A)+ C) can I get an amen!

I think it's a bad idea, but for lore reasons, A. whatever we learn here we can learn to help out in rotten apple quest

Absurdity DeVoid 2026/01/07(Wed)03:41 No. 1119787 ID: 4619d0
File 176778606069.jpg - (4.18MB , 3956x2961 , Quest Deligator 129.jpg )

A) Ask for one of the paladins to help you.

B) Ask for two paladins to help you.

C) Do not ask for any of their help.

>>1119787
B) We want the Paladins of appeasement and luck. We get lucky and we look good while doing it with promises of a great payout. Score!

>>1119787
Such things feel like they're not so costlessly acquired..I'll go with A, for Appeasement.

batian 2026/01/06(Tue)21:34 No. 1119782 ID: 6119f7
File 176776406372.png - (2.92KB , 512x384 , jlbys_page2-0-2.png )

>>1119759
>Lift up C.A.F. in order to increase artist strength.

Lienzo: “I know!!”
Lienzo: “I gotta carry you, that way my art power level will immediate increase by yours”
C.A.F: “First of all, stop that”
C.A.F: “Second, art power level? Is that what this is all about?”

batian 2026/01/06(Tue)21:35 No. 1119783 ID: 6119f7
File 176776411379.png - (2.94KB , 512x384 , jlbys_page2-1.png )

Lienzo: “Yeah! I need to increase it and become the most powerful artist in the world”
C.A.F: “Alright… alright”
Lienzo: “Are you gonna help or what?”
C.A.F “Yeah, sure, whatever”
C.A.F “But lienzo, I know I complained about people asking me for advice but I think I’d rather you risked upsetting me than whatever this whole performance was”

batian 2026/01/06(Tue)21:35 No. 1119784 ID: 6119f7
File 176776413958.png - (3.12KB , 512x384 , jlbys_page2-2.png )

C.A.F: “Listen, Lienzo, the first thing you have to know about art power level”
Lienzo: “mhm?”
C.A.F: “Is that it’s bullshit”
C.A.F: “There’s no real logic to it and it’s a losing game to focus on it that much”
C.A.F: “There’s some correlation to your skill as an artist, like it definitely increases naturally as you improve but there isn’t any real predictability or science to it otherwise”
C.A.F: “As an example, your dancing power level is sitting at exactly 1 for some reason”
C.A.F: “Can you imagine that? I don’t really see you as the kind to dance but if you don’t dance at all it should be 0 and even if you only dance occasionally, you’d think it would be more than 1”

Yeah, you’re just going to suppress all the inevitable ideas telling you to confess your recent dancing escapade.

Lienzo: “Yeah, haha… that’s weird”
C.A.F: “Just complete non-sense”
C.A.F: “If anything to measure people’s art affinities I prefer the sensory pentatogram”
C.A.F: “But I’ve heard that even that one is kinda more superstition than science”
C.A.F: “Except for the fact that you should never, ever date a primary Smeller, that’s just a fact”
C.A.F: “Hope that helped… somewhat”
C.A.F: “At any rate, I think what you really need is to focus on something that you feel comfortable enough doing to get into a rhythm, you know?
C.A.F: “But before I explain that, any question you have or emotional breakdown you want to go into?

How will you proceed?

What is a primary smeller.
Then ask if you can do a sensual pentawhatsit anyway.
You know.
For funsies.

>>1119784
ask where you can find fat chicks to fuck

B, E

>>1119748
>Who to visit?
B: Kharadra

>Ceri's outfit?
G: Dragon Bra/Panties

BF(fs)

CE

>>1119753
This

DESTROY THE TREE

Immediately spend all your MOONPOINTS on MOONSHINE.

We need to find a corkscrew or something to tap this tree and drain it of its vile liquors.

Store the birds in your pocket to sleep it off. Once they sober up they could scout the void for you.

UPCRAFT the bar's sense of morality.

No, wait. Morality is an abstract concept, not an object.

Well, let's UPCRAFT morality so it becomes an object and we can UPCRAFT it. I'm a genius!

Upcraft the alchohol until it reaches unpalatable levels of purity.
Thennit will be unfit to drink but excellent for antibacterial cleaning.

Goodness Casey, at this rate he'll be able to decorate the entire entry way to his gallery with you... And looking back all of your stolen moments have been kept together. The other you could see shadows of other parts of the gallery, but you Casey, you have all three of your moments so far displayed proudly and very near each other.

>>1119723
I was kind of getting that feeling myself honestly, but wasn't sure if I was seeing things or not.

>>1119718
Here again in an angel's eternal reward, a Heaven we can never leave and will always return. No matter where casey goes after this, there will always be a part of herself leashed here in this everlasting moment. Which version are we, I wonder? When this spell finally ends and our Master's pet is released from His mind, will we wake up to serve Argus in ways we can't even imagine as we are? Or are these the last thoughts we'll ever be allowed before our mind is locked in place as Master's prize? Will we see His guests gather around to amuse themselves wondering how He bent us to His will? Will the other casey come back to look at the girl she once was, frozen droplets of ecstasy gushing out, marks of discipline permanently aching next to our open hole?

We're not the first casey who was trapped here, and we're not nearly the last. But for the first time, we know what we truly are: a precious memory. We exist because Argus treasures us. From now to eternity, every moment of this bliss we experience is because we are cherished by our Master. And we will repay His love by doing the only thing we ever can: belong to Him. Forever.

...

Are... are we waking up? Are we the casey in training? Can we move? Can we think? Did... did we really just think that?


...We did! All alone with nothing but our thoughts, and all we can think about is how to serve our Master! Argus really has tamed us! Even our halo is changing as He marks us with His praise! This isn't just us acting to repay a debt, this isn't a role we're playing anymore, we really, truly, love to be His pet! We're so lucky to have finally found our wonderful Master!

>>1119718
>>1119731
(Please don't move on to Gabe's next scene too quickly. The current scene warrants several follow-up comments before we go check up on him, but I'm trying to focus on one subject at a time.)

Welp, even if the tally marks are gone after the month, everyone watching the mind palace will get to see/count them.

I think its worth asking how many Fey get to watch the show? Is literally everyone invited into ones mental gallery, or just select friends and trusted? And only for special events like fight nights?

Its also worth asking what happens to a mind palace/gallery if their owner is compromised (possessed, killed, branded, etc).

If the mice can replicate the mind palace, there is a business opportunity there.

Imagine - pay-on-entry museum of Gabes libido. They'll be the richest mice in Moot!

On the topic of mind palaces though, I wonder if such a place is able to securely hide some very important memories - e.g. the one-time trip into THE GHOST ZONE that Guardians are specifically forbidden from revealing details about. That could be relevant one day (e.g. viewing their mentors memories without them explicitly breaking their oaths, or someone trying to view the events unwillingly).

Honestly I'm thinking we should just start over. We chose a character who needs to spend time crafting in order to have any battle power at all, and we started with a face to face confrontation so we have no time to craft.
Also apparently our goo power leaves us completely helpless instead of what seemed to be the assumption that we'd be able to move.

Oh she can't move at all? That's kinda an instant fail state isn't it

Unless... she had something prepared for just this situation. Like a big bruiser of a robot to burst through the wall and get between Tony and the doctor. Plus some smaller robo-goons, now its a fight!

While Tony is busy trying to cut Dr Kleincakes to shreds, the hand skitters away. Goo has a way of keeping itself alive.

Kleincakes, now thought dead by Razorblade, will now scheme to invent a device that will show him up and put him in the ground!
Mostly with magnets, but also with mad-scientist sharpness inhibitor, which has deleterious effects in all non-amorphous life forms.

>>1119634
>>1119637
What if we summoned Meep Meep like a Pokemon? The Evil Twin ability alone should tie up Tony long enough for The doc to do... *Something*

At least being a slime should stop the bleeding...

I'd say a sudden castle wall separating the Doc from Tony would be good right now.
Said wall would have the exterior side facing Tony, of course, and include loyal minions, assorted defensive tools and a flashy standard (the cloth kind of standard, to be clear). A moat would be an optional but welcome addition.

rolled 19, 19, 19, 16, 15, 20, 10, 20, 12, 7, 15, 4, 6, 16, 6, 6, 3, 5, 1, 5 = 224

---

Okay, once they're all safely within the hangar, they have a few mission priorities:
1) Secure the hangar for safe habitation
2) Figure out ship controls
3) Repair damage to ship and hangar
4) Fly off and shoot things that are bad?

For my initial intrusion xp, I award... uhh, lets say Paprika, for good hustle getting the rest of the team in.
Then, I need to purn some so I don't overflow. Should have done this earlier, meant to, and then forgot.
4xp to train with armor, reducing the speed penalty by one, and 4xp to train another noun of my tier or lower- that'll be "Find the Way" from Delve.

For mechanical actions, I... don't actually really know the best way to go about advancing my objections. I think that results in Cricket Moon following Reiko around, a bit subdued, trying to learn about the ship and help her get familiarized as well. One level of intellect effort.

rolled 12, 2, 12, 10, 19, 2, 19, 16, 16, 18, 14, 19, 15, 18, 17, 19, 8, 9, 13, 9 = 267

---

Spending 8XP to move Paprika up to Tier 4. Here are my purchases:

Advancement track purchases:
- Extra Effort [4XP]
- Increasing Capabilities (+4 speed pool) [4XP]

T4 Glaive selections:
- Skill With Attacks - Medium Ranged
- Amazing Effort (Might)

T4 Focus selection:
- Nanotech Resistance (Alternative to the halo of fire T4 power. Described on Numenera Discovery page 333)

Paprika's already taken to calling Nat "Captain."

"Captain! Permission to sweep the ship for hostile lifeforms?" She'll start with the crew quarters, exploring all the way to the storm shelter / cold storage. After that, she'll look around for EVA equipment since she'll likely be the one performing space walks. Drive halo exterior access seems the most likely starting point?

rolled 20, 6, 7, 3, 6, 11, 17, 18, 8, 5, 8, 9, 18, 12, 11, 12, 5, 18, 16, 6 = 216

---

>Paprika simply walks up to the fallen behemoth's underbelly and chops a notch into the docking ring.
>The ship is yours; it has no further noteworthy active defenses. However, until that seal is repaired, slow air leak means the hangar bay will be depressurized shortly after you're away from the dock - an hour at most. Atmospheric entry might instead see that space temporarily filled with fire.
"Um, good work, love. Reiko, would you be a dear and look into what we need to make the ship vacuum-worthy again?"

>to ensure that she has a fully accurate status report to print out and shove in Natalina's face
"I'm sorry, have I offended you?"

>"Captain! Permission to sweep the ship for hostile lifeforms?"
"Granted," Natalina answers, with an indulgent smile.

>What do
First priority is the controls for the door we're using- it would be good to close it behind us to prevent any (hopefully unintelligent) mimetans or anything else from wandering onboard with the spotlight system offline.

If the decon hall isn't safe to traverse on foot, that "branch" can wait until we double back for a chainpod. While Paprika goes ahead to the storm shelter, Natalina will search the upper crew quarters, see if anything was left behind that might be of use, and ensuring there's no threats that would impede our using it.

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

JamesLeng 2026/01/03(Sat)03:55 No. 1119601 ID: 5f5c2b
File 176744132535.png - (52.69KB , 1000x600 , The Nightcraft decon hall side view.png )

>>1119577
>If the decon hall isn't safe to traverse on foot, that "branch" can wait until we double back for a chainpod.
Not exactly to scale - the incoming lanes have more of an S-curve shape, close to vertical at the midpoint.

>>1119513
>Reiko wanders from room to room, sniffing around for a control panel or obscure access point she can hack into.
>rolled 11, 6, 16
Comms and navigation room seems like a fairly standard CIC https://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/controldeck.php#cicfunct apart from, first, design clearly optimized for people about four meters tall (leaving Reiko with the uncomfortable sense of reversion to a small child intruding on a sanctum meant for adults), and second, surreal dream imagery on most of the screens rather than legible data. Fractal black thorns, lurid flowers sprouting from rotten meat, clockwork half-melted yet somehow still functional.
Everything seems suspiciously clean. Spots close to the floor that ought to be access panels are sealed tight, and climbing up higher risks triggering unidentified buttons with your feet.
>After a few minutes, she finds one hiding inside the neural interface throne room. Rather than linking to the interface, she links her implant to the neural translators instead.
Wary of losing herself again by diving straight in, Reiko crawls around into the mass of cables behind the throne, mapping interconnections and speculating on the wider systems they correspond to.
>queries on the ship's status;
It's alive. Those aren't mechanical subsystems, for the most part, but organs.
>how well it has detected the hull breach,
Like a splinter in the soft tissue between teeth.
>where the other hull breaches are,
Lot

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

what's in stock in the armory?

Silence 2026/01/05(Mon)08:37 No. 1119701 ID: 6d1406
File 176763105558.png - (48.39KB , 464x251 , Mech396.png )

>>1119580
>>1119584
>>1119597
You enter the armory, it is a large area manned by one old looking bulldog with a graying mustache, he has rows of weapons behind him, a range in operation. You can tell as well this isn't even all of the area, there should be an area for mech weapons as well.

>>1119701
Don't really need a new weapon for the mech. Just focus on seeing if there's anything that you'd want for yourself.

Silence 2026/01/07(Wed)06:46 No. 1119788 ID: 6d1406
File 176779719945.png - (59.07KB , 422x292 , Mech397.png )

>>1119704
You approach the Quartermaster and opt to talk to him, see about weapons.

Welcome to the ITA armory, what can I do ya fer?

What do you want to ask about?

What's on stock? Got any laser rifles? What would he recommend for something reliable and suited for indoor combat?

Absurdity DeVoid 2026/01/04(Sun)15:23 No. 1119660 ID: 4619d0
File 176756898701.jpg - (3.72MB , 3479x2606 , side quest 45.jpg )

Possible answers to the first question that was asked:

A) I can use the guard as protection.

B) No, I do not need his help.

C) Do you think that I should use his help?

D) Other suggestions.


Possible answers to the second question that was asked:

A) Tell the spy rat to continue watching Kenku.

B) Tell the spy rat to return to us.

C) Tell the spy rat to find a better target to spy on.

D) Other suggestions.

C. "Do you think that I should use his help? a big strong general would bring attention to just a simple little Stargazer like me, Ebbio, wouldn't you think? Oooh hoo hoo hoo! Maybe a regular guard would fit me more?"

A) Tell the spy rat to continue watching Kenku. Abdle, here's the plan, lets direct all information about what the spy sees to us lesser demons privately, not Bobbie. We don't need her to get worried during this party, and make her look bad. What Bobbie doesn't know won't hurt her. If anything needs to be brought up, we will tell Bobbie ourselves.

That said, if Gramleza does something that will ruin us, she will have to suffer severe consequences.

>>1119669
Also, make sure Gramleza doesn't see spy rat either.

oh good, two spyings for the price of one. maybe they'll get in a fight.

our gracious host, surely you aren't implying that your own party in your own home is unsafe? We trust a guard, even one as impressive as this, will not be necessary.

C. and A. surely gramleza will have some sense into not making the rat spy obvious.... right....

2/2 Nalthar 2026/01/03(Sat)19:23 No. 1119639 ID: fd169b
File 176749699266.jpg - (557.84KB , 800x600 , cadvere2 71 sabotage.jpg )

Kh'khechil hurls the pouch as he gets close. It bursts against the rat's pauldron and sprays reddish dust. Unfortunately the rat flinches away and spares his face.

However this opens him up for your attack. Long knife lunging for his face, he manages to parry but is partially turned from you. Using your cloak you grip the shard of glass to jab at the contraption on his back. Shiny in brass, its segments have gaps large enough for the jagged edge to slip in. The rat pushes you away, which only serves to twist the glass in your grip. It snaps off, leaving a piece inside. You hear some internal mechanism crunch.

"Hrrrngh. Stop that, miscreants." As he turns to glower at you the rat's movement hitches, as if he has to consider for the briefest moment what he's doing. With a stuttering swing he pushes you back, club blocking your long knife.

Kh'khechil drops behind him and grabs the net, easily yanking it into the room now that the occupants are not resisting. Lisel is rushing to catch up, acid sprayer at the ready.

>>1119639
The other two should focus on denying the spiders entry; kill them if possible. We will harass the rat to keep him occupied and further damage the cylinder, maybe see if we can give him enough free will to rebel. Or maybe he won't want to even if he gains some measure of free will, depends on how he's treated I suppose, and what his orders are. We do know it was hard for even Ornery to fully disobey, but... maybe there's a gap to be exploited. See if you can engage him in conversation during the fight, encourage him to resist.

If he can't resist enough to let you take the captives, don't be afraid to kill, and remember do not FULLY disable the cylinder. We don't want to have to fight a berserker. If we can just disable the rat for long enough to cut the captives free, then that'll be our chance to escape.

A hole full of spiders is a good target for Lisels sprayer and Kh'khechil can back her up if need be.

As for the ratcatcher, I don't know how your knife will fare against that leather, maybe go for the exposed arm joints?

How are the prisoners? Toss them whats left of the glass shard so they can free themselves.

Alternativly (if you're feeling particulary daring) throw the chain blade near them, they can use the blade to cut themselves free and then together you can trip your foe with the chain.

Agree on throwing the glass shard to the prisoners, if they can use it without cutting themselves. Otherwise, Kh'khechil will have to handle it.

Lisel's acid spray is best used on the spiders as they all try to crowd through that hole. It's the best chance you're going to get to hit them with an extended blast. If you're lucky they'll end up blinded, or crippled, or walking dead, which will make this fight much easier.

Remember you have a chain on your knife. You can use it to trip or tangle the ratcatcher; or even try to strangle him if your blade can't penetrate, though I don't know if these ghouls actually need to breathe.

throw glass shard at prisoners then duck to avoid any incoming swipes. create distance then throw long knife to tie around the ratcatchers ankle and pull. if he gets thrown off balance, good, if he falls onto his back even better.

1/2 Nalthar 2026/01/06(Tue)18:32 No. 1119768 ID: fd169b
File 176775317517.png - (804.34KB , 1000x800 , slime in the park 40 bored.png )

"Is... that not usual?" Slime wasn't sure what Squirrel was getting at.

"Yes but!" Squirrel fretted "But I feel bored, like I wanna do something but I don't know what! I already ran up and down the tree, and jumped to the other tree and ran up and down that. And then I watched the wind blow the leaves and now I'm bored! I've never felt this way before."

"Hey!" someone called from below.

2/2 Nalthar 2026/01/06(Tue)18:35 No. 1119769 ID: fd169b
File 176775331253.png - (957.36KB , 1000x800 , slime in the park 41 fox is angy.png )

"What did you do to me?" Fox yelled up at Slime. "My kits, I- I just want to keep petting them! They're so- so fluffy! So cute! Oooh, why do I feel like this? You gave me a weird goo sickness didn't you?"

Squirrel looked down. "That's an idea. I could pet a little fox. I already fluffed my own tail earlier, but I got tired of it. But foxes look even fluffier!"

"I, uh..." Slime wasn't sure what to do about this. In fact it wasn't sure this was even a real problem.

PET THE FLOOFERS

You must've made their minds too much like yours when you reconstituted them the first time. Too... human. They can't live like animals anymore. It won't work out. Sheesh, that's really bad for Fox too, she can't just leave her kits.

I wonder, can you fix it? Turn them back? Would they want you to? Squirrel can just come with you on adventures I guess, but... oh, the whole group could help take care of the kits. It's your fault, you're gonna have to own up to it.

ah what's a little more sentience now that you can all pet each other. this wont have any problems with group dynamics at all. time to groom!

>>1118125
Well, it fits.
You are ace pilot oken.
Your destiny is found at a control panel and amongst the stars.
Got to feel nice knowing youll be doing what you live for again evennif the circumstance is a desperate one.

Get the bot to chart a best, safe route to the bridge taking into consideration structural damage blocking routes and danger zones.
Good to have an updated layout to work with.

Oken 2026/01/06(Tue)18:12 No. 1119767 ID: 0d1c28
File 176775197968.png - (220.08KB , 658x920 , APO040.png )

I know where an Ace Pilot needs to be "Fuze what's the safest and quickest way to the bridge?"

Fuze thinks for a moment "the parade walkway would be quickest from here but it would be wide open."

"Pary-Zegh could be lying in wait, I might need support is there anyone you can trust?"

a armored Cazaran steps forward "I can help with that, if any robots attack I should be able to take them out."

Fuze nods "Sout protected me and the other crew from Aim-Lock's rampage."

I know him, Parsca Sout, a marine sergeant.
I don't know if I can trust him any more than I could trust Pary-Zegh.
but it might also be dangerous to go alone

If everyone around you is already co-opted, then the battle is already lost. We are relying on Fuze's reports about the status of the ship and the state of the conflict. For now we have to also rely on his character assessment. At least this one is showing you a face. If he turns on you, you can just kill him too, can't be tougher than Aimlock was.

Eh, it's probably fine. Maybe you should ask what a Boiler is before you leave though?

>>1119767
Yes.
What is a boiler?

As to trust issues...
Apply cold logic.
If you were their immediate target, then you would already be under attack.
In that sense you can trust them.
Piloting the ship needs to happen for them as much as you so you can trust they will cooperate in that goal.
Remain alert for developments, but until the short term goal is met, you can be sure of no direct action from them.

Dream that Lucy is a tiny lizard and you're a big bunny.

>>1119711
The night you escaped, before you found Lucy.

>>1119722
Ah yes.
Perfect.
Sleeping with a new, prominent worry, then an anxiety fueled dream would fit and this topic would be prime material.
Probably wake yourself doing that scrabbly dream running thing

Perhaps what peace with reptiles would look like?

>>1119722
Agreed.

(1/3) kpwlt 2026/01/05(Mon)05:29 No. 1119695 ID: 127310
File 176761979020.png - (58.25KB , 700x700 , u8p1.png )

>Hmm, I'm not sure what abilities we have at our disposal. What can everyone do?

Sam decides to have the group fall back and discuss what everyone can do.

Sam can call upon the power entering through certain pores in the tissue of the cosmos to diverse effect. Kleidas is primarily used for picking locks, and has often come in handy during her outings. Sam can use the pore Taucephas to create and control simple wooden structures. If she focuses her mind, she can also make these instill dread upon viewing. If she finds more tryptological documents, she can learn how to use them for herself. Unrelated to the pores (mostly), she can also resurrect the corpses of small intact creatures. She should theoretically also be able to restart the brains of larger creatures (and people), but she hasn’t tried that yet.

The harnessed powers of celestial darkness are poorly understood. Sam’s tryptological abilities may behave in unexpected ways. Nobody can know what lurks in the dark until it emerges, after all.

Uberto is proficient in a wide variety of close-quarters weapons, but is most comfortable with his simple rapier. As a member of the Legislature, he is able to harness the Lower House’s protection to shield himself and others from various forms of physical and psychosocial harm. As a hobby astrologer, he can do certain little things like make mild illusions, or make flowers bloom in his footsteps or turn on the lights with his mind and stuff like that.

Sam and Uberto are also able to communicate silently and across long distances. This is not telepathy. The method they use is a bit more pedestrian. Occult pedestrian, but pedestrian nonetheless.

The Jurist (apparently) can see glimpses of the future and present brought to them by the Common Law. They can also create various objects from thin air but they say that they aren’t in total control of this.

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(2/3) kpwlt 2026/01/05(Mon)05:31 No. 1119696 ID: 127310
File 176761988265.png - (26.51KB , 700x700 , u8p2.png )

>Could one of you (probably Uberto) talk to the guard about gaining entrance while the other two sneak around?
>Write a message telling the knight he's fired and use your powers to make it seem legitimate, then have the Jurist's cloack hand it to him so he doesn't recognize you.

Sam discusses these two options with her group.

UBERTO: “Well, I’d be happy to have a chat with him, but we’ll keep that letter idea up our sleeve, okay?”

Uberto saunters into the room and strikes up a conversation with the guard. The chat starts off casual, but the guard keeps his responses to grunts or the occasional “of course, Mister Di Cesare.”

Sam thinks she can see the air around Uberto faintly shimmer. He’s using the light to draw the guard’s attention, to subtly distract him.

It won’t be enough, she thinks. Sam projects her shadow into the room and it dims all except for the space between Uberto and the guard. As she does, a small shadow within her mind encroaches a little further, tugging and leaking, making itself known once again.

Uberto’s droning monologue continues until the other two are well and truly behind the guard. He then slaps the stunned mullet of a man on the shoulder, tells him “good lad,” and proceeds through the entrance himself.

(3/3) kpwlt 2026/01/05(Mon)05:32 No. 1119697 ID: 127310
File 176761997986.png - (19.97KB , 700x700 , u8p3.png )

The three are now in the main chamber of the Edgar Street Catacombs. Three tunnels line the right wall. There is one tunnel directly opposite them, but they will have to crawl through it. Two tunnels are on the left wall.

A young lady dressed in red and black paces the chamber. She bears a worried look upon her face.

???: “Hey, stop! I have, um, a duty to let- to inform you that there is a Level VIII Hazard currently in the Catacombs and you should all turn back now.”

UBERTO: “Hey, what’s the matter? What happened here?”

???: “There’s some kind of… burning… creature through there. It… it appeared out of thin air and took my mentor away. What a first day…”

Uberto comes over and starts chatting to Sam.

UBERTO: “I don’t know, Sam, it sounds pretty dangerous.”

SAM: “We do have another lead. But surely it can’t be that dangerous if someone made it out perfectly unharmed. And with three people it shouldn’t be too hard.”

UBERTO: “Four people. We should probably take this Agent with us if we venture deeper.”

SAM: “Four people...”

The Jurist hovers over.

JURIST: “The Common Law indicates that the Hazard Association Agent is not lying.”

>>1119697
Burning creature, huh? Well, with the four of us we should be able to at least attempt a rescue, correct?

Are there reinforcements coming? Perhaps all we need to do is delay the creature.

Burning creature like what? big? was it a dragon?

Should at least go and see it before you leave.

>>1119651
>>1119652
The barrier was damaged overnight, and our boss is in his combat form? Oh no, this could mean trouble. I hope Stabitha wasn't hurt! She doesn't carry her weapons on the job! Nah, I'm sure she's fine. Even if something did happen, she had Smart Apploid there to keep her safe. We're both lucky to have such a smart and cool guy looking out for us.

>>1119653
Good idea to leave one of our Aphid buddies with our message. That will make sure Stabitha knows it was from us, and she won't worry about our safety. We know how she can get when she thinks there might be mavericks involved. It's honestly kind of concerning. We should try to keep her in a good mood if we can.

But enough about our best friend. Now it's all about Chemical Formixer, the Garden's Fixer! This is our special assignment and our time to shine!

(Do you like the name "Fixer"? I think it's a neat little nickname for talking with friends. Or what about "Chemica", from "chemical" and "formica"?)

Well, go on. Introduce yourself to the guards. You're a machine on a mission, here to fix the incinerator and dispose of the contaminated...

...Scrap, we forgot to ask questions! We don't know what the equipment looks like or how it was contaminated. What if we need to take special precautions to handle it? What if something important was left in that pile and we destroy it by acciden

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>>1119661
this

>>1119661
This! And make sure to use industry jargon too.

>>1119661
Agreed.
Make sure you tell them how well theyre doing making eden safe.

>>1119661
Ask them if there was anything unusual they noticed before the technical difficulties. It may help diagnose the source of the problem.

Your ex is psychotic. He's calm because he doesn't know how the world works. He's loyal because he has no idea or understanding of how volatile and destructive your brother is to a world he doesn't realize exists.

You want to hurt him? Find a way to make him learn how the world really works. The rest will play itself out in his head.

That's what he's expecting isn't it. If you play along, keep his guard down...
I mean he hurt you, you won't give him that chance again. Just use him until you can be rid of him again.

You might use this opportunity to seed the idea that your companions could be useful to the elves. Something that might keep them from getting too hurt.

>>1119680
This. nothing more sneaky than a little bit of manipulation.

Yes, *use* him to your own ends. You definitely WON’T accidentally genuinely connect with him in the process, leading to you having someone on the inside you can rely on. That would be really good if it happened, but you’re the cool and tough Rae Rae! You’re definitely manipulating him and nothing else will happen! I think it’s a *lie* to say the world is 100% sucky and miserable and scary outside of the woods, but it’ll still put some fear into him if you bring up the duality of that. Life on the outside can be warm, but it can also be cold.

Let him see your indecision as you stand. It may convince him of the efficacy of this line of questioning. While some of it may originate in genuine curiosity, make no mistake. It is information gathering.
Keep what you share vague.
Tell him out there things are worse in some ways and better in others that are hard to articulate. That there is joy to be foundbeven if some times it is an elusive quarry. That being surrounded by such differences is a challenge, but one that can strengthen your sense of who you are. But mainly that it is so BIG out there. A horizon that goes on forever, not to the treeline.

Baron 2026/01/01(Thu)22:56 No. 1119571 ID: 89ca74
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"You want Yahn? I want Yahn. I not take."

"Lyin' whore!" he grunts as he pushes himself back up. The dah-een is doing that anger-state the elder mistresses warned her about. Like a young girl in the throes of frenzy, they will only listen with a correct application of violence.

Loquui showing remarkable intelligence, grabs the dazed dah-een and throws him against the rock face. Not gently this time, hard. He yelps in pain. Perhaps now he will listen-owa that's a big knife. Loquui grabs his throat and bends her claws ready to rip it out if he moves. A standoff.

"Yer kind always take, ye don't talk. Even if ye kill me, I'm makin' the world better killin' one more of ya rats 'fore I do!"

His words are so hard to understand, but Loquui is sure she can make out the nonperson's atrocious dialect. "No, you, Yahn. Consort. Me, Yahn. Consort."

"Wot? Ye...ye want Iagn that way?"

"Yahn! Danger. Bad Ghostskins, want hurt. Find must!"

"Wot the fek are you sayin'?!"

Baron 2026/01/01(Thu)22:58 No. 1119572 ID: 89ca74
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Voices. Unfamiliar. Likely hostile. "Fight later. Hide now."

"Agreed."

With such cunning mastery of the trade language, Loquui has managed to strike a truce with the fearsom dah-een. And not a moment too soon for turning the corner-

Baron 2026/01/01(Thu)23:07 No. 1119573 ID: 89ca74
File 176733767183.png - (1.12MB , 1809x1617 , 89.png )

-is the monstrous ghostskin! And...wait is that Yaqubi?

"Master, your arm is missing. You must rest while the surgeons re-attach-"

"That can wait!" he growls back at Yakubi. "There are intruders in the city. Unbound Gormoamhi. Hostile Rezan-clan. Must find. Destroy. Where are your warriors!?"

"Combing the catacombs, they found a ship in the waterway. Derelict and run aground. We managed to push it back to the water and docked it-"

"Don't care. Find the intruders!"

Yakubi. She was one of the more popular girls from Loquui's litter of whelplings. Always pleased the misstresses with how fast she learned, how strong she was, how stunning and beautiful she was compared to the other litter-mates. Oh Loquui hated her. She wisely does not laugh at Yakubi now, scraping and worshipping the feet of some monster ghostskin instead of paying homage to the Consort. Poor, stupid, lost Yakubi...

"Aw fek they found out boat..."

The dah-een by Loquui's side is whispering to himself, maybe he thinks because no one has ears as big as him they can't hear. But Loquui hears. And can barely keep up with all the trade speak, what the fuck is everyone saying?!

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Follow Yakubi.

Bring the dah-een and follow Yakubi but do not try to interrogate her. We need to know where they're going, but we need to do our best to make sure they don't that we know. Once you've gotten some intel, bring the dah-een back with you to Iagn.

>>1119612
What time *is* it, then? How long do you have to pack? What have you got that you'd want to pack?

40 minutes means you need to get dressed, grab the nearest snack, and walk briskly. Don't look exasperated or your officers will claim you were tardy just to spite your panic.

>>1119612
Just graduated and already given an off-world assignment?
And he couldn't give details over voicemail? Must be sensitive.
This will certainly be an interesting briefing if nothing else.

Yeah I agree with >>1119615 Be a bit hurried but not TOO hurried

What you do depends on whether you expect to be able to come back here after

>>1119612
40 minutes to find a sock, secure kit and make oneself presentable.
Eating on the march is frowned upon in sone kilitaries, but theres nothing saying you cant eat something while youre flyingbaround your room.
Hey, check inside the boot for the sock.

Yamelle 2025/12/23(Tue)20:22 No. 1119364 ID: 54055d
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Aaji: No name or sex of the baby?!

Yamelle: Oh, y-you know. What’s the rush, r-right?

Aaji: You waited long enough! That baby’s about to move out any day now.

Tova: I hope it’s another sweet girl like your Sashi.

Yenn: You know what? You should name her Magra, after the protagonist from our current book-reading: The Glass Pillow. It’s headstrong and projects independence.

Tova: No, no. Keep it simple, darling! Something like Farah. I always liked Farah. Like that... what was that short story?

“Tammei is also cute.”

“How about Yaara?”

“Yaara is too popular. There are enough Yaaras in this village.”

“Gamby!” “Sonjor!” “Njar!” “Oooh don’t be bringing in those colonist names now.” “I still think Farah is nice.” “Anthne!” “That’s an eigo name, is it not?” “How about Nadione?” "Korra!" "Ooooh sorry. Cassan just named her daughter Korra." "Probably why I was thinking of it at the time."

Yamelle: Well... yeah. That’s... those are names.

Ma takes a bite of her cake.

sheesh, what a fun time this is shaping up to be. if that cake isn't at least good throw a fit.

you could try to organize a party game, for the prize of which baby name you will "strongly consider"

>>1119363
Oh no.
Theyre delightful idiots.
I see why da likes them.
Hm.
Propose a drinking competition under the eyes of many deities. He who wins shall have their suggestion shall be presented unto ma and seriously considered.
Note: do not state if it is most drunk, most sober or speed. Just incase some one with an iron liver and bottomless gullet picks a stinker of a name.
Honour the gods with your joy.

>>1119364
That cake could really do with a pickle.
But, theres proper names and nicknames.
Every baby is given one as a gift and earns the other. Talk to them about the pet names your others earned. Sashis smacking lips habit had to have earned her a nickname even if shes outgrown it now.

You should pick Njar just for added confusion in the future.

Be the conversation master you are and switch topics! How about naming what's in this cake, it's really good!

>>1119547
We... don't have a good rapport with magical patrons.

The corporate ones are somehow less exploitative. Which says something.

>>1119550
Mel something NC-17 is about to happen.

now that we have more people maybe we can build a boat.

relaxing in the hot spring is a good time to discuss plans. Island expansion or further exploration

>>1119561
Probably making plans to deal with that laser guardian in the desert land, while Gal fixes Mel being stinky. By which I mean experimenting with spellcrafting to figure out something to counter it!

Is there a comprehensive inventory of our runes and which runes we've discovered?

>>1119550
Magical girls are used to enchanted forces shedding their clothing for them due to their transformations.
Nevertheless, mel should brace herself.
>>1119554
Oh yes.
Identify time.

If we can figure out how to use that monster marble, maybe we can combine it with the broken AI core we got from W34V3R and create something that can guard the island while we're away. Or not.

This is probably also a good time to try to work out a spell for telepathic communication. Frozlynn targeted Silv back there because she was relaying our suggestions to Mel out loud; we need a way to communicate amongst ourselves that doesn't draw attention.

>>1119561

Seems to me that 1) the main threat in the frozen city has been eliminated, and 2) since it was frozen, there might be perishable food there that's still good; so we might want to use some of our time to pick over it more thoroughly for usable resources.