I thought the nanobots were permanently grafted to the body but the size shifting require the suit?
Can't Donna just activate the suit anyway if it's needed?

>>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!

Kaktus 2022/10/04(Tue)05:34 No. 1045431 ID: 681cb5
File 166488685689.png - (104.30KB , 500x700 , 57.png )

Turning the strange weapon she had around in your hand, you can’t help but notice how similar it looks to one of those brands you use to put marks of ownership on the weakling thralls, but that can’t be right, can it? Not only does the symbol not convey how tasty the morsel is, nor how good of a breeder they are, but the handle is made of wood which would just burn the fuck up if you tried to heat it up in a fire. Hmm… yet, it is definitely a brand… which means… it must be magical? Not only do those runes heat it up, but they must also ensure that the brand does… something to whoever it marks. Maybe they become docile? Or just weak? You can’t really be assed to go get Pesi, so maybe it’s would be for the best of you just snapped the stick? Nah, Pesi would be fucking livid if you did that shit, so instead… maybe brand the gargoyle? To see what it does? Hmm… worth considering… wait, you just got an even better idea on how to use it!

”Yeer goddess will have mah fucking ‘ead, eh?” you ask her as you slowly walk behind her, idly spinning her branding iron in one hand. ”You may think yourself… nggg… powerful, but you’re just a bunch of weak sinners!” she tells you as you start to let your hands explore her body, groping her through her clothes. ”Go on.” you whisper as you start to use the weapon to poke her crotch, even though her long and thick skirt makes it hard to do so. ”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.” she mumbles, though it’s clear she’s focusing more on your hands massaging her body and the pole rubbing against her below her belt. ”Oh?” you say just to keep her talking, all the while you start to grind your own junk against her, making sure she feels how you’re starting to get hard, ”The g-g-g-gah… garden belongs to her! She is the only t-true godde

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>>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.

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?

B. We're no good boy.

>>1045442
Actually him turning into a zombie would probably free you of suspicion since humans usually don't bite people, also A, we're on a redemption timeline now bitch

You know this reminds me of this movie I saw where a zombie ate a dudes girlfriend and got her memories or something and then became more human that way. Or was it the other way around? Either way, you should eat the squirrel’s brain.

>>1045442
B., we can always just come up with some excuse later if we're pressed about it and do the fish-watching tomorrow instead. That body is on a timer and the consequences of ignoring it would be a lot worse than disappointing some rabbit and not getting his stew.

Blaming it on the fish-thief might work too but -- honestly, we're always going to look sus as shit no matter what we do if they find out the squirrel was murdered. They might buy that it was fish-thief, but it'd be his word against the known starving-looking zombie stranger and John would never reasonably be able to clear his name, they'd drive us out or kill us too if they have the smallest lick of sense.

The fish thief could be a good ally though. A fellow omnivore or carnivore with enough skill to avoid getting caught for who knows how long. Maybe they're even a zombie too and we might get something like a friend.

On a different note -- is it just a quirk of the art style, or does John look younger than someone in his mid- to late-thirties should? Is this zombie virus arresting his aging?

Shello, short for Shelatin.

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.

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.

There's a goat looking for flowers too, but eating them! Look for goat tracks and follow before they eat the rest!

Maybe it's just a passing beast.
Stay on the path and walk to the nearest ranger post.

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)?

>>1045382
Considering that the headsplitter was accompanied by what appeared to be mutated tobaks I would refrain from eating mysterious cubes which kinda match their colour scheme.

>>1045382
If anything here is gonna mutate you it might be whatever kibble they feed you. But starving yourself won’t bring about good results in the long run either - they’ll either start force feeding you (and they had that option while you were unconscious...) or might take other steps like, uh, going back to thar other option of probable death. It may behoove you to play along to an extent - take a nibble or at least make it look like you’ve had a bite for now.

Eventually you’ll have to chow down if you keep on living here, if not someone comes to your rescue, of course.

On the up side, maybe a color scheme change will change the shape of your eyes!

>>1045382
>eat the cube?
Hmm, could be some kind of addictive substance, to force you to rely on the headsplitter.
Search around for something that seems a bit more normal.

Maybe focus your horns to try and find an electrical signal nearby be it tobak or equipment? Orienting yourself is most important. Look out the hole, check out the doors.

Put the cube on a plate and then go explore. If someone stops you you can always pretend you were looking for cutlery to eat it.
Throw something through the hole and listen for a sound then try any door you find.

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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Cammy !jCVxW.91N. 2022/09/29(Thu)17:53 No. 1045069 ID: a7b16c
File 166449919710.png - (164.84KB , 794x524 , image (11).png )

/qst/ >>5418940 >>5419730
“They can come.”

“I'll start the fire.” Said Snapper, opening his wings. “You cool off.”

They took off their armors and first sat, then laid, on the cool sand. The rimlights faded little by little, and they stuck to their water provisions for the night; The heat only meant they had to last. They ate lightly and Snapper, who was warm blooded, took the first watch. The night was uneventful.

------

Come morning they cleaned their camp, mixed the ash with sand until it couldn't be made out anymore, and stored all the coal left in small pouches; if it became necessary they could burn it, inside the pouches, between their chainmail and armor to warp themselves up. Once everything was done they stood still for longer than they needed to, Scraptooth and Snapper sharing nervous looks.

The bugs didn't come, and after some time Kicker walked then ran off without a word followed by the other herreras, and Snapper waited a bit longer before taking flight. Maybe he'd have to signal the tooth too if things didn't go smoothly, which was never pleasant.

An hour later, Kicker cursed under her breath -and immediately felt dejà vu- when Snapper signaled her again with a light. This time it was higher priority, and he rushed his message the moment she confirmed contact: He'd sighted the bugs again, but this time they weren't followed them yet. Instead, they'd taken something metallic from the sand under their camp Snapper couldn't make out through his scope.

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.”

*to toothpick and Scarred* Alright, so in the adjacent room, the two people I saw earlier are chatting and apparently know that voices (me) are here, saying an outside source claiming to be Essence saw me and tipped them off that I spied on them. They know I need a vessel to be here, but I don't think they figured out it's Pandora. I think if they spot Pandora posing as Lorence, they'll get mighty suspicious since I arrived around the time Pandora did. might be best to not be seen by them, or enter the next room. If you're going to, try to stall going in until I give the all clear.

I do have an idea though, but we gotta wait for an opportune moment to do so, we can use that guy with the walkie talkie as our fall guy possibly, since he is hearing voices, or rather Echo's voice. We can make it look like he's my vessel instead of Pandora in that case. For now, it might be best for Echo to play along and pretend to be a voice like me guiding that person.

If you have some ideas based off of the info I gave Toothpick, let me know, otherwise, I'm going to continue scouting.

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.

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
File 166470595706.jpg - (6.22KB , 256x256 , d17.jpg )

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.

>>1044267
Yeah, do this. Hopefully that'll stop anyone from doing any cuddling and/or petting without permission.

Kayk 2022/10/01(Sat)16:32 No. 1045198 ID: 8483cf
File 166466712863.png - (113.89KB , 500x500 , LF6-29.png )

Just because someone is fluffy and cute doesn’t mean they want to be cuddled without permission. I can’t believe I have to make this rule, but by Mom I’m going to enforce it. I write up a note big and clear and post it where it’s very visible:

PLEASE DO NOT CUDDLE our employees without permission.
Signed, Your Friendly Neighborhood Dragon

Today’s been stressful for both Dotti and me. Going forward, it’d be nice if there was time we could spend off the clock, with no responsibilities or worries. I know Dotti has a hobby of sketching. I haven’t really developed any hobbies I’m proud of. Mostly cooking and playing card games with my siblings.

I invite Dotti out to the park where I met Jules and Fritz two days ago. She’s brought a sketchbook and is eager to draw the sights.

I think about offering to pose for her, but before I do, I spy two elderly humans, a man and a woman, playing cards on a park bench. My interest is immediately piqued. I think I recognize the layout of the game!

I shyly sneak over (followed by Dotti) and watch them play for a minute. The man scoops up a pile of cards and grumbles- he’s lost a significant card lead, and has to start over. I want to point out that he didn’t have to do that, there was another combination he could have taken to avoid it, but I keep moving in order to avoid drawing attention.

There are other games being played around the park, some by adventurers my age without any assigned jobs at the moment, some by soldiers off garrison duty, and some ball games by the local teenagers. Dotti and I just take a bench and relax.

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5. Ask Dotti what she wants to do most, customer service, working the register, or learn to make advanced food. It'll make Dotti happier if she does something she is passionate about.

if she doesn't want to choose, suggest 1. She can learn manners this way.

>>1045198
4. Your rep is taking a hit, you need to compensate.

>>1045221

Agreed!

>>1043127
>"I mean, Mount Hood is a Volcano, so going off of how the place is rumbling it feels like the most likely thing is that it's holding back an eruption, and it's so hot because like, magma."
I think for a moment before slowly positing a thought. "Sarah, if the chains are holding back a volcanic eruption, I think we shouldn't take them off while we're standing in the volcano."

>how do we solve the problem of there being a demon if there is?
"Throw it in a different volcano, maybe?"

>>1042032
Moments ago, during the fight itself:
Jennifer launches forwards, in a sublime essence-fueled moment unfolding from small bat to large bat monster, silvery trails outlining the spaces where her wingbeats existed. She shoot’s towards the side of the cavern, ignoring the foul smoldering wolves and the goop-beast and zeroes in on the wall of scales. Around her, her friends fight and splatter wolves and unleash waves of spidery terror. She flails, unused to her war-form of a body as she collides with the beast that circles the room
Jennifer suckles lightly on a snake, literally, not metaphorically. She wanted to rip and tear, but apparently even though her monstrous form is based on a big big brown bat, the truth of vampire bats has infected her. Maybe it’s a memetic threat? Never should have actually researched bats. Never. And then the snake smashes down, coils looping. Once, swoosh and she flaps upwards, gracefully dodging. Twice, a light chomp as the snake slams itself against her teeth. And then thrice. Thrice to get bound in living scales.
Good thing a certain nameless friend has never heard of overkill. That splits the snake and frees makes things easy. Screeching out her thanks, Jennifer zeroes in on a wolf in the midst of getting held down, and launches herself away from the bloody mass of scales and corruption that used to be a snake-thing, winging in to show that werewolves aren’t the only things that can bite.
Too bad she mostly grabs a mouthful of fur. Why are they so fluffy!

Luckily the second bite is better. Much better. Much more delicious, a throbbing artery pumping out bursts of flavor. At the same time, it's a dissapointment. Jennifer feels, deep inside, that there is something missing. Not with the blood, no, but with herself. There's

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Hazel Fletcher 2022/09/17(Sat)03:22 No. 1043994 ID: ae4e49
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>>1043659
>"It's a spirit. It's trapped. It wants to be freed. I can step over. To it's side. I'm not sure if I can get back."
"If you think you need to help, then go for it. We'll support you from this side as best we can," Hazel says. "I don't think you're going to instantly die on the other side, at least. The world has more in store for us yet."

"Do you want us to split these chains before you go, or... actually, signal us from the other side. If you write a message addressed to me, that damn spider that crawled inside of me should be able to find it, and read it out to me."

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?"

> *shares a feeling of excitement
So, to my understanding, we're a hive mind of sorts, I'm very curious about the process that went into our creation and how certain procedures work. We have already put in a request for a redacted report from the head of archives for information on our parent project and would like permission for the declassification of some of these elements. As you can see, we lack basic information on... well most everything really, but have already produced results of some value.

> *shares a feeling of worry
Also, do we have a body, or are we >>1044976, that tentacled capsule thing? This is out first time seeing from the persective that we physically embody and not from the live feed, so our perspective is skewed.

Also, I imagine downtime activities would be hard if we didn't have at least one body and weren't mobile.

> *shares a feeling of confusion
Actually, for the sake of clarification could you just point out who is what in the room. >>1044988 has taken a shot in the dark, so at the minimum I'd at least like some clarification on that front.
> Request to change Secretary[Staff]'s designation to Secretary{53cr3t} for the sake of clarity > Attempts to wave a limb(?) at them if they are the icosahedron next to us > Also, who can hear messages issued like th

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((On second thought, I'd like to communicate FIRST THING that a science team might be eavesdropping))

>>1044995
I now judge necessary to point out that by "Alex", I meant the VC first and foremost (and {d63ea8} if they're indeed the VC's consciousness)

Speaking of said VC, they've been coughing for some time now. This usually indicates something leaking into their respiratory tract. Fixing that would improve VC's efficiency. Be mindful though the "leak" could also be the legacy defense system expelling undesirables or waste; in which case the cause should be fixed, not merely the symptom.

>>1045046
I suspect those may be derivative of the security teams and legacy defenses fighting, which I believe is something that is already being worked on. See:>>1043828 and >>1044402
>>1045022
((I am not sure that secretary wasn't just a 'generic' secretary, though I guess we have fairly well adopted them so ours now I guess))

>>1045059
Ah, right. In this case, I guess the best solution would be to spoof the chemical markers the legacy defenses use to distinguish friend from foe. Though I guess the science team is already working on that and it's why they want intact samples.

>>1045026
>Level 3 Traps are impassable to your troops
Barricades are passable.

>Ranged units cannot move and fire
I cannot find where this is referenced.

>>1045029
My bad, it's the lvl 3 traps.

*We have two hospitals. We can capitalize on this by having Yorzzyll waste a turn attacking an opponent below them. We should also 'expend' a unit, most notably the hornets.
* Sorry, little doggos, but this hulking angry supermonster is worth far more in military strength than you. Even more importantly, Yorzzyll's deluge is a game-breaker that can easily neutralize the lava rooms. Once we've defeated Yorzzyll , replace the hounds. Alternatively, if Yorzzyll's deluge kills the hornets outright, have them replace those. Or, perhaps it will take a liking to the river.
We have a better chance than it looks, but the true danger is any hidden abilities that we don't know of. Have a reserve force ready for additional reinforcements, and this should be a general success.
C5 (Cannons at Depth 5): Get into the elevator, immediately ride to Depth 2 to reach D2, Unleash everything (Projected Health: 105 -> 45)
E2 (Cannons at Depth 2): Move to F2 and prepare to unleash a barrage.
E3 (Mages at Depth 3): Move to E2.
F2 (Fire Hornets at Depth 2): Move to F1, have them act as a bulwark or at least get them away from potential flooding.
G1 (Soldiers at Depth 1): Okay, this one's complicated. Move to D1 and drop down to D2 as the elevator moves the cannons up. Defend the cannons from the monster, and prepare to aggro or flank.
G2 (Clerics at Depth 2): Hold position.
H1 (Soliders at Depth 1): Move to E1, fire all (Projected Health: 45 -> 23).
I1 (Hounds at Depth 1): This will be the sacrifice. Move to D1 and attack (Projected Health: 23 -> 8).
Yorzzyll: Will unleash a deluge that causes water to sink through the elevator, thereby ensuring we at least deal with the bottom layer of lava even if Yorzzyll dies entirely, attack and decimate a unit (which can then be healed by the hospital).
Kill or Capture on next turn.

I'm sorry for the kitchen! I didn't know that thing was there! I swear!

>>1045032
I like this sequence. Let's hope it goes as planned!

>>1045032
Just need to injure it so it does not grow stronger and milk it for its water