File: jokerhellions.jpg (48 KB, 530x750)

48 KB JPG

HOLLOW SUN: 23.7%

http://pastebin.com/14UEhTiq

RESEARCH:

[X] SOLARIS GENERATOR
[X] COBALT LASER
[X] TERMINUS SCANNER
[X] FALSEHOOD ARRAY

RED COMET RESEARCH:

[X] MYOMER HYPERTROPHY
[X] GALVANIC EMITTERS

RESEARCH COMPLETE:

> [X] GOSPEL RELAY: You can now give direct orders to Hellions within line-of-sight.
> [X] MULTICORE CONVERTER: The Armory Guardian's internal structure now gradually regenerates with each kill.

VOID ANCHORS:

ORIGINAL HIVE
THE TRIBUNAL

HOLDING: 1

RED COMET GUIDE:

http://pastebin.com/7vzY4Zp2

UPDATES:

- TELEPORT HOMER added to Equipment Guide.
- Definition of Light & Heavy Weaponry added to Equipment Guide.
- Clarification regarding Mauler/Hailfire Chaingun; The Talon increases accuracy and reduces recoil, like for other Heavy Weapons.
- DIRAC TRANSMITTER I added to the list of Hollow Sun Upgrades.

Time to engage plan "unfuck everything".

OP, you forgot to mark the Photon Shield Generators as completed in the Hollow Sun guide.

>>32522620
Evening OP, evening players.

OP, had a question about the Hellions. The guide mentions they're hardcoded to not attack the Sun's admin, but they revert to "destroy everything". Does that include attacking Joker? And would the Gospel Array delay or let us override that? As an aside, do you play Tau?

Last thread was a near perfect field test for the Comet. Few things I noticed: Fuckhuge laser beams are a problem. Kraken got us with one and so did Legion. The Mimetic Alloys probably helped here, but it still took severe damage. We need to upgrade the armor both to prevent efficiency loss and improve longetivity.

On that note, long engagements are not Red Comet's forte. The Multicore Converter should help there, but it's not going to be a perfect solution since we also have to keep an eye on shields, energy and weapon capacity. The Thanatos Infuser, Cyclic Shield Generator and Progenitor Engram are necessary to make it self-sustaining.

I'd put good money on the other Hyades having kept an eye on Joker since the start of the quest, but using the Comet here means others now know Joker has it. A good magician never reveals his secrets, but a great magician can explain his tricks and pull it again in a completely different way. Keep upgrading the Comet and we'll be able to surprise anyone again.

After all that talk about the Comet I'm still going to recommend we start the Assault units this thread. We want to have the full suite of Hellions so we know what's in our deck.

>>32522842

I want to research weapons instead.

They've been neglected for the longest time and them railguns will be some heavy hitting weapons that the hellions sorely need.

Depending on the output, it may even be good enough for Joker to use.

>>32522842
Yes, I'm in favor of assaults, even though it pains me to not get the communication item for the Hollow Sun.
We can upgrade our Joker emblems to allow for direct communication, if you haven't noticed already. But it's 30% cost.

File: jokerschool.jpg (272 KB, 1280x720)

272 KB JPG

>>32522670

(My apologies, I'll fix it in the next iteration.)

It's later. The warm light of the morning has shaded - Slowly, but oh-so-surely - into the glare of the afternoon, the rays of the sun relentlessly bright; Enough to make the bright colours of Seisin High - The green of the sprawling gardens, the baroque European buildings - almost unbearably vivid.

"Pssst! Anon."

There wasn't, in fact, that much time to settle in. Just long enough to stretch your legs, to perform the age-old calculus of wondering exactly what you should bother to unpack - And to nurse the beginnings of the migraine that pulses in your temples, that makes your head ache from within.

"-Hey, Anon."

By the time the ever-present issue of lost/misplaced luggage was sorted out - A second round of forms to be signed, requiring only an idiot scribble or two - it's time to get moving again.

Today is, after all, a full day - Filled with pomp, ceremony and the long, meandering speeches that have characterized every school event you've ever be-

"Anon-?"

The troupe's being herded towards one of the distant auditoriums - With Shino as navigator, guiding your class through the dizzying array of streets and administrative buildings and puzzling works of abstract art that quickly become second nature.

There's a spring in her step, a definite air of good cheer - Every now and then, she looks back, and smiles.

"Anon!"

Kazuya's conspirational whisper is rather less whispery and conspirational, now - He's sidled up to your side, with his ever-present easy grin. It's a little broader, a little more earnest...And it's probably a good thing that Natsumi's ahead of the group.

"...She's looking at me again."

A pause.

"See, she *is*, isn't she?"

[ ] "Just your imagination."
[ ] "Whatever you say, 'Joker-kun'."
[ ] "Huh, I guess she is."
[ ] "-Better not let Natsumi hear that."
[ ] "What? No! She's looking at me."
[ ] "-Where's Mio and the other girl?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32522927

[x] Play dumb
"Who is?"

>>32522842

(My apologies: To clarify, they'll avoid attacking you no matter what. But their default programming is to kill everyone and everything else in the area.

The Gospel Array allows you to give on-the-fly commands to them, instead of simply unleashing them to wreck havoc. Orders like 'Follow me', 'Focus fire on this target', 'Protect this target' will be acknowledged and followed.

Also, I've never played the 40K tabletop game.)

>>32522927
>[ ] "Whatever you say, 'Joker-kun'."
"I know what she's talking about. And believe me, you don't want her to call you that. Don't worry, I'll explain later."

Don't forget to send a text to Mio to check if our autopilot did anything retarded.

>>32522975
>Also, I've never played the 40K tabletop game.
A few guys in the Quest Thread General wondered because, apparently, much of our Hellion arsenal is very similar to Tau equipment.

>>32522895
Oh, me too, but this is preparation for that. Had a friend actually Cosgrove if you're curious point out that the Cherub's description says a lot of their weapons are adaptable for use by the rest of the Hellions. Then we remembered that all the HS Relics are Hellion prototypes. So where are the Immolator derivatives?

>>32522917
I actually performed a spittake. As extra excellent as that is though I want to start a few pieces of very necessary research first. Panopticon Array, Endosteel Internals and Chassis Reinforcement just barely edge it out.

>>32522975
No apologies necessary, I should have thought for clarification sooner. Would the Gospel Array allow us to override this default programming?

>>32522927
>[X] "-Where's Mio and the other girl?"
>[X] "Whatever you say, 'Joker-kun'."
>[X] "-Better not let Natsumi hear that."
"This is how it starts Kazuya. First one girl's making eyes at you and the next thing you know you can't express interest without breaking hearts."
"She IS cute though."

>>32522842
All right, fine, assault units it is.

Hey Watashi, why did you ask Spaghetti-san about Westerns two threads ago?

>>32523065
For the GARM, we also need to either get the AI or the Cascade Resonator.
Because the ability to codeburst is kind of important.

Thank god that research only costs 15%.

File: jokerkazuya (1).jpg (58 KB, 300x400)

58 KB JPG

>>32522972

> [X] Play dumb
> "Who is?"

"Who else?" Kazuya nods, meaningfully, at the figure leading the way - His gaze ever-so-slightly appraising. "...A genuine lady from Seisin High - Who'd thunk it?" He draws himself up from his usual slouch, standing a little taller, a little straighter; Holding himself like that, for a few more strides, before his shoulders lift in a casual shrug.

> [X] "Whatever you say, 'Joker-kun'."

"Now you're just jealous," he says, grandly - With a twinkle in his eyes that means he's only joking. "-What, only Mio-chan gets to call you that?"

"'Joker-kun'...Ha, I like it. Not sure what it means, but it sounds cool."

> "I know what she's talking about. And believe me, you don't want her to call you that. Don't worry, I'll explain later."

Kazuya arches a dubious eyebrow, canting his head to the side; "Now *that* should be interesting," he muses aloud - "...Well, whatever you say."

> [X] "-Better not let Natsumi hear that."

He winces, as if you've jabbed him somewhere sensitive. "Ooof. Good catch on that one. But still..."

> [X] "She IS cute though."

"-I know, right? To be captivated by my manly figure, like that - She has good taste."

Kazuya sobers, a moment later - His smile slipping slightly. "Hey. Don't take things so seriously, all right? This is...It's something to remember. Cheer up, all right? You're looking a little down."

> Don't forget to send a text to Mio to check if our autopilot did anything retarded.

A few surreptious keypresses, and your message is winging it's way through the ether. There's no immediate response, however; Either she's busy, or she's simply not responding.

> [X] "-Where's Mio and the other girl?"

"Ah, I think they went ahead..." His voice trails off. "-Did you get a chance to talk to her?"

[ ] "Not really."
[ ] "-I'm not sure."
[ ] "Yes."
[ ] "I think I may have messed up."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32523065

Yes, he mentioned that too

Still, since the speed of research is completed by dice, it makes more sense to get more of the smaller researches going.

When in doubt, throw more dice. Besides, I don't think we should do the assaults first since we can devote more time for production of the chebs.

Running both lines at low is going to kill our research rate.

Infact, I'm of the opinion that we halt all production and blitz research. That extra 12% every thread will boost our productivity massively, especially if we continue to drop more void anchors.

>>32523250

(Apologies, my trip fell off - I'm using 4chan X.

> Would the Gospel Array allow us to override this default programming?

Yes, but Hellions have a tendency to revert to their default programming when there's a conflict of priorities. They're meant to be disposable weapons, instead of complex automatons.)

>>32523250
>[ ] "Yes."
"I will need to confirm how it went, though. It may or may not have gone badly."

>>32523253
Actually, that's a good thought.

We should eco boom. With our current energy gain, we simply can't get research and production done at the same time.
We already have far more shells than cores, even if most shells are normal Hellions.

So, time to deactivate hardshell production, let core production catch up and research more?

>>32523053
OP's never played the "tabletop game". Could be Dawn of War RIP THQ. Or coincidence. There's been a good number of PC game references if you know what you're looking at; Endosteel Internal Structure and "Ferro Fibrous" armor refer to Mechwarrior, and I still hitting myself for missing a possible Syndicate reference early on.

>>32523188
Samurai films and Westerns have an incestuous relationship. "For a Fistful of Dollars" is Yojimbo set in the American West (and filmed in Italy), Magnificent Seven is the same for the Seven Samurai, and there's interesting similarities between the historical context, characters and plots of both genres.

This recently came to a head with Sukiyaki Western Django, which is a remake of Dollars set in a fusion of Japan and the West filmed with an all-Japanese cast and Quentin Tarantino. It's awesome.

>>32523222
I'd hold off on the latter. The casting costs probably come from the Comet's energy stash, which means using one could kill the energy weapons and stop the shields from regenerating. We need the Nova Reactor first.

>>32523250
>[X] "Yes."
>[X] "I think I may have messed up."
What did robo-Anon do?

File: tau_drone_by_alfasqd-d52h(...).png (71 KB, 900x506)

71 KB PNG

>>32523329
>OP's never played the "tabletop game". Could be Dawn of War RIP THQ.
The hilarious thing?

I always imagined the interceptors to look like Tau drones, which I only know from the game.
Something like pic related, but in red and with only one long gun instead of two short ones.

>>32523314

Actually, thats another thing to halt then.

Without really knowing the rough number of cores being produced per thread, we might as well shut it down too and gain another 12%.

Imagine what we could do with an extra 25% in HS energy per thread.

>>32523375
Cores can't be below low, according to the guide.

>>32523385

Ah, point.

Then yes, why not.

>>32523329
Forgot to mention, Django is almost all in English.

>>32523253
>>32523314
I'm of the exact opposite inclination, we need to kick production up to have sufficient numbers to kill all the Correctors in the endgame. Every time we plant an anchor we boost production somewhere.

Question OP: can we plant a VA in a stage that generates electricity? Like Naraka, or the Underground tunnel stage?

>>32523300
>>32523329

> [X] "Yes."
> [X] "I think I may have messed up."
> [X] "I will need to confirm how it went, though. It may or may not have gone badly."

"Ah. Like that, is it?"

Kazuya's about to say more - But he catches himself, though there's a distinct note of sympathy to his voice. White noise drowns out his words, as the auditorium's doors swing open; Put several hundred students into the same place, and the result is always the same - An indecipharable roar of overlapping voices, of everyone talking at once.

The space is vast, climate-controlled - It's clear it was meant to seat the entire school, but it's a full house here. Shino confers with Yui, briefly; Then the Class Rep nods, and Shino paces away towards the gallery seats - The Seisin student guides are making their way there one or two at a time, separating from the groups they're shepherding.

That may be the most you see of them - The majority of the student body currently resides in their school building, to which access has been prohibited; To 'avoid disruption', apparently, and to keep them neatly separated from the visitors (Or unwashed masses, you've heard someone say) flooding onto the grounds for the Culture Festival to come.

It's a neat solution, and one that's going to be rigidly enforced for all three days...All the same, it's hard *not* to get the feeling that-

...Well, that you're not really wanted here. That this is a trial, a burden; Something to be borne with grace and long-suffering dignity, instead of a genuine expression of goodwill.

Then again - For an all-girl's school to agree to being the hosting site...That's pretty unusual, in it's own right.

(Continued)

So since the transformitive services "kills" a hellion to empower us, do we need to use a "live" hellion? Is the hellion shell -and- essence core required to make the process work?

>>32523428

That gives us more units.

More units, likely without alot of effective upgrades, at the rate our research progresses.

Yes, we will likely need a good number of specialist units but we do not need so many.

We're dealing with just about 13k Hellion shells and about 1k in virtues, assuming we even produce enough cores to field them all.

Over the course of about 30 threads, we added that 1k in virtues. Thats a great number but in comparison to the standing hellion force, not much in comparison.

What they truely add is the ability for C3. They are our force multipliers. Instead of just simply ramping up production to add to the numbers, we'll be better served focusing research on options that allow our force to be more flexible.

Siegebreaker units will be able to lead a charge in heavy enemy fortifications but 500 hellions armed with Mass Drivers and Disintegrator cannons will likely make a hole big enough for the force to dive through.

ECM suites and Choir Beacons will boost all our hellion units, allowing them to perform more effectively and likely with greater effect than just a plain set number of specialised units.

>>32523640
Yeah, we need to ramp up production once there aren't many researches left.
Currently, we need all the energy we can get to get researches and upgrades.

>>32523640
You're right, they need every advantage they can get, but we've SEEN that the specialist researches feed back into the main force. That's why we've got the Gospel Relay and that nifty Dirac Transmitter, as well as Machine Cannon weapon research.

The unit types are good to get now so that we can figure out what we have to work with and pluck out any synergies.

Also, I suspect the Hellions are going to be deployed against a force numbering in the millions. At that point we just need bodies.

File: jokershizuka.png (342 KB, 850x1212)

342 KB PNG

>>32523610

(Yes. The Hellion shell provides the frame for the weapon or support unit, the Essence Core provides the power source.)

>>32523428

(You'd need something extremely high-intensity for that, and it would visibly disrupt the stage.)

It's an impression that's only strengthened by the silence from the gallery seats - The Seisin girls are quiet, in stark contrast to the blur of sound coming from the lower seats; As if there's something rarefied, elevated about their position. There's a uniformity to them - One or two talk amongst themselves, another giggles, but it's nothing compared to the cacophony from below-

For a moment, you think you glimpse a flash of golden hair - There, then gone.

Shizuka's high-backed wheelchair is slightly behind and to the side; Her head's turned, her expression momentarily cold, almost condescending - So quickly you could've almost imagined it. But then a girl says something to her, and that gentle smile returns.

A piercing squeal cuts over the speakers - The wail of a siren, that lingers just long enough to drown out all other sound, a fitful silence descending...Which is just as well, because it feels like your brain is vibrating inside your skull. Natsumi winces, and covers her ears - Kazuya's less affected, but he makes a face that suggests he's bitten into something bitter.

A voice over the intercom, in the deafening hush that follows:

> "Please welcome our sponsor; Mr. Fuma Sawamura, Advisor to the Tokisaka Foundation.

Polite, if scattered, applause begins. Like all applause, it swells as a figure paces across the stage, with quick, measured steps-

...It's Naoya Shiga.

(Continued)

>>32523706

Thing is if we're really dealing with numbers of that magnitude, even a couple of tens of thousands ain't gonna deal shit.

At that point, its full on pile on bonuses and liberal applications of SIDE-3.

>>32523706
Seeing all our options is a good point.

Okay, I vote for producing no hardshells (we don't have enough cores, anyway) and researching assaults.

>>32523814
That brings to mind a question. OP, does Leukocyte have an independent cool-down period? Could we order immediately successive AEWs or Disintegrations if we can afford it?

>>32523843
And another: what is the Sun's maximum Hellion capacity?

>>32523755
>...It's Naoya Shiga.
Fucker.

I'm even more sure that he's a player now. He's too successful.

>>32523755

Tall, well-favoured, Naoya crosses the stage in unhurried strides - The applause falters, momentary confused, as he strides past the speaker's dais: He pauses, briefly, to confer with a figure in the wings - Setting down the sleek black laptop he holds before him, the faint *click* of the connection echoing in the hall as he bows, just once, and withdraws.

A crackle of static. The lights dim, as screens come down - Sound-only, no image.

> "At last. Welcome."
> "Ladies and gentlemen - It is both an honour and a pleasure to address you today."

The voice does not crackle over the comm. It booms. It fills the room.

> "The great Mexican writer, Octavio Paz, wrote that: 'Any culture is born in mixing, in interaction, in confrontation. It is in isolation that civilization dies."
> "Culture is about the meanings we ascribe to the world - This is why cultural events, such as this Festival, which enable these direct exchanges and a direct dialogue between different ways of looking at reality, are so important."

The voice is urbane, cultured. It's impossible to place the age of it, but the speaker is smooth and practiced, never stuttering or stammering. Just an easy flow of words.

> "Certainly, the Tokisaka Foundation holds culture in highest esteem - We believe that culture is the very soul of our city; A soul worth cherishing, developing and promoting.
> "For the past ten years, our Foundation - As per the will of our esteemed founder, the late Mikogami Souichirou - has supported charitable works through the Mundus programme, helping to..."

And it goes on. And on.

(Continued)

If we disable hardshell production, we'll probably be able to research two Hellion types in the next thread.

>>32523969
There's only two available. We'll be able to start them both by next thread no matter what.

Regardless, seems that we're coming to agree that we're researching one of the types. Assault or snipers, gentlemen?

>>32524015
I'm in favor of assaults, even if a sniper transformation servo would be in my interest.

Also, voting for disabling of all hardshell production. Vote against it if you don't want it.
I, for one, want to have 40% to spend in the next thread.

>>32524015
>>32524031

Another thing I'd want to point out, we should save up to have at least 30-50% HS energy until we meet with the Red Army.

Then when we do meet up with them, we have sufficient energy to produce a suitable number of VAs and hand them off with instructions to set them up.

>>32523967

When you get down to it, all speeches are the same - Especially to students. Boring, and incomprehensible. It's fairly clear, however, that the Tokisaka Foundation is bankrolling the Culture Festival...It is, perhaps, the main reason why it's held here.

> "As President and Advisor to the Commission, I believe that cooperation between schools is the way to go, both for the development of our cultural and creative sectors - And for the promotion of a better tomorrow."
> "We must move beyond the tragedies of the past, to make a better world; The universal language of culture..."

It's...endless. Yet so smooth, so well-practiced, that you wonder if it's pre-recorded.

At your side, Kazuya makes a valiant attempt to stay awake. It's a struggle he's losing; His head already slumping to the side, with the distinctive slack-jawed look that comes with utter boredom.

A faint buzz, muted. Your handphone - A message, from Mio.

> Anonkun
> Did I do something wrong?

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32524031
Agree for the Thrones, but we need to keep some kind of unit production going.

>>32524047
Now there's an idea... No telling how many threads until we meet Isao though.

>>32524054
Respond:
"Never. Can you still trust me? I want to see you."

>>32524047
We can stockpile them actually. There's a counter and everything.

>>32524054
"No. Don't worry, I'll explain to you later."

Eh... Guys.
Does anyone want an Armiger hat? The option is available.
Remember, it costs us the essence from the kill.

>>32524054
"No, you've done nothing wrong. I need you to follow my instructions carefully. See the man on stage? Stay as far away from him as possible. He isn't who he claims to be. I'll find you after this."

>>32524096
What the hell was his power anyway? We got the gauntlet because Helix could channel energy, but in Armiger's battle it seemed like Valh did all the work.

>>32524116
Vetoing this. Naoya's not the guy talking, or the Festival's sponsor. So far as we still know, he's exactly what he seems to be.

>>32524116
Please stop the Shadowruns. You did enough damage already with this kind of vote.

>>32524139
>What the hell was his power anyway? We got the gauntlet because Helix could channel energy, but in Armiger's battle it seemed like Valh did all the work.
Maybe unit coordination?
It's possible that the control system was actually his power. He might be a walking control hub.

>>32524079
>>32524082

> "Never. Can you still trust me? I want to see you."
> "No. Don't worry, I'll explain to you later."

A pause, then:

> Tonight t

One word. The rest is cut off.

Onstage, the speech continues. The words seem to blur together into a haze of tedium. From your angle, you glimpse Naoya making his circuitous way to the lower seats; He glances up at the gallery, and smiles - Just for a moment - before settling himself in place. There's a solemnity to his expression; By all accounts, he's listening intently.

> "I thank you all for being here with us today. I wish you the very best of all worlds, and that the Festival will bring diversity to the fore - While underscoring the values, the feelings and the longings we all share as human beings."
> "Thank you."

There's an audible sigh of relief - A ripple, almost - that makes the rounds. But the relief is short-lived, when a girl's voice comes over the intercom:

> "For your viewing pleasure, we'll be screening a selection of student films, brought to you by the Film Clubs of-"

Kazuya visibly slumps in his seat, more than half-asleep. His head sags to the side, almost onto your shoulder.

[ ] "Kazuya. Kazuya, wake up, man. I can't do this alone."
[ ] Look for Natsumi.
[ ] Look for Mio.
[ ] Look for Kouichi.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32524221
>[ ] Free
Go into the Red

BORINNNNNG

>>32524157
Makes as much sense as anything. We could try approaching the Grinder to see if it gives a reading, but I'm inclined to keep the Essence. Really want to see Midas/get more Limiter.

>>32524221
He's not getting his sleep any other way. Should confuse Chiffon too. Straighten him out so it's not too obvious, then
>[X] Look for Natsumi.

At the same time, anyone here really against pulling Armaros into things?

>>32524221
Look for Natsumi. We said we'd tell her the story.

>>32524249
...What are you planning?

>>32524248
You know, this is so hilarious that I want to vote for it.
Maybe we can talk to Kouchi or something.

Maybe send Mio a text beforehand.
"Tonight where?"

>>32524261
>Look for Natsumi. We said we'd tell her the story.
It's annoying that we can't draw her into the Red around here.

But yeah, we need to tell her that we will tell the story. She need to know beforehand, so that it doesn't surprise her.

Also, didn't we want to talk to all three of them?

>>32524249
>>32524272

Actually, I think we might have scheduled Isao and the Red Army to meet tonight...

>>32524287
OP, do we? Also, isn't Natsumi also on the plan?

Then we need to tell Mio that/make additional plans with her to avoid overlap.

>>32524287

(Yes; You've scheduled - in order - a meeting with the surviving Raid leaders, a training session with Isao, and a meeting with Mio.)

>>32524304

Oh fuck me.

We are in shit.

>>32524304
Then we just tell Mio:
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten."

But how do we handle Natsumi and Kazuy, then? Do we meet the two beforehand? Or do we ask Mio if it's okay if those two come?

>>32524261
I want to set up a trade.

>>32524286
>Also, didn't we want to talk to all three of them?
Ultimately? Yes. For right now let's just work with Mio.

>>32524309
Not all at the same time.

>>32524304
In light of this, I say we suspend the producing of the hardshells for one turn and not do any research till at least the next thread

We're gonna need alot of HS energy for VAs and that 'present' for Isao.

>>32524321
Agreed.

>>32524319
>Not all at the same time.

Yes but they're all at night.

Theres only so many hours.

>>32524332
What will the organizers of the event think?

...Actually, we can peek around corners with bullet time. Sneaking around should be no issue.

>>32524321
>that 'present' for Isao
Fuck's sake, we're not doing anything like that until the scanner is done.

>>32524339
Then we'll just have to gamble on the scanner being ready when we meet Hisao.

>>32524339

? We can always call him to the scanner again when its done, whats the rush. Hes under our wing after all.

>>32524332
If anything it'll be like the last "day" in quest. Lots of successive events.

>>32524338
Moving fast is the worst thing you can do while sneaking. Also risking hospitalization at this point is a poor idea.

>>32524349
That's a real gamble, considering it's up to the dice gods.

>>32524355
The Red Joker and his sidekick - Pestilence boy.

>>32524359
>That's a real gamble, considering it's up to the dice gods.
How many threads ago did we start the research?

>>32524249

> Straighten him out so it's not too obvious, then.

Kazuya has the tendency to lose all animation - And articulation - when he's asleep; Like a bag of wet sand, and about as useful. You nudge his head to straighten him up, but it just means his head sways in the other direction.

He grunts, but he doesn't wake. So much for that, then.

> Look for Natsumi.

You look around, surreptiously - Natsumi's doing a better job at staying awake, given that she has a corner to lean into; You're not sure how long that's going to last, though.

The movie playing out on the screen - Something about depressed people, you think - is the universal cure for insomnia.

>>32524272

> I don't know.
> Why don't you tell me?

Something about the text - The crisp answer - makes you glance over your shoulder; Shizuka has Mio's handphone, her slim fingers tapping in the response - A definite air of amusement to her, her keen gaze scanning the rows below.

> It's nice that you're having fun...
> But be a little considerate.
> Don't get Mio into trouble, all right?
> 'Anon-kun'.

When she folds the phone shut - With the *snap* that sounds like a rifle shot - it's hard not to wince.

> Go into the Red.

It's as good a time as any. The world blurs, as the monochrome shades on the screen seem to run together and flow...And the Red descends in sweeping waves, in broad strokes that sweep all else away.

(Continued)

>>32524374

Including this one, 4.

File: it begins.jpg (11 KB, 259x195)

11 KB JPG

>>32524382

>We're actually going into the red

HERE WE GO

>>32524382
I wish we could talk to Natsumi this way.
Fuck Arcadia.

>>32524374
Three. That doesn't mean much though, considering we have no idea how much time any given research needs and no idea how wide the variance in research gain is. I suggest not setting your heart on it, just in case.

>>32524382
Shizuka's laying down the law.

>>32524382
>> 'Anon-kun'.
She knows our real name!

inb4 face to face with chained monster

>>32524382

STAGE: ARCADIA

"...was *so* bored-"
"...you believe that guy?"
"-kind of cute, right? The doctor from the Foundation..."
"...want it to *happen*, already..."

The first thing that greets your ears is a babble of voices - Unrestrained, happy chatter, as the world snaps into focus. You're in...The chamber resembles a ballroom, or the inside of a jewellery box; The floor is crimson marble, the walls of the anteroom lined with gold.

There is a foggy, celestial light, like golden lamps burning on a vaporous day.

It's then - Right then - that you realize why the Seisin High girls were so quiet, in the real world; In this one, there's no need to be.

The domed main space is filled with scattered knots of the same unusual Players you've glimpsed before; Graceful, doll-like forms, ubiquitous marks burning all the colours of the spectrum - So different from the complex Emblem on your pauldron, Cybele's symbol shedding motes of green light that limn the world around you with an unhealthy hue.

A cheer goes up, so suddenly it's nearly alarming.

"Ah, it's Joker-san~!"
"-really *is* Joker-kun-"
"-see how he won his fight?"
"...Friends with the black one, isn't he?"

And then-

"Joker-kun~!"

The voice is a familiar one, but you're inured to it now - It's barely a surprise when Chiffon Doll latches onto your left arm, almost tackling you from the side.

"Annh, you're *finally* here...I was waiting and waiting, but you never came..."

Her voice drops, to a whisper.

"...Or should I say, Ka-zu-ya~?"

[ ] "...So this is where everyone was."
[ ] "-Are *all* of you Players?"
[ ] "Where's Bishamon?"
[ ] "Where are we?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32524491
"Well, this explains everything.

Also, no, my real name isn't Kazuya. I already told you not to guess.

So, does the entire school consist of players?
And can non-Hyades players enter this place? I've only seen you girls and the Hyades champions all this time."

Also, our emblem is leaking. Maybe because Cybele got more power?

>>32524491
>[ ] "...So this is where everyone was."
>[ ] "-Are *all* of you Players?"

Should we disabuse her of that?

"Whos Kazuya?"

>>32524491
>[ ] "-Are *all* of you Players?"

>>32524491
>"...Or should I say, Ka-zu-ya~?"
"Strike one."

>[X] "...So this is where everyone was."
>[X] "-Are *all* of you Players?"
"I've been meaning to ask, the motes of Essence, they're going to the Hyades aren't they?"

>>32524522
It's been like that since Joker got here.

You know, we need to tell Natsumi about why the girls are so quiet.
She might have a laugh. Or eye us weirdly.

>>32524560
>It's been like that since Joker got here.
Ah, then it's like the emblems of the girls - It's necessary to enter this space.

By the way, I wonder if a female Hyades champion/male hyades makes sense...

>>32524563
She'll be appalled.

>>32524571
More likely that the marked ones have been turned into living Essence batteries. You know how Argent has Correctors strung up and constantly bleeding Essence? Same idea here, without the wires.

>>32524522

> Also, no, my real name isn't Kazuya. I already told you not to guess.
> "Strike one."

"-It isn't~?" Chiffon's grip relaxes, slightly - Her pale mask upturned towards you. "Haaaa...I was so sure, too. If only it was-"

> [X] "...So this is where everyone was."

"Mmmmnnn~! Whenever it gets boring-boring outside...We come here instead. Here...We can talk *all* we want, and there's always so much to see - And I can move my body freely, like *this*~!" She spreads her arms in an expansive gesture, one that accentuates the inherent agility of her form.

"See? It's better than spending *all* that time waiting...No-one ever notices, ever. It's like..." She pauses, clearly considering how best to phrase it - "...It's like every day is a vacation."

> [X] "-Are *all* of you Players?"

"Well-"

"Not *all* of us," a voice cuts in - White Licorice, moving with a measured, deliberate gait. There's a note of warning in her voice; Some brief, unspoken communication passing between both Players. "-But most of us, I would think."

Her faceless gaze settles on Chiffon Doll. "-Chiffon, you're troubling him. Don't get so close."

"I am *not*~!" Chiffon pouts, clutching your arm again - "...Joker-kun, I'm not a burden, right? Right?"

Licorice doesn't need to breathe, but she sighs anyway - Oddly-jointed fingers pinching an invisible point on her mask, as if to ease a headache. "-You're lucky he doesn't mind."

> "And can non-Hyades players enter this place? I've only seen you girls and the Hyades champions all this time."

White Licorice nods. "...It seems most Players don't know this place exists," she offers, by way of explanation. "We haven't been here very long, and we can't leave-"

"Licorice, that's not *true*~"

A glare silences her. "...We can't leave for *long*, is what I meant. But - It's only the champions, and us. No-one else." A curious note enters her voice, as she murmurs - Almost to herself - "...I wonder why...?"

(Continued)

>>32524621
>A glare silences her. "...We can't leave for *long*, is what I meant. But - It's only the champions, and us. No-one else." A curious note enters her voice, as she murmurs - Almost to herself - "...I wonder why...?"
Yes, this sounds a *lot* like essence batteries.

>>32524621

> "I've been meaning to ask, the motes of Essence, they're going to the Hyades aren't they?"

The briefest of hesitations - "I'm...not sure," Licorice hedges. "You'll have to ask Gemini-"

"...Ahhh, but that won't work - She's at the Diadem with the others, isn't she? I thought we weren't supposed to-"

Licorice's hand comes down on Chiffon's head, with an audible *thwack*. Or rather, a dull *clang* - Metal-on-metal. It doesn't seem to do any damage, but Chiffon subsides, reprimanded - Her next words a little sulky.

"Licorice, that was *mean*..."

"-You really talk too much."

[ ] "'The Diadem'?"
[ ] "Come to think of it...How *do* you leave this place?"
[ ] "You mean...You can only access the Red World *here*?"
[ ] "What aren't you telling me?"
[ ] "The other champions are here too, aren't they?"
[ ] "That reminds me. What happened to Legion Armiger? Have there been any other deaths?"
[ ] (To Chiffon) "You're not a burden."
[ ] (To Chiffon) "...Actually, you're kind of annoying."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

File: jokerlicorice.jpg (149 KB, 788x1200)

149 KB JPG

>>32524665

(My apologies, my trip fell off.)

>>32524665
>[ ] "Come to think of it...How *do* you leave this place?"
>[ ] "You mean...You can only access the Red World *here*?"
>[ ] "The other champions are here too, aren't they?"
>[ ] "That reminds me. What happened to Legion Armiger? Have there been any other deaths?"

>[ ] (To Chiffon) Just pat her head.

>>32524665
>[X] "'The Diadem'?"
>[X] "Come to think of it...How *do* you leave this place?"
>[X] "What aren't you telling me?"
(To Chiffon): "I'll give you one and only one hint. I've been a player longer than you've been alive."

>>32524665
>[ ] "What aren't you telling me?"
>[ ] (To Chiffon) "You're not a burden."

>>32524665
>[ ] (To Chiffon) "You're not a burden."
>[ ] (To Chiffon) "...Actually, you're kind of annoying."
Both.
I've had a friend like that once. Harmless but *very* animated.

Pat her head. Tell her that she's okay, but we are very serious about keeping our identity hidden.

>>32524685
That's just mean. I'm all for it.

>>32524679

Pat Licorice's head while we're at it. When she starts to pout.

Shes gonna get jealous after all.

buddy cop romcom featuring Red Joker x Hellebore when?

>>32524739
We don't even know anything about Hellebore.

>>32524710

This one sounds good. It conveys to her that even though she's being too much, we don't dislike her. Hopefully she'll get that, and take it easy, and not feel hurt. Hopefully.

>>32524710
>>32524790

> Pat her head. Tell her that she's okay, but we are very serious about keeping our identity hidden.

> [X] (To Chiffon) "...Actually, you're kind of annoying."

"See? People don't like it when you try to get *too* clos-"

Chiffon wilts. Her shoulders droop, like a kicked puppy.

> [X] (To Chiffon) "You're not a burden."
> [X] (To Chiffon) Just pat her head.

Your gauntlet is hardly the most comforting thing, but it's the thought that counts. It *clanks*, as you pat Chiffon on the head.

"You...don't mind?" Chiffon says, timidly - "...I know I can be like that, but - Joker-kun, you don't mind?"

"Don't *encourage* her-" White Licorice begins...Then sighs. "Oh, whatever." There's a distinctly pouty note to her voice, now; Her arms folding over her chest. "...Chiffon, you're such a *child*-"

>>32524732

"Ah-"

White Licorice stiffens, at the contact - Her body tensing, for half a heartbeat. "What are you-"

"Haha, Licorice is a kid too~"

It's not possible for Players to blush, but Licorice comes close; "D-don't lump me in with you~!" she snaps, but with less venom than you'd expect. She takes it with surprisingly good grace, pulling away - To your mind - a little reluctantly.

> [X] "You mean...You can only access the Red World *here*?"

"Well-"

A silence descends. Chiffon Doll and White Licorice trade glances; "Yes," Licorice says, a trifle reluctantly. "-When we're away from the grounds...We can't do anything. It's like..."

"-Like there's nothing *there*."

(Continued)

>>32524828

There's a unusually sombre note to Chiffon's voice, now: "Outside...Is really dangerous, isn't it." she says, her grasp fastening on your arm. "-Outside, there's people who want to *hurt* you..."

> [X] "'The Diadem'?"
> [X] "Come to think of it...How *do* you leave this place?"

"The central tower," Licorice says. "You've seen it - It's impossible to miss. There's..." Another hesitation. "-There are...*machines*, there. Devices that - It's hard to describe what they do, or how they work. Somehow, somehow..."

"-We just *know* how to use them. When you fought Cygnus...We used one of them to bring us to the stage. But - We couldn't *stay*..."

> [X] "That reminds me. What happened to Legion Armiger? Have there been any other deaths?"

"Come to think of it..."

White Licorice's head comes up, with a kind of dawning realization. "...I'm not sure. He - definitely died, but...What happened to that person?"

"Maybe he's stillllll around~" Chiffon chimes in. "Like a zombie~"

> (To Chiffon): "I'll give you one and only one hint. I've been a player longer than you've been alive."

Stricken, she lets go, suddenly and abruptly - Backing away from you. "Does that mean-" she begins, sounding heartbroken - "...Joker-kun is actually a..."

"...A..."

"-A *old* person...?"

"Now you've done it," White Licorice mutters, a long-suffering note to her voice. "Chiffon, he's making fun of you. He was in your group, right? That means he's one of the students..." Her voice trails off, and she gives you a dubious look. "-Well, he *should* be one of the students," she allows, a tiny frisson of doubt to her words.

"...That's - That's right," Chiffon mutters. She latches on to your arm again. "Joker-kun, don't scare me like that...That would be-" She shivers, a motion that doesn't translate well to her armour. "...That would be *gross*."

(Continued)

>>32524880
I just love how no one believes you when you tell the absolute truth.

How about making that Void Anchor now?

It's nice and all to go with the flow and humor them, but don't lead them on too much, Joker-kun...

>>32524919
>How about making that Void Anchor now?
Let's wait for the end of the thread.
We can create anchors at any time.

>>32524919
>>32524930
It's either VAs or unit research. I'm uncomfortable leaving charge in the tank without a definite plan.

>>32524939
The plan is to keep some buffer for when the scanner finishes.
However, we might start doing that from the next thread. If we go down to 3% now, we should have about 20% to 30% next thread, which should be sufficient for most situations. It's the price range of our upgrades, so it shouldn't be much different for Hisao.

So yeah, let's go with assaults. But I'm still in favor if disabling production.

File: jokerutopia2.jpg (75 KB, 1440x810)

75 KB JPG

> [X] "The other champions are here too, aren't they?"

"Some of them. The first round of fights is almost over-"

Chiffon draws a sudden, hushed breath. Her fingers clutch your arm a little tighter, as the small crowd parts like the red sea before Moses, to let a figure through.

He's not much to look at. Slender, with a black waistcoast that gleams as if oiled. White gloves and a top hat, which lends him an unusually dandified figure - Striations of gold and silver on his mask, lining in the inside of his costume; Telescoping segments rising up around his neck, like a serpent coiling around it.

His name: UTOPIA RULER

"Joker." He brings his gloved hands together, in soft claps that make no sound - Before, abruptly, he spreads his arms and bows low, from the waist. "Congratulations on your victory."

"Now, as for the delicious young ladies here..."

He gestures with both hands.

"-Shoo."

His gleaming mask turns to give you his unalloyed attention.

"The adults are talking."

[ ] "-By all means."
[ ] "They can stay."
[ ] "About what?"
[ ] "And you would be...?"
[ ] "Who's your tailor?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32524939

VAs probably. Those we can still use and I hope we can hand out 3-5

>>32524953
"You know, it's kinda dishounorable to spend the essence gained from souls to fashion yourself new clothes. At least make something useful out of them.

Girls, I think he won't talk until you have left. I'm sorry, but please do as he says."

I just realized that the Raptor can get a bubble shield.

I fucking love bubble shields.

>>32524953
"Rude. But right. Chiffon, Licorice, we'll talk later."
"Before you go, would you happen to have seen Kraken at all?"

>[X] "About what?"
>[X] "And you would be...?"

>>32524997
50 percent just to make it, with another 30 to store it. 20 to put shields on.

>>32524949
>>32524966
The back and forth is liable to go on forever. Let's settle this.

Final destination vote, pick VA or Assault research. Keep in mind that we gained 22 charge this session, which is on the low end of charge gain (also keep in mind that the result of this roll does not influence the result of the next one). If we get a VA now we'll have 8% left, if we choose Thrones we'll have 3% left.

>>32525072
I vote for Assault.

>>32525072
I'll go for the Assaults.

>>32525072
VAs

> "Rude. But right. Chiffon, Licorice, we'll talk later."
> "Before you go, would you happen to have seen Kraken at all?"

A headshake - Chiffon is staring at Utopia Ruler, like a rabbit in headlights. At your dismissal, they retreat; As if they can't wait to put some distance between themselves and the bizarrely dandified player that strides towards you, his shoes click-clicking on the marble floor.

>>32524974

"My, but you're a boor. Haven't you heard? Clothes make the man."

His gloved hands smooth down his waistcoat - Close-up, you can see that it actually consists of thousands of interlocking hexagons...Like scale mail, or your Assault Shroud.

"I chose to be elegant and slender because I despise obvious threat-postures. A massive torso, thick arms, giant guns..." Utopia Ruler tut-tuts. "-Oh my." He gestures to your Tempest Scrander, with a casual wave of a white glove.

"Look at that ridiculous contraption. Everything sacrificed for speed and lift, no matter the aesthetics. No thought to grace, or beauty; Icarus fell from the summer sky, but he dreamed the dreams of eagles."

"But someone looked at *that*, and thought: Toad."

A pause.

"-No offence."

"Still - And you can take my word for it - I did not stint on strength." Utopia tips his hat.

"This is my magic armour, Joker."

A flourish, and he has a thin rod in one hand - A black wand capped at both ends with ivory.

"-And this my sword."

(Continued)

>>32525072

Void Anchors. We have one chance, one, to hand out as many as we can. We can always use the excess charge to research.

File: 1330985504955.jpg (19 KB, 500x375)

19 KB JPG

>>32525120
I like this guy.

>>32525120
And Why do I want to PUNCH this guy through the heart.

Also JokerOP, Been a big fan of your quest for a while

>>32525120
Guys, a good idea might be to upgrade our Shroud at the next opportunity.
I think it might allow us to fight fire with fire.

>>32525120
I now have this hilarious idea of taking off all of our Relics and fighting us in our beautiful basic frame.

>>32525072
Two and two, should have guessed. I'll throw in for the Thrones.

>>32525159
God no.

>>32525120
I wonder what would happen if we threw this guy into the grinder.

>>32525197
I want this to happen.

File: galactic-pretty-boy[1].jpg (120 KB, 1280x720)

120 KB JPG

>>32525209
Ginga Bishonen Joker?

>>32525221
Gods no, was picturing more like Kamen Rider Wizard Joker

>>32525120

> [X] "And you would be...?"

"You have my title, but I favour my suffix..."

"-Ruler."

Another bow. "You could say that we're rivals in love. After all - We duel for the affections of our ladies, do we not? The kindly, beautiful ladies...To give them wings with which to fly, and claws with which to rend."

"Neither kindly not *quite* so beautiful then, I would think."

>[X] "About what?"

Ruler's wand taps lightly against the palm of his hand.

"About beauty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say - And desire is beauty's cousin." His cane sweeps the room, to indicate specific Players.

"It's hard to blot out it, if you can hear it. Their chitter-chatter minds, so lurid, so shallow. So...moist. It's repellant."

"That one, there - She's thinking about having a lover. Not out of any particular affection, mind you...Just for the feel of the thing. It's a fantasy she nurses, half-formed and gruesomely promiscuous...Like a bad smell, like something that never quite goes away."

"And that one - She wants to be carnal with her own brother."

He turns his head.

"Your black friend is no exception, I'm afraid. Foremost in his thoughts is a maiden clad in moonlight...And very little else."

Ruler chuckles. The sound is not pleasant.

(Continued)

>>32525170

Can we at least try to keep a buffer from the next thread?

So that we could potentially give out more than 2 void anchors when the meeting comes around?

Of course if Joker OP can be clearer as to which meeting comes first, we'll be able to plan out the buffer better so we can get more done first.

>>32525233

Oh wow.

I wonder what he sees that joker is thinking of.

>>32525246
3... 2... 1...
>Utopia Ruler rolls himeslf up in a ball of depression

>>32525197
Same thing that happens to everything else.

>>32525221
The coat seems to be a Relic, not part of his frame.

>>32525233
Oh my, how lewd. He can't read Joker though, can he?

>>32525239
Isn't the order here? >>32524304

And yes, I'm fine with picking up some VAs next session. Hell, I'm willing to stop Cherubs for one thread to buff energy gain for it. ONLY one thread though.

>>32525230
I guess that has style.

Hmmm...
Can we maybe spend some time on remodelling our Shroud to look more fashionable?

>>32525259
>Oh my, how lewd. He can't read Joker though, can he?
Reminds me of Ixion.

"Oh, the fictions we weave for ourselves..."

"But in you-"

His voice lowers, to a hush. "-In you, Joker, I see nothing. No love, no hatred, no desire...Just an absence. A hole in the shape of a person."

"Why, Joker...Compared to them, you're practically a saint!"

"We're in the same business, Joker. Birds of a feather. I see what people desire, and I give it to them...In amusing and ironic ways."

"And you - You give them what they *need*."

[ ] "And what's that?"
[ ] "Get to the point."
[ ] "I don't understand what this has to do with me."
[ ] "That's disgusting."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32525289
"So your mother was a genie and your father a peacock?"

>>32525289
"That's Disgusting... Get to the Point."

>>32525275
Reminds me of Vertigo Trisagion.

>>32525289
>[X] "I don't understand what this has to do with me."
>[X] "That's disgusting."
"I'm waiting for the punchline."

If his mind reading is a sensory ability, we might want to invest into the ECM suite.

>>32525289
"Doesn't that just make me an extremely boring person? What is your point?"

>>32525367
He can't read Joker though. It's probably hundred year sojourn related, but it could also be due to the Midas.

>>32525259

Well at least its the first item then.

We'll best start stockpiling abit of a buffer from the next thread.

>>32525315

> "So your mother was a genie and your father a peacock?"

He sighs. "-Loathsome boy. A jackal, I'm sure, features prominently in your lineage."

> [X] "That's disgusting."
> [X] "That's Disgusting... Get to the Point."

"Oh, but I beg to disagree. It is the world that is disgusting; I am but an observer."

> [X] "I don't understand what this has to do with me."
> [X] "Doesn't that just make me an extremely boring person? What is your point?"

"It makes you-" A pointed look for emphasis - "...The very first person I can tolerate. And, I hope, speak to as an adult."

Ruler gives you a sidelong glance.

"The Hyades system...Don't you think it's a loathsome thing? A system which drives us to fight solely in the name of the most appalling lechery...It's disgusting." He presses his gloved fingers together, as if trying to rub the stain away.

"The fact of the matter is..."

"...The world would be better without them."

[ ] "-I'm not so sure."
[ ] "...But you're a champion, yourself."
[ ] "Go on."
[ ] "I've had my doubts, yes."
[ ] "And - What do you plan to do about it?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32525438
"So, what do you plan to do about it, or are you just a pissant who wears fancy clothing?"

>>32525438
"In one sense it's actually quite clever. When Players reach a certain point they look back at what they've won and become afraid. The Hyade system gives them a cause to fight for, something noble, beautiful... and stupid."

>[X] "...But you're a champion, yourself."
>[X] "And - What do you plan to do about it?"

>>32525438
>"I've had my doubts, yes."
>"And - What do you plan to do about it?"

>>32525438
"This system is the ultimate irony of the Red. Using false love to force unquestionable loyalty on those who are deemed *worthy*."
>[x] "...But you're a champion, yourself."
"If I am empty, then just what are you to be immune to this system? A sarcastic deadman."
>[x] "And - What do you plan to do about it?"

>>32525438
>"...The world would be better without them."
"Actually, some of the girls are proper people instead of manipulative bitches. They deserve to get a shot at a full life.
I do agree that the system is insane, though. I would prefer if we could allow *all* the good girls to win.

In the end, they are scared of being trapped forever in their demenses. Is it so bad that they'd do anything for a shot at freedom?

And how can you even voice these thoughts? Shouldn't you be brainwashed by your girl?"

>>32525480

Too hostile. Let's hear him out before we turn him down.

>>32525501
Yeah, some trash talking is okay, but this is overdoing it.

>>32525480
Yeah let's not insult him.

>>32525501
I sorta agree but at the same time I want to see how this goes. We're far beyond maximum joker now.

And from the tone of his voice, well killing off all the Hyades seems like plain insanity so Yeah

>>32525493
No they're all nuts.

>>32525528
Cybele is just a scared girl and the Hyades in the first fight actually died for her champion.

>>32525493

> I do agree that the system is insane, though. I would prefer if we could allow *all* the good girls to win.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you would. But please."

"-*Spare* me. You're making me quite ill."

If he had eyes, he'll be rolling them.

Ruler flicks his wrist, and a white cloth appears it in - A cloth he uses to delicately dab at his helmet, where his mouth should be. He shudders, a measured gesture; "There, you see? If I had a stomach, I would vomit."

> [X] "...But you're a champion, yourself."

"-Indeed I am." His voice sours. He tosses his wand lightly to his other hand, like a conductor's baton. "And I'm quite displeased with the infection that's taken root. It's like..."

Ruler searches for the most distasteful words he can find.

"-It's like a disease."

"You know," he adds, thoughtfully, "-When you're afflicted, you can *never* quite remember how it felt to be well. The sickness becomes your entire world, and it swells to eclipse everything else."

> [X] "And - What do you plan to do about it?"

(Continued)

>>32525513
I want to troll the living fuck out of him

>>32525532
Cybele doesn't understand the concept of "not fighting". Blame it on the conditions she's been in or on her, that's not healthy.

Also "love" and "mental instability" are not incompatible, though I wouldn't be so crass as to say that they're one and the same. But I DO NOT suggest treating any of the Hyades as "just a scared girl". If not for her bond to Joker she'd cheerfully induce her champion to murder Joker for the armor. They may or may not be victims, but that doesn't change that they're ALIEN.

>>32525561

"Well," he says, briskly - "Well, that's the interesting part. You see - Our gracious hosts have not been entirely forthcoming. You've heard of the Diadem, I trust? The tower on the mount, that overlooks Arcadia?"

"That, I believe, is the core of the system. That is the cause of the strife that grips us, even now."

"-If I can get you inside, through means devious and arcane..."

"...Perhaps you could find a cure."

His tone implies rather more than that. And 'cure', if you listen carefully, almost rhymes with 'kill them all.'

[ ] "Why don't you just...Throw the fight?"
[ ] "...Do you really hate her that much?"
[ ] "-Can you do it?"
[ ] "What's in it for me?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>32525561
So, basically, a sociopath became a Hyades champion. Which is hilarious, because sociopaths don't have the same feelings as real people.

I love this twist. And we will be able to murder him without remorse.
His motivation seems to be that he wants to murder them all for entirely selfish reasons.

>>32525589
I have suffered through long-term depressions. I know very well how the Hyades feel.
They CAN'T become well-adjusted people until they can leave their demenses. They seem to be artificial beings, but they also seem to have the full spectrum of human emotion.
Just look at Cybele. Her initial stance was to get a strong champion and finally get the fuck out of that space. Then it didn't work and she realized that we are a person. And now she's obsessed with us, because we are the only person in her life.
This tells us many things. Like that the Hyades are capable of empathy and other naturally human emotions.

>>32525620
>"-Can you do it?"
>"What's in it for me?"

>>32525620
>[ ] "Why don't you just...Throw the fight?"
>[ ] "...Do you really hate her that much?"
Shouldn't it be your priority to just leave this situation and go on your merry way?

>[ ] "What's in it for me?"

>>32525620
>[ ] "What's in it for me?"
I neither love or hate this system, so give me one good reason why I should care?

>>32525620
>[X] "...Do you really hate her that much?"
>[X] "What's in it for me?"

Chance to spring Hellebore? Chance to save Bishamon.

Hm. Chance to weaken the Smilers if we can get Alura.

>>32525622
She's NOT emphasizing with Joker, and she has not magically come to respect him as a thinking sentient being. She is not a sufferer of depression.

She and the others like her are honeytraps. They brainwash people. Argent called it pretty much perfectly.

>>32525682

Not really saving bishamon.

We kill his waifu, he comes after us.

>>32525710
We kill the Hyades and we might break the mind-control.

>>32525719
Too much of a risk. Ideally, we should find the guy Bishamon castrated before assuming anything.

[X] "Why don't you just...Throw the fight?"

"And rely on the tender mercies of another Player? To be blunt - I'd sooner trust a snake to nurse a kitten."

Ruler's wand hums, as he spins it in his hand - "Either way, I'm still placing a modicum of trust in the hands of a desperate, dangerous and lethal individual...But it puts me *out* of the line of fire."

"You can see, I trust, why one is preferable to the other."

> [X] "...Do you really hate her that much?"

"Of course not," Ruler says, frankly. "I love her. I would do anything for her..."

"-And I despise myself for every moment of it."

> [X] Shouldn't it be your priority to just leave this situation and go on your merry way?

He gives a slightly irritated shake of his head. "It should be, but it's hardly so simple. Casuality has arrayed itself against us; Once a Hyades has chosen to challenge, you *will* be here. You *will* accede to it."

Ruler's wand taps lightly against his palm. "In a way, the implications of that are terrifying. Perhaps we *have* no free will, in what we call the 'real world' - And the Red is the true expression of cause and effect."

"An unseen undercurrent that defines the world."

> "-Can you do it?"

"Oh, I can do one better, Joker."

"-I can *show* you how to do it."

> "What's in it for me?"

Ruler inclines his head; If he had eyebrows, they'd be arched.

"Some would say that honest toil is it's own reward...But I've never believed it, myself. Awful saying; Deceptive, too. It implies that labour is inherently virtuous."

(Continued)

so anons I'm pretty sure that were kazuya.

remember how kazuya is a null in the red?

thats because hes incapable of going to the red, becauze he never really left. it's also why we switch play part of the last second. why our name is anon.

when our heart got cored we were separated. we both would have died if it hadn't been for the red Joker Armor.

frost cestus was pulling apart but the joker armor was containing it. it cod really save the armor but it could save the most important bit anon.

the reason the armor so broken is because we're using it as a main armor instead of as an overshell.
were a hyades running on the red Joker virtual machine

>>32525740
Not a bad idea if we can find him. I think we might raid the Diadem anyway just to say we did it (and for loot), and if nothing else it's one place we can check off as not Hellebore's location.

>>32525764
...Or maybe the fact that the Red is a world of souls made manifest should tell you what happens when another entity latches on to your soul?

OP, I have a meta question:
According to the timeline, we became the Red Joker six years ago.
So... What did the Joker frame look like at the beginning, considering that we had six years to level up?
Did it start off with a featureless red frame, with wrist-mounted slingshots that required meter to create ammunition?
Did we even have arms at that point?

>>32525801
Just now jumping into the Joker thread hype and there's a timeline?

>>32525812
Not as such. I keep an episode guide: http://pastebin.com/DNGtTt04

It covers all the content in the quest but doesn't try note the exact date/time of events, or things that happened before the story started (save for flashbacks).

It is missing a few threads, they're being filled in as I have the energy.

>>32525812
More or less.
There was a huge-ass calamity six year ago, which nuked part of town, created a bunch of players and forced us to live through one hundred years of Red World in the span of a single day. We started as Frost Cestus (That's where our Crisis arm comes from, in fact) but left as Red Joker.

>>32525682
>She's NOT emphasizing with Joker, and she has not magically come to respect him as a thinking sentient being. She is not a sufferer of depression.

I was just saying that the situation is similar - Being caught in a world where you can't experience most emotions.

>She and the others like her are honeytraps. They brainwash people. Argent called it pretty much perfectly.
Yes, that's what they are designed to be. However, the system is based on brainwashing.
Which didn't happen with us. That's why I take the stance that she suddenly realized that we are a person.
Especially after the rooftop thing - Originally, she probably assumed that we were brainwashed. And then she found out that we weren't and that we did it out of free will.

In the end, we seem to have very heavily diverging interpretations. I see the Hyades as artificial people that are made to be attractive, with the purpose to trap players.
You see them as artificial inhuman beings with the same purpose.
The difference is that I'm of the opinion that they are actually perfectly capable of experiencing the full spectrum of human emotions, despite the purpose of their existence.

>>32525801

(While I can't reveal that at present, you may have the chance to find out.)

>>32525764

"But in the event that you find a cure for my condition-"

"In the event that you find a way to lift the yoke from our shoulders..."

"-Why, then I shall be your man."

He bows, deeply, from the waist.

"Would you care to know what Enfer desires, Joker? Or Bell Zephyr, perhaps? Or Kraken, and his paramour - The lady of the black rose?"

He pauses, thoughtfully. His wand ceases it's humming arc.

"No - You want more, I think. You want to know what the Pazuzu desires..."

"-And turn his heart to dust in your hands."

"Put like that, Joker...Your power is greater than mine. All I can do is give people - The whole sinful lot of them - what they *want*."

"But you, Joker - You are a marvel."

"You give them all they truly deserve; And all they will ever need."

JOKER QUEST

EPISODE 96

TO BE CONTINUED

>>32525856
I don't think she sees this as, "He's immune to the imprint, he must have done what he did of his own free will."

I think she's explained Joker saying "No" away as a glitch, because since then Joker's done everything she wanted. There's no longer any sense of cognitive dissonance because everything is how it should be, Joker being wildly and passionately in love her her, and winning for her.

Thank you for arguing so rationally anon, it's a pleasure.

>>32525923
Oh hell the fuck yes. Thanks for the thread OP! I think there's a minor consensus on building now: Assaults with Cherubs off for next thread.

>>32525801

(But yes, I can safely say that you had arms and something more than wrist-mounted slingshots at that point.)

>>32525923

(Gentlemen; My sincerest apologies for the abrupt ending. It is extremely late on my end, and I'm exhausted - I would love to continue, but this looks like a natural stopping-point.

Again, I must apologize for the relatively limited ground that was covered in this session - As well as the comparatively slow pace of the day.

I must admit that I have exams upcoming, and I will mostly likely be able to run one or two more sessions before I have to pause for my studies - However, I will be able to resume after the 22/06/2014.

Good night and God bless; You've been a wonderful audience, and I hope to see you again soon.)

>>32525949

(A quick addition: If there's a consensus on what research to take, I'll be happy to record it accordingly.)

File: 1359120869663.jpg (25 KB, 397x520)

25 KB JPG

>>32525923
Man this guy is slimy.
I like him.

>>32525961
Assaults and Cherubs off for an energy boost.

>>32525961
Well the vote had a slight majority for the model, so go with that.

>>32525978

HOLLOW SUN: 3.7%

CHERUBIM HARDSHELL PRODUCTION:
> [X] OFF

> [X] RESEARCH: ASSAULT HARDSHELL

>>32525923
...I find myself liking this guy more and more with every passing moment. Creepy as fuck, but...very, very useful.

If I might, I feel our response should be, "You know exactly what it is I want most. Pazuzu, dead. The suit given to the one I love. Can you help me in either venture?"

>>32525790
that sounds like bullshit but I believe it

>>32525923
Man, that is pure temptation.

Too bad that pulling the plug would likely result in Cybele's death.
Then again, Joker has universal Plug and Play (or pray, rather), so we might have some control.

>>32525923
This guy is a glorious bastard. I really want to see where this goes.

>>32526004
>>32526016
He's a simple guy. He knows exactly what he wants.
He should be rather easy to deal with.

There's hilarity in the fact that he can't read our mind, though. What if we get what we want and then allow our disgust to unload on him?

>>32525923

>"You give them all they truly deserve; And all they will ever need."

I don't get it. What does he mean by that?

>>32526004
The thing is he doesn't know what Joker wants. That's half the point of this conversation.

And no, Joker did not love Hecate. That was the other half. He can't feel human emotion.

>>32526042
Death.

>>32526042
Death after knowing the loss of everything they worked for.

>>32526040
What Joker should want more than anything else is to get his humanity back. And why unload on him? He's being perfectly honest and forthright.

>>32526068
>And why unload on him? He's being perfectly honest and forthright.
Yes, but the dude also outright stated that he's a sadistic fuck.

>>32526040
Eh. Our current, immediate goal should be getting the Chalice Queen suit. We can hand that over to Hecate when we find her.

The real question we should ask is if it's possible to kill the hyades, and STILL get the suit. It'd solve several problems...

>>32526084
>sadistic fuck
Not really. He said that he fucking hates having his feelings manipulated and doesn't care about other people's lives.
He's simply a sociopath and nihilist, not a maniac with a sadistic streak.

>>32526084
Considering the other people we deal with? The fact that he admits he has a problem--ANY problem--puts him ahead of everyone but Natsumi and Kouichi.

>>32526087
You're really not going to like that reunion. Just putting that out there, it won't be pretty if I'm reading the Smilers right.

>>32526093
Extreme narcissist I think.

>>32526122
She probably won't approve of what we've done, but there was one guy who proposed pushing everything off as being a manipulative psychopath.

>>32526122
>Extreme narcissist I think.
Aren't most nihilists?
>>32526122
>You're really not going to like that reunion.
I think it'd be worth it simply because it'd make for one hell of a mindfuck.

>>32526093
>He's simply a sociopath and nihilist, not a maniac with a sadistic streak.

See:
>>32525289
>I see what people desire, and I give it to them...In amusing and ironic ways.

Yes, he's a sadistic fuck. He outright says so.

Joker doesn't play with his victims. He taunts and then kills them, but he doesn't utilize mind rape as a mainstay tactic.

>>32526162
Being sadistic to a player is like being sadistic to a nazi. MAYBE you're hurting a decent individual who just got caught up in the flow of things, but really, noone's gonna look twice at it.

>>32526152
>>32526157
Not the way I mean it. The Smilers are an evil organization whose modus operendi for their own people in good standing is "pour mutagenic hate over them and see what happens". Hecate betrayed them. And then they recaptured her.

It's not going to be pretty. She'll be lucky if they killed her.

>>32525923
I find this guy more trust-worthy then Triasgon; not saying much but people made comparisons.
I also like the idea of getting this guy on side because he could net us Enfer and I suspect Enfer would be more than willing to work with Joker if given the choice.

But, first, we need to ask him if we can get out of her so we can meet up with our gang. Plans have to be formed.

He also seems to like us...and really, there's a far more important reason we should attack the Diadem anyway; we can sink a Void Anchor in it and increase production of our Hellions.

>>32526180
Thanks, my grandfather was forced to fight for the Nazis in WW2.
I really appreciate your approval of casual sadism against people that are tangentially associated with certain groups.

Dude, seriously. Fuck you.
If everyone thought like you, there'd be no reason to remove the death penalty.

>>32526162
>Yes, he's a sadistic fuck. He outright says so.
I don't really think it's the kind of thing Joker would care about. Not that he cares about anything that doesn't concern people he cares about.
As long as we can secure his loyalty through this favor, he would make for a glorious ally simply because in any other story he'd be the main villain.

>>32526198
>we can sink a Void Anchor in it
Welp, that will *definitely* disable the Hyades system and derail the entire tournament.

>>32526198
Limiter is still active, we might be in for a stealth mission.

>>32526210
And yet, the FPS franchise gained its foothold by setting players against the nazis, while you don't see many games where you play as them. Face it, the Nazis are, culturally, the universal bad guy. I'm not saying every german soldier tortured kittens, and in fact many of them simply fought because they feared what the government might do more than the enemy. But that doesn't make my statement less true; Noone will look askance at a Player being fucked with, because if the player has survived this long...he probably has done something to deserve it, somewhere along the line.

File: 1348044970673.jpg (150 KB, 468x683)

150 KB JPG

>>32526198
>joker walks into the tournament
>fucks everything up for everyone by VAing Diadem
>dude what the fuck why
>i wanted to make more robots

>>32526188
And yet that isn't certain. Pazuzu needed Hecate, so it's possible that he's still keeping her somewhere since she can be put to better use than as just a simple grunt mutant.
And either way, I just want to see this to the end, regardless of horrifying it may be.

>>32526237
>>32526229
Yes, it might be a good way of having our cake and eating it took; disabling the competiton and not having to kill Cybele, Bish or Ogre. Alternatively, it will kill every single Hyades and still result in 2/3 surviving.

>>32526275
The Joker M.O. is fucking shit up; why break out routine now?

>>32526259
Dude, are you even aware of what the fuck you are doing?
There are NO BAD GUYS in real life. If you think any other way, you must be completely brain damaged. The only exception is explicit psychopaths with a sadistic streak - Just like this dude.
Other players fight to survives. He tortures them mentally for shits and giggles.

Or do you intend to defend the American soldiers that raped women in Europe because people in Europe aren't actual people?
Fuck you, dude.

Do we really want to stop the tournament before we brutally murder Kraken? If we don't get him now, he'll probably be with Rust Kaiser next time. And fuck that guy, rust op.
Wait. What if the Daegle brand Daegle is immune to rust?

>>32526276

You have to wonder. Why DOES Pazuzu need Hecate? It's interesting to note that he didn't focus his attacks on her, but on us. Sure, we were a bigger threat, but he didn't go out of his way to crush her.

>>32526210
>>32526259
The amount of people the Nazis committed war crimes on negates your position. Men under orders or with a gun to back of their heads will still kill or torture you as ones that don't.

But I wouldn't be so short sighted as to say this applies to just the Nazis but any soldier in any war.

>>32526227
Most Players tend to be pretty fucked up. Look at Scarlet, Ogre or Isao or even Rook. Just because one is more brutal then the others doesn't really change didly squat.

>>32526306
She can create artifacts.

>>32526276
Put to what better use? She's dangerous. If he's smart he killed her, and if he's evil he's used her in an experiment. He's both.

>>32526300
The arm is, the gear held by the arm somewhat less so.

>>32526306
>Why DOES Pazuzu need Hecate?
Does he?

>>32526295
Unit 731 says hi. Face it anon, there are some people who are evil. Nobody could do stuff like them, Mengle or Stalin and still try to claim that they are morally justified.

>>32526306
Now that I think about it, Bardiel attacked her on his own and was later sent all alone to take out the Joker. It's possible that Pazuzu wasn't quite pleased with the results of that fight.

>>32526332
That's why I mentioned sadistic fucks in my post.
There are a few undeniably bad guys.

The other guy argued that torturing a bunch of people was okay because some of those people might be bad themselves. Which is completely fucked in the head.

>>32526335
He attacked of his own volition. No Smiler conspiracy there.

>>32526306
Head researcher, remember? She probably first began the Amagalm project and Collector enslavement along with Kraken.

>>32526300
I've forgotten; what makes Rust so OP again?

>>32526347
Is it better to take the risk and let yourself get stabbed Anon? The Red World isn't like real life and we can't apply real life ethics to it.

>>32526356
This.

>>32526363
>I've forgotten; what makes Rust so OP again?
Rust storms and effectively infinite HP, as well as lots and lots of muscles, iirc.

I figured it might just be really gay so he didny like the fact that he had been forced to lust after a girl

>>32526363
Kraken implied he was a recent recruit.

>I've forgotten; what makes Rust so OP again?
Two things: Shutting down all kinds of tech and being nigh-invulnerable.

>>32526295
Of course there are bad guys. Who those bad guys are depends on where you're standing. Objectively speaking, nothing you believe matters, so we must deal in subjective.

>>32526363

He's hideously, absurdly strong and practically invincible. He shrugs off most attacks aimed at him, and isn't fazed by the ones that do hit. He also has the ability to generate hurricane-force winds that shut down all technological equipment.

Rust Kaiser also has a REALLY BIG sword that is at least as good as Kraken's axe. He's chopped people in half without slowing, and has survived being cut open with the Fatal Abyss and shot repeatedly in the heart.

>>32526421
Oh, he also apparently comes back from the dead.

>>32526393
He was with Pazuzu when he showed all of his lieutenants the thing.


>>32526397
Again, Unit 731. The things they did were monstrosities, no matter where you stand.

Also, Reinhard Heydrich was so evil Hitler christened him "The Man With The Iron Heart". Somethings are evil, no matter where you stand.

>>32526421
>>32526393
We killed him once when we were much weaker; I don't see how he's still so terrifying.

>>32526421
>He also has the ability to generate hurricane-force winds that shut down all technological equipment.
You know, maybe we SHOULD invest in a sleeker design.
It would prevent the sand from clogging our systems.

>>32526443

We had the Thief helping us. And the Thief has the best sword in the entire game.

>>32526443
The only reason we managed that was because the Thief dealt more damage to him in one hit than we did during 3/4 of the battle.
He's also become stronger than then and can tank just about anything we throw at him.
He is the worst opponent for Red Joker.

I think I have a good idea for anti-Kaiser countermeasures:
Use the shroud to fill cloggable elements. With Muleta, it should be capable of moving without impeding.

>>32526501
I have a better idea. It's quite complex, but it should be nearly foolproof. All we have to do is ____________________________DROP DA KILLSAT____________________________ and it should be easy to win.

>>32524665

Has anyone heard the Robert W. Chambers poem about the Hyades? This arc seems to draw a lot of inspiration from it.

>>32526527
Link? I like poetry,

>>32526484
Do we actually know if he's stronger or not?

>>32526542
>Do we actually know if he's stronger or not?
He's a player. Players grow stronger over time.

>>32526542

It's from The King in Yellow.

Along the shore the cloud waves break,
The twin suns sink behind the lake,
The shadows lengthen In Carcosa.

Strange is the night where black stars rise,
And strange moons circle through the skies,
But stranger still is Lost Carcosa.

Songs that the Hyades shall sing,
Where flap the tatters of the King,
Must die unheard in Dim Carcosa.

Song of my soul, my voice is dead,
Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed
Shall dry and die in Lost Carcosa.

>>32526551
He always seemed part Collector to me and we saw him recently; no real changes were obvious.

>>32526542
Joker+Thief>Rust Kaiser
Joker=Kraken+Rook
Kaiser>Kraken
Thief>Rook
Joker<Kaiser
Kaiser>Joker
Kaiser>>>>>>>A Joker that's already blown his load fighing scrubs + Kraken/Zuzu/Bell

>>32526619

They're actually an adventuring party.

Kraken is the all-rounder.
Enfer is the guy who blows stuff up.
Rust Kaiser is the tank.
Alura Une can control minds.
Pazuzu is the Wizard, and is the most powerful of the lot.

>>32526619
>Joker<Kaiser
>Kaiser>Joker
Heh.

>>32526636
>Pazuzu is the Wizard, and is the most powerful of the lot.
Fucking Pathfinder.

>>32526636
>>32526643
So what is Joker? A shotgun wizard?

>>32526636
Bell Zephyr is one of the player's GF, but she's not really into the RP and sort of ruins it for everyone.

>>32526657
Joker is the recurring boss that slaps everyone's shit except for the tank, because the tank has a fucking crazy build that shuts the guy down utterly.
Every time he pussies out, he comes back with more guns.

>>32526657

I'm not sure. Note that the other players have a lot of 'themed' powers, while we don't have any themed powers at all. All we have are guns.

Bell Zephyr has this relic that creates a second face on her back. The second face seems to speak what she's really thinking.

>>32526677
>Joker is the recurring boss that slaps everyone's shit except for the tank, because the tank has a fucking crazy build that shuts the guy down utterly.
>Every time he pussies out, he comes back with more guns.
So Kaiser is the JRPG protag and Joker is the recurring Midboss?

>>32526695
Our theme is guns. Problem is that we multiclassed into a wizard, monk and summoner while having Batman's arsenal and have become a Chimera of themes.

>>32526695
>All we have are guns.
Our theme is red skin with blue energy.
Plasma, napalm, Cobalt Booster (technically not part of our armor, though), etc.

It's never explicitly stated, but I'm sure that our plasma is blue. After all, our napalm warheads are and so is our Cobalt booster.

The Red world is called such because of the red sky. The opposite of red is blue.
And the red Joker has blue arsenal...

>>32526713
>So Kaiser is the JRPG protag and Joker is the recurring Midboss?
The Smilers are the MC's organization that tries to save the world or further a conspiracy or something.
Joker is the recurring boss and rival that constantly throws a spanner into your works. In the end, he appears to fuck your shit up and cause a bad end.
Why? Because you made the wrong choices in the game and caused to trigger "Joker hates you" flags.

>>32526636
Is Pazuzu really that bad? I mean, he's been busy with his grandmaster keikaku, and we've pretty much been powerleveling. He was stronk in Nara Dreamland, but I'm much more afraid of Kaiser than I am of him.

>>32526713
Kaiser is Red, Joker is Blue/Gary Motherfucking Oak.

>>32526742
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCXvL6FApaI

By the way, remember the description of our black hole gun?
>"However, the weapon's reaction is fuelled by a mysterious black 'core' sealed within the Red Joker's armour, the properties of which are unknown."
Maybe we should try to investigate that.

>>32526835

How?

Cut ourselves open?

...actually we can scan outselves now once the research is complete.

>>32527016
We could try upgrading the Red Comet's sensor array, and then having Tyrian jury-rig that into a high-intensity scan.

>>32527158
Have you forgotten the Terminus Scanner?
It might be ready next session.

>>32527346
Sweetness.

Also, we should PROBABLY look into turning Legion into a relic...I get the feeling he'll make something fun. Something like an upgraded Gospel Array.

>>32527460
I think most people currently prefer to finally get the next limiter upgrade.
Especially now that we have Daegal.

The next upgrade will tell us if there are dimishing returns, which allows us to plan if we also want to get the third limiter. If there are dimishing returns, we shouldn't get past three.
Otherwise it makes more sense to take all of them.

>>32527581
A legion relic that allows for full-army unit cohesion can be utterly lethal, when combined with the Hellions. There will be others, less important, but a Legion relic might pertain directly towards making the Hellions a more lethal fighting force.

>>32527655
I for one am excited to see TACTICOOL OPERATOR HELLIONS.

So when the Helions were first introduced, I think it was said that it's very much a "Use it once and then you have to generate all those Helions again" deal. Is that still the case? Are all of these upgrades going into one big bang?

>>32529094
Don't make any assumptions. Who'd have thought we'd get the Gauntlet from a low-level electricity using Player? Who'd have thought it would be our most important Relic by a mile?

There's no way to tell what it'll be, but it should be cool. But I still want the level up.

>>32529170
So far as we know yes. We can spend 40 points to learn how to summon individuals from any one Hellion type but when we fire the Sun it's all going to go off at once.

>>32529170
Well since they can now level up from kills, they are a mite bit more than disposable. I think we need more upgrades to make them self-sustaining.

>>32529220
>>32529225
Cool. I was just wondering why we were spending all of our charge on Hellions instead of swanky gear for our friends. But if it leads to summoning and self-sustaining, that's perfect.
I should really follow the crunch more.

>>32526275
>>32526198
>>32526229
Let's take the goddamn deal.

Fucking up the Hyades System means we don't have to kill Bishamon. Joker is a maverick, expecting him to play by the rules is insane. We can't beat the system, but we can break it. Let's live up to our name and pull the most gigantic wild card possible, right out of the left field. A gambit so huge that everybody else at the tournament just sort of shakes their head and silently asks 'What the fuck, Joker?'

And THEN tell Natsumi, Kouichi and Kazuya what we did.

>>32526526
Well, yes, shooting him with Time Beams might put a dent in the old rustbucket.

>>32529489

I'm fascinated by the tangled web of relationships in the whole thing. Most of the interactions are driven by love, but this is the first time we've met someone who's driven solely by hatred.

>>32529489
But if we don't fuck up the system, we get a clear shot at fucking destroying Kraken when he has no place to hide.
I don't want the fucker to escape again. I don't want him to live. He has to die. I am fine with Joker killing as many people as he has to as long as Kraken is one of them.

>>32529489
I'm all for it. Let's just make sure we catch Alura in this as well, so we don't make her the Chalice Queen by accident.

>>32529567
It's spite on his part. He's also in love with his Hyade and does not like it.

>>32529567
And it makes him very easy to manipulate, frankly. I think he's spent far, far too long relying on his ability to read people.

>>32529604
I think he's cheating. Kraken's not here, and Alura not in her demense means she can't be challenged.

>>32529489
I have a better idea, when we infiltrate the diadem... we steal -ALL- the hyades contract powers for ourselves and turn off the brainwashing effect. Then we can really fuck shit up.

>>32529644

If you could read people's minds, the need for communication takes a backseat. I wonder how he actually kills his enemies, though.

Didn't they say that some of the players here are extremely powerful? Like Aegis could win the entire tournament by himself? I don't see how anyone could have beat Legion, if he wasn't us.

We almost lost because we kept fighting and fighting, even though the whole place was a trap.

>>32529604
I want to kill Kraken as well. Believe me, I really, really do.

But I absolutely can't pass up this opportunity. The amount of absurd bullshit we can potentially generate here is astronomical. We'll get another chance at Kraken, eventually, this is once in a lifetime. Besides, it will indirectly screw him over as well. This is an absolutely beautiful chance to show everyone exactly how much Joker cares about the rules of the Red World.

>>32529682
If we can pull that off, by all means, but I don't see how we could do it.

The Diadem VA is a great plan, and very, very simple. We tell Ruler that we'll kill them all, then plant the VA and shut the whole thing down, supercharging the Hollow Sun in the process and giving us more resources to create an army of Hellions to drown the Red.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCXvL6FApaI

Somebody in a QTG pointed out that some of the lyrics here were eerily fitting for Red Joker. I can never actually catch this damn quest while it's running, but I figured I'd drop it in here because I thought it was pretty cool.

>>32529689
Aegis and Ruler are the favorites to win after Joker. Ruler probably could read the Armiger clones similar to how Joker reaped them. No idea with Aegis, but he sounds like a badass. Also both of them almost certainly would have a Hyade running interference for them.

>>32529823
You might as well have added the other two mentioned:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy5oScOYvpc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOW47FqLq9s

How much do you think the spectators saw during the Armiger fight? From their perspective, did Joker destroy a clone, disappear, and then pop out of the ground as the announcer shouted "RED JOKER WINS"?

>>32530000

They probably saw the giant Metal Gear fight rage across the city.

>>32529621
>I'm all for it. Let's just make sure we catch Alura in this as well, so we don't make her the Chalice Queen by accident.
Issue:
Mio and Cybele
I want to bring Cybele into the real world and allow her to become a fully fledged human being.
And Mio may or may not be related to the Hyades.

>>32530000
It was more like:
>Armiger tries to handshake Joker
>Joker puts up a barrier and is hidden from sight
>Joker re-appears in a tank
>Tank battle
>Tank heavily damaged, dissolves in a blinding light
>Joker goes Mortal Kombat on a bunch of Armigers
>Joker goes underground
>JOKER IS WIN

>>32530153
I half suspect they've got Hellebore locked up in this place's basement. Seeing as she has an Player form she's probably protected against whatever we're going to do to the Hyades. Mio shouldn't be affected by this.

And let's just say that for various reasons I don't think that thing with Cybele is possible.

At the current pace, we might get to the truthtelling shit to our friends at thread 100.
Thread 100 recap celebration?

>>32531024
I find it amusing how people hyped it up as the "direction-changing session" and now we're all hyped as fuck for ruining everyone's day.

>>32531065
We did make the initial arrangements, though. Two mentions of "I'll explain later".

Personally, I'm glad that we didn't get far. It allows us to get more Hollow Sun stuff.

>>32531065
Joker Quest, everyone

>>32531065
Technically we're going to make the day better for a lot of people, and worse for many others.

But one thing is for certain, a lot of people are going to be asking what the fuck.

So, Cybele explained the concept of a Moratorium as "a player unattuned to armor; or rather, one who was not intended to be a player to begin with." (She's also the only person to ever actually USE the term "Moratorium", which is also something of note, since it makes me think it might be a Hyades-specific term. She didn't recognize the term Corrector at first, which is another point in favor of them having their own lexicon for Red World concepts.)

Hyades are similarly unattuned, and the entire purpose of becoming Chalice Queen is to allow them to access the Red in earnest.

And IIRC we never read a player signature from Cybele until she lost her Hyades form:

>You make out the outlines of alien, arcane machinery - Impossibly complex, yet all integrated into one. Like the petals of a metallic flower, protective shutters iris shut over the curving glass. In their silent rows, all around you - Rising up like vertical coffins - the shapes resemble nothing more than... -Servers.

>The shape before you is partly like a throne, and partly like a casket. Systems hum within, as it rises from its recess; Within that integument, your sensors isolate an Essence signature - Trapped, like a moth in a lantern, casting flickering shadows as it flutters its wings.

>Within this sarcophagus-vault - With the universal chime that identifies a Player's form...

>CYBELE

What it looks like is that a Moratorium is basically the same as a Hyades, except for one is isolated from the Red in a Domain and one is not.

And if this is true, since Cybele now no longer has access to her Domain, if not for (what is probably) the Diadem interceding, maybe she would've become a Moratorium as well.

I'm mostly interested in seeing whether infiltrating the Diadem can help clear up what actually makes people into Hyades in the first place, and why it allows Seisin girls to transition locally when they can't anywhere else (which means they're not natural players at all).

It's like a WiFi Cradle.

>>32531281
>But one thing is for certain, a lot of people are going to be asking what the fuck.
I will put huge importance on aspects like the Ixion fights.
I want to see the hilarious reactions.

>>32531282
>She didn't recognize the term Corrector at first
This is not true. She has no interest in them, so rarely thinks about them.

>since Cybele now no longer has access to her Domain
This is also not true.

>>32531281
And thus Joker changes from the local disaster to both the Saint and Heretic at the same time.