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File 140113653153.jpg - (7.05KB , 259x194 , Rebirth of the Sun.jpg )
576019 No. 576019 ID: 961d2e

I was excited and nervous as I walked up to the Kichi shrine. I knew that her Aunt had said to not worry about clothes..and I didn’t really have any other outfits. Just shorts and a blouse, and my yellow dress.

The second felt more fitting today, but it would be nice to have options, I kind of wanted this to be something special.

I’ve never met someone else’s parents before. I..I don’t think Ministers have parents. I think they were more part of mother the way you are part of me.

I think? Mom said she was going to teach me how to do that later..

Which I guess means she was lying to me..thats..thats not cool. Though I can see why she would.

Anyway the houses started to be more and more erratically placed, which meant that the shrine complex was coming up soon.

I get to the complex and have a bit of trouble figuring out which building is the one I should be going to.

And then I get knocked over, Catherine having launched her self at me. “You made it!” a raspy voice says. It just sounds painful, but she keeps talking, quickly getting up and bowing so deeply to me she is on her hands and knees as I am still lying on the ground blinking in confusion.

It feels kind of ...uh.. mishmash?

“Uh..hi?” I say pushing my self up, as a young man comes over sighing and offering me a hand. “Catherine-chan, slow down. Life isn’t a race. (for the thousandth time.)”

She frowns and sticks her tongue out at him, before seemingly realizing I am looking right at her and blushing a very cute pink.

“We thank Your Highness for gracing this one’s rude home. Please come up to our table, my Lord.” she says bowing again, speaking very very formally.

I tried to smile at her still a little annoyed at getting knocked over. “I would be happy to come. Please take care of me.” I reply in the same language but much less formally.

It wasn’t long before I was at the dinner table a plate of rice and vegetables steaming before me. It feels a little weird to use a fork when everyone else is using chopsticks.

The food was really bland, and most of the grown ups were wearing very boring clothes. Its interesting to compare to the Sosunov who seemed to be physically weakened by their magic, where these people seem to have it bound up in rules.

Short conversations started up and then seemed to die from an awkward intensity radiating off Catherine's mother.

Catherine grumpily kicked her, and she sighs. “I am sorry. I am being a terrible host. Why don’t we get to know each other a little better. I am Yukari Kichi, mother of Catherine, and Samantha Kichi and wife of Robert.” she says pointing each of them out. “Ran is my elder sister, and Orange my younger brother, Agathe is his wife, and Abronychus, Abydos, and Aegon their sons. Hikari is my mother, and my father was Aki. I hear you are living with Grandmother Ashley?” she says pointing at little shrine with a black-framed black and white photo of an dour looking man.

>
190 posts omitted. Last 50 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 586574 ID: 874468

Aha. I think I've figured out the stud now: The picture we saw in the basement, of what might be little sister Senko.

"Does that mean you're in contact with my little sister? Tell her hi, sorry I haven't written to her yet, and ask her if she wants me to send her something in the mail."
>>
No. 587039 ID: d87b1e

"No, she doesn't need anything from you yet. She just might need a T.A. or a class president if you are interested in the position? Its still a ways off of course.˝ Isabella says her cadence making the kind words sound like a rehearsed threat.
>>
No. 587153 ID: f839a9

Well, if she's been in communication with Senko, that explains the similarity in theme in the arguments. I even though to myself that this was almost practice for what she's going to bring. Guess that's no coincidence.

I'm still thinking we might want to try the nice offensive again, see if it disarms her.

>reply
"Hmm, you're right probably right. It is a ways off, and too soon to choose what I hope to be doing in school. I'll consider it, though." (Emphasizing choices and hope instead of fated outcomes for the future).

"I am glad she found someone to talk to, at least." (Forcing Isabella into a role as family or friend (or a friend of family), instead of the antagonist she's seemingly more comfortable as).
>>
No. 587285 ID: 3dd384

I think now is a good opportunity to ask about the book you were curious about... the one with your mom in it.

Unless you're not comfortable with the idea of talking with Isabella about that anymore.
>>
No. 587353 ID: f839a9

>>587285
Maybe something like "while we're on the subject of my family and history then, there's something I wanted to ask after."

Being clear about our wants is supposed to be good when dealing with the Titovs, and not following up on our past rebuts us being afraid of the past coming due, and reasserts that we're her to learn, for help. Which disarmed her before.
>>
No. 587624 ID: 874468

Perhaps reasserting that we're here to learn, find friends, allies and teachers, and pay our respects to what is would be a good idea.
We could expand on that by saying, "I don't know as much as we need to about who mom was and what she did, or dad either. Anything you would like to share about them would be helpful. You also seem to know a fair bit about how to approach and talk to Excrusians; do you also know about the same with Imperators?"
>>
No. 587772 ID: 8d213c
File 140708362738.jpg - (31.00KB , 380x250 , gossip.jpg )
587772

"while we're on the subject of my family and history then, there's something I wanted to ask after." Jasper starts. "I don't know as much as we need to about who mom was and what she did, or dad either. Anything you would like to share about them would be helpful. You also seem to know a fair bit about how to approach and talk to Excrucians; do you also know about the same with Imperators?"

“We have stories and visions. Hints and allegations. But Imperators have no reason to show themselves, Excrusians often like being noisy. Canceling tv shows, casting shadows over the sun, tearing down theologies. While the Imperators hold their secrets tight to the chest. We have secret knowledge of course. Curiosity has been our doom as much as love or fear or hope.” Isabella says standing taller, more sure.

“But the thing about secret knowledge is that while knowing is dangerous. Sharing is what brings attention.” She smiles.

“What can you do for us? Or rather, what do you think you can do for us.” She says smirking, pride at knowing a secret Jasper does not.
>>
No. 587781 ID: f839a9

>Imperators have no reason to show themselves, Excrusians often like being noisy
Almost an amusing dichotomy. The established powers, part of creation, are the hidden ones while the interlopers from void are the obvious.

>Sharing is what brings attention
You already have my attention. And possibly, any attention that follows me. A price already paid, as it were.

>What can you do for us? Or rather, what do you think you can do for us.
I suspect you could do a great deal for them. More than that information is worth, certainly. The question is more, what can we do that appropriately reciprocates what's she asking?

Offering to save them is worth more than she's offering. But perhaps... would she care to experience hope that isn't false?

Going with the idea of offering suffusion of hope, instead of using it as an attack or counter.
>>
No. 587807 ID: 3dd384

>>587772
Isabella loves her dangerous questions.

Sometimes the only thing more dangerous is an answer.

Whatever we say here, let's remember our spending limits.
>>584455
>Hmm. I am willing to give up some time and effort, and even commit to some future spending of such, but..not really anything more then that.
>Err I have about 5 μ石Ք from my alowence that I could spend. Its enough to buy 3 or 4 ice cream cones.
>Everything else I have I think I kind of need.
Let's also try to keep it closed-ended.

>>587781
>But perhaps... would she care to experience hope that isn't false?
I like this, although I wonder if it's the kind of thing that she'll laugh about. Then again... these folks have a problem with feeling hopeful and real. Maybe the potential silliness of the offer doesn't matter compared to the fact that it's a way for her to get medicated without gobbling Outside Dust.
>>
No. 587813 ID: f839a9

>Maybe the potential silliness of the offer
I was thinking there's a sort of appropriateness in offering a taste of hope for the future in exchange for a glimpse into past events. It's not an exact equivalence, but there's a kind of symmetry, there. Future for past, openness for secrets.

That and maybe, I'm not sure she's allowed to turn down something she as good as asked for, earlier. Titov magic is about the exchange of wants and needs for prices set, isn't it?
>>
No. 587987 ID: fa07df

The hope infusion takes a while to build up, So maybe I should keep Isabella talking or something as I get it ready?
Shouldn't take too long. One more of her speeches I think.
>>
No. 588001 ID: f839a9

I suppose stalling is simpler when the opposition is so speech-susceptible.

Ideas: if you wanted to stay on topic, you could comment on the inherent irony in secrets being better kept in the sun than in shadow. She'd probably jump at the chance to slander the Imperators, or wax on their hypocrisy. Or we could raise the point about their having already caught attention (as if we're haggle down the cost they would incur) and let her rebut it. I like that one less though, as it comes across as more of a threat, or has worse implications at least (I've already messed things up for you by coming here).

Or you could quibble over the wording of her request. It's not a matter of what we can do for them, or even what we think can do for them. It's a matter of what we're willing to do for them. You could interpret her question as a trap to pay to trick you into offering to pay too high a price- naming everything you're capable of (or that you think you're capable of), rather than making a price clear in your heart. She'd respond to that, in some way (pleased or disappointed you caught it, waxing on about the nature of prices?).
>>
No. 588002 ID: 874468

"If curiosity is so dangerous for you and sharing secrets is what makes it dangerous, your main line of 'business' here in town seems like it's an outright hazard that may be avoidable. Has your family considered operating a business venture of some other kind that relies upon your secrets less? It doesn't seem like it would be that hard to take up some kind of craft or making a set of trading relationships with the abilities you can call on."
>>
No. 588173 ID: d87b1e
File 140721309137.jpg - (4.12KB , 139x160 , images.jpg )
588173

> "If curiosity is so dangerous for you and sharing secrets is what makes it dangerous, your main line of 'business' here in town seems like it's an outright hazard that may be avoidable. Has your family considered operating a business venture of some other kind that relies upon your secrets less? It doesn't seem like it would be that hard to take up some kind of craft or making a set of trading relationships with the abilities you can call on."

"My brother does as you suggest. Carving his little ravens. Selling them like a common merchant. But few ask for the secrets you do. Few would even know what to ask. I hear that on the Earth that was, magic and sorcery are rare and hidden, but you questions are deeper then that. Even in a land of wonders, the truth is sickly and careful, and stronger then a storm. And we have practice not speaking of the sacred."

It's a subtle change, nothing looks or even feels differnt, but I can feel my power soaking into the wood and dirt and flesh and air.

It is calming and invigorating, like suckling at my mothers breast, listening to her heart beat. It takes a little while for Isabella to notice, and for me to notice that she had continued to talk.

"They..no..I..no they...we." and something breaks in side Isabella. "You loved her didn't you. You really loved her. So stupid.." she mutters in my general direction, confused and hurt. "What..what. Did. You. Do?" she whispers her confusion changing to cold anger.
>>
No. 588184 ID: f839a9

Not exactly pleased, is she. Downside with presenting instead of offering I suppose. Still, I think this might still work.

How's the rest of the shrine reacting? The ink drawing? The brother?

>What. Did. You. Do.
"I thought of something I could do for you. Something true and secret. Something sacred you did speak of.

Hope."

>You loved her didn't you. You really loved her. So stupid..
>hurt
"...you really did weep for me."

(Showing actual concern for the pain she's feeling in regards to you when you turned on the emotions on).

Kind of nicely turns her words around. Presents what you're offering both equal to what you're asking, and as something she asked for. And the second bit is to disarm her anger by trying to comfort her pain, and turning what she tried to use as an attack before into something genuine.
>>
No. 588186 ID: 874468

"Sorry, I mean to offer it as a gift: Hope, possibly enough to break the fate that binds you to annihilation if you want it."
>>
No. 588289 ID: 3dd384

Make it clear that if she does not want it you will stop.
>>
No. 588542 ID: d87b1e
File 140740491860.png - (606.02KB , 600x942 , tarot_card_ii___the_high_priestess_by_rotegruetze-.png )
588542

Jasper starts to answer, but stops, caught up in looking at the ink painting behind Isabella.
It depicts a crow speaking. In that same strange script the book was in is written: "Before the Names of Earth, was Chaos."
A challenge, to the Gods of Earth.

A "Shit!" Is yelled from behind you, startling both you and Isabella. "Isabella take your plaything to School and get the rest of the Family. I'm going to be at the Lower Shrine." Her brother continues, as the girl grabs Jasper with surprising force, dragging her out the door.

"The King of the World rages no more." The raven silently speaks.

Isabella is dragging Jasper to Horizon, as lightning strikes behind them.

The raven's script echoes in her mind. "The King of the World rages no more."

Jasper can feel the words trying to escape her Head, trying to tear out and shape the world.

Isabella says "Don't speak them. But most of all do not forget them. They are sacred."
>>
No. 588573 ID: 5f5b96

>The Tower
Oh, the disaster card. That's reassuring. Although it's mediated by a high priestess, here.

If I had to guess, we inadvertently woke something up? Something that shouldn't be up, if the brother is going to deal with it, and Isabella is going to collect others for reinforcements.

>dragging
Increase your pace, so she's not dragging you. A simple, non-verbal assent. That you're trying to help, not being compelled.
>>
No. 588678 ID: d87b1e
File 140747778936.jpg - (827.00KB , 549x908 , the Devil (anime).jpg )
588678

>>
No. 588680 ID: d87b1e
File 140747791061.png - (768.83KB , 900x1268 , the_emperor.png )
588680

>>
No. 588681 ID: d87b1e

Picking up the pace, I match the run a few hundred meters then drop to a jog, then run again pace Isabella is setting.

She seems to be in more pain then I am, but I can't quite run fast enough to keep her from dragging me. Though when she drops to a jog I can keep up.

It only takes a couple of these before we are past the rubble and into Horizon proper. With its glaring gargoyles and looming mists.

Isabella looks small and scared. A lost child.

And then a cruel and jeering smile comes to her face and a ...metal box with arms and legs and a pulsating pink mass in the center appears and directs us through the nearly empty streets and halls.

Its not easy telling if we are inside or not, I can't see the sky because of the mist, or buildings the lean towards one another, and sometimes clouds or rain from indoors.

I can feel my lips start to move, when Isabella looks at me. "Don't speak them." she says, forcing a piece of paper into my hands. I scribble down “The King of the World rages no more.” over and over again, frantically, trying to get the words _out_.

II follow her following the box, and it isn't long before we are in the court of Rex Mundi.

A tall tall man sits at a throne, a black scarab, upside down, etched on to his throne, and painted into his clothes, and set upon every surface in the room not worn by his guests.

At his right sits Entropy II, in his blindingly clean and white clothes.

Across from him is what can only be the rest of the Titov’s. Pale skinned, and dark of hair of eyes.

The tall man sneers and gestures with his hand. The box corrodes and rots before Jasper’s eyes, the pink mass rotting away into the wind with a foul smell.

“Father!” Entropy II yells, terrified. “Its her words!”

“Lies, all they fight with is lies.” the tall man growls, gestures, and time starts stuttering, jumping forward in pieces, flowing then jumping ahead without reason.

Suddenly, Isabella is bloody and her clothes burnt.

Suddenly everyone’s moved, the men and women that must be the rest of Isabella’s family are rushing for the door.

Suddenly the room is empty except for the tall man and Entropy II.

“Please, Father, stop this. You know this is what she wanted. You could have killed me in a hundred ways each day! Remember the Plan!” the young man is pleading with the tall man as a strange rage twists his swarthy features.

The smell of sulfur and ozone fills the room. I can feel the strange skipping sensation try to grab hold of me, but I slip away from it.

I am the Sun, I Rise Anew.
>>
No. 588695 ID: a19cbe

>Isabella looks small and scared. A lost child. And then a cruel and jeering smile comes to her face
Huh. You're not the only one who wears another face, here.

Okay, so it looks like most the Titovs were away at some audience with Entropy Senior when you came to visit triggered things. Which seems like a hell of a coincidence. Did this 'she' arrange for your arrival and their being away to coincide? It you woke up something that was sealed, that suggests it already had some influence.

>Isabella is bloody and her clothes burnt
>Entropy II pleading
...really don't like the way that's going. You tried to help Isabella, and Entropy II is a friend (or is someone who could be a friend, at least). Their getting hurt because you tried to offer her something isn't right. And if you inadvertently caused this, that means you have a responsibility to make the outcome just. You're in not in a good position to oppose entropy directly, but I kind of feel like our displeasure should be felt. You do not approve.

>Lies, all they fight with is lies.
Possibly you could call him out on that. You fight with truths, yet you carry her words. That's not a lie. (Assuming his denial or disbelief is part of the current problem).

...although you would have to convey that without speaking, since you can't speak, while trying to keep the words in. (Some dramatic gesture? Communication via symbols or archetype almost seem appropriate given the powers here, and tarot theme).

Actually, are we still bleeding hope, or did that wear off, or did we leave what we'd built up at the shrine?

>I am the Sun, I Rise Anew.
Nice. Handy aspect of your nature, there.
>>
No. 588721 ID: 1590e8
588721

(This was playing as you entered https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=NwnlU4jPJY2IogTQpIEY&url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%
3DUGFFl38STBk&cd=1&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&usg=AFQjCNE4Mm8SpfYcWrQ16uvy3Ahvf_WRgQ&sig2=V5qdsvVN90R8B0LJMmaFnw )

(Mix - Demons & Wizards - Crimson King + Lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDC0rH6MX0s&list=RDnDC0rH6MX0s is playing now.)
>>
No. 588738 ID: 00b2db

> Nice.
Yes, yes it is.

> Calling him out.
Not sure what that would achieve?

> Hope.
It's hard to keep that going as I move. I can turn it on again though, I've got my hooks into here, I guess.

> Displeasure.

Yeah. I am not happy. Not sure who is really to blame here, though. I think something /big/ is happening.
>>
No. 588744 ID: 88960e

>Not sure what that would achieve?
Probably nothing. It would only change the course if his actions hinged on believing they were lying. Which probably isn't the case. There's more at work here than that.

>hope?
No, I doubt that would fix or diffuse the situation. I was just wondering if we'd left the light on.

And yeah, I'd agree this looks big. Problem is we don't understand what's going on, and there's so much of your own capabilities unexploded. Makes doing anything very difficult, and possibly unwise. I don't like being stuck as a witness, again.

And if the words are still there, you're effectively mute, too.

Actions speak louder than words maybe. Entropy is lashing out. Maybe you could impose yourself? Move so you're standing in front of Isabella (or did she leave with her family?) or besides Entropy II. I don't think you can actually protect either of them from him, but maybe you can get him not to strike.
>>
No. 588821 ID: 874468

Oh, no, no, no, no, no... I'm pretty sure things here are not going to be resolved with a ray of hope and friendliness: We are in the stronghold of conflict, and he is set on conflict.
You are the sun, you rise anew, and you don't have patience for being abused like this. If he wants to be rude, well... I think the situation calls for a little cold certainty.
>>
No. 588828 ID: a19cbe

>I think the situation calls for a little cold certainty
...I have to say I'm not sure I like the sound of that at all. We haven't practiced working with Jasper when she's cold practically at all, and now seems a very bad time for unexpected consequences, or unexpected reactions on her part.

And if you're suggesting using the cold-eyes version of the hope aura- if we don't like where this is headed, enforcing "the future is already written" seems like it would only cement it. And even if cold-hope would reverse what we did before (assuming we're even right about our having triggering this) we're in the wrong region at the moment.
>>
No. 588998 ID: 874468

I'm not so sure those objections matter as much as you think they do: For starters, there is supposed to be a plan where we don't have a conflict with Entropy here and now and being able to see our way through to its end with our maximum benefit would work really well here. Further, Entropy is weakened after having just exercised his powers against the Titovs, and probably us as well, and his son really doesn't want this fight to happen at all either, so I'm not certain he even can win against us.

A fight is a destructive thing we generally don't want though, and you're possibly right that there's no way we can win either without the benefit of the other aspect of our power. So my second thought is:
"A plan, you had a plan to use me without my foreknowledge. Pray tell me, what was it you hoped to accomplish? If your hope is enough I would be disposed to compensate you for the difference."
>>
No. 589005 ID: 4b571b

>A plan, you had a plan to use me without my foreknowledge
I'm not sure we had any indication the plan Entropy II mentioned involved us at all. From the context, I assumed it was with regards to the unnamed power at work here, and Entropy not killing his son.

...and I'm still not sure if speech is even an option, or if Jasper is still trying to hold those dang words in.
>>
No. 589034 ID: d87b1e

No, when I came back from being vanished the paper I had writen it down on didn't come back with me. Given what Isabella and Entropy II said I think that destruction triggered things, but that seems to have let out the pressure that tempting me to speak them.

I don't like Entropy I, but I think don't like the thing under the shrine worse.
>>
No. 589037 ID: 4b571b

Oh, nice. Entropy's attack left you unharmed, but purged the hold she had on you. ...I wonder if that was intentional on his part?

>I don't like Entropy I, but I think don't like the thing under the shrine worse.
Fair.

Still, he's the one we're in a position to maybe do something about or influence, at the moment.
>>
No. 589055 ID: 874468

I gave us one option: Trying to intervene in whatever it is that's making Entropy focus on his son terrifyingly enough that he's begging for his life. A little cold certainty I figure is exactly what we need to make the most of our, and Entropy II's, options and abilities to come out of this with a minimum of damage.

Someone didn't like that option, so I came up with a second option of trying to distract him from his focus upon his son by demanding apology and compensation for our involvement in this mess. This option does seem iffy in terms of possibly getting Entropy angry at us instead (or as well).

If you don't like these plans, and of the two I think I like the first better, come up with another please.
>>
No. 589062 ID: 8bb6f3

I kind of like the stand between Entropy and Entropy. Also it might be time to go Big or go home, and I don't know how to go home.

And honestly I think some hope might be a good thing here. It backfired at the shrine because giving a prisoner hope sort of helps them mess with their captors.

But here. . here I think some hope might do a works of good.

So unless you guys think it's a terrible idea, I'm going to get between the Entropys and start becoming (Controlled) nuclear fire.

Thoughts.
>>
No. 589068 ID: 4b571b

...go for it, girl. I'm not sure hope will work here, but I think it has a better chance of working than anti-hope.

This is Horizon, too. Remember how we talked about strategies to function, before. Going big (literally or not) is the coping strategy. Be the monster among monsters, great and terrible to behold. Confidence and power.

Kind of fitting to wrap up this sequence by playing your own card- The Sun.

Another idea I had (not sure if it will still fit the mood during, or after, you do your sun-thin) but maybe you could make a point of formally thanking Entropy for releasing you from the hold of her words? Would certainly throw a wrench in the tone here, and it reinforces his position of power when he's feeling challenged, and gives him a way to back down without losing face (yes, that's why I lashed out. I meant to do that).
>>
No. 589581 ID: 00b2db
File 140814372644.jpg - (101.19KB , 546x917 , The Moon.jpg )
589581

I start to let go of my human-ish form, burning from the inside out.

It feels good.

"I think there's still hope! Hope that we can all be OK!" says Jasper her voice cracking from fear, from confusion, from air so bombarded with light, with energy that atomic nuclei are ripped bare, no longer a simple gas, but a plasma, lighting-coiled unending-self-moving.

Lord Entropy, Rex Mundi snarls backing up. "Jasper. Reigina of Hope and the Sun. I guess I should have paid attention to just who her heralds were."

As he gestures in contempt a stream of blood is is flicked off his hands, onto me, it sizzles, oh so sweet, so so so sweet.

It's much better fresh, way better then the lollipops, or the letter. With it comes images, feelings, thoughts:

I see buildings, beautiful monuments to justice and peace, covered in blood and reduced to rubble. I feel a husband's love turn into hate and exploitation. I see kids spray painting the church they were baptised in. I see conquerors build their temples over the conquered, as they justify their slavery with honey-ed words. And behind this all I see a smile.

His smile.

I see shadows. Shadows of bicycles, of people, of towns. Some created in instant with a flash of power. Others fading away over decades or centuries. I feel the seeds of their own endings in the righteous and the evil. I hear echoes of the languages lost into the void, of whole kinds of animal and plant gone, vanished. And behind it all is a rage.

His rage.

I feel heart after heart broken by cruel truths, or crueler lies. I feel a woman look up at her brother, killed by the British, knowing there will be no justice. I see a boy getting called "fag" by his peers. I feel a little girl's heart break as her father ignores the water color she painted. And behind it all is an laugh.

His laugh.

My stomach growls in renewed hunger. I can feel his evil, his raw malice. How much better the world would be without him.

The younger Entropy is doing something, drawing something from his belt.

>_
>>
No. 589662 ID: 4b571b

Two interesting points from Entropy's reaction. First of all, he apparently didn't recognize who you were until now. That's a surprising level of carelessness or recklessness for a being of his stature, even if indiscriminate anger or violence would suit his nature. It's notable than one Imperator can even catch another unawares like that- the sun isn't particularly suited to sneaking up on anyone.

Secondly, he backed up. You're in his realm, his region, his court, yet he still snarls and retreats when you reveal yourself. That was unexpected, to say the least. We may not be at as much of a disadvantage as I would have expected. (Unless that's deliberate, and he's goading us).

>How much better the world would be without him.
There are a few big problems to this line of thinking.

The first: what does the world become without him? When an imperator dies, what they represent vanishes from the world, becomes incomprehensible. Creation came apart at the seams without a sun. What does it becomes without entropy? How far does that go? Things don't wind down, or break? Everything continues until it's forced to not? Practical immortality- everything lives forever if not killed? Would people still age or change in that world? Would anything new even be possible, or would ay hope or creativity for the future stagnate, buried in the unceasing past? How far is his domain- would death still make sense in a would without entropy?

Yes, he represents terrible things, but I can't say with any degree of confidence the world would become a hell or paradise if that was removed. Or that it would continue to function, at all.

Secondly: Entropy deliberately flicked that blood at you. His first action since becoming aware of your presence- that's significant. Why did he do that? Did he hope to overwhelm or corrupt you in some manner? Possible, but given Entropy II's thoughts on how the blood would affect you when we discussed it previously, I doubt it. What I see as more likely- is he trying to provoke a reaction from you?

Possibly because if you tried to remove him, he expects he could win. He'd rather fight you (no fighting entropy, it wears all things down) than succumb to hope (hope persists, in spite of entropy. That's the point. Hope doesn't mean anything if there's no counter-force).

Or possibly, because if you tried to consume him, there's no way you could do that without changing yourself. What would you become with him? As bad as he is, the rise of a blood red sun might be worse.

All in all, I think trying to remove him from the picture right now would be a bad idea. Even if he does make the world ugly.

>the moon
Shines with the borrowed light of the sun. We had less of an effect than we wanted, we're weaker? Or we're just not at full strength yet, building towards the sunrise? And the card depicts the scarab with the sun. That could be seen as a bad omen for us- the scarab emblem is Entropy's- his holding the sun means power or control over us. Then again, his symbol was an inverted, black scarab. This one is right side up and illuminated. Khepri, rebirth, sunrise. Our symbol, not his.

Really could go either way from here. Ambiguous portents.

>also
Remember, your hope aura takes time to fully kick in. You hoped it would be able to change the course here, but if it's going to work, it probably hasn't been long enough, yet.

>Entropy II
I'm torn here. He might be doing something to diffuse the situation, or he might be taking advantage of your distracting his father to make his own preemptive play or attack. Do we let him act, or do we need to stall him as much as his father?

...I suppose if we're trusting to hope to fix this situation, we have to have faith in that. Trust that a good outcome is possible, and hope that he's going to further it.
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No. 589677 ID: 3dd384

Heh. It's tempting. Entropy the Elder is a big ol' booger that the world would probably be better without. And he'd be pretty tasty.

But on the other hand, every hint we have points to this having been dear old Dad's hope all along. If there's anyone that can gobble up an Evil King of the World, it's someone like us, and he's well-acquainted us with the flavor. The whole situation is inauspicious; it seems multiple Enemies of the World have contributed to setting it up, even if they probably didn't know how it'd happen. And just as important: what would Junior think, if we were to gobble up his dad right in front of him? That'd suck. We know firsthand how much that'd suck.

So we shouldn't eat Lord Entropy. Don't do that. If nothing else, his son doesn't deserve it.

But maybe just a lick...
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No. 589737 ID: 874468

Would the world be better without him? Possibly. This misses an important question: Without him, how much less of the world would be at all?
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No. 589867 ID: ff4834
File 140830573988.jpg - (133.55KB , 200x346 , justice_rx.jpg )
589867

Right..right.

But he is right there, and smells so good.

A Figure appears in the doorway, behind me. Its kind of nice to be able to see all around me.

It looks like a prince or general, handsome, tall and righteous. "You called, young Master?" He says bowing.

----

Hang on, this is confusing. My instincts, my self, is very clear that if I can get anything in my mouth/stomach I can digest it. Anything..but my Mother and Father both were fairly clear that killing an Imperator with out a Abhorrent Weapon hasn't ever happened.

I think I am missing some sort of subtlety here.

Oh skies above, he smells delicious. I really think if I started licking him I would just eat him up.
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No. 589876 ID: 0c5498

>Digest anything
>Abhorrent weapon needed to kill Imperiator.
He'd probably end up alive in your stomach, and get to cut his way out of you, or something, unless eating him/digesting him would count as an Abhorrent weapon.
...Have you heard of a Primidorial being able to eat Imperiators and what happened next? Might be useful as a potential outcome...
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No. 589884 ID: 4b571b

>justice, reversed
Fuuuuuuck. That can mean... something unfair or unjust happening, obviously. Or a failure to understand why something is happening, or to take responsibility. (Justice is all about causality, after all. Cause and effect). And given what's happening, it makes all too much sense if we're missing something important, or that we don't understand our own role.

Nevermind the fact that justice is something you stand for. One of your own standards inverted hardly seems favorable.

Only gets worse if the card represents the figure we allowed Entropy II to summon. The righteous man not here to balance the scales, but upset them further.

>Mother and Father both were fairly clear that killing an Imperator with out a Abhorrent Weapon hasn't ever happened
>I think I am missing some sort of subtlety here.
...your father's bow being one, I assume?

Possible resolution: digestion isn't necessarily killing. It's converting one thing to another. That by which we take something outside of ourself and make it part of ourself. A star isn't an engine of destruction, but of fusion. My suspicion is that you wouldn't so much kill Entropy as change him, or make him part of yourself.

Or... other loop holes. Is there a limit to Entopy? An edge? The blood never stops, for one. If you couldn't ever fit all of him inside, you'd never kill him by eating. Like drinking from a faucet.

I still think trying to consume him is a bad idea, though.

>what do
Options. We've already played the hope card. It hasn't worked, yet. Being big seems to have prevented Entropy from striking, but it also let Entropy II put another (possibly ominous) piece on the board. We still have... the ability to manipulate light? I'm not sure what exactly we could do with that that would help, but we're generating a hell of a lot of light right now.

Can you speak, like this? One of the simplest options might be to ask Entropy II what he wants to happen here. If he opens up (due to the stress and the effects of hope?), we might be able to bind that hope into something relevant to resolving this.

Or uh, if a lick is too risky as a weird way to immobilize someone... maybe a hug?
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No. 589975 ID: 3dd384

>I think I am missing some sort of subtlety here.
A memory springs unbidden to mind. >>/questarch/565309
>If you didn't want to eat her, that kiss wouldn't have turned out like it did, and she wouldn't be glaring at my sibling. What you don't want is to hurt her, and if you do it right, she might just survive. Even thrive.
>Whose arm is this? Yours right? Whose is it as I move it? What if I order you to grab something? What about the lice that live on its skin? The cells flaking off into the air? The germs trying to grow with in it? The food I eat to power it? Your light that powered the plants that became my food? My parents that protected me, and taught me? The pools that make my lively hood? The parishioners who pay us? The fishermen that catch the fish that feed the people that pay us? The ships that brought humans to fortitude in the first place? The rocks that hold us up here, right now?
>Ownership and identity seem simple at first..but they exist only as ..simplifications. Truth is formless.
If I had to guess, I'd say that to devour evil means to make it cease to be what it is, and thereby to transform it into something more suitable to being a part of you.

>Oh skies above, he smells delicious. I really think if I started licking him I would just eat him up.
Ah. Nevermind, then.

>>589884
>Can you speak, like this?
We live in a place where everyone's mutually intelligible. I'm sure there's some way to communicate. I trust Junior's motives more than those of his dad, which means he's the one to ask - something along the lines of "what are you doing and do you need Help" - but because I trust Junior's motives more than those of his dad, that also means I'm not sure I want to distract him, inauspicious symbols aside.

The one who just arrived. You said they are wearing a prince/general outfit? What color is it?
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No. 590008 ID: 4b571b
590008

>inauspicious symbols
>I trust Junior's motives more than those of his dad
You know, I wonder what it says that our impulse is to trust the person who was represented by the devil. Usually that represents deception of some kind, doesn't it? Although, in this context, maybe the bondage is more significant, or his status of the prince of darkness, besides the king.

It might also signify the threat he represents, or why Entropy would want to do away with him in the first place. The devil is a betrayer, he who turned on his lord and father.
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No. 590018 ID: f7a86d

It's kind of wierd that the devil card is really describing the Dark, at least mostly.

And I think The Emperor and the Devil might be about both of them.
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No. 590019 ID: f7a86d

I kind of think they are kind of the for me until I can grow a skin again. Sorry.
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No. 590276 ID: ff4834

>prince/general outfit? What color is it?
White, with black and red trim. Entropy's symbol (the scarab inverted) is on his breast pocket. He carries a shining shield on his
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No. 590439 ID: db72c2

So right now I am trying to stay in the center of the room and keep everyone away from everyone else while maybe thanking E1 and/or asking E2 what he is doing.

Thoughts?
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No. 590464 ID: 487455

Well, assuming the hope can work (and we have to, sort of. If we don't, we don't have it in the first place) anything that stalls for time is a good thing. So dialog helps.

I'd forgotten about thanking Entropy for releasing you from the words, but assuming they'll listen while you speak, formal court-talk is a good stall. And it sort of serves to stroke his ego, mollify him- he's in control, he meant to do that, he struck successful blow against the influence of someone he opposes. And you're sorry for entering unannounced, but you didn't have the chance to announce yourself prior.

Asking Entropy II could also stall, but it would also be trying to get him to play into the hope, or even given us a hope to catalyze or bind in such a way that it resolves things. Risky if it just prompts him to make a dangerous move, though.

...we've kind of already made our play here (hope card, going big figuratively and literally). And we've pretty much ruled out your other options (doing nothing, consumption). Which means how it's just a matter of seeing things through and hoping it works. I've no better ideas, at the moment.
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No. 592282 ID: 00b2db

Thread Three is Posted.
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