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File: Izumi Yayoi.png (590 KB, 886x902)
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Previous thread: >>735546
Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Magical%20Girl%20For%20Hire%20Quest
General Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/u/MGFHQHandler
Izumi's Techniques: http://pastebin.com/Tidzvf5N
Character Details: http://pastebin.com/9J70gqM2
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MGFHandler

Hello! And welcome back, for the first time, to Magical Girl For Hire Quest!

You are-

"Izumi Yayoi, m'am. And thank you for the compliment. Be sure to return the book by the inscribed date."

"Of course, dear. Thank you."

-kinda bored. You are also a part-time librarian. But your main job?

You're a mercenary. One with a higher standard of missions, mind- because you used to be a warrior of righteousness, and a heroine to the downtrodden and those who were plagued by the horrible specter of demon attacks. You and your friends- all capable demon hunters in their own rights- made up the Six Burning Swords, a team that could lay even the foulest monster low.

Until one day you didn't. Not without immense sacrifice. But it was worth it. Even at this price. Currently, you're working for Silver Eye Solutions, a umbrella corporation for magical girl mercenaries such as yourself, located in The Intersection- a strange, impossible, dimensional nowhere and everywhere where folks like yourself live now. A miniature dimension-yet-not of impossible co-operation, where people (and non-people) from all walks of life exist, and the most respected of jobs involves traveling to various alternate realspace dimensions...you think. Mercenaries like yourself in particular are rather popular here, because of the dangers of your profession, and the fact that you bring in so much currency- which is used to, quite literally, expand the borders of your city.

Of course, someone with your standards doesn't take just any murderous job, like some others you're friends with. Capable warriors- quite possibly surpassing you in some areas, but their morals...you're just not sure how they could sleep well doing what they do. Although as of recently you're starting to understand a bit- and you don't know if that's a good or bad thing.

But, that's not here and now.
>>
Here and now, you’re about to get off your shift. Working two jobs, with one being as random in terms of workdays as being a mercenary is, you’ve found yourself pulling strange hours- sometimes completing a job and immediately going to the library to check out books for people. The latter’s a lot more slow-paced than the former, at least, and your ‘boss’ (a ten-year old vampire girl named Delilah; long stoy) never argued the issue- she’d in fact fretted at seeing you come in once with bags under your eyes and had tea made for you. Darling.

But, you’d had no such issues as of late. After completing a job in which you had to slaughter strange insects in a strange, futuristic world full of tech you’d never seen before (but proved to be VERY effective, you really had to look into directed energy weapons), you’d taken a couple of days off. Just the other day, your senior, Miranda- a girl you could call surly on her better days, but undeniably professional and respectful to those who acquired her services- had come back, sighing from a long job; something about playing teacher over a smut poem.

...You hadn’t asked too many questions.

Right now, though, you’re free for the day. So far, the plan is to get some weapons training in, maybe get yourself a couple of sweets at the bakery as a reward for a good session.

The Outgoer training clinic (Outgoers being what they called interdimensional travelers like yourself- save for certain specific individuals…) was a large building; seven stories tall, extremely spacious, and had a ton of areas for almost all sorts of practice- from simple basic hand to hand dojos to simulated situations for those with...higher levels of power to be able to practice their craft.

You, today, were here to focus on your-

>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
>Swordplay- Your skills always need to be sharper than the sword you use.
>Magic Prowess- If all else fails, the power within can always see you through.
>>
>>742220
>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
Work on our weaknesses.
>>
>>742220
>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
>>
>>742220
>>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
>>
File: vulcan gun.jpg (669 KB, 1800x951)
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>>742220
>>>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
Train for the Big Guns!
>>
>>742220
>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
>>
>>742220
>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
JACK
OF
ALL
TRADES
not really, but you get what mean.
>>
Oh dear I wonder which option might win
>>
Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>742258
Better roll dice, quick!
>>
>>742264
...Wow.

Okay then.

PEW PEW it is.

Writing.
>>
>>742258
I don't know could it be!
>>742220
>Firearms- A bullet saved is just another chance to escape an emergency.
>>
>>742220

Firearms. Was always good to keep your eyes sharp and your trigger finger steady. Some of your old friends hadn’t liked using guns, despite living in the modern day- guess there was just a lot of tradition drilled into their heads. You, personally, were...rather a fan of guns. The clinic had plenty of firing ranges for you to work with, and an almost impossible amount of guns to practice with- generous of them since it meant you didn’t have to expend your own valuable ammunition on practicing. Your Outgoer license gave you special access to the area, and access to the heavier weaponry if you really felt like it.

It’s a quick effort to swipe in, and before long you’re standing down one of the wider ranges, and...well, a lot of weapons laid out in front of you. Pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, rocket launcher- oh, hey, speak of the devil, there’s a couple of those directed energy weapons, looks like- when did they pick those up? Ah well. Not complaining.

They’ll be a nice end to the session, you suppose, as you pick up a pistol and take aim.

Roll- yes, roll. This thread's special. 1d5, Best of 3.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d5)

>>742311
Shoot from the hip...

---

Izumi, Warrior of True Good - with Guns!
We're going to destroy all Evil that stands in our way!

Dude in hoody? Suspicious! Kaboosh!
Guy in suit? White-collar crime boss! Boom!
Little girl eating sweets? Cute, no violence necessary.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d5)

>>742311
>>
Rolled 5 (1d5)

>>742311
We should use these in the tactical shooting course as well as on the range.
>>
>>742332
WELL ALRIGHT!
>>
Brief delay, sorry about that.

Writing!
>>
>>742332
>We should use these in the tactical shooting course as well as on the range.
supporting
>>
>>742311
Gunfire rings out through the range as you get into the zone- pick up, fire, pick up, fire. Pistols pop, submachine guns hum, and assault rifles smoke as you knock down target after target, your hands a blur one moment as you switch weapons, then stone still the next as you aim. Firearms were little different than hand to hand weapons in some ways- you needed to have the utmost respect for them. In a way, guns were even more delicate to handle than even a well-sharpened sword.

But respect was something you had in spades, and they returned that respect with impeccable marks along the targets, bullet rarely straying from their intended destination- even the RPG and rocket launcher prove amiable to your whims, explosions going off in the far distance right on top of primed targets. The energy weapons handle like a dream- one a slick, chrome rifle-looking object that fires out large bursts of some type of energy that burns through at least three targets with one shot, and a smaller one that feels like a sniper rifle that fits in your palm- with a lot of noise.

It’s exhilarating in a way your compatriots at SES don’t really get- the excitement of watching a well-judged, well-aimed, well-timed shot hit. After about an hour of enjoying the thrill of shooting, you find yourself out of weaponry, and low on ammo in them.

Then you hear clapping. Turning around, you find that you apparently had a bit of an audience. A dozen or so soldiers, and a couple of (presumably) magical girls give you claps and thumbs up. You can’t help but blush a bit, but it’s clear that your firearm mastery was on display for all to see.

“Well, lookit you!” One of the girls says. She’s got what looks to be a very stylish dress on, a lot of white with blue trim, split down the middle. You can see she’s got a holster, with what look to be a six-shooter in it. “Gotta say, you were really slinging those things. Don’t see a lot of girls fancy guns like you.”

“Oh, well, thanks…” You’re not sure what to say to her. “I enjoy guns, yes. I try to come here as often as I can, but lately it’s been a bit harder…”

“Yeah? Huh. I come here a ton, can’t say I recall your face.” She shrugs. “Eh, maybe it’s just bad timing on our parts. Anyway, I was looking at you and wonderin’ if maybe you wanted to have a little shootout with me and a couple of my girls? We need a fourth for a two-on-two training session in the MOUT course.”

Huh. You did that a few times before. Basically a simulated city- or part of one, anyway- with faux weapons. They were guaranteed to be pretty much identical to the real things, just without the deadly bullets. Still stings, though, and if you got hit, you'd feel it tomorrow.

>Sure, why not?
>No thanks, I have other plans.
>Other
>>
>>742474
>>Sure, why not?
>>
>Sure, why not?
>>
>>742474
>>Sure, why not?

Nothing wrong with being friendly.
>>
>>742474
>Sure, why not?
>>
>>742474
>Sure, why not?
No reason not to be neighborly.
>>
>>742474
>>>Sure, why not?
Magic paintball. Fun and tactics.
>>
>>742474
>Sure, why not?

>a smaller one that feels like a sniper rifle that fits in your palm- with a lot of noise.
Noisy Cricket?
>>
Izumi is the responsible weapons nut?
>>
Let's do this thing.

Writing.

>>742512
you saw nothing.
>>
>>742519
She is now.
The pastebins only mention sword stuff.
>>
>>742519
>>742534

Ah, yeah, sorry. No, she uses a bit of everything. It's kinda implied in her skillsheet, but I never updated her bio.
>>
Wonder if Izumi has doubts about teaching a girl, that, for all she knows, uses the knowledge to condemn dimensions.

Wonder if she has doubts about teaching Miranda.
>>
>>742474
>Sure, why not?
Oh wow. Ahe's strong.
>>
>>742555
>doubts about teaching a girl
She will imbue her Goodness and Righteousness into them!
>>
>>742565
>See, what you do is, you go for cover, shoot the guy over the hood, not through the window, try to be a better person and then run to cover on the other side of the street.
>What?
>What?
>>
>>742474
“Sure, why not?” you decide. “It’ll be fun.”

“Awesome! Follow me, I’ll introduce you to the others.” Soon, you’re brought before the entrance to the MOUT course- a large door, and you can see two other girls standing in front of it- one is a redhead in what seems to be stylized medieval armor, plastic looking, and colored red and white- it kinda reminds you of a wedding dress. She has what appears to be an assault rifle in hand. The other is a shorter, stout girl with glasses, blue hair, in full military fatigues, and she’s toting what looks to be a grenade launcher, revolver-type.

She grins as she sees you walking up. “Heeeey, you found a fourth, Carly?”

The girl at your side nods. “She was putting on a show earlier at the range, figured she’d be a good candidate.”

“Nice,” the redhead agrees. “Well, how about you and her against us two. Sound good?”

You both nod. “Sure,” Carly says. “Shame I can’t use Judge…” she looks to her revolver. “C’mon, uh…”

“Izumi,” you supply.

“Right! Let’s get a weapon and then we’ll get going.” She’s already looking over the loaner revolvers for MOUT useage.

>Pistol
>Assault Rifle
>Submachine Gun
>Sniper Rifle
>Rocket Launcher
>Grenade Launcher

>>742555
Izumi didn't teach Miranda. Miranda was the first of the three, and they've shared a couple of techniques, but that's it- if that's what you meant, sorry.

>>742557
She IS a magical girl.
>>
>>742555
>Wonder if Izumi has doubts about teaching a girl, that, for all she knows, uses the knowledge to condemn dimensions.
Izumi hasn't taught Miranda.
It's the other way around.
>>
>>742609
>Assault Rifle
>>
>>742609
>Assault Rifle with Under-barrel Grenade Launcher
If that's an option.
>>
>>742609
>>742627

>Assault Rifle with Under-barrel Grenade Launcher

I like this option too
>>
>>742609
>Rocket Launcher

>>742609
>Izumi didn't teach Miranda. Miranda was the first of the three, and they've shared a couple of techniques, but that's it- if that's what you meant, sorry.
I did, yeah. Sort of 'Is it morally defensible to be of use towards people who will use what you give them to help evil people?'
>>
>>742609
>>Submachine Gun
>>
>>742609
>>Submachine Gun
>>
>>742609
>>742627
>>>Submachine Gun
>+Under-barrel Grenade Launcher
Kaboom! Ratatatata!
>>
>>742634
She tries not to think of it too much.
>>
>>742609
>Assault Rifle with Under-barrel Grenade Launcher
>>
Best of both worlds. Sorta.

Writing!
>>
>>742609

Thinking about it, you might be capable of taking cues from both sides. You find an assault rifle easily enough, but now you just need a...hmm...where could one- ah! You find the grenade launcher under-attachment and some ammo for it.

The shorter girl eyes what you’re doing with a wry grin. “Oho- tryin’ to beat us at our own game?” The bluenette says. “Well, that’s gonna be a tall order!”

The redhead nods. “We’ll see how skilled you are,” she says. “Don’t expect things to be as easy as the range was.” After you’ve gotten all the sensory equipment on- just in case someone didn’t feel it- they move to the other end of ‘town’ to get ready, while you and Carly head to the deployment zone on your end.

“You set?” She asks. You nod.

Then a siren goes off, and combat begins. You both begin moving out into the city- it's not exactly the full of highrises and such- in fact it more resembles a small town or village than anything particularly elaborate, but that doesn't mean it's not plenty full of hiding places and ambush spots.

"How're your airtime?" Carly asks.

"Good enough." you affirm, already looking at the rooftops.

"You go high, I stay low?" she asks. "You'd have better line of sight with those grenades from above."

>”We should both stay low, watch each other’s backs.”
>”Sounds like a plan. I'll keep you in visual range, you keep me in visual range.”
>>
>>742627
The only real option
>>
>>742739
>”We should both stay low, watch each other’s backs.”
Catching a single target from multiple directions can end a gunfight quickly. We need to stick together so they can't separate us.


Note that underslung grenade launchers are not typically carried loaded, so they don't significantly increase the weight of the weapon. However, this means that they require time to be spent loading prior to each time they're fired.

This is mitigated by the fact that Izumi can directly conjure ammunition within her weapon at will.
>>
>>742739
Both low, let's not get fucked by a sharpshooter
>>
>>742739
>>>”Sounds like a plan. I'll keep you in visual range, you keep me in visual range.”
We don't want them to surprise us with an explosion and take us both out.
>>
>>742739
>>”Sounds like a plan. I'll keep you in visual range, you keep me in visual range.”
>>
>>742739
>”We should both stay low, watch each other’s backs.”
Going high just paints us as a target against the sky.
>>
>>742765
Changing to staying mouse-low and being sneaky-sneaky.
>>
>>742739
>”We should both stay low, watch each other’s backs.”
Turning this into a 2v1 could end very badly in a hurry.
>>
Staying low it is. Writing.
>>
>>742792
Let's hope, they won't see us till it's too late! :)
>>
>>742739
>The shorter girl eyes what you’re doing with a wry grin. “Oho- tryin’ to beat us at our own game?” The bluenette says. “Well, that’s gonna be a tall order!”
>The redhead nods. “We’ll see how skilled you are,” she says. “Don’t expect things to be as easy as the range was.” After you’ve gotten all the sensory equipment on- just in case someone didn’t feel it- they move to the other end of ‘town’ to get ready, while you and Carly head to the deployment zone on your end.
Bit hard to tell who's who.
>>
>>742835

You eye the rooftops for a bit longer, but you shake your head. “No, better to stay low and watch each other’s backs. Don’t want this devolving into a 2 on 1 situation or getting downed thanks to sharpshooting.”

She nods. “Fair enough. Let’s move.”

You two are careful to move slowly, but thoroughly. It kind of reminds you of your recent job, if a bit more bright and well lit, and more places to hide. Those tunnels hadn’t been great for taking cover…

As you both sweep the area, she keeps herself crouched, and you have to admit, she’s taking this seriously. Suddenly, a flash of red approximately two houses down. You quickly back up against a nearby wall, and she does the same next to you, keeping an eye down the alleyway you’re in.

>Action!

>If you're a long timer on my quest, for THIS, Combat will be a bit...different.

>If you've gone on some other quests, it might be familiar...

>This will be a turn-based system. In battle, you take control of the available party as a whole. You give commands to members of the party, then roll 1d100 for each action to determine it's success or failure. These rolls can be also affected by various modifiers, depending on what said modifiers are. At the moment, Izumi has Firearms Mastery which grants her +20 to any roll involving firearms. Carly has Take That Back! which grants her +10 to attacks made on opponents that have attacked her the last round of combat.

>So select an action for:

>Izumi
>Carly
>>
Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>742858Izumi enter house to lay suppressive fire.

Carly finds better cover.
>>
>>742858
>Izumi
"Fire in the hole!" shoot grenade towards enemy and give covering fire for Carly.
>Carly
Use Izumi's cover fire to advance, get some shots off if we see a target.
>>
>>742858
>Izumi
>Carly
Just leave. We want to find a defensible position and have them come to us, not charge headlong into an unknown environment.

Ideally (assuming we can't just pick them off without them noticing us) we'd engage them at relatively close quarters, where Carly's revolvers will operate the best - though we don't want to fight anywhere actually cramped where the bluenette's grenade launcher will fuck us over.

Perhaps a small raised roofing that we can take potshots from to lure them in before engaging will do?
>>
>>742858
>Carly: Head into where the exploding thingy could have come from. Not where the explosion was.
>Izumi: Check out vantage points.
>>
>>742880
>exploding thingy
>flash of red
It's a laser dot for targetting, no?
>>
>>742878
>Just leave. We want to find a defensible position and have them come to us, not charge headlong into an unknown environment.
I think we should try to ambush the ambushers. They expect us to come for either the explosion or for where it came from. That means that they're going to be in a vantage point that's watching the vantage point that's a vantage point for the explosion.
>>
>>742858
>Izumi
Lob a grenade right where we think the Redhead is now.

>Carly
Move up to get a shot at Red and keep an eye out for Blue.
>>
>>742885
Ah, got it wrong. Thought they made an explosion to draw us out.
>>
>>742901
>I would assume the flash of red WAS the explosion.
Or the flash of red was the Redhead's hair.
>>
>>742907
You replied just after I realized my mistake.

The point about not charging in recklessly stands, though.
>>
Well I'm clearly off my writing game this morning. It was not a flash of light, it was a flash color moving.

Apologies for the confusion. I'm hating myself right now.
>>
Off to a rollicking start this session.
>>
>>742924
Eh, these things happen. Don't beat yourself up about it.
>>
At any rate, calling for

>Izumi lays cover fire via grenade
>Carly proceeds with caution upwards.

[b]Roll 2d100, best of three per character.[/b]
>>
Rolled 32, 34 = 66 (2d100)

>>742954
>>
Rolled 76, 45 = 121 (2d100)

>>742954
>>
Rolled 97, 76 = 173 (2d100)

>>742954
>>
Rolled 48, 84 = 132 (2d100)

>>742954
>>
Rolled 6, 77 = 83 (2d100)

>>742954
Pew pew pew!
>>
>>742976
haha, yeah, I think that'll do it!
>>
>>742954

“One in the pipe,” you announce as you get a false grenade in. One breath- and you lean out and fire- the color was on your right, across the street, and you make your best guess, trying to get it in the alley behind the building.

The grenade sails up and over the corner lip of the short building, and you hear a short swear before a bright red flash goes off- a facsimile of the grenade exploding, along with a groaning sound. “I’M DOWN!” you hear the redhed yell. She’s out of the game. That was quick.

Carly’s eyes widen. “Wow. I didn’t think you’d get her. I’m going up.” She quickly moves to the other end of the street, and you both do a quick scan. Nothing. She presses against the wall- and suddenly the blue hair darts out from behind a wall- same side as you- and fires off two grenades, one at both of you.

“YOU’LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!” The blunette yells gleefully. Carly quickly darts behind cover, and the grenade impacts near the wall, flashing a bright blue. It fortunately doesn’t hit, her, however. You move deeper into the alleyway, and prepare to strike back.

>Action!

>Izumi
>Carly

The grenadier girl is frenzied. She will have two actions per turn until the end of combat.
>>
>>743090
Izumi: charge.
Carly: charge.
>>
>>743090
>Izumi: move to flank
>Carly: return fire
>>
>>743090
>She will have two actions per turn until the end of combat.

well fuck, that's no good

>Izumi: Pin her down with burst fire
>Carly: Close in to flank
>>
>>743090
>Izumi
>Carly
Shoot from cover, keep together (but not too close because explosions).
We see her, she sees us, not much tactics involved now, right?!
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

Alright, flipping to see who attempts cover fire.
>>
Izumi covers, Carly flanks.

Writing.
>>
>>743185
Oh, whoop.

Rolls, please. Sorry, still getting used to this.
>>
Rolled 61, 91 = 152 (2d100)

>>743192
>>
Rolled 27, 9 = 36 (2d100)

>>743192
Headshot!
>>
Rolled 73, 17 = 90 (2d100)

>>743192
Flashburns
>>
>>743192
And that gives us
Izumi, cover fire: 73
Carly, flanking: 91
Not bad at all.
>>
“Move in!” you yell at Carly, and lean out to spray cover fire- she’s already back into cover, and you’re going to make sure she stays there. The bullets fly and pepper the alleyway, and you can’t see any motion from her- or her at all.

Meanwhile, Carly moves in closer during the hail, and you can see she moves to the back of the building, pistol primed. Suddenly, you see a grenade fire off- and land near you- and then you hear a shot just as a grenade lands at your feet- Carly quickly yells. “HA! GOT YOU!” right before the grenade goes off and bathes the general area in blue light.

"HOLY CRAP WHERE DID YOU-" the bluenette starts, but she soon sputters down into a mess.

Pfthaha. You’d won, and rather quickly, at that. “That was too easy,” Carly says. She just gets a groan as a response. “So you two split up, huh?”

“Yeeaah…” the bluenette responds. “Alex said it’d be better since we’d probably be able to pincer you.”

“Clearly, that backfired,” the redhead, Alexis, says, now getting up that the exercise is over. “We should try that again, Tabitha. Carly?”

Carly shrugs. “Hey, I’m down-”

And then you hear a beeping sound. Hm? Oh, that was your phone. You quickly answer. “Hello?”

Helloooooooo there!” Ah. Well then.
>>
>>743307
SSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL
>>
It's time for Izumi to save the day!
>>
>>743307
It’s Mr. Salavalda. Your, uh...boss, for mercenary issues. He handles the scouting, the contract making, all those logistics. He’s also some sort of mercurial eldritch deity, but you try to not think on that too much. Actually a rather pleasant individual, in your opinion. You and Miranda just called him Sal.

“Yes sir?” you ask.

“Sweetheart, terrrrribly sorry to interrupt your practice, but I was quite wondering if I could have an itsy-bitsy discussion with you rather soonish? I’m afraid it can’t much wait…”

Before you can say anything, you suddenly feel the familiar tingle of teleportation- and before you know it you’re in your apartment, small thing as it is, and Sal- the strange, liquid metal, bipedal lizard thing with sunglasses- is standing in front of you, posing like a rock star. “Bam! Glad to see you, doll. Fantastic timing, really!”

Sal was...eccentric. Even for members of his race- the strange eldritch traders known only as the Deal-Makers. They didn’t all look like Sal- he just chose that look for...well...you actually don’t know.

He saunters over to your table and drapes himself over it- he’s like six or seven feet tall, which means he’s basically covering the whole thing. “My dear, you have befooooore you the opportunity of a lif- hm.” He pauses. “Weeelllll, mmaybe not a lifetime, but a very very long time.” He twists his upper body over without moving his lower body, and lifts himself up on his elbows. “I’ll get right to the pooooooint. I’ve been scouting, hm? Looking over possible new talent. And I think I’ve spotted me a potential rising starrrrrrrrrr. And I do believe I’d like to give her a little testy-test.” He wiggles his fingers around as if that gives the details.

Oh. Well, that was interesting. Most ‘employees’ came to be by circumstance; scouting was done fairly commonly, but it was rare for any Deal-Maker to actually go through the trouble of trying to vet or them. “That is...impressive, but what would I have to do with that?” you have to ask.

“Weeeeeeelllll, I need you to do me a…” he twists his head around again, twice. “Favooooooooor.”

cont.
>>
>>743388
Ah. Oh. Wow. The Deal-Makers literally traded in favors and bargains- to be owed something from a Deal-Maker when you WEREN’T one was a very, very, very big thing. It was basically an agreement that they’d pull just about any strings, say whatever was needed, in order to square the debt. You wanted a bigger apartment? Here’s your keys, you move in tomorrow. A top-class restaurant meal with no one to disturb you? Place’ll be closed in the next twenty minutes, excepting you. And so on.

Eldritch beings took their debts very seriously. That Sal was willing to offer one… “What do you need me to do?”

“Faaaaaaaantastic!” you can SEE his body jiggling. “I simply need you to do what you do bestest, and keep an eye on this little lass as she runs a bit of a gauntlet I made. Of course you can’t just do it all for her, but think of yourself more like a....guardian aaaaaaaangel. That’s up your alley, mhm?”

He slithers off the table. “I’ll be...contacting her verrrrrrry shortly. Any questions?”

>How long will this take?
>What if she gets in serious trouble?
>Are you just going to pluck her up if she passes?
>Other
>>
>>743401
>What if she gets in serious trouble?
>>
>>743401
> Other
Nope! Now get writing!
>>
>>743401
>>What if she gets in serious trouble?
>>Are you just going to pluck her up if she passes?
>>
>>743401
>What if she gets in serious trouble?
Probably the most directly relevant to us, considering our role.
>>
>>743401
>Other
Is she being scouted by others? How should I deal with competition?
>>
>>743401
>>What if she gets in serious trouble?
>>
>>743401
>>What if she gets in serious trouble?
>>
>>743401
Binged this quest today. It's pretty fantastic. As a rule, I dislike side story stuff, but I'll make an exception for this one.

>What if she gets in serious trouble?
>>
What if things go FUBAR?

Writing.
>>
>>743401

It all mostly makes sense, but you can’t help but voice a concern. “What if she gets in serious trouble?” you ask.

“Aaaaaaaah, if it looks like things are about to go rather messily, then I would have to say for you to simply call my name.” Sal says. “Thaaaaat will be my sign to come in and put a rather abrupt stop to things. I wouldn’t worry very much, though- she’s not getting reeeeeaaalllly hurt. It’s a complicated little thiiiiiing. But at the same time, her being on the verge of death, I think, miiiiight be a good indicator that she might need more time in the over, so to speak.” Oh...well, that was good, if confusing.

“Now, if you’ll excuuuuuuse me, I just need you to stay right-” and he pokes you on the forehead. “-there!”

And suddenly your world goes white for several seconds- and then it slowly starts fading in- And Sal’s talking to a young girl who looks like she’s about to crumple in place, surrounded by white nothing. Sal, by the way he’s gesturing, either doesn’t realize, doesn’t care, or thinks he can break that fear streak by being overly nice. Honestly, all three are possible.

“So that’s iiiiiit, sweetheart. Nothing to worry about, just a little test to see how slick you are with that maaaaaagic. Oooh!” He does jazzhands, glitter coming out of them. You just realized that he’s actually different looking now- he looks like a normal human, with a slick, silver tuxedo, silver shoes, silver hair down to the small of his back, and even a top hat. “And to help you out, I’ve brought you a friend!” He snaps his fingers- and suddenly you drop to the ground in the whitespace. You’d been here for a while...did she not see you? “This heeeeere’s Izumi. Very powerful, verrrrrry capable. She’ll be helping you around this little maze o’ mine, as well as helping you fend off any...troubles you encounter. Of course, she doooooes have her limits.”

“Uh, w-w-wait, t-troubles?” the shy girl asks. “What...kinds of troubles?” Geez, she’s sweating.

“Ohhhh, you know, beasts and monsters and the sort. I think the big thing in your woooorld is demons?” He shruhgs. “Stuff like thaaaat. But hey, if you’re as amazing as I think you are, you won’t have a siiiiingle problem. And heeeey, I promise.” He leans in close. “If you reaaaally have troubles, you’ll be sent home. But, I’d say you want to pull this off, because if you dooooooo...well, there might be a little somethin-somethin’ in it for you later. Maybe something that could help that struggle of youuuuurs back home at that school, hmm?”

cont.
>>
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>>743634
She pauses, and lowers her head in thought for a few moments. “...You...are you positive it can help? No tricks?”

“Quiiiiiite certain, just need to finish the maze. And it’s nooooot an unfair test, I can assure you of that. No long-term potential profit in tricks.”

She takes a couple more seconds...but then she nods. “Alright. I’ll...I’ll try it.”

“EEEEEEXCELLENT!” he shouts, causing you both to flinch. He straightens back up and turns to you- of course he still has the sunglasses. “Izumi, dear, I’d like you to meet the staaaaar of this little show- Hoshiiiiii Sanada!" More jazzhands and glitter rains down.

She waves meekly. "H-hi. A, uh...a pleasure to meet you."

"Ah...hello." You are entirely unsure how to feel about this.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaqYhLlVfgM Song.
>>
Fuckin magic jazz hands lol
>>
>>743649
Start talking to her in Japanese, since we both have Japanese names?
>>
>>743649

“Noooow, then,” Sal continues. “Like I said, allll you need to do is get out the maze. Of coooourse you’ll run into a couple of fights here and there- that’s what dear Izumi is there to help with. Now, Iiiii’m not really one for tiiiiime limits-” You can’t help but feel he’s lying there. “So I won’t judge you on thaaaat. This is allll about the magic! And finding your way out, of cooourse. Navigational skills are veeeery important.” Other than thaaaat, well…” He pats you on the back, and suddenly you feel a strange lock on your heart. “Izumi heeeere will do whatever you ask of her, so long as it’s nothing too silly. Prioritiiiiiies!” Oh, WHAT. “But I wouldn’t abuse thaaaaat. May not be too wiiiiiise if you want her help regularly.”

What is he TALKING about?

“That’s all, dears! Shine bright, little staaaaar!” And he snaps his fingers- and shatters into little glass pieces.

Then the white does, and you’re both somehow in some sort of purple...maze. You’re right in the center of a four-way cross, which means you have a direction to pick…

>North
>South
>East
>West

And roll 1d10 for progress made.

Izumi is GEISED (no, not geassed). Once per combat situation she can be ordered to do something by Hoshi, and Izumi will not need a roll that turn. It can only be a single action, and no action will carry over to other turns; as an example, Ordering Izumi to ‘Protect Me’ means Izumi will do her damndest to defend Hoshi at all costs against one attack or attack sequence. An Order from Hoshi takes Izumi’s turn. Too many Orders in sequential combat situations will exhaust Izumi, and Izumi will be unavailable to perform any major actions for the next battle.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>743772
>West
West is best!
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>743772
>>North

I sense no danger here
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>743772
>North
Towards Ursa Minor, or where it should be!
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>south
>>
I REALLY need to remember to ask for direction, THEN roll.

*sigh* But, North it is for now! Writing!
>>
>>743388
>Before you can say anything, you suddenly feel the familiar tingle of teleportation- and before you know it you’re in your apartment, small thing as it is, and Sal- the strange, liquid metal, bipedal lizard thing with sunglasses- is standing in front of you, posing like a rock star. “Bam! Glad to see you, doll. Fantastic timing, really!”
I wonder if Sal's an instinctive caster. Just thought 'I need Izumi here- oh here she is!'
>>
>>743772

“Well...let’s just go north?” You suggest. Hoshi nods and you both begin walking. Much to your surprise, there’s a few twists and turns, but it’s still one direction for now. Huh. You hope you’re not running into a dead end already. Hoshi just seems to be kinda shaky, and she’s looking around as if she’s constantly expecting something to pop out through the walls or something- nothing was certainly getting over them. The walls were impossibly high- no way even you’d be able to jump over.

“Don’t worry about Sal,” you say, and she looks at you curiously. “He’s really not nearly as scary as all that. He’s just...eccentric.” Also ridiculously powerful, but eh. She just nods, turning away, and keeps walking. You’re fairly certain that she’s just trying to keep it together. You tap your sword (yes, you keep it on you at all times) against a wall- sturdy stuff. You’d likely just be messing up the edge if you swung at this. Can’t say you’re surprised.

Still, there don’t seem to be any creatures up ahead immediately. Seems like you picked a good direction to go in. Maybe you could use this time to talk to her, calm her down a bit.

>Try getting her to talk about herself.
>Try getting her to talk about where she comes from.
>Maybe get her to focus on you.
>Maybe she just needs to settle down mentally. Say nothing.
>Other
>>
>>743879
Ask how she met sal
>>
>>743879
>>Try getting her to talk about herself.
The girl is bothered, let's try to make her feel better.
>>
>>743879
>>Try getting her to talk about herself.
>>
>>743879
>Try getting her to talk about herself.
So, what are her powers, abilities, specials.
>>
>>743879
>Try getting her to talk about herself.
>>
What happened to her in her school is likely to be traumatic. She's here to 'help her with her struggle there'.
>>
Whoop, writing.
>>
>>743879
This >>743909
We can work with her better if we know what she can do. Also tell her what we can do.
>>
>>743909
>>744006
Those are indeed more adequate, considering the situation.
>>
>>743879

Hm. Well, maybe you can just conversate with her. Maybe getting to know her better will take her mind off of things. “Hey,” she jumps a bit, and you already want to apologize. “So...forgive me if I’m a bit blunt, but...what exactly can you do? I understand that you’re supposed have a knack for magic?”

She brightens up a little, and nods. “W-well...it’s more like I have an aptitude for it, really. I’m not...I’m not all that great at it yet, but it comes easily to me…”

“Oh? Any kind in particular?” If she was a natural at it, that might explain part of why Sal could be scouting her. Although her personality didn’t quite seem to fit the bill...but, Sal was Sal. You had no clue how he thought and didn’t want to learn, really.

“J-just about anything, apparently. I...I can learn the basics really fast, and I can do a lot of elemental magic…and some other things...” She doesn’t quite seem sure how to explain, but that works well enough for you.

“Oh, neat. I’m more of a swordswoman and gun user- I’m guessing you noticed?” You had a sword and a pistol on you- your usuals. The assault rifle hadn’t made the trek, sadly. “That said, I can do a fair few things with mana, myself. Projection, healing, improvement of self. You’ll probably see it happen sooner than later…” Ugh, way to remind her.

She’s silent for a few moments, but she tries to smile. “T-that sounds nice. It sounds like you can do a lot...how much experience do you have?”

“Uh...a good few years.” You’re not sure if you should tell her your ACTUAL age estimate. “I’ve done a lot, so I’ve had to learn fast.”

“Ah...yeah...I kind of have to learn fast, too.” She doesn’t elaborate, but she seems more...stable, at least, if not cheered.

Before you can say anything else, however, you hear a growling noise from around the next turn. You draw your sword out, and Hoshi steels herself as best she can, hearing it. Fortunately, these hallways are rather wide- they’re actually about as wide as a street. You don’t dare move.

Soon, the growling gets louder, and more numerous...and around the corner, what looks like 3 black, gross wolves, eyes red, covered in shadow and fur flaking off. There’s one larger one in the lead, and two small ones a bit behind it. “Alright, then, Hoshi. Let’s see what you can do.”

>Select an action!

>Hoshi
>Izumi
>>
>>744154
>Hoshi: Pick off the smaller two with fire
>Izumi: Stab at the larger wolf
>>
>>744154
>>Hoshi
Conjure up a wall of ice in front of the wolves.

>Izumi
If Hoshi's wall fails, slash at the wolves, aiming at their legs to slow them down.
>>
>>744181
This also works.
>>
>>744154
>Hoshi
Fireball. Wolves hate fire, shadows hate light.
>Izumi
Fucking shoot the wolfies already!
>>
>>744154
>>Hoshi: lets see what she's got with a classic hit em with a fireball!
>>Izumi: Start shooting at the larger wolf lets see what Hoshi comes up with before closing the distance.
>>
Then calling for Fireball and popping off a few shots.

2d100, please.
>>
Rolled 37, 58 = 95 (2d100)

>>744277
Awooo!
>>
Rolled 17, 51 = 68 (2d100)

>>744277
>>
Rolled 86, 57 = 143 (2d100)

>>744277
>>
Rolled 41, 5 = 46 (2d100)

>>744277
>>
>>744314
Well, at least the little witch did good. Little did she know that she was going to be dropped in the maze with a bumbling companion!
>>
>>744327
Izumi's got a modifier. She should be passable.
>>
>>744277

Hoshi takes a deep breath, and holds her hands out. “Ignis!” Before your eyes, a conflagration happens, coalescing into a LARGE fireball in an instant, and screams out towards the group.

The large one in the center tries to dart out of the way, but its size works against it, and it takes the full brunt of the blast, becoming engulfed in the heat and quickly sizzling away to nothing. The other two aren't effected, however, due to its massive bulk.

Realizing this, the other two wolves charge even as their leader smokes away to nothing, growling fiercely. You, quickly raise your gun your gun to shoot, but the smaller ones have a lot more real estate to work with- your first shot connects flush with one of them, causing it to stumble and fall, but it’s not quite dead yet. Your second grazes the wolf lunging for Hoshi, who has the sense to try and back out of its range- the shot still does enough damage to throw it off course, allowing Hoshi to get to the side closest to you.

The wolf quickly gets to its feet, and barks twice as its eyes begin glowing a deep red.

>Give an action!

>Hoshi
>Izumi
>>
>>744387
Izumi: Shoot the wolf.
Hoshi: Cower.
>>
>>744387
>Hoshi: Freeze the lead wolf solid.
>Izumi: Slash them to pieces.
>>
>>744400
Backing this
>>
>>744387
Hoshi:Ice blast go!
Izumi: Rip and Tear its sword time
>>
>>744387
>Izumi
Suplex the supers saiyan wolf onto the one with a hole in it.
>Hoshi
Applaud, maybe some sparkles.
>>
Hey handler, just finished the last thread. It was great. Cheers.
>>
Calling it.

Hoshi: Ice Sculpting
Izumi: Ice Carving

2d100 time!
>>
Rolled 15, 36 = 51 (2d100)

>>744483
>>
Rolled 88, 52 = 140 (2d100)

>>744483
And we will make beautiful art together.
>>
Rolled 96, 1 = 97 (2d100)

>>744483
Alright!
>>
>>744501
Is that alright? Not sure what this means. Crit success and a crit fail maybe?
>>
I'm really glad we're not doing crits override.
>>
>>744507
It means REJOICE.
>>
>>744514
Well that's a relief!
>>
Post will be delayed a bit.

But yeah I mean wow so far.
>>
>>744483
Hoshi again stretches out her hand, and with a wordless cry, she emits a thick cone of frost from her fingertips that freezes the wolf solid right as he begins to move. A sweep of her hand renders the other one in a similar state- it’s barely just getting back to it’s feet.

Well, you might as well take advantage of that generous opening; you charge in towards the first beast, and with a strong cry, you bring your blade down on its neck. Strangely enough, your sword, for some moments, appears to get stuck halfway down.

You really hope she can’t see you blushing, as you force it all the way through, eventually cleaving the head off entirely- the two parts smoke and melt into nothingness as they fall. The struggling wolf is given the same treatment- his beheading is much easier, fortunately.

“Well…” you wipe off your blade with one of the wipes you keep with you. “I’d say that went very well.” You turn to Hoshi, who’s watching you with curiosity. “I can see why Sal’s interested in you. You’re quite powerful, despite what you might say.”

She turns beet red. “Oh! Uh, I...no, that- that was probably a fluke…besides, you kept them from attacking me...”

You raise an eyebrow good-naturedly. “Twice would be a fluke? I’m not so sure…”

“Ahahaha…” she laughs unsurely. “Well, uh...should we move on?”

You gesture ahead of you. “You first. If this keeps up I’ll wonder who’ll be protecting whom…”

Still red, she steps ahead of you, and you both leave the fight behind.

A few more minutes later, you’re already starting to wonder what the point of this is- before you come to T-section, there’s only left and right here. To your left, you think you can hear the sound of running water in the distance. To the right, on the other hand, you hear a strong wind blowing- even feel the vestiges of it coming through here. Strange...you thought this would just be a plain maze.

Hoshi looks between them both, unsure herself.

>Left
>Right
>Leave it up to Hoshi.
>>
>>744869
>Left
Water level? Water level.
>>
>>744869
>>Leave it up to Hoshi.

She'll need to learn how to handle being in charge
>>
>>744869
>>Leave it up to Hoshi.
>>
>>744869
>Leave it up to Hoshi.
>>
>>744869
>Leave it up to Hoshi.
Well what are you best at manipulating, water or air?
>>
No, you may have given her the initial idea for a direction to head, but this is her trial. She’s going to need to make a majority of these decision. So you stay quiet and leave it up to her- she looks at you briefly, and you just shrug, showing you have no particular preference. She gets a mildly perturbed look on her face, but she looks down both paths...and she eventually picks left.

You look at her in a silent question, which she understands. “I-If there’s water, there might be other life there...I’d rather not go somewhere that’s windy and maybe cold or empty…”

You nod. That made enough sense. As you follow her, you turn a corner- and you can already start to see vines growing around the walls. Hm. Seems like you might be going into a forest or jungle area?

>Roll 1d10 for progress.
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>745033
Dice you say?
>>
>>745052
...yup.

I did.
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>745033
Well, >>745052 here already rolled max, but I'll give it a shot.
>>
>>745059
>>745052
Pffthahahahaha
>>
>>745059
Oh boy oh boy!
>>
...okay, yeah, sure lemme write.
>>
>>745081
Time for a Dungeon Bypass?
>>
>>745081
You both continue on your way, and as you guessed, the environment starts to get a lot less sterile, and a lot more organic. The pathway doesn’t open up much more, but the featureless purple walls become bricks, and more organic things like leaves and small bushes start to spring up. Before you know it, you feel less like you’re in a maze and more like a...maybe not a dungeon, but at the very least some sort of castle area.

Then, the pathway DOES open up, and you see the source of the water- it seems to be a waterfall of some sort, coming down from far, far above, in a large, circular area that reminds you of a grove. At least, the trees and other foliage neatly covering the walls convince you of that a bit, even if you’re still technically in a walled-in area.

“Oh, wow…” Hoshi seems to be enraptured, at least. “I didn’t think there would be anything like this…”

“Me neither,” you admit. “I wonder what up ahead looks like.”

“Well...I was thinking...well, maybe, if you don’t mind...since we’ve done a lot of walking in a little while, maybe we could take a break here?” she suggests. “I, uh, it looks safe, and there’s only two places anything can enter from…and we’ve been doing well so far...”

>If you want, sure. Up to you.
>I don’t think that’s the best idea. We’ve barely started, really.
>If you need a break from walking, I suppose here’s a good spot.
>Other
>>
>>745234
this is the moment we realize we can scale the maze's walls and walk on top of them.
>>
>>745256
>>If you want, sure. Up to you.
>>
>>745256
>If you want, sure. Up to you.
>Ask her a bit about what she did to catch Sal's eye.
>Tell her a little about our own past if she asks
>>
>>745256
>I don’t think that’s the best idea. We’ve barely started, really.
I know Sal said there is no time limit and he just wanted to test your magic but ... this is your opportunity to show off your fantastic work ethic. If he had really meant that anyway he would have just had you blow up some targets.
>>
>>745256
>Other
"If you want a break, sure. Let's secure the area first."
Is the water coming down and making a pond? Where's the water going?
>>
>>745314
Yeah, sorry, there's a pond in there the waterfall is flowing into. It's about a third the size of the room.
>>
>>745323
Then check the pond for water/aquatic monsters.

Izumi's been around for long enough to be wary of places like this.
>>
Seems like we might taking a bit of a moment.

Writing.
>>
>>745371

“...Alright, I suppose we can relax for a bit.” Although you honestly still feel fresh as a daisy, you have to remind yourself that magical or not, not everyone has your kind of stamina. Still, considering the situation, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. “Gimme a second, though.”

She looks at you curiously as you carefully poke and prod the few trees and bushes in the grove. Nothing…alright, fine. Can’t hear anything coming out of the hall ahead...okay. Now for the water...you stick your sword in instead of looking directlyin it, fishing out for any creatures or anything that might be motion sensitive...nothing, though. You risk a visual check, and you can see that it seems to be clear down to the bottom. It’s safe- at least for now. You turn back to her. “All clear.”

She smiles slightly and takes a seat on the now grass floor. “Thank you...I honestly didn’t think to check all that….sorry.”

You shake your head. “It’s fine. Most wouldn’t.”

“No, but I...I should, really. I need to keep these things in mind better when I’m out on missions…” Whoa now, what was that?

“Missions? What do you mean by that?” you ask. Her eyes widen as she makes the expression of someone who’s not sure what to say next.

“Uhh...I...it’s nothing you need to worry about if you don’t know. I just...it’s nothing…” Hmm...she doesn’t want to talk about it, it seems. But you can’t help but wonder what she meant by that.

“So, you learned those spells by yourself, or did someone teach you? Did you go to a school for it?” You’d been to a few realms where they had mage schools- heck, Miranda had been to one recently herself. You found they tended to be rather nice places to visit. Very organized, structured. Maybe she had one of those?

“Oh, I, uh, I teach myself...mostly.” She admits. “The school I go to...sort of helps, but…” she seems like she doesn’t want to inadvertently insult them, but she wants to tell the truth.

“Yeah? What are they? Any good?” you keep on.

“They’re, uhh…” she pauses, as if she has to actually think about the name of the school- you have to imagine it’s not great if she has to mull on it. “The Dakugeto Institute of Higher Education. It’s...kinda private.”

“Makes sense, I suppose.” you shrug. “But if you’re doing what you are just with self-study, they should be lucky to have you.”

cont.
>>
>>745548
Her face is beet red, and she looks like she wants to hide behind something. Nothing for that, though. “T-thank you…”

Geez, she’s so timid it kinda makes you want to laugh at the adorableness of it all. But, no, that’d be impolite. “Really, Hoshi, you should be more-”

*splash*

You both immediately jump up and back away from the pond, sword out and spells ready.

Soon, you the water ripples, splashes, and slithering up from the pond, giving a loud hiss, is a giant snake creature- its eyes are green and beady, and its body undulates with viscous fluid. It’s at least three times as tall as you are, probably more.

Hoshi looks like she’s about to faint, but she breathes deeply and steels herself. If you even try to run, chances are this thing can chase you down easily.

>Select an action!

>Hoshi
>Izumi
>>
>>745552
>Hoshi
Ice cone. Try to freeze parts of the snake in place to limit its mobility.

>Izumi
Be prepared with our sword to ward off flanking blows from the head or tail.
>>
>>745552
>>Hoshi
>Freeze!
>>Izumi
>Guard Hoshi from any more possible ambushes.
>>
>>745552
>Hoshi: Electric magic would be handy here.
>Izumi: Suppressing fire. Try and keep it in the water so Hoshi can fry it fry it.
>>
>>745552
>Hoshi
Ice bolt? I wanna do some earth magic at some point. Wait, can she do plant manipulation stuff, nature magic?
>Izumi
Throw stones at it.
"Bad tentacle, bad!"
>>
>>745552
Oh, switching to >>745594 if we can do INFINITE POWA!
>>
>>745552
>Hoshi
Freeze the water so it gets stuck.
>Izumi
Shoot it in the eyes, try to keep it off-balance.
>>
Calling for:

>Hoshi: Freeze attempt.
>Izumi: Defensive efforts.

2d100, please.
>>
Rolled 17, 72 = 89 (2d100)

>>745677
>>
Rolled 5, 12 = 17 (2d100)

>>745677
>>
Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>745677
>>
Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>745677
>>745703
My bad, going to roll the second one now if that's alright.
>>
Rolled 39, 44 = 83 (2d100)

>>745677
>>
ITT: Izumi gets eaten by a slime snek.
>>
>>745677
Izumi’s shivers, and you know it’s not from cold. Then the beast locks eyes with her- and she nearly freezes. Her hands shake as she tries to conjure up something, but as soon as she begins to move her hands, the beast hisses and lunges.

Fortunately, so do you.

It’s a hard impact to it’s side, sword first. Unfortunately, the thing’s body is more muscle than you’d hoped. You can feel the snake bend a bit, and you hear a scream from Hoshi as you manage to essentially shove the beast away from chomping on Hoshi. Your blade pierces, but it’s not as deep as you’d like. It’s enough, though, to make the beast hiss in frustration, at least.

Sparing a quick glance to Hoshi reveals that she had dived out of the way, but she’s holding her head and getting back up. That's good at least, she doesn't seem too scuffed up.

As for you, the beast wriggles its head around, and you’re forced to dislodge yourself quickly before it slams its body into the nearby wall. You manage to flip off quickly enough and quickly lift Hoshi back to her feet as the creature turns around and hisses again, a small trickle of blue ichor running down it’s slimy side being the only thing that tells of its injury.

>Choose another action!

>Hoshi
>Izumi

(Reminder: Izumi has a movelist: http://pastebin.com/Tidzvf5N and is also geised to follow Hoshi’s orders as skillfully as possible, negating the need for a roll.)
>>
>>745768
>Hoshi
Geis Izumi!
>Izumi
Spirit Slash!
>>
>>745778
A geis from Hoshi takes Izumi's turn. You cannot give her an action, because her action is whatever Hoshi tells her to do.
>>
>>745789
Ok, my bad. Changing my vote to
>Hoshi
Throw some lightning!
>Izumi
Spirit Slash!
>>
>>745768
>Izumi
Rajomon to protect Hoshi
>Hoshi
Try for an ice cone spell to immobilize or slow down the snake again.
>>
>>745768
Yeah ill support >>745809
I am looking forward to when we use our Demon's REEE attack.
>>
Trying to keep at a distance, then.

>Hoshi: Lightning bolt
>Izumi: Spirit Slash

Rollem 2d100s, folks.
>>
Rolled 2, 85 = 87 (2d100)

>>745887
>>
Rolled 17, 75 = 92 (2d100)

>>745887
>>
Rolled 66, 80 = 146 (2d100)

>>745887
>>
Rolled 26, 24 = 50 (2d100)

>>745887
>>
Hm. Okay. Writing.
>>
>>745887
Hoshi takes another breath and tries to focus, muttering something under her breath. This time, the creature tries to split the difference between you both, swinging around to strike with his tail.

The sudden shock given to him courtesy of Hoshi’s lightning bolt stops that in it’s tracks, and it lets out another raspy hiss, this one very clearly of pain. "Aha! I-I got it!"

"Nice one!" You quickly follow up, focusing your mana, letting it flow outward to the tip of your sword- you’ve done this so many times it’s second nature to you, now. "And now it's my turn!"

With a yell, you give a strong swing, and for a second your blade splits the air itself as your Spirit Slash flashes out towards the beast, the yellow crescent of energy slinging through the air and nearly slicing the creature in two- the only reason it doesn’t is due to a last second convulsion from Hoshi’s spell. What it gets instead is a deep cut along it’s back, blue blood spilling out of it.

It’s not done yet, though, the creature writhing in pain- suddenly it opens its mouth, and spits nasty globs of some sort of mucus at you- you quickly grab Hoshi out of the way of one such projectile. "T-thanks...I think it's nearly dead."

"Yeah. Kinda surprised it's still fighting..." You admit. You need to finish that thing off before it tries that again.

>Select an Action!

>Hoshi
>Izumi
>>
>>745965
>>Hoshi: Keep going with the lightning.
>>Izumi: Shoot it till it dies.
>>
Okay, I'll be stopping here for tonight, and resuming tomorrow.
>>
>>745965
>Hoshi
Switch to ice to immobilize it.
>Izumi
Switch to the gun and use Mana Infusion to make the bullets penetrate and then explode.
>>
>>745977
See you later boss.
>>
>>745977
Goodnight Boss.
>>
>>745965
>>745975
+1


I wonder if elemental magic includes summoning elemental creatures.
>>
Will be trying to start again in about a half hour. You can still suggest actions if you like.
>>
Izumi: Spectral Shield Bash
>>
>>745965
backing >>745982
>>
>>745965
>>745982
supporting this
>>
Calling for:

Hoshi: Make it cold.
Izumi: Make it rain.

2d100s, best of three, go!
>>
Rolled 17, 43 = 60 (2d100)

>>746863
>>
>>742179
whos this slut
>>
Rolled 99, 31 = 130 (2d100)

>>746863

>>746887
one of the usual mc's co-workers. or did you mean the character art?
>>
Rolled 33, 33 = 66 (2d100)

>>746863
Crits incoming.
>>
>>746887
Izumi Yayoi, a side character who's Miranda's friend and co-worker, and has made some appearances in the quest before.

>>746893
You almost called it, but I like those numbers of yours, too.
>>
>>746892
nevermind, I found the source
>deviant art
>original char
how disappointing
>>
>>746901
I just got it off Google, mang.

Anyway, writing.
>>
“A-alright…” Hoshi takes a breath...and you see blue light flash in her eyes as she extends her hands again. “Maybe I can...Here!”


A thick, nearly beam-like blast shoots forth from her hands, and strikes the snake square in the chest. Before it can even wriggle, it’s torso is frozen, and in a second, all that’s left of it is it’s head- it barely gets off any other hiss before that’s frozen, as well.


You look towards her, not even hiding her smirk. “See? Wouldn’t call that a fluke.” You already start charging your mana, and you can see your pistol glow, as Hoshi looks at it curiously. “Once is chance. Twice is coincidence. Three times?” You aim- square for the bloated thing’s open maw. “That’s a pattern.”


You fire, and the mana infused bullet hits its mark- the ice is thick, but you see it drill right into the gullet. Strange, though...it was supposed to-


*BANG* The snake’s head suddenly explodes into icy chunks, and Hoshi gives a slight jump. Ah. Delayed. Might not have set the mana up right for that one. Shouldn’t be talking while doing that. Well, it looked cool anyway.


Still, the fight’s over- and all you have to show for it is a couple of tears on Hoshi’s clothes. She seems fine, herself. “We should probably get going.” Hoshi nods, and the two of you are on your way forward.


Before much further marching in the grassy maze, you get to yet another cross-section, however. The north path seems the same as what you’ve been traveling through, but the left one seems to be getting more...wooden, you think, as you squint. Yeah, definitely looking like there’s more bark, both on the walls and the ground. The right path is more flowery than grassy, and is littered with what seems to be...cherries?


“I...are you sure you don’t want to pick this time?” Hoshi asks. “I don’t...I don’t think any of them look too bad, actually.”


>Right
>Left
>North
>Let her pick anyway.
>>
>>746940

>Right
>>
>>746940
>North
>>
>>746940
>Let her pick anyway.
We have faith that she will do admirably regardless of whichever way we go.
>>
>>746940
>North
>>
North it is.

The usual 1d10 for progress.
>>
>>746940
>Let her pick anyway

This is her quest goddamn. We're just along for the ride.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>746999
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>746999
>>
>>747006
Huh. I seem to have a thing with 3's today.

Going to play the lottery while next post gets written up.
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>746999
>>
Hey, notaten.

Writing.
>>
>>747021
Ask Hoshi how's her mana reserve.
That kind of magic use tends to bear a heavy cost.
>>
>>746999
“Well, don’t fix what isn’t broken?” you shrug, pointing north.


She nods. “That makes sense.” You head off, the continued grass and foliage reminding you of more of a hedge maze than anything else, now. You can’t help but wonder just how many biomes is in this maze. Or how long Sal’s been planning this, for that matter.


There’s some more time of travel- really, Sal called this a maze, but you’re thinking it’s slightly not as maze-ish as he made it first come across. It’s really more like a series of pathways. Hearing a sigh come from her, you check- and you notice that she’s sweating a bit. Her steps are the same, but...hm. “You alright?” you ask. She seemed okay earlier- but that might’ve just be the adrenaline still in her system. Not to mention the mana expenditure- maybe that was why she’d asked for a rest earlier- that giant fireball hadn’t had to have done her any favors. Maybe this was part of Sal’s whole test. Traveling was a large part of your jobs, not just assaulting things. For the less physically inclined- or those that couldn’t amplify their physical ability- they still needed to find ways to get around, but that wasn’t always possible. Actually…


“You know, you should pace yourself a bit more with that magic,” you say out loud.


She looks to you in surprise. “Hm? What do you mean?”


“Well, just because you’re really skilled with magic doesn’t always mean you have a very large mana pool,” you explain. “And you were tossing out some real big spells. You’re in a cold sweat-” she seems surprised at this, feeling her own forehead, “-and mana depletion can be a serious thing. Doesn’t always feel the same as physical exhaustion, but it can mess you up all the same.”


“O-oh! I...I never thought of that much…” she lowers her head. “That...oh dear.”


You shrug. “Well, it’s not something people LIKE to think about. You can sometimes FEEL physically capable, but next time you try to cast a spell, it’s just...foosh, nothing, and you kinda feel this rumbling in your body, like a car trying to start but can’t.” You shake your head. “Not a fun feeling.”


cont.
>>
>>747126
Soon, you both are surprised as the path widens, and widens...and you’re suddenly practically in a grassy field. However, there’s a deep ravine in the center, and looking into it reveals a shallow river that terminates at either end of the far, far walls. There’s a drawbridge on the other side, and it seems to lead to the exit, but it’s pulled up, blocking the wall. The entire far wall, in fact, looks like the entrance to a castle, and is the only way forward. High overhead, a single crow caws, circling. There’s also a few trees lining your path, as well as large rocks scattered about. You also notice what appears to be a waist high, rectangular stone- with what appears to be a large keyhole in it.


Hoshi looks confused. “What...what is this doing here?”


You shrug. “Some sort of obstacle, I presume. I take it you can’t jump over the ravine?”


She looks at you strangely. “Y-you can?” At your simple nod, her eyes boggle. “Ah, uh, oh...well, uh...I don’t, no, I don’t think I can. Any ideas for how to get across?”

>Maybe I can check down in the river. I'm pretty confident I can get up and down there fine.
>I wonder if the crow has something to do with it...
>Well, I think I can move these rocks...check under them?
>Do you have any?
>Other
>>
>>747136
>>I wonder if the crow has something to do with it...
>>
>>747136
>>Do you have any?

This is her test, not ours. We're here if she needs us, but we won't always be.
>>
>>747136
>>I wonder if the crow has something to do with it...
We talking to crows now.
>>
>>747136
>Do you have any?
Izuma can still offer her quips of what she observes, but it's up to Hoshi to decide.
>>
>>747136
>Do you have any?
>>
>>747136
>Other
>Try to pick the lock.
>>
>>747136
>>I wonder if the crow has something to do with it...
Estimate the size of the crow, it might be our enemy here
>>
This can be used. Writing.
>>
>>747204
“Do you?” you ask back. She seems to consistently forget that this is her trial. She's pretty adorable, but you're not going to step through absolutely everything for her. “I'm wondering about the crow up there, but this is up to you.”

Fortunately, she doesn't seem to take any offense, simply looking up at the sky and thinking. She seems to squint up at the bird for a bit, before shaking her head, and walking over to the ravine. “Um, can you please check the bottom, in the river? I think-”

You're already jumping off before she even finishes the second sentence. All of a sudden, there was a strange, gripping sensation that you absolutely had to check every nook and cranny on the bottom. You barely even hear Hoshi’s sudden yell as you land smoothly into the river with a splash. Nothing hurts. Good. Better for you to search.

For the next few minutes, you feel more driven to accomplish this task than almost anything you've ever felt before. Every ounce of the riverbed is combed over, you even using your sword at times to sweep things out of the way, if not your bare hands.

Finally, you can come to the conclusion that there is absolutely no key on the riverbed. Your clothes are soaked, and you're rather muddy, but it doesn't matter to you. With a few high jumps, you quickly make your way back up the ravine, and next to Hoshi, who looks at you with eyes wide and mouth agape. “There is no key,” you say, voice perfectly level. You're not quite sure what drove you to be so thorough…

She blushes, and it seems like she's not sure where to look. “I...it’s...thank you…we can try maybe the rocks? The crow doesn't seem big enough to be carrying anything in his talons…”

You're about to speak, when suddenly, a hole is blown open on one side of the drawbridge, and a VERY LARGE knight, with a VERY LARGE cannon pokes out. Well, lovely. Now you've got this to deal with, and you need to find that key.

>Select an action!

> Hoshi
> Izumi
>>
>>747346
>Hoshi
>Look for the key. Try the crow.
>Izumi
>Draw the knight's fire away from Hoshi by peppering him with shots.
>>
>>747346
> Hoshi
>Look for the key. Try the crow.
> Izumi
> shoot the knight
>>
>>747346
>Hoshi
Check the rock, just in case the key is inexplicably there.
Failing that, having regained enough mana, use water to fill the keyhole, freeze it and then use it as a makeshift key.

>Izumi
Rajomon DIRECTLY in front of the cannon's barrel.
>>
>Hoshi: Gatherer
>Izumi: Hunter

2d100s for the old school methods.
>>
Rolled 76, 76 = 152 (2d100)

>>747427
>>
>>747346
>Hoshi
Take cover behind the rocks.
>Izumi
Tag the crow and fire some homing bullets at it.
>>
Rolled 69, 88 = 157 (2d100)

>>747427
>>
Hm. Next time I'll extended the voting period maybe.
>>
Rolled 67, 97 = 164 (2d100)

>>747427
I came in time!
>>
>>747438
I don't know about anyone else, but I can't vote much on weekdays. Now that I'm home that's different of course.
>>
>>747346
Immediately you realize that the priority is to keep his attention off of Hoshi’s efforts. Before he can even begin to take aim at her, you whip out your pistol, and fire almost from the hip.


The shot tags his hand, and recoils at such an angle that it impacts his head on the rebound as well. A groan comes out of him as the impact sends him reeling. Hopefully, he’ll be out of it for a few moments.


As for Hoshi, she seems to be trying anyway to see what can be done with the crow, considering it’s the only other major feature in this place at the moment. It seems to be ignoring her, however, simply flying in a single small circle over and over again, caring about very little.


Hoshi’s trying to do something to get it down, however- or rather she’s about to. She takes a large breath and you can anticipate another spell- probably electricity or something- but she soon stops...and then stares again.


You quickly check on the knight- he’s still toppled over, groaning. But then you look at the crow as well- and just as it hits you, Hoshi’s running towards the area under it- one single, flat topped rock. She quickly searches around it- but she doesn’t appear to find anything. “I think it’s around here!” She actually manages to heave the rock slightly- and her eyes light up. “I found it!”


And that’s when the wall on the OTHER side of the drawbridge explodes, and a similar knight steps out- at least twice as tall as you, with a large warhammer and crossbow. He takes several slooow steps outwards as he readies himself.


>Choose an action!


>Hoshi
>Izumi
>>
>>747579
Izumi - bait the two knights into shooting each other with their giant weapons.

Hoshi - use the key, time to get out of here.
>>
>>747579
>>747598
supporting
>>
>>747598
seconding
>>
>>747579
>Izumi
Try blowing his crossbow up with a mana infused bullet (they are on the other side of the ravine right?)
>Hoshi
If the knights are close enough to the edge of the ravine can we cause the ground below then to drop then into it via earth magic?
>>
>>747618
>>747579
This anon is doing it smarter than me. Changing my vote.
>>
>>747579

Calling for:

Izumi: Leap over, attempt to get eyes on her.
Hoshi: Use the key and GTFO.

Roll me the 2d100s!
>>
Rolled 91, 25 = 116 (2d100)

>>747665
Where we're going, we don't need contracts!
>>
Rolled 93, 70 = 163 (2d100)

>>747665
>>
Rolled 35, 66 = 101 (2d100)

>>747665
>>
>>747677
Hope that's good enough for key girl
>>
“Get the key and get across!” you yell as you’re already running. “I’ll keep them busy!” And with a quick leap you soar over the ravine, landing easily on the other side. They see this immediately, however, and by the time you land, the knight with the crossbow is already trained on you.


He’s not fast enough to actually hit you, however- you neatly dodge the first bolt, and start to close in on him- but not head on. You’re a bit to his side, enough that technically the cannon knight should have a clear shot. The crossbowman begins to take aim, but you won’t let him use it again.


It’s more instinct and experience that tells you when a man might shoot, and it’s that which tells you to juke right- you do, and leap, and sure enough you hear the massive explosion of cannonfire, and the poor sap with the crossbow barely fired before impact- his shot his the cannon user square in the throat.


In the meantime, Hoshi, after some tugging- as she hadn’t managed to get the rock entirely off the key- manages to dislodge the object, and she quickly runs over to the rectangle lock- the key’s about the size of a baseball bat, but fortunately it doesn’t seem to be that heavy. She manages to lift it, and fits it within the lock quick enough. The loud groaning of the drawbridge descending is music to your ears.


The ‘doorway’ that the drawbridge was blocking, however, seems to lead into a clear, door, almost like water. You can see some sort of bright blue features beyond it, but you’re not sure what. Well, one way to find out, and Hoshi seems to agree.


As you both leave the area behind, stepping through the very...very strange doorway, you’re surprised to see that it appears that the maze isn’t very maze-like anymore. It seems to be some sort of temple, judging from the structures…a great many statues of creatures like fish and sharks and other things. You’re in what seems to be a sort of main hallway, and there are stairs leading downwards straight ahead of you- the entranceway is dripping with water. There are also two doors to its right and left- the left one has some sort of gunk around it, and the right one seems plain- although upon closer inspection, you can see steam rising from it.
>>
>>747780

Hoshi seems astonished. “Wooooow...where is this?”


“I have absolutely no clue,” you admit. “So...choices?”


She actually gives it some thought this time. “Well...I don’t know what the left door is- but it looks, uh...gross? The middle one, I’m...I’m not so sure of...I mean it could be fine, b-but I’m worried I might have to...well...you know, s-swim. I guess the right one might be okay, but I’m worried it might be some sort of really hot trap room...and I...kinda...sweat easily. Yeah. T-that, and I was already hoping to not use much more mana for a bit…still, I...hm...yeah, that’s the one I’d go through, though. What about you?”


>Right it is.
>Aha, the left one might be fun. Who knows? Slime isn’t always gross. Just goopy.
>I don’t think the center one would require swimming, if it’s a test of magic. I think it’ll be fine.
>>
>>747780
>>747784
Handler, what is with this double-spacing?

>Right it is.
The lady picks her poison.
>>
>>747789
I honestly have no clue. It's single spaced when I write it in my text editor.
>>
>>747784
> right it is
It's your funeral. Kinda surprised anyone would rather be streamed then go for a swim though.
>>
>>747784
>>I don’t think the center one would require swimming, if it’s a test of magic. I think it’ll be fine.
I'm really worried about her mana capacity. And her capacity and capability is what we are really here to test.
>>
We go right, then.

1d10 for progress through the hot n' steamy door.
>>
>>747784
>Right it is.
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>747863
I've got a bad feeling about this...
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>747863
Here's hoping its a hot spring.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>747863
Swimsuit episode when?
>>
Seven again!

Writing~
>>
Sal might be a tad uncomfortable with how fast we are progressing without activating the monsters lurking around. I guess luck is also a good trait to have in a magical girl.
>>
next post might be delayed a bit.
>>
Well. If she wants to go right, then right it is. “Lead on, then,” is all you say, and she nods and walks ahead. As you follow behind, you start to feel a bit of heat emanating through the door, but Hoshi doesn't seem to react when she puts her hand on the doorknob. “W-well...here we go…”

She opens the door, and you're both blasted in the face by steam. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be exceptionally hot steam, although you can feel your face redden a bit. Hoshi simply shrieks and puts her hands over her face. When she realizes that nothing else is happening however, she settles down. And then she gapes much like you have been ever since the door opened.

It's a hot springs resort. An utterly, utterly MASSIVE one. The baths are immense- each one the size of an Olympic pool, and they seem to be countless, going into the horizon. There's a line of them on either side of a raised walkway, which goes out into the distance.

You look at Hoshi- she's already sweating- this time from the heat. You would be, too, if you weren’t a bit more used to it. “We’ll have to be careful and pace ourselves,” you warn. “It's not quite as bad as I thought it would be, but we should still try not to physically exert ourselves too much.” She nods.

>Hoshi and Izumi are both under the effects of Heat Haze. All physical actions in combat will have a -4 penalty unless Cooled Off.

Cont.
>>
>>748282
With that, you both proceed onward. It's a strange feeling- the place is technically more open than where you were before, but you still feel very closed in.

After a few more minutes travels, you both come to realize that you're walking into denser and denser mist. Already alarm bells are ringing in your head. “I don’t like this,” you admit. A bit more, and you’ve come to realize that you’re at another four way crossing. Before Hoshi can say anything, however, you hear a splash to your left. You can barely see a figure in one of the baths… humanoid, and most definitely female. Suddenly it vanishes, and the you hear a mighty splash, and for a few seconds the fog is cleared away, and you can see a figure arcing high above you- long, flowing blue hair, a very… generous chest…

And a long fish tail. Mermaid.

Hoshi is bewildered, as the creature splashes down in the pool on the other side. It quickly pops up again- her eyes are pure black, but she's smiling, and not attempting to attack. “Ahh~~” is all she says, and then dips back into the water. Soon, you can hear her further away, to your left. “Aahhhh~~” she sings again, but you hear no splashing movement this time.

“I...I think she wants us to follow her,” Hoshi muses.

“First thing that MIGHT not be trying to kill us,” you note. “Then again, could be a trick.” Sirens weren't infamous for nothing after all.

Hoshi seems to think for a bit. Then looks at you. “I...don't know how well you might be able to fight in here. M-my gut says to trust her, but if I'm wrong…”

>I've got your back, easily. I've fought in far worse conditions.
>Might be rough, but I think we can handle it.
>Nothing about this smells right, honestly. Willing to gamble?
>This has to be a trick.
>You lead, I follow. Make your decision and trust in it.
>>
>>748288
> I've got your back
Also in in the mood for sushi anyway
Could Hoshi whip up a breeze to remove the debuff for a couple of turns?
>>
>>748288
>You lead, I follow. Make your decision and trust in it.
>>
>>748288
>I've got your back, easily. I've fought in far worse conditions.
>>
>>748288
>You lead, I follow. Make your decision and trust in it.
>Whatever you decide, I'll back you up as best as I can.
>>
>>748315
You know what happens when you blow hot air over an object cooler than said air?
It heats it up even more.
>>
Force the mist to condense into one of the pools, either by using a cooling sphere or adding particulates (dust).

First, it increases visiblity. Second, it should cool off the surroundings (reduce the heat conductivity of the air) to help with the debuff.

Simply, an air deshumidifier with vacuum-like suction. Shouldn't use much mana, I see it as a levitating cold funnel or air.
>>
>>748338
A cool breeze, she has ice magic. And that is why humans sweat anyway, evaporation is endothermic, breezes help because they carry away the humid air next to your skin that has just had sweat evaporate into it.
>>
We'll be fine, trust yourself. Writing.
>>
>>748406
“It'll be fine,” you assure. “I've got your back. But really, Hoshi…” you make sure to lock eyes with her; she's always been scared, but the way she never turns back is admirable. “You should be more confident. This whole this is to help you out, in a way.” You put your hand on her shoulder. “So you lead, and I'll follow. Make your decisions, trust them, and I'll trust YOU.”

Hoshi just stares at you for a moment, unsure of what to say. Tears begin to form in her eyes, but she blinks them back, smiling. “Right. I-I’ll try. Let's go.” And so you're off, following the strange tones of a mermaid.

It's not much longer before you can easily see in the distance what seems to be a very, very large fish... lizard thing sunning itself in the middle of the walkway. It's large enough in fact, that its tail is still partially sunk in the water, and its frilled head is halfway over as well. The mermaid you've been following simply looks at it, then you, and smiles. “Ahhh ahhh hmm ha~~” she sings, and then she dips under the water again.

“Oh dear…” Hoshi looks distressed. “I'd really rather not wake it up...but how do we get past? Maybe...do you think you can jump over with me?”

You mull the prospect over in your head a bit. “Likely, but I'm not sure how big it is. I'm pretty good at jumping, but if it's too big, I might need a run up, and I don't know how much noise it would make. If it's a light sleeper, we could be in trouble.” Hoshi puts her head down and starts to think, while you creep a bit closer. Yeah, that’s a big fella. House size. You could clear him easily, but you would need at least a short run.

>Go for it.
>Try something else. (What?)
>>
>>748680
>Go for it.
>>
>>748680
>>Try something else. (What?)
can hoshi make a ramp by via manipulating and freezing water? use that for extra jump height.
>>
>>748680
>Try something else
Can we go through the water and just go around him?
>>
>>748680
We could hide and create a distraction to lead it off , if Hoshi can't do illusions a good old thrown rock could do it.
>>
>>748716
You can try. The water is very hot.
>>
>>748751
Well, then we simply place a ton of ice cubes in it to cool it down!
>>
So the general idea is to try and swim through the water, using a frost spell to chill the immediate area?
>>
>>748693
>>748751
Physics trivia: hot water freezes faster than cold water
>>
Things have slowed down, so I'm just going to go with that.

Roll me a 2d100. First is for Hoshi, 2nd is for Izumi.

I'll write the results tomorrow.
>>
Rolled 91, 17 = 108 (2d100)

>>
Rolled 85, 99 = 184 (2d100)

>>748925
>>
Rolled 26, 34 = 60 (2d100)

>>748925
Hey Hoshi, I've got an idea that's just so crazy it might work!
>>
...nah I'm writing that tonight I just got inspired.
>>
>>748691
Jump

>>748693
Ice bridge

>>748716
Swim
Swim

>>748723
Lead it away

Really, there was only two votes for swimming. Maybe in cases where there is no clear consensus you can hold a run off quest. This happened a couple of times during the last two missions two. There would be long discussions drifting between different plans, not exactly voting, and you wild pick/incorporate the last plan discussed at that point. I have an issue with any particular decision but maybe if there is no consensus you could pick out a couple of likely choices and make us choose one.
>>
>>748964
Fair enough. They already rolled for this one, so I'll go along with it, but I'll implement that next time such an issue comes up.
>>
>>748680
Hmm...alright, think. Start from the basics. What would be the most obvious way around? Swim, of course. But that’s not plausible; the water’s too hot. You can feel it from here- you’d both be scalded in an instant. Unless you had a way to- well.

Hm. Maybe…

...well, it’s kinda nuts, admittedly. And what if she just says no? Or maybe she just can’t pull it off- her mana’s got to be dipping low. But then again, it wouldn’t be for very long- a couple seconds, if that, and it wouldn’t need to be as starkly cold as the stuff she’s done before- just bring it down to manageable.

The more you think about it, the more it makes a strange, simple sense. Gah. Might as well follow-up on it before you lose your nerve. “Hey, Hoshi.” you whisper. “I think I might have an idea. How are you with making a cold area around yourself?”

“Oh?” she seems interested. “Well...it shouldn’t be harder than what I was doing earlier...why?”

“Well...I have an idea. You’re going to need to be quick on the draw, though. I’m thinking we just swim around him. You cool off the water, and I can swim us both to the other side while you focus on that.”

She looks at you askance. “Uh...are...you...sure about that? It sounds kind of…”

“I know, but I’m stronger than I look, trust me,” you insist. “Just focus on keeping it cold, and then hop on.”

She looks around as if asking for help- realizing none is coming, she just gulps and steps closer. “A-alright...any time you’re ready.” You thumb towards your back, and she gingerly climbs up, holding onto your neck tightly- wow, this girl is light as a feather.

“Lemme know when you’re casting.” you say.

“Alright...now!” And with that you slip into the water as quickly- and quietly- as possible, as you start to feel the bracing cold surround you. It does manage to extend into the water, and although it’s still very warm, the cold spell is doing its job superbly, keeping you from burning your skin. Now it’s time for you to handle your part, however. With Hoshi on your back, it kind of reminds you of a rescue mission of sorts. Still, you cut through the water handily, keeping it to light and careful strokes, largely below water, in order to not disturb the giant beast with splashing.

cont.
>>
>>749026

To your surprise, you can see the mermaid from earlier waving back and forth bodily watching you swim in the water. Her grin is ear to ear and she seems as though she’s rather enjoying seeing you work.

It ends soon enough, however, and you’re quickly on the other end of the creature’s snoring body. You’re both soaked to the bone, but hopefully you’ll be drying up quickly enough. To your pleasant surprise, the water sticking to you becomes rather chilled when you both step out, due to Hoshi keeping the spell going slightly longer, so you actually feel rather refreshed, considering the heat. Seems like that plan had a nice bonus. “Wow, that actually felt pretty great,” you can’t help but state.

Izumi and Hoshi are Cooled Off. They will remain so for six posts.

You both turn to look back at the beast, then continue on your way- the strange mermaid staying about water for some time, then only singing again when you are well past the giant.


>Roll 1d10 for progress.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>749029
If you run into the wall you've gone too far.
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>749029
Just keep going forward.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>749029
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>749029
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>749029
>>
>>749042
Yay, seven again.
Handler, please name somebody Sven in the next planar travel.
>>
>>749584
Juuuust might.

Also, early early (possibly all-day casual) run, so can I get a roll call?
>>
>>749798
Present.

Doesn't seem that the current format of voting lends itself to creativity or participation. Seemed to be more of that in Miranda's style of voting.
>>
>>749798
one more
>>
>>749814
Yeah, I've noticed that. If I'm being honest, I'm kinda surprised. I'd presumed a more 'traditional' sense of questing might've attracted a couple more people, but it seems like I've managed to carve something out with my style.
>>
>>749798
Go for it, Handler.
>>
Alright, then. Writing.

I'll still keep the 1d10 progress rolls, but I think aside from that I'll revert to my usual style of combat and general interaction, yeah?
>>
>>749839
you do you, bossman
>>
>>749839
Whatever works for you, I mean since we're playing a different person a different system makes some sense.
>>
I like your style of combat. It's a good balance of 'things happening' and 'player choice'.
>>
You’re both feeling a bit more comfortable, despite the wetness, and that contributes to your solid pace going forward for a bit. Guided more by the mermaid as you wander through the dense fog, you end up making a number of turns at various intersections- and after one such turn, you hear a splash off in the distance. That’s when you come to realize that she’s certainly not the only one present. A second mermaid- this one’s hair a vibrant green- leaps skyward on your right- and you’ve a mermaid on either side, now.

If you’re being honest, you’re still not comfortable with this- and it seems like Hoshi might be second guessing her thoughts, as well, judging from the look on her face. Still, the mermaids make no movement to attack you, content to simply swim and sing. “I wonder what they’re saying,” Hoshi muses. You’re not sure even if you should respond to that.

Before you can put too much thought into it, however, you both come to what seems to be a much larger floorspace- the walkway expands out into a very large square, and you notice the mist has cleared up somewhat- enough for you to see the very large machine nearby. Large and cylindrical, with pipes sticking out the top and bottom, and a strange, clear crystal sitting in the middle of an open cavity in the center. Well, clear except for a strange, small orange ball of light in the middle of the jewel.

The mermaids look at it with clear distress on their faces. “Ahh hmm ha hm~” the first one sings mournfully.

“Laaa hmmm haa hm~” the green haired one responds. A bit more singing conversation, and they both point at the crystal, looking at you both.

“...so what are we supposed to do with this?” you wonder out loud. Hoshi walks up to the thing, and places her hand out towards it- not grabbing, but palm out.

“...I-it’s heat,” she says. “I...I think this might be some kind of temperature system for this whole area. Maybe they want us to heat it up more?” She looks around the outside of the structure- it’s relatively smooth, barring the various nuts and bolts that hold it together. “But there’s no controls or anything…”

cont.
>>
>>749936

“Maybe try hitting it with magic, then?” you offer. “Thinking about it, I wonder if, should you hit it with frost magic, it’ll cool everything off. That might make things easier for us…although I’m unsure how the mermaids will respond. You could probably even try a different branch of magic- might cause different things to happen.”

“Ah...hmmm…” She thinks about it briefly...and then holds out her hands. “Ignis!” And a small fireball streams out, impacting the crystal- which burns with a brighter orange sphere inside it, now. The mermaids cheer, and start jumping around in glee. With smiles on their faces, they wave you forward.

Hm. Well, look at that. She's smiling.

As you continue walking, she looks at you. “...I was hoping I wasn’t making a mistake...I...I think I did alright, b-but...just out of curiosity...what would you have done?”

>I’d have done the same. Nice work.
>I’d probably would have hit it would cooling magic. Would've helped with vision.
>I’d might have tried electricity on it…not sure what that would've done.
>I’m not really of a technical mind. I might’ve just walked past.
>Other.
>>
>>749941
>I’m not really of a technical mind. I might’ve just walked past.
>>
>>749941
>>I’m not really of a technical mind. I might’ve just walked past.
>>
>>749941
>I’d probably would have hit it would cooling magic. Would've helped with vision.
>>
>>749941
>>I’m not really of a technical mind. I might’ve just walked past.
>>
>I'm not really of a technical mind. I might've just walked past.
>>
A mechanic, we are not.

Writing.
>>
>>749941

You shake your head. You were fine with weapons maintenance- you could field strip an assault rifle blindfolded and with one hand and put it back together again in a blink- but you weren’t the most mechanically inclined person you knew. “Honestly, I wasn’t positive of any of that- I was just estimating. If it were up to me, I’d have just walked past and ignored it.” Her face droops a bit. “Not that I think it was an unnecessary risk, just saying that I wouldn’t have done it. The fact that you trusted yourself enough to do it- and the fact that it seems to have paid off- speaks volumes.”

She smiles again, despite looking away. “O-oh...well, I just...felt like that was what needed to be done…”

“And it’s good that you’re getting into the rhythm of making those kinds of decisions. Should help when you get back to...what school was that? Dakugeto Institute?” She nods. “Leadership ability and strong judgements like that can help in a lot of ways in life.”

“Well...yes...I suppose so…” Huh. She seems like she’s not very happy to hear that, oddly. You wonder how to broach the topic as you continue on.

>Roll 1d10 for progress.

I have a system for what happens depending on what number you roll. 7s, of course, are special.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>750057
>>
File: SEVEN candles.jpg (32 KB, 500x500)
32 KB
32 KB JPG
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>750057
>>
>>750090
That's not a seven.
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>750057
>>
>>750096
There, happy now?
>>
>>750098
Maybe.

Writing!
>>
>>750057

It’s a while of walking- it seems like Hoshi’s effort indeed paid off, as you begin to see more and more mermaids, jumping here and there, or just swimming gleefully. You shudder to wonder what might’ve happened if a different spell had been used...but now wasn’t the time to be thinking about such things.

After some time, you actually start to realize that the area is clearing up, and you can see more and more of the area you’re traveling in. To your surprise, at some point you seem to have gone from inside a bath house to some sort of ocean area, wherein the only land is the strange metallic walkway you’ve been on for some time. You look to Hoshi, who seems just as confused as you are. You’d think you would have smelled sea air or something, but thinking back on it, you’re clueless when the change might’ve happened.

At the moment, that’s not very relevant, however, as you look ahead. It seems indeed like land is near- an outcropping, with a large, large cliff a small ways in. Built into it, two very large doors, one red, one yellow, and a pair of waving mermaids at the shore. “Well. Seems like we made it.” you say. Hoshi nods, wiping some sweat off her forehead.

“I’m glad that seemed to be painless,” she comments as you both walk onto the shoreline. “I was worried we’d have to fight something on that-”

And a giant SCREECH rings out as something dives from high above the cliff- and it’s easy to see that it’s a large, violet bat-like creature. Its wings are translucent, and it as a whole looks dried and crusty- well on the verge of death, although its body language betrays perfect health. The fangs on it are small, but sharp and bared, and its beady eyes are black, and you can just bet they’re focused on you.

“...damnit,” you swear. Really, she should know better than to tempt fate like this. Right as you’re about to say something, you hear a cacophony of smaller chips, as a small group of similar looking bats begin to swoop down as well. Perfect.

>First thing’s first. Need to find a way to bring that big bat down.
>Any way to hold the big guy in place?
>Those kids of its will be a major pain- we need to get rid of them first.
>Other
>>
>>750145
>Izumi
Use Mana Infusion on the gun and shoot down the kids.
>Hoshi
Try lightning against the big bat.
>>
>>750145
>>Those kids of its will be a major pain- we need to get rid of them first.
>>
>Those kids of its will be a major pain- we need to get rid of them first.
>>
File: Rope Dart.png (471 KB, 1000x300)
471 KB
471 KB PNG
>>750145
>>First thing’s first. Need to find a way to bring that big bat down.
Spectral Rope Dart!
>>
Meant to say, yeah, you can split up orders still like >>750167 if you care to.
>>
Trying to focus on getting rid of the kids first then?
>>
>>750145
>>750202
supporting
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

Hm. Gonna flip for it.

1: Focus on the kids
2: Focus on the bat (via spectral rope dart gun).
>>
>>750347
Is she only good with guns, or is she good with any weapon?
>>
>>750442
Just about any weapon. Guns, swords, and melee combat of all flavors. Ironically, she's not all that hot at hand-to-hand. Decent, comparatively, but Miranda could literally curbstomp her in a fistfight if she managed to catch hold of Izumi.
>>
>>750145

“Focus on the kids! We need to clear them out or they’ll be no end of trouble!” you quickly announce, and you immediately stretch out your hand, firing homing magi-blasts. The bats are bigger than normal ones, fortunately, but they’re still rather agile, and several of your shots miss due to sudden jukes- while they can home in, they’re not absolutely perfect.

Hoshi takes a breath, and launches a stream of lighting towards the crowd- the giant bat in particular gets a bit of a zapping, but it doesn’t seem to affect it much, simply screeching, and flying out a bit across the water- before coming back in for a dive. She prepares to shoot-

And suddenly a jetstream of water knocks the bat off balance. You look to the side, to see the blue-haired mermaid apparently SPITTING water at high velocity at the giant creature. Unfortunately, the shot doesn’t knock it out of the air, but it does free you both for a moment as it tries to recover from its midair tumble as you attempt to deal with the small creatures- who are now swarming around both you and Hoshi, attempting to nip and bite at you. Hoshi’s squealing, and trying to get some distance, and you’re being accosted heavily in the face. There’s not as many of them, maybe a dozen, but that’s still far too many.

>Use your sword to keep them clear, and try to free up Hoshi. Don’t want her too hurt.
>You can power through this- the big one’s distracted. Take advantage.
>Other
>>
>>750465
>>Use your sword to keep them clear, and try to free up Hoshi. Don’t want her too hurt.

She doesn't exactly strike me a physically robust. Better to get her some breathing room so she can cast freely.
>>
>>750465
>>You can power through this- the big one’s distracted. Take advantage.
>Rope dart, no gun.
>>
>>750471
Oh, see, the picture made me think otherwise.
>>
>>750465
>You can power through this- the big one’s distracted. Take advantage.
>>
>>750465
>Use your sword to keep them clear, and try to free up Hoshi. Don’t want her too hurt.
I want to say 'Throw a flashbang' to fuck up the bats, but we don't have any eye or hearing protection.

The other option is, if Hoshi has any water-breathing spells, to dive a short distance underwater and bombard them from below with harpoons and explosives.
>>
>>750465
>>Use your sword to keep them clear, and try to free up Hoshi. Don’t want her too hurt.


>>750480
look again, no gun in the picture
>>
>>750465
>Use your sword to keep them clear, and try to free up Hoshi. Don’t want her too hurt.
What about using Demon's Roar?
The high sonic frequencies could do a lot to disorient the bats.
>>
>>750502
Hoshi can do that.
>>
Okay, choice is

>Use your sword to keep them clear, and try to free up Hoshi.

but there's some alternatives being thrown out.

>Clear them out, get Hoshi to cast a water-breathing spell, make like a submarine.
>Use Demon's Roar to stun the bats. (Hoshi might be affected by this, though.)
or, just
>Do your best using your sword and general techniques.

Suppose this is the opportunity for that runoff vote thing.
>>
>>750538
>Use Demon's Roar to stun the bats. (Hoshi might be affected by this, though.)
>>
>>750538
>>Use Demon's Roar to stun the bats. (Hoshi might be affected by this, though.)
>>
>>750538
Acting from out of reach underwater is my vote, as it's an option.
>>
>>750538
>Use Demon's Roar to stun the bats. (Hoshi might be affected by this, though.)
Cover her ears and get behind us. Sound can be directional.
>>
>>750538
>>Do your best using your sword and general techniques.
>>
>Simple little girl...do you really think you can stand up such a being by your lonesome? Your skill with the blade is great, but even that will not save you from the Black Oni. The mere sound of his voice renders the sky black with death!

>...Then mine will split that sky asunder.

Writing.
>>
>>750598
Such badass backstories...
>>
>>750598
I adore these little tidbits, like when we hear the aftermath of a mission of the clients
>>
>>750538

Alright, you’ve got an idea. But first, you need to get these things off of you and Hoshi. A few swipes with the sword manage to clear a couple, but you can feel one on your neck, and you quickly pivot to throw it off, moving quickly for Hoshi, who seems to be faring less well. She can’t seem to focus long enough to get any spells off- which puts her at a disadvantage.

“Hoshi, duck!” She does so, and your blade sings, cleaving through at least three at once, their parts dropping to the ground around you. The rest of them seem to realize the dangers, and immediately fly off to surround the giant bat, which has righted itself and harassed the helpful mermaid into fleeing- you can see a thin trail of blood in the water being left behind by the poor thing as it flees. Unfortunately, you can’t help it now- the big thing’s turned its attention back to you.

Stepping in front, you steel yourself, eyes glowing bright yellow. “Hoshi, cover your ears, and stay behind me.” She nods, rather surprised at the sudden tone of your voice- and as the creature charges, you focus- and time slows, for just a moment. You breath in...and you do not scream.

You roar.[/]

The effort is immense, as raw mana blazes out your mouth in rivulets as bullet speeds, and the very ground before you is thrown up- and beyond that, the sea is, for a moment, blown out backwards, practically carved in two for a moment as the shape of your power blasts outwards. The smaller bats practically pass out, some plunging into the water unconsciously, some so befuddled that they divebomb the sea, thinking down is up and up is down.

The mother bat itself is tumbled back end over end back towards the water, parts of skin both dried and healthy flaking off, and before your shout ceases it’s already fluttering to and fro in confusion and likely deafness, giving out little chirps in a fruitless attempt to orient itself. You can see bleeding beginning on various parts of its body, and it sinks lower to the sea, barely holding up under its own power.

Hoshi simply looks at you with astonishment. “What...was…”

“An old technique.” you rub your throat a bit. “It’s part of the reason I like tea so much.” Hoshi giggles at that. Still, you do have a job to do, and the bat doesn’t seem to be entirely down as it flutters over the water. Suddenly, the small bats that survived splash upwards, covered with water...and you swear they look different, wings glowing a strange blue.

Suddenly, the little ones chirp, and small streams of high pressure water are spat from their own mouths- water that could cut, no doubt. As they do that, the larger bat attempts to fly in again, with teeth bared and open this time. Hoshi immediately holds out her hands and starts a spell.

>Time to strike from a distance! Delay its attention again!
>Defend Hoshi against any charge. Let it come.
>No time for that, doorways are clear, let's go!
>Other
>>
>>750750
And fucked up the formatting. Damnit.
>>
>>750750
>Defend Hoshi against any charge. Let it come.
Set up a Rajomon.
>>
>>750750
>>Defend Hoshi against any charge. Let it come.
>>
>>750750
>Defend Hoshi against any charge. Let it come.
>>
D-FENSE *clap clap*

Writing.
>>
>>750750
>>Defend Hoshi against any charge. Let it come.
>>
>>750750

Fine, it wants to charge in so brutally, then it can. And it will break against you. Or at least your defenses.

You quickly step in front of her and plant your hand on the ground- and your mana spreads in a horizontal line, shimmering and golden. In short order, you raise it- and a 3 story high golden wall of light bursts from the ground, your Rajomon- impassable to any on the outside. The bat’s flying a bit too fast to stop in time, and it crashes against the barrier, neatly pressing up against it splayed out. It’s only for a few moments, but you can see it starting to peel itself off. You look back at Hoshi, who briefly looks at you, then the wall, then back at you. “Go ahead!” you shout before she can ask.

That was the beauty of the Rajomon. Nothing could get in, but as for going out...

Hoshi lets loose again, this time a strange spark emitting from her hands- it passes through the gate handily, and impacts the bat that was just about to recover- and before you know it the creature is SLAMMED to the ground by an invisible force, and for a moment you think it’s dead. But then you see twitching movement, and you realize it seems to be stuck there- it clearly tries to use its wings, but it can barely lift them off the, much less get any air.

You look to Hoshi as she smiles. “It’s a...well, gravity. Well. Gravity well, I mean. I made it so that it has a massive gravitational attraction to the ground...it should be like that for a while, so if we want...we can go ahead!”

You chuckle. “Well, that’s impressive.”

“Thank you. Your skills were very impressive as well…I wonder if maybe I’ll be able to do anything like that eventually…” She looks unsure, but hopeful.

“It’s likely,” you admit. “Considering how proficient you already ar-” and that’s when you notice something that you don’t think even she has. She notices your sudden startling, and looks worried. “Turn your head a bit, please?”

“Huh? Uhh...okay…” she does so, and you have to fight back a grimace. Maybe it’s the adrenaline, but there’s a couple of puncture marks on her back, and you can even see a bit of blood seeping through. How has she not...nevermind. Need to fix that, now. “Hold on, you’ve been injured.”

Hoshi’s eyes widen as she starts to breath rapidly. “W-what? But- but I...where did…?!”

cont.
>>
>>750865

“Calm down,” you quickly say. “Just give me a few moments.” And you close your eyes and let yourself...float. Peace, tranquility, good health, and good spirits. Your focus, your will, your hopes, your everything...your mana swirls about you, engulfs you- and then you radiate. You can feel the positive energy flowing outward...and with a gentle smile, you can see the blood flow cease in a matter of seconds, the skin patching itself up like nothing was ever there. The holes on the back of her shirt and the bloodstains betray what happened, but aside from that…

“Ohhh...ohhh woooow…” Hoshi seems vaguely blissful. “What...what was that? I feel so...so light…”

“A healing aura,” you state. “An early trick I learned to help my allies. I can stretch it pretty far, and it helps everyone equally.”

“Oh! Amazing...That would be so helpful back home…” Hoshi states. You have to agree. It’s helpful everywhere.

Looking back at the beast, you figure you can leave it there. Chances are it’ll break its own bones if it tries too hard to rise, and even then the bleeding from your Demon’s Roar earlier will cause it to eventually bleed out to death. There’s no reason to continue this fight. “We should hurry and pick a door, then.” You both approach the cliff face, looking at the two doors. The red one has a carving of a sword and fire on it, while the yellow one has what appears to be a sun. Hoshi frowns, and quickly walks towards the yellow door- can’t say you’re surprised there. “I hope this is a good sign…”

And with that, she opens the door, to a bright light, and you both walk through.

“What...what is this?” You’re not quite certain this is possible.

It’s clouds. A giant, fluffy cloud...maze? Whatever it is, it’s made of clouds. But it’s dark clouds, and it appears to be night out. To your surprise, this place’s walls are actually fairly low- you can see lights reminiscent of searchlights in the distance There’s also a signpost in front of you, with a letter attached to it.

Congrats for making it this far! Really! You’re halfway there! Super job! Things might get a bit weirder from here on in, so be careful not to fly off the handle! A little tip for here, Starchild- don’t let them see you. And Izumi, don’t just jump over the maze. The maze won’t like that. ;) - Sal

...great. “Guess we’ll have to be careful,” you say. “Let’s hope we don’t run into too much trouble…”

>Roll 1d10 for progress!
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>750885
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>750885
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>750885
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>750885
Can't get any worse!
>>
>>750908
Good jerb.

Writing.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>750885
Ask "Starchild" if she knows any illusion magic.
>>
>>750908
Best of 3, best of 3!
Aaaaaaaaand a Seven! Sven Cinnabar Jarl (or something)
>>
You soon realize exactly what the issue is. There are strange, spherical, tiny mechanical devices, floating like copters, and armed with searchlights floating through the hallways. They seem to patrol set areas, however, going back and forth as mechanical sentries. You aren’t sure if they can hear well, but at least your footsteps are fairly silent thanks to walking on clouds. There also don’t seem to be a great amount of dead ends here- but there are a lot of turns. Fortunately, it seems like their camera vision is bad- they don’t seem to react to you unless you’re in their primary light circles.

You both quickly stop behind one wall as you see a flash of light around the corner. You peek out, only to see a stationary sentry with its light angled just away from you, and another down the hall in a symmetrical position. They aren’t moving, which means it’ll be tough if not impossible to get past without something clever. You CAN hear something humming, however, there’s an opening between the two sentries, and that’s likely where it comes from.

That means that chances are this is where you’re supposed to be. Hoshi seems to realize this, as well. “Do you think we can try another way around to get here?” she asks. You shake your head. The other side has a T-section, but you’d still have to come down this hall. "Then...m-maybe we can try to blind it?"

>Sounds like an ide
>Actually, you got any methods for invisibility?
>I’m starting to wonder if we can’t just take it out…
>Other.
>>
>>750963
That's supposed to be >Sounds like an idea.

Obviously.
>>
>>750963
>>Actually, you got any methods for invisibility?
>>
>>750963
> do you invisibility?
How is she planning on blinding it anyway?
>I wonder if we can't just take it out
Probably the only time we won't be essentially surrounded. Can't think of a better time to test their reaction to being shit.
>>
>>750963
>Sounds like an idea
>>
>>750963
>Other.
>Look, a distraction!
>>
>>750963
>>Actually, you got any methods for invisibility?
>>
Can we vanish?

Writing.
>>
>>750963
You have to think about that a bit. You’re not entirely certain what it would entail to try and blind them- honestly, the first thing that comes to you mind is some sort of ink spray spell. But she couldn’t have that...could she?

You shake your head to clear those thoughts. “Actually, I’m wondering if you have any way to make us invisible. Is that something you can do?” Hoshi mulls on it for a bit, before nodding.

“Take my hand.” You do so, and she says something you can’t quite understand but it starts with an ‘I’, and before you know it, you...actually, you can still see her- but she’s transparent, somewhat. “Only we can see each other- and this will only last for a little while, so let’s go!” Nodding, you keep hold of her hand and quickly dart out, passing under the glare of the robot’s searchlight.

To your horror, it jerks a bit, and a small red light comes on. However, it does nothing as you pass under it and jump quickly into the room. As you both press yourselves against the wall with baited breath, you can see the light sweep across the room at an angle, as if the thing was turning. You risk a glance back out, and it’s returned to its original position, with no light. You’re not sure what that was...but it was close.

You both let go of the breath that you’d been holding, and as you both fade back into vision, take stock of what’s ahead. It’s a large...what seems to be tube elevator, actually. You’re kind of surprised. Looking up, you can see that the tube leads to a large cloud temple area. The searchlights are also closer, and they seem to be waving all throughout the area. There’s what seems to be a standalone floor select keypad as well, up and down. You look at Hoshi, and she just shrugs, at this point, pressing up.

Nothing happens. She presses again. Still nothing happens. “What...why isn’t it working?”

You both check the area, and find what seems to be a power box in the corner- and it seems to be missing a large battery. “Rats,” you exclaim.

Hoshi doesn’t seem all that excited, either. “Well...I wonder how to solve this?”

“Can’t you just hit it with lightening?” you ask. It seemed the obvious solution.

“I-I could, but I don’t know how long the charge would stay…” she says. “I wouldn’t want it to cut out on us halfway up...and if I keep powering it, I’d have to stay behind…” You have to admit, this one’s tough.

“Hmm...well, we know this is a test…” you muse. "So it's unlikely that this is a dead end..."

>Maybe the battery is still in the maze somewhere, and we need to find it.
>Maybe we’re meant to split up for a bit- You power it up, I find a permanent power source for you.
>Other
>>
>>751164
Great, a fetch quest.
>Maybe battery is in maze
Keep turning left
> Other
Maybe battery is in the robot! Let's rip it open and find out.
>>
>>751164
>Maybe the battery is still in the maze somewhere, and we need to find it.
When is splitting up ever a good idea?

>>751223
>Maybe battery is in the robot!
This is a fair point. The robot must necessarily have some power source driving it.

I wonder if a small EMP generator constitutes a weapon for the purposes of Shape Weapon?
>>
>>751241
Have to veto that one. She's not exactly Green Lantern.
>>
>>751164
>>Maybe the battery is still in the maze somewhere, and we need to find it.
>>
Hm. Alrighty, roll a 1d10 for progress/chance. I can make this work.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>751287
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>751287
Sven! Sven! Sven!
>>
>>751306
>8-1=7
Cllose enough
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>751287
>>
>>751287
>I can make this work
Did we choose the bad option?
>>
>>751320
Huh? No. Just that it seemed people wanted two options, and I was considering combining them since it was just three votes.
>>
>>751164
“Maybe the battery’s still in the maze. We might have to look for it.” You look her over- she’s starting to sweat again. “You think you’ll be okay if we do that invisibility thing on and off?” Hopefully, it didn’t take too much of her mana to do, but even if it didn’t, doing it too many times could prove disastrous.

She nods. “I’ll...I’ll do what I have to. I need to finish this.” Part of you didn’t like such a stance, but another part of you realized how big of her it was to say such a thing.

“Alright, then...we’ll just have to work together and make sure we don’t get caught by anything.” You look back out at between the two sentries. “Let’s see if we can’t make this quick. You ready?” She nods. “Then let’s get searching.”

Getting through the maze, once you’ve figured out the stunt, is easier, at least in theory. Hoshi’s invisibility has to come into play a few times, and it seems like the robots have some sort of motion detection, you think it is, since the bots you pass under all do that strange ‘light up, search, go back to normal’ thing. No clue why, though. Miranda’d probably have a theory and a way to counteract it all ready to go. Maybe even rewire the thing. She was more of a tech head than she liked to let on.

At the very least, Hoshi’s not called upon to use her talents TOO much, although you’d certainly call it an appreciable amount- you both find the batter- it’s more of a motor, really- in a dead end of the maze, just sitting there. Touching it, you both are startled when it flashes, and vanishes. “...I really hope it just went back to the center,” you state. You then hear another hum, and sure enough you can see the elevator from on high coming down. Hoshi sighs in relief, sweating as she is. You hide a frown as she casts the spell again and you make your way back.

By the time you make it there, her shirt’s soaked. She’s at least looking steady, otherwise- if she was shaking or the like, that’d be horrible. “Come on, let’s get going,” you say, and she nods wordlessly as she presses the Up button again.

There’s no elevator music, at least, but it’s a long ride up.

(Pick 2)
> “Your mana reserves have to be low. We should take a rest once we get up there.”
> “Think you can tough it out the rest of the way? He did say we’re halfway there.”
> “So, what’s your home life like?”
> “What do you think of all this so far?”
> Say nothing.
> Other
>>
>>751372
> “Your mana reserves have to be low. We should take a rest once we get up there.”
> Other
What were you meaning about missions?
>I need to keep these things in mind better when I’m out on missions
>>
>>751372
> “Your mana reserves have to be low. We should take a rest once we get up there.”
> “So, what’s your home life like?”
>>
>>751372
> we should rest one we get up there
She needs to have moar power so she can show off to Sal better.
> What do you think of all this so far?
I don't think she wants to talk about home ;(
>>
>>751372
>> “Your mana reserves have to be low. We should take a rest once we get up there.”
>> “So, what’s your home life like?”
>>
Concern and conversation.

Writing
>>
>>751372
It’s not long before you feel the need to say SOMETHING. “So, are you feeling alright?” She looks at you curiously. “You’re still sweating. Your mana reserves have to be low by now.” They naturally restored themselves over time, true, but she’d been pushing herself for a while now. More than likely she hadn’t really had a chance to restore more than a little bit, and that was concerning. You didn’t want her to injure herself.


Still, she shakes her head. “It’s...not the most pleasant feeling, but I-I’m fine. I...I can keep going, I promise.” She wipes her forehead- and grimaces at the amount of sweat she feels, blushing deeply. “Uh...I think maybe I just...sweat easily?” She tries to laugh it off, but it’s horribly shaky and really, it just makes you more concerned.


“I think we’ll be taking a rest once we get up there- presuming it’s safe, of course.” You had a feeling it might be, at least. At her worried look, you continue. “This is a test, not a life or death situation. If you need to stop and take a breather, you should. You weren’t so reluctant earlier- in fact, you’re the one who wanted to stop, remember?”


Still blushing, she nods. “I...I kind of liked the garden place...and I didn’t think it’d be this complicated…”


You sigh, wondering when this was going to wrap up. “Well, Sal can be complicated, I suppose. And to be fair, I didn’t think it would end up this way, either.” He was certainly throwing a lot of varying areas at you both, that was for certain.


There’s a bit of silence before you think up another topic- one she’d avoided, but you couldn’t deny you were curious about. “So...what’s your home life like?” Her eyes widen, but you press on. “Is it nice? Any hobbies? Good friends? Boyfriend?”


“Ah! Uhhhh...it’s...it’s...trying.” She admits. “I have a lot of responsibility, and i-it...it’s scary. I don’t want to do it...but I might have to.” Yikes. She seems so downtrodden about that… “I try my best, but sometimes things...things happen, and people...they...” Oh, crap, she’s starting to cry.


“Hey, hey...sorry if I brought up some unpleasant memories…” you start to say, but she shakes her head.


“No!” Wow, first time she’s really raised her voice. “I...I know I have to, one day...for my parents, for the school, for...for…” she whispers out a name, but you can’t quite make it out. “For all of them, I have to keep trying…I have to get better.” Heh.

cont.
>>
>>751543
“Hm. Well, that’s courageous of you.” you admit. “It’s one thing to have no fear about doing something. It’s entirely another to be incredibly afraid of it and do it anyway. Honestly,” you think about it, “I think that most people are afraid of having to handle their responsibilities. I know I was.” Ugh, wasn’t that the truth. You’d freaked out something hard first learning your ‘destiny’. If it wasn’t for your friends...well, things might’ve gotten messy.

To your surprise, she giggles a bit. “That’s...very astute of you. It-it kind of reminds me of a friend of mine…”

“Oh?” You spot a chance to change the subject. “And what’s he like?”

“He’s...very brash, but brave. And strong. And...and a bit scary, but in a good way. A rebel...although I think he’d prefer ‘delinquent’. He fights for what he believes in. Like I need to.” She has a gentle smile on her face, like just remembering is making her stronger.

“That’s good to know. Having friends by your side makes all the difference with things like this,” you say. From experience, too. Even now, you’d...yeah. You’ve got friends. It IS kind of refreshing to think of that, really.

As you both hear the ding of the elevator and step out, you’re both a bit more confident. And much to your pleasant surprise, it seems like there indeed is nothing in the elevator room of the large temple. Although you’ll have to find your way around sooner than later, there’s at least benches, and even a fountain with a figure of a deer in the middle as an ornamental spout. This’ll be a good place to rest for a while.

>Resting.

>But roll 1d10 for progress anyway. And sorry, I forgot to deal with the double spacing.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>751547
I am /this/ good at resting.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>751547
>Power Nap
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>751547
She's adorable
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>751547
>>
>>751547
Some time later- you're not quite certain how long- you wake up with Hoshi’s head on your shoulder, as she lightly snores away. Hopefully, you didn't spend too much time asleep. You quickly shake her awake, and she does so with a brief start, looking around confused. Slowly, as she looks at you, understanding comes back to her. “Oh...I'm sorry, did I oversleep?”


“Couldn't tell you,” you admit, your head already refocusing. “I was out until a minute or so ago myself. How are you feeling?” If nothing else, you noticed that she's stopped sweating.


She smiles and bows a bit. “I feel fine, thank you. We...should we get going?” You nod, and you're both off, exiting the elevator room into the temple proper. It's similar to the earlier temple, but the bricks seem to be made of sandstone. And like before, there seem to be very few actual pathways into the temple proper. With little fanfare, you both pick the center pathway this time- whereas the left and right paths had thorns and sand around them, respectively, the middle path merely had a slight breeze. You both walk into the tunnel, and shortly it terminates into what seems to be a wide field made of clouds, pockmarked with holes.


You freeze immediately, and Hoshi does as well. Suddenly, a strange...snuffling sound overtakes the area. As soon as you draw your sword, you’re witness to the cloud ground inflating like a bubble a bit of a distance away, and with a strange chittering, an odd, immensely fat creature pops out of the ground- with a star-shaped nose, razered back and tail, and hind legs, and its body covered in feathers- no, scales. The feathers it has are simple large wings...how strange. It looks familiar and yet not at the same time. It’s size is bigger than a car, and it seems to have no eyes, merely a nose and slim, slurping mouth that you can see a long, long tongue swipe the air from.


That’s when you hear it honk, looking over in your direction. With casual speed, it lumbers over to your position.


>Try to outrun it.
>Prepare to engage. (How?)
>Maybe you can trick it?
>Other
>>
Dangit. Double-spaced again.
>>
>>751678
>Try to outrun it.
>>
>>751678
>>Maybe you can trick it?
Maybe we draw its aggro, leading it through a tunnel, while Hoshi hides and preps a spell to hit it from behind?

It's like a dragon-star-mole, right? Maybe ice will help?
>>
>>751678
>Prepare to engage. (How?)
Fuck it lets give the girl some more combat experience.
>Hoshi
Flamethrower
>Izumi
Full automatic charged rounds
>>
Three way tie so far.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d3)

I'll just roll for it.

1 for >>751703
2 for >>751710
3 for >>751723
>>
“Hoshi. It doesn’t have eyes, but it can probably still smell us. It doesn’t look all that fast, though,” you note. “We’re gonna try to outrun it. Think you can keep with me?” You wouldn’t be going as fast as possible, of course- that would be a VERY fast loss of mana, and considering you just took the time to rest, it’d be something of a waste.


She looks unsure, but nods. If not...well, you’ll have to improvise. “Alright...on three. One…” it’s stepping closer… “two…” a few more feet… “THREE!” And you grab her hand and you both dart away when it’s about a paw swipe away from you. You make sure not to look back, but Hoshi doesn’t get the same memo. “I-i-i-it’s chasing us!” Well, nuts.


“Is it getting closer?!” You ask.


“Y-y-yes! Hold on a moment!” Before you can respond, she shouts SOMETHING you can’t make out, and you dare to look back.


The strange creature is surrounded in some sort of bubble. It floats very briefly, lifting the thing with it...but a couple seconds later, it pops. “Ah! I thought it would last longer!” With a honk, the thing then starts burrowing under the clouds. Great. Something tells you it’ll be faster for some reason. Looking ahead, you realise that there are two places you can go- one is straight ahead into another sandstone cavern; but this one is much darker. The other is some weird cloud mountainous incline, with a gap you can clear with her easily. The top seems to have some strange light on it, but it’s a bit of a trek, you can see.


Either way, you’re not sure if the creature will follow you or not. Hoshi’s too busy trying to keep the thing distracted- you’ll need to make a snap decision.


>Mountain
>Cavern
>Stand and fight.
>>
>>751826
>Cavern
If she can use earth magic being on sandstone might help.
I still think running away is bad training for when she is supposed to be protecting her school or world or whatever (what is this girl, Harry Potter?).
>>
>>751826
>>Mountain
>>
>>751826
>Cavern
Going underground into dark places is always great.
>>
Caverns it is. Writing.
>>
>>751975

No, you don’t want to risk him catching up if he’s suddenly putting on this burst of speed. You beeline it towards the cavern entrance, sliding in easily as Hoshi entraps the thing in another bubble, slowing it down just that bit longer- hopefully it’ll lose your scent, or otherwise simply decide you not worth the trouble of chasing down.

The cavern, as you descend deeper, is dark, but at the very least not that cold. In fact, it actually feels rather pleasant. As you let Hoshi down, your eyes take a moment to adjust. Thanks to the natural coloration of the sandstone, it’s not exactly pitchblack- and you can even see small crystals that twinkle in the gloom- they’re no torches or room lights, but they’ll do well enough for illumination.

Looking back, you hear nothing. Seems like the creature isn’t going to chase you after all. Either that, or it’s digging deep and biding it’s time...but you choose not to actively think about that. Rather, it’ll just be in the back of your mind just in case. Wouldn’t be wise to dismiss the possibility out of hand.

There’s a bit more good news, at least. “I can feel wind,” you announce. “I’m not sure where that’s coming from, but it’s a good sign that the cavern has some sort of exit.”

Hoshi sighs in relief. “Then we should probably follow it, right?” You nod, and keep a close eye on her as you move forward.

"So, what was that bubble thing you did back there?" you ask. It reminded you of Miranda's Great Barrier- although hers wasn't so easily broken...at least in realspace. Who knows how it'd react to something of Sal's creation.

"Oh, uh, that was Bullae. It's a, well...bubble, and it's intended to be a protective one. But...I only recently figured out how to do it correctly. Before I, uh...I kept forgetting to make it air-permeable..." She blushes as she seems to remember some sort of embarrassing incident. I figured out how to do it right after I nearly...nearly...trappedafriendinone." she rushes out. You can't help but snort a bit. "B-but it was alright! He was okay! And..and I kinda remembered how to do it the 'wrong' way...just in case..."

"Smart," you admit. "That's how a lot of techniques are innovated."

"I'd rather not innovate techniques by suffocating friends..." she laments, embarrassed. You just chuckle lightly as you head through the caverns, following the wind.

>Roll 1d10 for progress!
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>752018
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>752018
May the great dicegods bless me in this endeavor.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>752018
>>
Crazy Eight.

Writing.
>>
>>752018

The tunnels are winding, and surprisingly numerous, but you make certain to continue following the wind along your path, guiding you both in places where otherwise you’d be forced to choose at random. You can’t help but wonder exactly what might be the source of wind blowing as hard as it is- not to say that it’s unwelcome, or even hindering, but it’s a surprisingly strong flow. Hoshi notices it too, and once or twice has to squint, or blink out dust in her eyes. At one point, the flow lightens up, but doesn’t stop. “I hope that’s not a sign…” you say. Hoshi nods and agrees. You both still walk, however- there’s nothing you can do for now.

After a minute or two, Hoshi turns to you. “Uh...I’m sorry if I’m rude, but I just realized. I don’t really know anything about you.”

You turn to her, cocking an eyebrow. “Really? I haven’t told you anything?” She shakes her head. “Huh. Well, what would you like to know?” You realize about a half-second too late that this could open up all sorts of old wounds, but it’s too late to take the words back now.

“Oh, uh...well...I was wondering about that...that...Sal, I think it was? He seemed to know you, and you talk as if he’s familiar...are...are you related?” You nearly trip over yourself as your mind REFUSES to consider that possibility. Fortunately, Hoshi recognizes that. “Oh! I’m sorry, really! I just...uh...nevermind!” You wave her off as you right yourself.

“It’s fine, it’s fine, that one just...kinda caught me by surprise. But, no, we’re DEFINITELY not related.” You suppress a shudder at that thought.

“Then...what are you?” Wait, what?! She looks away as she thinks. “I...I don’t think he’s a human, and he doesn’t quite act like a demon, but…his powers...and the skills you’ve shown and talk about...are you a servant or a soldier or something?” She looks as though she’s made a decision, but is trying to figure out the specifics. But...hm. Sal apparently was his more obtuse self. How to explain the situation?

>Tell the current truth: you’re a mercenary whom Sal employs. You're here because he asked for a favor, and those are rare and powerful.
>Just say that you got pulled in here same as she did, just a bit earlier. You don't know what's going on any more than she does.
>"...I'm someone who defended my people from demons and succeeded. Even if the personal price was steep.
>Try to steer her away from the question entirely. She doesn't need to know.
>Other
>>
>>752091
>"...I'm someone who defended my people from demons and succeeded. Even if the personal price was steep.
>>
>>752091
>Tell the current truth: you’re a mercenary whom Sal employs. You're here because he asked for a favor, and those are rare and powerful.
If he wanted us to tell some other story he would have told us.
>>
Still hoping for a last one, else I'll flip.
>>
>>752091
>>Tell the current truth: you’re a mercenary whom Sal employs. You're here because he asked for a favor, and those are rare and powerful
>"...I'm someone who defended my people from demons and succeeded. Even if the personal price was steep.
>>
>>752159
>"...I'm someone who defended my people from demons and succeeded. Even if the personal price was steep.
>Tell the current truth: you’re a mercenary whom Sal employs. You're here because he asked for a favor, and those are rare and powerful
>>
Interesting. Alrighty. Writing. Stay tuned.
>>
>>752091
...It’s hard to say out loud. It’s something you’re proud of, but at the same time...there’s so many memories. Things that...sure, Miranda might SAY they never happened...and maybe, technically, she’s right. But for you? They’re as real as anything.


“I’m...I'm someone who defended my people from demons…” she looks at you in astonishment. “...and succeeded. Even if the personal price was steep.” And steep it was.


The friendships formed, the battles fought, and won...the people you loved. If Miranda didn’t have those kinds of memories...well, you feel all the more sorry for her. People like that...they need friends. That’s why you withstand it. Why you’re willing to deal with this for as long as it takes. Maybe someday...somehow...you can see those friends again. Even if you have to make friends with them all over again. And who knows? Maybe...maybe you might even be able to bring your new friends to see your old ones? That’d be nice.


“I...I see. I’m sorry…but I’m glad to know that there’s others like that, out there.” She smiles sadly.


“That’s not it, though.” you interject. You can’t really accept that. Not until she knows the whole truth. “I...that sacrifice was...well, what I’m doing now. I ended up somewhere not home. My best skills were demon hunting, and here...there weren’t any real demons to hunt. So...I became a mercenary.” To your incredible relief and surprise, she doesn’t seem to react negatively, merely making an ‘o’ of understanding. “Sal is my boss. I go places that need help...warriors, heroes, training. That sort of thing. I help them, and...well, I get paid for doing it.”


“So is that why you’re here now? Did...did someone ask for him to do this to me? Was he lying about earlier?” She seems to not be too depressed, but she is curious, and worried.


You can at least dispel those fears, you think as you shake your head. “No...I’m here because he asked for a favor, and...a favor from Sal is a rare and powerful thing. I’m hoping…” you take a deep breath; this isn’t something you want getting out to many others. “I’m hoping that maybe I can use that favor later to...to see my friends again.”


Hoshi, again, smiles brightly. “I think that’s a wonderful reason. Which means we should finish this as quickly as possible, right? So you can get that favor?”


You nod, smiling. “Right. Let’s keep moving.”

cont.
>>
>>752264
Soon after that, the wind picks back up. How lovely...if it weren’t for the loose sand getting everywhere, that is...

You soon both manage to make it to a room, much better lit than the rest of the caverns. In the center is what appears to be some sort of...pillar. Segmented, with various artworks on them. Looking up, you both can see what appears to be a very, very high opening- the source of the wind. “Well...that’s just great.” you grouse.

“Well, I can see some pictures on the wall over there…” Hoshi notices. “They look like...animals.” She goes over to inspect them, and you look elsewhere, having noticed something in the middle of the room, at the foot of the pillar. It’s a trio of square plates...or bricks...you’re not sure what to call them, but they each have an image on them- one of a frog, one of a bird, and one of a snake. Strange.

“Hey, what are those pictures on the wall?” you ask.

“A worm, an...eagle, I think, and...I’m not sure what the last one is. I think a...dog? They’re really worn.” Which means Sal intended them to be unclear. Of course. You bring the plates to her, and look at what she’s looking at. Yup, there’s spaces in between. Of course. “So this is a puzzle?” Hoshi asks.

“Apparently,” you say. “I thought this was supposed to test your magic, not your mental skills…” There had to be a catch here.

>Is there a way we can just bypass this one? (How?)
>Well, let’s try putting them in some order. Should work eventually...
>Other
>>
>>752266
We don't have enough information to solve the puzzle OOC so we just have to bruteforce it or bypass it.
>Well, let’s try putting them in some order. Should work eventually...
>>
>>752280
It's actually a fairly simple puzzle if you know your Egyptian animals and mythology. But I also get that that's not something a ton of people are into.
>>
>>752266
>Puzzle Time!
frog eaten by dog
bird eats worm
snake eaten by eagle
Hmm, otherwise it would be
snake is like a worm
bird is like an eagle
frog is not like a dog...
Honestly, it probably isn't a dog.
>>
>>752285
>Egyptian animals and mythology.
Oh. In that case can we make grenades?
>>
The spaces look like this:

____ worm ____ eagle ____ dog

>>752287
Uhh...yes? You mean weapon shape? Yeah.

...why?
>>
>>752285
Yeah, see, we needed >>752289's information to solve shit.
GJ fag, stop withholding information available to the POV character.
>>
>>752293
Yeah, that was me being an idiot, sorry. Not used to writing complicated puzzles in quests- this one is kinda a testbed for a lot of things.
>>
>>752266
Dog = jackal = Anubis = death
Eagle = Ra = Sun
No clue on worm's relevance to egyptian mythology.

Frog, bird, snake... no idea. Frogs could represent some kind of plague I suppose.
>>
>>752297
Of course, I say complicated relative to the stuff I usually write. Not complicated period. Won't happen again.
>>
Sorry if this is terrible, this might just be one of those 'it came off better in my head' ideas.
>>
>>752307
I vote for brute force.
>>
Yeah, alright, this one was a bust. OH WELL. LESSON LEARNED. I am shit at puzzles. Writing.
>>
>>752307
I'm interested in giving it a shot, but it's the sort of puzzle that ideally there's a lot of room for readers to go back and forth bouncing ideas off of eachother so it doesn't just turn into someone reading the wikipedia page on "animals in egyptian mythology" and coming back with the solution.

>Try and get Hoshi to talk through her logic with the puzzle, ask questions/prompt her.

If this is a test then it's probably a good idea to at least have her show that kind of thinking.
>>
>>752322
I might try and think out a better one in a later mission.
>>
“Well...maybe we can try and brute force it,” you suggest. “Seems simple enough.”

“Maybe...but…” she starts putting the frog in front of the eagle...then takes it out. “Hm…”

You sigh, not unkindly. Seems she really does want to prove herself. “Well, let’s think about this. There’s a worm, a bird, and a dog. And the frog, the bird, and the snake are missing. What do those animals make you think of?”

“Well...at first I thought it was a matter of the food chain…” she starts with the frog again. “But then why is worm second? I’d think it’d be first…”

“So maybe it’s not exactly the food chain?” you offer. “Maybe it’s more symbolic.”

“Hmm...then the dog would be...life? Rebirth? The frog...I don’t know...stillness? And why two birds? One is an eagle, and the other...isn’t?” She sighs. “We can’t stop here...there has to be something we’re missing.”

“Well, let’s try the theories before you dismiss them,” you offer. She nods, and begins with the frog in front of the worm- nothing. She adds bird, and the snake in that order as well. Still nothing. Making a hum of disappointment, she takes them all out, and then tries putting in the snake first- you can hear a click, suddenly. “Oh! Did it…” you can hear a faint grinding noise you didn’t before.

“I think that did,” you offer. “Keep going.”

Eventually, she figures out the next ones as well- the bird goes next to the eagle, and the frog goes next to the dog thing...you don’t think that’s a dog, though. But it might be. Hard to tell. “Okay...I think that-”

With a slow, loud rumbling and grinding noise, the pillar begins to turn- and suddenly, it begins to light up...as does the floor beneath it.

Without warning, the entire room lights up in an amazing silver glow, and you suddenly feel lighter than air. Before you can really react, you both begin to float up, up, up…

“What...what’s going on?” Hoshi cries out as you both get higher than the mountain from earlier- to sky beyond sky...you can see...a lot, from here. You can see birds, and bugs, and a ton of other flying animals...even some things that really shouldn’t be flying- at least according to conventional wisdom...but flying eels and porcupines, they are. Wonder if this is what Sal meant by ‘things are about to get weirder’...

>Roll 1d10 for progress!
>>
>>752326
Don't worry, doing kinds of mysteries and puzzles in a quest format is fairly difficult to get right, and the easiest way to do so is with practice.. The few I've seen work out okay are ones with a decent lead up and hinge on previous events/locations. So if they want to, people can go back through the archives without having to draw upon external sources (external sources are good for OOC mysteries and foreshadowing; A character called "Bast" that always knows where we are, is probably using cats or something to track us). Other than that, there's always the Pheonix Wright/Danganronpa style of Gather information (getting more or less based on choices), and then organize it in order to find the truth, but that doesn't give as much opportunity for write-ins after the information gathering stage.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>752340
Any whales or flowerpots?
>>
>>752350
You can see one whale in the distance. It doesn't seem to notice you, which is a good thing.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

Sal is rooooooooooolinggggggggg~

but i want a waaaaaaaaaan~
>>
>>752357
WAN~
>>
One more roll, anyone?
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

then miranda will roll

not if i care
>>
>>752340
There seems to be a strange situation as you ascend to...wherever you’re going- several insects and some of those odd flying creatures surround you- snakes, birds, mammals, and various other small creatures. You’re not sure what’s happening or why- but you get the feeling that this is going to be frustrating. But, at the very least there doesn’t seem to be a-

Before you can even finish the thought, a strange boar-like creature flies into the light- and you both stop instantly. You can move freely on a flat plane around in the light, it seems, as you dodge the flying boar’s wild charge- but you can’t fly up or down. And you really don’t want to see what happens if you fly out of the glowing space.

Even Hoshi seems more exasperated than anything. “Oh...I hope we can handle these things quick…” she laments as she’s accosted by a creepy, flying vine with several eyes on it. You really don’t want these things to swarm you, and if you use too much mana here...well, hopefully you won’t regret it shortly.

>Stick to melee attacks, slice them up, and fend the horde off.
>Start blasting- mana expenditure be damned.
>Other
>>
>>752374
>>Start blasting- mana expenditure be damned.
We've gotta be almost done, right?
>>
>Start blasting
Time for crowd control.
>>
>>752374
> stick to melee
Make a pig sticker, stick the pig with it, suplex the pig onto the vine.
>Hoshi
Time to show off, make a bird out of fire like the fiendfyre in Harry Potter and start nomming things with it.
>>
>>752380
Yes.
>>
>>752374
>Stick to melee attacks, slice them up, and fend the horde off.
Hoshi can shield herself at least to some degree, and we can throw out a Rajomon or two if need be.
>>
>>752374
Okay, no. Forget this. You turn to Hoshi. “You want done with these things? Lesson I’ve learned.” You stretch out your hands. “Sometimes, you’ve just got get a bit ridiculous.” The look on Hoshi’s face...well, you wouldn’t exactly call it a smile, perse.

It was more like a subtle grin.

The next few minutes are filled with lights going off from your hands as you fire magi-blasts like a moving turret- and the beasts involved in this horde get more numerous. Hoshi conjures fire to burn the wings of a bat-squirrel thing, ice comes out and freezes a four-winged duck/bear thing solid. The animals get stranger and stranger, and honestly, you can’t bring yourself to care. If it moves, you shoot it. At one point, Hoshi takes charge of the whole thing, and she proceeds to conjure up what appears to be a burning eagle- maybe taking some inspiration from earlier? The creature flies in a circle around your station for a few seconds, engulfing everything it sees in wreaths of fire.

Honestly, it’s actually kinda fun. You even take out your sword at one point, swinging and slicing up a few unfortunates. It’s not too long, though- they’re well smart enough to stay out of range of your blade.

On the whole, it’s more troublesome than dangerous, but all things considered, it’s a nice de-stresser for you, even if Hoshi is sweating a bit by the end of it, and you’re feeling slightly drained. Still, it did the trick, and you’re both pleased to notice yourselves rising upwards once again. Looking up, though...you can’t see any end to it.

Hoshi looks concerned. "Do you think..."

You shake your head before she can even finish. "No...Sal's weird, but I wouldn't go so far as to call him malicious or anything like that. Knowing him, there's probably an ending that's just going to arbitrarily happen."

"Oh...I guess." Hoshi's looking like she might actually be getting used to this. You're not certain if that's a good or a bad thing.

>Roll 1d10 for progress! (Wonder if this’ll be the last one?)
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>752392
Final boss incoming?
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>752392
We're gonna keep going till we get a ten aren't we?
>>
>>752397
No, but those ones aren't looking great.
>>
I'll just ask for one last reroll, because otherwise this would get long.

If you get ones again it'll be hilarious, though.
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>752412
Here, take this.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

Lorelei to the rescue~
>>
>>752417
Yup, that'll work nicely. Writing.
>>
As you both rise up, you can’t help but wonder what’s left. You’ve traveled through forest, sea, flat land...and now air. You’re not sure what comes next….if anything. It’s actually got you a bit nervous. Hoshi, too, judging by the look on her face. “Do...do you think I’ve done good so far?” She asks. It’s plain to see that she’s rather unsure of herself- but you suppose you can’t much blame her for this one.

But as for your thoughts? “Honestly, I think you’ve been very impressive this entire time,” you admit. “I at first thought you were someone who’d need a lot of protecting and leading throughout this entire thing, but after a while you really stepped things up, and you’re more than skilled enough in magic, despite what you might think otherwise.” You put a hand on her shoulder as you continue rising. “I think the main ‘problem’ with your magic, is just that you need to be more confident in it. Magic is, in many ways, an extension of willpower, after all...at least, it was where I learned it.”

She smiles, and nods. “Yes...that makes a lot of sense. And I think...maybe I could try being a bit more brave in everyday life...even if that life has a lot of hardships…” She places her hand over yours. “Thank you for helping me, even if you had to do it…”

“Honestly, I’m rather glad I did, Hoshi. I’m rather glad I came to know you.” You both share a smile as you continue rising- and then suddenly a flash and before you know it...you’re in a familiar field of white.

“Weeeeeeeeeeelllll now!” Your head darts around for Sal, that familiar voice making you wonder. “I’m rather pleeeeeased as punch you managed to make it through so well! One or two missteps, and a bit slooooooow at times, but overall you’ve well exceeded my expectations! I’d give it aaaaaa.... ninety-four out of a hundred. Very high marks, verrrrrrry high. Of courrrrrrse...” In a flash, he reappears. “There iiiiiiiis one last little test I’d like to give to the darling girl here. Of course, you’re freeeee to refuse. The test is passed, so this is more liiiiiike...extra credit, hmm? I should warn you, though- this little scenario is only for ooooooone.” He looks at you with a disarming grin. “Izumi’s noooooot allowed in this.”

Hoshi startles slightly...but she closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath, then looks at you. You already know what she’s asking, and you nod. She returns is, and turns back to Sal, her face set in determination. “I’ll do it.”

“Faaaaaaantastic! Of course...I’ll give you girls some tiiiiime to say farewell.” A snap, and he vanishes.

cont.
>>
>>752438
“...ahahah…” you can’t help but laugh at the timing. “Honestly, I think that we already said what was as good a goodbye as we could get.”

Hoshi chuckles a bit. “Y-yeah. I...that was weird timing. But, I really am glad I met you...and now that I know that even across worlds people are willing to fight…”

And that’s when it hits you. “Oh! Actually…” You’re not even sure if it’ll carry over, but… “I was thinking earlier...do you know how to heal people? Like I did to you earlier?”

Her eyes light up. “N-no. I don’t. Are...are you?”

You sit down on the nothingness, cross-legged. “It’s not all that easy, but a natural like you should be able to pick up my ‘Heavenly Aura’ in no time.” Despite what Miranda liked to say, you still enjoyed naming techniques.

Hoshi sits down next to you, in the same position. “I hope so...shall we begin?”

And so, for several hours, it’s just you and her, learning and training. You’re both smiling, and you both feel warm. And when it’s done...

Her radiance when you finally say goodbye is brilliant.


JOB COMPLETE

PRIMARY JOB COMPLETE- PAID IN FULL

NOTE: ”Thaaaaaanks, Izumi. I owe you big time. Sweet little girl has a real heavy rooooooad ahead of her…and should worse comes to woooorse...well, that's a lot of potential just looooost. I'm not too fond of letting caaaaaapable little girls like that just vanish, oh no. If she fulfilllllls it, I want her to have a career heeeere ready and waiting! Oh, and I expect that favor to be used for something reeeeeeal big, of course! I'll let you know when there's another job for youuuuuu!
>>
Done. Ending kinda got a bit chopped, but that's that.

And if you want to see more Hoshi...read this quest: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dark%20Gate%20Academy

Thanks to everyone who participated, and I'll be taking like...two days off. Miranda returns Friday! Unless I get the urge and she returns Thursday.

But expect Friday.
>>
>So...will she remember any of this?

>Mmmmm, yes and no. The feelings, the emotions...vague things like thaaaaat. Nothing exaaact, kind of like a dream.

>Oh...because before I left, I had-

>Oh, that little heaaaaling stunt? That...she'll remember. Iiiiif she’s of a mind to. Up to herrrrrrr. But I wouldn't be toooooo worried. Dark Gate Academy is nothing if not an...iiiiiinteresting place. I could see it sticking without her reaaaalizing it. Or not! Life's craaaazy like that.

>...Uuuuuhhhhh...As you say, then.
>>
>>752463
>Dark Gate Academy
Crossover?
>>
>>752444
Can't say I was fond of the "dungeon". There was zero sense of progression or of thematic unity, it felt like a bunch of unrelated ideas jammed together.

There also wasn't any real tension.
>>
>>752477
Essentially. This takes place while Hoshi is asleep in 'canon'.

>>752966
Fair enough. I was going for a bit of Alice in Wonderland. They can't all be winners. I'll have to try to improve. Sorry you didn't have fun, things will be back to normal next run.
>>
test to see if bump limit
>>
>>752971
It made me think of serious Sam the entire way through.

Hoshis 'look I'm a shy anime moe character' stuff was annoying as shit and I don't think we got a lot of izumi out of it. Might be I just had the wrong expectations- I thought it would be her side story and character building.

Puzzles don't work when players are on a short timer and if they're not prepared for them. It came out of nowhere and most readers were probably not even in the mood for it. Look at how valen quest pulls it off if you're going to try again. I'm sure that riz can give you sage advice on the topic seeing how he's done it weekly for over a year straight.
>>
>>752971
I think that the puzzle failed to click because the players didn't think that a puzzle would come up in a test maze. Also players tend to be stupid and make shit decisions unless they've been forced to take things seriously and think things through.

Since Hoshi is someone else's character, if they're meant to be shy and always on edge, not much you can do.

I didn't feel that Izumi's hard moral stances came through much in this, but given that there weren't many moral choices to make in this maze, that's to be expected.
>>
Next time, I'll just stick to my characters. I like cameos and crossovers, but...

Either way, Izumi will get a proper mission all her own in the future. There's a reason I put a number behind this.
>>
>>754245
I for one enjoyed this intermezzo.
A different character, a different point of view. While it was disjointed, it also made me think of Sal's mindscape would be. Sal, being a transplanar existence, must have experienced quite a few wonders.

I suppose that we'd see more of Izumi in an actual mission, how she kept her sense of heroics. Stick to your characters, It gives you the liberties you need for the shows you provide.

>>753725
For the puzzle
I'd have paired
Void (worm) - Kek, the God of Chaos, the bringer of light/ dawn (frog)
Birth (bird) - Ra-Horakhty, the noon sun, the peak (eagle/falcon)

Keket, the bringer of darkness/dusk, decline (snake) - Anubis, death and the afterlife(dog/jackal)
>>
>>754245
I also enjoyed it, even though I only lurked this thread.
>>
Goddammit missed the last part.
AT least it was enjoyable.



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