>>44188629

Without ever deciding on a destination, your little group finds itself wandering through these subterranean tunnels, following the sluggishly flowing river of wine. It flows, consistently, in one direction – although the destination itself remains a mystery – and you've got nothing else to go on. At least there are none of those gaudily painted servitors blocking your path, allowing you free reign of this dismal world.

Eventually, the wine's unhurried flow leads you to – of course – another precarious abyss, this one equipped with a spiralling staircase leading towards the bottom. With collective sighs, you begin the long march down, nobody daring to raise the issue of getting back up. This trip has been a wearisome one, and that trend does not appear to be changing. As you descend, you can't help but notice how pale and drawn Petra looks, her injury at Katugsuchi's hands dogging her, even with Nadja's best magic aiding her.

At the bottom of that grand spiral staircase, you are greeted by a welcome sight – a short corridor, with no branches or diversions. At the end, slumped within a great, gilded cage – you are reminded, absurdly, of a birdcage – is the man you're here to find. Not that you realised it straight away, though – Leon has been crudely daubed with a riot of colours until he takes after the false humans you passed on your way here. A heavy iron collar is clamped around his neck, with a thick chain leading down into some hidden recess. Slowly, with a caution you can't quite explain, you approach.

As you draw close, you see another pleasant sight – the keys, dangling just far enough away as to be unreachable from within the cage. The heavy ring of keys rattles as you lift it up, and Leon's head raises with them.

>>44188633

“You,” he groans, his voice thick with fatigue and a long period of either shouting or disuse. You picture both options – Leon howling curses and profanity, or sitting in a sullen silence – and decide on the former. “You came,” Leon adds a second later, dragging you back to reality, “You really fuckin' came.”

Well, you say with that same creeping uncertainty, of course you did.

“Aye, right,” the chain around his neck draws taut as Leon tries to rise, keeping him locked in that slump, “So are you gonna get me outta here, or what?”

Taking the first key in hand – gold, of course, like the cage you presume it unlocks – you step close to the door and reach out to open it. From then, the iron key would likely open that cruel and brutal collar, granting Leon total freedom.

You hesitate.

He came here willingly, that was what Kagutsuchi had said. Can you really trust someone who came here to talk with the Intoxicating One, to bargain with the king of slavers? What right-minded soul would ever decide to come here alone, even with treachery planned?

“Come on!” Leon urges you, in a raspy whisper, “Get the fuckin' lock!”

>Right, I'll free you immediately
>Why did you come here?
>I can't risk letting you out. You're compromised
>Other

>>44188639
>>Why did you come here?
Don't tell him what we know. Let him explain things in his own words

>>44188639
>Right, I'll free you immediately
"Next time don't try to throw your lot in with arbitrary demons who are just as likely to kill you than... do whatever the hell this is, when you still got people out there."

>>44188639
>>44188746
This

Then
>>44188785
This

>>44188746
>>44188785
>>44188802

Why, you ask softly, why did he come here? You ask this carefully, in as neutral a voice as possible, with the ring of heavy keys still dangling tantalisingly out of reach. Having given away as little as possible – you want to hear his answer in his own words, without colouring it in any way – you wait for the reaction. Leon growls quietly, the sound disarmingly feral and animalistic, before choking out a few short words.

“Came here scoutin' the place out, didn't I?” he mutters darkly, “Head the rumours about this place, thought you'd wanna know what was goin' on.”

How interesting – no mention of anything about throwing in his lot with the Intoxicating One, and you'd hardly think that was something that would slip his mind. Behind you, you hear a rustle as Elliot shifts his weight from foot to foot, just as uncertain as you feel. You stay silent for a moment longer, save for the slight rattle as the keys clink together, to see if Leon adds anything to his claim – he doesn't – before reaching your decision. You'll let him out, you say slowly, but next time he shouldn't try and jump into bed with a gang of demons – not while there are still humans left, that is.

It's impossible to tell if Leon pales or not at that – the thick mask of gaudy paint he wears takes care of that – but from the knot of tension that enters his posture, you know that your comment strikes a nerve. As you unlock the cage door, you feel a slight change entering the air – a readiness, a willingness to strike perhaps – as your companions watch. If Leon tries anything, you realise, they'll be quick on their feet.

As the cage door swings open, it squeals with the strained sound of tormented metal. Wincing, you throw the heavy ring of keys to Leon, who immediately starts to claw at his collar. In a matter of seconds, it comes crashing down.

>>44188905

“Fuck,” Leon says, his voice clearer now, “Feels good to be outta that thing, fuckin' excellent.”

His phone, you ask as he stretches the cramps out of his muscles, does he know what happened to it? You called, earlier, but there was some other voice on the end of the line – a woman's voice, but not one you recognise.

“Took it, didn't they?” Leon shrugs, grinning at the rare pleasure of being able to make such a gesture, “Took fuckin' everything I had, even my clothes. What did I get instead? A fuckin' loincloth!”

Well, you offer cautiously, at least he got that much.

“Aye,” Leon nods sagely, “There is that.”

So is he okay, you ask a moment later, is he able to walk out of here, if he needs to?

“I can walk,” the young man nods, smearing the paint on his face as he rubs a hand down his rugged features, “Can't do much more than that, without a fuckin' monster to throw at them.” Then, muttering under his breath: “Fuckin' escort missions...”

Ignoring that, and the numerous other curses that the young man mutters and whispers to himself – he seems to be swearing bloody vengeance upon the Intoxicating One – you lead the way back to the spiralling staircase up. From there, you'll need to take the elevator, walking in the opposite direction to the current to find it, back to the surface. That's about where your plans end – walking until you find an exit doesn't have much of a ring to it, unfortunately.

At the foot of the staircase, you pause. A ripple runs out across the placid surface of the gathered wine, followed by a second, stronger ripple. A second later, and the world explodes around you.

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>>44189006

With an orchestral flourish – a literal wail of ill-tuned horns and trumpets – the mutilated figure rises up from the lake of wine, fire curling around him as he sweeps his one remaining hand through the air. He conducts it, like someone steering a symphony towards a destructive climax, and your shout of protest can barely be heard about the din. He shouldn't be here, you yell, he should be dead!

“The Intoxicating One's power flows within me,” Dionysus shouts back, his noble features twisted into a rictus of hate, “One hand is but a fragment of the sacrifice I am willing to offer in his name!”

And this time, he isn't messing around his music or mind control. He wants you dead – burned to a crisp, if the fires creeping up the spiralling walls of this chamber are any indication.

“A weapon,” Leon yells, “Give me a fuckin' weapon!”

Faltering, you take a single step backwards and pull out your phone. This time, you'll finish him off for good!

>Summon a demon and fight
>Fight personally
>Throw Leon a weapon
>Other

>>44189064
>Summon a demon and fight
Nadja
>Fight personally
>Throw Leon a weapon
Toss him the dagger Nyarly gave us.

>>44189092
>>44189064
Seconded

>>44189064
>>Summon a demon and fight
Nadja
>Throw Leon a weapon
The weapon we got from Nyalarhotep

Don't attack right now unless he comes to us or leaves himself open. He's expecting it.

>>44189092
>>44189064
Go with this

File: Fortuna.jpg (53 KB, 487x748)

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Rolled 92, 53, 99, 64, 75 = 383 (5d100)

>>44189196
>>44189134
>>44189136
>>44189092

Remembering the second dagger – barely enchanted, Scathach had told you, but good enough to cut into demonic flesh – you pull it out and throw it towards Leon. It's a clumsy throw, delivered without anything approaching grace, but Leon catches it nonetheless. He looks different, now that he has a blade in his hand, but you couldn't say exactly what it was. Something seems to leave his face, a startling blankness rising up to take its place, and you are forced to look away, suppressing a vague and nameless shudder.

Returning your attentions to Dionysus – you remember, now, the hand you kicked into the pool of wine. It should have crumbled, decaying into the usual greasy slop that all demons return to eventually, but it had not. A clue, one that you missed. No matter – this time, you won't let him get away. You'll take his head, if you have to.

“Come, come!” Dionysus cheers you on, sweeping his strange wand through the air, “Enter a dance with me, dance until all sense and morality has been trampled into the mud! Together, our
deeds will be legendary – they'll sing songs about this day!”

He wants this fight, that much is clear. It bothers you, in some strange way, but you push the doubts from your mind. Even without weaving magic into his words, it is clear that Dionysus is just trying to unsettle you – you won't let him succeed! Drawing Midnight, you summon Nadja and prepare to lunge forwards into an attack. Behind you, Petra and Elliot summon their demons – Dullahan and Fortuna, as you had expected.

“Let us dance!” Dionysus cries, preparing to meet your charge.

>Please roll 5D100, for Mia, Nadja, Leon, Dullahan and Fortuna. I'll take the highest of the first 3

Rolled 34, 89, 70, 81, 93 = 367 (5d100)

>>44189302
Shit humans are getting fucked

Rolled 57, 87, 2, 50, 11 = 207 (5d100)

>>44189302
Leon had a hard life

Rolled 40, 87, 47, 5, 95 = 274 (5d100)

>>44189302

>>44189302
Is there a reason Petra is sitting this one out? I get why Elliot doesn't fight

>>44189501
She's still injured.

>As you descend, you can't help but notice how pale and drawn Petra looks, her injury at Katugsuchi's hands dogging her, even with Nadja's best magic aiding her.

Like we will be in a minute. We should really call it a day after the rescue and maybe delivering the Idol.

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>>44189331
>>44189365
>>44189390

From his starting position, an uncannily casual looking slouch, Leon shoots forwards, the borrowed knife held low by his side. You can see what he was going for – with the relative heights, he would plunge the knife straight into Dionysus' guts – and perhaps it is that easily seen move that tips the demon off. Laughing aloud, he moves in a riot of colours, seemingly swirling before your eyes as he twists his body. You don't see exactly what happens – perhaps that is a blessing – but the sinuous movement ends with Leon impaled upon the end of that pointed wand, held still for a moment before Dionysus tosses him away.

Shouting a denial, you charge forwards yourself. With his attentions elsewhere, surely Dionysus will be vulnerable from behind. An assumption that you, too late, realise to be false. With that same, devilish haste, Dionysus twists around to meet your charge and smashes the wand across your face. Something – you'd rather not guess what – breaks as you are thrown away from him, smacking painfully against the gilded wall. The pain is enormous, threatening to black out everything, and you're not quite sure how you manage to stay conscious – pure chance, perhaps.

As your vision swims, a bright light seems to fill the chamber as Nadja hurls lightning at Dionysus, the flicking magic causing his colourful body to shudder and spasm. Just looking at that riot of thrashing colours churns your stomach, sending a dagger of pain running through your already throbbing head. At least that awful display ends when Fortuna hurls a wall of wind down the tunnel, blasting Dionysus back against the wall.

Knocked prone, the priestly demon is helpless as Dullahan marches forwards, wine splashing around her feet, and thrusts her blade into Dionysus' gut, twisting it cruelly.

>>44189658

As you're struggling to rise – the fight must be over now, surely – Dionysus surges into movement again, batting Dullahan away. The armoured demon slides back, sparks shooting up as her heels grate against the metal floor, but appears unharmed. You shudder, vision doubling up as fresh wave of nauseating pain seizes you, and try to focus on the chamber. You just need the world to stop swaying for a moment, that's all, just a moment!

“You think I'm beaten?” Dionysus hisses, a flood of blood seeping from his gut to mingle with the dark wine at his feet, “For my lord, I give my life willingly – I give it eagerly! With his strength, we shall ALL burn here!”

“Get down!” Petra shouts, pushing Elliot to the ground and diving low herself. Slowly, trying to make sense of what Dionysus just said, you stumble and fall. The demon, laughing like a lunatic, is glowing like a lantern, casting wild patters of colourful light on the walls around you.

You realise, too late, what his intentions are. A suicide attack, to drag you all to Hell with him. At most, you've got a few seconds to act – to think of some way to save yourself.

>Please name an action

>>44189698
Are Petra, Elliot, and Leon safe from the blast?

>>44189748

>Petra and Elliot are, more or less, safe. Leon less so

>>44189698
I see two options

1.
Summon Kin-ki and have him physically shield us. Leon is still at risk.

2. Blink on Dion's shoulder and decapitate him before he explodes.

>>44189820
We could potentially blink away. Up the stairs might work. I know we can't take someone with us when we blink but we might be able to shield Leon with Kin-ki. That's assuming we have time to do two short things though

I'm worried that killing Dion might just set him off anyway

>>44189820
>>44189698
Going to go with 2. We came here to save Leon after all and Dion isn't paying attention. Blink, one quick slice, and a blink back.

>>44189865
Unfortunately I think we don't have enough time, those precious seconds that it takes for a Demon to form might not give us enough to Blink away.

>>44189865
>>44189763
Do you think we have enough time to do both?

>>44189927

>Mia's currently slowed and disorientated by her injuries. It would certainly be taking a risk.

Wait shit! He's above wine right? Summon Kin-ki ABOVE him and have him body slam Dion into the wine and drag him under. The explosion will be harmless then.

>>44189984
>>44189867
>>44189820

With your head spinning, even something as simple as walking is no easy feat. Even on open ground, with solid earth beneath your feet, you're not sure you could run away from whatever deadly explosion Dionysus is building within himself. You might not make it two paces before falling, collapsing right within the radius.

Fortunately, the insane plan that flashes into your mind doesn't require you to walk. All you need to do is swing a knife – and you can do that all too well. Gritting your teeth against the pain, you fix your eyes on the glowing demon and feel yourself blink, pulled through space to rest, quite neatly, upon his shoulder. Pushing all your strength into one single blow – never has the phrase “do or die” seemed quite so appropriate – you swing Midnight's keen blade at Dionysus' exposed neck. Earlier, it had cut beautifully through his wrist, why should his neck be any different?

The blade enters his neck, pinching the colourful skin around it as you drive it deeper into demonic flesh and bone. Time seems to freeze for a moment, not even a second, and then your desperate strength sends Midnight's edge shearing through Dionysus' neck. As the severed head tumbles away, a great pillar of fire – all the accumulated power building within the furnace of his demonic body – shoots straight into the sky. Crying aloud, you tumble backwards as the fire howls up, boiling the air around you.

Even through closed eyes, you can see the searing light punching up at the roof of this dismal chamber, pouring wave after wave of magical energy into the air. Gradually, it begins to flicker out and – when you can finally bear to open your eyes – you find yourself alive. Sore, your head aching so badly that it feels split open, but alive.

>>44190064
>>44189698
Thats a hell of alot safer than my plan, let's do it.

>>44189698
Shit like this is why we shouldn't normally be fighting. Nadia zap him again finish him fast.

>>44190087

Shakily, you pull yourself up to your feet and take a breath, nearly choking on the ruined air. It feels thin, as though all the oxygen had been pulled out to fuel that howling inferno. The wine has almost all boiled away, leaving you on dry land for the first time in what seems like hours. The silence that falls upon you all seems deafening, and it comes as a great relief when Leon groans out in pain. He's alive as well – although with the wound he suffered, you wonder how long that might last.

Petra and Elliot struggle up as well, both stained with wine and soot but looking as healthy as can be expected – weary and sore, true, but entirely intact. It takes a few unsteady steps across the now dry pool before you realise something isn't right. What you thought was a pool of wine – the way Dionysus rose up from it suggested as much – was little more than a few inches deep. Staring at the ground with a dizzy sickness, your mind runs wild with fevered ideas – wine, as some kind of portal?

“Mia,” Petra rasps, her words drawn from a parched throat, “Leon's stable – for now, yes? If we don't get him somewhere safe, he might not last much longer.”

Safe, you croak back, bracing yourself against the wall as you force yourself over to them. Nowhere in this place, you add, is safe.

“I know that!” Petra snaps, grimacing in pain as she lifts Leon up onto her shoulder, supporting him like a drunk lifting their friend, “We need to leave, yes? Leave now, in any way we can.”

She makes it sound so easy. Right now, you're not even sure if you'll be able to make it up those damn stairs.

“We'll just... wait here, then?” Elliot offers, “Maybe make camp, sing a few songs?”

Sarcasm aside, the idea of taking a rest is an appealing one. Though, if you are attacked again down here...

>Rest a while and recover
>Keep moving

>>44190217
>>Keep moving
Summon Kinki have him carry us up

>>44190217
>>Keep moving
Have Nadja and Moh Shuvuu do as much as they can for everyone's injuries then get moving.

>>44190217
We could do both:
>>44190245
>>44190240
In that order

>>44190217
These:
>>44190245
>>44190240

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>>44190336
>>44190293
>>44190245
>>44190240

No, if you wait too long down here, you'll be in a whole heap of trouble. You highly doubt that Dionysus' blazing demise has gone unnoticed, and you'd put good money on there being demons out to investigate. If you're lucky, it'll be more of the Intoxicating One's mindless slaves, but the risk of running into more soldiers is simply too great. You'll take a moment – a single, brief moment – to recover from the worst of your injuries, and that's all.

Keeping that in mind, you call up Moh Shuvuu and put her to task.

“Heal?” the winged demon asks, in outrage, “I don't heal, I destroy! I spread chaos and destruction, I-” The words, here, die in her throat as she notices your face. “Hey, woah, who smashed your face in? No, forget that, I've got an idea – if I can heal whatever left that wound, I'd be more powerful than them! Hell yeah!”

Tuning out her babbling, you sigh in relief as Moh Shuvuu lays her hands on your face, a warm wave of healing energy rushing through you and restoring some of your precious energy. Your vision has sharpened and your head no longer swims by the time she is finished with you, but the pain still haunts you. Still, it's something you can deal with – but what about Leon's wounds?

“Jeez,” Moh Shuvuu mutters as she looks at the neat hole in Leon's torso, dark with crusted blood. It's such a small wound, it's hard to believe that it could have bled so badly – but the proof is right there, coating his stomach. “Not much I can do for this,” your demon shakes her head, “Give him back some blood, I guess, but...” Trailing off, she prods the wound with a finger and sends a pulse of light into Leon's body. It's hard to say what effect it might have, but he seems to relax a little.

Now, you mutter, it's time to leave.

File: Kin-ki.jpg (503 KB, 1416x2648)

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>>44190469

But there's still no way you're going to take all those stairs by yourself. Sending Moh Shuvuu back to storage, you call up Kin-Ki and order the bulky Oni to kneel. Groaning with the pain in your skull – even moving seems to make it ache and throb – you sit on his shoulder and point him in the direction of the stairs. At least he seems to welcome the chance to display his strength, rising and marching upwards without complaint.

“Such challenges are trivial!” he announces to the world at large, Petra and Elliot following close behind, Leon dragging between them. From this loft position, the distance seems to fly past with relative ease. The only thing you don't like is Kin-Ki's casual cruelty, as he shoves his way past any of the slaves that dare to cross his path, even thrusting one of them off the staircase entirely. You close up your ears, then, not willing to listen for the sound of the body striking earth.

At the top of the stairs, you are greeted by a strange sight – proof, perhaps, that there is someone else here with you. Someone rather bored, if you guess correctly, and in the mood to meddle once again in your affairs. Scratched into the golden passage walls, you can't imagine the strength required to gouge out the letters, is a mocking sentence. “Just ask for help”.

Nyarlathotep – toying with you again. Would he really be willing to help you out of this place, even if he had that power?

“It won't be that simple,” Petra grumbles, looking at the words with a sour eye, “It never is, yes?”

“But, if we don't have any other way out of here...” Elliot murmurs, looking away as he makes the delicate suggestion. “And we DO need to be out of here as soon as possible...”

>We'll find our own way, no matter how long it takes
>If you're listening, we need your help!
>You can beg for his help, but I refuse
>Other

>>44190589
>>You can beg for his help, but I refuse
Tell em about the ring.

>>44190589
>You can beg for his help, but I refuse
"The last time I followed his directions I got a chunk bitten out of my leg and was given a cursed ring that I was smart enough not to put on."

>>44190589
>>We'll find our own way, no matter how long it takes
Fuck Nyarly

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>>44190692
You telling me you can't trust this face?

>>44190708
I trust him less than Mastema

File: NotMastema.jpg (54 KB, 479x288)

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>>44190735
Well fellow anon, that implies you don't trust the most handsome angel Mastema. Which you totally should.

File: 1448219972527.jpg (337 KB, 1150x950)

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>>44190769
Don't believe his lies

File: Santema.jpg (71 KB, 501x501)

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>>44190790

>>44190609
>>44190641
>>44190692

Elliot can beg for that bastard's help if he wants, you say with a venom that even surprises yourself, but you refuse. The last time you followed his directions – and that was just following an arrow scrawled on a piece of paper – you nearly died. Even the gift he gave you for being “a good sport” was cursed, damned so that he could toy with your perceptions.

So no, you're not willing to accept this “kind” offer of help. This time, you get the feeling that you'd end up with more than just a lump bitten out of your leg. Worse still is the thought of what he might ask in return – sure, the rest of the wasteland might play at trading favours, but you refuse to owe that demon anything.

“I see,” Elliot replies, some of the colour draining from his face, “I... did not know that.” He flounders for a moment – could this really be what Elliot looks like, lost for words? - before finally regaining his composure. “My, Mia dear, what interesting friends you keep!”

No, you're going to find your own way out of here, no matter how long it takes. There has to be a way back to the real world – it feels strange to call this new world “real”, but compared with this golden city, anything would seem real – and you just need to find it. How you'll do that... you're willing to call that one a work in progress. Something to think about as Kin-Ki carries you to the great elevator. Once you're back at the surface, you might have a better idea.

You hope.

Your mind is still blank as you reach the streets of that golden city once more, but you are nevertheless cheered by the sight of the blue sky above. It might be a false sky – everything else here seems to be fake – but it's the brightest thing you've seen in a long time.

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You know what little girl demon I hope we recruit?

>>44190953
I thought the same thing when I saw that picture lurking /smtg/

>>44190953

>My little Norse god can't be this cute!

>>44190934

As you're looking up, shielding your eyes against the warm light, you hear something. Leon, murmuring something as he rouses himself from the barely conscious state he had slipped into.

“...Sun,” he whispers, coughing weakly, “Dragged me through the streets... sun was always at my back, no matter where we went.”

So, you say to yourself as you think, if you walked towards the sun...

“Might get us out of here...” Leon finishes for you, nodding with what seems to be the last of his strength. Having said his piece, he lets out one last gasp and slumps slightly, his limbs growing slack.

“Best thing for him,” Petra assures you, checking his pulse with a careful finger, “Save his strength, yes?” Shifting her shoulders slightly, settling Leon's weight better, she joins you in looking up at the sky. “You think this will work? He was a prisoner, he might have made a mistake. We might just be walking further into a maze.”

Maybe, you admit, but it's not like you've got a better plan to work with. You take a moment longer to orientate yourself – you want to make absolutely sure that you're heading in the right direction – you order Kin-Ki onwards. You lead the way, lurching through the streets on your demon's broad shoulders, as the others follow closely in your footsteps. Barring a few close encounters with the now-familiar slaves, you see no other living things on your journey. The streets are so deserted, in fact, that you find yourself wondering if the Intoxicating One is really here. This place feels more like a city that has been recently abandoned, rather than one so recently created.

Whatever apprehension you feel vanishes suddenly, evaporating like mist, when you see the gate. A grand, golden doorway, standing ever so slightly ajar. Drifting through the gap, a few welcome snowflakes.

>>44191110

Hopping down from Kin-Ki's shoulders and returning the hulking demon to your storage – there's no way he could fit through that narrow gap – you hurry out into the cold air beyond. The contrast between the warm, golden city and the silver wasteland beyond is like night and day, but you are so glad to see snow once more that you laugh aloud, holding your hands out to soak up the unfamiliar chill.

Before you can get entirely carried away and start a snowball fight, or something equally whimsical, you hear an unexpected chirp. It's your phone – ringing mere moments after you return to the real world. Was someone trying to get in contact with you? Apparently so, and your surprise only deepens when you see the caller – Cassandra.

“So you're answering your phone,” she says, as soon as you take her call, “I thought something had happened to you.”

You explain, vaguely, that you were somewhere with no signal. As you offer your excuses, you note that Cassandra sounds a little better – more lively, somehow.

“We should meet,” Cassandra announces, suddenly, “Say, you remember where we first met Gabriel, don't you? Can you be there tonight?”

You might be able to get there, you start to say, but tonight might not be possible.

“Whenever, then,” a pause, “Oh, and could you come alone?”

Alone.

“That's right,” Cassandra tells you, “Or I won't be there.”

>Fine. We can meet tonight
>Can we meet later, perhaps?
>I'm not coming, not alone
>Other

>>44191247
>Fine. We can meet tonight

>>44191247
>Fine. We can meet tonight
Get Leon and Elliot to the fairy Kingdom, deliver the Idol to Sati with Petra, then go meet Cass, then get some well deserved rest. Sounds like a decent way to cap off day fucking 1.

>>44191287
Betting she's either gone darkside via indoctrination to Nyarly, is being held captive and forced to say it, or something is acting like her.

>>44191247
>>Fine. We can meet tonight
Kinda unsure why she wants to meet alone. Something about Petra?

>>44191398
Man you went straight to the worst case scenarios.

I'm betting she is just pissed off at the whole situation and is going to say some choice things about Amelia and would rather Petra not be there.

>>44191442
If that was the case she'd ask to exclude Petra, not have us come alone.

>>44191268
>>44191287
>>44191407

That's fine, you tell Cassandra slowly, you can meet her tonight – and yes, you'll come alone.

“That's good,” Cassandra tells you, after a moment, “You can bring your demons, I mean, for self-defence. It's not safe to go wandering this world without them, of course.”

Of course, you agree. She sounds well, you add tentatively, unsure how she'll take it. The silence that greets your comment draws out for a while, lending an air of sinister tension to the conversation.

“You know where to meet me,” she says eventually, hanging up a moment later. You take the phone from your ear and look at it for a long time, not quite sure what to make of the conversation. It almost seemed to be more about what she hadn't said, rather than what she had told you. She was quite specific about not mentioning your meeting place by name, for example, almost as if she was expecting someone to be listening in on your conversation.

“Trouble?” Petra asks, noticing the grim look on your face.

No, you reply quickly, although you couldn't say exactly why you're so quick to conceal Cassandra's intentions. Slipping your phone back into your pocket, you hastily offer Petra a plan. Elliot and Leon should hurry back to the fairy kingdom – if Elliot can support Leon all the way – while you and Petra take the Inferno Idol to Sati's tower. Then you can all head back to the fairy kingdom for a good rest – you've earned it, after all.

“...Yes, that works,” Petra nods slowly, watching you carefully.

“I think I've got this,” Elliot confirms, giving you a brave smile, “Ah, but if I end up with a hernia because of this, I'm going to send you a letter of formal complaint.”

And you'll shred it, you tell Elliot with a sweet smile, but you'll do it formally.

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>>44191666

Your party splits up when you reach the charred looking manor, Petra joining you as you enter the building as Elliot drags Leon's limp body back towards the city. The fires that once burned here have all died out, leaving the former auction house feeling strangely sad and empty. It almost feels worse than before there were any fires at all, as if the brief moment of light and heat burned away what little life the building had retained. It's an oppressive atmosphere, weighing heavily upon your shoulders, and you talk little with Petra as you descend to the tunnels.

“There it is,” Petra says eventually, when you reach what was once the Lady's chamber. The Inferno Idol – not much of an inferno, now that the fires have been quashed – sits in the centre of the room. You had almost feared it would be stolen, salvaged by some canny treasure hunter. You both circle it cautiously, sizing it up and trying to figure out the best way of getting it out of here. Kin-Ki could lift it, that part is easy, but getting it up the ladder...

“Fear not,” Kin-Ki boasts, when you summon him to get his opinion, “My legendary strength, but famed gentleness, will suffice for this task! Leave it to me!”

“Gentleness?” Petra asks with a smirk as Kin-Ki hefts the idol up in his arms, easily carting it off down the tunnel. You follow close behind, equally curious as to see his rare quality in action. When the golden skinned Oni reaches the ladder he pauses, peering up as if to judge the distance by eye, and then HURLS the idol, throwing it into the air and out of sight. There is a crash as it comes tumbling down, and both you and Petra wince.

Gentle, he said.

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>>44191917

Surprisingly, the idol itself is perfectly intact when you climb up and examine it. The stack of furniture it landed amidst is somewhat LESS intact, but that's not something you're particularly concerned about. If some rotting, waterlogged furniture is reduced to matchsticks, well, that's a sacrifice you're willing to make. Kin-Ki himself follows the idol up, jumping with an agility you never quite expected from him. True, his feet burst through the floorboards where he lands, but still...

When Kin-Ki has finally freed himself from the floorboards, he takes up his burden once more and you all set forth, marching towards the city and Sati's burning tower. You can see it on the horizon, casting light and heat out into the wasteland – Hua Po must have recently donated her strength to Sati's never ending hunger – and the tower offers a welcome beacon to follow. The streets remain empty – no flocks of ghouls, and only the merest tremble from beneath the earth – as you wind through them, always chasing that new sun.

Finally, when you reach the bottom of Sati's tower, you are shocked at how awful Hua Po looks. The little fairy is resting in Sati's lap, the breath rasping in her chest as Sati strokes her hair gently. Other than a colossal clunk as Kin-Ki drops the Inferno Idol, that struggling breath is the only sound. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, Hua Po speaks up.

“I did it, boss,” she murmurs, “I did good, right?”

“I'm sorry,” Sati says, her tone heavy, “Her strength waned each time she offered it up to me, and yet she never left my side. I fear the worst...”

“Boss,” Hua Po croaks, “Just going to close my eyes for a moment, that's all. Just rest a little...”

>You did good. Rest well
>You're coming with me. I can help you
>Other

>>44192165
>You're coming with me. I can help you
Told you I'd come back for you.

>>44192165
>You're coming with me. I can help you
Fire idol? Or stick her in the phone to set her to default, either way.

>>44192165
>>You're coming with me. I can help you
We kinda need the space in our storage but she can come with us for now

>>44192429
She always had a place as our dutiful and only fire Demon. Shax though even with the poison could probably be itemed since we already have Moh.

>>44192429
She's our fire type

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>>44192203
>>44192207
>>44192429

Hey, you say gently, kneeing down by Hua Po. You said you'd come back for her, didn't you? Well here you are, back again – and this time, when you walk out of here, you're going to do it with her at your side. She's weak now, and needs time to get her strength back, but you can help her. She'll be back at her prime in no time at all.

“Ah, boss...” the little fairy murmurs, “You're one of the good ones, you know that? I'll do my best next time, I promise...”

But now, you tell her as she flickers out of sight, returning to the cradle of your phone's storage, but now she should rest. Rest, and grow strong.

“You are a generous master,” Sati says, nodding with approval, “Too many would have thrown her away like a broken toy, or crushed her because of the weakness she was unafraid to show. I think this world is lucky to have humans like you. Humans willing to help everyone, from the weak to the strong.”

And speaking of helping, you say as you bashfully change the subject, you might have brought something that could help Sati herself. It might even take her place, burning endlessly to provide this world with the heat and light it so desperately needs.

“Indeed?” Sati's voice is light, but there is an undisguised hunger in it – an eagerness, perhaps, to escape her fate. “I had not thought such a thing was possible.”

Well, you warn her, it might not be a perfect solution. At your behest, Kin-Ki picks up the idol once more and places it atop the stone casket in the centre of the room, pushing it beneath the faltering beam of fire. When the pillar of flame touches the idol, it flares brighter and brighter still, filling the air with a growing warmth. It's working – it's really working!

>>44192602

As the flames flicker and roar – but it's a safe roar, somehow, like that of a formidable yet tame guardian – you feel new strength and even hope creeping into your body. Amazing really, the healing properties of a good fire. It's so glorious that it takes you a while to draw away from the heavenly warmth, tearing yourself away from what was once Sati's purpose in life and turning your attentions to the demon herself. So, you ask her, what's next for her?

“I... am not sure,” Sati admits, “I believe that I must leave this world for a time. I shall return, when the wheel of karma decides that it is my time to do so. When I do, I shall seek you out – to repay this favour that you have granted me.”

You'll be waiting, you tell her cheerfully, and you look forwards to seeing her again.

“It might not me ME you see,” Sati warns you, “My form may be different, but my heart shall be the same. Now, human, we must part. Farewell human, and I wish you luck on what lies ahead.”

You start to ask about that – it almost sounded like a prophecy – when Sati bursts into flames, hungry fires devouring every inch of her in an instant. As rags and ash, her remains are swept away on a breeze that you cannot feel. Until she returns, then.

“Back home, yes?” Petra asks after a solemn moment, “Ah, I mean the kingdom. It is home for me, it seems.”

About that, you say awkwardly, she should go on ahead. You'll catch up with her later.

“Oh?” Petra lifts an eyebrow, “Planning something, yes?”

>Answer honestly
>Dodge the question
>Lie to her
>Other

>>44192735
>Cassandra called, wanted to meet alone. If I can evade Archangels I can evade her if things go sideways. Sides you're still hurting.

>>44192735
>>Answer honestly
"Cass wanted to meet with me alone. I know what you are thinking, but this might be our only opportunity to see what's up with her. Head back to the Fairy Kingdom and get some rest. I'll be right behind you when I finish talking with her."

>>44192735
>>Answer honestly
Kinda feel like Petra would be able to sniff us out if we lied. That, or Mia would let it slip anyway

>>44192735
>Answer honestly
it's 4am, why am I awake?

....I expect Mia to have the same thoughts by the time she trudges to the church, exhausted and bruised.

>>44192952
It's been a long day

>>44192952
>>44193010
She did get a bit of a rest though, when she fell into those tunnels. Passing out counts as a rest right?

>>44192952
>>44192812
>>44192786
>>44192763

It's Cassandra, you tell Petra, she called you with a request to meet up – alone. You know how it sounds, you say quickly before Petra can call you out on it, but you're fairly sure it's safe. It might be your only chance to meet up with her, after all. She's hardly been cooperative so far, has she?

“True,” Petra admits glumly, “She keeps her secrets well, that one.”

Exactly. You're just going to see what's up with her and then you'll head right back to the fairy kingdom – hopefully with Cassandra in tow. That's why you said Petra should go on ahead, so you can meet up with her later. She could use the chance to rest for a while, you add, and give that injury of hers time to heal naturally. Even if something DOES go wrong, you can get away from her easily – you were able to evade a pair of angry Archangels, weren't you? A human should be an easy job, after that.

“...Fine,” the redhead sighs, “No stopping you, yes? Just one thing, before you go. Scrub your face down, yes?”

Your face? Frowning, you rub your face and wince as your hands come away crusted with dried blood. That must have been from where Dionysus struck you in the face. Had it been there all this time, staining your skin a frightful red?

“Well, yes,” Petra nods, offering you a skewed smile, “Ah, but you looked fierce, yes? Like a warrior!”

All the more reason to wash it off, you tell Petra as you emerge from Sati's tower into the chilly air. Stooping, you gather up a handful of snow and wash your face with it, shivering at the glacial chill.

“Much better,” the redhead tells you, as she's heading off, “Good luck! Any trouble...” she adds, her voice darkening slightly, “You run, yes?”

That's the plan.

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>>44193153

Leaving Petra heading off towards the warmth and shelter of the fairy kingdom, you stride through the streets towards Gabriel's church. Her former church, that should be said – she's moved onto bigger and better things, apparently. You think of Joseph, then, and hope that he's holding up okay. He seemed to be doing not so bad, better for having a brief moment of human contact, but there's no way of telling. Things can change so quickly, in a world like this.

Feeling strangely glum – the streets are different, somehow, when you're alone – you look up to find yourself outside your destination, having walked there on autopilot. Trying not to look too spooked by the sudden arrival, you scan the outside of the building for any sign of Cassandra. Nothing outside, so you push your way into the church and check there. It is only logical, you decide, that she would wait inside.

Without Gabriel, the whole church feels different. Once more, it's just a building – nothing about it is holy or good, and it's just bricks and mortar like any other structure. The candles still litter any flat surface available, but they are unlit. Just as you go to sit in one of the pews, you hear the door. Turning, you see Cassandra striding in, the door already closed behind her. She looks rough, with her white coat ripped and fouled with all kinds of grim, but the look on her face is unreadable.

“You came,” she says softly, approaching your pew, “I wasn't sure if you would.”

Well, you reply slowly, you were worried about her. Up close, you notice that she has a pair of daggers strapped to her hips. One is that obsidian thing, recovered from the auction house, but the other is different. Not a dagger at all, you realise, but a large tooth. It's like a hollow fang, ripped from the mouth of some giant snake.

>>44193219
>It's like a hollow fang, ripped from the mouth of some giant snake.

D-did she just kill Samael and loot his fang as a weapon?

>>44193258
Wait a minute. Wasn't that weapon Mastema offered Joseph one of Sammy's fangs?

>>44193340
thought it was a dagger filled with the venom.

>>44193340
It was yea

>>44193219

Nodding softly, although you're not sure why she'd be nodding, Cassandra sits in the opposite pew and hesitates a moment. She looks... restless, as though sitting like this was an alien concept. A minute, perhaps, passed without either of you saying anything before she gets to her feet again to pace the front of the church.

So, you ask eventually, why did she call so suddenly?

“I wanted to see you,” Cassandra replies quickly, “And... I think it's time we laid our cards on the table.”

Silence greets that comment. When her back is turned, you slip a hand behind your back and touch Midnight's handle. Just to make sure, you think forlornly, just so you've got a safe exit. Nothing more than that. Swallowing hard, you ask Cassandra what, exactly, she means by that.

“Speaking plainly?” Cassandra begins, “I don't know if I can trust you. I want to know who you're working for – are you willing to tell me, or shall we part company here?”

That's a loaded question, if you've ever heard one.

>I'm working for Amelia, just like you
>I'm working for Amelia
>I'm in this for myself, that's all
>Hell seems to smile upon me lately
>I hear good things about the Great Will
>Other

>>44193402
>Other
"Right now I'm working to keep us humans safe. I'm waiting for the full moon again so I can talk to Amelia directly about how she is going to fix this. Your friend is a gullible idiot but her heart is in the right place and I can tell she wants to fix this. So until that meeting happens im not really taking sides."

>>44193402
>Other
>''Well, you're the one working in the dark here, so I think you should be the first to say something on that matter. Are we on the same page, or did you already change your side?''

>>44193402
Hell and Heaven don't seem that great and Nyalarhotep is right out. Not sure if I should back Amelya or try my hand at it. Depends on how she acts when we meet again. So who gave you that dagger? I assume it wasn't Amelia. Which leaves Hell, Heaven or Nyalarhotep himself.

>>44193402
>I'm working for Amelia, just like you
>...right?

>>44193458
>>44193402
Pretty much this. Mostly trying to keep everyone safe until we can talk to Amelia again. Once we hear her plan (which I think is standard world regression except no Nyarly in play, which honestly is pretty damn reasonable) we have no reason to condemn her or at the same time blindly trust her.

>>44193402
>>I'm working for Amelia
Time to lay our cards on the table

>>44193660
>>44193577
>>44193516
>>44193489
>>44193460
>>44193458

Who are you working for, huh? That's not an easy question to answer in just a few words – worse still, when you don't know what kind of answer she's looking for. Drawing in a deep breath, you turn away from her – she's staring at you, her eyes fixed and unblinking – and offer your answer. Right now, you begin, you're focussed on keeping as many humans safe as possible. Above all else, that's your current priority. Who else would you be working with? Heaven, Hell, or the monster that created this world?

Cassandra remains silent at that, and you take it as a sign to continue. Right now, you're going to wait and speak with Amelia once more – just to hear her out. Depending on what she says, you might be sticking with her. But, you add carefully, enough about what your intentions are – it's about time Cassandra told you a little about HER goals.

“So you're working for Amelia?” Cassandra asks, conveniently sidestepping your request.

Right, you sigh, hoping that an admission might, finally, force her hand. You're working for Amelia – just like she is.

“That's quite the assumption,” Cassandra breathes, the words slipping from her lips, “I know the blame isn't hers alone, but you're a fool if you think she didn't cause this. She took that monster in, she kept it by her side – what does that tell you about her? She kept a bloodthirsty monster around as her personal servant, and why, because she felt camaraderie with it?”

That's... not something you'd know much about, you admit, but Amelia's working to fix things. She just needs a little help, that's all.

“And then what?” Cassandra asks, “What about the next disaster? What about the next time she gets bored, or forgets to keep an eye on something? What then, are you going to keep cleaning up after her?”

>>44193768

The tirade – you can't think of a better word for it – takes you by surprise. So much so, in fact, that you struggle to find the next words. Numbly, with a sense of dread creeping up from within you, you ask about the dagger strapped to her hip. Where did she get such a thing?

Her hand slipping down to brush against it, Cassandra's lips twist in a faint grimace. She doesn't answer, and her pacing slows down until she is standing still, leaning against the altar with forced casualness. “Go on, Mia, tell me. Are you going to keep on following Amelia's orders, like a good soldier?”

That's not what you said, you shoot back. You said you'd hear her out – nothing more than that. You're not some mindless fanatic, ready to die on whatever order Amelia gives you.

“Mia, you need to know something,” Cassandra tells you wearily, “The power she gained, that was never meant for a human being. Men and women can't build worlds, not without setting them up for disaster. She took God's power... and I'm starting to think that God should take it back.”

So that's it, then. At last, she's letting her colours fly – and you're not sure you like what you see.

>Cassandra, just come with me. Talk to Amelia, at least.
>The God that left His servants mutilated and broken? THAT God?
>You might have a point, perhaps...
>Talking won't solve anything. I'm leaving
>Other

>>44193884
>>>The God that left His servants mutilated and broken? THAT God?
Lawfags, not even once.

>>44193884
>>The God that left His servants mutilated and broken? THAT God?
I remember Joseph saying he started with the best intentions are did horrible things, with Heaven's backing.
I'd rather take a God who tries than a god who doesn't care.

Meanwhile prep an illsuory double with our mask so if she does attack she'll miss.

>>44193884
>The God that left His servants mutilated and broken? THAT God?
"The one that calls me 'Child of Spite' just because I was buried in hallowed ground by my father? The one that made Joseph do whatever he did in the last cycle that made you three so angry? That one? That isn't GOD Cass, that's just another demon that has too much power."

>Cassandra, just come with me. Talk to Amelia, at least.
"I get it. You put your faith in her and she failed you. But she's said numerous times she isn't infallible and she's human, but humans work best when they work together. I seem to remember something about three girls who beat everything together last cycle."

>>44193884
>>Cassandra, just come with me. Talk to Amelia, at least.
Tread carefully

>>44194017
I hope she remembers Metatron's little speech about Mia's life. Does she really want a God like that?

>>44193909
>>44193962
>>44194017
>>44194113

The God that left His servants mutilated and broken, you ask with disbelief, THAT God?

“Compared with what?” Cassandra shoots back, “The God that broke Joseph's mind? The God that stole so many of my memories? What about the one that left ruined Petra's life and forgot about her?”

Oh, so she's forgetting that HER God was the one that ordered Joseph to do those atrocities, is she? The same God whose servants now want to murder you, because you were buried in hallowed ground once? No, that's no God – that's just a demon with too much power and a set of delusions.

“Are we comparing war crimes, now?” Cassandra asks, with a kind of dignified irritation, “Mia, please. Do you know what Amelia said, in the early days? She talked about “the human called Amelia Bishop”. Make no mistake, that thing is no human – she's not the girl I once called a friend. She's just something that's wearing her face.”

Cassandra, you murmur, just come with you when you meet her. Come at talk with her, at least. It's only when the words have left your mouth that you realise you were pleading with her, doing all but tugging on her coat sleeve. You understand, you tell her, she put all of her faith in Amelia, and she failed. But, for what it's worth, you believe she's still human – you believe that because she's failed. Humans aren't infallible, and they work best when they're together – she proved that, didn't she, when three girls took on the world?

Cassandra, silent at that, seems to think your words over. In the distance, the earth shudders, and then shudders again – someone, somewhere, is having a very bad day. “At the full moon,” Cassandra says eventually, “And we'd just talk, okay?”

>>44194231
>In the distance, the earth shudders, and then shudders again – someone, somewhere, is having a very bad day.
I can't tell if that was tunneling demon just doing his thing or that was Mastema going REEEEE.

>>44194272
Porque no old dos?

>>44194231

That's right, you tell her quickly, you won't force her into anything. You won't make any demands. Again, the void between you seems to stretch out longer and longer as something in the distance collapses, crumbling as the earth beneath is snatched away. At the distant sound, Cassandra's hand drifts down to touch that new dagger of hers, the motion one of pure unconscious reaction.

“I won't promise anything,” she says slowly, taking her hand away when she notices, “I CAN'T promise you anything.”

You never asked her to promise anything, you start, all you said was-

“I know,” Cassandra waves you away, the first motion she's made so far that didn't seem stiff and forced, “Just do one thing for me, won't you? Don't let Amelia wrap you around her little finger. That's all I'm asking you to do – think about what she's done, and what she might do.”

And she should think about her God, you ask in return, and what He might ask her to do. Joseph started out down his path with the best of intentions as well.

“Things are different now,” Cassandra says vaguely, “I'm going to make sure of that.”

Fine, you say slowly as you rise from your pew, just as long as she knows what she's getting into.

“Tread carefully, Mia,” she warns you, in return, as you walk from the church. The cold outside is welcome, clearing your mind of the countless disturbed thoughts coursing through it.

>I'll have to stop things here for tonight. Next thread on Friday, and I'll stick around for any questions there might be

>>44194444
Yikes

Thanks for the run Moloch.

Welp, that could have gone much worse.

>>44194508
We are going to have to call her once or twice a day this week to check in on her.

Half out of genuine concern, the other half making sure that she has more contact than just black winged angels and demons throughout the day. Leaving people alone is bad news in this world.

>>44194508

Nobody got stabbed. That's something

Updated.

>>Main Goal
>Recover Cosmic Fragments
-Unknown fairy acquired Center fragment
-North fragment captured by Mada and the Shackle. Fortress had transformed.
-South fragment captured and used to make some town on the southern outskirts of the city
-West fragment claimed, unknown who did.
-East fragment unaccounted for. (Archangel's also in the East)

>Priority Missions
-Rescue Joseph - Need a plan. Also probably call him before we go to sleep. Just to let him know we are still out there.
-Marco's release - Tell Mister Black about the Inferno Idol and Kagutsuchi.
-Keep in contact with Cass.

>Other missions
-Kill the tunnelling demon
-Prove ourselves to Cern
-Meet up with Amelia at the next full moon.
-Hit up Moloch for our reward if we want to. (Possibly dangerous, Lucy is an asshole, etc.)
-Keep an eye out for Sati in her new form.

>Current Situation
Check in with Joseph and go the fuck to sleep.

>>44194490
>Yikes

Oh, it's not that bad!

>>44194638

I'm interested in hearing what people would focus on, out of that list. Right now, Mia's got an opportunity to pick and choose

>>44194678
Reporting Nebrios should be quick. We could work on finding the Center fragment since its somewhere in the kingdom.

I want to rescue Joseph but I'm not sure how well we'd do with Leon out of commission and with no phone. Mia, Petra, and Elliot might be able to take down 2 or 3 Crippled Archangels with a good plan.

>>44194638
>-South fragment captured and used to make some town on the southern outskirts of the city
I'm pretty curious about this one actually. I don't know what kind of demon to link with a town.

>>44194767

I can confirm that Leon's phone is still within the Intoxicating One's new fortress. It's quite the curiosity - a new way to enslave demons, or so they think!

>>44194929

Oh, just a demon looking to settle down, maybe start a family!

>>44195060
So is the tunneling demon Nidhogg?

>>44195060
There still human objects lying around like last time? Any extra phones that still work?

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>>44195249

That's correct, yes.

>>44195283

There should be plenty of stuff lying around. The world is actually less looted than the previous cycle, although there is a greater degree of "corruption" from the demon world. It should be easy enough to find a spare phone though!

>>44195311
So hear me out. I might have something that Elliot can do when we fight the archangels. Get an extra phone and record Dullahan running around. Attach that to a rope and during the fight with Uriel toss it in the battle autoplaying, moving it with the rope to simulate movement. If he falls for it, it'll make him wide open for real threats coming at him. Thoughts?

>>44195387

Record the sound of Dullahan running about, you mean? I imagine any distraction like that would be able to mess with his head. Of course, that would only help if you can get Uriel away from Raphael.

>>44195432
>Of course, that would only help if you can get Uriel away from Raphael.
That's true. Wishing we had Leon's Fog Breath dude available.

What if we had Raph really focused on his own battle. Either via pissing him off with some blasphemy or just generally press him hard with multiple attackers?

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>>44195432
>Hiding Cass's character sheet.
Heh, smart play.

>>44195495

Isolating Raphael or forcing him to devote all his attention to fighting would certainly keep the ruse intact for longer. It's a risk, though, because Raphael would only need a brief window to alert Uriel

>>44195544
Does Tarunda work on multiple enemies in one cast?

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>>44195540

Well it's no fun if you know what her secret weapon is!

>>44195571

Assuming they're all relatively close together, yes. Casting it on Raphael would work on Uriel, if they're both in the fight, but it wouldn't impact Gabriel, lurking elsewhere

>>44195603
So a basic formation I have in mind if its just the two of them is:

Kagu vs Uriel, Kagu is fire resistant and can go toe to toe physically with a blinded Archangel. Elliot can try the Dullahan phone trick too.

Petra, Dullahan, Mia, and Nadja focus fire Raph down in the meantime.

>>44195742

That certainly sounds like it could work. Assuming, of course, the dice comply.
And assuming that neither of the other two show up. But what are the odds of that happening?

>>44195783
Given what you said about Michael a few threads ago, I can see him Batmanning it.

>>44195783
>But what are the odds of that happening?
Depends if Gabby wants to leave Joseph alone, if she trusts him not attack their flank. Michael is a total wildcard though

>>44195797
>>44195809

Well, I can confirm that, as of Mia's conversation with Cass, Michael was busy in the east, looking for the final fragment.

>>44195876
I guess that Joseph's rescue should be sooner rather than later.

>>44195950

Well, he's not going anywhere - at the moment - but it has been said that isolation is a risky thing in this world

>>44196058
It's why I suggest we give a dose of human contact before Mia turns in tonight

>>44196058
What causes so many humans to disappear and London be the battleground when the World of Transition happens?

>>44196342

In the first cycle, it was essentially random chance that made London the battleground. No different from Tokyo being the battleground in Nocturne, for example.

As for the people, it's more that humans are not normally equipped to enter a world of transition. Those not within a sanctuary, a safe space, are essentially "removed" from the new world. It's not exactly an act of god, but more of a natural law of the universe.

I apologise if that's not a perfect explanation, though.

>>44196507
But what triggers it? Normally I mean, not Nyarly's thing. Is it always at 2020? Is it due to demons getting too powerful on the other side or is it brought about by humans manipulated?

>>44196575

It can be brought about by human manipulations - forbidden rituals, dreadful sacrifices et al - but even without human influence it's an inevitable fate of the world decaying at the seams.
That's one thing Amelia never quite grasped. The world was never designed, naturally, to exist forever.
At the end of the day (or cycle), the world always goes through a cycle of death and rebirth. The exact date and method changes, but the end result is the same.

>>44196647
That's a downer. Even if Law or Chaos win they'd have to adhere to the eventual death of the world too huh? They'd have their own world of transition at the end of the road.

>The world was never designed, naturally, to exist forever.
What about artificially? No idea how though.

>>44196762

Basically, yes. In a world of Law, you'd probably start to see increasing numbers of people developing or exercising their free will, eventually leading to anarchy. In a world of Chaos, on the other hand, people would just gradually lie down and stop doing anything.

Amelia's world though, is a new construct. It's unclear exactly how far the rules will apply to it.

>>44196822
>Amelia's world though, is a new construct. It's unclear exactly how far the rules will apply to it.

It would be interesting to see how we could bend and break the rules of the universe with this new world. We just gotta keep the deity ball in Amelia's (or any other human with the same idea) court if we ever need to iterate or regress.

All these cycles have been pretty much 'Who can be King of the Hill the longest?'

>>44197024
>Letting Amelia fuck the universe any way she likes
Cassandra did nothing wrong.

>>44197081
Just an idea if we ever want to break free from this 'Inevitable death of the world' thing.' Doesn't have to be Amelia either.

We'll see what a non Nyarly world is like, her barrier will be stronger with him leeching. Will the world still decay then? We'll see.

>>44197178
>with him
without* him