 438-C, I thought "This Thing will be the end of the world." Now... Now I don't know. It saved her at least. No, to be honest, it also saved me. Looking into my daughters eyes, hearing her laugh for the first time in God knows how long, I truly wonder if letting it go was the worst thing I've done in my life, or the greatest.

Time will tell, I guess.

She hasn't changed a bit since the accident, mentally at least. In her mind, she's still a 6 year old little girl. I don't have the heart to tell her about her mother. Not now. It will take years of therapy and honest to God recuperation for her mind to catch up with her body, but... That's fine. She has all the time she needs. Me though, I'm done. Finished.

That's fine too.

When my betters learn what I've done, how terribly I've failed them, they'll want to make an example. Show the others that weakness will not be tolerated, nor incompetency. At best, I'll spend the rest of my days languishing in a black site hellhole somewhere in South America. At worst... Well, no point in worrying about that now. Until then, being here, playing with my daughter, making her laugh and seeing the happiness in her eyes, isn't so bad.

"Honey?"

"Yeah dad?"

"I... I love you so, so much."

"Hehe, I love you too!

I may be damned for all I've done, but this, right here, right now... this is a kind of Heaven.

............................................................................

SUBJECT 438-C "THE THING"

>You've committed an act of true kindness, and the growth to your character has given you 30 Evolution Points, leaving you with a total of 120 EP!

You and your group have put a decent bit of distance between you and your prison, what one of the Things in you says is at least a couple miles. You've seen nothing so far other than a strange black inorganic material covering the ground right outside the prison, leading... Somewhere, and what that same Thing labels as trees, grass, shrubs and dirt. You've seen other creatures too, small feathered things with the wondrous ability for flight, tiny pink invertebrates wriggling around, an army of those little black shelled creatures, which stirs a feeling of nostalgia from deep within, and many, many other lifeforms. You never would have guessed that this world was so full of life! Compared to your barren, sterile cell, this place is an oasis of beauty and wonder.

Sophia on the other hand, doesn't share in your amazement. Four times now, she's asked you where you all are, where you're going, and where her parents are, and if we're going to eat anything soon. Your other allies aren't much for conversation, their minds solely focused on obeying your will. You wish you could give her the answers she seeks, but you're even more lost in this world than she is.

And then... There's your Hunger. Being in a place so abundant with biomatter has done nothing but increase it, and all the new hungry biomass you've tacked on isn't helping matters. And then you feel it, that familiar urge, to grow, to become more than what you were before. Fortunately, you've just passed by a small recession in one of the rocky hills of this area, what a Thing in your mind labels as a cave. Sensing no large biosignals in there, you feel it is safe enough to enter for a time to rest and grow, and figure out your next move. Entering, you find a decent spot in the back that's not too rocky, and so you lay down, and let evolution take it's course.

>YOU HAVE REACHED THE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR EVOLUTION
>YOU HAVE 120 EVOLUTION POINTS TO SPEND

>Primitive eyes, you grow more of the odd organs, as well as more subtle changes within, that allow you to see further and with more definition. Where before you were blind past 15 feet, now you can see clearly for about 30! Your vision in darkness has also improved, allowing you to see about 10 feet where you look in the dark where before you were completely blind. 10 points.

>Primitive legs, muscle gets more efficiently and tightly packed into your legs, as well as the natural skills in locomotion you've gained through experience, making you a good bit faster and more nimble with your fleshy appendages. 10 points

>Primitive tendrils, muscle becomes more tightly corded along it's length, and they grow another foot from the growth. You're also getting the hang of controlling them, and while they can't quite support your body still, you are more nimble and powerful with this adaptation. 10 points

>Basic claws and sharper teeth, your natural weapons grow again, now becoming entirely bone, as well as lengthening a bit more. They grow much sharper as well, and from both your battle experience as well combat simulations your more restless cells have been running in the background, you feel much more competent in the art of cutting your enemies to shreds. 20 points

>Superior Intelligence, you have begun to truly surpass those Things that were once your captors. With this growth in your mind, you think faster, come up with better plans, and your ability to both understand this world and control your body will have improved greatly. 70 points

>Primitive skeletal structure, your skeleton grows sturdier, the core beginning to change into actual bone instead of cartilage. This adaptation makes you even more sturdy than before, and you feel as though your overall balance is improving as well. 10 points

>Primitive mouth, tongue, and sharper teeth, with this improvement you can more easily identify harmful biomatter, and also can do some damage with those chompers of yours. And your tongue becomes forked along with more subtle changes inside, allowing you with periodically flicking your tongue out, giving you the ability to taste the air and sense your prey better, although not as well as with a proper olfactory system. 10 points

>Primitive olfactory system, continuing down the dubious path of smells allows you to follow a scent for longer as well as becoming more able to pick out individual scents from a area with many smelly smells. 10 points

>Rudimentary scales, these cover your whole body and provide some degree of protection and insulation, keeping you slightly warmer in cold places and cooler in hot places, and a little better suited for general survival. 5 points

>Rudimentary asexual reproduction, this allows you become a proud... Thing. Through a couple days of incubation, you will lay eggs that, if protected and kept in the proper environment, will allow you to give birth to lifeforms, who will instinctually follow your commands. They will be weak, tiny, and almost defenseless for now, but continue down this path, and you can become a veritable army making machine... 10 points.

>Rudimentary bait defense system, you grow a tendril that's fat and brightly colored, that when in danger you can harmlessly detach from your body. it will wriggle around and attract the attention of any predator you wish to flee from, at least momentarily. 5 points.

>Rudimentary gills, growing these allows you to breathe underwater, although you will be pretty uncomfortable and your gills ability to filter grime and debris are rather lackluster. 5 points

>Primitive photosynthesis, your cells grow more used to the act of using sunlight to fuel energy production, allowing you to more efficiently gain strength from simply spending enough time in the sun, now able to gain 2 EP passively a day, assuming you're not cooped up inside all day. 10 points

>Rudimentary fins, these allow you to swim more easily and with more speed, although they are fragile and damage very easily. 5 points

>Basic pollen generation, you have grown again, your pollen organs overtaking more of your body so as to produce even more pollen with less effort, and the pollen cells themselves are able to more efficiently and quickly heal or change whatever inhales them, with less of the stuff necessary to do it. 40 points

>Rudimentary fur, your body becomes covered in a black fur, insulating your body against both heat and cold, although you stay much warmer in the cold with this than with scales, but scales keep you cooler in the heat, as well as providing slightly better protection. Still, this is a must in frigid climates. 5 points

>Basic adapted communion, through continued experience and specialization, your Communion organ is even more efficient than before, and now when you Commune you lose only a little of the precious biomatter of those you Commune with, and your adapted Communion is only slightly less efficient than either pure Communion or assimilation. One step further, one new friend made, very soon you really will have the best of both worlds! 40 points

>Rudimentary cell consolidation, you instruct your cells to commit a form of cannibalism, compacting your form and reducing both hunger and overall energy spent per cycle. Best used creatively. 10 points.

>Rudimentary insectoid strength, your body begins to tack on more muscle mass all over, which can be activated for brief moments of increased strength, when brute force is absolutely necessary. 20 points

>Basic telepathy/biosense, your soul, rather than your mind, has become larger, now able to more stealthily break into the minds of others, as well becoming stronger so as to more easily get in with brute force, assume direct control, as well as do some damage to the mind, if you so desire. 60 points

>Rudimentary efficient metabolism, your cells have begun to learn how to better divvy up the biomass between themselves, getting more fuel from less biomatter, and effectively lessening the rate at which your hunger grows. 10 points

>Basic Telepathy (-60)
>Primitive Photosynthesis (-10)
>Rudimentary asexual reproduction (-10)
>Rudimentary efficient metabolism (-10)
>Primitive eyes (-10)
>Primitive tendrils (-10)
>Rudimentary scales (-5)
>Rudimentary bait defense system (-5)

Basic telepathy or superior intelligence was hard too choose from but Basic Telepathy gives me a few more points and will help if we find more humans to assume.

Primitive photosynthesis is now just gonna be a passive free +2 EP per day, no struggle needed. Why not pick it?

Asexual reproduction makes sense if we're going for this whole "nice uwu" path. Might as well have more meat shields to protect and serve us, right?

Efficient metabolism is just useful. Helps us manage our hunger.

Eyes, tendrils, scales, and bait are mostly just general survival increases now that we're in a world we don't really know that much about, compared to the endless blank hallways.

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323 KB JPG

>>5118526
>Rudimentary efficient metabolism 10
>Rudimentary cell consolidation 10
>Primitive photosynthesis 10
>Primitive skeletal structure 10
>Primitive tendrils 10
>Primitive legs 10
>Primitive eyes 10
and dump the rest of the points in photosynthesis

Walking tree here we go

>>5118547
>>5118560
asexual reproduction means we can lay eggs for our minions too eat so they dont starve too death if we dont feed them rudimentary bait defense system flesh

>Rudimentary asexual reproduction -10 points.
Become like an ant queen and make them bring us insects and small mammals all day to consume.
>Basic pollen generation -40 points
I like pollen warfare, producing pollen in this cave home will make it hard for anything to enter without being infected to some degree. And also alerting us to their presence.
>Rudimentary cell consolidation -10 points
Cannibalize some of our cells so that we are less hungry and get some EP from it too.
>Basic telepathy/biosense -60 points
We can more easily control the minds of humans and bigger animals, maybe control the mind of a bear to let us eat it.

>>5118526
>Primitive eyes, you grow more of the odd organs, as well as more subtle changes within, that allow you to see further and with more definition. Where before you were blind past 15 feet, now you can see clearly for about 30! Your vision in darkness has also improved, allowing you to see about 10 feet where you look in the dark where before you were completely blind. 10 points.

>Primitive legs, muscle gets more efficiently and tightly packed into your legs, as well as the natural skills in locomotion you've gained through experience, making you a good bit faster and more nimble with your fleshy appendages. 10 points

Primitive tendrils, muscle becomes more tightly corded along it's length, and they grow another foot from the growth. You're also getting the hang of controlling them, and while they can't quite support your body still, you are more nimble and powerful with this adaptation. 10 points

Superior Intelligence, you have begun to truly surpass those Things that were once your captors. With this growth in your mind, you think faster, come up with better plans, and your ability to both understand this world and control your body will have improved greatly. 70 points

Primitive photosynthesis, your cells grow more used to the act of using sunlight to fuel energy production, allowing you to more efficiently gain strength from simply spending enough time in the sun, now able to gain 2 EP passively a day, assuming you're not cooped up inside all day. 10 points

>Rudimentary efficient metabolism, your cells have begun to learn how to better divvy up the biomass between themselves, getting more fuel from less biomatter, and effectively lessening the rate at which your hunger grows. 10 points

We need survivability to remain un-nuked by some shadow government now that we escaped, somebody will try to kill us at some point, and we need lay low for now

>>5118526
>Telepathy 60
>Metabolism 10
>Photosynthesis 10
>Basic communion 40

We can move fine enough so far. For now, improve our ability to see and commune.

>>5118597
why would you want more mouths to feed?
that smells like truble

>>5118679
It is, no clue why people want that when we should be laying low and trying to find this girl's family

>>5118547
Ehhh. Replace the asexual bit with Primitive legs we DO need to stay low. And more speed will help us evade capture, combined with everything else.

>>5118526
>Basic Telepathy (-60)
>Primitive Photosynthesis (-10)
>Primitive legs (-10)
>Rudimentary efficient metabolism (-10)
>Primitive eyes (-10)
>Primitive tendrils (-10)
>Rudimentary cell consolidation (-10)

>>5118526
>Basic telepathy/biosense 60
>Basic adapted communion 40
>Rudimentary cell consolidation 10
>Primitive legs 10

>>5118526

>Rudimentary efficient metabolism 10
>Rudimentary cell consolidation 10
>Primitive photosynthesis 10
>Rudimentary insectoid strength 20
>Superior Intelligence 70

After evolving shed some biomass and take human form. If clothes are needed, commune with one of your companions before and use his clothes. Oh, and don't do it in front of the girl.

>>5118526
>Primitive photosynthesis 10
Is it possible to be like a filter feader? Like clams or some aquatic life? Just such in nutrients from the water?

>Rudimentary efficient metabolism 10
>Rudimentary cell consolidation
Tell our friend that we must use our brains, because people will probably try to find her family to do mean things. But if we're smart, we wont have to worry about that.

Does anyone else want to be a goliath sea creature? Doing something that lots of kilometers long sounds cool.

>>5118771
+1

I'd prefer if we always try to commune with the Things, they seem far too sentient and complex to feel good about devouring them without saving their souls first. We can fulfill a grand purpose, a messianic purpose...

>>5118840
>Is it possible to be like a filter feader? Like clams or some aquatic life? Just such in nutrients from the water?
Sure, if you assimilate or commune with a organism with that ability then I don't see why not. It's benefit will be a passive generation of EP per day and slight reduction in hunger, like photosynthesis.

>>5119185
Well fellas

Looks like it's time to fsh!

>>5119185
Let's do that so we can stave off hunger more easily, we don't want to lose control and hurt the girl

>Primitive eyes, you grow more of the odd organs, as well as more subtle changes within, that allow you to see further and with more definition. Where before you were blind past 15 feet, now you can see clearly for about 30! Your vision in darkness has also improved, allowing you to see about 10 feet where you look in the dark where before you were completely blind. 10 points.

>Primitive legs, muscle gets more efficiently and tightly packed into your legs, as well as the natural skills in locomotion you've gained through experience, making you a good bit faster and more nimble with your fleshy appendages. 10 points

>Primitive photosynthesis, your cells grow more used to the act of using sunlight to fuel energy production, allowing you to more efficiently gain strength from simply spending enough time in the sun, now able to gain 2 EP passively a day, assuming you're not cooped up inside all day. 10 points

>Rudimentary cell consolidation, you instruct your cells to commit a form of cannibalism, compacting your form and reducing both hunger and overall energy spent per cycle. Best used creatively. 10 points

>Basic telepathy/biosense, your soul, rather than your mind, has become larger, now able to more stealthily break into the minds of others, as well becoming stronger so as to more easily get in with brute force, assume direct control, as well as do some damage to the mind, if you so desire. 60 points

>Rudimentary efficient metabolism, your cells have begun to learn how to better divvy up the biomass between themselves, getting more fuel from less biomatter, and effectively lessening the rate at which your hunger grows. 10 points

A step toward humanity while playing to our strengths.

>>5118526
>Primitive eyes, you grow more of the odd organs, as well as more subtle changes within, that allow you to see further and with more definition. Where before you were blind past 15 feet, now you can see clearly for about 30! Your vision in darkness has also improved, allowing you to see about 10 feet where you look in the dark where before you were completely blind. 10 points.
>Primitive legs, muscle gets more efficiently and tightly packed into your legs, as well as the natural skills in locomotion you've gained through experience, making you a good bit faster and more nimble with your fleshy appendages. 10 points

>Primitive tendrils, muscle becomes more tightly corded along it's length, and they grow another foot from the growth. You're also getting the hang of controlling them, and while they can't quite support your body still, you are more nimble and powerful with this adaptation. 10 points
>Primitive skeletal structure, your skeleton grows sturdier, the core beginning to change into actual bone instead of cartilage. This adaptation makes you even more sturdy than before, and you feel as though your overall balance is improving as well. 10 points

>Primitive mouth, tongue, and sharper teeth, with this improvement you can more easily identify harmful biomatter, and also can do some damage with those chompers of yours. And your tongue becomes forked along with more subtle changes inside, allowing you with periodically flicking your tongue out, giving you the ability to taste the air and sense your prey better, although not as well as with a proper olfactory system. 10 points
>Primitive photosynthesis, your cells grow more used to the act of using sunlight to fuel energy production, allowing you to more efficiently gain strength from simply spending enough time in the sun, now able to gain 2 EP passively a day, assuming you're not cooped up inside all day. 10 points
>Basic adapted communion, through continued experience and specialization, your Communion organ is even more efficient than before, and now when you Commune you lose only a little of the precious biomatter of those you Commune with, and your adapted Communion is only slightly less efficient than either pure Communion or assimilation. One step further, one new friend made, very soon you really will have the best of both worlds! 40 points
>Rudimentary insectoid strength, your body begins to tack on more muscle mass all over, which can be activated for brief moments of increased strength, when brute force is absolutely necessary. 20 points

>>5118679
well we have a human girl that needs to eat and a bunch of our human minions

File: Creature.png (3 KB, 200x128)

3 KB PNG

No update tonight, obviously, as I've been feeling a bit under the weather. I'll tally the votes and get started on the update tomorrow at around noon EST, see you all then!

>>5120450
Hope you feel better soon Thing QM! see you later

>Rudimentary efficient metabolism 10
>Rudimentary cell consolidation 10
>Primitive photosynthesis 10
>Rudimentary insectoid strength 20
>Superior Intelligence 70

>Basic telepathy/biosense: 6
>Primitive photosynthesis: 11
>Rudimentary asexual reproduction: 2
>Rudimentary efficient metabolism: 10
>Primitive eyes: 6
>Primitive tendrils: 5
>Rudimentary scales: 1
>Rudimentary bait defense system: 1
>Rudimentary cell consolidation: 9
>Primitive skeletal structure: 2
>Primitive legs: 6
>Basic pollen generation: 1
>Superior intelligence: 4
>Basic adapted communion: 3
>Rudimentary insectoid strength: 4

Alright so it looks like telepathy, photo, metabolism, eyes, consolidation, tendrils, and legs wins out, which adds up to exactly 120 EP. If everyone's cool with those being the adaptations you guy's want, then I'm gonna get started writing. If anyone has a problem with that set, speak up in the next 30 minutes, otherwise it's locked in as your new adaptations/upgrades.

>>5120781
I don't have a problem, We are gonna look super cool!

>>5120781
Seems fine to me

Alright, writing now.

File: strange growths.gif (3.07 MB, 327x250)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rhj1EUJ11o

The changes come on quickly and painlessly, and Sophia only looks on for a minute before looking away, a gagging sound issuing from her throat. Curious. First up is your tendrils, they become slightly thicker and a couple of feet longer, but the most curious change takes place inside, the muscle growing in density, coiling within. And two more of the things sprout from your back, splitting the flesh and skin and spraying viscera on the cave wall behind you, eliciting a gasp from Sophia. When it's done, you test your tendrils strength by picking up a rock off the cave floor, steadily moving up in size and weight, one after the other. They are a good deal stronger now, and through your repeated use of the tendrils, you feel more agile and competent in their use, in and out of combat.

Next up is a slightly surprising one, as suddenly your vision changes, the blurriness being wiped away for at least 30 feet, allowing you to clearly make out Sophia's face for the first time. Blonde hair, blue eyes with a quiet intensity burning within, as well as her pearly white teeth that's been bared in a grimace, a mixture of disgust and fascination contorting her features. And behind you, deeper in the cave where it's pitch black, you can see much further now, able to make out various rocks and fungus, swathed in grays, blacks and whites. And like your tendrils, you feel more eyes poking, then bursting through your skin, two of them above and to the left and right of your forward facing eyes, and once again your vision splits. This will make calculating depth slightly easier than before, if nothing else. Sophia comments "Y-your new eyes, they're different than the other green snake eyes. One's blue and shaped like a persons, and the other... looks like a cat's eyes. Jeez, I don't even wanna know..." Huh. Interesting.

You'd ask her more about your appearance, but then you focus is once again taken back to your own changes, as internally you feel a burst of energy, almost as if you had assimilated a bit of biomatter, and you feel a momentary urge to step outside of the dark cave and back into the sunlight, where you belong... Along three of your tendrils, a strange thing happens: Buds begin to form, before blooming with pink and blue and yellow organic material, very similar to some of the... what the tiny voice perks up to remind you is known as flowers, the strange things blossoming up and down the length of three of your tendrils. "Now that's kind of cool, actually. Really pretty." Sophia says, a ghost of a smile painting her lips. Even inside the cave, you feel a bit more energized from the sunlight that filters in, and while you can't be sure, you think you feel just a bit less hungry than before.

Speaking of your hunger, you can feel your cells finally stop their constant protests about it, and instead you hear internal deliberation about what to actually do about it. You sit there a while, listening to the constant hum of debate, before finally they seem to reach a consensus, and internally a sweeping change takes place. Your cells work together to redesign themselves for a more efficient use of the biomatter you assimilate, and before long you begin to feel... Different. You can't detect much of a change in your hunger, but they inform you that with these changes, you will now need less fuel to fill full and energized. You quietly thank them for their work, which earns you a smattering of cheers, your cells proud of both their leader and themselves.

While you're thinking about how to best improve your efficiency and ability to survive in this strange new world, you remember your new bulk, now almost triple the size of the tallest Thing in your group, and your current difficulty in simply moving around. Right before you escaped, you did debate simply shedding the dead weight, but the loss of cells of biomatter seemed too dear a price to pay at the time. Now though, inspired by the creativity of your cells, you think of a different solution: Autophagy. Of course, nothing so drastic as biting off pieces of yourself, but instead ordering your cells to consume and repurpose the excess weight, the fat, the stuff that just slows you down. So you give your cells instructions, and the parts chosen to be cannibalized do not complain, instead happy to be put to better use. It takes around an hour, by the time it is done you are about half the size you were before, and much, much less hungry. Testing your new movement capabilities, you find that it is much easier to move around than before, and you feel more agile and nimble overall. "You know, I knew some girls back in high school that would have killed to be able to do that, hehe." Says Sophia, it seems she's calmed down and grown a bit more used to your transformations, but you note that this one was less visceral than the previous ones, to and outside observer you simply slowly shrunk in size.

But the changes aren't quite done yet, as you once again feel muscle building up inside, but instead of your tendrils, it takes place within your legs. The constant exercise and strain of having to carry your previous weight around for miles seems to have paid off, as they become a good deal thicker with pure muscle, and you do a couple laps around the cave, picking up speed as you go along, and you think that even with your old bulk, you would have been a decent bit faster. As you are now, however, you are much faster, and agile to boot. It seems Sophia learned her lesson from the tendrils transformation, and didn't look at you at all until after your legs were done changing.

Finally, you feel a growth coming on that won't make Sophia feel ill, your mind expanding both inward and outward, as you feel not only the minds of the tiny crawling lifeforms that fill this cave, but also those of your companions. The Things you took control of are unsurprisingly, mostly blank, but with your expanded mind you do sense... Despair, hidden deep within. Interesting. And in Sophia, you also feel disgust, rampant fear, and hope, for you, and for finding her parents. But there is also... Something else, deep within her mind. Something dark. Outside of your cave, you can feel the simple minds of thousands of various creatures, winding down as the day turns to dusk. This will surely help in your hunting, should you choose to do it.

When it is all over, when you feel evolution letting you out of her tight grasp, you feel much more ready and able to face this strange world, and all the dangers lurking within. As you peek outside the cave, you see that pale yellow dot has lowered, closing in on the horizon and bathing the blue ceiling in orange and pink. And while for once you don't feel very hungry at all, you can keenly make out the sound of Sophia's stomach grumbling, and while your other allies would never say it, or much of anything for that matter, they must also be growing rather hungry.

Decisions decisions...

>Head into what one of the Things in your mind knows as a forest, and hunt for anything the Things in your company could eat. Compared to our old world, with it's barren and sterile rooms and halls, this place is a veritable smorgasbord! This should be easy as growing a new eye!

>Before we do anything else, we should discuss with our companions what our next move is. I'm mostly interested in what Sophia wants to do, but maybe we should see what our Things want as well? It is obviously useful to have... Meat shields, for lack of a kinder term, but what do they want to do? And what should we do with them, should it seem like they don't want to be here?

>Deep inside, despite the boosts of energy you've gotten from your new growths and from that pale yellow dot in the ceiling, you have done so much today. Your muscles ache, and your mind is frayed and tired from having to constantly re-exert your control over your allies. Take a break, get some rest for a bit before we do anything drastic. And who knows, maybe there's something else within you should take care of before anything else.

>Write in.

Also updated the pastebin with your new and improved appearance and abilities.
https://pastebin.com/4txCApic

>>5120966
>Head into what one of the Things in your mind knows as a forest, and hunt for anything the Things in your company could eat. Compared to our old world, with it's barren and sterile rooms and halls, this place is a veritable smorgasbord! This should be easy as growing a new eye!
Focus on finding things that'll give us cooler and newer adaptions, instead of just crunching ten dozen pounds worth of ants or something.

>>5120966
>Head into what one of the Things in your mind knows as a forest, and hunt for anything the Things in your company could eat. Compared to our old world, with it's barren and sterile rooms and halls, this place is a veritable smorgasbord! This should be easy as growing a new eye!
Our companions need food to function and protect us. It would also be a good opportunity for us to get acquainted with the wildlife in the area.

>>5118771
>Oh, and don't do it in front of the girl.

Why not i front of her? In fact why not diablarise her right here and now? Up until now the thing believes being a part of the greater whole is a superior way to be in every way, feels nice and does the lonely fucks a favor. So why would the thing actually NOT do it?

>>5120980
Support.

Failing that, we can commune.

>>5120966
>Head into what one of the Things in your mind knows as a forest, and hunt for anything the Things in your company could eat. Compared to our old world, with it's barren and sterile rooms and halls, this place is a veritable smorgasbord! This should be easy as growing a new eye!

>>5121000
Good question.

Loneliness is a curse, but the basic understanding is also that she is unique so far. So we will need to study, and maybe commune later.

>>5121000

Simple: it is not affection, just simple reason. When we communed with the things back in the lab they were horrified, not just the ones that were taken, all of them. If we don't want the girl to panic and run (in wich case we would need to subdue her mentally and/or phisically) don't "eat" other humans before her eyes....

>>5120966

>Head into what one of the Things in your mind knows as a forest, and hunt for anything the Things in your company could eat.
Before we go hunting can we ask our new friends to search for edible things too?

>>5120966
>Head into what one of the Things in your mind knows as a forest, and hunt for anything the Things in your company could eat. Compared to our old world, with it's barren and sterile rooms and halls, this place is a veritable smorgasbord! This should be easy as growing a new eye!

>>5121004
What is there to study that communion can't teach us anyway?
>>5121008
>hen we communed with the things back in the lab they were horrified
And then they chilled immediately after, and she can't run if you just face bonk on the spot.
>(in wich case we would need to subdue her mentally and/or phisically)
Which is bad how? That is below a minor inconvenience next to the glory of communion that the thing sees nothing wrong in.

>>5121093
I think that one having genuinely loyal human ally could be useful, same reason I personally wouldn't assimilate our other pollinized humans yet, they can be more useful doing errands for us than as food.

>>5121093
Our mental connection. We KNOW that we can talk to people inside our commuted headspace, but this is new. Psychic connection with seemingly very little range restrictions.

It's a new application of our abilities that would be wasted if we just communed. But you're right, it would be cruel to deny her, so lets offer the chance.
We commune or we get to test out bond.

>Head into what one of the Things in your mind knows as a forest, and hunt for anything the Things in your company could eat. Compared to our old world, with it's barren and sterile rooms and halls, this place is a veritable smorgasbord! This should be easy as growing a new eye!

>>5120966
>Before we do anything else, we should discuss with our companions what our next move is. I'm mostly interested in what Sophia wants to do, but maybe we should see what our Things want as well? It is obviously useful to have... Meat shields, for lack of a kinder term, but what do they want to do? And what should we do with them, should it seem like they don't want to be here?

>>5120966
>Before we do anything else, we should discuss with our companions what our next move is. I'm mostly interested in what Sophia wants to do, but maybe we should see what our Things want as well? It is obviously useful to have... Meat shields, for lack of a kinder term, but what do they want to do? And what should we do with them, should it seem like they don't want to be here?

>>5120966

>Before we do anything else, we should discuss with our companions what our next move is. I'm mostly interested in what Sophia wants to do, but maybe we should see what our Things want as well? It is obviously useful to have... Meat shields, for lack of a kinder term, but what do they want to do? And what should we do with them, should it seem like they don't want to be here?

>>5121626
>>5121687
>>5121955
3 for righteous conversation
>>5120978
>>5120980
>>5121003
>>5121002
>>5121011
>>5121021
>>5121188
7 for beginning the hunt

Alright, roll me 3 1d100+10 for
>FIND SOMETHING TO EAT FOR YOUR COMPANIONS

Sorry for being late again, had to go run around doing errands for family all day.

Rolled 24 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5122862

>>5122862
Oh yeah, the DC is 50, with most of the difficulty coming from figuring out what is edible and even palatable for your allies, not necessarily for yourself.

Rolled 59 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5122862

Rolled 81 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5122862
Here goes nothing.
>>5122865
Wouldn't the consciousnesses of the scientists we communed with know about that? Granted, I don't think they would know what wild plants are edible but any vertebrate forest critter should do if we get make a fire to cook them.

>>5122869
>>5122866
>>5122864
OK, it's a success. Writing now.
>>5122869
>Wouldn't the consciousnesses of the scientists we communed with know about that? Granted, I don't think they would know what wild plants are edible but any vertebrate forest critter should do if we get make a fire to cook them.
Good point.

>FIND SOMETHING FOR YOUR COMPANIONS TO EAT... SUCCESS

You don't even need to hear the grumbling of Sophia's stomach to know her hunger, as through your biobond you hear as her thoughts turn repeatedly to the topic of food, and with your own hunger temporarily sated, you decide to do something about it, and for a moment you debate bringing one of your former captors with you, before deciding against it, remembering the loudness of the weapons they hold. You do want to keep a low profile, after all. You send a quick mental message to Sophia, telling her that you're leaving for a while to find something for them to eat. As you take your first steps towards the exit of the cave, you get a message back, halting you in your tracks.

"Oh no no no, you're not leaving me alone with these creeps all night! I'm coming with you. Besides, I could use a break from that gross old cave, especially after you mucked it up with your... Transformations. Come on, lets go."

She walks past you and into the steadily dimming sunlight, before stopping outside the entrance as she realizes she's never hunted a day in her life, and has no idea how to go about it. Seeing no real problem in letting her tag along, you order your allies to keep watch and get to work on making the cave more livable. You get no response back, but you see them begin clearing rocks and pebbles from the cave floor with a few stepping outside to gather supplies for rudimentary survival shelters. Good.

Stepping out of the cave yourself, you whisper to Sophia through your mind link "Come on then, try to keep quiet so we don't scare off any potential meals." She nods, and you set off, starting your hunt in earnest. Along the way, you ask Sophia some questions about what she would be okay with eating, as you pick up some green leafy plant matter and show it to her as an example. The look on her face is answer enough, so you assume she'd like something with a bit more crunch. Sensing biosignals from underneath a stone, you turn it over and pick up a tiny odd black shelled creature, about a quarter the size of the girl's hand. Showing it to her, she quickly makes clear that she will NOT be eating a "beetle".

You shrug and pop it into your mouth, crunching it between your teeth, as Sophia looks away. This girl really is picky, as this "beetle" is delicious! As you both move on, you feel the now dead things cells whisper some of it's secrets of evolution to yours... You ask the girl just what exactly she would be okay with eating and she looks up at the darkening sky for a moment, before answering "Gee I dunno... Some berries, maybe? They'd have to be non-poisonous though! I'd kill for a burger right now but... I don't think there's a McDonalds out here, hehe. Maybe a rabbit? But they're so cute! I'd feel bad if we had to kill one. Really, anything but bugs and creepy crawlies, you can keep those for yourself and your creepy friends."

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Through your biobond, you see in her minds eyes as she thinks of a rabbit, a small furry creature with long legs and longer ears. It is a little cute, you have to admit. When she talked about berries, images of pinkish red fruit popped up in her mind, what she knows as "strawberries", along with a small purple fruit ironically known as "blueberries". Consulting the Things in your mind, they inform you that blueberries do grow in this area, as one of them would frequently go on hikes through the woods surrounding the research facility when his shifts were over.

With her wants known and with the knowledge to find them, you start hunting in earnest. You do pass by some kind of berries frequently, but they give off a strange biosignal so you avoid them and give a warning to Sophia to do the same. You wander for a while, the bright yellow star in the sky beginning to lower across the horizon, before you come upon it, a whole bunch of those "rabbit" things, frolicking and eating grass in a clearing in the forest! You mentally ask Sophia if she would be okay with consuming these, and she looks conflicted for a moment before her stomach makes a rather loud growl, seeming to decide for her. She nods and tells you to do what you have to, but surprisingly does not look away.

Feeling not only the biosignals of these creatures, but also their mindsignals, an idea strikes you: Instead of chasing these things through the woods like a dumb animal, you could use your powers to manipulate the minds of living creatures to make them come towards you, making the act of catching them all that much easier! Probing their minds, you find them to be completely defenseless, and much simpler than those of the Things. All it takes is a bit of willpower, and they all stop dead in their tracks, and with a touch of mental manipulation, they all start hopping towards you.

Sophia is nothing short of amazed, and as they get close, she reaches out to one a touches its fluffy ears, before petting it, laughing. Then she remembers her hunger and the whole reason you're out there, and looks to you, whispering "All right. D-Do it." You need no more encouragement, as you snake out a tendril and gently pick one of them up. As painlessly as you can, you wrap another tendril around it's neck, before twisting hard. It goes limp in your grip and it's life signal becomes cold and dead, and you note through your mental connection that it felt no pain, or fear.

You repeat the act over and over, and when it's all done you have 12 dead rabbits, more than you can carry by yourself. Enlisting the help of Sophia, you make your way back to the cave, using the mindsignals of your allies as a beacon leading you home. When you finally make it back, the sun has fully disappeared from view, and the forest is dark. But looking up, you see something that stirs a deep sense of longing and nostalgia within you, and you have no idea why. Dozens of lights filling up the sky.

It is nothing short of beautiful.

Entering the cave, you see that your Things have been busy since you've been gone, as you make out through the darkness that all of the rocks littering the cave floor are gone, and one of them has stacked up a bunch of twigs and fallen branches, and one or more of them must have had a fire starting mechanism hidden among them, as a small fire burns. You ask if any of them has a bladed object among them, to which one, a younger female, produces a large blade from within her coat, with a jagged edge on one side, and you realized she must have gotten it from one of the black masked Thing's during your escape.

It'll do.

You tell her to get to work on skinning the rabbits you've caught, and as you do so you see a bit of a twinkle in Sophia's eyes. She starts to say something to the Thing, before turning to you and asking "C-Can I do it? My dad used to bring home fish every Friday, and when I was little me and my mom would filet em for dinner. These researcher creeps have probably never even seen a dead animal before, they'll just make a mess of it. Here, give me that knife." she says as she holds out her hand to the female Thing. It stares blankly at her, before looking to you, waiting on your order. You say yes, then you watch as she takes the blade and picks up a rabbit off the ground, getting to work on butchering it. The first one is... Not pretty, and frankly shes not much better than the Thing would have been. She gets over her nervousness quickly though, and by the time she gets to the third one her arms are covered in blood and she makes rather quick work of it, neatly separating the skin from the flesh and placing it on a quickly growing pile.

Before long you have nine skinned rabbits, deciding to save the rest for tomorrow, you assume they'll keep fresh for a bit longer while their skin remains on their bodies. Sophia says her hands feel cramped and that the others can get the meat off of them, before stepping outside for a bit of fresh air. The same female that handed her the knife gets to work on fileting them, and an hour later you have two piles: one for guts, bones and viscera, and one for small rabbit meat chunks, laid neatly atop a stack of leaves. Sophia steps back in just as your allies get started on cooking the meat, impaling the chunks on sharpened sticks and holding them over the fire. The smell is intoxicating, but you make note that Sophia's arms are clean again. Taking notice of your attention she mentions that you passed by a creek during your hunt somewhat close to the cave and she decided to take a little bath. When she smells the meat cooking though, her eyes go wide and a grin paints her face. It doesn't take long for all the meat to be cooked, which is good because you and her both would have gone insane if you had to wait for much longer, and you all share in your first meal since you broke out.

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It's the best thing you've tasted in your short life since you became aware of yourself, and you think that being free is what makes it taste so good.

Settling in for the night, Sophia surprises you by curling up right next to you, and when she notices your surprise she says she feels safer next to you than your little weirdos, and that she's just feeling a bit cold, okay?! You wrap a tendril around her, and you both close your eyes and drift off into the sweet oblivion known as sleep.

You dream of small hopping creatures in an endless field.

>You've had your first meal as a free Thing, and the new biomatter and sunlight have earned you 12 Evolution Points, leaving you with a total of 12 EP!

When you awaken, Sophia is no longer by your side. Sensing around, you feel her mindsignal outside the cave a short distance, while your allies are still in the cave with you, some of them still asleep. Energized by the sunlight drifting in, you decide on your plans for the day.

>Bring everyone together into the cave for a meeting, and figure out what your next move should be. I'm sure Sophia simply wants to return to civilization and find her parents, but I have to admit I'm also curious what our other allies want. It can't hurt to talk, and besides, it would be good to ask them about the area if nothing else.

>This place is decent, but it's time to move on. Tell everyone to pack up and get ready to move out, we're too close to the prison as it is and they are surely looking for us. I won't feel safe until we are far, far away from this place.

>Get started on training your allies on how best to take a life. I AM NOT GOING BACK INTO A CAGE, AND NEITHER IS SOPHIA. A WAR IS COMING AND THE SOONER WE ARE READY FOR IT, THE BETTER!

>Write in

>>5122928
>Bring everyone together into the cave for a meeting, and figure out what your next move should be. I'm sure Sophia simply wants to return to civilization and find her parents, but I have to admit I'm also curious what our other allies want. It can't hurt to talk, and besides, it would be good to ask them about the area if nothing else.

Next update will be tomorrow sometime in the afternoon, around 2-4 PM, see you all then!

>>5122928
>This place is decent, but it's time to move on. Tell everyone to pack up and get ready to move out, we're too close to the prison as it is and they are surely looking for us. I won't feel safe until we are far, far away from this place.
We should move, a coast could be a good place to hide.

>>5122928
>Bring everyone together into the cave for a meeting, and figure out what your next move should be. I'm sure Sophia simply wants to return to civilization and find her parents, but I have to admit I'm also curious what our other allies want. It can't hurt to talk, and besides, it would be good to ask them about the area if nothing else.

>>5122928
>Bring everyone together into the cave for a meeting, and figure out what your next move should be. I'm sure Sophia simply wants to return to civilization and find her parents, but I have to admit I'm also curious what our other allies want. It can't hurt to talk, and besides, it would be good to ask them about the area if nothing else.

>Bring everyone together
I'd like a better read on our slaves(?), servants(?). Is ally even the right word here? They've been quiet and Sophia keeps saying they're creepy, we should decide how to use them

>>5122928
>This place is decent, but it's time to move on. Tell everyone to pack up and get ready to move out, we're too close to the prison as it is and they are surely looking for us. I won't feel safe until we are far, far away from this place.
we can talk to them when we aren't as close to the prison. Remember we are still being hunted by a group of people who: have a ton of resources, A ton of personnel, a ton of highly trained soldiers, and also its been a full day so I kinda doubt they aren't at least half way close to us. We have another day, maybe 2 days maximum before they inevitably find us. Plus its not like finding 9 people and one huge Thing would be particularly hard to track, we didn't exactly cover our tracks and we are travelling with a relatively large group so that's definitely not good.

>>5122928
>Bring everyone together into the cave for a meeting, and figure out what your next move should be. I'm sure Sophia simply wants to return to civilization and find her parents, but I have to admit I'm also curious what our other allies want. It can't hurt to talk, and besides, it would be good to ask them about the area if nothing else.

This place is decent, but it's time to move on. Tell everyone to pack up and get ready to move out, we're too close to the prison as it is and they are surely looking for us. I won't feel safe until we are far, far away from this place.

>This place is decent, but it's time to move on. Tell everyone to pack up and get ready to move out, we're too close to the prison as it is and they are surely looking for us. I won't feel safe until we are far, far away from this place.

>>5122928
>Bring everyone together into the cave for a meeting, and figure out what your next move should be. I'm sure Sophia simply wants to return to civilization and find her parents, but I have to admit I'm also curious what our other allies want. It can't hurt to talk, and besides, it would be good to ask them about the area if nothing else.
You know... we could always take the shape of one of the people we communed with and go check out human civilization... could be a good way to lay low.

>>5122928
>Move on

>>5123106
They likely have anticipated this and have put the faces of those we communed with on posters or even the tv. I also doubt that the people we have under our control aren't being actively looked for on tv either, since they are controlled by us and helped us escape.

I suppose it would be worth trying to make a new face out of the ones we currently have, to remain totally anonymous.

Sorry for the lack of updates today but I've been feeling very tired all day. After I get some sleep I'll post an update as soon as possible, thanks for bearing with me guys.

>>5124055
No rush, man. Don't want you getting the coof on us or anything. Get your rest.

File: 1111546897132.jpg (1.95 MB, 3042x2218)

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>>5124056
It's not the coof so don't worry about that. I more or less know what the cause is the only problem for me is getting some treatment. In the mean time, check out a bit of cool art an anon made last thread, I'll see you all tomorrow.

>>5124063
take care of yourself man, hope you feel better

File: Spoiler Image (1.14 MB, 2449x2039)

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>>5124063
updated version

>>5124607
Oh shit! Nice man, I was wondering when someone was gonna draw Sophia.

>>5122931
>>5123011
>>5123015
>>5123036
>>5123077
>>5123106
6 for house meeting
>>5122953
>>5123074
>>5123105
>>5123221
4 for bugging out

Alright, give me some write ins for what you'd like to ask your companions, for example: the area you're in, nearest beacons of civilization, the capabilities of the people hunting you, etc.

>>5124607
That is awsome.

>>5124666
>write in
>"Before I ask you about this area and the places near us, I would like all of you to tell me what you know about the organization that had me in captivity for so long, what they are called and their resources for example. I want to know everything you know about my enemy, and what they want from me specifically."

>"The director of that place called me by a number just before we escaped, number 438 I believe. Do any of you know anything about this particular number? Are there, or even WAS there others like me at some point? Are they alive too? Did they escape like me?"

>"Do any of you know how I came to be in that place? Was I born there? Was I taken from somewhere? Where exactly do you know about where I come from?"

Just some ideas of what to ask.

>>5124678
+1

>>5124678
+1

>>5124666
What's a gun?
What planet is this?
Which end cycle is this?
How old is this species?
What is the internet?

>>5124678
+1

>>5124678
>>5124886
>>5124683
>>5124857
>>5125128
Alright I'll go ahead and combine both write ins, writing now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PwDK2GAASU&t=5s

Seeing the first morning rays of the sun bathing the forest outside, you are momentarily overcome with a compulsion to run, to keep moving and get away from that awful prison. You know they will never stop looking for you. Ever. But then you think, if you escape, then what? Keep moving until your body breaks down and the constant fear and paranoia causes your cells to split apart? To never ask where you came from, or to try and learn just what this world you inhabit is like?

No. You are better than that. Reigning in your fear, you wait for your hearts to slow, counting each beat. Before long, you become calm just as Sophia reenters the cave, shooting a quizzical glance at you, somehow seeing your internal turmoil. She asks "Is something wrong?" You take a minute, and then respond psychically "No, but I've realized that if we're going to do more than simply survive in this world, then I must learn. As much as I can." You tell her to find somewhere to sit, and then order your other allies to all come in the cave and stand before you. When every last Thing is present, you begin

First, you turn to the oldest Thing, a balding male with cracked glasses and dirty clothes, and you ask him about exactly what the organization that kept you prisoner is, it's name and resources, and their goal with studying you. He stares blankly back at you, before you loosen your psychic grip and allow a bit of his old personality to emerge. Straightening his glasses, he begins

"My bosses, well I guess my former bosses, are beyond national governments and laws. Nobody knows of their existence except for the people working under them, and even those people know only what they need to. I doubt even Director Gray ever met face to face with the top guys. The rumors I've heard is that they control in secret pretty much everything you can think of, from the media to the politicians and even those who think they're underground in opposition to the mainstream. They call themselves The Spiral, I guess because their reach spirals from the top down to the very bottom of society. Now why were they keeping you prisoner, running tests on you? Too be honest, I don't really know. Me and every other researcher there were told that we were there to see if there were any medical uses we could derive from you, which I think we succeeded at, sort of." A small smile contorts his lips for a moment, and then he continues "Me personally, I think they were looking for military applications. You know, turn you loose in an enemy city and then bring you back somehow once everyone was dead. Now that I think about it though, they may have been trying to figure some way to use you for mind control. I mean, isn't that the end goal of every shadowy secret organization? How they knew you had that ability when you only very recently started exhibiting signs of it, I don't know."

He furrows his brow for a moment, some internal struggle taking place, before it resolves itself and he returns to his blank expression, and you notice a single tear rolling down his cheek. Him mentioning their apparent knowledge of your abilities does make you think of another question, but you think if you continue to allow his old personality to the surface that... Problems could arise. Turning to another, a female that looks to be not much older than Sophia, you do the same with her, allowing her old personality to come up, just enough. You ask her if there are others like you, mentioning your number as evidence, and if they are still alive or possibly even escaped. Her face scrunches up, thinking for a moment, before she responds

"Like he said, all of us researchers were only told just enough so we could do our jobs. But I have wondered that exact same thing. You had to have come from somewhere, and your number is a pretty good hint I think. Are there hundreds of you? Definitely not, just one was too much to handle, for us at least. There has to be an original, there just has to. They wouldn't just hand off something like you to somebody else if there was only one, no way. Nope, I bet there is at least one more, probably under tighter lock and key than even you were. And more? Others than the original and you? I really don't know about that. I am certain that they should all be alive, we were all under strict orders to minimize harm to you. Hell, they valued you way more than they valued us."

Tightening your psychic grip, you dismiss her and turn to another one, an older male with curiously orange hair. You ask him if he knows where you came from, if you were born on this world or somewhere else, and if its somewhere else, where exactly? He coughs into his hand before saying

"Where exactly we got you, I have no idea. But there is absolutely no chance that you came from Earth. Your biology is too different, too... Fast. For everything else on else on this planet, evolution takes millions of years for even the smallest changes to take place, but you can drastically alter your entire body in minutes. Hell, you can even morph into the forms of other beings. And even if you don't assume the form of something else, your body assimilates the DNA of any biological organism you come into contact with, letting you take on the characteristics of damn near anything. Yes, you certainly did not originate on this planet, otherwise, we'd all be Things."

That answer wasn't nearly as satisfying as the others, but you still tighten your hold on him before dismissing him. You then tell everyone to get back to what they were doing, Sophia stepping out with them. As she leaves though, she turns around at the entrance and looks at you, her mouth hanging open as if to say something, before she looks away and walks out into the forest. Huh.

With your knowledge of this world and your captors improved, you turn inward and consider what to do next.

>Sophia is acting a bit strange, go and ask her what's wrong. She was curiously silent during that discussion, I'm sure she feels a bit in over her head. It would do her some good to reassure her and show that we care about her and are willing to help with whatever's bothering her.

>You haven't forgotten your moment of panic earlier, and frankly you feel as though it were very justified. Tell everyone to pack up what little supplies we have, and then begin moving away from here. They must be closing in, and we've already been here too long.

>Before you do anything, you must take care of your growing hunger. MEAT. PLANT MATTER. INSECTS. BERRIES. ALL ARE HERE, FOR US TO CONSUME.

>Write in

>>5125247
>You haven't forgotten your moment of panic earlier, and frankly you feel as though it were very justified. Tell everyone to pack up what little supplies we have, and then begin moving away from here. They must be closing in, and we've already been here too long.
We can talk with Sophia during our hike outta here. We NEED to get away from the containment breach before Tobias or anyone else decides to change their tune and capture us.

As powerful as we're getting, we probably don't stand a chance against a dedicated swarm of flamethrower troops or whatever they may send.

>>5125247
>Sophia is acting a bit strange, go and ask her what's wrong. She was curiously silent during that discussion, I'm sure she feels a bit in over her head. It would do her some good to reassure her and show that we care about her and are willing to help with whatever's bothering her

>>5125266
Good point, but I think that we have a short bit until then

>>5125350
It's not about whether we have time or not until they arrive. It's about making distance. We're not really that far away from the facility, so all it would take is a handful of dudes spreading out from there to find us easily.

We probably only have a few hours or a day at most before they get on our ass.

>>5125363
They probably are going to make sure there are no sleeper agents like before, and they will also have to deal with the director who let us out.
I think that we can make plenty distance without worry because of such, but I do agree that we need to leave very soon.

>>5125247
>You haven't forgotten your moment of panic earlier, and frankly you feel as though it were very justified. Tell everyone to pack up what little supplies we have, and then begin moving away from here. They must be closing in, and we've already been here too long.
We should move.

>>5125247
>You haven't forgotten your moment of panic earlier, and frankly you feel as though it were very justified. Tell everyone to pack up what little supplies we have, and then begin moving away from here. They must be closing in, and we've already been here too long.

>>5125247
>You haven't forgotten your moment of panic earlier, and frankly you feel as though it were very justified. Tell everyone to pack up what little supplies we have, and then begin moving away from here. They must be closing in, and we've already been here too long.

>You haven't forgotten your moment of panic earlier, and frankly you feel as though it were very justified. Tell everyone to pack up what little supplies we have, and then begin moving away from here. They must be closing in, and we've already been here too long.

>>5125247
>>Sophia is acting a bit strange, go and ask her what's wrong. She was curiously silent during that discussion, I'm sure she feels a bit in over her head. It would do her some good to reassure her and show that we care about her and are willing to help with whatever's bothering her.

>>5125247

>Write in

> 1.-Talk to Sophia. A Quick talk will not take long especially via telepathy.
2. Like yesterday find food in the forest, use our powers to make animals come to us, maybe eat grass or other flora (if we could eat/commune some birds, or bats,)
3.- try to take human form

its time to gtfo this cave

>>5125954
I'll support using telepathy to talk.
>Sophia is acting strange

>>5125266
>>5125616
>>5125707
>>5125710
>>5125732
5 for getting the fuck out of dodge
>>5125350
>>5125837
2 for talking it out

OK, writing now.

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Watching her walk outside of your view, you feel an urge to call to her and ask her what's wrong, but then a more logical part of you takes hold. The girl is fine, but none of us will be if we get caught. If she is captured, they will surely perform experiments on her that would be far more hellish than anything they did to us. Think about it, we're unique. We're special, and she's just some Thing. Consider that instead of useless feelings and emotions. The best thing to do for everyone would be to move far, far away from here. Then we can figure out how to help the girl. While you don't like the coldness of it's tone, that tiny voice does have a point. You take a deep breath, and then psychically tell everyone that they have 10 minutes to pack up before we head out.

Your Things do not complain or make a comment at this command, stopping what they are doing and gathering everything of use. What surprises you though is Sophia's reaction, she simply says OK, but through your biobond you sense a deep sliver of determination hidden behind the confusion and fear. Like silk hiding steel. You do think she will be fine, this girl is made of stronger stuff than most. Once your Things have gathered up everything they could, you set out in the direction of the rising sun, opposite of the prison. Along the way you give orders to everyone to gather any bits of non-poisonous food they can, and despite your lack of knowledge your biosense allows you to tell which berries are funny feeling and which seem safe to consume, allowing you to occasionally direct a Thing away from or to one bush or the other.

As you travel you pass into the valley of two large mountains, their peaks obscured by those ominous plants known as trees. You think it's a double edged sword, the mountains both obscuring you but also having the potential of trapping you. Imagining flocks of black masked Things armed with guns and other horrible weaponry on both exits of the valley sets you on edge, and you keep alert both visually and with your biosense for any feeling of tension, fear, and especially the stink of adrenaline. But as you travel further and further, you sense nothing beyond the constant ambient hum of life filling the valley, and several hours pass without incident.

Eventually you come upon a creek in a small clearing, and even though Sophia doesn't say it, you can sense her tiredness and thirst. Deciding that taking a short break wouldn't hurt, you tell everyone that we're stopping her for a moment to rest. The Things don't say anything about this as per usual, but you sense buried deep within them a feeling of relief, and you remember that they are just baseline Things, and that even Sophia as seemingly unchanged as she is has had a myriad of improvements and upgrades to her body performed by your pollen making her much more prepared for long arduous treks through the wilderness, at least compared to them. Maybe later on you could change them to better suit your needs, but you think they'll do for now.

After you've all had a drink of water and small lunch of assorted wild berries, you are just about to tell everyone to start moving again when Sophia approaches, that same look in her eyes as before you all left. After a couple of false starts and stutters she says "Y-You know I trust you right? I mean, you saved my life. But... What are we doing out here? I can feel your thoughts sometimes, and I know you're even more confused than I am. And those guys talking about the Illuminati or whatever hunting us, that they control pretty much everything and have all these resources and so much power, it has me... Well, I'm fucking freaked out. And scared. How the hell are we gonna fight something like that? I... I just want to go home. Please tell me you have a plan or something. Please."

Huh. Despite that sense of determination you felt within her, she is just a young girl after all.

>What will you say to her?

>>5127037
"The cells that make up my being constantly adapt. Every time I consume a Thing, make it myself, I adapt to copy it. To improve myself. No matter the threat that is imposed from the outside, I will adapt to overpower it.

That is my goal. To keep adapting, to keep improving, until they can't threaten our safety. We shall go as far as we can from that facility until we can go no more.

Do understand, despite how many tools and toys this "illuminati" or whatever name they give themselves have, I shall strive to adapt and overpower them. We shall survive. We shall stay free. We shall live. We shall adapt to this threat."

Out of the three voices, I'm mostly a fan of Green's perspective.

>>5127037
We may not have a plan, but we will make sure she stays safe and as happy as she can be.

>>5127037
>>5127121
+1

>>5127037
>>5127121 +1
Also adding: "For now we should avoid your home though, they will expect us to go there. I doubt they will harm your parents given the perfect bait they make for us."

>>5127121
+1

>>5127121
+1

>>5127037
But boop everyones noses. Maybe offer some upgrades to our followers? Some that come to mind are improved stomachs, livers, intestines, and kidneys so they can better process a wider variety of food more efficiently, in addition to additional improvements. The scientists could have minor improvements to their intelligence, while the soldiers can have improved reflexes and subdermal armor so they can still fit into human society. Possibly additional adrenaline glands and denser muscles?

>>5127395
+1

>>5127121
Makes sense. Supported

No update tonight, next one will be tomorrow sometime in the afternoon and I'll try to squeeze in two to make up for it.

>>5124607
keep it up anon this is sick

>>5127121
+1

>>5127121
Probably not a good thing to say to a child.
but we do some plans.
Grow more competent with telepathy until we can make people "forget" about us is a safe bet.
>>5127037
OP you might want to start investigating civ games becouse if we consume an entire forest we might get the power of a small army.

>>5127121
>>5127261
>>5127134
>>5127395
>>5127481
>>5127482
>>5127529
>>5127552
>>5129111
>>5129544
Alright that write in has overwhelming support so it's locked in. Writing now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnKL5iC3_f4

You don't need to be a telepath to be able to tell the Sophia is feeling very vulnerable, and you realize that even with the determination you felt within her, she is still a young girl. Barely more than a child really, thrust into a scary and dangerous world that she didn't know existed overnight, at least from her perspective. Seeing the raw fear and anxiety in her eyes makes your hearts break a little. You want to tell her that no matter how powerful an enemy is, you will always overcome it, and that you'll protect her no matter what, and you feel the Ambassador approaching the stage of your mind to put your thoughts into worlds when something surprising happens: the Survivor and the Warrior gently push her aside, and they both grip the rudder of your soul, speaking through you in unison.

"The cells that make up my being constantly adapt. Every time I consume a Thing, make it myself, I adapt to copy it. To improve myself. No matter the threat that is imposed from the outside, I shall adapt to overpower it."

"That is my goal. To keep adapting, to keep improving, until they can't threaten our safety. We shall go as far as we can from that facility until we can go no more"

"Do understand, despite how many tools and toys this "Illuminati" or whatever name they give themselves have, I shall strive to adapt and overpower them. We shall survive. We shall stay free. We shall live. We shall adapt to this threat."

As you speak in her mind, you can feel her thoughts stop racing, her heart beat normalizing, the fear and anxiety melting away as a new feeling blossoms. Hope. When you finish, she wipes away her tears and when she looks back into your eyes you see it again: That determination. She nods and says "O... Okay, I believe you. Just don't let me down, alright?" You tell her you would never, and she smiles before saying "Whew... Well, I guess we better keep moving then huh? I don't know about these other geezers, but I still got a couple more miles left in me, hehe."

You need no further encouragement, and you tell everyone to keep moving, staying on track towards the rising sun. Well, you would be if the sun were still in that position, by now it's heading in the opposite direction, towards the facility, but with your memory that's not a problem. You walk miles and miles, but eventually the world darkens as the sun crests the horizon. While you could keep going all night, you can tell your companions can't take much more of this, for today at least, so as you come upon another creek, this one a good deal wider than the one before, you tell everyone that we're stopping here for the night.

>You've consoled a friend, and combined with your photosynthesis and periodic assimilation of berries your experiences have gained you 8 Evolution Points! Leaving you with a total of 20 EP!

With all the berries you've collected on the way, along with the two rabbits from last nights hunt, you think you have enough food to keep your companions relatively full for the night. You on the other hand, need a bit more... Substance, if you're going to keep your hunger in check. Already you can feel your cells complaining, your stomachs growling and your thoughts returning repeatedly to acquiring more biomatter. Still, wandering around at night could be dangerous, an ancient genetic memory filling you with the ghost of fear for whatever predators may come out after dark.

>Forget your fear and go out hunting. IF ANYTHING DARES TO HUNT US THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOB ALL THE EASIER!

>It would be a good idea to figure out how to make some tools and equipment to make our journey easier. Hunting equipment for our allies, bags to hold whatever we catch, things like that. The only problem is figuring out the specifics of their make.

>Despite your hunger urging you to go out and find sustenance, you have another urge at the back of your mind as well. Lay down and rest, we've traveled quite a distance today and even our own muscles are sore. We can hunt in the morning.

>Write in

Sorry for taking so long, I accidentally fatfingered and lost everything I wrote just as I finished it, so I had to rewrite it all from scratch. Lesson learned, I suppose kek.

>>5129981
>Forget your fear and go out hunting. IF ANYTHING DARES TO HUNT US THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOB ALL THE EASIER!
Consoom.

>>5129981
>Forget your fear and go out hunting. IF ANYTHING DARES TO HUNT US THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOB ALL THE EASIER!
Cumsoom

Next update will be a little after noon tomorrow. Good night bros.

>>5129981

>Forget your fear and go out hunting. IF ANYTHING DARES TO HUNT US THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOB ALL THE EASIER!
Just scan the area with our telepathy and make the animals come to us.
The water may have some fish, that would be great for our companions.

>>5129981
>Forget your fear and go out hunting.

>>5129981
>Forget your fear and go out hunting. IF ANYTHING DARES TO HUNT US THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOB ALL THE EASIER!

>>5129981
>Forget your fear and go out hunting. IF ANYTHING DARES TO HUNT US THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOB ALL THE EASIER!
Time to establish ourselves as the apex predator in this region of the woods, lets use our mind powers for ease of hunting.

>>5129985
Ouch, been there man, sorry to hear it. When that kind of thing happens to be I just wanna grab a crowbar and start smashing shit.

>>5129981
>Hunt

>>5129992
>>5130006
>>5130203
>>5130205
>>5130246
>>5130352
>>5130572
7 for a glorious hunt

Roll me 3 1d100+10 for
>HUNT FOR SOMETHING TO SATE YOUR HUNGER

>>5130487
Yeah I've done it twice now and each time it was the worst feeling ever lmao. Fortunately it didn't take me too long to remember and rewrite it, and the first time an anon saved my ass so I've been somewhat fortunate with it.

Rolled 14 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5131416

>>5131416
I forgot to mention but the DC is 40

Rolled 8 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5131416
You guys are like babies.
Watch this.

Rolled 75 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>5131416

>>5131471
>>5131450
>>5131434
Alright, writing now.

File: odd creature.jpg (92 KB, 430x430)

92 KB JPG

>HUNT FOR SOMETHING TO SATE YOUR HUNGER... SUCCESS

You think for a moment, before deciding to go hunting after all. Your vision isn't particularly good on a bright clear day even with the improvements, and at night it's even worse. Fortunately, you've got something special going for you, what one of the Things in your mind calls the ace up your sleeve: Your biosense. You tell Sophia and the others that you're going out hunting, and you give a mental order to the other Things to be extra alert while you're gone. Sophia wishes you good luck, and you can tell she's far too worn out to do much more than get a small fire going and cook one of the rabbits. You don't think you'll need luck however, you're a predator, and this world is nothing but prey. You bury your fear before traveling a good distance away from the camp before stopping, and then you begin to concentrate, shutting your eyes and casting your biosense out like a wide net.

You sense many tiny life signals, and those of the plants that absolutely fill the woods, but you're looking for something of a bit more substance. Fortunately, it doesn't take very long as you feel several medium sized life signals, surrounding one of what must be a plant, a couple dozen yards away from you. As stealthily as you can, you make your way over to them under the guise of moonlight, keeping an eye on the ground for any dry leaves or twigs and carefully stepping over them. Before long, you are but a half dozen yards away from them, hidden behind a bush, when you finally see them, a bit of moonlight lighting them up. They are... Odd creatures, with dirty white fur with an unappetizing stink pouring out of them, their beady eyes glowing red in the moonlight, four of them huddled around a berry bush. Must be a small family.

With the strange albino creatures nearly in your grasp, all that's left is to figure out how to get them...

>Like you did with the rabbits, use your telepathy to control their weak minds and force them to come to you. I can feel old loud and angry itching for a fight, but this is the safest way to get some biomatter for tonight.

>Spring at them from the dark and kill them in combat! I KNOW YOU WANT THIS, I CAN FEEL YOUR BLOODLUST LURKING WITHIN LIKE A STARVING WOLF! BESIDES, EVEN STRANGE CREATURES LIKE THESE DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE BEFORE THEIR DEATH.

>Write in.

>>5131497
>>Spring at them from the dark and kill them in combat! I KNOW YOU WANT THIS, I CAN FEEL YOUR BLOODLUST LURKING WITHIN LIKE A STARVING WOLF! BESIDES, EVEN STRANGE CREATURES LIKE THESE DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE BEFORE THEIR DEATH.
Might as well try out our new found adaptations on them.

>>5131497
>Spring at them from the dark and kill them in combat! I KNOW YOU WANT THIS, I CAN FEEL YOUR BLOODLUST LURKING WITHIN LIKE A STARVING WOLF! BESIDES, EVEN STRANGE CREATURES LIKE THESE DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE BEFORE THEIR DEATH.

>>5131497
>Spring at them from the dark and kill them in combat!

>>5131497

>>Spring at them from the dark and kill them in combat!
If we fail we can still stop them with telepathy. If we succeed on cathing multiple prey commune with at least one of them...

>>5131497
>Spring at them from the dark and kill them in combat! I KNOW YOU WANT THIS, I CAN FEEL YOUR BLOODLUST LURKING WITHIN LIKE A STARVING WOLF! BESIDES, EVEN STRANGE CREATURES LIKE THESE DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE BEFORE THEIR DEATH.

>>5131497
>>Spring at them from the dark and kill them in combat! I KNOW YOU WANT THIS, I CAN FEEL YOUR BLOODLUST LURKING WITHIN LIKE A STARVING WOLF! BESIDES, EVEN STRANGE CREATURES LIKE THESE DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE BEFORE THEIR DEATH.
try to commune instead of total killing

File: 7e2b009641f7eb5b321889ea7(...).gif (4.6 MB, 405x510)

4.6 MB GIF

>>5131497
I do hope the possum pretends to be dead to confuse the Thing (with mild success)

>>5132181
>>5131786
>>5131784
>>5131665
>>5131552
>>5131501
6 for brutal bloody battle

Give me 3 1d100+5 for
>BEST THESE STRANGE ALBINOS IN COMBAT
DC 35

>>5133875
forgot name like a dummy

Rolled 65 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5133875
>KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL
>IS THE FIRST STEP
>TOWARDS ANCESION

Rolled 34 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5133875
>6 for brutal bloody battle
>Give me 3 1d100+5 for
>>BEST THESE STRANGE ALBINOS IN COMBAT
>DC 35

Rolled 16 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5133875
RULES OF NATURE!

>>5133984
>>5133942
>>5133908
Alright, writing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMI7OQuO0y4

Despite the protest of your other two selves, you know that the Warrior is right. It has been too long since you've tasted blood filled with adrenaline, and you are eager to test out your new adaptations on these creatures. You slowly step out from behind the bush, and that don't notice you. You creep closer and closer, and still they don't notice you. Finally, you release a harrowing battle cry and lunge at them! You pounce on the one closest to you, and sink your teeth and claws in it's body while it screams pitifully, and to your surprise it's mates do not run away, instead they charge at you to protect their ally. As soon as they get close you wrap your tendrils around them, lifting them off the ground and squeezing as hard as you can.

They aren't totally helpless however, and one of them bites your tendril, drawing blood as the pain forces you to drop it! The one between your jaws goes limp, and you let the corpse go so you can focus on the others. Still holding the other two, the one who bit you stands at a distance warily, and you squeeze harder on the two in your grip, eliciting pained cries. This seems to enrage it, and it charges at you with renewed vigor! You slam both of the albinos in your grip onto it once it gets close enough, crushing all three of them, and you feel bones bend and then break.

Seeing the effect that attack had, you do it again.

And again.

Finally you smash them all a third time, and then all is silent. Feeling high from the adrenaline and rush of combat, you gently lower the two dead things in your grip onto the ground, and begin to take stock of your quarry. Three dead albinos lie in front of you, a good deal of meat on each one. With the one behind you, you think you have a pretty good meal for yourself tonight! Turning to inspect the damage on the one behind you, what you see both surprises you and enrages you:

It's not there.

You realize that somehow it wasn't dead, instead merely pretending, and that it escaped at some point during your battle with the others. And you fell for it like a fool! Looking around, you see no sign of it, and with the rush of battle and adrenaline fading, you suddenly feel very tired. Bah! Let it go then, it earned it's right to live. For now.

You consider whether to share your quarry with your companions, but then decide that this was your kill, and therefore it's yours alone to consume. And so you do, tearing flesh from bone and eating it then and there. It doesn't take very long, and when it's all gone you feel full enough, and you make your way back to the camp, feeling truly tired. When you arrive, you notice that everyone else has fallen asleep, the fire dwindling down. Taking a spot next to Sophia, you curl up and shut your eyes, and before long sleep takes you.

This time, you dream of nothing at all.

>You've completed a hunt and tasted the sweet blood of victory, earning you 8 Evolution Points, leaving you with a total of 28 EP!

When you awaken hours later, the sun has rose above the horizon and you notice that everyone has also woke up and are beginning their morning routine, such as it is. You think you've put a decent bit of distance between you and the prison, and that you may have some time to do something else to assist in you and your allies ability to survive out here.

>Use your pollen to change your allies bodies to better suit your needs (write in what changes you'd like to make). THESE THINGS ARE SO WEAK, SO INEFFICIENT, ALREADY I CAN SEE HOW THEY MAY BE IMPROVED.

>We're further from the facility now, but not far enough. It's been two cycles now, they have definitely not given up yet. We must keep moving.

>Explore and try to get a better lay of the land out here. The more we understand the world we're in, the better our chances of staying free.

>>5134027
And of course
>Write in

>>5134027
>Explore and try to get a better lay of the land out here. The more we understand the world we're in, the better our chances of staying free.
Let's give Bluey a chance. Also, exploring the area will help us get a clearer path outta here, saving us time in the end.

>>5134027
>Use your pollen to change your allies bodies to better suit your needs (write in what changes you'd like to make)
>Make them similar to Sophia, identical outside but optimized in general inside
They lack endurance, making them like her would means that we could move more easily.

>>5134027
>Explore and try to get a better lay of the land out here. The more we understand the world we're in, the better our chances of staying free.
Getting a grasp on where we are is a good idea as it will allow us to form a plan of action, rather than running aimlessly

>>5134027
>Explore and try to get a better lay of the land out here. The more we understand the world we're in, the better our chances of staying free.

>>5134027
>Use your pollen to change your allies bodies to better suit your needs (write in what changes you'd like to make). THESE THINGS ARE SO WEAK, SO INEFFICIENT, ALREADY I CAN SEE HOW THEY MAY BE IMPROVED.
Lets beef up our security squad.

>>5134027
>Use your pollen to change your allies bodies to better suit your needs (write in what changes you'd like to make). THESE THINGS ARE SO WEAK, SO INEFFICIENT, ALREADY I CAN SEE HOW THEY MAY BE IMPROVED.

So there are twelve other humans with us right? Well for starters we can fix the minor things.
>unfuck their eyesight if they need to wear glasses.
>heal basic bitch pains and aches you get from old age, or wear and tear.
>get rid of their asthma and basic bitch illnesses.

After getting the miniscule things out of the way, the properly trained soldiers can recieve some better improvements.
>denser bones to prevent them from shattering, bone plate to their ribcage to prevent viral organs from being damaged (think space marines).
>improved reflexes and eyesight for marksmanship
>improved muscle mass for overall improvement (everyone will be rocking six-packs)
>improved digestive system (requiring less food to sustain themselves)
>greater lung capacity (hold in air longer)
>greater tolerance to poisons and toxins (secondary eyelids to prevent getting fucked up by tear gas, better kidneys and livers)
>minor regeneration abilities, or wounds clot faster to prevent major blood loss

For the scientists they can have more brainy things
>improved digestive system
>more smartness
>fuck I dont know
>give then telekinesis I guess

I think that if we alter our allies bodies in any major way, they will need to eat more because they will be more thing than human.

>>5137549
An easy work around is to make then need less food to function, and give them the capacity to live off of sunlight like us.

Hey bros, I’m not dead and neither is the quest, but I’ve been at the hospital since Monday with covid. If everything works out I should be out soon. Sorry if anyone was worried or disappointed. See you all on the other side.

>>5138395
Shit, man, try to get better soon. Your health's more important than a quest on a italian soup-making forum.

>>5138395
Hope you get better soon man! Try to enjoy the rest and not worry too much about the quest

>>5138395
Get well soon, and don't worry about it, we will be here when you get back

File: 1638082356678.jpg (1.95 MB, 4000x3000)

1.95 MB JPG

>>5137427
>>5134176
>>5134050
3 for pollen
>>5134052
>>5134033
>>5134067
3 for exploration

Gonna need a tie breaker.

>>5138417
>>5139429
>>5140517
Thanks for the well wishes guys, I'm feeling better now besides the cough, but I'm just happy to be out of the hospital at this point.

>>5141129
Why not roll a 1d2?

>>5141129
Dammit fine, pollen first but we need to BTFO as soon as we're done.

>>5141189
>>5141186
Alright, pollen it is. Writing now.

>>5141129
Happy to hear your feeling better man, remember to drink lots of fluids.

Looking at the Things in your company, you can see many ways in which they are deficient. A bit of a gut here, a persistent cough there, a feeling in their minds of constant aches and discomfort. While you didn't intend to with Sophia, you made her a prime example of her kind, at least under the surface. Why not do the same with the others? And so you get started on it, ordering them all to stand close to you while you gave orders to your pollen to change their bodies, while keeping careful to keep them appearing as normal Things on the outside. That limits you somewhat, as being forced to keep the changes within the dimensions of their original, ineffective shells forces you to reign in your creativity, at least for now.

It doesn't take long, two hours at most, and when your pollen has finished their fine tuning you can definitely tell a difference in them. They stand straighter, their unassuming legs and arms hiding densely packed muscle, their blood changed to be more efficient at delivering oxygen to the necessary organs, and those organs have become much more efficient overall. They can keep going for longer without breaks, and fight harder if it comes to that. You do sense a bit of something... strange, in their minds, but you think that's just the pollen finishing up.

You don't think you could have been so precise in your alterations if you didn't have Things of your own in your body to take notes from, and so you offer them thanks. Looking up you see the sun has reached it's apex in the sky, the day still fresh and full of possibilities. All you need to do is to choose what's next.

>You did have an inclination to go exploring, why not try it now? In the distance I can sense several biosignals that feel like Things, maybe we should check it out?

>While she hasn't said anything, you can feel Sophia's hunger, and the hunger of the others. THE BERRIES ARE GONE, AND ONLY ONE RABBIT LEFT. PERHAPS WE SHOULD BEGIN TO TEACH THE OTHERS HOW TO HUNT FOR THEMSELVES.

>You think you're still safe for now, but you can't deny that icy feeling in your gut. The longer we spend here the better our chances for being caught. Until we're a couple dozen miles clear from the facility, we should never stop moving.

>>5141230
>You did have an inclination to go exploring, why not try it now? In the distance I can sense several biosignals that feel like Things, maybe we should check it out?

>>5141230
>You think you're still safe for now, but you can't deny that icy feeling in your gut. The longer we spend here the better our chances for being caught. Until we're a couple dozen miles clear from the facility, we should never stop moving.
Yeah, we should move, we're too close to the facility.

>>5141230

>While she hasn't said anything, you can feel Sophia's hunger, and the hunger of the others.
Eating is most important.

>>5141230
>You think you're still safe for now, but you can't deny that icy feeling in your gut. The longer we spend here the better our chances for being caught. Until we're a couple dozen miles clear from the facility, we should never stop moving.
One more move should be enough to throw them off for a few more days, maybe even a week. Maybe we can run into a town or village during our travels even.

>>5141230
>You think you're still safe for now, but you can't deny that icy feeling in your gut. The longer we spend here the better our chances for being caught. Until we're a couple dozen miles clear from the facility, we should never stop moving.
Getting away from the facility should be the priority.

>>5141230
>You think you're still safe for now, but you can't deny that icy feeling in your gut. The longer we spend here the better our chances for being caught. Until we're a couple dozen miles clear from the facility, we should never stop moving.
Now that these guys are more like Sophia in terms of endurance, we can move a lot longer now. Let's get the fuck out.

>>5141230
>While she hasn't said anything, you can feel Sophia's hunger, and the hunger of the others. THE BERRIES ARE GONE, AND ONLY ONE RABBIT LEFT. PERHAPS WE SHOULD BEGIN TO TEACH THE OTHERS HOW TO HUNT FOR THEMSELVES.

>>5141901
>>5141269
2 for teaching to hunt
>>5141233
1 for 'splorin
>>5141244
>>5141324
>>5141328
>>5141462
4 for move move move

Writing now.

File: cabin in the woods.jpg (138 KB, 940x525)

138 KB JPG

The Survivor hasn't steered you wrong yet, and once again you take his advice. You are too close to the facility, you know it in your core. You inform the others about your decision to move on, to which Sophia replies "What? We just got here! My feet are starting to get sore ya know, these hospital shoes aren't made for long distance hiking!" You tell her that the others could carry her if she likes, which for some reason makes her quiet down and stop protesting, and so you all begin your journey in earnest. Once again you tell everyone to keep an eye out for berries, and this time they only need minimal guidance, seemingly having learned to tell safe from unsafe, unfortunately however most of them are gobbled up by the others on the way, their hunger making them do it almost without thinking. Back in the way you've came you can sense various animals that keep at a distance, but have been following you for a while. Curious.

For several hours you all keep moving without incident, until you sense something that makes you stop dead in your tracks: Things, four of them, about 50 yards in the distance hidden by bush and trees. Their mindsignals feel relaxed and unconcerned, maybe even a little... happy? You're almost certain they aren't with The Chiral or whatever that group is called, but being around new Things sets you on edge anyway. Sophia noticed your tenseness and sudden stop and asks you what's wrong and you tell her about what you sensed. Sensing adrenaline beginning to spike within her, you quickly tell her that they aren't with the group that's hunting us, and she calms down a bit, still seeming nervous.

Things... It was only a matter of time before you ran into some, and you count yourself lucky that they seem relatively safe, at least as safe as these strange creatures can be. Still, you can't ignore them, the possibility of learning exactly where you are and the locations of nearby population centers is almost too good to pass up.

>Assume the form of one of the Thing's you Communed with and approach them. Just talk to them, ask them where we are and where we could find more Things. No need to go crazy.

>These Things living out here alone must have quite a stockpile of biomatter saved up, that we could use, perhaps including their own fleshy shells. THEY CAN'T STOP US FROM TAKING IT ALL.

>Ignore them and give them a wide berth as you pass them by. This could still be a trap, and if they see us they shall surely tell others. Keep moving.

>Write in.

>>5142916
>Write-in
>Use your pollen and telepathy to make them docile, get info, steal everything edible they have and order them to never talk about what happened

>>5142916
>Assume the form of one of the Thing's you Communed with and approach them. Just talk to them, ask them where we are and where we could find more Things. No need to go crazy.
>Maybe prod them for some food for the road, just enough to keep us moving

>>5142916
>Assume the form of one of the Thing's you Communed with and approach them. Just talk to them, ask them where we are and where we could find more Things. No need to go crazy.
>Pretend youre a doctor that's out camping, and offer some "medical aid" in exchange for good will and information.

>>5142916
>Assume the form of one of the Thing's you Communed with and approach them. Just talk to them, ask them where we are and where we could find more Things. No need to go crazy.