>>160356
Livin' in a lonely world.

>>159963

Summoner in training is the best bet. Since you were in a small town, your master and everyone else died; you did your best with books and practice. You've recently discovered you're a surprisingly high-tier conjurer.

Ask her what she means by "isn't all that bad." I thought people liked it here.

>>160358
"She took the midnight train going any where."

>>160357
>>160357
>>160396
Knew that'd work.

>>160396
Just a city boy.

>>160946
Okay stop it.

>>161001
Hey, I went with an entirely different song.

>>161001
Sorry Cora, I just had the overwhelming need to see if that would work.

Well what were you doing beside accidentally the whole world.

Actually, saying you were a practicing magician before the catastrophe would work well, since we're planning to have ties with the mage's guild.

>>161116
Exactly my thoughts.

Tell her about practicing magic, and whatever other details of your life there may be that do not directly relate to the summoning of Vresch. Making up an entire false history would be too complicated, leave too much room for error/discovery, and would be difficult to back up. Keep falsehoods to a minimum, using them only when necessary to cover over the Vresch incident.

There is little doubt that she will ask about the eye in time, so there's no need to jump right into telling her.

If the conversation diverts from history to current developments, a mention of the Mage's Guild, and the offer you have received from them, would not go awry. It would help "build up" your entry into the guild, should you decide to do so. Just try not to seem -too- proud about it, yes? No one likes egomaniacs. :P

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)21:37 No. 168775 ID: 3441fa
File 12719974462.png - (68.76KB , 600x400 , 161.png )

>I found a magic book, screwed up a summon, and lost my eye days before everything fell apart. I went into hiding and stayed there until one of those robots caught me.
Well that conveniently sums up everything without giving away anything sensitive. I reword that like so:

"I was a practicing mage since early high school. I screwed up a difficult spell and lost my eye a couple weeks before everything fell apart, so I went into hiding. I was wandering the wastes until a few days ago. It's pretty nice having hot food and running water."

"Hah! Oh yes, yes it is. You're a spellcaster, huh? Got a specialty?"

"Yeah, conjuring."

"Hey, that's pretty cool. You should show me something some time."

"Sure! I would be glad to." I do so love spellcasting.

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)21:38 No. 168776 ID: 3441fa
File 127199750652.png - (15.12KB , 600x400 , 162.png )

I tell her a bit about myself, and we have a few laughs. And then we reached the place she wanted to take me: The roof. Well, the almost roof - there is a higher one, but this one is pretty close to the top. She likes it better because the view is just as nice here, and, well...

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)21:38 No. 168777 ID: 3441fa
File 127199753737.png - (141.82KB , 600x900 , 163.png )

...She keeps a couch out here, under a stone ridge. So I pulled that out with the help of a summon, while she set up a projector. Apparently, that tube she'd been carrying was a canvas screen. In a matter of moments, we have an outdoor theater set up! It's pretty nifty.

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)21:39 No. 168778 ID: 3441fa
File 127199755878.png - (79.74KB , 600x400 , 164.png )

We share the blanket, and then pop in the movie. We talk a bit more, and have a few laughs. The movie is pretty good, really. I'd recommend it. We talked about school from before the apocalypse, and school now - apparently I am actually supposed to go finish high school at some point. We talked about my offered position as a Conjury teacher, and she says I should go for it, it sounds like something I would be good at.

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)21:40 No. 168779 ID: 3441fa
File 127199760752.png - (148.32KB , 600x700 , 165.png )

After the movie, I thank her for taking the time to see me, and she gives me an open invite to stop by any time. She might be busy sometimes, but she is usually free after 7pm. The majority of her PR work is done during the day. We hug, and then I leave. All in all, that wasn't so bad! I might just stop by again.

>Cora's STRESS has been drastically reduced! Cora's CONFIDENCE has risen!

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)21:40 No. 168780 ID: 3441fa
File 127199762270.png - (13.32KB , 600x400 , 166.png )

I found out several things over the course of our conversation.

>Ask her what she means by "isn't all that bad." I thought people liked it here.
She doesn't like Rastin at all, but after I asked her about it, she said overall Neotis is a very nice place. Apparently she was speaking cynically before. It is a habit of hers or something.

>Ask her if she was one of those creepy goths quoting Nietzsche in high school.
I did NOT ask her that, but we spent a bit talking about high school. She was indeed a gothic kid in high school, but also a computer nerd. She's one of those kids who was convinced that all humanity will be replaced by robots. She says she is pretty sure that won't happen, but apparently she has back up plans for it just in case.

>What is up with the wires
She just likes how they feel, apparently. That is... really all there is to it. Why she wears it as part of her PR outfit, she didn't say. She just smiled strangely at me.

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)21:40 No. 168781 ID: 3441fa
File 127199764385.png - (127.11KB , 600x400 , 167.png )

>End of Day Options
New option unlocked!
You can't actually pick Remi this time around. Well you could but it would be horribly awkward since Cora just left and all.

>>168781
Hope. We should figure out what's going on with her in there now that she's possessing something outside. Maybe we can actually sever her connection, somehow.

let's see hope and tell her that you know what she is up to. but you aren't going to stop her, if she is willing to work together a little we can have both our goals work at the same time. she makes it so the group supporters you when it comes time and you can provide open assistance for them.

>>168781
Rastin

>>168781
Remi. Cora needs to head back and ask her out on a proper date.

>>168789
A free invitation to come by whenever is better than a single date. Let's leave it at that for now.

>>168781
Let's swing by the Crystal, see how Hope is.

If we talk to Hope, let's not mention our plan to recall her half of the orb with a spell for reassembling objects. The last thing we need is to make that mistake again.

>>168781
I've had enough of Hope. Let's talk to Vr.. Ra...

Hmm. Okay the choices aren't very good right now are they? Gonna say Rastin though, let's see what his deal is.

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/04/22(Thu)22:40 No. 168814 ID: 3441fa
File 127200122639.png - (19.47KB , 302x192 , Vresch Ah Yes.png )

>>168811
You can suggest another option, should you think of it, such as wandering around Neotis or something. These are just the people you currently know how to contact.

>>168814
Forget talking to people. Spend some luxury tickets on bodymods.
They have some to improve your mind, don't they? That should help with your spellcasting.

>>168817
she already got highly experimental bust enhancement pills.

which reminds me, are you making sure to take them on time? if the side effects for doing it right are kinda bad then I'd hate to see what happens if you mess up.

>>168817
>body mods

Oh no, don't bring that up again. If Cora wants to do that kind of thing she'd better leave us behind so we don't argue about it incessantly.

>>168781
Remi.

Return that syringe. Tell Naveen "Yeah, turns out it wasn't needed. ...but careful with that stuff." Maybe see about asking for advice on teaching or something. Let her know you think you'll need to make a safety class or something. Never hurts to get some good press, right?

>>168856
It seems like something that could be extremely useful down the road. Let's keep it. There's no reason it can't provide an immoral advantage in situations entirely unrelated to our own lusts (or whatnot).

>>168870
indeed. law of irony dictated that the moment we give a tool like that a situation will arise that would be easy to fix if we had it, and that as long as we have it no situation that would be good use for it will happen.
like carrying an umbrella but it never rains, and the one day you leave it behind it does.

>>168814
Well, I am rather curious how Jacob is. We haven't seen him since you first arrived. I'm sure you have, how's he been? I'm still in favor of investigating Hope and the Crystal, though.

>>168872
Speaking of Chekhov's guns, you've still got that doorknob, too, right?

>>168781
Go talk with Jakob.

Shouldn' we continuing the interview cycle? The day's already over?

Hope. We probably won't be able to convince her of anything, but there's no way she'll be able to resist blurting out her evil plan.

Rastin, he's a pretty cool guy.

Let's talk to Vresch
He is a pretty cool guy

It's been such a long time that I miss Rastin a little, that lovable troll.

>>168921
vresch

>>168983
Agreed. While Hope may have super-magic-awesome-powers, she also has an ego roughly the size of Jupiter. Finding out what she got up to when she got away from us shouldn't be too hard...

There's just the issue of finding her. Perhaps the crystal she resided in could help somehow?

Chapter 15 Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)19:41 No. 188487 ID: bde1b8
File 127579207920.png - (59.92KB , 600x400 , 168.png )

Jacob is doing fine, as far as I can tell. He makes my meals. Not much more to say about that. So, the plan is to go visit Hope, and see if I can't find out more about what she's doing, and just generally check up on her. Then I'll-

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)19:42 No. 188488 ID: bde1b8
File 127579213915.png - (94.58KB , 600x400 , 169.png )

Rastin: "Cora! Good timing. I was just about to head out. I was gonna have Jacob tell you about it, but there is a council meeting tomorrow. All the guild leaders will be there. You should probably check it out. Here's the address, it's at noon, make sure you come early."

Cora: "Uh, um, thanks?"

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)19:42 No. 188490 ID: bde1b8
File 127579216636.png - (114.56KB , 600x400 , 170.png )

"Now I need to be off! Rob, LeVerne, let's go."

I wonder how long it'll take her to notice.

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)19:43 No. 188491 ID: bde1b8
File 127579218563.gif - (89.26KB , 600x400 , 171.gif )

Cora: "...Huh? Hey, wait!"

Rastin: "Toodles!"

Not very long at all.

>Poorly animated

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)19:43 No. 188492 ID: bde1b8
File 127579220286.png - (84.62KB , 600x400 , 172.png )

Oh wow, I didn't know she could summon stuff that big. Scary scary. But thankfully, she has a range limit. And these transports are fast.

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)19:43 No. 188493 ID: bde1b8
File 127579222368.png - (96.47KB , 600x400 , 173.png )

"...That went well enough. Hello, Sparkleball. I'd rub you between my giant green tits but you have grown so ugly and jagged since I last saw you, and I do not love you anymore. What's Cora been up to?"

Hahaha! Hey there, Rastin. Taking us for a trip are you?

She's kinda mad at us right now anyway.

>>188494
Hey Rastin this is totally just between us, but Cora wants to jump your bone if you know what I mean.

>>188493
Yeah, well, you've gotten pretty ugly yourself.

Pickpocketing? Really? You used to be great, man. What happened?

>>188493
Not much. We've mainly been having her run useless errands based on our slightest whims. We pretend we have a plan, but it pretty much changes every time she even moves.

DON'T TELL HIM SHIT GUYS
Especially the parts where we fucked up.

>>188493
She went on a raping spree downtown.

Not much. Just talking to people about what they like.

PS: Your tits are rubbish.

>>188493
It's just as well, green's just not our color, you know.

>>188494
And no, we're not going to tell you why.

>>188500
shut up

...But enough about Coralina, what about you? Got any plans for life after Cora takes your job, Big R?

>>188496
Well, yea, but just that's because she got that anti-rape condom with platypus venom filled needles.

SHIT! YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT! FORGET I SAID ANYTHING!

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)20:10 No. 188523 ID: bde1b8
File 127579380358.png - (59.48KB , 600x400 , 174.png )

Yeah, I figured as much.

>Hey there, Rastin. Taking us for a trip are you?
Yup. Going to a birthday party. Should be a swell time.

>...But enough about Coralina, what about you? Got any plans for life after Cora takes your job, Big R?
I do. And you're going to help with them. Vresch should really know I'm not one to play by someone else's rules by now, and I think I've got just the thing to knock his pegs out from under him. You interested?

>>188523
We're always interested in shenanigans.

...why are your eyes red? Are you a robot?

Yeah. Cora's mostly interested in fixating on the small details of a plan Vresch made for her, and gets upset at minor details like unnecessary cyborging, almost getting raped, or letting us accidentally set Hope free.

>>188523
Of course we're interested. That's not much of a guarantee we'll be helpful, though. Not even us saying we'll be helpful is a guarantee of that.

>>188523
>birthday party
>help with a plan
>not play by the rules
>knock Vresch down a few pegs
...
We love you too, you big lug.

[Dig our obsidian-sharp edges into his delicate skin.]

>>188526
Why would you tell him that?!

Coralina!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)20:28 No. 188533 ID: bde1b8
File 127579492461.png - (60.67KB , 600x400 , 175.png )

>Of course we're interested.
Why wouldn't you be? We're going to troll the most powerful guy on the planet. And there is nothing he can do about it, because he doesn't know anything about you. And all I need you to do is keep it that way. As long as Vresch doesn't know what you really are, everything will be just peachy. Everything else, you'll understand when we get there.

>Screw ups
Oh, Hope's free? Well that will make everything even easier.

>>188533
Well, she's only partially free. She's possessing a body. She's still in her crystal at the same time.

>>188533
>get there
You mean this birthday party? Who's is it?

Dude, you picked us up just to tell us that the only way your plan can fail is if we tell someone about it?

It seems much more likely that your plan hinges on us telling someone!

>>188531
Why we gotta have a reason for everything?

>>188533
>As long as Vresch doesn't know what you really are, everything will be just peachy.

You've noticed how good we are at secrets, right?

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)20:49 No. 188547 ID: bde1b8
File 127579616130.png - (96.16KB , 600x400 , 176.png )

>Dude, you picked us up just to tell us that the only way your plan can fail is if we tell someone about it? It seems much more likely that your plan hinges on us telling someone! You've noticed how good we are at secrets, right?
Keeping secrets isn't that important for this. If Vresch ever gets his hands on you, he'll know. And that's just about the worst thing that could happen to you. Right now, you're a wild card. You can get things done outside of Vresch's system. If you compromise that, you'll never accomplish anything in this city ever again.

I think this is the one secret you can be trusted to keep. The only one. Which is why I can't tell you anything else.

>Get there? You mean this birthday party? Who's is it?
No, not the birthday party. That's entirely unrelated to anything at all. Well, anything you'll have anything to do with. It will be very important for me, but you're not coming with.

Ah, we're almost there. You know what? I'm feeling generous. This might be the last time you see me for a while, so go on. Ask me anything you like. I'll answer just one question, so go ahead and waste it.

Which organization should Coralina take over?

>>188547
You know him better than us, what are Vresch's weaknesses?

>>188547
Why are your eyes red?

Of course you're planning to wreck something. That's all you're good for. If you can't make someone love you, you might as well set her on fire. I suppose that's just how it goes for people like you.

You want a question. There's nothing about you worth asking about. You're a pointless bit of trivia, a one-dimensional hollow caricature. You're merely a waste of time, and you're going to keep wasting time until you die and everyone can say "good riddance", toss your body in a dumpster and forget you were ever born.

Actually, I do have a question for you. Who cares how you feel? I don't think anybody could.

How can Vresch be manipulated? Surely the master troll has some idea of that by now.

>>188556
Whoa, who pissed in your cheerios this morning?

Wait, you're one of us. Who pissed in our cheerios this morning? We don't even eat cheerios. That's crazy.

How do you want us to go about the whole deposing thing? Give us the word, we can have some awesome hot-blooded giant robot action in the middle of the city.

>>188547

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

>>188550
I like that question.

>>188560
There's something more to him than he likes people to think. If I can get him to be defensive, we might find out what.

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)22:18 No. 188600 ID: bde1b8
File 127580152975.png - (146.72KB , 600x400 , 177.png )

Vresch's weaknesses, eh? Well, he's such a control freak, for one. He runs such a tight ship. Put one tiny little hole in the side, and he'll panic until it's all better.

He can't stand surprises. And you know how much I love surprises.

>You're merely a waste of time, and you're going to keep wasting time until you die and everyone can say "good riddance", toss your body in a dumpster and forget you were ever born.
"Ah hahaa. AH HAHAAHAAAA!" Oh, I like you. But you're a bit off base. My death is going to trigger something big. And I'm going to make sure of it.

And you're going to have front row seats. I hope you enjoy the show.

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)22:19 No. 188601 ID: bde1b8
File 127580154613.png - (125.44KB , 600x400 , 178.png )

"LeVerne, follow these instructions to the letter. You're going to go inside this tiny little compartment inside Rob, and you'll be let out at an appropriate time. I'm going to assume you can't talk to robots, and in case you can, Rob, ignore anything this orb tells you."

"Yes, Master Rastin." They both respond.

"Good. Now, I have a date to attend."

Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)22:19 No. 188602 ID: bde1b8
File 127580156390.png - (39.13KB , 600x400 , 179.png )

"Happy birthday. Would you like some tea?"

"It's not my fucking birthday."

Chapter 15 End Gnome!94Ud9yTfxQ 2010/06/05(Sat)22:19 No. 188603 ID: bde1b8
File 127580158231.png - (16.12KB , 600x400 , 180.png )

"I know."

And now I know your weakness. You love to feel important. You need attention because you know you don't deserve it.

That doesn't make you worth anything. Five tons of garbage is still garbage.

>>188603
Did you know we are the property of Coralina? Did you know she will confirm this fact?

[I'm betting Rob has standing orders to return lost property, and Rob was given orders to ignore anything we told him, not anything he was asked.]

Hey, didn't we have a robot body at one point? This'll be cake.

I think we should get this news to Vresch. And before you start complaining, Rastin is an ass hole and anything that he's excited for this much can only end badly for us... well not us specifically... more like all the people we have associated ourselves with over the years... months... time... You know what screw it, I just want to help out the lawful neutral demon.

>>188734
But I strongly suspect that Rastin's plan will be awesome if it works. Also, he's right that we don't want Vresch to know about us.

[Dig our obsidian-sharp edges into his delicate skin.]

>>188754
Rastin's last "awesome" plan almost got Coralina raped. I don't feel like waiting around for his next.

agree, his plan will end in something going wrong. let's blow it up.

>>188602
...That conversation. Calling it now.

Kara is back.

>>188917
>>188926
You guys are no fun at all. Cora didn't actually get raped, because she wasn't in a situation she couldn't handle. Vresch is a big boy, he'll be fine. Probably. And if he's not, well, then he'll just have to learn to deal with that.

>>189089
no, you see. that time he was just playing around. this looks like a serious plan.

>>189097
If thats "playing around", then a serious plan probably involves blowing up all of Neotis and leaving the survivors scattered around the wastes.

>>189089
Umm... Cora still got almost raped, which is just as bad because Rastin WANTED her to get raped, and if something happens to Vresch, then that pretty much means the collapse of civilization, again.
Which, in turn, will likely result indirectly in Cora getting completely blinded, or dying.

>>189102
>>189099
Nah, I doubt it.