Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Joker+Quest%2C+Collective+GameRecap:You are ANON, the RED JOKER. In your search for a cure to the BLACK JOKER'S curse, you've ventured into the depths of the Otherworld with HECATE, seeking the VITRUVIAN DEVICE. You found it - Locked within a chamber containing a seemingly-slumbering army of machines, and the powerful ARMORY GUARDIAN...-Which has just awakened.
Around you, the chamber comes to life. The gloom pulls away, like a curtain drawing back, as eerie blue light illuminates the massive hall; All glittering steel and odd traceries of neon light, sketched in deep-grooved lines across the alien metal. It gleams off the angular shapes of the motionless automata behind behind - Off your own crimson plate...-But mostly from the burnished chrome of the Armory Guardian, as it looms over the two of you. It's a hulking beast of a machine - A blocky, angular torso rising high on six bulky legs, treads lining the underside - two great, articulated paws fanning out from either side, with an oddly human head almost lost against the great chassis. Set dead centre in the rearing torso, a violet light beams forth with a lurid glow, clashing with the crimson flicker of the thing's many-eyed faceplate...It doesn't look friendly. You can feel powerful sensors scanning you and Hecate - With a fluid, eerie insectile swivel, the blank, quad-sensored mask tilting towards you...Underfoot, the ground rumbles - Hexagonal pillars of metal are rising from where they'd been set in the ground, ringing out the confines of the empty plane - Just before the endless rows of motionless constructs. "What...What *is* that thing?" Hecate breathes; She's backing away slowly, looking up and up at the massive shape - "...I didn't *know* it was here..."Your HUD lights up with the warning chime of a target lock, as the violet light of the scanner shades to a deep, bloody red. > HP: 51%> METER: 0%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 100%YOU HAVE CONTROL.
>>19975927Awww, shit. Looks like we have to fight it. Grab heccate and pull her out of the way, before it fires.
>>19975927Keep some distance between it and us and start firing on it's sensors.We need to take down it's ability to track us if we want to survive this
>>19975927Tackle her out of the way, and get some distance. We're standing right in the middle of whatever it may unleash, so we should really see what it could do first.
rolled 33 = 33>>19975853Holy shit, what did I miss? How did we go from maid cafe pandering, to GIANT EVIL KILLBOT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE?
>>19975961Hecate turned up with a way to remove the black joker death markUpon going to use the Vitruvian device inside a non arena alternate world armory thing the guardian turned upAnd now we are here
TIME TO WALK AND TALK:So, Hecate- any helpful combat skills I should know about? I'm not exactly in the best condition and any possible aid you could offer would be nice.
>>19975927Get Hecate away from it. Get some distance. Start firing on it focusing on sensors and once those are damaged the joints in the legs. I'm worried that the pillars are going to make a force field of some kind, prevent us from using the frozen army as cover.
>>19975955>>19975939As the warning note fills your ears, you *move* - Two long strides take you to Hecate, and you slam into her from the side; Kicking off *hard*, your metal arms vising around her, bundling her away. She makes a startled sound, a breathless gasp - Her words lost in the shuddering BANG of an explosion, as smoke erupts from the Armory Guardian's shoulder pistons-...Paired steel fists blast forth, with an air-splitting CRACK. You make out thick, snaking cables coiling from the articulated joints, in the instant before several hundred kilos of metal slam into the ground, at well over ten kilometers per second. In a word: WHAM.The floor drops out under you for one astonishing second, before you both fall back towards the floor, skidding and bouncing over the smooth ground in a hailstorm of steel shards. It takes a second for your hearing to come back: Hecate looks momentarily stunned, as she blinks the glaze from her eyes, trying to scramble up. > So, Hecate- any helpful combat skills I should know about? I'm not exactly in the best condition and any possible aid you could offer would be nice."I - I'm not *good* at fighting!" she yelps - Even as you hear the scraping *drag* of the Guardian's launched fists retracting. Somehow, she's managed to hold on to the Nihl Sphere, though the concussive blasts have ruffled her hair and costume. "...I don't have *anything* that could stop...*that*!"> HP: 50%> METER: 0%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 96%[ ] "Just cover me!"[ ] "See if you can get that door open!"[ ] "Can you get those machines working?"[ ] "Find somewhere safe, I'll deal with this!"[ ] "See if you can find a weak spot!"YOU HAVE CONTROL
>>19976009>[ ] "See if you can find a weak spot!"We should keep that thing busy, maybe we should first take out a few of his legs?
>>19976009> [X] "Can you get those machines working?"it seems they might be more useful than whatever pitiful firepower hecate might have. She probaly didn't put any level-ups into firepower at all.
>>19976009[X] "Can you get those machines working?"If that is answered in the affirmative then let her do that.Otherwise [X] "Find somewhere safe, I'll deal with this!"[X] "See if you can find a weak spot!"Get her somewhere safe and to see if she can notice anything from there that we can't. As for fighting it, open up with the Vulkans, we can't miss, blow apart its optics and sensors as our first priority and joints in the legs as the second priority. Use the pillars as cover, never stay somewhere for long, don't have predictable movement, don't give it a chance to lead us, keep changing directions, zigzagging. If we hear the target lock or the steam of the pistons focus on not being where it's about to hit.
>>19976009Find somewhere safeLook for a weak spot
>>19976009Wow, you have the WORST BUILD EVER.> [X] "Can you get those machines working?"seems to be the only constructive one.
> [X] "Can you get those machines working?"Surprise, then inspiration, flickers across Hecate's face - She nods, getting her legs under her, scrabbling to her feet. "I can *try* - Just buy me some time!" The last words are delivered at a shout, as she breaks for the nearest machine; The Null Sphere's light limning her, as she manages a good speed for someone in stiletto heels. Good enough, you think, as the Armory Guardian looms over you, great crushing claws ratcheted back into position. There's one bright spot in the deep, dark hole you've found yourself: With a target this big, you can't miss. You don't even need to aim. Your Vulcans blaze forth, spitting a hissing stream of plasma fire - You aim at the thing's recessed head, at it's joints - Smaller targets, but still not *too* hard to hit, as your targeting cursor flickers and jumps...-Only for your energy fire to hit a wall of tesselated hexagons, breaking up before it. The violet orb on the Guardian's chest glows brighter, behind the shimmering shield; It's a wall, really, a plane *just* as wide as the steel behemoth - Not a true spherical barrier. But you've definently got it's attention. (Continued.)
>>19976105Let me take a wild fucking guess- It can "eat" our projectiles with that shield to fuel whatever the hell that violet orb thing is right, RIGHT?
>>19976105You hear a high, rising whine - The sound of barrels spinning up - and starbursts of muzzleflash flare at the Guardian's shoulders; High-calibre tracers spit forth from whirring cannons, as it fires back - Slashing parallel divots along the ground, firing THROUGH its own shield (Now fading back to transparency) as the solid slugs kick up steel flechettes from the armory floor. They're sweeping towards you, chopping up the ground as they go; The first riochets clang off your Assault Shroud, deflecting towards you as the Guardian swivels on it's torso to bring more guns to bear - Blasting away, it's head angled down, the jagging red light of targeting beams lighting it up from within. > HP: 50%> METER: 11%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 92%INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM READY> 3/3 INTERCEPTORSYOU HAVE CONTROL
>>19976105So we need to get underneath that barrier if we want to shoot itOr the barrier doesn't absorb things but the glow is it diverting more power to sustain the fieldEither way it isn't good
>>19976105An AT FIELD?IMPORSIBURU!Really liking the pictures, oP. Where are they from?
>>19976126Wait, normal bullets can go through the shield? Do we have anything that aren't energy weapons?> get out of the way, take cover behind the pillars
>>19976126Try and get beneath the shield and it's arc of fire with those guns then unload a plasma caster shot into that violet orb
>>19976126Keep on moving in the direction that it's swiveling. We might be able to get around the barrier.What an utter jerk having a shield like that. Is the center orb staying just as bright was it was, or did the brightness fade away once the shield was gone. This could clue us in to whether it's absorbing the shots or if the glowing is due to it powering the shield.We can also fire at it while it is firing through its shield, that could work.Send one interceptor out to get close, inside the arc of its guns and start cutting shit up like a motherfucker.
>>19976126Launch all funnels at that thing, keep it distracted. It's focusing on us, so give it something else to aim at.
>>19976126WAIT A MINUTE!Let it target us.When it fires those shoulder fists at us, use the interceptors to cut the cables attached to the fists and HAUL ASS out of the way.
You begin running, moving in the direction the thing is rotating - It seems to have a true turret-style chassis, though you're not sure if it has true 360-degree functionality. You *do* know that the targeting beams are locked on you, turning with the head; High-calibre rounds pulverizing the floor behind you as the volley gets closer and closer...You fire from the hip, blasting back at the thing with your vulcans - The shield flaring again, as your shots erupt in tiny starbursts against the field. As the shield fades back to transparency, the violet orb's glow dims - You'd swear it's not quite as bright as before. It finally seems to have it's range in, though; As your Interceptors launch, speeding towards the behemoth engine on gravimetric engines, a line of gunfire stitches across you, staggering you.You hear the shells SPANG off your plate - The kinetic impact sending you reeling to the side, though your Assault Shroud soaks up the damage, fragments of nanomaterial breaking off; The chainguns *hurt*, but they can't penetrate your armor...Yet. If they chewed through the existing rents, that would be *another* story entirely.There isn't enough space for your Inteceptors to loop around the shield; But to your surprise, they go *right* through, welding-arc blades scratching deep furrows in the thing's chrome - Looping around, coming back from another angle. A deep, grinding groan comes from the Guardian, as it stomps backward to keep you in it's sights - The solid-munition volley momentary paused, as if shifting gears with grinding clicks...(Continued.)
>>19976238-And the air shimmers before it, as the barrier goes from violet to a deep, azure blue. Your third Interceptors hits it, and promptly explodes - Crushed by its own impact, metal components fizzing away against the shield, kicking up sparks. The other two, however, are safely behind it - Stabbing into the Guardian again, their monofilament blades shrieking against the thing's armored shell. The Guardian's stomping feet makes the ground shudder; But it's momentarily stopped firing, as the violet orb dims a little more, the light now streaked with blue...> HP: 43%> METER: 19%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 81%> 2/3 INTERCEPTORS (ATTACKING.)TIER ONE WEAPONRY UNLOCKED.> TRISKELION LAUNCHER - 3%/Missile, INDIRECT FIRE. > PLASMA CASTER - 10%/Projectile, DIRECT.YOU HAVE CONTROL
>>19976211(Sorry, I missed the very last one - Was typing. My bad.)
Let's see how plasma does against this new shield.
>>19976258Hit the orb with a plasma caster shotIt has obviously changed it's shield from energy to physical blocking so now is our chance
>>19976258Don't spend our meter yet. It's too far away for maximum focused use of the Plasma Caster and I don't think the missiles are of the best use. Let's save up and get one of the really big guns like the Fusion Annihilator or the Railgun out.I like that we have the interceptors in there, they'll tear things up and it'll have trouble hitting or hurting them.Direct more Vulcan fire at it, keep moving to the side trying to get to its flank or back, we might even get to a place where its shield can't block us.
>>19976303>>19976277Yeah, test out our normal guns against the thing first, before we try the big ones. Try to aim at the shield-generator, or the head.
As the light changes, you see your chance; Even as the Guardian's steel-plated fists lash out, batting at your Interceptors like a beast tormented by flies. A hard swipe sends one of your Interceptors spinning away, dizzily - It glances off a wall, corrects, and surges back, it's twin tumbling between the Guardian's blows, slicing a deep furrow down the thing's torso. It's been momentarily distracted, the energy barrier shifting to take the brunt of solid munitions; It's shielded against conventional rounds, at the exact same moment it begins to take plasma fire again. Your forearms light up, both Vulcans blazing - This time, the energy blasts hemstich across the thing's chest, a tiny line of explosions erupting along it's flank. The head swings back towards you, as you *keep moving*, directing more shots in the thing's direction- ...And then there's a scorching, metallic crack, as a well-aimed strikes right between the Guardian's eyes. Cracks skitter along that faceplate, the left sensors flickering; As if goaded by pain, it swings towards you... (Continued.)
>>19976380-The orb in its torso glows brighter, and light stabs at you. Curving bursts of it, blue arcs of energy that slice forth in seemingly random blasts, striking ground on all sides, liquifying metal to superheated steam; Your curving path takes you aside from the brunt, but not before one ray strikes your right leg in a boiling caress.It really, really *hurts* - You can feel the heat *through* your armor, grazing your side; The red plate charring black, your Assault Shroud catching light, burning, before the ignited fragments are jettisoned. You can still move - It was just a glancing blow - but the terrible *heat* of it...Curving rays are still striking at random around you, a seeming storm of energy bolts; They're a slicing funnel, rolling across the ground - Still aimed low, at the earth instead of directly - but sweeping perilously close, all the same.> HP: 37%> METER: 34%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 69%> 2/3 INTERCEPTORS (ATTACKING.)YOU HAVE CONTROL
>>19976394Stay on the move and keep plinking at him to build up Meter for a critical shot.
>>19976394Oh god get off the ground. Direct all vulcan fire to the orb, attack it with the interceptors, THAT THING HAS TO GO. We need to start doing some serious damage to this thing.
>>19976394I am so very very very happy that we got the Assault Shroud. It is one of the main reasons why we did so well last fight and it's currently our only regenerating bit of health. Also it's a bitching longcoat.Keep moving away from the funnel of death. Getting off the ground and onto one of the pillars might be good. Spare 1 second to see how Hecate is doing with the soldiers, continue to fire at him with the Vulcans. The central orb might be a good place to shoot. We need to get the Meter up higher. The interceptors should keep on doing what they're doing, buzzing around, slicing what they can, if there are any exposed cables, wires or vulnerable points they should go for those. I'm against them going for the orb while we're shooting at it, I don't want to hurt our interceptors when they're doing so much good work.
(Damn, the dice are not on your side today, guys.)You *leap*, piston-powered legs uncoiling - The pneumatic impact hurling you from the ground, just as searing beams slice through the square you just vacated. You're still firing, the barrels of your Vulcans red with heat; A hailing burst of fire explodes against the orb on the thing's metal chassis, still manufacturing twisting rays of smoke-light...-And a giant metal fist slams into you, with the force of a battering ram. The atrocious collision literally hurls you away - The jet-powered projectile flinging you up and back, in a long arc; Until your flight is stopped, quite suddenly, by a impact with a pillar. The pillar cracks. Fortunately for you, your spine doesn't. You hear the tinny BOOM of another Interceptor exploding; But your shots have cracked the Guardian's focusing orb, which now flickers fitfully - Right before your final Interceptor drives into it, like a stake through a vampire's heart. It shatters outwards in a smoky blossom, fragments of crystal raining down to the ground below - The red light in the Guardian's head dims, for a moment, as its barrier fades to nothing, smoke coiling up from it's joints...(Continued.)
>>19976450It's okay, there were almost certainly on our side last fight. The dice giveth and the dice taketh away.
>>19976450It's unprotected, now; It seems to have been partially blinded on the left side, from the way the recessed head is swinging around. But it seems to focus on you *just* fine. The Guardian crouches down - Or at least, that's what it looks like, stocky limbs compressing beneath it - as a powerful engine revs...Treads bite into the ground, spinning madly, as chugging geysers of thick black smoke fume from its hindquarters, in a cloud of exhaust. It's gone from a mechanical spider - a walking engine - to a tank. With afterburners roaring and snorting, it accelerates towards you, as you haul yourself up from the pillar you've crashed into; The shock is dying away, now, and you find - Thank god - you can *move*...But the massive construct is surging towards you, crimson eyes glowing from the front of the hull with alarming malevolence.It's coming for you. It's coming to crush you, to grind you to dust beneath its treads. > HP: 23%> METER: 51%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 55%TIER TWO WEAPONRY UNLOCKED> FUSION ANNHILATOR - 4%/Charge, 6 Charges MAX.NEXT TIER: > LONGINUS RAILGUN SYSTEM (60%)
>>19976491This is bad. At least the shield is down. Get on the other side of the pillar and then keep running away from it, the pillar won't stop it, it'll just slow him down. Keep blowing chunks out of its optics, we do that we might be able to dodge out of the way and it'll keep on going.It's been a while since we had access to them, could we get a reminder on the capabilities of the FUSION ANNIHILATOR and the LONGINUS RAILGUN SYSTEM?
>>19976491Jump over it if possible or get behind a pillarThen drop the cloak to make a copy and keep firing until we can get a rail gun shot onto it's head or core
>>19976506FUSION ANNIHILATOR:A powerful cannon that stacks 'charges', before firing - You can select how many charges it accumulates, at 4% a charge. The charges can be fired off individual, for lesser blasts, or all at once, for a powerful cohered shot. (There's a bit of a delay when accumulating charges, however.)LONGINUS RAILGUN SYSTEM: A hypervelocity Gauss accelerator, which projects superdense projectiles at incredible speed. (The projectiles are inert, but that's because making them explosive would be redundant.) Has tremendous range and killing power, at 12% Meter a shot; Especially good against barriers and armor. Up to two shots can be fired in rapid succession - Then there's a brief 'cooling off' period before it can be fired again.It's meant to be fired from a braced position, especially at extreme distances - But it can also be fired from the hip, for slightly less damage at shorter ranges. (The projectiles need time to reach terminal velocity.)
>>19976491This is it. Do or die time gentlemen.Crouch down and brace yourself, wait for it to come to you. When it gets close enough, leap up towards it. Calculate your jump JUST right so that the apex of your flight path brings you dead center with it's face. Hammer a hole open with your vulcans, find a foothold in it's ruined face/neck area and land there.FIRE. EVERYTHING.
>>19976533No way, that's way too risky! We can't play chicken with this bastard. We should drop a copy here, then get the hell out of the way.
>>19976538No, break line of sight drop a copy then have it run out to grab the things attention then we blindside it with the loginus
OP here: Just to confirm, for the responses so far-You're going to:1.) Use the Assault Shroud to create a digital clone.2.) Jump over the charging Guardian while shooting at it?
>>19976491Treads are made for poor terrain, but are piss-poor are turning. Although the turret may keep up with us, the tank may not be able to maneuver itself quick enough to catch up with our different direction. I say we move around it, keep it trying to run us over. Our constant fire can then wear it down.
>>19976542Well given the amount of Meter we'll have we should drop the copy, get as much distance as physically possible, double shot it with the Railgun, and then if that doesn't kill it we stack 6 charges on the Fusion Annihilator and 4 missiles. >>19976548Create Clone, get behind it with jump shoot it some to get 60% charge and get as much distance as possible while it turns around after ramming into the pillar.
>>19976557Thats why we break LoS send the clone one way go the other and then do what you are sayingThat's what I meant to start with
The Guardian's tracks clatter - The autocannon hardpoints built into its forward hull beginning to fire, large-calibre rounds wasping across the distance. It bites chunks from the pillar behind you, filling the air with lead as you hunker down; Your size, your position - tensing to spring - spares you the brunt of the volley, though a few opportunistic shots slam into you, then glance away in dull sparks...The brute thunder of the engine fills your world, metal squealing as it draws closer; Rounds smash into the pillar, blasting shards of steel from the surface as your eyes fix on the red light-...And as you put everything you have into a leap, up and to the side.The thing's remaining fist cannons out; But it's a moment too slow, aiming at where you *should* have been, instead of where you are. It punches through the nanofabric clone you leave in your wake, though you actually *feel* the air distort in its passing - With a tortured shriek of grinding gears, the Guardian tries to traverse, to bring both chin-turrets to bear on you...(Continued)
>>19976580-And a volcano of fire and steel erupts from the thing's chassis, as something strikes it from behind. The Guardian abruptly slews round to its right, one set of tracks braking as the other races on - Fire going wild, bullets stitching across the wall in a slashing line, instead of you. As you hurtle through the air above the charging leviathan, you blast away; Plasma bolts sizzle down from above, striking the thing's dented head-unit. The left side blows out at last, the tinny explosion wrenching it's head around - In the instant before it slams into the great steel pillar, with an impact like a sledgehammer striking an anvil. You actually *see* the tank's back treads lift into the air; It nearly upends itself, chassis deforming from the impact - The hull rocking nose-to-tail on its suspension, gusts of black smoke dribbling up from the exhaust pipe. When you glance behind you, you see that one of the lesser constructs is moving in jerky, twitching life - It has one weapon-limb raised, the barrel elevated directly at the damaged Guardian. An unholy violet light smolders in the thing's ruby eye, a twin to the glow of Hecate's Nihl Sphere - Tendrils of illumination connecting the two, as she shoots you a strained smile.(Continued.)
>>19976628"-Sorry for the wait; I think I got-"Then the Guardian begins to traverse again, with a laborious screech of joints, like a stone slab being lifted off a tomb. There's an electric whine, as it lifts itself off it's treads...Twitching like a half-crushed spider, moving with mechanical defiance as it tries to reverse to face you again... > HP: 21%> METER: 62%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 0%TIER THREE SYSTEMS UNLOCKED> LONGINUS RAILGUN SYSTEM (60%)NEXT TIER> 100%> ???> eRroR - nO DaTAYOU HAVE CONTROL.
>>19976628Wow, she actually got the fucking mech working? Better late than never.
>>19976635Keep moving around and around, get it to put lots of strain on the limbs. Keep up a constant volley of fire, and try to do as much damage to the weak points as possible while giving Hecate time to fire.Damnit OP. You have me curious with the 100% meter. No longinus for as long as we can. We don't absolutely need it yet.
>>19976635LET THEM TASTE HELLFIREShoot as much as we can. Fire a double-shot from the railgun, then charge up the plasma annhilator to FINISH this motherfucker.
>>19976635I'm curious about what happens if we get to 100% meter. We seem to be doing okay but if things get at all hairy, riksy, if it faces us and is going to fire we're pulling out the Annihilator and Railgun and going to town on this guy, we have 20% health and no Shroud.Keep on raking him with Vulcan fire, don't let him actually face us. Take out his joints, especially the ones to do with turning and aiming.
>>19976635Move from cover to cover, use all the pillars and debris to your advantage. You can't get hit again.[WARNING: RETARDED IDEA AHEAD]This thing is protecting the Vitruvian Device, right? Surely it wouldn't act in a way that harms what it's designed to protect, RIGHT? Perhaps in our wild fitful dodging we could take a path that puts us in front of the device for a sec? Not even stopping there, just seeing how it would react to us going near the device. FEEL FREE TO IGNORE THIS PART IF YOU SO WISH.
>>19976635We have 21% HPNow is not the time to play the long gameWe let loose everything and turn this thing into a smoking wreck now or we die
You keep firing - Long double-helix chains of energy spiralling towards the Guardian, as it lurches to it's articulated legs, skittering back from the cracked pillar with ponderous grace; It seems hunched over, labored, as it struggles to turn - Most of your firepower has scarred and pitted the thing's front, so far, the head unit hanging down on snaking cables - but the mostly-intact rear armor is holding up fairly well, the bulk of the thing working against you; It's too big to pinpoint vulnerabilities. "It's *almost* dead!" Hecate calls, taking an eager step forward; Her new toy moving like a puppet in the hands of an inexperienced performer, the thing's left arm - A boxy, ugly-looking cannon - spitting another howitzer shell, the blast making the entire construct rock back as a heavy casing slams to the ground. Clearly, her control is imperfect ~ Her green eyes are bright, as the twitching machine takes aim again...-And the Guardian's engine blitzes to life, pumping out a torrent of black exhaust; Gears chattering like fast percussion, as it rotates a full 180-degrees, rearing up-...With ANOTHER CONSTRUCT clutched in its paws. It throws it at you, overhand. Hecate has time to make a muffled cry of surprise, before metal slams into metal with demolishing force; Her shot goes wild, and both constructs go up in an airburst detonation. You're caught on the fringe of it- You see her being hurled away, tumbling and skidding - before the blast makes a very fast, very hot *push* that hurts you deep down in your chest. (Continued.)
>>19976689The last surge must have cost it; One of those crushing claws droops, shorted out from the mechanical effort - The front two legs aren't functioning properly, locked halfway in tread mode, skidding at the ground. Almost wearily, it's reorientating - It aimed for Hecate's construct first - as both turrets swivel towards you; You hear a deep *clunk* as firing ports on it's hull retract, with unpleasant grinding sounds.> HP: 14%> METER: 74%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 0%YOU HAVE CONTROL.
>>19976698Nope, no chance to get up to 100% Meter. We'll see what's there some other time. We have a lot of Meter, let's burn through this. Two Railgun shots at the most vulnerable necessary places, simultaneously launch as many missiles as we can, I think we're limited to 6, but if we can do 8 do so. Aim the missiles to take out its active weapon systems.Then fully charged, all 6 charges, Fusion Annihilator and explode its neck/head.
>>19976712SecondedWe should have done that already
>>19976712seconding this.with how high our meter now is, we can spam the shit out of our special weapons.
This thing *has to die*, and now. You're nigh-fully charged, schematics sketching themselves into the air - Your Vulcans enclosed within your forearm sheaths, as your most potent weapons shimmer into existence. The oversized rifle of the Longinus System forms around you - It's a lethal, long-barreled cannon, suspensors humming softly as your fist closes around the grip; A pair of green cursors wink to life on your HUD, drawing together, overlapping. The Longinus Railgun's stock and barrel encases most of the right side of your torso; Gravimetric stabilisers compensating for the mass, as you brace yourself - High-calibre rounds pummeling the ground around you, in a slow-moving furrow, as the entire mass of the Guardian turns to manually target you...There's a noise like a whip cracking, underscored by the high, rising whine of power; When your wrench the trigger, the railgun KICKS like a bastard, the force venting out from either side in a concussive ripple that lifts stray debris from the ground - Discharging outward in your own personal shockwave, a thin streak of sizzling light slicing away, in a powerful linear distrotion, with eye-hurting speed.
>>19976736At the exact same time, eight missiles lift away from you - spiralling towards the Guardian on roaring jets, corkscrewing through the air; They're buffeted by the rippling wake of the railgun's Gauss shot, before their sensors kick in, adjusting their flight paths.The hulking metal titan's firing ports erupt in smoke and shimmering metallic confetti - Chaff launchers, filling the air with confusing signals. Not all of your missiles reach the target; Most of them bloom into perfect spheres of racing flame, glance off the Armory Guardian's metal hide-...And it does nothing, absolutely nothing, against the hypersonic double-shot of your railgun. They outrun their own sonic boom; The penetrtors make a tiny, pin-prick entry mark - Before they explode outward, the Guardian lurching as its systems blow out in massive sprays of spalling, shattered gears, liquidised internals, gouting coolant. You let the Railgun fall away - The vents flaring open, shedding heat through the vanes - as you bring your left arm up, telltales winking to life as the Plasma Annhilator flares. The light of a newborn sun; In these confines, the blast is brighter than a supernova, so impossibly brilliant that your Visor automatically cuts out, to stop you from being blinded.
The Annhilator takes the Guardian right under the carapace, where the legs plug in. It *blooms*, into a great ball of crimson electricity, as if someone red-shifted the northen lights; You hear metal boiling away, as it groans, staggers - It starts to fall, puts out one leg to brace itself, and the leg snaps off. The titanic construct goes down, like a mountain sliding into the sea; Before the ravening torrent of energy slams into it head-on, and annhilates it. It's a Hiroshima event: Several hundreds tonnes of metal hits the ground with a tectonic shudder, as the light takes it to pieces - The huge, burned-out wreckage succumbing at last, a great semicircular bite taken out of the pillars behind...Extending all the way to the walls, foul steam wisping up into the air.RED JOKER VICTORYGreen motes of light streak towards you; Once again, they fade out - The green glow dying away as quickly as it'd come, the aftereffects of your blast bleaching all color to nothing.-The Armory is silent, once more. Somewhere to your side, Hecate moans, her eyes fluttering weakly ~ She sounds dazed, near-unconscious, but alive.YOU HAVE CONTROL.> HP: 12%> METER: 16%> ASSAULT SHROUD: 0%
>>19976784"Are you alright?"Go help Hecate out of the wreckage.
>>19976784check up on Hecate, see if she is alright.
>>19976784Help Hecate
>>19976784Standard victory procedure even though we don't have an audience. Draw the symbol of the Red Joker on the ground. See how the Brand of the Black Joker is doing. Retrieve our Assault Shroud just to be sure we don't lose it.Then gently pick Hecate up, get her somewhere safer to rest. We should inquire a bit more toward the Vitruvian Device before using it.
It takes you a moment, to limp over to where Hecate lies sprawled. The blast must've thrown her clear; Her sliding tumble took away from the freight-train impact of colliding metal, but even being *close* to that must've hurt. > "Are you alright?"You push away some of the wreckage, clearing some of the debris away; Something that resembles a knee-joint clangs, as you haul it to the side. The brand of the Black Joker has dulled further; It's a faded outline, now, but you can still feel it, right through your armor...As you lift Hecate up - As gently as you can manage - she stirs, weakly; Shaking her head, from side-to-side, as her slim fingers graze against her temple. "Ah~" she murmurs - Looking up you, just for a moment, as she colors. "Did...Did we win?[ ] "Yes, we did."[ ] "Yes; Thanks for the help, by the way."[ ] "...More importantly, are you all right? How do you feel?"[ ] "-I didn't know you could do that."[ ] "Yes - It's not guarding the Device anymore, that's for sure."[ ] Free.YOU HAVE CONTROL.
>>19976835[X] "Yes; Thanks for the help, by the way."[X] "...More importantly, are you all right? How do you feel?"Draw the symbol on the floor, we can't break our habit.
>>19976835Interesting; She clearly doesn't have armor, or any form of damage resistance. But then how has she survived so long, if she can't fight?
>>19976835>[X] HIGH-FUCKING-FIVE! -But not too hard, she's still kinda shaken from GIANT ROBOT EXPLOSIONS.-
>>19976835[X] "...More importantly, are you all right? How do you feel?"she did help us a lot, after all. Wonder if she's genuinely sweet on us or not?
>>19976835[X] Free."Thanks to your help, I could focus my weapons on it. You definitely did well for someone who isn't used to this thing. Look. I admit that at first meeting you, I didn't know what to make of you. I didn't know if you were a sinister opponent, a person in need, or even -admittedly- a fan. Now I know. I would be more than happy to sort this... thing out with you by my side. However, let's get this straight. I don't like the whole mystery wrapped in an enigma act. I'd like to spend a normal day with you without wondering whether you have a big plan for me. I will trust you as long as I can be sure you would do the same."Let her down, and let a smile show on our face (if we can with the armor). "Aside from that, let's have a good honest partnership."I may be overdoing this, but I think it needs to be said.
>>19976883I think this works. it makes sure that she wants to be an ally, while still expressing an interest for her.We have yet another addition to our potential girlfriend list.
>>19976835Yes, thanks for the helpMore importantly are you ok?
>>19976883Sounds nice man, lets do that.
>>19976883Eloquent. I vote for this.
> Draw the symbol on the floor, we can't break our habit.> Standard victory procedure even though we don't have an audience. Draw the symbol of the Red Joker on the ground. It's second nature to you, now; In an odd coincidence, the scorched ground underfoot already bears the beginnings of your mark. As you shift Hecate to your free arm - Nestled against your chest - You raise your hand, plasma bolts spitting forth, accentuating the ruin, forming a now-familiar symbol."-I always wondered why you did that," Hecate murmurs - Her voice faint, but amused, the ghost of a smile touching her lips. > [X] "Yes; Thanks for the help, by the way."> [X] "...More importantly, are you all right? How do you feel?"Her gaze lights on the smoldering wreckage of the Guardian; "I can't believe we're still alive," she admits ~ "Didn't think I'd get it working in time, but..." Hecate's slim shoulders lift in a little shrug, a smothered giggle teased from her throat. "...Don't worry, I'm all right - Just a little dizzy. Then again..." She shifts against you, her cheek pressed against your cooling plate for a moment. "-This isn't so bad."(Continued.)
Sauce on the images?
>> 19976883If anything, she colors even more - You can see the red in her cheeks, now, her expression pleased and embarassed at once. "I, ah ~ Ummm..." The flush is spreading, ever-so-slowly, to her pointed ears as she bites her lips, looking away just for a moment...Though she doesn't seem in a hurry to let go of you. "That - I'm *really* glad you're saying that, and..." Her legs touch the ground at last, as she draws herself up - Standing a little shakily, fussing with her (rather dishevelled) costume, now...Favoring you with a brief, but sweet smile, her fingers lacing together before her. "-And I think I'd like that, too." Her gaze lingers, for a pleasantly uncomfortable moment - She seems on the verge of saying *something*, before she turns towards the Vitruvian Device - Her smile shading slightly towards pleasant (If self-conscious) embarrassment. "...Let's see what it does, shall we?" she suggests; A lightness to her voice, now, looking up at the podium. YOU HAVE CONTROL.
>>19976928Everyone needs a calling card, the crowd loves someone with flair. By now it's just a habit, a way to show the fight is over.I take some pride in starting the habit.>>19976944Let's go test out the freaky machine. We have no chance of living through another fight at 14% health, take the gamble. Let's go strap ourself into the machine, have Hecate help as it's hard to fully restrain yourself.
>>19976944D'awwww. When we find out more about her, we really should start dating her. I mean, she's cute, and I bet she fucks like a tiger.
>>19976944Awww, I'm glad I wrote that response up now. She's definitely another possible girlfriend."Well, I probably would have lost the armor the second I got it if I didn't take risks. Let's do this, and see what cards I'm dealt." Then sit in the machine.
>>19976962I still hold some measure of distrust for her, but it has been lessened greatly by recent events. I would hold off on any dating until we have actually met her in the real world, gotten to know her better and discovered what her actual goal and place in the game is.
>>19976944Thanks HecateAnd I don't know, it just sort of came naturally to me when I won, almost like someone was guiding me to do itNow let's get me hooked up and see what this thing can do
>>19976944Well before we hop on in- let's examine the curse of the Black Joker. IN FACT: Let us examine the Black Joker in general.Make no mistake, the negative effects of this curse are unacceptable. We CANNOT go on suffering under it's pall. This being said- I kinda don't want to get rid of it. This curse is the last lead we have on the Black Joker, until another of his artifacts finds a way to wound us again... or until HE comes for us himself. As much of a detriment the curse is, perhaps we could ply it to be useful using the Vitruvian Device? This curse obviously plays some bigger part in the Black Joker's fighting style as a whole. If we could reverse-engineer it to gain some sort of immunity or insight towards this powerful and ominous enemy, we could catch him off guard. Something to consider while exploring the function of this device.
>>19977001You look like a scholar when you say it like that.
>>19977001That'd be interesting, and a good avenue to explore. But from what little we've heard about the Vitruvian machine Hecate said it'd "reset" us, I'm not seeing much potential to keep it around. It might be our possibilities are keep it around and DIE or remove it. But we should still ask and investigate. See what more Hecate knows about the Black Joker and the Machine.
> Everyone needs a calling card, the crowd loves someone with flair. By now it's just a habit, a way to show the fight is over.A soft giggle - "Oh, is that so? I think I get it, now..." Her laughter fades, as you ascend the steps together - The Vitruvian Device's black steel catching the light in odd and eye-hurting ways. It does look rather ominous, this close; It's all metal, the restraints at wrist and ankle remaining you uncomfortably of barbed cuffs."...Just step right into it," Hecate offers, by way of explanation. "-It should start up by itself, once you're in position." Then, quietly - "Good luck."She's right. When you step into in, you hear metal ratcheting - Holding you spread-eagled, as the rings snap shut with a bear-trap sound. It doesn't hurt, though it scratches the surface of your charred plate; You can see Hecate standing before you, her expression concerned, as the low *hum* of the system engaging fills your ears...It begins with heat - Warm, almost pleasant, that coils through you in an expanding wave. You hear a whirring, a sound like blades spinning up - Mounting slowly, rising into a whirring crescendo that makes the walls shake...Faint, pearly iridescence- Like fairy fire - begins to crawl along your skin. Then there's light. And pain. White phosphorous ignites within you, burning spastic jerks through your arms and legs. You *roar*, wrenching against the frame - It doesn't *hurt*, not *really*, but the sensation is so overwhelming, so *intense*, that all your nervous system can register is agony. Through a thermite blaze, you make out the overlappping halos of the Device whirring, faster and faster and *FASTER*...(Continued)
>>19977049Lose your trip
>>19977049What's the bet this thing resets us to level 1
>>19977049>mfw the Vitruvian Device fuses the Black Joker in us with the Red Joker we areWe do not know his methods. We do not know where his power came from. Although his intentions are pure, his matches were far from. As we all know now, from his sanguine calling card, that in battle, he wishes only to paint the stage his own dark tone of red.He is the Crimson Joker, and he will satisfy the bloodlust of the spectators.
>>19977049(Trip fell off, sorry.)You think you may be screaming. You can't tell. Patterns flicker across your vision, too quickly to register; Dimly, you sense powerful forces working on you, taking you apart, putting you back together...-You can feel something boiling out of you; The grinning mark on your battered cuirass begins to evaporate, melting away into twists of black smoke, sucked up and away into the guts of the machine - Even as your armor opens up, golden traceries etching themselves along your powered breastplate, a faintly glowing circuit-pattern. Tracers of green light streak through the darkness; All the pent-up power you've gained, amplified and returned to you. Your visor lights up from within with an emerald glow; You're radiant, glowing like the heart of a star.> RED JOKER LEVEL UP > SELECT TWO FROM THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS [ ] FORCE (WEAPON UPGRADE)[ ] METER (FASTER METER GAIN) [ ] GUARD (DEFENSIVE UPGRADE)[ ] SURVIVE (VITALITY UP)[ ] EVOL (ABILITY UNLOCK)[ ] ROULETTE (RANDOM RELIC) > VITRUVIAN PROTOCOLS INTIATED> SELECT UPGRADE[ ] VERNIER THRUSTERS[ ] INTEGRATED DISPERSION FIELD[ ] COBALT BOOSTERYOU HAVE CONTROL
>>19977084I'll take that bet. My guess is that at worst it'll take us to before we got the Black Joker but I'm thinking we'll get some sort of upgrade out of this.
>>19977095Groovy.[X] FORCE (WEAPON UPGRADE)Force is required, we rely on our Dakka for most of our damage.I'd put the other into EVOL, we already got the Interceptors from that and they've been really helpful so far. Though I could understand placing it into Meter.As for the Vitruvian Protocols could we get more description of the three choices?
[X] METER (FASTER METER GAIN)[X] EVOL (ABILITY UNLOCK)What are these[ ] VERNIER THRUSTERS[ ] INTEGRATED DISPERSION FIELD[ ] COBALT BOOSTER
>>19977095Well, I think it'd be good to get:[X] FORCE (WEAPON UPGRADE)[X] METER (FASTER METER GAIN) [ ] GUARD (DEFENSIVE UPGRADE)[ ] SURVIVE (VITALITY UP)[ ] EVOL (ABILITY UNLOCK)[ ] ROULETTE (RANDOM RELIC) And[X] VERNIER THRUSTERS[ ] INTEGRATED DISPERSION FIELD[ ] COBALT BOOSTERDoes vernier thrusters give us speed boosts? Or does the cobalt booster do that? The one that increases our speed. More description would be nice.
>>19977115The three are irregular, unique upgrades - There's no indication what they'd do, unfortunately.
>>19977095Guard and evoland cobalt booster
>>19977095I like the Thrusters. We should be a paragon of mobility and crushing firepower.[ ] VERNIER THRUSTERSOf the usual upgrades, take[ ] FORCE (WEAPON UPGRADE)[ ] METER (FASTER METER GAIN) We get even more damage and get to use our (frankly devastating) high level weapons faster.
>>19977122Thrusters are for maneuveringBoosters are for speed
>>19977095ForceMeterCobaltWe become purple joker
[X] INTEGRATED DISPERSION FIELD
>>19977095[]GUARD[]SURVIVEand[]INTEGRATED DISPERSAL FIELD>HP 12%NEVER. AGAIN.
Force, Evol, Booster
(Wow, that's a lot of votes. I'll give it - Let's say, around ten more minutes before I collate the results.)
>>19977141We fought three battles with that health bar. Three BOSS BATTLES. We'll be fine.>>19977122 here, changing my vote to Cobalt Booster. I like being the Purple Joker (Or at least a Red Joker with bitching speed boost.)
>>19977123Okay, judging from the titles I'm guessing the Thrusters either provide faster movement or flight or something like that. The Dispersion field is some sort of shield.The Booster I'm guessing boosts our weapons, but it could be a speed upgrade.I say [X] COBALT BOOSTER, I have a good feeling about it. >>19977141>>19977138We only got to 12% after 3 fights in a row without being able to heal whatsoever. We don't really need more defense, combine our fighting style, range and the Assault Shroud and we're fine..
>>19977150What can I say, we like levelling up. By the way, any chance of squeezing in an out-of-crazy-world slice of life?
[X] EVOL (ABILITY UNLOCK)[X] FORCE[X] VERNIER THRUSTERS.
Does everyone know that the thrusters might allow for midair dodging.
>>19977157Yeah, as much as i despise that Death Calibre Bastard, gaining the Assault Shroud was the best that could happen to us. It is extremely usefull, looks bitchin' and combines nicely with our fighting style.
>>19977170if we played it smart, we could do that with the interceptors...
>>19977095We should go for [ ] GUARD[ ] FORCEand[ ] VERNIER THRUSTERS.Got a good feeling about them.
>>19977095[X] GUARD[X] METER[X] COBALT BOSTER
>>19977001While that sounds good in theory, there is realistically no way we could do that. We're only alive thanks to Hecate's distraction right now, and we're lucky the other guys didn't know about the curse or we might've been buried under a dogpile of petulant little upstarts trying to take our armor. The tradeoff just isn't worth it.That being said, I like the way you think, and we can already deduce a few things from what we know. First of all, the "curse" is basically a virus, which interrupts our regeneration and upgrade protocols. Second of all, it was a side effect of a bullet, like a status ailment of sorts. From this, we can reasonably make the assumption that the Black is/was an assasin-type build, likely made for speed and stealth, with various progamsand tools made for sapping and snaring aand possibly some decoys much like our beloved shroud.I'm taking a few stabs in the dark here, but it seems plausible to me.
>>19977127changing evol to meter.
>>19977170No clue, it's possible though. Vernier Thrusters are actual things used by spacecraft for fine adjustment to velocity and altitude.>>19977172I know, we didn't even know we were missing out on something but then we found it and knew that we didn't have an awesome duster, and we found it and our image was complete.Though if it's not there already we need to emblazon the back with the Symbol of the Red Joker.
[X] METER[X] EVOL [X] VERNIER THRUSTERS
Okay, it seems that the majority are in favor of:[X] FORCE[X] METERAnd...[X] COBALT BOOSTER.
>>19977191I think it is likely that the Black Joker is a "Set" of Items. The one who collects them all becomes the real Black Joker...This is speculation, though. And they seem to drive the wearer mad or controll him. Think about it. Death Calibre essentially sacrificed himself to get that mark on us. If he were of his right mind he could still have won this...Also whatever the Black Joker is, we can asume it isn't on our side.
>>19977215That's what my count pulls up as well. Sounds good to me, the primary upgrades are simple no nonsense consistent improvements. People seem like the Booster, whatever it does exactly. It does have a cool name though. I already voted so don't take any votes from this.
>>19977215Niiice.
>>19977217Two very good points; I hadn't thought about that. In any case, we can still question our new friend on this. There's way too much we don't know.
>>19977229>>19977215I personally am hoping for Laserbeams for our chainguns. Also, Meter + fuck yeah.
>>19976138Guilty Crown. It was rather bad. There was a joke on /a/ while it aired that everyone would watch the latest episode, drop the series in disgust, swearing to never watch it again then turn around and watch it again the next week.It was about some terrorists fighting for freedom, no wait, now they're fighting to save the human race, wait no now it's fighting in the name of king hitler. There was SCIENCE, terrorism, giant robots, space magic, forced drama, highschool students running a eugenics program, an autistic main character and his even more autistic love interest.It was bad.
>>19977271The Meter bonus means we get moar Railgun loving, also it makes getting to 100% possible. I wonder what's up there. Maybe it's something that burns through all 100% and is a giant "I WIN" button.
>>19977281I am hoping for a goddamn Nuke. With a Jokerface formed mushroom cloud.
[X] FORCEEmerald lighting has you in its grip, reshaping you from within. You feel your form shift and warp - The double-barreled Plasma Vulcans on your wrist gain new mechanisms and cooling fins, whirring faintly as new heat-sinks shimmer into existence, for greater efficiency in firepower...> Your firepower has increased. And there's something more, like a key turning in your mind - A lock falling away.> TIER FOUR WEAPONRY UNLOCKED> QUANTUM SINGULARITY CANNON UNLOCKED> (100%)[X] COBALT BOOSTER.Your armor opens up; The panels sliding away, to frame the azure glow of a reactor, a recessed, glowing orb much like the Guardian you took to pieces. The color shades to cyan, with a steady throb like the beat of an artifical heart. You can feel new vitality surge through you, traceries of light pulsing along the circuit-pattern marks along your cuirass - Before they dim to a steady glow. In fearful synergy with your FORCE upgrade, you know it can do more than channel energy - It can unleash it, in a intensity that wavers from a brilliant, blinding flare - To searing bolts of energy, that can lay waste to an area. [X] METERIt's an energy reservoir; You know, instincitvely, that the new circuits that line your armor are superconductors - Capable of channeling *power* where it's needed, faster than before - working in synergy with your plasma-armament. > You now begin with 5% METER, and now gain Meter from inflicting damage with Special Weapons.
>>19977315We Iron-Man now.So OP, any chance for doing some slice-of-life now?
>>19977315The Cobalt Booster is a energy reservoir that begins at 100% - When activated, it boosts all capabilities, expending itself at a rapid rate of 20% per turn. It can also power the TYRANT BURST cannon - Usually, the TYRANT BURST system will gain charge as energy weapons are fired, independent of Meter. For rapid use, it can draws on the Cobalt Booster system for fuel, instead.
>>19977315> QUANTUM SINGULARITY CANNONBITCHES LOVE CANNONS!!!And Black Holes.We seriously need to try this out next battle.
>>19977315>gain energy from damaging with special weaponsFUCK YEAH! We are gonna tear assholes apart something ridiculous now
>>19977315Oh dear god yes. Life is good, life is very very very good. We have this new Energy thing, better guns, and we get Meter from Special Weapons, this in effect can lower the cost of any special weapon by a good percentage. Do the Interceptors count? Because if so they'll literally be able to pay off their energy expenditure and then some. Assuming that things like the Plasma Caster count as Special Weapons. >>19977339I will need new pants when we combine Cobalt Booster with a fully charged Fusion Annihilator.Tell me more about the Tyrant Burst.
>>19977326(This arc should conclude soon, don't worry.)Vapor wisps from your limbs, as the machine release you; You step from the Vitruvian Device, aware that the great ring has twisted and self-immolated, crimson armor glowing with a fresh sheen.Your powered plate ticks over slowly as it cools, steam coiling away from the red-hot surface. You're shedding heat, returning to something approaching normal - But you feel *charged*. Renewed."How do you feel?" Hecate asks - She's shied back from the heat, though she watches in open fascination - Her green eyes wide, at the sight of your new form.YOU HAVE CONTROL.
>>19977339Yes we are gonna rip so much asses from now on!>TYRANT BURST cannonwait, since when did we have that?What does it do?
>>19977358LIKE A BOSS
>>19977358"Powerful. This machine and the experience the mark blocked gave me a serious boost. I almost pity the fool that challenges me next."
>>19977352> Tell me more about the Tyrant Burst.It's a chest cannon - A less-advanced version of the shielding orb the Armory Guardian had. While it can't generate barriers, it can produce:1.) A blinding flash of light. (5% - 15%)2.) A scattershot burst of energy. (10 - 20%)3.) A single powerful beam. (20% - 40%)4.) Multiple arching beams. (50% onwards, 10% per beam.)
>>19977358I feel fantastic. I had forgotten how nice it felt to be in proper repair, and the upgrades, you have no idea how much I missed getting those.I feel like I've been reborn in flame and it feels good.
>>19977358Slowly clench and unclench fists, letting the new plasma casters and tyrant burst cannon out. Then, suddenly, burn an improved Red Joker insignia on the wall."I feel more me than I ever have before." Look over to Hecate, and chuckle. "This game just got interesting."
>>19977389Fuck yeah. If we could flash a badass grin as well, that'd just make it all the more better.
>>19977389This
>>19977362I need new pants already
>>19977381Is the transfer ratio between Cobalt Booster and Tyrant Burst 1 to 1?>>19977358Have you ever gone running with weights attached? You take them off and it feels like you can run faster and jump higher than ever before. You feel light and strong, that's about what I feel like right now.
>>19977387>>19977376Servoes hum, as your weapons deploy - Abruptly, you turn, and open fire; Cohered plasma and searing azure beams slicing forth, a barrage of energy that makes the air shudder with the sudden stench of ozone, crackling with sparks. There isn't even the faintest throb of death-heat, the pain that you'd feel when your system struggled to handle the energy drain; Your new cooling systems are too efficient for that. As the sudden storm dies away, your red-hot symbol glows on the wall; Outlining your silhouette in a crimson glow, as you turn back to her. Smoke coils up from the barrels of your Vulcans, their active elements cooling to a neutral blue. "...I see," Hecate murmurs - Her expression momentarily pensive, her brow ever-so-slightly furrowed...Though she can't hide the mingled relief and odd pride in her eyes. "-Indeed it has...I can't wait to see what happens from this point on." She laughs, just a little ~ Offering her hand to you. "Shall we go, then?"YOU HAVE CONTROL.
"How do I feel? I bad for the next person who has to face me."
>>19977438>>19977443Oh god dammit.
>>19977362It sounds like it's combined with the Cobalt Booster orb.WE WILL BECOME...GUNDAM!
>>19977438"Hecate, i am in your debt for helping me. Seriously. I wouldn't have made it far like that anymore. Thank you.""May i ask you something about you? You don't seem like a combattant to me. How did you get into this... game?"
>>19977438take her hand.lets go back to that room and chill for a while.
>>19977438Of course Lady Hecate. Gently take her hand, bow down and kiss her hand. Well perform the closest thing we can to a kiss because we don't really have lips due to being a robot right now.I want to see her blush more, it's amusing.
>>19977438Let's go, I think I might owe you a date for this one Hecate
>>19977438"Hecate look how big my cannon have become...do you want to touch it?"
>>19977500
>>19977478>>19977473>>19977468You take her hand, inclining your head in a courtly little bow; It's a strange sensation. Your real body might be in another world entirely, or encased in crimson ceramite...It should be impossible to *feel*. But...You can definently feel the warmth of her touch, the slim, delicate fingers clasping yours. Hecate doesn't quite blush, but her elegant features shade to something undefinable, something soft and unguarded and a little shy - Before she seems to collect herself, giving her head a little shake to clear it. The world slips sideways - The silent rows of metal constructs, the cyclopean hallway, fading out at last...-Into the plush, familiar surroundings of the cafe's private room. "We're back," she murmurs, with that tentative, oddly vulnerable little smile; The one you've seen only once before. (Continued.)
>>19977468Her smile slips, just for a moment - Her gaze going to the ground, her green eyes lowered. "...I can't tell you, yet." She catches your expression, and clarifies: "-I want to, but if I do - I'll die, Anon-kun. I'll...I'll be struck down. I can't let anyone know - Just wait for me, a little longer.">>19977480"-Is that so?" Her voice is soft ~ She's still holding your hand, releasing it only reluctantly, lowering her own to her side. "-I'll hold you to that, next time...But you know where to find me now, don't you?" There's a knock at the door; A voice, muffled but familiar. "Ah, Master - Sorry, Master, but your time's almost up...Is everything all right in there?" Pause. "-You've been very quiet...?"That must be Eri - It seems that you've been gone for longer than usual, though you've got back just in time. [ ] "I'll be right out!"[ ] "Just a moment."[ ] (to Hecate) "...Will you be okay?"[ ] FreeYOU HAVE CONTROL.
>>19977572Will you be ok?I'll be right out
>>19977572[X] "Just a moment."Then[X] (to Hecate) "...Will you be okay?"
>>19977572(Quick addenum)[ ] "Want to come with me?"[ ] "-I'll see you next time, then?"[ ] "This might be a little hard to explain..."
>>19977572[X] Free."..." Appear to be brooding over her decision not to tell us. Finally, stand up, and take her hand. "Such defiance! As punishment, I demand that you come share some drinks with me at a nice little cafe I know, and to tell me more about yourself. You've set up your mystery too well, I cannot leave without knowing more about you." Chuckle, and lean in, as if to kiss her hand. A few inches away, tilt your head to look at her. "Is that a fair enough punishment?"
>>19977585[X] "Want to come with me?"We can just say she must've missed her if anyone is confused by her presence. In the real world does she still look like she's wearing a cosplay outfit? At least she won't stand out too much.
>>19977612Fuck, do you come up with these on the fly?Fucking this, man.
>>19977612This, definitely this.>>19977620>In the real world does she still look like she's wearing a cosplay outfit?I want to know this.
>>19977612Holy shit, your Swag just broke through the ceiling.
>>19977620>>19977638When she appeared before we went to the armory she did
>>19977652Aw, why didn't you do >>19977612 ?Dude managed to actually use swag.
>>19977662>>19977612(Yeah, definently going with that. Didn't catch it the first time: Rewriting.)
>>19977670>>19977662Thank you, guys! I wrote >>19977612 , and approval like this encourages my decision to write stories. Thanks!
>>19977662"I..." to say that she's 'flustered' would be understating it ~ When you lean in towards her, Hecate actually gasps - Her eyes going wide, as you tilt your head back to regard her. "-I, well..." she seems to be fumbling for the right words; Her slim fingers cool against yours, as her stockings brush together with a soft, supple scrape. Though momentary doubtful - As if there's something she *knows* she should be doing - she hesitates for a little longer..."...That *does* sound fair," Hecate answers ~ Her smile going from tentative, to meltingly-soft. Then, almost to herself; "It seems I'll be staying here *just* a little more." In an echo of your bow, she sketches a little curtesy, exaggeratedly formal - Pinching the hem of her brief skirt, a playful light dancing in her eyes. "Then - It looks like I'll be accompanying you today...Anon-kun. For the rest of that time...Please take care of me."JOKER QUESTCHAPTER 7 END.
(OP here: I'd love to continue, but it's almost midnight for me, and I'm totally exhausted. I'll run the next instalment on Tuesday or Wednesday, at the same time - Tuesday looks the most likely, though!)
>>19977733Sweet. Thank you for rewriting OP. That really was a good response.
>>19977744Awesome like always op, see you next time.
>>19977744See ya soon pal.>>19977680You're going to make a quest someday, agreed?>>19977733that pic looks familiar...
>>19977733I have to say, this has really bumped hecate up to top girl for me. We still don't know what she's up to, but she seems way less suspicious than we thought.
>>19977864Oh man, now the sparks are gonn fly. Is this arhived?
>>19977850A quest thread? Perhaps. If it counts, I was the one who wrote some of the Muscle Bruiser & Reverse Trap stories in the Tropes Thread. I've started a sorty of diary entry thread series with them now.It's here, if you want to check it out. >>19977780
>>19978085You are the one writing that? Nice, I caught the first thread of that and am reading the new one already. It's good work at it
>>19978101Yeah. It's the first time I have done something like this before, and it's rough, but I hope it catches on. I could use the writing practice.
