Abducted Cthulhlu 2022/10/05(Wed)04:31 No. 1045493 ID: 4286ca
File 166496946381.jpg - (2.39MB , 2464x3464 , IMG_20221005_0001.jpg )

scurrying over to the shaft you see that its sides are lined with ridges and gaps that form a crude ladder, your glad about this as it implies that the shaft isn't just for floating rock squid things.

clambering down you find the shaft continues for a short way before opening up into a room similar to the one you just left.
Unlike that room there are several odd devices scattered about the floor, distinctly out of place against the gritty white surface.

several of the devices have no obvious function but there are a lot of lamps dotted around blasting out that odd blue light.
you don't feel burning or nausea, so for now you're going to assume it's fine and not worry about potential radiation.


To the left and right you see that the doors seem to have been forced open, pieces of metal having been crudely jammed into the gap to keep them that way. That feels right, like a middle finger to the tech of this place trying to keep you here.

From the left you can feel a faint breeze

to the right you can hear the faint hum of machinery and occasional motion.

Let's go left!

>>1045493
Examine that computer

Examine the stuff. Computer-looking thing especially.

left

Repeat "Erosa?" back at it. Be friendly, smile, make the tail signal for "friend". Pet it, why not, but only if it seems to let you do it. Those things have really big claws.
And try offering it the cube.

Pick the cube and repeat "Erosa?" back. By the context it could be an expression of concern for scaring you, questioning if you don't like the food or a descriptive attribute to the cube.
Since you got his attention try to use tail signals as you speak their meaning in english. With some luck he will learn some english verbs and maybe even tell you their equivalents in his language.
This process will take a while, but if you manage to establish functional communication ask about your friends.

It looks excited you're awake. That's odd. I wonder if they more keep tobaks as pets. Play with it a bit? Try and establish some kind of communication?

This worries me though that the mutation is the last stage of "domestication" and it's where you "and Bry if he's here" are headed if you don't get out of here. Makes me wonder what they did with Ashley. If she wasn't scared and alone before she certainly is now.

>>1045490
I realize my question was answered

>>1045471
Crazy theory: Tobaks are like axolotls in that they're effectively an entire species stuck in a juvinile form. The 'headsplitters' are actually the fully adult form and this facility is where some old experiment to reawaken old Tobak genes succeded producing 'headsplitters'. The reason the Tobaks accompanying them are weirdly coloured is that the means to induce the change are still around and the colour signifies that they've begun to transition into the 'fully adult' form.

but I doubt this person claiming to be Essence is Essence, but someone posing as her. If it was her, she'd be more directly involved and would have let them know who my vessel was.

And Scarred, as for Essence, just want to remind you that Lorence had gotten guidance from her, so he see's her as an ally, one that I think he hates. he got info from her once that he spoke to Root about once.

*grits her teeth at Essence's name and sends a mental message to Fortune* Thank you... I know it's not Essence, I killed her...

Yes, I am familiar with that one. There was a connection between Ana and the being known as Essence. I was a... Reluctant partner with it. They were extremely mentally unhinged. From my understanding, the being known as Essence could best be summed up as "a rogue voice" Ana was guided by unknown voices that exist in a sort of state between life and death. Essence was one of these voices, but one that had turned rogue and had its own agenda. Our goals coincided for a time, but we no longer work together.

>>1045129
*to Fortune* Disappear if you can, best to lay low if someone saw you. Keep your eye peeled, there's only so many beings here that can actually see us. If things get to hot though, flee, I'd rather not blow this because we're taking it for granted that we generally can't be seen.

*to Echo* Try to get your new friend to go with Roselynn if you can, maybe play into that suspicion. If you can get him off my tail I would appreciate that; keep in mind if someone around here can see Fortune they might be able to see you too, keep your eyes open.

You uttered nothing of cures,
That was a piece she gave.

If you are to follow,
Ensnare another.
A witness,
And ally.

Else you will be given gifts,
You cannot refuse.

Absurdity DeVoid 2022/10/05(Wed)02:26 No. 1045492 ID: dc13c4
File 166496196315.jpg - (3.94MB , 3495x2842 , Divergent 218.jpg )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CJv_cC5rCI&ab_channel=GygaBros

Behold the maze - a thousand passageways sealed by so many doors. Yet the frames are incomplete - showing only polished stone along the edges. Yet - so many doors. Stacked together, jutting from the wall. Waiting to be pushed in. The frames, delicately built, yet so vulgar. Bone and obsidian, brass and gems, half finished carvings. Finish the project elsewhere and all these things will fall into place.

That rock is no rock at all! At the center of the chamber, so much larger here than on the other side, a being stands bound in chains. Thicker than the arms of the werebeasts you fought, twisted and covered in so many locks, steel chains. Brass Chains. Iron Chains. It reminds you of the chain that anchors a yacht, or possibly a small battleship. So many tons.

It’s bound to nothing - what would be the need with all this weight. It does not move. All of it is wrapped in chains and only vaguely human in form. But underneath…

Jennifer is here alone. Back to the otherwide - the more real one? At least, the less spiritual one.

Nothing is happening there so far. Things are pretty chill. Just waiting for Jennifer to pop back on over unharmed and without any trouble happening whatsoever. The big ass rock in the middle of the room covered in chains isn't doing anything at all.

It's the work of moments to glow from a forehead - there are some things that are instinct. And while there aren't many reflections, there is silver weapons, shiny and cleaned from when they were plunged into foul beastflesh. And while the moon, the moon is blocked by cavernous roofs and possibly clouds, the hollow circle upon her brow shines brightly in the reflections of her compatriot's weapons.

And that lets Jennifer Step. Across a barrier she was barely aware of, and then there's the being. Wrapped in Chains. "Can you hear me?" she asks of it. "I'll get you free of those" she assures it. "Let me help you" she informs it, asking no price, for some things transcend mere barterings, and for any true child of the moon, freedom is one of them. "I'll be back" she promises when her arms alone, bulging as they are with warform power, fail to rend the chains, fail to free the spirit underneath. It's a gordion knot of metal, and so Jennifer knows what to do. A quick polishing, just enough to get her reflections, and a few more moment's of concentration, and she's back in the real.

"... and that's why I need your help," she finishes her explanation. "Nothing deserves to be bound like that." You might as well just kill them. "Don't suppose any of you have a hacksaw I could borrow?"

>>1045146
"I might start needing blood reasonably soon, but yeah." The Abyssal formerly known as Sarah would pull out the ghost of a hacksaw, and set to work with cutting the chains.

One cut link in the real world shatters so many in the spirit world. The rock wrapped in chains slowly goes free - and underneath is a woman. Emaciated - Hairless and blistered all over. Eyes sunken in. As the last chain goes she sputters in a foreign tongue before she hits the floor.

Her eyes lock onto Jennifer. They're still alive - seeing the world - blazing with a light all its own. Then - she stares past you. Looking to a place both in front of her and sideways. It makes her look cross-eyed - both horrific and comedic at the same time. Well, comedic if she wasn't a giant blister person.

She begins to chant, each word a pound a dynamite. Every syllable shattering stone. She glows. The rock in the center of the mountain glows. Like metal heated - like red coals that turned white hot. The rock in the middle of the chamber is fine but the stone around it begins to splinter and melt. Crack. Hiss. Pop. Pop. CRACK.

It seems the freed spirit intends to cleanse this place in liquid flames, the fate of her rescuers be damned. The mountain rumbles and so many people freak the fuck out, wondering just what the fuck is going to cause Mount Hood to shake. Those earthquake machines going off freak out a bunch of people.

Theodore, blood soaked silver knife in hand, stares in the direction of the mountain. He is crying.

The woman looks up as if viewing the sky - she becomes the inferno.

>>1045487
Well, that is exceptionally not good. Picking up everyone that I can/is willing and will teleport as far out as I can see a lick of shadow and just start sprinting towards the exit.

rolled 1, 1, 1, 5, 1, 1, 5, 6, 3, 10, 5, 5, 10, 9, 10, 9, 6, 9, 10, 10, 7, 3, 2, 4, 7, 1, 9, 7, 5, 1, 8, 4, 10, 7, 6, 8, 1, 10, 5, 4, 3, 9, 2, 5, 4, 9, 4, 1, 7, 7, 7, 8, 1, 2, 3, 8, 6, 9, 1, 4 = 326

---

I'm going to report in with what Marisa and I were up to, as well as the fact that Palirroia is missing. Rolling for Inevitable Pursuit to find the abbot's current location.

>>1044070
Trail goes dead cold at the port- looks like she left over open water long enough ago that you can't tell which ripples are hers and which are the oceans anymore. When questioned about whereabouts and well being, EST just returns last known data- in town, hale.

Part of the tracking process, however, is interviewing locals, since lots of people saw her go to speak with the stirges, or knew she was leaving. As Buonaparte and her cohort arrived, the head monk went to meet them. Stirges who were present report that she had a somewhat strained conversation with Buonaparte, but that they made it clear they weren't going to try and take the town forcefully. Buonaparte was going to submit a formal challenge for the Satraps seat to the people and leadership of Ironport. The immaculate insisted that wasn't possible, things couldn't be done that way, so Buonaparte arrived at a compromise with her. She would escort Palirroia to her home, leaving ironport untouched. Palirroia would have dinner with them and Buonaparte could prove to her that the family methods would improve town, convince her to back the Striges officially. Then... they're not sure what happened. They were on standby, potentially getting ready to leave, but the head monk left to go make preparations and never came back. Left a pile of stuff in a random corner of the dock, so Buonaparte went into town to speak with the satrap and make things official. When she returned she reported that the satrap was sick, and the townsfolk were planning to blow the place up, so we mobilized into defensive positions.

Any follow up, cover the "you never asked" bases sort of questions?

rolled 7, 8, 2, 10, 6, 6, 1, 1, 7, 4, 10, 4, 10, 1, 10, 6, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 4, 7, 5, 6, 4, 9, 3, 4, 2, 10, 8, 5, 5, 10, 4, 9, 6, 6, 5, 8, 1, 10, 3, 4, 10, 7, 8, 6, 1, 9, 4, 3, 5, 7, 5, 5, 1, 8, 10 = 353

---

>>1043061
I'm going to roll Join Debate and make a Charisma + Investigation social attack to compel Illicium to brag about whatever he's actually been up to, particularly anything illegal. Backhanded complement involving humility, playing off how eager he was to confront Posu when we first met, so valor and maybe even conviction will be working against him.

rolled 3, 10, 7, 7, 3, 1, 6, 4, 7, 10, 1, 5, 9, 3, 7, 1, 6, 6, 2, 9, 4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 3, 4, 9, 6, 9, 6, 10, 3, 10, 7, 4, 8, 2, 7, 7, 6, 4, 2, 5, 9, 8, 4, 5, 9, 1, 10, 1, 6, 5, 2, 5, 7, 7, 1, 5 = 320

---

>>1044957
Attempting to trick someone into an emotional outburst, revealing flaws they were trying to hide (as depicted here: https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2014-01-20) is Manipulation, rather than Charisma. Sneaky backhanded emotional prodding isn't exactly based on straightforward strength of personality.

Join debate is Wits + Awareness. Stunt two, although... he never confronted Posu, from what I remember, and my brief skim back through messages? Did you have a particular instance in mind you wanted to build off of?
>7, 8, 2, 10, 6, 6, 1,
Lobelia rolls four successes on Join Debate.
>7, 8, 2, 1, 10, 2
Posu four.
>6, 9, 5, 4, 8
Illicium two. Lobelia and Posu are up first.

Manipulation 1, Investigation 4, stunt 2,
>1, 7, 4, 10, 4, 10, 1, 10,
Thats six successes to try and goad him into admitting something he shouldn't; against dodge MDV 5, that's already enough to hit before virtue modifiers come into effect. As he stares bleakly at the floor, having just been given the news you're press-ganging him into a monster hunt he doesn't expect to come back from, you press for information on his family, what affairs he has to set in order- after all, allowances are made to those of particular importance to their community. He jumps on the chance and you wind him into giving examples of important deeds, perhaps a threat he&

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rolled 2, 2, 9, 9, 10, 5, 6, 9, 1, 7, 9, 5, 10, 4, 7, 7, 9, 1, 2, 5, 5, 2, 3, 2, 4, 9, 3, 2, 10, 7, 10, 9, 8, 2, 6, 2, 3, 7, 9, 3, 10, 4, 9, 6, 7, 3, 2, 4, 7, 3 = 280

---

>>1045078
> Rounded them up nice and neat, let Esca turn their brains into mush, and made good workers out of them with what was left.

> Alright, he's blurted out he's feeding people to a supernatural being. Would your character have any feelings about the confirmation that something in Esca is preying on folks?

Well, that changes Posu's plans significantly, since no longer does she have to meticulously gather evidence and trap him in a prison of his own lies. Needless to say, she's going to grab him by the arms to get him in a full nelson, because the interrogation has become a lot more of a hostile one.

B) You need to plan this out. Hopefully they won't find out you murdered their friend but expect them to. That means having multiple escape plans from the compound at all times.
Spend the day reviewing the map and scouting the areas. Only go back when you're confident you can escape Carlos and outwit Mitzi.

>>1045465
A
Play the role of stupid college kid and say you left the pond trying to look for whatever was eating the fish. You thought your survival knowledge was enough. Turns out you kinda shit at it.

If you go with A, you could say that you didn't say anybody and explain that maybe they saw you but you not at them. Or perhaps that they didn't came by this time. If there is fish missing, perhaps they went from another angle. OR, you could say that you went to explore the perimeter.

Just because you didn't catch them this time doesn't mean you won't do it next time.

In any case, you don't lose anything. You have food in reserve just in case.

>>1045467
I think this makes the most sense, I mean they'll think you're a dumbass but that'll probably be the worst of it...

A.

1/2 Buckwheat 2022/10/04(Tue)05:10 No. 1045426 ID: 15a025
File 166488543308.png - (10.73KB , 800x800 , 4.png )

>Choppy looking, different lengths... something's been chomping on the flowers, but not the stems? That's an odd thing to focus on eating.
>There's a goat looking for flowers too, but eating them! Look for goat tracks and follow before they eat the rest!

Looking around, I do see some fresh looking tracks on the ground. Ooh, I hope it's not someone eating up all the flowers. It's already hard enough finding nice ones at this time of year.

>Anyway, no flowers here, so let's be moving on!
Right! If I don't get moving, I could miss my chance!

2/2 Buckwheat 2022/10/04(Tue)05:11 No. 1045427 ID: 15a025
File 166488546649.png - (8.80KB , 800x800 , 5.png )

As I follow the trail, I come across a goat!

Deer: "Hello mister goat!"

He doesn't respond to me.

Deer: "Hello?"

He turns around with a mouth full of flowers! He keeps chewing until he swallows them.

Goat: "Oh great. Another deer. Scram and go find your own grazing spot."

Deer: "Oh I'm not here to graze mister goat. I'm out picking flowers for my girlfriend!"

Goat: "What a waste, it's the fall and food is getting scarce."

Smile and shrug. You'd share food with a girlfriend too! But, today, flowers as not-food would be best.

Now you don't expect him to give up his best grazing spots, but if he could spare a few flowers to get you started, or at least point you in a direction he's not been grazing, you'll head on and search for more elsewhere in The Glades.

Though... there was another deer? What were they doing here? And is it someone like (describe girlfriend)?

Does he have a better gift idea?

Surely there must be alternatives to beautiful flowers to eat! This glade has plenty of grass to go around. Oh well, the guy seems pretty knowledgeable, maybe he knows somewhere flowers grow that he's not planning on eating today?

>>1044061
Slime Hoarder makes sense for getting everyone's abilities to work together.

Blast Gasp sounds great. Makes the bomb plants in his lair feel like they belong there, and an interesting fight for sure.

Flexibility is nice and all, but sometimes having a lot of options is less useful than having one option that works really well. Also, honestly getting tired of slime upgrades on every denizen.

>>1044061
Bulk Diet will help him start getting to a proper dragon size.

Also, you better not forget about doing Olan's request! He's not going to be happy if you don’t have anything to give him when he comes over.

While Blast Gasp might be more on theme- I cannot deny the allure of giant lizard so Bulk Diet all the way!

>>1045468
I cast thee out

>>1045435
>Sharing would imply letting her have some of it, not giving all of it to her!
Yeah, I thought sharing meant we'd just start at a Proficiency lower than C and we'd still have it, but it looks like we just completely gave away all of the Telekinesis to Donna.

I'm pretty sure this confusion is unintentional from when the mechanics of the quest were being made and will be clarified by the quest author(s) later.

>>1045440
>I thought the nanobots were permanently grafted to the body but the size shifting require the suit?
The Nanobots were permanently grafted to the suit and requires transforming to use them. The Size Shifting can be used without transforming.

EDMANGO NOTE 2022/10/04(Tue)10:24 No. 1045448 ID: 0838d6
File 166490426021.png - (7.50KB , 500x500 , a0.png )

EDMANGO NOTE: First off, pic unrelated, have a picture of an alternate Hailey transformation that I had tippler concept, back before I knew how I wanted her helmet to work.

Updated the stat page with relevant info on what you can do in and out of the suit with powers, also let me clarify direct questions.
https://questden.org/wiki/Tension_Stats

>>1045381
You can control your nanobots only when in suit, so if you de-transform you will lose control of them, turning them into HARMLESS dust (no iron bits in your lungs). I will also say for the sake of narrative convenience if the staples are reasonably far away from you they will stop functioning/turn into dust.

>>1045435
The chart itself says gift, I used the word share, to clarify, Donna has the Telekenesis now and Hailey does not. She's figuring it out and is fairy sized, as of right now she cannot transform.

You can size shift between 150-200cm when outside of the suit since you have yet to train, and between 30-300cm when inside the suit

Nanobots can only be used when transformed, yes, I decided that after tallying the votes and reading the vibes of what everyone said.

EDMANGO NOTE: I wanted to leave some things unclear for the sake of exploring them through the narrative but will clarify this for now so people do not get confused.

Thanks for the explanations.

A. First grab the flash light the exterminators left behind and then transform to get access to the full extent of your powers. And get ready to shift your size down to dodge.

>>1045377
>A. Engage the beast
Those teeth aren't just for show. Bite the monster!

A) Fire your nanomachines into the beast's mouth. Get them to puncture the acid glands (or staple them shut) and this fight is as good as won.

I guess that place was recognizable indeed, so it would make sense to keep something buried there. In fact, it may be a frequent camping spot.

tgch >>1045103
“Something— did either of you see anything metallic under the outcrop?” Kicker asked without stopping running, feeling frustrated and still tired from the heat the day before. Something buried under their camp? Was it dangerous?

“No, like what?” Asked Scraptooth.

“Snapper couldn't tell.”

“Well, it was a pretty good spot.” Said Lowtail. “Maybe they've camped there before and left it there, and they took it before someone else came?”

For some reason, the idea of the bugs making metal things was difficult for Kicker to accept. She pictured them as just… bugs, which they were, even though she knew full well they had made some use of normal weaponry during the war. But she pushed the surprise to a side and tried to think of any other explanation. After a moment, she just gave up and shook her head. “We'll find out when and if it maters.”

That if and when happened a couple hours later. As twilight just began to tint the sky a light pink, Scraptooth stopped running suddenly. The others stopped just as quickly with their claws scrapping against the rocky sand for a few inches, and Kicker knew, with just a look at his face, he'd fucked up and he knew it.

“A can.” He said, and opened his bags to run a quick inventory, muttering to himself. Then, when he was done, he closed it. “Boss. They didn't bury anything, I left a food can at the camp.”

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What is our goal?

>>1045346
Short term? Taking care of the can situation. That's proof of your presence.
Long term?See >>1043923 and >>1044246
>They'd been marching counterrootways for ten days and then ten more now, tailed by a tooth unit, under strict orders to avoid being sighted (Or, failing that, deal with anyone who saw them) and to signal the tooth of anyone who might see him
>“We are to reach site one, secure the facility, and wait for the teeth. Once he's there we look for…” She read the scroll. “'A cylinder seventy centimeters in width and a hundred and twenty in height.'. He will then deem if it's a threat, and if we are to take it to the Mountain or destroy it on the spot through explosives. Site two, three, and four are possible settlements we'll have to go around.”

>>1045144
Do we turnback? Where the can atleast unmarked?

>>1045431
Oh, her Goddess will come, but both you and her will have come many, many times before then. In fact, she'll probably have been with the whole tribe at least once and carrying a heavy clutch by the time anyone can come, or have even laid some eggs, so there would be no sneaking her out. Would be a shame if the little ones grew up without even knowing their mother's name.

Start working off some of those layers. Actually, why take things slow when you could rip open that top like the brute she expects you are. Her bottoms can stay until she breaks/begs, but you aren't beholden to her tenants: that loincloth could make for a good makeshift veil or blindfold. Plus, she's cute when she blushes.

If not for that neck restraint, you could probably shove her head down your throat and still toy with her body. Fact is though, she's so thin, she might not be worth the energy to eat, which means you'll need to put some meat on her. You've got some salty morsels you can give her, but some proper food may have to wait.

As for the tool, threaten her with it. It'll probably keep her from climaxing, but it could prevent her from being knocked up, so measure her response to the threat, and see if you can't get the truth from her. It might take her strength, and with so little, she'll need all she can for laying eggs.

>>1045431
If she won't eat fish, feed her your cum.

Quite helpful of her to lay out what she wants in this session, albeit in reverse order: Start with a face sitting, send in a big feast (maybe including a rabbit thrall, after assuring her they can't die from it), and end with a nice breeding near guaranteed to produce an egg.

If she believes her goddess will get mad at her for such an indulgence, you'll need to come up with a convincing excuse for her. Attach her symbol to the end her club, and see if she wants to be branded with it. Any actual mental effects will likely be minor if magically enhanced at all, but she only needs a small push if she wants to.

>”Even if I don’t return, they know where you are. They will come and rescue me. They will… ah… come and burn this place to the ground.”
Her friends can't save her now! Sorry, won't save her. If they're just as fanatic as she is, they'd already believe you've corrupted her. Even now, she's already admitted to enjoying the meal. So if she wants to be with them, they would have to join her here. You can't capture them if you don't know where they are, so...

Indulge her for a while. Sit down and pray to your patron god, without insulting or posturing. Ask her if this is what she wants; all of the world, praying to the goddess of purity, every second of every day in reverence to someone who is tasked with maintaining the fundamental forces of the universe and swamped with the pleas of millions.
Then ask her if she wants someone like yourself to convert and stay with her every second of every day.
Get her cerebellum to pump blood and you can get the rest of her to pump blood.

Suggestion 2022/10/04(Tue)17:35 No. 1045460 ID: f2320a

>>1045431
Could keep around as livestock meat would make good trade goods just from just the sweetness and young mature fast enough to make it worth it

Shello sounds EXTRA fun!
also maybe mention the whole Void King "personally" checked in on us thing

>>1045276
We should ask about that.

>>1045296
Yes, this one in particular

I think we should ask how we can get some money. That way we can get Godrender all polished and repaired like they wanted.

>>1045296
Perfect.

2/2 BAN 2022/10/02(Sun)20:39 No. 1045307 ID: df6307
File 166476838142.jpg - (1.62MB , 1506x1000 , cop285.jpg )

The engineer keeps up a surprisingly fast pace as she leads you into the middle of the lobby. Other researchers and tour groups eye your patrol vests cautiously at first, but soon go about their business as usual.

>Your tour guide stops and leans heavily on her crutch for a moment. She gasps for air again. "Christ," she mutters to herself. "Shit, I'm gassed... Too much walking...."

"You, uh.... You can slow down if you need to," you offer.

>The engineer immediately straightens up again and glares at you. "I'm fine!" PIT balances on one leg for a moment and gestures around with the crutch. "We'll begin right here. This space is where most of our public tours begin, within our 'Solutions' exhibit."

You're led around from display to display. Like you'd assumed, most of them house notable technological breakthroughs that Supay Solutions has pioneered. PIT explains what many of the different components are, but she's a little too enthusiastic and a little too detailed.... Most of the particulars go right over your head. She leads you further into the lobby, where several more displays surround the statue.

You freeze in front of one display in particular. ERIK is staring out at you from a photograph behind the glass...

>"Sad, isn't it?" PIT limps closer and taps the glass. She's pointing at the same photo, but her attention's drawn to a different soldier in the frame. "He was so young! ADAM was only 16 when he was drafted into the UCSMC. He'd already been accepted into Doren, at the time--he could've fled to Francia, dodged the draft and gone to university. Instead, one of science's greatest minds decided to waste years of his life running around in the woods with a gun

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Give him a light shrug.

"Who didn't have relatives in the war? What about you? Got war wounds of your own, seems. Didn't expect the line of duty to extend to the science workshop."

Indicate his leg. Maybe there's a story there.

Also, where are those other Shiptown folks now? Part of your security policy thing checkup is... checking up on stuff like that. Have they track of all current visitors on the grounds? Names and purposes? You half feel you almost slid in too easily here yourself, even if you have a minder.

>Giant memorial to the KIAs and MIAs, hauled in here to protect it from public hate
It's somewhat suspect that ADAM was super into preserving this, to the extent of taking on a risky extra financial burden. We know there's a general revenge motivation involved here - MUCHI said as much to Dane - and anyone into the idea of the screwed-over soldier might be extra suspect.

Or at the very least, he might be sympathetic to them, without knowing how far they'll go.

>>1045307
"Lets get back to the tour."

I was in the war. Assuming he still comes around here then I might like to meet him and share a drink over a story or two if he’d be interested, though I’d argue the war was more of an educational experience than in inspiring one.

>>1045428
Are we really emotionally prepared to go through with something like this?

Tell him you need the serial number of the volcano to answer his question. He can't miss it, it's at the bottom of the volcano.

"This green guy over here says we were born in this dreamer's mind and it's our job to make this dream fun."

>>1045324
Just make a volcano license

>>1045324
So is this some kind of subconscious gaudian

Tell this weirdo he's in the wrong quest, then use the windshield wipers.

Suggestion 2022/09/29(Thu)20:48 No. 1045088 ID: 9272af
File 166450971556.png - (276.33KB , 700x544 , 14-205.png )

Nemo licks his lips and looks on curiously, unsure of how to approach. 

Seeing his hesitation, Delilah spreads her legs invitingly, her tail wagging against the towel. 

The chameleon blushes and crawls closer, applying some lube to his shafts as he eyes the space between her powerful thighs. 
He leans closer, about to slip inside the healer, when a large hand reaches down and closes around both of his shafts. Nemo blinks in surprise as Delilah carefully readjusts his angle, clenching the paired dicks together, pushing them into the tight space under her tail. 

“Ah! Wait! What’re you-?” Nemo gasps. His cocks bump and push against her tail-hole, which slowly spreads around the twin tips. 

“Ngh, alway’s- ahh, wanted to try this.” Delilah bites her lip, and rocks her hips, feeling the double shafts slide in another inch. “Come, ah, on. Get in there…” 

Nemo, I hope you realize how much of a solution to a logistical problem, you are. Relish in that, but focus on the task at hand.

>>1045088

Man, Del's taking it like a champ!

Casey and Clio should get in on the fun as well. They could suckle on Del's nipples or play around with the boys while Del handles them.

Suggestion 2022/10/03(Mon)17:33 No. 1045398 ID: 9272af
File 166484359843.png - (212.96KB , 700x500 , 14--206.png )

“Fuckin lichfire…” Gabe says under his breath, watching the lizard slip inside Delilah, “Now that’s an idea. I wonder if I could handle that…” 

“You’re pretty stretchy, I bet you could.” Kol smirks at him, “You might want to loosen up a bit. Maybe Cecil has something in his collection that could help.”

The mouse blushes as Del turns to go down on him, prompting a squeak.

Nemo bites his lip, his eyes focused on the flexing ring of muscle. He pushes steadily forward, feeling the resistance give way, slowly making progress into her tight passage. He groans as the tightness squeezes his shafts together, like pattern steel being forged. After what feels like ages, his hips bump gently against her ass-cheeks and the chameleon sighs, grinding in place. “Oh, F-F-Fates…” he mutters.

Between the three partners, Delilah moans happily. She splits her attention between the two mice, keeping them both squeaking and eager, carefully bucking into her mouth as she pleasures them in turn. The satisfying double-girth under her tail slides in and out with an aching slowness, the heads of both shafts dragging against her inner walls. The healer’s tail thump-thump-thump’s against the towel excitedly, as she feels herself craving more. 

Delilah takes a breather, her tongue lolling as she pants. “Fuck that’s good. Ah- keep going…” She moans in encouragement. “Which one of you boys wants to give him a hand down there?” Beneath her bangs, she eyes each of the mice with a grin. 

That's your que, Gabe. Assume the position.

>>1044464
>rolled 8, 8, 13, 16
The magma embassy's farspeaking pylon is fully operational in less than a week, with no further complications.

>>1044842
>rolled 20, 20, 15, 13
Only trap on the route in is a force-wall projector. Semi-domesticated shinspinners approach it without triggering activation. Mask persuades them to move it to the room's other entrance, alter the trigger conditions, and redirect some pipes. Soon enough refugees from Hallux have a functionally unlimited supply of fresh water and fish, while the shinspinners have to beg, steal, flee, or starve.

>>1043668
>rolled 20
Steel spider base unit has three main sections: input disassembler, eggshell projector, and the control console across the top. Materials which the spiders dump in are reassembled inside the shell to build new spiders, with surplus converted into energy or something almost like spraymetal to recharge and repair existing ones. Console seems to be describing the device's connection to the Eye of the Sea - it's not an essential component, more like a simplified toy model for educational purposes, or possibly a sort of remote control.
Eliznyabeth sneaks in and rips out the reassembly mechanism, castrating the "queen." Any steel spiders still loose may pose a threat, but with no way to repair or replace, time is firmly on the town's side.
The factory&

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Everybody gets 4 xp for neutralizing the main threats under the Eye of the Sea. Hallux is saved - they'll probably all survive the winter, and come back stronger next year thanks to that new potential trade partner.

Another few hundred miles closer to the Beanstalk, beside a small lake on the northernmost fringes of the Ba-Adenu Forest, you've tracked rumors of a renewable supply of amber crystal to the village of Glawv. Lake Lom is home to dobworms, a type of arm-length, aquatic invertebrate that produces pea-sized bits of amber much like how oysters produce pearls. The 400 or so Glawvians tend to the dobworms, either in wild “farms” along the edge of the lake or in basins in their yards, and harvest the amber pieces (called dobs) to make jewelry. The farmers have a technique for heating and squeezing the dobs so they either form larger pieces or temporarily liquefy into a resin that can be painted on as a durable seal. Each worm produces only a few grams per year (caged dobworms tend to produce dobs with a more consistent color and clarity, but dobs from wild, lake-living dobworms tend to be larger) while a chunk sufficient to serve as part of a chainpod's power core would need tens of kilograms of the stuff.

Grundlehaven Havespont observes that leftover dobworm slime would be an ideal dunking medium for his humiliation hospital plan, and setting up such a beneficial numenera installation would probably be fair trade for a dozen or more units of amber crystal. Apt clay and responsive synth can be easily scavenged from the Eye of the Sea, Mayor Delby happens to have a few jars of mimetic gel in her cellar so worst case you could use more of that to substitute for a shortage of synthsteel, and quantium is available as Reiko's share of the treaty with the King Under The Mountain... but that still leaves the hardest part: midnight stones.
There's a clave called Elsawn Observatory half a day's walk deep

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rolled 3, 11, 13, 15, 3, 6, 6, 4, 20, 11, 17, 15, 20, 18, 4, 6, 11, 12, 10, 1 = 206

---

>>1042347
>>1042244
>Paprika leaps up parallel to the truss without touching it. This catches the lightning mourn completely by surprise. When she floats back down it's twitching helplessly, impaled on the end of her spear.
It takes a moment for Paprika's breath to catch up to her. She tries to stay calm, despite this possibly being the most awesome thing she's ever done.

>After a pause, a descending Paprika hears a sigh over the communication-tether. "I feel quite foolish for not realizing sooner. In retrospect, you were not being particularly subtle."
"Really? I was trying so hard to play it cool...I have been told I'm about as subtle as an earthshaker, before."

>"Is that safe to bring inside?"
>Natalina isn't going to protest if Paprika plans to show mercy and release the critter
"I think so. It's not looking too good, poor thing. You think we can fix it up and let it go?"

>disrobing inside the augmech
Paprika visibly blushes at the suggestion.

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rolled 14, 8, 1, 18, 15, 7, 4, 7, 19, 3, 4, 2, 10, 3, 11, 19, 20, 20, 8, 13 = 206

---

>>1045364
>"Really? I was trying so hard to play it cool...I have been told I'm about as subtle as an earthshaker, before."
An aborted laugh comes across the communication cable in response. "Much as I'd like to credit your success and spare my dignity, they may have been correct."

Natalina continues, hesitantly. "A part of me feels like I should expound on the perils of a workplace romance, or one between two people stranded alone with one another. ...although, no, we're not the only two people present counting our inkeeper-abbot. And of the two of us, I'm not the one you kissed.

"...I'm sorry, I quite lost track of where I was going with that."

>You think we can fix it up and let it go?
>Working through [the augmech] provides three free levels of Effort on medical care and repairs to biomechanical creatures
Natalina, operating Milaconi's cousin, will attempt to extricate and repair the impaled lightning mourn. Not sure how quickly the creature can travel, but if we're engaging in catch-and-release, we should do so away from the nest we're trying to evict it from.

>"Haha that sounds really risky. I'm all for it though, what do you think?"
If only one of the pair ventures out onto the platform to plant the grenade, the risk of falling into the abyss is a lot lower, since they'd be tethered to the other and the augmech. Paprika would be better at a balancing act, but Natalina could apply discounted Intelle

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>>1045399
>rolled 14
Lightning mourn has been patched up, and gently reprogrammed to see you as neither a threat nor a food source. It immediately zooms back to suckle at the sparking end of that loose cable, though.
>rolled 8, 1, 18
You find the correct spot, and (after burning xp on a reroll) a position from which Milaconi's cousin can simply throw the gravity-pear with exactly the right speed, angle, and timing. Detonation is shockingly loud, in contrast with the near-total ambient silence of the station exterior.
>rolled 15
By the time you hike back to the dish, that mangled support truss has somehow been completely repaired or replaced, and farspeaking pylon landed in what looks like the right spot atop it. The lightning mourn gives you an insectile salute before skittering away.

After simply touching the reconnected cable, Milaconi's cousin can interface with the farspeaking pylon, and even maintain the connection from a distance. Local datasphere is still very crowded, but seems to be making progress toward clearing the queue.

Now, to see if you can remember the chainpod's ID code...

First attempt: at the other end of the connection you're looking up from the bottom of a squarish shaft, 2.5 meters by 3 meters and at least five meters deep. No light apart from the display screen itself. Error message, core... something something... not found... reserve power... blah blah catastrophic blah... This chainpod is in very bad shape. Not just neglected maintenance, somebody tore important pieces out of it. Only other item of interest visible through the dashboard camera is a jumbled pile of bones including at least three human sku

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If you're confident now about telling her What's Up, then I guess let's plan to do that before the day is done; no need to delay too long.
>>1044361
A leading into C is probably still a good conversational direction, though.

I'm still quite tempted to mess with her before the Big Reveal, like come up with an excuse to go to a different room, and then somehow end up back at the library several times. :3 Then followed by a laugh, an apology, and an explanation. You'll only get this one opportunity for it, at least with her.

So maybe A, into C, then excuse to go somewhere? Maybe to the kitchen for lunch (if the time has progressed that far) - except then mysteriously you just keep ending back up at the library? Wait, you already had lunch. Hmm. I mean, I guess you could just claim you wanted to show her e.g. the study or whatever. "All of the options" is arguably out-of-scope for one suggestion, though, haha.

Oh also - "How would anything like that really stay hidden?" maybe a good question for Alice.

I'm Divided crows 2022/10/02(Sun)03:19 No. 1045247 ID: d98cb8
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Yeah, it’s not big deal talking about the past. It’s just a sensitive topic. It’d be nice to open up. It’s good to talk about things like this with friends. I haven’t been able to tell anyone these things. The story sucks but it’s just a story. It’s in the past. Things in the past are no big deal anymore. I don’t know why I’d feel this sore about the idea of talking about this now. Just because I had a dream about tattooing?

I’m definitely going to tell her. Parker is understanding. She’ll get it.

What if she doesn’t get it? What if she thinks I’m lying?

There’s a chair near where she is, and I wave her toward one while I sit down in the other. Nice and relaxed. Easy.

I’d rather try to convince her of the existence of magic. That’s an easier thing to talk about. I should talk about that.

“It’s- not the tattoo knowledge. It’s different. Shit happened.” I say casually.

Not casually. I can tell.

“Ah, I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me about it if you don’t want to. I misunderstood.”

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... Wait.
You can solve this.
You run an inn for superheroes.
Hire a runner to install a supernatural spy-cam on your ex to see if he escalated to serial rapist/killer.

Oh, and (A). You're not a loser. Losers don't have magical mansions and bnuuy servants.

Tell her the full story. Get it out of your system.

I feel like you've already started it, it's better to finish. IMO. Also - I feel like the more you get to know people, the harder it can be to bring up stuff like this; you worry more about the image you've built up in their eyes, compared to when somebody's only recently met you. If she again says you don't need to talk about it, you could respond with e.g. "I feel like I need to talk to somebody about it." It seems to me like you do - or at least that it could help. At the very least, there's a good chance it'll be a landmine no longer buried between you, a thing you don't have to worry about.

Also, uh - depending on how the rest of the conversation goes, pranking her might be kindof a jarring change of tone, so uh, I guess I'm reconsidering that, or at least making it lighter and briefer, unless there's a more lighthearted interlude first.

Gormoamhi don't care about ghostskins.
Epilogue.

Ghostskins.

>>1044789
Ghostskin ending

>>1044789
Ew, ghostskins.
Epilog!

Ghostskins, let's see what the Rezans are up to.

Franklin's cards!

GIMMICK

Definitely focused on Franklin to start.

Enid. Stability's more important in the early game. You can pull out the nonsense when you have a foundation to stand on.

More of Franklin's deck.

Gonna go with Franklin.

>after I explained myself during the previous fight
>Not that it makes any difference
I recall now. I also remember there may indeed be a difference. 'Worse to come' if heard, no? Though a conversation with Judicium hardly seems it.

>Diagram
If you don't feel like you really know her that well, there's an easy way to fix it: ask her more about her life when you get the chance.

>swordfighting
Well... you know for sure Astrolysis wanted that duel. If she still does, you can bait her out into a solo match prior to the main show with your sister, but then you will have to cross blades. Getting good would be useful in that regard, at least.

>regeneration doesn't keep you sane
>is that really true?
Getting killed over and over is unlikely to be healthy for anyone's mental state, but in this case I'd say the risks are low. You're as sane as they come as far as I can see, just frustrated, at times unsure of yourself and afraid of being of no utility (you are and will be, don't worry) and in others' shadow, all pretty normal 'person trying to find their place in the world' stuff. Of course, you being or becoming unstable surely is the fear of some of those around you - harken back to what Ozone said.

As far as those people are concerned, if rather than some last-minute addition, you are instead a state-of-the-art being, the result of the process that has made literal supersoldiers, and also came to produce intelligent SAIs like Amica who could take out those supersoldiers, you might just be considered a sturdy, long-lived individual who will grow in power and potency as you come into your own... while being e

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Say what you want to say.

>>1044862

Yea, I would definitely suggest you learn a few different styles of swordfighting. Or at least learn ABOUT a few, enough to synthesize your own style. Appropriate styles would be anything involving the use of the Dao, Saber, Scimitar, Messer, Cutlass, Tulwar, or Wakizashi. Any short, one handed, curved, single edged swords, to match your actual weapon.

Though it's a pity you got a short sword. To me, you feel like more of a two handed spear kind of person. Those are more a soldier's primary weapon (range is everything! range keeps you alive!), not a pistol-analog like that ludicrously small sword, and better for one on one duels besides. And a Partisan or Boar Spear (anything with lugs or side protrusions) would help keep some of these crazy people away from you. And 'two handed spearfighting' skills would transfer to fighting with a bayonet affixed to a rifle.

Though, hmmm. Maybe you could convert your sword to a Naginata/Guandao/Woldo/Sovnya/Glaive equivalent? You have a lot of weird gear abilities.

We can't always make choices for you Argnie. You gotta work on building yourself up here. I think all we can really do is make suggestions and just do what your heart thinks is best.

Some topics and food for thought-
-You could show her your new sword and ask for some input about. Different ways you could train with or use it with your parasignia.

-Talk about hobbies or work trades with her. Surely there's something out there you enjoy beyond going around guns a blazing.

Truly, asking for advice on how we should have tackled the Astrolysis fight and what to do when we face Judicium's colleagues would be good, though let's save it for the end of the conversation.

We should probably open by telling her how you feel our presence is changing your brain and how you are afraid our continued stay has permanent side-effects.

And we should also ask why. Why we you are being kept here. Why are afraid of you. And why they keep refusing to tell you the reason.

What reaction are they fearing from you? Outrage? Resentment? Mental breakdwn? Ask Judicium to tell you, if not why you can't be let out of the base, at least why they won't explain you the motive.