Chapter 12

"We finally meet, my troublesome children."
slinkoboy

"Despite everything, you have wrestled away from my control more than once. To think one little bird could make it this far... I admit I'm impressed.

"You may have gotten most of my followers on your side, but it means little. Your rebellion ends here."




"I will give you one last chance. Come to me, give me what I desire. Become my new king and I promise you I will let your friends go. I'll even let them keep their sanity."





"Or you can resist and watch as they die one by one. It doesn't matter to me-- you WILL give me what I want. Think carefully about your answer, little bird."



Sekani makes note of his inventory as he considers his response.


What should they do?
theguindo
Okay, sequence of events. Jiniki, address your mother. Amiel and Tayza, distract the two Ki-jaara between you and Iiji.

I'm pretty sure those are gun turrets at Iiji's feet and near her head. Sekani's the fastest, so he needs to get over there while the others are distracted and take out the turrets near Iiji's head. And also GET OUT and get behind the others after he does that - don't fuckin' stick around.
slinkoboy
If you're stumped for commands, it'd be a good idea to work off of guindo's command here, possibly give Jiniki something to say to Iiji!
dragonunicorn
> Sekani: Consider the terms. Say aloud that you didn't realize Iiji was this attractive in person, but point out she must know Amiel is important to you. Ask for the possibility of compromise on this issue.

> Everyone: Do all that stuff Guindo said in the middle of Iiji's response to this.
Anonymous
>Amiel (and maybe Jiniki too): Sense the other two ki-jaara, see if you can tell anything about them. Also see if there are any more ki-jaara around hidden.
slinkoboy
>Sekani: Consider the terms. Say aloud that you didn't realize Iiji was this attractive in person, but point out she must know Amiel is important to you. Ask for the possibility of compromise on this issue.
>Amiel and Tayza, distract the two Ki-jaara between you and Iiji.

"Wow, I had no idea you were so attractive. From here those plates of yours look like feathers, and I'm totally into that. But... Amiel is my heart. She means a lot to me, and I wouldn't leave her for anything. Isn't there some kind of compromise we could come to?"

"Aww, dhad'sh shweed ob you do shay~" Amiel says aloud as she wraps up the Tezakian majibeast in her tentacles. Tayza attempts to punch the other one, but it hops up before she can connect.




"Attractive? Really? I don't think anyone's ever said that about me. I always thought I had too much 'junk in the trunk' for most people. But I'm really going to have to insist that you--"

"Mommy~!""

"Huh?"


>IMPROVISE

"Get this! We're here to cure you so we can all be a family! How super neato keen is that?"

"I've said before that I don't need curing. Your mother died long ago, little one. You should just accept the--"

*Crash!*



>Sekani: GET IN, DESTROY TURRETS, GET OUT

"Damn it! You distracted me, you little brat!"

Amiel cheers as Sekani destroys the upper turrets! Meanwhile, Tayza prepares to give a good stabbing to the Klis-khar Majibeast.

>Amiel (and maybe Jiniki too): Sense the other two ki-jaara, see if you can tell anything about them. Also see if there are any more ki-jaara around hidden.
There are no other Ki-jaara around. It looks like these two are her final line of defense. Jiniki can sense that they have--




"Agh!"

"Aaaah!"

"Shiiiiiit!"

--Fire and Electric majicka!

Sekani doesn't remember there being so many lasers last time! He's struggling not to get hit!

"Fool! They will shoot at anything that gets close to me!"

Amiel is stunned and unable to move.

Sekani, Jiniki, and Tayza can still act. What should they do next?
Anonymous
I'd ask Jiniki to throw a ki-jaara into the lasers, but she doesn't seem like the type of person to do that. Instead, she may be able to disable one of them. Maybe the fire one.

Tayza: see if Amiel needs healing.

Sekani: get away from the lasers for now. Help them with the Ki-Jaara.
Anonymous
Actually, Jiniki should disable the electric one
dragonunicorn
> Jiniki: Sing the "I love my mommy" song while you take care of business. It will help morale! ?
bahustard
You fool! Only men can be bards!

>Jiniki: Do the slow dance to buy time!
ebugle
>Reminder of what each sollution does please? It's been like... chapters...
Anonymous
Light blue: Cure. We have one of these.
Purple: Power up majicka. Also one.
Dark Green: Disable majicka. 2 doses.
TPC gun: 2 shots left I believe.
An unspecified(I think?) number of darts along with the dart gun.
bahustard
I don't remember Amiel needing to MOVE to be effective these days.

>Tentacles: Smack Joltyjerk into nearest hostile and/or flat surfaces. Bonus points for a combo.
Anonymous
um, we probably shouldn't be leaving either one of the Ki-Jaara unchecked. If Jini and/or Amiel can handle the electric Tezakian, Tayza should be doing something about the fire Klis-Khar. Unless Sekani can get away and divebomb it.
Also, an interesting note. Iiji doesn't seem to have direct control over the eye lasers. Hmm.
Anonymous
Just pretend this was a response to the main post please ;>_>
magedragonfire
Sekani: Retreat to non-lasery range. Do something about that quick Majibeast that's harassing Tayza. Punch it, maybe.

Jini: Swat the Tezakian Majibeast.
slinkoboy
>Reminder of what each sollution does please? It's been like... chapters...

There's-- ah! the LIGHT BLUE SOLUTION that cures-- eek! majibeasts completely, the-- oh god! DARK GREEN SOLUTION that temporarily halts-- aaah! majicka use, and the PURPLE SOLUaaaahhh!!TION that enhances majicka temporarily.

1, 2, 1 doses left respectively. Also, oh god.



>Jiniki: Sing the "I love my mommy" song while you take care of business. It will help morale! ?
>Jiniki: Do the slow dance to buy time!

"I love mommy~ Yes I do~ With lots of sprinkles~ and chocolate too~"




"S-stop being so cute!"



>Sekani: get away from the lasers for now. Help them with the Ki-Jaara.
>Sekani: Retreat to non-lasery range. Do something about that quick Majibeast that's harassing Tayza. Punch it, maybe.
>Tentacles: Smack Joltyjerk into nearest hostile and/or flat surfaces. Bonus points for a combo.

Sekani continues dodging, but the lasers are starting to get dangerously close to hitting everyone. It could be risky to fly directly towards them until he's out of range... however far that is.

Amiel throws the Tezakian onto the ground. Her muscles are still paralyzed so she can't move yet.

Jiniki continues dancing while holding down the Klis-khar. She will only be able to hold it for a few moments though.

Tayza concentrates on healing herself. Her majicka is dangerously low.

Keeping the lasers from hitting anyone would be a good idea, but Sekani isn't sure how he could accomplish this without letting them hit him. The enemy Ki-jaara are stunned. Only Jiniki and Sekani can actively do anything right now. What should they do?
dragonunicorn
> Sekani: Give Jiniki the BLUE SOLUTION

> Jiniki: Continue to sing and dance up to mommy. Ask for a hug and tell mommy you really missed her and you are SO HAPPY to see her right now oh my goodness.
Anonymous
>sekani: ponder what would happen if amiel used the purple solution.

OOC: no really what would happen?

>sekani: if amiel being super charged and capable of winning is the result in your head...do it!
Anonymous
Oh slinko by the way do not make the result WTF? BOOOOM! some of us would like that but...just don't.
slinkoboy
I'm probably not going to make a character randomly explode again.
Anonymous
I'm probably not going to make a character randomly explode again.
... did I miss/forget something? Or are you talking about Dilia's heart attack way back when?
slinkoboy
Uh-- nothing! Dilia's fine!
magedragonfire
Don't do this. Amiel is still paralyzed - leave it until she can move again.
deleted
(Deleted comment)
theguindo
No dude I'm pretty sure she meant hand Jini the blue solution so she can distract Iiji and sneakily administer it during the requested hug.
slinkoboy
DUDE I DELETED IT WHEN YOU EXPLAINED IT TO ME ON AIM I'M TIRED OKAY I GET IT NOW.
theguindo
But I said it here so Yoiko could confirm that's what she meant.
slinkoboy
Assuming I don't update first!
dragonunicorn
Uuuh I guess I missed stuff.

Yes, I meant for Sekani to hand the solution over TO Jiniki so Jiniki would be the one carrying it. =x
Anonymous
> Sekani: Get some altitude so the lasers are aiming overhead.

also about Jiniki just walking up to Iiji... lasers would be kinda bad for her health :(
hmm. Jiniki throwing herself into the portal might work though. Can she do that safely?
Anonymous
oh, and
> Amiel: Keep an eye on nearby lasers, if any are dangerously close to someone get a shield up
bahustard
>Sekani: See how there are two similar banks of lasers? Fly exactly between them.
>Sekani: After that works, get some supercharge over to Tayza. This is going to be a healing-intensive fight if people don't step up their game.
magedragonfire
Sekani - seconding seeing if you can't cause those laser banks to short each other out.
slinkoboy
>Sekani: See how there are two similar banks of lasers? Fly exactly between them.

Sekani skillfully directs the creatures' lasers at each other! There's a loud screech and a slight smell of something burning.





That didn't do as much damage as Sekani hoped it would, but it stuns them long enough for him to safely fly back to the others.


>GIVE PURPLE SOLUTION TO AMIEL/TAYZA
Giving the solution to Amiel may have no effect due to her special circumstances, or it may cause her to easily overpower everyone. Who's to say?

Giving it to Tayza will refill her majicka and greatly enhance her healing ability for a short time.

Sekani can only give the solution to one of them. He also can't shake the feeling that it may be too soon to use it.

Tayza is feeling better. She starts to get back up. Amiel is regaining control of her muscles.


>Sekani: Give Jiniki the BLUE SOLUTION
>Jiniki: Continue to sing and dance up to mommy. Ask for a hug and tell mommy you really missed her and you are SO HAPPY to see her right now oh my goodness.

Jiniki continues to sing about how much she missed mommy and the hugs that are totally about to happen. Iiji demands she stay back.

Jiniki continues to step closer. "Don't say that~ I love you~"





"Ah--?"

"This is your only warning. Only the bird may approach me. The rest of you-- stay back!"

Iiji throws Jiniki back forcefully! She drops the BLUE SOLUTION and it lands on the ground. It does not take any obvious damage from the drop.





"Jiniki!" Sekani yells. Iiji doesn't seem to notice the LIGHTBLUE SOLUTION.

Jiniki looks okay, but she was knocked out by the impact. The Klis-khar shoots more fire at Tayza, but she manages to dodge it. "I never fall for the same trick twice, pup!"

They may have no choice but to kill these two Majibeasts so they can concentrate entirely on Iiji. Sekani and Tayza can act, and Amiel can move a little. What next?
slinkoboy
Oh right. In addition to commands I'm taking a vote:
GIVE PURPLE SOLUTION TO AMIEL, TAYZA, NOBODY, other?
dragonunicorn
> Give to Tayza. Super healing on Sekani; Sekani MAX SPEED INTO LASERS IF YOU MUST grab dropped solution stab Iiji.
magedragonfire
Nobody yet.
theguindo
Too early in the battle for that.
Anonymous
I kinda want to give toe purple to Sekani just to see what would happen, but it may be useless.(If possible, this can happen after Iiji is defeated somehow).

Istead, I vote on giving it to Tayza.
magedragonfire
Portal gun. Shoot one open, dump the majibeasts in. Amiel and Tayza should be able to manhandle them that way.
Anonymous
Seconding this.
> Shoot the portal afterwards to ensure they can't come back for a while.
Not sure if that will end up with them at the entrance or the room Jiniki was in, but either way it shouldn't matter
Alternatively, if the portal gun is like the Portal gun where the second shot of the same kind closes the previous portal, instead
> Shoot the portal at behind Iiji, near the computer. Give us a sort of way to get past the eyes hopefully without triggering them again.

> Tayza: Keep the Klis-Khar focused on you and away from Amiel so she'll have an easy time grabbing and tossing him in the portal.

Also, voting Nobody for the solution.
Anonymous
that should be
>Shoot the second portal shot behind Iiji
slinkoboy
So you know, there's a limit of two commands per person. I grew really lenient about this in 11 because few people were giving commands anyway, but I'm going to have to revive this request because I sure got popular all of a sudden!
slinkoboy
...Oh that's an "either or" setup. Carry on!
bahustard
If Tayza's going to be fine, then hold on to the solution for now.

Just stop sucking so hard at this, everyone else. :/

>Amiel: Continue rampage. You need to keep that electric jerk too distracted and/or nauseous to be effective. I still want to see him used as a blunt weapon against the other hostile.
slinkoboy
>Amiel: Continue rampage. You need to keep that electric jerk too distracted and/or nauseous to be effective.

Amiel lifts up the Tezakian and roars! Electricity flies everywhere as it peeps in surprise.



>Portal gun. Shoot one open, dump the majibeasts in. Amiel and Tayza should be able to manhandle them that way.

Sekani opens a portal with the PORTAL GUN and Amiel smashes the Tezakian into the Klis-khar, causing both of them to fall through! The portal closes shortly after. They probably ended up where the PORTAL GUN was last used.



>Sekani MAX SPEED INTO LASERS IF YOU MUST grab dropped solution stab Iiji.

The laser-eye-things begin to recover from their stun, but not before Sekani has a chance to fly over and quickly grab the MAJICKA CURE.

"Are you changing your mind the--"

Sekani leaps at Iiji wordlessly!





A portal suddenly opens up and Sekani begins flying right into it. In his panic he accidentally shoots the PORTAL GUN in a random direction.




Sekani reappears near Tayza, who offers a hand to help him up. He would have had her if he hadn't had to stop for the SOLUTION!

"That was so close to working," she says.

"What you did with my children was clever, little bird. Far too clever for you two to have come up with that idea yourselves. They truly do guide you, don't they~?"

The PORTAL GUN no longer has enough power for its PRIMARY FUNCTION of creating portals.

Amiel stares intently at the eye-beasts as they recover.
Anonymous
> Players: Deny any meddling in mortal affairs to Iiji.

I'm kinda confused at what happened in that portal segment. Did Iiji open up a portal right on top of Sekani that linked back to the portal Amiel just threw the Ki-Jaara in? If so where is the portal Sekani shot? Did anyone else see where it hit?
theguindo
Yeah I'm kind of confused too =Ta...
slinkoboy
Iiji opened a portal that sekani flew in, and opened the exit where he flew out. at the moment the exit is still open, but I doubt she'll keep it open for very long. Right now it doesn't lead anywhere...
Anonymous
Ok then, is that portal on the back the one Sekani shot then, and Iiji's entrance portal already disappeared? Is the other portal Amiel threw the Ki-Jaara into on the ground out of sight of the picture or something?
slinkoboy
"Sekani opens a portal with the PORTAL GUN and Amiel smashed the Tezakian into the Klis-khar, causing both of them to fall through! The portal closes shortly after. They probably ended up where the PORTAL GUN was last used."
Anonymous
Ahhh, ok. I think that ruins what I had planned then :(
Anonymous
Right now it doesn't lead anywhere...
Can the portal gun still function to connect it to the portal behind Iiji?

...
I should probably just cut to the chase. This is what I'm trying to do:

> Amiel: Pick up Jini and walk back a bit near the portal. Get the cure inconspicuously from Sekani. Put Jini down, sneak a tentacle holding the cure into the portal, and hit Iiji with it from a blind spot.
theguindo
Amiel: Check on Jini
Anonymous
Thank Iiji for the compliment and say you like her better when she's being nice. Also tell her she's cuter when she's nice to you. This may be able to distract her.
bahustard
>Someone: Wonder a little bit about those exposed pipes, and their possible relation to the big power dealies keeping Iiji's mighty ass at bay
>Sekani: Hey, did you ever get a look at that terminal back there? That looks useful.
magedragonfire
Hey, hey, Amiel, Tayza. Those laser-eye things look like they could use a good MIRROR or POISON STAB.
ebugle
>"They? Who's they? Um... we're kind of just making this up as we go...
bahustard
In before 'no, players, you are the majicka'
bahustard
(And then Bahu was a purple solution)
slinkoboy
>Amiel: Check on Jini

"A-are you okay!?"

"Hi other mommy~ I love you~"

"M-mommy? Me? I... Um..." Amiel fails to hide a smile.

"Let's play together~"

Amiel starts to respond, but quickly notices the eyes focusing on them. They fire almost immediately!



>Hey, hey, Amiel, Tayza. Those laser-eye things look like they could use a good MIRROR or POISON STAB.

Amiel creates a MAJICKA MIRROR SHIELD as the lasers reach her. They reflect back and hit the creatures straight in the eye(s)!



>Amiel: Pick up Jini and walk back a bit near the portal. Get the cure inconspicuously from Sekani. Put Jini down, sneak a tentacle holding the cure into the portal, and hit Iiji with it from a blind spot.

Amiel is too slow to do this, and the portal closes. The portal behind Iiji remains, however, and isn't currently connected to any others.

Jiniki comes to her senses, and starts glowing blue. "Why'd mommy attack me? Is it 'cause she's super sick? She still loves me deep down, right?"

Iiji pauses momentarily.

Tayza finishes helping Sekani up."Are you okay, bir-- Sekani?"

"I'm fine. That was really disorienting."

>Someone: Wonder a little bit about those exposed pipes, and their possible relation to the big power dealies keeping Iiji's mighty ass at bay
There's a lot of exposed wiring and a fairly large pipe in two holes in the floor. They could connect to the giant PORTAL MACHINE, or they could connect to the turrets. Or they're clever red herrings designed to kill whoever touches them. Who knows!




"Gah!"

Iiji grabs Sekani with her MAJICKA TENTACLES!

Amiel objects. "What! I tore those out!"

"You no longer face me from afar. You underestimate me!"

Sekani drops the PORTAL GUN and the MAJICKA CURE as Iiji rapidly pulls him towards her.



>"They? Who's they? Um... we're kind of just making this up as we go..."
>Players: Deny any meddling in mortal affairs to Iiji.

Iiji is incapable of hearing you! The DEADLY GUN TURRETS rise and become active, but don't target Sekani. Iiji might have some control over them.

>Sekani: Hey, did you ever get a look at that terminal back there? That looks useful.
Sekani's QUITE NICE AVIAN VISION allows him to see the text on the screen. It says the PORTAL MACHINE is running at 75%. One of the pipes is damaged, possibly from something they did earlier.

As Sekani is pulled closer, Iiji begins to speak.

"I have seen many travelers in my long stay here, but you are the first to not only survive, but convince half of my followers to join your cause. Why is that? What makes you different?"





"The gods. They guide you. Protect you. Give you a strength you never had before. I have sensed it. I felt it as their guidance spread to everyone around you. And now I--"

>Thank Iiji for the compliment and say you like her better when she's being nice. Also tell her she's cuter when she's nice to you. This may be able to distract her.
"By Lakicia's love, you're even hotter close up. I-if you were a bit nicer, I'd have to rethink my earlier statement a-about Amiel."

"Well, thanks. I'm quite nice once you get to know-- Are you trying to patronize me? You see this scar, don't you? The horrible scar YOU GAVE ME!?"

Sekani's very close to peeing himself for the third time since landing in this place.
magedragonfire
So, we're gods, huh?

With my HAND OF GOD, I reach out, pick up the BLUE SOLUTION, and stab Iiji with it.

(And if it turns out direct divine intervention/deus ex machina isn't possible, well, uh, Tayza should use her mad huntress skills to sneak up and destroy the turrets while Iiji's distracted. Amiel could possibly provide shielding for this.)
bahustard
Iiji gave herself up entirely to majicka, so aformentioned inb4 applies.
Anonymous
Sekani: Say you weren't trying to patronize her and you didn't notice the scar, then say the scar makes her look badass and/or distinguished. Then say her breath smells nice.
dragonunicorn
> Sekani: Remind Iiji that Jiniki is still pretty, even with the scar she had. Scars don't have to make us unpretty!

> Iiji: Hey, would you like some godly and guidance and protection? We're not exactly discriminating.
bahustard
>Sekani: So, your arms and legs are sort of bound. Is that going to stop you from urinating all over Iiji? SOMEONE thought a lot about how you do that sort of thing, anyways.

>Anyone else: Iiji sure looks pretty distracted with all that peeing going on. Can anyone get behind the portal dealie, where the guns can't target them?
slinkoboy
>Tayza should use her mad huntress skills to sneak up and destroy the turrets while Iiji's distracted.
>Sekani: Say you weren't trying to patronize her and you didn't notice the scar, then say the scar makes her look badass and/or distinguished. Then say her breath smells nice.

The predator remains undetected by her prey. The hunt is without flaw.

"I-I'm not patronizing you! I-I'm serious! You look totally bad-ass!"

"And I have you to thank for that, hmm~?"

"Um-- um-- yes?"



>Sekani: Remind Iiji that Jiniki is still pretty, even with the scar she had. Scars don't have to make us unpretty!

"Scars don't take away from your b-beauty at all! Even Jiniki was still pretty despite her scar--"

"Jiniki's scar...? She's not still upset-- Hmhmhm... Why don't I eat you right here and now, you tricky little bird~?"



>Sekani: So, your arms and legs are sort of bound. Is that going to stop you from urinating all over Iiji?

Nope.




"That's really gross."

"I'm sorrryyyy~"

"Don't be a baby. I wasn't actually going to eat you. I need you alive. Now I'll--"

*Crunch!*




"What are you--!"



>Iiji: Hey, would you like some godly and guidance and protection? We're not exactly discriminating.

"Yes! It's already happening~! I knew it! You really do spread the gods' influence to those around you! It's time for us to become very close~"

"I-I don't want to..."

"You have no choice. It won't hurt~ I promise~"

>With my HAND OF GOD, I reach out, pick up the BLUE SOLUTION, and stab Iiji with it.
Objects cannot be directly influenced!






Iiji pulls Sekani into her portal!

"Hehehehahahaha!"

CONTROL OF SekanNIiihAsbBeEn536W#E523tj@#59%(*@#%(8sdjG43tjas





CONtRoLllLewE$J(y453Y^wedfG(4

IIJI





"Shekani! SHEKANI!!!"

"Mister birdie! Mommy, why!?"

Now all Iiji has to do is defeat the remaining riffraff. Help her, o gods! See to their death and free her from this prison once and for all! Wait, where's the third one? It matters not. Nobody can beat her now.

I'm so sorry, child...

What should Iiji do now?
slinkoboy
Next update on MONDAY.
Anonymous
> Iiji: Pick up the blue solution and stab yourself with it.

XD
More serious commands to come sometime later. Maybe.
Anonymous
thought about a few things. In retrospect, I think I'll go ahead and strike that command out entirely.
bahustard
>Amiel: Make suggestive threats regarding Iiji's tentacles.
ebugle
Iiji: >Proclaim triumph! Give the weaklings one last chance to surrender before squishing them into squishy squish.
magedragonfire
So you can hear us now, can you?

You've done some pretty terrible things, Iiji. I'm sure you can recognize that, even as far-gone as your mind is. You've hurt people more than you can possibly realize. You've killed off your once-loyal subjects who only wished to aid you, you've needlessly forced people never before in your sphere of influence to bow to your whims as slaves, and you used your daughter - your daughter, of all people! - to get to this point, to cast your web of lies, before tossing her aside and neglecting her.

Yeah, that Iiji. She's some great ruler, isn't she?

(Hint - you're not.)

Still, that very same daughter you abandoned wants to help you. Even after all you've done! You're sick from the corruption and madness. They brought what can aid you to you.

You want to be free of this prison, Iiji?

Take the blue solution.
dragonunicorn
> Everyone deserves a happy ending, Iiji.

This is the only way you'll get yours.
bahustard
The only way Iiji's getting a happy ending involves bisecting her from her own.
Anonymous
> Tayza: See if the terminal accepts input to control the portal. If so, set it up so just one more keystroke can shut off the portal.
slinkoboy
>Iiji: Proclaim triumph! Give the weaklings one last chance to surrender before squishing them into squishy squish.

Yes... Yes! So many years have I waited for this precise moment!

"Cower, fools, for your queen has ascended! I will not ignore how resourceful you are-- proclaim absolute loyalty to me and we will create a wonderful world filled to the brim with majicka!"




>Tayza: See if the terminal accepts input to control the portal. If so, set it up so just one more keystroke can shut off the portal.

What's this~? They seek to turn off the portal itself, do they? If not for your guidance, I may not have noticed in time!



>Amiel: Make suggestive threats regarding Iiji's tentacles.

Hehehe! I open a portal which directs the lian's tentacles elsewhere. They keep struggling, but I can anticipate every move they make! The phrasing of your warnings is kind of confusing, though. It's almost as if you're trying to help them.



>So you can hear us now, can you?

Yes...?


>You've done some pretty terrible things, Iiji. I'm sure you can recognize that, even as far-gone as your mind is. You've hurt people more than you can possibly realize. You've killed off your once-loyal subjects who only wished to aid you, you've needlessly forced people never before in your sphere of influence to bow to your whims as slaves, and you used your daughter - your daughter, of all people! - to get to this point, to cast your web of lies, before tossing her aside and neglecting her.

Yeah, that Iiji. She's some great ruler, isn't she?

(Hint - you're not.)

Still, that very same daughter you abandoned wants to help you. Even after all you've done! You're sick from the corruption and madness. They brought what can aid you to you.

You want to be free of this prison, Iiji?

Take the blue solution.

>Everyone deserves a happy ending, Iiji. This is the only way you'll get yours.

What...!? What!? S-stop! You're not supposed to-- You're supposed to free me! So what if I killed a few subjects!? I had to! It was the only way! they didn't deserve to die... Shut up!

Jiniki... jiniki... JINIKI MEANS NOTHING TO ME! W-who cares what she wants! she's all that matters I don't even know what a BLUE SOLUTION is! I'm not sick! I'm powerful! POWERFUL! Shut up... SHUT UP!!!



"Jiniki, I'm going do shdab her widh dhe BLUE SHOLUSHION Shekani drobbed."

"I don't think it'll get past her armor. Give it to me, Amiel. If I show her my necklace, maybe she'll be distracted and let me find a vulnerable area."

"She looksh kind ob dishdracded now. We mighd nod need dhe necklashe"

"I guess not, but... Please let me give her the cure. It's my fault mommy is sick. Let me make mommy better."

"...Okay, Jiniki."


Amiel hands Jiniki the BLUE SOLUTION. As long as Iiji continues being distracted, commands can seep through and reach them.
Anonymous
> Iiji: You've kinda lost sight of your goal. Do you remember when you came here? Do you remember what power you were seeking and why?

> Jiniki: COMBAT --> ITEM --> NECKLACE
slinkoboy
Here I was drawing TQ's first >No action update.

YOU SAVED THE DAY ANON.
Anonymous
Considering it's memorial day, many people might be off doing stuff for the evening.
I personally just snuck that command in just before I went to eat.
slinkoboy
..........

oh.

I probably should have taken today off as well.

Well, that's embarrassing.
Anonymous
Your mind is cracked. Cracked. Cracked. Like a crack. A crack that needs to be cured.
ebugle
IIji: >weren't there 5 of them? Well... LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!
magedragonfire
Not supposed to be what, Iiji? Not supposed to be opposing you? We're the gods. We're telling you you're wrong. Guess what? You're wrong. Well, maybe not with one thing - we can free you, still, but you have to be willing to listen.

Jiniki can help you. Let her.
bahustard
Good thing you have us here; you have a LOT more company than you thought you did. Seriously, they're everywhere.

>Iiji: Look out for that Beamos.



...>Amiel: Fastball special on JINIKI. Do it right this time.
Anonymous
Good thing you have us here; you have a LOT more company than you thought you did. Seriously, they're everywhere.
When I first read this I thought you were talking about us.
Have fun with your conflicting orders Iiji!
slinkoboy
>Iiji: You've kinda lost sight of your goal. Do you remember when you came here? Do you remember what power you were seeking and why?

Of course I remember the power I seek! You can control majicka! You can make it do things it normally can't! I had to stop myself from salivating when I saw that bird's FIRE MAJICKA throw a syringe at his beloved 'girlfriend'! So long as you will it, majicka can do anything, and that power should rightfully be mine!

No. We came here to help Jiniki. We wanted to do good things.

Shut up! Obey me, gods! Obey me!




>We're the gods. We're telling you you're wrong. Guess what? You're wrong. Well, maybe not with one thing - we can free you, still, but you have to be willing to listen.

Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up SHUT UP!!!

I pull Sekani out of the portal and shove him against the far wall.

"All this waiting-- all this planning! ALL FOR NOTHING!"




>IIji: weren't there 5 of them? Well... LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!
>Iiji: Look out for that Beamos.

THERE'S NOTHING FUCKING BEHIND ME. I AM ATTACHED TO A PORTAL.

Reality begins to shift as Iiji's proximity to Sekani decreases.



>Amiel: Fastball special on JINIKI. Do it right this time.

Amiel finally understands what to do and throws Jiniki towards Iiji! BLUE SOLUTION in hand, Jiniki readies herself to end this battle once and for all!





Oh gosh. Mommy's a bit faster than Jiniki remembers her being.

"I warned you about coming near me again."



>Jiniki: COMBAT --> ITEM --> NECKLACE

"Mommy, I don't want to fight anymore. Don't you remember how we used to be? We were super happy. I want us to be a family, like we used to be."




>Jiniki can help you. Let her.

Iiji holds up the necklace and stares at it silently.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Jiniki."





"I'm sorry...
But you've been a bad girl."

Jiniki collapses.




Amiel runs to Jiniki's side. "Jiniki!? Anshwer me! Shay shomedhink!"

Jiniki does not respond. There is no sign of life.

Amiel wants to cry, but the tears don't come.






Just like Jiniki, Iiji is able to control other majicka. She ripped Magic Johnson out of Amiel as if it were nothing, and tossed him through a portal to an unknown location to die without a host.

Amiel stares death in the eye. A light on her suit glows green. Or blue. She isn't sure, and doesn't really care.

Iiji prepares to deal the final blow as Amiel notices a solution beside her hand.


Sekani is unable to move. Tayza doesn't have enough majicka to save Jiniki without the PURPLE SOLUTION. If they don't act quickly, it won't matter how much majicka Tayza has.

While Iiji was distracted, Tayza managed to set up the TERMINAL to close her portal at the press of a button.

Whether they succeed or die depends on what they do in the few moments they have left. What should they do?

Control of Iiji and Jiniki have been lost.
Anonymous
Give the purple solution to Sekani. If you get caught, give it to yourself.
Anonymous
Wait, scratch that. I forgot the solution was blue, not purple.
Anonymous
> Amiel: Invisibility, grab blue solution, get away from current position.

...
I kinda have to admit I'm tempted to tell Tayza to close the portal - we ought to be able to save Jiniki at the least if we do that. And as far as curing Iiji goes... the only thing I can think of at this point is to have Amiel jump into the portal but that doesn't sound like a good idea.
slinkoboy
It's been established that going into the portal is the only way to cure her. I kept meaning to bring it up but never had time-- her armor makes her impossible to stab from outside the portal.

Sekani was meant to yell out that Iiji is vulnerable in there, but it slipped my mind amongst all the other stuff going on.
Anonymous
See, I can't help but think of stabbing Iiji in the tongue. Or eye.
That would be rather ironic. Stabbing Iiji in the eye with an invisible syringe.
slinkoboy
I had my animation. you guys can try anything you want at this point!
magedragonfire
Amiel: Invisible yourself, dive into the portal, stab Iiji with the blue solution.

If Sekani is freed due to the effects of this, he should be able to get the purple solution to Tayza and she can roll from there.
theguindo
> Sekani, use your fire magic to propel the BIC toward Tayza.
bahustard
>Amiel: Hit the button on the suit and be distracting. Those antennae look awful sensitive to being yanked and/or tied into knots.
>Sekani: Start making some noise, wiggling around, bite the tentacles, whatever. Be distracting, but mostly be ready to act in a moment here.
>Jiniki: Try not to decompose too much. We're working on it.
>Tayza: Go for the button. The peaceful route went out with Jiniki's heart.
slinkoboy
For anyone still up: I'll be updating at probably around 4-5pm tomorrow.

doing the previous update (I'd been working on the animation nonstop since friday and even until moments before uploading it) was really tiring and I really want the next few to also be awesome.
Anonymous
I was going to hold off on this till next update, but if it's going to be another big update I'm worried I'm going to miss the chance soooooo

> Tayza: Saving Jiniki is the priority right now, but she's gonna be pretty depressed if she wakes up to find her mother dead. SO.
Turn off the portal. Assuming that works as planned, turn it back on a few seconds after. Get that purple solution from Sekani. Heal Jiniki while Sekani and Amiel get Iiji's head and stuff back inside the portal. When Jiniki is stable, go in the portal yourself. Put Iiji back in one piece if possible, and have someone give her the blue solution as soon as she's alive enough to inject her with it.

It's long, sorry. But as I've said I don't want to miss the chance to at least try it so I figured I'd put it all here.
raptor41887
Iiji: Are you still listening to us? Look what you've done. You killed Jiniki. Your own daughter. And she was the reason you did this whole thing in the first place, right? God, you're a monster. You should just lay down and die.
slinkoboy
>Amiel: Invisibility, grab blue solution, get away from current position.
>Amiel: Invisible yourself, dive into the portal, stab Iiji with the blue solution.

Amiel adds the BLUE SOLUTION to her inventory and puts on her Cowl that she's had this entire time. She hits the button on her suit and strikes a cool pose. Iiji moves to attack.





However, Amiel gets out of the way in time. Her speed is a bit higher than it was before.



>Amiel: Be distracting. Those antennae look awful sensitive to being yanked and/or tied into knots.

"Agh! Wha-- Stop! Augh!"

Iiji's antennae prove very sensitive, just like Sekani's.



>Sekani, use your fire magic to propel the BIC toward Tayza. This was obviously the course of action to take gosh.

Iiji's grip on Sekani lessens and he manages to get the BIC from his STRANGELY PLACED INVENTORY to his FLAME THROWER ATTACHMENT. He manipulates it in order to free the PURPLE SOLUTION, and maneuvers his fire around it. He speaks directly to Tayza.

"Tayza! Catch!"




Sekani launches the PURPLE SOLUTION the moment it appears from the BIC! Iiji's grip on him continues to loosen.

Tayza catches the solution and stabs herself with it.





With an incredible surge of power, Tayza heals Jiniki with every ounce of energy she has! The hole in her chest quickly begins to close. She starts breathing again after a few weak coughs.


>Iiji: Are you still listening to us? Look what you've done. You killed Jiniki. Your own daughter. And she was the reason you did this whole thing in the first place, right? God, you're a monster. You should just lay down and die.

"There's an important lesson I've learned from all this."

"I don't care! Stop--ow! Stop that!"





"Power is meaningless if you give up everything important to you for it."

"I gave up nothing! Shut up!"

"You gave up everything. You killed your own daughter just because she threatened to take your power away!"

"I had to! Without power, I can't improve the world!"

"And what 'improvements' have you made with it? You've killed people and caused nothing but misery. I sought power my whole life, but I see now that it's nothing without compassion. You've lost sight of what you even wanted power for. You're a monster now, Iiji. You're our prey."





"And we always get our prey."





Amiel hops into the portal before Iiji can react!

"I'm nobody's prey! Nobody's!!!"





Iiji's grip on Sekani loosens further and he manages to pull free! He quickly begins flying around the room in an arc.




"Sekani-bird! Here!"

Sekani feels a strange sense of power as Tayza uses her HEALING MAJICKA to enhance his own!





Sekani feels his power surge! He heads directly for Iiji's portal at blinding speed!





Iiji is far too slow to stop him this time.

"Okay, Jiniki. We're going to keep your mommy busy, okay~?"

"Okay Tayza~ We'll have a super fun time~!"






Inside, they see an area where Iiji's armor is missing.

"I shot fire at it when I was in here before," Sekani says, "But she's keeping it shielded. I think I can break through it with my enhanced majicka, but I might damage the BLUE SOLUTION's syringe with my flame by doing so."

"I don't think I can throw it from here. Do you have the BIC?"

"Yeah."

"I think if we work together we can break the shield and finish this battle once and for all."

This is it. One way or another, the battle will end with their next move. There's only one action to take now.
magedragonfire
Sekani: Firepunch~!

Amiel: Ready the DART RIFLE with the BLUE SOLUTION, and fire when Sekani's done his job.
bahustard
>This, but with one exception. That first hole was made by a normal firepunch, right? MAKE A SECOND ONE. GO IN ONE SIDE AND OUT THE OTHER.

>Pull a Kool-Aid Man on her throax, basically. Huzzah!
slinkoboy
Oops!

EMERGENCY VOTE!


SHOULD THEY KILL IIJI OR ATTEMPT TO SAVE IIJI
theguindo
Save. =|
raptor41887
Whichever is easier and more convenient. XD

BTW Amiel, any ammo left in your DEADLY WEAPON? If so, then...
> Fire at Iiji's WEAK POINT for MASSIVE DAMAGE.
slinkoboy
Sadly the weapon ran out of ammo and was discarded
Anonymous
Save.
ebugle
It would be really scummy to go back on their objectives now and try and kill her.

So save.
bahustard
Objectives were made before she killed Jiniki in cold blood!

Besides, I guess we can always just ask Tayza to heal the corpse or something.
magedragonfire
Tayza's healie superpower will probably not last that long, at this time, and Jiniki will be mighty upset if Sekani pulls a face heel turn at this point in time. :\
magedragonfire
Goddamnit Bahu, save!
Anonymous
That first hole? I don't think we know where it came from, no. Sekani gave her a scar early on and never hurt her again.
So, we know a normal firepunch can make a scar. There's a shielded opening that Sekani shot fire at - from how I understand it that shielded opening has been there the whole time and Sekani simply failed to affect it with his fire.

But Iiji never had a crack on her chest. That was just some makeup she put there, wasn't it? If that's an actual opening someone else must have caused it when Iiji took over the facility or something, before she ever went into that portal area.

Regardless, Iiji has dimensional majicka.
> That shielding may be portal based. If a normal firepunch can make a scar, a powered firepunch ought to be able to make its own hole.

But let's not go through Iiji. One last save attempt plz.
slinkoboy
This update will take until tomorrow, most likely. I appreciate everyone's patience as I put a whole lot of love into these scenes, and I'm glad so many people have turned up for this chapter!

Hopefully things will speed back up to more-than-once-a-day after this update.
bahustard
By the way, just in case it affects anyone's vote:

[23:14] ALL QUEST PLAYERS ARE BABIES

He's calling all y'all out.
slinkoboy
N-no I'm not!
bahustard
[23:25] QUEST MAKER IS ALSO BABY
[23:28] Interesting.
[23:28] ...that IS interesting
slinkoboy
Who wants to tell him that the NAME tags aren't copying over?
bahustard
Who wants me to fill in the gaps?
slinkoboy
>Sekani: Firepunch~!
>Amiel: Ready the DART RIFLE with the BLUE SOLUTION, and fire when Sekani's done his job.

"Okay, just poke a hole in that shield and I'll give her a shot of this stuff. Are you ready, love?" Amiel asks.

"With you here, I'm always ready."

"Let's show Iiji what we can accomplish as a team, shall we?"

"Yes. This is our fight now."

"I always believed in you. Now go on. This one's for Jiniki."





Sekani takes off and heads straight towards the exposed armor. He decides to do his best not to injure Iiji.





Iiji attacks Sekani with her tentacles, but he's far too swift! He dodges left and right as more and more of them appear until he's suddenly caught by one he didn't see. They wrap around him and begin to squeeze.





Ziki, Sekani's faithful companion, protected him and lost his life doing so. Sekani never understood that bravery. He was never able to choke down his fear for the sake of someone else, and spent his life hating himself because of that.

But no longer.

Ziki, Sekani finally understands...





...What it means to be brave!





"Ziki! Watch me from Lackicia's nest! This is for you!"





The barrier pushes Sekani back, but his overwhelming power is far too much for it! The barrier cracks and breaks away under the sheer force of Sekani's boosted might. He quickly uses his flame to veer away from Iiji's open wound.

"Amiel! Now!"





Amiel aims carefully and shoots the BLUE SOLUTION at Iiji's exposed flesh!





"Om nom nom!"

"LET GO! LET GO OF ME!"

"Mommy, no matter what happens or what you become..."





"...I'll always love you!"


Iiji suddenly stops and lets out a gasp.





All of Iiji's majicka is ejected from her body as the BLUE SOLUTION takes effect! Random portals are created all over the place!





"I love you too, Jiniki..."






Iiji is reduced to her original form, free of all traces of majicka. She stares at her hands silently.

"Is... Is it over?"

"Yes," Amiel replies, "You better be damn glad you're alive after all you've done to us. Mercy of Lisandi, you even killed your own daughter!"





"No...! She was alive! I thought--" Iiji's voice quivers. "Tell me I didn't-- tell me my daughter is still alive!"

"She was alive. And then you killed her."

Sekani realizes that Amiel might have been too busy distracting Iiji to have seen Tayza revive Jiniki.
theguindo
... Let her keep thinking that for now, and get the heck out of that weird empty dimension and back where they're supposed to be
Anonymous
What? No, don't do that! Amiel will get mad at us for not saying what really happened. Tell Iiji that Tayza cured Jiniki, but the both of you are still angry at her.
theguindo
No no I'm saying getting out of here is priority, you will have time to explain once you're on the other side of the portal.
Anonymous
No. The truth is priority. Once that's sorted out, THEN they can find a way out of here. Or they can multitask; tell the truth while trying to find a way out.
theguindo
Compromise: "She's not dead," provide no further explanation until we're on the other side.
bahustard
For all we know, Tayza is about to close the portal RIGHT NOW. Why are you wasting time mucking about with petty issues when you're about to get locked in a room with Sekani and NO PRIVACY for the rest of your lives?
theguindo
This.
bahustard
>Escape now, gloat later. You guys DO remember which way is out right? Uh, and how to move in zero gravity? They taught that in the academy, right?
bahustard
Once you ARE safely back, of course:

>Amiel: "Yeah, sorry, I didn't have memory loss from that, either. Nice try, though."
magedragonfire
Sekani - ask if they can argue about it later; they need to get back out of this gateway, or whatever it is.
slinkoboy
>Amiel: "Yeah, sorry, I didn't have memory loss from that, either. Nice try, though."

Amiel isn't fazed. "Yeah, I don't buy that you don't remember-"

"Wait. Jiniki told me she loved me just moments ago... didn't she? I'm sure I was fighting her just now. She was alive. Was I hallucinating? Oh my gosh, I'm so confused..."

"That explains a few things," Sekani mutters.


>Escape now, gloat later. You guys DO remember which way is out right? Uh, and how to move in zero gravity? They taught that in the academy, right?
>Sekani - ask if they can argue about it later; they need to get back out of this gateway, or whatever it is.

The air is pretty thick in here, so they can "swim" to some degree. Only Sekani can move with any amount of speed. He decides not to tell Amiel about Jiniki yet. He needs her to stay focused.

"Which portal leads out of here?" he asks.

"Um, that one, I think. The one on the right."

"Okay, hold on to me. We're getting out of here."

Sekani grabs Iiji and Amiel and races to the portal.





Tayza pokes her head out of the left portal. "Are you guys okay?"

....

"I could have sworn--!"

Sekani breaks their inertia and heads into the correct portal.





They make it through and the portal closes behind them. Jiniki runs up to Iiji and hugs her.

"Mommy! You're not sick anymore! I'm so happy~"

"Oh Jiniki, I knew you weren't dead! I'm so sorry. I've done such terrible things to you."

"I'm just glad you're better now~"

Amiel punches Sekani lightly on the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me she was alive!? I was really upset, you know! I even let that pervert Magic Johnson take control of my body!

"Ow! I'm sorry! I wanted to get out of there quickly!"

"Well, you can forget about having another fully colored kissing scene, mister!"

"nooooo"

Tayza is conflicted. On one hand, she wants to hug Jiniki too. On the other, she just took down Iiji. She's the alpha now. She did it. They did it.
bahustard
>Tayza: Punch Iiji in the carapace to establish superiority.
theguindo
Tayza: HUG EVERYONE :D=-<
Anonymous
Tayza: Actually, Amiel is the alpha male. She's the one that fired the dart with the cure.
Anonymous
> Tayza: Keep in mind that's not entirely the same Iiji you fought - that Iiji is gone. Hopefully for good. Go ahead and hug Jiniki.
Of course, you're still the alpha and nobody better forget that.
slinkoboy
>Tayza: Punch Iiji in the carapace to establish superiority.

"Ah!"





Done.




>Tayza: Actually, Amiel is the alpha male. She's the one that fired the dart with the cure.

No, no. Amiel's a very capable huntress, but there's so much more to being an alpha than being good at hunting. They'd be nothing without Tayza's leadership.



>Tayza: HUG EVERYONE :D=-<
>Tayza: Keep in mind that's not entirely the same Iiji you fought - that Iiji is gone. Hopefully for good. Go ahead and hug Jiniki.

Everyone ends up hugging everyone else. Anyone remember when this was supposed to be a horror quest?

"I thought about you all this time," Iiji says. "I tried so hard to fight the corruption. I was so happy when you started calling me 'mommy' again, but all I could think about was my freedom and spreading majicka to the world. We... We should get more cures. We should cure all of you. I should have stopped this project when it first started. I should have..."

"It's okay, mommy. I'm happy now. I have so many new friends and now we can be a family again. And I'm not ugly anymore"

"You were never ugly. You're beautiful, Jiniki. You always were."




"So how do we bring the world back, Iiji?" Sekani asks.

"This might be too much to ask, but would you mind calling me 'Ishiji'? I would rather not associate myself with the monster I had become."


Whatever they decide to call her, she doesn't have any technical training, and doesn't really know how to bring back the world. From what everyone knows, their planet can be seen from the TRANSDIMENSIONAL MAJICKA TRAINING ROOM located in the MAJICKA RESEARCH BUILDING. There is a SECRET LAB located somewhere underground that might be reachable using the PORTAL MACHINE in the MAINFRAME ROOM.

Everyone they've freed so far is hanging out in the MEDICAL ROOM with GRASSHOPPER. They could stop by here to leave Iiji behind, or possibly bring someone else with them. They would rather not bring more than five people along, else it becomes kind of crowded. Didn't they free someone who might know about portal technology?

There's a communication satellite that can be accessed from the COMMUNICATION ROOM. However, the screen is broken so at best they can get audio.

There's three unexplored rooms, but they're not sure there's anything of note in them.

Where to?
Anonymous
There's a question that's been bugging me for a while, and now we have the perfect person to ask.

> What exactly is Ishiji's current relation to her country?
I assumed she was assumed dead and replaced one way or another, but apparently at least someone from there still knows her.

It's not urgent to know I guess, but there aren't any pressing time concerns at the moment either.
theguindo
I think our goal should be to leave the facility where it is and teleport all the people in it back to the real world. Majicka shouldn't get out into the world, etc.

Let's go meet up with our dudes @ Grasshopper's
magedragonfire
We need to go tell Dilia we succeeded, too!

...Why's Besileyz' diary important?

...Anyways, they should go see Grasshopper and all the other dudes. Someone there might even know about the cures, or something, and the portal system, and the secret lab and how to get therein.
slinkoboy
The diary isn't important. I added it on a silly impulse because I liked drawing all over my high-tech map that we finally get to see in its completed form with photoshop's version of a crayon.
bahustard
"Whatever they decide to call her"
Iiji, I am tired of wearing out the "i" key on my keyboard. You new name is Susan.

>Go back to Grasshopper to celebrate the victory over Susan, and because those NPCs probably know more about the situation than we do.
Anonymous
Sekani: tell Ishiji she still looks a bit hot.
slinkoboy
>What exactly is Ishiji's current relation to her country?

They didn't have any communication with the main country for a very long time. Iiji felt the homeland would end up sending an army to stop her, and she wasn't prepared to fight them at the time. They most likely have new rulers by now.

"Aww, does this mean I'm not a princess?"

"You'll always be my princess."

"I would have been a super awesome queen! I would make rules like free ice cream and ponies for everyone~"

Contact with the main country was re-established when Iiji became certain of her impending freedom. Oddly, the people they talked with responded not with threats, but with eagerness. Iiji used S'kili to communicate with them and it seemed like they were all too willing to help her achieve her goals when S'kili ran off. Iiji forced Jiniki to reopen communications, but it was cut short by Tayza's rage.

"Come to think of it, I wonder if they got that data you were sending."

"No, I stopped it with my angry hacking skills!"




>Iiji, I am tired of wearing out the "i" key on my keyboard. You new name is Susan.

"I've thought about it," Amiel says, "and I guess we won't call you Iiji anymore. Your new name is Susan."

"Um...? Okay, you may call me anything you wish."

"Amiel, where do you keep getting these weird names?" Sekani asks.

"They just come to me."




>I think our goal should be to leave the facility where it is and teleport all the people in it back to the real world. Majicka shouldn't get out into the world, etc.

This is a very valid point. Maybe this facility should remain locked away forever. But would that be enough? What about the majibeasts? If they don't find any more cures...

Sekani should decide what their end goal will be. And then have Tayza tell them what to do anyway since she's apparently an alpha or something now.


>To Grasshopper's!

"ERROR_TOO_MANY_PATIENTS."

Dilia gets up excitedly. "You're all alive! Does that mean you succeeded?"

"Yep~ We beat Su-- Iiji," Amiel says.

"That's wonderful! I was so worried-- I can't believe-- This is so great! What happened? Why is Amiel her old self again? Details, please!"

They explain the details, skipping over the fact that Iiji is in the room with them for the moment. They're unsure if they want to let everyone know her identity or not.

"...And it was all thanks to my leadership," Tayza says. "As I said, the huntress always gets her prey. And now you're all part of my pack. We're going to have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know we'll become a proud family."

"Family~!" Jiniki mirrors.

"That's fantastic," Jerahl says. "I'm glad it all worked out."



Kinasa looks up. "Um, I'm really glad you're okay, Mister Sekani. I want you to know I haven't been thinking about this the entire time or anything but I'm sorry about what I said earlier about your feathers and they're really quite pretty."

"No it's okay um thank you," Sekani replies rapidly. Was she really worried about that this whole time?

Amiel wonders if she should be suspicious or something.


Sekani explains his findings concerning the MAJICKA FACILITY and asks if any of them are any good with portals. Kish'kin, the Klis-khar Amiel and Dilia freed earlier, replies that it's his area of expertise. He says that if they could find some specific parts, he might be able to make a device to stabilize the giant portal in the MAJICKA RESEARCH BUILDING enough for them to get out of here. He could also probably retool the PORTAL DEVICE Iiji used in the PORTAL BUILDING to bring the entire facility back with them. Unfortunately he can't stand very long, so he'll have to remain behind and talk to them through majicka communication.

Jerahl says that they are most likely to find portal parts in the area the resistance was using as a base. They were often trying to find ways to shut down Iiji's portal. It's very likely this SECRET LAB and the RESISTANCE BASE are one in the same.

Sekani volunteers to go. They should only bring four or five people avoid things getting chaotic. Who should accompany him? What will be their end goal concerning the facility?

(No, you still can't vote for Grasshopper)
magedragonfire
Weeeeell, Kish'kin knows what we'd be looking for, so we should certainly take him. Jerahl, too, since he/she was part of the resistance and might know what's around the base. Dilia and/or Tayza would be my next guesses - we might need to move some shit around and they're among the stronger of the people here.

We should go try and find this secret lab first, and then see about getting out of here. Do we really want to try and bring the facility back? Majicka has caused enough problems already, after all.
theguindo
We leave the facility here. Get the ingredients for Grasshopper to make as many cures as necessary, and then we head out looking for portal parts while the robot works on the cures.
Anonymous
I don't think we can take Kish'kin, unless you want to actually carry him or something. Which, honestly, doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.
We've got plenty of majicka communication, so as long as we've got one person in the group and one person back here that can use it we don't have to worry about being able to communicate with anyone. We should probably focus on people that will need to actually see what's going on, plus dexterity/strength to do whatever we might need.
So, Dilia, Kish'kin, Sekani or Jiniki (oh Sekani volunteered. Ok then), maaaaybe Tayza if we're concerned about getting hurt still, and anyone that knows about curing majicka. We can talk to Jerahl over the codec majicka if needed.

On that note, I'll second this:
> Bug Grasshopper and whoever else might know for how to make majicka cures.

Lastly, any plans for dealing with Delkin and others of that group? I don't have any personally, I'm expecting we're just going to talk and decide on the spot.
Anonymous
fff I totally meant to ask this as soon as I saw MJ get thrown in a random portal but forgot.

> Amiel: (Discreetly) ask Susan if she knows what happened to Amiel's majicka. We don't want that coming back to bite us unexpectedly.
bahustard
>Sekani, Kish'kin, Dilia, Jerahl, and Susan: Get moving.

Sekani: We need main character powers
Kish'kin is going to be needed to build the way home
Jerahl is going to be useful in finding stuff to get out of here
Susan knows the facility better than anyone else. Hopefully.
Dilia: You get to carry Kish'kin.
theguindo
Tayza instead of Susan. I don't think she'll be as useful to us as Tayza will be; she doesn't remember about the facility and I doubt the ki-jaara are gonna just lay down their arms because she's with us. She's not recognizable as Iiji anymore, after all.
bahustard
I really don't want to leave Susan back with everyone without Tayza to protect her when she invariably blows her own cover. We could bring Amiel along, since she's probably the only decent fighter left, with the tiny, tiny potential of finding MJ again while we're checking out the facility.
theguindo
oh hmm that is true, i can agree with this. leave tayza and bring amiel
ebugle
Tayza >Suddenly remember ex-boyfriend who's still lurking around somewhere.

Tayza >Wait a minute, we're forgetting something important. Delkin's still lurking around somewhere. We should probably do find him before he does something.... drastic.

>People not going with Sekani go with Tayza to find Delkin!

No, I'm not actually voting. Aside from Tazya not going, I guess. Delkin's still actually at least a minor threat with crazy ideals. I don't think he should be ignored.
slinkoboy

They decide to concentrate on ESCAPING THE FACILITY and LEAVING IT TRAPPED IN THIS POCKET DIMENSION FOREVER. Kish'kin thinks he can build a superior PORTAL GUN that will stabilize the huge portal in the MAJICKA RESEARCH BUILDING long enough for them to hop through it safely.

They will attempt to find the ingredients needed for Grasshopper to create more MAJICKA CURES. According to Jerahl, the RESISTANCE was working on a cure when he last heard from them. Even if they haven't succeeded, there's bound to be materials the medical robot can put to use.

Sekani, Amiel, Dilia, Jerahl, and Kish'kin will be heading to the SECRET LAB AREA. Tayza decides to stay behind and watch over everyone else. She warns them that there's a very good chance that Delkin or Magic Johnson may yet lurk out there, since there was no way of knowing where any of the portals lead.

Susan interrupts and says that she-- um, thinks that Iiji probably led Magic Johnson to a place far away from the facility with the intended purpose of causing him to die without a host to leech energy off of. As for Amiel, she no longer has any traces of majicka inside her. That, um, punk Iiji was very thorough when she ripped him out.

They turn to leave, when Kish'kin asks them to wait a moment.




"Um, I appreciate you carrying me and all, but this kind of hurts a little bit."

That's right, Kish'kin has some majicka in his body. Maybe not very much, but enough to cause a reaction with her ANTI-MAJICKA CLOTH.

She's either going to have to get naked yet again, or they're going to have to find another way to bring him along.
theguindo
Have Jerahl carry him instead. He seems strong enough.
Anonymous
> Someone tell the Diuban (we still don't know his name, do we?) that he can take the headband off if he wants.
slinkoboy
>Have Jerahl carry him instead. He seems strong enough.

It turns out that Klis-khar aren't very heavy. Jerahl works his tail around Kish'kin to help hold him up.

The party has been chosen.



>Someone tell the Diuban (we still don't know his name, do we?) that he can take the headband off if he wants.

"If...queen is dead, I can...take off headband?" The Diuban asks, not sounding very fluent in the COMMON LANGUAGE.

"You can take off anything you want, sweety."

"Okay?"

"Why don't you go ahead and tell everyone your name?"

"Oh-- Name is Denilyn. Can call me Denil."

Everyone wishes the party luck as they head out on one last adventure together.




"Were you... Were you flirting with him?" Amiel asks, giving Dilia a strange look.

"I was just being playful. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Okay, but-- I mean, what you said didn't really make any sense. What else would he even take off?"

"I don't know! I was distracted by his muscles!"

Amiel smiles a little. Dilia's kind of cute when flustered. She decides not to tease her further.




They make it all the way back to the MAINFRAME ROOM. Nothing has changed since they were last here.

Kish'kin and Jerahl examine the PORTAL CREATING DEVICE.

"Ah, I see. It can't create a portal because that creature's in the way," Kish'kin says.

"Think we could carry or shove it out of the way?" Jerahl asks.

"Hmm. I don't think so. It's attached to the floor and looks very heavy. We may have to think outside the box a little bit. There must be some way to either get the creature out of the way, or to make a portal connected to the SECRET LAB by other means. The machine doesn't seem capable of making a portal anywhere else in this room, as handy as that'd be right now."
magedragonfire
Hmm. Is it possible that one of the portals created when Iiji was defeated might lead there?

Either that, or Amiel could try poison-stabbing those tentacles that go down into the floor.
bahustard
>Run the standard tests. Sting it, tell Dilia to hug it with her dress, see if it reacts to fire.
Anonymous
> If all that fails, can the portal device redirect portals? Two of those portals just lead to eachother, we surely won't need that loop any time soon.

> If not, ask if the other portal machine in the left room might work.
slinkoboy
>Hmm. Is it possible that one of the portals created when Iiji was defeated might lead there?
Sekani doesn't think it'd be a very good idea to look through random portals in hopes that one of them leads to the SECRET LAB.


>Amiel could try poison-stabbing those tentacles that go down into the floor.

Amiel stabs it in the middle, then tries stabbing one of the tentacles. Nothing happens. It's as dead as it's getting.



>Run the standard tests. Sting it, tell Dilia to hug it with her dress, see if it reacts to fire.

Once again, there's no reaction from the ANTI-MAJICKA CLOTH. Dilia feels kind of grossed out!

It's just as immune to normal majicka as ever, and Sekani's fire has no effect.



>If all that fails, can the portal device redirect portals? Two of those portals just lead to eachother, we surely won't need that loop any time soon.

Kish'kin lights up. "Wait-- That's it! Here, type these commands. I think we can get one of the other portals redirected to where we want to go!"

"You're the boss," Jerahl says.

After the commands are entered, the screen lights up. Success. Everyone heads through the fourth portal.





Oh.

Um.

It's pretty dark in here.
magedragonfire
Well, we can't really do much until we got some light around here. BIC-flashlight-a-go-go.
theguindo
Look out for candy!
theguindo
Additionally, try to make your way to that majicka-seal and hit the lights.
Anonymous


I can't be the only one thinking of this.
slinkoboy
...
Anonymous
> Jerahl: Be a kangaroo rat.
Anonymous
> Jerahl: That mark is another one of those majicka-absorbing things hooked up to a light, isn't it? If so, go ahead and start it up (or have Sekani do it).
magedragonfire
We don't know what it's hooked up to - could be a light, could be a meat grinder. I would hold off on touching it until we can see what it's hooked up to.
Anonymous
Jerahl's been here though, hasn't he? Or Kish'kin? I figure one of them knows what that's hooked up to.
slinkoboy
>Well, we can't really do much until we got some light around here. BIC-flashlight-a-go-go.
>Jerahl: That mark is another one of those majicka-absorbing things hooked up to a light, isn't it? If so, go ahead and start it up (or have Sekani do it).

"I'll get out the BIC." Sekani says.

"Hold on," Jerahl says. "I don't think we'll need it. If I remember right... Yes. Here we go."

Jerahl touches the STRANGE SYMBOL and it glows slightly. There's a rumbling sound as a nearby GENERATOR begins powering up.

"I still don't know why you guys couldn't just use light switches."

Kish'kin wiggles. "Why flip a switch when you can make artwork?"

"Because this is stupid."

A lamp in the middle of the room lights up after a second.





Oh geez.

"Hello there, my dear friends. Did you have fun killing our queen?"

"Aww, the hot Lian isn't with them..."
Anonymous
> ... would you believe she actually resigned?
Anonymous
and for a more combat-oriented command
> Sekani: Pass the dart gun with darts loaded with the dark green solution to ... uh.
I don't suppose Dilia has that tazer thing still?
slinkoboy
>... would you believe she actually resigned?

"And now you lie to us? I don't think you'd like me very much when angry, friend."

"I didn't like you before..."

The Lian interjects. "Um, do we have to fight them? Lately I haven't felt all that attached to our queen..."





"...What? Surely you're not considering joining these murderers!"

"But I don't like being punched in the face by attractive women, and they have two of them! What has the queen done for us anyway?"

"She was going to lead us to prosperity! At least, I think so..."

Without Iiji's corrupted control, they seem to be guided mostly by habit and loyalty. Maybe Sekani and company can get out of this without having to fight?
magedragonfire
Sekani - Tell them that Iiji's on our side, now. They're not feeling attached to her because she's not corrupted by Majicka any more, she's been reunited with the princess Jiniki, and we're all going to leave the facility and go back to living our lives. Couldn't we just all be friends, or at least be peaceable long enough to get out of this place?
Anonymous
> Amiel: "I wouldn't expect that whole prosperity thing to have worked out. She put a huge hole through her own daughter's chest after living together here for however many years."
bahustard
Any mention of Iiji is going to sound like lies. We could tell them to head back to the medical room, which would at least cause some of the hijinks we were trying to prevent. Dammit, I knew we should have brought Susan; surely she knew SOMETHING useful we could have told them.

>"Hey, you wanna go check out the empty room? I promise there isn't a corpse there or anything. Either she abdicated, or she deserted you. Either way, no more Iiji. Also, Amiel wants to punch your faces in."
slinkoboy
>Amiel: "I wouldn't expect that whole prosperity thing to have worked out. She put a huge hole through her own daughter's chest after living together here for however many years."

"She's just a heartless bitch," Amiel concludes.

"A-Amiel, we shouldn't try to intimidate them by insulting their 'queen'."

"Jiniki nearly died. Susan's going to have to do a lot better than 'I'm a normal bug-thing now and I'm sorry' to make me forgive her for that."

"But we're kind of overpowered here..."

"Psh. They'll still fall over if I sting them. You can take out the Lian, right?"

"But we don't want to kill--"

"Yes, yes. I wasn't being serious."

She was totally being serious.




>Sekani - Tell them that Iiji's on our side, now. They're not feeling attached to her because she's not corrupted by Majicka any more, she's been reunited with the princess Jiniki, and we're all going to leave the facility and go back to living our lives. Couldn't we just all be friends, or at least be peaceable long enough to get out of this place?

"Leave the facility? You really think the world would accept us as we are?"

"We have a plan to take care of that, but you just have to believe us. We have this weird aversion to fighting to the point that we tried to beat the final boss with dancing and hugging."

"...And you thought that'd work?"

"A little bit, yeah."

They seem to be considering it, though Delkin is more reluctant to believe anything they say.



>"Hey, you wanna go check out the empty room? I promise there isn't a corpse there or anything. Either she abdicated, or she deserted you. Either way, no more Iiji. Also, Amiel wants to punch your faces in."

"Huh?"

"Shh, Amiel! Just look menacing!"


"Um, you better watch out! I'm so mad! Consider your faces about to be punched!"

The Lian cowers. "Deeelllkkiiin~ let's at least go check it out! Please? Pretty please? She's scaring me."

"FINE. We'll at least go look. But don't think you can trick us! We know you have a bunch of people holed up in the COMMAND CENTER BUILDING. If you're lying..."

They head through the portal.





Well! Now they can get to exploring. There's a huge container of an unknown liquid, some kind of large capsule, a weird machine to the right, an open box, some bedding, a generator, and a lamp!

To the right is a portal, but they don't know where it leads.

There's a small hole that can be crawled through in the back of the room.
magedragonfire
Explore everything~ Check in the box, try and get a better look at the liquid - maybe Dilia or Amiel should do that part, just in case - and someone pop their head in the portal.
Anonymous
> Sekani: Notify Jiniki and Tayza of what just happened
slinkoboy
Art's been slipping. Taking today off so I can get us to the ending without things looking progressively worse.
slinkoboy


I'M SORRY GUYS
Anonymous
>someone from medical room who knows how to work the comm satellite should go work it.
>after fixing comms try to access the internet and look up slinkoboy.livejournal.com for because they feel compelled to.

(if this happens i will lol across the country.)

i so beat theguindo to it!!!!!

also
>theguindo DON'T make iiji...i mean Susan tell everyone shes iiji that's my job.
Anonymous
>after fixing comms try to access the internet and look up slinkoboy.livejournal.com for because they feel compelled to.

This suggestion sounds like a huge waste of time for all parties involved. (http://slinkoboy.livejournal.com/284633.html?thread=1347289#t1347289)
slinkoboy
>Sekani: Notify Jiniki and Tayza of what just happened

"Hey, um, we ran into Delkin. He might be kind of sort of on our side I think but just in case he's not, be ready to deal with him. He's got a Lian and the two Majibeasts from when we fought Iiji with him."

"Hmph,"
replies Tayza, "Don't worry. Jiniki and I should be more than a match for them."

"Mommy's telling me a story~!"

"Yeah. Mommy's telling her a story, so we're going to get back to that. Thanks for the heads up."


Sekani wonders what kind of story Susan's telling them. Hopefully not one that reveals her as Iiji. 'Once upon a time, I was an evil queen-- oops!' ...That would just be silly.



>someone pop their head in the portal.

Neat!



>Explore everything~ Check in the box, try and get a better look at the liquid - maybe Dilia or Amiel should do that part, just in case

The box contains a couple of cans of food but not much else.

"You open it," Dilia says.

"What? No! You open it!"

"Okay, on the count of three, we both open it. One... Two..."

It's water. Presumably used with the food to keep the RESISTANCE nourished during their long stay in this area.


"So, what is this thing?" Sekani asks.

"It's a majicka sensing device. Right now it's showing us here, that bird fellow's group over there, and the others back in the MEDICAL ROOM."

"The resistance used this to track Ki-jaara movement."

Nothing here seems very useful for making a PORTAL DEVICE, so they crawl through the tunnel. Sekani thinks he sees... is Amiel checking out Dilia's ass? Nah, couldn't be.





The cave opens up to a normal room.

"Ah-hah!" Kish'kin exclaims. "Just looking around I see a lot of things I could use to make a large PORTAL DEVICE!"

The room is full of various bits and pieces, and a strange looking COMPUTER TERMINAL. There's no sign of anything that could be used by Grasshopper to make MAJICKA CUREs.

"Is that it, then? We can't cure anyone else?" Sekani wonders aloud.

"I'm sure we'll find something," Amiel says. "Didn't I tell you not to give up so easily?"

"Yeah... Let's see what we can find."
magedragonfire
Move aside the SHELF placed inconspicuously in front of an OPENING.

Also check out the portal at the end of the room and the tube container thing. Is that someone inside, or broken glass?
theguindo
...goddammit

Go back to that room with the flesh-pillar in it (the one the portal leads through) and see what's causing that bulge in the flesh thing over the far corner of the room.

use the ushi-kah to push it aside and see what's behind it, basically, is what I'm saying.
slinkoboy
>Move aside the SHELF placed inconspicuously in front of an OPENING.
>Also check out the portal at the end of the room.

"Oh yes," Kish'kin says, "These parts will do nicely. Will you be my 'hands' for this?"

"If I must."

Sekani peers through the portal and sees the room he faced Delkin in originally. This must be where he ended up after Sekani's FIREPUNCH.


"I'll help you move this!" Amiel says.

"Um, I can probably handle this myself--"

"Nonsense! We're also a team and we're moving the shit out of this shelf!"

"...You're right. Let's do it!" Dilia suddenly sounds excited.




>Check the tube container thing. Is that someone inside, or broken glass?

It looks like another hybrid creature. Sekani can't tell if it's alive or not.

"I remember now," Kish'kin says, "The resistance was trying to make a creature to stand up to the behemoth under Iiji's control. Since it's still in a pod, I guess they didn't consider it a success."

Sekani is thankful that Jiniki exists, else he'd start thinking the entire race of Klis-khar were nothing but heartless monsters.



>Go back to that room with the flesh-pillar in it (the one the portal leads through) and see what's causing that bulge in the flesh thing over the far corner of the room.
>use the ushi-kah to push it aside and see what's behind it, basically, is what I'm saying.

Sekani borrows Dilia's USHI-KAH THAT'S SO CUTE UHIKI'SHA and backtracks. He lets the flesh-thing have it! It retracts and reveals a LAVENDER SOLUTION, which he adds to the BIC.





"Boo-yeah! We don't need no freaking majicka to get shit done!" Amiel exclaims as they high-five.

"Shit fucking yeah we fucking rock!!!"




"...Sweety?"
theguindo
Handle it like it ain't no thang, Amiel. Reply: "Sh...SHIT YEAH WE DO!" and brofist Dilia.

What are those wing-aly things up on the wall there?
Anonymous
> Amiel: Is there a working portal gun? Go ahead and grab one if there's one Kish'kin doesn't need.

> Dilia and Amiel: Peer into the new place. If it's too dark, have Sekani come and make an actual fire for light keep abusing the BIC.
bahustard
>Dilia: Kiss Amiel in the snout to establish infatuation.
bahustard
>Amiel: Hold still a minute
theguindo
>Sekani: Feel strangely turned on.
magedragonfire
...Wait, what was on that computer monitor in the other room that we just got the solution from?

Also, Dilia and Amiel should proceed to raid cupboards.
slinkoboy
>Handle it like it ain't no thang, Amiel. Reply: "Sh...SHIT YEAH WE DO!" and brofist Dilia.

They are silent for a moment.



>Dilia: Kiss Amiel in the snout to establish infatuation.
>Amiel: Hold still a minute

Dilia gives Amiel a peck on the nose. She lets out a squeak of surprise.

"Thanks, Amiel."



"I-- Um-- Y-you're welcome."



>Sekani: Feel strangely turned on.

Sekani tries to be jealous, but an entirely different reaction presents itself.



>...Wait, what was on that computer monitor in the other room that we just got the solution from?
Sekani distracts himself by checking the screen. It shows that the portal was rerouted elsewhere, then was restored to its original setting after a user time-out error. Sekani isn't even going to begin to point out the problems with a portal program that can leave a person stranded in a random location.



>Also, Dilia and Amiel should proceed to raid cupboards.

More RANDOM PORTAL TECHNOLOGY! And a STUFFED ANIMAL?

>Amiel: Is there a working portal gun? Go ahead and grab one if there's one Kish'kin doesn't need.
There are no working guns. Kish'kin assures them that he's going to make something far better than a silly old PORTAL GUN.



>Dilia and Amiel: Peer into the new place.

There are SOLUTIONS of many colors here.
bahustard
Oh hey, and none of it's light blue. Awesome.

>Dilia: Call dibs on the fruit punch
Anonymous
> Amiel: Refrain from destroying the taunting display of colors.

... A portal straight to grasshopper would be nice right about now. Let's hold off on splitting up until we're sure Delkin and co. aren't going to decide to attack us. Um.

> Anyone in our group know anything about all these solutions? We probably should grab at least a few for whenever we go to grasshopper next.
bahustard
From what I can remember...

DARK GREEN cuts off majicka use
GREEN by itself increases majicka (how intuitive), but reduces willpower
BLUE restores willpower, but can kill a majibeast if there's no Tayza or Grasshopper nearby to fix its flawedness

Dunno about the purple, yellow, pink, or... peach ones there, though.
magedragonfire
Pink was healing, wasn't it?
bahustard
It is. Not quite sure how I forgot that one, since it's right there on the list.
Anonymous
Is it safe to assume that if any random solution we come across is the same color it must have the same effect? This isn't some dungeon-crawl RPG you know hmm...
bahustard
After all the harping and referencing things by their colors over everything, plus the fact that they were using the same nomenclature in flashbacks ("Quick! Give her the GREEN solution!"), it's pretty safe to say that yeah, the same color is the same juice.
magedragonfire
Hot damn.

Grab one of every colour, if we can manage to balance them all between everyone.

Also, take the stuffed animal. I'm sure Jiniki'll like it.
slinkoboy
>Dilia: Call dibs on the fruit punch

Those solutions would either do nothing, kill her, or turn her back into a crazy Ki-jaara.

No thanks.



>Amiel: Refrain from destroying the taunting display of colors.

"I feel like all these colors are taunting me."

"Huh? Why?"

"I'm um, mostly colorblind. Colors and the letter E are my worst enemies."

"I see-- Why the letter E?"

"It's a long story."


>Grab one of every colour, if we can manage to balance them all between everyone.

Even better, they manage to get each color into the BIC.

Kish'kin says he'll keep working overnight. Jerahl requests someone come relieve him of carrying duty after a few hours.

They head back to Grasshopper, who tells them it might be able to make a number of MAJICKA CURES using parts of the various solutions they found. They head back and forth carrying as many as they can.




Grasshopper says it will keep working through the night, since its battery is nice and full.

"Where are the others?"

"OTHERS_MENTIONED_GOING_TO_BUNKER_ROOM."

Oh right, it's getting pretty late. They head to the bunker room.




"Hi ladies~ And mister bird guy," the face-punched majibeast says cheerfully. "We couldn't find any traces of Iiji so we're like on a truce and stuff. Isn't that neato? My name's Lenael by the way~"

The others are hanging out on the other side of the room. Tayza addresses the trio.

"There's only enough bedding here for six people. Jiniki and Susan are going to share a bed, so they more or less count as one person. Would you mind taking the rest to the DORM BUILDING?"

"Sure thing," Sekani says.

Sekani needs to take all but SIX PEOPLE to the DORM BUILDING. He gets a strange feeling that only the people chosen will have this final opportunity for character development. Whatever that means.

Sekani can bring:
Jiniki/Susan, Tayza, Dilia, Amiel, Delkin, Lenael, Shala, Kinasa, Denil, or either of the two majibeasts Sekani faced alongside Iiji. He doesn't currently know their names.

Doing some quick math, this means he needs to bring five people. One of the people he leaves behind will switch with Jerahl unless he feels a need to get to know Jerahl better, in which case one of the people coming with him can fill in instead.
Anonymous
Jiniki/Susan
Amiel(Mainly because I want her to at least get over her hatred of the letter "e")
Lenael
And the two unnamed Majibeasts.
bahustard
Tayza has stuff to sort out, mostly with the new people. I'd like to keep her bundled with as many of them as possible, but we also want to learn about some of these people who don't even have names yet. So she's coming with us.

>Tayza
>Unknown Majibeast A
>Unknown Majibeast B
>Lenael should not be left with Amiel, because otherwise he's probably going to get punched again
>Susan/Jiniki are coming along, due to my earlier consideration that Tayza needs to be kept close to her as much as possible.
magedragonfire
Jiniki/Susan, Delkin, Amiel, and the two unnamed beasties.
slinkoboy
HUGE CUTSCENE INCOMING

MIGHT TAKE A MOMENT
theguindo
idc about anybody else but let's bring kinasa along.

in fact, i care about those two unnamed ki-jaara SO LITTLE, that I vote them off the island
slinkoboy
Tayza remains behind to look after her new pack. Sekani, Susan, Jiniki, Amiel, the majibeasts he doesn't know the names of yet, and Kinasa head to the DORM BUILDING.



"Tell me another story, mommy! One about princesses!"

"Um, let's see..."

There once was a queen who ruled her kingdom for years. Together with her king she had a child, and there was much rejoicing. One day, her child got into an accident and became scarred. She was very sad, and this weighed heavily on the queen.

One day, she was told that a cure might have been found. A power so great that it could heal the deepest of wounds. However, the cure was not enough. The wound was too great. The queen grieved, and cursed the gods for forsaking her child who had done no wrong.

She asked to be given the power to help the princess at any cost.





Her prayer was answered, not by a god, but by a monster. "I can give you power enough to help your child," the monster said. "I can give you power enough to help everyone in the world. All I ask is that you forsake the gods, and help me overthrow them. I wish to make their power my own. What say you?"





"The gods have done nothing for me," she replied. "I care not for them. If it is within your power to help this world, then I will accept it. We will do a far better job of helping others than the gods ever have."

The terms were accepted, and the queen's choice was made.




A pact was formed, and the queen was given all the power she could ever desire. If the gods could not improve the world, then she would do so herself. If the gods would dare get in her way, then she would make them bow before her.





"Are you okay?" the queen's friend had asked her.

"I feel so...good~ I can protect my little girl like this~ In fact, I will use this power to save the world-- starting with you~"

The queen had begun to form her army. With it, she would make the world a better place. There would be no pain and no suffering, and nobody would dare oppose her.

Her lust made her forget about the princess who called out to her. She did not reply, and the child thought her mother dead. Some would say that the queen was a victim of the monster, but the truth is the queen accepted the monster's will unquestioningly. She had become the monster.





"Mommy that's super sad! There's supposed to be a prince that comes in and saves everyone and makes it all better!"

"Ah, but a savior did appear. It was not a prince, but the princess herself who saved the queen. With the help of the gods that the queen had forsaken, the princess managed to give her pause, and allow her friends the chance to overpower her. They could have killed her, and she certainly deserved it, but they decided to save her. They allowed her the chance to make up for her horrible crimes. Most of all, she got a chance to love her daughter once more."

"So they got to live happily ever after?" Jiniki asks.

"I hope so."

"That was kind of sad," Kinasa says. "That mother was a huge jerk for choosing power over her own daughter! If she was a real person I'd give her a serious talking-to! Aww, don't cry little one. Want a hug?"

"c-can it be a group hug," Jiniki asks.

Suddenly, the smaller Klis-khar Ki-jaara speaks up. "...Wait. You're that queen, aren't you? Are you Iiji?"





Oh dear.

"You are the queen, aren't you?" The Tezakian majibeast asks.

Oh dear.

It looks like the FAITHFUL COMPANION may be out of the bag. How should Sekani, Jiniki, and/or Amiel explain this one?
theguindo
Way to make it obvious, Iiji.

Tell the truth.
bahustard
I warned you about splitting Tayza and Susan up. I TOLD YOU DOG

>Amiel: LIE CONVINCINGLY. "We killed the hell out of Iiji, and Susan crawled out of the corpse. We're not sure if she's some part of Iiji, a half-digested meal (seriously, look at her she is so ugly), or maybe someone who just got stuck on the wrong side of that portal. The important part is that Iiji is totally dead, and not named Susan."
bahustard
>If this fails, coldcock all the majibeasts.
Anonymous
I get the feeling you mean 'when' rather than 'if'.

> Sekani: "She's not Iiji. She's Ishiji. There's a difference."

also not sure why we're worried considering we already more or less claimed Iiji was still alive, and these people (sorta) liked Iiji, while Kinasa doesn't even really know her.
Anonymous
Wait a minute... If they're still loyal to Iiji, Susan can just give new orders not to attack anyone. They'll listen to her.
magedragonfire
She was the queen. Now she's just Ishiji.

Explain about the corruption and what-not.
magedragonfire
Also, distract the other majibeasts - ask the two we don't know anything of about themselves.
slinkoboy
>Amiel: LIE CONVINCINGLY. "We killed the hell out of Iiji, and Susan crawled out of the corpse. We're not sure if she's some part of Iiji, a half-digested meal (seriously, look at her she is so ugly), or maybe someone who just got stuck on the wrong side of that portal. The important part is that Iiji is totally dead, and not named Susan."

"And that's why you shouldn't freak out and kill anyone."




>Tell the truth.
>She was the queen. Now she's just Ishiji.
>Sekani: "She's not Iiji. She's Ishiji. There's a difference."

"No, Miss Amiel, it's okay," Susan says. "I meant for this to happen. I don't want to hide the truth from these two. Yes, I was Iiji, but no longer. I have been bested and my majicka removed from me, and I exist now as just Ishiji, the fallen queen of the Klis-khar. Or 'Susan', apparently."

"Yeah," Sekani says, "I firepunched her into being a completely different person."

"I controlled many of your friends for years, and I won't fight you if you want to kill me. I deserve nothing less than death for my crimes."

The majibeasts are silent for a moment, and then move in on Susan. Amiel prepares the rifle to knock them out with.





They hug Susan.

"We thought you were dead. We were so sad."

"Why would we hurt you? You made our lives better. You made us happy."






"You two were loyal to me until the bitter end, weren't you?"

"You loved us, unlike those stupid scientists."

"Yeah, they didn't love us. But you did."


"...Thank you, both of you. Thank you."


>Wait a minute... If they're still loyal to Iiji, Susan can just give new orders not to attack anyone. They'll listen to her.
"We... We shouldn't give up! We can fight for you!"

"Yeah! We still have majicka!"


"No, you've done enough. The fight's over. I think Miss Tayza is the leader now. Be as kind to her as you've been to me all these years, won't you?"

"But we want you!"

"Yeah!"


Susan is overcome by emotion and doesn't respond.





"Hugs~!" Kinasa says cheerfully as she hugs Sekani.

"Um... why are you-- what are you doing?" he asks.





"Oh, we're not having a group hug?"

"N-nooo."

"Oh-- Um. Sorry."

Amiel finds it hard to believe that was an accident.



>Also, distract the other majibeasts - ask the two we don't know anything of about themselves.
>Explain about the corruption and what-not.

Sekani explains the corruption to them and asks them to say a little about themselves.

The Klis-khar goes first. "My name is Rishik. My friend and I were created here in the FACILITY and raised by mean scientists who stuck needles in us and made us do scary things. Then our queen beat them all up and said we wouldn't have to have any more needles and wouldn't have to do scary things anymore."

"Um, I'm Kaness. Those mean scientists broke my wings and told me to try and heal it with majicka, but I couldn't. our queen helped me and showed me how and now I have really pretty wings! I don't really know how to fly though so I hang out in the portal building with my friend."

"We're the best of friends."

"Totally!"


Amiel feels like she should go off on someone. Either Susan for her "Blah blah go ahead and kill me after all the work everyone went though to save me!" or Kinasa for stepping in on her man.

Sekani wonders if there's anything else he should say, or if he should go ahead and lead on to the DORM BUILDING.
typodc
Well, I can't think of anything else to say, but odds are someone else will.

[oh jeez this is so weird all blitzing through this in one day and then trying to suggest things in the endgame like I know what the deal is aaaaa

Anyway, hi from /quest/. Pretty cool thing you've got here. :V]
Anonymous
Well everything should be fresh in your memory at least :P

> Sekani: Before Amiel decides to kill someone, have some stern (assuming you can do stern, Sekani) words with Kinasa in private about respecting your relationship. Uh. Relationships? ... frig.

> Amiel: Killing people right now is probably a bad idea. Here's a good distraction: ponder about 'curing' people who have had majicka their whole life.
Anonymous
...
An afterthought. How does someone heal their wing with electric majicka?
bahustard
The scientists are not smart. Very, very not smart. "Let's create a medkit that turns people into final bosses" not smart.

On the other hand, Iiji apparently showed him how to do it, so I guess we just lost the answer when we reverted Susan back to pre-usefulness.
bahustard
...Of course, the guy who did it might know better than we do. I don't expect him to be good at explaining either, though.
slinkoboy
Welcome!

Some random quick info:

I tend to update at least twice a day except on weekends, where I'll update just once a day to give myself a break.

There's a soft limit of two commands per person (this is not heavily enforced however). Since commands are queue'd, you can easily post an action to be taken after an action somebody else posts.

That's pretty much it. Glad to have a new face, even if it's at the very end of things :X
typodc
[Man I really wish I had heard about this earlier, but the first I knew of it was yesterday. :/

I can still hang around for the end of it, though!]
theguindo
WHAT

AMIEL

YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH

YES THIS IS A GROUP HUG.

> GROUP HUG, DAMMIT.
slinkoboy
>Sekani: Before Amiel decides to kill someone, have some stern (assuming you can do stern, Sekani) words with Kinasa in private about respecting your relationship. Uh. Relationships? ... frig.

He doesn't have any feelings for Dilia or anyone else. It's just the one.

"Um, Kinasa... I appreciate the gesture and all, but Amiel and I are totally into each other. I don't really want to complicate things any more than they already are. No hard feelings?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

She looks utterly confused.



>WHAT
>AMIEL
>YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH
>YES THIS IS A GROUP HUG.
>GROUP HUG, DAMMIT

FINE. MERCY OF LISANDI. "EVERYONE WE ARE HAVING A GROUP HUG RIGHT NOW."

"Really!?" Kinasa asks excitedly. Maybe she really did just want a group hug?

"YES GET OVER HERE AND GET YOUR HUG ON."





"Yaaay~" Kinasa says.

"Hey wait," Sekani says, "Don't you use ELECTRIC MAJICKA, Kaness? How could you possibly be expected to heal yourself without HEALING MAJICKA?"

"Oh, well the scientists--"

"SEKANI. HUG. NOW."





SHIT YES THIS IS VERY EMOTIONAL.

SERIOUSLY THEY'RE HAVING AN INCREDIBLE GODDAMN MOMENT HERE.

THEY HEAD THE FUCK TO THE DORM BUILDING.





"Let's not use room 12," Amiel says. She doesn't want them to see the room Besileyz was being insane in.

"Um, we want to sleep with the queen," Rishik says.

"Yeah, we don't want to be away from her," Kaness adds.

"Um I kind of want to talk to mommy alone for a bit," Jiniki says in a serious tone.

"Whatever about, my child?"

"It's private grown-up stuff."

"I dunno if I feel comfortable letting them all sleep together unguarded," Amiel says. "I don't really trust Susan at this point, no offense."

"It's all right," Susan replies.

Man, this is quite a mess. Sekani wonders if Tayza's having just as much trouble with her group.

"No way man I'm totally leading the shit out of my group and everything's in perfect order. I am GOOD at this," Tayza replies out of nowhere.

Oh. Guess not. Who should sleep with who? There's plenty of rooms.
theguindo
Let Susan and Jini have a moment alone.

How many people can we comfortably fit in a room?
slinkoboy
In the interest of streamlining I'll answer this here. There are two beds per room. the beds are twin size, like in most college dorms.
magedragonfire
Daughter trumps loyal followers. Susan and Jiniki can go off in their room for a bit.

We can stick Kinasa in with Kaness and Rishik, and Sekani and Amiel can join Susan and Jini in a little bit.
magedragonfire
Well, then. If it's two beds per room, Kinasa-Kaness, Rishik-Susan-Jini (after a bit), Sekani-Amiel.
slinkoboy
>Let Susan and Jini have a moment alone.
>Daughter trumps loyal followers. Susan and Jiniki can go off in their room for a bit.

"What was it you wanted to talk about, Jiniki?"

"You said you deserved to die earlier, and it sounded kinda like you... wanted to."

Susan doesn't respond.

"Amiel said everyone has a reason to live, and I think everyone should want to be alive and happy."





"I don't think I have it in me to be happy anymore, Jini. I've lost nearly everything, and I've nobody to blame but myself. I... I think the world would be better without me."

"Don't say that, mommy! We all did everything we could to make you not sick and happy! I almost died like a billigan times so we could be a family!" Jiniki's pretty sure that's a number. A super big one. "I saved you because I love you! And ...and Kaness and Rishik love you too! You..."






"You should... just go to time-out!"

A queen of a nation, leader of the Ki-jaara... being disciplined by her own daughter. Susan loves Jiniki, but the burden of what she's done is too much to bear. She's not a very strong person. Rishik, Kaness, and especially Jiniki deserve someone far better than her. What can she even do anymore?







"Hey, um, Sekani..."

"Guh?"

"Sorry for being all angry lately."

"Oh, don't worry about it. You've been through a whole lot today. You're probably just tired. I know I am."

"My emotions have been a train-wreck. I guess a lot of stuff's been building up."





Amiel continues, "And now it's almost over. Soon we'll be getting out of here. Part of me doesn't want that to happen."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Our races hate each other. We could never go to each other's country. I don't really know what we're going to do after this."

"I'm sure we'll figure out something."

"I don't know. I'm really worried about the future."




"It's just... We got together so quickly. Maybe it's my fault. My mother thinks tezakians are heartless beasts, and I was so excited when you proved her wrong that I didn't stop to consider how either of us actually felt."

Sekani is silent. He holds onto Amiel, who softly strokes the feathers on his head.

"And... it wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry. But I sincerely care about you now, and I really wish we had some way to know this would work long term."

Sekani isn't sure how to respond. How would they make it work? Where would they go?


Commands can be given to Sekani and Susan.
theguindo
Start over, Susan. After all this, take your daughter and start over somewhere new. Live a normal life. Try to make other people's lives better on a small scale, in an attempt to make up for the lives you've broken.

Hey, Sekani, why don't you try going somewhere that isn't either of your home countries? Like, say, live with the Diubans.
cirrial
Well I can't think of anything better than this. Seconding this.

[why did I decide to jump into the endgame this like Typo agh also hello from another /quest/er you may be more popular than you realise]
typodc
I feel bad just saying >This, but Guindo's pretty much got everything covered here.
bahustard
Pretty much this, only replace 'the Diubans' with 'Dilia' specifically.

...What?
magedragonfire
It's not like you can go back being queen of the Klis-khar, Susan. You've still got at least one thing that you need to take care of, though. Jini's going to live a long life, if she doesn't take the Majicka cure - she needs you to step up to the plate and make sure that all of this won't drive her bonkers in the future.

Sekani, what if access to Rishkahn wasn't completely shut off? Take it back to the real world, destroy the majicka research, and declare the whole place a neutral zone. If either the Lians or Tezakians move to destroy it, the whole thing could be packed up and shoved away in a portal until they get the point.
slinkoboy
WORKING ON IT
slinkoboy
>Start over, Susan. After all this, take your daughter and start over somewhere new. Live a normal life. Try to make other people's lives better on a small scale, in an attempt to make up for the lives you've broken.
>It's not like you can go back being queen of the Klis-khar, Susan. You've still got at least one thing that you need to take care of, though. Jini's going to live a long life, if she doesn't take the Majicka cure - she needs you to step up to the plate and make sure that all of this won't drive her bonkers in the future.

Susan places a hand on her locket, flipping it open. She looks at the picture within, and with a sigh she removes it and tosses it behind her.

"I'm sorry. You're right. Maybe... Maybe we can start over. Make a new life for ourselves. Let's forget all about the past and just be a family... together. I can't be a Queen anymore, but I can at least be a mother to you. We can try to make other people happy and make up for what I've done here. Would you like that?"





"Really? Do you mean it? I want to help lots and lots of people like a super hero princess even though I guess I'm not a princess anymore but when people write stories can I be a princess anyway?"

"Of course you can. You'll always be my princess."

"And, um, you don't want to die anymore? Does this mean you'll be happy?"





"With you around, I think I can be."

They touch 'noses' affectionately.

"I love you, mommy~"

"I love you too, Jiniki. More than I can ever express. You've really grown up. I couldn't be more proud of you, and I'm so glad you've made so many friends."

Jiniki giggles. "Okay, you don't have to be in time-out anymore~"






Kinasa sniffles. "Aww, I didn't know they were a couple."

"Are the Tezakians and Lians really at war?" Kaness asks.

"I don't know, apparently. I just hope they make it." More sniffles. "Do you think they'd mind if I joined them for another group hug?"

"I dunno. Rishik and I hug all the time, so I don't see why not."




>Hey, Sekani, why don't you try going somewhere that isn't either of your home countries? Like, say, live with the Diubans.
>Pretty much this, only replace 'the Diubans' with 'Dilia' specifically.

"We could live with Dili-- I mean the Diubans. They're neutral to both our races I think."

"Yeah, I guess. It'd be awfully far from Lian though. I'd have to travel for weeks to visit my brother. I guess he could come visit us instead but... I don't know. I'm sure that'd work out."



>Sekani, what if access to Rishkahn wasn't completely shut off? Take it back to the real world, destroy the majicka research, and declare the whole place a neutral zone. If either the Lians or Tezakians move to destroy it, the whole thing could be packed up and shoved away in a portal until they get the point.

"Wait!" Sekani exclaims. "What about here!?"

"What?"

"Here! We take the facility back with us, destroy all the majicka stuff, and turn it into a neutral zone where people from both our races can hang out and stuff! And if either of our nations try to stop us, we could just hide here in the pocket dimension! I bet they'd never be able to find us and stuff and it'd be really neat!"



"That's-- That's a really good idea! Then we could meet each others' family although that'd be kind of awkward at first but at least nobody will be in any danger and we could send out fliers and make this huge campaign for peace!" Amiel says excitedly.

Sekani smiles.

Amiel continues, "This is so perfect! I always wanted to work towards convincing the others that Tezakians aren't bad people, but you get thrown in jail for that kind of talk back home. But if they can't find us, we can work in secret! We can get the word out and make a difference! Oh, Sekani! I could kiss you! In fact, I think I will."

They share a moment which is fully animated with orchestrated music and everything. Just trust me on this.





Everyone heads to bed, and a couple of hours pass...










"I'm sorry if I woke you. Can we talk?"





"Of course, sweety. It's no problem at all-- I can't sleep anyway." Dilia whispers.





"I probably shouldn't be here. I shouldn't even say this."

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want. If you want to talk, I promise not to tell anyone."

"Um, well, Sekani has this idea to turn this place into a safe haven for both of our races. I think, um, I want to stay with him."

"Well, that's good! I wasn't aware you were having doubts, but I'm glad you've gotten past them."

"Um, well, the thing is, I kind of want to, erm..."

"Hmm?"




Amiel's tail gives a nervous twitch. "I love Sekani, but... I also kind of like you too. I feel confused. I mean, you're a girl. Augh-- this is stupid."

"No, it's not stupid at all. It's better to get that kind of thing off your chest."

Amiel sighs. "I don't know. This has been keeping me up all night and I felt like I had to tell you. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I'm happy, really, that you care about me. Hearing that has made my day."

Amiel blushes slightly.

Dilia smiles. "You've been through a lot lately. I think you just need time to sort out your emotions. You have all the time in the world to figure it out. Whatever you decide, I'll be here for you."

"So, um, that means you'll be staying here? With us?"

Dilia hadn't thought of it until now. Would sticking around be the best option? It might make things harder on Amiel in the long run, and Dilia doesn't want to cause any more trouble. At the same time, part of her wants to stay. They'd need help with making money, and she's very good at the business end of things.

What should Dilia tell Amiel?
bahustard
>Insist that won't leave her to blindly grope in the darkness, and tell her that she'll always have your moneymaker handy when she needs it.

See, because you're not leaving, and you're the only one here with any business sense. Also, because she is adorable, even without all those glowy tentacles.
slinkoboy
magedragonfire
Yep, Dilia can sure get down to business.

If you guys are okay with her staying, then Dilia will stay for a little while, at least~ Someone's going to have to help clean this place up, anyways.
typodc
Agreeing that Dilia ought to stay.
slinkoboy
>Dilia: Insist that you won't leave her to blindly grope in the darkness, and tell her that she'll always have your moneymaker handy when she needs it.

"What?"

"I'm saying that starting an entire base isn't going to be easy. You're going to need to get your hands on some hefty assets. I'm really good at getting down to business. I'm an all natural businesswoman."

"Um...?"

"Wait. What I meant to say was..."





"...I'll be here as long as you want me to be."

"R-really?"

"Of course, sweety." Dilia places a hand on Amiel's shoulder. "I'm pretty good at negotiations, so I think I can help you get everything set up so this place can make some money to run itself with."

"That's a relief. I'm glad you're willing to stay with me-- Um. With us." Amiel blushes more.

"I'll always be here if you need to talk, okay?"

"Okay."





"Well, I guess I should get back to Sekani. Thanks for listening. I feel a lot better now. Kind of weird, but better."

"I'm glad I could help."

Dilia is not new to this situation. Besileyz came to her like this once. Dilia reacted badly to it, and Besil immediately started blaming Ifles, insisting he was keeping Dilia from her. Dilia still blames herself for everything that happened. If only she knew then what she knows now...

At least she can avoid making that mistake a second time. Dilia's going to support Amiel no matter what she ends up deciding.

It's strange how things circle around. Dilia told Besil that she just wasn't into girls, but at this moment she almost kind of wonders if she just hadn't found the right one. For now, she'll focus on rebuilding her life. Whatever happens, happens.



Morning arrives, and everyone gathers in the MEDICAL ROOM.





Grasshopper reports that it was successful in making 10 MAJICKA CURE SOLUTIONS (bonus points if you remember what color that is). It had to use up multiple colors of SOLUTION, meaning there are no longer any solutions of any colors remaining in the facility that they know of.





Kish'kin reports that he was successful in creating a new PORTAL DEVICE that will safely transport them through the tear in the MAJICKA LAB BUILDING. He becomes downtrodden when asked if he could modify it to bring the entire facility with them. He specifically asked if they wanted him to do that earlier!

He says to give him a bit and he'll see if he can modify the PORTAL DEVICE to work on a larger scale. Sigh.





Sekani does some quick math. "Wait, 10? But there's 11 of us. Someone won't be able to be cured."

"Wait, what?" Tayza says. "You want to cure ALL of us? What's wrong with you! I don't want to be 'cured'! I'm happy like this! As alpha, I demand you stop being so inconsiderate!"

Delkin adds to her objection. "This is what I am. This is me! I don't want to go back to being something I'm not!"





"What...?"

"Mister Sekani, I don't want to be 'cured' either. This arm is kind of ugly and I can't fly, but I don't want to lose it completely. Can't we just not cure everyone?"

"But... But we're monsters?"

"Are we?" Tayza asks. "Do you honestly think we're all monsters after everything that's happened?"

What... What should Sekani do? They're monsters, aren't they? Majicka is evil... isn't it? He feels like he missed a very obvious life lesson.
theguindo
If they want to stay how they are, let them. But majicka's potential for abuse is too high to let it out into the world on its own. Destroy the research, let the ki-jaara who want to stay that way stay ki-jaara, and give cures to the ones who want them.
bahustard
You are totally going to ruin our chances for getting the Tyrant ending.
magedragonfire
Majicka was evil under Iiji, but those left seem pretty non-corrupted by it. Tayza's not bad for all that she's a bi grumpy McGrumperFace sometimes, and Kinasa's never done anything terrible that we know of. If they want to stay as they are, then that should be okay, so long as they realize that the first time they use their powers for bad, someone's gonna get a whoopin'.

So it comes down, really, to who actually wants to go back to their normal selves? Do you even want that, Sekani?
magedragonfire
(Pssst, light blue, by the way.)
bahustard
(Pssst. Amiel likes you better this way.)
Anonymous
So is selfishness. Everyone's at least a little selfish though, but that's not really an issue. You don't have to get rid of all of it, you just have to prevent it from causing problems. Tayza and Jiniki have shown they can be ki-jaara without causing problems, if others want to live as ki-jaara we should at least give them the chance to prove themselves. But keep any extra cures around as long as they'll last.

Also good luck trying to cure Tayza without serious firepower.
Anonymous
For the record though, I've been wondering if Jiniki would fly off the handle if we didn't coddle her cuteness. But that's clearly not a concern with this group :P
Anonymous
While we're dealing with tough dilemmas, what're we going to do with Sekani Jr.?
bahustard
>Let's all be awesome monsters together!
bahustard
God DAMN. I've been saying that for like 11 chapters, and it's FINALLY the right answer.
typodc
I mean, I imagine the people who have been here for a lot longer than you have have been settled into their current identities for a long time. You can understand that, right?

And... are you monsters, really? I mean, none of you seem like you're about to go on a murderous rampage or anything like that.
slinkoboy
>I mean, I imagine the people who have been here for a lot longer than you have have been settled into their current identities for a long time. You can understand that, right?
>Majicka was evil under Iiji, but those left seem pretty non-corrupted by it.

"Uh, sorry for snapping I guess, but I can't go back to how I was. I won't. I was so sick and weak. Now I'm powerful, and I have everything going for me. I'm happy now. Do you get it? Don't make me have to knock some sense into you a fourth time."

Majicka messed with his mind, but come to think of it... once he was removed from Iiji's influence and chose his final form, it didn't seem to be affecting him anymore.

He looks around at everyone's faces. Iiji was the only Ki-jaara he faced that ended up being evil (before she was cured). The rest of them were just sapient creatures who were protecting things they cared about.



>If they want to stay how they are, let them. But majicka's potential for abuse is too high to let it out into the world on its own. Destroy the research, let the ki-jaara who want to stay that way stay ki-jaara, and give cures to the ones who want them.
>Tayza and Jiniki have shown they can be ki-jaara without causing problems, if others want to live as ki-jaara we should at least give them the chance to prove themselves. But keep any extra cures around as long as they'll last.

"...Okay," Sekani says. "Let's only give the solution to those who want to be cured."

"Thank you, mister Sekani."

"But I still think we should destroy the rest of the majicka research. I don't really want to risk a second Iiji. And if anyone ends up being corrupted--"

"I'll hunt them down and force-feed them the cure," Tayza says. "It's my duty as Alpha. I guess you have a point, though. Let's destroy the research. It might be for the best."



>So it comes down, really, to who actually wants to go back to their normal selves? Do you even want that, Sekani?

Of the other Ki-jaara, only Jerahl and Denil opt for the cure.

"I'm normal! Mercy of Lisandi, I'm normal!"

"Now no queen will control me again."

Does Sekani want to go back to the way he was? He looks to the gods a moment for guidance, but realizes he already knows the answer.


>Let's all be awesome monsters together!

"I think I want to stay like this," Sekani says. "I think I like what I've become."

"If that's what you want, then I support you all the way. Besides, you look much sexier this way~"

Sekani giggles. "A-Amiel...!"

"Yay! We're monsters!" Jiniki says excitedly. "Rawr!"

"Rawr!"
Tayza parrots.



Eventually Kish'kin reports that he's completed his modifications, and everyone heads to the rift.





"All right," Kish'kin says, "It took some doing, but I've managed to increase the power to this baby so the entire facility can make it back home. I hope you don't intend to change your mind again..."

"Nope. We're good."

"Okay, good. Just tell me when you're ready."





"All right! We're going to destroy all traces of majicka and then we're going home. This place will become a safe haven for all races, and us majibeasts. You guys will always be welcome here.

"I see now that majicka can do some great things, but I don't think the world is ready for it. I know Iiji did some good things for some of you, but she also hurt and killed a lot of people. I want to avoid that happening again.

"There will be no more experiments. No more suffering. Most of all, nobody else will be forced to become a Ki--"












Sekani looks at Sekani Jr. silently.

"I'm sorry," Amiel says. "I know you don't want to hear it, but we probably should destroy the eggs, too. We can't guarantee that whatever hatches from them won't one day turn on us."

But... He's protected this egg ever since he found it.
theguindo
Destroy all the other eggs.

Keep Sekani Jr. in secret. NO ONE MUST KNOW.
typodc
You can manage one egg, right?
Anonymous


There is at least more than 1 magicka cure. Tayza said she'd gunt all who become corrupt. All the hard work protecting this egg would go to waste if you destroy it. It could turn out to be the best thing that's ever happened to you. That being said, smash it.
bahustard
Derp de durr

>Inject cure into eggs
bahustard
See also: [url=http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/14p28]Dur.[/url]
magedragonfire
That egg is your goddamn baby Metroid, Sekani. It'll be okay to leave it alone.

Destroy the others, though, just in case.
slinkoboy

"Can't... Can't we just keep this one? It might turn out okay! We could give it the cure if it doesn't!" Sekani begs.

"I don't know. Majicka or not, I dunno if I'm ready to raise a kid."

"But, but you'd make a great mom..."

"Augh, I don't know. This is kind of fast even for me."

"Where'd you find that egg?"





Delkin addresses Sekani. "I'm pretty sure Lians and Tezakians can't make eggs, so unless you're cheating on her--"

"You'd know all about that!"
Tayza says from a distance.

"--I'm going to assume you found it?"

"Yes, near the entrance to this place."

"It must be one of Nesaki's eggs, then. All right, I'll--"





"Aw shit, that was a wicked sick burn! High five!" Tayza says.

"Um, okay, but I didn't see you burn anything..." Kinasa replies, confused.

Delkin glares at Tayza for a moment, then continues. "As I was saying. I'll help raise the child, my... friend. I owe it to Nesaki after what happened to her. Besides, I think I'm done living in a fantasy. Maybe I'll find someone to raise the child with-- Settle down and such."

"I-I wouldn't mind helping raise Sekani Jr. too," Sekani says.

"I was hoping for someone more female, but-- Oh. Right, I see what you're saying. Sure, I'd appreciate the help."

"Well," Tayza says, "With that solved, We should get to destroying the majicka research. Might as well do it now so nobody can steal it when we get back."

"We'll wait for you here," Kish'kin says.


Everyone spreads out to speed up the process.





"Okay, how do you make this thing delete itself."

"Um, try formatting its drives."

"Right."

"...So, what are your plans? For after we get back, I mean."

"I'm staying here, of course. We're a pack now. I'd be a horrible alpha if I just took off after the ultimate hunt. What about you?"

"Well, I thought I'd be spending time mourning for Ifles and Besileyz, but I think I'm getting over it. It was such a long time ago that it feels more like a dream than a memory."




"Besides, I don't think Ifles would want me to spend my life being alone and depressed. I'm going to try and make the best of it with Sekani and, um, Amiel..."

"You're not going to kill her again, are you? Fffuu-- I hate computers so much."

"No, that aspect of me is long gone. Even if it wasn't, Sekani's not the kind of person I can see myself being with long term. I'd want someone brave. Someone like..."

"Like who?"

"Oh-- nobody in particular. I was just musing."

"AAARRRGGGHHH! FORMAT! Who's bright idea was it to give these things personalities!?"



"And then my uncle was all 'you know I think it's boring when a computer does everything you tell it to without a mind of its own' and so he made computers that acted more like people and he even made it so they won't listen to people who are mean and they sold super well!"

"That explains a few things. So, what are you planning to do now that you have your mother back?"

"We're going back to our country to help lots of people!"





"What!? You're leaving? But I'll miss you so much!"

"Aww, it's okay we'll come back and visit like a million times!"

"*Sniff* You better!"

"I promise! Don't be sad. I wouldn't leave you. I love you."

"We'll watch movies and eat candy and have slumber parties. No boys allowed!"

"What about mister birdie?"

"He's fine."





"Do we really have to destroy these?" Sekani wonders aloud. "Couldn't we just use the MAJICKA CURE on all of them?"

"When I asked him, the 'robot' guy said something about the cure killing them because they were born with majicka. They wouldn't have a normal form to go back to, or something. Don't feel too bad about this. They're just eggs."

"It just feels wrong to kill them."

"...You don't talk to girls much, do you?"

"Huh?"




"We lay eggs pretty much every time we mate. If we kept them all, we'd be raising hundreds of children over the course of our lifetime."

"That's... interesting."

"It's not a big deal. You mate, you lay an egg or two, and unless you're ready to raise children you make sure the egg can't hatch and dispose of it. Lakicia only gives souls to children that hatch, so it's really okay if these don't."

"That makes me feel better, I think. Thanks."

"Hehe, I'm glad I didn't make you feel worse for once."





"Ah, you're all back," Kish'kin says. "Are you ready, then?"

"Yeah, I think so," Sekani says.

"All right. I'll need one of you Tezakians to fly ahead and help me keep us going in the right direction."

"I'll do it."

"Good, good. I'm ready when you are."





Sekani flies out into the void, and Kish'kin starts the machine. There's a flash of light as TRANSDIMENSIONAL ENERGY flows out of the machine!





The entire facility begins to shift dimensions as it gets dragged into the portal!

Sekani has been through so much. It wasn't even a week ago that he was just a cowardly scout flying out to Lian, and now he's become so much more. He smiles as he realizes what he accomplished here. At every turn something tried to stop him, but he made it out alive. And now, instead of going home, he's going to be turning this once-threatening facility into a place of peace for all sapient creatures.

He can feel Ziki smiling at him from Lakicia's embrace, cheering for him. He's no longer just a nameless bird who's too afraid to get anything done.

He's Sekani, and he's going to make the world a better place to live for every Tezakian, Lian, Diuban, and even the Klis-khar.




And unlike Iiji, he's going to do so without forsaking the gods who've protected and guided him all this time.
typodc
>Slinko: Perform some sort of celebratory action in commemoration!

[But no seriously, congratulations, man. This is one of the best quests I've seen that's run to completion. You should rightly feel proud! :D]
magedragonfire
>Gods: High-five. We got 'em here.