The Empire has been repelled, and the time has come to end this.

You detonated half of the brillitite stone and entered the Citadel Dome. The hole sealed up behind you, so you're not getting out without another explosion.

Also, the scene is a little different that you expected. It doesn't look like Citadel's within a dome. Just a walled city that's underneath a gorgeous blue sky. A city that's beyond compare in beauty.

"Okay." Mage starts taking out a map and a few gadgets, they look like a modified astrolabe and a funky looking dousing stone.

He fiddles with the devices and then shakes his head. "Crap." He puts the stuff away. "I can't find the heart from here. The whole HEKA matrix was restruc-"

"Magic babble?" Lea says.

"Yeah." He nods. "We need to get to either a place that's a Null, or...whatever is a Source Spike." He looks at you. "Some place with no magic or a crazy amount. When we get to a place like that, I can find the Heart."

"What would be a tell tale sign that something is a Null or Source Spike? Is it something we can detect by sight alone?" You ask.

Mage shrugs. "Kinda. It's one of those things that makes perfect sense if you look at them retroactively. But when you're in the middle of it, you tend to miss it. That's a bad explanation...umm...if you find a spot where apples bounce off the ground and go up higher than rooftops, or if they instantly rot when they hit the ground, then you've got a spot. But that's not the best metric." Mage sighs. "Sorry. It's hard to explain, and before you ask, no your magic vision wouldn't spot it until the spot is in a flux and by then it's no good. I'd go into further detail, but magic babble."

"Okay, so we get to wander around taking in the sights, then? Marvelous. I still need to find and divorce a man, after all." You say.

Lea breaks into giggles again. She still finds that concept hilarious.

>>26722999
"You know, I expected a fair amount more wailing. Just in general. Or souls exploding out of bricks or something." You say as Lightmare pulls Wagon down the street.

"Yeah." Tricia says. "This looks like how it was before things went weird. Better than."

"We all know that the nasty is hidden under the surface." Peri says. "I don't think seeing and hearing tortured souls are Citadel's idea of a good time."

"Could have fooled me." Tricia says.

You snap your fingers, having gotten an idea. "Mage, would the Caligo Sanctuary, the Cathedral's attic, work?" You ask.

Mage blinks in surprise at the idea. "Maybe." He thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yeah...well...yeah. It's certainly a place to start."

"The cathedral's in the other direction from where the Shadow Company was." Lea says.

"Let's make our way to the Cathedral, but we should be careful and try and see how people react to us first. Last thing we want is an angry mob." You say.

"Wow...how long HAS it been since we've faced down an angry mob?" Tricia asks.

"What? The ettin, Ice Things, and orcs don't count?" Peri asks.

"You know what I mean." Tricia says.

"Stop the wagon." Lea says.

You stop and she gets up and looks around. "Alright, please tell me I'm not the only one who's noticed this."

"Oh no." Mage moans. "What now?"

"Where are the people?" Lea asks.

Tricia points down the street. You can easily see a crowd of people walking, talking, pushing their way through the crowd, and other normal city life.

"Yeah. I saw that too." Lea says. "There WERE people HERE when we were back THERE." She points back up the road where you just were. It's gone back to being mildly full of people, when just a little while ago, it was a clear road.

(cont)

Rolled 4

>>26722990
Yay, Lamia Quest!

>>26723010
You look around, it does seem like the road has cleared itself out for you and Wagon as you go through it.

"Illusions?" Tricia asks.

Mage shakes his head. "I don't think so."

You do see heat signatures and heartbeats in these people, and you've never heard of an illusion to be able to fake that.

"Let's not. At least, not yet." You say. "We don't want a mob, and throwing rocks is rude."

Peri nods and pockets the rock.

You continue your way to the cathedral. Again, it isn't as if the city is empty, just that it's clearing out in front and behind you so that you can move Lightmare through the city swiftly and without issue.

You also start to notice a few weird things. There's more than a couple of different styles of dress being worn. And it's more than just class differences. Some people are walking around like it's the middle of winter, and other are apparently wearing 'clothes' that have the same amount of material as a single bed sheet. Some are carrying weapons openly, and others are carrying flowers, or open tankards.

Also they way that only the similarly dressed interact with each other...you get the feeling that you're watching four or seven different plays, all at once, all on the same stage.

"Ssen." Mage says. "Don't look too high up at the Cathedral. That goes for everyone, but especially you with your magic eyes Ssen."

"Why?" Tricia asks.

"Because there's at least fifty Cathedral spires in the same spot at the same time, and it is giving me a MASSIVE headache." Mage says.

"Is there more than one door?" Lea asks.

Mages shakes his head. "No. Thankfully. I suppose everyone's in agreement on how Cathedral doors should look large and impressive so it doesn't need to make others." He rubs his eyes. "Ugh, the more I look for it now, the more I see it, and the worse my headache gets."

Awwright, quest is back, time to get cracking.
Oh, and I DID come up with a question for that QA yesterday, but way too late. Just how long is an age? 100 years?
>>26723034
Just take a quick peek. What's the worst that could happen?
Maybe keep one eye closed so you don't go blind in both eyes.
"So, would this be one of those high-magic type of things you were talking about? Or is this something completely different?
Because either way, our plan involved going on up there, which might be even worse on your head than just looking."

>>26723034
Time to go in then. I'm sure we remember how to get to the attic.

"We are the Caligo Clarus. We are the light in the darkness. In this darkness, let there be light. Amen."

>>26723108
>Just how long is an age?
Ever since the Fourth Age, they've been a hundred years, the earlier Ages, and especially the pre-Citadel Ages are a little less precise in their time-keeping.

Rolled 10

>>26723142
Huh, for some reason I had gotten the impression that each age was around 500. That it wasn't possible for someone to be born in one age, live through a second, and die in a third.

>>26723142
ah, so given we have a good 5-9 ages before we start going mad, given +- 2 ages on granny, we could very well live to shadowrun times, but not much longer.

>>26723034
"Wait, everyone agrees the doors should be big and impressive, but they can't agree on how spires should ideally big all pointy and shiny?"

Cue the other dawnchasers all disagreeing on how spires should be.

>>26723265
er,
>be all pointy and shiny
not
>big all pointy and shiny

"So, would this be one of those high-magic type of things you were talking about? Or is this something completely different?" You ask.

Mage shakes his head. "No...ummm...okay...hold on." He digs into his pack and takes out a small roll of bread, he uses his knife to cut it into thin slices and cuts out small little holes in the bread, and puts the little balls of bread on top of the slice.

"Okay, the balls are spikes, and the holes are nulls." He says holding up a slice. "This is how the world normally is." He then puts all the slices on top of each other. "This is the nightmare we're in now." Mage holds the bread flat wise to you. "We're looking for a spike or a null that goes the ENTIRE way through. Otherwise, we're not going to find the heart."

"So, is that here?" Lea asks.

Mage shrugs. "We'd have to go inside to find that out."

"We sure we actually wanna go in there?" Tricia says. "I mean, aside from the attic, this place has been FULL of crazy, or evil, or both."

"We are the Caligo Clarus. We are the light in the darkness. In this darkness, let there be light. Amen." You say in response.

"Amen." Tricia says rolling her eyes.

"Alright," Lea says. She pauses as she reaches for the door. "Ssen, maybe YOU should do this. Do we need to do anything first, Mage?"

"Ummm, you might want to all hang onto a rope." Mage says.

Peri gets a rope and you all wrap it around your wrists, loosely.

"This should be good." Mage says. "Okay Mage...go ahead."

You put your hand on the door, and open it.

Roll 1d6, not looking for high numbers looking for multiple people rolling the same number.

Rolled 2

>>26723354

Rolled 5

>>26723354

Rolled 2

>>26723354

>>26723426
>>26723384

Looks like a success.

Rolled 6

>>26723354
My money's on it being completely normal, to throw us off guard.

Rolled 4

>>26723354
Let's see what I get

>>26723354
"You know, I'd go crazy less often if I wasn't the one always handling crazy artifacts and stuff"

Rolled 3

>>26723354
>looking for multiple people rolling the same number.
O...kay?

>>26723490
we're about to get refracted.

>in the boonies
>about to sit down to dinner
You're earlier than I expected Echo.

Just do me one thing. If the Citadel offers something AMAZING (and you'll know it when you see it), do whatever is in your power to get it out of the Citadel.

Do that and I can rest easy.

>>26723540
>something AMAZING
A breath mint?
A souvenir?
A dragonfly?
Oh, Oh, the perfect sunning rock!

Rolled 40

>>26723502
I very much hope you're wrong.

Rolling 1d100 and generating tripcode for Shadow Quest

Rolled 86

>>26723577

Forgot trip.

>>26723384
>>26723426
You enter the Cathedral and you feel a sudden chaaahHH! Cold cold Cold! The place is fucking FREEZING now!

You look behind you as Lea closes the door. Citadel's sky is down ash grey, snow is falling, ice covers the streets and buildings, frost patterns are all over the window, and there are candles, lit hearths, and people are wearing heavy clothes and furs.

"THIS is perfection?" Tricia asks as she rubs her shoulders.

The stairs go upwards, but you see and hear people in the grand assembly room.

Rolled 73

>>26723650
[x] Ignore people, ascend to attic

>>26723650
>>26723670
"Don't mind me, carry on everyone."

>>26723650
"AH! Augh! Why is it always cold?
Why couldn't we have gone to the one where everyone was wearing those thing gauzy numbers?"
Then, once we warm up a bit from being inside
"Do... Do you think we can talk to the people now? We should probably do that on our way down. Gives us a chance to run if they're angry for some reason."

Rolled 2

>>26723650
Can we listen in on them? Or is that too much interference?

I guess we wouldn't be able to make too much sense of what they're saying, if (as we hypothesized last time) Citadel is generating individual paradises for different people (or groups of people), there could be any number of conversations happening at once.

But if we listen and *are* able to make sense of things, that could be a huge help.

Maybe the sudden change of season is a related phenomenon -- some people like it cold, for example. Is that what the roll was related to?

We might want to discuss what we're experiencing with the others to understand if we're all experiencing the same thing, and if not, why not.

For all we know, we might all have been on our own this whole time, conversing with shadows...

Rolled 19

Echo. If we die in the climatic final fight, will that count as the sacrifice needed to charge up Citadel?

>>26723783
Or maybe the new "Caligo Clarus" wants desperately for things to suck even after Citadel decided to give everyone their pick of 50 semi-custom paradises.

I'd imagine there aren't as many threats to handle, and the little shits are probably bored to tears.

>>26723816
yes, absolutely. I'm not even echo and I can tell you that.

We've got to die boringly and selfishly to not charge citadel.

"AH! Augh! Why is it always cold? Why couldn't we have gone to the one where everyone was wearing those thing gauzy numbers?" You say.

"If you want to try the door again, you're welcome to it." Peri says as she 'unties' you all.

"No good." Lea says as she comes back inside with a bundle of cloaks, furs, and shawls from Wagon. "It didn't change. Also, the city's all lit up. Seems like every building has light in it."

You head towards the stairs, but that causes you to pass by the grand assembly. There's a Lightkeeper talking to a gathering of people.

"And so, we continue through this cold night, we hold our beloved families close, and keep His Light sacred and aflame. For He is with us, and He is watching us through these hard times. But remember, brothers and sisters, in this, our coldest and darkest hour, our brightest light comes not from the fires without, but from within. Our faith, our hope, our families. Most importantly our families."

You notice that all the parishioners are grouped together. Man, Woman, Son, Daughter. They're holding hands, or huddling for warmth. There's a few people sitting alone, dressed in clothing covered with Nine-Pointed Stars, and fiddling with their Medallions.

"Remember, this is His Trial for us, and we are passing, for have we not seen the Empty, the lonely, the bitter, and the...the others who turned their backs on what is important...we saw them freeze and go into the darkness. We are His Chosen, and in Our Suffering this Winter, we prove ourselves to be great!"

Lea facepalms and mutters a swear under her breath.

"Do... Do you think we can talk to the people now?" You whisper-ask to Mage.

He shrugs. "Maybe."

"I wouldn't, if I'm reading the crowd right." Peri says.

"Yeah, we should probably do that on our way down. Gives us a chance to run if they're angry for some reason." You say.

"Good idea. Let's go see if we can find your father's place." Tricia says.

(cont)

>>26723924
You start to head up the stairs. It is a pretty sight to look out of the windows at the city in the middle of Winter, but every house is filled with light, love, and self-assurance that they've survived because they fit some mandate of heaven that judged them pure. A sea of self-rightgeous stars.

You're walking through the last gallery of Paladin statues that ends at where the entrance to the Caligo Clarus attic is.

There's a family there, praying at the feet of one of the Paladins. (No one you know, a Red.)

Also, it looks like there's two people, wearing Paladin mantles and full masked helms standing guard as some people who look like stone masons are very slowly destroying the statue of Uncle Julian. The statue seems resistant to the hammer and chisel blows, so it's slow work.

Rolled 19

>>26723932
[x] Stop them. That's terrible.
[x] This probably means the Paladins outside the Citadel, and me, have been excommunicated.

>>26723932
We go to the attic first then we come down to deal with these people destroying Uncle's statue. That way we have an escape route.

>>26723932
"Hey, I think that's a pretty good likeness -- there's no need to destroy the whole thing just because someone got a detail wrong."

>>26723932
"Huh, doesn't look so magical to me. Well, except for dad's statue, they probably need to pick it in all these different citadels at once to make any real progress. Aint having none of that split up into a bunch of different realities business, that sounds like him."

"Hey wait a minute, did citadel stick us in here because it read us as overzealous? Is it making some comment as to our character?"

Ssen: Have realizations, but not the right ones at the right time.

>>26723960
>>26724024
the statue IS in the attic.

And we should at least ask them what's up before wrecking them. I mean, it is just a statue, regardless of how precious to us it is.

>>26723924
Twisted heavily. I think that THEY think they're resisting Citadel and its punishing them for it. But is keeping them alive and only making them think they're suffering, when they're not.
These guys: "We're suffering more than the others, we're winning!"
Citadel: Yes, you just keep on "suffering" you guys. I know you're really enjoying it deep down.

And now we've been dumped into the same layer of Citadel so they can find out the reality of PUNishment!

>>26723932
>very slowly destroying the statue of Uncle Julian
Stop right there criminal scum!

"Hey, I think that's a pretty good likeness -- there's no need to destroy the whole thing just because someone got a detail wrong." You say.

The father of the family looks around confused. "I'm sorry? We we're touching anyth..." He stops dead when he sees what you are.

"Oh, here we go." Tricia says.

"Please!" He says, putting himself in front of his family. "Please, I'm sorry that I yelled at Ollie. He's a good boy, deep down, he loves us, and we love him! Please send him back to us!"

The two Paladins turn to look at you. The stone masons stop. You get a better look at the two guys destroying your Uncle's statue. They're not people. The hammers and chisels ARE their hands, their bodies are vague shapes of wood and stone, held together with stitched canvas. Their faces aren't faces, but rather pained pictures of faces, nailed to a small sack of straw.

"Disturbance in Winter." One Paladin says. "Inhabitant speaking to unknown presence. Possible deviance."

"Limiting interaction with inhabitants." The other says. "Observing possible deviance."

"What th-" Tricia starts before Peri slams her hand over her mouth.

>>26724165
Yeah... these aren't actually paladins. They're wearing completely face-concealing helms for a reason. They're either more Citadel robots, or former people with chunks of Citadel implanted in their face - which is basically the same thing. Either way, they're not human any more. Shoot to kill.

>>26724165
"Investigating destruction of civic property. Request plan and authorization forms."

We'll get them by the...Balles.

>>26724165
Can we spread out and knock out/kill the "Paladins" without them getting another report off?
Because if they can't see us a sneak attack to the back of the head with a blunt object should do the job or stun them long enough for a followup.

>>26724165
They're observing, so let's observe too.
Let's all just... sit here and watch each other for a second.
Eventually, yield to curiosity.

"Who's Ollie?"

Be ready to move to defend the civilians after asking this, since they're pretty obviously not involved.

>>26724165
I figured we were being observed the whole time, but apparently not. I doubt anything useful is going to come out of this so just try and move past them.

>>26724165
Shit, Citadel golems and cyborgs. I wonder can we get the civilians into the Caligo Clarus sanctuary as that at the very least has some protection in this place.

>>26724256
Okay, seems like there's a clear split on what to do, so here are some options.

1) Say nothing to the man and go to the attic door.
2) Talk to the man and his family
3) Talk to the Paladins and the 'workers'
4) Attack mode.
5) Something else/combination

Talking to the family or "workers" will make the situation worse, and attacking them won't solve anything, so just go to the attic door. Move on. Citadel has spotted us and we should do our best to blend in, or at least show we aren't an immediate threat.

>>26724307
>5) Something else/combination
Motion or ask the family to be quiet if possible, they'll give away our position to the paladins.
Then attack mode on the Paladins followed by the workers.

Rolled 5

>>26724307
[x] 1

>>26724307
All right, civilians take highest priority, in that we need to act in a way that prevents them from getting attacked.
The key here is this- the civilians don't seem hostile to us. And have had people taken from them. We need to get their story. We should be quiet for a bit to see if the "paladins" do anything, then move between us and them and ask about Ollie.

If we're kicking a hornet's nest by doing that, we can retreat upstairs, since apparently they took Julian's statue downstairs.

Sound good everyone? Counterarguments?

>>26724370
>>26724362
okay, so we shush the family, then head up to the attic so mage can examine it, then AFTER that we come back to talk to them?

Rolled 13

>>26724379
Julian's statue was always downstairs, he's a red not a clear.

Otherwise, pretty good analysis.

>>26724307
>1) Say nothing to the man and go to the attic door.

Citadel won't do anything really bad to the civilians if we don't give it a reason to. So no we get to the objective and when we break out, it will be a whole different story.

>>26724409
oh, I confused julian and liam. my bad.

>>26724409
>>26724379
This works just as well on the way down as the way up, and can be put off.

Or, we could beckon them up with us into the attic.

Whichever.

>>26724307
Ignore them if we can, and continue on to the attic door.

>>26724379
>>26724407
>>26724412
You hold a long finger to your lips. "Sssh." You say.

You mouth 'stay here' to the man.

He nods. The mother clings to her two children.

You walk past the other group of four. Their heads all slowly turn to watch you. They don't do anything, though.

You're just about to reach for the handle that opens the trapdoor when one of the Paladins snaps his head away from you.

"Major disturbance in Fall, Youth, Aged, Past, and War. Multiple deviances spotted. Hostile action. Unknown entities. All independent units respond immediately." The Paladin says.

There's a blurring of the two paladins, and then they're not there anymore. The two workers shudder and then collapse into a mass of dust.

"What?" Tricia asks.

"That...that wasn't teleportation." Mage says. "I don't know where or how they left."

"Who left?" The mother of the family asks, she looks around. "Who are you talking abo-"

"Ssh!" The husband sushes her and looks fearfuly at you for reprisal.

Rolled 7

>>26724540
Well, looks like the Pheonix Empire has arrived.

Also, interesting names.

>>26724540
"Oh, you can talk now, they're gone. Here, come up into the attic with us, there's a view up there, and I hope it's safer.

Tell me, who's Ollie? What happened?"

>>26724540
Shit. The birds have breahed the dome. Sounds like their teams have been split up though. That should help.

>The two workers shudder and then collapse into a mass of dust.
Yes!

>>26724540
Should we tell them? If so:

"Sorry to disturb you, there was a group of hidden [false Paladins? / City spirits?] trying to destroy one of the statues over there. They couldn't see us for some reason but they could tell that you were talking to someone. I'm Paladin Ssen Patrick and we were just on our way up to the attic. That's where the keep the statues from the Clear Occuli.>>26724600

>. Here, come up into the attic with us, there's a view up there, and I hope it's safer.
>Tell me, who's Ollie? What happened?"
And this.

>>26724540
>Winter, Fall, Youth, Aged, Past, and War

And I assume there's Spring, Summer, and Peace as well.

Interesting... very interesting...

As for the family, tell them that it's safe, we're not here to hurt them, and we're here to help as best we can.

Rolled 18

>>26724627
>"Sorry to disturb you, there was a group of hidden [false Paladins? / City spirits?] trying to destroy one of the statues over there. They couldn't see us for some reason but they could tell that you were talking to someone. I'm Paladin Ssen Patrick and we were just on our way up to the attic. That's where the keep the statues from the Clear Occuli.>>26724600
>>. Here, come up into the attic with us, there's a view up there, and I hope it's safer.
>>Tell me, who's Ollie? What happened?"
>And this.

I'd really rather wait.

>>26724540
I wonder could they be the Caligo Clarus that the new kid made in Citadel? Maybe they're still fighting the good fight. Still we do need more information.

>>26724644
Okay, we could just tell them that they'll be fine and if they wait a few minutes we'll be down to talk with them?

Rolled 2

>>26724664
>Okay, we could just tell them that they'll be fine and if they wait a few minutes we'll be down to talk with them?

That sounds good.

>>26724664
This seems like a good idea at the moment.

I can guess what we'll find in the seasonal areas of the Citadel, but what do you suppose we'd find in Youth and Aged?

Children and an old folks home.

>>26724664
>>26724673
>>26724692
Fine, we'll tell them they'll be fine and talk to them on our way down.

"Oh, you're good to talk now, we're not being watched at the moment. My colleagues and I have some pressing business in the attic, but if you've some business with me, I'll be down in just a few minutes. We can discuss this Ollie character."

Only throw that last bit in if you want to ensure they don't run away.

>>26724664
"You're safe now." You say. "We'll be right back, and then we'll talk."

You put your hand on the handle and open the door and slowly pull down the ladder.

You all make your way up into the attic.

The statues are there, and the place looks just as untouched as ever. Father quietly watching over Citadel.

"Ugh." Mage turns his head away from the window. "It's doing that thing again."

Actually...the City's no longer in winter. It's gone back to that semi-quiet Silver City that it was when you first entered the dome.

Although you too start to see what Mage is talking about. How there seems to be multiple versions of one building in the same place. It makes your head hurt. Apparently it does the same thing to the others. They look away.

Mage takes out his equipment and starts to fiddle. He draws on the map, and then takes more readings and then draws again.

Roll 1d20

>>26724704
I think that Youth is one where everyone (at least the "viewpoint" characters) is always young and energetic, and not constrained by the old geezers, and in Aged, everyone (or everyone "important", as above) is gracefully aged and younguns are properly respectful of their elders and stay off their lawns.

Rolled 12

>>26724760
Try to look out the window for the disturbance the psuedopaladins are facing.

We might be able to multi-dimensionally see it.

Rolled 1

>>26724760

Rolled 10

>>26724760

Rolled 16

>>26724760

>>26724760

Rolled 1

>>26724760

Rolled 15

>>26724802
Damnit redaeth, you couldn't have waited another few seconds?

>>26724787
Ssen: have a small dragon/leviathan seisure.

>>26724865
More like get hopelessly lost

>>26724802
Mage sighs as he stands back up. "Okay, bad news is that this place isn't a null. It's not messed up like the rest of Citadel, but it wasn't a Null or a Spike BEFORE Citadel went crazy, so it isn't one now."

"And the good news?" Lea asks.

"The good news is that I can use THIS place to find a Null or a Spike." He draws a few spots on the map. "These are areas that we can locate the heart from."

Spikes: The top of Newgate Palace. The center of the Market where the executions were held. The Grand Arena.

Nulls: The site of Barney's shop. Ambrose's library. Widdershin's grocery. (The area isn't dead on centered there, but they're within the radius of what Mage thinks is the Null.)

"It's a start." Tricia says.

"Great." Mari says. "Now we...ah by the Myriad Darkness, I forgot about that damn door spring." She grumbles.

You look, the trapdoor has swung itself shut again.

Mari huffs, blows some hair out of her eyes and goes to open the door again. "Hang on, I'll prop it open this time."

>>26724911
And here we go. It's completely different.

Rolled 2

>>26724911
We're rolling for which place we end up in again, aren't we?

>>26724911
"No, wait, that's how it always goes! The door mysteriously shuts on its own, and when you open it, there's a monster, or an ambush, or you've gone back in time! ...Come on, I wasn't the only one to read Lightbringer stories, was I?"

Let's stand by the door with Beacon at the ready (I don't mean pointing at the door, more like holding it across our chest) when Mage opens the door.

>>26724911
So which is the closest one from the cathedral and it might be a good idea to get some help from Shadow Company if we are going to the spike in the execution place. They're quite close to the place.

>>26724911
"Damn, I didn't WANT to stick to winter, but we left those guys hanging.
Think winter-y thoughts when you open that thing, mari."

Rolled 1

>>26724911
>Spikes: The top of Newgate Palace. The center of the Market where the executions were held. The Grand Arena.
>Nulls: The site of Barney's shop. Ambrose's library. Widdershin's grocery. (The area isn't dead on centered there, but they're within the radius of what Mage thinks is the Null.)

Interesting that Barney's shop and Ambrose's Library are Nulls. Considering that the Citadel could reach them there fine.

>>26724956
I agree with the Shadow Company part. Best to get them liberated as soon as possible. After that we hope to come across the dead Paladin whose name currently escapes me. Slowly but surely we shall build a rebellion.

Rolled 12

Odette

Rolled 11

>>26724990
Why are you rolling for Odette?

>>26724990
Thank you.

>>26724911
"You know, that probably means the paladins are back."

I forgot to take off my dice...

I was telling >>26724987 the dead paladin's name.

"No, wait, that's how it always goes!" You say. Mari freezes.

"The door mysteriously shuts on its own, and when you open it, there's a monster, or an ambush, or you've gone back in time! Come on, I wasn't the only one to read Lightbringer stories, was I?" You say.

"Oh. OH! Ohhhhhh. Oh. Oohhh." Mari goes.

Mage tosses everyone a length of rope. You all loop it around your arms again.

"We should still check out Shadow Company." Lea says. "There's bound to be a swarm of those Citadel Things surrounding the Heart. We'll need an army to punch through."

"We're back to fighting Things again? Ugh." Tricia moans.

"Quiet." Mari says. "Ready?" She asks.

You all nod.

Roll 1d10, again looking for repeats, not highest.

Rolled 4

>>26725154

Rolled 6

>>26725154

Rolled 1

>>26725154
"We're heading to the shadow company for a divorce. The army's going to be incidental."

Rolled 1

>>26725154

File: 1376969099301.jpg-(373 KB, 853x742, 96-d.jpg)

373 KB JPG

Rolled 7

>>26725154
THIS IS HOW WE MOVE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE

>>26725177
>>26725181
thats not winter.

Rolled 8

>>26725191
Probably not, but we can't really know for sure.

Rolled 10

>>26725154
Come on!

Okay, next time we just talk to the guys. We're apparently in a city of doors, and we can't do a "wait here" in this context.

>>26725181
>>26725177
Mari opens the door and you all come down the ladder. Well, it's not winter any more. It looks like a very pretty spring morning by the windows.

There's also a lone boy, looks to be in his mid to late teenage years, he's praying at the same statue that the family in Winter was. He's dressed in a simple loin cloth that leaves little to the imagination, and a lot for the kid to be personally proud of.

Also, there's a certain sound coming from below in the grand assembly, as well as the private cloisters.

It's the sound of multiple people 'babbling.'

"Wha? Where...where did YOU come from?" He asks. "Look, I know it's the festival, but please...can we just talk first? Or at least let me pray for my family's safety. Then we can...revel or fugue or rejoice in Spring...but a guy needs a rest, okay?" He smiles at you.

"Oh, we are just going to hate opening doors EVERY damn time, aren't we?" Tricia says.

>>26725242

"Well, it's better than the last one, anyway."

>>26725242
"Are you Ollie? You're family is safe. Cold and worried about you but safe."

>>26725242
"Who are you, and who do you think I am?"

Rolled 2

>>26725242
>"Wha? Where...where did YOU come from?" He asks. "Look, I know it's the festival, but please...can we just talk first? Or at least let me pray for my family's safety. Then we can...revel or fugue or rejoice in Spring...but a guy needs a rest, okay?" He smiles at you.

"Who are you and why would I be against you praying for your family's safety?"

>>26725242
Be glad Isen isn't here.

Talk to him, describe the family that was standing at the same statue before and ask if they're his family.

>>26725242
>'babbling'
As in normal babbling or Ssen-Tricia babbling.

>>26725242
"Darn, we left those folk hanging. I wonder how long they'll wait there for us. Hopefully we can at least make sure Ollie's OK for them at some point.

Oh, hello there. I'd much prefer the talking, to be honest- We're in a bit too much of a rush to be bogged down with 'rejoicing'. And Tricia here would be quite upset."

>>26725242
"So, about the seasons...do you feel any particularly strong feelings about them? Winter in particular? And how about the rest of your family, what do they think about the seasons?"

>>26725308
Ssen-Tricia 'babbling'.

That's why the quotes are there.

For the people that are a bit slow Spring = orgies everywhere

>>26725242
Are you Ollie? When we passed by here earlier it was winter and we saw you family praying for you.

"Well, it's better than the last one, anyway." You say as you turn to the boy. "Who are you, and who do you think I am?" You ask.

He blinks in surprise. "Why are you asking my name, that's against the rules...and how can you talk?"

"Oh, this is going to get old." Peri says.

"Rules?" Mage asks.

"No names, no regrets, no shame." The boy says. "We're all just people in the revel. How long have you been UP there? You religious weirdoes who get all prudish and stuffy?" He frowns. "Look, I had enough of that from my old man, if he sent you, tell him I'm not coming home until he apologizes for being a senile old fuck...but...uhh...don't say that I called him that. Just a generic apology. That'll do."

"You're praying for his health and safety?" Lea asks.

He nods. "Yeah, this Paladin was supposedly my great-great-great whatever." He shrugs. "But, you know...I hope my folks are okay, cause...you know."

"So why would I be against you praying for your family's safety?" You ask.

"Well, you know...there's the people on the Purity Road, who spend all day screaming at us revelers. They're only happy when they can yell at people. So...they get REALLY mad when they see one of US praying, like it's their own personal thing."

Lea is muttering under her breath again.

You take a stab in the dark. "Are you Ollie?"

"WHOA WHOA WHOA!" He says backing up. "I thought I told you. No names!" He looks at Tricia and Peri. "Does it...she, sorry, she have like...like a weird memory thing?"

Peri buries her face in her hands.

>>26725427
"Ok, ok. Let's start from the beginning. Assume I haven't been here for a while and that I need to know whats going on. So kid, what's going on?"

>>26725427
"Let me rephrase: I met some people praying for some kid called Ollie. Could they possibly have been praying for you?"

"Answer. Now"

>>26725466
His reaction just blatantly answered that question already.

>>26725427
"Okay.... kid. Tell me more about Purity Road. And more about these rules."

>>26725427
So the super religious folks are self-flagellating through bitter cold in the winter instance, while the teenagers are busy fucking each other senseless in spring. I assume the weapons we saw earlier will also be a thing, so there's probably an instance where there's a big battle going on, for the people who get off on that sort of thing.

Okay. Citadel really needs to cut this shit out. I don't suppose a time out will suffice, will it?

>>26725427
"A little, but it probably won't kick in for a long time. Anyway, if you were Ollie, then I saw a family praying quite hard for you, and the father did say he was very sorry.

Oh, and I don't think we're going to actually join in on the revel, since we're always so very busy. So I think it's fine to use names with us."

Rolled 3

>>26725427
Your family is okay kid. Cold, but okay.

>>26725466
He's obviously Ollie. No need to ask.
Just mentioned we ran into a family who were praying for their son's safety, that said son happened to be named Ollie, and that they were alright last we saw them.

>>26725485
Actually, I don't even particularly care to talk to this kid anymore. Complete waste of our time.

I shall feel no remorse as their fucked-up world comes crashing down around them.

>>26725427
>No names

"Fine. I'll just call you John Smith. It's not exactly a real name, but it's something to call you."

>>26725485
Paladins mentioned "Fall, Youth, Aged, Past, and War". This is presumably Youth, and the one with all the weapons would be War.

>>26725485
I have to say, it's a strange take on the everyone-happy hedonism.
>>26725504
Dude, the heck?

Rolled 3

>>26725427
"Okay, this answers a lot of questions. I think the only reason Citadel hasn't come down on us yet is it's distracted fighting off whatever attacked it, probably the Empire."

"Which means we have a time limit. Either the Empire wins, and does whatever they're trying to do, or Citadel wins and starts paying attention to smaller disturbances."

"For what it's worth kid, I met your family in Winter. I guess that's where the self-righteous religious types went. Seem like the ones you have here are the kind who are only happy denouncing the behavior of other people. Plus you pleasure-seekers, of course. Oh well! Off to be a Paladin, you now how it is."

Rolled 4

>>26725525
No, this is Spring I'm pretty sure.

>>26725541
I'm pretty sure he refers to spring as a different place.

>>26725427
"Not revelers, so I'll call you whatever I care to. Just remember that your family is praying for you, Ollie. Don't ask me why."

>>26725427
This kid is probably Ollie, tell him about his parents and continue on.

>>26725538
this is appropriately flippant and honest, and is acceptable to me.

>>26725538
This.

>>26725427
"Oh, I can talk because someone taught me. Easy, once you get the trick."

Rolled 4

>>26725554
Ollie said that he's taking a break in reveling in Spring to pray for his family.

>>26725538
This is good, I like this.

Should we straight up ask him what each level is?

I'd imagine Fall is permanent festival, war is an arena where you come back if you die, and summer is some kind of nature paradise.

>>26725608
Eh, I don't think they have that literal knowledge of what's going on.
Though, it COULD cut through some bullshit if they did.

>>26725538
>>26725578
>>26725599
>>26725565
Ssen: Seem quite insane to this young man.

>>26725608
> summer
Obviously it's a single giant rock for sunning.
Our one weakness!

>>26725638
I think they have some idea of what each level is. By word of mouth, most likely, and less likely but plausible some sort of official announcement.

I mean, how did each person go to their personal paradise without them being aware of all the options? Because it's clear the Citadel doesn't heard people to said paradises, or we'd have been shipped off ourselves.
Which we still might be.

>>26725665
>sweatingssen.jpg

>>26725665
Oh shit we need to get to summer

>>26725665
That and bags.

>>26725667
I think that if any of the Dawnchasers went through a door alone, they would be sent to their preferred section.

>>26725665
>>26725686
And also our breath. And our people-hoarding compulsion. And red-headed wasp witches.

You take a deep breath in and then out. "Okay, this answers a lot of questions. I think the only reason Citadel hasn't come down on us yet is it's distracted fighting off whatever attacked it, probably the Empire."

"Glad I never made that bet with Jesse-May." Peri says. "I knew Kingfisher just wouldn't turn over and die."

"Yes, you're both very smart. Well done. But that means we have a time limit. Either the Empire wins, and does whatever they're trying to do, or Citadel wins and starts paying attention to smaller disturbances." You say.

"Then we better get to one of those sites quickly." Tricia says.

"Agreed." The others all say, and you all head back down towards the stairs.

You pause and put a hand on Ollie's shoulder. "For what it's worth kid, I met your family in Winter. I guess that's where the self-righteous religious types went. Seem like the ones you have here are the kind who are only happy denouncing the behavior of other people. Plus you pleasure-seekers, of course. Oh well! Off to be a Paladin, you now how it is."

"What?!" He says.

You've all already moved on.

"Hey! What? Is that it? I thought me and the cute one were gonna have some fun!" He sighs. "Alright, but if I see you again cutie, you and I are gonna have some fun with that staff of yours!"

Mage winces and shakes his head as he keeps walking. You all get to the bottom, trying not to look at the...group activity...that's going on in the Grand Assembly.

Mage pauses as he reaches for the door. "You said that going OUT of the Cathedral didn't cause any change, right?"

"Yeah." Lea says.

"Heyyy pretty monster-girl!" A disturbingly slightly-sticky hand slaps on your shoulder and a very drunk kid who looks younger than Ollie is there...very very much there.

He puts a flower in your hair. "Okay, so...you and me. Come on." He tugs on your arm.

>>26725686
>Citadel's heart is guarded by giant bag monsters

>>26725688
I'd only allow that experiment if we had a way to track them, which we don't.

File: 1376971880871.gif-(9 KB, 678x344, Nope1.gif)

9 KB GIF

Rolled 14

>>26725703
My vote is pic related

"Is it too late for us to go back and try the attic again?"

>>26725703
Kiss him with paralytic, just a touch. Should be enough with the alcohol already in his system.

Move on.

>>26725703
"Aww, it feels so good to be loved for once!"

>>26725703
"Oh no. The trip to the shadow company is going to be exponentially more hazardous than I had anticipated."

"Sir, me and my companions are quite busy, could you perhaps find someone else?"

>>26725703
Ahahahahaha no.

Wait, we dealt with a situation much like this already, didn't we? Give him a kiss with a little bit of our black poison. Just enough to freeze him while we slither away.

>>26725748
we didn't MEAN to do that last time!

>>26725703
>slightly sticky hand

Urge... to kill... rising...

Take flower out of hair and then black poison kiss on the cheek.

After these messages well be right back.

>>26725703
>remove flower
>shove down throat

>>26725761
I dunno, I don't mind the hair flower.

On second thought, don't do the black poison kiss. That might get us under a spell.

Scream for Tricia and let her do the honors.

>>26725703
"Uh, well, you see, that's very flattering, but I'm quite spoken for. Tricia would be ever so angry."

>>26725703
You know, I think a show of force may be necessary.

Disable his fap-arm.

Rolled 14

On second thought, use black on the claws to knock him out.

>>26725778
It might also give passersby ideas.

>>26725792
shhhh sh sh sh. It's just how people are here. Let's try to let him down politely and get the fuck out of here.

guys, kinda over-reacting here. Lets just leave.

>>26725763
Oh, and I'll give you a little thing to work on while I'm off fighting coyotes. These are the worlds of Citadel.
Winter of Faith
Spring of Revels
Summer of Fortune
The Feast of Fall
Night of the Young
Afternoon of the Aged
Morning Peace
Evening War
Beauty of Yesterday
Promise of Tomorrow

>>26725800
can we not just go around using neurotoxin on folk we can easily say "Not right now, I have a headache" to?
What if someone's allergic?
Also claws really hurt.

>>26725815
We've got to visit fall and summer. They are obviously the best ones.

>>26725792
this.

Okay, Mage gets hit on first, followed by us. Looks like everyone will eventually be cat-called in decreasing order of swag.

My money is on Lea next.

Rolled 9

>>26725817
Fine fine.

>>26725815
>summer of fortune

Gambling halls? Oh, dragonbrain is going to love that.

>>26725817
I say have Tricia punch his lights out.

>>26725846
>dragonbrain
>gambling
>in the hot sun
Ssen temptation levels reaching critical

>>26725703
Is it possible to just sort of really quick swap someone out with us?

Like, grab some more lusty passerby?

...so when's all said and done, will we be keeping Citadel around as Super Disneyland? Because if people could actually leave whenever they wanted this place seems pretty cool.

>>26725887
If we can somehow free all the souls and release the people without it breaking down?

...maybe.

>>26725703
You know, if we go into a building, then come out again, we might be able to reset it to a different instance.

>>26725887
>Shadowrun Citadel is a combination of Disney World and Hollywood
>stories for Citadel and tailor made vacation for tourists

Hmmm...

>>26725887
Yeah, our problems mainly been with the dramatae and the whole souls and captives thing. If all that's stopped then we've really got no beef with the thing.

Guys, it's just a kind of sticky drunkard.
Can we please let him down lightly without breaking his wrist or poisoning him or something? Or at least try using words first?

Rolled 15

>>26725950
I think it needs the soul thing to live. Citadel is probably the best of it's kind, but it's kind must commit atrocity to surive, if I read it right. That actually makes me pretty uncomfortable.

>>26725975
I think they can survive in a much more low-power state without souljuice fueling them.

>>26725955
I know exactly where his hands have been and I don't like it!

>>26725955
The wanker can't molest you if you disable his wrist.

>>26725991
>>26726006
At least he didn't try to grab us by the ass. Even Isen had to eventually acknowledge it was impossible and go for pinching us just below the waste.

We're going to create a disturbance when we turn him down. Might it be possible to make other people the disturbance?

"Everyone get away from him, he's infected!"

Along those lines?

>>26726030
waist. Wrong spelling. Whoopsy.

Rolled 16

>>26726030
>At least he didn't try to grab us by the ass.

Do we even have one of those? I don't think we do.

File: 1376973446063.jpg-(31 KB, 600x356, 1001182_668261113190801_1(...).jpg)

31 KB JPG

>>26726006

>>26726035
Nah, a crowd scene makes it easy to get separated.

That would be bad.

>>26726035
If we handle it smoothly there won't be a disturbance.

>>26726045
Hence why Isen eventually had to acknowledge it was impossible. Below-waist pinches are the closest.

>>26726045
Nope. No illogical snakebutts here.

Rolled 16

>>26725703
>"Heyyy pretty monster-girl!" A disturbingly slightly-sticky hand slaps on your shoulder and a very drunk kid who looks younger than Ollie is there...very very much there.
>He puts a flower in your hair. "Okay, so...you and me. Come on." He tugs on your arm.

"You are accosting a Paladin who does not want to be accosted. Please desist, or else."

>>26726059
>us
>handling anything smoothly
Pick one.

>>26726082
More like

"The mantle isn't just for show, pervert. Remove your arm or I'll remove it for you, and you won't like where I put it afterwords."

"Or maybe you would, idunno."

The biggest danger I see (particularly from the flower, which is innocent looking but dangerous!) is that we can't resist the temptation. And Tricia would not appreciate that.

Because with us lust is kind of a thing. Must be how lamia avoid dying out.

>>26726059
>>26726054
>>26726091
We can file it as plan C, with plan B being to just book it.

What should plan D be?

>>26726110
If we're going for Isen, then we've certainly got enough class to not go for this idiot.

>>26726117
Genocide.

Always an option for PCs.

>>26726117
plan /d/; just roll with the orgy crew for a while, see what happens.

>>26726110
Eh, we're at bigger risk of finding some floozy rock to sleep on.
Also, we don't really do much on the lust, tricia's usually been the initiator. We probably won't be much on it for about 50 more years.

>>26726130
If we're not going for Isen, rather.

>>26726133
I would rank >>26726131 just slightly above that.

>>26726141
>>26726130
>>26726110
Yeah. as a member of the bottom-of-the-ocean isen/ssen shipwreck, I am insulted that you'd think we would go for this gentleman before we'd go for Isen.

>>26726159
Hey. Don't underestimate Citadel magic.
It'd be pretty boring if we could just nope out of everything. There should be some temptation, even if it's an obviously bad idea.

>>26726171
yeah, but this guy is kind of gross and sticky and not at all tempting.
Now, the summerland gambling hall complete with sunrocks and the fall feasting tables... Those might be tricky.

>>26726191
Oh yeah, I'm all for telling this guy to fuck off and diving into the first pile of money we see, but all I'm saying is that any variation of "no, I resist that" shouldn't get you out of temptation.

This is an easy one, but we have to be careful. Like with the flower. The flower is evil.

>>26726171
There isn't always temptation. This is one of those things that I think we can safely say isn't Ssen's speed.

Partly because she's a lesbian, partly because we place our family above all else to the point that it really is indistinguishable from a dragon's hoard.

>>26726171
There will be temptation when it's actually something that could tempt us. Like war, considering that crazy battle haze we got stuck in a little while back. Or, you know, a giant sunning rock.

Rolled 11

>>26726082
Oh and take the flower out of our hair.

>>26726255
Which is why I wanted to take the flower off and visit violent retribution.

>>26726273
Same. In lusttown, we cannot participate in any fashion. Same will be true in war. No fighting.

Guys the flower is fine, it's just a flower.

Also I've been MEANING to get us a bow, or flower, or something. Though I thought it would be for the tail, myself.
Maybe I am just partial to tailbows.

File: 1376974817887.gif-(1.98 MB, 431x306, 1351892923578.gif)

1.98 MB GIF

>>26726294
>>26726273
can we hold off on the violence? The guy didn't really do anything wrong other than make a quite crude proposition to us while drunk.

Also I don't want to think of worst case scenarios when fighting crowds of naked people.

>>26726303
It's not fine. It's pure evil that's blossomed from the fertilizer comprised of everything good and virtuous in the world. Its mere existence is anathema to the very concept of "Good", and it is an abomination before His burning gaze.

We shall destroy it without malice, for it is beneath out contempt.

>>26726303
Maybe it's just a flower and I'm being paranoid, but there is the possibility that taking such props will lead us to, I dunno, babble with Tricia.

Perhaps it is a good idea to test it. Look at Tricia. If we get weird desires all of a sudden, take the flower out of our hair. If those thoughts persist, announce it to the group and look away.

I think that's a good rule for everyone in Citadel. If you feel like you're getting tempted, say something.

>>26725703
Everyone should remember that actions in Citadel territory have specific reactions based on how off 'script' we are. So basically, we want to nod, smile, and go where we want long enough to get out of the crowd. If this random derp wants to come with us, that's their problem.

>>26726338
Maybe tone down the space marine like, 45%. Not all the things citadel made or agrees with are wrong. We even agree in numerous places. We just disagree with its way of doing things.
>>26726340
Fair enough, it's the best I can hope for, flowerwise.

>>26726379
>adventures in missing the point
You don't do sarcasm very often, do you?

Anyway, the serious point has been made before: Citadel cannot be trusted. It is pervasive, persistent, and utterly without moral reservation. If given the chance, it has already shown that it will not hesitate to corrupt us and everything we care about utterly.

It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.

>>26726417
man, you're gonna HATE it when I suggest negotiating with it later while under the effect of mer potion.

>>26726432
Not so much, if it's being done in as controlled a situation as possible. Letting it get any foothold on ourselves or one of our companions through negligence, however, would be bad.

We simply don't give it any chances, no matter how innocuous something may seem at the time.

Rolled 5

>>26726432
Negotiation with Citadel doesn't work. It'll make us turn white.

>>26726432
The only thing we should try to negotiate for is the safe exodus of civilians.

Citadel needs to do its fucking job, as Dawn said.

>>26726472
What we did wasn't negotiation. It was a sudden mental invasion, and one scale turned white back then.

Which isn't to say negotiation would be safe, it's just that our experience so far with Citadel can't be used to gauge how unsafe it is.

>>26726472
hence the potion. I want to pull at least one more "should have read the fine print" deal.
>>26726494
You forget, citadel may be artificial, and thus born of this world.
Which means we wouldn't be sending it home, so much as forcing it to move.
Also, the new guy COULD be fucking with us.

On the topic of naked greasy man:

"Tricia, do you think if I start screaming at him, he'll think I'm one of those purity road folk?
Because... he's really, really sticky."

>>26725815
>Beauty of Yesterday
>Promise of Tomorrow
Any ideas what this could mean? Visions of the past and future?

>>26726587
>"Tricia... men are disgusting."
>"Sorry, Mage."

>>26726603
SHADOWRUN TOWN
>>26726612
We DID like robin way back. It's just this one is... used.

File: 1376976655535.jpg-(61 KB, 525x463, 28535_548868073859_7766823_n.jpg)

61 KB JPG

>>26726603
Have you ever met someone who wished they lived in some idealized past or future and always disparaged the present they actually lived in?

Yeah. I'm sure a lot of us on /tg/ fall into one of those.

>>26726707
And we like the new (female) Robin even better!

>>26726716
only because we didn't know the old one was good at limericks until after he died.

>>26726716
Because she's awkward and adorable.

>>26726716
>idealized past
But isn't Citadel supposed to be kind of a technological stasis? What past would there be besides Citadel?

>>26726788
What other past would anyone in Citadel want?

File: 1376977221847.jpg-(356 KB, 1400x1050, Citadel3.jpg)

356 KB JPG

>>26726788
Disturbance detected. Moving to intercept.

>>26726795
But my point is that this idealized past would be basically an idealized present. Same with the idealized future.

So I was thinking that maybe it's more of a your personal past or future thing. A reality where bad things in your past never happened; or you live in a future where you have everything you ever hoped for in life.

>>26726816
Sounds like someone needs a timeout.

Rolled 3

Good night.

>hour and a half
So, comcast coyotes?

>>26726864
Got I hope not.
He might just be out hunting some for a meal. That happened once or twice before.

>>26726871
At 11 at night that's pretty unlikely.

"I am a paladin, the mantle isn't just for show." You say. "Remove your arm. Now."

"Hey, hey, hey!" He says. "What is this?" He points at your hair. "I GAVE you a flower."

"She SAID buzz off!" Tricia snaps, putting a rather possessive hand on your shoulder. "You can take it back."

He frowns and sneers at Tricia, then his eyebrows go up and he grin. "Ohhhhhh, I get it. Okay. Sor-ry! Look, why don't I make it up to you, I'll get you a room here, some drinks, you two can have fun, I'll watch and we'll call it all ev-"

He stops when Mage points a glowing red staff at his face. "Please...go on...I need a few more moments to charge this thing."

The man snarls and snatches his flower back. "Purity chuckle-fucks...that's it I'm do-"

He freezes and his form blurs, like a watercolor painting and he's no longer there.

"What the-? Oh." Lea says.

"Unannounced shift detected in Grand Assembly." You hear a voice say. Damnit! You didn't notice that Worker thing with the mop that was against the wall. They blend in so well, they ARE the furniture here anyway.

"Please send Aware to find Deviance." The Mop Thing says.

>>26726603
Beauty of Yesterday: Possibly where people live their everyday lives in the glory of Citadel as it was and always shall be.
Promise of Tomorrow: Possibly where people like Barney live their lives experimenting and inventing but, since it is an illusory setting there can be no real harm or change to Citadel.

Oh god.

What if Citadel kept Barney around because it LIKED his inventions, and it was the DRAMATAE that forced it to ruin his inventions?

Get ready for steampunk Citadel.

>>26726881
You had me worried!

>>26726881
WELL TIME TO GET MOVING

>>26726881
Damnit I knew we couldn't be smooth.
But what the hell does "aware" mean?
"Well, looks like we've been rumbled, let's move people. We've got shadow puppets to see!"

>>26726888
That is 100% what happened.

Just wait you guys

The folk they send to stop the "disturbance" aren't going to be a killsquad, they're going to be a hugsquad.

Complete with gambling, fine booze, hookers, honeycombs, sunny rocks, and who knows what else.

>>26726881
I think everyone's vote is to skedaddle.
No point in staying around in Lust.

>>26726914
>one guy just carrying a giant rock

>>26726948
>"I'm with the Brute squad"
>"You are the Brute squad."

>>26726916
I think the problem is there's too many points.
>>26726895
Always worry. Never don't worry.

Inb4 the aware sent is Odette.

>>26727008
I'm afraid she's lost hope and gone over to the dark side.

"Well, looks like we've been rumbled, let's move people. We've got shadow puppets to see!" You say.

You all go out into the city. You do a double take. Wagon and Lightmare are waiting for you. Lightmare is crunching on something that was small and fuzzy in its mouth.

"How'd it get here?" Peri asks.

"Ask later, move now." Lea says.

"Maybe because Lightmare's still technically in the Empty City?" Mage says. "Or it move her orullp!"

"MOVE!" Tricia says as she yanks Mage into Wagon and you all take off down the road.

As you make the last turn away from the Cathedral, you see some Masked Paladins arriving.

"Guardian Blood." Mage says.

"Huh?" Tricia says.

"It's something from Nikai's, the Crafter girl's, education." Mari says. "She says that living creatures have different kinds of blood in them, and one is a guardian blood that fights disease miasmas and tiny demons." She shrugs. "She was kind of talking to us like we were five years old, so...she might have been taking the piss."

"Still, it's interesting." Mage says.

"Fine, so where in this body are we going?" Lea asks. "One of the Spikes, a Null, or Shadow Company?"

>>26726904
I think it's pretty clear, isn't it?

"Aware" as in "meta-aware". The ones who are allowed to know what's going on inside Citadel right now.

>>26727018
>Odette
>Being anything but stubborn

>>26727022
"Shadow company's next on the list, I think, and maybe going there will pop us into a different citadel. This one's way too sticky for my tastes. "

>>26727022
"Shadow Company. We need to find somebody who won't call the town watch on us."

>>26727059
Indeed. Far too sticky.
>>26727022
"Well, for all we know she could be right. Probably couched in speciesist religious bullshit, but I'm tentatively putting that on the list."

"Investigate... tiny... blood demons."

Rolled 16

>>26727113
>roll to try not to think about tiny blood demons

>>26727113
second. Add it to the list.
Tiny. Blood. Demons.

"Shadow Company. We need to find somebody who won't call the town watch on us." You say. "And hopefully, we'll end up in a new Citadel, one that's not so...sticky."

"Thank you for that image. Now I desperately don't want to know what kind of substances we are riding Wagon through."

You head towards the old Shadow Puppet theater.

"Oh, by His light..." Mari mutters. "Anyone remember this guy's name? It was like...another bird or something? I mean before we found out we hated those names?"

>>26727144
"I'm pretty sure it was... a... name. of some sort."

>>26727144
>Anonymous in charge of remembering names

>>26727144
"Hah, of course not. Probably wrote it down somewhere that caught on fire."

The name was Janos if I'm reading this archive correctly.

>>26727144
"Yeaaah, nooo. Yeahno."

>>26727144
"er, well, that is to say... Ahem.
What was that about tiny demons? We should really look into that.."

He was "Janos" with the nickname "Blue jay". I would not have rememebred that without the archive.

I could have sworn the name was Janus, but that's obviously me misremembering if the archive says different.

Thumb through our "list of things we have to fix" and look him up.

If we've actually been keeping that list and it wasn't a metaphor, I am unsure.

"I'm pretty sure it was... a... name. of some sort." You say.

"Great." Mari says. "I remember Princess."

"Ugh." Tricia says. "We're hopeless. Oh what new fresh nightmare is THIS?"

There's a wall in the middle of the street. about three blocks away from the theater. It's a simple stone wall that's only about as high as a door, but, as you find out, it divides off the entire neighborhood in an irregularly shaped circle. Also there are hooded Paladins or Citadel Things standing guard or watch.

"Hang on." Mari says. "I'll be right back."

Before you can say anything, Mari jumps off Wagon, goes to talk to one of the Paladins and comes back. She looks thoughtful. "When I got near him, he said that there was no Citadel Revels there, and that unless I wanted to get hurt, I should go back to the party." She drums her fingers. "But it wasn't a threat, just a statement. Also, when I asked him a question, he repeated the same thing." She looks at the wall. "He didn't act stop me from going over the wall at all. I think they're just warnings."

"So, there's another Citadel over that wall, maybe?" Lea says.

"It's my guess, and it's probably dangerous." Mari says. "But it's where Shadow Company is."

"We could find another way in, roofs or sewers." Lea says. "Citadel's not too bright with these gateways, it seems. If we go an unexpected route we could fool it."

"Different layers mean different people." Mage says. "Might not get to talk to others if we're not in the same 'same place' they are...ugh every part of my brain hurts when I think of this shit."

>>26727321
"I think I'm starting to get the hang of it a bit. It's just like having a bunch of seperate citadels that we have to keep track of. How are you guys for climbing? I don't think they'd really have sewers in citadel. And sewers stink. And I'd be jealous of your shoes again."

>>26727321
Well it makes sense to ME. It's just a bunch of coterminous realities or planes closely occupying the same patch of space-time. You know, like if you stacked a bunch of cookies and then hammered them against an anvil!

>>26727321
"Take that as a warning. Don't get worked up or distracted."

"If we need to cross the layers, is this the place to do it, Mage?"

>>26727321
"Well, it's good that there aren't many people in Citadel we need to see. Yet. Let's pray that remains true.

Sewers seems like a good enough route. I mean, who would want to go down there? It's icky."

fucking glad I stayed up!

>>26727374
And add that each reality is only slightly out of sync with the others, so while it may seem that they're overlaid their streams of time and causality are separated. Make it as erudite an explanation as possible.

Then make with the silly-ass example.

>>26727395
Same. It's not in full happening mode, but it could start at any time.

>>26727403
Kind of like that episode of Doctor Who where the Daleks steal a bunch of planets and hide them in the Medusa Cascade by bringing them one second out of temporal alignment with the rest of the universe?

>>26727403
>>26727424
Shit I can't think of a silly-ass example

"Take that as a warning. Don't get worked up or distracted." You say. "But I think I'm starting to get the hang of this. Anyway, I'd rather pass on climbing, and I shudder to think what kind of stuff are in these sewers."

The others all shudder as well.

"If we need to cross, is this the place to do it Mage?" You ask.

Mage shrugs. "I have no idea, the only thing you can rely on is basic geography, a house here will be a house in Winter, or Summer, or wherever the others are. The status of the house is up in the air though, might be made of gold, or plants, or a burned out wreck, but it'll be there."

"So the wall is a constant?" Peri asks.

"Yeah...maybe, I have no fucking clue. I am literally making most of this shit up as I go." Mage says with a sigh. "Story of my life."

Wait, what if you had 50 cookies occupying the same space, and then you took a bite out of what seemed to be one cookie?

How would being aware of the meta-cookie-verse affect the taste, nourishment and/or your sense of hunger?

>>26727443
>>26727403
>>26727374
though, the cookies thing works well enough, I suppose.
I like it is what I'm trying to say. S'good.

>>26727452
answer: trick question, it would be awful, cookies are human food.
>>26727451
"Don't worry, I make it up as I go along too. Let's get up there and then dangle someone in the... whatever is inside the wall. I'm hoping the puppet theatre has its own permutation of citadel so I can be sure to nail down that bird guy."

It will be us dangling. We come with rope.

>>26727451
"Well, the first thing to do then is to figure out how to teleport from cookie to cookie, I mean, Citadel to Citadel at will.
That pervert back there implied he was going somewhere else. An unannounced shift, the worker called it. So they must be planned, but can be forced at any time."

>>26727451
"Well, at least it won't be sticky over there. And if they're in a separate stream, we should try crossing over into it. Otherwise we can't interact with anyone who's there."

"Or, we find a way to sneak across and break the system. Then the only people we'd see are the ones who aren't buying into it enough to fall into any of the streams... and anything too Citadel-washed to have independent thoughts."