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>>41853002
Ruin rolls her eyes. “I checked. Most of it was, but this brand of tuna is fine.” She nods at a small stack of tins on the table. “It’s due to the water and the metal of the tins. They serve as a serviceable barrier for fallout.”

You frown. “That still doesn’t sound healthy.”

Ruin nods. “Oh believe me, it’s not. Also, it tastes like poorly cooked Feline. Still…” She does the well-known shrug that translates to ‘This or death.’

You groan, you loathe the taste of Feline, but your stomach overrules you. You grab a can, open it with your knife, take a fork that Embers is offering, and dig in. As you eat, you look at the pair. They’re looking at you, and then they’re looking at each other. Also, they were up before you.

You have a sneaky suspicion that they might have been talking ABOUT you.

> Say nothing, just eat.
> Be unsubtle and ask them what’s bothering them.
> Try and change the topic and get them to focus on your plans for getting to the University.

>>41853010
>> Be unsubtle and ask them what’s bothering them.

>>41853010
> Be unsubtle and ask them what’s bothering them.
Was it the knife thing? It was probably the knife thing. But we're cool now.

>>41853010
> Be unsubtle and ask them what’s bothering them.
Yeah, I can support that.

>>41853010
>Be unsubtle and ask them what’s bothering them.

>>41853129
>cool
You mean icy, ashes is not fine. It's abundantly clear that she's multiple kinds of fucked up. Hell Ruin and Angora sensed it from a surface brush, and it scared them.

>>41853010
>> Be unsubtle and ask them what’s bothering them.

>>41853354
She's perfectly well adjusted for being a walk-the-wasteland scavenger. She lost her cool for a short bit, did a little eviscerating, but now she's absolutely cool. Probably happens to everyone.

>>41853331
"Is there something wrong?" You ask.

"Hmm?" Embers asks.

"Well, you two look like you were talking about something before I came in." You say.

Ruin looks away and Embers puffs out her cheeks.

"Look, it's nothing to do with you. Okay?" Embers snaps. "So just eat, and lets get to the University so we can see who wins the bet."

"Bet?" You ask.

"Ruin thinks Voice is a computer. I think she's a ghost." Embers says. "You know, like the ones floating in your head, only one got stuck in a radio."

"That's not how they work." You say.

"Oh, and suddenly you know EVERYTHING about how this freaky ghost-brain crap works?" Embers says.

For some reason the idea that the pair are so flippant about Voice, and don't believe that she's a person, REALLY makes you angry.

> Demand that they tell you what they were talking about earlier.
> Order them to stop joking, and saying bad things, about Voice.
> Shut up, glower at them, and eat.

>>41853476
> Order them to stop joking, and saying bad things, about Voice.
NO BULLY

>>41853476
> Shut up, glower at them, and eat.
Keep a lid on it. They're jumpy enough, no need to get defensive of our radio on top of things.

>>41853476
>"Leaving aside how you're talking about the very helpful, emotional, and understanding voice that we all owe our lives to multiple times over, was I talking in my sleep or something?"

>>41853476
>Why would we be angry of this? One of them is probably, the only other alernatives is that she's a hubris or a joy like us. Hubris is even more unlikely and if she was a joy she'd have said right?

>>41853476
>> Shut up, glower at them, and eat.

>>41853588
You aren't sure why, and it's a little simple to just say that you're angry, just hearing the pair make jokes about Voice, and imply that she's not going to be there, really upsets you. You want them to stop.

>>41853773
Ah abandonment issues.

>>41853469
Not really touching her head freaked out Ruin who had much the same if not worse experiences. She's emotionally stunted and anything that brings them out would turn her into a monster or a crybaby respectively.

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>>41853618
>>41853558
You glare at them, and eat the stale tuna.

'Ugh...morning.' Joy says in your head. 'About time you got some actual calories, and protein, in us.'

'You go away when I'm hungry?' You ask in your head.

'Well, more like we have to focus on keeping the rest of you alive and in peak condition. It's also why we go quiet when we fight.' Joy says. 'Speaking of, don't do the knife trick for a while.'

'Why?' You ask.

'It's...not working right. For the moment. If you use it, bad stuff could happen.' Joy says. 'That's the simplest way I can describe it...and I think I don't have the right vocabulary anyway. Just, no making knives from ash, unless it's REALLY needed.'

'Fine.' You sigh.

The three of you pack up your supplies. Then you head out into the streets of the Glassgrave.

"So, how are we getting to the University?" Ruin asks. "Or, should we be worried about Ribbons?"

> Continue to follow the street signs. Simplest route, but it's probably not the shortest, and it keeps you out in the open. However, you will not get lost.
> There's bus terminals with maps, if you can translate them, maybe you can find a quicker route that's out of the way. However, if you screw up, you might end up lost.
> Take the time to try and track down Ribbons. Leaving her out here alone, and with a cause for vengeance, is just the thing that will bite you in the ass.

>>41854245
>> Continue to follow the street signs. Simplest route, but it's probably not the shortest, and it keeps you out in the open. However, you will not get lost.

>>41854245
> There's bus terminals with maps, if you can translate them, maybe you can find a quicker route that's out of the way. However, if you screw up, you might end up lost.

>>41854245
> There's bus terminals with maps, if you can translate them, maybe you can find a quicker route that's out of the way. However, if you screw up, you might end up lost.

>>41854245
> There's bus terminals with maps, if you can translate them, maybe you can find a quicker route that's out of the way. However, if you screw up, you might end up lost.

Try to locate places with good loot

>>41854245
Remember to archive early

>>41854484
You hike aways down the street, and you come upon a bus shelter, and it still has a readable map. They etched the maps into the glass itself, so there's no worried about decay. Although, as you trace your hand over the glass, following the routes, the fallout sheen does wipe across it.

This looks like it's going to be a bitch to translate. The writing is small, and it's in a slightly different style than you're used to seeing, back in Penninsular.

> Translate Roll 1d20

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>41854592
rolling

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>41854592

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>41854592

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>41854642
Alright, you've actually got a good trail, if you cut across the highway here, and go through this tunnel there, and then get back up on the highway, you'll chop off about half the distance it would take you with just the highway. It helps that you're walking. It'll still take most of the day, and if you were driving, you'd still probably get there quicker.

However, a good plan is all you need to keep the other two, who are still talking to each other quietly, following you.

The walk over the highway is pretty dull, the other two keep hanging back behind you to talk. And the sun is bright in a clear sky.

You get to the point where you all jump off the highway. It's a 20-ish foot drop to the streets below you.

'We can handle that. No problem.' Joy says.

"This is going to be awesome!" Ember says, she gets a running start and leaps over the side, shrieking 'WHAHOOOOO!'

>>41854905
Ember, really?

>>41854905
She lands in a three point position on the ground and she waves back up at the three of you.

"THAT WAS AMAZING! Come on girls! Don't wimp out on me!" She yells.

Ruin looks at you, an eyebrow raised, a little unsure.

> Ask Ruin what the hell she and Embers are talking about.
> Sigh and jump.
> Let Ruin go next.
> Take Ruin with you as you Ash Dodge/Teleport to the ground.

>>41854961
> Sigh and jump.
Better get ready to catch Ruin just in case.

>>41854961
> Ask Ruin what the hell she and Embers are talking about.
then
> Sigh and jump.

>>41854961
>> Sigh and jump.

>>41854245
Is ruin black?

>>41854986
>>41855009
Why are we not asking?

>>41855045
because there's a non-zero chance that she'll just dodge the question (quite literally, by jumping ahead of us when we ask), and I think it's pointless to bother.

>>41855145
>I'm avoiding character development that EG has put forth twice because it might require a charisma roll.

>>41855037
Yes.

>>41855230
Thank you for the clarification.

>>41854986
>>41854991
>>41855009

You think about talking to Ruin...but you decide that it might not be best to stir the wasps' nest. You leap over the side of the highway.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>41855404
So I guess we're not addressing Lupa's problems until they bite us in the ass then.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>41855404
here we gooooo!

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>41855404

>this quest is run by EchoGarrote

Wow, I really should have noticed that sooner. Picked up!

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>41855457
You jump, and, just like Embers, land on the ground in a three-point position.

Although Embers does look a little miffed that your landing has a touch more of grace to it.

"Okay, Ruin!" Embers yells. "Your turn!"

"Alright..." You hear Ruin say, slightly unsure of herself.

She jumps.

>>41855717
crap. catch her!

>>41855717
Rip Ruin. We hardly knew her.

>>41855717
Yeah, it's a wild waving jump, and her dress blows up and into her eyes.

Embers' eyes go wide and you can see she's got a slightly longer Realize/React ratio than you do.

> Catch Ruin
> Ash Dodge up and catch her mid-air or at least slow her pursuit
> Focus your ash cloud so that she lands on something soft.

>>41855748
>> Focus your ash cloud so that she lands on something soft.

>>41855748
> Focus your ash cloud so that she lands on something soft.
Hope she doesn't mind the whole being covered in ash thing.

>>41855748
>> Focus your ash cloud so that she lands on something soft.

>>41855821
You gather your ash around you, and you focus it, just like you do when you make your armor.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>41855856
HWG

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>41855856
HWG

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>41855856
bump for more rolls.

Whoops! Was doing the dishes!
>>41855879
Good job!

>>41855879
WHUMPFFF! There's a huge plume of ash everywhere and Embers, who was in mid-gasp of horror, is now gagging and coughing.

Ruin is lying on the ground, in the epicenter of what looks like an ash explosion. She's blinking and very surprised, and also waving away ash from her eyes.

You help her to her feet.

"Thanks." Ruin says. She gives you a small grateful smile for a second. Then back to her neutral face.

The tunnel is long, smells of dank and old metal, and completely pitch black. No lights have been in this thing for ages. Even your vision is slightly hampered, only able to see about 20-ish feet ahead before the sheer lack of light robs you of any visibility.

Creepy things can hide in the dark. And light can be used to keep them away.

Then again, being the only lit thing in a dark tunnel is a very big target.

> Risk being eaten by a grue, or something else just as horrible, and go through the tunnel in the dark.
> Risk waking up whatever lives in here, and bring in a light source.

>>41856267
Risk waking up whatever lives in here, and bring in a light source.

>>41856267
>> Risk waking up whatever lives in here, and bring in a light source.
Forth and fear no darkness.

>>41856267
>> Risk waking up whatever lives in here, and bring in a light source.

>>41856267
We really need to keep an eye out for NVGs or such. I know its probably rare but we did find a sports car.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>41856281
>>41856304
>>41856449

"Anyone got a flashlight?" You ask, as you start to poke around in your pack.

"I got better." Embers says. She goes to a car, crashed into the tunnel's side, and she rips out one of the headlights. Then, holding the light with one hand, she flicks her finger against it with the other. The light springs to life, and makes a rather brilliant light, with little ember flecks swarming around it like fireflies.

Ruin gives her an appreciative golf clap, and you nod in approval. Embers bows, and the three of you make your way through the tunnel.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>41856698

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>41856698
>that roll
we gonna get ambushed

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>41856698
rolling
>>41856726
considering>>41856723 unlikely.

>>41856732
why do you do this

>>41856723
>>41856732
That shit never gets old

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>>41856732
You tempted them. You fucking tempted them and this is what you get.

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>>41856732
You just had to do that.
Just had to tempt fate.

>>41856723
>>41856732

Okay...so, the first bit of news is that this tunnel was apparently the den of an Alpha Hound, and his pack. Very nasty.

The good news is that, you're walking through the bones of them. Something slaughtered them all.

The bad news is that you can see what that thing is. It looks like a horse, only it's about the size of Hummer Truck, it has six, large, heavy looking cloven feet. And it's mouth has two mandibles that open in an upside-down Y manner. The jaw is lined with canines and incisors.

As a side note, just to make sure that your day is perfect, apparently Felines get along with this thing, as there's two of the monsters, eating the scraps that the big guy doesn't finish. They're jet black, and a lot smaller than the one you fought at the studio. Probably house cat origin.

Anyway, you've caught them all in the middle of lunch.

They obviously noticed you. However, with Ember's spotlight being so bright, and them caught flatfooted in lunch. You get a surprise round.

> Run
> Hide
> Ash Shot
> Ash Armor
> Ash Cloud
> Ash Choke
> Ask Knife (Please remember Joy's Warning.)
> Dodge Kick

>>41857054
And for those who'd like a reminder of what does what:

> Ash Shot
1d20 - Hits on 13+, 17+ add lost turn, Crit 2 Wounds + 1 Lost Turn

> Ash cloud
1d20, Created on 12+, Enemies roll 14+ or lost turn, Crit Fail wounds

> Ash choke
1d20, Lose 1 turn on 14+, 17+ lose two turns, Crit 2 turns lost + 1 wound

> Ash armor
Auto, Adds 2 hits, after summon turn can Ash dodge hits. (Dodge is -2 Hit Score, I.E. Enemy Roll is 17, dodge on 15+) Lose dodge upon losing 2 hits.

> Ash knife
2d20, Summon 2 knives. 14+ Hits, 19-20 Crit creates another 2 knives that hit at +15, another Crit creates 2 more knives at +16 hit, etc.

> Dodge Kick
2d20, Kicks, then Dodges and kicks again. Wounds on 13+, (NOTE: First Kick Must be 10+ or second kick auto fails) Crit 2 Wounds per kick

>>41857054
> Ash Cloud

>>41857054
>> Ash Cloud
RUN

>>41857074
>> Ash cloud
>1d20, Created on 12+, Enemies roll 14+ or lost turn, Crit Fail wounds

>>41857084
You focus you power and push it into the ground.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>41857225

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>41857225
nat 1

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>41857225
at least they aren't small joys

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>>41857084
>RUN
>Running from a horse thing.

Rolled 18, 4, 8, 2, 1 = 33 (5d20)

>>41857261
The tunnel explodes with ash.

You hear two Feline snarls and this throaty roar coming from the horse-thing.

Also you hear Embers and Ruin coughing a bit too.

>>41857329
man that 18....that 1

>>41857329
You hear Embers coughing and gagging, and Ruin sounds like she's throwing up.

The felines hack and spit.

Sleipnir doesn't look affect al all.

Congratulations for wasting your allies' surprise turn!

> Roll Initiative 1d10 (Cats, and Ruin and Ember will not act this round.)

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>41857390

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>41857390

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>41857390

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>41857390

Rolled 7, 7, 2, 10, 4 = 30 (5d10)

>>41857390
(For those who do not know, and don't wish to Google, Sleipnir was Odin's six-legged horse.)

Rolled 8, 16 = 24 (2d20)

>>41857414
Embers spends her turn coughing and gagging.

Sleipinr charges at the light source, Embers.

Feline A pounces at you.

>>41857407
...

>>41857499
Embers is able to move away, thanks to the cloud, but the Feline pounces on you, and sinks its claws, in.

You are able to shake it off.

Your turn.

The cloud is starting to dissipate.

> Run
> Hide
> Ash Shot
> Ash Armor
> Ash Cloud
> Ash Choke
> Ask Knife (Please remember Joy's Warning.)
> Dodge Kick

>>41857522
> Ash Armor

>>41857522
>> Ash Choke

>>41857522
>Ash Armour.

>>41857522
>> Ash Armor

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>41857533
You bring up your armor, and become slightly less solid.

Ruin is busy vomiting and choking.

Feline B goes for Embers.

Rolled 15, 3 = 18 (2d20)

>>41857694
It leaps and lands on Embers, but Embers is able to shake it off before it can claw or scratch hard.

Embers charges her shotgun.

Sleipnir charges at her again.

Feline A goes for you again. It has your blood and it likes the taste.

>>41857694
I think we need to learn how to make our Ash Cloud so that friendly fire is not a concern.

>>41857734
Embers just barely dodges, and you're damn certain that's because the ash cloud was hampering the horse's vision.

You easily side step the cat.

The Ash Cloud has now dissipated

Your go.

> Run
> Hide
> Ash Shot
> Ash Cloud
> Ash Choke
> Ask Knife (Please remember Joy's Warning.)
> Dodge Kick

>>41857772
> Ash Shot

>>41857772
>Ash Shot

>>41857772
>> Ash Shot

>>41857772
> Dodge Kick

>>41857772
> Ash Shot

Embers will at long last hit something...maybe.

>>41858022
Even if she does, it probably won't be the thing at which she was aiming.

With three targets in an enclosed tunnel, it's not too unlikely.

>>41857797
Ash shot, and from now on, please declare the target with your attack.

> Slepinir
> Feline A
> Feline B

> Declare target & roll 1d20

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>41858105
> Slepinir

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>41858105
>> Slepinir

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>41858105
>B

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>>41858116
>>41858122
>>41858124

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>41858105
> Sleipnir

>>41858136
What makes it worse? Embers might be land a combo with it.

>>41858162
This isn't a roll under quest.

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>>41858124

>>41858124
Are we gonna go into another trance combo?

>>41858178
I know. But if Embers actually HITs for once In her life? Ash shot is combo-able with her.


>>41858193
Ash shot does not explode likes knives does.

>>41858193
God, I hope not. I think it just means a pinpoint shot, or perhaps an armor piercer.

Rolled 12 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>41858124
Crit calls it.

You shoot a blast of ash at the Feline. It hits the ground snarling and yowling, and you see that you've got it vomiting, gagging, and you've ripped off half of the thing's face.

Ruin sees this and closes one eye, you see her eye glow this shade of purple-blue, and she fires her pistol at the Feline.

>>41858178
I think that anon meant the fact that the 20's on the wrong winning choice.

>>41858204
...aight, we'll take that.

>>41858204
>12+4
!!!!!! EMBEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSS

Rolled 2 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>41858204
The cat drops to the ground as the bullet goes straight into it's left lung. It wheezes, and then dies.

Embers fires her shotgun at Sleipnir.

>>41858234

...Yup.

>>41858234
ah good old Embers.

>>41858234
...

>>41858234
Can't say I'm surprised.

Embers not being able to hit shit has gone past funny, hit sad, then looped around back to funny.

>>41858234
The kick of the shotgun surprises Embers, and she fires her fireball...into the Ceiling. It makes a flower shaped scorch mark.

Harming nothing.

Ruin gives you a look. You shrug. At this point...eh.

Sleipnir doesn't find it funny though, and charges at her.

Feline A attacks you with a claw swipe.

Rolled 7, 12 = 19 (2d20)

>>41858285
(Honestly, I have no idea why the RNG hates Embers so much.)

>>41858285
Either Ruin take the Feline while we help Embers or she helps Ember while we take the Feline.

>>41858302
(It IS far more consistent than RNG has any right to be, really.)

>>41858302
Embers dodges out of the way, and you block the Feline's swipe.

Your turn.

> Ash Shot
> Ash Armor
> Ash Cloud
> Ash Choke
> Ask Knife (Please remember Joy's Warning.)
> Dodge Kick

>>41858302
Sleipnir is either decent, or as blind as Embers...

>>41858322
>> Ash Choke
Sleipnir

>>41858322
> Ash Choke
Sleipnir.

>>41858322
> Ash Shot

>>41858322
>Ash Armor

>>41858331
> Ash Choke

Horse.

>>41858429
>>41858345
>>41858331

You can easily hear the horse monster's breathing. The chuffing, huffing, panting of the beast...in...out...in...out..

NOW!

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>41858442
please don't fuck it up

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>41858442

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>41858442

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>41858442

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>>41858453
And I just done fucked it up...jesus.

>>41858453
why do you tempt fate anon?

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>41858442
>>41858453
>>41858456
>>41858460

Hokay...

>>41858453
>>41858456
>>41858460
pfhahahaha

>>41858453
>>41858456
What a ride

>>41858453
>>41858456

Again? Damn RNG you a nigger.

>>41858468
Well, it worked out alright.

I want some of what RNGesus is taking...holy shit.

Rolled 3 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>41858456
>>41858453

You do it perfectly...but you also inhaled at the same time. So YOU got a lung full of that nasty smoke-ash, as well.

Both you and Sleipnir drop to the ground. Choking and vomiting out black gunk as your lungs try to expel the stuff.

Ruin does that eye thing again and aims at the Feline. The glow doesn't seem to be as bright as it was before.

...This is gonna be one of those 'disaster all around' fights kinda like with us and Embers in the mansion on fire where NO ONE could hit except the one girl who teamkilled everyone.

Rolled 14, 11, 1, 5 = 31 (4d20)

>>41858550
It's too dark, and the cat's too fast, her shot goes wide.

Embers screams in frustration, rage, and all the anger all those smirking looks you and Ruin have given her, and she just unleashes a flurry of punches into the horse. Her hands a blur.

these fucking dice man

>>41858550
Even the mere presence of Ember is rubbing off on Ruin.

>>41858571
>14, 11
noice
>1
and with that she just broke her hand.

>>41858550
>Choking and vomiting out black gunk as your lungs try to expel the stuff.
We so need to work on being immune to our own shit.

>>41858608
Also need to train Embers into shooting better, even if she has to look like a retard and say "pop" everytime she fire her unloaded gun

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>41858571
Well, Embers' first hit is solid into the horse's gut. The second one just hits the thing's leg and on her third hit....the horse's leg flails out and hits her in the chest, cutting her flurry short.

If you weren't still vomiting, you'd laugh.

Sleipnir keeps on vomiting and choking.

The Feline tries to pounce on Ruin.

Rolled 18 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>41858640
Ruin dodges out of the way.

You're still choking and gagging.

Ruin aims and fire with her glowing eye trick, but it's still dimming.

At SOME point, we need to just sit down and do some training.

Rolled 7, 12 = 19 (2d20)

>>41858668
The little beast yowls in pain as the bullet hits home.

Embers tries to attack the Feline, swing her fists twice, with little embers flinging from them.

>>41858636
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5FOENjE0z8
popopopop

Y'know what I'm thinking? Maybe Embers is more of a AoE fighter? Direct Damage just doesn't seem to be something she can do.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>41858697
...the first swing misses, and her second swing only manages to scorch the creature's tail.

Embers is on the verge of crying, she's so frustrated.

You also notice that her skin is starting to glow. Her embers are going from orange to white.

Sleipnir gets back up and finishes coughing.

The Feline tries to attack Ruin.

have we thought to try and pull the ash out of ourself?

>>41858749
Ruin blocks with her tattered regalia.

You finish coughing, and wipe the sick off of your face.

Ruin closes her eyes and focuses. When she opens them again, her eyes are glowing brightly again.

"I...HAVE...HAD...ENOUGH!!!" Embers screams.

Then she explodes.

Well...to be more exact, all of the little embers floating around her explode. With light. Just the same way that you go boom when you use Bright Burst.

You and Ruin are unharmed by the blast

Rolled 6, 1, 10, 5, 9 = 31 (5d20)

>>41858804
Both Sleipnir and the Feline get singed a little...and then...

>>41858824
wow lackluster rolls.

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>>41858749
>Embers is on the verge of crying, she's so frustrated

I just want to hug her and tell her everything will be okay. Even if she can't hit the broadside of a barn.

>>41858824
These better be enemy rolls, not Ember's

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>41858824
That's it. It was a lot of sound, light, and fury...and not much else.

The Feline hisses at Embers and pounces at her.

>>41858853
They're Embers.

Honestly, I don't even know what to do. If Embers called it quits, I don't think I could even fault her for it.

>>41858824
>Rolled 6, 1, 10, 5, 9 = 31 (5d20)

Embers is basically rolling d10s at this point.

>>41858865
Embers smacks the cat away. She doesn't look tired, or like she's going to revert to Emmy though. She obviously didn't put any power into that. Like she was...afraid...

And suddenly you have a much better understanding of why Embers and Emmy have always been so lackluster.

But let's save that for times where there aren't things trying to eat your face.

Your turn.

> Ash Shot
> Ash Armor
> Ash Cloud
> Ash Choke
> Ask Knife
> Dodge Kick

>>41858909
>> Ash Shot

Let's try this again.

>>41858909
> Dodge Kick
wanna get exploding kicks.

>>41858909
> Ash Shot
Sleipnir. Ruin is ready to repeat the combo.

>>41858932
this

>>41858909
>> Ash Shot

>>41858932
You shoot off a cloud of Ash at the Horse monster.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>41859265

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>41859265

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>41859265
Hope.

Rolled 11 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>41859289
It flies off into the darkness as the horse dodges out of the way.

Ruin aims and fires at the Feline.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>41859306
BAM. Right between the creature's eyes, and it goes down and still.

Ember, swearing under her breath, charges her shotgun-fireball.

Sleipnir charges you, it looks really upset for how you replaced its lungs with gunk.

>>41859324
You ash dodge out of the way easily. Ole!

Your turn.

> Ash Shot
> Ash Cloud
> Ash Choke
> Ask Knife
> Dodge Kick

>>41859337
>> Dodge Kick

>>41859324
> Dodge Kick

>>41859337
> Dodge Kick

>>41859337
> Dodge Kick

Man this fight really made me realize how much we rely on ash knife for our offensive power.

>>41859351
You focus and push off to kick in this thing's head.

> Roll 2d20

Rolled 6, 1 = 7 (2d20)

>>41859404

Rolled 20, 17 = 37 (2d20)

>>41859404

Rolled 15, 6 = 21 (2d20)

>>41859404

Rolled 17, 18 = 35 (2d20)

>>41859404

>>41859413
>>41859415
These dice.... just these dice.

File: 18364[1].jpg (32 KB, 300x562)

32 KB JPG

>>41859413
>>41859415

>>41859415
>>41859413
Your first kick is perfect, it's right in the creature's neck and there's a loud CRACK, as your steel heel smashes into it.

Then you dodge, and fly out at the horse again...only because it's already collapsed, your momentum snips into empty air, and you stagger forward, trip over the corpse of the body, and faceplant right into the asphalt.

You are victorious...if not graceful.

(cont)

>>41859491
Haha

>>41859491
POISE AND GRACE
FLOAT LIKE A HIPPO STING LIKE A WALRUS

>>41859516
just this please

>>41859491
You gather yourselves up, make sure your supplies are intact, and you get Ember to get her light going again, and you head out of the tunnel.

Thankfully the rest of the tunnel is event free, and you emerge, blinking, into the late-mid day.

You climb over a fence that separates one road from the highway, and you're back to heading down the road.

All throughout this, Embers and Ruin have still been having whispered conversations with each other.

It looks like a straight shot to the University from here.

> Respect the girls and keep your mouth shut.
> You've had enough of them whispering. Turn and ask them what they've been talking about.

>>41859566
> Respect the girls and keep your mouth shut.

>>41859566
Compromise time
>Talk to Embers about why she held back

I just realized, If she was about to pop a finisher like our Bright Burst then we should kinda tell her it would have forced her out of transformation - and in a rad-heavy area like this, she'd be dead before she could change back.

>>41859566
> You've had enough of them whispering. Turn and ask them what they've been talking about.

>>41859581
>>41859625
ignoring it is going to bite us in the ass guys.

>>41859566
> Respect the girls and keep your mouth shut.
I bet it's actually something completely innocuous like fashion that Ashes would have no idea about.

>>41859581
>>41859668

Yeah, I had a change of heart, so scratch >>41859581
and replace it with >ask them what's up. Just don't do it angrily or nothin.

>>41859566
>> Respect the girls and keep your mouth shut.

>tfw everyone is being so willingly oblivious that it fucks us over later.

>>41859566
>> You've had enough of them whispering. Turn and ask them what they've been talking about.

>>41859566
>Turn and ask then what they've been talking about.
Be polite about it if you can, but yeah. need to get this in the open.

>>41859691
You keep your mouth shut and keep walking.

You can see the university campus in your sights when Ruin taps you on the shoulder.

"Do...do you remember what name I said I might have?" She asks.

"You forgot?" You ask, as you're trying to remember yourself.

Ruin frowns and nods. "It's hard to remember. I remember when I was..." She makes wiggling motions with her hands to indicate hubris. "I'd be...me..." She gestures to her Regalia. "And then, I'd get tired, or I was hurt, or something, and I change back...and I'm not sure I had the same 'me' that was in me, when I was me before I was Ruin..." She frowns. "That got away from me."

"She loses her identity every time she turns into Ruin. Hubris shuffled her brain around so much." Embers says. "It's a bitch, so we've been trying to tease out anything that Ruin might remember."

"Why haven't you asked me?" You ask.

Ruin frowns and looks away.

Embers shrugs. "Cause you need to keep your wits about you, cause Ruin's still weak, and I'm fucking hopeless."

It's the truth...but you can tell it's not the whole truth. Either way, it does show that they trusted you a little, to let you in...a little.

If any of the three of you knew what the 'Ivy League' was, you'd have plenty of jokes about the overgrown campus.

Red brick buildings, and tall white spires are all covered with creeping plants and the most gorgeous flowers you've ever seen in your life. The fallout sheen just adds to the beauty.

It's pretty easy to guess which building you're heading towards. It's the one with the blast shield shutters down, no overgrowth, and you can see working lights on the perimeter as well.

There's a large set of step, leading up to a beautifully carved door that's behind a thick, clear plastic-like, barrier.

You see a working security camera that's aimed at the top of the steps. You aren't in visual range of it yet, and you don't see any other working cameras.

> Go up to the door alone
> Go as a group

>>41859943
> Go up to the door alone
The others can come up once we're sure we all won't be immediately gassed or shot.

>>41859943
> Go as a group

>>41859999
Just so you know, Embers is fully aware that she's...hopeless. So, she isn't going to go anywhere without Ruin. So you can't have each girl do a different thing.

>>41859943
>> Go up to the door alone

>>41859943
> Go up to the door alone.
We have the best chance of dodging if there's an immediate threat. If there isn't, Embers and Ruin can follow.

>>41859943
>> Go as a group

>>41860035
Shouldn't split the group anyway.

>>41859943
> Go as a group

>>41859999
>>41860045
>>41860057

"Hang back...just in case." You say.

The girls nod and they take position behind a large fountain.

You walk up the stairs. There's skeletons here, people dead from fighting, suicide, and a few looking like they were trying to get into this building.

You come up to the door barrier and you wave at the camera.

There's a buzzing sound, and the barricade slowly raises up.

You hear a loud CLICK, and you guess that the door has just unlocked.

> Go in
> Get the others.

>>41860192
>> Go in
take a good look and wave them

>>41860192
> Get the others.

>>41860192
> Go in.
If the door barrier shuts behind us, they're just as well-equipped as we are to try and open it.

>>41860192
> Get the others.

>>41860192
>> Get the others.

I'm so despondent about Embers. I just want to try and do SOMETHING to help her, almost anything. I don't even know what, though. Fucking dice. I remember when she was such a hothead- pun slightly intended. I'd rather honestly have that back than this new 'I'm dead weight and know it' Embers. Just...aaagh. Damned dice.

>>41860192
>Get the others

>>41860348
ditto

>>41860348
Hopefully we can stay safely here for a time and train her.
She wouldn't understand back then, now she's in the right frame of mind to listen and learn.

File: Jinxed.png (10 KB, 94x127)

10 KB PNG

>>41860348
I dunno, she's kind of useful at making everything around her fuck up too.

>>41860504
We can't really safely stay in regalia for too long right? If so we can't really stay in the fallout zone for too long.

>>41860292
>>41860273
>>41860255

You open the door slightly, and then motion for the others to follow you. Embers and Ruin run up the stairs and the three of you go inside.

You're in a small room, that's made out of walls of that same thick plastic that was outside. You hear a rumble and see that the barrier behind you is lowering.

"Decontamination airlock." You hear Voice say from above. "Please don't be alarmed."

You hold out your hand, and the other two don't instantly bolt away. The barrier lowers to the ground, and you really really hope you haven't been a fool.

The sudden drenching of water over the three of you does derail your thoughts a bit. Then there's a whirring noise and a sound of air.

Finally, the inside barrier lowers, and you walk down a short hall. You open into a large room that was once an entry plaza, now it looks like a laboratory. There's whiteboards placed around the world, and small neat piles of books and papers in clumps, some on the large entry desk, and some on the floor. It's neat and orderly, in a cluttered way.

In front of it all, is a woman with grey hair, a peach colored sweater, a beige floor-length skirt, and sandals. She's holding three white fluffy towels.

"Hello." Voice says, as she hands you the warm towel. "My name is Wren Caran, you also might know me as..."

"Joy-In-Thought." You finish the thought you have. It's the same exact woman you saw in Gold's tape. Albeit a bit older.

She nods and smiles. "Now...would you three like dinner, bed rest, or go straight to seeing what salvage I can offer you?"

> Dinner
> Bed
> Salvage
> Try to hug her
> "Bullshit. There's no way you can be Joy-In-Thought. She's dead."

>>41860558
> Dinner

We'll get to the WTFery AFTER we've had food.

>>41860558
> Dinner

>>41860558
> Dinner
Touch her shoulder, shake her hand, some kind of normal physical contact that'll tell us if she's a hologram or some shit.

>>41860558
>Dinner
I'm inclined to believe she might be joy in thought given that she is apparently messing with our head to crazy degrees. My guess is probably a hologram with her consciousness uploaded.

>>41860558
> Dinner
> Try to hug her
since hers was the item we chose if memory serves.
>You look remarkably alive, how?

>>41860558
> Dinner

>>41860558
> Dinner
If it's better than the tuna/cat food, it doesn't matter who she is. This still seems highly suspect, however.

>>41860558
>> "Bullshit. There's no way you can be Joy-In-Thought. She's dead."
But for a good diner I'll let it slide, for a time.

>>41860558
>> Try to hug her
Did you fake your death?

>>41860558
> "Bullshit. There's no way you can be Joy-In-Thought. She's dead."

>>41860608
This. I still remember the beginning, it's surprising how far we've come.

>>41860602
You gently touch her shoulder. It's warm, and solid. She looks a little curious and amused, and you realized that she just figured out what you were doing.

She calmly holds out her wrist, and gestures for you to go ahead.

You take her pulse. It's calm and steady.

"Umm...what kind of food do you have here?" You ask.

"Well, it's not the right season, but I have a turkey in storage that I was saving for a special occasion. I know it may seem silly, but would you three be willing to have Thanksgiving with me?"

The three of you look at each other confused. "What's that?" You ask.

"Used to be a holiday, I think." Ruin says.

Wren blinks, and then smiles. "It's the celebration of the colonial..." She lets out a happy sigh and looks at the three of you. "I'm sorry, I'm going on and on, and being very silly. You're hungry, and it doesn't matter. Dry off, and there's a bathroom there you can freshen up in. Give me ten minutes."

Ten minutes later, you're sitting at a table that has more food than you've ever seen in your lives.

"How?" Embers asks, as the large pan of heated yams with melted marshmellow topping is lowered to the table by robotic arms that fold out of the ceiling. (Which are also amazing and jaw dropping but the food is VASTLY more important to you.)

Wren nods. "Well, the tunnels are connected to the cafeteria kitchens, which were restocked by automation. I managed to give override orders, and keep all the freezers functional. Spoilage we've minimized thanks to Clean Energy Freezing, and eating for one causes any pantry to stretch." She gestures for you all to dig in.

It. Is. Amazing.

You know you're going to be sick and vomit some of this back up, but you DON'T. CARE.

REAL. TURKEY.

Wren calmly picks at her food, as she watched the three of you wolf down and feast.

Let's see...what to start with...

> Ask her if she really is Joy-In-Thought
> Ask how she's still alive after 150 years, at least.
> Ask her what salvage there is.

>>41860894
> Ask her what salvage there is.
This way, by the time we reach the uncomfortable questions, we won't have to worry about sabotaging our chances at salvage.

>>41860894
>> Ask her what salvage there is.

>>41860894
Can we ask her both of the first two?
if not
>Ask her if she really is Joy-In-Thought

>>41860894
> Ask how she's still alive after 150 years, at least.

>>41860894
>> Ask her if she really is Joy-In-Thought
> Ask how she's still alive after 150 years, at least.

>>41860894
>>> Ask her what salvage there is.

Save the uncomfortable stuff until after food.

>>41860894
> Ask her if she really is Joy-In-Thought
> Ask how she's still alive after 150 years, at least.
How did she survive the mind-linking screw-up

>>41860894
>> Ask her if she really is Joy-In-Thought
>> Ask how she's still alive after 150 years, at least.

>>41860894
>> Ask how she's still alive after 150 years, at least.

>>41860916
>>41860921
>>41860963

"So, what kind of salvage are you offering us?" You ask.

Wren nods in approval. "Excellent question...may I call you Ashes, or do you prefer Lupa?"

You blush. "I'm fine with either."

"Well, it was considered poor manners to address someone in their regalia by their Private name unless they were very very close, or family." Wren says. "So, Ashes it is, until you say I can do otherwise."

You smile again.

"I have working electronics, heating units, water purifiers, generators, and some very basic Acceptance Supplements, which can be used as food that's VASTLY healthier than salvaged canned food, or vegetables grown in contaminated soil. Properly rationed, you can use for about...three years worth of food."

"For how many people?" Ruin asks. Embers jaw has dropped, as well as her spoon.

"Oh, for all of Genesis." Wren says. "Easily. If we can figure out the Fallout issue, there's even more."

Wren frowns. "However..." She visibly stops herself. "I do not want to spoil the meal. Enjoy and be happy, but please remind me. I have some upsetting news...but it's not urgent, and it doesn't matter to you or those you care about. I just don't want to mention it later, and have it be a nasty surprise for you."

"Okay..." You say.

Wren goes back to her light meal. The mood is slightly dimmed though.

"I apologize for that. I was being very silly. It's been very long and...I suppose my interpersonal skills were never ideal to begin with." She sighs. "You may find mannequins dressed up in clothes. I sometimes felt the need to make them as surrogates so I could vocalize some of my thoughts. I know it's silly, and looks disturbing. I apologize."

"It's...it's okay." You say. "We're all a little 'off' these days."

She smiles sadly. "Too true."

> Finish dinner in silence
> Ask Wren about her Past
> Ask Wren to just drop the bad news now.

>>41861174
> Ask Wren about her Past

>>41861174
>> Ask Wren about her Past

>>41861174
How about we tell a funny/interesting story so we dont have to eat with an awkward silence hanging over us?

>>41861174
> Ask Wren to just drop the bad news now.

>>41861174
> Ask Wren about her Past.

>>41861174
>Ask Wren about her Past

>>41861225
This, maybe. Keep discussion light for now.

>>41861198
>>41861202
>>41861231

"So...I thought...I thought all the Joy-In-Hearts died?" You ask.

Wren nods. "Yes. They did. I was not in my Regalia when it happened. I haven't been able to manifest my regalia or express Joy for a long time."

"Is, that how you survived the event?" Ruin asks.

"I remember losing consciousness, and then I awoke and the world was going silly, and I was suffering from irrational mood impulses. So I enacted lockdown." She says. "And to answer your question as to how I am alive after 150 years, on top of all the years before that...I'm going to show you something that's a little scary...but it's not dangerous." She says.

Then she lifts off her hair, and the back of her skull. She turns and shows you a mass of wiring, circuitry, and metal. She then replaces her hair. "I'm mostly mechanical. My skin is synthetic, most of my organs have been replaced, and quite a few other things."

"How?" Embers asks.

"Well, I was already heavily transhuman before the event hit. As the years went on...I just kept going, since there wasn't an ethics board, or psyche-counselors to say stop." She shrugs. "I fully agree that this isn't something that should be done by anyone and everyone...but..." She shrugs the 'This or death' shrug.

"Does that satisfy your questions?" She asks.

You nod. "For a start. I'd like to hear more about your life."

Wren blushes. "I was never one for publicity. I'd just stand behind Beauty or Love, as they 'translated' for me. I can be rather technical in my speech and I find it silly to change it, just because of a lack of understanding."

"Still, you must have some cool war stories!" Embers asks.

"Well...this was before the Sorrow War, but would you like to hear how Love, and the rest of us, defeated the Hexi-Witches and saved the Silver Realm?" She asks.

The three of you nod.

One feast, and a season's worth of stories of Joy-In-hearts slaying Demon-ish Witches and dealing with Senior Year of High School, later...

(cont)

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190 KB JPG

>>41861474
>slaying Demon Witches and dealing with Senior Year of High School

even in the grim darkness of nuclear apocalypse, some things never fucking change.

>>41861548
Those are just stories, memories, things have changed, we never went to high school.

Interesting. So she's a cyborg. Yeah, that'd keep you going.

>>41861474
>that's a little scary..
Nah, that is cool.

>>41861474
Wren pretty much let you have free run of her place.

Ruin, full and sleepy, staggered off to bed, and just went instantly to sleep when she felt her first, actually nice, mattress with clean sheets.

Emmy came back out, and is in hog heaven in one of Wren's labs/workshops/converted day space, learning all she can about the Pre-Event tech that she's going to be bringing back to Genesis.

You're just walking around the compound. It's not fancy. Wren has either just boxed things up and labeled them, or turned a room into another Whiteboard-books-papers clutter. The servitors are designed to be as out of the way as possible, how they fold up into the walls, floors, and ceiling.

You know that Wren went to one of her work rooms, when you last saw her she was quietly reading, and making small notes on a piece of paper in front of her.

> Go to sleep
> Go talk to Emmy
> Go talk to Wren

>>41861679
>> Go talk to Emmy
gotta train you, girl, you and Embers.

>>41861679
> Go talk to Wren
Shadowrun time

>>41861679
>> Go talk to Wren

>>41861679
> Go talk to Wren

>>41861679
>> Go talk to Emmy

>>41861679
>> Go talk to Wren

>>41861679
>Go talk to Emmy
Cheer up miss useless!
Don't actually call her that.

>>41861679
>Go talk to Wren
Ask her about the ribbon.

Whatever else happens, we NEED to use this time as training time. For everyone. This is probably the only 'break' point we're gonna get for a while, if not period. We need to montage this shit. Hell, even if Emmy wants to just book it right back to Genesis, it's not like it's gonna be a 30 minute trip.

Can we not use this as our forward base?

Also,
>Talk to Wren

I want to hear old stories from granny cyborg.

>>41861679
>> Go talk to Emmy

>>41861763
Word.

Why no love for Ruins? She probably needs the hug the most.

>>41861809
She went straight to sleep.

So how do you think Ruin and Ember reacted to Ash's little episode?

>>41861809
She's asleep, and honestly, she STILL seems more 'together' than any of us.

>>41861851

Ember got hot under the collar, so to speak, but in the moment they were very clearly terrified. At the moment it's kinda an elephant in the room. No one wants to bring it up, but the looming specter of 'what if she loses it again' is still there.

I wonder if our mind girls have anything to say about thoughts.

>>41861873
Ash is good at loosing it only against her enemies though. Her abandonment issue will hold onto her friends with all her might.

>>41861876
maybe we should tell her about them, let them play catch up maybe?

>>41861903
Ask mind girls about thought first. I imagine thought and Ms. weapon of war would be opposite side of the spectrum.

>>41861775
You knock on the doorframe to the room Wren is in. She gestures for you to come in and sit down.

You do. You drum your fingers and then point to your ribbon. "Is this yours?"

Wren gets up. "May I get close to you, that I may look at it?"

You nod.

"Is it alright if I touch you?" She asks.

You smile and blush a bit, but you nod. Very thankful, that she asked.

She comes over to you, and gently looks at your hair. She nods. "It was. One of mine, at least. Now it's yours, it seems."

"You had more than one?" You ask.

She nods. "Of course. I see you also have one of Love's hairclips, too." She smiles. "She was always so silly about them."

"You know...I think I have some tapes with Love doing an interview or something." You say.

There's a flash of emotion in Wren's eyes. The carefully planned everything, about her goes away and you see something that's alone and afraid and horrifically lonely.

Then it's gone and Wren of the Fluffy Towel and Turkey Dinner and careful words that are specially designed to make you like her, is back.

And you know that Wren saw you see that as well.

She makes a sad little sigh, and she nods. "i would very much like to see them. Love was...Love was very dear to me. To everyone."

"Did you two...?" You raise an eyebrow.

Wren rolls her eyes. "No. Nothing like that. I wasn't...Love made it easy for me to have friends."

"So, was she too a robot?" You ask.

"No..." Wren bites her lip. "It's...a little more complicated than that."

"I think I heard someone talk of Reincarnation?" You ask.

She nods. "There were always people who claimed that they were the reincarnation of the other four. They were all fakes. However, after the Sorrow War, a decade or two, give or take...Love vanished. Poof." She shrugged. "It was the Golden Age, though. Things were wonderful, and there were new Joy-In-Hearts each day...people looked for her, couldn't find her, and she went to the realm of Elvis and Bigfoot."

"Who?"

"Never Mind."

(cont)

>>41862054
Awwww, Ash imprinted Wren as her mother/grandma figure.

Also poor nerdy Wren. But she was never good with words. How did she get so calculating with her approach now?

>>41862115
Practice. I will say I'm concerned about whether or not leaving here will be as easy as coming in.

>>41862115
I bet she planned all these years to catch herself a daughter to stay with her.

>>41862139
Or does she want us as a minion?

When it comes to deciding between staying with granny Wren or go home with Ember, what will Ash choose?

What about between daddy and preacher's son and granny?

>>41862054
"Anyway, about during the beginning of the Conflict Age, as you would call it, a girl showed up. She was about your age. She said that she was Love, reborn." Wren said. "Now, her DNA and fingerprints didn't match, but she had the same powers, and she passed every test that they gave her, and then every test that I gave her. We couldn't disprove her claim, as it was."

"Aslo..." Wren shrugged. "I always cared for Love. She was my very best friend...but I think I loved her more. She was everything Love was...and she was more. So, after a while, it didn't matter if she was Love reincarnated or not, at least to me. She was Love Reborn. We were working together, making amazing breakthroughs. She was helping Unity put together peace talks, and it was looking like we might see another golden age. Then Love got scared one day and poof, she disappeared into OLYMPUS, and things went downhill."

"So, you don't know if it was true?" You ask.

"It didn't matter. Some people needed it to be true." Wren shrugs. "Anyway, coming back to my ribbon. Keep it. It's been altered by your different energy Expression anyway. I'd love to look at it in depth though, understand how you and Embers are so different."

"Thanks." You say. "What about Ruin?" You ask.

"That's a very different category." Wren says. "Anyway, I never experiment on people, without asking their permission. It's silly thinking otherwise, and I do not like silly things."

You can't help but smile at that.

"Do you have anything else to ask about?"

> Ask about the Sorrow War when everything changed.
> Ask what she knows about OLYMPUS, now that she can speak safely.
> Ask about that bad news she mentioned during dinner.

>>41862267
>> Ask about that bad news she mentioned during dinner.
> Ask what she knows about OLYMPUS, now that she can speak safely.

>>41862267
> Ask about that bad news she mentioned during dinner.

>>41862267
> Ask what she knows about OLYMPUS, now that she can speak safely.
> Ask about that bad news she mentioned during dinner.

>>41862267
>Ask about the Sorrow War when everything changed.
> Ask what she knows about OLYMPUS, now that she can speak safely.
> Ask about that bad news she mentioned during dinner.
Might as well ask everything.

>>41862267
>> Ask what she knows about OLYMPUS, now that she can speak safely.

Although I am tempted to ask for a history lesson.

>>41862267
>> Ask about the Sorrow War when everything changed.
>> Ask what she knows about OLYMPUS, now that she can speak safely.
>> Ask about that bad news she mentioned during dinner.

>>41862344
I have a feeling that picking all three does not end well.

>>41862267
>> Ask what she knows about OLYMPUS, now that she can speak safely.
>> Ask about that bad news she mentioned during dinner.

>>41862294
>>41862300
>>41862307

"There's so much I want to know." You say. "The Sorrow War, the history of what we are, and that stupid OLYMPUS thing..." You start.

Wren nods, smiling. "We used to have a ride that explained most of it...like a theme park. Actually, we DID have it end with a freefall into a splash-down pool." She looks at your incredulous face. "That was Joy-In-Laughter's idea, not mine. The whole thing was unquestionably silly...yet staggeringly effective when we compared retention tests." She sighs. "My eternal lesson, that the world is fundamentally silly at its core. I keep on having to learn it, again and again."

"But...I'd really like to know what the bad news was at dinner." You ask.

Wren nods, and then takes a deep breath. "The world is ending." She holds up a hand. "I mean, in another 150 years, this world will be unfit for human life. We will all freeze to death."

"What?"


“It will be gradual.” Wren says. “You wouldn’t notice it, neither would any of Genesis until it’s too late. Lack of data, as always. But the temperature’s been dropping at staggeringly swift rates.”

“How swift?” You ask.

“Over the last 150 years, after the Mind Fugue, the temperature has cooled, on average, 1.5°C from what it was before.” Wren says. “That’s three times the increase that was caused by global warming during the fossil fuel days. It’s going to keep getting worse too, and at a near exponential rate. In a hundred years, we’ll likely be in a new ice age. After another fifty, most complex life on this earth will have expired due to the cold, or lack of food.”

(cont)