Have we? Odd how you didn't mention that at the top of the tower. You seem saner as we-

...Hope, this might seem like an odd question, but what are your domains?

>>312946
Why, hello there, Hope! 'Tis a great day, is it not? A great day to make this world more beautiful and full of perfection!
>>312951
Magic, duh

>>312946
We have no idea.
You're a goddess now, and we need you to try to romance Ragnarode. We're a bit fuzzy on the details, just that you two are the only members of your pantheon on this plane, you're supposed to balance each other out, and you're fated to either romance each other or be locked in a futile blood feud for all eternity. Since blood feuds take up so much time and always make such messes, your choices basically boil down to partnering with Ragna or never making any progress on perfecting the world.
Yea, the head of your pantheon is kindofa dick like that.

>>312953
[Psst! Don't be so blunt!]
Well, Ragnarode did have a similar goal some time ago.

Hope!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/13(Mon)19:23 No. 312958 ID: fa6e8d
File 130801822033.png - (41.52KB , 800x600 , 118.png )

>>312951
My...domain? Magic, of course. You know that.
I know that you know that.
>>312949
I'm sure he can handle it.
After all, he IS perfect.
He said so.
And the people of that city were not perfect.
>>312953
.....
........Is that so.

he just uhh, needs us to help him sort it out as all. a lot of people in that town, need a lot of thinkers on how to handle them, you know?

C'mon. It could work out! He's hot, you're hot, he's perfect, you're perfect. YOU COULD JUST BE FRIENDS! And that Robot Guy, while imperfect, is kind of a badass. Remember how crazy Kara, Xom, and Rastin were? They were HORRIBLE PEOPLE and they STILL severely inconvenienced you for aeons. Help a bro out, don't let him get stuck in a crystal for 11 million years like you did, just because you're upset about being trapped in a crystal for 11 million years.

>>312958
...Yeah, forgive my friend. We are doing our best to purge our systems of imperfections such as those little bits of /bluntness/.

And yes, yes he can-- He is a GOD, after all. However, between those men, there was a MAN-- Not just a man, but the PERFECT machine buster- MEGAMAN.

Now, tell me, what happens when one perfect thing tries to make another perfect thing imperfect?

1. A lot of imperfections are purged - This is a good thing.
2. One of the two may become harmed - This is a bad thing.

>>312958
Just magic? I assume you're either just leaving out your domain of hope or that Rock guy down there's actually a god. The thing is, the Hope we know is a rather crazy goddess of perfection as well, which means that mirror we walked through took us into another universe. Could you tell Rock that Ragnarode's not who he thinks he his?

>>312964
...Fool! She just recalled a previous encounter she had with Ragnarode when she was released! Which was BEFORE we entered the mirror!

You must be crazy yo

>>312964
ahahah, such a kidder, crazy. what a joke.

>>312958
Well sure Ragnarode can deal with him eventually, but with the way things are looking now Rock is going to chew through most of Ragnarode's army before that point. You know, the army he built to bring perfection to the world? Having half his minions ground to scraps kind of hinders goals such as that.

Hope!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/13(Mon)19:45 No. 312972 ID: fa6e8d
File 130801954105.png - (66.37KB , 800x600 , 119.png )

>>312967
Army he built....
To bring perfection to the world?
Perfection through conquest, huh...

>>312962
Heh. Purging imperfections. Funny.

Hope, as a perfect being you realize that perfection is goal-oriented. For example, a perfect sphere is as far from a perfect screwdriver as there can be.
On a related note, goals only exist in the context of intelligent beings. Without intelligent beings to define the goals there is no difference between perfection and total imperfection.

Obviously, the tactic of eliminating imperfect people is flawed and thus imperfect.
It would be far more sensible to, rather than purging imperfect people, alter the world so that the people it already contains are put into a context that makes them perfect.

Also, yea. The head of your pantheon set it up so you and Ragna will either become friends or lovers and work together, or become enemies and work against each other in futility.

>>312973
and now seven decides to call her wrong, she will now yell that no we are wrong and her plan is perfect

Hope!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/13(Mon)19:49 No. 312975 ID: fa6e8d
File 130801979679.png - (66.54KB , 800x600 , 120.png )

>>312973
This...leader of this pantheon...
Would he happen to be the one that locked me in the crystal in the first place?

uhh, what is their name or what did they look like? can't be sure, memory is a bit hazy from being away so long.

>>312972
An interesting idea, is it not? By subjugating the imperfect population, they will be forced into following the ideals of a perfect world or die while they futilely resist.

While you are the perfect embodiment of Hope, a light that will cleanse all imperfections like a blazing sun, he is the incessant storm that will erode the imperfections away and leave a pristine, pure land.

>>312975
That was a she, m'lady.

Is that how you ended up in there? I don't know. Is the guy that locked you up missing his left eye?

Also, let me rephrase my earlier question, just to make sure I'm not misunderstanding the situation. Are you perfect?

>>312982
She is Hope. She is a goddess. To ask if she is perfect is to ask a redundant question.

Of course I am perfect.
I am the embodiment of perfection.
Everything about me is perfect.

>>312984
Oh, m'lady, how wonderful it would be if everyone learned to accept that truth. Alas, the world, imperfect as it is, refuses to accept that. By combining your power with Ragnarode's design abilities, the world will surely learn to accept your perfection, and accept your beautiful ideals.

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/13(Mon)20:11 No. 312988 ID: fa6e8d
File 130802107950.png - (85.76KB , 800x600 , 121.png )

...Hope has flown off.

>>312988
And as they would say...

"Shit just got real."

Oh, so up is square. Alright then. Now that I know we haven't been tricked into an alternate universe by Fate, we should probably check in on Ragnarode and see if he's pulled out that Nightmare yet.

Also guys, I have to go to sleep now. Don't fail, please, our Hope/Ragna alliance is a hair's breadth away from us

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/14(Tue)10:50 No. 313164 ID: fa6e8d
File 130807380487.png - (233.57KB , 800x600 , 122.png )

Back at Neo Arcadia...

>>313164
Quick, is that robot build with a permanent sad face or is it actually losing badly?

rapid invert gravity in a random pattern. super + and super - as best as it can. and GRAB him, once his arms are pinned he can't keep firing his murder beams everywhere.

>>313164
Activate gravity control to restrict his movements! Then blitz him with Agressors!

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/14(Tue)11:08 No. 313170 ID: fa6e8d
File 130807488328.png - (355.61KB , 800x600 , 123.png )

>>313166
Thats how the NIGHTMARE always looks.
>>313167
That might just work.
Megaman is pinned.

>>313170
So...
[ ] Rip his arms off
[ ] Lightning to the head
[ ] Swarm him with robots
[ ] Talk to him

So many choices, so little time...

now be ready with the other arm in case the one holding him is blown off. can the nightmare act as a conduit? if so then have it be struck by lightning and channel it into him.

>>313171
lightning THEN talk. lightning should at least stun him for a bit.

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/14(Tue)11:29 No. 313176 ID: fa6e8d
File 130807613576.png - (169.12KB , 800x600 , 124.png )

>>313171
I have him pinned, so we'll talk.
So then. You say your city was burned down, yes? Tell me about that.
>G-granite City is dust now... After SHE came... she judged us based on the worst of us... and t-then... burned...everything.
If I promise you Vengeance, would you join my cause to unite the world under one banner?
>Vengeance? Yes... I would join you.
ROCK HAS JOINED THE PARTY

>>313176
Wh-what!? V-Vengeance!? Rangnarode, don't! Hope is coming your way to propose an alliance!

Oh hell, you should've killed him. What happened to your goal of making the world perfect! Augh...

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/14(Tue)11:37 No. 313179 ID: fa6e8d
File 130807663976.png - (156.24KB , 800x600 , capability card Rock.png )

>>313177
I lied.

This warmachine should be easy enough to reprogram, just remove those memories of WHO burned his city down, which could be useful later.

As I help him down, I let up on the rain and he hands me a card.
Curious.

>>313177
MAYBE she will. but if she sees us NOT killing everything imperfect she will probably change her mind. have rock busy himself with meeting your other allies while you talk to hope.

Erlkonig 2011/06/14(Tue)11:43 No. 313181 ID: 4d0527
File 130807699423.jpg - (57.54KB , 478x500 , 1264368976720_f.jpg )

>>313179
Ah... I should've expected no less-- Make sure to reprogram him ASAP.

Oh... Truly powerful! That weakness, though, it must be corrected-

I believe we can design an armor which can correct that weakness.

Ragnarode, you're givin' mixed messages here. You want perfection, yet you're trying to kill the (admittedly crazy) goddess of Perfection. Whatchoo doin boy?

>>313180
This. As soon as you overwrite Rock's mind KILL EVERY IMPERFECT (Coughstupidcitizenscough)

>>313182
He lied.

>>313182
I lied to this...Rock to make him stop killing my men. I have taken the opportunity of rewriting his memory slightly. He will follow me now, whether or not Hope is allied with us.
I have no intentions of ruining a possible alliance.

>>313185
What about executing EXTERMINATUS on the Citizens of Granite city? You'll eventually have to kill those guys, replace the kobolds with mining drones, i.e a lot of things.

>>313186
you only kill everything if you want to live on a dead rock. until we find some more cylosians or some unused cylosian metal i am against trying to kill everything.

We need a way of shutting Rock down on the off chance he does turn against us. It needs to be something our enemies can't use against us or be accidentally triggered, though.

>>313187
>Kill everything
I'm not saying we kill everything, just those that are probably a threat to us by existing alone, and of who we can gain nothing from-- That is, the citizens. Of course I'm not saying you should dispose of the kobolds right now-- Only until we find more metal of course.

However, we absolutely without a doubt must not upset Hope-- No prison can hold her now, and all of the Magic in the world means INFINITE POWER.

>>313189
sure, but eventually she will find some petty fault in something we do.

>>313190
Maybe yes, I pray we do not see that day

>>313176
Umm, you're going to have to kill him at some point. Or let him kill Hope. She fits into his description rather well.

>>313202
What part of "God of the Machine" do you not understand!?

>What part of "God of the Machine" do you not understand!?
The part where he couldn't easily dominate the mind of a Crusher drone, and had to rip its head off to stop it.

>Citizens are a threat
They don't pose that much of a threat to us with their champion not just gone, but actually on our side.

>Alliance with Hope
Hope seems to really be more of a minefield than an ally. Her madness and instability make her extremely likely to turn against us eventually. When we fight her it should be on our terms, rather than whenever her bloodlust happens to turn our way.

>>313213
1. He didn't have any of the tools he now has, I assume- However, he now seems able to manipulate the robots, so no prob
2. They are an indirect threat.
3. Indeed, but we stand to gain a lot by having Hope on our side, and while she is dangerous, I like her, and believe having her as an ally will be worth it.

...Besides, she's going to kill us if we tell her "no" now that she is coming towards us.

>>313214
If we are wanting to build an empire, it is vastly inefficient to exterminate people because they might be a threat at some point. That kind of behavior generates more trouble than it fixes.

>>313245
(That "distant" "might" is homing in towards us, probably at hypersonic speeds, though.)

>>313249
I was referring to the citizens of Granite City, who seem unlikely to be much of a threat any time soon now that we have recruited Rock.

If Hope is who you were referring to, I think she is more of "almost certainly will be" a problem than somebody who "maybe might" be a problem.

>>313254
It's just somebody was saying Hope wouldn't like it if we left the citizens alive. That's what I was talking about. Of course I'd never think about exterminating Hope.

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/21(Tue)11:02 No. 315932 ID: fa6e8d
File 130867936060.png - (83.50KB , 800x600 , 125.png )

Alright, so where do I go now?
The subjugation of the world won't just happen.
Also, wherever I go, I can bring 2 of my liutenants.

>>315932
Map please.

I think it's time to launch some blitzkrieg attacks.

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/21(Tue)11:13 No. 315934 ID: fa6e8d
File 130868001488.png - (138.32KB , 800x600 , 126.png )

Updated map with marked locations.

1. Sentry Tower.
2. The Fairy Clearing
3. The Elven Enclave
4. The Kobold Encampment
5. Seahaven
6. The Pantheon Temple
7. Krakentooth
8. The Burrows
9. The Mountainhomes
10. Granite City (burned)
11. Desert Gate
12. Mt. Abyss
13. Verinstown
14. Neo Arcadia

>>315934
We must secure Seahaven first. It is the only city with a port relatively close to us. Thus, by securing that port city, we would have an quick connection with the mainland, allowing us to bring supplies/spare parts to our parts.

Start producing diggers out of the scrap metal left by Rock's encounter with your recon squad, and start trying to find more scrap metal.

If my memory serves me well, we now possess a gravite crystal, meaning we can create a set of slicers. Use this to attack the civilian population, leave the inner city in a state of disarray.

However- Is there any way we can deploy our armies across sea? If so, we can do this- Either place 4 Crushers outside the town to wreck the gates, or deploy them inside the city itself, and make them strike at the goverment's buildings. Use 150 Aggressors to attack the army it might have, along with 10 Snipers hiding in the shadows to attack the enemy commanders. The crucial point to the battle is to deploy the Aggressors quickly-- To situate them in an advantageous position. Once the bulk of the enemy forces have been mellowed out, deal the coup de grace with the Nightmare.

You and Israphel should be leading this operation, and bring Rock along as your bodyguard.

Ragnarode!B9.zuK9UE2 2011/06/21(Tue)14:39 No. 316009 ID: fa6e8d
File 130869239877.png - (147.88KB , 800x600 , 127.png )

>>315936
I gather Israphel and Rock, and we make our way there. Other units will take time, and until I find out how to work the portals we are doing this ourselves. Unless you want us to wait 5 or 6 hours to wait for the troops to be created and deployed.

Pose as a team cause SHIT JUST GOT REAL

>>316009
No- If we are fighting a lighting war, we must make sure to have a grasp of the battlefield. Advancing now would be a wise choice.

Ragnarode 2011/06/30(Thu)14:06 No. 319950 ID: fa6e8d
File 130946796826.png - (82.93KB , 800x600 , 128.png )

It takes an hour or so of walking to get there, but we make it to Seahaven unbothered.
The massive doors are barred and locked.
There seems to be a commotion inside.

>>319950
CHARGED MEGABUSTER

Ragnarode 2011/06/30(Thu)15:26 No. 319978 ID: fa6e8d
File 130947281595.png - (85.66KB , 800x600 , 129.png )

>>319976

Ragnarode 2011/06/30(Thu)15:27 No. 319980 ID: fa6e8d
File 130947284568.png - (189.26KB , 800x600 , 130.png )

OH YEAH

That was completely unnecessary, but insanely awesome at the same time.

now let's see how we can make that commotion work for us.

Ragnarode 2011/06/30(Thu)17:10 No. 320017 ID: fa6e8d
File 130947901591.png - (137.07KB , 800x600 , 131.png )

>>319995
I speed ahead, attempting to capitalize on the momentary distraction my men caused.
The gathering seems to be at the town center.

Ragnarode 2011/06/30(Thu)17:33 No. 320026 ID: fa6e8d
File 130948041588.png - (199.42KB , 800x600 , 132.png )

There it is.
There seems to be some sort of gathering and oh fuck me what am I going to do.

i estimate a very high chance that fire is about to happen. can you start up a good rain right now? without being noticed? if so then start the rain.
and fly down there and be nonchalant. "hey hope, what's up?"

>>320029
This, but instead of inconspicuous: huge downpour, and a lightning bolt behind you that frames you in a silhouette. THEN, once you've scared off whoever's surrounding hope, you pull out the "hey hope, what's up?"

>>320026
Glomp-tackle her out of the circle, sweeping her off her feet and into your arms.
"Hey, beautiful. You weren't about to mar this area with a scorch mark, were you?"

>>320041
And interrupt one of her PERFECT lectures? :I

Ragnarode 2011/07/07(Thu)16:41 No. 323091 ID: fa6e8d
File 131008208073.png - (79.94KB , 800x600 , 133.png )

>What the...? What on earth are YOU doing here?
>No. NO! THESE PEOPLE ARE MINE! THEIR HEARTS, THEIR MINDS, THEIR LOYALTY! ALL! MINE!
>WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!

"Oh. Y'know. Just kinda hangin out. I'm on my first vacation in several aeons. Decided to go see the sights, possibly destroy them. Y'know, same old same old. How are you?"

>>323091
CHILL OUT WOMAN IM TOTALLY NOT HERE TO FIGHT YOU.

Ragnarode 2011/07/07(Thu)17:13 No. 323113 ID: fa6e8d
File 131008400151.png - (195.26KB , 800x600 , 134.png )

Hello, Hope.
>Go away, I got here first! I KNOW thats why you are here!
This world is MINE, Hope. You aren't going to get in the way of this, are you?

>>323091
"Oh, no worries there, cutie. I just wanted to make sure there isn't going to be another giant fireball marring the planet.
Keeping people alive is pretty important too."

>>323113
"Join me, Hope! Together we can create a perfect world."

Ragnarode 2011/07/07(Thu)18:55 No. 323214 ID: fa6e8d
File 131009012550.png - (258.56KB , 800x600 , 135.png )

...And besides, you seem to have a thing for fire, and I will NOT have you burning any more of MY people.
>Y-YOUR'E PEOPLE?! THEN YOU ARE AGAINST ME!
>I WILL DESTROY YOU!

>>323214
"Or you could join me, and together make a perfect world."

Noooooo!!!! There has to be some peaceful way out of this. She hasn't ACTUALLY started throwing firebal... yea we're screwed.

Probably shouldn't kill her though. I doubt we can stop her without force though at this point.

>>323216
"they're our people, aren't they?, afterall all by yourself or me on my own can hardly be considered perfect"

call down some lightning bolts from the sky. if you get hurt then have them strike you to heal. that is how it works right?

>>323214
I suggest not responding much, taking a stoic approach to get her on your side. Simply deny that you are against her, dodge her attacks, while claiming that they are your people and repeat. Play with her.

You got to respect her... attitude while remaining just as firm and stubborn without being antagonistic. Prove yourself the superior perfect being with all action and no words and she will kneel eventually.

if you two fight here you might end up spending the rest of eternity fighting her. the guy who gave you your divinity designed you two to stalemate each other in a fight. Granted you can build armies and shes bugfuck insane so you might win a long term war of attrition.

Ragnarode 2011/07/24(Sun)16:29 No. 330771 ID: fa6e8d
File 131155015655.png - (226.27KB , 800x600 , 136.png )

Hope, I am NOT your enemy! It's just that there has to be a better way! What you are doing here isn't justice, it's genocide. You would bring the world towards empty perfection, yes, but at the cost of oblivion! There HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY!
She hits me with a fireball.
>W-what other way CAN there be?!

"the teacher, a child is born without fault, simply prevent them for gaining any and they will be perfect, then, slowly, the population will be replaced with perfect children. you are immortal, you have all the time you could ever need to do it."

>>330775
"Patience is a virtue. Uplift the imperfect, and over time create a perfect world full of life. Far more aesthetically pleasing then a dead world pockmarked with burned craters, don't you think?"

>>330775
lets not say that. we don't want her trying to keep the population from growing up.

" mortals can only improve so much each generation, but with our help each generation can strive to be better than the last. it will take hundreds if not thousands of generations but perfection can be achieved, and what is time to an immortal?"

Ragnarode 2011/07/24(Sun)18:41 No. 330876 ID: fa6e8d
File 131155809261.png - (91.83KB , 800x600 , 137.png )

Listen, Hope... These people, they need you as a guardian, a builder.... an angel. Someone to look up to. Do you think they will if you keep burning them down?
>...But I'm perf-
HOPE. Last time I'm going to tell you this. Perfection is an ideal, a journey, something to aspire to. You got pretty close, but thats the thing. As good as you get, you can always get better.
>........
You can rebuild this, I know you can. You're certainly smart enough. Can you do that?
Build, instead of burn?
>.....I...need to think.

"take your time, you have more then enough"

Ragnarode 2011/07/24(Sun)18:52 No. 330884 ID: fa6e8d
File 131155873083.png - (93.52KB , 800x600 , 138.png )

...Hope has flown off.

Somehow, I think that went better than I thought it would.
Rock and Israphel have kept the brainwashed civilians from hurting themselves, Hope has apparently decided to give some thought to my words, and the worst I got was a slight burn on the shoulder.

yes, and you are made of metal, so it should be any easy fix.

>I know you can. You're certainly smart enough. Can you do that?
Nice one. Appealing to her enormous ego.

well it looks like we have a city to secure. you should probably start by trying to break the brainwashing hope set up and rebuilding anything that was destroyed. right now I think trying to be a good ruler rather than a feared ruler would be the best bet. it's a rather dark time in the world(what with hopes rampage) and if you can come off as a beacon of hope you might have people joining you willingly. also the irony of the god of despair becoming a light in the darkness is thick enough to act as armor.