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Recap: You are ANON, the RED JOKER. In our last instalment, you went toe-to-toe with the fearsome ARMORY GUARDIAN, and used the VITRUVIAN DEVICE to purge yourself of the BLACK JOKER'S curse (Receiving a substantial upgrade in the process.) Thanks to some astonishing SWAG on your part, you've charmed HECATE into accompanying you for a few drinks at a nice little cafe you know...

Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Joker%20Quest

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/19975844/

Equipment FAQ:

http://pastebin.com/UwxgWj6j

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The cafe 'D'Artagnan' is just as you remember it - Quaint, peaceful, the afternoon sun steaming in through stained-glass windows, bathing the place in a warm golden glow. There's a pleasant, comfortably warm atmosphere to the place; The smell of vanilla and coffee wafting from the kitchens, the soft background chatter interrupted by the occasional laughter, as soft and as fleeting as distant music.

...It's hard to believe that - mere hours ago - you were fighting for your life, in a place too terrible to actually exist. An hour ago, you were facing the unpleasant prospect of a slow death by attrition; Now, you're sipping hazelnut coffee in a quiet little cafe, with the enigmatic but lovely Hecate by your side.

All-in-all, things seem to be looking up for you.

"This *is* a nice place," Hecate muses aloud, sipping at an almond milk-and-cinnamon concoction - Looking out of the window at the passing crowds, her gaze fixed on some point in the distance. Her attention lingers, just for a moment longer - Before she glances back, lips curving in a little smile as she turns at you...

(Continued)

>>20014901

"So, Anon-kun~" and you can't help but notice the teasing lilt in her voice, the playful light in her large green eyes. "-I believe you were asking about me?"

[ ] "What were you looking at, just now?"
[ ] "You seem to be having fun."
[ ] "I never thought you could be, well, *here* like this."
[ ] "But of course."
[ ] Free.

>>20014902
[x] "But of course. Though I am torn betwixt what to ask of first, since all parts of you are so beautiful."

>>20014916

Is that the same guy with the massively swag response, in the last thread? Let's roll with that!

edit: Fuck me, we brought her to asuna's cafe?

>>20014902

> [X] "But of course."

>>20014916
Just give her something to start with, maybe we'd find out more that way.

>>20014902
You seem to be having fun.
So does everyone see you as you or do you disguise yourself somehow?

>>20014942
Seconding.

>But of course.

> [x] "But of course. Though I am torn betwixt what to ask of first, since all parts of you are so beautiful."

Hecate giggles, cupping her chin in slim fingers ~ "-Stop it, you'll make me blush." She already is, just a little; A touch of heat to her pale cheeks, her long, toned legs rasping together with a soft *hiss* of nylon stockings...

"...Hmmm, the question is, where to begin ~ I suppose my story isn't *that* different from yours, when it comes down to it." Her eyes go a little distant, nostaglic - "-Like you, I was an ordinary player at some point...Until I found something that made me so much more. And after that, well...That's when things *really* started to get interesting..."

> [X] You seem to be having fun.
> So does everyone see you as you or do you disguise yourself somehow?

"Hmmm?" she blinks, wrong-footed...Before comprehension dawns. "Oh, you mean the NPCs? Usually, they don't see me at all, unless I *want* them too. But - When it comes to other people like us...It's different, of course. To them, I always look like this."

A little smile, as she leans back in her chair. "-It's not really a disguise...I don't think you mind, though."

[ ] "...That's not really an answer, is it?"
[ ] "-So which one is the 'real you'?"
[ ] "You're talking about the Nihl Sphere."
[ ] "...Why don't you have armor?"
[ ] "Hecate...How long have you been playing this game?"
[ ] "NPCs?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015011

[ ] "You're talking about the Nihl Sphere."

So she doesn't see other people as people? That's cold.

>>20015011
"Blush and nylon? It seems you know just how to get after my heart. Also, how long have you been playing, Hecate? And what do you mean by NPCs?

>>20015011
NPCs? I mean, they cant enter that strange game, but they are still people?

>>20015011
So which one do you see as the real you?

> "Blush and nylon? It seems you know just how to get after my heart."

"I-" she colors a little more - All the way to her pointy ears, this time. "-Oh, you're doing it *again*, aren't you?" Absently, Hecate smooths down her ruffled costume, suddenly self-conscious; "It's not like...I didn't dress up just for you, if that's what you're thinking - It's...It's a Relic. Y, yes, that's definently it - It *always* looks like this."

> "Also, how long have you been playing, Hecate?

A pause - It takes her a moment to consider the question, and longer still to answer. In the background, you hear the door swing open, then closed away; Borne on a gust of cool air.

"...Six years, I think." she answers, at last. "-I forget, sometimes. It may have been longer." There's a pensive note to her voice, just for a moment - "...Sometimes, it's hard to keep track of time - But I suppose it doesn't really matter."

> [X] "NPCs?"

"Ah, that's what I meant - The people who aren't players. The ones who can't see what we can...You know, the ones who aren't important." She gestures, to take in the room; A sweep of her arm that goes unnoticed, even by the waitress who returns to refill your coffee.

"-I don't know how you stand it, Anon-kun; Keeping it to yourself like that...It must be hard."

> So which one do you see as the real you?

"Haaa, that's an odd question ~ This is me, of course." Hecate touches her fingertips to her chest, lightly, just over her ascot tie. "-That is, this is who I've always been..."

"It probably sounds a little strange, doesn't it? After all - You're so...*different*...over there, with your armor..."

(Continued.)

>>20015109

She shakes her head, as if to clear it; "-Though I'm glad you're like *this*, here. It's...It's a relief, really."

[ ] "Ah, so you've been at it longer than I have."
[ ] "-Six years? That's about the same as me."

[ ] "No, I mean; What are you *really* like?"
[ ] "-You're saying that this is your real body?"
[ ] "You must spend a lot of time on the other side."
[ ] "I don't think I've seen anyone with an avatar like yours, before..."
[ ] "When did you start taking an interest in me?"
[ ] "How have you gone this long without fighting?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

Ah, so you've been at it longer than me

You're saying this is your real body?

>>20015109
"Again? Whatever do you mean?" feigning innocence
Of course it is."

"Six years, eh? About the same, here. Hrn, so you're saying this is your real body? And how have you gone this long without fighting?"

>>20015137
Seconding.

>>20015146
>>20015137

We should go with this. How has she survived without fighting? Doesn't that mean she's incredibly low-level?

> "Again? Whatever do you mean?"

"-You know what I mean," Hecate says, primly ~ Her full lips curling in a mock-pout. Still, her words are rather belied by the playful note to her voice, the teasing way her foot brushes against yours, just beneath the table...

"...It's not that I dislike it, though~" she muses aloud, wide a sidelong glance - Lacing her fingers together, against the table.

> "Six years, eh? About the same, here. Hrn, so you're saying this is your real body? And how have you gone this long without fighting?"

"Is that so? Just like I thought, then..." Hecate muses aloud, sipping at her drink; A soft, satisfied little sigh teased from her throat, her expression contemplative.

"-It's the only body that matters, Anon-kun," she answers, a trifle too dismissively; "As for fighting...It's not that I haven't, it's just - " and her voice goes soft, here - "...I'm not very good at it. It...hasn't been *easy*."

Her free hand makes a caressing gesture ~ As if remembering the feel of her sphere, hovering above her palm. "I...ran away a lot, at first," she confesses, sounding a little self-conscious - "...But after I found this Relic, well...I didn't *need* to fight, any longer. I suppose that makes me luckier than you...No offense meant, though."

[ ] "I only fight when I have to."
[ ] "-I guess it can't be helped; It's necessary, after all."
[ ] "...I *do* want to win, after all."

AND

[ ] "-It must've been hard."
[ ] "...What does it do, really? I've never seen anything like it."
[ ] "Don't worry; I'll protect you."
[ ] "-What are you searching for, then?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015193

Interesting, that means she's not completely defenseless.

[X] Free

Say something like 'Why are you so interested in me, anyway?' or ask her when she starting following us.

>>20015193
I only fight when I have to.

Don't worry, I will protect you

>>20015193
Grinning in return of her pout, you brush her foot back in playful retaliation "Sounds like it must have been hard. But, you don't really have to worry about things like that anymore. You have me to protect you." become more serious "So what does the sphere do?"

>>20015240

Go with this. We seem to be leading up to it, and it couldn't hurt to see more of hecate.

>>20015257

Changing my vote, definently this. I'm >>20015260
by the way.

>>20015274
>>20015240

> "Sounds like it must have been hard. But, you don't really have to worry about things like that anymore. You have me to protect you."

A hushed gasp, a minute widening of her eyes; This time, you actually *see* her color, Hecate's mock-annoyed expression giving way to real surprise: "That-" she begins, her voice hovering somewhere between pleased and speechless - "W-when you actually say it like *that*..."

She ducks her head, for an instant ~ A pleasant little shiver coursing through her, as your foot nudges back against hers. You feel the soft, sheer surface of her stockings, against your leg - then the smoother skin beneath, for a moment - Before she draws back, just a little, open embarrassment warring with pleasant surprise.

"I, w-well..." It's a coy gesture, made rather more interesting by the way Hecate flinches back and towards you at once - Her lips ever-so-slightly parted, a faint hitch to her breathing. "-Isn't it...Isn't a little early to be saying something like *that*..."

(Continued)

>>20015346

> "So what does the sphere do?"

"The...the sphere? Aaa, right..." Still a little flustered, Hecate takes a moment to compose herself, the roses in her cheeks fading away. "It's - You could call it a 'key', and you wouldn't be wrong. Put simply, it opens doors. *Any* doors, over there: Even the ones I didn't know about."

She assumes a brisk, clinical tone, her voice shading back to seriousness. "...There's no barrier that can stand against it; It *knows* how they work, and where to find them. But that's not *all* it does...There's always something *else* it can do, something new..."

[ ] "-And you've been using it to explore?"
[ ] "What have you found, exactly?"
[ ] "What's the catch?"
[ ] "Is that how you found the Armory?"
[ ] "Where did you get it from?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015346

D'aawww. She can dish it out, but she can't take it, can she?

>>20015346
>>20015348
You smile confidently now, returning simply to her allegations of being early "Life is short, and you are beautiful." your smile drops some as you contemplate her explanation of the sphere "So it's like some kind of skeleton key? And you've been using it to explore? And what have you found behind these locked doors? It also beds the question - where did you get it, and what's the catch?" (They're all such prudent questions)

>>20015366

It's a strange contrast. a girl who's flirty and sexy, but gets embarassed easily? Somwething's not right here. Keep up with the footsie, and ask:

> [X] [ ] "What's the catch?"

>>20015378
>>20015378
>>20015385

"...When you put it that way, yes. The other world - It goes on *forever*, Anon-kun; There's passages and demenses that no-one has ever seen. And every now and then, I find something I can use-"

Abruptly, Hecate goes quiet - As if afraid she's said too much. It's clear this is a favorite subject of hers, though, when she goes on - A little while later; "-Not always. There's...There's no end to it, not really - Most of the places are old and worn down, but it doesn't make them any safer."

She looks up at you, her fingers tracing against her wrist. "...I don't always get that far, alone. If I found something like the Armory Guardian..." Hecate shivers, and with good reason. "-Usually, it's just enough for me to keep going."

Another hesitation - Coming to something she's reluctant to discuss, now. "...As for where I got it..."

-Your phone rings. The sound, the weighty *buzzing* - It's long and very loud, for the moments before you fumble it out of your pocket. The number's a familiar one - Kazuya's. Odd that he'd be calling you, now - He should still be at work, shouldn't he?

The sound makes Hecate start, too - Craning her head to look over the table, chagrin - And mingled relief - flitting over her features.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015435

(Forgot my trip, sorry. Also, my apologies for the delay between posts; This has been a dialogue-heavy chapter, so far.)

>>20015435
"Sorry, I have to take this."

Answer the phone, ask Kazuya to call back later unless he has something really important to say.

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>>20015438
(Can't be all fast-action and big guns)

Answer the calls "Moshi-moshi, Anon, desu?" and smile apologetically to Hecate.

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> "Sorry, I have to take this."

Hecate nods, waving it away ~ She turns her attention back to her drink, and the tray of biscuits next to it, with the air of a girl who's just avoided an unpleasant duty. She seems relieved, yet troubled at once - looking away politely, as if to imply she's doing her best to avoid eavesdropping.

> Answer the calls "Moshi-moshi, Anon, desu?" and smile apologetically to Hecate.
> Answer the phone, ask Kazuya to call back later unless he has something really important to say.

On the other side, you hear a roaring, like the hum of the crowd; Which abruptly cuts out, into Kazuya's familiar voice. "Hey, Anon - Glad I could reach you." He sounds breathless, as if he's been sprinting flat-out; "...Sorry, man - This couldn't wait."

There's a pause, as he composes himself. The background noise is cut off, his voice clearer now - No longer cut off. "-I need some help keeping an eye on something; It's not too far, can you give me a hand? It'd only take a moment."

[ ] "-What's this 'something'?"
[ ] "Are you all right? You sound kind of winded."
[ ] "Is that something to do with your job?"
[ ] "Kazuya, where are you, exactly?"
[ ] "Where is it?"
[ ] "I'm actually in the middle of something right now...Could you ask someone else?"

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015508
Are you all right? You sound kind of winded
Where are you anyway?

>>20015508
"You sound like you just ran a marathon. Are you alright? Where are you? And what is this 'something'?"

>>20015508
"Hu, yeah i'll help you if you really want. Whats this about, and where do i need to go?"

Then mumble (so that Hecate cant hear you), "I better hope its worth interrupting my date, bro."

Bros before Hos, i suppose.

>>20015535
That, and Asuna is our waifu.

There's a buzz of static on the other end on the line; You make out a hurried-

"-should go-"

"-now-"

before Kazuya's voice cuts back in. "-I'm alright. I mean, I'm fine. Never better." There's a kind of gnawing urgency in his voice - It's actually pretty alarming, when it registers. "I'm - My boss just needs me to deliver something. I, ha, really need someone else here right now."

Another skittering squeal of static.

He names a place; It's several streets away from where you are, almost out of the district. "-Don't worry; It's just a shipment. I just...You *really* need to get out of - I mean, come down here, just for a while." The urgency in his voice is real, that's for sure. "It wouldn't take long, less than a hour."

[ ] "...You're not making any sense."
[ ] "Wait, you *know* where I am?"
[ ] "What's going on, exactly?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015555
(quad get, nice)

"Get out of where?" you don't really like how he's hiding shit from you, but he is your Brometheus, and you trust him - for now "Alright, but you better explain this later. Got it?"

>>20015555

I don't like this. Is he trying to get us away from hecate? We do know that thel ast time he wasn't around, he probably helped us against the monster.

>>20015555
"You didn't get involved in something dangerous, did you? And how do you know where I am in the first place?"

>>20015569
That one.

>>20015569

Let's take his word for it, for now. I don't think he's actively trying to harm us.

Silence. There's still a lot of noise in the background, and it's not clearing up. On the other side, you hear Kazuya give a relieved sigh; "-I will. Thanks, I *really* appreciate it. Just...You need to hurry. I'll explain it all later."

> "You didn't get involved in something dangerous, did you? And how do you know where I am in the first place?"

He laughs, though it sounds forced - As if his mind isn't really on it, though there's a note of real amusement, all the same. "-I haven't, take my word for it. Trust me on that."

The line goes dead.

"...Is something wrong?" Hecate asks ~ A napkin folded on her lap, her gaze unabashedly curious. She's clearly made out the gist of the conversation, or at least the odd, crackling noises on the other side; Her brow ever-so-slightly furrowed, in something like mild confusion.

[ ] "I have to go, for now - Will you be all right?"
[ ] "A friend needs my help; He sounds worried."
[ ] "We'll have to finish this next time - Something's come up."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015628
Smiles politely and kiss her cheek "Gotta bounce - sorry, really. Friend needs me."

>>20015643
This. Add that we'll make it up to her next time.

>>20015628
"A friend needs my help; He sounds worried. I am terribly sorry that i have to cut this short now Hecate.. But i have to help him, he's one of my best friends. I hope you dont mind?"

>>20015656
Seconding

"I don't-" Hecate begins - She starts, making a soft, surprised little sound as you kiss her cheek, straightening in her chair. The flush lingers beneath her pale skin, this time; Cool fingertips grazing her cheek, that same shy, but sweet smile on her lips. "I don't mind," she finishes, softly; Then, playfully ~ "-I'll just have to look forward to it, then...Anon-kun."

Her hand catches your sleeve, just for a moment - "I'll be at the same place, next time - Come find me when you're free." That's the last you see of her; Her lissome form silhouetted against the window, waving to you as you head off.

Kazuya was right - The place wouldn't take long to reach, though it's quite a distance away. Fortunately, there's a tram heading in same direction - Less than half-full, at this time of the day - which saves you the trouble of running, or flagging down a cab...

-You're about halfway there, when the earthquake hits.

It begins as a slow tremor, a new note in the hum of the rail - Then you hear, faintly, the *groan* of the earth heaving, the wail of car alarms going off. In the distance, you make out a bloom of fire, as something touches off - Drawing startled shrieks from the other commutors around you, as the tram grinds to a stop.

The ground judders again; You're not in the middle of it, thank god, just on the fringes - but you can feel the tremors from here, hard enough to make the world sway beneath your feet, back and forth...

[ ] Run back into the affected area.
[ ] Keep going, on foot.
[ ] Wait.
[ ] Call Kazuya again.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

[x] "A friend needs my help; He sounds worried...do you want to come check with me?"

>>20015698
Call up Kazuya again, if he doesn;t answer, leave him a voicemail "Did you feel that?! Are you alright? Did that have anything to do with your 'delivery'?"
and continue on foot.

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>>20015700

File: 1343128858635.gif-(40 KB, 200x204, 1342316298050.gif)

>>20015711

>>20015698

are we really this dumb, it's pretty obvious he's being attacked and needs someone to handle his real-world shit

I mean come on

>>20015698
Transform.
Kazuya is fighting something so we might be able to watch if not help him

>>20015700
>>20015698
[X]Keep going and call Kazuya again, desu.
I'm sure Hecate will be alright, desu. Well, I hope so, desu.

>>20015733
I instantly regret posting Rozen Maiden.

>>20015700

(My apologies, I posted before that.)

>>20015706

You call Kazuya, but - After the first, abortive rings - you get the dull, 'NO SIGNAL' drone. You send off a voicemail, anyway; But you're not sure if he's got it, or if he'd be answering anytime soon. In your gut, you know that it isn't going to be long before the airwaves are clogged by people requesting help, clarification, or just panicking-

...You keep going, weaving your way past others - Traffic is slowly but surely grinding to a standstill, as the spreading ripples of the disaster begins to register. You're right next to the place he mentioned, now; It's a mostly-vacant lot, in front of a set of offices, with pallets of paper cartons stacked before a truck - They've been half-unloaded, though you haven't actually *seen* any staff...

-The office's doors are still swinging, emblazoned with the SI symbol of the Sterling Institute...Wasn't that the company Kazuya was working for?...as if a great number of people have recently vacated the place.
> [X] Transform.

And the world shifts sideways.

And you manifest in a warzone.

Above you, the clouds are red-cored, marbled like rotting meat; Fitful, unnatural lightning flickers in the churning skies, threading the air with blinding whiskers.

It's like standing in the dream of a ruined city; Rubble strewn underfoot between cyclopean buildings, thread-thin white larva gouging their way out of the ground, pulsing their wretched mouths with unwholesome wailing cries.

The air smells like metal, a ragged world stretching before you.

(Continued.)

File: 1343130138629.jpg-(65 KB, 640x480, jokerwhite.jpg)

(Wow, that's embarassing - I posted on the main board.)

Hundreds of dirty smoke trails rise from the city roofscape, scaffoldings erected around a huge, decaying tower; You hear bizarre whines and squeals in the distance, the fading after-images of lightning casting flickering, phosphorous ghosts..

And then there's a *roar* - A roar so loud, so throaty, it bruises you within your crimson plate, a drawn-out howl of huge volume that blots out the fury of the approaching storm.

It is the roar of a predator, the voice of a beast that has just awoken, and realized that it is hungry.

The tower - It's not a building, but a vast mass, a mountain of infected meat, growing all the time. It's a black, blistered bulk, vast tentacles rippling and lashing at the sky; A cyclone of storm clouds rotating around the flailing limbs, like a rown of thorns.

Dimly, you can make out the dart and flash of brilliant light - The flicker of illumination of chrome armor, on steel, on plate. Armored figures - At least two dozen of them, most some shade of silver or white - are pressing forward, down towards that horrid *thing*...

> HP: 100%
> METER: 0%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 100%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 100%

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015755
>>20015780

Oh shit, waas our bud trying to warn us away? So we wouldn't get killed, by whatever the fuck this is? This is way out of our weight class, guys.

>>20015780
>>20015788
I say we stand back and wait. See if they attack us, or if they're on the meatmountain's side.

(btw, what does the Cobalt Booster do again?)

>>20015780

We're all upgraded and shit. Go towards it, and see wassup.

>>20015797

(It should be in the Equipment FAQ on Pastebin: The link is in the first post.)

http://pastebin.com/UwxgWj6j

>>20015780
Keep distance, observe development of the situation;
maybe searching for higher ground can be useful.

>>20015780
Close in towards Cthulu, attempt to identify its enemies, and if its tentacles close in towards you fire away. This sounds like a good oportunity to get our meter to 100 and try our quantum singularity cannon...

>>20015816
Closing in means that both tentacles and white armors can surround us. in this case, obliterating both with a single singularity shot would be impossible.

>>20015780
Shouldn't our Meter be 5%, one of the perks of upgrading it last thread.

Don't start burning Cobalt yet.

Get to higher ground, open fire on Cthulu, I think we're working together to take him down, at least for now.

Get Meter from blowing chunks out of it, we'll railgun it once we get enough.

The *smell* of the thing - It's so foul, so cloying, that you can smell it's stench right through your helmet. It's a towering wall of suppurating flesh, too vast to take in; You find a half-collapsed storefront, and ascend to the third storey for a better view.

It doesn't look *that* much better, from your new perspective - The skies above are marked with the soot-streaks of smoke and jet-exhaust, about a dozen shapes weaving crazily through the air, like flies over a corpse. Your targeting computer hunts and pecks, making out the beginning of names, of identities:

Silver Cross. Jet Jaguar. Aero Reaver. Duel Hound.

And, in the distance, too far to be glimpsed:

Argent Prominence.

(Continued.)

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>>20015860

There seem to be two groups - The first one locked in aerial combat, peppering the thing with firearms and slashing, swooping strikes, a chain of tiny explosions blistering the thing's black hide, like a collar of fire. Even as you watch, a writhing tendril - Fat and pallid, like some deep-sea creature - snaps around a player's throat, sucking him into one of the open maws in a single, gurgling inhalation...An instant before he's ground to nothing, in the churning jaws.

The second group is moving in support of the first; They're groundbound, edging forward as dark shapes begin to spill out from the base of the creature - Until a furious melee breaks out, energy bolts and blades carving into wretched, eyeless *things* that vaguely resemble crustacean horrors.

You make out a familiar figure, at last - Chrome Cypher's halberd carving through something like a flayed, dripping hound as he hacks away, trying to push forward...

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015860
>>20015863
Time to grow some big red balls. We join Chrome Cipher, and charge up our Singularity Cannon.

>>20015863
Okay, get to a good high firing position, as high as is reasonably possible while still being able to leap between buildings, and open up with the vulcans, we need to charge enough meter to either Singularity Cannon the sod or drop Railgun shots from far away into any weakpoints. Rely on the ground pounders to keep the swarming little ones away from our position.

Do not engage in melee combat with this sod, we aren't specced for that and I don't want to be more meat in the grinder.


With any discrepancies between last thread and the pastebin we should follow the pastebin correct? Such as the Tyrant Burst being solely charged by Cobalt Booster instead of it being a secondary charging mechanism and it also being powered by us using energy weapons.

File: 1343131839171.jpg-(12 KB, 320x240, tn_jet_jaguar.jpg_thumb.jpg)

>>20015863
analyze the creature searching for a possible point of maximum damage; approaching carefully, attack the parts already damaged by the other hunters(?) to build meter.
>Jet Jaguar

>>20015863

Well, i'd say lay into the creature. Chrome Cypher could be Kazuya, so we should take care he does not die...

Use our improved chainguns, and stay just at the edge of effective range. Also, change positions every now and then.

So Kazuya's "job" is handling monster incursions into the arena?

Man he has been holding out on us

>>20015889

(Yeah - I did a bit of number-crunching over the weekend, and I'm trying to keep all the upgrades balanced.)

You ascend higher - To a third-storey rooftop, atop a building tilted at a crazy angle - looking down at the churning morass. Beneath you, you make out Chrome Cypher pressing ahead, with four other armored figures; Their advance has been stalled, however, by the unholy creatures swarming towards them, like parasites swarming down a lashing, tree-trunked sized limb.

You take aim, and open fire; Your enhanced Plasma Vulcans spit cohered white flame, rattling chains of energy streaming up at the suppurating mass that blots out the sky. You actually see your bolts wink out against the thing's surface - Superheated steam wafts out as flesh boils away to nothing; You're doing damage, but you'd need a month to kill the horrid thing. Even the flyers aren't doing much damage - They seem to be corralling it, and it's simply ignoring their attacks, churning limbs snatching at them at random...

(Continued.)

-And then, from below, a scream.

You look down, to see another player - the unfortunately named 'Gore Hound' - shear apart; A mottled grey shape, six meters tall, eight-limbed, scooping chunks of steaming meat into churning mandibles, the mouth-parts of its wedge-shaped head emitting a shrill, chittering noise.

It's a chitinous beast, thickly plated with mottled, fibrous grey armor, every inch covered in rough, bony growths - Four claw-tipped limbs gouging into the ground beneath it, four others ending in metal-cased blades over a meter long. It's a hyperactive blur, swords scraping the walls, the ground, setting up a dazzling flurry of sparks; Before you can blink, another armored figure - Jade Slicer- is hacked down from behind, limbs cloven from a ruined torso...

"Fall back - *fall b-*" the words end in a crunch, as the insectile beast lunges forward, and cleaves the speaker apart. The other player is scrambling back to safety, as Chrome Cypher retreats; Sparks flying as the thing's swords ring off his spinning halberd, again and again, giving ground...

> HP: 100%
> METER: 2%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 100%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 100%

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20015947

Cover Chrome Cypher. Hope he doesnt space out when he sees us like last time. Launch two Interceptors to support him in Close Combat and open up on the pursuing bests with the plasma guns. Build our meter.

>>20015947
Provide fire support for Chrome. We might not be able to immediately kill it right now but we can draw its attention and slow it down.

Open up the Vulcans on the insect thing, it's peanuts to the big guy, we'll have to wait to actually hurt that thing.


Also Meter should be higher, it's not much but we start at 5%, unless this fight is different.

>>20015947
I still say we join Chrome Cypher, and give him some support fire.

>>20015969

(My apologies. Meter should be at 8% - I think I might be slipping a bit, it's a little late here.)

>>20015947
Cover everyone when and where we can but focus on cypher

Also make sure we aren't flanked and keep pace with the guys retreating

>>20015982
And we just upgraded our skill set an awful lot. Don't worry about it.

>>20015947
Jump down shooting at arms and legs articulations; try to outflank it if possible.
if close enough, jump behind it and blow away its legs shooting the knee rear.
the mouth inside is also a interesting target, if still open.

>>20015994
Don't jump down there right now. We are a ranged specialist, this thing is a fucking inverted blender. We keep our distance, fire on it, and draw it away or slow it down.

>>20016006
Right, but from the actual position all its weakspots are probably unreachable.
dropping out. thanks as usual for the fun, op.

What i am interested is: At first we were fighting guys with demon names: Baphomet, Kerberos (also, Hecate)

Now we seem to mainly meet ppl with either colour or metal names like Neon Striker, Chrome Cypher or even Death Calibre.

Are there two factions here? Also, the demon guys all look way stranger than the later guys, who are mainly robots like us.

Third faction would be the nameless monsters.

I think this should be investigated after this battle ends.

Plasma bolts hammer down at the creature, as you open fire; Your shoulder binders deploying as first one, then a second Interceptor takes flight - Soaring down into the street below, spinning furiously as they leave a slashing track through the air.

Your shots explode against the thing's thorax armor, from behind - The living plate dents under the barrage, before the fourth rocks it forward, ivory crest shards blasted free from the surface. Your Interceptors have less success - But they're a distraction all right, the first one forcing the blade-limbed beast to check it's swing, metal shrieking as it cleaves through your first drone instead...

-If there's a silver lining to the *very* dark cloud, it's that the great bulk of the sword-beast is channeling the press of the enemy away; You can glimpse a score of other, ferocious little combats going on, as the dark tide is funneled down into nearby streets.

To his credit - This time, at least - Chrome Cypher keeps his head. His halberd smashes aside a waving blade-limb; You see the arc-welder flame of a sword lick to life, in his other hand, and he shears through one of the thing's arms in a desperate swipe. You can feel his surprise, all the same - Right as the beast's attention shifts to you, maw spewing a bubbling jet of acid skyward, it's distressed *screech* ringing in your ears...

> HP: 100%
> METER: 14%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 100%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 100%
> INTERCEPTORS: 2/3. (1 ACTIVE.)

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20016025

Wait, wait. Checking back, didn't the names of the four 'finalists' match up with card suits? Swords, clubs, hearts and diamonds, mayvbe? Also, the red and black jokers?

Maybe it's all different types?

edit: Checking back, one of the names was Argent prominence, too.

>>20016027
Do not be where the Acid is. If it would help avoid it set up some of the after images from the Assault shroud momentarily, just long enough to help and then turn it off again. If it looks like an AOE attack where it's going to make it rain acid our best bet might be to shoot the floor out from under us and get a roof between us and the acid before continuing to fire on the thing.

We got Chrome some momentum in the fight, but we don't want to get hurt for it. Get out of the way of the Acid, take cover and dodge like a madman.

Our main use of the interceptors won't be to deal damage but if anyone is being pressed too hard they can distract what is on them and give them a chance to swing the fight back in their favor.

>>20016027
Throw out the other interceptor to cover ourself and be ready to drop our assault shroud and run at a moments notice

>>20016051

Fuck, you're right.

Phantom Edge: Spades.
Black Cardinal: (Church rank?) Clubs.
Chalice Queen: Hearts, obviously.
Argent Prominence: No idea. (Diamonds?)

>>20016053

Yeah, we really shouldn't be there when the shot hits.

>>20016027

Eh, we've got 100% shroud and we need to dump firepower in it as soon as possible. Just fire directly into the acid to scatter it while mostly aiming at the beastie.

>>20016066
>>20016053

I'd say evade the acid, but not without terribly reducing our firepower, we want to dump out shot for shot as fast as possible.

See if the Interceptor cant strike the beast were we cracked its carapace for MASSIVE DAMAGE

You turn your guns on the slanted roof; Plasma bolts chew out the tiles beneath, in a ragged triangle. The floor falls out from beneath you, just as acid erupts in a hissing, dissolving rain - A molten airburst that crisps against the shielding folds of your Assault Shroud, vapor rising from the crimson surface.

You hit the wall below at an angle, sliding down into the dank room below; The sole window shatters, as your remaining Interceptor smashes through it, glass shards flying outward, joining the frentically buzzing drone that circles the beast's head, striking sparks from it's carapace with it's stroke. It's not hurting it, not *really* - But when you open fire on it again, you can actually *see* your blasts detonating against it, superheated ichor gouting from the ragged wound...

You get off two more bursts, before the far wall explodes outwards, in a shower of plaster and brick. A snorting, battering-ram shape - Vaguely like a bull, a triceratops, quad-legged and bulky with corded muscle - ploughs through the hole, shaking flecks of stonework from its ugly form. It makes a growling sound, thick yellowed spines jagging from it's spine - Great spined fists thumping against ground as it stomps forward, all cartilage and thick bone.

> HP: 97%
> METER: 21%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 100%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 95%
> INTERCEPTORS: 2/3. (1 ACTIVE.)

TIER ONE WEAPONRY UNLOCKED:

> TRISKELION LAUNCHER: 3%/Missile.
> PLASMA CASTER: 10%/Projectile.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20016134

(Trip fell off again.)

>>20016134
This is bad, we are in melee with something, we do not want to be in melee with something.

I advocate against using the plasma caster, it'll hit the really thick armor on its head or front of the legs, not worth it.

I personally advocate jumping out of the window, if it looks like we can make it to the building across the street do so. It might follow us, if so then us the Plasma Caster to shoot it, knocking it to the ground, maybe on top of the other one, and giving us a bit more of a boost to make it all the way across.

>>20016134
Send and interceptor at it's legs. Then shoot at the eyes/face with missiles.

>>20016134

Does physics even work that way? We should dodge the thing's charge or swing, and battle it out in the open. Maybe a Caster shot with the Coblat Booster powering it?

Interceptors lightsabers go!

>>20016172

missiles seem like a bad idea, they'll blow us up too. Let's use the Tyrant Burst to blind this thing, or the booster to hit it with a suped-up shot.

>>20016192
>>20016185
>>20016183
>>20016172
>>20016157
>>20016185

(I hate to leave it here, gentlemen, but I'm utterly exhausted tonight; It's also about 11 PM here. Would you might if I resumed this on Saturday instead? Apologies if some of the earlier parts came out a little rougher than I expected.)

>>20016197
It's cool, buddy. Quality over quantity and all that.

>>20016197
That's perfectly alright. I had much fun. You should make a twitter/blog/something to announce games.

Damnit, I keep missing these games. Is someone going to archive it, or should I do it first?

>>20015257

Wow, did we ever get that far with Asuna? I'm just saying, maybe we should either ease back a bit, if we're not going to be serious about her...Or, conversely, the reverse.

bumpidy

Curses, missed it.

Hello, anyone who is still in here. The man who made the Deciding post to keep Hecate around last thread here. I'd love to participate more, but I'm not sure of the time this begins. Anyone care to tell?

>>20017129
So, about 5:30 for Australites? Used the time from my post.

>>20017129

About 3:30 - 4:00 PM Singapore time. The next game is on Saturday.

That's the time I got, anyway.

>>20014884

Op, the pics are fucking awesome. Does anyone have sauce on them?
I'm a little surprise by how sexual this quest is, I have to admit. Hecate is described as, like, as kinds of curvy, and Asuna isn't bad either. Kind of wish we saw more of Natsumi.

>>20018411

Hecate is still best girl. Actually looking forward to using our upgrades next time, though.

>>20018411

The pics are probably from a visual novel. Reverse-search it.

> I'm a little surprise by how sexual this quest is, I have to admit.

How so? Maybe if girls blushing is your fetish...

>>20015800

Will we ever see our original form? The one before we got the red joker armor? It's a small thing, but it's been bugging me, op.

>>20018485

It probably sucked compared to the one we have now.

>>20018519
Hey, pssssst!...don't tell op...I like close combat more than shooting!