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>>5273761
Right now, you're on the way to The Crack, where you'll rendezvous with the ghost named Brody.

"Hey handsome, found out where we are?" Your partner-in-crime and soon-to-be wife-in-crime, Petunia, asks from behind you.
"Yeah, we're making good progress." You reply, holding a map that Borges graciously gave you. "We should be close to Wreck, and then we can continue to The Crack."
"Right, I'll tell the others to go, then. Lead the way."

You look back at your comrades - not all of them could join. Besides Petunia, four others join you to The Crack - two to carry the realitynaut suits, one to carry the repair materials, and one for backup.

>CHOOSE FOUR
>□ Gobson
>□ Sierra
>□ Borges
>□ Sister Beryl
>□ Sister Delarue
>□ Pedro
>□ Paulo
>□ Ko
>□ Nemo

Petunia looks back at you before going down the mound. "Hey, what that horse-James said - do you think it's real? That the Eternal Empress is in Gongalla with us?"
You mull it over in your mind.

>CHOOSE
>□ "I don't believe it."
>□ "Plausible, but weird."
>□ "All the easier to topple her, then!"
>□ "Kinda ironic, isn't it?"
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5273772
>□ Sierra
>□ Sister Beryl
>□ Paulo
>□ Nemo
Sierra is a dummy and thus a good fit for a dangerous mission, it's wise to bring one of the sisters due to their knowledge, paulo probably knows the most about imperial stuff and nemo is an freaky monster man.
>□ "I don't believe it."
I mean, it's an unstable prison planet. Seems like a very bad place to hide.

Oh yeah, it's great to be back

>>5273779
I think we should take Ko at least, she knows the most about repair of the suits.

>Plausible, AND weird.
Let's be real, Gongalla Gaol is not normal in the first place and we shouldn't take that for granted.

Good to see you back IndoG, been here since jump.

>>5273772
>□ Gobson
>□ Borges
>□ Pedro
>□ Ko

>□ "Kinda ironic, isn't it?"

>>5273772
>>□ Gobson
>>□ Borges
>>□ Pedro
>>□ Ko
>>□ "Kinda ironic, isn't it?"

>>5273772
>□ Gobson
>□ Sierra
>□ Sister Delarue
>□ Ko

>□ "Plausible, but weird."

>>5273779
>>5273784
>>5273843
>>5273866
>>5274515
>Ko 4
>Gobson 3
>Sierra 2
>Borges 2
>Pedro 2
>Paulo 1
>Sister Beryl 1
>Sister Delarue 1
>Nemo 1

>Ironic 2
>Plausible 2
>Don't believe 1

Ko and Gobson are locked, now to break the tie between Sierra, Borges and Pedro. Also between Plausible and Ironic.
If there's no more votes within 6 hours, we'll consult the winds of fate.

Rolled 1, 6 = 7 (2d6)

>>5275861
Let us consult the winds of fate, then.
>first roll: who's not coming: 1-2 Sierra, 3-4 Borges, 5-6 Pedro
>second roll: 1-3 Plausible, 4-6 Ironic

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>>5273779
>>5273784
>>5273843
>>5273866
>>5274515

"Kinda ironic, isn't it? I mean, she created Gongalla just to shove the undesirables away, and now she's there as well." It's true, you're savoring the irony right now.
"Heh, true that, handsome." Petunia says as she walks down the mound to the other members of the group: Borges and Ko, who volunteered to haul the realitynaut suits in their boxes, Gobson, who wanted to go on a trip together with Ko (and gets to carry half the bones in his inventory), and surprisingly, Pedro. Something about making sure Petunia doesn't go back to her old ways or something like that.
"Are we there yet?" Pedro asks, his inventory full of the other half of the bone materials.
"Yeah, we're close to Wreck, should be there soon." Replies Petunia, which elicits a nod from Borges.
"We are gettink halfway there, then." Borges declares, shifting the heavy box at his back.

Another hour of walking through the gently rolling hills and mounds of the area, and eventually you see Wreck. A settlement built in and around the anomalous ship graveyard, its center is the huge Eternal Empire battleship hulk - rusting, and converted into habitation.
"There's the Wreck, everyone. Which means the Crack is up next." No need to open up the map, this time.
Ko pipes up. "If you need a bit of rest, I know someone there. Are we stopping by?"
"Hrm, I don't know - we are runnink out of time, we must be gettink to the Crack soon. And besides I hear there's some trouble in Wreck." Borges gives his opinion.
"Come onnnn, my feet are tired. Let's rest a bit, even if we stay out of town!" Pedro massages his boyish legs. "Curse this childish body that won't grow up!"
Gobson has an idea. "Aw, it ain't that bad, guv. I'm fine either way - but you could give Pedro a piggyback, maybe?"

>CHOOSE ONE
>□ Rest a bit in Wreck
>□ Take a picnic rest outside of Wreck
>□ Continue to the Crack
>□ Continue to the Crack, but give Pedro a piggyback
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5277299
>□ Rest a bit in Wreck

>>5277299
>□ Rest a bit in Wreck
What could go wrong?

>>5277299
>□ Rest a bit in Wreck

>>5277299
>□ Rest a bit in Wreck
inb4 we get rekt

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>>5277307
>>5277308
>>5277526
>>5277666
"Eh, it's fine, we'll only take a short break." Morale must be maintained, and Pedro won't whine all the way to the Crack this way. "So, Ko, you said you knew someone here?"
Ko grunts an affirmation. "Yea, I knew the innkeeper here. But since we're not staying the night, let's head to the local watering hole." She points to a ship laying on its side.

"Hey handsome, I bet Nemo would've liked it here. Maybe even fit in." Petunia quips as the six of you approach the establishment.
"Well, it was awfully nice of him to volunteer taking care of Nanna. I do wish Sierra was also with us, but she's got a few more goblin pageants lined up." You reply, adding a mental note to take Petunia to one of the matches.
"Frank and Bianca's still recovering - or so they say. I bet they're rocking Nanna's hut by now. Hehehe." Petunia blushes, remembering the events that night.
"Good thing the nuns were returning to the Ossuary with the Necrologue, they won't get enough sleep otherwise. Ah, we're here."

There's a signboard, written in a script you don't recognize. "Hey, Petunia, can you read that?"
"Yeah, handsome, it's in Hinomoto - sa me ma ru? Samemaru?" She tilts her head in thought. "A round shark?"
Well, no sense in gawking around. You confidently push into the bar. "Hello! Got a table for six?"
The sharklike bartender turns to you as most of the other patrons on the bar size you up. "Surely. Make your order and take a seat. We got food if you're hungry."
Already you can feel a subtle tension in the air as the six of you file in through the doors, followed by the gazes of the inhabitants. "Huh, that's strange, I don't see the regulars I use to see when I was here." Ko muses, slight caution in her voice.
"C'mon, let's order something, guv!" Gobson cheerily suggests.

As you can see, there's a foxlike lady at the bar; a robot, a bug, and a human playing cards; a tall boogeyman in a strange uniform nursing a drink; and a misshapen humanoid staring into his glass, isolated in the corner table.

>CHOOSE WHILE ROLLING 1D20, BEST OF 3
>□ Order drinks for the six of you
>□ Talk to the bartender
>□ Talk to someone else (who?)
>□ Exit, you have second thoughts
>□ Other (fill in)

>□ Order drinks for the six of you
But let's be calm here, as funny as drunken petunia would be, she'd probably end up making some real 'indecent' advances on james, which is the last thing we need in public.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5279283
>□ Order drinks for the six of you

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>5279283
>>□ Order drinks for the six of you

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>>5279381
>>5279391
>>5280525
As the others take their seats around the only empty table, you approach the bartending shark. When you're within hearing range, he spoke.
"Dōzo. Dear customer, we trade drinks for stories here. It is customary to pay after the drink has been emptied. Today, we have Lifewater, Darkdrop, and Moonshine available." How polite.
"Uhh alright... we'll be on our way soon, so we'll just order water, I guess." You quickly added: "Or perhaps Darkdrop if you don't have water?"
"Ah yes, feasible. Please wait a moment."
The shark complies, and goes to prepare your order - just as the fox lady stood up.
"I think I'll be going now. Ta-ta, Maru." Is it your imagination, or did her left eye began to embolden itself? Nevertheless, she exits the bar in a hurry.

One of the card players took a glance at your team and let out an audible sigh. "Just travelers, no worries, no worries." That's what she said, even though her expression told you she's still kinda skeptical.

Meanwhile, the boogeyman sat up straighter as it looks towards your party's direction, and started vibrating.

You began to wonder what is up with Wreck, as the shark returns with an unmarked bottle filled with a clear liquid and six shot glasses.
"Pardon me for asking, but where did you come from, and where are you going?" The shark asks. What a philosophical question.
"Ah, we're from Goblinton, headed to the Crack, actually."
The shark nods. "Wakatta. Taking a rest, I see. In that case, feel free to use the facilities." He returns to cleaning his cups.

>CHOOSE
>□ Ask the bartender about Wreck
>□ Ask the bartender rumors about Crack
>□ Talk to the other customers (who?)
>□ Just sit down and drink your water
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5282006
>□ Talk to the other customers (who?)
The vibrating boogeyman

>>5282006
>□ Ask the bartender about Wreck

>>5282011
+1

>>5282011
Inter3sting fella also fox lady is using her eye on us

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>5282006
>□ Ask the bartender rumors about Crack

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>>5282011
>>5282024
>>5282278
>>5282911
>>5283722
You briefly wonder if the fox lady also has some sort of eye power, but decided to ask the bartender about the town instead.
"So uh, I've never been to Wreck before, but I hear there's some sort of trouble lately?" You casually ask.
"Aa, customer-sama has good hearing. There's been a large group of Yokai refugees coming in town, and the locals are unnerved. Between that, the Makkuro Badges prowling about, and the Hi-no-Taberu raiding this far north, the townsfolk of Wreck are very, very wary of outsiders." The shark then points at the boogeyman. "If it's news from the Crack, he should have it, I think."

The boogeyman suddenly sat up straighter, and slowly, jerkily raises a six-fingered hand to point at Pedro. "I KNNOWW YOUUU. YOUUU AREEE TRRENCHHH SLAYERRR." He creaks as he rises from his seat, and in a distressing instant it appears beside Pedro. To his credit, Pedro looks straight at the boogeyman, with a look of confusion and curiosity mixed with a slight hint of recognition.
"YOUUU HAVEEE KILLEDD MYY PACCK IN THOSSEE TRRENCHESSS. FINISHH THHEE JOBB, TRRENCHH SLAYERR. ENDD MEE." Somehow, the boogeyman had already produced a dagger in its hands - handle respectfully presented towards Pedro. Again you feel the room staring, but now their focus is on Pedro.

>CHOOSE
>□ Ask Pedro what the hell is going on
>□ Snatch the blade from the yokai's hand
>□ Use your vision to see the truth
>□ Let Pedro handle this
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5284210
>□ Use your vision to see the truth
Let's try to defuse the situation, but first we'll need to know the truth

>>5284210
>□ Other (fill in)
POV SWITCH
Pedro grabs the knife, looks at it, stares at the fourth wall, prepares to stab the stranger in the chest, stops himself by looking at the knife again, then throws the knife behind him.

"No Stranger. They'll be no letting of blood today. I think you've learned your lesson."

>>5284376
that doesn't sound like pedro

he's kind of a panicky kid

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>5284210
>□ Use your vision to see the truth

>>5284210
>□ Use your vision to see the truth

>>5284376
No OOC autism

>>5284210
>□ Use your vision to see the truth

>>5284210
>□ Use your vision to see the truth

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>>5284227
>>5284881
>>5285006
>>5285447
>>5286136
The situation is abrupt and a bit strange, so you decide to look further into it. Alright, how do you do this? Focus on your left eye and finding out the truth, and - there.
Before your very eyes, the truth laid bare. Pedro is swimming in fear, apprehension, suspicion, and... is that a bit of curiosity there?
Meanwhile, the yokai seems sincere. There is regret of past cowardice, guilt, seeking an honorable death, and a sense loneliness and loss. Heck, you can sense he's suicidal, in a way.

You turn towards Pedro as you return your vision to normal. "I think he means it, he's a bit suicidal."
Pedro says nothing as he slowly grips the dagger, trepidation visible even without your truth-vision. The other team members silently observes - Petunia keeps glancing back at you in an universal 'you're sure about this, right' gesture, Gobson in a cautious but also curious way, Borges and Ko in an approving but careful aura. The bartender only said, "Customer-sama, if you're going to spill blood, do it outside, please."

You are now Pedro Rubeda, one of the three Rubeda brothers. You've never thought you'd run into another vestige of this part of your past. Like Sister Beryl, you've done things you've regretted during the war - things you had to do to survive. You vaguely remember being ordered to rush a trench, there was definitely blood. If what this guy said is true, then - he survived. And he's hurting, he's been hurting all this time.
Like Sister Beryl. Like you.

https://youtu.be/qKGM7gi50H8

>CHOOSE
>□ Put him out of his misery
>□ Live and let live
>□ Prove his honor another way
>□ You were just a kid, this is too much
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5287031
Pedro stares at the fourth wall, prepares to stab the stranger in the chest, stops himself by looking at the knife again, then throws the knife behind him.
>"No Stranger. They'll be no letting of blood today."

>>5287031
>□ You were just a kid, this is too much
Chill,bro

>>5287241
>□ Prove his honor another way

>>5287031
>□ Prove his honor another way
This creepy fucker needs a hug

>>5287031
>□ Prove his honor another way

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>>5287241
>>5287280
>>5287298
>>5287392
>>5288853
The knife glints in your grip. It would be easy, oh so very easy, for an end to grace its edge. And yet...
"No." You throw the knife aside, sending it clattering on the floor. The bartender sighs in relief.

You look straight into his vision holes, which now starts to well with black ichor. "Listen up, you! I don't know your name, and I barely remember you, but we both survived that war! Despite the hurt it put in us, we still lived afterwards! Sure we were broken, but WE'RE STILL WORTH LIVING!" You're at the verge of crying, but you're a big boy now, Pedro.
"You want honor? Then go make it! Find the honor in living! Live, damnit!" To the surprise of both parties, a hug occured. You can feel the steady drip of his ichor on your hat, overflowing from his face, as a static which sounds more like rain can be heard. You bury your own tears deep in his uniform, which smelled faintly of blood and regret.

"T-TRRENCHH SLAYERRRR. THISS RROOT OWESS YOUU LIFFEE-DEBTTT." The boogeyman trembles.
"Just call me Pablo." You answer, wiping tears from your eyes.
"PABLOOO. THISS RROOT OF ASSHH ABIDESS. CALL THISS RROOT 'ASSHH'." He awkwardly moves his hand, and pats you on the head. "ASSHH OVERRHEARRDD. PABLOOO GOINGG TO THHE CRRACCKK. ASSHH WILL GUIDEEE."

Meanwhile, Petunia lets loose a few tears watching this exchange, and so does Gobson, who also claps softly. "Good drama, guv. Good drama." Borges just scoffs and goes back to drinking, and Ko seems to be silently noting Gobson's reaction.

You're James Calaca again, and frankly you hadn't expected Pedro to exhibit such emotional maturity. But hey, all's well that ends well, and you get a free guide. "Right, then, let's finish our drink and get on our way." You declare, as you see the other bar patrons are no longer scrutinizing your party.

>CHOOSE
>□ Hurry up and go posthaste, you've wasted enough time in Wreck
>□ Take your time recuperating, ask Asshh about The Crack in the meantime
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5289818
>□ Hurry up and go posthaste, you've wasted enough time in Wreck
we gotta go

>>5289818
>□ Hurry up and go posthaste, you've wasted enough time in Wreck
Nice, new party member

>>5289818
>□ Hurry up and go posthaste, you've wasted enough time in Wreck

>>5289818
>□ Take your time recuperating, ask Asshh about The Crack in the meantime

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>>5289964
>>5289865
>>5289846
You gulp down your glass of water quickly, as the other members of your group finishes theirs. Ko chugs hers as Gobson drank his glass in two gulps, while Borges, Pedro and Petunia took their time in sipping until the last drop.
"Oh right, we need to pay with stories, don't we?" Asks Petunia after she wipes her lips with the back of her hand.
"No worry, I got this." Borges saunters over to the shark bartender. "Sorry, but we are havink to go, fast." He produces a well-read book from his inventory. "I am hopink this will do."
The bartender looks over the title - of which you glimpsed - 'Book of Worms, vol. 1', and smiles slightly as he took it. "Aa, yes, this will do. Save travels, customer-sama."

With Asshh as your guide, travel time gets greatly reduced. It seems as if you're walking in a straight line, Asshh homing in on The Crack in an inexplicable way. Thus, on the next day after you left Wreck, you see The Crack rising from the horizon.

It is a literal crack in reality, propped up by massive steel supports from the city that sprang under it. It seems surreal how the metal beams held on to the floating crevice - for a moment you wonder if the buildings were the ones hanging from the gash in the fabric of Gongalla's reality.

"THHEREE ISS THHE CRRACCKK. ASSHH LEFFTT HEERE SSEEKINNG DEATTHH. NNOW ASSHH RRETURRNN, ALIIVEE."
"Thank you, Asshh. Now, are there anything we should know about the place?" You ask.
"CCARREEFFULL OF FLLUXXESS. TTEMPORRARRY BBUT PLLENTTYY. ALLSSO HHOMMEE TO MMANYY SSIBLINNGSS OF THHE DARRK WWORRLD LLIKE ASSHH."
Well, now that's something. The town itself, however, look to be almost empty - no obvious signs of habitation.

>CHOOSE
>□ Just simply walk in
>□ Watch out for those Fluxes
>□ Look for the inhabitants, why does it look deserted?
>□ Look for a public spot like a bar, inn, or waystation
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5292093
>□ Just simply walk in, but watch out for those fluxes

>>5292103
+1

>>5292093
>Book of Worms

Huh. Wonder how he happened upon THAT particular tome. Guess it might just be a pale imitator, but...

>>5292093
>□ Watch out for those Fluxes

>>5292103
+1

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>>5292103
>>5292114
>>5292818
>>5293876
Beyond you lie The Crack, its gash on reality splayed atop the blocklike buildings like a caul, or perhaps akin to a painting on an easel. As you get closer, the sheer scale of the thing nearly defies belief - if only you've never seen Gongalla Gaol in your life.
"Ey, there you are, boss." A familiar voice beckons. Brody the ethereal agent, true to his word, waits at the city limits. "Huh, new face. Seen you before?" Brody comments on the figure of Asshh before continuing. "Anyways, found the dang anchor. Deep in The Crack, as in that crack Crack. Get to the top, and get in."
"Thanks, Brody. I owe you one." You say, which prompts an exaggerated waving of the hands.
"Eyy, nothing to it, boss. It's my job. Now, get hustlin. Watch the Fluxy things." Brody floats through the air, deeper into the city.

You realized that you've ventured into the undercity of The Crack - unnervingly empty of people, bone white and sparkling clean, in contrast with the rust red of the huge metal platforms and supports. As you turn a corner, Petunia spots something green on your path amidst the white.
"Wait a sec, handsome, what is that?" she points to the object, which turns out to be... a familiar-looking potted plant. A plastic potted plant.
"Seems to be just a potted plant-" you say as you reach to touch it.
Immediately, Asshh screams. "DDONNTT TOUCHH. WWILL TTURRNN YOUU TO PLLASSTICC."
Warning received loud and clear, you and Petunia swerved clear of the fiendish foliage. "Whoa, let's just... continue on."

Avoiding several more fluxes, some more innocuous than others, you arrive upon a ladder. Stalking under it are two uniformed boogiemen, one with the flat face looks physically menacing, while the burnt match lookalike is armed with a hammer.
The flat-faced one turns its head towards your group. "Who goes there?" It speaks with the voice of the dead. They seem to be guarding the ladder.

>CHOOSE
>□ Battle formations, everyone!
>□ State your intentions, ask if we can go up
>□ Get Asshh to explain to these guards
>□ Run towards the ladder, climb it fast
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5295804
Hmv, does Ashhh know these people?

>>5295804
>□ Get Asshh to explain to these guards

>>5295804
>□ Battle formations, everyone!

>>5295804
>□ Get Asshh to explain to these guards
Time is of the essence, and if either of them want to live and not be reduced to nothing or worse when this shit hits critical instability, they need to let us pass

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>>5295849
>>5295871
>>5295915
>>5296924

Instinctively, you form a combat stance, but Asshh steps toward the two boogeymen. What conversation follows sounds like a crow being drowned in a sea of audio static, with the moans of the damned interspersed. You have no idea of their meaning, until Asshh turns to you.
"LLADDERRSS GGUARRDEDD TTO SSAFFEEGUARRDD DDENIZZENNSS OF THHE CRRACCKK. FFEARR OF PPYROVVORESS ANNDD BBLACCKK BBADDGESS CCAUSSINNG TRROUBBLLEE."
"Ah, understood, tell them we're here to fix the reality anchor. Can we enter The Crack to do so?" you reply, promptly eliciting another murder of crows being fed into a radio grinder of a discussion.

The smudge-headed one seems to be uninterested in the conversation, and more towards Pedro. "HmM? YoU, ChILd. DiD yOu NoT gO uP bEfOrE?" It speaks in an echo of a sing-song voice.
"What, me? It's the first time I've been here." Pedro explains, confusedly.
"ThEn WhO iS iT wHo CaMe HeRe A fEw DaYs AgO, a DuMmY-mAsKeD wOmAn ALoNgSiDe? ThEy, ToO, sEeK tO eNtEr ThE CRACK, aNd AsCeNdEd HeRe."

You know not of the dummy-masked woman, but Pedro gasps at the realization. In unison, you both blurt, "PABLO?!?"

>CHOOSE
>□ Ask for more detail on Pablo
>□ Hurry up the stairs
>□ Wait for an explanation from Asshh
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5298691
>□ Ask for more detail on Pablo
>□ Wait for an explanation from Asshh
Maybe it was just a fluke.

>>5298844
+1

>>5298844
+1

>5298691
>>□ Wait for an explanation from Asshh

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>>5298844
>>5298984
>>5299065

You knew it was going to happen, but you weren't quick enough to stop Pedro from hopping in burnt match's face.
"TELL ME EVERY DETAIL ABOUT THAT BOY! I need to know if he's truly my brother, Pablo!" Pedro really gets the face-to-face interview going.
"WhOa, ChILd. I dO nOt KnOw YoUr BrOtHeR Pablo. BuT tHe OtHeR cHiLd LoOkS LiKe YoU. ThEy ShOuLd StILL bE uP tHeRe." The boogeyman replied with a bit of confusion.
It was at this moment the flat-faced one turns to your crew, its conversation with Asshh concluded. "Very well, ye knaves, thou art allowed ascent. Make sure yon brethren stays out of trouble."
You noticed that Asshh does not follow you up the ladder. "I SSTAYY HHEREE, HHELP GGUARRDD. HHOPPE YOUU CANN FFIX GGONGGALLLAA."

As you rise towards the crack, you see faces starting to peek out of the corners. Most were boogeymen/yokai, but you do see a few infernals and even some orcoids with wary looks.
"Hey, handsome, you think that's really Pedro's brother?" Petunia asks as you grab another rung.
"Well, seems very unlikely we'll run into another shapeshifter." True, you do not know how many more like Nemo are there in Gongalla, but you seriously don't want your shape stolen like that again.
"But yeah - what are the odds of that happening? Seems like more than coincidence."
"Yeah, but the woman who's with him is who I'm interested in. If this isn't a coincidence, she might be behind this." You say, as you finish climbing the ladder.

What a sight to behold - The Crack's breach of reality, a myriad of shapes and colors flit behind the sideways crevice. A part of you wonders if these are pinhole peeks into other realities. But, as your eyes adjust to the roving static snow, you see an alarming scene: two figures, being threatened at swordpoint by another. You could faintly discern the same hat Pedro has on one of the threatened ones.
"Is that... brother! BROTHER!" Pedro yells, but things seem to be direly tense up there. The rest of your team seems to be looking at the figures in confusion or apprehension - except for Borges, who seem to recognize the swordsman.

>CHOOSE
>□ Wait and see what happens
>□ Rush to aid Pablo
>□ Gear up first, so you'll be prepared if you need to dive into the breach
>□ Find a chunk of broken reality and chuck it at the swordsman
>□ Ask Borges about the identity of the swordsman
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5301279
>□ Gear up first, so you'll be prepared if you need to dive into the breach
>□ Ask Borges about the identity of the swordsman
We can ask him while we're gearing up, right?

>>5301293
Yeah, that is correct.

>>5301279
>□ Ask Borges about the identity of the swordsman
>□ Find a chunk of broken reality and chuck it at the swordsman

>>5301344
mfw forgot you run this quest and had a wtf reaction seeing you respond to a player

>>5301293
yeah lets be geared up so we dont dissolve like a vitamin

>>5301293
+1

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>>5301293
>>5301345
>>5301475
>>5301893

You grab Pedro before he does anything rash. "Hold up. Me and Petunia will suit up, and get up there. Any messages to your brother?"
Pedro looks up to you, a little ball of emotions. "Uggghh, but - but I... you're right. Just... just tell him, 'Pedro and Paulo's waiting for you, here'." Pedro blurts out. "I won't forgive you if he doesn't get saved."
"I'll try my best, by the Revolution." You assure him. "Now, we need everything ready."

In a flurry of activity, Ko and Borges unload the boxes on their backs, unveiling the realitynaut suits. As you and Petunia don them on, you see Pedro and Gobson transferring the bones from their inventory into the suits' - a process expedited by packing the bones into two crates beforehand.
"Hey Borges, you seem to know that other guy. Who's that?" You recall his gaze earlier.
"Da, I know him. Lucifer, the prince of Hell. Empire's first attempt at subjugatink other realities."
Prince of hell? Really? "I thought he was dead?"
"Apparently nyet. The Eternal Empire captured him and threw him into Gongalla, then. Supposedly very good at swordplayink. Now get goink!" Borges urges you to hurry as the helmet clicks shut.

In a hurry, you amble and climb the ladder as you hear Gobson yell from below, "You got this, guv!"
The suits are kind of cumbersome, but finally you reach the summit of the Crack - there stood Lucifer, a crown of teeth and a sword of bone; Pablo, armed with defiance and an odd sort of confidence; the mysterious masked woman, trying to get Pablo out of trouble. Whatever conversation they've held, you must've interrupted it, because silence reigns here.
As Lucifer and Pablo eye you with caution, you seek to find something to say before this gets awkward.

>CHOOSE
>□ Say something threatening
>□ Say something truthful
>□ Deliver Pedro's message
>□ Defuse the situation
>□ Explain your objective
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5303170
>□ Say something truthful: to Lucifer "We mean you no harm. I just need to deliver a message and talk to these two. In the process, hopefully we can find a way to solve whatever disagreement you have with them."
>□ Deliver Pedro's message
>If Lucifer is calm enough, we explain our objective.

>>5303196
+1

>>5303196
+1, reasonable bad guys are cool

I will forever be disappointed that, in the two opportunities we had, we did not, in fact, get flat paizuri from petunia. Or a thighjob.

That is all. Continue the quest.

>>5303357
That can be left to the epilogue

>>5303396
Possibly, but it would be very weird to end a quest with a lewd scene.

>>5303357
If there's enough demands for this sort of lewdery, I may have to open a Baraag just for this.

>>5303500
Your choice, but i would be very happy to see more James and Petunia stuff, even if only so we could get more of gaol

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>>5303196
>>5303221
>>5303276

Amidst the soft burble of the breach in reality, you quickly interject.
"We mean you no harm - I just need to deliver a message and talk to these two. Maybe I could help mediate?"
The erstwhile prince of Hell lowers his weapon. "Very well. Go, deliver your message." Surprisingly, he sounds just like a normal person, albeit with a sense of royalty and gravitas in his timbre.

Taking your cue, you turn to the last Rubeda brother. "Hey, Pablo, was it? Your brothers are here in Gongalla, Pedro and Paulo. They say they're waiting here for you." You point down, where the rest of your crew await. "See? There's Pedro, down there. Paulo's back at Goblinton."
Pablo's eye widens. "My brothers, here, really?!" He then takes a look at the masked woman behind him. "But... my duty..." He seemed really conflicted. The woman notes Pablo's distress, and was about to say something, when a movement occurs to your side.

Lucifer has you at swordpoint. "You've delivered your message, and now you're available to arbitrate. But before that can happen, I happen to notice you're oddly well-armored - you did not just come here to deliver a message, haven't you?"
Oops, right, you forgot to mention you were going to enter that crack in reality.
"Now then, explain your armor, and your motive." The morningstar asks tersely, his bone sword pointed directly at your neck joint. Petunia is looking worriedly from behind you, while Pablo and the masked woman looks on, curious but wary.

>CHOOSE
>□ You're confident you can deflect the sword, dodge!
>□ Ask Petunia to vouch for you
>□ Just explain what you're here for
>□ Let the masked woman speak
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5305577
>□ Just explain what you're here for
If we don't do our job, everybody here is doomed when this all collapses, including prettyboy here.

>>5305577
>□ Just explain what you're here for
>Suggest that people might be more amenable to discussion if he lowered his sword, just as a suggestion.

>>5305577
>□ Just explain what you're here for

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>>5305599
>>5305606
>>5305624

You feel like this might be some sort of test, but then again, he's the prince of Hell. "Yeah, I forgot to tell you that we'll also be fixing a broken reality anchor, which is located somewhere through that crack behind you, and hopefully save Gongalla and everyone in it. The armor's to keep us from dissolving in the gap between realities, or so I'm told. So please, keep that sword down, talking is kind of hard when it's pointed at your face."
Lucifer gazes coldly at you and Petunia, and then at Pablo and the masked woman, before fixing his sights on you once more. "Save Gongalla? Like these others also claim to do?" He spots Brody flickering behind you. "You are definitely more prepared for this than they are. But your preparations are in vain!"

The morningstar strikes a confident pose and then raises a question that might as well be an invitation for an ultimatum. "Why should Gongalla be saved? It is a miserable pile of trash in a rubbish bin, the residue, refuse and detritus of a thousand realities conquered by the Eternal Empire! Inhabited by the rejects, outcasts and unwanted, serving absolutely no purpose - there is no escape, even in death!" his voice rang true and clear.
"Why should Gongalla be saved?!"

If you weren't sure this was a test before, you're absolutely sure of it now. Everyone stands silently still, awaiting for your reply.

>ANSWER
>□ Because it is our home now.
>□ Because even the refuse are worth saving.
>□ Because there's nowhere else to go.
>□ Because you've seen the future of this place.
>□ Because it is the crucible of revolution.
>□ Because fuck you, that's why.
>□ Other (fill in)

>□ Because it is our home now.
Seems to be the truth, innit?

>>5306767
>Answer: "Uh, if it's as hopeless as you claim then what's the harm in letting us try? Unless you have a particular moral hangup with us actually trying to make this a better place, then 'because we want to' is as much reason as we need to."

>>5306767
>□ Because fuck you, that's why.
Like, come on

>>5306879
>Answer: "Uh, if it's as hopeless as you claim then what's the harm in letting us try? Unless you have a particular moral hangup with us actually trying to make this a better place, then 'because we want to' is as much reason as we need to."
Seconding this

>>5306879
+1

>"Why should Gongalla be saved? It is a miserable pile of trash in a rubbish bin, the residue, refuse and detritus of a thousand realities conquered by the Eternal Empire! Inhabited by the rejects, outcasts and unwanted, serving absolutely no purpose - there is no escape, even in death!"

>write in
What, like you? Uhh dude you're here with us too, in the same boat. By the Revolution you are a hypocrite and one with a poor self image at that.The Empire conquered you and tossed you in here with us and now you're so bitter you're going to take out their trash for them just so they can build another Gaol?

Gaol isn't a prison: it's a free state with its own rules, law, culture and society already.

inb4 Lucifer decides to take over Gaol and just make a new Hell lmao

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>>5306774
>>5306879
>>5306889
>>5307047
>>5307639
>>5308328

You won't let your new home be slandered like this. "Now listen here, Lucifer! We're on the same sinking ship, and it's your choice to be hopeless about it - but I'm not a bloody hypocrite, I can do something about it, so I'm doing it."
You step closer, ignoring the sword pointed at you. "It doesn't matter that the Empire conquered your ass and threw you in here with us, Gongalla's already grew far beyond just a prison.
It got its own rules, law, and culture.
It's a free state.
It's a home, my new home.
Now if you have some kind of moral hangup or post-subjugation bitterness about us saving Gongalla, I suggest taking this as my reason to save Gongalla:
Because fuck you, that's why!"

The air is full of tension and devoid of sound for the next few seconds, as the words sink into Lucifer's ears. Everyone's attention is at you and Lucifer now - and yet, no one dared to make a move.
The silence is broken by Lucifer, cackling like he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "AHAHAHAHA! The moxie on this one! Spoken like a true revolutionary! You remind me of myself when I rebelled against Heaven."
He lowers his sword. "Very well, you revo bastard, I see your stubbornness and I like it. You may just be able to fix Gongalla after all."

For a moment you feel a pang of dread as his sword moves faster than you can react - but thankfully, the blade just... rips through The Crack's rend in reality, a horizon visible on the other side.
"Holy shit, boss, he just tore open a path directly into the pocket dimension where the anchor's at." Brody shivers behind you, awed and intimidated.

>CHOOSE
>□ Enter with just Petunia and Brody
>□ Get Pablo and the mysterious woman to come along
>□ Send Pablo and the woman to Pedro down there
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5309313
>□ Enter with just Petunia and Brody
Let's go, eh.

>>5309401
+1

>>5309313
>Ask the mysterious woman and Pablo who she is before deciding anything else.

Guess counterfeit Vergil isn't so bad after all.

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>>5309401
>>5309406
>>5309415

One thing's nagging you from the back of your mind before you go. "By the way, you look familiar. Who are you?" You direct an inquiry towards the masked woman. Something about her reminds you of someone, but who?
"Hey, watch your tongue!" Pablo quickly snaps, but the masked woman pats him on the hat.
"It's fine, Pablo." She says, as she removes her mask. You scarcely believed whose face greets your eye.
"I am... no, I was the Eternal Empress, Elena. I guess I am just Elena now." Memories of your time defacing her posters in Libertad resurface and gave you the confirmation that indeed, this is the face of your distant, longtime enemy.
She then speaks again, in a voice way softer than your perceived notions about her. Not a single tone of imperialism, pride, or haughtiness. "I also believe you can save Gongalla, and maybe even the Eternal Empire, but that's just wishful thinking on my part. I've no qualms anymore, and I sincerely hope you can forgive me. Go now, for all of our sakes."
She then turns to Pablo. "Pablo, let's go down there. Would you also introduce me to your brothers, please? I wonder if they are much like my most trusted royal guard, here."

With mouth still agape from the revelation, you watch as the former empress descends down the ladder with Pablo, as Lucifer grins at your surprise. Petunia, however, takes the lead. "Come on, handsome, it's like she said: let's go, for all of our sakes!"

And so, you, Petunia, and Brody cross the threshold.

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>>5311188
An infinite horizon of plain white stretches before you, with one notable, visible exception. A body of pure black that almost eclipses that horizon, immensely huge, a reclining figure that seems despondent.
"There boss, that's the anchor." Brody agrees.
Now the question becomes: how are you going to approach this?

>CHOOSE
>□ Go towards the head and make sure it's the right one
>□ Go towards the nearest part, the middle
>□ Go towards the legs
>□ Other (fill in)

>>5311208
>□ Go towards the head and make sure it's the right one
It's the smart choice, yeah?

>>5311208
Where's the blood pool and the starry sky? I don't want to choke Petunia out here

>>5311208
Oh right
>□ Go towards the head and make sure it's the right one

>>5311208
>□ Go towards the head and make sure it's the right one

>>5311421
Well, luckily, we don't need to have that hospital scene either.

>>5311208
Just before I forget:

>JAMES CALACA:
>Traits: Violent, Rebel, Stubborn
>Past: Anti-Empire Revolutionary

>PETUNIA KARACHOVA
>Traits: Pervert, Deceiver, Friendly
>Past: Serial Non-Consensualist

>GOBSON G. GOBSON
>Traits: Klepto, Deceiver, Honest
>Past: Goblinton Goblin, Nanna's Boy

>SIERRA
>Traits: Rebel, Deceiver, Stubborn
>Past: New Deity of Crash Test Dummies

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>>5311390
>>5311423
>>5311437

Before you do anything else, you've got to check if this anchor's the right one - so you head towards the head. As you get closer, the massive head turns towards you and opened their eyes, a pair of matte black discs zeroing in on you. You can see that there's a couple of faded yellow stripes on their face, and a mirror on their chest, bleached white.
"Ah, who is this approaching me? Could it be... visitors?" Their voice sound hoarse and tired, tinted with an accent you can't quite place.
"Well, we're here to fix you. Stay strong." You reassure the former god. "Petunia, let's unload the materials."
"Ah. Then I will instruct you on what to do afterwards." The former deity awaits as you and Petunia removes the bags from each other's backs.

After an inordinate amount of time unloading all 500 bones (seriously, these bags can pack so much), an obsidian mirror (uncracked), and the two engrams.
One too many. Well, which one are you going to use, then?

>IS THIS THE RIGHT GODLY REMAINS? (THE ANCHOR RESONATES WITH YOUR QUALITIES, USE WIKIPEDIA TO CONFIRM)
>□ Yes
>□ No

>WHICH ENGRAM TO USE? (REFER TO THE DEITY'S WIKIPEDIA)
>□ "James Baxter" the horse
>□ Millie the mouse

>>5314742
Fuck, i have no idea mates

Pretty sure it's Tezcatlipoca given the description, but I could be wrong. Dude had an obsidian mirror and crap along with yellow stripes on his face. Not sure about the amounts yet, though.

>>5314793
I think you're right. He's the only one with a big mirror association

>>5314793
+1, it's Tezcatlipoca

Alright, in the interest of keeping things moving I have a quick question for OP: when you ask if this is the right godly remains, are you asking if we have the correct AMOUNT, or if we need to ADD OR REMOVE something?

Not sure about the engrams, but Teszca is apparently associated with a lot of stuff including divination--would that match with Millie since she apparently has Telepathy per the last thread?

>>5315360
The right deity/anchor, more or less, not the amount of bones (or deities). Although 'amount' might come into question in the next update.
Soon will come the last CHOICE for this quest

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>>5314753
>>5314793
>>5315152
>>5315317
>>5315360

After a bit of deliberation, you conclude that Millie might be the better engram to use. "Alright, Millie, you're up." You access her face-file, just to be sure.
"Ah, what a shame, handsome - she looks like a bright one." Petunia comments.
"Eh, she'll be fine, she's already dead."
You then turn towards the deity. "Well, here's all the ingredients, what's the instruction?"

The yellow-striped face of the deity looks on, despondent. "To tell you the truth, I'm so, so very tired of all this. I used to be one of the four pillars that held up the heavens and pinned down the earth way before Gongalla. So please, either restore me back to my full power, or kill me."
The deity turns its head towards the ceiling. "To restore me, use all of the bones to create a new foot for me. Place the black mirror on top of my chest, and then surrender the engram on top of it. Or..."
The deity pauses, then sighs before continuing. "To kill me, fashion a dagger from all the bones - then plunge it into my chest. That should do it."
"Wouldn't that destabilize Gongalla?" Petunia, ever observant, asks.
"Perhaps - but Skadi, Durga, and Kagutsuchi could handle things as you find a replacement deity. I, Tezcatlipoca, am too tired. Have mercy."

You distinctly remember the incident back in Wreck, with Pedro and Asshh. This is somewhat like that.

>CHOOSE
>□ Restore to full power
>□ Fix enough parts but not to full power
>□ Mercy kill this suffering god

>>5315534
>find a replacement deity
That...doesn't sound like something we could easily do? We're not exactly empire level here.

>>5315534
>□ Restore to full power
I was gonna go with >□ Fix enough parts but not to full power
but Tezcatlipoca is a cool name.

>>5315534
>□ Mercy kill this suffering god

Let's make a replacement. Perhaps a crash test dummy we know could take the role?

>>5315874
Tezcatlipoca is the last person we should want as a god of gongalla. You know that she requires in her fesitval? Human sacrifice.

>>5315534
>□ Restore to full power

>>5316295
>>5315900
>>5315898
>>5315874
>>5315868
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tezcatlipoca
Read and ask yourself if this guy is worth bringing back in this setting, assuming he's almost the same as on this wikipedia article

>>5316345
EXACTLY, It's a horrible choice

>>5316361
Did you read?

>>5316345
That isn't Gaol Quest wiki

>>5316365
Human sacrifice, enough said

>>5316361
>>5316365
Why don't you two actually place your votes rather then just argue?

>>5315534
>□ Mercy kill this suffering god
We have some replacements in mind if I recall correctly and the guy clearly wants it. We want some stability here

>>5315534
>□ Mercy kill this suffering god
Yeah, sure, let's just replace the thing with, i dunno, our dummy gal or something.

>>5315534
>□ Mercy kill this suffering god

>>5315900
>>5316345
>>5316361
I was gonna tell you you crybaby niggers to go fuck yourselves, but destroying Gongalla is fun in its own way.

>>5317119
>>5316345
Except you. You can go fuck yourself, nigger.