use the attack that does the most damage

Icicle Arrow
Flame Beam

Icicle arrow and Flame beam!!! You got this!!!

>>990183
Snow Wind, Flame Beam.

Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)19:56 No. 991137 ID: e51896
File 161569418204.gif - (308.00KB , 1280x720 , EC00129.gif )

>>990184
>>990195
>>990188

>use the attack that does the most damage
>Icicle Arrow Flame Beam
>Icicle arrow and Flame beam!!! You got this!!!

With the demon in noticeably bad condition, it is time to try to finish it off with their strongest attacks. August spend 5SP to attack with another Ice Arrow, dealing 10HP against the demon.

2/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)19:57 No. 991138 ID: e51896
File 161569421871.gif - (795.75KB , 1280x720 , EC00130.gif )

May follows up with another Flame beam costing her 10SP.

The Many Eyed Sleep Paralysis Demon with Wings, and Fangs loses 20HP. The attack dealt just enough damage to finish off the demon.

WELL DONE!

August and May both gain 50 EXP, raising August's level to 4. The capacity of HP and SP has rose to 40HP and 35 SP.

3/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)19:57 No. 991139 ID: e51896
File 161569427759.png - (20.98KB , 1280x720 , EC00131.png )

The demon lays slain on the cold brick floor, first trying to get itself up flapping it's wings aggressively, then twitching, until it finally slows down to a stop.

As of tradition with all dead beings, August drops the Many Eyed Sleep Paralysis Demon with Wings, and Fangs off the ledge, letting its spirit free into the promised land... (though that isn't to say the demon was already living in the promised lands when it was alive in the first place...)

August looks behind himself nervously towards where they were running from. It doesn't look like the invaders had followed them outside during the battle. With a sigh of relief, they continue onward to Melissa's window. It should be about a few windows down the way.

4/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)19:58 No. 991140 ID: e51896
File 161569429088.png - (22.00KB , 1280x720 , EC00132.png )

As they reach the 53rd window, May stops August upon seeing the familiar magenta wall inside one of the windows.

:"Whoa there, I found it! This has to be Melissa's place!"
:"Are you positive? What if we break into the wrong home?"
:"I'm positive that I'm positive! Quit being negative! Gimme a moment to call Melissa."

May picks up her cell phone and gives Melissa another call

:"Hello Melissa! We are safe at your place... Yeah, just a small issue during the trek here... Oh, your busy? I'll make it quick. We came across an ugly flying demon... Don't worry, we hunted it down because we are awesome! Anyway, we're probably going to spend the night at your place, though we are not sure when we will go back home. Those invaders could come back. When will you return? A week? Wow! Okay, I'll make sure we'll lock the door whenever we get the chance to leave... Yeah, looks like my brother and I are partying at your place after all, ahahaha! okay, bye."

She hangs up the phone.

: "Lets get this window open already!"

5/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)19:58 No. 991141 ID: e51896
File 161569430665.png - (21.18KB , 1280x720 , EC00133.png )

May and August opens the window, and climbs into Melissa's home. They look out the window as they catch their breath. After a moment of silence, May speaks up, catching August's attention.

:"So how long are we planning on hiding out over here anyway?"

August contemplates as he turns back over to the window, trying to come to grips of what they just went through as he tries to come up with an answer.

:"...Well?"
:"I'm not too sure... If I have to be honest with you, this day has been pretty strange and scary for me that I kind of don't want to leave here for quite a while..."
:"Ehhhh? what happened?"

August goes on to explain what he told Indolent_G3ar_57 online, about the ball of light on the highway, the power going crazy in the halls on his way towards the trolley, and ever since witnessing those moments, having the feeling he was being followed.

:"And you didn't tell me this earlier...why?"

August sighs, letting go of some of his nerves before he speaks again.

:"I didn't want to worry you, especially after the party you were looking forward to got cancelled. I just wanted to spend time with you without a care to help cheer you up. Telling you what I went through would probably bring the mood down even lower if you worried about me... I wanted you to believe that I had things under control because I have to be the awesome protective older brother who can handle things on his own..."
:"Dude, that's stupid. You gotta tell me these things, alright? I want to work together with you to support you through any trouble you might have just like you've done for me! You got to swallow your pride sometimes and stop thinking you have issues under control on your own. I am your sister after all, we gotta protect each other, you idiot!
:Sorry... you're right, you make some good points.
:Of course I do! Stop being so prideful and pretending everything is alright when they clearly not! Know your limits!

August faces his sister again.

:Yeah... alright...

August looks into his inventory at the gift he wrapped up for Flirt@tious_Collider494

:"You know what? Maybe I can hold off on sending the gift to my friend for awhile, at least until it is safer out. She'll understand if it is late."
:"Probably for the best... anyway, lets watch some more movies. Maybe we can find something we don't own back at home."
:"Sounds like a plan."

6/6 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)19:59 No. 991142 ID: e51896
File 161569435257.png - (26.38KB , 1280x720 , EC00134.png )

With that heart to heart discussion out of the way, August and May closes the curtains.

Tower Boundries - Chapter 1: The Light Show - END

1/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)20:48 No. 991151 ID: e51896
File 161569733571.png - (807.35KB , 1280x720 , EC00135.png )

It was fun... I guess. But I wouldn't say it is as great as Arthurius was making it out to be so far...

2/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)20:49 No. 991152 ID: e51896
File 161569735456.png - (871.29KB , 1280x720 , EC00136.png )

For a first chapter, Tower Boundaries didn't really draw me in all that much... not really a good sign for any RPG game. Sure there were some suspenseful moments, but the stakes didn't seem all that high, and the characters were kind of bland... And things just seemed to wrap up in this chapter a bit too easily and quickly. I don't know, it just felt like a typical early RPG adventure. I do like May as a character I guess though, so that's a positive.

Who knows, maybe the hype Authurius was giving this game will come in the later chapters... though he did seem disappointed that I didn't react all that much to some of the earlier twists in the game, so maybe I should lower my expectations so that when something slightly interesting happens, I'll be a bit more surprised for his sake.

Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/13(Sat)20:54 No. 991156 ID: e51896
File 161569765378.png - (912.11KB , 1280x720 , EC00137.png )

:"Excuse me, but WHAT JUST HAPPENED THERE?!? HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!
:?

"Oh, you mean this?"

>Save over File 1

>>991156
"Did you mean with the lamp or with the secret ending?"

>>991157
(Also evil, but yes.)

>>991156
Do what?

>>991157
Good lord never overwrite someone's save file!

Do what? Go out on the balcony? Or actually beat the dream demon?

I wonder was this game inspired by real life even? Or based on a true story?

>>991156
Is it not supposed to end this way?

"Was that not supposed to happen? ... I mean, I just kinda expected 'escape out the window' to be an option."

...

"But man, I never really thought about lucid dreaming like that; here, I thought it always involved breaking the established rules and rewriting the whole thing from the ground up. It never occurred to me that I can lucid-dream without contradicting what I've seen already by just... having really, really strong expectations about what's going to happen next."

...

"Er, sorry for lucid dreaming all over your game, by the way. At least I didn't overwrite the existing choice-paths or anything, so it's not like the copy is ruined... But still, you probably shouldn't show me any other media, at least until I learn how to keep this under control."

1/3 (animated) Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/20(Sat)23:21 No. 992368 ID: e51896
File 161630767676.gif - (547.83KB , 1280x720 , EC00138.gif )

>>991157
>Do what?
>>991161
>"Oh, you mean this?" (Save over File 1)
>>>991159
>(Also evil, but yes.)

On the screen, the game is prompting me to save my file for completing a chapter. It is that moment I get a naughty idea...

:"Do what? Oh, you mean... this?"
:"ACK! I know what you're thinking! And If I'm thinking what I think you're thinking, I think you should think about not thinking about doing this and stop!!!"

That's a weird way of him phrasing that, but whatever. I select Arthurius' 100% save file as he begs me to stop.

the overwrite option is given.

:"I know there's one reasonable part of you that is telling you to stop... please listen to..."

SAVE COMPLETED!

Arthurius just stares silently at the screen with a blank expression on his face with his mouth agape. I think I broke him.
I look over at Magnolia sitting next to me, and I think her mouth twitched upwards almost like she is going to smile, at least I think she is amused by it. I'm not sure.

I can't help it, Arthurius is just too easy to bully for some reason. It's just so tempting to tease him.

2/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/20(Sat)23:22 No. 992369 ID: e51896
File 161630772181.png - (1.03MB , 1280x720 , EC00139.png )

His reaction doesn't last long though. He snaps out of it as he shakes his head rapidly.

:"Eh, whatever. This is my favorite game of all time. I make it a tradition to play through it to completion once a year, so it's no big deal... Besides, this is an outcome that I've never seen before in all my years of playing Tower Boundaries. Not even the websites listed this happening. I'm very intrigued to see where this path would leave."

he tears his eyes off the screen and stares directly at me now.

:"But seriously, how in Morpheus' name did you do that?"

>>991181
>Do what? Go out on the balcony? Or actually beat the dream demon?

>>991159
>"Did you mean with the lamp or with the secret ending?"

>>991206
>Is it not supposed to end this way?


:"Hey, be more specific, dude. What are you talking about? Going on the balcony? Taking the lamp? Actually beating the sleep paralysis demon? Or was it the secret ending? Was it not supposed to end like that?"
:"There was a prompt where you had to decide between three options, either fighting those intruders with or without the main character of chapter one's sister, or hiding with her. and suddenly, you did some kind of button combination to unlock that secret option of escaping to the balcony. How did you do that???"

>>991283

:"Was that not supposed to happen? ... I mean, I just kinda expected 'escape out the window' to be an option. I mean, it is so stupid to just stay and fight, or hide when the characters could just escape, so I just kept trying to scroll down the options expecting that option to show up. I just figured it just loaded up in time..."
:"No, it was just those three choices. Each option would have played out differently with how you were going to fight those 'government Figu-'"
:"Spoilers..."
:DANG IT! I meant those 'hooded figures'. Choosing to hide would have given you a chance to listen to their conversation learning plot details early at the cost of you not having the seed to protect yourself, while simply fighting them with or without the sister which would determine how much EXP you would gain early on. Whatever the outcome, The character's sister was supposed to be kidnapped regardless of the choice you make, and the chapter would consist of the protagonist trying to find her."
:[color=#908f13]"So May is the dynamo then? weird, I thought it would be August"
:"Yes, she was th....
:"Spoilers..."
:DAMN IT!
:"Hey, whats the big idea? I mean, it isn't like I'm going to be able to play this game again the next time I dream, so spoilers wouldn't really matter to me, would it?."
:"...Good point, but that's not my main concern. I really need to know how you unlocked that option.

I'm not to sure what Arthurius is talking about, but Magnolia had been mumbling something quietly throughout our conversation, and I think I heard "lucid dream" barely escape from her mouth.

Wait, was THAT lucid dreaming? I did not realize...

:"Maybe... I lucid that option into existence?

Arthurius takes a moment to mull that statement over as he glues his eyes back on the screen. Afterwards, he turns his eyes over back at me.

:"I... suppose that makes the most sense. Darn, and I thought we discovered a brand new code hidden in the game undiscovered for years. The internet would have lost their mind!"

Wait, he sounded disappointed? I thought he would be more impressed that I managed to lucid dream. I assume he really wanted that choice I willed into existence to be an actual thing that was programmed in the game, and not something a dreamer thought up happening. Can't be too sure. I try to bring the topic of lucidity back on the table.

:"But man, I never really thought about lucid dreaming like that; here, I thought it always involved breaking the established rules and rewriting the whole thing from the ground up. It never occurred to me that I can lucid-dream without contradicting what I've seen already by just... having really, really strong expectations about what's going to happen next."
:"That sounds like a logical theory, though I couldn't tell you, I'm not too sure how dreamers get in a state of lucidity since it tends to rarely happen. It is a strange phenomenon that's eluded our species for years. Some dreamers figure it out how to use it, some do it by accident, some even become lucid, and forget all about it when they awaken.,"
:"Er, sorry for lucid dreaming all over your game, by the way. At least I didn't overwrite the existing choice-paths or anything, just added a new one, so it's not like the copy is ruined... But still, you probably shouldn't show me any other media, at least until I learn how to keep this under control."
:"Probably for the best... just be careful in the mission we're going into today if you attempt to lucid dream, intentionally or not. Kevin is pretty ornery and wouldn't like it if you broke something.
But I will say, I am interested in seeing where this game's plot will go now, the sister getting kidnap is a very huge plot-point in the entire game. With her not being captured, I'm highly curious as to where the story will go from here, even if this part was never programmed by the programmers."
:"Spoilers..."
:"OKAY MAGS, NOW YOU'RE JUST TEASING ME!"
:"Mmmmmmmmmhmmmmmmmmm..."

3/3 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/03/20(Sat)23:23 No. 992370 ID: e51896
File 161630783042.png - (856.69KB , 1280x720 , EC00140.png )

>>991200

:"I wonder, was this game inspired by real life events? Or based on a true story?"
:hmm, well, the tower the main characters live in doesn't exist, though there are some pretty big towers in some of our dream worlds... lets see, what else... elemental illusionary seeds are a thing, they function differently from regular illusionary seeds in that they give dreamciers elemental magic instead of summoning dream creations from our minds and blood... Also, the sleep pa-

*RIIIIIING*
Suddenly, I am startled by a loud ringing sound echoing through the ship we are in. I'm about to ask if we crash into something when Arthurius picks up what looks to be a cell phone.

:Oh shoot. I think that might be Kevin following up on my request to check up what statues were destroyed yesterday. I Gotta take this call back in the bridge".
:"Ummm... Yooooooooooooou mean the pilot's room?"
:*sighs* "Mags, just get thing ready for our departure outside the ship upstairs, looking at the time, we should be very close to our destination.

Magnolia just nods.

:"As for you Lilly... hmmm, well, what do you want to do? do you want to listen to more details on the mission with me? or do you want to help Magnolia get prepared upstairs and wait until I give you both more details later?"

It is almost time for the mission. Before it starts, do I want to Help Magnolia prepare outside and hang out with her? I could maybe ask her some questions about the game I wasn't able to ask before the phone call interrupted Arthurius and maybe ask questions about herself.

or should I follow Arthurius in the pilot's room and listen to the phonecall with him and maybe help come up with a plan with the information he is about to receive?

Hang out with magnolia and ask her about any dates she might or might not have gone on with a teddy bear recently.

Yes, hang out with Mags. We've talked with Arthurius (and bullied him enough) for now.

What's she been up to lately?

I find it extremely suspicious that you simply found an impossible option in the game itself. Either the game glitched out and the code did something it shouldn't have or you made the game do something that wasn't supposed to happen in the first place. I would like to test this, flip a coin and let it fall on the ground to see if it will lend on its side. The last thing to mention, call Arthurius a huge nerd and tell Magnolia that you don't plan on living in this world and when you leave you will forget about this place so she might as well tell you all about the game in the first place. Who knows the story of the game might even be relevant to your current predicament.

1/2 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/02(Fri)02:10 No. 994401 ID: e51896
File 161735460335.png - (1.26MB , 1280x720 , EC00141.png )

>>992372
>>992375
>Hang out with magnolia.
>Yes, hang out with Mags. We've talked with Arthurius (and bullied him enough) for now.

I don't think I want to talk to our client Kyle again after how he treated us, so I'll let Arthurius deal with him for now. Besides, I think I've teased him enough for now... though that doesn't mean I'm done with him yet, (hee hee hee hee)!

Plus I haven't talked much to Magnolia yet, I think I'll hang out with her and strengthen our friendship a bit.


Arthurius stands up from the couch and I follow suit. Magnolia however is still sitting and is petting Sniffles on her lap.

:You go on ahead, Arth. I'm going to chill with Mags for awhile.

Arthurius nods

:I shouldn't take long.

Arthurius then throws a pair of keys towards Magnolia, and she tries to catch it, but she misses and it hits her in the face without flinching while Sniffles grabs it with its trunk. Sniffles gives Arthurius a look while Magnolia... did not seem to change facial expressions. Arthurius puts his hands to his head.

:ACK!, shoot! sorry, sorry, sorry! I thought you'd catch that, Mags.

Magnolia just shrugs

:"I'll just start the umm... vehiiiiiiiicle.

:Thank, I'll bring you a soda when I'm done, Mags.


:OH! Can you get me something to record audio with? We forgot to grab one before we started playing games, you huge nerd!

:Right right! Thanks for the reminder, I have to take this call now, have fun you two!"

Arthurius enters the Pilot's room and Magnolia then stands up from the couch.

:"uhhhh, here. Yoooooour turn to carry this.

she picks up the backpack with our items and hands it over to me. I put it on my back, and it is... freakin' heavy! I wonder how they even fit all those big items they showed me into this bag too... but I think I'll just attribute it to dream magic and not think too much about it.

I'm left wondering why I have to carry the heavy load until Magnolia picks up sniffles and put the Tapir on her head. I'm impressed, I've had trouble trying to move the lug off my clothes earlier, and she's able to lift the animal, and balance it over her head no problem.

:"Well... Let's goooooooo...

...

The walk upstairs to the deck of the ship was uneventful. I couldn't get much out of Magnolia when I tried to make small talk. Asking her how long she worked with the Midnight Captors just got the answer "a year since Arthurius graduated" without more details. Asking how long she has been making dreams just got a shrug. She is a very vague person keeping conversations very brief, but regardless, she does seem to look content with my presence at least.

Upon exiting to the deck, there are a couple of vehicles parked with clouds under them with an empty parking space, a large pole in the middle of the deck with an antenna and radar up top, and a chain-link fence with what looks to be a pool within the surrounding fence.

:"We're takinnnnnnnnnnng Arthurius' vehicle."

She unlocks the blue vehicle from the passenger side, waves me over to go in first and she follows immediately after.

2/2 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/02(Fri)02:10 No. 994402 ID: e51896
File 161735464596.png - (975.17KB , 1280x720 , EC00142.png )

We put the backpack and Sniffles in the back of the vehicle, and take our seats. It is one of those three person seaters which makes it hard to move your arm without awkwardly brushing against the person next to you. we buckle up, and Magnolia hands me the keys.

:Please staaaaaaaart it up.

I turn the keys in the ignition, and a cool wind blows against my face while the news plays on the radio. It is talking about Rekindling day, and something about parade floats. Magnolia changes the channel to something more relaxing, and she rests her head against the seat about as far back as she can go with the very limited mobility the seat has.

>>992372
>ask her about any dates she might or might not have gone on with a teddy bear recently.

:"So... have you gone on any dates with a teddy bear"?

:"Weird questiiiiiiiion..."

she's right, it is a weird question. I'm not sure why I asked, maybe it is because back before I graduated high school, I used to privately have pretend dates with my plushies to practice and prepare before I would go on dates with my boyfriend.

:"But yeah..."

Weirder still is that she actually admitted she dated a teddy bear. Glad I'm not the only one who did that. Well, at least we date our plushies in private.

:"I dated Fluffyfuzz the teddy bear back in a romance festival"

...I don't know if Magnolia has guts, or if she is just weird...

>>992375
>What's she been up to lately?

:"What have you been up to lately, Magnolia?"

:"Eating, uhh... sleeping, play with Sniffles, work onnnnnnnn the grappling guns"

:"Oh yeah, you mentioned that before. What are the grappling guns?

:"Guns where you shoot a grappling wire to pull you to hard to reach places."

:"Pretty self explanatory then..."

:"mmmmhhmmmm..."

>>992406
>I find it extremely suspicious that you simply found an impossible option in the game itself. Either the game glitched out and the code did something it shouldn't have or you made the game do something that wasn't supposed to happen in the first place. I would like to test this, flip a coin and let it fall on the ground to see if it will lend on its side. The last thing to mention, call Arthurius a huge nerd and tell Magnolia that you don't plan on living in this world and when you leave you will forget about this place so she might as well tell you all about the game in the first place. Who knows the story of the game might even be relevant to your current predicament.

I thought about that impossible choice coming up in the game, but we already came to the conclusion that I may have most likely lucid that choice into existence. Also, I have no coin with me. But I am curious about the game I played.

:I don't plan on living in this world and when I leave, I will forget about this place, so you might as well tell you all about the game and its spoilers.

Magnolia nods

:"picking where Arth left off, Sleep paralysis demons exist in our wooorld."


:I've heard about people having those back in the real world... um... are they dangerous here?

:"Noooooo, their harmless, just scary. The game has a suspension of disbelief making them dangerous."

:No kidding?

:"Like sandmen, they can travel to reality and the dream world."

huh, I'd like to think sleep demons as the polar opposite of sandmen in some ways then... even though that doesn't make sense.


:What kind of ending does the game have??

:"Multiple. Arthurius likes the ending where the characters celebrate a birthday after saving the tower"


:"Wow, that sounds wholesome"

:"Not really..."

:"How so?"

:"It's an ending where the charrrrrrrracters blindly accepted living in the corrupted tower"

:"Really, then what's your favorite ending?"

:"Where the toooooower collapses and everyone is free from it, living in the promised lands"

:"Wait... didn't the game say that only people who have died are allowed in the promised lands?"

:"It's uuuuuuuup to the players interpretation. There are more endings though"

:"I wonder what kind of ending my lucid choice will make in the game"


:"The gaaaaaaame won't probably function without youuuuuuu playing it since you lucid that part up."

Ouch, won't Arthurius be disappointed...

We still have time to discuss other things. Are there any lingering questions I have before Arthurius arrives and we start the mission?

Hmm so we do have some power over probability to get unforeseen outcomes, that is an interesting thing to keep in mind. As for Magnolia, she is a strange person but a strange person and I can't really get a read on her nor what is she even thinking about. Time to figure out what exactly she is hiding. As her about her previous relationship one involving a music box. If she questions you on how you know about it simply say that Arthurius mentioned is previously in an offhand remark. She doesn't need to know how you know about it, as for us this all is information reconnaissance. Never forget they all are friendly but at the end of the day, or in this instant dream, they are complete strangers and we need to learn as much as we can from them.

Mags seems like a good soundboard for ideas.

"So, I can already accept that I have some influence over what happens next, as long as I myself don't have enough information to contradict my assertion. Simply accepting that fact as true already lowers the bar for how much 'force of will' would be required for that, huh?"

"... Ooh, come to think of it, even if I'm not good at breaking the rules of a dream, I can observe additional rules that the enemy wasn't expecting to have to follow! Or heck, I can even interpret whatever craziness the enemy is engaging in as just a thing anybody can do in this dream; 'anything you can do,' and all that."

Ask why she became a bounty hunter

>>994402
It is now your duty to finish that game.

Can you show me one of your grappling guns? sounds like a cool project.

1/2 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/13(Tue)01:09 No. 995932 ID: e51896
File 161830139540.png - (1.05MB , 1280x720 , EC00143.png )

>>994536
>It is now your duty to finish that game.

I feel a sense of great responsibility in needing to finish that game… but… ugh, do I have to? I mean, I will if I must, but the game’s story feels too bland, the gameplay feels like any other rpg game I’ve played with nothing new added to the table, and those endings Magnolia mentioned didn’t feel too optimistic. Besides, after this dream is over, there is no guarantee that I’d be seeing these bounty hunters again in a future dream to continue playing… (Though to be fair, I only played the first chapter, so I guess the game could get better.)
>>994427
>Mags seems like a good soundboard for ideas.
: "So, I can already accept that I have some influence over what happens next, as long as I myself don't have enough information to contradict my assertion. Simply accepting that fact as true already lowers the bar for how much 'force of will' would be required for that, huh?"
:“Peeeeeerhaps. Getting to a lucid state tends to be um… different for everyone.”
: "... Ooh, come to think of it, even if I'm not good at breaking the rules of a dream, I can observe additional rules that the enemy wasn't expecting to have to follow! Or heck, I can even interpret whatever craziness the enemy is engaging in as just a thing anybody can do in this dream; 'anything you can do,' and all that."
:“ Mayyyybe... I read theoooooories that it may also has to do with dreamers’ subconscious.”
: "How so?"
:“they said Soooooomething about dreamers being in tune with their subconscious... can’t remember the details.”
:"That might be something to keep in mind when I try out my idea."
:“Just beeeeeee careful...”
>>994410
>Hmm so we do have some power over probability to get unforeseen outcomes, that is an interesting thing to keep in mind. As for Magnolia, she is a strange person but a strange person and I can't really get a read on her nor what is she even thinking about. Time to figure out what exactly she is hiding. Ask her about her previous relationship one involving a music box. If she questions you on how you know about it simply say that Arthurius mentioned is previously in an offhand remark. She doesn't need to know how you know about it, as for us this all is information reconnaissance. Never forget they all are friendly but at the end of the day, or in this instant dream, they are complete strangers and we need to learn as much as we can from them.

I have an urge to ask Magnolia about having a relationship with someone involving a music box of some sort that she owns, but… I don’t remember seeing Magnolia owning a music box, or hearing about her being given one by someone she was in a relationship with… unless I’m projecting my own experiences onto her? I remember an old western I watched with my father which involved a pocket watch that played music when it was open or something, maybe that thought came to mind when I saw her pocket watch(?) on her necklace. I also remember owning a music box during my early days of high school long ago, a gift from my boyfriend to help me sleep with its soothing song when I was suffering from insomnia at the time.
Regardless, I’ll ask her about her pocket watch.

: “Hey Magnolia, I like your necklace. Is that a pocket watch hanging from it?”
Magnolia doesn’t say anything, but she slowly grasps the pocket watch on her necklace.
: “I’m wondering, does it plays music? and did someone special to you gift it to you?”
: “…………yeah…………”
: “Who was it?”
: “…………Can weeeeeeeeee talk about something else?”

Oh, I hope I didn’t overstep my boundaries. Maybe I should talk about something more related to her interests… like being an inventor.

>>994542
: “Can you show me one of your grappling guns? sounds like a cool project.”
Without making eye contact, Magnolia lets go of her necklace, and pulls out of crumpled piece of paper of a pencil sketch of what looks to be a gun with a rope and a metal grabber at the end of it.
: “Wow, that looks cool! How is that project coming along”
: “IIIIIII’m having trouble accommodating the rope’s durability to the weight of the user.”
: “Oh, you’ve got prototypes you’ve tested?”
: “Yeah, Arthurius is my tester.”
I can’t help but smirk at the imagination of Arthurius using the prototype of these guns, and falling flat on his face when the rope snaps apart.
>>994536
>Ask why she became a bounty hunter
: “So what made you want to use your talents to become a bounty hunter?”
: “Becaaaaaause my brother’s job offer was the only one hiring for my talents.”
: “You’re talking about Arthurius, right?”
She nods. I guess that confirms that Magnolia and Arthurius are siblings then.
: “Speeeeeent four years in college majoring dream creating, and five years looking for a job…”
: “Wait, I thought that since dream creating is in a dreamcier’s blood that there would be a demand for it?”
: “Not really, the dream universe is huge, so there’s not many uniiiiiiiiiique dreams to create.
: “I suppose... there are a lot of people who do have similar dreams like flying dreams after all”
: “That, and employers only hiiiiiiire people with professional experience, there’s never any entry level jobs.
: “Ouch, even after all that time in college? How do you get professional experience if nobody ever offers entry level positions?”
: “Yeah… My advice: don’t go to college, waste of mooooooooney.
Something about that comment doesn’t sit right with me…
: “I mean, at least you got the opportunity to learn the tools of the trade, and use those skills to help your brother. Me? I’m still trying to get accepted into a college. It has been several months and nobody still wants to accept me, and I don’t even know why. It is very disheartening being rejected so many times… But I’m still not going to give up searching for acceptance, just like how you shouldn’t give up finding a job you majored in and be a dream creator like you always wanted!”
Magnolia doesn’t respond to my comment for a while as she is in deep contemplation, but finally responds quietly
: “Maaaaaaybe I should speak to Kyle Daum about job offers after the mission...”

Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/13(Tue)01:11 No. 995933 ID: e51896
File 161830146172.png - (1.01MB , 1280x720 , EC00144.png )

Suddenly, the sound of the door opening and slamming next to me makes me jump. If it wasn’t for the seatbelt, I probably would have bumped my head on the ceiling. I turn to find Arthurius has entered. He is holding a bottle of soda, and a recorder of some sort.

:Phone call is done. It wasn’t our client on the phone, but his secretary. Kyle was too busy to talk to me again
: “Oh? What did she want?”
: “She was letting me know about the three statues that were destroyed. Apparently, two of the three destroyed statues used to be ones that replaced old nightmarish statues, so we will have to figure out which of those statues our target is going to go rebuild the ancient nightmare statue at. We will be meeting with Kyle’s secretary as soon as we enter the dream world at the parking area to discuss more about it.
: “I see. And it looks like you remembered my recorder this time!”
:”Yep, here you are, and for Mags, here is that soda I promised!”
: “Thhhanks…”
I look over at my new recorder, seems to be pretty basic, has buttons to play, record, stop, rewind, fast forward, all that jazz. It seems like it is something that can connect to a computer too. I’m not sure if it will help me much though since I will pretty much lose this once I wake up, but I feel compelled to speak into it right now! But… what should be the first things I say into it? could be anything, like my experience here so far, how I’m feeling, about myself, about what I think about my two new friends, or maybe I should just annoy the shit out of Arthurius and just beatbox into it until the mission starts. Decisions decisions…

You decide to say something like the following into the mike:

Heyo, this is Lilly, I’m a human that woke up in a dream world. I guess I’m feeling kind of jazzed and excited to be experiencing something like this and to be learning about lucid dreaming. No idea when I’ll wake up or if I’ll remember this though. But hey, maybe if I wake up again and hear this I can learn all about what I did last time in case I dont remember.

Then describe in vague terms what has happened so far, your two new buddies, and by the time you’re nearly done with that close out with some beatboxing, y’know some Boots and Cats and Boots and Cats and Boots and Cats, try to get one of the two to join you.

"This is Lilly, a dreamer sitting in on a Dreamcier bounty hunting mission. Hope I don't screw this up!"

Hey, do these guys already have an internal case-logging system? If not, then start with 1.

"Case-Log NA-1; the Nightmare Architect." Summarize what you already know. "Something of note; she chooses to replace the new statues instead of simply recreating the old ones in a remote cordoned-off area. This might imply one of two things. First possibility; that she's trying to restore the dream as a whole to its original state. However, unless she has delusions of grandeur the size of Texas, she must realize that's a losing battle, bounty hunters or no. Second possibility; she wants to take note of how the original statues affect local dreamers. This implies she's trying to find inspiration and hone her craft... likely because she couldn't hack it over at the Nightmarecier side of the world." Question; is her educational background known? It's possible she couldn't afford more orthodox education.

>>995932
>I’m still trying to get accepted into a college
What are you looking to learn? Tradeschool or community college might be enough.

Record your hopes and dreams- no, really! It's important to remember what keeps you moving forward, and it's a great barometer for how much you've grown when you hear it later.

Also make fart noises whenever Arthurius starts talking

(To be fair a lot of RPGs have a slower start since their trying to explain the methodology of the world.)

>“IIIIIII’m having trouble accommodating the rope’s durability to the weight of the user.”
I think Mags is calling Arthurius fat.

Oh! Before you say anything, try rewinding and playing the recorder, just in case there is something already on it.

>>995977
Then this.

Yeah that recorder is a good ideas to never actually forget where you came from and to never forget what you left behind. Say something about your family or your life before you came here, it is also a good way to check if they messed with your memory in some way.

Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/26(Mon)00:13 No. 997767 ID: e51896
File 161942116620.gif - (12.29MB , 1280x720 , EC00145.gif )

>>996275

>Oh! Before you say anything, try rewinding and playing the recorder, just in case there is something already on it.

I rewind the recorder back as far as it can go, it didn't last too long. I then hit play and......

...nothing...

no, wait, I can hear what sounds like I think Arthurius saying "Testing, testing, 1-2-3" but nothing else plays after that. Guess he just wanted to test to see if it worked before handing it over to me. That was nice of him.

Arthurius tells us to prepare ourselves for liftoff, and the vehicle we are in starts floating! It was unexpected at first how quickly we rose up, but my seatbelt is keeping me relatively stable. So cool! a fly vehicle. I always thought how cool it would be if cars could fly.

I take the time to talk into my recorder as we fly off.

>>995934

:Heyo, this is Lilly, I’m a human that woke up in a dream world... or should I say... fell asleep! Oh, first, I should probably say: ENTRY ONE to keep these separate. Well anyway, I guess I’m feeling kind of jazzed and excited to be experiencing something like this and to be learning about lucid dreaming. No idea when I’ll wake up or if I’ll remember this though. But hey, maybe if I wake up again and hear this I can learn all about what I did last time in case I dont remember... But probably not likely, like how do you bring things with you from the dream world to reality? Man, dreams make me think illogical stuff, doesn't it? But maybe telling myself through a recorder about significant stuff might help tell my mind to remember certain things. WHO KNOW?! (I'm shrugging right now by the way.)

2/4 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/26(Mon)00:14 No. 997768 ID: e51896
File 161942124864.gif - (13.03MB , 1280x720 , EC00146.gif )

>>996099
>Also make fart noises whenever Arthurius starts talking
>>995977

:Anyway, I'm on a Dreamcier bounty hunting mission. Hope I don't screw this up! Probably best to use this as a internal case-logging system since I'm pretty sure Arth didn't think to bring one in the backpack"

:Actually it was Magnolia wh-

:"PFFFFFFFFFFFT!"

:...

:"ENTRY 2: Case-Log NA-1; the Nightmare Architect. Suspect is Mitzy, female. Her crime is destroying sand sculptures and replacing them with her own terrifying creations. Location is I think... Last seen at the Temple of... Baskia? Baska? B...baka? forgot the name... And I believe it is the Plant Golden Suncup, which seems to be the very same plant our vehicle is flying towards."

looking out the front-view window, we seem to be flying upwards towards a giant yellow flower... I'm wondering how we even enter dream worlds through a flower.

I try not to get distracted by that and continue my entry log.

:"Location is also not originally owned by our client, but passed down through generations, and even owned by the nightmareciers in the past when the two species still had wars for territories each century before the peace treaty."
"It was told that Mitzy came to this dream wanting to do research on the ancient sculptors and temples for inspiration for making her own creations back at home. Her studies took her to the Temple of Bask-something and would spend unreasonable amounts of time, an entire week at one point in there until coming back to destroy Kyle's sculptures and replace some of them, leaving the ancient sculptures alone."
"She tends to destroy statues at night, with no clear indication as to how she does it so secretly without having the giant sculptures collapse on herself. During the day, it is assumed she is at the temple and perhaps making the replacements since she has been witnessed doing that.

"Something of note; she chooses to replace the newer statues instead of simply recreating the old ones in a remote cordoned-off area. This might imply one of two things. First possibility; that she's trying to restore the dream as a whole to its original state. However, unless she has delusions of grandeur the size of Texas, she must realize that's a losing battle, bounty hunters or no. Second possibility; she wants to take note of how the original statues affect local dreamers. This implies she's trying to find inspiration and hone her craft... likely because she couldn't hack it over at the Nightmarecier side of the world. Arthurius plans on waiting at one of the remains of the two statues that would be likely be a place for Mitzy to replace her recreation of an ancient statue and capture her that way. We just have to figure out which one."
"Question; is her educational background known? It's possible she couldn't afford more orthodox education..."

3/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/26(Mon)00:15 No. 997769 ID: e51896
File 161942129933.gif - (376.86KB , 1280x720 , EC00147.gif )

Suddenly, some kind of portal ejects and grows out of the flower, changing the entire environment around us as it grows. Then, the sky turns from dark blue to light blue, and looking down, I can see we are in a desert with that giant flower still in front of us. Arthurius is checking something on the vehicle's dashboard in front of him. He explains that we will be landing in a moment.

>>996099
>Record your hopes and dreams- no, really! It's important to remember what keeps you moving forward, and it's a great barometer for how much you've grown when you hear it later.
>>996052
>What are you looking to learn? Tradeschool or community college might be enough.

:"Entry 3, Here, I will list some of my hopes and dreams... though right now, I am still trying to figure that out... but mainly I've been wanting to be accepted into a good college. I've been thinking of leaning towards something like therapy, become a therapist to help people with their problems. I thought it would be easy to get into a college for that major, but for some reason I haven't been accepted. I should check into community colleges or trade schools or something, though I do want to get as many years under my belt under a university."

4/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/26(Mon)00:16 No. 997770 ID: e51896
File 161942138225.gif - (7.20MB , 640x360 , EC00148.gif )

>>996289
>Yeah that recorder is a good ideas to never actually forget where you came from and to never forget what you left behind. Say something about your family or your life before you came here, it is also a good way to check if they messed with your memory in some way.

:"Entry 4, I need to check if my memories are still good in this dream. Let's see... I graduated high school a year ago currently searching for a university to take me in as a student. I mainly live with my family at a small town at home with my father, and grandmother. Though there are some weeks when I visit my mother in the city. My father has always been strict with raising me, but he's fair too. He just wants me to be the best me I can be, and I love him for that. Though it is admittedly fun to feel a sense of freedom when I rebel against him from time to time. He even supports my decisions and goals, like letting me take some self defense classes when I asked him to."
"My grandmother on the other hand spoils me with gifts, and loves to pull pranks and tease. I like to think her shenanigans inspires my sense of humor."
"Then there's my mother... she has not been in a good place in her life, but she still supports me to the best of her abilities..."
"I also have a boyfriend, We've been together since Middle School and helped me with my insomnia back then. I feel nothing can tear us apart..."
"...nothing!"
"I'm making new friends here, Arthurius, and Magnolia!"

:Hello!

:"PFFFFFT!"

:*Sigh*

:"We're getting along great! And I can't wait for them to give me a tour of a dream world and let me experience the excitement of being a rad bounty hunter!"

We are now descending downwards, I guess we're landing.

I end off the recording with some beatboxing. Arthurius is trying his best to ignore me, though I can see a pained look in his eyes. Mags on the other hand is very slightly bobbing her head to my performance, though you won't notice unless you're paying close attention.

as we descend, I see mountains in the distance, and soon city buildings. We seem to be landing inside one of the buildings which looks to be some kind of parking garage. When we finally land, we are face to face with a parking meter, and what looks to be a nightmarecier holding a sign that says "Nightmare Cappers" but it is upside-down.

5/5 Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid 2021/04/26(Mon)00:19 No. 997772 ID: e51896
File 161942156573.png - (637.99KB , 1280x720 , EC00149 2.png )

:Oh! that must be Kyle's secretary, Savina. We were going to discuss possible plans of actions with her so she can help get us prepared.

Savina seems to be wearing the typical secretary outfit you would normally expect to see. White collared shirt, long skirt, all that jazz. Though, the one main thing that stands out to me is that her antennae are in the way of her eyes... is that why she doesn't realize she is holding the sign upside-down?

We exit the vehicle and upon closing the doors, the secretary speaks up.

Midnight Cappers I presume?

Savina's tone of voice sounds like she is bored, yet also professional sounding.

:Midnight Captors, and yes. I am Arthurius, and I am here with my partners Magnolia, and Lilly.

Understood.

:"We won't let you down, Savina!"

Was that Lilly, or Magnolia?

: Lilly.

Savina puts her hand on her chin, looking in my general direction, but not facing where my eyes are at.

And I take it that is the dreamer?

:"Yep! Don't worry, I don't plan on waking up anytime soon until we capture your criminal"

"Hmmm... seems odd you came to this dream world the way you did..."

Is there anything I want to say to her before we start discussing the mission and formulate a plan with her?

No questions, I think we're good to go

>>997877
Yeah, I agree with your sentiment, we are ready as we will ever be.

Well, yeah. Has the situation changed at all since we were briefed?