(1/1) kpwlt 2026/06/30(Tue)15:34 No. 1128760 ID: 127310
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>So something killed your clones? But were they protecting you, or targeting you?

Is it possible to say?

>Ok, from now on, we move as a group. Everyone stays in sight of eachother at all times. Also we can't trust anyone we meet down here, they could be clones.

Sam creeps back to the stragglers and seizes their wrists.

SAM: “Oh, okay, there have been some developments that mean we all need to stay together. We can’t let each other out of our sights, and we can only trust ourselves. Got it?”

Sam is met with murmured agreement.

>...I guess the Well made clones of you already, and they were killed. Or this is an aborted cloning attempt?

The Well made clones? So like the other Minister, there was an other Sam and an other Uberto?

SAM: “Did the Minister tell you anything else about that other him?”

UBERTO: ”Only that he was very convincing.”

There is limited cloning technology that Sam knows of. She thinks it involves implanting some specific genetic material in an egg cell but isn’t quite sure. Either way, it takes a long time and most certainly does not include clothes.

>Um..ask Simone and Uberto if they know whether the identity theft victims are people who entered the well.


SIMONE: “No. At least, not that I know. I didn’t know about Wells before now, to be honest. Well, it sort of lines up with what you’ve been saying about the Minister’s other him, Uberto.”

UBERTO: ”But lots of those cases were quite far from here, weren’t they? And remember, the real Minister never actually went into the Well.”

>There is something in the dark. A symbol? Focus on it before you get any closer. This seems dangerous.

Sam hushes the group and peers into the darkness. It seems to be a mask, with four circles surrounding a kind of upside-down Y. It’s attached to a larger, person-shaped structure. It jolts a little when it realises it’s being watched. The shape vanishes.

In response, the red strips shift, and now Sam can make out that they are attached to a person lying supine.

SIMONE: “By the Crown, that’s Mary!”

The forest remains still.

Slowly approach as a group. You're going to grab Mary and retreat to the lit camp.

Really? That's not the outfit I thought she'd be wearing after all these months.

Still, going to grab her would be a bad idea in the middle of that strange darkness.

Maybe the Jurist cloack can do it? If not, asking Simone and Uberto, and yes, even our spectral bird friend, if there is any way to retrieve without moving deeper in would help!

>>1128760
Huh, the thing was creating an illusion? Do the clone-bits look the same as before?
Let's go retrieve Mary.

(1/2) kpwlt 2026/07/08(Wed)15:30 No. 1129119 ID: 127310
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>Really? That's not the outfit I thought she'd be wearing after all these months.

Oh? Sam was not aware she should already have an idea of Mary's outfit.

>Huh, the thing was creating an illusion?

Sam isn’t sure. She didn’t notice any illusion, but then again, what good is an illusion you can notice?

>Do the clone-bits look the same as before?

They appear to be unchanged.

>Slowly approach as a group.
>Let's go retrieve Mary.

The group advances, remaining wary of their surroundings, and each ensuring the continuous presence of the other three. Uberto conjures a soft light to illuminate the area.

Mary is awake and looks at the group with a look of either fear or deep physical discomfort through her glasses.

SIMONE: “Mary, we’re here to help you!”

Mary breathes in a strained fashion.

Uberto tries to lift her. Then the Jurist’s Cloak tries to lift her. Both fail. Various combinations of people try to lift Mary. At most, she comes several centimetres off the ground before everyone has to put her back down. It’s as though she’s made of lead.

She inhales deeply before whispering.

MARY: “The WOLAND lady… did something to me. Can’t move now.”

SAM: “There was someone standing near you before we came over. Do you know them?”

MARY: “Old friend. And you… two… you real now?”

UBERTO: ”As real as it gets! But I guess the fake ones would have said the same thing.”

(2/2) kpwlt 2026/07/08(Wed)15:30 No. 1129120 ID: 127310
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A black-clad figure zips out of a nearby tree. The same one as before.

MARY: “It’s them.”

???: “Apologies. Just a precaution.”

The masked person grabs Sam by the face and looks deeply into her eyes. She kicks them off of her, and they promptly do the same to Uberto and the rest.

UBERTO: ”Hey! At least tell us who you are if you’re going to come in here and start examining us.”

They step back and seem to consider for a moment.

MILLER: “I work for the Ministry of Memetic Philosophy. Please, call me Miller. Some well doubles of you came here earlier, hence the inspection.”

SIMONE: “Mary’s mentioned you before. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

MILLER: “A shame we couldn’t meet in kinder times. Your mentor has been cursed, and the only person I know of who can undo it is the person who cursed her.”

Miller looks at Sam again, as if expecting her to say or do something. Or, perhaps they feel compelled to look at her for some subconscious reason.

>>1129120
"That woland lady"... so I'm guessing Hella is the flaming figure after all? Her ability to teleport in and out of the Well seems pretty handy. Wish we could do that, then we could go confront her.

Ask Miller what's with the mask. (so that's what was behind the censor bar)

Could we do something to lure the perpetrator to us, rather than attempt to track down someone so ellusivea? What was Mary doing when she was accosted?

Oh right, introductions are in order.

And ask about the body parts strewn around.

(1/1) kpwlt 2026/07/20(Mon)13:42 No. 1129614 ID: 127310
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>so I'm guessing Hella is the flaming figure after all?

Based on what Sam knows, it seems almost certain.

>Her ability to teleport in and out of the Well seems pretty handy. Wish we could do that, then we could go confront her.

Sam wonders how Hella is able to teleport. She knows of several tryptologers who were claimed to have the ability to “move without moving” but they tended to disappear along with their research. The most famous she knows of was a burglar who went by Garou Garou, who was able to enter and exit sealed rooms with no trace. One day, his corpse was found fused with a wall.

Sam is unsure if and to what extent Hella’s teleportation is comparable to Garou Garou’s wall-walking.

>Oh right, introductions are in order.

Sam is a little miffed that Uberto has decided to shirk his regular duty of introducing her.

SAM: “Well. I am Sam. This is Uberto. Those are the Jur- I mean, Justice McGregor and Simone.”

MILLER: “A pleasure to actually meet you this time.”

>Ask Miller what's with the mask. (so that's what was behind the censor bar)

Censor bar? Sam isn’t sure what that means in this context. Perhaps she’s subconsciously remembering seeing Miller on television or something and they’ve had their face censored?

SAM: “So, Miller. Why do you wear a mask? What’s behind it?”

MILLER: “...My face. I wear a mask to hide it. My identity is sensitive. I wear this mask to confuse and unnerve well doubles. They find the pattern difficult to mimic, for some reason.”

McGREGOR J: "A slumbering mind may struggle to recreate details.”

SAM: “Would you take it off?”

MILLER: “No.”

>And ask about the body parts strewn around.

SAM: “Anyway. So, these bodyparts…”

MILLER: “Are from you and Uberto’s well doubles, correct. You may have noticed the inaccuracies with the internal portions, clearly indicating their inhumanity.”

SAM: “Where did they come from?”

MILLER: “It seems that the well produces them. To what end, beyond simply causing confusion and doubt, I have no idea.”

>What was Mary doing when she was accosted?
SAM: “Simone, what did you say Mary was doing when she was attacked again?”

SIMONE: “She was carrying one of those rock things you two found out of its storage room.”

MILLER: “WOLAND agents tend to be quite possessive over their infrastructure and well artifacts. There is an old WOLAND encampment not far from here that was still guarded until not long ago, and is almost certainly still surveilled. I avoid it as much as possible for that reason. If I ever do go there, I steer clear of their equipment.”

>>1129614
Sounds like an opportunity. We want to deal with Hella, and she currently doesn't know where we are. If we go to the encampment and mess with their stuff, she might teleport down to fight us, at which point we can win and lift the curse.

To that end, we should try to prep for the fight as much as possible. Is there anything else nearby we can use?

might as well take a look at the camp

(1/2) kpwlt 2026/07/26(Sun)15:12 No. 1129914 ID: 127310
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>If we go to the encampment and mess with their stuff, she might teleport down to fight us, at which point we can win and lift the curse.
>might as well take a look at the camp

SAM: “Would you show us where the camp is?”

Miller elects to stay with Mary, but gives a quite detailed explanation of how to get to the encampment.

MILLER: “And remember. Don’t let anyone out of your sight.”

>To that end, we should try to prep for the fight as much as possible. Is there anything else nearby we can use?

SAM: “Also, do you know of anything nearby we could use in our fight with Hella?”

SIMONE: “We’re fighting Hella?”

UBERTO: ”Sam? What are you planning??”

MILLER: “My advice would be to not fight a high-ranking WOLAND agent. Forgive me for saying so, Mister Di Cesare, but I must imagine even your authority would be limited in the context of a prima facie unlawful battle. I cannot judge the rest of you just by looking, but please be forewarned.”

Sam gazes through Miller.

MILLER: “I have a small store with a net and some ropes near the encampment. Just follow the trees marked with broad arrows once you get there.”

(2/2) kpwlt 2026/07/26(Sun)15:12 No. 1129915 ID: 127310
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UBERTO: ”What’s your plan?”

SAM: “Instead of trying to find Hella and asking her to help us, we can lure her down here by tampering with her stuff and force her to help us.”

McGREGOR J: "Does the daughter recall what the Raven quoth?”

SAM: “Maybe? Anyway, we’re here.”

The group find themselves between two clearings.

The one on the left has a few deflated tents, the odd half-full sword rack, and several crates that remind Sam of the ones found in the Catacombs.

The one to the right houses some humming machines. It looks like there are two rather large cylindrical machines each hooked up to what might be a generator. One glows faintly orange. The other, slightly brighter blue. Something shifts inside the cylinders.

Sam leads the group to Miller’s store. She finds two lengths of rope, a net, and a large bear trap with gnarly looking teeth lining its jaws.

>we're fighting Hella?
I mean, she's the kidnapper? How else would we resolve this, asking her nicely to let us do what she told us not to do, and also to uncurse the person she cursed? Why would she cooperate?
Well, we can't do this without the agreement of those present, I suppose. Ask what alternative plans they can think of for uncursing Mary.

>"Does the daughter recall what the Raven quoth?”
That's either "nevermore", or a reference to the "feather" we spoke to. I guess this equipment could be at the site of a pore. Does he have anything else to say on the subject?

>two clearings
Hmm. Scry a bit, see if you can find any readings similar to the Feather.

the thing in the blue tube matches the diagram found next to Hella's letter, so this is her camp and one of the pores we were supposed to find.

So one tube is marked with will and the other with will of the crown. Is that not trouble, them being so close together?

what state is the feather in? has it responded to the proximity of the pore (assuming that's what this is)?

(1/4) kpwlt 2026/08/12(Wed)15:17 No. 1130889 ID: 127310
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>this is her camp and one of the pores we were supposed to find.

This appears to be her camp. However, in Sam’s experience, pores tend to be rather big, and in space. This is probably not a pore, in her opinion. It might be that the documents detailing a pore are in this place. This place may also be linked or aligned to a pore in some way.
>what state is the feather in?
>Does he have anything else to say on the subject?

Sam doesn’t particularly want to consult the feather in Simone’s presence, so she gives Uberto a look. Uberto gives Simone a look. Whatever message was intended has been lost almost instantly.

SAM: “I’m gonna go over there to… check out those tubes. While staying within sight, of course. You guys stay here and do your thing.”

Sam heads back over to the tubes and opens the box. McGregor watches her from afar. The beak proudly emerges. Its feathers are a glossy black and it has a certain gleam to it that was not present before.

BEAK?: “Ah, Samantha. Thank you for visiting me in a more hospitable location. I do apologise for the inconvenience, I look forward to the day I can freely roam without forcing you down wells. Speaking of, are you any closer to finding the locations of the pores?”

SAM: “Right. Where should I be looking for those? What exactly am I looking for here? Is this a pore?”

Sam gestures around herself.

BEAK?: “Not quite. Please don’t worry yourself with the similarities and differences between pores and wells. You’d find a pore by traversing the wells, but it would be the wrong one. Normally, you’d be looking into space (well, not quite), since that’s where the pores are.”

Sam has heard that a certain method for finding pores is to look directly away from the sky and try to ‘see’ them ‘in reverse’, or with the eyes in the back of one’s head. It was once believed that this behaviour was a symptom of lunacy. Not that it’s any more accepted or understood nowadays.

BEAK?: “Thankfully, the fool Clerk has done all the hard work for us. You need only find his writings, or steal them from the mind of one who has read them.”

SAM: “How?”

BEAK?: “All power comes from authority. Darkness comes from pores. Pay attention to the flow from pore to harnesser.”

(2/4) kpwlt 2026/08/12(Wed)15:17 No. 1130890 ID: 127310
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Sam spots McGregor drifting over and instinctively starts to hide the box.

McGREGOR J: "Be not afraid. This one arrives only to inspect the Raven.”

BEAK?: “Hello, Leslie.”

The Jurist scowls. They look as though they’re waking facial muscles that haven’t pulled this expression in years.

McGREGOR J: "Beware. The University is still looking for you and your old friend.”

BEAK?: “Is that meant to be a threat, wee judge? They’ve already found me. Or, more accurately, I found them. And Leslie? Don’t worry about Shelley. I know what I’m doing with him.”

McGregor looks at Sam as though she’s some kind of science experiment before quickly adjusting their gaze to be more appropriate for a human being.

BEAK?: “Close me up, Samantha. I have nothing more to say to you in the presence of this Obstruction of Justice.”

Sam obeys.

SAM: “Want to tell me what that was about?”

McGREGOR J: "It is Clerk’s Raven. A contemptuous but allegedly necessary part of the University of ‘Pataphysics’ plans.”

(3/4) kpwlt 2026/08/12(Wed)15:17 No. 1130891 ID: 127310
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>So one tube is marked with will and the other with will of the crown. Is that not trouble, them being so close together?

SAM: “Anyway, so, Leslie-”

McGREGOR J: "The daughter shall address this one as Justice McGregor or Your Honour. Or Les, if she must.”

Sam is unused to this kind of formal address, but is eager to remain in the Jurist’s good books after that incident.

SAM: “Right. Your Honour. Those tubes, one marked with the Chaos Star, meaning Will, and another with the Broad Arrow, symbolising the Will of the Crown, is it a problem that they’re being kept so close together?”

McGREGOR J: "Lay Will and Executive Will may often partially or fully coincide. Unless at least one of the two are immensely powerful, and unless they are diametrically opposed in purpose, there shall be no issues. Although, in the case of a malformed Executive power, some fragmentation of Will, or some distortion of the barriers between the two Wills might occur… That is not the case here.”

>the thing in the blue tube matches the diagram found next to Hella's letter

Sam peers extra closely at the thing in the blue tube.

SAM: “What do you think that is?”

From here, it looks like a person, or perhaps a robot. Or half of a monstrously tall person or robot.

McGREGOR J: "An imitation. The shadow of a particularly special officer of the Crown.”

SAM: “What about the other one?”

McGREGOR J: "It looks similar to a certain WOLAND Quartermaster. This one has no recollection of his name.”

Sam is made uneasy by the squirming of the… people? in the tubes. She and McGregor return to the others.

(4/4) kpwlt 2026/08/12(Wed)15:17 No. 1130892 ID: 127310
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UBERTO: ”Ah, welcome back.”


>Ask what alternative plans they can think of for uncursing Mary.

SAM: “You seemed unsatisfied with my plan. Did you have another idea for how we could free Mary?”

SIMONE: “...no. It just seems pretty sudden, you know? We don’t even know what Hella’s capable of.”

UBERTO: ”Right to business, then. Hmm. Well, it’s risky, but I don’t really see any other way around this. Surely with the lot of us, and expecting her, we can win.”

He’s being intentionally optimistic.

>Scry a bit, see if you can find any readings similar to the Feather.

An inscrutable sound bursts into Sam’s skull and there is suddenly a new map behind her eyes.

No readings come from the left clearing. Two from the right clearing, both dark aligned.

The blue and red arrows from earlier point in the direction the group came from.

>>1130892
The blue and red readings are probably Miller and Mary.
>contained figures both dark aligned
Huh, I think you can spot doppelgangers this way. That is incredibly useful. Well, unless the dark alignment is due to the containment devices. Speaking of those... I wonder what the attached tanks are doing. Are they draining Will? Or are they fueling the containment?
Hmm. Freeing the robotic doppelganger is slightly tempting. She can't possibly pretend to be anyone else, so if she helps us with the fight against Hella, we could agree to shelter her somewhere without worry of her managing an impersonation. On the other hand, we do not know where her allegiances lie, not without a deep understanding of how the minds of doppelgangers work.

Looks like the reading to the "north" is related to the Feather, so we could go that way later.

>Hella's letter, pictured figure in containment, pore?
Ok, I think I know what the problem is. The letter that was in the envelope, regarding the pore, was not present. It's probably in Hella's desk, which obviously we weren't able to search.
The other scraps of paper were nearby by coincidence and are not necessarily related to the pore or letter. At least we now know that Miller's photo was taken of him wearing the mask and coat... and holding a staff or spear? Or maybe that's someone else in the same getup.

>seems sudden, we don't know what Hella is capable of
True. How would we investigate our opponent though? Maybe we can ask the captive doppelgangers? Or do Miller and Mary know anything about Hella?

That symbol to the north, is it related to the feather? it looks similar to the large symbol we interacted with, but that was seven pointed while this one is five. but we have seen this exact one before, on one of the wall carvings in that same room. I don't think we determined what it meant.
and are we sensing, a house?

(1/2) kpwlt 2026/09/03(Thu)13:30 No. 1131606 ID: 127310
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>The blue and red readings are probably Miller and Mary.

Sam would tend to agree.

>That symbol to the north, is it related to the feather?
>and are we sensing, a house?

Sam recognises this symbol from a few places before. She does not recognise it as meaning anything in particular. She vaguely remembers it as appearing under or in what may have been a drawing of a well, next to a skull and crossbones.

It’s more like a wide arrow containing the symbol than a house. But Sam supposed she could be sensing a sort of ‘abode’ of whatever is meant by the five pointed symbol, in an abstract sense.

>Are they draining Will? Or are they fueling the containment?

Sam doesn’t know for sure, but she has heard tales of certain techniques and rituals used by particularly cunning mystics to hold dungeon doors closed with the prisoner’s very own force of Will. If these stories are true, then it wouldn’t be the most outlandish thing to expand such a concept to a machine.

>Freeing the robotic doppelganger is slightly tempting. She can't possibly pretend to be anyone else, so if she helps us with the fight against Hella, we could agree to shelter her somewhere without worry of her managing an impersonation.

Sam likes this idea.

SAM: “Maybe, to even the field, we could free one of those doppelgangers from the tubes before fighting Hella. Justice McGregor said one of them was a special officer of the Crown.”

UBERTO: ”Maybe, how do we know we can trust it, though? Can we even communicate with it?”



>How would we investigate our opponent though? Maybe we can ask the captive doppelgangers? Or do Miller and Mary know anything about Hella?

Sam returns to the doppelgangers. The others follow her.

SAM: “Excuse me. You two, do you know anything about Hella?”

The officer of the Crown does not speak, but the other pipes up. He speaks in an accented, muffled voice.

KOROVIEV: “Ah, of course, mademoiselle. My name is Koroviev, and I am a colleague of Hella’s. Or, was. For whatever reason, she has overseen my continued imprisonment here.”

SAM: “How would we go about defeating her?”

KOROVIEV: “Hella is so spirited that your task may be difficult. Unless you find some way to overcome her sheer force of Will, you are unlikely to prevail. My fellow inmate, the Dame Collector-General, is a great combatant and promises that she will help your cause should you release her. But unless you have something else that can match her Will, I would discourage you.”

Sam is aware of the Collector-General from her studies. It is a specialised role with vast discretionary control over certain combatants deemed ‘high value’, and is seen as a counterpart to the Captain-General, who has more general control over the Army. Both roles are appointed by the Governor of Southshoals on advice of the Executive Council.

The purported Collector-General remains silent. Koroviev calls out again as Sam crosses the threshold of the clearing.

KOROVIEV: “One other thing, I don’t know if it will help. Whenever Hella appears to check on us, it is always there, where you are standing.”

(2/2) kpwlt 2026/09/03(Thu)13:30 No. 1131607 ID: 127310
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Sam and the group return to Miller and Mary. Mary regards them with an expression halfway between a grimace and a grin.

MARY: “Done.. already?”

SIMONE: “Awh, sorry Mary. Not yet.”

UBERTO: ”We just wanted to know if there was anything else you could tell us about Hella.”

MARY: “She replaced.. Quartermaster, Koroviev. After WOLAND pulled out of the Well. To defend assets here.”

MILLER: “I have heard that she is capable of a great many things.”

MARY: “Hah. Well, I think.. She’s a one- trick pony. Just to put on a show to. Scare away intruders. Her real power… was sent in a letter. Watch for that dark power, don’t get burnt. And you’re golden.”

MILLER: “But look at what she’s done to you! Clearly, her one trick is effective.”

MARY: “Hmmph.”

Hella always appears in the same spot eh? So we have our ambush spot.

Now could we rig the collector's cell to release her exactly when we want. It sounds like we wouldn't want her loose until Hella arrives

>Something to match her Will.

A really high self-esteem! Group hug!

Oh, also, we should probably inscribe Umberto's sword with some powerful script before tricking Hella to show up and ganging up on her.

If it's always exactly the same spot, could we put a trap in that spot? Like, a snare trap? We've got trees around, so if we have access to rope or vine we could put tension on a branch to snap back when she teleports in and snag her.

Can you recall any tricks related to maximising one's Will in any given moment? There have to have been extensive studies on the matter, though I'm uncertain how relevant such measures are to the field of Tryptology. On that subject, though, do you have any knowledge of some form of Tryptological combat? Or means to more effectively imprison?

In any case, combat should be an avoidable last resort now. We have foreknowledge of where she will appear, and we (hopefully) have the means to imprison her, Crown willing. Set up a trap with the net in the spot, and if it misses or she breaks free, fight.

(1/4) kpwlt 2026/10/14(Wed)13:57 No. 1132997 ID: 127310
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>rig the collector's cell to release her exactly when we want.

Sam ties one end of a rope to the release handle of the Collector-General’s cell. The rope is long enough that it can be pulled from anywhere in the clearing, as well as slightly outside of it.

The being inside shudders in anticipation. Its exposed spine tenses.

Sam is afraid of accidentally tugging the rope. She will try to stay vigilant about it.

>If it's always exactly the same spot, could we put a trap in that spot?

Sam places the large bear trap in the entrance to the clearing.

>Like, a snare trap?
>Set up a trap with the net in the spot, and if it misses or she breaks free, fight.

Sam removes the bear trap, and has Simone expertly put together a snare trap that will trigger when the tense bit of rope passing over the loop is disturbed. The trap should also wrap Hella in the net when it is triggered.

(2/4) kpwlt 2026/10/14(Wed)13:57 No. 1132998 ID: 127310
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>Oh, also, we should probably inscribe Umberto's sword with some powerful script before tricking Hella to show up and ganging up on her.

Uberto no longer has his sword, and the blade is probably too thin to inscribe much of anything on there anyway. He does still have his brass knuckles on him.

SAM: “Could we inscribe some powerful script on your brass knuckles?”

UBERTO: ”Ah, thank you for asking, but one of my staffers has already put runes on most of my weapons.”

SAM: “What do the runes do?”

UBERTO: ”You know what? I never bothered to ask him. I’m pretty sure that’s that guy’s only job as well.”

(3/4) kpwlt 2026/10/14(Wed)13:57 No. 1132999 ID: 127310
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>Something to match her Will. A really high self-esteem! Group hug!

Sam is not big on hugs. Much less group hugs. She would hug Uberto if he would otherwise die, but she’d prefer to avoid being placed in that situation.

>Can you recall any tricks related to maximising one's Will in any given moment? There have to have been extensive studies on the matter

Sam is unfortunately not well versed in studies on Will, but has some rudimentary understanding of its relationship with the natural sciences. When exercised by entities such as the Crown, it behaves in a manner consistent with the relevant law or tradition. When exercised by individuals, its effects are maddeningly unpredictable. Some scientists have taken to calling it the ‘subjective force’, liable to distort the ‘objective’ physical forces if not accounted for. The only sure thing is that a greater number of people causes more distortion.

SAM: “Is there any way for us to increase our collective Will?”

UBERTO: ”Good idea, Sam. We should all stay close when Hella arrives. We can huddle together if she gives us too much trouble.”

MARY: “Mary always says she thinks of her family when things get tough. I usually try to picture my next hot meal. I think it helps.”

Sam thinks of her mother. Nothing happens. Perhaps she needs to be in imminent danger for it to work. Or, perhaps she should think of something else.

(4/4) kpwlt 2026/10/14(Wed)13:57 No. 1133000 ID: 127310
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Suddenly, the Jurist’s eye flashes a bright violet.

McGREGOR J: "Ah. It would appear that this place had been chanced upon some years ago by the previous Black Pheon Jurist, Justice Birdwood. Her obiter applies here. ‘One should not remain in the forest for any longer than necessary, lest it awake. Such would be disadvantageous.’”

UBERTO: ”Oh, has anybody been keeping track of time?”

SAM: “Awake?”

Suddenly, the group can feel tremors deep below their feet.

On the nearby trees, several curved eyes open and begin to flick over the four. Sam’s stomach drops.

>>1132997
Oh I forgot we had a bear trap. The snare trap might do ok if she can't teleport out of it.

>>1133000
This cipher is difficult. It doesn't seem to be vigenere since dcode can't autosolve it(but dcode says that's the most likely cipher!) and it's definitely not a simple substitution since quipqiup outputs garbage. Looks like there's a hint, but it's just (key)XVI. What does the 16 refer to? Who knows.

Well, despite the forest being awake, I think we should just continue with the ambush. If the forest attacks somehow then our foe will also have to defend herself, giving us more of an opening to take her down.

Oh here's the ciphertext to save time for anyone who wants to give it a shot: Z AZQLC CS UTUJ BPVFR CZYC BCGPXY HQGP KGI MI EWWF WGL EPYX GMI ZV LCCGPXY EPZVW HW MYE DBR BKBEP TSM LEJ GWJHPP RVFZ HSLGIC PZKSF GHB GMMC ETGS

well you can't back down now, can you?

(1/5) kpwlt 2026/11/02(Mon)12:40 No. 1133672 ID: 127310
File 179362324318.png - (17.73KB , 700x700 , u32p1.png )

>Well, despite the forest being awake, I think we should just continue with the ambush.
>well you can't back down now, can you?

Right you are.

SAM: “Let’s act now.”

At Sam’s call, the previously misnamed Simone upsets some crates in the other part of the clearing. Strange, sharp objects tumble from the boxes, and Simone rushes to rejoin the group.

At the threshold, a wisp of flame suspends itself in the air. It quickly grows to outshine the Jurist, then cools and condenses into a person.

HELLA: “Did I or did I not say not to come here?”

(2/5) kpwlt 2026/11/02(Mon)12:40 No. 1133673 ID: 127310
File 179362324853.png - (23.58KB , 700x700 , u32p2.png )

The rope snaps at Hella’s feet and she is yanked into a writhing bundle in the trees. Uberto approaches with fists raised.

UBERTO: ”Alright, now. I’m going to let you down, but first-”

Hella’s hand escapes her bind and casts its shadow over Uberto. He crumples into a pile of purple laundry.

(3/5) kpwlt 2026/11/02(Mon)12:40 No. 1133674 ID: 127310
File 179362325235.png - (17.28KB , 700x700 , u32p3.png )

Another wave of darkness emanates from the bundle and it drops to the ground with a terrible thud. Hella ignites, burning and stretching the net.

Simone raises her mace, almost tipping over, and drops it onto Hella. Sam hears a yelp of pain and sees the fire waver before chasing Simone away.


Sam can see pale shapes scurry between trees in the corner of her eye.

(4/5) kpwlt 2026/11/02(Mon)12:40 No. 1133675 ID: 127310
File 179362325668.png - (22.77KB , 700x700 , u32p4.png )

Hella rises. Sam comes eye to eye with Justice McGregor and tugs her rope, unleashing the Collector-General.

The Collector-General lunges at Hella in a flurry of blue spears. The Jurist glows, and the two combatants are encased within a golden pyramid. It rattles with violent energy, and bursts after two or three bouts, sending the two skidding in opposite directions.

(5/5) kpwlt 2026/11/02(Mon)12:41 No. 1133676 ID: 127310
File 179362326029.png - (25.32KB , 700x700 , u32p5.png )

The flames engulfing Hella have been reduced to embers. They extinguish as she appears to muster up her strength, pulling in the light and sound from around her.

With the Collector-General nowhere to be seen, and Hella appearing to be in a state of recovery, Sam draws a dagger and rushes the fiend.

Hella projects a blast of darkness towards Sam. Time slows, and all else dims. The figures in the trees cease their skittering. A cosmic crystal has been formed between Sam, Hella, and something far away… It will last for a fraction of a second before vanishing forever.

Sam feels a great weight threaten to plant itself on her shoulders.

>>1133676
The spiral. Use KLEIDAS! I guess, target the crystal? "unlock" it?

It's either that, or throw an effigy into her spell so it's the thing that gets slammed.

There's that spiral motif again. Use Kleidas. It is a way in, but it is also a way out; it may thus, when channelled via the crystal, be a method of negation (opening a door into unreality?). I think. But I'm not a tryptologer.

Keep that figure in mind. It is a consideration for later, and dependent upon you winning here, but it doesn't look like Clerk's Raven. Mayhaps something else is watching. Anyway, think fast, Sam. Don't have time for much else.

(1/4) kpwlt 2026/11/10(Tue)13:22 No. 1133967 ID: 127310
File 179431693758.png - (20.81KB , 700x700 , u33p1.png )

>The spiral. Use KLEIDAS! I guess, target the crystal? "unlock" it?
>There's that spiral motif again. Use Kleidas. It is a way in, but it is also a way out; it may thus, when channelled via the crystal, be a method of negation (opening a door into unreality?). I think.

Sam is incapable of comprehending the crystal. She cannot imagine how she might begin to unlock it. Trying to perceive the crystal produces a dull ache in her head.

>But I'm not a tryptologer.

Apologies, I forget that, sometimes. I do try to describe things in a way that is accurate and understandable, but that’s only possible if the things described remain within the ambit of ‘truth’.


>It's either that, or throw an effigy into her spell so it's the thing that gets slammed.

TAUCEPHAS, Sam knows it well. This pore gives rise to (typically) inanimate effigies of entities with which the target can relate. Objects of their emotions, if you will. It can produce a mother, a lover, an executioner… Sam has only ever used it for morally questionable party tricks.

In the distant grasp of Taucephas, a certain structure is constructed from the rotting wooden walls. At once, it appears before Sam, before being struck by the great weight and sinking slightly into the soft earth. The feather-box rattles disapprovingly.

After a few moments, both Sam and Hella realise what stands between them. Hella’s gallows have been raised, dark and gnarled. While Hella may have an intellectual understanding that this structure is of no personal significance, as long as she sees it, far older parts of her brain will overwhelmingly sense a morbid destiny.

(2/4) kpwlt 2026/11/10(Tue)13:22 No. 1133968 ID: 127310
File 179431694276.png - (25.94KB , 700x700 , u33p2.png )

Sam proceeds. Hella falters. She makes a commendable attempt at regaining full composure before speaking.

HELLA: “Wait! I think we can figure something out where neither of us have to suffer further. What is it that you want from me?”

SAM: “What did you just do to Uberto? You need to undo it. And then you have to undo the same thing for Mary, the Hazard Association Agent.”

Hella moves her head so that the approaching Sam obscures her vision.

HELLA: “Fine. But you will have to leave afterwards.”


Uberto remains in his pitiful state with Simone and McGregor attempting to comfort him. Hella lifts her hand and he appears to rise slightly before standing.

UBERTO: ”Glad you could see reason, Hella. And well done, Sam.”

SIMONE: “I think we should get going.”

Simone points towards the unexplored end of the path, where a number of huge, pale salamanders are dragging their heft towards the group.

(3/4) kpwlt 2026/11/10(Tue)13:22 No. 1133969 ID: 127310
File 179431694602.png - (39.92KB , 700x700 , u33p3.png )

Sam’s group travels with Hella in tow. They find Miller defending Mary from salamanders on all sides. With a flick of Hella’s wrist, the dark influence on Mary is lifted.

After cracking her joints, Mary leaps to her feet. Her flail slams into salamander after salamander.

MARY: “That’s better! You lot get outta here, we’ll catch up with you.”

Miller and Mary seem very competent, so Sam leads the group to the exit. The few salamanders that attempt to interrupt them are repelled swiftly.

(4/4) kpwlt 2026/11/10(Tue)13:22 No. 1133970 ID: 127310
File 179431695235.png - (23.49KB , 700x700 , u33p4.png )

>Keep that figure in mind. It is a consideration for later, and dependent upon you winning here, but it doesn't look like Clerk's Raven. Mayhaps something else is watching. Anyway, think fast, Sam. Don't have time for much else.

Now that Sam is out of imminent danger, she recalls what she saw. She makes sure to commit it to memory.

Before long, the two lingerers clamber out of the well to join the others topside.

MARY: “Well, that was tons of fun. I’ve gotta catch up with you more often, Miller.”

MILLER: “In better circumstances, I hope.”

MARY: “And I have to thank you lot! Things coulda gone real different if you didn’t lend a hand.”

UBERTO: ”Ah, don’t mention it! Although, this does mean you’ll be voting for your electorate’s Esoteric candidate next election, right?”

MARY: “Cheeky bugger, this one!”

Hella taps her foot twice, with a scowl on her face.

HELLA: “I am going to my office now, to get your weapons. I want to make sure that none of you have a reason to ever come back here. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

MARY: “Just her sword, thanks. Then we’ll be out of your hair. What do you reckon, Simi, d’you want to finish this report off over coffee?”

Uberto pulls Sam aside.

UBERTO: ”Now’s your chance. Are you going to ask her for that letter? You know, the one about the pore?”

SAM: “Now? What if she gets angry? I don’t know if I have another Taucephas in me. Can’t you ask?”

UBERTO: ”You saw what happened last time! You two seem to have an understanding.”

HELLA: “What are you two whispering about? I don’t have all day to wait on you.”

Swallow your pride, apologise profusely to Hella for the debacle in the well, and see if you can secure the letter with an honest explanation.

That or let Uberto discuss it with her (or just have him back you up); aside from being an MP, he seems diplomatically inclined.

Also, might be time to consider where to go next.

Remember the real reason we came here. I think you'd better pursue the lead while you've got access to it.