CHAPTER 1 — MIDWELL Spinwide 2023/04/01(Sat)15:38 No. 1060264 ID: a7e32a
File 168038868552.png - (13.82KB , 500x500 , town center.png )

It takes around two hours to walk to the town center, taking stops to eat wild berries and enjoy the scenery on the way. The red of dawn has faded away entirely, leaving a solid wash of blue sky. As it's the first of Missing Sun, there's no sun visible above, nor will there be for the rest of this month. Even the sun needs its rest.

There's a bit of activity around the town center. Since it's still early in the morning, most of those up at this hour are setting up activities or conversing. Nobody you've been close with is nearby, but a few craftspeople and foreign traders look to be preparing for the day's trade. A handful of older folk are counting food for the midday feast to celebrate the turning of the month. If you came here last, you'd've loved to join in for some excellent food before you set out, but you don't have the time to wait around. There's a small class for morning exercises a bit further away from the small crowd, and a deacon is gathering water from the well for ceremonies.

All in all, it's an average day for a small religious community. Normal goods will be simple to gather as long as you have the space to carry them; you can just go gather food, clothes, basic supplies, etc. from communal stores. Exceptional things, potentially armor, weapons, or advanced manufactured goods will require a bit more effort in either trade or theft. While you're on a deadline, you still have plenty of time to look around. The question is...

What first?

See if the foreign merchant has anything interesting to sell or say

>>1060264
>If you came here last, you'd've loved to join in for some excellent food before you set out, but you don't have the time to wait around.
If you told us about that earlier, then we would’ve suggested coming here last so that you could’ve joined in for the excellent food. So that’s kinda your fault.

>what do?
Go check out the foreign traders.

>>1060264
Talk to the old folks counting the food. Maybe you can get some food to take with you on your travels? It would be better than relying on wild berries and mushrooms that might be poisonous.

>>1060377
Foreign Merchants always have the most exotic swag!

Don't you DARE to cover up your MAJESTIC and GLORIOUS BODIES! What sort of GRAND TASK TAKERS would you be to buckle and break at the FEEBLE TRADITIONS of humans? You are LARGER then them! POSE WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT! SHOW these dwellers of the LAND OF MEN your BARE INTENTIONS, UNAFRAID! Maybe also get some SNACKS OF SUSTENANCE.

This human is attempting to be helpful, WE SHOULD BRING HIM WITH US SO THAT HE MAY HELP US NAVIGATE THE STRANGE HUMAN LANDS! just pick him up, he’s small.

distract them by sucking their dicks

MARTLEBY should tell the sentry that he, too, can become a CHAMPION like MARTLEBY.
If the sentry can prove his respect to the SACRED DUTY, then MARTLEBY would allow the sentry to meet the ARBOREAL SOW and become a MIGHTY CHAMPION.
If the sentry accepts, then MARTLEBY should strip the sentry naked (for GLORIOUS reasons) and let him ride on MARTLEBY's back, while providing assistance to the SACRED DUTY.

As for where to go next, BURRRT should visit the wedding - his dexterity will be necessary to evade the objects thrown at him. I'm sure one of the objects will end up being the divine relic he's looking for. MARTLEBY and FLICHARD should venture towards the CORNFLOWER STATION.

Our champions are going to get fucking shot. Maybe we're lucky and this is ENGLAND, or at least CANADA. Yeah take along the human, he can help guide the SOW's grooms in this FOREIGN REALM (and if not he'll at least be a useful HOSTAGE). Take a gander in the store first, maybe there's some LESSER ARTEFACTS or useful garbage to be had.

>>1062664
"well, sucks to suck lol"
>book it like a motherfucker as daddy dearest bursts into the bedroom, shotgun in hand

>>1062664
"Well do you have the right paperwork? Can't just give this thing to anyone youknow"

I dunno, his behavior is weird enough that he may not be mugging you; he may just not be communicating clearly. Maybe he only needs it for a bit? Ask what for. Probably don't simply hand it over, regardless.

Looks like a robot.
Be friendly but assertive. You have a job to do and you don't have a sufficient level to deal with sidequests.

Sorry, my mom taught me not to cooperate with strangers! Why do you want it anyway?

White Write Wight 2023/04/27(Thu)10:25 No. 1062185 ID: a1eed5
File 168261633027.png - (11.97KB , 500x500 , goddamnit.png )

>>1062183
It’s 9PMTD at The Local Locale-a bar you’ve been frequenting for the past 5 years now to both shoot the shit and hangout with friends AND drown your sorrows. And it seems like tonight you’re going to be doing a little bit of both tonight. As you (un)luckily have company tonight. The best thing about this place is that it's one of the most run down places in town, so you two quickly find open seats for yourselves with no one next to them. The barkeep has already put down your drink (Some cheap brown beer…at least you hope that’s what it is) since it’s what you order every night, while your friend (despite also knowing the menu like the back of their hand) stares at it as if he’s looking at map in a town she has never been before.


Rem Randy Red, your best (and to be fair, ONLY) friend. You’ve unfortunately been side-by-side ever since you’ve even started working, for better an-

“LET’S MAKE A MANGA!” he slams the table, echoing out a sound akin to a bomb going off, almost making you spill the liquid all over yourself.


…You didn’t even get a single sip of your drink


>Sure, what else have you got planned tonight?
>No
>Write-In

Say no
Then drink a lot
Once you're drunk enough, reconsider and say yes

Later.

You need a higher blood alcohol level before you'll consider that.

>>1062185
"Who the flying fuck would publish it?"

Ummm...pray for success, or something, until something happens.

bask in the glory in what I am assuming is your goddess in the painting over there, and recite a prayer to start the day. Afterwards, go through the morning routines

Remove the gaudy cartoon cutout from your room.

Clasp you hands and pray for success. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a response?

Are you already packed? If not, do so now. You'll need your book of recipes and any supplies you own, at the very least.

It seems like laying low is the best play at the moment, bob in place rapidly! This will show them you are very excited at the prospect of learning

XenobenerHund 2023/04/16(Sun)13:01 No. 1061524 ID: 7c8622
File 168167526501.gif - (396.77KB , 1200x904 , lukquest23.gif )

>>1061503
>>1061512
(In order to get in the good graces with those who she'll be staying with, eggluk gives one the last of the ketchup which it will not give back. To the next she gives the last of the cheese, it takes one bite and drops the cheese to the floor, no longer moving. Guess they don't like cheese?)
"Oh, aren't you so sweet, bringing gift for your swarmates. I guess that means you're not hungry then. Why don't you choose the lesson then?"
>>1061505
>>1061515
>>1061516
(Eggluk gestures in the most history like way she can imagine)
"Okay, thats an interesting topic. So our civilization was found by the first queen after the pechomet fell and granted her intelligence. With her incredibly fecundity her and her children subjugated all the other bugs and created a hive to conquer and civil

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RE-acquire the CHEESE while you wait for the big bug who tells all the rules to come back

No don't wait! This is the perfect chance to sneak away, everyone knows Eggluk is worldwide famous for her sneaking skills! Bitluk was holding her back, let's bounce into some other room

>>1061524
Sneak out! Bring the cheese with you. Maybe you can give other bugs indigestion if they block you...

The PDU sounds like a good choice.

>>1058847
Yeah I'm voting PDU
A bit of chaos can be fun, a lot of chaos... not so much

The Liandri Trading Corporation. Because why wouldn't you want to make the best money? They know how to make money and they certainly know you'll make the best of the best.

It seems choosing one group is going to make you an enemy of another, no way around that. The LTC seems like a solid choice IF you're looking to make some good money.

>>1058847
THE SKULL gang sounds like it will be fun to join tho.

1/3 quietCrisis 2023/03/27(Mon)18:24 No. 1059651 ID: dfaac6
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>Tune back into who's talking to you. You're supposed to be casing the guests, right?

Yes. That's right.

The woman to my right is talking at me. I've given her an assumed name in accordance with the rules of this stupid masquerade party, as well as a lot of lies about my history. Unfortunately, given my rapidly developing migraine, I can't remember what any of them were.

>coping time. make yourself a little more comfortable, take a breathe, sip some water and get a little snack from the bar

I down my flute of champagne. A waitress passes with a tray, so I grab another and begin doing the same.

2/3 quietCrisis 2023/03/27(Mon)18:26 No. 1059653 ID: dfaac6
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"--and that's why I always say that sort of thing should be left to private charity, not the government. Don't you agree?"

I stare at her blankly. Usually this gets people to leave me alone and stop asking me questions, but this woman is still looking at me, like she's actually expecting an answer. Unfortunately, I don't care about this conversation, and have absolutely no idea what she's talking about.

I'd like to leave. Unfortunately…

3/3 quietCrisis 2023/03/27(Mon)18:27 No. 1059654 ID: dfaac6
File 167996685921.png - (1.06MB , 900x900 , sketch1679966380935.png )

"Be sociable. Talk to the guests. Don't do anything to stand out or offend anyone. Remember, we need you to find which of the guests is the Demon and get them alone before any other interested parties get there first."

I’m not going to lie. I’m still tempted.

The vulture on my right is still waiting for an answer.

"Oh? What are your favorite charities to donate to?"

down a 3rd champagne and start lying like a pro just start saying shit really confidently

>>1055707
Can you try to wake up? Don't try too hard.
Try to relax, think of a pleasant or even boring memory.

Sorry for the lack of updates, been sick

Hmm, then again... maybe you can interact with the stressful memories to calm down, too? Say things you wished you said. Do things you wished you'd done. Try not to move TOO much, but... you should be able to move a little, right?

!CammyIzMqA 2023/03/24(Fri)22:46 No. 1059470 ID: cbbf90
File 167972319205.png - (42.09KB , 1186x803 , image (21).png )

Hey, just pinging the radar to let everyone know I'm alive, life just continus to be one long screwdriver (Within the same month I'm single, job situation is at risk, I had to spend basically all of my savings on dental work and may have to pay a fine at best or lose my home at worst if I can't deal with a situation) so I've barely had the headspace to do art

Okay, wishing you luck.

You’ll just have to steal it all for yourself first!

>>1059123
bets on this being the only one that has reappeared/reactivated vs the whole network somehow coming back?

Not sure what'd be worse, the exact same thing happening all over again or there being just one macguffin tower to fight over.

That said, maybe everyone will have learned a bit of a lesson considering the towers got yoinked once and presumably can be again?

Sea people message read loud and clear 'oi assholes, that meeting suggests you might be trustworthy this time, don't fuck it up again!'

alternatively the Dreamer was bored of things calming down and has chosen maximum shenanigans, hence us all meeting here right as this happens

Man, I love me some story time.

Now get on over there to investigate why it's back, baby! For... reasons. For one, while you're (still) flight-capable, so you might be able to inspect and enter it further up than anyone, say, arriving by boat could, so that's an arguable advantage of sorts.

Also, for seeking to return it to the depths for everyone's peace of mind. And for you guys going on a hopefully cool adventure, away from sure-to-be-overbearing-after-this-minders. Maybe even for a rare shot at Sidah getting out from under her nation's dummy thicc thumb. Do the Sea People have an asylum policy? I betchu they'd be tough to sanction!

One wonders what reason there be for the tower's return, though. Maybe 'Oops, someone pressed the wrong ancient magic button and we don't know how to undo it yet, but we're totally gonna!'? If you figure it's something like that and get back to the other diplomats, maybe you'll be able to avert a(nother) pointless mess, too.

... say, is there some manner of connection between this being a Spiral Glass tower and you having Spiral Glass wings, Xhochinetilli? Did the Land of the Dead inherit some of the magic knowledge of the Sea People? Or secure a few of the remaining scraps of glass?

>>1059123
Well, the good news is that people know how the Sea People reacted last time when the power was abused. So they won't do it (as much) this time. The most reasonable people will probably draw up laws and regulations on magic use and try to reach an international agreement so there isn't a war over simply the use of magic. As for the bloodthirsty, that is handled by an alliance between the nations that agree on how magic is to be used.

I wonder if we can push things towards that result? Let's land on the boat and start talking to all the important people there.

People... can't handle being given things they don't understand. Only those who are empty inside have the space in their beliefs to stuff a dangerous sandbox of chaotic and unknown potential into their hearts and channel it through their claws. That's what the Sea People failed to comprehend.
Or, perhaps, they knew all too well.

>Take the tower, destroy it, or leave?
Press forward. You are, first and foremost, a ruler / civil servant of the nation of the dead. Your duty is to claim this power. Your responsibility is to learn its secrets, comprehend how it works, and ultimately reverse-engineer enough that you and your people can build new technologies and forge new paths for your nation.
You don't need the tower. You need the answers to questions which have generated lies through their mere existence.
If this tower and your powers co-align according to 'the plot', fly to the top and land there. I've seen a dungeon made of a tower. You start at the top and try to reach the core at the bottom. Fighting's the main game, but your priority is to survive. Run, innovate, go crazy, whatever you need to keep yourself moving down.

If it's something wrapped in fabric, unwrap it!

Maybe it's something you can eat.

So, Ladder going back, even if it's to get knowledge that would help get further, would be mutiny, is that correct?

If it is, that restriction does not apply to Three Feathers. LOOPHOLES! Send Three Feathers back to get knowledge while you wait here. It's foolproof!

Oh wait, before you do anything, look up.

Spiders wrap their food up so... I wonder if it's edible.

Which limitations did we end up getting?

the snake immediately hunted and ate a rabbit on site

just let the people fuck because I don't think there's anything we can do about it
I don't know why, but being stuck in this horrible situation has inspired hornyness to spread more than ever before
I think there's going to be a town orgy before long

Wait until she turns a corner and then follow and spy on her, just to get an idea of what she's doing.

>>1052365
Support

The bunny isn't worth any more effort. You've already warned her anyway.

I think you should check up on Sally, and possibly ask her if she's seen any books around the house written by Nelson. I'm thinking, a warlock such as Nelson probably would've kept notes on the experiments and spell that he was working on, so perhaps there's a way to understand how it works or what you might be getting into down below.

You know honestly I’m surprised you’re all not picking dog or writing in cat. Because well, you know.

>SUPA HOT FIRE

You are the greatest stick rapper who ever lived.

Phoenix, birb but s p i c i e r

>>1051435
Dick jokes are temporary, but shroom is eternal.

I would go with a slime, because they can change their form and even take on a feminine form with a big dick

>>1056743
Not all the way, just somewhere safe to weather the night.

Give him a light, and ask how he knows the rocker.

Give him a light, light your own cigarette as well, no reason not to since its your last match anyway.

No need for deals. Just offer the light and light one for yourself. We just need the ride, that's all...

Well, okay. Ask if he plays an instrument, considering he's friends with the rocker.

Something tells me he plays a mean fiddle.

"...Please keep your eyes on the road."
Pay the driver, but not directly. Hide a significant sum in the backseat.

...Wait a minute. You can see your reflection in the rearview mirror... and not him. Maybe it's for the best. Or maybe this is an accident waiting to happen. Ask if he knows what he's doing.

He gave you a ride, no need to be rude and not give him a light. Ask him who he is and how does he know the rocker.

rent quest drkeiscool 2023/02/26(Sun)20:07 No. 1057031 ID: a758c7
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“Because I’m an honorable mercenary. A fine, upstanding gentlefae like me always waits at least a week for money issues to get sorted, one way or another. Besides, your girlfriend would kill me if I left you in a bind without at least saying goodbye first.”

“Wha- hey now, she’s not my girlfriend.”

“The way you look at her ass? You’re either a pervert or taken, kid! Or both, hahaha!”

“Besides, she looks at your ass too!”

wait she looks at my ass? does that mean she thinks I’m cute-

Oof

“Anyways, we’re getting a bit sidetracked! I can’t give you a loan, so how are planning on paying for rent if you’ve got no money?”

“… uh.”

Oh god he’s staring I can’t even pretend I can lie to him

rent quest drkeiscool 2023/02/26(Sun)20:07 No. 1057032 ID: a758c7
File 167747085185.png - (268.86KB , 800x600 , rent quest 12.png )

“… I got a, uh, invitation by the high council office to get blood drawn for a loan.”

oh that’s a bad look
He sighs again, and sits down. “Kid… you’ve got a special talent for getting into trouble, you know that?” He takes out a cigarette and it seems to light on its own. “An invitation, eh? I guess I can’t get too angry at you for that. Listen… you need to be careful in there. Don’t sign anything other than the entrance documentation, don’t accept any verbal contracts, tell them you’re only there to sell a safe amount of your blood for this one time, and then leave as soon as you can. Take Mylia in with you as far as you can- I can tell by your face that you called her. Trust me, she won’t be happy about this, but she will support you. And for the love of the gods, don’t insult the Hierophant, don’t make jokes about the Hierophant, don’t mention the Hierophant, don’t do anything to attract the attention of the Hierophant, or he might ‘take an interest in you’ and that’s the last fucking thing you want. Even Mylia won’t be able to protect for long against that.”

… what the fuck have I gotten into?

He smokes a quick drag from his cigarette and looks up. “So! Any questions?”

Can you accompany me? I'm planning no prasing the benevolence of the Heirophant and the justice of the gods at top of lung and beat the everliving snot out of anyone who doesn't praise back, and it's funnier when done in a group.

Ask for something you could use in self defense

>>1057032
How much warning will I have that a verbal contract is binding?

>>1055021
They call themselves 'Spurn,' and live not very far away - less than a day's walk for you, though they're far slower when not sacrificing body mass to teleport. Their border fort is inside a chamber in the shape of a vertical cylinder about a quarter mile wide, tarry swamp riddled with jagged metal fills the floor to some unknown depth, thirty meter long spike descending from the center of the ceiling shoots level 8 lightning at any non-Spurn who enters, up to ten bolts per round. Mosaic on the tunnel wall leading there says "We Considered Ourselves To Be A Powerful Culture."

Situation has been de-escalated for the moment, surviving raiders have departed back the way they came, but longer term you're still effectively caught in the middle of a slow, bitter war between the Spurn and the Margyr, neither of whom seem to recognize your employer as anything but ancient myth.

>>1055357
Arrow zips through the archway before the articulated arms can catch it.

>>1055015
>searching for anomalies
Looks like the gravitational inverter mechanism cycles every 1d6 days, and takes at least an hour to engage or disengage, during which everything nearby will be approximately weightless. That makes the empty room beyond it (18 meter wide, 4 meter high hexagon with no other apparent exits) a potentially useful - albeit inconvenient - storage area or defensive position, since it'll be easy

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rolled 8, 10, 6, 10, 12, 12, 18, 14, 8, 14, 16, 15, 5, 7, 11, 17, 19, 20, 17, 16 = 255

---

>Earlier, when working on DANI, barely touched anything above the knees. Maybe it's a sort of automated shoeshine station rather than more general repair.
Huh. Might be interesting to experiment with... if we had any spare footwear to risk. The potential unpleasantness of exploring an ancient installation in bare feet outweighs curiosity, for the moment.

>Arrow zips through the archway before the articulated arms can catch it.
A tendril of dark matter snakes down from above the arch and picks the fallen arrow off the floor. Melania can return that to Ivori!

>What do
Melania is going to (carefully) climb down on the far side of the arch (the same direction Ivori and the arrow came from) to continue exploration in that direction. (Which puts everyone but DANI on the same side of the arch, but the android can safely cross the easiest).

Once on the ground, the nano turns and addresses DANI. "Thank you for coming to my defense! I, uh, apologize for the poorly-aimed shadowbolt."

>>1057017
Alright then, available avenues for further exploration, assuming you're staying away from Margyr or Spurn territory...

-Continuing from the arch straight through the four-way intersection, there's a plain hallway, several hundred meters long at least. Unlit, but seems fairly clean and tidy, contrasted with occasional side alcoves or scattered debris along the Spurn's line of retreat. Thin coating of wax on the floor.

-Cavernous starting area continues, but the catwalks don't - you'd need to climb along the walls or ceiling, fly, or build something that can float on the liquid metal.

-Could double back to poke at the "lair of fogbox cat, no-eyed deer," or the hole that fungal mass erupted from. Presumably after preparing somehow for the dangers involved.

rolled 19, 5, 6, 4, 17, 3, 10, 1, 9, 20, 17, 20, 19, 1, 17, 14, 5, 20, 16, 2 = 225

---

After thanking DANI, Melaina returns Ivori's arrow (assuming Ivori isn't hiding again) and heads down the hall, catching up with Misha at gravity inverter. She's a little surprised Misha and the Mycelimancer made it all around in front of them and managed a surgery and tea-time in the interim.

> Looks like the gravitational inverter mechanism cycles every 1d6 days, and takes at least an hour to engage or disengage, during which everything nearby will be approximately weightless. That makes the empty room beyond it (18 meter wide, 4 meter high hexagon with no other apparent exits) a potentially useful - albeit inconvenient - storage area or defensive position, since it'll be easy to haul heavy stuff in or out during low-G periods, but a nigh-impassable cliff the rest of the time.
Have we managed to figure out how long until the next inversion from the countdown display? It's useful that we'll have an hour's warning when it starts to kick off, but for longer-term planning it might be useful to know if we're expected that today or next week. Understanding numenera, I'd assume. If Misha's willing to help now that she's done her surgery, could get +1 on the roll. And/or figuring out the schedule could be worth investing a half-hour with Silmarillion cross-referencing. Could also give the group a chance to discus recent discoveries and decide on next actions.

(As another possible thing to look into: DANI's heavy crossbow is also still damaged, I believe. We should keep an eye out for stuff that could be used for repairs!)

>-Cavernous starting area continues, but the catwalks don't - you'd need to climb along the walls or ceiling, fly, or build something that can float on the liquid metal.

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>>1057160
>Have we managed to figure out how long until the next inversion from the countdown display?
>rolled 19
As the minor additional effect from that 19, you can shift the timing of the next flip - delaying it up to a week, or starting it immediately and then ensuring that the return cycle will be available after you've had a chance to rest but before you run out of food.

Abducted Cthulhlu 2023/02/24(Fri)05:39 No. 1056906 ID: bcb078
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You dont know how long this thing will be distracted for, so you cant take the risk of rooting through the various tech its got here for anything useful.
Bracing yourself you wait until it moves a little further into the other room then launch forward, aiming for the open vent on the wall.

before you can take three steps the things arm whips out lightning fast and grabs your foot, sending you sprawling face first on the cold ground!


The things grip is tight around your shoe but its still wedged halfway out the door, if your going to escape you have to try somethong right now!!

DITCH THE SHOE!

>>1056907
Seconded, if you can manage it. If you can't...uh, use flail?

Lose shoe, retrieve glasses.

>>1056934
^this^

>>The first was that the duo of werewolves had settled in to stay, and they had decided this based on nobody else living in the house once Sarah and Jennifer had left. They'd forgotten Hazel overnight, and wasn't that something to look into?

The werewolves staying does pose a bit of a dilemma. They haven’t forgotten the details of what happened to them - that’s certain. The fight, the fact that you came back from a place that should have killed you, the fact that they’re missing limbs.

That they’re in the house of a creature much more powerful than them.

Your NAME though. That does seem to elude them. Whether or not that’s just because it’s never been said in their presence or because it slipped away from them during a nights rest (And be assured, the wolves did sleep. Practically passed out. Or in the Wolf-Girls case… actually passed out.

Theodore is still in his human shape, wearing your clothes. Or whatever he could find here. Didn’t even ask. Didn’t even occur to him to ask. He’s lived as a monster for awhile.

The wolf-girl is still a wolf. Massive and angry but nursing her wounds. She takes up most of the room she’s in, like a full grown pit-bull five times too massive.

>>Jennifer recognized her, and Sarah - she could think the name in the privacy of her own mind, surely? - picked up the phone when Hazel called, and both were more than happy to be backup for a plan Hazel had brewing the next day.

And indeed your friends remember your name. And Sarah’s name, or lost name, or whatever weird fuckery is going on with that does seem to be safe within your own thoughts. That’s a curiosity. Would writing her name down create the same reaction as speaking it? That’s an honest question - the universe is unsure. At the moment, at least.

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Hazel Fletcher 2022/12/30(Fri)09:57 No. 1052942 ID: 7ac926
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>>1052513
>Tell tale magic signs. Under the paint on the walls: some arcane symbols. You can’t decipher their meaning but they don’t seem to be working right. The barest of ripples, cracks in the runes, a staining of color only seen to a supernatural eye. They’re… broken?
>Ahh, then. Something fresher. Written in blood - something fresh and still smelling of iron. Where is that coming from? Up? Ahhh, a ceiling fan. Something written on the rotating blades - you can’t see it but the smell - that charge of magic that can’t be described with that metallic smell. Come on. That fan is up to something.
>Not to mention that rush of life and vitality that pours out of that hole in the ground. Who knows how much blood is stored down there - but something magical is also going on.
>Your turn is coming up pretty soon.
Time to get out, Hazel thinks, and slips out of her chair. She mumbles something indistinct about the toilet to the muddled ghoul besides her as she goes walking out of the living room, and slips off her role as she leaves the room. Undisguised but hopefully clad in her forgettable aura, Heather paces a careful round through the house while avoiding the eyes and ears of the two vampires. Despite the friendly atmosphere and daylight shining outside, it seemed they were on fair alert in the darkness as ghoul after ghoul went down the pit and Hazel made her way outside, back to where Jennifer and Sarah waited.

"Two vampires inside. Looks like the ghouls are here to get a fix of vampire blood, and being milked of their own in return," Hazel relays to her friends, "I can't believe I have to say this to

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>>1052942
How does one go about assaulting a house in the middle of Oregon? Well - first you’re waiting for the people to leave the house. Which happens, the ghouls headed out as a group. Saying goodbyes and fare-wells. To be back to visit on another day not too far away. After a while they’ll spend the night doing whatever it is vampires do. Do vampires sleep? Yes, they do, during the day normally.

It’s late and the lights are out - it’s quite in the neighborhood. Heavy curtains block the windows to their house. Their house door is closed, same with the back door. It comes to your attention that they don’t seem to have a security system, which is nice. No alarms to deal with.

You remember the fan that smelled of magic and blood. And a wandering thought to whatever magic is behind the paint on the walls. The basement…

It comes to mind that eventually you’re going to have to go inside and do something.

It's soothing, on one level, to know the moon is watching. Something about that thought, it catches on a distant memory, a glimmer of faint possibility that died so long ago. The moon is watching.
And for the rest ofthe talk, such as it is.. Well, there are worse things to heat. There are worse messanges than those given by the Message. Antediluvean though, it sounds old, but somehow, Jennifer gets the feeling that there are older. Older doesn't always mean stronger though, and that's a worry all on it's own.
But the question then becomes twofold - that of future questions, and that of where to make them. And in the depths of her mind, Jennifer can't help but ask, even though she isn't, really isn't, a trickster, whether she could talk to the spirit of the Great Grid that connects the Modern Age somewhere ... deliberately flamable. Though most of the time shit melting and catching fire is bad, surely there are places where a little flame would be a good thing? Burn out the old to make way for the new?
Still, giving her thanks to the messanger, and making a mental note to make sure that her electric bills get paid on time, it's time to tell the rest of what she has found out.
------
Later, not a long time as the seasons would measure but an inderterminately long time by the timing of the modern news cycle, Jennifer is with Hazel. She's a bat, writ large, and has no fear of spiders, delicious as they are. But in terms of entering the house, well, doors a thing. But you know what is better than doors? Attics. Rooftop openings. Ways in that aren't the obvious, ways that would be ridiculous without the ability to fly, to carry things and people and ropes.
Good thing Jennifer is a bat. The offer is made, if Hazel wants to try some second story work.

Okay - so. You wound up setting their house on fire. The game plan in simple enough - you have incredible sneaking powers and explosives and gas. Jennifer is much the same. Cover the entrances, cover the house, maybe sneak in a canister or two to help everything go boom properly. You guess on flame from the lighter and you set this thing off.

You work with supernatural speed. Faster, more graceful. Spreading home made napalm and placing down open half empty gas cans. Spread by entrances, through bushes. Windows. It's not the biggest house in the world but it does take a bit of time to do so unseen.

Then - the fire starts. The first thing you notice is that it's loud. You did what you could to keep the vapors to a manageable level, but it's still loud. Bright and fast the flames spread - sucking in all air - a burst of heat that could singe eyebrows. Black smoke from the burning plastic - from night to would-be day all but instantly.

There is a light wind - putting other buildings at risk and flicking the flames around. It's only been a moment since the house went up. Lights turn on in other houses as mortals prepare to look outside to see what the hell is going on. Neighbors moments away from opening doors to check out the roaring flames that happen to be raging in the dead of night.

The vampires inside. You wait - maybe expecting them to jump out a window or escape through the front door. Instead... nothing is happening. Oh - their house is on fire. You're sure they are inside it. They just haven't left in a panic just yet.

This should be fine. You set up things inside the house that should - an explosion rocks the the neighborhood. Different then last time - the sound of rigged gas cans going off in a delightful explosion, sending fire through the inside of the house. The neighbors scream - people are looking outside. A moment - people rushing outside doors

Message too long. Click here to view the full text.

Hm. You’ll try for later today, maybe? You wanna find that other chimera and pass on the message, for one. Also, you don’t know for sure if the vice-warden will even let you go even if he does realize you’re not Reiner - this place collects chimera after all and the purpose of that hasn’t quite been sussed out yet. If he’s a real dingus, he’ll bury you just so he can pretend Reiner didn’t actually successfully escape on -his- watch!

Might wanna present a purely theoretical scenario to ‘im asking about what he’d do.

>>1054220
Pascoe: have confusing and slightly-troubling thoughts about seeing yourself in makeup

>>1054220
Are her fingers literally feathers?
While crimson on golden can be very stylish I suspect that's not a design feature of the scissors.
Can you brush feathers? I honestly have no idea.

"Hey Berascus, how do I look?" I'm very curious about how this translate for an ave.
Are the guardas assigned to specific prisoners? He seem to be your watcher no matter where you go.

Let's meet Mako. From Pascoe's point of view talking his way out of this should still sound possible. The only downside of succeeding would be the possible lost of access to the deaf chimera, but that's a low priority compared to securing our freedom.
Since there is a possibility that Mako wouldn't release us even if he believe we are a different person let's avoid the topic of gender. Assuming the riots threats are true, if he became aware of this imminent disaster he might transfer us.
So, important to inform him: name is Pascoe, postal officer, and our crew is scheduled to leave in two days. That is how long he have if he want to capture Rainer. And we strongly advise contacting the crew beforehand to avoid a conflict due to a misunderstanding, preferable with us tagging along.

>>1054274
Agree with everything here

Try for later today, you're recovering from a little fight right now and can't speak well. You could even really sell it by whispering to Teller and having her relay the message.

Yeah, the first thing we need right now is organization and information, I have more of an idea on how to possibly handle all this once that's done with but for now it's best we make sure everyone knows everyone, then we can prepare a speech for the hive.

I will say, there seems to be a lot of diversion from significant change prevalent so far when that's what we really need. We can't really expect everyone to just continue their lives like nothing happened, so we'll need to get a little culty. By that I mean we need to act as a whole and essentially sacrifice our individual lives to make a collective one.
Basically what I propose is that everyone that's now a part of our hive and is willing to do so should sell anything they wouldn't take with them and consolidate a hive fund that we can put forward into a single building. Basically, we need to start fundraising and proving ourselves to be self-sufficient.

As shocking as this all is, time is of the essence and we must make use of this gift fully while it lasts.

Go out to meet with the ex-rogues outside and encourage them to share in the joy and comfort from this new chance you all now have.

After that, you should seriously consider going to the police station where the other rogues have been detained to get into empathy range and let them join yout hive.

>>1053228
>let them join yout hive.
I doubt we're actually still mentally "open", it sounds like it happened semi-instantly to those who were watching the play from the start during its climax.

The entire performance was about Ryka communicating Arvenia's thoughts and emotions and getting all spectating neumono to feel exactly like her, to the point that rogues ended up synchronized and attuned after the climactic lines.

Wait... We only affected rogues (or possibly soon-to-be rogues), right?

>anxious

Well, now that you're stable, it's sort of a sign that the clock is ticking, right? Or maybe even already run out. There might be another stampede when you go out. At the very least a lot of desperate people are going to be hurt. I don't know, maybe you can come up with something to say to people?... there might be a lot more than just these five who are in the room with you, too.

They could also be anxious just because this is a big life change. Everything's changed course and who knows to where, right? Maybe you can get someone from the police or government to talk to about safety and supports and stuff. Aliens, maybe. Does becoming part of a hive again make the empathic xenophobic response stronger again?

Just ask why they're anxious. Best to let out any worries now, while we're in a more safe and secluded spot. They make it sound like we've got a hive bigger than just the five of them.