http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/20461272/We are deathly tired. The stress of this psionic contest with the Xel'Naga is wearing us thin, but still we persist. We could sever the connection, but for some reason, we have persisted, pressing back in an attempt to overcome the minds that tried so hard to invade ours.Our heighliners are arrayed over Xenta, their Psi Cannons taking turns firing at the worldships that house our the Makers. We reflect for a moment that this isn't even the final test; there is more after this, if we intend to continue.
Gotta run to the grocery store, or I'm going to starve to death and the quest will end prematurely. Alternately, if this explanation isn't to your satisfaction, you can just assume I require more Vespene gas.4d100 if you just want to keep grappling with the Xel'Naga, or if you want to try severing the connection. Be sure to say what you're rolling/voting for. You guys know the drill.
>>20523795Yay ZQ!By the way, thanks for posting a Zergy-pic with your original post, makes it way easier to spot the thread.I vote we gently lower the connection, unless anyone want to do anything in particular with it.
>>20523795Lower the connection. If they're actually doing tests to prove our perfection to them, we've shown that we can make tremendous comebacks even if we're nearly overwhelmed, and even have enough leftover to push back. But we shouldn't push our luck; if they were able to nearly control us, they have some other tricks up their sleeve. We've made our point, let's lower the connection.
>>20523860I always post a Zergy picture. Wasn't last week a moving Cerebrate portrait from the game?>>20523860>>20523880That's two for breaking the connection. Anybody else?
>>20524098Break the connection and be done with it.
>>20524160That's 3. Cool. ROLL 4d100 AND BE DONE WITH IT, maybe!
>>20524098You did, just saying we're (or at least I am) glad. It's really handy.Since we seem to be off to a slow start, may I ask if we can farm the psionic nulls like regular animals?After all, de-legging them and clumping them up over a surface gives you a directed psionic shield, or?And since we use overlords, we will nearly always be able to get a signal past them from SOME direction, while few enemies can say the same.Also, what exactly is the Psi-Lash?A telekinetic blade of air used like a knife?A small detonation of heat?Tiny amount of spontaneously generated antimatter?And wouldn't Overlords have the strongest Psi-lashes?Can we modify that to make flying psionic artillery? :DJust ignore if I'm asking too much, have a slight tendency to get overexcited about the potentials of fantastic elements in a story.(How do the worm holes we use for FTL travel function/behave, and isn't there a way to weaponize them? :D)
rolled 79, 76, 7, 47 = 209>>20524224
rolled 80, 20, 27, 21 = 148>>20524224
rolled 2, 7, 80, 92 = 181>>20524224
>>20524228The nulls are bad, period. The Psi-Lash is what the Tassadar unit in SC1 used. Possibly. We should ask Nargil. Sometimes you fixate on something that's not going to be allowed. And it's magic, Blizzard certainly doesn't feel the need to explain how things get around.
rolled 29, 76, 36, 77 = 218>>20524224R-r-r-rooollling!
>>20524279>The nulls are bad, period.But think of the potential (I think that's a trope)!>The Psi-Lash is what the Tassadar unit in SC1 used.I know that, I just wanted to know what it does. Not sciency, but in general. Like how a gauss rifle is a gun that shoots hard pieces of metal and not a green glowing one that strips you of one layer of molecules at a time.>Sometimes you fixate on something that's not going to be allowed.I know, I'm sorry. Have trouble figuring out if something is "not ever going to be allowed" or "just waiting for potential use as soon as someone thinks of a good way to do it".Is there any list of stuff that officially say "we pretend we never ran across these things/they never happened"?>And it's magicThat doesn't mean it can't be quantified and measured. Half the fun of magic (to me, anyway) is figuring out how it works!HP and Methods of Rationality is a great example of that being used to great effect.>Blizzard certainly doesn't feel the need to explain how things get around.I hope we're not going to take advice from the team that ass-pulled SC2 together. o.OAnd they do explain (sorta) how the fiction-y psionics work, aka, they have mentioned some of the limits, no?Any free-form playing where you have access to 'magic' will eventually lead to testing the limits of it, whether you like/realise it or not, right?
>>20524228We never got the null-psi creatures infested properly. The best we could do is clone the actual creatures, and lash them, screeching and wriggling, to things. Even with that kind of operation, psionic energy isn't so simple as to just stand behind a null-psi creature and be invisible. They would somewhat mask us, but a force as powerful as the Xel'Naga overhead would definitely be able to sense an unprotected entity nearby, revealing our location AND that of the creature.Psi-lash is essentially like creating a whip out of psionic power and cracking it at an enemy. No artillery.And no. Never.>>20524231>>20524238Thinking of the sweet relief of this conflict's end, we crash down upon the link, severing it completely in one fell swoop. We inform the Xel'Naga that we have survived their test.
rolled 77, 86, 11, 28 = 202>>20524450If they don't respond immediately, focus on our cerebrates, see if we can repair some of our holdings. I think we let some of our swarm go rogue to fight last time right?
The Xel'Naga still standing before the Cube smiles."That was stimulating, Cerebrate. You have passed two of our psionic tests. For the final test of your psionic power, we have found a strong cousin of yours. It seems that our First Born, the Protoss, have managed to overcome their tribalism and craft a modest empire for themselves. They seem to have even grown a small facsimile of this monument behind me, and resurrected a great leader from their past. Your test, Cerebrate, is to dominate this leader, and bring him to us. If you fail, we shall begin a test of the Protoss, to see if they have overcome the shortcomings that so disappointed us eons ago."
>>20524654We decided against that, actually. Our Broods are intact.
>>20524656Wellfuck
>>20524656Grow millions of eyes and stare long and hard.Then tell them to fuck off. We like that guy. Hes a cool bro.
>>20524656We should ask the Xel'Naga if they intend to harm the Protoss should we pass their tests, or should the Protoss fail theirs.Because basically they're asking us to start a war on their behalf.
>>20524672>>20524675I'm starting to get the feeling that these Xel'naga are less "We live again. Let us see how everything is now that we've been gone for eons, and continue our work to create perfection from all of life" and more a variation of "FUCK I'M PISSED WE DIED, LET'S GET SOME CRONIES TO DO OUR WORK FOR US AND KILL EVERYTHING THAT DISAPPOINTED US!"
>>20524656...there is no alternative? You present us with but two options. It will not take us long to find which one we prefer, I assure you. If you are indeed aware of their empire, then surely you know of our...dealings with them.
>>20524656Hand Khas over to the Xel'Naga... if we didn't specifically have to dominate him, then I'd say we just ask him nicely, but since they said dominate, infestation it is. Tell the Xel'Naga that this might take some time. Then call Kerri and ask her if she has anything in the Protoss empire. We need to steal Khas subtlety.
>>20524450D'aw, I thought psionics moved like a beam rather than a field, making you immune to non-physical psionic influence from anything in a certain direction. (Yes, I meant cloning/breeding the actual creatures and lashing them to stuff. :P)Still, thanks for the clarifications.>And no. Never.But it's a giant hole torn through time and space, how can it NOT be dangerous on at least one end, or at least transport unwilling things?Oh well, probably just as well. I'd go nuts from exploitation overuse.>We inform the Xel'Naga that we have survived their test.Now that we have some breathing space, can we transmit the experience to Labrate for close analysis to detect what forms of psionic defense were more or less efficient?Thinking we want as much protection from attacks like these as possible, and knowledge is power.And did we ever look into reproducing the transformation that Raynor went through, or practicing different ways to enhance our psionic might or utilization thereof?I know it's not just me that's been wanting to look into that.And I vote we do what>>20524654said too.>>20524656Let them know (with full psionic film imaging, if possible) how the protoss are our allies, how this protoss in particular has shown us nothing but kindness, and then ask if the test allows us to simply explain the situation to him before commencing it.Might also mention how it would be a horrible breach of mutually beneficial trust and how we would rather not betray one who has helped us so unless absolutely necessary.(For all we know, this might actually be an ethical test. Taking over one single Protoss mind, no matter how powerful that particular protoss, doesn't seem like it would challenge us much)
>>20524703They've got two babies vying for the title of Perfect. Makes sense to pit them against one another.>>20524719>>20524675>>20524672We remind ourselves that the Xel'Naga have made it rather clear that the price of failure is complete annihilation.
>>20524730Why steal?Just tell him to show up, alone. Broadcast what we're seeing into Protoss territory, if we have to. Let's not forget the Xel'Naga are literally gods to the Protoss.
>>20524765The test is to 'dominate this leader, and bring him to' them. Not just the second part.We have to control him in some way.
>>20524762>the Xel'Naga have made it rather clear that the price of failure is complete annihilationAnd what happens if we succeed, huh? They're meant to be reborn into us or something. I can't imagine that will be pleasant.
>>20524835As I understand it, we're actually meant to replace them as the new Xel'Naga.But that may just be what they want us to believe.Then again, I'm unsure if our Cerebrate knows this. o.oAnd sorry for the megapost earlier, didn't realise how big it had gotten. ^^;
>>20524757Whenever I tried to get people to vote for replicating what happened to Raynor with igegs, no one else seems to listen.
>>20524835That's SCII canon. We don't use that.
>>20524888>>20524757We're not making on-demand hero units.
>>20524762Uh, well, shit.Maybe we should just ask Khas nicely and promise to release him when we're done?
>>20524888Well, we have two votes now.Maybe not to do it RIGHT now, but to at least put it on the calndar.
I can't decide if we should just launch an all out assault on the Protoss or not. How hard would it be to cloak our carriers and battlecrusiers? How about making a less explodey but faster scourge that solely takes out observers? Bilding and sending a few terran style orbital platforms?
>>20524925A battalion of Kerri knock-offs would certainly be of use. And since it's just a zerg thing we can ask NArgil to look into it, and only Nargil. I think he's still depressed about the whole infesting/cloning protoss thing.
I'm still saying we should tell them in detail of our relationship with the protoss and Khas in particular, then ask for clarification if we can simply explain the situation to him, and express unwillingness to betray them unless absolutely necessary.(Again, this might just be a test of obedience, morality or something like that.Just that they call it a psionic test makes me suspicious since this appears as much a test of psionics as being told to hammer in a single nail on top of the Empire State Building is a test of your arm-muscles.)
>>20524968>>20524948There's still no reason why we can't be virtually honest with Khas. We trick him into orbit around the world where the Xel'Naga are waiting, and in his moment of extreme religiousity we mind-control him and bring him down to the surface.Any weirdness in his behavior will be attributed to the fact he's meeting the Xel'Naga, we still get to say we "dominated Khas and brought him to the Xel'Naga". Everyone's happy, we minimize our risks, and even better, the Protoss' strength is preserved.We might not actually WANT the grand prize, here.
>>20524968>>20524925Extra no.>>20524948>>20524915>>20524765>>20524730>>20524675So, plans suggested that I see areSay noSneak inGo in guns blazingAsk the Protoss nicelyBroadcast the Xel'Naga demand to the Protoss as the words of gods
>>20525038Voting for a combination of explaining the situation and asking Khas personally, along with an admittance that we do not know why they want him.
>>20525038I'd say tell the Xel'Naga we'll work on it, and then start working on building up our fleet.We'll then ask nicely. He'll likely turn us down, and then we'll either have to fight or just infest him.
Or what they will do to him.
>>20525038Ask him first, but build up a fleet while we're doing so.
Am I the only one who wants to let Kerri know that the Xel'Naga want us to infest Khas. We should also check to make sure she didn't get hurt in the last test. I could have happened! We need to check on her NOW!
>>20525084Yes, that.
>>20525114Wait, we haven't checked on Kerri yet?!Do eet, do eet naow!
>>20525084>>20525075I agree with Codeki here, build up, then ask, and when he says no launch the attack. The added bonus is since we'll have requested a meeting with him we'll know where he is, easier to find. Granted infesting him will be a real pain, since he made the Khala. It will be quite a accomplishment to make the founder of the Khala turn away from it.
>>20525129>>20525114Kerrigan is fine. We've been informing her about the tests as much as possible, and she managed to keep control of herself and her Broods. She's considering the trip to Earth, just to be away from this "when what's about to happen happens.">>20525115>>20525084>>20525075>>20525073Well, roll 3d20 to see how asking him nicely goes.
rolled 17, 3, 15 = 35>>20525187
rolled 1, 8, 17 = 26We'd really appreciate it Khas. After all, when you told us you didn't want the Overmind back, we didn't resurrect him.
rolled 3, 4, 20 = 27>>20525187
>>2052519817 3 15... I don't know....
>>20525198>>20525203Roll me 1d10 to see whether I use that botch or not.
rolled 5, 13, 16 = 34>>20525198>>20525203>>20525212I hope that third die is a good thing for us.
rolled 1 = 1>>20525239
>>20525257Well, fuck me.
rolled 8 = 8>>20525239
>>20525257>>20525262I get the feeling that the 1 is still going to trump my 8. Well, looks like war were declared.
>>20525257>>20525262>>20525203>>20525198We arrange a meeting with Khas, the Primarch of the Protoss Empire. We meet him on Aiur, surrounded by his advisers and counselors. Hierarch Artanis stands by his side, with Felanis on his other side, apparently raised to Hierarch following his (supposed) sweeping victory over the Dyles entity.As we attempt to lay out the situation and hint at the godhood of the Xel'Naga, Felanis' eyes flash. "Gods they are, Cerebrate, but gods who abandoned us to the Aeon of Strife!"There are nods of agreement from the crowd, and as we try to recover, we sense that we are only making things worse. Finally, Khas calls for silence."Cerebrate, Hierarch Felanis is correct. You may be unaware, but I saw firsthand the devastation that comes from the Ihan'rii's lust for Perfection. Neither I nor any Protoss shall ever come at the beck and call of the Xel'Naga, and the Empire is prepared to fight to the death for this principle. I think it is time you left. While you serve them, no Zerg shall cross into Protoss space unmolested."Artisanlord reminds us that it could have gone worse; they could have declared war.
>>20525271You guys rolled well on the war roll. Even with the penalty from botching the diplomacy check. Thankfully, Khas is a pretty level-headed guy.
>>20525400Fuck. Better start building up forces, and ask the jerwads how long we've got.
>>20525453I thought that said "building up fences" for a second. I was confused.
>>20525473Yup, build giant wooden space fences around our worlds. That should keep all the nasty xel'naga out.
>>20525400How about things going through Morian intermediaries? But we've been planning to attack the protoss for the past... I'll say at least 20 threads, it's why we stumbled on the Xel'Naga after all. So, spawn/build more everything. Regardless I fear I must call it a night, as I have to abnormally lucid tomorrow morning, the tragedy of certain types of training.
>>20525515Not so loud. Accountantbrate can't take a joke.
>>20525540The Protoss know how deeply involved with the Morians we are.Goodnight, TUCAMP!
Is the diplomacy part entirely over, or can we stress how the Xel'Naga are essentially asking for Khas (who we can probably take a Psionic Imprint of first to ressurect afterwards if he dies) for who knows what purpose, or the extinction of both the Protoss and the Zerg, including Khas.Finally... can we ask the Protoss what they think we should do?Goodnight, TUC.
>>20525584We can try to keep talking instead of making Pauldronlisk leave, but there's a bit of danger in that.
>>20525656Just the last one, then.Can the Paundronlisk look dejected and pleading while simply asking what they think we should do? (We told them about the massive fleet of Worldships, right?)
>>20525584Yeah, basically we know what devastation comes from following them but we fear worse devastation will come from refusing them.
>>20525689Ohyeah, if they allow us to continue speaking for long enough, we should probably that out.If Pauldronlisk is still not being gouged repeatedly, maybe point out that we would not ask this of neither the Protoss nor Khas himself we had not entirely run out of all other options.In the meantime, we should probably try to assemble some kind of very rapid strike team of forces. (Like a single overlord, and we make a few thousand of these strike teams and try to warp them directly into the atmosphere)If Khas is physically captured and rendered helpless by our forces, maybe even put inside some kind of chrysalis, would it be acceptable to Recall out of there with him then?
>>20525768should probably point that out*
>>20525687>>20525689>>20525768So, what do you want Pauldronlisk to say, and who all is for this strike team idea?
>>20525805"You may be right, but before we leave, may we ask..What would you have us do?We too know the devastation their quest brings and the deep betrayal this request represents, but we fear that the alternative would be worse still.We would not ask this of you if we had any other options.So once again, what would you have us do?"
>>20525833would be worse still for all of us.
>>20525833"No matter how long they have sulked in the shadows, the Xel'Naga are yet still creatures of flesh and bone. They were driven from Aiur by my ancestors, and clearly your kind managed to escape them, as well. They have been defeated before, and they may be defeated again. Now, I will not ask again; Go."
>>20525890As you wish.
>>20525890Well fuck.Rev up that industrial engine cos we're going to war. Again.Now we just need to decide who we're fighting. My vote's on trying to take down the Xel'Naga.
>>20525949I think so too. Khas has been a Bro. Those guys have been dicks.
>>20525890He has an excellent point. If they had this kind of power before, they wouldn't have been defeated.Then again, they might've spent the time they were gone constructing this fleet.Can we use CORE fighters to physically check the Worldships, that they are not merely very elaborate illusions?And did we ever ask Labrate to develop weapons that could feasibly be used to damage or cripple worldships? (Like massive numbers of warped-in megaton-class warheads, or simply VERY large mass-drivers.)If the Worldships turn out to be the real deal and we don't have any weapons that can challenge their fleet, I vote for the several thousands of strike teams thingy.Hopefully we can get Khas to the Xel'Naga (and let the Protoss know precisely where so that their fleets can follow if they wish) before the Protoss can strike back.
>>20525949>>20525965On the other hand, the Protoss refuse to even watch ZergTV, whereas Artisanlord made a killing selling copies of its stand-up comedy show to the Xel'Naga...Anyway, I've got to be up early as well. We can make this future-of-the-Swarm-determining choice next week. Is Tuesday good for you? If not, I can listen to other suggestions.http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/20523795/
>>20525987Or we could just break a heighliner and see what the does to them.On a side note, how far are we from the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy?
>>20526019. . . That is a very good point. We have been nothing but friendly and helpful and they slighted us by not watching our TV programming.THIS MEANS WAR!
>>20526025Far enough that it's not a feasible weapon, but close enough that it's thematically ominous?
>>20526048Not a feasible weapon? Just wait till we create "The Zerg Hole." Accountantbrate would be pissed.
>>20526019Tuesday sounds fine.Good luck, guys.
So, are we going to fight the Protoss or fight the Xel'Naga.
>>20526299I say the Xel'Naga. The Protoss may be dickish and won't watch our quality programing, But they are a kind of dickish we know and can deal with. Xel'Naga on the other hand and a very bad combo of power, mystery, and assholery that you can't work with.
>>20526451There is that if we do decide to fight the Xel'Naga, we might be able to get Protoss backup.
>>20526594The zerg call for aid
