File: 211.png (25 KB, 500x1540)

25 KB PNG

>>340386
>>335168
>>335230
The tall woman grumbles through her gag and deliberately slows her pace.

>"Hey, did I tell you to slow down? You're being a real drag, you know that?"

Nicotine slaps her on the rear, then gives her a warning to avoid any further commotions.

>"I don't like your attitude, missy, and if you try anything funny then you're getting the blindfold. I'd whip you into shape but I'd rather have Aramid chew your ass out instead of mine."

>>336134
>>336204
Halon can wait, Aramid leads you through a detour that takes you to the Law Enforcement District...at least one of them. He explains that due to the nature of the job, the district is split up and scattered across the other districts instead.

>>336250
You feel uncertain about this idea. From what others have said, they're implying him to be the most difficult to persuade. Not to mention that you're feeling intimidated by him.

(2/3)

File: 212.png (16 KB, 500x1020)

16 KB PNG

>>340392

>>336934
You're too uncertain to talk directly to Aramid so you approach Nicotine for a sibling favor. You ask if Caffeine and her can talk for you as you're pretty frightened about talking to him.

>"I can do that no sweat, Wis."

She gets the waitress to accompany her in confronting the suited man.

>>336937
>Ask Errai et al. about how they feel about the outcome of the events.

The other two district heads are chatting with Aramid so you approach Errai who appears to be visibly depressed.

>"My apologies for being such a burden, I am in a melancholic state after realizing my worthless inadequacy. I do not have any extraordinary attributes, unlike the rest of you, and I am beginning to become a hindrance."

>If possible, verify the water claims of 4eyes
Judging from how desperate the tall woman sounded, perhaps her information is genuine. You can't be too careful however, maybe a fact check wouldn't hurt.

>Get Aramid to fill us in on the previously requested details via proxy, and let them handle 4eyes.

(3/3)

"10 am my time" I said

File: 1456550977357.jpg (133 KB, 950x534)

133 KB JPG

>>340393
The last greentext line wasn't supposed to be included

>>340393
Give Errai a little pep talk saying that she can be unique in her own way if she strives to do great things with her knowledge and stuff.

Also comment how she was pretty unique in bed as well.

>>340393
Tell her that nobody is worthless, especially not someone as gifted and talented as her. Also, give her a hug while telling her that you love her no matter what attributes she does and doesn't have.

File: 213.png (17 KB, 500x1020)

17 KB PNG

>>340446
>>340472
You hold Errai's hand and tell her that no one is ever worthless, especially someone gifted with natural talents like her. You add that she's not letting anyone done and that she does not need superpowers to be phenomenal. Instead, all she needs is hardwork and an opportunity.

>"I-I suppose..."

Before anything else you hug her tightly, reminding her that you love her for who she is like she said yesterday. Her lack of an extraordinary attribute is not a flaw for you as you love her for her inner ones like personality instead.

You would've mentioned your first night with her but she is only unique in bed by a technicality. You hope no one's looking.

>>340624
Check how the conversation between the district heads is going.

File: 214.png (10 KB, 500x500)

10 KB PNG

>>340631
As it turns out they're already done and was watching your hug for several seconds now.

>>340669
Suddenly step away from each other while blushing and looking nervous. Then ask how things went.

File: 215.png (32 KB, 500x1540)

32 KB PNG

>>340678
Oh my, how embarrassing. You ask Aramid if he's okay with your objective.

>"I don't know for sure. Although I am okay with your tribal friends since scientists are willing to follow the laws of thermodynamics. The problem lies on the fact that I hold the law with highest regard and trying to go against my superiors would be most disrespectful."

The tall woman unintelligibly speaks up from across the room. Aramid's subordinate removes her ball gag to let her speak..

>"Oh yeah!? Then what do you think you are doing right now!? I'm the Mangament District's accountant! I told you I was just trying to fetch my misbehaving compatriots! I'M SLALOM!!"

Her two companions look at her with varying degrees of surprise.

>>340746
Management or not, the laws apply to everyone. In fact, management should be held the most accountable for their actions, since they have so much power - as they say, power without accountability results in corruption.

Anyways, the other two actually seem a lot more behaved than she is right now. It's actually surprising how chill they seem about all of this.

File: 216.png (12 KB, 500x500)

12 KB PNG

>>340748
Caffeine brings up a counterargument, saying that the law excuses no one and following a bad leader has no good. Aramid admits that she raises a good point and decrees that Slalom remains in custody.

>"Tch, fine. If I'm staying under arrest, can you at least give me my hat back? My head feels cold as I have short hair."

>>340751
Inadvisable, since it had monitoring electronics in it.

Besides, the comfort of detainees has never been important, historically. Safety, procedure, and making sure the suspects are actually secure (read: don't have strange things hidden on their person which could aid their escape or leak sensitive information) is a lot more important than a cold head.

Yeah, it sucks, but it's not supposed to be comfortable.

File: 217.png (19 KB, 500x1020)

19 KB PNG

>>340752
Nicotine catches on to Slalom's plan.

>"Yeah right, nice try toots. You ain't getting a word out to nobody. 'Sides the cool air ought to do you some good, hothead."

The accountant sighs, admitting that it was worth a shot. There's still the matter of her two companions, the stone-clad one is presumably Havelyn. What should we do with them?

>>340761
>admitting that it was worth a shot
So she has some ulterior motives, I knew it! Oy vey!

>What should we do with them?
Throw them in the slammer together with four eyes, there's a high chance the agitated Slalom will start bickering with them, causing more unrest between their inner ranks. Divide and conquer.

>>340761
Might as well ask the important question here
What's up with the rock armor and ancient weapons and that weird mask?

>>340772
Backing

File: 218.png (21 KB, 500x1020)

21 KB PNG

>>340766
Aramid decides to put the three captives in the slammer for the time being.

>"It's about time I put those cells to serious use. If you people are what pass for management personnel, then I have poor hopes for the district head. Caffeine, untie the big one's legs."

The waitress unties the garden hose on Havelyn's legs before Aramid and his subordinates escort the trio. The gunman turns around and starts pleading in a thick European accent.

>"Wait! I can help you confront my comrades! Just let me go, I don't want to stay with this shrew any longer! I swear on my Borscht to aid you the best I can!"

>"Excuse me!? Who are you calling a shrew?"

>"I beg you, anything as long as I'm not staying with her."

>>340772
>>340830
Meanwhile you ask Havelyn about his archaic attire.

>"I'm hired, summoned from another world to be exact, thus why I appear different. And then my Black Separation Crystal was confiscated and I can't return so now I'm stuck here. As for my mask, well, it's the best mask. What rings you got? Just kidding."

Last update for the night. Out to sleep, sorry for the lack of quality.

>>340867
Summoned?
Separation crystal?
Holy shit. This guy is either from a civilization so advanced that science is as magic, or even more strange...magic is real!
Ponder the implications of this. Wonder if that rock armor could increase our suit damage reduction? Wonder what integrating a black separation crystal, which is clearly a return device, might do. The possibilities!

>>340867
Remind yourself that you are just a genetically-enhanced subject that was sent from a technologically-advance society to get water, and that you have no time to get involved with supposedly magical knight from another world. Then realize you haven't been doing your objective anyways and get involved with the supposedly magical knight from another world just because you can.

File: 219.png (8 KB, 500x500)

8 KB PNG

>>340934
>>341378
That would be nice but you're uncertain how magic would meld with your advanced technology, especially your tampered one. Plus, you're a bit picky on what magic bits to add.

Pardon the short update, feeling a bit undermotivated.

>>342618
Ask Havelyn about his African-American seperation crystal and what happened to it, and why he was summoned.

>>342618
Ask which planet he is from

>>342618
Ask if Havelyn can somehow prove his magical claims.

File: 220.png (7 KB, 500x500)

7 KB PNG

>>342988
>"I did say that someone took away my crystal, trapping me in this realm. As for my purpose, well, it's whatever my 'employer' wants me to do for the moment. His whims are fickle like that."

>>343018
>"Planet? I remember being from a different continent. One that, long ago, has endured great losses from a siege of titans."

>>343029
>"If I can get my crystal back, I can return to my world and never bother you again. I'm not a caster so I don't have other means of impressing you."

>>343184
>His whims
So Slalom isn't his 'employer'? Then who?

>>343221
Backing

File: 221.png (5 KB, 500x500)

5 KB PNG

>>343221
>>343225
>"I have never met him in person but the others address him as 'Petroleum'. He fancies himself to be an unseen ruler of this realm."

>>343239
Ask the District Heads if they have ever heard of a person called "Petroleum"

>>343239
I knew it! The oil companies were behind this all along!

File: 222.png (9 KB, 500x500)

9 KB PNG

>>343247
You turn to the district heads. You ask what happened to Slalom and the gunman, Aramid says that he has reached a compromise and put the two in completely different cells. You then ask about 'Petroleum', the supposed head of the Management District. Nicotine mentions that she has never heard of that name. Errai recalls something Aspirin said.

>"So it appears that this individual remains unseen from public society and prefers to delegate commands through his subordinates."

>>343345
Ask how you can work at this place without knowing who your manager is.

>>343356
Backing

>>343345
Unseen, at least, from the view of not knowing their position. They might be hiding in plain sight.
They could be pretending to be a baker, or a lawyer, or a driver, or even an unassuming merchant with a weak immune system.

Maybe aramid has reports on people with suspicious conduct but have done nothing outright illegal that can be seen?

File: 223.png (23 KB, 500x1540)

23 KB PNG

>>343356
>>343363
Nicotine is at a loss for words.
>"Sorry, cat got my tongue on this one. I never really gave it a thought."

Caffeine claims that she thought it was someone else.
>"Honestly he could be anyone at this point. I thought he was the judge during my demonstration. Maybe that was actually a subordinate."

>>343372
She brings up an interesting point. You ask Aramid about the possbility of suspicious individuals who are never seen violating the rules.

>"Maybe that could be one of the tribal infiltrators but then it would be really awkward why would the girl's people still stay in peril. Other offenders include first-time arrivals who are unaware of the customs in here."

Errai mentions that it's possible he's simply reclusive.

>"I hypothesize that he is merely afraid to venture outside of his domain so he delegates his tasks to other members who serve as his senses."

>>343597
Oh, ask Aramid about his hiring process.

>>343957
Ask how Aramid filters his district info to the Management District

File: 224.png (8 KB, 500x500)

8 KB PNG

>>343635
Aramid says that he never hires people from this planet, instead much of his personnel come from screened volunteers and drafted individuals back from earth.

>>343672
He has trouble interpreting your request at first, then claims that he only gives back nonspecific information and raw numbers. He's not sure if that counts.

>>343698
Hmmm...
Ask what Aramid's superpower is. They're pretty cool so far.
I still think he might have been better off as an empath like aspirin. Maybe someday in the future, they'll team up as a crimefighting detective duo. Aspirin can even do the autopsies.

File: 225.png (15 KB, 500x1020)

15 KB PNG

>>343709
>"Superpowers? Oh. Uhh, aside from speaking with a filter almost all the time, I don't really have much else. Unless you count integrated armor and nonlethal ballistic weapons."

You mention how he was able to lift Havelyn, he claims that it's part of the suit. Nicotine butts in with a guess...

>Super Strength
>Gravity Manipulation
>Force Field
>Write in

Let's have some fun for this one, totally not because I forgot about that

>>343750
Definitely super strength.
It's the cheapest option alongside being simplest to integrate into his biology.

If he had gravity manip or forcefields, he wouldn't need riot gear.

File: 226.png (15 KB, 500x1020)

15 KB PNG

>>343759
Nicotine is adamant that Aramid has immense strength. She brings up his tendency to hide "trump cards" for emergency situations like lying about his capability.

>"Alright, ya got me, I ain't gonna argue about it."

>>343815
It's either that, or x ray vision
Maybe aramid is checking everyone else out right now.
We would never know, thanks to the visor.

>>343836
What's behind that helmet will remain a mystery for a while.

Although I do need some plot input to move the story forward, sorry.

>>343850
I dunno what to say for plot, boss
Maybe see if we're free to go, and if we are, see if we can go hook up with halon as planned

>>343850
Could bring back the prompts so we can chose answers from? Don't get me wrong, leave the possibilities for write ins as well. The prompts can gives us an approximation on what you as the QM have in mind, so we can easily keep track of the plot.

File: 227.png (12 KB, 500x500)

12 KB PNG

Pardon the delays, something IRL came up.

>>343889
Caffeine asks if Aramid can accompany them to visit Halon. He refuses, saying that he has to acquaint himself with the new prisoners. Errai asks him about the Fire Control District's location, he says that the district is similar to his in that it's split between the other ones. He also adds that the Medical District has First-Aid Stations scattered about.

Aramid starts escorting Havelyn to his cell.

>Move on to Halon
>Ask Havelyn about the remaining personnel
>Arrange a meeting by having Caffeine send a message
>Return to the Transport District to see how things are going

>>343897
Right, I completely forgot I can do prompts when I need options. Sorry, and again for the fact that this is my last post for the night.

>>343977
>Ask Havelyn about the remaining personnel
>Arrange a meeting by having Caffeine send a message

>>343979
Then move onto Halon

File: 228.png (36 KB, 500x2580)

36 KB PNG

>>343979
You interrupt Aramid for a moment to ask Havelyn if he knows any more of Petroleum's lackeys. He doesn't really know their names and he adds that there could be some known to him, but he at least tries to tell you what he knows.

There's this young, athletic girl who possesses incredible agility. He thinks she is one of those who wander around in the realm and serve as an active scout. She prefers to spend her time browsing the wares and slacking off in the Consumer District. He warns you that she is elusive and frequently taunts her opponents.

Then there's this stern woman, who's a lot more strict than Slalom. He apologizes that he never interacted with her at all.

Lastly, there's this boorish man who seems to have little merit to be picked up by the leader. He's not sure what Petroleum sees in him, maybe he's a member for the sheer novelty of it.

You request Caffeine if she can send a message to Halon to arrive. Errai recommends having him in full gear.

>>344029
>"Alright. He should be on his way here. So, uh, anything you want to do while you wait?"

>Search outside and try to intercept him.
>Accompany Aramid and talk to the prisoners
>Talk to Errai/Nicotine/Caffeine
>Use the opportunity to change your appearance with your Repair Module
>Write in

File: 02fa4c33a0ef8b21d67b284b9(...).jpg (73 KB, 736x920)

73 KB JPG

>>347266
>Use the opportunity to change your appearance with your Repair Module
If no one is willing to object, I'd go for a lady knight's outfit since Havelyn's armor inspired you to go for that look.

File: image.jpg (102 KB, 1205x662)

102 KB JPG

>>347353
Personally, I would go for pic related.
Environmentally sealed, visor for HUD (if our suit has one, vapor's does), and fairly attractive.
Also fairly mobile, arguably more mobile than the pirate outfit, which I can see getting caught on things...
Either way, i vote for suit redo too

>>347482
hnnn this

File: Stats.png (7 KB, 500x500)

7 KB PNG

I forgot to mention (curse you narrow focus) but you can also use the repair module to respec her suit's stats. Unlike Vapor and the rest (who are given 10 points to distribute on a numerical scale), WP goes on a 5-degree levels that ranges from Poor, Below Average, Average, Above Average, and Excellent; with 5 points to distribute. Just lettin' you know while I'm drawin' up the next image.

>>347505
Full mobility, one point in spacial distortion then
Wanna see what it can do

>>347508
Go for this

File: 230.png (29 KB, 500x2060)

29 KB PNG

>>347353
>>347482
>>347496
Havelyn's armor look does give you some ideas but you also remember your default diving suit. Plus you do need your HUD back so you're gonna have to compromise on fashion. You tell the other individuals in the room to give you some space and whip out your Repair Module from your Inventory. Caffeine is shocked at the sudden piece of machinery while Nicotine's already used to it.

>"Aagh! How are you doing that!?"

>"You get used to it, hon."

Just before you enter your module, you request Errai to recount your backstory, specifically the part with the secluded civilization.

>>347508
>>347515
During the reconfiguration, you shift one degree from Damage Resistance to Spatial Distortion. Now you are more likely to succeed using abilities beyond the basic Puddletechs. However, your suit is left with the bare minimum of physical protection outside of your helmet. Unlike the other subjects, whose levels in S.D. dictate which abilities are available for use, yours handle control and success rate on using them.

You step out of your Repair Module, internally admiring some details on your new suit.

>>347722
Activate ye hud and scan available targets.
Just to see what it does.

File: 231.png (27 KB, 500x1540)

27 KB PNG

>>347772
You can change your vision to view another spectrum like x-rays, gamma waves, ultraviolet light and heat signatures. However only the last bit seems practical as your suit compensates for the other modes by releasing their respective radiation—something you know you shouldn't do when there's so many people nearby.

You also have an unusual mode: Bioscanner. You can detect life signs of nearby non-plant creatures and gauge their wellbeing. That's how you managed to pick up Errai's faint traces yesterday. Now that you think about it, her avoided fate yesterday would have been a grisly one—certainly not a good way to go out. You make a mental reminder to get these alien trees extinct, ecological consequences be damned.

Hang on, what's this? There are four people around the room, not counting Aramid and Havelyn, yet you are detecting five life signs.

Although it's a bit early for the night, I'm going to call it quits for now. See ya'll in...14 hours after this post.

>>347991
Attack in the general direction of the invisible life-form

>>347991
Sprint over and tackle the being.

>>347991
Ask caffeine/nicotene if they know anyone that can turn invisible or something like that. Then if they say no, tackle the life sign and explain.

File: 232.png (21 KB, 500x1020)

21 KB PNG

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>348319
You ask the two district heads if they know anyone who can turn invisible. Nicotine says that she doesn't while Caffeine asks if she herself counts due to her time acceleration. The unknown life sign starts shifting its position, probably realizing that you are aware of its existence. You're pretty sure Errai's people have not created cloaking technologies.

>>348006
>>348271
You loudly announce that there is an invisible infiltrator in the room and dive towards their general direction...

(1/2)

File: 233.png (18 KB, 500x1020)

18 KB PNG

>>350427 Nat 6? Awesome

...and you collide with an unknown phantom whose invisibility fades to reveal a hooded figure with a gas mask.

>Ask for his identity
>Maintain grapple
>Achieve dogpile
>Punch in face
>Write in

(2/2)

>>350575
>"If I take off that mask, will you die?"
If he doesn´t respond, rip it off

Unleash Grouptech and
>achieve dogpile

>>350575
>Achieve dogpile

File: 234.png (27 KB, 500x2060)

27 KB PNG

>>350638
You hear a slightly-ragged voice answer your question.

>"No...you will."

You reach for his gas mask, giving him ample leverage to throw you off.

>>350725
>>351166 double dubs!
The other individuals, in a hasty decision, rush in to successfully dogpile him into the corner. Before he can do anything, four people have already restrained him with their collective mass. Caffeine takes a few seconds to pile his items on the other side of the room then proceeds to help you up.

My apologies but I'm going to plunge this quest in a hiatus for I have to sort out some IRL stuff. I will still hang out on Discord for the occasional chit-chat, but I cannot spend time on questing until the hiatus is over. Next thread will be announced on twitter (and Discord), maybe one or two days in advance.

>>351809
Was going on hiatus part of your plan?

>>351965
Of coursh

I've been meaning to go on a break for a while. Time spent questing Thread 12 would be spent working on requirements for the time being.

>>351809
Is that a GRENADE?!
Aramid: BE THE LAW

Whirlpool Quest will return in 5 days at least, 16 days at most